Tips: Remember to check HP swivel connection to gauge occasionally. This is usually covered by a rubber or plastic moulding and so can be forgotten. The gauge can fly off with violence if worked loose.

When boat diving in poor viz, always check your compass on the surface for direction to fin to the wall, rock, wreck etc as it's very easy to get disorientated once underwater.

When changing wheel on RIB trailer. Remember to tighten wheel nuts fully.!!!!!

If having trouble getting your hands through the wrist seals on your dry suit, put your hands in supermarket bags and slide through easily.

Standardise your equipment system. Try to refrain from changing set up. If you know where everything is then it will come more naturally in a low viz or panic situation. E.g. If you are going to dive with a pony, then use it all the time including shallower dives.

"Always remember to fully zip your f***ing Dry Suit prior to hopping off your Dive Boat into the North Sea"

If diving from a shot or anchor line, always go right to the anchor position and check the exact depth. It's a good marker for return to the line, especially if diving on a slope. Always look for obvious rocks or structures before leaving the line for the same reason.

Last one up ensures that the shot weight or anchor is free and ready to be lifted from the surface.

Always take a torch on every dive (even in the tropics). It's good for seeing the true colours at depth and for looking into holes and under ledges.

In strong currents or limited visibility, use a buddy line. It's a bit of a pain but far better than aborting the dive because you've lost your buddy. It's also useful on the surface if the boat takes a while to get to you.

When in a wreck, pull yourself along with your hands rather than finning. In a compartment with lots of silt, be slightly bouyant and travel along the deckhead (ceiling) rather than the silt line. It keeps the viz better for longer.

With a centre support angled boat ladder in choppy weather, climb up on your knees rather than your feet. You'll be much more stable.

All the above tips submitted by Jason Smith and Alan Fowler.

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