Customer Reviews (1)

out of date
Avoid this book. The information may have been useful if this book had been written in the 1980s, but it wasn't and things have moved on in recreational scuba diving. Back mounted BCs, backplates and wings, modern computers and modern ways of avoiding decompression sickness are just a few of the things that are either not mentioned or dealt with inadequately. Very disapointing book. I can't give it less than 1 star, otherwise I would. ... Read more

Product Description
112 pages + Appendices & Index; PDIC International ... Read more

Product Description
CONTENTS: Introduction; Chapter One - A History of Diving; Chapter Two - Scuba Diving Equipment (Essential); Chapter Three - Scuba Diving Equipment (Incidental); Chapter Four - Entering, Descending, Ascending; Chapter Five - Natural Science; Chapter Six - Diving Physiology; Chapter Seven - Diving Physics; Chapter Eight - Avoiding The Bends ... Read more

Product Description
Nitrox has gained wide acceptance in the recreationalscuba diving community over the past few decades.While it is widelyused by the military as well as technical, commercial and scientificdivers, the techniques, procedures, and tables have been refined tothe point that with training, nitrox diving can be safe and enjoyablefor the recreational open-circuit scuba diver.

This authoritative guide provides in-depth discussions of physics,physiology, oxygen toxicity and oxygen limits.It reviews the latestsafeguards and procedures, equipment considerations, and guides thereader through easy-to-follow nitrox dive planning examples.Includedare nitrox planning tables plus the latest NOAA oxygen limits.Thisbook is a must for every certified or prospective nitrox diver. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

wonderfull
Nitrox diving explained clearly from an expert.
I highly recommend it to all divers no mater
they will ever use nitrox or not.
It helps indepth understanding of gas physics and
diving physiology.Easy to read as well!
Thanks to the author and Amazon of course!

Somebody messed up the MOD table (3-2, p37)
This is really a very good book which is unfortunately the victim of a flawed table that was not caught during the editing process.Three of the columns in the "Maximum Operating Depth" table (3-2 on page 37), corresponding to PO2 Max of 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 list a depth of 130+ in every cell from EAN24 to EAN40.This is not only impossible, but fairly obviously so when noting that depth numbers for a given line should decrease moving right to left (less conservative to more conservative).One can create their own corrected MOD table by using the following equation:

MOD = 33*((PO2/FO)-1)

where:MOD is Maximum Operating Depth (in feet)
PO2 is Partial Pressure of Oxygen (i.e. 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 . . . 1.6)
FOis Fraction of Oxygen (i.e. 0.24, 0.26, 0.28 . . . 0.40)

The author uses standard rounding, but you can round down for a more conservative table if desired.But don't take my word for any of this.Every diver is ultimately responsible for themselves.Check your own gear, verify your own blend, derive the equation yourself so you can see where it comes from and don't take anything for granted.I'm not so surprised that the table is bad as I am that four people gave the book 5-star reviews, apparently without even noticing that fact.

Aside from the above issue, the book is well written and has a great deal of useful info.The photos and diagrams are clear and there is even a glossary of the terms and acronyms that were used.Overall the writing is concise and well organized and the calculation examples are simple and easy to follow.I recommend "Recreational Nitrox Diving", not as a substitute for a certification course in NITROX, but as a compact, handy reference on the subject.

Straight up
This book is great for a quick overview of nitrox diving.If you dont know to much much about nitrox diving this book will be great for you.It offers alot of information in a very understandable way.

Good nitrox info
This book is probably the best value for your money right now if you want to learn to dive with nitrox. I also read another online nitrox course booklet and attended a NAUI nitrox course, and this book was better than either one alone, though they did add new things to my understanding of nitrox and scuba diving in general.

Contains inaccuracies
I bought this book in preparation for diving Nitrox on a dive vacation.One of the tables simply did not make sense.I contacted the publisher, who, after at least 2 emails from me, provided me with corrections by .pdf file.I subsequently asked the publisher how it intended to address the clear inaccuracies in this book and received no response.Further, although the publisher includes errata for certain books on its website (www.bestpub.com), despite my notification of these errors, it has issued no similar errata for "Recreational Nitrox."In my opinion, anyone relying upon this book without inquiring into the validity of the information provided therein is misplacing their reliance. ... Read more

Product Description
Investigating Recreational and Commercial Diving Accidents is a must read for anyone who investigates recreational, technical, professional, or commercial diving accidents. This book explores the human interactions that must take place when a diving accident is investigated.

It is an important reference for anyone who is professionally employed in the diving business, as well as anyone employed in risk management, law enforcement, and other governmental agencies.

Some of the unique information in the bookincludes:

• Information on the various modes of diving
• Detailed coverage of every type of diving gear, from snorkeling equipment through deep sea diving equipment
• Physiological factors in diving accidents
• Talents of the dive accident investigator
• Tools used by the dive accident investigator
• How to prepare for an investigation
• How to conduct an investigation
• Inspecting dive accident sites
• How to investigate a sport diving accident
• Professional diving accidents
• Commercial diving accidents
• Report preparation
• Trial testimony

Both authors have extensive experience in investigating and treating diving accidents. Steven M. Barsky is a former commercial diver, a recreational diving instructor, and a full time consultant in diving. Tom Neuman, M.D., FACP, FACPM, is a former Navy diver, past president of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, and director of the University of California at San Diego Hyperbaric Medical facility. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Recommended Reading for All Diving Professionals
"Investigating Recreational and Commercial Diving Accidents" is an exceptional, straight-forward guidebook that outlines the basics of conducting a diving casualty investigation.As a federal commercial diving casualty investigating officer, I highly recommend this book to anyone who investigates diving accidents and, more importantly, to anyone who owns or operates a commercial or recreational diving business to learn how to prevent diving accidents in the future.Steve Barsky's "Recommendations to Help Avoid Commercial Diving Accidents," if followed, will help prevent the majority of diving related accidents.I recommend this simple, one-page list be placed in every diving operations manual and incorporated into every diving business plan.

LCDR Jim Elliott
U.S. Coast Guard

Another Great Book from Steven Barsky
At last! A chink in the armor of professional dive accident investigation is found. In Steven Barsky's and Dr. Tom Neuman's book - Investigating Recreational and Commercial Diving Accidents - we get something of an inside look at the processes that should occur during the investigation of a diving accident. This exceptionally readable book gives just the right amount of technical information without drowning the reader in the ocean of information that exists.

Skillfully assembled into well defined segments, this book paces its way through many of the pitfalls of investigation.The Case Histories were invaluable. I obtained this book in an effort to not only help to better prepare myself to investigate diving accidents but also to look forward in an attempt to eliminate some of the mistakes that led to fatalities while diving. This book gave many interesting and varied cues through these Case Histories.

As a front-line law enforcement supervisor I wish I could put a book like this in my Deputys' hands at every major event. As a dive team supervisor I know that every diver on my team will take something away from this book, whether it's safety related or investigative skills, there's more than enough to go around.

Sergeant Paul Cook
Washtenaw County Office of the Sheriff
Underwater Search and Recovery Team Leader
Ann Arbor, Michigan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Informative yet easy reading
While the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving is a very informative book,it is not the "heavy" reading that one might expect from a PADImanual.The terminoligy and concepts covered in this book nicelysuppliment what one learns throughout the recreational diving classes --novice open water dives, advanced techniques, underwater navigation, andrescue techniques.

I recommend this for divers who have gone through openwater and advanced classes (and even Rescue), feeling that they did not getall they could out of the classes and textbook.This book is a must forthose wishing to seek a professional dive rating (divemaster and higher),or pursue technical dive certifications. ... Read more

Product Description
As more divers understand the benefits of using Nitrox,the need for a ready supply of the gas mix increases.This is goodnews for diving facilities that can supply this demand.It followsthat Nitrox divers are people who invest in themselves, theirtraining, equipment, and dive travel.This is the current text forPADI Nitrox Gas Blenders worldwide.

This book was written with three objectives:
1. To direct you in the safe methods of blending Enriched Air Nitrox.
2. To inform you about the types of blending systems currentlyavailable.
3. To provide you with the correct information, so that you can choosewhat system would provide the best return on your situation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not Impressed
I found the book to be short and full of information listed from other resources.It seems like most of the information was just borrowed from other manuals and individuals.I would not recommend this manual. ... Read more

Product Description
Encyclopedia of recreational diving in the Japanese language ... Read more

Product Description
Recreatinal Diving workbook in the Japanese languge ... Read more