Why would you want to use NITROX?
The biggest reason you would want to use NITROX is longer No Decompression Limits or NDLs. With this, we get a reduced decompression penalty due to the lower level of nitrogen absorbed during the dive. This may be realized by surfacing according to the NITROX tables or as an additional safety factor by following the standard air tables.

Shorter surface intervals and longer subsequent dives due to the lower residual nitrogen level following a dive. The surface interval is followed for the EAD not the actual depth. Again it may be used as safety padding by following the standard air surface interval. Nitrox provides faster off-gassing than air during decompression. It may be used to reduce the length of the decompression penalty by following a nitrox decompression schedule, or it may be used as padding to increase the safety factor by following an air decompression schedule. This is similar to the use of pure oxygen during decompression. On the surface it also provides an alternative to pure O2 in situations where it is desirable to breath a mix with a higher O2 percentage than air.

The reduced level of nitrogen in your system has also been claimed to reduce the feeling of lethargy or tiredness following a dive, this is thought to be due to a reduction in sub clinical DCS ie a reduction in the number of asymptomatic bubbles in our system after a dive. The following claims are also made of nitrox.

For more info come into the store and ask one of our PADI nitrox instructors about the many different courses which are avalible here.

Indian Walkman

I was recently out diving at Twins, the weather was great with clear skies and rays of sun shining down on the dive boat. The visibility was brilliant, around 25 m. We went down and about 20 minutes into the dive, after the group had just finished performing a set of skills whilst kneeling in the sand, I just happened to notice something in the sand near to our position. On closer inspection it appeared to be an Indian Walkman. It is quite uncommon to spot these so naturally I was very pleased and the whole group had a good look at it. Assiting me on the dive was another instructor and upon surfacing a debate began. He thought what we had seen was a Flying Gunard. This debate went on for some time however after some research and chatting to other divers we established it was infact an Indian Walkman. On appearence they do have many similarities, they both inhabit the sand and boast interesting pectoral fins.  The distribution of these prehistoric looking fish is what can really help determine which is which. Flying Gunards are mostly spotted around Florida Bahammas, Carribean, The Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda, south to Argentina and eastern Atlantic. The Indian Walkman typically have smaller pectoral fins and a tendancy to stay in their position if spooked, where they will flair out their fins to warn off any threats and use their venomus spines for proctection. If they do move on, they only crawl along the sand. Flying Gunards will also flair out their fins, which are common to have a vibrant blue colour featured on them. Differently these fish will swim off if disturbed. They can be mistaken as the Gunard will forage in the sand in the same way the Indian walkman will, it will have its fins folded away and crawl around using vertical pelvic fins looking for crustaceans. The Indian walkman crawls using the four lower rays (two on each side) of its pectoral fins as legs. So remember keep a look out when diving around Twins, you may just get to see this interesting fish.

Flying Gunard

For more on “meeting with inimicus filamentosus”, check out http://www.balzarova.cz/en/articles.php?i=19

* Underwater Cleanups and Marine Debris Prevention      
* Coral Reef Conservation, Monitoring and Data Collection
* Shark Education, Reporting and Conservation
* Improved Management Policies and Marine Protection Efforts
* Environmental Training for Divers and Education Programs for Kids

So just a few dollars will make all the difference.

PADI Divemaster Trainee, Lisa

Three years ago, I came to DJL for my Open Water Course. As is the norm (or so it seems,) I stayed and completed my Advanced Open Water and some fun dives. I left Koh Tao with the memory of Luke, then a Divemaster, taking me to Chumphon Pinnacle to see sharks and through the swim-throughs at Green Rock. 1,000 days and a few jobs later, I am back to Koh Tao and embarking upon my Divemaster. A trip around the world was hijacked, a boyfriend was (temporarily) abandoned, and a lifestyle was discovered the minute my feet were again in the DJL shop.

A few days ago, I hit my 70th dive. For over two days of my life, I have been underwater and breathing through a series of tubes and metal called a regulator. The first few, I was completely focused on survival. The next dozen, I was perfecting the technique. Then came the phase in which I started to notice the world around me, and searched for the whale sharks, schools of fusiliers, and the flamboyant nudi branchs sharing the water. Finally, I realized I was good at this, felt relaxed, and although I have yet to come across a turtle in Koh Tao, I have been content with what I have seen.

On more than a few occasions, I have tried to decipher why each dive still causes me to become excited. I continue to choose to be in bed by 10 to board the rocking long-tail boat at 7:00. Every time, before my giant stride entry into the water, I am smiling. Diving has become to me the most incredible system of repetition. Every time I get in the water, there is something new. I might be looking out for a particular creature. I might be trying to dive with a different wetsuit that is more positively buoyant. Perhaps one of the other DMT’s, John or Danielle, will need assistance. Assisting the instructors, from Luke to Neil, Sabrina to Giles, each offers it’s own series of challenges and learning opportunities. It is possible that I will get underwater and not be able to see more than a meter in front of me. If nothing else, I can choose to beat my personal time for underwater headstand at any given depth on any “boring” dive.

The idea of being comfortable with the basics of a thing, and therefore embracing the details, is not new to me. Teaching middle school had its moments, but still remained so largely out of my control. While I can’t control the outside environment in the Gulf of Thailand, I can master my own part of it. Singing a song at Karaoke. A yoga pose. Writing. Being a friend. It is only in repetition that the truth of many things comes to light. Sing a song enough times and you know the note that trips you up, the place your boredom with the melody begins. Downward facing dog pose has only improved after I had reached my 20th attempt. As I teach my students, the more I go through the writing process the stronger I become with a pen. And it is only by rehashing the mistakes I repeatedly made being a friend that I scratch the surface of why I did it.

This is what is often missing in traveling – no familiar routines. DJL has started to counteract this. I know I can come in here every morning and see the instructors, ready to dive and as much as they pretend to be reluctant, ready to answer my questions about diving. I have a routine again. This is an improvement from the day to day work back home. I have nothing each day that I am choosing to do, to get better at, to practice to the extent that I can sense the smallest improvement as a major accomplishment. It is a nice reminder that a repetitive activity completed for enjoyment is not selfish – rather, it is necessary to make the pedantic feel exciting, the details seem important, and life as a series of manageable tasks. New goal: remember the value of repetition, wherever I may go. Even if it doesn’t involve an aluminum tank on my back and wrinkled skin on my fingertips.

The author, Lisa, is an American who has been a PADI Divemaster Trainee at DJL for a month and will (tragically) be completing her course in the next few weeks.

We normally dive Mango Bay in the afternoons, its a shallow site in the north of Koh Tao and is ideal for PADI DISCOVER SCUBA DIVES, or dive 1 of the PADI OPEN WATER COURSE. If your a macro lover Mango bay is great for spotting lots of little critters to get pics of.
So if your around Koh Tao and wanna try to find some cool small creatures pop in to the shop and book your dives at mango bay.

Mango Bay is great for underwater Photography, At DJL we have a great range of underwater cameras for rent, or even better, why not take your PADI UNDERWATER SPECIALITY diver course.

NOWS THE TIME TO GET SOME GREAT PHTOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Here at DJL DIVING we are  appalled at the failure of the world’s environment leaders to approve trade protections for some of the Earth’s most vulnerable and heavily traded shark species which is why we signed this petition:

http://www.projectaware.org/givesharksachance

Did you know each year tens of millions of sharks are killed by Earth’s most dangerous predator – humans? Populations of sharks are in big trouble but you can take action.

At DJL DIVING we are proud members of PROJECT AWARE  and we belive everyone, diver or not has a responsibility to make sure we protect sharks. During the shark season it is possible to get close to big grey reef sharks and bull sharks at Kho Taos premire dive site of Chumpon Pinnacle. DJL DIVING offers exclussive afternoon trips on our highspeed rhib, we you get the chance to see these amazing creatures in the most natural form without disturbance from other divers.

Sign the petition and let’s tell Governments loud and clear: sharks are vital to our ecosystem and deserve better protection.

1. Photograph with Care. Dive carefully as many aquatic creatures are fragile regardless of size. Improper techniques while taking or editing photos underwater can damage sensitive aquatic life and harm fragile organisms with the bump of a camera or tank, swipe of a fin or even the touch of a hand.
2. Dive Neutral. Camera systems may add weight or be buoyant. Make sure to secure photo and dive equipment and be properly
weighted to avoid contact with reefs or other vital habitat. Practice buoyancy control and photography skills in a pool before swimming near sensitive and fragile environments.
3. Resist Temptation. Don’t touch, handle, feed, chase or ride aquatic life. Don’t alter an organism’s location to get the perfect shot. Most aquatic creatures are shy and easily stressed. Your actions may interrupt feeding, disturb mating or provoke aggression in a normally nonaggressive species.
4. Easy Does It. While diving, move slowly and deliberately through the water. Avoid excessive use of flash that can startle underwater creatures. Be patient and still while photographing – allow organisms to show their natural behavior for a more significant and meaningful shot.
5. Sharpen Your Skills. Make sure the difficulty of the dive and the environmental conditions are appropriate for your current skills and comfort level. Don’t stabilize underwater by grabbing onto the reef for a better photo. Enroll in PADI’s Underwater
Photographer, Digital Underwater Photography and Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty courses to learn sustainable dive techniques and become a more skilled and successful photographer.
6. Be Informed. Know and follow local regulations and protocols regarding behavior around marine mammals and other animals before entering the water. Share this knowledge with other divers. These regulations protect creatures and aim to assure their preservation for future generations.
7. Be an AWARE Diver. Knowing more about the life and behavior of your aquatic subjects can help you get better shots. Consider enrolling in an AWARE – Coral Reef Conservation, AWARE Fish Identification, Project AWARE Specialty or Underwater Naturalist course to learn more about the environment you’re photographing.
8. Take Only Pictures, Leave Only Bubbles. Nearly everything found in the aquatic realm is alive or will be used by a living creature. Removing specimens such as corals and shells can disturb the delicate balance and quickly deplete dive sites of both their resources and their beauty.
9. Share Your Images. Use images for conservation by reporting environmental disturbances or destruction using your photographs as evidence. Assist scientific research and improve resource management by contributing your photos to species monitoring programs such as The Whale Shark Project. You can also submit your photos to Project AWARE. Your images have the power to change perspectives and influence conservation.
10. Conserve the Adventure. Support Project AWARE Foundation, a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action.
If you have the time a MASTER SCUBA DIVER course is a great option. You have two weeks of unlimited fun diving were we grantee you at least 50 dives, and also 5 PADI specialities certifactions. A example of a two week course :-

underwater photography spec- 1 day 2 dives       

Peak Perfomance Buoyancy spec- 1 day 2 dives

Fish id spec- 1 day 2 dives

Nitrox spec- 1 day 2 dives

deep spec- 2 days 4 dives

With unlimited fun diving in between. the PADI master scuba diver is the highest non proffesional diver rating.

Calling all Divers and Water Enthusiasts!! Celebrate Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary Join Project AWARE Foundation’s Dive for Earth Day. Human activity is costing the Earth. And despite the oceans’ vast expanse it is taking its toll on aquatic eco systems. You can choose to make a world of difference by joining DJL DIVING Dive for Earth Day event during the week of 22 April. “Underwater volunteers are on the front lines, taking action and collecting data for conservation. This year is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and we urge everyone to commit to improving the health of our ocean. Protecting the ocean preserves the planet – including us,” said Project AWARE Foundation Asia Pacific Director, Henrik Nimb. Underwater environments are under numerous threats including pollution, climate change, overfishing, and coral bleaching. Dive for Earth Day is an extraordinary opportunity to take action and help address the underwater issues that concern you most. DJL DIVING, in partnership with Project AWARE is organizing a  Beach and Underwater Cleanup everyone can help make a difference for local dive sites by calling in at the shop and voluntering for a fun day of conservation, with a project aware pool party in the bar after to raise money for project aware, were u can wins prises and have a well earned drink, take a dip in the pool and enjoy our free bbq. Earth Day has raised environmental awareness on a global scale for 40 years. For ten years divers have put the ocean on the Earth Day Map. Globally the oceans cover 70 per cent of the planet’s surface and contain 90 per cent of the mass of life on Earth. Thousands of diver volunteers in more than 115 countries have helped protect underwater environments and educate local communities for Project AWARE’s Dive for Earth Day.

Here at DJL DIVING we belive its a privilege to be able to enter and experience the magical underwater world. However coral reefs around the world are under extreme threat, and if we want to ensure that furue divers can enjoy the same wonderful experiences then we need to dive responsibly. Our top tips for responsible diving recomended by PROJECT AWARE –

1. Anchors cause serious damage to reefs. Ask your skipper if they will be using a mooring, and about how they ensure the reefs will not be damaged.

2. Make sure that your point of entry to the water is away from fragile corals, it’s all too easy to damage them as you enter.

3. Practice your buoyancy over sand before moving towards corals and reefs. Even the sand kicked up by fin kicks close to corals and vulnerable organisms can damage them. Take part in PADI specialities like PPB and FISH ID.

4. Look don’t touch. Even robust looking corals and polyps can be destroyed by the gentlest touch.

5. Resist the temptation to feed fish and discourage others from doing so. You might affect normal patterns of behaviour and/or encourage aggression.

6. Ask your tour operator for their responsible tourism and diving policy – if they haven’t got one they are probably not taking it seriously.

7. Poorly treated waste from hotels destroys water quality and corals. Ask your hotel how they manage grey water.

8. Do not buy and gifts or souvenirs that are made from corals, shells or hardwoods.

Here at DJL DIVING we are proud members of PROJECT AWARE and a GO-ECO member. We belive in doing all we can to preserve our island. If you would like any info about eco friendly specialities just check out our DJL FORUM page.

It was an early 7am start, but well worth it. Our first dive was at Koh Tao’s famous dive site Chumphon Pinnacle, where we were lucky enough to see a whaleshark. The gentle giant was around 5 meters long and we had a great 45 min dive with it passing us many times. The sighting will be added to the Project aware shark trust data base, which monitors shark and whaleshark numbers around the world.

We had 18 people for the secound clean-up dive and we would like to thank everyone for there help, I think a free shot in the bar tonight is well deserved. The clean-up was on sairee reef , close to the beach where all the boats moor up in the evening. We collected 5 large bags of debris ranging from electrical wire, cardboard boxes, a car tire, plastic sheeting and well over 100 plastic and glass bottles. So many thanks to everyone who was involved in doing there part in preserving our paradise island.

Here at DJL Dibing we are proud members of PROJECT AWARE and a GO-ECO operator, it’s our responsibility to do all we can to help the local enviroment. We will be holding monthly clean-up days and starting a new coral reef monitoring project in the coming weeks.

So please remember to do all you can to keep our oceans a beautiful place to dive for yourself and the divers of the future.