re: Dive tips

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Always take sudafed with you when you go on a trip. I always seem to get some congestion when I travel. Take it the night before, but NOT right before you dive. (Panadol -available in some some Caribbean locales works good too).

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A few things here...

Yes, Sudafed (pseudoepherine, NOT phenylephrine or Sudafed PE) is a great decongestant, and I keep this in my save a dive kit. Some will mention a potential risk of oxygen toxicity with it's use but that really is not a risk at recreational levels. The bigger risk is in reverse block (that is, congestion is reduced enough that you can clear on the way down but comes back before you ascend)...that's a real risk anytime you dive with congestion but would be minimized by using sudafed or a local spray (ex: afrin) just before diving.

Panadol is just acetaminophen, same ingredient as tylenol. Some find taking advil (ibuprofen) or acetaminophen the night prior to and morning of diving beneficial, as a reduction in inflammation may lead to less problems with nasal/sinus/eustachian tubes. Probably doesn't hurt.

Other tips? Use your own equipment that you are accustomed to when possible. Spit is a great defog (and always available). And mostly, diving is supposed to be relaxing, if you are stressed you are doing it wrong...figure out what is stressing you and fix it before the next dive.