Improving offshore weather, water visibility and a warming gulf have started many area divers dusting off their spear guns and wet suits. For many, this will be their first dives in months. It's paramount to get reacquainted with equipment and skills. An unprepared seasonal diver can have equipment problems that cause confusion, panic and injuries.

The wet suit that fit before the holiday season may be too tight and make breathing uncomfortable and difficult. This inhibits the full expansion of lungs during inhaling.

If you haven't worn your wet suit hood or beanie cap in months, take time when entering the water to relax, burp the air from your hood and get comfortable before you descend. I run a hot nail through the top of my neoprene hood to allow air to escape automatically.

With air temperatures in the 80s, don't overheat in your wet suit while getting ready for your dive. If you heat up while waiting for your buddy to suit up, pour cool gulf water in your suit.

This week on a freediving trip we found good concentrations of 15-pound gags just south of the Safe Water Mark in 40-50 feet. Visibility is good for freedive and scuba spearfishing. On scuba, we found keeper amberjack on the wrecks starting in depths of 70 feet.

-- Bill Hardman teaches scuba, spearfishing and freediving at his dive shop Aquatic Obsessions Scuba in St. Petersburg. Call (727) 344-3483.

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From the Times sports desk

John Romano
Guards put on a rare show

College basketball
Magic belongs to Huskies

Gators shocked as women's coach resigns

Terps overpower Kentucky

Kansas turns to newfound toughness

Promising freshman is dismissed by USF

Kent State is a bad memory for Indiana

Davis making his own mark at IU

S. Alabama names UF's Pelphrey

Golf
Mickelson defends all or nothing play

Quite a return on top

Et cetera
Charges against Selmon dropped

British crew wins Fireball world title

Baseball
Area camps

Outdoors
Daily fishing report

Preps
Wildcats, Bulldogs win titles

Association suspends umpire

Central still can't pull off upset

Pasco rips Hudson again

Who's the Saladino favorite?

This time Leopards protect lead

Girls basketball senior all-star game

Tennis extra

Spring break baseball tournaments

Time to live up to hype

2002 Knights ditch losing tradition

Rays
Movie gives Rays publicity

Grieve seeks rebound from '01

Bucs
With receiver Poole, Bucs get back some lost speed

Lightning
Last-gasp goal nets a point for Montreal

Emphasis on team even on Nik night

Svitov might miss even more time

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts