LOCAL dive charter operators are looking at the weather maps before making a decision to head out to sea.

It doesn't look too rosy for the weekend with fresh southeast winds in the forecast.

Unlike winds from the north, southerly winds produce big swells as well.

This is a good time for divers to do a maintenance check on their dive gear.

At least once a year, divers need to have their air-delivery systems and buoyancy jackets serviced by a factory-trained technician.

Doing this also keeps any warranties up to date.

For those divers planning an overseas trip in the next few months, this is the time to have their gear checked over.

Divers spend thousands of dollars to get to an exotic dive location, only to find they have perished rubber hoses and dive computers with flat batteries.

Many Third World countries do not have a ready stock of replacement parts and batteries. Experienced divers who travel frequently never leave home without a decent spare-parts kit. They plan for any contingency.

Hopefully the seas will settle down soon.