[cdavis]

I've been working on exhale diving for about a year now, so I'm no expert, but I'll address question 1 from a newbies perspective.

Diving exhale essentially forces you into making the trip down a low or no effort experience. This allows your dive reflex to kick in much stronger than otherwise and before you start producing much c02. The end result is lower c02 levels and higher 02 levels in the core and brain. After you start exercising, a strong reflex keeps the c02 pretty much in the legs. You are safer and much more comfortable so long as you are not pushing deep into anaerobic exercise. My dive times have also gotten a whole lot longer. Now, if I can just get comfortable south of 20 meters, all will be golden. It can take a long time to get used to equalizing at depth when diving exhale.

Good luck with it.

Connor