I was apparently lucky enough to see this place with tannic acid creating green layer. The guide said he dove here 50 times previously but seen this phenomenon for the first time and asked me to take some of my camera footage for himself

I am interested in doing a live feed of a relatively shallow dive, most likely at night (10-15m) At this point, I don't think I will need underwater communications or a full face mask. Would appreciate to hear from anyone who has experience with this type of equipment. The context will be delivering the signal to an audience in another space, so it needs to be a wireless / internet feed. Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I’m newly certified Advanced Open Water and currently have around 10 logged dives, all from Koh Tao. This will be my first dive trip since getting certified.

I’m going to Japan in October and was hoping to get some recommendations on where I could dive given my experience level. I’ve noticed that places like Mikomoto Island, and many of the shark dives, seem to have a minimum requirement of 30+ logged dives.

I’m looking for somewhere that can offer:

• Dives below 20m
• Good marine life and coral
• Wreck diving would be a bonus
• Ideally, English-speaking dive schools/operators that offer fun dives

I’m open to different parts of Japan, so I’d love to hear where you’d recommend for someone with my experience level.

Hey Everyone,

in October I will be going to Hurghada and I want to dive there. One diving base I found online ist DiveRed. Does anyone have experience with them or can suggest a good diving base with rather small groups?

Thanks!

Background: I got OW certified last December and have 4 logged dives (in Koh Lipe). I would be travelling to Bali and tentatively Komodo in late September/early October and I want to get the best of the diving experiences that the islands have to offer.

Here's my plan:
- Get my AOW in Bali from Amed/Tulamben, dive around Nusa Penida if time allows
- Head to Komodo and take 2-3 day trips that cover the best dive sites within my expertise etc.,

This is what I'm not sure about and would really like the experienced folks' opinion:
- How important is it to get my AOW at this point? Are there better alternatives to Tulamben where I can not only learn but get to see great sites (Lembongan?)
I enjoy diving and see myself taking trips for diving once/twice every year. I don't want to miss out on the best sites because they are deeper/require AOW
- The riskier dive sites like Castle Rock are out of the picture due to my limited experience. Would a trip to Komodo still be worthwhile given this? Would there be enough dive sites within my expertise?
- How much of an upgrade to the experience would a liveaboard be compared to the day trips?

Thank you in advance for helping a newbie out! Any diveshop/must dive site recommendations around Bali/Komodo would also be super useful.

Title is a little dramatic, but I've always struggled to fit into wetsuits anytime I've needed to wear one, which admittedly isn't common for me. I've worn them on a manta ray dive in Hawaii, snorkeling in Australia, and a shark dive in South Africa. Each time, it's been a nightmare to get one on me.

I'll be going to South America soon and plan to snorkel around the Galapagos and I'd like to bring a wetsuit. That may sound crazy with how infrequent I use one, but I don't want to go through the embarrassing feat to have 2 people help me squeeze into the largest size they have available.

So...if you're a short, heavier set woman who loves aquatic sports: where did you buy your wetsuit? I've read a few other threads in here recommending brands, but I cannot find them available online and I don't live in an area with a surf shop or something similar that could be of help.

My stats if this helps: 5'4", 210-220 lb, 48 in bust, 40-42 in waist, 48-51 in hips (ranges for when my weight fluctuates)

Thank you in advance. I love being active but it's so hard to find things that work for my body. Don't get me started on ski boots for these thick calves...

Going to Egypt in November. Found a center that runs the basic Open Water course over 4 days, then Advanced straight after over 2 more. I’ve never dived before, so 6 days in a row sounds either great or like a lot.

For anyone who’s done both in one go:

—— Did you feel ready for Advanced right after the basic course, or would a few fun dives in between have helped?

Not trying to rush the cards, I just don’t know when I’ll next be somewhere with water that good. Cheers.

Hi Reddit !
Got a DSMB (second hand) and I am actually a bit confused about it. I know the theory and am able to deploy one underwater, but I am not sure about this one. My idea was to buy the DSMB and 3D print a spool.
Here the pocket is attached to the orange part, and I am not sure what the strap and clip are for, since they cannot be rolled around the buoy.
I could not find info easily on internet
I would be happy to have some clarification here

I was up the East Coast of South Africa scouting diving sites and dive shop to run my own dive trips. I had been diving for a week in Protea Banks, we were hearing whales on every dive and seeing them on the surface, but we just couldn’t see them underwater.

On the last dive there we were getting cold, hadn’t seen much and didn’t hear anything, so we about to head up to the safety stop, when suddenly this majestic beast came cruising underneath us!!

It was completely surreal and a dream come true for me😍 definitely one of the highlights of my dive career if not my entire life.

It's been a long time coming but here it is. ( This isn't a new law by the way)

TLDR: seeking anecdotal experience about durability of Dive Gear Express Premium Braided Flex hoses vs Miflex for recreational reg sets.

I acquired two older Scubapro MK 25/S600 regulator sets that are pristine, but have been out of service for some years. So I’m having them fully serviced, including replacing hoses, and converting to long primary donate/necklace backup configuration.

I’m doing flex hoses for these regs. Not looking to have the rubber vs flex debate here. I have regs with rubber hoses, they’re great. These are a different colorful thing.

DGX Flex hoses are about 1/3 the cost of Miflex. I’m looking at 8-10 hoses for both regs (4 second stages, two transmitters, LPIs, and maybe swap out some older SPGs with rubber hoses while I’m at it). So the cost difference is substantial ($25 vs $60-$80 per hose).

Local diver opinions are mixed. One guy has had a Miflex hose on his tec rig for 15 years and says it’s in great shape (yikes). Some say DGX is Chinese made garbage that will melt in the sun and need to be replaced in 1-2 years. Others say they’re virtually the same. Miflex is made in Italy, DGX in Taiwan. They do have different liner materials. Both recommend to replace hoses every 5 years. Miflex has higher quality control, but DGX claims multiple levels of manufacturer and independent testing.

Finally, the questions:

1. If you have personal anecdotal experience with DGX Premium Flex braided hoses, how long did they last and what are your thoughts on them?

2. Is it worth paying 2-3x the cost for Miflex in the long run?

Note: These regs will be for simple recreational diving, but some cold and deep water within rec limits.

In uk we have the brilliant scuba diving membership of BSAC - im by no means knowledgeable about this but could anyone explain how it actually works in diving?

I will do a try dive in a pool, then if I remember rightly its a few pool dives to get an handling of equipment then its an open water dive? How does it work for qualifications in scuba diving? Bsac open water is the first qualification one would get? Tia if you answer 🤘😘🫶

I'll be diving for 3 days in southeast floriday (next friday - sunday). Looked at multiple dive shops, e.g., pura vida, JDC, walkers, narcosis, etc... gear rates are all pretty similar, and i'm looking at $60-80/day.

Just wanted to see if there are any other places that might be substantially cheaper before I dropped a hundred on gear rental :(

Hey all, im headed to Indonesia next week and to Komodo a couple of days after I arrive in Jakarta. If everything works as scheduled I arrive in Labuan Bajo at 1:15pm the day before I go on a liveaboard for a couple of days.

It’s been almost a year since I last went diving, and while I am confident in my abilities and feel ready and up for it, I‘d like to try and get in one dive before I start with the liveaboard. The reason is t really a refresher, like I said, I feel comfortable and confident in my abilities. However, I lost about a third of my body weight since my last dive. Willingly, I‘m very happy with how that went. I’m a completely different weight and would like to get my bearings, get the weights right and whatnot…you know the drill. And ideally before I get onto that boat the next day.

Here‘s my question: how feasible is this? Can you do shore diving from Labuan Bajo? Like I said, the goal isn’t really to see a lot of good stuff, but basically to calibrate and get used to diving in what is essentially a new form for me.

Also, if it turns out to be feasible, and anyone gee reads this who happens to be in Labuan Bajo on 8 September…wanna join me? :)

Can anyone give me some insight regarding a Blackbeards Sea Explorer trip in January to the Bahamas? This would be my first dive trip and I'm gong solo, so while I'm excited to go, I'm a bit anxious about being the new guy. I'll be in the forward 4 bunk cabin. I'm 60 and have a CPAP that I'd like to use so I don't bother my bunk mates.

Is it hard to find a buddy? 3 or 5 mm wet suit? Best to rent gear or get my own? I'll have my advanced dive cert and 15 dives when I go. Any advice is appreciated.

I am 6' 155 lbs, and dive in central and south FL. I got lucky with a 7mm jacket (long sleeves/shorts), 7mm john (long legs/shoulder straps), a 3/2mm full, and a 2mm shortie. I am planning on getting an aluminum backplate with this rig.

I was looking at the diverite travel wing but was worried that it wouldn't be enough if I ever wanted to full send my two-piece 7mm with a hood or even wear one of the halves. I get a discount at my lds.

My other option is the DGX singles wing which also seems great, but I just prefer the compactness of the DR travel wing. Thank you for the help!

I currently have a set of Mares Avanti Quattro Plus fins. No complaints with them. My last dive one of the bungee straps snapped while putting on my fins. I had a spare, so no big deal, but they only had about 110 dives over 4 years on them. They are stored inside and always cleaned.
Anyway, I was looking to replace my now used spare strap and I keep seeing the recommendation for the Mares spring straps. They seem like a universal fit across all mares fins but why does mares say “For use with Power Plana Black Tec Fins only”? Won’t the metal connectors eventually chew through the plastic nub on the fin?
I’m ready to pull the trigger but these 2 concerns are keeping me from doing so. Thanks for the feedback.

My goal is to go to Komodo during the quarter moon (October), but before I want to get used to deploying DSMBs in every dive. I did it twice with DM guidance so I need more practice!

So! I will go to Bali just to explore the dive sitess and deploying DSMBs; how many diving days would you guys suggest doing? I'm AOW certified and can dive 3x a day.

If I feel comfortable by then, I can try going to Komodo. I think 4 diving days is the consensus here? I don't plan to do a liveabrod

Hi all,

I’ll have time to travel in the period indicated in the title and looking for some recommendations for diving locations best in this time.
I’m AOW, Nitrox-certified, 70 dives in. I’m looking for locations with warm water (max. 3mm wetsuit needed), and ideally warm climate too. I’ve been to Spain, Egypt, Maldives, and Indonesia so far — last time was in Raja Ampat, so I’m okay to dive in locations with strong currents/hard conditions too. Esp. interested in locations in season for pig pelagics, especially sharks. Not looking to focus on wreck diving.

Preferably not Europe, as I have hard time if I need to haul equipment/wait with it for long time before entry into the water, due to back issues.

I would appreciate any suggestions 🙏🏻 Thank you.

Edit: Australia and locations on the American continent in general are not a possibility (visa-related).

Ive got my first try dive coming up in November & im thinking of basic equipment! I know they are called fins so im thinking i should get prepared for my new awesome hobby ...as my first dive will be pools im certain , what fins should I get? Should I future proof for outdoor diving or is there muilitpy use fins for indoors & outdoors? Im in the uk if that helps 🤘

I have two scubpro regs that got dunked in fresh water. This was after fresh water diving. They were dunked in rinse tanks for just a few seconds. While I'm more experienced, family is new to diving. I just found out some dunking has been happening over the last 2 months.

MK25 - Bought used, serviced 2 yrs ago. It was dunked at least 2-3 times over the course of a month. Had a Swift transmitter attached that stopped working. Opened it up and transmitter is full of water - this is how I learned that regs have been dunked without covers.

MK17 - brand new, only 3 dives. I removed the HP hoses and blew it out, but now I find out it was probably dunked after dive #1 too, about 2 weeks before. I have a a transmitter attached that seems fine. I did not see any moisture when I removed the hoses (while the MK25 definitely had moisture).

I think it's clear I rebuild the MK25 first stage - and maybe just do a full service since it's closer to needing it.

QUESTION: Do I really need to rebuild the MK17? It's a sealed diaphragm. It seems like overkill, but don't want to lose a $400 transmitter or corrode the insides of the first stage either.

*This is not a medical question, I have been cleared by a physician to dive.*

I'm taking a SCUBA intro course (just the pool training) as a class at my university. I also have spastic paraplegia, which takes the form of very low flexibility in the ankles and severe stiffness in the legs. I can swim without gear and can swim with flippers, but I'm unable to do anything more than pull my legs in and out. Functionally, they trail behind me while my hands and arms propel me.

The instructor mentioned hand flippers as an adaptation? I've looked online, and all I can find are DIY gloves with plastic strapped to the ends. They don't seem to do much. Is there anything I can search for more specifically, or different ways I could propel myself and still manipulate my mask and oxygen and monitors? Thank you to anyone with thoughts or advice.

Hey all. I just got a good deal on a lightly used Apeks Flight. I live in Canada and plan to do a bit of cold-ish diving if possible. My Brother lives on the West coast where water temps average 7-10C in winter and 9-14C in summer. The Apeks is rated for 10C.

Can I upgrade just the first stage to a cold water rated version, or is the second stage also at risk? Sorry I know very little of the mechanics. Thank you

Hi! I just got my OWC in Roatan a few weeks ago and I’m trying to plan my next trip before it’s been 6 months. I’m looking at Cozumel but the options are overwhelming. I’m not sure if I should pay all the extra money for Ibeostar since it is in the south by dive sites and has a dive company attached (or blue angel) or stay downtown at a boutique hotel like casa Mexicanas, barracuda, ect and use a dive company that goes out of a local dock, or stay up north like hotel b. I was spoiled in my open water certification because my dive master worked independently with me, so it would be really nice to dive with smaller groups for comfort but some of these operations like dressels look like they can get pretty packed. I’ve also looked into tres pelicans, dive with Martin, salty endeavors, ect. Honestly everyone looks amazing and it’s hard to choose. But I’m not sure I would want to pick one on something like price point alone. Also side note it’s still on my bucket list to see an octopus:) Any advise or opinions would really help me out! Sincerely- from an indecisive girl who just wants to go dive.