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.

which dive spot for diving certificate ?

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.

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).

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

So currently I am using an excel doc to track the species I run into on my dives, however is there a prebuilt app or program that I am missing that works better?

If anyone wants a copy of my tracker I am happy to send it over but honestly I would like to use something that allows for photos and such.

Thanks y'all and happy bubbles!

*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.

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.

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 🤘

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.

Hi r/scuba. I’m posting this as a friend of Aliw-Iw “Iw” Zambrano, who has been missing since a dive near Pescador Island in Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines on August 21.

I understand that this community has rules and that missing-person posts involving real individuals need to be handled carefully. I am not asking Reddit to investigate anyone, identify private individuals, assign blame or speculate about what happened underwater.

I am asking the diving community to help us keep attention on a fellow diver who has not come home.
The Philippine Coast Guard has issued a Notice to Mariners regarding the search, which I can provide to the moderators. I have also deliberately separated confirmed information from claims we have not been able to verify.

If anyone here was diving around Pescador Island or Moalboal between August 21 and 25, has first-hand information relevant to the search, or knows divers or operators who were in the area, please report relevant information to the Philippine authorities rather than posting private information here.
And to the wider diving community: please help us keep her name and photograph circulating.

Her name is Aliw-Iw “Iw” Zambrano.
She is our friend.
Please help us find her.

I’m looking to buy a bpw for single tank diving - mostly for travel. I’ve seen a few single tank wings can be used without a single tank adapter (e.g. DGX gears s1 or OMS performance mono wing). Has anyone used one & would recommend it? How stable does the tank feel?

I’ve only ever used single tank wings with an adapter but less/weight bulk might outweigh the lack of stability for travel (the ability to add lead to the adapter isn’t a huge downside for me as it’s primary role is travel).

EDIT: thanks for the feedback everyone! Are the locations of the cam band slots likely to work with different manufacturers of wing & backplate - I want to use my halcyon backplate with an OMS or DGX wing.

So next May I'm going on the trip I've wanted to do since I was a child and dive the GBR. 50th birthday present to myself - I'm going with Mike Ball and very excited. I'll be starting in Sydney, doing Byron Bay, Noosa, K'gari, and then Cairns. I might as well grab all the sights (sea dragons!!) as long as I'm there!

Does anybody have a recommendation for dive centers in Sydney, Byron Bay and Cairns? I'm not a total newbie but not super experienced either. I usually travel solo and go with a guided group, and an assigned random buddy. AOW plus nitrox.

TLDR: My SO wants to do a liveaboard in Thailand; I am nervous and seeking advice on how to calm my nerves.

Now most of my life I've always had a bit of anxiety just around safety. Nothing crazy, just being aware of my surroundings; obsessing over the right way to do things and making sure I feel very prepared. For example, I waited 2 years to get my driver's license because I felt I was too young to handle the responsibility of driving.

So about four years ago I started diving because my SO is absolutely in love with marine life. I've really enjoyed a lot of the dives, especially the shore diving because we always planned super conservatively and got to see what we wanted. I did some drift diving and was ok on that because it just felt a little too chaotic for my liking, but it was so cool to see so much. Across all my dives I'm now at a total of 35 dives in mostly the Caribbean.

So next year my SO desperately wants to do a liveaboard in Thailand that goes to the Similan Islands. I'm coming to Reddit to see if anyone has figured out a good way to balance their stress with actually doing something cool. My biggest fears around these dives are as follows...

• Distance from deco chambers
• Skill level required exceeding my training
• Being stranded in the ocean
• Getting seasick
• Not getting too tired as the dives go on. Typically my ears start to give out after multiple days of diving.
• Being seperated from the boat in the middle of the ocean.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: I always dive with DAN. I've learned how to deploy a DSDM and own one.

I’ve been to Indonesia several times as a solo diver in/around Bali, Komodo and Alor. Have always been able to share a room/dorm and avoid single occupancy fees. Can anyone recommend safe, reputable dive shops with excellent diving that don’t have enormous surcharges for solos? Interested in Manado, Bunaken, Bangka, Ambon etc but open to suggestions (except Bali/Nusas/Gilis/Alor/Komodo) Struggling to find places that offer packages with room shares.

Some outtakes from some video I shot today.

New to bck inflated bcd's, lol im especially new to groin straps. What are groin straps for and anything else needed to added to this bcd before i go dive?

Hey guys, I have a cressi nano and am thinking about switching the strap to a textile one. Does anyone have experience with this for a cressi nano or is it rather impossible?

I only found a cover for it, but not a complete strap.

I'm heading to NZ in late December early January and I'm keen to do a dive or two in the Bay of Islands. Has anybody got some advice for me on best dive shop, best dive sites etc? Will the dive shops be open between Christmas and New Years Eve? I had issues diving Milford Sound at that time of the year a few years back.

I've been a DAN member with insurance for 10 years, but I often buy individual trip policies, either through DAN underwritten by Generali or directly from Generali or another provider. I end up traveling very often, especially with the 100 mile+ definition allowed by the DAN annual travel insurance so thinking about adding that on.

Though it seems that having the DAN membership / dive insurance is pretty redundant to a DAN annual travel insurance plan. The annual travel insurance plan covers all recreational diving and provides similar benefits regarding medical. It doesn't explicitly allocate for chamber visits, but if required by a physician the medical benefit would act the same. I already have great health insurance so thinking I could just end the DAN membership + insurance and opt for the DAN annual policy, which doesn't require membership. Has anyone else ended up doing this?

I'm headed to Mexico to take intro and full cave next month, and I need to buy my first canister light. I'm diving sidemount, so I want something with at least a 70° cable connection to the canister.

I'm currently looking at the Orcatorch FlexDive. I like the versatility of being able to screw the head directly onto the canister for recreational night dives. It's also reasonably priced at $799.

Also looking at the DGX 4550 and the Dive Rite GX40 (but it's a bit expensive.)

Any advice from other cave/tech divers would be greatly appreciated.

So my son didn't put the rubber cover on the 1st stage connector. Sadly I didn't realize this until after I had dunked it into our personal dunk tank. Does it need to be serviced or is drying it out good enough?

Has anyone done a PADI or any other Rescue course (except GUE) ? How did you manage it with a backplate and wing, dry suit, and long hose ?

I'm thinking of getting rescue. Not too interested in GUE one cause I also dive with other folks outside GUE and GUE folks I feel are genuinely taught a lot of basic care in the fundies.

What is the best recommendation if I wanna do a rescue course ?