Just wanted to see if anyone had gone through something similar and ended up diving again. A few years ago I had a seizure, led to finding out I had a brain tumor. Underwent surgery, chemo, radiation, etc. On medication since, been seizure free since.
Anyone come back from a similar experience?

Hey guys, i recently buyed the Aqualung i300c diving computer.

Its working fine, was used for 66 dives so far.

Got it for 80€ - good price or meh?

I finished my open water course about 2 weeks ago, and have 13 total dives (4 from OW and 9 after). I have a Hollis ST Elite BP/W setup, with the steel backplate. I like having pockets, and with the Hollis ditchable weight pockets, that's not really an option, they take up too much space on the waist webbing.

I've found that I need very little weight. So far, these dives have been successful with my current BP/W:

• 2 lbs fresh water 80 aluminum + 3/2 mm wet suit
• 0 lbs salt water 100 aluminum - no wet suit
• 2 lbs salt water 80 aluminum - no wet suit

I might even be able to get away with 0 lbs with no wet suit and an AL 80 in salt water, I'm not sure yet. My wet suit isn't a super nice one, it's this cheap 3/2 from Amazon, which I assume means it won't be as buoyant but I'm not certain: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBLJXB55?th=1

I'm about to do a salt water dive, in that wet suit, and trying to figure out how to manage weight.

I'm trying to figure out how to have pockets, like I want, but also have enough weight in the right places. So far I've been sticking that 2 lbs in a trim pocket on the top strap of my tank, because I'm foot heavy and it helps counter that. From what I'm finding, I'll need 6-8 lbs in that 3/2 wet suit in salt water.

The issue is mostly around placement, not available pockets for the amount of weight. I have the Hollis ditchable pockets that hold plenty, but they take all of my "belt" webbing space on my BCD. I tried to stick thinner non-ditchable weight pockets next to the normal pockets I wanted to use, but the two together take up enough space that I can't get the belt tight around my waist.

Right now I'm leaning towards sticking all the required weight in two trim pockets on my tank, one low one high, but there's a "smell" to all my weight being non-ditchable, and I'm not sure what to do about that. In an emergency I could pull out weights that were on my waist, even if they weren't quickly ditchable, but there is no way I can reach my back. But it also feels like 6-8 lbs is pretty inconsequential compared to other amounts of weight that I see commonly mentioned here.

I swim in Florida year round in pools for work and with winter coming up I’m getting a new dry suit. The pool water gets into the high 40s and 50s and I’d need it to be very durable and resistant to punctures. I prefer the zipper in the front as that makes it easier for me to get on and off since I will be by myself the majority of the time. Any recommendations?

I’m an experienced diver, currently at PADI Rescue and considering the Divemaster path. In a year or two my kids (15 and 12) will be taking their OW course, and I’d really love to observe their open‑water dives. I do not wish to participate, assist, or interfere.

My goal is simply to watch their OW journey and then help them digest the information afterward, maybe reinforce concepts or add supplemental explanations once the instructor has finished teaching. I’m not talking about being involved in the classroom or pool sessions, just quietly observing the OW portion.

I would make it very clear to both the instructor and my kids that:

• I’m not part of the class
• I won’t help, assist, or respond to signals
• I won’t interact with them underwater
• I’ll stay as far away as the instructor wants

Basically: I want to be present, but invisible.

Assume this would be in the Caribbean with warm water and good visibility.

Is this allowed?
Is it appropriate to ask?

I don’t want to step on the instructor’s toes, I just want to watch their first real dives and be able to support their learning afterward.

Edit: Thank you for all your responses. This was hypothetical question for the future, and the feedback has been helpful and quite humbling. Happy bubbles and thanks for your time, Scuba Community.

A guy online has this regulator for sale. I don't want to buy it, but I don't recognize the logo. What is it?

I'm looking for a nice resort that has a good shore dive that they will let me dive solo, whenever the mood strikes me and also will provide me with redundant air to make it safe(er). I'm solo certified and have done more solo dives then most people have dives. The only place I really know that qualifies is really far away in Indonesia. I won't name it because​ thats not their general policy, but my solo certification was from the owner on those exact reefs so they were willing to accommodate me. I'm in seattle, so something, luxurious that doesn't take 2 days to get to. Thanks.

How does the diving in Hurghada compare to Bonaire and Roatan (which I am familiar with)?

I’m asking specifically about the quality of the reef, abundance of fish, clarity of the water, etc.

Thanks!

I just updated this video I made a year ago and figured I’d share it with this community, especially since it sounds like the wildlife in Roatán is making a comeback. I hope to visit there again soon, it was probably the best trip I’ve ever been on!

Hello!

I am very lucky to have a work conference taking place in French Polynesia in June 2027. It looks like this conference (in Moorea) will line up perfectly with the projected grouper spawning ~June 19, 2027 in Fakarava a week or so after conference

I have my open water certification and about 90 dives under my belt, BUT I haven’t been diving in 2+ years and I have very little drift experience (especially over blue water). I did my OW training in stormy winter weather with 0 visibility near Vancouver if that is at all relevant.

That said, between now and June, I will be in Mexico for a week in February and heading to Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia in April to dive with the whale sharks.

I’m thinking between now and Fakarava I want to do a refresher course at home, an AOW course either at home or in Mexico, multiple dives on Ningaloo Reef and navy pier in Exmouth, WA and then looking at a tour that includes 8 or 9 dives in north Fakarava before the grouper drift dives in south Fakarava

Skill wise I think I’ll be fairly confident being back in the saddle again. But part of me is feeling imposter syndrome in that I know this is a remote place hardcore divers go for a specific event (ie: the groupers) and I worry I’ll feel like a n00b or just out of my element or [not even sure what]

Given my outline above, by the time June 2027 rolls around do you think I’d be adequately prepared to hang with the other types of people making the trek all the way there? I have so aspirations of being anything more than a novice in those conditions but I want to have fun and feel safe and meet some interesting people

Thanks for your advice and support!

Hello fellow fish!! A few friends and I are considering going to Belize in December and fell in love with Itza Resort. I am looking for any reviews or other recommendations from yall!! They don’t post much on Facebook so I wanted to hear some recent firsthand experiences! Thank you! 🪸💙🪼

Hey everyone! I’ll be heading to Destin for a few days in the middle of October. What type of exposure protection would everyone recommend? I have a 7mm and a drysuit and would rather not use either. I’m currently looking into one of the shops there to take me out for a couple dives. Are there any places for shore dives as well?

I am looking to buy my first reg
I will be diving a lot in Germany, and hopefully also in tropical locations, so I need something that works in cold water. I was looking for 2 first stages and 2 second stages.

I have the opportunity to get a second hand set of regs of TDS proteus for 430€. According to the shop it is equivalent to the apeks DS4 + xtx50 that I rent from my club.

Does anybody have experience with this brand ? Is it effectively equivalent to the Apeks ?

Happy to have other recommendations on how to get a good reg, but also cheap. I have had lots of success with second hand for the moment.

Hello divers.

My gf and I are going to dive this weekend after recently acquiring our OW, (in a really calm area with no current).

This weekend we go to nusa lembongan (near Bali) and their we will have some drift / current dives. The center said it was beginner friendly and that they bring beginners everyday.

Still I'd like to come with some knowledge.

What should we know about diving in those conditions ?

Some questions I have, maybe you have the answer:

How does drifting or current affect going back to the boat after the dive ?

How does it affect the whole navigation / movement ?

How do you actually have control over yourself ?

This kind of things.

Thanks for the help

I absolutely love snorkeling. I’ve done countless snorkeling trips in the Caribbean and Florida. I’ve talked about trying scuba diving for years. Like 20. I’ve always made excuses not to but I finally decided to try it in a recent trip to Curacao. I absolutely hated it! I figured out how to breathe rather quickly but I felt completely out of control. It was a bit dream crushing as I was convinced I would love it and go on to get my open water certification.

Any advice from the scuba drivers out there? Is it just not for me or is there something else I can try?

Edit. Good point to expand upon “out of control”. I was all over the place. Up, down no matter what I did with my breathing. I know that takes practice. I also had the thought in the back of my mind, it would suck to have a panic attack right now. I don’t get them often and I was fine. Which was actually helpful going forward. I also had a hard time adjusting to the pressure. I was so focused on making it through the dive I don’t even remember seeing the cool stuff.

I guess I feel a bit discouraged because all I hear is how much everyone loved discovery scuba. It felt a bit rushed for me.

This is a follow up from a previous post. Do you think this Mares Avanti Quattro + fin fits properly? I’m a size 11 shoe and this is a size Regular fin. The strap is pretty snug on my heel? They do have extensions/extenders/spacers that can be purchased to help lengthen the strap. My foot slides in with minimal effort and does feel pretty snug inside the pocket.
Thoughts?

Empt out your BCD, Go into the water, and then remain at a neutral trim while continuously exhaling without kicking your fins? or should your trimp be negative (like the picture to the left) and you do a modified fltuter kick/flutter kick slowly? At the same time, how do we ensure we are not descending too fast and cannot equalize becasue of it?

Hello! I've done a lot of research on GF and the Buhlmann algorithm.
I still cannot figure out what is the most commonly "accepted" GF setup, given that nowadays research suggests that a "low" GF low is not ideal.

My idea is somewhere between 50/70 to 65/85.

I'm a reasonably fit young man but I dive from the shore or have kind of a walk carrying my own equipment before and after the dive, so I wouldn't go too high on the GF as some physical stress is involved anyway.

Please, only answers based on actual verifiable evidence. Thanks

Does the following fin look to be too small? As you can see my boot hangs outside the pocket around 2 inches. If I go a size up, my foot is flopping around inside the pocket. The 4th picture is my current fin and it fits fine.

So i did my first ocean dive 3 weeks ago down in san carlos and got HOOKED to being in the ocean. Im doing a 7 day liveaboard out in los cabos in two weeks and two things have occurred to me seeing different dive post.

1. My air consumption and being paired with someone way more experienced. Im not air hog but ive read quite a few stories of someone's dive being ruined cause of their dive buddy ran out of air in 35 40 minutes. Do they pair inexperienced people with others of that same level? I can usually get about 50 minutes doing breathing techniques i was shown by a good instructor and also how deep i dive but im not trying to be that guy who ruins someone else's trip.

2. Since it was a last minute decision to do this, cabin of choice wasnt much of a option so banking question. Has anyone ever dealt with someone who snores?

Edit: I have 32 dives already with my aow, deep, night/ low viz, nav, and stress and rescue. The san carlos trip was my first ocean dive.

People who do a lot of air travel to scuba destinations, tell me what you have found you appreciate in a checked bag.

I usually dive places I am able to drive to or as part of an excursion from a cruise ship. I often find myself packing somewhat wet gear when leaving a cruise and suspect that will be even worse if I do a live board.

I'm considering buying either a pelican air case or a stahlsac steel, both in the largest check size available. I already own a smaller pelican and appreciate I can throw anything in it even if it's nasty, but I'm wondering if some ability to organize and separate things is something I would wish I had later on. What do you travel with, and what do you like/dislike about it?

So if you travel a lot, tell me the tips and tricks you wish you knew about luggage that took you finding out the hard way.

I am traveling from Austria to Copenhagen with my family for about three days at the end of October. Is it worth taking one day to go diving in Copenhagen? Which dive center would you recommend for renting equipment and booking a guide? I am an AOWD diver with a dry suit certification and used to cold water.

What happens when they get complaints against professionals? Have you ever been complained by? Have you ever complained? Does it hold up if it is true? I see they have a small suspended and revoked list? Doesn’t it have to be something major like multiple complaints or like what happened in the Maldives a few months ago?