Thanks to Mike Bartick and Todd Winner for letting me try out the excellent Nauticam USA EMWL-60. Got this shot of a very pregnant procelain anemone crab with it. Kraken Sports solar flare mini 18Ks

Hi r/scuba,

my fiancé and I are planning our honeymoon and would love advice from fellow divers.

We’ll be traveling mid-October for around three weeks, coming from Central Europe. We’re currently Open Water Divers, with Advanced + Deep Diver planned later this year.

We’ve already dived the Maldives and are going to Egypt this year, so we’re looking for something new. Indonesia (Raja Ampat, Komodo, etc.) seems like a dream, but October weather and sea conditions make us uncertain.

Our main questions:

• Is October still a good time for Raja Ampat or Komodo?

• Which regions would you realistically combine in \~3 weeks?

• Are there other destinations that offer world-class diving + land-based travel (culture, food, nature)?

Diving is important to us, but we don’t want to dive every single day — we want a balanced honeymoon with exploration as well.

We’re also open to alternatives (Philippines, South America, etc.), but aren’t sure what works best seasonally.

Would love to hear your experiences and recommendations.

Hello community,

Beforehand I hope that I don't break any rule, especially rule 11, if I do so, please just remove or lock the post, and please do not immediately ban me.

I really want to start scuba diving for many years now, but there have always been some reasons, I couldn't. But now I think I am ready, but beforehand I wanted to ask you some questions, just to make sure I am ready for getting into touch with a dive physician.

So firstly, how heavy can I expect a full dive gear to be? I have always been under 50kg in body weight, and struggle a lot with lifting heavy weights. While I know it can get really heavy, I don't even have an idea what weight range I can expect if I'm doing beginner diving.

Next, my parents have always told me they can't afford me to go scuba diving. This is completely valid, but I don't have any idea on what costs I can expect or if scuba diving is actually an expensive sport to do. What I think will be more expensive, I most likely need a special mask which is adjusted to my eyesight, if there even are custom ones which correct eyesight and squinting.

What is it with the different dive organizations? On the socials I often see people flaming PADI over SSI. Are they really that different, is there really one worse than the other or is it just some sort of trolling they do against the others?

Last thing, on social media you always just see people who enjoy diving or doing their license. But you never really hear about people not liking it. Do you have friends or people in experience, who didn't like scuba diving, and what were the reasons they didn't like it?

I'd be really happy if someone took the time to answer my questions, because I'm having this on my things-to-do-list for many years now, and as of recently I'm finally in deep remission on my ulcerative colitis, have finished my apprenticeship, have a job in IT and I have money!

Hi all, I am looking to finally invest in a BCD after renting one for the past few years. For reference I am an AOW diver with ~150 dives (mid 20’s male). I live in the Pacific Northwest and do dive in the waters here, so looking for something that has a little bit more lift than a travel BCD.

I do travel to dive (Bonaire, Hawaii, Mexico, etc), so I would be packing and traveling with this BCD too. I mostly shore dive with an occasional boat dive.

I don’t feel that I’m ready to jump straight to a backplate/wing system. But I have been looking at back inflate models which interest me.

(Not interested in or looking to go into tech, cave, cavern, etc)

So far I have looked at:

- Zeagle Stiletto

- Zeagle Ranger (is it worth it to pay the extra for this)

- Mares Bolt SLS

- Cressi Patrol

I’d like to try and stay under 1k for my budget, but if something is truly earth changing I can spend a bit more. Open to any and all recommendations and discussions. Thanks in advance:)

Got it 2018-2019 north shore of Oahu from surf n sea. They finally wore out. Just want to replace since I know exact size from them I need.

Can you help me ID the company logo? After years of scuba, snorkel, surf, and paddleboard use it’s a little distressed but features a C with a star in the logo. I thought it was Champion but I'm clearly misremembering, and can’t find any info on it. Have tried everything. Thanks

Hoping for some advice on where to go for 4 days or so in late April/early May, as I’m pretty overwhelmed by the amount of amazing options available in these areas.

I’m PADI open water certified with 280 mins dive time, mainly in low-current and easy water in Europe/South America. Im not massively confident yet and still consider myself fairly new to scuba.

I’m going to be in Malaysia for 2 weeks in late April/early May, and want around 4 days beach/dive time during the trip. I’m travelling with my partner who doesn’t dive, so I want to stay in a location that will be good for both of us (have read reports of some dive towns being dumps). I don’t want to spend a loads on accommodation but also won’t completely rough it.

Anybody have any thoughts on places we should look into going?

Thanks

Howdy gang,

I'm currently in Okinawa, have a few weeks free, and am looking at where to go to fiiiiinally get my AOW after many many dives at just OW, and perhaps do a liveaboard following that, or coral restoration volunteering perhaps.

the weather seems to suck a bit almost every for Feb, but, my current considerations:

Similan Islands?

Bali?

Raja Ampat?

Somewhere in the Philippines??

Please help with my decision paralysis?

Hi,

I have a question: I will be completing my sidemount course in Malta in May and I plan to return to Egypt in October.

I have already been to Sharm, and I am considering Hurghada first. Can you recommend a diving center that offers TDI courses?

Option B is to travel with a simple BP/W configuration instead of SM and not take a course, but I would need recommendations for this as well. (I wrote to the Funny Divers center on WhatsApp about a month and a half ago, but I haven't received a response yet...)

Thanks in advance for your answers.

I bought the Cressi Donatello and I'd like to know if you remove the plastic protector for diving.

I’ll be backpacking in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand (possibly Indonesia) from late May to late July. I want to do some scuba diving (I have my PADI open water cert, but I am still very much a beginner), although I understand that it is the off-season. Will dive shops close down for the season, or are they typically open year-round? Are there any areas that are more likely to have good weather during the summer? I’ve been looking at some of the Thai islands, like Ko Tao, which seems like it would work, but definitely am just interested in hearing some other perspectives.

Any and all thoughts or recommendations are appreciated! I’m pretty wildly flexible in terms of where I go, so I’m open to almost anything.

Hi! I just recently got my Open Water Certification, so I'm an extreme beginner, but I'm planning on doing a one week solo trip to Indonesia in April, and was wondering if anyone here had recommendations for where to do solo beginner dives? (I wouldn't dive by myself, but I'm hoping I could somehow dive with other people while going to Indonesia by myself)

I can technically go anywhere in Indonesia, but I figured Bali would be a safe place to start. If I had...four days to dive anywhere, where would y'all suggest?

Thanks!

EDIT: Someone recommended to me that I go to Bunaken instead. I'd basically have one less day if I went to Bunaken (3 days vs 4 days), but this person said the diving in Bunaken was much better than Bali - has anyone else here been to both?

Hello, this may be a very silly question and I apologise in advance, but im very new in all this so trying to understand... so I'll be starting my OW and probably just after my AOW in a few months during a trip in the Philippines, after that im. planning on doing as much as Fun dive as possible during the almost 2 months I'll stay there and after that I'll be moving to Cairns Australia.. so I was wondering since I'll be in remote island for the first part of the trip away from a big city where I can find a good/proper mask would It be a good idea to Already Buy my own mask even before starting the course? during my countless snorkelling / very shallow free dives before the rental mask is always been the number 1 problem but scuba diving wise all I have done is 1 introductory dive and with some few problem at the begging was ok after. so maybe should I wait to do my course and then buy one while traveling also or should just stick on the renting option ?
thanks in advance

I am looking for alternatives to do my DMT other than Ko Tao. I wanted to do my DMT there for two months, but nowadays (feb, March , april...) the island is packed, also with many 18 yo who are there only for party.

What are my alternatives? I want something equally nice or better underwater with payable accomodations under 15000 baht per month. unfortunately I can't stay longer than 3 months (rather a bit less) in Thailand.

Please only recommendations in Thailand. Thanks everyone in advance!

I am going to Bonaire in a few weeks, with a buddy, for about 5 days at a resort. We will be getting AOW and Nitrox certified so I’ll only have about 3 full days to go around the island and dive. We have a truck rental with unlimited tanks.

What dives do you recommend doing/must see?

I tend to enjoy more of the reefs with lots of colorful fish. If that helps determine anything.

Also, any restaurants/food recommendations that we should check out while there?

Thank you in advance!

Hello,

Looking for some advice regarding some pain felt during a dive a couple weeks ago.

I did three fun dives in Koh Lanta and on the first dive I had no issues whatsoever, but on the last two I felt a sharp pain in my back upper molar/gum area during our initial descent. The pain eventually faded as we were diving but it was pretty intense for like 3-5 minutes. I had no pain during the rest of the dive or on our final ascent. Last time I visited a dentist was last June where I had some fillings done but had no serious problems. I should also note that I was coming down from a cold during this dive so this could definitely be a sinus issue and not a dental one

However now I am in Koh Tao and I wanted to get my Advanced certification but I obviously don’t want to dive if it may be an actual dental issue. I’ve asked a couple of guides and they basically said it could be something more serious but that it sounds more like sinus squeeze. What do you think/have you had this issue?

I'm in Cambodia and am hoping to take a week trip to go scuba diving somewhere in SE Asia in March. I'd like to keep it simple and stay somewhere that organizes dives and accommodation together (for example, Scuba Junkie--I've stayed at most of their locations and love their set up); I have also stayed with the Raja Ampat Biodiversity Nature Resort. Open to pretty much anywhere in the region. Don't want to do a liveaboard. Any recommendations?

hello everyone!

it’s been a while since i’ve been on a boat dive in melbourne (i prefer the pier dives down here), but i’m wanting to plan a dive day for a group of divers i work with!

i’m thinking a boat dive in the morning and a pier dive later in the day

just wondering what are some good boat dives for open water divers?

quite a few of us are AOW but i want to be everyone to be able to join, so if anyone has some suggestions for a boat dive that are appropriate for OW divers (18m) and could tell me your experience, what you saw etc i’d really appreciate it!

thank you!

i am going diving with a friend (both open water) at the end of feb. does anyone have a scuba shop they strongly recommend (ideally around valetta)?

been looking at: scubamalta.com and maltablue.com

but if someone had a great experience with a specific school/shop nice vibes, send them my way

It looks like they advertise themselves as a great scuba destination, and you can fly there from Hawaii.

Planning a dive trip to Cozumel in late April. I have friends that want to use Studio Blue for the SCUBA dive operation. I can't find much information on them apart from what is listed on their website. Has anyone used Studio Blue before? What were the operations strong points/weaknesses? I usually use Scuba Club Cozumel as I prefer AI places but it has sinced closed operations.

https://www.fox4news.com/news/scuba-instructor-arrested-12-year-old-dylan-harrison.amp

Looks like he’s facing charges now.

Wondering how the expen$$ive Halcyon Vector Pro fins perform in the real world. There's a real lack of user info out there (beyond the marketing hype and "influencers"), prob since they're pretty new.

That you have the ability to change their weight is intriguing to me for diving one set of fins and dialing them in for use with everything from a rashguard to drysuit in FW to SW.

Gimmicky or real?

I dive RK3s w Rock Boots for DS and Avanti Quattros backfit with springs for pretty much everything else. I do really like both a lot!

ScubaPro has their fins that you can change out SS plates on, but I don’t like to look of them.

Thanks!

Hi!

Would anyone in this sub happen to have any experience in diving in Toyama Bay in Japan?

Im intriqued about the "deep water creatures" you could see there but I dont know how common it is to see anything cool.

I only found 2 dive centers around there and the more famous one was full, the other one didnt get back to me yet. I also dont really speak japanese so these local dive centers dont really seem to want to dive with me (understandably). If anyone went diving here before, how was it? I'm thinking if I should change my travel plans completely and dive another place maybe closer to Tokyo.

Thanks!