Regulators and tanks are critical to scuba diving, that’s obvious. But if you want to get any enjoyment out of the adventure, a good face mask is essential. What makes one good? Item number one on the list is fit. A diving mask has to fit well the face of the individual diver. Otherwise, all [...]
The computer revolution of the 1980s that led to ever smaller PCs wasn’t a boon only to business. Scuba divers, too, have benefited enormously from the electronics and miniaturization advances. The prime example of this is the dive computer. A dive computer is a wristwatch-like device that measures time and ambient pressure, temperature and sometimes [...]
It’s ironic in the extreme that even though a diver may be surrounded by millions of gallons of water, dehydration can be a serious problem. Dehydration occurs when a diver has inadequate water throughout the body. But why is this a problem? Because, as every Freshman biology major learns, water is essential to a dozen [...]
Snorkeling can be a great alternative to scuba diving. Sometimes you don’t yet have the training or equipment to scuba dive. Sometimes you’d like to ease into the sport slowly. And sometimes, even skilled scuba divers just want to enjoy swimming and looking around without the extra equipment, preparation and precautions that come with scuba [...]
Before entering the water it’s a good idea to learn a little very elementary physics. Divers don’t have to be scientists – though many are. But if you want to enjoy the experience a second time, a little knowledge goes a long way toward keeping you safe. Buoyancy and Archimedes Principle Common observation shows that [...]
Scuba diving is a great adventure. But it is also inherently risky. Novice divers learn early on during a certification class how to dive safely. That’s the only way to enjoy the dive, this time and in the future. Here are some tips on how to stay safe. Tip number one should be unnecessary, but [...]
There’s plenty of room for spontaneous exploring when you’re under the surface. You’ll find new, colorful species of fish, coral and dozens other interesting things to attract your attention. The excitement of exploring the unexpected is a large part of the fun. But the only way to do that safely and intelligently is to plan [...]
Ok, so the title is a little misleading. There really is no such thing as the perfect wetsuit. But many manufacturers have come surprisingly close. With almost a hundred years of design expertise and trial and error, they’ve had lots of practice. Whether you want a wetsuit, semi-drysuit or drysuit, will depend largely on the [...]
Scuba diving is a wonderful sport. Underwater you experience an amazing variety of plant and animal life, physical and sensory effects, an overall environment that simply isn’t possible topside. But diving has serious and real risks, too. Fortunately, with proper guidance and training those can be minimized easily in order to enjoy all the positive [...]
Think of scuba diving and images of James Bond wearing fins and sneaking up on the villain come to mind. Or, maybe your first thought is of Jacques Cousteau investigating the creatures of a coral reef. Both scenarios have entered popular culture for good reason – both reflect the adventure and wonder that characterize scuba [...]
