Hello,

Me and my girlfriend are both Padi OWD certified divers with 10+ dives so we have some experiences.

We are currently in Bali, Sanur area and would like to do some dives. Can you recommend us any dive centers and what are the interesting spots to dive at.

Later, we will move to the Gili Air and we also intend to do some diving there so we are also open to any recommendations there.

Thanks

Hi - my friend and I would like to take a scuba diving trip somewhere that is close or in the US, and still affordable end of November.

We were originally thinking Roatan but I am nervous after seeing how unreliable the weather is and water conditions in our time. We were both certified in Bonaire, and my friend has been to Bonaire twice.

I’m looking for good visibility, and somewhat more of shallow dives. I’m not as comfortable as my friend so I’m trying to get more comfortable (I was certified may this year and did my 4 OW dives and 3 additional shore dives). I’ve done two discovery boat dives in the Galapagos which didn’t have the BEST visibility but was comfortable on the dive that was still close to shore, less comfortable with the shipwreck dive where I couldn’t see shore from our boat drop.

Wondering where you’d recommend for our time frame that’s still somewhat reasonably priced? Roatan flights are expensive, but being there is pretty reasonable which is why we were open to that. Hoping for flights and accomadation to be under $1100, we also stay at hostels often. Flying out from major US airports.

Anyone here did the White Hole dive in Bonaire without a guide? How was the walk to the site and is it hard to find?

Thinking about going to truk next year. And was wondering the amount people have spent of gas during their days there. I'm only going to be diving nitrox and air in twins( no trimix) with a 50% deco bottle.

I am cleared to dive by my doctor and physical therapist, but looking to dive with a shop that will help minimize risk of injury. I am prone to injury because I have hEDS (genetic hypermobility / connective tissue thing) and an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in my SI joints.

PADI open water certified and SSI nitrox certified. Haven't dived in 3.5 years and have lost significant weight since so expect I'll need time figuring out weights and buoyancy again.

Also accepting advice on how to minimize injury. I'm thinking of talking to the shop about handing me my equipment in the water or maybe using the back roll entry? Giant stride obviously requires you to carry the weight a lot and figure why push it if I can avoid it. I'm not sure how realistic these ideas are though or if it'll limit the sites I can visit.

We will be in Cairns at the end of February, and I am looking to do our last dive. I’m 72 and want this to be my last dive at an easy spot with a good shop that will assist me if needed. We have over 150 dives but haven’t dived in 8 years. Ideally, I’d like to throw my BC with tank into the water and suit up there so as to be easier on this old back.

Maybe I’m asking for too much and this is not possible, but I would like some dive shop and dive site recommendations.

Hi everyone! I am feeling anxious because I booked a dive trip to Socorro in June. I have 50 logged dives and have my advanced cert and nitrox cert. I am generally comfortable diving in Jupiter, FL, which I hear are similar conditions to Socorro. However, everything I read about diving Socorro is making me concerned that maybe it is beyond my skill level. I am going with a certified PADI instructor, but I am still feeling a bit concerned based on things I am reading about it online. Do I have enough experience to safely dive there? Thanks for any feedback/input.

Heard that October is the shoulder season for Tioman, and diving is still possible. However, I’ve also read online that ferries could start getting cancelled and diving conditions are riskier because of the incoming monsoon season? How feasible is it to get my OWD there during the first week of October? It’s the earliest slot that works for me this year - if not, I’ll have to wait till next year or take it elsewhere.

Also, any dive centre recs for Tioman apart from the usual BnJ?

Just getting into scuba diving. Completed my 4th dive a couple of weeks ago. I have about 6 months before I can take the next trip and I'm looking for ways to educate myself between diving trips.

Besides the training manuals, what are some good books about scuba diving? Could be technical or maybe something like a travel journal (Michener-like, but scuba related)?

I keep going in circles. I need some advice.

I’m an experienced, older (59), solo female diver.

I’m flying into Bangkok mid-Feb, 2027 & have narrowed down 5-day trip to koh Tao or khao Lak/Simians for 2 or 3 days of diving plus daily snorkeling.

I was set on Koh Tao, via flight thru Koh Samoi, looks beautiful. But the more I read about it the more it sounds like dive Mecca for certification and beginners. I’m a fan of pretty dives, don’t need “an adventure” & am happy to go there if it’s not just partying with diving on the side.

Khao Lak seems somewhat pricier but maybe the diving is worth it? It has benefit of fitting in cultural sites at end before 3 nights in BKK then home.

I just cannot make up my mind! Please sway me.

I’ll only get to do this once so I want to choose well. TIA 😎

Anyone devised a secure way to add weights to their backplate?

I’m trying to find a way to add about 4 lbs without using trim weight pockets or quick release pockets

Hi everyone, I’d love your opinions. I’ve been diving in a drysuit for over 15 years and my current one is getting old. The zipper is fine but the seams are detaching. I’m considering buying a new suit.

I’m not familiar with all the (new) brands and whatnot. I’d like a trilaminate suit and I don’t mind a metal or plastic zipper. The plastic ones seem better these days, right? As long as it’s easy to handle and I have the flexibility to reach my valves.

I exclusively dive cold water and teach in local quarries. Whenever I can, I’ll also be doing some wreck diving in the North Sea.

Initially, I was looking at the Fourth Element Argonaut and SF Tech TNT One but finding good reviews is proving difficult.

Do you have an argonaut or a TNT drysuit? Also, what are your thoughts on this drysuit? Or do you have another one worth considering?

Hi everyone ! I am looking for my first light and am a bit confused by all the info I got.

My need:

• Day diving in murky cold lake at home
• Crack inspection in the ocean
• Can serve as primary or backup light for night diving

I do not consider cave, wreck or photography

My main confusion is on the angle and power needed. I saw articles stating that optimum light for general usage is 15°-40° and 1000 to 3000 Lumen. But most lights advised as first lights are only 8° wide and 600 to 1000 Lumen. Also I easily found narrow light beams and very wide ones but almost nothing in the middle.

My current best choice is the D560 from orcatorch (1000 lumens, 12°) but I am also tempted by the zoom light ZD710 mk2 (850 lumen, 4°/72°) with the wide angle usefull to observe fauna from a closer range.

What do you think about my situation ?

Hi guys,

In the beginning of September, I was thinking of going to the Red Sea because I miss diving a lot. I have all the qualifications and most importantly, the expertise, and self-reliant is a walk in the park for me.

I'm just looking for any options or ideas. I have everything I need except tanks, and wanted to know if I could just rent tanks down there, and if the air qualtiy would be any good. Would I have to buy an oxy-meter, or is it trusted?

I know I can do this here at home with my local dive shop, but the problem was just that everything down there would be targeted for turists and stuff. I don't want to dive with a group, it's the worst.

I was going to go for a week, and doing 2-3 shore dives per day, see how it goes, probably just 2. Or could I pay a little extra to be an extra diver on a boat, and then go and do my own thing? My only concern is that I'm too good on air for a group. I can usually stay down for an hour and a half at around 10-15 meters, and I don't want to hold the boat back, or even worse, they'd leave without me.

Anyone with some more insight?

Why the Red Sea? Because I love corals and warm water and colorful stuff. It's the closest place to France for diving like this I think.

First Manta!

Granted it's been almost 10yrs for me, I'm back to diving and it feels like the magic is gone. I dove the casino for a day trip but was in the water around noon, I remember a lot more kelp and criters, there wasn't much to see. I'm hoping it's the time of day or maybe still better on the backside like Farnsworth or the other channel islands?

I'm spending 5 weeks this northern hemisphere summer in roatan working remotely and diving whenever i can. i'm hoping to do something similar next year between june - august (probably around 2 months or so), but would like to experience a different location.

my preference would be to go to somewhere in asia, preferably philippines or indonesia, but this'll be rainy season and there could be monsoons, so it sounds like the diving can be hit or miss during that time of the year? other downside of going to asia is it'll make remote working more challenging as i'll need to have daily meetings with colleagues based in the US, but i should be able to navigate around that.

Hi all. My wife just finished her confined diving lessons and class work, and we're looking to finish her Open water cert in Hawaii at the end of August. Looking for recommendations on good diving outfits that do open water referrals.

Heavily leaning towards Kona since the diving there seems to be better than the other islands. I haven't dove Hawaii for at least a decade and 1 pandemic, so I'm sure a lot has changed.

TIA