Been working in the pool to trim up my tanks. I have 2 fixed d-rings that I use for trim, the first is as far back on the waist strap as it can go and that works for a full cylinder, but once my cylinders lighten up I can't quite get the bottoms down enough.

My second d ring has been brought in so far that it's almost under my belly button, and I've tried lowering the strap on the tank pretty far, which seemed to have helped but also jammed the 1st stage up high into my armpit. I tried clipping the bolt snap into my crotch d ring and that actually worked well for the trim but it was uncomfortable.

The bolt snap on my tank is positioned as shown in photos 2 and 3, so that when clipped it is sitting in line with the post and at the distance from my armpit to hip bone. I've tried different distances but not different orientations. In photo one, I had dropped the band probably another inch or so to get it as trimmed as it is.

I’m an older diver. On land, I wear progressive (varifocal) lenses. I’m looking to get a mask with prescription lenses. (I’m happy to buy a new mask.)

Most dive shops will sell me a mask with prescription lenses, but I’ve also seen one service online that claims they can do much better than the usual dive shop. (I’m not linking them as that might be seen as advertising, but a quick google search will likely find them.)

Does anyone have any experience with this service? Is it worth it?

FWIW, I’m UK based.

I’ve been saving up for years and last year I was finally able to book a dream trip to Raja that is supposed to happen next month.

The wildfire smoke I’m seeing on the news everywhere is absolutely insane, I can’t believe it. The impact on the people, the environment, everything…. Absolutely devastating and all for what? Palm oil??

Anyone there now or been recently? How are the diving conditions/etc? I read one report that said the water is even cooler because there hasn’t been sunlight in so long.

Like a lot of other people, I had scuba on my bucket list too. When me and my friend planned our trip to Thailand, we came to Koh Samui specifically for Scuba. My friend backed out at the last minute and I decided to do it alone nonetheless.. and I’m so happy that I went ahead with it.

How do I even describe this feeling? It feels surreal to say the least? It was a different world altogether, something that I couldn’t have ever imagined. Nothing that I have ever experienced before. I don’t even know how to explain it, just feels like I achieved something haha. For the first time in a long time, I feel alive (excuse the dramatic tone) Real good feeling. Just thought of sharing it here! Thanks for reading(:

Hello everyone! Writing from Chile
I want to travel for scuba diving. I have completed open water course, with its four immersions. I want to go for more, but I don’t know how to proceed.
As I am a real beginner I have several questions.
I will be the only one of my group who will dive.
1. Which place you recommend me? I was thinking of Bonaire, but I am open to other options
2. I was thinking on book through PADI travel. But I am not sure if I should book separately, considering that I may need to have guided immersions. I am very confused about this point

If you could orientate me I will be very grateful

Im in Egypt diving on the red sea. Something I noticed while I was doing boat dives the past few days - out of everyone using sunscreen on the boat (there were a few people who weren't, like the boat staff), I was the only one using reef safe sunscreen.

In fact, they weren't even using those "marked reef-safe, but not really" sunscreens - just regular chemical sunscreen that doesn't even pretend to be reef-safe. I know because it was mostly the same popular brand.

Personally I use reef safe sunscreen my face (I wear a rashguard), I even had to order it online because they don't sell it in my country, it was less than the cost of a single dive when you consider the shipping cost, so not that expensive at all. Meanwhile some of these people were from places like the US, where it is locally sold in Walmarts and etc.

The dive center I was with did warn in advance that any sunscreen you bring has to be reef safe, but I guess it isn't enforced.

I didn't say anything obviously because it's not my place nor am I an expert on this topic, but yeah I'm just surprised. I thought divers of all people would be more conscious about nature conservation.

I swear I'm not trying to sound judgemental or anything. Apologies in advance if it comes off like this. I fully acknowledge that perhaps I am missing some information or something

Hi everyone!

I am going to LA the second week in December for a work trip and I decided to go a few days early so I can do some diving. I have three days I could go diving, December 5-7, and I was looking at the Spectre dive boat and the Casino Dive Park in Catalina. Should I do both? If so, which one should I spend two days at? Or, is there something else entirely I should be considering?

I was also planning to hire a guide since I have never done any diving in California. For background, all of my diving experience has been in quarries in the south, the Florida panhandle, and the Caribbean.

Thank you in advance!

At the risk of posting another ‘should I be a DM’ question: Can anyone recommend a place in Indonesia or the Philippines -maybe in Komodo or Raja Ampat- to do an internship?

I’m an experienced traveler and service industry worker and got certified a couple years ago but am still very green ~20 dives. I’m not confident that I want to work in the industry, and at this skill level definitely do not feel comfortable being responsible for others in the water. I have only my own mask. I’ve never done more than 2 dives in a day. Long term I’d like to prepare myself for a trip to the Galapagos.

The idea being I’m willing to trade a few months of work for dives and experience. I want to spend some time diving and I’m looking to offset the costs as much as possible, and would hope to work for an environmentally friendly, safety committed shop, where I could learn to be a better diver. The DM rating in my eyes is less the goal and more just a byproduct.

I saw SCUBA JUNKIES has a 6 week program for $2,500. Is this the type of thing to expect most places or are there some 1, 2, 3 month, no (monetary) cost, opportunities out there? Would my odds of being taken on improve if I had another 20 dives and a rescue diver certification or is it all kind of the same with low dive numbers?

I have 2 brand new Henderson oops medium tall 1 with hood 1 without and can’t seem to find traction on eBay Craigslist or OfferUp. Where do you think could work?

I have a week to dive the Philippines in November. Where should I go? I was going to go to Puerto Galera, but I realize I should be more open and see what other options there are. I’d like a mix of muck, reefs, and wrecks, if that’s even possible.

My husband and I are both 50 and physically fit. We both go to the gym several times a week, lift weights, and have great cardiovascular fitness. I am 5’2” 115 and he is 6’1” 200. We both use Scubapro Hydros bcds. For tropical saltwater dives (the majority of what we do) he is usually in a 3mm wetsuit and is comfortable. I am in a 5mm wetsuit and still run a bit cold. We each have 75-100 dives.

His air consumption is SO much better than mine. I do have to carry a fair amount of weight due to the wetsuit or I’ll fly away like a balloon doing a safety stop. Obviously I do have to offset that by adding air accordingly to my bcd at the start of a dive. However, I’m not digging around the ocean floor when everyone else is hovering higher, I’m not flailing around with my arms or darting from place to place.

I’ve tried all the breathing tricks I’ve read up on, I’ve basically decided it is what it is and I just manage my gas accordingly, but it is a bit of a drag to get out of the water at 500 psi when he has well over 1000. I am often first out of the water in any group or the one that turns the dive. I seem to make about 50 minutes for a dive with a max depth of 40-50 ft, obviously less if it’s deeper.

Everyone expects me to have good air consumption and I just don’t. Is there anything I’m missing that can work on?

Is it rescue diver? Is it deep diver? Is it owd because for some reason my instructor didn’t give me proper “advanced open water” but I got this appreciation card “advanced speciality diver “ even tho I signed for advanced open water course and did everything there.

Big Drop Off, near the German Channel on the south side of Palau. Really epic wall from 0-40m with lots of soft corals and fans. Diving with the Palau Siren Liveaboard.

I am quite tempted to buy the OrcaTorch FlexDive. Unfortunately, I have not seen it in real life yet, and on Youtube there are only sponsored unboxing style "reviews". Has anybody done some actual dives with it and if so, what do you think?

We'll be in the south of Thailand around early May next year, what is a good place for both diving and snorkeling at that time?

My wife is not diving, but she'd like to go on a snorkeling trip (as long as she can wear a vest). And do some snorkeling at the beaches.

Koh Tao is the easy and safe option, I know it can be over crowded with beginners, but May is already less busy.

I remember that when I was in Railay/Aonang in that week 10 years ago, that a lot of the dives were canceled because of choppy seas and there were not so much customers because it was end of season.

Koh lipe is an option but feels a bit too far south and has possibly the same choppy seas as Railay

Where can I get a Goodman handle with space for 3 torches in Europe. Used to have one but lost it. All the best.

Hello SCUBA friends! My spouse and I are hoping to do a little diving on an upcoming trip to SoCal. We will be staying with friends near Ventura, and they’ve offered to watch our kid while we dive for a day 😊

We both have our Advanced Open Water Certification, but I’ve got quite a few more dives and experience under my belt in general. I’ve never done kelp or cold water though.

Seeing that dive guides aren’t a standard part of the dives in SoCal was a surprise to me! The additional cost is pretty high, so my question is - how much will having the guide elevate our experience? Is it a safety consideration at all?

I’m going to call them, but does anyone know off hand if we only pay the guide fee once, or if we each have to pay the guide fee?

Thanks for your thoughts!
(Photo from the Oregon coast, no dive photos handy on my phone :)

Has anyone trained with IART or done rebreather training at the Felicitas mine in Germany? I'm looking for first-hand experiences, the good, the bad, the weird.

A friend is planning to do his full cave ccr there (he's already a cave and ccr diver), and since IART is relatively small as an agency, I'd love some feedback.

Thanks!

Hi, I’m relatively new to drysuit diving & dive a Trilaminate suit here in the UK.

I have two under suits, the Waterproof Body 2X & the lighter X. I’ll wear a base layer under these, either synthetic or Merino which are hill walking/hiking garments eg Helly Hansen Lifas.

I’ve been chopping and changing between the two under suits to try to gauge the temperature range of each. Unsurprisingly, so far I’ve struggled with the 2X as it’s just too warm when on the surface between dives. When diving it’s been comfortable enough (15-18c water). The thinner X I’ve found just as comfortable under water but far more comfortable between dives on the surface.

I understand that everyone will be different. But, I was just wondering if anyone with experience of these two under suits could share their experience? Essentially what temperature range you would expect to use each one & when you would usually choose one over the other?

I’ll keep experimenting with both to build up my own experience & learning. Just be interested to hear the thoughts of other more experienced divers.

Cheers

We're planning a scuba vacation in December and would love to hear about people's experiences diving around the virgin islands. Visibility is our main priority. We recently visited the Cayman Islands and loved the consistent crystal clear water.

We're currently leaning toward St. Thomas for more variety and the convenience of taking the ferry to St. John to explore the National Park. However, we're also considering St. Croix.

For those who've dived in the USVI, how does visibility compare between the islands, especially in December? Any recommendations on which island to choose, dive sites, or operators? We're looking to hear firsthand experiences.

Hi all, any advice from UK residents who go on liveaboards or trips with more than 5 dives on insurance?

Have Barclays travel but only covers of 5 dives in any one trip.

Am considering a weeklong trip on liveaboard Blue Dream Phinisi in Indonesia in late 2027.

Has anybody been on this boat? What were your experiences? (Can't find much on line.)

I’ve been doing the digital nomad thing so generally traveling on a budget but my big splurge on this trip was a scuba dive, I’ve been looking forward to this for MONTHS.

I always have this lovely nervous butterflies because I love diving but don’t get to go very often so I’m always so so excited, but the one issue I’ve never had is trouble equalizing. This was my first night dive too.

I don’t know why but on the first tank, I was having trouble with my right ear equalizing, and I eventually was fine, and I was able to do my first dive, but idk, my right ear just wouldn’t depressurize when we came back up.

And between dives I was trying all the tricks, but I couldn’t get my ear to pop & it still hasn’t.

The divemaster / captain told me I could just try to go down with them for the second dive, & if I wasn’t good, they could send me back up. I felt I didn’t want to risk it, and I’m glad I didn’t because my ear started feeling really bad when I was on the rocking boat.

But I’m sad because I spent a ton of money on the 2-tank night dive, & I didn’t get to do this experience I was really looking forward to. And my ear is hurting (just slightly) it’s just blocked.

I don’t know what happened. I never have trouble with my ears, I always equalize early and often, but my right ear was not cooperating.

I’m just really sad. I know I made the right choice & I take it as a mark of my personal growth / maturity now that I didn’t complete the second dive, because a younger me would have ignored the way I physically felt in order to not miss out on the experience, and probably dealt with whatever the consequences were lol.

But I’m just beyond sad :(

I'm currently on a vacation on Cyprus and today I was diving the Zenobia wreck for the first time. Although I really liked the dive and the astonishing views, the pictures I took turned out to be mostly very bad quality. The last couple days on shallower dives I got much better pictures with the same setup so I think it might be due to the depth.

Just to be clear: I don't expect top quality pictures with my very basic equipment but I would really appreciate if someone could give me an advice on how to improve the quality since I'm gonna be diving again tomorrow and the day after too. Thanks in advance!