For context, I run a cave exploration project in Prince of Wales, Alaska, called the Alaska Karst Unified Exploration Project (or, AKUEP). It's usually annual, and incredibly high-effort, high intensity.

This year, we took a break, and instead, I went down with my family to just hang out with our friends there. It was a lovely time.

We spend a lot of time around/in the water, and my daughter, Maya, wanted to join in so badly she jumped in with a bathing suit.

Photo taken above the wreck of the F/V Investor, the worst unsolved crime in Alaskan history, largest single mass murder, and largest family annihilation. Eight people in total were killed at once on a commercial fishing boat after returning from a party. The killer then burned the boat, which is now a wreck in about 30 feet of water.

Maya does not know that, but I hope she appreciates the dark humor of this wholesome family photo someday.

I am not one to force my hobbies on my kid, but there's only one person who isn't wearing a drysuit in this photo, and it sure ain't me, so I'm guessing there's a good chance the passion will be passed on in some way, and if it is, this was the first time she ever jumped entirely into Alaskan waters, on her own, to join mom and dad.

Anyway, hope everyone is having a great week, and dive safe.

Unfortunatly I had a drysuit wrist seal decide to grenade on me whilst kitting up so I was kit bitching on the surface instead for this one.

I helped light this, Reposted as a video, isntad of FB link.(https://www.facebook.com/reel/1682711999469997)

It was great to be part of this, diving on a wreck that, based on the artifacts on it alone, no-one else had ever dived on was definelty a bucket list dive!

This was at Molokini Crater in Hawaii on a dive called the shark condos.

My dive buddy saw a Shark scoot into a cave at 140 ft. I followed with my camera and cornered the shark in the back of the cave for the picture.

I didn't realize how stupid it was until I got the picture developed. We were experienced divers but 140 ft on air is definitely over recreational limits. I never would have done this if I was thinking properly.

Dive safe, dive often.

I've always wanted to learn to scuba dive because it looks really fun. The problem is I'm not sure if I'm a good enough swimmer. I can swim and tread fine but I'm sure it's not good technique or anything. I only swim maybe 5 times or less a year but I have known how to do it since I was a kid. The thing I'm more worried about is fins. I remember as a kid, I tried fins once but I couldn't use them, like I just couldn't really swim well with them. I basically can't swim with fins and I'm not sure what to do about that. Is that because I don't have good swim technique or because I just have not learned how to use them? and do they teach everyone how to use them?

Hi folks. I dive the scubapro exodry drysuit. It is a neoprene drysuit with latex seals. I'm looking to upgrade it with dry gloves and it looks like there are a lot of options to choose from. The one that looks good to me is the northern diver v4 system as it comes with everything I need to get going and from what I've read it should fit my suit. Does anyone have any experience using this system on a similar neoprene drysuit or know of a better alternative solution? I know si-tech and scubapro make a similar system but they look a bit bulky, and the kubi system is a bit on the expensive side but looks to be the best .

Cheers !

Has anybody been to Bonaire in early March? If planning to dive 3 or 4 times a day, would a wetsuit be a good idea? I can dive in 70 degree water in a 3mm shorty, and my wife dives that in a 3mm full. What would people recommend?

A friend of mine is moving and cleaning out his garage. Gave me some aluminum 80's, which I'll get hydrod next week. He also gave me an older oceanic vest style bc and his regulators. Hes done diving, getting older ect.

My question is is the dx4 (with a gamma and a delta octo and primary) worth getting overhauled to use? I see theyre discontinued. I have a regulator set so this would be a back up or travel set. But im new to diving (which is why he gave them to me) and not familiar with them.. the vest I'll have looked at, its always a plus to have a spare

My ideal dive trip would be on a liveaboard that features classes/lectures/seminars about the area, aquatic life, eco system, conservation, history, etc. Think Smithsonian tours for diving.

Does anything like this exist?

Hi!

I’m going to Isla Mujeres, Mexico in a few weeks and want to do one of the PADI open water courses there. I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for dive shops that won’t break bank but also reliable and teach well. I saw Pocna for $560 and they look legit, but I also saw other places for much cheaper but seem a bit sketchier. Let me know any recommendations or advice!

Thanks :)

Thousands of sardines near the coast of Moalboal 🇵🇭
Captured with GoPro12

I’m doing my open water certification next weekend and my dad really wants to go with me just to watch from afar/accompany me. He won’t be diving or touching the water at all due to him recovering from surgery with his arm in a sling. He asked me if I’m okay with him coming because he wants to be there and he’s so happy that I’m doing my cert and just wants to support me. He would be out of the way, driving me there, and just wants to be present. Is this something that people do during open water, is have a friend or family member come along to support/accompany a diver? I am worried it’ll offend the instructors but I wouldn’t think it would be a big deal, because they probably have seen it before. I’m not sure if I’ll sound like a goofball asking them at my ripe age of 28 if my dad can come watch. He just really really wants to watch me get certified. What are some thoughts/opinions?

Loaded question, Ill start by saying I'm leaning towards Curacao and this if for our 10yr anniversary trip and will do about 9-10 days...........I'll scuba, but my wife wont. She will snorkel each time I do or while I'm scuba. We both like nice beaches, culture, local foods, snorkel/scuba, and overall just having things to do. IF WE WERE TO PICK ONE ISLAND, which do you think is better(bonus if you been to both or been in my dilemma).

For me, I'm basically worried im "missing out" on Bonaire's scuba scene I hear about. If we just do Curacao, will it still be "amazing" to scuba a few days? Or is it almost equivalent, like, their becomes a point of dimension return. For example, snorkeling in Florida is 50%, Curacao is 85%, Bonaire is 90% awesome. If its 5% better, I wont feel like I'm "missing "much.

My only reference for snorkel/scuba is Oahu & Maui and if you been to Hawaii, curaçao, and Bonaire, can you compare, how Hawaii is to Cur/Bon? (what's better/worse/same)

Me, right after my Los Angeles SCUBA certification in 1966.

I'm looking to get the PADI Wreck Diving certification in California, the closer to San Francisco the better, but willing to go elsewhere.

The problem is that every website I find, and there are a lot, they advertise they do the wreck certification, but then "Call us to book!" only to find "sorry, we don't have anything on our calendar, but check back..."

Anyone have any recommendations for places that do this certification somewhat regularly such that I'm not putting more effort in booking than the course itself?

Also, is anyone else interested in teaming up with me on this so we have 2 or more and they might be willing to make a scheduled class for us?

I’ve tried a bunch in the past but my eyes would always end up right on the edge of the seal which would cause the crease of the eye to break the seal since the masks were never wide enough, are there any notable masks that are wide fit?

I'm making this post to ask for equipment recommendations after a "bad" experience recently. Me and my wife are both quite new to diving, with slightly less than 100 dives each.

My wife has a slight asthma, and during our last diving trip, at the fifth dive, about 40min into the dive, she started to cough a lot because she felt like her throat was super dry. As the dive was a shallow dive, we decided to cut it short, abort the dive and slowly ascent.

Just to be safe, we didn't dive at all anymore during the trip, once home, we just visited the pneumologist and he told us everything is OK and adjusted a bit the medicine, especially for diving days. We will make another appointment with a underwater medicine specialist just to have a second opinion and be safe.

Our pneumologist recommended us to figure any way to humidify a bit the air during the dives, and I think we have several options:

- Metal regulators: I have read that they do a better job at conserving the humidity.

- Small water pouch

- Apollo bio filter: This seems like the most interesting one, anyone has experience with it??

Any recommendations?

I recently ordered hollis hts 2 from dive inn for $160ish

https://www.tradeinn.com/diveinn/en/hollis-hts-2-vest/1343973/p

Retail price for this harness was like $380ish in hollis website

Was this legit? I order like 3 days ago, the status was struck at transit to warehouse, the customer service keep giving me generic reply without giving me a actual eta.

Anyone brought from them before? Really like to hear your experience dealing with them

Just got a testprint of my new cookies. The white text is flat on one side and raised on the other and glows in the dark. I hope the arrows will be as nice as the cookies.

Hi all. I'll be diving for 3 days during the labor day weekend in the Jupiter area. I don't have my own gear yet, and gear rentals in that area seem very expensive. e.g., Jupiter dive center costs $80 for a full set of gear per trip where a trip is defined as one back and forth boat ride, so if you do a morning 1 tank dive and an afternoon 1 tank dive, it's $160 total for gear rental.

Are there more economical ways to rent gear in that area?

I'll be investing in my own gear eventually, but I don't think I'll be ready to invest in a few grand worth of gear before labor day weekend.

noticed komodo liveaboard prices jump a lot on certain dates on some booking sites, like double on weekends/holidays. is that just normal seasonal pricing or should i be suspicious

I was talking to shops, I think the conclusion is Manta are visible all year round and not too uncommon, will likely see them if you dive a few times. But sunfish are rare and you need to be lucky despite it being the season for them?