Welcome to The Dive Otter

Scuba diving doesn’t have to be complicated. But too often, it’s made harder than it needs to be—by vague training, confusing gear advice, or the pressure to “just go with it” when you’re not sure why. This site exists to make things clearer.

I’m Tyler. I dive cold water in the Midwest, I build my own gear setups, and I care deeply about diving safely, smartly, and with purpose. The Dive Otter is where I put everything I’ve learned—and everything I’m still learning—into one place for other divers who want to improve their skills, build confidence, and think critically about how they dive.

This Isn’t Sponsored. It’s Still Personal.

I built The Dive Otter because I wanted a place where divers could get straight answers, practical advice, and safety-first thinking without the noise. I buy my own gear. I dive locally in cold, murky water. What’s here comes from real-world experience—mine and the people I trust in the water.

Everything is written the way I’d explain it to a friend: clearly, calmly, and without any pressure to be right all the time—but I’ll still tell you what I think and why.

This isn’t about perfection or performance. It’s about being honest, staying curious, and helping other divers think critically about how and why they dive.