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Helping divers make informed decisions about training, gear, skills, and safety at every stage of their journey.
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Discover Scuba
Is Scuba Certification a License?
Can Non-Swimmers Learn to Dive?
Beginner Basics
-- The Cost of Scuba Diving
-- Your Open Water Certification Class
-- Basic Safety Rules
-- Log Your Dives
Find a Buddy
Best YouTube Channels
Culture
-- Acronyms & Terms
-- Insta-Buddy Checks
-- Calling the Dive
-- Why Divers Quit
-- Diving & Family Life
-- Responsible Diver Code of Conduct
-- Dive Culture Decoder
-- Diver Archetype Series
Training
Choosing a Dive Shop
Choosing a Dive Instructor
Choosing a Dive Agency
Training Path
-- Training After Open Water
-- Specialty Classes
-- GUE Fundamentals
-- Rec vs Tech
-- Divemaster vs Instructor
Certification Value
-- Nitrox Cert Worth It?
-- Rescue Cert Worth It?
-- CPR/O2 Cert Worth It?
Skills
Core Diving Skills
-- Buoyancy & Weighting
-- Balanced Rig
-- Trim and Body Positioning
-- Practice in a Pool
-- Night Diving: How It's Different
-- Controlled Descents
-- Ascent Procedures
-- Proper Safety Stops
-- Mask Clearing
-- Free Flowing Regulator
-- Sharing Air
-- Adopting DIR Diving
-- Solo Diving Controversy
Underwater Skills
-- How to Hover
-- Finning Techniques
-- Diver Buddy Positioning
-- SMB Deployment
Entry & Surface Skills
-- Shore vs Boat Diving
-- Giant Stride Entry
-- Back Roll Entry
-- Seated Controlled Entry
-- Shore Diving Entry
-- Using a Snorkel
-- Surface Swimming Techniques
-- Using Your BCD at the Surface
-- Tired Diver Tows
-- Surface Signaling
-- Exiting the Water
-- Surfacing Far From the Boat
Team
Why Teamwork Matters in Diving
Basic Hand Signals
Light Use for Communication
Assigning Roles and Responsibilities
Diving With New or Nervous Buddy
Mentoring New Divers
Handling a Bad Dive Buddy
Awareness & Mutual Support
Ascents and Safety Stops
Communciation in Limited Visibility
Shared Responsibility
Ending the Dive as a Team
What to Do if Separated
Planning
Tools
-- Buoyancy and Weight Estimator
-- RMV / SAC Calculator
-- Maximum Operating Depth Calculator
-- Minimum Gas Reserve Calculator
Gas Planning
-- RMV vs SAC : The facts
-- RMV vs SAC : Why the confusion?
-- Minimum Gas Reserve
-- Gas Planning
-- Using Nitrox
-- Calculating MOD
-- Calculating EAD
Checklists & Pre-Dive Prep
-- GUE-EDGE Dive Planning
-- Setting Up Dive Gear
-- Pre Dive Checks
-- Bubble Check
Safety
Risk Awareness
-- Risk vs Hazard
-- Psychological Safety
-- Situational Awareness
-- Why Surface Intervals Matter
-- Human Factors
Emergency Preparedness
-- Essential Medical Supplies
-- Emergency Action Plans
-- Pre-Dive Emergency Briefs
-- Pre-Dive Check-in Systems
-- Emergency Redundancy
-- Dive Medical & Travel Insurance
-- Post Incident Debrief
-- Post-Dive Cold/Heat/Dehydration
-- Carrying a Pony Bottle
Medical
-- Decompression Illness (DCI, DCS, AGE, PFO)
-- CNS Oxygen Toxicity
-- Nitrogen Narcosis
-- Motion Sickness Tips
-- Leg Cramps
Gear
Buying vs Renting
Buying New vs Used
Building Your Kit
-- Just Tell Me What To Buy!
-- Choosing the Right Gear For You
-- Save-A-Dive Kits
-- Do You Need a Snorkel?
-- Why Carry a Surface Marker Buoy?
-- Why Carry a Dive Light?
-- Backup Mask: Is It Necessary?
Gear Tiers & Recommendations
-- Tier 1 : Basic Gear
-- Tier 2 : Essential Gear
-- Tier 3 : Complete Set
Knowledge
Yoke vs DIN
SPG vs Air Integration
Scuba Gear Maintenance
Integrated Weights vs Belts
Dive Knives vs Line Cutters
Redundant Cutting Tools
Long Hose vs Standard Octo
Mouthpiece Comfort
Bolt Snaps, Retractors and Clips
Thigh Pockets
Diving with a Camera
Rebreathers for Rec Divers
Guides
Should You Own Tanks?
Mask Buying Guide
Diving with Glasses
Fin Buying Guide
Dive Computer Buying Guide
Regulator Buying Guide
BCD Buying Guide
Wetsuit Buying Guide
Dive Shoes / Boots Buying Guide
Dive Sock Buying Guide
Reels vs Spools
Surface Marker Buoy Buying Guide
Dive Light Buying Guide
Backup Dive Light Buying Guide
Goodman Handle Buying Guide
Gear Bag Buying Guide
Reviews
Fins
-- Deep6 Eddy
-- OMS Slipstream
-- Mares Avanti Quattro+
-- Dive Computers
-- Shearwater Perdix II + AI
-- Mares Genius + AI
-- Apple Watch Ultra 2 + Oceanic
Books
Travel
Travel Tips
-- Flying with Scuba Gear
-- Renting Gear Abroad
-- Scuba Travel Insurance
-- What to Pack
-- Dive Paperwork
-- Flying After Diving
-- Responsible Dive Travel
-- How to Avoid Getting Sick
-- Jet Lag, Sleep, and Staying Alert
Destinations
-- Cold Water Diving
-- Warm Water Diving
-- Beqa Lagoon, Fiji
-- Key Largo, FL
-- Cozumel Mexico
-- Tulum / Cenotes Mexico
-- Georgia Aquarium, GA
-- Gilboa Quarry, OH
-- Mermet Springs, IL
-- Lake Michigan (South)
Trips
2025 - Fiji
2024 - Tulum, MX
2024 - Georgia Aquarium
2024 - Cozumel, MX
2023 - Key Largo, FL
Chicagoland
Dive with Dive Otter
Dive Shops
Private Instructors
Community
Dive Sites
-- Three Oaks, IL
-- Pearl Lake, IL
-- Haigh Quarry, IL
-- Lake Michigan (South)
-- Gilboa Quarry, OH
-- Mermet Springs, IL
Menu
Getting Started
What You Need To Know
Discover Scuba
Is Scuba Certification a License?
Can Non-Swimmers Learn to Dive?
The Cost of Scuba Diving
Your Open Water Certification Class
Basic Safety Rules
Log Your Dives
Find a Buddy
Best YouTube Channels
Choosing Training
Choosing a Dive Shop
Choosing a Dive Instructor
Choosing a Dive Agency
Training After Open Water
Specialty Classes
GUE Fundamentals
Rec vs Tech
Divemaster vs Instructor
Nitrox Cert Worth It?
Rescue Cert Worth It?
CPR/O2 Cert Worth It?
Core Diving Skills
Buoyancy & Weighting
Balanced Rig
Trim and Body Positioning
Practice in a Pool
Night Diving: How It's Different
Controlled Descents
Ascent Procedures
Proper Safety Stops
Mask Clearing
Free Flowing Regulator
Sharing Air
Adopting DIR Diving
Solo Diving Controversy
Underwater Skills
How to Hover
Finning Techniques
Diver Buddy Positioning
SMB Deployment
Teamwork & Communication
Why Teamwork Matters in Diving
Basic Hand Signals
Light Use for Communication
Assigning Roles and Responsibilities
Diving With New or Nervous Buddy
Mentoring New Divers
Handling a Bad Dive Buddy
Awareness & Mutual Support
Ascents and Safety Stops
Communciation in Limited Visibility
Shared Responsibility
Ending the Dive as a Team
What to Do if Separated
Entry & Surface Skills
Shore vs Boat Diving
Giant Stride Entry
Back Roll Entry
Seated Controlled Entry
Shore Diving Entry
Using a Snorkel
Surface Swimming Techniques
Using Your BCD at the Surface
Tired Diver Tows
Surface Signaling
Exiting the Water
Surfacing Far From the Boat
Culture
Acronyms & Terms
Insta-Buddy Checks
Calling the Dive
Why Divers Quit
Diving & Family Life
Responsible Diver Code of Conduct
Dive Culture Decoder
Diver Archetype Series
Planning
RMV vs SAC : The facts
RMV vs SAC : Why the confusion?
Minimum Gas Reserve
Gas Planning
Using Nitrox
Calculating MOD
Calculating EAD
Checklists & Pre-Dive Prep
Checklists Basics
GUE-EDGE Dive Planning
Setting Up Dive Gear
Pre Dive Checks
Bubble Check
Risk Awareness
Risk Awareness
Risk vs Hazard
Psychological Safety
Human Factors
Situational Awareness
Why Surface Intervals Matter
Emergency Preparedness
Essential Medical Supplies
Emergency Action Plans
Pre-Dive Emergency Briefs
Pre-Dive Check-in Systems
Emergency Redundancy
Dive Medical & Travel Insurance
Post Incident Debrief
Post-Dive Cold/Heat/Dehydration
Carrying a Pony Bottle
Medical
Decompression Illness (DCI, DCS, AGE, PFO)
CNS Oxygen Toxicity
Nitrogen Narcosis
Motion Sickness Tips
Leg Cramps
Gear
Buying vs Renting
Buying New vs Used
Building Your Kit
Just Tell Me What To Buy!
Choosing the Right Gear For You
Save-A-Dive Kits
Do You Need a Snorkel?
Why Carry a Surface Marker Buoy?
Why Carry a Dive Light?
Backup Mask: Is It Necessary?
Gear Tiers & Recommendations
The Three Tier Model
Tier 1 - Basic Gear
Tier 2 - Essential Gear
Tier 3 - Complete Set
Gear Knowledge
Yoke vs DIN
SPG vs Air Integration
Scuba Gear Maintenance
Integrated Weights vs Belts
Dive Knives vs Line Cutters
Redundant Cutting Tools
Long Hose vs Standard Octo
Mouthpiece Comfort
Bolt Snaps, Retractors and Clips
Thigh Pockets
Diving with a Camera
Rebreathers for Rec Divers
Gear Buying Guides
Should You Own Tanks?
Mask Buying Guide
Diving with Glasses
Fin Buying Guide
Dive Computer Buying Guide
Regulator Buying Guide
BCD Buying Guide
Wetsuit Buying Guide
Dive Shoes / Boots Buying Guide
Dive Sock Buying Guide
Reels vs Spools
Surface Marker Buoy Buying Guide
Dive Light Buying Guide
Backup Dive Light Buying Guide
Goodman Handle Buying Guide
Gear Bag Buying Guide
Gear Reviews
Fins
-- Deep6 Eddy
-- OMS Slipstream
-- Mares Avanti Quattro+
Dive Computers
-- Shearwater Perdix II + AI
-- Mares Genius + AI
-- Apple Watch Ultra 2 + Oceanic
Tools
Buoyancy and Weight Estimator
RMV / SAC Calculator
Maximum Operating Depth Calculator
Minimum Gas Reserve Calculator
Travel Tips
Flying with Scuba Gear
Renting Gear Abroad
Scuba Travel Insurance
What to Pack
Dive Paperwork
Flying After Diving
Responsible Dive Travel
How to Avoid Getting Sick
Jet Lag, Sleep, and Staying Alert
Travel Destinations
Destinations
-->
Cold Water Diving
Warm Water Diving
Beqa Lagoon, Fiji
Key Largo, FL
Cozumel Mexico
Tulum / Cenotes Mexico
Georgia Aquarium, GA
Gilboa Quarry, OH
Mermet Springs, IL
Lake Michigan (South)
Chicagoland Divers
Dive with Dive Otter
Dive Shops
Private Instructors
Community
Project Baseline
Dive With Me
All Known Dive Sites
Three Oaks, IL
Pearl Lake, IL
Haigh Quarry, IL
Lake Michigan (South)
Gilboa Quarry, OH
Mermet Springs, IL
Trip Reports
2025 - Fiji
2024 - Tulum, MX
2024 - Georgia Aquarium
2024 - Cozumel, MX
2023 - Key Largo, FL
Status : Underwater Probes