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Helping divers make informed decisions about training, gear, skills, and safety at every stage of their journey.
Start
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
Core Diving Skills
-- Setting Up Dive Gear
-- Buoyancy & Weighting
-- Trim and Body Positioning
-- Controlled Descents
-- Ascent Procedures
-- Proper Safety Stops
-- Mask Clearing
-- Free Flowing Regulator
-- Sharing Air
-- Giant Stride Entry
Entry & Surface Skills
-- Seated Controlled Entry
-- Shore Diving Entry
-- Using a Snorkel
-- Using Your BCD at the Surface
-- Tired Diver Tows
-- Exiting the Water
Culture
Acronyms & Terms
Best YouTube Channels
Find a Buddy
Insta-Buddy Checks
Calling the Dive
Why Divers Quit
Diving & Family Life
Solo Diving Controversy
Diving with a Camera
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
-- Book Reading
-- GUE Fundamentals
-- Rec vs Tech
-- Divemaster vs Instructor
Certification Value
-- Nitrox Cert Worth It?
-- Rescue Cert Worth It?
-- CPR/O2 Cert Worth It?
Skills & Teams
Basic Hand Signals
Balanced Rig
Practice in a Pool
Night Diving: How It's Different
Adopting DIR Diving
Abovewater Skills
-- Shore vs Boat Diving
-- Back Roll Entry
-- Surface Swimming Techniques
-- Surface Signaling
-- Surfacing Far From the Boat
Underwater Skills
-- How to Hover
-- Finning Techniques
-- Diver Buddy Positioning
-- SMB Deployment
-- What to Do if Separated
-- Light Use for Communication
Why Teamwork Matters
-- 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
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
-- Recreational Gas Planning
-- Using Nitrox
-- Calculating MOD
-- Calculating EAD
Checklists & Pre-Dive Prep
-- GUE-EDGE Dive Planning
-- 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 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
Gear Tiers & Recommendations
-- Tier 1 : Basic Gear
-- Tier 2 : Essential Gear
-- Tier 3 : Complete Set
Gear Decisions
-- Do You Need a Snorkel?
-- Mask Defog Options
-- Why Carry a Surface Marker Buoy?
-- Why Carry a Dive Light?
-- Backup Mask: Is It Necessary?
-- Yoke vs DIN
-- SPG vs Air Integration
-- Long Hose vs Octo
-- Weights: Integrated vs Belt
-- Dive Knife vs Line Cutter
-- Reels vs Spools
-- Snaps, Retractors, Clips
-- Mouthpiece Comfort
-- What Goes in Thigh Pockets
-- Gear Maintenance Tips
-- Rebreathers for Rec Divers
Guides & Insights
Should You Own Tanks?
Diving with Glasses
Buying Guides
-- Mask Buying Guide
-- Fin Buying Guide
-- Dive Computer Buying Guide
-- Regulator Buying Guide
-- BCD Buying Guide
-- Wetsuit Buying Guide
-- Dive Shoes & Boots Guide
-- Dive Sock Buying Guide
-- SMB Buying Guide
-- Dive Light Buying Guide
-- Goodman Handle Guide
-- Gear Bag Buying Guide
Gear Reviews
Masks
Fins
BCDs
Dive Computers
Regulators
Navigation
Lights
Pressure Guages
Wetsuits
Drysuits
Tanks
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)
Chicagoland
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
The Basics
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
Do You Need a Snorkel?
Buoyancy & Weighting
Trim and Body Positioning
Controlled Descents
Ascent Procedures
Proper Safety Stops
Mask Clearing
Free Flowing Regulator
Sharing Air
Giant Stride Entry
Seated Controlled Entry
Shore Diving Entry
Using a Snorkel
Using Your BCD at the Surface
Tired Diver Tows
Exiting the Water
Culture
Acronyms & Terms
Best YouTube Channels
Find a Buddy
Insta-Buddy Checks
Calling the Dive
Why Divers Quit
Diving & Family Life
Solo Diving Controversy
Diving with a Camera
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 Basics
Training After Open Water
Specialty Classes
Book Reading
GUE Fundamentals
Rec vs Tech
Divemaster vs Instructor
Nitrox Cert Worth It?
Rescue Cert Worth It?
CPR/O2 Cert Worth It?
Skills & Teams
Balanced Rig
Practice in a Pool
Night Diving: How It's Different
Adopting DIR Diving
How to Hover
Finning Techniques
Diver Buddy Positioning
SMB Deployment
Shore vs Boat Diving
Back Roll Entry
Surface Swimming Techniques
Surface Signaling
Surfacing Far From the Boat
Why Teamwork Matters
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
RMV vs SAC : The facts
RMV vs SAC : Why the confusion?
Minimum Gas Reserve
Recreational Gas Planning
Using Nitrox
Calculating MOD
Calculating EAD
GUE-EDGE Dive Planning
Setting Up Dive Gear
Pre Dive Checks
Bubble Check
Safety
Risk vs Hazard
Psychological Safety
Situational Awareness
Why Surface Intervals Matter
Human Factors
Essential Medical Supplies
Emergency Action Plans
Pre-Dive Emergency Briefs
Pre-Dive Check-in Systems
Emergency Redundancy
Dive Medical Insurance
Post Incident Debrief
Post-Dive Cold/Heat/Dehydration
Carrying a Pony Bottle
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
Gear Tiers & Recommendations
Tier 1 : Basic Gear
Tier 2 : Essential Gear
Tier 3 : Complete Set
Mask Defog Options
Why Carry a Surface Marker Buoy?
Why Carry a Dive Light?
Backup Mask: Is It Necessary?
Yoke vs DIN
SPG vs Air Integration
Long Hose vs Octo
Weights: Integrated vs Belt
Dive Knife vs Line Cutter
Reels vs Spools
Snaps, Retractors, Clips
Mouthpiece Comfort
What Goes in Thigh Pockets
Gear Maintenance Tips
Rebreathers for Rec Divers
Guides & Insights
Should You Own Tanks?
Diving with Glasses
Mask Buying Guide
Fin Buying Guide
Dive Computer Buying Guide
Regulator Buying Guide
BCD Buying Guide
Wetsuit Buying Guide
Dive Shoes & Boots Guide
Dive Sock Buying Guide
SMB Buying Guide
Dive Light Buying Guide
Goodman Handle Guide
Gear Bag Buying Guide
Gear Reviews
Gear Review Index
Masks
Fins
BCDs
Dive Computers
Regulators
Navigation
Lights
Pressure Guages
Wetsuits
Drysuits
Tanks
Travel
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
Cold Water Diving
Warm Water Diving
Beqa Lagoon, Fiji
Key Largo, FL
Cozumel Mexico
Tulum / Cenotes Mexico
Georgia Aquarium, GA
Dive Trips
2025 Fiji - Beqa Lagoon Resort
2024 Mexico - Akumal & Tulum
2024 Georgia - Atlanta Aquarium
2024 Mexico - Cozumel
2023 Florida - Key West
Chicagoland
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
Status : Underwater Probes