🔍
☰
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
Find a Buddy
Best YouTube Channels
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
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
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
Dive Checklists
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
Nitrogen Narcosis
Motion Sickness Tips
Leg Cramps
Gear
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
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
▶
Buying vs Renting
Should You Own Tanks?
Buying New vs Used
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
Pre-Dive Calculator
▶
Buoyancy and Weight Estimator
Gas Planning Calculators
▶
RMV / SAC Calculator
Maximum Operating Depth Calculator
Minimum Gas Reserve Calculator
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 Sites
▶
Three Oaks, IL
Pearl Lake, IL
Haigh Quarry, IL
Lake Michigan (South)
Gilboa Quarry, OH
Mermet Springs, IL
Dive Shops
Private Instructors
Community
▶
Dive With Me
Project Baseline
Trips
2025 - Fiji
2024 - Tulum, MX
2024 - Georgia Aquarium
2024 - Cozumel, MX
2023 - Key Largo, FL
FAQ
Book Reviews
Search Dive Otter
Search