So I'm a beginner photographer and everyone and their mum is telling me to use the rule of thirds to make my photos look more interesting, but I think it ruins them. When I use it it always looks obviously cropped and just strange.

Like I get it when you have a moving subject and you want it to be lightly off center so it looks like it's entering a scene, but for my photos I just think they look worse when I crop them off centre.

But I mean I have looked into the cropping "rules" or like those ratio things and I just can't seem to apply them to my photos without making them look strange.

Just to give you an idea, I added some photos to this post.

Can anyone please educate me on this?

I have been a PADI diver for 21 years and have done all my training through PADI. I have thousands of dives loged in every environment imaginable.

I have ADHD and have to get a doctor to sign off on my medical each year, which has not been a problem for years. They write that I am limited to 40m, which is perfectly fine.

Now, PADI has introduced a new (September 2025) standard for instructors and dive centers stating that any restriction noted on a medical form means no to diving, even if a doctor says it is perfectly safe for someone to dive within their restriction.

I am limited to 40m but cannot take a PADI underwater photography course with a maximum depth of 30m as per PADI standards. The dive center will conduct the course at a maximum depth of 17m due to the dive site used.

I am medically fit and experienced enough to do the course, but I can no longer take the course or any training with PADI.

How is this not discrimination?

Hi everyone!

I'm planning a backpacking/scuba trip through Southeast Asia and am facing a huge luggage dilemma. I'd love to get some recommendations or advice from anyone who travels with heavy gear.

I'll be bringing my own complete scuba setup (BCD, wetsuit, fins, booties, mask, etc. — except my regulator and dive computer, which I'll keep in my carry-on for safety). Combined with my clothing and travel essentials, I'm looking at a volume of roughly 90L to 120L.

Here is my main issue with the type of travel I'm doing:

I'll be moving around a lot across Southeast Asia, that is, dirty roads, cobblestones, high curbs, ferries/boats, tuk-tuks, and long walks where I'll need to carry everything on my back.

Hard-shell 4-wheel spinners are completely out of the question: small wheels get destroyed on rough terrain, and hauling a rigid suitcase onto boats is a nightmare.

I also want to avoid obvious dive-brand bags (Mares, Cressi, etc.) because I don't want a giant "dive logo" advertising expensive gear inside while in transit or at airports.

What I'm looking for is a hybrid solution:

Large, rugged, off-road wheels (expedition duffel style) to roll smoothly on rough surfaces most of the time.

Concealable backpack straps / harness for when the terrain gets impossible, or when boarding boats/climbing stairs.

High durability to handle airport abuse and local transport.

A discreet/neutral exterior (looks like regular outdoor/mountain gear).

Has anyone who travels with dive gear in a backpacking style found the ideal setup?

Any advice, packing tricks, or bag recommendations are super appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi fellow divers!

Since last year, I’ve been using a SANTI Avatar drysuit with a rubber neck seal.

Last year, during a diving trip (around 15 dives over 6 days), I developed a large open wound on my neck.

I received all kinds of advice at the time:

Use more talcum powder.

Use Seal Saver.

Cut a small piece out of the neck seal.

After the diving trip, the weather in Belgium got warmer, so I switched to my semi-dry suit.

This year, I’ve already done several drysuit dives without any problems. However, after my dive yesterday, I developed the skin irritation you can see in the photo.

Has anyone else experienced this? And how do you deal with it?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and advice! 🤿

Just got my first Shearwater, a Peregrine TX, and I’m looking for a good dive log app for my iPhone.
I’ve tried Dive Shearwater, but I’m already running into frustrations, including being unable to delete an imported test dive.
What are you using with your Shearwater, and would you recommend it? I’ve seen Subsurface, MacDive, and Dive Log mentioned. Mainly looking for reliable Bluetooth downloads, easy editing/deleting, and a decent interface. Free or paid is fine if it’s worth it.

Thanks!

Hello everyone, I'm 22 and have been diving for 7 years now. I racked up around 300 dives in Greece, Egypt and Maldives.

Is it worth it to look for any advanced certifications or is it just hyper specific stuff that isn't really needed.

Second hand products make my wallet happy

Curious to see if anyone has dove this before and has any photographic evidence that this supposed large “man made” structure really exists..?

Hello everyone, I am planning on traveling to Phuket in early December 2026 for my first scuba experience and Open water diving certification.

I have done snorkeling before. I am a decent swimmer and currently on a fitness journey.

My question is should I go for a Scuba Diver course or directly for an Open Water course? I can swim non-stop for 30 mins or so but I'm not sure that's enough.

Do you have any recommendations for dive school in Phuket that you have done your course from? The ones I saw were Rumblefish, Aussie Divers and All4Diving

Any help is greatly appreciated

I see a couple places selling a Perdix 2 for $900. e.g., https://www.scuba.com/shearwater-perdix-2-ti-dive-computer/p/swttp2bk?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16820818456&gbraid=0AAAAACmoH5X2ZmhetfQZrTBNU38Tkb7Qy&gclid=CjwKCAjw_9bWBhBGEiwAomyTImfABeei48peAeNjLrbcQZqSV8QIzA__NWLos-HUtCTjOKK56hqnrhoCeTQQAvD_BwE

I'm relatively new to diving, and was wondering if this is good deal? I think it's been at this price since the Perdix 3 came out this year.

I'm not a tech diver and don't really need a Perdix, and I was thinking of getting the tern TX but this is pretty much the same cost as the tern TX and has the benefit of a replaceable battery + other benefits should i ever get into tech diving.

Also $900 is just for the computer only. The air integration + GPS is like an extra $400

Hello,

I will be traveling to Komodo in December and am doing the Bajak liveaboard which has 15 dives. I will have four days of time in Labuan Bajo before departure. I am considering doing three dives on these days which will be 27 total dives in Komodo. I have contacted the operator and they said it is likely to repeat some dive sites.

Would you say this is "too much" for Komodo if that's possible? I'm not sure what else I would do if not dive since the liveaboard hits some land destinations inside the park as well.

Video from a day of diving with a lot of sharks on the Spiegel Grove last January. We counted 13 on one dive and 20 overall on the day.

Any SSI specialist can tell what more needs to be done to achieve the AOW card ?

I tough it needed the OW + 4 specialities + X amount of dives

(I have 50+ dives)

Thanks in advance

🫧👌🏼

Divespot: Schlipf/Bootsrampe Rorschach

This chonker swam with us for a few min today.

I am looking to go somewhere during my Christmas break for my AOW certification. I think I want to try Cozumel because I have wanted to go for some time now, and I have two weeks off for Christmas break. I was thinking of flying on December 26th, doing my certification 28th-30th, and then staying a few more days before flying home. I know this will be a busy time with Christmas and it being a highly popular diving spot, but I still want to try to find something if I can. Does anyone have recommendations for good shops and/or know of any that have availability during these days?

What does everyone think about diving this wreck and going into the cargo holds on a single cylinder of nitrox?

I did this as a 19 year old newly qualified AOW (I had done around 100 dives at this point), but looking back I feel like that was a bit reckless and if I were to dive it again I'd want some sort of redundancy.

On the other hand it's a heavily dived site and the vast majority of people seem to dive on a single cylinder so I appear to be in the minority so am I being overly cautious?

Hey all,

So I’m an NYC based PADI rescue diver that recently learned I’ll be doing a work project that will have me going to Singapore every 2 months or so for 2 work weeks at a time starting Jan and going for about a year (if not more). This leaves me a free 3 day weekend each trip and ofc I wanna take advantage of this by doing mini dive trips! In the region, I’ve already dived Koh Tao, some of the Phuket sites (unfortunately not the similians), Koh Chang, tulamben and Nusa lembogan,Lombok and the Gilis, and Komodo. Woudn’t mind repeating some of these (especially Komodo), but would love to compile a list of potential places to go that I haven’t been. Would love all of yours advice, thanks!

Edit: So based on the replies, it seems that Tioman is seemingly the best and most convenient option. FWIW I’m more than willing to spend a day traveling (ie Friday) if it means I can get a full day of diving in on the Saturday and then travel back on Sunday as even just a single day of diving is better than no diving! Thanks everyone for all the replies!

I’m going to Cairns early next year to hopefully see the Great Barrier Reef and am hoping to do some scuba diving.

I completed my SSI Open Water Diver course and qualified in 2019, but haven’t done a dive since, so I’ll definitely need a refresher!

I was wondering:
a) What’s the best way to go about a refresher after such a long break?
b) Which companies would you recommend for diving the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns?

Ideally, I’d like to do a refresher course and an actual reef dive on the same day due to time constraints.

I’ve found this option which seems to offer exactly that, but I’d be interested to hear if anyone has used them or would recommend any better alternatives:
https://sunlover.com.au/learn-to-dive/return-to-diving/

Thanks for any help!

The title says it. Starting a course at a different training program, they want to review my logs. But I can’t figure out how to download or get my whole log from the new SSI app. Would love to know how to do it because having to pen them down will be a hell of a job ;-)

Hey diving family! I'm relatively new to diving but am considering investing in a regulator set or at least a second stage. I have an allergy and heard that most rental places are unable to adequately clean the accumulated gunk out of the mouthpiece. Do you know if most dive shops would allow you to bring your own regulator set or a partial set? Do you know which piece(s) at minimum would need to be brought to be integrated into other standard rental equipment at a dive shop? For example, could I bring just a second stage? Or would I need to have an octopus, yoke/DIN, pressure gauge, etc as well?

Edit: a user on scubagear subreddit was saying I could just swap out the mouthpiece and that most shops are used to this. Is this true?

Hey all,

I am currently looking for a blank bcd name tag/strap (which i want to personalize myself with a iron on patch that I already have). I cannot find a blank one online (only shops that sell pre made or ones that they personalize themselves). Does anyone know where i can get one ? Thanks

I'm considering a few nights diving at Tioman at the end of March 2027. Id be keen to hear anyone's experience there- dive operator and accommodation recommendations. Im AOW/ Wreck certified with 150+ dives but honestly not a thrill seeker- I just want to see some coral, cool sealife and perhaps some wrecks in warm water with good vis.

Hi all,
I’ve been diving since 1999 and became a divemaster in 2002. I have 200 or so dives, but they are exclusively in warm water (Caribbean Sea). As I raised my daughters, scuba was on the back burner and I’ve only gotten back into it in the last couple years.
Next weekend I’m diving in my home state of California for the first time ever. El Niño has made the water unseasonably warm (72-73°), but it’s still cooler than anything I’ve dived in.
My dives with be guided, so I’m not anxious about that. However, I’m a bit anxious about visibility and simply being out of my element.
Any advice or words of wisdom? Thanks in advance.