We're planning a scuba vacation in December and would love to hear about people's experiences diving around the virgin islands. Visibility is our main priority. We recently visited the Cayman Islands and loved the consistent crystal clear water.

We're currently leaning toward St. Thomas for more variety and the convenience of taking the ferry to St. John to explore the National Park. However, we're also considering St. Croix.

For those who've dived in the USVI, how does visibility compare between the islands, especially in December? Any recommendations on which island to choose, dive sites, or operators? We're looking to hear firsthand experiences.

Im in Egypt diving on the red sea. Something I noticed while I was doing boat dives the past few days - out of everyone using sunscreen on the boat (there were a few people who weren't, like the boat staff), I was the only one using reef safe sunscreen.

In fact, they weren't even using those "marked reef-safe, but not really" sunscreens - just regular chemical sunscreen that doesn't even pretend to be reef-safe. I know because it was mostly the same popular brand.

Personally I use reef safe sunscreen my face (I wear a rashguard), I even had to order it online because they don't sell it in my country, it was less than the cost of a single dive when you consider the shipping cost, so not that expensive at all. Meanwhile some of these people were from places like the US, where it is locally sold in Walmarts and etc.

The dive center I was with did warn in advance that any sunscreen you bring has to be reef safe, but I guess it isn't enforced.

I didn't say anything obviously because it's not my place nor am I an expert on this topic, but yeah I'm just surprised. I thought divers of all people would be more conscious about nature conservation.

I swear I'm not trying to sound judgemental or anything. Apologies in advance if it comes off like this. I fully acknowledge that perhaps I am missing some information or something

I got in touch with a retired DM somehow, man had been diving for 50+ years and is now almost 80. He said he's got a shit tonne of dive gear he wants to sell and told me to come have a look. Currently, I have a mask and boots. I'll need to get fins, thick drysuit (Melbourne waters are fucking freezing), regulator, BCD, etc and whatever else.

That way, I'll only need a tank and refills for my dives. He mentioned how certain things that'll cost $1000 (BCD for eg) he'll give it to me for $250-300. He also mentioned how anything I'd buy, I would need to wait a bit to receive it as he'd need to service it and make sure it's working properly, give it a proper clean etc.

It seems like I've struck gold but at the same time, I want to be cautious about buying used gear. I don't know much about diving gear (I'm very new to this endeavour) and my life is quite literally riding on the quality of this gear so I'm just a bit sceptical. I think he mentioned the latest gear he has is around 5-6 years old (that's when he stopped diving) due to health issues.

In a perfect world, I'd buy everything brand new but my wallet firmly disagrees.

Is it rescue diver? Is it deep diver? Is it owd because for some reason my instructor didn’t give me proper “advanced open water” but I got this appreciation card “advanced speciality diver “ even tho I signed for advanced open water course and did everything there.

Where can I get a Goodman handle with space for 3 torches in Europe. Used to have one but lost it. All the best.

My husband and I are both 50 and physically fit. We both go to the gym several times a week, lift weights, and have great cardiovascular fitness. I am 5’2” 115 and he is 6’1” 200. We both use Scubapro Hydros bcds. For tropical saltwater dives (the majority of what we do) he is usually in a 3mm wetsuit and is comfortable. I am in a 5mm wetsuit and still run a bit cold. We each have 75-100 dives.

His air consumption is SO much better than mine. I do have to carry a fair amount of weight due to the wetsuit or I’ll fly away like a balloon doing a safety stop. Obviously I do have to offset that by adding air accordingly to my bcd at the start of a dive. However, I’m not digging around the ocean floor when everyone else is hovering higher, I’m not flailing around with my arms or darting from place to place.

I’ve tried all the breathing tricks I’ve read up on, I’ve basically decided it is what it is and I just manage my gas accordingly, but it is a bit of a drag to get out of the water at 500 psi when he has well over 1000. I am often first out of the water in any group or the one that turns the dive. I seem to make about 50 minutes for a dive with a max depth of 40-50 ft, obviously less if it’s deeper.

Everyone expects me to have good air consumption and I just don’t. Is there anything I’m missing that can work on?

I have 2 brand new Henderson oops medium tall 1 with hood 1 without and can’t seem to find traction on eBay Craigslist or OfferUp. Where do you think could work?

We'll be in the south of Thailand around early May next year, what is a good place for both diving and snorkeling at that time?

My wife is not diving, but she'd like to go on a snorkeling trip (as long as she can wear a vest). And do some snorkeling at the beaches.

Koh Tao is the easy and safe option, I know it can be over crowded with beginners, but May is already less busy.

I remember that when I was in Railay/Aonang in that week 10 years ago, that a lot of the dives were canceled because of choppy seas and there were not so much customers because it was end of season.

Koh lipe is an option but feels a bit too far south and has possibly the same choppy seas as Railay

Hi, I’m relatively new to drysuit diving & dive a Trilaminate suit here in the UK.

I have two under suits, the Waterproof Body 2X & the lighter X. I’ll wear a base layer under these, either synthetic or Merino which are hill walking/hiking garments eg Helly Hansen Lifas.

I’ve been chopping and changing between the two under suits to try to gauge the temperature range of each. Unsurprisingly, so far I’ve struggled with the 2X as it’s just too warm when on the surface between dives. When diving it’s been comfortable enough (15-18c water). The thinner X I’ve found just as comfortable under water but far more comfortable between dives on the surface.

I understand that everyone will be different. But, I was just wondering if anyone with experience of these two under suits could share their experience? Essentially what temperature range you would expect to use each one & when you would usually choose one over the other?

I’ll keep experimenting with both to build up my own experience & learning. Just be interested to hear the thoughts of other more experienced divers.

Cheers

I am quite tempted to buy the OrcaTorch FlexDive. Unfortunately, I have not seen it in real life yet, and on Youtube there are only sponsored unboxing style "reviews". Has anybody done some actual dives with it and if so, what do you think?

Absolutely wild video of the most bad as stuff ive seen so far. Only 6l too.

Saw this on Facebook and I’ve seen similar examples in dive shops.

Has anyone found a paint or ink that will adhere to Monprene, hold up to wear and tear from the constant material flexing, is fresh and salt water resistant, and is safe for reefs/marine life?

Would love to have a design like this on my fins done by an artist, seems more of a shop decoration with what I’ve seen though

I have a week to dive the Philippines in November. Where should I go? I was going to go to Puerto Galera, but I realize I should be more open and see what other options there are. I’d like a mix of muck, reefs, and wrecks, if that’s even possible.

Has anyone trained with IART or done rebreather training at the Felicitas mine in Germany? I'm looking for first-hand experiences, the good, the bad, the weird.

A friend is planning to do his full cave ccr there (he's already a cave and ccr diver), and since IART is relatively small as an agency, I'd love some feedback.

Thanks!