Pleasantly Surprised in the Philippines: Puerto Galera
My first dive with a camera in the Philippine Sea ended abruptly. As I “energetically” handed my flooded housing to the bangka (outrigger-type boat)…
Diving Down Under: Australia’s Coral Sea
There aren’t too many places in the world where one can almost travel back in time and experience an abundance of endemic life both…
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay accommodates more than 10,000 visitors daily with its swimming, snorkeling and other amenities. Originally formed as the cone of a volcano, it…
Molokini Crater
Molokini Crater in Hawaii isn’t exactly a short drive away from anywhere in the continental United States. But it’s worth mentioning because this year…
Gearing Up Together: Tips for Using the Buddy Lift
Donning the scuba unit is a task that can range from relatively easy to somewhat strenuous, depending on the circumstances and the technique used….
A Safe Habit: Safety Stops as Standard Procedure
SOME SAFETY SKILLS WE LEARN during Open Water scuba class are intended for use only in emergency situations. Because they are known to reduce…
Back On the Boat: Tips for Exiting the Water With Ease
Last month’s Scuba Skills column addressed the sequence used when preparing to dive from a charter boat. It began with boarding the vessel and…
Small Wonders: Introducing Kids to the Underwater World
Some of my fondest memories from decades of diving have come since I started diving with my own daughters. Diving has been deeply ingrained…
Going Pro: What It’s Like to Be a Scuba Professional
As a recent diver in training, hopefully your interactions with your instructor have led you to trust and admire him or her as an…
So You Want to Be a Scuba Instructor? A Look Inside the Diver’s Dream Job
“When are you going to get a real job?” It’s a question that has followed me for my entire adult life. I mostly got…