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Hands down, the best place to dive in mainland Portugal is the Berlengas, a group of rocky little islands off the coast of Peniche. Better still, during the summer the Haliotis dive center runs two-tank trips out to the islands every day. Every other location and shop in the country runs...

Dive Book Review: Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda ? Dive Gear Reviews

Here is a pretty good list, and so little has changed that it's still up to date: Best ?Semi-Dry? Wetsuits ? Dive Gear Reviews

I'm glad to see the Mares integrated weight bug getting more attention. I saw this very thing -- the weights simply plopped right out of holsters, and up and off the diver went. I'm always suspicious of a very basic system like this that requires a lot of fiddling, like the ripcord integrated...

Here are some ideas on the lightweight side: Best BCDs ? Dive Gear Reviews I think the Mares Icon was phased out, but you can still probably find some new ones around. I've heard good things about the Go and the Litehawk, so I second those.

The thing about sharpness and corrosion is this. I think if you're the type of guy who puts the work into achieving a truly razor sharp blade, you also know how to take care of a tool in terms of corrosion. Quality stainless steel only needs a little TLC to fight off the salt, so if you're...

Here is a list of ideas for you. Some of them are quite cheap: Best Dive Knives ? Dive Gear Reviews

You're probably wrong there - some sinkings have been in the news. It wouldn't be the first time the Portuguese TV news and newspapers screwed up a fact like that, but they don't make a habit of it.

Yeah, those DO look a lot like APS Mantarays. Then again, so do a handful of other fins out there.

I have to agree and endorse some of the ideas here. Some "titanium dive knives" are not made of titanium steel. Instead, they have a thin layer of titanium on the top as a corrosion-resistance measure. Do your homework on the specific knife you own to determine if you have a solid titanium...

That and the prongs on Aeris computers like the XR1 are flimsy. One big difference between the Puck and the XR1 is that the latter requires that damn key. The former is a conventional coin-turned locking cap. As another poster mentioned, the batteries for these things come in varying degrees...

Mares BCDs have a decidedly mixed reputation when it comes to integrated weights. Complaints that a weight pocket just falls out of place, especially in the prone, face-down position, are a fixture of virtually every consumer review thread on a Mares BCD I've ever seen. That said, lots of...

I haven't heard anything bad about them, but I haven't gone out with them. One thing about the Algarve - they are working on a diving wreck park in Portimao. Some ships are already sunk and in place; others ought to be there this summer. You should check with a Portimao outfit about it, if you...

@T.Bix - Expect the water around here to be about 60 degrees F. There are some small grottoes and tunnels, but no big cave systems in this area. The main draw around Lisbon are the shipwrecks. Visibility is very hit or miss. On a good day, it can hit 60 feet. On a bad day, it can be a murky...

Yes, it's true - the water itself isn't a great insulant. The point is to restrict the flow of water in and out, since if it flows relatively freely, the water carries heat away from you. That's why I always think of tighter fit and better seals before I think of getting thicker. @ dfx - I've...

You might be able to find a system that works where you have that 7mm shortie, a hood, gloves, boots and rashies for the limbs, but unless you absolutely need to find a set-up that maximizes flexibility and agility, why would you bother? I'd liken it to wearing a parka-thick vest over just...

My local waters are upper 50s to lower 60s most of the year, so you're firmly in my territory. I'd recommend a really good 5mm suit - something with nice seals all around and a watertight, sealed zipper, plus matching gloves, boots and hood. Most of the divers I know do just fine with a set-up...

What part of Portugal? There are diving outfits up and down the coast and in the Algarve, but there some places and outfits are better than others. If you can be more specific, so can I.

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The Cressi Lontra is one of the better "semi-dry" suits out there. Click here for a review. That said, the best any semi-dry suit can promise is to tightly restrict water flow and to provide a thick neoprene shell. As a result, the best semi-dry suits can go down to waters in the upper 40s with...