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Hello Diver Friends, I am an experienced comms specialist with experience and knowledge of the dive industry. If you're looking for marketing, advertising and business development, please get in touch via this site. My past clients and employers include: travel agents, environmental...

Are you looking for your diving getaway? Vancouver or far-flung locations, we can help you find a memorable trip using our network of dive resorts, travel operators and cruise/liveaboard companies. Some examples of trips you can do: Learn to dive on a fun and economical cruise in the...

Some of the big certifying agencies will allow the option of snorkel-swimming (with fins) for the watermanship requirement of the Open Water course. As you mentioned you have arthritis, swimming with fins may be easier on the knees. So if you are an experienced snorkeller, ou may want to ask the...

It sounds like you're diving for the right reasons and the bad experience with the mask skill drilled in your head a negative and fearful perception about diving. As for equipment, a properly maintained and used set of gear is unlikely to fail on you. I agree with TSandM about taking courses on...

I like Cozumel for various reasons: It's relatively easy to get to from many places in North America. It's a convenient holiday diving destination if you don't have too much time to spend The dives are good - excellent drift dives, reefs in fairly good shape There are many accommodations...

Why not? There's nothing really holding you back and if there's something you really want to do, go for it. What I would do in similar circumstances is: Do a bit of research and see which places interest you Take more courses, do more dives and see if you're REALLY into it Maybe take...

terrylowe, If she's spent so many years watching you from the surface and hasn't grown interested, then chances are, diving is not an activity for her and she will never develop an interest. We all have a tendency to become absorbed with something we love and fail to realise that others...

I'm a big fan of Cressi Frog fins. They're solid and give you a lot of control - especially in current. Also, if you have floaty feet, they might help as they are fairly heavy and negatively buoyant. HOWEVER, many people have told me that they found the Frogs a bit too heavy and tiring...

I'm with the majority of responders and vote in favour of owning your own equipment. The cost of buying a new set of regs may sound expensive BUT do remember that it is a long-term investment. Unlike many gadgets and toys, diving equipment is not something you replace with each new fad. A...

Sounds like a fantastic trip you've got planned! If it's US - SE Asia - New Zealand, some must-do spots that come to my mind are: Sipadan (although I'm not sure if July and August are seasons) Perhentians Bali Thailand - Similans or Burma Banks (you might be able to do Bangkok as the...

Yes the courses by PADI and SSI are "interchangeable" so when you continue on and do further, more advanced courses, you can skip between agencies if you like. Some dive shops may tell you that one is more recognised than the other - in the effort to sell the course they're offering. That is...

Give it another shot. You have to get past the stinging/pricking pain stage to where your endorphins kick in. Maybe biting on a lemon - or something that tastes utterly disgusting - might distract from the pain?

Tolerance to cold will depend greatly from individual to individual so it's best to find out what the actual water temp will be and dress accordingly. When I was diving in Cozumel (water was around 25 C). I wore a 3mm full suit on my first day and was so cold that I went out and got myself a...

If you mean she has problems clearing water from her mask because she is blowing out with her mouth - when she should be blowing out through her nose - she can try putting the tip of her tongue on the roof of her mouth while she exhales. I've found this very effective for many new students...

You might find a good sturdy bag at any outdoor store that stock a good selection of backpacks. You'll probably find a small shoulder bag. For padding, I second the bubble wrap solution. OR use your towel or extra clothing to cushion your regs during transport.

Hi Z, Lucky you have such great places for your backyards. From my experience of doing Vanuatu and Fiji, my highlights are: Fiji Beqa Lagoon for the Sharks and the other wonderful marine life. Vanuatu The Coolidge Wreck on the Island of Santos (a 200 metre WWII wreck that is...

Thanks to everyone who posted info on this. I must say while I am disgusted, I am not surprised. There's always the idiots who feel compelled to kill sharks. But I still have some hope that education has an important role to play and that those who feel it is acceptable to kill these animals...

Damn, Dr Bill, I thought this was going to be a contest! But seriously, thanks for useful insights into planning value-for-money trips. Good luck on the Bucket List trips. I have found that round-the-world airfares can give you a lot of flying for your money (especially if you're...

Good work Merxlin! You are absolutely right about what a "small effort" can do against unsustainable seafood. If retailers realise that selling items such as shark is bad for business, they will stop selling them. Lets hope more people speak up. Also, social media is an important...

I think it may be fairly easy to organise your own trips if you're near an airport hub. I've booked most of my trips independently and found it works quite well. If you're looking into liveaboarding in SE Asia, The Similans or Burma Banks are good options. You might also get some ideas...