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How to Tip Your Dive Guide and Crew

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:26:20 +0000

How much should you tip your dive guide and crew? It is so confusing. The answer varies according to geographical location, dive shop, and the staff dynamics. Tipping dive guides and the boat crew is a standard practice. Unfortunately, tips can also cause jealousy between dive shop personnel. In the worst scenario, improper tipping protocol can lead to your tip being distributed in ways other than you wished. The question becomes not only how much to tip, but who to tip, and how.

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Boat Diving Etiquette

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:41:10 +0000

One of the many positive aspects of cenote diving is that no boats are involved. Not only do I not get seasick on my way to the dive site, my divers and I can usually avoid some of the hassles of boat diving, such as limited space and time for gearing up. Unfortunately, today when I arrived at cenote Jardin del Eden, a single guide and diver had already managed to use all the space normally shared by several dive groups of four or more people. Small pieces of dive gear were spread out as if for inventory, covering the entire twelve foot table. Tanks were in the parking spaces and their dive truck was backed up to the point that it nearly touched the table, allowing no room for other divers to pass. How inconsiderate! I thought to myself as my diver and I struggled to assemble our gear on the tailgate of my truck, ankle deep in a mud puddle. Then I realized that I see this behavior all the time on dive boats, where space is much more limited. Assuming that most divers hit the water infrequently enough to realize the errors of their ways, here are some tips on boat (and other dive site) etiquette.

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8 Tips for Being a Better Dive Buddy

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:52:49 +0000

After a couple of cave dives, my client and I were chatting about gear . We agreed that we felt safer diving in caves with our double tanks and cave gear designed for complete redundancy than we feel diving in the ocean with a single tank and non-redundant gear. While neither of us denies that cave diving is a risky sport, with cave gear the diver has the ability to solve any possible equipment failure (except for a catastrophic gas loss) himself, whereas with a single tank, a diver must rely on his buddy to help him with an equipment problem. These days I see recreational divers (even my own buddies) straying farther and farther away from their dive partners, to the point that is unlikely that they could render timely assistance in the case of an emergency. Learn 8 Ways to Improve Your Buddy Skills.

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Ascent Rate Guidelines and Why You Should Follow Them

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:17:58 +0000

As a scuba diving instructor, I have developed an almost preternatural sense of hearing. I notice the pfffffffftttt sound of a diver holding down the power inflate button on his buoyancy compensator (BC) every time he adds air to his BC. When I am diving with new or inexperienced divers, this noise strikes terror into my heart. I worry that the diver has added too much air to his BC, or that he is using the inflate button to ascend. My fear is that he will send himself into an uncontrolled ascent, which is one of the worst things a diver can do underwater. Doing so increases a diver's risk of decompression illness. Scuba diving ascents should always be slow and controlled. What is the maximum safe ascent rate?

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Is Scuba Diving Dangerous? Statistics and Safety Information

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:34:46 +0000

Is scuba diving dangerous? As with any adventure sport, some risk is involved. Humans are not built to breathe underwater, which means that every time a diver descends, he is completely dependent upon his equipment, skills, and emergency training to ensure that he surfaces safely. This truth, while it may sound frightening, should not discourage prospective divers. However, it should encourage divers to approach the sport with an appropriate amount of respect. Scuba diving is not dangerous as long as a diver seeks thorough training, follows safe diving guidelines, uses proper gear, and dives within his experience level. Read safety statistics and facts.

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Get Started Scuba Diving - Advice for Newbies

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:23:36 +0000

Have you ever have dreamed of floating weightlessly like an astronaut, investigating unusual species like a field researcher, or looking for lost objects like a treasure hunter? Scuba diving can make these dreams a reality! Scuba diving is relatively easy and only requires a short period of training to get started. Whether your goal in diving is fish watching, ocean conservation, or simply meeting adventurous people, seventy percent of the globe becomes accessible to you the moment you learn to breathe underwater! Here are easy steps to take to start learning to scuba dive. Read more.

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Instructor Horror Stories - The Boxfish Grabbers

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:49:05 +0000

In any profession, there are good clients and there are clients that make you want to tear your hair out and cry "Why me?" Diving is no different. While ninety-nine percent of my divers are wonderful human beings who love and respect the underwater world, there are bound to be exceptions. One of my worst experiences as a dive instructor was also one of the most comical. Here is a true story about teaching two (shall we say headstrong) children to dive. Read more

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Which Fins Should I Buy?

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:50:03 +0000

Scuba diving fins are available in such a wide variety of styles that fin shopping can be overwhelming. This illustrated guide to common styles and features of scuba diving fins will help fin shoppers have an idea of what they want before they begin their search for the perfect fin. Fin Shopping Guide.

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Caribbean Reef Fish Identification

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:24:35 +0000

Do you know what fish is shown in the photo to the right? Here's a guide to twenty of my favorite Caribbean reef fish. If you have already been diving in the Caribbean, click through this guide to see which fish you recognize and to learn a little bit about each species. If you haven't been diving in the Caribbean yet, use this guide to learn about the fish you will see on your dives. See Guide

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Are Jellyfish Dangerous to Scuba Divers?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:31:09 +0000

How dangerous can a gelatinous sac of straggly tentacles be? A jellyfish's soft, transparent body appears vulnerable to all sort of prey, and a diver may be surprised that a jellyfish can survive to grow to maturity without being eaten. Yet, a jellyfish's delicate body is anything but unprotected. The tentacles of a jellyfish contain uncountable numbers of stinging cells, called nematocysts, which effectively protect it from many potential predators and are used to stun small prey. Depending upon the species of jellyfish, contact with the stinging cells can injure, or even kill a human being. But how much of a threat are jellyfish to scuba divers? Read full article.

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