first scuba trip abroad I'm looking for recommendations of what type of suit to get for my first trip abroad I'm gonna dive in the red sea in mid March!! i am completely unsure on type and thickness! i am a smaller woman and run relatively cold!

Like a lot of other people, I had scuba on my bucket list too. When me and my friend planned our trip to Thailand, we came to Koh Samui specifically for Scuba. My friend backed out at the last minute and I decided to do it alone nonetheless.. and I’m so happy that I went ahead with it.

How do I even describe this feeling? It feels surreal to say the least? It was a different world altogether, something that I couldn’t have ever imagined. Nothing that I have ever experienced before. I don’t even know how to explain it, just feels like I achieved something haha. For the first time in a long time, I feel alive (excuse the dramatic tone) Real good feeling. Just thought of sharing it here! Thanks for reading(:

Hi fellow divers!

I’ve been working on a personal project that started with a frustrating mask-fit problem: pressure around my lower forehead and the bridge of my nose, combined with leaks at the temples.

That led me to develop a concept I call ScubaForm.

The idea is to allow the mask’s frame curvature to be individually fitted before diving, while keeping a conventional silicone skirt. Once fitted, it retains that shape — the adjustment happens on land, not underwater.

The photo shows an early prototype. I’ve tried the approach on several existing mask models, with encouraging initial results for my own fit and comfort. A few other people who tried it also reported an improvement, although these are still small, early tests rather than a finished, validated product.

To be transparent, I’m the person developing it, and I’d really appreciate some honest feedback from other divers:

• Have you experienced forehead or nose-bridge pressure, or persistent temple leaks, even after trying different masks?

• Would a one-time fitting step be worthwhile if it improved comfort and sealing?

• What would your biggest concern be with a mask like this?

Personal experiences, questions, and skeptical takes are all welcome.

Thanks for taking a look ❤️

I have a vintage diving knife from aqua lung that has a bend in it and a crack in the handle, I was wondering if anyone had any ways to fix the bend and make it straight again and fix the crack? It's got Japanese stainless steel and a plastic handle

If anyone has questions about it I will try and answer the best I can, I got this knife from my uncle and don't know much about it

Hey everyone!

I’ll be in Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) from December 3–9, 2026, and I’m looking for recommendations for a good freediving school or instructor.

My flights and inter-island ferries are already booked, so my dates are fixed. I’m hoping to complete both a beginner and an advanced freediving course during my stay.

I’ve come across schools like DIVEIndia and The Dive Master Havelock, but I’d love to hear from people who have actually trained in Havelock.

A few questions:
Which school or instructor would you personally recommend, and why?

What is a reasonable price for both beginner and advanced courses combined?

Which certification systems are available locally — AIDA, Molchanovs, PADI or SSI?

Is it realistic to complete both levels within seven days without rushing the training?

Are there any lesser-known local instructors worth considering?

I’m mainly looking for genuine firsthand experiences rather than generic tourist recommendations.

If you’ve trained with an instructor in Havelock, I’d really appreciate your advice.

Thanks!

A friend of mine is just back from seven days aboard a boat in the red sea. He came back on Saturday and still has the same symptoms: dizziness (especially when looking at screens) and not being able to hold food or liquids down. It started on day three of his trip. None of the other divers experienced any of the same symptoms. He's currently getting medical attention in his home city.

He's an experienced diver but this is new to him. Any thoughts on what could be causing this? Local doctors here (Madrid) have told him they've seen similar symptoms from people coming back from Egypt.

Putting this out there for the divers here: we chartered a private 124ft explorer yacht called Ark Noble in the Maldives for New Year's week (Dec 26 – Jan 2) and have 10 spots left to fill. It's peak season for the big animals — whale sharks in South Ari, a full day with mantas, and a dawn hammerhead dive at Rasdhoo on Jan 1. Dive guides are on board, and non-divers are welcome too (a few of us won't be diving at all).

$5,000 per person, more details bottom of post. That covers your cabin, all food from the chef, open bar, massage, and the airport transfer. Flights aren't included. 20 people total, mostly late 20s and 30s. I'll share the full itinerary and hop on a video call before anyone pays a cent.

Itinerary:

Dec 26, North Malé: Land in Malé by noon and the tender picks you up. First swim is at Fish Tank, a shallow spot full of stingrays and guitar sharks. Surf Jailbreaks or Sultans if you surf, or hit the water slide and Seabobs. Welcome dinner under the stars.

Dec 27, South Malé to Vaavu: Drift dive at Kandooma Thila with grey reef sharks and eagle rays, or surf Riptides. Jet skis alongside the yacht on the open-ocean crossing, a fishing line out for dinner, and a spa treatment on board. We anchor in a quiet lagoon.

Dec 28, Vaavu: Jump off the mast of a half-sunk shipwreck, dive the shark channel at Miyaru Kandu, and take over a private sandbar with margaritas. At sunset we anchor at Alimatha and jump in with 50+ nurse sharks.

Dec 29, South Ari: Whale shark day. The crew spots them from the roof and we slip in. No scuba needed. Afternoon wreck dive, or wakeboarding in a lagoon that's flat as glass.

Dec 30, Dhigurah: Dive Kuda Rah Thila, one of the most beautiful reefs in the Maldives. Walk the jungle path out to a 3km sandspit (or take the tender), lobster BBQ at the tip, yoga at sunset.

Dec 31, Rangali to Rasdhoo: Mantas at 9am. Lunch at Ithaa, the undersea restaurant (optional, $365). Then we cruise north and anchor off Kuramathi for the midnight fireworks, and everybody jumps in.

Jan 1, Rasdhoo: 7am hammerhead dive as the first sun of 2027 comes up, or sleep in. Afternoon on a sandbank with Bloody Marys, a sunset surf if it's working, and the farewell dinner.

Jan 2: Sunrise yoga or one last swim, a big breakfast, and the tender to the airport around 10am. Book flights after 11.

You don't have to dive. Every day has a snorkel, surf, or deck option.

Included: your cabin, the chef (sashimi, wagyu, lobster), open bar, full crew, daily yoga and massage, 3 dive guides with unlimited dives, all the toys (jet skis, Seabobs, e-foils, wakeboards, surfboards), and the airport transfers.

Not included: flights into Malé (MLE), Ithaa, dive certification (you can do it on board for a fee), and a hotel night if you fly in Dec 25.

It's $5,000 per person. $2,500 holds your spot and the rest is due Nov 20.

If it sounds like your kind of week, let's do a quick video call so you can ask me anything before you pay a thing.

Hey everyone!
Currently on my honeymoon in Indonesia and could use some input from fellow divers.
I got married last Saturday after a pretty stressful few weeks, flew to Bali on Monday, and then continued to Lombok. A few days ago, I started developing a scratchy throat, runny nose and cough. The cough has been fairly persistent for the last 3 days and is now productive, with clear/whitish mucus.
No fever, body aches, shortness of breath or chest symptoms. I feel pretty normal otherwise and did yoga yesterday without any issues. My nose is mostly fine during the day, and I don’t need any nasal sprays.
We’re flying to Komodo tomorrow and were planning to go diving the day after. Obviously, the timing sucks.
I’m trying to figure out whether this is just a mild viral infection, possibly aggravated by dust/wind from a long scooter ride, or whether I’m setting myself up for a miserable time underwater.
For those who’ve been in a similar situation:
Have you postponed dives for a mild cold even when you felt otherwise completely fine?
How long did you wait after symptoms improved before diving again?
Did anyone experience equalization issues despite having a mostly clear nose?

Obviously this is a trip of a lifetime and I especially don’t wanna hang in on my husband who has been waiting for so long to do this trip.

I know the conservative answer is to skip the dives if I’m still symptomatic, and I’m not looking for someone to tell me to just take a decongestant and send it. I’d just appreciate hearing about other divers’ experiences, especially with mild symptoms like these.
Thanks!

Currently in Taiwan and thinking of heading down south next week to get my open water diving cert. Places i had in mind were Bohol, Molboal or Koh Tao (preference would be Phillipines or Thailand but the weather seems to be pretty wild at this time of year), Lombok or Bali (Indonesia seems to have much more favourable weather but i'm not a huge fan of the tourist hell that is Bali). Would love to hear any and all suggestions, tips you guys might have :)

Awesome diving this week in Cozunel. We got there a day after the storm passed. Thankfully no bad weather while we were visiting.

Hello Everyone, I'm helping a colleague distribute a research study on skin conditions in divers. If you have a chance regardless if you've developed a skin condition or not diving to fill it out, that would be very helpful and much appreciated: https://forms.gle/h8VHmK8wktFWG9Zn9

Hi, I am still weighing up different options for my new to be diving computer. I initially rejected Garmin due to its very high price compared to the value for my very much recreational diving, but want to reconsider. Given it is almost the most expensive one on the market, I wanted to get some more opinions on its air Integration function. How much more comfort does it give you than standard bar reading? I know you can sync it with your buddy but this is only true if they also get a Garmin and I have never met anyone using it on all of my 35 dives so far. I also know it doesn't only ready the bars but also integrates it in NDL calculations which is worth it but not critical. It also alerts you to exact time you have to get out of water which is also useful but I am usually not the first person to finish a dive anyway (not to brag...ok maybe a little bit brat, but no brag 😆) what are your thoughts?

Just wondering if anyone has actually been saved by it. I see many people say how it's a good back up or it's garbage but I never see anyone say how it's actually saved a life.

Please help me find a good mask for small face. I had an old one from mares that’s about 9/10 years old & the seal is no longer holding up. Open to suggestions! So hard to find a mask since I have a small face / head

Without the ability to equalise the pressure in the mask, how do freedivers avoid incredible bruising or shattered goggles at depth?