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Komodo is awesome, I've been twice. I'm going to Raja Ampat in a month, so expect an effort post after. I went to the Similans on a liveaboard about 12 years ago. It was good, but I don't remember it nearly as well as Indonesia (Indo is the best). If you go to the Similans, make sure you go from ~Nov until ~March; it's their dry season.
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Oct 21, 2022 16:24
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The only thing that I can think of, other than sewing, is to cut a clean round hole at the end of the tear. Using a punch of some sort. Meanwhile, here's a game that's been released to early access: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1868140/DAVE_THE_DIVER/ Note: I have not yet played it.
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Nov 4, 2022 10:38
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Conditions at Sail Rock briefly got good, and it coincided with the trevally spawning.  I wish it was like this all the time. e: Fixed broken links. Trivia fucked around with this message at 16:36 on Feb 3, 2023 |
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Feb 3, 2023 07:24
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I stand by my quote lol The photo was taken by another instructor. I actively discourage people from taking cameras (sshhh, don't tell my boss).
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Feb 6, 2023 02:23
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Are you looking for tech rated stuff specifically? Or just rec diving? I'd get something lightweight. I think Cressi has a lot of lightweight options. The aqualung dimension i3 was a pretty lightweight bcd when I hefted it. I'd personally go for a hybrid wing style (I use an AL Rogue), as those don't have a heavy backplate. I use a Aqualung Mikron reg and like them a lot. Though I'd be wary of AL products in general, I think they were bought out by an investment firm recently so RIP quality. I recommend an equipment travel bag with wheels, and a separate mesh bag while you're on the boat (don't bring your travel bag on the boat, it's big and will corrode).
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Mar 12, 2023 02:05
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Yes. One dive equipment specific suitcase for the actual travel portion, then a small mesh duffel style bag for carrying your gear onto the boat. Don't bring the travel suitcase onto the boat, it's big and bulky and obnoxious.
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Mar 12, 2023 07:45
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Lightweight also means more plastic parts, so greater chance of breakage, maybe? That being said, I've yet to see any plastic d-rings snap, even on rentals.
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Mar 12, 2023 16:12
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Everyone whom I've talked to said they love their Peregrine. I almost bought one but instead opted for a Geo 4 (I wanted the wristwatch). Imagine my frustration when it turns out the Geo4 defaults to the Fly screen instead of the time piece. Swing and a loving miss, Oceanic.
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Mar 25, 2023 01:41
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That guy had a freeflow equipment malfunction and STILL did the safety stop?? If you want a cheap and reliable reg, go with an Aqualung Calypso. Very no-frills, but a durable workhorse that can be serviced practically anywhere.
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May 30, 2023 07:27
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Can post with PADI. I think they have an online jobs board. There are also various FB groups.
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Jun 14, 2023 08:42
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Continuing the theme of me hating cameras but liking when others have them (and take pics of me): https://youtube.com/shorts/7gd49Ag-ldM?feature=share3
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Jun 20, 2023 14:55
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Most dive courses done at holiday destinations are geared towards busy tourists. Tourists already scoff at the three days for the cert, nevermind the additional costs more training would entail for skills mastery. Tourists are terrible when it comes to actual study, so a lot of them don't even finish their online theory before getting in the pool. Instruction quality is also VERY variable, and highly dependent upon the instructor themselves. If you get a new instructor fresh out of boot camp, you'll be taught in a very regimented, by-the-book way. Many of them will have been taught what to teach, but not necessarily how, and won't have the experience necessary to identify problems / techniques / shortcuts / efficiencies. This was me five years ago. The instructor I am today is vastly different, and should I continue to teach, hopefully different than the future as well. Your dive shop also matters. If price is your main concern, then you will get exactly what you pay for. Low budget places are great for backpackers, but also means that you'll be in classes with potentially 5-10 other students; instructors are paid per student (and don't make a lot either I might add). Every incentive is structured in a way to increase profits, not experience. Finding a shop that is more expensive MAY mean that the class sizes are smaller, so you're given more one-on-one time. You hit the nail on the head when it comes to the "advanced" course. It's all marketing bullshit. Advanced is just a word on the card and means NOTHING when it comes to proficiency in the water. The actual knowledge content is also pretty minimal. Technically, guides and instructors are allowed to take people to 40 meters on a basic OW certification (IIRC). Most don't because it's a safety liability (the diver may be an idiot and kill themselves) and also an incentive to sell an advanced course. The cheapest work around is to do the Deep Adventure Dive. Show that you've done the reading and the quizzes, and the dives, and you can skip doing the Advanced course entirely. What the advanced course is good for, if anything, is making people more situationally aware in the water (and also advanced buoyancy practice with PPB). This is a skill that is overlooked because of all the other poo poo instructors need to teach. I get a lot of students that are super eager to dive more, and want to do the advanced course straight after OW. I tell them absolutely DO NOT DO THAT. Go fun dive first. Get 15-20 dives under your belt then come back. Experience matters. The rescue course is about turning your attention from inward to outward oriented. You now take it upon yourself to look at and after other divers, and (somewhat) take responsibility for their safety. The course should not be a fun course in the traditional sense. I learned much more doing this course than I did the advanced, back when I was just a fun diver. This is a good cert level for people who dive with friends and family. Divemaster is a whole other ball of wax which I can get into if people wanna hear about it.
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Jul 18, 2023 02:38
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Yeah. I see a lot of new instructors just take students for a "fun dive" on open water dives 1 and 2, instead of drilling buoyancy practice for the majority of it. Save the fun for dives 3 and 4.
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Jul 18, 2023 04:41
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My parents went to South Africa to do the cage dive. Said it was cold as gently caress.
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Jul 20, 2023 00:21
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DeadlyMuffin posted:I'm a big cold water diving evangelist, but even with good gear if you're just sitting around not moving you get real cold. Yesterday the water here was 30 C. We consider 27 to be cold. Cold water is awful and I will brook no argument.
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Jul 20, 2023 03:02
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In all honesty I would like to (some day) dive the kelp forests. But donning a dry suit again sounds awful.
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Jul 21, 2023 02:01
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Get a robust plastic bag, put your hand in said bag, then slide arm into wetsuit sleeve. Once your hand is through remove the plastic bag. Much easier.
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Aug 14, 2023 03:23
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OWC in Iceland? Braver than I that's for sure.
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Aug 16, 2023 13:46
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KFJ posted:To be fair, the diving companies basically all have access to pools here - There's multiple swimming pools in each municipality and I believe most of them are only too happy to let dive companies use them since they're generally not run for-profit. Today there was a slight breeze on the boat and all the instructors were saying it was cold. I live in Thailand lol
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Aug 17, 2023 13:09
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Sounds like an excuse to buy yourself something nice!
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Sep 12, 2023 05:38
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Lots of ppl like the Peregrine for its big color display.
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Oct 20, 2023 03:25
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Man that sounds depressing as gently caress.
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Dec 13, 2023 03:18
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Trig Discipline posted:Aw man, that makes me sad. I have been doing fish research projects mostly out of Westpunt for almost two decades now but haven't been back in a few years. I have a lot of great memories underwater there, and then I also have this one. Looking back I can't recall whether that was Playa Jeremi or Kleine Knip but it was one of those two. My partner is also an instructor and she had to poo poo in her (almost new) wetsuit due to terrible diarrhea. She made it through 95% of the dive with customers and then lost it when doing the safety stop on the mooring line. Legend.
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Jan 4, 2024 14:15
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What you're asking about is called a referral. It's not uncommon for people to do this, though it's generally considered a crapshoot by the destination dive shop. The reason is that there's no real way of knowing how the training went (or it's quality) since you did it with someone else. The first time your instructor sees you will be in the open ocean, and depending on shop and locale, can be difficult. PADI and as far as I know SSI have procedures in place for referrals. Email and ask. If you did your study using e-learning, they can check your product code and confirm you've finished the theory. They may still give you a short quiz on arrival however.
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Mar 28, 2024 03:37
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I don't recommend diving as a buddy team until you have at least 50 dives experience under your belt. As a general metric. Besides, a guide is great because they'll show you things and places you wouldn't know anything about. They're also an added layer of security. After being shown the site, then it's safe(r) to do it as a pair. As for places that allow rentals and diving sans guide, go to Bonaire. It's almost all shore diving and guides are optional. Or so I'm told.
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Mar 28, 2024 03:43
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Very good points all around. If you're new, then that guide, either professional or local, is going to be doing work when they take you diving. Buy them lunch and a beer at the least ya.
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Mar 28, 2024 03:55
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Yeah diving with a buddy and no guide really just hits different.
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Mar 30, 2024 00:49
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My parents were just down in the Caribbean. Said the bleaching disease is spreading and dive boats are sterilizing gear on the boat immediately after the dive. Situation sounds pretty dire.
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Mar 31, 2024 00:42
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I can't remember where exactly. They jump around down there quite a bit. Probably was Bonaire.
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Mar 31, 2024 00:54
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Yeah, as a newbie to a site you don't know what you don't know. To quote Rumsfeld, an "unknown unknown."
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Apr 11, 2024 03:06
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I like to tell my students that the ocean is aggressively indifferent to your existence. You're just along for the ride. Some of them get it. Some require personal experience first.
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Apr 14, 2024 15:41
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Squashy Nipples posted:I taught an adult friend of mine how to swim while we were in Aruba, and I remember telling him to stop fighting the waves and to bob along with them. "The ocean will kill you with the flick of her wrist, and she won't even notice." "If I kill you, what business of it is yours? "
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Apr 23, 2024 00:55
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| # ¿ May 12, 2024 06:58 |
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My gf uses a travel Zeagle and my god that is the lightest BCD I've ever held.
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May 1, 2024 00:29
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