There are so many cool scuba diving spots in the world. I don't want to go to all of them. I just want to check out a few of them. Sample the best of them. See what's out there in the deep blue sea.

Open Water Diver

  1. Buy gear basics
    • Mask
    • Fins
    • Snorkel
    • Wetsuit
  2. Open Water Cert
  3. Dive some locations and get experience
    • Florida Keys
    • Carribean

Advanced Open Water Diver

  1. Buy next level of gear
    • Buy Buoyancy Compensator Vest
    • Buy Regulatory and Octopus
    • Buy Depth Guage
    • Buy Tank-Pressure Guage
  2. Advanced Open Water Cert
  3. Dive some location and get experience

Wreck Diver

  1. Wreck Diver Cert
  2. Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
  3. Dive some location and get experience

 

 

Sites to Dive

Scuba Diving Magazines and Sites

Guides

Schools

 

Training (PADI)

PADI FLowchart

 

U.S. DIVE TRAVEL NETWORK RECOMMENDED GEAR LIST

To ensure your maximum safety overseas, U.S. Dive Travel recommends that all scuba diving clients bring their own dive gear -- except tanks & weights. of course. All reputable dive shops worldwide will provide you with reliable tanks, weights & weight belts as part of their daily dive package. When scuba diving in foreign locations, it is much safer to use diving gear that is comfortable, in excellent repair & completely familiar to you. We recommend you never rent diving gear overseas. The potential safety hazards you face may outweigh the minimal convenience factor. Scuba diving is a gear-intensive sport & we recommend no diver, however experienced, take the repair status of his or her regulator & BC for granted.

1. MASK, FINS & SNORKLE: For all clients who have prescription lenses mounted inside their masks, we strongly recommend that you bring a spare mask. Losing or breaking your mask might end your diving vacation. This is extremely easy to prevent.

2. BUOYANCY COMPENSATOR VEST: Since we place a high priority on reef preservation, we ask that you bring a B.C. that you've used on at least 5 previous dives, so you're familiar with it & you can maintain good buoyancy control near sensitive corals. Remember, one stray fin kick can destroy a century of coral growth.

3. REGULATOR & OCTOPUS: This is the one gear item most essential to your safety. Please ask your local dive shop technician to give the first & second stages a complete check. Overhaul all worn-out or damaged components before the dive trip. If high-pressure & low-pressure hoses show any major wear, replace them -- this is crucial. Again, be sure to complete at least 5 dives with your regulator & octopus, to ensure your complete familiarity with its fit & operation in all conditions, including deep water & brisk currents.

4. DEPTH GAUGE, TANK-PRESSURE GAUGE, UNDERWATER TIMER & COMPASS: At many dive destinations, your divemasters will be working strictly by conservative no-decompression tables, to ensure the highest standard of safety for all clients. However, because new dive computers are extremely accurate, you may use one in place of a traditional submersible console. If you haven't had your console instruments or computer checked within the last year, please have your dive shop technician make a thorough safety inspection before the dive tour. We also ask that you log at least 5 dives with these instruments before the tour, so you're fully attuned to all of their functions.

5. WETSUIT: For all moderate tropical climates such as Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean & the South Pacific, bring a full-length medium-weight wetsuit, preferably the back-zipped jumpsuit style. Ocean temperatures in these regions seldom vary from a range of 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, most clients will feel more comfortable, will be protected from cuts or scrapes, & will enjoy longer bottom times, when they wear an exposure suit of about 3 mm in thickness. Hoods are not necessary in the tropics. Neoprene gloves & boots with strong semi-rigid soles are recommended for protection against accidental brushes with coral, urchins or other spiny marine organisms.

6. UNDERWATER LIGHT & BACKUP LIGHT: Essential gear for night diving. Both lights must be completely waterproof down to 130 feet. Inspect the O-rings & replace them if worn. Bring new batteries -- plus a set of spare batteries & bulbs -- for each lantern. A standard "gun-grip" light with a weight-belt lanyard is an excellent choice. The backup need only be a small flashlight-style unit that clips to the weight belt.

7. DIVING KNIFE: Bring a small-bladed rustproof stainless-steel sheath knife, with both regular & serrated edges, a flat prying point & a curved inset for slicing nylon lines. The knife -- which is a tool & not a weapon -- should strap to the mid-calf.

8. DIVE LOGBOOK: Self-explanatory. You might want to bring an underwater slate, too.

 

 

 


Well done is better than well said.    -Benjamin Franklin

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