Beginners Guide to Exploring the Ocean - Part II

9. Apr 2022 Liquid Diving Adventures Dive Destination Info, Dive Travel News, Travel Reviews

Scuba Diving 101 - Part II

A Beginners Guide to Exploring the Ocean

Originally posted on Porch.com

Paula Hernandez

Diving Preparation Tips

Before you “dive in,” there are several important things to consider. Remember that each step in the preparation process is vital to be comfortable and safe in the water. If you’re not familiar with swimming in the ocean, take a few swimming practice lessons before you start diving.

● Take local diving lessons: Before you spend money on scuba equipment and get your certification, it’s a good idea to take a few diving lessons near you. These lessons typically take place in a standard swimming pool, so you won’t need to travel long distances or live near the ocean to get in some basic practice.

● Get your certification: It’s recommended that you take the PADI Open Water Certification training before you start scuba diving. This course takes two full days to complete, with a lesson in diving theory completed beforehand. Once you receive your certification, it is good for life and never expires, so it’s well worth the effort upfront. If you’re traveling after you get your certificate, wait at least 24 hours from your last dive before you fly to your destination so your lungs can acclimate.

● Learn marine biology: You don’t need to be an expert in marine biology, but some certifications include a brief course to help you learn more about the fish, plants, and animals that inhabit our oceans. If your training doesn’t include marine biology, feel free to buy a few books on the subject or read articles about it online to help you learn.

● Get the right equipment: Every scuba diver needs the right equipment to ensure a safe dive.

o How to obtain equipment: You can choose to rent your equipment from a scuba dive center near your dive location at a reasonable cost. However, if you’re planning to dive more frequently, investing in your own equipment is well worth the price. Key items include goggles or a face mask, a wetsuit, fins, a scuba tank, a regulator, a snorkel, and a depth gauge.

o Bring a camera: Cameras and video cameras are optional, but they provide an amazing opportunity to capture incredible images and videos. Make sure that your camera equipment is designed for use underwater. A snoot is a great accessory that provides light to help you capture dramatic photos underwater. You can use it to adjust the lighting underwater for spectacular macro photography, and create the best photo album!

o How much does it cost? Your dive training should cost between around $350 and $450 or more, depending on the type of certification and location. Personal equipment like fins, goggles, and wetsuits can run between $200 and $300 on the low side. If you’re investing in professional equipment such as gauges and cameras, plan to spend several hundred dollars more on each. Budget for between $700 and $1,000 if you’re a beginner, which should include your certification and all of the basic gear you’ll need to get started.

o Where to store your equipment at home? Proper Storage is the key to keeping your scuba equipment in good condition. Rinse used gear off with a hose before putting it away to remove salt and mineral buildup. Ensure that every item is completely dry before putting it in storage. Hang wetsuits up in a clean, dry area away from direct sunlight or high temperatures. You can keep equipment like your snorkel, fins, and facemask in a sealed plastic container or a plastic bin with a lid in between dives.

Planning Your Trip

Once you’re certified and have all of your equipment, it’s time to start planning your first official dive.

● Find the best place to scuba dive: If you’re staying within the United States, there are several fascinating places to discover. Try Monterey, California, home to a massive kelp forest filled with a fantastic range of sea life. Ginnie Springs, Florida, has crystal clear waters and is an excellent East Coast option with three dive sites within the park. Maui, Hawaii, is home to many popular scuba diving sites filled with turtles, fish, rays, and unique underwater lava tubes. Explore several options to dive near you or plan a trip to an exotic location to discover new worlds and species.

● Choose a dive shop: When looking for dive shops, make sure they are PADI certified for your safety. These dive shops are easy to find with a simple Google search or via scuba diving Facebook groups and on Twitter and other social media outlets.

Important Scuba Diving Safety Tips

Part of your diving certification training will include information about the safety precautions every diver should take. Here are some basic safety tips to always keep in mind before, during, and after a dive.

● Get a medical examination: If you’re fit and healthy, a medical exam is not required, but it can help to ensure that you’re in good health before you start diving. If you feel unwell, don’t dive until you’re feeling completely healthy. You’ll need to sign a medical statement before you dive, so it’s best to confirm that you’re in good shape before you start.

● Food: Stick to light, well-balanced meals before any scuba diving trip and wait at least two hours before getting in the water. Remember to drink plenty of water and avoid consuming any alcohol on the day of your dive.

● Sleep: Make sure that you get plenty of restful sleep the night before your dive. At least six hours is recommended, but eight is preferable.

● Ear pain: You may notice mild ear discomfort called ear barotrauma when you dive due to a pressure imbalance between the middle ear canal and the water pressure outside your ears. Use an exercise called the Valsalva maneuver to help restore the balance in your ears.

● How long before can you fly after scuba diving? Always wait at least 24 hours after your last dive before you fly. When you fly in a pressurized environment, it can cause decompression sickness if you don’t give the nitrogen in your lungs time to dissipate.

● Listen to your dive guide: Listen carefully to your dive guide, and make sure that you always keep them within view. Follow the guide’s instructions regarding where you will be going, what you should do, and what to look out for.

● Try meditative breathing: If you feel anxious while diving, slow down and take some deep, meditative breaths. Two short inhales, and one long exhale can help you feel calm and more relaxed.

● Don’t touch anything: Never touch anything while you’re diving. Coral reefs and oceans contain a variety of species that can be poisonous or even deadly. Plus, touching plants and marine life can cause harm to the living things in the ocean.

● Can scuba diving be sustainable? Scuba diving can be a sustainable sport if you follow a few basic practices. This includes never touching or taking anything from the ocean, never feeding sharks, and learning to use a flash camera correctly. Avoid using single-use plastic while on-board so that it doesn’t accidentally get into the ocean. Choose a scuba dive program that focuses on sustainability and uses good policies regarding eco-friendly equipment and methods.

Other Fun Underwater Activities: Snorkeling

Aside from scuba diving, you can also have fun underwater with snorkeling. While scuba diving involves using an underwater apparatus that allows you to go deep underwater, snorkeling lets you explore shallower waters. When you’re snorkeling, you will stay near the surface of the water and use a mask and a breathing tube called a snorkel. You’ll be able to discover beautiful panoramic underwater views from above without ever having to deep dive underwater. Snorkeling is also a great alternative to scuba diving for children, beginners, or those who simply want to enjoy a quick hour or two of exploring without complicated equipment.

The sport of scuba diving provides you with a wonderful way to reflect and do something you love. It’s also an excellent opportunity to try a new activity, get some exercise, and gain a new appreciation for the beauty of our world’s open waters. Scuba diving shows you how fragile nature is, and it opens your mind to exploring and discovering new species, environments, and much more.

Originally posted on Porch.com

Paula Hernandez

Global Climate Strike - Friday, September 20, 2019

19. Sep 2019 Liquid Diving Adventures Dive Destination Info, Travel Reviews, Travel Specials & Deals

Global Climate Strike

Friday, September 20, 2019

At Liquid Diving Adventures, our business depends upon clean water, healthy oceans, healthy coral reefs. We support marine clean-up campaigns, ending the use of plastics, and other initiatives to protect that which is 70% of our planet...the Oceans.

Alongside more than 700 businesses and organisations, we have pledged to be part of the This is Not Business as Usual movement to add our voice to the collective call for urgent action.

Will you be striking with us?

For the past year, the youth climate movement has been quietly growing in coffee shops in midwestern suburbs, libraries in urban centers, and classrooms in the rural south. Young people are preparing for a revolution to save our future, and on Friday, September 20, we invite you to join us.

On that day, three days before the UN Climate Summit in New York, young people and adults all over the world will strike to demand that our leaders take transformative action to address the climate crisis; the strike includes some 500 events in the US alone. Across the globe, a coalition of hundreds of groups have been working over the last few months in hopes of making September 20 the largest climate mobilization in world history — and to create momentum that will launch us into a new era of climate action to save our futures.

Airport Travel Tips

25. Oct 2015 Liquid Diving Adventures Dive Travel News, Travel Reviews

Airport Travel Tips

You may have seen these airport travel tips but they are worth repeating as we get ready for our winter dive travel to tropical destinations.

Getting through security checkpoints is always a major hassle. A little preparation can save you time and aggravation. Be mindful of the carry-on restrictions. Before your trip, stock up on small travel-size toiletries that are allowed for carry-on. This may also reduce your bag weight.
If you are travelling internationally, weigh your bags before you leave home and again, be mindful of weight limits as they differ from airline to airline. You may also have to weigh your carry-on bags so remember the check specific airline restrictions and weigh your carry-on before you leave for the airport.
There are a number of smartphone apps available to help navigate airport terminals. Gate Guru (www.gateguru.com) is a favorite as well as Seat Guru (www.seatguru.com) for getting that seat with a bit more leg room. If travelling through the US, TSA information is also available (http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/).
A common trick to save a couple of bucks….carry an empty water bottle. Many airports now have water bottle fill stations near drinking fountains. You can avoid the high price of bottled water at post-security shops and restaurants.
Many people are right-handed and tend to choose checkpoint and immigration lines to the right. You may find lines to the left shorter with less of a wait. Of course, signing up for the TSA Pre-check program can also save you time and hassles in security line.
We have changed our dive gear bags from soft-side bags with rollers to lighter canvas sport duffel bags and we have saved close to 10 pounds in bag weight. We do need to get luggage carts now but we rarely worry about dive gear weight, and when we are on a liveaboard with limited storage space, these soft duffel bags compress to save cabin space.
Take a photo of your boarding pass with your smartphone. Then you won't have to worry about opening your email program to find the boarding pass. We also take photos of our travel documents, passports, C-cards, and other personal records that might get misplaced. Check out our smartphone app as it has a section just for this purpose (Liquid Diving Adventures on the Apple app store or Google Play).
That camera in your smartphone can be used to take pics of your luggage, your parking lot location and other common travel events that you may forget after a week of scuba diving. Use that phone for more than just selfies…!
We have started to purchase a bottle of wine or other alcohol at duty free. We don't save much on the cost of the bottle but it can really save on the resort bar tab. You might consider some of the mini-bottles of alcoholic beverages to mix with a free soft drink on the plane. Just remember to pack them in a plastic baggie to get through the security checkpoints. And remember to use caution when bringing alcohol into to some Middle Eastern countries for travel to the Red Sea.
If you are not a frequent flyer member and don't have access to Premier Lounges, you may find some clubs will allow for day purchases. It may be worth the extra cost (say 420 to $50) to get out of the crowd if you have a long layover.

Travel safe, dive safe and have great adventures…!

Turneffe Flats Resort Travel Report - Turneffe Atoll, Belize

23. Jan 2015 Liquid Diving Adventures Dive Travel News, Belize, Travel Reviews

Turneffe Flats Resort - Belize

DIVE REPORT – 4 to 9 JANUARY 2015

Air Temperatures – Low to Upper 70s to Low 80s

Water Temperature – 78F

Overall Weather – At the start of the week winds came from the NNE at over 15 knots, and by mid-week they had reduced to 5 knots, only to increase again to 15 knots and swivel around to the NNW. Skies offered alternating sun and clouds with some rain showers here and there.

Crew - Dive Instructor Anne-Marie was the dive guide, with Carlton (AKA Capt) as boat captain for the week.

Sightings – A positively monstrous size Spotted Eagle Ray came cruising by divers at close range along the Chasbow’s Corner wall on Monday. Lighthouse Reef Atoll diving on Tuesday was spectacular, with lots of Nassau Groupers along the Half Moon Caye wall area with fat tummies for spawning. Reef Sharks showed up as usual and showed keen interest in divers whom were taking photos of a Hawksbill Turtle munching on a sponge whom was completely unconcerned with the divers and cameras, or the Reef Sharks whizzing by. Aquarium to Silver Cave on the western side of Long Caye was a lengthy drift dive covering both action-packed sites. Reef Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, schools of Horse Eye Jack, numerous large Black Groups, and three Tarpon all made appearances. The southeastern dives on Friday offered up a White Spotted Toadfish sighting. Upon close inspection, there was a small Banded Coral Shrimp sitting just above the toadfish’s eye like a red and white eyebrow. A lone large and muscular Crevalle Jack swam purposefully along the Jojos’s Split wall toward divers coming in close for inspection as it went by. Each week brings expected sightings and surprises every time.

Sunday 4 January

Winds at over 15 knots from NE. Mostly cloudy with some sun.

Dive Sites: #1 Black Pearl North - 60ft visibility / #2 Black Pearl South – 60ft visibility / #3 Amberhead – 60ft visibility

Monday 5 January

Wind speed at over 15 knots switching from NNE to due north. Rains showers in the morning gave way to sun in the afternoon.

Dive Sites: #1 Terrace – 60ft visibility / #2 Chasbow’s Corner – 60ft visibility / #3 Elkin’s Bay – 60ft

Tuesday 6 January

Winds at just over 10 knots from the NNE. Mostly sunny conditions all day.

Dive Sites: #1 Blue Hole – 30 then 80ft visibility / #2 Half Moon Caye Wall – 60ft visibility / #3 Aquarium to Silver Cave - 50ft visibility

Wednesday 7 January

Winds dropped to 5 knots, and skies were mostly sunny with some clouds.

Dive Sites: #1 Wishbone – 70ft visibility / #2 Front Door – 70ft visibility / #3 Night Dive at Northern Bogue

Thursday 8 January

Winds back up to 15 knots from the NNE, then switching to NNW. Rain showers on and off, revealing patches of sun.

Dive Sites: #1 Creekozene South – 60ft visibility / #2 Pine Ridge – 60ft visibility / #3 Lobster Bay - 60ft visibility

Friday 9 January

Light variable winds increased to 10 knots from the NW by mid-morning. Overcast conditions with passing rain showers gave way to sun in the early afternoon.

Dive Sites: #1 The Elbow – 50ft visibility / #2 Jojo’s Split – 70ft visibility / #3 Chrissea’s Place - 70ft visibility

Murex Bangka Resort, Indonesia - Trip Report

20. Dec 2014 Liquid Diving Adventures Dive Destination Info, Indonesia, Travel Reviews

Murex Bangka Resort, Indonesia - August 2014

"Bangka was better than I expected, since LR is now rotating one of their eagle-eyed dive guides into Murex Bangka whenever possible (Sandro is a good guide with a great personality). They also have 2 former LR dive shop staff on site trying to keep a handle on things. They also have access to a new boat, which is technically shared with Murex Manado (which apparently has first dibs) which we mostly got to dive on (I see now why people complain about the old boats as they are pretty dilapidated and not as user friendly). I think I actually liked that new boat better than LR's boats - really awesome built-in wooden hangers for suits to dry on during lunch. I was in one of the oldest rooms - right next to the gear up area, on top of the (not used) dive shop, and beside the kitchen/restaurant, so a bit noisy but I survived. I knew Bangka was outback but the shower wasn`t great (needs a new shower head - yes the water smells, but I knew it was remote going in). I asked to tour the newer rooms which are much nicer and have more amenities, better water pressure, newer ACs, etc. It took a lot of lobbying but I managed to dive Bantu Pendita the day all the children and snorkellers (and their diver family members) went on a Lembeh day trip, which was beautiful, current ridden and Komodo-like, as one of my SB friends had advised. One of my favourite dives of the trip. Did not see the dugong, but there was a close encounter a few weeks before I arrived. Did not manage a night dive - no one really keen to do one. That place attracts a lot of families with non-divers bc of the beach. There was a Dutch family there for a month doing just 1 dive a day. Food is simple and some westerners have found it a bit repetitive (again I can see why). They managed the vegetarian request fine except for the last night where they put a vegetable dish with fish in it in the position where the vegetarian side dish usually was (there was no vegetarian side dish that night) and didn't tell anyone about the fish. There is now a snack after dives - often Western fresh baked cake - which is nice. There are also local peanuts. I think they definitely have made the best power decision of the other ops on island from my discussions with others who have dove Bangka (power roughly 6 PM to 6 AM so you can run AC and sleep). I had a SB friend diving at Mimpi Indah in the same period and he definitely thought my experience was better - better guiding, better AC, and he prefers the Murex bungalows. Very different vibe than Lembeh due to the non-24 hour power and dial up internet. I enjoyed it and would go back despite a few wrinkles. Saw my first pygmie squid (which I had never seen at Lembeh despite multiple attempts - of course I then went and found my own in Lembeh) and a cyerce nudibranch I had been hoping to see for years. The senior guide there is very good for Batu Pendita - knows how to manage the current which can be fierce. I am not sure attempting that dive site with a newer or less Bangka-experienced guide would be a great idea. I also saw some fighting junior mimics which the guides were excited about. Yes they had a rhino picked out too."

Natasha S - Toronto, Canada

August 2014

Lembeh Resort, Indonesia - Trip Report

16. Dec 2014 Liquid Diving Adventures Dive Destination Info, Indonesia, Testimonials, Travel Reviews

Lembeh Resort - Lembeh, Indonesia

"Lembeh Resort is still great. They`ve improved meals and snacks and the pool area significantly since we were last there. The resort GMs are still amazing - e.g. they were doing spot checks on the chef to make sure he was using the vegetarian soup base for soups rather than chicken or beef while I was there so that I could eat the soups. They previously worked at Wakatobi which IMO shows. I also managed to hit Fish Geek week which was amazing - heard talked from Mark Erdmann and Gerry Allen and got to dive on their boat and see them in action underwater. Super cool. Anita felt there were less critters this trip than last time she went (I think in 2012) and I would tend to agree. Definitely fewer mimics. I still had a good time looking for obscure nudis (but that`s not Anita`s cup of tea). My favourite guide who I have dove with the past 3 visits managed to find me 3 phyllodesmium rudmani`s after many days of searching (which I had been on a mission to see - see SB post) so that was exciting. I still don`t love the food there (I ate vegetable soup for dinner every night for the entire length of our stay) but that`s partly because eating any raw veggies even at tourist oriented dive resorts tends to result in stomach sickness. I thought the old dive shop managers had a better system of focusing on the best/hopping dive sites rather than the new dive managers' current system, which just rotates through the entire list irrespective of quality or current activity levels. Dimpy the marine biologist remains terrific for IDing obscure nudis."

Natasha S - Toronto, Canada

Brac Reef Beach Resort - Trip Review

15. Dec 2014 Liquid Diving Adventures Testimonials, Travel Reviews

Brac Reef Beach Resort - Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

"Quick email Greg. Diving and resort experience were both positive and I'm happy with the trip."

Martin H. - Ontario, Canada

Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard - Trip Report

24. Nov 2014 Liquid Diving Adventures Australia, Testimonials, Travel Reviews

"Hi Greg,

The trip back in September was great, fantastic crew and nice boat. The only downside: the fact that it was a 3+4 day trip, with most passengers changing in the middle of the trip, meant that it attracted a lot of “light” (inexperienced) divers. For example, most divers did not use nitrox, making it hard for me to find a buddy (on the typical Aggressor boat, most everyone dives nitrox)."

"I will work with you again for future dive trips. Thanks again for the help."

Daniel G. - San Diego, CA USA

Turneffe Flats Resort Travel Report - Turneffe Atoll, Belize

16. Nov 2014 Liquid Diving Adventures Dive Destination Info, Belize, Travel Reviews

TURNEFFE FLATS – DIVE REPORT - 2 to 7 NOVEMBER, 2014
Air Temperatures – Mid to low 80’s
Water Temperature – 80 to 79F

Overall Weather – The weather was a little challenging this week for divers with cooler, cloudier weather and passing showers. Wind speeds switched between the north and then northeast with speeds between 10 and over 15 knots. As a result, water temperatures dropped to 79 degrees F, and 3mm wetsuits need to be pulled out and donned for the winter season.

Crew - Dive Instructor Anne-Marie had Open Water Referral students whom continued on with their Advanced Open Water certification, and Divemaster Denroy joined her toward the end of the week with other divers. Carlton (AKA Capt) was boat captain for the week.

Sightings – Special sightings for the week included a large Great Barracuda that sat under the boat at Jojo’s Split intimidating the new divers on the first day. Permit and Horse Eye Jack schools swirled near the surface at Myrtle’s Turtle just north of The Elbow, and several groupers of varying species – Black, Nassau, Yellow Fin, Tiger and Yellow Mouth – were seen at Creekozene and throughout the week showing up the healthy population of groupers we have here in Belize. To top that off, a 4-foot Goliath Grouper followed divers along curiously for a few minutes at Chasbow’s Corner to the northwest of Turneffe. This was indeed a heart-warming sight. The night dive yielded some welcome, but not often seen, players in the Spotted Sea Hare, and a Beaded Sea Cucumber. Cryptic Tear Drop Crabs were spotted in a number of tube sponges which appear black at depth, but are in fact a brilliant crimson colour. Eagle Ray Wall on the west side of Long Caye on Lighthouse Reef lived up to its name as four large Spotted Eagle Rays came past divers at close range and continued to circle coming back and forth along the wall for over 5 minutes of the dive. Large Rainbow and Blue Parrot Fish were seen on the northeast of Turneffe at Lindsay’s Back Porch.

Sunday 2 November
Winds from the N at 15 knots. Mostly cloudy with passing showers, and some sun in the afternoon.
Dive Sites: #1 Jojo’s Split N - 40ft visibility / #2 Jojo’s Split S – 40ft visibility / #3 Calabash Caye Wall - 50ft visibility

Monday 3 November
Winds remaining at 15 knots from the N. Morning clouds with showers. Mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Dive Sites: #1 Black Beauty N - 60ft visibility / #2 Black Beauty S - 60ft visibility / #3 Myrtle’s Turtle - 70ft visibility

Tuesday 4 November
Wind speeds increasing to over 15 knots from the NE. Partly cloudy with some sun in the morning and afternoon.
Dive Sites: #1 Creekozene N - 80ft visibility / #2 Creekozene S – 80ft visibility / #3 Amberhead – 80ft visibility

Wednesday 5 November
Wind speeds at 10 knots from the NE, and decreasing throughout the day. Mostly sunny.
Dive Sites: #1 Chasbow’s Corner – 70ft visibility / #2 Elkin’s Bay – 70ft visibility / #3 Night Dive @ Northern Bogue

Thursday 6 November
Winds at 10 knots from the NE and dropping sharply in the morning to less than 5 knots. Heavy cloud cover with showers in the morning, giving way to sunny skies in the late morning and afternoon.
Dive Sites: #1 Blue Hole - 30ft visibility / #2 Half Moon Caye Wall – 60ft visibility / #3 Eagle Ray to Painted Wall – 50ft visibility

Friday 7 November
Winds at less than 10 knots from the NNW. Passing showers in the early morning with patches of sun broadening to a mostly sunny afternoon.
Dive Sites: #1 Lindsay’s Back Porch – 70ft visibility / #2 Lettuce Lane – 70ft visibility / #3 Wishbone – 70ft visibility

Review - Atlantis Resort & Azores Liveaboard

8. Nov 2014 Liquid Diving Adventures Testimonials, Travel Reviews

John M, Rhonda M and David H - Trip to the Atlantis Resort and the Azores Liveaboard - Philippines - Oct 2-11, 2014

"Mr. Greg,
The trip was nice. The resort was wonderful, the Azores was good, but not great. The weather was not ideal, with the typhoon over India."

"The muck diving was very nice, with lots and lots of frogfish. Very comparable to Lembeh resort. Pick up service by the Atlantis team was as good as it could get at the airport."

"Couple of negatives:
1. No schools of fish, only small fish
2. The two captains on the boat had a less than perfect relationship.
3. Captain David was a bit of a know it all, and appeared to have an issue with women (nothing major, but it was apparent)
4. The boat had a higher rate of issues versus other liveaboards we have been on. Probably a function of its age. Sewer smell, leaks, breakdowns, etc.
5. We dove several locations many times. Mostly due to weather, but I believe a more seasoned captain would have known other dive spots even with weather."

"Good points:
1. Local crew and dive masters were awesome.
2. Whale shark encounter, although artificial, was really nice.
3. Saw a blue ring octopus and a hairy frogfish together in one spot!!!
4. Muck diving was great
5. Frogfish galore, especially Giants! Saw at least 20!
6. Food was very good
7. Lots of public room on boat"

"Overall, I give the trip a 6 out of 10. Makes me feel a lot better towards the png trip! Still it was as you advertised, and was our option #4 if I remember correctly. Thanks for your help."

"Regards, John and Rhonda"