Scubapro is often mentioned. They do generally build good gear, however, they have had their share of inferior stuff over the years as well. They promote a "Rolls Royce of diving gear" image and charge appropriately. They defend that image zealously, and will punish or banish any dealer that discounts their gear. Owners of their gear are often equally as zealous in defending their purchase of premium priced gear. The truth is, that if you take the time to research performance and features data, you can find equally good (possibly superior) gear at lower prices.

To be perfectly fair, owners of lesser priced brands can be equally zealous. The most useful data you get from others is when a piece of equipment FAILS to meet their expectations. Otherwise you tend to get "buy what I bought, you'll be glad you did" type responses. These are only slightly more objective than Skin Diver reviews in most cases (which lack any objectivity at all should you be unaware of that fact).

Consider this, how many of these people thoroughly investigated differences in several brands and models? Did they make their evaluations on objective data or subjective opinions? Did they have several dive shops nearby with a variety of different brands? Most likely, the majority looked at a few (very few) at a nearby dive shop, bought one and were happy with the purchase. When someone asks for a recommendation, they are all too happy to say "buy one like mine".

In the absence of any widely available Consumer Reports type unbiased tests on diving equipment, Rodale's Scuba Diving and (British) Diver magazines are usually the closest you are likely to come to quantifiable data. Read their reviews and read between the lines. Balance it with truly useful information you find in the scuba newsgroups and in other sources.

Sometimes you see posts there from divers with broad and diverse experience in diving who have used several different models. Some are reasonably unbiased. Listen to them. They may provide valuable insight to help YOU decide what is best for YOU.

Still think it's an easy question to answer?

see our Gear Guide for more information.

Medical Conditions: Asthma, Diabetes, Handicaps/Disabilities

With certain medical conditions, including asthma and diabetes, there is a disagreement even among the diving medical community. On a case by case basis, some people with these and other limiting conditions may dive with certain restrictions and preparations. Be sure to consult hyperbaric (diving) doctors if you have any medical question regarding diving.

The easiest and safest thing to do for many doctors, when asked about diving with any out of the ordinary condition, is to recommend against it.  It prevents malpractice problems and would seem to be the prudent thing to advise.  With no evidence indicating diving with certain conditions is relatively safe, advising against diving makes sense.

There are doctors and organizations that have researched diving with conditions that others advise against.  In many cases, it is on a case by case basis, depending on the severity and control one has of the condition.  Asthma and diabetes are two of these conditions, yet there are divers who have them and continue to dive safely.  Any  diver afflicted with a condition that most consider would preclude diving, should consult with organizations and hyperbaric doctors familiar with diving with those limitations.  Check our Diving Medicine section for some of these doctors.

The situation is different for many divers with physical handicaps.  Many have a greater freedom and mobility in water than on land.  In many cases, a handicap that is a limitation on land, is no more than a minor inconvenience in the water.  There are an increasing number of organizations and clubs specifically for handicapped divers.  Be sure to check out Diving for the Disabled page for resources for handicapped divers.

Is dived or dove correct grammar when referring to having gone diving in the past?

Creatures of "the Deep": Sharks, Barracuda, and others

Here is the truth about the sea's creatures. Most are timid and in as much fear of you as you are of them, perhaps more so (if you can imagine that being possible), or simply ignore you. After all, you are a strange creature, unlike any other, blowing bubbles (that really makes them think you are strange), and you don't swim as they do. It is the small creatures that are likely to cause you pain and discomfort, not the large, fearsome looking ones. If you don't touch them, step on them, or bother them in any way, they are content to avoid you as well.

The real danger to you is not following this advice. If you stick your hand in a hole, there may be a moray eel in there that perceives it as an attack. If you grab some fish, you may find they are equipped with sharp, even poisonous spines, to protect themselves. A few can generate electricity to ward off attackers. Step on a stingray, hidden in the sand, and you may get a barb in the leg for your clumsiness. Touch corals and you may kill them. You might also learn why some are called fire coral. Even regular coral cuts can take a long time to heal as wounds are exposed to many micro-organisms suspended in water.

Treat the sea's creatures with gentility and respect and you will be amazed. You may even experience close contact with them, a meeting of species. Morays. sharks, barracudas, stingrays and many other creatures are fed by trained divers at various locations in tropical and sub-tropical waters. Divers seek out dives that offer this experience and a chance to encounter what some once feared.

Short of swimming with seals in the Channel Islands off California, USA, or places like Dangerous Reef in Australia, even the great white shark, also know as a white pointer, is nothing to be concerned about. Remember that eyesight is not a primary sense for sea creatures. The few shark attacks on people have been primarily on surfers and swimmers. Surfers have a similar outline profile to seals, which is a favorite food of the great white. Swimmers sometimes give off similar low frequency vibrations from thrashing around as do sick and injured fish, which sharks often target. Combine that with the fact that most shark attacks on swimmers are in shallow water where visibility is minimal and other senses are used and it is easy to understand why it happens.

Spearfishing, especially if speared fish are not immediately removed from the water, does somewhat increase the risk of being bitten by a shark. The fish blood and the speared fish's throes both attract sharks. Their sensitivity to fish blood and digestive juices is well known. Sharks also are quite sensitive to low frequency vibrations, such as sick and injured fish make. Their bodies have lateral lines that are pressure sensitive and detect vibrations from a distance.

However, sharks do not care for the taste of people. Even when an attack occurs, it usually ends after one or two bites. Unfortunately, with three or more rows of serrated teeth, those bites can inflict a lot of damage.

Barracudas are not timid, as most other creatures are, and will get very close to divers, closer than would be considered polite if they were people. There is no need to fear them either, though. Do not wear jewelry in the water as they are attracted to bright, shiny objects. They resemble the sides of many of the fish they feed on. Your chrome regulator is probably quite safe, but beware if you wear earrings, a necklace or rings. Ears can come off quite easily with their sharp teeth.

Using good sense, not picking up anything you are not familiar with (there are many creatures that are well camouflaged - some look like rocks), and watching where you step, and the only creatures you really have to be concerned with are small, stinging organisms. Such things as jellyfish and Portuguese men-of-war, if you should happen to drift into them, can be painful. Fortunately, they are not fatal (barring extreme cases of allergy to their venom).

Sea urchins are harmless also, unless you step on them. They are immobile creatures covered with black spines a few inches / centimeters long. They are often found on rocks and piers, so watch your step.

The octopus is a highly intelligent and timid creature. It has a parrot like beak, and neither attacks divers nor grows to the huge sizes shown in some old movies. Only the blue-ringed octopus, native to Australia, can be considered the least bit dangerous as it has a venom in its bite. You would have to grab it and molest it to have it bite you. The giant squid does grow to a large size, though it lives at great depths, far greater than any you can dive to.