Scuba Diving - December 2014 USA
Scuba Diving - December 2014 USA
PICKS FROM
SCUBALAB
GEAR YEAR
OF
THE
PAGE 60
PLUS:
SNEAK PEEK
AT WHATS
NEW & HOT
SCUBA
D
BEST OF
2014
OUR FAVORITE
DIVE SPOTS,
ADVENTURES,
& MORE
WIN A MASK
PAGE 9
COLD-WATER
WETSUITS
PAGE 66
DIVE LIGHTS
PAGE 65
REGULATORS
PAGE 63
PAGE 29
BCs
PAGE 64
DIVE COMPUTERS
PAGE 62
DIVING
NAKED
IN LITTLE
CAYMAN
PAGE 20
THE
SEA HERO
OF THE
YEAR IS
PAGE 13
scubadiving.com // November/December 2014
DQGHQMR\WKHEHQHWVRIWKH6HYHQ6HDV([SORUHUV&OXE
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CONTENTS
NOV/DEC 2014
VOL . 23
ISSUE 8
scubadiving.com
1
TALK
Editors Letter 8
Win This 9
SECRET SPOT 10
CURRENTS 13
What Its Like 20
DRIVE AND DIVE 22
29
54
60
ScubaLab:
Gear of the
Year After a
TRAINING
Imaging+ 70
Lessons for Life 72
Ask an Expert 74
LOOK 82
84
year of rigorous
testing, we
present the best
gear 2014 had
to oer. A BY
ROGER ROY
Scuba Diving (ISSN 1553-7919) is published eight times per year (J/F, M/A, May, Jul, S/O, N/D, w/ bonus issues in June and August) by Bonnier Corp., 460 N. Orlando Ave.,
Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789. Vol. 23, No. 8, Nov/Dec 2014. Periodicals postage paid in Winter Park, FL, and additional ofces. Subscription rate for one year (eight
issues): U.S., $21.97; Canada, $30.97; all other foreign countries, $39.97. U.S. funds only. Contents copyright 2014 by Bonnier Corp. POSTMASTER: Send address changes
to Scuba Diving, P.O. 6364, Harlan, IA 51593-1864. CANADA POST: Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40612608. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
IMEX, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. For subscription questions, email: [email protected].
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: CARLOS SUAREZ; COURTESY NUYTCO RESEARCH; FRANCO BANFI; MICHAEL KRAUS;
JORI BOLTON (ILLO); JOSE ALEJANDRO ALVAREZ; GREG LECOEUR; RAFFAELE LIVORNESE; VIKTOR LYAGUSHKIN
ON THE COVER
Heres our idea of a
dream diver, outtted
in ScubaLabs 2014
Gear of the Year. Look
inside for the lowdown
on these pieces
and more.
Photograph by
Zach Stovall
A R G UID
GE
1
20
PO
RT
DIVER
SCUBALAB
PICK
EDITOR
2011
TESTERS
CHOICE
Website scubadiving.com
Editorial Email [email protected]
Editorial
Patricia Wuest E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F
Mary Frances Emmons D E P U T Y E D I T O R
Ashley Annin M A N A G I N G E D I T O R
Roger Roy S C U B A L A B D I R E C T O R
Cindy Martin C O P Y E D I T O R
Caroline Glenn, Samantha Henry E D I T O R I A L
BOOK NOW!
INTERNS
Contributors
Jori Bolton, Jim Decker, Anna DeLoach, Ned DeLoach,
Eric Douglas, Lila Harris, Michael Kraus, Lea Lee, Travis
Marshall, Eric Michael, Brooke Morton, Zach Stovall
Art
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Digital
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Sales
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407-913-4945; [email protected]
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Matt Hickman VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF BRAND STRATEGIES
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Haley Bischof G R O U P M A R K E T I N G D I R E C T O R
Jeff Cassell C O R P O R AT E P R O D U C T I O N D I R E C T O R
Michelle Doster G R O U P P R O D U C T I O N D I R E C T O R
Alicia Rivera P R O D U C T I O N M A N A G E R
[email protected]
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John Reese V I C E P R E S I D E N T , C O N S U M E R M A R K E T I N G
Perri Dorset V I C E P R E S I D E N T , P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S
Jeremy Thompson G E N E R A L C O U N S E L
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www.tourismbonaire.com | 1-800-BONAIRE |
Locally Grown
We learned from playing the game "telephone" as children that messages get more
and more muddled with each pass. So when we make a DSLR housing, we build in
direct flash communication between your camera and our strobes. The difference is
clear: accurate exposure, rapid firing capability, and extended battery life beyond the
abilities of any fiber optic based system. From macro to wide angle, we're here to help
you get your point across.
TALK
EDITORS NOTE
LET TERS
WIN THIS
scubadiving.com
A Labor of Love
THE EDITORS OF SCUBA DIVING BRING YOU THE BEST OF 2014
1
7
5
6
8
>LET
T E R S
<
N O V/ D E C W I N N E R
Full Circle
As a military brat, we lived in many
places while I was growing up, including Guam, where my dad, two brothers
and I became certied divers.
I now travel overseas for a living. My
eldest daughter was certied in Singapore, and when we moved to Japan,
we took a family vacation to Guam.
As we waited at Gunn Beach, the site
of my very rst checkout dive some 30
years before, tears lled my eyes looking at my daughter. She asked what
was wrong, and I told her that I dove
here as a 13-year-old and now, 30 years
later, I was standing on the same beach,
with my daughter, ready to dive.
It was one of the 10 best moments
of life. Thanks for bringing back great
memories. JOEL W. HUNT > Tyumen, Russia
Win
This!
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Rates are US dollars, per person, based on dbl. occ. unless otherwise stated. Please call or email for airfare, for single/triple/other occupancy, non-diver rates, kids rates and prices for dates other than
specified. Taxes are included. Rates subject to availability & subject to change; other restrictions may apply. Not responsible for typographical errors. Call for group, dive club and dive shop rates!
Mystic World
UNIQUE BEAUTY AWAITS AT THE
PEARL OF TYROL
CURRENTS
of the
>2014 W I N N E R
year
<
Ken Nedimyer
Passion and dedication help a father/daughter project grow into
one of the worlds biggest coral-restoration programs
CURRENTS
the award money so
we could start programs in more than
one country.
An engaged community of real divers
is the heart and soul of
the Sea Hero awards,
sponsored by Oris
Watches. We are
delighted to honor
Ken Nedimyer as the
2014 Sea Hero of the
Year for his work in coral reef restoration, says V.J. Geronimo, CEO, North
America, at Oris Watches USA. As in
past years, it was dicult to choose just
one winner, when each of our Sea Heroes
has done tremendous work this years
causes included coral-reef conservation,
protection for manta rays from Hawaii
to Indonesia, and battling the lionsh
WE AT ORIS
WATCHES
ARE PROUD
TO BE THE
SPONSOR OF
THE SEA HEROES
PROGRAM.
V.J. Geronimo, CEO, North
America, Oris Watches USA
What is a Sea Hero? The Sea Heroes award is sponsored by Scuba Diving and Oris Watches.
Each Sea Hero featured in Scuba Diving receives an Oris Aquis Date watch. At the end of the
year, a panel of judges selects an overall winner, who receives a $5,000 award from Oris Watches to further his or her work. Nominate a Sea Hero at scubadiving.com/nominate-seaheroes.
NEWTON
Yes we already know that Newton is elegant with its mineral glass face and
rubber strap with stainless steel buckles. Yes we are aware that Newton is
precise, light and offers visual and auditory alarms, and a backlit display in a
48 mm case diameter. We also want you to realize that Newton has the largest
screen for a dive watch computer in the world, which simplifies the use and the
comprehension of every data you might need in and out of the water. There is a
lot more to learn about Newton. Get more info at www.cressi.com
www.cressi.com
MADE IN ITALY
Follow us:
BLACK/GREY
BLACK/YELLOW
BLACK/PINK
BLACK/BLUE
BLACK/BLACK
Isaac Newton
CURRENTS
5 TIPS FOR
COMPASS
NAVIGATION
BY TRAVIS MARSHALL
1 Line it up.
Point the long
line on your
compass
the lubber
line in the
direction you
want to swim,
and make sure
your body
is pointed
in the same
direction.
2 Take a
heading. Rotate
the bezel the
spinning wheel
on top of the
compass until
the two hatch
marks sit over
the tip of the
north arrow. As
you swim, watch
to make sure
the north arrow
stays between
those marks.
3 Proper
positioning. Hold
the compass flat
and in line with
your body at
all times. If you
get off-course,
turn your whole
body, not just
the compass,
until your
heading is back
on track.
4 Avoid tunnel
vision. Look
up and around
periodically
to keep an
eye on your
surroundings. If
there is a current
or heavy surge,
you can be pushed
off-course, even
if your heading
stays true.
5 Happy returns.
To return to your
starting point,
turn your body
until the north
arrow points at
the single hatch
mark on the
opposite side of
the bezel and
follow steps
1 to 4 on
the reciprocal
heading home.
TM
sealife-cameras.com
facebook.com/SeaLifeCameras
CURRENTS
>CRIT
T E R
H U N T
<
Dreaming of paradise? Well Aqua Lung and Stuart Coves are making it easy for you to Gear Up & Go! Just in time for your
next vacation, purchase any Aqua Lung or Apeks gear package* between June 20th and December 31st, 2014 and receive a
40% discount on the dive vacation of your dreams at Stuart Coves Dive Bahamas and the All Inclusive Melia Beach Resort in
beautiful Nassau, Bahamas.
For more details, visit aqualung.com/gearupandgo
*Restrictions apply
Download the Aqua Lung Catalog App for iPad!
W H AT
I T S
L I K E
COURTNEY PLATT
CURRENTS
WWW.DIVECAYMAN.KY
ISLAND: GRAND CAYMAN | SITE NAME: AMPHITRITE, SIREN OF SUNSET HOUSE REEF | PHOTO BY: STEPHEN FRINK
The wheelhouse of the artificial reef LuLu, sunk in 2013, is an interesting mix of structure and fish aquarium.
Bama
Girl
Orange Beach
and Gulf
Shores, Ala.
ITINERARY
check in at the
Fairfield Inn &
Suites Orange
Beach (starting
at $99 per night,
person. Then
eat dinner
at Nolans
Restaurant &
Lounge on Gulf
Shores Parkway
in Gulf Shores
(nolans
restaurant.com).
DAY After
2 making a
1 from Down
depending on
season; fairfield
orangebeach
.com). Book a
90-minute
sunset dolphin
cruise with
Cetacean
Cruises
(cetaceancruises
.com) for $15 per
3 at the Brick
firecracker,
pickled and in a
salad). Just
before sunset,
dive the Whiskey
Wreck, approximately 150 yards
from the public
beach.
Make lateevening
dinner reservations
at Fishers
at Orange
Beach
Marina
(fishersobm
.com). This is
casual, open-air
dining with a
view of the
water or gardens, and the
fish tacos rock.
& Spoon
restaurant on
Canal Road in
Orange Beach
(brickandspoon
restaurant.com)
for inventive
Cajun- and
Creole-inspired
dishes. Then
make a relaxing
afternoon dive
on 3 Mile Barge,
or schedule
a zip-lining,
paddle-boarding or kayaking
excursion with
Gulf Adventure
Center at Gulf
State Park
(gulfadventure
center.com).
NEED TO KNOW
WHEN TO GO
Alabama is great to
visit year-round,
though the diving is
most comfortable
between April and
October. Air temps
are in the 90s during
summer months;
September offers a
combination of
warm water, fewer
tourists and lower
hotel rates.
DIVE
CONDITIONS When
we visited in
October, the water
was remarkably
ALABAMA
warm and
there was
Orange Beach
no noticeable
Gulf Shores
3 Mile
current. In
Barge
Whiskey
summer, water
Wreck
temperatures
Gulf of Mexico
average in the
LuLu
mid- to upper
80s; December
OPERATOR
upper-deck seating,
through March
Down Under Dive
freshwater showers,
temps are from low
Shop (downunder
two camera tables,
60s to low 70s.
diveshop.com)
and a roomy dive
Water clarity tends
offers charters
deck. Down Unders
to be better on
aboard a 46-foot
marina, SanRoc Cay,
deeper sites, with an
Newton with two
is on Perdido Beach
average of about
large dive ladders,
Boulevard in
50 feet.
plenty of storage,
Orange Beach.
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KEY W
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MARA
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The Aqua Lung PRO HD features:
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ROW ONE, FROM LEFT: CARLOS SUAREZ; GREG LECOEUR, ROW TWO, FROM LEFT: TANYA G. BURNETT; FRANCO BANFI, ROW THREE, FROM LEFT: RAFFAELE LIVORNESE; WAYNE MACWILLIAMS; CARLOS SUAREZ; JO-ANN WILKINS,
ROW 4, FROM LEFT: MICHAEL AW; COURTESY NUYTCO RESEARCH; FRANCO BANFI; GREG LECOEUR, ROW FIVE, FROM LEFT: STEVE JONES; SHUTTERSTOCK; VIKTOR LYAGUSHKIN
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
Oh, the places weve been! (And the places weve sent you, dear
divers.) For our nal issue of 2014, we wanted to take one last look
at all the fabulous diving that was from wrecks to reefs to critters
galore, from Baja to Bali to Bonaire, through the lenses of the worlds best
shooters. Turn the page to see if our favorite dive stories were yours too.
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
I
CURRENTS
CONSERVATION
Sea Change
It is estimated that during the course
of its lifetime, a single manta ray can
generate $1 million in eco-tourism. Yet
at Indonesias largest fishery, Tanjung
Luar, mantas relatives of sharks are
being butchered and sold for $365. Fortunately, conservationists are working to
collect data on the devastating effects of
the fishery while educating local villagers about the profitability of aquaculture
and tourism. Peter Bassett, co-founder
of Project Momentum a collaboration
between Gili Eco Trust and Aquatic Alliance is optimistic that villagers can
be taught to protect the rays. Through
education, a true appreciation for the
intrinsic value of their seas can be cultivated, along with the awareness of the
need for management, preservation and
protection, Bassett says.
SUNK IN 2014
BY BROOKE MORTON
THETIS,
1 LADY
LIMA SSOL , C Y PRUS
HTMS KLEDKAEO,
2 PHI
PHI, THAIL AND
The HTMS Kledkaeo
served nearly 60 years
HAILEY GLASRUD,
STUART, FLORIDA
VOODOO JE TS ,
4
PANAMA CIT Y
BE ACH, FLORIDA
On June 27, two F101
Voodoo Air Force jets
were sunk as artificial
reefs off Panama
City Beach, Florida, at
76 feet. One of the jets is
upright as planned; the
other flipped during the
underwater landing.
SUPER REEFS,
5
ME XICO CIT Y
BE ACH, FLORIDA
On
April 1, six super-reefs
concrete-and-limestone
structures that mimic
real reefs were sunk by
Walter Marine in Mexico
City Beach, Florida.
FROM TOP: SHUTTERSTOCK; COURTESY WALTER MARINE GROUP. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: COURTESY NUYTCO RESEARCH;
SHUTTERSTOCK (2); MASA USHIODA/SEAPICS
MPAs
PROTECTED
IN
2014
New marine conservation areas
offer hope B Y B R O O K E M O R T O N
CHILE
On Feb. 26, the
pristine waters of
Tic Toc Marine Park
became Chiles
largest marine
protected area at
90,000 hectares.
NEW CALEDONIA
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealands subAntarctic waters
include three new
marine parks as of
March 2. In these
new areas (which
are nesting sites
for penguins), fishing, mining, marine
farming and
petroleum
exploration are
all banned.
SARGASSO SEA
On March 12,
government officials from around
the world met to
S CO T L A N D
To preserve its
prolific marine life,
Scotland doubled
the size of its
MPAs, which now
cover 12 percent of
Scottish seas.
sign the Hamilton
Declaration on
Collaboration for
the Conservation of
the Sargasso Sea.
This gyre is a hotbed
for free-floating
seaweed, which
nurtures hatchling
loggerhead turtles.
PHOENIX
ISLANDS
The government
of Kiribati decided
on Jan. 29 to close
its Phoenix Islands
Protected Area to
commercial fishing,
effective late 2014.
2014
To read more, visit our site
at scubadiving.com.
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
LIVEABOARDS
G R E AT B A R R I E R
R E E F, A U S T R A L I A
// S E P T/ O C T
REASONS TO DIVE
SPOILSPORT
1 MINKE S
Spoilsport has
a 98 percent success
rate of providing guests
in-water encounters
with dwarf minke
whales during June and
July expeditions.
3 SUPERB STAFF
Professional,
personable and flexible,
the 12-person crew is
lauded as one of the best
in the business.
CITIZEN SCIENCE
T U B B ATA H A AT O L L ,
PHILIPPINES
// A U G U S T
T U R T L E S Whether at a cleaning station, having a bite to eat or soaring overhead, hawksbill and green sea turtles abound on almost every dive from Siren.
2 D E N S E M A R I N E L I F E The Eden that is Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is teeming
with schooling fish, whitetip reef sharks and, if youre lucky, the occasional
whale shark.
3 CO M F Y C A B I N S Both twin and double-configuration berths have plenty of room,
soft cotton robes, fresh towels, and an in-room computer loaded with movies youll
likely not find time to watch.
4 E XC E L L E N T S E R V I C E Whether its ordering a hot cappuccino, getting a massage on the aft deck or making sure your laundry is clean, the crew is ready to help.
5 F R E E B I E S Among the ships many perks, nitrox, soft drinks and beer are always
free aboard Siren.
Book now: sirenfleet.com
4 PHOTO FACILITIE S
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
LIVEABOARDS
SEA OF CORTEZ,
M E X I C O // M AY
REASONS TO
DIVE M/V
VALENTINA
1 HAMMERS
Watching
hundreds of
hammerhead sharks
congregate on the ocean
floor will mesmerize
you, but when dozens
of these curvy, sexy
creatures glide through
the water just below
your fins, it will take your
breath away.
A
former cruise ship,
the 130-foot Valentina
has 10 cabins and three
generous decks more
than enough space for the
20 passengers on board.
Traditional Mexican
specialties and succulent
More
Liveaboards
Featured in 2014
LIVE-ABOARD
decorative ags, while others form a
pseudo mustache and goatee as they are
either packed inside the sharks wide
maw or riding upside down underneath
it. There are even remoras stued inside
its spiracles like radical head piercings.
Manuelita is only one of many
electrifying dive sites around Costa Ricas
Cocos Island. This former pirate haven is
340 miles o the Costa Rican mainland
in the eastern Pacic Ocean.
Cocos is the epitome of raw, wilderness
diving. No other location oers the same
dynamic, heart-pounding opportunities
to dive with pelagics such as billsh,
marine mammals, rays and sharks yearround. Its not unusual for divers to see
six
i species
i off sh
sharkk G
Galapagos,
l
scallloped hammerhead, silky, tiger, whale
and whitetip reef on a single dive.
Even marine mammals like bottlenose
dolphin, false killer whales, humpback
whales, killer whales and pilot whales
are no strangers to the underwater playy
ground of Cocos. The most productive
pelagic hot spots are usually Alcyone,
Dirty Rock, Manuelita and Punta Maria.
Hammered!
Okeanos Aggressor takes you on extraordinary dives where the
wild things roam
NEED TO KNOW
>
>
>
>
>
Suddenly,
youre in a whole different state of Pools open!
Talk about decompressing!
Looks like Happy Hour!
877-852-3615
H A M M E R E D ! // M A R C H /A P R I L
Okeanos Aggressor
Round-trip excursions from San Jose
to Cocos Island, Costa Rica, year-round
scubadiving.com/okeanosaggressor;
aggressor.com
LIVE-ABOARD
Where the
Whales Are
Their song is the soundtrack to your Kona Aggressor II
adventure
The excitement is palpable when we come aboard, from the crew as much as the
guests. Everywhere around us, as soon as we leave the wharf at Kailua-Kona Village,
are humpback whales.
Its mid-February on the Kona Aggressor II,
II sailing the sheltered western side of the
Big Island of Hawaii. This is the time of year when whales come here to calve and
mate humpback, pilot, beaked, sperm in an area where they are jealously protected. Boats cannot approach closer than 100 yards. They cannot cut o a calf from
its mother. They cannot impede the whales movements in any way, or interfere with
their heading. They cannot put divers in the water on top of whales.
But you might just get lucky and see one cruise by while youre underwater. Thats
the secret hope of every diver on the Kona Coast.
Our checkout dive is at a site
nobody expects to be very special;
its mostly a chance for the crew to
assess skills. But something comes
along that makes everybody forget
all about the whales: a 10-foot tiger
shark Shirley to the divemasters, who recognize her. Meeting a
battle-scarred predator face to face
SUDDENLY OUR
DIVEMASTER
IS FURIOUSLY
SCRIBBLING ON
HIS SLATE. HE
FLIPS IT AROUND:
THEYRE CLOSE
NEED TO KNOW
Kona Aggressor II
Cruises on the Kona Coast of Hawaiis
Big Island, year-round
scubadiving.com/konaaggressor;
aggressor.com
LIVE-ABOARD
My Little
Valentine
In the mood for love, with the humpbacks of Dominican
Republics Silver Bank
There are few guarantees in life, fewer still when it involves marine life. Shark feeds
are one, but when it comes to natural encounters, nothings a sure thing. Except for
the humpback whales of the Dominican Republics Silver Bank.
I guarantee you will see humpbacks, says Rob Smith, second captain of Turks
& Caicos Aggressor II, as we settle in for the crossing to Silver Bank, nine hours north
of Puerto Plata.
Boats have been coming here for 27 years, and theyve got the whale watching down
to a science. North Atlantic humpbacks arrive here on Silver Bank to calve, mate and
frolic, says Capt. Amanda Smith. Whales start arriving in late November, departt
ing for the North Atlantic to feed in late April; boats oer a brief 10-week schedule
to coincide with the busiest period.
As certain as beach trac in summer, the humpbacks are here. Within minutes, we
are treated to half a dozen breaches and tail slaps, a few tail lobs, and a uke display.
Hot and Heavy
We enjoy some brief mother-and-calf
engagements our rst afternoon, but
were skunked the second day. On the
morning of our third day we see a handful of whales, but they are all going
somewhere other than where we are.
An hour into the afternoon session, our
spirits are lagging. The mother-and-calf
pairs have disappeared, and the possibility of another day without an in-water
encounter looms when a pair of whales
pops up beneath the tender. They forge
ahead, circle back and swim under the
tender. Smith tells us to get our ns on;
weve stumbled upon a Valentine.
NEED TO KNOW
SNORKELING Look
M Y L I T T L E VA L E N T I N E // J U LY
The Sea of Cortez is a
playground for sea lions,
hammerheads and more.
W H E R E T H E W H A L E S A R E // J U N E
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
COVERS
Our
Favorite
Fronts
MARCH/APRIL
V I K T O R LYA G U S H K I N
Orda Cave, Russia
NEW COLD-WATER
SCUBALAB 16
WETSUITS TESTED
SCUBA
D
EXPLORE THE
WRECKS
OF IRELANDS
MALIN HEAD
MAY
THE BEST
OF SoCAL
SHORE
DIVING
4 MUSTHAVE
SAFETY
TOOLS
FRESHWATER
DIVING
25 INLAND SEAS, LAKES, RIVERS
AND CENOTES
5 BUCKETLIST BAJA
DIVES
TOP 100:
MAUI WOWS
PHOTO
ETIQUETTE
101
MASA USHIODA
Lahaina, Hawaii
I tried to capture a sense
of scale by placing a diver
near the Carthaginian II
a whaling-ship replica
and a sense of forward
movement by composing the shot from a
diagonal perspective.
BEST USA
WRECK DIVES
JUNE
CARLOS SUAREZ
Gardens of the Queen, Cuba
I was looking for
American crocodiles
with marine biologists
in Jardines de La Reina. I
sneaked up to the croc to
take this photo I was
just 16 inches away.
AUGUST
V I K T O R LYA G U S H K I N
White Sea, Russia
YOU
VOTED!
BEST IN PALAU:
REEFS & WRECKS
SCUBALAB
16
BRAND-NEW
BCs TESTED
SCUBA
D
SECRET
WORLDS:
PIERS,
BRIDGES &
OIL RIGS
GO BIG
IN KONA:
HUMPBACKS,
MANTAS &
LAVA TUBES
CUBA!
SCUBA
D
15 OF THE WORLDS
MOST EPIC DIVES
3 CORAL ATOLLS,
1 GREAT BLUE HOLE,
700 MILES OF REEF?
BELIZE IT!
5 RULES
FOR WRECK
DIVING
WEIRD
SCIENCE:
CAN CORALS
WALK?
TITANIUM
SCUBALAB
2013
TESTERS
CHOICE
atomicaquatics.com
2014
To read more, visit our site
at scubadiving.com.
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
PHOTOGRAPHY
Stellar photos
are the backbone of Scuba
Diving magazine. Heres
a look at the
images that
brought our
travel features,
photo contest
and Secret
Spots to life.
T O P 1 0 0 // J A N / F E B
PHOTOGRAPHER
Christian Vizl
L O C AT I O N
Quintana Roo, Mexico
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Canon EOS 5D Mark II,
15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens
ISO 500 F-stop f/5.6
Shutter speed 1/160 sec
WHY I LOVE THE SHOT
T H E W E L L-S T R U C T U R E D L I F E
// J U N E
PHOTOGRAPHER
Todd Winner
L O C AT I O N
Long Beach, California
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Canon EOS 5D Mark
III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8
L II USM lens, Nauticam
housing, two Ikelite DS160
strobes ISO 160 F-stop f/9.0
Shutter speed 1/200 sec
WHY I LOVE THE SHOT
California sea
lions are some of the
most playful and
mischievous animals
on Earth, and Eureka
oil platform typically
has a frisky group
ready to interact
with divers.
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
PHOTOGRAPHY
C R Y S TA L B L U E P E R S U A S I O N
// M A R C H /A P R I L
PHOTOGRAPHER
Alex Mustard
L O C AT I O N
Husavik, Northern Iceland
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Nikon D700, Subal
ND700 housing, Nikon
AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm lens,
Zen 230mm Superdome
ISO 640 F-stop f/16
Shutter speed 1/60 sec
WHY I LOVE THE SHOT
Nes Canyon is a
fissure in the
Earths crust between the Eurasian
and North American continental
plates. Although its
shallow, this location is amazing
because you can see
exactly how the
rocks fit together
before they were
ripped apart.
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jo-Ann Wilkins
L O C AT I O N
Alexandria Bay, New York
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Nikon D300, Aquatica housing, Tokina 10-17mm
lens ISO 800 F-stop f/9 Shutter speed 1/125 sec
WHY I LOVE THE SHOT
PHOTOGRAPHER
ADRENALINE OD
Alex Tyrrell
// J U LY
L O C AT I O N
Cocos Island, Costa Rica
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Nikon D7000, Subal housing, AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor
12-24mm lens, Inon Z240 and LMI Sola 1200 strobes
ISO 1,000 F-stop f/6.3 Shutter speed 1/125 sec
WHY I LOVE THE SHOT
Dive Saint Lucia | P.O. Box GI 2042 | Rodney Bay | Gros-Islet | Saint Lucia
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
PHOTOGRAPHY
P H O T O C O N T E S T // S E P T/ O C T
// H O N O R A B L E M E N T I O N
PHOTOGRAPHER
Martin Klein
L O C AT I O N
Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Canon EOS 5D Mark II,
Seacam housing, Canon EF
100mm IS USM lens, Kenko 1.5
teleconverter ISO 200 F-stop
f/4 Shutter speed 1/200 sec
WHY I LOVE THE SHOT
I wanted to take some
pygmy pictures, but at
30 meters down, I noticed some
problems with my lens, and I
could not change the aperture.
So I had to shoot with an f-stop
of f/4 to make the best of
the situation, which resulted in
this shot.
P H O T O C O N T E S T // S E P T/ O C T
1 S T P L A C E // D I V E R
PHOTOGRAPHER
Francis Prez
L O C AT I O N
Tenerife, Canary Islands
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Canon EOS 5D, EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye
lens, Seacam housing ISO 400 F-stop f/5
Shutter speed 1/80 sec
WHY I LOVE THE SHOT
This baitball spun and spun, constantly
changing shape. Dolphins, shearwaters and
seagulls attacked it as it spun. When the
scene was quiet, I captured this moment.
JUPITERS
best kept secret!
P H O T O C O N T E S T // S E P T/ O C T
W I N N E R // G R A N D P R I Z E
PHOTOGRAPHER
Raffaele Livornese
L O C AT I O N
Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Nikon D90, Hugyfot housing,
Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, two
Inon Z-240 strobes ISO 100 F-stop f/18
Shutter speed 1/250 sec
WHY I LOVE THE SHOT
While diving with my wife on vacation,
she pointed out this scene: a clownfish in
an anemone, caring for its eggs.
+HPS`+P]PUNPU1\WP[LY7HST)LHJO*V\U[`
;YH]LS-S`SLZZHUK+P]LPU[OL<:
*SVZLY[V[OLN\SMZ[YLHTTLHUZJSVZLY[VZO
561-745-7807 Qjupiterdivecenter.com
scubadiving.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 / 49
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
PHOTOGRAPHY
S E C R E T S P O T // A U G U S T
PHOTOGRAPHER
Enrico Pati
L O C AT I O N
Bevagna, Italy
S E C R E T S P O T // S E P T/ O C T
PHOTOGRAPHER
Wayne MacWilliams
L O C AT I O N
Jupiter, Florida
SECRET SPOT
// S E P T/ O C T
A R T I S T/ P H O T O G R A P H E R
Conor Culver
L O C AT I O N
Colorado
WHY I LOVE THIS SHOT
Every image has its own
meaning ... and I always want to
convey something about the
animal that is true in the ocean,
and then bring that story into a
scene above the surface.
2014
To read more, visit our site
at scubadiving.com.
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
TOP 100
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MASA USHIODA; ED ROBINSON; LEA LEE; ED ROBINSON/PACIFIC STOCK
Since 1994, thousands of readers have rated their dive trips to dozens of
destinations to determine Scuba Divings Top 100 Readers Choice Awards. This year
we introduced the Top 100 Spotlight, a monthly feature that showcases favorite
destinations that are among the top award-winners in our annual reader survey.
Destinations highlighted this year include:
MAY
Maui
Winner of five Top 100 Readers Choice Awards, including Best Visibility and Best Shore Diving,
U.S. and North America
scubadiving.com/Top100/maui
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
TOP 100
JUNE
Palau
Winner of six Top 100 Readers Choice Awards, including Best
Wall Diving, Pacific and Indian oceans
scubadiving.com/Top100/palau
MARCH/APRIL
Grand Cayman
Winner of 11 Top 100 Readers Choice
Awards, including Best Overall
Destination and Best Underwater
Photography, Caribbean and Atlantic
scubadiving.com/Top100/grandcayman
TOP 100
READERS
CHOICE
AWARDS
U. S. A ND N OR T H A MERIC A
PACIFIC A ND INDIA N O C E A N S
1 Cayman Islands
2 Bonaire
3 Mexico
4 Belize
5 Bahamas
6 Bay Islands,
Honduras
7 Turks and Caicos
8 U.S. Virgin Islands
9 Grenada
10 British Virgin Islands
1 Hawaii
2 California
3 Florida
4 North Carolina
5 Canada (British
Columbia)
6 Texas
7 Michigan
8 Washington
9 Alabama
10 New Jersey
1 Indonesia
2 Palau
3 Micronesia
4 Philippines
5 Cocos Island,
Costa Rica
6 French Polynesia
7 Thailand
8 Mexico (Baja California)
9 Galapagos Islands
10 Red Sea (Egypt)
Bahamas
Winner of seven Top 100 Readers Choice
Awards, including Best Overall Diving,
Best Big Animals and Best Advanced
Diving, Caribbean and Atlantic
scubadiving.com/Top100/bahamas
AUGUST
Belize
Winner of four
Top 100 Readers
Choice Awards,
including Best
Overall Destination, Best Big
Animals, Best
Wall Diving and
Best Underwater
Photography,
Caribbean
and Atlantic
scubadiving.com/
Top100/belize
SEPT/OCT
Raja Ampat
Winner of seven Top 100 Readers
Choice Awards (for Indonesia) in
Pacific and Indian oceans, including
Best Marine Environment
scubadiving.com/Top100/rajaampat
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: TIM CALVER; FRANCO BANFI; JURGEN FREUND/NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY/ALAMY; ETHAN DANIELS; KERI WILK. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: PREDRAG VUCKOVIC/ISTOCKPHOTO; CLAUDIO GAZZAROLI; BRANDON COLE
JULY
CAVE COUNTRY
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLICS ANCIENT
UNDERGROUND RIVER SYSTEM IS A NEW
FRONTIER IN DIVING
CURT BOWEN
B Y T R AV I S M A R S H A L L
BECKY KAGAN SCHOTT. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JOSE ALEJANDRO ALVAREZ; CURT BOWEN; COURTESY UWE RATH
CAVE COUNTRY
NEED TO KNOW
OPERATOR
UweScuba
(uwescuba.com)
is one of a select
few operators
that can arrange
proper technical
dives into DRs
cave systems,
as well as teach
year-round dive
destinations, with
warm, protected
water. As with
most Caribbean
destinations,
winter is the
high season;
late summer is
the low season.
DIVE CONDITIONS
Ocean conditions
stay calm yearround in Bayahibe,
with water temps
ranging from high
70s to mid-80s
and visibility from
60 to 120 feet. In
the freshwater
CAVE COUNTRY
WHAT IT TAKES
Cave diving
requires special
training,
equipment and
experience.
UweScuba
uses sidemount gear for
cave diving;
a sidemountcertification
class can
provide you
with all the
necessary skills
and equipment.
Any openwater diver
who is at least
15 years old
can take a PADI
Sidemount
Diver course;
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JOSE ALEJANDRO ALVAREZ; BECKY KAGAN SCHOTT (2)
Sidemount on
St. George
REGULATORS
SCUBAPRO MK21/S560
$499; scubapro.com
In ergo tests, this reg was a pussycat,
delivering smooth, effortless comfort
that earned raves from test divers.
It became a lion on the breathing
machine, where it racked up excellent scores and performed within
test parameters, even at torturous
breathing rates down to 220 feet.
Its performance was unmatched by
any other reg in the test despite a
midrange price. The MK21/S560
was our Best Buy.
BEUCHAT VR200
SOFT TOUCH HF
HOG ZENITH
BCs
APEKS WTX
$750; aqualung.com
This lightweight rig assembled from
Apeks tec-oriented WTX components
seemed a little unlikely as a travel BC
until we got it in the water. Divers raved
about its stability, comfort, precise
valving and secure tank straps, and
rated its integrated-weight system
excellent. The WTX was our Testers
Choice for travel BCs.
CRESSI TRAVELIGHT
$449.95; cressiusa.com
Upgraded with a new inator
and integrated-weight system,
the Travelight offers full-feature
performance in a 6-pound package
that stows easily in a suitcase. Test
divers loved its stable comfort, and
appreciated features rare to travel
BCs: roomy pockets, a right-shoulder
exhaust and 10 alloy D-rings. The
Travelight earned our Best Buy award.
DIVE LIGHTS
UK VIVID ELED
$159.99; uwkinetics.com
IKELITE GAMMA
$120; ikelite.com
Weighing just 5 ounces and measuring
less than .75 inches in diameter at its
narrowest, Ikelites Gamma ts easily into a small BC pocket. But it pumps
out an impressively bright, wide beam
for its size. Its machined-aluminum
body, robust tail switch and 400-foot
depth rating are nice bonuses,
considering its modest price. We
named the Gamma our Best Buy.
DIVE BAGS
FIRST LOOK
NAUTILUS LIFELINE
$299; nautiluslifeline.com
Waterproof to 425 feet when closed,
the Lifeline can send a digital distress
message with your GPS location with
the press of a button. It also functions
as a radio that lets you chat with your
boat crew or dive buddies on marine
VHF frequencies.
TRENDING
BACKSCATTER MACROMATE
MINI FOR GOPRO
$89; backscatter.com
To capture close-up action, this new
macro lens for GoPro threads into
Backscatters 55mm FLIP 3.1 adapter.
The Macromate Mini has an aluminum
frame and a lens of precision optical
glass. The design allows you to
easily change lenses and lters,
even underwater.
SEALIFE MICRO HD
SHERWOOD SCUBA
AMPHOS AIR
TRAINING
IMAGING +
A SK AN EXPERT
scubadiving.com
BEHIND THE LENS
<A F T E R>
[ GEAR ]
Canon G16, Recsea housing,
UWL-04 wide-angle lens,
Sea&Sea YS-D1 strobes
[ CAMERA SPECS ]
SHUTTER SPEED 1/60
F-STOP f/8
ISO 200
[ LOCATION ] Roatan
[ BACK STORY ]
The most cooperative moray eel ever had
a few friends around. When the shrimp
started crawling toward the eels head, I
fired off as many shots as quickly as I could
to capture the moment.
Double Trouble
I prefer a
1 sheye, to allow more subjects
in 4 When I see something about to
USE THE WIDEST LENS
PHOTOLAB
<B E F O R E>
HOT SPOTS
One of the challenges of
shooting close to the bottom
is not blowing out the exposure on the sand. To adjust
specific areas, I used the
adjustment brushes to tone
down the exposure of the
problem spots.
www.cressi.com
Silicone Evolution.
NANO
INTEGRATED DUAL FRAME
EYES EVOLUTION
PIUMA EVOLUTION
TRAINING
LESSONS FOR LIFE
THE ACCIDENT
THE DIVER
JORI BOLTON
NO MATTER YOUR
EXPERIENCE LEVEL,
INTOXICATION WHILE
DIVING IS A BAD IDEA. IT
DOESNT MATTER
WHETHER THE INTOXICATION IS FROM COLD
MEDICINE, ALCOHOL OR
OTHER DRUGS.
exploration,
and always
remember the
Rule of Thirds.
3 Do not
allow personal
experience to
convince you
to make
poor decisions.
4 Dive with a
buddy, or take
additional precautions and
training, and
carry extra
equipment, to
dive solo.
Eric Douglas
Visit us
the DEMA at
Resource Image
Cen
Booth #2 ter,
926
Lots
of GoPro
accessories
available!
MADE
IN USA
We make adapters
for all housings,
strobes, video lights
and spotting lights.
The original arms
with o-rings in the
ball for ease of use.
Often copied,
never equaled
co-authored the
book Scuba Diving
Safety, and has
written a series of
dive-adventure novels
and short stories.
Check out his website
at booksbyeric.com.
(805) 484-3334
www.ulcs.com
TRAINING
ASK AN EXPERT
Should
New Divers
Carry
Cameras
and Other
Underwater
Extras?
A BY ERIC DOUGLAS
CARRYING A CAMERA IS A
GOOD THING
As an instructor with more than
20 years experience, I love the digitalcamera revolution and how all divers
have access to capturing memories. All
of my young certied divers want to be
able to take photos of themselves and
one another as well as what they see
underwater so they can share with
their friends, said Annie Crawley,
a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
and noted underwater photographer.
I encourage them to use cameras in
the pool rst before taking them to the
open water to see how this changes their
buoyancy and how they interact with
their buddy.
If I were not allowed to have a
NO TASK LOADING
WITHOUT EXPERIENCE
Newbies and their expensive toys are
soon parted. If something distracts
you from your air consumption, your
buoyancy or your orientation; its a liability, said Carrie Caignet, a former
SSI dive instructor. Caignet currently
serves as a divemaster on board a charter boat that allows spearshing, and
advises on spearshing best practices
Old Style
MEXICO
Baja
East Cape
East Cape
Is the perfect destination that provides
excellent opportunities for those interested
in marine life, underwater photography or
simply explore a new diving adventure.
Mexico: 624-197-0957 / 612-348-9215
USA: 1-877-777-8862 Ext. 1003
www.eastcapedivers.com
and techniques.
PADI course director CJ Goodrich
was denitive about when divers should
be allowed to carry cameras and other
gadgets underwater: Not until they
have shown mastery and continued vigilance with regard to neutral buoyancy
and awareness of their surroundings.
Adam Cassidys expertise comes
from leading groups of teen divers in
the SPLASH program. I dont think
newbie divers are ready for underwater
photography, and theyre denitely not
ready for scooters or spearshing. It
is very easy to start chasing a sh and
lose track of your depth, even without a
camera or speargun. New divers should
spend their time acclimating to diving
in general, and dive with buddies who
are experienced, he said.
CONCLUSION
Even the most experienced, well-trained
divers can get distracted and fail to
monitor their breathing-gas supply or
their depth. Some newbie divers should
denitely focus on the task of staying
alive and exploring the underwater
world. Others are right at home in the
water and can easily take on new challenges, so making a rule is probably
not practical.
There is one more thing to consider:
As a diver, you arent just looking out
for yourself. If you do get distracted and
do something stupid, you can easily put
your buddys life at risk as well as your
own. Cassidy summarized by saying,
I dont want my buddy task loading,
getting into trouble, and then possibly
injuring both of us.
scubadiving.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 / 75
Adventure Dives
Guided by Experienced Instructors
Cenote/Cavern & Cave Tours Available
TRAINING: Cavern to Full Cave
Sidemount Poseidon Rebreather
www.cavetecnow.com [email protected]
Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Luxury
THE
LIVE- ABOARD
of the Bahamas
Departs Nassau
Up to 26 out island dives walls,
reefs, blue hole, swift drifts
and shark dive!
Fully en-suite cabins
Eco-adventures
888.327.9600
www.aquacatcruises.com
EAT, SLEEP
&
from
DIVE 138
$
Rate Code:
SDM2014
*Price
per night*
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Round-trip ight between Belize City and Placencia
Land transfers between Placencia Airstrip and Hotel
Accommodations at any of the resorts listed below
(see individual pricing)
7 nights/8 day stay
3 days of Whale shark diving at Gladden Spit
2 days of diving on Belize Barrier
1 inland tour
Whale shark dives includes, 2 tanks, weights,
entrance fee, lunch and taxes
US $1500
US $1750
US $1850
US $2000
www.cabopulmo.com
[email protected]
www.splashbelize.com
Tel:011-501-523-3080
Or 011-501-610-0235
[email protected]
Quiet. Unpretentious.
Golden Tank
Retailer Partner Directory
FLORIDA
Panama City Beach - Dive Locker
850-230-8006 divelocker.net
MICHIGAN
Farmington Hills - Sea the World Scuba Center
248-478-6400 seatheworld.us
MISSOURI
Bridgeton - BonneTerre/West End Diving Centers
888-843-3483 2dive.com
NEW YORK
Brooklyn - Stingray Divers
718-384-1280 stingraydivers.com
New York - Pan Aqua Diving
212.736.3483 panaqua.com
PENNSYLVANIA
Erie - Divers World of Erie Inc
814-459-3195 scubaerie.com
CANADA
Langley, BC - Langley Diving, Inc.
604-514-8190 langleydiving.com
www.istsports.com
(909) 622-9600
[email protected]
800.847.5708
www.scubaclubcozumel.com
Isla de Cozumel, Mxico
,QFOXGHVDOOPHDOV
EHYHUDJHVDQGtransfers
)UHHNitrox
THFKGLYLQJavailable
1LQHVSDFLRXVsuites
Dive Deals
DIVE CENTERS
Cozumel
DIVE RESORTS
Grand Cayman
WWW.COBALTCOAST.COM
Promote Your Dive Deals!
Contact: Kelly Freygang
407-571-4743
advertiser DIRECTORY
Atlantic Caribbean and Latin America
Amigos Del Mar - Belize - Ambergris Caye to
Blue Hole & Turneffe Atoll on largest boat
fleet. SSI & SDI Certifications. P. 77
www.amigosdivebelize.com
Avalon Cuban Diving Centers Gardens of
the Queen - Cubas Gardens of the Queen:
the ultimate sharks paradise. P. 79
www.cubandivingcenters.com
Bay Adventures - offers one-stop shopping
for air, lodging & diving in Cozumel, Belize,
Bonaire, Cayman, Curacao, Turks & Caicos,
and Roatan. P. 9 www.bayadventures.com
Belize Tourism Board - Belize is home
to the largest barrier reef in the Western
Hemisphere. See the difference. P. C4
www.travelbelize.org
Bonaire Tourism - Bonaire, long-known as
the Divers Paradise, offers the ease of boat
diving with the adventure of shore diving.
P. 6 www.tourismbonaire.com
Bruce Bowkers Carib Inn - Bonaire - Carib
Inn is a smaller resort catering to the
vacationing diver. P. 6 www.caribinn.com
Buddy Dive Resort - Bonaire - experience
an unspoiled natural paradise offering
spectacular susets, gentle breezes and
crystal-clear turquoise waters. P. 76
www.buddydive.com
Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort and Dive Center
- Diving the Aquarium of the World. PADI
Courses. Diving Tours. Eat, Sleep & Dive
Packages. P. 78 www.cabopulmo.com
Cave Training Mexico - Riviera Mayas
experts in cenote/cavern, cave & MKVI
Poseidon rebreather diving & training. P. 76
www.cavetrainingmexico.com
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Only 1 hour and 10 minutes from Miami - fly
in the morning, beach in the afternoon! P. 21
www.divecayman.ky
Costa Baja Resort - La Paz, Mexicos only
5-Star hotel & resort. Luxury amenities,
with golf course & spa on-site. P. 79
www.costabajaresort.com
Hawaii
Photography/Video
Backscatter East & West Underwater
Video and Photo - Now with 2 locations &
the most experienced staff to serve your
underwater imaging needs. P. 77
www.backscatter.com
Ikelite - Manufacturer of underwater
camera housings, strobes, mounting arms
and flashlights. P. 7 www.ikelite.com
SeaLife Cameras - Underwater cameras
and accessories to help you explore the
underwater world. P. 17
www.sealife-cameras.com
Ultralight Control Systems - Manufacturers
of trays and arms for your cameras, lights &
strobes for digital, video or film. P. 73
www.ulcs.com
Seasport Divers - Kauai, Hawaii - Fullservice dive shop specializing in local Kauai
scuba diving tours, snorkeling tours and
scuba certification courses. P. 39
www.seasportdivers.com
Divi Flamingo Beach Resort - Bonaire Oceanfront dive resort features PADI
5-star dive operation with custom boats,
instruction, dive packages & shore diving.
P. 6 www.diviresorts.com
United States
Panhandle Shipwreck Trail - The Florida
Panhandle Shipwreck Trail consists of
12 unique shipwrecks along Floridas
Panhandle. P. 27
www.FloridaPanhandleDiveTrail.com
Instruction/Training
The Ocean Corporation - Offering
commercial diver training, under water
welding, ROVs and NDT weld inspector
training since 1969. P. C3
www.oceancorp.com
Live-aboards
Aggressor Fleet & Dancer Fleet The
largest eet of live-aboards in the world
serving 15 yachts. Providing professional
service for 25+ years. P. C2-3
www.aggressor.com
Aqua Cat Cruises - Weeklong All Inclusive
Luxusry Liveaboard Diving Adventure Cruises
Depart Nassau, Bahamas to the Exuma Cays.
P. 77 www.aquacatcruises.com
Scuba Accessories
Scuba Equipment
Analox Sensor Technology - Manufacture
of a wide range of sport diving analysers
from US Navy approved Nitrox units to a
highly accurate Trimix analyser, Analox is
the preferred choice for sport divers. P. 76
www.analox.net
BARE - Manufacturers of the best fitting
wetsuits and drysuits on Earth. P. 5, 37
www.bare-wetsuits.com
Cressi - A company close to its Italian
sea-loving heritage providing superior
designs for discriminating divers. P. 15, 71
www.cressisubusa.com
Dive Rite - Florida-based pioneer and
manufacturer of technical and advanced
open water diving equipment since 1984.
P. 25 www.diverite.com
IST Sports - Manufacturing and wholesaling
quality SCUBA and watersports equipment
worldwide for 33 years. P. 78
www.istsports.com
2014
BEST
OF
SCUBA
D
LOOK
Eye-catching shots that deserve a second look
JAN/FEB
PHOTOGRAPHER
Keri Wilk
L O C AT I O N
Car Wash Cenote,
Quintana Roo, Mexico
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Nikon D800, Nauticam
housing, Zen 230mm dome
port ISO 400 F-stop f/9
Shutter speed 1/125 sec
MAY
PHOTOGRAPHER
Franco Banfi
L O C AT I O N
White Sea,
Karelia, Northern Russia
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Canon 5D MKII, Subal
housing, Canon 100mm
macro f/2.8 lens, Seacam
strobes ISO 200 F-stop f/16
Shutter speed 1/200 sec
AUGUST
PHOTOGRAPHER
Franco Banfi
L O C AT I O N
White Sea,
Karelia, Northern Russia
CAMERA SPECS
Gear Canon EOS 5D MKIII,
Subal housing, Canon EF
15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens,
two INON 240 strobes,
Sola Photo 1200 modeling
light ISO 200 F-stop f/11
Shutter speed 1/125 sec
Dive
to
L ive
oceancorp.com
HOUSTON, TEXAS
Ultimate
Diver Training
Nondestructive
Tech Training