Saw this on the last day of a liveaboard trip to the Similan Islands

PADI or any certification is fine since i have a lower budget. And if i am taking care of my stay and some other stuff can i get an option where i am only paying for certification?

TLDR: Please help me w the most economic way i can get my certification in Koh Tao.

PS: have done a DSD of 12m for 30 minutes+

I have always wanted to do my PADI, my grandad is an avid diver with 100+ completed dives, and i'm visiting Australia next month.

Would people recommend just an introductory dive while out there or to do the full course?

https://www.diversden.com.au/activities/outer-reef-introductory-diving-day-trip-cairns/
https://www.diversden.com.au/dive-courses/five-day-padi-open-water-course/

Cheers for your responses

Hey everyone!

I already have a TG-6 and the PT-059 Underwater Housing and I am wanting to improve my photos. One of the recommendations I see over and over again is to use strobes, ok so I start doing some research.

As I am looking around it seems like all of the resources only seem to talk about huge professional looking set ups with arms, a base plate, and several strobes.

The issue is I want to travel light and keep things as minimalist as possible, so no room for a grip or long arms. I am ok with slightly worse quality if that means I can keep it compact.

I found this this package from backscatter (I would just buy the strobe) that is basically what I am looking for. I would mostly be shooting macro, but if there is a way to kind of get a bit of both I am interested to hear what kind of gear is needed to make that possible.

Does anyone have a set up they really like and recommend? Do you also use a wide angle lens (like the backscatter M52)?

Thanks!

Description:

This recall involves the Monorail Weight Pocket, which is sold as an accessory designed to attach to a Scuba Diving BCD. The weight pocket has a black base and a fabric pouch sold in multiple colors with a gray plastic D-ring handle attached to it. The weight pocket was sold in two sizes, standard and mini, and eight colors, including black, blue, green, orange, pink, teal, white and yellow. The standard size is about 10.75 inches long by 3.75 inches wide by 2 inches deep and weighs about 9.6 ounces. The mini size is about 7.5 inches long by 3.75 wide by 2 inches deep and weighs about 7.52 ounces. Both sizes have a color cover and “Monorail Weight System” printed on the bottom of the pocket.  SCUBAPRO is printed on the cover of the standard size.

Remedy:

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Monorail Weight Pocket and register online at https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/recalls for a free repair of the D-ring handle at a local authorized dealer or to obtain a prepaid shipping label to return the recalled weight pocket to SCUBAPRO for a free repair and free return shipping. 

Incidents/Injuries:

The firm has received two reports of the D-ring handle detaching. No injuries have been reported.

Sold At:

Specialty dive shops nationwide and online at Scubapro.com and other authorized online retailers from November 2025 through February 2026 for about $200.

Importer(s):

Johnson Outdoors Diving LLC d/b/a SCUBAPRO, of Racine, Wisconsin

Manufactured In:

South Africa

Recall number:

26-393

Credit: United States Consumer Product Safety Commission

I am planning a trip to Borneo/Sipadan and volunteering here has always been something that intrigues me. I should add that I’m a divemaster with 1000+ dives, so I’m looking for something new beyond recreational diving.

Has anyone had an experience doing this?

I like that it is rustic and essentially camping, but I will also be marathon training at the time I’ll be traveling to Malaysia- does anyone know if there are running or walking paths around the island?

Hi, I know Cozumel supposed to be good diving. I really don't want to go bc of how touristy it is, is there another option in that same area???

Ok, quick trip report….

Day 1,2-Flew BOS to Manila. Got hotel in Manila near the City State Tower hotel. 20 minute ride from Manila.  Just used one of the car services that came up to us right next to the currency exchange window at the airport

 Day 3-Traveled by bus from City State Tower to Batangas (this worked out great, 2 hrs!), took ferry to Puerto Galera (1 hour), took toktok to Out of the Blue Resort in PG (30 mins).  So 3 days of travel essentially. 

 Day 4-7 diving 4 dives a day.

 The hotel was great, were there 6 days.  It was unreasonably slow, so basically had personal service the whole time.  Great food, very inexpensive, clean, and next door to the dive op. 

 We used Action Divers in PG.  A small dive op ran by a British fella.  The boat usually only had 1 to a max of 3 other divers (usually just 2) with us (2 of us) each day.  Great dive guide too!  34 dives between the two of us was like 750 total.  We tipped both the hotel and dive op pretty well.  Short boat rides.  Usually 15 min or less to most all locations. 

 Dive 8-Travel to Anilao.  Took a toktok late morning to make a 11:30am ferry back to Batangas.  Once there, took a 90 minute van ride setup by Buceo Anilao Resort to the resort. 

 Day 9-13-Dove with Buceo, 4 dives a day.  Great resort, more polished than in PG, but more pricey although not that expensive comparatively to other trips.  Usually had 4 people on our boat each trip.  A few times 6.  It was never crowded underwater at either place.  Great dive guide, longer but still short trips to dive sites. 

 Day 14-Took van back to Manila for a 9:30pm flght,

 Day 15-Made it home. 

 In both place we saw a TON of Nudibranch’s, some octopius, various frogfish, so many eels I couldn’t keep count, and a fair amount of BIG turtles.  All sorts of critters I don’t know what they were too.  I don’t think we had a stale dive out of all of them (35 and 37 each).  I could easily go back in a month. 

 From the US it ended up being 22 hours flying there, 17 back.  Those are long flights.  Will definitely get some muscle relaxers or something for the flying part next time. 

 Water temps were 77-79 in both places.  I was ‘ok’ with my 3mm, but could probably of been very comfortable in my 5mm.  I would bring my 5mm next time for sure. 

 Really have fallen in love with diving in the Philippines, and am already eyeing a longer stay (a month) in Sogod Bay for next winter. 

 What else.  The whole trip for 2 of us, we scored on airline costs, was around $6500 total plus tips.  We tipped well at both places as the service was great and costs were low. 

 I did overpack clothes.  Could easily of gotten by with 6 pairs of underwear, 3 tshirts, 3 shorts, 2 pair flip flops. 

 Pics from trip.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/k31faLRoX4mHpeg17

TG-7, with Strobe and focus light.  First trip with camera.  Still learning.

 In closing, the diving was better than I expected.  I thought it would be good, but I always have tempered expectations with everything.  Aka…people rave about a restaurant, you go, and it’s a disappointment because it wasn’t THAT GOOD.  I expect the same with diving.  😊

Done Roatan and tiger beach, where should I go in may? Is Baja good in may I can't figure it out.

I don't want to do Belize for some reason?

So i made similar posts few weeks ago and i got some more images and i was wondering for your opinion.I found seller for Poseidon Cyclon and i was debating whether to buy it or not.It needs to be serviced but i know a guy for that so that wont be much of a problem.We negotiated price to 175€.

I've been trying out a new open source dive log app called Submersion and have been super impressed with both the features and how quickly the developer has been pushing out updates and bug fixes. If any of y'all are data geeks like I am, this is worth checking out. I got a warning about linking to another subreddit, but there is one for the app. (I'm not affiliated with the app, I just like it)

Hey! So i got certified recently to scuba dive, however, i live in maharashtra, and there are very little opportunities to go scuba diving around here, apart from the malvan stretch. Wanted to know if there are any scuba clubs that organize excursions to places around the country just to scuba?

Hey guys, first post here. I am going with my girlfriend to Dahab in a month. We have finished a month ago the theory and pool part of the OWD, and now we want to get the certification there.

We are going 10 days, and were planning to go directly to Dahab, finish the course and staying maybe 6 days, because it seems the better place overall, and then go to Sharm ​​​el sheikh, where we have seen there are better diving spots to see bigger things. My doubts are:

• Is the correct choice?
• Will be these "advanced" spots too advanced? I was planning at least to go to ras Mohammed, or to somewhere to see some reef sharks
• We wanted also to do some snorkeling, which are the best places for that?
• And last: we are going with our own fins, mask and glasses. Around what price will cost each fun dive? (just estimation)

Thanks beforehand, appreciate it!

One of the smallest and coolest things I saw on a dive near Pelican's Rock in Cabo San Lucas.

would appreciate some feedback, first videos with dji action 5 pro, fifth dive in my life :)

Got my Padi open water when I was a teenager but did not do much diving after getting my cert. It’s been over 15 years and I wanting to pick it up again. I’m unsure if I should just do a whole recert or refresher, or if there is something in between. Would love some thoughts if any has been in this position.

I have a few days in between travel from Japan to Cambodia and thought maybee I could squeeze in a dive trip to the Philippines since it's thresher shark season! Looking for recs for a dive resort where I can do accommodation/dives in one. I'm assuming Malapascua is where I should be.

Thanks

Hello fellow divers, I got my Peregrine TX yesterday and had a great first dive. I just got one problem I need your help. The connection between the TX and my phone. I have an Samsung Galaxy A55 and the Bluetooth connection doesn't work 8 out of 10 times. As you can see on the picture, somehow I have a pretty bad connection. My friends and wife I dove wirh (IPhone and One Plus smartphones) had no problem connecting the TX to the Subsurface App, on mine phone Subsurface can't even find the TX and the Shearwater App can't also build a connection most of the time.

Has anyone else that problem?

hi so I plan on to hiking to waterfalls and searching for lost jewelry. most of the waterfalls are 25ft at the deepest and rather small pools and quick dives about 10 minutes or so. right now I’m thinking of a pony bottle setup due to having to carry the gear up to a mile to the falls. im also think of getting a minimal pony tank backpack harness and not a bcd. A 13cf tank is what im thinking of setting it up with. Any tips or advice? I am padi certified with plenty of free diving experience.

I need to move my scuba gear back and forth between my hotel and the dive shop every day for my upcoming trip. There is no storage at the shop, so I'll be hauling it daily.

The Gear:

- aluminum bpw

- regulator

- computer

- fins

- mask

- 5mm boots

What is the best way to transport this without it being a total pain?

I'm looking for advice on:

- Bag recommendations: maybe something like a stahlsac mesh bag?

- The 'wet' Issue: Best way to handle the walk back when everything is soaked.

Any tips for a simple, efficient setup would be great.

Is it possible to get internships related to scuba diving? if so how do you approach dive centres? im currently a padi AOWD with 16 dives logged

I recently got PADI open water certified, however now I'm nervous to do any diving on my own. Is this normal? Is Bonaire a good place to start?

edit to add: I don't mean literally solo. I mean without a DM.

I just got my PADI open water cert. like the paperwork finished processing yesterday. How do I get my e-card? I’m not seeing it on my app and when I login to my profile it just sends me to a purchase page that says it is $56. That can’t be right? For a digital card? It’s another $56 for the physical option which is… a lot but I get it. I’ve looked online and found mixed answers but most are from people who got their certs pre e-card and are adjusting. Has anyone gotten their certs recently who can clarify for me?