Practical Dive Care

by Mel McCombie We’re on a long dive trip and wondering about some everyday practical things—diving with contact lenses, sun protection—and wondered what others have to say? For example, I dive with soft contact lenses; I notice that during dives, when my eyes encounter sea water, they create mucus (which I delicately term “eye boogers”), … Read more

Dive Like Royalty Aboard the Avalon II in Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen

Dive Like Royalty Aboard the Avalon II in Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen                             are these the Caribbean’s last pristine reefs? Dear Fellow Diver: After nearly a half hour, no luggage emerged onto the carousel at Havana, Cuba’s José Martí International Airport. I glanced at my watch. A woman standing next to me noticed and said, … Read more

Shark Attack

“Thump!” “I felt the impact on my back, but I wasn’t sure which part of me was hit. I felt myself being carried through the water like a helpless ragdoll. I remember hoping I wasn’t losing too much blood although after the initial impact I felt no pain. It turned into a dreamlike sequence, an … Read more

Underwater Photography: It’s Easier Than it Was But You Still Need Some Skills

At weekends, I work in a store that specializes in underwater photography equipment. We try to match products to each customer’s needs. Recently, a young woman came in to buy an underwater camera. She professed to be a professional writer intending to supply articles to diving magazines. She wanted a camera that was very straightforward … Read more