Diventures Expands Northern Virginia Team, Hours, and Diving Opportunities

Diventures has expanded its operations in Northern Virginia following the closure of Blue Octopus. With locations in Vienna and Sterling, they are dedicated to supporting the local dive community. New leadership has been appointed to enhance services, including extended store hours from Tuesday to Sunday. Additionally, Diventures has launched the new Scuba Club, offering a…

Neutral Buoyancy for Public Safety Divers

Neutral buoyancy is crucial for public safety divers as it allows them to maintain a balanced position underwater without rising or sinking. This balance is achieved by managing buoyancy through the wing or BCD, dry suit, and lung volume. Proper trim, or body position, minimizes disturbances to the environment and improves search efficiency. Maintaining good…

CRF™ Marks First Anniversary of Reef Restoration in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) celebrates one year of reef restoration. They focus on Long Reef in St. Croix, important for community protection. In March 2024, they installed coral trees in a nursery. Local contract divers have joined to help with restoration efforts. In just one year, they planted over 5,000 coral fragments for future reef…

Divers, crew evacuated as Red Sea liveaboard Firebird strikes reef en route to Dahab

Passengers and crew on the liveaboard M/V Firebird were evacuated after the vessel hit a reef near Sharm El Sheikh on April 20, 2025. The boat was carrying seven divers and seven crew members during the incident. All individuals were safely evacuated in about 16 minutes and transferred to shore. This collision raises concerns about…

DIVE’s Big Shot Portraits – THE WINNERS!

The winners of DIVE’s Big Shot Portraits underwater photography competition were announced, showcasing stunning images that capture marine life. Ralph Paprzkycki took first place with his striking photo of a blenny. Marcia Riederer’s close-up of a dwarf minke whale won second place, while Rowan Dear’s shot of a leafy sea dragon came in third. These…

You Don’t Have To Swim To Scuba Dive – They Couldn’t

You don’t have to know how to swim to try scuba diving, which is a common myth. Many non-swimmers have successfully scuba dived, as long as they are comfortable and have the right training. A video showcases the experiences of two non-swimmers during their first dive. While it’s possible to dive without swimming skills, it’s…

Nauticam Announces T7 and G7 HD UltraBright Monitors

Nauticam has launched the T7 and G7 HD UltraBright Monitors, designed specially for underwater photography. Both monitors have a 7-inch screen with a remarkable brightness of 3,000 nits, making it easier to capture clear images in bright sunlight. The T7 model has a single HDMI input, while the G7 supports both HDMI and SDI inputs,…

The Dramatic Effect Of Hurricanes On Wreck Dive Sites [Video]

Hurricanes can dramatically change wreck dive sites, as shown by Hurricane Irma in 2017. This Category 4 storm affected many submerged wrecks in South Florida, even those that were deep underwater. For instance, the Okinawa wreck was moved over 200 feet and reoriented due to the storm. These changes can render previously accurate dive maps…

Editorial – April 2025

Networking plays a crucial role in the scuba diving industry. Informal networks help businesses grow and adapt by connecting like-minded individuals. Successful trade shows and events depend on matching the needs of sellers and buyers within these networks. However, networks can fail if they do not innovate or analyze their effectiveness over time. To thrive,…