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Scuba diving is a growing recreation activity that many vacations are actually planned around. Scuba diving is done all over the world in both warm and cold water. Divers engage in this underwater activity to experience the vast and seldom seen marine life. Reef dives are the most common among recreation divers and provide a glimpse into the life and habitat of a wide variety of marine life, while shipwreck and cave dives appeal to the more adventurous diver interested in exploration.

Scuba diving is different from snorkeling from the primary standpoint that oxygen is supplied to the diver through a tank, thus enabling the diver to stay underwater longer and diver deeper. Snorkeling is generally done at the surface level of the water.

While scuba diving is gaining in popularity, it does require some investment and knowledge prior to actually going on a dive. There is a lot of equipment necessary for a safe and enjoyable guide, which does require some knowledge and even some investment. Fortunately, most equipment is available for rent at local dive shops, who also provide instruction and training.

Dive certifications are also required for scuba trips. These are usually acquired through accredited dive shops and are aimed to teach new and advanced divers specific skills and techniques needed for the type of diving they will be doing. The most common certification is an Open Water certification.

There are fantastic scuba diving locations all over the world, with travel budgets normally dictating which ones to go to. It is important to research these locations and the dive outfits available at them to insure you have the best and safest trip possible.

Please read through the rest of our site for more help and information on getting started in this exciting hobby.

One of the drawbacks some people find in scuba diving is the equipment. Unlike snorkeling, scuba diving requires some pretty sophisticated equipment, some of which can be rented at dive shops, other of which are normally bought. Here will give some highlights of scuba diving equipment.

Scuba Masks – A good scuba mask is your key to the underwater world and to a pleasurable dive. Scuba masks come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges and due to the different shapes of our faces should be tried on prior to purchase. A big part of a good mask is comfortability. If it feels good on and provides a good line of sight it may be the right one for you. However, there 2nd part to choosing the mask is to make sure it properly contours to your face. An easy way to test this is to place the mask on your face (w/out using the straps) and breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. If the mask stays on, it will probably be a good choice for actual use.

Swim Fins – Swim fins allow you to effortlessly propel yourself through the water. As with other equipment the varieties and price ranges are vast and the assistance of an experienced swimmer can be helpful in choosing a good pair. Some people choose to wear booties with their swim fins, which offer several advantages. In cold water they help insulate feet. They also allow for a better, snugger fit of the swim fins and they also provide protection against scrapes, cuts and blisters. If you are going to use booties, it is recommended that they be purchased at the same time as the swim fins

Scuba Weight Belts – As is common knowledge, salt water is more buoyant than freshwater, meaning a person float more easily in the ocean. This is not a particular advantage when you are trying to spend time under the surface. For that reason, divers wear belts that are equipped with weights to offset the buoyancy of their body weight and equipment weight, allowing them to dive with greater ease. Weight belts are customizable, meaning that the weights can be added or removed depending on the person’s needs.

Wet Suit – Most divers opt to wear a wet suite because of the protection they offer. Not only do they keep a diver warm, but they can also protect against scrapes and cuts when diving around obstacles. Wet suits are made of neoprene and vary in thickness. The thicker the material, the more warmth it retains. When trying on a wet suite, remember that they are intended for a snug fit to allow for less constricted movement and to allow for better insulation. Wet suites come in different varieties for varying water conditions. Some cover the entire body, other all for more skin exposure. Personal preference and diving conditions will dictate which type to use.

Scuba Tank – A scuba tank is where the oxygen is stored. Scuba tanks are commonly made from aluminum, but steel versions are also available. The size of the scuba tank needed will mostly depend on the size of the person and their air requirements. Typically, an average adult will need an 80 cu.ft tank

Regulators –Regulators are what make scuba diving possible. Regulators are responsible for getting the air from the tank to your mouth. They are called regulators because they regulate the air pressure coming from the tank to your mouthpiece so that breathing can be done comfortably. Like most other equipment, the best way to select a regulator for you is to try them as most will feel and fit different.

This is just a brief list of some key gear needed when scuba diving. In many cases most of this equipment is available to rent from a dive shop, but be sure to check that ahead of time. If you are just getting in to scuba diving, it is highly advisable to utilize the services of an experienced diver to help you select the best scuba diving equipment. There is nothing worse than having a trip ruined due to under performing equipment.

There are two major organizations that handle most scuba diver certifications, NAUI and PADI. NAUI is the National Association of Underwater Instructors ( HYPERLINK “http://www.naui.org” www.naui.org) is a United States-based SCUBA diver training organization concerned with promoting dive safety through education. NAUI was founded by Albert Tillman and Neal Hess in 1959. In August 1960, NAUI’s first Instructor Certification Course was held at the Houston’s Shamrock Hilton Hotel with 72 candidates.

PADI, The Professional Association of Diving Instructors ( HYPERLINK “http://www.padi.com” www.padi.com), is the world’s largest recreational diving membership and diver training organization founded in 1966 by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson. PADI members, including dive centers, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, and divemasters, teach the majority of the world’s recreational divers. PADI operates offices in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Other associations include:

• SSI – Scuba Schools International

  http://www.divessi.com/

• PDIC – Professional Diving Instructors Corporation

  http://www.pdic-intl.com/

• YMCA Scuba

  http://www.ymcascuba.org/

• BSAC – The British Sub Aqua Club

  http://www.bsac.com/

• CMAS – Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques

  http://www.cmas.org/

Scuba diving certification is a necessity when planning a scuba trip. Most dive shops and trip operators will not rent equipment to or take non-certified divers out. Certification can be obtained prior to going on your trip or handle at the location, as most any reputable on-location dive shop will offer certification courses. Completion of a certification course assures trip operators and other divers that you are a knowledgeable and competent diver who understands the process and who will not be a detriment to the trip.

Open Water Diver Certification courses are the most popular and common certification course taken and is the course most often taken for vacation scuba trips. It is geared for beginners and teaches scuba safety, equipment usage and basic skills. From here there are several other advanced diver certifications designed to improve your skills like Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver and Master Scuba Diver.

There are excellent scuba diving locations all over the world in all types of climates with tropical locales being the preferred (for obvious reasons). Reef dives are probably the most common dives a they are home to vast array of aquatic life and are easily accessible due to their shallow depth.

While reef dives are better know, ship wreck dives are also very popular. Depending upon the actual wreck, ship wreck dives can provide a historical glimpse into the past life of a vessel and time. Depending upon the actual site, ship wreck dives can be a little dangerous due to deterioration of the ship. Ship wreck sites also proved excellent habitat for fish and other sea creatures.

For more adventuresome and experienced divers, cave dives can also be very appealing. Not many people get the experience to explore underwater caves and these dives can provide the opportunity to view creatures and structures not seen anywhere else.

Below are a couple of lists of some of the top scuba dive locations in the world.

From The Scuba Guide

• Scuba Dive Cozumel, Mexico
  The Island of Cozumel, off the Mayan coast, is surrounded by gorgeous reefs and pristine clear water; perfect for scuba diving. On a good day visibility can be up to 200 feet. Gentle currents running parallel to the reef are a drift diver’s dream. There are 19 popular scuba diving reef areas, including dramatic swim-throughs teeming with marine life. Cozumel is very friendly for the foreign tourist it has affordable accommodation and buzzing night life. Cave divers will enjoy a trip to the mainland to scuba dive the cenotes (freshwater caves). There are dozens of excellent dive shops to choose from in the main town of San Miguel.
• Scuba Dive Fiji Islands, South Pacific
  Fiji offers an incredible scuba diving experience. It is the “Soft Coral Capital of the World”, the home of the “Great White Wall”, the “Yellow Tunnel” and other famous underwater marvels, scuba diving conditions and visibility are unrivalled year-round. Because of its clear water and dazzling coral Fiji is a favorite hangout for professional underwater photographers.
• Scuba Dive Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
  Visibility averages 80 feet to 150 feet in this tropical paradise revered by scuba diving enthusiasts. Rising like a mountain plateau in the Caribbean, the Grand Cayman’s shallow reefs provide maximum downtime, next to massive drop-offs in the surrounding 12,000 foot abyss.
• Scuba Dive Florida, USA
  Florida offers the best scuba diving opportunities on the North American continent. Dive shops proliferate along the entire Gulf coast and Atlantic coast and within a short boat ride of the nearest beach you will be submerged alongside giant turtles, manatees, sharks, tropical fish, rays and dolphins. For ease of travel (especially for U.S. citizens) Florida is a perfect vacation destination for scuba divers. The convenience and economy of Florida travel is often the deciding factor in choosing Florida for scuba diving. The Gulf coast generally has better visibility, the Atlantic Coast has a wealth of reefs and wrecks and the Florida Keys offer beautiful warm water and tropical fish.
• Scuba Dive Belize
  Boasting some of the world’s best preserved marine ecosystems, but undiscovered by excessive tourism, Belize is a natural destination for scuba divers. Visibility can be poor except along the leeside of atolls where it can reach 100 feet. The Belize Barrier Reef offers a stunning variety of marine life.
• Scuba Dive Heron Island, Australia (Great Barrier Reef)
  Heron Island is literally a coral island rising above the famous Great Barrier Reef. With excellent scuba diving, just steps from the shore, you can strap on a snorkel and stay under 20 feet for hours on a scuba tank. Heron is a quiet island, devoid of industry or day trippers, which is ideal for the scuba diver who wants to bask in a relaxed casual lifestyle during surface intervals.
• Scuba Dive Vanuatu
  East of Australia, suspended between New Zealand and Southeast Asia, Vanuatu is prized by scuba divers primarily for its incredible diversity. Amid clear warm water and abundant marine life scuba divers can experience caves, swim-throughs, walls, lava towers, fantastically elaborate wrecks, coral mazes, grottoes and overhangs, plus more.
• Scuba Dive Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
  Located along the southern tip of the Bahamas, Grand Turk stays sheltered from heavy currents and visibility is excellent year-round for scuba diving. Grand Turk is a summer gathering place for gentle manta rays and inquisitive scuba divers. Grand Turk is surrounded by walls covered in sponges and corals starting at 25 feet and rising to 30 feet and plunging 7000 feet straight down.
• Scuba Dive Hawaii
  Scuba diving in Hawaii is big. Giant sea turtles, enormous stingrays, sharks and whales gather near Hawaii to live in its fertile volcanic ecosystem. Though lacking the clear visibility of a sheltered island, Hawaii makes up for clarity with grandeur. Frothing with tourism, and the many dive shops to choose from, Hawaii makes scuba diving fun and adventurous.
• Scuba Dive Koh Tao Island, Thailand
  Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand is a tourist-friendly resort island that caters especially to scuba divers. Surrounded on all sides by colorful reefs the island is also well known for opportunities for close-encounters with elusive Whalesharks and Grey Reef Sharks. The scuba diving is excellent, but despite desperate marine conservation efforts shark hunting is offered as a tourist diversion and many people travel to Koh Tao just to kill the local fauna.

From Askmen.com

• Beqa Lagoon, Fiji
  Approximately an hour’s boat ride from the main island of Viti Levu, Beqa Lagoon is a world-renowned diving spot. Its colorful soft corals and unique underwater topography make it an exciting experience even for the most seasoned divers. Boat tours leave daily from Viti Levu and give visitors the freedom of at least two long dives during a trip to Beqa Lagoon.
  Ask your tour guide to take you through Caesar’s Rocks, Nisici Rocks and Side Streets, three especially prime areas filled with cool formations, tropical fish and blue ribbon eels. The best time to visit these spots is during the Fijian “winter,” from May to October.
• Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
  Instead of offering the gratification that sister islands Aruba and Curacao are known for, Bonaire is mainly designed for one activity: scuba diving, of course. A marine park encompasses the island and boasts over 100 diving opportunities. Designating the waters as a “park” means the wonders that lie within are protected, leaving divers with an unspoiled look at the underwater ecosystem.
  Once accustomed to the Caribbean waters, visitors can move from the shore to the deeper sea. Several local companies will ferry you out to prime spots, where you can explore the reef and search for sea turtles, parrot fish and nurse sharks. This activity is best experienced between September and December, when the sea is calmest.
• Yap, Micronesia
  You may have never heard of this little island, but ask any true scuba diver or Animal Planet-loving dude about Yap and he’ll surely respond approvingly. The island (located only 6,000 miles from Los Angeles; an hour’s flight from Guam) is known for its pristine water and abundant marine life. In fact, ecologists, explorers and general nature enthusiasts visit because it’s the best location to spot the mysterious manta ray.
  Best visited during the December through April dry season, this spot’s simple purity makes it unique; no resort hotel or loud pub can be seen on its beaches. Instead, all you get is some of the world’s best diving opportunities, replete with underwater caverns, and shark and sea turtle sightings, in addition to the numerous rays.
  Head to Mozambique and the Cayman Islands for the best underwater adventures…
• Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
  Four secluded islands just off of Mozambique’s coast await jet-setting scuba divers. In addition to the reefs and clear waters that divers expect, the Marine National Park also offers supreme night diving and wreck exploration. You can swim through these sunken ships or, as is more common, make friends with grazing manatees and curious dolphins.
  The diving is mostly done in open waters, within view of the islands. The best time to go is in June, July and August, when the heat becomes bearable. If you’re interested in visiting the Barazuto Archipelago, however, make sure to check government travel advisories, as Mozambique still suffers from unrest following a long civil war.
• Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
  Known as the king of all Caribbean diving sites (and there are many), the Caymans boast all the features scuba divers demand. First, the weather is pretty much beautiful year round, with rain occurring only in spurts during the summer months. Second, the water is warm and clear, ideal for exploring Grand Cayman’s reefs and watching stingrays and angelfish in their habitat. Third, visitors have access to both well-known and untouched scuba areas. A little research will lead you to operators who are willing to take you to the most secluded spots… if you’re into that.
  Peak tourist times — when you’re likely to kick another diver with your flipper — are mid-December to mid-April. The summer months are quieter, but rain and hurricane threats tend to scare visitors away.
• Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
  An increasingly popular tourist spot, the islands of Turks & Caicos offer just as much fun under the water as they do above it. Located north of the island of Hispaniola and considered part of the Bahamas, T&C’s central point is Grand Turk, truly a scuba diver’s wet dream.
  Thanks to the government’s goal of protecting its prized natural environment — preventing large-scale development of the Grand Turk bays impeding access to prime spots — divers simply get to swim around untouched reefs, dunes and drop-offs.
  A 15-minute boat ride by one of three tour operators brings you to the best areas, where batfish, dolphins and eels abound. Peak tourist season (mid-December to mid-April) makes the cost of these tours skyrocket, so your best bet is to visit between April and July, just before the weather becomes unbearably hot.
• Ambergris Caye, Belize
  You’ll feel like a real explorer while swimming through the warm Caribbean waters of Belize. It’s an underrated vacation spot and most people don’t even know that Belize is in Central America, just south of Mexico.
  This all works in the favor of scuba divers, who can enjoy the depths in peace before resting on the beach. The prime diving sites are located around San Pedro, Belize’s busiest tourist spot. There you can swim alongside nurse sharks and stingrays in Shark Ray Alley, glide through the coral of the Barrier Reef, and take underwater photos of eye-catching marine life. A guide brings you through all these attractions, which are encompassed by the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. If you’d rather explore on your own, boat trips bring you to neighboring keys, which feature caverns, wrecks and lots of freedom.
  Best visited during the dry season of November to May, the Ambergris Caye has all you could ask for when it comes to scuba diving.
• Phuket, Thailand
  There’s a reason Phuket is known as the “Pearl of the South.” The waters off its coast are teeming with life and there’s a range of diving opportunities to take part in, from coral fields to shipwrecks and caves.
  To experience this amazing spot properly, hard-core divers opt for a “live-aboard” cruise, where, as the name indicates, you board a boat and dive for days on end without setting foot on land. It’s on these trips that you’re most likely to pet a docile whale shark, swim with manta rays and explore grottos.
  Those who want to remain near land can take advantage of numerous day trips that bring you to one or two out of more than 15 great diving spots in the Andaman Sea. Either way, head to Phuket between October and May, once monsoon season dies down.
• Ras Mohammed National Park, Red Sea, Egypt
  One of the busiest and most exhilarating places to scuba-dive in the world, the Red Sea, and the Ras Mohammed National Park in particular, offers sites to match every skill level. The deep reefs and occasional strong current make exploration a challenge, but once you’ve gotten used to the environment, diving in the Red Sea becomes a blast.
  At Ras Mohammed, six autonomous areas can be explored, often on a two- or three-day trip. Reachable only by boat, each spot is memorable: Shark Reef boasts a steep drop and loads of groupers and stingrays; Yolanda Reef holds the remains of a shipwreck; Anemone City has more anemone and small fish than you’ll ever see on the Discovery Channel; The Shark Observatory boasts great visibility and several caves; and Jackfish Alley and Ras Zatar provide great photo ops and more cave exploration.
  All this is best explored from March to August (the hottest month), when the water temperatures hit the low 80s (°F).
• Heron Island, Queensland, Australia
  This island may be unknown to you, but surely you’ve heard of the Great Barrier Reef. The king of all scuba diving sites, the Reef is the world’s largest and houses thousands of species of fish, great white sharks and many other natural treasures. At the heart of it all is Heron Island, a small, unassuming place with arguably the best scuba diving you’ll ever experience.
  A coral cay, Heron offers more than 20 true diving sites, most of them less than 15 minutes from your small resort hotel. Those looking to pick it up a notch can partake in adventure or night diving as well.
  You’ll find these activities available year round, but the conditions are particularly great between April and September. Watch out for poisonous box jellyfish from October to May.

Scuba diving basically involves the use of oxygen inhaled from a tank that allows a diver to stay underwater longer. Scuba diving differs from snorkeling in that snorkeling utilizes breathing techniques and simple mask/snorkel apparatus for the swimmer to use to obtain oxygen from the surface. Scuba diving is most commonly used to explore coral reefs, ship wrecks, underwater caves, search and rescue missions, study marine life and even maintain commercial ponds and aquariums.

The term SCUBA is actually an acronym standing for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, but over the years has morphed into a regular word used to describe the actual type of diving. While assisted underwater diving has been around for a few hundred years, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the modern day precursor was invented. The first underwater breathing apparatus was invented in the 1930s, but significant improvements and developments did not occur until the mid 1940s when renowned oceanic explorer Jacques Cousteau and engineer Emile Gagnan invented the first pressurized and efficient Self Contained Underwater Breathing apparatus named Aqua Lung. After years of experimentation and improvement, scuba diving was brought to the masses and the National Association of Underwater Instructors was formed to regulate and teach this new sport.

As with anything new, improvements in equipment and techniques occurred in scuba diving making it more attractive to more people and easier to learn and do. Today scuba diving is a thriving, sought after vacation attraction spawning dive shops and outfitters all over the world, particularly in warm, tropical climates and is much more affordable for the average person.