Scuba Diving – Scuba Diving in Honduras

The number one complaint that people have about scuba diving is that they just don’t have enough money to do it as often as they like. Let’s face it; scuba diving equipment is expensive. Add to that airfare, room and board, and fees charged by dive shops, and you may only be able to afford one or two short scuba diving excursions each year. But what if I told you that there was a place where you could go scuba diving for a month and only pay what you would for a week at other fancy dive locations around the world? I mean, would there really be any question? No doubt your reply would be something along the lines of, „Cool, where do I sign up?“

The answer is in Honduras, a Central American country bordering the Caribbean Sea. Here you will find an island, only a seven-minute flight from mainland, which is for the most part undiscovered by the world. This small island, Utila, is the smallest of three major Bay islands located off the east coast of Honduras and is home to some of the cheapest and best scuba diving to be found anywhere in the world. Just 18 miles from the mainland port of Le Ceiba, Utila is only 9.5 miles in length and 3 miles in width and its population is just around 2,500. But what Utila lacks in size, it makes up for in underwater, scuba diving adventures.

Once you arrive for your expedition to Honduras it won’t take you long to figure out that this is a dive community. The streets are lined with dive shops, schools, and hotels catering to the dive enthusiast. And do you want to know what the best part is? Everything in Honduras is cheap. An average meal costs just around $3 with formal dinners costing as little as $6. Accommodations can be found for as little as $25 per night or maybe even lower if you know how to shop for deals. A mere $150 could buy you as much as a dozen scuba diving trips out into the Caribbean Sea. And don’t let the numbers fool you, diving in Honduras is not second-rate. In fact, the beauty of this area surpasses many other sites found all over the world.

The best time for scuba diving is in the morning. And since there are no bad dive spots around Utila, you can choose to go just about anywhere and see a variety of wrecks, marine life, coral reefs, and more. Here are just a few of the creatures that you can spy in the waters: whale sharks, lobster, barracuda, octopus, sea turtles, scorpion fish, hog fish, large sting rays, corals, sea fans, and sponges of every color imaginable.

So if your looking for a scuba diving adventure that won’t leave you broke, why not try Honduras? You might find that you never want to leave.

Scuba Diving Computers

There’s no reason not to be using a personal dive computer! Price isn’t a factor anymore, especially considering the investment required to dive in the first place. The technology continues to improve, costs are decreasing and the benefits are many.

These things are great! Everything you need is integrated into a wrist top unit. Some even incorporate watch functionality, as well as some functions of other gauges including tank pressure. And yes, you can spend a lot, but it’s not necessary to get what you need.

For those of you asking “so what’s in it for me?”, read on. How about more bottom time; more complex, multi-level dive plans calculated real time; variable mixes for nitrox and mixed gas; and dive logging for starters.

Who hasn’t had to cut a dive short because they deviated from their dive plan and for safety’s sake defaulted to a more conservative bottom time? It happens all the time. You see what you think might be a huge green moray peeking out a hole some few feet further down, and you take a couple minutes to check it out.

Bam, now you blew your plan. Choices are to pull out an RDP (assuming you brought one down) and recalculate, which will probably waste any time you would’ve regained, or cut the dive short to be sure you stay within your no-deco limits.

On the other hand, if you were using a computer, it would recalculate on the fly, showing your new limits. Instead of surfacing earlier, you simply adjust your time and depth during the remainder of the dive and voila – you maximized your bottom time without compromising safety.

Speaking of safety, don’t turn into one those nuts who abuse the computer by diving to the edge of its limits. That’s a really good way to get bent or some more serious decompression illness.

Know your tables, and know your limits. If you use a wrist computer, it’s easy to forget the basics.

To avoid that, simply brush up on your tables from time to time and plan a few dives the “old-fashioned way”. It’s good practice and keeps you safe.

That being said, it’s a no-brainer – get a personal dive computer, use it wisely, and enjoy more of why you took up scuba diving to begin with.

The SKX173 Seiko Dive Watch

The SKX173 Seiko dive watch features a 21 jewel movement, a stainless steel case, great waterproofing, a treated Hardlex mineral glass crystal for scratch resistance and it has great durability. The luminous material on the SKX173 Seiko makes the numbers easy to see in the darkest conditions about the depths of the sea or underneath them.

Seiko Dive Watch Depth Ranges:

Water resistant up to 660 feet, it is a popular Seiko model and it is affordable, besides being practical for everyday use, as well. Most of the people that like the Seiko Dive watch series usually have an eye for the SKX173 due to its diving range, which makes it practical for most diving applications. The Urethane strap and tough, scratch resistant crystal make it rugged enough to take on most diving expeditions. The self-winding kinetic action winding means you never have to worry about battery replacement or manually winding it. It meets ISO standards and is suitable for scuba diving.

Rotator Elapsed Time Bezel:

One of the things that divers like about the Seiko SKX173 is the rotator elapsed time bezel. The way it works is similar to a countdown feature on a digital watch. You simply turn the 0 indicator to the present position of the minute or second hand a see how much time goes by. The elapsed time ring features 0 to20 seconds in red and the 20 to 60 seconds in blue. You can change the colors with replacement rotators for a different look if you want.

Built Rugged for Underwater Durability:

Because the Urethane strap is pressure treated, it lasts much longer than normal rubber straps that come with some dive watches. The band, which has been used on other Seiko Dive watches, gets high rankings from users that still have them after 16 or 17 years without any signs of damage or breaking. This is quite remarkable when you consider that saltwater can be especially hard on some dive gear. The Seiko SKX173 features a stainless steel case that is also designed to hold up to the harsher conditions that divers will face.

SKX173 Has Great Looks:

This Seiko watch has great looks for everyday wear with the black face, strap and stainless case, with raised stainless numbers and the bezel face. It’s a sharp looking watch for everyday wear and looks nice enough to wear for formal occasions, too. Of course, it is the practicality for diving that is the main purpose of the Seiko Dive SKX173 watch, but it looks great to wear even if you never get it in the water. Its classic look and elegant simplicity disguises the fact that it is a deep-diver version of a dive watch.

Conclusion:

For those that are looking for a durable dive watch, the Seiko Dive Watch SKX173 is the perfect model when it comes to diving depth range, great looks, durability and affordable price. Whether you are a diver or not, you will love the rugged features that will keep this watch in good shape for many years to come.

Preparation For Your Diving Vacation!

Preparation for a Scuba Diving Vacation (things to think about) Should you decide to have a holiday and go for a diving vacation, then you will need to know a few things that you should do to ensure that your planning is done effectively. From learning scuba basics and getting your body conditioned for diving, to having fun in the process – these are some of the important things you need to be ready for. Now read on and discover some ideal diving vacation tips:

Swim as often as you can. Whether you’re in your pool in the backyard, at the health club, or training at school, be sure to practice swimming so that you will know how to get around underwater quickly. While your vacation is supposed to be a fun time, you will need to know how to get out of harm’s way naturally, so swimming practice is definitely a good idea. Getting comfortable with the way you move in the water is also ideal when you’re trying to learn to scuba. You may also want to swim underwater with your scuba gear  so that you can get used to wearing the gear when you’re underwater in a larger body of water.

Get the best diving gear. Don’t wait until the last minute to get the scuba equipment that you need – shop around at your local Pro Dive Shops (namely K2 Scuba)  & stores for dry suits and diving gear well before it is time for you to go on your trip. This way, you can try the equipment out before taking a trip and finding a defect. You can also shop online for diving vacation items, so be careful buying essential dive equipment from Ebay unless you have ample time to check it out.

Taking diving lessons – as many times as you need to. While taking scuba diving lessons is necessary if you’re going to be taking a diving vacation, don’t be afraid to take lessons more than one time. You want to make sure that you’re enjoying yourself on your vacation, and you can’t do that if you’re constantly worried about how you’re doing while you’re swimming. It usually takes about two months for you to complete all the courses that are required in order to be a qualified scuba diver, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and practice until you feel comfortable.

Figure out what type of diving you want to do. Taking the basic scuba diving lessons is essential, but you may want to broaden your interests so you can find out just what you want to do on your diving holiday. For instance, if wreck diving interests you, then try to get enrolled in some courses that will teach you how to dive through wrecked ships and artifacts to find treasure. If you’re into technical diving, take a course or two that teaches you to hold your breath for long periods of time and swim with precision. And, if free diving is more your speed, learning how to play hockey or rugby underwater may be your idea of a great diving vacation.

Scuba Diving Safety

Diving is a fun and popular sport. However, there are some steps every diver should follow to ensure he has a safe dive.

Scuba Diving Safety Rules

Get proper training – Being comfortable underwater will go a long way towards having a safe dive. Proper training is one key to being comfortable underwater. The beginning of proper training is to get your open water certification. If you go diving in caves, caverns, wrecks, etc., you should also have the proper training for this type of dive. Don’t dive beyond your ability.

Never dive alone – Always dive with a buddy no matter where you are. This is key. When you do dive with a buddy, keep an eye on him/her to make sure everything is OK (and hopefully they are doing the same). If something happens, that buddy can be the difference between life and death. Never violate this rule. Also do a pre-dive equipment check with your buddy.

Be in good physical shape – You don’t have to be a triathlete but you should be able to swim and take the stress of diving. A physical exam is a good idea before diving.

Don’t hold your breath – Remember to always breathe slowly and in a relaxed manner and to exhale fully. Don’t take short, shallow breathes and never hold your breath. Holding your breath underwater can lead to lung injuries and worse, in the extreme case.

Ascend slowly and with control – As you ascend you are ridding your body of nitrogen in your tissues and bloodstream. If you ascend too quickly, you risk decompression sickness. Always do a safety stop at 15 feet for at least 3 minutes after deeper dives. After your safety stop, do not propel yourself to the surface either. Ascend that last 15 feet very slowly also.

Check your equipment – Checking equipment is especially important if you are renting. If you own your regulator and haven’t dove in a while, it should also be serviced to make sure it is working properly. Do a check of the regulator hoses also.

Relax – Being relaxed and comfortable underwater is key to a successful dive. If something happens, stop, breathe, think and act. Do not panic and rush to the surface. But observing this safety rule could be key to a safe dive.

Plan your dive and dive your plan – You will hear this in your training (or you should) and you should follow this advice. Prior to going under, you and your buddy should know the max depth you will go, the amount of bottom time you’ll have and how much air you will start to ascend with. Check your air supply often. You should also agree on the hand signals you will use to communicate underwater.

This is just the beginning of scuba diving safety rules. However, if you follow the above list you increase your chances of a safe dive.

Have a safe dive,

Scuba Diving Locations – Which are the World’s Best?

Scuba diving is one of the most loved water sports around the globe as well as one of the most exciting too. Imagine being able to explore the vibrant and lavish underwater world and witness some of the most amazing and colorful sea creatures by swimming below the clearest waters of the world and coming together with nature’s wonders. Truly scuba diving does not only provide an exhilarating experience, but brings one to the most beautiful places on earth.

The best scuba diving locations of course, always consist of stunning tranquil crystal clear waters, rich marine life including corals and reefs, and the abundance of scuba diving operators. Some of the best scuba diving locations in the world include:

The Caribbean is one of the best scuba diving locations that facets a mix of special diverse islands, from the Bahamas to Aruba, where one can find infinite diving destinations that will constantly leave one breath taken. The turquoise clear-colored water is much like a warm bath as one leisurely cruise beneath the rich wonderland of colorful and vibrant marine life diversity. On top of that, a renowned visibility as one dives from twenty to a hundred and twenty feet. Each island also has a countless of scuba diving operators and dive resorts that caters to the most popular of Caribbean activities.

Hawaii scuba diving presents an assortment of beautiful tropical fish and some of the most gorgeous coral formations all through the island chain, which makes it one of the best scuba diving locations as well. Maui or Kauai is an excellent way to take pleasure in the marine life of the islands. Operators, resorts, dive boats, and dive shops are on hand throughout Hawaii. The warm water dives amidst large green sea turtles, hundreds of brightly colored fishes, and sharks, adds to the excitement and thrill of every scuba dive.

One of the most popular and best scuba diving locations, Florida keys boasts of lovely coral formations, luxuriously warm gulf water, and of course the abundance of tropical fish. Florida also offers thousands of dive locations that offer limitless diving adventure and packed with quality diving stores, operators, and instructors that can assist one to discover the best of Florida scuba diving.

Belize offers the chance to dive on the Northern Hemisphere’s largest living coral reef system, which is second in size to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This is one of the best scuba diving locations because of its renowned magnificent coral formations and touts of “Blue Hole” dive which is an underwater dormant volcano that collapsed inwardly creating a large cavern that is about four-hundred feet deep.

Other best scuba diving locations include Fiji, Thailand, Australia, and Cozumel. Whether you’re actually combing the love of the sport with adventure for new places, one can find great diving locations all over the world that will definitely satisfy the passion.

History of Scuba Diving

Do you know anything about the history of scuba diving? Scuba stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Dating back to civilizations of old, people have been engaging in breath-hold diving or free-diving. The artifacts in museums that bear the pictures of divers are evident of diving activities as early as in ancient Greek. Many used to be good hunters of sponges, spearfish, etc.

Breath-hold was probably the first method. Subsequently, the idea of snorkeling was born. Using air-filled bags, hollow reeds and diving bells, they were able to improve and spend a longer time in water. The diving bell was a popular device. It is actually a water-tight and air-tight chamber that is connected by hoses or cables that supply the divers with a constant stream of air. However, all these methods have their limitations.

The first attempts at using diving suits started in England and France. These suits were made of leather and air was pumped from the surface. However, they could only withstand a certain degree of pressure. Later, metal was used to create helmets which made it more pressure-tolerant. This allowed divers to go deeper which of course opened doors for greater discovery of the sea depths.

In 19th century, modern scuba diving emerged after years of research. Two inventors, Paul Bert and John Scott Haldene made some successful observations and discoveries about water pressure and the human body’s limit towards compressed air diving. It was also during this time that new technologies were available for the production of air pumps, scuba regulators, etc. This marked the beginning of scuba diving.

In the 20th century, we are able to create different sophisticated scuba diving equipment. Masks, air tanks, scuba gear, swim fins, propellers etc are now common equipment used. This activity used to be confined to the military. In the recent decades from 1950 onwards, the public became intrigued by scuba diving which explains why you see scuba gear shops opening up all over the world at popular island resorts.

Repairing a Damaged Wetsuit

It is inevitable that if you are active in the water with your wetsuit at some time you will get a rip or tear in the neoprene. In most cases, there is no need to panic or despair. With a few simple items, repairing a torn or damaged wetsuit is a fairly easy procedure. It may not look as good as new when you are done but the function of the wetsuit will be maintained.

A lot of times when you rub up against rocks or coral or some other rough object the surface of a wetsuit will get roughened up and expose the softer more vulnerable black neoprene below. Short term your wetsuit will work just fine this way but eventually the abraded area will grow and it may deteriorate to the point of causing a tear or hole. The best way to repair this kind of damage is to apply neoprene glue to the area. What is called neoprene glue is usually a special contact cement formulation for gluing pieces of neoprene to each other. You can usually get it where you bought your wetsuit and it is usually black or yellow in color. Aquaseal and Black Witch are two popular brands of neoprene wetsuit glue. Lay the damaged area out flat if you can and apply lots of the glue to the area. Spread the glue out with a flat wooden stick, application brush, or other spatula type tool to at least a centimeter or two past the abraded area. Try to spread it out as evenly and smoothly as you can. It is almost impossible to make it look pretty but that isn’t the goal anyway. You want to reinforce the area as best you can and still maintain the flexibility of the wetsuit. Neoprene glue is very smooth and slippery when dry. If the damaged area needs to be used for gripping with most neoprene glues, you can sprinkle a small amount of dry sand over the glue approximately 30 minutes after you apply it. This will give the area some texture for gripping. When you are done let the glue dry at least overnight. Some glues will need longer to dry so follow the directions on the glue containers label.

If the damage to the wetsuit is a simple straight cut or tear with no missing material, you can simply glue it back together using the neoprene glue. Very carefully separate the two edges of the cut and apply glue to each of the sides. Try not to increase the cut when you do this. Then hold the two edges together for a few minutes to let the glue set. With some neoprene glues, you have to let the glue air dry for a minute before pushing the two sides back together. As above, let the glue dry at least over night.

If the damage to your wetsuit involves missing material, repairs get more complicated. Most often, the best thing to do is patch the hole like you would a hole in a bicycle tire. Most dive shops have patch material or old neoprene lying around you can buy for patching. Cut a piece of neoprene patch material a few centimeters bigger than the hole, apply glue to the top edge of the hole and the underside edge of the patch and apply the patch. Sometimes you will need to fill the hole with material and glue and sew it to the edges of the hole and apply a patch over that but sewing neoprene is often not recommended. The thread usually will not stretch with the neoprene when you dive and over time the thread will cut through the wetsuit.

The Women’s BCD – Tougher Than the Men’s

Ladies, the time has come to say no to heavy, large and bulky BCDs. We are not having it anymore. There is no excuse why every female diver you know, including yourself, is not wearing the women’s BCD. If you did not know that every scuba diving equipment company is now developing BCDs that are designed just for our body proportions, then this news should make your day!

So, what are the differences between men’s/unisex BCDs and these women’s BCDs?

1. The cumberbund sits higher up in order to accommodate for our hips.

2. The chest buckles have been removed so that we don’t feel like our chests are being crushed.

3. These women’s BCDs come in all sizes and they even offer sizes for full-figured and petite women.

4. The cut and proportion of the actual vest, the back bladder and the shoulders are designed specifically for our bodies and since they are smaller, they are lighter and easier to travel around with.

5. Last, and best of all, they are all customizable and very easy to adjust so that you can feel the BCD molding on to your body in a perfect fit.

One last important advice… make sure you take note of a couple of things when you try on the women’s BCD that you have ordered. When you put the BCD on, close your cumberbund, secure the straps on the shoulders and then check to see if you have at least two inches of extra strap. Now that your lovely BCD is tight, take some deep breaths and move around! As soon as you start this you should be able to tell if you the size and fit is the right one for you. If it’s not, no worries because whether you bought it a scuba shop or online, you can return it for another size.

Now that you know all about women’s BCDs, go out there and show those guys how much better your BCD is!

Ladies’ Watches – Pick Your Mood

How are you feeling today? This seems an unlikely question to ask if what you want to find out is a watch. Unlikely? Yes. Silly? Hardly. Ladies’ watches are no longer just timepieces. They’re fashion statements and mood indicators as well. Available in various designs, styles, and themes, ladies’ watches also come in diverse colors and sizes. And because watches are jewelry pieces as well, the actual market values can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.

Here are the ten most popular brands of women’s watches:

Seiko

For a stylish timepiece that would suit your jewelry taste, the Seiko Ladies’ MOP Diamond Blue Bracelet is perfect. There is one authentic diamond at the twelve o’clock point, and it is water-resistant at 50 meters. This Seiko timepiece sports a real mother of pearl dial that’s also iridescent with silver-tone hands.

Fossil

Selling at under US$100, the Fossil Watch White Slim is classic for everyday wear. It features a polished stainless steel case and bracelet. With a mother of pearl dial and three-hand quartz movement, this piece includes date function.

Timex

Timex offers a huge variety of ladies’ timepieces in a wide range of designs. The Timex Women’s Black Leather Easy-Reader Indiglo Watch is a dress watch. There is a push-button glow in the dark light that can make you read the time even in the dark. With a round, gold-tone case and white face, this dress watch from Timex is water resistant up to 30 meters.

Swiss Army Watches

Swiss Army’s collection of functional watches includes a line of timepieces for women. With its functionality, the Swiss Army Women’s Victorinox Steel New Date Watch features a synthetic black case, screw in case back, a unidirectional rotating bezel and five jewels. Its battery should last a good 36 months. Date is displayed at 3 o’clock. This piece from Swiss Army features a stainless tell bracelet with a triple-locking safety clasp bearing diver extension.

Bulova

Bulova Ladies’ Diamond Gold-Tone MOP Bangle Watch is perfect for a casual Friday night affair. More than just a watch, this piece from Bulova looks more like a trendy bangle than a timepiece. With two diamonds and a white mother-of-pearl dial, this moisture-resistant timepiece for ladies is definitely worth its price tag.

Casio

Casual and comfy, Casio’s selection of ladies’ watches are perfect for a sporty look with a trendy flair. The Casio Atomic Watch White Baby-G Shock Waveceptor Strap goes with almost anything. This little time piece sells for under US$100.

DKNY

The DKNY’s line for ladies features both traditional and contemporary choices. A classic, clean chronograph watch, the DKNY NY4331, blends function with style. Along with stainless steel band and case, three-hand quartz analog movement and crystal detail on dial, this chic timepiece from DKNY is water resistant to 50 meters.

Fendi

Fendi Women’s Classico Watch (F705240D) is a classy dress watch with silver-tone luminous hands. Running on Swiss quartz movement, this particular Fendi watch has genuine diamond hour markers. Both band and case are made from polished stainless steel.

Citizen

Available in a broad array of designs and styles, Citizen’s ladies watches are great for any mood. They come in a wide range of prices. The Citizen Ladies’ Eco-Drive Ladies Stainless Steel Watch sells for under US$260.00. It comes with a unique bracelet design with Eco-Drive Technology. You will never have to replace the battery. With a 180-day power reserve, it’s definitely worth the price.

Omega

Water Resistant to about a hundred feet, the Omega constellation Ladies Stainless Steel Watch from the Cindy Crawford collection sports a White mother of pearl dial and a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective sap. Omega watches are expensive. These are timeless pieces that are as much an investment as they are great fashion accessories.