Articles

Anilao Blackwater Diving – Season II

It really is an unusual way to spend an evening — less of a night dive and more of a nocturnal sojourn into another world.This is Anilao blackwater diving, where you descend into the dark waters of Balayan Bay to witness creatures few divers …

SEACAM 160D Strobe Review

The $2000 Tripod LessonThere’s an old joke in the landscape photography community: How do you end up with a $2000 tripod?You start with a $200 one. Upgrade to a $300 model when the first drives you crazy. Buy a $500 version thinking you’ve …

Where to Dive in the Solomons

Maravagi Bay – From Above…Located at the eastern tip of the renowned Coral Triangle, the Solomon Islands stretch across a long chain of beautiful tropical islands. That are surrounded by the deep trenches of the Pacific Ocean to the …

CCR Training – Crossing the Rubicon

CCR Training… After decades of diving open circuit and thousands of hours underwater with scuba tanks, I finally decided to cross the line that divides recreational diving from full-on technical diving: rebreathers.Closed-Circuit …

Diving on Air at Bikini Atoll

Divers on the USS AndersonDiving on Air at Bikini Atoll… With any adventure, there’s almost always a pivotal moment when the hypothetical meets the reality.And the full magnitude of what you are trying to do becomes apparent.At …

Try CCR – Should You Go There?

Try CCR… If you had asked me just three years ago whether I would ever consider spending five figures on a rebreather, my response would have been a resounding no. Back then, I had no idea how they worked, saw no need for one. And frankly …

Diving Technically in the Solomon Islands

2024 was my first full year of diving technically and it involved a lot of learning. Some not insignificant “investment” (expenditure…) in new equipment and a whole new mindset around the preparation for a trip!I had planned the year carefully …

Diving Papatura – A Real Gem!

Diving Papatura – a Solomon Island’s Gem… It’s a romantic notion most of us have, but very few realise. Find an island paradise, far from the modern world. And then transform it into a desert island dream and live off the grid, …

Understanding Conservation in Raja Ampat – Part 1: Mark Erdmann

Understanding Conservation in Raja Ampat… In just over 20 years Raja Ampat, the “Four Kings” of Indonesia’s remote West Papua province, has evolved from an almost unknown location into one of the world’s most sought-after tropical …

Diving Bikini Atoll – It’s Complicated

Commodore Ben Wyatt addressing people of Bikini Atoll – Courtesy of WikiCommons Diving Bikini Atoll… How do you tell 167 men, women, and children that their island home, which had always provided for all their basic needs, is going to be …

Solomon Islands WWII Wrecks

Diving the Solomon Islands WWII Wrecks… Located at the eastern tip of the renowned Coral Triangle, the Solomon Islands consists of a long string of beautiful tropical islands, which are surrounded by the deep trenches and basins of the vast …

Diving Baja California

Diving Baja California… Bounded to the north by the US state of California, to the west by the Pacific Ocean. And to the east by the Sea of Cortez, the long and narrow Baja California peninsula is one of Mexico’s most visually spectacular and …