PADI Scuba Dive Skills, Experience, and Passion for Life!
PADI Scuba Dive Skills, Experience, and Passion for Life!
After testing out the Aqualite eLED PRO 100 dive lights on a couple dives, I created this review highlighting the features of the dive lights, the accessories that come along with it and then I included some footage of the dive lights in action with my GoPro Hero 4 at depths between 90-50ft in Turks & Caicos Islands.
Underwater Kinetics asked me, Mia Toose, to check out their new scuba dive lights and report back on my scuba diving blog, DiveWithMia.com on how they perform. I picked up the package today at FedEx in Turks & Caicos and filmed my first impressions.
Stay tuned for the actual test and review of the Aqualite eLED Pro wide angle dive photo light with three included camera mounts.
As a scuba dive instructor diving in various locations and on many occasions, having the additional responsibility to provide an underwater tour to paying customers on dive sites I had never been on, the concept of an Ocean-Map seems like a real blessing!
That being said, I feel like all of the thousands of dive maps I’ve drawn in my lifetime have been pretty damn decent….But, what if?
How many times have you attended a dive briefing and stared at the dive map that the divemaster has just drawn and struggled to translate that image to what it looks like in reality? Depending on your dive history, it could be a handful or even in the hundreds! As a scuba dive instructor, we learned how to give dive briefings and practiced drawing dive maps, but the reality is – artistic skills are not required to be a dive guide!
Now try to imagine yourself listening to a dive briefing, but this time, you’ve already checked out the dive map on your phone or tablet. However, this map will contain the intricate details of the underwater topography in 3D and colour. It lists the key features of the dive site and any obstacles to be aware of. In theory, it sounds a lot like those scribbled maps by divemasters, but it’s not. It’s way better. Like a million times better!
Dive Map drawn by Mia Toose aboard the Turks & Caicos Explorer II
VS.
Interactive 3D dive map created by Ocean-Maps for the shipwreck "Big Brother" in El Akhawein in the Red Sea
Ocean-Maps is the first company ever to map the ocean floor and turn them into 3D interactive maps geared specifically for the recreational scuba diving industry. Based in Austria, they explore, measure and scan using sonar, satellite and video data, to present the real underwater world within a highly interactive environment! Their goal is to help scuba divers around the world plan their dives more safely through the use of highly detailed underwater ocean maps.
Ocean-Maps initially started by providing their unique skill set and equipment to prepare these detailed maps to commercial businesses such as power and water sanitation plants who require exact knowledge of what lies under the surface.
They use a variety of methods to get a precise view under the water’s surface. Their tools include Side Scan Sonars, a depth plotter, a precision GPS and a diving robot that may be equipped with a claw arm if needed. The robot is able to take high resolution images and videos of the ground and collect samples as deep as 300 meters underwater. All tools are carefully selected, considering depth and other special project requirements. This way they are able to survey and visualise the hidden underwater world – without taking unneccessary risk, or leaving space for errors of human action or perception.
Ocean-Maps are able to provide exact measurement and mapping of all surfaces underwater. Including scanning building structures underwater (like reservoirs, in/and outlets, power plants, piers, dam walls, and shipwrecks).
Ocean-Maps wanted to take things further and work with the dive community to make these detailed and interactive ocean maps for scuba dive sites around the world. So far, the company has mapped dive sites in Germany and Austria as well as 120 dive sites in the Red Sea. They have just finished mapping the entire Florida Keys through to Miami and are releasing these maps this November 2016! Never before have the most beautiful diving areas been made available in such detail. Now scuba divers are able to visualize underwater obstacles, drop offs, wrecks, hot spots and detailed briefing information all before they get in the water. Ocean-Maps is targeting California and the Caribbean in the future.
Step 1:
Go to www.Ocean-Maps.com/Apps.html and download the App for free
Step 2:
There are In-App Purchases where you can buy certain reefs, or packages or you can buy the entire region. At the moment the company is considering implementing a subscription model where scuba divers can pay a certain amount each month and have access to everything. Would you be interested in this option?
The 3D dive cards can be purchased at various scuba diving retail shops as well as online at www.Ocean-Maps.com. If you know of any retailers who are interested in having the Ocean-Maps dive cards in their shop, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, so the company can reach out to them.
In all honesty, I think these Ocean-Maps will revolutionize dive planning for scuba divers everywhere; however I am curious if they will take the mystery out of diving. There is a sense of excitement at exploring the unknown, but will knowing all of the details take away from this excitement? Speaking from experience, I am going to say “no, it will not”. The reason I believe this is because of the feeling I get every time I go to a dive site that I have already dived sometimes hundreds of times before. Maybe I know the underwater topography like the back of my hand, but every time I go, there is something different and unique to see with the anticipation that a chance encounter with a rare species could happen!
I can’t wait to see what Ocean-Maps comes up with in the future and am looking forward to seeing how their products will improve safety in the scuba diving industry. Check it out for yourself at www.Ocean-Maps.com
I certainly remember the first time I put on a scuba diving mask and went for a dive in the ocean. I was in awe at all of the amazing creatures and wildlife and colours! However, if someone hadn’t told me some unusual ‘tricks’ on how to prepare my scuba mask before jumping in, my view beneath the sea would have been seen through a hazy fog. Now that I am an experienced scuba diving instructor with several thousands of dives, I am excited to pass down my knowledge of how to effectively defog your scuba mask! And as you know, your scuba mask is your window into this spectacular other world, so you will want to ensure that it is in top condition for 100% pure underwater enjoyment!
When you first buy a scuba mask, you will be so excited to try it out, you may even wear it in the bathtub! But – wait – you MUST prepare your mask before you jump in. The tempered glass in your scuba mask contains a layer of film from the manufacturing of the product that needs to be removed prior to being worn. You won’t be able to see or touch this film, but it will cause your scuba mask to be super foggy no matter how many defog products you use on it.
You may have heard of the traditional “toothpaste” method, but I like to do something I like to call: “The Enhanced Toothpaste Method”. It is a combination of burning your scuba mask with a lighter as well as using toothpaste. Most people are surprised when I make the suggestion of burning their scuba mask with fire, but when they see (literally!) the results, they are always happy and grateful!
With a lighter you can burn the residue from a new scuba mask lens.
In order to defog the mask effectively by burning it, I first ensure I am in a protected area away from wind. Next, I carefully hold the flame of the lighter to the inside glass area of the lens until it is all black. You will start to see the invisible film burning away from the heat of the lighter. It’s really neat! I am always very careful around the silicone skirt of the mask and I never hold the lighter to a scuba mask that has glued-on bi-focals or prescription lenses as I am worried the heat from the flame will affect the glue. Also, be careful of your thumb as the lighter gets very hot when you maintain the flame for more than just a second or two.
Now the lenses will be very hot, so after you burn the scuba mask, set it aside to let it cool off and don’t touch the hot lens. Just like any glassware, remember that any sudden change from very hot to very cold can cause the glass to shatter – be careful!
Your next step will be to take some toothpaste (not the gel kind) and with your finger dab some on both sides of the inside of the lenses. Rub the black from the burning around with the toothpaste thoroughly and then let it sit to dry. I usually wait an hour or two before I rinse it out; however, if you don’t have the time, just go ahead and rinse it right away; there’s a good chance it will still work.
Before diving, put your scuba mask under a tap and use water to rinse out the black from the burning and the toothpaste. You can use your fingernail to get around the skirt the touches the lens in case some of the black toothpaste seeped under there.
Put a blob of toothpaste (not the gel kind) onto the burn area and rub it around.
Before every scuba dive, you will need to do another type of defog; however, it won’t be as extensive as for a brand new scuba mask. The reason scuba masks get foggy is most often due to the warmth and oil on your skin reacting with the cold of the water and the air in between. Sunscreen and make-up also contribute to the likelihood of a foggy mask.
We call this very special form of defogging your scuba mask “Au Naturale” because our own body generates it all naturally in the form of saliva. That’s right – spit! This method of defogging your scuba mask is perfect because you do not need to buy any special concoction and it is safe for the environment. Although initially you may feel embarassed to spit into your mask, with practice, you can defog your mask using your own saliva in a discreet and effective manner. Very important! I found this method to work best when you spit into your mask when it is completely dry. If you take off your mask in the water and then spit into it, I found that it is very likely to become foggy during the dive. Remember – dry mask, spit, rub, rinse with water, put on your mask, and DIVE!
This is the type of defog you can buy at any scuba shop. There are a million different types, but they are basically all the same. If you would like to go this route, I recommend making sure it is safe for the reef and environmentally friendly. Usually scuba divers will put this inside their scuba mask, swish it around with their finger and then rinse and go! Divers tend to have a favourite brand and swear by it.
This is a very economical choice in the world of defogging your scuba mask. Many dive boats will carry an empty plastic water bottle container with a hole in the top and fill it about a quarter full of baby shampoo and the rest water. Even just a little bit of soapy water will be enough to defog your mask. Always remember to completely rinse your mask otherwise the residue soap will sting your eyes underwater – even the baby shampoo will cause some tears if you use too much!
I hope these tips and techniques allow you some fantastically clear lenses so you have the best possible view under the sea!
Happy Diving!
Matt Smith contacted me with an interest in sharing his writing piece on DiveWithMia, so I went ahead and checked out his work – I was impressed! He had written a great summary of underwater photography that would suit scuba divers keen on starting to document their underwater adventures. I liked the article and I also loved the infographic that came along with it!
Matt is a graduate in journalism with a passion for the underwater world just like the rest of us. He decided to combine his passions and has created a super cool website: WaterWelders.com where he does extensive research and interviews with commercial and recreational scuba divers around the world, telling their stories. Matt has a great respect for all divers and the work they do. Here is his awesome article on underwater photography tips for beginners:
SCUBA diving gives you an ocean of surrounding beauty; it’s an allure that begs to be captured with a camera, but underwater photography is an artform that takes time and experience to master. Beginners should learn the foundations of lighting, technique and equipment before attempting more advanced work with their cameras. It all starts with a willingness to learn. You’ll make mistakes, but the most common ones can be avoided with proper understanding. Here’s a fun underwater photography infographic that boils down some of the marine snapshot basics. Most of it is self-explanatory, but we’re going to look at several areas in more detail; working these approaches can make a “good” underwater picture even more beautiful.
Best Underwater Photography Tips for Beginners
Several options exist for underwater photography cameras, and each has its own set of pros and cons. Beginners might be tempted to work with a mobile device because of its convenience and simplicity. Though many mobile devices work great, their lens and flash capabilities are limited. Moving up the chain, compact cameras have additional value and settings. If you’re looking for something more professional, DSLR’s provide the most options and lens capabilities, but their price point may be high for some.
Strobes are a huge asset to underwater photographers, providing them with control over lighting direction and strength. Though natural light is best, it quickly dwindles the deeper you dive down. Look for strobes that are easily maneuverable and great for handling.
The closer, the better. The best underwater pictures are often taken from 6 – 12 inches away from subjects. Be aware of your subject’s behavior so as not to disturb it, but the more you can tighten your proximity, the more natural light and detail you’ll be able to capture.
The water gives you free range of movement – and perspective. Capture your subject from many angles, and experiment with lighting and contrast. Your ability to quickly ascend and descend gives you an advantage over topside photographers.
SCUBA divers must deal with backscatter when working their cameras. Small particles can crowd out an otherwise amazing shot. Use your flash appropriately, keeping an indirect light on your subjects to limit backscatter.
In time and with the right equipment, you can work wonders in underwater photography. It’s a beautiful world, and you can help raise awareness for environment and ecosystems with the photography that you capture. Spend some time with other media divers, learning the ins and outs of the industry. Keep practicing, and you’ll take your skill deeper than you ever thought possible!
Last week, inspired by some people asking me about my life and how I ended up where I am today, I posted my initial feature entitled: How did I get here? The Indirect and Complicated Route to Scuba Diving Happiness – Part 1. At the moment, I am spending time in the Turks and Caicos Islands while starting my own Truli Wetsuits business in Canada and almost every time I meet a tourist, they ask: ”So, how did you end up in Turks and Caicos?” There is a simple answer (I accepted a job offer as Purser on the scuba liveaboard Turks and Caicos Explorer II), but there’s also a way more interesting and convoluted answer which I’m having a lot of fun writing about. In my last post, I ended with me taking a job as an English Teacher in Tokyo, Japan upon graduating from university in Canada and now I will continue to tell my story of finding a way to try scuba diving and adventure on my first backpacker’s trip to The Philippines…
Now that I was unleashed on the big wide world as a Truli independent adult, I was determined to follow my passions and do what I had always wanted to do. 1. I wanted to travel and explore. 2. I wanted to try scuba diving. After working 6 months at the language school I was entitled to some vacation days. All the teachers would talk about their amazing adventures in Thailand and rave about the lovely culture, food, and fantastic shopping, but I didn’t want to do what everyone else was doing already. There was this free magazine for foreigners in Tokyo and there was a page that advertised all of the prices for travel and I noticed that the Philippines was pretty much the same airfare as Thailand. I decided I wanted to go to the Philippines. I went to the international bookstore and bought the Lonely Planet guidebook to the Philippines as well as the Frommer’s guide to South East Asia and started to study where was the best place to go scuba diving. Although the most famous places for scuba diving were advertised as Cebu Island and Boracay, I fell in love when I read about the island of Palawan in the south west side of the country. The guide book described this place as “The Last Frontier”. I booked my flight from Tokyo to Manila and then straight to Puerto Princesa on Palawan and back. I was feeling pretty nervous about this big adventure all on my own, but it was what I had always wanted and I felt like I finally had the opportunity to do something amazing and bold and I did not want to let that pass me by. But luckily for me, I think my enthusiasm inspired some excitement in my co-worker because just at the last minute she decided to join me on my trip! I was stoked!
People had warned me about Manila being super dangerous and I was quite anxious considering I didn’t really know what I was doing. I had booked one night in a little hostel near the airport before we flew the next day to the island, but we needed to call and confirm when we got there. But neither of us had any money or coins for the phone. We were standing by the phone trying to figure out what to do when a man who looked like he was in the military (they were all over the airport) and with a very large gun walked over to us. He generously offered us his phone card so we could use the phone. This was the first of hundreds of positive cross cultural encounters I would make in my life. Although I was still on edge of my new surroundings, the kindness of the “scary” stranger breathed some life and confidence into me as we hopped into a taxi to head to the hotel.
Palawan, The Philippines
Over the next week we took a Jeepney across the island, which fell off the road at one point. We paid some local guys to travel even further up island by water. They caught us some fish and put us up in a hut on a deserted island with no electricity. But more importantly, they lent me a scuba mask. This was the first time in my life that I swam in an ocean and looked beneath the surface to see the colourful wildlife below. I remember being absolutely enthralled. It’s interesting to think back to that moment and wonder if it relates to how much I love introducing people to scuba diving. I love that I am the one that gives others the opportunity to see all the amazing things below the surface of water.
Our final destination was El Nido, which is on the northern tip of Palawan. We arrived by boat and I faintly remember a light drizzle with rainbows as we arrived with a back drop of tall craggy cliffs jutting out of the ocean amongst the multitude of blue hues of the sea. We immediately signed up for a PADI Discover Scuba Diving course for first thing the next day. I was so elated that not only was I going to get to try scuba diving, but it was going to happen in this exotic little village in the South Pacific! The next morning we went to the dive shop and travelled by boat to a secluded white sandy beach on some island. There were three of us girls and one instructor. Besides my friend and I, the other woman was a Filipino from Manila who, much to my surprise, had never tried scuba diving. She told us her brothers were all instructors and she loved the water, but just never had the chance to go. I could totally relate, but couldn’t believe with all the beautiful waters that surround her country that she could wait
El Nido, Palawan, The Philippines
so long! Our instructor made us some lunch and then briefed us on the skills and dive we were about to do. We walked across the white sandy beach and into the ocean to do our “pool skills” and then we swam off together! I felt like a natural and was so excited to see a black and white sea snake! It looked so amazing as it slithered through the water column. I don’t think in all the diving I’ve done since then that I’ve seen anything like that again. So that was the day that opened a whole new world to me and started a journey that has taken me to where I am today!
We desperately wanted to stay longer in the village and do more scuba diving, but alas, I had very responsibly booked a return flight from the town all the way at the southern end of the island and needed another day of travel to get back there, so off we went. As soon as we got back to Tokyo, I was on a mission to figure out how to become a certified PADI Open Water diver as soon as possible, which you can read about in my next blog post!
I went out for a drink last week with some people who we had become friends with over on Long Bay Beach on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. We
Long Bay Beach, Provo, Turks and Caicos Islands
spend a large portion of our days over there escaping the relentless heat of our non-air conditioned house in the heat of July in the Caribbean. There you can always find some relief from the heat via the wind or a dip in the ocean. It’s only a 1 minute drive away. The beach has become famous for kiteboarding and most tourists visit at least once, fall in love with the soft sand, shallow calm waters, and decide to return again and again. After some casual chats about life on the island and about the Truli Wetsuits business I am starting up, this tourist began to probe me with questions about how I got to be where I was today. I realized that I have answered those questions quite a few times over the years and as time passes the stories seem to get more and more interesting. Life is not a smooth ride, but my determination to combine work with my passions has taken me all over the world and has challenged me in ways I never thought possible. I’m addicted to those challenges! And so it began…
Did you ever want something as a child that you weren’t able to have that followed you into adulthood? That was how scuba diving was with me.
I remember being a kid and wanting to learn to scuba dive so badly, but was never allowed to due to the cost it would entail especially if all 3 of us kids were to learn. Growing up in Canada we had the good fortune of spending summers at my grandmother’s cottage on a lovely clear lake where I learned the expression: “water-logged”. We swam in the lake, went fishing, canoeing, water-skiing, and even sailing. I loved to gaze into the water and imagine what was below. My curiosity was endless when it came to what lay beneath the surface of the water.
As I grew older, I often looked into things like scuba clubs, but while at university, I had other priorities that put the scuba diving on the backburner again and again. Instead I focused on non-profits and began my volunteer experience as the Trip Coordinator with Habitat for Humanity. I learned about leadership, fundraising, and having fun while doing something meaningful and it finally started to lead me on some unforgettable international adventures to builds in Jamaica and Costa Rica. Upon graduation from Wilfrid Laurier University at the age of 22 and with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language & Literature as well as a minor in Development & International Studies, I packed up my bags for a dream-come-true-first-real-job adventure in the vast metropolis of Tokyo, Japan. I was a brand spanking new English Teacher at a conversational school in a city of 13 million or so people who spoke a language I knew nothing about. I had never even eaten sushi before or been on an airplane beyond Costa Rica. I’ll never forget how I felt when my dad dropped me off at the airport in Toronto for my flight to Tokyo. I had no idea what I was doing having never been to an airport by myself before let alone travelling across the world alone for a new job.
As strange as it might seem, Tokyo, Japan is where my scuba life began!
In my next blog post, I will write about the first time I tried scuba diving while on my first backpackers trip to the Philippines!
As many of you know I was working on the Explorer Ventures scuba dive liveaboard in the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2014-2015 and if you haven’t already done so (or know so), scuba liveaboards are the way to go in the world of scuba diving! The Turks and Caicos Explorer II is a 125ft vessel that hosts a maximum of 20 scuba divers on 1 week trips where they eat, sleep, and scuba dive 5 times a day. My job as both Dive Instructor and Purser on the ship was to assist divers in and out of the water 5 times a day (among a zillion other things!).
I did the math the other day and determined that on average, I assisted with and witnessed 540 boat dive entries a week (27 dives/week x 20 divers). I also worked blocks of 12 weeks in a row, which equals 6 480 scuba dive entries every 3 month period! On that note, I would like to declare myself an expert in the field of scuba dive entries!
You may think that entering the water from a boat as a scuba diver is pretty straight forward; however, I would like to admit that I have seen some pretty interesting and non-traditional entries on a regular basis. In this blog I’ve decided to outline the most common types of entries as well as the ones that make me laugh on a daily basis. Have I mentioned I love my job?
Perhaps a mini-briefing on scuba dive entries before I dive right in to the good stuff, which will be a great refresher for those who haven’t been in the water for awhile. Depending on the type of boat you are using there are a variety of methods to get into the water and enjoy your dive. Always inquire from your divemaster and/or captain as to the method that is used for each vessel. During the PADI Open Water course you learn two types and possibly others depending on the region or conditions you are learning in. One is called the Controlled Seated Entry, where you are sitting geared up on the edge of a platform (like a dock or edge of a boat) with your fins on your feet as they dangle in the water. Then you twist your body to one side and place both hands on the edge next to you. After that you simply need to continue to turn your body as you push away from the platform. Although we teach this method and, in my opinion, it seems like a safe and easy method of entry, I can’t say I’ve really seen anyone use it outside of the training. Not sure why…
The other method of entry we teach in the course and is the most common scuba dive entry I’ve seen, is called the Giant Stride Entry. With all of your gear on, including fins, mask and regulator in your mouth, you take the palm of your hand (usually the right hand) and put it on your regulator while your fingers are on your mask. This helps hold them in place when you hit the water. Your other hand can do one of three things depending on you and your situation. Originally you were told to hold the buckle of your weight belt, to avoid it from opening upon impact with the water. But these days, most people are using integrated weights, so it isn’t necessary. Instead, what many of those divers do is gather their console and alternate and hold those with their other hand. This avoids the potential for a dangling hose to be caught on something on the boat while you are dropping into the water. The third option is what I recommend as I see masks slipping off all the time. You should take your other hand and hold the back of your mask strap so it doesn’t slip off and you lose your mask once you hit the water.
Okay, so we’ve got one hand holding your regulator and mask in place and the other holding the back of your mask strap (or your weight belt, or your gauge), now you need to look straight out towards the horizon (try not to look down once you have checked that the area is clear). When you are ready, you just need to take a step and you will have completed the Giant Stride Entry! We tend to move in the direction we are looking, so by looking out at the horizon, you will step far enough away from the boat not to hit the back of your tank on the boat. Don’t forget to signal to the boat that you are okay by putting your fist on your head or giving the okay sign with your hand.
This is a fantastic example of a Giant Stride Entry off of the Turks and Caicos Explorer II in 2014.
West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
Okay, so now you know the standard, but what I really wanted to talk about here today are the out of the ordinary, extraordinary, where-did-they-come-up-with-that-technique, styles that I have put into 4 categories. I’m not sure where these have evolved from, but I think they are ultimately the result of each scuba diver’s unique individual style…or lack of coordination! Either way, they have provided me with an endless amount of amusement throughout my days on the boat! For each scuba dive entry, I will rate it with a Splash Factor between 1 (not much splash) and 5 (big splash!).
The first scuba dive entry I’d like to talk about is my favourite. According to The Torpedo-ites, this style seems to have come about due to scuba diving in locations that have a significant drop between the platform and the water and/or a negative entry was required. To perform this entry, the scuba diver approaches his exit point, steps off the platform and brings both feet together in one smooth action resulting in a streamlined entry like a torpedo plummeting straight into the water. This tends to be a very clean and tidy entry with no flailing arms and dangling gear. The Splash Factor is a 2!
West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
Photo taken from the Air Guitar World Championships
Guitar Hero
This type of scuba dive entry is super fun. I’ve only ever seen men do it and it is reminiscent of those guys in your life who totally wish they were rock stars. You know the types – they are the ones who are playing the air guitar like there’s no tomorrow. Technically speaking, they are performing The Giant Stride Entry just as it says to do in the text book, but these guys have simply added some style. They lift their leg just a little bit higher and reach for the stars as they leap from the vessel probably with some rockin’ AC/DC or Dire Straits internal playlist happening in their heads. I’ll never forget the first one I ever saw by Mike Swisher and then more recently from Tim Tetlow! Rock On Scuba Divers!!! The Splash Factor is a 3!
West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
This is one of those scuba dive entries that is so strange and unusual that the first time I ever saw it, I thought it was one of those once in a lifetime happenings. I remember genuinely enjoying the show and shaking my head in wonder at all the funtastic things I get to see in my job. But low and behold, The Froggy seems to be some strange, but common scuba dive entry. Let me try to explain how one goes about doing this entry. The diver will prepare himself as usual; approach the platform wearing fins, mask, regulator in mouth; and when they are ready and it is clear they will bend at the knee and spring up and outward bringing both legs up towards their chest as they jump out. I feel fortunate that I was able to snap this fab photo because this is definitely the type of scuba dive entry that you need to see to believe it. The Splash Factor is a 5!
West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
The Free-Style category is an anything goes division in the rating of scuba dive entries. Some divers tend to be performers. They like the attention and want to try things a little out of the ordinary and always with a touch of shock value added to the list. I remember watching anxiously as this young girl did a flip in the air from the edge of the boat to the water wearing all of her dive gear. I do not recommend that at all as it looked just like an accident waiting to happen! I also remember this fantastic little bearded Russian man who would gently fall into the water like a tree that had just been cut down. He’d rotate slightly in a log roll so he’d hit the water just right. I wanted to yell “TIMBER!” every time he went for his dives. We also had the pleasure of hosting Dave Smith and his dive shop, Blue Horizons Dive Center in Pennsylvania. Dave is a performer too! I was able to capture him doing an awesome cannon ball as his entry into the deep blue sea. The Splash Factor is almost always a 5 for a Freestyler!
West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
So, what have we learned here? There are a number of takes on the traditional Giant Stride Entry. As long as you are safe, the added style to each entry will generate giggles from your divemasters and dive buddies. My personal favourite is to jump in and put my fins on while I’m underwater already. I love the gentle free fall on my toes! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these or any other scuba dive entries! Happy Hopping!
GoPro Hero 3
This week I bought my first underwater camera, which is the GoPro Hero 3 with all kinds of assorted add-ons including filters and a macro lens (I didn’t know GoPros had macro lenses!). With my travels about to begin again, I sadly depart some beloved and talented dive buddies who have been so kind in sharing their incredible underwater photos on my website. I recognized the need for me to possess a scuba dive camera that will be suitable (and affordable) as a compact travel companion able to document in HD quality the wonders of the ocean in photo as well as video. That being said, although this is my first purchased camera, I do have some considerable exposure and experience to the art of underwater photography via my 1 year stint aboard the AquaCat scuba dive liveaboard in The Bahamas not to mention that photography class I took in high school (actually it helped a lot!).
Working on the liveaboard, I was responsible for shooting, editing, and displaying a photo CD for passengers to purchase. The vessel provided all of the equipment (Nikon D80 SLR camera along with Ikelite housing and strobes) and I had some valuable insights from the talents of Captain Ron McCaslin whose underwater photography experience extended from the pre-digital age when photographs were taken with film and developed on the boat during the weekly trips. How impressive! He’s the one that taught me to “avoid the wave” when taking photos of divers. Waving is great for video, but a no-no in underwater photography. I also had the opportunity to be advised by the super proficiency of Aleks Bartnicka who has been able to capture some of the most alluring and award-winning images I’ve seen to date. In addition to my own personal training, I also paid special attention to the intense photographic fanaticism from the passengers. At an average of 22 passengers each week over a year, that’s a lot of underwater photography lovers!
These days, virtually all scuba divers have entered into the realm of underwater photography. With the advances in technology, underwater photography has been made much more accessible and the ability to produce quality photos even by non-professionals is within reach. However, in spite of all this, the act of actually capturing those utterly illusive moments in nature is immensely challenging, highly addictive, and damn hard! And if you are successful in capturing that moment and also are able to somehow portray the marine animal as possessing human-like characteristics, well, that’s just…Magic!
How about a bigger challenge or maybe you are interested in dipping your toe (fin?!) into unchartered waters? I would suggest you start taking some underwater photos of your scuba diver buddies!
I find it interesting that despite the fact that these days there are so many enthusiastic underwater photographers, there seems to be a lack of underwater photos of scuba divers. Even more so because who doesn’t want a photo of themselves doing such a cool thing like scuba diving?!
Thinking about my own personal experiences of taking photos of the passengers on the liveaboard and of attempting to be an underwater scuba diver super model, I can see two main reasons why scuba diver portraits are not in the mainstream of underwater photography.
La Sirenita, Cabo Pulmo, Mexico
First and foremost, it is virtually impossible to take an underwater “selfie”. Well, not impossible, but depending on your camera, it’s not as easy as on the surface to reach around and press “click”. Those buttons on underwater camera housings require a good and steady push in order to capture those magic underwater moments. My fingers don’t always bend that way.
The other main reason I see as to why there isn’t an abundance of underwater scuba diver portraits lies in the fact that if we can’t take a selfie, we’ll need to get someone to take our picture for us. That means either convincing our dive buddy to devote his entire underwater time to being our personal photographer or hiring a professional. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t have a lot of scuba dive buddies who are interested in doing that!
While working on the liveaboard, I was aptly advised to take as many photos of the passengers themselves for exactly that reason. Finally these divers would be given the opportunity to possess photos of them while they keenly chased after turtles, rays, and colourful fish with their own cameras. And for me, well, I certainly had some…let’s just say “interesting” experiences that taught me a thing or two about underwater scuba diver portraits that may be of interest to you if you are venturing into this challenging avenue of photography.
It’s funny when you think about it for a moment, as a scuba diver diving underwater one can feel so…angelic…floating and feeling so effortless.
Buoyancy – Gone. When you point a camera at a diver, they will most definitely float, sink, stir up dust, bump into overhangs. Suddenly they have no sense whatsoever of what their bodies are doing! I’ve seen it all.
Your best bet is to prep your underwater model before the dive. Tell them how you would like to see them and how you will communicate with them so that you can get the shot you are looking for. For example, I always want to take photos of scuba divers and a cool animal underwater. It’s so frustrating to have a scuba diver there looking at the animal and not taking a moment to look up and into the camera for that awesome waiting shot. The best positions for your underwater model will be in a horizontal pose, fins behind, all gear streamlined (i.e. nothing dangling) and either arms crossed or wide open depending on what you want to convey. Tell your underwater model to pay attention to their buoyancy during photo taking and to be aware of their body positioning. If you’ve mastered the art of positioning, you should then take it to the next level and ensure that with every scuba diver portrait there is a nice marine animal with him or her in the photo. Take a look at this awesome photo of myself in my early days of diving while on a scuba adventure in The Maldives. Can you say “Awkward”!!?? The next one is of a very talented diver who seemed to immediately strike some awkward pose as soon as the camera was pointed in his direction (wasn’t there a Friends episode about this with Chandler??!!). I’ve also included one of my favourite scuba diver portraits I took of the lovely Laura who enjoyed the groupers on The Austin Smith wreck in The Bahamas.
Kandooma, South Male Atoll, Maldives
Danger Reef, Exumas, The Bahamas
The Austin Smith Wreck, Exumas, The Bahamas
Facial expressions – Blank. The wonder and amazement that we express when we are out of the water often evaporate. It’s as if the diver feels the mask and regulator is hiding their face, but in fact the mask and eyes are what draw us into a solid scuba diver portrait! I once showed a non-diver friend some of my photos and he remarked, “Wow, those scuba dive masks sure don’t make a person look attractive, do they?” I beg to differ, but I could be biased in thinking that any piece of scuba dive equipment is sexy…
I always tell my divers to smile with their eyes and/or to think of something funny and it definitely makes a big difference. Tell your model to smile even with the regulator in their mouth because it will be reflected in their eyes. If the diver feels comfortable, they can even remove the regulator from their mouth for a nice natural smile, but be sure to advise the model to point the mouthpiece of the regulator down so bubbles don’t free-flow and ruin the photo. I also really think that scuba dive masks with the clear skirt make better facial portraits than the dark ones, but I think that’s just a matter of opinion. Look at the differences in these photos. The contentment in the eyes of Thiago on the left completely draws you into the photo whereas the blank stare from the woman on the right creates a stale, uninviting photo despite the excitement of the sharks!
Danger Reef, Exumas, The Bahamas
Split Coral Head, Eleuthera, The Bahamas
Enter Mr/Mrs Bubble-Face. As we all know, the number one rule of scuba diving is to never hold your breath, but an awareness of your breathing is essential in underwater scuba diver portrait photography. And timing your breaths with the taking of a photo is vital to avoid the inevitable bubble-face syndrome! Again, just communicate with your underwater model prior to the dive and remind them to time their breathing. This photo of me was taken during my PADI Open Water Diver course in Guam and take a look at this funny photo of a scuba diver I took during a shark feed dive in The Bahamas. One breath of bubbles can make or break a photo!
Mia's PADI Open Water Diver course in Guam 2001
Split Coral Head, Eleuthera, The Bahamas
Here Comes The Sun. This is the easiest mistake to fix and it’s the same on land so nothing really technical about this one. Simply an awareness of where the sun is will enable you to create a great photo even without strobes. The sun should always always always be at the photographer’s back. It’s helpful if your model also knows this simple rule, so that he/she may position themselves in the appropriate location. Take a look at this photo our dive guide took of Justin and me on Justin’s PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience on my latest trip to Mexico. Could have been a lovely portrait, but the light behind us created shadows right across the most important part of a scuba diver portrait – the eyes! I think we were too excited about his first dive to pay attention to where the sun was!
La Sirenita, Cabo Pulmo, Mexico
Recently I had the opportunity to view some incredible photos by some former scuba dive colleagues of mine who are now working and living in Curacao. Leticia Duran and Arne Richter own and operate Turtle and Ray Productions over there and ran an incredible photo shoot with Erin R of A Munchkin Abroad. I really hope to see more of these types of photos from them in the future!
Turtle&Ray Productions, Curacao
On that note, I look forward to seeing some new and improved underwater scuba diver portraits! I really do love those beautiful underwater creatures, but why not explore a new challenge and snap some shots of your buddy! Send me your favourite underwater scuba diver portraits! I want to see them!
What is the image of scuba diving today? Looking at campaigns recruiting the younger generation it reminds me of an old guy putting on “hip” clothes and trying to act like he’s young again with the end result being the people not really wanting to be affiliated with him.
Like many sports, and thanks to the “Old Guys’ Club”, diving has historically been gender-biased, reeking of machismo and exclusivity. This attitude towards the sport, which may have been generated by the old school navy origins of diving, still has some surprising remnants existing in what I would consider a pretty progressive and forward thinking society. For example, have you ever been around scuba divers and heard (like I have) them use such expressions as “Be a Man”, “Don’t be a pussy”, “Put Your Big Girl Panties On”, or for example, the heading used in the Men’s Health magazine article on scuba diving (if anyone can find a link to this article that would be so appreciated) and promoted at the PADI Member Forum 2014 in Victoria, BC, Canada by PADI Canada Regional Manger Randy Giles on January 22nd, 2014: [the diving industry is] “A Man’s World”? I’ve even heard of DEMA shows where female employees weren’t invited and male employees were given cash for strip shows and lap dances.
Sylvia Earle: Legendary Scuba Diver
No wonder the dive industry’s style department has only recently been pushed to the forefront. Female scuba divers’ only option has been to push through and fit their lovely bodies into dive suits that made them look like men, so that they could do the sport they loved. I imagine a scuba diver back then who expressed any interest in style or fashion (male or female) would have been castrated…Sylvia Earle remains every water woman’s hero for the incredible contributions she has done to ocean research in addition to have survived through all of that nonsense!
Now, that’s definitely not to say all scuba divers are like that – quite the contrary. Today things are changing as equipment manufacturers are starting to recognize that females make up a larger percentage of the diving industry (34% in 2012 according to the PADI Worldwide Corporate Statistics for 2007-2012). Industry leaders are beginning to create gear and marketing campaigns specifically for women.
The items on offer are totally unappealing and even lingering on (dare I say it??) sexist. Simply adding the colour pink or swirls and flowers feels condescending and doesn’t reflect my personality and style. Why aren’t there still any other options? I wonder if I’m alone in my opinions on this one.
Is this image of an unstylish, gender-biased dive industry all just in my head? Looking back at my career as a professional dive instructor serving recreational divers in hotels, on charter yachts, in dive shops, and in private lessons, here’s what I’ve observed about people who dive.
First and foremost, all scuba divers are incredibly passionate about the underwater world. I’ve taught diving to fantastically excited Arab women in private women-only swimming pools in Dubai, enjoyed underwater adventures with determined male and female divers in their 80s, and communicated emphatically with non-English speaking Italians about the most amazing dive we had just done together. The passion and enthusiasm in scuba divers is evident, not to mention contagious!
Divers are wildly (or sometimes timidly) adventurous. They are curious people who enjoy feeling the thrill of exposing themselves to a vastly different environment. Many love swimming out to the deep blue to hover in the water column without the bottom or surface in sight and be humbled by the great space that exists down there. Others are fascinated by the enormous number of animals both large and small to be seen and the excitement of chance encounters that render the diver feeling like they’ve just won the ultimate jackpot. Whether they’re diving the same lake or reef each time, or they’re traveling to the far corners of the world, desire to explore is a common thread among all.
Divers are social people. Dive shops are always a hub of activity and function as a place to gather and to talk diving (which divers LOVE to do!). Oftentimes, small bars and cafes will pop up inside a dive shop as divers enjoy a cup of coffee before their first dive of the day, and then of course the “post-dive beer alongside log book signing” is almost a mandatory part of scuba diving. Dive professionals become immediate friends, ready to provide a valuable source of information, and usually some of the coolest people on the planet.
Some of you may know that I’ve been working on a business idea for a women’s wetsuit, researching the market and paying particular attention to the scuba diver persona along with his/her lifestyle. What I’ve noticed is a huge disconnect in how they are represented by diving brands around the world.
The dive industry really started to gain momentum in the 1970s, cultivated primarily by men. It was defined BY them and designed specifically FOR them and as decades went on, these pioneers of scuba diving aged, leaving old guys with big beer bellies, a legacy of dated attitudes, a misrepresentation of who scuba divers really are, and an overall dowdy image of the sport.
This may be a bold move, but I’d like to make a request -
My goal is to give a voice to all scuba divers from around the world of all ages, genders, and various cultural and economic backgrounds on this topic in order to determine the following hypotheses with solid concrete evidence:
I want to hear from you – women, men, young, old, beginner and expert! Please let me know what you think about the image of scuba diving today and if you feel you are being accurately represented. Just drop me a personal email or leave a message on the DiveWithMia Facebook page. Your feedback and that of your scuba diving friends is absolutely invaluable, so please share widely.
Yours truly,
Mia Toose