A good dive computer should make it easier to pay attention to the dive. You want to check your depth, understand your remaining no-decompression time and get back to watching the reef. The best choice depends on how you dive, how easily you can read the screen and which features you will actually use.

For recreational divers who want a large colour display and the option to add tank-pressure monitoring, the Shearwater Peregrine TX is our leading pick in this shortlist. The regular Peregrine costs less if you do not need those extras. For a simpler entry-level option, consider the Mares Puck 4; for a watch that also handles training on land, consider the Garmin Descent G2.

This is a research-based buying guide, using manufacturer specifications and regional price checks. We have not conducted a comparative underwater test of these six computers. Recommendations reflect their documented capabilities and the trade-offs those create for different divers, rather than claimed hands-on scores.

The quick comparison

The prices below are manufacturer reference prices observed during research, not calculated market averages or Amazon prices. Europe is represented by France in euros; these figures do not represent every European country. US sales tax, delivery and any cross-border costs can change the final comparison. Check the final tax-inclusive total for your delivery address. Computers are listed without optional pressure transmitters.

Price sources: Mares US / France; Peregrine US / France; Garmin US / France; Peregrine TX US / France; Tern TX US / France; Perdix 3 US / France.

The Mares black/aqua variant was marked out of stock on both manufacturer pages. Its displayed price is a reference, not evidence of immediate availability. Garmin prices were checked for the Paloma/Shell Pink version. Promotions and colours may affect the offer.

1. Shearwater Peregrine TX: our pick for a dedicated recreational computer

The Peregrine TX combines a 2.2-inch colour LCD with a digital compass and optional wireless tank-pressure monitoring. Its rechargeable battery is rated for up to 30 hours at medium brightness. Air, nitrox and three-gas nitrox modes cover a broad range of sport-diving needs; this is not a trimix computer. Manufacturer specifications.

Why choose it: you want a dedicated instrument with a generous screen, and you may add a transmitter later. That makes it a particularly sensible shortlist candidate for someone building their own recreational equipment setup.

Why skip it: you want an everyday sports watch, or you already know your training will require trimix. Also remember that “air integrated” means compatible with a transmitter; the base computer price does not include one.

Our buying judgement: choose it over the regular Peregrine when the compass and future tank-pressure option are worth paying for. Do not buy the TX purely because its name sounds more advanced.

2. Shearwater Peregrine: spend on the screen, save on the extras

The regular Peregrine offers a large colour display, two-button operation, rechargeable power and air/nitrox functionality. It lacks the TX model’s wireless pressure integration and digital compass. Manufacturer specifications.

Why choose it: you want the benefits of a large display and are happy checking a separate pressure gauge and compass. For that diver, paying more for unused wireless features adds little value.

Why skip it: tank pressure on your wrist is already on your wish list. The regular Peregrine cannot acquire that capability simply by buying a transmitter later.

At the reference prices above, the TX premium is $180 in the US or €210 in France, before buying a transmitter. That is the real decision: save that money now, or pay for the capability you expect to use.

3. Mares Puck 4: a practical entry-level option, especially at the European price

The Puck 4 uses Bühlmann ZH-L16C with adjustable gradient factors, supports up to three gases and includes Bluetooth for downloading dives. A user-replaceable CR2450 battery avoids carrying a charging cradle. Operation uses a single button and a segment display. Mares specifications.

Why choose it: you want an uncomplicated air/nitrox instrument and can comfortably read this style of screen. Its French reference price makes it the least expensive option in this shortlist.

Why skip it: you want a bright colour display or dislike cycling through menus with one button. Try setting a nitrox mix and finding the logbook before deciding that fewer buttons means easier operation.

The US reference price deserves a closer look: it is only about $142 below the Peregrine. At that difference, compare the displays in person. The Puck 4’s value proposition is much stronger at €279 than the US list price alone might suggest.

4. Garmin Descent G2: for divers who will also use the sports features

The Descent G2 combines a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, diving modes, a dive compass and extensive sports functions. Garmin specifies up to 27 hours in dive mode. Its documented gas support includes trimix, but it does not offer wireless tank-pressure integration. Garmin product information.

Why choose it: running, cycling or other training is already part of your week, and you want those activities and your dives handled by one watch.

Why skip it: your priorities are a larger underwater display and tank pressure on your wrist. Buying a G2 and later deciding you need a transmitter means reconsidering the computer itself.

Our buying judgement: its appeal depends on what happens between dive trips. If you will use the sports functions most days, they add meaningful value. If the watch will sit in your dive bag, compare dedicated computers first.

5. Shearwater Tern TX: compact format with a transmitter option

The Tern TX offers a 1.3-inch AMOLED display, a digital compass, optional wireless pressure integration and a freediving mode. Shearwater rates battery life at up to 20 hours at medium brightness. Its case is 50 mm across, so “compact” remains relative. Manufacturer specifications.

Why choose it: you prefer a round, watch-style dive computer and want the option of wireless tank-pressure monitoring.

Why skip it: you struggle with small numbers, or expect a complete multisport training platform. Its main appeal is the diving package in a smaller format.

Compared with the Peregrine TX, the reference premium is just $45 or €10. The choice should therefore be about fit and readability more than price. Try both at normal wrist distance while wearing your mask. A display that looks beautiful close to your face may be less useful when you are holding a camera or signalling to your buddy.

6. Shearwater Perdix 3: when technical capability is a real requirement

The current Perdix 3 has a 2.4-inch AMOLED display, trimix and fixed-PO2 closed-circuit/bailout modes, a digital compass and support for four pressure transmitters. It uses a replaceable AA battery; the supported battery type affects both endurance and vibration availability. Manufacturer specifications.

Why choose it: technical training or an established technical configuration gives you a clear reason to need these modes. Select it with your instructor and equipment configuration in mind.

Why skip it: your planned diving is recreational air/nitrox and you mainly want an easy-to-read screen. Less expensive computers already address that requirement.

Our buying judgement: this is a specialist selection, not an automatic upgrade for every experienced diver. A technical feature list is useful only when it matches your training, procedures and backup plan. Its inclusion also matters when comparing older reviews: check whether an offer is for a Perdix 2 or a Perdix 3.

What about the Suunto Ocean?

The Ocean is another relevant option for divers wanting a sports watch with optional tank-pressure monitoring. Suunto documents a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen and up to 60 hours of diving endurance, depending on settings. Its underwater route display is a post-dive review feature, not a promise of live underwater GPS navigation. Suunto specifications.

The US store displayed an Ocean All Black offer at $799, against a $899 regular price, and a separate Ocean/Tank POD bundle at $999 during research. We could not independently establish its current French price, so it is outside the main two-market price table. It remains worth comparing if everyday sports tracking and a transmitter are both priorities.

The hidden cost: adding tank-pressure monitoring

Compare complete setups, not just the computer’s headline price. For example, Shearwater listed the standard Swift transmitter at $400 in the US and €450 in France. These are separate-purchase prices; bundles may be cheaper. Sources: US transmitter collection and French Swift listing.

These totals are arithmetic sums of the separately listed products, not observed bundle offers. Additional transmitters increase the total. Check the exact compatible transmitter rather than assuming all wireless systems work together.

If you usually rent regulators, ask your operator about fitting a transmitter before paying for one. If you own your regulator and dive regularly, the convenience may be much more compelling.

How to choose for the dives you actually do

First computer or occasional dive holidays

Start by trying the Puck 4 and Peregrine display styles. Ask to change the gas setting, read the main dive screen and find the battery indicator. Choose the interface you understand and can read comfortably. Put the remaining budget toward the diving and training you want to do.

A week of diving from a liveaboard

Think about charging arrangements, the availability of spare batteries and how you will read the screen during repeated dives. Bring the correct charger or approved replacement battery. Manufacturer maximum endurance figures are not guarantees for your brightness settings and usage.

Photography, thick gloves or difficulty reading small text

Test the computer while wearing your mask and gloves, with your arm in its normal position. Try pressing the controls without looking down at them. Display size is a useful starting point, but the layout and your own eyesight decide whether it works for you.

Diving and training on land

Look closely at the G2 and Ocean. An everyday watch earns its price through frequent use outside the water. A dedicated dive instrument is easier to justify when diving is its main job.

Technical training

Discuss the required modes, gas handling, decompression settings and redundancy with your instructor before buying. A high depth rating alone does not make a computer appropriate for every technical configuration.

Buying through Amazon: check the exact listing

Compare the seller, exact model, included accessories and return conditions. In particular, confirm whether the listing is computer-only or includes a transmitter. Search results can mix the Peregrine with the Peregrine TX, and the Tern with the Tern TX.

The links below open model searches, not verified individual product offers. Availability, seller authorisation and delivery eligibility must be checked on the resulting listing.

Our verdict

Start with the Peregrine TX if you want a dedicated recreational computer with a large screen and a future transmitter option. Choose the Peregrine if you prefer to keep a separate pressure gauge and compass and save the difference. Consider the Puck 4 for a simpler entry-level purchase, particularly at its European reference price.

The G2 makes most sense when you will use its sports functions between trips; the Tern TX suits divers who prioritise a smaller format with air integration. Choose the Perdix 3 when your technical diving requirements justify it.

Before ordering, try to borrow or handle your two finalists. The most useful comparison is often whether you can immediately read and operate each one with your own mask, gloves and equipment.

Which computer do you use, and what would you change? Share your model, the type of diving you do and one feature you find especially useful in the comments.

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My online research led me to discover the Salty Endeavors Diving Club and I got to admit… they had me on the hook just with the club’s name. Let me explain… as someone that lives in a country better known for maple syrup, mountains and cold winters but who, deep in her soul, is drawn to the seaside, long travels and boat rides, I very often say “Stay Salty!”. Indeed, that’s my salty endeavour… to keep this traveller and beach girl mindset even while living a different, yet awesome, reality here up north! Anyway… Salty Endeavors is much more than their names, and it will be my pleasure to introduce you to them while I tell this tale of two wonderful dives.

Planning your diving day

First things first, setting up the diving day with the club was a breeze, and that’s precious as you feel safe and organized from the very beginning! Their website is very thorough, and they link you to everything you need to know if – like me – you reach out through email to plan your dive day with them. If you are staying on Cozumel, they will tell you where they can pick you up and if you are staying on the Mayan Riviera (Yucatan peninsula’s coast) you will arrive on the island by ferry and they pick you up at the next pier! A breeze, really! Should you have to take a class before the dives, either Discovery Scuba or because you are getting your diving certification, hop in a taxi from the ferry terminal and get to their office, which is located more inland. Easy!

A little more on the Discover Scuba Class with Salty Endeavors

You will spend about 45 min in class, learning the very basics of scuba diving such as equalizing your ears, the signs to communicate underwater and how to swim efficiently wearing scuba gear. The instructor will show you all the equipment as well as how it works and demonstrate ways of kicking your fins, finding your breathing rhythm and much more. It might feel like a lot to take in in such a short time, but this all gets easier as you hop in the training pool, with your scuba gear on, to try your new skills. Salty Endeavors have their own training pool, so you get to start practicing right after class and get advice from the instructor as you make your first bubbles in a safe and confined space.

Diving on Cozumel

Just across the water from Playa Del Carmen, on the Mayan Riviera, the Isla Cozumel is a scuba diving paradise as it is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. In fact, this reef system is the second largest in the world, with the first being the well-known Great Barrier Reef. The Mesoamerican Reef extends from the Yucatan Peninsula to the coast of Honduras, more or less.

The dive sites of Cozumel are mostly located on the southern end of the island, boasting clear waters and plenty of walls to explore. The two dive sites we went on to explore onboard the Mental Floss’s boat (they still have to explain this name haha ) with Salty Endeavors were both located along this coast. We took off from one of the small piers next to the ferry’s pier and went straight to the farthest of the two: the Santa Rosa Wall. Eduardo and two certified scuba divers went way deeper and crossed paths with a shark… while I was enjoying the discovery scuba dive with my friend, another student and our guide, Jose. Let’s just say that for this one I kinda wish I went down with my fellow certified divers! That being said, I can’t complain as the dive was amazing. The visibility was outstanding, the coral was both dense and colourful and there were plenty of fish.

After a successful and exciting maiden dive for the two “Discover Scuba” divers, we hopped back on the boat and were on our way to the Yucab dive site. This dive site was beautiful and, I would say, both fun and a little challenging to do for beginners. You start on turtle grass and sand dunes but as you navigate between coral formations you get hooked in the current and you easily get overwhelmed as there’s a lot to see! The current was mostly mild to moderate even though almost non-existent in some spots outside of the path and on sand dunes, which made it perfect to observe macro life along the outside of coral formations.

In a nutshell, we crossed paths with stingrays, one eagle ray, one big barracuda, a turtle, pufferfishes, short big eye fishes and tons of species of the most common coral fishes. The reef was vibrant, dense and full of life… there’s nothing more I could’ve asked for! It was my first time diving on Cozumel and on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, but it definitely won’t be the last!

Have you ever been diving on Cozumel ? We wanna read your stories in the comment section below!

The post Diving on Cozumel: The Perfect Return into the Blue! appeared first on Divezone.

Before telling you about my upcoming trip to Mexico, I want to take a few lines to thank each and every one of you for reading our blog and following us over the years. It’s an understatement to say that this means the world to us. So, thank you for reading Divezone, thank you for sharing your travels and diving stories here, and for booking your scuba diving cruises through our website. We appreciate you all and we feel grateful to have you here!

Alright, now let’s talk travel! I’m headed to the Mayan Riviera, which is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. Indeed, the eastern coast of Mexico is known as the Mexican Caribbean as the coast boasts coral-rich turquoise waters and a few dreamy islands. One of those islands is Cozumel and it is known as a scuba diver’s heaven in the area. Despite this trip being my third one in Mexico, I’ve never set foot in Cozumel… But that’s about to change! Indeed, it’s with a diving club on Cozumel that I will put on my fins and jump into the blue for the first time since Hawaii! I’m almost nervous at the idea of going diving, but when I recall the magical feelings that come along with scuba diving, I feel nothing but joy and calm inside. I think about the slow pace of the ocean floor, the sound of the air bubbles around, and the temperature change in the water as I dive deeper to reach a universe of colourful reefs and fishes. It’s pure magic and it’s worth all the gold in the world, isn’t it?

Plus, it gets even better as I’m going to be sharing this experience with a good friend of mine as she will make her first bubbles as a Discovery Scuba participant! Of course, I could have been diving with a different group as I am a certified diver, but Cozumel seems very promising and I’d rather do shallower dives and share it with my friend! Anyway, as I see my friend being both stressed and excited to try scuba diving, it reminds me of my early diving days. It was 2015 and I was on the famous island of Koh Tao, in Thailand. I recall feeling quite ambivalent, between excitement and apprehension, but mostly what I remember is finding this inner strength to allow myself to let other emotions be stronger than the fear of the unknown. To me, my maiden dive meant facing a great fear but also making a big dream come true. I’ve always been fearful of both the immensity of the ocean and the fact that I had no idea what to expect underneath the surface. That said, since I had been told magical diving stories by a few scuba diving friends, I knew I had to try for myself. I had been longing of discover the ocean floor, the colours and the tranquillity from hearing about my friends diving adventures. Now, it’s my turn to inspire my non-diving friends to try scuba diving and jump into the blue for their maiden dive… I love the feeling!

《 […] what I remember is finding this inner strength to allow myself to let other emotions be stronger than the fear of the unknown. 》

These mixed feelings, between being nervous and excited to intentionally go towards the unknown is still very present today. In fact, with each new dive, each new travel destination is taking a leap into the unknown and accepting that everything becomes unpredictable. Diving, it the acceptance of immersing yourself to live in a world outside of our comfort zone the time of a thousand bubbles… and it is each time a wonderful experience.

If you feel like it, I would love to read the memories you have from your first bubbles, either as a snorkeler or a scuba diver! Please use the comment section below to share your maiden dive or your first snorkel outing with all of us!

You’ll hear from me soon as I will share the story of my scuba diving day around the island of Cozumel! Stay tuned!

Cozumel, I’m on my way!

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In 2017 I made a life-changing decision to embark on an epic journey around South East Asia, in search of some of the world’s richest coral reefs. At the heart of my trip was Indonesia, where I spent the best part of two and a half years on an underwater adventure exploring Indonesia’s top dive sites. This inspired me to launch my own ocean jewelry collection which gives a portion of its profits back to coral reef conservation.

My expedition proved that this country truly is a scuba diver’s dream, but as a keen freediver and snorkeler, I also discovered that there are many amazing snorkel opportunities and excellent dive sites for snorkeling in Indonesia too.  If you’re an adventurous snorkeler looking to go beyond the house reef, here are 5 of my favorite dive sites for snorkeling in Indonesia.

1 – Batu Bolong, Komodo

Batu Bolong was my very first taste of snorkeling in Indonesia. The site is located in the middle of Komodo National Park, roughly 3 hours by boat from the town of Labuan Bajo. By arranging a basic liveaboard with a local guide directly from the harbor, I was able to visit this isolated dive site. 

On first impressions, I was a bit skeptical, as Batu Balong is nothing more than a tiny outcrop of rock sitting in the middle of the ocean. However, Batu Balong is one of the most famous dive sites in Indonesia and I was about to find out why. This dizzying dive site is nicknamed the ‘washing machine’ due to its strong up and down currents, which bring health and abundance to the reef. On its topside, snorkelers can admire layer upon layer of colorful hard corals and thousands of orange anthias fish. 

Life literally explodes from this never-ending pinnacle reef, which gravitates deep into the ocean, making Batu Bolong an excellent dive site for freedivers. Aside from its variety of reef fish, pelagics such as black and white tip sharks, mantas, and even dolphins can be spotted here.

About Batu Bolong:
Depth: 1-70m
Coral: Excellent
Fish life: Excellent
Current: Strong
Experience: Advanced
Entry: Boat 

2 – Lekuan, Bunaken 

After Komodo, my travels took me to North Sulawesi, specifically Bunaken Marine Park. With its laid back vibes and not much else to do except snorkel and dive, the island of Bunaken is a low-key choice for scuba divers and snorkelers in the know. 

I spent several weeks exploring the marine park here and found my favorite spot just a few kilometers from Bunaken’s shores. This arc-shaped reef spans the southwest side of Bunaken Island and is so large that it is split into 4 individual dive sites: Lekuan I, II, Pygmy and III. 

I chartered a traditional outrigger boat with a willing fisherman from nearby Liang Beach to reach all 4 spots and found these dive sites to be impressive on all levels, offering fantastic visibility, healthy corals, schooling fish, even macro! 

Between Lekuan II and III the reef drops into a vertical wall, which disappears dramatically into the blue. This freediving spectacle is topped with overhangs and seafans, black corals and sponges. Attention to detail reveals nudibranchs and porcelain crabs hiding in the corals, but be sure to keep an eye on the blue for passing sharks, hawksbill turtles and eagle rays. 

Although Lekuan is exposed to the ocean, the currents here are manageable and only really noticeable along the corners of the reef, disappearing almost as quickly as they came. 

About Lekuan :
Depth: 1-40m
Coral: Excellent
Fish life: Excellent
Current: Mild to Medium
Experience: Beginner
Entry: Boat 

3 – Citrus Ridge, Raja Ampat

For me, Raja Ampat easily offers some of the best snorkeling in the world. I spent almost 8 months here, after getting completely hooked on its mesmerizing coral reefs and pristine biodiversity. Although I cannot fault the scuba diving opportunities in this region, there is something incredibly special about Raja Ampat snorkeling, and the mysterious Citrus Ridge is no exception.

Situated in the remote northwest of the Raja Ampat regency, this intriguing coral reef structure can be found meandering along a channel of water, which snakes its way through the mangroves. Fringing corals cling to opposing landmasses, creating a protected haven for soft corals and sea creatures to thrive. By following the drop-off from an uninhabited Robinson Crusoe style beach, you’re almost instantly met with swaying corals in pastel colors amongst sponges and sea fans adorning the sandy floor of this dive site. 

As the reef declines into a deep channel of water, an exhilarating swim across ‘the ridge’ leads to more treasure. Just at the tip of the opposite island, there is a bounty of coral species and an unbelievable mix of fish life including families of feeding bumpheads, schooling jacks, trevally and fusiliers. A highlight for me was spotting my first wobbegong shark swimming from one table coral to another.

With excellent visibility and some of the best corals at 5-10 meters, Citrus Ridge is perfect for freediving but be aware of its strong currents. Water and waves funnel into the channel from the open ocean causing a surge; therefore confident swimming skills are advised. 

About Citrus Ridge :
Depth: 3-20m
Coral: Excellent
Fish life: Excellent
Current: Medium to Strong
Experience: Intermediate
Entry: Shore or boat 

4 – Liberty Wreck, Tulamben

Bali became a bit of a base for me throughout my travels and I spent nearly 3 months in the northeast of the island exploring its volcanic waters, diving and snorkeling every day. I found some of the best snorkeling in Bali in Tulamben, specifically at the USAT Liberty Wreck, which is the most famous wreck dive in Indonesia. 

The Liberty is a whopping 120 meters in length and is truly impressive. Immersed in 1963, every inch bursts with biodiversity. At its shallowest, the ship sits at around 5 meters, which is perfect for snorkeling. However, if you’re a confident apnea freediver and can hold your breath long enough, exploring its deep caverns, dark spaces and coral coated walls should definitely not be missed. 

Soft corals, sponges, gorgonian fans and anemones sweep across the ships decomposing edges, attracting a wealth of fish life including eels, bumpheads, triggerfish, napoleon wrasse, groupers, sweetlips, butterfly fish and even turtles.  Despite this being one of Bali’s most popular dive sites, the scuba divers down below do not obscure the view from above, as they are usually hiding in the ship. 

About Liberty Wreck:
Depth: 5-30m
Coral: Excellent
Fish life: Excellent
Current: Mild 
Experience: Beginner
Entry: Shore 

5 – Manta Sandy, Raja Ampat 

There are almost too many great Raja Ampat snorkeling spots to mention, but this legendary cleaning station made it onto my list, as it is one of the best dive sites for snorkeling in Indonesia if you want to spot manta rays! Manta Sandy’s seabed lies at around 20 meters, just off the island of Arborek. It is here that scuba divers will kneel and wait on the bottom for a magical performance to begin. 

Often appearing without warning, like stealth bombers cutting through the blue, countless rays circle gracefully in unison to feed and clean at Manta Sandy.  From the top, snorkelers are able to experience the mantas at an entirely different viewpoint. Rising to the surface, these friendly reef mantas allow snorkelers to swim alongside them in a very intimate manner, swooping playfully up and down.

It is an experience not to be missed and definitely a highlight of any Raja Ampat trip, especially from November onwards when the mantas arrive and stay until March to feed in the plankton rich waters. Outside these months there is less guaranteed siting’s, however one can never predict nature! 

About Manta Sandy:
Depth: 5-20m
Coral: Fair
Fish life: Excellent
Current: Mild to Medium
Experience: Intermediate 
Entry: Boat 

Is Indonesia the best snorkeling in the world?

My experience of diving and snorkeling in Indonesia clearly demonstrates that this country encompasses some of the very best snorkeling in Asia, if not the world. Whether you’re crazy for corals or a big fish lover, there really something for everybody. It is hard to fault such pristine reefs overflowing with biodiversity!

Guest Author Bio
Claire Ullah is the co-founder of travel blog Remote and Afloat and the ocean jewelry brand Citrus Reef. Her combined passion for travel, snorkeling, and diving has taken her on a unique journey to some of the world’s richest coral reefs and remote tropical islands. Follow Claire as she charts her experiences both over and under the water.

The post Top 5 Dive Sites for Snorkeling in Indonesia appeared first on Divezone.

Every scuba diver wishes to one day be the first person to blow bubbles on a new dive site, but the reality of it is that there are very few remaining places on our planet that we haven’t yet discovered. The Mergui Archipelago might very well be one of the last diamonds in the rough. This mysterious collection of 800 mostly uninhabited islands that span a space of over 36,000 square km off the western coastline of Myanmar, also known as Burma, is largely unmapped to this day. Inaccessible by land, the region was opened to tourism in 1997 but with regulations on visas and travel, there are still few companies offering to cruise this heaven on earth. 

Not only will you be alone on every dive site but there is some great diving to experience in Myanmar: the underwater landscape is made of beautiful coral reefs in pristine condition, tunnels and pinnacles, inhabited by colorful tropical fish, schooling barracuda, and trevallies, incredible macro life from the rare harlequin shrimps to ghost pipefish and seahorses all the way to the biggest ocean wanderers: giant manta rays and whale sharks.

How to get to the Mergui Archipelago?

The entry to the Mergui Archipelago is through Kawthoung, at the southern tip of Myanmar. Kawthoung can be reached by plane from the capital, Yangoon, but it is much easier to reach from Ranong. Indeed, Ranong is on the other side of the border, in Thailand, and only 300km north of Phuket. The best travel options to get in the area would be to either fly into Ranong from Bangkok or take on the road from Phuket.

Furthermore, a few diving companies based either in Khao Lak or Ranong offer diving cruises in Myanmar. Indeed, a liveaboard diving cruise is a great way to get to the archipelago and discover it. Based in Ranong, the Smiling Seahorse is the only boat operating exclusively in the Mergui Archipelago. Of course, there is a greater choice of liveaboard options in Myanmar for you to look into.

Best time to go on a diving cruise in Myanmar

The season in Burma starts in October and goes until mid-May when the monsoon season rains start rolling in. Water temperatures sit pretty constantly around 27°C year-round but it is still recommended to bring appropriate exposure protection to keep you in top shape for multiple dives in a day. Night dives in Burma are particularly spectacular so don’t miss out! Some divers also choose to bring reef hooks along for the trip as you can expect fairly strong currents due to the 6-hour tidal change. 

Myanmar Liveaboard itineraries

Depending on time and interests you can choose from a variety of cruise packages ranging from 6 days/5 nights to 9 days/8 nights which include between 17 and 29 dives. With 4 dives and 4 meals per day on the schedule, you can leisurely embrace your inner fish in style. No matter the duration of your trip you will be treated to some of the most coveted dive sites of the area with chances to see a variety of animals ranging from tiny macro life to large pelagic fish. 

Every cruise visits Western Rocky, a tiny island with a beautifully sunlit passage straight through its center in the south of the Burmese seas. It also features 4 islets whose walls are covered in colorful sponges and soft corals that are certainly worth a visit. Here we often see a large number of lobsters, harlequin shrimp, frogfish, and many more.  

Black Rock is considered the best dive site in the archipelago and is only visited by those adventurers on the longer cruises as it is quite far north. This dive site’s plunging walls descend to 100m and often treats its visitors to stunning 35m+ visibility. Black Rock is most famous as Giant Oceanic mantas breeding ground but gets close to the rock formations to catch a glimpse of ghost pipefish, and endemic tapestry shrimps or look out into the blue for schools of tuna, mackerel, and barracuda. You can even meet some larger creatures like eagle rays and large blotched stingrays. 

For those enthralled by swim thought, Shark Cave will be a highlight. With many underwater caves and tunnels or large rocks hiding regularly nurse sharks up to 4m long or blotched stingrays and whiptail rays. The seafloor before the shark cave is carpeted with yellow sponge and once you pass the last tunnel, a coral garden bordered by a sandy area provides a home to giant moray eels, mantis shrimp (both spearing and smashing), cowries, and sea slugs of all types.

North Twin, located several miles offshore, offers a topography made of granite boulders alternating with sandy patches. The site is covered in gorgonian sea fans and soft corals. Many schooling fish call this place home, such as big-eyed trevally, batfish, snapper, and yellow-tailed barracuda. Plus, keep your eyes open in the blue for the passing mantas. Moreover, some special cruises even get the chance to go through the real unchartered territory of the northern Torres Islands or the western Burma Banks. This is where the thrill-seekers get their kicks with exploratory diving and where you have the best chance of pioneering a dive site. 

The Burma banks are also known as a shark destination and we often see hunting nurse sharks and species unseen on the rest of the Mergui Archipelago like the honeycomb Murray or clown triggerfish.

As far as bucket-list dive sites go, the Mergui Archipelago has to be one of the least known diver’s paradise. With fewer than 50,000 travelers to the region every year and a lot fewer divers, you can count on private dive sites, not shared by any other dive boat.  

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As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to sweep the globe, people from all corners of the world are coming together to help create solutions in response to the crisis. For one, a team of programmers, scientists, and technicians in the Czech Republic has been putting their skills to use to develop quality medical ventilators. By mid-April, the team expects to have 500 ventilators ready for  delivery at a fraction of the typical ventilator cost. And once product testing has been completed, the design will be available worldwide in efforts to help others in need. One of the team members is Aleš Procháska who is using his experience of producing top-notch diving equipment to assist in the development of the medical ventilators’ parts. 

Team of Professionals

Difficult times have a way of bringing like-minded people together to accomplish good. As is the case for the team of Czech programmers, scientists, and technicians, who have put their efforts together to produce medical ventilators designated for patients with COVID-19 at a rate sufficient to fit the current needs of the Czech Republic.

Professionals from various backgrounds are lending a hand to help with this time-critical effort. For instance, Aleš Procháska whose company, Divesoft, specializes in the production of hi-tech diving equipment, primarily rebreathers, which keep divers alive underwater. “I’m focused on the development and construction of pressurized valve prototypes. It’s a safety valve which constantly limits the oxygen pressure that a patient breathes. I’ve already designed similar valves for rebreathers whereby the function is the same: to ensure a diver doesn’t inhale oxygen at too high of a pressure which could cause injury to the lungs. In addition, we have a special device for parameter measuring of such valves available in our company,” says Aleš. 

Aleš was asked by Tomáš Kapler to join the team he organized for this effort. More than 30 members including professionals from Czech tech industries, educational institutions, and governmental bodies, as well as others with specialized knowledge and skills, have been investing their time in the project. The team’s first prototypes are expected by the end of March with extensive testing, verifications, and fine tuning to follow. 

Primary Design

The medical ventilator’s design features include the use of parts which are easy to manufacture and generally available, a user-friendly interface that minimizes the training requirements, simple assembly, and more. The design also includes ‘potential independence’ (the ability to run on bottled oxygen and “regular” filtered compressed air) as well as compatibility with hospital systems and consumable materials. All of these design characteristics symbolize the accumulation of what professionals have learned so far from the outbreak, looking to places like Italy and China to understand what caused significant issues and how they could be avoided in the Czech Republic and around the world. 

With the coronavirus threatening to cripple the world economy, costs are more important now than ever. Regular medical ventilators run around $20,000, but the price of ventilators based on this team’s design is almost five times less. This is primarily the result of the team working without compensation, as well as savings from the normally costly certification which won’t be required (since the device will only be serving as an emergency apparatus in the fight against coronavirus). 

Quick Results

As of now, the Czech Republic has access to over 3,500 medical ventilators, but more than one third is already in use; and there isn’t currently a manufacturer in the country. It is believed that if the situation worsens, as it has in Italy, the Czech Republic would run out of ventilators by mid-April. These ventilators are meant to assist breathing for patients in serious condition, making them one of the most important instruments in the fight against coronavirus disease. Running out of ventilators means the loss of life, which means Kapler’s team’s work is a race against the clock.

As of March 23rd, the team had finished the materials list with individual components tested. Moreover, the control system, including the firmware’s first version and user interface, has been completed. With the process near completion, what does this mean for the rest of the world?

Open Source Design

In dire times, it’s important to remember we’re all in this together and on the same team. This ideology is the basis for the team’s decision to open source their medical ventilator design, including all findings, codes, drawings, and documentation. Contributions by the likes of Tomáš Kapler, Aleš Procháska, and more hope to help open the door for others to respond more quickly, and save more lives around the world.

Here’s a shared drive made available so you can view pictures of the ventilator production by Ales.

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So, choosing to see things on the positive side, we thought it could be great to share with Divezone readers a bunch of amazing scuba diving movies and documentaries. Let us know if you watch, or have watched, some in the comments below!

Best diving related movies

There’s no way to publish this post without starting with classics such as the Leviathan, Sphere, and Thunderball… which are now quite old, thus classic diving movies! Do you already have them on your ‘to watch list’ ? There are a bunch of other classics that easily make the list of all times movies to watch such as 20 000 Leagues Under the Sea. What else?

Also, there’s Into the Blue, which is a personal favorite, for its whole vibe, and for the sake of Paul Walker or Jessica Alba, of course! Another more recent Hollywood title to watch would be Halle Berry’s Dark Tide, especially for shark lovers! Plus, a James Cameron classic, the Abyss is definitely a must-watch, just like The Deep, from James Benchley, the author of Jaws.

Whichever movie you’ll decide to watch, you will end up traveling through the crystal clear waters of either the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, or the stormy waters of South Africa for example.

Scuba Diving movies – the watchlist!

• Leviathan
• Sphere
• Thunderball
• 20 000 Leagues Under the Sea
• Into the Blue
• Dark Tide
• The Abyss
• The Deep

Best scuba diving documentaries

There are plenty of scuba diving and ocean-related documentaries to watch out there, either on Netflix or any streaming platform. Whether you are into discovering the magical underwater world from the comfort of your living room or learning about climate change impacts on oceans, you will find a documentary to keep you busy!

Life in the Blue and The Blue Planet are great documentaries to watch to simply discover the oceans through amazing footages of the sealife and species natural behaviors.

As for more engaging documentaries, A Plastic Ocean and Chasing Corals are definitely our two ‘must-watch’ titles! Plus, there is a documentary series from the BBC called South Pacific, which is amazing to watch with its historical perspective of the development of islands in the region and consequent impacts on the marine world.

Scuba diving documentaries – The watchlist!

• Life in the Blue
• The Blue Planet & The Blue Planet II
• A Plastic Ocean
• Chasing Corals
• South Pacific

On this, we wish for you all to stay safe and healthy! We advise listening to the official entities in your country when it comes to travel advisories and public health and safety. Thank you for reading Divezone, and please drop us a line in the comments below with your favorite movie or documentary when it comes to travel or scuba diving!

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Regular diving masks versus full-face masks

Our last article about scuba diving masks dates from a few years back, and there are plenty of new models of masks on the market now. Still, our guide on “How to choose a Dive Mask” is totally fit for all that has to do with regular diving masks. That said, today it is the full-face diving and snorkeling masks that we will be talking about.

Let’s first explain the difference between regular diving masks and full-face ones. Regular diving masks are covering your eyes and nose, and you have a mouthpiece with either a tube or a BCD attached to it which supplies you with air.

We discuss the proper fitting and the choice of this type of mask here : How to choose a Dive Mask

Full-face diving and snorkeling masks

The full-face snorkeling mask covers your entire face and has an integrated tuba located at the top of your head which is coming out of the water when you are looking down. 

The pros of full-face snorkeling masks:

• Beginners don’t need to adapt to a different way of breathing. Indeed, you will be able to breathe normally, through both nose and mouth, with this type of snorkeling mask. 
• Take away the need to have a mouthpiece inserted in your mouth to breathe. The mouthpiece is at the very least awkward, it takes some time to adjust to having it and for some people, it’s literally painful. 
• Wider vision: the window is larger and unobstructed.
• Increased tightness, thus fewer leaks.

The cons of full-face diving masks:

• Not built for active snorkeling – you will understand why on the next point. Indeed, the full-face diving masks are best to snorkel in lagoons or lakes. In other words, you have to be in calm waters, with no need to swim vigorously or to fight current or waves. You’ll see why just below. 
• The buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major concern when it comes to full-face snorkeling masks. This is a risk that can be mitigated first by buying a quality mask from a renowned brand, known for testing its products. Indeed, if you prioritize quality over the cheaper price of some brand, you are likely to end up with a mask properly designed to evacuate the CO2, and thus cause no harm. The ‘danger’ resides in the mask not being able to properly circulate the air nor eliminate C02 from the air you breathe. Now, breathing too much CO2 will lead you to feel tired, if not outright dizzy, and loss of consciousness may occur. People that are talking about the ‘dangerous full-face masks’ and giving an alarmist tone to their articles are anticipating long and intense exposition to CO2, which can be deadly. That said, the tone of this paper is not so alarmist, and mostly informative as we believe it’s important to understand the pros and cons of the full-face diving mask, and then make an informed decision.

A safe full-face snorkeling mask should:
– Be from a known and tested brand, with quality prioritized over cost. 
– Be used in proper conditions, therefore in calm waters, where no consistent or elevated effort is required from the snorkeler. 
– Be used at the surface only. Indeed, if you are (like me!) a seasoned snorkeler that likes to dive down to explore the reefs closely, the full-face mask is not a proper fit… simply because it’s much harder to equalize ear pressure as you go down a few meters. 
– Be well cleaned-up and maintained in proper working condition, trip after trip. 

Full-face scuba diving masks – for recreational diving!

The full-face scuba diving mask has been put up to the test for a long while by scientist divers, commercials divers and professional underwater photographers and filmmakers. The major attribute to the full-face diving mask is that you can breathe normally and speak since you don’t have a mouthpiece. Indeed, the first purpose of these masks was to allow team members to communicate while operating underwater. 

 Nowadays, the full-face scuba diving mask is becoming more trendy in the recreational diving industry as its price is lower and more affordable. That said, there are some disadvantages that you may want to take into account before getting a full-face diving mask. 

First, despite the mask being less prone to leaks, water or fog may happen. Thus, if water gets in, you can’t breathe properly, and it is fog, you’re also likely to want to clear your mask, right? It’s doable, but it gets much more complicated to clean your mask when it is also your air source. Food for thoughts.

Secondly, using such a full-face diving mask often will cause divers to forget the basic underwater communicative skills. This can be frustrating when they will dive again with regular diving material, or if they dive with buddies that don’t have a full-face mask with communications-enabled. 

What do you think of the full-face snorkeling masks? Also, what about the scuba diving full-faces?

We are curious to read your opinion in the comment section below!

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In terms of pure aquatic life, Eilat isn’t going to be as diverse as somewhere like Indonesia or Thailand.

But don’t let that stop you from coming here.

Diving in Eilat was an incredible experience filled with thrilling dives and endless history. I came to Eilat with my cousin in August after visiting the other parts of Israel. July and August are the two hottest ( temperature hovers around 100°F or 38°C) and busiest months in Eilat so keep that in mind. In Eilat, you don’t sweat. It evaporates right off of you! 

Interestingly enough, while it was extremely warm outside, the water was colder than expected. If you’re bringing your own wetsuit here, maybe bring a slightly thicker one. I was traveling light and ended up renting most of my gear. The water isn’t crystal clear blue by any means but clears up once you get down.

Dive Centers in Eilat

After browsing popular options on Google, I decided to visit Shulamit’s dive charter. They’re probably the most well known, but Nautilus is another popular option here. I’d recommend touring some of the popular options and seeing which one dive charter you vibe the most with! Most of the dive centers in Eilat will be surrounding the main promenade and along the coastline.

At Shulamit’s, I was able to dive the next morning after texting a WhatsApp number the previous night. This was in peak tourist season too, but this was my experience on that visit; check availability before travelling. While Hebrew is the main language in Israel, you get by just fine with English in popular destinations such as Eilat, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. Many of the dive charters here also spoke common languages like Spanish, French, and German. Shulamit’s was one of the few dive charters that own a boat as move dives can be done from shore.

Best Dives Sites in EIlat

Eilat features dozens of popular dive sites. My two favorite dive sites in Eilat were Sunboat and Neptunes Tables. Satil is another famous dive site, but I didn’t manage to make it there on this trip. More on that later!

Diving at the Sunboat dive site

The Sunboat dive site is a must. It’s a sunken liveaboard close to shore with several other smaller wrecks creating artificial reefs connected by cables. The cables make the site very easy to navigate. If I got lost, I could just follow them back to the main wreck. While venturing off from the main site, I managed to see a scorpionfish for the first time ever.  

Covered in infinite lionfish and other reef life, it’s an unbelievable site to dive. While I had an advanced and deep-dive certification at the time allowing me to go to deeper parts, most of this site can be seen by beginner divers. 

One issue I had with this dive site is that it had somewhat poor visibility on the day I went due to the location it rests at.

Diving Satil in Eilat

This is likely the most well-known dive site in Eilat due to the history behind it. This ship is one of the navy boats from the famous Cherbourg project. The short story about the Cherbourg project is that Israel ordered navy boats from the French but after a french embargo the boats were stuck under French control. The Israeli navy launched an operation to bring the boats back to Israel. One of them is sunk in Eilat for you to dive! I wasn’t able to dive this site due to scheduling, but I’ve heard nothing but great things but about it.

Diving the Neptunes Tables, Eilat

This was another interesting one and was the first place I dove in Eilat. This site varies in depth a lot but is probably best for advanced divers. After taking a 20-minute boat ride towards the Egyptian border, we were dropped off right on top of this site. From what I remember, there wasn’t much current present. The first thing I noticed at this site was the tables of Acropora littering the site (hence the name Neptunes Tables). It was unlike any other dive site I’ve done before.  

Overall, Eilat is certainly a place I’ll return to. If I were to come back again, I’d make sure to dive the Satil (they offer a night dive for this one) and possibly visit the neighboring countries of Jordan and Egypt. From what I’ve heard, there’s plenty more diving to be done there!

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