Neoprene Wetsuits

posted by admin on May 3

When in Bonaire. . .

If you want more adventures in diving, Bonaire will provide a variety of dive sites. World class divers give Bonaire a rate of 10 out of 10. The place has more than a 100 dive sites. Each of these with strict diving levels - novice, intermediate, and advanced. But even if you are ready to jump into the water, hours after you get off your plane, you are prohibited by law to do so.

You must first attend a refresher class on scuba diving at the dive shop. Part of the enforced one-hour review is to familiarize tourists on the Bonaire Marine Park rules; this is followed by a collection of $10 per head. But this inconvenience is soon eclipsed by the pleasures waiting in the blue yonder.

The Bonaire Attractions

Aside from the great diving, Bonaire has much to offer on land. In Gotomeer, flamingos converge to feast on the shrimps in the brackish waters, and nest on the salt flats. Interesting bits and pieces of the islands history are preserved - the 1837 lighthouse, and 1838 obelisks built to aid mariners find anchor.

After a day of diving and hiking the trails, you can go kayaking, windsurfing, bird watching, mountain biking, horse-back riding, and deep sea fishing. There is no end to the wonderful and interesting possibilities in this Antilles Island. Family members will enjoy the stress-free environment, and children can learn from the environmental efforts to protect the island’s natural resources.

Come On, The Diving’s Great

Scuba diving enthusiasts are directed to the appropriate sites for diving. Bonaire officials are strict about this. Novice and intermediate divers are prohibited from sites with strong currents, and only those with solid years of certified scuba diving experience are allowed to dive here. Happily, there are several drop sites where all levels can take the plunge.

For the diving, the Town Pier is a popular dive site for diving. Bonaire diving aficionados of all levels - novice to advanced - enjoy the depths of 20-40 feet. Again, there are restrictions. Divers must present the permission of the harbormaster and they must be accompanied by a dive guide from the locality.

Calabas Reef is another site for all-levels diving. Bonaire also takes pride in the Angel City, a site teeming with angelfish, and in Alice in Wonderland, where divers can see schools of parrot fish and French Angels.

Bonaire diving operators give diving assistance for the handicapped, and provide lessons for technical diving. Courses from Advanced Nitrox, decompression procedures, or courses for solo diver and diving instructor levels, are just some of the courses offered.

Going to Bonaire?

If you are planning on that diving excursion to Bonaire, book a flight and reserve a room months before the big day. You can check sites for Bonaire hotels online. Communicate with diving operators for diving tours and get their confirmation about special arrangements. If you are planning to take a break in Bonaire, bring along your valid passport, and return ticket. Pack up your wet suit and scuba diving gear, Bonaire is waiting.

By: Alexes Lebeau

Technorati Tags: bonaire dive & adventure, bonaire dive guide, dive shop bonaire

posted by admin on May 3

As we pass through life, we encounter a wonderful series of adventures and exciting experiences, and for those of us with just a little more taste for excitement, the underwater world presents an entire universe of opportunities. And if we are going to do some diving, how about learning how to become a PADI diving instructor ? The best PADI courses are to be found on Thailand’s Phuket and Phi Phi regions, brought to you by one of the greatest experts, PADI Course Director Chris Owen!

If you have given any thought to diving or snorkeling, then you will surely have heard about the PADI IDC or the PADI diving instructor courses provided by scuba diving specialists like Chris. The waters of Southern Thailand are perfect for such activities, offering the best diving in Thailand and the immense opportunity of building your own career in this field. The PADI courses are not the only thing you can take advantage of, as this PADI diving instructor offers also a wide variety of career packages with diving internships.

With many years of experience, PADI Course Director Chris Owen has become one of the most reputed names in the diving world and today hundreds of people are interested in the services he provides. If you do decide to work with this PADI diving Instructor Trainer then you will benefit from high-quality teaching doubled by an incredible passion for the open waters. The PADI Instructor Development Course will enchant you every step of the process, being both fun and educational at the same time. But if you really want to be convinced, let’s see what they have got to offer when it comes to PADI courses.

Probably one of the first words you will hear from PADI Course Director Chris Owen is a guaranteed first IE Pass rate. Once you join a class, you will discover that the number of candidates is limited, so everyone can understand and the Course Director has all the time to impart knowledge equally. You will definitely enjoy the discounted programs (5% off for Early Bird and 5% Cash Incentive), especially made for those who are really into diving. The standard PADI Instructor Development Course lasts 7 days, but Chris’s Indepth PADI IDC lasts 10 days, with a specially designed 3 days preparation program in which you will refresh your knowledge and skills you learned on your PADI Divemaster Course.

If you are serious about becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba diving instructor, then you need to go to the best and that is what Chris Owen truly is. The programs are quite easy to follow, particularly as you will train in specially-made scuba diving training pool (with 3m drop off), enjoy the finest accommodation during the period of your training and take part in various workshops. These are only meant to enhance your skills that you will need as a PADI Open Water Scuba diving instructor, ranging from controlled emergency swimming ascent (CESA), those related to reaching the surface and vital situations such as pocket mask rescue.

The one thing you have to remember when it comes to taking PADI courses is that only an experienced PADI scuba diving instructor can provide the assistance you need. Be prepared to embark on the ride of your life, with plenty of delightful activities and benefits on your part. You can purchase discounted equipment, request follow-up assistance after completing your PADI scuba diving courses and even find yourself a job in this field. Everyone recognizes PADI Course Director Chris Owen for being an authority in the field and hundreds of satisfied customers stand as proof. Are you ready to become one of them?

By: David Yuri

Technorati Tags: padi diving, padi scuba diving course, scuba diving supplies

posted by admin on May 2

Ever wonder what it would be like to jump into the water and look around 40m below the surface? The underwater world is mysterious and yet inviting, the experience of diving it provides and addictive sense of zen. There’s no better place to have your first dive experience than Thailand - with good conditions year round.

Most dive shops in Thailand offer PADI certification but it’s also possible to find a few offering NAUI and SSI certifications. Beginners may be more comfortable diving in the calmer and shallower waters off the east coast of Thailand, with destinations such as Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Koh Samet or Koh Chang being the most popular on that side.

More advanced divers and those beginners who are confident in their abilities will have a better time diving around Phuket and the Similan Islands. Hotspots for diving around here include Phuket, Phi Phi and Khao Lak.

Phuket has the most upscale dive operations but if you are watching your budget, you might be more comfortable taking a course at Phi Phi or Khao Lak. Phi Phi is quite popular among the younger crowd but there are hotels catering to older couples and families, which also offer scuba diving courses. Khao Lak offers an excellent choice of dive shops and also has a good range of accommodation to suit most tastes. It is also the closest jumping off point to the Similan Islands.

The Similan Islands, technically located in Phang Nga province, provide some of the best dive sites in the world. Protected within a marine national park, the nine islands are still pristine and rich with wildlife above and below the water. Most dive operators will take you ashore at one of the islands, where you can enjoy the powder-white beaches and see exotic birds and monkeys.

Under the waves, the colourful reefs and boulder formations are teeming with coral and a variety of marine life. Sometimes whale sharks are even spotted in the waters, as well as rays and other sharks. Visibility is good, varying from 30-50m.

Much like Phi Phi, Koh Tao is a fun place for backpackers to learn how to scuba dive. This may well be the most affordable place in Thailand to take a PADI Open Water course and to build up your dive log. Unfortunately it’s not the best diving in Thailand - but it’s not yet the worst either. Koh Tao used to offer frequent whale shark sightings but they are relatively rare these days. It’s also conveniently close (2 hours by speed boat) to Samui. In fact you can do diving courses on Samui too.

The number of dive boats on a site is not restricted, so you may find there is too much company around peak dive times. You may find yourself surrounded by 50 to 100 divers at a time, with most of them being Open Water students or day trippers from Samui.

Needless to say, Koh Tao might be great for learning and for progressing to instructor - but it’s not all that great for just recreational diving. Many people come here specifically to advance through courses and proceed with PADI Advanced, Rescue Diver, Dive Master/Master Scuba Diver and Instructor courses.

There are so many choices on Koh Tao that you should look carefully at each dive shop and make sure they offer you the best value for money.

Not all dive instructors are the same, and some are downright scary. Likewise, equipment standards can vary, and you’ll want to make sure any shop you choose has quality equipment and maintains it properly and hygienically. You should also check into the insurance policy of the dive shop and enquire as to if you should purchase your own dive insurance for the hyperbaric chamber if you have an accident.

Most the dive operations in Thailand are run by foreigners, which is just as well since Thais have a rather different approach to safety and responsibility, but you’ll find yourself diving with plenty of Thai staff who are their usual friendly easy-going selves.

By: Andrew Bond

Technorati Tags: diving thailand, open water diving, padi scuba diving courses

posted by admin on Apr 29

Like millions of Americans do each year, my wife and I scheduled a trip to Mexico to take a much needed vacation. If you are like me, vacation time is usually filled with everything but exercise and I had no intention of ruining this vacation with daily workouts and proper eating habits when I would rather be sitting on the beach drinking a Mojito.

There are, of course, an unlimited number of activities that one would find exciting in a place like the island of Cozumel, Mexico, but I was set on kicking back and relaxing until I ran across an interesting magazine that featured scuba diving at the very location we were planning to visit.

For years, I had been curious about scuba diving and together my wife and I decided to find a local dive center and look into getting our open-water certifications so that we could "try it" while on our upcoming vacation - exercise was not the intention really.

To my surprise, the requirements for passing our certifications were fairly easy but it did require decent swimming skills and a reasonable level of physical fitness. I also found that a large majority of divers are over the age of 35. Proving that being young is not a requirement.

For the most part, Scuba diving is a pretty easy activity to learn, but it is an intensive exercise and does require the knowledge and skills pertaining to the equipment and safety for the individual, that persons diving partner, and also for the environment in which you will be diving. Hence, the certification requirement before most dive operations will take you out on a dive trip.

An interesting aspect of learning to dive was finding out just how much this activity feels like a real honest to goodness workout. We arrive in Cozumel and checked into our hotel and the dive operation center the same day to let them know we were there and ready to go diving as we had reserved five days of two-tank boat dives plus two night dives. We took the day to relax and acclimate to our surroundings and figure out which bartenders served the best drinks - (Did I mention that Mojitos are my favorite?) The Dive Master informed us that we needed to be at the dock ready with our gear by 7:45am the next day- so we checked our equipment, weights, and wetsuits just to make sure we were prepared and arrived on-time that morning.

If you have never lugged around dive gear - you have a real treat in store. It’s heavy, but it’s your life-safety equipment, so you don’t care how heavy it is, as long as it works as expected. Again, be prepared for a workout.

On the first day of diving, I made the mistake of thinking that it would be a walk in the park - sort of a lazy day - so I had a big breakfast, and an extra cup of coffee. But, to my dismay, I soon realized that my eating routine prior to each dive needed to be adjusted and the real trick was to eat fruits and drink water before the dive, and an adequate meal afterwards to replenish the energy lost during ‘the workout’. Because, it is a workout, even if you are having the time of your life - you are toning your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. You are stretching things you haven’t stretched in years - and you are carrying a heavy tank and weights around like a soldier going into battle.

After five days, and twelve separate dives, I was eating better nutritionally than before I arrived, and feeling like I could lift a truck on my back. I was amazed considering that my intention was to have a lazy vacation. The funny part was that I was more relaxed and in better shape when we left our vacation spot than when we had arrived.

That trip opened my eyes to many new an exciting aspects of vacationing and I learned that I can get the exercise I need by doing the things I love to do. I learned that scuba diving is one of the most fantastic activities I have ever pursued and will continue to dive as long as I am physically and mentally able.

The best part of the trip was realizing that I had found a way to exercise and still spend an enormous amount of time underwater seeing and experiencing life in a mesmerizing fashion. Until you are there and see for yourself, words cannot express the beauty or the spender of the sea and all its inhabitants.

So, next time you feel like you’re getting bored with your workouts and you are thinking of giving up. Don’t forget, exercise can be fun, exciting, exhilarating, and memorable.

By: tacticalm

Technorati Tags: dive trip, scuba diving class, shore scuba

posted by admin on Apr 26

 Being exposed to the water is continual in surfing. Even riding a wave the spray is constantly on your body. Sometimes, it feels colder than the water itself. Air carries away body warmth more easily when your skin is wet.

Wetsuits and drysuits to the rescue.

Wetsuits are made of neoprene, a special synthetic rubber that contains thousands of air pockets. That makes them lightweight, highly elastic and well insulating. They hug the body and fit reasonably well around the neck, wrists and ankles - everywhere the water might gain entrance to the inside of the wetsuit.

But wetsuits are designed to have some breathability. They work by trapping a thin layer of moisture between the skin and the wetsuit. The body easily heats that thin layer and the body and suit work together to keep it heated.

Wetsuits come in a variety of designs. Some of that variation is just for the sake of fashion. But other aspects are functional. Those encompass zippers, seams and sealing material around the openings.

The number and location of zippers is a compromise between the need to keep the wetsuit flexible and easy to enter versus keeping it well sealed from cold water entering.

Because the line along a zipper is always less flexible than the surrounding material, zippers are often not placed directly down the front midsection of the body. That would make them easier to get in and out of, but it leads to more discomfort for a surfer who is constantly leaning over or lying down to paddle, popping up and crouching.

Similar comments apply to any kind of seam. Though more flexible than a metal or even a plastic zipper, a joint where two layers of neoprene meet is always going to be less flexible than a large swatch of material. The glue is less flexible, if that’s how the seam is sealed. But even a seam created by heat sealing will have some thickening, which is less flexible. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a seam.

As a result of these issues, designers try to maximize the comfort and stretch of a suit where it is most needed. Since wetsuit design is as much art as science, and everyone has a different viewpoint on the best design. So, there are hundreds of different choices.

Drysuits are a special category, needed only by those surfers who are braving the coldest waters. Whether in the UK, Alaska, or other areas, there are waters that are consistently below 60F/15C. It’s possible to lose body heat to a dangerous extent. In most cases, that calls for a drysuit if the wearer is going to be exposed for more than a few minutes.

Drysuits, unlike wetsuits, are designed to allow no entry of water at all. They’re made from a dozen different materials, but are often a form of neoprene as well. They tend to be more flexible, but are also often used with an undersuit as well, along with booties, gloves and a hood.

Let your personal comfort and the conditions you surf in be your guide. Always wear uv protective clothing and sun protection swimwear with UPF50+ maximum cover.

Author: J Edmond Souaid

Technorati Tags: Drysuits, scuba booties, wetsuits drysuits

posted by admin on Apr 24

Buying a wetsuit can be somewhat confusing. There are many different styles, thicknesses, qualities and price ranges to choose from. Trying on a wetsuit isn’t the most fun thing to do in the world either. However, it is a necessary evil if you want to keep warm on your dive. So with that in mind, here are the items you should look for when buying a wetsuit:

• Style - The first thing you will have to decide is what style of wetsuit do you want. Do you want a full wet suit or a shortie (has short arms (usually) and legs that end just above the knee)? Do you want a farmer john or jane (a two piece suit - one piece has long legs with a sleeveless top; it is usually worn with a covering jacket)? Do you need a hood? A shortie is for warm water diving and is what I wear when I need more than a skin (mine is 2mm). It does leave your arms and legs exposed to the water so you have to decide if it will be warm enough for you. A full scuba diving wet suit is probably the most common/popular and is what I see the most while diving in the Caribbean. This style is one piece and has long arms and legs. Buying a wetsuit hood is not necessary (for most people) for diving in warm water. It is more for cold water diving. I can count on one hand the number of people I have seen wearing a hood while diving in the Caribbean.
• Thickness - The thickness is probably the most important factor that will determine your comfort underwater. Choose the thickness based on the type of water and diving you will be doing. For the Caribbean, a 3mm should be sufficient for most people.
• Quality of Construction - This will determine how long that scuba diving wet suit will last. Most importantly, you need to check the seams of the wet suit. The cheapest and least strong is a glued stitch. It will sometimes have a piece of glued tape over the seams which will help with comfort. While it is adequate, it will probably give out the quickest of all the seams. Another of the basic stitches found mostly in "bargain" and "cheap" wet suits is the over-lock stitch which joins the neoprene a the seam by stitching the edges together. The ridge is on the inside of the suit which can become uncomfortable. If this seam is stretched to its limit the seam may open up and let in some water. At the other extreme of construction quality, is the blind stitch. Here the material is first glued and then stitched on one side. However, the stitch doesn’t pierce the material which would give an entry point for water. The same stitch is then done on the reverse side and interlocks with the first stitch. This gives the strongest seam. Of course, as you would guess, this type of construction is found on the more expensive scuba diving wet suit. In between, is the flatlock stitching which you will find in many warm water wet suits (mine included). The two pieces of neoprene overlap and are joined together. Unlike the over-lock stitch, the seam lays flat making it more comfortable for the diver. While water can sometimes seep through these seams when stretched, it will be much less than with an over-lock stitch. Taped seams, with any of these stitches, helps prevent water leaking through the seams. It also helps the comfort factor, making the scuba diving wet suit more comfortable against the skin.
• Neoprene - The type of neoprene your scuba diving wet suit is made of affects the quality of the suit and, of course the price. Scuba diving wetsuits are made of neoprene which is a synthetic rubber foam. The neoprene has thousands of tiny bubbles for insulation. The material is then typically laminated with a nylon based material. Once this elastic fabric dries, the neoprene becomes pliable and flexible. The type of neoprene your scuba diving wet suit is made of affects the quality of the suit and, of course the price. The highest quality neoprene is gas blown and made with thousands of little bubbles of nitrogen gas. While it will compress and eventually wear out like all neoprene, it is the most durable type of neoprene. A chemical blown wetsuit feels softer but will not be as durable.

Author: Dianne Rein

Technorati Tags: core wetsuits, rubber wetsuits, scuba diving training