Tag SCUBA dive

The forbidden has always appealed to our sub-nature. For divers, our adventurous spirit may find its way toward the road less traveled. These locations are alluring, beautiful, and possibly lethal. Take our advice, and dive into these forbidden locations at your own risk! 

The Blue Hole of Dahab

Located in the Red Sea, this infamous dive is known as a diver’s cemetery. It is a submarine sinkhole that reaches depths of approximately 141 meters. The main attraction of this dive is the arch, a passageway to open waters located about 56 meters below the surface. Plenty of divers have lost their lives trying to reach or cross the hook due to nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness, or running out of air. It is only wise to enter if you are an expert technical dive. These divers use unique gas mixes and follow strict decompression protocols.

Temple of Doom

Cenote Calavera (or Skull Cave) is the peak of the Temple of Doom in Mexico and contains a multi-layered halocline. These halocline structures give the cave a spooky look and break off. Three circular openings and a wider oval opening create the skull look at the entrance giving this dangerous cave its name. Cenote Esqueleto, a notorious hole in Tulum, Mexico, features a cavern maze, making navigating difficult and dangerous. It’s not hard to become lost and disoriented inside this underwater labyrinth. Divers must have excellent buoyancy control and cave diving skills to avoid stirring up the silt and reducing visibility.

Chuuk Lagoon

This lagoon in Micronesia was once the main naval base of the Japanese Empire during World War II. In 1944, the U.S. Navy attacked and destroyed this base, sinking over 60 ships and hundreds of aircraft. Today, Chuuk Lagoon is one of the world’s most famous wreck diving destinations, offering divers a chance to see History frozen in time. However, diving in Chuuk Lagoon has risks. Many of the wrecks reek with explosives, such as bombs, grenades, mines, torpedoes, and depth charges. These explosives can be unstable and potentially detonate if disturbed by divers. Moreover, some deep wrecks require advanced diving techniques and equipment.

Devil’s Ear

This dark, ominously named dive site dwells in Ginnie Springs, Florida. It is part of a complex cave system that connects several springs and rivers. The entrance to Devil’s Ear is a narrow opening that leads to a large chamber with a strong current. Divers must fight against the current to reach a tunnel that descends deeper into the cave. The water temperature is frigid, and the visibility is very low due to tannic acid from decaying vegetation. Divers must also be careful of hydrogen sulfide gas pockets that cause nausea and headaches.

The Shaft

This giant cave system’s entrance is through a tiny hole in the middle of a field in Mount Gambier, Australia. It leads down a narrow 8-meter-long shaft to a water-filled cave from which two tunnels, one at either end, descend to depths of 85-120 meters. The tunnels contain stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations that create stunning scenery. However, they are also very dark and narrow, requiring divers to use reels and lights to navigate. The Shaft is only accessible to experienced cave divers with special permits from local authorities.

Chart an Excursion

These locations are off-limits to the casual SCUBA diver. For information on charters and exciting tours that are not high-risk, contact By the Shore SCUBA Instruction to see when our next excursion is. You never know what we’ll boil up next. Right now, we are sticking to beautiful paradise locations. For all others, dive into these forbidden locations at your own risk.*

Disclaimer:By the Shore SCUBA Instruction claims no responsibility for death or injury incurred on diving in these locations. We provide this information for the inquisitive diver, but cannot guarantee your safety if you chose to dive in these locations. There is a likelihood of injury or death from SCUBA diving regardless of safety precautions taken. Dive at your own risk.

Sources-10 Most Dangerous Dive Spots – MapQuest Travel

10 Deadliest Places to Scuba Dive – Listverse

The Blue Hole of Dahab on Egypt’s Red Sea is a diver’s cemetery. (slate.com)

Chuuk Lagoon – History and Facts | History Hit

Diving watches can range in price from $100,000 range to $25. This huge price difference leaves new PADI divers wondering how much they need to invest in a diving watch. Ratings on Amazon are not a determining factor since many people who purchase dive watches are not necessarily divers. For fashion purposes, highly rated, low-priced dive watches are worth buying. You cannot depend on ratings unless you read reviews from individuals who used the watch for SCUBA diving. Here is how to find the correct dive watch for SCUBA diving. 

How to find the Correct Dive Watch

Diver watches like Invicta watches under one hundred dollars claim to be pro diver watches. While Invicta watches have proven to withstand water pressures 200 meters below, wear and tear throughout time can lead to the watch malfunctioning. SCUBA diving watches should be ISO certified for open water deep sea dives. 

• Entry level ISO certified watches start at about $200 and hike upward. For open water dives, watches, such as Citizen ProMaster, work for SCUBA divers and last on one charge for six months. This watch is low maintenance and offers basic features. For most water sports, 200-meter dive watches are very effective, but buffer watches with 300-meter dive depts allow for more strain over time. 
• Even though most dives occur above 200 meters, dive watches can stay underwater for long periods. Most divers select watches marketed as exceeding the 300-meter mark. For dives deeper than 200 meters, you will need to invest a bit more into your ISO-certified dive watch. Most SCUBA dives never exceed 200 meters, but occasionally experienced divers will need to dive deeper than 200 meters. Technical divers need a dive watch that will sink below the 200-meter mark. Extended-time divers will find little complication if they select a dive watch that exceeds the 200-meter pressure limit. For a reliable dive watch exceeding the 200-meter mark, you will probably spend $1500 and exceed $5000, depending on the brand. Reliable dive watches that exceed 200 meters and are below the $5000 price range are Seiko Prosmax MarineMaster, Oris ProDiver, and Mido Oceanstar Diver.  
• Deep-sea professional SCUBA divers need a watch that exceeds 500 meters. The most effective dive watches for deep sea SCUBA divers are 1000-meter pressure gauged watches. These watches easily exceed $2,600 and soar up to the $10,000 price range. Finding a reliable used deep sea watch is ideal for those looking for a reasonable price range, but have your PADI instructor check to see if it works. Repairing it may indicate you need to invest in a SCUBA dive watch of your own. It will be rare for you to find a reliable 1000-meter dive watch lower than $5000. Here are some reliable, reasonably-priced dive watches that meet the 1000-meter underwater pressure gauge: MWC Depthmaster, Pantor Seahorse, Zelos Abyss 3, Oceanx Sharkmaster, and Deep Blue Pro Sea Diver. 

Before purchasing an expensive dive watch, conduct the following:

•  Read reviews on the dive watch of your choice from experienced SCUBA divers.
• Speak with your PADI team leader or instructor.
• Investigate the internet for used watches that exceed your water resistance requirements.

If you are taking a casual dive or a beginner course, consider an INVICTA in the lower price range of $200 or less. Asking experienced PADI divers will give you a more accurate picture of what you need in a dive watch. By the Shore, SCUBA Instruction is a leading dive instruction school headed by Kevin Alexander. Check out our merchandise on By the Shore SCUBA Instruction’s website for quality diving gear. If you don’t see something on our website, feel free to request different SCUBA gear on our website. If you have questions concerning dive watches, we would be happy to answer any specific concerns.

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