Isabelle Barbier
• 9 min read
What are the differences between the dive sites, marine life, required experience levels, and terrestrial interests in the Galápagos in Ecuador versus those of Cocos Island in Costa Rica? Which destination is better suited to your diving experience and expectations? We'll tell you everything you need to know before taking the plunge!
Isabelle Barbier
• 7 min read
Should you dive in Socorro or the Galápagos first? Which destination is best suited to your diving experience and expectations? We'll tell you everything you need to know to decide which of these incredible destinations is best for your next dive trip!
Isabelle Barbier
• 4 min read
Oceanic manta rays are the largest species of rays in the world. Get to know the best season and sites to see oceanic mantas, some tips to responsibly snorkel and scuba dive with them, and what you can do for their conservation!
Isabelle Barbier
• 8 min read
Where and when can you dive with blue sharks? What's special about them? Are blue sharks friendly? We've been diving with blue sharks in the Azores, an archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Diving in the Azores is good, as you can see plenty of pelagic life. It is also one of the largest whale sanctuaries worldwide. The best time to go diving there is in July and August. To dive with blue sharks in the Azores, you'll have to go to Pico island or Faial!
Isabelle Barbier
• 12 min read
What is the best time of the year to dive in the Galápagos? Is diving in the Galápagos difficult? How strong are the currents? Which dive gear should you bring? How to get there? Discover everything you need to know to plan a dive trip to Galápagos!
Isabelle Barbier
• 4 min read
Finding the right wetsuit can be tough! And it seems even harder to find one for colder water scuba diving. Read our review of the Fourth Element Xenos 7 mm wetsuit. Is this the easiest wetsuit to put on and off?
Isabelle Barbier
• 5 min read
Where can you scuba dive at the end of 2021? **Indonesia** has reopened since mid-October to fully vaccinated travelers from 19 countries. **Thailand** has been easing its SandBox program, and travelers from 46 countries will be able to enter the country without quarantine starting November 1st! **Fiji** will reopen on December 1st to fully vaccinated travelers of more than 14 countries without quarantine.
Isabelle Barbier
• 7 min read
Azores, Portugal, is often claimed to be the best scuba diving destination in Europe. From Pico island, you can access Princess Alice, a world-famous dive site full of exciting species. You can also dive with the fastest sharks on earth, the blue sharks. Are the Azores indeed one of Europe's best-kept-secret for scuba-diving? With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting travel outside Europe, we decided to give it a go this summer and headed to Pico island for a week.
Isabelle Barbier
• 6 min read
Why is Socorro at the top of the bucket list of so many divers? When should you dive Socorro? How do you get there? How deep is the diving? Are oceanic mantas there year-round? The Revillagigedo archipelago often referred to as "Socorro" or the "Mexican Galápagos", is only accessible with a liveaboard.
Isabelle Barbier
• 8 min read
Sharing your passion for diving with your family - this is what many would love to do! Some eco-resorts and liveaboards have been designed with families in mind, and catering to young divers is part of the experience. We've selected six places where you'll have some incredible dives and create long-lasting family bonds.
Isabelle Barbier
• 7 min read
You might be able to pack your scuba gear sooner than expected! Which countries are good for scuba diving and already opened to travelers - vaccinated or not? Which ones should reopen this summer?
Isabelle Barbier
• 8 min read
Raja Ampat and Misool and growing in popularity among scuba divers, often making it to the top of their bucket-list. Discover everything you need to know to plan a diving trip to this biodiversity hot spot!
Isabelle Barbier
• 6 min read
Which destinations are great for diving _and_ for family travel? We have selected four destinations offering superb diving and adventures that will delight divers and non-divers!
Isabelle Barbier
• 8 min read
Planning a dive trip during COVID-19 times? With the pandemic dragging on, many scuba divers have had the longest surface interval ever. We can't wait to put our scuba diving masks on!
Isabelle Barbier
• 4 min read
While François Sarano, oceanographer and former scientific adviser to Commander Cousteau, was traveling to Cape Verde, he witnessed a striking fact: scuba divers were wasting fresh water to rinse themselves, while the country is in dire need of it...
Isabelle Barbier
• 4 min read
While you're probably confined in self-isolation, there's no better time to ponder human existence and our species' impact on the planet. Like viruses, oceans know no borders. We found three recent documentaries to stretch your understanding to the limits.
Isabelle Barbier
• 3 min read
A new generation of designers has emerged in recent years, and with them, an appetite for more ethical jewelry. These three designers use ocean-related elements to hand-make beautiful and eco-friendly jewelry.
Véronique Angot
• 6 min read
It all started in January 2019, I was looking for a "smart" trip, an experience that goes beyond just exploring diving or snorkeling sites.
Aly Corrales
• 6 min read
It’s a story we hear all too often… ‘My wife and I use to love to dive, but after the kiddos came along, we stopped’. Why is it that so many parents give up on a hobby after they start having children?
Isabelle Barbier
• 4 min read
With a size that most often averages 12 meters length (40 feet), whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea. Even though they are listed as Vulnerable to extinction in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, you can see them congregating in large amounts in various areas of North and Central America. It is possible to snorkel with them, following the code of conduct you'll be introduced to on the boat.
Isabelle Barbier
• 3 min read
Incredible ocean documentaries that explore global threats to marine life while also conveying messages of hope for the future. These films have inspired real change across industry, consumerism, and government protection plans.
Isabelle Barbier
• 3 min read
Thinking of becoming a dive professional? We asked Hélène, PADI Course Director in Indonesia, to give us an overview of her job. Discover her tips for choosing your center and becoming an amazing dive pro!
Isabelle Barbier
• 3 min read
Looking for a gift idea for a scuba diver? We have selected a range of products that are positive for the ocean and also some fun and useful diving accessories.
Bertrand Duong
• 7 min read
For several years, I had been looking for a new project to change from Paris' intense lifestyle. The first step of my research in 2014 brought me to Southeast Asia and more specifically to Myanmar.
Isabelle Barbier
• 3 min read
Seeing humpback whales is a dream of many: they have amazing shapes, their songs are captivating and they are gentle with each other. While most of the world's humpback whale populations is no longer endangered, you will have better chance to see them if you go in the peak season of their favorite mating and calving grounds.
Julien Hilt
• 3 min read
Tofo is a place few people get to know. This is why I immediately got hooked when Isabelle from SeaCrush told me about this destination.
Michael Lake
• 5 min read
What if there were more in the Oceans than what we see when we go diving? We have selected five documentaries involving the greatest oceanographers, marine enthusiasts, and journalists of our planet.
Isabelle Barbier
• 4 min read
Charlotte, half French and half American, tells us all about her divemaster internship she did in Indonesia. Working as a management consultant in Sydney, Australia, she is passionate about scuba diving, sky diving (she has 80+ solo and group jumps so far!) and has just started learning to sail!
Claire Mogford
• 9 min read
Coral reef degradation has been much publicised in the past couple of years but I didn’t really understand what this meant until I started the Divemaster programme at Utila Dive Centre (UDC).
Isabelle Barbier
• 5 min read
Who are these women who want to become Divemasters? Many do not intend to work as dive professionals. We wanted to know more about their motivations, so we decided to interview one - her name is Vysia.
Isabelle Barbier
• 3 min read
Happy World Oceans Day! Today is a perfect day to make a positive change for the Ocean. We've selected five projects you can contribute to. From small changes in your every day behavior to protecting marine life species, there are many ways you can contribute.
Isabelle Barbier
• 2 min read
Scuba diving is one of the fastest growing tourism industries: currently there are about one million additional divers being certified every year. Did you know that most divers make contact with the reef during their dives? :anguished:
Isabelle Barbier
• 2 min read
You can pack your dive equipment and check it in as a regular luggage in most airlines. However, only a few airlines do offer extra allowance or extra weight.
Isabelle Barbier
• 3 min read
Have you heard Hawaii State has recently banned sunscreens that harm coral reefs? It's estimated that 10% of the world's coral reefs are at risk for bleaching due to sunscreen wash-off.
Michael Lake
• 1 min read
Did you know that manta rays have the biggest brains of any fish? Their brains have hugely developed areas for problem-solving, learning, and communication. These ultra-smart fish are known for swimming close to divers to get a closer look - will you know what to do?
Isabelle Barbier
• 6 min read
Seeing mantas underwater is mesmerizing. Not only are they beautiful to watch, they're incredibly intelligent - their brains are larger than any other fish.
Isabelle Barbier
• 3 min read
Desperate to share your love of diving with your newly found romance? Here are 10 ideas to help convince your partner to start diving.
Isabelle Barbier
• 4 min read
Whether you've never seen a shark at all, or you're a pro who knows them all by name, one thing is for sure: it is _always_ a thrill to see one! Grey reef, white tips, black tips, nurse, tiger or bull sharks... some are curious, others are massive, and all impose respect.
Isabelle Barbier
• 9 min read
We all want to have fun while diving, it's important to feel confident and know what to do to avoid accidents. Too many times, it is a little chain of incidents that lead to a dive accident. So we looked back on our dive experience and gathered these tips you might find useful.
Isabelle Barbier
• 6 min read
Traveling with dive equipment can feel challenging — it can be heavy, fragile, and often takes a lot of space. So how do well-travelled divers do it? We'll tell you!
Destinations
Right Season
Dive Operators
Booking Fees
