SCUBA Links
SCUBA Diving Links
Below are some useful or interesting sites related to Scuba diving.
Diver Safety & Medicine
Divers Alert Network (DAN) – DAN is the worldwide leader in diver safety research and training. They also offer useful insurance for the active diver.
Doc's Diving Medicine – This site ....
Forums
SCUBA Board – An active site with forums on numerous diving related subjects..
Sport Diver Forum – A forum hosted on PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site. Not a particularly active site, but has some forums that others sites don't such as one on "Teen Diving" and another on "Family Diving".
DeeperBlue.net – Another very active site. Includes freediving and Scuba related forums but the freediving forums are more active.
Scuba Forum – Another....
Scuba Diving Forum – Another....
Scuba Magazine.net – Another....
Scuba Toys Forum – Another....
Magazines and Publications
Sport Diver – PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site.
California Diving News (CDN) – A forum hosted on PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site.
SCUBA Diving Magazine – A forum hosted on PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site.
DeeperBlue.net – A forum hosted on PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site.
Sport Diver Forum – A forum hosted on PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site.
Sport Diver Forum – A forum hosted on PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site.
Sport Diver Forum – A forum hosted on PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site.
Scuba Diving Magazine – A forum hosted on PADI's Sport Diver online magazine site.
DiverNet – Diver Magazine Online
Training/Certification Agencies
There are many diver training and certification agencies. Some people have strong opinions about certain agencies being better than others. In general, my opinion is that each has its share of poor, average and excellent instructors. I believe choosing the right instructor is much more important than chossing a particular agency. Below are links to the major agencies providing internationally recognized certification.
British Sub Aquatic Club (BSAC) – BSAC started as a diving club in England in 1953 and today has many affiliated dive centers in the UK and throughout the world. There are only a few dive centers in the US affiliated with BSAC.
Divers Alert Network (DAN) – DAN provides specialized diver training in various types of diving medicine including general first aid, marine life injuries, oxygen first aid and neurological assement for dive injuries.
Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) – GUE provides training in "Doing It Right" (DIR) diving philospy, techniques and equipment setup.
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD) – IANTD offers numerous certifications in various aspects of technical diving and enriched air diving. They also offer a number of courses in free diving.
Los Angeles County Underwater Instructors Association (LA UIC) – Many people do not realize it, but Los Angeles County created the first recreational diver certification program in the United States in 1954. Today, they continue to provide some of the best training available.
National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) – Founded in 1959, NAUI was once the largest certification agency in the United States. NAUI has lost considerable market share to PADI and other agencies, but some of their instructors rank among the best and most experienced avaialble. They have a large offering of Scuba and specialty courses to choose from.
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) – The largest of the certification agencies. PADI offers a wide range of Scuba and specialty courses for the recreational diver.
Scuba Schools International (SSI) – SSI offers SCUBA certifications at all levels and in various specialties.
Technical Diving International / SCUBA Diving International (TDI/SDI) – These two sister companies offer certifications in various technical diving specialties and various levels of Scuba diving respectively. They offer the academic portion of some of their courses online.
YMCA – YMCA began providing diver training in 1959. Today, they are small compared to most of the commercial certification agencies, but some of their instructors are good. Their course offerings are limited compared to most of the certification agencies.
Southern California Diving Retailers
Laguna Sea Sports – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Sport Chalet – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Pacific Wilderness – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Hollywoodivers – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Beach Cities SCUBA – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Two Harbors Dive and Recreation Center – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Eco Dive Center – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Malibu Divers – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Scuba Schools of America – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Two Harbors Dive and Recreation Center – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Two Harbors Dive and Recreation Center – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Online Retailers
LiesurePro – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
SCUBA.com – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Divers Supply – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Mechanical Music Digest (MMD) – This non-commercial site is full of great information and they have archived message postings that function much the same as a forum.
Equipment Manufacturers
Apeks
Scubapro
Sherwood