You Know you’re Addicted to Scuba Diving When..

1.You flunked high school physics but you amazingly  can calculate the partial pressure of a gas in equilibrium and its solubility and absorption rate by the body during a dive using Henry’s Law!

2. Every morning the sound of shaving foam (psshhhht) makes you want to go diving.

3. You’re the only one out of your office buddies that doesn’t snicker when the word “Off-gassing” is mentioned.

4. You get out of bed in the morning by doing a back-roll.

5.You’ve never watched Star Wars but you’ll watch “The Abyss”, “Men Of Honor” or “Deep Blue Sea” 100 times.

6. Then you finally start watching the Star Wars movies and think to yourself “Man, Darth Vader really needs to get that regulator replaced”

7. You show up at your neighborhood swimming pool during the off-season in full dive gear hoping to log some bottom time.

8. You’re the only one who isn’t blushing when you ask your friends, “Want to see some Nudi pictures?

9. You have more ‘C’ cards than credit cards in your wallet.

10. You’re more worried about your divers insurance payments than your health insurance.

11. Your preferred method of getting high is to get ‘narced’ on a deep dive.

12. When your kid’s first words are PA-DI instead of Dad-dy.

13. You see a perfectly good ship and think that would make a nice wreck to dive in.

14. You spend most of your time picking apart the unrealities in the latest Hollywood diving flick rather than watching the movie.

15. You automatically equalize your ears by performing the valsalva maneuver every time you step into an elevator.

16. You answer “Suunto” when asked what kind of computer you use.

17. You spit on your car windshield to prevent it from fogging up.

18. You can’t afford a wristwatch cos you spent all your money on an expensive dive computer instead.

19. While others long for Rolex, Omega or Tag Heuer on their wrists you’d settle for a Mares, Suunto  or Oceanic.

20. When you think your neighbors’ vacation to Belize was a waste of money cos they didn’t do any Scuba Diving.

21. When getting a “reverse squeeze” has nothing to do with your girlfriend grabbing your butt!

22. You can’t remember your wedding anniversary but always know when Discovery Channels “Shark Week” is on.

23. You get excited about the viz while you go swimming in a pool.

24. The only suit in your closet besides your wedding suit…is your wetsuit!

25. And you need serious help… if your wedding suit IS your wetsuit.

*Photo credits: photo by joeduty on flickr

10. “Hey, you’re the first guest since “the disappearance.”

9.   “I’ll give you half off the dive today, if you know something about boat motors.”

8.   “Currents?  Oh, I wouldn’t worry about currents.  If we don’t find you, search and rescue will.”

7.   “Here put this mask on, your face is killin’ me.”

6.   “I think I got some jerky stuck in my teeth.”  (as he uses the reflection in your  mask to check)

5.   “Now this cylinder has 2000lbs of air in it.  So bend with your knees.”

4.   “I hope you’re as good as the last guy I took out.  He saved my life!  Twice…”

3.   “If I teach you one thing today, don’t ever try to punch a shark when he has his mouth open.”

2.  “Welcome to the food chain folks. You are no longer at the top of it.”

1.   “Sorry I’m late. Had a Funeral to go to. I barely knew the guy, met him on the last trip…”

*Photo Credits: photos by Nemo’s great uncle on flickr

Scuba diving, like anything isn’t for everyone. Here are a few simple ways to tell if it’s not for you-

1.If your fellow diver gives you the “Ok” signal and you give him “the bird.”

2. If you joke that safety stops are for wussies.

3. When your dive buddy gives you the “out of air”  signal, do you say things like, “sucks to be you”, or, “Wait here, I’ll go get you some” while swimming off?

4. Do you offer to race other divers to the surface?

5. Do you spit in your wetsuit and pee in your mask?

6. If you think being neutral in the water means not fighting with your dive buddy.

7. If you wait for the tingly feeling, as a signal to surface.

8. If you have a hard time figuring out which fin goes on which foot.

9. Did you move to Kansas to avoid shark attacks?

10. If you don’t wear fins because it’s hard to walk on the bottom…

…perhaps diving just isn’t for you.

*Photo credits: Photos by Andy Ciordia, Gagliardo_ on flickr.

Many divers are opting to ‘take the plunge’ quite literally with a SCUBA Wedding. Underwater weddings are becoming increasingly popular in a lot of dive destinations,  South Florida, Thailand and Australia in particular.

While not an entirely new concept, underwater nuptials have become a lot more do-able and interactive due to advanced technology. An underwater wedding usually starts of with a boat ride to an off shore dive site, not too deep but with clear waters. Sail boats are often used and many packages offer a pre dive as well as post dive champagne and snack on board. Although the couple can choose to wear traditional wedding attire, simplicity in choosing the clothing is called for or just black and white wetsuits are recommended.

Earlier and in some locations even today, vows were taken by holding up signs like “I Do’”. But today, with the latest in underwater communication technology divers and the attending guests are fitted and shown how to use underwater communications gear, allowing them to answer each other verbally. Some operators like Pro Dive have glass bottom boats for guests who prefer not getting their attire wet, to view the ceremony which includes the vows, exchange of rings and the 1st kiss. Many a times the signing of the certificate takes place on the boat and pictures with the license taken back underwater.

With the possibility of underwater photography, videography and even music Scuba weddings are a perfect setting for Scuba lovers, with the deep blue ocean backdrop or even a wreck or reef, colorful tropical fish in attending it’s a natural themed option. Think about how much you can save on flowers and decorations, chairs and a gazebo.  The post ceremony celebration is easily arranged either on a boat or back on the beach, what could be a more memorable day? A destination wedding and honeymoon in one!

So if you are one to show how deep your love is, consider an underwater ceremony you and your significant other won’t ever forget. With the endless options and possibilities of a Scuba wedding, love won’t just be in the air but in the oceans as well!