SSI has added an Invasive Species Management Specialty to its conservation lineup. It’s easy to assume that’s a lionfish course for people who dive the Caribbean. It is — and Arizona’s lakes are still a good example of why the idea matters at home.
Being an Arizona scuba diver means dealing with some of the most extreme temperature swings in the sport. One weekend you are sweating on a boat in San Carlos, and the next you are dropping into a 55-degree thermocline at Lake Pleasant. So, what exactly should you be hanging in your gear closet? You can’t dive the world comfortably in just one suit. Here is our instructor-approved guide to wetsuit thickness, helping you figure out exactly what you need to own for every condition.
When we think of scuba diving, we usually think of sea level. But for many divers in the American West, the most stunning underwater vistas aren’t at the coast—they are tucked away in the peaks of our mountain ranges. High altitude diving offers a surreal, crystal-clear experience, but it also comes with a unique set of physical rules. Before you head to the mountains, you need to understand how the lower atmospheric pressure changes your dive profile and your safety.
