Jan | Do Dive In

Whether the dive boat you’re embarking on is a tiny dinghy, a 6 pack or a multi-diver behemoth, following a few simple rules will make things easier for you and the crew. While you can take advantage of our boat diver specialty class to learn all there is to know about diving from different kinds of boats, the tips below can help you be a perfectly polite and well-prepared boat diver on any excursion. [Read more]

After receiving your scuba certification in Illinois, you’ll have the opportunity to start expanding on your skills by learning more advanced scuba techniques. For many, this means taking specialty diver classes that help you master new skills, and no skill can help you get more out of every scuba experience than nitrox diving. [Read more]

Cold weather can put a damper on diving, especially as Illinois becomes frostier as fall turns to winter. Chilly waters of the quarries and Great Lakes, though fun to explore, can seem less inviting as the temperatures above the surface continue to plummet. You may be tempted to give up your scuba dreams for the season, but like many problems in the colder months, the solution may be as simple as changing your clothes. [Read more]

Though breathing underwater may be the most pressing challenge we face while diving, it isn’t the only one. The thrill of scuba diving comes from exploring an unfamiliar world, but these surroundings are not always easy to navigate—finding your way around is more complicated than it is on the surface. [Read more]

If you’re hoping to explore some wrecks, come face to face with unique ocean life and make the most of your scuba skills, deep diving is the way to do it. Unfortunately, those added rewards come with added risks. Diving deeper than 60 feet increases your chances of depleting your air supply and experiencing nitrogen narcosis, but these dangers can be overcome with proper training and preparation. [Read more]

Sunken schooners, algae-covered school buses, train cars, fire trucks and telephone booths—manmade treasures like these can make for a ton of underwater fun. Wreck diving gives you the chance to take in some very unusual sights, and the prevalence of these underwater ruins makes them accessible just about anywhere: at the depths of the ocean, in the chill of Lake Michigan and even in some of the Midwest’s limestone quarries. [Read more]

Also known as a decompression or deco meter, a dive computer can be a vital part of staying safe on any dive after you get your scuba certification in Illinois. By determining the length and depth of your dive, a dive computer can provide the parameters you’ll need to stay within to keep your nitrogen levels from becoming problematic. [Read more]

During a drift dive, you’ll take advantage of the ocean’s currents to experience what it truly feels like to fly underwater. By exploring ocean areas with known currents, you can minimize your effort and maximize your distance and time, taking in the scenery as you’re carried parallel to stunning reefs and aquatic wildlife. But just as with any dive, preparation and education are essential to keeping your scuba experience as safe and enjoyable as possible. [Read more]

Night diving lets you see any underwater world in a whole new way. A sweep of your dive light through the nighttime sea may reveal all sorts of creatures that seek refuge during the daylight hours: basket stars, lobsters, sea turtles, bioluminescent plankton and more. Your flashlight’s beam can expose mysteries you never imagined, even making the colors of the reef more radiant and intense. [Read more]

If you’ve gotten your dive certification in Peoria, you’ve probably already started to create some lasting memories of your underwater excursions, but plucking a fish from its underwater habitat is a bad idea no matter how fervently you want to bring it home with you. Fortunately, you can still get a great memento from your trip with underwater photography. [Read more]