Most divers buy their first BCD within the first year of getting certified. It is the second-biggest gear purchase after a regulator set, and the choice between jacket, back-inflate, wing and travel is the one that causes the most confusion. Each style exists for a good reason, but which one...

Sydney is one of Australia's most underrated shore diving cities. Cold-water divers already know it; mainstream travel coverage rarely does. Between the ocean reefs at Manly, the protected bays off Clovelly, the sheltered harbour coves, and the weedy seadragon sites at La Perouse and Kurnell, scuba diving Sydney from the...

Open Water certification is a solid foundation. It builds safe habits, covers the core skills and gets divers into the water with confidence. For many people, it is also the start of a longer progression.  Sydney rewards that progression more than most places. The coastline is varied, the marine life is rich,...