Your Questions About What Is Scuba Diving
Ken asks…
What is the PADI maximum recommended depth for scuba-diving as a beginner?
What about first time you go scuba diving and the recommended depth?
Tom Trindell answers:
Both of the above answers are wrong. On completion of the initial PADI Open Water certification you are allowed under PADI rules to dive to a maximum depth of 18metres/60 feet. To dive deeper then the PADI Advanced Diver course trains you to 40metres/140 feet.
Sandy asks…
What are some of the best places to go scuba diving?
I am obsessed with marine life and I want to plan my net vacation around scuba diving– so tell me what is the best place.
Tom Trindell answers:
I love marine life as well. As a scuba diver I have to quite a few places. So let me list them for you. All of these destinations are excellent vacation destinations, and they all have great scuba diving. I access the caribbean islands quite a bit because I am in Michigan. Also – I love Hawaii so I go scuba diving there quite a bit. So here is the list not by preferences, just destinations I have been to:
Tortola – British Virgin Islands
St, Thomas – US Virgin Islands – also try St Johns, & St. Croix
St, Maarten – Dutch & French
Saba – Dutch
St Vincent & Grenadines – fantastic small marine life
Barbados
Grand Cayman
Cayman Brac
Little Cayman
Cozumel – Mexico
Cancun – Mexico
Trinidad Tobago – Tobago is the place to dive
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Dominican Republic – not my first choice – It has improved a lot
Kona Coast – Big Island Hawaii
Maui
Molokai – Monk Seals/Hammerhead Sharks
Kauai – Poipu area – sail over to Niihau
Great Barrier Reef – Australia
SOME OTHER Destinations – I have not been to
Belize – Central America
Roatan – Honduras
Palau – South Pacific
Solomon Islands – South Pacific
Cebu – South Pacific
Tahiti
Fiji
There are numerous more – have fun with these to begin with
Happy Scuba Diving
Paul asks…
What type of wetsuit if best for scuba diving in Florida?
I’m going scuba diving in Florida next week and was packing my gear, is my wetsuit which is a 2pc bib style I think prolly 6.5mm thick going to be too warm for Florida (Orlando area, springs and maybe Gulf side diving i.e. Venice Beach)? I do get cold easily but I’m more used to Pacific water which is generally colder anyhow, so I’d hate to be too warm.
Also, for Florida diving what‘s the alligator diving hazard there for springs?
Tom Trindell answers:
Nobody can tell you what wetsuit will be best for you, only you know exactly how comfortable you will be at a given water temperature. That said, a 6.5mm farmer john/jacket combo seems like overkill for Florida diving…most people tend to use that level of protection in temps below 60-65 F or so. While I usually recommend that people err on the side of warmth, that sounds like too much for Florida…but again only you are in the position to make that call.
If I were you I would do some research on the water temps where you plan to dive and use your experience with your 6.5mm two-piece at other water temps, then make your decision. Operating blindly, I would think a well-fitting 5mm suit would be enough but only you can say for sure what is right for you.
Good luck!
FYI…I just checked a sea temperature chart and found the Gulf temps in the 85 F range. Many people would view those temperatures as comfortable in no wetsuit (not me!), a 3mm shorty, or a 3mm jumpsuit. The springs may be more in the 75 F range. You might want to consider layering to handle that range of temperatures, use a 3mm in the Gulf and add a 3mm hooded vest in the springs. Or something. 
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