One World Dive

New Sealife SportDiver iPhone Housing

SeaLife is introducing a new compact and lightweight underwater housing that works with Apple’s iPhone 7 through the newest 12 models. The new SeaLife SportDiver housing will allow divers to take photos and video with their iPhone down to 130 feet. Made of heavy-duty Polycarbonate, stainless steel, aluminum and optical grade glass, it weighs just 641 grams, perfect for travelling and offers almost neutral buoyancy in water.

The SportDiver is easy to hold and use and offers a large shutter lever and rear control buttons for easy operation, even with dive gloves. Snorkelers and Divers can get more creative with their photos or video shot by using advanced camera settings. Adjust Zoom, Exposure (EV), Auto/Manual Focus, White Balance, Tint, Lens selection, RAW+JPEG mode, Live Photo and Background Blur (on available iPhone models).

The SportDiver housing includes the free SeaLife SportDiver camera app for iOS 12 and up and unlike other smartphone housing apps, there are no annoying in-app purchases or ads. You can easily switch between photo and video mode. The SportDiver App uses the iPhone camera technology native to each iPhone® model.

For enhanced imaging results, a removable underwater color-correction filter is included with the SportDiver which restores natural underwater colors. The filter easily attached or removes underwater and includes a safety tether to prevent loss. The SportDiver housing features triple 1/4-20 tripod mounts which mounts to any light or light tray with standard tripod threads such as SeaLife’s own range of Sea Dragon underwater photo/video lights. SeaLife also offers the SportDiver and Sea Dragon underwater light combined dubbed the “SportDiver Pro 2500 Set”.

For the phone’s safety and protection, the SportDiver has a sturdy holding spring and rubber grip tabs that securely hold the iPhone® in place and add shock-protection. The SportDiver has “Dual Leak Alarms” which include an internal moisture alarm and a vacuum pressure alarm which alert the diver with on-screen warnings, audio and LED signal in the unlikely event the waterproof seal is compromised and there’s a loss of housing pressure or moisture is detected. The door of the SportDiver is sealed with a TPE O-ring and a robust cam-lock sealing latch that easily and securely locks waterproof door. To prevent interior fogging from residual moisture, the SportDiver uses the anti-fogging agent “Moisture Muncher” capsule which prevents fogging and internal condensation.

Cozumel during COVID

We did it; we went diving. For those that want just the highlights, here you go:

No, we didn’t get sick
Yes, Cozumel took the virus very seriously, enforcing social distancing, applying hand sanitizer every few feet, spraying down bags with disinfectant and generally following all protocols prescribed by the CDC, WHO and Mexican authorities. Twice during our 5 day visit we witnessed Mexican authorities measuring table distances and confirming all standards were being met.
Yes, the diving was excellent, but no, the reef didn’t change dramatically in the 3 months without divers. Overall we find Cozumel to offer incredible diving considering the cost and ease of travel. Loggerhead turtles, blacktip reef and nurse sharks, large Rainbow and Midnight Parrotfish were seen on numerous dives, and the typicals (angelfish, wrasse, triggerfish and butterflyfish) were abundant.
Yes, we wore our masks on the plane, in the taxis and on our excursion in town. No, we didn’t wear them throughout the resort. Most everything we did at the resort was outside (sitting on the beach, getting a beverage from the bar, wading in the ocean), with plenty of opportunity to social distance. Our only activity inside was to actually eat lunch and dinner, where I needed to be maskless to complete regardless.
Yes, the entire staff wore masks. Some wore faceshields. And even gloves. The resort and boats were as clean as I’ve ever seen them.
Lunch and dinner were both served a la carte, no buffet style. The one former buffet, breakfast, was served “lunch lady style”, walking down a line pointing at what you would like to eat and it being plated for you.
Most dive boats we saw had the entire crew/guests wearing masks. Tanks were spread out to ensure social distancing while getting ready, though maintaining 6’ on a dive boat is just about impossible. The boats we saw that weren’t wearing masks may have all been from the same family/group (as ours was), so we can’t judge.
We changed our airport strategy, staying away from the gate and crowds and being one of the last to board so as to avoid being passed in the aisle by throngs of other travelers. This required pre-planning on how we packed, paying for a piece of luggage so we weren’t dependent upon overhead space. The result was a stress-free boarding experience.
Was it worth it? Absolutely. I’d board a plane tomorrow and do it again!

Have I lost you yet? No? Then here’s the extended version:

As happens just about every week since the COVID crisis hit, we spent our morning scouring our travel sites for updates on island closures and openings, infection rates and the general state of the world. As travel agents, we have a vested interest in staying up to date on all things dive travel related. But we also have a moral obligation to balance that with client safety and acceptable risk.

Through the beginning of the summer, some countries slowly started opening borders. Hotels were soon to follow, and tourism operators started reaching out about the opportunities in their respective locations. Checking in on friends and dive colleagues gave us a “boots on the ground” perspective, with up to the minute reports of the true state of affairs throughout our diving community. Many are struggling to stay in business, with country restrictions resulting in their fate being completely out of their control.

While many borders continued to stay closed, some of our fellow dive shops started exploring stateside options. Sitting in the middle of the country, driving to dive is not a very viable option, so our dive trip would require air travel regardless. Local infection rates plus availability of hotel and food options all went into our equation. Based upon our research, we decided it was time to jump back into the international diving scene and give Cozumel a whirl. For Colorado, Cozumel is about as close to “local” as we can get! (Colorado sends the second most divers to Cozumel, trailing only Texas).

As divers, we have come to expect a certain amount of “acceptable risk”. Many will tell us we are crazy for going down into that dark and scary abyss, most surely to be eaten by sharks or dragged down to Davy Jones Locker. But just looking at risk as a percentage, the most dangerous part of our trip was driving to the airport. I know it’s a lot scarier to think about Jaws, but the numbers just don’t add up. So in evaluating whether we should go or not, we looked at the science, evaluated the infection rates in both our state and where we were going, and determined driving to work that week instead of going diving was ultimately a riskier endeavor (there are about 6 million car accidents a year in the US alone)!

We also considered our hosts; was it safe enough to travel to another location knowing we could be spreading the disease to others. We’ve been fortunate to make friends all over the world, and nothing would sadden me more than if we made them, or their loved ones, ill. But on the flipside, they can’t pay their rent, struggle to buy food, and are nearing losing their businesses which they have spent their entire working lives trying to build. Our decision was easy; as long as we weren’t sick, we’d go, spend our money in their businesses, all while trying to protect them by wearing masks when we couldn’t social distance, maintaining our space, and limiting our usual hugs as we said hello and goodbye.

As we prepared for our departure, we modified our thinking in how we would travel. Our original plan was to pack just one bag with dive gear, with two rolling carryon bags for our clothes. We realized this would necessitate boarding early to guarantee overhead space, resulting in sitting on the plane while the remaining passengers loaded. We quickly changed strategies, accepting the cost of an additional bag to check. This allowed us to stay away from the gate during initial loading, walking up near the end to board last, minimizing our contact with the other passengers.

Once onboard, we, like most everyone, sanitized our own seats, tray tables and seatbelts. Everyone aboard wore a mask, with both flight attendants and the pilots making announcements that confirmed in no uncertain terms what would be expected of us as the traveling public. Considering the air in the plane is recirculated about every 3 minutes, and knowing the statistics of COVID cases among flight crews, I felt much safer aboard that 737 than I do at our local grocery store.

Touching down in Cozumel, I immediately felt better once I breathed in that salt air and enjoyed some humidity. The oddest part was we were the only jet on the tarmac. No lines to get through customs, no waiting for other bags to be unloaded. We were in and out in record time, boarded aboard a shuttle bound for our hotel.

Upon arriving, we were greeted with a hearty “Hola, Amigos”, and hand sanitizer. Cleaning our shoe soles, spraying our bags with disinfectant, health screening questionnaire and temperature check concluded our initial welcome before we were allowed to check in and get settled. Ten minutes later my toes were in the sand and I was taking in my first dose of Vitamin Sea!

Time spent at the resort was much like normal, with the exception of every member of staff wearing at minimum a mask, and some with faceshields and gloves. The biggest difference at meals was breakfast, where the buffet line was replaced with a “lunch lady”, loading your plate as you pointed at what you wanted, eliminating guests touching ladles and tongs. Lunch and dinner were served a la carte to your table. All meals were first started with your obligatory hand sanitizer, with entry into the restaurants being denied until you complied. Even drinks at the bar were only handed over after they offered, and you happily accepted, sanitizer. A closer inspection of the sanitizer brand revealed Purell, the same exact version I was using at home.

Although guests were not obligated to wear masks, some chose to throughout the resort. As most activities at the resort with the exception of lunch and dinner were outside with plenty of space to social distance, the need for masks seemed minimal. Resort capacity was limited to 50%, with far less actually occupying the resort during our stay. Space was ample, with plenty of chairs at both the pool and beach begging to be lounged in, which I may have obliged once or twice.

One of our biggest questions revolved around the actual dive experience, from boarding to splashing. Masks were required as we headed down the dock once our boat arrived, with our crew first welcoming us with hand sanitizer and a quick medical screening. Upon passing our gear over, we were aboard. The typical hand to assist was not offered, but crew were stationed to immediately help if we lost our balance while boarding. Tanks were spaced on board, with the boat limited to 50% capacity, resulting in a tank separating every diver. Although it’s nearly impossible to maintain 6’ of distance on a dive boat, when boats were loaded with strangers, masks were obligatory.

The actual diving experience was no different. We geared up upon arriving at the dive site, listened to our briefing and waddled to the back of the boat to splash. Once in the water, it was the perfect escape. For 60 minutes, concerns about COVID, our business, the economy and the health of our friends and family disappeared as we floated along the reef. We cleared our heads of the noise of everyday life, focusing solely on our bubbles as they escaped against our cheeks. We were overjoyed in getting to see giant Loggerhead and Hawksbill turtles in the sand, Blacktip Reef and Nurse sharks, plus all the usuals we have come to expect on a Cozumel dive. The reef looked the same, meaning it didn’t experience a miraculous recovery after only 3 months of inactivity, but still offered the same beauty we saw on our trip to Cozumel last year. It was cathartic to be underwater, truly the medicine we needed to help us through these crazy times.

No trip to Cozumel would be complete without a visit downtown and dinner at our favorite spot, El Moro. But it truly was a tale of two emotions. Seeing the square completely devoid of tourists, with shopkeepers practically begging you to visit, was both surreal and depressing. Our typical visit downtown usually comes after the hoards from the cruise ships have departed, when the tils are full and the smiles plentiful. Although I’m not personally a cruise shipper, their value was clearly stated while walking around the square, a hint of desperation among the locals as the rare tourist wandered by their shop.

Making our way to El Moro quickly brightened our evening as we were welcomed in like family, with Ray’s famous smile difficult to contain by the confines of his mask. Our dinner was described as pure joy as we were spoiled by the Chacon family with wonderful food, drinks, and even some magic tricks by Ray. Sitting there enjoying our Mayan coffee post dinner, I quickly confirmed why we came; COVID has ravaged families that have been sickened or killed by this deadly disease, but it has also caused such irreparable harm to those that haven’t experienced the disease first hand. The inability to make enough money to support your family out of no fault of your own can break a spirit just like any disease. Knowing we were contributing to their bottom line, to the jobs of the divemasters, boat captains, maids, waiters and pool boys, all while balancing safety and our own enjoyment, made the trip more valuable than any we have taken in the past.

As we reversed course and headed back home, we followed all the same protocols. Empty airports were common, though our flights were nearly full on our return trip. We monitored our symptoms for any change in health upon our return just to be sure, with daily temperature checks and a review of our store health screening questionnaire, and continue to be healthy.

We often get asked if we would go back, or if we are booking others to travel right now, and the answer is yes, with an understanding that we all have to be responsible travelers. Wear your mask, wash your hands, monitor your symptoms, don’t travel if you are not feeling well, respect the locals that are welcoming you to their country by following their protocols and safety standards. Basically, with the exception of the mask, do all the things we should be doing regardless of whether COVID is a global threat or not! If you are in a high risk category, or are not comfortable with the idea of going to dinner at a restaurant, let alone get on a plane, then now may not be the time to travel for you. But for many of us, the ability to change our latitude while supporting those that are suffering with the lack of tourists is worth the acceptable risk.

The New Normal

Unless you've been living in a cave (and with quarantine it may have felt that way), you have heard this is "the new normal" a thousand times. But what does this mean for One World Dive & Travel?

Per CDC and Divers Alert Network guidelines, we've stepped up our cleaning and disinfecting routines for the store and our equipment.
When you walk in you'll see us wearing masks. We're trying our best to smile through our eyes, so please know this is as awkward for us as it is for you.
Spreading out students in class, pool workouts and customers throughout the store.
Temperature checks and COVID releases prior to any class or pool use.

What does this mean for you as a diver or snorkeler?

If you don't already, now may be the time to own your own snorkel or dive equipment so you know it hasn't been used by someone else. Mask, snorkel and regulators should be at the top of your list.
Spitting in masks is a thing of the past - purchase some mask defog.
If you are going to rent gear, many operations are requiring you to provide your own mouthpiece.
There are two types of divers in the world - those that pee in their wetsuit, and those that lie about it. We have wetsuits starting at $79.95.

COVID-19 Updates

May 8, 2020
THE STORE OPENS TOMORROW!

Hello friends!

We can honestly say, we CANNOT WAIT to see you all soon! We are very excited to be opening our doors this weekend, and are ready to teach classes, service your equipment, outfit the family or plan your escape to an island destination in the near future.

Opening comes with a new set of guidelines, but we've been preparing the store for our imminent return. We’ve been working hard to keep our staff employed, our techs well trained and our travel staff accessible to you during this crazy time. Time spent cleaning and disinfecting, tuning equipment and freshening the store has also kept us busy during these crazy times. We couldn’t do it without your loyalty and support, so thank you for walking through this time of distance and isolation with us!

Cheers!

Your One World Dive Family

As a reminder on current Tri-County and Colorado health recommendations:

Maintain at least 6' of physical distance between yourself and our employees
Please wear a face mask
If you are feeling ill, please stay home

April 27, 2020
WE ARE OPEN! (with caveats. Keep reading for details)

What a long, strange trip it's been, or at least that's how it feels. We are so thankful Coloradans have been staying safe and at home during this time, but I'm sure, like us, you are ready to travel somewhere besides the living room!

Per the latest Colorado Safer at Home, plus the Tri-County Health amended Stay At Home order, we are offering curbside pickup starting today. Our store staff will be available during regular store hours, seven days a week. Upon your arrival, please call the store at 303-220-8282 and someone will come out to assist you. To follow both state and county guidelines, please adhere to the following:

Maintain at least 6' of physical distance between yourself and our employees
Please wear a face mask
If you are feeling ill, please stay home
Between Monday, April 27th and Friday, May 8th, please do not enter the store. Fines of up to $5,000, 18 months in jail, plus loss of our business license, are all possible consequences that we'd like to avoid

Starting Saturday, May 9th, our retail floor should be open and in-person classes resuming.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we all work through these new social interactions together. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

April 1, 2020
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have all been watching as the situation evolves, sometimes on an hourly basis. Like most of you, we have felt the same emotions of fear, anxiety, frustration in watching our plans get ruined and finally, acceptance.

In light of recent changes in Colorado’s response to the outbreak, and in our best effort to protect both our staff and clients, we are temporarily closing the store to support efforts to reduce the spread.

Our travel department will remain operating from their living room couches to assist with your existing travel plans that may be impacted by island or operator suspensions. If you have an upcoming trip planned with us, we’ll be in contact to discuss options available considering the ever-changing travel landscape. And if dreaming of your next dive vacation is the escape from reality you need right now, our agents can help! You can reach them via email at travel@oneworlddive.com.

If you need something to fill your day, now is a great time to start your next class. PADI eLearning is available to you 24 hours a day, allowing you to start your class from the comfort of your home. The Open Water, Advanced and Rescue classes will give you a head start on the program, with class and pool work currently set to resume in mid to late April. If you’d like to take the Enriched Air Nitrox class, we are offering the classroom session virtually, allowing you to complete most of the course with one of our instructors through video conference. You can purchase the PADI eLearning for all these classes on our website at https://www.oneworlddive.com/shop/PADI-eLearning.htm.

We will be checking our email and phone messages daily, but the best way to reach us is through our main email, info@oneworlddive.com, or ping us on social media. We’ll be active online, hoping to interact with you until we see you again at the shop.

Until then, let’s all do our part to combat the spread. Stay home. Stay safe. Be smart.

Yes, we are open

These are most definitely unprecedented times in our lives; worldwide pandemic, store shelves bare, islands closing. We understand the gravity of the situation, and are doing our best to follow the CDC guidelines and state mandates.

Although it’s not “business as usual”, we are still open. Our travelers need our assistance in rebooking their trips, gear is being serviced, and people still want to learn how to dive.

We have instituted several additional procedures to try and keep everyone safe. These include additional disinfecting protocols for our store, rental and serviced equipment, trying to maintain our “social distance” during our interactions and spreading out our students in class. We are reaching out to every student before class to offer to reschedule if they are sick, subject to quarantine or don’t feel comfortable to attend.

We are no longer shaking hands or giving our usual hugs to our dive family, but know that we are only doing our best to help minimize the spread of this deadly disease.

For those that are asking why we don’t close our doors, it’s because we are trying our best to not lay off our entire staff. These are challenging times for every business, and we don’t want to add bodies to the unemployment line. If you get your regulator serviced, take a class (we are exploring online only teaching options), buy that defog or book a future trip, that’s hopefully one more day (or week, or month) that we can keep our staff employed, able to buy groceries and make their rent payment.

We know the world is a scary place right now. The only way we know how to deal with it is to do what we love. We’re divers, we’re a hearty bunch, and we will recover. If dreaming of my next dive gets me through the day, I’ll take it! If, like me, your happy place is underwater, come do a pool workout! We’re limiting time slots to one group/family per hour to enhance your safety. Reservations are required.

Stay safe out there, we hope to see you, and for goodness sakes, go wash your hands!

Topside Adventures

Did you know that One World Dive & Travel does adventure travel too. In addition to our popular group SCUBA trips, we also guide adventures to non-dive destinations as well. Here’s a look back at some of our favorite top side adventures so far:

Antarctica

It’s hard to beat an adventure that starts out by traveling as far south of the border as you can. After a week of chasing waterfalls (Iguaçu falls that is) and sight seeing in Buenos Aires, we hopped aboard our ship to cross the famed Drake Passage over to the most southern continent in the world. We kayaked with leopard seals, photographed penguins, and even camped on the ice. Some of our group trip regulars checked off continent number 7, and even got to visit all 7 continents together on our group trips.

Safaris

We’ve been lucky enough to take two safaris in Africa (with a third scheduled for 2021.) On our first, to Tanzania, we explored Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation area for amazing photography. The highlight for most was getting to witness the wildebeest migration. We returned to Africa in 2018 for an adventure in Botswana where we were lucky enough to spot some spots and see leopards in their natural habitat. Topped off with a trip to Victoria Falls and Capetown, we were treated to a truly cultural and immersive experience in South Africa.

Fore!

We went to try our luck golfing under Iceland’s summer midnight sun, when the high latitude provides 24 hours of daylight. Every experience in Iceland seems otherworldly. From soaking in the thermal waters of the blue lagoon to diving between the tectonic plates, it’s hard to explain the wonder and magic of Iceland.

Whale Watching

As much as we love SCUBA diving across the globe, there are some adventures best saved for snorkeling. We spent a week snorkeling with humpback whales in the Dominican Republic. It’s a magical experience jumping off the boat and swimming out to see the whales. The mothers swim past you, making eye contact and sizing you up. Once they determine you are safe and not a threat, they’ll let you meet the babies.

Arctic Adventures

For another magical encounter with animals, we traveled north this time and ventured into the frozen tundra of Churchill, Canada to photograph polar bears. And the bears did not disappoint. For added adventure, we tried our hand at mushing and took a dog sled ride across one of the world’s northern most cities. Just a short trek from Winnipeg, an adventure in Churchill is definitely one you should add to your bucket list.

Bike Touring

One World Dive & Travel is also a licensed Trek Travel and Backroads dealer, so we can book or guide your next cycling adventure too. Not only will we have some scenic cycling add-ons for our Danube River cruise, but last fall we went leaf peeping on our bikes through New Mexico.

Machu Picchu

For an iconic adventure, we set off to Peru for 4 days of trekking on the Inca Trail, plus add on tours in and around Cusco. We bought alpaca souvenirs at one of the coolest markets we’ve seen, we hiked along cliff sides with sheer 50 foot drops, and we woke up to breath taking sunrises over amazing ruins. Topped off with amazing food that left us wanting more quinoa every day, this was an unforgettable experience that should be tempt every traveler.

River Cruising

Most recently, we took a river cruise through central Europe, with stops in the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary. We drank Czech beer, sipped Austrian wine, and gorged on Hungarian Goulash. For an active adventure (which was much needed after the amazing European food) we added cycle tours of each destination to experience these iconic tourist favorites from a more local perspective.

Wanderlust is an incurable aliment, and our lists of places to see just keep growing. Upcoming adventure trips include South East Asia (including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand) and Egypt (with pyramids, mummies, and diving in the Red Sea.)

If you want to join us on one of these adventures—or have our travel specialist set up a top side adventure for you and your family—we are always here to help. Just give us a call at 303-220-8282.

Girls Trip is Good for your Health

Earlier this spring, Scientists confirmed what we at One World Dive & Travel already knew: taking an annual girls trip is good for your health! While that’s been our experience for years, we dug in to a number of publications to see what the facts had to say about.

According to a Harvard research study, “Social connections like these not only give us pleasure, they also influence our long-term health in ways every bit as powerful as adequate sleep, a good diet and not smoking… Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends and their community are happier, have fewer health problems and live longer…adults without strong, close friendships increased their risk of premature death by 50%.
(Full article here)

According to a study published in Behaviour, spending time with your girl friends prompts your brain to release oxytocin, the “trust hormone.” Higher levels of oxytocin are linked to feeling happy and friendly.
(Full article here)

According to a study published in Personal Relationships, close friendship is a more effective indicator of longevity than family relationships. Adults with strained friendship experienced more chronic illness than their peers with close friends.
(Full article here)

According to a study by Arkin Mental Health Care Center in Amsterdam, adults who feel lonely are more likely to develop dementia and experience cognitive decline.
(Full article here)

Do something good for your health and call our travel department to learn more about our annual girl’s trip.

9 Creatures Every Diver Wants to See

Regardless if you are a brand new diver headed to the ocean for the first time or an experienced explorer, the excitement of seeing something new on your next adventure never fades. As you’re working through your bucket list of creature encounters on your dive trips, here are a few most divers hope to see.

SeaHorse

Why you want to see them: Often difficult to find without the aid of a local dive guide, Seahorses are crazy creatures. The males give birth. The pygmy seahorse is the size of a grain of rice while the pot-bellied seahorse grows up to 14 inches long. And whatever size they are, more than half the length of their body is their tail (which they can actually use to gasp onto things like a monkey does.)

Where to see one: While the Pacific is generally an easier place to find seahorses, Bonaire provides pretty consistent results in the Caribbean, with several known dive sites where they tend to hang out. Just ask your dive guide!

Dolphins

Why you want to see them: Dolphin encounters are magical. Playful and intelligent, dolphins can be social and jovial both with divers and each other.

Where to see one: Worldwide, though actually seeing them underwater is rare! We were luck enough to see them on our last trip to Turks & Caicos.

Mantas

Why you want to see them: Mantas glide through the water with the ease and elegance of a stealth bomber. Their giant wingspan is intimidating, and their agility in the water is mindboggling.

Where to see one: Worldwide, but for a very likely encounter close to home, you want to head to Socorro where the Oceanic Mantas hang out. These are the big ones!

Anemone Fish

Why you want to see them: Because we all want to “Find Nemo,” and this is as close as most divers come. Anemone fish are often mistaken for their Pixar cousin, and are much easier to find on a reef.

Where to see one: Found in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, Anemones abound in Fiji, and this is home to the “Fake Nemo” fish (more accurately called a False Clownfish.)

Whale sharks

Why you want to see them: Few experiences in the ocean are more mesmerizing that diving alongside a behemoth the size of a school bus.

Where to see one: Worldwide, with near guaranteed sightings in the Philippines and Hobox. Summer time in Galapagos is the best way to see the pregnant females, which are the biggest whale sharks in the sea.

Octopus

Why you want to see them: Because octopuses are amazing! Scientists are just scratching the surface on how intelligent these critters are. They can escape from sealed jars and completely blend in with their surroundings.

Where to see one: Worldwide, but for a quick escape, Cozumel, specifically on a night dive, when you might even see one out hunting.

HammerHead Sharks

Why you want to see them: Their profile is iconic and recognizable. Whether you see one Great Hammerhead on a reef by itself, or swim with a school of Scalloped Hammerheads in the open ocean, you’ll never forget a Hammerhead encounter.

Where to see one: Worldwide, but just off the coast of Costa Rica, the little island of Cocos is home to schooling hammerheads.

Great Whites

Why you want to see them: Legends are told of these ferocious predators, and seeing one up close will probably give you bragging rights for life (especially with your non-diver friends.) Plus, sharks are often misunderstood and being over hunted, so your chances to see them are unfortunately diminishing.

Where to see one: Great Whites tend to prefer cooler water, with south Australia and South Africa being hotbeds for sightings. But for close up action that is tough to beat, on the Pacific side of Mexico, Guadalupe is the best place to go looking for a Great White encounter. The visibility is also excellent (so you can see one from a safe distance.)

Cuttlefish

Why you want to see them: Related to octopus, these tentacled monsters are amazing. They can camouflage into their surroundings or burst with angry snarls and flamboyant colors to intimidate predators.

Where to see one: Indonesia, where they come in all colors, shapes, and sizes.

We have guided group trips to many of these destinations in the next few years to hopefully see all of these amazing creatures. Or if you and your dive buddies are looking to add a new adventure to your plans, we can help with that too. Give our travel specialists a call to talk about your bucket list, and let them help you make it a reality!

All photos from this blog post were taken on One World’s past group trips!

Mind the Cap

You’re probably in the habit of putting the dust cap on your regulator when you take it off the tank. But what about your neglected BCD? This month, let’s confer the importance of putting the dust cap back on your inflator after you disconnect your low pressure inflator hose.

When tearing down your gear, make sure to dry the dust cap (just a quick blow from your mouth will do) and put the dust cap back on the quick disconnect plug (sometime referred to as the “nipple”) on your inflator. Doing so prevents water from entering the inflator body and corroding the Schraeder Valve Core (SVC). This can happen when rinsing your gear or even while setting it up.

If the schraeder valve gets corroded (or filled with salt from evaporated sea water or jammed with sand) it can get stuck in the open position. If you are diving when this happens, it results in an auto inflation of your BCD and an uncontrolled buoyant ascent.

You may remember from your Open Water class that you learned the skill of disconnecting your inflator hose under pressure. This situation is why you learn that skill. However, it is easily avoidable by maintaining your gear, the first step of which is putting the dust cap on your inflator.

This is crucial to think about whether you own or rent gear. If you own your gear, make sure to get your BCD serviced every year along with your regulator. When our tech’s open your BCD, they check the schraeder valve for corrosion. This valve also gets replaced every two years to prevent an emergency, or sooner if there are any signs of a flood.

If you rent gear, you want to make sure to rent it from a reliable vendor who is aware of this upkeep. Some resorts may not check the schraeder valves on a regular basis. If you prefer to rent, we always recommend renting from us and taking gear you know has been serviced properly with you.

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call and talk to one of our staff about how to best care for your gear.

Coming Soon: New Atomic B2 BCD

With the BC1, Atomic created a new standard of quality for jacket style BCD’s. This summer, we are excited for the launch of the BC2, Atomic’s newest back-inflate BCD, which is promising to revolutionize back inflate technology.

A few of the unique features of this BCD will include:

A unique double laminated polyurethane fabric. This custom fabric is completely waterproof, giving you a virtually dry BCD as soon as you exit the water (as well as adding extreme durability.)
The B2 is neutrally buoyant. No extra weight or air is required to compensate for the jacket.
The BC2 will feature Atomic’s patented EZ-LOK Integrated Weight Release System. We’ve found this to be one of the easiest weight systems on the market.
Atomic’s CAM-LOK Tank Band makes it quick and easy to adjust the tank band to various sized tanks. There’s no weaving of webbing or pinching of fingers.
Quilted lumbar support in the back plate is adjustable. The diamond pattern adds layers of insulation and comfort both under and above the water.
As a commitment to high quality materials, all D-Rings on the BC2 are made of Stainless Steel with Titanium Coating. All Zippers are also coated to be sand-resistant.
In the event of damage, the inner bladder is replaceable, so the BC can be easily serviced and last you for years to come.

We are excited to see this new toy on the floor soon. Stop by to try one on and see if a back inflate BC is a good fit for you!

Is an Advanced Certification right for you?

Don't miss out on a dive because you are certification limited!

If you’ve fallen in love with diving, an advanced course is the way for you to develop useful skills for diving in a range of environments. Some dive destinations even require an Advanced certification in order to dive certain popular dive sites. Don’t miss out by having the minimum certification requirements.

What is this course: Explore the differences of diving deep and diving at altitude. Learn useful techniques to help search and recover items lost in open water. All the while, you’ll gain confidence and improve your buoyancy and navigation underwater.

Top 3 reasons to take this course:

1.) Go Deeper
Experience the pressure and temperature changes that happen when you descend deeper than 60 feet and learn how to deal with them.

2.) Learn to navigate
Learn some basic compass skills and useful tricks for navigating a dive site in case you lose sight of the Divemaster or want to adventure out on your own with your buddy.

3.) Perfect your buoyancy
The number one skill that makes diving more fun (and subsequently, safer) is buoyancy control. This is the most important skill divers can improve during an Advanced certification.

Bonus reason: Have some fun! In the summer our Advanced class includes Search and Recovery skills to find lost items. In the winter, we offer night diving.

Cost: $339.00

Click here for more information or call the shop at 303-220-8282 to learn more about this course!

Diving Dehydrated

Just like any adventure sport, hydration is so important to your overall health when diving. Water plays such an important part in regulating your body. It controls your body temperature; it removes toxins from your vital organs; it helps your cardiovascular system get oxygen to your brain. When you’re dehydrated, your blood thickens, your heart rate speeds up, blood pressure spikes, and your whole system strains to function.

Because we are in the water, we don't think of hydration as being as important as it is when we are skiing or cycling. But we lose water a variety of ways diving. From the sunny tropical weather we enjoy on vacation, to sweating from the exertion of swimming against current, to peeing in your wetsuit (at least, for those of you who pee in your wetsuits), we lose fluids constantly while diving. Dehydration leads to inefficient breathing, compromised judgment, fatigue and cramping, and increase risk of decompression sickness.

This can be especially dangerous while diving. Off gassing of nitrogen occurs through the blood stream. If blood thickens, the off-gassing process is compromised.

Current medical recommendations are that women should drink 2-3 liters of water per day, and men should drink 3-4 liters. In addition to drinking water, you can stay hydrated by:

Wearing sunscreen—sunburn complicates dehydration
Mitigating seasickness—vomiting can drain electrolytes and worsen dehydration
Replenishing electrolytes and sugars--Fruit is very hydrating and a great snack between dives
Limit diuretics—alcohol can be very dehydrating if you aren’t drinking enough water

Most importantly, when packing for your next dive trip, make sure to bring along a reusable water bottle and drink up between dives. Peeing in your wetsuit is a small price to pay for a safe and healthy dive.

The Right Fit

A question we’ve been hearing a lot of lately is “What size mask am I?” It’s a logical question. Everything we put on our bodies—from shoes to wetsuits—come in sizes. But size can be a bit complicated in the scuba business. Not only do masks not come in “sizes,” a lot of gear needs to fit just right to keep you safe and comfortable underwater.

Here is what you need to know:

Masks

Masks don’t come in traditional sizes. The right mask for you is the one that fits. Every manufacture has their own methods and materials to try and make their masks as comfortable as possible. It’s impossible to know what mask will fit you until you try a few on. Our staff is great at fitting masks. We know the subtle nuances to look for to avoid leaking (or worse, bruising) when you’re underwater.

Fins

Sizing fins is as much an art as a science. Like with masks, each manufacture has their own style. Depending on if you like booties or not, if you like clip-in or spring straps, if you have knee or hip issues, if you like to flutter kick or frog kick, and how much weight you want to pack…there are so many considerations when buying fins beyond “what size shoe do you wear?” And although these do come in sizes, the thickness of a boot and the shape of your food impact the overall fit and comfort of a fin.

Wetsuits

Getting into a wetsuit might be the most aerobic part of diving. But getting the right fit for your wetsuit is super important. A wetsuit that is too big will have pockets of cold water that will zap heat from your body. A suit that is too tight can be horribly uncomfortable and ruin a relaxing vacation. It can even be dangerous if a suit is pinching circulation. We’ve all bought a t-shirt without trying it on, only to find the sizing was off and it doesn’t fit. Don’t make this mistake with your wetsuit and jeopardize being miserable on your next trip.

BCDs

Owning your own BCD can save you money on rental fees and help you have a safer and more enjoyable trip. When you’re familiar with your gear, you can dive with the ease of feeling prepared and in control of your underwater environment. But not all BCDs fit or feel the same. Trying on different styles in the store is the best way to figure out what’s comfortable for you so you can get into gear that you love.

Getting the right fit is just one of the value-added benefits of buying your dive gear from a local retailer. You’ll also enjoy manufacture warranties, student discounts, and access to our pool to try it out. Our non-commission-based staff is always happy to help get you into gear that fits and meets your diving needs.

Spring Sales to jump start your summer diving

We’ve kicked off Spring at One World Dive & Travel with some great deals! If you’re looking to buy your first set of gear or upgrade your set up to a newer model, we have several special offers on some of our best selling products.

1.) Zoop Novo now only 299.95 (was $329.95) **Sale ends May 15th**
The Zoop is one of our best selling computers, and available now at a very competitive price. We love it for its simple settings and navigation buttons. Its big display is easy to read and the computer can be mounted on your wrist or in a gauge console.

2.) Zeagle Bravo & Zeagle Marina BCDs 25% off with trade in of old BCD **Sale ends June 15^th**
This special offer is a great way to upgrade or replace your BCD. Zeagle BCDs have a few great features: the back plate is made from hard webbing as opposed to plastic to reduce weight and bulk; dual tank bands keep tanks secure while lifting weight off your shoulders; the updated weight system is easy to load and simple to remove; plus, the polyurethane coating resists fading so your new BCD will look good for years to come.

3.) New QD wetsuits on sale—3mm for $344.95 (was $405.95) and 5mm for $413.95 (was $486.95)
Aqualock suits have always been our favorite. Known to be easier to put on than a standard wetsuit, the new QD model has been completely revamped. The fleece lining inside dries between dives so you can enjoy the feeling of a dry wetsuit every time you dive.

4.) Aqualock Boots half off for $45.95 (was $91.95.) **while supplies last**
Get a sturdy boot with a solid sole for all your diving needs. These durable boots are great for shore and boat diving, with great arch support and plenty of protection from splinters, critters, and hot sand.

5.) Clearance Wetsuits and Rash Guards (prices vary from $49.95-$370) **All Clearance Items are In Stock Only**
Our clearance rack has a large selection of discontinued models and colors to pick up a great deal on a wetsuit. A few stand out options include $110 off the old style Aqualock wetsuits and 50% off Aqualung rash guards with thumb holes. Once these items are gone, they are off the market and no longer available.

Take advantage of this opportunity to bring your gear into the 21^st century. Stop by the shop to see these and other special deals going on this month.

Are your old fins "good enough"?

SCUBA Diving equipment gets updated and improved all the time! GoPro comes out with new models every year. Computers get software updates and release new models with ever-clearer displays. Even wetsuits get updated with new, more insulated fabrics. With so much new technology being injected into the sport of SCUBA, sometimes the basic equipment gets overlooked.

Many people are surprised to hear that fins have undergone a transformation of their own over the past 20 years. Not only are they lighter to pack in your luggage and gentler on knees and hips, but they actually make kicking more efficient.

The fundamental improvement in new fins is making them lighter. The plastic and other materials are less dense. The shape of fins has changed as well. Companies have poured research into finding the key “power zones” on fins and cutting away the parts that add weight without return.

The changes to fins seem subtle and cosmetic, so people tend to not replace their fins. But just like the shocks of a car, fins stiffen and break down—especially in our dry Colorado air. The lost elasticity decreases the effectiveness. As a result, you have to kick more frequently to get the same return from the fins. This burns up more energy in your muscles causing you to breathe faster, which uses up the air in your tank faster.

Essentially, the improvements make diving more enjoyable. From packing less weight in your luggage to gliding comfortably through the water, a new pair of fins can be a simple investment in longer bottom time. Stop by the shop to check out our latest inventory before your next adventure.

What's Next?

What’s Next?

SCUBA is an amazing sport for the opportunities to continually grow and explore new aspects of diving. Through continued education courses, you can become increasingly independent and safe in the water, while also branching out to explore new adventures. Not only does improving your skills keep you safer in the water, but it makes diving more enjoyable!

But with so many specialties and courses available, it can be overwhelming to understand which next adventure is right for you. At One World, we think it’s important to keep your goals in mind when choosing which class is right for you. So here are a few things to think about when choosing a class.

Are you a recreational diver?

Do you like to go on a dive trip or two every year? Are you into diving for fun with your family and friends? Is travel your main goal in diving?

If so, we recommend the Open Water Level II course. This unique class is only available at One World Dive and Travel, and teaches you the basic skills you need to be a safe and independent diver. You’ll explore skills necessary for deep dives and learn basic underwater skills to keep you oriented on new dive sites.

Are you thinking about being a dive professional?
Would you enjoy teaching SCUBA as an instructor? Do you have aspirations of working on a dive boat in the Caribbean? Do you want diving to be more than a hobby?

If so, we recommend the advanced course. This is the first step in becoming a dive professional. This course includes all of the skills covered in Basic Level II, as well as an introduction to dive theory at altitude (which is important in Colorado) and some basic skills for wreck, night, and search and recovery diving.

Are you an avid traveler?
Do you go on multiple dive trips a year? Do you love life on a liveaboard? Do you dive 3 or 4 dives every day on your vacation?

If so, then you should absolutely have a Nitrox certification. Diving Enriched Air extends your bottom time and allows you to plan longer repetitive dives each day. When diving all day everyday, travelers report feeling less tired than those divers who just use air.

Are you looking for the best value?
Do you love diving and see yourself taking multiple classes? Do you find yourself curious about many different aspects of diving? Do you like to get the most bang for your buck?

If so, Adventure Plus is for you! This course combines Advanced, First Responder, and Rescue Diver into one package price. You save money and get three certifications. Advanced explores skills to improve your navigation and buoyancy underwater, First Responder gives you a basic First Aid and CPR certificate, and Rescue Diver teaches you skills to keep both you and your buddy safe on your next adventure.

Whatever your dive goals are, there is a class that can help take you deeper and make you a safer, more confident diver on your next trip. Call the shop, or stop in to talk with our staff about which course is best for you!

New Holiday Gift Ideas from the Staff at One World

With the holidays fast approaching, we polled the staff to find out their top gift idea for the upcoming season. Regardless of your budget, we have something for that special person this gift giving season.

2018 Gift Ideas

	Michelle - I'm breaking from tradition this year, as usually chocolate and wine top most of my wish lists, but there is nothing better than traveling with the new Aqualung Rogue BCD. It's already small and light, but in a pinch, I can literally take it apart and stuff pieces wherever they fit, especially on my way home when I'm stowing away presents for my family (and me)! You'll find several of us have switched over to the Rogue, all happily avoiding overweight fees and space issues on our travels.
	Jill - If it keeps me warm, I'm all about it. Add some nice styling (OK, let's be honest, it has thumbholes, I'm in), even better. Scubapro's new line of Everflex leggings and shirts give me the options I want to stay warm. From layering under my 5mm to paddleboarding our local waters, these have the style and comfort I like. They've had backorder issues, but we hope to get more in time for Christmas!
	Erin - Last year my idea was to keep learning, as I was immersed in getting my Divemaster rating and a good diver keeps on learning. Since then I've not only completed my Divemaster, but also recently became an Instructor! So what I want this year is students! That means you should take my classes.
	Zach - They had me at Prague . . .
	Kim - I've been a Scubapro girl most of my diving life, so when an opportunity to switch over to an Atomic came around, I wasn't sure. Now that I've made the switch, I'm wondering why I waited so long. Everyone else has customized theirs to match the rest of their gear, but me, I'll take the black cover ring right out of the box, just the way I like it!
	Carolyn - I said this last year, and I'm still in love with this computer. Plus through Dec. 3 you can get the unit for $400 off with the tank pod, YES PLEASE! It's so easy to use, looks great and has worked like a charm. I'm totally sold on this little unit from SUUNTO.
	Anna - I've been at One World for over a year now, so I've slowly whittled down my wish list. I still have my Instructor rating on there, a few odds and ends, but the highlight this year is definitely the GoPro Hero7. I've been eyeing these since the 5, but this is the year I'm finally pulling the trigger.
	Brian - I said it last year, I'll say it again this year. Travel feeds me. My bucket list of locations grows exponentially every year. And with each trip, I meet someone who regales me with their adventures, and the list grows again. It doesn't help when your wife is a travel agent, continually forwarding emails with the subject line of "We should go here". My response . . . LET'S GO!

2017 Gift Ideas

	Michelle - Everyone around here knows my favorite gifts are wine and chocolate. So having these new Sterling Silver Wine Glass Charms is the perfect gift for inside my stocking (hint, hint, Steve). Now if only they were made of chocolate . . .
	Jill - I'm the one wearing the heavy sweater while sitting at the travel desk, so it's no surprise that my favorite gift is the Thermalution Heated Shirt. While others are shivering their way through the afternoon dive, I'm snug as a bug with my shirt set to high!
	Erin - They say a good diver is always learning, and I'm proof of that. Whether it be discovering the secrets of my new GoPro, learning about my life saving equipment, or taking the first steps towards the professional ranks in the Divemaster program, soaking up diving knowledge is what I enjoy. Next on my list - Enriched Air Nitrox!
	Zach - We've all seen it . . . the person crouching by the airport check-in pulling clothes out of their bag in a vain attempt to get their bag under weight. Having just returned home from teaching in the Czech Republic and gallivanting across Europe via plane, train and automobile, the last thing I want to be is that guy, frantically trying to redistribute my belongings across multiple bags while the world looks on and judges me. So sign me up for the Balanza Luggage Scale. I'll throw my dirty laundry around in the privacy of my hostel room.
	Kim - There's only one answer - the Scubapro Hydros Pro. Love it so much I'm getting a second one.
	Carolyn - My heart started pumping the minute these came in! The Eon Core has a lot of the same features as the SUUNTO Eon Steel, but in a perfectly sized package. And since it uses the same tank pod as the original Eon Steel, my current transmitter will work with it. I'll take mine in Lime, please!
	Rick - That's a tough one. I'm with Kim on the Scubapro Hydros Pro having just been diving with it in Cozumel. And although the SUUNTO Eon Core is a great looking new computer, the new UWATEC G2 will work with my current transmitter. But the one thing that's most important to me is making sure I always make it home to Arina. So my eyes are set on the new small and sleek Nautilus Lifeline, a distress beacon should I ever pop up away from the boat.
	Anna - Wait, I only get to pick one? But my list grows every time a new box shows up. I'm currently up to 3 pages, but I just got a Soul i3 BCD, so there's one less thing. Since I can't decide on just one, the best thing for me is a One World Dive & Travel Gift Certificate. Or six.
	Brian - I like toys just as much as the next guy, but little fills my soul like a grand adventure. From spending the months leading up to the trip dreaming about what could be, to experiencing new cultures, food, and of course, dive sites, my ideal holiday gift is to travel. And considering we have the best resources available sitting behind the desks at our Travel Department, making those dream trips come true is just a phone call away.

Lessons From Southeast Asia

Lessons From Southeast Asia
by our Roaming Traveler

Greetings from Southeast Asia!

I’m spending a week on Phu Quoc, a Vietnamese Island off the coast of Cambodia. The waters are crystal clear, the beaches glossy white, and there’s hardly another tourist in site.

Yesterday, my travel buddy and I signed up for a snorkeling tour. We didn’t come to the island with the intention of diving, but the water is so clear, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Unfortunately, despite 6 years of giving customers tips while working at the dive shop, I failed to take my own advice, and got to experience what happens when you fail to plan. Let me share with you some of the low lights:

#1. The mask was atrocious! Once we were all herded on the boat, they passed out rental gear. They only had one size of mask, pretty standard for most dive operations, but it didn't fit anyone in our group.

What I should have done: brought my own mask. I have a big nose and I like a low volume mask that is close to my face and gives me a big field of vision. This dinky rental was never going to fit.

#2. The snorkel leaked like a sieve! The snorkel was a standard version, but water leaked in constantly. With almost every inhale I had to use my tongue to keep water from spilling down my throat. It took easily 5 or 6 big breaths to clear it.

What I should have done: packed my Aqualung Dry snorkel. I’ve never been in the ocean without it, and I’ll never make that mistake again. I had no idea how exhausting blasting a wet snorkel is. It doesn’t even feel like vacation when you’re working that hard.

#3. The fins were confusing! I’ve sized a lot of people in fins, but it was impossible to find a good fit for both me and my roommate. I’m an 11.5 and he’s a 9 shoe size in the US. Not only were we trying to figure out what that converted to in metric, but they only had three sizes of full foot fins to choose from, and many of them were too long and bulky to snorkel with. Even once we made our choice, the fin pockets were narrow and we both ended up with blisters.

What I should have done: bought a pair of adjustable heel snorkeling fins. Snorkel fins are so small and easy to pack, and an adjustable heel makes them easier to size and change up to prevent rubbing.

#4. They had life jackets instead of snorkeling vests. The rigid foam padding of a life jacket is designed to keep your body vertical in the water and your head above the surface...which is the exact opposite of the whole point of snorkeling! My buddy and I opted to go without, which meant when we surfaced from checking out a reef, we had to tread to stay above the waves.

What I should have done: brought a snorkeling vest. The bladder of a snorkel vest can be inflated with a small breath of air and deflated with a pinch of the valve. This lets you control how hard you work in the water. You can inflate it for flotation to relax at the surface and still have your face in the water to see the fish.

#5. There was no defog on the boat! The boat crew instructed us all to just spit in the masks (as I’m sure they’ve instructed every diver who used my rental mask before me.) Not only did it not work well, but days and days of spit made the mask smell like beer, jerky, and garlic Pringles (all of which were available for purchase on board the boat.)

What I should have done: packed defog. A little bottle of defog weighs less than an ounce and has enough in it that you’ll probably lose the bottle before you run out. If I had taken my own advice, I wouldn’t have had to smell the saliva of this weeks SE Asian tourist crowd all day.

#6. Absolutely no safety precautions. The 2nd snorkel of the day was near some pretty strong current. If you kept your wits about you, it was a fun place to play in the ocean. But if you got tired or lost track of where you were, you could quickly get dragged away from the boat—and no one on the boat was actively watching the snorkelers.

What I should have done: carried a signaling device. I’m a strong swimmer, and years of working as a life guard made me feel pretty good about taking care of my buddy...but I watched as families with kids were fighting the current and trying to stay together. I can’t imagine the anxiety of being tired and feeling the pull out to sea knowing no one is watching for you and your family. A safety sausage or whistle to get the boats attention would have made the whole situation a lot safer.

#7. I did it on my own. Perhaps the biggest mistake of the day was planning the whole thing by myself. I Googled a snorkel tour and booked the top result. Even working in the industry, I forget that diving is not a solo sport and we are all here to help each other.

What I should have done: contacted Jill and Michelle at One World for a recommendation. Their advice is always free and they can help book reputable dive and snorkel operators with no added cost or hidden fees to what you find online.

I hope my mistakes can be a lesson about planning your next dive or snorkel trip. It goes to prove the old saying that “if you fail to plan, then plan to fail.”

Happy Diving!

Zach

Our Top 5 Essential Dive Accessories

Our Top 5 Essential Dive Accessories

Through our years of exploring the oceans, diving along the way, we have developed our Top 5 Essential Dive Accessories every diver should have. Like our American Express card, these are the items we "never leave home without".

1. Underwater GPS

They may say it doesn't yet exist for the recreational market, but we've been hard at work in the repair shop and have developed our own proprietary Geo-location algorithms. Thanks to the help of Elon Musk (you thought he was just shooting a Tesla into space?), our network of satellites can assure you'll never be lost underwater again!

2. Ochos
You've heard of doubles? We laugh at doubles. Doubles are for rookies! No longer will you get labeled the "Air Hog" or "Buffalo Breather". You'll laugh as your dive buddies run low on air after an hour. Although not ideally streamlined, we never worry about air conservation or efficiency underwater. Better yet, we don't even need any weight to sink!

3. Bang Sticks
Afraid of sharks? Or maybe even Tysonfish (see Rangiroa, French Polynesia video for explanation)? Fear no more with your very own underwater hand grenade. There may be a good chance the fish won't be the only one not swimming away, but some sacrifices must be made.

4. The Zapper
Without a doubt our favorite must-have accessory is The Zapper. Distributed to all our dive buddies, it allows us to give them a subtle reminder to stay off the reef, quit touching the wildlife, or stop hogging the creatures so they can take another picture. One, or twelve, quick taps of The Zapper, and you'll have your buddies chasing right behind you. It may be to get the controller away from you, but either way the end result is the same!

5. Ninja Fighting Skills
When all else fails, we revert to our Underwater Ninja training to get us out of any sticky situation. Whether it be to foil an attack by nameless henchmen, or assist James Bond in saving the world, our latest specialty training is always at the ready!

Don't delay, as all of these products are available TODAY ONLY! And we hope you have a great April Fools Day! (and Happy Easter)

Adult private swim lessons available at One World

There's no better place for adults to get in the "swim" of things, then at One World Dive a & Travel. We offer private swim lessons for those who'd like to overcome a fear of water, brush up on skills or feel more comfortable while snorkeling or scuba diving.

Wouldn't it be nice to comfortably swim laps or snorkel with your children or grandchildren on vacation? Have you ever wanted to learn to dive but your fear of the water held you back from fulling your dream of becoming certified? We offer indoor, climate controlled, year round, private lessons in our heated, salt water pool. Our instructors cater to your schedule and your current skills to provide strategies for success that assist you in meeting your personal goals in an efficient manner.

Swimming is great for people of all ages but offers additional benefits to adults. The water makes your body buoyant, eliminating pressure and strain on your joints. Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular exercise reducing the risk of a heart attack. It helps maintain and gain muscle mass. Swimming can increase your flexibility. While swimming provides these benefits, and more, it's important knowing the proper techniques for injury prevention. Improper form can lead to pulled muscles and tendons, especially in the shoulders and back. Proper form and technique can keep you safer, longer.

Learning to swim as an adult can be intimidating. Whether it includes, survival skills, stroke development, or preparation for a snorkeling trip or scuba class, our swim instructors can provide lessons to suit your individual needs so you gain confidence in your swimming abilities. Give us a call at 303-220-8282 to get registered, or answer any questions you have, on our adult private sim lessons.

See you in the pool!

Holiday Gift Ideas from the staff at One World

	Michelle - Everyone around here knows my favorite gifts are wine and chocolate. So having these new Sterling Silver Wine Glass Charms is the perfect gift for inside my stocking (hint, hint, Steve). Now if only they were made of chocolate . . .
	Jill - I'm the one wearing the heavy sweater while sitting at the travel desk, so it's no surprise that my favorite gift is the Thermalution Heated Shirt. While others are shivering their way through the afternoon dive, I'm snug as a bug with my shirt set to high!
	Erin - They say a good diver is always learning, and I'm proof of that. Whether it be discovering the secrets of my new GoPro, learning about my life saving equipment, or taking the first steps towards the professional ranks in the Divemaster program, soaking up diving knowledge is what I enjoy. Next on my list - Enriched Air Nitrox!
	Zach - We've all seen it . . . the person crouching by the airport check-in pulling clothes out of their bag in a vain attempt to get their bag under weight. Having just returned home from teaching in the Czech Republic and gallivanting across Europe via plane, train and automobile, the last thing I want to be is that guy, frantically trying to redistribute my belongings across multiple bags while the world looks on and judges me. So sign me up for the Balanza Luggage Scale. I'll throw my dirty laundry around in the privacy of my hostel room.
	Kim - There's only one answer - the Scubapro Hydros Pro. Love it so much I'm getting a second one.
	Carolyn - My heart started pumping the minute these came in! The Eon Core has a lot of the same features as the SUUNTO Eon Steel, but in a perfectly sized package. And since it uses the same tank pod as the original Eon Steel, my current transmitter will work with it. I'll take mine in Lime, please!
	Rick - That's a tough one. I'm with Kim on the Scubapro Hydros Pro having just been diving with it in Cozumel. And although the SUUNTO Eon Core is a great looking new computer, the new UWATEC G2 will work with my current transmitter. But the one thing that's most important to me is making sure I always make it home to Arina. So my eyes are set on the new small and sleek Nautilus Lifeline, a distress beacon should I ever pop up away from the boat.
	Anna - Wait, I only get to pick one? But my list grows every time a new box shows up. I'm currently up to 3 pages, but I just got a Soul i3 BCD, so there's one less thing. Since I can't decide on just one, the best thing for me is a One World Dive & Travel Gift Certificate. Or six.
	Brian - I like toys just as much as the next guy, but little fills my soul like a grand adventure. From spending the months leading up to the trip dreaming about what could be, to experiencing new cultures, food, and of course, dive sites, my ideal holiday gift is to travel. And considering we have the best resources available sitting behind the desks at our Travel Department, making those dream trips come true is just a phone call away.

How much weight should I wear?

How much weight do you need? This is a question we hear at the shop on a weekly basis, especially as students depart the confines of the pool and venture off to an open water destination. There is no short and easy answer to the question, though many locations will just throw some lead at you in an effort to get everyone underwater as quickly as possible. Here's our take on it.

Figuring out how much weight to wear is definitely more art than science. If you've been diving at all, you know going from a no wetsuit to a full length 3mm in the tropics, or from our pool to the ocean, has a massive impact on the weight you need. It should also be noted how much experience you have, are you diving with your own gear, and how comfortable have you become in the water. Each time you dive your confidence will increase, and hence, how much air you hold back in your lungs will decrease as you take full in and out breaths. So your weight needs can change simply based on if you are nervous or not. It’s common for people to use different amounts of weights from the start of a trip to the end as they get re-acclimated to diving (especially if they’ve had a few months or years break between dives).

So all that being said, what do I recommend? Use the weight you used in the pool and your exposure protection in the pool, or on your last dive as a starting point. For example, if you wore 8lbs in our pool with a shorty wetsuit, and assuming you will be using a 3mm full suit in the ocean, I’d recommend 12lbs. to start. I would put 2lb. in each trim pocket in the back (4lbs. total), and distribute the other 8lbs. to your front weight pockets if you are wearing a weight integrated BCD. On dive number 1, remember that your equipment is completely dry, hence buoyant, and will want to float. Flood your wetsuit by opening the neck and letting water flush into the suit to try and overcome some of that buoyancy. It’s not uncommon to need a couple extra pounds on dive one simply because our equipment is dry.

I always want to get my divers to use as little weight as possible. Not only does it make it easier to move through the water, it’s also safer. If you have too much weight in, you’ll constantly be fidgeting with your inflator, having to overfill when you are deep, and dumping air as you ascend as the air inside the jacket becomes more buoyant. This could cause an out of control ascent if you don’t keep up with the expanding air as you go up, resulting in the air expanding more . . . you get the picture. I’d rather have a diver struggling at their safety stop, and us needing to add an extra couple pounds for the next dive, than be constantly fighting with their buoyancy or plummeting to Davey Jones Locker (remember, it’s a safety stop, not a required decompression stop. If we happen to cut it short on a dive, it’s not the end of the world, just a problem we can fix for dive 2).

But beware, some in the islands are wrought to just always throw more weight at their guests, wanting to get them underwater as quickly as possible to get on with the dive. Take the time to get your weight right from the start and you’ll have a much better overall experience.

My Road to Recovery

I’ve been diving since 2013. A little over a year ago, I was scheduled to go on a One World Dive and Travel’s All Girls trip to Little Cayman Island. I planned my retirement for January 22, 2016 and the trip was to be my big celebration. Everything changed on January 17^th, 2016, when I suffered a stroke that affected my left side. It was a complete shock to everyone, as I am generally quite healthy. My only warning had been a series of brief but intense headaches over the two previous days. I was with friends on the way to a cross country ski trip near Aspen. After the headaches, I decided not to ski and had planned to see my doctor when I returned home. I drove myself home all the way from Carbondale that Sunday, and 2 hours later the stroke happened. I was very lucky it didn’t happen while driving.

As a Physical Therapist, I knew what had happened. Fortunately, I could talk and was able to call for help. The local hospital emergency room sent me to the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver and by Monday morning I was having a procedure to examine the vessels of my brain. There had been a bleed inside my brain but fortunately it had stopped and no surgery was needed. WHEW! I remained in Neuro intensive care for several days and began to improve. Physical and occupational therapy was started when my condition was stable and I was moved out of ICU. After 8 days I went to a rehabilitation unit for more therapy before I was able to return home. I could walk by myself with two hiking poles but my endurance was only five or ten minutes. My coordination wasn’t very good.

I have a lot of active friends that helped me build up strength and endurance but I thought for sure that I would not be able to ever scuba dive again. By May I was hiking 2-3 miles over moderate terrain. My rehab doctor, who also is a scuba diver, told me that I could possibly return to diving if I continued to improve. WOW! REALLY? Could that be possible? I talked to Michelle at One World Dive and Travel and explained my situation. She and Kim were very supportive and willing to work with me towards a goal if the doctors cleared me to dive. The next Girls Dive Trip was going to be in March 2017 at Little Cayman. I had a goal! I kept working on endurance and by the end of the summer I was hiking 6 to 7 miles. My coordination had improved. I wrote to Diver’s Alert Network and received information on stroke survivors and scuba diving. It was helpful and I got a good understanding of specific things to discuss with my doctors. When I returned to University Hospital in October for follow up I had a frank discussion with the neurologist. Her advice was to avoid diving for at least a full year after the stroke and see how I felt. If I continued to improve and had no symptoms, then I could try shallow dives. GREAT NEWS!

I knew I had to be completely honest with anyone who might dive with me and Michelle and Kim offered to buddy with me if I made it on the Girls Trip. Being a dive buddy is a big responsibility, especially with my medical history. In December I went to Little Cayman, not to dive, but to get in the water and swim. It felt so good to be back in the ocean. The next step was to get in a pool with my dive gear. So In February, my friend Millie Kinnett did that with me. I was nervous at first, but after a few minutes I was relaxing at the bottom of the 15' pool. I practiced my skills and the only thing I had difficulty with was putting on and clearing my mask underwater. I realized that my coordination was still a little off but with practice I was able to do it easily. Yahoo!

March 4, 2017…..off to Little Cayman. It was so good to see some of the friends that I had met on the Bonaire trip 2 years earlier. First dive day…….yes I was nervous. Michelle and I went in last. After a few minutes of buoyancy problems and a leaky mask, I was diving again. WOW! After the third day I was feeling comfortable again. I was being conservative, choosing to do the 2^nd and 3^rd dives each day so I wasn’t going very deep and I had a good rest in between dives. It worked out really well. Everyone on the trip was so helpful and supportive. I would not have wanted to return to diving with any other group.

I realized what it is about diving that I LOVE so much……gently floating along with minimal effort, being neutrally buoyant, being a part of the underwater world…... I just relaxed and took it all in. I WAS AT PEACE, BACK IN MY HAPPY PLACE! The possibility of never diving again made me appreciate it so much more. Thanks to all of the people who helped me along the way. Thanks to One World Dive and Travel for getting me back to something I love.

Article courtesy of Milli Goodman

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5 Things SCUBA Tech's Want You to Know About Your Regulator

Most manufactures recommend having your regulator inspected every year and serviced every other year. Our service department has worked on thousands of regulators, and have experienced their share of the good, the bad, and the downright ugly!

Your Air Gets Dirty
You don’t know if your air is dirty unless you have the filter inspected and changed. Without changing the filter, one bad fill in the islands and you could breathe the same dirty air for years.
You Have a Dirty Mouth
Dirt doesn’t just come from a bad fill; we exhale bacteria with every breath. All of those germs get caught in the regulator’s filter and can be re-inhaled the next time you go diving.
New O-rings and Seats Really Are Essential
When a regulator is serviced, the term “parts” is used to refer to the O-rings, seats and filter that get replaced. If you get your regulator serviced, but don’t change the parts, it’s the same as taking your car in for an oil change to have the dirty oil taken out and just put back in.
Manufactures Hold Service Techs to High Standards
To service regulators, technicians are trained and certified directly by many manufacturers. To keep divers safe, if a technician opens a regulator and finds a problem with it, they are required to fix the problem before returning the regulator to the diver. Recurrent technician training is required my many manufacturers, and Technical Bulletins are continually released to update techs on the latest improvements and recommendations. This keeps techs alert and divers safe.
Not All Regulators are Created Equally
Some brands are built to last while others are built to sell at a lower price point. Certain features—such as automatic closure devices and environmental sealing—are great to look for when buying a new regulator as added protection when traveling with your equipment. Our techs also recommend looking into the “serviceability” of your regulator; do parts become obsolete quickly or does the manufacturer continue to provide parts for years beyond the end manufacturer date, how often do parts fail for a particular brand, and how easy is it to find service and parts for certain manufacturers.

Our service techs keep detailed records on all regulators serviced. If you aren’t sure when your regulator was last serviced, bring it by and we can make sure it is up to date with whatever inspections or service is required. And if you are considering purchasing a regulator, stop in and chat with our service technicians to learn from the pros about what they have seen cross their repair desk. Don't leave your life support equipment to chance!

Safety Sausage - The Seat Belt of SCUBA Diving

Would you drive a car without wearing your seat belt? When you strap your seat belt on, do you plan on using it every time you drive or ride in a car? If not, then why would you dive without a safety sausage?

A safety sausage, also known as a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) or visual signaling device, is usually a neon orange, inflatable tube that can be inflated with a breath or two of air, or from air from your regulator. They come in sizes ranging from 4' to 10' and can be used to signal help at the surface when you are tired or fatigued.

This accessory is one of the most important items a diver can own. Rarely available for rent at resorts, a safety sausage is the seat belt of SCUBA Diving: 99.99% of the time you never need it, but that time you do need it is when it matters most.

Situations when you might need a safety sausage include:

If you run our of air and need to surface immediately
When drift diving where the current may pull you off of your intended course
In low visibility conditions where line of sight navigation is challenging
On crowded boats where the crew and divemasters have to keep track of many divers
During unexpected conditions with waves or chop that make it difficult to see the boat

To learn more about safety sausages, stop by the shop and talk with our staff.

Tame your Mermaid Mane

Enough with the out-of-control, tangled, sticky, dread-locked hair that seems to be unavoidable while diving. It doesn’t have to be that way! After 13 years of diving and 23 years of loving my locks, I have finally uncovered the secrets to managing my hair both above and below the water and prevent hair damage and broken bristles to my brush. Here are 5 tips to taming your mermaid mane and looking cute while you dive!

5. Spare hair ties! Most save-a-dive kits contain things like a spare mouth piece and a back-up fin-strap. Yours should contain spare hair ties! There is nothing worse than having your hair tie break and being forced to jump in the water with loose hair. I guarantee you will surface with tangles and tears! Plus, a hair tie makes a decent snorkel keeper in case that ever breaks.

4. Low & tight, ladies! Whether by pony-tail, bun or braid, your hair is best off being worn low and tight. Ponytails are fine if you have shorter hair, but buns and braids are a better choice for longer hair. If you choose to braid your hair, be sure to make the braids tight. Loose braids won’t last very long underwater. Why wear it low? It makes getting your mask on and off a very easy process.

3. Ditch the silicone strap; they were not made with ladies in mind. They tug, they grab, they rip and they ruin our beloved hair. Neoprene straps are gentle on your hair and have other added benefits in addition to protecting your hair. Slap straps with a Velcro fitting only need to be adjusted once and then never have to be adjusted again! They also come in a wide variety of colors so you can personalize your mask to make it more identifiable to you and to your dive buddy while underwater. Neoprene straps are much more durable than the silicone straps so having a back-up mask strap isn’t really needed.

2. Bio-degradable leave-in conditioner- it is reef safe and smells like coconuts! There is no better way to show your hair love than by treating it with eco-friendly leave-in conditioner by Gnarly Head. I put a quarter-size drop in my hands and run it all through my hair. This allows me to comfortably get a brush through my hair without breakage and without using an entire bottle of conditioner later on in the shower.

1. Scuba headbands! Hoods are great but they aren’t the only way to cover your hair while diving. There are many different brands and styles of scuba headbands, just find one that covers your bangs and fragile baby hairs and looks cute for that underwater photo for your Facebook profile picture! Learning how to wear it in a way that is compatible with your scuba mask is very important! It should be worn toward the middle of your forehead, over your ears and 1-3 inches into your hairline. My headband covers the outside skirt of my mask so that I don’t have any bangs sneak out the front (that is the key to wearing it successfully). And, for an added bonus, the headbands are perfect for wrangling your bangs on the boat.

Why we love Little Cayman

If you are ready to escape the heat and start planning your next dive trip, allow us to suggest Little Cayman. As one of our favorite "home away from home" islands, there are so many reasons we know you and your family will love it here:

#5) A true island getaway
With only 200 residents on the island, Little Cayman is more authentic and secluded than the hustle of Grand Cayman. If you're looking for an exclusive Caribbean escape that feels remote, this is the place!

#4) Great conditions for good diving

It's hard to find a bad dive site in Little Cayman. The water is warm, the visibility is good, and most dive sites are a short boat ride from the resorts.

#3) Fun and friendly wildlife

The critters that call Little Cayman home make each dive unforgettable. This is an especially great place to see turtles, but we are particularly fond of the curious and welcoming groupers.

#2) The reefs are shallow

With shallow reefs all around the island, you can plan long dives filled with colorful flora and fauna. Or, if you choose to venture deeper, you can plan multiple, pro-longed safety stops and enjoy more dive time on the way up.

#1) Bloody Bay Wall

Bloody Bay Wall is one of our favorite dive locales in the world! The drop off is sheer, but the reef is shallow, and colorful wildlife is all around you.

To learn more about Little Cayman, or any of our other favorite dive sites, call or email to speak with one of our Travel Specialists. Our Travel Department is here to keep you safe and give you 20 years of experience and service that will make your vacation unforgettable!

Our Favorite Specialty Courses

The best way to stay safe and having fun in the water is through continued education. Courses like advanced open water and rescue diver introduce divers to additional skills, while specialties dig deeper into the core knowledge and allow divers to gain confidence in new and specific aspects of diving.

If you are looking for a way to continue your dive education and gain confidence and technique before your next trip, consider enrolling in one of our Top 5 Favorite Specialty Courses:

5.) Search & Recovery

Search and Recovery is a fun and adventurous specialty to add to your diving repertoire. Divers learn various search patterns and buoyancy techniques to find and raise lost treasures to the surface. This class is also practical, as you never know when a weight belt, mask, or even iPhone may go for a swim off the back of the boat!

4.) Equipment

You can be the hero of the dive boat by taking this class and gaining some basic working knowledge of your SCUBA equipment. Without getting lost in technical details, this class covers the inner workings of SCUBA gear and provides some simple tricks to save your trip if your gear starts to malfunction.

3.) Navigation

Between currents, debris, and Gregorian fans that all look alike, it’s easy to get lost or disoriented underwater. Navigation is by far one of the most important specialties all divers should take to learn basic orienteering skills to make sure you get safely back to the boat.

2.) Peak Performance Buoyancy

There is nothing more frustrating as a diver—both experienced and novice alike—than sinking or floating without being able to control your buoyancy. With this class, divers can focus on getting the right weight and practicing breathing technique to gracefully glide up and down in the water column. Plus, this is the only skill you use on every dive. Night, photography, video, navigation - they all start with rock solid buoyancy skills!

1.) Enriched Air Nitrox

There are so many benefits to diving Enriched Air Nitrox when you’re on a multi-day dive vacation. Nitrox allows divers longer bottom time to help you maximize your undersea adventures while traveling abroad. Additionally, many of our staff members report feeling less tired and more alert after multiple nitrox dives than they do after multiple air dives.

Visit our website for up-to-date information about these and other specialty courses, or call the shop at 303-220-8282 to talk with our staff about the best class to help you be a better diver!

Why we do certification dives at Aurora Reservoir

Aurora Reservoir is our summer playground. From June through September, our teams of fearless instructors take students to Aurora every other weekend to complete their open water dives. Below are the top 5 reasons our staff and instructors believe Aurora Reservoir is the best place to get certified.

	#5. Aurora is close and convenient! Just 20 minutes from our shop door, the location of Aurora makes getting SCUBA certified easy and efficient. There is no long distance travel—or associated travel expenses—no tanks to haul and best of all, you can sleep in your own bed.
	#4. Aurora has an underwater airplane! Aurora may not have the prettiest fish or most luscious scenery, but diving the airplane is an unforgettable experience. Open Water students may get a glimpse of this sunken Cessna, while Advanced students can practice your buoyancy by fin pivoting over the wings.
	#3. Aurora has the most realistic beach in Colorado! With a breath taking view of the Rocky Mountains, first class shade shelters and clean changing rooms, Aurora Reservoir offers a perfect outdoor summer day in Colorado. Beyond that, the SCUBA beach creates very accurate conditions to simulate shore diving in the ocean. From staging your gear before walking across the sand, to easing out into the gentle surf to test your weight, the atmosphere is a very authentic offering of ocean diving.
	#2. Aurora prepares divers for adventure! It's no secret that reservoirs and lakes in Colorado lack the lighting and great visibility of the ocean, but these conditions are what make them such great training platforms. By completing your open water dives at Aurora, you’ll be trained to handle some of the most challenging circumstances divers face—low visibility, thermoclines in the water, etc.—and will therefore be a safer diver when you are on vacation.
	#1. Aurora instructors are a top-notch training team Our instructors who certify divers at Aurora Reservoir absolutely love diving the reservoir. Their teamwork and positive energy is contagious, and no matter what may happen—be it freaky Colorado weather, or low visibility on the bottom—they always pull together to make it a great weekend for everyone.

To book your open water dives at Aurora, call the shop to sign up for our next class!

Our Topside Favorites . . .

We love adventures of all styles. While the water is our playground, the world has so much to offer when you’re not flipping your fins. Here are a few of our favorites (so far)!

	TANZANIA Why you should go: Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Kilimanjaro. Tanzania boasts some of the most diverse and vast National Parks in the region, with fewer tourists than their neighbors to the north, Kenya. What you should do: Take a safari! If you love diving with eagle rays, cuttlefish, and whale sharks, you’ll love photographing zebras, wildebeests and lions. And don't be surprised if your inner "Birder" comes out when you are surrounded by such beauty and grace. For added adventure: Soar over the trees in a hot air balloon to see the serene landscape of the Serengeti.
	ANTARCTICA Why you should go: Ice, Penguins and Seals. Placing your feet on the 7th continent is also a highlight for those blessed enough to be such world travelers. What you should do: Kayak, hike and take photos of fuzzy penguins! Enjoy long days and take in the serene and daring landscapes, where the golden hour of photography can last through most of the evening! For added adventure: Weather permitting, camp on the ice. Spend the night listening to penguins chirp and ice crackle and wake up to some of the most pure sunrises on the planet.
	DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (THE SILVER BANK) Why you should go: Guidebooks consistently review DR as the best beaches in the world. From the Spanish heritage and culture, to strolling on the white sand and soaking up some sun, the Dominican Republic is a true paradise for low-key relaxation. What you should do: Go whale watching. The Silver Banks north of the Dominican Republic is a breeding ground for Humpback Whales. It’s a great place to see these majestic creatures jump and swoon to attract a mate. For added adventure: Grab your snorkel and jump in! Swimming on the surface is a fun way to see the incredible encounters up close, with the rare opportunity to be a "babysitter" for a juvenile humpback whale.
	ICELAND Why you should go: Iceland is one of the most affordable European destinations to fly to, with direct flights from most major US airports. Many hotels also offer all-inclusive packages with meals and tours included. What you should do: Bring your camera and sign up for a late night excursion to see the northern lights. This phenomenon is rarely visible in the states, but at the top of the world, geomagnetic and solar flare activity makes for a light show like no other. For added adventure: Fly up a volcano on a helicopter ride to get an unforgettable view of the country’s hot spring landscape.
	ARGENTINA Why you should go: Buenos Aires is a convenient layover en route to most South American destinations. If you have a few hours—or a few nights—to kill, there is tons of local culture and natural beauty to explore. What you should do: Grab a snack at Café Tortoni, the oldest café in Buenos Aires, or (if time allows) enjoy a Tango show. For added adventure: Hike Iguazu Falls! Recently named one of the Seven New Natural Wonders of the World, this waterfall is an absolute spectacle with enough water flow every second to fill two Olympic sized swimming pools!
	HONG KONG Why you should go: The crossroads where East meets West, Hong Kong is the best location to experience Chinese culture with the comforts of Western society. What you should do: Eat everything, from dim sum in old colonial cafes to street vendors in the legendary night market. The flavors range from sweet and sour to spicy and bitter, making Hong Kong an adventure for the foodie in all of us. For added adventure: Take the cable car to the Limpo Monastery and climb the steps to the Tian Tan Buddha that towers over the island.

One World Dive & Travel also books and guides adventure vacations. Contact one of our travel specialists to learn about our upcoming trips or book an excursion of your own.

The Value of Shopping Local

Shopping local provides a great value with numerous benefits available no where else!

Try it on! Try it out! Just because it looks cool doesn’t mean it fits!

Getting fit for a maskThere are so many products made by scuba brands on the market that it can get confusing about which item to choose. With 20 years in business, we are scuba equipment fitting experts. We carry a large selection of choices so we have the ability to customize the equipment to your unique needs and features. Just comparing masks, we carry over 45 variations of masks to try on and compare, offering a mask with the fit and features that you need to have an enjoyable experience in the water.

But don’t just try it on, try it out! After selecting your mask, we offer the ability to confirm our recommendation in our pool! Our promise to you is that if you try your new mask, fins or snorkel in our pool and it does not fit, we will refund or exchange it for one that does!

Get expert advice!

Our non-commission retail staff has a combined total of over 150 years of industry experience! Everything we sell is hand-picked for our customers to meet their needs, their budget and their expectations. Our experts will not only fit you into your new gear they will teach you how to prep, adjust, store, use and get the most out of your new equipment. We can even help plan your next dream vacation!

New BCD, Regulator and computer? Purchase a complete package from us and get FREE pool work-outs for life! That’s right, jump in the pool and blow some bubbles as often as you would like! After you purchase the equipment our staff will assemble, adjust and get you comfortable with you new gadgets. They will even schedule a time for you to familiarize yourself with your new equipment and answer any questions you have after you have tested it for yourself! Not to mention you'll be covered by a Manufacturer Warranty for your items when purchased from an Authorized Dealer.

Keep your money in Colorado!

Supporting a local business not only creates jobs but allows us to continue supporting our mile high diving community in the years to come. Your business keeps our doors open and our experts here to serve you and your diving needs! Not to mention we will be your oasis from the next blizzard when you need the smell of neoprene or a salt-water pool to jump in to preserve your sanity!

Get more bang for your travel dollar - same amount of money, more value!

When you book your vacation with one of our travel specialists you'll enjoy ALL of the following benefits:

No extra costs, hidden fees or commissions! Our travel specialists work to find you the best deals so you will pay the same amount of money to through us as you would to find it on your own. All of our advice and reservations are a free service to give you the inside scoop and local tips for your adventure.
You'll be treated like family! Years of living abroad and guiding trips around the world have helped us find the best dive operators and "can't miss" moments. We refer you to our global friends who will make sure you are safe and pampered the entire time.
We're here every step of the way! Plans change, emergencies happen, luggage gets lost, and those forms you needed get left at home. Our travel specialists are available before you go and while you're on your trip to take care of last minute concerns.
Enjoy the most exclusive discounts and specials! Years of living abroad and guiding trips around the world have helped us find the best dive operators and "can't miss" moments. We refer you to our global friends who will make sure you are safe and pampered the entire time.
FREE Pool Workouts before you go! Jump in the pool, refresh your skills, and test out your gear before you go! This offer may be used multiple times before your trip! Just call the shop and reserve an hour when our pool is not in use.
Up to 10% OFF Pre-Trip purchases! You need that new mask anyways, you might as well keep a sweet discount on it! *Cannot be combined with other discounts. Does not apply to items already on sale, GoPro or camera equipment, previous purchases or classes.*
Discounts on rental gear! We guarantee your rental gear to have been serviced, sized properly and tested before you go.

Thank you for your business. We appreciate you supporting a local business and shopping small, and are here to help you with all your diving and snorkeling needs for years to come!

Our Pacific Favorites . . .

Some of the biggest and best ocean life you’ll see doesn’t always hang out in the protected waters of the Caribbean. If you are ready to take your diving to the next level of adventure, try exploring one of our favorite Pacific dive sites.

	TRUK LAGOON (CHUUK) Why you should go: Truk, also known as Chuuk, is the ultimate bucket list item for wreck divers. The lagoon was once a haven for Japanese war ships and supply vessels until the U.S. bombed them in World War II. What you should do: Pay your respects on the Fujikawa Maru where sunken planes highlight one of the most popular wreck dives in the world. For added adventure: Brush up on your history! A number of land-based tours can shed more light on the war in the Pacific.
	PHILIPPINES Why you should go: The Philippines are home to some of the warmest waters in the Pacific, as well as an absolute paradise for little critter lovers. What you should do: Go muck diving! It might sound like dirty work, but plunging through the sediment of black sand and debris gives divers the chance to see some of the freakiest and funkiest species in the ocean (like Flamboyant cuttlefish and Hairy Frogfish.) For added adventure: Snorkel with our favorite gentle giants of the sea. While whale sharks can be hard to find in most locations, the Philippines offer a great place to splash at the surface and spend hours with these normally elusive creatures.
	PALAU & YAP Why you should go: These two islands are easy to see together in one trip. Palau was voted Lonely Planet’s “Must See Destination of 2016” while Yap is a favorite for National Geographic photographers. What you should do: Snorkel in the world famous jellyfish lake in Palau. In this salt-water oasis, the jellyfish have bred freely for decades without predators, and therefore no longer have stinging cells. For added adventure: Kayak to experience the serenity of Yap. Whether gliding through the mangroves, or exploring 19th century canals, kayaking is a relaxing way to see the sites of this culturally rich paradise.
	INDONESIA Why you should go: Indonesia boasts some of the healthiest reefs on the planet, with a diverse mixture of reef, wall and muck diving. What you should do: Explore a kaleidoscope of color at Cannibal Rock. Around every reef you’ll be treated to sky blue anemones, rich maroon sea cucumbers, glowing purple gorgonian fans, and yellow whip coral (not to mention creatures big and small, from pygmy seahorses to giant manta rays.) For added adventure: If you get tired of swimming with sea monsters like green turtles and black snappers, take a walk among the world famous Dragons of Komodo.
	GALAPAGOS Why you should go: The flora and fauna of Galapagos inspired Charles Darwin’s research on evolution, so you can only imagine the diverse and rare life forms you will see. What you should do: Spend a week on a SCUBA specific live aboard. The best diving is at Wolf and Darwin, and the only way to get there is aboard a scuba diving liveaboard. Although sharks are a highlight, Marine Iguana, Mola Mola and Galapagos Penguins add to the adventure. For added adventure: The topside life is just as incredible as the creatures under the sea. Take some time to visit the giant tortoises, iguanas and blue-footed booby birds.

If you’re ready to explore the seas beyond those sandy shores, call one of our travel specialists to start your Pacific adventure!

Our Caribbean Favorites . . .

Diving is often enjoyed with sunny skies, sandy beaches, and the isolation that only tropical life can provide. Some Caribbean adventures are the stuff dreams are made of, while others can turn into a “three hour tour” gone wrong. If you are looking for a hassle-free and fun vacation, here are our top destinations for a sunny, tropical escape.

	COZUMEL Why you should go: Thanks to direct flights from several US cities, Cozumel is easy to get to from the States. The ease of access along with resorts that offer extremely inclusive packages make it a good value for families and groups looking to get away. What you should Do: Explore Palancar Gardens. A great dive site for beginner and advanced divers alike, the coral arch swim-throughs and abundance of turtles are sure to make Palancar Gardens one of the most memorable moments of your vacation. For added adventure: Don't miss the Chicken Mole at El Morro. Ray and the gang make you feel like family while spoiling you with amazing eats and delicious margaritas!
	BONAIRE Why you should go: Known for easy shore diving and brilliant, lush reefs full of color, Bonaire is the shore diving mecca of the Caribbean. It also boasts having the oldest marine park reserve, allowing for a variety of creatures to thrive in the protected waters. What you should Do: Swim under the Salt Pier (when it is open and allowed). This hypnologic experience is straight out of a bedazzled dream. Clouds of salt crystals the size of quarters cascade down around you. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing diamonds rain down from above, this is the site for you! For added adventure: Visit the Donkey Sanctuary and get in touch with your inner animal lover. Originally brought to the island as work animals by the Spaniards some 400 years ago, donkeys have not adjusted well to island life. At this refuge, they receive extra TLC and a safe place to play with tourists.
	CAYMAN ISLANDS Why you should go: One of the friendliest, safest and most hospitable sites in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands are known for their walls and swim-throughs. What you should Do: Kneel on the ocean floor of Stingray City and watch the giant rays come in for cleaning. With your face inches from one of the most majestic animals in the ocean, this dive is always a favorite. Often referred to as the best 15' dive in the world! For added adventure: Spend your week on Little Cayman enjoying one of our favorite dive locations in the world, Bloody Bay Wall. Arguably some of the best diving available without a 30 hour plane ride!
	TURKS & CAICOS Why you should go: If you want to get off the tourist track, TCI is the place to go. A lack of cruise ships on the main island of Providenciales make the stunning beaches less crowded and more open to enjoy. What you should Do: Although the shear wall is mesmerizing, take time to explore the shallow sand reefs. This is your best chance to see the elusive Flying Gurnard, and possibly feeding Eagle Rays. For added adventure: Give your core a workout and go stand-up paddle boarding in the mangroves to see vegetation that only grows in coastal salt water. Why hike the jungle when you can float through the scenery?
	BELIZE Why you should go: The town of St. Pedro on Ambergris Cay offers the quintessential island life. Quaint, open-air restaurants and walk-able streets (with the exception of an occasional golf cart) make it a great get-away to unwind and relax. What you should Do: Skip the touristy Blue Hole and dive Hol Chan Marine Reserve. This is one of our favorite reefs in the Caribbean. Aquatic life abounds—corals, sponge, fish, and big critters—making it a fun site for both divers and snorkelers. For added adventure: Take your pick of adrenaline based excursions. From zipline courses to wildlife tours, from tarpon fishing to incredible spelunking in caves, Belize is adventure central and you can’t go wrong with all of the places to play.

Make sure your trip to paradise is a perfectly planned adventure. Call to speak with one of our travel specialists for Caribbean recommendations.

Our Favorite Things . . .

At One World Dive & Travel, we only sell the gear our staff uses. This month, we sat down and picked out our favorite dive gear and accessories that we wouldn’t leave home without.

Michelle’s Favorite Thing: Suunto D4i Novo Computer

“I love my D4i. It’s air integrated and does everything you could want from a dive computer. It is also nice and small so I can wear it as a fashionable watch as well.”

	MP’s Favorite Thing: Colorado Buff UV Half Buff “I hate tangled hair and I want to look cute underwater! Not to mention, it comes on all my adventures—surfing, snowboarding, camping, etc. And everywhere I travel, I show off my Colorado pride.”
	Brian’s Favorite Thing: Swivel Hose Adaptor “The swivel has to be one of the best innovations in SCUBA in the past 5 years. They are quick and easy to install on any regulator, and the level of comfort is just incredible. Instead of fighting my reg hose, it feels like my regulator is an extension of my jaw.”
	Jill’s Favorite Thing: Thermalution Heated Shirt “I love my heated shirt. It’s absolutely my favorite thing. I mean, it always keeps me warm. It’s pretty much that simple. I won’t go diving without it any more. Heck, I probably wouldn’t go skiing without it anymore.”
	Zach’s Favorite Thing: Safe Sole Ergo Booties “I’d wear these boots everywhere. They are comfy, like slippers, but they have incredible arch support for walking around. I always hated wrestling my feet into booties, but the zippers make them so easy to put on.”
	Kim’s Favorite Thing: Soul i3 BCD “The Soul is designed so nicely. There are two things I like about this BCD. It takes the weight off your shoulders and puts it on your hips like a backpack. The i3—which actually comes on a couple of BCs—has a level of finesse to adjusting your buoyancy that a standard inflator cannot meet.”
	Carolyn’s Favorite Thing: Nautilus Snorkel “I don’t like having my snorkel in my face all the time, so I love that I can put the Nautilus in my pocket when I’m diving. I grew up around water, and this is just as good as any ‘real’ snorkel out there. It holds it shape when I snorkel with it and like I said, it is totally out of my way when I’m diving.”
	Finn’s Favorite Thing: Dive Flag Dog Collar “I like to show off my Bronco’s spirit on Sundays, but the rest of the week, I keep it classy and professional by wearing my Dive Flag collar to work.”
	Buddy’s Favorite Thing: One World Tank Water Bottle “After a long walk, I enjoy slurping water out of my tank water bottle. It’s so much cooler and way more comfortable than my water dish. Plus, as any good Dive Dog knows, staying hydrated is important to avoid decompression sickness!"

There are so many fun toys that make SCUBA Diving an incredible sport. What is your favorite thing? Comment below to let us know!

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Traveling with Photography Equipment

For any of you that have traveled with us, you know part of my equipment needs are my camera and housing. This gets wheeled around the world in what has affectionately been nicknamed “the Schoolbus”, a bright yellow hard sided case that has visited so many countries it should have its own passport!

From carry on to hard sided cases, and with weight and size restrictions, there are numerous ways to get your gear from point A to B and back.

The benefits of a carry on option are pretty obvious – it’s always close at hand, you have complete control of it, and as long as you don’t leave it in the overhead compartment, it’s the best option for safeguarding your equipment. Whether hard sided or soft, there are numerous bags and cases available to fit this need. But on the downside, cameras, housing, batteries and spares pack a hefty weight, and with certain airlines limiting their carry on bag limit to 15lbs, this option may not work for everyone.

I’ve seen many a diver wrap their gear in t-shirts and bathing suits and use a standard suitcase as their checked luggage. Although convenient, this doesn’t always provide the protection of today’s sensitive camera equipment needs.

Finally, there’s the hard sided case. Durable and safe, this seems to be the option of choice for photographers serious about protecting their equipment. With a range of sizes, there really is a case to fit any photographers setup. Although out of your control while hurtling through space in a round metal tube, I’ve found the benefits greatly outweigh the deficits. The downside to these cases is the extra weight. I've learned exactly what I can fit in my case while avoiding paying overweight fees.

By having a dedicated case for my photo equipment, everything has its place. It becomes the ideal storage container while it rests in my basement, ready to hit the water once the next trip comes around.

Tough to see through all that fog?

What makes your mask fog? A warm face against a cold screen, or exhaling through your nose are common answers. But most commonly, it's dirt. Fog particles stick to dirt particles so small you can't see them. You get fogged up.

The first step in keeping your mask fog-free is to clean it. Your skin oils, sunscreen and makeup transfer from your skin to the silicone mask skirt, eventually moving to the mask lens. Cleaning is the first step for a fog-free dive.

New masks have a coating of silicone from the manufacturing process that has to come off the lens before any defog will work. Use Softscrub, a non-gel toothpaste or 500psi Mask Scrub and rub the inside lens with your fingers for twice as long as you think it needs. If you have prescription lenses, skip the abrasives and just clean them with soapy water.

Before every trip, get out the elbow grease and clean the whole mask. Start with the silicone skirt, working in a silicone spray to clean off your last trips’ worth of contaminates. Follow this up with the same procedure for cleaning a new mask on the glass and you are ready to begin.

But a clean mask is just part of the answer. Another foggy factor is temperature differences. When the water temperature is cooler than the inside surface of your mask lens, moisture condenses on the dirt particles. This is where defoggers come into play.

There are just as many choices in defog as there are divers, and everyone seems to have their favorite.

A nice lady on a trip asked me about the mold growing in an unreachable corner of her mask. After I looked at it and commented on how she might consider a new mask, she spit into her mask and smeared it around. "I just don't understand it", she said. How disgusting! I see experienced divers doing this. "I always know where it is" or "unlimited supply" they say. I’m not saying spit doesn't work. A popular dive magazine once did a test of defogs, listing spit third from the bottom, working better than some commercial defog!

There are reasons spit may not be your first choice. Besides the build up of contaminates in your mask, spitting can lead to an eye infection. There are organisms found in spit you wouldn't want in your eyes, like herpes and cold sores.

My personal preference is Sea Gold. Smear a small dab, smaller than the size of a pea, on the inside of both clean lenses, rub in and gently rinse. Avoid the blast from the hose on the back of the boat. The pressure of the hose washes all the defog out! Rinse it in the water you're going to dive in (ie the ocean, crater or reservoir).

Despite your best efforts, on occasion your mask will fog up during a dive. Remember your partial flood and clear during your basic scuba course? Let in a little water at the top of your mask, look down, rock your head and let the water clear the fog. This is why you never see mustached (leaky mask) divers with foggy masks!

I see divers rinsing their masks at the end of a dive in the same tank with other gear. We all know there are two types of divers - those that pee in their wet suit and those who lie about it. You're going to rinse your mask in that tank with someone's wet suit? It's fresh water from the hose or a dip in the sea for my mask, then defog for the next dive. Dedicated mask rinse buckets? If someone has spit in their mask, the rinse bucket is contaminated.

Next time you stop in the store, get a recommendation on defog. Our sport is very visual. You don't want to miss anything!

Scuba Dive Lights

What can we not dive without at night, but are just as valuable during the day? Dive lights! They not only provide illumination during a night dive, but are also very useful during day dives to look into those dark nooks and labyrinths, home to lobster, crab and eels.

Care and maintenance of you dive lights are critical. Prior to diving, batteries should be checked to determine remaining burn time. Disposable batteries should be disposed of appropriately (I bring home my old AA batteries and reuse them in my mouse, keyboard and remote controls) and rechargeable ones recharged and retested. O-rings should be removed, inspected, cleaned and lubricated before every dive. The groove where the o-ring is seated should be cleaned with a soft, clean cloth and checked for damage. The case housing, switches, bulb and lanyard should also be checked.

After your dive, rinse the lights in fresh water as soon as possible, dry them and remove the batteries (once you are done diving for the week). Then store them in a dry,cool place out of direct sunlight.

In the event you flood your light - as some of us perhaps have a tendency to do - immediately turn it off. Switch to a back up if you are on a night dive and don't continue the dive on your back up (you may wish to carry more than one back up light - especially on lengthy dives). When you exit the water, remove the batteries away from other people as they may burst. Appropriately dispose of them. Rinse the light in fresh water and dry it thoroughly. Bring it into the shop and have us evaluate what can be saved.

When it comes to which light to purchase, your choices are as broad as dive locations. Do you want something small enough to take on every dive? Are you looking for a video light for your GoPro that can also work for general night diving? Our team can help narrow down your choices based on your light requirements.

Remember: properly maintained dive lights enhance our diving experience. They give us the opportunity to see things in areas that ordinarily would not be visible to us, or illuminate the reds, oranges and yellows that we lose in the color spectrum as we descend.

New name, same great store!

Underwater Phantaseas, South has announced they have changed their name to One World Dive and Travel. The current owners purchased the DTC location of Underwater Phantaseas in 1996, and decided at that time to keep the name.

"It's tough to make a change after 18 years with the same name," said owner Michelle Courington, "but as we have separate ownership and business philosophy from the Underwater Phantaseas in Lakewood, we felt we needed to help our customers differentiate between the stores. One World Dive & Travel encapsulates our vision of training divers and taking them on dive travel adventures around the world.”

One World Dive and Travel will continue to operate at their current location, retaining all owners and staff. "All that's changing is our name," says Michelle, "but the same great service and trips you have known over the years will continue. Our customers will just hear a different name when we answer the phone!"

One World Dive and Travel offers scuba and snorkeling classes, equipment, repairs and rentals as well as a full service travel agency offering both individual and group trips around the world. Private and group swim lessons for adults and children are also available.

One World Dive & Travel is a GoPro Dealer

One World Dive & Travel is proud to announce that we are a full line dealer of GoPro cameras and accessories. We have the one of the largest selection in the state of diving and snorkeling specific accessories, plus cases by SP Gadgets, filters by Snake River Prototyping and poles by Sealife.