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  1. Ironborn

    Is It Feasible to Transfer from Malapascua to Sogod Bay in One Day?

    Given the often challenging nature of domestic travel within the Philippines, would it be feasible to transfer from Malapascua to a dive resort in Sogod Bay (specifically, Padre Burgos)? I assume that I am not the first diver to want to combine these two destinations into one trip and would be...
  2. Ironborn

    Flash Photography in the Galapagos

    I read on the website of a liveaboard that I am considering (the Aqua) that guests should not bring external camera flashes because the Galapagos does not permit flash photography of wildlife. If this is true, does it also apply to underwater photography, or only to land photography (the...
  3. Ironborn

    Trip Report Of Mantas and Men: Socorro on the Quino el Guardian, December 2021-January 2022

    Introduction I enjoyed my first liveaboard trip to an extremely remote pelagic destination for “big animals” – Socorro, or, to be more precise, Mexico's Revillagigedo Archipelago. The frequent, extended, and “up close and personal” encounters with manta rays are clearly Socorro's star...
  4. Ironborn

    Trip Report My First Year of Local Diving in South Florida

    Introduction My first year of local diving as a relatively new South Florida resident yielded remarkable experiences that have enriched my life as a diver, changed my perspectives and priorities, and rewarded my decision to move here for non-diving reasons. Diving in South Florida as a local...
  5. Ironborn

    Trip Report Make Baja Great Again: La Paz, October 2021

    Summary I enjoyed the underwater environment of La Paz on my second trip to the Sea of Cortez. My first Sea of Cortez trip to Cabo Pulmo last year motivated to see more of this body of water and its rich marine life, and the dive sites of La Paz certainly delivered in that regard. The...
  6. Ironborn

    Trip Report The Juliet Liveaboard in Bimini, the Bahamas, June 2021

    I enjoyed my first trip on the Juliet liveaboard for its Bimini itinerary in the Bahamas. I now understand its popularity and loyal customer base. The boat and its excellent crew provided a rewarding experience at a moderate price, despite some of the boat's less endearing physical features. I...
  7. Ironborn

    Trip Report St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, March-April 2021

    Introduction I enjoyed my first dive trip to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The highlights for me included the rich critter spotting and photographic opportunities of the Frederiksted pier and the multiple shipwrecks of Butler Bay, on the west side of the island. Beyond those specific...
  8. Ironborn

    Trip Report Cenote Trip Report: Playa del Carmen, December 2020-January 2021

    Introduction I had remarkable experiences during my “cavern” dives in the cenotes of the Mayan Riviera this past holiday season, from a base in Playa del Carmen. I highly recommend cenote cavern dives to any diver with adequate skill and a willingness to see the beauty in different types of...
  9. Ironborn

    Interpreting Weather Forecasts for South Florida Dive Boats

    I just moved to Miami and look forward to the opportunity to dive locally in the Keys and in Palm Beach County/Jupiter on the weekends. As I look at weather forecasts in an attempt to gauge whether or not dive boats in the Keys and Palm Beach County would be able to operate on any given...
  10. Ironborn

    Trip Report Plenty of Fish in the Sea (of Cortez): Cabo Pulmo Trip Report, September 2020

    Introduction I thoroughly enjoyed my first dive trip to the Sea of Cortez at Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort in late September 2020. The Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park has an extremely high fish density. Both the schools of fish and frequently the individual fish were numerous, large, and diverse. The...
  11. Ironborn

    Recommendations for Puget Sound and Hood Canal Diving

    I am looking for dive operations and resorts for a potential Puget Sound dive trip. I found Seattle Dive Tours, which offers guided shore dives in Puget Sound out of a base in Seattle. In the Hood Canal, I found Mike’s Beach Resort and the Sunrise Motel, which seem to be meant for...
  12. Ironborn

    Trip Report Make Cozumel Great Again: Trip Report, June – July 2020

    I returned to Cozumel in June – July, more than three years after my first visit. I enjoyed this trip much more than my last one, which I would attribute to: the much healthier condition of the reefs due to the marine park closures and the absence of divers during to the pandemic lockdown; the...
  13. Ironborn

    Reopening of North Carolina Dive Operations

    I read that at least two of the dive operations covering the famous wreck dives of North Carolina have reopened and gone out: Olympus Dive Center in Morehead City and Discovery in neighboring Beaufort. What are your favorite North Carolina wrecks, and what are the reasons for your preference...
  14. Ironborn

    Visayas Trip Report: Alona Beach and Dauin, January 2020

    This first trip of mine to the Visayas was my second visit to the Philippines, after my first trip to Puerto Galera and Anilao two years ago. The combination of Alona Beach on Panglao Island and Dauin (better known as Dumaguete) on Negros Oriental was almost equally rewarding, albeit in...
  15. Ironborn

    Flying with Regulators into and out of the Philippines

    I have a question about flying with regulators into and out of the Philippines. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that the Philippines’ airport security considers them “blunt instruments” that could be used as weapons and thus does not allow them in carry-on baggage (which seems...
  16. Ironborn

    Is It Feasible/Desirable to "Upgrade" a Regulator for Cold Water Use with an Environmental Seal

    I have an Aqua Lung Titan XL. It is rated for use in water as cold as 50F/10C. As I understand it, using this regulator in water below those temperatures poses a risk of freezing and free flow in the first stage. I understand that cold water regulators generally have environmental seals in...
  17. Ironborn

    Trip Report: Turks & Caicos Explorer II, June-July 2019

    This trip on the Turks & Caicos Explorer II (TCE2) was my first visit to the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) and my first experience with Explorer Ventures (EV). It left me with a positive impression of both the TCI and EV and a desire for more of both. The boat and its crew were excellent, lived...
  18. Ironborn

    Trip Report Trip Report: Alton's Dive Center, Utila. Late May 2019

    Summary This first trip of mine to Utila, which was also my second trip to the Bay Islands, exceeded my expectations, was just as or more enjoyable than my first trip to Roatan last year, and fueled my interest in further exploration of the Bay Islands. The underwater environment of Utila was...
  19. Ironborn

    Trip Report: Monterey & Carmel by the Sea, March 2019

    Summary I enjoyed my five-day diving trip to Monterey and neighboring Carmel by the Sea in March 2019. This trip was my first exposure to both cold water diving and North America's Pacific coast. I am posting this detailed trip report as a resource for other out-of-state divers and other new...
  20. Ironborn

    Trip Report: Surin & Similan Islands Liveaboard, January 2019

    Summary The quality of the underwater environment in Thailand's Surin and Similan National Parks exceeded my expectations and fueled my further interest in diving on pinnacles and in a liveaboard trip to the Mergui Archipelago of neighboring Myanmar. Highlights of this trip included Richelieu...
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