I'd love it if some of you would review the pages and let me know how I could make it better (information I should either add or remove, or comments on site navigation or anything else).
I'd be especially careful about reflecting your own bias on the site. It's hard for any writer to NOT reflect their own bias, of course, but you should shoot for "just the facts." Since the site is intended for newbies they will probably take whatever you say as gospel. For instance, you can see someone saying "Utah State University says I don't need a snorkle."
No, the site says "Jesse Walker doesn't use one." Jesse Walker could be an idiot.
Not saying that you are, but you get the idea. In short, any place where you use "I" or "me" or "my" should probably be rethought.
Better to say: here's a snorkle, here's what it's for, all the major agencies require them for certification, though some people don't use them in certain situations.
Overall you need to think about the flow of the story and what the reader will take away. Another fer-instance. The first and only mask you show on the site is a Hydro-optix? Again, it's not unreasonable for a newbie to conclude that must be the best one - they thought enough of it to show a picture of it and mention it by name. I'd suggest that you show a picture of a "standard" dive mask as the only image on this page. Also, WAY too much information for a newbie to digest. Do they really need to know about neoprene straps, much less a comparison of different types of neoprene straps? No mention about field of view, probably one of the most important differences between masks. (Second only to fit.)
From a flow standpoint, you will probably LOSE the majority of your readers at the bottom of that page. Why? Look at your last line of that page: "There is more information available on
scuba.com on choosing a dive mask." Since you just put the reader in the frame of mind to WANT more info on choosing a mask, guess where they're going next?
Your fin page is confusing, fairly inaccurate and/or based on your own biases:
"There are two ways that fins can be classified: first, warm water or cold water (also called "full foot" and "open heel" fins. Full foot fins have a pocket that slips directly over your foot, like a sock. They will work in warm water only. "Open heel" fins are meant to be used with a dive boot, and most won't really work without one. These can be used in either warm or cold water, and are more of an "all-purpose" fin (all of the fins pictured on this page have an open heel). Many fin designs only come in open heel styles, while some come in both.
If the two ways fins are classified is "warm" and "cold" and the "cold" is "open heel" but the "open heel" can be used in either "warm or cold" then "warm or cold" is obviously NOT the way that fins are classified.
Lastly, you MUST stop using parantheses! (Why?) I'll tell you why. (As soon as you're done reading this parenthetical thought (forgive me for picking on your writing style) for which I apologize) which I add as an example (perhaps a poor one (but an example nonetheless)) of how hard (sometimes VERY hard) it can be to follow the writer's point (sometimes, but not always) when they use parenthetical (eg using parentheses) statements (like this one) in their writing. (Know what I mean?)(By now you must!)(I hope.)
After the "Jesse Walker says BUY FORCE FINS endorsement" I left the site.
