Generally it comes down to feeling …

Here are a few “tips & tricks” that work for us :

• Before leaving : We like to contact the club beforehand so we don’t get any bad surprises ; for small operations it’s worth checking availability and the schedule for certain dives. We also pay attention to the information provided by the dive club, their email replies or their website, such as the description of the dive sites, the type of boat, the outing schedule and divers’ reviews.
• On site : When we can, we try to stop by the club the day before to get a feel for the welcome, check the quality of the equipment, understand how things are organized and meet the staff. Certifications or certificates should be displayed or visible. Checking divers’ levels is essential.
• Last but not least, the number of people per dive group (regulated depending on the country), how serious and safety-conscious the club is, the guides’ level (for example the number of instructors in the club for guided dives) and their knowledge of the area.
• Price should not be a deciding factor.

Without judging the different types of training out there, we hold both Padi and ANMP (French federation) certifications.

Here’s why :

• Padi : To dive anywhere in the world. It matters less and less as recreational diving keeps growing worldwide, but European certifications aren’t always recognized in far-flung places (Japan, for instance).
• ANMP or an equivalent European certification : Better recognized in France, the French overseas territories, and Africa. To be able to dive independently within a group. Or simply to dive the passes in French Polynesia, for example.

And why not go for Level 3 or Dive Master ? Simply because with a Padi Advanced or a French Level 2, we can already do every dive we want without any particular restrictions.

For dives down to 30 meters with several repetitive dives in a day, Nitrox without hesitation, for maximum comfort in every respect. The certification is simple, and checking the oxygen percentage or setting the computer quickly becomes routine.

We bring it every time, because we’re used to it and we know exactly what state it’s in. That said, our gear weighs 17 kg on its own, which isn’t easy for transport and flights (baggage overweight …).

Many destinations “offer” good quality equipment, but that’s not always the case. At the very least, travel with your own computer and mask.

We prefer large, soft-sided bags that can be carried as a backpack. Right now, North Face XXL bags do the trick. They have a large capacity, weigh almost nothing empty, and fit easily into tight spaces. We keep our dry gear in small waterproof bags.

Bags “designed” for diving usually aren’t : no waterproof compartment, heavy even empty, poor value for money, often oversized for airlines, and the little wheels are often useless once the bag hits 20 kilos.

Other divers might prefer small hard-shell suitcases instead (at least 2 per person).

We prefer contact lenses, and contrary to what you might think, they tend to stick from about 10 meters down, so there’s little risk of losing them.

Prescription masks work by gluing lenses onto the mask, which in our opinion costs you some of your full field of vision.

We use a small Olympus camera with a housing. It’s compact and convenient for all types of dives. Its macro mode and color reproduction are incredible. Its built-in filters are accessible via shortcuts.

A GoPro for footage and videos, from which we also pull photos. The GoPro is mounted on a mini tripod to help stabilize the shot.

And of course, plenty of lights !

People often ask us this, and it’s a very hard question to answer …

Every dive has its own charm, and we love the richness of the Indian and Pacific Oceans as much as the Atlantic’s very particular atmosphere. On top of that, several factors come into play : the season, the weather, and above all, luck plays a big part !

Unanimously, here’s our top 6 (note that these aren’t the easiest dives, due to the strong currents) :

• South Fakarava with its breathtaking shark walls.
• The legendary Galapagos for their extreme richness on every single dive (Darwin, Wolf, Isabela).
• The hammerhead shark walls at Cocos and other underwater wonders (tiger sharks, silky sharks, mantas, … ).
• Socorro for the wonderful surprises on every dive, mantas, hammerhead sharks, dolphins …
• Indonesia : Komodo for its manta “highway” (Shotgun), Raja Ampat for its teeming fish schools.
• Palau for the incredible diversity of wildlife on every dive, and the exceptional moment during the Pacific snapper spawning.