Inside Scuba Issue #28

AuthorAuthor

Byron Conroy & Andy Deitsch
February 23, 2025

Welcome to Issue #28 of Inside Scuba

Welcome to this issue of Inside Scuba. This edition covers the essentials of drysuit diving—whether it’s the right choice for you and how it enhances safety and comfort in a variety of conditions. We also take you to Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina, explore recent dive industry headlines, and highlight some of our favorite images from the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 competition.

What’s happening in this edition?

Drysuit Diving: Is It For You?

I have lived in Iceland for 10 years, and all but one of my dives have been conducted in a drysuit. In fact, I originally moved to Iceland just to become a proficient drysuit diver. I made this decision because I wanted to pursue technical diving, and to be a good tech diver, you need to be skilled in drysuit diving. Notice that I didn’t say “cold-water tech diver”—that’s because one of the biggest misconceptions about drysuit diving is that it’s only necessary for extreme cold-water environments like Iceland or the Arctic. That’s simply not the case. Drysuit diving offers additional safety by providing redundant buoyancy and also addresses many thermal insulation challenges that divers face, even in water that could be considered subtropical.

For me, I wear a drysuit in any conditions colder than 25°C (77°F). I love my wetsuit and warm-water tropical diving in 3mm or 5mm wetsuits, but if I start needing hoods, 7mm or thicker suits, and vests, then a drysuit is the way to go. That’s because I’ve invested the time and training to become a skilled drysuit diver, rather than using it only occasionally and struggling each time.

While wetsuits provide some thermal protection, they become less effective as temperatures drop. Adding thicker or layered wetsuits does little to solve the issue beyond increasing discomfort—while still failing to keep divers warm enough for an enjoyable experience. Drysuit diving, on the other hand, allows divers to explore cooler environments while staying warm and dry, making it an essential skill for those looking to expand their diving capabilities. But is drysuit diving for everyone? This article breaks down everything you need to know about drysuits, including their benefits, challenges, and whether making the switch is the right move for you.

In each issue of our newsletter, we will curate some top dive news from around the world. Links to each of the original articles are available.

Dive Magazine: “The second in a series of articles detailing how survivors of the Sea Story liveaboard disaster escaped from the capsized boat to find themselves drifting for hours before being rescued”

PetaPixel: “Woman Loses Both Hands After Trying to Take Selfie With Shark. The 55-year-old woman lost both her hands after trying to take a picture with the shark while on vacation at Thompson Cove Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands on February 7.”

Divernet: “Drysuit Diving Fatality – Creating Real Lessons Through a Human Factors Approach” Human Factors educator and technical diver Gareth Lock will be revealing how understanding human behaviour transforms safety and performance underwater when he takes to the Tech Stage at the GO Diving Show in March. In his presentation, Gareth will be discussing the case of Linnea Mills, a young lady who died during an Advanced Open Water class while using a drysuit, entirely due to her incompetent instructor.

Hawaii News Now: “More than 150 false killer whales are stranded on a remote beach with no hope of rescue. Marine experts have given up hope of rescuing more than 150 false killer whales that are stranded on a remote beach on Australia’s island state of Tasmania, officials said on Wednesday. Experts including veterinarians were at the scene near the Arthur River on Tasmania’s northwestern coast where 157 whales were discovered on an exposed surf beach on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said.”

DeeperBlue.com: “Reclassification Of Pillar Coral As Endangered Delayed. The ruling was due to enter into force on February 18, but President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for a 90-day “regulatory freeze” has resulted in the reclassification’s entry into force being pushed back to March 21, 2025, according to a government notice.”

Dive Magazine: “An inquest into the death of a British scuba diver in Komodo in September 2023 has found he likely died from Immersion Pulmonary Oedema. Robert Bolton, a 65-year-old retired Royal Navy officer, was diving at Crystal Rock in Komodo National Park when he ascended with his guide approximately 10 minutes into the dive. He was removed from the water but fell unconscious while receiving treatment.”

Hindustan Times: “Decommissioned naval warship INS Guldar to be sunk off Sindhudurg coast to boost scuba tourism”

Dive Magazine: “A new study has found the song of humpback whales is a complex, culturally transmitted behaviour, and is structured in a way that the authors say challenges ‘long held assumptions about the uniqueness of human language’.”

This past Thursday, the winners of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 were announced at the awards ceremony in London. On Friday, we shared many of the winning images, but for our newsletter feature, we wanted to take a more personal approach—focusing on the images that resonated with us the most. Each of us has chosen three favorites from this year’s competition, and in this article, we’ll share what makes them stand out.

Andy’s Three Favorite

Kaleidoscope of Colour by Catherine Holmes (UK) – Winner, Coral Reefs Category

Kaleidoscope of Colour. Nikon D500, Nikon Fisheye. 8-15 (3.5-4.5) @12mm, ISO 320, f/11, 1/160, Retra Pro strobes- with diffusers, Nauticam housing. Photo Credit: © Catherine Holmes/UPY 2025

When I first saw Kaleidoscope of Colour by Catherine Holmes, I appreciated it as a beautiful scene. The more I look at it, the more I discover in the image, the more it grows on me—and now I love it. The explosion of color, the density of fish, and the sheer vibrancy of the reef make it the kind of image people imagine when they think of a pristine coral reef. It’s a stunning representation of underwater beauty.

Liveaboard Review: Diving Cuba's Jardines de la Reina

Ever since the Oceans for Youth program opened diving access to Cuba, I had heard incredible things about the experience. “This is the best diving in the Caribbean.” “The reefs are pristine!” These bold claims made me curious, but at more than $5,000 for a seven-day Caribbean liveaboard, I felt my money could be better spent elsewhere—after all, a ten-day trip to Indonesia, including airfare from the U.S., costs about the same.

However, when Byron and a few friends planned a trip for February 2025, I decided to join them. Diving with friends always makes a trip better, and this one was organized specifically for underwater photographers. What I found was an overall fantastic experience—not necessarily due to the reefs (more on that below), but because of the photographic opportunities and abundant sharks.

A silky shark near the boat towards the end of a dive

Exploring Jardines de la Reina

Jardines de la Reina, or "Gardens of the Queen," is an expansive marine reserve off Cuba’s southern coast. Named by Christopher Columbus in honor of Queen Isabella of Spain, the archipelago consists of 661 islands and cays stretching along the province of Ciego de Ávila. The closest inhabited settlement is Júcaro, a small coastal town about 60 kilometers away and the port from which all liveaboards depart.

For decades, this remote paradise remained largely untouched, serving as Fidel Castro’s personal diving retreat. Public access was restricted until 1996 when the Cuban government designated the area as a protected marine park. This decision, coupled with strict conservation efforts, has helped preserve the health of its mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, making it one of the most well-preserved ecosystems in the Caribbean.

As we mentioned in our last issue, Divers Alert Network has started a new podcast/YouTube channel. Enjoy this first episode of Season 1 where Howard and Michelle Hall discuss their career as underwater filmmakers.

Summary

That’s it for this edition of Inside Scuba! Whether you're considering drysuit diving, planning your next liveaboard adventure, or catching up on the latest industry news, we hope you found valuable insights. Stay tuned for our next issue, where we’ll continue to bring you expert advice, in-depth reviews, and stunning underwater photography. Until then, dive safe and explore more!

Andy & Byron

Reply

or to participate.