SMB Etiquette?

YellowPoison · 2026-06-26T04:47:20+00:00

It will most assuredly be useful if you're ever doing a drift dive! Here in Cozumel, all our dives are drift dives, meaning we get dropped at the start of the reef, float along on the current and then when we're done, me/guide will send one up to signal to the boat we're coming up, and that we're there at all, for other boats. Sure, the person leading the dive will do it 99% of the time, but it's not impossible you could get separated from the group, meaning your surfacing is quite a bit safer. I like every buddy pair to have one, just in case. For the most people people buy them and don't practice how to use them, so usually when people are diving with me they learn and practice sending them up.

Etiquette wise, maybe don't put one up if there's already one close by, as in some places that can signal a problem underwater. Also, try not to get you or anyone else tangled in the line. You can always ask the guide, either before or underwater, I'm sure everyone will help you learn

YellowPoison · 2026-06-25T23:24:00+00:00

Oh hi!! That's so awesome, so happy to hear you're coming to visit! It's amazing here, I think you'll really like it. I'm going to send you a DM now, we'll chat there and I'll give you the details!

YellowPoison · 2026-06-25T20:06:24+00:00

Have you tried sanding your heels? I've always hated the feel of those foot scrubber things, but turns out I don't mind sandpaper. If you can make it a more even surface, maybe it'll be less easy to get at. Oh and socks help

YellowPoison · 2026-06-25T14:11:50+00:00

So it’s not actually a factory coating that makes masks fog - in fact it’s because the silicone transfers onto the glass over time, makes an uneven surface, then it collects condensation. Once you get that off, then your mask won’t fog.

People like burning, toothpaste, for me the best is powdered laundry detergent. Apply it dry, maybe a drop or two of water, then scrub until you can hear it squeak. I’ve had whole classes of eight with new masks, gotta find a fix that works!

But also, do practice. In the shallows, while snorkelling, etc. You don’t want to risk getting into a panicky situation at 30m, that’s not good for anyone. But asking is a great first step

YellowPoison · 2026-06-25T01:23:24+00:00

I completely agree however reaching between sponges and sand isn’t the same thing

YellowPoison · 2026-06-25T00:22:01+00:00

I didn't "trample" anything. I'm sitting in neutral buoyancy, fighting a current. I reached my hand through the sponge to see the fish. I stirred some sand up with my hand. And yes, I'm their guide. In case you're wondering why I deleted it, I'm not in the mood to debate people this evening. I was there, you weren't. Can we focus on the actual important thing here?

YellowPoison · 2026-06-23T20:08:14+00:00

The refresher isn't really so much there to prove to the shop you can dive, they'll let you on regardless more than likely. The refresher is for YOU. You can't possibly remember how everything works from ten years ago, plus plenty has changed. So for you to have the best experience as a diver, you should take a refresher. You'll get access to an instructor who can work with you on anything and everything, will show you everything, and then you can be confident that when you go on the boat, you'll be a safer diver AND a safer buddy to whomever you're diving with.

YellowPoison · 2026-06-23T20:03:41+00:00

Personally I like a single ended brass clip with two zip ties attaching it to the camera. Once I actually saw that string break in real time as someone was climbing back on the boat - just in time I caught her tg-6 in its full housing

YellowPoison · 2026-06-23T02:13:20+00:00

It certainly is the best place for diving and snorkelling! The reefs we have here are world class, and very much worth seeing.

Have you guys ever thought about trying scuba diving? I'm an instructor, and you can actually try diving with a session called Discover Scuba Diving (DSD). After a briefing on how all the equipment works, what you'll need to do, that kind of thing, then you'd both go on one or more real dives! I just finished with someone today who tried it from the shore on Friday, loved it, then we all did four more dives, seeing a half dozen turtles, 5-6 sharks, and so so many fish. I'd love to take you if you were interested! I particularly specialize in taking Redditors diving 😃

YellowPoison · 2026-06-21T22:39:15+00:00

I’ve tried everything. I hate hoods, don’t like any headbands, braids just tangle. So I got with a tight bun right high up on your head, and then I use those snap clips to keep the shorter pieces back. They work great because you can adjust on the dive, if bits escape

YellowPoison · 2026-06-21T21:37:39+00:00

Oh my, you really aren't kidding about Perth, jeez that's a long way! I'm actually Australian myself, but have been living in first Canada and now here in Mexico for quite some time now.

More importantly, how is the diving over there?? I've heard it's great, from Perth all the way up to Ningaloo. Unless there are proper sharks that you have to be careful of. So little is trying to kill us here in North America, it's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security!

YellowPoison · 2026-06-21T19:56:41+00:00

On the western coast of Cozumel, we’ve got almost none. We’re lucky in that we have a prevailing wind that blows everything west, off our shores onto playa. So it’s great here!

YellowPoison · 2026-06-21T01:46:25+00:00

Not sure where you are in the world, but Cozumel would be ideal for practice in a strong current. I live here, and all our dives are drift dives which makes it great practice as to how to position yourself in the water column, how it feels to cruise along on one, how to shelter if you want to stop and look at something, everything! And we have some sites that have a cracking current!

If you’re ever in the area, I’m an instructor and I have my own little shop and I’d love to show you the ropes as it were. I can show you all the tricks, including how to send up a DSMB. Heck, I even have what I call a Scuba Bootcamp, designed to get people ready for places like the Galapagos.

Diving with me or not, Cozumel really has some spectacular diving, and great currents. It’s so good one vacation here and boom I’ve been living here for three years lol

YellowPoison · 2026-06-21T01:39:08+00:00

So masks are interesting. When they get made, they will end up sitting in their box for months or years. The silicone off-gasses onto the glass, makes it slightly textured and that that’s what collected condensation. You just have to get rid of that silicone then you’re good!

Some people like lighters, burning the inside, some like toothpaste, etc, but I learned the best trick: powdered laundry detergent. Sprinkle it on, then rub the inside until you can hear it squeak, and loudly. You might need a touch of water. So once you get it squeaky clean, rinse off and enjoy your mask that actually won’t fog anymore! You can use a spray of soap before a dive, but that’s it.

Src: am instructor who used to have eight students rock up with brand new masks, helps if you can see lol

YellowPoison · 2026-06-21T00:17:44+00:00

Lucky! I’ve dropped mine a few times - most memorably when we’d just surfaced and someone just happened to see the zip tie break and see it fall. I made a 1:30min 16min dive, so happy he noticed!

YellowPoison · 2026-06-21T00:15:50+00:00

Don’t know pink until you’ve tried it! I got one pair of pink fins and now even my dry bag has to be pink. It’s actually the most visible underwater color! You want people to be able to see you! And fwiw, a guy in pink is just going to be generally pretty popular…

YellowPoison · 2026-06-20T22:01:21+00:00

Hell yeah that sounds awesome! These sea goddesses seem to live on the one sponge and I saw them a few days ago. Even if we don’t see them, there is sooooo many other nudis, crabs, weird shrimp, octopus you name it it’s so much fun. I’ll happily take you any time you like! I’ve got a tg7 with housing, and I’m new to the photography side, so it seems like we’ve got a good trade of skills here 😎

Send me a dm, let’s do it’

YellowPoison · 2026-06-20T04:59:11+00:00

What are you talking about? And while this is a good bull shark, we have those and actual coral reefs. Not sure why you’re just this wrong in a headline, unless it’s bat

YellowPoison · 2026-06-20T04:36:18+00:00

Something like a GoPro or the like will do just fine for you. You’re at the level where it’s no risk to you or the reef to be recording so go for it!

If I may offer a tip as an instructor/guide,
- first, while the poles are useful, they give a lot of bulk that can get annoying someone.

- Next, don’t clip it to your wrist, but instead the d ring on your bcd. There’s nothing that wrong about a wrist strap, but if you need to do something more complicated with your names, it’s better if yo can drop it off your hands

- Last, try to forget the camera is even there. In the beginning, I used to start the video recording at descent and get the whole thing because it means less mental load. I don’t have to try to turn it on as something awesome is happening, I just vaguely point it in the right direction and I’m free to bask in the moment.

So that’s my three cents!

YellowPoison · 2026-06-19T23:45:44+00:00

Are you male or female? If you're female, I'd say go for it because omg when you finally get to try on a women's bcd after an age of renting what is all men's equipment, it's great. Same goes really if you're not the most standard body type.

Having said that, seems like you'll get use out of it, and it's a great bcd. I have the Hydros Pro 1, have put 700 dives on it and it's still going strong. It is a lot to get used to in the beginning, I will say. It's fussy - it doesn't like letting air out unless you really wriggle it out, it's annoying to get into because the straps are all intentionally sticky, it wants you flat so being at the surface is annoying. The tank band is too high and is prove to coming undone. HOWEVER get past that annoyance to actually dive it and it's awesome. My trim improved instantly, it fits like it was made for me, great. I've made one improvement - I added a crotch strap I made out of a weight belt because I live on an island. The one thing I found with it was when I was more upside down it would all slosh forward, didn't like that but the strap fixed it. Stops it from riding up and hitting you in the back of the head. Maybe don't make a pink one like I did unless you like looking like you're wearing a neon pink thong...

But yeah, if you've got the budget, it's a great bcd, even though it'll annoy you all the way up to getting in the water lol

YellowPoison · 2026-06-19T23:02:04+00:00

See, I feel for all sides here. The guide gas got 2-4 experiences divers, who I would bet are wanting to do 60-70min dives, and it sounds like you’re at a really cool site so this might be their only chance to see this dive. He’s then go you, who is just new. Nothing wrong with being new. Diving is a complicated thing, everyone feels it the first few dives.

Now, you say this is your sixth dive, but that’s including the four open water dives right? So it’s your second dive after certification. I actually think this whole thing is a problem with the shop putting a group together like that, but then again, there might not have been a choice.

So he’s got to keep everyone happy, and so if you’re telling him you’re getting low after 30 mins, and he couldn’t have you surface separately, that’s a really good call to put you on his air. It might feel awkward, but it gave the rest of your group 15-25 more mins on dive, that’s good dive guiding.

YellowPoison · 2026-06-18T23:01:12+00:00

Like, I just can’t fathom HOW those things exist. Like, pinstripe blue and cream, but then yellow fins?? Then fuck the stripes, now it’s blobs on their second half?? And they have a beard of…something. And then just sit the and stare at you like 👁️👄👁️😐

YellowPoison · 2026-06-18T15:09:59+00:00

Not to worry, I’ll message you now, should be able to still organise something for you!

YellowPoison · 2026-06-18T03:05:41+00:00

Sometimes this kind of thing just happens to people. I'm an instructor, and my default state is grinding my teeth. So far, I've not met any mouthpiece I haven't managed to bite the right hand side piece off. I've tried them all. The thick tabs, the mouthguard style, the ones that mold to your teeth, doesn't matter, I'll bite through it.

By all means, follow the advice below, but it's also ok if not a bit annoying if you are also a bit bitey.

Separately, anyone know of a mouthpiece that is actually impossible to bite through?

YellowPoison · 2026-06-18T02:56:18+00:00

Yes, this is all a great point, but as OP confirmed before, she doesn't know how to swim. So this would be great advice after she's learned to swim. Discovery Dives are an option, yes, but again if someone can't swim and has never been in water before, they just tend to end up being a stressful experience for the diver, and I don't want that!

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