Placing an order with Dip 'N Dive is very easy. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps:

1. Add all desired items to your Shopping Cart, by clicking the “Add to Cart” button on the product detail page of each chosen item.

2. Go to your Shopping Cart by pressing the “Cart” icon in the top menu of our site. Here you will be able to view the list of your chosen items, change their quantity, edit item parameters or remove any desired item from the list. You will also have the option to choose the shipping method and estimate tax and shipping costs.

3. Proceed to Checkout. You will need to fill in the appropriate information, as well as decide on shipping and payment methods. Once everything is filled in, you can press the “Place Order Now” button. Note, you also have the option to checkout with PayPal or pay through Amazon.

If you need more information or have further questions on the checkout process, look through our Shopping Tips or contact our customer service at 1-877-837-DIVE (3483).

Yes, we would love to hear from you! You can place your order by calling (877) 837-DIVE (3483) from Monday to Friday 8 AM - 5 PM.

When placing an order by phone, you will need to specify the names of the items you wish to order, as well as all the information necessary for delivery, including your name, shipping, and billing addresses, phone, email and preferred payment option.

The shipping costs and delivery schedule for phone orders are the same as our online shipping costs and delivery schedule.

For your convenience Dip ‘N Dive offers a variety of payment options, in particular:

- Debit or credit card;
- Pay with Amazon;
- PayPal Credit;
- PayPal Express.

We don't charge sales tax, except if your shipping address is in New York state.

Once you place an order with Dip ‘N Dive, you will be automatically notified about each stage of the delivery process via email. What’s more, you will be able to check the status of your order by logging into your account and going to “My Orders” menu.

Dip ‘N Dive offers three different shipping options for you to choose from:

1. Ground Service (the Continental United States only) - After the item ships out, you'll receive it within 5-7 days. May vary depending on where you are in the country and the delivery times in your area;

2. Standard Service - 2nd Day Air (you will receive the ordered item within 2 business days);

3. Expedited Service - Overnight (the item will be delivered to you the next business day);

Note, orders greater than $50 are eligible for free Ground shipping within Continental US.

Read more information about our shipping rules in the Shipping Policy .

Dip 'N Dive ships 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, throughout the United States. Our current Order Processing time is 1-5 business days.

You can ship to military or APO/FPO addresses via USPS Air Mail. When placing an order, please select the United States as your country (not the country in which your military base is located).

When ordering an item from Dip ‘N Dive, you can specify different addresses for billing and shipping. This can be done either right during the checkout or from your personal account. You can also change any of the added addresses or add a new one at any time from your account.

Please, contact us right away at 877-837-3483 and we will assist you in resolving the issue.

The word “scuba” is an acronym that stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines scuba as an apparatus utilizing a portable supply of compressed gas (as air) supplied at a regulated pressure and used for breathing while swimming underwater.

The origins of underwater diving go all the way back to the ancient times, however, the invention of scuba diving as we know it today is most often attributed to Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan. In 1942, Cousteau and Gagnan co-invented a demand valve system that was able to send air at the right pressure to the divers when they breathed. The pair named their invention Aqua-Lung, and it was precisely this apparatus that eventually opened the door to diving for anyone interested.

No, it’s very easy to learn as long as you are comfortable in the water. Scuba diving certification is split into three sections. Academics, pool skills training and open water testing. Each student moves at their own speed under the supervision of their instructor.

It’s easy! Just call or stop by our store and tell any of our staff members you want to learn how to scuba dive. You can also go to the "Dive Center" section of our website for more info. Your life will change forever!

Not really. Like any hobby or recreation, you can invest an amount that you are comfortable with depending on your level of interest. Dip ‘N Dive and most dive resorts also rent equipment, so you can rent or invest over time. Most people find the cost of scuba diving similar to the costs of snow skiing.

With proper training scuba diving is very safe. As with any recreation it has its inherent risks just as skiing or hiking would. But like driving a car, as long as you follow the rules and use common sense, it is very safe.

For most divers, marine animal encounters are actually highly coveted experiences. Virtually all aquatic animals are passive and even timid. There are a few that can bite or sting defensively, but you can avoid these by simply watching where you put your hands and feet and by not touching any animals. Divers aren’t natural prey for sharks, so shark attacks are extremely rare and very much blown out of proportion by Hollywood.

You must be at least 10 years old and in good average health to enroll. As a safety precaution you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire. If anything on the questionnaire indicates there is something to be cautious about you will need to check with your physician to make sure it’s ok to dive.

Not at all. If you wear soft contact lenses you can wear them when you dive. Another popular option is to buy a mask with prescription lenses. See our staff for details.

Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on your eardrum. In your scuba course, you will learn a very simple technique to eliminate pressure in your ears much like you do when you land in an airplane. Once you learn this technique your ears won’t hurt at all.

It is true, that scuba diving is a rather equipment-intensive activity that can involve a huge amount of different accessories and add-ons. However, the beginner diver generally needs only 7 basic pieces of gear. Here is the list arranged in our suggested order of purchase:

1. Mask and snorkel
2. Fins
3. Dive computer
4. Wetsuit / drysuit
5. Regulator
6. Buoyancy compensator
7. Weights

You can read more about each piece of equipment in our Buyer's Guides.

A diving certification card, also called a C-card, serves to vouch for a diver’s qualifications. Recreational certifications are issued by numerous different diver training agencies and may differ slightly, however, all of them represent a defined level of ability and knowledge in underwater diving. The certification card may be required to prove the diver’s qualifications when booking a dive trip, hiring scuba equipment or filling diving cylinders.

NAUI stands for (National Association of Underwater Instructors) and PADI stands for (Professional Association of Dive Instructors). These are the two largest certification agencies in the world. These agencies developed Scuba training programs and monitor scuba training for millions of diver’s worldwide.

No, not at all. There are some minor swimming skills required but in general if you can float or tread water and hold your breath for 15 seconds underwater you should have no problem with the swimming skills.

Scuba diving courses are “performance-based” which means that you earn your certification when you’ve mastered the required knowledge and water skills. Some people learn faster than others. You can take the “private lessons” and move very quickly depending on your availability. Or you can take group lessons which typically take between three to six weeks. It all depends on what you need. Dip ‘N Dive has so many options we can custom design a course that fits your busy schedule and your time frame.

The minimum age for NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) or PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) is ten years old. Between 10 and 15 years old you receive a junior certification which means you must dive with a certified adult. At 15 you can upgrade to a regular open water certification.

Beyond the regular open water scuba diving, there exist many different types of scuba diving you can enjoy, including night, drift, deep, cave and wreck diving.

Drift Diving takes into account natural currents and allows the diver to move through the dive site quickly and with less energy used. Because during this type of diving the diver is being carried along by the current and, thus, may not always control his/her direction, it is crucial to have great buoyancy skills and sufficient experience level.

Night Diving adds even more mystery to the already exciting and exotic underwater world. This type of diving often allows encountering the specific type of marine creatures that only appear in dark waters or are attracted to light sources. Don't forget to take a bright underwater flashlight when going night diving, as it is paramount for your safety.

Deep Diving by definition is any dive deeper than 18 meters. Most deep dive trips, however, take place 30 meters or more below the surface. While this type of diving allows divers to explore more rare species of marine life and various special environments, it also requires additional preparation, planning and skills.

Cave Diving, as the name suggests, happens when a diver chooses to explore different water passageways and submerged caves. There is a great number of unique and interesting cave diving destinations all over the world, therefore, this type of diving remains among the favorite ones for many divers.

Wreck Diving, similarly to cave diving, is a very addictive activity, as there are hundreds of wrecks in different bodies of water, and each one has a whole different story to tell. However, when wreck diving you shouldn’t let yourself get distracted by the fascinating sights. Due to the environment associated with this type of diving, you must carefully follow all necessary safety procedures.

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Your maximum dive depth depends on a variety of factors, such as the experience level, breathing gas used, as well as physical fitness and personal tolerance for high partial pressures of inert gasses. The suggested depth limit for experienced recreational divers breathing air is 130 feet (40 meters).

This is a common question that doesn’t have an easy answer. People breathe at different rates, you also breath faster when swimming than when resting. Additionally, the deeper you go the faster you use your air. Finally, tanks come in different sizes. So, it depends is the only answer. This is why divers have gauges to tell them how much air they have at all times.

Even professional athletes need to be coached. Our instructors and divemasters can improve anyone’s snorkeling skill whether it’s your first time in the water, or you’ve been snorkeling for years.

Freediving is essentially a form of diving when a diver relies on a single breath of air rather than on a breathing apparatus, such as used in scuba diving. The term freediving can, however, be associated with a variety of underwater activities ranging from competitive breath-hold diving to simple shallow dives around reefs and rocks. The activity that attracts the most public attention is the extreme sport of competitive apnea in which competitors attempt to attain great depths, times, or distances on a single breath.

Remember, even though freediving may seem like a simple activity that anyone can do, it is important to take a course to ensure the diver’s safety.

The term “apnea” originates from a Greek word A-Pnoia (without breathing) and is generally defined as a suspension of breathing. However, in the modern athletic world apnea has become a synonym of freediving.

While somewhat similar, snorkeling and freediving have some notable differences. Snorkelers float on the surface of the water with their face submerged and use a mask and snorkel to observe the marine life. Freediving, on the other hand, allows you to dive deep under the water and interact with the environment.

Just like many other sports, freediving is very safe, if practiced correctly. During a freediving course, you will learn the proper breathing techniques, relaxation methods and safety measures to make you a better and more comfortable freediver. Any accidents that occur are usually due to lack of proper training and education.

There are eight different competitive freediving disciplines:

Static Apnea (STA) - the diver holds his/her breath floating face down in a swimming pool or confined water area. This is the only discipline where performance is measured on duration, rather than distance or depth.

Dynamic With Fins (DYN) - the first of the pool disciplines that focuses on distance. Here the freediver travels in a horizontal position underwater (typically in a pool), with a propulsion aid such as fins or a monofin, in an effort to cover the greatest distance possible.

Dynamic Without Fins (DNF) - in this discipline the freediver again tries to cover the greatest distance possible in a pool but with no propulsion aids.

Constant Weight (CWT) - this is the most popular depth discipline in freediving. The aim is to achieve the greatest depth possible. The diver descends using either bi-fins or a monofin and typically a small amount of weight. The diver is not allowed to pull on any guide ropes or change the weight used.

Constant Weight Without Fins (CNF) - another depth discipline, however, unlike in CWT the diver is only allowed to use his/her own muscle strength, without the use of propulsion equipment and without pulling on the rope. Constant weight without fins is considered to be the most difficult and pure sportive depth discipline, as it contains no materials to aid descent and requires perfect coordination between movements, equalization, technique and buoyancy.

Free Immersion (FIM) - this discipline is similar to Constant Weight No Fins in that the diver uses only a wetsuit and a small amount of weight, however, it is allowed to pull on the rope during descent and ascent.

Variable Weight (VWT) - here the diver descends with the help of a heavy weight (typically in the form of a sled) to a pre-agreed depth and then ascends to the surface by swimming or pulling on a rope.

No Limit (NLT) - this discipline allows the diver to descend with the help of a heavy weight and ascend using any method of choice - most often a lift bag or a fast counter-balance pulley system. No Limit is the true expression of human endurance underwater, as in this discipline the most advanced divers have managed to descend to depths greater than some submarines can operate.

In order to start the freediving course, you have to demonstrate basic water skills and be generally comfortable in the water. You need to be able to swim 200-meters/yards and/or 300-metres/yards using a mask, fins, and snorkel without stopping. There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want.

In addition to that, all student divers complete a medical history form that aims to check if you have any medical conditions that could be a problem while freediving. If none of these apply, sign the form and you’re ready to start.

The pain in your ears when you go underwater is caused by the water pressure pushing on your eardrum. As a part of the course, you will learn to equalize your ears and remove any discomfort. The technique is very safe if done properly and, once you learn it, your ears won’t hurt.

Yes, you can freedive, but because smoking can affect your physical stability, it is not advisable to smoke during the course.

Freediving is certainly much less equipment intensive than scuba diving, for example. All you need to start freediving is a low volume mask, a really simple snorkel, long and flexible fins, a wetsuit and a weight system. You can also consider purchasing some accessories, such as a marker buoy, a safety lanyard, and a knife.

Fins with longer blades are more powerful and responsive than those used for scuba or snorkeling. Long bladed fins make it easier to move through the water.