If you’re shopping for your first dive computer or thinking about upgrading, one of your first big decisions is whether you want a large-display wrist computer or a compact watch-style one. Both do the same job underwater; the difference is in how they present information, how they feel on your wrist, and what you want from a computer when you’re not underwater. Dive Computer Functions Before getting into form factor, it helps to understand what a dive computer is actually...

Country of residence: Hawaiʻi, USADiving since: Childhood (professionally for over two decades)Level/agency of certification: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT), 20+ instructor specialties, freediving instructor, and tech diving experience Ocean Ramsey is a marine biologist, shark researcher, freediving and scuba instructor, and conservationist who has spent more than two decades studying sharks in the wild. A PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer with more than 20 instructor specialties, she is best known for freediving with great white sharks without a cage...

Country of residence: Maui, Hawaii, United StatesDiving since: 1996Level/agency of certification: PADI Master Instructor Andrew Raak is a Maui-based underwater photographer, videographer, and professional boat captain whose life revolves around the ocean. Spending hundreds of days on the water each year has given him a unique perspective on marine wildlife and the ability to capture authentic moments with humpback whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and other ocean life. Andrew has led international underwater photography workshops and expeditions, including Frame and...

Country of residence: EcuadorDiving since: 2014Level/agency of certification: PADI Divemaster Roberto Ochoa is a marine wildlife videographer and PADI Divemaster based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, whose work documenting the underwater world has taken him across the Pacific and to Antarctica, the Maldives, French Polynesia, and beyond. He has collaborated with National Geographic, PADI, Galapagos Sky, and the Cousteau Divers, and served as a correspondent for the Ecuadorian Government on a National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition to the Galapagos National Park. His photography...

Country of residence: Hawaii, USAFreediving since: 2013 Asia Brynne lives on the beautiful island of Oahu, where she was born and raised. She picked up her first disposable film camera at the age of 8, graduated to a little point-and-shoot digital camera that was handed down by an Aunty, and has never stopped shooting since.  Once she began freediving in 2013, she began a journey of documenting wildlife and people beneath the surface. Now she incorporates water elements into her...

Country of residence: CanadaDiving since: 1991Level/agency of certification: PADI Master Diver Dr. Neil Hammerschlag is a marine ecologist, shark researcher, and one of the leading public voices in shark science and conservation. Based in Canada, he is the founder and executive director of the Shark Research Foundation, which advances shark conservation through research, education, and public outreach, and the president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions, a Nova Scotia-based operation that brings the public into direct contact with sharks through cage diving and...

Country of residence: USADiving since: 2012Level/agency of certification: FII Level 2 Natalie Parra is a conservationist and freediver dedicated to inspiring collective action for the ocean. She has worked on the front lines of marine protection, leading impact campaigns for conservation initiatives, legislative action, and, most recently, environmental documentaries, helping turn compelling stories into lasting advocacy and tangible action.  As a Cressi ambassador and avid freediver, Natalie uses her time beneath the surface to document and share the visible impacts...

Country of residence: USADiving since: 1998Level/agency of certification: PADI AOW/nitroxDr. Craig O'Connell is a shark biologist, marine conservationist, an award-winning inventor, and television host whose research has taken him all over the world to study sharks and other wildlife. He is the founder of O'Seas Conservation Foundation, a nonprofit that combines cutting-edge shark research with hands-on youth education through the Montauk Shark Lab.  His work focuses on identifying critical shark nursery areas, developing novel shark protection methods, and connecting the next...

  Recreational scuba diving and Cressi are almost exactly the same age. Jacques Cousteau and Émile Gagnan patented the Aqua-Lung in 1943. Cressi was formally established in Genoa in 1946. The two histories have been tangled ever since, with Cressi contributing gear, ideas, and innovations to nearly every decade of scuba’s development. This is that story, told through the products that made a difference. Before Cressi: Two Brothers and a Workshop in Genoa (Late 1930s) The story starts before Cressi...

A BCD’s design can affect almost every aspect of your dive, including comfort at the surface, trim underwater, how securely your cylinder rides on your back, and how natural the rest of your gear feels once you’re submerged. Because so many factors come into play, choosing the right BCD is more about matching it to the type of diving you’ll do and less about buying one with the longest list of features.  Our current lineup breaks down into three groups: jacket-style...

Choosing the right speargun can feel complicated at first. There are different lengths, different hunting styles, and different power systems, and all of them can change how a gun feels in the water. But the decision usually gets much easier once you narrow it down to a few basics: where you hunt, what fish you are targeting, and how much range or maneuverability you really need. That matters because there’s no one perfect speargun for every kind of diving. A...

  The first time many people ever put their head underwater is while snorkeling on vacation. With no certification or complicated equipment required, it’s a relatively easy point of entry for those who are interested in the marine world.  Because you only need a mask, snorkel, and fins, snorkeling is quite simple in theory. In practice, though, it's easy to have an unpleasant time if your mask keeps leaking, your snorkel fills with water every time a small wave rolls...

The Evolution of Cressi Dive Computers For years, the Leonardo has been one of the most trusted dive computers in the world. Divers appreciated its reliability, intuitive operation, and straightforward approach to dive planning. Today, Cressi proudly introduces the next step in that evolution: the DaVinci. Built on the foundation that made the Leonardo a favorite among divers worldwide, the DaVinci delivers enhanced visibility, intelligent decompression management, advanced connectivity, and exceptional comfort for every underwater adventure. Advanced Thinking. Simple Diving....

There's a moment most divers recognize. You've done enough dives to know that rental gear is okay, but it's just that—rental gear. It’s not yours. However, from a technical standpoint, buying your first regulator can be daunting.  The Cressi AC5 / Zen is designed for recreational divers and first-time buyers with two clear objectives: to offer consumers a regulator that breathes well and is easy to maintain. We tested it on dives in both cold Danish waters and the warm...

At a certain point in diving, your BCD stops being just “the thing that holds the tank” and starts to feel like an extension of your torso. You begin noticing small details and find it easier to settle into a calm, trim position.  That’s often when divers get curious about backplate-and-wing (BPW) systems-not because there’s anything wrong with a jacket-style BCD, but because they’re ready to experiment with a setup that feels more bespoke to their diving style.  The catch...

Make every moment in the water feel exciting, safe, and full of confidence from the very first swim. The Cressi Kids Swim Collection is designed to help young swimmers learn, play, and explore comfortably with gear trusted by generations of water lovers. Known worldwide as one of the most respected and historic brands in underwater sports equipment, Cressi has been developing gear for divers, swimmers, snorkelers, and ocean explorers since 1946. This same expertise and passion for the water are brought...

As divers, we all remember the first time something went wrong underwater.  Maybe your mask wouldn’t stop leaking or a fin strap broke at 60 feet. Maybe you put a bit too much air in your BCD or a stray current sent you drifting a little higher than you meant to go. Maybe you were paying attention to too many things at once, such as your depth, your breathing, your buddy, or your gear, and a feeling of task overload...

Unlike a dedicated dive expedition where proper gear is the priority, a family trip usually demands a "bit of everything." One day might be spent snorkeling from shore, while the next involves a spontaneous boat dive to a nearby cove.  For these types of vacations, the challenge is often taking all you need without overpacking. On a recent trip that spanned several different aquatic environments, I used the Cressi Maui fins to see how they handled the transition between casual...

Designing for the Dive: How Cressi Builds Scuba Gear for Real Conditions Scuba gear doesn’t get a trial run. From the first time you use it, it’s got to perform perfectly, no matter the conditions, from saltwater to current, in cold water, or with low visibility.  Cressi designs equipment with that baseline in mind. Engineers test gear on repeated dives and in real conditions. Regulators need to deliver clean, clear airflow. BCDs must vent when you expect them to, and...

Tech-style fins have slowly been creeping into recreational diving for years now. More divers are looking for something with a bit more authority in the water without fully committing to the weight and price tag that usually come with traditional technical fins. That’s exactly where the Cressi Origin fins caught my attention. The Origin comes in a heavier (HD) and lighter (LD) versions. At first glance, the Origin fins look reassuringly familiar. Their wide blade, vented channels and solid rubber...

If you dive regularly, especially far from home, you already know that the real test of your gear often starts long before you ever hit the water. It tarts in airports, on docks, and on those awkward walks where you’re dragging a full suitcase behind you. With dive bags, there’s a fine line between having everything in one place and ending up with something so large and heavy that simply getting from A to B becomes a hassle. During travels...

You know the feeling. You’re suited up, ready to descend, and the moment you hit the water your mask fogs. Suddenly the dive becomes a squinting exercise instead of the experience you were looking forward to. Most divers just accept the underwater ritual: flood, clear, repeat, and hope for the best.  Instead of trying to fix the fog, Cressi’s idea was to stop it from forming in the first place. The Fog-Stop System on the Cressi Prisma mask has numerous...

Turkey is one of those destinations that quietly surprises you. Diving can vary from straightforward shore entries to deeper wreck sites, all of which can vary from clear visibility to murky waters.  The Cressi Raffaello computer felt much the same. At first glance, it seems like a solid mid-range dive computer, with a large screen, simple layout, and no unnecessary extras. But after diving with it throughout our trip, it became clear that there is more going on beneath the...

Although an ill-fitting mask isn’t really dangerous, it has the potential to slowly ruin your dive. Whether it’s constantly fogging, leaking water, or has an uncomfortable nose pocket, you quickly realize your mask is getting more attention than the reef.   I have narrow temples and a smaller face, and that combination has always made mask shopping feel like a minefield. For years I had one perfect mask, but after a decade it was simply worn out, and I’m still searching...