Scubaland Adventures blog

What can we do for you?

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:00:36 GMT

Your travel agent is your new best friend

Just in the past few months, someone told me, “I used to use travel agents, back when they were a thing!” and I was called an “Ancient relic.” But in this uncertain time of travel, there is no one better to have by your side than your friendly neighborhood travel advisor! Here are some of the ways we can help you during this Pandemic, and beyond.

Right now, airlines are overwhelmed with calls from frantic travelers wondering what their options are. Some have waited for hours on hold to get a refund, and then waited weeks to receive the refund. Some people may not realize, but we have a Global Distribution System in our office where we have access to the same booking engines that the airlines use. Which means when it comes to cancelling a flight and processing a refund, we can do it in a matter of minutes, and you get your refund in a matter of days! Now, that’s service!

We have also spent countless hours with our tour operators, going over options, working on details, getting people rebooked for later in the year, or next year, or whenever it might be safe to travel again. Try calling an online travel agency, first try finding a phone number, then try finding a real, live person to answer that phone, and then try getting a sympathetic ear of someone who can actually do something to help you out. For most of our clients, we were working behind the scenes on their trips before they even had to call.

Unfortunately, refunds at this time can be hard to come by. Especially because we prefer to work with smaller vendors that we’ve spent years building relationships with, instead of a huge corporation that won’t care if you don’t visit their resort, because thousands of other people will. They are the people that are hurting the most right now and they are bending over backwards to help us help you.

So remember that next time you see a “good deal” on an online travel agency site. Sure, maybe you’ll save a few dollars now, but in the long run, what will it cost you?

Be Prepared! Updated Security Procedures for Summer Travel

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:00:33 GMT

Changes to TSA procedures due to Covid-19

Now that travel is slowing starting to open up, you should be prepared for some changes from the TSA at the airport.

Boarding passes – Instead of handing over your boarding pass to the TSA officer, you will place your boarding pass on the reader yourself, and then hold it up for them to visually inspect it. This allows for a no-touch experience, reducing the potential for cross-contamination.

X-rays – There will be increased x-rays of food. You will need to place any carry-on food items into a clear plastic bag and then place the bag into a bin. This allows the TSA officer to check your food items without having to touch anything, reducing cross-contamination. TSA PreCheck members will not need to remove items from their bags.

Pack Smart – Make sure you don’t have any prohibited items in your carry on, like liquids greater than 3.4 ounces (water bottles, toiletries). The TSA is allowing one liquid hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags. You are required to remove it prior to x-rays. If there is any prohibited item in your bag, you will be directed outside of security to remove the items and re-scan your items at x-ray.

Social Distancing – you will need to allow for social distancing, increasing distances between passengers in line, and staggering use of lanes where available. Watch for visual reminders with proper spacing on the floors.

Masks – TSA officers are now wearing masks and travelers are encouraged to wear them through security also. You may need to adjust your mask during the screening process. Remove items from your pockets, belts, wallets, keys and phones and place them in your carry-on bag instead of bins in order to reduce cross-contamination.

Some other changes you may see include reduced security lanes, TSA wearing plastic face shields, TSA changing gloves after every pat-down, plastic shielding installed at travel document check points, and increased cleaning and disinfecting of all surfaces around the screening areas.

Please check with your airline prior to your trip for COVID specific guidance, and arrive at the airport early to allow plenty of time to check in and complete security screening. Travel Masters will also help you navigate the new guidelines for travel when you book your next trip.

Am I ready to be a TEC diver?

rob@scubaland.com (Robert Aschermann) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:00:32 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Technical Divers are an elite group. Not many divers are interested in strapping on two or three times the amount of equipment a recreational diver wears, spending hours planning a dive that might only take minutes, and descending well below recreational depth limits where a mistake could have deadly results.

Technical training requires a diver to become an expert on a variety of different topics including gear selection, rigging, and maintenance, decompression theory, dive contingency planning, and proper attitudes toward safety and team diving.

Technical divers also have diving skills that far exceed those of recreational divers. If you want the challenge of mastering these mental and physical skills then you might be a candidate for technical diving.

How Advanced is Advanced?

rob@scubaland.com (Robert Aschermann) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 14:42:57 GMT

Everybody should be an advanced diver

The PADI Advanced Diver Certification is obtained by taking the PADI Adventures in Diving course, often times called the Advanced Course. The names are a little confusing and could lead someone to believe that they need to already be an advanced diver or have significant dive experience.

The Advanced Diver Certification can become a barrier to diver continuing education. Most PADI Specialty courses do not require an Advanced Diver certification. As a matter of fact, if you complete 5 PADI Specialty courses you will have earned your PADI Advanced Diver certification without having taken the Advanced Course!

Most PADI Specialty Courses can be taken immediately following your Open Water Diver certification course. Some of them can even be integrated into an Open Water Diver certification course!

The Right Gear Matters Part 1

rob@scubaland.com (Robert Aschermann) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 14:36:41 GMT

It starts with your snorkeling equipment

Every Open Water Diver student needs to own their own snorkeling equipment. You can't successfully complete an Open Water Diver course if you can't see what's happening because your mask is full of water or you can't swim because your fins hurt your feet!

Scubaland sells all the top lines of snorkeling equipment including Scubapro, Atomic, Oceanic, Hollis, and TUSA. We carry over 20 models of masks just to guarantee we have something that will fit you properly, and we guarantee the fit of your snorkeling equipment. If you are having trouble with any piece of snorkeling equipment you purchased from us we will exchange it immediately. We'll do this as many times as we need to in order to get it right! Can Amazon do that?

Our staff of equipment counselors are all PADI professionals that teach diving and work with students on a regular basis. We will help you find the right gear for you. All of our snorkeling gear comes with a warranty and you receive a student discount on all of your purchases! We will match or beat any price you find online from an authorized dealer that can offer the same services and guarantees that we do. Ask one of our equipment counselors about special promotions, sales, and discounted items.