Diversions Scuba

09/10/2026

Like clockwork every Wednesday, Andy puts up new images of fish and other aquatic critters here on our page. These posts include information about how to identify underwater creatures, where to find them, and fun facts about their behaviors. Andy has taken all of these images himself on trips around the world sometimes to pristine and remote reefs, but sometimes in our own backyard right here in Wisconsin. Yesterday his regular WTF "What's that Fish" post happened to be on his birthday. We didn't want to crosspost and take away from folks seeing his wonderful images. Please join us today in wishing Andy a Happy Belated Birthday and thank him for his tireless efforts to educate us every week!

(Photo of Andy taken from his FB page - image by Ethan Brodsky)

09/09/2026

WTF?? (What’s that fish?)
Please feel free to comment or add your own photos. This gorgeous dark fish with bright yellow scale tips is found in the Caribbean on shallow coral reefs. It can get up to 16 inches in length. They start as juveniles with neon blue lower fin tips and bright yellow bars remain as intermediates but disappear when they reach adulthood. They hang out in pairs and can be seen snacking with turtles.
Anyone care to guess their name?

09/08/2026

Where did you dive this holiday weekend?

We know of friends out diving at Pearl, Devils, Wazee, Mendota, Fortune Pond and Lake Michigan. We need you all to report back!

Let us know where the good spots are, what to avoid; what's the viz and how are the temps! There's still good diving to be done as we roll into fall.

09/07/2026

09/04/2026

Photos from our KISS CCR Air Diluent class taken at Pearl Lake and Lake Wazee, although the group were able to dive at Piquette Mine and Devils Lake as well. Congratulations to Wave and Alexander for earning their certifications. Kevin will be back later this fall to wrap up his training.

09/03/2026

It's World Beard Day! Let's open the discussion: What is your preferred method to manage diving with facial hair? How do you keep your mask from filling? Has anyone had success with mustache wax? Do you shave a fine line under your nose (and hope no one notices as much as you do)? Or, do you just tighten your mask strap one click and hope for the best?

Photo of Ethan Brodsky taken on Friday at Pearl Lake by Andrew Bachhuber.

09/02/2026

WTF?? (What’s that fish?)
Please feel free to comment or add your own photos. This Cozumel reef fish hangs out singly or in pairs close to branching corals of shallow water coral reefs. They feed on algae and fire coral polyps. Juveniles are found in the branches of yellow stinging corals and are covered with neon blue spots and have a translucent tail. Intermediates of this fish have the blue spots and a brilliant yellow tail. Adults have a dark body and bright yellow tail from which they get their name. Adults keep a few of the neon blue spots on the upper body.
Anyone care to guess its name?

09/01/2026

We had a group fly in from Corvallis, Oregon to learn to dive rebreathers with us last week! These folks are all from Oregon State University where they are adding rebreathers to their Scientific Diving program! How amazing will it be for them to study marine creature behavior without noisy bubbles scaring the fish away!

They were here for six days rebuilding their rebreathers and enjoying the best of this region's dive sites! This photo is from their first day's experience underwater at Pearl Lake. We'll share more snapshots of this team taken by Andy, Bob and Gayle later in the week!

Welcome to silent diving, friends! Congratulations! Have safe flights home today and we hope you'll return to see us soon!