1. I'll get this started.

QUESTION 1: USA

QUESTION 2: 16 years

QUESTION 3: Fiancee and friends, my fiancee does not dive, so I negoiate for a dive days on those trips. On dive trips with friends, everyone dives, that usually the reason we go.

QUESTION 4: Riveria Maya, did 3 days of cave diving and then see the ruins of the area, and we got this amazing deal for this luxury hotel with a swim-up bar, it was great.

QUESTION 5: Australia

QUESTION 6: Cost

QUESTION 7: Bikini Atoll, dive the nuclear fleet

QUESTION 8: Truk Lagoon, Papua New Guinea

QUESTION 9: Depends on the trip, with my financee yes, on dive trips, we usually don't care about anything else but being underwater.

Posted at 9:33AM on Jul 12th 2006 by Bill Reals

2. QUESTION 1: USA

QUESTION 2: 2 years

QUESTION 3: Friends, wife doesnt dive but maybe my kids will

QUESTION 4: Havent been on one yet.

QUESTION 5: Australia,

QUESTION 6: COST

QUESTION 7: Bikini Atoll,

QUESTION 8: Truk Lagoon, Andrea Doria

QUESTION 9: No, but if my family were with me then yes

QUESTION 10: RHINOPIAS APHANES lacy scorpion fish

Posted at 10:41AM on Jul 12th 2006 by Don

3. oh and the picture probally was taken around the area of Papua New Guinea

Posted at 10:44AM on Jul 12th 2006 by Don

4. QUESTION 1: In which country do you live?

USA

QUESTION 2: How long have you been diving?

34 years

QUESTION 3: Who do you travel with (partner/family/friends), and does everyone dive?

I convinced my wife and two kids to get certified. We travel and dive together. In addition, I have a bunch of dive buddies who travel and dive with me on non-family outings.

QUESTION 4: Where was your best dive holiday so far? Please be specific (e.g., A liveaboard to Komodo, not just Indonesia).

We love Cozumel and have been there many times, but the best trip were the times we stayed at the Scuba Club Cozumel dive resort.

QUESTION 5: So many places, so little time! Which ONE of these dive regions appeals to you most?:

* South East Asia,
* Australia,
* Eastern Pacific,
* Western Pacific, or
* The Indian Ocean.

I would live to dive South East Asia.

QUESTION 6: Is you answer influenced most by COST or DISTANCE?

Neither cost nor distance was a factor. I just like to dive in places where I haven't been.

QUESTION 7: If cost and distance weren't an issue, where would you go - what's your your number 1 dream destination? Please be specific (e.g., A liveaboard to Komodo, not just Indonesia).

Everywhere I go, divers tell me that I "need" to dive the Rea Sea. That's my choice.

QUESTION 8: And if you really can't choose just one, what are the next two?

I'd love to get back to Australia again!

QUESTION 9: Is your destination choice influenced by what you can do on land, as well?

Sometimes it is. I've done a number of all-diving trips, but we enjoy adding some non-diving activities at the same time. Some of our trips are primarily non-diving trips but we usually manage to sneak in a day or two in the water.

QUESTION 10: Can you identify this fish?

After some quick googling, I think this is a RHINOPIAS APHANES or the Weedy Scorpionfish found in the Coral Sea.

Thanks,

Dave

Posted at 10:51AM on Jul 12th 2006 by David Grenewetzki

5. 1: USA
2: 4 years
3: Family, everyone dives
4: A 3-day live aboard to the Channel Islands in Southern California. I liked it so much, I did it again 18 months later.
5: South East Asia - the combination of diverse areas, multiple seas and oceans, combined with the much richer diversity of topside diversions compared to more remote places, sounds like a dream come true (plus the food!!)
6: Cost is a big factor, but there's plenty of ok to good diving wherever you are, so it's work the time and money when you are planning a GREAT trip.
7: A really long liveabourd cruise around the Molucca Sea from Sulawesi to Maluku and around Western Papua.
8: Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar, and CUBA!!!
9: Absolutely, you're only underwater for 1/4 of your vacation, at best.
10: Rhinopias Aphanes, Lacy scorpionfish, near Loloata, PNG

Posted at 11:04AM on Jul 12th 2006 by Peter Christensen

6. QUESTION 1: In which country do you live? USA

QUESTION 2: How long have you been diving? 1.5 years / 30 dives

QUESTION 3: Who do you travel with (partner/family/friends), and does everyone dive? Wife, friends. Generally most dive.

QUESTION 4: Where was your best dive holiday so far? Please be specific (e.g., A liveaboard to Komodo, not just Indonesia).
Breezes Runaway Bay, Jamaica. (Beautiful clear water, good reef, free diving, excellent staff. Been twice already.)

QUESTION 5: So many places, so little time! Which ONE of these dive regions appeals to you most?:

* Eastern Pacific,

QUESTION 6: Is you answer influenced most by COST or DISTANCE?

Cost

QUESTION 7: If cost and distance weren't an issue, where would you go - what's your your number 1 dream destination? Please be specific (e.g., A liveaboard to Komodo, not just Indonesia).

Great Barrier Reef

QUESTION 8: And if you really can't choose just one, what are the next two?

Bikini Atoll, (as suggested by others) and cold-water wreck diving (N Atlantic, great lakes..)

QUESTION 9: Is your destination choice influenced by what you can do on land, as well?

Only partially

QUESTION 10: Can you identify this fish?

Not a chance :)

Posted at 11:26AM on Jul 12th 2006 by S McCarthy

7. QUESTION 1: Thailand

QUESTION 2: 6 years

QUESTION 3: On my own when writing dive reports or with my girlfriend when she can get time off

QUESTION 4: Sipadan, Borneo; Hin Daeng, Thailand; Similan Islands, Thailand

QUESTION 5: Malaysia, Borneo, Micronesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea...


QUESTION 6: Cost and time are the main restrictions - the best sites are always the most remote so distance is to be expected

QUESTION 7: Liveaboard in Truk Lagoon, Chuuk

QUESTION 8: Sangalaki, Indonesia, and anywhere in Papua New Guinea (and, um, Layang Layang in Borneo...)

QUESTION 9: Provided there's a nice bar, no.

Posted at 11:29AM on Jul 12th 2006 by Chris Mitchell

8. 1. Philippines

2. about a year

3. Friends, of course they dive, or we wouldn't be friends. :)

4. Wreck Diving in Coron, Palawan, going inside Gunther's Cathedral.

5. South East Asia, I'm already here!

6. Cost

7. Hmmm, I heard Palau's good... but really only because it's abroad that I think of it, lot's of good diving here already.

8. Live Aboard in Tubbataha and Great Barrier Reef

9. I agree with Chris, as long as there's cold beer, no other wants.

Posted at 1:07PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Jeremy

9. QUESTION 1: US of A

QUESTION 2: 3.6 Years

QUESTION 3: Solo, most of the time.

QUESTION 4: Staying on Sipadan Island, Malaysia; Motoring around the Visayas, PI.

QUESTION 5: Southeast Asia; Indian Ocean

QUESTION 6: Cost

QUESTION 7: Liveaboard on Sudanese Red Sea

QUESTION 8: Palau, Seychelles

QUESTION 9: Not much.

QUESTION 10: (Leafy?) Lionfish

Posted at 4:39PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Calvin Tang

10. QUESTION 1: USA

QUESTION 2: less than 1 year

QUESTION 3: Husband & best friend, and we all dive.

QUESTION 4: 5 days diving the Galapagos with Scuba Iguana, based in Puerto Ayora. Wow!

QUESTION 5: South East Asia

QUESTION 6: Neither

QUESTION 7: I'd love to go back to the Galapagos with the Aggressor Fleet.

QUESTION 8: Truk Lagoon, Red Sea

QUESTION 9: Definitely. If you're going to travel halfway around the world (and air traffic is definitely unpleasant these days) you should get in as much adventure as possible, both above and below surface.

Posted at 6:13PM on Jul 12th 2006 by coyote

11. 1) Grand Cayman
2) 13 years
3) Usually solo
4) First warm-water trip with dive club to Cozumel
5) Western Pacific
6) Distance I guess... never been there
7) I'd like to do some drift diving at blue corner and see some giant mantas in Yap
8) Indian Ocean (how come Caribbean isn't on that list?), Southeast Asia
9) No, if I'm going on a DIVE TRIP, I'm there to DIVE.. other distractions would be gravy, but not the main course
10) Im going to go out on a limb (because I dont recognize it) and say a Splendid Toadfish, because they're endemic to Cozumel/Yucatan area. the last line is a bit of a tickler. :)

Posted at 10:02PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Mark

12. QUESTION 1: In which country do you live?
USA

QUESTION 2: How long have you been diving?
13 yrs

QUESTION 3: Who do you travel with (partner/family/friends), and does everyone dive?
Whole family dives: 14 yr. old sis, 21 yr old bro, 50 yr old parents. We go on trips together--liveaboards are especially good b/c we are all on the same schedule, and in close proximity, making it easier to hang out together. Also go w/ significant other when our schedules align. Go w/ dive friends for training/teaching exercises.

QUESTION 4: Where was your best dive holiday so far? Please be specific (e.g., A liveaboard to Komodo, not just Indonesia). A liveaboard in Turks & Caicos, BWI. Tons of sharks, eagle rays, turtles, tiny critters. Absolutely gorgeous. Great vis.

QUESTION 5: So many places, so little time! Which ONE of these dive regions appeals to you most?:
South East Asia!!!

QUESTION 6: Is you answer influenced most by COST or DISTANCE?
Distance--I need more vacation time!

QUESTION 7: If cost and distance weren't an issue, where would you go - what's your your number 1 dream destination? Please be specific (e.g., A liveaboard to Komodo, not just Indonesia).
Can't wait to go to the Galapagos on a liveaboard.

QUESTION 8: And if you really can't choose just one, what are the next two?
Koh Tao & Koh Phi Phi in Thailand; Sipidan, Malaysia; Cocos Islands

QUESTION 9: Is your destination choice influenced by what you can do on land, as well?
No

QUESTION 10: Can you identify this fish?
Name: Yellow lacey weedy Scorpion fish (Rhinopias
Location: Near Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Posted at 11:41AM on Jul 13th 2006 by Ashley Upham

13. QUESTION 1: In which country do you live?
Singapore

QUESTION 2: How long have you been diving?
2 Years

QUESTION 3: Who do you travel with (partner/family/friends), and does everyone dive?
Friends, Yeap we all dive together ! ;)

QUESTION 4: Where was your best dive holiday so far?
Pulau Perhentian, Malaysia. Well, not many experience yet.. Saw some sharks, ray, giant turtle there .. great vis ;)

QUESTION 5: So many places, so little time! Which ONE of these dive regions appeals to you most?:
South East Asia ;) My own country ! ;);) yeahh..


QUESTION 6: Is you answer influenced most by COST or DISTANCE? yeaps both ;)


QUESTION 7: If cost and distance weren't an issue, where would you go - what's your your number 1 dream destination? Please be specific (e.g., A liveaboard to Komodo, not just Indonesia).
Liveaboard @ Maldives ?


QUESTION 8: And if you really can't choose just one, what are the next two?
uhm.. Australia ? :p Great Barrier Reef ..


QUESTION 9: Is your destination choice influenced by what you can do on land, as well? Not really, I usually just go for Diving ;) But if there's great attraction on land, hey why not ? hhehheheh

QUESTION 10: Can you identify this fish?
Yellow Scorpion Fish : Rhinopias Apanes
Can be found in South Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia
(Btw,it's written in your site though :P )

Posted at 11:49PM on Jul 13th 2006 by Maria Alisia

14. QUESTION 1: Singapore
QUESTION 2: 1 year
QUESTION 3: Partner
QUESTION 4: Dayang!
QUESTION 5: South East Asia - since I live in this region
QUESTION 6: Cost :(
QUESTION 7: I want to dive in Maldives area
QUESTION 8: Australia and Galapagos
QUESTION 9: Definitely!
QUESTION 10: Rhinopias Apanes - yellow scorpion fish

Posted at 1:29AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Albert

15. QUESTION 1: USA

QUESTION 2: 17 years.

QUESTION 3: Regular dive buddy (family member). We both dive.

QUESTION 4: Cage diving with great whites was the most memorable dive. However, diving from Little Cayman Beach Resort is the best all-around diving I've done (Bloody Bay Wall).

QUESTION 5: The Indian Ocean, followed closely by SE Asia.

QUESTION 6: COST.

QUESTION 7: PNG.

QUESTION 8: Sulawesi; French Polynesia; Sipadan; Ningaloo; Red Sea.

QUESTION 9: We usually JUST go for the diving, but as I get older, I get more interested in what activities are available topside, as well. Certainly, I enjoy hearing about relevant options.

Posted at 7:49AM on Jul 14th 2006 by Jodie

16. Hi everyone,

We have been monitoring these responses and really appreciate your thoughts. The feedback is incredibly interesting. Someone asked why the Caribbean wasn't included in the regional list. Well, it's because it's a location that is close and easy (for half the planet anyway) and for the same reason, we haven't included the Red Sea as it's in the Europe's back yard. Generally, people don't seem to want a guide book for that type of diving but do want one for harder to reach destinations.

Anyway, thanks to you all for taking part!

Posted at 1:32PM on Jul 14th 2006 by Beth and Shaun Tierney

17. I already answered the questions, but I realized I hadn't put any cold-water diving destinations - shame on me! Let's add Norweigian fjords, Ireland, and Vancouver Island, BC to the list. I don't know anything about specific dive sites in these places, but suffice it to say that a live-aboard trip where you got to dive places no one had ever dived before would be amazing!

Posted at 10:38AM on Jul 17th 2006 by Peter Christensen

18. 1. Canada
2. 3 years
3. Partner. Yes she dives.
4. A liveaboard to Belize.
5. Eastern Pacific.
6. Both are limitations, but probably more cost than distance.
7. 2-3 week trip to Micronesia, liveaboard for a week off Palau, land based off Yap, Truk if we can fit it in.
8. First: 10 days Coral Sea / GBR Australia; second: Gallapagos; third: Egyptian Red Sea.
9. Yes.
10. Some kind of scorpionfish.

Posted at 11:58AM on Jul 17th 2006 by Drew Downard

19. QUESTION 1: Slovenia

QUESTION 2: 5 years

QUESTION 3: Solo or with my brother

QUESTION 4: Never really did anything like that. I've got other traveling interests as well and I can't do everything at once. ;)

QUESTION 5: Western Pacific

QUESTION 6: Cost

QUESTION 7: a liveaboard to sub antarctic islands and antarctica

QUESTION 8: Iceland, Norway, Chuuk, Ball's Pyramid...

QUESTION 9: Photography, rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and if possible - rock climbing on cliffs above water then jumping off. There are others things as well ;)

Posted at 4:05PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Jernej

20. QUESTION 1: Australia

QUESTION 2: 6 months

QUESTION 3: partner, yes everyone dives

QUESTION 4: Diving resort near Sipadan, Malaysia.

QUESTION 5: South East Asia

QUESTION 6: Mostly Cost

QUESTION 7: Live-aboard in Phuket, any where I can swim with whale sharks

QUESTION 8: Maldives in a resort, day trips off Western Australia (for whale sharks again)

QUESTION 9: Yes, resorts in Maldives are beautiful.

QUESTION 10: Leaf fish

Posted at 6:39PM on Jul 17th 2006 by JP