​Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to process insulin correctly. When the body doesn't correctly process insulin it can affect the amount of sugar in the blood. Low blood sugar is a common side effect of diabetes medication. Low blood sugar can cause sweating, rapid heartbeat, confusion, unconsciousness, and even death in certain cases. This used to be reason enough to not allow divers with diabetes to explore the underwater world. 
More recently, doctors are beginning to realize that there are some ways to still allow people diagnosed with diabetes to enjoy the sport with restrictions. For safety, some common restrictions are frequent check-ups with a physician familiar with you, and carrying oral glucose with them and their dive buddy. Any diver diagnosed with diabetes is encouraged to see a doctor familiar with dive medicine and diabetes.

Since we recently received authorization to sell SeaLife underwater cameras and accessories in addition to our stock of Intova underwater cameras we decided to do some research to see how our cameras stacked up against the ever popular GoPro Hero HD. Here is what we found....

Price: Price is always an important factor in any purchase. At face value, the Intova comes in the cheapest costing just $299.99 for the Edge X. The GoPro Hero 4 camera costs around $400.00 and the standard housing (waterproof to 131ft) is an additional ($50.00) and the dive housing (waterproof to 197ft) is an additional $60.00. The SeaLife Micro HD+ is a sealed system camera so no housing is needed to use the camera underwater costs around $500.00 retail typically (we can get you a better deal here at the shop, but that is for another post). 

Video Quality: All three cameras take excellent videos. The SeaLife Micro HD and the GoPro Hero HD were side by side compared and no one could tell any difference in video quality according to both scubagadget.com and toucandive.com as well as several other websites and personal experiences. The Intova has been compared by more technical camera reviewers and very little difference in underwater video quality was found here either. 

Still Photo Quality: The Intova takes the cake in the still photo category with its automatic fisheye correction and the ability to be used with strobes and flashbulbs with ease. The GoPro and SeaLife do take great still pictures in a variety of water conditions but the majority of their features focus on taking videos.

Battery Life: The GoPro cameras have always been known for having a notoriously short battery life. When you are worried about

Other Features: The SeaLife comes as a completely sealed system so there is no worry that the camera and all of your footage will be lost from unexpected flooding of the system. It has filter settings for underwater such as red filters for shallow and deep water built into its system which eliminates the need to buy and store and attach extras to the camera. It also has drop protection on its exterior to keep it safe if it falls to the ground. The camera can easily attach to its accessories using a tray and the attachments are so easy to use they can be reconfigured underwater. This is handy if you are trying to get the lighting just right for a picture or video. The SeaLife is a little larger than the GoPro and has larger, piano style keys which make it much easier to change settings and hold on to when diving with thicker dive gloves. 

The Intova Edge X has accessories that fit the GoPro so if you already have a GoPro this can be a money saver. The Edge X is waterproof up 200ft and comes with the housing so it is not an extra cost. This camera can do time lapse, Burst modes, and Dive Mode. It has WiFi capabilities and comes with a USB for easy photo transfer. The Edge X has fish-eye correction and manual white balance. The Edge X also comes with easy controls and a large viewscreen. The filters and other accessories can be adjusted underwater.

So as a diver, unless you need above water capabilities such as attaching the camera to your dog or a model rocket, you may want to opt for an underwater camera over the GoPro and save time and money and the worry of a flooded GoPro losing your memories.

Every diver will eventually find themselves with a broken strap, stuck zipper, or blown o-ring at the worst moment. These problems can be frustrating and in some cases can completely ruin your dive plans if you are not properly prepared to deal with them. This is where a Save-A-Dive kit can come in handy. 
The contents of your kit will vary based on your gear and the type of diving you are doing. Even with a Save-A-Dive kit, it is far better to prevent a malfunction than to deal with it after it has occurred. Be sure to keep your gear in good working condition with regular maintenance and proper cleaning and storage. Also be sure to steer clear of any hazards while you are diving.

Here is a list of basics to include in your kit. 

• Batteries for your dive computer and any dive lights you have
• Clasps
• Mask Defog
• Duct Tape
• Fin buckles and straps
• Mask Straps or an Extra Mask
• Multi-Tool
• O-ring replacement kit
• Mouthpiece
• Snorkel Keeper
• Zip ties
• Bungee cord
• Zipper wax