Barotrauma, donkey basketball, and a new friend from the river...

A quick, weird stop for scuba diving in Ririe Reservoir, Idaho. Diving in land-locked states is a good time, but mostly because of the people.

Dive with me 2023/2024:
December 13-19, 2023: BAJA DIVE EXPEDITION
All levels dive trip around Los Cabos perfect for the budget diver.

June 1-9, 2024 OR June 10-18, 2024: KOMODO DIVE EXPEDITION
Join Sarah as she returns to Labuan Bajo, Indonesia for the first time since Azul Unlimited was sold in 2021. Enjoy healthy corals, ripping currents, and breathtaking views from her old dive boat and a the comfortable liveaboard, Amalia.

Grab the first available spots (and get special discounts!) on future dive expedition trips by joining us on Patreon. I’m sharing extras from the road, yoga classes, and behind-the-scenes scuba/vanlife adventures. This is a place where we can support each other as an online scuba club.

Ben & Nikki Hadfield, Teach Me to Dive:

🚐 Van items:

Find us on IG/FB/TikTok: Azul Unlimited

[AzulUnlimited]

Did you know donkey basketball was a thing? I still can't believe it 😆

[ivoryjohnson]

Here in the mid west We dive because we love to dive

[mahnkemachine]

To your comment on weighting…. You will find most of us in the north diving steel tanks. I, personally, need about the same amount of weight diving in my dry suit with a steel tank, vs diving a 3 mil wetsuit diving an AL80 in the tropics. Granted, part of that has to do with freshwater vs saltwater, but still, the buoyancy characteristics of steel tanks are preferable up here. That’s less weight we have to carry, when the gear isn’t light in the first place! Considering that an AL80 is close to the same weight and dimensions as a steel HP100, it just makes sense.

When it comes to freshwater diving, I’ll agree that it holds no candle to saltwater diving. Up here, in the Great Lakes, there isn’t much to see but sand. Fortunately, we have some spectacular wrecks to dive! They make it worthwhile up here! But I’m not going to lie, it’s not warm down there! Average temps at depth are around 40F!

[timgosling]

I dive because I love the sensation of diving, of hovering in space in a strange world. It doesn't matter whether it's a cold lake or a warm sea, that feeling is the same.

[stucorbett]

That shop looked awesome. Also, I tried to watch your your last live post but couldn't find the link on both Youtube and Patreon. Not sure what I was doing wrong as I've always been able to find it. I'll figure it out for next time.

[troop]

Glad to see you posting. Thought maybe something happened to you. I was going to call and make sure you where good. I love land locked diving. It makes me appreciate going to the Caribbean that much more or diving up around the Seattle area.

[davidb]

ririe is for sure an interesting place to dive

[Yggdrasil]

Looks similar to here in The Netherlands. I drive to salt water a few times a year but my weekend diving is in lakes. Mostly clay and mud, some fish depending on season but nothing spectacular. Our dive clubs sink wrecks and other objects like busses or statues to attract divers. Those can be fun to see. Today I spent an hour looking for a wreck that I didn't find because the viz was pretty bad. At least the weather was nice. Dive #399.

[nfthach]

OMG. I had my first brush with barotrauma last weekend - ignored a pain behind my eyes that wasn’t a headache, I attributed it to dehydration. My last dive for the weekend I had trouble equalizing and kicked up a few feet to equalize with no issues. I noticed brown droplets in my mask - took it off, cleared it, but it came back. I surfaced with a bloody nose. I saw bloody clots during a sinus rinse. Lesson learned, I can thumb the dive if I have sinus issues.

I want to join one of your expeditions - I’ll wait until I get more experience as a diver and my AOW - maybe late 2024/early 2025?

[vincentsubmarinismo]

Wishing you well in Baja sarah 🤿
Hugs to Abby and yourself 🤗🤗🇬🇧

[samuelcolt]

Dang I could have met you! Benjamin is my side mount instructor, we dive up at Ririe quite often

[paulstolzer]

Where will you guys be diving in Komodo ( live a board, scuba junkies etc)…I’m interested.

[bikeboy]

That seemed like a missed opportunity to knit yourself a new sweater 😊

[Teampegleg]

As a diver with frequent allergies diving stuffed is a major issue, I've missed a number of dives due to them. And most often happens when an out of town friend is down to dive.

Your weighting math doesn't really jive. Typically going from AL80s to most common HP100s is to remove 4-5lbs per tank. Weighting with SM and drysuits is a pain in the rear, because I never get down to reserve pressure, and varying amount of tanks I carry, my weighting is at best a guess based on trial and error. Often I am starting the dive super negative with the wing nearly completely filled, ending with the wing completely empty

[brandonscheer]

Are you adventuring up to NW Montana at all. Would love to catch up for a dive if you are!

[MikeDodds]

Abby was like, “That is the weirdest dog I have ever seen!!!! I’ll protect you mom!!!”

[gbsailing]

I think I've lost my youthful diving mojo. I can't dive in creepy places like dams, sink holes and silty rivers anymore. I guess I did too much of that when I was young and became aware of some of the dangers...It's the open ocean for me now. Plenty of dangers there thankfully! 🤣🤣🤣