Introduction Few years after AirBuddy modernised the recreational hookah dive gear, another brand emerged in USA, Blu3. The Blu3 product lineup, including Nemo (decommissioned), Nomad and Nomad Mini, was founded on the licensing of a device called Xplorkel from an individual inventor, John Colborn in early 2018. In November 2025, Blu3 published an article titled “Honest Comparison of...
Introduction Fouled propellers are an inevitable challenge of life on the water, yet they remain one of the most common causes of maritime stress. In this article, we’ll cover why having an AirBuddy on board is the difference between a costly tow and a quick, DIY underwater repair. 1. Why Propellers Get Fouled Most propeller issues stem from "ghost gear" or active fishing...
Introduction Hookah diving, or surface-supplied breathing, provides a lightweight alternative to SCUBA by removing the need for heavy back-mounted tanks. The system functions using a surface-based compressor—powered by petrol, batteries, or electricity—that pumps fresh air through an air reservoir to a long, buoyant hose and then to an on-demand regulator. Although recreational floating units have existed for over 60 years with...
Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of introducing quite a few friends and family to the AirBuddy diving system, but I must confess, my success rate has varied. Many of my friends expressed interest in hookah diving in general and the AirBuddy system in particular, and I have always been eager to allow them a demonstration...
I am certain everyone knows of the beautiful fish found on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. To swim on the reef is to visit a world of amazing colors, living marine rainbows. Thousands of colorful and exotic fish species make the tropical reef their home, however, on occasion, some leave this home, to visit other regions of Australia. With the exception of...
In December 2023, a mature, male Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis), a species of wrasse endemic to Australia, was illegally killed by a spearfisherman in Cronulla, Sydney. The spearfishermen was interviewed by Police and issued a serious fine for taking a protected species, in a no spearing area. This particular fish was thought to be “Gus” a fish well known to...
Introduction We (humans) didn’t evolve to breathe underwater. However, the natural curiosity we all have and the high appeal for underwater exploration has led us to develop various systems that enable us to visit the underwater environment. Each form of diving invented caters to different underwater activities, depth and time requirements, individual preferences, or sea conditions. In this article, we briefly...
Introduction Diving into the history of hookah diving uncovers a fascinating journey of humankind’s desire to breathe and explore underwater. This evolution began in the 18-19th century with the invention of the first manual air pumps, heavy helmets, and primitive diving suits. By the 1960s, a pivotal shift occurred as commercial technology was miniaturized into the first recreational machines, opening the...
