There’s a common misconception among divers that the Caribbean is all about sunny reefs and their jewel-colored (and -size) denizens — that for the large, dynamic predators and pelagics you have to head to the Pacific. Not so, we say.

Our annual photography competition showcases underwater images in four categories: macro, wide-angle, divers and behavior. We were blown away by submissions from shooters across the globe. Enjoy the show in this photo gallery.

Shore diving can be the ultimate do-it-yourself adventure. Beyond choosing your schedule, planning your profile, and staying down as long as you please, you can access sites that some commercial operators wouldn’t touch. We asked locals about eight of the most extreme shore dives on the planet, from British Columbia to Bonaire, Maui, Vanuatu and beyond. Are you up to the challenge?

ScubaLab tests more equipment and collects more data than anybody in diving, and the annual regulator evaluation is our test team’s favorite. From a data-gathering perspective, a reg’s complex design allows us to really peel back the performance layers — using both sophisticated lab machinery as well as down-and-dirty dive work.