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.

Anyone who has taken a few scuba vacations knows: Anything bad that can happen on a scuba trip is likely to happen — unless you take steps to ensure Murphy’s Law doesn’t apply. Here are quick tips to help you steer clear.

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?

Arenui combines the luxury of near-constant personal attention with the romance of a wooden sailing ship.