With the new protection, the South Pacific nation has ended commercial shark fishing and banned the possession, sale and trade of all shark products in more than 756,000 square miles of ocean.

Introducing the world's first bottles made with a blend of recovered ocean plastic.

A load of new gear debuted in 2012, and the ScubaLab team dive-tested just about all of it. After digging deep into both objective and ergonomic test results, on the following pages we celebrate the year’s top-performing fins, BCs, regulators and dive computers, along with some first-rate travel bags, warm-water wetsuits and a couple of our top picks for safety gear.

A well-prepared DIVER is a safe diver: here are our favorites from our recent roundup of smart tools.

Lightweight and capable, our Testers' Choice and Best Buy picks for dive gear roller bags will take the hassle out of world travel.

In 2012, ScubaLab tested new and redesigned fins and these four models were this year's top guns.

The birthplace of recreational scuba diving remains as relevant as ever, with impressive variety from plunging walls to blue-water animal action and haunting cenotes. Let our experts be your guide.

Aquabionic

Odyssey Expeditions offers teens and college students unique adventures specializing in sailing, scuba diving and marine biology.

Cave diver and filmmaker Jill Heinerth will use her prize to expand on her _We Are Water_ documentary and water advocacy project.

Cave diver and filmmaker Jill Heinerth will use her prize to expand on her _We Are Water_ documentary and water advocacy project.

Join our crew of dive fanatics as we explore the incredible reefs, lava tubes, pinnacles and arches of the Kona coast.

Create Your Unique Diving Experience in the Caribbean with The Ultimate Official Dominican Republic Diving Guide.