Welcome to Two Ocean Notes, my diving and travel blog where I share experiences and insights into technical and recreational scuba diving, as well as my travels.
Whether you’re a seasoned diver or traveler seeking different perspectives, or someone curious about technical diving or the underwater world, I hope you’ll find something here to inspire and inform you.
My Journey to the Underwater World
My first taste of scuba was through PADI Discover Scuba programs in Key Largo (2009) and Maui (2013), mostly because my then-boyfriend (now husband and dive buddy Kevin) wanted to do a few dives during our vacations. To be honest, I was a bit scared. I only decided to get certified as an Open Water diver in 2016, after I had finally taught myself to swim a little bit. I envisioned diving as the way to intimately immerse myself in the underwater world and to travel together. It wasn’t easy—diving didn’t come naturally to me, and I spent countless hours practicing skills and becoming comfortable in the water. I love learning, and completing my Rescue Diver certification in 2019 was a huge breakthrough moment.
In 2023, I embarked on my technical diving journey with Kevin, driven by a desire to learn more about diving safety and to eventually explore wrecks and caves. As an engineer, I believe in the importance of data and training, and technical diving has allowed me to dive deeper into both (pun intended). Today, I hold Intro to Cave and Helitrox certifications, and I’m currently working toward a Full Cave certification. My journey has been both challenging and rewarding, and I hope to share what I’ve learned with others who are new to diving or considering technical diving.
>> Read More: From Non-Swimmer to Diver: My Unexpected Path to the Underwater World, Part 1 of my diving journey
The Meaning Behind “Two Ocean Notes”
The name Two Ocean Notes is deeply personal and represents several aspects of my life and passions. I grew up in Taiwan and later moved to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in engineering. I’ve since made the U.S. my home, but my identity is shaped by these two places—two oceans, if you will.
Diving, for me, is a way to experience the world from a unique perspective.
My blog also covers travel topics, though most of my travels are centered around diving. The name “Two Ocean Notes” also symbolizes the two main types of diving: technical and recreational. I believe each is a powerful tool when used for the right job rather than being bound by specific labels.
Lastly, the word “Notes” emphasizes the personal nature of this blog. It’s a collection of my thoughts, observations, and experiences. I’m not a professional diving instructor, and I encourage readers to use their judgment. That said, I often found the technical diving journey to be isolating, as there weren’t many shared personal experiences to guide me. I hope this blog can help fill that gap for others.
Why I Started This Blog
My motivation to start Two Ocean Notes came from a dream trip to the Maldives. I traveled there with friends from Taiwan—people I’ve known for over 20 years but had never dived with before. This trip was special, not just because we finally dived together after years of discussing it, but also because I suddenly realized I love to share my diving journey.
During that trip, I shared many thoughts and tips with my friends, and they found them helpful. Since most of my friends are female, we had a great time discussing gear tips and tricks for female divers, which I don’t often get in male-dominant sports. They were also very interested in my tech diving journey and wanted a realistic expectation of whether to pursue it. Their feedback inspired me to start this blog as a way to share my knowledge and experiences with a wider audience. I hope to provide both practical and personal resources for divers and travelers, especially those who might feel underserved by existing content.
What You’ll Find on Two Ocean Notes
This blog will cover a wide range of topics related to diving and travel. Here are some of the key areas, mapping to the categories, I plan to focus on:
- Technical Diving: My ongoing journey into the technical diving world, from preparing for certifications to lessons learned during dives.
- Fun Dives: This category is just going to be everything diving-related! For example: recreational diving classes and progression; practical tips and tricks (packing lists, equipment maintenance, scuba shows, and much more); diving safety and my thoughts on news and other diving-related topics.
- Dive Travels: My experiences from various dive trips and sites, both local and international, liveaboard or land-based, as well as research on places I hope to visit in the future.
- Wonders: Well… even I sometimes live above water. I will share my non-diving related travels and live here.
While these are the main topics I plan to cover, I’ll also write about anything else in the diving world that piques my interest or that I think would be helpful to others.
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Editorial disclaimer
Please be aware that scuba diving is an inherently risky activity, even with certification and experience. The content on this blog reflects my personal opinions and experiences and should not be considered instructional. Always prioritize safety, seek guidance and certification from qualified diving professionals, and carefully consider the risks involved in any dives.
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