#scuba guide

[g0nefischin]

Even MORE skeletons

here is Underswap, Blue is a spinner dolphin and Stretch is a nudibranch!

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[traveluxxx4]

Guadeloupe: A Mosaic of Wonders Where Nature and Culture Dance to the Rhythm of the Waves

Discover the enchanting beauty of Guadeloupe, an exquisite Caribbean archipelago that promises a sensory journey like no other. From the lush tropical landscapes to the stunning turquoise waters, this island captivates with its diverse offerings.

Why You’ll Love Guadeloupe: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of contrasts, featuring the blissful beaches of Grande-Terre and the majestic volcanoes of Basse-Terre. Don't miss the charming islands of Marie-Galante, Les Saintes, and La Désirade—truly, it’s “The Island of Beautiful Waters.”

Must-See Gems:

Dream Beaches: Explore pristine sands at La Caravelle, the cinematic beauty of Grande Anse, and the unique volcanic sands of Malendure Beach.

Amazing Nature: Hike La Soufrière volcano, marvel at Chutes du Carbet’s waterfalls, and kayak through the biodiverse Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin.

Hidden Islands: Visit the pastel-hued houses in Les Saintes and savor artisanal rum on Marie-Galante.

Cultural Flavors: Immerse yourself in the vibrant market scene at Pointe-à-Pitre and indulge in delicious Creole dishes, from colombo curry to coconut sorbet.

Unforgettable Experiences: Swim with sea turtles in the Cousteau Reserve, take a breathtaking helicopter ride over the islands, and join in the lively Carnival celebrations.

Fun Fact: Guadeloupe boasts the longest hiking trail in the Lesser Antilles and features the beautiful Deshaies Botanical Garden.

Practical Tips: Plan your visit between December and April, rent a car for easy exploration, and choose from beachfront villas or eco-lodges for your stay.

Guadeloupe isn’t just a destination; it’s an experience waiting to awaken your senses. Are you ready to explore this vibrant paradise?

[idcgiliislands]

The rainy season in Gili Air, stretching from November to March, is often misunderstood by tourists unfamiliar with tropical climates. Many envision relentless downpours from dawn till dusk, dampening the island’s appeal. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The rainy season on Gili Air has its own charm and beauty, with mornings typically blessed by sunshine, stunning views, and refreshing tranquility.

Rain showers, which usually begin late in the afternoon or early evening, are brief but intense, transforming the streets into temporary swimming pools. Yet, as quickly as the rain comes, the water disappears, leaving the island vibrant and refreshed. The rainy season provides a unique opportunity to experience Gili Air’s natural splendor and thriving local culture in a more laid-back and intimate setting. Here’s a guide to making the most of your visit during the rainy season.

[lionheartlr]

Exploring Antigua and Barbuda: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

Antigua and Barbuda, a stunning twin-island nation in the Caribbean, offers a blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty. Whether you’re planning a sun-soaked beach holiday or an adventurous exploration of its historical sites, this guide provides everything you need to know to make the most of your visit. Brief History Pre-Colonial and Colonial Period Originally inhabited by…

[manishneocom-blog]

Lakshadweep Travel Guide

Please give a like if you find my content intresting and informative, Also please comment which will help me to improve my Blog.

[thefreedomchasers]

Ultimate Cozumel Mexico Guide: All You Need to Know for a Perfect Vacation

Cozumel Mexico will forever go down as our favourite island in Mexico – scratch that our favourite place in Mexico! Not only is it home to the best scuba diving we’ve seen, but the island itself has a whole lot to offer! We spent a few days running around the island but could have easily spent our whole time here exploring this tropical island. We love that Cozumel Mexico has a great central…

[rafecameronssl4t]

What’s good, John B? || Rafe Cameron x fem!reader

Summary: After finding out John B poached the Camerons' scuba gear and telling Rafe about it, you forget just how crazy he can be.

Warnings: swearing, slight mention of sex, dark!rafe, possesisve/toxic!rafe, mention of gun, reader is abit of a bitch oops.

Word count: 932

A/n: based on s1 rafe + s1 scenes, idk if I like this one tbh, it was just fun to write. PLS SEND ME REQUESTS IM DESPERATE.

MASTERLIST

Divider by @yoonitos

With scuba diving gear in hand, John B quietly shuts the door behind him. As he turns, he’s momentarily startled by your presence—the island’s kook princess, Rafe Cameron’s girl—“Oh, hey," you greet him, casually lifting your sunglasses onto your head while John B steals a glance behind you.

“Are you stalking us? Plotting your revenge, huh?” You lean your elbows against the railing, a sarcastic smile playing on your lips. “Yeah, you know what, why don’t you just go tell your boyfriend’s daddy I blew up the bilge on Druthers?” Your annoyance is palpable as a scoff escapes your lips.

You observe as he stows the scuba gear in his boat. “Everything’s good to go. Just toppin’ off these tanks,” he says with an awkward smile, raising your suspicions. “You know-“ before you can continue, a pair of strong arms wrap around your waist, causing you to cut your sentence short.

As Rafe’s familiar scent envelops you, you instinctively intertwine your fingers with his, savoring the warmth and familiarity of his touch. His lips leave a delicate trail of kisses along your neck, sending shivers down your spine. Meanwhile, John B lingers awkwardly nearby.

Feeling the tension in the air, John B clears his throat, breaking the silence. “What’s good, John B?” Rafe’s voice cuts through the quiet, his tone casual yet tinged with a hint of amusement as he finally lifts his head, his mischievous grin adorning his face, contrasting with the seriousness of the situation.

“What are you- uh- doin’ here? On my boat?” Rafe questions, gesturing around as if to emphasize his point. “Isn’t this your daddy’s boat?” John B tilts his head, while Rafe’s grip around your waist tightens. “What the hell are you doing here, Pogue?” Rafe’s words slice through the tension, his patience fraying at the edges.

“Uh I don’t know if you’ve forgotten Rafe, but I work here. Yep.” John B says, climbing into his boat as Rafe rolls his eyes. “I still don’t know why Dad hired him,” Rafe mutters under his breath, his words carrying a mix of annoyance and confusion. Despite his attempt to keep it quiet, his comment is just audible enough for you to catch, eliciting a smile from you at the subtle jab. “I’m just filling up these tanks,” John B points at the scuba gear. Rafe nods slowly in acknowledgment.

“Uh-huh. Well, move along then,” Rafe waves him off with a dismissive gesture, his expression tinged with annoyance, before he gently tugs you by the hand, leading you back towards the house. As he guides you, his fingers instinctively intertwine with yours, his touch both possessive and protective.

“I don’t want to see you talking to him ever again, got it?” Rafe’s voice rumbles against your hair, his warm breath tickling your skin as he leans in closer, his grip on you tightening with each step.

~

Feeling the dryness in your throat, you quietly rise from the bed, careful not to disturb your sleeping boyfriend. Glancing around, you spot Rafe’s shirt haphazardly discarded on the floor from the previous night. You pick it up and slip it onto your body, its fabric enveloping you with a comforting familiarity. Moving silently, you leave the room and make your way to the kitchen.

As you open the fridge, the creak of the rolling doors draws your attention. Your movements halt abruptly as you come face to face with John B. His surprise is evident; he's frozen in place, caught between the two doors with scuba gear in hand, staring at you.

A sudden realization hits you—you’re only wearing Rafe’s shirt. Embarrassed, you tug it down, trying to cover yourself more adequately. "What are you doing here?" you ask, your voice a mix of confusion and curiosity.

"Uh- I'm just dropping off the scuba gear." He awkwardly steps inside, his eyes darting around as if he's unsure where to look. "What are- what are you doing... here?"

You stare at him for a few seconds, incredulous. Was he being serious? "It's my boyfriend's boat," you say pointedly, your tone making it clear just how obvious the answer should have been. John B's face flushes with embarrassment.

"It's also the only place with air conditioning, so Rafe and I are staying here," you add, but before you can finish, John B rudely cuts you off. "Rafe is here?" His tone is sharp, almost accusatory.

You purse your lips, irritated by the interruption. "Yeah. And I don't think he'll be too happy seeing you here again." You cross your arms, the weight of your words hanging in the air.

Deciding to change the topic, your eyes flicker down to the scuba tanks in his hands. "Did you top up the tanks?" you ask, trying to keep your tone neutral but firm. John B's eyes widen slightly before he averts his gaze. "Uh... no. The power's down, so the compressors were off." He clears his throat, shifting uncomfortably.

"So, you're sneaking onto our boat at 5 a.m. with empty tanks?" you retort, tilting your head to the side and nibbling on your bottom lip. Your piercing stare makes him even more nervous. He fumbles for words, glancing around as if looking for an escape. "I'll... I'll make sure to tell Ward," you add, your voice laced with an unspoken threat.

You give him a tight-lipped smile, then turn back around to get a cup, signaling the end of the conversation. Your movements are deliberate, each one emphasizing your displeasure as you busy yourself, leaving John B to contemplate his next move in silence.

"Okay, okay. Cool. Cool," his voice trails off, a nervous edge betraying his attempt at nonchalance. "Just drop these off," he adds hastily, the clattering of the tanks echoing in the confined space. "Yeah, yeah, the middle of the room is fine," you retort, your tone laced with sarcasm as you shoot him a disapproving look.

"Yeah, this is pretty much what he told me to do," he offers weakly, his gaze shifting uncomfortably under your scrutiny. "Bye!" you dismiss him, turning away to retreat back to your room. But just as you begin to leave, John B interrupts again.

"Actually, you know, what- what exactly were you gonna tell Ward?" His laughter sounds forced, a feeble attempt to mask his anxiety. You feign innocence, shrugging casually. "Nothing much. Just that you poached their scuba gear," you reply, your words dripping with casual indifference.

John B's panic is palpable, his eyes widening in alarm. "Calm down, John B. Don't get your knickers all tied up in a knot. I'll tell them what really happened," you reassure him with a sly smile. "The compressors were down, right?" Without waiting for his response, you pivot on your heels and make your way back to Rafe.

"What took you so long?" Rafe's voice is muffled against the pillow as he reaches out for you, his eyes still heavy with sleep. You gently slide into bed beside him, feeling the warmth of his body against yours. "John B was here," you respond quietly.

At the mention of John B's name, Rafe perks up, his expression shifting from drowsy to alert in an instant. "John B was here? What the fuck was he doing here?" He throws the blankets off of him, the sudden motion jolting him awake as he hurriedly begins to dress.

"Rafe," you try to interject, but he doesn't seem to hear you over his rising agitation. "Rafe!" you raise your voice slightly, finally catching his attention. "He's gone now," you reassure him, though the tension in the air remains palpable.

"Well, what was he doing on my boat this early in the morning and- and what did I fucking tell you about not talking to that pogue, hmm?" Rafe's voice is sharp, his grip on your forearm tight as he confronts you, his frustration evident.

"He poached your scuba gear, Rafe. And he was trying to sneak them back without anyone noticing," you explain calmly, meeting his gaze evenly as you observe the conflicting emotions playing across his features.

"Shit. Wait until dad hears about this," Rafe mutters, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips despite his anger, a familiar gleam of mischief in his eyes.

~

Walking out to the backyard to retrieve your sunglasses, the warm sunlight filtering through the trees, you feel a sudden grip on your arm. Startled, you turn to see John B standing there, his expression tense with anger.

"What-" you begin, but he cuts you off sharply. "I just got fired because of you, and I know you can't imagine that, but some people need jobs so that they can eat," he accuses, his voice dripping with resentment. In his frustration, he slaps away the sunglasses you were holding, the clatter as they hit the ground echoing in the quiet backyard.

Before you can respond, the tension is shattered by the sound of Rafe's voice. "What the fuck do you think you're doin', man?" His tone is menacing as he strides over to where the two of you are standing, his demeanor radiating fury.

Rafe's sudden appearance catches John B off guard, but he stands his ground, his jaw clenched in defiance. "Y/n, get your ass inside," Rafe commands without even sparing you a glance, his attention solely focused on John B.

"But-" you attempt to protest, but Rafe's next words cut you off sharply. "Now!" His voice is commanding, sending a shiver down your spine. With a timid nod, you obey, hurrying back into the comforting embrace of Tannyhill.

Around 10 minutes later, Rafe strides back into his room, his footsteps heavy with a mix of frustration and determination. As soon as you see him, you jump up from the bed and wrap your arms around him in a tight embrace. He's slightly taken aback by the sudden gesture but responds by pulling you closer, his embrace firm and reassuring, his hand gently stroking your hair.

"Are you okay? What happened?" you ask, concern evident in your voice as you pull back to look at him. It's only then that you notice the bruise forming around his eye, and your worry deepens.

"Yeah, don't worry about me. That pogue will soon find out he fucked up," Rafe says, his voice edged with a quiet resolve as he gazes off into the distance, his thoughts elsewhere.

"What- Rafe-" you begin, but he brushes past you and opens his drawers, pulling out a gun. Your heart drops at the sight, fear coursing through your veins. "Rafe," you whisper, your voice trembling with apprehension. "Please don't do anything stupid, please."

He turns to face you, the gun in his hand, but his expression softens into a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, sweetheart. He won't be bothering us anymore very soon," he reassures you, his tone calm yet filled with a chilling determination that sends a shiver down your spine.

[pjomakesyourkidsgay]

. . . percy jackson

˖°𓇼 bf!percy who asks his mom for help on what to do for valentines day. bf!percy takes you to the beach even though he takes you regardless. bf!percy who takes you to montauk specifically, renting out the little cabin he and his mother used to go to. bf!percy who immediately drags you to the sea, half-pushing you into the waves in his excitement. bf!percy who controls the sea so that the waves are fun but not too big or scary for you. bf!percy who teaches you how to surf because he can control the intensity of the waves. bf!percy who hires a boat to take you to the nearby island. bf!percy who guides you to the deep-ish part to go "scuba diving", which is really just watching fish (the fish ask about you). bf!percy who asks for a favor from his dolphin friends and takes you dolphin-riding during the sunset. bf!percy who runs around in the sand and tumbles in the surf with you, laughing as you squeal at the water licking your feet. bf!percy who kisses you any chance he gets, your lips a little chapped because of the salt. bf!percy who sits with you at night, listening to the song of the sea with the stars shining above. bf!percy who brings you into the cabin, telling you stories that his mom told him when he was a kid and, in turn, listen to your own. bf!percy whose hand crawls over to yours like a hopeful crab, taking it in his grasp and caressing it softly.

"stay away from me!" you squeal, feet slapping against the wet, firm sand beneath your feet, leaving little indentations that are soon defaced by a bigger pair of footprints.

the sea water clinging to your skin is turned cool by the seaside air, making you shiver. you take deep breaths as you run across, the tinge of salt reaching your lungs as you try to get away from the boy with a hermit crab reached out in your direction.

in moana fashion the water assumes the shape of a hand, wrapping around your ankle and pulling you down. the waves cushion your fall, leaving you crawling around in the sand as percy, cackling, squats down beside you with the creature in his palm.

"arnold wants to say hi," he says, smugly. your eyes narrow in faux annoyance, but you can't help the affection swelling in you at this stupid, crooked smile and the wind tousling his hair.

"i don't want to say hi to arnold."

"aw, he's hurt!"

"he pinched my toe!"

"you stepped on him!" he snorts, thrusting his hand into your face where the blue-shelled hermit crab was, and you could feel the creature's distastful look at you.

"percy," you whine. "set me free!"

he shrugs. "well, alright, then." he sets down the crustacean to run off and relinquishes his hold on your ankle. his green eyes sparkle with amusement as he watches you push yourself up, only to widen in surprise when you run in his direction and body slam him down onto the sand.

percy's hands instinctively place themselves on your waist as the breath is knocked out of his lungs. unstopppable laughs are ripped out from him as you assault his torso with sandy punches, a huge smile on your own face as he attempts to salvage his face.

"my hair!" he complains, the black waves literred with grains of sand.

"your hair?" you demand, incredulous. "my hair!" well, sure enough, the salt in the air and water had turned it dry and crunchy.

he catches your wrists. "i like your hair." percy pulls you in, getting up, and kisses you softly.

you pull away, face scrunched up. "you're salty."

"i'm salty? you're salty!"

dividers by: @strangergraphics and @ianrkives

[into-fiction]

random niche gelphie aus that are unlikely to see the light of day:

pokemon rivals but glinda keeps giving elphie love balls and running off bc she doesn't know how to flirt

exes to lovers where glinda is a model and elphie is a photographer

heist au where they're each trying to steal the same item

sentinel & guide au bc how many ways can these girls complete each other

HOGWARTS AU

high school au but specifically where they're both in marching band lmao

daemon au but one of the girls is still unsettled when they meet

space au....haven't decided how that one works yet

avatar au except neither is the avatar, they're just two people caught on opposite sides of a war

avatar au where elphie is the avatar

sports au in which pt elphie helps injured athlete glinda get back on her feet (w/ a twist)

sports au but its set at the olympics

scuba au where elphie agrees to be the personal diving instructor for a yacht full of rich kids

a very soft witchy au

summer camp au!

elphie is a song writer and producer forced to work with glinda, pop musics newest princess

[kairismess]

—☆ the haikyuu boys at a beach resort with you.

ATSUMU MIYA.

the first thing this man wants to do with you is go to the beach and just admire how you look in your swim wear. he really can't take his eyes off you, you're just too gorgeous for him.

he finds the stupidest excuses to get you in his arms in your lovely beach attire, even if it'd just make you eye roll hard (or feel warm all over and want to cuddle up with him, maybe even kiss him everywhere)

he's definitely the type to flex in front of you, it's always on purpose, of course.

"oh, hey, shrimpy, didn't see ya there," he'd murmur in a low voice, his abs in front of your eyes as he flexed them, a smirk on his face as he 'accidentally' showed off his toned thighs by stretching a little on the sand.

of course, you'd want to wipe that smug smirk off his face, but damn, does he look good.

KIYOOMI SAKUSA.

he honestly didn't feel at ease, even at the resort, knowing a lot of other people's germs probably accumulates on the seats, beds, and other amenities available at the resort.

he carries lysol and extra masks and alcohol with him, he usually offers you some by having it always on hand, especially when someone else gets near you.

the only thing he enjoys about being at the beach resort is relaxing on the beach towel and under the umbrella you two brought, eating some fresh fruits.

he does love lounging around next to you, offering to apply sunscreen on you in case you're feeling too warm or heated up.

he refuses to eat or drink anything else apart from the food and drink you two brought, unless it's regarding dinner, even then, he insists that he has to clean and wipe the utensils and plates you two use; it's how he shows that he cares about you.

YUU NISHINOYA.

this man cannot be contained, even on the way there, he kept pointing at all the stuff that caught his eye, asking you if you were there already.

he ran around a little in the lobby of the resort, but luckily, you got a hand on him, keeping him close to you. that's nishinoya's weakness, having your hand wrapped around his, it always forces him to shut up and just admire the feeling of your hand in his.

nishinoya would definitely want to try surfing at the beach, he'd pick out a surfboard of your favorite colors and try out surfing to impress you.

he'd also go scuba diving with you, he'd get all excited seeing the little fishes, turtles, and sea life; with you swimming close by him, enjoying the sights and sounds of the sea.

he'd love to eat watermelon with you at the shore after a long day of adventure. he'd offer to carry your things for you on the way back to the room, or even carry you!

AZUMANE ASAHI.

asahi gets really taken in by the beauty of the beach before him, but also by how gorgeous you look when in the water.

you encourage him to dip his toes in the water, but really... he feels a little shy, being in his swim trunks like this, and going in the cold water with you.

you slowly help him adjust, and believe it or not, asahi has no idea how to swim; so he did freak out a little and panic a bit when he felt himself bob on the water; even though he was a big guy, he stood no chance against the water.

until you got into the water with him and held him close, he finally felt a little more at ease in the sea. he focused on your eyes and voice as you reassured him everything would be okay, guiding him on getting his breath back, he felt a whole lot calmer than he did before.

asahi collected some seashells with you at the shore afterwards, beaming about how cute some of them looked. you two used some of them as decorations for the sandcastles you both built on the shore, asahi was really good at making sandcastles; he dubbed you the ruler of his little sand kingdom, with him as your loyal knight.

[baldurs-beach]

`✵•.¸,✵°✵.｡.Event Intro .｡.✵°✵,¸.•✵´

Welcome to the Baldur's Gate 3 Summer Creativity Event.

The idea is to bring the community together to create works around a summer theme!

FAQ: How does it work? Create a work (art, writing, embroidery, song, anything) based on Baldur's Gate 3 with a summer theme. This blog will share them through the summer. (June through August)

Do I have to follow certain prompts: A list of prompts is below, but fitting in one of them isn't required, as long your work is appropriately summer themes.

How will you share the works? Either @ the blog or submit your post! There will also be an AO3 collection (coming soon). Please don't just tag with a hash tag because that will be very hard to share.

Are there any ratings guide lines? Nope! Just tag appropriately please!

Who can participate? Anyone 18+ since there is not interest in policing who submits what content.

Who's running this thing? Just me, @tragedybunny

Anything else? Please share so lots of people can participate.

AO3 Collection is live!

Prompt list:

Ocean / waves 

Sun / Sunburn

Heat / Humidity

Beach / Sand / Sandcastles /Sea glass

Ice cream

Sunsets

Calimshan and Amn

The Sea of Fallen Stars (pirate region on forgotten realms)

Festival / County Fair

Summer flowers / night blooming flowers 

Beach Party

BBQ

Travel

Bonfire / campfire stories

Swimming/ water / first time swimming in the ocean

Fireflies

Summer storms

Fruits / summer harvest / summer refreshments

Mosquitoes

Boats / sailing

Surfing 

Snorkeling / Scuba diving

Camping (for fun this time)

Summer Love

Dividers by @ / saradika-graphics

[corellianhounds]

Mandalorian Careers

Outside of Mercenaries, Bounty Hunters, and Bodyguards

Word Count: 3k

Despite being trained fighters, not all Mandalorians have the means or transportation required to take high-profile jobs hunting down criminals or killing rivals on behalf of their employers. Good thing they’re an adaptable bunch and come from every walk of life.

Linemen for Star Wars-style electrical grids: Jetpacks have many uses (if you’re willing to reimburse them for the fuel) and Mandalorians are a fearless and handy bunch. For those with little fear of heights or high voltage and who still prefer largely working on their own, doing electrical work in a concentrated urban center can be a good compromise between skills and preferences. They are more often than not personally sought out if word of their skills gets around because technical skills + insulated armor and both the capability and willingness to fight when needed make the perfect tradesperson to handle work in even the lowest levels of Coruscant’s underbelly. Gotta keep the lights on somehow.

Rangers/Wilderness survival guides: Moving around and staying hidden and off the grid often means roughing it in harsh terrain. Despite the emphasis put on community, self-sufficiency is vital to any Mandalorian’s survival, the nomadic ones especially; many know how to survive in a number of terrains and climates, and it makes them a hardy bunch inclined to the outdoors more than the city. If you need someone with great navigational and tracking skills who’s well-versed in the territory you need to get through on foot, a Mandalorian will be a good bet to see you through to journey’s end.

Detectives: An offshoot of the bounty hunter occupation perhaps, but one that provides individuals the freedom to specialize in a certain region or group, finding clues and tracking down yet unknown perpetrators as opposed to finding already established criminals or accused suspects on Guild and ISB posting boards. Many retired bounty hunters or those inclined to settle down (or those who simply like being nosy) will already have a lot of tools and gear conducive to detective work. Necessary skills include deductive reasoning pulled from a breadth of experiences, tracking, street smarts, self-defense, stealth, and the willingness to put up with more Han Solos than anyone should really have to deal with in a day.

Miners: It would make sense for Mandalorians to be skilled at identifying types of metals and the worth of their composition even in its raw state, and for the ones with caving experience or who come from a species accustomed to living underground, the ability to maintain a sense of direction and the willingness to descend into the depths of the planet’s crust wouldn’t be an issue. They’ve got night vision, they can fight whatever threats they face, jetpacks can still be an advantage in avoiding falls in larger caverns, and grappling cords and rappelling are still going to be a need. Some people just like to dig.

Underwater welders and torch cutters: Mandalorians just seem like the type of people who like working with their hands as opposed to sitting in an office day in and day out. To that end, you’ll find them just about anywhere in any type of trade. There are bound to be Mandalorians of aquatic species, and there are bound to be specialized smiths who have designed suits and armor meant to withstand the depths (and anything lurking that far beneath the surface). Visors can be easily modified to double as a welding face shield, specialized to provide visuals in the depths for work as well as observation and defense. Custom-made underwater jetpacks provide propulsion through technology modeled after cephalopods, and suits are designed to be lightweight, durable, and able to retain some measure of whatever breathable gas the individual needs for a time, should anything compromise their scuba gear. The visual of an underwater Mandalorian with chromatophore-esque armor, a plasma-thrower, and a harpoon gun is just so good. Wait I think I just came up with the coolest Mandalorian design ever—

Cab drivers: Sure, most Mandalorians seem solitary and reclusive, but whether they’re more social by nature or they came into the Mandalorian lifestyle later in life after they already had an established career or trade, some Mandalorians make steady work as a relatively unassuming cabbie. They definitely have a reputation for making the quickest, most efficient and direct route through the city, yapping over their shoulder and zipping through air lanes that definitely super don’t exist on the official city-planner’s register, but you got in their cab specifically because you wanted to get there fast and by Force that’s what you get. Good luck trying to stiff them, they can fight just as well as they drive.

Cargo haulers: Usually the more reserved flip side to cab drivers. Think ‘American trucker’ and you’ll have a good idea of what they’re like. Really it’s not all that different from bounty hunting: likely working alone, same risks during travel, living on the road in your rig and hoping for a good meal at a rest stop. I’d pay cash money to hear CB talk from folks travelling the hyperlanes.

High seas fishers: Similar to oil riggers and underwater welders, high seas fishers are unafraid of the open ocean and enjoy wrangling in dangerous, exotic catches that fetch a high market price back in port. Some Mandalorians hunt, others like to fish.

Coruscant delivery couriers: Look sometimes it’s just faster to have the guy with the jetpack and honest reputation zip your order up to your 573rd floor window than it is to wait for the unreliable delivery chute to “lose” it around your landlord’s floor or for the slowest courier droids money can buy to bring it up to you up to three additional business days later, all right?

Search and rescue: As mentioned previously, most Mandalorians are trained in wilderness survival, tracking, navigation, and first aid, all skills that lend themselves neatly to search and rescue ops. Most if not all of them are parts of teams outfitted with ships designed and modified for all terrains, weather, and local phenomena, piloted by eagle-eyed Mandalorians capable of bringing those lost in natural disasters, city destruction, or the wilderness back home safe.

Stunt performers and choreographers: If you’re going to have Mandalorians in your holodrama, you need trained stuntmen, and audiences can tell when directors failed to get real Mandalorians for their work because the Mandalorians just move differently. Very few non-Mandos can really capture the gait and control and spatial awareness Mandalorians bring to the table, in addition to their already impressive breadth of fighting styles, skills, and weapons work. It can be a challenge getting Mandalorian stunt performers to not perform at full intensity though, and it takes very skilled individuals to balance the fighting prowess with the performance aspect. More often than not it’s former Mandalorian drill instructors taking stunt and choreography work, as they understand the range of levels and intensities when it comes to training fighters, and they can teach performers the correct way to make it look like they’re giving or taking a hit, without actually harming their scene partners.

Holodrama armorers: In the same vein as stunt performers and choreographers knowing the difference between actual fighting and choreography, props masters on set with a background in real weapons work are invaluable to a production and they always know the difference between a prop gun and a hot gun. They’re well-versed in coaching actors in how to use prop weapons the way real ones would be used, and their own eagle-eyed approach to weaponry prevents any tragedies (or stealth attempts at “accidental” deaths) from happening on set.

Gladiators/Cage fighters: Though there is the occasional actor among the few professional Mandalorian performers, you’re much more likely to see them as arena competitors in actual fights for accolades and prize money. Sometimes it might be out of desperation and a need for money, but some folks manage to make a career of it. If you’re already used to living on the road and managing pain, then life on tour won’t be a hard adjustment and you get to keep your skills sharp. Depending on your armor you may even be able to retain a sense of anonymity while out in public.

Vigilantes: Admittedly closer to mercenary work and not a formal career path, there will always be Mandalorians who cannot stand by when they see injustice in their communities. There’s any number of day jobs or roles they can fill if they’re in urban settings, doling out justice at night under the cover of darkness, or they could almost be a folk legend in rural settings, stories of an unknown warrior protecting a region from those that would do them ill. Though masters of stealth, the communities under their protection certainly have their suspicions, but because their protection is provided in secret and nobody can definitively say they’re acting as the silent guardian, they often refuse to accept any form of payment from those grateful to them, both out of principle and as a matter of pride. (However, Mandalorians are easy to guilt in matters of accepting generosity and hospitality in other ways, and folks quickly learn that framing non-currency goods as gifts forces them to accept the items in question with gratitude. It’s harder to argue that free services provided to them are gifts, so you have to be quick and clever if you want to trick them into receiving free repairs or assistance or business. Mandalorians are often used to lives based on transactions and reciprocity, so you’ll probably later find them out fixing your security system or hauling hay bales without your prior knowledge as repayment.)

Demolition experts/Bomb defusers: They know what they’re looking at. They’ve seen just about every configuration of explosive you can think of and spend their free time thinking of what other ways people might come up with to level a building or send a message.

Firefighters: The homebase version of search and rescue, Mando firefighters are fearless in high-stakes situations and have specialized suits to allow them to traverse burning terrain with swiftness and ease, helmets and breathing gear modified to withstand the blaze. They work best in well-coordinated teams, and those who may or may not have pasts of breaking into buildings or ships have the added advantage of knowing just how best to get inside one now on fire.

Exterminators: These are a special class of Mandalorians, the ones willing to take some of the worst jobs you can possibly face in urban settings because the only limit to what kind of creature infestation you have (and what they are capable of) is your imagination. Specialized suits again, a willingness to get their hands dirty, and a frequent need to fight something big and mean means nobody can afford to not pay whatever the demanded price of service is. You’re going to try haggling with the person in Mandalorian armor, who can just release whatever they’ve just contained back into your building/territory/underground network/starship? Better think again, buster.

Lawyers: It seems like there are a lot of Mandalorians who, through work as bounty hunters or just by the transactional nature of what they do for others, are good at navigating loopholes and adhering to the letter of the law rather than the spirit, or working another interpretation into the vague contract or deal you drew up for them to agree to. Cerebral Mandalorians are a lethal bunch, many of them already familiar with the types of circumstances and laws surrounding the cases they take, and if you see one on the other side of the courtroom prosecuting or defending against you, you better pray you came prepared enough to argue with someone whose face you can’t see.

Safari hunters: Whether you agree with the ethics or not, trophy hunters and big game wranglers make good money in legitimate circles as well as the invis market. They may be scientists or rangers or simple hunters working to either contain or cull dangerous or sick wildlife within a region, or they’re leading the wealthiest patrons of the galaxy on a three-day trek into the wild to give them the opportunity to track and hunt an apex predator or exotic find themselves. Some will sell and trade creatures in part or in whole to the highest bidder, ethically or not, and if they’re as well-versed in market and environmental law as their lawyers are, well then you as the lawman are probably out of luck. Besides, are you really going to go up against a Mandalorian big game hunter who spends every day surviving in the wilderness with a rifle as long as you are tall?

Translators: Most people buy protocol droids or other tools if they need a translator, but a good majority of Mandalorians are already working jobs where it pays to know several languages, and if you need a translator who can travel to locations protocol droids wouldn’t survive in, a Mandalorian’s always a sure bet.

Bouncers: What’s intimidating is that you don’t see any weapons on them. Sometimes all you need to keep people in line is somebody who can show a little fang and get them to back down without a fight.

Former smiths who have had to adapt to a lack of beskar and resources conducive to smithing Mandalorian armor have turned to designing durable, specialized outerwear made of other materials and technologies. Clothes and protective gear made by armorers for construction workers, wilderness travel, speederbikers, and any kind of trade or blue-collar work are top-of-the-line quality and tailored to the commissioner’s needs and physique. Durable tech-infused armor, nanomesh weaves, kevlex, flexible armadillo-plating, and enviro suits can all be incorporated into the designs. Like many Mandalorians, their work is available to outsiders who can afford it, but they are more often commissioned by other Mandalorians, as these armorers are who they trust the craftsmanship of above any other. See: Aforementioned underwater diving, firefighting, and extermination suits.

Sometimes all you need is just a good pilot. They often double as their own mechanics, not wanting to pay others for what they can do themselves unless they’re under a time crunch. Starships are often treated like cars in the Star Wars universe, in that just about anybody can jump into the cockpit of any other ship and expect it to operate roughly the same, but the truth is that there are just as many differences in ships as there are the people who fly them. Fast, evasive action against pirates? Easy. Not only a willingness but a tendency towards shooting first and asking questions later if it means self-preservation? Obviously. Nomadic by nature and often without choice? They’ve been around the block and they know what they’re doing.

It’s rare to find a lazy Mandalorian. They’re hard-working, precision-oriented, and unafraid of physical work. To that end, Mandalorian foremen are as strict as drill instructors and run their workshops, warehouses, and factories as if they were a military unit. They expect excellence and good time-management in every area, and if they’re the union leaders of their region there’s no way any other supervisor or executive will be able to force them to do something contrary to what’s best for their coworkers. Community oriented, an emphasis put on protective gear, shrewd business owners: again, do you really think it’s a good idea to go toe-to-toe with the person in Mandalorian armor who’s been stacking cargo or working in a steel mill all day?

Hookah lounge proprietor: Some Mandalorians retire or inherit or stumble into business ownership, and one that specifically garnered curiosity was the Rodian Mando who ran a lounge where Mandalorians (and others with specific environmental or physiological needs like the Kel Dor, the Ubese, and the Geranites) could indulge in a bit of spice without need of removing their helmets. Though open to others, many outsiders are often intimidated out of going simply because of the sheer amount of muscle and firepower under one roof. Said Rodian proprietor is an incredible mediator with an iron fist and manages to keep tempers and cultural differences in check, and by the time everybody’s started to settle in they’re really not interested in fighting for anything more than a bit of pub grub.

Dentists: In a culture of frequently mistrusting and occasionally steadfast mask-wearers, having someone with the education and skills of a specialized medical trade is an invaluable addition to the community. Mandalorian healers, medics, and even a few surgeons can be found in pockets across the galaxy, but it's rare to find those who specialize specifically in vision or dental work, and their identities are jealously guarded by the communities they serve. Mando dentists may also care for outsiders, but Mandalorians are often their priority and they are usually only found within Mandalorian communities anyway. Those with skills ranging across multiple species are sought after with fervor. It takes a brave soul to put one’s hands into the mouth of a Trandoshan.

Ironworkers for highrise buildings: Even the Mandalorians without jetpacks working in skyscraper construction are as brave as their airborne comrades, accustomed to welding, riveting, cutting, and working with metal hundreds or even thousands of feet in the air. Channel comms in helmets are an efficient means of communication and coordination while spaced out amongst the building site, and whatever work isn’t handled by droids is handled with aplomb by the Mandalorians with a focus in precision and excellent craftsmanship. There haven’t been many architects or engineers to come out of the culture in some time, but when the chance to rebuild opens up there will be an abundance of workers ready and willing to put those skills to use once again.

We’re cheating with this one when we say childcare workers because most Mandalorians hired for these roles are typically hired as bodyguards. Few and far in between often due to their loyalty and duty to their own people first, some individual Mandalorians who prefer stationary positions in more populated regions find work as the primary caretaker of one or several children belonging to individual families or clans. These Mandalorians don’t come cheap, but what you gain is a bodyguard, teacher, caretaker, and companion for your own children comparable to how Mandalorians treat their own. It’s generally understood that provoking a fight with a Mandalorian caretaker— especially by posing a threat to their ward— is an invitation for retribution, permanent or otherwise.

And if you, the child’s primary guardian, end up proving to be a threat to that child’s safety?

Well, they’re not your kid anymore. Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad.

[mandalhoerian]

https://x.com/lemurianfirefly/status/1902080824050380930?s=46

curled whisker anon again i need reader/mc to get proper scuba/diving gear so raf can guide them on little courting swims…. let him twirl around them and show off. gets super entitled on like 3 long swims a day.

OH YEAH FOR SURE. THIS IS THEIR LOVE LANGUAGE

[menaceanon]

The scuba trip sounds so cool, and your posts about it are incredibly moving! Do you have any advice for someone curious about diving? What kinds of classes or instructors to look for? How did you get started?

My very best diving advice is to figure out what you want to see most underwater. Let that guide you in the kind of learning you do and let it drive you when you get frustrated. Then grab the wonder of it all with both fucking hands and don’t let go. Getting certified can be a stressful process. There’s a learning curve, and you might find it steep. Also, every single diver has had a shitty, stressful dive, and the less experience you have the more likely that is to happen. So you have to be ready to take all of that in stride. Remind yourself you want to see a goddamn shark, and then go see a shark because you can totally do that now holy shit.

As for how to get started…

The extremely short answer is to google dive shops near you, walk in the front door, and tell them you want to learn to dive.

Personally, I happened to be very fortunate that my mom is a diver. Some of my oldest memories are of her in a wetsuit with a giant knife strapped to her thigh, looking like a fucking superhero as she bundled off to dive ship wrecks in the chilly North Atlantic. I’ve been obsessed with this since before I could talk. Unfortunately, about the time I was old enough to get certified I discovered a had ✨anxiety✨ and it turns out that you don’t really want to put a 12-year-old prone to panic attacks underwater. So… it took a while.

But I did come back to it, and when I did I was lucky to have my mom’s guidance. So I’ll walk you through what she told me.

(Note: I apologize that this will be US-centric. That’s what I know, but hopefully I can give you a broad enough idea of how things work that it will be applicable elsewhere. Also like. Obviously do not consider anything I say here to qualify as training in any way at all.)

A Quick-Start Guide To SCUBA Diving

Generally, getting certified involves three main steps:

Bookwork - You purchase a training book from a dive organization (more on that later), study independently, and then review the bookwork in a classroom setting with a dive instructor.

Confined water training - This is just a fancy term for learning in a swimming pool. You will spend a few days diving here while your instructor drills you in safety exercises, buoyancy, gear, etc.

Open water training - “open water” essentially just means “not a swimming pool.” Lakes, oceans, quarries, that sort of thing. You will do a handful of dives here with an instructor in which you review what you learned in the pool and show you’re capable of performing your safety drills in a bigger, more intimidating environment. You can travel somewhere to do this part. If your only local open water option is Spooky Cold Lake, where the fun thing to do is hide fake skeletons for the next diver to find, then, provided you’ve got the budget, it’s totally kosher to go someplace like the Florida Keys instead. Especially if that’s the only sort of place you really want to dive.

So how do you find a trustworthy instructor? What the hell is a dive organization? Can you try out diving without going all-in on a certification? Are you doomed if you jump in the water and immediately hate it (oh god I just spent all this money)?

A Not-So-Quick-Start Guide To SCUBA Diving aka YOU HAVE ACTIVATED MY TRAP CARD

DIVE SHOPS

Like I said, the best first step is to track down a local dive shop, go there, and ask them about learning to dive. Internet competition has unfortunately made dive shops a bit less common, but generally you can find them all over, including in deeply landlocked areas.

Here’s why this is your best first step:

1) dive shops are where you find knowledgeable teachers and certification classes. The infrastructure is there: people who can help you decide what classes to take, instructors, gear for rent, agreements with local pools to allow diving and dive instruction, guidance on the best local place to do open water training, etc.

2) they are a built-in community. You will never be underwater alone, so it really helps to find a dive buddy/buddies who you like and trust (and who you would be willing to split dive trip expenses with)!

3) shops put together really cool dive trips, and it’s generally way cheaper to go through them than to sort it out yourself. You’ll also be with people from your area who have a common interest, so it’s a good way to make friends!

4) you’re going to need some gear, and for SCUBA equipment it is wayyy better and safer and easier to try something on in person than it is to order it online and hope. You also get the benefit of the shop’s experience with the equipment—what they like about it, what they don’t like, whether it’s what you’re looking for, if there’s something comparable but less expensive, where they suggest you spend money vs where you don’t really need to—etc etc.

5) maintenance! If you end up buying gear like a reg, BCD, tanks, etc., then having a local technician who can inspect and repair your gear is the way to go.

A note: The people at the shop should make you feel comfortable and welcome. Most divers are absolutely jazzed at the idea of bringing someone new into the fold, which is good because it’s critical that you’re comfortable with and trust the people who teach you and dive with you. Unfortunately, this means that if you don’t like the people at your shop you might need to try elsewhere. (Or, go back on a different day and see if there’s some else to talk to lol.)

If there’s no shop near you, you CAN do your bookwork online, and I believe some dive companies have directories of people who are certified as instructors and who may be local to you. But this isn’t ideal, and I’m not familiar with the process so you’ll have to do some very careful research.

CERTIFICATION (NAUI vs PADI vs SSI, etc etc)

So here’s how it works:

While you could, conceivably, grab a tank and a hose and jump in, A) don’t fucking do that, and B) assuming you don’t die doing that, you’re still not really going to be able to go places and dive without a certification. Broadly, you can sorta think of a certification as working like a driver’s license. You need to show it at resorts/dive shops/dive boats/etc before anyone will let you in the water.

Unlike a driver’s license, though, it’s not issued through a government, but through a company, and each company has their own way of doing things. When you sign up to get a certification, you will be signing up with a specific company, and taking their specific classes.

PADI is probably the biggest company, which is good because it means it’s accepted most places around the world. They’re reliable and going to get you in the water relatively quickly. But my god are they going to try to sell you shit along the way.

NAUI is old school and more hardcore, with stricter standards. Some places still do their full 10-week course, though not many. If you’re NAUI certified, you know what the fuck you’re doing.

I don’t really know much about SSI. I’ve heard on the grapevine that they teach divers to rely VERY heavily on their computers, though, which I personally don’t think is a great idea—understanding why the computer does what it does is what keeps you safe.

There are other companies, especially once you get out of the States, but hopefully this gives you an idea of what they are and how they work.

There are also different levels of certifications, starting with the most basic and gradually getting more advanced. Your certification level will determine things like how deep you can go, what environments you can dive in, if you can dive at night, etc. You will have to pay for each new certification.

DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING (DSD)

If you’ve ever been to a resort where they offer to teach you to dive, they probably call that program “discover scuba.” It does NOT count as a full certification, but DOES count to your total number of dives, and can be a great, relatively low-cost way to both find out if this is something you actually want to do AND get some real experience under your belt. Except in extremely rare circumstances, however, that cost almost never comes out of the price of your certification, so keep that in mind.

A big downside is that you’re not going to be particularly well-trained beyond extremely basic safety steps. If you’re like me, that might make you anxious underwater. It’s also going to make the experience a little less comfortable overall because you just don’t know how to get comfortable.

This is actually how I started on my path to certification, though, and I don’t think I’d have done it any other way. While learning in a pool first may have helped with some of my anxiety, getting to see what it was all about right from the beginning is probably what convinced me to keep going.

IT IS CRITICAL that you research the organization offering the discover scuba dive program, though. Some of these groups will throw you in the water without a care.

NEVER EVER EVER EVER do those full-face plastic helmet things where they pump air down. NEVER. They’re so insanely dangerous.

GETTING IN THE WATER

Odds are pretty good that you’re not going to enjoy your first dive. Or your second or third. So I think it’s really important to know that that first impression does NOT mean you’re going to hate it forever, nor is it a good indicator of whether you’re capable of diving at all. All those first dives indicate is that you got yourself in the water, and that’s fucking impressive. A lot of people never make it that far.

Here are the main reasons why that first dive will probably suck. I find that knowing what to expect helps me prepare. I also think it’s significant that every single one of these things goes away with experience:

Claustrophobia. This is pretty common. There’s water all around you and you’re wearing a mask, which, if that’s not something you’ve done before, can restrict your field of vision and feel strange against your face. You’ve also got a vest and weights on, and you’re mouth-breathing through a regulator. It’s all very close-up. This absolutely goes away once you’re more comfortable and accustomed, but it’s not a minor hurdle. This can also be helped a lot by diving somewhere warm with good visibility.

Breathing. The regulator is weird. It just is. It sounds weird, it feels weird, the air is cold, you can’t fully close your mouth, the dry-mouth can suck—it’s a whole thing.

Buoyancy. There’s a reason they train astronauts by taking them scuba diving: floating around is not something humans do a whole lot of, and it can feel like you don’t have any control over where your body is now or where it’s going next. Even if you’re a strong swimmer, this is not the same thing. Best advice I can give you here is to literally just cross your arms and hold still. If you’re still tilting all over the place it means your weights are distributed wrong, and the dive instructor can help with that. It’s still going to take some getting used to.

Sensory overload. There is so much going on, and on top of it all you’re probably trying to remember all the things you have to do/not do in order to not die.

Give yourself the gift of patience and perseverance and you can learn how to dive. A lot of people give up at this first step, thinking it will always feel this way. It won’t.

THE BAD NEWS

So, there are some significant hurtles.

1) for how zen it usually is, SCUBA still very much qualifies as an extreme sport. There are a lot of ways to get very badly hurt, so taking your training seriously is critical.

2) there are certain health issues that make it impossible to dive. One of the best resources for medical information related to diving is the Divers Alert Network, or DAN. Your dive shop should also be able to help you get answers about things. That said, a lot of people with disabilities are fully capable of diving, and there are absolutely accommodations that can be made, so check before you count yourself out!

3) last but definitely worst: SCUBA is not a cheap sport, or a particularly accessible one. In addition to the significant cost of training and equipment, there’s the very real possibility that, in order to dive at all, you will need to travel. I live on the east coast of the US, which means that, if I want to dive “locally,” my options are pretty limited to quarries, lakes, and the North Atlantic, and those are challenging environments with conditions I don’t particularly enjoy. If I want warm waters with good visibility then I have to travel.

THE GOOD NEWS

Everything I described in my other post about sharks and octopuses and barracudas and glowing green night dives? It’s yours once you’re certified. You can see archaeological sites that have been submerged for centuries, dive between two continental shelves, navigate kelp forests, or float in places where the world shears away into something vast and blue.

Did you know that reefs are noisy like a forest? They crackle with noises from fish and shrimp and other critters going about their business.

Go hear the fish sing.

[dylanisdazed]

ok hey im drunk heres some dreams i had last night

first of all, idk where this came from or even how it started but i need you to look up wire cutting clay.

ok did you google that or youtube that?

so...this authoritarian entity was taking people and they would draw a line down the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, then across the mouth and down the side of mouth to sort of create a puzzle piece of the face......

then this super sharp wire came down and sliced their heads 😐😮😟😲😲🤮🤢🤮🤕🤮🤢🤮🤢

it was so gross and scary. they said they did it in a way to keep most of the brain intact to keep people alive.....

and then i was renovating this big house by myself and i was telling my mom how scared i was about the slicing and she was like "Oh Dylie, don't be silly. Our money will keep us safe." 😂🤣 WHAT MONEY MOM? but also i felt better and continued renovating this huge house i had apparently. They also made children bungee jump from a 140 story building and it was designed to snap so it killed them.

Anyway

THEN, I was flown out to the desert, it was so beautiful it was like Colorado adjacent and there was all this orange terrain and pretty blue sky. It was a new company. It doesn't make sense but it was like this HUGE reservoir of QUALITY red wine but also water? So we had this really good red wine and could also bottle water but the bubbles made it toxic idk. Anyway, I was really concerned about it being toxic and selling it to people and they were like we produce 500 million gallons of wine a second, we will be SO rich and they wanted to hire me and I was conflicted but I was like okay well can we at least invest a lot of money into hiding the fact its toxic and also find a scapegoat if anyone finds out?

SO THEN

They hire me as Vice President, the owner Tori, LOVED me. She was like your so cute and you have great ideas. I told her I still felt conflicted so I needed a BIG salary and also i would only work 1 day per 7 days off. They agreed and so I took the job. It took me like a month to fly to New York from there because I flew one day, then had to take a week off, then fly again then take a week off then have a meeting then take a week off, etc.

In the wine reservoir they had these HUGE turbines down below the water like way deep and they would offer scuba / diving tours. WELL, they only really did that to people they didn't like and they would guide them INTO the turbines to be chopped into little bits. I was horrified. However, not by the murder more so because I enjoyed the wine. I was like I DONT WANAN DRINK THIS WITH TINY HUMAN BITS AND BLOOD IN IT! They were like this reservoir is like 10 trillion gallons a few humans aren't gonna matter but i was still disgusted so I came up with an idea to bottle a Luxury brand of the wine that was in a separate reservoir that we could charge more for and there would be no bits. I'm a genius!

Anyway, this is how my brain works

bye