Hi, I’m Candice!

In 2016 I learned to scuba dive because I wanted to try something new and because I’ve always loved the water. It changed my life. Since then I’ve been eager to show others how the sport and the underwater world could change theirs too. I’m a scuba diving instructor, a gear junkie, a writer and a maker.

Today I work for a dive magazine. I travel and write. I film and photograph. I do everything I can to capture both the beauty of our underwater world and the plight it is in. For this reason, I also opt for a plant-based lifestyle. I hope you’ll join me on the journey to having a more positive impact on the planet. Every action counts.

Featured

Cold Water Diving·Film Reviews

Breaking Surface: The First (More) Realistic Diving Movie

by Candice Landau

May 2, 2024

I'll admit, I was not frothing at the bit to watch Breaking Surface, not after 47 Meters Down made a mockery of dive physics. And though Sanctum—another popular diving movie—had a good storyline, it too went a little sideways throwing

Plant-Based Recipes

Vegan Salmon Lox—Who Knew Carrots Could Do This?!

April 30, 2024

2 mins read

If there’s one type of fish I miss the taste and texture of, it’s salmon. My mom used to bake it in the oven and then drizzle lemon juice and salt and

April 27, 2024

How to Mark Your Bolt Snaps and Double-Enders (So You Know They’re Yours)

April 22, 2024

Traces of the Past

DIVE

Scuba Diving Sund Rock Marine Preserve: Dive Site Review

April 19, 2024

If you hate wolf eels, giant pacific octopus, epic wall dives and schooling rock fish, absolutely do not visit Sund Rock. It's a marine preserve well known for all these

Scuba Diving the Wreck of the Comet: Dive Site Review

August 15, 2021

The Comet is a shallow tug boat wreck located just out of Port Hadlock. It's an easy shore dive in no more than 15-40 feet of water. If you make

Scuba Diving Titlow Beach: Dive Site Review

August 4, 2021

I wanted to dive Titlow before I even knew it was a Washington State dive destination. It's a stone's throw away from Narrows Brewing, looks out over the dramatic expanse

Scuba Diving Fox Island West Wall: Dive Site Review

July 14, 2021

Fox Island West Wall is a great dive site for beginners and advanced divers alike. Although the site is easy to get to from Tacoma, it's still further than many

Dive Kind: My Diving Philosophy

June 8, 2021

When you Dive Kind you’ll not only be bringing light to the problems you see, but be taking action toward making changes. You'll learn how to improve your diving technique,

Latest

On Writing·Travel Tips

Keeping a Log Book: Your Essential Tool for Writing Compelling Travel Articles

April 21, 2024

3 mins read

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Though it’s very little, I appreciate the help. I do not recommend anything

Musings

Perfect is the Enemy

April 20, 2024

1 min read

Aiming for perfection and then not achieving it is bound to make you feel more like a failure than chipping away at

Photo & Video Gear·Travel Gear

I’m in Love with Ray-Ban Stories Because POV!

April 16, 2024

2 mins read

If there’s anything that’s becoming popular on social these days it’s a first person POV. Your feet moving below you as you

Photo & Video Gear

Getting Fishy, or Why I Had to Buy a Fisheye Lens

April 14, 2024

2 mins read

If you've ever wanted to know why you should purchase a fisheye lens, here are the reasons. Now tell me you didn't

Microscopy

Love Scuba Diving? Buy a Microscope

April 13, 2024

7 mins read

When the COVID-19 lockdown began, much like everyone else, I found myself looking for ways to keep busy. I "covid baked." I

Plant-Based Recipes

Vegan Caviar—A Pain-Free Recipe

April 13, 2024

2 mins read

What I remember of caviar has more to do with the emotions of childhood—joy and carefree abandon, playing at sophistication—than anything related

Photo & Video Gear·Travel Gear

A Solution to All Your SD Card Storage and Carry-Case Woes

April 12, 2024

3 mins read

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Though it’s very little, I appreciate the help. I do not recommend anything

Plant-Based Recipes

Plant-Based Seafood Alternatives: Delicious Recipes for Divers & Ocean Lovers

April 12, 2024

14 mins read

Recipes you should know if you love the taste of fish but don't want to be a part of the huge problem

Dive Kind

From South African Meat Eater to Plant-Based Scuba Diver

June 8, 2021

7 mins read

If you eat meat, this essay is not here to make you feel bad. I loved the taste of meat and ate

Cold Water Diving·Downloads

The Ultimate Cold Water Diving Packing List

June 2, 2021

1 min read

A couple of years ago I made my own packing list for cold water diving trips because I noticed that most packing

Dive Kind

Would an Alien “Conservationist” Kill Us, Eat Us, or Something Else?

June 1, 2021

2 mins read

Any alien species with conservationists as we define them today, would kill us or eat us. But, what if they weren't like

Cold Water Diving·Dive Sites

Scuba Diving Clear Lake, Oregon

March 28, 2020

5 mins read

Whether you're from Oregon or traveling from further afield, Clear Lake is one dive site you're bound to have heard of—a tropical

Dive Training

How to Perform a Few Basic Scuba Skills

March 27, 2020

7 mins read

When you take a Discover Scuba Diving course or the PADI Open Water Course, these are some of the first few skills

Dive Training

7 Things That Blew My Mind When I Learned to Scuba Dive

March 25, 2020

5 mins read

When I registered for my Open Water Course in 2016, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that

Dive Training

Marketing Your Scuba Services During COVID-19

March 24, 2020

7 mins read

If you teach scuba diving, work at a dive shop, run a dive shop, sell scuba diving equipment, or are in any

Dive Gear

Gear Review: BARE XCS2 Drysuit

November 14, 2019

2 mins read

I have been diving a BARE drysuit for three years and have never once regretted purchasing it as my primary means of

Cold Water Diving·Dive Gear

Cold Water Dive Gear: A Shopping List for New Divers [INFOGRAPHIC]

April 3, 2019

4 mins read

For many people entering the cold water diving world for the first time, knowing what gear to purchase can seem overwhelming. This

Cold Water Diving·Dive Training

Becoming an Oregon Marine Reserves Diver

March 12, 2019

5 mins read

The Oregon Marine Reserves Diver is an achievable goal. All you have to do to get there is love learning, have an

Cold Water Diving·Dive Sites

Diving the Kehloken Possession Point Ferry

March 5, 2019

6 mins read

This article is about a dive trip I did in 2018 out to the Kehloken Possession Point Ferry. The ferry burned in

Cold Water Diving·Dive Sites

Scuba Diving in Oregon: Dive Sites For Anyone

March 5, 2019

8 mins read

A list of the sites I have personally dived in Oregon. Most sites are suitable for beginners and all sites can be

Cold Water Diving·Dive Sites

North Jetty Dive Park Dive Site, Florence, Oregon

January 15, 2019

3 mins read

Of the many beautiful dive sites in Oregon, perhaps the most popular is the Florence North Jetty. In 2003 this site was

Animal Insights·Marine Life

On Becoming an Inadvertent Naturalist

January 15, 2019

7 mins read

The more time you spend in one area examining just one rock or tide pool, the more there is that reveals itself.

Dive Gear

The Eternal Search for the Perfect Dive Log Book

November 18, 2018

3 mins read

In June, when I hit the 180 dives mark, I stopped logging my dives. Since then I haven't been able to get

Book Reviews·Tech Diving

13 True Adventure Books for Aspiring Tech Divers (Published by TDI)

November 18, 2018

1 min read

Because I am a hopeless wreck diving romantic, I've compiled a list of the great nail-biting reads that over the years have

Animal Insights·Marine Life

The Woefully Misunderstood Wolf Eel

August 16, 2018

4 mins read

If sea lions are the dogs of the sea then the wolf eel is the cat of the sea. Curious, moody, affectionate,

Dive Training

Scuba Professionals Should Cultivate a Learning Mindset

August 6, 2018

3 mins read

What do bungee chairs, ambient light, essay-style answers, good habits, and how the brain processes information have in common?

Book Reviews

Book Review—Extreme: Why Some People Thrive at the Limits

July 31, 2018

1 min read

When I started reading Extreme: Why Some People Thrive at the Limits, I thought I was in for another slog through psychology studies

Dive Training

A Student’s Perspective

July 28, 2018

2 mins read

Every now and then it’s good to step outside of the comfort zone of your own well-fitted scuba gear and don the

Dive Training·Tech Diving

Diving Doubles in Open Water For the First Time

July 9, 2018

7 mins read

On Wednesday I tried doubles in open water for the first time. While this has been a long time coming, I have

Book Reviews

Book Review—Deep Descent: Adventure and Death Diving the Andrea Doria

June 20, 2018

1 min read

Given there is indeed an "Everest-like" obsession surrounding diving this wreck I felt this one merited a book of its own, if

Animal Insights·Cold Water Diving·Marine Life

The Honor of Being Eyed by a Starry Flounder

April 30, 2018

1 min read

The best part of diving at the Oregon Coast Aquarium is that I'm in close contact with marine life. As I continue

Dive Training

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: Reminders from This Week’s Rescue Course

April 30, 2018

3 mins read

While one hopes that one will remember what one learned in class, unless you’re reviewing the skills day in and day out,

Dive Training·Tech Diving

The Never-Ending Question: Why Do You Want to Do Technical Diving?

April 25, 2018

2 mins read

If I could count on my hands, the number of times people have asked me why I want to do technical diving,

Book Reviews

Book Review: Pirate Hunters

March 20, 2018

1 min read

Having read "Shadow Divers," I was expecting another gripping read in "Pirate Hunters." Unfortunately, this book is nothing like "Shadow Divers." It

Dive Training

Host the Best Birthday Party Ever: A Discover Scuba Diving Party! (Published on PADI)

March 19, 2018

1 min read

When Margaret McKenney, an Oregon-based scuba instructor, asked if I wanted to help out with a scuba diving party, I have to

Dive Training

Take PADI Women’s Dive Day Into Your Own Hands This Year (Published on PADI)

March 18, 2018

1 min read

The PADI Women’s Dive Day event calendar is now open to all PADI Members. Now, for the first time, you can register

Book Reviews

Book Review: Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness

February 25, 2018

1 min read

While I found the subject matter of this book very interesting, a lot of it was not new information. If you don't

Cold Water Diving·Dive Sites

Scuba Diving Crater Lake Still Not Allowed in 2021

February 24, 2018

2 mins read

On a quest to find out whether or not Crater Lake was still "diveable" (I'd heard otherwise though no one was 100%

Musings

Sharks, Salt and Surf: Reenvisioning the Sea

February 22, 2018

4 mins read

What happens when a non-surfing South African gives surfing a try for the first time? It's quite simple, really: Addiction. Here's my

Dive Safety·Dive Training

Abort: When Not Diving is the Best Option

February 22, 2018

7 mins read

Until Saturday October 28th, I had never considered the Newport Fingers a potentially dangerous dive site. They were, after all, fairly far

Book Reviews

Book Review: Fatally Flawed

February 16, 2018

1 min read

If you're a woman participating in extreme sports, read this book -- you'll realize you're not alone. If you're a man, read

Dive Safety·Dive Training

Guide to PADI Divemaster: The Rescue Scenario (Published on PADI)

December 12, 2017

1 min read

One of the great things about diving in the Pacific Northwest is that I am part of a subset of people who

Dive Training

Divemaster Training: 11 Reasons to Become a “Tank Monkey” (Published on PADI)

November 13, 2017

1 min read

In my latest article on PADI's blog, you'll learn more about the value of being a tank monkey (AKA a Divemaster in

Musings

Back to Swimming

November 9, 2017

1 min read

Where some people find swimming mundane, I find it both soothing and challenging. It's the one activity that allows me to totally

Marine Life

Bay Pipefish

November 8, 2017

1 min read

If you’ve ever seen a Pipefish, chances are you initially thought it was a stray frond of seaweed, wafting in the swash.

Marine Life

Skeleton Shrimp

October 31, 2017

1 min read

The first time I saw a skeleton shrimp, I could have sworn I was looking at an alien. Rising, up and down,

Dive Training

Why Slow Divers are the Best Kind of Diver (Published on PADI)

October 30, 2017

1 min read

This article is about the benefits of slow diving, and of course, bears reference again to the life I see below, no

Dive Gear

Gear Review: OMS Slipstream Fin

October 30, 2017

2 mins read

When I first got my OMS Slipstreams, I had a love-hate relationship with them. They were awesome for frog kick, but not

Dive Training

Guide to PADI Divemaster: Equipment Exchange Test (Published on PADI)

October 17, 2017

1 min read

Apart from getting to dive even more, one of the best things about going through the Divemaster training is that I'm never

Book Reviews

Book Review: What a Fish Knows

October 13, 2017

1 min read

Aside from the fact that this was a New York Times Bestseller, longlisted for the PEN award, and one of the 10

Book Reviews

Book Review: Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest

October 13, 2017

1 min read

I had this book in my Amazon cart months before I placed the order. Why? Well, I simply couldn't justify the price

Marine Life

Red Flabellina

October 10, 2017

4 mins read

I’ve started writing about what is possibly one of my favorite marine creatures: the nudibranch, and more specifically, the Red Flabellina that

Dive Training

Cataloging the World Below

October 10, 2017

1 min read

Because I am increasingly fascinated by the life I see when diving, I am making a concerted effort to learn more about

Dive Training

A Tribute to the Ocean and Days Spent Diving

September 11, 2017

1 min read

This weekend I helped out with Mike Allen’s Open Water checkout and it was wonderful. Yes, that very British word. Not only

Uncategorized

How Many Scuba Units is That?

July 6, 2017

1 min read

Of cave diving origin I am sure (Gilly Elor strikes again), this is the most sensible diction to use when referring to

Cold Water Diving·Dive Training

The Less Dusty Version of Archaeology

July 6, 2017

1 min read

Because I’m obsessed with diving in every way, shape and form, and because I once had romantic notions of being a globe-hopping

Dive Gear

Gear Review: O’Neill Reactor 3/2mm Full Wetsuit – Women’s

July 5, 2017

3 mins read

I am quite ashamed to say that my quest to find the perfect wetsuit for the swimming pool lasted far too long.

Uncategorized

#DiveHairDontCare

July 5, 2017

1 min read

Hats off to all those swimmers and divers who can manage long hair. I'm not one of them. One, I don't have

Musings

PADI Totally Justifies Sailing Fun

June 28, 2017

1 min read

In accordance with the PADI Divemaster Manual (page 165 to be precise), there are six skills outside of diver training that will

Book Reviews

Book Review: Deep

June 26, 2017

1 min read

Before reading this book, my knowledge of freediving encompassed only those few techniques we're taught in scuba diving. If, like me, you've

Book Reviews

Book Review: Scuba Confidential

June 20, 2017

1 min read

Alongside Diver Down, this should be required reading for both new and experienced divers. It's not a "fun read" per se but

Cold Water Diving·Dive Travel Tips

Scuba Driving

June 18, 2017

1 min read

This weekend, Gilly and I decided to dive Clear Lake. Due to a late start and worries about getting parking near enough

On Writing

Thanatos

March 22, 2017

1 min read

I have not felt this way Since those Wednesday afternoons Age seven, art class And the smell of chlorine Granny and the

Dive Gear·DIY Projects

Why I Own 101 Tubes of Scuba Goop

March 22, 2017

2 mins read

The first time I saw scuba goop was at Dive Club. Every new member gets a tube when they join. It looked

Book Reviews

Book Review: Diver Down

March 21, 2017

1 min read

In my opinion, Diver Down is best read after you've put in few dives but while you are still in the early

Dive Gear

ScubaPro’s Seawing Novas

March 19, 2017

3 mins read

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Though it’s very little, I appreciate the help. I do not recommend anything

Dive Gear

Inflatable Travel Weights

March 19, 2017

1 min read

A few months back I popped into the local dive shop to ask about prices for weights, one of the very last items

Dive Training

What It Feels Like to Scuba Dive

March 18, 2017

9 mins read

I’ve been standing for a couple of minutes, waiting for my dive buddy to finish getting geared up. I’m weighed down by

Dive Training

Practice Makes Perfect

March 18, 2017

7 mins read

So long as I am living in Eugene, I have resigned myself to scuba diving in Woahink Lake: a quiet, green lake

Dive Safety·Dive Training·Tech Diving

The Draw of the Deep

March 17, 2017

9 mins read

Ever since I first learned to scuba dive, I’ve found a version of myself I’d forgotten existed: the me that is wholly preoccupied with and

Book Reviews

Book Review: Diving Into Darkness

March 9, 2017

1 min read

It's hard to find a book that can hold you captive when the outcome is not just known from the start, but

Book Reviews

Book Review: Shadow Divers

December 11, 2016

1 min read

Scuba diver or not, this book will take you 250 feet below the surface, on a journey of suspense. Based on a

Dive Training·Musings

Prepping for PADI, Ocean Heebie-Jeebies, and the Next Adventure

June 22, 2016

2 mins read

On July 11, Eugene Skin Divers Supply’s next PADI Open Water Scuba course begins and… it’s not leaving me behind! Yup, that’s

On Writing

The Writer’s Relationship with Time

January 25, 2015

3 mins read

Yesterday, I came across a letter that Charles Dickens wrote to Maria Winter in 1855 – a woman with whom Dickens had

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