Finding Our Way
By Alex Brylske
As an instructor I always enjoyed teaching advanced classes. That is, with
one exception. I never tired of conveying the challenge of deep diving, or
the excitement of night diving. I also found a lot of satisfaction in
unraveling the mysteries of the compass, which seemed to vex my students
more than the intricacies of any computer. But the one thing I never enjoyed
teaching was a skill commonly called "natural navigation." To me it seemed
like a stupid waste of time - an attitude I'm sure I conveyed to my
students, as they, too, would often ask, "Why do we have to do this?"
Unfortunately, it took me several years to understand some basic insights
conveyed in Bob Rossier's feature this month, "Lost, Confused or Temporarily
Misplaced: Navigation for Novices." My disdain for natural navigation was
simply an inability to admit that, occasionally, I got lost. Maybe it's a
guy thing, but knowing where you are - or, at least, pretending you do -
just seems to happen, right? Well, not exactly. Indeed, I rarely became so
hopelessly lost while underwater that I had to surface for orientation
(though it did, and still does, happen on occasion). What I never understood
is that I had mastered the art of natural navigation without ever knowing or
even thinking about it. Subtle input such as the direction of current, the
orientation of sand ripples, or changes in the sun angle passed before my
eyes, though mostly unconsciously, and registered well enough for me to
recall and provide a general orientation.
For a long time, I simply didn't understand how a diver couldn't keep track
of where they were underwater. It seemed like a no-brainer. But over the
years, having observed thousands of novice divers take their first forays
into the deep, I finally began to understand. The first step to knowing your
way around down there is realizing that you're going from what I call the
two-dimensional world to a three-dimensional one. What I mean, of course, is
that, as humans can't fly, on dry land we exist pretty much in two
dimensions - the x- and y-axis for all you math buffs. But as divers, depth
- the unfamiliar z-axis - comes into play. We cannot only go to and fro, but
also up and down, too. Further, our visibility is strictly limited, even
under the best of conditions. And, lastly, the natural features we use for
orientation underwater are far different from and more subtle than we're
used to on land. Assimilating all this takes a lot longer than, say, when
you move to a new city or find your way home from grandma's house. What I
failed to realize as an instructor was that what had become second nature to
me had actually been the result of a learning process that took years and
several hundred dives. And many of the skills that I learned in one locale
were simply applied when I went to new dive sites, giving me the false
impression that navigation was a piece of cake.
The point is, it often takes a more experienced teacher to show you the way.
I also learned that navigation is as much about attitude as it is about
skill. For example, rather than assuming that I would probably get lost no
matter what I did, I used the instances when I did get lost as learning
experiences and re-created how I could have avoided it. And it always came
back to "learning the lay of the land," so to speak. Granted, most can
probably acquire navigation skills by trial and error. But it's a lot
easier, and safer, to do so with an instructor. At least, one who doesn't
hate natural navigation. Yes, I've learned my lesson when it comes to
teaching navigation underwater. But on dry land, I still refuse to ask for
directions.
buddy lines
Actor's Doctor Ill-informed
I was appalled when I saw the article online, and that you addressed in your
editorial "Say It Ain't So, Hawkeye" (April 2008) in which Donald Sutherland
quoted his physician's absurd statement that people over 50 shouldn't scuba
dive. (I'm wondering if his doc is just a wunderkind with no real
experience, or if he's actually matured into his foolishness.) When I was a
much younger diver and instructor, I may not have felt such a strong
reaction to nonsense of that sort. But now that I've passed the milestone
myself, the unfounded nature of his statement isn't just probable, it's
demonstrated in my daily life: These days I'm a more skillful and
knowledgeable diver than ever before. I train, certify and dive with people
beyond the age of 50, many well beyond, who are excellent, safe and
incident-free divers. Creating concerns like that, without basis in science
or in observation, won't do the sport any good, and may well frighten away
people who might otherwise go on to enjoy many years of pleasurable, safe
diving.
Alan Hughes
Norman, Oklahoma
Good for a Chuckle
i laughed out loud at the irony of your February 2008 cover. I am a
healthcare professional and a diver. During a discussion of Dive Training, a
patient of mine casually mentioned that he had no need for formal training.
He had assimilated all that he needed to know by watching reruns of "Sea
Hunt." Borrowed scuba tanks and gear, and air from a compressor in his
mechanic's garage rounded out his adventure. I'm happy to report that his
inaugural dive occurred without incident. My regards to Mike Nelson, but I
prefer the "formal" training route offered by agencies, dive shops and your
excellent periodical. Thank you for making me a better diver.
Debbie Battaglia
Via e-mail
'Sea Hunt' Inspiration
i just wanted to write and say how much I enjoyed Greg Laslo's "Sea Hunt"
article. Like many others, I felt the intrigue and mystery the show
instilled at a young age, and although my career went in a different
direction, I always yearned to be a part of that "other world."
Not to be undone, I finally gave in to that need, leaving the corporate
world behind and becoming a dive shop owner/operator in the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
Thanks Mike!
Sam Piscitello
St. Thomas, USVI
Web Site Helpful
just wanted to let you know that I am 19 years old and am heavily
considering taking scuba diving lessons this May. I really have no prior
knowledge whatsoever of scuba diving but your Web site is really informative
and helpful. Keep it up.
Nicholas Law
Via-email
Get Comfortable
regarding the "TMJ Suggestion" letter on temporomandibular joint syndrome,
Dive Training, February 2008: I worked as a divemaster six years and the
last seven years I have been an instructor. I have worked with many
open-water students. The main reason for sore jaws, teeth and gums,
headaches, and the inability to equalize is clamping down constantly on the
mouthpiece. This results from discomfort while diving.
The first thing many new students do is hold the second stage with their
hand. I do not allow anyone under my instruction to keep doing this. We try
to find the real reason for this behavior. Usually the problem is discomfort
in the water, but an ill-fitting mask, a mouthpiece too small or too large,
or a BC (buoyancy compensator) that does not fit are the most common
problems I have seen.
Beginning with the snorkeling sessions in the pool, I instruct all students
not to clamp down on their mouthpiece. True, a mouthpiece too small or too
large can cause clamping down too hard. [A diver who has the need to hold
his or her second stage while it's in their mouth should work with their
instructor to determine the underlying cause so it can be corrected.]
Kim Wilks
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Omit Politics,
Religion, Please
i have been reading your magazine for about 12 years and have been a
subscriber for almost 10. In my opinion it's the best out there.
Marty Snyderman has my greatest respect as a journalist and as a
photographer. In your March 2008 issue he wrote three articles, two of which
I thought were excellent. The third, however, left me upset. It was ["Diving
Behind the Iron Curtain: A Cultural Exchange With Polish Dive Buddies"]. The
point was great - how to communicate with divers from other countries who
speak different languages and have different cultures. What I found
offensive was his need to get into politics and religion. I am sure that his
grandmother was a special person, but please leave politics and religion out
of "my" dive magazine. We get bombarded with enough of those things from
everywhere else. I want to read about diving, tropical destinations and
education.
Tom Doubleday
Via e-mail
dive observer
3 States EYE 'DelJerseyLand' as Radford site
By Gene Gentrup
 Maryland,
Delaware and New Jersey are considering a partnership to acquire and sink a
retired U.S. Navy destroyer 26 miles (42 km) off the coast of Ocean City,
New Jersey.
The Navy recently made available the decommissioned 563-foot USS Arthur W.
Radford under a plan to sink old ships as reefs instead of dismantling them
for scrap. The new approach saves money, provides an attraction for divers,
creates habitat for fish and opportunities for anglers. The Radford is in a
Philadelphia shipyard being stripped and cleaned to make it environmentally
safe for sinking.
All three states have expressed interest in obtaining the ship, but the
latest proposal calls for a new reef site called "DelJerseyLand," which
would be set up in an area accessible to each state's recreational and
commercial fishing industries. The Radford would sit in 130 feet (39 m) of
water. Navigation regulations require 30-80 feet (9-24 m) of clearance
between the ocean surface and the high point of the scuttled ship.
If the plan is approved, the ex-destroyer would become the largest former
warship sunk as part of an artificial reef site on the East Coast. The
910-foot former aircraft carrier Oriskany was sunk in the Gulf of Mexico as
part of an artificial reef site there two years ago, becoming the largest
warship ever sunk for that purpose.
The proposed DelJerseyLand site is near an existing artificial reef site
made up of two vessels torpedoed during World War II. The Moonstone was a
private vessel pressed into service during the war and was sunk by a German
U-boat in the area. The Swedish vessel Hvoslef also went down in the area
during WWII.
How to finance the project is the only question unanswered. Project
supporters hope that the value of scrap metal from the inside of the ship
will bring enough money that the remaining $600,000 cost can be split among
the three states.
The USS Radford was launched in 1977 and decommissioned in 2003. During its
commissioned life, the destroyer was deployed to the Persian Gulf for picket
duty and surveillance work and also to the Mediterranean Sea to support NATO
peacekeeping operations. In 1997, it collided with a Saudi cargo ship 25
miles (40 km) off the coast of Virginia. Although it took on water through a
gash in its bow, the Radford limped to port for repairs.
The ship was named after Admiral Arthur W. Radford, who served in World War
I, World War II and the Korean War; and was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff from 1953 to 1957.
The Navy has set April 28 as the deadline for applications to transfer the
destroyer to a state.
Nearly 200 fish species documented on Spiegel Grove
A new report says that 191 fish species have been documented on the USS
Spiegel Grove, the 510-foot Navy ship sunk off Key Largo, Florida, in June
2002.
The former landing ship dock is now home to fish previously not found in the
area including the blackcap basslet and blackfin snapper, according to a
biological monitoring report from the Reef Environmental Education
Foundation (REEF). Goliath and Nassau grouper, both protected species, also
have been documented on the Spiegel Grove.
"These findings are consistent with the management expectations for the
project and have helped us evaluate and improve a similar monitoring program
for the Vandenberg project," said Dave Score, Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary superintendent commander.
REEF will conduct the biological monitoring of the Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a
522-foot decommissioned USAF tracking ship to be sunk six miles offshore
from Key West, Florida, in May. "We will take what we learned from
[monitoring] the Spiegel Grove and apply it to the Vandenberg," said Joseph
Cavanaugh, REEF director of field operations. "With shrinking funds for
management and long-term monitoring, volunteer involvement is the next big
step in understanding and preserving reef ecosystems."
Score said the public has been a big help in collecting data needed to
manage the site. "There will never be enough scientists or funding to
collect all the information we need to answer the complex questions facing
us in managing marine places."
Monroe County, Florida, financed the study, which was carried out by REEF
staff and volunteers with training in fish surveying. The team conducted 11
week-long monitoring events on the Spiegel Grove over the five-year period,
surveying the ship and seven other nearby reference sites. For more
information on REEF, including the Spiegel Grove report, visit www.REEF.org.
SCIENTISTS LINK AFRICAN DUST TO
HURRICANE FREQUENCY
A team of Wisconsin scientists think they know part of the reason the last
two Atlantic hurricane seasons have been less active than predicted.
Every year, storms over West Africa disturb millions of tons of dust, and
strong winds carry those particles into the skies over the Atlantic.
According to a study led by University of Wisconsin-Madison atmospheric
scientists, this dust from Africa directly affects ocean temperature, a key
ingredient in Atlantic hurricane development.
"At least one-third of the recent increase in Atlantic Ocean temperatures is
due to a decrease in dust storms," says lead author Amato Evan, a researcher
at UW-Madison's Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS).
In a paper published online in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, the
team of scientists describes how dust in the atmosphere cools the ocean by
decreasing the amount of energy that reaches the water. The study also
demonstrated that the large amount of dust blowing off Africa in the 1980s
and '90s likely cooled the Atlantic enough to prevent conditions that could
have resulted in more devastating hurricane seasons similar to 2004 and
2005.
As dust from Africa accumulates in the skies over the Atlantic, the
atmosphere above the ocean begins to resemble the conditions over Africa.
Millions of tons of dust create a drier environment and also reduce the
amount of sunlight that reaches the ocean. Using a 25-year data record
created by co-author Andrew Heidinger, a researcher with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Evan assessed how much the
dust cooled the temperature of the ocean.
"It's not just one dust storm," Evan says. "It's the cumulative effect of
several months of dust storms."
The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, for example, was much quieter than
predicted and the Atlantic was cooler than in previous years. Evan suggests
that the relative lack of hurricane activity and cool ocean temperatures
could be partially due to a particularly dusty spring and early summer. 2007
was the dustiest year since 1999.
By putting satellite observations and other atmospheric information into a
computer simulation, Evan assessed how much energy reached the ocean with
the dust in the atmosphere and then again after removing the dust. Evan
found that dust cools the Atlantic by an average of 2 degrees Fahrenheit,
about 1 degree Celsius, each year. In years with a lot of dust activity,
such as the 1980s, the dust had a larger cooling effect.
In a study published in fall 2006 in Geophysical Research Letters, Evan
demonstrated that the intensity of hurricane seasons in the Atlantic
increased when the amount of dust blowing off Africa decreased and vice
versa. The latest study is an effort to explain why this relationship exists
and what the past few decades would have looked like without the effects of
dust. Evan says these results confirm a direct connection between the
intensity of dust storms in Africa and that of hurricanes in the Atlantic.
Because of the direct relationship, the amount of dust in the atmosphere
could contribute to hurricane season forecasts. "Dust prediction is another
tool to diagnose hurricane activity," Evan says. Evan has done some
preliminary work to develop an effective way to use satellite observations
to predict dust activity up to nine months in advance.
Although climate change has taken the spotlight in media conversations about
hurricanes, many factors influence these complicated storms. Of the effects
of global warming, Evan says: "It's real, but that's not all there is."
[EVENTS]
Scubafest 2008 SET FOR April 25-27
Dan Orr, chief operating officer of Divers Alert Network, is the keynote
speaker for this year's Scubafest, scheduled for April 25-27 at the Holiday
Inn at Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. The show also features an
underwater photography contest, exhibits, "discover scuba," workshops and
other speakers.
Show hours are 4-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www.scubafest.org.
Dive & Travel Expo May 3-4
The Dive & Travel Expo is scheduled for May 3-4 at the Greater Tacoma
Convention and Trade Center, Tacoma, Washington.
The weekend event will include 129 exhibitor booths, seminars, a treasure
hunt, the opportunity to try scuba for free in an indoor demonstration pool,
and new products.
The show is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 3, and
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 4. For more information, visit
www.diveandtravelexpo.com.
SCUBA Show 2008 June 21-22 IN Long Beach
The 21st SCUBA Show, billed as the largest dive expo in the United States,
is scheduled for June 21-22 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long
Beach, California. The show will consist of 76,000 square feet of
diving-related exhibits including new gear, travel pros (many offering show
discounts), and diving experts. Several exhibitors also offer free drawings
for prizes.
Additional activities planned include a continuous underwater film festival
featuring premier films on a two-story-tall screen, seminars by diving
experts, door prizes and a Saturday night party.
Exhibit hall hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Sunday. Admission is $10 and includes admission to the exhibit hall and film
festival (seminars are an additional charge). Discount coupons are available
at California dive centers, on dive California dive charter boats and
through California dive clubs. Age 10 and under are admitted free with
paying adult. For more information on SCUBA Show 2008, call (310) 792-2333
or visit www.scubashow.com.
KIDS SEA CAMP
SCHEDULED
Kids Sea Camp is again scheduled for various sites this year, reaching eight
countries around the world. The marine awareness program, designed for
children ages 4-15, is scheduled for Bonaire, June 7-14 and June 14-21;
Galapagos, June 18-25; Grand Cayman, July 5-12 and July 12-19; Roatan, July
19-26, July 26 to August 2, and August 2-9; Grand Bahama, August 9-16; and
Fiji, November 20-29.
Programs like the one in Bonaire offer a peek: artist Ron Rogest and Kids
Sea Camp founder Margo Peyton will work with children on a marine art
painting project as well as an outreach program for some of the local
children to learn about their underwater world through painting. Kids also
learn about conservation and marine awareness issues like protection of sea
turtles and other marine animals. Children will also get the opportunity to
participate in age-appropriate dive programs. For more information, call
(803) 419-2556, e-mail kids@kidsseacamp.com or visit www.kidsseacamp.com.
JIM HAIGH MEMORIAL DIVE JULY 20
Diving, prize giveaways and music are planned for this year's Jim Haigh
Memorial Dive Diver Appreciation Day, scheduled for July 20 at Haigh Quarry
in Kankakee, Illinois.
The steel drum band Od Tapo Imi will perform. Entry fee is $15 and air fills
cost $4. Proceeds benefit the John G. Shedd Aquarium Volunteer Diver
Maintenance Program. For more information, call (815) 939-7797 or visit
www.haighquarry.com.
Dog Rally & Demo Tour CONTINUES
Remaining dates and sites for or this year's DUI Dog Rally & Demo Tour are
May 3-4 at Stagefort Park in Gloucester, Massachusetts; May 17-18 at Dutch
Springs in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; May 30 to June 1 at Gilboa Quarry in
Findlay, Ohio; June 7-8 at Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, Illinois; June 21-22 at
Wazee Lake in Black River Falls, Wisconsin; August 22-24 at Oregon Coast
Aquarium in Newport, Oregon; September 13-14 at Sand Harbor State Park in
Lake Tahoe, Nevada; September 27-28 at Brownstone Quarry in Portland,
Connecticut; October 4-5 at Mermet Springs in Metropolis, Illinois; October
18-19 at Lake Rawlings in Rawlings, Virginia; November 8-9 at Manatee
Springs in Chiefland, Florida; and November 15-16 at Clear Springs Scuba
Park in Terrell, Texas.
[BOOK]
'TEXAS CORAL REEFS'
In the Gulf of Mexico, about 110 miles (176 km) south of the Texas-Louisiana
border, two coral reefs, together called the Flower Garden Banks, are home
to hundreds of kinds of fish and other tropical sea life. Manta rays and
turtles visit regularly, as do whale sharks and schools of hammerhead
sharks.
Nearby are two other reefs. Stetson Bank, its top spotted with hard corals,
mollusks and sponges, is known for its diversity, from black sea hares to
golden smooth trunkfish. At Geyer Bank, thousands of butterflyfish dominate
a huge population of tropical fish whose density rivals that of the coral
reefs in the South Pacific. Protruding from the flat, muddy continental
shelf, these and 30 other natural reefs support a variety of sea life in
Texas waters. They sit amid hundreds of oil and gas platforms, which create
their own reef ecosystems.
These reefs have not been widely known outside of a small group of
scientists and divers. In "Texas Coral Reefs," author Jesse Cancelmo brings
readers up close to the beauty and fragility of one of the nation's
least-known natural environments. Cancelmo, a contributing writer and
photographer for Dive Training, is the author of two diving guides and leads
tour groups in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Published by Texas A & M University Press, the 152-page, 9-by-10-inch book
includes 95 color photos and two maps. For more information on "Texas Coral
Reefs," visit your local dive shop or call (800) 826-8911.
always learning
Focus on Friendship:
Lessons From A Photographer's Trip Log
Story and photos by Marty Snyderman
 Bring
'em on! I am talking about whales, sharks, dolphins, manta rays, sea lions,
seals, manatees and all of the other big, exciting marine animals. I say the
more the merrier and the closer the better. And while we are at it, bring
along all the tiny little creatures, too. As a professional underwater
photographer
and filmmaker I try my hardest to get up close and personal with marine
creatures, and when I get there I want to create images that make you, my
viewing audience, feel like you are right there with me.
Because of my career choice, I almost always feel some pressure to produce
marketable images when I go diving. No doubt about it, when I dive I am
working, and between dives I constantly think about what I might be able to
accomplish on the next dive, and what I need to do to get myself and my gear
ready. Going diving is not a vacation for me. When I am on location the
clock always runs, and every dive represents some opportunity, or
opportunity missed, before I have to return home.
Let me be clear here. I am not complaining. I absolutely love my job. It's
just that earning my living through underwater photography makes diving and
dive travel different for me than for most sport divers. I love to dive and
travel today as much as I ever have, but at the same time, I always feel
some economic pressure to get the money shots and be able to illustrate an
entire story. I don't relax until I get home. I think most professional
shooters feel like I do.
Early on in my career, due to my focus on getting the photographs I wanted
in the limited time that I was on location, I often got so focused on my
photographic tasks that I missed some of what the experience of being
somewhere away from home had to offer. In some instances I'd get so focused
on what I was trying to accomplish that I didn't get to know some of the
people I was traveling with. But luckily for me, somewhere along the way I
learned that I was missing a big part of what diving has to offer, and that
is the chance to learn things and make new friends along the way.
Home as a Staging Platform for 'Away'
From time to time my home transforms into Hotel Snyderman, filling with dive
buddies from various parts of the world who'll crash here before we embark
on one diving adventure or another.
Steve Ando is from Jacksonville, Florida. Steve Juarez runs a dive shop in
Maui, and Mark Svensson is from Vancouver, Canada. Not long ago we assembled
at my place just before a shark diving trip with veteran shark diver Paul
"Doc" Anes of San Diego.
I met Ando a few years ago at an underwater photography event in Roatan
where I was one of the photo pros. At the time he was already a very
accomplished photographer, but underwater he had never seen an animal larger
than a southern stingray. I planted a bug in his ear about how much fun it
can be to dive with sharks, dolphins, whales, sea lions and such, and since
then Steve has gone with me to photograph manta rays at Mexico's
Revillagigedos Islands, California sea lions and whale sharks in Mexico's
Sea of Cortez, humpback whales in Tonga and some amazing creatures in
Indonesia.
I met Juarez years ago through another underwater photography event, and in
recent years I have dived with him in Maui, Oahu, Tonga and Indonesia. He
introduced me to his friend Svensson on our humpback shoot in Tonga last
year. In just a few years the four of us have shared some great diving
together. We have become good friends, and I think we will remain good
friends for the rest of our lives.
In addition to some of the crew on the boat, I also knew four other members
of our expedition, and I had met them all through diving as well. One of the
things I like most about these friends is that we're not always retelling
stories about what we've done. Instead, we tend to talk about what we plan
to do next. The topic is always where do we want to dive and when can we go,
and it was that enthusiasm that encouraged all of us to participate in our
recent great white shark expedition.
Why We Love Whitey
Great white sharks have a special place in the eyes of many divers,
especially among my friends. As apex predators and the stars of so many
television documentaries, the Hollywood thriller "Jaws" and the sequels that
followed, great white sharks are as much a part of the lore of diving as
looking for shipwrecks and discovering unexplored dive sites. Whether it is
the first time or the umpteenth time you have seen a great white shark, an
encounter is always a thrill. Great whites are big, powerful, imposing
creatures. Yet their bodies are so perfectly countershaded, meaning they are
dark on the top and whitish on the underside, that their coloration enables
them to blend into the surrounding water and dark reef in remarkable
fashion. This countershading allows these sharks to suddenly "appear out of
nowhere," and even though we work from inside the safe confines of a shark
cage, the sudden appearance of a huge white shark that I didn't see coming
always makes my heart jump.
At times, even larger great white sharks appear to be extremely wary, and
that sense of caution often surprises first-time white shark divers. But at
other times white sharks boldly unleash their power as they strike the baits
set near the shark cages. A full charge at the bait with mouth agape and
rows of long, serrated teeth exposed is an impressive sight to behold no
matter how many times you see it.
A Successful Showing
The fates were good to us on this white shark expedition. The weather and
water conditions were good, and the sharks showed up as hoped for. Over the
course of the trip everyone had some wonderful photographic opportunities.
A number of the white shark expedition leaders that operate at Guadalupe
Island have gotten together in recent years to identify the white sharks
that have been photographed during their trips. Studies have shown that many
of these same animals travel north to central California and west to Hawaii
over the course of the year. Because our trip was one of the early trips to
Guadalupe this season, it was especially interesting to see if any of our
images could help one of the project coordinators, Jessie Harper (aka the
Shark Chick), identify any of the animals we were photographing.
During the evenings we compared some of our just-acquired images with images
of white sharks that had been photographed, identified and named in past
years. Indeed, some of our photographs showed one of the best "performers"
during our recent expedition was the same white shark I had photographed
during a trip to Guadalupe Island two years ago. This type of information
provides scientists and expedition leaders with a way of gaining valuable
insight into the lives of great white sharks, and it is rewarding to be a
part of that effort.
What's Next
As our white shark expedition ended, the gang that stayed at my house, plus
a few other divers we met on this trip began talking about what we might do
next. We are looking into diving with manatees in Florida, doing another
humpback trip and doing some wreck diving, too. Truthfully, I don't think I
care which trip we decide on. No matter where we go, I'm sure there will be
some great diving and a lot of shared laughs.
As the gang that stayed at my house headed for the airport at trip's end I
found myself once again reflecting on part of diving that I didn't realize
existed when I first got certified and that I think I failed to appreciate
early on in my career. These days I have no doubt that traveling and diving
with old friends and making new ones is one of the best parts of diving.
When you first start out as a diver you probably won't realize how many new
friends you can make, and how many experiences there are to share. But over
the course of my diving career I have learned that what I am doing with this
gang of traveling divers is certainly not unique. It is really the way the
sport diving world works for so many people. You go on a trip not knowing
anyone, but you end up sharing some dives and some between-dives
conversations, and before you know it you find yourself planning to travel
together to your next diving destination.
No one will ever be able to guarantee the weather and water conditions for
any given trip, or that the animals will show up as hoped for. But I can
promise you that if you go on a dive trip with a good attitude and an open
mind you can come home with some great stories and some new friends. I hope
you will take advantage of this aspect of the diving world, and that you,
too, will make a lot of new and very good, friends for life. It is a special
part of what diving has to offer to all of u
no dumb questions
Proper Weighting, Mysterious Bubbling, and Sneezing While Diving
By Alex Brylske Photo by Joseph C. Dovala
Q:The following incident reported by PL Koosmann is an excellent insight
into a common problem experienced by many new divers. "My husband and I
recently completed our training on a trip to Florida, and I experienced a
problem that I still don't completely understand. I am 5' 1" and weigh 124
pounds. I was wearing 17 pounds of weight, which seemed a bit heavy. But
once I hit the water and got to the bottom, I added air until I was
neutrally buoyant. During my fin pivot exercise, and later while swimming
around, I heard a weird bubbling noise that seemed to come from my BC
(buoyancy compensator) (beside me under my arm) or behind me. I'm not sure
which. Everything was working fine and I had plenty of air. The bubbling
soon quit so I never figured out the cause. The same thing happened again
several more times but always quit almost right away. I began to think it
had been my imagination. When we returned home, I went to our local dive
shop and asked them what they thought might have caused the bubbles. They
suggested that either I had accidentally gotten tangled up in one of my
'dump' cords and was releasing air as I swam or, because I was wearing too
much weight, I was overfilling the BC and air was escaping. They said
sometimes new divers are overweighted and have to drop a few pounds to get
their buoyancy correct. Why is that? Did I do something wrong? I would like
to trust my gear without reservation, but I don't feel confident about
diving deeper now.
A:Let me divide my response into two parts. First, we'll address the weight
issue and then the bubbling problem. While you gave me a good estimate of
your size, and the amount of weight that you wore, you neglected one other
important factor necessary for me to draw any firm conclusion: What kind of
exposure protection did you wear? Generally, I'd say a person of your size
should not need 17 pounds of ballast to achieve neutral buoyancy while
diving in warm water. However, some exposure suit configurations might
actually require that, especially for a new diver.
That being said, I want to reiterate what your local dive center told you:
New divers often wear too much weight, and sometimes way too much. The
reasons for overweighting are numerous. Sometimes part of the blame lies
with the new diver's instructor. To make the job of dealing with students on
the bottom easier, instructors sometimes put more weight than is necessary
on students to "keep them in place." While this may make their job of
teaching easier, it creates a false impression in the student's mind about
how much weight they really need. The problem is compounded when students
learn that their BC can compensate for almost any amount of weight. So they
assume that, as long as they can achieve neutral buoyancy, they must be
wearing the proper amount.
In other cases, the problem is the student's fault. Learning that wearing
more weight can make a descent easier, divers use this as a crutch rather
than learning how to correctly descend after doing a proper buoyancy check.
But regardless of the cause, diving overweighted has a cascading effect,
ending in the diver consuming more air than necessary. The cycle starts with
excess air being used to continually readjust buoyancy. Then, the excess
weight around the waist causes the diver to swim in an awkward "head up/feet
down" position that's anything but streamlined. That, in turn, requires more
effort, increases drag, and thus means far more exertion than would be
necessary if he or she, by using less weight, assumed a more comfortable and
efficient swimming position. In my experience, the issue of overweighting
among new divers is quite common. And what's worse, many never realize their
mistake, which makes diving a much less enjoyable experience.
Fortunately, the problem of too much weight has a pretty simple solution,
and it begins with making a proper buoyancy check at the surface. A good
indicator that you're wearing too much weight is, when you delete all the
air from your BC, you sink like a rock. Another giveaway is when, while
resting on the surface, you have to keep a good deal of air in your BC. A
properly weighted diver requires only a very slight amount of air in their
BC to remain comfortable on the surface with a mask and snorkel in place.
Consider yourself properly weighted when all the air in your BC is deleted,
and while holding a normal breath, you float at about eye level. Then, with
a full exhalation, you should begin to slowly - not abruptly - sink. If you
use these guidelines the next time you dive in warm water, my suspicion is
that you won't need anything near 17 pounds of weight.
If you have any questions or problems, ask your divemaster for assistance.
Yours is a common problem that they deal with all the time, and I'm sure
they'll have lots of additional suggestions and insights for you (like
redistributing some of your weight). It's also important to remember that
the amount of weight you use isn't a constant. It varies with your equipment
model and configuration, changes in your body size and, most importantly,
with the type of exposure protection you wear. Finally, like your buddy
check, make a buoyancy check part of every dive, or at least part of the
first dive of your holiday.
Now to the bubbling issue. Anytime you hear minor, unexplained bubbling, the
first thing to do is ask your buddy to locate the source. Quite often, it's
coming from a location that you simply can't see. Common sources include
pin-hole leaks in hoses, loose hose connections and O-rings that aren't
completely sealed. However, BCs are sometimes the culprit, and overpressure
relief valves are often the source. The springs and seals that control the
relief valve eventually wear out, allowing air to slowly escape; and the
constant use of rental equipment makes this more prone to problems than
equipment that you own. (This is a good rationale to purchase your own
gear.) A bubbling relief valve can also arise when an overweighted diver has
to add an excessive amount of air to the BC to offset the excessive ballast.
Take solace in the fact that minor air leaks, though they require attention,
aren't life threatening. So, there's no need to lose confidence in your
equipment. The best design feature of open-circuit scuba is that it's
generally "fail safe," meaning that when something goes wrong, the device
will likely give you more air than you need (free flow) rather than
terminate your air supply. BC problems, once identified, are most often
easily rectified before they create any serious consequences. And avoiding
these and related problems is why an attentive buddy and thorough buddy
check is necessary not only before entry, but once you've entered and are
preparing for your descent. Still, I think most of your problems will
disappear if you just make sure that you're diving with an appropriate
amount of weight.
Q:Gregory Simon writes with an interesting question that I've never before
addressed in this column. "Thank you for your very informative article on
lung expansion injuries in the September 2007 issue. On a recent dive I
sneezed three or four times in succession through my regulator while at
depth. Though nothing happened as a result, it did raise several questions
about sneezing underwater. In fact, four specific issues concern me: Is
sneezing underwater a sufficiently strong form of exhalation to cause
embolism and, if so, should I attempt to not sneeze when the urge happens?
Should I take precautionary measures of any sort if it does happen? If minor
damage does occur to the alveoli, would the affected tissues recover over
time and, if so, over how much time? And finally, would it be sensible to
suspend diving after this happens?"
A:Before I address the issue of sneezing underwater, let's look first at the
phenomenon in general. Though one rarely thinks about this common,
uncontrollable act, it can result in a variety of injuries including hernia,
muscle tears, hip damage, nausea, inner ear damage including tinnitus, lung
injuries and more. Yet these injuries aren't normally caused by the act of
sneezing itself, but an attempt to suppress it. By holding in a sneeze, the
force and pressure must be absorbed by the body, and that's what causes
problems. So, to avoid injury, never attempt to suppress a sneeze.
As to sneezing underwater, the same advice applies. However, there are some
special considerations given that you're breathing from a regulator. Divers
generally have healthy lungs. (Excluding serious medical disorders is why we
must complete a medical history form before being accepted into training.)
So, we have nothing to worry about when sneezing underwater as long as we
don't try to suppress it, and we're not actively ascending. Probably the
greatest concern is keeping your regulator in place, so be sure to hold it
in while you sneeze so that it's not dislodged. And as sneezing requires
momentary breath holding, it's also important that you halt any ascent. If
you're up in the water column, away from the bottom or any reference point,
you might have your buddy stabilize you as you deal with the sneezing
incident.
If lung damage occurs, whether from sneezing or from barotrauma, it will
require medical intervention. But that assumes that the damage manifests
itself in some way, and some injuries can be so subtle that the person is
completely unaware of any problem. Like most damaged tissue in healthy
adults, the affected alveoli will eventually heal and the time required will
depend on the extent and nature of the injury. In the overwhelming number of
cases of lung barotrauma, patients can return to normal diving activities,
but not in all cases. Of course, any recommendation on when or whether
someone may return to diving must be made by your physician.
Test your knowledge of the information featured
in this month's issue of Dive Training.
 1.
The needle on a magnetic compass always points to:
A. The north pole
B. The south pole
C. The equator
D. The sun
2. Water is a better "conductor" of smell than air because of its:
A. Density and refractive properties
B. Viscosity and refractive properties
C. Density and viscosity
D. All of the above
3. The release in chemicals into the water from startled or injured fish is
called the:
A. Schreckstoff response
B. Mayday response
C. Calypso response
D. Shrek response
4. The closest relative to the manatee is the:
A. Sea lion
B. Walrus
C. Hippopotamus
D. Elephant
5. In selecting a base camp, divers should avoid:
A. High-traffic areas
B. Parking areas far from the entry site
C. The shoreline between the waterline and the high-water mark
D. All of the above
6. About 75 percent of all the world's corals occur in the waters of:
A. The Caribbean
B. Raja Ampat
C. Lake Michigan
D. Baja California
7. Divers can avoid deep-vein thrombosis while traveling by:
A. Staying well-hydrated
B. Wearing graduated compression knee-high stockings
C. Walking at least every two hours.
D. Not sleeping more than four hours at a time on a plane.
E. All of the above
8. The splendid toadfish is also called:
A. Coral toadfish
B. Cozumel kitty
C. Mr. Big
D. A & B are correct
9. Unsecured gear can cause damage to:
A. Reefs
B. The gear itself
C. Other divers
D. All of the above
Answers: 1. A 2. C 3. A 4. D 5. D 6. B 7. E 8. D 9. D
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