Omega Reissues the Famous Ploprof Divers Watch - 1970s Jacques Cousteau Collaboration

Omega announces the 2009 Professional Ploprof Diver developed in conjunction with famed diver Jacques Cousteau.

Technical Specifications:

Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 8500
Case: Stainless Steel, Water resistant to 1200 meters
Sapphire bezel and crystal
Bi-directional rotating bezel with security push-button lock for the bezel
Screwed-in and protected crown at 9
Special Seamaster medallion on the case-back with grooved wave-pattern
Bracelet: New Omega mesh SHARK-PROOF bracelet or rubber strap (black or orange) that can be adjusted for wearing over the diving suit (can be up to 7mm thick thanks to a double extension system), a new sliding clasp, capable of fine adjustments

The watch has a MSRP of CHF 8,000 on the mesh or roughly $7,700...[Watchismo]

Elegance Under Water

It's a range that stands out in functionality but also captivates the eye in design and appearance.

IWC Schaffhausen has once again extensively revised, both technically and aesthetically, its famous family of diver’s watches, first introduced in 1967 under the name Aquatimer.

This step coincides with a new partnership in support of environmental and marine conservation, which IWC has entered into with the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos to mark the Darwin bicentennial year in 2009.

One of the new Aquatimer models, the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands, is specially dedicated to this environmental commitment.
This timepiece is a shining example of the revised watch family in every aspect.

It’s also an attractive and very sporty representation of this new collaboration between IWC and the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos.

Its matte black stainless steel case is completely coated with vulcanised rubber...[NewStraitsTimes]

Scuba cop honored for Hudson rescue

You would think that nothing would fluster New York Police Department Scuba Team Detective Michael Delaney, who on Jan. 15 jumped out of a helicopter into the frigid waters of the Hudson to rescue survivors of US Airways Flight 1549.

But when Delaney pulled up at the Waldorf Astoria earlier this month to accept the New York City Police Foundation's Chuck Barris "Cop of the Year" award, the 32-year-old Yonkers native felt a little like, well, a fish out of water...[LoHud.com]

This Had To Hurt: Fishing Spear Ricochets, Hits Diver in The Head

A diver who was hit in the head by a fishing spear that ricocheted off rocks off the coast of Brazil underwent five hours of surgery, but should be fine because the six-inch-long projectile missed vital parts of his brain.

Emerson de Oliveira Abreu is expected to make a full recovery, and the only thing that may not return to normal is his sense of smell.

He was diving off the coast of Rio de Janeiro when he fired the spear.

It penetrated his skull just above his left eye after it ricocheted.

His father says it’s a miracle his son is going be OK...[KWTX.com]

Scuba Diving Park Is Set To Open

The world's second underwater "Archeopark" aims to attract recreational scuba divers to Izmir's Mordogan district.

Mordogan Mayor Ahmet Cakir said the project should boost tourism with value-added underwater product that attracts amateur scuba divers.

Archaeologist Osman Erkurt said construction of a replica of a trading vessel that sank around 600 BC has been completed and the ship was scuttled about 150 meters offshore where the depth is 15 meters.

In order to protect ancient shipwreck and other submerged cultural resources from scuba looters, Turkey strictly regulates scuba diving at wreck sites...[BlueFlipperDiving]

Ship reef's fifth birthday

A diving attraction off the Devon and Cornwall coast is celebrating its fifth birthday. The decommissioned Royal Navy frigate HMS Scylla was sunk to make an artificial reef...[BBC]

Dutch Springs

• Owner: Stuart W. Schooley
• Founded: 1980
• Company description: Dutch Springs is a 100-acre recreation area made up of a 50-acre lake and 50 acres of land. It is one of the largest fresh areas for scuba diving in the country. We have 35,000 divers predominantly from seven states visit us each year.
• Number of employees: 7
• Reinventing themselves: In the mid-1990's, with scuba diving annual attendance at 30,000 visitors a year and reaching its market limit, I started to investigate other profit centers to develop. It wasn't until 2004, that I found an offering that was unique, and complemented our core business. Aqua Park, a water park on the lake, made up of inflatable, and other challenge apparatus, including water trampolines, slides and floating icebergs appeals to our local audience and provides a recreational escape for the families of our divers. In 2006, I put in a high ropes course and wall climbing to provide additional entertainment options. That year I also started NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs which provides experiential education offerings, specializing in outdoor challenge course programs. I also purchased two food franchises, Nobel Roman's Pizza and Tuscano's Italian Style Subs. The Aqua Park has steadily increased in business since it opened, topping out at 500 visitors per day during July and August. NorthStar Adventure, with more of a business-to-business model, has taken longer to develop. After three years, we are now beginning to see the fruits of our sales and marketing pay off in year over year sales increases of 300 percent...[TheMorningCall]

Ginza's Latest Attraction: Scuba Divers Dangling From a Skyscraper

Tokyo offers its residents many pleasures, but scuba diving hasn't been one of them, until this week. To launch their latest luxury resorts in Okinawa, InterContinental Hotels Group and its partner in Japan, ANA Hotels, suspended a pair of scuba divers off the Sony Building in Ginza, Tokyo's premier commercial district.

The stunt, orchestrated by McCann Erickson, Tokyo, involves a "diving" performance featuring two professional stuntmen suspended high in the air to feature one of the activities offered at the ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort and ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort. The joint venture has four other hotels in Tokyo and Yokohama.

The air-diving ballet was launched yesterday, and will be repeated several times daily for four days. Concierges from the two resorts in Okinawa are on hand to offer information about the resorts...[AdvertisingAge]

On Fiji time

"Bula!"

A mountain of muscular Fijian manhood that would dwarf an NFL linebacker greets me with a grin that lights up Nadi Airport. Tucking my camera bag and suitcase under each arm like purses, he ambles off towards a taxi in that easy, what's-the-rush Fijian gait. Rugby-stoked calves bulge from beneath his skirt, but no one would be game to call this dude a sissy.

I'm relieved to see locals still wearing those sulu skirts, part of the traditional male dress code. They're worn by everyone from villagers to policemen, who sport white ones with zig-zag hemlines.

I'm always a bit nervous returning to Fiji. It's one of those places you never want to change, not just for its empty beaches and spectacular coral reefs, but even more for the easy pace of life here and the good-natured friendliness of the Fijian people who seem so unaffected by the rush and buzz of the rest of the world...[VancouverSun]

[Editor's note: The Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, and Fiji in general is one of the best trips/dive sites I've enjoyed...my video from that trip...absolutely recommend it.]

Find beauty underwater at the best diving spots

Kicking to swim toward the shipwreck, Dan Orr descends in still water nearly transparent as air. It’s a bright day above water at Fathom Five National Marine Park, a preserve on Lake Huron four hours north of Toronto. But beneath the surface — 106 feet down in the icy freshwater of the Georgian Bay — Orr is swimming into a haunted world.

A few feet down, the deck of the Arabia, a 19th-century wooden-hull schooner, fades into view. Bubbles trickle in front of Orr’s face; his breath quickens. Soon, shapes materialize on the bottom — chains, anchors, masts and an eight-spoke wheel stand upright, preserved in cold water where they sank during a storm more than a century ago.

After his dive, Orr is exhilarated. “That was one of those truly rare diving experiences that never clouds in your mind,” he says.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

Like many veteran divers, Orr, the CEO of Divers Alert Network, a recreational diver association, has traveled the globe in search of the most epic underwater adventures. Along the way, though, he’s discovered that while the world is full of scuba fanatics, all of them have different ideas about what makes “the best” dive site...[MSNBC.com]

Ice-Diving Certifications Noted

Three divers from the Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue team completed their ice-diving certifications during February, which means they have learned the logistics and techniques particular to scuba diving in extremely cold water and an environment in which a diver can only surface through a small hole in the ice.

Receiving their ice-diving certifications were NUSAR Assistant Chief Paula Wickman and probationary members Brian Solt and Paul Nonnenmacher. NUSAR volunteers complete a training period of up to one year before becoming full members.

The skills acquired by these divers will be important if NUSAR is called on to rescue someone who falls through ice...[VoicesNews.com]

Inland Water Divers offer the world of SCUBA in the desert

SCUBA diving is one of those sports that has a pretty particular requirement: water. And so one might find themselves wondering how they can participate in anything like SCUBA diving in the Valley of the Sun: AKA, the desert.
Inland Water Divers helps breaks through the water issue and provides divers with not only the gear, but the place.

Anywhere from Lake Pleasant, in the northern part of the valley, to the international trips they put together, Inland Water Divers can help a SCUBA enthusiast get to the wet stuff. Just take a look at some of the exciting dives on their list: Los Coronados islands, San Diego and San Carlos.

This is a NAUI shop, offering a range of classes for those wishing to get their SCUBA card, but also for those wishing to further their skills. The range of classes varies as does pricing, but a check of their website will give you a list of upcoming classes. Equipment requirements also range based on class level, so contact them to find out what they provide and what you need to have...[Examiner.com]

Hazardous Duty #2: The Houston County Rescue Team

The team was formed after a tornado tore through the town of Webb in 1963.Decades later, brave men and women are still carrying out the team's original mission.

"It doesn't take a lot of skill to want to help someone" says Chief Paul Grimes of the Houston County Rescue.

Those words come from a man who has been part of the Houston County rescue team for 4 years now.

Chief Paul grimes has a passion to help those that are in distress.

"When you get called upon, a switch turns on. You've got a duty to perform" says Chief Grimes.

Those duties include air, land, and water searches when someone is reported missing or in danger...[WTVY.com]

New Scuba Diving Website Provides Information On Diving Equipment

All those people seeking an underwater adventure have a new place to get some motivation. Imagine feeling yourself effortlessly swimming through the water, with fish gently moving in the current. A relaxing thought? So what motivation do you need, to get off the couch and into the water, why not become a Scuba Diver today.

Learn about what is involved in getting started and getting qualified to Scuba Dive. Open Water Diving is the way to start, why not see what courses are available in your area. Divers as young as 10 or young at heart can learn to dive. Remember Scuba diving doesn’t always need to be on a tropical reef, and can be available to you in any location where there is water.

www.DivingIntoLife.com will inspire you to do just that. Dive into the life of a Scuba Diver. Not everyone can experience the underwater world via Scuba diving, your health is a large governing factor on if you can scuba diving or not; your health is the first thing to consider when you decide to scuba dive. www.DivingIntoLife.com – can help you answer the key question: Are you healthy enough to dive? If you are not able to Scuba Dive then snorkeling might be more your style.

The site aims to help you understand what Scuba Diving is and what equipment you will need, also how that scuba equipment can expand with you as your skills expand...[WebWire]

Half-underwater photos

One summer, I took a solo trip to Kauai. I brought along a waterproof camera to capture what I saw in and out of the water, at the same time.

This wonderful shot is from mathetdjam's photostream and was taken with a Canon EOS 300D with what I'd assume is an external housing.

Since my first trip to Hawaii, I've had a thing for photographs taken with a point and shoot half below the waterline. I personally use the Pentax WP series, because they are pocket sized. But newer models from Canon and Olympus are coming out that can be submerged to a depth greater than 30 feet, which is more than enough for deeper snorkeling or surfing or swimming or lounging around in a lake, river or on a beach. Anything greater than that, and you'll have to go with a plastic housing. Clunky but I believe some of these float (I could be wrong) and they're very sturdy.

But never mind the gear...[Gizmodo]

New Zealand: The Bay Of Islands

New Zealand has experienced a tourist boom in recent years, fueled in part by the success of The Lord of the Rings films. Most tourists travel south from Auckland, the largest city in the country, and then head to the thermal mud pools and cultural attractions of Rotorua (central North Island). From there, tourists often venture south to the dramatic landscapes of the South Island.

Yet there are many things to see and do in the Northland region of the North Island. The Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga ― New Zealand’s northernmost point ― are probably two of New Zealand’s most beautiful locations.

The Bay of Islands is close to the northern tip of the country. It's a natural harbor, with several arms extending into the land. There are almost 150 islands and secluded bays boasting an abundance of marine life. Captain James Cook visited the region in 1769 and named the area. It was here that the first Europeans settled. But you'll also find many historical sites documenting the original Maori culture.

Paihia is a friendly little beach town in the Bay of Islands and a good launch spot to explore the area. If you have your scuba diving license, it’s possible to explore the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior. The Rainbow Warrior was Greenpeace’s flagship. In 1985, it was due to set sail to protest against French nuclear testing in the Pacific. Instead, it was bombed in Auckland Harbor by the French secret service, killing a Greenpeace photographer in the process. Two French secret agents were captured in New Zealand. The others escaped and were picked up by a French submarine. The Rainbow Warrior was towed to the north of New Zealand and sunk as a memorial...[InternationalBusinessTimes]

Go deep or go home: a glimpse into scuba diving

It's a pretty unreal thing, to be 60 feet below sea level with nothing around you but fish and clear blue water. It's quiet all around, and all you can hear is the rasp of the compressed air as it flows from your tank and regulator to your lungs. It's beautiful, but then it hits you--any little thing could kill you. If you forget to breathe on the way up or if you ascend to the surface too quickly the pressure of the expanding air could damage or rupture your lungs irreparably. A bite or sting could do you in, or panicking and running out of air would work just as well. Behold the dangers of the tropical, beautiful waters of Roatan, Honduras.

So why would anyone put themselves through that? Certainly, the fear of having anything go wrong must outweigh any of the benefits, including the climate. As it is, that's not so. Many divers think quite the opposite; that the risks are well worth the unique experience. Each has their own personal reasons for getting certified and they are varied and different as the people who said them.

21-year-old Shauna Miles had a more fanciful reason than most. When she was asked about why she took up the exotic, expensive hobby of scuba diving, she replied: "I've always found unknown worlds fascinating, and since I can't go into space, this just seemed like the next step. The next best thing."...[ThePeterboroughExaminer.com]

Deep below the surface of Puget Sound, a world awaits

About a hundred feet out from the shores of Lighthouse Park there’s a natural gray wall some 35 feet down, and another, larger one about 60 to 80 feet down. They’re about 10 feet high, full of ancient clam holes, and have likely been there hundreds of years, according to longtime diver John Rawlings.

“Each hole has a critter living in it – a baby shrimp, a squid, an octopus, an eel,” he said. “It’s a really nice place to go for macro photos.”

Gray and made of semi-hard clay, the walls are home to thousands of tiny creatures, he said.

“In the fall, there’s a species called gunnels – a lot of people think they’re eels, but they’re fish.”

The gunnels gather there to breed, Rawlings said, and attract their potential mates by growing giant, bright orange heads.

“It’s like flying over a pumpkin patch in an airplane,” he said. “My favorite time of year to dive there is October and November, just because of that.”

Right along the shore is a bed of eelgrass, which Rawlings said carries its own unique habitat.

“You can literally go from environment to environment right there at Lighthouse Park and see all different kinds of species,” he said.

Rawlings and his friends regularly encounter tiny octopi, juvenile wolf eels, stubby squid and all varieties of crabs in their underwater adventures...[TheMulkiteoBeacon]

Belize Vacations—A Haven for Diving

Belize vacations offer explorations of one of the seven underwater wonders of the world, and trips there are not complete without a snorkeling or diving experience. Within Belize, the island of Ambergris Caye ranks as the nation’s premier diving destination. The Belize Barrier Reef, the largest living coral reef in the western hemisphere, protects the island’s coastline and provides a veritable underwater paradise.

Ambergris Caye has diving for all experience levels. One of the most popular spots is Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a Belize Audubon managed reserve. Here the ocean floor ranges from five to 35 feet, so both divers and snorkelers have the opportunity to swim in thriving underwater gardens and tunnels abundant with a wide range of beautiful tropical fish and exquisite coral formations.

World class diving venues abound in clear turquoise waters—all within a ten to twenty minute boat ride from the piers of Ambergris Caye, including Mexico Rocks, Tackle Box, Tres Cocos and Cypress Tunnel. Divers will usually see many interesting underwater landscapes with a mix of deep wall drops and caverns, coral and sponge formations as well as colorful marine life on each dive.

A special attraction for the experienced diver is the renowned Great Blue Hole. An immense circular limestone sinkhole more than 300 feet across and 400 feet deep, the Great Blue Hole’s array of bizarre stalactites and limestone formations seems to become more intricate and intense the deeper one dives. One of the world’s most astounding sites, the Great Blue Hole provides an unforgettable underwater experience...[TheOpenPress]

Mexico's drug war, battered economy mean low air fares to La Paz and Cabo San Lucas

Travelers interested in booking an inexpensive journey to La Paz, the beautiful capital of Baja California Sur, just missed out on a fantastic deal: $66 round trip.

In a promotion that ended Sunday night, thousands of seats were sold for travel throughout 2009 on Volaris Airlines.

Travel is via Tijuana's international airport but passengers using the airline, which is owned by billionaire Carlos Slim, can catch an airline shuttle from the train station in San Diego directly to the terminal.

"They sold 100,000 seats in 12 hours and their server crashed," Jonathan Roldan, owner of the outdoors outfitter Tailhunter International, said of the promotion. "It was a mad rush. I've been dealing with it all weekend."

Meanwhile, good deals remain throughout the busy spring season on Volaris and other airlines to La Paz and the Los Cabos region at Baja California's tip...[LATimesBlog]

The Caribbean's new "it" destination

Every now and then a new "it" destination comes around. For the past 10 years, I have been keeping my mouth shut, making several purely selfish trips before the word got out. Selfish? You bet. Worth it? Every last penny! So, what's the secret? The Dominican Republic.

What you notice first about the Dominican Republic is its size. This is not another tiny Caribbean island with a beach and a straw market. Instead, it's a big country with incredibly varied scenery that includes the tallest mountains in the region, stretches of white sand that run unbroken for miles, and one of the Caribbean's most cosmopolitan cities: Santo Domingo.

There are six main areas of the Dominican Republic, and each offers some wonderful hotels and resorts to explore...[Examiner]

Tired of the same old dive sites?

Scuba diving is an addictive sport, offering the chance to explore a realm that can be tranquil and electrifying in successive moments. Many divers head for popular destinations such as the Red Sea, but after a couple of trips, the popularity of these reefs takes the edge off the experience.

If you are planning a dive trip, or thinking about learning to dive, it might be time to consider somewhere more exotic. By looking further afield in search of better value for money, you might just find a far greater experience both in water and on dry land.

Here are a few destinations where you can immerse yourself in the marine world without breaking the bank (as well as a few that are worth spending that little bit extra on)...[TheIndependant]

British Underwater Image Festival 2009

There is just a matter of weeks left to enter the 2009 British Underwater Image Festival (BUIF). There are thousands of pounds worth of prizes up for grabs for the winners and runners up in the seven competition categories for stills and video. Finalists of BUIF 2009 will be showcased at the Dive Fest in Cornwall on 15-17 May 2009, while prints will go on a month-long public display at Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium in the summer.

The stills competition is being judged by celebrated photographer Alex Mustard, British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) co-founder Colin Doeg, renowned British photographer Charles Hood and DIVE editor Simon Rogerson. Judging the DVD entries are BBC natural history film-maker Peter Scoones, Colin Doeg and Simon Rogerson...[DiveMagazine]

Remains Made into Reefs

You can spend the afterlife under the sea and help marine life at the same time. The state of Texas has even allowed it to happen off the Texas coast.

Steve and Ally Brandt of Austin were married for more than eight years.

"Steve was a very passionate man," Ally Brandt said. "His chosen profession was a swim coach."

When Steve passed away last October, Ally helped fulfill his wishes.

"Steve had indicated that he wanted his remains in a reef where people would want to go visit," Brandt said.

Ally contacted Eternal Reefs. They help rebuild the ocean's eco-system with artificial reefs.

"What we do is take cremated remains, mix it with a little liquid concrete and add it to the rest of the concrete going into a mold to make an artificial reef," said Eternal Reefs founder Don Brawley.

Reef balls can attract marine life within weeks of being placed on the ocean floor...[MyFoxAustin]

World's first 'under ice' free-diving competition

Twenty competitors braved sub-zero temperatures for the world's first free-diving competition under ice in Norway. The free-divers were participating in the Oslo Ice Challenge at Lake Lutvann on March 7 and 8. Braving temperatures of -2 degrees, each competitor dove into a 10x10ft hole in the ice in a bid to reach the lowest depth.

With visibility of only 65ft, divers attempted to reach the bottom of this 173ft freshwater lake holding their breath for between three and five minutes.

"This was the first under the ice free dive competition of its kind and it was not an easy challenge," said photographer Dan Burton.

"We had to walk nearly two miles in a blizzard and wearing only a wetsuit before we reached the hole in the ice so it was pretty tough going."...[Telegraph]

Divers urged to take snaps of sharks

DIVERS exploring the waters off the east coast are being urged to carry digital cameras, in case they come face to face with a shark.

Sean Barker, a Macquarie University marine researcher, is aiming to compile a computerised photo album recording every grey nurse shark.

Once wrongly suspected of being man-eaters, grey nurse sharks were almost hunted to extinction. In 2000 a NSW Department of Fisheries survey estimated there could be as few as 292 left on Australia's east coast.

"I think that's pessimistic," Mr Barker said yesterday. However, "there are probably no more than 1000".

Project Spotashark, launched in collaboration with a friend and keen diver, Peter Simpson, "will hopefully iron out the real number".

They want divers who spot a grey nurse to photograph it and to download the pictures to Spotashark.com.

"We need to see the shark side on, from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail," Mr Barker said. While divers could photograph either profile "the left side is preferable".

Every grey nurse has a unique array of dots "just like freckles". The researcher intends to log the photographed dots to create a data base that can be used "like fingerprints" to identify every shark.

"The software was developed by the same people who developed the FBI's fingerprint computer system."

In just four months the project has collected almost 100 grey nurse photos. However, shooting them all could take years.

By sending in shark snaps divers will provide researchers with information needed to track individual animals...[SydneyMorningHerald]

Scuba diving in Texas

For the travel-hungry, scuba diving can be the perfect hobby. Scuba diving makes one of the best excuses for needing to get out of town.

Scuba classes in DFW are offered either in month long courses that meet once a week to intensive weekend classes offered by diving shops. There are many in Dallas. Or you can take a more formal course without being rushed at Eastfield College through the Continuing Education department in Mesquite. During this course you train in the pool with one instructor and many assistants. The final for the course is a trip to Lake Travis to do a few dives in a natural setting and test your diving skills.

Regardless of where you choose to get your PADI certification (yes, it is necessary, most places will not let you dive without it-however, it is valid for life and so worth it), a better Texas locale for diving would be San Marcosor take a scuba diving class (available at Eastfield College) before making a trip to San Marcos to dive in the San Marcos River (http://www.sanmarcosriver.org/RiverInfo.htm). The San Marcos River is exceptionally beautiful and clear most days of the year because the water comes from the natural underground springs that provides most of the Hill Country with its water, the Edwards Aquifer. Here you can see wildlife not seen anywhere else in the world, wildlife local to only this area of Texas such as the Texas Blind Salamander. Visit the Dive Shop in San Marcos for equipment, rentals, or even training...[Examiner.com]

Scuba diving helps professional golfer...

After starting the day as joint leader in the final day of the Singha Thailand Open golf tournament in Phuket, Indian national Jyoti Randhawa won the four-day event to take home the King's Cup and nearly US$80,000.

Jyoti led at the 40th Singha Thailand Open at the start of today’s play with fellow Indian SSP Chowrasia and Welshman Rhys Davies at the top of the leader board on (-12).

By the end of the last round, it was Jyoti who held his nerve and came out triumphant. Jyoti produced a stunning final Round of 65 (-5) with no dropped shots to take him to seventeen under par on 263, claiming the King's Cup and winning $79,250.

Jyoti was over the moon with his win.

“In the back of my mind, the way the course was set up and playing, I knew I could shoot some low numbers and I did that in the last two days. I knew what I needed to do today. My putting was great. I turned the corner with my putting yesterday. I knew I could make putts if I could hit it within six feet,” said Jyoti.

“I played marvelous golf the last two days. To shoot five under and without any bogeys was good. I am very happy. Although Rhys played great today. He kept me on my toes and kept making birdies. I had to make birdies to stay ahead. He actually pushed me to push myself to score better,” he added.

After the matches during the days of the tournament, Jyoti spent his free time scuba diving and said it had helped him with his game...[Phuket Gazette]

Deep Recession Dive Bailout Package

The prices have been cut on the 4-dive package to what basically equates to MADNESS!! Normally, a 4-dive package costs $170 plus $20 for gear, if needed. Book now and you will pay only $150 plus $15 for gear. If you only have one day available to dive, no need to worry. You can still grab some of savings as well. Go to StMaartenDivers.com and book your seat for only $90 per person, including equipment, on either day. In continuing our crusade to offer a TARD (Totally Awesome & Relaxing Dive) program to all our fellow divers beached by the sinking global economy, we are throwing a 1 - 2 punch!

We have all seen the ongoing trend of diving stock markets and 401(k)’s so we are offering our own stimulus package called the WUTNICDAM4 (While Underwater There is Nothing I Can Do About my 401K) which is cheap diving AND a 15% discount on all the goodies sold at the Scuba Fun boutique. Don’t forget St. Maarten is a duty free port so there is also tax relief Now who can top that?...[1888PressRelease]

New device could help pinpoint lost scuba divers

Every year international headlines report cases of scuba divers who have been lost at sea. Some of these incidents end happily as in the case of the divers who were rescued from a remote Indonesian desert island in 2008. Sometimes, as in the case of Eileen and Tom Lonergan who were diving on the Great Barrier Reef the divers are 'lost presumed dead'.

In response to this the team at thediveflag has invented a new dive flag that will enable divers to quickly indicate their position to boats at distances up to 3 kilometres.

Manufacturers of the H.E.L.P. (Handheld Emergency Location Pinpointer) have taken advantage of the findings of various official studies into emergency diver signaling devices and come up with a safety device that can be seen up to 3 kilometers away.

Utilizing a yellow flag on top of a telescopic pole the H.E.L.P. is one of the most effective means of making divers visible to their dive-boat and other potential rescue vessels. Though it has the capability to extend to as much as 1.5 meters when required it can collapse down to a mere 20cm and fit into a buoyancy jacket pocket. The neat little device is equipped with a non-slip handle and weighs only 150g. Being so compact means that it can be taken on every dive as standard equipment yet is immediately available to use in an emergency situation.

In the past divers tended to rely upon 'safety sausages' to act as a signal of their position. The British Health and Safety Executive discovered that, though useful, safety sausages have a number of disadvantages in that they are not always easy to use and are nowhere near as visible as the yellow emergency flag. Divers on the surface in rough conditions, caught in a current or experiencing any kind of difficulty need to be collected by their boats quickly. The H.E.L.P. is one of the most effective means of being spotted fast and thus being picked up in the minimum amount of time...[BYMNews.com]

Explore A Modern-Day Shipwreck In Nevis

On August 1, 1970, the ferry boat Christena foundered and sank off the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, victim to two open hatches and a passenger roster which packed the ship to nearly twice its official capacity. Nothing can erase the memory of the 233 Nevisians killed in the accident, but SCUBA divers will soon get the opportunity to explore the site of the Christena...[Jaunted.com]

NYPD scuba divers save man saved from icy Hudson River

NYPD scuba divers braved the storm-tossed waves of the Hudson River Monday and pulled a suicidal man from the frigid water, police said.

A tourist watching the snow fall in Riverside Park spotted the man bobbing in the water just before 8 a.m. and cried out to a Parks Department employee.

"His eyes were open," said the employee, Herpreet Singh, who saw the man in the river and called 911. "He couldn't move his arms up because everything was frozen - too cold."

"After two or three minutes he was gone," said Singh. "I've never seen this happen in my life, I see it only in the movies."...[NYDailyNews]

Scuba Divers Can Now Protect Their Gear From Loss and Theft in Style.

New personalization and ID kit lets Scuba divers put their names on all their fabric items. Patented device makes it fast and easy for anyone to ID their things with perfect results every time. ID prevents loss and theft of gear.

Garden Grove, California, USA: A man's dream, to find a way for scuba divers to brand their names on their gear, is finally a reality.
Now, after years of development, John Wynne is rolling out his patented dream invention, called Fastencil, into the aisles and onto the web sites of scuba stores across the country. His invention makes it possible for anyone to permanently brand their name, with expert results, on all of their fabric scuba gear, such as wet suits, BCD's, gear bags, hoods, and more.

'On a dive boat or crowded beach all dive gear looks similar, so it needs a name or ID on it to prevent loss and theft', said Wynne. 'I realized that there wasn't a practical and inexpensive way for people to get their names on their scuba gear- especially their fabric items."...[PRInside]

Skyscanner explores the top 10 best places in the world to get your scuba gear on.

Scuba diving is one of those sports which fill some with unbridled excitement, and others with inexorable fear. I am firmly in the first camp. If you watch divers on TV, it always looks like a very technical sport with loads of complicated looking kit. You hear phrases like “decompression time” and “oxygen toxicity” which makes it sound like a science experiment rather than something fun. The truth is, that for the recreational diver at least, it is really very easy and has to be one of the more accessible sports, since all you need are a relatively well-functioning set of lungs (note: the law says that all dive instructors have to smoke)...[SkyScanner]

A little frozen water won't keep these Minnesotans from scuba diving

This is scuba diving in winter. Workers from the Scuba Center use an extra long chainsaw to cut out massive slabs of ice -- weighing a couple hundred pounds -- to make the dive holes. After the warming tent is set up, divers take the plunge into the icy water of Square Lake near Stillwater. Camera operator Margo Cavis said the event has become so popular that they needed to cut two dive holes. See the divers' perspective...[MinnClips]

Lake thronged with 10million jellyfish... but don't worry, they've lost their sting

If jellyfish make you feel wobbly then look away now. Astonishing photos have revealed a lake where 10million of the creatures live because they are at no risk from predators.

Hundreds of years ago the lake had an outlet to the ocean but when the sea level dropped the jellyfish population were isolated in the algae-rich lake and began to thrive.

With no risk of being eaten, the jellies multiplied in the lake on the Pacific island of Palau. Over time their stings weakened and visitors can now swim alongside them with no fear of being stung.

Amateur photographer Vlad Levantovsky captured their habitat with an underwater camera while on a family holiday with wife Olga and daughter Rachel in January this year...[MailOnline]

Great Lakes Underwater 2009!

[OswegoMaritime.org]

Small steps, big effort

His breathing is heavy, and beads of sweat are running down his head. The workout is hard, but this is not physical therapy to Army Spc. Robert Andrzejczak. He treats it just like going to the gym back home in Lower Township.

They call it walking.

"Take small steps. We'll do one more lap, and that will be it," physical therapist Cristin Loeffler said.

Andrzejczak holds onto a walker. Loeffler holds onto Andrzejczak. That's how it works on the fourth day of having an artificial leg.

Andrzejczak, 22, of Mathemek Street, is one of the newer patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Some have been here for more than a year dealing with war wounds from Iraq and Afghanistan...[PressOfAtlanticCity]

RSMAS 2009 Underwater Photography Contest

Winners will be announced at the Rosenstiel School's Sea Secrets Lecture Series presentation on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Rosenstiel School Auditorium, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key. Lad Akins, Director of Special Projects at Reef Environmental Education Foundation, is that evening's lecturer, discussing, “Invasion of the Lionfish.” The reception to recognize the winners will take place after the lecture, at approximately 7:30 p.m., in the Rosenstiel School's Library. All events are free and open to the public; however, seating is limited...[DivePhotoGuide.com]

Book Review - Scuba Caribbean

If you're planning to go diving in the Caribbean, this guide can help you explore new destinations. The book, by Mary Peachin, has a section on Mexico's Caribbean coastline, and chapters on more than two dozen islands, including Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. There is also a section on Central and South American destinations with Caribbean coastlines...[BaltimoreSun.com]