The Rinse Tank

Search and rescue goes deep

2010-07-28T20:39:00.000-07:00

In April, 2009, burglars dumped a stolen safe into the Rum River between the Hwy. 95 and 2nd Avenue bridges in Cambridge.

Although the river was swollen from the spring thaw, the Isanti County Sheriff’s Department called in its dive team to search for the safe.

The team spent two days scouring the bottom, recovering road signs, two bicycles and eventually the door of the safe. But the safe itself had been swept away in the raging current.

The incident illustrates the challenging and often dangerous work that the Isanti County Dive Team is expected handle, case after case.

As in the hunt for the safe, the team is often looking for things against nearly impossible odds while contending with environmental obstacles. It would a tough job to recruit for; fortunately the dive team volunteered.

Nate Putbrese joined the Sheriff’s Department Safety and Rescue team four years ago but he found himself required to learn the seemingly endless number of rescue procedures in a generalized program where all members were expected to handle any emergency...[Link]

Scuba diving in Gibraltar

2010-07-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Gibraltar Government’s plan to regulate scuba diving has a clear twofold goal: to strengthen the sport’s potential as a source of tourism revenue, while promoting it as a leisure activity for locals.

The proposal, outlined in a consultation document published last week, would lead to tighter control over divers and the promotion of the Rock as a premier dive holiday location.

The government would also work to establish new artificial reefs and wreck sites, reserving many areas exclusively for divers and closing them off to fishing and boating.

Regulation of diving in Gibraltar waters forms part of a wider exercise to establish tighter control over boating and fishing, and on which the government is currently seeking feedback.

But while the angling controversy has inevitably focused attention on this aspect of the review, diving forms a key part of government plans laid out in the consultation paper.

“The Government believes that scuba diving has a much greater potential for touristic economic exploitation in Gibraltar than has hitherto been the case,” the consultation paper states...[Link]

Name a scuba site, win a trip to Papua New Guinea

2010-07-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

Papua New Guinea, the California-sized nation located north of Australia, is offering a free visit, if you can come up with the winning name for one of two little-known scuba diving sites off its coast.

Go to nameyourowndivesite.com through Aug. 31 to submit a name either for the dive site near the Tufi Resort or by the Walindi Plantation Resort. Each winner will receive a trip for two to the resort to participate in an underwater naming and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the dive site...[Link]

Giant mammals take a diver by the hands for an amazing tour under Arctic ice

2010-07-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

It is not the most welcoming place on Earth. But even in the Arctic you can find a friendly face willing to show you around.

These remarkable pictures show how beluga whales help human visitors to swim under the thick ice...[Link]

Florida Officials stress safety for scuba divers during annual 2-Day Lobster Mini-Season

2010-07-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

Every July the coastal areas of Florida are flooded with lobster hunters trying to get their share of this year's lobster crop during the special 2-Day "mini-seasons." There are two Florida Lobster Seasons, the 2 day mini season and the 8 month regular lobster season. The mini lobster season is always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. This year the mini season falls on July 28th and 29th.

For the last several years, the Scuba Diving Industry has worked to educate scuba divers through "refresher courses" designed to shake the rust off and get divers who have not been active ready to get in the water. Last year, there were some divers who lost their lives...[Link]

Scuba Diving in California is Now Officially Hazardous...

2010-07-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

A new law that will take effect Jan. 1 declares scuba diving a hazardous activity in California.

AB 634, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this month, adds the sport to the list of recreational activities considered hazardous and releases state and local governments from liability in lawsuits associated with it, reports the Dana Point Times. Other sports currently on the "hazardous" list include surfing, water-skiing, windsurfing, kayaking and white-water rafting.

"Fear of frivolous lawsuits has hampered efforts to expand recreational activities in many communities," the bill's author, Assemblywoman Diane L. Harkey (R-Dana Point), said in a statement. "I am pleased that Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into law our legislation reducing liability for local and state governments while allowing for more recreational activities such as scuba diving, aiding coastal economies, the environment and the state of California."

The legislation, backed by California Ships to Reefs, was created with sunken-ship-based scuba diving in mind, because "diving in and near sunken ships can be hazardous, requiring special training and equipment beyond that for normal scuba diving," Harkey said...[Link]

Cape Breton a wreck-diver’s paradise

2010-07-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

The coastal areas of Cape Breton Island have held secrets for hundreds of years as military powers looked to stabilize their colonies and migrants yearned to begin a new life in the New World only to chart a course that prematurely ended so many lives on the rocky Atlantic shore.

Shipwreck charts are dotted with spots up and down the coastline of Nova Scotia, particularly its northern most point of Saint Paul Island in Cape Breton.
Underwater explorers Michael Gerhartz, Ronald Newcombe, and Harvey Morash are part of the Si-Tech Explorer Team from Atlantic Canada. Si-Tech is a Swedish drysuit and scuba gear manufacturer.

The team has spent several months preoccupied with a 1834 shipwreck on Cape Breton’s eastern coastline, near the community of Little Lorraine...[Link]

Scuba diving is the bomb!

2010-07-26T08:08:00.001-07:00

Raymond LeRiche has recovered many relics from the depths of the ocean floor surrounding the southwest coast of Newfoundland, but one of his more interesting finds is a 1000-pound torpedo...[Link]

Two-day lobster season spurs warnings for diver safety

2010-07-26T07:05:00.001-07:00

"Panic will kill you," said Capt. John Allen, of Loggerhead Dive Charters in Boynton Beach, when talking about spiny lobster mini-season.

That's the message that he, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission want to get across to divers who will take part in the annual tradition of hunting for spiny lobsters, a two-day season that takes place Wednesday and Thursday throughout Florida's waters.

But every year, people die during the hunt - and veterans of the event say excitement is usually to blame.

When the mini-season kicks off at midnight, "everyone rushes to front row," said James Mullinax, commanding officer of the Coast Guard's Lake Worth Inlet station in Riviera Beach...[Link]

How the BP oil spill will affect scuba diving in the Gulf of Mexico

2010-07-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

One of the many industries that has suffered economic hardship from the BP oil spill is recreational scuba diving and yet of all that has happened, scuba diving may be the least touched by the oil spill in the Gulf and perhaps may avoid the larger impact of this oil industry failure. This positive assessment was expressed in a report in the NY Times on June 25th stating that “most researchers have said that if any oil gets pulled into currents that take it past the Keys, it would probably be so diluted by then that it would pose little risk to organisms.”

Tom Ingram, Executive Director of Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) is also optimistic. “The entire recreational diving industry has been impacted by this environmental tragedy – by the actual damage to sensitive wetlands and aquatic resources, and also by the perception that all recreational diving and fishing has been halted due to the spill. This perception is far from the reality. A great majority of Florida Gulf Coastal waters are clear, clean and oil free and most of the area in the Gulf region is 'open for business' for scuba diving, snorkeling and other water-sports activities," says Mr. Ingram. ('Gulf State Diving' Website Shares Accurate & Timely News About Scuba Diving Conditions in the Gulf Region, NEW YORK, June 21 /PRNewswire)

Recreational scuba diving is a big draw in the Gulf, especially in Florida. The web-site Force-E informs us that “Florida is the center of scuba diving in the U.S. [where] diving is the most diverse. There are more dive shops and dive boats in Southeast Florida [and they have] the largest artificial reef and wreck program in the country. “ The area between the mainland and the Florida Keys has some of the most aesthetically rich and appealing underwater spectacles for both novice and pro scuba divers...[Link]

Divers plumb the mysteries of sacred Maya pools

2010-07-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

Steering clear of crocodiles and navigating around massive submerged trees, a team of divers began mapping some of the 25 freshwater pools of Cara Blanca, Belize, which were important to the ancient Maya. In three weeks this May, the divers found fossilized animal remains, bits of pottery and – in the largest pool explored – an enormous underwater cave.

This project, led by University of Illinois anthropology professor Lisa Lucero and funded by the National Geographic Society and an Arnold O. Beckman Award, was the first of what Lucero hopes will be a series of dives into the pools of the southern Maya lowlands in central Belize. The divers will return this summer to assess whether archaeological excavation is even possible at the bottom of the pools, some of which are more than 60 meters deep.

“We don’t know if it’s going to be feasible to conduct archaeology 200 feet below the surface,” Lucero said. “But they are going to try.”

The Maya believed that openings in the earth, including caves and water-filled sinkholes, called cenotes (sen-OH-tays), were portals to the underworld, and often left offerings there. Ceremonial artifacts of the Maya have been found in pools and lakes in Mexico, but not yet in Belize. ..[Link]

New Scuba Diving resource manual released by Scuba Schools International

2010-07-25T08:32:00.001-07:00

Scuba Schools International (SSI) has announced the debut of the much-anticipated Science of Diving Student manual.

This scuba diving resource makes a bold statement for recreational scuba divers and dive professionals alike. SSI's Science of Diving Student manual is a full-color, 280 page manual with comprehensive content and stunning graphics that provides an in-depth study into the disciplines of diving...[Link]

Underwater photographer Wes Skiles remembered by classmates

2010-07-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

A renowned underwater explorer and photographer who began honing his craft while at Jacksonville’s Englewood High School and ended up filming breathtaking documentaries on underwater caves and icebergs has died at age 52.

Called an “icon of cave diving and underwater photography” by a friend who knew him since those high school days, Wes Skiles died Wednesday while diving off West Palm Beach.

The website for his Karst Productions company in High Springs called it “a routine filming dive” after another in a long list of assignments for National Geographic magazine, whose forthcoming August issue’s cover features his haunting photograph of divers in an underwater cave in the Bahamas...[Link]

What's your vis limit?

2010-07-25T08:27:00.001-07:00

Mexican sewer diver Julio Camara goes down on a cage for a dive at the city’s drainage system plant, on the outskirts of Mexico City on Tuesday...[Link]

Divers find 230-year-old champagne in Baltic shipwreck

2010-07-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

Divers have found bottles of champagne some 230 years old on the bottom of the Baltic which a wine expert described Saturday as tasting "fabulous".

Thought to be premium brand Veuve Clicquot, the 30 bottles discovered perfectly preserved at a depth of 55 metres (180 feet) could have been in a consignment sent by France's King Louis XVI to the Russian Imperial Court.

If confirmed, it would be by far the oldest champagne still drinkable in the world, thanks to the ideal conditions of cold and darkness.

"We have contacted (makers) Moet & Chandon and they are 98 percent certain it is Veuve Clicquot," Christian Ekstroem, the head of the diving team, told AFP.

"There is an anchor on the cork and they told me they are the only ones to have used this sign," he said, adding that a sample of the champagne has been sent to Moet & Chandon for their analysis...[Link]

Sport Chalet's First Scuba Treasure Hunt Begins

2010-07-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Sport Chalet, Inc. in cooperation with TUSA, Aqua Lung, Mares and Sea Pearls, invites SCUBA divers to find one of three sunken treasure bars valued at $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000. The contest ends July 25, 2010.

According to legend, many years ago a vessel sailed on the Pacific Ocean carrying gold. The ship disappeared without a trace and the treasure remains to be found. To help narrow the search, Sport Chalet has confirmed that three gold painted treasure bars are located somewhere off the Southern California Coast. Clues to find the treasure are being posted daily in the SCUBA department at Sport Chalet store locations, on-line at sportchalet.com, and on the Sport Chalet Facebook and Twitter pages.

Once found, the treasure bars are clearly marked with instructions to bring the bar to any local Sport Chalet store to claim the bounty. Only one prize may be won per person. Each treasure bar has a different prize value. Depending on the bar found, the prize awarded will be a $5,000, $3,000, or $1,000 Sport Chalet Gift Card. For safety reasons, divers must be at least Open Water level certified and 18 years of age to participate in the contest...[Link]

The ultimate chill out: Arctic scuba diving holidays

2010-07-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Aurora Expeditions have launched the High Arctic 2011 brochure with exciting voyages to Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland.

In this fifteenth season of exploration, Aurora Expeditions has introduced an action packed diving option on selected voyages, plus a completely new voyage, the “Iceland & Greenland Explorer” focusing on Greenland’s stunning south east coast. Under sea divers will delight in a realm of huge kelp forests alive with crabs, sea butterflies, sea hedgehogs, jellyfish and arctic fish. Those who would prefer to stay above the sea can opt for the ever popular sea kayaking, available on most voyages.

Aurora Expeditions will always surprise and delight our clients with magical sights. Imagine a walrus swimming in your wake, or a polar bear stalking a seal in the pack ice or the midnight sun breaking through the clouds to play across the wilderness of tundra, fjords and distant mountains.

The kingdom of the polar bear is best reached by Aurora’s Polar Pioneer. This small ice strengthened ship takes a maximum of 54 passengers and has the flexibility to reach places closed to larger vessels...[Link]

Diving for lessons in sinking of Yukon

2010-07-15T07:15:00.001-07:00

By all accounts, July 15, 2000, should have been a golden day for divers and other ocean enthusiasts in San Diego County.

During three years of work, the San Diego Oceans Foundation had secured a Canadian warship, towed it down the West Coast, removed hazardous substances and anchored it off Mission Beach for a party that would involve sinking the 366-foot Yukon as an artificial reef and undersea destination.

Two days before the celebration that was expected to draw more than 1,000 boats, the vessel started taking on lots of water about two miles offshore. By early July 14, the Yukon was resting 100 feet below the surface, tilted to one side in defiance of the foundation’s festivities and detailed plans for setting her upright on the sand...[Link]

Diver Finds Ring Lost in Lake

2010-07-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

A Minneapolis teacher says it felt like she lost a family member when her brand new Tiffany engagement ring fell into Lake Minnetonka. A treasure hunter stepped in, and answered her prayers.

Adam Segar and Sara Stocco got engaged in June. One day, when out on a boat on Lake Minnetonka, Stocco took off her $7,000 ring to keep it from getting dirty as she applied sunscreen on Segar. Stocco put the ring in her mouth, and it bounced out, hit the floor of the boat, and bounced over the edge of the boat into the water...[Link]

Doctor Explains How "The Bends" Can Hurt Divers

2010-07-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

Surfacing too quickly may have contributed to the deaths of two Twin Cities scuba divers Saturday.

The men were diving at Lake Wazee near Black River Falls. The men were diving at depths deeper than 130 feet.

Scuba experts say diving below 130 feet come with risks because a diver cannot make a fast break for the surface without risking major injury or death. Divers who surface too quickly can develop decompression illness or "the bends". Symptoms can be mild, but the bends can also be deadly.

Dr. Bjorn Westguard, a hyperbaric physician at Hennepin County Medical Center says the bends is treated with air pressure. Hyperbaric chambers can simulate the pressure a diver's body experiences in deep water. Returning to that pressure is the only treatment for the bends...[Link]

Deep Black Promises Unique Underwater Gameplay

2010-07-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

Deep Black may be the next third-person shooter of our dreams. Or it may be a massive flop... too early to tell at this stage in the product's birth phase. 505 Games has become the publisher of this game developed by an unknown Russian studio. Biart is the name.

The screenshot above indicates the unique underwater setting of the title, but the press release after adds a little more detail.

According the the release, Deep Black is set to come out in the first quarter of 2011 for the 360 and the PS3. Sporting a storyline filled with thrills and espionage, this underwater title looks to bring new gameplay elements to the table. Will it?...[Link]

Oregon Scientific ATC9K HD Action Camera delivers 1080p underwater

2010-07-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

The latest 1080p action cam comes from Oregon Scientific. The ATC9K Action Camera will do 1080p video, five megapixel photos, is waterproof to 20 meters, comes with an IR remote, and also has an integrated G meter...[Link]

Dive in to photographer’s underwater world

2010-07-06T19:56:00.001-07:00

A silvery school of fish swimming through the sea resembles flocks of migratory birds hurrying through the blue sky. The deep, dark blue sea carries a certain grandeur that’s captivating for anyone looking at it, simultaneously invoking a sense of thrill and awe.

The first photo exhibition by Chang Nam Won, titled “Mare,” conveys the artist’s love and passion for the sea. Chang’s photographs, which are largely shot underwater, have attracted the attention of the Korean art world...[Link]

Turneffe Island Resort Kicks off Summer Vacation Specials

2010-07-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

Turneffe Island – a privately owned island just off the coast of Belize -- is a luxury resort destination that specializes in fishing and diving getaways. Now that summer’s in full swing, the resort is offering specials on some of its most popular vacation packages, plus a chance to win an all-expenses-paid diving vacation...[Link]

Deep sea dog: Russian teaches dachshund to scuba

2010-07-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

Any dachshund owner knows the feisty breed rarely backs off from a challenge, but one in Russia is taking that reputation to new heights — or depths.

The dog named Boniface is learning how to scuba dive...[Link]