THE COVERS Articles & Editorials SEPTEMBER 2002 • Volume 12 Number 9 
  
By Cathryn Castle and Marcus Whitman		 Scuba diving isn't just about the tropics. In fact, there's a lot of good diving waiting at freshwater sites all across North America. This month's feature article, "Some Like it Fresh: Taking Advantage of Close-to-home Diving," examines the variety of "fresh" sites you don't need a passport to enjoy.
FEATURES
28 Some Like It Fresh: Taking Advantage of Close-to-home Diving
There are few places in North America without a body of dive-worthy fresh water within a few hundred miles - a lake, a quarry, a spring or even a river to explore. The author outlines the appeal of various freshwater dive locales and offers tips for enjoying them. 		By Lynn Laymon
38 Sharks in Perspective: From Fear to Fascination
A recent conference, "Sharks in Perspective," was held in Tampa, Florida. Its purpose was to put the risk of shark attacks in perspective by providing information to news media, outreach professionals and the general public with a brief background on shark biology, the risk of a shark encounter, and issues related to shark fisheries management and conservation. This feature article provides an overview of the conference. 		By Alex Brylske and Deborah Street
50 Relationships that Define Our World: Understanding Units
The difference between dollars and pesos, feet and meters, and gauge vs. absolute is all about how we measure things. A mix-up in units is rumored to have turned the Mars Orbiter spacecraft into $125 million space junk. In diving, as in rocket science, mixing up your units can have serious and far-reaching results. 		By Robert N. Rossier
COMMENTARY
8 Editorial: A Diver Looks at Fifty By Alex Brylske
10 Buddy Lines: Knot Tying.  
18 Dive Observer: History Underwater and other news from the diving industry By Gene Gentrup
105 No Dumb Questions: Contact Lenses, Multiple Ascents and Diving Preferences
Questions from our readers 		By Alex Brylske
DIVE EXPLORATION
72 Global Dive Exploration Map. A geographical guide to great dive destinations across the globe  
74 Dive Geo: "The Land of the Blessed":
St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A lush land of rain forests and bountiful marine species 		By Amy Gulick
83 Dive Traveler: You Have the Right Not to Remain Silent: How To Complain Effectively. Tips for handling travel-related troubles with ease By Staci Meyer
88 Passport/Travel Briefings: Dive travel deals and updates from all over
Compiled by Gene Gentrup 		 
90 Training Site: Guppy Gulch: A Middle Atlantic States Dive Haven. A forgotten quarry becomes a favorite dive spot By Dave and Sheri Albrecht
95 Diving USA: Dive travel opportunities across America  
EVERY MONTH
59 Scuba Skills: Bob to Inflate: A Surface Technique that Conserves Energy and Air
Why it's good to be a bobble-head diver 		By Linda Lee Walden
63 Instructor Tips: Back to Basics Instruction: Putting Yourself in the Student's Fins.
Learning something new can help instructors better relate to students 		By Robert N. Rossier
67 Always Learning: From Scuba Skeptics to Converts: The Tropical Trip
A change in latitude changed attitudes about diving 		By Mark Twombly
96 Dive Shop:
Compiled by Cathryn Castle 		 
98 Imaging: The Beginner's Guide to Digital Underwater Video: How to Shoot Like a Pro. Video basics to help produce professional-quality results By Bob Wohlers
111 What's That?: Whale Dreaming: An Encounter with Patagonia's Southern Right Whale. A diver meets the right whale at the right time By Tom Ryan
115 Premier Classifieds  
117 Dive Training Classifieds  
121 Dive Training Quiz: Test your knowledge of the information in this month's issue  
122 Final Check: What It Looks Like When... You're a Home Wrecker. Why you should tread lightly in others' homes By Linda Lee Walden