By Alex Brylske
 Marty
Snyderman's "Always Learning" column this month reminds me of the
extremely close and long-lasting bonds that often develop among
diving buddies. Like his 30-plus-year relationship with fellow photog Howard Hall, I too have diving buddies of similar tenure. In
fact, my oldest and closest dive buddy relationship goes back to
when we both were certified as high school students in 1968; and the
bond is still as strong today as ever. Such longevity might be
explained by the fact that, unlike most other sports, divers not
only experience some pretty amazing stuff together, but regularly
place their very lives in each others" hands.
In addition to
the close bond between dive buddies, I"ve always found it
interesting how diving can sometimes build incredibly strong
relationships among such different kinds of folks. In my earlier
days of diving, I dove with a small cadre of die-hards who lived to
be underwater. What was most interesting is that, except for diving,
our paths almost certainly would have never crossed. And if they
did, we likely would never have said a word to each other. One team
included a medical doctor who spent his day in the almost constant
adrenaline-rush of an emergency room. To him, diving was a way to
escape a chaotic world of pain and suffering. His constant
underwater companion, on the other hand, did his time on a vehicle
assembly line doing exactly the same thing for eight to 10 hours a
day, five to six days a week. Diving was his way of bringing meaning
to his life, and keeping his brain from turning to mush.
Another odd
couple whose differences melted away as divers was a burly, crew-cut
cop who defined the type-A personality, and his dive buddy, a mellow
young college student who could have been a body (and mind) double
for Jerry Garcia. Yet, by my police friend's own admission, in some
ways he was closer to his young dive buddy than to his own wife. I,
too, had a similar "in what other world" experience. Growing up in
the era of the Vietnam War, I was much more likely to have worn a
T-shirt emblazoned with Che Guevara than an American flag. So, most
of my left-leaning friends were incredulous when they learned that
my own diving mentor was a former U.S. Marine drill instructor. To
this day I believe he was the most remarkable person I"ve ever met.
What provided
the glue between this incongruous group of misfits was, of course,
diving. But it wasn't just that we dove together; it was that we all
learned to dive together. It was the bonds forged in the crucible of
the classroom, pool and open water that created what, in any other
circumstance of life, society would have never allowed to happen.
Without question, my decision to become a scuba diver was the most
important one that I ever made in my early life. One reason is the
career path it allowed me to follow. But the other reason is that it
made possible some cherished relationships with folks who otherwise
would have never entered my life. That, alone, was reason enough to
become a diver.
Buddy lines
Possum Kingdom Lake Kudos
I was absolutely
delighted to open the pages of the May 2007
Dive Training and
see images of one of my favorite Lone Star State freshwater dive
haunts, Possum Kingdom Lake ('scuba Training: Sunken Treasure:
Possum Kingdom, Texas"). The accompanying text did a wonderful job
of describing what most North Central Texas divers already know:
that "PK" is truly one of the state's best inland dive destinations.
From mentioning Hell's Gate to Scuba Point, the article and pictures
were perfectly accurate in describing the features, history,
facilities, points of interest, and general flavor of the locale and
the diving to be found there.
My only point of
dismay was in realizing that now, after reading the article in your
magazine, many more new divers might be sweeping the bottom of
Hell's Gate Cove, thus giving us "old-timers" competition for all
the 'treasures" left there after the boat parties! My friends and I
thoroughly enjoy diving the area and raising boat anchors (I"ve
found three so far), rods and reels, scores of sunglasses, and other
gear.
Thanks again for
all you do in educating divers and providing a venue to highlight
local dive sites such as Lake Possum Kingdom, one of the best
freshwater dive sites in Texas.
Bill Crowley
Director
Christian Divers
of Texas
Freshwater Fish
Worth An Article
Iwould
like to echo comments in the latest Dive Training issue about
articles on freshwater sites. Specifically, I am always interested
in freshwater ecosystems and fishes. All the books I find about
freshwater fish and ecosystems are geared toward fishermen. If you
would occasionally feature a freshwater species or ecosystem, I
would absolutely love to hear about them. Even if you featured a
book on freshwater ecosystems in your Dive Observer, it would be a
great pointer in the right direction for many of us. As one possible
place to start, I would point out the North American paddlefish,
which is a filter feeder found in the Mississippi River Valley
streams and lakes, and is one of the most interesting fishes I have
ever observed in any body of water.
Thanks for the
great magazine.
Tom Judkins
Via e-mail
Live-aboard and
Boat Re-entry
A tip of
the hat to Linda Lee Walden for two excellent articles in the May
[2007] issue on live-aboards and boat re-entry ("Cruising, Scuba
Style: What You Need to Know About Live-aboard Diving" and "Ladder
Exits: Reboarding a Dive Boat Safely").
[Soon], I will
make my 15th live-aboard trip to the South Pacific and, from my
experience, she covered the topics at the Ph.d. level.
Digger
Via e-mail
Remember the
Knees
Kudos to
Linda Lee Walden on her May 2007 article on ladder exits ("Ladder
Exits: Reboarding a Dive Boat Safely"). I have one additional
technique for getting on a ladder in rough seas. Do not be afraid to
use your knees. Most ladders have only a few rungs, as it is often
not possible to quickly get your hands and feet on the ladder at the
same time, especially in rough seas. When this occurs, after I grab
the ladder with both hands I put my knees on the bottom rung of the
ladder. This allows me to get stabilized before climbing farther.
After feeling the motion of the ladder I then pull to the next rung,
which typically allows me to put my feet on the ladder and continue
to climb into the boat.
Allen Sanderson
Salt Lake City
Stop and Think
Alex
Brylske's article on safety stops ('safety Stops: 20 Years On,"
Dive Training, May 2007) got me thinking. I have always prided
myself on not only being a diver meticulous with my planning but
also one who is willing to change my routine if experts think it's
the right thing to do. I don't get so set in my ways that I dismiss
new ideas.
If the people
who study these things think adding a safety stop is probably a good
idea, then I will oblige. Our willingness to improve the safety of
our passion has helped diving remain a self-regulated sport. That
alone is a pretty good thing.
Steve Mitchell
Toronto, Ontario
Keeping Up With
Change
Your car
rental story made me think of how much the rules of travel
constantly evolve ("Avoiding the Potholes: What You Need to Know
About International Travel," Dive Training, May 2007).
Passport rules,
for example, are now different than they were just a few years ago,
and it seems the people who work at passport offices aren't fully
confident in the information they"re providing. And don't trust the
processing timeline they give you. Add another month or two. A
friend of mine was told his passport would take six weeks to process
and he still hasn't received it. He applied (in January 2007).
You"re right to
mention all the additional costs for car rental - insurance, fuel
surcharges, state taxes, local taxes, surcharges and airport usage
fees - they add up in a hurry. My advice is to ask questions. Lots
of questions. Knowing what to expect can make all the difference in
you enjoying that "perfect" dive vacation.
Michelle Blowers
Syracuse, New
York
By Gene Gentrup
California Commission Approves 29 Marine Protected Areas
A network of 29
marine protected areas along California's Central Coast has been
approved by a state panel.
The April 13
decision by the California Fish and Game Commission affects 204
square miles (530 sq km) or 18 percent of state waters. A total of
85 square miles (221 sq km) of the area are designated as no-take
marine reserves along the Central Coast, which ranges from Pigeon
Point in San Mateo County south to Point Conception in Santa Barbara
County.
"With this
action, California has embarked on something extraordinary," said
Richard B. Rogers, president of the commission. "We"ve taken the
first step to returning California waters to fully sustainable
abundance."
The Fish and
Game Commission said the adoption of the MPAs effectively launches
the state's 1999 Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Program, which
was designed to conserve marine resources for their long-term
sustainability while also enhancing outdoor recreation and ocean
research opportunities along the coast.
Scuba-diving
spearfishermen are not exempt from "no-take" areas. But for divers
wanting to view marine life, the plan expands protection for some
popular dive spots like Point Lobos, one of the state's few existing
reserves, where thousands of divers visit each year.
'the
commission's decision is a reasonable compromise to protect and
restore functioning and sustainable ocean ecosystems," said Kaitilin
Gaffney of The Ocean Conservancy and a member of the Central Coast
Regional Stakeholder Group. "Marine protected areas are a critical
tool that will help ensure that California's unique ocean ecosystem,
fish and wildlife are preserved for future generations. By investing
in the ocean now, we can support fishing in the future."
According to the
Ocean Conservancy, California's commercial fishing fleet is landing
half the amount of fish it caught in 1990 and the average size of
the fish is smaller. Studies show that fish within marine reserves
are allowed to grow older and bigger, producing up to 200 times as
many young. A survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of
California in 2006 found that three out of four Californians support
the creation of new marine protected areas.
Fishing groups,
however, said the program was too restrictive and would limit what
commercial fishermen could catch and what consumers would be able to
buy.
In the "no take"
reserves, all commercial and recreational fishing and kelp
harvesting will be forbidden. Limited fishing and kelp harvesting
would be permitted in the remaining reserves.
Under the 1999
act, the state will hire extra Department of Fish and Game wardens
to guard the reserves. Nine new wardens will patrol the Central
Coast reserves.
"I think the
commission took the big picture and picked an alternative that was
good for the environment and good for the people of California,"
said Karen Garrison, the oceans program director for the Natural
Resources Defense Council. "As a diver, I can verify that
California's underwater places are as spectacular as Yosemite and
King's Canyon," Garrison said. "But we"re playing catch-up with the
ocean."
To read the
consensus statement signed by more than 160 scientists stating that
marine reserves are a highly effective but underused tool that can
help alleviate the declining state of the ocean, go to
www.nceas.ucsb.edu/Consensus/.
The
establishment of the Central Coast MPAs represent the intentions of
the 1999 act, passed under former Gov. Gray Davis. The April 13
decision is the culmination of a two-year public process with nearly
60 public meetings held for stakeholders and scientists. The
Department of Fish and Game will be responsible for carrying out the
MLPA program.
The second
regional process of the MLPA Initiative, the North Central Coast,
which covers the area from Alder Creek in Mendocino County south to
Pigeon Point in San Mateo County, was launched in March. For more
information or a list of permitted and prohibited uses within each
MPA, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/ mrd/mlpa/ccmpas_list.html.
Diving Notes and
News
'65-MILLION-YEAR-OLD' FISH REAPPEARS
A fish once
thought to have disappeared with the dinosaurs was captured May 19
by an Indonesian fisherman. He held it in a pool until it died 17
hours later.
The coelacanth
fish was thought to have become extinct 65 million years ago until
one was found in 1938 off Africa's coast. Since then several other
specimens of the so-called "living fossil" have been found,
including one in 1998 in waters off the Indonesian island of
Sulawesi, where the most recent discovery was hooked. It measured 4
feet (1.3 m) and weighed 110 pounds (50 kg).
The fisherman
pulled it from waters near Bunaken National Marine Park, which has
some of the world's highest levels of marine biodiversity and is a
popular diving spot.
The fish is
classified as Coelacanth Latemeria, a powerful predator with
highly mobile, limblike fins. It is usually about 5 feet (1.5
meters) long and weighs around 100 pounds (45 kg). Unlike most other
fish, it gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
A biologist
called extraordinary the fact that the fish survived 17 hours out of
its environment. The fish should have died within hours because its
species only live in deep, cold-sea environment at depths beyond 200
feet (61 m). Scientists will continue to study the carcass.
ANCIENT WOODEN
ANCHOR DISCOVERED
The world's
oldest wooden anchor has been discovered in the Turkish port city of Urla. Researchers found the wooden anchor, covered with a metal
crown, at the ancient site of Liman Tepe. The find was made by
researchers from the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies of
the University of Haifa. The anchor, from the end of the 7th century
B.C., was found in a submerged area, imbedded about 5 feet (1.5 m)
underground.
The finding is
part of broader archaeological excavations by scholars from the
University of Haifa and Ankara University involving a port city with
more than 5,000 years of maritime history. The finds revealed that
the port, which served the ancient Greek settlement of Klazomenai,
sunk following a natural disaster, probably an earthquake, in the
6th century BC. As there is no record of any such event occurring
during this period, the official cause of the port's destruction
remains a mystery.
"In addition to
the damage it caused to the port, the natural disaster that hit the
area also destroyed the area of the city that was built along the
coast. As soon as we finish uncovering the finds of the harbor we
will know more about this period and perhaps we will know what
actually caused the disaster," said Professor Michal Artzy, who
leads the University of Haifa team of researchers.
For six years,
while excavating the site, the researchers from the University of
Haifa trained teams of divers and marine archaeologists from Ankara
University, which is now opening a new institute for marine studies.
NEW SPECIES
DISCOVERED
IN ODD LOCATION
Researchers
cruising for creatures that live in the deepest parts of the Pacific
Ocean found a new species of sea anemone living in the unlikeliest
of habitats: the carcass of a dead whale.
'these creatures
were so cool simply because we knew that no sea anemone had ever
been found on a whale fall," said Meg Daly, an assistant professor
of evolution, ecology and organismal biology at Ohio State
University. Daly runs one of the few laboratories in the world
equipped to study sea anemones.
A whale fall
refers to when a whale dies and its carcass sinks to the bottom of
the ocean. The anemones once lived on the bones of a dead whale some
1.8 miles (3,000 meters) below sea level in a region of the Pacific
Ocean called Monterey Canyon, about 25 miles off the coast of
Monterey, California. All of the specimens in Daly's collection came
from this whale fall.
The anemone,
given the scientific name Anthosactis pearseae - there is no English
name for it - is small and white and cube-shaped. It's about the
size of a human molar, and even looks like a tooth with small
tentacles on one side.
The anemone is
named after Vicki Pearse, the naturalist who first collected the
specimens during a cruise of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research
Institute's research vessel the Western Flyer. Pearse is a
research associate at the Institute of Marine Sciences at the
University of Santa Cruz.
It's customary
to name a newly discovered plant or animal species after the person
who found it, or after the place where it was discovered.
FREEDIVING WORLD
RECORD SET
Mandy-Rae
Cruickshank of Canada has established a new mark in women's constant
ballast freediving. On April 28 Cruickshank reached a world record
depth of 88 meters (289 feet) off Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman
Islands.
Cruickshank, 32,
trained in the Cayman Islands for three weeks before her record
attempt in constant ballast (kicking down to depth and back with
weights under your own power) during the 2nd Performance Freediving
International Cayman Competition. On day two of the competition,
Cruickshank set her mark, the equivalent of a 29-story building, in
a time of 2 minutes 48 seconds. The previous record of 86 meters
(282 feet) was held by Natalia Molchanova of Russia.
Freediving
competitively since 2000, Cruickshank has now held seven world
records.
UNDERWATER
RESTAURANT
OPENS IN MALDIVES
The first
all-glass underwater restaurant has opened its doors at the Hilton
Maldives Resort & Spa. Called "Ithaa" and pronounced "eet-ha," the
restaurant sits 16.5 feet (5 m) below the surface of the Indian
Ocean, surrounded by coral reef and encased in clear acrylic,
offering diners 270 degrees of underwater views.
Created by MJ
Murphy Ltd, a design consultancy based in New Zealand, Ithaa's
distinction is the use of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof,
similar to those used in aquarium attractions. The dining area is
16.5 by 30 feet (5 by 9 m) and accommodates 14 dinner guests.
Ithaa is reached
by a walkway from a nearby over-water restaurant. Diners begin their
meal with drinks on a deck over the ocean and then descend to the
restaurant via a spiral staircase where the a la carte menu is
served. For more information, visit www.hiltonworld
resorts.com/Resorts/Maldives/index.html.
Events
DOG RALLY & DEMO
DAYS DATES REMAIN
Diving, testing
dive gear, digital photo/video seminars, and a free barbecue lunch
are just a few of the activities in store for this year's DUI DOG
Rally & Demo Days events scheduled across the country.
This year's
remaining dates and stops are August 18-19 at Owen Beach in Seattle;
September 15-16 at Oakledge Park in Burlington, Vermont; September
29-30 at Brownstone Quarry in Portland, Connecticut; October 6-7 at Mermet Springs in Metropolis, Illinois; October 20-21 at Lake
Rawlings in Rawlings, Virginia; November 10-11 at Manatee Springs in Chiefland, Florida; and November 17-18 at Clear Springs Scuba Park
in Terrell, Texas. For more information, call (800) 325-8439.
DOMINICA DIVE
FEST JULY 6-15
Dominica has
announced plans for its 14th annual Dive Fest, scheduled for July
6-15.
In a departure
from previous years, the Dominica Dive Fest will incorporate
photography workshops, a photo contest and new equipment
demonstrations. Dive Training staff photographers and writers
Barry and Ruth Guimbellot will hold photography workshops, and will
be the guest judges of the photo contest.
Other activities
designed to cater to divers and nondivers include a wine and cheese
cruise, whale watching, treasure hunts, traditional boat races,
happy hour dances and an awards dinner. For more information,
contact the Dominica Tourist Office in New York at (888) 645-5637.
UNDERWATER
MUSIC FESTIVAL
SET FOR JULY 14
Rock legends are
to celebrate the "key of sea" in Lower Keys waters Saturday, July
14, as divers portraying Sonny and Cher, Elton John, David Crosby
and even a mermaid Madonna rock the reef during the 23rd annual
Underwater Music Festival.
The scuba diving
superstars are to "perform" beneath the waves during the offbeat
underwater event, which draws as many as 600 divers and snorkelers
each year. The underwater songfest is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
Looe Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
about six miles (9.6 km) south of Big Pine Key. Staged by a local
radio station, it features the station's selections broadcast
underwater via Lubell Laboratory speakers suspended beneath boats
positioned at the reef.
The playlist
typically includes ocean-themed ditties such as the Beatles" "Yellow
Submarine," Jimmy Buffett's "Fins" and even an authentic humpback
whale song.
Finned fans can
watch the superstar impersonators "jam" beneath the sea on aquatic
instruments sculpted by Florida Keys artist August Powers. Blending
elements of sea creatures and musical instruments, Powers" quirky
creations include a trom-bonefish, manta-lin and drumfish.
As well as
rocking to the beat of the marine melodies, participating divers and
snorkelers can explore other aspects of "aqua-culture" during the
festival - at an underwater gallery of "new wave" art by the
creative community at Artists in Paradise Gallery on Big Pine Key.
Their artwork is to be suspended beneath boats for "afishionados" to
view.
The annual
concert carries a serious message promoting preservation of the
Florida Keys" unique coral reef ecosystem. The musical broadcast
incorporates diver awareness announcements written and recorded by
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials that offer tips on
how people can enjoy the ocean while minimizing the impact on the
reef and overall marine environment.
Divers and
snorkelers eager to participate in the 2007 Underwater Music
Festival can reserve space aboard boats run by Lower Keys dive
operators. Visitors and residents with their own boats can launch
from public ramps throughout the area. For information, visit the
Florida Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com.
JIM HAIGH
MEMORIAL DIVE SET FOR JULY 15
Haigh Quarry in
Kankakee, Illinois, will celebrate its 15th anniversary by holding
the Jim Haigh Memorial Dive/Diver Appreciation Day on Sunday, July
15.
The day's
activities will include prizes, raffles, a Caribbean band,
half-price entry and free air fills. Proceeds benefit the Shedd
Aquarium Volunteer Diver Program. For more information, call (815)
939-7797.
PORTAGE QUARRY
GEARS UP FOR
SECOND 'LEGENDS OF DIVING FESTIVAL"
Zale Parry, the
first woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, is set
to appear at this year's Legends of Diving Festival, scheduled for
August 10-12 at Portage Quarry Recreation Club in Bowling Green,
Ohio.
Considered by
many the most famous female scuba diver in the world, Parry was a
pioneer skin diver in the 1940s, and an early underwater equipment
tester for Scientific Underwater Research Enterprises in 1953. In
1954 she set a woman's depth record to 209 feet (63 m) and became
the third female instructor to graduate from the L.A. County UICC
program. That same year, Parry made her screen debut in "Kingdom of
the Sea," a Jack Douglas Production. In May 1955 she became the
first female to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In
1957, Parry co-founded the International Underwater Film Festival,
which ran for 17 years, and in 1960 she became the first elected
woman president of the U/W Photographic Society. From the 1950s
through the 1990s, Parry remained in demand as an actress and
underwater stuntwoman for Hollywood studios. She is best-known for
her role as the "damsel in distress" in episodes of 'sea Hunt," the
television series starring Lloyd Bridges that ran from 1958 to 1961.
Joining Parry at
the event will be dive legends Sam Lecocq, Alec Peirce and Dr. Sam
Miller, who appeared at the inaugural dive festival last year.
Lecocq will discuss the history of dive gear development; Peirce
returns with his assortment of memorabilia from the 'sea Hunt" show;
and Miller will speak about the beginning of dive certifications.
Guests are
encouraged to bring 3-D glasses for the Saturday night showing of
the "Creature From the Black Lagoon," a 1954 3-D movie classic.
Organizers also
plan another attempt at a world record for most divers in one
location. Last year's attempt drew 303 divers, which is believed to
be an Ohio record. Seventeen states, three provinces of Canada, plus
Mexico and Japan were represented. This year's attempt is set for
August 11. For more information, visit www.portagequarry.com.
[BOOK]
'SHARKS OF THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST"
The 18 species
of sharks in the cool waters of the Pacific Northwest - Oregon,
Washington, Alaska and British Columbia - are the focus of a book by
Dr. Alessandro De Maddalena, Dr. Antonella Preti and Tarik Polansky.
'sharks of the Pacific Northwest" includes the identification of the
18 species, with photographs, paintings and drawings, summaries of
the sharks" classification, morphology, distribution, habitat, diet,
reproduction and behavior. It also includes an account of shark
evolution, anatomy and physiology, as well as discussion of attacks
on humans and details of shark fisheries. It is written for nontechnical readers, but is a useful tool for professional
biologists and zoologists.
The 144-page
paperback is distributed by Harbour Publishing. For more
information, ask your local dive shop or call (800) 667-2988.
[DVD]
"Blue
Water, White Death"
The film that
made history with the first underwater film footage of a great white
shark is being released on DVD for the first time.
"Blue Water,
White Death" will make what MGM Home Entertainment calls "its
long-awaited, passionately petitioned DVD debut." Named one of the
top 10 documentaries of the 1970s, the history-making film
chronicles the real-life expedition of four deep-sea divers as they
search for the majestic but deadly great white shark.
The July 31
release coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Discovery
Channel's Shark Week.
Armed with only
their cameras, underwater adventurer and director Peter Gimbel,
renowned shark and underwater experts Ron and Valerie Taylor, and
underwater cinematography expert Stan Waterman, embark on a
12,000-mile (19,200-km) odyssey traveling from Durban, South Africa,
and across the Indian Ocean to study and capture the powerful
predator in its native depths. Protected only by aluminum cages and
with the help of shark attack survivor and diving coordinator Rodney
Fox, the crew captures its historic footage near Dangerous Reef, off
the South Australian coast. The film also includes pioneering
footage of the divers swimming and interacting with sharks in their
natural habitat without protective cages. Released in 1971, the
documentary boasted a $5 million box office debut, a landmark at
that time. The DVD features additional insight into the crew's
journey through never-before-seen expedition footage and commentary
from Ron and Valerie Taylor, Rodney Fox and Stan Waterman.
Additional shark
films to be released July 31 are "Mission of the Shark: The Saga of
the USS Indianapolis," based on the true story of a naval
crew's struggle to survive in the open water, avoiding exposure and
the sharks that circle below after their ship is destroyed in an
attack; 'tintorera," an aquatic thriller set in Mexico; and Peter
Benchley's "Creature," starring Craig T. Nelson ("Coach") and Kim Catrall ('sex & The City").
A spokesperson
for MGM Home Entertainment said that information about obtaining
copies will be announced soon.
always learning
Sixgills in Seattle:
The Adventure
Continues
Story and photos
by Marty Snyderman
 When
my longtime friend Howard Hall stopped at my house to pick me up in
his van early one Monday morning this past March, we were looking at
more than 30 years of diving adventures in our rearview mirrors and
just over 1,200 miles (1,920 km) of road ahead of us before we
splashed into the water on our next one. Howard and I were just
starting a two-day-long drive from our homes in San Diego's North
County to Seattle, where we hoped to photograph a population of bluntnose sixgill sharks (Hexanchus griseus).
It was in Canada
where I saw my first bluntnose sixgill shark. A few years ago
another friend, Travis Swanson, invited me to join him in Canada to
find and photograph some sixgills, and we enjoyed moderate success.
I acquired a few photographs, but nothing that made me sing in the
shower.
Travis has
maintained an intense interest in sixgills. His dive team, the
Hydrus gang, has been able to find the sharks in what to me seems
like the most unlikely of places. Sixgills have long been thought to
be a deep-water species, but they"ve found sixgills on a regular
basis in the shallow, coastal waters of Elliot Bay, right off the
coast of downtown Seattle.
Last year Travis
invited me to join the Hydrus team for another sixgill adventure.
Lucky me. This time I invited Howard to join us. You might know
Howard and his wife, Michele, as the producers of numerous highly
acclaimed, award-winning, underwater television documentaries and in
recent years as the producers and on-camera talent in several IMAX
films. I have known Howard and Michele since Howard and I started
diving together while working in the same dive shop in San Diego in
the mid-1970s. In fact, I was the store employee who recommended
Michele take her basic scuba class from Howard. She signed up for
the class at my recommendation, but they arranged their romantic
involvement and marriage without any further assistance from me.
Howard, Michele
and I used to see each other socially and to dive on a near daily
basis, but in recent years our careers have taken us down different
paths, and despite the fact that we live about 10 minutes from each
other, it had been quite a while since we had spent any time
together. So Howard and I had a lot of catching up to do, and that
can be a good thing when you have 1,200 miles (1,920 km) of road in
front of you.
Road Tripping
and Retelling Old Tales
After a few
miles of catching up with the last year or so of our lives, Howard
and I began talking about our diving adventures from the good ol"
days. Of course, neither one of us was limited by the facts as we
again told tales that we"ve told dozens of times before.
 Howard and I
remembered how we got our first big career break, the opportunity to
work with our underwater filmmaking hero, Stan Waterman, in 1978. We
had sent Stan a short 8-mm film showing some of our work with some
open ocean sharks in California, and a couple of weeks later Howard
got a phone call from Stan asking us to help him shoot a prime time
television special about sharks. The next day Howard came to work
with a hidden bottle of champagne. Although we truly loved our time
working at The San Diego Diving Locker, when the song 'take This Job
And Shove It" came on the radio, Howard told me the good news and
broke out the champagne. Our dive shop days were over and our
filmmaking careers were born.
Somehow we
managed not to end our careers before they ever got started even
though on that shoot with Stan, Howard ruined his first few rolls of
movie film with his brand-new 16-mm camera because we didn't know
how to load the film correctly, and I spilled some rotten chum on
Stan, our hero and the film's producer, while trying to make sure I
didn't get any of the spoiled bait on my shiny new $20 tennis shoes.
We were sure our shortcomings had short-circuited our film careers,
but overall we had a great shoot, and Stan has been extremely
gracious over the years in supporting our careers.
We revisited an
expedition to the Red Sea when we filmed sharks for a National
Geographic special and after a long day of travel attended a
party where we met the U.S. ambassador to Israel. When he came over
to introduce himself to us, the highly acclaimed National
Geographic team, our mouths were so full of food that neither of
us could utter a word, and finally the ambassador just shook his
head and walked away.
Another story
involved the time early in my career when I excitedly returned to
our dive boat in California having announced that I had just seen a
spectacular nudibranch. When I first saw the nudibranch I had a
wide-angle lens on my camera so I needed to go back to the boat and
change lenses. While back on the boat I visited the head, and Howard
and another friend, Larry Cochrane, took advantage of that time to
put several dozen kelp flies inside my camera housing.
I got back in
the water, and searched and searched, and finally relocated my
nudibranch. But when I lifted the camera up to my eye there was no
way I could photograph the spectacular looking mollusk because there
were flies crawling all over my lens. The following morning, Howard
found that his wet suit had been stowed in the boat's freezer.
No doubt, the
miles passed quickly as we relived some of the wonderful diving
adventures we shared over the years.
During the drive
we also talked about our upcoming adventure, the opportunity to
possibly dive with sixgill sharks. For both of us, diving has helped
satisfy our personal quests for adventure. It was our way of
exploring the world we live in. We built our photographic and
filmmaking careers by traveling to places that were new to us, and
by photographing creatures we had never seen before. Over the years
we have enjoyed some wonderful underwater adventures, many of which
we have been able to share together. And the opportunity to dive
with sixgill sharks gave us the chance to enjoy a new adventure.
Diving With the
Sixgills
Over the years,
like anyone else who works with wildlife, Howard and I have learned
that it is best if we don't have any expectations. We do our
research, make our decisions, and live with whatever happens. Our
attitude was, if we find the sixgill sharks, great. If it is rainy,
windy and cold, then so be it. This time we got a bit of both.
Travis and the Hydrus gang put us on the sharks four nights in a
row, and at some point during every night, when we weren't dealing
with the 46-degree Fahrenheit (7.7-degree-Celsius) water temperature
during our dives, the topside conditions turned blustery and we got
rained on. So it goes in the winter in Seattle.
By the way, when
I say we were working right off the coast of downtown Seattle, I
speak literally. When we surfaced after our dives we looked right
into the heart of downtown as we were only 150 feet (46 m) or so off
the beach. We could have been at Starbucks" headquarters in 15
minutes.
Every night we
had at least three sharks, and one or more was at least 12 feet (3.7
m) long. Sixgills have long been thought to be a deep-water species,
but we were working in only 60 feet (18 m) of water. They are also
known to feed on other fishes, including sharks, marine mammals,
cephalopods and crustaceans. In short, sixgills are big,
impressive-looking, highly capable animals. That makes them ideal
photographic subjects, and that means that a little bit of cold and
rain are minor inconveniences.
Travis and his
team, Andy and Duane, have devised a cage and lighting system that
enabled Howard and me to get a great look at the sharks. And once we
were comfortable with the situation, we were able to work outside of
the confines of the cage. Now that was definitely an adventure.
Over the course
of four nights Howard acquired some terrific high-definition video
footage, and I am very happy with my still photographs. Travis and
his gang run a great operation, and the sharks are truly impressive.
I know that diving all night in cold water with reduced visibility
in the wintertime is not every diver's cup of tea, but we were
thrilled.
During our
1,200-mile (1,935-km) drive back to San Diego, Howard and I agreed
that Travis and the gang reminded us of ourselves and the guys we
dived with when we were first getting our own careers off the ground
decades ago. Everyone in the Hydrus gang is so enthusiastic. They
truly love the sharks, their diving, and the challenges posed by a
good adventure. As we traveled toward home on the backside of our
trip Howard and I seemed to feel a little better about life and
about diving. Deep down inside it made us feel good to know that
some 35 years after we got certified, and after more than 20,000
dives between us in dive sites all over the world, there are still
some adventures and animals that make a long drive, and a little
cold, wind and rain seem like minor bumps in the wonderful
adventure-filled road of diving.
 can
an all natural diet limit Decompression Sickness, and Can Coral Grow
Inside Human Skin"
By Alex Brylske
Photo by Cathryn Castle Whitman
Q:Kimberlee
Jensen Stedl asks about something she saw on the Internet. "I came
across a Web site for a company that claims their 'all-natural
vegetarian diet is based on fresh, light, nonprocessed nutritional
foods such as fruit, grains and vegetables, helping to reduce
nitrogen in our systems from diving." Is this true" If so, why
haven't I seen any information about the effects of diet on nitrogen
elimination in diving publications" Is there any evidence linking
diet and nitrogen absorption in the tissues"
A:Kimberlee,
the reason you haven't seen this issue addressed is simple: The idea
is utter and absolute nonsense. It also demonstrates that whoever is
making the claim has no understanding whatsoever of the mechanism of
decompression sickness (DCS). In fact, the reason diet can have
nothing to do with DCS is actually the reason divers get the
disorder in the first place. If we could somehow "process" the
nitrogen we absorb, we wouldn't have to eliminate it through
respiration. Let me explain. Nitrogen gas that we breathe in air or
nitrox is termed physiologically inert, or more precisely,
physiologically nonreactive. This means that it takes no part in any
physiologic process in the body. As a result, whatever nitrogen gas
we breathe, we will eventually exhale through the normal respiratory
process. This phenomenon is of absolutely no consequence to anyone
who doesn't subject themselves to very high- or very low-pressure
environments.
However, as
divers, we subject ourselves to high-pressure environments every
time we go diving. As a result, we breathe air (or nitrox) under
increasing pressure. But, aside from the risk of narcosis, even
breathing nitrogen at depth is of no consequence. The problem arises
when we return to the surface (reduce the pressure). As you were
taught in your Open Water class, as long as the pressure reduction
is slow, and you didn't absorb too much nitrogen, the gas remains
dissolved in our blood and tissues and is expelled gradually. On the
other hand, when too much nitrogen is absorbed, or our ascent is too
fast, the gas escapes so quickly that it can coalesce into the
bubbles that cause the bends or DCS.
Because the
culprit is nitrogen, it's easy for someone not thoroughly versed in
the disorder - or basic biochemistry - to link any form of nitrogen
with DCS. Additionally, people are often confused by the seemingly
counterintuitive claim that nitrogen is nonreactive. After all,
nitrogen is a major component of some of the most vital compounds in
our body, proteins. This is how charlatans, like those in your
Internet ad, are able to dupe folks into believing that diet can
somehow have an effect on dissolved nitrogen gas in the bodies of
divers. It can't for one simple and very important reason: Our
bodies can only process nitrogen in forms that are said to be "fixed": in other words, nitrogen that's been chemically combined
with other elements such as oxygen or hydrogen. These fixed forms of
nitrogen are what we consume in our food; not the gaseous, free form
of nitrogen that we breathe. Only specialized bacteria have the
physiologic capability of transforming the gaseous form of nitrogen
into the fixed form.
So, you can see
that the company's claim is just a modern form of alchemy. But
rather than asserting that they can change lead into gold, they"re
telling you that somehow their diet can enable your body to interact
with free-form nitrogen. This is why computers come with a delete
button. When you come across a claim like this, use it.
Q:Ed
Blume is a dive professional from Madison, Wisconsin, and wants some
advice to address the concerns of a customer. "A lady recently
called me claiming that she was having problems with coral cuts she
received while walking on the beach in Mexico. The problem is the
wounds initially healed; the more amazing part of her story is that
her trip to Mexico was 10 years ago! The wounds in question were
small scratches she got on her feet from the dead coral fragments
that made up the beach. Now, she says, she's getting inflammation
and itching. She called me because someone told her that the coral
could actually continue to grow under her skin. That's not possible,
is it" What can I say that's polite and helpful"
A:First,
let me say that absolutely, positively the coral is not still
growing under her skin. Of that much we can be sure. Assuming she
has ruled out any condition unrelated to her injury, her problem
isn't the coral but what might have been introduced into her wounds
when she first received the injury. There are lots of microbes that
could have ended up in her feet, and just because the wounds
appeared to heal doesn't mean that the microbes aren't still
lurking.
But frankly,
anytime I hear stories like this - and this is not the first time -
I tend to suspect a couple of nasty bacteria. One is
Mycobacterium marinum, and another is Erysipelothrix
rhusiopathiae. These are free-living bacteria that cause
opportunistic infections commonly called "fish-handler's disease."
It's also called "fish-tank granuloma" because it was once common
among aquarium enthusiasts. People have even gotten it in swimming
pools. Unusually, the infection comes from wounds caused by the fins
or bites of fish. According to the medical literature, M. marinum
infections may be single but are more often multiple lesions, and
the lesions may be painful. Also common are clusters of superficial
hardened nodules (granuloma).
Of course, I
have no idea if these or any other microbes are the cause. However,
I raise the issue because many victims of fish-handler's disease
have reported intermittent episodes of swelling and pain for years
after their initial infection. Regardless, if the problem persists,
she should see her doctor, but let her know one thing for sure:
There's no coral reef growing in her foot.
Q:Diver
Burl Amsbury asked a question that put a new spin on concerns over
susceptibility factors for decompression sickness. "I know that
dehydration is one factor than can make someone more likely to get
the bends, but there's one issue that could cause dehydration that's
never addressed. When diving in seawater does osmosis play a role in
causing the body to dehydrate"
A:I
did some research and actually found one source that listed seawater
immersion as a factor in causing dehydration in scuba divers, and
increasing the susceptibility to DCS. However, this was not in a
peer-reviewed source nor even formally published. (One common
problem with the Internet is that anyone can write anything.)
Hard-pressed to
find anything from a credible published source, I contacted a friend
who's an environmental physiologist. He also does consulting for
private industry and the military on matters of dive safety and
decompression practice, so I trust his expertise. He assured me that
the seawater immersion issue was irrelevant as a cause for
dehydration in recreational scuba divers. His rationale is that the
short duration of recreational dives - most lasting only about an
hour - just isn't enough time to make any difference. He emphasized
that divers lose most of their fluids, by far, through perspiration
prior to diving, and from the process of moistening the extremely
dry compressed air in their tank as they breathe. He was unaware of
any case relating to dehydration from seawater immersion even on
very long military and commercial excursions. Certainly, some fluid
loss from seawater immersion occurs due to the osmotic imbalance
between the seawater and tissues in contact with it. It's just not
enough to make any difference.
Q:Jim
Sweeny wrote asking me to settle a bet. "My friends and I have
gotten into diving big-time. In fact, we all just completed a
Divemaster course together. We"re always discussing diving, and
there's one thing we can't seem to agree on. I say that if you have
good air consumption, you"ll be less susceptible to decompression
sickness. My friends say that's just not so. What's the story"
A:It
makes perfect sense to reason that the less one breathes, the less
one is likely to succumb to DCS, but it's just not true. Here's why.
During respiration at normal atmospheric pressure, the amount of
nitrogen dissolved in your body is at equilibrium with the partial
pressure in the atmosphere. As such, there's no net exchange of
nitrogen during normal respiration. That part should be pretty easy
to understand.
At depth, a
diver breathes a gas mixture that has a higher partial pressure of
nitrogen than normal, which should also be obvious. But here's where
things get a bit cloudy for some. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are
exchanged in the lungs through cellular processes. By contrast,
being physiologically inert (see the above response), nitrogen is
absorbed purely as a function of time and pressure. For example, if
a diver takes 10 breaths in the same amount of time as his buddy
takes five breaths, both divers" lungs are still exposed to the same
pressure of nitrogen for the same period of time. Thus, they absorb
the same amount of nitrogen. The number of breaths is irrelevant.
There's also
another interesting point about this issue. If, indeed, the amount
of nitrogen one absorbed depended on one's gas consumption (rate of
breathing), then all dive computers would have to take into account
air consumption rate to calculate your decompression status. Sorry,
all you air consumption champions. You have no special advantage
when it comes to susceptibility to DCS.
Test your
knowledge of the
information featured in this month's issue of Dive Training.
1. To match
vocalization to fish, researchers connect to underwater cameras what
device"
A. Microphones
B. iPods
C. Hydrophones
D. Tape
recorders
2. Which of the
following are considered important in-water buddying techniques"
A. Staying
together
B. Positioning
C. Awareness
D. Communication
E. All of the
above
3. What industry
did not rate in the world's top 10 a decade ago, now ranks first,
and is expected to double in 15 years"
A.
Telecommunications
B. Computers and
software
C. Tourism
D. Oil and gas
4. Scuba unit
removal and replacement is best done:
A. In a
horizontal position
B. In a vertical
position
C. A & B are
correct
D. None of the
above
5. Besides
having its own Great Barrier Reef, Belize has topside attractions
that include:
A. Tropical rain
forests
B. Eco-resorts
C. Ancient ruins
D. All of the
above
6. Methods of
minimizing jet lag include:
A. Rest before a
trip
B. Avoid alcohol
and caffeine
C. Drink plenty
of water
D. All of the
above
7. Arkansas"
Bull Shoals Lake is affectionately called:
A. Ozark
Paradise
B. Caribbean of
the Midwest
C. Great Lake of
Arkansas
D. Ozarks Oasis
8. Lie-in-wait
predators include:
A. Lizardfishes
B. Angelsharks
C.
Scorpionfishes
D. All of the
above
9. Dive
Training's reverse covers are a tradition based on what former
sister publication"
A. Dive Center
Business
B. Restaurant
Startup & Growth
C. Flight
Training
D. Good
Housekeeping
10. The "mask
on, regulator in" practice helps divers:
A. Remain
comfortable
while water splashes all around.
B. Look like
they know
what they are doing.
C. Reduce the
chance that their mask will fall off their forehead and be lost.
D. A & C are
correct.
Answers: 1. C
2. E 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. D 7. B 8. D 9. C 10. D
|
|
