THEY NEED OUR HELP
By Alex Brylske
It's tough to read Eric Hanauer's second and final installment this month of
his feature, "The History of Sharks and Humans," and not come away with a
profound sense of both shame and outrage. Clearly, what humankind has done
to worldwide shark populations is despicable; and it's destined to become a
black mark in the cosmic accounting of how we've abused our planet. Shark
finning has got to be one of the most reprehensible acts that have ever been
conceived. Calling it a "fishing practice" is like saying what Dr. Mengele
did at Auschwitz was "research."
However, their pesky predilection for eating people always gets in the way
of painting sharks as warm and fuzzy. Who cares if "Jaws" is no longer
around? In fact, good riddance! Never mind that there's clear scientific
evidence that the demise of sharks has already had disastrous cascading
effects on several oceanic food webs. And it's pretty clear now that their
loss has had a considerable effect on the ecology of the entire world ocean.
The truth is, if we want healthy oceans, we need sharks.
Of course, the reason there's such a problem in reversing the decline of
sharks is that, next to Hitler, they've got to be the worst client any PR
agency ever imagined. Still, just because a job is difficult doesn't mean
that it's impossible. With a sufficient amount of education and political
will, we can bring a halt - or at least greatly reduce - the more than 50
million shark slaughters each year.
But before anything can happen that will change the fate of sharks, we must
turn our outrage into positive action. Eric himself provides us with some
helpful suggestions on what everyone can do to help. But there's even more
that divers can do. At the recent Diving Equipment and Marketing Association
(DEMA) trade show in Orlando, Florida, I attended a seminar given by
Christine Ward-Paige, a young doctoral student at Canada's Dalhousie
University. What she presented was an overview of a program she developed
called the Global Shark Assessment, which is part of the larger Census of
Marine Life (also a subject we've addressed in Dive Training). The Global
Shark Assessment is a 10-year worldwide initiative that will contribute to
scientific understanding of global populations, in part, by reporting
sightings of sharks by recreational scuba divers. (Even if you have never
seen a shark you can provide valuable data.) Participating in the Global
Shark Assessment is as simple as logging on to its home page (www.globalshark.ca)
and clicking on "Diver Survey."
The sad fact is that, given the public's perception of sharks, divers are
some of the only folks in the world willing to be their advocates. So do
something now. Surely you can afford a few minutes to help stop this
underwater holocaust.
buddy lines
SPEARFISHING ROOTS
Spearfishing Roots
First let me commend you for not always publishing letters that are
complimentary. I'm sure that this is just the beginning of a deluge of
letters in response to the letter regarding your article "The Underwater
Hunter: The History and How-to of Responsible Spearfishing" (Dive Training,
October 2007). Though I don't spearfish, I certainly respect the right of
others to engage in the activity as long as they follow the law regarding
size and bag limits. Let's remember that hunters are some of the most
fervent conservationists. But what bothers me most about the sentiment of
some people is the attitude that spearfishing is an abhorrent act that
divers should refrain from. Harvesting food from the ocean was the prime
motivation for the development of sport diving. Look back at the documented
history of the sport - something anyone who claims to be a diver should do -
and it's clear; spearfishing was what it was all about. Though the activity
may not be as popular as it once was and has become rather controversial,
recognize its role in the development of a sport we all are passionate
about.
John Chiappardi
Long Island, New York
Spearfishing
Story on Target
You guys did a good job of presenting an article about an aspect of diving
that for some reason is "taboo" ("The Underwater Hunter: The History and
How-to of Responsible Spearfishing" (Dive Training, October 2007). It's not
easy to give the pros and cons in the space of an article regardless of
subject matter. As someone who also hunts on land, I have had many
"discussions" with people who chastise my choice of outdoor activities. I
usually begin and end the "discussion" with the phrase, "If you don't do it
or haven't done it, you will never understand." Keep up the great work, my
friends, and I eagerly look forward to the "mag" each month.
Cody Cobb
Texas
Skype Not Alone
Skype is not the only Internet computer phone service ("Skype Me: Another
Way to 'Phone Home' From Abroad," Dive Training, December 2007). I have been
using Gizmo (www.gizmoproject.com/)
for the past year and have had great success with it. I have called cell
phones and home phones with no problems. They also offer for a small fee
your own local area code phone number so people can call you when your
computer is linked up.
I have used Gizmo in Bonaire and Grenada and locally in areas that had WiFi
but no cell phone service. It's a great way to save money and stay in
contact, especially when your business calls for you to stay in touch.
Brad Burchell
New Paltz, New York
No-Mask Breathing
Thank you for continuing to publish articles about basic diving skills such
as mask clearing. It disheartens me, however, to hear that students have to
"struggle throughout the class" because they have difficulty with a single
skill, as Linda Lee Walden relates in her September 2007 article, "Mask On,
Mask Off: Mastering Mask-clearing and No-Mask Breathing."
"Leaning over" with your face in the water without a mask, as illustrated in
the first photo, is not necessarily the best way to learn how to breathe
without a mask. It almost guarantees that someone in a class of beginning
divers will take water in through the nose, especially those who are nervous
or apprehensive. If new divers are introduced to no-mask breathing with
their heads vertical in the water column rather than "leaning over," most
will not have any major hurdle to overcome.
Another sure way to guarantee water traveling into the nostrils of a diver
without a mask is to "tilt your head back at about a 45-degree angle while
exhaling." This is not a necessary step for most people to clear water from
their mask. Masks can be cleared quite effectively without the head tilt,
and there is less risk of pouring that water down one's nostrils. For those
few who might have just a little water remaining along the bottom of the
mask skirt after doing their best job of exhaling, tell them to tilt their
heads back just enough to pour out the last remaining bit of water while
continuing to exhale.
Another hint to help a maskless diver breathe with that bothersome water
tickling at the nose is to use the "e-e-e-easy" method of breathing. The
diver exhales the long "e" sound and holds it, concentrating on holding the
back of the tongue in the same position.
I love Dive Training. Keep up the good work. And thanks again for drilling
us on the basics.
Bill King
Minneapolis
To submit a letter to the editor, write to:
Dive Training magazine
5215 Crooked Road
Parkville, MO 64152
or e-mail to:
divetraining@spc-mag.com
dive observer
TEXAS CLIPPER AMERICA'S NEWEST DIVE SITE
473-foot vessel rests on left side
By Gene Gentrup
Chase Fountain, (c)Texas Parks and Wildlife Department photo
The Texas Clipper began its new life as a dive attraction and artificial
reef November 17 but not without some disappointment.
 The
473-foot (143-m), 7,000-ton USTS (United States Training Ship) Texas
Clipper, which served for years as a training vessel for Texas A&M
University cadets, sits on the Gulf of Mexico seabed on its left side, after
Mother Nature interfered with plans to sink the ship upright. It sits about
17 nautical miles (31.5 km) off the coast of South Padre Island, Texas, in
134 feet (41 m) of water.
Texas officials are discussing whether to try and move the ship upright,
before too much silt collects in the wreck and makes the task too difficult.
The Texas Clipper is not the first ship intentionally sunk as an artificial
reef to settle on its side. In 2002 in the Florida Keys, the 510-foot
(155-km) USS Spiegel Grove rolled onto its starboard side. Three years
later, thanks to the currents and water surge from Hurricane Dennis, the
former landing dock ship was returned to its upright position.
To comply with federal rules governing artificial reefs, more than 237,000
pounds (106,650 kg) of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were removed from
the Texas Clipper, as were nearly 1,700 cubic yards (1.3 million liters) of
asbestos and 1,400 cubic yards (1.07 million liters) of floatable loose
items.
For the safety of divers and to allow water to circulate through the vessel,
holes 8 feet (2.4 m) wide and 5 feet (1.5 m) tall have been cut into the
side of the ship. In addition, hatches and doors have been welded shut or
open.
As an artificial reef, the ship is expected to generate as much as $30
million annually for local economies over a lifespan of at least 50 years.
The vessel will form the foundation of a vibrant community of corals and
other invertebrates, as well as recreationally important "bottom" fish such
as snappers and groupers, and pelagic species like cobia, king mackerel and
dorado.
The ship was mothballed twice between periods of active sea service before
retiring as the oldest ship in the United States Merchant Marine fleet in
1996. Then, on the cusp of being turned over to the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department (TPWD) as that agency's most ambitious artificial reef project,
the ship sank at its berth at the U.S. Maritime Administration facility near
Beaumont, Texas. Even as it was raised and patched, last-minute negotiations
saved the Texas Clipper from the scrap heap and it was towed to Brownsville,
Texas, for environmental remediation and preparation as a reef.
"It would make a good movie, the twists and turns in this story," said TPWD
Artificial Reef Program Coordinator J. Dale Shively. "There were times when
we thought for sure the project was dead."
Authorities have been working for 10 years to obtain, clean and sink the
vessel.
"Of course, after three decades as a Galveston-based training vessel, she
has a very strong Texas connection. But we like to say she's already had
three lives, starting in the Pacific theater during World War II, and her
role as a reef will be her fourth life and final journey."
The Texas Clipper, most recently (1965-1996) a maritime training vessel for
Texas A&M University-Galveston, began its life as the USS Queens (APA-103),
a WWII transport and attack ship. As the Queens, it participated in the
Pacific war and was the first attack troop transport to arrive at Iwo Jima.
After the war it was recommissioned as the SS Excambion, one of the post-war
"four aces" of the American Export Lines. As the Excambion, it carried cargo
and passengers in luxurious style between New York City and Mediterranean
ports.
As an artificial reef, the Texas Clipper will be the site of several
scientific monitoring programs. The University of Texas-Brownsville will
partner with TPWD to monitor biological growth on the hull of the ship from
the very beginning, and Texas A&M University and the National Marine
Fisheries Service will conduct an ongoing experiment to look at the pace of
corrosion in Gulf waters (this will be useful for, among other things,
gauging the potential environmental effect of wrecks containing fuel, oil
and other ecologically harmful substances).
"The benefits - to the local fishery, to the economy of South Texas, and to
ongoing science - are tremendous," said TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division
Director Larry D. McKinney, Ph.D. "The only reason we don't have more of
these complex reef communities in waters off Texas is because we lack the
hard substrate that corals and other reef organisms need to get established.
We can provide that with artificial reefs - whether former oil production
platforms, concrete culverts or something as magnificent as this ship."
For more information about the Texas Clipper, visit
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/artificial_reef/texas_clipper.phtml.
LEGISLATION PROPOSED FOR MASSIVE EXPANSION OF THUNDER BAY NATIONAL MARINE
SANCTUARY
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan has introduced legislation to significantly
expand the boundaries of Michigan's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary,
making it more than eight times its current size. The expansion would help
to preserve the rich history of "Shipwreck Alley" for divers and historians,
where dozens of ships perished in the waters of Lake Huron.
"Thunder Bay is an underwater museum of maritime history," said Levin, who
was a strong supporter of Thunder Bay's original designation as a marine
sanctuary. "It is one of the few places where researchers and divers can go
to explore well-preserved shipwrecks and witness this history firsthand."
The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary was created in October 2000 to
preserve the maritime history of the Great Lakes. It provides sites for
divers and snorkelers to explore, and offers educational opportunities for
students and researchers.
Levin's bill - the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater
Preserve Boundary Modification Act - would extend the sanctuary's boundaries
to include the waters off Alcona, Alpena and Presque Isle counties in
Michigan and would extend the sanctuary east to the International Boundary.
The current sanctuary includes 448 square miles (1,165 sq km) of water and
115 miles (184 km) of shoreline, and the expansion would include 3,722
square miles (9,677 sq km) and include 226 miles (362 km) of shoreline. The
legislation is co-sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.
Throughout history, the Great Lakes have been an important passageway and
trading route. The geography of Thunder Bay and the weather patterns in the
lakes, however, caused dozens of ships to perish in what mariners call
"Shipwreck Alley." Because the wrecks are in fresh water, many of the sites
are well-preserved and have been a wealth of information for researchers and
students. The current sanctuary holds 116 shipwrecks, and the expansion
proposed in the bill would protect an estimated 178 additional shipwrecks.
The sanctuary also protects and interprets the remains of commercial fishing
sites, historic docks, and other underwater archaeological sites.
The expansion would extend the sanctuary to cover the historic shipwreck
site of the Cornelia B. Windiate, which is a three-mast wooden schooner and
one of the Great Lakes' most intact shipwrecks. The ship sank in December
1875 when bound from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Buffalo, New York, with a
cargo of wheat, and was featured in an episode of "Deep Sea Detectives" on
The History Channel. The expansion would also cover the H.P. Bridge, a
three-mast wooden barkentine that contains many artifacts such as pottery,
clothing, and ship tackle and hardware.
The sanctuary has also been a model for research and education programs.
Using real-time video links, students in Alpena interact with divers
exploring underwater worlds thousands of miles away. Soon students from
around the country will be able to control remote submarines that allow them
to explore the E.B. Allen or the steamship Montana. Visitors to Thunder Bay
can also view artifacts and interpretive exhibits and watch films about
Thunder Bay and all of the nation's maritime sanctuaries. Scientists from
around the world dock their vessels in the Thunder Bay River as they use the
facility for their research.
For more information, visit http://
levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=286557.
EVENTS ENTRIES SOUGHT
FOR 'BENEATH THE SEA' PHOTO, VIDEO CONTESTS
Beneath the Sea 2008 invites underwater photographers and videographers to
its annual "Worldwide Underwater Photo/Video Competition."
The deadline is December 31 and prizes include a live-aboard trip to Fiji.
For contest rules and an entry blank visit Beneath the Sea at
www.beneaththesea.org.
There you can see the images of previous winners, get a set of rules and
regulations, and download an application form for this year's competition.
The winners of the Beneath the Sea 2008 Worldwide Photo/Video Competition
will be announced at the Saturday Night Film Festival the weekend of Beneath
the Sea's Ocean Adventure Exposition and Dive Travel Show, March 28-30,
2008, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. In
addition to the awards that each grand-prize winner will receive, there will
be prizes for placing first, second and third.
There is a contest hotline, (718) 409-0240. For more information about
Beneath the Sea, call (914) 664-4310, e-mail
info@Beneaththesea.org, or visit
www.Beneaththesea.org.
OUR WORLD-
UNDERWATER SHOW ANNOUNCES 2008 DATES
The 38th annual Our World-Underwater Show is scheduled for February 15-17,
2008, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont, Illinois.
The show features hundreds of booths on dive travel, equipment,
environmental agencies, training and retailers.
A number of workshops covering various aspects of diving will be held
throughout the weekend including equipment repair, dive medicine training,
photography, videography, archaeology and treasure hunting. The popular film
festival also will return.
The host hotel for the 2008 show is the newly renovated Hyatt Regency
O'Hare, adjacent to the convention center. Rooms can be reserved directly
from the show Web site or by calling direct (800) 233-1234. Callers should
mention that they are registering for the Our World-Underwater Show to
receive the show rate. For additional information contact
Eileen@ourworldunderwater.com.
BOSTON SCUBA SHOW FEBRUARY 23
The 57th edition of the Boston Scuba Show is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
February 23, 2008, at Marlboro Holiday Inn and Resort, intersection of
routes 495 and 20.
Featured will be author Jonathan Bird, showings of Kerry and Linda Hurd's
film, "In the Tank With the Fish," Dave Clancy's "Squalus," and Chris and
Fred Calhoun's "Between Two Wrecks." Alan Budreau will direct other
presentations on in-water videography and "Scuba History 101."
Tickets to the event cost $20 and will be available at the door, or by
writing to Cecile Christensen, 2 Ocean Ave. (1-H), Gloucester, MA 01930
(checks payable to Cecile Christensen). Parking is free. For more
information, call (978) 525-3432.
TWIN CITIES SHIPWRECK SCUBA SHOW FEBRUARY 23
The "Dive Into the Past 2008: The Twin Cites Shipwreck Scuba Show" is
scheduled for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, February 23, at the AmericInn and
Mermaid Entertainment and Event Center in Mounds View, Minnesota.
Topics and speakers for this year's event include:
The U.S. Navy Divers 35W Bridge Recovery Effort led by Navy Diver 1st Class
Glen Milisci.
"Two Ships Frozen in Time." Two intact shipwrecks found a few miles apart.
The 328-foot W.H. Gilbert, steamer sunk in 1914, and the 163-foot H.P.
Bridge, a barkentine sunk in 1869, by Dave Trotter of Undersea Research
Associates.
"Icebound: The Ordeal of the S.S. Michigan" by Jack VanHeest and Valerie
Olson VanHeest of Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates.
"Coast Guard Cutter Rescues." Rick Mixter chronicles four coast guard
cutters, including the Sundew, the Hollyhock, and the Mackinaw.
"Searching for the L-19 Birddog," the airplane lost in Green Lake in 1958,
by Bill Matthies, Minnesota School of Diving.
An update on The Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society by president
Steve Daniel.
The show will also include Lee Selisky, who will show off one of the largest
collections of historic commercial diving equipment in the United States.
Tickets are $15 at the door and $12 in advance. Students $5, and kids
younger than 6 are admitted free.
The event is sponsored by The Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society,
which is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization established in 1996 to
stabilize, restore and help protect deteriorating shipwrecks of the Great
Lakes region.
For more information, visit
www.glsps.org, or contact Bob Nelson at (651) 426-1159 or bobnelson_
glsps@msn.com, or Steve Daniel at
sdaniel@glsps.org.
GHOST SHIPS FESTIVAL MARCH 7-8
The ninth annual Ghost Ships Festival is set for 3-8:30 p.m. Friday, March
7, and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Wyndham Milwaukee
Airport & Convention Center, across from the Milwaukee airport in Wisconsin
(formerly the Four Points Sheraton).
Advance tickets are $20 and day-of tickets are $25. To purchase a ticket or
for more information, visit ghostships.org or send an e-mail to
info@ghost-ships.org. Those
interested in hotel accommodations can contact the Sheraton at (414)
481-8000 and ask for the Ghost Ships room discount.
The festival will feature Ralph Wilbanks from the National Underwater and
Marine Agency (NUMA). Wilbanks, who is part of Clive Cussler's search team,
will share his experience locating the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley, on
Friday.
The Hunley, a submersible known as the "South's secret weapon," was the
first sub to sink a ship in battle, the Union blockader USS Housatonic. The
fate of Hunley and its nine young volunteer crewmen remained a mystery for
more than 131 years. Novelist and adventurer Clive Cussler and divers from
NUMA searched for the elusive Hunley for more than 15 years. Cussler's team,
which included Wilbanks, finally found the sub in 1995 buried under 3 feet
of silt four miles outside Charleston, South Carolina. The sub was raised in
2000 and is housed at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in Charleston.
Additional speakers are being added to the Ghost Ships Festival. An updated
speaker schedule will be posted at ghostships.org.
The Ghost Ships Festival brings together top Great Lakes maritime
historians, authors and divers from throughout the country. The festival
includes films, workshops and seminars devoted to shipwrecks, diving and
maritime history.
BENEATH THE SEA MARCH 28-30
Beneath the Sea's 32nd annual Ocean Adventure Exposition and Travel Show is
scheduled for March 28-30, 2008, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in
Secaucus, New Jersey.
Ocean Pals, Beneath the Sea's environmental education program for children,
on Sunday, March 30, honors the winners of its 2008 poster contest and hosts
a party for children. For more information on Ocean Pals visit
www.Beneaththesea.org/v2/ocean_pals.html.
Also planned: The Women Divers Hall of Fame,
www.wdhof.org,
will presents a series of events and their new inductees. For more
information, call (914) 664-4310, e-mail
info@Beneaththesea.org, or visit
www.Beneaththesea.org.
KIDS SEA CAMP DATES ANNOUNCED
Kids Sea Camp has announced its 2008 itinerary. One location for the 2008
program is Honduras where campers can sign up for programs on July 19-26,
July 26 to August 2, and August 2-9, all at Anthony's Key Resort. The trip
includes meals, private boats for teen divers, unlimited diving and dive
programs.
Another option is Teen Diver-Ocean Discovery Program, scheduled for July
5-12 and 12-19 in Grand Cayman, in partnership with Dive Tech and Cobalt
Coast. Digital photography, wall diving, turtle releases, night diving, and
a trip to Stingray City are planned.
For more information about the camps, call Kids Sea Camp at (800) 934-3483.
BOOK
'2008 DIVING ALMANAC & YEARBOOK'
This handy reference guide for divers is worth a look.
Written by Jeffrey Gallant and published by Porbeagle Press, the 680-page
paperback guide covers everything from statistics about the number of active
divers, freediving and snorkeling, and notable shipwrecks around the world,
to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, careers in marine biology
and diving and aquatic oddities.
For more information about the "2008 Diving Almanac & Yearbook," ask your
local dive shop or call (819) 477-1968.
always learning
SMALL CHOICES, BIG CHANGES:
What Happens When 'Me' Becomes 'We'
Story and photos by Marty Snyderman
 A
few days ago I was interviewed on camera for a documentary about the plight
of the world's oceans. The primary reason for my participation was to
comment on the dramatic decline in recent years in the number of blue sharks
off the coast of Southern California.
Roughly 30 years ago, along with several friends, I helped pioneer the
effort to dive with blue sharks in California, and I have stayed in touch
with that effort ever since. From the mid-1970s to the early 1990s I went on
blue shark dives 20-40 times a year, and only once did we fail to see at
least one shark. On a typical day we would attract 15-40 blue sharks, and
most were 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 m) long. In those days blue sharks were so
numerous that we often joked about being able to walk to Catalina Island on
the backs of blue sharks. To us, blue sharks off Southern California were
analogous to wildebeest in the Serengeti.
Blue Shark Blues
After running a blue shark diving business with my friend Bob Cranston for
about a decade we sold it to Paul "Doc" Anes in the early 1990s. Doc
continued to grow the business. That's the good news, but unfortunately it
is not the entire story. The bad news is that in the last five years Doc
experienced more days during which he was unable to attract a single blue
shark than he did days in which he was able to find one or more. And often
when he did find a blue shark, the shark was only 2 or 3 feet (0.67 to 1 m)
long. Doc no longer runs blue shark expeditions off Southern California
because he feels he can no longer charge people for the trips in good
conscience.
In Southern California the marine wildebeest are essentially gone. To those
of us who have been lucky enough to see blue sharks in the wild, the
situation is horrifying.
To clarify a point of potential confusion, the blue shark population off the
coast of Southern California is not a permanent group of animals, as blue
sharks are highly migratory. Their on-the-move lifestyle makes them
especially vulnerable to open-ocean drift nets, longline fishing and the
pressures imposed by numerous fisheries that exist over very wide expanses
of ocean.
An extremely troubling part of the demise of blue sharks is that their meat
spoils so quickly after capture that fishermen consider them a nuisance.
Regarded as undesirable by-catch, the dead bodies of caught blue sharks are
usually dumped back into the sea. The dead animals don't even become cat
food. They are just discarded as fast as possible. Many people condemn this
fishing practice, but for most the entire story is like too many ocean
stories. It is out of sight and out of mind - a back-burner issue at best.
As the film interview progressed, Rick Morris, the film producer asked if I
think society has the desire and will to solve the problems of the world's
oceans. My response: I think that nearly all of the world's educated
population acknowledges that the world's oceans are in peril. I believe
these same people would fervently declare they want the health of our oceans
restored.
The crux of the matter is, however, not our desire but our will to create
change. It's easy to wish for something to occur. The more important
consideration is whether we have the will to carry out meaningful change,
not just in the case of blue sharks, but with the many serious ocean-related
problems that run the gamut, from collapsing fisheries to global warming to
coastal development and pollution in local areas. There is no doubt that
severe problems exist in all of the world's oceans.
We Are All In This Soup Together
Over the course of my 30-plus years as a photographer, film producer and
writer specializing in marine wildlife and ocean-related issues I have been
in a lot of discussions about these very issues. During that time I have
become aware that when asked what we can and should do to address the
scenarios that have put our oceans in peril, among the first thoughts
expressed by almost everyone I have ever spoken with is that someone else -
whether fishermen, researchers, developers, resort owners, politicians or
whomever - should stop doing or start doing a particular thing or things.
Very few people say "I" or "we" need to change.
To me, the difference between thinking "they" instead of "I or we" goes
straight to the heart of the issue. We all seem so quick to blame someone
else, but very few of us seem to acknowledge that any of the activities we
are personally involved in, activities that range from the way we dive, fish
and otherwise re-create to what we eat, how what we eat is caught and how we
dispose of wastewater and man-made toxins, are among the root causes of some
of the serious problems oceans face, and that significant change is needed
in our personal involvement.
Sport fishermen blame commercial fishing for depleted stocks. Commercial
fishermen fault sport fishing. Divers pound their fists on the table and
rail about the practices of foreign fishing fleets while consuming platefuls
of threatened species. So many of us seem to be experts at finding fault
with the other guy while failing to look at ourselves.
I realize that I am painting with the broad brush of generalizations here,
and there certainly are exceptions to my comments, but the broad point I
hope to make is that, in my opinion, all of us would likely benefit if we
all took a little closer look at ourselves because in one way or another, we
are all in this soup together.
We Are What We Eat and Say and Do
Every day you and I are confronted with situations in which the way we
respond can turn the pressure on the oceans up or down just a little - and
still make a big difference. There's a way we can all start small but be a
part of a hug shift toward saving our oceans. It starts when we are willing
to pay an extra dime for an ounce of dolphin-safe tuna or whether we save
that dime and buy tuna imported from countries that don't protect dolphins,
what we order at restaurants, the type of car we buy and the energy we use,
save or waste. Little things, maybe, but multiply those seemingly small
decisions by 6 billion people every day, and it becomes much easier to see
the significance of our actions.
Take boycotting certain threatened or harmfully harvested species as an
example. There is no doubt that shrimp fisheries, because of the trawling
methods used, are among the world's most wasteful and destructive fisheries
with unused by-catch often outweighing the targeted species by a ratio of
100 to 1 or more. This means that for every pound of shrimp that is caught
and served on our plates 100 pounds of other species are killed and wasted,
as those animals are discarded back into the sea.
I have seen experienced divers - people who claim to care - eat threatened
species or the catch from wasteful fisheries. After all, they say, "It's
dead already, why let it go to waste?" or "It's not like I'm the one who
killed it."
Dress it up however you like, but that is a case of passing the buck.
Are humans going to prove to be the asteroid that crashes into planet Earth
inalterably changing life as we know it, or are we going to be responsible
stewards of the gifts we have been given? We all have to ask ourselves if we
are going to be part of the problem or part of the solution.
The way you and I respond, not the way they respond, as individuals and
collectively as a society will tell us a lot about who we say we are and who
we really are. My hope is that we have the will, not just the desire to
solve the problems that confront the world's oceans. Only time will tell.
no dumb questions
HOW MUCH DIVING IS TOO MUCH, BACK PROBLEMS AND THE BC AS AN EMERGENCY AIR
SOURCE
By Alex Brylske Photo by Marty Snyderman
Q:Kara Finn sent a query about how much diving is too much. "I was on
a live-aboard recently and, like everyone else, dove four or five times a
day for the entire week. One evening we were discussing a question that no
one seemed to know the answer to - are there any safety concerns in diving
so much? Some felt that, as long as their dive computer allowed it, then
there was no problem. Others thought that taking it easier, especially
toward the end of the week, was a prudent decision. Still, no one - not even
the instructors on board - had any clear answer or knew of any guidelines.
What do you think?"
A:The truth is that there's never been a definitive answer to the
question of how much diving is too much. So, in the face of little or no
data, all that we can go on is informed decision-making. The other important
part of the question is that all dives are not equal. Different profiles
result in differing amounts of what researchers call "decompression stress."
For example, a deep dive subjects you to more nitrogen loading than a dive
of equal length to a shallower depth. And any dive in cold water involving
strenuous activity will be more stressful than a comparable dive in warm
water while relaxing. So, it's unlikely that there will ever be a specific
number set to limit how much diving you should do on any one day.
Still, while the number of dives per day is an uncertain matter, it has been
pretty well established that during a week of heavy diving, as you were
doing on your recent trip, easing up a bit - or even taking a full day off
in midweek - is probably a good idea. Several years ago DAN (Divers Alert
Network) found that including a day off from diving in midweek cut the
number of decompression sickness incidents to almost zero on DAN-sponsored
dive trips. Although many divers have experienced no problems making five or
more dives a day, I limit my diving to no more than three per day. In
addition, below are simple guidelines that I use to help avoid a trip to the
chamber when making multiple dives over multiple days.
For trips lasting a week or more, take a full day off (24 hours) from diving
in the middle to rest and allow nitrogen levels to return to normal.
Maximize surface interval times as much as possible between dives.
Get sufficient sleep and nutrition, and avoid drinking alcohol in excess.
Always wear some form of exposure protection regardless of how warm the
water feels.
Maintain good hydration. Drink plenty of water between dives. Monitor your
urine; it should be virtually clear and colorless if you are well-hydrated.
Avoid strenuous physical exertion before, during, between, and after diving.
Also, take a vacation from any exercise routine you normally engage in back
home.
Make no more than one dive per day to a depth of 100 feet (30 m) or greater,
and limit all repetitive dives to no greater than 80 feet (24 m).
Pay careful attention to your ascent rate (never ascend faster than 30 feet
[9 m] per minute).
Always take a safety stop for one minute at half the depth of your maximum
descent, and a 3- to 5-minute stop between 10 and 20 feet (3 and 6 m).
Finally, take responsibility for your own safety - if you don't, no one else
will - and accept that not all DCI is avoidable. All dives carry with them
the possibility that DCI could occur. But that doesn't mean that by using a
little common sense you can't do something to minimize the risk.
Q:Divemaster Bobby Tombridge asked about a rarely used technique for
emergency breathing. "A friend of mine read an article about a technique
that I've never heard of before, and certainly have never seen. It's for an
out of-air emergency when you have no other alternate air source, and
involves breathing air from your BC [buoyancy compensator]. Though I've
never tried it, it sounds like it would be a useful technique. So I was
wondering why it's not taught in scuba courses. When I asked my own
instructor about it, he said he'd never heard of such a thing, and would
never teach it because it was dangerous. But to me, it would be better to
try doing this than doing an emergency ascent. What do you think?"
A:Bobby, the technique of using one's BC as an emergency breathing
unit has been around for quite awhile - almost as long as BCs have been
around. However, it never really caught on for a number of reasons. Years
ago, when carbon dioxide cartridges were used for emergency BC inflation,
there was danger of inhaling dangerous CO2 residual. Then, when CO2
inflation was abandoned by BC manufacturers, the emergency breathing
technique gained more popularity.
There's no doubt that with sufficient practice the technique does, in fact,
work. However, there are a number of reasons that it's not taught as a
standard out-of-air option. One reason always cited is concern over inhaling
nasty microbial critters. The inside of a BC is never completely dry, and
the dark, moist environment makes it an excellent place for the growth of
bacteria and fungus (though I'm unaware of any documented reports in which
lung infections have occurred). Still, even if BCs were as sterile as
operating rooms, the technique, in my view, still doesn't warrant being
taught for other reasons.
Another major problem with using the BC for emergency breathing is that it
still has to function for its intended purpose - buoyancy control. Depleting
air from the vest for breathing means that there's less air in the vest, so
a diver's ability to control buoyancy can be compromised. To address this
issue, some advocates have suggested not exhaling the air into the water
column, but rather back into the BC. This is similar to the way a rebreather
works. The problem is that there's no CO2 scrubber inside a BC, so this
raises the very real possibility of the diver succumbing to hypercapnia
(high levels of carbon dioxide). However, advocates maintain that the
minimal risk from hypercapnia is warranted as it's an emergency procedure,
and this possibility is unlikely due to the short duration of the ascent.
Practically, the technique has several problems as well. First, it involves
a lot of breathing coordination, and breathing from a BC inflator is very
different from breathing from a regulator. There's also the problem of
having to clear the inflator mouthpiece of water. And as if this wasn't
enough, the diver still has to maintain presence of mind - and coordination
- to maintain buoyancy control during the ascent. As a result, a diver not
only has to learn the technique, but practice it often enough to keep skill
proficiency from decaying. Given that few divers ever practice the far
simpler technique of octopus use, it's pretty unlikely they'll practice
something that's even more complex and difficult. Still, while I believe
that these are all valid objections to BC breathing, my primary rationale
for relegating the technique to the trash heap is that there's simply a
better option.
Clearly, breathing from an alternate air source provided by a buddy is a
fundamentally better and safer option. However, this works only if you have
a buddy close and attentive enough to respond. Reacting independently to an
out-of-air emergency means that you must be able to somehow get more air on
your own. The best option for this is, of course, a redundant air system
like a pony bottle or Spare Air(r) device. But there's also an alternative
that many divers who don't carry a redundant air supply never consider.
We often forget that running "out of air" is a relative condition; it's
depth-dependent. Running out of air really means that the air pressure in
your tank has just about equaled the pressure of the surrounding water. So,
as the diver ascends into shallower (less pressure) water, the
higher-pressure air in the tank becomes available to breathe. (Contrary to
popular belief, the air in a tank does not "expand" during ascent.) What
this means is that, provided the diver remains composed and starts the
ascent immediately, a few breaths will become available as the ascent
progresses. To me, this technique is far better than trying to breathe from
the BC. It's my firm belief that the last thing a stressed, out-of-air diver
should do when there's no buddy around to help is remove his or her
regulator from his mouth. So, in the final analysis, I agree with your
instructor - forget it.
Q:North Carolina-based diver Jerry Adams sent a question that I'm
sure occurred to every aging baby boomer out there. "I've had a back problem
for several years. It's bad enough that I no longer put my tank on while
onboard the boat, but don it after I enter the water. The dive boats that I
frequent have been happy to accommodate me, and things have worked out fine.
However, something happened recently that started the problem all over
again. It's standard practice aboard one boat that passengers assist the
crew unloading tanks. Normally, lifting tanks is something I try to avoid.
However, wanting to pull my own weight, I pitched in and gave a hand.
Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared when someone handed a tank to me, and I
aggravated an old back injury that will have me out of action for several
weeks. My question is just how someone can avoid this without appearing like
a slacker? It also got me thinking; is it really a good idea to have
passengers taking on the role of crewmembers?"
A:Certainly, everyone wants to be considerate, and it's only natural
to lend a hand when others are doing so. But when someone has a medical
condition that could be aggravated by the action in question, it's time to
draw the line. Diving is, after all, a recreation and the goal is to arrive
home feeling better than you left, not worse. So the first rule for someone
in your condition is simple: Never lift a tank for any reason regardless of
how you think it could make you look. However, I think the issue that you
raise about passengers taking on duties normally reserved for crewmembers is
also worthy of mention.
Dive operators should understand that the diving population is aging, and
what were once simple tasks for us when we were in our 20s can be anything
but today. Back problems are just one example, and dive operators should be
considerate of this. In fact, my recent experience is that dive boats are
not only moving away from asking passengers for assistance of any kind,
they're refusing it when offered.
Discretely discuss the situation with the crew on your arrival and explain
that, while you'd like to help, your physical condition precludes any
lifting or awkward stretching. I'm sure they'll understand, and perhaps even
reconsider using passengers for what should be the responsibility of the
crew.
 Test
your knowledge of the information featured in this month's issue of Dive
Training.
1. Typically divers do not dive on the day they arrive after a flight and
are not permitted to dive within 18-24 hours of their departing flight.
A. True
B. False
2. The most widely used protocol for monitoring coral reefs is called:
A. Satellite imagery
B. Reef Check
C. Diver intuition
3. The decline in shark populations can be attributed to:
A. A growing world dependency on sharks for protein.
B. Demand for shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy.
C. Both of the above.
4. The easiest entry method for divers with back problems is the:
A. Giant stride
B. Forward roll
C. Backward roll
5. The learning domains that education experts say students must internalize
to master a subject are:
A. Cognitive
B. Psychomotor
C. Affective
D. All of the above
6. The most storied dive wreck in the British Virgin Islands is the:
A. USS Spiegel Grove
B. RMS Lusitania
C. RMS Rhone
D. Pinta
7. The second phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, to be put
into effect sometime in summer 2008, requires which age group to show a
passport when entering the United States at sea or land ports?
A. 0-18 years
B. 19-35 years
C. 36 years and older
D. All age groups.
8. All species of dolphins and whales are described in the order Cetacea,
which is composed of three suborders. Which suborders are not extinct?
A. Toothed whales (Odontoceti)
B. Baleen or filter-feeding whales (Mysticeti)
C. Archaeocetes.
D. A & B are correct.
E. B & C are correct.
9. The sight of bubbles, other than those a diver exhales, usually
indicates:
A. An equipment problem that should be addressed immediately.
B. A minor problem better addressed after returning home.
C. No problem at all.
Answers: 1. A 2. B 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. C 7. D 8. D 9. A
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