Editorial

A WRECK IS A WRECK
By Alex Brylske Photo by Jesse Cancelmo
It's certainly no secret that divers have a special affinity for shipwrecks. In fact, for lots of scuba enthusiasts wrecks are their raison d'etre. So it's also no surprise that the intentional sinking of ships and other large structures to create artificial reefs is a major area of interest among divers and the diving industry. In fact, by the time you read this — if all goes according to plan — the USS Vandenberg should be resting quietly on the sea bottom off Key West. Like the USS Spiegel Grove off Key Largo and the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany off Pensacola, this once-mighty ship should bring exciting opportunities for underwater exploration to divers along with millions of dollars to the tourism industry of the Florida Keys.
Certainly, every informed diver should know more about the subject of artificial reefs than just where they are, so this month Jesse Cancelmo provides an overview in his feature, "Going From 'Artificial' to 'Natural': A Case for Appreciating Artificial Reefs." In it, you'll learn not only how artificial reefs turn from man-made objects into natural ecosystems, but that not all effects of sinking artificial reefs are necessarily positive. As Jesse describes, there are controversies over whether and how these human-built additions to the environment help or hinder Mother Nature's efforts. The answer is, like with most important or complex issues, a little of both; the effects of artificial reefs can be both good and bad. Ensuring that their sinking does as much good and as little harm as possible is exactly why the placement of these reefs is such a lengthy, labor-intensive and expensive process.
Aside from the issue of how artificial reefs affect the environment, there's also a question of diver safety. Probably because most divers know that before an artificial reef can go anywhere near its final resting place it must be extensively cleaned and made as safe as possible for diving, we are sometimes lulled into a false sense of security about diving on them. Indeed, any ship sunk intentionally in North America and most other countries must be thoroughly cleaned and have any potentially hazardous substances and materials removed. And if it's to be a diving attraction, it must go through a further process of being extensively altered to help avoid entrapping divers who venture into the vessel's compartments and companionways. But "safe as possible" does not mean that diving an artificial reef is without risk, or even less hazardous than diving on the tangled mess of a shipwreck that sunk unintentionally. Several highly publicized accidents, some involving extremely well-trained and experienced divers, have sadly proven that artificial reefs can be as challenging and unforgiving as any other type of wreck.
The message for divers is clear: Whether a ship or any other large man-made structure is sunk intentionally or unintentionally, it's still a wreck dive. So, the same training, planning, equipment, precaution and common sense are needed, regardless. If you're new to wreck diving, be sure that you take a course or make your first several wreck dives under competent supervision. And even if your logbook is full of wreck sites from all over the world, don't be lulled into complacency just because the wreck was cleaned, inspected and prepared for you to enjoy. Remember, no matter how or why it got there, a wreck is still a wreck.

buddy lines
HOLLYWOOD SETS BAD EXAMPLE FOR DIVERS
Hollywood's Bad Example
I'm writing to express my dismay with the photo on Page 14 in the April 2009 issue ("'Under the Sea 3D' Surfaces at IMAX"). Dive Training readers should know that not everything they see in the media is how things ought to be.
The photo shows Dave Forsyth and Richard Hermann helping to position the IMAX 3D camera during the filming of Howard Hall's new movie "Under the Sea 3D." Unfortunately, it shows them standing on top of the reef! I hope this is an optical illusion as a result of the angle from which the photo is shot.
However, my experience with Howard Hall movies leads me to suspect otherwise. I remember watching "Coral Reef Adventure" and wincing as he and his team of divers touched the reef with errant fins and thoughtless hands, not to mention their terrible trim in the water.
Sadly, it's not even unique to Hall and his team. As a Clive Cussler fan, I enjoy the history and footage of the wrecks shown on "The Sea Hunters" series on TV, but not the footage of Mike Fletcher, the star diver. I wince when I see his poor trim creating silt clouds. In fact, the opening credits for "Sea Hunters" shows him landing fins first on the seabed and setting off a silt bomb! I wince when I see him manhandling the wrecks he's supposed to be helping to preserve.
The problem is that these so-called professional divers are glorified while demonstrating the terrible dive skills and habits that we instructors work hard to wean our new divers from. I can't help but think that when divers see these celebrities "getting away" with diving like that, that it undermines everything we're teaching.
Thanks for being an objective outlet for the importance and value of dive training.

Andrea Ong Novak
Toronto

An Aging Proposition
You published an article a few issues back about the aging dive population and I really, really enjoyed it and wanted to comment on it ("As Young as You Feel? Diving and the Effects of Aging," September 2008).
I'm lucky enough to be in that group, having just had my 47th birthday. And, from seeing the groups of people on the dive boats, I know that I've got plenty of company my age out there diving on a regular basis.
Why don't the equipment manufacturers realize that there are so many aging divers out there, and that almost 99 percent of them over 40 need reading glasses? I have been hunting for years to find a magnifying plastic cover for my dive computer, as it's getting harder and harder for me to read, but I believe that a magnifying cover, which would be a great solution to my problem, doesn't exist.
I've looked at the masks with the little beveled part at the bottom that's supposed to be reading lenses, but you have to hold whatever you're trying to see at a terrible angle to see it. And is a little stick-on corrective lens really the best anyone can come up with? How about just bigger numbers on the equipment?
I would beg you and encourage you to pass this on to your equipment company contacts. Computers with bigger numbers seem like a no-brainer to me.
And I don't mean to limit my gripe to just reading the computer. There are probably many other areas that equipment companies could make easier on us folks "in our prime."
Marty Gatenby
Richardson, Texas

Editor's note: High-quality dive masks and corrective lens options are available today for divers of all ages and visions. We encourage readers to visit their local dive shop to ask about them.

No More YMCA Scuba
I just read Alex Brylske's article on your Web site, "So You Want to Be an Instructor?" and noticed that under the drop-down window for training agencies that YMCA is still there. It has ceased offering scuba certification, so it should be deleted.
Interesting article … I wrote "So You Want to Be a Dive Instructor" for Skin Diver magazine in 1994!
Nice job, Alex.
Paul Howe, Ph.D.
Via e-mail
'Good Reading'
We were thinking about you on our last few dives — "Dive Training magazine. Good reading anywhere."
Keep up the good work!

Mike Bakich
Glenn (Butch) Weinrich
Pennsylvania

Mystery Fish
While I enjoyed your article comparing reef identification to birdwatching, I was puzzled when the accompanying photos for the article did not contain captions identifying the life they portrayed ("Borrowing From Birdwatchers: A Diver's Guide to Creating 'Life Lists,'" Dive Training, April 2009). We always take our fish identification books with us on dive trips so we can identify (or try to identify) the fish we encounter. Your article left us with the same question we sometimes have to depend on the divemaster to answer. Was that a spadefish on Page 50?

Jeanne Sheffer
Via e-mail

Editor's note: Indeed, that is a circular spadefish (Platax orbiculari), a tropical Pacific species.

Dive Observer
VANDENBERG ARRIVES IN KEY WEST
By Gene Gentrup
Following an 1,100-mile (1,760-km) voyage and more than a decade of planning and acquiring financing, the Florida Keys' newest artificial reef, the ex-military missile tracking ship Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, arrived in Key West, Florida, on April 22.
The Vandenberg is docked behind the USS Mohawk, a historic Coast Guard ship open as a floating museum, at the East Quay Wall in Truman Annex Harbor.
"We're all pretty excited here in Key West and particularly in view of the fact this is going to be the second-largest artificial reef in the world," said Key West City Commissioner Bill Verge, who is serving as a project liaison between the city and various state and federal agencies.
Final preparations to sink the ship are under way. Project organizers said the scuttling should take place sometime in late May, about six miles (10 km) south of Key West in 140 feet (42 m) of water in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
That work primarily involves the cutting of hundreds of large holes on the ship's decks and sides to help ensure the vessel sinks in an upright position.
Seventy percent of the $8.6 million project's funding resources and some 75,000 man-hours were required to rid the vessel of contaminants, with that work completed in two Norfolk, Virginia, shipyards.
Pollutants removed include 71 cubic yards of asbestos, 193 tons of materials that contained potentially carcinogenic substances, 46 tons of refuse, 300 pounds of mercury-containing materials and 185 55-gallon drums of paint chips, officials said.
The ship, christened in 1943, first saw duty as a U.S. Army troop transport named the General Harry Taylor. It became the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg in 1963 and tracked the U.S. space program's launches off Cape Canaveral. It also served in the Pacific monitoring U.S. defense missile test launches and eavesdropped on Russian missile launches during the Cold War. Port Canaveral, Florida, was the Vandenberg's last active duty home port beginning in 1976.
The Vandenberg was formally retired in 1983 and was transferred to the James River Naval Reserve Fleet. But, according to Patrick J. Utecht, who managed the ship's electronic systems, a team of six technicians would visit Vandenberg every six months to power up all shipboard electronics and make any necessary repairs. Despite the state of readiness, the ship was never used again and in 1993 was formally struck from the naval register and transferred to the Maritime Administration.
The ship received its most public exposure when cast as a Russian science ship in "Virus," a 1999 motion picture starring Jamie Lee Curtis, William Baldwin and Donald Sutherland.
The project is financed by Monroe County, the Florida Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, City of Key West, U.S. Maritime Administration, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Keys & Key West tourism council, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well as industry and private donations. Banks that provided loans include First State Bank of the Florida Keys, BB&T and Orion.
"One of the big products that we make here is happy vacations," said Joe Weatherby who conceived the project some 13 years ago. "And we feel that this artificial reef is the world's best product ever produced for scuba diving. People are going to come from all over the world to dive this, but this product also has been designed so we can offer it to glass-bottom boat riders, snorkelers or new divers as well as advanced divers. It holds interest for all of them."

CODY UNSER DOCUMENTARY PREMIERS
A documentary that chronicles the life of Cody Unser, paralyzed at age 12 from transverse myelitis, has premiered in some theaters. The film, narrated by actress Glenn Close, includes footage of the prominent role scuba diving has played in Cody's life since she became a paraplegic.
"CODY: The First Step" was shown for Oscar-qualifying runs recently in Southern California and in New York City.
Since her paralysis, Cody has turned her experience into a call for action. At age 13 she founded the Cody Unser First Step Foundation to raise money to find a cure for transverse myelitis. For the last five years she has lobbied state legislatures and Congress to push for stem-cell research, which may offer the key to her own recovery. During the film, Cody shares with viewers her determination to walk again, sharing her daily emotional and physical struggles. The film also charts where science and politics intersect. Visit www.cufsf.org to see the trailer.
"I hope my story will shed some light on what it is really like to live with paralysis," Cody said. "I also hope that the film will lead to more research dollars so that paralysis - not just for me, but for all people, will become a treatable and reversible diagnosis."
Cody Unser is the daughter of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. and granddaughter of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Sr.

JUNE 1 DEADLINE LOOMS FOR PASSPORT CARD
Whether by foot, land or sea, leaving and re-entering the United States is about to get strict. Beginning June 1, you'll need a passport or passport card when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
If you don't have a passport, the U.S. State Department offers a passport card for travelers 16 years and older. The cost of the passport card is $20, compared with $75 for the standard passport, and the passport card is valid for travel within North America. Travelers on international flights to Europe, Asia, Australia and countries outside North America will still need the standard-issued passport.
Obtaining a passport can be done online. Visit the U.S. Department of State for a copy of the application, information about necessary supporting documents, and where to go in your area to speak with a live passport agent. Check out http://travel.state.gov.

DELTA TO AUGMENT SERVICE TO BONAIRE
Delta Airlines has added a second flight from Atlanta to the island of Bonaire, effective October 2, 2009.
Delta Flight 671 will depart Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport at 4 p.m., arriving into Bonaire's Flamingo Airport at 8:05 p.m. on Friday; Flight 670 will depart Bonaire on Saturday at 9 a.m. arriving in Atlanta at 12:25 p.m.
Changes in flight times are anticipated due to the daylight-saving time change and holiday schedules. Consult Delta's flight schedule for exact times. Also, during the year-end holidays, the flights for the last two weeks in December will operate on Saturday nights, returning Sunday mornings. Delta will operate a Boeing 737-800 jet with seating capacity for 160. The new service is in addition to Delta's weekly flights to Bonaire. The island is 86 miles (138 km) east of Aruba.

SHARK TOUR CONTROVERSY IN HAWAII
Shark-feeding tours are back in the news in Hawaii. A tour operator who planned to launch a shark tour operation from his marina slip lost his lease after news leaked of his plans.
State law prohibits shark feeding in waters of the Aloha state but shark diving tours can still be conducted in federal waters, three miles (4.8 km) off shore.
That's the source of some confusion. Federal law says it is unlawful to introduce, or attempt to introduce, food or any other substance into the water to attract sharks for any purpose other than to harvest. In other words, a business cannot chum waters three miles offshore to attract sharks unless it is fishing for them.
Some have questioned how strictly the federal law is enforced, and are considering new legislation that would prohibit soliciting and advertising for shark tours, and feeding sharks for commercial activity.

CITY OVERTURNS PARK DIVE BAN
The Mukilteo (Washington) City Council recently discovered just how passionate divers can be.
After an August 2008 decision to ban diving from Lighthouse Park because of safety concerns over its boat launch, dozens of divers have been turning out at City Council meetings to protest the ban.
Divers have testified about how they enjoy the diving off Mukilteo's shores, their knowledge of the sport, their willingness to abide by city safety standards, and how they can help the economy.
By the time the Council voted on overturning the ban in April, the controversy was gone. It passed unanimously. Divers have now pledged to help Mukilteo realize its new dream of becoming a dive destination.
Perhaps City Council President council president Randy Lord's quote in the Mukilteo Beacon newspaper says it best: Divers "not only bring their tanks, but also bring their wallets."

PETITION, VIDEO ON SHARK FINNING CIRCULATED
A video "Not on Our Menu" is being circulated through www.theunderwaterchannel.tv and urges people to sign a petition against shark finning. Shark fins are harvested for shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy.
As of April 21, about 5,000 signatures had been acquired toward the 10,000 goal, said Nicholas Claxton, founder of Underwater Channel. Signatures will be collected through World Ocean Day, which is June 8.
"Not on Our Menu" is being spread virally around the world and will be presented to the UN Secretary General requesting that member states be made aware of the threats to sharks and encouraged to put in place effective legislation to stop shark finning, or more effectively police existing laws.
To watch the video and sign the petition, go to www.theunderwaterchannel.tv/not-on-our-menu.

HURRICANE SEASON PREDICTION: AVERAGE
Colorado State University's 2009 hurricane forecast team is predicting an average season for the Atlantic basin, which includes all tropical storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Earlier reports called for a more severe season with 14 names storms.
The forecast calls for 12 named storms, which includes six hurricanes. Of those six, two are expected to develop into major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5) with maximum wind speeds of 111 mph or greater.

DIVERS HOPE TO PROVE LAKE ONTARIO SHIPWRECK IS FLAGSHIP OF WAR OF 1812
An Ontario psychiatry professor hopes to resolve by June whether the remains of a 200-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Kingston, Ontario, is a flagship from the War of 1812.
Along with other volunteer divers and nautical historians, Dr. Dianne Groll of Queen's University will survey remains of what may be the Wolfe, the infamous warship of Captain Yeo.
In preparation for the project, divers have been completing a Nautical Archaeology Society Level One certification course. In June, they'll help other certified divers take measurements, drawings and photographs of the shipwreck.
The shipwreck is lying in about 50 feet (15 m) of water in the mouth of Navy Bay. Organizers expect that about three weeks of people diving almost daily will be required to accurately survey the wreck.
Once the survey work is complete, marine archaeologists will comb through archives at Queen's and in Toronto and Ottawa to compare data and determine the identity of the ancient vessel.
For more information on the survey of the shipwreck in June, visit www.powkingston.org.

DIVERS CAN JOIN SEARCH FOR 1622 TREASURE GALLEON
For the first time, certified divers can work alongside professional treasure salvage experts excavating the wreck site of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a shipwreck discovered in 1985 with $400 million in treasure on board.
The week-long "Atocha Dive Adventure" includes training in commercial treasure salvage techniques, behind-the-scenes tours of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum and laboratories where Atocha artifacts are conserved, and two full days of diving the site alongside salvage experts seeking the galleon's sterncastle. The first adventure is scheduled Monday through Sunday, June 8-14.
The treasure found in 1985 was discovered by the late shipwreck salvor Mel Fisher, submerged in about 55 feet (17 m) of water 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Key West, Florida.
Crews led by Fisher's family continue to search for the ship's sterncastle and the gold and silver bars and coins that are listed on the Atocha's manifest but remain undiscovered.
Any participating diver who discovers gold, silver or artifacts will be awarded a previously conserved Atocha piece of equal value, up to $2,500, from the Fisher family's private collection.
As well as diving the Atocha site, the week-long adventure package includes a private room and bath in an Old Town Key West vacation home, training and checkout dives on the Keys' living coral reef, a wine lovers' sunset sail and gatherings with the Fisher family and crew. The package is available throughout the summer dive season.
Cost for the week is $2,500 per person. Nondiving companions can share a room with a participating diver, enjoy all nondiving activities and receive a Key West attractions "passport" for $500 per person.
For more information, including available dates, contact Shawn Cowles of Mel Fisher's Treasures at (305) 294-5441 or scowles@melfisher.com. For more information about the Atocha search, visit www.melfisher.com.

SEIZED DRUG VESSEL TO BE SUNK AS ARTIFICIAL REEF OFF DEERFIELD BEACH
MV Miss Lourdies, a 165-foot (50-m) cargo freighter confiscated by U.S. Customs in June 2008, is being prepped for service as an artificial reef.
In March, U.S. Customs transferred ownership of the vessel to the City of Deerfield Beach, Florida, which plans to create a reef about one mile (1.6 km) off shore just north of the Deerfield Beach pier in northern Broward County.
About $20,000 was raised to cover the cost of cleaning and sinking the ship. Most of the money came from cancer survivor Dan Fasano whose generosity secured naming rights for the wreck. The new name? "Miracle of Life." Its final resting place will be on the Palm Beach-Broward County line under a permit held by Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management.
A mid-May sinking was anticipated, and the boat will rest in about 110 feet (33 m) of water on sandy ocean bottom where it will be secured with a series of chains and anchors. For more information about the artificial reef, visit www.dixiediver.com
or call (954) 420-0009.

BONAIRE ON TRACK TO BE POWERED ENTIRELY BY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
The island of Bonaire continues on its path toward becoming the first Caribbean island powered entirely by sustainable energy.
In 2007, the island government agreed to a multifaceted project to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel energy. It developed an energy system composed of an 11.9-megawatt wind farm, 14-megawatt biodiesel plant and a 3-megawatt backup battery. Ecopower Bonaire BV, a consortium consisting of the companies Evelop, Enercon and MAN, is spearheading the project. First phase completion is expected by the end of this year.
The project developers have already completed installation of a pilot 330-kilowatt wind turbine, whose current energy production exceeds initial expectations. Accordingly, 12 additional 990-kilowatt wind turbines are being installed on the north coast of the island, where wind and surf conditions are ideal. By the end of 2009, these wind turbines should produce about 50 percent of the island's energy. The remaining maximum 50 percent will be produced by 14-megawatt diesel generators.
When all goes according to plan, the island will shift to 100 percent sustainable energy when by 2015 these generators will run on biofuel derived from algae, an organism that does not take food out of the supply chain. All electricity generated will be delivered to WEB (Water and Energy Bonaire). After completion of the project, Ecopower Bonaire BV will remain owner of the wind-biodiesel system.

[RECALL]
SI Tech AB of Sweden has recalled a dry suit low-pressure inflation hose manufactured between August 2006 and February 2009. The hose contains a black or blue plastic flow-restricting insert, which, according to some reports, has malfunctioned. The insert may malfunction by dislodgement from the connection valve, the company says.
Owners of the hose most likely purchased it with a dry suit but may have purchased it separately at a dive retailer, the company says. Owners should contact their local dive retailer about the recall. The affected part will be exchanged and replaced with a green insert.
For more information, e-mail recall@sitech.se.

[EVENTS]
DOMINICA'S 16TH ANNUAL DIVE FEST BEGINS JULY 10
The longest-running dive festival in the Caribbean kicks off July 10 with 10 days of activities focused on scuba diving and other watersports.
Dive Fest offers would-be divers and snorkelers as young as 8 a chance to participate in pool or ocean-based introductory sessions to learn the basics, with some trial sessions offered free of charge. Intermediate and expert scuba divers will find a schedule that includes underwater treasure hunts, photography competitions and the chance to borrow and test out new equipment such as an underwater camera.
Activities will take place along the entire East Coast, from Scotts Head to Portsmouth, as well as at selected locations around the island. Although Dive Fest has an environmentally oriented focus, it includes barbecues, wine tasting, whale watching and sunset cruises.
Dive Fest culminates with the traditional Carib Canoe Race, in which competitive teams race custom-built craft to be crowned champions, often with a few capsized crews along the way. To view the full schedule of events during Dive Fest, visit www.dominica.dm/site/divefest.cfm.
JIM HAIGH MEMORIAL DIVE SET FOR JULY 25
The annual Jim Haigh Memorial Dive/Diver Appreciation Day is planned for Sunday, July 26, at Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, Illinois.
Events will include music by Tapo Imi, a Scuba Radio broadcast and diving. Raffles will be held and door prizes given away.
Admission is $15 per person and air fills cost $4. Proceeds benefit the John G. Shedd Aquarium Volunteer Diver Equipment Maintenance Program. For more information, visit www.haighquarry.com or call (815) 939-7797.

[BOOK]

UNDERWATER CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Now used as a textbook, this new book provides an overview of underwater crime scene investigation and breaks down all the details of thorough organizing, evaluating and effective crime scene reporting, as well as the processes and procedures required for professional crime scene inquiry. If you're interested in what goes into an underwater investigation, this book tells you everything you want to know.
For more information, visit your local dive shop or call Best Publishing Company at (800) 468-1055.

always learning
Reef-Saving HARDWARE:
In Praise of Moorings
Story and photos by Marty Snyderman
When the captain pulls back on the throttle and the boat slows down, experienced divers hustle to don their wet suits and dry suits. The change in engine noise and slowing of the boat are sure signs that dive time is near. Crew members recognize those same signs as a signal to get ready to tie the boat off to a mooring ball. Little else will happen until the boat is secured.
Sometimes the mooring ball (or buoy) floats on the surface. In other scenarios a crewman jumps into the water and freedives to a ball roughly 15 feet (5 m) or more below the surface to attach a line that secures the boat to the mooring. In either scenario, the mooring ball is attached to a line permanently anchored to the seafloor. Once the boat is tied off and the captain gives the OK, the boat is considered safely at anchor. At that point the divemaster usually gathers the divers for a briefing. In many settings the divemaster suggests that divers follow the mooring line to the bottom while descending. The divemaster also reminds the group that the mooring line can be used as an ascent line and a place to hang off while conducting a safety stop at the end of the dive.
I have used mooring lines as descent and ascent lines countless times, but until recently I never gave much thought to how moorings get put in place, how they get paid for, and what is required in maintenance. But these considerations were on my mind recently when my boat pulled up to a day-use mooring on the backside of the island of Lanai near Maui, Hawaii. I was diving with dive center owner Steve Juarez. Along with several of his clients, we were preparing to make a fun dive, but Steve was also going to inspect a damaged mooring nearby. He planned to return a few days later with volunteer dive operators who support the Maui Reef Fund and repair the mooring or install a new one.

A Bit of Background Info
Although it seems shocking by today's standards, I remember the early days of my diving career in the 1970s and 1980s when dive boats routinely dropped their anchors right on top of living coral reefs. No doubt, the practice was horribly destructive, but truth be told, it was a common practice in many places, especially in areas where sport diving was a relatively new form of recreation. Thankfully, in many destinations in recent years this practice has been brought to a halt.
Where installed, day-use mooring buoys have unquestionably proven their value by reducing damage to living coral reefs. In areas where moorings are not yet available, the most environmentally responsible practice is to drop anchor on the sand or other soft bottom instead of on a reef, but due to a lack of knowledge and skill some boaters continue to drop anchors onto living reefs.
While a mooring ball system is a great asset where used, the system is not problem-free. Some people think mooring balls floating on the surface are unsightly. Mooring balls and attached lines can pose a hazard to boaters in unfamiliar waters. Balls suspended below the surface can be difficult to find in and use in rough seas. Sometimes boats too large for a mooring line tie off anyhow, and the pull exerted by the boat destroys the mooring. Until that mooring system is repaired any boats that use the site have to drop anchor or run a "live boat," meaning the boat drifts or motors without ever being anchored. All of that said, few people question that mooring ball anchoring systems are enormously beneficial to boaters and to the reefs they protect.
Moorings, Hawaiian Style
The day-use mooring program in Hawaii began in 1990 when a small number of forward-thinking people and entities ranging from ocean users, businesses, the University of Hawaii and government joined forces to protect the state's reefs. Their effort eventually led to the formation of the nonprofit Malama Kai Foundation ("stewardship of the sea" in the Hawaiian language), an organization designed to accept tax-deductible contributions and facilitate the installation and maintenance of statewide day-use moorings. Until that time, the state had steered clear of a mooring system because of the associated liability.
It was soon realized that not all mooring pin designs produce the same results. The pin is the part of the mooring system that anchors the system to the seafloor. The Malama Kai Foundation looked at other areas that had successfully put in place day-use moorings, and ultimately they modified the pin design developed for the Florida Keys mooring balls in the early 1980s to better suit Hawaii's marine environment.
The first Malama Kai-financed moorings were installed along the coast of the Big Island in 1990, and today there are about 200 installed mooring buoys statewide with more having been permitted. This means that in 200 heavily used sites, small boat users never have to drop an anchor and risk damaging living coral. That is a huge contribution toward preserving the natural beauty of many popular Hawaiian dive sites. Prior to adopting the new pin design, the anchoring system for mooring buoys usually consisted of mooring balls tied to unsightly concrete blocks that were often moved around during storms, thus, damaging nearby reefs.
Jerry Garcia, the highly acclaimed lead singer of the Grateful Dead, was an early contributor to the day-use mooring program. Garcia's enthusiasm for diving led to his involvement, as he spoke before the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources about the value of the then-proposed mooring buoys, helped in the installation process and ultimately donated $10,000 to the cause.

What it Takes
A number of factors have to be considered before putting a mooring in place in Hawaii. First, the location has to be approved, or permitted, by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Second, the people involved in selecting the site and installing the mooring must be trained. A poorly installed mooring is a significant safety risk. Third, the right equipment is required. Fourth, you need skilled labor to install, monitor and maintain the mooring. Fifth, there are significant costs involved. Not counting the boat, fuel and labor involved in putting a new mooring into place, a single day-use mooring ball system costs between $750 and $1,000. The drill and power plant on the surface run upward of $10,000.
It's easy to state that skilled labor is required, but acquiring those skills takes time, money, effort and training. In Maui that usually means the owners of various dive centers and environmental organizations donate their equipment and time. All commercial boat operators on Maui that belong to the Maui Reef Fund contribute $1 per passenger up to a minimum contribution of $2,000 a year to the fund, and several contribute as much as $10,000 every year.
A hard bottom with solid bedrock is usually preferred as a site to anchor a mooring ball, although there are ways to anchor a system where the seafloor is soft. In any scenario the mooring pin needs to be placed in an area where tied-off boats can swing in all directions without the risk of hitting a reef.
In Hawaii a system of one or two one-inch, stainless steel anchor bolts set in holes filled with epoxy is used to secure the mooring system to the seafloor. The bolts are eye bolts, meaning they have a loop at the top where a "downline" can be attached. In some instances the downline is a combination of heavy stainless steel chain and polypropylene line, and in other cases the line consists only of polypropylene or nylon. The downline runs from the anchoring pin to the mooring buoy.
A second line known as an upline is attached to submerged mooring buoys. Boaters use this line to tie off to when using the mooring.
Establishing an anchoring point in a hard bottom requires drilling into the seafloor with a saltwater-compatible, hydraulic drill. In a good location with skilled labor and the right drill and drill bit, drilling a hole in the seafloor takes only a few minutes.
To set the pin, a 12-inch- (30-cm-) deep hole is drilled. Next the hole is cleaned free of debris and powder left behind by the drilling. Once the hole has been cleared the eye bolt is put into place where it is secured with a two-part epoxy that works in salt water. The pin needs to be left alone for at least 48 hours before any lines are attached. This means someone has to return to the site to attach the downline to the eye bolt.
Sinking a mooring ball suspended below the surface also has its challenges. The ball needs to be buoyant enough to support the downline. In some cases part of the downline is a heavy steel chain. Sinking a mooring ball that is buoyant enough to support a heavy chain and line as the ball floats below the surface means the mooring ball has to have a considerable amount of positive buoyancy. Weights must be attached to a ball to get it into its desired position roughly 15 feet (5 m) below the surface. This task is usually accomplished with a number of weight belts, so the safety rule is that no one swims under the mooring ball while it is moved into place. Once the ball is in position the downline is attached to the ball. Then the upline is attached and another day-use mooring is ready to go.
Having seen how much is involved in putting just one mooring into place, the next time I use a mooring line to tie off a boat or to make a descent or ascent, I feel certain I'll feel a sense of appreciation toward all of those who made contributions toward making my day a little easier and safer simply because they were committed to the cause of protecting the reefs where we dive.
Doing More Good Than Harm
The process of installing a mooring may impact the immediate area in which the mooring is placed. As the photos that accompany this article illustrate, some minor damage to the surrounding area may occur when creating a new mooring. However, when compared with the vast amount of damage that repeated anchoring on the reef would cause, the installation impact is miniscule. While under normal circumstances there is no reasonable excuse for making contact with the living reef, this is a clear example of environmentally minded divers doing more good than harm.

FYI

Malama Kai Foundation
www.malama-kai.org

Maui Reef Fund
wildhawaii.org/
reef_fund.html

no dumb questions
INSULATION FOR THE 'WARM-WATER WIMP,'
STAYING SAFE WHEN RECOVERING GOLF BALLS,
AND HOW TO DEAL WITH A DROPPED WEIGHT BELT
By Alex Brylske Photo by Joseph C. Dovala

Q:Devon Drapper was a bit reluctant to submit his query. "You're going to think I'm really a wimp but here's my problem. I love diving, but only in warm water. Still, even when the water temps approach or exceed 80 degrees, I get cold. My friends think I'm weird because I never dive without a full 3-mm [millimeter] wet suit. I'm undecided whether to first try something like wearing a nylon skin suit under my wet suit or just bite the bullet and invest in a new 5-mm wet suit. The first choice is less expensive, but is it even worth it? What would you do?"

A:It's hard for divers who live in northern climes to understand that, even in the tropics, divers get cold. In fact, they sometimes can even succumb to a condition known as delayed or warm-water hypothermia (which, if you're interested, we've addressed in past feature articles).
The fact is that if the temperature of the water you're diving in isn't at least 90 degrees, you're going to lose heat. Depending on circumstances such as body type, physical condition, anxiety and other factors, some folks are just more susceptible to getting cold than others. Or, some folks are just more tolerant of being uncomfortable. I'm a warm-water wimp, too, so I can certainly sympathize with your plight.
I'm struck, though, by one thing that you didn't mention: protecting your head. Because the blood vessels in the head, which are close to the brain, don't constrict when they're cold like other vessels, we can lose nearly a quarter of our heat or more from our head. (Not, by the way, most of our heat, as is the common myth.) That's why I've always been a big advocate for wearing a hood even in so-called warm-water diving.
A practice that has kept me warm and cozy for many years is this: Like you, I always wear a full wet suit of either 0.05- or 3-mm thickness, depending on the water temperature and time of the year. When the temperature drops below about 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius) (I live in Florida, by the way), I add a 3-mm hood-attached vest. The advantage of this design, aside from protecting the head, is that it prevents water from rushing down into the suit over bare skin. Then, when it drops below around 74 F (23 C), I bring out the big gun — a 5-mm hood-attached vest with a skin-in, dry suit-type seal around the face. This keeps me perfectly warm down to a temperature of about 68 F (20 C) for a dive of normal duration. In a pinch for a short dive, I've used this combination in much colder water, but usually when water gets that cold, I just wait until next year when it warms up. Do some experimenting and see what works for you, but no matter what you do, concentrate on reducing heat loss through your head.

Q:Neal Carson has an unusual question not about deep diving, but shallow diving. "I have an opportunity to dive for golf balls in my local course, and had a question about safety. (Don't worry; there are no gators here in Wisconsin.) I've been told that none of the ponds (I guess they're actually called water traps) are deeper than about 15 feet [4.5 m]. However, I'm sure that sometimes I'll be spending four to six hours underwater on a typical day, and I expect to do that several times a week. My question is, even though it's so shallow, what about my residual nitrogen after these prolonged dives? I was considering using nitrox as an added safety factor. This might also help with post-dive fatigue, I thought. Am I being overly concerned or what?"

A:Certainly, every decompression model that I'm aware of says that you just can't load tissues sufficiently with nitrogen at such a shallow depth for it to be of any concern. In fact, you're diving at a depth that's shallower than most safety stops. However, having said that, I still think that you should exercise some degree of caution. Nitrox, of course, is one way to reduce the amount of nitrogen absorbed. If the expense of nitrox fills fits within your budget, then that's certainly not a bad idea. Whether nitrox actually reduces fatigue, as many allege, has never really been proven. Personally, I've never found it to be the case.
The reason I suggest some caution isn't because of the depth, but for what else you might be doing. Namely, recovering golf balls probably means making several descents and ascents, and decompression models simply don't take this into account. Models assume a diver will enter the water, remain at depth and ascend. The effects of multiple ascents are, in my opinion, no man's land; there just isn't any research, and therefore any guideline to follow other than to say "be careful." So, when diving in the deeper ponds, try to devise a system in which you can minimize the number of ascents you have to make during the day.
Frankly, my concern, assuming there are no gators lurking below, is what else is in the water besides golf balls. A water trap on a golf course is really nothing more than a drainage pit. It must be full of the nutrients and whatever chemicals they use to keep the greens green. So maybe water quality should be your major concern, not decompression illness.

Q:Sheryl Edwards wrote with a story of a "near miss" that's caused her to rethink the way divers are trained. "I was recently wreck diving in about 100 feet [30 m] of water when suddenly I felt my weight belt come off. Fortunately, my buddy was close by, helped me put it back on, and the dive proceeded uneventfully. However, when I got back to the boat we started to talk about the 'what ifs' of my incident. For example, what if he had not been close by and I begun ascending uncontrollably to the surface? I was wearing a wet suit, but suppose I had been wearing a partly inflated dry suit? I could have become an out-of-control balloon rocketing to the surface. With all the stuff we learn in scuba classes, why don't they teach what to do in that event? In fact, what do you do? Fortunately, I never had to find out."

A:Loss of a weight belt is a relatively common experience, especially when diving using equipment that's unfamiliar (like rental gear). It often occurs when, as with you, you're at deeper depths wearing full exposure protection. Typically it happens because of suit compression, which allows the belt to loosen and possibly even unbuckle. There are several things that mitigate the possibility of an uncontrolled ascent. First, as you probably experienced at such a depth, there was no extreme change in buoyancy. By the time you reach 100 feet, your suit had undergone a reduction by well more than half of its original volume, so your displacement was much less than at the surface, or even in shallow water. So, an alert diver can often replace the belt even without assistance (though the fact that your buddy was so close by and could help is laudable).
Another mitigating factor is that, with the growing popularity of integrated-weight systems, the problems with weight belts of any sort are obviated. Additionally, many divers — women, especially — seem to find integrated weight systems much more comfortable than a weight belt. So, this is a good rationale for perhaps switching to that type of system.
As to what to do in the event you experience an uncontrolled ascent, the answer is anything that will increase your surface area and, therefore, drag. By flaring out and spreading your arms and legs widely, the increased drag tends to slow you down. But in 100 feet of water, there's little chance that the loss of weight would have that much effect. I've spoken with many divers who have intentionally ditched their weights at depth due to some emergency, and they were surprised by the fact that they had to initiate kicking to start an ascent. The real trick is to control the speed as you get into shallower water where, due to less pressure, the original volume of the suit is restored and buoyancy increases substantially.
The final issue, why this procedure isn't taught in training, is simple: It's very difficult to maintain control of a buoyant ascent, so the danger of an accident outweighs any advantage to learning the technique. Many years ago, we actually did teach buoyant ascent techniques and, unfortunately, some very serious accidents — even deaths — occurred. To me, it's easier just to consign weight belts to their place in diving history and adopt integrated systems.

DIVE TAINING QUIZ
Test your knowledge of the information featured
in this month's issue of Dive Training.
MARTY SNYDERMAN PHOTO

1. A diver who remains at constant depth in the water column is in which state of buoyancy?
A. Positive
B. Neutral
C. Negative

2. Salt water weighs more than fresh water, so the weight of the salt water an object displaces is greater than the weight of the fresh water the same object would displace.
A. True
B. False

3. In most instances the human body is naturally positively buoyant.
A. True
B. False

4. Most researchers believe that artificial reefs:
A. Produce fish stock.
B. Attract fish from nearby reefs and the open ocean.
C. A & B

5. The depth at which the partial pressure of oxygen in a gas mix exceeds a safe limit is called:
A. Recreational diving depth
B. Maximum operating depth
C. Technical diving depth

6. In most instances the gas of choice for technical diving operations is:
A. Heliox
B. Helium
C. Nitrox
D. Trimix

7. A typical dry suit specialty course includes information on:
A. The pros and cons of dry suits.
B. Types and styles of suits and suit care.
C. The effects of exposure to cold.
D. All of the above.

8. The national instrument of Trinidad & Tobago is the:
A. Kazoo
B. Bongo drums
C. Steel pan
D. Conch horn

9. Of the water that covers the Earth, about how much is ocean water?
A. 97 percent
B. 87 percent
C. 77 percent
D. 67 percent

10. Overheating is not a serious issue with near-empty cylinders.
A. True
B. False

Answers: 1. B 2. A 3. A 4. C 5. B 6. D 7. D 8. C 9. A 10. A