tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27637689460652434202024-03-17T20:03:28.746-07:00Manta Divers BlogAction, Adventure, and Romance, All about diving!Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-44164734309264138072015-04-19T18:17:00.003-07:002015-04-19T18:17:53.148-07:00Dry Suit by Tater<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello again dive buddies.
I hope you had a wonderful winter.
As for me, I could be quite happy without them. I survive winter by taking some time to visit
the Caribbean and dive. It gives me
something to look forward to and something to look back on when it is
done. If I could find a way to live in
the Caribbean and dive every week I would.
Realistically though I can’t afford to spend as much time there as I
would like and we have family ties that mean we probably won’t be leaving
Wisconsin any time soon. Yet there is
something not right about waiting all year for the 3 1/2 months that we can
dive the quarries around here. It would be nice if the dive season was a bit
longer and maybe a bit more exciting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLxgNWCyLVs52iGtb9W1FOA-Zd-RPuQd-i1BExRe-hEzHzw-2mp7ed-uQDXznPCFXhqQeN2KWjaN86V0lG_UB2pTvfAKV4z1bPd10tZsTIG9k5EM7Je2ppSJdKmkyE9wuWlLwU1hK4pE8/s1600/drysuit1+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLxgNWCyLVs52iGtb9W1FOA-Zd-RPuQd-i1BExRe-hEzHzw-2mp7ed-uQDXznPCFXhqQeN2KWjaN86V0lG_UB2pTvfAKV4z1bPd10tZsTIG9k5EM7Je2ppSJdKmkyE9wuWlLwU1hK4pE8/s1600/drysuit1+(2).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Scott Durban</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Last year for the first time, I dove in Lake Michigan. We dove the 'Willy' and ' The Dredge'. Frankly I didn't expect to like it much. I'd been on a number of wrecks in warm water
where the wreck was covered in coral and alive with fish. I figured that local wrecks couldn’t
compare. In some ways that was
true. There is not a lot of sea life on
the wrecks. On the other hand I
discovered there are other ways to enjoy the wrecks that we have right here in
our back yard. While most of the
beautiful wrecks in the Caribbean have been strategically placed, there are thousands of wrecks in the Great
Lakes which are there due to nature and which have very interesting
histories. There is something about
visiting history where it really happened that brings it to life. Like visiting an old military fort or a
historic building such as the Ford Theater.
Divers come from all over the country to dive the historic wrecks in our
back yard. Why shouldn’t we?? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhGpTYf5ilvRXw22RvXnX_QD65msHwBWwLCbCQ1umCymMonZ4ZYcioJKNH2RhmEyrBfaGiuBIWKN5_H0gAb-Dr363wBsKMAIwaZB1qsei5JGCGSDQK_l7vpozrx9i__bPkJzj6uCGEeNT/s1600/Drysuit3+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhGpTYf5ilvRXw22RvXnX_QD65msHwBWwLCbCQ1umCymMonZ4ZYcioJKNH2RhmEyrBfaGiuBIWKN5_H0gAb-Dr363wBsKMAIwaZB1qsei5JGCGSDQK_l7vpozrx9i__bPkJzj6uCGEeNT/s1600/Drysuit3+(2).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Scott Durban</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
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Aha I know what you are thinking, 'because it is freakin
cold in Lake Michigan!'. Correcto mundo. It is cold.
But with a dry suit those problems disappear. Imagine a beautiful warm day on the Lake
cruising out to a wreck. Put on your
nice warm dry suit and drop into the big pond.
Slowly descend as a wreck opens up before you..and you are warm and
comfy in the 40 degree water. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Poof!! Once again my
psychic abilities kick in and you are saying to yourself 'Oh but it is soo
expensive' sort of true, but not really.
I am all about not spending money without a good reason but let's dig
into it a bit. I looked at how much
money does it cost to go to the Caribbean for a week? Airfare, place to stay, food, diving....cha
ching$$. How much of my not enough
vacation time do I need to spend? How
much money have I spent on scuba so far?
Regulator, BCD, Wet Suit, Fins.....
OK so maybe it is better not to add it all up, but here is the logic to
it. All of that investment is for a
week in the tropics (unless you are Neal) and for some quarry diving. You can take one more step into a dry suit
and suddenly diving Lake Michigan or Lake Superior becomes exciting, not
scary. Diving in May or October is not
an issue. You can now not only dive two
extra months every year, you can dive the thousands of wrecks that lie in the
Great Lakes. Yes there is an investment
in the dry suit, but those exciting dives are now only a day trip and a few
dollars for gas. You have increased
your investment but have also added to the value of your previous investments
by making them more usable, more often, and more exciting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpa0NBcpAB2NRiAgZgb8LZkKVptPqlgv7xNfsPJlvdad5r-kwMKh3l__Bp8TqRDkIgZU4RGT0EksERgZgBsq_RyfR3h9Nz16Klo8llx11_lSD8ecdtMLQLM3SKBEw3zc4Cduia95QJ1f4/s1600/drysuit2+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpa0NBcpAB2NRiAgZgb8LZkKVptPqlgv7xNfsPJlvdad5r-kwMKh3l__Bp8TqRDkIgZU4RGT0EksERgZgBsq_RyfR3h9Nz16Klo8llx11_lSD8ecdtMLQLM3SKBEw3zc4Cduia95QJ1f4/s1600/drysuit2+(2).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Scott Durban</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Do your particular math.
You spent X dollars for Y dives per year. Now consider X+Drysuit for Y+Cold Water
dives. As a total percentage of your
dive dollar, the dry suit will pay for itself over time. Of course the time,
number of dives etc. may vary from diver to diver but the math really can work
in favor of a dry suit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Picking out a dry suit is like picking out most scuba
gear. There are lots of options and
price ranges. Heavy duty and lightweight
materials, bootie options, colors and trim, valves and zippers. I will leave those details to the capable
experts at Manta and Bare to help you sort them out. The Dry Suit night at Manta is very
helpful. Even if you miss it, they
usually have the information available for a few days afterwards. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is one other advantage to owning a dry suit. Not only do you get to do more dives in more
places there is the added benefit of telling people you have a dry suit. Watch for the look of admiration as you scoff
at the idea of diving in 40 degree water.
It is the same reaction one gets describing seeing sharks, that look
of 'are you flippin' nuts?'. I just smile and think to myself....you
don`t know what you are missing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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See you in the water...<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-53581606312597251142014-11-30T18:14:00.001-08:002014-11-30T18:14:58.384-08:00Shedd Aquarium<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What can a diver do during the dry
times? In past blogs, I’ve suggested some dive-themed movies or
pool courses, but I have another suggestion: Visit the Shedd
Aquarium!</div>
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Mike and I and our friends Jerry and
Sheryl took the train from Libertyville to Chicago and then caught a
taxi to the Shedd. When we arrived, at approximately 11am, a long
line of eager fish-lovers stretched down the stairs. The guys
gallantly offered to stand in the queue while Sheryl and I sheltered
in the slightly less frigid vestibule. In all, the wait was about an
hour. You can spare yourself this agony by either arriving early,
like when the Shedd opens at 9am, or purchasing your tickets online
and going right up to the “will call” booth upon your arrival.</div>
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In any case, the wait was well worth
it. Before we even got to any aquariums, we were in awe of the
architecture. Everywhere we looked, high and low, there were ocean
creatures incorporated into the fixtures or trim. It would be fun
just to go through and try to find each fish, crab lobster or other
marine thing hidden around the building!</div>
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As we toured the various areas, we all
agreed that it would be great to be able to place a recliner in front
of some of the aquariums and just watch the fish swim by. We were
lucky to catch the trainers feeding the beluga whales, and the
reaction of the huge Asian carp to the divers going into their
aquarium to clean. I could walk around the Caribbean Reef display for
hours just watching the fish, rays and sharks patrol the 360 degree
display. It was a great way to spend a Saturday!</div>
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Here are a few of my photos and
videos. Obviously, I loved the Jellies exhibit and I am truly
grateful to Walgreens for sponsoring it! Next time you are jonesing
for the ocean, lake or river, think of the Shedd.</div>
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Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-32196403141078085262014-11-09T08:23:00.001-08:002014-11-09T08:23:19.286-08:00Sharks<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m amazed at the number of people who tell me they would
never scuba dive because they are afraid of sharks. These are often the same people who tell me
about their trip to Alaska and how wonderful it was to see bears and moose up
close. I wonder if they would feel the same if Discovery channel had “Bear
Week” or “Moose Week”?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I recall how disappointed I was when we dived a particular
spot in Hawaii specifically in the hope that we would see hammerheads and saw
none. However, we were rewarded on a later dive when we swam almost the entire
time with a dozen or more white tips. It
was fantastic! The sharks just swam
along and not one so much as buzzed us or paid us any mind at all. My sons, when they were new divers, could not
wait to see their first shark! I would
say that most seasoned divers would agree that a shark sighting would be the
highlight of any dive. Sharks are so
cool to watch as they slip through the water, so majestic and powerful. Experience (and science) tells us that sharks
are not patrolling the dive sites looking for tasty neoprene wrapped divers to
eat! <o:p></o:p></div>
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To that point, I came across this video on this very
topic. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-87844020897636525962014-10-12T14:12:00.003-07:002014-10-12T14:12:34.071-07:00I like it!<div class="MsoNormal">
If you tuned in last week, you read about my least favorite
diver behaviors. I really hate being
negative, though, and truly, I have no beef with 95% of divers I come in
contact with. In fact there are many characteristics that I find very appealing
in my fellow divers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Courtesy</b>: Well, duh!
It is so nice to be around divers who take pains to arrive in plenty of
time for boat departure. They ask
permission of the captain prior to boarding the dive boat, then board and
quietly, assemble their kit and stow the rest of it out of everyone’s way.
These divers are sensitive to the needs of others, such as families that want
to be seated next to each other, and are willing to move if needed. They do not
monopolize the divemaster, nitro analyzer or wash out tank.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Abiders:</b> These
divers go with the flow. They are likely
the ones whose air lasts the longest because they take things as they come
without getting mad or stressed. They
look for the silver lining in all situations. They don’t grumble about the
weather, the vis, the other divers.
Rather, they gravitate to the fun people and quietly avoid the Debbie
Downer types.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Fun lovers:</b> These should not be confused with pranksters
or people who take nothing seriously.
Fun lovers arrive at the dive site with a smile on their faces. They find positives in every situation and
their enthusiasm is contagious. Case in
point: Our Appleton contingent who instigated the “I say scuba, you say dive”
chant. While it is admittedly goofy,
when you join in on the chant you can’t help but smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Team Players:</b>
These are those helpful folks who are quick to share their defog or help
decipher a new dive camera. We have been
lucky enough to have some Team Players on a dive event with us who actually
went so far as to help change a tire! Team players want everyone to have fun
and work to make sure it happens. Team players are valuable assets to the dive
group who have much to share, but are careful to not to assault people with
unsolicited advice. Since they understand that there is no lone ranger on a
team, Team Players are not only helpful, but are willing to take help from
others.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Environmentalists:</b>
These divers know the limitations of their skills. They do not insist on attempting to hover 2
inches from the coral to get a look at something or take a photo. They take care to touch neither the flora nor
fauna underwater. They do not smoke and
toss their butts into the ocean. They
are careful to police the boat or dive site for stray refuse and take it away
where it will not pollute.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Researchers:</b> As
someone who plans a lot of dive excursions, it is great to when participants do
a little research on their own and offer some suggestions as to what dive sites
we should hit, what other activities are available, or where there is a good spot
to get pizza. The ability to propose a variety of ideas takes the pressure off
of me and likely leads to a more satisfying excursion for everyone involved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What qualities do you like to see in a fellow diver? Who
made a trip particularly fun for you and how did they do it? I would be glad to
hear from you! <o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-67283098822393306462014-10-05T13:38:00.001-07:002014-10-05T13:38:24.624-07:00Pet Peeves<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, as many of you know, I have been sitting here dry,
recovering from my shoulder surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
an effort to pass the time, I have been looking at other scuba blogs and I seem
to notice a reoccurring theme: Annoying Diver Behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure we all have our “favorites,” and the
following are mine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Space Hog:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is not a lot of room on a dive boat, so
it is imperative that each diver set up his gear and occupy as little space as
possible. Assemble your kit placing your gear bag beneath the bench, I place my
fins on the top of the bag for quick access. To further decrease my “footprint”
on the boat, I like to attach my mask to my BC shoulder strap and wear my boots
and wetsuit (pulled up to my waist.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Brief Skipper:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the boat briefing and the briefing for
the dive site contain important information. You may never need to know some of
it, like the location of the emergency oxygen or first aid kit, but if an
emergency does occur, do you want to be the idiot standing there with your
hands in your pockets, unable to help?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The dive briefing includes not only information about the dive site, but
also information on entry and exit procedures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You may be familiar with the site or the dive operation’s procedures,
but others may need to hear the entire briefing, so kindly do not prevent them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the divemaster is speaking, shut your
mouth and at least appear interested in the information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not only the polite thing to do, but
you may even pick up on something you hadn’t heard before. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Dawdler:</b> As
mentioned above, it is best to keep your gear in tidy order for the sake of
your boat mates, but this is also a strategy to aid you to quickly don your
gear after the dive destination is reached. If all of your gear is in one spot
you will not be that knucklehead rummaging through his bag for his flashlight
while everyone else is waiting in the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wisely use the travel time to get ready to dive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mr. First-in-Line:</b>
There’s one on every boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This diver
needs to be the first to board, often without first asking permission from the
captain or crew member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This diver wants
to be the first through swim- throughs, but often is not aware of his fins and
screws up the vis for everyone who comes after him. This diver wants the first
to get a look at anything the divemaster points out and then chases it a way.
This diver departs the boat and monopolizes the wash out tubs with his
gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scuba diving is not a race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When confronted with Mr. First-In-Line, I
just steer clear and you can bet that I will not be pointing out anything to
him until everyone else has seen it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Noise Maker:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the things I really like about diving
is the silence, but occasionally, it is necessary to get the attention of your
buddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where the quackers,
shakers and bangers come in, BUT FOR GOODNESS SAKE, if your buddy does not
respond after you have signaled to him, do not continue to make noise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swim over to them and tap them on the
shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is possible that they are
busy with something they found on their own, or they already saw the thing you
are pointing out, or they just cannot hear you. (This last one is what Mike
tells me all the time.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case,
respect the silence of the activity and restrain yourself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mr. Bad Touch:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sad to say that photographers, in their
pursuit of the perfect shot, are most often guilty of this crime. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The irony is that while this diver appreciates
the beauty of the ocean, he is ruining it by touching the coral or finning on
seafans each time he goes in to take a photo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Divers should not touch anything underwater, and should be especially
aware of where their fins are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One way to
really work on this is to dive in areas where the bottom is silty or otherwise
easily disturbed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Navigate for 40 kicks
in a straight line, maintaining a depth 1-2 ft. from the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 40 kicks, slowly turn around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are faced with a cloudy path back, you
know that you have some practicing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Given that the waters around here are getting a bit cold, you may not be
crazy about trying this out just now, but a good alternative is to participate
in a buoyancy clinic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As luck would have
it, Manta Divers has one scheduled for Jan 10 and 11, 2015.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A course like Peak Performance Buoyancy is
one that is worth taking more than once, as there are always little hints that
can be picked up through guided practice and coaching from your dive instructor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all need to continue to work on our
buoyancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One other note; if the dive
professional on your boat should mention that you need to be a little more
careful when diving, take it in stride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Remember that the health of the reefs directly impact the lives and
livelihoods of island peoples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The know it all.</b>
I always feel sorry for my newly certified divers because, once I set them
free, they are immediately assaulted with advice from divers with experience
who think they can improve on whatever the new diver’s instructor has taught
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would never say that diver
education is complete when the certification card in earned, but there is something
to be said for letting it all sink in and taking some time to apply what you’ve
learned without someone trying to set you on another path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your advice may be good, sound and valuable,
but is it wanted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a recent trip, my
son was the youngest diver on the dive boat, and since his parents have a dive
shop, most of his gear was fairly new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the “senior” divers assumed that he was a new diver and “kindly”
took him under his wing to impart his “vast” diving experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would guess that my son has logged many
more dives than this guy, but being the respectful person I raised, he nicely
listened and then let it all run off his back, but the guy really came across
as a boor and a know-it-all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
neighborly to help other divers and give opinions and advice, but only if it is
wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before giving advice, ask if the
person is open to hearing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they
are, they will be most appreciative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
they are not, then you have just saved yourself some time and bother. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We’ve all had our weak moments when we have been guilty of
some of these missteps, but the main thing is to try to avoid being “that
diver.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diving is fun, you are on
vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t’ race, relax and enjoy. <o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-977738062159595732014-08-31T14:45:00.003-07:002014-08-31T14:45:27.284-07:00BuoyancyHello Divers!<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Recently, a customer stopped in to inquire about purchasing a
120cuft tank for her husband. She
explained that she and her husband were newly certified divers and that her
husband consumed his air so much faster than her. In their travels to area dive shops, they had
been advised that he could even up his air time to match hers by getting a bigger
tank. While this definitely a solution, it is not the one I would have
suggested.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Poor air consumption can be tracked to poor fitness,
physical problems or lack of streamlining.
All of these issues need to be addressed to increase a diver’s air time,
but once issues are addressed, before I would suggest a bigger tank, I would
challenge the diver to address an even bigger cause of poor air consumption:
poor buoyancy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06fzHs2EyoRIP37GIdhw5v2eP-Zk-SpCDhBmf4JZvZzAfLw35KMq56E4zj1pmJULGTKjYnph0QJDVQq8x_lZe3H4MVABxTC2KbzaamgGCkH44_QgqPWRz7psFiAvvkOhlVVLx2Qjtsl-2/s1600/Cancun-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06fzHs2EyoRIP37GIdhw5v2eP-Zk-SpCDhBmf4JZvZzAfLw35KMq56E4zj1pmJULGTKjYnph0QJDVQq8x_lZe3H4MVABxTC2KbzaamgGCkH44_QgqPWRz7psFiAvvkOhlVVLx2Qjtsl-2/s1600/Cancun-011.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: start;">Good buoyancy leads to better air consumption and more comfortable diving.</span></td></tr>
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We’ve all observed this in action; one diver bicycling along
in the water and another flailing his arms like a windmill. Look for these two to be back on the boat
long before the rest of the group. The
quickest exercise for a new diver to do that will give immediate feedback as to
their buoyancy is to dive in a horizontal position with arms crossed in
front. If the diver cannot maintain his
depth in this position, then some adjustment must be made. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If they are sinking add air.
Wait a bit for the added air to equilibrate to the surrounding
temperature, then reposition: horizontal, arms crossed. Repeat this process until the diver can
maintain the desired depth with minimal movement. Of course, if the diver is too positive, air
should be dumped, but remember that it is possible to dump a small amount of
air. After venting a small amount of air, the diver should exhale, then reposition,
etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I look at things like getting ankle weights if feet are too
buoyant or bigger tanks when air consumption is a problem as masks merely
covering the underlying problem. Scuba is like any other skill or hobby. To be good at it, one needs to practice and
continuously learn better technique. Walter
Elliott said, “Perseverance is not a long race: it is many short races one
after another.” I think this describes the journey that all of us take to good
buoyancy. We persevere though out fin
pivots and hovering exercises in class and then, after earning our
certification, we continue on that course to perfection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you want a bit of coaching on your buoyancy, we suggest
the Peak Perfomance Buoyancy course, or participation in this winter’s buoyancy
clinic. You may also want to check out
this month’s Dive Training magazine and read their pointers for good buoyancy.<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-44673448209861742502014-08-24T07:38:00.001-07:002014-08-24T07:38:12.810-07:00A Shared Story<div class="MsoNormal">
I like to share my dive experiences, but I also enjoy
passing along stories I hear from other divers.
Ken Welch, someone who was a diver back in the day and who has of late
gotten back into the sport, (with remarkable zeal, I might add) shared this
experience via e-mail:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Dive Training Magazine states on
its cover that “A Diver is Always Learning.” I had a new experience on my
last dive. I had ascended from diving the bow portion of the Milwaukee
Car Ferry. I was performing a safety stop at 15 feet. There was not
much current but a NE wind had increased since we had descended. There
was a little pitching on the mooring line. Unfortunately I was a little
positively buoyant so I needed to use the mooring line to assist me in maintaining
my depth. My buddy was also hanging on the line 3’ below me. All of
a sudden upon taking a breath, I had a mouthful of water. I had a
mouthpiece in my mouth and could not immediately figure out what was going on.
I reached up with my right hand and found that there was no second stage
attached to my mouthpiece. I took the mouth piece out and switched to my
other regulator. Later that evening I inspected the mouthpiece.
Apparently the cable tie that holds the mouthpiece to the second stage
had broken and fallen off. The mouthpiece still had the impression of the
cable tie on its surface. What is interesting is that this regulator was
purchased new in January 2014. Cable ties used for this application have
a breaking strength of at least 50 pounds. Rather than break I think the
cable tie failed at the “tooth” that engages the serrations. The “tooth”
failure may have been assisted by my Miflex second-stage hose rubbing against
the “tag” sticking out of the “eye” of the cable tie in the choppy water.
I replaced the cable tie with one obtained from Lowes. I was unable
to reproduce the failure. I also ordered some Thomas and Betts cable ties
that conform to a Mil-Spec. I suspect that this one of those one in a
million types of events, but I have added inspection of the cable tie to my
pre-dive inspection. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Regards, Ken</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
experience teaches two lessons. First, when things go pear shaped during a
dive, calm heads will prevail. When
faced with a malfunctioning regulator, Ken did what all divers are taught in
open water class; Stop, Think and Act.
The first order of business was getting some air. He switched to his alternate air source. With
the immediate issue handled, the dive could continue safely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Second,
Ken investigated the issue and made adjustments to his pre-dive plan and
improvements to his equipment to prevent this problem from occurring in future
dives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes,
a good diver is always learning, from magazine articles, dive instructors,
personal experiences and the experiences of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-39083498808731743482014-08-04T08:31:00.005-07:002014-08-04T08:31:55.235-07:00Lake Michigan Dive<div class="MsoNormal">
With the short summers we have here in Wisconsin, everyone
does their best to make the most of the season.
We at Manta Divers are no exception. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On Saturday, 6 lucky
Team Manta members joined me on two Lake Michigan dives off the catamaran, Mai
Tai. I say the participants were lucky, but perhaps quick is a better
descriptor. This dive outing was booked
within a week of being posted on our calendar. We left McKinley Marina in
Milwaukee at 8am and headed out to the Prinz Willem and the Dredge, two of the
lake’s most popular wrecks. The lake was flat as could be, so the 40 minute cruise
to the site was particularly enjoyable. I enjoyed sitting on the bow watching
the sun climb in the sky, letting the lake breeze blow my hair.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Though the water was exceptionally flat, exceptional
underwater visibility was not a guarantee. However, when we got to “The
Willie’s” mooring, it looked quite promising.
We all geared up and entered the water, bracing for those first trickles
of frigid Lake Michigan to seep into our suits. (That is to say all of us but
the drysuit divers!) After checking
that everyone was squared away, we signaled to start the descent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is imperative in Lake Michigan that divers descend with
at least an eye on the mooring line. The thing is that there may be a mild
current and even if a diver thinks that he is descending straight down, he may
not. It is exceedingly easy to miss the
wreck all together, and not be able to find it at depth. Therefore, we made our descent along the
mooring line and soon were at 70 ft. looking at the stern of the Prinz
Willem. We could see almost to midship
from that vantage point, so we all knew we were in for a treat. We toured around the 258ft ship, now
encrusted in mussels and algea. With such great water clarity, divers were
better able to get a sense of the majesty of this ill-fated vessel. As the wetsuiters got cold, and others came
to the end of their air, the group ascended and ended the dive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1HJ9eyANE-dM6tLbng2Paj-NpHZJRHIbJIcaJgCsHtHkiQp7UJWWhSTp8mCo34mw3gL89v5frujkh3YsKsZ1twtHOU0YR5cfkm074-WRUw6OEqQ4WlgjiCdpAlHE8Wq0_QN8DY93Os2T/s1600/snapshot_016_Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1HJ9eyANE-dM6tLbng2Paj-NpHZJRHIbJIcaJgCsHtHkiQp7UJWWhSTp8mCo34mw3gL89v5frujkh3YsKsZ1twtHOU0YR5cfkm074-WRUw6OEqQ4WlgjiCdpAlHE8Wq0_QN8DY93Os2T/s1600/snapshot_016_Copy.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Scott Durban</td></tr>
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We sat around the charter boat discussing the dive and
rehydrating while Captain Rick ferried us to our next site, the Dredge No.
6. At the Dredge’s mooring, we could see
the top of out of the “spuds” for this upside down wreck, portending another
clear water dive. Again we jumped in,
checked that everyone was ready and started our descent. The Dredge is one of my favorite dives, with
its inverted position, all the spools and rope hanging underneath, and the huge
dredge shovel. On past dives on the Dredge, I had to piece together in my mind
what the whole thing looked like from small 10ft.snapshots, but on Saturday, we
could almost see it in its entirety. So cool!<o:p></o:p></div>
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We will definitely make some dates to do this again next
year, but believe me when I say to get your money in ASAP once the dates are
announced, or you will be missing out again!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-1018350608205719512014-07-27T07:54:00.003-07:002014-07-27T07:54:55.725-07:00Good Divers are Always Learning<div class="MsoNormal">
Good divers are always learning. This is what is printed on the front of every
Dive Training magazine, and exactly what we did one our recent trip to Mermet
Springs in southern Illinois.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Even if you are a very experienced diver, any change in
equipment or environment presents a chance to expand your scuba knowledge and
experience. Within the Mermet group, Jerry and Anthony had new BC’s, Sheryl was
working on mastering her drysuit skills, and Tater was diving in a drysuit for
the very first time. In addition, Mermet
Springs was new to all of us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first thing we did once we parked our trailer was get an
orientation to the dive park with Mermet Springs’ owner, Glen Faith. This dive
quarry is very well thought out. The covered pavilion that was reserved for us
was equipped an overhead fan, electricity and two gear tables with bungies for
securing our gear. Each training
platform is marked with a large white buoy, and each sunken attraction is
marked with an orange buoy. Each buoy
has a notation on it indicating what is below it and at what depth. In addition, under the water, all the
attractions are connected with ropes that have tags indicating what the next
thing is and how deep. It is impossible
to get lost! The main dock, which was just steps from our pavilion, was even
handicapped accessible with a lift for getting in and out of the water. With
that information, we felt ready to hit the water.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With all the new equipment, the first order of business was
to do a weight check. It is obvious that
a new or different wetsuit or drysuit will require a weight check, but even a
change in BC can effect the amount of weight required and its distribution. After fine tuning our weights, we were ready
to go. We decided to spend a little time
on a training platform to give everyone time to hover, check trim, and
generally become familiar with the location of all their dumps, buttons and
hoses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqMlFof44CBauh5wfmCS3tz4itcS6OlJk0d9uWNWMKCzIgWU-9LHrnrp2uo3AiALeJqWVeP4xpn7WuM6bgBe32sntklDnuSwZkUBrsIfDf3rOenlYeK2XaocWS2aNOswIq2Pklbd1CAyh/s1600/traincar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqMlFof44CBauh5wfmCS3tz4itcS6OlJk0d9uWNWMKCzIgWU-9LHrnrp2uo3AiALeJqWVeP4xpn7WuM6bgBe32sntklDnuSwZkUBrsIfDf3rOenlYeK2XaocWS2aNOswIq2Pklbd1CAyh/s1600/traincar.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the underwater check, we took off for a tour. Mermet is unique in many ways, but one really
surprising thing is that they have music piped in underwater. This makes it nice to swim around with
something other than your breathing to listen to. The underwater speakers also have a less
frivolous purpose as well; they serve as a diver recall system when needed to
reunite dive buddies. So, we swam along listening to classic rock, looking at
all the fun stuff. Our divers with new equipment played with their buoyancy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tater commented that at times he felt like he did when he
was a brand new diver. If you are used to being highly competent underwater, it
is a bit humbling to suddenly return to that awkward “newbie” state. However, there are definite rewards to be reaped
by challenging oneself and learning something new. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9uJUCsK9XTn4-iw2vlWnWkw1LSMXaqyGoLC1cWgdOGlAVFYEp89boYweb5GJo4eq6gQGCnK2EPdQbUuYzzLLv4iR6CzOP9PItz_yiEcrJCdj-B9mA53YehhAz4wDkYxdQEb-LWwtbp-t/s1600/spoonbill2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9uJUCsK9XTn4-iw2vlWnWkw1LSMXaqyGoLC1cWgdOGlAVFYEp89boYweb5GJo4eq6gQGCnK2EPdQbUuYzzLLv4iR6CzOP9PItz_yiEcrJCdj-B9mA53YehhAz4wDkYxdQEb-LWwtbp-t/s1600/spoonbill2.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, new divers long to get themselves to a state of true
comfort and confidence underwater, but once that comfort level is achieved, if
they really want to be good divers, they will find the next thing to challenge
and educate them.<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-46529197451308949942014-07-20T16:37:00.001-07:002014-07-20T16:37:37.541-07:00Hey Blogsters! <div class="MsoNormal">
Hey Blogsters!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was snooping
around on Scuba Board, an online forum for divers, and stumbled upon a quote
that really struck a chord with me. It stated, ”When training a new diver,
success is not them earning open water certification, success is seeing them
dive next year.” I wholeheartedly agree! If you have been reading the blog, or
were trained by Mike and me, you know we are constantly pushing local diving,
dive travel and divers gearing themselves so they can dive when they want. We
are not doing this to make money, but rather to truly ignite in our divers a
passion for this sport and to see that enthusiasm reflected in the faces of our
former students. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have had my share of students who signed up for class just
to dive on a trip, or to keep their buddy or girlfriend company, or for some
other reason other than their own passion. My job then is not just to inform
them about diving, but ignite in them a passion for the sport. In the
classroom, I try my best to get them excited about diving and dive travel. I impress on them the importance of staying
in “scuba shape,” and diving frequently.
For their open water certification dives, I go a step further. Rather
than take them to a murky water hole that is closer and more convenient for us,
we make an event that includes our students as well as certified divers out for
experience and fun. These spots may be a little farther away, but because they
are more of an underwater park, with interesting stuff sunk in them, (not to
mention water that is clear enough to make viewing these things possible) they
make a more enjoyable experience for the newest
divers. By certifying the divers
at one of our “events” the newcomer also sees how experience can be gained by
diving with a group of people who are helpful and work as a team. If we’ve done
our job well, we will make divers for life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We always are happy when newly certified divers decide to
come along on either our local or tropical dive trips and we love sharing the
experience with them. Even if they are not diving with us, I still like to hear
that they are diving somewhere with someone.
Nothing makes me happier than to hear dive adventure stories from former
students. In fact, I am constantly on the lookout for guest bloggers, or for
fresh photos for the shop’s FB page, and will happily publish your story. True adventure stories are the best to whet
the diving appetite of other divers! <u><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5a4a-3DqE2Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just certified two new divers today, and in a week, they
are off to Jamaica for diving. I can’t
wait to hear how their dives were and I sincerely hope to see them dive with us
a few more times this summer. That’s how
I’ll know if I did a good job.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
(P.S. A big sarcastic
“Thanks a bunch”, to Tater for getting me on Scuba Board. Now I’m really behind!!) <o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-50906110734146743142014-06-29T10:28:00.000-07:002014-06-29T10:28:01.687-07:00Stories from the Repair Bench<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubKcxEgZkCJJ5h9zxhmATovxitviT3g0L54f_9XCa2gBJenPk0le3V7Azx16EXmvsPyjvfJQ52Hx4S-30kfC5c4AIQ2v-W4ddgzOOs8JYxLr-H0WNwNHtCfXAx3e7c9Dvp64usHKOoobc/s1600/20140618_162626_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubKcxEgZkCJJ5h9zxhmATovxitviT3g0L54f_9XCa2gBJenPk0le3V7Azx16EXmvsPyjvfJQ52Hx4S-30kfC5c4AIQ2v-W4ddgzOOs8JYxLr-H0WNwNHtCfXAx3e7c9Dvp64usHKOoobc/s1600/20140618_162626_resized.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture #1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s always sad when divers bring me gear that can’t be
fixed or repaired, not because it got to be too old but because of improper
care. It’s also expensive. Take the
diver whose dive computer gave up the ghost prematurely. It didn’t have to happen. After close
examination it was obvious that the diver’s air integrated computer with quick
release had not been properly rinsed
after diving. ( see picture 1) Note the salt build up on the threads, O-ring
and the bayonet quick release. It was obvious that without proper rinsing the
salt dried the O-ring allowing salt and moisture to get into the computer. End of computer. You should always thoroughly rinse your gear
at the end of every dive day. If you have done repetitive dive over many days it’s
always a good idea to soak your gear overnight after washing it with
recommended shampoos. This is true in fresh or salt water. While the
aforementioned computer was the victim of salt water , fresh water can be just
as harmful. Improperly rinsing in fresh water grows harmful bacteria. Check out
picture #2. This diver regularly “Dipped” his regulator after diving to rinse
it. That green stuff in and around the mouthpiece is mold. I didn’t take
pictures of the interior but they were just as bad. It could have been avoided
by flushing the inside of the regulator with clean water.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy9b6sMkRB1ck-HzkHsYlDm49DZtC4OaaNGVccjHZSC-F2yTdYqoj9Ik_c0_91xlwx1qrEEn7Ly4BPHKv2H3hRQ6G554bVS5yStxxI0Xp3dW9d6tORwE_zRLh1z0icuSc_M8YL37JJ39d/s1600/20140412_143942_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy9b6sMkRB1ck-HzkHsYlDm49DZtC4OaaNGVccjHZSC-F2yTdYqoj9Ik_c0_91xlwx1qrEEn7Ly4BPHKv2H3hRQ6G554bVS5yStxxI0Xp3dW9d6tORwE_zRLh1z0icuSc_M8YL37JJ39d/s1600/20140412_143942_resized.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture #2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a lot of divers out there doing their best to keep
repair technicians busy. I was recently
talking to another technician from the Chicago area and we were both sharing
equipment horror stories. At one point he got out a box of little baggies
containing things that they had found in regulators over the years. There was
sand, gravel, hair, shells and plant to name a few. The best was the regulator
that a diver brought with the complaint that it that tasted funny. No matter
what tank he put it on the air had a horrible taste. My friend held up the
baggie t contained the cause of the bad taste. It was a frog the got up into
the regulator and after passing on dried to the inside of the regulator box.
GROSS! Remember, take care of your gear
and above all, rinse all frogs out of it!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
MIKE<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-7872932593769494752014-06-15T15:05:00.004-07:002014-06-15T15:05:44.933-07:00Fighting the Invaders<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, never let it be said that Manta Divers does not come
up with some really different activities for divers. If you follow the blog at
all, you will recall that yesterday was our day for picking weeds
underwater. We did and it was a
wonderful day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We left the shop at 7AM and headed out to Troy, WI and the
Nature Conservancy’s area on Lake Lulu.
While we were setting up our gear, Mike and Southeastern Wisconsin Land
Steward, Jerry Ziegler, set the dive flags to mark off the area where we would
be working to carefully remove invasive Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the dive flags set and our scuba kits assembled, we
boarded the pontoon boat and headed out.
Surface support included Jerry, Mike, Kathryn and Jerry’s intern,
Elizabeth. Their job was to keep an eye
on the divers, look for any stray EWM, exchange full collection bags for empty
ones, and make sure that boaters obeyed the law and stayed 100ft from our dive
flags.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJLNL_Tv_f85b1Xsvh2lDs2Vz1e_OJjG9hJguvk5UUIZIj-_LjOtj98Decyi9d5ghxbTkwZ4xFJ7X77Jvevzv5-Rc1YVXmW4bECafb3WBgszQ-hDEg9abBlhVZ1Dtmhu6BaIHedVOUGdc/s1600/DSCN0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJLNL_Tv_f85b1Xsvh2lDs2Vz1e_OJjG9hJguvk5UUIZIj-_LjOtj98Decyi9d5ghxbTkwZ4xFJ7X77Jvevzv5-Rc1YVXmW4bECafb3WBgszQ-hDEg9abBlhVZ1Dtmhu6BaIHedVOUGdc/s1600/DSCN0594.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <span style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Kathryn Elliott</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, underwater, Sheryl, Chris, Brandon, Ken, Tater
and I were diving in teams with one person carrying a mesh collection bag, and
the other diver picking milfoil. We were
to find the offending plants and carefully pull them out, trying to get the
roots as well as the rest of the plant. When we had our mesh bag full, we
called for Elizabeth and she paddled out in the canoe to take our full bag and
give us a fresh one to fill. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At first, it was slow going, with only occasional small
plants being found. I thought to myself, ”Wow, they really are winning this
battle!” I was wrong, though, because as we continued to sweep the lake bottom,
we were coming across large patches of the plant. When we found the patches, both divers would
pick, roll the long branches up in a bundle and place it in the bag. You can guess what happened as soon as we
started to pull up the plants. Good
thing for us, we would pick as long as we could, then move to another, clearer
spot, pick there and then return to the previous spot. Usually, the sediment cleared up enough that
once again, we could see more plants to pick and our buddy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meeting the other dive teams at the surface, we would
excitedly state that we “found the mother lode” and show off our bags. We all enjoyed finding the big patches and
clearing out so much milfoil. Jerry was really impressed with the amount of
weeds we removed, and was so excited to have volunteers with our skills. We were able to remove so much more than the
snorkelers he has had help in the past because we could stay down for 30-40
minutes at a crack.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcIKlo4UcEhYwR6pf6zX9rTqcSGUx68LONQzICpmp9fkVeOy0_WnWtZYDQfdXc_mzw1kzDFky9n0xvA2uNU5gOCIK_VxNczscZwouOV1u0FzvkcYbkgSNbQ1cUa7rZFTmPwhpslWesk9I/s1600/DSCN0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcIKlo4UcEhYwR6pf6zX9rTqcSGUx68LONQzICpmp9fkVeOy0_WnWtZYDQfdXc_mzw1kzDFky9n0xvA2uNU5gOCIK_VxNczscZwouOV1u0FzvkcYbkgSNbQ1cUa7rZFTmPwhpslWesk9I/s1600/DSCN0610.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <span style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Kathryn Elliott</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We dove for a couple of hours then broke for lunch, Mike
cooking brats and hot dogs, and the rest of us sharing fruit, chips and other
snacks. Fortified and rested, we then
swapped our tanks for fresh ones and hit the water again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a great day, fun and productive. The only negative thing was a run in with
some boaters who did not know that they were to stay 100ft from our flags and
who, when informed of the law, expressed great displeasure that we had the
audacity to take their spot in the lake.
The irony, of course is that we would not be doing this clean up if it
weren’t for then I the first place. They
bring their boats through the river channel into Lake Lulu from another lake
that has a EWM problem so severe that they have to use chemicals to control it.
The EWM gets wound around their props and when they reverse them in Lake Lulu,
the plants are deposited in the water where they float to the bottom, root
themselves and start a new patch. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83B5ahafDroT7rfJ7GDHTomOhdU5bx_TxbiYSTLT9UXjukmBMGOGvfVcQ6YHMCTzLmQ9JEqnDzshXsIsJtVTz_EG-23K-575t2x72vl2UIoEoPJ0k7u5Xgfip4u37OnL7Jok6hnz7ckff/s1600/DSCN0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83B5ahafDroT7rfJ7GDHTomOhdU5bx_TxbiYSTLT9UXjukmBMGOGvfVcQ6YHMCTzLmQ9JEqnDzshXsIsJtVTz_EG-23K-575t2x72vl2UIoEoPJ0k7u5Xgfip4u37OnL7Jok6hnz7ckff/s1600/DSCN0628.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <span style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Kathryn Elliott</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are self-absorbed idiots everywhere, but fortunately,
there are more people who are on board with trying to stem the spread of these
invaders, who participate in these clean-ups and have fun doing it! <o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-44113651639936549442014-06-08T15:10:00.000-07:002014-06-08T15:10:19.530-07:00Neal Skrenes: Six things to know about Dive & Travel Insurance<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2PAE_zK2MUmjXuTG3NkDXVI4xtImY8ZGe3c2kdUALFwNvj82TpWLPzA49EOkrsDayrA3soU4n1wSBiUwtt6AtsbzRUHJu9dBoveUS43WfesvxdSAE3kJD7xlsn3QOYLV9RWBzXpJEOLR/s1600/Lucky_TravelN_Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2PAE_zK2MUmjXuTG3NkDXVI4xtImY8ZGe3c2kdUALFwNvj82TpWLPzA49EOkrsDayrA3soU4n1wSBiUwtt6AtsbzRUHJu9dBoveUS43WfesvxdSAE3kJD7xlsn3QOYLV9RWBzXpJEOLR/s1600/Lucky_TravelN_Hat.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neal Skrenes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">After a
recent event that caused the cancellation of a dive trip three years in the
planning, Mike and Lisa asked me to write about my experience with dive and
travel insurance. So here are six things I think you should know about dive and
travel insurance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">1. Be
aware that Dive Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance are not the same thing,
and that many Health Insurance Policies may not cover diving-related injuries
or expenses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">I am a
firm believer in Diving Medical Insurance and have been a member of DAN¹s
Master/Premium diver policy since I first became aware of them in 1988. Other
divers belong to other programs; having coverage is more important than which
program you choose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Something
that not even all DAN members know, or understand, is that basic DAN insurance
IS NOT TRAVEL INSURANCE, per se.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">While
it¹s true that DAN membership also includes a form of travel interruption and
cancellation insurance, in order for DAN¹s medical evacuation policy to take
effect, you must be ill enough to require evacuation to make a claim. DAN trip
cancellation coverage only covers the DIVING-RELATED portion of your trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">For
example, if you booked a flight/room/diving trip to Bonaire and come down with
a cold or ear infection, only your dive trips on the boat would be covered by
DAN . . . because, according to DAN, you can still sit on the beach with a
cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">2. All
dive accident policies require care to be first prescribed by a medical
professional, documented in an itemized bill, reported to the insurer in a
timely manner and other important details. You¹ll need to follow your policy
rules to ensure coverage, not always an easy task in remote areas. Sick as I was, I knew I¹d need proof that I
had seen a doctor or visited an emergency room, so I asked for and obtained
copies of the doctor¹s notes and the bill for services and medications. I also
planned to see my own doctor as soon as I arrived home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">I think
the main thing that confuses some divers about DAN is that the trip cancellation/interruption
insurance included with DAN Preferred is that it applies only to diving-related
cancellations:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">"This
benefit pays for the losses described below that an Insured Person incurs for a
trip canceled up to the time and date of departure for a Sickness or Injury
that would substantially impair his or her ability to dive. " <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">But it's
not general-purpose travel insurance; it doesn't do anything for you if a
hurricane wipes out your trip, someone dies, there are travel delays, lost
baggage, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">3. As I
began traveling to exotic destinations, I realized I needed coverage over my
trip costs. Fortunately, DAN also realized this and offers "travel
insurance² packages through its website.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Note that
cancellation insurance must often be purchased and paid for within a specified
number of days from the date that the trip¹s first deposit is due to be paid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">4. You
aren't likely to need trip cancellation insurance if you're just getting into
the car and driving 50 miles to the beach (or quarry). However, if you¹re
planning a major dive trip that requires paying out a good deal of money and
flight time, it¹s something to consider and I hope my advice is helpful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">5. What
Good Travel Insurance Covers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Cancellation - You become ill and need to cancel your trip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Missed Departure - A road traffic accident or some other delay
causes you to miss your flight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Vacation Abandonment - Airport strikes cause you to abandon your
trip altogether. (Cancellation is the one of the more common reasons people
claim on their travel insurance policy); In my opinion, it's bad enough not
being able to go on your trip, without the added blow of losing the money that you've
shelled out, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Medical Expenses - You need to go to hospital, this can be very expensive
should you need surgery. Medical expenses can be incredibly high in foreign
countries; this is perhaps the most important reason for buying travel
insurance, and consequently is the most claimed against. Do no underestimate
how expensive medical bills can be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Baggage - Your bags get lost or delayed in transit and you need to
purchase new clothes to wear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Curtailment - There's an emergency at home and you need to go
home, cutting your trip short<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">6. Points
to Consider When Buying Coverage:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">A common
mistake is leaving travel insurance until the last<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Minute.
The best time to purchase your policy is as soon as you have booked and paid
for your holiday. By doing so, you¹re saving money should you need to cancel
your trip or if a strike is announced that disrupts your travel plans and you
need to make alternative arrangements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">Lost
Equipment Coverage generally covers only diving equipment that is worn on the
diver's person that is "cut loose" and is lost or damaged as a result
of a Covered Diving Accident. For full
coverage of lost diving equipment you should have separate sports gear coverage
added to your home or renters insurance policy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Consolas;">In my
case I was glad to have purchased both DAN Medical Insurance and DAN Travel
Insurance - though I missed out on some long anticipated diving I received
adequate compensation so that I did not lose most of my non-refundable trip
expenses.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-24127998259975217512014-05-25T15:00:00.000-07:002014-05-25T15:00:02.534-07:00I got my GOES card<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not a card issued by AARP that confirms my ability to
GO. On recent trips out of the country, Lisa and I noticed the Global Entry
lines. There were few people in them and
the ones that went into those lines moved through them in quick fashion. A friend who travels for his job told us we
had to get the GOES card and it would truly be worth the $100 you pay for the
application. After nearly missing a connection at the Miami airport due to
excessive slow moving lines, we decided to do it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGN7AUsPCHv9aJOhdCIk7iNw_dWbm71hkj4LKlwQlQyzYMWaQNmZ_6r2R5IIiAj4Qi9PZcKMOmV45N1NeSZwke3NotfD02Z9i-GaPDtAdIrCyr5zBmrgxyL6aWjSJLDqY7aSs-IHxRK037/s1600/global_entry_example.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGN7AUsPCHv9aJOhdCIk7iNw_dWbm71hkj4LKlwQlQyzYMWaQNmZ_6r2R5IIiAj4Qi9PZcKMOmV45N1NeSZwke3NotfD02Z9i-GaPDtAdIrCyr5zBmrgxyL6aWjSJLDqY7aSs-IHxRK037/s1600/global_entry_example.jpg" height="105" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
GOES is the acronym
for GLOBAL ONLINE ENROLLMENT SYSTEM.
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows
expedited clearance for pre-approved, low risk travelers upon arrival in the
United States. There is no minimum number of trips necessary to qualify for the
program. Participants may enter the United States by using automated kiosks
located at selected airports. To get a GOES card, you have to agree to divulge
a lot of personal information. Face it:
this information is already available to the government, so as someone with no
terrorist links or desire to conduct international illegal business, I don’t
have a problem laying it out for them.
You go to the Global entry website, (<a href="https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes">https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes</a>)
and register. After your application is
submitted and your check clears, you will get a letter directing you to make an
appointment for an interview. At the interview, you will be photo graphed and
your fingerprints are recorded. The
officer will question you about where you travel, what your occupation is, and
if you have any outstanding criminal charges.
Assuming you answer to the officer’s satisfaction and everything checks
out, you will be mailed an ID card in a protective sleeve to carry with you
when you travel. (The protective sleeve shields the RFID chip in the card so
your information can’t be accessed.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you receive and activate the card, you can add that ID
number to airline reservations to mark your travel documents to indicate that
you are a trusted traveler. This really
smooth’s the road through the airport! Once check in luggage is dropped off, GOES
participants proceed to the shorter Global Entry line to TSA check in. In that line, GOES ID holders do not have to
take off their belts and shoes, and the search is less invasive. A word to the wise, though, if, like me, you
have artificially parts that set off the metal detector; tell the office right
away. They will then direct you to the
front of the line for the millimeter scanner.
If you say nothing and set off the metal detector, they have no choice
but to perform the usual pat down.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At major international airports, they now have kiosks for
reading the traveler’s passport. GOES
participants have a special expedited line for this as well. Once your passport is scanned, it will print
out a “receipt” that shows your photo on it.
If there is an “X” over your photo, then you will have to talk to the
immigration officer. For a non-GOES
traveler, this is another line to wait in, but for the GOES traveler, you will
be put at the head of the line again and bypass all the waiting. This is a really good thing if you are
someone who has difficulty standing for a length of time, as this pass cuts
through all that and keeps you moving along. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On our recent trip to Utila Lisa and I both traveled with our new GOES cards
and it relieved much travel stress by allowing us to navigate the customs lines
so quickly. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
On our way back into the country and to our connecting
flight, we were also among the first people to get to the baggage claim and
back though TSA check in. (If only they
had GOES for luggage!) Getting our GOES card cost $100 but was a small
investment towards more enjoyable
travel.<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-79363188324689567252014-05-18T14:59:00.000-07:002014-05-18T14:59:10.526-07:00Tales of Tater: Dive Software Test<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the first things we learn as divers is to fill out
our log books. It's important to keep
track of the number and details of your dives especially as you progress with
more advanced training. I log each one
of my dives and include notes, sites dive buddies etc. The technical portions of the dives are
copied off of our dive computers. Items
such as depth, time, dive time, surface interval etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With modern dive computers comes the ability to communicate
from computer to computer. Now we can
download the information stored in the computer to a PC. What`s the point of that? Well actually there are several. I dislike
the process using my thumbs to navigate through the menu on the dive
computer. I would rather let the
computers do that. I also dislike
writing down all the technical details mentioned earlier. It isn't terrible but I prefer to do it all
at once when I feel like it rather than right after a dive. I also like the ability to tie pictures that
I've taken on a dive to the specific log off that dive. It makes them both more interesting
together. Finally the biggest reason to
do that is that I am a dive geek, in mathematical terms; Diver + Geek = Dive
Geek = Tater. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After spending some time on the Google machine to
investigate, I found one of the packages that sounded the best was called Dive
Log 5.0., the problem with it was the cost; roughly $50. As any tightfisted engineer would know, you
just don't plunk down some cash based on the marketing of a product. But a good manufacturer will understand that
and let you try it. I downloaded the
free demo and started to play with it. I
was not completely sold (Manta and/or my wife will enthusiastically confirm that
I don't buy anything quickly)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
$50 is a lot more money than my log book refills!! On the
other hand since I don't have any quarry fees, motel stays or dive refreshments
to buy until summer, $50 for a onetime fee doesn't see too terrible. In a weak moment I pulled the trigger and
ordered it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the features I like the best about the software is
the ability to connect my dive computer to the laptop and just download the
most recent dives. I simply connect the cable from my Suunto Vyper to the PC
using the provided USB interface cable, go to the download menu in Dive log 5.0
and press the button. Dives are
automatically added to the end of the existing dive log. You can then edit anything about the log
entry including the dive number. This is
a real must for several reasons. First
if you are like me you may want to enter a bunch of dives from before you got
the dive computer. Second, I don't
consider every dive that my computer logs to be a separate dive. Sometimes we just surface to adjust gear, get
our bearings, help a student etc.. I
often combine dives after they are downloaded.
I can take what the computer calls 3 separate dives of 3 minutes, 10
minutes and 15 minutes respectively and just modify the log into 1 dive of 28
minutes. If I take my dive computer into
a Manta Pool Session it gets logged as a dive and I can just delete that
one. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The details that are downloaded to a log will vary according
you your dive computer. A dive computer
such as the Atomic Cobalt provides a lot more information that does my Suunto
Vyper, but I have the ability to add to or overwrite any information that is
downloaded. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you have the dive information logged in correctly you
can really start to use the software as you like. I always like to add a few notes to each log
just as you would in a logbook version such as what fish you saw, who your dive
buddy was, visibility etc. There are a
lot of built in information in the software that you can use such as dive
buddies (which it keeps track of so you can just pick names or groups on
subsequent dives), Tank Pressure,
etc. You would sort of expect that in an
electronic log and it is all there. In
addition, there are categories of dives that you can use such as Night Dive,
Deep Dive, <span style="text-align: center;">Teaching, Leading, etc.
These items are also tracked for other uses. But wait, there's more!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One fun little tool is that you can use maps to track the
location of your dives. Not just say
'Pearl Lake' but you can attach an actual map location to it as you might with Google
maps. This information is also stored and can be selected on future dives.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another fun and/or useful things that the package does is
give you the ability to get statistics from the stored dive logs such as how
many of a particular type of dive, location of a dive, how many dives with a
particular dive buddy, how much total
time under water, number of dives in a location etc. Nothing like a nice graph to get a geek's
heart racing :)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Probably one of my favorite features is the ability to add
pictures to the dive log. I take a fair
number of GoPro pictures and while I sometimes make YouTube type videos out of
them, I almost as often grab snapshots out of the video. There is a drawback here that the software
does not support video. I spoke with the
developer and he is hoping to add that to future versions but for now it only
supports pictures. You can attach
pictures to each dive so that 2 years from now flipping through your log, you
can tie the photo to the specific dive and dive log information. I really enjoy this because I can now take
the pictures from say Cayman Brac and directly tie them not only to Cayman
Brac, but the specific dive, dive Buddy depth, dive site name etc. I find that connecting the picture with the
dive specifics makes the picture more interesting and also the dive log entry
more interesting by tying the memory all together. (This is especially helpful as I get old,
senile and get in more dives)</div>
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<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But wait! There's more!! Aside from the advantages of the software,
they have a working relationship with other software vendors for both Android
and Mac. Who cares? Well there is a big advantage there in my
book. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many of us have done dive trips to remote tropical
locations. One of the big problems with
flying with dive gear is packing. Weight and space for a dive trip are at a
premium and can be very expensive if you go over the restriction. Well one of the things I carry with me on
trips is my laptop. I have an older
15" Dell that I take mostly to use with my GoPro so I can download the
video. Mine weighs a few pounds and is
about 2 inches thick. What if I didn't
have to take it? What if I could use a
7" tablet and download save all of my video files to the tablet or a
memory stick? Well I can. And now I also have the ability to download
my dive computer to my tablet. Dive Log
5.0 works with an Android application called Divemate USB. I can load all of my electronic dive logs
(minus pictures) onto a cloud application called Dropbox and use it to transfer
all of my log information onto my Android tablet <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
as well as my phone using Divemate. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ho-XsBHS9yP88LeMnEJdttHV92-aNCrJKIQKADcN8Kyn4agUpWWwLEaLkx-o6mXCW9cM2kE5HEZWo0ZZmRLeCOBOxR5aqMhP1hggA3mu16Z_CrLbUHeVC1XxPQEBtQX5nZ_5wy5ETRsu/s1600/pic7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ho-XsBHS9yP88LeMnEJdttHV92-aNCrJKIQKADcN8Kyn4agUpWWwLEaLkx-o6mXCW9cM2kE5HEZWo0ZZmRLeCOBOxR5aqMhP1hggA3mu16Z_CrLbUHeVC1XxPQEBtQX5nZ_5wy5ETRsu/s1600/pic7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It is a separate application but holds all the same
information except the pictures (pictures can be added to but are not automatic
and I wouldn't waste the memory space).
It is two way sharing in that I can also use Divemate to download new
dives from my Vyper directly to my tablet and Divemate will allow me to
transfer the information back to my PC and the Dive Log software through the
Dropbox. Oh man Jimmy Ray you gotta be
lovin' this!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love the fact that I can use both packages for the same
information and each has some advantages.
For example Divemate has a built in feature of combining dives, which I
previously mentioned I do manually in Dive Log.
But I much prefer the Dive Log software because of the statistics and
generally more comfortable viewing on the larger screen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't claim this is for everyone and there are a couple of
drawbacks. If you want to log previous
dives to catch up to your current dive (which you do not HAVE to do) you either
need really good information or it can distort some of the statistics that it
produces. For example if you don't have
a detailed record of your tank pressure delta on a given dive or dives, it will
be included in your SAC calculations and can throw that off. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
If I lived somewhere I could dive 150-200 dives a year, I
might skip all the features and just use it because it was easier but since I
generally have several months of the year where all I can do is dream about
diving and re-live past dives, I really do like the product and messing around
to find all kinds of things such as number of dives at a given depth,
temperature, number of dives by month, number of dives with particular dive
buddies, training dives, night dives etc. as well as being able to put the
right pictures with the right dives. And oh boy, who doesn't like a good
graph?? But wait, there's more!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Call Manta Divers now and get a free air fill with any gear
purchase over $200 with one easy payment.
Yes you heard right, that's a $10 savings if you call now. Operators are standing by.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Photo Credit: All Photos in this blog post are the work of Scott Durban</div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-24544621917329934612014-05-11T09:27:00.000-07:002014-05-11T09:27:00.880-07:00Utila Part One<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey Blog readers!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Did you miss me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sorry about the lack of communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As you know, we were in Utila over Easter and the internet connection
was a bit spotty and, truthfully, I was really too busy diving to write!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that is a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did manage to post a couple of videos to
Facebook there showing a brilliant red sea horse, the Halliburton wreck and our
whale shark encounters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Utila is one of a few destinations that I never tire of. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is remote and fairly primitive compared to
places like Cozumel or Aruba, but that quality is what draws me there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially love staying at Utila Lodge, an
eight room all inclusive resort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
rooms are literally over the water, so guests can be lulled to sleep each night
by the sounds of the ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food
that is prepared there daily is not fancy at all, but is nutritious and well
balanced: salads, fresh fruit, barbequed pork, baked fish, shrimp, chicken and
other dishes sure to satisfy after a day of diving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The desserts, though, were a highlight, my
favorite, though were the snickerdoodles! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weather was fantastic: 87F plus on the land, and 83F in
the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kisty Engel, the resort
owner, is a friendly, fun person and was a wonderful host to our group. She and
her late husband, Jim pioneered diving in Utila, building the island’s first
dive resort, first hyperbaric chamber and setting up the first permanent
moorings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have much to thank them for
as this island has some of the most beautiful reefs and marine diversity
around.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I mentioned, our package included three dives per day
with two night dives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Willie, our dive
master, was great at spotting critters, such as mushroom scorpionfish, sea
horses, arrow blennie, decorator crabs, juvenile spotted drums and tiny hermit
crabs. Though dive leaders tend to ignore the sandy areas of the reef, Willie
showed us how interesting they can be by spotting tiny hooded sea slugs,
pipefish and a northern stargazer on our night dive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each dive was better than the last.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I’ll write more about our
adventure next time, but in the meanwhile, enjoy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RTvsQ3RSNM&feature=share&list=UU1kruFQg9G5rcs77QAAJJhw">this YouTube </a>of day one in
Utila. </span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-7992432240412940402014-04-13T14:37:00.003-07:002014-04-13T14:37:55.366-07:00Let the Schlepping Begin<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the
long winter over (I think its over.)I’m looking forward to the dive season
opening up. The schlepping begins well before the season though. What this
schlepping you say? I looked it up in
the dive dictionary:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Schlepping (sch-lep-ing) : the
logistics of the coordination, handling,
loading , unloading and movement of copious heavy dive gear, repeatedly. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So when you
help load the tanks, gear bags and other equipment into the dive van or trailer
your helping to schlep the gear. Schlepping is an integral to diving and is actually
part of the Dive Master training. Ask
Tater as he has completed his dive master certification. We can’t dive if the gear doesn’t get there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s a
lot of background to schlepping that most people never see. Start with filling
the tanks. It looks like you just hook up the tank to the fill whip and open
the valve. What you don’t see is the filler’s quick inspection to the tanks. It
is important to make sure that no damage that result in an explosive situation has
occurred since the last fill. All of our tanks get the mandatory annual inspection
every February. After the tanks are
filled, we stage the tanks for loading. Most of the summer, I load them
directly in the trailer after filling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When we load
the van and trailer a lot of thought goes into where the weight is placed in
the vehicles. In the van we try to keep
the combined weight of passengers, gear on trailer tongue weight below the
recommended tire load rating for the tires on the van. On my list to do this
spring is to take the van and trailer to Kenosha Tire to have the tires
inspected, much like you have you regulator and gear inspected. They may
determine that new tires will be in order. The same weight issues are considered in
loading the trailer. We try to balance the heaviest weight over the axle. We also pay attention to the distribution of
weight from the front of the trailer to the rear. Too much weight towards the
front of the trailer causes excessive tongue weight thus putting excessive
weight on the rear of the van and exceeds the load rating on the rear
tires. Too much weight towards the rear
of the trailer causes the tongue to lift the back of the van and the trailer
will sway back and forth. This shifts the weight of the cargo from one trailer
tire to the next. When most of the weight is shifted to one tire it exceeds the
recommended load and the tire overheats and blows out. In addition to balancing the loads,
inspection of the van, trailer and tires is a regular ongoing activity. I even
check the temperature of the tires at every pit stop with a PYROMETER while on
the road. However, even with the
balancing of the load and constant inspecting, occasionally you can still blow
out a tire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Oy2_wqLB0S1Sk2obLijt57L_e9bdlXbbpUZAzYH33lE_Hu2Jo-k7TFCq2Z5ZGvtT2xqnonl8jdaXthgYd50AqjNRp5mbnNFRXBly4Ymz-ZwDxerTTYHazxhW9_mANnOs1JH7tPH-m53X/s1600/IMG_0580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Oy2_wqLB0S1Sk2obLijt57L_e9bdlXbbpUZAzYH33lE_Hu2Jo-k7TFCq2Z5ZGvtT2xqnonl8jdaXthgYd50AqjNRp5mbnNFRXBly4Ymz-ZwDxerTTYHazxhW9_mANnOs1JH7tPH-m53X/s1600/IMG_0580.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Last summer on our way to recover the famous
Ghost Anchor of Butternut Lake we blew a trailer tire by Appleton. (We blamed
the blow out on the Ghost Witch of Butternut Lake. Legend states that she
placed a curse on anyone attempting to get the Ghost Anchor out of the lake.
Later that day she threw a deer at the trailer. That’s another story though.) We had been diligent on balancing the load
and checking the vehicles and tires but still had a blowout. On the trip the
tire temperature’s had been running between 105 to 110 degrees. The same temps
that we ran all the way to Ohio and back a few weeks earlier. As we were weighted just less than the Ohio
trip we determined that the blown tire must have picked up a nail or other road
debris and began to lose pressure. This
made the sidewall of the tire to bulge and flex caused the tire temperature to
increase rapidly exploding the tire. The tire blew with such force that it took
the fender right off the trailer. As the driver, I was happy that the load in
the trailer was evenly balance as it made keeping control of the vehicles and
getting off the road much safer. A few years ago I anticipated (as any good
schelpper would) that this could happen thus the tool box and spare tire that I
had welded to the front of the trailer. We were back on the highway in about 20
minutes. Just before we got back on the road I checked the tire temps on the
van and trailer. It was about 20 minutes after the blow out and they were about
100 degrees. The blown out tire was still registering well over 180 degrees. I
wonder what it was when it blew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the next
few weeks I will be picking up the trailer from storage. It’s been in a heated
warehouse during this nasty winter. Before the season starts I hope to finally
complete the interior and install some lighting. If I don’t get the interior finished and
lights installed you can still be assured the inspections will get done and all
safety issues addressed. It’s just part
of the schlepp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mook<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-46751068110378243492014-04-06T13:23:00.003-07:002014-04-06T13:23:51.412-07:00EWM<div class="MsoNormal">
Get a little stressed out when I hear reports about global
climate change, massive oil spills or ground water contamination. The stress,
in large part, comes from a sense of my inability to do anything to combat
these threats to our planet. I get
caught up in the notion of my smallness in comparison to the problem. What all
concerned citizens of Earth need to remember, though, is that every journey
starts with a single step. This year, my single step will start with working to
combat the invasion and establishment of Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) in Lake
Lulu.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EWM is a non-native
plant that is quickly becoming a problem for our lakes. It forms thick mats of vegetation on the lake
that can become tangled in boat propellers and oars. In addition, such thick plant cover makes
fishing and swimming less than enjoyable.
The invasive plants also grow so dense that larger fish cannot penetrate
them to lay their eggs. Left unchecked, the EWM over takes the plants native to
the lake, removing an important food source for wildlife and aquatic birds. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyone who fishes by boat or owns or rents lake property has
heard of the campaigns to get people to inspect their boats carefully before
and after launching them to avoid transporting the invasive plants from one
lake to another, but this has met with small success. In 2009, Jerry Ziegler of the Nature
Conservancy and Tim Gerber, a Professor of Biology at the University of
Wisconsin-La Crosse, started working on stopping the spread of EWM in Lake Lulu
in Walworth county. They arranged
outings with Biology students during which participants dive down with snorkels
or scuba and carefully remove the invading plants. Support crew help to bring the plucked plants
into the boat and keep an eye out for any loose pieces of the plants that could
replant themselves. The bad thing is, that the EWM is not that easy to
eradicate. It grows back. Tim then got the idea to spread bio
degradable mats of mesh woven with native plants such as pond weed on the lake
bottom where the EWM was removed. This is a very promising weapon in this
battle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I became interested in this after I read an article about it
in the Milwaukee Journal- Sentinel. I
e-mailed Tim and asked if I could join his mission with a group of divers from
my shop. He told me they would be very
appreciative of the help, so we made a plan to meet at the lake on June 14 for
weed picking and whatever else he needs us to do! (He’d like a little recon,
perhaps with photos of an area at a depth of 40ft.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I already have several volunteers and I hope to have a
strong showing from Manta Divers. Mike
and I have decided that we will provide tanks for the group, as well as bring
our portable gas grill. Our divemaster, Tater has offered to bring his gas
grill, too. Participants need only bring
their gear and whatever they want to eat (cook on our grill) and drink that
day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hopefully, we will all end the day with a feeling of
accomplishment for the good we have done for the environment, in addition to
the knowledge that we needn't sit back and do nothing. We are all capable of taking that first step
toward a healthier environment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a video on the topic, click <a href="http://youtu.be/CfsEDyAwQP4">here</a>. </div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-74811962966844992002014-03-30T11:44:00.002-07:002014-03-30T11:44:51.809-07:00Spring is such a cruel season!<div class="MsoNormal">
Spring is such a cruel season. It teases us with bright
sunny days that are 20F, then turns up the heat, but only on days that are
cloudy and raining. I know there are plenty of divers out there who have keep
active all year with travel or ice diving, but most are just waiting hopefully
for the warm days to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given that we’ve had one of the longest and coldest winters
in years, the lakes will certainly take their sweet time warming up. I guess that is why so many people are
pulling the pin and purchasing a drysuit this year. I’ve written about drysuits and drysuit
diving before, but if you missed it, a drysuit acts like a big ziplock bag that
has seals around the diver’s neck and wrist to keep water out. Boots are attached as well, so the diver’s
feet do not get wet. Under the suit, the diver wears his regular clothes and an
undergarment that is like a snowmobile suit or a thick fleece. Underwater, air
is added to the suit for buoyancy, to counteract the squeeze from the water and
to keep the diver warm. The only parts
of the body that are exposed, then, are the head, usually covered with a hood,
the face and hands, either in neoprene or dry gloves. The whole get up makes for a pretty toasty
dive!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you don’t have a drysuit, though, it does not mean you
can’t dive early or late in the season.
It just means you will prepare differently. Of course a thick wetsuit, 7-8mm, as well as
thick hood, gloves and set of boots are a must. If these items fit properly,
the diver need only suffer an initial shock as the cold water seeps into the
suit. Once in there, the body warms the
water and there should be little exchange of water after that. One technique that also can help is starting
with warm water in your suit. Bring a
cooler with warm water to the dive site and pour a cup or so into your suit.
This will keep some of the cold water out.
Be sure that the water is not too hot, or you will be colder in the long
run. It is nice to use the warm water at
least on your hood. I usually keep my
hood in the warm water between dives, then my head always stays warm. Between
dives, be sure that you can warm up.
Bring a thick coat or windbreaker and a hat. Hydrating with something warm is also a good
strategy. Peal your suit down and get dry. Stay out of the wind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am anxiously looking forward to diving this year. I hope you are too. Now is the time to get
ready. Check out your gear, order that
drysuit and maybe get time to practice in the pool. Spring is in swing and
summer is not that far off!<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-69317081941774090772014-03-23T13:56:00.001-07:002014-03-23T13:56:25.878-07:00Liveaboard!<div class="MsoNormal">
When Mike was taking his tank inspection course, he met a
woman who had a truly dream job. She was
the dive shop manager, repair technician, medical officer, divemaster and
instructor on a 220 ft. private luxury yacht. As he was relating her story, I
was thinking about how cool it would be to just tour around in a boat, diving
all day long and being rocked gently to sleep nightly by the waves. In April,
2015, will be doing exactly that! We are
planning a shop trip to the northern Caribbean, spending a week aboard the
Caribbean Explorer II.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We will either fly into <a href="http://www.stkittstourism.kn/love-st-kitts-diving-fishing.php">St. Kitts</a> or St. Maarten, depending
on the liveaboard’s schedule at the time we arrange our air flights. We will set sail the afternoon that we
arrive, making our way to the first island. We will enjoy up to 5 dives per
day, truly living the diving lifestyle.
We need only don our gear, which will remain assembled in our spots the
whole week, and stride into the ocean.
The crew will refill our tanks with air or nitrox right in place between
dives, so no lugging gear to a locker, no assembly and disassembly. Meals and
snacks are prepared and ready for us each day by the crew, so no debating where
to go for meals, or hassle of cooking something. In other words, just the fun stuff of diving
with none of the work! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The cabins, air conditioned and clean, are compact but there
is no need for many outfits on this trip because we will mainly be on the boat,
barefooted in our shorts or swim cover-ups. I have 4 cabins on the main deck
and 2 below reserved for all those who sign up before August 1. After that, choice of cabin will depend on
what has not been sold by the Caribbean Explorer themselves. There is a deck
for sunning and relaxing between dives and star gazing at night. Best of all, there are no bugs! (At last, I
will not have to douse myself with bug repellent between dives!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Named the Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean, Saba, is breath
taking; a volcanic island rising steeply out of the ocean to touch the wispy
clouds. Saba’s volcanic history is evidenced by underwater lava flows and hot
springs. Reefs are home to schools of tropical fish and deep water sea mounts
attract pelagic creatures that are not often seen by divers. They have year round
diving on Saba, with water temperatures varying between 77F-84F. Visibility, which of course can be influenced
by weather and rainfall, but it typically clears quickly. The typical vis ranges from 60ft to 100ft.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Due to its steep topography, Saba has resisted development,
so liveaboard divers willing to give up a dive, would do well to explore this
spot on land. Exploring either on foot or in a car, you will be treated to
spectacular views from the peaks of the island and get a glimpse of what life
was like in the very early history of the Caribbean islands. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our other destination is St. Kitts. With a quarter of its
land set aside as a national forest, and a rainforest that is actually
EXPANDING, this island is also worth missing a dive to check out. (Again, with 5 dives per day, there will be
plenty of underwater time.) The diving here is spectacular as well, and
somewhat shallower on average than the Saba sites. The volcanic formations here make fun
swim-throughs and underwater mazes with something to discover at every turn. There are several wrecks, such as M.V. Talata,
which was sunk 15 yrs. ago and St. Kitt’s signature dive, the River Taw, sunk
by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am always looking forward to my next dive, wherever that
may be, but I must confess that I am particularly excited about this trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-64631155386924437912014-03-16T19:42:00.003-07:002014-03-16T19:42:50.201-07:00Rescue Diver<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hopefully, since we are now getting
short glimpses of spring, divers are starting to plan for outings and courses
for the summer. Open water divers will
want to schedule their adventure dives for Advanced Open Water. For those who
want to delve more deeply into a particular dive experience, specialty courses,
such as Underwater Navigator, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck diver and Night
Diver are your ticket. But if you are a
diver who really wants to stretch his skills and expand from caring just for
himself to caring for others, then Rescue Diver is the course you want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are many reasons people give
for wanting to take the Rescue Diver course beyond just a stepping stone to
Divemaster or instructor. For example, a
diver may have a child or loved one as a dive buddy, or they are the most
experienced diver in their group. These
divers feel that others are relying on them to be ready to help if there is an
emergency, so they want to prepare themselves.
Sometimes, the diver was a witness to an emergency and didn’t like
having to stand around not knowing how to help and have vowed to be ready the
next time. Whatever the reason a person
takes the Rescue Diver course, they always come away saying that it was the most
challenging and rewarding course they have taken. As an instructor, it is so rewarding when a
former student shares a story of how their training kicked in at the
appropriate time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6y8iX3chrZetTvpA70DejJTkzJ6JSFZytuoqXmZ2D1Q2YxyLOOOfdfSww3i9F_m2nbPpFx-g8AiLCyaSyyjEQzr8hufVCEoXzppzCZLHfPLtInsmdngPph7RZgGqF7FsUEbaxmB5OKKx/s1600/rescuediver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6y8iX3chrZetTvpA70DejJTkzJ6JSFZytuoqXmZ2D1Q2YxyLOOOfdfSww3i9F_m2nbPpFx-g8AiLCyaSyyjEQzr8hufVCEoXzppzCZLHfPLtInsmdngPph7RZgGqF7FsUEbaxmB5OKKx/s1600/rescuediver.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is an excerpt from an e-mail we
received from Sarah Barrett, a student of ours who has recently earned her dive
instructor certification in Florida:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Two
days before our divemaster course was over, we were teaching an open water
class with two open water students: Sam, who was 67, and actually his dad who
was probably in his 80's. We had done some of their confined water skills in
the morning, and then in the afternoon we took them both out for the open water
dives. On the second dive towards the end, I looked over upon ascent, and Sam
was signaling to another kid in my class that he was out of air, although you
could see he was still breathing from his primary. Aaron, the kid in my class,
gave Sam his alternate anyway, and they ascended together. Once we all got to
the surface, Sam spit his regulator out of his mouth and started yelling
"It felt like I wasn't getting any air!" over and over again, so we
calmed him down a little and said it was time to swim over to the boat. While
on our way to the boat, we were holding onto the mooring line, and Sam tried to
grab a piece of it, but over and over again would grab the air-we immediately
knew something wasn't right. Claude, my divemaster instructor, said "Sam
are you ok?" and Sam kept saying "No." Before we knew it Sam had
put his head back in the water and fell unconscious. Me and Aaron immediately
started towing Sam back to the boat as fast as we could, while Claude removed
his weight belt, and we unclipped his gear as we got closer to the boat. Claude
yelled to the captain that we had a REAL emergency, and I yelled at the first
mate to get the O2. This was the scary part-Sam's face was so blue it scared
the living crap out of me. I had never seen anyone look that blue before. As I
kept Sam's airway open, we all lifted him onto the back of the boat (and he was
probably 250 so it wasn't as easy as it sounds.) We then got him onto the boat
and gave him oxygen right away, and within a minute or two he was able to open
his eyes and tell us that he was ok. After we got back to the canal obviously
we had to meet the ambulance and the coast guard, and Sam was taken to the
nearest hospital. He is ok and his dad, Jim, actually came back the next day to
finish his open water.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Needless to say I was blessed
to have had my rescue training with you guys, because right when Sam went
unconscious, I didn't think, I just acted. It felt amazing to have helped
actually save someone's life, and I just wanted you two to know that you did an
amazing job in preparing me for a situation like that. I'm also glad it had such
a good ending and that Sam was okay!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The course starts with the
prerequisite Emergency First Response course.
In the EFR course, the student learns first aid, CPR, AED and oxygen
use. During this course we start to
introduce some diving scenarios in order to start participants thinking how
these skills apply in a diving situation.
Moving into the actual Rescue Diver course, we spend a couple of nights
in the classroom working our way through the manual. Then the fun begins! We
spend an entire day practicing rescue skills and playing out some situations
with the help of volunteer “victims” in open water. The next day, we return to the open water
where the instructor and volunteers set up real life scenarios that the Rescue
Diver candidates must react to and act upon. Scenarios are played out until
each candidate responds appropriately and with confidence. It is exhausting and exhilarating at the same
time! Best of all, successful candidates earn not only the certification card,
but the coveted Manta Divers’ red touque.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Emergency First Response course is
scheduled for April 1 & 3 at 6:30 at the shop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rescue Diver course is scheduled for
May 20 & 22, classroom, June 6 & 7 open water training.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-19928132362120445272014-03-09T10:55:00.000-07:002014-03-09T10:55:15.470-07:00The Six Things of Regulator Maintenance<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently my repair area has been really busy. Good divers
want to make sure their gear is well maintained and working well when you need
it. The number one piece of equipment divers want to keep well maintained is
your regulator for obvious life support reasons. It amazes me that from time to
time I will get a regulator in that hasn’t been serviced in years yet the diver
has been diving with it right along. The “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” idea
just doesn’t fit with regulators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
if it hasn’t been used for a couple of years your regulator should be serviced
as o-rings, seats and poppets can dry out and fail when you’re diving. Not the
surprise that I want at 60 ft. So her it goes: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Six things you need
to know about regulator maintenance.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Number 1 <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Have
your regulator inspected every other year and rebuilt in the years between
inspection years. This is the schedule recommended by most regulator
manufacturers. If a regulator if in a high use situation it’s recommended that
the regulator is serviced more frequently. There are exceptions such as the
Atomic T3 regulator, which requires rebuilding every 3 years or 300 dives. When
your regulator is serviced make sure that the tech uses only manufacturers
parts kits AND that they change all the hose O-rings as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBcHZjxWVW-LEwUc1_HIE-LWA3BlDTB5CMOoO9N0fcg2lM2c64jASOimxKnJ3kEnAmKOOFLzS9FMzLoPWgiP9RRppotDH8v0XoPUzv2hSmnr-bSQG47AWFOpqe9iMSnvvw71B0-w20-cf/s1600/Disasembled+second+stage..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBcHZjxWVW-LEwUc1_HIE-LWA3BlDTB5CMOoO9N0fcg2lM2c64jASOimxKnJ3kEnAmKOOFLzS9FMzLoPWgiP9RRppotDH8v0XoPUzv2hSmnr-bSQG47AWFOpqe9iMSnvvw71B0-w20-cf/s1600/Disasembled+second+stage..jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Number 2<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Manufacturers
don’t require that the tech replace the exhaust vales as part of the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rebuild of the second stage and octo. It’s
recommended that the tech inspect them and replace them only if they show signs
of wear or they are leaking. I replace them every time I rebuild, since as with
O-rings, they are made of silicone or rubber and dry out with time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAVz3Vo_5wKHXQ_v50792lY1Ac9d_CF244wU07IDDcVlX9jdig-RW2qkKnbx04rS5Znc-vi81QHSV1qcmjD2HaGbT6KsKPXln0YuWg85CpO6QBkyF9wG-B_08pwN-9_8HFwlo5HIkN040/s1600/second+stage+exhaust+valves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAVz3Vo_5wKHXQ_v50792lY1Ac9d_CF244wU07IDDcVlX9jdig-RW2qkKnbx04rS5Znc-vi81QHSV1qcmjD2HaGbT6KsKPXln0YuWg85CpO6QBkyF9wG-B_08pwN-9_8HFwlo5HIkN040/s1600/second+stage+exhaust+valves.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Number 3<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Although
the manufacturers mostly call for the second stage diaphragm to be replaced
only when they are torn or deformed, I replace the diaphragm on every third
rebuild. Again, like the O-rings and the exhaust valve it’s made of silicone
rubber and can dry out and fail. They cost about $12 and I don’t charge
anything to install. That’s $2 a year for peace of mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTCfyGpL2bg2McKvOzAAlzgCr-q_3K1lP8FKnVNiJQaDi0kEYO8uAe8UQ1YlR9jlA_I5phV54n67sGz5OZ6lX-02E-attB2LKERPugyCSNTp93iCy3e2VJQSORCmXwimyjtTLw4ZqUFIz/s1600/Second+stage+diaphram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTCfyGpL2bg2McKvOzAAlzgCr-q_3K1lP8FKnVNiJQaDi0kEYO8uAe8UQ1YlR9jlA_I5phV54n67sGz5OZ6lX-02E-attB2LKERPugyCSNTp93iCy3e2VJQSORCmXwimyjtTLw4ZqUFIz/s1600/Second+stage+diaphram.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Number 4<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
More
and more of our divers are using comfort swivels on their second stages and HP
Quick disconnects for their computers. Both of these upgrades have O-rings and
need to be serviced at the same time as your regulator. It shortens your dive
if there is steady stream of bubbles coming from your swivel or QD.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0grrg9TWgjCKMfiMjHxNMs5N4mRma51U-X_E6Nk5J0I7GsjjuJOBFw_ONKAe5V0hLkYfQJALSXK5JTfgZ-isbrFGMRcjowjvQ0nfP5-BItrKa1hwWFcaVI5b-FoMdsdLdENg-mgJfTN76/s1600/Second+Stage+Swivel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0grrg9TWgjCKMfiMjHxNMs5N4mRma51U-X_E6Nk5J0I7GsjjuJOBFw_ONKAe5V0hLkYfQJALSXK5JTfgZ-isbrFGMRcjowjvQ0nfP5-BItrKa1hwWFcaVI5b-FoMdsdLdENg-mgJfTN76/s1600/Second+Stage+Swivel.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Number 5<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
What’s
an HP air-spool and why should you be concerned about it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An air spool is a tiny pin between your High
Pressure gauge and your HP hose. It has two little O-rings that seal the
connection. It’s not typically part of the regulator rebuild or the rebuild kit
I change them N/C with every rebuild. It adds security that you won’t have a
blow out and have to miss a dive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Kg9YHwq3iw9Ll634BO1rNu4cc72k2i1-H11M_Tmn6Awgf2C0j3fdcuMgT5MvrzjxQ15Od8DQT_Ao_iR5M0zDexvz3coO5BN2116K40UNqx5PzvUHkC7tmFBEdyNPFEbfrKOg84ICahDN/s1600/Low+pressure+hose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Kg9YHwq3iw9Ll634BO1rNu4cc72k2i1-H11M_Tmn6Awgf2C0j3fdcuMgT5MvrzjxQ15Od8DQT_Ao_iR5M0zDexvz3coO5BN2116K40UNqx5PzvUHkC7tmFBEdyNPFEbfrKOg84ICahDN/s1600/Low+pressure+hose.jpg" height="150" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Number 6<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Even
if you haven’t done a lot of dives during the year you should change the
battery in your computer at least once a year. Every year and absolutely before
a dive trip. The cost before the trip is less than having to rent a computer
during the trip. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83vbh7BqwjoY2MpA01f1E2YGsSdKASP9S2clnq3D2rvmWrFNoBy7SIrdDYZS_rwkkmttBt67gI9qfmLpPmlhfHFhPTyytz5QYnHUSUmGU6W7agwgQRczEJECb-r833_QeZb1Dtq0HeSrA/s1600/Dive+computer+battery+kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83vbh7BqwjoY2MpA01f1E2YGsSdKASP9S2clnq3D2rvmWrFNoBy7SIrdDYZS_rwkkmttBt67gI9qfmLpPmlhfHFhPTyytz5QYnHUSUmGU6W7agwgQRczEJECb-r833_QeZb1Dtq0HeSrA/s1600/Dive+computer+battery+kit.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the six things to think about on servicing your
regulator. If there was a seventh, I would say don’t wait until the week before
your trip or the beginning of the season to get your regulator in shape.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Mike (mook)<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-28888602743477387482014-03-02T08:53:00.001-08:002014-03-02T08:53:21.138-08:00PADI Revised Course Part<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week I shared a few of the changes in the PADI open
water course. My goal was to highlight a
few of the added skills and encourage all divers to think about their own dive
experiences to see if practicing these would make them better and safer divers. This week, I am sharing a few more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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PADI, and in fact all scuba training companies, place high
importance on good buoyancy. It is the
heart of the art of scuba diving. After
open water certification, continuing to work on buoyancy will improve a diver’s
confidence while going a long way to help preserve the environment. In addition to having students do more of
their skills at neutral buoyancy rather than at the bottom of the pool or on a
training platform, special attention is paid to trim for scuba diving. Trim is a diver’s orientation and balance in
the water. Ideally, a diver should swim comfortably in a horizontal position in
the water. Even a properly weighted
diver can have poor trim. In the revised
course, we will spend a bit more time addressing trim and helping the divers
learn optimal distribution as well as the amount of weight they need. One way to work on this is to hover in a
horizontal position, without swimming or sculling. If you roll to one side, legs drop, or fins
rise, you will have a clue as to how your weight should be redistributed. Make
small adjustments until your trim is perfect.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUu1pwS38nHXnrdVZ96Q4IAfDb42heYa8NjnQXRZEbOv3V6dRo40Z9DSsIS0sBfOaAUnk5J1naCLwG63v1c3PbCLwPA2GmDiy5ubRiFE5O8DjYWBcS1S5m6yJH99vcrBwRUzVT3nsH7rK/s1600/FRINK_SOS_InUse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUu1pwS38nHXnrdVZ96Q4IAfDb42heYa8NjnQXRZEbOv3V6dRo40Z9DSsIS0sBfOaAUnk5J1naCLwG63v1c3PbCLwPA2GmDiy5ubRiFE5O8DjYWBcS1S5m6yJH99vcrBwRUzVT3nsH7rK/s1600/FRINK_SOS_InUse.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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One thing I always harp about is keeping the mask on and an
air source in your mouth at the surface. This is habit is given renewed
emphasis in the revised course. This is a simple and obvious thing that goes
miles to prevent panic at the surface. A
case in point was on our recent trip to Curacao. During the entire week, the seas were
rough. If we had to wait at the surface
for any length of time pre or post dive, we were splashed and sloshed in the
waves. Divers who did not keep their snorkel or regulator in their mouths drank
a quite a bit of seawater, which can make for a very upset stomach. Worse, if
divers took their masks off, their eyes were soon stinging from salt. This discomfort can be the tipping point for
a diver who is feeling nervous and can lead to panic. Remember the good habits you
learned in open water class and keep your mask and air source in your mouth
until you are on the boat or safely on the shore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The last thing I want to blog about is use of a surface
marker buoy (SMB). I ask every customer who is purchasing gear if they have a
“noodle,” an inflatable tube that can be used to make you a bigger target for
any nearby boat. There are many
situations in which an SMB is key to a diver’s safety. For example, if a diver
fails to navigate accurately and surfaces far from the boat, an inflated
surface buoy will make it easier for boat personnel to keep track of him until
they can come a pick him up. In
addition, while waiting at the surface, the SMB will help to make the diver
visible to other boats that may be passing by, sometimes at a great rate of
speed, not expecting to see a diver at the surface. If a diver is swept away in
a current, he can inflate his SMB so that the end of it is at the surface,
allowing the boat to track him more easily. Anyone who’s seen the movie Open
Water or read in horror any of the stories of diver’s left at the surface for
any length of time needs to know the small purchase and use of an SMB can mean
the difference between death and survival.
In the revised PADI course, divers will practice deploying the SMB. If you don’t already have an SMB, buy one for
yourself and your dive buddy before your next dive.<o:p></o:p></div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-60680041005093086292014-02-16T16:29:00.002-08:002014-02-16T16:29:37.595-08:00New PADI SkillsIf you are not a dive professional, you probably did not
hear that PADI, one of the world’s biggest dive training organizations, has
revamped the open water course. In
fact, you probably wonder why you should care about it, and why I would bother
to bring it up in a blog for already certified divers. I have to admit that I
was grumbling quite a bit as I read about the added skills, but upon further
reflection, I see the value in real world diving, not just for the
inexperienced person. So I’m
sharing highlights of these “new” skills, in a two part blog, in the hope that
if you, as a diver, are not proficient in them, this will give you something to
practice this summer.<br />
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The first thing they added was emergency weight drop. In
this exercise, the student, while at the surface, drops her weight pockets to
experience the increase in positive buoyancy. It first, I thought this was a complete “duh.” Who doesn’t
know that if they drop their weights, even with no air in their BC, they will
rapidly become positively buoyant? Well, there is no teacher like
experience. I tried it on a couple
of recent students, setting up the scenario: You surface out of air, help is
not near, and you are exhausted, feeling panic rise. I instructed, in that situation, that their best course of
action would be to drop your weights. I reminded them that we talked about this
extensively in the classroom and they of course understood that they would
instantly be bobbing much higher in the water after this. To my surprise, after
they dropped their weights they commented in surprise, “Boy I had no idea this
would make that big of a difference”.
I believe that this exercise made an impression that will stay with
those divers and will better cement the option of dropping weights in an emergency.
They are less likely to be victims because they did not avail themselves of this
simple solution for buoyancy.</div>
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Another additional skill is responding to a loose
cylinder. Again, I thought all
divers will undoubtedly have this happen to them or their dive buddy at some
point in their diving careers, but this is something a diver can figure out on
his own. However, the pointers
that an experienced instructor can give students on how to remedy this
situation, as well as actually doing it underwater, can go a long way towards
instilling confidence in the divers’ own readiness to dive away from the
careful eye of the instructor. The
only thing I wish they would have thought of, would be adding the sign language
used to communicate the problem and solution. I plan to add that to my course, though.</div>
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Lastly for this blog, I will share the air supply awareness
skill. Students are required to
know their air pressure, without looking at their gauges, within 200psi when
the instructor asks them. How many divers think they can do that? Have you ever been surprised at the
amount of air you have in your tank? The point of this skill, obviously is to
ingrain a habit in the diver of looking at their gauges and being constantly
aware of where they at with their air. It is often the case that once a diver is
certified, he becomes lax, knowing that he will not have to “do tricks” for
anyone. This is where it can get
dangerous. The diver starts having fun, looking here and there at all the life
around them, enjoying the freedom of the underwater environment, until suddenly
he remembers his gauges and he may find himself low on air and far from his
exit point. Hopefully, this new batch of divers will have developed a healthy
habit of monitoring their air closely and they can enjoy all the things the
underwater world has to offer without lapsing into carelessness. It is in ever diver’s interest that the
sport maintains its exceptional safety record.</div>
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Next week I will share a few more additions to the PADI open
water program, and hopefully, even if you are an experienced diver I can draw
attention to a few skills you have forgotten about, or will find reason to work
on.</div>
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P.S. Don’t forget to check the web calendar and make plans
to join Team Manta this summer!</div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2763768946065243420.post-77716506735466354212014-02-09T13:05:00.001-08:002014-02-09T13:05:51.851-08:002014 Summer AdventuresWell blog readers, with the help of several Team Manta
members, we have come up with some exciting events for the summer. In addition to our usual trips to Haigh
Quarry and Pearl Lake, this year we are planning some new adventures.<br />
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First, we plan to team up with the Nature Conservancy and UW
La Crosse professor Tim Gerber to help remove Eurasian Milfoil from Lake Lulu
in Mukwonago. Anyone who fishes or
lives on inland lakes has heard of Eurasian milfoil and is familiar with the
threat this invasive species poses to our greatest natural resource. From a purely self-serving view
point, it is in the interest of all divers to do our part to help in the
removal of these plants. In
addition, we, as divers, are uniquely skilled to do this kind of work. If you are
interested in joining this effort, plan to join us June 14 at Lake Lulu. We will be given an informal, onsite
orientation to the problem and our role in the solution. We will then hit the water and do our
part for the environment. Manta
Divers will supply tanks and air, but prior registration is required. Check out the video <a href="http://youtu.be/CfsEDyAwQP4">here</a>.</div>
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For those of you who don’t have the time (or funds) for a
week long tropical dive vacation should consider a Team Manta road trip as a
way to get in a bunch of dives and enjoy the dive lifestyle. This year’s road trip in to southern IL
to Mermet Springs. This dive location is a 8.5 acre spring-fed lake, with
depths ranging from 15-120ft. Features
include a Boeing 727 airplane from the movie U.S. Marshals, a 45,000lb.coal
car, a submarine, Ford pickup truck, Bruce the shark and Cherokee and Cessna
airplanes. We plan to start our adventure Friday morning, July 18, driving to
Vienna, IL. As with many
adventures, the journey is as fun as the destination, so get ready for a fun
drive and many laughs as we caravan south. We will dive Mermet Springs the 19<sup>th</sup>
and 20<sup>th</sup> and head home on the 21<sup>st</sup>. Check out the video <a href="http://youtu.be/5ebKzbY3hVM">here</a>.</div>
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Finally, we will be exploring two of Lake Michigan’s famous
wrecks, the Dredge No. 6 and the Prins Willem. The Prins Willem, a 258ft Dutch freighter, sunk in Oct. 1954
off the coast of Milwaukee. The top of the wreck lies in 45 ft. of water, and
the very bottom is at 85ft. The Dredge, a large crane barge, capsized in high
winds on May 23, 1956. The wreck
is at 30ft at the top and 70ft at the bottom. Both of these wrecks are doable,
even for newer divers, as long as cold water is not an issue. Advanced open
water students can count these as their deep, wreck, and boat dives. Manta Divers has reserved the catamaran,
Mai Tai Saturday, August 2. Spots
are very limited so sign up as soon as possible.</div>
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The entire schedule will be posted on the shop website soon,
so get your calendars ready and plan to join us for fun and diving.</div>
Manta Divershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914353787130337824noreply@blogger.com0