September 2005

Vol. 20, No. 9   What's this?

Flotsam & Jetsam

from the September, 2005 issue of Undercurrent  

Back To The Mother Boat, Aussie Style: Aboard the Nimrod Explorer, subscriber Leanne Wells visited the Coral Sea and Raines Island when turtles were laying eggs and endless sharks were waiting. "Retrieval was odd. The dinghy circled the diver to deliver a tow rope, and then pulled the diver holding on to the rope and wearing all gear, back to the liveaboard. It worked, but I felt like chum on the end of a troll-line with all the sharks in the water! Did not like it at all, and always tried to monitor current so that I could get back to the live-aboard."

Screwed on Too Tight: Here's a good tip from Kris Manion in Denver. "When my expensive UK 100 Cannon light vacuumed shut, my dive shop technician took and put it in the freezer for two days, then when the air shrank they could get it open with no damage!"

Key West Dive Boat Captain Dies: Ralph Chiaro was driving Subtropic Dive Center's 42-foot Island Diver back from the reef on July 29 when he leaned into the hatch for some engine maintenance near Garrison Bight. His hair became entangled in the engine's machinery, pulled him in, and he died instantly. Chiaro, started as a divemaster at Subtropic seven years ago. Divers remember him by his daily announcement "The eagle has landed", as he docked at the end of the day.

Sea Bands: We've reported evidence that says they don't prevent seasickness, but reader Mike Boom says "the ReliefBand truly works for my wife and for other puking folks that we slap it on." The UC Berkeley Wellness Letter says research on nausea and vomiting centers around a single acupuncture point, P6, on the inside of the forearm just above the wrist. Many studies show benefits of acupressure on location P6 as well." So, says Mike, maybe there's something to be said for wrist bands after all, beyond the placebo effect. (www.reliefband.com).