Current Upwellings
The Latest Dive News

Solomon Islands Safe Again Bennett and Elliott's Physiology and Medicine of Diving Equipment Insurance Maui Shore Diving Finding Nemo Bends, Exertion, and Exercise Pacific Coral Reef Stamps Solomon Islands Safe Again February 26, 2004 The civil turmoil is ending, and the governments of Australia and New Zealand have said that it's safe for their citizens to travel to the Solomons, thanks to intervention by the Australian military. Says the New Zealand Foreign Ministry: "Law enforcement is now in place in major centers and provincial areas. ... The threat of criminal activity affecting visitors and expatriates is now considered to be minimal." However, "personal security awareness" still needs to be maintained. As readers of Undercurrent know, there is super live-aboard and land-based diving there, and the islands themselves are beautiful. Bennett and Elliott's Physiology and Medicine of Diving February 20, 2004 Here is the "bible" of diving medicine, for 30 years the primary publication used by physicians and researchers in underwater medicine. This fifth edition, published last year, is the first in a decade. Featuring 30 chapters by doctors and other scientists, this 779-page book focuses on the physiological basis of safe diving, the pathogenesis of diving illnesses, and the clinical diagnosis and management of related disorders. Diving methods, pressure effects, decompression, and long-term effects receive particular attention, but ventilation, thermal considerations, drowning, accident investigation, and diving equipment are also discussed. Edited by Alf Brubakk and Tom Neuman, the book has 45 international experts contributing. The price is $149. Buy through us now! Equipment Insurance February 5, 2004 If you have dive equipment insurance and ever made a claim, please let me know your experience (BenDavison@aol.com). We're researching a story on it. Maui Shore Diving February 23, 2004 If you're visiting Maui and want to avoid those $100+, two-tank boat dives, then rent tanks and shore dive. Reader Leo Dioguardi (Apollo Beach, FL) rented tanks from Maui Dreams Dive Co. in Kihei and said: "We found the beach dives great, turtles on every dive, some approached us rather than the other way around. We found several frogfish, lots of eels, and some interesting lava formations. Maui beach diving, I think, even has Bonaire beat." Most shops will give you a map or at least directions to good sites. Finding Nemo February 20, 2004 By now every serious diver has seen this marvelous movie. Aside from a very cute story, the fish mechanics and biology were simply stunning. To learn more about how it was done, visit www.nature.com. And, if you don't own a copy of Nemo, you can order the DVD for $17.99 through the Undercurrent website, and a healthy cut will go to support the Coral Reef Alliance. You can also find on our website the newest version of Paul Humann's Critter, Coral, and Fish ID series and excellent books on identifying the animals of the Pacific and Indian oceans. Bends, Exertion, and Exercise February 15, 2004 There are some important rules regarding exercise and exertion before, during, and after diving. The latest scoop is in the March issue of Undercurrent. Read the article online. Pacific Coral Reef Stamps February 22, 2004 The U.S. Postal Service has issued a beautiful set of 37-cent stamps, picturing everything from lion fish to cleaner wrasses. You can buy them online. -- Ben Davison, editor/publisher Previous Upwellings I want to get the full story! Tell me how I can become an Undercurrent Online Member and get online access to the complete articles from back issues of Undercurrent as well as thousands of first hand reports on dive operations worldwide, or subscribe to the printed Undercurrent newsletter