Current Online Updates*
The Latest Dive News

Aqua Lung Issues S.O.S. Alert :  November 26, 2007

Aqua Lung announced a product alert for its S.O.S. product, the safety tube that integrates with a BC. Some units sold since September 2002 have a faulty "elbow," the component that transfers air from the BC to the safety tube. The elbows may crack, break and prevent the tube from inflating. Air can also escape from the BC, not allowing it to fully inflate. Elbows with potential to degrade can be identified by a molding gate mark on the outer bend. Aqua Lung says it has not reported accidents or injuries but the S.O.S. units most at risk are those with product numbers PN 394157 and 394057. Contact your Aqua Lung dealer or call the company's customer service department at 877-253-DIVE.

Pricey Stopover Fees :  November 26, 2007

Divers used to make free stopovers on Continental Airlines to Micronesia, but subscriber Michael Hofman of San Francisco was shocked when Continental told him he would now be charged extra. "When I found out that Continental now charges $400 for each and every stopover, I changed my plans entirely. In the past, I always stopped over in Hawaii for two to three days without paying anything extra".

Smitty Leaves Sea Eye :  November 26, 2007

Algrove "Smitty" Smith, the popular divemaster at Sea Eye Diving in the Turks and Caicos, has left after nine years to start his own dive operation, called Grand Turk Diving, and is now constructing his new shop. To find out when it will be open, e-mail Smitty at DukeofDiving@hotmail.com.

Reef, the Perfect Coffee Table Holiday Gift Book :  November 26, 2007

With its bright red cover, REEF is a beautiful 360-page book, chock-a-block with excellent photos, that makes a perfect holiday gift. Organized by topics such as "survival", "predator", "deception" and "symbiosis", the book shows a unique selection of unusual critters displaying unusual behaviors. REEF is a project of Scubazoo, a team of photographers based in Borneo who film for BBC and Animal Planet among others. Text accompanying the photos is brief and informative. You can buy REEF by going to the Undercurrent website and clicking on the icon on our home page. You'll get the best price Amazon has to offer - - currently under $30 - - and our profits will go to protect coral reefs. The book even includes a DVD with great footage! Go to Undercurrent to order.

The Best Kept Secret in Bonaire? :  November 26, 2007

Until December 5, you can read our October review, free, of Bonaire's only true-diver's lodge. Go to Undercurrent.

Should You Feed (and Pet) The Fish? :  November 26, 2007

Is the ocean just one big petting zoo? That's what it felt like to an Undercurrent editor who recently dived in Belize and saw divemasters regularly picking up giant crabs from under ledges, steering green turtles towards divers, and throwing out chum to attract nurse sharks. Of course they want their divers to see marine life and get great photos on every dive, but is this a good idea? For an upcoming story, we're asking readers to tell their stories about dive operators that play with wildlife. Who were they, what did they do and how did you feel about it? E-mail your thoughts and comments to publisherben@undercurrent.org.

Read a Free Issue, Receive Our Chapbook :  November 26, 2007

Did you hear about the aluminum tank that exploded and severely damaged the shed it was stored in? What about the dive computers that properly penalize reverse dive profiles? These are just a few of the good diving tidbits mentioned in the free issue available for you to read on our website. Take a read and see why Undercurrent gives you the news no other dive magazine does. Go to Undercurrent and click on "Read a Sample Issue" to see what we cover and why you should subscribe. An additional signup bonus: You'll receive a free copy of the all-new 2008 Travelin' Diver's Chapbook, 448 pages of detailed travel reports worldwide from our readers.