Comments on: Dive Travel Tips for 2010 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2010/01/01/dive-travel-tips-for-2010/ Diving opinions from top diving experts in the dive industry Thu, 24 May 2012 23:38:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Items From China http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2010/01/01/dive-travel-tips-for-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-3971 Items From China Fri, 08 Jul 2011 06:24:24 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=544#comment-3971 Do you have a rss link i can follow this with ? Do you have a rss link i can follow this with ?
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]]> By: Amp Accessories · http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2010/01/01/dive-travel-tips-for-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2014 Amp Accessories · Tue, 09 Nov 2010 23:18:06 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=544#comment-2014 just buy high quality power strips and do not use power strips that are not UL certified ~ just buy high quality power strips and do not use power strips that are not UL certified ~
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Rating: 5.0/5 (5 votes cast)
]]> By: Bret Gilliam http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2010/01/01/dive-travel-tips-for-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-1817 Bret Gilliam Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:30:49 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=544#comment-1817 Toby, I presume that by "octopus connection" you mean having several devices plugged into a power strip? If so, don't worry about that. You should use a grounded 3-prong plug power strip with a surge protector/breaker at the base that is built-in. These are designed for 10-15 amps of load and that is no problem for a standard electrical outlet in a hotel, resort, or liveaboard ship, whether 110 or 220 volts. Things like I-Pods, Bose SoundDocks, computer chargers, cell phone chargers, portable DVD players all have very low amp loads... sometimes barely 1-2 amps. As long as you don't do something stupid like break the powers cord insulation or spill water on it, you'll be just fine. Remember the standard circuit breaker for a duplex electrical outlet in your house, office, hotel... is a minimum of 10 amps. Even if you hooked up everything you've got from the list above, it won't total 10 amps. If you doubt me, consult an electrician who will confirm my explanation. Also, just about every foreign resort and liveaboard that operates on 220 volts runs their 110 volt service for North American customers in their photo table rooms on... guess what? Grounded power strips! You'll be okay. Toby,

I presume that by “octopus connection” you mean having several devices plugged into a power strip? If so, don’t worry about that. You should use a grounded 3-prong plug power strip with a surge protector/breaker at the base that is built-in. These are designed for 10-15 amps of load and that is no problem for a standard electrical outlet in a hotel, resort, or liveaboard ship, whether 110 or 220 volts. Things like I-Pods, Bose SoundDocks, computer chargers, cell phone chargers, portable DVD players all have very low amp loads… sometimes barely 1-2 amps. As long as you don’t do something stupid like break the powers cord insulation or spill water on it, you’ll be just fine. Remember the standard circuit breaker for a duplex electrical outlet in your house, office, hotel… is a minimum of 10 amps. Even if you hooked up everything you’ve got from the list above, it won’t total 10 amps.

If you doubt me, consult an electrician who will confirm my explanation. Also, just about every foreign resort and liveaboard that operates on 220 volts runs their 110 volt service for North American customers in their photo table rooms on… guess what? Grounded power strips!

You’ll be okay.

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]]> By: Toby Simpson http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2010/01/01/dive-travel-tips-for-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-1815 Toby Simpson Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:47:23 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=544#comment-1815 power strips are very useful but they octopus connection is dangerous~.~ power strips are very useful but they octopus connection is dangerous~.~
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]]> By: Bret Gilliam http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2010/01/01/dive-travel-tips-for-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-870 Bret Gilliam Thu, 20 May 2010 16:01:12 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=544#comment-870 Summer Lewis asked about a web site for info on Thailand. I have to say that, given the present situation there and the obvious lack of control & associated dangers, I'd strongly counsel staying completely out of that country for at least six months until the region can be verifiably stabilized. Far too many web sites and blogs are self-serving while posing as objective information resources. The fact is... you can get accidentally killed in the capitol right now and once in the more removed areas, who knows what you may encounter? I've been in several countries when the government is overthrown or destabilized with all the ensuing chaos and dangers. Believe me, you don't want any part of that scene. Even lesser riots that occurred in Ambon (indonesia) in 2004 left tourists stranded and holed up in dismal hotels to hide out from violence. With the airport shut down, evacuation was no option either. Ambon did stabilize, but who wants to go through that on a vacation? Then add Fiji's infamous government overthrow in 2000 when a bunch of nutballs actually kidnapped the entire government. I was there for three weeks (my timing is great!) but was hosting 16 divers aboard a liveaboard and we just left the main island and disappeared into the NE remote quadrant. While there were no tourist/visitors injured or killed, there were other deaths and violent incidents along with near total airline disruptions. It was damn circus and I was glad to finally get out of there intact and with all my guests safe. The hostages were still being held six months later and the entire civilized world had cut Fiji off from shipping, air service, tourism went to zero, etc. They repeated the same idiocy a few years later. Never underestimate the Third World's tendencies for bizarre political turmoil and the frightening lack of sense not to endlessly repeat themselves in futile tail-chasing. There are plenty of places you can go including Bali and eastern side of Indonesia (or the wonderful Solomon Islands aboard Bilikiki) where you'll find a similar cultural experience as Thailand and better diving. And no chance of getting hit with a stray bullet. Be careful; the world is unstable and don't place yourself deliberately in harm's way. You can get good curry in Indonesia. Put Thailand on the wait list... Summer Lewis asked about a web site for info on Thailand. I have to say that, given the present situation there and the obvious lack of control & associated dangers, I’d strongly counsel staying completely out of that country for at least six months until the region can be verifiably stabilized. Far too many web sites and blogs are self-serving while posing as objective information resources. The fact is… you can get accidentally killed in the capitol right now and once in the more removed areas, who knows what you may encounter? I’ve been in several countries when the government is overthrown or destabilized with all the ensuing chaos and dangers. Believe me, you don’t want any part of that scene. Even lesser riots that occurred in Ambon (indonesia) in 2004 left tourists stranded and holed up in dismal hotels to hide out from violence. With the airport shut down, evacuation was no option either. Ambon did stabilize, but who wants to go through that on a vacation? Then add Fiji’s infamous government overthrow in 2000 when a bunch of nutballs actually kidnapped the entire government. I was there for three weeks (my timing is great!) but was hosting 16 divers aboard a liveaboard and we just left the main island and disappeared into the NE remote quadrant. While there were no tourist/visitors injured or killed, there were other deaths and violent incidents along with near total airline disruptions. It was damn circus and I was glad to finally get out of there intact and with all my guests safe. The hostages were still being held six months later and the entire civilized world had cut Fiji off from shipping, air service, tourism went to zero, etc. They repeated the same idiocy a few years later. Never underestimate the Third World’s tendencies for bizarre political turmoil and the frightening lack of sense not to endlessly repeat themselves in futile tail-chasing.

There are plenty of places you can go including Bali and eastern side of Indonesia (or the wonderful Solomon Islands aboard Bilikiki) where you’ll find a similar cultural experience as Thailand and better diving. And no chance of getting hit with a stray bullet. Be careful; the world is unstable and don’t place yourself deliberately in harm’s way. You can get good curry in Indonesia. Put Thailand on the wait list…

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