Undercurrent Online Update
for Subscribers

REEF, the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, is a leading dive organization working effectively and efficiently to save the world we divers love. This holiday season, please consider a contribution to protect and conserve our marine ecosystems by donating to REEF. Your tax-deductible gift will support a scientifically valuable database of more than 154,000 marine fish surveys, grouper protections, lionfish invasion control, marine life education, and much more.  In appreciation of generous contributions, you’ll receive a limited edition signed print by renowned photographer Paul Humann, one of the founders of Reef who has contributed endlessly to its work. If we divers don't support the work of organizations dear to our hearts, who will?
PS: If you want to learn more about REEF before you donate, go to www.REEF.org, but please, don't forget to provide your support.  Thanks

A good book to turn the kids you know into divers and marine conservationists. Mark Kurlansky, author of "Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World," offers this new book for kids ages 11 and up, about what's happening to fish and the oceans, and what, armed with knowledge, they can do about it. "World Without Fish" is a full-color graphic novel that connects all the dots, from evolution and economics to climate and culture, so that kids can understand why the common fish we eat are disappearing, why bottom-dragging fishing nets are turning the ocean floor into a desert, and the domino effect this could have when they're adults. It also tells kids exactly what they can do: Find out where those fish sticks come from, tell your parents what's good to buy, ask the waiter if the fish on the menu is line-caught, and never eat endangered fish like bluefin tuna. It's a "Silent Spring" for a new generation. Buy it at Amazon via our website, and our profits go to protect reefs for future generations.

For that last-minute gift for a diver, go to Undercurrent and click on "Books." You'll get a list of great dive books you can give to your buddy, including any of Paul Humann's top-of-the-line fish, critter and coral ID books. And don't forget "There's a Cockroach in my Regulator," chock full of weird and bizarre stories just for divers. You'll also be giving another gift: All our profits go toward preserving the reefs.

Diving requires good lungs, so obviously it and smoking don't mix, yet cancer sticks are common for overseas dive crews (Indonesians smoke like crazy) and overseas divers (yes, we're talking about Europeans). How do you feel about people smoking on your liveaboard or on your day boat? Has it caused trouble, even affected your diving? If you complained to the smokers or the management, what happened? Are designated spots acceptable or should there be a total ban? Send us your stories, comments and opinions. We're working on a story, so whether you smoke or not, let us know your thoughts about smoking and diving on dive boats. E-mail EditorBenD@undercurrent.org

Kudos to the ritzy Peninsula Hotels chain, which announced it will stop serving shark fin on January 1 at all of its eight hotels globally, including three in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. Other major Hong Kong hotels said they were reviewing their policies, but few appear ready to drop shark fin soup from the menu entirely. Four Seasons Hotel spokeswoman Claire Blackshaw told Agence France Presse that shark fin had been removed from the menu but was still available on request. "We are a popular venue for weddings, so it gets requested quite a lot." The Conrad Hilton, the Nikko and Regal Hongkong hotels have similar policies, with some offering a choice of menus with and without shark-fin dishes. Keep the pressure on - Stop Shark Finning keeps an updated list of all the petitions currently out there to ban shark finning worldwide.

Allen Sherrod of Groveland, FL, broke the world record for the longest saltwater dive by almost five minutes after spending two days under turbulent seas. He dove in near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea on December 1 when the sea was flat, but that swiftly changed and conditions deteriorated. Sherrod, 45, spent much of his time kneeling on the sea floor to stabilize himself and prevent seasickness. He also clung onto an artificial reef about 250 yards offshore, as strong currents whipped him around and caused bruised ribs as well. Throughout the night, his team hauled air tanks to replenish Sherrod's supply every two hours, but the current was so rough that it dragged some of them along distance away.

Diveboard.com just announced the first online scuba logbook that makes keeping track of dives more interesting and useful. Its computer plug-in tool lets you upload profiles straight from your dive computer. Identify the fish you've seen through a tool that lets you record all the species you encountered during a dive, and find species by dive location. Make your logbook more memorable with pictures, videos and maps. Last but not least, share your dives with the scientific community: You can send your species-occurrence data to the Ocean Biographic Information System , used by researchers worldwide, your medical data can go to Diver's Alert Network, and water temperature data to Divers4Oceanography.org. Sign up for free.

A reminder about a special deal for Seacology's first Caribbean-focused excursion, a liveaboard trip to the Bahamas on May 5-12. Stay aboard the M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer while diving at Mayaguana, Samana Cays, San Salvador (where you'll also stop to visit a Seacology-funded "nursery" for the island's native, endangered iguana) and Conception Island. Seacology will give a $100 per-person discount to anyone who mentions "I love Undercurrent" when making a reservation. The cost is $2,500 per person double occupancy or $4,800 per person single occupancy. Trip information is at here

Luxurious diving at Bora Bora and Rangiroa . . . diving with great whites from the Solmar V at Guadalupe Island, Mexico . . why you need trip insurance for your next dive vacation . . .how resorts in Lembeh Strait are making underwater photographers better divers . . .what was hot and what flopped at the big DEMA trade show . . .the importance of why ScubaPro caved and now allows its products to be sold online . . .how you can truly give back to a good cause on your next dive trip . . . why a fast-food meal before a dive could help reduce DCS . . .and much, much more.

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
Contact Ben

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