Undercurrent Online Update
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For Subscriber David Denson Whiteside (with username 'dwhitesi' exp: 2024-08-20', at dwhite95815@hotmail.com )
March 18, 2013

As an avid diver, you've probably got a kid or grandkid who loves snorkeling, but better check out his or her mask. Two types of youth snorkeling masks sold under the Aqua Lung and U.S. Divers brands are being recalled because notches in the tempered glass can cause it to break from pressure underwater and cut the face. There were 17 reports of the lens cracking or breaking, including seven reports of cuts and scratches to the face. The first recall is for 130,000 Santa Cruz Jr. youth masks, either sold individually or as a set with snorkel and fins, and manufactured before October 2011. (They don't have a production code on the frame near the nose pocket, while those made after that date do have one.) They were sold at sporting goods stores like Academy, Dick's and the Sports Authority, as well as online at Amazon.com and other Internet retailers from March 2011 through July 2012. The second mask recall is for 44,000 Martinique Jr. masks, similar to the Santa Cruz Jr. but sold only under the U.S. Diver brand and only at Costco stores from November 2010 through July 2011. Contact U.S. Divers for a replacement mask via its toll-free line at (888) 606-6162, or go to www.usdivers.com and click on "Recall Notice."

How's Belize's Caye Caulker as a base for diving? . . . more bad mistakes dead divers make, like taking Jagermeister shots before a dive and having someone sub as yourself during a medical exam . . . can scuba diving really burn 400 calories per hour? . . . the when, why and how much to tip on your dive trip . . . more horror stories about dive equipment insurance policies with a certain company . . . one reader's recommendation for what to do with that Italian shipwreck Costa Concordia . . . and much more.

Six years after California created the nation's most expansive network of marine reserves -- 29 "no-fishing zones" along the coast -- the effort appears to be working. UC Santa Cruz scientists found that populations and sizes of several key fish species, plus starfish, urchins and crabs, have increased more in the protected areas between San Mateo and Santa Barbara counties than in unprotected ocean areas nearby. It's a key finding because California's marine protected areas are being closely watched by other states and countries as a possible solution to improving world's oceans. The state Fish and Game Commission wrote similar rules for the rest of California's 1,100-mile coastline, and the most recent no-fish zones were created last December, ranging from Mendocino to the Oregon border.

Freediver WilliamTrubridge, the first person to dive 100 meters unassisted, has just completed another record-breaking dive -- reaching a depth of 60 meters (200 feet) and back to the surface in 60 seconds. He put out a video of the one-minute event here

Freediver Herbert Nitsch, known as the "Deepest Man on Earth" for his 32 world records, didn't have such a good experience on his last try. He's profiled by Bob Simon on 60 Minutes Sports about the experience, and you can see footage of his fateful dive. The episode will be rebroadcast on Showtime this Saturday, March 23, at 2 p.m. (both Eastern and Pacific). See the preview

It's also known as the veined octopus, typically found in the western Pacific and on sandy bottoms, and it's distinct for its bipedal walking. But it gets its nickname for carrying coconut shells around with it for shelter by walking, and sometimes even collapsing into and rolling with them (it also likes clam shells). Thus, it has become the first invertebrate known to carry and maintain objects for future use. On a recent trip aboard the Pindito in Raja Ampat, ReefID.org got this good footage

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) just wrapped up in Bangkok with decisions to extend protection for mantas and five shark species (oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, and the scalloped, smooth and great hammerheads). There were similar actions to regulate trade in various turtles. While it's a big step, and the CITES agreement is currently signed by 178 countries, previous meetings have a mixed record of hits and misses. CITES has no enforcement mechanism of its own, so it depends on national governments to put these rulings into effect.

Ben Davison, editor/publisher

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