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Undercurrent Online Update for Non-SubscribersFor at NASJAXDiveClub@gmail.com September 17, 2019
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms In the light of the recent tragic fire on board the Conception, we thought we’d point out that battery-operated smoke and CO alarms are small, cheap to buy and weigh very little. Although most liveaboards should be fitted with smoke alarms throughout, there is no reason why you should not travel with your own. Use a self-adhesive pad to fit it up high in your cabin. Subscribe Now, and Get My New 36-page Seven Super Dive Resorts (and one meh) Subscribe Now, and Get My New 36-page Seven Super Dive Resorts (and one meh) mailed directly to you. My offer? Just $17.95 for a six-month trial subscription. Call it what you will -- a cut-rate subscription price with a free book, or maybe a two-for-one offer -- but it's a great offer and for $17.95, you can't go wrong. Because if for any reason you don't like or need your Undercurrent subscription, I'll return your $17.95 and you can keep our Seven Super Dive Resorts, with my thanks for giving us a go. Next Month in Undercurrent The Conception Story. Undercurrent reports on what really happened. Liveaboard Safety After the Conception tragedy, we are led to think about the safety of liveaboards on which we all have traveled worldwide. Have you ever been concerned about a boat’s layout? About the crews’ competence in time of a problem; about your sleeping quarters; the battery chargers; the night watch? We’d like to hear your views and concerns and whether you have taken any special precautions. Write to BenDDavison@undercurrent.org not forgetting to add your town and state. Atomic Regulator Hose Recall Huish Outdoors is recalling some Atomic regulator hoses with a low-pressure hose swivel next to the second stage. Affected hoses have a hose crimp that bears a date stamp D0717. If you have any doubts, call repair guru Robert Stark at 310/947-8523, or you can e-mail him a picture of the crimp; or take your regulator to an Atomic dealer. Atomic Aquatics has sent repair kits to some affected customers, but the free repair should still be done by a trained technician. Contact service at (888) 270-8595 ext. 4, or at AALPHose@huishoutdoors.com for instructions. The defective hoses should be returned to Huish Outdoor. Smoking Aboard? Firefighters tell us most house fires start in the kitchen or are attributed to careless use of cigarettes. Recent events have made us more aware of this potential hazard. Smoking is commonly banned in places of work and public areas for health reasons, but fire affects everyone, especially on a boat. It would be relatively easy to ban smoking on American liveaboards, but less so in foreign countries where smoking is de rigueur. Do you think smoking should be banned aboard? Write to BenDDavson@undercurrent.org and tell us, not forgetting to add your town and state. Hurricane Relief in the Bahamas Grand Bahama Island and the Abacos have been destroyed by Hurricane Dorian. Many of us have enjoyed diving in that region. Now the people need your help. The US coast guard, USAID relief agency and UN relief agencies joined efforts led by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) of the Bahamas. You can donate funds by going here: www.bahamas.com/relief Oldies Battle it Out Bill Lambert celebrated his 99th birthday in September with short dive in the chilly waters of Pearl Lake with friends, divers and media on-hand for the special occasion. The Rockford, IL resident wants to become the world's oldest scuba diver. Meanwhile, 96-year-old British WWII veteran, Ray Woolly, claims to have broken his own world record as the oldest scuba diver, by going diving at the popular Zenobia wreck off Cyprus’ southern coast. He went to 138-feet with a total dive time of 48 minutes. His goal: to keep diving until he reaches 100. Check That Your Tank Valve is Fully Open Undercurrent received a letter from a reader who did not, and his air supply failed at depth. Before diving, take a couple of breaths from your regulator while checking the pressure-gauge needle stays steady. Sucking strongly on most regulators first with the tank valve shut assures you there are no leaks. (This doesn’t work if you have an Atomic regulator both as primary and alternate air source because of its unique design.) This Month in Undercurrent Your letters to the Editor . . . Don’t free-dive during the surface interval . . . The seahorses off Long Beach, CA . . . Diving with NDS in Mediterranean Malta . . . Recent deaths highlight risks to older divers . . . Stupid or what? Computer transmitters on hoses . . . Listen to the dawn chorus underwater . . . Island scuba diving destinations at risk from rising sea-level . . . Are there too many divers in Raja Ampat? . . . It’s the tiny fish that are important . . . Is PADI diver and instructor training adequate? . . . What about the marine head in reader’s reports? . . . and much, much more. Improving Shooter Skills in the Muck Taking macro photos of critters can produce startling results if you know what you’re doing. That’s the secret. Undercurrent’s contributor goes to Anilao Photo Academy in Balayan Bay, the Philippines where skills are honed to perfection. You can read-it-for-free here … Tipping During a Dive Trip. How Much and to Whom? Is there an etiquette? It’s the great conundrum, which none of us really know the answer to. There’s little doubt that in many dive businesses where employees are tipped, the owner has a strong incentive to maintain low wages and expect the additional tips to make up the difference. Undercurrent readers reveal what they think is right. You can read-it-for-free here … Subscribe Now, and Get My New 36-page Seven Super Dive Resorts (and one meh) Subscribe Now, and Get My New 36-page Seven Super Dive Resorts (and one meh) mailed directly to you. My offer? Just $17.95 for a six-month trial subscription. Call it what you will -- a cut-rate subscription price with a free book, or maybe a two-for-one offer -- but it's a great offer and for $17.95, you can't go wrong. Because if for any reason you don't like or need your Undercurrent subscription, I'll return your $17.95 and you can keep our Seven Super Dive Resorts, with my thanks for giving us a go. Ben Davison, editor/publisher
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