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For David Denson Whiteside (with username 'dwhitesi', exp: 2024-08-20, at dwhite95815@hotmail.com )
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September 17, 2018

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Want to be Seen at the Surface?

To be more visible than with a safety sausage, consider deploying a pop-up flag on an extending pole. You carry it strapped to your tank with bungee cords, and when the time comes, it extends to well above wave height. The only supplier seems to be in the UK, but if you order the flag they will ship it to North America for a total cost of about $50. http://www.bowstonediving.com/store/itemDetails.asp?id=20-0-118

Aqua Lung Replaces a 30-Year-Old Regulator

Juli Tracy (San Diego, CA) wrote to Undercurrent about her US Divers Conshelf 21 regulator -- she bought it in 1987 and had it regularly maintained, but discovered a crack in when she took it in for servicing this year. Fortunately, Tracy held on to the original receipt, and Aqua Lung, through her dive shop, Ocean Enterprises, replaced her regulator with a brand new Titan Classic – all for the cost of $15 shipping. Kudos to Aqua Lung for extending great service to a long-time customer.

Watch Out for Spears – Especially Your Own

A Maryland spearfisherman was in critical condition after he accidently shot himself in the head with his speargun while aboard his boat. The Coast Guard answered the 911 call from another person aboard his cabin cruiser, 35 miles off the coast of Ocean City, on September 2, and flew him to Baltimore for emergency treatment.

Glass, Not Plastic

Per our article last month on magnifiers for underwater use, subscriber Ken Paff (Richmond, CA) makes the point that when choosing a magnifying glass for spotting macro critters underwater, it’s important to choose one with a glass lens. The refractive index of plastic is too close to that of water to be effective when immersed.

Florida’s Red Tide Moving North

The deadly algae bloom we wrote about in this month’s issue is now creeping north, stretching more than 20 miles from Clearwater to St. Petersburg, and now headed toward Tampa Bay. Hundreds of thousands of fish, hundreds of turtles, manatees, a whale shark and even a whale are victims. The red tide is now a political issue in the upcoming elections, because much of the cause is due to agricultural runoff, an issue often ignored by Florida politicians.

Fire Wrecks Curaçao’s Oldest Dive Business

Likely arson has destroyed this Caribbean island’s longest-established dive school. Dive Wederfoort in the village of Sint Michiel, which is north of the capital, Willemstad, had been operating for 63 years when it was completely destroyed by fire last month. The frequency of burglaries in the area meant that no insurance company would cover the risk, so joint owners Patrick Geers and Shay Janga are attempting to raise $43,000 via GoFundMe to rebuild. https://www.gofundme.com/zv4b87-support-dive-wederfoort

West Coast Divers’ Travel Made Easier

Without taking a red-eye, it's tough for divers west of Denver to make it to the Caribbean in a single day, but Cayman Airways has announced a twice-weekly nonstop flight from Denver to Grand Cayman, beginning March 2. A 12:15 pm departure time gets you there in time for dinner and a good night's sleep.

Coming Soon in Undercurrent

Relaxing concierge diving in Siladen, Indonesia . . . who you think the rudest divers are . . . the ups and downs of ocean currents don’t always make for a fun ride . . . warm-water shark diving in coastal North Carolina . . . the death of Sharkwater’s Rob Stewart is leading to one nasty lawsuit . . . what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen while diving? . . . are you wearing too much lead? . . . pirates of Papua New Guinea . . . lionfish and crown-of-thorns meet the Terminator . . . and much, much more.

Other Subscribers Need Your Travel Reports

Your independent reports of dive resorts and liveaboards make essential reading for your fellow readers who are considering following in your footsteps. Tell us both the good and bad – your reports make us a unique read in the dive travel industry. You’re free to tell it like it is, and it’s easy to do file your report online. https://www.undercurrent.org/members/UCnow/SubRRTopMA.php

Thanks for being a loyal subscriber.

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
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