Undercurrent Online Update for Subscribers

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

May 18, 2019  

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Discarded plastic from a few new wetsuits

Who Are The Plastic Pirates?

We’re asking divers to report on the use of single-use plastic at their local dive store, dive resorts and on the liveaboards. These we use to contact those dive travel operators and compel them to change their ways (and keep those giant garbage patches in the oceans from getting larger). You’re free to tell it like it is, and it’s easy to do so when filling out the “Hot Tip” contact form, available at www.undercurrent.org or subscribers can add it to a Reader Report.

Are You a Big Tipper?

Americans are known for their generosity world-wide when it comes to tipping for good service. Do you think we get better attention because of it? Who do you tip and what do you reckon to give? And do you vary your tipping according to the part of the world you are in? We’d like your feedback. Write to BenDEditor@undercurrent.org with your observations, not forgetting to add your town and state.

Tropical Fish Moving North

Researchers at Duke University’s Marine Laboratory and NOAA’s Centers for Coastal Ocean Science say that tropical and sub-tropical fish are showing up in greater numbers off the North Carolina coast, due in part to dozens of artificial reefs and the warming of the ocean. Data collected over the last two years indicate that the reef networks have become underwater corridors. What surprised researchers most was that these fish appeared to prefer reefs made from derelict boats and old boxcars to natural rocky reefs. It could be a boost for North Carolina diving.

Use That Late Deployment Surface Marker Buoy

A surfacing diver was struck and killed by a speeding speedboat in Port Phillip Bay in Australia during a Sunday afternoon dive at the beginning of May. Melbourne police are currently hunting for the driver who has yet to be identified. Again we remind readers of the merits of a DSMB to mark where you might be surfacing although it’s unclear if the casualty was using one or not.

A Powered Bionic Monofin

A powered bionic monofin called Amphi: “It’s a first in the world personal underwater propulsion system controlled by body movement.” So says Ginger Kuczowicz who is looking to crowd fund the idea. The thruster adds power as the user’s dolphin kick gets stronger and can be used for snorkelling, free-diving or scuba on steroids (or it could be an underwater walker for those less able to fin). www.amphiamericas.com

PADI Digital Demise

After the demise of the Recreational Dive Planner Wheel, the original PADI format for discovering dive limits for multi-level repeat diving and claimed by one OWSI candidate to be as ‘Easy as pizza’, PADI has now discontinued the stand-alone blue plastic version of the eRDPML as well. It’s another casualty at the hands of the digital revolution. The eRDPML continues to be available in a digital version from the PADI Library for both Apple and Android.

WWII Plane Wreck Found in Bermuda

The wreck of an American B-24 bomber from World War II has been discovered 74 years after it plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off Bermuda immediately after take-off. Students from the University of Delaware made the discovery during a winter study session at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. Although within easily diveable depths at 50 feet, the heavily loaded bomber’s remains, in the less-than-gin-clear waters of Castle Harbor, are likely to stay where they are.

Your Reader Reports

Your reader reports are the lifeblood of Undercurrent because they reflect your own experiences. And because they tell both the good and bad, these reports help make our monthly newsletter a unique source for serious divers. Your reports join more than 10,000 others in our online database (and our annual Travelin Divers’ Chapbook), which is easily searchable by any other subscriber. File your report at www.undercurrent.org/members/UCnow/SubRRTopMA.php

Coming Soon in Undercurrent

On board Caribbean Explorer . . . What’s with single-use plastic and the diving industry? . . . Back in the Philippines . . . Exploring Glover’s Reef, Belize . . . the Full-Face flop . . . Surviving without anything to breathe at 330-feet deep . . . Is Apple making a bid for the underwater photography market? . . . Diving and politeness . . . and much, much, more.

Thanks for being a loyal subscriber.

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
Contact Ben

Website News
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We Want Your Photos!

You can now add photos to ANY of your new or existing Reader Reports. You can even add captions or rotate them. These photos will appear at the top of your report. For new reports, you’ll be given a link to add photos to it immediately after you submit the report. If you’d like to add photos to any of your existing reports, you can do that here. Also you’ll find links for that on the Submit a Report page, the Member’s Home page, your author’s page, as well as the member’s area version of your reports. So jazz up your report with a few memorable photos from your trip!

Dave Eagleray, webmaster
Contact Dave