K2 Equipment: Sealife Mini II (SL-330) New for 2011 , A Thoughtful Review

If you’re one who will probably really like spending your holiday getaway time near beach locations as well as diving and snorkeling places as opposed to the great outdoors in high altitude far away from civilization, then you would be well advised to tote around some sort of underwater-capable digital camera. We’re looking at either an underwater case for your photographic camera, or if you need to get more direct, a watertight shooter.

SeaLife promises to appeal to that particular market with their new Mini II Dive & Sport digital camera, as this 9-megapixel shooter could very well be small in stature, but it is most certainly no slouch when it comes to performance. Capable of snapping shots all your great underwater and outdoor adventures, the Mini II also comes with an intuitive interface so that you need not squander precious oxygen underwater when having an anxiety attack on messing with it's control buttons.

One standout feature of the Mini II would be its ruggedness - how many of you can say the same for your underwater equipment? Granted, this is a whole lot cheaper than the professional gear that you tote around, so the Mini II clearly targets casual users instead of seasoned professionals. The truly amphibious shooter is both waterproof and shockproof, where it is guaranteed to function underwater at depths down to 130 feet without the need for an external housing.

Not only that, its rubber armor also delivers a surefire grip, even when it is wet, and will still be able to keep on shooting even if you drop it from 2 meters high. An unbreakable ruggedized body approximately helps make the Mini II virtually crushproof, however we wouldn’t need to go ahead and take possibility by just having a shark bite into this since we’re sure it will likely be destroyed in no time.

There are new underwater modes in the Mini II, making it a snap to use and eliminate the common blue hues of images taken underwater. With the Terrain Auto setting, it will automatically handle direct exposure and internal flash. When you’re under the water, the Sea Mode brightens up the exposure while reducing the “blue effect,” and also the Snorkel Mode handles exposure and color correction in shallow-water settings.

Would you pay $229.95 to take the SeaLife Mini II with you on your next diving grand adventure?

Edwin G.

 

Thanks so much Edwin, what a great write-up for this amazing new camera.  Folks, we just got a shipment in, so ping us at 866-523-4846?!  Don’t wait too long, we sell out fast!

Tevis

The Completely Redesigned & New Oceanic GEO 2.0 Scuba Diving Wrist Computer: A Consumer Review

Quality, Function and Style. The has an upgraded look with a stainless steel accent ring and new color combination – and now includes Dual Algorithm, Deep Stop option and a redesigned user interface with "Step Back" – which allows forward and backward navigation through menus and settings.  Additionally, a second Nitrox mix (both programmable to 100%) is available, as well as Firmware Auto-Update which allows the user to download and install operational improvements or even future new features through the PC Interface (with optional cable).

A unique combination of quality, function and style, the GEO 2.0 Personal Dive Computer is perfect on its own or as a backup to any dive computer. With Dual Algorithm and optional conservative factor settings, the GEO 2.0 may be programmed to provide no-deco and deco profiles similar to virtually every computer on the market. 

• Powered by Oceanic's Exclusive Dual Algorithm™ - Your choice between Pelagic DSAT (Spencer/Powell data basis) or Pelagic Z+ (Buhlmann ZHL-16C data basis)

• 4 Operating Modes: WATCH (Alternate Time, Chrono, Daily Alarm, Countdown Timer), NORM (Air and Nitrox), GAUGE (with run timer) and FREE (tracks calculations to allow switching between NORM and Free)

• User-Friendly Interface with "Step Back" – allows forward and backward navigation through menus and settings

• Switch between up to 2 Nitrox mixes to 100% O2 with no restriction (Gas 1 may be up to 100%, and may be less or greater than Gas 2)

• Stop times <3 minutes - displays minutes & seconds

• Deep Stop with Countdown Timer – Maybe turned on or off.  2 minute countdown at half your max depth, for dives greater than 80 ft / 25m

• Single button access to "Last Dive" display (max depth & bottom time)

• Data Retention - maintains calculations indefinitely when the battery is changed

• Audible Alarm with flashing LED light

• 24 dive on-unit log book

• History Mode includes total number of dives, max depth, total dive hours, and lowest temp

• Optional PC Interface with OceanLog Download and Settings Upload

• Firmware Auto-Update: download and install the latest firmware – these may be operational improvements or even new features

Pros:  Newest Oceanic Technology, sleek, and slick design.  Doubles as a wrist watch.

Cons:  Small print, harder to see underwater for old eyes.  Buttons are hard to press in 5 mm gloves

Lobster Season is Coming, Innovative Lobster Inn!

Lobster hunting has has become a favorite past time for scuba diving aficionados. Your lobster catching bag is a definite item These massive crustaceans are quite difficult to catch, but are definitely worth it ( just go to your local seafood restaurant and check out what the current market price of lobster-good boogly woogly ). 

The bugs, as divers like to call them, can make for a savory dinner, especially after a day of diving.  Lobstering has been a long-time hunting activity, traced back to the 1800s, when these creatures were first collected by hand when they were washed up in tide pools or shorelines.  Nowadays, especially with the discovery of scuba appliances, catching lobster has turned into a sport among divers.  Very similar to fishing, it's regulated, but common species of lobster aren't endangered ( having few natural predators ).  Of course, lobstering can be difficult - it usually involves chasing after the lobster and catching with a net and putting it into a bag. 

Here is the schweet Innovative Lobster Inn Bag that California Divers Prefer:

This kit has everything you want to catch those hard crustaceans.  The snare can be operated with one hand, and made of a light, strong PVC material.  Unlike a traditional net, this device will permit you to secure your catch easily. 

The tapered tube opening has an innovative one-way flap to make it easy to slip your catch in, and keep all his buddies from getting out. The mesh portion allows water through and has Velcro opening.
Easy one handed operation No more losing lobster and wasting time with 2 handed bags Tapered PVC opening includes handle, Velcro opening for easy removal of game.

Beware Buying a Scuba Mask Until You Read This!

 

While diving, you clear your mask or you are screwed. You need to secure the mask at your forehead and exhale from your nose to clear the mask.

Because you want to clear the mask with your exhaled breath the volume of air between the mask and your face is crucial.

The more air the harder it will be to clear. We are pleased with the Tilos Excel Scuba Mask, and the Oceanic Shadow Mask.

 

A SCUBA mask will also need a soft area around the nose so you can pinch your nose to equalize the air space in you ears. Most masks come with either a clear silicone skirt or a black skirt. The same chemical process happens to the black skirt but you cannot see it. The selection of black or clear skirt can depend on which side of the camera you are on.

If you are taking photos or video the black skirt will reduce glare and make it simpler to see the things in the view finder. A clear skirt will be better if someone is a bit claustrophobic because it will permit more light around your eyes.

There a many styles of masks. A dual-lens mask has two lenses and generally dual-lens masks are lower volume than single-lens masks of relative equal size.

A breathtaking view mask with twin lenses will be rather smaller volume. Typically the more glass you've got the more you can see. With the panoramic you are not looking out the side window but you'll see movement and be ready to turn to the movement.

These masks are the super premium of the group as they leave unfettered your range of vision. The two we most suggest are the Tilos Excel Scuba Mask and Oceanic Shadow Mask.

Quoting Scuba Diving Magazine: The Tilos Excel was the massive surprise of this review. It had one of the widest fields of view and a budget-friendly price . With a wide bottom and teardrop shapes below the eyes, the lens favors downward viewing, superb for finding belts and buckles on a BC. It all adds up to a combined vertical range of 75 degrees, the same vertical field of view as the two Atomic masks in this review. Bonus : The upper and lower corners of the mask have a tread-like texture that helps wet hands grip the mask when donning and doffing.

For experienced divers who dive in really cold water or the public safety divers who desires to speak underwater there are full face masks. When deciding how to choose a scuba mask you should consider fit, skirt - clear or black, volume of air behind the mask, range of vision, and of course color.

At K2 Scuba we strongly suggest you try on masks at a retailer tha will take some time, in the flesh or by phone to fit the mask to you. It is by a long way the most critical criteria for choosing a mask. A poorly fitting mask will flood and raise nervousness in your diving experience. Your mask is an integral part of your scuba diving equipment, and as such care must be taken in the selection. . .like all of your scuba gear.

What about Diving the Continent of Africa? Specifically Mauritania

Hi All, my friend Paul Hunter of www.AfricanDiver.com has just published his latest issue on Adobe Acrobat.pdf

Membership has its privileges, so either click on the picture above, OR click on this link:  http://www.africandiver.com/articles/issues/africandiver_issue5.pdf

Your issue should open in its own window. . and you can right click to download. . . and then save it to your hard drive. .

OK, now that Ive wet your whistle. . who wants to roadtrip with me?

You make the arrangements, I will keep the lights on,

Tevis

Silent Diving Systems Recalls Scuba Diving Hoses Due to Drowning Hazard

 

February 26, 2009

THE FOLLOWING PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL WAS VOLUNTARILY CONDUCTED BY THE FIRM IN COOPERATION WITH THE CPSC. CONSUMERS SHOULD STOP USING THE PRODUCT IMMEDIATELY UNLESS OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED.

NAME OF PRODUCT: CRIMPED LOW PRESSURE DIVING HOSES

UNITS: ABOUT 820

IMPORTER: SILENT DIVING SYSTEMS LLC, OF CENTER CONWAY, N.H.

MANUFACTURER: AMBIENT PRESSURE DIVING LTD., OF HELSTON, CORNWALL, UNITED KINGDOM

HAZARD: DIVING HOSES MAY HAVE BEEN MADE WITHOUT CRIMPS, WHICH CAN ALLOW GAS TO LEAK OR WATER TO ENTER INTO THE RE-BREATHER UNIT OF THE SCUBA DIVING EQUIPMENT, POSING A DROWNING HAZARD TO THE USER.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: NONE REPORTED.

DESCRIPTION: THE CRIMPED HOSES ARE USED TO CARRY THE AIR SUPPLY IN THE RE-BREATHING DIVING SYSTEM. THE HOSES WERE SOLD ON THREE RE-BREATHING MODELS: INSPIRATION, EVOLUTION AND EVOLUTION PLUS. HOSES WITH A SMOOTH (UNCRIMPED) COLLAR AND WITH THE MODEL NUMBERS LISTED BELOW ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL:

AP300/15
ADV SUPPLY HOSE

RB20/03
OXYGEN INJECTION HOSE

EV20/03
OXYGEN INJECTION HOSE

RB20/10
BUZZER HOSE

EV11A/1
VISION HANDSET HOSE

RB11A/1
CLASSIC HANDSET HOSE

RB11/B
HANDSET HOSE

AP300/10
ADV HOSE

AP300/38
ADV HOSE

HOSES WITH EIGHT FLATS ON THE HOSE COLLAR HAVE BEEN CRIMPED AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

SOLD BY: SILENT DIVING SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE FROM JANUARY 2007 THROUGH AUGUST 2008 FOR ABOUT $60. RE-BREATHERS WERE SOLD FOR ABOUT $10,000.

MANUFACTURED IN: ENGLAND

REMEDY: CONSUMERS WITH THE RECALLED HOSES SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP USING THE HOSES AND CONTACT SILENT DIVING SYSTEMS TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT HOSE. ALL KNOWN PURCHASERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED DIRECTLY BY SILENT DIVING SYSTEMS REGARDING THE RECALL.

CONSUMER CONTACT: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT SILENT DIVING SYSTEMS TOLL-FREE AT (877) 336-4077 BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 5 P.M. ET MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, OR VISIT THE FIRM’S WEB SITE AT WWW.SILENTDIVING.COM

 

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Team Scuba Diving vs "Same Ocean Buddy Diving" SOB!

This Post was written by, and seeded from Duane Johnson of Precision Diving On February - 26 - 2009

I recently had a conversation with a potential student about how I teach team diving techniques compared to what is taught in traditional diving classes. It occurred to me that many divers do not know the difference between team diving and buddy diving. They feel that if they stay with their buddy and can air share in an emergency, that is team diving. It is not, team diving is much more than sticking with your buddy and helping out in an emergency.

First, let’s define buddy diving as it is taught in traditional diving classes. When people go through these classes, they are taught to stick with your buddy, do air shares, and some basic buddy rescue skills. While these skills are important, it does not take the place of working as a team. Buddy diving, is simply looking after each other. The buddy is just there. It doesn’t do much for the safety of the team nor the objectives of the dive. One of the biggest areas where buddy diving fails is in the pre-dive planning stage. In traditional PADI diving classes, students are normally taught BWRAF as their pre-dive plan. That is an acronym for: BCD, Weights, Releases, Air, Final OK. There is no discussion as to how they will descend, swim around, communicate, when to thumb the dive and ascend. This is where buddy diving breaks down.

So, what is team diving? Let’s use the analogy of a football team. US football, not soccer that is. In football, the team works together to work their way down the field to score a touchdown. Everyone on the field has a job to do in order to ensure success. If one area of the team fails, then the quarterback gets sacked, the running back fumbles the ball, or the team must punt away the ball. If an offensive lineman does not do his job effectively, then the quarterback or running back can, potentially, get hurt. The same is true for team diving. The team must work together to ensure the safety of all members of the team. Next time you watch a NFL game, watch the offensive linemen. They are always pointing to something, shouting at each other, etc. The quarterback reads the defense and may change the play at the line of scrimmage (i.e. call an audible). This is an excellent demonstration of constant team communication. Each member of the team knows where other teammates are at at all times. Just as in diving, we must be able to effectively communicate to let the team know where we are at, what to look out for, etc. We do this with passive and active light communication.

DIR-UK Survey practise April 2008 by al_star_quake

It all Starts in the Beginning

To ensure team success, the entire team must be on the same page. Not just in knowing what is expected, but in skill and experience level. Inexperienced divers can learn a great deal from experienced divers, but they must learn it at their current experience level before moving on to something more aggressive and out of their level. This is one aspect of diving where people get into trouble. They simply try to do dives, or take classes, that are above what they are really capable of handling. The problem is they don’t know when to put the brakes on their diving and say, I need to get better before moving on. They don’t do a honest assessment of their diving skills. I had to learn this the hard way, see here.

As part of the pre-dive plan, the team must get together and determine how the dive will get done. They must determine what the goal of the dive will be, who will lead, what the gas plan is, etc. For shallow reef dives, this can be very simple and take only a few minutes. For complex decompression dives, it can take days.

The Team that Descends Together, Stays Together

The majority of diving problems occur during the initial descent of the dive. As a team, it is important to stay together during the descent. There are multiple team descent techniques that can be employed, depending on the water conditions. This is where you need to have learned team diving from a good instructor to knows team diving protocols, not reading off the internet.

A good number of diving accidents have occurred when diving alone. Now, that doesn’t only mean solo diving. It includes when buddies lose contact and separate from one another. If the team descends together and gets to the target depth, then the leader can communicate to the team the direction to swim. This helps keep the team together and swimming off in the right direction. In other words, everybody starts the dive together.

Lending a Helping Hand, or Two, or Three

When the proverbial crap hits the fan, I want my team members there to help me out. This shouldn’t be confused with being self-sufficient. If I’m having a problem with a gas leak, my teammates can see my valves where I cannot. They can tell me which one to shut down, or just do it for me if I am dealing with another problem. They are there to provide me gas, if for some reason I need it. In other words, my teammates must be on the same page as me so that we can prevent small issues/problems from becoming larger (i.e. the incident pit). When diving as a team, all resources become team resources. This includes equipment, gas, etc. But it also includes that person’s experience. This is where solo diving courses fail because the diver solely relies on their own, possibly limited, experience. When I’m diving with less experienced divers, I’m able to prevent or foresee potential problems they may have based on my past diving experiences. A diver’s education and experience level is a big resource one can bring to the table in the team environment.

The bottom line is that divers shouldn’t be fooled by instructors/dive stores who are claiming to teach team diving. Nine times out of ten, they are only talking about buddy diving and not team diving. Do your homework and ask the all important question, “How?”. An instructor who truly teaches team diving will be able to teach more than just the “buddy system” and teach how the team can achieve it’s goals, including teams with more than 2 or 3 people.

I welcome your questions or comments.

Dive Safe, Duane Johnson Precision Diving

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The Only Story I Have Ever Read that Made Me Cry

 

Seeded from  Marc Warnke Family First Entrepreneur on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 17:19

I received this story in my email yesterday and I knew I had to share it with you.  It is the only story I have ever read that actually brought tears to my eyes.  I read it last night to my 4 year-old.  He may still be a little young to have fully understood it, but I believe that every parent should read this to their children.  Please take the time to enjoy this incredibly moving story.

Two Choices

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: “When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?”

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. “I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.”

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team, who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

 

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