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Dive Training – Jan 24th 2009

January 22, 2009 By Mike

Update:

Class went very well.   We had lots of students and three of those were refreshing skills.   We had three DivCons in the class, two helped with the open water pool session one.  I had the opportunity to work with the refreshers.   Boy, I will tell you, this is fun.  The three students were pretty much perfect.   I went over all the update skills with them without any issue.     I do want to point one thing out, though this not the first time I have seen this it is very important.   While acending do not put air into your BC!  If you do you are looking trouble.    The purpose of putting air into the BC is to keep you afloat on the surface and trim out your buoyancy while you are below.    Anyway, just wanted to share.   Enjoy the read!!!

-MJ

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It is time again to start reviewing some of the skills I learned while going through the SSI DiveCon course.     This coming up weekend, I will be assisting one of the Adventure Sports SSI instructors with dive class.   From what I understand, we will have several newbies and a few updates.      I will be reviewing the DivCon Scuba Skills update documentation in particular to make sure I do not miss anything.   We as DivCons generally perform the Skills Update solo.  Periodically reviewing the documentation keeps my mind sharp so that both the students and myself benefit from the training update.    I will go ahead and post an update when the class is complete and let everyone know how it went.

Shannon will not be joining me for dive class as she has to work.   We typically work as a team which allows some our classes to be a bit larger.

So if you are in the Kansas City area and with to get some dive training, do visit Adventure Sports.   Depending on the instructor teaching your class, you may be working both Shannon and myself.

-Thanks,

-MJ

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Enjoy Scuba Diving

January 10, 2009 By Mike

By Dean Novosat

Scuba diving can be a life-long adventure involving travel to foreign lands, continuing education and interaction with a bunch of like-minded individuals who share a passion for the undersea world and it's exploration. Our planet is 85% covered with water and at this point we know relatively little about our great oceans and seas. Only a small fraction of the Earth's waters have been explored. Diving can be done anywhere there's water including oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, and rivers. And we can technically include swimming pools since this is where most divers learn to obtain their certification. Learning to scuba dive can become the beginning of a lifelong adventure.

Many people dive both as a fun and recreational activity but there are professional scuba divers too. There are the most famous divers, the Navy SEALS. But most cities and towns have water rescue teams that include divers. So if you love diving, you can always make it a career. There are also professional treasure hunters who scour the ocean's bottom for shipwrecks laden with gold! Even though they may use high-tech devices like satellite photos and sonar, a diver is always needed to go to the bottom to recover the bounty.

Since diving can be viewed as an extreme sport, it is always recommended that the rules of diving are learned and followed accordingly while engaging in this adventure sport. You can earn your PADI certification and hundreds of locations. And if you arrive at a tropical resort somewhere and suddenly decide you want to learn to dive, most resorts offer lessons right in their pool. You can get certified quickly and then head right out into the ocean to explore the undersea world.

Many people erroneously assume that since you are underwater, the weather doesn't play a factor on when you can dive. This is not true!

Scuba diving can be limited by weather conditions just like any other activity. Since you usually take a boat to a dive site, winds and rough seas may make this unsafe. And inclement weather can greatly affect the undersea currents making diving unsafe.

Dean Novosat writes about adventure sports and scuba diving at http://www.scubadivercenter.com - Scuba Diving

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Enjoy-Scuba-Diving&id=1859813

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Diver Panic

October 25, 2008 By Mike

By James Costello

What is the most serious condition a diver can experience underwater?

DCS (bends), narcosis...?

It's probably panic, for the simply reason that once a diver starts to panic he/she looses all rational thought processes. In most cases the irrational thinking renders the diver giving self-help almost impossible. The diver is not able to 'think there way out of a problem'; below is an example:

You are diving a famous wreck in local waters, the depth of the wreck is at 40m and the visibility is around 10m. The pre-dive excitement and anticipation are high as you enter the water, once you and your buddy reach the wreck you are overwhelmed by its size... You both spend the next few minutes swimming around the wreck until suddenly you look around and can't see your buddy. Then your dive computer starts to beep as you run out of bottom time, you realize your some distance from the ascent line; so you make a made swim for it. In your haste to get to the ascent line, you don't see the mass of fishing line and it gets entangled around one of your feet/fins. The more you struggle the more you get entangled, with no one to help, you start to panic. No bottom time, limited air supply (at that depth on a single tank)...

It's easy to say, but not so easy to practice; BUT if you stop for just a few seconds try to calm yourself before you hit the panic stage. You can think about your predicament more logically... Relax and slow your breathing (to conserve your air and reduce CO2 build-up), which will make you feel more relaxed and less stressed. Look down identify the problem, maybe removing your fin will make it easier to untangle! If you have a knife or EMT shear (which are highly recommended), take them out and start cutting.

Even if you exceed your bottom time by a minute or two, your diving computer will still prompt you as to what to do (safety stop, ceiling etc); and obviously in this kind of situation it would be advisable to stop diving for a 24hr period if your no decompression limits are been exceeded.

A simple trip to break the circle of panic in a diver is to get them to perform a very simple task for themselves. This shows them that they are in control, and help clam and reduce the level of panic.

By James Costello, SDI Intructor Trainer #13056; visit my website Dolphin Dive Adventures & Services for more information about scuba diving.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Costello
http://EzineArticles.com/?Diver-Panic&id=1602263

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Diving in Strong Currents

October 25, 2008 By Mike

By James Costello

Fins - This may seem an odd thing to bring up, but it does have an affect. Soft/flexible fins may be comfortable to use where there is little or no current; however in strong current they aren't going to 'cut the mustard'! You need fins that can move a lot of water without bending... (Jet fins are great for this if you have powerful legs!)

Technique - About the best technique for fining in current, is the flutter kick. But there are also a few things you should take care of; firstly when you use a steady powerful kick, but make sure you don't open your legs too wide. As doing this will cause drag and reduce the effectiveness of your fining! Secondly, remember fining in current is a marathon not a sprint; pace yourself so that you can maintain the speed, and take advantage of the changes in current (currents will always vary as you swim through water) i.e. when the current reduces slightly take advantage and use it to relax your leg muscles a little.

Depth - the current will always be less close to the seabed, so where possible always descend to the bottom.

Cover - use the underwater landscape to shelter yourself from the current, such as large rocks/coral heads, etc. This allows you to rest, and relaxes for a few minutes before continuing on; or you may use it to decide on your plan...abort the dive being one option!
Hands - don't forget you can use your hands to pull yourself along, or a pointer/knife if you have one. The obviously isn't the most ideal situation, but if you really have to get to a point it maybe the only way!

Plan - last of all don`t forget to plan! If you don't like strong current, don't dive! Or plan a drift dive, so the boat will pick you up as you surface!

By James Costello, SDI Intructor Trainer #13056; visit my website Dolphin Dive Adventures & Services for more information about scuba diving.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Costello
http://EzineArticles.com/?Diving-in-Strong-Currents&id=1602286

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Bonaire Diving Review

July 17, 2008 By Mike

Bonaire Diving Review
By Michael James Smith

Bonaire is a small island located about 120 miles off the coast of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. It is renowned for great diving. Everyone from novice to advanced divers will find something to their liking here. Although it has endured an occasional hurricane in its history, it is generally considered to be out of the hurricane belt, which allows for great diving year round.

Bonaire is considered by many, including myself, to be one of the best diving destinations in the world. I actually visited three times within a period of eighteen months because I enjoy it so much. There's something to be said for returning to places you are familiar and comfortable with. The people are warm. The system for accessing your tanks for shore diving is very user friendly. Nitrox was not an additional charge, as the dive shops felt it was important to encourage its use to protect its divers. It's also an island that's very easy to get around. Rent a truck at the airport, and off you go.

To date, I've gone diving with 'Buddy Dive' and 'Toucan Diving' dive shops. Both dive shops were very accommodating as far as staff goes. Toucan Diving had a 'one-up', however, as their dive boats are stored in a protected area. You're able to load your things and get your gear organized prior to leaving the dock in calm waters. The Buddy Dive boats were on a dock adjacent to open ocean, which was a nice view, but the boats were constantly slamming into the dock as divers were trying to board with heavy equipment. You have to get your gear ready on the way to, or at the dive site, because you just need to sit down and hang on as the boat bangs away while everyone else is loading. Another reason I favor Toucan Diving is one dive master in particular. His name is Jackson. He is ever enthusiastic about the sport despite doing it for years, and is always making a point to show divers the cool things, like frog fish, and the air pocket at the 99' deep Hilma Hooker wreck. Of the two dive shops, Toucan diving has always been my preference.

Bonaire's marine creatures are plentiful. I started my first dive with a beautiful floating spotted eagle ray, and saw several more as the week progressed. There were also turtles on several dives. These will always be some of my favorites. Bonaire also has several dive sites where the seahorses tend to gather. These are definitely a creature you don't see often, but I've seen them on every trip to Bonaire. There were also several chances to see the frog fish, as well as many smaller creatures allowing for great macro photography. There were many more marine animals which deserve honorable mention, but too many to include them all here! Let's just say the diving here gets a definite thumbs up!!

Bonaire is well known for its shore diving, and I have tried that many times. Although the freedom of the shore diving is wonderful, the entries at many sites are still quite challenging as they are often rocky and slippery. Be sure to watch your fingers because there are little eels everywhere (and no gloves allowed as Bonaire is considered a marine sanctuary)! There are several shore diving sites I do favor such as "Oil Slick" because you can enter via platform ladder. We also like "Angel City" because that site has never disappointed me. The old coral is a bit of a tricky entrance, but it's definitely worth it when you jump in and see all the squid that like to hang out here. I will always like the boat diving best because I like jumping right in to the water without the hazards of spraining an ankle on the way in (which happened to a friend of mine even before she made it into the water)! Also, if shore diving, make sure not to leave anything valuable in the car as I've heard of theft issues, but have never experienced them.

So, whether it's boat diving or shore diving that suits you, you'll find it in Bonaire. This quaint little island allows for both a relaxed and rewarding dive experience. Call your travel agent, and pack your gear. Great diving in a tropical paradise awaits you. There's no better formula for a great dive vacation.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_James_Smith
http://EzineArticles.com/?Bonaire-Diving-Review&id=1322268

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