Dive Dispatches

SPLITTING THE FIN: England’s Diver Magazine took a look at Apollo’s new Biofins. Tester John Benton thought the fins performed admirably, although he didn't recall speeding effortlessly past other divers. One of his major complaints was that the two parts of the split blade would often touch together during his kick, making him wonder if he'd kicked something over on the reef — always disconcerting for the conservationminded diver. His other complaint? He got tired of divers commenting that his fins had split. To make sure everyone knows you're wearing hightech fins, not damaged ones, he suggested inscribing the price on each blade in large white letters.

WAY OFF THE BEATEN PATH: Ask a weird question, and you may get a weird answer. A subscriber to Diver Magazine sent in this inquiry: “I have recently come into money and would love to spend a large part of it on a seriously weird diving holiday. Can you recommend anywhere? “

Their answer? Easter Island. I, for one, knew little about diving Easter Island, a destination 1,800 miles from the nearest populated land. They described the diving as dramatic underwater volcanic typography with excellent visibility, plenty of marine life, caves with impressive swimthroughs, and fingers of rock that rise from the sea bed to above sea level. They did attach one caveat: don't expect luxury accommodations — just a few bed and breakfasts. If you also just came into lots of money, check it out at www.mysteriousplaces.com

HOW FIT IS YOUR DIVEMASTER? Underwater Magazine reports in an article on decompression theory that the Cuban government requires all divemasters and dive instructors to take a yearly dive physical at a military hospital's hyperbaric facility.

IT’S IN THE MEMBRANE: In a recent press release, Undersea Breathing Systems, which produces DNAx Nitrox membranes for breathing systems, says that it has successfully defended its patent against infringement by Nitrox Technologies, which now must pay licensing fees and a "substantial royalty" on every DNAx membrane system sold worldwide.

CHECK YOUR PAPERS: Condé Nast Traveler’s readers have reported several incidents of travelers arriving in countries without the proper documentation and either being charged several hundred dollars on the spot or being denied entrance into the country. The two most common mistakes causing travelers problems are having a passport that WILL expire in six months or less and traveling with children without having proper documentation for them. Two dive destinations listed among the countries where travelers have the most trouble are the Philippines and Indonesia.

— John Q. Trigger