Flotsam & Jetsam

Wakatobi moves closer: The longawaited Wakatobi airstrip in Indonesia successfully opened July 10. Since plenty of divers found the day and a half to get there from Bali worth the hassle, imagine how worthwhile it must be now! The resort claims to have improved the quality of water for showering and equipment rinsing with a new supply and filtration. And, they’re considering a “ small-capacity, high-quality liveaboard around our islands beginning later this year.” If you’re interested, email: ‘ planet@wakatobi.com.

Unsafe Canadian dive boats: Dive boats from To bermory, Canada have for years been taking as many as a couple hundred divers a day to visit wrecks in Lake Huron’s Five Fathom National Park. But Canadian officials say some dive boats are destined to become wrecks themselves. Last year a tour boat sank and two school children lost their lives. This year, officials inspected To bermory ’s 15 dive boats. Seven failed to pass muster, each with a litany of problems, including a lack of waterproof deck hatches and lifesaving equipment in disrepair. While some boats were to be allowed back into service once repairs were made, “some will never return to the water, ” an inspector said.

Never Say Never: When it comes to life insurance, when asked if you’re a diver, you had better say “yes.” You sign a declaration that your answers are complete and true, “and they had better be,” warns Suzanne Wuepper Sanford, a New York Life agent in Portland, Oregon. “It’s stupid to try to fool insurance companies,” she said. “ It’s amazing how people will lie to you.” The consequences of being untruthful on an application can be grave. If you don’t admit to scuba diving, and die while diving within two years of the policy’s issue, the insurance company won’t pay your beneficiaries. Oregon has a two-year contestability period, which varies from state to state. After two years, the company can’t contest that type of claim. If you’ve never been scuba diving, but take it up after you’ve gotten life or disability insurance, your premiums and claims won’t be affected.