Two Travel Agencies Belly
Up
November 25, 2001
Citing the events of 9/11 and the downturn of dive travel, both Tropical
Adventures in Seattle and Dive Tours in Houston announced
last week they have closed their doors and stopped taking calls. While
both agencies have recorded messages that assert customers will be taken
care of, many traveling divers have found that the money they have paid
has not been forwarded to their destination. While it's still too early
to find out whether any divers will get stiffed, there are many worried
travelers. Note: right after 9/11 Undercurrent urged our readers
to get travel insurance since many dive businesses were too marginal
to survive. Our warning continues.
DUI
BC Recall
November 23, 2001
DUI is recalling approximately 3,500 BCs because molding variations
in one component of the over pressure valve (OPV) could prevent it from
sealing properly and create a potential drowning hazard. Neither DUI
nor the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received reports of injuries.
While this variation is not present in every OPV, they cannot determine
which OPVs are suspect so they are requiring that all OPVs be updated
with new assemblies. The old OPVs are equipped with red pulls. All new
OPVs are equipped with yellow pulls. All DUI BCs sold prior to Nov.
1, 2001 use this OPV. Consumers should stop using these units and contact
DUI immediately at (800) 325-8439, (619) 236-1203 or customer service
at www.DUI-Online.com.
DUI will send you a new OPV with installation instructions immediately.
More
Pelagian Discounts
November 23, 2001
The 114-foot Pelagian, the in boat among serious divers and photographers,
is headed for its' year long Discovery Voyage, and Undercurrent
readers can now get 10% off any segment of the trip. As we've written
earlier, she will offer a series of two and three week expeditions to
remote atolls, islands and reef's of Micronesia and Melanesia. She'll
travel far south of Palau, explore the reefs between Yap and Chuuk,
hit the remote parts of New Guinea and the Solomons and visit Ninigo.
Divers pick the part of the itinerary that interests them, then hook
up. Dive Director Larry Smith, who is expert at critter finding, has
such a personal following he's about the only celebrity dive master
in the business.
Discounted prices for standard cabins for the Micronesia/Melanesia
portion are $3654 for 15 nights, $5481 for 22 nights, plus air. Given
the crew, boat and itinerary, this is perhaps the most unique and best
liveaboard journey ever. They're 85% full now so book soon if you want
in on this. More info on these trips is available at their website www.dive-asiapacific.com
To take advantage of this special offer email diveasia@diveres.com
for the US reservations office or info@dive-asiapacific.com
for the Phuket office, and mention this special offer to Undercurrent
readers.
Belize
Hurricane Damage November 23, 2001
BELIZE FIRST magazine compiled a list of damage due
to Hurricane Iris and these are a few that may be significant to divers
headed to southern Belize. Dock at Hamanasi was destroyed, but the hotel
is operating normally. The center of the hurricane came ashore near
the south end of the Placencia peninsula, causing severe damage to wooden
structures in Placencia and Seine Bight villages. Electricity, water,
telephone (except cell) and Internet service is out in most areas and
may be operating again by late November, but could take longer. Maya
Playa: Destroyed. Maya Beach Hotel: One building heavily damaged. Singing
Sands: Cabins damaged, pool destroyed. Inn at Robert's Grove: Little
serious damage. Kitty's Place: Restaurant open and most units including
beachfront cottages ready for guests. Francis Ford Coppola's Blancaneaux's
Turtle Inn: Mostly destroyed. Serenity: Main buildings okay. Rum Point
Inn: Some damage; newer quad units only minor damage; ready by Thanksgiving.
Pool will not be ready. Sea Horse Dive Shop: Destroyed. Monkey River
village was almost completely destroyed. Glover's Reef: Slick Rock's
facility received some damage -- three cabins were knocked down but
probably can be repaired; expect units to be ready late November. Manta
Resort received significant damage -- reopening date unknown. Total
estimated damage in Belize: US$150 million, leaving 12,000 to 13,000
temporarily homeless with 3,179 homes destroyed. While three crew members
and 17 members of the Richmond Dive Club died when the Wave Dancer was
capsized, no other deaths were reported. The local residents were aware
that swells from the sea provide much of the danger and headed to safe
sites on land. For complete information go to www.belizefirst.com.
Wave
Dancer Update November 23,
2001
The official Belize government report on why the Wave Dancer sank during
the October 8 hurricane in Belize won't be ready until January. A theory
proposed by the Wave Dancer's insurance investigators -- that a tornado
had spun off Hurricane Iris and hit the Wave Dancer -- apparently won't
measure up. Carlos Fuller, Belize's chief meteorologist, has examined
the wreckage and saw no evidence of a tornado. Tugboat captain Earl
Young, who was aboard the tug Miss Gayle at the same dock during the
storm, said it appeared the Wave Dancer was tied too tightly at the
concrete dock for the high winds and approximate 10-foot storm surge.
When the height of the water suddenly increased, lines and cleats holding
the Wave Dancer broke. Several law suits have been filed against Peter
Hughes Inc. and the boat's captain, Philip Martin, on behalf of the
passengers and crews. The suits allege that Hughes and Martin "arrogantly
and illegally ignored" government orders to evacuate the boat as
Hurricane Iris blew into Belize, causing the deaths of 17 divers and
three crew members. The suits also claim Martin did not ask the crew
or passengers to put on life jackets or "assemble in a safe area"
the night of the storm in case of emergency. (Richmond Times Dispatch.)
Poseidon's
Mistress Sinks
November 23, 2001
In addition to the Wave Dancer, a liveaboard owned by Dan Stanbro and
Barbara Leah Wilson, who own Scottsdale's Desert Divers was sunk by
a Hurricane, in this case Juliette, which swept through the Gulf of
California on September 30. High wind pushed the 137- foot boot into
a rocky area, where the boat's propellers were damaged and rocks tore
a hole in the bow. The sixteen passengers and crew bailed out. Mexican
search teams found twelve on an isolated shrimp farm, about 13 miles
north of where the boat submerged. They had waded in 82-degree water
for 21 hours before reaching shore. Four others were spotted by the
Mexican Navy. Apparently this escaped much press notice, though it occurred
about four hours south of the Arizona-Mexican border, because other
than Stanbro, all others aboard were Mexican nationals. The only victims
of the sinking were the couple's two cats and a cockatiel.
Dirt
Cheap Week in Cozumel
November 25, 2001
Undercurrent Reader Steve Wagner is auctioning off a December
week at his Cozumel timeshare at the Coral Princess Club, with all proceeds
going to the "September 11th Children's Fund" to help the
children affected by the attacks. Trouble is, the latest price I saw
was but $31 and bidding ends Wednesday. Get a bargain and help those
kids: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1300657470
Looking
for a Last-Minute Getaway at Christmas?
November 25, 2001
That wonderful little resort, Maya Ha, on the southern Yucatan Peninsula
(it dives the legendary Chinchorro reef) has cut its prices due to a
last minute group cancellations for December 26 to January 2. One week
packages are available for $1245, includes the room, five full days
of diving, all meals, and tax. Contact: Maya Ha Resort mayaharesort@aol.com
or toll free at 877-443-1600. You can read our recent
review of Maya Ha.
Digital
Imaging for the Underwater Photographer
November 23, 2001
Whether you're converting your underwater shots to digital or shooting
digital underwater or on land, this book is what you need to master
digital enhancement and presentation. Jack and Sue Drafahl, who have
published more than 500 articles, have produced this excellent book
to help you master the digital technique you need to create dazzling
presentations. They cover basic and advanced techniques in contrasting
and saturating images, reducing grain, eliminating backscatter, correcting
exposure errors, modifying colors, and enhancing those fish and people
shots for truly professional quality work. This 224-page paperback is
chock full of photos explaining the computer techniques for top quality
images. Save 20% off the $39.95 list price by ordering
here (which will lead you to Amazon.com) and our profit from this
sale or any other book you purchase will go to the Coral
Reef Alliance.
Small
Hope Bay
November 30, 2001
Small Hope Bay in the Bahamas got nailed by Hurricane Michelle. They
report: "The eye passed right over us. The dock is gone, the beach
patio is gone, the glass room is gone, the office is gone(again), the
beach in front of the cottages is eroded. Aiming to open mid-December.
Maybe earlier." [Update: a recent report just
in says they are back open again -- DSE]
No
More Iced Regulators?
November 23, 2001
In cold water, a regulator can freeze when a change in the airflow
leads to a sudden drop in pressure and temperature. Moisture freezes
in the valve, jamming it open and creating a freeflow. British engineer
Francis Kay, has developed a new valve that should solve the problem.
The tapered mouthpiece smoothes the airflow, preventing the sharp changes
in pressure that make the valve freeze. (New Scientist,
July 7, 2001.)
The
Travelin' Diver's 2002 Chapbook
November 23, 2001
The Travelin' Diver's 2002 Chapbook is at the printer
and will be mailed to all print
subscribers in December. Look for 560 pages of incisive commentary
on more than 350 destinations. This will be available to Online
Members in January.
-- Ben
Davison,
editor/publisher
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