Current Upwellings
The Latest Dive News

Dive Luggage and Carry on Bags Underwater Across the English channel Help Save Coral Reefs Don't Wear A Weight Belt Deeper into Diving Collect Fish in the Bahamas Women Divers and Their Menstrual Cycles Dive Master Rip Offs August issue of Undercurrent A special offer Dive Luggage and Carry on Bags:   August 2006 The August issue of Undercurrent details airline restrictions coming in September that not only limit the weight of each bag a passenger checks, but also the total luggage weight. If you don't abide by the rules you'll be charged a fee. Too much weight and you'll be required to ship the bag (which means you'll miss your flight while you track down an airport shipper - and it will cost a fortune). The latest baggage restrictions, imposed August 11, should not affect divers, however, keep in mind that each country establishes its own rules. In many smaller countries, officious immigration and customs personnel can be haughty and arbitrary. They often order travelers to remove strobes, battery packs, even computers from carry on luggage. Be prepared. For information on US restrictions visit http://www.tsa.gov. Underwater Across the English channel:   August 2006 Seven divers swam the Channel in an underwater relay in early August.They left Dover at 6 a.m. and arrived at Calais, France, 12 hours later. On each leg, the six men and one woman spent about 30 minutes in the sea before they exhausted their air and they handed over their baton - a surface marker buoy - to another team member and surfaced. They used the feat to raise nearly $100,000 for research into the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of testicular, prostate and penile cancer. It's great to see divers raising money for important causes, so .... Help Save Coral Reefs:  August 2006 Undercurrent has raised more than $7000 to stop poaching and preserve reefs in Belize and Fiji. We need to double that amount, so for every dollar you give -- up to $7000 -- Undercurrent will match it, dollar for dollar. Please give back to the reefs you love by making a tax deducible contribution at www.undercurrent.org. Click on "Donate to Save the Reefs," for more information and to contribute. We will send you a receipt acknowledging your tax deductible gift. Send us any foreign currency you have collected, and we'll convert it to dollars. Undercurrent is a registered nonprofit, 501 (c) (3) organization. Don't Wear A Weight Belt:  August 2006 At least when you're walking around a dive boat An Undercurrent subscriber told us that she was at the Brac Reef Resort in March and "We were still at the dock and a sturdy young man donned his weight belt and simply got klutzy and fell in. He had the presence of mind to shuck his belt and pulled himself out of 15 fsw. Later, a diver in his mid 50s, who had already shucked his fins, BCD, and tank but was still wearing his weight belt, walked to the stern, lost his balance, and fell in. He didn't scream, he only yelped, and nobody noticed except me. He immediately surfaced (through forceful kicking) and grabbed the dive platform. Years ago, we were diving at Grand Turk and a diver handed up her BC but was still wearing her belt. She lost her hold on the ladder and began to sink. Smitty, the legendary Grand Turk divemaster (his BC is full of holes and just holds his tank; he uses rocks if he gets light), jumped in and pulled her to the surface. (A few years ago, Undercurrent reported the death of a diver who, wearing only his weight belt, fell off the boat and couldn't release the buckle). Deeper into Diving:   August 2006 Here's the all new, comprehensive second edition of John Lippman's 1990 classic, the definitive book for serious divers who want to dig deep to understand their sport. Lippman and co author Dr. Simon Mitchell, cover virtually all decompression procedures, computers and their various algorithms) physical and medical aspects of deeper diving, including nitrogen narcosis, carbon dioxide, heat loss, decompression sickness, multi-level diving, and everything you ever cared to know about diving. At $65, it's a serious book for a serious diver's reference library. Click here to order directly from the publisher. Mention Undercurrent in the comment section and Aqua Quest will donate 15% of your total purchase to our Belize and Fiji Reef Projects. Collect Fish in the Bahamas:   August 2006 The New England Aquarium needs divers to join their staff on a fish collecting expedition to Bimini from September 29th through October 8th 2006. They're collecting specimens for their giant ocean tank. The trip is open to beginners and experienced divers, and you'll dive with and learn from Aquarium professionals. The cost is $3,278 for accommodations aboard the R/V Coral Reef II (meals, lodging, cocktails), up to five dives per day, and a rare opportunity to dive in the Aquarium's 200,000 gallon Caribbean reef exhibit. (Since you're volunteering for a nonprofit organization, the costs are tax deductible, says our accountant). Call Sherrie Floyd, Senior Aquarist or Sarah Zibailo, Aquarist at 617-973-5248 or email sfloyd@neaq.org or szibailo@neaq.org. Women Divers and Their Menstrual Cycles:   August 2006 In the August issue, Marguerite St. Leger Dowse with the Diving Disease Research Centre in the UK reports on several studies - and her latest - that connect DCI and other diving problems with specific weeks on a woman's cycle. — Get the full story Dive Master Rip Offs:   August 2006 We've been informed recently of divers who have gotten into financial deals with an offshore dive operation, operator or dive master, only to find their money has disappeared.  If this has happened to you or to anyone you know, please send us the details.  Bendavison@www.undercurrent.org August issue of Undercurrent:   August 2006 In The August Issue, you'll find reviews from our undercover writers on The Turks and Caicos Explorer - perhaps the best diving in the Caribbean ... The Indian Ocean Explorer, perhaps the best diving in the World ... Rota, a good extension from Palau or Truk....How to Go Diving with Nondiving Kids ... New Luggage Limits Slam Divers ... Thumbs Up AND Thumbs Down for Lahaina Divers ... Unlucky traveling divers contract long term fish poisoning (ciguatera) in Fiji ... Comparison of several fin tests and a few that standout ... myths of fin types and modifications ... Dive Stores, the Internet and the Industry; who will survive ...President Bush declares an enormous marine sanctuary in Hawaii, but the government scales back money for enforcement ... Diving the World, a splendid book for travelers ... Tahiti operation break up the reefs ... What Caribbean diving nations support Japan's attempt to resume whaling. ... Cayman Brac Divi guide grosses everyone out ..... and much much more A special offer:   August 2006 Want to Subscribe to Undercurrent. Go to www.undercurrent.org for a special offer. Note: Undercurrent is a not-for-profit organization. Our travel writers never announce their purpose, are unknown to the destination, and receive no complimentary services or compensation from the dive operators or resort. -- Ben Davison, editor/publisher Previous Upwellings I want to get the full story! Tell me how I can become an Undercurrent Online Member and get online access to the complete articles from back issues of Undercurrent as well as thousands of first hand reports on dive operations worldwide, or subscribe to the printed Undercurrent newsletter