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For Divers since 1975 The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 |
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Updated January 07, 2008 |
| These brief news articles below were sent out via email to all divers who signed up for our free email list. You can sign up here to receive future Undercurrent Online Updates and get these news alerts and special offers like these once a month or so. |
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Corrected New Travel Rules for Handling Batteries Corrected New Travel Rules for Handling Batteries : January 07, 2008In Tuesday's e-mail about lithium batteries, many readers reported that we were too general and perhaps misleading about the new travel prohibitions regarding them, so we decided that we should further clarify our information and direct you to official federal sources in case there are further changes.Department of Transportation spokesperson Patricia Kliger told Undercurrent that the checked-baggage ban on loose lithium batteries of all sizes was primarily put in place for industrial-size batteries, like those used in heavy-duty audio/video equipment, because they can pose
a significant fire hazard. The new restrictions do not have much of an effect on consumer electronics, however, you may not pack ANY spare lithium batteries in your checked bags. It is okay to check your gear as long as batteries are installed in them. Other rules for traveling with spare lithium batteries : * You can bring batteries with up to an 8-gram equivalent lithium content in your carryon bags. All lithium ion batteries in cell phones are below the 8-gram equivalent lithium content. Nearly all laptop computer batteries and those used by photographers and dive computers also are below this quantity threshold. For the detailed information and to track changes, go to http://safetravel.dot.gov Last Chance to Get The All New 2008 Edition, of The Travelin' Diver's Chapbook for Free, as well as Online Access to Ten Years of Back Issues : January 07, 2008Sign up now for an Undercurrent subscription and we'll send you a free issue of the 448-page Chapbook, with more than 1,000 resort and live-aboard reviews and details about water temperature, best times to dive, whether there really is unlimited diving, if the food is palatable....everything you need to know. Go to Undercurrent and sign up on the bottom right-hand side of the home page. Never seen a copy of Undercurrent? You can read the July 2007 issue for free on our home page. Undercurrent IS the consumer reports for scuba divers. Oceanic and Aeris Recall Regulator First Stages : January 07, 2008More than 6,000 regulator first stages manufactured in the U.S and in Taiwan are being recalled due to reports of uncontrolled air flow to the second stage. Oceanic is recalling FDX-10 and CDX-5 first stages and Aeris is recalling its T400-type first stages. The bad parts were shipped to retailers between May 1 and November 15, 2006. But Oceanic's other DX series First Stages (CDX, DXi, DX3, DX4 and TDX5) and Aeris's other diaphragm-type first stages that were serviced between May 1, 2006 and October 22, 2007 may also be affected. To see whether your regulator is affected, go to status pages set up by Oceanic and Aeris. You can also call each company's recall helpline; Oceanic is (888) 636-9390 and Aeris is (888) 854-4960. Kids Sea Camp : January 07, 2008The perfect week-long summer vacation for divers who want to introduce their kids, ages 4-15, to their favorite sport. Ten weeks to choose from in the Cayman Is, Roatan, Bonaire, Fiji, Bahamas, Galapagos, and Costa Rica. Programs can include dolphins, scuba, snorkeling, horseback riding, treasure hunts, kayak racing, zip lining, and so much more. Certified kids have their own boats to dive with other kids. Parents can even take a night off while kids enjoy pizza movie nights or even a night dive. SASY for kids 4+, PADI Seal Team for kids 8+, Certification for kids age 10+ All locations held at PADI 5 star Gold Palm resorts. www.kidsseacamp.com or call 1800-934-3483 for more information email kids@kidsseacamp.com. Click here to read our February 2007 undercover review. It's organized by long time Undercurrent subscriber and scubamom Margo Peyton, who runs Caribbean Adventures/World Dive Adventures (www.worlddive.com) Wife-Killing Diver Nabbed By Feds : January 07, 2008David Swain, the Rhode Island dive shop owner found guilty by a civil court for murdering his wife Susan Tyne while diving in Tortola, was arrested by federal authorities. Attorneys said circumstantial evidence, including his behavior after her death, apparent financial motivation, and Tyne's gear showing signs of a violent struggle, was "overwhelming." The civil court ruling last year ordered Swain to pay Tyne's parents millions in damages. Now, eight years after the incident, he is facing extradition to the British Virgin Islands for a murder trial. (For the full story, subscribe to Undercurrent and read our April 2006 issue online.) How Do You Tip? : January 07, 2008We're doing an upcoming article on good, bad and just plain unusual tip policies. Do you know a liveaboard, dive resort or scuba operator with one of these? For example, subscriber George Coughlin was on an Indonesian that had two tip boxes, one for the dive managers and one Indonesian dive guide, and another tip box for the other 25 members of the Indonesian crew. "The dive manager told me the latter wanted it that way! But it just seemed that crew weren't viewed as important as the others," says Coughlin. In what situations have you been glad to tip - or outright refused to do so? Furthermore, how much do you tip? To whom, and on what basis? As traveling divers, we need to share this important information because on dive trips running at $1,000 to $3,000, tips can become a big hunk of expenses. So how do you tip? Send your comments to PublisherBen@undercurrent.org Read an Issue of Undercurrent for Free : January 07, 2008You can read the July 2007 issue for free on our homepage. It has revealing travel articles about Cozumel and Raja Ampat, the latter having the greatest underwater diversity anywhere (P.S.: our writers pay their own way, travel anonymously and tell it like it is) and a fascinating piece about how many divers there really are, which is far below the three million people like to claim. Don't Miss Out : January 07, 2008Subscribe online now to read these articles in the January issue:
Ben Davison, editor/publisher ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Highlights of Previous Online Updates*Here are past Online Update emails sent out . You can sign-up for free to receive these in the future here. Online Updates* Archive, 2000-2007* Sometimes referred to as Upwellings |
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