Current Online Updates*
The Latest Dive News   What's this?

Suunto Recalls One of Its Dive Computer Hoses
The Ocean's Experts Subscribe to Us; Why Don't You?
The Worst Marine Disaster in Hawaii's History
Problems with Getting Your Out-of-Warranty Gear Fixed?
What You're Missing This Month
Can These Wetsuits Make You Invisible to Sharks?
The DiveGlider Is Ready for Test Flights
What Dive-Devoted Group or Person Should We Highlight?
Take Your CO Analyzer to Florida
Do You "Like Us" Yet?

Suunto Recalls One of Its Dive Computer Hoses:  September 19, 2013

It just issued a limited recall on one specific batch of high-pressure rubber hoses that comes with various dive computers. The reason: The rubber is defective, causing the hose to leak or rupture, and leading to a higher-than-normal loss of air. Suunto apparently caught the problem during the manufacturing process; no known injuries have been reported. The suspect batch is #1812, and the number is stamped on the hose. Products that use this high-pressure hose include Cobra, Cobra 3, SM-36 pressure gauges and gauge combos, as well as Vyper and Zoop when purchased as dive computer combo products. Suunto officials are instructing all customers who bought any of the products listed above after November 2012 to look at the manufacturing batch code number on the hose. If it lists #1812, return the computer for a free hose change. Bring it to the nearest Suunto dealer, or use the company's Online Service Request to get your computer picked up and delivered for the hose change.

The Ocean's Experts Subscribe to Us; Why Don't You?:  September 19, 2013

Duane Silverstein is executive director of Seacology, which helps protect island habitats by offering villages a unique deal: if they agree to a marine reserve, Seacology provides funds for something the village needs, like a schoolhouse or health clinic. It was a joy to get an e-mail from Silverstein that he had just renewed his Undercurrent subscription. "It has been very helpful over many years, both for me as a diver and for Seacology." Join the pros who know about the oceans, and get many of their news and tips from us. Subscribe now for $39.95 per year or $4.95 per month. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.

The Worst Marine Disaster in Hawaii's History:  September 19, 2013

A pipeline running from storage tanks to ships spewed up to 233,000 gallons of thick molasses into Honolulu Harbor on September 9, turning it into a watery wasteland, and divers are reporting that thousands of fish have been suffocated. "There's nothing alive there at all," diver Roger White told NBC's Hawaii affiliate KHNL. "They're all dead and just lying across the bottom." Matson Navigation makes weekly runs if molasses from Hawaii's last sugar plantation to the mainland and it says the leak was repaired on Tuesday, but there's nothing the shipping company can do to clean up the mess. The molasses has turned the water brown, and the sugar in it helps bacteria to breed, creating algae blooms. The low-oxygen water will eventually move out of the harbor, but it could take months or even years for marine life to repopulate the area

Problems with Getting Your Out-of-Warranty Gear Fixed?:  September 19, 2013

We recently heard from a diver who sent two dive computers from two separate makers, but was told neither could be fixed because the models were discontinued and therefore - according to the manufacturers - unfixable. The reply he got from his dive shop was, "Almost all the scuba companies only have a two-year warranty on the computers and don't seem to support the old technology when new ones comes out, unfortunately." Has something similar happened to you when you sent in past-its-warranty gear to be fixed? Has the dive manufacturer tried to get you to upgrade instead, or did it repair even though it was past warranty? Are dive companies doing the same "planned obsolescence" deal that cellphone and laptop makers do to get customers to "upgrade" to more expensive equipment? Send me your gear-repair experiences, both good and bad, to BenDDavison@undercurrent.org

What You're Missing This Month:  September 19, 2013

Diving the cenotes and snorkeling with whale sharks in Playa del Carmen . . . Suunto recalls one of its dive computer hoses . . . one reader explains why not all veteran divers should dive Truk Lagoon . . . why rebreather diving is 10 times more dangerous than standard scuba . . . DAN tries to determine which divers are most likely to get decompression sickness. . . why that high-SPF sunscreen may not work well after all. . . Readers tell us why they're reducing their diving -- or quitting altogether . . . Why an increase in recompression chambers nationwide isn't good news for divers . . . do you have what it takes to be an Undercurrent blogger? . . . and much more.

Can These Wetsuits Make You Invisible to Sharks?:  September 19, 2013

Scientists from the University of Western Australia paired with designers from Shark Attack Mitigation Systems to create two new wetsuits that they say can protect divers from nasty shark interactions. The "Elude" wetsuit is designed to camouflage divers from color-blind sharks. The white- and black-striped "Diverter" is intended to mirror nature's warning signs to ward off any potential shark attack. They retail for US$460 at Australian wetsuit retailer Radiator . Note though that the designs have only been tested in the water with tiger sharks - and not on humans - around Ningaloo Reef. Testing is now being done with great whites in South Australia and South Africa. Want to volunteer?

The DiveGlider Is Ready for Test Flights:  September 19, 2013

Headed to the Caribbean this winter? Consider a stop at Golden Rock Dive Center on St. Eustatius, at the very least so that you can take a "test dive" of the DiveGlider. Golden Rock owner Glenn Faires invented a buoyancy glider that allows divers to move through the water at a fast speed but with no mechanical sound. The energy comes from scuba tanks and weights, and the forward motion is created by manipulating its buoyancy and changing the angle of the wing. Faires considers it like kiteboarding for divers. He introduced it at the DEMA show last year, is signing up people for test dives at Golden Rock, and planning to make it available at other dive centers down the road. Go to www.diveglide.com for more information.

What Dive-Devoted Group or Person Should We Highlight?:  September 19, 2013

We're looking at regular "Joe Divers" who started not-for-profit groups that save sharks, protect reefs, create marine preserves and other things that ultimately benefit divers. For example, we're highlighting a guy who lives part-time in the Caribbean, saw reef degradation in his area, and thus worked with the government to raise money for reef protection by selling dive tags. Now the nonprofit he started is raising money to install moorings for dive boats and yachts to prevent further reef damage. We're not looking at DAN or REEF, we're looking at much smaller organizations - those that show how one diver can accomplish a lot. So what other divers are out there doing similar things? Let us know so we can highlight them in an upcoming issue. Send us your nominations via e-mail at BenDDavison@undercurrent.org

Take Your CO Analyzer to Florida:  September 19, 2013

The dive physician who wrote the article "CO Poisoning Risk Is Higher than You Think" for our July 2012 issue came back to us with an update to the story. "Florida was the only state that required its dive shops to routinely test their compressed dive air. That law has now been repealed. In the legislative analysis about why it was, there's a statement about dive training agencies already requiring regular air testing at its members' fill stations. That's false. The only training agency with that requirement is ANDI, which probably represents fewer than one percent of fill stations in the sport diving world. So make sure you have your CO analyzer on you when you head to Florida for dives."

Do You "Like Us" Yet?:  September 19, 2013

Thanks to those of you who have "liked" us on Facebook, and sent us over the 5,000-mark for Facebook friends. If you haven't already, go to our Facebook page and see the unusual stories, new blog posts from our dive-veteran contributors, and breaking news that we post there regularly. We also plan to use Facebook as a sounding board - ask you questions, get your input and gather suggestions and advice for future stories. And we promise not to bombard you with excessive posts or sales pitches. Like us on Facebook, and we'll keep our relationship on a friendly basis.

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
Contact Ben

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Note: Undercurrent is a registered 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization donating funds to help preserve coral reefs. 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.

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