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He's Now Seen It All!
Unfettered by the Need for Advertisers
Join the New England Aquarium on its Bahamas Reef Fish Survey Expedition APRIL 11-19, 2020. And it's Tax Deductible
Australian Wildlife in Peril Appeal
Coronavirus Update (1)
Coronavirus Update (2)
A Message from PADI on Battery Charging
A Template for Liveaboard Fire Safety Precautions
This Month in Undercurrent
Undercurrent Has Been Publishing for 44 years and You're Not Yet a Subscriber?

He's Now Seen It All!  February 13, 2020

That's what subscriber Andrew Falconer (Bunbury, Australia) told us after witnessing a lady climb down the steps of Busselton jetty, Western Australia, in the company of a scuba diver, while wearing a white helmet connected to a scuba tank slung across her back. She then strolled about the seabed in her pink slip-on shoes. Is this the future of scuba or a Coroner's report?

Unfettered by the Need for Advertisers  February 13, 2020

Unfettered by the need for advertisers, Undercurrent is a unique publication that goes where other diving media fear to tread. Subscribe to the Undercurrent now for a six-month trial at only $19.95 and download for free my new 36-page Seven Super Dive Resorts (and one meh). To subscribe at this special no-risk, money back guaranteed rate, simply click here.

Join the New England Aquarium on its Bahamas Reef Fish Survey Expedition APRIL 11-19, 2020. And it's Tax Deductible  February 13, 2020

You can explore beautiful underwater sites with New England Aquarium divers on their annual expedition to the Bahamas aboard the R/V Coral Reef II. Using techniques that you will learn from Aquarium staff, participants will gather data on fish populations and their habitats while gaining experience with scientific diving methods. It's a way to increase your knowledge of reef fish identification and behavior while helping to ensure diverse and healthy animal populations. If you sign up, be prepared to spend a lot of time diving with a great group of people! For information, Chris Bauernfeind at cbauernfeind@neaq.org or 617.973.5248.

Australian Wildlife in Peril Appeal  February 13, 2020

Remarkably, Undercurrent supporters have contributed more than $52,000 so far and contributions are continuing to roll in. $20,000 has already been distributed. It's so hard to see how the animals suffer or even can't get away from the fires, and tens of thousands of volunteers are helping. The money we raise goes for taking food and water into the bush, paying for transport, paying for all the rescue and medical supplies needed, and vehicle support. Coming up is habitat restoration, because, koalas, for example, have lost their trees. The money is being parcelled out to carefully vetted organizations including WIRES, Wildlife Victoria and Koala Rescue, Queensland. Undercurrent is an approved 501 (c)(3) organization. If you wish to make a tax-deductible contribution, click here. Thanks again.

Coronavirus Update (1)  February 13, 2020

You may have read our February Undercurrent article about sharing a cabin with someone who gets sick and the coronavirus emergency brings this into sharp focus. Nautilus Dive Adventures (Sea of Cortez, Socorro) is among the first operations to take steps and has sent a message out to all passengers booked that reads, “Any divers scheduled to join one of our trips that have recently travelled to affected regions in China and are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, please contact us. If travel is not advised, we will waive any cancellation fees and rebook you onto a later trip without charge.” Can't say fairer than that.

Coronavirus Update (2)  February 13, 2020

If you are traveling to Micronesia be aware that the President of the Pacific island nation has declared that visitors are required to have stayed for at least 14 days in a country or territory unaffected by the coronavirus, immediately before entering his country. That means not traveling via China (inc. Hong Kong) or the Philippines. (traveling via Manila is a popular route.) Fiji and the Marshall Islands have taken a similar precaution.

A Message from PADI on Battery Charging  February 13, 2020

There's a rising prevalence of battery-powered devices being used in diving situations: smart phones, underwater propulsion vehicles, computers, cameras, strobes, drones and other personal equipment. Following recent boating-related tragedies, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) have recommended that owners, operators and masters of passenger vessels consider limiting the unsupervised charging of lithium-ion batteries and extensive use of power strips and extension cords due to an increased risk of fire. This fire risk also extends to land-based dive operations, especially when charging batteries in hotel and designated camera rooms.

A Template for Liveaboard Fire Safety Precautions  February 13, 2020

In the light of the recent fires on liveaboard vessels that cost so may lives, owners and operators have been forced to focus on safety issues that may have been taken for granted in the past. We asked Avi Klapfer, of the Undersea Hunter fleet that undertakes trips to remote locations like Cocos Island, in the Pacific, what steps he has taken to ensure the safety of his passengers from fire onboard. His precautions are a good template that we hope others will adopt, and we advise travelers to ask the right questions when they book trips on other boats. You can read-it-for-free here.

This Month in Undercurrent  February 13, 2020

Mantas and Molas at Two Fish Divers, Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia . . . Macro-life Diving at Alam Batu, Bali, Indonesia . . . An Investment Opportunity for the Gullible . . . When Dive Gear Evidence goes Missing after a Fatality . . . That Weight Belt can Kill You if You Don't Dump It . . . Belize, Little Cayman, the Conflict Islands - Readers Report . . . An American Underwater Photography Team cleans up again in the World Shootout . . . When Your Cabin Mate Gets Sick? . . . How the Conception was Exempted from USCG Fire Safety Standards . . . A Template for Liveaboard Fire Safety Precautions . . . The Ticking Time Bomb Posed by War Wrecks . . . Unaffordable Drugs in the USA? Turn to Canada . . . Kids' Sea Camp . . . The Ins and Outs of Trip Insurance . . . A Lawsuit over a Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Sting . . . The Opportunity to get Shark Bytes at Half Price . . . Diving and Politeness -- We Want to Hear from You . . . Flotsam & Jetsam and much, much more.

Undercurrent Has Been Publishing for 44 years and You're Not Yet a Subscriber?  February 13, 2020

Why not take our no-risk offer for a 6-month subscription for just $19.95, and you can download free our new 36-page book, Seven Super Diver resorts (and on meh) Our hard-hitting, advertising free, 18-page monthly newsletter gives you access to more than 10,000 reports on dive destinations submitted unedited by the readers. If you are dissatisfied for any reason your money will be refunded. To subscribe at this special rate of $19.95 for six months, simply click here.

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.

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, 2000-2019

* Sometimes referred to as Upwellings