The Environmental Impact of the Commercialization of the Scuba Diving Industry

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It took millions of years for humans to evolve from apes and develop self-consciousness, yet our ability to quantify the cosmos has largely unfolded only in the past five centuries. But awareness of Earth’s cosmic cycles has been continuously held by some of the oldest creatures on the planet: the corals and sponges of the … Read more

Persia Learns to Dive
    Tracking the happy scuba journey of a child

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My youngest daughter, Persia, first expressed an interest in learning to dive while we were on holiday at Taba in Egypt. She was then only nine-years-old. Notwithstanding that, I entrusted my old friend Mohammed Ali, the manager of the AquaSport dive centre, with looking after the well-being of our little girl. He is a highly … Read more

Chest compressions — The first-line response

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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving skill, helpful in many situations including:•  Cardiac arrest•  Drowning•  Trauma•  Electrical shockThe American Heart Association recommends that everyone — untrained bystanders and medical personnel alike — begin CPR with chest compression. CPR uses chest compression to imitate how the heart transports blood to the whole body. These compressions help keep oxygenated blood flowing … Read more

Dear Undercurrent: We have a problem

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I am the Head Diver for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Dive Unit, south of San Francisco. We are losing folks; they are aging out and retiring. We are not tough guys, but many recreational divers don’t want to do this type of dirty water diving. We need volunteers and a few paid divers. … Read more