Scuba Diving Blog

The sinking of the Vandenberg that was originally scheduled for May 15th was postponed until after the 2008 hurricane season. The project which was originally estimated to cost $5.7 million is now estimated to cost $8 million dollars.

Unfortunately that means we now have to wait until after November 30th. Good news to those who were not able to attend.

So… assuming that they are able to raise the money (keep your fingers crossed), I hope to see you after the hurricane season.  I will update you when I hear the new scheduled date.  If you hear soon, please let me know!

The Red Lion fish, native of the Western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, has been growing in population in the Atlantic Ocean.  The Red Lion fish is a member of the scorpion fish family and protects itself through its venomous spines.

Scientists believe the fish was released from household pets as they overgrew the tanks.  (Sound familiar to those in south Florida dealing with Iguanas, boa constrictors and other non-native animals?)   

The Red Lion fish has been growing in population from Massachusetts down to West Palm Beach and is especially prevalent in the Bahamas.  Since there is no known predator to the fish, scientists are doing research to find out how to control the population. 

Scientists have found large quantities of reef fish and crustaceans in the stomachs of these fish.  Everything from shrimp, seahorses, to a juvenile grouper is fare game to these fish.  They will eat anything that fits in their mouths.

If you would like to find out more about the efforts that are being made to control this species, visit www.reef.org/programs/exotic

If you are going to be in the Key West area, or want to take a trip, the Vandenberg is scheduled to be sunk off the coast on May 15th to create an artificial reef.

I am in no way an expert on the military or this ship, but I have found some information on the history of this ship.

The USS Vandenberg is over 520 feet long and weights approximately 13,000 tons.  Originally commissioned by the US Navy under the name USS/USNS General Harry Taylor, the ship was used in 1944 to transport troops in WWII. 

The US Air Force converted the General Harry Taylor to a Missile Range Instrumentation ship and renamed it the USAFS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg in 1963.

In 1983, the ship was sent to Maritime Administration MARAD Reserve Fleet, James River, VA. 

In 1996, Universal Studios leased it to film the movie “Virus” 

 Plans are being made in Key West to host a “Sink Week” celebration along with the sinking of this ship. 

Read more about Key West’s “Sink Week”  at http://www.keywest.com/vandenberg.htm

I have been diving since 1995, and there are still some obstacles underwater that I have not been able to get around. I have been fighting these same problems since my open water classes.

Not only do we have to deal with the obvious problems of the average female’s smaller frame having to carry the same heavy gear as our male counterparts, but everything else seems to be designed for men only as well…

First, the B.C.’s. Even the “woman’s” B.C.’s are nowhere comfortable enough to actually have be designed for a woman. I would love to see what models are being used to measure these devices.
Even during my pool sessions back in 1995, I have tried different sizes and designs of B.C.’s. The”woman’s” are no better than the mens. I always feel uncomfortable and bulky. One size up and it’s too loose on top and the cumber bun doesn’t fit tight enough around the stomach. One size down and the cumber bun doesn’t reach the stomach and tightens around the lower ribs. Either problem, the result is the BC riding up underwater.

At first I unconsciously would push out on my stomach to hold it down, but I would come up with stomach pains and it would hurt to breathe using my diaphragm for a few days after diving. I knew this couldn’t be safe, so I would compensate by using my hands to hold it down, or I would constantly be tugging it back down as I swam.

I tried the B.C.’s that only inflate in the back, but they are too wide and do not tighten around the stomach enough and hence, ride up. If I go a size smaller, it doesn’t fit around my chest and cuts off circulation if I inflate. Yet another safety issue.

Different brands, different styles… same results…

If anybody has had the same trouble, or has found a solution or a B.C. that solves either of these problems, please let me know.

Problem number 2 - the tanks. Let’s face it, most woman are shorter than men. Scientific fact. The tanks however only come in the standard sizes. If you want a smaller tank, you get less air and therefore have shorter bottom time. The only advantage is that the average woman has smaller lungs and therefore use less air. But, that does not apply to all the woman, and in my experience diving, there is a variety of shapes and sizes of woman who love the sport.

So what about those female divers who don’t have smaller lungs or use less air? They are then stuck with a larger tank. You kick, and the back of your legs hits the back of the tank. To compensate, you spread your legs a little farther using more energy and therefore… more air… less bottom time.

If you put your head back a little too far to look ahead or up, you hit the back of the tank or else the tank pulls at your hair tie. Do that enough times in one dive and your hair tie falls out causing your hair to go everywhere. If you don’t notice it fall out right away, there is no saving it. The only solution… bring extra hair ties. We can’t grow, and tank companies have yet to develop a shorter, wider tank.

So dive gear companies, please PLEASE start making more gear suitable for the vast variety of female divers. Maybe a cumber bun on a BC that is fitted below the air pockets so it can tighten properly in the waist… and tanks that are wider and shorter making our dives much more enjoyable…

Thanks for listening (or reading)!

If you live in the Ft Lauderdale area or are visiting April 18-20th, you might want to check out Ocean Fest 2008. It looks to be a great time!

Everything from raffles, live shows, photography contests, diving treasure hunt, to a free introductory scuba class.

If you want more information, the website is www.oceanfest.com

We hope to see you there!

My husband picked up an old issue of Scuba Diving Magazine and was flipping through. He randomly says out loud, ” wow, that’s pretty cool!” So, my curiosity awoken, I ask him what he is commenting about and his response is “naked people under water” as he flashes the page in front of me.

Of course after reading the article, there is much more to it than just naked people. First, it’s naked statues, not live people. It is an article about underwater art off the coast of Grenada designed to promote fish life. The artist is Jason Taylor and the title is “Vicissitues.”

If you want to read more about it, pick up the October 2007 issue of Scuba Diving Magazine or you can visit Jason Taylors website at http://www.underwatersculpture.com/pages/artist/about-3.htm

I couldn’t sleep so I thought I would update this blog since I haven’t been keeping it up as much as I had hoped to.  Give it time… Eventually we’ll have it up to it’s full potential.

Tim (my husband) and I are planning a trip to Australia with some friends.  The details are still being worked out, but we are dying to dive the Great Barrier Reef.

I have dreamed of traveling to Australia since I was about 5 years old and first fell in love with the Koala Bear.  I have studied the country for years and still haven’t made it there.  Now, the thing that excites me the most about going there is diving of course.

So, I am doing a lot of research and as I come across interesting dive information I will post it.  In the meantime, if anybody has any information on diving in Australia, please send me an email or post a comment.  Send me your favorite photos.  I would love to hear all of your insight.

I hope to hear some great feedback!!!

Kami@scubadivingblog.net

Diving can be traced as far back as as 4500 BC when many cultures used free diving to gather food.  Treasure hunters can be traced as far back as 500 BC  to Scyllias and his daughter, Cyana who hunted for treasures lost in the Persian and Greek wars.

Around 1500AC Di Vinci  designs the first self contained breathing apparatus which appears in his “Codex Atlanticus,” but no proof that he used or even designed this apparatus was ever found.

In 1771, a Frenchman, Freminet, designs a helmet with eye holes.  Air was pumped down to the driver.

It wasn’t until 1825, when Englishman William James created the first unit with compressed air allowing the diver limited time underwater.  This was the beginning of scuba as we know it today.

Also in 1825, American Charles Condert developed a reservoir for compressed air which contains a valve to inflate a dive suit.

In 1892 Frenchman Louis Boutan created a closed circuit system that allowed divers to stay submerged up to 3 hours.

1912 - The US Navy Tables were published.

1923- W. H. Longley developed the first color underwater photographs.

1943 - Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnam develop the first Aqua Lung which was imported in the US in 1949.

1954 - First full textbook of recreational diving, The Science of Skin and Scuba Diving is published by the Council for National Cooperation in Aquatics.

1956 - Ted Nixon introduced the red and white “diver down” flag to notify boats that divers are below.

1980- National Diving Accident Network opens, which is renamed Divers Alert Network in 1983.

And the rest is history…

For a more complete Scuba time line,  see Diving Pioneers, by Eric Hanauer, or visit the following website.

www.SeaSabres.com 

Back in the 1970’s, there were about 2 million tires dumped into the Atlantic Ocean off the Coast of Dania Beach in an effort organized by fisherman to create an artificial reef. Three decades and $2,000,000 later, military divers now begin a 2-5 year project to remove these tires from the ocean floor at a rate of 1000 tires per day.

Over the years the hurricanes have broken the pile of tires up and there has been almost no coral growth.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11462066

I just saw a Help Me Howard story on WSVN channel 7 in Miami, FL where a lady named Theresa has stumbled across a kerosene leak in her yard. She reported it to the city and DERM (Department of Environmental Resources Management in Miami) came out to investigate. They told Theresa that it was an environmental hazard and that the tank would need to be removed. She called the companies that were provided to her and was told that the cost would be approximately $8,000.00.

Theresa was able to drain the tank to prevent more damage, but still needs to remove the tank. Because she does not have the money, she went to Help Me Howard for help.

DERM has so far not helped her with this cost and, for every day that she is not in compliance, DERM can begin to bill her, increasing the cost exponentially. They can even put a lean on her house if she is unable to pay it. Theresa will be forced to use her retirement account to pay to have this tank removed.

I have written to channel 7 to ask if they have an address that people can send them money to be forwarded to Theresa to help. As soon as I get a response I will post it for everyone who wants to help.

Hopefully all the neighbors in Theresa’s area who have tanks buried in their yards will have them drained before they have this problem. In the meantime, my heart goes out to Theresa and the environment being impacted. If you would like to help, please send whatever you are able to spare to channel 7. They will then send the money to Theresa (and probably do a follow-up story.)

More information to come when I hear back from WSVN’s Patrick Fraser…

To Update:

I have heard back from Theresa who has provided me with an update. She is not soliciting donations, but is very appreciative of the gesture. Right now she is waiting on DEMA to provide the Notice of Violation. Until she receives that, the company that is going to be doing the work (and at a lower price) is unable to start the job. Hopefully the folks at DEMA, who are the people in charge of these environmental impacts, will get their act together and provide this notice of violation before there is any more damage…