Adelaide dive instructor Kate Wilkins was so sick of seeing rubbish while diving, she decided to do something about it.

"I'm a scuba diver instructor, so I spend a lot of my time under water," she told ABC Adelaide Drive.

"I see a lot of marine debris and fishing stuff that gets stuck down there."

Ms Wilkins started the Sea Janitor Facebook and Instagram pages and plans to dive each day in February along Adelaide's coastal waters to remove rubbish.

The 6 dive operators approved to lead the dives :

1. Diving Solutions (Asia) ( www.diving-solutions.asia )
info@diving-solutions.asia

2. GS-Diving Pte Ltd ( www.gs-diving.com )
karen@gs-diving.com 

3. Leeway Sub-Aqautic Pte Ltd ( www.leeway.com.sg )
diver@leeway.com.sg

4. Marlin Divers Pte Ltd ( www.marlindivers.com.sg )
info@marlindivers.com.sg

5. Opcon Pte Ltd ( www.opcon.com.sg )
enquiry@opcon.com.sg

6. Sea Hounds Pte Ltd ( www.seahounds.com )
scuba@seahounds.com

Divers have filmed a giant sinkhole that opened up on a campsite in Queensland, Australia.

Source : http://divemagazine.co.uk/go/7213-divers-film-inside-of-australian-sinkhole?awt_l=GTImU&awt_m=3iceUgsHUwgV46Q

It was my first time diving at Sister's Island. After a short dive in Singapore's water, at Sister's Island specifically, it came to my realization that the silt covered reefs painted a grim future for the coral reefs of Singapore. For a first timer who has previously dived in places in parts of Malaysia, Philippines and Maldives, I felt like I was diving in someone elses old dusty closet - clearly not a reflection of the clean and green image associated with Singapore.

There are several factors affecting visibility of water including phyto-plankton and algae blooms in nutrient rich waters, oxygenation of the water due to waves, sendimentation by boats and other human activity.

Singapore's has had many land reclamation projects. And the aftermath of dredging activities around these projects usually lead to the deposit of fine silt and clay around the shores of the island. Sometimes, strong waves and currents move the silt and sediments around. This often reduces the visibility of the coastal waters off Singapore to about 2 to 3 metres and is sometimes exacerbated by the waves caused by cargo ships moving off from the south-western port.

The sendiments block off vital sunlight crucial to the growth of coral reefs and marine life such as the giant oyster and offer less ideal conditions for marine life to thrive.

On a lighter note, despite the poor visiblity, I spotted many healthy corals, some of which were about half a metre in length, sea slugs, star fish, and other reef life. A testimony to the pain-staking efforts by marine conservationists in the country to restore the Island's reef to its former glory.

In conclusion, unless more is being done to reduce the amount of silt and sedimentation in the coast off Singapore, the efforts of reef and marine life conservation in Singapore may be undermined and come to nought.

Full classification of species of divers (with details and advice) :

1.) Type : The OOD (Oran-outang diver)

Description : Easily noticeable underwater, the Oran-outang diver has the particularity of diving with their arms balancing from side to side.The key to their diving technique is to also pay absolutely no attention to their fellow divers…meaning: you will most certainly get either their fins or their camera in your face.

 Advice : Stay away from them above and under the water, especially under water. They will bump into you every 5 seconds!

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2.) The TD (talker diver) 

Description : 

You can’t miss him/her…even if you tried, you wouldn’t be able to.
The talker will tell you everything you don’t want to know about their diving experiences. Most likely their experiences will be “everywhere” and always “deeper” than you (or anyone else). The talker has dived pretty much everywhere and will most certainly insist on “extreme” anecdotes to show off their (virtual) skills.
The moment to confirm that the diver is a talker is when they enter the water and have absolutely no buoyancy skills. The talker is also very good at blaming the boat, the dive gear, the instructor, the guide, the other divers, the moon…for their lack of “temporary” buoyancy.

 Advice : Smile and laugh about it….the show is about to begin.

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3.) The QD (Quiet diver)

Description : The total opposite of the talker (really??? You genius!).
The quiet is generally, well…not talking at all or not much. The quiet doesn’t have to talk, they are calm and confident, don’t need to show off. A real quiet diver is generally pretty skilled underwater. Also, the quiet diver usually becomes more incline to talk after a good dive. Like…they need it to spend some time underwater to be able to engage a conversation.

 Advice : Observe them, they will open up after the dive.

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4.) The AATHD (accident-to-happen diver)

Description : From the beginning you will notice them. They most certainly don’t know how to setup their gear, will forget to open their tank, will drop their mask off the boat, will pay no attention whatsoever if their tank is hitting your face. Underwater, they will most likely do something stupid like try to hide a cone shell under their wetsuit to bring it back to the surface.

 Advice : Either go first in the water OR stay away from them!

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5.) The BD (bulldog diver)

Description : Ever seen a bulldog walking? Yes…this is it. They push everything, pay no attenion to their surroudning, and leave a track of destruction behind them.
The reef will suffer….

 Advice :  Stay away…always look behind you to see if they are not about to ge in front of you to do something stupid like…trying to catch the shark’s fin for fun.

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6.) The WTFIGMID (“wtf” have I got myself into diver)

Description : Looking everywhere nervously, asking question about how safe it is, worrying about the fish being too big, the water being too cold, the current being too strong…when the sea is flat as! They will check 200 times that their regulator is working…but can’t remember if they did it 2 minutes before.

Advice : Have a laugh with them, smile and make them more comfortable…we’ve all been in that situation. (or still are)

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*** Like to give credit and recognition to the writer of Ocean Symbiosis whom wrote this piece of article. 

Reference Link @ http://www.oceansymbiosis.com/diver-eco-system-the-different-species-of-divers/

Continuation of the previous page :

7.) The OED (over-enthusiastic diver)

Description : Can’t stop talking, loves everything on the boat, on shore, in the water, the gear….and will tell everyone..multiple times.

Advice : Listen only for the first 5 minutes (3 cycles). Once you are in the water you are safe for 60 minutes (if you are good with your air).

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8.) The TCD (thailand certified diver) linked to the PCD (Philippines certified diver)

Description : Not all but most likely they had their diving licence for cheap in Thailand (or Philippines), where the instructor where quite ‘flexible’ with the skills and the definition of mastering a skill. They don’t know how to setup their gear or/and are asking the dive guide to carry their gear to the dive site.

Advice : Enjoy the good laugh…but make sure to warn the instructor if they are doing something that could comprise their safety…in another word..you will tell the instructor!

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9.) The BNGD (brand new gear diver)

Description : He/She has got everything..all the lastest gear and gadget to dive. Nothing is missing, really nothing. The key is that they have no idea how to use it (or why they bought it in the first place). This kind of diver has the tendency to ‘introduce’ the price of each of their gear constantly in any discussion. Their motto is: the more expensive the better. They are also known as golden goose when they enter a dive shop.

Advice : If you own a dive shop…you know just have to show them the more expensive gear and you are done. For dive instructors and divers, tell them that you have your gear for the last 10 years…they will NOT understand.

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10.) The CTD (comparison tool diver)

Description : For them, the place they are currently diving in is always not as good as the last place they visited (but you didn’t). They will explain to you the importance of having a 5 star service even if they are in an eco-resort.

Advice : No matter what, don’t try to resonate with them…they are stuck in the past.

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11.) The SPPD (self-proclaimed photographer diver)

Description : They are usually a combination of the TD (talker diver) and the OOD (Oran-outang) diver. The key difference is that they have a camera (which they have no idea how to operate). The best time to observe a SPPD is in current conditions when they are trying to get a steady shot…but drifting with the current, camera first.

Advice : Enjoy the show…if you are bored during a dive.

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12.) The RPD (real photographer diver)

Description : They are usually a QD (quiet diver) with a freaking expensive camera and massive strobes. You can easily spot them on the boat by looking at the SSPDs (self-proclaimed photographer diver) on the boat looking envious and jealous of the gear. (and also trying to convince the rest of the boat that they know everything about the other guy’s camera. Remember SPPDs are experts.

Advice : Learn from them, look at them diving with that huge camera like it’s nothing.
If you are lucky enough to meet a RPD, make sure to check out their photos. This is the type of divers you will learn from.

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*** Like to give credit and recognition to the writer of Ocean Symbiosis whom wrote this piece of article. 

Reference Link @ http://www.oceansymbiosis.com/diver-eco-system-the-different-species-of-divers/

Third Page (Continuation) :

13.) The SSD (social status diver)

Description : For these divers, scuba diving is a way to establish their social status and show to their colleagues/family that they can handle ‘extreme’ sports.
Usually, they pay not attention to the reef, the fish or anything down there. Their main concern is to get a photo of themselves underwater so they can show it back home.

Advice : Let them be, they are in their own world.

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14.) The FTD (First time diver)

Description : They usually have a mixed feeling between excitement and fear/apprehension. The FTD will have that specific look on his face at the beginning of the dive that means (“Oh well…I can’t really chicken out now that I am on the boat). At the end of the dive, you will see a MASSIVE SMILE on their face and they won’t be able to stop talking about how cool it was.

Advice : Enjoy being with these people, they are a perfect reminder of how you felt after your first dive.

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15.) The AOLD (Absolute Ocean Lover Diver)

Description : They love anything about the ocean and will do anything to protect it.Certain subject can be quite sensitive with them and avoid putting then with the BDs and OODs. Not a good combination.

Advice :  The pure ocean lovers, ask them a lot of questions…they usually have read or seen a lot during their diving life.

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16.) The FMACD (Freakin Minimum Air Consumption Diver)

Description : That species of diver is impossible to spot before a dive. They can be a short strong minded high energy queenslander women, a big dude with a beard, a smiling mum doing absolutely no exercise whatsoever… They usually are discovered after 30 minutes during the dive when asked about their remaining air…and tell you they have twice more as you do!

Advice : Get ready to show them your middle finger…that’s all they deserve. Oh…usually that will make them laugh, which will flood their mask. PAYBACK!

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*** Like to give credit and recognition to the writer of Ocean Symbiosis whom wrote this piece of article. 

 Reference Link @ http://www.oceansymbiosis.com/diver-eco-system-the-different-species-of-divers/

Last Page For Diving Psychology of Divers. 

17.) The SMFDWD (So Much Fun Diving With Diver)

Description : You can already define this type of diver when gearing up. They usually enjoy the ride, smile and will engage the conversation. Most likely you will confirm your first impression after the dive. It’s these kind of divers that will make every trip even better. They just love diving…meeting new people and enjoy life

Advice : Meet as many as you can, they will certainly reinforce the reasons why you are diving…and put a smile on your face.

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18.) The YGTBKMD (You Got To Be Kidding Me Diver)

Description : Always having the wrong answer, the wrong attitude, the wrong…well…anything. They usually have no concept of safety, or what respecting the reef means.

Advice : Avoid them…simple as that.

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Supposedly Last One : The OD (the Oldies Diver)

Description : You will for sure meet one at least, while diving. Over 50 years old, started diving when having the bends was an achievement, and the decompression chambers were fun to go go. Despite their dangerous behaviour in the past (or even in the present), they have some amazing stories to tell about how they started scuba diving with pretty much no equipment and really no idea how dangerous it could be. You might think they are made up stories…they are not..they’ve done that crazy stuff !

Advice : Keep and eye on them during the dive and make sure to engage the conversation with them after the dive…you will blown away by the stories. Usually during dinner, when they had their second glass of wine.

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*** Like to give credit and recognition to the writer of Ocean Symbiosis whom wrote this piece of article. 

Reference Link @ http://www.oceansymbiosis.com/diver-eco-system-the-different-species-of-divers/

Triton Submarines LLC, a builder of personal submarines designed for yacht deployment, has launched a new submersible designed to dive to ocean depths of 6,600 feet, transporting passengers deeper than other models in its range.

Announcing the new submersible was Triton Submarines CEO L. Bruce Jones, who unveiled plans for the new Triton 6600/2 at a press conference held at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on November 6.

“We are excited about this new deep-diving acrylic-hulled sub that will dive twice as deep as our 3300 series submersibles,” Jones said. “Like other Tritons, the transparent pressure hull provides remarkable viewing and the capability of diving over a mile deep adds tremendous versatility.”

The Triton 6600/2, which is now available for order, features capability to transport two people in air-conditioned comfort to 6,600 feet below the ocean’s surface.

Find out more details on this page : http://www.marinetechnologynews.com/news/recreation-submersible-dives-523717

 
 To help combat the unusually high amount of toxic algae found in the Baltic Sea, Swedish design student Fredrik Ausinsch decided to design an innovative drone concept capable of eating algae and turning it into biofuel. Due in large part to the area’s increasingly frequent algal blooms, the Baltic Sea experiences persistently toxic algae accumulation which endangers everything living nearby. If Ausinsch’s invention sees the light of day, the drone would drastically improve marine life in the Baltic Sea while helping to clean up one of the world’s most polluted bodies of water.

 Ausinsch came up with the idea and created a series of renderings for the drone while working on a university masters project at the Umea Institute of Design. Essentially, the craft would function similarly to a lawn mower, consuming any algae located directly in front of the craft. As it navigates through a particular area, the drone would visit a companion craft to empty its contents and refuel its engines before continuing on its path. For now, the drone concept intends to operate via a remote control, though you’d have to imagine an autonomous version at some point if it proves successful.

 Aptly called the Algae Sea Harvester, the drone intends to feature hydrogen fuel cell technology with an electric-driven pump on either side of the vessel. This allows the craft to not only function quietly while working, but Ausinsch says it also lets it adapt efficiently to its environment. While operating, it emits water for thrust while also discharging heat to dry the algae before sucking it up.

“The algae sea collector is a vision improving an environmental problem using the algae biomass as a future natural resource,” Ausinsch says on his website. “By removing the abundance of algae, the nutritional and toxic substances are reduced and the algae biomass can be a future resource for biofuel production.”

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, though algal blooms are a necessary part of life in the Baltic Sea, large, consistent blooms produce large amounts of toxins which pose big risks for the area. While it recommends avoiding bloom areas altogether, the WWF also suggests avoiding bathing during a bloom, not drinking affected water, and keeping pets or livestock away from infested areas. Mammals, birds, and local fish also have a high chance of dying after coming in contact with the toxic algae, events which can disrupt the local ecosystem for years.

Considering just how harmful algae buildup is to the Baltic Sea (and any place which experiences algal blooms), Ausinsch’s invention or something like it is an absolute necessity for the impacted region. Though the idea remains in its infancy in terms of development, it likely won’t be long before its inherent benefits are realized and the Algae Sea Harvester becomes that toxin’s biggest nightmare.

Read more on this page link : http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/floating-drone-harvests-algae/

 No one knows much about how tough the diving training is for our Singapore's Naval Diver. In order for you to know what it takes to be a Naval diver in Singapore, read about the training progress here. 

Nine-week modified BMT

National service enlistees who pass the vocational assessment for the Naval Diving Unit do a nine-week modified Basic Military Training.

Aside from meeting physical training standards, they must also be able to swim 50m in their camouflage uniform, tread water for five minutes, and make an improvised flotation device using their trousers.

20-week Combat Diver Course

Those who pass proceed to the 20-week Combat Diver Course.

Here, trainees must clear increasingly demanding physical fitness standards, sit written tests on dive theory, and pass practical water-based tests such as drown-proofing, pool competency and survival skills.

Five 'vetoes'

Trainees cannot graduate as combat divers unless they pass five key tests called "vetoes". To fail any of these tests means dropping out. They have to:

1. Swim 2km in 50 minutes

2. Run 6km in 27 minutes

3. Complete the Diver Fitness Test: Swim 500m in 12 minutes, rest 10 minutes; do 52 push-ups in two minutes, rest two minutes; do 60 sit-ups in two minutes, rest two minutes; do nine chin-ups in two minutes, rest 10 minutes; run 2.4km in 12 minutes.

4. Complete the Sea Circuit: backstroke swim, climb a rope, walk a balancing beam, climb the jump tower, jump off a 5m tower, backstroke swim, and run, for a total distance of 750m. Repeat three times in 18 minutes. Trainees complete this in an average of 16 minutes.

5. Meet more demanding standards in their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) than other SAF servicemen. Like commandos, they must get maximum marks at every IPPT station, which means a 22-year-old must perform 40 sit-ups, jump over 242cm in the standing broad jump, pull 12 chin-ups, complete the shuttle run in under 10.2 seconds, and finish the 2.4km run in under nine minutes and 15 seconds.

* This article was first published on Straits Times on July 26, 2014. 

 The ocean can be a deep and dark place, but the so-called ninja shark can light up its surroundings with a dimly glowing head, according to a new report. 

The newly identified species isn't the only glowing shark in the ocean. It joins a group of nearly 40 other species commonly called lanternsharks, which are marine predators with the ability to glow that live in oceans around the world, including the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, said Vicky Vásquez, lead author of the new report and a graduate student in marine science at the Pacific Shark Research Center in California.

The new report documents the first time a lanternshark has ever been found off the Pacific coast of Central America, Vásquez told Live Science. [In Photos: Spooky Deep-Sea Creatures]

In 2010, researchers observed eight lanternshark species swimming at depths ranging from 0.5 miles to 0.9 miles (0.8 to 1.4 kilometers) under the surface. But the scientists weren't able to analyze all of their observations of the fish right away.

In the new report, the researchers conducted a thorough analysis the traits of the species they observed in 2010, and concluded that the sharks indeed came from a new species of lanternshark. The new species had a uniform dark-black coloring, as opposed to the greys and browns seen on other lanternsharks, Vásquez said.

The newly identified shark also had a different number and distribution of photophores, which are the tiny cup-shaped organs that givelanternsharks the ability to glow. Other lanternsharks have photophores all over their bellies, but the new shark has fewer, and most are concentrated on its head, Vásquez said.

Researchers have yet to see the new shark actually glow, but it likely gives off a blue light, like its lanternshark relatives, she said. Moreover, "we're assuming our shark doesn't glow as brightly" as other species, because it has fewer photophores, Vásquez said.

It's unclear why lanternsharks glow, but it's possible that the glowing photophores on the animals' stomachs mask their shadows, allowing them to "hide" from animals swimming below them. But it could also be that their glowing lights lure prey, such as smaller fish and crustaceans, toward the sharks, or serve as a means of communication, the researchers said.

Revisiting "Jaws"

The researchers named the new species Etmopterus benchleyi, a nod to Peter Benchley, the author of the book "Jaws" and co-author of its 1975 film adaptation.

"Jaws" may have inspired a public fear of sharks, but Benchley worked as a shark advocate in his later years, establishing the Benchley Awards to recognize outstanding achievements in ocean conservation, Vásquez said.

However, Etmopterus benchleyi is a mouthful, so Vásquez enlisted her four young cousins and a group of high school students she mentors to come up with a common name. She is now urging shark enthusiasts to call the newly identified species the "ninja lanternshark."

"They started with 'super ninja,' but I had to scale them back," Vásquez said, laughing.

After talking with her co-authors, she wrote in the report, "The suggested common name, the ninja lanternshark, refers to the uniform black coloration and reduced photophore complement used as concealment in this species, somewhat reminiscent of the typical outfit and stealthy behavior of a Japanese ninja." [Bioluminescent: A Glow in the Dark Gallery]

The newfound species may also remind people that sharks are a varied lot, from the 16-foot-long (4.9 meters) great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in "Jaws" to the small and glowing 1.7-feet-long (0.5 m) ninja lanternsharks, the researchers said.

"When we think of sharks as one type, we're not understanding the true complexity of sharks and the roles they play in the ecosystem," Vásquez said. "They're not all apex predators."

The finding is "cool and elegant" said David Gruber, an associate professor of biology at Baruch College in New York City, who was not involved in the report.

"It redefines our conception of sharks from being these massive fearsome things to these beautiful sometimes small, glowing animals," Gruber said. "It shows us how many more mysteries there to uncover in the shark domain."

Reference Link : https://sg.news.yahoo.com/forget-flashlight-ninja-shark-species-lights-sea-234820235.html?nhp=1

Tokyo (CNN)It isn't every day that a mystery from the deep swims into plain sight. But on Christmas Eve, spectators on a pier in Toyama Bay in central Japan were treated to a rare sighting of a giant squid.

The creature swam under fishing boats and close to the surface of Toyama Bay, better known for its firefly squid, and reportedly hung around the bay for several hours before it was ushered back to open water.

It was captured on video by a submersible camera, and even joined by a diver, Akinobu Kimura, owner of Diving Shop Kaiyu, who swam in close proximity to the red-and-white real-life sea monster.

"My curiosity was way bigger than fear, so I jumped into the water and go close to it," he told CNN.

"This squid was not damaged and looked lively, spurting ink and trying to entangle his tentacles around me. I guided the squid toward to the ocean, several hundred meters from the area it was found in, and it disappeared into the deep sea."

Yuki Ikushi, the curator of Uozu Aquarium in Uozu, Toyama, told CNN that there were 16 reports of Architeuthis squid trapped by fishing nets last season, and this one is the first sighting this season, which runs from November to March.

"We might see more in this season, but it's very rare for them to be found swimming around (the fishing boats') moorings."

The Toyama squid is a fairly small example of the species, estimated at around 3.7 meters (12.1 feet) long, and may be a juvenile. Giant squid are thought to grow as large as 13 meters (43 feet) long. They typically inhabit deep waters, and it is unclear why this one wandered into the bay.

Reference Link : http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/28/asia/toyama-japan-giant-squid/?sr=fbCNN122815toyama-japan-giant-squid0257PMVODtop

Asia Dive Expo will be held in Singapore starting on 15th Apr, 2016. This Trade Show is a 3 day event and will end on 17th April, 2016.

Taking place from 15 - 17 April, 2016, ADEX 2016 proudly presents world-renowned marine life artists, conservationists and photographers to speak about their passion and work towards marine life. It is organized by the underwater3some Group, and is an event being endorsed by major organizations in the industry such as DEMA (USA), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Singapore Underwater Federation (SUF).

Each year’s chosen ADEX icon, which is the show’s dedicated marine life where activities are garnered to heighten awareness of its conservation, is the majestic seahorse. All aspects of the seahorse will be publicised and major efforts will be taken to educate the public about the issues that threaten their future.

April 15 - 17
Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre
Halls 401 – 403

With its success in Singapore, ADEX expanded to China in 2014 with both shows now running annually, ADEX Singapore happening every April and ADEX China taking place in Beijing every September.

As a SCUBA diver, you can work in a wide range of fields depending on your specific certification. You could work as a commercial diver, search and rescue diver, or underwater welder. Have a look at the table below for some quick facts about careers in SCUBA diving.

Source: *US Bureau of Labor Statistics

What Jobs Require Scuba Certification?

If you're a certified commercial scuba diver, you could work for public and private companies to inspect and repair equipment and structures underwater to ensure functionality and stability. Additionally, you might work for an exploration or mining company and be required to place explosives or document the existence of marine life and underwater structures. Individuals, private companies and government agencies might hire or you as an employee or contract diver for salvage, exploration or discovery.

If you're interested in construction, as an underwater welder, you'd inspect and test docks, ships and pipelines in deep and shallow rivers, lakes and oceans. As an underwater welder, you could be responsible for ship repair and maintenance, construction of bridges and welding steel using underwater equipment.

You might consider becoming a search and rescue diver. You'll require advanced certifications and can be trained through private companies or the U.S. military. As a scuba diver, you can use your diving skills in all branches of the military for recovery, inspection and special operations. Local and state law enforcement could also hire you as a certified scuba diver for underwater searches, rescue and salvage.

Where Can I Obtain Scuba Training?

You can receive scuba training through an employer, the military or a number of private businesses and dive shops. You might be able to earn basic certification in as little as a weekend, though many schools offer evening programs that span a week or two. You'll start by learning about all of the necessary equipment you'll use underwater and how to take environmental factors into consideration during a dive. Scuba classes are often small enough to give you the individual attention you need to master your underwater breathing, buoyancy and navigation.

You'll need to pass a written test and participate in at least two dives that test particular skills, such as navigation and emergency response. Basic and advanced open water certifications usually qualify you for recreational diving. To launch a career as a professional or commercial diver, you'll usually need to learn specialized underwater procedures necessary for rescue or training certifications. There are multiple certifying organizations, such as the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), though they all offer multiple certification levels and specialized training courses, such as underwater archaeology, photography or night diving.

How Much Can I Earn?

In 2014, the BLS noted that there were 3,620 commercial divers working in the United States. Most of these divers earned between $29,270 and $84,370 per year.

Source : http://learn.org/articles/Scuba_Diver_Your_Salary_and_Career_Questions_Answered.html

Top 100 Readers Choice Awards: Gold List

At the beginning of every year, Scuba Diving magazine sends a survey to our print and digital subscribers to find out where they love to scuba dive — among many other questions. The Top 100 Gold list is the compilation of reader votes for the best dive sites, dive operators, liveaboards, big-animal encounters and more, regardless of location. We are proud to present the list that you — our readers — brought to life!

Read more about the article here at this page : http://www.scubadiving.com/100-best-scuba-diving-sites-operators-destinations-and-more?src=SOC&dom=fb

Article Written By : Jamie Smyth in Sydney

The world’s worst coral bleaching event since 2002 has hit the Great Barrier Reef with unusually high sea temperatures damaging up to 80 per cent of corals at a reef system near Lizard Island, in the north of the world heritage listed structure.

Scientists at the Lizard Island Research Centre said on Tuesday they are witnessing the worst bleaching since 2002 with large tracts of coral losing their colour and turning pale due to heat stress.

They said sea temperatures were one or two degrees hotter than normal for the time of year, which was probably linked to the El Niño weather pattern and climate change.

“In the Lizard Island lagoon about 80 per cent of corals are affected by bleaching to varying degrees,” said Lyle Vail, director of the centre. “It began about three weeks ago and the risk is that it the high temperatures persist for another few weeks the corals could die.”

The Great Barrier Reef is made by billions of tiny invertebrate creatures known as coral polyps, which have built it over the past 600,000 years. The polyps, which excrete calcium carbonate to make reefs, are extraordinarily sensitive to changes in water temperature. When it rises above 31C many species of coral are forced to expel the multicoloured algae that live within its tissues, an effect known as “bleaching”.

The white coral skeletons that remain can regenerate if temperatures fall and water quality conditions are good. But in many instances entire reef systems are destroyed.

Environmental groups WWF and Greenpeace said reports of the bleaching event demonstrate that Australia needs to do more to combat climate change and stop supporting the coal industry.

“This government cannot continue down the path of approving new coal mines,” said Shani Tager, Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s Reef Campaigner.

In October, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration in the US declared the world’s third global coral bleaching, following similar events in 1998 and 2010, as bleaching spread across Hawaii and the Caribbean in 2015. With the summer in full bloom in the southern hemisphere, Fiji recently reported coral bleaching, and corals on the Great Barrier Reef are now beginning to experience similar heat stress.

“The Great Barrier Reef experienced mass bleaching in 1998 and 2002, and we have all been keeping an eye on this El Niño to see if there is a risk of another,” said Terry Hughes, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

Unesco is considering whether to put the Great Barrier Reef — the world’s largest living organism — on its ‘danger’ list, while environmentalists are pitched against Australia’s Big Coal. Jamie Smyth reports

“The current reports of bleaching on the reef do not equate to a mass bleaching event, but we are concerned about a growing incidence of minor to moderate bleaching at multiple locations along the reef.”

Australia’s national coral bleaching task force, which was established in October in response to the prediction of a third mass bleaching event, estimates that 5-10 per cent of corals across the reef are affected.

Scientific studies show the reef has come under increasing stress over recent decades, with a 2012 study finding that half of the coral had died over the previous 27 years due to cyclones, bleaching and the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish.

Scientists say the next few weeks of peak summer temperatures at the Great Barrier Reef will be crucial to determine if a “mass bleaching” event can be avoided.

Cloud cover or stormy conditions would lead to a reduction in temperatures, allowing corals to recover, they say.

Reference link to this article : http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5213b6a2-df7a-11e5-b072-006d8d362ba3.html#axzz41iEzVtHJ

The deep sea just got a little spookier with the discovery of a ghostly octopod off the Hawaiian archipelago.

A remotely operated vehicle with the Okeanos Explorer, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship, captured the pale cephalopod swimming slowly about 2.6 miles (4.3 kilometers) deep. (See "Weird New Ghostshark Found; Male Has Sex Organ on Head.") 

Michael Vecchione, a NOAA zoologist working for the Smithsonian Institution, was excited when he saw the video pop up on the Explorer's live feed, which is also available online for the public.

"I knew it didn’t look like anything that’s been documented in the scientific literature," Vecchione says.  

Read more about the "Ghost Octopus" here at this website link :

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160304-ghost-octopus-science-animals-oceans/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_fb20160305news-octopodphotog&utm_campaign=Content&sf22011642=1k : 

SEMPORNA • Four dive marshals of the world-renowned diving haven of Pulau Sipadan have become Malaysia's first underwater enforcers. The four, who are from Sabah Parks, have been tasked to ensure divers do not destroy or damage the rich coral at mushroom- shaped Sipadan, the country's only oceanic island.

Tourism, Culture and Environment permanent secretary Ginun Yangus said the presence of the dive marshals would enhance the protection of the natural undersea environment. "They will be like undersea policemen who will act against divers trampling or destroying coral. It is a major step forward. In due time there will be more dive marshals," he said at a function to mark the official gazetting of Sipadan waters as a Sabah Parks conservation area on Saturday.

"Dive masters from various tour operators should also assist in ensuring tourists do not disturb or destroy coral," added Datuk Ginun.

Read more about this article at this website link : http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-first-underwater-cops-to-protect-coral-reefs-in-sabah

JEDDAH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), on Tuesday announced the launch of an international tourism project in the Kingdom called The Red Sea.

Envisioned as a resort built across a lagoon of 50 untouched islands, The Red Sea will be situated in one of the world’s last natural hidden treasures, between the cities of Umlaj and Al-Wajh. It will be developed in partnership with the world’s leading hospitality firms.

Situated just a few kilometers from one of the most diverse Saudi nature reserves and captivating dormant volcanoes in Harrat Al-Rahat, the resort promises to be a blissful coastal island retreat set against a backdrop of the ancient ruins at Mada’in Saleh, renowned for its beauty and historical significance.

Visitors will be able to explore hidden treasures, including a nature reserve that boasts a stunning diversity of flora and fauna at the foothills of the dormant volcano nearby. 

An array of marine-oriented resort developments will allow for unparalleled scuba diving among stunning coral reefs. The project will form an archipelago that is home to environmentally protected coral reefs, mangroves and several endangered marine species, including the hawksbill sea turtle. 

JAZAN — A total of 57,000 tourists visited the Farasan Islands during the past 20 days, Al-Watan newspaper reported.

The tourists have spent from SR12 million to SR14.5 million during the visits, according to economic experts.

Al-Lulu, which is a cluster of 286 islands, is considered the most popular tourist attraction in the area. Visitors come there from all over the world including Arab countries and Europe to enjoy sea surfing, fishing and scuba diving. 

Farasan Governor Hussain Al-Hazmi said the weather in the island was very stable these days, which is the reason why so many people visited the islands around this time.

“Farasan Islands are known for their clean beaches, glistening waters and perfect weather. People visit any day of the week for scuba diving, to fish or simply enjoy the landscape,” said Al-Hazmi.

As a friend to the sea, ONE°15 has embarked on our own eco-initiative – Project Perna – which involves installing strings of Green mussels or Perna Viridis under the marina pontoon. These mussels function as filter feeders, helping to remove pollutants from semi-enclosed water and providing an additional source of food for marine life within the marina.

To All Scuba Divers in Singapore, if you are available on this date 11 March 2018, do go register and sign up for this Marina Eco Dive. Cheers! - You are cordially invited to make a difference at our first marina clean up of the year @ One Degree 15 Marina Eco Dive - 1 Deg 15 Marina Club, Sentosa Cove Singapore . Not only will you get to protect the marine lives in the waters, you will be rewarded with food and drinks later !

11 March 2018, 3pm to 6pm

Sign up with Marina at 63056998 or Register at cr@one15marina.com by25th Feb 2018 !

Scubareefing celebrates this third year of the reef and encourages people to educate themselves about the coral reef ecosystem through SCUBA diving.

The International Coral Reef Initiative hopes to:

• strengthen awareness globally about the value of, and threats to, coral reefs and associated ecosystems;
• promote partnerships between governments, the private sector, academia and civil society on the management of coral reefs;
• identify and implement effective management strategies for conservation, increased resiliency and sustainable use of these ecosystems and promoting best practices; and
• share information on best practices in relation to sustainable coral reef management.

In conjunction with the third International Year of the Reef, high quality coral reef images have been made available to the public for free.

https://www.coralreefimagebank.org

Singapore is at risk of losing sea grass due to overdevelopment of its coast through land reclamation and heavy port activities. The combination of excessive sedimentation through land reclamation and maritime activities stir up silt which block out vital sunlight required by sea grass to thrive. Without generous sea meadows to feed on, Dugongs will remain a relatively rare sight. If we are to be stewards of the Earth, the current model of economic development needs to take a back seat in order for marine life to thrive once more.

According to The Straits Times "The largest continuous stretches of seagrass meadows are found at Chek Jawa in the north, and Pulau Semakau and Cyrene Reef in the south."

Dugongs have been sighted at Chek Jawa in Palau Ubin :

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/pulau-ubin-and-chek-jawa

Community Action - Get Yourself Educated

Checkout Team Seagrass for more opportunities to learn more and participate in Seagrass conservation in Singapore :

http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg

Seagrass in the Spotlight :

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/20/plantwatch-seagrass-meadows-are-vital-but-in-serious-decline

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38926593

Learn more about seagrasses :

http://www.projectseagrass.org

http://www.seagrasswatch.org/Singapore.html

Ideas & Inspiration :

https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/want-clean-water-plant-a-lot-of-seagrass

Key People :

Dr. Siti Maryam Yaakub

Dr. Chou Loke Ming

More resources :

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1516_2009-05-05.html

Mangroves are an important natural feature of coastlines in the tropics. It provides a natural shelter for many aquatic species. Mangroves prevent the erosion of coastlines, serving as a buffer towards wave erosion.

At Scubareefing, we are looking forward to opportunities of muck diving (or mangrove diving) in and around the islands of Singapore.

Do you have something interesting to contribute to the conversation? Drop us a comment.

Interested in mangrove diving? Check out the top 5 sites for Mangrove Diving 

http://www.kathryncurzon.com/2017/12/21/top-5-sites-for-mangrove-diving/

Read more about Mangrove Diving :

https://www.leisurepro.com/blog/scuba-guides/mangrove-diving/

First, as a town, Savusavu depends on ecotourists for its economic survival. Savusavu is advertised as the hidden paradise and the heart Fiji, brimming with amazing natural beauty and wildlife. The untouched splendor of the ocean draws divers and snorkelers from around the world to Savusavu shores. Without this distinction, Savusavu would not be a unique and sought after destination in Fiji. 

From the damage that has already been done, we are witnessing fuel spills and dead marine life.  Local businesses and residents depend on ecotourism to stay afloat. One of the most unique features of the Savusavu diving industry, that draws people globally, is the presence of its residential school of scalloped hammerheads which depend on mangroves as potential nursery grounds. Cisneros-Montemayor et al. (2013) found that, at the time of publication, the ecotourism industry based on shark watching, with 590,000 yearly participants, was conservatively earning USD 314 million per year and supporting approximately 10,000 jobs. They also estimated that by the year 2033, the number of ecotourists interested in shark watching would more than double, increasing the shark tourism market to USD 780 million per year. Ecotourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries, throwing Savusavu's standing and future potential as a leading ecotourism destination is fiscally irresponsible and threatens the livelihoods of local people. 

Five reasons why this resort should not be built in Shiraho

1. The largest colony of blue corals in the northern hemisphere is at stake!
The construction site lies directly before an ocean rich in marine wildlife, not to mention the world-famous coral reef. Discharge from the hotel’s wastewater treatment system would not even be at 1/100 of the water quality that healthy corals are known to survive in.

2. Nesting grounds of endangered sea turtles!
Each year, endangered sea turtles have been laying their eggs on the shores of Shiraho. Sea turtles are extremely sensitive and would suffer from this development.

3. Excessive tourism
Shiraho is a traditional community that has retained its historic townscape and rustic lifestyle. Over years, we have maintained a careful balance between tourism and our daily livelihoods. Excessive tourism may likely irreversibly tip this deliberate balance. 

4. Can they really take responsibility? Can we trust them? 
Can we trust developers who press their plans without the consent of local residents? If they eventually sell the hotel, there is no assurance that any environmental provision or promises to the residents will be kept. The same developers built a solar panel farm in an adjacent land in 2014, and sold it in 2017. They can move on, but we are stuck with whatever damage they do to our land, ocean and community. 

5. Our 57 cultural heritages
The history, culture, and natural environment of the village have been protected by the community as the 57 ‘Shiraho Community Council-Designated Cultural Heritages’. The construction site is also a part of these assets that have been protected and inherited across generations.

Application for the development is currently under review by Okinawa prefecture.
The many flaws in the developer’s environmental preservation measures, despite initial claims that they would promote environmental conservation, confirm our concerns and we stand firm in our stance against this development.
We wish to protect the rich environment of Shiraho for future generations. 
Please support us in our appeal for Okinawa prefecture to deny permission for development, and for the developers to repeal their development application and cancel their construction plans.

This is my first dive for 2018, the International Year of the Reef, and as I don my mask and roll in, I’m deeply reflective of the changes I’ve seen on our reefs, in my short life time.

When I first started diving, in 1988 our reefs were glorious. Now, I’m still amazed by their beauty, the ability to find magic under every crevice, but it’s shabbier, there’s more green and brown stuff (macroalgae), there are fewer fish and gone are the frequent sightings of big predators.

As I glide, I fondly remember George, the big, friendly barracuda that lived on the Stavronikita, thought to have been killed by spearfishers. More frequently, I’m seeing coral smashed to pieces by anchors and reduced are the massive colonies of star and starlet corals, our framework builders. It’s amazing to me that we seem so insistent on trying to wipe out this ecosystem that has created our island and on which our lives and livelihoods depend.

Nowhere are my thoughts clearer than underwater, with the body and mind in a state of weightlessness, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colour and my thoughts drift. So it’s International Year of the Reef again. First declared in 1997 and then again in 2008, by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) to highlight coral reef issues; we’re here once more, ten years later in 2018, with the same old issues and new ones layered on top of them.

A coral reef is a gift that keeps on giving, but only if we take care of her. Her gifts, her ecosystem services are in decline and as we destroy her and her associated flora and fauna, we are also losing; her protection – the ability to save us from high intensity waves (think hurricanes and storms); food (think fewer and smaller reef fish), habitat for animals in our beautiful and barren seas and we impact our recreational spaces and our tourism product, as without her anchoring our beaches in places, they erode.

We know what we’ve done to our reefs, as the Coastal Zone Management Unit and the University of the West Indies (CERMES) have been documenting their demise very efficiently since 1982. We’ve lost around 50 per cent since the monitoring programme began and the decline started before that. It’s not just us, regionally Caribbean coral reefs have declined from 50 per cent in the 1970s to less than 20 per cent today.

The reality is that many coastal reefs today have suffered tremendously over the last few decades from destructive human activities. Fortunately, more and more people are interested in looking after the reefs. SCUBA Diving has become an increasingly popular activity across people of all ages and from every nation.

The Stylaster californicus, or “Purple Hydrocoral,” used to thrive abundantly in Farnsworth Bank on the backside of Catalina Island.  But every year, over 200 boats drop anchors on this marine sanctuary, permanently destroying a treasured species endemic to the temperate waters of the Eastern Pacific.  In an effort to prevent further damage, Los Angeles diving community Ocean Safari, under the management of Dan Stephens, is calling upon the support of its network and the Secretary of Natural Resource to save the Purple Hydrocoral.

Our Reef is too precious to trust to a dirty coal giant with a solid history of environmental devastation. Join a wave of passionate Australians fighting to protect it. Pledge to help us stop Adani destroying our Reef before it’s too late. 

Just ten years ago, South African cameraman, Roger Horrocks, was studying an MBA and working for a digital marketing company. He is now one of the top underwater cinematographers on the planet, shooting for clients that include National Geographic and the BBC’s Natural History Unit. Philippa Ehrlich spoke to him about his experience of working with the most renowned wildlife filmmaking team on earth.

Pollution is threatening the recently mapped Sac Actun cave system in the Yucatan Peninsula, a vast underground network that experts in Mexico say could be the most important underwater archaeological site in the world.

Subaquatic archaeologist Guillermo de Anda said the cave system's historical span is likely unrivaled.

Some of the oldest human remains on the continent have been found there, dating back more than 12,000 years, and now-extinct animal remains push the horizon back to 15,000 years.

The islands off the coast of Padang, West Sumatra has some of the most beautiful scenery. The beauty of the islands off Padang have been tainted by the presence of cigarette butts. 

Our team visited a few islands off the coast, aided by a local boatman. A steep trek to the top of the island rewarded us with a tranquil view of the island's surrounding. 

Unfortunately, much of the sandy beaches on the island is littered with cigarette butts. The issue of smoking is not new to Indonesia. To the Indonesians, smoking has been deeply embedded in their culture as a convenient way to relieve stress (similar to the reasons why most people smoke on the first place).  Perhaps city life is too stressful for many people today. Not a surprising fact, with all that noise and air pollution. Cigarette butts are toxic trash.

 According to one New Scientist article,  "one cigarette butt soaked in a litre of water for 96 hours leaches out enough toxins to kill half of the fresh or salt water fish exposed to them."

3 Singaporean women appeared in an article on The Straits Times published on 26 February, 2018.

Our team at Scubareefing hope that these three women will continue to raise awareness on climate change to prevent countries from exploiting new trade routes at the Arctic. The exploitation of new trade routes at the Arctic will only bring pollutants to a pristine environment.

Burton may be more than 100 miles from the sea - but that hasn't stopped members of the town's Sub Aqua Club from donning wet suits for a spot of scuba diving.

The club meets weekly at the Meadowside Leisure Centre in High Street and welcomes people to sample the unique sport.

Dozens of people have been down to the pool to test the waters and have a go with the team. Next year, the club will celebrate its 50th birthday in the town.

Interested in exploring the natural shores of Singapore? Much of Singapore's natural coastlines have been artificially re-shaped due to rapid urbanisation. Fortunately, natural shorelines are now recognised and preserved under the care of National Parks and local volunteers.

As the nature walk is free, the waitlist gets longer by the minute! Register today by clicking on the link provided.

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/sisters-islands-marine-park/intertidal-guided-walk

Following events at Stoney Cove and Vobster last year, and Capernwray just last week, the next Try Tech will be expanded to four days over the Bank Holiday on 25-28 May at the National Diving and Activity Centre at Chepstow.

The weekend is for divers from all agencies to find out more about rebreather diving – from the units themselves and how they work, to the costs and training required, and giving it a go themselves with one of the BSAC Tech Team. Plus, already-trained CCR divers can have a go on other units. Rebreather units available for the sessions include AP, Poseidon, Liberty and Red Bare.

Although still regarded as a niche component of the recreational diving market, the demand for technical diving training is growing rapidly. 

Not least for the fact that its strict disciplines offer opportunities to perform dives that, in the past, were considered foolish and unsafe.

But despite its broadening appeal, (coupled with a general acceptance of the fact that improvements in equipment and techniques have made it possible for people to dive beyond their previous comfort zone) technical diving still arouses much curiosity. 

Not least from those who wonder what it is that drives otherwise seemingly sensible people to want to commit themselves to a challenging activity fraught with risk?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning a major dredging project in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to deepen the Port Everglades channel to make way for ever-larger ships due to the expanded Panama Canal. However, the Corps’ initial plan didn’t include necessary protections to save nearby corals.

Earthjustice filed litigation, and as a result, the Corps has agreed to conduct new environmental studies and complete new reviews and analysis before starting the dredging project. But, we need your help to ensure the Corps keeps its promises.

The Corps is now accepting public comments for the proposed Port Everglades dredging project as part of this revised environmental study. Sign today and urge the Corps to protect Florida’s coral reefs.

The Philippines tourists index algorithm data showed that Boracay island still holds the nation’s pride as the Philippine prime tourist destination.

In fact, Google keyword volume search data tells "Boracay" as the number one keyword in Philippines demographic target and the following backlink online publications are the trending factors: 

  2012 - No.1 Best Island in the World - Travel and Leisure
  2013 - No.2 Best Island in the World - Travel and Leisure
  2014 - No.12 Best Island the World - Condé Nast Traveler's Readers’ Choice       Awards
  2015 - No.1 Best Beach in Asia, White Beach Balabag - TripAdvisor
  2015 - 7th World's Best Beach - TripAdvisor
  2016 - No.1 Best Island in the World - Condé Nast Traveler's 2016 Readers’     Choice Awards
  2016 - No.1 Island in the World for Relaxation - Agoda Poll
  2017 - No.2 Best Beach in Asia, White Beach Balabag - TripAdvisor
  2017 - No.1 Best Island in the World - Condé Nast Traveler's 2017 Readers’       Choice Awards
  2017 - No.24 Best Island in the World - TripAdvisor

This accolades continued not just to increase the influx of tourist coming to the island but also drives more local and foreign developers that are potential risks to the sustainability of Boracay environment, ecosystems and natural resources.

Tackle marine debris today by joining the movement at Project Aware. 

With over 25 years of experience in serving the dive community, Project Aware and PADI share a common goal in their synergistic partnership in promoting dive conservation around the globe.

We want to make sure that sharks can stay alive and not be killed in in-humane ways just for a bowl of soup.

Plastics pollution is a serious issue that warrants attention and efforts to the individual and across every organisation level in the world. 

With so much plastics produced each day as a result of global demand for disposable goods and so much profits made in the manufacturing economy, it is no wonder a significant amount of plastics end up in the ocean and in the stomachs of Earth's creatures.

In conjunction with the 3^rd International Year of the Reef 2018, The National Parks of Singapore is engaging Singaporeans and residents to engage and participate in marine life conservation right on our local shores! 

The idea of Singapore's very own marine sanctuary has gathered momentum over the years with efforts from local scientists and environmentalists. 

Singaporeans suffer from a hectic work life, which means people seldom have the time to engage in leisure activities like SCUBA. 

Thankfully, this is slowly changing as more people learn about SCUBA Diving and marine life conservation.

 With the marine park in place, we can make our stand against air and marine pollution against heavy industries like shipping vessels and oil refineries which continue to pollute the environment at large for the sake of "economic progress".

Diver Rich Horner has captured video of himself swimming through water densely strewn with plastic waste and yellowing food wrappers, with the occasional tropical fish darting around. 

The footage was shot at a dive site called Manta Point, a cleaning station for the large rays on the island of Nusa Penida, about 20km from the popular Indonesian holiday island of Bali.

Beach season is finally upon us! This Memorial Day, people all over the country (myself included) will flock to the coasts to soak up some much-needed sunshine. But nothing ruins a good vacation day like a beach covered in trash—especially because  trash poses a huge threat to our ocean and the animals that call it home.

Ocean Conservancy is committed to keeping our beaches and ocean trash free. For 30 years we have sponsored the International Coastal Cleanup, where 11.5 million volunteers from 153 countries have collected 220 million pounds of trash. And we’re not the only ones who care about ocean trash: Every day, all over the world, concerned people take the problem into their own hands by cleaning up their local waterways.

Now we have a way to make your beach cleanups more exciting than ever (as if protecting our ocean wasn’t enough!). Introducing our brand-new Clean Swell app: a fun and easy way to keep track of the trash you collect. The app is free and available to download on both iOS and Android systems.

With Clean Swell, simply “Start Collecting” wherever you are around the world and record every item of trash you pick up. The data you collect will instantaneously upload to Ocean Conservancy’s global ocean trash database. This delivers a global snapshot of the ocean trash problem and provides researchers and policy-makers insight to inform solutions. You can even check your “Cleanup History”, so anytime, anywhere, you can see the impact you’ve had on making our ocean a cleaner and healthier ecosystem.

Here are some of the app highlights:

• Track your progress: We’re making it easier than ever to see the long-term impact your cleanups have on the ocean. See the total distance cleaned, the total weight of the trash you collect and a historical record of your cleanup efforts.
• Contribute to science: When you add to Ocean Conservancy’s global ocean trash database, you’re helping to create ocean trash solutions by identifying trends. The app also provides scientific facts about the impact of trash on ocean animals and shares tips on how you can help.
• Share your results: You can share your cleanup results and photos with friends via Facebook, Twitter, and email right from the app.

Located at Baja California, Mexico, the Vaquita was first discovered in 1958. 

Over recent years,  these beautiful creatures have been caught in fishing nets because of illegal fishing activities in Mexico. 

Time is quickly running out for the Vaquita despite efforts to save it from extinction.

One of the best thing SCUBA Diving is that it empowers people to make a difference in marine conservation. Once you've seen what's beneath the ocean, it is difficult to imagine being anywhere else in the world other than being in the living waters. Every SCUBA diver is a marine conservation ambassador in one way or another. 

When you post photos of the marine animals on the internet, you inadvertently promote marine conservation by bringing greater awareness of Earth's creatures to non-divers. 

When you post photos of yourself diving, you encourage people to participate in this activity. Moreover, it has been proven time again that SCUBA Diving instills confidence in people. 

It's a great way for people to bond and understand the sea. So keep encouraging your friends to go diving. They won't regret it.

Project AWARE’s flagship citizen-science program, Dive Against Debris®, empowers scuba divers to remove marine debris from the ocean and report data on the types, quantities and locations of materials collected.

Since the program’s launch in 2011, more than 25,000 divers have participated in Dive Against Debris in more than 50 countries around the world, reporting over 700,000 pieces of trash. As the only underwater debris data collection program of its kind, Dive Against Debris both improves the health of ocean ecosystems through localized volunteer efforts and provides valuable information about underwater debris to help inform policy change.

Eco Koh Tao is a proud supporter of this campaign to report and retrieve damaging materials that do not belong underwater. We have been an Adopt A Dive Site member since July 2016.

Being an Adopt A Dive Site member, we are committed to collect data for Twin Peaks dive site. Along with our other beach and dive site clean ups, we collect and submit data for a global database for what trash that we find at Twins.

The day starts with meeting divemaster candidates and other volunteers and organising them into groups to clean up our beach area. This prevents any further rubbish from entering the ocean. Then in the afternoon we head out to the dive sites with bags in hand to collect any debris that we can find.

Once the dive has ended, we have to divide the trash collected into certain categories (wood, plastic, net etc) and then weigh them. Returning to the dive school we submit the data to Project Aware’s Dive Against Debris® map. After review, the data is then available for global use. Since its inception, over 3000 surveys have been completed globally, and the number of pieces of trash removed is expected to hit over 1 million in 2017.

This project is of great value, and very simply for volunteer divers to get involved. With a minimal briefing, they are able to help in the battle against ocean trash. Besides protecting the environment, it makes the dive site more attractive to divers, raises awareness of how to dispose of trash correctly, and educates people on the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling.

The video below shows a net removal from our Dive Site in 2011…. one of the largest nets we ever had to retrieve with a team of over 30 divers working over 4 dives in 2 days to remove the net from Chumphon Pinnacle.

Ever been diving around Asia? You would know how SCUBA Diving is thriving in these regions.

Rain or shine, divers and non-divers come from all parts of the world (especially from China, Korea and Japan) come to witness spectacular reefs (sometimes at the expense of environmental damage). 

Diving hot spots include Sipdan, Bali and Phuket. Moreover the diversity of SCUBA equipment is ever increasing on the internet. 

There are numerous people posting about their diving adventures of Facebook. Tech diving is taking off in Asia as well with GUE and TDI leading the way. 

There is an ever increasing interest in Rebreathers in Asia. Lastly, one of the largest diving exhibition ADEX has ever increasing participation from the public.  

As SCUBA Diving and Marine Conservation go hand in hand. Unfortunately, many conversations today revolve among divers comparing themselves about their greatest dive destination instead of sharing their passion and love for the ocean. 

For SCUBA Diving to be taken to the next level, dive operators need to engage the public (especially in schools and shopping malls) about conservation efforts such as coral replantation. 

And how the presence of dive shops is making a positive impact on the community and in ocean conservation. 

It can't be simply business as usual. It gets even better if dive operators made SCUBA Diving more accessible to our local Singapore and Worldwide Schools' Students.

Many tourists come and are amazed by how clean and beautiful Singapore is

Picture that shows how clean Singapore is. Taken from http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Guide-g294265-i13715-Singapore.html

But I think people will change their mind when they see Singapore’s coastal areas, such as Pasir Ris Park. There are actually quite a handful of trash in there.

Picture showing marine trash found at East Coast Park, a popular hangout place for locals, especially during the weekends. Taken from http://www.greenfuture.sg/2014/08/12/insights-on-marine-trash-in-singapore/ 

Picture showing marine trash found at Tanah Merah. Taken from https://coastalcleanup.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/earth-day-coastal-cleanup-tanah-merah-a-call-to-organisations-to-hit-the-beach-on-sat-28-apr-2012/

Not really clean and green anymore huh.

As mentioned in the one of the earlier posts, plastic and other kind of rubbish are physical water pollutants! In this post today, I shall explore more on the harms these seemingly harmless rubbish can do to our environment while using Singapore as a case study.

Firstly where does all the litter come from?

Marine trash in Singapore could come from the following sources:

Illegal disposal of waste into the sea from fish farms

Illegal dumping of waste into the sea by companies and ships

Litter in the canals and drains leading to the sea

Waste blown from nearby roads or waste collection trucks to the coast

Waste blown away from the litter bins at the beach to the coast due to overfilling or improper disposal by beachgoers

Littering by beachgoers involved in activities such as cycling and bbq-ing.

Waste blown away from premises at the beach or due to improper disposal by the premise, including chalets, bicycle shops, cafes and restaurants, food centres, and convenience stores

So what are the harms that this marine litter bring?

Marine litter can result in the entanglement of animals. Those get entangled die a slow death. For instance, crabs can be trapped in fishing nets that have been abandoned.

Photo showing horseshoe crab being trapped in a fishing net. Taken from https://otterman.wordpress.com/page/126/?viewType=Print&viewClass=Print 

Ingestion of marine little as they are mistaken as food and as a result, lead to starvation and eventually death of the marine animal. For example, sea turtles often mistaken plastic bags for jellyfish and end up eating plastic bags.

Photo showing turtle ingesting a fragment of plastic bag. Taken from  https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/935/ban-plastic-bags-in-the-eu 

Plastic, which is a very common form of marine trash do not biodegrade. In other words, they are in the marine environment forever. In addition, plastic can break up/fragment into smaller pieces. This means that the plastic is made available for consumption for a wider range of organisms. Such a scenario can lead to the transfer of toxic chemicals to wildlife.

Marine litter is created by us. We are polluting our coastal environment and I think we should do something about it.

Here are some things WE can do to make a difference, to save a marine animal from ingesting that plastic bag or being trapped in the fishing net.

Dispose all rubbish properly in dustbins

Reduce the use of disposables

Join beach cleanup events such as International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

These are the things that one can do on the individual level. However, I believe that individual effort is not enough to salvage the situation. The government plays a important role too. I tried to look for information on current governmental measures to deal with marine trash and I am disappointed to find out that there was no websites on it. (Try it if you don’t believe me!)

But I managed to find a website which identified potential barriers that prevent Singapore from solving the problem of marine trash and also gives constructive suggestions to help mediate the situation. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Here is the website http://www.greenfuture.sg/2014/08/12/insights-on-marine-trash-in-singapore/

1) Lack of government coordinated efforts and enforcement

Even though the National Environment Agency (NEA) is in-charge of clearing waste from public beaches, drains, waterways, and coastal parks, there seems to be no government agency in charge of working with the various agencies to set holistic policies to reduce marine trash.

I agree with this. As mentioned earlier, I tried to research on current measures that Singapore government has to address the problem of marine trash and there was none sadly. Sure there are measures to address solid waste disposal but maybe more can be done for marine trash specifically.

Lack of proper waste disposal infrastructure for fish farms and enforcement regime

There is no door to door trash collection for fish farms currently, resulting in the owners of fish farms dumping waste into the waters. According to WildSingapore, approximately 250 tonnes of trash (or more) will no longer be dumped into our waters every year if the trash collection service is provide for the fish farms. Clearly, a possible solution would be for the government to provide the service to the fish farms.

2) Insufficient education and people do not see the problem or impacts

Marine trash at mangroves are out of sight

I agree with this point. I was actually not aware of the problem – that there are marine trash at the mangroves until I learnt about it in class last semester. It is like a “out of sight, out of mind” situation for many Singaporeans (& I was one of them last time). Without seeing the marine trash at the mangroves, people would not be aware of the problem and consequences of their action, such as using too much disposables or littering for the convenience of it.

Lack of public campaigns to focus on the problem of marine trash and how to reduce the waste

Similar to the previous point, I myself did not know how severe the problem of marine trash could be in the past. Sure, I do know that our beaches are not as clean but I did not know about the harms until recently when people talk about it and I learn about it through research.

A good example would be people not knowing that balloons can actually cause harm to marine life. I myself never knew that too previously, I just thought balloons are pretty and fun to have especially for outdoor parties and gatherings. Balloons, when deflated, can find their way into the sea. When that happens, it would be deadly for the marine animals such as turtles who will very likely mistake the balloons as food.

In fact, last year, National Technology University (NTU) club planned to release several hundred of balloons at a Marina Barrage charity event. This further shows that there is a lack of awareness among people. Luckily, NTU club decided to pop the idea after some environmentalists voiced out their concerns (about turtles eating the deflated balloons).

So yes, more public campaigns would definitely help increase awareness among people in Singapore and that could help reduce the amount of marine trash greatly.

In addition to the balloon situation, perhaps there should be a rule at coastal areas which prohibits beachgoers from bringing balloons there so as to reduce the chance of them becoming food for the marine animals.

I certainly hope that more attention will be given to this problem of marine trash in Singapore – for the government to enforce laws on illegal dumping and provide trash collection service for all industries and sectors and for everyone to be aware of the situation and to do their part in ensuring that their trash do not find their way to the coastal areas as those trash can kill.

Till next time!

Signing off,

Gladys

Just keep swimming, swimming

http://blog.nus.edu.sg/underthatsea/2015/03/03/clean-and-green-singapore-really/

DESCRIPTION

Join us for a marine debris sampling event at beach next to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal! Data on both macro-debris (>5 mm) and microplastics (1 – 5 mm) would be collected from 20 quadrats (2.5 m by 2.5 m) in a systematic manner and supplies such as trash bags, sieves and gloves would be provided. Your participation would contribute valuable data to the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme and would be used to establish the baseline data of marine trash in Singapore. Interested to find out more? 

Please refer to the webpage here: https://coastalcleanup.wordpress.com/nus‒nparks-marine-debris-monitoring-programme/

The sampling would be done at the beach next to theTanah Merah Ferry Terminal on 07 Apr 2018, Saturday, 8:30am - 11:30am. 

Participants could catch SBS bus 35 from Bedok MRT / Tanah Merah MRT station to get to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. More details about the bus 35 can be found here.

About the site: Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal Beach is a state-land located at the southeast of Singapore. Incoming trash from Singapore Strait is regularly deposited on this shore among the marine life found here. As it is a non-recreational beach and not regularly cleaned, much marine debris accumulate on this beach.

Suitable for adults and children age 15 and above (if accompanied and supervised by adults).

Itinerary:

• 8:30am (30 min) – Safety and procedure briefing. Apply insect repellent, and distribution of gloves and trash bags.

• 9:00am (60 - 90 min) – Set up quadrats and begin macro-debris and microplastic collection.

• 10:30am (30 min) – Categorisation, counting and data recording of macro-debris.

• 11:00am (15 min) – End of data recording; Transport of trash bags to Trash Disposal Point; Debrief

• 11:15am – End of event

Things to note:

1 We may encounter a male long-tailed macaque at the beach thus please pack light and avoid packing any food in your bag if possible.

2 Cleanup supplies such as gloves, trash bags, and weighing scales will be provided.

3 You must wear hard-soled covered shoes or booties to protect your feet from hazards, else you won’t be able to participate in the sampling. Slippers and sandals are not allowed.

4 A change of clothes is recommended after a sweaty workout.

5 Long pants are recommended to protect your legs from insect bites.

6 We will continue the sampling in rain (bring rain gear) but cease if there is threat of lightning.

Things to bring:

1 Water bottle (with at least one litre of water)

2 Hat, sun block and/or insect repellent

3 Reusable raincoat/poncho (we will work in light rain)

4 Change of clothes for public transport

Be prepared:

1 Sleep early the night before

2 Have a decent breakfast – It’s hard work!

3 Be punctual as the tide waits for no one!

4 Please read our advice to participants to prepare yourself for the sampling exercise!

Thank you for your interest and see you on the beach!

The What and Why of ‘Fitness’

In scuba diving, when it comes to assessing fitness, times have certainly changed. Years ago, many were reluctant to even consider diving because they thought it was deep, dark and dangerous. Today, it’s just the opposite. Many are lulled into diving because they view it as simple, safe and easy. Indeed, diving takes place in a relatively weightless environment, which may make it seem effortless, but it does require a degree of both health and stamina.

In determining what fitness means to you, understand that there’s no single answer; it means different things to different people. The first issue to consider in evaluating your fitness level is where and what type of diving you plan to do. Obviously, enjoying a shallow reef in the Florida Keys on a still summer morning is far less demanding than braving 8-foot seas to dive the wrecks off the New Jersey coast. Although this may seem obvious, it’s amazing how many folks will assume that their Florida Keys fitness is all they need when they one day decide to dive New Jersey or California. Your well-being demands that you be honest about what you want from the diving experience, and make sure that you don’t exceed the conditions on which you’ve based your fitness decision.

Still, even if you do decide that you’re only interested in relatively “easy” conditions and environments, things don’t always go as planned. Even the best conditions can change rapidly, and it’s these unforeseen circumstances that cause a lot of accidents. So, whatever you expect, assume that once in a while, at least, conditions will be worse; perhaps much worse. This means that you must possess not only the level of fitness required for what you normally encounter, but a “reserve,” just in case. Granted, assessing, acquiring and maintaining an appropriate level of fitness may not be easy, but never forget that Murphy’s Law is always right around the corner ready to bite you on the backside when you least expect it.

Whether you expect it or not, on any dive you may encounter long surface swimming, have to contend with strong, changing currents or just deal with being at the surface in conditions akin to a washing machine during the rinse cycle. All require more fitness than walking from your easy chair to the fridge. Unanticipated and strenuous physical tasks are part of the diving experience in any environment; therefore you must not have any health conditions, or take any medications, that may impede your performance.

Assessing your fitness also isn’t a one-time event. When I started diving as a young teenager, there were few physical tasks a diver might encounter that I couldn’t handle. But to assume that’s still the case more than three decades later is a recipe for disaster. So, the next time you’re filling out your logbook, take a few minutes to ask yourself a few simple questions: Did I encounter conditions that were close to or beyond my physical capabilities? How likely is it that these conditions may occur again? Do I need to reconsider my “comfort envelope” or try to improve my fitness? The answers require a great deal of self-honesty, but the exercise may be the best thing you’ll ever do for your health and well-being.

Finding a clear method to assess and quantify your level of fitness isn’t always easy, but there are some basics you can keep in mind. First, if you can’t walk around the block without a rest, or if you’ve never even tried, diving at any level probably isn’t something you should try (or continue). At least, not until you’ve improved your conditioning. A very minimal guideline for fitness is the ability to walk a mile (1.6 km) within 12 minutes. If you can’t do this, you should plan to exercise for at least 20 minutes four or five time per week, but only after you’ve gotten the approval of your doctor. And if possible, add swimming with fins to your routine. A useful measure that I’ve always given my own students, based on years of teaching experience, is this: No one should consider themselves prepared for a certification course who cannot swim at their own pace, using a mask and fins, at least 200 yards (182 m) without stopping and/or becoming exhausted.

Restrictions and Red Flags

Aside from physical fitness, divers and would-be divers must also consider how any existing medical conditions can affect their health and safety. Surviving in an environment that’s 800 times denser than the atmosphere can present problems that might never arise while sitting in your living room, or even engaging in moderate physical activity on terra firma.

First, let’s consider temporary conditions such as colds, flu, injury or even pregnancy. All should be considered reasons to curtail diving until the effects have passed. Colds, flu or allergy attacks cause swelling or blockage in the sinuses and eustachian tubes, which means pressure equalization will be difficult or impossible. Injuries can leave you with restricted strength, stamina or mobility, and can even put you at a greater risk of decompression sickness due to alterations or restrictions in blood flow. Furthermore, when diving with an injury, the accompanying pain could mask symptoms of decompression sickness. So it’s best to postpone diving until you’re fully healed. Lastly, diving while you are or could be pregnant is considered a no-no for one simple reason: We just don’t know enough about its effect on the developing fetus, so why take the chance? Can any hour spent underwater be worth the risk to a child’s life or quality of life?

It should be obvious that you must take into account the effect of any medications. This goes for both prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) meds. Frankly, most medications have no effect on diving, but some definitely do. They may cause drowsiness or fatigue, which may make you more susceptible to nitrogen narcosis, or impede your thinking at just the time thinking is most critical. Other medications, as well as illicit drugs, can affect heart rate even in those without heart problems. Clearly, if you plan to dive, it’s especially important to read the warning labels before using any drugs. And it’s just downright stupid to dive while taking any recreational drugs.

Another concern that’s foreign to any landlubber taking meds is whether and how the increased pressure at depth can affect any drug. There is always a possibility of such an unexpected reaction to medications, and some drugs are noted particularly for pressure-induced side effects. But the problem is that these reactions can vary from diver to diver, and even from day to day. So, the first step in preventing a dangerous situation is knowing well in advance what side effects any medication has on you before using it while diving. It isn’t smart to pop a pill for the first time just as you’re about to enter the water. This is true even of common OTC drugs like cold and allergy or seasickness medications.

The effect of diving on prescription medication can be a very complex issue, and requires a knowledgeable doctor’s advice. Regardless, always remind your doctor that you’re a diver when he or she prescribes a med. And, if your doc isn’t up on how diving can affect your condition or medications, you should be prepared to provide some resources. (See the sidebar “Educating Your Doctor” on Page 34.)

Some medical conditions aren’t temporary, and these can have major consequences for divers. Two of the more common concerns are asthma and diabetes. Both are becoming epidemic in many regions of the world, including North America, the Caribbean, and the islands of the South Pacific; and many believe that this is the result of lifestyle and the degrading quality of our environment. This is a serious problem for all segments of society, but it poses additional problems for the diving community. For decades there has been much debate about whether to allow those with either condition to dive; and at one time the answer was quite simple: no. But many have questioned such a ban on diving, and today, after careful medication evaluation, some asthmatics are permitted to dive.

Diabetes, as well, is a chronic condition that’s been recently reconsidered by diving medical experts. Today, rather than a blanket disqualification, divers and diving candidates with diabetes are evaluated on a case-by-case basis with an appropriate medical specialist. A similar situation exists for one of the most common disorders in almost every developed society: cardiovascular disease. (For more information, see “The Heart of the Matter,” Dive Training, April 2006.) Research and debate continue regarding both asthma and diabetes, and it’s likely more issues and findings will appear.

This Will Only Hurt a Little

Whether you’re a diver or not, the cornerstone of good health is a regular physical exam. Opinions on how often this should happen seem to vary; and to be perfectly honest, after graduating from college I didn’t set foot in a doctor’s office for almost 20 years. But that all changed when I hit the big 4-0, a milestone no one should ignore. Since then I’ve had regular annual checkups, along with the associated diagnostic, age-appropriate tests involving treadmills, CAT scans, endoscopes, rubber gloves and assorted other accouterments of medical technology.

The issue of physical examinations for divers has undergone quite an evolution. Even today, policy varies from country to country. As I mentioned, when I got certified, everyone was required to first secure medical approval from a physician before being accepted into a class. But in North America, that hasn’t been the case for a long time. As many of you no doubt know from your experience, some of you had to have physical exams, while others didn’t.

North American-based diver training organizations require that all candidates for instruction complete the Recreational Scuba Training Council’s “Medical History Statement and Questionnaire.” (A copy of the form can be downloaded from many sources; just type in the search term “RSTC medical form.”) As the form explains, its purpose is to find out if a perspective diving student should be examined by a doctor before participating in training. A “yes” response to any question doesn’t necessarily disqualify someone from diving, but it does indicate that there could be a pre-existing condition that may affect safety. Therefore, the candidate must seek the advice of a physician before engaging in diving activities.

Some believe that this approach is inadequate, contending that everyone new to diving should first have medical clearance from a physician. In fact, some countries such as Australia require this. But is this additional expense and inconvenience really warranted? Some who have studied the matter don’t think so. For instance, the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee found that examination by a physician was largely unhelpful in identifying divers with significant medical conditions, and concluded that a health questionnaire, like the current medical history form, is perfectly sufficient. A similar result came from a study six years ago published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

However, this selective nature of medical exams does not apply to some divers. All commercial divers, including professionals such as divemasters, dive control specialists, assistant instructors and instructors, are required to have full medical clearance before they’re accepted into training. Scientific divers, including most divers in university programs and those working under the guidelines of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), also require full medical evaluation before training, and while active in such programs.

For recreational divers, the current medical standard has been in effect for almost two decades. The questionnaire was developed by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) and Divers Alert Network (DAN). (More information about the form is contained in “Assessing Your Medical Fitness to Dive” on Page 36.)

In the end, however, the final arbiter of who can enter a diving course, for medical reasons or otherwise, is that of the instructor. In fact, based solely on his or her judgment, an instructor may require anyone to secure medical approval from a physician, even if the candidate has indicated no affirmative answers on the questionnaire.

We all like to think the best of ourselves. And often our image doesn’t reflect reality. Usually, this has little potential to do harm to anything but our ego. But fitness for diving is a different matter. When it comes to fitness, lying to yourself or others can put both you and your buddy at serious risk. Remember, no diver ever thought that they weren’t coming back from their dive.

Educating Your Doctor

As we all know doctors are very busy people. Their medical school training is intense, and with continuing advances in medical research, they have to know more and more. So, it’s no surprise that a subject like diving medicine doesn’t receive much, if any attention, in either medical school or afterward. In fact, if a doctor doesn’t take up diving personally, he may know less about diving medicine than a knowledgeable scuba instructor. This isn’t intended as a slam. It’s just that, in the scheme of things, scuba diving isn’t a very common activity. So, most doctors only rarely deal with divers and would-be divers. As a result, when it comes time for a diving medical exam, you may find yourself in the delicate situation of having to educate your doctor.

But the situation isn’t as daunting as it may sound. The RSTC “Diving Medical Statement and Questionnaire” contains a section designed just for this purpose: “Guidelines for Recreational Scuba Diver’s Physical Examination.” It includes three pages of detailed instructions with 16 medical references. So, when you show up to your doc’s office, be sure that you take a copy of the entire six-page form, not just the part he or she has to sign.

The guidelines discuss areas of concern for divers, and what to look for in a medical assessment. Temporary, relative and severe risk conditions are listed for the neurological, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, orthopedic, hematological, metabolic/endocrinological and otolaryngological systems. There’s also a segment on behavioral health. At a minimum, the examination should include these points. The list of conditions is not all-inclusive, but contains the most commonly encountered medical problems.

The guidelines define “temporary risks” as those that are responsive to treatment, allowing the student to dive safely after they have been resolved. “Relative risks” refer to conditions that exist but, in the judgment of the physician, are not contraindicated for diving. Finally, “severe risk” implies that an individual is believed to be at substantially elevated risk of decompression sickness, pulmonary or otic (ear) barotrauma or altered consciousness with subsequent drowning, compared with the general population. In these cases, as the guidelines state, “The consultants involved in drafting this document would generally discourage a student with such medical problems from diving.”

The guidelines conclude by informing physicians that medical professionals of the Divers Alert Network (DAN) associated with Duke University Health System are available for consultation. If you find that your doc would like even more insights, here are some additional references:

“Medical Examination of Sport Scuba Divers,” 3rd Edition, A.A. Bove, M.D., Ph.D (ed.), Best Publishing Company, P.O. Box 30100, Flagstaff, AZ 86003-0100.

“The Physician’s Guide to Diving Medicine,” C.W. Shilling, C.B. Carlston and R.A. Mathias, Plenum Press, New York, New York (Available through the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association, Bethesda, Maryland)

Assessing Your Medical Fitness to Dive

The “Diving Medical Statement and Questionnaire” has been produced under the auspices of the Recreational Scuba Training Council and endorsed by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), Divers Alert Network (DAN) and more than two dozen of North America’s top diving medical specialists. To assess whether an individual should have medical clearance to enroll in a scuba course, here are the areas it addresses:

First, the questionnaire addresses those over 45 years of age. For this group, a positive response to smoking, high cholesterol, family history of heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes (even if controlled by diet alone), or if you are receiving medical care means a trip to the doctor’s office.

It then goes on to ask all applicants if they have or have ever had any of several medical conditions, listed below; and if they take any prescribed medications for anything other than malaria prophylaxis or birth control. Female diving candidates are asked whether they are, could be or are attempting to become pregnant. Again, an affirmative response to any of these questions or conditions, and a doctor’s approval is required for continuing with your wishes to become a certified diver.

Asthma, or wheezing with breathing, or wheezing with exercise.

Frequent or severe attacks of hay fever or allergy.

Frequent colds, sinusitis or bronchitis.

Any form of lung disease.

Pneumothorax (collapsed lung).

Other chest disease or chest surgery.

Behavioral health, mental or psychological problems (panic attack, fear of closed or open spaces).

Epilepsy, seizures, convulsions or take medications to prevent them.

Recurring complicated migraine headaches or take medications to prevent them.

Blackouts or fainting (full/partial loss of consciousness).

Frequent or severe suffering from motion sickness (seasick, carsick, etc.).

Dysentery or dehydration requiring medical intervention.

Any dive accidents or decompression sickness.

Inability to perform moderate exercise (i.e., walk 1 mile [1.6 km] within 12 minutes).

Head injury with loss of consciousness in the past five years.

Recurrent back problems.

Back or spinal surgery.

Diabetes.

Back, arm or leg problems following surgery, injury or fracture.

High blood pressure or take medicine to control blood pressure.

Heart disease.

Heart attack.

Angina, heart surgery or blood vessel surgery.

Sinus surgery.

Ear disease or surgery, hearing loss or problems with balance.

Recurrent ear problems.

Bleeding or other blood disorders.

Hernia.

Ulcers or ulcer surgery.

A colostomy or ileostomy.

Recreational drug use or treatment for, or alcoholism in the past five years.

By Alex Brylske

One condition that has prevented some people from becoming divers is diabetes. Diabetes affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin — a hormone controlling the metabolism of carbohydrates. The result is abnormal carbohydrate metabolism leading to elevated glucose levels in the blood and urine.

While this might sound innocuous, the long-term effects of diabetes are dead serious. Diabetes takes more lives than AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and breast cancer combined, claiming one American life every three minutes. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke. What’s more, the incidence of diabetes is growing. 

According to diabetesresearch.org, the number of reported cases of people living with diabetes has jumped nearly 50 percent in the past decade and it now affects more than 29 million Americans. On a global scale, diabetes afflicts more than 380 million people, and the World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, the number of people living with diabetes will more than double. Clearly, diabetes is a growing health risk and one that could affect our ability to dive safely. But, at least for some, the door has been opened for scuba diving with diabetes — that is, if the proper conditions are met and the proper protocols are followed.

Defining Diabetes

Diabetes is categorized into two primary types, referred to as Type 1 and Type 2. In those with Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin or it produces insufficient insulin to meet the body’s needs. Individuals with Type 1 diabetes must receive insulin injections regularly in order to metabolize blood glucose (blood sugar). In the more common Type 2 diabetes, the body may not produce enough insulin or the insulin does not trigger the cells to allow proper metabolism of glucose.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common forms of the disease but other forms exist. Many individuals are also diagnosed with pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood sugar is high but not significantly enough to warrant treatment. Unless changes are made to diet and exercise, those with pre-diabetes are likely to join the ranks of individuals diagnosed with diabetes.

Physiology of Diabetes

To understand the effects of diabetes, we need to have an understanding of some basic human biology. In a normally functioning body, a number of metabolic reactions occur in response to eating. First, the digestion process in the stomach breaks the food down into glucose (a form of sugar), which enters the blood stream and is transported to cells throughout the body. The hormone insulin is secreted by the pancreas, which triggers the cells to allow glucose to enter. Through a process called glycolysis, the glucose is broken down in the production of a molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the source of energy in the cell. Also in response to eating, the cells also synthesize and story fatty acids and proteins. These are all critical functions for a normal, healthy body.

For the person with diabetes, this process simply does not work properly. Type I diabetes is actually an autoimmune condition. The immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for the production of insulin. And without that insulin, glucose does not enter the cells and they run out of energy.

For Type I diabetes, those affected must receive injections of insulin at the appropriate times to control blood glucose levels and allow cells to receive the needed glucose. Eating the right foods at the right time can also help control blood sugar by controlling how much glucose is produced through digestion. Other factors including exercise, stress and general health also affect the body’s need for insulin, so getting the correct timing and dosage for insulin injections can be a challenge.

In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas has a deficiency of beta cells that create insulin, making it unable to supply enough insulin to the body. In addition, insulin receptors at the cellular level may not respond properly to insulin, limiting the amount of glucose entering the cells and allowing blood glucose to remain elevated. Controlling diet is also important for those with Type 2 diabetes to prevent spikes in blood glucose. Medications are available to help maintain an appropriate low level of blood glucose. For some, additional medications may be available to increase insulin production by the pancreas.

A Balancing Act

The factors that determine blood glucose levels fluctuate greatly throughout every day, so for a Type 1 diabetic, determining the proper dose of insulin to take can be a complex and sometimes delicate balancing act. Too much insulin means the body consumes too much glucose, which can drive blood glucose to a dangerously low level. This low blood glucose condition, referred to as hypoglycemia, can sometimes be fatal if prompt corrective action is not taken.

With too little insulin, blood glucose can soar to dangerous levels while at the cellular level the body is starved of energy. This condition is referred to as hyperglycemia and it poses a risk of long-term complications.

The goal, then, is to take the necessary steps to maintain a relatively constant blood glucose level as we eat and perform various activities throughout the day. One way that those challenged with diabetes can help avoid the spikes that can come, is to pay attention to what they eat and when they eat it. If such an individual doesn’t eat at the right time or eats too much of the wrong thing (or right thing) at the wrong time, the system can easily be thrown out of balance. In addition to proper eating and dietary habits, other natural remedies have also been widely used to help keep blood sugar levels in check. For example, Gymnema sylvestre is an herb used for centuries in India to help control blood glucose by stimulating pancreatic function.

Contributing Factors

Numerous factors affect blood glucose levels, as well as overall health for all of us. These are of particular importance to those with pre-diabetes or diabetes. One factor that contributes to elevated blood glucose is stress. The stress hormone adrenaline increases blood glucose, releasing it into the blood to provide a needed boost of energy to meet the fight or flight needs. In a situation such as being chased by a shark, we would react physically by fighting or fleeing and that glucose would soon be used up. But what if instead we remain stationary? Many of us deal with stress on a daily basis, but we don’t deal with that stress by engaging in physical activity. Instead, we are forced to sit and deal with it. One result of that inaction can be elevated blood glucose levels.

Cortisol is a hormone generated by the adrenal glands that can elevate blood glucose. Under conditions of high stress, cortisol provides the body with glucose by tapping into protein stored in the liver. This energy can help an individual in a fight or flight situation. However, if we’re constantly subjected to stress, the resulting chronic elevated cortisol can lead to increased blood glucose levels. To help reduce the effects of stress, we need to find ways to prevent or cope with it. Strategies include everything from exercise to nutrition, hydration, music and meditation.

Sleep is not a luxury — it is a necessity that also has an impact on blood glucose. In fact, a chronic lack of sleep is another form of stress that can result in elevated blood glucose, according to an article in the December 2015 issue of Diabetes Therapy. The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep every night to enjoy its restorative health effects.

Another factor that can predispose individuals to Type 2 diabetes is a chronically low level of Vitamin D. A study reported in Scientific American in 2009, found that 45 percent of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D and more recent studies corroborate a rising trend in Vitamin D deficiencies. But here is the kicker: a Tufts-New England Medical Center study found that those who are chronically low on Vitamin D had a 46 percent increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. While the mechanism of Vitamin D with regards to diabetes is not crystal clear, researchers suspect that Vitamin D enhances the cells’ response to insulin.

As it turns out, precautions against skin cancer may actually be depressing our levels of Vitamin D. In a 2009 Article in Scientific American, co-author Adit Ginde, an assistant professor at the University Of Colorado Denver School Of Medicine, reveals that using a sunscreen with as little as an SPF 15 reduces the skin’s Vitamin D production by 99 percent.

As divers, we understand that hydration is a factor in decompression illness but it is also a factor when it comes to blood glucose levels. As fluid in our circulatory system is decreased due to dehydration, blood glucose becomes more concentrated. This causes an increase in urine production, which worsens the dehydration. The key message here is the importance of maintaining a healthy hydration level through consumption of water and other non-sugary beverages. Drinking water can reduce blood glucose, reduce insulin resistance and reduce hunger. If plain water isn’t enticing enough, try garnishing it with a citrus wedge, cucumber slice or fresh mint leaves.

Exercise is a double-edged sword when it comes to those with diabetes. In general, exercise is an important ingredient in maintaining health for those with diabetes. But for those with Type 1 diabetes, some precautions are in order. Vigorous physical activity should be avoided when blood glucose level is too high (hyperglycemia) and insulin level is too low. Not surprisingly, this precaution is reflected in the diabetic diving protocols.

Diving with Diabetes

While the long term effects of diabetes are daunting, the short term effects for a person with Type 1 diabetes can be downright frightening, especially if that individual should be underwater. The effects of hypoglycemia include confusion, blurred vision, impaired judgment, physical impairment, seizures and loss of consciousness. Such conditions are dangerous not only to a diver, but also the diver’s buddy. What’s more, if the symptoms aren’t recognized and properly treated, the diver could be in grave danger.

Steve Prosterman is a Dive Safety Officer at the University of the Virgin Islands and a Hyperbaric Chamber Operator at the St. Thomas Hospital. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1967, he became a dive instructor in 1982 and has made well over 10,000 dives with no complications. As he points out, “The main risk of diving and diabetes is the sudden loss of consciousness or altered state of consciousness due to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Hypoglycemia generally begins to develop symptoms when the blood sugar falls to 60-70 mg/dl and lower and can also lead to impaired judgment, physical impairment and seizures. For this reason, anyone with a history of reactions with these symptoms should not dive.”

At first blush, we might think that diabetes is an absolute contraindication to diving due to the risk of losing consciousness underwater. But according to the Divers Alert Network (DAN), individuals with diabetes who wish to dive, can dive safely in many cases. In fact, protocols for diving with diabetes have been around for more than a decade now. The caveat is that medical screening and safety protocols must be observed.

According to DAN, the first step for the prospective diabetic diver is to undergo the same medical fitness evaluation as other candidates to ensure no other disqualifying conditions exist. These include such conditions as epilepsy, pulmonary disease, heart disease and others. A person who has advanced diabetes and suffers from secondary complications may also be excluded.

Next, it must be determined that no complications of diabetes exist that may increase the risk of injury while diving. DAN’s guidelines also note that candidates should be 18 years or older (≥16 years if in special training program), with a well-established treatment history and the ability to maintain blood glucose levels efficiently throughout the course of changing demands of daily activities. Those who do not have the ability to control their diabetes (read more here) can be at risk and may not be good candidates for diving. Candidates and divers with diabetes should undergo a mandatory annual medical examination and, if over age 40, should be regularly evaluated for silent cardiovascular disease.

General precautions for diving with diabetes include limiting depth to 100 feet (30.5 m), limiting bottom time to one hour and not diving beyond the no-stop limits. It’s also recommended that diabetic divers buddy up with non-diabetic divers and that their buddy be aware of both their condition and the proper procedures to recognize and deal with a hypoglycemic episode.

Since the primary risk comes when a diabetic diver experiences a low blood glucose condition, one key to safe diving is ensuring the blood glucose is at minimum safe level — and stable — at the beginning of a dive (see sidebar). The blood glucose must be high enough prior to starting a dive that the dive can be completed without experiencing an unsafe drop in blood glucose. Measuring blood glucose is quick and easy using one of the many blood glucose monitors available on the market today. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are also available to help monitor blood glucose levels and trends.

Food Sense for All

Good nutrition is important to everyone’s health and can help prevent the onset of such diseases as Diabetes. For those who suffer with Diabetes or pre-diabetes, staying healthy is, in part, a matter of making the right choices when it comes to dietary intake.

Sugars and other carbohydrates are readily converted to glucose, but the rate at which that occurs is measured by something called glycemic index. A high glycemic index indicates a food will rapidly be converted to glucose, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar. A low glycemic index means that the digestive process for that food is slower, meaning a slow production of glucose and a slower rise in blood sugar. For example, white rice rapidly converts to glucose and has a glycemic index of 72, whereas an apple, which converts much more slowly, has a glycemic index of only 36. However, the glycemic load, which includes the effect of typical portion size, may be an even better measure of a particular food’s effect on blood glucose.

Another factor that contributes to the rise in blood sugar is the quantity of food eaten. Eating smaller portions results in lower spikes in blood sugar. For those with pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, simply eating smaller portions more frequently can improve the body’s ability to maintain blood sugars in the proper range. Choosing foods with a lower glycemic index and eating healthy portions, can help keep blood glucose in the normal range.

One area of conflicting research centers on the effects of caffeine on blood glucose. A study published in the June 2016 issue of the European Journal of Nutrition found that the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes was reduced for healthy, regular coffee drinkers consuming three to four cups of coffee per day. However, previous evidence suggests that high doses of caffeine can cause blood glucose to spike. The Mayo Clinic suggests that consuming up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine (about four 8-ounce cups of coffee) is safe for most people, but it can cause trouble (spikes or lows) for those with diabetes. Limiting caffeine intake is a likely a good strategy for improved health.

Considering the health effects of Vitamin D, all divers should strive to maintain healthy levels of this vitamin. Many foods are Vitamin D-enhanced and may have a naturally high dose of Vitamin D. These include salmon, tuna, mackerel and vitamin D-fortified dairy products. Taking Vitamin D supplements is another health-wise strategy that could help maintain pancreatic function and help control blood glucose. The advice of nutritionists is to take Vitamin D3 with a meal that contains fat, since Vitamin D is fat-soluble and this enhances uptake. Foods rich in healthy fat include fish, nuts, avocado and olive oil.

The more we learn about human physiology, health and the effects of the underwater environment, the better prepared we are to make safe adaptations to explore the underwater world. Unfortunately, not everyone can safely enjoy scuba diving, but for many of those with diabetes, the door has been opened with safe diving protocols based on solid scientific research.

Considerations for Candidates

While the criteria for diving with diabetes may vary from one certification agency to another, some of the basic criteria for safe diabetic diving include good control of blood glucose levels and freedom from severe secondary complications of diabetes. As University of the Virgin Islands Dive Safety Officer and Instructor Steve Prosterman points out, “A candidate for diving should have an understanding of the relationship between the disease and exercise, be able to recognize early and handle low blood sugars on their own and not have had a serious hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episode within the last 12 months.”

One way that diabetics can measure their ability to control the disease is with a hemoglobin A1C test, which provides a 90-day lookback at blood glucose levels and is a good indicator of how well blood glucose is being controlled. Most doctors will recommend that this test be performed at least twice a year. For diving, it may be suggested that the test results be within 30 percent of the normal range. Results that fall outside that range may indicate that better control of blood glucose is needed before a person undertakes underwater activities such as scuba diving.

Also important to safety is the person’s ability to recognize the early warning signs of hypoglycemia. Divers with diabetes must have a clear insight into the relationship between diabetes and exercise and be able to recognize and respond properly when a low blood glucose situation is developing.

Glucose Management: Procedures for Diabetic Divers

Safe diving for diabetic divers requires strict protocols, as well as the development and use of good practices and habits. DAN recommends that divers make a general self-assessment of their fitness for diving on the day of the dive, as well as maintaining good hydration throughout the days of diving. Specific protocols* for glucose management on the day of diving include the following:

Before entering the water, blood glucose (BG) must be stable or rising with a value greater than or equal to 150 mg dL-1 (8.3 mmol L-1). Divers should complete a minimum of three pre-dive BG tests — performed at 60 minutes, 30 minutes and immediately prior to diving — to evaluate BG trends. It is noted that alterations in the dosage of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) or insulin on the evening prior or day of diving may help.

Divers should delay the dive if BG is less than 150 mg dL-1 (8.3 mmol L-1) or greater than 300 mg dL-1 (16.7 mmol L-1).

Divers must carry readily accessible oral glucose during all dives and have parenteral glucagon available at the surface.

If hypoglycemia is noticed underwater, the diver should surface (with buddy), establish positive buoyancy, ingest glucose and leave the water.

Check blood sugar frequently for 12-15 hours after diving to ensure safe levels.

In order to establish best practices for future diving, diabetic divers should log all dives and include BG test results and all information pertinent to diabetes management.

For more information, contact DAN and consult your physician.

• Divers Alert Network, Guidelines for Diabetes and Recreational Diving, Proceedings Summary | DAN/UHMS Diabetes and Recreational Diving Workshop.

Also available from DAN: Pollock NW, Uguccioni DM, Dear GdeL, eds. Diabetes and recreational diving: guidelines for the future. Proceedings of the UHMS/DAN 2005 June 19 Workshop. Durham, NC: Divers Alert Network; 2005.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a condition where blood glucose (blood sugar) is low. When levels fall to 60 to 70 mg/dl or less, a dangerous condition exists. Some signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia of which diabetic divers, their buddies and instructors should be aware include:

Excessive hunger

Weakness or dizziness

Confusion

Unresponsiveness or inappropriate responsiveness

Blurred vision

Glazed eyes

Sudden mood changes

Irritability

Loss of consciousness or altered state of consciousness

Seizures

Diabetic divers who display these symptoms should follow established protocols. This includes exchanging hand signals to identify the problem, ascending and stabilizing at the surface (both the affected diver and the buddy) and ingestion of carbohydrates by the affected diver. The divers terminate the dive and return to the boat or beach where a blood test is performed. Such events, along with blood glucose results and other details of the event, should be recorded for future reference.

Glycemic Index and Load

The glycemic index is a measure of how rapidly a food is converted into glucose through digestion. A high glycemic index means a food converts quickly. The glycemic load is a measure of the impact of a typical portion of the food on blood glucose, taking into account the typical portion size. The values shown in the table below are just a few examples to give you an idea of how foods affect blood glucose and some are quite surprising. As the data suggests, even minor adjustments to diet can have a large impact on blood glucose control. Numerous online sources are available to provide values for a broad spectrum of foods.

By Robert N. Rossier

Smoking and alcohol are so much a part of our society that we no longer even consider that both are essentially a form of self-prescribed drug administration. In fact, we describe drug use, smoking and alcohol as if they were distinct and unrelated activities. In reality, all that’s different is the substance in question, its effect and the form of administration. I won’t delude myself into believing that this article will make any significant dent in the statistics on alcohol or tobacco use. I believe that in a free society, people should be able to do what they wish, provided it doesn’t hurt anyone else. But there is one important proviso in the decision-making process that many ignore, and that is that the consequences of our choices can vary according to the circumstance in which we find ourselves. For example, it may be OK to drink, but not drink and drive. Diving is another case in point.

For us, the effects of alcohol and smoking go far beyond the normal concerns of heart attacks, or cancer. Those who venture underwater have additional concerns when our mental or physical capabilities are impaired. We also must consider factors that are irrelevant to nondivers such as heat loss and decompression. So, to make a responsible and informed decision about drinking and smoking, divers must first understand the unique effects that alcohol and nicotine present to us.

Staying Warm

Diving requires surviving in a medium where heat is pulled from our bodies 25 times faster than it is in air. So no matter what the temperature, heat loss is a concern. It’s just a matter of degree. And who hasn’t been told that a great way to fend off the cold is with a good stiff drink? After all, alcohol feels so warm going down that it certainly must rekindle the internal fire, and give us that essential extra burst of energy, right? While it may sound logical, it’s just not true. Pharmacologically, alcohol is a peripheral vasodilator, meaning that it causes blood vessels in the skin to open up more than normal. As blood flow increases to fill the expanding vessels, we experience that warm, flushed feeling. But this momentary sensation is misleading because it masks a more sinister effect.

The blood flow responsible for that “warm and fuzzy” feeling is diverted from the body core. This loss of blood saps heat from a more vital area of our body and makes us more — not less — prone to hypothermia. Moreover, alcohol depresses shivering, the major symptom warning us of the onset of significant heat loss. There’s also a possible double whammy because some recent studies out of Canada have shown that nitrogen narcosis also delays the body’s shiver response. So, a predive drink or two compounds the heat loss problem, and post-dive alcohol consumption can impede the rewarming process. How much sense does it make to spend hundreds of dollars for an exposure suit only to reduce its effect by taking “a couple ’a belts”?

Bad as it is, problems don’t end with increased peripheral blood flow. Ironically, the blood vessels supplying our muscles do not dilate but constrict. This causes an increase in blood pressure, and is one reason those with hypertension are advised not to drink excessively. As muscle accounts for the greatest tissue mass in our body, this elevated blood pressure can place significant stress on the heart. Some believe this stress could be a contributing factor in the increasing number of diving accidents involving those with underlying heart disease.

Alcohol may also play a role in accidents blamed on poor physical conditioning. How so? Think back to the last time you had a few drinks. You probably didn’t feel a lot like exercising. This is partly due to mental impairment, but there’s another more direct reason for the feeling of fatigue; alcohol actually drains energy. One of the body’s primary fuels is sugar in the form of glucose, a substance produced by the liver. Alcohol consumption impedes the production of glucose, thus reducing our exercise ability far below normal. So, regardless of how you feel, an imbibing diver may be incapable of making the extra effort required to keep an unexpected situation from turning into an emergency. Alcohol also increases the likelihood of vomiting which, especially when diving, can easily lead to asphyxiation. So, in both the case of aggravating an underlying heart condition, or sapping our energy when it’s most needed, alcohol might be the final straw that tips the balance against us.

A Toast to Decompression

No one has ever established a direct relationship between drinking and any increased risk of decompression sickness. But prudent judgment tells us that, at least theoretically, such a relationship might exist. Most researchers who study the subject think it might work like this: We already know that alcohol consumption increases peripheral circulation. If you drink before diving, the increased blood flow could cause greater nitrogen absorption than that predicted by your computer (or tables). Therefore, this might increase your susceptibility to decompression sickness even if you are within the no-decompression limits. Some also believe that drinking could promote DCS in other ways, and point to alcohol’s diuretic (makes you urinate) property. The loss of fluid through urination contributes to dehydration. The decreased fluid volume, in turn, makes the blood “thicker,” reducing its circulatory efficiency and further altering the absorption and elimination of nitrogen.

The dehydration issue might also put divers at risk of the most serious form of decompression sickness, that with neurological symptoms (what’s sometimes called “Type II” bends). This is because the brain is especially susceptible to dehydration from alcohol consumption, and explains why a headache is the most common symptom of a hangover. It’s also important to understand that the effect of dehydration lasts even longer than the headache. This is why it’s particularly vital that anyone drinking alcohol the night before, even if they feel well the next morning, drink plenty of water prior to diving. Some researchers even argue that changes in blood flow caused by drinking after a dive could accelerate the release of nitrogen and indirectly enhance bubble formation. So it may be wise to avoid excessive drinking après dive.

Other researchers have suggested alcohol might actually contribute directly to DCS bubble formation. This, they contend, is at least theoretically possible because of alcohol’s ability to reduce surface tension. Surface tension refers to the tendency for a substance, such as a bubble, to exhibit properties resembling those of a stretched elastic membrane. The phenomenon is what’s responsible for the “skin” that seemingly arises on the surface of a pond or swimming pool, allowing a bug to literally walk on water. But surface tension is also important to divers from a physiologic perspective. It helps resist bubble growth in decompression sickness. So, anything that reduces the surface tension of a bubble could encourage the growth of bubbles that might otherwise remain too small to cause symptoms.

Indeed, this is all theory, but it may have an important role nonetheless. For example, many studies have shown that silent or asymptomatic bubbles are a common occurrence in divers (many of whom are nowhere near the normal no-decompression limits). This is especially the case for those who engage in multiple, repetitive diving, like when on a diving holiday. Common sense tells us, then, that even the theoretical possibility that drinking might push these silent bubbles to symptomatic bubbles shouldn’t be ignored. While the whole issue of alcohol’s contribution to decompression sickness is speculative, it’s still based on sound physiologic principles. If you do decide to consume alcohol, play it safe by following the guidelines contained in the sidebar.

I’ll Have Tee Martoonis, Please

A fact probably known only to scuba divers and anesthesiologists is that alcohol shares a property with the atmosphere’s most abundant gas, nitrogen. Both substances have the ability to sedate. In fact, the similarity between the symptoms of alcohol intoxication and nitrogen narcosis was, in the early days of diving instruction, the rationale for what was termed “Martini’s Law.” This “law” — actually a rough estimation, at best — stated that for every 50 feet a diver descends, his impairment from nitrogen is the same as drinking one martini at the surface. So, accordingly, a trip to 150 feet is equivalent to a three-martini lunch. Of course, if even a slight amount of real alcohol is added to the formula by predive drinking, the effect would be magnified (though by how much no one knows). Even diving accident reports appear to support the premise that alcohol and depth are an especially dangerous combination. Data from the Divers Alert Network (DAN) has long shown that 30 percent to 40 percent of injured divers admitted to consuming alcohol the night before, and 2 percent to 3 percent reported drinking just before diving or between dives.

The Nicotine Fit

There’s no need here to relate the dangers of smoking. Only historical tradition, and a strong lobby, would allow the legal sale of a product that killed one-third of the people who used it. Clearly, if its effects were immediate rather than long-term, the sale of tobacco would be as illegal as heroin, and tobacco executives would be the bunkmates of imprisoned cocaine dealers. But this discussion is about diving, so what additional risks face divers?

Some of the effects of smoking on divers are, like most other consequences, chronic — the result from long-term use. Various chemicals — primarily tar — from inhaled smoke cause chronic irritation of the bronchi, resulting in chronic bronchitis. The tar also destroys tiny hairlike structures called cilia that line much of the respiratory tract. Cilia are important because they conduct mucus from the lungs up and out of the airway. When they no longer function, the effect is retention of mucus and partial clogging of the airway, causing the classic symptom of “smoker’s cough.” But there’s a far greater effect on divers than an irritating cough.

Various poisons in the smoke also eventually destroy alveolar walls, which produces cavities in the lungs. The result of this process, excluding death, is a condition called emphysema. This form of emphysema, however, is unrelated to the disorder divers get from lung overexpansion injury. But noted diving medical authority Dr. Ernest Campbell said “Obstruction in the terminal airways and the emphysema that’s caused can — and does — produce air-filled dilations that can markedly increase your chances of pulmonary barotrauma and arterial gas embolism.”

Perhaps the most significant effect of smoking occurs long before any sign of emphysema, and it involves the restriction of air flow in the lungs. Smoking causes mucus retention and reduced alveolar flexibility that can easily cause air trapping deep within the lungs. Or, as Campbell puts it, “Smoking also causes an increase in bronchial mucous production with a concomitant paralysis of the cilia. Mucous plugs then become dangerous to the diver, setting the stage for air-filled sacs that lead to rupture upon ascent.” The result could be, and has been, pulmonary barotrauma in smoking divers who were breathing normally. So, assurance of safety from the first rule of scuba diving — always breathe normally — doesn’t necessarily apply to smokers.

Some of the chemicals in inhaled smoke do not remain in the lungs, but pass into the bloodstream. Their effect is to cause spasm and otherwise damage the walls of blood vessels. Damage is noted particularly in vessels supplying the heart, and thus is one of the reasons smokers are so prone to heart attacks. Other effects include stroke and various forms of peripheral circulatory disorders.

Of course, all this happens to people regardless of whether they dive. But for divers, there’s still more to be concerned about. Smoking just before diving results in reduced tissue oxygenation because the carbon monoxide (CO) in the smoke binds with hemoglobin 220-290 times more readily than oxygen does. The result is that a diver must work harder simply to maintain a normal level of activity. In other words, when someone smokes, they intentionally reduce their body’s ability to process oxygen. And just before entering the water seems an odd time for a diver to willingly lessen his ability to function at a peak level.

Again, Campbell puts the issue into perspective. “The effects of partial pressure on CO concentration in inhaled cigarette smoke would be the same as if the CO had come from some other source, such as the atmosphere or from oil-lubricated compressors.” He also relates the details, which are pretty startling. Acceptable CO level for diving is 10 ppm (parts per million) by volume (0.001 percent). A mere 10 percent to 20 percent increase yields a mild frontal headache, and just a 20 percent to 30 percent increase gives a throbbing headache associated with nausea. This is not a condition conducive to diving. Coma, convulsions and even death can occur with a CO increase of 50 percent to 80 percent beyond the maximum.

Of course, one’s CO level varies with the number of cigarettes smoked, the length of time since the last cigarette, how the cigarette was smoked and even the level of activity on that day. In heavy smokers, up to 15 percent of their oxygen is being replaced by carbon monoxide.

In terms of how smoking affects decompression sickness, no one really knows for sure. But most DCS susceptibility factors do involve changes in circulatory dynamics, and smoking has a definite effect on circulation. So, a logical but unproved conclusion is that smoking might increase the risk of bends.

The failure of the 18th Amendment proved how likely it is that we’ll ever put a stop to alcohol use. Smoking is perhaps an even greater challenge because its active agent — nicotine — is one of the most addictive substances ever discovered. Yet what sets us apart from other animals is our capacity to learn, and change our behavior when we know something could hurt us. Mixing diving with either alcohol or nicotine is a recipe for disaster, but if you still insist on rolling the dice, at least do so with your eyes fully open.

A Diver’s Guide to Drinking and Smoking

• Avoid drinking to excess anytime, but particularly before diving or while on a diving vacation.

• Avoid alcohol for at least 8 hours before diving (the same rule the FAA imposes on pilots).

•If you drank the night before, avoid diving if you feel a hangover, as you’re likely to be significantly dehydrated.

• If you drank the previous night, you may still be dehydrated even though you don’t feel a hangover. So, drink plenty of noncarbonated liquids — ideally, water.

• Avoid alcohol completely for at least one hour after diving, and even longer if you were diving deep (below 80 feet) or near a no-decompression limit. Avoid excessive intake even after the hour has passed.

• Of course, try to stop smoking. But if you can’t, try to abstain from smoking at least 12 hours before diving; and never smoke during a surface interval between dives.

• Search for a drug rehabilitation treatment center for treatment of drug and alcohol addictions.

A DAN Perspective on Diver Safety and Alcohol Use

By Joel Dovenbarger, BSN, vice president, medical services

Scuba diving is often perceived by the general public as being a remarkably simple activity, but in fact scuba requires that individuals maintain proper health, a certain level of physical fitness and the capacity to participate in exercise for a prolonged period of time. The sudden need for vigorous exercise during a surface swim or finding oneself in an unexpected strong current is always a possibility when diving. The lack of an appropriate physical response to these situations can be dangerous. Alcohol use will not make you stronger, it will not give you more stamina and it will not make you healthier.

Divers are responsible for maintaining their health and avoiding those injuries and accidents that occur in diving and everyday life. Few divers attempt to dive while intoxicated. This is not only dangerous, but deadly. Each year a few unfortunate individuals attempt diving after drinking heavily and end up as scuba fatalities.

It is not uncommon for a diver to have one or even two alcoholic drinks each evening on a scuba vacation. There may not be any negative effect from two drinks on one evening, as long as fluids are replaced with a like amount of noncaffeinated liquids. Dehydration in scuba divers is usually a cumulative condition that results after many days of losing fluid from scuba diving, being in a warmer climate, consuming beverages and food containing alcohol and caffeine, perhaps a bout of diarrhea or vomiting and the failure to replace fluids at a level over and above one’s normal consumption.

Although there is no causal effect between decompression sickness and dehydration or alcohol consumption, they are associated with many cases of decompression sickness. Both conditions can directly affect the amount of blood flow body tissues receive. This is especially true in areas with the tiniest of blood vessels. Body tissue depends on blood flow to deliver oxygen and remove waste products and nitrogen. Any condition which prevents this from occurring may increase the risk of nitrogen retention and possibly bubble formation.

There are other consequences of excessive alcohol use. The immediate effect of alcohol is to dull one’s senses. But did you know that those effects may continue well into the day after drinking?

In a study among two groups of pilots, alcohol use and performance were tested in a flight simulation. When a blood alcohol level of 0.10 percent was reached, impairment in abilities was easily documented eight hours after drinking. Additionally, individual susceptibility to the effects of alcohol was noted. This is not unlike what happens in recreational divers. Not only might we be influenced differently by the same amount of alcohol, but it is easy to lose track of the number of drinks one has during an evening drinking session on vacation. Having one or two drinks a day after diving may have no adverse effects for divers, but excessive alcohol consumption may very well produce negative outcomes.

In the final analysis, divers have to ask themselves, “Does excessive alcohol intake enhance my diving abilities or the beauty and enjoyment of recreational scuba diving?” The answer for responsible divers is no. The choice to drink before or after diving is up to each individual, but so is the responsibility to follow recreational diving safety guidelines, which include looking out for your dive buddy.

For divers, the effects of alcohol and smoking go far beyond the normal concerns of heart attacks, or cancer. Those who venture underwater have additional concerns when our mental or physical capabilities are impaired. We also must consider special factors that are irrelevant to non-divers such as heat loss and decompression.

By Alex Brylske
Photos By Joseph C. Dovala

For years, I thought the episode was pretty bogus. Even as a kid I knew that becoming a scuba diver required hours of arduous training. I never gave the show much thought until years later when, following in my hero’s footsteps, I, too, became a scuba instructor. Even back then, everyone wanted to be like Mike. I soon came to realize that my hero hadn’t let me down after all. In fact, his 30-second lesson was brilliant in its cut-to-the-chase elegance, and certainly could have been enough training given the dire circumstance and high motivation of the unlucky victim. I don’t remember the dialogue verbatim, but it went something like this: “You see this thing? [pointing to the regulator mouthpiece] You put it in your mouth and breathe. Whatever you do, keep breathing; don’t ever hold your breath, or your lungs will burst and you’ll die!”

End of lesson. Any questions?

It was one of the few instances where Hollywood actually got the facts straight. If you had but 30 seconds to teach someone to scuba dive, what would you tell them? The same thing Mike did — the Golden Rule of scuba diving. Breathe normally; never hold your breath. The rest, in most cases, is pretty much secondary.

Of course, if you’re learning to dive without the distraction of gunfire, and your instructor has a bit more time to explain the nuances and importance of breathing, you probably will be subjected to either an illustration or an actual example of the most commonly used prop in diver training — the ubiquitous balloon. And the explanation, though lacking the dramatic effect that Lloyd Bridges could bring to the lesson, will be something like: If a flexible, gas-filled container — like a lung — can’t vent excess pressure as it rises in the water column, its volume will expand until it bursts. Of course, today you might have sophisticated video or computer-based graphics, but the essence of what Mike told the scientist remains the same.

Unfortunately, the balloon-aided explanation is about all that most divers ever learn. Now, there’s nothing really wrong with the balloon analogy. It’s just a bit oversimplified, especially if you really want to fully understand the consequences of forgetting what Mike Nelson so succinctly told the scientist. For one thing, our lungs bear little resemblance to balloons. (A sponge is a much more accurate analogy.) And due to the intricate and delicate nature of their anatomy, severe problems occur from lung expansion long before, as Mike so aptly put it, “your lungs burst and you die.”

Lung Anatomy 101

Human lungs are amazing structures, made up of microscopically small air sacs called alveoli. While incredibly tiny, the massive number of alveoli — numbering in the hundreds of millions — provides an enormous surface area for gas exchange. How large, you ask? If the total surface area of the alveoli were somehow laid flat, it would cover an area two-thirds the size of a tennis court!

And talk about delicate — alveoli redefine the term. Their walls are only one cell thick. Yet as small as they are, each alveolus (that’s singular for alveoli, for those of you whose native tongue isn’t Latin) is surrounded by numerous capillaries that take up oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. And how about this for amazing: These capillaries are so small that red blood cells pass through in single file. Equally incredible is that while the distance between the gas in the alveoli and the blood in the capillary is less than one-twentieth the thickness of this page, at no time is the blood in the capillaries directly exposed to air.

The fact that alveoli are so delicate may be interesting, but it’s also at the root of the problem when it comes to lung expansion injuries. Unlike the highly elastic balloon you probably heard about in your Open Water course, the alveoli of the human lungs can’t quite take the same licking and keep on ticking. In fact, in shallow water, alveolar rupture can occur with an increase in internal pressure of a mere 70 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) — about 2 psi — over the external pressure. Why’s that important? It means that if you hold a full breath in shallow water, an ascent of only 4 feet (a little over a meter) could ruin your day.

This brings up the first of many interesting contrasts between lung expansion injuries and decompression sickness (DCS). Unlike DCS, where the risk increases with depth, lung expansion problems are more likely in shallow water (above 2 atmospheres) because of the greater change in volume. (To understand this, think back to the trusty old balloon. If brought from 33 feet/10 m to the surface, it will show a 100-percent increase in volume. But bringing the same balloon from 66 feet/20 m to 33 feet will result in only a 50-percent volume increase, and only a 33-percent increase from 99 feet/30 m to 66 feet). One should need no more rationale than this to explain to your untrained friends why it’s not safe to “play around” with your tanks even in the seemingly innocuous environment of a swimming pool.

The Bubbles Go ’Round and ’Round

Lung expansion injuries can be divided into at least three types, depending on where the bubbles go once they leave the alveolus. The most critical injury happens when air escapes directly into the tiny capillaries surrounding the lung, and the mechanism involved is very interesting. First, over-pressurization of the alveolus forces air into the surrounding blood vessels. This often results from a tear in the alveolar wall. But believe it or not, because of the tiny size and delicate structure of the alveoli, in some cases gas can escape without actually tearing lung tissue.

Regardless of how the air gets out of the alveoli, it can’t begin its trip to the brain just yet.

At first, expansion of the overstretched alveoli compresses the blood vessels, preventing air bubbles from entering the bloodstream. Only when the alveolar expansion is relieved through exhalation can the air bubbles make their way into circulation. Only a very small amount of air is required to produce ill effects. It’s estimated, for example, that gas bubbles as small as 30 microns — that’s 30 millionths of a millimeter — are sufficient to cause symptoms.

Once in the capillaries, air bubbles flow into the pulmonary veins, which lead to the heart. From there they merge on to the superhighway of the body’s blood vessels and enter the arterial circulation. Like the tiny balloon your instructor told you about, the bubbles continue to expand as the ascent progresses. And as the bubbles continue on their journey, the circulatory system branches into smaller and smaller vessels. At some point the bubbles become larger than the diameter of the vessel containing them, and a blockage occurs. Such a blockage is called an embolus, and in this case is caused by air or gas.

Furthermore, in divers the condition normally occurs in the brain. (Another example of an embolus would be dislodged plaque from an artery that causes a stroke.) Thus, the term in medical parlance for this condition is cerebral arterial gas embolism, or CAGE.

As no more blood can flow to affected regions due to the blockage, the tissues served by the vessel are starved for oxygen. The brain is the body’s control center, and as the blockage can occur virtually anywhere in the brain, the signs and symptoms of air embolism are highly variable. In most cases, however, the onset of symptoms is sudden (within one minute of surfacing), dramatic and may appear stroke-like. Specifically, victims may experience: dizziness, blurred vision, disorientation, personality change or decreased level of consciousness, paralysis or weakness, bloody froth from the mouth or nose, convulsions, shock, unconsciousness and respiratory arrest.

Some version of what was just explained is about all that most divers know about lung expansion. But there’s more. For example, the gas escaping from an alveolar rupture doesn’t necessarily have to enter the circulatory system. Instead, the bubbles can escape and lodge between the lung tissue and capillaries, and track along the loose tissue plates surrounding the airways and blood vessels. From there the gas may continue to travel into the mediastinum (the medical term for the space containing all the organs of the chest except the lungs), into the region surrounding the heart (pericardium) or up to the base of the neck. In the case of the air in the mediastinum, the condition is called a pneumomediastinum or mediastinal emphysema. Involvement of the pericardium is called pneumopericardium, and air under the region of the neck is dubbed subcutaneous emphysema.

In severe cases symptoms of these disorders may appear immediately, but in less severe cases it can take several hours. For pneumomediastinum or mediastinal emphysema, the symptoms may include: chest pain (usually under the breastbone), breathing difficulty or discomfort, fainting, shock or a change in voice. In subcutaneous emphysema, symptoms are: swelling or feeling of fullness around the neck, significant voice change, difficulty swallowing and a crackling sensation when the skin is pressed. The formal medical term for this is crepitus.

Finally, the air may escape by rupturing the visceral pleura — the inner layer of the membrane surrounding the lungs — and enter the pleural cavity. This condition is called a pneumothorax (literally, “air in the chest”). As there is no tissue connecting the lungs to the chest wall, any air introduced into the pleural cavity causes the lung to collapse. If the air space does not expand, the condition is called a simple pneumothorax. If the air space does expand, it puts tension on the heart and interferes with breathing and circulation.

This condition is known as a tension pneumothorax and can result from expansion of the air space in the chest on ascent, or even after the diver has surfaced with a simple pneumothorax. A tension pneumothorax is a very severe problem requiring immediate medical intervention. Symptoms of both types of pneumothorax include: sudden unilateral chest pain with movement, breathing difficulty or very rapid breathing rate, and blue skin, lips or nailbeds.

Other Factors

You, as well as your instructor, have probably always assumed that lung expansion problems happen only to divers who hold their breath because of some distraction, lack of training or panic situation. In some instances, air can remain trapped in the lungs even when the diver exhales. Some of the factors that can promote air trapping include: asthma, bronchitis, cysts, tumors, scar tissue from surgery or radiation therapy, and obstructions from inflammation or mucus caused by smoking, and even recent colds or infection. This is why candidates for diving must be free of any serious pulmonary disease or other chronic problems involving the lungs. For this reason, some medical opinions advocate chest x-rays and other pulmonary tests for diving candidates. In fact, in Australia, full medical exams, including chest x-rays, are required for anyone who enrolls in a scuba course. This is not the case here in North America, although some diving physicians feel it should be.

AGE to DCS: And Never the Twain Shall Meet?

Because both conditions are caused by bubbles, divers are often confused by the differences between air embolism and decompression sickness. On the surface, the distinction seems clear: An air embolism is a traumatic injury resulting from a mechanical rupture of the alveoli which introduces air bubbles into the arterial circulation. DCS is caused by supersaturating of inert gas and results when dissolved nitrogen comes out of solution to form gas bubbles. In fact, to emphasize their distinct causation, instructors often place great stress on the differences between air embolism and DCS.

More recently, however, this delineation has become blurred, and has caused many to rethink how divers should be trained and how medical authorities should describe the disorders. In fact, it’s now believed that while they’re caused in fundamentally different ways, the disorders nonetheless could have significant interaction.

For example, some physiologists believe that many unexplained cases of DCS actually begin as subtle air embolism events. The mechanism works as follows: What could be termed a “micro air embolism” occurs, introducing tiny amounts of air into the bloodstream. Then, the high level of supersaturated nitrogen begins dissolving into the bubbles, causing them to grow. Without the air bubbles to act as “seeds” for further bubble growth, DCS would probably not have occurred. But is such an event a case of air embolism or DCS? The answer is, probably a little of both. So in an attempt to merge these complicated, interrelated and speculative processes, scientists and clinicians now use the term decompression illness (DCI) to identify what have classically been described separately as air embolism and decompression sickness.

What Happens When It Happens

Perhaps the most important practical reason for downplaying the differences between air embolism and DCS in diver training has to do with first aid measures. While the differences between the two disorders may be interesting in an academic sense, from the standpoint of how you assist an injured diver, such differences are irrelevant. Anyone suspected of having decompression illness — regardless of whether the condition is caused by mechanical injury or supersaturation — is treated the same way at the scene of an accident. (See sidebar on first aid measures.)

One aspect of managing a diving casualty that still evokes some confusion, and even controversy, is the issue of head position. For many years divers were taught to use a left-side-down, head-low position for treating diving accident victims. Most often this was accomplished by putting the entire body on an incline (called the Trendelenburg Position). The idea was that in such a position, the buoyant force of the bubbles would resist moving in a downward path, thus reducing the tendency for bubbles to travel toward the brain or heart and make the condition worse.

But practical experience has shown the T-position to be of no use to victims of DCS, and to have little, if any, positive effect on most air embolism victims. Moreover, in some cases it has actually caused complications, such as breathing difficulty and edema of the brain. Without a backboard, placing and keeping a victim in such a position is very difficult. So a few years ago the guidelines changed to simply keeping the victim in a left-side-down position, with no head tilt or incline.

Still, there are those who believe that a slight head-low position could be beneficial for a victim who is likely suffering from air embolism. Advocates point to both animal studies and anecdotal experience to support their opinion. Currently, the advice from medical authorities is that if a head-low position is used, it should only be done for a short period (20 minutes or less), and only if it does not impair breathing or interfere with other first aid measures such as CPR. Under no circumstances, whether the victim is in a head-low position or merely lying flat, should he or she be allowed to raise the head.

Although air embolism commonly accompanies the various other forms of emphysema and pneumothorax, that’s not always the case. But as embolism is the most serious disorder, it’s important that it’s ruled out even in cases where only the other disorders are suspected. These are, of course, medical decisions that can be made only by a qualified physician.

Cases involving emphysema only are most often managed solely by observation and having the patient breathe pure oxygen. Treatment for pneumothorax alone depends on the severity of injury. Minor cases (less than 20-percent collapse) may require nothing more than medical observation. In more severe cases, the air must be extracted surgically. In either case, recompression is rarely used.

Air embolism is a completely different matter. Immediate recompression is absolutely essential, and treatment has historically involved compressing the victim in a chamber to 6 atmospheres, an equivalent depth of 165 feet/50 m. (This is far deeper than the maximum depth of 60 feet used to treat DCS.) The extreme pressure reduces gas bubbles to one-sixth of their surface volume. This helps restore blood flow and promotes reabsorption of the bubbles. More recently, however, some clinicians have revised this treatment procedure, and first take the patient down to 60 feet for observation. If he responds, the descent is halted and treatment continued at that depth. (One reason this method is beneficial is that many chambers don’t have the capability of going to 6 atmospheres.)

The ironic part about lung expansion problems is that while they are the most serious injuries divers face, they’re also the easiest to prevent. Accident data also has provided two important lessons. First, as one might expect, lung expansion injuries occur primarily — though not exclusively — in novices and less-experienced divers. Second is some good news: Recent accident analyses show the frequency of such injuries is declining (accounting for only 90 of 935 diving injuries in 1996). This is partly attributed to the increased awareness of the value of slow ascent in preventing DCS and the increased popularity of dive computers (which all have ascent rate monitors, often with audible alarms). I wonder what Mike Nelson would have to say about all this?

A Guide to Avoiding Lung Expansion Injuries

Like decompression sickness, one can never completely eliminate the risk of a lung expansion injury. But you can reduce your chances of injury. Here’s how:

1. Ascend slowly. Even if you’re breathing normally, a rapid ascent rate could lead to a lung overpressure injury through gas trapping.

2. Use a high-quality regulator and have it serviced regularly. It’s believed by some that excessive inhalation effort may cause edema (fluid damage) to tissues surrounding the alveoli, thus reducing the size and impeding flow into and out of the airway.

3. Avoid diving too soon after a chest cold or respiratory infection. This means that no matter how good you feel, don’t dive if you are coughing up mucus, or if your breathing produces any abnormal noise or resistance. To reduce the tendency for mucus obstruction after a chest cold, drink plenty of water before diving.

4. Running out of air is the major cause of lung expansion problems, so practice good air management techniques. Have enough air to make the dive you’re planning — plus some reserve. Monitor your own and your buddy’s gauges frequently.

5. Forget what you were told about a 60-foot-per-minute ascent rate being OK. Slow down to half that. It will help you avoid both lung expansion injuries and DCS.

6. Don’t smoke, and if you do, stop. Smoking causes the buildup of mucus, which can obstruct airways.

Diving Accident First Aid Procedures

While the differences in symptomology between DCS and lung overpressure injuries can be subtle, this is of no concern to divers at the scene of an accident. Regardless of which disorder is actually present (sometimes both are), the first aid measures are the same. The information below was excerpted from DAN’s Underwater Diving Accident and Oxygen First Aid Manual.

1. Administer CPR if required, with victim lying flat (supine).

2. Keep airway open and prevent aspiration of vomitus. Unconscious victims should be intubated by trained personnel.

3. Administer oxygen by tight-fitting, transparent, double-seal mask at the highest possible oxygen concentration. Do not remove oxygen except to reopen the airway or if victim shows signs of convulsions.

4. Keep victim in the horizontal left-side-down position if symptoms occurred within 10 minutes of surfacing and steps 1 through 3 have been completed.

5. If convulsion occurs, do not forcefully restrain. Turn victim on side (supporting head and neck), maintain airway and sweep away any vomitus. Hold diver loosely to prevent self-injury, and do not forcefully insert an airway or tongue blade. Resume oxygen administration when convulsions cease.

6. Protect the victim from excessive heat, cold, wetness or noxious fumes.

7. For Conscious Victims Only — Give nonalcoholic liquids orally, such as water or fruit juices,

8. Transport the diver to the nearest emergency room to be evaluated and stabilized in preparation for transport to a recompression chamber.

9. Call DAN at (919) 684-8111. State that you have an emergency, and ask for the person on call. (If necessary, call collect in an emergency.)

10. If air evacuation will be used, it is critical that the victim not be further injured by exposure to decreased barometric pressure at altitude. Flight crews must maintain cabin pressure at sea level or fly at the lowest safe altitude in unpressurized aircraft.

11. Contact hyperbaric trauma center or chamber before transporting the victim.

12. If available, send a copy of DAN’s Underwater Diving Accident and Oxygen First Aid Manual, and record history (dive profile, diver’s complaints, medical history and first aid) of the victim.

13. Send all diving equipment with the victim for examination. If that’s not possible, arrange for local examination and gas analysis.

by Alex Brylske

It may sound like strange preparation for someone in diving, but I was trained as a history teacher. And one of the things I learned was to value the contributions made by our predecessors in helping us become what and who we are today. Surely, unless we understand where we’ve been, we cannot possibly appreciate where we are. We’re products of history as much as we are the progeny of our parents. While this may sound like something straight out of History 101, the same logic applies to the history of diving. To understand where we are, we must know where we’ve been.

In this article series I’ll try to provide a brief glimpse into our past as divers. In part one, we’ll examine the exploits of the divers of antiquity, probe the evolution of the first diving machines and put into perspective the enormous contributions of the early hard-hat divers of the 19th century.

Ancient Divers

Since the dawn of human existence, men have entered the water to collect food, so it’s impossible to trace the exact date or origin of diving. We do know from artifacts that the people of Mesopotamia engaged in diving as a form of commerce — usually collecting pearl oysters — as long as 4,500 years ago. By the third millennia before Christ, the Greeks of Thebes also had a thriving pearl-diving industry, and the Chinese followed soon after.

References to sponge fishermen are mentioned by Homer as early as 1000 B.C. Tethered to the surface, their technique involved plummeting to depths of almost 100 feet (30 m) by holding a heavy rock. They, of course, knew nothing about the anatomy of equalization. So to try and compensate somewhat for the increasing pressure on the ears they poured oil into their ear canals and took a mouthful before descent. Once on the bottom, they spit out the oil, cut as many sponges free from the bottom as their limited breath-holding capacity would allow and were then hauled back to the surface by the tether. Certainly a grueling and painful way to earn a living.

The most famous divers of antiquity were the Greek Scyllias and his daughter Cyana. The Persian King Xerxes commissioned them in the fifth century B.C., as treasure salvors during one of the numerous wars between the Persians and Greeks. Not wanting to lose this valued diving duo, Xerxes refused to allow them to return home after finishing their commission. Using reeds as breathing tubes to avoid detection, they slipped into the water under the cover of darkness and escaped. Years later, they destroyed one of Xerxes’ fleets by diving into a stormy sea and cutting the mooring lines of the vessels at anchor.

For their bravery, statues of Scyllias and Cyana were erected in the Greek city of Delphi. Parenthetically, one contemporary writer noted that Cyana’s diving experience proved that “young women may dive into the sea without fear of losing their virginity.” Until then, it was believed that the water pressure that could so easily break eardrums could in the same way compromise the virtue of young maidens.

Divers were also enlisted into military operations long before the birth of Christ. The Spartans and Athenians were the first to employ combat divers, but history usually credits Alexander the Great in his famous siege of Tyre (Lebanon) in 332 B.C. He used “demolition divers” to remove obstacles from the harbor. In fact, Aristotle reported that Alexander himself made several dives in a crude diving bell to observe the work in progress.

By the first century before Christ, a thriving salvage industry sprung up throughout the major trade routes of the Mediterranean. The industry became so well organized that laws were on the books mandating the fee structure for the services of salvors. Generally, the fee depended on the depth of the wreck. For example, in depths of 25 feet (7.6 m) or greater, the salvor’s share was one-half of all goods recovered. From 25 to 12 feet (7.6 to 3.6 m), the share was reduced to one-third, and in shallow water where they could stand, the share was only one-tenth the value of the goods.

Greece and Mesopotamia did not hold exclusive license on diving. Collecting pearl oysters and seafood by diving was a common activity throughout the world. From the Ama divers of Japan and Korea to the Mayans of Central America to the Yahgan Indians of the Cape Horn region, freediving has a long and rich history. Even Columbus found a thriving pearl-diving industry on the coast of what is now Venezuela. Interestingly, in all of these cultures, the divers were usually female.

The Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution

In Europe, free divers continued to make significant contributions in warfare up through the Middle Ages. From Denmark to the Mediterranean, divers were used to cut anchor rodes, drill holes in ships’ hulls and ferry supplies to besieged coastal cites.

The first diving apparatus is credited to an Egyptian named Ahsan-ul-Ghawasin, also known as Issa. He served in the navy of the Turkish Sultan Saladin during the third Crusade. As a means of getting supplies through to the city of Acre, he supposedly constructed a device made from a bellows. Weighted by a heavy stone, the device let him remain submerged just below the surface and swim past the Christian sentries. The record contains colorful accounts of Issa’s horror at witnessing the hundreds of Arab bodies strewn on the sea floor “serving as a feast for eels, octopus and crabs.” He, too, became one of those bodies after he was spotted by a Crusader patrol and shot dead by an arrow.

With the dawn of the Renaissance and profusion of scientific inquiry, inventors experimented with various designs, including breathing tubes (most of which were impractical) and diving bells. Leonardo da Vinci, in particular, penned a number of drawings of diving systems and even sketched what could be considered the prototype of modern goggles and fins.

By the latter half of the 18th century, crude but marginally successful diving systems were developed throughout

Europe. In 1771, a Frenchman named Freminet produced what he called the “hydrostatergatic machine.” It consisted of a brass helmet with eyeholes. The air was supplied by a bellows into a small air reservoir, then pumped down to the diver. But because of the minimal air delivery capability, Freminet’s device was of limited use. In 1786, John and William Braithwaite developed an improved version of the helmet, as did a German named Klingert in 1787. Still, the advances in diving technology of 17th and 18th century came from improvements in diving bells rather than helmets.

The Evolution of Diving Bells

Although their design was relatively haphazard and unsophisticated, diving bells did meet with limited success during the Renaissance. One of the first successful salvage operations using a one-person diving bell was carried out in 1531 in Lake Nemi near Rome. As the bell carried with it only the amount of air trapped within it once it submerged, it provided only a short bottom time. In addition, the buildup of excess carbon dioxide was a problem, though one which was unknown to scientists and inventors of the time.

In 1669, George Sinclair, a professor at Glasgow University, wrote a treatise describing the theory and techniques for using diving bells. Based on Sinclair’s theories, in 1685 one of the most famous early salvors — Sir William Phipps — used a bell to recover nearly a million dollars worth of treasure from the wreck of the Spanish galleon La Nuestra Senora de Almiranta in the West Indies.

At about the same time as Sinclair was writing about diving bells, a contemporary named Sir Robert Boyle was making important discoveries concerning the behavior of gases under pressure. Using Boyle’s research, in 1681 a French priest named Abbe Jean de Hautefeuille wrote “The Art of Breathing Underwater,” explaining for the first time why, “It is not possible for man to breathe air at normal atmospheric pressure when he is himself underwater at depth.” These ideas culminated in the more sophisticated diving bells designed by famed English astronomer Sir Edmond Halley (the same guy “Halley’s comet” is named for) and an enterprising commoner from Devon, England, named John Lethbridge.

Unlike the traditional bell design, Lethbridge’s idea was to place the diver in a large sealed cylinder, allowing his arms to remain free to work. He called his device a “diving engine.” Once sealed, a diver could remain submerged about a half-hour to a maximum depth of about 60 feet (18 m). Then the engine was hauled up and the air supply refreshed with a bellows. Lethbridge and his son traveled throughout the world for nearly 30 years, successfully salvaging wrecks for sponsors such as the famous Dutch East India Company. He is credited by many as the forerunner of the modern commercial diver.

Edmond Halley’s design was a more traditional bell, but it was far more sophisticated than any of his predecessors’. Like Lethbridge’s engine, it was constructed of wood, but it was also encased by lead to give it negative buoyancy. Unlike Lethbridge’s design, it contained a valve to purge stale air and a system of weighted barrels connected to a hose to replenish fresh air while the bell was underwater. Divers could even leave the bell for short periods using a special helmet and umbilical. On one excursion, Halley himself dived to 60 feet (18 m) in the bell and remained there for 90 minutes. He reported a pain in his ears, “as if a quill had been thrust into them.” Although unknown at the time, it’s also interesting to note that such a bottom time is well in excess of any no-decompression limit. There is, however, no mention of Halley experiencing bends systems. Soon after Halley’s design was published, a French mathematician, Denis Papin, suggested replenishing the air supply in diving bells continuously via hoses and bellows.

Halley’s bell design was refined by an American named John Smeaton in 1788. Smeaton incorporated several improvements, including a bell made from cast iron, the first efficient hand-operated pump to sustain the air supply via a hose, an air reservoir system and nonreturn valves to keep air from being sucked back up the hoses when the pump stopped. This was the first truly modern diving bell, and by the end of the century virtually every major harbor of the world had one for salvage, construction and repair operations. From this point on, bottom times began to increase dramatically and working underwater was becoming commonplace.

The Dawn of Modern Diving Systems

In 1820 a farm near Whitstable, England, caught fire and ignited a spark that would eventually result in the standard equipment used by divers for almost 150 years. Because of the dense smoke, rescuers were unable to get into the stable to save a team of valuable horses. The small water pump of the local fire brigade had little effect on the blaze, and a disaster was surely in the making. But an ingenious, burley man in the crowd had an idea. Borrowing a helmet from a medieval suit of armor on display at a nearby home, he asked the fire brigade to pump air, not water, through the hose. Placing the hose under the helmet to provide a continuous air supply, he bravely walked into the stable through the dense smoke and saved the entire stock. That man was John Deane.

Realizing the implications of his improvised invention, John and his bro-ther Charles went into business producing a fire-fighting apparatus, which was patented in 1823. But John had a grander vision for his invention. He believed it could be used for diving, and by 1828 the original fire-fighting apparatus evolved into “Deane’s Patent Diving Dress.” He modified the fire helmet design by adding larger viewing ports and countered the effects of buoyancy with weighted shoes. A heavy fabric suit was worn to protect the diver from the elements, but the helmet did not attach to the suit. It merely rested on the diver’s shoulders and secured to his waist by straps.

As the helmet wasn’t attached to the suit, air escaped from the bottom. This, however, was the system’s major flaw, as the diver had to continually remain in an upright position. If the diver bent over, or even fell, the helmet would flood and he would drown. Still, the Deane’s system was very successful, and soon the brothers became well-known salvage operators. In 1836, they produced what was probably the first diving manual. A truly remarkable man, John Deane continued diving for many years, even diving under the ice in the Black Sea to salvage Russian warships at the age of 56.

Most historical records tend to forget about the Deane brothers, and instead concentrate on a German instrument-maker by the name of Augustus Siebe. In reality, Siebe only refined the Deanes’ design by inventing an efficient way of sealing the helmet to the suit and improving the exhaust system. By 1840, the “Siebe Improved Diving Dress” was introduced, and Siebe went on to found Siebe Forman and Company, one of the most famous diving companies in the world. It was Siebe’s system that became the true predecessor to the famous deep-sea diving dress familiar today to everyone.

Salvage of the HMS Royal George

In 1783, the British warship Royal George sank in a freak accident while anchored for repairs in England’s Porstmouth Harbor. It was a devastating tragedy with an inordinate loss of life, including 250 visiting women and children. As she was in a busy harbor in only 65 feet (20 m) of water, the ship was a major hazard to navigation. In 1839, the task of salvaging her fell to a colonel in the British Royal Engineers named William Charles Pasley. Many historians believe that Pasley’s operation brought diving into the modern era, and given the number of innovations and discoveries that resulted from the salvage of the Royal George from 1839 to 1842, it’s a hard conclusion to dispute.

The salvage operation was on the cutting edge of early 19th-century technology, and one of Pasley’s objectives was to evaluate various diving systems. Abandoning most systems because they were either too cumbersome or dangerous, he selected the Siebe Improved Dress and recommended its adoption as the standard for the Royal Engineers. This certainly was one reason the Siebe design went on to become so universally popular.

One of the reasons the Royal George operation gained fame was because salvors used underwater explosives for the first time. Incredibly, the exploding devices were made from lead-encased oak barrels filled with gunpowder and welded shut by a brave crew member. They were detonated by a wire that ran from inside the device to a battery on deck.

Of interest to recreational divers were the numerous historical milestones generated from the Royal George operation. For instance, one of the rules Pasley invoked was that his divers had to operate in pairs. This became the first recorded use of the buddy system for diving. In addition, the historical record is replete with the exploits of one particular diver, a Corporal Jones. On one occasion, Jones’ umbilical became hopelessly entrapped in a load of pig iron ballast as it was being loaded in a cargo sling. Miraculously, Jones managed to cut free from his umbilical, kick off his weighted boots, and ascend back to the surface from 60 feet (18 m) while continuously exhaling. He thus became the first person in recorded history to make an emergency swimming ascent, which in a full diving dress, is no easy feat.

Another unfortunate milestone for the salvage crew was the first medical account of a massive diver squeeze. Early diving helmets did not have nonreturn valves. This meant that if a hose was severed, the high-pressure air surrounding the diver rapidly and with incredible force evacuated the helmet. At even a modest depth, the tremendous negative pressure created by the escaping air caused an extreme and often life-threatening squeeze on the diver. This is exactly what happened to Private John Williams. Fortunately, however, even though “his face and neck were swollen and livid, his eyeball capillaries ruptured and blood was flowing from his ears and mouth,” Williams survived. But he never returned to diving.

In extreme cases, the negative pressure caused by a severed air hose could actually suck flesh and soft tissues up into the pipe and much of the diver’s body into the helmet. Stories abound, in fact, among old-time commercial divers, where so much of a diver was sucked into his helmet that it was buried in place of a coffin. (And you thought an ear squeeze was painful.)

Over the three years the salvage operation was under way, Pasley’s crew received extensive and colorful coverage in the press. Eventually, their exploits came to the attention of the Royal Navy. There was quite a bit of jealousy because the Royal Engineers were a contingent of the British Army. But swallowing their pride, the Navy allowed Pasley to take a complement of 13 petty officers from the HMS Excellence and set up the first Royal Navy diving school. The first instructor was the indomitable Corporal Jones. At the conclusion of the Royal George operation, Pasley said of him, “Whatever success has attended our operations is chiefly attributed to the exertions of Corporal Jones, of whom as a diver I cannot speak too highly.”

Concurrent with advances in surface-supplied diving, some designers were looking into diving systems that would free the divers from tethers to the surface. In part two, we’ll explore the evolution of self-contained diving, as well as trace the development of diving as a sport.

By Alex Brylske

Fear is not always a bad thing. It can be a positive emotion, promoting survival by leading us to cope with anticipated danger. Fear prevents us from exposing ourselves to undue hazards and prepares us to deal with surprise situations. Whether we’re rank beginners or seasoned divers, situations sometimes develop in diving that raise our stress levels and make us anxious, triggering the warning-siren emotion we call fear.

THE NATURE OF FEAR

Whenever we encounter a stress-provoking situation, an emotional response is activated. These responses vary depending on the nature of the stressor and our perception of the situation.

At one end of the spectrum is the tingly sense of elation one experiences when challenged with the unknown. For many, this contributes in large degree to the allure of diving. It keeps us on edge, attentive, ready to act or react to our environment. As the stressors increase, we may begin to lose our perspective and develop tunnel vision as we focus on the object of our stress.

At the extreme end of the spectrum is panic — an overpowering fear caused by a real or imagined loss of control over a situation. When the stress becomes overwhelming, we experience panic and lose the ability to function in a rational manner.

STRESS AND FEAR

Most recreational divers think of diving as a form of recreation, but there’s plenty in the underwater world to raise fear in divers. Physical, physiological, and psychological factors contribute to anxiety, and induce stress and fear. Physical stress can come in the form of cold water, or strong surge and currents. Physiological stress can take the form of a long, tiring swim or sucking on a regulator that only grudgingly surrenders air. More often than not, it’s psychological stress that is the most formidable opponent in the game of safe diving.

Learning about psychological stress is important for all divers, but the subject is strongly emphasized in cave diver training. In the National Speleological Society (NSS) Cave Diving Manual, author Mary Brooks writes about numerous stressors in diving. One such stressor is task loading, or the mental overload that can occur when a diver has too many things to do and think about. For a cave diver, the numerous physical and mental tasks, such as operating line reels, manipulating lights, navigating, and monitoring depth, time, and air supply, can be overwhelming. Even for open-water divers, task loading can be a heavy burden.

Seeing is believing, and when we lose our sense of sight underwater, it’s easy to believe we’re in deep trouble. As Brooks notes, “Silting (stirred-up sediment)…has been known to produce claustrophobic reactions, with a suffocating feeling that the cave is closing in.” Being consumed by a blinding cloud of sediment can spook anybody, but it’s not the only cause of claustrophobia. Sometimes new divers, or those just starting their training, get a touch of claustrophobia by simply putting on a mask.

When I was a child, the fear of darkness haunted me, and kept me safely out of the basement and the surrounding woods. It wasn’t things I had seen that scared me, it was the thought of things unseen lurking in the darkness that fueled my fear. Although a night dive can be fun and exciting, when the lights unexpectedly go out, it’s easy to imagine any number of denizens of the deep swimming around.

While we often equate darkness and poor visibility with heightened anxiety in diving, conditions of excellent visibility can present problems, too. Peering into the depths while gliding along a submerged canyon wall in crystal-clear conditions can create the sensation of great height, fostering acrophobia, or the fear of high places. In a similar vein is something called agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces. Known in some circles as the Blue Orb syndrome, this fear can arise when diving in open water where no visual references exist to provide orientation.

Our air-breathing cousins, dolphins and whales, can stay submerged for extended periods without requiring a breath of air, but our ability to survive without breathing is measured in minutes or seconds. For us, the fear of drowning, of not being able to breathe, represents a natural instinct which has contributed to the survival of our species. Should we run out of air or experience a regulator malfunction, we know the fun will end rather abruptly.

This time pressure we sense when our air supply is limited can add tremendous stress to any dive. Especially when air runs low, a minor entanglement, overexertion, or a poorly performing regulator can cause the fear of drowning to rush in like the tide. With time pressure ticking in the back of the mind, being lost or disoriented underwater can scare anyone. Inside a wreck, cave system, or beneath the ice, disorientation can put divers squarely on the losing side of the safety equation.

If the thought of running out of air sends shivers down your spine, imagine the fear scared up by an honest-to-God regulator failure. Even minor equipment failures can escalate to more serious situations if we’re unable to resolve the trouble. That’s the direction I was heading when I watched the needle of my pressure gauge knocking on zero — my stress level was soaring.

While our fears are natural reactions to what we perceive as actual dangers, often the threat is only imagined, or at least exaggerated out of proportion. Whether a threat is real or imagined, the degree of our fear determines our ability to cope. Once we feel we can no longer control our situation, fear can easily turn to panic.

THE MECHANICS OF PANIC

Physical, physiological, and psychological factors often work together to cause panic in a diver. Referred to as the psycho-respiratory cycle, panic can begin when a diver’s respiration and heart rate increase in a physiological response to a stressful situation. Increased respiration and heart rate cause anxiety, and combine with the original stressor to fuel a vicious cycle. Increased respiration can cause carbon dioxide buildup, leading to hyperventilation. The results are feelings of suffocation and loss of control, the key psychological ingredients for panic.

While most stressors by themselves appear insignificant, the effect is like an incoming tide. When enough stressors combine on a dive, pressure rises and we may lose the ability to successfully deal with the situation. As John McAniff, Director of the National Underwater Accident Data Center at the University of Rhode Island writes, “…panic in and of itself is the end result of a stepladder-type procedure which may start with something as simple as the flooding of a mask.”

ENTERING THE DANGER ZONE

Fear may have a positive effect on our ability to deal with hazardous situations, but when it takes over our lives, even for a brief period, it can be debilitating, dangerous, even fatal. As instructor and Diving Medical Technician Dennis Graver points out in his book, Scuba Diving First Aid, “Stress and panic leading to an incorrect reaction or the repetition of an ineffective action are frequent accident-initiating causes that lead to decompression illness and near-drownings.”

In fact, there are numerous instances where panicking divers have responded contrary to their training. A panic-stricken diver often makes a rapid ascent to the surface, and on the way suffers an air embolism. Graver goes on to say that an out-of-air situation is the most frequent cause of panic, but even a relatively minor equipment malfunction can precipitate panic. In fact, a panicking diver can abandon a perfectly functioning regulator on a tank with plenty of air.

Dr. Judy Lasher is a psychologist at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center and has studied the phenomenon extensively in both divers and firefighters, who use a self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) system similar to scuba. “When you go into hyperventilation,” explains Dr. Lasher, “excess carbon dioxide accumulates in your system, which increases the panic. At that point, divers and firefighters can feel like they’re suffocating, and they rip off their masks to get more air. In fact, this type of scenario is thought by some to account for many unexplained diving fatalities.” (For more information about carbon dioxide, refer to “The Air We Breathe” in Dive Training’s February 1998 issue.)

WHO’S AFRAID?

Divers tend to be a cool-headed lot, but even within this group there’s a broad variation. A situation that is merely exciting for one diver, such as seeing sharks in the water, may be enough to provoke fear or panic in another diver. So how do we know when or if a diver is prone to panic?

Several years ago Dr. Lasher completed a study that examined trait anxiety, thrill-seeking, age, and experience as predictors of scuba accidents. Her study found that among male divers, those who are older or have more experience in the water, are less likely to have accidents. Oddly, she found no correlation with any of the factors among female divers. It could be, offers Lasher, that by nature women are more cautious and less likely to be sensation-seekers, thrill-seekers, and risk-takers.

While most of us like to think we would never panic underwater, the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue manual warns, “Most healthy individuals are capable of panicking under extreme duress.…” In fact, a survey conducted by psychologist William P. Morgan of the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that over 50 percent of the recreational divers surveyed (245 total) experienced panic at least once while diving.

Morgan’s figures at first glance suggest a major hazard to diving safety, particularly when we consider the potentially tragic consequences of panic. However, only about 100 of the 3 million certified divers in the U.S. have fatal diving accidents each year, and 60 percent of those are due to known medical, environmental, and equipment causes. Still, our ability to cope with fear and forestall the onset of panic plays an important role in our continued underwater safety.

FACING OUR FEARS/ FIGHTING BACK THE PHOBIAS

All divers eventually face some degree of fear in the underwater realm. The trick is to control fear, maintain a feeling of control over the situation, and avoid the pitfalls of panic.

Several strategies are routinely used by individuals to successfully cope with stress and fear in everyday life. These include biofeedback, transcendental meditation, and various relaxation therapies. Some divers, including Dr. Lasher, find such strategies effective for dealing with stress underwater.

“A meditation is what saved me on my first dive at Palancar reef in Cozumel,” explains Dr. Lasher. “The thought of diving in deep water scared me. When I entered the water, I meditated, telling myself, ‘Breathe slowly, in and out…you don’t have to look down, just look straight ahead…you’re fine just the way you are…continue to breathe,’ and after a while I was just fine.”

As Dr. Morgan points out in his review, the use of relaxation, meditation, and other strategies isn’t always straightforward. Studies have shown that relaxation techniques can actually increase stress levels in some divers. But part of the problem might be technique.

“When it comes to meditation,” explains Lasher, “you have to be very careful about the language. If you tell yourself, ‘Don’t think of a zebra,’ you’re immediately thinking about a zebra. You can’t tell yourself not to think about something, not to experience something or not to do something, you have to tell yourself what you will do. Telling yourself, ‘Don’t think about sharks,’ won’t work. Your mind can only entertain one thought at a time, so that thought has to be positive, not one which focuses your thoughts on the object of your fear.”

Back in the ’70s, researcher and therapist Donald Meichenbaum developed a series of techniques to help his patients inoculate themselves against stress. These procedures for mentally or rationally dealing with fear-producing stress may be helpful to divers. Among these, Meichenbaum would instruct his patients to:

1) assess the reality of the situation,

2) control negative, self-defeating, anxiety-arousing thoughts,

3) acknowledge the anxiety, and

4) “psych themselves up” to perform well.

An accurate assessment of a problem underwater is critical to resolving it appropriately. For example, a free-flowing regulator still delivers air, so it shouldn’t present a major problem as long as we’re not in an overhead environment. The problem simply suggests that we signal our buddy, terminate the dive, and proceed to the surface.

Negative thoughts are seldom helpful in resolving a problem. Instead of focusing on the negative prospects of a problem, we do better to focus on the desired outcome and take the steps necessary to achieve success.

Acknowledging fear is healthy. Without fear, we might blindly dive to the depths of danger. We should remind ourselves that fear is both natural and positive, and use it as a tool to guide our planning, preparation, and execution of dives. By psyching ourselves up mentally, we are often better prepared to cope with the stressors that may accompany a dive.

Another strategy is to prepare ourselves in a way that limits the fear and panic-inducing stressors. Take for example a fear of sharks. Just the mention of sharks in the water can induce or heighten any diver’s anxiety, but divers who participate in shark behavior courses and learn the true nature of these creatures often transform their fear into a healthy respect.

Perhaps the best strategy for safe diving is to avoid the situations that can lead to panic. Although divers with claustrophobic tendencies may find that a mask with a translucent skirt will relieve some of the symptoms, they may still want to refrain from cave diving or wreck penetration. For those adversely affected by the sensation of high altitude, wall diving is something that should be eased into under the guidance of a professional instructor or avoided altogether. Whatever our personal fears or limits are, we must be careful not to exceed them.

PARTING THOUGHTS

My fear was real on that blustery day in Narragansett Bay, but panic did not override my ability to handle the situation safely. I worked to remain calm as my buddy and I turned around and headed back toward shore. As the depth decreased, my regulator began to breathe easily again. It turned out the only problem was that the tank valve was only partially open, and the resulting flow restriction became more pronounced at depth. Despite the fear I faced that day, I kept my composure and learned another important diving lesson.

Tips for Reducing Fear and Preventing Panic

Stay in Shape — Overexertion can lead to stress and panic, and an out-of-shape diver will fatigue more quickly and easily. Find an exercise regimen that works for you, and stick with it to keep in shape.

Keep Current in Diving — Even a short break from diving can degrade your skills. Active divers are more comfortable and better prepared to deal with problems underwater. If it’s been more than six months since your last dive, consider taking a refresher course, or get some one-on-one time in the water with an instructor.

Maintain Your Equipment — Gear maintenance is critical to safe diving. Periodic preventive maintenance of regulators and BCs will help ensure their continued reliability and performance underwater.

Plan Your Dive — There’s a saying that “prior planning prevents poor performance,” and it goes double for divers. By planning your dives, and sticking to the plan, you avoid many stress-inducing surprises. Know where you’re going, how deep you’ll go, and how long you’ll stay. Having a backup plan to deal with potential problems also reduces the stress should problems arise.

Make a Pre-Dive Safety Check — Equipment problems underwater can precipitate more serious situations. A thorough pre-dive safety check will help ensure that your gear will function properly during a dive.

Monitor Your Progress — The last thing you need underwater is a big surprise like running out of air or exceeding your no-decompression limit. Make it a habit to closely monitor air pressure and bottom time. In addition, take stock of your physiological and psychological condition. If you become cold or tired, end your dive early.

Observe Your Personal Limits — Any time you push the envelope, you put yourself in a position where you can become over-stressed and mentally lose control. Any time you don’t feel up to par, refrain from diving. Don’t push yourself to dive in excessively rough conditions, strong currents, or conditions of low visibility or strong surge. Avoid peer pressure, and keep your diving depths well within your experience and personal limits.

Learn More — Philosopher Sir Francis Bacon once wrote, “Knowledge itself is power.” Learning more about the object of your fears is an important step in overcoming them. Numerous specialty courses are available to help divers learn about the underwater environment and its natural inhabitants. Advanced courses also help divers develop the techniques and skills necessary to deal with more demanding diving environments and stressful situations.

By Robert N. Rossier

What Is Technical Diving?

To most divers, the words ‘technical divers’ conjure up images of a bunch of guys obsessed with diving deep.

Whilst this is true of quite a few technical divers, the art of technical diving doesn’t limit itself to just that.

Technical diving is, put simply, any diving that is set outside of recreational diving limits. It allows a diver the freedom to explore and dive beyond the traditional diving limits.

A good example of this is cave diving, which is some of the most difficult and dangerous diving around today.

However, quite a few of these extreme cave dives do not exceed 20 meters in depth, so it’s clearly not just about depth.

What’s The Difference Between Tech and Recreational Diving

So what makes tech diving different from recreational diving? Whilst hundreds of pages could be written about this, in can be summed up in a few brief points:

Tech Diving Skills

First on the list is skills; there really is no room in Tech for ‘good enough’ or ‘just about do it’. All skills and your level of comfort in the water should be above reproach.

Skills can mean the difference between life and death, so they have to be razor sharp.

Here's our Practice Makes Perfect: Tune Up Your Scuba Skills article. 

Tech Diving Rules

Next comes gas planning. Generally, when you recreational dive, you put your kit on and dive till you hit 100 bar or so, then turn around and head back.

Alas! Things are not so simple in Tech diving, since you can’t ascend directly to the surface because of your obligatory decompression stops.

You need to know how much gas you use and make sure you have enough gas to complete the whole dive with a healthy reserve for emergencies. The dive plan follows on from knowing how much gas you need.

Normally, when you dive recreational, you are always within the no decompression limits, so you can ascend to the surface at any time you wish.

Unfortunately, it’s not the same in Tech, where you must know how deep you are going and for how long. Every extra minute you spend down there adds a lot of time to your decompression obligation.

Over staying would make your dive schedule, and gas management redundant.

Tech Diving Equipment

The last big difference is redundancy and equipment.

When you Tech dive, you need to have a backup system for everything (buoyancy device, computer, mask, regulator, etc.).

Going in the water with only one item that your life depends on is a seriously bad idea.

Basically, you have to work on the principle that if you have a catastrophic loss of one system, it’s not a major problem since you carry a backup with you.

Finally though, when it’s all said and done, whether you dive recreational or technical, the bottom line is the same: you dive for the love of it.

Also known as "the bends" and Caisson Disease, decompression sickness affects divers or other people (such as miners) exposed to rapid changes in air pressure. In recent years, the medical term decompression illness has gained more traction—the term is technically more precise than decompression sickness, but it relates to the same condition.

DCS, as it is commonly known, is caused by a build-up of nitrogen gas in the bloodstream.

When we breathe at sea level, approximately 79 percent of the air we're breathing is nitrogen. As we descend in water, the pressure around our bodies increases at the rate of one unit of atmosphere for every 33 feet of depth, causing nitrogen to be forced from the bloodstream and into adjacent tissues. This process is not actually harmful and it's quite possible for the body to continue to absorb nitrogen until it reaches a point called saturation, which is the point at which the pressure in the tissues equals the surrounding pressure.

Decompression Safety

The problem arises when the nitrogen in the tissue needs to be released. To remove the nitrogen slowly from the body—a process called off-gassing—a diver must ascend at a slow, controlled rate and carry out decompression stops if necessary; this hovering in the water allows the nitrogen to slowly seep out of the body tissues and return to the bloodstream, where it's released from the body through the lungs.

If a diver ascends too fast, the residual nitrogen in the tissues expands too quickly and forms gas bubbles. These bubbles must normally be on the arterial side of the circulatory system to be harmful—they are usually harmless on the venous side.

Type I Decompression Sickness

Type I decompression sickness is the least serious form of DCS.

It normally involves only pain in the body and is not immediately life threatening. However, the symptoms of Type I decompression sickness may be warning signs of more serious problems.

Cutaneous Decompression Sickness: This condition arises when the nitrogen bubbles come out of solution in skin capillaries. This normally results in a red rash, often on the shoulders and chest.

Joint and Limb Pain Decompression Sickness: This type is characterized by aching in the joints. It is not known exactly what causes the pain as bubbles in the joint would not have this effect. The common theory is that it is caused by the bubbles aggravating bone marrow, tendon and joints. The pain can be in one place or it can move around the joint. It is unusual for bisymmetric symptoms to occur.

Type II Decompression Sickness

Type II decompression sickness is the most serious and can be immediately life-threatening. The main effect is on the nervous system.

Neurological Decompression Sickness: When nitrogen bubbles affect the nervous system they can cause problems throughout the body. This type of DCS normally shows as tingling, numbness, respiratory problems and unconsciousness. Symptoms can spread quickly and if left untreated can lead to paralysis or even death.

Pulmonary Decompression Sickness: This is a rare form of Decompression Sickness that occurs when bubbles form in lung capillaries. Although the majority of the time the bubbles dissolve naturally through the lungs; however, it is possible for them to interrupt blood flow to the lungs, which can lead to serious and life-threatening respiratory and heart problems.

Cerebral Decompression Sickness: It is possible for bubbles that make their way into the arterial blood stream to move to the brain and to cause an arterial gas embolism. This is extremely dangerous and can be identified by symptoms such as blurred vision, headaches, confusion and unconsciousness.

Other Forms of Decompression Sickness

Extreme tiredness is very common in cases of DCS and can sometimes be the only symptom of decompression sickness present.

It is also possible for decompression sickness to occur in the inner ear. This problem is caused by bubbles forming in the cochlea's perilymph during decompression. The result can be hearing loss, dizziness, ringing of the ears and vertigo.

Symptoms

Decompression sickness can manifest itself in many different ways and has many different symptoms, but the most common symptoms are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Joint and limb pain
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Red rash on skin
• Respiratory problems
• Heart problems
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Ringing of the ears
• Vertigo
• Stomach sickness

Risk Factors

Every diver has a different level of risk of Decompression Sickness. Many risk factors are still not fully understood, but there are a few basic factors that doctors agree increase the chance of developing Decompression Sickness:

• Body Fat: The theory is that nitrogen absorbs more easily into fat, so an overweight diver is at a greater risk of decompression sickness.
• Exercise: Interestingly, exercise has both a positive and negative effect. Exercise at least 12 hours before a dive seems to produce proteins that protect the body and decrease the risk of decompression sickness. On the other hand, exercise less than 12 hours before a dive can raise the number of gas micronuclei on which bubbles form, and this increases the risk of decompression sickness. Exercise immediately after a dive increases the risk of bubbles forming as blood pressure is increased and bubbles can more easily be transferred from the venous to the arterial side of the circulatory system.

• Gender: Theoretically women should have a higher risk of Decompression Sickness due to the fact that women typically have a higher body fat percentage. However, this has not been proven in studies and it's possible that gender does not affect the chances of suffering from decompression sickness.
• Age: Generally, older people are at an increased risk of decompression sickness. This is due to less efficient circulatory and respiratory systems.
• Fitness: Fitness definitely decreases the risk of decompression sickness. A fitter body is able to tolerate more physical stress, including decompression sickness.
• Dehydration: Dehydration causes less blood to be available for gas exchange which makes it more difficult for the body to off-gas, increasing the risk of decompression sickness.
• Injury and Illness: Injury and illness can affect normal circulation, increasing the risk of decompression sickness.
• Alcohol: Consuming alcohol before or after a dive accelerates circulation which helps tissues to load with gas. Alcohol also dilates capillaries which can increase the rate of nitrogen released.
• Carbon Dioxide: Improper breathing can lead to elevated levels of carbon dioxide, which interferes with the bodies ability to transport gas. This will lead to an increased chance of decompression sickness.
• Cold: It is generally believed by doctors that diving in cold water increases the risk of decompression sickness. This is due to the body working harder to keep warm as it becomes colder. Meaning that when the body is warmer it is able to absorb gas normally but as it becomes cold it has difficult offing the gas.

• Altitude and Flying After Diving: When ascending on land or in a plane, the atmospheric pressure changes, and this increases the chances of decompression sickness. It is best not to ascend above 300 meters (1000 feet) or fly after diving. 
• Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) - Hole in the Heart: As a fetus, a baby doesn't breathe and needs a way for blood to bypass the lungs until it is born. The body achieves this by having a small opening in the middle of the heart that allows blood to bypass the lungs. Normally, this hole would close within a year of birth, but in approximately 20-34 of people this does not happen, leaving a permanent opening in the heart. Usually, a flap grows over the opening and there is no effect. However, in some cases the flap allows blood to pass through the opening. This means that bubbles are more easily able to pass from the venous to the arterial side of the circulatory system, greatly increasing the risk of decompression sickness. It has been found that a large proportion of divers who suffered from decompression sickness had a PFO.
• Reverse Profiles: The jury is still out on reverse profiling, or making a deeper dive after a shallower dive. Theoretically it should increase the risk of decompression sickness, but this has not been proven scientifically. It would still be better to err on the side of caution.

Prevention

As there are many risk factors, there are also many methods of prevention. Here's a basic checklist that will help you lower your risk of suffering from Decompression Sickness:

• Always ascend slowly and safely from every dive
• Don't push your limits and do all required decompression stops
• Keep physically fit and within a healthy weight range
• Don't exercise within 12 hours of diving
• Don't ascend to altitude or fly immediately after diving
• Breathe normally throughout the dive, don't exert yourself or skip breathe
• Make sure you're adequately hydrated before every dive
• Don't drink alcohol before or after diving and never dive when hungover
• Get checked out by a doctor to find out if you have a PFO
• Avoid reverse profiling—just in case

Treatment

Minor cases of DCS may be treated by medical professionals with oxygen; in time, the excess nitrogen in the body will naturally off-gas. More serious situations, including rapid uncontrolled ascents from significant depth, usually require re-pressurization in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

Immediate on the scene treatment consists of oxygen therapy and basic first aid. This should be followed as quickly as possible by recompression treatment in a recompression chamber. When treating decompression sickness, the delay in beginning recompression treatment can be the biggest single cause of residual effects.

Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) Singapore will take place from Friday 6th April to Sunday 8th April 2018 at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre in Halls 401-404.

ADEX is the longest running and the largest dive expo in Asia, celebrating its 23rd year in 2018. A must-attend event for anyone interested or involved in the world of diving. The event has seen a continuous increase in visitors over the past few years, with ADEX 2018 attracting over 60,296 visitors over three days.

This year ADEX will bring back “ADEX + WaterPlay360”. Attendees can expect a whole new experience where you can find everything related to not only diving, but WATER SPORTS as a whole! Think about surfing, wakeboarding, canoeing, yachting, boating, rafting, sailing, jet skiing etc… the list just goes on!

PADI Dive Stores at ADEX 2018

If you’re interested in exhibiting, contact your PADI Regional Manager for more information.

For more information on ADEX 2018 visit www.adex.asia

You can view the full list of Dive Shows & Events PADI will be participating in 2018 here.

The TekDive Conference is one of ADEX’s biggest highlights. The conference focuses on the technical diving discipline. Get your fix on everything you want and need to know about technical diving!

Driven by curiosity about what might lie within the confines of a wreck or a cave, or what hitherto undiscovered life forms lurk in the deeper ocean trenches?

The TekDive Conference at Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) 2018 showcases some of the world’s most intriguing and technically challenging dives. As every year, the line-up of Tekdive speakers includes some of the most accomplished Tekdivers in Asia and around the globe!

A place where they can network, share their experiences and tap into knowledge from the veterans and experts. The various presentations, delivered by famous individuals such as David Strike, will include information on prime underwater environments, technical diving adventures and experiences, as well as new technologies.

Stand a chance to win awesome prizes during the Lucky Draw!

Prizes
1 x 5D4N Dive & Accommodation for 1 worth SGD720 proudly sponsored by 7Seas Dive Gili Dive Resort!
1 x Helios Tek BCD worth USD780 proudly sponsored by Helios!
1 x Ratio iX3M Tech+ Dive Computer worth EUR999 proudly sponsored by Ratio Computers!

Get your TekDive 2018 Conference Tickets today! 

Reference Link @ https://shop.asiangeo.com/product/asia-tekdive-conference-2018/

ADEX is the longest running and the largest dive expo in Asia celebrating its 23nd year in 2018. A must-attend event for anyone interested or involved in the world of diving, the event has seen a continuous increase in visitors over the past few years, with 

ADEX 2017 attracting a total of 60,296 visitors over three days!

Taking place from April 6 – 8, ADEX 2018 proudly presents world-renowned marine life artists, conservationists and photographers to speak about their passion and work towards marine life. It is organized by Underwater360 (UW360), and is an event being endorsed by major organizations in the industry such as DEMA (USA), and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

On the 9th of September 2009, at 9am, the agreement for Underwater360 to organize ADEX was signed. Come 2018, it will be our 9th year since running our first ADEX in 2010!

With 9 being an auspicious number for us, we will be returning to our roots for our 9th show; and that means: sharks – the first marine creature ADEX was dedicated to back in 2010. Expect presentations focusing on this magnificent animal, with the intention of educating the public about their survivability and how everyone can play a part in ensuring that they will continue to be in existence for the next generation to marvel at.

ADEX will continue to bring together the very best the diving world has to offer – from diving equipment manufacturers, retailers to training agencies, diving destinations… and more. Look forward to workshops and presentations from the world’s most renowned photographers, ocean artists, marine conservationists, scientists, technical divers, freedivers… etc., with hands-on educational activities for children of all ages.

As usual, ADEX 2018 will be the one-stop place for everything dive related, offering something for all divers and divers-to-be. With almost 10,000 square meters of floor space we plan to make 2018 the best and most comprehensive show yet!

Categories - Fees

 Non Divers : S$10

 Open Water Divers (Certificate required) : S$8

 Dive Professionals & Above (Certificate required) : S$5

Free Admissions : 

• Under 16 years old
• ALL Students (Photo ID required)
• Born in 1995 (Year ADEX was founded)
• People with special needs
• All Navy Personnel
• Full time National Service personnel
• People wearing wetsuits
• People wearing ADEX 2018 Official T-shirt

Trade Visitors*

Trade Visitors must be part of an entity that is related to the dive/marine/trade industry or similar. Accreditation is necessary as proof of trade visitor status.

Oh My God !!! - Once in a blue moon, first time, a Dolphin is being Spotted @ Bedok Jetty in Singapore !!! Gosh !!! 

Even the Dolphins are swimming to SG to convey an Important Spiritual Message to the public !!!

If you really like to do fishing, please try to stop fishing in future, esp. when fishing hooks are being discarded or drop into the waters, in turn injuring marine animals or creatures under water...

SINGAPORE - A dolphin was reportedly entangled in a fishing line at Bedok Jetty on Saturday morning (April 7).

The incident drew a crowd of about 70 people, Lianhe Wanbao reported on Saturday.

An eyewitness who gave his name only as Mr Chia told The Straits Times that he was cycling at Bedok Jetty when he took a rest at the end of the jetty at about 7.30am.

"Looking out at the sea, I saw this thing that was floating," said the 55-year-old architect. "I thought it was a stingray, but it was drifting towards the jetty and I realised that it was a dolphin. It was struggling, the tail looked like it was entangled in some string. There was a hook on the string, attached to a fisherman's line at the jetty." Mr Chia said a crowd started to gather when they realised there was a dolphin near the jetty.

"Somebody behind me was talking to some authority asking them to come down, but shortly after, the fisherman cut the line and the dolphin drifted away," he said. "The dolphin looked very weak and drifted out to sea."

He said the entire episode lasted about 15 minutes and there was no blood or any sound from the dolphin.

Dolphin's tail caught on fishing hook at Bedok Jetty

"I've never seen dolphins before at the jetty. I've seen wild dolphins only in Malaysia," he said.

Mr Chia said a crowd started to gather when they realised there was a dolphin near the jetty. PHOTO: MR CHIA

Mr Kalai Vanan, deputy chief executive officer of Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres), told ST that Acres received a call about the incident and responded, but the animal had left when its staff arrived.

"The animal was sighted again a while ago but has since disappeared," he said. "We suspect it might (still) be entangled in something, we are trying to get more details and attempt to free the dolphin from the entanglement if possible.

Dolphins are not uncommon in Singapore's waters. In 2016, a dolphin carcass washed ashore at East Coast Park. It was identified as an Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin, or pink dolphin, the most commonly sighted dolphin species in Singapore waters.

In sightings reported to the National University of Singapore's Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), at least 169 dolphins were spotted between 2008 and 2011 in the waters between Singapore and Batam, near St John's Island and Pulau Semakau, and as close to shore as the Marina Barrage. Dolphins are not uncommon in Singapore's waters. In 2016, a dolphin carcass washed ashore at East Coast Park. It was identified as an Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin, or pink dolphin, the most commonly sighted dolphin species in Singapore waters.

In sightings reported to the National University of Singapore's Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), at least 169 dolphins were spotted between 2008 and 2011 in the waters between Singapore and Batam, near St John's Island and Pulau Semakau, and as close to shore as the Marina Barrage.

An underwater scooter is one of the latest crazes that allows divers to travel underwater with ease.. The prices have dropped significantly since they were first released and you will see more and more of these at beaches and pool parties.

The best underwater sea scooter is the Sea Doo GTI that offers 100 feet of depth and 3 MPH of speed at a reasonable price compared to the alternatives.

The underwater scooter is often referred to as a Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV). The benefits of an underwater scooter is that the diver will suffer less fatigue from swimming and won’t need to consume as much air.

Best Sea Scooters for Snorkeling

As an underwater DPV is a premium watersports gadget, its important you get the best for the amount of money you spend. There are 5 factors that are used to determine which underwater scooter is right for you:

1. Battery Life. Very important if you go very far into the sea and find yourself without any battery juice left.
2. Size. If the DPV is for a child, the smaller the better. However if it is for a professional diver, you will want a bigger size one for more power.
3. Power Output. With high quality batteries mated with a large propeller, you can achieve high power outputs for faster speed underwater.
4. Depth Rating. The higher depth rating, the higher quality the DPV will be as it will be using higher quality material.
5. Buoyancy. For a faster underwater speed, you will want a less buoyant DPV. Premium DPV’s will have a control to alter this to your own weight.

Sea Doo are market leaders in the sea scooter game but recently Yamaha have begun to produce their very own. After much research, below is a list of the best underwater sea scooters that provide good depth and speed for a reasonable price.

Sea Doo Dolphin Sea Underwater Scooter for Kids

The Sea Doo brand are well known for their underwater scooters for all uses. This DPV in particular is ideal for children and adults from the age of 8 plus that is built with safety in mind. Features such as a floating chassis, shuts down automatically, large protective grills and more. The specification of this Sea Door DPV are:

• 1.5 hours of use before it needs to be recharged
• Weighs 12 pounds
• Max speed of 2 MPH
• Max Depth of 15.5 feet
• 180 days warranty

It is the best underwater scooter for children where it will provide them with great enjoyment. Its recommended to charge overnight for use the next day. This is one of the best pool toys you can buy for your children whilst on your holidays.

Sea Doo GTI Underwater Scooter for Divers

Aimed at water enthusiasts and divers that require performance underwater is the Sea Doo GTI. The Sea Doo GTI DPV has the very desirable adjustable buoyancy control that allows users to get the setting correct against their own weight. The specification of the Sea Doo GTI is as followed:

• 2 hours of use before it needs to be recharged
• Weighs 18 pounds
• Max speed of 2.5 MPH
• Max Depth of 100 feet
• 180 days warranty

The main statistic that stands out with great presence is the maximum depth rating of the GTI model. With 100 feet depth capacity, the user of this DPV is able to explore deep into the ocean without breaking the internal components at a steady 2.5 miles per hour.

Overall, the extra price you pay for the GTI provides improvements over the children aimed model and it is the best underwater scooter for divers. This DPV will give you plenty of battery time to visit wrecks or fishing areas as well as decent speed.

Yamaha RDS300 Seascooter with Camera Mount

The Yamaha brand is known for its powerful reliable outboards for boats but their sea scooter is rated for depths of 100 foot. It has a 2 level rotational control and can reach speeds of 3 MPH underwater, which can be achieved in salt water. Other specification that are worth mentioning are:

• 1.5 Hours of run time under normal use
• Max Depth of 100 feet
• Heavy duty hull protection
• Weighs 18 pounds
• Max speed of 3 MPH
• 24″x 15.2″X 12.3″
• GoPro mounting

The standout feature is clearly the 100 foot depth, which is the same as the Sea Doo GTi below. However, the main drawback is the price that you must be willing to pay. For the price, you do get the best underwater sea scooter you can buy and a reputable brand that are known for reliability.

Yamaha Seal Recreational Series Sea Scooter

The Yamaha Seal Series is a cheap sea scooter that maintains the reputable Yamaha brand and provide great features. It is more than half the price of the “big daddy” RDS300 but of course, it does not have the similar specification, it does however include:

• Max Depth of 15 foot
• Max Speed of 2 MPH
• 1.5 hours of runtime
• Total weight of 12 pounds
• GoPro mounting
• 11.25″ x 11.25″ x 19″

It uses a sealed lead acid battery, which can achieve one a half hours of normal usewith a clever auto shut off for safety. It is a lightweight sea scooter for children to easily use and of course, it is a fully waterproof construction with Yamaha high quality materials.

Sea Doo SD15001-RS1

What everyone wants to know is what is the fastest underwater scooter. The answer is the Sea Doo SD15001-RS1 with a max speed of 4.35 MPH ( 7 KM/H). Other features of the SD15001-RS1 are:

• 1.5 Hours run time until it needs recharging
• 3 Gears
• Depth rating of 130 feet
• 12 Month warranty

Thanks to the 3 rotational speed selection of the gears, you are able to adjust the speed and acceleration easily. The Sea Doo SD15001-RS1 is for those looking for more speed from their underwater scooter at a relatively cheap price.

What is the Best Underwater Diver Propulsion Vehicle?

As you can see from the three recommended underwater scooters, they are all by Sea Doo. They are the market leaders within the underwater scooters niche and completely wipe the floor of the competitors. Such competition comes in the form of brands such as Apollo and TUSA that cost a few thousand dollars.

Overall, the most popular underwater scooter is the Sea Doo Dolphin because it offers great value for money. The reason why this is important is that the majority of its life will be spent unused, unless you have a pool and regular hot weather. If that is the case, you could upgrade to the GTI or SD15001-RS1.

If you are looking for the ultimate underwater scooter, you are most probably a professional diver. The TUSA SAV-7 EVO-2 is built for people who are serious underwater explorers looking to explore the underworlds with the ultimate machine. The price reflects the seriousness of this DPV but you are also able to more than three divers at the same time, so could work out cheaper than buying three other premium DPV’s.

How do Underwater Scooters Work?

The underwater scooter is a battery powered gadget that features a propeller that is caged off from a protective grill. There will be two control triggers that allow the users to tilt the direction of the scooter to their intended direction.

Using high quality PVC material, the battery is fully waterproof (and so are any other electrical components) for reliable use underwater. Premium DPV’s can reach up to 5 mph, where the cheaper version will struggle between 1 to 2 mph.

Some diver propulsion vehicle machines will have buoyancy control to increase the speed through water. If the DPV is more buoyant, it will naturally start to float up, therefore the diver will need to force it to go in the straight line. Premium units have a buoyancy control switch to program it perfectly against your weight and use.

The underwater scooter is very easy to use and suitable for both children and adults. Due to the prices when they first came out, they were only really accessible to divers, but now prices have dropped significantly, which means snorkelers, holiday makers and more people can enjoy them.

What lies beneath the deep blue sea? 

So much more than you might think.

The results that let this new, marvelously-detailed map of the seafloor from NASA’s Earth Observatory be made were actually first published last year as part of a paper in Science from researchers at NOAA and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. 

They were also made available in a series of area maps and even as a Google Earth interactive. This latest incarnation, though, offers—in a single glance—perhaps the most complete unified view of the Earth’s seafloor to date, showing not just the mountains beneath the water, but also the crevices cracking the watery ground.

The detail of the map is particularly impressive. Not only does it show features that had previously not been seen, it’s also capable of catching any feature larger than 5 kilometers, which has been especially good for capturing some of the smaller ridge features.

It’s not just the map itself that’s interesting, though—it’s how they finally managed to make it.

So, how do you map what you can’t see?

Typically, finely-wrought ocean maps have been the result of extensive sonar. This is expensive and time-consuming, so sonar maps are mostly only made of places where ships spend the most time. The problem with that approach is that our oceans are vast and ships are small—meaning only a tiny percentage of the ocean floor (between 5 - 15 percent, NASA estimates) was mapped.

So, instead of depending on sonar, researchers looked to something else: Gravity. Using existing satellite data of the ocean, researchers searched for gravity anomalies as measured by sea surface heights. Where gravity was slightly stronger (those red/orange areas), they found mountains rising upwards, in the weaker areas (those blue patches) they were deep cracks.

This isn’t the first time researchers have made use of gravity as a measurement tool. A similar method has been used in the past to measure changes to ice cover in the Antarctic (yes, ice cover is changing so rapidly that you can even read the results in Earth’s gravitational field).

What’s exceptional about this effort is really the scale of it. Instead of just looking at changes to one area, the technique was used to chart the single largest unexplored area on our own planet. You often hear that Earth has already been extensively mapped, and certainly for inhabited areas that’s true. But for the remote regions, we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of our planet—and this map is a tantalizing clue to just what the future of earth exploration may look like.

Maps: Joshua Stevens / NASA Earth Observatory

Mass coral spawning 2018

Singapore's corals are alive and very sexy too. Their annual orgy of explosive sex just happened! Thanks to the dedicated team who have been keeping an eye on this event every year, we get a glimpse of what happened.

Chay Hoon shared that she saw a lot more colony of corals spawned than last year. Hurray! Last year, there was "greatly reduced spawning intensity because our corals suffered from mass coral bleaching in 2016.

What is Mass Coral spawning?

Once a year, on the fourth month, around four days after the full moon, our corals seed the seas with new life!

Some corals release their eggs and sperm all the same time. Called broadcast spawners, these mass spawning events usually occur once a year, a few nights after full moon. Tiny packets of eggs and sperm pop out of the coral polyps.

These packets drift to the water surface where they open up, releasing the eggs and sperm for fertilization.

After a few days, the embryos will have developed into coral larvae that drift about and eventually settle down on a hard surface to form new corals.

While bazillions of eggs and sperms are released during a mass spawn, most don't make it. Hordes of marine creatures gorge on the spawn, from fishes and crabs to jellyfishes.

As the tiny coral larvae develop, they have to survive the countless predators that constantly sieve the water for plankton and edible bits.

The coral larvae also have to overcome many other challenges that we are still learning about. Excessive sedimentation, for example, can interfere with fertilisation and other aspects of coral larvae survival and successful settlement.

Why is mass coral spawning in Singapore a big deal?

Coral mass spawning in Singapore was first recorded by Dr James Guest in 2002. It was the first record of coral spawning in the tropics. At least 18 different coral species from ten genera and five families (Acroporidae, Faviidae, Merulinidae, Oculinidae and Pectiniidae) have been observed to spawn in our waters! Mass spawning occurs on the third to fifth nights after the full moon between 8 and 10 p.m.

In interviews with the media, Dr James Guest emphasised that corals are part of Singapore's biodiversity and natural heritage. "There are 255 species of corals recorded here, and there may be some corals here that were around before Stamford Raffles arrived."

The fact that our corals mass spawn shows that our reefs are functioning well! According to Dr James, the number of coral species in Singapore that mass spawn is "as high as on other Indo-Pacific reefs, like the Great Barrier Reef... "

This shows how rich Singapore's natural heritage is. We can find right at our doorstep: "diverse, functional and fascinating coral reefs, that people would normally associate only with countries like Australia."

MORE photos of Mass Coral Spawning in 2018

Chay Hoon shares survey on 4 Apr at Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse)

Chay Hoon shares about her survey on 5 Apr at Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse)

Heng Pei Yan shares about her survey on 5 Apr at Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse)

Yujie Zheng shares about what she saw.

Dr Karenne Tun shared a lovely video of the corals and other marine life seen.

See more photos and references articles on Coral Spawning in Singapore @ this link : http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2018/04/mass-coral-spawning-2018.html#.WsuBhC-p2i4

Wild sea turtle at Raffles Lighthouse in Apr 2018

Heng Pei Yan encountered a sea turtle at Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse) on 5 Apr 2018.

Singapore got dolphins and sea turtles!

Sadly, the most recent sighting of a dolphin was one that got entangled in a fishing line at Bedok Jetty yesterday (7 Apr 2018).

From media articles about the incident.

‎Happier encounters were with wild sea turtles during the recent survey for coral spawning. And the release of baby sea turtles in Jan 2018.

Daniel Sim‎ posted to Nature Society (Singapore) on 7 Apr 2018

This is what happened this morning at ECP bedok jetty. An angler caught the Dolphin with his fishing rod and tried to reel it in. Many people told him to cut his line but he didn’t want to. I called ACRES to come help save the dolphin. The guy finally cut his line and the dolphin slowly swam away. It seems that the hook was caught at the tail with some seaweed on it. Hope it will be able to get rid of the debris from it’s tail and rejoin it’s family soon.

More in media articles about the entangled dolphin.

Wild sea turtle at Raffles Lighthouse in Apr 2018

Heng Pei Yan encountered a sea turtle at Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse) on 5 Apr 2018

Release of baby sea turtles in Jan 2018

A rescued baby sea turtle was released at the Sisters Islands Marine Park in Jan 2018. Video by NParks.

Media articles about the release on wildsingapore news.

Video by Sentosa

By Bernard Photojournals

Singapore's seagrass meadows are sparkling with stars! 

Clockwise from left: Biscuit sea star, Cake sea star, Spiny sea star,
Eight-armed sea star, Common sea star, Plain sand star,
Painted sand star, Crown sea star with
Knobbly sea star in the middle.

More than 20 different kinds of sea stars can be found on Singapore shore. Many of them in our seagrass meadows in the North. 

Here's more about them and how to be kind to our sea stars.

Although often called starfish, these creatures are not fish at all! So it is more correct to call them sea stars. Some sea stars are small and well hidden. Others are large and colourful.

Knobbly sea stars can grow to be as big as your face!
In some meadows, there are baby Knobblies!

Some sea stars seem to be all arms with long narrow arms and a small central disk.

The Eight-armed sea star is a fierce and fast moving predator.

Others have arms that are so short they look like pentagons.

The Cake sea star has short arms!

Some sea stars only come out at night. Spending the day buried in the sand.

The Plain sand star is often abundant but only comes out at night.

The underside of a sea star is where all the action is. Its mouth is here, facing the ground. Under each arm are grooves with rows of tube feet which it uses to move around. 

Aren't sea stars bad for reefs? Don't they eat up all the hard corals? 

No, this is a myth. The Crown-of-Thorns sea star is notorious for eating hard corals. This sea star has not been encountered on Singapore shores. In any case, these sea stars are only a danger to reefs when there is a population explosion of them. Such a situation is generally is believed to be due to an imbalance in the natural system. For example, when their predators are overharvested. When there are low numbers of this sea star, they do not cause massive damage.

NOT seen in Singapore - Crown of Thorns sea star eating corals.
Photo by Rore bzh from wikipedia.

Most sea stars are harmless. Some placidly gather edible bits from the water or the ground. But most sea stars are scavengers or carnivores, 'sniffing' out their meal by the chemicals released by the prey or dead animals. Among the more common prey are snails, bivalves, crustaceans, worms.

The harmless Common sea star can be found in large numbers
on many of our shores.

Be kind to our sea stars

Dead or Alive? 

All the sea stars that you see are probably alive. You are unlikely to come across a skeleton of a sea star. Dead sea stars disintegrate quickly and do not leave behind whole skeletons. A live sea star also has moving tube feet. When removed from the water, however, sea stars will retract their tube feet and may appear dead. The sea stars you see being sold as tourist souvenirs and cheap ornaments are harvested alive and purposely dried. This is cruel indeed!

Photo by Jacob Maentz from his story
about mass harvest of sea stars for the tourist trade.

Don't pick up sea stars! 

Many sea stars can purposely drop off an arm if it feels threatened. This is how they might escape the jaws of a predator, or if a stone should accidentally trap an arm. If you pick up a sea star by the arm, you may trigger off the same reaction. Also, it is stressful for a sea star to be out of water for a long time. So please admire the sea stars where they are.

Keep sea stars in water, admire them where they are.

Don't mutilate sea stars! 
Although sea stars are famous for their ability to regenerate lost arm, don't purposely mutilate them. It takes time and resources to regenerate arms. Some take up to a year to replace a lost limb. In the meantime, the sea star is probably disadvantaged. If the central disk is damaged, the sea star may die. You won't get two sea stars when an arm of a sea star is separated.

Should I put a sea star that is high and dry on the sand back into the water? 
Sea stars you come across at low tide are used to being out of water during low tide. It is best to leave sea stars were they are.

Admiring a sea star on the high shore at low tide.
Just leave them where they are.

Where can I see stars in Singapore?

One of the best ways is to ioin intertidal walks by NParks at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin or the Sisters Islands Marine Park.

Share your sea star stories! I'd love to hear about them.

Learn more about Singapore sea stars on the wild fact sheets on wildsingapore.

This article is written for Celebrating Singapore Shores as part of International Year of the Reef 2018.

Sure, you can soar or swim in VR. Just put on a headset and jump in a pool.

Article written by Rachel Metz 

Dated : February 20, 2017

A smartphone and a snorkeling mask are two of the key parts of a prototype virtual-reality headset that works underwater.

No matter how well virtual reality mimics the sights and sounds of flying, floating, or swimming, it’s impossible to feel that you’re really doing those things when your feet are planted firmly on solid ground. So Stephen Greenwood and Allan Evans are making a VR headset that you can wear underwater.

Greenwood, director of creative development at Discovery Digital Networks, and Evans, cofounder of headset maker Avegant, started working on it in December after talking about what it would be like to combine an isolation tank—where you float in a dark, silent room, alone—with virtual reality.

So far it’s just a side project (and a silly-sounding one at that), but Greenwood and Evans can envision it being developed for entertainment, scuba-diving simulations, or physical therapy. Virtual reality is still in its infancy as a consumer product, and beyond a smattering of games, films, and applications it’s still not clear how we’ll use it; they see this as one option for making VR feel much more captivating than it typically does.

“I think there’s a little more of a suspension of disbelief when you’re in a radically different environment,” Greenwood said. “When you don’t have a sense of the ground or gravity or what’s up or what’s down, it makes it that much more believable.”

Their underwater VR gear is nothing more than a rudimentary prototype, but it does work. The computer and display come from a waterproof Android smartphone, which is attached to a 3-D-printed block of plastic that acts as a spacer between the handset and a snorkeling mask. The mask, covered in black tape to keep light from leaking in, has two biconvex lenses—like the ones you’d find in the simple, handheld Google Cardboard—glued to the inside. A plain old snorkel lets you breathe, and audio comes from a Finis underwater MP3 player that uses bone conduction to transmit sound.

They’ve been trying it out at Greenwood’s apartment building, which has a pool (a rarity in San Francisco). On a sunny, chilly afternoon this month, I jumped in and tried it out myself.

The first experience had me floating above the International Space Station while David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” played on a loop. I found that I didn’t want to do much moving; it was relaxing to just hang, suspended in the water (though the visuals made it feel more like outer space), occasionally twisting around to see what was behind, above, or below.

After I’d spent some time checking out the ISS—minutes, probably, but it was hard to tell how much time passed—Greenwood switched to another VR experience that was a little closer to my reality: an underwater scene with colorful fish, peppy jazz music playing in the background. Hanging out with the fish was a little more fun, despite the fact that water started seeping into the snorkel mask as I swam in circles to investigate the world around me.

I quickly realized that the headset is about as advanced as Google Cardboard at this point. There’s head orientation tracking, but no tracking of your head’s position in space. This means you can turn around to look at different things, but your view of the virtual world through the goggles doesn’t change as you swim around.

This is especially weird if you’re making an effort to swim in one direction, as I did while checking out the fish, because the visuals make you feel as if you’re not actually moving even as your arms and legs are flailing. And it means you have no way to know if you’re about to smack into the side of the pool (Greenwood served as my spotter from the pool deck, but every time I touched the rough walls of the pool the spell was momentarily broken).

In hopes of improving this, Greenwood said, he and Evans are working on building a positional tracking system that communicates with the phone in the headset and can work underwater; lights and cameras, which can be used on terra firma, don’t work so well in that setting. He won’t give specifics beyond saying it involves sound and magnetics to calculate depth.

Despite the simplicity of the setup, however, it was easy to forget about the outside world and just enjoy the weird virtual one below the surface. I didn’t stay down there too long—the day was ending and the pool was getting cold—but I’d like to go back soon.

Today there are many avenues for people to contribute and learn about marine conservation. Step into any PADI Dive Centre to get involved in SCUBA Diving. By learning how to dive, not only do you get to explore oceans and the life within it. You also benefit from enjoying some of Earth's most precious assets. More people are learning to avoid the pitfalls of short term profit making schemes such as catching sharks and coral harvesting and instead, turning to education and app-making to better serve the public. All around the world, more people are speaking up and writing about marine conservation and their diving adventures. On Facebook, the number of conversations around conservation are increasing. Marine sanctuaries are being extended and implemented everywhere around the globe. More and more people are away from the doom and gloom of pollution and are looking towards solutions for saving the Earth.

In the construction industry, people are already starting to recognise the harmful effects of dredging and are realising the importance of preserving natural coastlines for generations to come. Treehouses located in eco-friendly resorts have proven to be very popular over the years and more investors are making the move away from concrete buildings.

You’ll first need to decide if you want to do a start-up dive business or purchase an existing PADI Dive Center or Resort

Start-up Dive Business

It’s truly satisfying to see your hard work, careful planning and goals come to fruition. However, starting from scratch involves paying attention to a number of details otherwise unnecessary if you were to purchase an existing business. Also, securing capital, building a clientele and managing the expenses of a start-up in the early months of operation can be daunting. But, the advantages of making a clean start, having no assumed debt and choosing your location can be most rewarding.

Purchase an Existing Dive Business

Just can’t wait? Sometimes you can buy an existing dive business. Generally, the initial risks are less and the start-up time is nearly eliminated. This is because you can usually retain the dive shop’s customers, suppliers and volume of sales. Keeping and increasing them over time becomes your responsibility.

You may also benefit from the advice and experience of the owner. A disadvantage of buying an existing business can be that you inherit the bad with the good. It’s important to know the facility’s reputation with its customers and suppliers. It can also be a challenge to find just the right business, in the right location, at the right price, at the right time.

How Long Does It Take to Open a Dive Shop or Setup a Dive Community at Dive Resorts

It depends on your schedule, energy and resources. Some dive shop owners have opened their doors six months after deciding to start, and for some it has taken multiple years. On average, a new PADI Dive Center or Resort opens in approximately 9-12 months.

The checklist below is an example of tasks you should consider and when to work on them. Use it as a guide when creating your own checklist

Checklist for Starting a Dive Shop

9-12 Months Prior to Start Up

1. Choose what type of scuba diving facility fits your skills and interests.
   
2. Decide on business location.
   
3. Contact your PADI Regional Manager or PADI Retail and Resort Association.
   
4. Will the business incorporate a pool? If no pool, coordinate nearby pool rentals as necessary.
   
5. Look for existing building space (rental or purchase) or property that you can develop. (If a pool is involved, this could take longer for approvals).
   
6. Choose your business name, verify right to use the name and register the name. As a general rule, if your choice of name and location may cause confusion with an existing dive operation, it could land you in a Court of Law. This is an expense and a distraction you simply don’t need when trying to get your new business off the ground. Be unique.
   
7. Determine the amount of time required to obtain business permits and other licenses
   
8. Identify helpful membership organizations (e.g. PADI, DEMA, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)
   
9. Develop or expand your business support network: attorneys, bankers, accountants, consultants, etc.
   
10. Prepare preliminary business plan and budget.
    
11. Attend the scuba diving trade shows.
    
12. Look for other learning opportunities from other support industries such as retail design shows, marketing seminars, consumer goods shows etc.
    

6-9 Months Prior to Start Up

• Establish your business (Limited Liability Company, Sole Proprietor, Corporation, etc.) and file papers.
  
• Sign lease or purchase property.
  
• Select contractor for facility improvements and prepare improvement plan.
  
• Check zoning ordinances.
  
• Check utility requirements.
  
• Determine dive shop layout and design.
  
• Get in touch with your scuba equipment manufacturer sales reps and order scuba gear.
  
• Choose and meet with advisors: attorney, accountant, consultant, insurance agents, etc.
  
• Obtain bids on major business equipment.
  
• 4-6 Months Prior to Start Up 

• Complete business plan including marketing plan.
  
• Prepare advertisements.
  
• Prepare final budget and review with banker
  
• Order business systems: receivables, check disbursements, payroll system.
  
• Order signs for dive shop.
  
• Secure the appropriate insurance policies (professional liability, general liability, property, boat hull and liability, etc.)
  
• Develop your website – including testing and launch it to let customers know you are coming.
  

0-4 Months Prior to Start Up

• Make sure business filings and license applications are complete. (Consider local, state/province, and federal/country license and tax requirements.)
  
• Complete improvements on facilities.
  
• Arrange for utilities and telephone service, along with other maintenance services – waste removal or janitorial.
  
• Open checking accounts and sign up for credit card systems at local bank.
  
• Arrange for business announcement ads in local media, prepare press release and begin advertisements.
  
• Order supplies – business cards, stationery, brochures, receipt forms, etc.
  
• Arrange to give talks to community groups
  
• Prepare job descriptions for employees and write policy manual for employees.
  
• Begin screening new personnel, then hire and train employees.
  
• Review tax requirements with your accountant.
  
• Determine business hours.
  
• Determine pricing schedule.
  
• Establish petty cash fund.
  
• Organize dive shop as equipment and supplies arrive.
  
• Plan an open house and contact everyone you know and let them know you are in business
  

Go for it!

Starting a dive shop or resort is a life-altering experience. It does take time and hopefully you find it as exciting a venture as existing PADI dive shop owners have experienced.

As you move forward with opening your dive shop or resort, contact your PADI Regional Headquarters if you need specific insight about the scuba diving industry. Your Regional Manager and PADI Retail and Resort Association representative can give you more information about owning and operating a dive shop. When you’re closer to actually opening the doors, feel free to call a PADI Marketing Consultant or Training Consultant for ideas on how best kick-start the adventure.

SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Australia's Mary River Turtle - with its green Mohican-style hair and ability to breathe through its genitals - is one of the world's most distinctive reptiles.

It is also now officially among the most endangered.

The "punk turtle" was this week ranked 29th on the Zoological Society of London's Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered list, triggering calls for better protection of the reptile found in a remote part of Australia's east coast."You have to go back about 50 million years to find a closely related species," said Ms Marilyn Connell, a researcher at Australia's Charles Darwin University.

"It would be a failure if we let this animal that walked alongside dinosaurs become extinct."

Once a popular pet in Australia, the exact population of the Mary River Turtle, known to biologists as Elusor macrurus, is unknown, the Zoological Society of London said. Its distinctive hairdo is actually algae that grow on its head.

Academic research was hampered in 1974 when traders refused to reveal the habitat of what were then known as "Penny Turtles" after Australia outlawed the practice of keeping them as pets.

Nearly 20 years later, Mr John Cann, a Sydney-based turtle enthusiast, rediscovered the turtle in the Mary River in Queensland. It was classified as a new species.

The turtle's habitat is not fully protected, Mr Cann said, and the introduction of new fish species to the waterway also threatened juvenile turtles.

"They survived in good numbers for millions of years," Mr Cann said. "Then along came the pigs and foxes, and on top of the native predators and people - that's what has made them endangered."

IYOR 2018 Image Bank

We recently discovered the 2018 International Year Of The Year (IYOR) Image Bank. The gallery is overflowing with high-quality FREE images for anyone wanting to support the global missing to save coral reefs, and you know ReefBuilders is ready to dive in!

Many of the images come from a unique 360-degree library collected by The Ocean Agency during the XL Catlin Seaview Survey, some even include google street view. Other images were donated by award-winning photographers, as well as Marine Photobank, a project of SeaWeb.

The images are separated by categories coral reefs, animals, people, corals up close and more. The image bank is funded by The Tiffany & CO Foundation, and IYOR all to promote saving coral reefs. 

The IYOR is a year to strengthen awareness about the value and threats to coral reefs and associated ecosystems. As an aquarist, one way you can help is by talking to people about coral reefs and sharing information.

We meet people all the time who don’t even know what a coral is. Just by sharing these images with your friends and family it can help raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on corals, and how we can all promote better use of our planet and coral reef ecosystems.

The media is free to use for all non-commercial purposes to help generate support and investment for coral reef conservation. Make sure to visit the image bank website to download the high-resolution versions of these images, and more.

All they ask is that if you use an image, please credit those who created it and, where possible. You can also make a donation to help us the mission to save reefs and support the people who depend on them. Learn more about the IYOR 2018.

Image credit: THE OCEAN AGENCY / XL CATLIN SEAVIEW SURVEY / JAYNE JENKINS

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Microsoft co-founder's mission to locate sunken warships in the South Pacific has chalked up another victory with the discovery of the USS Helena nearly 75 years after it was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands, reviving stories of the battle-tested ship's endurance and the nearly unbelievable survival of 165 of the crewmen.

Paul Allen's team searches for the ships to "bring the history back into a relevant conversation," said Janet Greenlee, a spokeswoman for Allen's Vulcan Inc. "He wants to honor those that have served and are serving."

The wreckage of the Helena was found March 23, about a half mile (860 meters) below the surface of the New Georgia Sound. The team identified the light cruiser by the number 50 on its side and by comparing the wreck to the USS Helena's schematics.

In all, more than 730 of the Helena's crew of 900 survived the July 5, 1943, sinking during the Battle of Kula Gulf.

Most of the crew was rescued out of the water and another group was picked up nearby the next day. But a third group spent nearly five days adrift in life rafts, during which some of the injured died, before the sunburned, dehydrated and emaciated men decided their best chance of survival was to take shelter on Vella Lavella Island.

The shoeless sailors had to walk across a sharp coral reef to get to the jungle island, which they knew was occupied by Japanese troops, Navy gunner's mate Frank P. Cellozzi of Ohio wrote in a 1984 account. They crawled into the jungle and fell asleep before being awakened by a group of natives wearing loin cloths and carrying spears, Cellozzi wrote.

One spoke enough broken English to make it clear they would help. The natives in some cases carried the Americans into the jungle for miles, stopping occasionally to pick coconuts. The survivors built a latrine and a shelter and the natives escorted them to a freshwater stream where they could bathe, Cellozzi wrote.

An Australian Methodist missionary named A.W.E. Silvester and two other Coastwatchers aided in their care and helped arrange for their middle-of-the-night rescue 12 days after their ship sank. Coastwatchers were intelligence operatives stationed on remote Pacific islands during World War II to observe enemy movements and help rescue stranded troops.

"One of the remarkable stories, not just about the crew and the ship's service, is the tenacity of the crew after the sinking and being separated," said Allen's spokeswoman, Greenlee. "It really does sound like a movie script."

The USS Helena was the third World War II discovery in less than three weeks by Allen's R/V Petrel team. The aircraft carrier the USS Lexington was discovered March 4 and the USS Juneau, another light cruiser, was located March 17.

The USS Helena was the second of five vessels named for Montana's capital city, and was the first ship to receive the Navy Unit Commendation for its role in the World War II battles. It survived a torpedo strike during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and sunk Japanese vessels in other battles.

A memorial to the USS Helena ships is located in Anchor Park in downtown Helena. This March 24, 2018 photo provided by Paul G. Allen shows part of the stern section on the light cruiser USS Helena. 

Photo Credits and Thanks to Team backed by Microsoft Co-founder, Mr Paul G Allen, CNBC, Yahoo and other media press release sites for releasing this article story and also for the photo of the USS Helena wreck.

Articles and Photos Reference Link : https://sg.news.yahoo.com/team-backed-microsoft-co-founder-locates-uss-helena-141300103.html

Scuba Training

In the quest to further our scuba training, the question is aquarium dives: to count or not to count?  The qualifications require a minimum number of dives.  So, the obvious question is what constitutes a “dive”?  Most of the major scuba certifying organizations only define standards for training dives, not recreational dives.  However, many divers agree that a dive must be at least 20 feet for at least 20 minutes.

Aquarium Dive Experience

While I am not yet a well-traveled diver, I have had the opportunity to dive in 2 aquariums.  My first aquarium dive was in the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD to 13 feet for 45 minutes.  Their Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit features over 400 fish, including 2 green moray eels.  My second aquarium dive was the Epcot Dive Quest in Orlando  to 25 feet for 45 minutes.  The highlights were the sand tiger sharks and the bowmouth guitarfish.  Both dives were amazing and provided me with experiences that I may not have had on an open water dive.

Industry Thought

Many divers do not think aquarium dives should count toward the required number of dives for certifications.  Some believe these are not “real” dives because aquariums are controlled environments.

Why I Disagree

Aquarium dives offer unique benefits to a diver.  Like the ocean, they house many species of marine life.  Unlike the ocean, the diver is guaranteed to experience interaction with the animals.  Plus, most aquariums, as part of the dive experience, offer an in-depth educational presentation.  All of these experiences add to the diver’s knowledge of the marine world.

Diving in an aquarium is also a fantastic confidence builder. It offers new and inexperienced divers the opportunity to get scuba experience in a controlled environment.  Aquariums mimic the water salinity and exposure to animal life of ocean diving.  Also, aquarium dives safely expose skittish divers to sea life.  Spoiler alert: marine creatures are not going to eat you as soon as you enter the water!  Aquarium diving reinforces good buoyancy and the rules of marine life interaction.  The best part is that aquarium dives allow non-diving friends and family to share in the awesomeness of scuba diving.  Recently, I had my second dive in the National Aquarium for the express purpose of showing my daughter’s friend how cool scuba is.  After seeing me in the tank, she is pumped to get certified.

The Case For Counting

The most important point I want to make is that any time a diver is underwater and performing scuba skills, they are adding to their overall experience.  I would agree that jumping in a pool and sitting on the bottom for 20 minutes is not really “experience”.  Aquarium dives are not that.  Divers must interact with marine life and use their scuba skills just like in an open water environment (sometimes even better).  If experience is the main goal for the prerequisite dives, aquarium dives provide that and more.

Article REFERENCES : TDI SDI 

Make Sure Your Diving Equipment Last - Use and Keep with Proper Care, Cleaning and Storage Of Dive Gear

 By Aaron Lazar, Reference from TDISDI website portal. 

Take care of your gear and it will take care of you. This certainly seems to be the case in many equipment intensive activities, especially in diving. Through proper use and care of one’s gear, a typical scuba setup can last for years. On the flip side, failing to take the relatively simple steps in caring for one’s gear can lead to early breakdown and deterioration of equipment.

Aside from annual maintenance, which should be performed on various components of your diving setup (regulator servicing, visual cylinder inspections, new batteries in computers, etc.), and maintenance on any item that is not completely in working order, there are several steps you can take to both increase the longevity of your gear and help ensure it will serve you in the way intended. 

These include treating gear in a generally careful manner, rinsing equipment thoroughly after diving and storing your equipment in a way that both protects and does not subject it to unnecessary strain. While each of these steps are relatively straightforward and common sense, they’re important to keep in mind, especially as you begin to invest in more and more of your own gear.

Treating equipment carefully.

While most dive gear is designed to be somewhat rugged for the conditions it will be subjected to, it’s still a good idea to treat your equipment carefully. This holds true even more so for the more delicate pieces of gear such as regulators, computers, masks, etc. Storing these types of items in protective cases or bags, especially when going to or from the dive site, will help alleviate the chances of damage. 

When diving, make sure everything is secured and streamlined. Loose hanging SPGs, instrument counsels, alternate air sources or other items are a big no-no. Having these items hanging loose will not only subject your equipment to potential roughing and scuffing but can also pose a serious threat to fragile marine organisms such as coral. Simple clips, retractors, bungees and various types of keepers are available and offer a quick fix. When transporting gear to and from the dive site, make sure to first load heavy items, like cylinders, with lighter and more fragile pieces of equipment on top.

Cleaning gear thoroughly.

Perhaps the most important part of daily post-dive care is the process of cleaning and rinsing gear thoroughly. While it may be tempting to skip this after a long day in the water, it’s important that you don’t rush this and spend the time to rinse off residue that may be detrimental to your equipment. This is especially important after dives in saltwater or in pools that are treated with chlorine or other chemical compounds. Failing to adequately clean equipment after dives in these environments can result in discoloration, weakening and overall deterioration of your gear. Even after diving in freshwater, it’s still a good idea to take the time to clean your gear thoroughly. This will help wash away any dirt, aquatic growth or contaminants that may have been in the water.

Cleaning gear isn’t rocket science. A thorough freshwater rinse is usually all that is needed. This can be done in a dunk tank or tub, a shower if available at the dive site, or with a garden hose. Regardless of the means by which water is provided, the important part is that all gear get’s a top to bottom rinsing, both inside and out. Some like to let their equipment soak in a tub, which is fine, but be sure that the water your gear is soaking in is, itself, not too dirty. Using a garden hose or similar device helps ensure that equipment is being rinsed with a continual flow of freshwater and allows for more detailed rinsing of specific areas.

Pay Special Attention to These Items

While it is important that all gear be rinsed thoroughly, there are several pieces that are worth specially noting. This includes equipment that water can accumulate inside of, pieces with moving components, and parts that may be extra sensitive. Wetsuits (and dry suits) and accompanying exposure protection should be rinsed inside and out. While probably not part of everyday post-dive cleaning, wetsuits that develop a foul smell can be treated with a variety of mild wetsuit shampoos before a final rinsing. Components of the regulator (first stage, second stages, SPGs, instrument counsels, hoses, etc.) should all receive a good rinsing. Allow water to flow into the second stage chamber through the mouthpiece and through the exhaust valve area, making sure not to press the purge button when cleaning if the regulator is not pressurized. Also make sure that dust caps are in place over first stage inlets before rinsing.

BCDs and wings should be rinsed on the inside as well as the outside as saltwater trapped inside can lead to a breakdown of the bladder or air cell material. A common technique is to add freshwater into the bladder via the low pressure inflator hose by holding down the vent button. One can then manually inflate the BCD or wing and shake the water inside of it around. Water can be drained back out of the low pressure inflator hose as well as other dump valves.

Small movable components like clips or bolt snaps should be operated while rinsing them off. This will help reduce the buildup of grit inside of these pieces. Freshwater should also be aimed through the area between the plastic handle and center of cylinder valves. Basically, the goal is to clean anywhere where corrosion or buildup may occur. Special care should also be taken when cleaning dive computers and, if applicable, the computer’s water activated contacts, especially after saltwater dives as residual salt can cause the contacts not to function properly.

When finished rising, allow everything to air dry in a well-ventilated area. Various hangers and rack systems are available to allow suits and other pieces of equipment to dry thoroughly.

Equipment storage. 

After everything has been rinsed and dried completely, it’s time to store it. 

Generally, it’s a good idea to devote an area for dive equipment storage. 

Whether it be a closet, racks in the garage, or stackable bins, the area should offer adequate protection and be a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.

Care should be taken to store equipment in a manner that doesn’t stress your gear. 

Wetsuits, for example, should be stored hanging on a designated wetsuit hanger to avoid creating creases and other unnecessary strain. 

If space requires that you stack equipment, make sure to put the lighter, more delicate items on top, just as you do when transporting. Again, it’s a good idea to keep those more fragile items such as regulators, computers and masks in protective cases.

Keep these several steps in mind, and the gear you’ve invested in will have the potential to last many years. 

This, combined with regular upkeep and maintenance at your local dive center/s, will help ensure safety and enjoyment of you and your buddy on your next adventure below the surface.

SCUBA diving photographers are photographers who specialize in taking pictures underwater. 

They may work as freelancers, selling their work to publications like magazines, or work for companies needed this service. 

Photographers in general have a median annual salary of about $32,000.

Essential Information

SCUBA diving photographers document the many life forms and geographic formations that reside underwater. They may be hired by a variety of companies and industries, such as tourist dive shops and nature magazines. All divers must be SCUBA-certified and able to take good photographs under intense pressure.

Required Education

None, though completion of underwater photography courses may be beneficial.

Other Requirements

SCUBA certification through accredited organization

Projected Job Growth (2014-2024)*

3% for all photographers

Median Salary (2015)*

$31,710 for all photographers

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

SCUBA Diving Photographer Job Description

Some SCUBA divers work as freelance photographers, submitting photos to various magazines, newspapers, websites or marine research facilities that are willing to pay for their art. 

Others may be hired as full-time photojournalists or stock photographers. Tourist dive shops may include the option to document a SCUBA experience for clients.

Competition for SCUBA diving photographer positions is frequently high, and openings are coveted because of the exciting nature of the job. 

The employment for photographers in general was expected to increase by 3% from 2014-2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The salary of a SCUBA photographer varies greatly based on the hours spent in the water, the quality of photos, years of experience and the employer.

 However, the BLS reported an annual median salary for photographers in general of $31,710 in 2015.

Requirements to Become a SCUBA Diving Photographer

Certification Requirements

All SCUBA divers must be certified by an accredited SCUBA organization. 

Classroom and practical instruction teaches the proper techniques and safety procedures of SCUBA diving. 

The certification process varies depending on the school, but can be completed in as little as two days. Students must participate in multiple guided dives with a certified SCUBA instructor. 

Certifying organizations, such as the Professional Association of Diving Instructors or the National Association of Underwater Instructors, offer credentials based on the role of the diver and difficulty levels.

Education Information

Some institutions and schools offer courses designed to give students a good grasp on how to take pictures underwater. Lessons teach how to select and care for equipment, create lighting under difficult circumstances, choose subjects and master underwater photography skills.

 Although these courses are not required for SCUBA photographers, they can be a valuable tool in gaining the necessary experience. 

Applicants may be required to hold advanced-level SCUBA certification before enrolling.

Physical Requirements

The physical and mental demands required of a SCUBA photographer can be significant. 

Divers must be in good health to withstand the pressure changes of diving and master buoyancy to ensure clear images. 

Photographers must have a good sense of lighting, timing and subject matter in order to capture an image in a professional manner.

SCUBA diving photographers have no educational requirements, but may benefit from courses for photographers especially in the area of underwater photography. 

They must be certified as SCUBA divers in order to work and have strong physical stamina. 

While no employment data is available for SCUBA photographers, photographers in general were projected to have slower than average growth, but those who are self-employed may experience more opportunities.

A Job Less Ordinary – Diver

This is no typical 9 to 5 – you spend hours underwater; cleaning tanks and siphoning fish waste.

And scrubbing is just the easy part.

For the divers in Marine Life Park (MLP) also have to carry hefty oxygen tanks and helmets in preparation for the various immersive tours. To them, however, this is not a job. They are just happy to be here.

Indeed, passion is a vital prerequisite for any MLP divers and Lirene Bay has it in spades.

The 26-year-old is a rarity in the business: she is one of five female divers in the Park and she also is a Dive Master, who guides greenhorns in MLP.

We talk to this affable diver and find out what makes her job awesome.

When and why did you pick up diving?

It all started after my snorkeling experience at the Great Barrier Reef. That experience made me want to go deeper and I thought I’d go for a diving course. I started diving since I was 18 and I got my dive master license in 2011.

Can you tell us the role of a dive master?

We guide new divers through the daily maintenance routine like siphoning dirt and teach them the dos and don’ts while in the water. 

I am also part of the team who will take guests out on the various immersive programmes like the Open Ocean Dive and Sea Trek.

And what makes a good dive master?

A dive master needs to be able to communicate with anybody and everybody. I think no one wants a dive master who doesn’t talk much to you.

What’s the most challenging aspect of the job?

You must be physically very fit. We must carry Sea Trek helmets weighing 32kg daily. Some of my colleagues join gyms but not me. I get my free workout here. (laughs)

Wow, you must be very fit. As one of the few female divers, how do you cope?

I always tell myself this: I cannot do any lesser than the guys. We are drawing the same pay, so it is unfair that I carry less because I’m a girl. I try to carry as much as I can. I’ve got a little bit of biceps now (flexes her arm).

Fighting fit.

What are some of the advantages you have over the guys?

It helps when I work with conservative female guests who would like to be guided by women. I’ll take the softer approach too. I always try to start a conversation and talk about girly stuff like whether they can keep their make up on for the Sea Trek programme.

It’s a tough but rewarding job. What keeps you going?

It helps that I am passionate about the marine environment. I like diving with all the marine animals like the manta rays and leopard sharks, creatures that I won’t get to see in this region. Even regular divers don’t always see bowmouth sharks. Plus, I enjoy the company of my colleagues. We go for jogs around the Resort every week and a barbeque session every month.

What’s the best part of the job?

The best part of the job is seeing the guests behind the panel. They always make us feel like superstars, waving at us and asking us to take photos with them (laughs).

Watch the following video to find out more about Lirene’s job. Want to be like her? Join the team here - 

Dive instructors teach students individually or in groups using discussions and demonstrations; their main objective is to teach dive safety so students are confident in basic scuba skills. 

Though the salary tends to be low -- an average of $27,000 per year as of spring 2013, according to Indeed.com -- the job gives diving enthusiasts the opportunity to make a career out of a hobby and do what they love in year-round tropical climates.

Duties And Responsibilities 

A diving instructor teaches scuba diving techniques -- first in a swimming pool and later in open water -- to individuals who want to dive recreationally or obtain their scuba certification. 

The instructor's main objectives are to demonstrate basic scuba skills, accompany divers underwater and adapt to emergency situations so the student is confident and prepared for the activity. The instructor interacts with students during the dive and must continually monitor performance to provide suggestions and additional training as needed. 

Additional responsibilities include maintaining and transporting equipment, driving students to dive sites, stocking the boat appropriately with supplies and adhering to environmental protection procedures.

Qualifications 

The Professional Association of Dive Instructors and the National Association of Underwater Instructors offer extensive training programs for diving enthusiasts interested in gaining certification to teach. In addition to the certification requirements of most positions, diving instructors should also hold valid CPR and first aid certification from an approved licensing agency and be comfortable instructing in front of an audience. A love and extensive knowledge of marine life also help.

Working Conditions 

Diving instructors work in a variety of locations, including beach stands, cruise ships, vacation resorts and dive shops. They lead discussions and give lectures and demonstrations in a classroom or on a boat and are sometimes responsible for driving the dive team to the site and piloting the boat in open water. Diving instructors stay active most of the day, leading accompanied dives, beginner dives and certification courses, with the possibility of some phone or retail work around the dive shop.

Employment and Certification

Diving instructors work in dive shops, cruise ships, resorts and other beach locations around the world. Certification agencies provide licensing so the scuba hobbyist can advance into a career as a scuba diving instructor. 

Both PADI and NAUI require that applicants be at least 18 years of age, possess a basic scuba certification with their own gear and have logged dives at varying depths and times.

Recreational diving is an incredible experience, but only gives us a taste of what the ocean has to offer. When you are certified as a recreational diver, you are able to dive into the underwater realm to explore coral reefs or look for sharks.

Unfortunately, safety precautions put a limit on your underwater adventures.

As a technical diver, your options open up vastly! 

To start with, you can venture to new places. Wrecks, caves, caverns, bottom time, ice water, altitude, and depth become a part of the diving excitement. And with these skills, come more risks, more responsibility, and more opportunities. 

It is also necessary to learn technical diving skills if you want to pursue a career in the commercial dive industry.

Early in your training, opportunities will come available to dive inside a wreck or venture through a cave of rock or coral. 

PADI, SDI and TDI offers specialties in most of these technical diving skills – skills such as enriched air, wrecks, dry suit, deep, cavern, drift, diver propulsion vehicles, semi-closed rebreathers, ice, night, navigation, and several others. Learning about these specialties benefits you. First you’ll find what you like and what you don’t like when it comes to diving. Secondly, you’ll know if you have what it takes to be a commercial diver, if you don’t freak out on a deep drift dive at night with an unknown creature larger than you swimming nearby.

PADI, SDI and TDI does an excellent job giving you the basic technical diving skills using your standard equipment. Plus, having these skills keeps diving fun and always leads you to new adrenaline pumping experiences.

But there is still technical diving beyond what PADI offers. A good place to continue your skills is with another organization like DSAT, TDI, SDI or IANTD.

These organizations certify you at higher levels. They bring in new equipment, more cylinders, more calculations, and more responsibility. But at the same time you get to dive deeper for longer, which is a real thrill in itself. The challenges of tech diving are fun. You’ll learn about mixing nitrox, trimix, and other gas mixes. You’ll become familiar with bubble-less rebreathers, like the Navy Seals use. It’s pretty awesome stuff.

If you still love what you’re doing after you become a fully certified technical diver, you can go on to be a technical instructor, or venture into the world of commercial diving. In commercial diving you’ll put the skills you’ve learned to the test in some intense underwater conditions. 

The ocean is a huge place and largely unexplored. 

Technical diving gives you the skills to go where few others have gone, and it gives you more job options. 

If your dream is to go deep and stay long or you want to pursue commercial diving – technical diving skills are mandatory!

When divers hear about commercial diving, they immediately think of money. And they’re right! 

Commercial diving is one of the most lucrative diving career paths. 

But don’t become a commercial diver for the money, become a commercial diver because you have a passion for diving and working in the water. 

If you’re ready to get dirty, follow directions, use common sense, and feel the rush – then commercial diving is the way to go.

A commercial diver makes a solid income. The pay range can stretch from $18,000 U.S. up to $80,000 U.S. + and your work year may include chunks of time off. 

Most employers pay an hourly wage, plus hazard pay on top of that. You make more money based on the depths of your dives (‘depth pay’) or by diving in an enclosed space, like a pipeline. 

It is not unrealistic for a commercial diver to make over $1,000 a day! It all depends on the amount of experience you have and the type of diving you’re doing – so be prepared to pay your dues before pulling in the big money.

In order to be considered for a commercial diving job, you do need to have a few things on your resume. 

Most commercial diving jobs require a high school diploma or the equivalent. 

You also need to be trained in diving beyond the basic certifications of a recreational diver. It is highly recommended to attend a commercial diving school to get all of the necessary training. 

These can be quite pricey, but worth every penny. These schools will teach you all the skills you need to work underwater from welding to depth diving to gas mixing. 

The courses range from 16 weeks upwards and can be found in a simple Internet search. 

Beyond giving you the basic skills and knowledge to be a commercial diver, many of these schools will also help you find a job upon completion of the course. 

Remember that in commercial diving, your life is in your hands – it is absolutely necessary to be 100% confident in your skills.

You may be wondering what type of work you would be doing? 

As a commercial diver, you will work in some intense underwater settings. Be prepared for waves, darkness, pressure, currents, depth, enclosed areas, and cold. In conditions like these, it is important to be in great shape. Those conditions are what make commercial diving such an adventure! You will most likely find yourself working for an employer like the oil industry, government, or law enforcement. These employers offer jobs like underwater welding, underwater inspections, salvage, oil industry work like exploring or drilling, and underwater testing.

 Commercial divers are essentially underwater construction workers. Find your niche and you will climb the ladder faster than a “jack of all trades.” These jobs can be done onshore or offshore and are often contract work, so be ready to travel the world to stay in steady employment.

Onshore commercial diving takes you into lakes, harbors, streams, and even sewage pipes! 

You may have the job to inspect the steel in a bridge, or to replace a filter on a dam, or to check a ship for corrosion, or to search a mountain lake for a lost car. There are endless possibilities and these diving jobs are easier for a newbie to get after paying your dues for a few weeks.

Offshore commercial diving generally leads you into the employment of oil companies. Unlike onshore diving, the hours can be crazy. You work out in the ocean, so once again, be prepared to travel. You will generally be doing underwater welding, pipeline exploration, or oil drilling. You’ll have to pay your dues first though, so expect to do grunt work for some time.

Commercial diving is a great way to make a living. Everyday is different, guaranteed. 

So if you have a passion for diving and are ready to travel the world, work underwater, and feel every emotion from the adrenaline of fear to the adrenaline of success on a regular basis, then commercial diving will be a great career for you!

Sharks! Just the word sends shivers down your spine.

Many people won’t even step into the ocean because they fear sharks. 

These massive, majestic beasts have been around for about 65 million years – that’s when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. 

Sharks rule the seas and are at the top of the ocean’s food chain. Shark tourism brings in millions of dollars a year worldwide. That’s right, people choose to go diving with sharks.

If you’ve seen the movie Jaws or watched Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, you know a thing or two about sharks. 

Did you know that there are over 350 species of sharks in the Earth’s waters? 

Sharks can grow to 40+ feet and have up to 3,000 razor sharp teeth. Sharks are unpredictable. 

They have earned their bad reputation because of their explosively fast surprise attacks on swimmers, surfers, and boaters.

Sharks are everywhere in the ocean wilderness from the southern shores of Patagonia to the tropical waters of the Mediterranean to the icy coast of Alaska. Sharks are a mystery. They intrigue us, exhilarate us, and scare us. To dive with sharks and to see the king of the seas in its natural habitat is a great way to test your courage.

Shark tourism is adventure at its finest. 

Have you ever caught a glimpse of a shark in your underwater travels, cruised over a sleeping nurse shark in a reef dive in Aruba, or spotted a black tipped reef shark shopping for dinner as you drift by in Phuket. 

Seeing a shark gets the adrenaline flowing. Sharks swim close to shore and deep in open water. They are rarely seen, but one has to wonder how often they see us.

Spotting a shark on a normal dive is not what shark diving is about. Shark diving is a true stare-danger-in-the-face adventure. 

People travel the world just to dive with sharks. South Africa’s Shark Alley, the Bahamas Tiger Beach, whale shark diving in Thailand and Honduras, Mexico’s Isla Guadalupe, or Australia’s Southern Coast are just a few hot spots for shark diving.

While shark diving may be a booming industry, you want to be sure to dive with a legit shark diving operation. 

To ensure a reasonably safe shark diving adventure, get some recommendations on outfitters and research shark dive operators. Read up on shark behavior, shark environments, shark and human interactions, and learn everything you can before you dive into an underwater world and stare one of the world’s largest predators in the face.

There are two popular types of shark diving – cage dives and free dives. If you want to get up close and personal with a 15-foot, 2,000 pound great white shark, a.k.a. the world’s deadliest shark, you should probably be in a cage. The best place to view great white sharks is South Africa, Southern Australia, or Isla Guadalupe, Mexico. 

There is nothing quite like peering through the bars of a reinforced steel cage and watching a massive great white shark flash his razor sharp teeth at the cage before exploding through the water to catch a seal for breakfast. It may cost you several thousand dollars, but if you have the opportunity to see a shark feeding frenzy, it’s definitely something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

If cage diving with a great white doesn’t float your boat, you may want to try free diving with sharks. This practice is becoming quite common. Usually you travel to a place like the Bahamas, Belize, or Fiji where a shark dive operator will take a group of people out to dive. You’ll swim to the bottom and line up side by side, remember to stay calm and still to ensure that you don’t look like lunch. 

Sometimes the dive operator will chum the water with bait. At other times the sharks will already be in the area… you wait for the sharks to arrive. Before you know it one to one hundred tiger, bull, hammerhead, or other types of sharks will come by for a snack. As you watch patiently, one may cruise overhead, its large silhouette eclipsing the sun – an image that will stay in your memory for life.

When free diving, a shark can come give you a love bump or friendly nuzzle. This happens. Some sharks are territorial, while others get confused and may think you are food. Sometimes the flash of an underwater camera (which is a must on a shark dive!) startles the shark. Close calls and accidents do happen, but in general shark diving is safe.

Shark diving is quite controversial. The main argument is that when sharks are baited for shark tourism, they will start to associate the hum of boats or the site of divers with food. 

This can be very dangerous. As the sharks make this association, the next question becomes – am I going for a fantastic adventure or am I about to be lunch?

Some people fancy shark diving with whale sharks, the world’s largest fish species. These gentle giants can span over 40 feet and reach upwards of 45,000 pounds. 

Whale sharks are incredibly gentle creatures and cruise in the tropical waters off the coasts of places like Honduras or Thailand. Other people choose to shark dive in enormous aquariums in places like Sydney or Dubai. Shark diving is popular for people of all ages in all places.

Shark diving is an amazing adventure. Sharks allure us because of their raw power, pure mystery, and prehistoric connections. 

No one knows what is going to happen. Although the statistics show that you have a 1 in 300 million chance of being killed by a shark, you must remember that animals are unpredictable. 

You may dive with sharks while they eat, but can you imagine being inches away from a grizzly bear or lion while they ate lunch?

Diving with these toothy carnivores is risky. But isn’t life more fun when there is a bit of risk involved?

By: Brittany Hadfield

TOP JOBS IN SCUBA DIVING

So you’ve gotten your first diving certification and now you’re hooked. You’re bored of your current job and you’re looking for something more exciting, right? While it is possible to have a career in diving with only an open water certification, often times it takes more training to achieve professional status. Below, we describe a few careers in which you can dive for a living! What could be better?

Dive Instructor or Technical Diving Instructors
Salary: $31,000 – $50,000 and onwards

Of course there’s the most obvious job of all… scuba instructor! This job sounds like the dreamiest one of all… You spend your days on dive boats and exploring the underwater world. You might even get to live in a beautiful tropical location if you’re one of the super lucky ones. Being a dive instructor comes with a lot of responsibility; you have to make sure that your students are using the proper techniques and doing so safely. With that also comes the reward of introducing and guiding students into underwater discovery and awe. Overall, if you’re looking for a job that combines teaching and diving this might be the one for you.

Underwater Photographer
Salary: $35,000 – $60,000

Do you have a knack for photography? Love to dive? This might be the job for you. Underwater photographers take photos and videos of marine life, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and caves. These photographers might work in the fashion and hospitality industries as well, photographing underwater models and resort advertisements. While the photographer’s main job might be shooting pictures, they also need to be well-versed in their editing skills, they also need to be able to adjust light, coloring, and staging challenges that shooting underwater brings. 

To have a career as an underwater photographer, one must have the proper qualifications as a diver or snorkeler to perform this job. This starts at an open water certification and can advance as high as you wish. SDI also offers an underwater photography course for those who are interested in learning more. This is an introductory course and if you want to learn more we would suggest taking some higher level courses through a local workshop or at the college/university level. While some photographers have a high school diploma only, others find it helpful to seek higher education to better learn processes and equipment.

Golf Ball Diver
Salary: $36,000-55,000

This one isn’t an option that people think of often, but it’s definitely legitimate if you have the proper documentation; this being an agreement or contract with the course you plan to dive. If all you’ve ever experienced in diving is crystal clear, warm water, this might not be the job for you. Most of the time the waters golf ball divers are going into is murky and contaminated from pesticides and other chemicals. These waters often contain dangerous animals such as water moccasins, gators, and snakes. Let’s not forget about the downed trees, branches, hazardous trash such as broken glass and barbed wire, and low to zero visibility. Because of these factors, divers should be extremely confident in their abilities as a diver and also know self rescue skills. This job requires an advanced scuba diver certification due to the low to no visibility in the ponds of the golf courses. Divers might also consider taking a drysuit and full face mask course due to the nature of the waters they’re diving.

After you’ve taken into account all of the factors listed above, you then have to know about how competitive this business is. In the business of golf ball divers, you have poachers who sneak onto the courses at night and dive or wade on the edge to gather balls. The way a golf ball diver business works, a diver has a contractual agreement with the course(s) they are diving at that they get back a certain amount of money per each ball collected (this fee is usually 8-10 cents). Sometimes, the course will even take a percentage of balls back to use on their driving range. A diver will collect somewhere around 3,000 balls on an average day (8am-12pm) and will get back half of the original cost of those balls (some going for as high as $50 per dozen when new).

Commercial Diving
Salary: $54,750 – $93,910 

This job isn’t one you take on a whim because it’s one that comes with many risks. It also varies from one extreme to another. Commercial diving is a very broad field ranging from underwater inspection to HAZMAT jobs. Commercial diving means working below the surface of water, performing tasks such as repairing, removing, or installing equipment underwater. Commercial divers use power & hand tools to conduct tests/experiments and rig explosives underwater. There are usually four factors to determining a commercial diver’s salary which include: diver experience, employer, location, and depth of dive. The commercial diving field isn’t one that is limited by location, but often you would work for 4-8 weeks in the field and have anywhere from 10 days – 4 weeks off to decompress and relax. This career is one that requires specialized schooling rather than a specific certification. 

Marine Archaeologist
Salary: $39,000 – $72,000

Do shipwrecks interest you? Does the thought of finding sunken treasure excite you? Marine Archaeology might be the job for you. These are the people who study the ocean floor looking for shipwrecks and sites that might contain human remains to items of monetary value. You might also be in charge of keeping a database of shipwrecks in your area and updating it on a regular basis to make sure looters don’t disturb wreck sites. Marine archaeologists are also the people called when someone wants to build something in the ocean that might disrupt the ocean floor. They check the site to make sure the area is okay to build in and that there are no other wrecks that will be affected. Overall, your job here would be to preserve underwater artifacts and protect local wildlife. This job requires a certification that will allow you to dive shipwrecks, you’ll need advanced buoyancy, and even nitrox for longer dives.

Public Safety Diver
Salary: $39,000

Do you know who deals with accidents and crime scenes in bodies of water? Did you know there are specialized diving certifications for law enforcement officers? These divers are called public safety divers; they can be found diving into bodies of water to rescue or recover people or evidence in accidents and on crime scenes. Often times, these divers are faced with dangerous diving conditions with little to no visibility. Public safety diving requires very intense training; one must be prepared to see things that are not only frightening, but also very heartbreaking. You can learn more about being a public safety diver by visiting: https://www.tdisdi.com/erdi/get-certified/

Diving can be extremely rewarding recreationally, but if you truly can’t get enough there’s no reason you shouldn’t explore it as a career. So jump in, do some research, and most importantly keep on diving!

There are several things you should always consider before you choose your instructor, and this guide will hopefully help you choose wisely.

• Is your instructor an active diver?

This is probably a bit of an odd question. If he/she is an instructor,

    obviously they are active divers, I mean, they are diving all the time, right? 

    Well, not really. A lot of instructors pretty much only dive when/while they

    are in course.  You could say that they’ve lost the passion for it.  Mayb

    they are churning out one course after each, and the last thing in their mind

    is to go diving on their day off. SO be sure that you ask about their actual

    experience diving.  Are they involved in any 

    exploration projects? Conservation efforts?  What kind of dives or which

    sites really get their engines going? If they won’t answer or you get an

    answer that is too vague or ambiguous well, I suggest

you turn away.

•  How many courses do they do every year?

◦ Ideally, you want an instructor that is actively teaching courses at the level you want to train in. With TDI, all instructors are required to actively teach at their highest level on a regular basis, otherwise, we lose that level.  Again, an instructor who is teaching [for example] 3 full cave courses per month might have a lot of experience teaching, however, there is no time in there for him/her to conducts dives of their own and actually go out and expand their skills, explore, and have fun.

•  What is their failure rate?

◦ Nobody wants to fail a course, and I assure you no instructor likes failing a student, but it does happen, and it should happen. Technical and cave diving are both highly demanding activities that require a lot -both physically and mentally-, and as such, not everybody is built for them.  An instructor that has a really high failure rate is most likely doing a few things wrong him/herself.  A very high failure rate either means that this instructor is not properly screening their students, or is not adequately teaching them, and expects them to be perfect with minimum effort on his/her part. On the other hand, a 100% passing rate means that the instructor is probably just handing out cards.  We are educators, not magicians or miracle workers.  And like I said before, not everybody is meant for this type of diving.

◦ Me personally, I have a failure rate of around 5-10%.  However, keep in mind that even though someone might fail a course, it doesn’t mean I wash my hands of them.  No. I will try to do everything I can to make sure the student is able to get over whatever is keeping him/her from passing.  However, there is an issue with attitude.  If you don’t have the right attitude for cave or technical diving, even if you have the highest developed skills ever known in the diving world, you will not pass until you get your ego and/or attitude in check.

•  How long have they been diving at this level?

◦ Here you should ask how long they have been diving. Not how long they have been teaching.  Let me explain.

◦ A lot of instructors become instructors with very little actual diving experience. I am talking maybe a year or 2 after certification and a mere 100 logged dives.  This is a trend (commonly known as “zero to hero”) that is unfortunately even invading the technical and cave diving world.   We’ve seen instructors who have been diving at a full cave level for less than 2 years, and somehow managed to become cave instructors at some level (be it cavern, intro or even full cave!).  Regardless of how many dives one can log in a 1 or 2 year period, it is my opinion that they still lack actual real-world experience.  They’ve never had what I like to refer to as an “Oh, Sh-t!” moment.  So how can they teach you if they themselves just passed the same course you are planning on taking such a short time ago?

◦ I think that an individual should have no less than 5 years of experience and several hundreds (if not more) of dives at the level they are planning on teaching before even considering the possibility of becoming an instructor.  Otherwise, it just seems like they are trying to enlarge their ego, and are jumping from one certification to the next.  Again, this is my opinion, and yours could differ, but I do believe you deserve better than to get “trained” by someone who doesn’t have enough experience yet.

• Is the price too cheap?

◦ Technical and cave diving are expensive activities.  All the equipment you need to do the dives you will train for will come with a price tag in the thousands (if not tens of thousands).  While the majority of instructors love what we do for a living, we still have bills to pay, mortgages/rents, taxes, food, equipment repairs, etc., so a good course comes at a price.

◦ When a course is really cheap (and for technical and cave diving, anything less than $200-$250/day is really cheap), you have to ask yourself where those savings are coming from? Are corners being cut? Are you getting maybe just some really short dives just to meet standards so that the day ends early and the instructor can be home early and kick back? Are they properly servicing the equipment they are using or the equipment you are renting?

◦ A good instructor values their time, training and experience, and obviously, that is reflected in the price of a course.

• Do you “click” with your instructor?

◦ Interview your instructor. After all, when you first make contact, your instructor is also interviewing you.

◦ Every instructor has a different style, some are really laid back, some are tougher, with a no-nonsense approach to things, and some have a bit of a combination of both styles.  Most instructors are able to switch styles depending on the needs and personality of the students.  Some students require a bit more laid back approach to things, while some others need a bit of tough love.  

Regardless of teaching style, we all, at some point have to get tough to get a point across.  This does not mean that we are trying to be jerks, quite the opposite. We have to get tough because when you are on your own, planning and conducting your dives with your cave or tech diving buddies, the environment you will be diving in will be a lot less forgiving of mistakes.

There are a number of different types of commercial divers, including offshore, inland, HAZMAT, and more. But the most common type of diver works in the oil and gas industry.

However, where your commercial diving can take place is a bit more open to you.

CDA Technical Institute offers international certification, so your work doesn’t have to be limited to the United States. What are some of the top countries that employ commercial divers and what kinds of jobs can you expect in different locales around the world? (Our graduates prefer to work for American companies with contracts overseas due to the difficulties of obtaining work visas and permits in some countries)

1. United States

Everyone knows that oil and natural gas are big business in the United States but there are a lot of inland welding opportunities working near rivers, lakes, and ponds performing bridge inspections, water intake maintenance, and diver dredging operations. There are also more commercial diving schools in the United States than any other country in the world, so becoming an instructor later in your career is a real possibility.

2. Canada

Many of the same opportunities that are in the United States can also be found in Canada. There are also jobs in marine salvage, ship maintenance, underwater construction, and more.

3. Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico provides a wealth of opportunities and the quality of life cannot be beat. With beaches, inexpensive housing and utilities, and temperate weather, Mexico could be a great next step in your commercial diving career.

4. United Kingdom

The UK subsea sector boasts over 750 companies employing more than 53,000 employees, mostly concentrated in the oil and gas industry. But there are advances in renewable forms of energy not found in North America. A new diving industry sector has been created to accommodate subsurface construction activities. For example, offshore wind farms are being created in the Irish Sea to accommodate increased maintenance and repair requirements.

5. Greece

While hull repairs, salvage, and underwater welding and cutting work is found in Grecian commercial diving companies, they also undertake rapid response oil spill cleanup as well as environmental consultative work to the public and private sectors alike.

6. Russia

There are quite a few commercial diving operations in Eastern Europe, specifically in Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. Their focus tends to be simple vessel husbandry, subsea construction activities, and ship repair, but opportunities in nuclear diving and saturation dives are growing in this part of the world.

7. South Africa

Like most other regions in the world, there are plenty of opportunities in the offshore oil and gas industry, but the country’s civil works industry also puts a lot of people to work repairing underwater government infrastructure, pipes, and vessels.

8. Malaysia

There are actually more commercial diving opportunities than Southeast Asia has been able to keep up with, especially offshore operations. In Malaysia, the work currently looks like subsea pipeline maintenance, inspection, and underwater welding, but commercial divers are in high demand.

9. Singapore

Unlike most of the rest of the world, the commercial diving industry in Singapore is not based around the oil and gas industry but rather tourism and travel. Global shipping companies rely on Singapore divers to repair, clean, and polish the undersides of their vessels’ hulls.

10. Japan

Japan boasts a thriving commercial diving industry that is focused on civil construction, subsea steel construction, pipeline repair, dredging, and more. In addition to the oil and gas industries, Japanese commercial divers also service many of the country’s electrical power utilities.

This yet-to-be-named crab species was found camouflaged with debris, small zoanthid anemones and mud. It has a distinctive plate which resembles over-sized ears adjacent to its red eyes.

ROCHINIA NEW SPECIES "BIG EARS"

Size: 6cm (including legs)

Depth: More than 1,000m

This yet-to-be-named crab species was found camouflaged with debris, small zoanthid anemones and mud. It has a distinctive plate which resembles over-sized ears adjacent to its red eyes.

ROCHINIA NEW SPECIES "SPIKY"

Size: 8cm (including legs)

Depth: 800m

Rochinia new species “spiky” (Family Epialtidae)

A stunning orange species now ascribed to Rochinia with many strong spines. Only one specimen of this rare species was obtained from southwestern Java.

ROCHINIA NEW SPECIES "CLINGER"

Size: 6cm (including leg)

Depth: Between 800m and 1,200m

Rochinia new species “clinger” (Family Epialtidae).

Scientists found a third new species of Rochinia - a more elongated form - from the depths of southwestern Java.

Several specimens were found clinging to stalked sea lilies, a living fossil. Scientists are still not sure if this is their only habitat but they do believe these crabs have a preference for these sea lilies.

PAGURISTES NEW SPECIES (FAMILY DIOGENIDAE)

Size: 3cm (including legs)

Depth: About 200m

Paguristes new species (Family Diogenidae).

This distinctive new species of Paguristes hermit crab has green eyes and orange banded pincers.

BATHYNOMUS NEW SPECIES (FAMILY CIROLANIDAE)

Size: 30cm in length

Depth: 1,300m

Bathynomus new species (Family Cirolanidae).

Expedition member Muhammad Dzaki Safaruan holding the newly discovered giant sea cockroach.

GLYPHOCRANGON NEW SPECIES (FAMILY GLYPHOCRANGONIDAE)

Size: 8cm long

Depth: 1,013m

Glyphocrangon new species (Family Glyphocrangonidae).

An exquisitely sculptured shiny-eyed shrimp collected by scientists. These bottom dwelling shrimps possess unique mechanisms to lock their abdomens to protect themselves against predators.

MUNIDOPSIS NEW SPECIES (FAMILY GALATHEIDAE)

Size: 8cm (including pincers)

Depth: 525m

Munidopsis new species (Family Galatheidae).

This was among 20 species of squat lobsters found by scientists on the expedition. It has a distinctive zebra pattern on its body.

XYLOPAGURUS CF. PHILIPPINENSIS (FAMILY PAGURIDAE)

Size: 12cm to 15cm (full length

Depth: 370m

Xylopagurus cf. philippinensis (Family Paguridae).

The slender twig-dwelling hermit crab with a straight body has adapted its body to live inside the narrow cavities of hollow twigs and sticks. It relies on sunken wood as a major source of food or substrate.

PLATYGOBIOPSIS SP. (POSSIBLE NEW SPECIES) (FAMILY GOBIIDAE)

Size: 5cm to 6cm long

Depth: 182m

Platygobiopsis sp. (Family Gobiidae).

The strange goby is flat-headed, and has very enlarged otoliths (ear stones for balance) behind the eyes. It is the first time this species is recorded in the Indian Ocean.

There are currently three known species which are from Flores, Vietnam and Japan. Scientists are currently examining whether this specimen is new to science.

CHELIDOPERCA MARGARITIFERA (FAMILY SERRANIDAE)

Size: 10cm to 12cm long

Depth: About 165m

Chelidoperca margaritifera (Family Serranidae).

The red mini-grouper Chelidoperca margaritifera (Family Serranidae) is historically interesting as it was first collected by the Siboga Expedition team, and described by the famous Dutch ichthyologist Max Weber in 1913.

Singapore-Indonesia deep-sea expedition team discovers over a dozen species new to science.

It was first found near Misool Island in eastern Indonesia and has since been reported from Australia. 

The discovery of more specimens of this beautiful species in Java, which is well West of its known range, is of great interest and constitutes as a major find.

DEEP SEA STAR (FAMILY CAYMANOSTELLIDAE)

Size: Up to 1cm in diameter

Depth: Between 500m and 1,200m

Deep Sea Star (Family Caymanostellidae).

An unusual Caymanostella wood-dwelling sea star, possibly new to science, found deep in southwestern Java.

Diver CPR

"In many emergency situations, you really don't need to do a lot. But you do need to do critical little things," says Neal Pollock, Ph.D., of Divers Alert Network and the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C. First aid is about fast action, explains Pollock. 

It needs to happen quickly, so you can repair the damage done from an accident or at least stop things from getting worse until medical help arrives. "Walk yourself through emergency events you may encounter.

What would you do if a shark came up and bit your buddy? 

Go through your actions step by step. If you don't know, get answers. A little mental rehearsal can save you a lot of time and anguish and improve your confidence and response time," says Pollock, co-editor of DAN Pocket Guide to First Aid for Scuba Diving.

Scenarios for First Aid Attention Help : 

The last thing you want to think about as you're soaking in the warm rays en route to your next dive is what you'd do if you or your buddy should step on a stonefish or be stung by a jellyfish. 

But that's exactly what should be on your mind as you prepare for your next plunge, at least until you come up with an emergency plan. 

What should you do if you or your dive buddy encounter a dive accident?

"3 Cs" — Check, Call, Care

Your first actions after any accident should be to follow what the Red Cross, the original first-aid professionals, call the "3 Cs" — check, call, care.

Check the scene and the people or person involved (in some cases, it may be you). How serious is the accident? Is there a lot of bleeding? 

Is anyone unconscious or having trouble breathing? Is it safe for you to even be there? Take in as much information as you can.

Call for help if you need it. For emergencies such as serious marine animal bites or envenomation, suspected DCS, heart attack, near drowning, etc., call 911.

For non-life-threatening situations, at least call for the divemaster, so you can get help in assessing the situation and providing aid. (See "Call 911 if...")

Care for the injuries, at the very least providing preliminary assistance until professional help arrives.

Close Encounters of the Injurious Kind

Scuba diving is traditionally a look, don't touch kind of sport. 

But even careful divers can inadvertently run into trouble, says avid diver and ER doc George Bulloch, M.D., of Redwood City, Calif., who suffered a chance encounter with a Portuguese man-of-war a few years back. 

Unless you know what to do, those injuries from underwater encounters can turn from bad to worse pretty quickly, he says.

Here are some quick fixes for diving's most common mishaps. 

Take care of the wounds and seek medical assistance as recommended. In the days following an injury watch the wound for infection. 

If it swells, becomes hot, reddens or a red streak appears, develops pus and/or a foul odor, is painful to the touch or you develop a fever, see a doctor ASAP.

Stings

Jellyfish (there are more than 9,000 kinds), fire coral (not actually coral but a member of the jelly family) and bristleworms are a few of the common culprits that can deliver a painful zing.

Flush the injury with plenty of seawater to remove remaining tentacles and generally clean it out. Hot water inactivates many marine venoms, so if possible, flush or immerse the injury in very hot (but not scalding) water for 30 to 90 minutes. Vinegar also helps. 

Neutralize the venom from any remaining nematocysts (stingers) by rinsing the wound with vinegar. (Note: Do not use vinegar for a Portuguese man-of-war; it can trigger any remaining nematocysts to fire.) 

Then remove remaining stingers. Tweezers work for large stingers. You can also shave the area with shaving cream and a razor. Or in the case of small bristles, apply a piece of adhesive tape and "pull" them off. Rinse with vinegar again. Take Tylenol or ibuprofen orally and apply a hydrocortisone cream for pain.

Some stings, like those from a box jellyfish, can be very toxic, even fatal. Watch for severe symptoms, like pronounced swelling, trouble breathing, muscle weakness and nausea, that require immediate attention.

Punctures

As the name implies, punctures are deeper than stings because they stab through the skin. They can be small, like those from a sea urchin, lionfish or cone snail, to very big, such as the harpoon-like jab of a stingray, but they should all be treated seriously.

Flush or immerse the wound in very hot, but not scalding water for 30 to 90 minutes. Use tweezers to remove any remaining spines. Don't struggle to remove sea urchin spines; some may need surgical removal. Scrub the area with soap and water and rinse thoroughly.

Many punctures are venomous and some can be fatal, so seek immediate medical care. For particularly toxic punctures, like those from the cone snail or stonefish, wrap the affected area snugly (but not so tight as to cut off circulation) with an ACE bandage to slow the spread of venom.

Bites

Even small bites are potentially very dangerous, not only because they may carry venom (as in sea snakes and the potentially lethal blue-ringed octopus), but also because they deliver a hefty dose of bacteria that can cause rapid, nasty infections.

For snakes and octopus bites, wrap the affected area snugly (but not so tight as to cut off circulation) with an ACE bandage to slow the spread of venom. Seek help immediately. In the case of a blue-ringed octopus bite, the person may also need rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth).

For moderate fish bites, irrigate the wound with fresh water. Then gently scrub it with soap and water and thoroughly rinse it. Apply an antibiotic ointment and keep the area elevated. 

For large bites, the first step is to stop the bleeding. Apply direct pressure over the wound with a clean dressing. Snugly wrap an ACE bandage around the dressing to keep pressure on the wound. Keep the wounded area above heart level, if possible. If the bleeding stops, you can then clean the wound. For all bites, seek medical assistance immediately.

Scrapes

By far the most common diving injury is the common scrape, usually from coral. Clean all nicks and scrapes with soap and fresh, clean water. Then flush the affected area again. 

To drive out all remaining debris, perform a final rinse with a mixture of half hydrogen peroxide and half water. Pat it dry and apply a coating of antibiotic ointment.

DIY First-Aid Kit

Toss these 10 dive savers in your bag and you'll hopefully never need them.

• Vinegar or rubbing alcohol

• Fresh water

• ACE bandage

• Antibiotic ointment

• Over-the-counter pain reliever (ibuprofen, Tylenol)

• Tape

• Tweezers

• Shaving kit

• Gauze pads

• Soap

Call DAN if …

Even innocent injuries can turn deadly if you have an allergic or severe reaction. 

After any accident, watch for severe swelling, dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, weakness, muscle pain, cold sweat and a rapid heartbeat. 

If any occur while you're on a dive trip, call DAN's emergency hotline 919-684-4DAN immediately. Injectible epinephrine can help calm allergic reactions. 

CPR may be necessary until help arrives.

Emergency First Response courses encompass adult, child and infant CPR and first aid skills, and incorporate Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) training and emergency oxygen use. 

Offers comprehensive First Aid at Work courses, specifically designed to meet national and international compliance standards for CPR and first aid courses in the workplace. 

Courses are flexible in design to accommodate scheduling and training needs. They can be taught together or alone in any combination.

The Emergency First Response courses build lay rescuer confidence to provide care when faced with a medical emergency. 

Participants learn and practice the same patient care techniques and principles used by medical professionals, but at a lay person level.

Types of EFR Courses Available and Applicable : 

Emergency First Response Primary Care (CPR) Course

Emergency First Response Primary Care (CPR) teaches participants how to respond to life-threatening emergencies. The course focuses on primary care through a combination of knowledge development, skill development and realistic scenario practice to make sure participants have the confidence in their ability to provide care when emergency situations arise.Primary Care (CPR) skills taught in this course:

• Scene Assessment, Barrier Use, Primary Assessment, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Serious Bleeding Management, Shock Management, Spinal Injury Management, Conscious and Unconscious Choking Management.
• Recommended Skills
  – Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Use
  – Emergency Oxygen Use.

Emergency First Response Secondary Care (First Aid) Course Content

Emergency First Response Secondary Care (first aid) covers injuries or illnesses that are not immediately life threatening. Participants focus on secondary assessment and first aid through knowledge development, skill development and realistic scenario practice.

Secondary Skills taught in this course:

• Injury Assessment
• Illness Assessment
• Bandaging
• Splinting for Dislocations and Fractures

Includes first aid treatment reference for the following emergencies:

Allergic Reactions (incl. anaphylaxis), Asthma, Bruises, Burns, Chemical Burns, Choking (adult, child, infant), CPR (adult, child, infant), Cuts, Dental Injuries, Diabetic Problems, Dislocations and Fractures, Electrical Injuries, Eye Injuries, First Aid Kit Assembly, Fish Spine Injury, Frostbite, Heat Exhaustion, Heatstroke, Heart Attack, Hypothermia, Insect Stings, Jellyfish Stings, Octopus Bites, Poisoning, Scrapes, Seizures, Snake Bites, Spider Bites, Sprains and Strains, Stroke, Temperature Related Injuries and Venomous Bites and Stings.

Emergency First Response Care for Children Course

The Emergency First Response Care for Children course is an innovative CPR, AED and First Aid training course that teaches participants how to provide emergency care for injured or ill children (ages one to eight) and infants less than one year old. Participants learn about the types of medical emergencies that children face, and how they differ from adults. The curriculum also includes the importance of attending to basic emergency situations with children, the emotional aspects of caring for children, secondary care for children, and preventing common injuries and illnesses in children.

The Emergency First Response Care for Children course trains the lay rescuer to follow the same priorities of care used by medical professionals. The student masters the priorities and the procedures of patient care for infants and children in a non-stressful learning environment, which reduces the performance anxieties that interfere with learning and enhances confidence when rendering aid in a real medical emergency.

The course includes both primary care (CPR) and secondary care (first aid) skills. The primary care portion of the course prepares the rescuer to help an infant or child with a life-threatening emergency such as choking or cardiac arrest. Secondary care focuses on developing first aid skills and building the rescuer’s confidence to help an infant or child in need when emergency medical services are either delayed or unavailable. The Care for Children course content is based on guidelines from the Pediatric Working Group of ILCOR.

Care for Children Primary Care Course Content:

• Scene Assessment, Barrier Use, Primary Assessment, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR, child and infant), Serious Bleeding Management, Shock Management, Spinal Injury Management, Conscious and Unconscious Choking Management (child and infant)
• Recommended Skill
  – Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Use (child)

Care for Children Secondary Care Course Content:

Injury Assessment
Bandaging
Illness Assessment.

Emergency First Response CPR & AED Course

The Emergency First Response CPR & AED course teaches the basic principles of CPR and how to deploy and use an Automated External Defibrillation (AED) in an emergency situation. This life saving device can increase a patient’s chance of survival from a cardiac arrest by fifty percent.

This course is very popular for annual CPR (re-)training often required for the workplace.

Emergency First Response Refresher Course

Time to refresh your CPR and first aid skills? Do you hold a CPR or First Aid certificate from another training organization? If so, you are eligible to attend the Emergency First Response Refresher course. Plus, you can get Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training at the same time you refresh your CPR skills.

Emergency First Response Workplace Courses

Our Emergency First Response region-specific courses include comprehensive instruction in Primary Care (CPR), AED use and Secondary Care (First Aid) and meet regulatory body requirements in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Our instructors can also assist you in placing AED units in your business and teaching your staff how to operate them.

Click through to the links below for a detailed description of workplace courses in:

DAN is Divers Alert Network which is your Dive Safety Association. 

Is the largest association of recreational scuba divers in the world, DAN is supported by membership dues and donations. 

DAN’s mission is to help divers in need of medical emergency assistance and to promote dive safety through research, education, products and diving services. 

The benefits of DAN membership include emergency medical evacuation assistance through DAN TravelAssist, a subscription to Alert Diver magazine and access to DAN’s insurance services. 

DAN Emergency Hotline (+1-919-684-9111)

DAN's Emergency Hotline staff members are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to provide information, assist with care coordination and evacuation assistance. 

This number should also be used to access DAN TravelAssist benefits and services — even when the emergency is not related to diving.

*Please note that our medical information specialists cannot sell insurance or memberships. For these services, please call +1-919-684-2948 or 1-800-446-2671 during our regular business hours or join or renew directly through the DAN website.

DAN Medical Information Line (+1-919-684-2948)

If you have a question that isn't an emergency, you can call our Medical Information Line during regular business hours and speak directly to one of our medical information specialists. You can also email your question by clicking on the Ask a Medic link and filling out the form.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Many divers have the same questions when it comes to medical conditions and concerns. DAN makes online answers to these questions available to you whenever you need them; if the answers don't give you all the information you need, call our Medical Information Line to find out more or obtain a physician referral.

Before You Travel

When it comes to dive travel, a little preparation can save a lot of trouble.

Other Services

2012 DAN (RCAP) Meeting Recompression Chamber Assistance Program. This is a program specifically developed for chamber technicians working at remotely located, under-served recompression chambers within the DAN World and DAN regions.

Physician referrals. DAN maintains a database of more than 1,000 doctors worldwide who are trained in dive medicine. 

Physician consult services. DAN medical information staff provide assistance to physicians as well as allied health-care providers — whether evaluating patients with dive-related illness or injury or assessing fitness to dive.

Educational webinar presentations for divers. If your club, organization or medical facility would like to have us present on a dive medicine topic at your next meeting, call the DAN Medical Information Line, +1-919-684-2948, Option 2. 

Online seminars. Access to our online dive medicine and safety presentations is a benefit of DAN membership.

DAN's hotlines and other nonprofit services are supported by DAN Membership dues and insurance purchases. If you appreciate the service DAN Medical Information provides, join DAN today.

DAN does not and cannot engage in the practice of medicine, which is the sole province of licensed physicians. 

Royal Carribean has helped launched a new scuba mask called the SeaSeeker mask.

Though this new Tuas Mega Port brings in so much Economic Profits for Singapore government and some marine companies, but So much Coral Reefs and Marine life are being affected and died in the Process. 

When can these people realised that Corals, Reefs and Marine life are So much more Important than $$$ and economic growth? - If they develop this Tuas Mega Port into a Eco Resort Tourism, and to provide Scuba diving tours, within Singapore waters. Im sure the profits gained back won't be any less than the construction and implementation of this New Tuas Mega Port in Singapore !!!

As the maritime industry in Singapore successfully navigates through challenges such as slowing growth, rapid technological changes, and a tight labour market, it is imperative that ports find innovative ways to work more efficiently and capitalize on the opportunities available.

Singapore is clearly a role model for the maritime industry, retaining its position as the Leading Maritime Capital of the World according to the Leading Maritime Capitals Report 2017. Indeed, despite challenging economic conditions in both traditional shipping and the offshore oil and gas markets, the city-state boasts a remarkably successful maritime industry, achieving a top-5 position in shipping, finance and law, maritime technology, ports and logistics as well as overall attractiveness and competitiveness. This is largely due to an increased focus on R&D developments within the industry over the past few years.

Port development plays a crucial role in creating a world leading maritime hub and gaining a competitive edge regionally, which is why Singapore remains committed to investing in port infrastructure. The Tuas mega port is a major milestone in Singapore’s next generation container terminal development with the long-term project, that includes four phases, targeted for completion in 2040. With construction of Phase 1 beginning in April last year, the mega port is slated to open progressively from 2021.

Here’s what you should know about the upcoming Tuas Terminal; a centrepiece of Singapore’s Next Generation Port vision.

1. Consolidation of terminals

Singapore currently has five container terminals – Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, Brani, Pasir Panjang Terminal 1 and Pasir Panjang Terminal 2. Due to the frequent need to truck containers between terminals for transhipment, additional time and costs are incurred as a result of road congestions.

With the completion of the Tuas Terminal, all city terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Pasir Panjang, Keppel and Brani, will eventually be merged at Tuas. This consolidation of container port activities will not only result in increased efficiency in port operations due to the elimination of inter-terminals haulage, but also comes at the right time with the expiration of port leases at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Brani in 2027.

The Tuas Terminal is expected to be the largest container terminal in the world, with a facility that will be able to cater to mega-vessels. In addition, the mega-terminal will also have a total capacity of up to 65 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), more than the combined 50 million TEUs capacity of the current city terminals.

2. Caissons

Another key feature of the new port is the caissons. These large watertight chambers keep the water out by air pressure, allowing construction work to be carried out with ease. These concrete retaining structures are designed as the foundation of the Tuas Terminal Phase 1 and are one of the largest in the world. Each caisson weighs up to 15,000 tonnes and measures up to 28 metres tall (equivalent to the height of a 10 storey HDB block).

Using caissons to build the wharf structure is faster than traditional methods such as piling due to the shallow sea bed. A total of 222 caissons will form the permanent wharf structure of the work-in-progress mega-terminal, with 30 caissons already built as part of Phase 1 development.

3. State-of-the-art Technology

With technological advances transforming most industries, the maritime industry is shifting towards a digital future as well. Plans to incorporate more automation, intelligent control systems, and sustainable technologies into the new terminal shows how maritime players are harnessing new technologies to become more efficient and effective.

Some key innovations will include unmanned vehicles such as automated yard cranes, drones, data analytics and driverless trucks for port transport, which will be used at the upcoming mega terminal. Additionally, port waters will also be managed using next generation port operations systems. In particular, the Next Generation Vessel Traffic Management System helps with early detection of hot spots and advising the best route for vessels to reach the berths safely and efficiently without congesting the port.

Precision and speed that comes with automated technologies will not only help in increasing the productivity of a tight labour market, but also contributes to enhancing the safety and security of Singapore’s port waters.

4. Lifestyle Spaces

Departing from the concept of an ordinary container terminal, plans to develop Tuas Terminal into a maritime hub with storage facilities and commercial amenities are also in the pipeline.

To create greater efficiencies in overall port operations, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is looking at developing facilities such as warehouse and distribution centres at the mega port; currently these are fragmented amongst different terminals in Singapore.

Combining both port activities and lifestyle spaces through the utilisation of both above-the-ground and underground spaces at the new terminal helps add life and vibrancy to the terminal. By getting the public interested to visit the port, it also offers an opportunity for them to get a better understanding of the evolving maritime sector as well.

5. Creation of Jobs

The maritime sector contributes around 7 percent to Singapore’s overall GDP growth, and currently employs over 170,000 workers. With this ongoing mega-project, more growth is expected in Singapore’s maritime sector. While the development of smarter ports creates a concern of technology taking away manual jobs, it also creates a demand for more port operators and marine engineers who are tech-savvy and ready for the future and offers opportunities for current maritime workers to upgrade their skills and develop their careers. With more jobs forecasted to be created in the maritime industry by 2025, this is probably the best time to join this vital, versatile, and resilient industry.

For those who are keen to take up new challenges, explore new horizons and be part of a vibrant, dynamic and growing sector, explore the Maritime Singapore Connect website and find out more.

  The New Largest TUAS Port Development Project is very Crucial to Singapore's Economic Growth and Sustainability, also contributes to millions of new jobs for our Singaporeans People, but at the expense of even more Pollution caused to Planet Earth, Oceans and Seas, unless much care and consideration is done to ensure that the Coral Reefs in our waters will not be killed by the Land Reclaimation and Sedimentation Activities, in order to construct and build this Mega TUAS Port. 

Read more on the Devastation Effects of the Mangrove, Coral Reefs and Marine Ecosystem due to such large scale construction projects and developments : http://www.reefresilience.org/…/local-…/coastal-development/

  If one day due to overfishing activity or entire world coral reefs and eco system is down, with the entire waste/rubbish pollution of all the Oceans and Seas of the world, we Humans Beings and our Future Generations will and are not going to be able to Survive or Live long no matter what country you are living in. 70% of Earth is Water, and only 30% consist of land. 

  Many people only care about themselves, their country's economic gains, profits, but they do not understand why we kept Emphasise the importance of having Healthy Coral Reefs, Clean Oceans, Seas and Marine Eco system. Most of them are just busy dedicating their entire life working in office for their bosses to care about whats happening in the world or even try to understand what's the fuss about.

  Currently, 2.5 billion people (40% of the world’s population) live within 100 km of the coast,ref adding increased pressure to coastal ecosystems. Coastal development linked to human settlements, industry, aquaculture, or infrastructure can cause severe impacts on near shore ecosystems, particularly coral reefs. Coastal development impacts may be direct (e.g., land filling, dredging, coral and sand mining for construction) or indirect (e.g., increased runoff of sediment and pollutants).

 Impacts from Coastal Development

 These include the following : 

 Mangroves create a barrier between land and sea, filtering sediment and nutrients from coastal runoff and protecting the coastline from storms.

 Construction projects (piers, channels, airstrips, dikes, land reclamation, etc.) — can kill corals directly

Degradation of coral reefs — can result in lost tourism revenue in countries that depend on reef-based tourism and also can reduce fish populations

 Coastal construction — can cause chronic sedimentation, sewage effluent, industrial discharge, and changes in water flow and runoff, which can adversely affect coral growth rates and metabolic activities as well as directly kill corals

 Removal of reefs — can result in beach erosion, land retreat, and sedimentation

 Sedimentation — can smother reefs or increase turbidity in coastal waters, thus reducing light needed for coral growth and survival

 Pollutants — can lead to increases in coral disease and mortality, cause changes in coral community structure, and impede coral growth, reproduction and larval settlement; for example, nutrient runoff can lead to algal blooms which can stifle coral growth

 Mining of coral for construction materials — can lead to long-term economic losses in terms of lost benefits for fisheries, coastal protection, tourism, and food security and biodiversity

  As coastal populations increase and natural coastal protection is degraded or lost, sea-level rise and changes in storm patterns are likely to increase the effects of harmful coastal development activities. Local impacts of land-based sources of stress will occur in combination with global and regional stressors, such as climate change, land-use practices, and freshwater inputs, further threatening the survival of coral reef ecosystems. For example, increases in storm impacts linked to climate change could exacerbate run-off of sediments and other pollutants.

  Reducing the effects of coastal development is critically important; it threatens nearly 25% of the world’s coral reefs, particularly in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic.ref The impacts of coastal development can be drastically reduced through effective planning and land use regulations.

  For example, planning and management approaches can include land-use zoning plans and regulations, protection of coastal habitats (such as mangroves), coastal setbacks that restrict development within a fixed distance from shoreline, watershed management, improved collection and treatment of wastewater and solid wastes, and management of tourism within sustainable levels.

Almost all the ice covering the Bering Sea has melted, scientists have confirmed, throwing communities living around its shores into disarray.

The region’s ice cover normally persists for at least another month, and this year it has vanished earlier than any other year except 2017.

Located in the northern Pacific Ocean between Alaska and Russia, the Bering Sea is experiencing the brunt of climate change and has already drawn attention this year for unprecedented levels of winter melting.

In February, soaring Arctic temperatures led to around half the region’s disappearing in the space of two weeks.

This trend has continued into spring, and scientists have confirmed that by the end of April just 10 per cent of normal ice levels remained.

“We’ve fallen off a cliff: very little sea ice remains in the Bering Sea,” tweeted Dr Rick Thoman, a climatologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who is based in Alaska.

A report released by the International Arctic Research Centre at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has outlined the real-world effects of these stunning environmental changes on the many communities that inhabit the Bering Sea region.

“The low sea ice is already impacting the lives and livelihoods of people in Western Alaska coastal communities by restricting hunting and fishing which are the mainstays of the economies of these communities,” Dr Thoman told The Washington Post.

“Travel between communities via boat or snowmachine was difficult and limited due to thin unstable sea ice,” the report said.

“At times there was not enough ice to harvest marine mammals, fish, or crabs. As a result of increased open water, storm surf flooded homes and pushed ice rubble onto shore.

The lack of sea ice in recent months has exposed these communities to the elements, as it normally acts as a buttress against extreme weather events.

A large late February storm devastated Little Diomede Island, leading to a loss of power for inhabitants as ice rubble covered the local helipad and damaged the water treatment plant.

Following an ice-free February in the town of Savoonga – located on St Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea – ice returned at the beginning of May.

However, local resident Aqef Waghiyi reported that “it is all broken up... no flat pieces and it is real rough”.

“There are patches of open water... biggest open patch in front of town is maybe as big as a football field.”

This lack of stability had an impact on animals as well. West of Savoonga in the town of Gambell, the lack of sea ice led to a lack of walrus traditionally found in the area.

The drivers behind the premature melting of the Bering Sea’s ice include both long-term global warming and an unfortunate confluence of weather events.

According to Dr Brian Brettscheider, a climate scientist with the International Arctic Research Centre, “the warmed state of the Arctic has primed the region for low ice values”.

Readings taken across the region have confirmed that both ocean and air temperatures were well above normal in the months leading up to and during the melting events of this year.

These high temperatures have been exacerbated by air currents over the Arctic guiding storms into the region and drawing warmer air from the tropics. The storms prevented ice from forming properly by breaking it up before it became stable.

The amount of sea ice in the Bering Sea was lower this winter than any year since whaling vessels began keeping written records in 1850.

In their report, the International Arctic Research Centre scientists wrote that while not every year will be as bad as this one, ice formation is likely to remain low if the Bering Sea’s waters remain warm.

They also warn that communities will need to “prepare for more winters with low sea ice and stormy conditions”.

“Fellow Americans are suffering from a natural disaster,” said Dr Thoman. “While low sea ice is not as dramatic as a wildfire or an Interstate 95 snowstorm, the impacts and hardships it produces are just as real.”

Please check on your end for each individual country exchange rate for the conversion of the Sipadan permit conservation fee. 

From 14 August 2018, the Sipadan permit conservation fee of MYR 40.00 will be rise to MYR 140.00 per person per day, writes Seaventures Dive. The cost with tax will be MYR 148.40. This is equivalent to 40 USD, 32 Euro or £27.

Everyone wishing to dive Sipadan must obtain a permit, and only 120 permits are issued each day. The permits are shared by 12 dive operators, who have to tell the Sabah Parks authority the details of their divers. Priority is generally given to divers who stay the longest at the diving resort and who book the earliest.

Sipadan is a very small island not far from the town of Semporna on the East coast of Sabah in Borneo Malaysia. It is a limestone pinnacle rising from 600 metres. The boat ride from Semporna takes around an hour. Sipadan is Malaysia’s only oceanic island.

A total of 16,846 hectares of coral reefs and sea area around Sipadan are now officially a park area for which a permit is required.

Sipadan boasts what has been voted the best dive in the world: Barracuda Point.

The twelve dive operators who have access to permits are:

Bharman Sipadan Dive Safari & Seasport Sdn Bhd
Borneo Divers and Seasport (Sabah) Sdn Bhd
Dive Semporna Sdn Bhd
Borneo Jungle River Island Tours Sdn Bhd
North Borneo Dive and Seasports Sdn Bhd
Pulau Sipadan Resort Sdn Bhd
Seaventures Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd
Sipadan-Mabul Resort (Sabah) Sdn Bhd
Sipadan Water Village Resort Sdn Bhd
The Reef Dive Resort & Tours Sdn Bhd
Celebes Explorer liveaboard
Roach Reef Resort and Tours

SINGAPORE: More than half of St John's Island and also Kusu Island, Singapore, has been cordoned off after debris containing asbestos was found on the island, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said on Monday (Apr 23).

The areas blocked off to the public include most of the island’s facilities such as the nature trail, campsite, lagoon and the holiday bungalow area, said SLA, which manages the island.

The closure took effect last Tuesday, a day after samples taken from the campsite, lagoon and holiday bungalow area tested positive for asbestos.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/st-johns-island-closed-asbestos-found-10167430

 For those sushi/ sashimi lovers, or those who like to eat Seafood eg. lobsters, crabs, crayfish etc..., as currently many countries of the world, has polluted sea waters due to breakdown of plastics into micro-plastics or due to waste and rubbish consumption to the fishes stomaches, hence Pollutants found in fish could be making their way into our food supply and damaging our body's natural defense system. 

 One can remove the micro plastics or small pieces of rubbish inside the fish stomach or body before cooking to eat, else try to refrain from eating seafood unless you can deem the seafood to be fresh! 

 Please take more pre-caution esp. if you like eating Seafood so much !

Plastic bottles are one of the most prevalent forms of plastic pollution (Photo: David Jones/Blue Pixel Imaging)

By Mark 'Crowley' Russell

Scientists have discovered an enzyme that can digest certain types of plastic - which would otherwise take hundreds of years to break down in the natural environment - in a matter of days, and they discovered it by accident.

The enzyme is capable of returning polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, the compound used in the manufacture of plastic bottles, back into its original chemical components, potentially solving one of the world's most prevalent plastic-pollution related problems.

Teams of researchers from the UK's University of Portsmouth and the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), were conducting experiments into a strain of bacteria that is thought to have evolved naturally at a plastic waste recycling centre in Japan.

During the process of analysing the enzyme produced by the bacteria, the scientists accidentally engineered a modified version that proved to be better at degrading the plastic than the original.

High definition 3D modelling was used to understand how the enzyme functions (H Lee Woodcock/University of South Florida)

The 'mutant enzyme' may have significant implications in the struggle to combat plastic pollution. Even when plastic bottles are collected for recycling, there are limitations as to what can be produced through the process - tough fibres that can be used in carpets, for example - and some products cannot be recycled at all.

Should the process be replicated on an industrial scale, it would mean that plastic bottles could be recycled back into other products - including more plastic bottles. While this may not completely remove plastic from the environment, it would significantly reduce the amount of new plastic that would need to be created, as the world seeks to source sustainable alternatives.

Professor John McGeehan, Director of the Institute of Biological and Biomedical Sciences in the School of Biological Sciences at Portsmouth, said: 'Few could have predicted that since plastics became popular in the 1960s, huge plastic waste patches would be found floating in oceans, or washed up on once pristine beaches all over the world.

'We can all play a significant part in dealing with the plastic problem, but the scientific community who ultimately created these ‘wonder-materials’, must now use all the technology at their disposal to develop real solutions.'

As a result of the discovery, the teams hope that the research can be developed for use on an industrial scale.

'The engineering process is much the same as for enzymes currently being used in bio-washing detergents and in the manufacture of biofuels,' said Prof McGeehan. 'The technology exists and it’s well within the possibility that in the coming years we will see an industrially viable process to turn [plastics] back into their original building blocks so that they can be sustainably recycled.'

People around the world will come together this weekend to celebrate the planet and to take action to protect it.

Here's everything you need to know about Earth Day 2018.

When is Earth Day?

First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day takes place worldwide on April 22.

This year's event falls on a Sunday.

Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, FILE
What is Earth Day and why do we celebrate it?

Various events are held annually on Earth Day across the globe to show support for protecting the environment.

U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin native, is largely credited for organizing the first Earth Day in spring 1970, a time when it was still legal for factories to spew noxious fumes into the air or dump toxic waste into nearby streams. That's because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency didn't exist then, and there were no laws to protect the environment.

Paul Sakuma/AP, FILE

Nelson recruited Harvard University professor Denis Hayes to coordinate and promote Earth Day nationally. The event was a success.

Twenty million Americans took to the streets on April 22, 1970, demanding action on environmental pollution. That December, Congress authorized the establishment of a new federal agency, the EPA, to ensure environmental protection. The passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other landmark environmental laws followed soon after, according to the EPA.

Earth Day went global 20 years later, mobilizing 200 million people in dozens of countries and putting environmental issues on the world stage.

Now, more than 1 billion people in 192 countries are estimated to participate in Earth Day activities every year, according to Earth Day Network, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that organizes the event worldwide.

Colin Monteath/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

What is the 2018 theme?

This year's Earth Day is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to eventually end plastic pollution, according to Earth Day Network.

Many of us use or encounter plastic every single day, even if we don't realize it. There's single-use plastics, such as bags, bottles, plates, utensils and straws. But there are also plastics in our electronics, cars, clothes and paint.

So what happens to all this plastic? Some of it gets recycled. But a lot ends up in landfills or is simply littered as plastic pollution, which gets into our waterways.

Plastic is made to last forever -- it cannot biodegrade. Disposed plastic materials can remain in the environment for up to 2,000 years and longer, according to a 2009 article published in scientific journal Chemistry & Biology.

Earth Day Network has called the management of plastic waste a "global crisis."

"Plastic pollution is now an ever-present challenge. We can see plastics floating in our rivers, ocean and lagoons, littering our landscapes and affecting our health and the future of billions of children and youth. We have all contributed to this problem –- mostly unknowingly," Valeria Merino, vice president of Global Earth Day at Earth Day Network, said in a statement.

STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

An estimated 275 million metric tons of plastic waste were generated in 192 coastal countries in 2010, with 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons entering the ocean, according to findings in a 2015 study led by Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineer at the University of Georgia.

Recent research commissioned by Orb Media, a nonprofit journalism organization based in Washington, D.C., found that 94 percent of drinking water in the United States and 93 percent of bottled water sampled from nine countries are spiked with chemically-laced plastic particles, many of which have been linked to major diseases.

In recent years, many countries have taken steps to ban bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and other chemicals from plastics in some products.

"There is a growing tidal wave of interest in ending plastic pollution and some countries and governments are already in the vanguard. Earth Day Network believes we can turn that tidal wave into a permanent solution to plastics pollution," Earth Day Network president Kathleen Rogers said in a statement.

This year, Earth Day Network will mobilize its global network of non-governmental organizations and grassroots groups, as well as local elected officials, faith leaders, artists, athletes, students and teachers "to build a world of educated consumers, voters and activists of all ages who understand the environmental, climate and health consequences of using plastic," according to Rogers.

Mike Segar/Reuters, FILE
How can I get involved?

How Can I Get Involved?

While recycling is important, Earth Day Network says it's not nearly enough to bring an end to plastic pollution.

"You may be lulled into thinking it is OK to consume disposable plastic products because you plan to recycle them, but many plastics can’t be efficiently recycled and will end up in the landfill or littering the planet, even in the most remote places," Merino said. "Also, some localities lack the most basic infrastructure to manage waste and to sort and recycle plastics. For this reason, it is much more important to focus on reducing your own level of plastic consumption."

Here are some suggestions from the Earth Day Network on how to reduce your plastic footprint:

"How many marine animals must be killed before law and enforcement keep up with these irresponsible actions using large-size metal cages?" Mr Teo said. OtterWatch was working with authorities over the incident.

Mr Jeffery Teo, another member of OtterWatch, told Channel NewsAsia that these metal traps can be found along coastal areas. Some were new traps and some had been abandoned, he said.

Today, let us observe a few mins of silence in prayers to pray for Inuka - Singapore's last polar bear demise and also for the death of 2 Otters found @ Changi Sailing Club. 

Its with a heavy heart that the otters were found trapped in metal heavy cages and can't release themselves, which leads to their death. Inuka died of old age and failing health.

Let us inspire those Fishermen, unless absolute necessary for livelihood, please do not catch too much fishes as the population of fishes in seas and oceans will be soon depleted by year 2020. 

And hopefully, we people can eat less Seafood so that less marine life will be served on the table.

SINGAPORE: Singapore Zoo's late resident polar bear Inuka was an "inquisitive soul" and a "cheeky fellow", Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) said on Wednesday (Apr 25).

The polar bear was put down "on humane grounds" on Wednesday morning, said WRS, after a second health examination in three weeks showed his welfare had been "seriously compromised" and would only "deteriorate further".

The 27-year-old’s health had been “declining markedly”, with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) – which runs the zoo – saying earlier in the month that vets might have to make the “very difficult decision” to put it down if its health was not shown to be improving.

In human years, Inuka lived well into his 70s – and well past the 25-year average lifespan of polar bears under human care, according to WRS. Wild male polar bears have a life expectancy of between 15 and 18 years.

Here are some facts about the late polar bear:

1. First polar bear to be born in the tropics

Welcomed into the world on Boxing Day, 1990, Inuka was the first polar bear to be born in the tropics.

His father Nanook and mother Sheba arrived at the Singapore Zoo from Canada and Germany respectively in 1978. Inuka weighed just 350g at birth – but grew to weigh more than 500kg.

Inuka dives down in its pool on Apr 23, 2018, two days before it was put down. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

2. Its name means “silent stalker” in Inuit

Inuka’s name means “silent stalker” in Inuit, and was chosen in a national naming contest.

More than 10,000 entries were received, including names like Arctos and Shardik, according to reports.

One of Inuka's favourite games was peek-a-boo. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

3. Liked to play peek-a-boo

Described by WRS as “young at heart”, Inuka was a mischievous bear that liked to invent his own games from the toys provided by its keepers, according to WRS.

His favourite game was peek-a-boo – where the bear would “stalk” and surprise guests by popping up right in front of their faces when they came close to the glass front of his enclosure.

He was also a "cheeky fellow" who would wait until its keepers were not watching and then spit out his medication, said WRS. He would also put its toothbrush out of the keepers' reach and move it further every time they wanted to retrieve it.

In human years, Inuka lived well into its 70s – and well past the 25-year average lifespan of polar bears under human care. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

4. It went green from time to time

Polar bears are generally known for their “white” fur – though the bears’ coats actually have no white pigment, but are hollow, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

In Inuka’s case, microscopic algae from his pool would sometimes enter these hollow hair shafts, tingeing his fur green.

Microscopic algae would sometimes enter Inuka's hollow hair shafts, tingeing its fur green. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

5. Loved “fruitsicles” and salmon

Inuka’s daily menu consisted of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, with the bear especially enjoying salmon. It also loved tossing and flipping “fruitsicles” – large blocks of ice with frozen fruit inside.

His year-end birthday celebrations also saw the bear treated to “birthday cakes” made out of ice and various toppings. Last year’s cake featured agar-agar - an Asian jelly desert - for the first time, while previous celebrations had seen cakes with salmon, minced beef and even peanut butter.

However Inuka was "fussy about food" at times, according to WRS. When his favourite meat was presented to him along with others he did not like as much, he would only focus on the meat he liked.

Singapore Zoo polar bear Inuka celebrates its 27th birthday with an agar-agar salmon cake. (Photo: Wildlife Reserves Singapore)

6. It loved massages and dips in the pool

Inuka loved taking dips in the pool, and enjoying "hydro massages" under the waterfall, according to WRS.

On hot days, when keepers encouraged him to go into the pool - Inuka would tap with his left forepaw to tell them to throw food down to him on the cliff, and not the water.

Inuka’s passing marks the last of the polar bears in Singapore. The zoo had announced in 2006 that it would not bring any more polar bears into Singapore, following discussions with its animal welfare and ethics committee.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/facts-inuka-polar-bear-singapore-zoo-death-10170200

SINGAPORE - The body of a man was found floating in the sea off Sentosa on Monday night (May 7), two days after he was reported missing in that area.

The police told The Straits Times that they were alerted to the finding at 6.36pm on Monday.

"The body is that of a 33-year-old man who was reported missing on May 5," said the police spokesman.

The missing man was Singaporean Jake Seet Choon Heng, who is believed to have had more than 10 years of diving experience.

He had been conducting underwater operations for the vessel Jork at the Western Anchorage when he went missing.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was alerted of his disappearance at 2.43pm on Saturday.

It deployed two MPA and two Police Coast Guard patrol craft to conduct search and rescue operations, which were aided by dive boats and divers from a commercial diving company.

The commercial diver leaves behind two sons aged three and six and a pregnant wife.

Police are investigating the unnatural death.

Speaking to the media on Monday before his body had been found, Mr Seet’s older sister, Ms Jacqueline Seet, said: “We are very sad of course, especially his wife. Every minute seems like ages.

“As of this point in time, we do not know what exactly had happened, how it happened, what steps and measures would be taken moving forward, and Jake’s employer’s protocol for handling such situations.

“We are extremely distressed by the limited information and answers made available to us.”

The 37-year-old, who manages a food and beverage outlet, said her sister-in-law had found out her husband was missing when a friend working in the same industry called her on Saturday at about 6pm.

“Neither the authorities nor Jake’s employer called us to inform us about the incident,” she said, adding that the family was then told by his employer and colleagues to wait for updates.

Industry veteran Abdul Malik, chairman of Commercial Diving Association (Singapore), told The Straits Times that Mr Seet was one of some 200 commercial divers here and had been in the industry for some time.

“Singapore is one of the busiest ports in the world, and a very large number of sea-going vessels will drop anchor at any one of the anchorages for a variety of reasons,” he said.

Commercial diving work includes inspection and repair of vessels and routine maintenance like cleaning hulls and propellers.

Marine biologists say at current rate polar bears, penguins could disappear by 2100 - Oceanic warming threatens polar wildlife with extinction - Sob Sob ...

Australian Government has now listed Polar Bears as Threatened And Endangered Species, Now Launch New Regulations To Protect The Remaining Polar Bears Left on Planet - Only 30,000 Polar Bears Left... 

How many Penguins and Animals in Arctic and Antarctica Regions are also being Threatened And Their Loss of Habitats due to Global Warming and Climate Change, not forgetting some inhumane humans hunting them down and killing them? 

Polar bears are the largest bear known to man. They are now under threat by our changing environment. Polar bears were added to the list of threatened species and will receive special protection under U.S. law. The greatest threat to the bears is the melting of ice in the Arctic.

Polar bears live in the Arctic and hunt seals and other fatty marine mammals from sea ice. They also travel, mate, and sometimes give birth on the ice. But sea ice is melting as the planet warms, and it is predicted to continue to do so for several more decades.

The U.S. classifies the polar bear as a marine mammal, which means that the bear’s new threatened status will not stop people from exploring for oil in its habitat. Importing polar bear products from Canada (where trophy hunting is legal) will be banned.

Saving the polar bear will depend on international cooperation. People need to work together to save the polar bear.

 Travelgowhere and Scubareefing is happy to participate and be involved with the coordination activities of all these NGOs and Non-Profits organisations of Singapore in terms of Eco, Marine and Wildlife conservation efforts. 

  Do you also know that Singapore and our Local Banks in Singapore are very busy and also actively involved in many Eco Conservation Projects to safeguard the animals and also improving the welfare of people and to work for Sustainable Green Singapore too?

Green Future Solutions 
NGOs and Non-Profits

Singapore Green Landscape 2015

44 non-governmental organisations, non-profits and social enterprises that are registered in Singapore and related to the environment

Action for Singapore Dogs

Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) is a non-profit organisation with the mission to improve the welfare of stray and abandoned dogs in Singapore. ASD aims to fulfil its mission through various activities and programs including rescuing, fostering and re-homing of stray and abandoned dogs, advocating sterilisation to control the stray population, heightening public awareness of the responsibilities involved in pet ownership and highlighting the virtues of our local dogs.

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) aims to: foster respect and compassion for all animals; improve the living conditions and welfare of animals in captivity; and educate people on lifestyle choices which do not involve the abuse of animals and which are environment-friendly. ACRES strongly believes in promoting community involvement in tackling animal welfare issues and in building partnerships with all related bodies to improve animal welfare.

Animal Lovers League

Animal Lovers League is a non-profit organisation giving lodging, food, care and love to the beloved dogs and cats forsaken by many.

Asian Geographic Society

The Asian Geographic Society is a non-profit, scientific and educational society dedicated to the promotion and conservation of Asia‟s environment, culture and wildlife.

Avelife Foundation

Avelife Foundation aims to be an educational platform for effective green innovation for active learners and corporate leaders.

BirdLife International (Asia)

BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity.

Blessings in a Bag

Blessings in a Bag is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation that seeks to partner with existing communities, orphanages, schools, homes as well as initiatives to provide for the needs of underprivileged, abused and medically-ill children across Asia. They collect new and used items that are in good condition and direct them to various destinations across Asia, and also aim to build eco-friendly homes.

Blue Water Volunteers

Blue Water Volunteers (BWV) is a volunteer-based, marine conservation NGO that seeks to complement research activities and increase awareness of local marine habitats, such as coral reefs. They strive to achieve their aims for conservation, awareness and education through four main programmes: ReefFriends, ReefWalk, ReefTalk and ReefExhibits.

Cat Welfare Society

The Cat Welfare Society is a charity whose aim is to improve the welfare of community (feral) cats in Singapore. Their aim is to: promote tolerance, kindness and respect towards cats and other living creatures; promote sterilisation as opposed to culling of cats; promote responsible pet ownership and responsible management of community cats; and increase awareness of the state of cats living in the streets of Singapore and stop ignorance through education.

Causes for Animals (Singapore)

Causes for Animals (Singapore) is an animal welfare charity set up to support the needs of local animal welfare in Singapore. It employs programs and policies to promote best practice, ethical, sustainable and compassionate treatment of animals.

Cicada Tree Eco-Place

Cicada Tree Eco-Place is a non-government, non-profit organisation that promotes the natural and cultural heritage of Singapore through environmental education and eco-living. They run environmental education and help build and enhance the capacity of teachers in nature education.

Comcrop

Comcrop is Singapore’s first sustainable urban farming project, with the mission to grow and sell the best tasting vegetable ever, build a socially conscious business model to create a deep impact, and create the most sustainable vegetable farm in an urban city.

urban farming

Conservation International Singapore 

Conservation International builds upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, and empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the well-being of humanity.

Earth Hour Global

Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative, where individuals, businesses, governments and communities switch off their lights for one hour to show their concern for the environment.

Earth Society

Earth Society is a non-profit organisation formed by a team of individuals who are passionate about environmental protection, and spreading environmental awareness through free assembly talks and seminars on global warming for schools, companies and organizations.

Edible Garden City

Edible Garden City champions the “Grow Your Own Food” movement in land-scarce and import-dependent Singapore. They believe that growing food re-connects urbanites to nature, conserves natural resources, and cultivates a sense of community.

Engineers Without Borders Asia 

Engineers Without Borders Asia is a Singapore-based non-profit organisation that empowers disadvantaged communities by improving their quality of life through sustainable engineering solutions.

Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore)

ECO Singapore is a not-for-profit social enterprise. ECO aims to establish a voluntary environmental movement, thereby creating opportunities for active involvement by Singaporean youths, instilling a sense of commitment and awareness of environmental issues and global hazards. By providing youths with a holistic approach towards environmental issues, ECO encourages youths to take initiative and choose to live environmentally sustainable lifestyles.

Food Bank Singapore 

Food Bank Singapore strives to bridge the gap in the market by collecting the surplus foods in the market and providing them to organisations and people in need of food.

Food from the Heart. 

Food from the Heart (FFTH) started with the Bread Distribution Programme in February 2003, and has been channeling unsold bread from bakeries and hotels to welfare organizations, needy families and individuals since then. FFTH has also expanded to four other programmes: Self Collection Centre, Food Goodie Bag, Birthday from the Heart and Toys from the Heart programmes.

Forum for the Future Asia Pacific

Forum for the Future is an independent non-profit working globally with business, government and other organisations to solve complex sustainability challenges.

GK1World (Singapore)

GK1World (Singapore), representing Gawad Kalinga in Singapore, is a non-profit organisation committed to poverty eradication and community building.

Green Drinks (Singapore)

Green Drinks Singapore is a non-profit environmental group that seeks to connect the community, businesses, activists, media, academia and government, for knowledge sharing and collaboration opportunities.

Green Drinks event on sharing economy

Ground-Up Initiative
Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) is a volunteer-driven non-profit community that values connecting with the land for the many things it teaches us.

House Rabbit Society of Singapore
The House Rabbit Society of Singapore (HRSS) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organisation dedicated to rabbit welfare and awareness. They seek to reduce the number of unwanted rabbits in Singapore and improve rabbits’ lives through education. HRSS runs a fostering programme to rescue and re-home abandoned rabbits.

Humane Society (Singapore)
Humane Society (Singapore) was founded to address the rising number of animals needing help, including pet animals being abused or abandoned by their owners, the breeding dogs languishing in puppy mills, and the stray population who battle for survival every day. It aims to end the abuse and exploitation of dogs, cats and all pet animals in our society.

Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore)
The Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) (JGIS), is part of the international network to continue Dr Goodall’s work with humans, animals and the environment. JGIS educates children and young adults about the importance of individual responsibility toward the ecosystem and supports them in taking action to improve their environment for the benefit of all.

Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation

Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity and education organisation. Their services include: Care services for children and the elderly; Free medical care; Holistic Support For People Affected by Cancer; Eco-Harmony Global Network; Mobility aids services and training; Kindergarten and childcare Services; and Occupational therapy and Natural therapy.

Kampung Temasek

Kampung Temasek, The School Of Doing, is a not-for-profit that aims to bring back kampung days, and integrates exciting curriculum and programmes with nature and sustainable technologies.

Lien AID

Lien AID is a non-profit organisation propelled by the mission to enable rural poor communities in Asia to gain affordable, continued access to clean water and proper sanitation.

Nature Photographic Society (Singapore)

The Nature Photographic Society (Singapore) is a registered photographic society in Singapore with the aim of creating an interest in preserving the beauty of the natural world through photography.

Nature Society (Singapore)

The Nature Society (Singapore) or NSS is dedicated to the appreciation, conservation, study and enjoyment of the natural heritage in Singapore, Malaysia and the surrounding region. They organise nature appreciation activities; conduct conservation projects and surveys; collaborate with schools and community groups to promote nature appreciation and education; and campaign for the protection of natural habitats.

Walk along the old Jurong Line

ONE (SINGAPORE)
ONE (SINGAPORE) is dedicated to raising public awareness and taking concrete actions to Make Poverty History, and is committed to supporting projects across the region that are linked to the Millennium Development Goals.

Restroom Association (Singapore)
Restroom Association (Singapore) is a non-profit organisation which advocates for clean public toilets and strives to reach out to its target audience with innovative programmes and activities that have impact and can be sustained.

Singapore Environment Council
Singapore Environment Council (SEC) is an independently managed, non-profit and non-government organisation. It aims to be the preferred non-government organisation partner for communities, businesses and government to achieve the best-in-class sustainable city development in Singapore and the region.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is a registered animal welfare charity to promote kindness to animals and birds, and to prevent cruelty to animals and birds. SPCA provides various animal welfare services to the community.

South-east Asian Biodiversity Society
The South-east Asian Biodiversity Society or SABS is a non-profit organisation based in Singapore, aimed to advance the conservation of Southeast Asia‟s biological diversity.

Sustainable Living Lab
Sustainable Living Lab (SL2) is a social enterprise with the vision of building a Sustainable Future via a Purposeful Maker Culture.

The Dorsal Effect
The Dorsal Effect is stopping the supply side of the shark finning trade and providing sustainable alternative income for shark fishermen.

Vegetarian Society (Singapore)
Vegetarian Society (Singapore), VSS, is a non-profit, non-religious organisation formed to build a more humane and harmonious world for everyone on the planet, for our children, as well as for our fellow creatures.

Waterways Watch Society
The Waterways Watch Society (WWS) is a volunteer group that brings like-minded people together to monitor, restore and protect the aesthetics of our waterways. WWS initiates and organises on-going activities aimed at educating the public on the importance of keeping the waterways clean.

Wildlife Conservation Society Singapore
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks. WCS Singapore protects and conserves the wildlife and wild places in Singapore and anywhere in the world.

WOW Kampung
WOW Kampung is the education arm of Ground-Up Initiative, nurturing purposeful, sustainably minded individuals. Their unique programmes return people to the fundamentals of working in unison with our environment and with one another.

WWF Singapore

WWF Singapore initiates outreach, educational and fundraising activites for Asia Pacific conservation works through close collaboration with corporations and the Singapore community.

National Geographic's mind-bending love letter to Earth is airing now. See how to watch or stream the series.

Hosted by Will Smith, ONE STRANGE ROCK is a mind-bending, thrilling journey exploring the fragility and wonder of our planet.

By National Geographic Staff

PUBLISHED APRIL 2, 2018

Earth isn't just our home, it's the only known haven for life—making it perhaps the most peculiar place in the whole universe. National Geographic's love letter to Earth, the television series One Strange Rock, is currently airing. From now until May 28, new episodes premiere on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time, 9:00 p.m. Central time, on the National Geographic Channel. Here's how to watch.

To recap, One Strange Rock explores the fragility and wonder of planet Earth in mind-bending fashion. The series is produced by award-winning filmmaker Darren Aronofsky and hosted by Will Smith.

In a twist, One Strange Rock tells our planet's story with the help of astronauts, the only people who have ever left Earth. The series features eight astronauts as cohosts, including record-breaking U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson, former International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield, and Mae Jamison, the first African-American woman in space.

ONE STRANGE ROCK: EXTENDED SNEAK PEEK

If you want to catch up, National Geographic will be making episodes of One Strange Rock available the morning after each airing on natgeotv.com, video on-demand, and on the Nat Geo TV app. (Find out more about how to access Nat Geo TV.)

You can download Nat Geo TV on the following devices:

• Apple TV

• Roku

• iOS phones and tablets

• Android phones

• Xbox 360 and Xbox One

• Samsung Smart TVs

National Geographic has made “Gasp,” the first episode of One Strange Rock, freely available from now until May 29. You can watch the episode now on the channel's website, or you can watch it on the Nat Geo TV app. Starting April 3, National Geographic will also be making the series's second episode “Storm” freely available for streaming.

But if Singapore Waters are Constantly being Polluted, even with "3 Storey Terrace House", will the Corals, Reefs and Marine Life still able to Thrive in Singapore Waters? - Crux of Sg water pollution issue still has not been resolved but this is 1st Major Step to Marine Conservation. Cheers to NParks and JTC Corporation of Singapore.

Awesome For Corals, Reefs and Marine Life in Singapore!

We've been publishing the list of the world's top dives since 2000 and until last year the SS Yongala consistently topped the list. Now though, the Yongala has been forced into third position. She's still my favourite dive site though.

The dives are fairly evenly balanced between Northern and Southern hemispheres, the South winning by 6 entries to 4. It is also a 6:4 ratio in Reefs versus Wrecks.

Compare liveaboards to world's best dive sites : 

The list is compiled from divers' votes - cast your vote here. We know it's difficult to choose your favourite dive sites, and we ask you to choose just two! Do you prefer wrecks, sealife, caverns, drift dives, underwater scenery, big stuff - some of each?

You may also be interested in our Best Wreck Dives list and the Top Dives in Europe.

1. Barracuda Point, Sipadan Island, Malaysia

Sipadan

Wall of coral where sharks come cruising by and barracuda surround you. You are guaranteed to see big stuff here and lots of it. Occasional strong currents blast over an underwater prairie that's home to white tips, turtles, grouper, jacks, bumphead parrotfish and of course the barracuda that give it its name.

Vote… Barracuda picture by Andrew Reay-Robinson

2. Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia

An upwelling means this splendid wall dive is favoured by pelagics. Expect to see sharks, barracuda, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, snappers, jacks...if you can tear your eyes away from the fish the wall hosts thick coral with morays, nudibranchs and mantis shrimps being just a few of the attractions. 

Vote…Mantis Shrimp

3. The Yongala, Australia

The Yongala is a shipwreck off the coast of Queensland. Full of life you may see manta rays, sea snakes, octopuses, turtles, bull sharks, tiger sharks, clouds of fish and spectacular coral. 

The Yongala sank during a cyclone in 1911 killing 122 people, a racehorse called Moonshine and a red Lincolnshire bull. She had no telegraph facilities and so could not be warned of the weather ahead. In 1981 the Yongala was given official protection under the Historic Shipwrecks Act. The ship is 90 km southeast of Townsville, 10 km away form Cape Bowling Green. 109 meters long, the bow points north and the ship lists to starboard.

Vote...Grouper on the Yongala by Tim Nicholson

4. Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea

A large wreck which needs several dives to do it justice. A British vessel, the Thistlegorm (Blue Thistle) was attacked from the air and sunk in 1941 whilst carrying a cargo of war supplies: rifles, motor bikes, train carriages, trucks. Currents can be strong, and in different directions at the surface and at the wreck. 

Vote...Motorbikes inside the Thistlegorm by Tim Nicholson

5. Shark and Yolanda Reef, Egyptian Red Sea

Three dives in one: anemone city, shark reef with its spectacular drop off and the wreck of the Yolanda. Currents make this good for drift dives and for pelagic fish. A popular dive starts at Anemone City before drifting to Shark Reef and its drop off. Finish up on the wreck of the Yolanda with its cargo of toilets.

Vote…Anemone Fish

6. Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Underwater lights placed on the ocean floor attract infinite amounts of plankton, which in turn attract the huge, yet beautiful manta rays of Kona Hawaii. The rays get so close to you, that you often have to move to avoid them accidentally hitting you. An amazingly wonderful and unforgettable time with one of the most beautiful animals in the world.

Vote...Two manta rays feeding at night, Hawaii, by Paul Hirst

7. Great Blue Hole, Belize

Very deep, wide, hole outlined by coral reef and inhabited by sharks. Is there another sight like it? 30 m visibility coming over the bathwater warm reef of vibrant colors, descending into a cool, deep blue hole where the water begins to waver and shimmer as you enter the transition from salt to fresh water at about 15 m. Watching the enormous tuna and other pelagics dive into the hole to clean themselves as you briefly remove your octopus to taste the fresh water. Then descending another 25 m to explore the stalagtites and stalagmites of ancient caverns. 

Vote... Diving the Great Blue Hole, Belize

8. Richelieu Rock, Thailand

A horse shoe of rocky pinnacles, just breaks the surface at low tide. Famous for whale shark sightings, but also great for big schools of pelagic fish such as jacks, barracuda and batfish. Mantas are also seen, and it is a superb spot for Macro photography with such creatures as ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimp, frogfish and seahorses. Currents can be strong. Needs several dives to see the whole area. 

Vote...Ghost pipefish on Richelieu Rock. Photo credit: Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC-BY-SA-2.0

9. The Liberty, Bali, Indonesia

This wreck is very popular with photographers as it is totally encrusted in anemone, gorgonians and corals. The black sand provides an excellent colour contrast for the incredible variety of marine life, which includes a huge school of big-eyed trevally and over 400 other species of fish. All the fish are very tame (partly as a result of some guides feeding them) from the goatfish and wrasse that nibble around your feet and fins at the end of the dive, to the unicorn and surgeonfish which make a beeline for your mask as you swim down towards the Wreck. How much to dive the Liberty?

Vote... Wreck of the USS Liberty Glo

Looking out from the wreck of the Liberty Glo. Photo credit: Pb1791, CC-BY-SA-3.0

10. Navy Pier, Western Australia

Extending 300 m from shore, the T-shaped structure is 300 m wide, including two outlying "dolphins" (platforms for larger ships to tie up to). Although a very defined and somewhat compact site, you could spend 5 days diving there and not be bored, particularly at night. On any dive there are lots of nudibranchs and flatworms, eels, woebegone and white tipped sharks, octopuses, lion and scorpion fish, stargazers, and the usual smaller finned friends. Sometimes you'll come across absolutely huge rays dozing in the sand.

Vote...Whitetip Reef Shark, Australia, by Tim Nicholson

Reference Contents Article Link @ https://www.scubatravel.co.uk/worlds-best-dives.html?utm_expid=283735-17.kTP_0phESNa5e7G9zRzNhQ.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Sections of coral in the Pacific and the Caribbean are fighting back against the global threats that have decimated reefs worldwide.

While the discovery does not allow any room for complacency in the fight to save the world’s reefs from extinction, scientists are tentatively optimistic about what they can learn from these pockets of resistance.

Climate change, hurricanes and human activities such as intensive fishing have destroyed vast swathes of the planet’s reefs, but in a new study scientists found this destruction was not uniform.

Some coral “oases” are either avoiding these effects altogether, resisting them or bouncing back following changes that saw off nearby reefs.

“There are a number of reasons why one coral reef might survive while its neighbour dies,” said Dr James Guest, a coral reef researcher at Newcastle University who led the study.

“It could be that the location is simply better for survival – deeper water that is outside the storm tracks, for example.”

Coral reefs might also possess certain biological characteristics that make them able to resist damage, or characteristics of their environment may allow them to rebuild themselves effectively following damage.

“Identifying cases in which individuals or communities perform better than their neighbours, despite being at equal risk, is common in public health and medical fields and using a similar approach in ecology can help us to identify areas that can be prioritised for conservation,” said Dr Guest.

These findings were laid out in a study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology that explored dozens of these cases from tropical regions around the world.

As an example, the study’s lead author, Professor Peter Edmunds from California State University, Northridge, described being “blown away” by the ability of reefs off the French Polynesian island of Moorea to recover from destruction.

Soon after Professor Edmunds and his team began working on the island in 2005, the local reefs were overrun by hordes of crown-of-thorns starfish.

These many-armed creatures have played a major role in the decline of the Great Barrier Reef in recent years.

“By 2010, there was as close to zero coral on the outer reefs as I have seen in my entire career. And yet, within eight years, that coral has regrown,” said Professor Edmunds in reference to his Moorea study site.

“In places, about 80 per cent of the sea floor is now covered by live coral. It is a remarkable example of an oasis.”

Professor Edmunds emphasised that case studies like this do not contradict the reports of mass bleaching events and predictions that coral reefs are facings an existential threat unless action is taken to avert climate change.

“However, there are kernels of hope in places where corals are doing better, or where they are doing less badly than elsewhere and these places provide us with a focus of attention that might be used to enhance coral conservation efforts,” he noted.

Scientists have voiced the need for “radical interventions” such as genetic modification of corals and geoengineering of the atmosphere in an effort to cool the reefs.

Massive bleaching events caused by heatwaves led to “catastrophic die-offs” in the Great Barrier Reef in 2016 from which Australian researchers have concluded the natural wonder is unlikely to recover.

“This glimmer of hope does not mean we can be complacent about the severity of the crisis facing most of the world’s coral reefs,” said Dr Guest.

“But it does give us a starting point from which to understand why some ecosystems might be more resistant than others and to identify areas that warrant stronger protection or specific management strategies, such as restoration or mitigation.”

All You Need To Know About The Tham Laung Cave in MAE SAI, Thailand ~ Thai Cave Rescue And How It Unfolded : 

Special Thanks and Media Credits to all News Coverage for the News Updates, Photos Updates and Credits From ABC News' James Longman ABC. https://abcn.ws/2z518gH

The cave system in which the team went missing is a sprawling complex, beneath the Doi Nang Non mountain on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. The system is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long, and one of the most difficult cave systems to navigate due to narrow passages and winding tunnels. A sign advising against entering the caves during the rainy season (July–November) is posted at the entrance.

Travel Advisory Tips from Travelgowhere 

~ https://www.travelgowhere.com.sg/page/thai-cave-rescue-how-it-unfolded-3rd-july-2018

Regardless of how Well/ Familiar you think you and your tour mates are in Exploring such Caves, Mountains or Underwater Dive Sites etc.. 

Do make sure that in future, please get yourself and your tour mates prepared, when you travel there for any Exploration or Expedition trip, by Securing a local Trek/Dive guide to bring you in and out of cave or mountain trek or underwater dive site, do also bring along Adequate food and water, medicine supplies, and make sure you and your team mates are Well Equipped with the basic Survival skills or at least have some basic survival knowledge before you embark into such dangerous situation, regardless of whatever purposes you and your tour members are there for.... 

Inform anyone authorities or locals that you and your team mates will be going in to and explore and ensure that there is someone to reach out to in terms of Emergency situation.. Or bring a walkie talkie or communication device where you can reach out to the outside World in case of Emergency...

Thai Cave Rescue: How It Unfolded - 3rd July 2018

MAE SAI, Thailand: After nine days trapped in a flooded Thai cave, 12 boys and their football coach have been found alive in a miraculous rescue.

Here's how the gruelling nine-day search in the 10 kilometre long cave filled with fast-flowing muddy floodwaters unfolded.

Saturday, Jun 23 2018

The youngsters, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach went into the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand after football practice. They were reported missing by a mother after her young son did not come home that night.

Local officials start to look for the boys after they are believed to have become trapped by heavy rains which cut them off from the main entrance.

They find bicycles locked to a fence and shoes and football boots belonging to the kids close to the entrance.

Sunday, Jun 24 2018

Park officials and police kick into gear to find the boys and heavy rains continue to fall in the area near the Laos and Myanmar borders.

They find handprints and footprints believed to belong to the boys and think they likely retreated into the winding tunnels as they became hemmed in by rising floodwaters.

Relatives keep a vigil outside the cave where they will stay for nine days straight desperately awaiting news.

Monday, Jun 25 2018

Thai Navy SEAL divers are in the cave searching for the boys, armed with oxygen tanks and carrying food.

Makeshift shrines are set up for parents to pray and make offerings.

Heavy rains continue, sparking fears that floodwaters within the cave could rise.

The boys are believed to have retreated further into the cave to an elevated air pocket called "Pattaya Beach".

Tuesday, Jun 26 2018

Divers reach a T-junction several kilometres inside the cave but are forced back by rushing floodwaters that clog a narrow crevice near Pattaya Beach.

Rescue operations run around the clock but it is a race against time as rains continue to fall.

Thailand's junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha calls for the nation to support the rescue.

Wednesday, Jun 27 2018

A team of more than 30 American military personnel from the US Pacific Command, including para-rescue and survival specialists, arrive at the site late on Wednesday.

They are joined by three British diving experts who go into the cave's entrance but quickly retreat because of heavy flooding.

Continuing rains are causing flood levels to rise, and officials say conditions are "difficult".

Thursday, Jun 28 2018

The underwater rescue is temporarily halted because of the fast-moving floods inside the cave as downpours refuse to let up.

Water pumps are shipped in to drain the rising floodwaters that are so murky it is likened to swimming through cold coffee.

American experts get to work around the base, while the three British divers and others scour the mountain for alternative entrances into the cave.

Drones are dispatched to help find new chimneys.

Friday, Jun 29 2018

A glimmer of hope as rescue teams find a possible opening, but there is no guarantee it will connect to the main cave network.

Prayut Chan-O-Cha visits the site and leads a meditation, jokes and cooks with relatives, asking them not to give up hope.

Saturday, Jun 30 2018

A break in the bad weather allows divers to reach further inside the cave but they are still several kilometres away from where the boys are believed to be.

Teams continue to search for alternative openings above ground and rescuers conduct practice drills to safely evacuate the boys if and when they are found.

Sunday, Jul 1 2018

Divers inch further into the cave taking advantage of the brief break in bad weather.

Rescuers set up an operating base inside the cave and hundreds of oxygen tanks and other supplies are pulleyed in. Divers can now stay remain underground for longer.

As the the sun breaks out, Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorne says conditions for the operation are improving.

Monday, Jul 2 2018

A miracle, finally: the 12 boys and their coach are found alive and safe about 400 metres further along from Pattaya Beach - which had become threatened by encroaching flood waters.

Crowds at the teeming rescue site cheer the good news and a nation breathes a sigh of relief.

But attention now turns to the difficult task of now getting the boys out safely.

The main priority is to get them food and first aid after nine days with little to eat in difficult conditions.

It could take days - or weeks - to get them out. Rescuers explore several options, including training them to use scuba equipment.

What Shores will Singapore lose in 7-million population plan? 

How will Singapore's shores be affected by plans for a 7-million population by 2030? 

The landuse plan by the Ministry of National Development released today shows some of the shores that may be lost. 

High Time To Put A Stop In Such Activities of High levels of coastal activity (shipping, dredging and continued reclamation and coastal construction) also contributes to sedimentation, or murky waters.

These include Chek Jawa, Pulau Sekudu, Changi shores, Mandai mangroves and probably Pasir Ris mangroves too, if land reclamation (in yellow) plans goes ahead.

To find out how our shores will be affected, I overlaid the MND map on the Google Earth map.

Here's a closer look at some of the possible impacts. 

North: Chek Jawa buried? 

In the North, the plans include a road link (black line) from the mainland jumping off at Punggol, crossing to Pulau Ubin through Chek Jawa to jump off to Pulau Tekong before circling back to the mainland on Changi East. Proposed reclamation (in yellow) will bury Pasir Ris shores, Pulau Sekudu and Chek Jawa as well as a large amount of shore at Changi Beach. Additional reclamation at Tanah Merah is also in the proposal. Beting Bronok, a tiny patch reef and Pulau Unum, both off Pulau Tekong have been granted 'Nature Area' status. As I understand it, this status means the area "will be kept for as long as possible until required for development". Here's an earlier about 'Nature Area' status seem to mean.

Mandai mangrove no more? 

There also seems to be plans for reclamation (in yellow) that will bury Mandai mangroves and the Kranji mudflats. Although Sungei Buloh does not seem to be affected.

Beyond 2030: MORE reclamation -- Goodbye Pulau Hantu? 

If plans for 'possible future reclamation' (in light blue surrounded by dotted lines) goes ahead, we will lose Pulau Hantu, Terumbu Pempang Darat, Terumbu Pempang Tengah and Pulau Jong and Terumbu Semakau. One spot of good news, it seems Cyrene Reef may be spared even post-2030. 

Will these plans be detailed in a new URA Master Plan?

According to the URA website: "The Master Plan is the statutory land use plan which guides Singapore's development in the medium term over the next 10 to 15 years. It is reviewed every five years and translates the broad long-term strategies of the Concept Plan into detailed plans to guide development. The Master Plan shows the permissible land use and density for developments in Singapore. The Master Plan 2008 is the current Master Plan."

If the Master Plan is reviewed every five years, then we are due a new Master Plan in 2013? How will this Plan be different from the one unveiled today?

What about climate change and rising seas? 

I couldn't find any mention of planning for climate change and rising seas in the plan. Singapore's northern shores and Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, where most of the new developments will occur, lies at the mouth of the massive Johor River. Does the plan take into account the possibility of more rainfall and storms, and how these may change water flows down this River? By the way, Malaysia has plans to develop massive petrochemical industries at Pengerang, Johor including a highly pollutive plant. This is close to Pulau Tekong (as well as newly minted 'Nature Areas' Beting Bronok and Pulau Unum). 

I don't really know our terrestrial issues well enough to comment on impacts there. 

N. Sivasothi earlier posted about possible impacts of LTA's proposed Cross Island Line (CRL) that cuts through the Central Catchment Forest Reserve

What can one person do about this?

We can't take our shores for granted!You can make a difference! Simply explore, express and ACT! 

Visit our shores before they are gone. Join nature activities at our wild places, like those listed on wildsingapore happenings. Share what you've seen. Volunteer for them.

Special Credit and Thanks to WildShores Blogspot Singapore for the contribution of this article contents and also for the photos. 

From Hugh Tan et. al., "Conservation of marine habitats still lags behind somewhat compared to the efforts on land, although this is not from want of trying. We have yet to establish a Marine Protected Area despite many attempts to do so. The main reason is that the southern shores, where most of the best reefs are located, are also the hub of our important shipping activities and our growing port facilities, Singapore being the world's busiest port." 

Land reclamation which increased Singapore's land area by 17% has buried much of Singapore's coasts. Most of our natural sandy shores have been lost to reclamation. Construction of reservoirs by damming rivers and draining wetlands have also badly affected the habitats near river mouths and on intertidal shores. 

These have reduced coastal ecosystems drastically. Mangrove forest cover has been reduced from an estimated 13% in the 1820's to only 0.5% of the total land area. Many of the original 60 offshore islands and patch reefs around Singapore have been reclaimed. Some were merged into larger islands. Since 1986, most coral reefs in Singapore have lost up to 65% of their live coral cover. 

Singapore's coastline in the 1950's

Singapore's coastline in 2002
from Singapore Waters: Unveiling our Seas

Past and Future reclamation works

Singapore for a planned population of 6.9 million by 2030 from the Ministry of National Development, Jan 2013
more about the shores lost in this plan.

The massive changes to our shoreline means than many of our coastal areas are no longer complete ecosystems. The original habitats are fragmented and separated from one another. Animals at the top of the food chain have long since disappeared affecting the balance in the remaining habitats. For example, we no longer have tigers in our mangroves. And animals such as crocodiles are no longer common. Dugongs, dolpins and sea turtles are also less commonly seen.

High levels of coastal activity (shipping, dredging and continued reclamation and coastal construction) also contributes to sedimentation, or murky waters. While visibility underwater in the 1960s was 10m, nowadays, this has been reduced to 2m or less. Sediment in the water reduces the light penetration into the water. This affects photosynthesis by seagrasses and other plants, as well as corals which rely on their symbiotic algae for products of photosynthesis. But this does NOT mean that all our shores are dead. The remaining shores are still very much alive. It is not yet too late to protect and preserve them...

Plastic bags are everywhere in our environment. When we go to purchase our groceries, we use plastic bags because they are convenient. In fact, in our modern lives, it has become part of us. However, the convenience of these plastic bags come at a very high cost to the environment and negatively affects human health. Several cities globally have begun banning the use of plastic bags while some have enforced restricted laws against the use of plastic bags because of the negative effects of the use of their usage.

Besides, the use of plastic bags is considered as one of the great issues that humans are facing in their contemporary life. Cities such as China have banned the use of plastics. Bangladesh and India has only banned the use and sale of polythene bags which basically have thickness of less than 50 microns.

Below are some of the 20+ reasons why plastic bags should be banned from our cities.

Plastic bags do not only pollute our water but also our land. Plastic bags are usually lightweight and as such, they can travel very long distances by either water or wind. Wind blows these plastic bags and trashes a whole area. These litters gets caught up in between trees, fences and floats in water bodies thus moving to the world’s oceans.

The plastic bags are made from non-renewable sources and on this account, highly contribute to climate change. Most of plastic is made of polypropylene which is a material manufactured from petroleum and natural gas. All of the materials are non-renewable fossil fuel-based materials and through their extraction and even production, greenhouse gases are created which further contribute to global climate change.

A lot of energy is used in producing these bags. The total amount of energy required to drive a car for one kilometre or 0.5 miles is the equivalent energy required to produce nine plastic bags. It is not rational that these non-renewable resources are used to make plastic bags when the typical useful life of each and every plastic bag is around 12 minutes.

Plastic bags do not degrade. In truth, petroleum based plastic bags never degrade. Instead of the plastic degrading, it is broken down into small tiny pieces which are swept down and end up in the oceans which are then consumed by wildlife. Currently, there are approximately 46,000-1,000,000 plastic fragments floating within every square mile of the globes oceans.

Plastic bags are harmful to wildlife and marine life. Birds, animals and marine life such as sea turtles and fish often mistake the plastic bag and other plastic materials for food and consume them. What happens once they consume these plastic materials is that their digestive system gets congested leading to the development of health infections and death when there is suffocation. The animals may also become easily entangled inside the plastic.

Plastic bags are harmful to human health. There are some chemicals from the plastic bags which can disrupt the normal functioning of hormones in the body. Most plastic fragments in the oceans like plastic bags have some pollutants such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) together with PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) which are hormone disrupting. Once the marine animals consume these chemicals, they move through the food web then later into the humans who consume fish together with other marine animals. The chemical materials bio-accumulates in the sea animals and fish system as they are exposed to them in the ocean waters. When the humans prepare them they consume all these chemicals affecting their healths. They could develop cancers or other serious conditions.

Plastic bags are expensive and hard to clean or remove from the environment. The amount of plastic bag cleanup is around 17 cents per bag thus in average the taxpayers end up paying around $88 each year just on plastic bag waste. These plastic bags also cost 3-5 cents each. Thus, the plastic considered free is not free after all. Individuals pay a lot to purchase them and even for reusing them. For this reason, plastics should simply be banned.

Plastic bags have external costs. Several costs are attributed to the production of plastic bags. A prime example is the production and environmental costs.

Plastic bags are not easy to recycle. Plastic bags are said to present significant challenge in terms of recycling. Recycling facilities do not have the capacity to recycle plastic bags and thus do not accept them. Therefore, the actual recycling rate for plastic bags is around 5%.

Plastic bags tend to last more; perhaps forever and we even use so many of them. Plastic bags never degrade completely which shows that as more of them are produced by companies, then more are introduced into the environment. Therefore, the more the amount of plastic bags the more there is plastic pollution and its effects. Banning the use of plastic bags will help reduce this great effect.

Even if we did decide to recycle plastic bags, these materials still do end up in oceans and landfills. Recycling the plastic bags does not affect the fact that they will still be dumped into the environment and end up into either landfills or oceans. These recycled plastic bags are not degradable and cause the same effects as non-recycled plastic bags.

These plastic bags are impacting the environment negatively in that they are making the Great Pacific garbage patch bigger every minute. Most of the plastic materials once released into the environment find their way into waterways and once they are there they dumped into oceans. Great Pacific Ocean is one such area negatively affected with all the plastic material. The more they are thrown into the oceans the more they increase causing the garbage patch to increase in size.

Bans should be adopted because they are greatly effective at reducing plastic big waste. China banned plastic bags and four years later, the amount of plastic bags thrown into the environment had reduced by 40 billion. If the US bans plastic bags, there would be fewer landfills.

Plastic bags help keep our streets clean. Most of our cities are not clean especially Indian and most African country streets because people don’t care to know where they throw their garbage. They do it in water bodies, streets and in the landfills. These wastes litter our streets making them look ugly affecting their aesthetic value.

It helps spread awareness. When we ban plastic bags, we keep our environment clean and at the same time send some message globally about the importance of environment protection. People learn that banning plastic is for a reason and they can take up such important information. They can subsequently begin to understand that the plastic causes some negative effects and the environment and humans need protection against them.

With a ban on plastic bags, there would be improved technology which would boost other businesses. With such a ban, the society would be required to produce some more sophisticated bags. A great manpower will be required by the manufacturing factories so they can make eco-friendly and greener materials.

Banning plastic bags helps save money. These plastics cost a lot of money because the final costs account for the total production costs from their manufacture using petroleum to when they will be thrown away.

People are ready for the ban and thus, it should be adopted. People have seen how much the plastic bags have adverse effects on their health’s and environment and thus, they have desired and opted for change. This change is the use of eco-friendly materials.

Through banning plastic bags, the people will learn to support local workers together with green industries.

People can opt for manufacturing reusable bags so that they create products which are sustainable. Manufacturing reusable bags will create new job opportunities in terms of green manufacturing, research and processing of packaging products.

Other nations are banning the use of plastic because they have noticed that it is causing harm to the environment and human health. Currently, over 40 nations together with municipalities around the globe have instituted plastic bag bans. Other nations should follow suit to reduce the overall environmental implications.

UNEP secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags worldwide. This means there are a thousand and one reasons for the ban of plastic bags. If some governments cannot ban them completely, then they can make the people pay heftily for using plastic bags to discourage its usage.

Through the banning of plastic, cities in various nations can begin to focus on other bigger waste diversion challenges. Cities have had set targets that they are supposed to achieve like in Toronto, Canada where the city council is required to achieve 70% waste diversion by 2010. People cannot achieve the set target because most households do not have green bins. If there is plastic bag bans then city council can place their focus and attention on getting green bins to various apartment buildings and then meeting waste diversion targets.

We Think that the CRUX of the Problem is to tell People/Public not to throw any Rubbish or Plastics into the Oceans, and use less Plastics, do more Recycling, Reduce and Reuse on the stuff which can be done so... Use Eco Bags instead while doing their groceries shopping...

KFC is good to promote the non use of Straws, but they are still offering Customers Plastic cups, and also the plastic cover for yoghurts etc.. Think promoting metal straws is great effort and good project, but somehow still hasn't fully tackle the entire OCEAN Plastics problem yet... 

I went to speak to KFC and Macdonalds etc.. staff that everything should changed to non plastic instead and IKEA is already converting all their plastics items to another kind of bio-degradable materials... 

Not just that, Supermarkets are selling fresh fruits and veggies, slices of fishes and prawns etc.. all wrapped in plastics, have also went to communicate with the staff of Supermarkets, but they told me this has to start tackling from the Suppliers whom are suppliers these foods... However, these fresh fruits, veggies, fishes and seafood Suppliers do not know what other kind of materials they can use in order to wrap up these food, items and sell to consumers/public shopping in supermarkets. 

#EcoFriendly #SustainablePractices #BannPlastics

#UseBioDegradableMaterialsForFoodAndItemsWrapping

#20ReasonsWhyWeShouldBanPlastics #TackleCruxOfProblem

Stepping Up On Climate Action - Asia Pacific Climate Week, From 10th to 17th July 2018

The Asia Pacific Climate Week will take place on 10th to 13th July 2018 in Singapore. 2018 is an important years as governments, cities, states, business, civil society and multilateral organisations play their part to advance climate action. 

To register for the event, please visit : https://nfpartnership.org/asia-pacific-climate-week/ 

Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2018 (APCW 2018) is designed to advance regional climate action. The ultimate aim of APCW 2018, the first of what is planned to be an annual gathering, is to support implementation of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement on climate change and action to deliver on the SDGs.

With Asia Pacific Carbon Forum featuring as a cornerstone event, APCW 2018 will focus on market-based approaches, economic instruments and climate-aligned finance to drive investment in climate action. Other events include: high-level sessions with the Champions of the Marrakech Partnership; a high-level ministerial; a low emissions development strategy (LEDS) workshop; a regional technology meeting on industrial energy efficiency; and the Asia Pacific Talanoa Dialogue.

APCW 2018 is organized by the UNFCCC Secretariat under the Nairobi Framework Partnership (NFP), in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment Programme Partnership with the Technical University of Denmark (UNEP-DTU), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and others.

Dates: 11-13 July 2018
Location: Singapore, Resort World Sentosa
Web Link @ www: https://nfpartnership.org/asia-pacific-climate-week/

Singapore

10-13 July 2018

Resort World Sentosa

>>> NEWS:  https://unfccc.int/news/dates-of-asia-pacific-climate-week-announced-in-critical-year-for-climate-action

TO REGISTER CLICK HERE

Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2018 is an umbrella for a series of climate-related events focused on NDC implementation – Challenges and opportunities, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and Global Climate Action.

If you are planning a climate-related event in Asia, consider holding it in Singapore during Climate Week.

Join us at Climate Week!

LINEUP OF EVENTS TO DATE AT APCW 2018

• Marrakech Partnership Meeting, 10 July. Full Agenda HERE.
• Asia Pacific Carbon Forum
• High-level sessions with the Champions of the Marrakesh Partnership
• High-level Business Day
• South-south and technological cooperation for climate action and sustainable development
• TEM – Mitigation
• TEM – Adaptation
• Asia Pacific Talanoa Dialogue focused on the Business Community
• More information is coming soon…

Provisional Programme of the APCW and Information Sheet

For general inquiries about the Asia Pacific Climate Week 2018, contact: FRodrigues(at)unfccc.int

For media enquiries Asia Pacific Climate Week 2018, please contact: MPhillips(at)unfccc.int

Partners:

#ClimateWeekAP #ClimateAction 

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most popular scuba diving destinations. Unfortunately, a series of recent diving injuries and deaths has tarnished the region's safety record. In particular, media attention surrounding the disappearance of American divers Thomas and Eileen Lonergan has focused attention on dive operators' legal responsibilities and the consequences of failing to discharge their duty of care to customers. This paper briefly examines the relevant Australian law for recreational diving operations, and reviews risk management strategies that may reduce or prevent the occurrence of future problems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

PDF | Risk management for scuba diving operators on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/37623442_Risk_management_for_scuba_diving_operators_on_Australia%27s_Great_Barrier_Reef[accessed Jul 06 2018].

Thanks and Credit for Contents and Copyrighted @ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/37623442_Risk_management_for_scuba_diving_operators_on_Australia%27s_Great_Barrier_Reef

 Rescuers figuring out how to safely extract boys trapped in Thai cave.. Its a highly critical, challenging and daunting situation for one to be in, doing the Rescue Mission, really salute to these Rescue Professional Divers and Medical Dive Team.  

 This Video provided is from one of the Commercial Diving Professional - Sir David Common, who explains why the entire rescue mission is not as simple as what it seems, and sharing a tinge of hope and good news that at least the boys are found and now are praying hopeful that they can all get out of the cave alive, safe and sound. 

Watch the video @ https://www.facebook.com/thenational/videos/10155755549837686/UzpfSTU1NTQ2MDQ2NzoxMDE2MDQ5NTkxMjI1MDQ2OA/

 Lets all give the Rescue Divers and Medical Dive Team the Personal Space and Time required for them to do their utmost important task on hand. 

Thank you ! 

A former Thai navy diver has died while taking part in efforts to rescue 12 boys and their football coach trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand.

Petty Officer Saman Gunan lost consciousness on his way out of the Tham Luang cave complex, where he had been delivering supplies.

"His job was to deliver oxygen. He did not have enough on his way back," said an official.

He was brought out by his dive buddy but could not be revived.

PO Saman Gunan had left the navy but returned to help the rescue operation.

Said to be an avid runner and cyclist, he was part of a massive rescue operation launched after the group found themselves stranded in the Tham Luang cave by flooding.

"Inside the cave is tough," Thai Seal commander Rear Adm Arpakorn Yookongkaew told reporters. "On the way back from setting up oxygen bottles, Petty Officer First Class Gunan passed out." 

"His buddy tried to give him first aid, but he did not respond. We brought him to chamber three and gave him another round of first aid, but he remained unconscious. So we took him to the hospital."

But he said the search operation would go on. 

"I can guarantee that we will not panic, we will not stop our mission, we will not let the sacrifice of our friend go to waste."

Around 1,000 people are involved in the rescue operations, including navy divers, military personnel and civilian volunteers. 

PO Gunan's death has underscored the dangers behind the search efforts.

Rear Adm Arpakorn said the team still had "faith" to carry out their work. 

When asked how the group could make it out safely if an experienced diver could not, he said they would take more precautions with the children, who are aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach.

Air Supply Concerns

Authorities now say there are concerns about falling oxygen levels in the chamber where the boys and their coach are trapped.

Oxygen levels were being depleted by the large number of people working inside the cave network, said Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn.

Authorities are now working to get a 5km (3 mile) cable into the cave to supply the group with air.

'Limited time'

The group were finally reached by two British rescue divers late on Monday, nine days after they entered the caves. They had been trapped by rising water while exploring.

They are reported to be in good health, and are now being regularly supplied with food and medical care. 

Authorities are still trying to work out how best to bring them all to safety, with officials stressing they do not intend to take any risks with the boys' safety.

Rescue operations have for days been pumping water out of the cave, trying to get levels to drop. 

If the water does not go down, the children will have to learn how to use diving equipment or wait months until the rainy season ends. 

With the water inside the cave being fed by sinkholes and stream in the hills above, there is though also a chance the cave chamber they are now living in could flood completely.

"At first, we thought the children could stay for a long time... but now things have changed, we have a limited time," Rear Adm Arpakorn warned.

All the 3 Themes are Important, but you can only select one Theme... 

Underwater 360 team is gathering a poll vote with all, for the Theme of ADEX 2019 to be Dedicated to? 

Cast your individual vote/s onsite @ https://www.uw360.asia/vote-for-adex-2019/ today !!! 

Singapore, this year being the International Year of Reef 2018, almost every dive member or community in SG have been working hard on Eco Sustainability, Cleaning up our Beaches and Parks etc.. 

And also not forgetting Protecting and Conserving the Diverse Marine life here in Singapore waters... 

We went for a couple of Scuba Dives this morning @ Sisters Island Marine Park, Singapore... 

As our Camera is down and we are not trained in UW photography or Videography so hence here We are sharing some underwater photos taken by some of our Fabulous Singapore Underwater photographers and divers 

- Photos Credits and Pics taken by Stephen Beng, Edmund Teo, Heng Swee Yan and others... 

Taken from their previous scuba dive trips to share with public as we are quite impressed by their underwater photo taking and videography skills... Divers itching to go for a short day-trip can now take a 20-minute boat ride out to Sisters’ Island Marine Park, where Singapore’s first dive trail opened to members of public.

The Staff, Singapore's RWS Scuba Divers Teams and Marine Conservation team have done a Fantastic role in taking care of all Marine creatures at S.E.A Aquarium, also Showcasing their art pieces and professional works to educate the public on Marine Conservation and what Scuba Divers do in real life.. 

Offer Open Water Basic to Rescue Courses here too! 

We went for a couple of Shark Dives @ Resort World Sentosa this morning...

Beautiful Marine World at the S.E.A Aquarium though plenty of Scuba Divers will agree with us that these marine fishes  and other creatures  should belong back to the Seas and Oceans. 

However, the Staff and Singapore's RWS Scuba Divers Teams and the Marine Conservation team have done such a Great job that their Work deserves to be showcased to the World and guy do see how long the queue of tourists from all over the world, visiting the RWS S.E.A Aquarium is....

Kudos and all Rescuers Deserves our Utmost Respect, regardless of their diving level, experience or certification. 

Awaiting for good news! 

As for all others awaiting outside of cave, also deserve a pat on back for all their hard work and effort to assist in this rescue evacuation ! 

May all their parents and relatives get to reunite together with their family members soon!

Pray and be Positive!

4 boys already exited, 1 condition is unstable and 2 more boys exiting the Cave.. Awesome news!  

Artwork by user @maymayfany / Twitter

By Jintamas Saksornchai and Todd Ruiz

CHIANG RAI — Against all odds, four boys were rescued from the flooded Luang cave Sunday.

In a triumph for an uncertain mission fraught with danger, the young football players were successfully rescued after 16 days trapped in the dark and flooded cave complex.

“All four have been delivered to the hospital, they’re all safe,” said a happy looking Narongsak Osottanakorn, the former governor who led the operation since the start.

The first boy to exit the cave walked out at 5:40pm and appeared to be in good health, followed by another at 5:50pm. The third and fourth boys were brought out at 7:35pm and 7:47pm, but one was said to need “closely monitoring.”

Narongsak said just before 9pm that all were alive and well.

They were brought out by an effort involving more than 90 professional divers, about 40 Thais and 50 from abroad.

Helicopters and 13 ambulances were standing by for the team to be taken to the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital.

The plan rehearsed was to transport them by ambulance to a hospital in Chiang Rai City 60 kilometers away. Any found in critical condition would be flown by helicopter to the same hospital.

Narongsak Osottanakorn, the former Chiang Rai governor and rescue operation chief, announced in the morning that the boys would be brought out in pairs, with two divers accompanying each one of them. He insisted that all were 100 percent ready, both physically and mentally.

The families had given a green light to the extraction plan, he said.

The operation is likely to resume as soon as 7am, Narongsak said. Cheers went up from volunteers and members of the media upon hearing the official announcement just before 9pm.

Going out the way they came in was a dangerous option of last resort. But fear they would drown or suffocate were they to remain any longer forced the hard choice.

Surviving what proved a shorter than expected journey of under four hours was a welcome second miracle six days after their discovery 5 kilometers inside by two volunteer British divers.

Spearheading the operation to guide the children out were 13 foreign divers and five Thai navy SEAL team members working in pairs to lead each boy out.

It required navigating perilously tight passages in muddy water against strong currents. One especially tight stretch reportedly required air tanks to be removed to fit through.

But made it, they did.

Yet the work is not finished or the danger less. Rainfall Sunday could raise water levels inside, which had fallen to a point considered favorable by those who ordered the mission to go ahead.

Eight more boys and their coach remain to be rescued.

Additional reporting Pravit Rojanaphruk

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the first boy out of the cave as Mongkol Boonpeam. In fact the boy was unidentified and Mongkol remains inside.

Importance Of Our Oceans and Why We Should Not Take Whatever Our Oceans and Seas Providing Us For Granted... 

Start Consuming more Veggies diets and reduce eating Seafood as much as you can, even though its not easy to do so as Seafood meat is fleshy, tender and succulent, esp. for Seafood BBQ/ Steamboat or Hotpot Buffet, its very tempting and delicious but we should all try to curb our Seafood meal appetitie ! 

Covering around 72% of the Earth and supplying half its oxygen, the Ocean and Seas is our Planet's life support system and it needs our help Urgently !!! - Photos taken at S.E.A Aquarium, Singapore... 

Why are Sharks as Equally as Important to the Oceans and Seas as it is as important to our Planet...

There have been Many MisConceptions About Sharks as Human Beings tend to see Sharks as Danger due to the many accidents/ incidents of Shark Bites underwater.. But do you know that not all Sharks will Bite and Sharks do not always Bite, and they only Bite when they smell traces of blood scent underwater or feel waves vibrations close coz they think its their preys (eg. Seals or Some fishes swimming nearby) etc.. and thats why they launched an attack? Its disheartening to see the Deaths of many Sharks just because of such MisConceptions and people hunt Sharks and other important Marine life so that they can earn a lot of $$$ from their body parts, like the Blue fin Tunas or Sea Urchins etc...???

SHARKS' ROLE IN THE OCEANS

Read more about Sharks and its Importance under the Seas and Oceans Ecosystems and Why We Should Not Kill or Even Hunt Sharks.

Sharks play a very important role in the oceans in a way that an average fish does not. Sharks are at the top of the food chain in virtually every part of every ocean. In that role, they keep populations of other fish healthy and in proper proportion for their ecosystem. How do sharks keep the oceans healthy?

Sharks keep food webs in balance

Sharks help keep reefs healthy

Sharks have evolved in a tight inter-dependency with their ecosystem. They tend to eat very efficiently, going after the old, sick, or slower fish in a population that they prey upon, keeping that population healthier. Sharks groom many populations of marine life to the right size so that those prey species don’t cause harm to the ecosystem by becoming too populous.

The ocean ecosystem is made up of very intricate food webs. Sharks are at the top of these webs and are considered by scientists to be “keystone” species, meaning that removing them causes the whole structure to collapse. For this reason, the prospect of a food chain minus its apex predators may mean the end of the line for many more species. A number of scientific studies demonstrate that depletion of sharks results in the loss of commercially important fish and shellfish species down the food chain, including key fisheries such as tuna, that maintain the health of coral reefs.

See how eliminating the apex predator affects the entire ecosystem

Sharks keep prey populations healthy

Predatory sharks prey on the sick and the weak members of their prey populations, and some also scavenge the sea floor to feed on dead carcasses. By removing the sick and the weak, they prevent the spread of disease and prevent outbreaks that could be devastating. Preying on the weakest individuals also strengthens the gene pools of the prey species. Since the largest, strongest, and healthiest fish generally reproduce in greater numbers, the outcome is larger numbers of healthier fish.

Sharks keep sea grass beds and other vital habitats healthy

Through intimidation, sharks regulate the behavior of prey species, and prevent them from overgrazing vital habitats. Some shark scientists believe that this intimidation factor may actually have more of an impact on the ecosystem than what sharks eat. For example, scientists in Hawaii found that tiger sharks had a positive impact on the health of sea grass beds. Turtles, which are the tiger sharks’ prey, graze on sea grass. In the absence of tiger sharks, the turtles spent all of their time grazing on the best quality, most nutritious sea grass, and these habitats were soon destroyed. When tiger sharks are in the area, however, turtles graze over a broader area and do not overgraze one region.

An important lesson: we need sharks!

Where sharks are eliminated, the marine ecosystem loses its balance.

In the parts of the ocean where sharks have been fished out of existence, we can see the dangerous result of removing the top predator from an ecosystem.

The lesson is important. Sharks are being killed for their fins for shark fin soup, a food that has assumed cultural value but is not important for human survival or health. However, removing the sharks can result in the loss of important foods that we do depend upon for survival.

Sharks have survived for 450 million years, but may be gone within the next decades. Life within the oceans, covering 2/3rds of our planet, has enjoyed a relationship with sharks for about 450 million years. Our growing demand for shark fin soup has increased the slaughter of sharks to such a great extent that many shark species are already nearing extinction.

What will the health of oceans be like when such an important group of animals have been destroyed? Do we want the destruction of sharks and the oceans to be the legacy we leave for our children?

http://www.sharksavers.org/en/education/the-value-of-sharks/sharks-role-in-the-ocean/

#ImportanceOfOurOceansAndSeas#DoNotTakeOceansAndSeasForGranted 

#ConsumerMoreVeggiesDiets#ReduceEatingExcessiveSeafoodFromBuffets 

#CurbOurSeafoodAppetite#SharkConservation

 #EcoMarineWildlifeConservation

Was this considered a normal seasonal phenomenon as typhoons, storms, hurricane or volcano etc. strikes an island or is Planet Earth calling out for warning signs.. Due to Climate Change and Global Warming. Massive flood landslides in West Japan also requires Medical Attention and Emergency Evacuation assistance! Not Forgetting Bali Mount Agung blowing up volcanic ashes again!!! 

https://japantoday.com/…/update9-85-dead-over-50-missing-af…

http://www.travelgowhere.com.sg
http://www.scubareefing.com

#EmergencyEvacuation #MedicalAndEvacuationAssistance#NaturalDisastersStrikes #Accidents #ClimateChangeAndGlobalWarming

Why Sea Ice Matters, understanding some of facts of Ice bergs, knowing the crucial and critical importance of learning drysuit and ice diving helps for scuba divers, where the top most leaders head towards the Arctic and Antarctica regions, Marine Biologists, Research Scientists does whatever it takes for them to protect these Arctic Animals of the Icy Regions.. 

How you can play a small part to protect their homes from further ice caps melting destruction !!! 

Use less of air-con in offices and every room at home, produce less toxic fumes and carbon monoxide from the driving exhaust pipes of cars means drive less, do more of car sharing and take public transport, don't use so cold refrigerator or freezing temperature if the food in your freezer doesn't requires it and stop burning waste and produce toxic fumes from waste burning incinerators and more... 

Photo Credits to UW Photographer : Mandy Duran and also to the Tech divers Gill and Team, for the Ice Diving Presentation slides at ADEX 2018 - Tekdive Conference, held in Suntec Singapore 2018. 

www.travelgowhere.com.sg 
www.scubareefing.com

#ProtectArcticAndAntarcticaRegions 

#StopIceCapsFromMelting

#TechConference360ScubaBusiness 

#GlobalWarmingAndClimateChange

#WhySeaIceMatters #FactsOfIceBergs 

#ImportanceOfDrysuitAndIceDiving

#ArcticDivers 

#SavePolarBearsPenguinsSeaAngelsEtc

Congrats! Awesome! Happy news for all !!!