Oct 2011 Vol 15. Issue 10

OCTOBER 2011

DIVE LOCALLY

Campbell River

Walls and Drifts and Wrecks - Oh My

WHERE IT REALLY MATTERS

Oregon The Untamed Diving Frontier

The Bahamas A Dive Destination Buffet

Volume 15 Issue 10 $1.95 US/$2.25 Canada

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OCTOBER 2011 IN THIS ISSUE Photographer Scott Harrison of Hayward,

CA, took this image of the never before photographed underwater Tyrannosaurus Rex. Rumors and folklore have persisted for centuries about the creature living in the murky depths of Puget Sound. But when Scott, and dive buddy Russ Murdoch traveled to Redondo Beach, WA they captured an actual image of this elusive creature. They were photographing other rare Redondo Beach sights when they encountered this fierce monster of the deep.

Known for its voracious appetite and aggressive nature; Scott was only able to capture this one image before it completely devoured Russ and disappeared into the dark abyss. Although he has logged close to 1,000 dives, Scott claims he has never before seen anything as terrifying as the underwater T-Rex. To view some of Scott Harrison’s less frightening images, visit http://sea-and-sand-gallery.smugmug.com

Northwest Dive News

The complete resource for what’s happening in diving in the Pacific Northwest.

P.O. Box 1494 Oak Harbor, WA 98277 Phone (360) 240-1874 Fax (360) 279-1814 www.nwdivenews.com

Publisher and Editor Rick Stratton rick@divenewsnetwork.com Editor Jamie Farris editor@divenewsnetwork.com Production Manager IJ James ij@divenewsnetwork.com Graphic Designer TJ Pierzchala tj@divenewsnetwork.com Expo Coordinator Selene Peterson expo@divenewsmag.com Travel Editor Jett & Kathryn Britnell Accounts Manager Tove Chatham accounting@divenewsmag.com Advertising Sales Roosevelt Rumble (360) 240-1874 ext103 sales@nwdivenews.com Northwest Dive News (NWDN) is committed to promoting the sport of scuba diving in the Pacific Northwest. We will present a practical, unbiased point of view regarding all aspects of the sport of scuba diving.

Topics covered will include information on current events, dive sites, dive training, dive safety, boat diving, dive buddy network and the personal experiences of our readers, Northwest scuba divers.

NWDN believes in honesty and integrity in business and will support all efforts related to this. We encourage our readers to participate in determining the content of this publication by giving us their opinions on the types of articles they would like to see. We invite letters to the editor, manuscripts and photographs related to diving or diving related business.

IMPORTANT NOTICE NWDN reserves the right to refuse service to anyone it chooses. The contents of NWDN are opinions of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor or any of its staff. The publishers and contributors assume no responsibility for any mishap claimed to be a result of use of this material. Diving is an adventure sport and contains inherent risks. Improper use of diving equipment or improper diving techniques may result in serious injury or death. Readers are advised to use their own best judgment in each individual situation.

Subscription Rates: U.S. one year $20.00 (3rd Class) Canadian $30 USF EARN A FREE 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION NWDN wants your diving related stories, cartoons, articles and pictures, and we’ll reward you by sending you a one (1) year subscription in return for the right to publish your original work. In order to win you must be published. This will apply for one article, photo or cartoon per six month period.

Stories should be a maximum of 1,200 words and we strongly suggest you include pictures or artwork with your story submissions to increase the likelihood that you will be published. Email submissions to nwdiver @nwdivenews.com or mail to P.O. Box 1494 Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Any material accepted may be printed by any means and is subject to revision as required. We are not responsible for returning such without a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Monthly Columns Editor’s Note.......................................4 Incoming Mail.....................................5 Hot News............................................6 DOG Rally Recap ...........................8-9 Edmonds Lingcods...................... 10-11 EXPO Speaker Series ................12-13

DAN/Medical Column....................... 26 Mystery Critter..................................27 BoatingRegulations..........................28 Gear Box..........................................29 Dive Directory..............................30-31 Tropical Dive Directory................30-31

NORTHWEST US DIVES 14 Oregon – The Untamed Diving Frontier

From Florence to Depoe Bay, the Oregon coast is still the wild west of diving. Thanks to challenging currents and a small contingent of divers willing to brave them, the Oregon coast is open for the adventurer. Join diver Jeff Carr as he showcases the bottom third of the Oregon coast line and what it has to offer in the fourth installment of his Oregon Coast series. By Jeff Carr

NORTHWEST CANADA DIVES

18 Campbell River – Walls and Drifts and Wrecks Oh My The Campbell River is one of the most incredible places to dive on the planet. You enter a forest of thousands of Northern Feather Duster tube worms, some approaching two feet in length. Their burgundy red and blue hues almost glow in the dive light and the “feather-dusters” recede quickly with the slightest touch. A diver can’t dive the Steep Wall without taking some photography time before the tidal currents take over. By Rick Stratton

TROPICAL DESTINATIONS

22 The Bahamas – A Dive Destination Buffet The Bahamas are on every diver’s bucket list.

The stories of what you can discover abound, sharks, rays, dolphins, wrecks…it goes on and on. It is one place you can dive that has hundreds of completely different islands offering a diving diversity not found anywhere else on the planet. Truth be told, you could spend a lifetime in the Bahamas and never experience every dive offered but boy wouldn’t it be fun to try!

By Rick Stratton

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3

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Do you have an opinion? Contact us: editor@divenewsmag.com

It’s time to think

Business

Rick Stratton

facebook.com/Rick.Stratton1 rick@divenewsmag.com

T

he other day I heard an interesting story … a fellow diver turned in his tanks after 20 years of active diving in our community due to some personal changes in his life. His love of the water continued; however, as he picked up the sport of white water rafting. This was a sport he related to and loved but missed his Scuba!

Of course, in true diver form, turned to his local dive shop for rafting boots. He could have gone to the big brand sports stores but knew from experience that his local dive shop would have the gear he needed.

And the story continues … our retired diver friend went to his local dive shop to get his boots. When asked by the store employee where he planned on diving, he explained that now having retired from the sport he is venturing into white water rafting. The employee seemed surprised and irritated with him, questioning why he would not have gone to a sports store that catered to white water rafting. This story was amazing and honestly disappointing!

The time has come for the dive industry to step back and take a look at how we do business. We have taken a beating this past year due to the slack in the economy … but listen folks … we need to think outside the business dynamic and infuse our business models with some fresh solutions and incorporate other water sports. After 15 years in the magazine business, I have had the opportunity to watch the small business markets in the dive industry repeatedly refuse to welcome a partnership with our water sports brethren. Now is the time to change this logic. The Dive News Network is putting our opinions in action by welcoming watersports vendors both Dive & Travel Expos in Tacoma, WA and Santa Clara, CA. Let’s face it … we all have our love of water in common and whether we are diving, rafting, kayaking or simply playing in it … we all have similar needs for gear and training, so why not provide for those needs and bring in new business?

The economy is challenging and with those challenges come greater responsibilities to work harder and smarter to maintain and grow our respective businesses. With that in mind, our retired diver should be welcomed with a smile and handshake, and a promise to meets his needs. It is Get the free mobile app for your phone time for change! http:/ / gettag.mobi

Rick

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www.nwdivenews.com Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 Check out our NEW website: www.divenewsnetwork.com

MONTHLY ARTICLES

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Rick,

In Print

I am a big fan of NW Dive News and have been since I was certified a number of years ago. I have been picking up the magazine at my local dive shop for several years; however my local dive shop just recently closed. I was thinking I would subscribe to the magazine and get it mailed to me ... But I saw in your last publication that you told readers not to subscribe and instead check out your website.

I like the website and enjoy the easy access to content but seriously miss my printed magazine. So what’s the deal? Are you still printing the magazine? I am worried you are jumping on digital only.

Don Benson

and

Online!

Dear Don,

Thanks for the kudos on the magazine and being such a loyal reader. I appreciate your concern about us becoming a digital only product. While I admit I do enjoy the convenience of digital and having the magazine available 24/7, I am not a big fan of digital only products. According to Amazon...92 percent of the books sold last year were sold in print. That tells me that people still love the feel of books and magazines and we will continue to print our magazines for that reason. It makes us unique in the marketplace. There are plenty of great websites that have fantastic resources for

divers but there is only one Northwest Dive News!

We will continue to send our magazines to our “participating dive centers” but unfortunately some dive centers will not carry the magazine because they believe it promotes shopping at their “competition”. I believe that most people shop all the time and you cannot control them by trying to limit their options.

The Internet has made that impossible. As a

convenience to you, our readers, we provide an e-version of our mag on the website 24-7 and promote our new free e-subscription however we still offer a real subscription mailed to your home. However you choose to get it, whether in print or digital, we want it to be your mag of choice.

Thanks again,

Rick

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HOT NEWS Get your business noticed by sending us your NEWS/EVENTS: editor@divenewsmag.com Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest to Raise Funds

The 29th Anniversary Fund Raiser at the Edmonds Underwater Park in Edmonds, WA is hoping to scare up support Oct. 29 beginning at noon. Sharpen your knife and think up a pumpkin face and join in on all the fun. The money raised will go to support the volunteer efforts at the Edmonds Underwater Park as all the offshore improvements are supported by donations. Recent donations have implemented new diver trails and features. Just sign in at the park beach between 11:15 and noon at the table. Since 1987, Underwater Sports in Seattle has contributed generous prizes. Prizes will be suitable to the holiday spirit and diving.

New UW Photography Center Opens in Seattle

Optical Ocean Sales, LLC is proud to announce it has expanded into a retail sales center located on Lake Union in Seattle.

They are the only dedicated underwater photography equipment store in the northwest. Optical Ocean’s new retail location gives the community the opportunity to put their hands on the most popular brands. Jack Connick, owner, has been a life-long photographer. He has extensive Pacific Northwest cold water diving and photography experience with ties to the Seattle diving community.

For more info visit www.OpticalOceanSales.com

Sustainable Path Foundation OFFERS SEMINAR

The Sustainable Path Foundation will present a seminar on Ocean Acidification as a part of its Sustainable Path Foundation 2011 Seminar Series Nov. 8 from 5:30 – 9 p.m. at the Town Hall in Seattle. The name of the seminar is “Dissolving before Our Eyes: the acidification of our oceans and why it matters to all of us” Speaker Richard Feely is a Senior Scientist with NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and his co-presenter is Brian Baird, former Washington (3rd District) Congressman and past chair of the House Science and Technology’s subcommittee on Energy and Environment. For more info visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

University of Washington Press Hosts dive book EVENT

The University of Washington Press hosted an opening event for David Hall’s “Beneath Cold Seas” dive book Oct. 5. Hall was not present but Sarika Cullis-Suzuki, who wrote the intro, stood in for Hall. The event was held at the Burke Museum. For more info visit www.burkemuseum.org/events/browse/ beneath_cold_seas.

Big Sky Country Hosts International Water Education Conference A NASA astronaut and aquanaut, a Harvard University professor of nutrition and epidemiology and a noted actress fighting to improve sanitation in the slums of Kenya are among the speakers at the upcoming “Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference” being held in Bozeman, Mont. in October. This is a presentation by the Project WET Foundation bringing together people from all walks of life to aid in water education that leads to sustainable action to solve pressing water problems. For more info visit www.projectwet.org/blueplanet.

You Could Win a Hollis H-160 Dive Propulsion Vehicle by Helping Sink a Ship

ARSBC is in the final stages of preparing the Annapolis for sinking this year and progress has been steady. Over the years ARSBC has been providing some terrific incentives thanks to the support of many industry leaders. The results are higher volunteer participation. Now ARSBC is offering something a little different; a tour of the Annapolis underwater with a powerful dive propulsion vehicle. Thanks to Hollis Gear a diver could win a Hollis H 160 DPV valued at $5,200. The winner will also receive training on the proper use and care of the dive propulsion vehicle at the store of your choice courtesy of The Edge Diving, IDC, Ocean Quest Dive Centre, Ocean Pro and Langley Diving. The more times you come out the greater your chances to win. To register for a day to help on the ship to volunteer or for more info contact volunteer@artificialreef.bc.ca.

REEF Dive Day in Howe Sound

Join the SeaDoc Society Oct. 24 for a REEF dive with Sea Dragon Charters in Canada’s Howe Sound. The team will be leaving Sewell Marina in West Vancouver at 10 a.m. and will return at 4 p.m. Each diver is responsible for transportation to and from the marina. Participants will learn how to identify common species and discover how recreational divers contribute to our environmental health by collecting data for the REEF database. Explore how scientists and agencies throughout the country use this data to monitor the health and success of our ecosystem. Please bring your SCUBA certification cards. Contact Jan Breckman at Sea Dragon Charters 604-329-3486 for more info. Be sure and mention if you are participating in the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference.

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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 Send Us Your News/Eventswww.nwdivenews.com FREE at editor@divenewsmag.com

Authors & Artisans Gather Nov 19

Join the Dive Industry Association of British Columbia as they welcome various dive authors, photographers, videographers and artists from the northwest to the third annual fundraiser Evening With the Authors and Artisans Saturday, Nov. 19 from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. at the West Vancouver Yacht Club, 5854 Marine Drive. The event will include, book and art sales, autographing, silent auction items, raffle prizes, a guest speaker and great camaraderie. For more information www.diveindustrybc.com or contact Barb Roy at beroy@telus.net.

Beloved Diver Passes Away

Brian Apland, a diver and archaeologist passed away July 30, 2011. Brian passed peacefully in the company of his family at Ottawa General Hospital.

Brian is survived by his wife Kathy Vinton. He was a doting dad to Karla (James) Kerr, and Disa, and proud Grumps to Paxton. Born on Sept 8, 1948, in Vancouver, BC, Brian was an archaeologist by profession. He spent many of his early years doing field work in the Pacific North West, Alberta and Montana. He later continued his career with the BC public service working for the archaeology branch and the Royal BC Museum. In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of choice or the B.C. Cancer Agency would be appreciated by the family.

DAN Announces 2012 DMT Course Dates

Divers Alert Network® (DAN®) has announced the 2012 course dates for its popular DAN® Diver Medical Technician (DMT) program. Aspiring DMTs are encouraged to register soon; the DMT courses routinely fill months in advance and almost always have waiting lists. Early interest in the 2012 programs indicate the courses will again be in high demand. DMTs fulfill a unique role among divers. They serve as the critical first step in the dive medicine chain, caring for injured divers on the scene and acting as tenders in the hyperbaric chamber. The course dates are Apr. 15-20 and Sept. 16-21 in Durham, NC. For more info contact DAN Education at (919) 684-2948 or email oxygen@diversalertnetwork.org.

Do you want your event listed here? Contact us: editor@divenewsmag.com

Find more Northwest activities on our facebook page! Northwest Activities

CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS

October: Oct 1-2: World Wide Photo Walk (Underwater) with Marker Buoy Dive Club.

Oct 3: Eugene Dive Club, 7p.m., Mookie’s NW Grill on Seneca, Eugene, OR. www.eugenediveclub.com Oct 4: Moss Bay Dive Club 6:30 p.m., Wilde rover Irish Pub & R e s t a u r a n t , K i r k l a n d , WA . www.meetup.com/MossBayDiveClub/ O c t 4 : We t & Wi l d d i v i n g Society, 7:30 p.m., Bob Lamb Training Center, Ft. McMurray, AB. www.ghphoto.ca/wwscuba/ Oct 5: Emerald Sea Dive Club, 7 p.m., Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Everett, WA. www.emeraldseadiveclub.org Oct 5: Marker Buoy Dive Club, 7 p.m., Sunset Hill Community Center, Seattle, WA. markerbuoydiveclub.org Oct 5: Puget Sound Depth Charters, 6 p.m., Louie G’s Pizza and Pasta, Fife, WA. www.psdepthchargers.com Oct 6: GSNDAMBAA Dive Club, 6 p.m., Edmonds Underwater Sports, Edmonds, WA. www.gsndambaa.org Oct 6: Northwest Dive Club, 6:30 p.m., Salem, OR. www.salemscuba.com Oct 6: Oregon Scuba Club, 7 p.m., Newport Seafood Grill, Rigard, OR. www.oregonscuba.com Oct 10: Napa Valley Divers, 7 p.m., Fillippi’s Pizza Grotto, Napa, CA. www.napavalleydivers.com Oct 11: Portland Sea Searchers, 7 p.m., Portland OR. (503) 709-9306 Oct 11: Yakima Dive Club, 6:30 p.m., El Porton, Yakima, WA. yakimadiveclub.sharepointspace.com Oct 18: Atomic Ducks Dive Club Channel Dive. Details online www.duckdiveclub.org.

Oct 18: Kelp Krawlers Dive Club, 7 p.m. River’s Edge Bar & Grille, Tumwater, WA. www.kelpkrawlers.org.

Oct 25: Toooosday night at Alki!

Brrrrrrrrrrrgers and beer post dive with Moss Bay Dive Club, 6:00 p.m., Alki Cove 2, Seattle, WA. www.meetup.com/MossBayDiveClub Oct 25-27: Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference hosted by People for Puget Sound, Vancouver, BC. Heather Trim – htim@pugetsound.org or 206.382.7007.

Oct 27: Northwest Adventure Divers, 7p.m., Golden Steer Restaurant, Kent, WA. www.nwadveturedivers.com.

Oct 27: Sea Horses Scuba Club, 6 p.m., Round Table Pizza, Redmond, WA. www.seahorsediveclub.com.

Oct 29: Pumpkin Carving Contest, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Howard Amon Park, Richland, WA. November: Nov 1: Wet & Wild diving Society, 7:30 p.m., Bob Lamb Training Center, Ft. McMurray, AB. www.ghphoto.ca/wwscuba/ Nov 2: Emerald Sea Dive Club, 7 p.m., Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Everett, WA. www.emeraldseadiveclub.org Nov 2: Marker Buoy Dive Club, 7 p.m., Sunset Hill Community Center, Seattle, WA. markerbuoydiveclub.org Nov 2: Puget Sound Depth Charters, 6 p.m., Louie G’s Pizza and Pasta, Fife, WA. www.psdepthchargers.com Nov 3: GSNDAMBAA Dive Club, 6 p.m., Edmonds Underwater Sports, Edmonds, WA. www.gsndambaa.org Nov 3: Northwest Dive Club, 6:30 p.m., Salem, OR. www.salemscuba.com Nov 3: Oregon Scuba Club, 7 p.m., Newport Seafood Grill, Rigard, OR. www.oregonscuba.com Nov. 5: Annual Atomic Ducks Dive Club Banquet, 5:30 p.m. Details soon, www.ducksdiveclub.org Nov 7: Eugene Dive Club, 7p.m., Mookie’s NW Grill on Seneca, Eugene, OR. www.eugenediveclub.com Nov 8: Portland Sea Searchers, 7 p.m., Portland OR. (503) 709-9306 N o v 8 : Ya k i m a D i v e C l u b , 6:30 p.m., El Porton, Yakima, WA. yakimadiveclub.sharepointspace.com Nov 14: Napa Valley Divers, 7 p.m., Fillippi’s Pizza Grotto, Napa, CA. www.napavalleydivers.com Nov 15: Atomic Ducks Dive Club Channel Dive. Details online www.duckdiveclub.org.

Nov 15: Kelp Krawlers Dive Club, 7 p.m. River’s Edge Bar & Grille, Tumwater, WA. www.kelpkrawlers.org.

Nov 22: Toooosday night at Alki! Brrrrrrrrrrrgers and beer post dive with Moss Bay Dive Club, 6:00 p.m., Alki Cove 2, Seattle, WA. www.meetup.com/MossBayDiveClub Nov 24: Northwest Adventure Divers, 7p.m., Golden Steer Restaurant, Kent, WA. www.nwadveturedivers.com.

Nov 24: Sea Horses Scuba Club, 6 p.m., Round Table Pizza, Redmond, WA. www.seahorsediveclub.com.

Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 www.nwdivenews.com We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.

7

TACOMA, WA LOCAL DRY EVENTS

Tacoma’s Les Davis Park Overrun with Dogs

Check out these photos and more online now at www.divenewsnetwork.com Photos by Dive News Network Staff

By Roosevelt Rumble

S

omeone opened up Les Davis Park to the DUI dogs. On Aug. 19-21 the DUI Dog Rally hit Les Davis Marine Park with a contingency of DUI reps, local dive shops and divers from all over the Pacific Northwest. It was truly an incredible event.

I arrived Friday and had a chance to attend the safety meeting which I hadn’t done before.

It was interesting to see how that part of the rally worked. I also got a chance to see how diver decontamination works. Public safety diving is one of the few segments that are healthy right now because they have federal funding to support it and it is also one of the types of diving we hear very little about. It was very interesting to see this other part of the DUI Dog Rally experience.

There were a number of local dive shops

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at this year’s Tacoma event. I got to spend time with Bud from Bubble’s Below of Woodinville and the TL Sea Dive shop out of Seattle had a crew there. Some of the other dive business that came out to support the DUI Rally were, Capital Divers of Olympia, Fifth Dimension of Seattle, Orca Scuba Center out of Wenatchee, the Sound Dive Center of Bremerton, Underwater Sports whose home is in Bellevue, Underwater Sports out of Federal Way, Underwater Sports of Kirkland, Underwater Sports of Olympia and Underwater Sports of Seattle as well as the Underwater Sports in Tacoma.

The food, my favorite part of the event, was excellent. There were a large number of divers at the event but because of the location there were a lot of curious people stopping by the Dive News booth who weren’t even

there for the rally. People who were just passing through the park stopped to see what was happening and many watched the divers.

There was a breast cancer awareness event in the park on the same day so we were able to share information about Dive for a Cure as well as other breast cancer events divers are involved with.

This year Dive News Network has partnered with DUI and is attending all of the DUI events across the country. Each event is spearheaded by the magazine of the area. This event was a Dive News NW event and was a great chance for us to promote local diving as well as dry suit diving.

We are looking forward to each and every event and invite readers to check out the DUI website at www.dui-online.com for a rally near you. ■

Two boats, two locations, same great experience.

For bookings on either boat, please call Sea Dragon Charters at 604-329-3486

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DUI DOG RALLY NEWPORT, OR

Dogs Attack the Oregon Coast

Check out these photos and more online now at www.divenewsnetwork.com Photos by Dive News Network Staff

By Selene Muldowney

O

n Aug 11-14 the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon was attacked by guys in drysuits. The DUI Dog Rally had begun and before it was over both divers and visitors to the aquarium got quite a treat.

DUI DOG Rally & Demo Days pitched their tents, unloaded the DOG truck, pulled out the drysuits and welcomed divers from all over the Oregon area for a BBQ lunch, a chance to try out DUI equipment and the incredible experience of diving in the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is the only aquarium in the Pacific Northwest that allows this type of event to take place. It is an amazing thing to behold.

PADI Dive Center

The Dive News crew got to the aquarium Friday for the beginning of the event and it was incredible to see how many divers showed up to support DUI and the aquarium as well as try out DUI drysuits. According to event coordinators the DUI event was sold out becoming one of the most successful events in DUI history. Local dive shops were out in force supporting the event including Eugene Skin Divers Supply of Eugene, Capital Divers of Olympia, HydroSports Dive & Travel out of Keizer and the Sound Dive Center of Bremerton, WA. One of the things making the Oregon Coast Aquarium DUI Dog Rally a huge draw for local divers is the chance to dive inside the aquarium. Divers get to swim inside the

aquarium and the visitors at the aquarium get to watch the divers. People visiting the aquarium loved having the chance to see real divers inside with the marine life. I spoke to several visitors who said they make a point to visit the aquarium when a DUI Dog Rally is going on just to see the event unfold.

This year’s aquarium event is the 9th DUI Dog Rally event held at the aquarium and, according to DUI representatives, each year sees more and more divers. The 2011 DUI Dog Rally Tour is co-sponsored this year by Dive News Network and we have had a team at each DUI event across the country. The next DUI Rally will be in Lake Rawlings, VA and we hope to see you there. For more events and info visit www.dui-online.com.■

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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 www.nwdivenews.com We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.

9

REGIONAL NEWS LOCAL MARINE LIFE

Lingcod Egg Mass Survey

18 Years Old and Going Strong

The Count says, “That’s one, one lingcod!” File photo.

T

he Lingcod Egg Mass Survey hits “legal” age in human terms this year…this year marks the 18th anniversary LEMS. Started in the winter of 1994 by the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society (MLSS), the survey has used volunteer divers to census spawning of lingcod. In 1996, the Vancouver Aquarium

stepped in and has promoted and collated data for the census ever since.

So why keep track of the Lingcod eggs?

The answer is simple. We were losing them and fast. The lingcod were undergoing a rapid reduction because of commercial fishing.

Scientists began noticing the lingcod were disappearing and surveying in the 1980s proved that stocks in the Strait of Georgia had collapsed to approximately 3-5 percent of their original biomass. The fisheries took action and in 1990 the Strait was closed to commercial fishing. Sport fishing regulations were also established in 1992 but even with these precautionary actions taken there were still concerns the lingcod would be unable

to bounce back so Whytecliff Park was designated as a no-take closure area in 1993 under the Fisheries Act of Canada. In 2002, all sport fishing for lingcod was banned in the Strait of Georgia and surrounding waters but the ban was lifted on the east coast of Vancouver Island in 2006.

Lingcod spawn from December through early April in the Strait of Georgia, with peak egg mass abundance in late February. The males guard the egg masses, which resemble styrofoam, for over a month, until hatching.

The appearance of the egg masses are easily identified by volunteer divers so volunteers take the time to survey the annual Lingcod Egg Mass. The surveys are performed by

“

our Ask y p for Sho Dive nalox the A O EIIC 10

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”

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Ichthyologist

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NATURE CONSERVANCY REGIONAL NEWS volunteer divers as well as staff from the Vancouver Aquarium. The volunteer divers are enlisted through a variety of sources including dive organizations, stores, charters, magazines, and personal contacts. Dive News Network Publisher Rick Stratton says he encourages local divers to get involved through his magazine. “It is important that, we as divers, be good stewards of our local waters and marine life,” Stratton says. “The Lingcod Egg Mass Survey is an easy way for divers to get involved in something that has an effect on our local waters.”

Stratton points out, locally, divers can get involved in the Edmonds UW Park Lingcod study. Wes Nicholson is recruiting volunteers currently for this year’s survey. The Edmonds Underwater Park Annual Lingcod Nest Census is an all-volunteer research project that has been carried out each winter and spring for the last 15 nesting season. The number of active census surveyors has declined over time and the number of possible nesting sites has increased through ongoing development of the park so now Nicholson and the Edmonds UW are struggling to cover the park. The heavy workload also reduces the time that they can spend observing lingcod behavior. “We are looking for a few divers to help with the Census,” says Nicholson. “Because of the training needed mostly becoming very familiar with the park, or at least portions of the park, it is hard to use folks who will only do one or two dives a season. We really need to locate people who are interested in making a commitment to dive the park 2 or 3 times a month for 4 or 5 months a year.”

Surveyors have to be very competent divers who can plan and execute their own dives and are willing to dive under the full range of winter diving conditions. Because of the number of dives needed it’s helpful for a surveyor to live fairly close to Edmonds. Although most of the surveyors only do one census dive a day, divers can do two survey dives on the same day to reduce the amount of travel. ■

The Count says, “That’s two, two lingcods!” File photo.

For more information on the census visit www.lingcod.org/Lingcod-NestCensus-Overview.htm. If you are interested in helping or have questions about the EUWP Lingcod Nest Census, please contact Wes Nicholson at 361-271-1584 or wes@earthwisevideos.com.

Aquatec USA • Tel (310) 639-9860 • www.aquatecusa.com Northwest Dive News JANUARY 2011 www.nwdivenews.com We support our local dive shopS - without them we will not have a dive industry.

11

EXPO SPEAKER SERIES

ANDY LAMB

Andy Lamb

The Fishes Stay the Same

A

t this year’s Northwest Dive Travel Expo in Tacoma WA, I gave a presentation about how the world around our Pacific Northwest fish has changed in the years between the two editions of our (co-author Phil Edgell) book Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest. The creatures themselves have remained virtually the same but while many of their populations have been reduced, often severely, almost all species have evolved ever so slightly but not so much that we would even notice.

What have changed are our attitudes toward and interaction with the fish -- and other marine life. Perhaps the best way to understand these changes is to consider the five prime “user groups” of Pacific Northwest fish, divers, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, naturalist/beachcombers and seafood consumers. Obviously, each of us might be included under more than one of these categories. For example, I participate in four of the five; I have never been a commercial fisherman.

When I began my Scuba adventure in 1967, most divers were focused on the hunter/gather option. Seafood consumption was the draw and most of us operated with spear-fishing equipment and goodie bags. However, by the late 1970s that changed and underwater photography began taking hold and as time has progressed, camera equipment has continued to evolve. Now, relatively inexpensive and small point-and-shoot digital “toys” provide remarkably good images to almost anyone. For the most part, we divers have moved into a non-consumptive relationship with fish. Various groups, including Project REEF, now provide today’s environmentally aware divers an opportunity to learn about and contribute to the welfare of our “finned” dive buddies.

The recreational anglers’ relationship with our fish has and continues to be a consumptive one but with an all-important enjoyment quotient as an over-riding value. Historically on the west coast, salmon was and continues to be king. However, with most stocks under ever increasing pressure, other lesser game-fish continue to find themselves as target species for many recreational fishermen. The population reduction of virtually all sport fish is reflected by the ever decreasing limits listed in the regulations set by government fisheries.

An increasing non-consumptive ethic among conservationist sport fishermen has led to catch and release programs as well as stewardship initiatives through angling clubs.

Certainly, consumption has always been a focus for commercial harvesters who provide seafood products for the world’s marketplace.

As technology improves, fleets efficiencies do as well, resulting in unsustainable harvesting of an ever increasing list of species.

In my lifetime, the perception of the ocean has gone from a

Divers in kelp. Photo

by Daniel Kaser Family tries to save a beached

bottomless, inexhaustible source of world protein to the current forecasts of all seas void of any economically significant species in the near future. A recent complication, in the form of fish farming or aquaculture, offers both potential hope as well as increased stress on aquatic habitats.

Although many beachcombers/surface bound travellers have often gathered seafood in the Pacific Northwest and netted some species of fish, many others have emphasised the natural history values of the seashore and simply enjoyed observing aquatic creatures. Numerous environmentally concerned organizations are now promoting public involvement and stewardship initiatives to protect near-shore and intertidal habitats.

For those of us who enjoy seafood, the variety of culinary options has continued to increase choices. While this is desirable on several levels, the ever increasing harvest of both traditional and “new” seafood not only bodes ill for the future but fuels increased prices.

Each of us seafood fanciers has power to influence this vital part of the economy. Via programs such as Seafood Watch, promoted by concerned organizations such as the Seattle and Vancouver Aquariums, we can purchase seafood (either at the market or restaurant) that is being harvested in an environmentally favourable way and by selecting species that still have robust populations.

Many countries (even those classified as third world) with coastlines throughout the world have adopted the proven strategy of no-take marine protected areas to reverse the alarming and catastrophic situation facing the world’s living marine resources .

Such reserves can be accessed by any and all non-consumptive users while eliminating all extraction of living organisms. Unfortunately, in the much of the U.S. and particularly in Canada, this beautifully simple concept has been almost totally ignored. Such zones must be created if a reversal of this terrible trend is going to happen.

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LIFESTYLE

EXPO SPEAKER SERIES

Minutes Equipment

H

ey divers, hope your summer was awesome and filled with exciting adventures. There is a dilemma I find as a strength coach and pain therapist. Fitness enthusiasts dealing with injuries seeking the safest piece of exercise equipment to maintain cardiovascular fitness.

Is it the treadmill? The rower? The stepper? The elliptical? The upright bike? Or the recumbent bike?

Truth is, they are all safe and effective, and by the same token they are all dangerous and detrimental. The equipment itself has little, if anything, to do with safety. The crucial factor is how it is used. A popular piece of equipment comes highly recommended because it is “low impact” or “safe”, yet many users still suffer flare ups during exercise. What could they be doing wrong? The routine typically is 45 minutes at a moderate pace, 3 times per week. Sounds harmless, right?

I’m afraid not.

Whether the equipment is “safe” or “low impact” is irrelevant.

What matters is the time spent on it. 45 minutes 3 times per week for a month amounts to roughly 540 minutes or 9 hours.

More precisely, 9 hours of the SAME movement pattern. That little bit of force applied to the same area repeatedly will cause issues. After all, most chronic pains are related to overuse, not blunt force. The good news is that is easily addressed by changing your movement patterns constantly. The chart to the right has a simple overuse-busting 30-minute routine you can do using the rower, the elliptical and the treadmill.

Cool down for 5 minutes with light activity and follow with your favorite stretches. Feel free to change to suit your needs.

Until next time, happy training and safe diving. ■

Variables

1-5

Rower

600 - 1000 meters

5-10

Elliptical

Pedal forward, moderate intensity. Let go of any support

10-15

Treadmill

Incline 2; moderate run 2 minutes, skipping 1 minute, moderate jog 2 minutes

15-20

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13

NORTHWEST DESTINATION LOCAL DIVE SITE REVIEW

Oregon

The Untamed Diving Frontier

Photo

by Jak e

Andr eason

Photo by Jake Andreason

By Jeff Carr Guest Writer, Dive News Network

I

Florence

n the fourth and final installment of our examination of Central Oregon Coast dive sites, we start in Florence and end in Depoe Bay. This part of the Oregon coast is no less tamed for a diver than the upper coast is and offers some diverse and adventurous diving.

So far we have covered shore diving and boat dives within the jetty systems as well as many of the off shore sites. Now we go just a bit further.

The great sand dunes you see in the Florence area continue without a break for miles into the ocean. Exploring these sandy ridges may not be on anyone’s “bucket list” but it is not entirely dull either. There are no specific sites out there, but one can go offshore and pick a depth for a dive and bail in. You can expect to find a lot of sandy bottom, but there are creatures living in the sand such as the occasional halibut, sole and what most divers in Florence seek, Dungeness crab.

Arch Rock

Only a couple hundred feet from 905 is Arch Rock. This site is a bit more varied than the flat top feature of its close neighbor, but not less interesting. There are actually two arches and one “L” shaped swim-through here. On the north side is an impressive wall drops straight to 120 ft. in some places. The larger arch is on the western side and is around 70 ft. deep (this arch is about 15-18 feet wide) while its smaller cousin (about 10 feet wide) is nearby and at around 60 ft. The top part of

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Where did you dive yesterday? email us: editor@divenewsmag.com

OREGON DIVE SITES Arch Rock reef is around 35 ft. although there are points a bit higher.

South Reef

Seldom visited, South Reef is just a short distance from the tip of the South Jetty in Newport. It is in shallow water and comes up into the surge zone, so this site is often sacrificed to pursue the deeper and livelier spots a few miles further south. For smaller boats or your first forays into the open sea, this is a good spot to begin. It is important to note it is not a good site for days with large surf as the surge in these shallow spots can be devastatingly strong.

Stonewall Banks

Fourteen miles southwest of Newport is a huge reef that is deep even at its shallowest points. With some effort you can find a spot that is within your depth range but deep diving experience is needed to even consider going out there. The top of the reef, in my searches, is around 125 ft. at the shallow spots and falls deeper quickly.

Map courtesy of Data SIO NOAA US Navy NGA GEBCO US Dept. of State Geographer

The Wreck of the Blue Magpie

Oregon

To see the full map, check online at ww.divenewsnetwork.com

In 1983, the freighter Blue Magpie ran aground on the north side of the North Jetty in Newport and was destroyed quickly by the surf. On a very calm day, this site can be explored. It is beaten down and very little of the ship is left, but the unpredictable shifting sands sometimes reveal a long hidden part of this huge shipwreck. The deteriorating

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NORTHWEST DESTINATION LOCAL DIVE SITE REVIEW wreckage provides shelter and nutrients to the marine life and is interesting. Somewhere in those sands is a 6-ton brass prop. Only highly experienced divers with many off-shore years under their weight-belts should consider this.

Yaquina Reef

This reef stretches over a mile north of the Newport Jetty system in a long, thin and broken rock formation. Line up the tip of the north Jetty with the Yaquina Head lighthouse and then proceed towards the beach. Don’t get too close to the North Jetty, as it gets shallow and sandy and the better diving is at least a half mile north. The channels and breaks in this reef are havens for creatures and an old worn out shipwreck called the John Aspen.

Map courtesy of Data SIO NOAA US Navy NGA GEBCO US Dept. of State Geographer

Yaquina Head, North

Just north of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse by 300 yds and proceeding due west, you will find 3 submerged pinnacles that rise from the rocks around them, each about 100 yds from the next. This kind of reef exploration is something that you intrepid boaters will have to become accustomed to if you want to find your own spots.

In the pre-GPS days we dove out here and since they didn’t have handheld Loran C units we just got close by sight and then found them using depth sounders.

To see the full map, check online at ww.divenewsnetwork.com

The Woodell Ledges

South of Depoe Bay is a rough cove called Rocky Creek Cove.

Just past the is a series of houses called Miroco. Just south of the houses is an abandoned rock quarry and due west of the quarry is a submerged rock generally covered with kelp. The closer you get to the rock, the better the diving seems to be. The Woodell Ledges are similar to the rocks to the south and sticking out of the water. Most notably the massive Gull Rock several miles away. The ocean side of these ledges slopes up toward the beach from about 60 ft. until it reaches a plateau at 30 ft. and is thick with kelp. It then drops straight off to a boulder strewn bottom at 60 ft. and begins another slow rise

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OREGON DIVE SITES

Where did you dive yesterday? email us: editor@divenewsmag.com

Boiler Bay

Photo by Jake Andreason

to the next drop. These ledges almost seem like waves frozen in stone. This is the best diving in the area we have found.

Depoe Bay in General

The rockiness of the Depoe Bay area gives us a lifetime of diving exploration. Just outside the harbor a few hundred yards are canyons, crags, boulders and ledges awaiting

exploration. Boat traffic near the harbor limits what you can do in the immediate vicinity, but as the coastal rocks straighten turn south towards Cape Foulweather and there are literally miles of dive sites.

This area can be an urchin haven where very few other creatures dwell, but some areas are thick with life.

This bay, which can be accessed from shore on a calm day, is just north of Depoe Bay. The bay itself was named after the steam boiler, from the ship J. Marhoffer washed ashore.

The ship wreckage was on the outside part of this bay and was purposely run aground due to fire on May 18, 1910. You may find bits of wreckage here if you are very astute in your searches but for the most part, don’t hope for a whole lot more than seeing remnants of the old boiler in the rocks in the tide pool area. For the diving, the bay is home to all the things we divers expect to see.

There you have it, the Oregon coast is an amazing place to dive with a little caution.

Most of the shipwrecks my co-author Scott Boyd and I know about will be featured in the second edition of Northwest Wreck Dives which will be finished in a couple more years.

If you see me out on the waves, come over and say hello. ■ Thank you to Jerry Leach for his help in completing this 4th chapter. Oregon has a lot to offer divers, and the dives presented in these four articles only touch on a few in the regions we have explored. Jake Andreason and Jeff Carr are staff members of Eugene Skin Divers Supply and Jeff is a coauthor with Scott Boyd of Northwest Wreck Dives.

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17

CANADIAN DESTINATION LOCAL DIVE SITE REVIEW

Campbell River Walls and Drifts and Wrecks Oh My

A predatory sunflower seastar recoils after coming in contact with the spines of a sea urchin. Photo by John Rawlings.

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he Campbell River is located mid-way on Vancouver Island on the eastern side, in British Columbia. It has long attracted people to the area because it lies along the important coastal inside passage shipping route. It sports some of the most beautiful, rugged, above ground scenery you will ever come across and that is second only to the incredible underwater environment fraught with marine life, color and adventure. The Campbell River area has drawn outdoorsmen and women to its majestic waterways whether it be the coastal waters, inland lakes or the river systems historically famous for the massive salmon runs each year. Legend has it that the area has a spiritual connection to nature itself and I can tell you from being there that you can feel it in the air.

Most of the diving in this area is still done in Discovery Passage, between the town and Quadra Island. Bill Coltart of Pacific Pro Dive in Courtney, BC operates a dive charter in the Campbell River area.

Their full service dive shop and charter service has been operating in the area since 1994; he knows the area because it is literally his backyard. “We have always taken divers out along Quadra Island because the conditions are so consistent year around. “We spend six months out of the year taking divers to the area because the diving is so distinctly different than it is in the southern area,” Coltart says.

“There is so much color to be enjoyed by the divers. Even during the winter we can dive that area because it is so protected.”

There are many of dive sites in Campbell River area that divers can sink into. Some of the areas cater to the newer divers but others are more suited for experienced or technical divers. There are many dive sites that offer a bevy of things to explore however the currents can be tricky and incredibly strong. This is a place where divers have to pay attention to the tidal currents. Pacific salmon, orca (killer) whales, seals and sea lions, wolf eels and giant pacific octopus can easily be seen since the vis ranges from 40 ft. to over 100 ft. Each dive around

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CAMPBELL RIVER

Where did you dive yesterday? email us: editor@divenewsmag.com

the Quadra Island area is unique. A lot of the marine life will interact with divers. The seals will take the time to hang out with you in some areas and rockfish don’t scatter. The area is famous for its carpets of Strawberry Anemones. The small brightly colored anemones are all over the walls and rocks in this area. Red isn’t the only color here however, bright yellow sponges also make their presence known. Rockfish hang out here along with the famous Puget Sound King crabs. The crabs can be discovered on the various rocky ledges in the area and are so big they often look like something out of a horror movie to those new divers who have perhaps never seen them.

Tiger Rockfish covered with tiger stripes also stalk the area giving it a wild jungle feel. Go a little further and you will discover purple and red sea urchins and the occasional giant Sunflower Sea star.

Steep Island Wall

A Tiger Rockfish hanging out in its territory.

Unlike many other Rockfish species, the Tiger Rockfish is solitary. Photo by John Rawlings.

Steep Island Wall is one of the most incredible places to dive on the planet. You enter a forest of thousands of Northern Feather Duster tube worms, some approaching two feet in length. Their burgundy red and blue hues almost glow in the dive light and the “feather-dusters” recede quickly with the slightest touch. A diver can’t dive the Steep Wall without taking some photography time before the tidal currents take over. Earl Lowe who runs Abyssal Dive Charters, located at Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island says that this is one of his favorite dive sites. “The Steep Island Wall offers divers something they can’t get anywhere else,” Lowe says. “I’ve been doing dive charters in the Campbell River for more than 15 years now and the area is so full of life that there is no place on the reefs where you can touch rocks. It is literally all covered with living things. For instance there at the wall is a large field of Giant Purple Tube Worms that are down 40-90

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CANADIAN DESTINATION LOCAL DIVE SITE REVIEW ft. It is the largest clump I’ve ever seen. I love to take new divers there and underwater photographers just can’t stop taking photos in the area. Sometimes it’s hard to get divers to move on it’s so beautiful.” Coltart adds that the Steep Island Wall is also a big draw for divers that Pacific Pro Dive caters to as well.

“We dive on the west side and geologically this is an area that keeps a diver interested from the time they get into the water,” Coltart says. It is almost like diving in a cavern. You get into huge amounts of rockfish and lingcod hanging out in one of the largest kelp forests I have ever seen.”

The Copper Cliffs

The Copper Cliffs are sheer cliff walls that dramatically dips down 300 ft. into an abyss filled with color and life. The cliffs extend over 100 ft. below the surface and empties out into a large collection of boulders. Down at these depths are some impressive cloud sponges several feet across that are hiding rockfish schools, lingcod and several species of crab including the Puget Sound king crab. It is important to note that the currents on and around the cliffs can be surprisingly dangerous. Divers have reported unusual current activity such as currents changing direction by 180 degrees as you ascend 20 ft.

Here Black Cormorants dwell in bull kelp that is so thick you get the feeling you are in dense under brush. Giant Plumose Anemones abide here like huge balls of cotton candy gathering food on the current. Orange cup corals can be found on the Copper Cliffs and Cloud Sponges of various shades give the diver that floating in heaven feel. Wolf-eels guard the area and Spiny Dogfish Sharks make it clear that this is their home.

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CAMPBELL RIVER

Where did you dive yesterday? email us: editor@divenewsmag.com

Middle Natch Island

Middle Natch Island is an area about a 25 minute boat ride from Quadra Island where there are a lot of sea lions in the winter time and it is a great place for interaction between divers and sea lions. This area is a marine bird sanctuary there isn’t a lot of anchor traffic making it a great place for divers to find wolf eels and lots of octopus. “I like taking divers out to Middle Natch because at 120 ft. you get into the cloud sponges and color making it a great deeper dive but for less experienced divers, you can drop them off at 40-50 ft. and they get to see some of the most incredible the marine animals,” says Coltart. “You can literally take divers of all skill sets into that area and cater to everyone.”

Coltart adds that the above the water scenery is incredible too. “You are on the middle of the Strait of Georgia and surrounded by snowcapped mountains with eagles flying by and cormorants on the shore…it is a throwback to when more of the west was wild. It is so peaceful.”

The Campbell River area offers divers from all over the world a chance to dive into waters infested with color and literally overrun with life only found here. From the wolf eels to the Giant Pacific Octopus to the famous six gilled sharks, the coastal waters off of British Columbia, and specifically Campbell River are an escape into another world. ■

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21

8/5/11 2:31 PM

TRAVEL DESTINATION

The Bahamas

GETAWAYS

A Dive Destination Buffet

Map courtesy of Data SIO NOAA US Navy NGA GEBCO US Dept. of State Geographer

Incredible day for Diving here at Stuart Cove’s ! Over 100ft of visibility on Sandchute wall!! Photo by: Ellison Gomez of Fin Photo

By Rick Stratton Publisher, Dive News Network

The Bahamas are on every diver’s bucket list. The stories of what you can discover abound, sharks, rays, dolphins, wrecks…it goes on and on. It is the one place you can dive with 14-plus completely different islands offering a diving diversity not found anywhere else on the planet. Truth be told, you could spend a lifetime in the Bahamas and never experience ever dive they offer but boy wouldn’t it be fun to try.

Grand Bahama

Grand Bahama, located just 55 miles east of Florida, is one of the northernmost of the islands in the Bahamas. Offering ocean diving, as well as cave diving, calls divers from all over the world. “We have amazing blue holes and cave diving is becoming a staple in Grand Bahama,” says Cristina Zenato with the Diving Supervisor with UNEXSO Grand Bahama. “The cave diving when compared to the cave diving in Mexico is the most unexplored so divers are coming for the adventure of it.” Zenato adds that there are many dive site types in Grand Bahama including a lot of wrecks, current dives and reef dives. “There are some great current drift dives done on the east side of island,” Zenato says. “Depending on the current you can ride 22 22

it for quite a ways.” Grand Bahama and Bimini are both the most well known hot spots for spotting dolphins.

Bimini

As the westernmost island in the Bahamas, Bimini is the closest island to the United States is Bimini, which is also known as the gateway to The Bahamas. Neil Watson, legend in the dive community and owner of Bimini Big Game Diving Club and Neil Watson’s Undersea Adventures, says that it is a unique place to dive.

“Bimini is an incredibly unique place in general,” Watson says.

“It is the closest island to the mainland, 48 miles away from the US, and we see an amazing amount of divers from there. The diving is as good as you are going to find in the Caribbean. The Gulf Stream is right off the island so it is constantly flushing the water through bringing in marine life.” Watson adds that there are beautiful wall dives and that a lot of divers are drawn to the Victory and Tuna Alley is where there are caves, drop offs and channels. Bimini is also the place for shark dives with a shark institute on the south end. Watson also points out that Bimini is one of the few places where divers can have a wild dolphin encounter. “North about 15 miles there are pods of spotted dolphins that love to interact with humans,” Watson says.

“It is an incredible experience.”

LOCAL DIVERS DO IT MORE www.nwdivenews.com OFTEN!

Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010

BAHAMAS

Where was the last tropical trip you took? email us: editor@divenewsmag.com

Abaco

Abaco is made up of a collection of islands including Great Abaco and Little Abaco, as well as the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger’s Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker’s Cay, Little Grand Cay, and Moore’s Island.

Abaco is exposed to the Gulf Stream on the north side funneling in marine life making this area a cornucopia of dive sites. Brendal Stevens of Brendal’s Dive Center and Watersports International located on Green Turtle Key says that in his 26 years on the island he has learned that Abaco can offer diving so diverse that visitors can come back over and over again and experience a different dive every time. “Abaco is called the “the Jewel of the Bahamas” and that’s because there is more marine life her than most places,” Stevens says. “It is because we are on the tip of the NE channel, exposed to the Gulf Stream on the north side constantly makes the diversity of marine life spectacular.” Stevens adds that the diving around Abaco is mostly reef diving. “We sit on the fourth largest reef in the world, so although the diving is mostly shallow, there are beautiful caverns and coral heads.”

Inagua

The first dive after Irene was beautiful! The water is warm, clear, and ready for divers!

Photo courtesy Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas.

The southeastern most islands are Inagua comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua. This area tends to be calmer since it is not as close to the Gulf Stream as the northern islands. The diving on Inagua consists of reef and drift dives sprinkled here and there with cove like areas. The most popular dive in Inagua

RAJA AMPAT, .......where all the fishes live!

www.papua-diving.com Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 Local divers don’t just divewww.nwdivenews.com locally - they dive globally!

23

TRAVEL DESTINATION

GETAWAYS

Neal Watson and Guy Harvey explore the many reefs and wrecks off the Bimini coast. Photo courtesy Dive Bimini

is the Great Inagua Wall. This dive provides a truly unique diving experience with its pure sand drop-off and giant coral heads that tumble toward a great abyss. However, diving this wild isn’t easy, because there isn’t a formal dive operator on this island.

Andros Island

Andros Island is a bit of a conundrum… it is an archipelago within the archipelagonation of the Bahamas…sort of a gift within the gift. It is the largest of the 26 inhabited Bahamian Islands and has an area greater than all the other 700 Bahamian islands combined.

On Andros divers will discover shallow water dives, wreck and blue hole dives and dramatic wall dives. For the adventurous there is the 6,000 ft. deep Tongue of the Ocean.

Divers visiting Andros will find themselves a bit overwhelmed from the choices it presents. Jeff Birch, owner of the oldest resort dedicated to diving, Small Hope Bay Lodge, has been on Andros for over 50 years.

“We have deep wall dives, as well as deep tank dives through the lodge,” Birch says.

“This is a great area for that type of diving because we are sitting on the third largest reef in the world. The diversity of the geological landscape is amazing. You are literally 20 minutes away from a diversity of diving that you will not find anywhere else in the world.”

Birch adds that there are also wrecks for divers looking to explore some history 24

LOCAL DIVERS DO IT MORE www.nwdivenews.com OFTEN!

Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010

Where w

Want to go to the Bahamas?

These are the local dive shops sponsoring trips to this amazing dive destination.

Jan. 14-21, 2012 Northwest Scuba www.northwestscuba.com Jan. 14-21, 2012 Nanaimo Dive Outfitters www.nanaimodiveoutfitters.com March 10-16, 2012 Sports Cove www.scubamontana.com Nov. 3-10, 2012 Northwest Scuba www.northwestscuba.com

as well. “Diving is a sport, not a profession so it should be fun,” Birch adds. “We create specialty dives that cater to the diver so that they can get the most out of their visit to Andros and this area offers so much that a diver can come back over and over again and still not experience it all.”

BAHAMAS diving there. “We dive the northern Exumas,” Purdy says. They are not as populated and part of the area is an underwater park that is over 50 years old. There are some great walls that start fairly shallow and are full of marine life. We also have some of the most pristine reefs in the world.

Diver’s often come for the larger marine life which they find easily. There are a lot of sharks and grouper here because it is a marine park.” Purdy adds that it is not unusual to see 7-8 large grouper on one dive. “The vis is always very good in the Exumas and we have some really unique high speed drift dives. On the backside of the Allens, up on the bank, there is a beautiful reef area and

when the tides change the currents rush over them lighting them up with sea life, Purdy says. Exuma offers many of the larger sea animals that divers hear that they will find in the Bahamas. Sharks, turtles, rays and large pelagic abound around Exuma. Purdy adds that there are 40-50 islands as a part of the Exuma islands and there are people on four of them; they rest are unsettled and waiting to be explored.

These are just a small taste of what the Bahamas has to offer divers. From blue holes, to cave diving, to ship wrecks to some of the world’s fastest drift dives, adventure and excitement are just waiting for the next diver to get into the water. ■

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Eleuthera

Eleuthera is a long banana shaped island 50 miles east of Nassau, south of the Abacos and northwest of Cat Island. There are blue holes, timed right, to discover. The current is strong and it wouldn’t do to get sucked deep into a cave network, mostly unexplored, off a deep blue hole. Spiny lobsters ring the inside shelves above the siphons. Nurse sharks stand guard at the entrances to the caves as the flow of water pumps over their gills.

Divers can approach the sleeping sharks easily to pose for pictures. When the current is pushing out, penetrations with an experienced guide is possible but remember, these caves are merciless and have not been explored to any great extent. There are no gates and no signs that warn divers of the dangers.

Exuma

Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 360 islands and is considered the outer islands. Bruce Pudry of Blackbeard’s Cruises Aqua Cats has been in the Bahamas for 35 years and specifically on Exuma for over 20 years, he understands the

WET= FEWER DIVES DRY= MORE DIVES Drysuit divers stay warm and dry every dive.

And that means more adventures for your logbook.

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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 Local divers don’t just divewww.nwdivenews.com locally - they dive globally!

25

MEDICAL DIVING

ARTICLE COURTESY OF DIVERS ALERT NETWORK

Don’t Panic H

eart palpitations, nervousness, shortness of breath and the desire to bolt to the surface—enter a panicked diver. Panic is a sudden, overwhelming, intense reaction to a perceived threat or stressor. There are a lot of conditions that can set the stage for diver panic: poor visibility, overhead environments, hazardous marine life, difficult sea conditions, physical challenges, equipment malfunctions, entanglements and disorientation, and diving outside your comfort zone, among others. Recognizing symptoms of stress in yourself and in fellow divers is an important skill to help avoid panic and potentially dangerous situations.

Recognize the signs

There are some immediately visible signs of panic that may be recognizable. These include: • Wide-eyed appearance • Rapid, shallow or inefficient breathing • Jerky movements • Awkward kicking • Rejecting equipment • Inappropriate or no response to hand signals

Responding Underwater

Signs of stress or anxiety can escalate to panic very quickly, so a prompt response is imperative. The “fight or flight” instinctual response to panic creates a dangerous situation in an underwater environment. A diver’s panicked response may be to bolt to the surface.

If you observe a diver exhibiting signs of stress, first, approach the diver. Try to make contact with him. Ask, “Are you okay?” If the diver appears in danger of panicking, assess the situation: Is there an equipment malfunction?

Is the diver entangled or injured? If you can identify the issue, try to help him resolve it. Help him to control his breathing; this can have a calming effect. If you cannot identify the issue, it may be best to make a slow, controlled ascent with the diver.

Minimize Stress

Anxiety when engaging in a new activity is normal. To minimize stress, make sure you are physically fit and well-trained to meet the demands of your diving environment. Always dive within the limits of both your training and comfort level. Mentally prepare yourself for a situation by walking yourself through “what if” scenarios.

Prior to each dive, assess whether you are prepared from all perspectives: mental, physical, equipment and training. Once engaged in the dive, if you start to feel anxious, stop, and take slow, deep breaths. Assess the situation and an appropriate response; only then should you act. If your decision is to end the dive, notify your buddy and, together, end the dive safely, completing a slow, controlled ascent while breathing out. When you reach the surface, inflate your BCD, and if necessary drop your weights. If you feel you have a tendency to panic, identify stressful situations and try to avoid them. For instance, if night diving is extremely stressful, it may not be the kind of diving for you.

Seeking out continuing education can also help reduce some anxiety. Discuss concerns with your instructor; he may be able to help you feel more comfortable. article courtesy of One of the best courses a diver can take is a rescue course. There you will learn how to recognize potential problems before they manifest as well as how to manage them effectively. You can also further your training with dive-specific first aid courses such as the DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider (DEMP) program or the DAN Dive Medicine for Divers Series. You can improve your skills and become a better dive buddy. ■ Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the safety and health of recreational scuba divers.

DAN operates a 24-hour emergency hotline (+1-919-684-9111) to help divers in need of medical emergency assistance in a diving or non-diving situation.

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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 Want to support local diving inwww.nwdivenews.com your part of the globe? email NWSALES@DIVENEWSNETWORK.COM

andylamb@telus.net

ANDY LAMB’S

MYSTERY CRITTER

Potpourri An image with variety T

his month’s image arrives courtesy of Peter Mieras who found and documented these creatures in early February of this year.

He and dive buddy/wife Kathy Johnson encountered them at about 45 ft (12 m) just of their dock in Rainy Bay, Barkley Sound, B.C. Peter and Kathy own and operate Rendezvous Dive Adventures – an excellent operation with outstanding dive opportunities.

The primary focus of this underwater scene is a pair of Bering hermits Pagurus beringanus. Incidentally, these creatures are correctly called ‘hermits’ as they are not true crabs (and are very different creatures). The large specimen on the right is an adult male while the one on the left is a female exhibiting a juvenile colour pattern. Actually, the activity being witnessed best can be described as “hermit foreplay” as the male has selected

Vancouver Island 49th Parallel Dive Charters

and grabbed a young but apparently fertile female. This is a marine version of robbing the cradle! According to arthropod expert and author of Pacific Coast Crabs and Shrimps (Sea Challengers) Greg Jensen, this tryst culminates in a mating, with both hermits almost totally exiting their shells to complete the sex act.

Also shown in Peter’s photograph are the two snail shells that the hermit “lovers” are using for shelter. The large male is ensconced in a rather worn shell formerly inhabited by a living dire whelk Lirobuccinum dirum while his you female companion is living in an exquisite example of a money wentletrap Epitonium indianorum shell.

Check the species out in Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest page 222, MC174 and page 229, MC203. ■

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www.nwdivenews.com Local Divers Don’t just dive locally - they dive globally

Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010

27

NOT ALL BOATERS ARE DIVERS

BOATING REGULATIONS NORTHWEST DIVE NEWS BUT ALL DIVERS ARE BOATERS

FATIGUE

SAFE BOAT OPERATIONS

By Captain Bob Guest Columnist, Dive News Network

M

ental and physical fatigues are among the greatest dangers during rough weather operations. The hazard of fatigue dramatically reduces the powers of observation, concentration, and judgment.

This reduces the ability to exert the effort necessary, and increases the probability that unnecessary risks will be taken and routine safety measures may be ignored. The

following are examples of situations that may cause fatigue: • Operating in extreme hot or cold weather conditions.

• Eye strain from hours of looking through sea-spray blurred windshields • Exposure to the sun • Exposure to noise • Poor physical conditioning • Lack of sleep The safety of the crew and other passengers should always be the foremost concern of all boat operators. The primary symptoms of fatigue are: • Inability to focus or concentrate/narrowed attention span • Mental confusion or judgment error • Decreased coordination of motor skills and sensory ability (hearing, seeing) • Increased irritability • Decreased performance • Decreased concern for safety Any one of these symptoms can cause mistakes that may ultimately affect the safety of the crew. It is important to ward off the effects of fatigue before they become too great. Fatigue can lead to faulty decisions and a “don’t care” type of attitude. Alcohol and drug use causes slower reaction time, lack of coordination, slurred speech, drowsiness, or an overconfident attitude. Hangovers also cause irritability, drowsiness, seasickness, and a lack

of concentration. Alcohol is a well-recognized central nervous system depressant. It is one of the most frequently used and abused drugs in our society. Even small amounts of alcohol in the blood can seriously impair judgment, reflexes, and muscular control and may reduce the restorative effects of sleep. The level of alcohol in the body varies with the frequency and amount of alcohol intake, the length of time following your last drink and an individual’s body weight.

Prescription drugs have the ability to adversely affect or incapacitate crewmembers.

Certain medications can be as debilitating as alcohol or worse. In addition, many medications, if taken with alcohol, intensify the effects of both. The drug caffeine, contained in coffee, tea and many soft drinks, can produce an adverse effect on the body.

The amount of caffeine contained in just two cups of coffee appreciably affects the rates of blood-flow and respiration. In small amounts, coffee can be considered a nervous system stimulant. Excessive amounts may produce nervousness, inability to concentrate, headaches, and dizziness.A person can become fatigued for any of these reasons which is why it is so important to use your own judgment as to whether you should take to the water or not. Always remember, it is better to be safe than sorry. For more info visit blog.marinerslearningsystem.com ■

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www.nwdivenews.com Dive Locally - Where It Really Matters

Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010

WHAT GEAR ARE YOU DIVING WITH? GEAR BOX D1 Hybrid Drysuit

The D1 Hybrid Drysuit gives new meaning to “revolutionary design”. This drysuit includes integrated silicone seals, a drybag, hose, and a 5/7MM H1 Hood. Three years were spent analyzing the problems of standard drysuits before the patented D1 Hybrid was developed. The D1 is the world’s first insulated constant volume drysuit with a 10 Butyl layer Trilaminate shell and 3-D mesh inner lining with suspenders. The suit is designed to provide a constant distance to the outer shell while acting as a vapor barrier keeping the diver dry at all times. The D1Hybrid Drysuit also provides unrestricted airflow throughout the suit so that no trapped air or squeeze is ever allowed. It also sports a warm neck valve and elastic waist band, an armored dry zipper with a chill guard and polyurethane embossed seat area for non-slip and abrasion protection. For more info visit http://waterproof.mwrc.net.

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Sea & Sea MDX-D7000 Underwater Housing

The Sea & Sea’s MDX-D7000 Underwater Housing for Nikon D7000 is a compact housing constructed from machined solid block aluminum, with corrosionresistant die-cast aluminum alloy grips. Camera features can be controlled using the ergonomic slanted controls on the rear of the housing. A built-in leak detector warms of water leakage and a 0.5x optical viewfinder is included. The housing can be fitted with Get the free mobile app for your phone an optional strobe bulkhead for hardwired strobes.

Strobes can be triggered as slaves using the Fibrehttp:/ / gettag.mobi Optic Cable L-Type. The housing has a corrosion- and abrasion-resistant anodized coating and features an anti-reflection coated LCD window, a port locking mechanism, locking latches, 2 fiber-optic cable sockets, and a camera quick-shoe, which makes installing and removing the camera very easy.

For more info visit www.seaandseacom.

ScubaPro LiteHawk

A robust and comfortable back flotation jacket the ScubaPro LiteHawk integrates performance features to deliver comfort and easy handling.

Built with the latest back flotation technology this unit positions the air bladder in the back, providing exceptional freedom of movement around chest and shoulders. It sports a 3-dump deflation system enabling divers to dump air from a variety of underwater positions. The ScubaPro LiteHawk also includes streamlined air cell technology, automatic volume control of air cell through compression straps and rotating quick release shoulder buckles as well as adjustable shoulder straps. The LiteHawk also has a padded back pad and two movable accessory pockets. The lift capacity is 56 lbs. For more info visit www.scubapro.com.

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Seashell II Housing

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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010

The Seashell II is a customizable underwater housing suitable for almost any compact camera with a pop-out external zoom lens. These universal housings meet all the requirements for recreational divers. The Seashell II has a depth rated at 40 meters/110 ft. The patent innovative design is compatible with over 70 percent of the compact type digital cameras available in the market today. For more info visit www.bonicadive.com.

www.nwdivenews.com Send Us Your stories FREE at editor@divenewsNETWORK.COM

29

DIVE DIRECTORY

A listing of participating dive shops, charters, resorts, and independent instructors

WASHINGTON

Abyssal Diving Charters

Campbell River (800) 499-2297

Charter

Anacortes Diving & Supply

Anacortes

(360) 293-2070

Store

49th Parallel Dive Charters

Chemainus

(250) 252-0758

Charter

Diver’s Dream Charters

Anacortes

(360) 202-0076

Charter

Cedar Beach Resort

Chemainus

(250) 252-0758

Dive Resort

Washington Divers

Bellingham

(360) 676-8029

Store

Pacific Pro Dive

Courtenay

(250) 338-6829

Store/Charter

Gone Diving

Bellingham

(360) 738-2042

Store

UB Diving

Courtenay

(877) 883-3483

Charter

Adventures Down Under

Bellingham

(360) 676-4177

Store

PorpoiseBay.ca

Evergreen Dive Service

Everett

(425) 512-8811

Store

Hornby Island Diving

Hood Sport ‘N Dive

Hood Canal

(360) 877-6818

Store

Undersea Adventures

Kennewick

(509) 735-0735

Store

Mike’s Beach Resort

Egmont

(800) 665-DIVE

Charter/Resort

Hornby Is.

(250) 335-2807

Dive Resort

Langley Diving

Langley

(604) 514-8170

Store/Charter

Lighthouse Diving Center

Lynnwood

(425) 771-2679

Store

Sink or Swim Scuba & Watersports

Nanaimo

(250) 758-7946

Store

Sundown Diving

Nanaimo

(888) 773-3483

Store/Charter

Lilluwaup

(360) 877-5324

Dive Resort

Oak Harbor

(360) 675-1112

Store

Capital Divers

Olympia

(360) 866-3684

Store

Nanaimo

(250) 756-1863

Store

Northwest Dive Charter

Parkland

(253) 370-5144

Charter

Rendezvous Dive Adventures

Port Alberni

(877) 777-9994

Charter

Scuba Supplies

Port Angeles

(360) 457-3190

Store

Browning Pass Hideaway

Port Hardy

(877) 725-2835

Resort/Charter

Admiralty Dive Center

Port Townsend

(360) 379-3483

Store

Catala Charters

Port Hardy

(800) 515-5511

Charter

A-2-Z Scuba Instruction

Whidbey Island Dive

Nanaimo Dive Outfitters

Puyallup

(253) 840-3483

Store

ScubaSET Adventure Center

Puyallup

(253) 841-5666

Store

Dive Commercial Int’l

Seattle

Seattle Scuba Schools

Seattle

(206) 284-2350

Seattle

Underwater Sports

Seattle

Scuba Center of Spokane

Spokane

Aluminator Water Taxi

www.godspocket.com (250) 832-5737

(206) 784-5050 Commercial Store Tahtsa Dive Charters

Tahsis

(250) 934-6365

Charter

Store

MethodMarine.com

Tofino

(250) 725-3251

Store/Marina

(206) 571-3273

Charter

Ocean Planet Adventures

Tofino

(250) 725-2221

Resort

(206) 362-3310

Store

TwoEaglesLodge.com

Union Bay

(250) 335-2342

Dive Resort

SeaDragonCharters.com

Vancouver

(604) 329-3486

Charter

www.spokanescuba.com

Ogden Point Dive

Store

Tacoma

(253) 238-1754

Store

Victoria

(888) 701-1177

Store/Charter

(425) 424-3483

Dive Center

Wilson Diving Services

Victoria

(250) 478-4488

Store

Adventures in Scuba

Calgary

(403) 299-7751

Store

Aqua Sport Scuba Centre

Calgary

(403) 686-6166

Store

ALBERTA

BRITISH COLUMBIA Broken Island Adventures

Bamfield

(888) 728-6200

Resort/Charter

Ocean Quest Water Sports

Burnaby

(604) 436-1157

Store

TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY AUSTRALIA Mike Ball Expeditions (888) MIKEBALL www.mikeball.com

BAHAMAS Sea Dragon Bahamas Diving

“SEA DRAGOn” DIVE LIVE-ABOARD WWW.SEADRAGOnBAHAMAS.COM Small Hope Bay Lodge 800.223.6961 www.smallhope.com

BeLIZe Calypso Beach Retreat 303.264.8333 www.calypsobeachretreat.com Hugh Parkeys 888.223.5403 www.belizediving.com Sun Breeze Hotel 1.800.688.0191 www.sunbreeze.net

BONAIRe Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com Villa Makoshi Lower Level 780.483.0044 www.BonaireDiveVilla.com

30

Port Hardy Salmon Arm

Woodinville

Tacoma Scuba Center Bubbles Below

God’s Pocket Resort Copper Island Diving

An alphabetical listing of participating dive shops, charters, live aboards and resorts in tropical locations around the world.

cAYMAN ISLANDS Southern Cross Club 800.899.2582 www.southerncrossclub.com Sunset House 800.854.4767 www.sunsethouse.com

cOZUMeL Albatros Charters 888.333.4643 www.cozumel-fishing.com BlueBubbleScuba 987.872.4240 www.bluebubble.com Island DreamsTravel 800.346.6116 www.divetrip.com Scuba Du 310.684.5556 www.scubadu.com

cURAcAO Ocean Encounters 800.932.6237 www.oceanencounters.com

FIJI Beqa Lagoon Resort 800.542.3454 www.beqalagoonresort.com

Beyond the Reef 691.350.3483 www.diveyap.com Dolphin Bay Divers Retreat 679.992.4001 dolphinbaydivers.com Qamea Resort & Spa 649.360.0217 www.qamea.com Scuba Travel Ventures 800.298.9009 www.scubatravelventures.com Wananavu 679.669.4433 www.wananavu.com

FLORIDA Horizon Divers 305.453.3535 www.horizondivers.com Off The Wall Adventures 863.709-9253 www.offthewalladventures.com SpruceCreekScuba 386.767.1727 www.sprucecreekscuba.com The Dive Station (407) 843-3483 www.divestation.com

GALAPAGOS Divencounters Alliance 877.323.DIVE www.divencounters.com

get your business listed in our tropical dive directory for only $20!

NORTHWEST

DIVE DIRECTORY

The Dive Shop Sub Sea Experience Just for You Crew & Dive Services

Calgary

(403) 243-4616

Store

ALASKA

Edmonton

(780) 434-1433

Store

Dive Alaska

Grand Prairie

(780) 832-7209

Store

Island Fever Diving

IDAHO

Anchorage

(907) 770-1778

Store/Charter

Sitka

(907) 747-7871

Store/Charter

Honolulu

(808) 923-3483

Store

HAWAII

Dive Magic

Boise

(208) 319-3483

Store

Aqua Zone

Divers West

Coeur D’Alene

(208) 664-0751

Store

Dive Oahu

Honolulu

(808) 922-3483

Charter

Pearl Harbor Divers

Honolulu

(808) 589-2177

Store/Charter

Honolulu

(808) 220-0577

Store

MONTANA Sports Cove

Bozeman

(406) 585-9926

Store

Glacier Divers

Kalispell

(406) 253-4016

Store

Honolulu Scuba Company

Astoria Scuba

Astoria

www.astoriascuba.com

Store

PacificWatersports.com

Aloha

(503) 642-3483

Store

Central Oregon Diving

Bend

(541) 388-3660

Store/Charter

www.honoluluscubacompany.com

OREGON

Rogue Scuba, Inc.

Jack’s Diving Locker Kona Honu Divers

Kailua-Kona

(808) 329-7585

Store/Charter

Kailua-Kona

(808) 324-4668

Charter

Pacific Rim Divers

Kailua-Kona

(808) 334-1750

Charter

Torpedo Tours

Kailua-Kona

(808) 938-0405

Charter

Central Point

(541) 830-5551

Store

Dive & Sea Maui

Eugene Skin Divers Supply

Eugene

(541) 342-2351

Store

SeaSport Divers

Koloa, Kauai

www.diveandseamaui.com (800) 685-5889

Store/Charter

Charter

CoralSeaScuba.com

Grants Pass

(800) 482-1599

Store

Wanna Dive

Kealakekua

(808) 937-1175

Store

South Beach Scuba

Newport

(541) 867-4944

Store

Capt. Charley Scuba Shack’s Maui

Kihei

(877) 213-4488

Store

Aquatic Sports

Portland

(503) 245-4991

Store

Mike Severn’s Diving

Kihei

(808) 874-6428

Store

Diver’s Den

Roseburg

(541) 673-3710

Store

Knight Diver 007

Lahaina

(808) 250-9194

Store

Blue Element

Salem

(503) 400-7375

Store/Charter

Lahaina Divers

Maui

(800) 998-3483

Store/Charter

SalemScuba.com

Salem

(503) 588-3483

Store

Under Water Works

Tigard

(503) 620-6993

Store

Catalina Divers Supply LLC

Avalon

(760) 801-7996

Store/Charter

CALIFORNIA

Have you seen us online? www.divenewsnetwork.com HAWAII Maui Dreams Dive Co 808.874.5332 www.mauidreamsdiveco.com

HONDURAS Deep Blue Resort 504.95.76.36.97 www.deepblueutila.com Utila Tours 800.668.8452 337.893.0013 www.utila.com

INDONeSIA Island DreamsTravel 713.973.9300 www.divetrip.com Kungkungan Bay Resort & Spa 530.347.2300 www.divekbr.com Lembeh Hills Resort www.LembehHills.com 62.812.441.18.000 Puri Wirata Dive Resort and Spa 62.813.840.5335 www.puriwirata.com Sea Safari Cruises 62.631.721.212 www.seasafaricruises.com Tasik Ria Resort Spa & Diving 62.431 -.824.445 www.tasikria.com

Worldwide Dive and Sail 866.258.6398 www.worldwidediveandsail.com

MexIcO Abyss Dive Center 52.984.873.2164 www.abyssdivecenter.com Aquanauts Dive Adv. 52.998.206.9365 www.aquanautsdiveadventures.com

PHILIPPINeS Big La Laguna Beach Dive Resort 425.298.8172 www.BigLaLa.com Campbells Beach Resort 63.920.416.0502 www.CampbellsBeachResort.com Island DreamsTravel 713.973.9300 www.divetrip.com

ReD SeA - eGYPT Fly & Sea Dive Adventures 888.995.DIVE(3483) www.redseadiving.ca

ROATAN CoCo View Resort Roatan 800.282.8932 www.roatan.com GoRoatan.com 888.405.8737 www.goroatan.com

ST. cROIx (U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS) BVI Scuba 284.540.2222 www.bviscubaco.com Cane Bay Dive Shop 340.773.9913 www.canebayscuba.com Jost Van Dyke 800.778.8066 www.jostvandyke.com

ST. kITTS Dive St. Kitts 869.564.8914 www.divestkitts.com

ST. VINceNT Bequia Dive Adventures 784.458.3826 www.bequiadiveadventures.com

THAILAND Sairee Cottage Diving 66.774.56.126 www.saireecottagediving.com

TURkS & cAIcOS Oasis Divers 649.946.1128 www.oasisdivers.com Dive Provo 649.946.5040 www.diveprovo.com

get your business listed in our dive directory for only $12.50! - call 360-240-1874

31

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