Archive for the ‘Daily Report’ Category

A diver’s first line of defense against the ocean environment is the exposure protection suit — wetsuits and drysuits. But do you know what neoprene is made from, or what our forefathers used to stay warm underwater? Check out these five surprising facts.
Limestone-based neoprene — all the rage among environmentally conscious divers — avoids the use of traditional oil-based products in manufacturing wetsuits but is structurally and functionally the same.
Contrary to popular belief, the real insulation value in neoprene wetsuits comes from the tiny nitrogen bubbles formed in the material itself, not from the water it traps against the diver’s skin. Before wetsuits, Asian pearl divers of the 19th century used to cover their bodies with grease to stay warm. It’s a technique still used by modern swimmers, such as those crossing the English Channel.
Wetsuits for diving (rather than surfing, paddling or swimming) typically use stiffer varieties of neoprene. This hinders mobility but stands up at depth where the lightweight stuff is pancacked under pressure.
Drysuits, not wetsuits, were the norm in the earliest days of scuba. Prior to 1953, most divers wore drysuits made from natural, dipped rubber.

Congratulations to our new certified divers, we hope you have many wonderful dives!

Congratulations Nestor and Miren !!! you are now Open Water Certified Divers!!

and our good friend Thorsten,  Advanced diver certification is only another step,  we will be waiting for you and try to catch some lobsters!!!

Diving and Women

Pregnancy
Condition: Have a developing embryo or fetus in the body. The duration of pregnancy from conception to birth is about 266 days / 9 months.
Fitness and Diving issues: There are few scientific data regarding diving during pregnancy. Much of the evidence is anecdotal. Laboratory studies are confined to animal research and the results are conflicting. Some kind of retrospective questionnaires have been formulated but are limited in terms of scientific understanding.
Due to the limited information available and little certainty about the effects of diving on the fetus, diving is an increased risk of accidents during pregnancy. It must consider the effects on the fetus if the mother should undergo treatment recompressive.
Animal studies with decompression sickness during pregnancy have also noted increases in cardiac malformations. If a woman inadvertently dives her pregnancy during the first trimester of pregnancy, and knowing the limited literature and experience that exists in the topic, it is suggested that during the second trimester ultrasound (sonogram) with emphasis on the development of members and spine and with good detail of the heart structures and the configuration of the great vessels around the heart – aorta, pulmonary arteries, and so on.
Return to diving after giving birth
Condition: Scuba diving, like any other sport, requires a degree of fitness and physical training. The divers who want to return to diving after childbirth should follow the advice suggested for other activities and sports.
Fitness and Diving topics: After delivery, women can usually resume light to moderate activities within one to three weeks. This depends on several factors: prior fitness level, exercise and fitness during pregnancy, complications of pregnancy, postpartum fatigue, and anemia if need be. Women with exercise regimens prior to pregnancy and childbirth usually taken up exercise programs and sports participation within three or four weeks after giving birth.
Obstetricians generally recommend avoiding sexual encounters and immersion for 21 days postpartum. This allows the cervix to close, reducing the risk of infection in the genital tract. A good recommendation is to wait four weeks after calving before returning to diving.
After delivery by cesarean section (commonly called Section-C, a surgical incision made through the walls of the abdomen and uterus), healing of the wound should be included in the equation. Most obstetricians advise waiting at least four to six weeks after this type of delivery before resuming full activity. Given the need to largely recover the lost condition, coupled with the healing of the wound, and the significant effort of carrying the weight of the diving equipment, it is advisable to wait at least eight weeks after a cesarean section before diving again.
Any moderate or severe medical complications of pregnancy, such as twins, preterm labor, hypertension or diabetes, can delay even the return to diving. The prolonged rest is required in these cases may lead to a deeper decline in physical fitness and loss of aerobic capacity and muscle mass. For women who have delivered with medical complications, suggests a screening and medical clearance before returning to diving.
Breast-feeding
The Condition: A mother may choose to breastfeed the infant while maintaining an active lifestyle. This may continue for weeks or months, depending on the preference of the mother.
Fitness and Diving issues: Is it safe to dive while breastfeeding?
From the point of view of the baby, breast milk is not affected too much. Nitrogen absorbed into tissues of the body is a component of breathing compressed air or other gas mixtures. Nitrogen is an inert gas and does not play a role in body metabolism. Although nitrogen accumulates in all tissues and body fluids, its elimination after a dive occurs rapidly. Negligible amounts of nitrogen may be present in breast milk does not exist, however no risk that the infant accumulating this nitrogen.
From the point of view of the mother, there is no reason for a woman who is breastfeeding her child to avoid diving, because there is no infection or inflammation of the breasts.

recently read an article on AquaViews that posed the question, are scuba agencies sacrificing training quality for numbers?
I don’t think anyone would deny that most scuba agencies are after numbers. Anyone who has gone through a pro-level certification can tell you that. Is it such a bad thing? Having numbers drives the accessibility up (and price down) for scuba diving, but what if the price is too high?
To answer this question, we really have to look at the standards. Fortunately, most major agencies follow the same set of scuba standards for each level of certification. I think anyone who has competence in the required skills can not be called a bad diver. They’re not guaranteed to be good divers, either. I think the one thing we can glean from them is that they are the absolute minimum set of requirements for a diver with basic competence.

An extra dive or two over the required four dives would probably be quite advantageous—most divers don’t begin to get comfortable until dive number four anyway. The problem here, of course, is that each additional dive drives up the cost and time commitment, and thus limits the potential clients. Let me translate that for you: it’s not gonna  happen anytime soon.

I think the problem, if there is one, is requirements for certifying instructors. As it stands, pretty much anyone can be an instructor. Is that scary? Rather than focus on certifying too many students, what if we take care of things at the instructor level, and let the results trickle down?

A diver can go from entry level certification to instructor-level very quickly. Often, this is done to “bring an instructor up” to work at a shop, usually in overseas locales. It is very clear this person’s job is to certify paying customers and take them out on dives. Denying certification doesn’t fit in that picture very well, does it?

Duane at Precision Diving had a recent post on the difficulty of saying, “no”. He is mostly referring to tec diving, but it applies to recreational as well. When does an instructor tell a student they can’t pass? I would hope that if an instructor even slightly thinks that a diver would be danger to himself or others in the water with him, she would withhold certification. I would like to think this, but it’s much harder to look an earnest young diver in the face and tell them they can’t go on that upcoming trip to Bonaire.

I don’t think most shops are being scoundrels and purposely filling the ocean with bad divers. In fact, to really assess the situation, we have to look at the numbers. And the numbers tell us one thing: undertrained divers are not causing accidents. They’re simply not. It could be luck, but compared to the number of dives, there are quite few accidents. And it’s not obvious they could be prevented by longer certification processes. I’m guessing some people would debate this.

Agencies like being self-regulated. Part of this process is monitoring accident statistics and responding appropriately—before outside intervention. If there were a serious problem here, I imagine there would have been intervention at some level. The standards are tight, but doable for an adequate level of instruction.

I think what it all really comes down to, though, is diver comfort in the water, and that comes with experience. You need more than a few certification dives to get that, though. Experience, and a sense of your own abilities, which a good instructor can give you.

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A  few months ago I was given the opportunity to join this site as a  writer.  I have been writing on and off since high school.  Short  stories, technical reports, and the like.  It wasn’t until I started  diving and more specifically instructing that I really got serious about  it.  It began during my Divemaster crossover training from PADI to the  YMCA where I was required to prepare and present several lectures for  classroom training as well as a paper on Safe Diving Practices.  Shortly  after, I began to write more lectures and after getting my Instructor  rating with Scuba Educators International Diving I wrote a new  Underwater Navigation Course.  Following that I developed my own  Advanced Open Water Course with the blessing of SEI Diving.

In that time an event occurred that was to change many things in my  life.  A diver fresh out of Open Water class was on a guided dive in  Grand Cayman.  This was his second dive after certification.  Without  going into all the details here the dive ended with that man reaching a  maximum depth of 342 feet and reaching the surface from 302 feet in  about 2 minutes. Obviously he did not survive.  How this changed my life  happened in a very unusual way.  Two of the other divers on that dive  were a married couple from North Carolina.  The wife posted an account  of that dive on a message board I frequent and led to the composition of  my essay on diver responsibility titled “Who is Responsible?”  This  article generated a great deal of interest and is now posted on many  websites, in dive club meeting rooms, and in the personal files on  divers around the world.  I use this article as a handout to every  student I certify.

This article led to more essays, handouts, and course supplements I use  in my classes.  I also began to develop presentations for various  reasons including one on “The Failure of the Buddy System” as well as on  one dealing with the benefits of Underwater Navigation training on the  diver’s skills as a whole.  At some point I began to get the idea that  just trying to keep my students safe was not enough.  The idea of  putting my essays into one volume and getting that into more hands  started taking shape.

What started out as a compilation of essays turned into much more than  that.  During the development of this compilation I began to realize  that there was much that was missing from OW courses due to shortened  classes and the desire to separate students from their money.  So what  began as a simple collection of essays turned into a book.  One dealing  with the issues I feel are so often overlooked, omitted, minimized, or  in some cases deliberately kept from new divers in order to keep them in  the dark and force them to keep spending money on what was once basic  information.

SCUBA: A Practical Guide for New Divers is what resulted from a desire  to shed some light on the process of learning to dive.  The first  chapter is that first article I wrote titled Safe Diving Practices.  It  seemed only fitting to do that.  From there the book goes into the Basic  Skills I feel ever OW diver should have, Buddy Skills, and Dive  Planning.  Along with Basic Gas management and the phenomenon of divers  turning their safety and in some cases their lives over to others to do  “Trust Me” Dives.  Then the discussion turns to training.  Looking at  when to get more training and why, how to choose and interview an  instructor, and what type of training is best.  It is not all the same  no matter what anyone tells you.  From OW on there are major  differences.

The next items I cover are how to choose a local dive shop, why shops  do carry certain lines and not others and how pricing is determined.   There then follows an overall look at equipment from masks to BC’s and  computers as well as those extras that are useful but do not force you  into buying gimmicks that are pretty much useless.  The final chapter  deals with a subject close to my heart.  Local diving is the corner  stone of recreational scuba as far as I’m concerned.  It is where divers  hone skills, where they polish their technique, and where they use the  gear they bought at the LDS and supported their local economy.

SCUBA: A Practical Guide for New Divers is available from Jim Lapenta and UDM Aquatic Services at www.udmaquatics.com or by emailing me at jimlap212@comcast.net .

How long time ago you got certified? if you dont dive often there will be some skills you forgot about setting up your scuba equipment isn’t?

Scuba Diving is one of the best ways to experience underwater life. While swimming, boating, and even kayaking are all enjoyable activities, there is still something that only underwater scuba diving can offer – such as the prolonged and clear view of the ocean floor and live views of schools of fish swimming near and around you. Before going on scuba diving trips, however, you should know how to assemble scuba equipment, which will act as your air source while underwater. Here are the steps to assembling your scuba equipment.

BCD. Among the most essential cargo in the BCD is the air tank. To place the air tank, you should strap it in the area at the back of the BCD. There are straps here that will help you to secure the air tank in place. Contrary to popular belief, the air tank actually has a face and a back. The face is the part of the tank facing you while you hold the O ring on your right hand. The wrapping on the BCD should be very snug on the tank, and the O ring should face the hole in the BCD. The O ring is the primary exit point where the pressurized air in the air tank will escape.

Organize the hoses. The air tank that is connected to the BCD is attached to hoses. Make sure that the4 four hoses are fully functional. The hoses will serve to monitor the remaining air in the tank, while the others will allow you to float or sink, and another will be connected to the mouthpiece that you will use for breathing. Make sure that the hoses are linked to their  air pressure meter, the mouthpiece, and the bladder. These have suctioned screw-on fittings that will easily accommodate the ends of the tubes.

Check the bladder. The bladder is another crucial part of the scuba diving gear. Connect one of the four hoses to the bladder. Release the pressure valve to let some air into the bladder. This should inflate the bladder, which will help you float. Once you have determined that the bladder is working, continue to release the air valve for a few minutes to determine whether there are leaks.

Through these steps, you will be able to assemble your own scuba diving gear. Floating up too quickly can disorient your body from the higher pressure present underwater. This can lead to nitrogen build up in the body. With proper training and a well assembled scuba equipment, enjoying the great oceans firsthand can be done.

Anyway here is a video to re-inforce your knowledge about this issue…. enjoy your dives!!!!

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4993631_assemble-scuba-equipment.html

water temperature remains at 16 Celsius but this was not an obstacle to complete Open Water course with our friend Ken and another great friend Sean who enjoyed the beauty of our bay and dives at Los Arcos,  Majahuitas and Marieta Islands hope to see you soon again guys! …. good holiday and Easter!

this week we have the presence of red tide in the immediate vicinity of the Arches affecting visibility much for even trying to get down beyond 40 feet is not increased much for those who live in Puerto Valarta know that March is characterized by this situation of red tide because the water temperature begins to change from cold to warmer.

Red tide is an excessive proliferation of algae (specifically dinoflagellates) in the estuaries or the sea, caused by different types of algae in large numbers (thousands or millions of cells per cubic millimeter). Red tide is a specific type of algae bloom, which caused a series of mechanisms that occur in the aquatic environment there is a red color (among other things, the presence of red algae), and high concentrations of toxins. Although sometimes erroneously often used in this term for any mass proliferation of microalgas.1

The high concentrations of planktonic organisms, some of which produce toxins, cause economic losses for aquaculture. This is due to the accumulation of these toxins in filter-animals, primarily mollusks such as mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mytilus edulis), clam (Venerupis sp.), oyster (Ostrea gigans) or scallop (Pecten maximus).

The origin of the name comes from an ancient legend Croatian VI century BC As the story reported by the town Šibenik, where it is believed the first red tide occurred in the world, the day of the Great Tide (Crimson Tide original name) began as a day more for its people. The maid of the village, Dona Johanaburgensen, was in his bed next to her fiance Zlatan Fachovich, until the princess realized that, since June 27th was the day of your usual period. Ignoring pleas from his fiancee, Zlatan forced her to have sex. When finished, the young man, who later became the future king Wenceslas III of Bohemia, realizing the sin (the criminal was in jail), he waited for his fiancee slept, choked on the bloody pillow and threw it into the water Cres Island, where some residents still refer to all night June 27, the sea turns red again, not by the action of plankton, but for the period of the Princess Elizabeth of Hungary, the virgin.

How I can reduce my risk of medical problems?

The most severe lesions and diving-related deaths occur in divers. To be safe, always dive within the limits of their experience and training level. Good rules to follow for safe diving include:

1.Never attempt to dive if you do not feel comfortable. During the descent, you should gently equalize your ears and mask. At depth, never dive outside the parameters of the dive tables or your dive computer.
2.Never hold your breath while ascending. You should always ascend slowly while breathing normally.
3.Ask for the characteristics of the underwater area and its dangers. Learn which fish, coral and other hazards to avoid so injuries do not occur. Be aware of currents and tides of where you dive.
4.Nunca control is left to panic when under water. If you are confused or afraid during a dive, stop, try to relax and thoroughly examine the problem. You can also get help from your buddy or your dive master or Instructor.
5.Never dive without a buddy.
6.Always plan your dive, and always follow your dive plan.
7.Always stay within limits that do not require decompression.
8.Be sure the diving equipment is suitable for the planned dive, and that the equipment is working properly.
9.Never drink alcohol before you go diving.
10.Never dive while taking medicine unless your doctor tells you it is safe.
11.Diving can be dangerous if you have certain medical problems. Ask your doctor how diving may affect your health.
12.Cave diving is dangerous and should only be attempted by divers with proper training and equipment.
13.If you do not feel well, or if you experience pain after diving, go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
14.Dont  fly, even in a pressurized airplane during the next 18 hours after making a dive.

more information? www.silentworlddivers.com