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| Diver
to attempt record for longest underwater submergence
A Franklin man says he will use mind over matter when he spends seven days underwater trying break the world record for the longest underwater submergence with scuba gear this summer. The current world record of five days was set by Tennessee resident Jerry Hall in August 2004. Rich Henry, 35, will attempt the feat the week of July 24 at Lake Andrea in Prairie Springs Park. "... If I can keep my mind off of what is happening, I'll be fine," said Henry, whose previous longest underwater dive lasted 12 hours. The event, called Wish Dive Week, will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin and the volunteer Kenosha County Dive Rescue Team. Howard Cooley, former president of Jockey International and a longtime diver, is managing the event. Hall, reached Sunday by The Associated Press at his home in Bluff City, Tenn., wished Henry well. "It's not about competition, he said. "It's actually a brotherhood of duration divers." Seven days underwater would be incredible, Hall said. "I spent five days and I thought it was plenty enough," he said. Henry will always have one member of the volunteer rescue dive team with him below water and one above the surface. He will have a liquid diet, his air tanks will be changed almost hourly, and the dive team will make sure he is hydrated. He will also have a waterproof MP3 player, iPod, palm pilot and DVD player. "When the divers go down to replace his air, they can also slip him another DVD to watch," Cooley said. After fulfilling a Guinness requirement to spend 30 minutes in 30 feet of water, Henry will move to a dive platform secured to the lake floor 15 feet down. But Cooley has warned that Henry's temperature, blood pressure and pulse would all have to be monitored, and the group is working to secure someone who can do that. "We've made a pact if we can't get all these things, he ain't going under," Cooley said. Henry said he decided to go for the record after watching national media coverage of Hall breaking a Guinness World Record. Then while working at Diver Dan's Scuba Center in Kenosha, Henry met a young student who inspired him. The diver he was teaching had been referred to Diver Dan's from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It wasn't until after the dive that Henry realized that the girl was suffering from a connective tissue disorder - the same disease his 21-year-old stepdaughter has lived with since she was 12. "It was at that point that I realized I could set a new record while holding a great fund-raiser," Henry said. Henry has been training at LakeView RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie for several months. And from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Henry slept at the bottom of the RecPlex pool as part of his training. "Sleeping under water is the most euphoric sensation I've ever had," he said. While Henry is underwater, there will be events taking place on land, including diving demonstrations, exhibits and an opportunity for people over the age of 12 to go on their own scuba dive for $25. Turkish
man breaks underwater record Namik Ekin, a former Turkish marine, stayed underwater for 121 hours and 35 minutes, setting a new world record. Following the end of his ordeal in a swimming pool of a mall in Istanbul on Sunday, Ekin said he faced great challenges starting from the first day, adding, "I had earache on the first day and suffered from pains in hernial disk. I lived through an ordeal but the worst was the second and the fourth days. It was exactly, 'no pain, no gain' ". About eating underwater, Ekin said, "Being a former soldier, I used to eat whatever I can find. So I did not have difficulty". He said he missed going to the bathroom when he was underwater, adding that, "Another difficulty was the tightness of the clothes. I wore tight clothes to stay warm but it pressed on my chest. So, we cut some parts of the clothes".
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A great white shark that spent a record 198 days in captivity before her release from the Monterey Bay Aquarium thrived during her first month in the wild, according to data from a temporary tracking tag released Monday. The female shark swam up to 200 miles offshore and to depths of about 800 feet in the 30 days since her March 31 release at the southern tip of Monterey Bay, said Randy Kochevar, an aquarium marine biologist and researcher with the Tagging of Pacific Pelagics project. The findings are limited but answer a pressing question as the aquarium embarks on another season of shark research that could lead to another in captivity. The data confirm that the shark's stay in Monterey didn't hurt its ability to thrive once it was set free. "An animal of that size and that age could not survive more than a few days without food," Kochevar said. "When we see an animal that has been actively moving around for 30 days, we know this is an animal that is successfully hunting. ... This is an animal that's doing just fine." The shark was captured off Orange County by halibut fisherman in August and spent several weeks in an offshore pen in Malibu before being moved to the Monterey aquarium in September. Nearly 1 million people saw her swim around the massive Outer Bay exhibit during her stay in Monterey. The previous captivity record was 16 days. In late March, she was returned to the Pacific near Point Pinos after she began exhibiting hunting behavior and biting tank mates. She also had gained 100 pounds, and there was concern she might quickly grow too big for easy removal. The satellite tracking tag was attached and set to pop off after 30 days. It was found May 5 west of Point Arguello, near Santa Barbara. The tag, which recorded the shark's location and other data every 10 seconds, also found she spent most of its time in surface waters with a temperature of about 58 degrees Fahrenheit. In deeper dives, temperatures dropped to less than 48 degrees. Her preferences are "consistent with those returned from tags we've placed on other young sharks as part of the project," said Kevin Weng, a researcher with Hopkins Maine Station of Stanford University, which is one of the aquarium's partners in the white shark field project. Because the tracking device was designed to pop off after a month, the shark's whereabouts are now unknown. But there's still a chance she might be found again: The shark carries identification numbers that would be visible if she's ever caught. "Because she was a fairly small animal, we were really hesitant to try to attach multiple tags to her," Kochevar said. "These pop-off tags are a relatively large piece of equipment for an animal to drag around."
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| Regaldive launches new programme to Oman - Indian Ocean diving just seven hours away
Just a seven-hour flight from the UK, Oman is a great destination for divers of all levels of experience, and its plankton-rich waters attract a large amount of marine life, including leopard and black tip sharks, turtles, rays, endemic corals and large schools of reef fish. There are over 40 recognised dive sites in the area – all in pristine condition – and many are located less than 30 minutes by boat from the dive centre. Still a relatively undiscovered area by divers, it is quite normal not to see another dive boat all day. One of the most popular sites in the area, the Daymaniyat Islands, are UNESCO protected and have helped to place Oman on the world dive map. This string of offshore islands, north of Muscat, is an hour from the dive centre and offers pristine coral gardens, walls and abundant fish life. For experienced divers, Musandam, the most northerly province of Oman, is recognised for its exhilarating drift diving and strong currents. The area can be accessed via Dubai (a three hour transfer) and it is a wild and barren destination where huge cliffs have formed into fjiords, and fall dramatically into the sea. For those who like to mix their diving with some culture, there’s plenty going on above the water in Oman as well. The traditional Arabic souk along Muscat’s waterfront is great for shopping, take off on a 4WD desert safari, go exotic bird watching, tackle rock climbing or take a day trip to Nizwa. This was formerly the capital of Oman and features a famous 17th century fort. Comments Andreas Elia, Regaldive’s Director: “We are delighted to be able to offer our clients such a culturally diverse and up-and-coming destination. We are sure that it will prove popular with many divers who are searching for pristine sites without the crowds.” Prices for a seven-night stay at the Nabucco Extra Divers Resort start from £699 pp (two sharing) including direct flights from Heathrow to Muscat, transfers and half-board accommodation in a beach bungalow. A five-day dive pack (10 boat dives with tanks and weights) costs £150. Other accommodation options include the 5* Al Bustan Hotel or the 5* Chedi Hotel. Visit www.regaldive.co.uk for further information. www.OceansByAnderson.com is the latest underwater photography website that is run by Kristin Anderson. She dives on the West coast of Australia around the Ningaloo reef area and runs the Exmouth Dive Centre. This new site has some stunning photographs and is well worth the visit. Click here to see more.
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Marcus Allen was voted in as BSAC chair man on the 7th of May. he won with 1021 votes. Louise Trewavas and Marcus Allen were the runner-ups. Read more here.
New
owner at Dorothea Quarry More than 20 divers have died at the Dorothea Quarry, in the Nantlle Valley, in the last 10 years. A spokesman for Kerville Ltd has said its plans could include a hotel, homes or a corporate training centre. Community leaders hope the site can be made safer, and developed to improve the economy of the area. Dorothea quarry is up to 300ft deep in places with a network of flooded tunnels and sheer drops, and the challenge attracts divers from around the country. Kerville Ltd said it had taken out insurance to cover any diving at the site. We would be looking forward to speaking to the new owners to make sure they are putting their money where their mouth is A spokesman said: "We want to create jobs on the site, and we will be talking to authorities like the Snowdonia National Park and the tourist board. "Some of the ideas we have got are housing, holiday homes, a hotel or corporate training centre." The spokesman stressed these were all ideas at this stage, and that the firm was keen to talk to the local community. Local councillor OP Huws said the site was "very problematic" and "very dangerous". He added: "I am in fact very pleased it seems to be new owners and people that will probably look at it in a responsible way, will rationalise the diving and secure the site for safety reasons. "But perhaps more important than that, in the long term, we would be very pleased to talk to them about their plans to develop the site. "There is a need for a lot of money and that is one of the drawbacks of the site, it is fraught with a lot of dangers." The
sale is due to be finalised in the next few weeks.
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| New all-glass undersea restaurant in Maldives On April 15th the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world opened its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. Ithaa means ‘pearl' in the language of the Maldives, Dhivehi. The restaurant sits five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views. “We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives”, says Carsten Schieck, General Manager of Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. “Our guests always comment on being blown away by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views – without ever getting their feet wet.” Created by MJ Murphy Ltd, a design consultancy based in New Zealand, Ithaa's distinctive feature is the use of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof, similar to those used in aquarium attractions. “The fact that the entire restaurant except for the floor is made of clear acrylic makes this unique in the world,” continues Schieck, “We are currently planting a coral garden on the reef to add to the spectacular views of the rays, sharks and many colourful fish that live around the reef near the restaurant.” The five-meter by nine-meter transparent arch, which spans the entire room, seats 14 people and provides a feeling of being completely at one with the underwater world while submerged beneath the surface of the ocean. Set with the resort's renowned house reef one side, and a clear lagoon on the other, diners enjoy their meal within Ithaa's translucent shell as the underwater drama unfolds on all sides. Naturally the food is as spectacular as the underwater setting, explains Schieck, “In such a unique restaurant we wanted to create a distinctive cuisine, which is why we've decided to offer ‘contemporary Maldivian cuisine' as a theme. We take local spices and traditional flavours and give them a western twist to create a fusion cuisine that you could find in the best restaurants in London or New York. Nobody else has done this before and we're very excited about it.” While the cuisine is dedicated to the fine balance of western food items with a Maldivian flavour, the wine concept is equally exciting; offering diners the perfect opportunity to discover the wines of the prestigious Champagne house Louis Roederer. Ithaa is reached by a wooden walkway from the nearby over-water Sunset Grill Restaurant. Diners begin their meal with drinks on a specially constructed deck over the ocean and then descend to the restaurant via a spiral staircase where the à la carte menu is served. Seating only 14 people, Ithaa offers one of the most intimate and exclusive dining experiences in the world. This innovative restaurant is the first of its kind in the world, and is part of a US $5 million re-build of Rangalifinolhu Island, one of the twin islands that make up Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. This re-build includes the construction of 79 of the most luxurious Beach Villas in the country as well as the Spa Village, a self-contained, over-water ‘resort-within-a-resort' consisting of a spa, restaurant and 21 villas.
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Divers can now find out exactly what to expect when they dive HMS Scylla, off Plymouth. A new, fully illustrated web report describes how the wreck has developed as an artificial reef – and how divers can help record further changes. Since she was scuttled last March, HMS Scylla has been carefully monitored. The ongoing programme was set up by the site’s manager, the National Marine Aquarium, in partnership with the Marine Biological Association and the Marine Conservation Society. Scylla is an ex-Royal Navy frigate that was placed on the seabed in Whitsand Bay, south Cornwall on 27 March 2004. Scylla provides the opportunity to study colonisation sequence and the time-of year that particular species settle. The Marine Biological Association in collaboration with the National Marine Aquarium and the Seasearch survey programme have joined forces to make long-term records of colonisation on Scylla. The MBA Marine Life Information Network programme, with work by Amy Bugg of the Marine Conservation Society Plymouth Group, has produced an identification guide and recording sheets for the use of dive centres, charter boats and their customers. The species are ones that are easily identified and known to occur on more established wrecks. MarLIN will receive the records and maintain a 'Scylla log'. Click here for information. Tiny Pygmy Goby Holds New Record For Shortest-Lived Vertebrate The pygmy goby lives an average of 59 days, pipping the previous record holder, an African fish which lives for just over two-and-a-half months. This would make the coral reef-dwelling fish the new record holder for the shortest-lived vertebrate. According to BBC news, a team from James Cook University in Australia reports that the tiny coral reef goby lives a frantic existence to avoid becoming extinct. Not only are they constrained by its lifespan, but the tiny size of the coral reef pygmy goby (Eviota sigillata) limits the number of eggs a female can produce. As a result, the fish lives fast and dies young. After hatching, the tiny goby larvae remain in the open ocean for about three weeks before settling on a coral reef, where they mature for at least 10 days before they can mate and start the whole process off again. The
rapid growth and maturation of the fish comes as compensation for
their reduced lifespan. It is believed that studying fish like the
pygmy goby could help scientists unravel the secrets of aging.
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| Experts step up whale shark protection The world's experts on whale sharks have gathered in Perth to push for its protection in international waters. Despite its endangered status in Australia, the whale shark is still being slaughtered in Asian waters. It is the largest gathering of whale shark experts in the world. Scientists from 23 countries will lobby for a global protection plan to save the ocean's biggest fish. Growing up to 20 metres long, the plankton eating whale shark is protected in Australia, but it is still killed in Asia - its meat considered a lucrative trade. Scientists say the conference will highlight alternative ways to protect the species, including using the whale shark as a tourist attraction. Dr John Keesing is with the CSIRO and the Western Australian Government and he hopes the meeting will help set up a global protection plan. "We're concerned that harvesting whale sharks is unsustainable and that there are better social and economic outcomes for the communities where whale sharks visit by taking tourists to see them, rather than killing them," he said. "There's certainly evidence that catches are declining where they are caught and sightings of whale sharks are declining."
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Diving
pro found dead in L.I. pool An experienced scuba diving instructor who "loved the water" died mysteriously during a training session in a high school pool on Long Island, authorities said yesterday. David Rampersad's body was found Saturday afternoon by fellow instructors in 4-foot-deep water at the Chaminade High School pool in Mineola. "We were all there in the pool - I don't know what happened," said Nicole Simmons, 42, a fellow instructor for dive shop Scuba Network. "Nobody can believe it." Authorities called the death puzzling because the 38-year-old Queens man could have easily stood up or swum to the surface if his equipment malfunctioned. They were investigating the possibility that he was stricken by some unrelated medical condition while diving. "A death in that shallow water is extremely rare," said Mike Careu, a retired NYPD diver with 30-plus years of experience. Rampersad, of Richmond Hill, was working with several other instructors and at least four students when they noticed he had sunk to the bottom. Two instructors pulled him from the water and performed CPR, while another called for an ambulance. Rampersad, who was married and had two sons, was an immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago who worked a day job with a title insurance company. He had more than a decade of experience diving and often trained new scuba instructors. "His skills were excellent, topnotch," Simmons said. "He was very, very certified." Rampersad had explored shipwrecks in the Atlantic off the New Jersey coast and dived in the Florida Keys. Friends called him a friendly person who was always smiling. "He
loved the water," Simmons said. "He just lived to dive."
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Dive more Marsa Alam reefs in new one-day trip with Emperor Divers It's a first for day-divers in Marsa Alam - a special one-day trip to dive the Fury Shoal area on the famous Emperor Divers’ liveaboard, Pegasus. Enjoy
your shore diving, but add to that this special trip and you can
dive the same sites, such as Shab Cloude, Sataya or Shab Macsur
and the wreck of Abu Galawa, all in one day! The trip includes a
third dive and transfers to and from Hamata. A new
jetty, just 4.5km from Emperor Divers' dive centre, now gives you
a shorter transfer time for day diving to an extended choice of
reefs - up to seven in total! For full information, go to www.emperordivers.com. |
Emperor Divers’ liveaboard, Pegasus |
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Diving in the Cayman Islands is now “more enjoyable than before” thanks to a miracle called Hurricane Ivan according to a promotion by the Department of Tourism. But the amount of garbage taken from George Town Harbour during the reef clean up on Saturday, (30 April) may suggest that while the deep dive sites have been rejuvenated by Ivan the shallower areas used by snorkellers, are still suffering under the weight of debris and garbage from the hurricane. According to local experts deeper sites are indeed blossoming, but in just half an hour last Saturday the amount of garbage taken from the reef around the wreck of the Cali off George Town Harbour demonstrates the problem at the snorkeling sites. Divers and volunteers who began Operation Reef Clean-Up off the jetty at Kirk’s Sea Tours were amazed at the amount of debris they came across. “We have only scratched the surface here. It is going to take months to clean it all up,” said one group member. “There is a difference between diving and snorkeling on the Islands,” said organiser Dusty Norman, of Kirk’s Sea Tours. “A lot of the trash has been washed up in the shallower areas that the snorkellers use. “On the other hand the deeper areas used by the divers look really good right now. There is a lot of fresh growth and that is a part of what we hope will see the rebuilding of Cayman. “It will probably take another two clean ups at least just to get rid of the mess around the Cali in the shallow snorkeling areas, but it’s time that must be spent on cleaning up these areas. “From the cruise ships alone I estimate 50 per cent of their passengers will snorkel while they are here in George Town Harbor. That is why we need to pay special attention to this problem. “It’s sad,” added Mr Norman. “There are lots of reefs close to the shore that need these clean-ups. “We are going to have to concentrate on doing this properly. We are planning to do it again in a month’s time.” James Brewer of Divers Down added: “I don’t think we could do this every week because the volunteers would get tired of it and I don’t think they would turn up every time. “Maybe if we do it once a month or so and then after cleaning up one area, we could move on to another such as Cheeseburger Reef and Soto Reef.” The question has to be asked though ‘does this problem apply to all the reefs all around the Cayman Islands?’ Mr Brewer hopes not: “The reason why there is a lot of rubbish here off George Town is because of the shape of the coastline,” he said. “It’s a horseshoe so a lot of the rubbish from all over the place was caught up and funneled in here,” he said. “I wouldn’t say diving is more enjoyable than before, but the diving community as a whole has ganged up together and we are helping to recreate the former beauty of Cayman’s reefs.” Pilar Bush, Director of the Department of Tourism said: “We have reduced our advertising budget by over $800,000 and some of this money is available to the private sector firms, such as the dive companies to help with the reef clean-up. “They should approach the CITA who have been give a portion of these funds. They will decide how the money will be used and who gets what.” Ms Bush explained that the DoT intends to continue working with the private sector and other agencies to support the clean up efforts. “This can’t be smoothed over,” said Ms Bush. “We can make things great again, but it won’t happen automatically. We must be committed to making things great again,” she added. |
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Village plan to sell beach on Long Island, US To the scuba divers, Clark's Beach is a hidden treasure on the North Fork, an isolated place where they can park their car and get in their gear and go into the water. There is, the divers say, no other place like it. The water is clean and usually calm. Beach lovers don't need parking permits, and there aren't a lot of people around. Even the fishermen who cast their lines into Long Island Sound stay at the other end of the beach. But, now, their secret paradise is threatened. Greenport Village, which owns the 15-acre property, plans to put it on the market to raise money to pay for other park improvements and to build a rainy-day capital reserve fund. While village officials are in no rush to sell the property, they say it will be sold at its full market value, either to another government agency or on the private market. Village officials would not put a price on the land, but undeveloped waterfront lots are hard to find on the East End and can easily sell for $750,000 to $1 million in today's hot real estate market. "It caught us by surprise," said Janice Raber of Bellport, vice president of the Long Island Divers Association, an umbrella group representing more than 30 independent dive clubs in Nassau and Suffolk. "Divers have been diving on that property for well over 30 years. ... It's used as a training site." Raber said it's where she first learned to dive, nearly 20 years ago. "My first two dives were at Mount Sinai. ... It was a terrible time of the year. I dove to the bottom and couldn't see it until I hit it. Then, a couple of weeks later, we did some open water at Secret Beach. It was a beautiful summer day. ... I saw things there I never knew existed in the water, all sorts of variety of plant life and marine life. I just fell in love with diving." Ted Blaskopt, who operates the Sound View Scuba Center in Southold, likes the unwritten sense of etiquette at Secret Beach. "There's not only diving, but fishing and people camping out overnight,' he said. "The fishermen stay on one side [of the outfall pipe] and the divers stay on the other." Greenport Mayor David Kapell said the village bought the property - which has 1,000 feet of beachfront on Long Island Sound - in the 1930s and uses it only for a 24-inch-diameter sewage plant outfall pipe. He said he hopes the Town of Southold or Suffolk County would decide to buy the property, which is zoned for two-acre residential use. Suffolk County Legis. Michael Caracciolo, whose district covers the North Fork, is now drafting legislation calling for an appraisal. Steve Burke, president of the Long Island Divers Association, said the beach is one of the few places left on Long Island that is both accessible and appropriate for recreational scuba diving and training. "I've dived there myself since 1988," he said. "There's pretty good visibility, great underwater life, a great variety of topography ... a sandy bottom that's great for rescue training and rocks with a lot of marine life." But, he added, the beach is becoming so popular for divers and fishermen that the Secret Beach name doesn't work any more. Lots of people know about the unmarked dirt road that leads to the water. "It's probably the worst-kept secret on Long Island," he said.
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The Manta Ray and Whale Shark guarantee lives on! MozDivers.com
first started the 1000 euro money back guarantee on an encounter
with a Manta Ray or Whale Shark in October of last year. They came
up with the idea originally as being about the only way we could
convince divers that they have what they claim to have. Those lucky
divers who have been on the tours know MozDivers would never have
to pay out. So far in 15 tours under the guarantee, their clients
saw on average 20+ Manta Rays and 10+ Whale Sharks each tour. After listening to feedback from their clients, potential clients and their agents, they have since decided that they will continue to run the guarantee for the rest of this year, although it will now be for 500 euro, with a minimum of 10 dives. As Peter Oscarsson, a client from Sweden , said at the surface after seeing 6 Mantas and a Whale Shark on scuba in 40m visibility on his first dive in Tofo on Giant's Castle. .. "That was the most expensive dive I've ever had!"
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News archives :April
3rd to April 30th 2005. To return to zerovisibility home, click here. |
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