AUGUST 2011
DIVE LOCALLY
WHERE IT REALLY MATTERS
ghostly depths
Exploring Alaska’s S.S. Princess Sophia Shipwreck
cold war diving Missile Silo Adventure is a Blast!
galapagos islands
Two Destinations in One
Volume 15 Issue 8 $1.95 US/$2.25 Canada
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AUGUST 2011 IN THIS ISSUE ◄ Cover photo by Jett Britnell
Jett is an award-winning, internationally published, freelance underwater photographer, scuba diver, travel writer, shark fanatic, lecturer, book reviewer, tiger shark attack survivor, marine conservationist, oceanic nomad, song and dance man, guitar strummer, aquatic thespian and wife whisperer and bon vivant. Based in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Jett is one of Canada’s most frequently published underwater photojournalists. His photos and editorial work appear regularly in diving publications, travel & lifestyle magazines and books. www.jettbritnell.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 nwdiver@nwdivenews.com www.nwdivenews.com
Publisher and Editor Rick Stratton rick@nwdivenews.com Art Director Brian Merculief graphics@divenewsmag.com Graphic Designer TJ Pierzchala Production Manager IJ James editor@divenewsmag.com Expo Coordinator Selene Peterson expo@divenewsmag.com Writer/Editor Jamie Farris Field Reporter/Editor Barb Roy 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 Dive for a Cure ...............................8-9 DiveCaching ............................... 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 Cold War Diving – Missile Silo Adventure is a Blast!
The silo property located just outside Kennewick, WA is now a fenced in storage yard but as you drive in you began to see evidence of the massive cold war bunker below. Reinforced concrete doors designed to withstand blast pressure are visible amid the sage brush offering little clue as to what is really below ground. Dive into the depths of cold war history in one of the best kept diving secrets. By Robert McConkey
NORTHWEST CANADA DIVES
18 Ghostly Depths – Exploring Alaska’s S.S. Princess Sophia Shipwreck
On October 24, 1918 the Canadian Pacific Railway’s steelbuilt coastal steamer, SS Princess Sophia, ran aground at dawn on Vanderbilt Reef during stormy seas and a blinding winter blizzard. This shipwreck, the deadliest ever to occur along North America’s west coast with 366 victims, is now a ghostly dive destination. Join writers Jett & Kathryn Britnell on their trip into the past. By Jett & Kathryn Britnell
TROPICAL DESTINATIONS
22 Galapagos Islands – Two Destinations in One
Divers travel to the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago that finds its home across the equator in the Pacific Ocean, to discover life at its purest. Nature’s hideaway, the Galapagos are 525 miles west of Ecuador and part of an Ecuadorian province. Divers flock to them in search of the true meaning of the dive experience. By Rick Stratton
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Do you have an opinion? Contact us: editor@divenewsmag.com
e s a Ple Don’t Subscribe! W
hat a busy summer! As the weather continues to heat up, so has the diving. Our feedback from our readers and dive shops is that divers are coming out again. They are diving locally and in bigger numbers – welcome back to the community if you are part of this group! If you are one of these returning divers, you may be reading our magazine again for the first time. You may be thinking we are new (different cover, updated website, fresher content) and we thank you for taking the time to peruse these pages. We do what we can to provide the most up-to-date content by working with your dive shop to bring you the news and events to help get you active and keep you active in diving! The best part of being a reader of Northwest Dive News lies in our magazine/website hybrid. We are in print at your local dive shop or available online 24/7. We are dedicated to promoting the sport locally and promoting an active diving lifestyle. One of the many things separating us from other resources is our dedication and focus on local diving and dive retailers. We want you to pick up our printed edition free at your local dive shop. This gives you a reason to go to your local store to visit, catch up on gossip, find out about the next dive trip and, ultimately, be a part of the amazing dive community. We actually ask our readers to NOT SUBSCRIBE! Taking part in the actual excursion to the dive shop is so important to us. We do know not all of our readers can make it to the shop, which is why we put the effort into making sure each month the latest edition is also online. Each item (news, events, features, dive spot reviews) you see in this edition can be found on our website www.divenewsnetwork. com. This creates over 300 pages a month of content completely searchable by Google and allows you to find articles about dive spots you may want to visit all over the United States! Care to find out about diving in Alpena, MI? Just Google Alpena and Dive News Network. How about diving in the emerald waters of British Columbia? You can find an extensive list of articles we’ve done in the past through your favorite search engine. And this gigantic archive of articles is available at your convenience 365 days a year at no cost to you! As a result of the technology, our online readership is growing tremendously. We are getting 30,000 – 60,000 visitors per month. Our goal is to have 100,000 by the year’s end. You can subscribe online for free and be reminded when the new edition is available on our website. Just send us your name and email or visit www.divenewsnetwork.com/esubscribe.html We love the local diver and we support you, because you support us. Without you we would not be here! We thank you and, again, welcome back those divers who may not have been diving lately!
NWDN Launches New
N
orthwest Dive News Expo coordinator, Selene Muldowney, is getting certified to scuba dive. She is going through the certification process right here in the Pacific Northwest with the local dive shop, Whidbey Island Dive Center in Oak Harbor, WA and posting her feelings and observations on her new facebook page. As a member of the Dive News Network team for more than 2 years, Selene has been exposed to many of the facets of scuba but has not had first-hand experience. Read her account as she recalls sharing spit with her instructor – Yuck! I was checking my regulator for the first time. I looked at Pat, my instructor and told him my new TUSA regulator tasted funny. He said “Ya like grape?” I said, “how do you know it tastes like grape?” He said “I tasted it!” ...I said “Ewww that’s gross” He said “what the grape?” And I said “NO...your mouth was on my regulator!” Right then another instructor – Pete Pehl came over. When I told him what happened, he said, let me try that.. wiped the reg on his shirt and popped it into his mouth – EW!! Now both my instructors have shared spit with me, and this is the first night of class!
Welcome to the neighborhood,
Rick Rick Stratton
facebook.com/Rick.Stratton1 rick@divenewsmag.com
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MONTHLY ARTICLES
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Diver Column/Facebook Page
Comments came quickly on Selene’s post: Local diver, Dave Washburn said, “The grape flavor is a bonus believe me ;-).” Dive Instructor, Janna Nichols said, “GROSS!! I don’t check anyone else’s regulator by putting my mouth on it! I do check mine though and watch them check theirs in our Buddy Check. Ewwww!” Rick Stratton, NWDN Publisher, commented how excited he is to have a staff member get certified. “Selene is a great gal and a lot of fun. She will learn a lot during this process and by sharing it on facebook
and in our magazine, pass those lessons on to others. I invite all our readers to read and comment on Selene’s observations. BTW – I have shared spit with both Pete and Pat... in a diver way – welcome to the dive community Selene! “ Because of our industry connections and Selene’s job as Expo Coordinator she has some special pull with the manufacturers. She is hooking herself up with all kinds of great gear. “It is super awesome to work with Dive News Network,” Selene said. “Often we have manufacturers and companies contacting us to try out their gear and review services and trips. As a new diver, just learning about gear, I already know it’s expensive!” She later goes on to share, “The gear I currently have is FIN’TASTIC!! I have a beautiful wetsuit, fins, mask and snorkel from IST. A Super cool BCD from Aqua Lung and a regulator from TUSA. Just to name a few sponsors and products.” Her enthusiasm continues, “As I try the gear and learn, I will update everyone on what works for me and maybe give some insight to NEW DIVERS and remind you seasoned divers to stay safe and maybe take one of us newbies diving!!” Diver Liz Sundquist joked on Selene’s facebook page, “I will graciously volunteer to *help out* with any of the aforementioned requests from manufacturers and companies. :)” Local diver, Paul Kennell also said, “I need to find sponsors for gear too!! LOL Enjoy exploring the amazing undersea world.” On her first night in class, Selene shared, “So, my first day in the pool, I had to do a fit swim test. I can swim but not very well.” She goes on to explain, “We determined that I am much better with fins. I was the slowest, but I passed! My instructor, Paul, kept tabs on me underwater while I swam. I was swimming alongside 15 and 20 years old. OMG - I felt old!” Find Selene’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newdivegirl or email Selene with your comments at selene@divenewsmag.com ■
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HOT NEWS Get your business noticed by sending us your NEWS/EVENTS: editor@divenewsmag.com New Mooring Can and Descent Line for Boeing 737 Artificial Reef in Stuart Channel The 49th Parallel Dive Charters, the custodians of the Boeing 737 artificial reef, announced a new mooring can and descent line configuration was installed on the aircraft located in Stuart Channel between Chemainus and Thetis Island. Peter Luckham, a Divemaster with 49th, would like to remind all visitors to the site to please not secure a boat bigger than 15 ft. to the descent lines. The rock fish are reaching significant numbers and this past week there have been schooling Herring on the site. As of June 27 the unique species count on the plane has reached 113. For more details visit www.divemaster.ca/boeing/index.htm. Local Teacher joins 19-day Scientific Mission to Study Gulf of Alaska Pollock Anne Mortimer, a science teacher at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, WA, began a 19-day research cruise in the Gulf of Alaska July 4. Once the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson departed Kodiak, Mortimer was immersed in science research, working side-by-side with scientists. Follow her blog on NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program website, teacheratsea.noaa.gov. Coral Sea Scuba & Water Sports hosts Annual Beach Party & Fish Fry The Coral Sea Scuba & Water Sports Annual Beach Party and Fish Fry was held Aug. 6 at the Humbug Mountain Day Use Area. They reserved it for the night of Aug. 5 and 6. Attendees dove Saturday morning and the party was held at the camp area that evening. For more information visit www.coralseascuba.com.
Astoria Scuba Now Has In-house Hydro Facility In addition to PSI Inspections services, Astoria Scuba has recently purchased and qualified with a new Galiso REC Open 4 System. Astoria Scuba can now re-inspect and certify pressure DOT bottles up to 10,000 PSI. From paintball to storage air systems, Astoria Scuba is the only Coast service facility. Astoria Scuba has also teamed up with WTR Fire and Safety and can now certify and inspect all fire extinguisher equipment including onsite sprinkler and other Fire and Safety equipment, including Scuba, Supply tanks, SCBA and other SCBA devices Fire, Life and safety equipment. For more info visit www.astoriascuba.com. Project WET and Aquatic Wild – A workshop for Educators On Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Snohomish County PUD Headquarters in Everett there will be a workshop called Project WET (Water Education For Teachers) and Aquatic Wild Workshop offering both hands-on interdisciplinary classroom activities and field experiences. The workshop is designed to give teachers ideas for using water as an integrating theme – each WET and Aquatic Wild activity is aligned to multiple EALRs and GLEs. You’ll learn how to test water quality at a local stream and analyze local water issues. Each participant will receive two activity guides: Project WET and Aquatic Wild. For more info contact Suzi Wong Swint, Watershed Education Program Coordinator at 425-388-6476.
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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 Send Us Your News/Eventswww.nwdivenews.com FREE at editor@divenewsmag.com
Find more Northwest activities on our facebook page! Northwest Activities
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS Aug. 1: Eugene Dive Club, 7p.m., Mookie’s NW Grill on Seneca, Eugene, OR. www.eugenediveclub.com Aug 2: Atomic Ducks Dive Club Social Night, 6:00 p.m., Kimo’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, Richland, WA. www.ducksdiveclub.org Aug. 3: Emerald Sea Dive Club, 7 p.m., Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Everett, WA. www.emeraldseadiveclub.org Aug 3: Puget Sound Depth Chargers Club Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Louie G’s Pizza and Pasta, Fife, WA. www.psdepthchargers.com Aug. 3: Marker Buoy Dive Club, 7 p.m., Sunset Hill Community Center, Seattle, WA. www.markerbuoydiveclub.org. Aug 4: GSNDAMBAA Dive Club, 6 p.m., Edmonds Underwater Sports, Edmonds, WA. www.gsndambaa.org. Aug 6: Annual Beach Party and Fish Fry, Port Orford, OR. www.coralseascuba.com Aug 6: Entry Deadline for Scuba SET Adventure Center Photo Contest by 5:00 p.m. details at www.psdepthchargers.com Aug 7: Alki Pipeline Shore Dive, Seattle Scuba School Dive Club, Seattle, WA. Meet at school by 10:30 a.m. or at site by 1 p.m. www.seattlescuba.com Aug 9: Wet and Wild Diving Society club meeting, 7:30 p.m. Bob Lamb Training Center, Ft. McMurray, AB. www.ghphoto.ca or 780.743.3123 Aug. 11: Free Intro into Tides and Currents, 7 p.m. Seven Seas Scuba, Vancouver, WA www.sevenseasscuba.com Aug 13: Maury Island Marine Park Restoration, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Maury Island Marine Park, Washon-Maury Island, WA. restoration@pugetsound.org or 206.456.3813. Aug 13: Dive Kayak Training with Marker Buoy Dive Club, 11 a.m. Seattle, WA. www.markerbuoydiveclub.org. Aug 13: Kelp Krawlers Dive Club BBQ, Steilacoom Sunnyside Beach Park, Steilacoom, WA. www.kelpkrawlers.org Aug 13: Lake Jubilee Dive, Atomic Ducks Dive Club. www.ducksdiveclub.org Aug 13: Crab Fest, All Day Event, M u k i l t e o , WA . y a k i m a d i v e c l u b . sharepointspace.com Aug 12-14: Newport, OR Oregon Coast Aquarium DUI Dog Rally Aug 14: Adventures Down Under Store Social, Cowboys & Aliens matinee, Richmond IMAX theater. Email ron@ adventuresdownunder.com Aug 15: North Wind’s Weir Summer Restoration, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. North Wind’s Weir, Seattle, WA. restoration@pugetsound. org or 206.456.3813. Aug 16: Atomic Ducks Dive Club Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Bank Reale, Pasco, WA. www.ducksdiveclub.com Aug. 16: Kelp Krawlers Dive Club, 7 p.m. River’s Edge Bar & Grille, Tumwater,
Do you want your event listed here? Contact us: editor@divenewsmag.com
WA. www.kelpkrawlers.org. Aug 19: Risk Management for Public Safety Professionals, Les Davis Park, Tacoma, WA. www.dui-online.com Aug 20: Boat Dive with Seattle Scuba Schools. www.seattlescuba.com Aug. 20: Seven Seas Divers Monthly Shore Dive, 9am at Clear Lake, OR www.sevenseasscuba.com Aug 20: 8th Annual Photo Competition for ScubaSET Adventure Center Gallery Opens at 10:00 a.m. details online www.psdepthchargers.com Aug 20-21: Tacoma, WA Les Davis Park DUI Dog Rally Aug 23: 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 Aug. 25: Northwest Adventure Divers, 7p.m., Golden Steer Restaurant, Kent, WA. www.nwadveturedivers.com. Aug. 25: Sea Horses Scuba Club, 6 p.m., Round Table Pizza, Redmond, WA. www.seahorsediveclub.com. Aug 27: Atomic Ducks Dive Club Channel Dive. Details online www.duckdiveclub.org. Sept 1: GSNDAMBAA Dive Club, 6 p.m., Edmonds Underwater Sports, Edmonds, WA. www.gsndambaa.org. Sept 5: Eugene Dive Club, 7p.m., Mookie’s NW Grill on Seneca, Eugene, OR. www.eugenediveclub.com Sept 7: Emerald Sea Dive Club, 7 p.m., Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Everett, WA. www.emeraldseadiveclub.org
Sept 7: Marker Buoy Dive Club, 7 p.m., Sunset Hill Community Center, Seattle, WA. www.markerbuoydiveclub.org. Sept 9-11: UASBC Kootenay Wreck Audits, British Columbia. Email bmeekel@ shaw.ca for more info. Sept 10-11: DUI Dog Rally, San Carlos Beach Park, Monterey, CA. www.dui-online.com Sept 12: Napa Valley Divers, 7 p.m., Fillippi’s Pizza Grotto, Napa, CA. www.napavalleydivers.com Sept 13: Wet and Wild Diving Society club meeting, 7:30 p.m. Bob Lamb Training Center, Ft. McMurray, AB. www.ghphoto.ca or 780.743.3123 Sept 18: Fox Island East Wall Shore Dive with Seattle Scuba Schools, Seattle, WA. www.seattlescuba.com Sept 20: Atomic Ducks Dive Club Channel Dive. Details online www.duckdiveclub.org. Sept 20: Kelp Krawlers Dive Club, 7 p.m. River’s Edge Bar & Grille, Tumwater, WA. www.kelpkrawlers.org. Sept 21: Northwest Adventure Divers, 7p.m., Golden Steer Restaurant, Kent, WA. www.nwadveturedivers.com. Sept 21: Sea Horses Scuba Club, 6 p.m., Round Table Pizza, Redmond, WA. www.seahorsediveclub.com. Sept 24: Night Dive with Atomic Ducks Dive Club. www.ducksdiveclub.com
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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 www.nwdivenews.com We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.
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REGIONAL NEWS
DIVE FOR A CURE
Dive for a Cure Gears Up for 2011
Divers getting ready to have fun. Photo by Jake Andreason.
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et your fins out, don your pink and get ready to Dive for a Cure 2011. The 4th Annual Dive for a Cure event will be held Sept.24 at the Woahink Lake in the day use area gazebo just three miles south of Florence, OR. This year the event is even bigger than years before. According to Eugene Skin Divers Supply co-owner Diana Hollingshead there are more corporate sponsors stepping up as well as individual dive centers. “We have a couple of dive shops out of Salem and one from Seattle who have committed to joining in this year,” Hollingshead said. “It’s pretty exciting. There will be an underwater poker
run, several above water games, a keynote speaker and a family BBQ. We are also doing the popular “Fin Race” again this year; it was a huge hit last year.” The Dive for a Cure event began in 2008 when Eugene Skin Divers Supply organized and co-sponsored the first fundraising event and raised almost $20,000. In 2009 they raised $30,000 and in 2010 the fundraising continued to march on coming in at over $42,000.00. “We would like to raise even more money this year,” says Hollingshead. “We believe we can do it and we have a lot of help to reach our goal.” All proceeds from the money raised
are donated to the Oregon Health Sciences University Knight Cancer Institute for breast cancer research and education. “We believe a cure is out there,” Hollingshead said, “we just haven’t found it yet. Breast cancer affects everyone in one way or another; whether you have it, your mom, a daughter…everyone has to consider the possibility that it will profoundly affect their lives in some way. We are just doing our part to move the search for a cure along.” So how do you get involved? Register to help raise money for breast cancer research and education by completing the registration form and sending it in. You can
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www.nwdivenews.com LOCAL DIVERS DO IT DOWN AND DIRTY
Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010
DIVERS GIVING BACK
REGIONAL NEWS
Flamingo Alert
Mom said never run with your fins on! Photo by Eric Thornton.
also buy a wristband or show your support by purchasing a t-shirt, sweatshirt or a hat. For a minimum donation you can post your support of or remembrances to someone at Eugene Skin Divers Supply. You can help personally by participation or making a generous pledge to Dive for a Cure. Anyone can sign up for the 2011 event at any time. To join in the fun fill out and mail in the
registration form on the website. “We want everyone to come out and support this event,” Hollingshead says. “We know we can help find a cure and at Dive for a Cure not only do you get to do something to help but you get to have fun while doing it.” For more information visit www. diveforacure.org. ■
“I’ve been FLOCKED!!!!” This is the cry heard all over Eugene and Springfield as a new flock of pink Flamingos are appearing in honor of this years’ Dive for a Cure. Eugene Dive Club members are waking up to a front yard full of Pink Flamingoes designed to help bring attention to Dive for a Cure. Getting “flocked” is considered a badge of honor these days and people are actually hoping they will be next. Once your yard is “flocked” you pay the $25 removal fee, and the flamingos will then be relocated. It is all in good fun and the “flocking” helps raise awareness and more dollars for fundraising. If you would not enjoy being flocked, you can also purchase “AntiFlocking Insurance”. Proceeds from this will also go to the Dive for a Cure effort. So watch out…the flock is coming…..
DivE for a CurE saturDay, sEpt. 24 Woahink lakE, florEnCE, or.
EvEnts Will fEaturE: an underwater poker run above water games a keynote speaker a family bbq
t here
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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 www.nwdivenews.com We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.
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REGIONAL NEWS
DIVE CACHING
DiveCaching–Looking for Fun
DiveCaching is an underwater geocaching adventure for divers. Photo by www.divecaching.org.
W
ho doesn’t like a good treasure hunt? And with today’s technology they can be more fun than ever! It is with this in mind that DiveCaching was invented and now divers from all over are taking part in the world’s largest hide and seek game. DiveCaching is a fun game created by DEMA which allows divers to seek out “treasure;” “caches” or containers hidden at dive sites throughout the world and logged on a website using GPS coordinates and good old fashion know-how. It is a variation on the mostly land-based activity called “geocaching.” Everyone is getting into this new activity from retailers to certified dive instructors to divers of all levels. Tom Ingram, the Executive Director of DEMA, says response to the new activity has been really positive. “It was introduced to the DEMA Board of Directors in 2011 and the decision to move on it was made quickly,” Ingram says. “We thought it would be a lot of fun for divers and a great reason to go diving locally. That is, after all, what diving is supposed to be, fun.” Ingram says they launched the entire program through social media, using a Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/DiveCaching). “We partnered directly with the owners of Geocaching.com in order to get a sense of how it worked on land and modified it for snorkelers and divers seeking underwater
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treasure. After that it just fell into place,” Ingram says. “We created DiveCaching. org as an information resource specific to underwater DiveCaching but divers do their research to find these hidden treasures by looking on Geocaching.com. Once the diver finds a hidden cache, they log their find on Geocaching.com. Quite literally this website connects them to others who are also participating. DEMA launched the initial program on Facebook and the response was amazing.” Divers playing this real world game are looking for a submerged cache with items inside at the different dive sites. Some you can find snorkeling and some you’ll need your dive equipment. Most of the caches are going to be hidden in water deep enough to require scuba gear so it is an activity for certified scuba divers. Divers are also encouraged to also get additional training before they go looking for these treasures. Skills in underwater navigation using a compass and other devices will be helpful as well as some skills in search and recovery techniques. So here’s how it works…divers hide a cache underwater, they post the location of the hidden cache online and other divers search for it. When the cache is found, the finder records their visit to the cache using a waterproof logbook or slate found inside
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the cache and puts the cache back where they found it. Sometimes the finders enhance the cache. Other times the finders simply put the cache back in the hiding place for the next diver to locate. After returning to the surface, divers log their find on Geocaching. com where they can also get coordinates for another cache. Divers will find DiveCaches in quarries and rivers, around wrecks and other locations, including open water. Although a GPS signal cannot penetrate the water, divers will need to have a water-resistant GPS and an underwater compass as well as the proper dive training, after that…they are official hunters and can go out looking in as many of the sites they want to. Dave Riscinti of Blue Water Divers in New Jersey is getting into the act because he thinks it will be a great way to encourage divers to explore sites. “We are planting caches on a couple of the wrecks off the New Jersey shore and also within Dutch Springs,” Riscinti says. “Dutch Springs is a place where a lot of dive shops do their training so it’s the perfect place to encourage divers to get involved.” Riscinti isn’t getting specific on where the caches will be hidden; after all finding them is the whole point. So divers run to your computers, log on to the website and begin your treasure hunt. For more info, visit www.DiveCaching.org. ■ Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010
REGIONAL NEWS
DiveCache Sites
To log a visit, take a picture at the surface, including any distinguishing landmarks or buoys if present, is required. While you do not have to enter the water, this is encouraged. If you dive at the site, describe your visit. To claim your find, locate the flat waterproof container tethered near the dive site. Just read the code letters that show through the clear sleeve. E-mail us the code along with the agency and number shown on your SCUBA C-card for confirmation before posting your find. Please do not include any “spoiler” information in your log entry.
Cerulean ( SCUBA cache )
N 43° 55.867 W 124° 06.866 In Oregon, Hidden : 07/08/2007 A cache by l&d First stage lies underwater in Cleawox Lake, with second and final stage on land. Please seek this cache only if you have certified in SCUBA; have the necessary diving experience in the cold, dark, low vis waters of the Northwest; and have made the appropriate preparations. By seeking this cache, you are taking full responsibility for your own safety. Cleawox Lake has much to recommend itself to the diver—no motorized watercraft, decent bottom depth, sand dunes that don’t stop at water’s edge, and now an underwater
DIVE CACHING
geocache. Most diver/geocachers will want to go left and park by the restroom on the south side of the lake ($3 day use fee.) As shallow as the southeast arm of the lake runs, entering here would make for a long surface swim. Best to follow the lakeshore west past the fishing dock till your GPS shows a due north bearing to Cerulean. Note a landmark on the opposite shore for future reference and the distance to the waypoint. Yup, that’s about to the middle of the lake. Leave your GPS with the surface personnel and remember to adjust your dive compass for magnetic declination. Give any fishermen plenty of space to pursue their own hunt. The slope of the dune drops down nicely and soon you’ll be practicing underwater navigation gliding over a thick mat of vegetation. You may wish to bear slightly left so that when you reach your target depth, you can turn right and follow the bottom contour to the cache. If you feel worthy to pass under the Guardian’s gaze, you’ll spot the missing coordinates for the land cache. Back on dry sand, be mindful of leaving valuables untended in the car. The land cache is at N43º 55.___ ‘ W124º 06.838’ Fill in the missing three digits you found underwater to find the cache containing a dozen small (plastic) fish for the first finders and a logbook. For those new to geocaching, it’s take something, leave something of equal
curiosity, and the golf balls you picked up on the lake bottom don’t count. ■ For more information and additional DiveCache sites, visit www.divenewsnetwork.com.
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concerns of equipment issues and how divers can avoid them. Dan Orr came to Divers Alert Network in 1991 as Director of Training, responsible for developing and implementing the DAN Oxygen Program. Prior to coming to DAN, he was the Associate Diving Officer at Florida State University and, before that, he was Director of Diver Training Programs at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Dan has Bachelor and Master degrees in Biology and has authored and contributed to many books and magazine articles including co-author of Scuba Diving Safety and DAN’s Pocket Guide for Diving Safety series.
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Jeff Christiansen offers presentations on sixgill sharks. These creatures, living under the waters of Puget Sound and Elliot Bay, are a huge source of curiosity for many divers. Christiansen is the man with many of the answers about these creatures of the Sound. The bluntnose sixgill shark is listed as lower risk/near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Nonetheless, the sixgill population could be in trouble so Christiansen spends his time educating people about them. Many shark species are
in decline due to human activities and what little we know about sixgill life history and population characteristics puts it in a class similar to shark species shown most vulnerable to human impacts. Jeff Christiansen is a biologist and chief diver at the Seattle Aquarium. He specializes in Bluntnose sixgill sharks, or Hexanchus griseus, the third-largest predatory shark in the world, which can be found in the Puget Sound area. Christiansen is part of a joint research team studying sixgill sharks, using genetic research, visual markers and acoustic tracking to study the creatures’ habits.
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13
cold
NORTHWEST DESTINATION ROYAL CITY WASHINGTON
war
diving Missile Silo By Robert McConkey Guest Writer, Dive News Network
ADVENTURE IS A BLAST!
I
n the 1960’s they used to teach us in grade school how to duck and cover under our desks in the event of a nuclear war warning siren. I remember we never took the instructions very seriously; however, my last scuba adventure helped me to realize how serious these warnings could have been. Let me take you on an adventure that goes back over 50 years into Cold War history. In late April of this year, a few adventurous friends and I signed up to dive one of the eighteen Titan One Missile silo complexes constructed in the U.S in the early 1960’s. These silos have filled with water and are often the target of many adventurous divers. The one we dove just happened to be conveniently located in the Eastern part of Washington, our home state.
This underground complex of missile silos and its support structure were part of a $170 million structure that would have cost close to a billion of today’s dollars to construct. It is impressive. After spending an anxious and somewhat sleepless night in Moses Lake, we all met at a remote breakfast spot East of Vantage in Royal City, Washington known as Judy’s Diner. During breakfast we were quickly briefed on the backs of napkins as to what to expect and the dangers of diving the silos. Never having seen an underground missile silo before, except in flashbacks from early science fictions movies, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with an experienced diver’s adventurous spirit however I was nervously ready for almost anything. The missile silo dive was chartered through Undersea Adventure Divers in
Guest writer Robert McConkey explores an old silo. Photo by Robert McConkey. 14
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Warnings from the past. Photo by Robert McConkey.
Kennewick. The owner and dive masters of this local dive center have explored the silo complex extensively. They are the only ones who have permission to dive the silos. Divers must be advanced to dive with them. This group does a really good job with divers and offers some amazingly interesting snippets of historical information on the complexes construction and use throughout the tour. Three miles from Judy’s Diner we drove into the silo property which is now a fenced in storage yard. We began to see evidence of the massive cold war bunker
below. Reinforced concrete doors designed to withstand 100 PSI over-blast pressure were visible amid the sage brush but they offered us little clue as to what was really below ground. Apparently the whole complex was only commissioned for about three years largely because of a major design flaw in the system. The missiles, it seems, could only be fired after being raised above ground and any strong winds made it virtually impossible to raise them. With this in mind, I could only think about the Air Force commanders having to explain to his superiors, “I’m sorry … no
ROYAL CITY WASHINGTON war today the winds are too strong.” Our host shared a story about how the owner who inherited this installation from the Air Force spent so much time and money trying to break into one of the subsurface domes that his accountant finally had to tell him to stop before it bankrupted him. Our dive master explained that the complex was massive. Our first indication of the extent of the complex came as we entered through an emergency escape pipe which had been excavated to about twenty feet below grade and led down to an escape chamber fifty feet below ground. All our gear had to drop through this pipe and be staged in this small underground chamber. From this escape chamber, several ten-foot in diameter pipes led to various parts of the complex including the two underwater silos where we were to dive that day. The first tunnel we followed led us through waist deep water down a rusty corridor of corrigated pipe over many beam We Specialize in Diver Training P.A.D.I. 5 Star IDC Training Facility
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NORTHWEST DESTINATION ROYAL CITY WASHINGTON
Old underground access tunnel. Photo by Robert McConkey.
and pipe obstructions. Electical boxes and old water piping ran along the walls with pumice insulation floating in the water. After about 300 yards of slow progress we eventually stood on the gangway of the first silo. Fifty feet above us were the long closed silo doors and below us stood 110 feet of clear dark fresh water to explore. This dive is descibed by Undersea Adventures as a combination of “a night dive, a wreck dive and a deep dive, all in one” and it lives up to its billing. Diving in the pitch blackness was very eerie but it was made even more haunting by the still present remnants of the cold war era. High voltage signs protecting long dead power panels could be found fifty feet below
water. These were mounted on the huge riveted steel missile towers which were still supported by gigantic suspension springs to protect the silo in the event of a nuclear attack. From what we saw it was not hard to imagine live missiles standing in these chambers over fifty years ago. This working military complex was designed with the sole intention of being ready to rain down destruction on a targeted enemy over 6000 miles away. The realness of it all seemed to convey a very powerful message about the nuclear madness that defined this era and just how real our childhood nuclear drills had been. Somehow the history of the cold war era became very real. We continued to
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explore the silo down to its bottom depth at 110 ft. We even examined the blast shield the missiles sat on when it was raised. From such depths our rising bubbles created swirling currents in the surface waters of the silo. It must have looked eerie from above. During the day-long, two-tank dive we explored several other areas of the silo complex as well even following one tunnel below the water line and exploring outlying rooms and underwater tunnels in the complex. All of these explorations were quite interesting but I will keep the details secret and leave some suspense for those of you who choose to make this dive. After the dive we spent several hours touring the dry portions of the base which also sit over 50 feet below ground and are not to be missed. Heading through a set of stairs that descends several stories around the main elevator shaft, we were able to see even more history while remaining warm and dry. Most of this area is above water but a running stream still flows through the complex, in one case, even creating a miniature waterfall. The main dome is hundreds of feet across and, along with the missile control dome, is situated on an intricately designed concrete floor system that is all suspended on huge springs. Remnants of the two underground radar rooms over 60 ft. in diameter can be viewed off a tunnel over an eighth of a mile
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ROYAL CITY WASHINGTON era where the philosophy of mutual assured destruction (MAD) so heavily ruled the day. At this dive site the ghosts of the past still have a heavy presence and we count ourselves lucky to have experienced such a unique adventure. ■
About the Author:
Looking down the elevator shaft. Photo by Robert McConkey.
long. These large rooms with their associated graffiti still have many of the ladders and hardware mounted to the walls. Overall, there is a lot to explore so make sure you bring a good light and a camera. The three hours we spent driving home to Seattle that day passed very quickly as we
discussed our experiences below ground in Royal City. The haunting images will remain with us always from this special dive that still seems so surreal. We all agreed it was a unique and amazing dive. It left us with the desire to know more about the history of these manned underground bases in an
Robert McConkey is a native of the Pacific Northwest who has enjoyed diving here and elsewhere in the world for over 35 years. He is an advanced diver with over a thousand logged dives. He holds an undergraduate degree in Oceanography and a Master’s Degree in Business. He is a published freelance author and owns and operates a marina maintenance company in Bremerton, Washington. One of his books, The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth Sheltered Homes, discusses how to live underground including how to convert abandoned missile silos into livable space
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17
BRITISH COLUMBIA VANCOUVER ISLAND
ghostly depths
Exploring Alaska’s S.S. Princess Sophia Shipwreck “For God’s sake, hurry. The water is coming into my room!” -- One of the last dispatches from the telegraph operator aboard the Princess Sophia.
By Jett & Kathryn Britnell, Writers, Dive News Network
J
ust northwest of Juneau is the site of Alaska’s worst maritime disaster. It occurred October 24, 1918 when Canadian Pacific Railway’s steel-built coastal steamer, SS Princess Sophia, ran aground at dawn on Vanderbilt Reef during stormy seas and a blinding winter blizzard. Foul weather and a navigational error placed the ill-fated ship more than a mile off course in the middle of Lynn Canal while she was cruising southbound on her regularly scheduled voyage between Skagway AK and Vancouver, BC. It was high tide when Princess Sophia slammed into Vanderbilt Reef. Vanderbilt Reef is a flat, rocky outcropping rising fifteen ft. above the ocean’s surface at low tide, but its surface can be submerged under high tides or heavy swells. In October of 1918 the swells had such force the 245 ft. long, 2,320 ton Princess Sophia came to lie atop the rocks with its entire hull completely out of the water. Sea conditions on that fateful morning were so dire, Princess Sophia’s captain decided all passengers should remain onboard knowing he could not safely launch the lifeboats and abandon ship without putting lives at risk. Under such blustery conditions, leaping into the cold sea and trying to swim for it would have meant certain death either from drowning, hypothermia or cold water shock. Reportedly all onboard remained calm as they awaited more favorable weather and calmer seas to transfer over to rescue vessels. It would be a rescue that would never come. On October 25 at 4:50 p.m., Sophia’s radio man sent a call out to the U.S. lighthouse tender, the Cedar, “Ship foundering on reef. Come at once!” A second message at 5:20 p.m. urgently said, “For God’s sake, hurry. The water is coming in my room.” Ultimately to be followed with the ship’s final transmission, “You talked to me, so I know you are coming.” Although the Cedar left shelter and sailed into the storm to locate the Sophia, every effort to locate the ship was unsuccessful. Rescue was simply not possible due to worsening weather and gale force winds. The Cedar reportedly searched as long as possible before leaving to overnight in a safe harbor. Next morning, The Cedar set out again only to eventually discover the Princess Sophia’s mast was all that remained above water. Sadly, there were no survivors. It was later determined from all the watches worn by those onboard that Princess Sophia had
Divers finning over wreck site. Photo by Jett Britnell. 18
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slipped beneath the frigid waves at 7:30 a.m., taking all 366 souls onboard with her. Despite the loss of life making this shipwreck the deadliest ever to occur along North America’s west coast, many of the victims had also been members of Alaska’s high society and were major contributors to the region’s economy; it virtually collapsed after the sinking. It took several decades for the economy to recover and some suggest the SS Princess Sophia’s sinking was significantly more important than the RMS Titanic tragedy. A channel marker now sits atop Vanderbilt Reef to warn passing mariners of the shipping hazard. Recently on a windy, but sunny day we moored the Nautilus Swell’s dive skiff to the permanent marker buoy the Juneau Dive Club has secured to the Princess Sophia’s decaying bow section. I had wanted to dive the Sophia for so long and I could hardly wait to grasp the descent line. I was not disappointed. Cloaked with billowy white plumose anemones, the rusting remains of the Princess Sophia begin at approximately 60
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ell.
19
BRITISH COLUMBIA VANCOUVER ISLAND Crimson anemones adorn the wreck. Photo by Jett Britnell.
ft. There are some levelheaded divers who firmly believe this shipwreck is haunted but, with underwater visibility approximately 80 ft. and superb light all the way down to 120 ft., we could not understand how anyone could get that spooky feeling! Adorned with numerous species of marine life, the Sophia provides sanctuary to a myriad of critters including crimson anemones, hermit crabs, rose stars, decorator crabs and schools of black rockfish. Hiding in cracks and crevices, heart crabs and decorated warbonnets were quite common near the ship’s collapsing mid section as were a few solitary tiger rockfish. Pausing to photograph some flamboyant Golden Dirona nudibranchs, I was stoked to discover in my periphery of vision, a spiny-finned Alaskan ronquil. Lurking in the wreck’s deeper sections were monster-sized lingcod. Judging from their immense size, there was plenty for them to eat in the area. We found ourselves bargaining with our dive computer for more precious minutes of bottom time. Although badly deteriorated in spots, Princess Sophia’s corroded ribs still conceal some identifiable and intact components. Broken dinner plates and what appeared to be floor tiles can be found amid the ship’s rubble. Not far off the wreck, one diver even came across a large rotting trunk containing some old plate glass inside that revealed photographic images of people. Probing deeper, we encountered two extremely rare prowfish at 115 ft. Seldom seen as adults, and rarely photographed in the wild, prowfish were once thought to be an exclusively deep-water species inhabiting ocean depths between 300 to 650 ft. Greyish in color and a blunt, rounded head with numerous large sensory pores that look like dots, prowfish measure about two ft. long and
ipwreck. ss Sophia sh Britnell. ce n ri P e th n tt Prowfish o Photo by Je
20
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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010
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have no apparent scales. Their diet consists of gelatinous zooplankton and jellyfish, of which we saw many drifting in the water column. Ripped and broken, Princess Sophia is a beautiful shipwreck. She rests peacefully in the secluded depths off Vanderbilt Reef. We braved the Sophia’s ghostly depths three times and still can’t wait to go back. The only strange apparitions haunting her phantom decks when we were there were prowfish. We felt privileged to explore her superstructure and believe it is a tribute to all who lost their lives here that divers make infrequent visits to explore this wreck site. At least in this way, the events leading up to the sinking of the Princess Sophia will never be forgotten, and the memory of all who perished with her will live on. For more information on how to make this your next dive destination, contact Nautilus Swell at www.nautilusswell.com, or call 604-657-7614. ■
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21
s o g a p a l Ga s d n Isla TRAVEL DESTINATION
Galapagos
t o p S t s e l o The Co n a e c O e h t in By Rick Stratton
D
Hammerhead on the move. Photo by Ken Scarbrough.
oto by Ken
nap! Ph Time for a
22
.
Scarbrough
LOCAL DIVERS DO IT MORE www.nwdivenews.com OFTEN!
ivers travel to the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago that attracts divers from all over the planet, seeking a chance to commune with an abundance of sea life. Sporting marine life from all over the world one could say the Galapagos Islands are the community center of the sea. Located 525 miles west of Ecuador and part of an Ecuadorian province, this is a national park like none other. The group of islands come together as a protected biological marine reserve; home to 23,000 local residents and thousands of returning sea going visitors. The islands were originally discovered by Ambrose Cowley in 1684 and consist of a group of 15 main islands, 3 smaller islands and various other outcroppings that are volcanic. The Galápagos Islands are literally two destinations in one. According to Peter A. Hughes, President of DivEncounters Inc., there are two distinct seasons to dive the islands and both are equally impressive. “The interesting thing about the Galapagos Islands is it can be a colder dive or a warmer dive depending on the season,” Hughes says. From January to mid-June it is the warm season – the water is warmer, calmer and clearer. The sky is even brighter. During this time you will see an abundance of rays and other animals. From June 15 thru the end of December is the cold season - the air and water are cooler. The sky is a little darker and this is when you are guaranteed to see Whale sharks. The Galapagos are one of my favorite dive destinations because it is so diverse and you can dive it during the two different seasons and get a totally different experience.” Hughes adds the rules for liveaboards have changed somewhat recently. As of June 1 the National Park Service has changed the number of dives one can do in a day from four to three. “We all understand,” Hughes Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010
Galapagos
Where was the last tropical trip you took? email us: editor@divenewsmag.com
A bevy of rays. Photo by Ken Scarbrough.
says. “They are simply trying to minimize the impact of human contact.” Hughes is partial to Punta Vincente Roca located on the North West tip of Isabella Island. He says it is an incredible dive. “This area is constantly fed by the current so it brings in a huge upwelling of life,” Hughes says. “It has the best vis and it is a deep dive. The marine life is awesome.” Marcel Westerhoff, the Marketing and Sales manager for Seaman 2 Land Tours and Buddy Dive, agrees. “The Punta Vincente Roca area offers divers a chance to really experience what the Galapagos Islands are all about,” Westerhoff says. “It is one of our favorite places to take divers.” Westerhoff says in September their company, Dive Buddy Resorts and Liveaboards, will be introducing two new dive boats to the area. He says the boats are top of the line 121 ft. long dive boats. “These will be the largest dive boats in the area and will feature a double deck, part of which will be heated. We are excited to be able to offer divers this opportunity.” Ken Scarborough, owner of Ultimate Dive Travel in Woodbridge, Ill., is pleased Dive Buddy is adding the two new boats. Many of his clients will enjoy the chance to dive on a boat offering the heated deck. “After you’ve been in the water for three dives it will be nice to have someplace warm to change,” Scarborough says. “I have
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23
TRAVEL DESTINATION
Galapagos
The Sea Turtles are always popular! Photo by Ken Scarbrough.
logged in over 400 dives there and I know I am looking forward to it.” There are many other popular dive sites in the Galapagos but by far the most popular are Darwin and Wolf Islands. These areas offer the diver an abundance of marine life. Divers have to be ferried to these two remote northern islands but it is well worth it. Jennifer Cummings, of Explorer Ventures Galapagos, moved to Galapagos after she fell in love with the islands. I had been working for EV for some time and I just began to fall for the tranquility and the security of the area,” Cummings said. “You can leave your door unlocked and no one will bother your home. It is nice to have a place where there is spectacular world class diving just steps away, friendly people and the security of knowing there is no huge crime rate. I just love being here.” EV has an Ecuadorian partner and they started running in 2007. In 2010 they introduced the Humbolt Explorer and it is now a very popular dive boat. I think the best feature is the stability of the boat,” Cummings says. “This is a boat that feels good on the water and has a great crew. It is also a good comfortable ride to see the islands as well. The entire top deck is a sun deck.” Cummings adds that her favorite place to dive is Darwin’s 24
Arch. “When live-a-boards go out there they often dive different areas depending on the currents. However, it is an amazing place to see the marine life no matter where you go.” Cummings also mentions two places at Wolf Island, Anchorage and Landslide. Both dive sites are great for seeing large animals but Landslide is where the sharks are. Ron Steven, the artist known as Rogest, is also a huge fan of the Galapagos Islands and is, in fact, heading there soon for a combination trip. “This trip is a combination of an Aggressor Fleet live-a-board trip, a Kid’s Sea Camp and a Rogest Art School event,” Steven says. “I love the area because of the biodiversity of marine life. You have these incredible currents forced together, bringing in amazing marine animals. It’s a long haul but it’s worth the trip.” Larry Connor of the Aggressor Fleet, a live-a-board that has long been running two identical live-aboard dive yachts in the Galapagos since 1994, says a trip to the area is a once-in-a-lifetime experience every diver should have. “With other dive destinations you go to see the life, but in the Galapagos the life literally comes to you,” Connor says. “You can sit in one spot and watch the marine world go by because the currents bring the life to the
diver; whale sharks, hammerheads, Orcas, the famous turtles and even the awesome sights of the lizards. It is just an amazing place to dive.” Besides Isabella Island, divers can also enjoy Santa Cruz Island where the town of Puerto Ayora is a popular destination. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the headquarters of the Galápagos National Park Service are here. Visitors come for the famous lava tunnels and the large tortoise populations. Española Island is the oldest island and Española’s Gardner Bay is popular for swimming and snorkeling. One of the newer attractions on this island is the swim-withthe-sharks attraction. Florena Island is home to green sea turtles. The “Devil’s Crown”, an underwater volcanic cone, is a divers’ favorite. The coral formations are world renowned. And finally, San Cristóbal Island offers both ocean and lake diving. Laguna El Junco is the largest freshwater lake in the archipelago and the diving here is almost as interesting as the surrounding seas. So if you are looking for a dive destination offering you an experience that is out of this world and into an undersea world you thought you’d never see, head to the Galapagos Islands. Darwin was right…it really does hold the “cradle of life”. ■
Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 We support our local dive shopSwww.nwdivenews.com - without them we will not have a dive industry.
Galapagos
Where was the last tropical trip you took? email us: editor@divenewsmag.com
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25
MEDICAL DIVING
ARTICLE COURTESY OF DIVERS ALERT NETWORK requires only an ascent to shallower depths.
Nitrogen Narcosis
Reducing Risks of Rapture
article courtesy of
Nitrogen narcosis can cause an altered mental status. Photo by Daniel Kwok.
I
t’s known by many names: “rapture of the deep,” “martinied” or “narked.” But they all refer to the same phenomenon, inert gas narcosis. For recreational divers, it is most commonly encountered as nitrogen narcosis. The phenomenon of nitrogen narcosis was observed as far back as the 1830s. Over the years, much research and many experiments have been done to better determine the exact mechanisms of nitrogen narcosis and explain its effects.
All divers should be aware of their personal tolerances to inert gases when diving deep (below 60 feet). Divers should also maintain awareness of both their own behavior and their dive partner’s. Finally, minimize task loading when doing deeper dives; the more complex and numerous the tasks, the greater the effects of impairment may be. If you have any questions about nitrogen narcosis, call the DAN Medical Information Line at +1-919-684-2948. For more information, visit www.DAN.org. ■
DIVE SAFETY STARTS WITH DAN
Diving Deeper Into the Narcotic Effect
Scientists believe the narcotic effect is caused by the slowing of neurochemical transmitters as they move from one nerve ending to the next. Signs and symptoms can range from slight euphoric feelings to a profoundly altered mental status and an inability to make sound decisions. Bizarre behaviors have been observed in affected divers including attempting gear removal at depth or suddenly descending below a planned limit. In one reported case, an aquarium collector recounted being surprised by the specimens he collected and had trouble remembering the deepest portions of his dive. Nitrogen narcosis in itself is not harmful to the body, but the behavioral changes that accompany it could have consequences. Divers experiencing nitrogen narcosis may feel a false sense of security and not recognize alterations they make to the dive plan or appreciate the degree to which their altered mental capacity may lead to potential danger. The most intense effects of nitrogen narcosis are often observed upon or soon after arrival at depth. The depth at which narcosis is felt can vary from person to person and from one dive to the next. For most people, a depth of approximately 100 feet is where symptoms generally begin. Research has shown that over time some individuals are able to adapt and function with mild manifestations of nitrogen narcosis; however, the deeper you go, the more pronounced the effects tend to be. Fortunately, the “treatment” is easy and 26
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY 24-Hour Emergency Hotline • Dive Accident Insurance Medical Evacuation • Membership Benefits & Discounts Trip Insurance • Medical Advice • Alert Diver Magazine
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Leading dive safety, medical research and education, and emergency assistance for more than 30 years.
www.nwdivenews.com Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010 5/6/11 1:50 PM Want to support local diving DNN_1-2PgAd_2.indd in your part1 of the globe? email sales@nwdivenews.com!
andylamb@telus.net
ANDY LAMB’S
MYSTERY CRITTER
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR DIVER AND NON-DIVER
Photo B - gaper pea crab. Photo by David Ingram.
Photo A - clam siphons. Photo by David Ingram.
W
hether strolling on a sandy beach at low tide or cruising over similar habitat as a diver in the shallow subtidal or intertidal zones, you are quite likely to see large clam siphons protruding from such surroundings. Photograph A, taken by David Ingram of Courtney, B.C., nicely illustrates this phenomenon. Sometimes called “horse clams”, the two species of gaper clams Tresus species are the ones most likely noticed as their large siphons frequently protrude to 3 inches (7.5 cm) above the substrate’s surface. For the reader particularly interested in distinguishing the two species, consult Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest,
page196, MC76 and MC77. When disturbed by an approaching beach comber, a retreating siphon (via its muscular contraction) often sends a squirt of water skyward – usually startling the unsuspecting explorer. Such a contraction underwater generated by a diver’s approach does not produce the same drama but rather simply results in the structure’s slow disappearance from view. While exploring Miracle Beach, a British Columbia Provincial Park, near Campbell River, on Vancouver Island, David, with his youngsters Alden and Clara encountered numerous siphons on May
29th of this year. Particularly noteworthy though, was their discovery of a gaper pea crab Pinnixa littoralis (page 304, AR116) that had crawled from inside one of the siphons and into full view. This very unusual event was opportunistically documented by photograph B! A commensal species that always “buddies” (nestling inside) with a gaper clam, this tiny crab is consequently seldom observed by the diving or beach walking naturalist. A former park employee, David is happy to share his experiences (including this one) via his blog www.islandnature.ca. ■
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Northwest Dive News DECEMBER 2010
27
LIZ SUNDQUIST
NOT ALL BOATERS ARE DIVERS
BOATING EDUCATION BUT ALL DIVERS ARE BOATERS
Sudden Flooding!
A perfect day on Puget Sound can turn deadly with a hull breach. Photo by stock.xchng.
I
t’s a picture-perfect day on Puget Sound. Your boat is loaded and you are ready to dive. You’re underway to your favorite dive site when – unexpectedly – you strike a submerged obstacle and put a hole in your hull. How you react in those first critical minutes will determine how the situation is resolved. The first step is to ensure that everyone on board is wearing lifejackets. Even the best-prepared captain may have to abandon ship, depending on the severity of the hull breach. Once you’ve ensured the safety of those on board, you should communicate your situation to the Coast Guard. Letting the Coast Guard know what is happening doesn’t mean they are immediately mobilizing for a rescue. But, should a vessel evacuation become necessary, it is helpful if they have the preliminary information – such as your location, number of passengers on board and the nature of your emergency – before you have to abandon ship (and your marine radio). Then your attention turns to dealing with the breach itself. The size and location of the hole will determine how much time you have to respond. The lower the hole below the water line, the greater the incoming pressure – and the faster your vessel will flood. Likewise, with the size of the hole. In order to patch the hole, your on-board emergency kit should include the following items and you should know how and when to use them: • Plugs and patching material: wooden wedges and tapered wooden plugs in a 28
variety of sizes to match the boat’s thru-hull fittings; an assortment of rubber sheets and gasket material; rags, waterproof putty, and other filler for stuffing in and around patches for a better seal. • Fasteners to hold the patch in place: hose clamps, nylon ties, twine, grease tape, fiberglass tape, and duct tape. • Tools to make it all happen: screwdrivers, a hacksaw, an adjustable wrench, pipe wrench, nut driver, and a hammer. These are not just to help patch the hole but to help close watertight doors and hatches, shut down machinery that could make a flooded area hazardous, and close off drains and discharges that can siphon water into the boat if they sink below the water line. Also, since bilge pumps aren’t designed to handle the
large volumes of water caused by a hole in the hull, a dewatering pump is a recommended investment. In addition to maintaining an effective on-board emergency kit, vessel damage control training is available from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and other boating safety groups. Contact your local U.S. Coast Guard office for a listing of the classes and training in your area. Once you obtain the proper training, keep practicing those skills on a regular basis. Hull breaches can happen to anyone, regardless of skill and ability. The key to effectively dealing with this unexpected – and potentially deadly – situation, is proper training and preparation. ■ Courtesy of the United States Coast Guard.
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GEAR BOX Dive Light Lanyard
Poseidon Dive Watch
JakeID is now offering a new Dive Light Lanyard. The lanyard is constructed of black 1/2” wide nylon webbing with your personalized name, phone number or email address woven in. Protect your valuable gear from being lost. The lanyard has a lifetime warranty and it will never come off no matter how many times it may get wet. For more info contact Jake@JakeID.com Get the free mobile app for your phone
TUSA DG 5600
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The DG-5600, a glove made by Tusa, does a good job of protecting your hands while diving. The glove is lightweight with a poly-mesh, high-stretch spandex-like backing so hands have plenty of freedom of movement. The palm side is a polyvinyl suede-like textured material and provides protection in the high-wear areas. This poly-vinyl material is on the upper portion of the fingers too. The glove’s fingertips are boxed to afford more move-around room, yet they are still relatively dexterous. The DG-5600 has a short neoprene gauntlet that reaches a bit beyond the wrist and secures with an adjustable wristband. For more info visit www.tusa.com.
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The Poseidon Dive Watch from Reactor is a new dive watch designed specifically for scuba divers. This is a new 1000 meter dive watch and features an internal rotating bezel that can actually be adjusted underwater. The Poseidon exceeds the ISO 6425 Professional Dive Watch standard according to the company. The watch sports a 17mm thickness and both crystal and caseback are substantially thickened to withstand 1500psi of pressure required to give the watch a 1000 m depth rating. For more info visit www.reactorwatch.com.
Dragonfly2 Salt
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The new Dragonfly2 Salt is a classic Spyderco minicutter that’s been upgraded with the company’s exclusive H1 stainless-steel. H1 stainless uses nitrogen instead of carbon in its matrix, giving the blade the hardness it needs to hold a sharp edge while being able to remain rust-free, making it a perfect backup knife for divers. The Dragonfly2 Salt’s blade is small but offers 2¼ inches of razor-sharp plain or serrated cutting edge. The Dragonfly2 Salt has a fiberglass reinforced nylon handle that is textured and the hole in the blade allows for easy one-handed operation. A wire belt clip is provided for topside carry, while a hole in the handle can be used to secure a lanyard for underwater use. For more info visit www.spyderco.com. Get the free mobile app for your phone
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Award winning accommodations and world-class diving on beautiful Little Cayman.
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www.nwdivenews.com Send Us Your stories FREE at editor@divenewsmag.com
29
DIVE DIRECTORY
A listing of participating dive shops, charters, resorts, and independent instructors Scuba Center of Spokane
Spokane
Anacortes
WASHINGTON (360) 293-2070
Store
Bandito Charter
Tacoma
(253) 973-0370
Charter
Diver's Dream Charters
Anacortes
(360) 202-0076
Charter
Lighthouse Diving Center
Tacoma
(253) 627-7617
Store
Washington Divers
Bellingham
(360) 676-8029
Store
Tacoma Scuba Center
Tacoma
(253) 238-1754
Store
Gone Diving
Bellingham
(360) 738-2042
Store
Bubbles Below
Woodinville
(425) 424-3483
Dive Center
Adventures Down Under
Bellingham
(360) 676-4177
Store
Clarkston
(509) 751-1095
Store
Broken Island Adventures
Bamfield
(888) 728-6200
Resort/Charter
Everett
(425) 512-8811
Store
Ocean Quest Water Sports
Burnaby
(604) 436-1157
Store Charter
Anacortes Diving & Supply
Odyssey Diving Evergreen Dive Service Naknek Charters
www.spokanescuba.com
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Friday Harbor
(360) 378-9297
Charter
Abyssal Diving Charters
Campbell River
(800) 499-2297
Hood Sport 'N Dive
Hood Canal
(360) 877-6818
Store
49th Parallel Dive Charters
Chemainus
(250) 252-0758
Charter
Undersea Adventures
Kennewick
(509) 735-0735
Store
Cedar Beach Resort
Chemainus
(250) 252-0758
Dive Resort
Lilluwaup
(360) 877-5324
Resort
UB Diving
Lynnwood
(425) 771-2679
Store
Hornby Island Diving
Oak Harbor
(360) 675-1112
Store
Sink or Swim Scuba & Watersports
Mike's Beach Resort Lighthouse Diving Center Whidbey Island Dive
Courtenay
(877) 883-3483
Charter
Hornby Is.
(250) 335-2807
Dive Resort
Nanaimo
(250) 758-7946
Store Store/Charter
Coachman Inn
Oak Harbor
Sundown Diving
Nanaimo
(888) 773-3483
Capital Divers
Olympia
(360) 866-3684
Store
Nanaimo Dive Outfitters
Nanaimo
(250) 756-1863
Store
Northwest Dive Charter
Parkland
(253) 370-5144
Charter
Rendezvous Dive Adventures
Port Alberni
(877) 777-9994
Charter
Browning Pass Hideaway
Port Hardy
(877) 725-2835
Resort/Charter
Port Hardy
(800) 515-5511
Charter
Scuba Supplies Admiralty Dive Center
www.thecoachmaninn.com
Port Angeles
(360) 457-3190
Store
Port Townsend
(360) 379-3483
Store
Catala Charters
Townsend Bay Dive
Port Townsend
(360) 385-2353
Store
God's Pocket Resort
Port Hardy
A-2-Z Scuba Instruction
Puyallup
(253) 840-3483
Store
Mamro Adventures
Port Hardy
www.mamro.com
Liveaboard
ScubaSET Adventure Center
Puyallup
(253) 841-5666
Store
Copper Island Diving
Salmon Arm
(250) 832-5737
Store
Dive Commercial Int’l
Seattle
(206) 784-5050
Egmont
(800) 665-DIVE
Charter/Resort
Seattle
(206) 571-3273
Charter
Tahtsa Dive Charters
Tahsis
(250) 934-6365
Charter
Seattle Scuba Schools
Seattle
(206) 284-2350
Instruction
MethodMarine.com
Tofino
(250) 725-3251
Store/Marina
Lighthouse Diving Center
Seattle
(206) 524-1633
Store
Ocean Planet Adventures
Underwater Sports
Seattle
(206) 362-3310
Store
TwoEaglesLodge.com
Aluminator Water Taxi
TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY aUStralia Blue Ocean Marine Pty.Ltd. 415.830.3846 www.blueoceanmarine.com.au
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 Buddy Dive Resort 599.717.5080.518 www.buddydive.com Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com Divi Resorts 954.545.0269 www.diviresorts.com Quest Dive Adventures 770.992.8414 www.questdive.com Villa Makoshi Lower Level 780.483.0044 www.BonaireDiveVilla.com
BritiSh Virgin iSland
NV Yacht Charters 443.829.8576 www.nvcharters.com
CaYMan iSlandS Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com 30
Commercial Store PorpoiseBay.ca
www.godspocket.com
Tofino
(250) 725-2221
Resort
Union Bay
(250) 335-2342
Dive Resort
An alphabetical listing of participating dive shops, charters, live aboards and resorts in tropical locations around the world.
CaYMan iSlandS Cont... Divetech@Cobal Coast Dive Resort 888.946.5656 divetech.com cobaltcoast.com Southern Cross Club 800.899.2582 www.southerncrossclub.com Sunset House 800.854.4767 www.sunsethouse.com
CoSta riCa Quest Dive Adventures 770.992.8414 www.questdive.com
CoZUMEl Albatros Charters 888.333.4643 www.cozumel-fishing.com BlueBubbleScuba 987.872.4240 www.bluebubble.com Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com Island DreamsTravel 713.973.9300 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
fiJi Cont... Dancer Fleet 305.669.9391 www.dancerfleet.com Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com Dive Away Fiji 888.266.2209 www.diveaway-fiji.com Dolphin Bay Divers Retreat 679.992.4001 dolphinbaydivers.com Koro Sun 970.209.4265 www.korosunresort.com Lalati 877.750.0233 www.lalatifiji.com Matava 679.333.6222 www.matava.com Qamea Resort & Spa 649.360.0217 www.qamea.com Quest Dive Adventures 770.992.8414 www.questdive.com Wananavu 679.669.4433 www.wananavu.com
florida Conch Republic Divers 800.274.3483 www.conchrepublicdivers.com Horizon Divers 305.453.3535 www.horizondivers.com Off The Wall Adventures 863.709-9253 www.offthewalladventures.com
get your business listed in our tropical dive directory for only $20!
NORTHWEST SeaDragonCharters.com Beyond Deep Diving Ogden Point Dive Wilson Diving Services
DIVE DIRECTORY Vancouver
(604) 329-3486
Charter
Victoria
(250) 475-2202
Store
Victoria
(888) 701-1177
Store/Charter
Victoria
(250) 478-4488
Store
Under Water Works
Tigard
(503) 620-6993
Store
ALASKA
ALBERTA
Anchorage
(907) 770-1778
Store
Scuba Do, Inc
Dive Alaska
Kodiak
(907) 486-2960
Store
Test the Waters
North Pole
www.testthewaters.com
Store
(907) 747-7871
Store/Charter
Adventures in Scuba
Calgary
(403) 299-7751
Store
Aqua Sport Scuba Centre
Calgary
(403) 686-6166
Store
The Dive Shop
Calgary
(403) 243-4616
Store
Aqua Zone
Honolulu
(808) 923-3483
Store
Sub Sea Experience
Edmonton
(780) 434-1433
Store
Dive Oahu
Honolulu
(808) 922-3483
Charter
Grand Prairie
(780) 832-7209
Store
Pearl Harbor Divers
Honolulu
(808) 589-2177
Store/Charter
Honolulu
(808) 220-0577
Store
(208) 319-3483
Store
Just for You Crew & Dive Services
Island Fever Diving
HAWAII
IDAHO Dive Magic
Honolulu Scuba Company
Boise
www.honoluluscubacompany.com
MONTANA
Big Island Divers
Sports Cove
Bozeman
(406) 585-9926
Store
Jack's Diving Locker
Glacier Divers
Kalispell
(406) 253-4016
Store
Kona Honu Divers
Aloha
(503) 642-3483
Store
Astoria
www.astoriascuba.com
Store
OREGON PacificWatersports.com Astoria Scuba Central Oregon Diving
Bend
(541) 388-3660
Store/Charter
Central Point
(541) 830-5551
Store
Eugene Skin Divers Supply
Eugene
(541) 342-2351
Store
Rogue Scuba, Inc.
Sitka
Kailua-Kona
(808) 329-6068
Store/Charter
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
Wanna Dive
Kailua-Kona
(808) 937-1175
Charter
Dive & Sea Maui Mauna Lani Sea Adventures SeaSport Divers
www.diveandseamaui.com
Charter
Kamuela
(808) 885-7883
Store
Koloa, Kauai
(800) 685-5889
Store/Charter Store
CoralSeaScuba.com
Grants Pass
(800) 482-1599
Store
Capt. Charley Scuba Shack
Kihei
(877) 213-4488
South Beach Scuba
Newport
(541) 867-4944
Store
Mike Severn's Diving
Kihei
(808) 874-6428
Store
Aquatic Sports
Portland
(503) 245-4991
Store
Lahaina Divers
Maui
(800) 998-3483
Store/Charter
Diver's Den
Mike Severns Diving
Maui
www.mikesevernsdiving.com
Charter
Roseburg
(541) 673-3710
Store
Blue Element
Salem
(503) 400-7375
Store/Charter
SalemScuba.com
Salem
(503) 588-3483
Store
TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY florida Cont...
Southern Most Diving 305.307.2693 www.southernmostdiving.com SpruceCreekScuba 386.767.1727 www.sprucecreekscuba.com The Dive Station (407) 843-3483 www.divestation.com
galaPagoS
Divencounters 877.323.DIVE www.divencounters.com
hondUraS Deep Blue Resort 011.504.95.76.36.97 www.deepblueutila.com Utila Tours 800.668.8452 337.893.0013 www.utila.com
indonESia Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com 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 Pindito Liveaboard 831.818.8594 www.pindito.com Quest Dive Adventures 770.992.8414 www.questdive.com
CALIFORNIA Catalina Divers Supply LLC
Avalon
(760) 801-7996
Store/Charter
To be listed in our Tropical Dive Directory call 360.240.1874 or email us at sales@nwdivenewsmag.com
indonESia Cont... 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 Atlantis Dive Resort 775.588.0500 www.atlantishotel.com Big La Laguna Beach Dive Resort 425.298.8172 www.BigLaLa.com Campbells Beach Resort +63.920.416.0502 www.CampbellsBeachResort.com Deep Blue Adventures 888.266.2209 www.deepblueadventures.com Island DreamsTravel 713.973.9300 www.divetrip.com
rEd SEa - EgYPt Fly & Sea Dive Adventures 888.995.DIVE(3483) www.redseadiving.ca Learning Through Travel 516.781.5556 www.learningthroughtravel.com
roatan
CoCo View Resort Roatan 800.282.8932 www.roatan.com GoRoatan.com 888.405.8737 www.goroatan.com
SEa of CortEZ/SoCorro iSlandS Rocio Del Mar 602.558.9580 www.rociodelmarliveaboard.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
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
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