Nikon, the company that once dominated underwater photography with their legendary Nikonos film cameras, has finally joined the rugged/waterproof compact camera market with their new Coolpix AW100. Equipped with a 5X NIKKOR ED glass lens, a 16mp CMOS sensor, GPS, e-Compass, a 3-inch 480k screen, and the ability to record 1080p HD video, the AW100 is freeze proof, can handle 5-foot drops, and can handle depths to 33 feet, making it suitable for many of the shallower dives. The AW100 weighs 6.3 ounces, comes in orange, black or blue, and retails for US$379.95. [See Nikon Coolpix AW100 product page] -- Posted Monday, August 29, 2011 by chb
What About Bob?
Ten minutes into our boat ride from Lahaina to Molokai, our dive master shepherded me and 12 other divers into the boat’s cabin for our pre-dive brief. One person remained—a man appearing to be in his sixties, sporting white stubble, tattered tan shorts and a blue shirt. See Full Post -- Posted Friday, August 12, 2011 by jroualdes
PADI to celebrate 20 millionth scuba certification
PADI announced it will soon issue the 20 millionth scuba diver certification. In recognition of this milestone, PADI Regional Headquarters around the world are giving a dive trip for two to Australia's Great Barrier Reef aboard the Spirit of Freedom to the diver who earns the 20 millionth diver certification. [See PADI news release] -- Posted Monday, August 8, 2011 by chb
Scuba Hall of Famer Sally Wahrmann survives a close one
Scuba Hall of Famer and noted wreck diver (60 dives to the Andrea Doria) Sally Wahrmann survived a close call when she got swept off the line in a strong current at Texas Tower wreck, a collapsed radar platform 60 miles off the Monmouth County, N.J., coastline that went down in a January 1961 storm, killing 28 Air Force personnel. A combination of Wahrmann's cool and expertise, an experienced dive boat captain who did all the right things, and a fishing boat that was closeby combined to a happy ending. [See coverage] -- Posted Saturday, August 6, 2011 by chb