Now things are getting more interesting. Aqualung introduced the "Slingshot," a fin where adjustable silicone straps -- a "Gear Shift" -- determine the thrust of each kick! The current model has three "speeds" and retails for US$219 [see Aqualung Slingshot]. To the right you see an even odder invention, the Omega Amphibian. The blade pivots up so you can safely and comfortably walk on land, in the surf and on steps. Once in the water, the Amphibian blades are flipped down into swimming position by simply kicking naturally in the water, and flipped back up by pushing back on the release levers before getting out. [see Omega Amphibian]. If the manufacturers cooperate, expect a full review right here at ScubaDiverInfo.com!
How to build an artificial reef
As we know all too well, reefs are fragile and much damage has been done via natural disasters and man-made intrusion and destruction. Sheldon Hey, General Manager of Dive The World, has written an interesting 1-point Guide to Building an Artificial Reef. -- Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 by chb
Abalone farming
Once plentiful, abalone is now endangered and mostly protected. This has led to a booming abalone farm industry, but its not an easy business. Read an excellent MercuryNews report entitled Abalone farming - life in the slow lane. -- Posted Wednesday, October 10, 2007 by chb
Less dive time for NAUI divers?
Yes, we know -- few use dive tables anymore in this day and age of dive computers. But you still need to learn them for certification. Now here's a strange thing: It seems that the NAUI dive tables yield almost consistently less repetitive dive bottom time than the PADI dive tables. See Less Dive Time for NAUI divers? -- Posted Sunday, October 7, 2007 by chb
PADI and NAUI Dive Table section expanded
Though largely replaced by dive computers, studying and understanding dive tables remains part of all basic scuba diving certification classes. And for good reason. It is essential to understand how dive tables work, and divers may need to use them when their dive computer fails. ScubaDiverInfo.com has updated and enhanced its "Dive Tables Explained" section and included actual repetitive dive examples using the NAUI method in addition to the existing PADI examples. [view updated and enhanced dive table section] -- Posted Tuesday, October 2, 2007 by chb
Sonar in masks of NYPD divers
According to the New York Post, the NYPD's Scuba Team is evaluating devices that allow divers to see underwater sonar images on LCD displays attached to their masks instead of blindly searching in the often extremely low visibility of murky rivers [see Post article]. -- Posted Monday, October 1, 2007 by chb