Posts filed under 'SCUBA'
The jellyfish are invading the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Not the life-threatening type, like the box jellyfish, but still venomous enough to provide an unpleasant sting on the upper lip as you run into a translucent tentacle during your safety stop. Though the tiny box jellyfish is one of the most deadly in the world, the cool waters of the Pacific Northwest are home to some of the largest jellyfish on Earth, including the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish and the Egg-Yolk Jellyfish. Growing up to a massive diameter of 7 feet, with tentacles up to 120 feet in length – these aren’t creatures you want to tangle with.
Continue Reading June 6th, 2007
I finally was able to capture a stubby squid (rossia pacifica) changing color from reddish purple to iridescent. The small (3″) squid held its pose for just long enough for me to snap a couple shots. They typically change to the lighter-pale iridescent colors when they feel threatened. My dive light gave little squiddy just enough of a scare to change his color for a fraction of a second, but not enough to make him flee. These small molluscs are cute, ever-elusive and are actually more closely related to the cuttlefish than squid – despite the common name. They’re relatively abundant in the temperate waters of Puget Sound, but you have to look closely to find one.
Continue Reading March 29th, 2007
Today it is time to say goodbye to one of my favorite SCUBA sites on the web, Divester. The great crew over there is heading onto bluer pastures as a result of Weblogs, Inc. owner AOL deciding to shut down some of the less profitable sites in its network. I’m not sure what the economic effect will be on the 86 billion-dollar company, but fans of many specific interests will be sad this week as their favorite sites get sent off to the internet graveyard.
Continue Reading February 1st, 2007
Last night a few dive buddies and I went diving at Seacrest (Alki) Cove 2. The dive started as a ho-hum dive, not much to see and one of our buddies didn’t have enough weight so he turned back and the rest of us descended. It was relatively poor visibility for this time of year, mostly due to the harbor seals that were zooming around and stirring things up. At around 100fsw or so I turned around and was shocked to see a 14-foot Sixgill shark, about a dozen feet in front of me. I fumbled for my trusty Casio EX-Z1000 and flipped it into video mode to catch a few minutes of the prehistoric looking shark swimming slowly and gracefully before sinking down to the bottom – apparently strange behavior for a shark of this type.
Continue Reading January 19th, 2007
Most people select a fin based on looks, and I’ll admit that cosmetics are a consideration for me too. But, there are several other types of things to consider when choosing a fin. These include: whether you want a traditional ‘paddle’ fin, or you want one of the newfangled ‘split’ fins. “What’s the difference?” you may ask. Well, there are tradeoffs with each given style and shape, and no fin is perfect for every application. Also, you have to take your boot (or foot) shape into consideration when choosing a fin. These considerations are just for starters, read on for the full scoop.
Continue Reading August 10th, 2006
An external flash can make all the difference when shooting photos underwater. Colors die out, red going first, as you go deeper – leaving only shades of blue as you reach depths greater than about 30fsw. Calibrating your whitebalance can help a great deal, especially when in clear waters and shooting subjects at a moderate distance. But, for shooting photos in murkier waters or for capturing subjects at the optimum color and intensity, you may need the help of an external strobe.
Continue Reading July 11th, 2006
It’s almost that special time of year again: The Underwater Sports Diver’s Fair. This will be the 28th year in the tradition of the Nation’s largest sale of SCUBA equipment and instruction. Year after year this thing gets bigger and better, with all the folks around the country (and world) who make the equipment that makes diving possible, under one roof (tent) to answer question and to showcase the newest technology in SCUBA. I won’t be missing it and I thought I’d share the info.
Continue Reading June 24th, 2006
The Oceanic VT Pro has been one of the best dive computers on the market for the past few years. The unit has no shortage of features: wireless air integration, Nitrox compatibility, user replaceable batteries, audible and visual alarms and a simplistic user interface, to name a few. Furthermore, at an affordable price compared to other such models, the VT Pro does not disappoint. I’ve put a good number of dives on my unit in varying waters around the World. My trusty Oceanic kept on tickin’ all along, providing me with safety and convenience when I needed it most. I’ve heard no shortage of reports of others’ computers being finicky, or even worse, failing altogether. Thus, I’ve detailed a report on my trusty VT Pro for the edification of someone trying to navigate the complex landscape of trying to decide which dive computer to put your trust in. I end the review with some thoughts on the newly-released VT3, which aims to replace the outgoing model described here.
Continue Reading June 7th, 2006
Recently I had the unfortunate experience of having my Scubapro Mk25 1st stage regulator flooded. I did a search through books and the web and could not find instructions on what to do. So, after consulting my local regulator technician I was able to remedy the problem. I’m posting that information here for the benefit of others who might’ve had a similar accident.
Continue Reading June 4th, 2006
This site is our trusty old standby. Nearly every Wednesday night we have a NorthWest Dive Club meeting at Cove 2 to keep our appetites for diving at bay. Though it’s close to home and sometimes forgotten for that reason, this is one of the most beautiful dive sites anywhere in the world, topside. With stunning views of the Seattle skyline directly across from the staging area and many places to eat nearby, this site is as convenient as it is unique. Below, the site does not disappoint: a couple small wrecks, some I-beams and harbor seals that often playfully follow divers around. I’ve also seen adult Giant Pacific Octopus here and several juveniles. It’s so easy to head on over the bridge to West Seattle, a mere 20 minutes from Downtown, which is why this remains one of the best dive sites to speak of for us Seattlites.
Continue Reading March 15th, 2006
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