HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: chesnutt@adobe.com (Stan Chesnutt)
Subject: Re: Scuba Lessons in Peekskill, NY
Organization: Tuesday Weld Fan Club
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 20:20:49 GMT

In article <930452@hp-ptp.ptp.hp.com> davew@hp-ptp.ptp.hp.com (Dave Waller) writes:
>
>At this point I will refrain from making such an appeal, and ask that
>rec.scuba readers post their thoughts on this. We need to discuss this
>issue and come to a consensus. I personally would prefer that rec.scuba
>remain a high information content forum, but in this dog eat dog world,
>I'm as interested as the next person in using what tools are available
>to fill my class roster.
>
>Dave Waller
>YMCA Instructor

Here are my thoughts: worth exactly what you paid for 'em!   :->  Like
Dave, I've been thinking a bit about the topic: here is the result of
my cogitation:

Instructor ads:

If there were a regular FAQ, I think it would be OK to have single-line
references to dive instructors in various locations.  This would *not* be
an endorsement, not a recommendation: just a listing or directory.

For instance:

state - name - association - phone number - city

CA: Abe Weatherbee, PADI 555-888-4747 (San Jose)
FL: Carla Laguna, NAUI 333-444-5555 (Kissimmee)
IA: Bill Curacao, YMCA 111-111-7890 (Cherokee)
LA: Phyllis Lakeside, PADI 222-333-9876 (Baton Rouge)
TX: John Waterman, NAUI 444-333-1231 (Dallas)

and so on ...

If folks were interested in including shops, they could have the following:

AZ: Diver's Den of Iniquity, NAUI 123-456-7890 (Phoenix)
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Organized trips:

I think it's fair to make a posting if you, as an individual, are organizing
a trip or group charter of a dive boat:

"I'm chartering the Mater Grosso for a six-day cruise of the waters of
 the Sacramento Delta.  We're going to observe crayfish habitats and
 breeding.  August 2 - August 9.  Send email to ecrivesse@mudbug.com
 for more info"

Such a posting could be made twice: once far in advance, and again closer
to the date of departure, so that folks who are forgetful (like me) can
get a little reminder to register.

"Commercial" operations (like dive shop charters, etc) should not be
mentioned.  I know that if I put together a charter of say, an Aggressor,
I get one or more free "berths" on the boat, but I'm also taking on the
task of gathering divers, collecting funds, and putting up with folks
who change plans/cancel, etc.  Charters organized by an individual should
be allowed, commercial ventures should not be allowed to post.  Of course,
a charter organizer should not send out weekly notices urging folks to
register -- such bombardment would get really tiresome.


-- 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Stan Chesnutt,  Adobe Systems  chesnutt@adobe.com {sun|decwrl}!adobe!chesnutt
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: miani@ibm1.uucp (Rich Miani)
Subject: Mail-order vs. Dive Shop thread - another question
Organization: NYNEX S&T
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 92 17:01:48 GMT

I've seen good points on both sides of this debate, and though I lean towards
the dive-shopper's point of view, I'm not Rockefeller either :-)

Does anybody have a mail order place that they've dealt with that they
would consider fair/reliable ? If you reply, would you mention 
whether or not you had to return merchandise to them and how that
situation was handled .... I would like to check out this debate first hand
since I am thinking about buying some new equipment.

Thanks,
Rich
From: davew@hp-ptp.ptp.hp.com (Dave Waller)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Oxygen Decompression
Date: 10 Apr 92 16:49:32 GMT
Organization: HP Pacific Technology Park - Sunnyvale, Ca.

mayne@open.cs.fsu.edu (William Mayne) writes:
> 
> Is anyone out there willing to admit if they have actually dove
> home grown schedules? I would be most interested in your experiences
> and comments.

No. :-)

Dave Waller
YMCA Instructor
From: ECNROBINSON@ORBSEN.UCG.IE (Energy is eternal delight!)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Aquion dry suit
Date: 10 Apr 92 18:42:00 GMT

Just a word on the British Aquion pro dry suit.
It has now become the most popular dry suit here in Ireland although
this could be a matter of fashion as the colours they come in now  would dazzle
your average warm water every shade you have ever seen fish ,never mind the
occasional crab  you see in irish waters.
The company will send you a sample of the suits materials if  you are
considering buying a suit  so if any of you want the address.(I wouldn't want
them to be bankrupted by sample orders  from all around the world) just ask
Aparently the material is so strong that the british trading standard
commission allow the material to be used in RIB manufacture.
--


        ::::::|     F A C U L T Y     of    |   PAUL ROBINSON
       :::::::|           :::|              |
      :::/ :::| :::|/::/:::::::/ ::::::/    |   email: ECNROBINSON@ORBSEN.UCG.IE
     :::::::::| :::|      :::|  :::|        |
    :::/   :::| :::|      :::|   :::::\     |   History & Economics
   :::/    :::| :::|      :::|      :::|    |
 ::::/    ::::/ :::/      :::/ /::::::/     |   **      Life's a beach        **
  U N I V E R S I T Y   C O L L E G E       |   **      &Then you dive!       **
                 G A L W A Y
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: jcv26@cas.org (Jon Vander Hill)
Subject: Re: C-card #'s in .sig's
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio, USA
	<1992Apr6.105315.9495@maspar.ch> <1992Apr7.040221.14386@scifi.uucp>
	<1992Apr8.104411.1593@maspar.ch>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 15:19:12 GMT

   Nicholas J. Simicich writes:

   >NAUI Instructor numbers are five digit numbers, and assigned
   >consecutively.  I'm a recent crossover.  Numbers with six digits in
   >them must be non-instructors.

   Now really, is there any significance to these numbers?  Or are you
   guys just making this up as you go along?

In the PADI system, for ratings below divemaster, the number is the
concatination of your date of certification and, I believe, a
ascention number.  Divemasters are assigned an ascention number that I
suspect are doled out as certifications are processed.  Mine in in the
48000's.  This number remains the same as you rise though the PADI
instructor ranks.  Comparing two of these numbers indicates who made
divemaster first for what that's worth.  I don't know how PADI uses
these numbers internally.


--
Jon Vander Hill
jon@cas.org
PADI DM, NACD & NSS-CDS Full Cave
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: jmb@netcom.com (J. Michael Blackford)
Subject: Re: Power Inflator Second Stages
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 92 07:07:26 GMT
Organization: Blackford Systems
Reply-To: jmb@netcom.com

73467.2574@CompuServe.COM (Andy Schmidt) writes:
>On Tue, 14 Apr 1992 14:05:15 GMT craig@cattnts (Craig Campbell)
>writes in his Message-Id: <1992Apr14.140515.6921@cattnts>
>CC> Your buddy has an OOA emergency.  You give him your primary and you breath
>CC> from your BC inflator whip reg.  Now, you need to loose buoyancy, and for
>CC> that you need to hold the BC mouth piece above you.
>Not quite true.  If you use the Scubapro AIR/II with a Scubapro BC you'll 
>pull the cord and open the BC dump valve on your shoulder.  While it doesn't
>allow for fine dosage I'm using that convenient method very often during
>an ascend and do the fine tuning through breathing control and body pasture.
--
And, interestingly enough, when breathing on the AIR-II, the air dump
is still above most of the BC (especially when buddy breathing) since
the usual (recommended?) ascent posture (other than flare for emerg.)
is vertical, with attention directed upwards.  This is all that's 
needed to dump air through the AIR-II in my experience.  In fact, I've
practiced controlled ascents by varying the orientation of the 
inflator/dump (or AIR-II) vis a vis my BC 'bubble' ...and it's 
surprising how you can balance air expansion in the BC with air release
from the inflator/dump _without_releasing_the_dump_button. 
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Blackford                         Internet: jmb@netcom.com
Fax: (408) 973-0514                        Compu$erve: 72345,66
---------------------------------------------------------------
From: zipp@foosw6.enet.dec.com (Eric S. Zipp)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Bahama area dive trip recommendations
Date: 9 Apr 92 14:01:19 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

Greetings,

	A friend of mine has travel plans which include the Bahama area, ports
of call (excuse the spelling...) include:

	Walkers Key
	Grand Key
	Double Breasted
	Lucayan Marina
	Hen Rocks
	Bimini

	Looking for recommendation of reliable dive shops/etc which organize
dive trip in any of the above areas. Hopefully we can benefit from other peoples
experiences. Any additional info. such as "Don't miss..." and "Keep away from
..." would be great also.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Eric
*******************************************************************************
* Nothing is completely worthless,... it can always be used as a bad example! *
*                                                                             *
* Eric S. Zipp 		    DEC EASYNET.    FOOSW6::ZIPP                      *
* DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORP.   INTERNET.       "ZIPP@FOOSW6.ENET.DEC.COM"        *
*			    UUCP.	    ...!decwrl!foosw6.enet!zipp       *
*******************************************************************************
From: ewm@mdavcr.mda.ca (Eric W. Mitchell)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: where are Manta rays
Date: 9 Apr 92 22:25:38 GMT
Organization: MacDonald Dettwiler, 13800 Commerce Parkway, Richmond, BC, Canada  V6V 2J3


My only manta ray sighting was off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
We were doing a drift dive off of Eagle Dropoff (I think that was the
name), on a 5 day trip out of Port Douglas.  Lots of current, so there
were plenty of big fish.

I got a picture of the manta, but didn't get any closer than 
about 20-30 feet.  Very graceful animal.  I estimated it to be
about 8-10 ft between wing tips.

Had a ~10 ft Grey Whaler shark swim by about a body length below me, as
well.  Not real common that close to the reef, as I understand.

A great dive overall.


Eric

-- 
==========================================================================
Eric Mitchell                      |   "We're Screwed!!!"
Ph. 604-278-3411 Fax. 604-278-2936 |
email  !uunet!van-bc!mdavcr!ewm    |	- Spaced Invaders.
    or ewm%mda.ca@wimsey.bc.ca     |--------------------------------------
    or ewm@mda.ca		   |     Standard disclaimers apply.
==========================================================================
From: pyoung@zaphod.axion.bt.co.uk (Peter Young)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Tanks and GA aircraft
Date: 6 Apr 92 12:05:56 GMT
Reply-To: pyoung@zaphod.axion.bt.co.uk
Organization: British Telecom Labs

From article <11222@mindlink.bc.ca>, by Charlie_Gibbs@mindlink.bc.ca (Charlie Gibbs):

>      There's no problem at all.  Think of it in terms of relative
> pressure.  Even at 10,000 feet the ambient pressure has only gone
> down by about 5 psi.  A tank that's filled to 3000 psi won't even
> notice the difference.

I'm surprised to hear this. I thought there were regulations about flying
with diving cylinders because technically they are pressure vessels.
Perhaps this is only a concern when you are flying in a jet at 35,000+ feet?

> In the absence of tables that specifically deal with flying
> after diving (I don't know of any but I'd love to find one)

The SAA (Sub Aqua Association) tables are based on work by Prof. Buhlman
and include information about flying after diving, including the interval
between surfacing and taking off. There is also a set of tables for diving
at altitudes of 2,500ft .

More info on request.

Pete
  ____________________________________________________________________
  Pete Young         pyoung@axion.bt.co.uk        Phone +44 473 645054
             BT Labs, Martlesham Heath, IPSWICH IP5 7RE UK
   "There are two kinds of jazz, and they're both crap" - Alexei Sayle
From: v087mxgb@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Shawn E Thompson)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: dive flags & boaters
Date: 15 Apr 92 13:26:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: acsu.1992Apr15.122711.29354
Distribution: usa
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41




SOMEONE wrote (so many responses I forgot who):

>|> both sides.)  However, operating a boat does require a certain specialized
>|> skill set, including how to read common (not all) nautical markers.  I would
>|> define a dive flag as a common nautical marker.  Is ignorance a valid excuse?

I was the one who presented the "most boaters are goofball
theory" with the exception of diver/boaters (this is in
respect to diving (meaning they are goofballs about diving,
etc.


I still maintain this theory. The statement above claims that
it requires some skill to operate a boat and recognize basic
nautical markers. Ha! I live on an Island, we are a *HUGE*
boating community. *Every* single summer there are literally
dozens and dozens of morons who don't know the signs and 
beach their boats or cause a collision or some other minor/major
boating incident. Its a boring story: over, and over, and over
boaters crashing, beaching themselves, destroying their motors,
people getting hurt...

These are the same idiots who try to TAKE diving flags, cuz they
think they are just floating there and "someone must've lost 
it, so its free for the taking".

The standard diver down flag is one of the most common flags
(it receives much more publicity than probably (my own geuss
here) every other nautical flag combined).

The problem is there are no instruction/certification/testing/
licensing requirements for boaters. I quote a line from
the movie "Parenthood":

This character is a real dirtbag loser and comes up with this
amazingly prohetic line...."You know Mrs. M, you need a license
to drive a car, you need a license to have a dog, you even need
a license to catch a fish! But they'll let any butt-reamin'
asshole be a father"


(Sorry for the mild language it was a direct quote)



The idea is the same, you need to be certified to do
most everything (at least in NYS), but you can drive 
a 2000 lb vehicle drunk with a family of four, in
a river above Niagara Falls, with a 200 Hp motor spin
an exposed blade (etc, etc)


I insist that the laws around here are wimpy...they are
not enforced, and there is no training/certification
req'd for boaters (heck I even had to be certified before
I could risk my OWN life diving, but I can jump in any old
boat and roar away).





Just my (not-so) humble opinion ;-o


Shawn
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: Barsh@stsci.edu (John Barshinger)
Subject: Orca Delphi reader
Organization: STScI
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 12:30:08 GMT

There was some talk awhile back about a Delphi reader. I believe there
was mention of a kit or definition of how to build a reader, and some
software to make sense of the read data.

I missed the actual definition of this hw/sw combination. Did anyone
ever get this working? If so, where can I find it?

Also, if anyone has info on a rumor of a Delphi upgrade, please let me
know about it. I have three and they actually work but if they are not
going to be supported by the vendor, maybe I should upgrade???

jrbii

Barsh@stsci.edu
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: jcv26@cas.org (Jon Vander Hill)
Subject: Re: Power Inflator Second Stages
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 16:54:35 GMT

kirbycb@ac.dal.ca writes:

   I've recently seen secondary stages that can be attached to the power 
   inflator on your BC. What are opinions on this? Does this device make an 
   octopus redundant? Or should one always have an octopus? From the 
   discussion of octopus ergonimics it would seem that an octopus is not a 
   redundant feature, even with a 2nd stage on the power inflator.

Personally, I'm more comfortable with the more conventional
configuration of the extra second stage on its own hose
coming under my right arm and secured at my chest.  I give
up the second stage in my mouth which is attached with either a five or
seven foot hose (five for open water, seven for caves).

I thought octopus meant "extra second stage", so I'd say it is an
octopus and is certainly not a redundant, but essential piece of
equipment.  The difference here is really one of placement and use.
This set up pretty much forces you to give up the second stage in your
mouth.  Also, the reg is coming from the left which may or may not be
a problem depending on the design of your second stage.

I know folks that like this set up.  For open water applications
I think it's adequate.

Jon Vander Hill
jon@cas.org
PADI DM, NACD & NSS-CDS Full Cave
--
Jon Vander Hill
jon@cas.org
PADI DM, NACD & NSS-CDS Full Cave
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: root@maspar.ch (Bruno Pape)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: C-card #'s in .sig's
Date: 10 Apr 92 07:53:10 GMT
Reply-To: root@maspar.ch (Bruno Pape)
Organization: MasPar Distributor AG, Zurich, Switzerland

In article <1992Apr9.132136.17997@scifi.uucp> njs@scifi.uucp (Nicholas J. Simicich) writes:
>
>When did you become an instructor, Bruno?
>

No, No, please, I have never been, nor do I want to be a SCUBA instructor.

Thanks anyway and no offense meant, to anyone.

I was just trying to flush out the correct meaning of those little numbers
that seem so important to some.

Take a deep breath, try to relax a little, and enjoy life.

With friendly greetings,

Bruno
From: carmanr@lafcol.lafayette.edu (Carman Robert)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: woodpeckers
Summary: How about a sapsucker?
Date: 14 Apr 92 13:39:18 GMT
Distribution: rec.birds
Organization: Lafayette College, Easton


In my experience, sapsuckers are especially fond of drumming on shingles,
downspouts, and other parts of houses, outbuildings, etc. Since they seem
to prefer items that give off maximum noise and do it only in the springtime,
I suspect it is mostly advertising--males trying to attract attention. We
have an ailing mountain ash that seems especially attractive to sapsuckers,
and from time to time one will cut loose on a nearby downspout. But it seems
to do no damage and soon loses interest.  A pileated, though--now there's a
real wrecking crew.
From: ilundy@spam.ua.oz (Ian Lundy)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: looking for the ideal pet
Date: 9 Apr 92 23:54:16 GMT
Organization: Statistics, Pure & Applied Mathematics, University of Adelaide

In article <1992Apr6.175651.27843@acsu.buffalo.edu> v102pcak@ubvmsc.cc.buffalo.edu (WAYLAND'S WONDER) writes:
>I am interested in getting a pet bird, but my housemates are not keen on the
>idea of haveing a noisy, crazy bird around. Can anyone suggest a quiet calm
>bird that will not be much of a disturbance to the house?

Have you considered a stuffed cockatiel nailed to the perch??

Ian Lundy
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: edm@verdix.com (Ed Matthews)
Subject: Changing Name of Group [Was Re: Nuisance posts]
Organization: Verdix Corp.
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 11:50:53 GMT

I'm going to keep watching birds and posting about what I see while the
rest of y'all have petty arguments about how to keep two pet bird posts
a month out of this group.  Relax; take your binoculars out and have a
look at all those birds in beautiful fresh plumage.

Speaking of birds, had some interesting ones over the past few days:

On Thursday 9 April, first Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers arrived in Centreville,
VA and by Saturday were all over the metro-DC area.

On Friday 10 April, first Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in Centerville, VA.
This is twelve days earlier than last year in this location and six days
earlier than first bird reported in metro area last year.

On Saturday 11 April, at Great Falls VA National Park, the Louisiana
Waterthrushes are on territory in same locations as last year and
singing vigorously.  No unexpected warblers.  Lots of Palm Warblers
all over, a possible Wilson's among a couple of UFOs.

On Saturday 11 April, first Chimney Swift at Centreville, VA.  Only one
bird; did not stay around and was not seen subsequently.

On Sunday 12 April, at Great Falls VA National Park, a Cooper's Hawk
actively hunting the canals.  This is the first I've seen there in a
long time.

On Sunday 12 April, at Centreville VA, invasion of Purple Finches.  First
ones this "winter" at this location with at least 10 males and 8 females.
Monday 13 April, at least 15 males and 15 females.

On Sunday 12 April, at Luck Stone Quarry in Centreville, VA, a Peregrine
Falcon sitting on a telephone wire by the quarry.  I have never seen
this bird before.  This is not a good location for birders to try to
see the bird because of all the heavy equipment moving around.  I also
don't know if the bird is transient or will stay around to feed off the
pigeons for a while.

Ed Matthews                                   Internet: edm@verdix.com
(703) 318-5800 work                          "Have scope, will travel"
Centreville, Virginia  -- near Washington DC
-- 

Ed Matthews                                                edm@verdix.com
Verdix Corporation Headquarters                            (703) 318-5800
Herndon, Virginia
From: carmanr@lafcol.lafayette.edu (Carman Robert)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: American Kestrel catches snake
Summary: A regular diet item
Date: 13 Apr 92 20:12:14 GMT
Organization: Lafayette College, Easton


Some years ago American kestrels nested almost every year in a cavity under
the eaves of a building in the center of the Union College campus in SchenectadyNew York. Because the area around the building was open space, it was easy to 
keep track of comings and goings. The male seemed to do most of the hunting.
He would land in an ash tree and call the female out to collect whatever prey
he had, sometimes transferring it by aerial drop, other times handing it over
when she landed beside him. By my observation, small snakes were a regular 
item of diet; among larger items they seemed to be almost as common as small
rodents, though that may have been a function of the fact that most of my
observations occurred during the day. I also noticed that transfer of snakes
was almost always accomplished by aerial drop, perhaps because the snakes 
usually seemed to be alive. She rarely missed the catch but when she dropped onesnake I was able to ascertain that it was a so-called "glass snake," which 
 is really a kind of legless lizard rather than a true snake. Others appea
appeared to be small garter snakes or ribbon snakes, though.
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: towolt@bunsen.lerc.nasa.gov (John Wolter)
Subject: How can we remove birds from a structure gently?
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center [Cleveland, Ohio]
Distribution: rec.birds
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 19:50:38 GMT

We are operating a major aeronautics facility in a large open
structure, and we're having problems with birds.  The walls of
the facility are covered with acoustical wedges which the birds
seek refuge in.  They're mostly sparrows, but we get larger birds
as well.

There is a plan to cover the openings with netting, which should
solve most of the problem, but what do we do with the birds that
are trapped inside?  I've heard that many large facilities, such
as malls and stadiums, just let the birds starve to death and
pick up the bodies.  I'd like to find a better way.

I can think of three ways to get them out: scare 'em away before
covering the openings, give them a one-way door so they can get
out and not get back in, or live trap 'em and release 'em out-
side.  However, I don't really know how to do any of these.  I'm
looking for ideas.  Any takers?
-- 
================> John D. Wolter    NASA Lewis Research Center <===============
=======> (216) 433-3941    FTS 297-3941    towolt@scivax.lerc.nasa.gov <=======
=======================> "You can always pull the plug" <======================
Newsgroups: rec.birds