HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dave@hpdstma.ptp.hp.com (Dave Waller)
Subject: Re: Tides
Keywords: tides, beach diving
Organization: Hewlett Packard
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:22:50 GMT

In article <1dbojmINN7o1@paris.usc.edu>, oner@paris.usc.edu (Koray Oner) writes:
|> Hi netters,
|> 
|> I have a small question. For beach diving which type of tides is better,
|> low tides or high tides? Does your answer change if beach is a pebble
|> beach (or worse rocky)?

A question for which there is no single, pat answer. So instead, I'll
point out a few of the plusses and minuses. Every beach entry point must
be evaluated on its own unique merits.

For sand beaches, high/low tide makes little difference as far as how it
effects entry and exit. In some cases, the topography of the bottom may
be an issue if low tide exposes features that may make egress difficult.
However, for purely sand entries, where the sand extends well beyond the
tidal boundaries, the effect is minimal.

However, care must be taken when placing equipment on the beach, so that
a low tide entry doesn't result in possessions being swept out to sea as
the tide rises during the dive.

For rocky entries, tide level can dramatically influence the difficulty of
entry and egress. Divers have found themselves in situations in the past
where a dive was executed in relatively shallow water (10-20 feet) beginning
at high tide, and long in duration due tot he shallow nature the site; then,
they find that a few feet of drop in the water level due to the tidal change
radically alters the point of egress so as to make it much more problematic.
The advice here is to consult local divers about a particular site, and if
at all possible, dive the site with an experienced person at least the
first time out.

Finally, for all sites, tidal changes can have a significant impact on
the portions of the site that are reasonably accessible during the dive,
and can impact the difficulty of buoyancy control as well. It is generally
better to dive during high tide to ameliorate these issues, however it
is not always practical to do so.

-- 
Dave Waller
YMCA Instructor
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: pstonge@trentu.ca (CMDR P.D. Keener)
Subject: SPOO!
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Trent University Computer Services Department
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 00:11:00 GMT

Hi all - Just got a note from a fellow by the name of Rob, who very nicely 
explaned that the "position on side, head down (10-30 degrees)" procedure 
was not used as an emergency diving first aid measure anymore..
  I kinda meant to agree with the 'treat for shock' procedure (which IS 
recommended in the DAN first aid guide, p.20-21).

  Sorry for the confusion...

  Pete 'Keener'
From: geary%cfa3.DECNET@cfa.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Mixing O2/N2 for Nitrox
Date: 6 Nov 1992 08:13:35 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

Jeff Wall writes:

\I have taken the NITROX class (IAND) but I have not done my
\dives and recieved my card.  The impression I got from class
\was that filling a tank with a higher percentage O2 was not
\necessarily the problem.  The problem came when divers put in
\the pure O2 took the tank to the dive shop to be filled and
\then went diving later that day.  I was taught first you shouldn't
\homebrew but, if you mix the gas by diffusion it takes from 4 - 5
\days for the O2 and the air to mix uniformly.

\Therefore, if a diver goes diving later in the same day he has
\his tanks filled he could be at say 90 fsw. and take a number of
\breaths of almost pure O2. Since we all know the max depth on pure
\O2 is around 20 fsw. this could cause some problems in an extreme
\situation.

No, no, NO !!  Not true.  If IAND is teaching this, it is utter
garbage.  Do not believe it.  Even under ideal (totally nonturbulent)
conditions, mixing of O2 and N2 will go very quickly in a tank (few
seconds).  Add a bunch of turbulence, such as will always be the
case in a real tank, and the mixing is virtually complete when you
shut the valve.

             OOo O                John Geary
             O oO                 PADI DM-52283 
              o                   geary@cfa.harvard.edu 
       _____ o o 
      (_/-\_).. 
     ===(O).
From: gd@gehenna.sw.stratus.com (Greg Dawe)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Night Diving Tips
Date: 6 Nov 92 15:31:01 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Software Engineering

In article <IeyIH1q00WBNQ26ZU6@andrew.cmu.edu> ps3p+@andrew.cmu.edu (Peter A. Simon) writes:
>In all the night diving I've done I've had a strobe of my own tied to my
>BC.  Mind you, this was commercial diving and I wasn't diving with a
>buddy so I don't know if sport divers would consider it overkill or not.
> It sure gave me a LOT more confidence knowing that if I was washed away
>from the work site there was a much greater probability of being found
>be searchers on the surface before I died of exposure.  
>
>Peter Simon

I'm not a commercial diver, but when diving what we call "offshore wrecks" i.e.
those wrecks which are more than a couple of miles out there I ALWAYS wear
a small strobe which is attached to my LPI hose via a piece of surgical tubing.
It's one of the those cheap strobes run by a C-cell battery.  I wear the strobe
for the same reason you do - to improve my chances of recovery should I be
blown off the divesite.

It's funny that your posting should happen this week because until last
Sunday I never had to use the strobe.  I was doing a single dive on the
bow section of a deep wreck, but we grappled the wreck late in the afternoon
so I didn't get into the water until after 3:30PM.  By the time I had 
finished my decompression stops it was dark, and there was a real ripping
current and 3 to 4 foot seas up top.  When I surfaced I popped the strobe
on before negotiating the Granny Line to the stern.  The strobe allowed the
crew of the boat to keep track of me during my exit, but I guess it's real
value was it made me feel more comfortable dealing with an exit that can be
tricky even in daylight.

-- 
Greg Dawe                        | Disclaimer: I don't speak for my employer,
Voice : (508)-490-6666           |             nor they for me...
e-mail: Greg_Dawe@vos.stratus.com|
From: zombie@voodoo.boeing.com (Mike York)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: PERFORMANCE gear reliability???
Date: 10 Nov 92 19:55:09 GMT
Reply-To: zombie@voodoo.boeing.com
Organization: BoGART System Development

In article <1992Nov9.182914.28534@adobe.com>, chesnutt@adobe.com (Stan Chesnutt) writes:
|> In article <18906.2af5c0df@ecs.umass.edu> gross@ecs.umass.edu writes:
|> >Does anyone out there know if the PERFORMANCE company sells 
|> >reliable gear?  I may purchase a console and/or a wetsuit.
|> >Any response appreciated.  Thanks, Brett Holmquist.
|> 
|> I was on the Kona Aggressor two weeks ago.  One of the divers on the
|> boat had recently bought a lycra skinsuit from Performance.  After the
|> third dive, it had begun to fray at the seams: threads were coming off
|> and the whole garment looked like it was about to fall apart.  He was
|> going to scream at Performance when he got back to the mainland.
|> 
|> This may be an isolated incident, or maybe not.
|> 

My wife, a friend, and I each bought a lycra dive skin from Performance before
a trip to the GBR in June.  Our friend's suit started coming apart after the
third dive.  He sent it back to Performance in early July and still hasn't
received the promised replacement.  My suit has a few loose threads after 
twenty dives, but is holding up OK -- after one quick and easy repair.  My 
wife's still looks new.  Make no mistake, these are cheap suits (both in price 
and quality).  They have their place, but don't expect them to last forever.
You're mileage *will* vary...

-- 
    Mike York                        (206) 865-6577              
    Boeing Computer Services         zombie@voodoo.ca.boeing.com   
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: krentel@cs.rice.edu (Mark W. Krentel)
Subject: resort reviews
Organization: Rice University, Houston
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 21:50:17 GMT

Has anyone been to any of these places and are willing to tell me what 
you think of them?  In particular, do they have unlimited shore diving,
and is the shore diving any good (or do you really need boats)?  What we
usually like to do is dive, dive, dive: go out on boats in the morning, 
then pack up the van and do shore dives in the afternoon.

  1. Riding Rock Inn       San Salvadore, Bahamas
  2. Off The Wall Divers   Grand Turk
  3. Sam McCoy's           Little Cayman
  4. Divi Tiara            Cayman Brac
  5. Brac Reef             Cayman Brac

Thanks,

Mark Krentel           Rice University
krentel@cs.rice.edu    Houston, Texas
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: caenmorr@bunsenhoneydew.engin.umich.edu (Ted W Morrison)
Subject: Schools in Underwater/Marine Archaeology
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 16:42:47 EST
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor
Originator: caenmorr@bunsenhoneydew.engin.umich.edu


  Greetings!  I am posting this for a friend of mine who is interested
in underwater or marine archaeology.  She would like to know of any
good graduate schools to look into that could teach her.  So far, she
has heard of Texas A&M and Indiana University, but there has to be other
programs around.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to where she should
look?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

  Ted Morrison
From: e2mano7@etek.chalmers.se (Magnus Norling)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Helmet-mounted divelamp
Date: 13 Nov 92 15:22:43 GMT
Reply-To: e2mano7@etek.chalmers.se (Magnus Norling)
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SWEDEN

I've been thinking of purchasing a  helmet-mounted divelamp, but since I live in Sweden everything is twice as expensive as in the USA. Could anyone tell me what brands that are available, and how much they are? 

Fredrik Ristolainen (post answers to e2mano7@etek.chalmers.se)
Gothenburg
Sweden
From: skenny@pico.engr.mun.ca (Shawn Kenny)
Subject: REPOST: HELP INFO SOUGHT
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 00:24:13 GMT

orry to repost this but something seems to have gome wrong with the
original message.

Could someone provide me with information on the waters between Miami
and Palm Beach, preferably specific data for the Ft. Lauderdale area,
given the following conditions:

Location: Ft. Lauderdale; nearshore environment; 1-2 Nautical miles
          offshore
Time:     June-July

The info I would like to know is:

Average Wave Height; 1/3 Significant Wave Height
Wave Period
Average Surface Current; Max Surface Current and Average Direction

or any assistance in what organizations/government bodies which may be
able to provide this info would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

Please e-mail skenny@pico.engr.mun.ca (can also follow up this post).

--
"There is the smell of an election in the air. Some of you believe it is
the smell of tar and asphalt... I assure you, however, that it is indeed
the smell of an election." -   John Savage, Leader of the N.S. Liberals.
                           skenny@pico.engr.mun.ca St. John's, NF Canada
From: leej@sgi.com (Lee Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Diving in CA over Thanksgiving
Date: 12 Nov 1992 21:16:47 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: diver.asd.sgi.com

In article <1992Nov12.182139.4248@newssun.med.miami.edu> dbrown@newssun.med.miami.edu (Daniel Brown) writes:
>I'm planning to go to California this Thanksgiving and
>I want to knwo whether or not I should bring my gear.
>
>What's the weather, visibility, surf, etc. been like?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Dan
>dbrown@newssun.med.miami.edu
>

I know that everything west of the Mississippi seems isomorphic to y'all,
but "California" is a way-big place (means "real big" in Californiaese).
Weather, visibility, surf, etc. will change substantially over a few miles.
From one end of the state to the other, we could have all possible diving
conditions.

Where in California are you planning to go?

Regards, Lee
From: spindler@rcf.rsmas.miami.edu
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: lycra dive skins
Date: 11 Nov 92 16:56:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Nov11.165614.11618
Reply-To: spindler@rcf.rsmas.miami.edu
Organization: RSMAS

In article <83b302n82avo01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com>, ljm40@amdahl.com 
(Lisa Malachowsky) writes:
>I have had really lousy luck with anything from SPORT EUROPA. I bought	
>two lycras suits from them and both shredded. Even though the price	i
>is attractive, go for something a little better!!!

After spending about 2x the Sport Europa lycra diveskin price for an SSA lycra
suit (under the US Divers logo), I feel a bit better now.  The SSA skin has
taken a tremendous amount of abuse during two years of heavy working dives,
including such niceties as scrubbing soft corals and all sorts of nasty
invertebrates off of current meter moorings, and cutting nylon line off of
research vessel propshafts.  The skin shows a little wear, but no rips or tears
in the fabric.  Maybe it pays to get the better (read: expensive) stuff in this
case?

----
Todd Spindler                                  
TSpindler@rsmas.miami.edu                 RSMAS/MPO  University of Miami
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: "cheryl applebaum" <cheryl.applebaum@canrem.com>
Subject: decom diving
Reply-To: "cheryl applebaum" <cheryl.applebaum@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 6 Nov 92 23:39:20 EST

Hi All!

I need some help here.... I am working on a story with some people. Part
of the plot involves a character who dives.  Since I only have Rec diving
experience (PADI Advanced OW) I have no real knowledge of professional or
decompression diving.

I was wondering if anyone could offer some info on decomp dive tables, or
perhaps tell me what book I can find them in, etc.

Any help you can give me is much appreciated.

Thanx,
~CA~

---
  CNET v1.0  [\] Keep bubblin' [\]
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: U61474@uicvm.uic.edu (MATT HUNSAKER)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: NITROX
Date: 10 Nov 92 04:33:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: uicvm.92314.223356U61474
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago

I have read the "Nitrox" flame for several weeks now, and frankly I am
amused at the low level of communication that is occuring.  I have at times
agreed with points from both sides.  I think it would benefit both sides
if we take some time to define what we are discussing.  It seems that
emotion is playing too big of a role in this whole discussion.  Nitrox is
technical diving.  It involves a level of training above and beyond that
of our OPEN WATER friends.  It is more complex, there are certain risks,
but it seems that every facet of Underwater Exploration has different risks.
(Wreck-Entrapment, Deep- Decompression Profiles).  It seems to me that
what needs to be looked at is if RECREATIONAL diving is ready for NITROX.
Because something can be done, doesn't mean that it is RECREATIONAL.  I
have over my years involved myself in Hard Hat Diving, Deep Decompression
profiles, and currently in the ownership/piloting of a submersible.  The
KEY is, I INVOLVED MYSELF IN THESE ACTIVITIES.  When I involve myself, I
am assuming the risk.  Because of  their nature, they involve more risk
than others are willing to call RECREATIONAL.  For me they are recrational,
for others they are not.  SCUBA enjoys a somewhat unregulated existence,
let's not cause someone else to get involved by fighting with each other.
If we need to define and separate "recreational" and "technical", then so be it
but on the other side, let's not close our eyes and pretend that  even
with proper training NITROX couldn't be enjoyed with a predeterminable risk
and margin of safety.
<   Please stop the name calling and let's get down to business on defining the
role of NITROX and other Enriched air Mixtures in the future of RECREATIONAL
SCUBA.>

     I would like to see a conference of the SCUBA community to discuss
     this in the near future.  Chicago in JULY of 1993?

MATT HUNSAKER   ~~~~~~~~~___100       ..            __  |__
DIVING RESEARCH GROUP        ___200  >->O      . .__L L_|L L__
HOME OF THE SPORTSMAN 300 MINISUB___300FT   . .[+(____________)
E-MAIL:U61474@UICVM   (815)399-1615                _________/
STUDENT, U OF IL COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: levis@turtle.cis.ohio-state.edu (alan patrick levis)
Subject: Re: Diving after flying
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 14:49:13 GMT

In article <1992Nov4.044812.4969@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> mayne@cs.fsu.edu writes:
>In article <Bx60ux.IKr@inews.Intel.COM> brodesky@td2cad.intel.com (Michael Brodesky) writes:
>>
>>	I was wondering what the suggested times were before diving
>>after taking a short flight.     
>
>Good question. Conventional theories (e.g. Haldane) would say that if
>anything flying before diving would give a slight advantage by washing
>out some nitrogen. Most tables make no provision one way or the other.
>I did observe that the one time I flew with my Aladin computer the
>NDLs went up by a minute for some depths, evidently giving me credit
>for some offgassing at altitude. But the BSAC '88 tables (I think I
>got the number right) penalize you for flying immediately before
>diving. Diving isn't prohibited but you are penalized one pressure
>group, if memory serves me. I believe the theory behind this has to
>do with bubble formation during flight.
>
>Bill Mayne
>
At DEMA a couple of years ago there was a good seminar on flying and diving.
Most of the material pertained to flying AFTER diving but some interesting
information about flying before diving was presented. 

The main concern was the dehydration that comes from the dry, recycled air
in the cabin. Suggestions were to drink hydrating liquids (ie. water) during
the flight and after. There were no recommendations given for a post-flight
wait time if I remember correctly.

Alan Levis				Inet:	levis@cis.ohio-state.edu


Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: brandvik@lonestar.utsa.edu (Jim R. Brandvik)
Subject: Re: Scuba certification-info wanted
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 23:18:35 GMT

In article <Nov.11.15.49.13.1992.7843@gandalf.rutgers.edu> veltre@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Valarie Veltre) writes:
>I am heading out to the Florida keys at the end of December.. I would
>like to be certified before I leave.. I am looking for any information
>regarding certification here in New Jersey..
>
>Any info regarding prices, instructors, and procedures would be appreciated.
>
>Thanx in advance..
>
>-Valarie M. Veltre

I checked a PADI (Professional Assoc. of Dive Instructors) listing and found a

                    OCEAN EXPLORERS AQUATIC CENTER
                    871 Route 1
                    Edison, NJ  08817
                    (201)287-2822

NOTE: PADI has a referral system which would enable you to do all your
classroom and pool training in NJ and they would refer you to another facility
in FL to do the 4 or 5 training dives required for your cert... Unless you
like the idea of 50 degree water. :-)

Have fun & be safe!

Jim Brandvik
Organization: Administrative Computing & Info Services, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 10:15:13 -0500 
From: Carolyn Osmond <co10+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: resort reviews

>Has anyone been to any of these places and are willing to tell me what 
>you think of them?  In particular, do they have unlimited shore diving,
>and is the shore diving any good (or do you really need boats)?  What we
>usually like to do is dive, dive, dive: go out on boats in the morning, 
>then pack up the van and do shore dives in the afternoon.
> 
>  1. Riding Rock Inn       San Salvadore, Bahamas
>  2. Off The Wall Divers   Grand Turk
>  3. Sam McCoy's           Little Cayman
>  4. Divi Tiara            Cayman Brac
>  5. Brac Reef             Cayman Brac

We were at Divi Tiara about 3 summers ago.  While we were there we got
certified, so I don't have much info for you on afternoon shore diving. 
There was a wonderful snorkeling place about five minutes by car, so I
assume there are some close to shore reefs that divers would enjoy, but
I don't know that as a fact.  We were completely satisfied with the
instruction we got -- 5 intensive days of classroom work all morning and
in-the-water classes in the afternoon, which were all from the boat
except day 1.  The dive operation was Peter Hughes and we, as novices,
had nothing to compare it with.  We felt safe, the boats were not
crowded, the dive spots were spectacular, the visibility was regularly
100' or more.  There seemed to be no significant current.  I would like
to go back after I've been to all the other sites I've got in mind! 
Experienced divers seemed very impressed with the clarity of the water
and the sea life.

As for the resort, I hear it's been through hard times since we were
there.  It's been sold and apparently needs some repairs.  We thought
the food was quite good.  We got the all-inclusive package and found
that to be a good choice.  Some people who did not get all-inclusive
went to a couple of other restaurants on the island and found it to be
very expensive and extremely time consuming. I liked the dining room --
a rather large pavilion type structure, open all around.  There was also
outdoor seating by the pool.  There are tennis courts, lots of hammocks
and palm trees -- the tropical look, so to speak.  The beach was
average.  Compared to the fabulous beach we had this summer at the Club
Med in the Turks, it was tiny and unimpressive.  One nice thing about
the Tiara is that it is small and kind of intimate.  Faces became
familiar as the week went on and we felt quite at home.  There's no
night life -- it's early to bed, early to rise, and dive, dive, dive. 
We did not leave the resort except the walk down to the Brac Reef, so I
have no information on the rest of the island.  By the way, the Brac
Reef seemed similar to the Tiara.

I hope this helps.  Carolyn
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Date: Thu,  5 Nov 1992 10:58:57 -0500 
From: "Peter A. Simon" <ps3p+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Night Diving Tips

In all the night diving I've done I've had a strobe of my own tied to my
BC.  Mind you, this was commercial diving and I wasn't diving with a
buddy so I don't know if sport divers would consider it overkill or not.
 It sure gave me a LOT more confidence knowing that if I was washed away
from the work site there was a much greater probability of being found
be searchers on the surface before I died of exposure.  

With this experience, I'd say that if I WAS sport diving WITH a buddy
we'd both wear the strobe.  Depending on the visibility, it can be seen
underwater from a pretty good distance (the max I can attest to
personally is 40').

Hope this helps.

Peter Simon
NAUI Inst. #1434
From: clinard@cs.utk.edu (Michelle Clinard)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Any infomation from Cancun and Cozumel
Date: 13 Nov 92 20:02:55 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

In article <pltjha.1.0@vtt.fi> pltjha@vtt.fi (Juha Hakulinen) writes:
>I need information from Cancun and Conzumel at december. All comments are 
>wellcome. 
>
>Thanks 
>      Juha.Hakulinen@vtt.fi

Me too! Me too!  We're going down the week after Christmas, staying
at the Fiesta Inn, on Cozumel.

Any information at all is much appreciated.

thanks,
-Michelle

ps.  Anyone flown on Air Mexico, or Cancun?


Newsgroups: rec.scuba