HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: graff@atux01.att.com (Christopher Graff)
Subject: Re: Nitrox Diving
Organization: AT&T Corporate Education and Training
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 18:50:31 GMT

In article <teisbqs@twilight.wpd.sgi.com>, story@sgi.com (David (Duis) Story) writes:
> In article <1992Dec10.160247.11863@newssun.med.miami.edu> dbrown@newssun.med.miami.edu (Daniel Brown) writes:
> >
> >	6) For me, the risk and the equipment restrictions are enough
> >	   not to make it a regular endeavor.  I've rarely come across
> >	   a dive that I needed to stay down longer than those limits
> >	   prescribed by your typical dive tables.  On the other hand,
> >	   I would not be entirely averse to doing a nitrox dive if
> >	   there was an appropriate situation (I'm not sure what would
> >	   be appropriate ...)
> 
> >I look forward to hearing replies from people who've taken a nitrox
> >course and from people with ideas as to what qualifies as a dive 
> >appropriate for its use.
> 
> 
	Ill give you an example of a dive using Nitrox. Back in October
	I went on a dive trip off of Ocracoke Island, NC. We dove out in
	the Gulf stream on the USS Tarpon in 140'. I dove on air and had
	a bottom time of 9 minutes. This was the deepest Ive ever gone.
	About 4 or 5 others dove using Nitrox with a oxygen mixture of 
	29%. If it was a higher percentage they they would be running the 
	risk of Oxygen Tox. They had a bottom time of 25 minutes with a
	hang time of 35 and they were also breathing O2 on the line which
	was dissapating the Nitrogen at a faster rate so there hang time was
	obviously less. You could not do a dive this deep on a higher %tage
	of O2 for this long. They were using doubles. 

	Yes I would consider this a very technical dive but with proper
	training and equipment can be performed safely and effectively
	from my observations. 

	For me the 9 minutes I had down there was a tease. This was a 
	gorgeous dive in 74degree water. This was a dive that really fired
	me up about diving. If everything is done correctly then the only
	price you pay would be your hang. The other plus to this is that
	while on air I had a nice buzz going at 140', on Nitrox you offset
	that euphoria for a while and can think better. 

	Im not giving a thumbs up for Nitrox, just throwing out a single
	example. As in my previous post I want to hear some real experiences.

	Also note: If you are familiar with the article in SKIN DIVER about
	the guy dying on Nitrox, what I heard was that this guy pushed his
	limits and dove to 140' on a 40% mixture of O2. Thats why he died.

	If anyone can confirm or contradict this Id be glad to hear it. 
	Ill share more experiences another time. 

	Chris

Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: dan@resonex.com (Dan Kell)
Subject: Re: Shark Attacks
Organization: Resonex Inc., Sunnyvale CA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 10:11:58 GMT

But going back to my original question. Is there any record of a shark pack
attacking someone? Say for example, a surfer suddenly being set up by a group
of hungry blues, a swimmer being attacked by multiple tigers.

I know there are recorded instances of people rescuing an attack victim being
bypassed by the attacking shark as it comes back again. Even to the extent of
having the shark run into them, brush past, etc. on the return to the victim.

Is there any record of this down under? You folks have netted your beaches for
years. Is the reason for this because of single shark shark attacks or "shark
pack" shark attacks. Does a random "pack attack" happen?


-- 
Dan Kell                  
email to dan@resonex.com
"Experience is somethig you don't get until just after you meeded it most."
                       Murphys laws of computing
From: craig@cattnts.canada.ncr.com (Craig Campbell)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Nitrox Diving
Date: 14 Dec 92 16:01:28 GMT
Organization: AT&T / NCR Canada Ltd., Toronto, Canada

In article <1992Dec11.183907.20628@newssun.med.miami.edu> dbrown@newssun.med.miami.edu (Daniel Brown) writes:

>But, the new risk is O2 toxicity occuring at shallower depths.  I think
>this is much greater risk, and that's my primary reservation for 
>doing nitrox dives.

The risk is NOT new.  The cruxial question is, "How deep do you dive"?
(Actually, the real question is "How deep and how long", but that's too 
complex and unnecessary for this discussion.)

>Dan
>NAUI #13366

Merry Christmas!!!

craig
-- 
Craig Campbell		|	These opinions are entirely the result of a 
Systems Engineer	|	small butterfly crashing into the far side
NCR Canada,		|	of the planet.  Chaos Rules.
an AT&T Company		|	I speak for no one, except, possibly, myself.
From: dmw@lclark.edu (David Weingarten)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Tank sizes/capacities
Date: 15 Dec 92 05:51:50 GMT
Article-I.D.: lclark.1992Dec15.055150.3089
Organization: Lewis & Clark College, Portland OR

Howdy, y'all.

I'm just wondering what different size/capacity tanks are out there
these days.  I'm afraid I haven't been keeping up with recent equip.
changes, so I don't even really know what's out.  I have heard that
some places in the US sell 120cf tanks, but that they are huge and
heavy.  I've heard that some places in the EC have come up with tanks
that hold like 140-170cf at something like 4500psi, but have not had
this reputably confirmed.  If this is so, what are they made of?
How much do they cost?  Can they be filled in the US?

Most of the instructors that I know these days use steel 92's or 94's.
I believe these are 3500psi tanks, and have standard K-valves.  They're
not too terribly big... manageable, at any rate.  Myself, I have an
Aluminum 80, but as soon as I can afford it, I'd like to get something
a little bigger.  

On a similar note, are DIN valves popular in Europe?  I've only seen
one in my life, here in the US.  Pretty funky lookin' things.  I've
heard that they can hold pretty incredible pressures, like 5000psi or
something like that.  Anybody know for sure?


Thanks in advance,
			-- David
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: mzellers@StarConn.com (Mark Zellers)
Subject: Suggestions for novice divers arround Jacksonville, Florida
Reply-To: mark@bwayne.Fusion.Com
Organization: Starnet-Public Access UNIX--Los Altos, CA  415-949-3133
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 19:12:12 GMT

My wife and I got our Scuba certification last spring on our honeymoon
in Hawaii.  We will be visiting my parents in Florida over the Christmas
holidays and would be interested in perhaps spending a day diving.  Is
there any place that would be interesting to check out?


-- 

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Mark H. Zellers                                          Mark@fsi.Fusion.COM|
| Fusion Software, Inc                    455 Sherman Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306|
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: dan@resonex.com (Dan Kell)
Subject: Shark Attacks
Organization: Resonex Inc., Sunnyvale CA
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 09:23:41 GMT

I know this just died down again but...My wife made some comments the other
night and I tought maybe I could get some answers. So here are the questions.

1. With the exception of extraordinary events, like the sinking of the 
Indianapolis in WWII, do shark attacks most commonly occur by a single
shark or a group of sharks?

2. Is it more dangerous to be in the water with a single shark or multiple
sharks?

3. Are you more or less likely to be attacked if you exhibit aggressiveness
toward a shark who acts aggressive towards you?

4. Short of getting out of the water, what is the best thing to do if a
shark becomes aggressive? Best defensive posture, place of refuge, etc.
I know getting out of the water is the best, but what if you can't right
away?

Number 1 was the hard one. I can't remember of any documented random attacks
by "shark packs". The Indianapolis was a special case. I mean it was a
battleship and I'm sure the sinking was accompanied by *lots* of low-freq
noise what with the explosions and the actual sinking itself. Plus there
were lots of people in the water, wounded and dead. Blood and food in the
water usually will bring the sharks. So a documented attack reference 
would be in order.

Thanks

Dan K.


-- 
Dan Kell                  
email to dan@resonex.com
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."   A. Einstein
Newsgroups: rec.scuba

In rec.scuba, jcreight@us.oracle.com (Jonathan Creighton) writes:

> I'm planning a trip to Cozumel, and I'm considering staying at the 
> Galapagos Inn in Cozumel and diving with them.  Does anyone have
> any experiences with the Galapagos Inn they'd like to share?  I'm

I had hear a lot of good things about them from friends who had
gone there, so my family made reservations with them in August for
a trip this Christmas.  In October we recieved word that they were
over booked and sending our money back!  We were lucky, our travel
agent was able to get us into another hotel and a dive shop that 
had been recomended by other friends that have gone to Cozumel.

I do not know if I would consider using the Calopoags Inn if 
I ever take another trip to Cozumel.
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: dunbar@boulder.Colorado.EDU (S Dunbar)
Subject: Re: Diving at/near Playa Del Carmen
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: 18 Dec 92 18:18:45 GMT

marcus@vestek.com (Mark Stephen) writes:

>     I was wondering if anyone out there has dived at or near
>Playa Del Carmen, about 60 miles north of Cancun. Any info or
>opinions would be grately appreciated.

>     Marcus
i have and playa del carmen is about 60 miles south of cancun down the
yucatan penninsula, i dove at kailuum, which is next to the captain lafittes
dive shop, just north of playa del carmen.   its good diving, but
the walls start deeper than cozumel,  lots of fish and stuff like that
i didnt see big creatures though, nor is it too common to see big creatures
like sharks at cozumel either, but both places i saw eels and baracudas,

call tourquoise reef resorts in the USA, 1-800-538-6802, and they 
can give you some info.

stay at kailuum, its a great little place and the food is wonderful, i have
been twice..

scott

 
Scott\      /\/\  /|email: dunbar@boulder.colorado.edu
  /***\  /\/*/**\/*|Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
 /  /\ \/**\/    \ |University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO  80309-0347
Xref: sparky rec.scuba:6713 misc.forsale:33808
From: celestre@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Rich Celestre)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba,misc.forsale
Subject: Underwater Video system for sale
Date: 19 Dec 1992 05:41:42 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, California
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: 131.243.144.52

As the title reads: U/W Video System for Sale

Nikon VN-960 Hi8 Camcorder (Sports model)
   I've been told it's a SONY ccd-v99 with a NIKON label
   mono audio, digital titling, S-video in/out, 2 batteries(good cond.)
   
Gates Underwater Housing for above camera,
   Professional Quality Aluminum Housing with audible leak alarm.
   Through housing controls for power, focus, zoom, iris adj, shutter
   speed control and Rec/Standby button.
   
Vivitar lens adapter 

Soft case for camera and accessories (charger, cables, batteries, etc.)
   couple of blank Hi8 tapes and regular 8mm tapes
   
I've only had this in the ocean a couple of times and don't see the need in
having it sitting around the house collecting dust when someone else is out
there dying to get their hands on an affordable U/W video unit.  This unit
is just slightly negative and is very stable underwater.  A little work and 
you can be shooting wonderful video footage. 

Many hours of added diving pleasure can be yours for only $1500 / "OBO" 

If you live in Northern California I can make arrangements for delivery and
familiarization of operation of the unit. Otherwise split shipping/COD 
Call 510-283-1655 on weekend or 510-486-5331 during week from 3:30-11 PM PST.
E-mail checked during the week.

The lighting system that was advertised in rec.scuba on 17Dec92 would go very
nicely with this set-up.

Rich Celestre
celestre@csg.lbl.gov    Cosmic Ray Factory 
PADI Rescue Diver - "Ask about our 'guaranteed air on' policy"
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: mayne@pipe.cs.fsu.edu (William Mayne)
Subject: Ginnie Springs? (Was Re: Snorkeling Crystal River)
Reply-To: mayne@cs.fsu.edu
Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 92 19:20:24 GMT

In article <1992Dec10.135530.1270@atux01.att.com> graff@atux01.att.com (Christopher Graff) writes:
>[Stuff about manatees and wreck diving delted.]
>	There is also supposed to be a place I think in Northern Fl. where
>	you can dive in caves and rock formatiopns which is supposed to be
>	real interesting. I dont know much more than that. 

There are lots of places in north and central Florida where you can
do that. It is also very dangerous if you aren't trained and equipped
for cavern or cave diving. A cavern course is a nice safe and non-stressful
introduction which takes just a couple of days and costs about $125 per
person. A resort which has a pretty safe cavern they will let open water
divers in is Ginnie Springs, near the town of High Springs, Florida.
It costs about $25 per day to dive there and there isn't much open water
divers can do, though. There are several instructors associated with
Ginnie Springs so it is also a good place to ask about a course.

Another nice and relatively safe cavern dive is Blue Grotto, in Williston.
It has a permanent guide line and other "improvements".

But anyone who is going to be messing around caverns really should get
trained for it. Even if you don't plan to do much cavern diving it is
a fun course which will do more for your confidence and diving skills
than advanced open water, IMO. Note that a large number of open water
divers have drowned going "just a little way" into caverns. One bad fin
stroke can reduce the visibility to zero in places and if you haven't
been in a cave underwater in zero visibility it is hard to imagine how
disorienting that can be. I can easily understand why so many people
have drowned doing this. Very few of the many who drowned were trained
for it.

Bill Mayne
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: m16532@mwunix (Steven Bayer)
Subject: Re: QUESTIONS REGARDING COZUMEL
Organization: MITRE Corporation, Houston, TX
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 20:33:56 GMT

>Howdy folks.  Some friends and I were "trying"(key word) put a trip to 
>Cozumel together but are overwhelmed. 

Check out Cozumel Equalizers owned by dive master Darwin Zapata.  I always
dive with Darwin.  He is safe, has fast boats, and will take you where you
want to go rather than to the closest, overdived locations. Tell Darwin 
that Steve, Danny, and Kate say Hi.
  Cozumel Equalizers
  Adolfo Rosado Salas #72, P.O. Box 448
  Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico  77600
  (987) 2 33 41 - reservations
  (987) 2 35 11 - dive shop (also fax)
  (987) 2 10 63 - fax

For food: (stay away from anything on the main street)
  El Ricon Maya (most excellent)
  La Choza (great breakfasts/suppers)
  El Morro (take a cab; best food/cheapest prices)
  Santiago's grill (great steaks and shrimp; eat lots of bread and butter dip)
  Karen's Pizza (excellent fajitas; great music; edible pizza)
  Ernesto's (the other fajita place) is great too

For hotel's: we usually hang outside of town at Casa Del Mar or La Ceiba, 
but the Diver's Inn next door to Casa Del Mar is cheap and you can use the 
Casa Del Mar pool and bar; there's an Ernesto's right there too.

Rent a jeep (never a motorbike!) and go to the other side of the island.
The best beaches are over there; only one restaurant however: the Naked 
Turtle.

If you have an extra day, take the boat over to Playa Del Carmen (on the
mainland), rent a car and go to the Mayan ruins at Tuluum and Coba.  You 
can also dive over there at Akumal and other places.

Have fun. 

                     __o                                          
                    ~\<,                                          
___________________()/ ()______________________________________________________
Steve Bayer                                       bayer@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov
The MITRE Corporation        
1120 NASA Road One, Suite 600                                    (713) 333-0978
Houston, TX  77058                                          fax: (713) 333-5147
_______________________________disclaimers ad nauseum__________________________ 
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: jake@apollo.hp.com
Subject: Fins
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 16:03:13 GMT
To: scuba@apollo.hp.com
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Chelmsford, MA


Hi -

I need to buy a set of fins for my brother.

Where do I go?

Thanks...

JD
=============================================================
     Jack Danahy              Chelmsford Systems Software Lab
Senior Software Widget          Hewlett-Packard Corporation 
   (508) 436-4120                  Chelmsford, MA 01824
    M/S CHR-03-BC                      jake@ch.hp.com            
=============================================================
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: pstonge@TrentU.CA (cmdr keener)
Subject: Re: Snorkeling Crystal River
Reply-To: pstonge@TrentU.CA
Organization: Trent University, Peterborough
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 22:52:39 GMT

Hi Bill,

>Here are a couple of fun things to do: (1) Take a cyalum (sp?)
>- chemical light stick - down to the grate which blocks access to
>the cave. After starting it cut it open and watch the glowing
>drops moving in the current. There is a plan to do this with a
>large number of cyalums and divers (with lights out) on New Years
>Eve.
	While I can imagine that this would be quite the sight, I can't say 
that I agree with this practice.  For starters, and I think somebody has 
already taken you to task over this, that's littering.  After all, the 
cyalume gel doesn't just disappear once it's out of sight.
	Second, although I don't know what the chemical composition of the gel 
is (though I'd love to find out), it makes sense to me to err on the side 
of caution.  The wrapper may say 'non-toxic' but we've got to remember that 
that usually means 'non-toxic to *humans* when dumped on skin.' If the wrapper 
for the light stik gives some details about what to do if this stuff is 
swallowed, it can be a good bet that it might affect those organisms which 
have exchange across epithelial surfaces such as gills and the like, many 
of which might have their habitat around the waters of the cave you 
mention.
	Besides, these things get expensive, especially if you're using 
'lots' of them.  They aren't reusable, but they are a dependable source of 
emergency light (necessary evil?).  We hung them from our tank stems during 
the night dives in our OWII so that we could see where each other was 
without blinding each other with the light.
	At any rate, I hope that you will reconsider breaking these things 
open during your New Year's Eve Underwater Celebrations, okay!??!
 

>    (2) During the day time (don't cavern dive at night, by the
>way) put enough air in your BC to be fairly positive and crawl
>around on the ceiling for a while. (Flame retardant: I wouldn't
>suggest that at fragile cave.) 
	>>> Point Duly Noted !  8-) <<<
>				Eventually this starts to seem
>normal. Then crawl over to the edge and peek over, seeing the
>sky in the direction which looks like down.
	This would be SO wierd!  Trying to make me jealous!?!

>
>Finally about the suggestion of taking the cave specialty course
>at Ginnie Springs or elsewhere. I took mine with an instructor
>from Ginnie Springs. There are several there and the two I've dove
>with were both good. The course includes dives at other sites in
>order to experience a variety of conditions. But the cave course
>is only for those who are very committed to cave diving. The
>cavern course, which is required as a prerequisite anyway, is
>different. It is relatively cheap, easy, and fun. I recommend it
>to anyone who has the chance to take it.
	Possibilities...  8-)

	At any rate, take care and good luck.  Happy Holidays, Bill!

	- Pete
From: leej@sgi.com (Lee Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Coco View, RoatanCoco View at Thanksgiving
Date: 15 Dec 1992 17:18:20 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: diver.asd.sgi.com

In article <liqb03INNhiq@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> narad@nonsequitur.Eng.Sun.COM writes:
>One other comment on Roatan; Skin-so-Soft repels the no-see-ums as 
>well as or better than DEET, and might be better for your bod.

For what it's worth, the Army (?) did a controlled study of bug repellents
(I suspect they have a serious interest in that topic).  Skin-so-soft worked
no better than a placebo.  As I recall the test results (from Undercurrent),
the effectiveness is highly correlated to the amount of DEET in the juice.

Regards, Lee
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: jcook@mumble.cs.Colorado.EDU (Jonathan E. Cook)
Subject: Re: Snorkeling Crystal River (Pollution)
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 16:23:56 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.140649.13446@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> mayne@cs.fsu.edu writes:
>In article <1992Dec14.184640.16375@colorado.edu> jcook@mumble.cs.Colorado.EDU (Jonathan E. Cook) writes:
>>In article <1992Dec14.134154.12827@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> mayne@cs.fsu.edu writes:
>>>
>>>Here are a couple of fun things to do: (1) Take a cyalum (sp?)
>>>- chemical light stick - down to the grate which blocks access to
>>>the cave. After starting it cut it open and watch the glowing
>>>drops moving in the current. There is a plan to do this with a
>>>large number of cyalums and divers (with lights out) on New Years
>>>Eve...
>>
>>[this] is purposely polluting for your visual enjoyment!
>>
>It is the management of Ginnie Springs which is planning the
>New Years Eve light show in the cavern. So if you are really

What's their number? Post it, and maybe if they get enough
calls, they'll cancel.

>worried about it contact them. As for polluting the visual
>environment, this is just a special display which washes out
>fairly quickly due to the high flow. I'm not sure about the

This is not an excuse. Last time I checked, the earth was
basically a closed system. 20 years ago, no one thought
they could *actually* pollute the ocean. The era of only
thinking about your corner of the world is over -- pollutants
don't "wash away".
 
>environmental correctness of dumping whatever the chemical
>in those sticks is into the Santa Fe River, which is where it
>all  winds up in a matter of minutes. My understanding is that
>they are non-toxic. The total amount of the chemical is quite
>small, too.

Again, no excuse. Its symbolic. We're the ones who are supposed
to be responsibly enjoying the natural resources. Do you
want your kids to be able to enjoy the same?  The way to
change society is person by person, action by action; large-scale
rhetoric and grandstanding won't do it.

>
>Bill Mayne

Jon. 
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: lisa@alex.com (Lisa Rowlands)
Subject: Good places to dive
Organization: Alex Technologies Ltd
Apparently-To: mail2news@demon.co.uk
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 15:26:40 +0000

Hello,

I am a very recently qualified PADI Open Water diver, or as a friend
called it Baby Bubblehead. I am going on holiday to meet a friend in
Hong Kong in February, and as the friend is also a diver we will
probably go somewhere from Hong Kong to dive. 

We did think of the Phillipines as a possible destination. Does anyone
have any good/bad stories of places to stay with good dive and other
water sports facilities and not too many high rise hotels ? A remote
island resort would be the ideal !

Thanks in advance

Lisa

lisa@alex.com

Alex Technologies,
CP House,
97 - 107 Uxbridge Road,
Ealing, LONDON.
W5 5TL