HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: narad@nonsequitur.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck Narad)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Has anyone dived the Solomon's
Date: 3 Sep 1992 00:38:31 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: world
Reply-To: narad@nonsequitur.Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: nonsequitur

In article AA09849@nzseq1.nz.oracle.com, npatten@nz.oracle.com ("Nick Patten") writes:
>
>Hi dudes/dudesses..
>
>I am diving the Solomon's (just East of Papua new Guinea) next month and was
>wondering whether anybody has done any diving there. I'd be most interested to
>hear your comments as there's not much info about this beautiful diving area.
>I'm particularly interested in Honiara (the capital) & 'Gizo' & also Uepi.
>
>I'll be sure to fill the rest of you in on what the diving's actually like
>there when I return. BTW, its a pretty cheap place to stay, as its not as
>touristy as Fiji etc....
>
>Cheers & Thankx in advance
>Nick
>
>
>
>*****************************************************************
>*  Nick Patten			unixgate:npatten@nz.oracle.com  *
>*****************************************************************
>



I dove the Solomon Islands last August on the Bilikiki.  (John Nickel is advertising
another Bilikiki trip for next year; my unsolicited plug is to do it!  John did a
great job organizing our last trip there, the boat is excellent, and the diving
has spoiled me for almost anywhere else).

The islands had the most varied and beautiful sea life I have ever encountered.  Almost
all dives were wall dives (straight down from the beach; most walls there are several
thousand feet, only a few feet from the edge of the islands).  Incredible variety of soft
corals, nudibranchs, bivalves, clouds of various fish.  We saw white-tips almost every
day (had to drop down to around 110' and hang out; they're pretty shy), morays,  lionfish,incredible
coral gardens...sometimes sheets of staghorn coral 20' across!  Night dives presented
a variety of interesting shrimp, lobsters, octopii, even cuttlefish!  Photo opportunities
galore.  Watch the cone snails...

We also did lots of night dives, some caves and swim-throughs, and some dives in shallow
coral gardens at the top of the walls.  Computers are almost mandatory; you'll want
to dive nonstop (we were doing 5 dives per day, all on computer).  Most dives were
drift dives, the boat had 'tinnies' (little motor boats) and the crew followed our bubbles.

We were onboard a boat for most of the trip; the islanders on various remote islands were
invariably friendly.  Fantastic carvings available in ebony, inlaid with nautilus shell.

Honiara was less attractive; crowded, less friendly; also, watch the water there!  we only
spent one day there, and 14 of our group of 20 got what is affectionately called 'runnibelly'
in Pidgin.

Visit a travel clinic before you go.  Malaria is endemic and resistant; meloquine is
recommended.  We did typhoid series and had gamma globulin too; also carry antibiotics.
But hey...the diving made it all worth it!

enjoy!  I'm jealous already.

chas/

Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: 6845400@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM
Subject: A useful book on Belize
Organization: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 14:23:01 GMT

a book recommended about Belize is "BELIZE..NATURAL DESTINATION", by Richard
Mahler and Steele Wotkyns; photos by Kevin Schaffer; John Muir Publications of
Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was written or published in 1991.  My son went to
Belize on his honeymoon, he purchased the book beforehand and it was very
helpful.

Good Luck,

Kathy
------------------------- Original Article -------------------------
From: FKK@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: To moderator: why are articles removed so quickly
Date: 27 Aug 92 17:54:05 GMT
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

Last night I posted to scuba.rec.  This morning the net is almost empty.
What gives?
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: grover@mighty-joe.isri.unlv.edu (Kevin Grover)
Subject: Re: How about the Oceanic Datamax?
Reply-To: grover@isri.unlv.edu
Organization: Information Science Research Institute (UNLV-ISRI)
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 17:22:31 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.160036.677@ccsvax.sfasu.edu>, Kelly Cunningham  (Random Deviate)) writes:
) 
) 
) >                   The only other disadvantage of this unit is
) >that you have to remember to activate it before you enter the
) >water.  
) 
) It would be nice if the thing activated automatically.

I wonder about this.  Turning the machine on causes it to adjust to
current altitude.  Now, if the machine did not need to be turned on,
wouldn't it have to be constantly monitoring the current altitude to
be able to adjust for it?  If so, it seems to me that the batteries
would not last nearly as long (as a model that must be turned on).

Anyway, how hard is it to remember to turn the computer on?  If it's
so hard, why not make tank values that do not need to be turned on?
(Aside from the safety reason of course), etc.  I concede that if
you're used to a computer that does not need to be turned on, it could
be difficult to remember, at first, but it quickly becomes part of the
routine.  (And I think it makes the batteries last longer, so I'm
happy).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Kevin O. Grover      | UNLV Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
 grover@isri.unlv.edu | ISRI - Information Science Research Institute
 CServe: [73627,1677] | 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas NV 89154-1017
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: teshima@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (A. Lani Teshima)
Subject: Re: Article in Current _SCUBA Times_
Organization: University of Hawaii
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 06:51:31 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.222211.16088@herboid.uucp> adb@herboid.uucp (Anthony DeBoer) writes:
>This still leaves the question of how to set a good example for the new
>diver when people are doing all these things.  I believe that standing up
>in class and saying words like "yes, people with a lot of experience and a
>lot of training are doing some pretty amazing things underwater, but
>remember that you DON'T have that training or experience yet and your
>basic course covers only how to operate inside of certain limits" is the
>approach to take.  Forcing everybody to stay inside the limits of what an
>Openwater I diver can do isn't it.

I wholeheartedly agree. Understanding that scuba certifications are
not "regulated," what do you do about irresponsible instructors who
allow their newly certified divers to do things way beyond their
capacity? My friend's boyfriend just got certified 2 weeks ago (4-day
cert course), and the instructor was immediately inviting him to dive
the _Mahi_, a 95' shipwreck dive on Oahu. After that, it was going to
be a night dive one night, a thing another dive, so on and so on. I
mean, come on! One of the students in the class was not doing anything
correctly, but the instructor passed her ("If she doesn't get
certified from me, she'll get certified from someone else."--sheesh!
Sounds like a lawyer [okay, it's a stereotype--no flames from
attorneys, please!]). Now the boyfriend has all these horrible habits
and thinks he's Mister Supergills, even though he has no inkling of
dive physiology, etc. I mean, what can you do?



--
A. Lani Teshima, UH School of Library & Info Studies   o | /_/_/ "Sea Hare"
A small mind is easily filled with faith.               o|<0_0>--------*
Blessed is a mind too small for doubt.                    \=^-| |____| | 
teshima@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.edu                                 \_}B   \_}B
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: lls@kings.demon.co.uk (Lady Lodge Systems)
Subject: Re: depth in the US of A
Organization: Lady Lodge Systems
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 10:09:01 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.173258.16155@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> mayne@cs.fsu.edu writes:
>In article <1992Sep2.164617.26994@news.miami.edu> spindler@rcf.rsmas.miami.edu writes:
>>In article <guido.715432167@sun-3>, guido@sun-3.cs.uct.ac.za 
>>(Guido Zsilavecz) writes:
>>>Question: how do US divers measure pressure at depth? bar/atmospheres
>>>of PSI?
>>
>[Stuff deleted] An advantage of the US
>method is that when you are comparing the capacity of tanks, e.g. an
>aluminum 80 (3000 psi) versus a steel 72 or 95 (at 2640 psi) or a Genesis
>80, 100, or 120 (3500 psi), you don't have to convert because of the
>difference in working pressure.

But it makes it less than obvious to calculate the available gas in a
partly filled tank (and how many fills are to exactly the working pressure?).

With SI units it's easy.....

Say a 10 liter cylinder pumped to 163bar, multiply the pressure by capacity
and you've got 1630 liters of air.

How much air do you have in a 95 cuft cylinder pumped to 1850 psi ? (rhetoric
question as you can't answer this without more info)

-- 
Regards,
        Russell
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Russell Brown          | MAIL : russell@kings.demon.co.uk                 |
| Lady Lodge Systems     | PHONE: 0832 272224 (Home/Work it's all the same) |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: spindler@rcf.rsmas.miami.edu
Subject: Re: PEEING IN A WETSUIT.
Reply-To: spindler@rcf.rsmas.miami.edu
Organization: RSMAS
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 18:20:46 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.150952.12858@shearson.com>, pweissma@shearson.com 
(Philip Weissman) writes:

>Years ago when when I did a lot of backpacking, I was taught to always
>pee before climbing into my sleeping bag at night.

My momma taught me the same thing when I was very young, and not just to keep
me warm... 8-)  8-)  8-)

Todd Spindler                                  
TSpindler@rsmas.miami.edu                 RSMAS/MPO  University of Miami
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Dive Computers  
From: Kelly Cunningham  (Random Deviate))
Date: 25 Aug 92 16:06:21 CST
Reply-To: deviate@lipschitz.sfasu.edu
Distribution: usa

In article <1992Aug25.170053.8699@morrow.stanford.edu>  mihai@sep.Stanford.EDU  
(Alexander Mihai Popovici) writes:
>I wonder what are your thoughts folks, on the price of todays
>Dive Computers.  It seems to me that with the software
>being quite straightforward and the hardware pretty simple,
>the manufacturing cost shouldn't exceed $40-$50. 
>So what makes them so expensive?
>If the manufacturers complain about low volume, why don't
>they sell them for under $100.  They'll probably sell millions...
>Is it the liability?  
>
>Cheers
>MIhai

Nah, they do it because the techno-yuppies will tolerate it. I'm surprised you  
can't play PacMan on some of them ;^).

--

Randomly, Kelly Cunningham 
<deviate@lipschitz.sfasu.edu>  NeXTMail (encouraged)
<f_cnnghamjk@ccsvax.sfasu.edu> VMS Mail (tolerated)
"Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to listen to only new music."
                                                           -- Scott Simon
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: peterson@hpl.hp.com (Chris Peterson)
Subject: Re: re-cerftification of instructors
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 21:59:34 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, California
Keywords: re-certification, instructors

In article <guido.715241286@sun-3> guido@sun-3.cs.uct.ac.za (Guido Zsilavecz)
writes:
>just a question: do NAUI, PADI etc. instructors need re-certification
>at all?  I belong to the mainly club-based SAUU (South African Underwater
>Union, affiliated to CMAS) and our instructors need to run at least one
>course a year to stay in-date, ie. certified. 

	NAUI requirements are very close to those that you describe
	for SAUU.  The NAUI requirements are probably very similar
	to the requirements for YMCA, SSI, and PADI, too.

	A NAUI instructor can maintain acitve, teaching status, by
	meeting meet the following requirements (summarized & paraphrased):

	* pay membership dues, and complete annual membership renewal
	  application

	* make at least 12 OW dives per year

	* teach at least one NAUI-sanctioned diving course per year, and
	  register the students as NAUI divers

        * maintain professional liability insurance

	* maintain good physical and mental health

	* earn at least 2 CEUs every three years by completing
	  continuing education courses (2 CEUs ~ 20 hours class time)

	There are a few additional details, and some other ways to meet
	some of the requirements, but these are the basics.


>This requirement is understandable as SAUU is amateur, and instructors
>teach for the love of diving, and hardly get enough money out of a course
>to cover expenses, and thus don't teach often.  Considering the cost of
>becoming a PADI or NAUI instructor I guess that unless you want to make
>it your job, don't bother. 

	Many instructors teach scuba diving, in addition to a full-time
	job, just "for the love of diving" (I am one).  As you point out,
	it is very hard to make a living as a full-time scuba instructor.

>But still, what if you stop instructing for a few years. After those years,
>are you still a legal instructor? ie. certification for life?

	If a NAUI instructor does not meet the requirements for active,
	teaching status for 1-2 years, he can renew by assisting an active,
	teaching status instructor with an OW1 course, and submitting a
	letter of recommendation from OW1 course instructor.
	
	Longer than 2 years, the instructor must audit an Instructor
	Training Course and submit a letter of recommendation from the 
	ITC Director.

	Again, there are some additional details, but I think this
	description conveys the key points.
-- 
Chris Peterson                                     Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
                                                    Research Computing Services
                                                              Palo Alto, CA USA 
                                                            peterson@hpl.hp.com
From: howardb@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Howard Brantly)
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 00:32:04 GMT
Subject: Re: Integrated BC/weight belt systems
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.scuba

Hi,

I bought a Zeagle last year(October) and have used it maybe 20 times
since. I carry so much weight(>40 lbs.) that all of it won't fit in the Zeagle.
So I put about 20 lbs in the BC and 20 on a soft weight belt. This seems
to distribute the weight more evenly and also means I don't have to pick
up 150 lbs to put my rig on. I have mixed emotions about the integrated
system. I am relatively new to scuba(< 50 dives) and consequently don't
recognize the finer points of the integrated system. I'm just as
comfortable with a 40 lb belt as I am with the 50/50 arrangement I am
currently using. I can't recommend the integrated system as the best
thing since sliced bread. Funny thing though, a year ago when I bought
it I listened to all the sales hype and went for it. 

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Howard Brantly
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: keulen@possum.csu.murdoch.edu.au (Mike van Keulen)
Subject: Re: Tank Carrying and such
Organization: Murdoch University
Date:  3 Sep 92 05:50:41 GMT

grot@bass.bu.edu (henry nadig) writes:

>3)	Are tank boots really neccessary?  They always seem to fall off, and
>	would seem to trap water against the side of the tank...

>	Oh, the tanks are aluminum 80's

How about for old-style steel tanks?  They're more subject to corrosion than
aluminium ones ...

Mike
--
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                            Michael van Keulen                            |
| Snail: School of BES - Biology         e-mail: keulen@murdoch.edu.au     |
|        Murdoch University              phone:  ++ 61 (09) 360-2843 (work)|
|        Murdoch WA 6150  AUSTRALIA              ++ 61 (09) 417-3902 (home)|
|                           "To Love is to _LIVE_!"                        |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: FKK@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: WATERPROOF BOXES-ONE MORE IDEA
Date: 28 Aug 92 19:43:32 GMT
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

One last idea for a waterproof container that I have considered is to
buy an extra UW light and use it for storage rather than light.  If
anyone else has cheaper ideas let's hear them.  Frank
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: cjb@canopus.Stanford.EDU (Cecil Bloch)
Subject: Catalina: information wanted
Reply-To: cjb@vega.stanford.edu
Organization: DSO, Stanford University
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 21:09:55 GMT

I was thinking of spending a few days on Catalina (off Southern  
California) in October. Any suggestions about where to stay and which  
outfit to dive with?  Is it worth diving at all?
From: peterson@hpl.hp.com (Chris Peterson)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: more BC questions...
Date: 28 Aug 92 23:11:25 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, California

I own and have dived with several different SeaQuest BCs.  I have not tried
a Zeagle yet, although the one instructor I know that owns one loves it.
Here's my $0.02 worth anyway.

In article <28AUG199215232587@zeus.tamu.edu> acb6257@zeus.tamu.edu  writes:
>I'm considering buying a BC with weight pockets. A local dive shop has both
>Zeagle and a Sea Quest model. They're charging the same price, but the shop
>owner is pushing the Sea Quest model. I don't have enough diving experience 
>to know how important the various differences are.
>
>(1) the Zeagle has a bladder, the Sea Quest is bladderless

	BCs with bladders are usually more bulky and less streamlined
	than those without.  I have certainly found this to be true
	with BCs other than Zeagle.

>(2) the Zeagle has the air mostly in the back. is the tendency to tip face
>    forward in the water because of this a problem? i've heard 2 different
>    opinions from 2 dive shops. is it more of an issue in rough water?

	To some extent, this will be a problem with the SeaQuest BCs as
	well.  However, it is only a problem resting vertically on the
	surface, since one's normal swimming position is either face-down
	or on your back.  An unconscious diver tends to roll over, face
	down, in most BCs anyway.

>(3) the Zeagle has a second dump valve low on the BC, the Sea Quest doesn't
>    and doesn't have a port to add one.

	A dump valve low on the BC might facilitate dumping in a head down
	position.  This is something that most BCs can't do.  How important
	and convenient is this for your diving?

>(4) the Zeagle has a soft pad for the tank and 2 straps, the Sea Quest has
>    a hard plastic tank pad with 1 strap. 

	A soft back may feel better.  Soft packs tend to be a little more
	buoyant than hard packs, thus causing you to add weight to 
	compensate.  Some of the more expensive SeaQuest BCs offer a soft
	pack too.

	A single tank strap may be more convenient than two tank straps.
	I have had a tank band loosen only very rarely.

>(5) the Zeagle has the various adjustments for fine-tuning the size of the
>    BC.

	The BC has to fit you.  Try them on.  Try them both out.  I payed
	extra for the adjustable back-pack mounting on the SeqQuest Spectrum
	IV to compensate for my very long torso.

>(6) the Sea Quest has pockets and the Zeagle doesn't.

	While pockets are convenient, you can dive with a goodie bag
	if you need a place to carry things, or you can rig clips and
	rings to attach slates, etc.
>
>I'd appreciate opinions on any or all differences (or any I left out).
>Thanks,
>Angie Betker


-- 
Chris Peterson                                     Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
                                                    Research Computing Services
                                                              Palo Alto, CA USA 
                                                            peterson@hpl.hp.com
From: 6500fly@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (Carmen Mullenhoff)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Tidal information
Keywords: anonymous ftp
Date: 3 Sep 92 17:42:12 GMT
Distribution: rec


I would like to know if it is possible to get current world
tidal information via anonymous ftp.

Thanks,
Please reply by email.

carmen@tweety.llnl.gov
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: mayne@pipe.cs.fsu.edu (William Mayne)
Subject: Re: PEEING IN A WETSUIT.
Reply-To: mayne@cs.fsu.edu
Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 00:35:51 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.200814.6478@linus.mitre.org> m14494@mwvm.mitre.org (Mike White) writes:
>Michael van Keulen writes:
>> Basically I pee in my suit to extend the time I have underwater...
>
>I've never understood why this works...

Because I don't have to surface to take off my wet and head for a bush
(if on land) or go to the head. :-), but that would be my serious answer.

>But it seems to me that you're just taking
>heat out of the inside of your body (bladder) and applying it to the outside
>of you body (skin).  You will *feel* warmer, because you skin has heat
>sensing thingies in it, but the net heat content of your body has gone 
>down overall (as the heat from the pee leaks into the open water). 

But the thermal mass of your body has also gone down, so the net effect
should be near zero, I would think. If a heavy box falls off of a train 
there is a loss of kinetic energy to the train, but it doesn't slow down
because of that. In the wetsuit case I think we are talking only about
comfort and psychological factors. If you are in real danger of hypothermia
you better get out of the water. I don't think discomfort necessarily
means you have to end the dive. Individual tolerance of discomfort varies.
A full bladder can itself be quite uncomfortable, especially with a wetsuit
compressing my abdomin.

Bill Mayne
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: pweissma@shearson.com (Philip Weissman)
Subject: Re: PEEING IN A WETSUIT.
Organization: Lehman Brothers
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 15:09:52 GMT

Re: PEEING IN A WETSUIT


I think there is a confusion here between two concepts: 1) rate of
cooling and 2) energy needed to maintain body temperature.

Number 1 is relevant only if the victim were suffering from
hypothermia.  In this case the additional heat of the urine in the
body would slow the rate cooling of the body.

Number 2 is relevant for people who prefer to dive with their body
able to regulate their core body temperature.  These people would end
a dive before hypothermia sets in.

Years ago when when I did a lot of backpacking, I was taught to always
pee before climbing into my sleeping bag at night.  Under normal
bodily functioning, the heat dissipated from the body to the
surroundings is replaced by heat generated within the body.  This takes
energy.  Removing urine from the body (by peeing lets say), relieves
the body of the task of expending energy to maintain the temperature
of the urine at body temperature.  Consequently, after peeing, the
body can more effectively maintain a normal temperature.  This benefit
is in addition to the warming affect of the urine on the skin.


> I'm told, by someone who should know (MD) that, when the kidneys get cold, they 
> increase the blood flow through them.

Hypothermia is the loss of the body's ability to maintain its core
temperature.  This is a very serious and dangerous condition.  Unless
you are suffering from hypothermia, then your kidneys are at your
normal body temperature.  The validity of the above statement is not
in question but I highly question its relevance to a discussion on
peeing in a wetsuit.  

>  Which increases renal output.  Which
> temporarily raises the temperature of your wet suit.  You ice cube divers might
> try a small heat pack across the kidney area.  Of course, I'm told that when
> the kidneys get cold, they increase the blood flow through them ...

In a cold environment, blood flow to the limbs is restricted so that
more blood is left to circulate through and warm the life-sustaining
organs.  This is why your fingers and toes may get white, stiff and
numb in the cold.  With the blood flow restricted mostly to the body
core, the blood makes more frequent passes through the kidneys and it
is necessary to pee more often.

-Philip

Newsgroups: rec.scuba