HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: nbranch@gemstone.amd.com (Nancy Branch)
Subject: *****SCUBA DIVING IN BELIZE ******
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices; Sunnyvale, CA
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 17:48:22 GMT

Subject:   DIVING IN BELIZE

I'm planning my first dive trip to Belize in May.  I will spend most of the vacation on Ambergris Caye.  This is my second dive since certification.  I was 
certified in Monterey (surely the COLDEST murkiest water on earth).  My first real dive was in Jamaica - Negril Beach to a depth of 90ft.  As I approach my trip(May 1st) I find myself asking the following questions:

What advice would you offer a first time diver in Belize?

Where are the best dive sites and what are the 'must see' sites?

Is the Blue Hole really worth the travel time?  Live aboard is not an option.

Is Nicaraguan Volcanic activity likely to have an impact either surface or otherwise?

Are there any lagoons that offer mayan ruins?  (I once saw a documentary about
 a site in Mexico.)

Will I see any sharks either in the open water or caves?

I'm planning to do all dives with a divemaster.  I have not yet taken the PADI
 advanced open water course.  Are cave dives recommended?  

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
email me at:   nbranch@gemstone.amd.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks in advance.
--
Nancy Branch                                    nbranch@gemstone.amd.com
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 
901 Thompson Pl. M/S 167, Sunnyvale, CA 94088 
From: davew@hp-ptp.ptp.hp.com (Dave Waller)
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1992 19:12:05 GMT
Subject: Re: Diving and Lyme disease
Organization: HP Pacific Technology Park - Sunnyvale, Ca.
Newsgroups: rec.scuba

Re: Diving and Lyme disease

For those of you who are unaware of what this malady is, it is a
disease that is caused by a spirochete bacterium (a spiral shaped
bacteria), that is usually contracted from tick bites.  It is called
Lyme disease because it was first recognized and characterized in a
population of infected individuals in Lyme, Conneticut.  It is a slow
developing disease, characterizing itself through a variety of immune
disorders like arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, stomach
disorders, and a variety of other ailments.  Lyme disease (borrelia
burgdorfi, likely misspelled, as I'm reciting from memory) can be
diagnosed through a blood immunoassay, and is treatable with
antibiotics.  Prognosis is more optimistic the earlier it is detected
and a treatment regimen is started.

Now, how does this relate to diving?  I am not a physician, and
therefore am not in a position to make a solid judgement on this.
However, based upon my understanding of the condition, I can't see
that it is a particular problem that would contraindicate diving
activities after a patient is well on their way to recovery.  Of
course, general impact on the health condition of the patient is of
concern as it would be for any ailment.  However, if you are basically
recovered, feeling well, and your stamina is up to par, you're
probably OK for diving.

I would insist that a student of mine who was undergoing treatment for
this condition receive a medical release from a diving physician prior
to participating in diving activities.  I would strongly urge a
certified diver to do the same; I think the liklihood of receiving
sanction from a physician is good.

Dave Waller
YMCA Instructor
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: wsun@descartes.waterloo.edu (Victor Sun)
Subject: ftp nasa.gov
Keywords: ftp
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Sun, 5 Apr 1992 14:36:00 GMT

Hi Nick, I read your posting regarding a file "whosebest" in ames.src.nasa.
gov. and tried to ftp that account. However, I am unable to reach this 
account. It says no such domain. I also run the "host -l a nasa.gov" command
and it suppose to find all the hosts(accounts) under that domain, still I
can't locate the ames.src.nasa.gov host name. Does this host still exist?
Could you please let me how to get there?
						Thanks in advance
From: stetner@bwdlh525.BNR.CA (Douglas Stetner)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: eyeglasses or contacts
Date: 13 Apr 92 16:56:48 GMT
Reply-To: stetner@bnr.ca
Organization: Bell Northern Research


In article <215@fishpond.uucp>, fnf@fishpond.uucp (Fred Fish) writes:
|> 
|> Most people that wear contacts are suitable candidates for wearing
disposable
|> lenses, which cost about $3-$5 per lense.  Worried about infection?  Throw
|> them away at the end of the day.  Worried about loosing a $5 lense?  Not
|> me.  When I first got them and was ready to discard the first pair that I
|> was wearing, I tried an experiment.  I went out to the pool, opened my eyes
|> under water, and *tried* to loose one by blinking, swimming with my eyes
|> open, shaking my head, etc!  After about 5 minutes I gave up and took
|> them out in the bathroom.  I haven't tried this in salt water yet though...
|> 
|> -Fred
|> -- 
|> |\/ o\  Fred Fish, 1835 E. Belmont Drive, Tempe, AZ 85284,  USA
|> |/\__/  1-602-491-0048 {asuvax,mcdphx,cygint,amix}!fishpond!fnf

That is if you have nice smooth eye balls Fred 8-)  
I have stigmatism (sp?) and need expensive toric lenses.
I wish I could get disposables...
Doug
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
Douglas G. Stetner, 4Y22  |  Bell-Northern Research  | ESN 6+39+3+8396
      stetner@bnr.ca      |  P.O. Box 3511, Stn. C   | (613) 763-8396  (work)
 My opinions are my own.  |  Ottawa, ON, CANADA      | (613) 828-6321  (home)
From: seiden@rwja.umdnj.edu (David Seiden)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: scuba in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Keywords: scuba, puerto rico
Date: 12 Apr 92 21:42:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: rwja.1288
Distribution: rec
Organization: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway NJ

seiden@rwja.umdnj.edu (David Seiden) writes:

I am looking for a dive shop in the San Juan area to take a 14 year old who has never done an open water dive.  If anyone can recommend a shop that has rental equipment, gives lessons annd goes out on easy dives, please let me know by email at seiden@umdnj.edu or reply on this newsgroup.  Thanks in advance.
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: sedel@fid.morgan.com (Steven Edelstein)
Subject: Re: Jamaica
Organization: Morgan Stanley & Co., New York, NY
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 18:24:29 GMT

(i've edited out the name of the sender as I am unsure of the net practices,
here is email I've received)



Subject: Negril

Hello,
My wife and I went to Negril last July. We did all of our
dives my Negril Scuba Centre located at Negril Beach Club.
They have a real good staff, decent rental equipment, and
offer some nice dives. Vis was at least 80 ft and water
temp was 84. Theyhave a small boat but never crowded.
most dive sites are 60 - 90 feet. The coral is in good
shape and marine life is fair. The boat Captain kind of
picks which reef he wants to take you to, but all his
picks were ok. A dive master goes along with you for the dive.
We did a shore dive from the Xtabi hotel, located on the
cliffs and this was a real special dive. The entry is through
a cave system and is about 30 feet. Then after the dive you
can watch the sunset or divers going off the cliffs at the
bar/resturant. Larry Smith is one of the inst/divemasters
and is very good.
A friend of mine stayed at Sandals and in the package you 
get diving included....I am not sure what you get, but it
is supposed to be one of the nicest all-inclusive resorts.
We got a package deal with Apple Vacations: About $1200.00
for two , airfare from Chicago, 7 nights, transportation
from Montego Bay to Negril and all taxes. We stayed at Negril
Beach Club.
This did not include any diving.  Check last May or June's
issue of Skin Diver they did a big section on Jamaica.
From: njs@scifi.uucp (Nicholas J. Simicich)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: eyeglasses or contacts
Date: 6 Apr 92 13:01:00 GMT
Organization: Nick Simicich, Peekskill, NY

In article <1992Apr4.153959.2983@ncc1701.stgt.sub.org> space@ncc1701.stgt.sub.org (Lars Soltau) writes:

>The advantages: If, like me, you are very near/farsighted,
>prescription masks will not help you too much, since the lenses are
>way too far away from the eye to give you acceptable sight.

I'm -6, and I have friends who are as nearsighted as -9.  Prescription
masks work fine for us.  The opticians who specialize in this can
compensate for different eye-lens distances.  

>Furthermore, whenever you pull off your mask, you don't have any
>correction, for example on the boat or on the beach.

Um, I keep my regular glasses in my BC pocket when shore diving.




-- 
Nick Simicich - uunet!bywater!scifi!njs - njs@watson.ibm.com
SSI #AOWI 3958, HSA 318, NAUI #14065
Join the movement ---  turn 'to bush' into a verb.
From: bob@hubcap.clemson.edu (Bob)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Mail-order vs. Dive Shop thread - another question
Date: 17 Apr 92 12:04:55 GMT
Organization: Clemson University


     Just a few more words on the mail order discussion.  I compared the
price for a package from my local dive shop and Berry Scuba in Atlanta.
For the same package (All Sherwood Equipment) my dive shop came up 14
dollars more than Berry.  The drive to Atlanta alone would have cost me
40 dollars.  Support your local dive shop!!!

Bob Staaf
bob@hubcap.clemson.edu
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Seeking info on Oxygen Enriched Air (Nitrox)
From: malc@icon.com (Malcolm Weir)
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 23:31:04 GMT
Organization: Icon International, Inc., Orem, Utah

I'm considering the idea of taking a class in the use of Oxygen Enriched
Air in Sport diving, but am reluctant to spend the money for the class
until I have a better idea as to what's involved.

So... What is the collective net.wisdom with regard to oxygen enriched
air mixes, (e.g. Nitrox, SafeAir, OEA, etc.)?  Is this technique useful,
useless, safe, dangerous, easy, tricky, A Good Thing, A Bad Thing?
What about certification agencies (IAND, ANDI, etc.)?  Is one better
than the other(s)?

Will using this stuff with your equipment cause it to vaporize or
disintegrate?  How about treatment following an accident with it?  Do
chambers (and their operators) understand it?  Is it only for
"professional" divers, such as researchers, commercial divers, etc. or is
appropriate for the sport diver?

How about cost?  If I need to get special equipment, how much will that
cost?  Assuming I get certified, how much for a fill?  On that subject,
how many places throughout the world can provide nitrox fills?

Will it cause Contact Lenses to explode? (Sorry, couldn't resist that
one...  :-) )

Any advise, comments, remarks, religion, etc. etc. would be very much
appreciated.


Malcolm Weir.
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: craig@cattnts (Craig Campbell)
Subject: Re: Power Inflator Second Stages
Organization: AT&T / NCR Canada Ltd., Toronto, Canada
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 14:05:15 GMT

In article <1992Apr9.181906.4923@ac.dal.ca> 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.
>                  Thanks..................Chris  


Your buddy has an OOA emergency.  You give him your primary and you breath
from your BC inflator whip reg.  Now, you need to loose buoyancy, and for
that you need to hold the BC mouth piece above you.  To do that, you must
remove your reg from your mouth, but remember to keep exhaling because
you're too positive, and are ascending.  Now add some task loading to this
scenario.  Say you're inside a wreck or cave... perhaps you need to coil a
line in (drift dive flag, cave/wreck dive line, etc...), say you're now in
zero vis, or a night dive with light failure.

You decide whether the investment is correct for you or not.

I've never used one, and am not likely to.
-- 
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.
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: duis@sgi.com (David Duis)
Subject: Re: Scuba Lessons in Peekskill, NY
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 92 01:43:59 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.185220.66@scifi.uucp> njs@scifi.uucp (Nicholas J. Simicich) writes:
>The original posting was made with NY distribution and was cross
>posted to ny.general, which explains why lots of folks didn't see it.
>I apologize for the leak [....]

I too have had postings leak wildly.  I posted a quick note about a
trip in Monterey and got responses from all over the place.

Should we always assume that postings with regional distributions are
going to leak this badly?  Or is there some net.expert out there who
can help fix these leaks?

Cheers,

Dave Duis                        NAUI AI Z9588, PADI DM 43922, EMT
duis@bent.esd.sgi.com             Better diving through tolerance.

Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: njs@scifi.uucp (Nicholas J. Simicich)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: eyeglasses or contacts
Date: 6 Apr 92 13:05:41 GMT
Organization: Nick Simicich, Peekskill, NY

In article <215@fishpond.uucp> fnf@fishpond.uucp (Fred Fish) writes:

>Most people that wear contacts are suitable candidates for wearing disposable
>lenses, which cost about $3-$5 per lense.  Worried about infection?  Throw
>them away at the end of the day.  Worried about loosing a $5 lense?  Not
>me.  When I first got them and was ready to discard the first pair that I
>was wearing, I tried an experiment.  I went out to the pool, opened my eyes
>under water, and *tried* to loose one by blinking, swimming with my eyes
>open, shaking my head, etc!  After about 5 minutes I gave up and took
>them out in the bathroom.  I haven't tried this in salt water yet though...

This is exactly the scenario that is most likely to cause infection:
You open your eyes underwater, which contaminates the lenses, and also
allows them to absorb more water from the fresh water.  Then you
remove them immediately, and they tend to stick to the cornea, which
can scratch it and allow the bacteria to take hold.

You were lucky, Fred.  I hope you continue to be lucky.

-- 
Nick Simicich - uunet!bywater!scifi!njs - njs@watson.ibm.com
SSI #AOWI 3958, HSA 318, NAUI #14065
Join the movement ---  turn 'to bush' into a verb.
From: fgz@ddxrus.enet.dec.com (Federico Genoese-Zerbi)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Portable compressors.
Date: 6 Apr 92 18:52:24 GMT
Reply-To: fgz@ddxrus.enet.dec.com (Federico Genoese-Zerbi)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation




I may be dreaming but since I'm often diving in remote areas where
there is no readily available dive shop, I was wondering what portable
compressors are available out there...

The ideal compressor would.....
	
	Cost less than $2000 (maybe used?)...
	Fill an Al 80 from 500 to 3000 PSI in less than 30 minutes...
	Weigh less than 60 lbs...
	Be smaller than a medium/large suitcase...
	Require little supervision once set up (presumably putting the
	intake very far from the exhaust)...
	Require little maintenance...
	
And since I hate to have Petrol on a sailboat.......but marine deep
cycle batteries can take a serious current drain...

	Run off 12 VDC (is this really too much to ask for?)

Well, is there such a beast?  If not, what is the closest compromise?

F.
From: eburns@ADS.COM (Edward Burns)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Getting certified in BA
Date: 14 Apr 92 18:14:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: ads.1992Apr14.181412.16788
Distribution: ba
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Mtn. View, CA (415) 960-7300

I'm just starting to look into getting cerified and 
would appreciate any information on local shops.  I'm
looking at the peninsula and east bay.  Does anyone
have recommendations or warnings for me about courses
in these areas?  Thanks for any help.

Ed

eburns@ads.com
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: rob@blacks.jpl.nasa.gov (Rob Fatland)
Subject: Re: Power Inflator Second Stages
Organization: Image Analysis Systems Group, JPL
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 17:09:57 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.
>                  Thanks..................Chris  

I use what is called a Shadow Octopus, which is on my power inflator.
I like it because it eliminates one hose and thus simplifies my
equipment, which is nice because of the limited visibility afforded
by dive masks.  It does take some getting accustomed to; I like to
breathe off of it for about five minutes on every dive so I keep in
touch with how to use it, and the configuration of hardware is not
as simple to use as the standard octopus.  Furthermore, it is important
to me that the entire assembly is held securely in place (I use
velcro) right on my left lapel so that it is always available, rather
than banging around loose as inflator hoses do sometimes.  So you
can see there is a bit of a tradeoff, but I like it.  I still would
like to get myself a pony backup when I get the scratch, though.

-rob
--

Ich bin ein mutated signatory virologist!  Copy me into your underwear!
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: johnston@cse.unl.edu (Dana Johnston)
Subject: Dive computers
Keywords: computers
Organization: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 20:18:33 GMT


I was trying to decide on the best type of dive computer to purchase.
If anyone has any suggestions or comments I would appreciated if you 
could mail them to me or post them.

Thanks in advance



Dana Johnston
johnston@cse.unl.edu
From: lamunyj@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (James Lamunyon)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Portable compressors.
Date: 8 Apr 92 19:52:39 GMT
Distribution: alt.bitserv.scuba-l
Organization: CS Dept. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.


    Here at OSU they are about to go to market with a small portable for
boat owners.  It will require one person to operate it on the surface since
it will be operated by muscle ;->.  For people who only need to work under
their boats in 15-20 feet, it might be worth looking into.  The deeper one
goes with it, the harder the person on the surface will need to work.  I
don't know much about it, but if anyone wants to know more about it they
can write:

	Jim Washburn
	104 N.W. 28th
	Corvallis, OR 97330

   I am not involved with this in anyway since I am not in the Ocean
Engineering Department, so I don't know what price, availability, durability,
etc. will be.  Jim is the dive officer/instructor here and has been involved
closely with this project.

 

       James LaMunyon

DISCLAIMER:  Opinions are like asses-everybody has one.
From: grs01168@stat.appstate.edu
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Buying used equip Gooddeal or stupid????
Date: 9 Apr 92 02:23:46 GMT
Organization: Appalachian State University

Ok heres my question:  As far as buying used equipment is it really stupid or a
great way to get a good deal?  As far as tanks I under stand they should have
certain tests done yearly and then every 5 years, but what about things like 
regulators.  If you were to get one used and then find out (before using it to
dive) that it was not functioning properly are these thing repaired for a
reasonable cost or so costly to repair that you throw it away and buy another
one?  Anyway you prob. understand basicly what I'm asking?  If there is a
source out there for this info. point the way or if you have an answer feel
free to Email.  Thanks in advance
Connie
grs01168@stat.appstate.edu
From: bpm@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (byron.p.magnin)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: ftp address
Keywords: ftp address
Date: 11 Apr 92 01:48:27 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Apr10.173441.3340@descartes.waterloo.edu> wsun@descartes.waterloo.edu (Victor Sun) writes:
>
>address. I have FTPed to ames.arc.nasa.gov and successfully downloaded more
>than 30 files. I LOVE it  !!!! :-) :-) !!!!!

Whatever you do, don't forget "blub-story.txt" :-)  :-)

-- 
Byron Magnin                             Q: Can anyone help me out?
att!homxa!bpm
bpm@homxa.ho.att.com
(908) 949-7121                           A: Sure!  Which way did you come in?
From: pyoung@caiman.axion.bt.co.uk (Pete Young)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Information required on Brittany and Jersey
Date: 6 Apr 92 12:10:33 GMT
Reply-To: pyoung@axion.bt.co.uk
Organization: British Telecom Labs
Organisation: BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath, IPSWICH UK

Two requests for information:

First, the club I dive with is planning a trip to the area around
Perros-Guirec in Brittany (I'm not going to say it's in France, I
don't wish to ofend the Bretons :-)

Has anyone any information about local diving conditions, good sites etc?

Secondly, I'm going to Jersey in the Channel Islands for a few days
and I'd like to know of any dive shops or schools where I can hire
some gear and get a ride on a boat. Once again, anyone got any info?

Please mail it to me, <pyoung@axion.bt.co.uk> and I'll summarise if there
is enough interest.

Regards

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
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: njs@scifi.uucp (Nicholas J. Simicich)
Subject: Re: C-card #'s in .sig's
Organization: Nick Simicich, Peekskill, NY
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 13:21:36 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.104411.1593@maspar.ch> root@maspar.ch (Bruno Pape) writes:
>In article <1992Apr7.040221.14386@scifi.uucp> njs@scifi.uucp (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.
>>
>
>The first guy said that any number without letters was an instructor,
>among some other possible combinations.  Now you say instructor numbers
>are consecutively assigned five digit numbers.  
>
>Oh well, I have to dig out my c-card again...  Opps, I see that my
>instructors number was 5983.  Now I see why I don't know anything,
>the guy on the other end of the line had the wrong number.  :-) :-)
>
>Now really, is there any significance to these numbers?  Or are you
>guys just making this up as you go along?

I obviously am wrong in this. Naui numbers with 5 digits or less and no
prefixing letter are instructors (except that numbers prefixed with A-
are probably Australian instructors, and there are probably other such
exceptions).

When did you become an instructor, Bruno?  I get the feeling that NAUI
has added their last 8000 instructors much more quickly than they
added their first 6000.




-- 
Nick Simicich - uunet!bywater!scifi!njs - njs@watson.ibm.com
SSI #AOWI 3958, HSA 318, NAUI #14065
Join the movement ---  turn 'to bush' into a verb.
From: mmyers@willamette.edu (Mike Myers)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: info on IDC's
Date: 9 Apr 92 05:47:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: willamet.1992Apr9.054700.20973
Organization: Willamette University, Salem, OR

Just a side note to this:  What is the northern most IDC?  (in the US)
I hear all about the ones in southern California and Florida but are there 
any in colder climes?  I suppose there isn't quite as large a pool of
poor students for the prospective instructors to instruct outside of
these near tropical locations...sigh...

I have recently been working a little toward my Divemaster and was
curious about IDC's that might be closer to Oregon.  Seattle?

Thanks
 - Mike