HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: leslie@uci.edu (Leslie Pearlman)
Subject: Maternity Wet Suit????
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Organization: Bio Sci
Date: 13 Apr 92 22:29:06 GMT

I do not subscribe or read this list, but one of my co_worker's wife is 
pregnant, and while she cannot dive (or can she??), the snorkel thing is 
okay.  Anyone know if they make a maternity wet suit, and where one can be 
had.  

Please post back to me...

Leslie Pearlman
lpearlma@uci.edu
--------------------------------------------
Leslie Pearlman, Computing Resources Manager
School of Biological Sciences
University of California Irvine
email: lpearlma@uci.edu
phone: (714) 856-4247
--------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: adb@herboid.uucp (Anthony DeBoer)
Subject: Re: More on drift diving
Organization: Linda's Dragon Memorial Society
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 03:59:01 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.043230.8415@trl.oz.au> d.giddy@trl.oz.au writes:
>Anthony DeBoer wrote a fascinating article on drift diving in the Niagra
>river, so I thought I might contribute to the subject by describing a
>different type of drift diving we do here in Melbourne (Australia not Florida!).

Actually, it was another poster who wrote the original piece on Niagara
drift diving; I contributed a followup piece on diving there and in a
couple of other places and on drift diving in general.

The ocean drift diving sounds fascinating.  This brings to mind the Bay
of Fundy, on Canada's east coast, where the tidal range is the widest in
the world.  Apparently there's enough water going in and out to power a
generating station.  I wonder if anyone has any diving stories from there?

As long as we're on the subject of non-river drift diving, I might mention
the dive my wife and I did in Little Current, Ontario, on the northern
side of Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron.  This is the world's largest
freshwater island (okay, I'll stop quoting Guiness now), and it gets quite
close to the mainland shore at this point.  There's enough of a current
flowing through here to make drift diving possible at this narrowest point.
I believe the cause would be the locations of the various rivers feeding
into the lake, and perhaps possibly some tidal effects.  As I recall, the
flow was to the west.

>During my advanced dive course (PADI), I did the drift dive option and our
>instructor told us of a phenomenon one has to watch out for. Port Philip
>bay is quite shallow, but the sea outside drops off quite rapidly to
>300+ feet. He told us once when he was doing a drift near the heads on an
>ebb tide and got carried further than expected. He said that they suddenly found
>themselves travelling at 12+ knots out through the heads and the bottom
>dropped away like a cliff. The effect of the water flowing out was like an
>underwater waterfall and they were all carried down rapidly to about 70 m !!
>Luckily, all the divers were experieneced, didn't panic and so safely came 
>to the surface. He said he will never do it again!

I heard part of a similar story a couple of years ago.  Maybe there are
more places where this sort of thing can happen, but in the version I
heard it was on Canada's west coast.  Apparently nobody knew there was
such a downtow in that area, and some time previously some divers had
vanished completely.  Some more experienced divers got caught and managed
to swim out of it, after their depth gauge needles had pegged to the end
stops. Maybe this is just the SCUBA equivalent of alt.folklore.urban, but
I for one have done enough drift diving to have developed a healthy
respect for all water currents.
-- 
Anthony DeBoer   NAUI # Z8800, D5482 | Why watch TV, when Netnews provides
adb@herboid.uucp | adeboer@geac.com  | 100% of your daily requirement for
uunet!geac!!herboid!adb              | trivia and meaningless entertainment?
From: sastpw@scuba.unx.sas.com (Tom Weber)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Scuba Lessons in Peekskill, NY
Date: 16 Apr 92 14:08:20 GMT
    <1992Apr15.202049.7638@adobe.com>
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
Originator: sastpw@scuba.unx.sas.com
X-Bytes: 1712

|> Here are my thoughts: worth exactly what you paid for 'em!   :->  Like
|> Dave, I've been thinking a bit about the topic: here is the result of
|> my cogitation:
|>
|> Instructor ads:
   .
   .
   .
|> For instance:
|>
|> CA: Abe Weatherbee, PADI 555-888-4747 (San Jose)
|> and so on ...
   .
   .
   .
|> Organized trips:
|>
|> I think it's fair to make a posting if you, as an individual, are organizing
|> a trip or group charter of a dive boat:
|>
   .
   .
   .
|>  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|>  Stan Chesnutt,  Adobe Systems  chesnutt@adobe.com {sun|decwrl}!adobe!chesnutt





 I think Stan has the right idea. I wouldn't mind knowing who everyone is, and where
they are. But I don't want a bunch of posts that are adds. Local, infrequently posted
adds are fine with me - I don't think any of you are local to me anyway, so I won't
see them. I'ld like to know where all of you are/dive. Actually, now that I think
about it, you could just put that type of info in your .sig.

 I also agree with Stans views on posts for organized trips. I like haveing those
posts. I was considering the Ocracoke trip, but I don't have the cash. Besides, I
dive out of Morehead (NC), and can dive the U352 for regular price, four bucks, four
bucks (sorry I was thinking of a blond joke.) Also, I think I'm going to mate on a dive
boat this summer and become a dive master. Then I can set up trips and wouldn't mind
letting any of you know about them, so you can come to 'east Jesus' to do some of the
best diving in the world.

 My last post on this thread. I hope.

Tom Weber, Raleigh NC, PADI AOW, (DM to be), no affiliations,
Wreck dive out of Morehead City, NC.
From: stetner@bwdlh525.BNR.CA (Douglas Stetner)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Tanks and GA aircraft
Date: 10 Apr 92 20:51:11 GMT
Reply-To: stetner@bnr.ca
Organization: Bell Northern Research


In article <11222@mindlink.bc.ca>, Charlie_Gibbs@mindlink.bc.ca (Charlie
Gibbs) writes:
|> In article <1992Apr3.164126.19182@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> adair@aio.jsc.nasa.gov
|> (Jerry Adair) writes:
|> 
|> ...
|> >relief valve, and if it didn't have one of those, it'd just rupture -> not
|> ...
|> 
|>      But if you're considering flying to a dive site you really
|> should be thinking about something totally different, i.e. nitrogen.
|> After your dive you'll have lots of extra nitrogen in your blood,
|> and if you try flying back immediately afterwards you could get
|> bent.  In the absence of tables that specifically deal with flying
|> after diving (I don't know of any but I'd love to find one) I'd
|> either stay down at 1000 feet on the return trip or wait 24 hours
|> before returning at a higher altitude.
|> 

Try the BSAC 88 tables, they will handle flying after diving.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
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)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Newsgroups: rec.scuba

chuck@eng.umd.edu (Chuck Harris - WA3UQV) writes:
>
> [ an excellent and clear explanation of the pressure concerns with
>   SCUBA tanks and flying, as well as how PSIG and PSIA are interpreted
>   (I'll keep it in mind next time I'm diving on the moon :-) ]
> 
> As to the law, I leave that to the closet lawyers.  I do not believe that the
> restrictions are any different than for land travel.

I'm no lawyer, but I believe the NTSB/FAA regs require that the valved
be removed, not that the tank simply be drained.  I speculate that
this is likely due to the "ignorance factor", or in other words it is
not reasonable to train all concerned personnel how to recognize that
a tank is empty while the valve is in place.

Dave Waller
YMCA Instructor
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: craig@cattnts (Craig Campbell)
Subject: Re: Oxygen Decompression
Organization: AT&T / NCR Canada Ltd., Toronto, Canada
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 15:16:31 GMT

In article <1992Apr3.110235.22518@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> mayne@cs.fsu.edu writes:
>In article <920402192121_73467.2574_DHE76-2@CompuServe.COM> 73467.2574@CompuServe.COM (Andy Schmidt) writes:


>Is anyone out there willing to admit if they have actually dove
>home grown schedules? I would be most interested in your experiences
>and comments.

As I understand it, most tables have calculated values, which are then 
verified by experimental results (and modified accordingly).  I would need
to know much more than I currently do before I would generate my own 
back yard tables.  (I'll just piggy back on DCIEM's work. :-)).

 
The complete DCIEM tables include diving on air with decomp to depths over
250 ft (don't have the tables here for reference), using O2 for decomp
(much reduced in water time), and surface decompression schedules with
and without O2 (for surface chambers...not happening at my dive sites :-)).

They also have ft and metre tables.  ($35.00 at Underwater Canada)

Why risk generating your own tables?  I don't understand.


-- 
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: bsweet@pnet01.cts.com (Bill Sweetman)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: need new BC
Date: 16 Apr 92 23:17:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: crash.1992Apr16.231711.16420
Organization: People-Net [pnet01], El Cajon CA

=-=-=
all -

probably not the best question to ask, especially just after the big
thread on mail order, but i
'm  in  the market for a new BC and was trying to find some reasonable
mail order company.  i don't believe i ever saw any addresses posted 
to the net, if anyone has a an address of a reasonable company, please
send it to me.  

t.i.a.

ciao,
-bill

Digital Wizards Inc.       Sunny San Diego, CA.
 internet: bsweet@pnet01.cts.com
  voice: (619)260-1100
   fax: (619)260-1806

#include <std_disclaimer.h>
=-=-=
From: root@maspar.ch (Bruno Pape)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Tanks and GA aircraft
Date: 8 Apr 92 10:23:50 GMT
Reply-To: root@maspar.ch (Bruno Pape)
Organization: MasPar Distributor AG, Zurich, Switzerland

In article <11277@mindlink.bc.ca> Charlie_Gibbs@mindlink.bc.ca (Charlie Gibbs) writes:
>
>     I think the concern is because we're dealing with pressure
>vessels, as opposed to flying per se.  I'm not familiar with the
>regulations, but I'm sure there are regulations which apply even
>if you ship a pressure vessel by truck.

I had my tank shipped by airfreight a few years ago.  The guy that
packed it said it should have the valve removed for shipment, but
settled on having it open because we couldn't remove it.  There are
most likely regulations for commercial transport, surface, air, etc.,
of such pressure vessels.  GA might, and I say might, be more akin
to transporting tanks in your car.  I'm also a pilot and could only
guess that it might be NTSB rather than FAA regulations that cover
such shipments.

Well now for the real question.  I want to take my tank with me on
a commercial carrier to Indonesia this time.  Does anyone have any
suggestions for removing difficult K valves from aluminum tanks?
I wasn't able to remove it before the last time I shipped it and
that was right after it had been hydro'ed and I haven't used it
since then.  I've been a wuffo.

Thanks,

Bruno
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: jcv26@cas.org (Jon Vander Hill)
Subject: Re: Seeking info on Oxygen Enriched Air (Nitrox)
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 21:15:02 GMT

   malc@icon.com (Malcolm Weir) writes:

   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.

NITROX was beat around the net pretty well a couple of months ago.  You might
try a scubasearch for that stuff.

   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?

I'd say the collective wisdom is mixed (pardon the pun).  It's
certainly a new thing, at least for the recreational diver.  So new,
in fact, that certain quarters in the dive industry (DAN and PADI, for
example) have declared it beyond the scope of recreational diving.

   What about certification agencies (IAND, ANDI, etc.)?  Is one better
   than the other(s)?

Don't know.

   Will using this stuff with your equipment cause it to vaporize or
   disintegrate?

There is some risk of explosion.  There was a big
hullaballoo at DEMA this year on that very subject.  Some
manufacturers have declared their stuff to be safe with NITROX.
Poseidon and Oceanic come to mind, but I'm not sure.

  How about treatment following an accident with it?  Do
  chambers (and their operators) understand it?

The director of DAN says it complicates treatment due to oxygen
toxicity concerns.  After running some numbers, I'm
pretty sure that this is a minor concern given typical
recreational profiles, but then I'M NOT A PHYSICIAN.
A physician treating for DCS or embolism certainly
needs to know what you've been breathing.

   Is it only for
   "professional" divers, such as researchers, commercial divers, etc. or is
   appropriate for the sport diver?

Like I said, it's a matter of opinion.  The powers that be say it's
inappropriate.  On the other hand, it's catching on like gangbusters
in the N. Florida cave community.

   How about cost?  If I need to get special equipment, how much will that
   cost?      

Depends on your equipment.  You don't need to overhaul as is the case
for pure O2, but then supposedly only some stock equipment is okay
for NITROX.  

   Assuming I get certified, how much for a fill?  On that subject,
   how many places throughout the world can provide nitrox fills?

More than an air fill.  Don't know.

Go for the class.  And let us know what you learn :-)
--
Jon Vander Hill
jon@cas.org
PADI DM, NACD & NSS-CDS Full Cave
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
From: napalm@next04cville.wam.umd.edu (Warren L. Mohn)
Subject: Diving  Environment  (was Re: Shark Eradication)
Organization: Workstations at Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 08:42:51 GMT

In article <jkf6jgk@fido.asd.sgi.com> leej@diver.asd.sgi.com (Lee Jones)  
writes:
> The April '92 Ocean Realm (p. 16) has a disturbing notice.  It says that 
> the state of Hawai'i is going to spend $200,000 to get rid of (kill)  
tiger,
> gray reef, and Galapagos sharks in near-shore waters.  This is being  
done
> in response to the first fatal shark attack in Hawai'i in about 30  
years.
> 
> Any of you that have seen any of the above animals know them to be 
> exquisitely beautiful and truly awe inspiring.  
> 
> My understanding of the attack incident was that a woman (a Maui  
resident) got
> into the water with snorkeling gear in an area where tiger sharks were 
> feeding on a whale carcass.  With all due sympathy to the woman and her 
> family, I think that wasn't very bright.  I *definitely* don't think it 
> is a cause to start wiping out the population of larger sharks around 
> Hawai'i.
> 
> Here's my request:
> 
> I know we have some Hawai'ian participants here.  Could one of you post
> the addresses of people I could write to.  I believe it was the
> "Coastal Marine Resources Commission" that decided to go kill the  
sharks.
> 
> Also, I'd be interested in Gov. Waihee's (sp?) address as well.  Thanks  
for

This is outrageous!  They are going to spend 200 grand for eliminating a  
natural predator that is in no way out of it's territory?  I am not even a  
diver (want to be, though!) and this really disturbs me.  It is the first  
death in 30 years.  Their have been many more deaths from cars crashing  
into MOOSE in Maine, for crying out loud.  It's just another case of  
public fear of an animal they misunderstand.  

I ask that divers and anybody else who is in Hawaii to contact  
(phone,write,visit) your local environmental organizations (Sierra Club,  
Greenpeace, there must be others as well), Local Dive organizations, and  
visit Island political representatives to tell them how you feel.  Get  
your friends and family to do it.  Ask your Dive organizations and  
resorts, and environmental groups to lobby support and to make this an  
issue.  It is possible that it is too late for this particular action, but  
it might not be and even if it is, you can PREVENT future actions like  
this.  

BTW, even if you don't care whether they kill off local shark populations,  
then you might care about other actions they could take that could harm  
your diving environment in the future.  And contacting political leaders  
and representatives is the only way to get your voice heard, and if they  
don't hear your voice, they will assume you don't care, about ANYTHING  
they might do.  This goes for every other dive environment and the  
environment in general.  If you are passive, you can kiss the environment  
good-bye.
From: tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Maternity Wet Suit????
Date: 14 Apr 92 10:07:28 CST
Organization: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO

In article <leslie.1@uci.edu>, leslie@uci.edu (Leslie Pearlman) writes:
> I do not subscribe or read this list, but one of my co_worker's wife is 
> pregnant, and while she cannot dive (or can she??), the snorkel thing is 
> okay.  Anyone know if they make a maternity wet suit, and where one can be 
> had.  

Since little is known about the effect of bubble formation in fetal
tissue, diving while pregnant is highly discouraged by dive medical
personnel according to everything I've read.  I've never heard of a
maternity wet suit, but one could be made custom.... Although the
user would grow out of it pretty fast!

  TED FEUERBACH   Scientific Systems Consultant  Trilogy Consulting, Inc. 
  Lake St. Louis, MO        (314) 537-6603       tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
  Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed herein are MY OWN and obviously not
  the opinions of Trilogy, Monsanto or either of my two ex-wives.
From: tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: *****SCUBA DIVING IN BELIZE ******
Date: 15 Apr 92 16:00:03 CST
Organization: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO

In article <1992Apr15.174822.20261@amd.com>, nbranch@gemstone.amd.com (Nancy Branch) writes:
> 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?

Don't be shocked when you step off the plane in San Pedro, It's really
ok once you get used to it.    ;-)

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

The various coral canyons outside that barrier reef.  Hol Chan 
preserve for the fish and a shallow afternoon dive.  I think that
they chum Hol Chan since there are too many fish there for the
reef to support in its condition.  The main reason for Hol Chan
(IMO) it to keep the snorkler damage in one place :-(.  But there
are bezillions of fish there.

> Is the Blue Hole really worth the travel time? 

No.  It is an 8 minute bounce to 140ft.  The other sites on the
atolls are some of the best diving in the Western Hemisphere 
though.  It is a long, expensive and rough boat trip to Blue Hole 
and the atolls.  You can fly there to do day dives and the plane
flys very low to keep you from getting bent.

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

Probably not, the prevailing winds go the other way (usually).
                                                             
> Will I see any sharks either in the open water or caves?
                                                    
Yes.  Nurse sharks, Lemon sharks and RRRREEEEEFFFFF SHSHSHsharks.

> I'm planning to do all dives with a divemaster.  

Look for Sylvan Forman, either one.  Ask for them at the Tackle 
Box bar.  They're not drinkers (well, the father for sure anyway)
but a relative owns the bar and anyone working there should be
able to tell you were they may be found.

> I have not yet taken the PADI advanced open water course.  

So what.  ;-)

> Are cave dives recommended?  

*NO*!!!!!

> Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Bring plenty of DEET for mosquitos and sand fleas.  Put it on as soon as
you arrive.

When are you going... This is important to know to give more advice.
I can mail you an old post about Belize (last December) if you like and
keep an eye out for my post about my March trip. 

  TED FEUERBACH   Scientific Systems Consultant  Trilogy Consulting, Inc. 
  Lake St. Louis, MO        (314) 537-6603       tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
  Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed herein are MY OWN and obviously not
  the opinions of Trilogy, Monsanto or either of my two ex-wives.
From: njs@scifi.uucp (Nicholas J. Simicich)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Buying used equip Gooddeal or stupid????
Date: 11 Apr 92 21:03:31 GMT
Organization: Nick Simicich, Peekskill, NY

In article <JCV26.92Apr10120337@jcv26aws.cas.org> jcv26@cas.org (Jon Vander Hill) writes:
>grs01168@stat.appstate.edu writes:
>
>   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?

Typically, regulators are repaired for a fixed cost + parts.  The
parts are included if they are still under warranty.  For a typical
overhaul, parts might cost $12-$20.  If there is something seriously
wrong (like a new piston is needed) parts could be much more
expensive. 

>   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.
>
>For cylinders:  be sure they're in hydro (the 5 year test) and have
>had a recent visual inspection (the 1 year test) or that you have the
>provision to have these done before buying.  It's useless if it
>can't pass these tests.
>
>For regs:  be sure they're still under warranty (e.g. Sherwood
>renews the warranty as long as you take the unit
>in for inspection once a year) or have the option to get the
>unit inspected by a qualified technition.

Sherwood (and most other manufacturers) only extend the warranty to
the original purchaser.  

You can test the first stage quickly if you have a IP gauge.  The
second stage probably should be disassembled and examined by someone
who knows how to do that.  

>Most other stuff:  be sure it's in working condition; see if you can
>take it on a test dive.

>If you're just getting into the sport, I'd shy away from used
>equipment unless you're getting help from someone who knows what
>to look for and that you trust.  This is life support gear after all.

You might consider asking your instructor for help.  One of the
advantages of an independent instructor is that they are willing to do
that. 

-- 
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.