Get Ready for Lobster Season With the Equalizer Lobster Snare

For many divers, lobster hunting has become a favorite past time. These large crustaceans are quite difficult to catch, but are definitely worth it (just go to your local seafood restaurant and check out what the current market price of lobster is). The “bugs”, as divers like to call them, can make for a delicious dinner, especially after a day of diving. Lobstering has been a long-time hunting activity, traced back to the 1800s, when these creatures were first gathered by hand when they were washed up in tide pools or shorelines. These days, especially with the invention of scuba equipment, catching lobster has become a sport among divers. Much like fishing, it’s regulated, but common species of lobster are not endangered (having few natural predators). Of course, lobstering can be tricky - it usually involves chasing after the lobster and catching with a net and placing it into a bag.

A trouble-free way to catch lobster is with the “Equalizer Lobster Snare Kit” from Aquatic Specialties in Florida.

This kit has everything you need to catch those tricky crustaceans. The snare can be operated with one hand, and made of a light, sturdy PVC material. Unlike a traditional net, this device will allow you to secure your catch effortlessly. A 36″ inch fiberglas “tickle stick” allows you to coax the lobster out of its hiding place. The “ultimate” lobster bag has a unique design - a one way door, mesh and super-strong codura  body and a side zipper for easy removal of the lobsters, plus the lobster gauge will tell you if the bug you caught is within the legal limits.

See the snare in action here (requires flash video).

To order the kit, visit the Diveshops.com website here.

Update: Vandenberg Sinking A Success

We reported that after much delay, the USS Vandenberg was finally scheduled for sinking on May 27, 2009, some 7 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida. After 10 years, the former missile tracking ship was finally laid to rest at 10:21 am, when the 44 strategically placed charges were set off, and the vessel sank in less than 2 minutes. It is now officially the 2nd largest intentionally-sunk ship in the world. Videos of the historic event can be found on Youtube, but the best views were from the deck of the Vandenberg itself - several on-board cameras were mounted on the ship and documented every moment of scuttling. The video can be found on the official Key West website here. Even on video, it was an amazing sight to behold as water slowly engulfed the 522-foot former military boat, and reach the bottom of the sea.

3 Days later, the wreck was opened to recreation divers. The video of the first divers reaching the wreck can be found here, and the site is expected to draw divers from all over the US and the world. It is hoped that in the decades to come, the Vandenberg will become an artificial reef and attract a variety of corals and other marine life.

Year Round Diving with the Thermalution Power Heated Undersuit!

While for many of us, diving is a seasonal sport, extremists may find thrills in diving deep into cold waters. Keeping warm is vital to diving in cold conditions, and divers have a choice of either wearing a dry suit of thick wetsuit. Of course, with either choice, the diver will still feel a definite chill while exploring the depths of icy waters. Thermalution® Power Heated Undersuit, is a first of its kind diving undergarment. The suit (available in short sleeve or sleeveless variety) is electrically heated through a series of special, non-metallic heating wires connected to a battery pack - the same batteries used on cellphones (7.4V lithium batteries), so there’s no risk of electrocution or explosion. There’s also a special remote that controls the temperature to your liking and the heat can last up to 3 hours. Depending on the model, the suit can go up to depths of 15 meters to 70 meters and can go for $450 - $700.

Video of the Week: Inverted Underwater Ice Skiing

You’ve got to see it to believe it! At first, you’ll think it’s just somebody skimming over ice. But as it turns out, the diver taking the video is actually skimming right under the frozen ice! Pretty cool!