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!

Paranoia Alert: PADI Turns Over Database to FBI

If you learned to scuba dive in the past 3 years, then chances are, the government has most of the data you provided to PADI. In an effort to fight terrorists, the FBI has requested the Professional Association of Diving Instructors for the names, addresses and other information of almost every US Citizen who got their c-card since 2006. This was reported in a study by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) entitled “The Surveillance-Industrial Complex”, which highlights the various ways in which private companies have released possibly sensitive data to the government, to aid them on their “war on terror”.

This raises many issues about privacy, especially since PADI gave up the data voluntarily, without any subpoena or court order. According the PADI spokesperson and Vice President of Industry Relations Jeff Nadler that there were reports that mentioned rigging underwater explosions was mentioned in one of the training manuals, which was what triggered the search for the data.

“The biggest surprise is the aggressiveness with which the government is pursuing the concept of data mining,” said Jay Stanley, who wrote the report. “It really does make real the scenarios that privacy advocates have been worried about for decades. We are in the process of making every American a suspect.”

Bonne Terre Mine: A Unique Diving Experience

It was the French who first discovered the rich lead sources in Missouri and began mining operations in the area. In 1865, the St. Joseph Lead Company built the Bonne Terre (”Good Earth”) Mine and dug a large mining complex beneath the earth. After a hundred years, the lead ran out and the owners simply left. With the pumps shut downs the man-made caverns filled with cold water, flooding the entire mine. For years, it was left abandoned until Doug and Cathy Georgens bought the mine and transformed it into THE mid-west diving destination. There is practically no marine life inside the mine (or Billion Gallon Lake, as they like to call it). The main attraction is the various historical artifacts - ranging from simple shovels and tools to mine carts, tracks and even an old steam locomotive. What’s fascinating is that even though Missouri has 2 seasons, the water remains at a constant 58F temperature year-round. The entire cavern is lit up with over 500,000 watts of light and visibility is 100 feet.

This eerily beautiful dive site has been hailed by National Geographic Magazine as one of America’s Top Ten Adventures and has attracted even well-known ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. West End Diving in Missouri conducts weekend dives year round. For more information, visit the official website here.

Nature’s Scuba Divers: The Water Spider

Even before man attempted to conquer the ocean, nature already had its own scuba divers. The water spider, or argyroneta aquatica, is an arachnid that spends its entire life underwater. They don’t have gills, but rather, they use their silk to create an air bubble. The spider brings the bubble with them underwater, which acts as a “scuba tank”, though is quite similar to the aqua-lung. The oxygen is replenished via osmotic pressure, allowing for the exchange of gases (intake of oxygen and expelling of carbon dioxide) through the thin membrane.  Occasionally, the spider will go up to the surface to replenish their air supplies. The web spun air bubble often resembles a bell, thus earning the spider the nickname “diving bell spider”.

Aside from hiding from predators, the female spider also uses the bubble to catch prey (like a web), lay her eggs and even raise her young. Male spiders also create the air cocoons, though theirs tend to be smaller, allowing them to move faster and hunt.

Video of the Week: Don’t Mess with a Titan Triggerfish!

Triggerfish may be beautiful, but they are quite deadly! They may look harmless, but they have been known to attack divers, especially during mating season. The diver in this video got a little too close to the titan triggerfish during lunchtime and got to feel the wrath of this fish!

UPDATE: US, Canada and UK Remove Mexico Travel Warnings

Officials from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are among the list of 10 countries who have lifted the travel ban to Mexico. The virulent outbreak of the H1N1 or swine flu earlier this month caused panic around the world, with various health organizations asking travelers to avoid all but essential travel to the country in an effort to stop the spread of the sickness. As of the time of writing, the World Health Organization has counted 86 deaths from the flu.

Resorts in the affected area wasted not time in creating “Flu Free” guarantees and promotions. Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Azul Hotels by Karisma, Secrets and Dreams Resorts & Spas are only some of the properties that are offering deep discounts and are so confident that they are “Flu Free” that they offer free trips to those who get infected during their vacation. To view the complete story, visit the CDNN network here.

Vandenberg All Set For Sinking On The 27th of May

May 27th is the set date for the Vandenberg’s sinking off the coast of Florida. The former missile tracking ship will be plunged some 140 feet deep, just 7 miles south off Key West. While some factors, such as weather could delay the project, the project’s organizers are confident that the much-anticipated sinking will finally push through. Officials have yet to set a time, but have stated that it will most likely be sometime in the morning.

The Vandenberg will become the largest intentionally sunk ship once the project has been completed. The site will not only serve as a world class sport diving spot, but will benefit the marine life with the addition of artificial reefs. The preparations for the scuttling have been intensive and included extensive cleaning to protect the natural ecosystem once it is fully sunk.

For more information, visit the official website at http://www.bigshipwrecks.com/

Next Page »