Gifts for Shark Lovers Only Yukatán Cave Expedition Ecology GLOBAL EDITION Farming November 2009 Coral Farming Number 32 Profile Clement Lee Tech Talk Dry Suits The Oceans Plastic Soup Portfolio Sabahm a l a y s i a Jude Cowell 1 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 cover photo by A & A ferrari DIRECTORY X-RAY MAG is published by AquaScope Media ApS Frederiksberg, Denmark www.xray-mag.com PUBLISHER SENIOR EDITOR Interior of wreck, , Scotland. Photo by Lawson Wood & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Symes Peter Symes [email protected] [email protected] SECTION EDITORS contents PUBLISHER / EDITOR Andrey Bizyukin, PhD - Features & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Arnold Weisz - News, Features Gunild Symes Catherine Lim - News, Books [email protected] Simon Kong - News, Books Mathias Carvalho - Wrecks Associate editors Cindy Ross - GirlDiver & representatives: Cedric Verdier - Tech Talk Americas: Scott Bennett - Photography Arnold Weisz Scott Bennett - Travel [email protected] Fiona Ayerst - Sharks Michael Arvedlund, PhD Russia Editors & Reps: - Ecology Andrey Bizyukin PhD, Moscow [email protected] Correspondents Robert Aston - CA, USA Svetlana Murashkina PhD, Moscow Enrico Cappeletti - Italy [email protected] John Collins - Ireland Marcelo Mammana - Argentina South East Asia Editor & Rep: Nonoy Tan - The Philippines Catherine GS Lim, Singapore [email protected] Contributors this issue Kurt Amsler ASSISTANT editors Scott Bennett & representatives: Andrey Bizyukin Malaysia Editor & Rep: Mathias Carvalho Simon Kong, Kuala Lumpur Andrea & Antonella Ferrari [email protected] Paul Jeffrey Simon Kong Canada/PNW Editor & Rep: Catherine GS Lim Barb Roy, Vancouver Roz Lunn [email protected] Bonnie McKenna Syed Abd Rahman GirlDiver Editor & PNW Rep: Rob Rondeau Cindy Ross, Tacoma, USA Barb Roy [email protected] Gunild Symes peter symes Peter Symes ADVERTISING Arnold Weisz International sales rep: Tony White Arnold Weisz 22 31 33 35 38 plus... [email protected] Marketing Manager: Sa b a h Re e f & Ra i n f o r e s t Se p i l o k : In t h e Fo r e s t Kinabatangan : A Tr i p t o Da n u m : Th e Va l l e y Sa b a h Re v i s i t e d EDITORIAL 3 Yann Saint-Yves Conservation Su cc e s s Re a l m o f t h e Or a n g u t a n Bo r n e o ’s Hi dd e n Je w e l Wh e r e Ti m e St a n d s St i l l Ma l a y s i a NEWS 5 Asia-Pacific rep: [email protected] b y e r r a r i b y e r r a r i b y e r r a r i b y e r r a r i b y e t e r y m e s Simon Kong (Malaysia) A & A F A & A F A & A F A & A F P S WRECK RAP 12 [email protected] Further information: contacts EQUIPMENT 1 9 page at www. xray-mag.com French speaking territories: 51 56 69 84 89 BOOKS & MEDIA 5 8 Mathias Carvalho Ki d s Sc u b a Eq u i p m e n t Fe a t u r e : Yu k a t á n Ca v e Diving Pr o f i l e : Th e Oc e a n s : TURTLE TALES 8 1 [email protected] Ma l a y s i a Al l Ab o u t Dr y s u i t s b y Pa u l Je f f r e y Cl e m e n t Le e Pl a s t i c So u p SHARK TALES 83 Canada e d i t e d b y Gu n i l d Sy m e s b y Pe t e r Sy m e s & Ro z p h o t o s b y Ku r t Am s l e r b y Pe t e r Sy m e s e d i t e d b y Bo n n i e McKe n n a WHALE TALES 88 Wendy Jankovic Lu n n [email protected] Not yet subscribed to SUBSCRIPTION columns... X-RAY MAG International Edition in English is FREE X-RAY MAG? Sign up now! To subscribe, go to: www.xray-mag.com 67 79 91 95 It’s FREE! QUICK! EASY! COVER PHOTO: Pair of Zebra Crabs on Fire Urchin, Lankayan, Ma n u f a c t u r e r : Gi f t s f o r Sh a r k UW Ph o t o g r a p h y : Po r t f o l i o : click here... Malaysia, by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari k r a i n e o v e r s n l y a c r o e a r a g o n u d e o w e l l THIS PAGE: ‘Barracuda Rushhour’ Island, Malaysia, U L O M S D J C by Peter Symes b y An d r e y Bi z y u k i n , PhD e d i t e d b y Gu n i l d Sy m e s b y To n y Wh i t e e d i t e d b y Gu n i l d Sy m e s (Continued on page 4)

2 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 Amsterdam Barcelona Cape Town Copenhagen Kuala Lumpur Moscow Orlando Oslo Paris Ravenna Sao Paulo Singapore Vancouver Warsaw Editorial ... they thE are a-changing

“The strength and beauty of sharks are a natural owER barometer for the health of our oceans. of DEMA Show Therefore, I declare today that Palau will become thouSAnDS of oppoRtunitiES...onE goAl: the world’s first national shark sanctuary, ending YouR SuccESS all commercial shark fishing in our waters and giving a sanctuary for sharks to live and reproduce unmolested in our 237,000 square miles of ocean. We call upon all nations to join us.” DEMA Show, the power to be: Johnson Toribiong, President of Palau, in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly Informed by DEMA Show’s comprehensive educational programs — on Friday, September 25, 2009 presenting tested strategies, new insights for the new economy, and innovative ideas certain to breathe new life into your business. ConneCted with the dive community while you immerse yourself in the business of diving. Learn from experts and from your peers, and apply Bravo! This was a landmark speech by a dead shark—was how the saying went. their ideas and successes to YOUR challenges. head of state and remarkable news in several ways. Some 30 years after Steven Spielberg’s SuCCeSSful in boosting your bottom line with show-only promotions and specials offered by hundreds of exhibitors. In time AND money, DEMA Show Jaws movie first scared the living daylights provides a generous return on your attendance investment. The value of such a sanctuary cannot be out of the movie-goers and made us anx- 2009 overrated. Findings from other no-take ious about taking a swim at the beach, DEMA Show is the place to refresh yourself and revitalize the way zones have clearly demonstrated how we find that dive travellers are paying top you do business so you can provide your customers with what they significant sanctuaries are for rebuild- dollar for close encounters with sharks, love — diving, travel and adventure. Achieve your financial and business ing dwindling fish stocks. From within and most recently, in some cases, even goals. In these challenging times, attending DEMA Show makes more these zones, fish populations have often swimming in open water (without cages) sense than ever before. rebounded and replenished stocks else- with tiger sharks and great whites. where. Register for DEMA Show today at www.demashow.com. Our appreciation of sharks, and the value What a long way we have come in a we place on sharks, has come a long few decades in our appreciation of way. Let us hope that the trend continues November 4–7, 2009 • orlaNdo, Fl • oraNge CouNty CoNveNtioN CeNter sharks. Not so many years ago, these to spread worldwide. Sharks are worth so magnificent creatures were seen as much more alive than dead, in terms of BE infoRMED. BE connEctED. BE SuccESSful. voracious man-eaters only to be feared both ecology and economy. ■ and loathed... The only good shark was a www.demashow.com

3 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED 007459_affichette_A4_36_FMISM:_ 29/06/09 13:47 Page1

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Casual, comfortable & stylish footwear for divers. High quality PALAIS DU PHARO Keds Champion Sneakers & Slip-ons with rubber soles. Durban Great for travel, Regarding news from NAUI in X-RAY Dancing in town & on the beach. Kids MARSEILLE MAG: This issue of X-RAY MAG and Shrimp er others may include news and press sizes, too! Bulk discounts & 29 octobre - 1 novembre 2009 releases from NAUI in sections des- International shipping. Lots of SOUS LE PATRONAGE DE ignated by the NAUI logo. While the other marine life designs on shoes, LA FÉDÉRATION FRANÇAISE D’ÉTUDES ET DE SPORTS SOUS-MARINS page design is done by X-RAY MAG t-shirts, Sea Mugs, cards & gifts. Sport as an integrated part of the maga- your spots and stripes. Find them at Oceanatomy! zine, these news stories are brought to Espace imprimerie, Marseille. you by NAUI at NAUI’s discretion. Festival : 1157, chemin de la Plaine - BP 1307 - 06255 Mougins Cedex. France. Tél +33 (0)4 93 61 45 45 - Fax +33 (0)4 93 67 34 93 www.zazzle.com/oceanatomy [email protected] - http://www.underwater-festival.com

4 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Deep-water Receive State piping hot Protection Over 23,000 square miles of News edited deep-water coral reefs in the by Peter Symes South Atlantic is now under state & Catherine G S Lim protection, thanks to a historic ruling by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. NEWS the legislation will protect coral living in waters off the coasts of the Carolinas, Georgia and eastern Florida, at depths of 400 to 700 metres. this is a significant move, as the South Atlantic region is home to Deep water coral what is believed to be the world’s largest contiguous distribution of deep-water corals. Now, with the legislation, the corals would be Massive Black Coral Forest Found Off Southern Italy safe from the impact of bottom- tending fishing practices. habitat. exploration project, credited the progress ter exploration, more of them [Antipathes however, the concerns of the however, in underwater technology for the break- dicotoma] may be discovered, but we fishermen who work in the region as excited as throughs in the filming and study of new have provided the first images of them, have not gone unheard. they must be, marine environments. alive, in their environment.” ■ Working closely with fishermen, the research- “With the recent increase in underwa- fisheries managers and coral ers are keeping experts, Dan Rader, chairman mum about the of the Council’s Habitat and NOAA site of their dis- Environmental Protection Advisory coveries. “The Panel, outlined specific areas in Italian researchers have found one of the coral we found has a great value, primarily which fishing would be allowed largest forests of black coral off the coast because of its rarity,” said Silvestro Greco, with gear restrictions. of southern Italy. head of the environmental agency for the these “Allowable Golden Crab comprising almost 30,000 colonies, the southern Italian region of Calabria. Fishing Areas” and “Shrimp Fishery black corals (Antipathes subpinnata) cov- “If somebody with no conscience knew Access Areas” help to ensure ered ground as large as two soccer fields. exactly where they were, I think there the continued existence of these As it was at a depth of 50 to 100 metres, would be risks. That’s why we have not fisheries and the communities researchers used a remote-controlled sub- really disclosed where they are.” they support. marine to film the massive forest. black coral is listed as an endangered According to Rader, “I know in addition, they also discovered an species by the Convention on International of no other example where the extremely rare black coral species, Trade in Endangered Species. It is brightly finest science available was Antipathes dicotoma. It is so rare that there coloured, and gets its name from its black translated through interactive are only five fragments of it being stored in or brown skeleton. It is this skeleton that is work with managers and museums. This was the first time this coral sought after for use as jewellery. fishermen into world-class species had been found alive in its natural Simone Canese, chief researcher of the protection. This impressive ‘win- win’ should be celebrated by all those who love the sea, and who appreciate eating sea food they ABOVE LEFT: Close-up view of rare know is harvested in ways that black coral. RIGHT: Garden of rare protect its bounty.” ■ black coral at growing in the wild 5 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news A Holistic Approach to Health A TLANTIS Maintaining the good health of have vanished. coral reefs is best done in a holistic in the absence of these preda- manner, taking not just the physical tory fishes, other fish species health into consideration, but the thrive. One such spe- environmental factors as well. cies is the , A case in point: Following a major which feed on coral bleaching incident, corals on various and appear to be Hawaii: Scientists Diving to New reefs in Honduras and Belize recov- responsible for dis- Depths Make Exciting Discoveries ered and grew normally within two ease transmission to three years when the surrounding amongst the cor- waters were healthy. However, at als. Diving as deep as 250 feet, scientists on a locations were there was excessive in a study, sci- research trip at the remote Northwestern adverse impact (like pollution), the entists compared AMAZING RESORTS Hawaiian Islands made some exciting discov- corals did not recover fully, even seven Marine eries. after eight years. Protected Areas P icto n E . At the Papahanaumokuakea Marine “You can imagine that when you [MPAs] where National Monument, they discovered new are recovering from a sickness, it fishing had been coral species, as well as deep-water algae will take a lot longer if you don’t banned for at least five Bluelashed butterflyfish, bennetti B e rnard beds that served as nursery grounds for juve- eat well or get enough rest,” said years, and another seven nile reef fish like the parrotfish and butterflyfish. Jessica Carilli, a graduate student at neighbouring sites with similar diver- erage and fertiliser are bad news In fact, they even got hold of the first speci- Scripps Institution of Oceanography sity. for corals, as are the abnormally men of a recently discovered species of but- at UC San Diego. they discovered that the corals high water during the ANTASTIC IVING terflyfish. “Similarly, a coral organism that at the latter sites suffered more dis- occurrence of El Nino. F D “We were seeing reefs that no human has must be constantly trying to clean eases; in some cases, the difference Nevertheless, preserving - ever laid eyes on before,” said Randall Kosaki, itself from excess sediment particles was twice as many. In addition, sity of the reef appears to boost the research mission’s chief scientist and diver. will have a more difficult time recov- many butterflyfish were found at their ability to cope with certain ris- “The coral reef habitat goes four times ering after a stressful condition like the sites where fishing was allowed, ing temperatures. deeper than where we’ve been working prior bleaching.” leading to a higher incidence of “The general trend is that where to this.” Disease and overfishing also coral disease. you find more functional diversity, During the month-long expedition, Kosaki affected coral health. In places Similar patterns were found at the you find fewer butterflyfish,” reiter- and his team had been diving with the help where there is overfishing, the popu- in Australia. ated Laurie Raymundo, a researcher UPERB UISINE of new technology that allowed them to dive lation of bigger fishes like groupers of course, other factors do come at the University of Guam. S C deeper than was possible several years ago. are either significantly reduced or into the picture. Pollutants like sew- of course, to ensure that preda- As a result, at the 200-foot depth, they tory fishes are present to keep found 12 to 15 fish species never seen down the number of butterfly- before at the monument. fish, the scientists are not advo- the fish population there were thriv- cating that fishing be banned. ing, thanks to the fact that fishing did Rather, it is about maintaining not take place in the protected zone. a balance. The relative isolation of the monument “One of the things that OMING ALL (with the only human settlement at came out of this is that if you C F 2009 a research outpost on Midway Atoll) have a well-managed MPA, it meant that the reefs were not sub- works to keep coral healthier. ject to runoff from housing develop- [...] So as long you keep cer- ments and paved riverbeds. Hence, tain species there and can the reefs at the monument were very control fishing—don’t catch healthy. in certain seasons or don’t “At one time, we had 100 sharks catch fish under a certain size, around us. It’s just something you whatever is appropriate —you don’t see here on Oahu or any of the might not have to ban it com- inhabited islands,” Kosaki said. ■ pletely.” ■

noaa 6 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED a-boxes mer Ca BS-K Diverse fish reduce from inetics ing news U.S. Geo l o g ic al ur ve y S e dl BS Kinetics GmbH rg an diseases in coral on sy h Großweierer Straße 70 omic and ea 77855 Achern Germany Fon: +49 7841 668437 Coral reefs with nless and stai UV -res a diverse fish istant small ht, , s to 8 population are ig tr d up 0 m l on ize healthier than g & pressur or mera – f near f ca overfished ly each o ones. ter photog wa rap er hy Scientists nd u showed a & e reduced r

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ing is banned, Leo nard o St a bi l e Reproduction of Farm-raised Corals Spell compared with neigh- Hope for Coral Restoration bouring areas. The research- For the first time, Atlantic- place else.” ing a lot of corals in our nursery, ers concluded Carribean farm-raised staghorn Added Ken Nedimyer, presi- and we can replant them on that some types of corals were documented to have dent of the Coral Restoration some reefs, but we could never fish probably carry reproduced, giving hope for the Foundation: “This is real exciting replant all corals on all the reefs,” coral diseases, writing future of coral restoration. because this is the future of trying said Nedimyer. and suggesting that the this discovery was significant in to rebuild these reefs.” In addition “The goal is to get them repro- disease-carrying species Copperband that it proved that transplanted to being involved in coral resto- ducing successfully, so they can thrive where predatory butterflyfish, staghorn corals still possessed the ration projects for the past nine do what they used to do.” fish are absent. Chelmon rostratus ability to survive in the wild, reach years, Nedimyer has been per- in the northern hemisphere, sexual maturity, and reproduce. sonally involved in the corals at spawning normally takes place Butterflyfish Working with the marine scien- in recent years. a few days after the full moon in (Chaetodontidae), which are not fished, tists of the Florida Keys National in 2006, he had harvested inch- August or September. During this appear the likely culprits in disease trans- Marine Sanctuary, students dove long fragments of live staghorn time, larvae are dispersed over mission. “People like to eat the big pred- and collected gametes released and planted them in a special a wide area. If they survive long ators such as groupers and a few others,” from transplanted corals at nursery off the Upper Keys. The fol- enough, ocean currents might said lead researcher Laurie Raymundo. Molasses Reef off Key Largo in lowing year, with the help of stu- relocate them 10 to 50 miles from “In some cases, these species are not August. dents, the more mature clippings the original site, according to so abundant, and in others, they’ve just “This is very much like a great were transplanted into a portion Nedimyer. gone. And the general trend is that where big circle of life,” said Dr David of sand at Molasses Reef. for the students, the experience you find more functional diversity, you find Palandro, a research scientist then, in August 2009, other gave them to a new realm of fewer butterflyfish,” the University of Guam for the Florida Fish and Wildlife students working as part of knowledge. “All we see on land is researcher told BBC News. Conservation Commission. “Corals SCUBAnauts International edu- how reproduce, but we Diseases have inflicted substantial dam- were transplanted here, and cation group documented and don’t really know what goes on age on coral reefs in a number of regions we’re collecting the gametes collected gametes from these underwater. It was awesome,” in recent years, notably the Caribbean, from those transplanted corals, farmed corals. said Nick Johnson, a high school where naturally abundant species, such as and we hope to take those gam- the results give hope for the senior from Dunedin, Florida. ■ elkhorn and staghorn, have been almost etes and transplant them some- future of the corals. “We’re grow- wiped out in some places. ■

7 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news

Stop Shark Finning — One Soup Bowl at a Time Text and photos by Catherine G S Lim

Smashing soup bowls to protest shark mosaic. life, as a meaningful and somewhat against shark finning was what eSPN Star Sports presenter Jamie ironic second life. After the exhibi- shoppers and passers-by did at a Yeo, who threw the 'inaugural' soup tion, the broken pieces would be special event to celebrate World bowl, said, "Some things are cre- used to create permanent works of Day in Singapore recently. ated perfect but humans and their art for exhibitions and ACRES' edu- organised by ACRES (Animal traditions are fallible. Therefore, cation programmes. ■ Concerns Research and Education sometimes we need to break the Society), the three-day event tradition." encouraged passers-by at a busy After all the celebrities had a go, “Shark’s fin coup is so passe.” shopping district to throw donat- they penned personal messages ed shark's fin soup bowls in an on one of the walls that formed the —Melody Chen, enclosed space. The broken pieces enclosure, and then were treated were then used on the spot to cre- to a free sampling of doubled- television presenter & actress ate installation art - a 15-metre boiled ginseng soup with pumpkin mosaic of a shark. silky beancurd and bamboo fungus, "This tradition [shark finning] is a vegan alternative to shark's fin “Traditions aside, how could not only cruel, it is wasteful and soup, courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & one stomach shark’s fin soup hugely destructive, because when Resorts. So far, this is the only hotel when there is so much cruelty sharks die, the entire marine ecosys- in Singapore that has made a delib- tem also collapses," said Louis Ng, erate choice to stop serving shark's afflicted in producing such a Founder and Executive Director of fin soup. dish? You don’t have to con- ACRES. over the three days, the response every year, about 100 million was very positive, with the public done such practice to gain sta- sharks perish to satisfy the glo- willingly forking out $2 for every tus.” bal demand for shark's fin soup. soup bowl. Some even bought Singapore, where the event was several bowls at a time. Donations —Randall Tan, held, is the world's third largest were also sought, to further the shark's fin trading centre, accord- anti-shark-finning campaign, and to television actor ing to the UN's Food and Agriculture fund ACRES' other educational and Organization. outreach programmes, as well as the opening ceremony on wildlife rescue. In total, more than “One of my friends told me October 2nd was graced by local $8,000 were raised. what happens to the sharks, celebrities who learnt more about Several hundreds of soup bowls, and after that, I couldn’t eat it the issue and pledged to go off complete with spoons, were CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Detail from poster for event; Actress throwing shark's fin soup. Then, they had a donated to ACRES for this event. anymore.” soup bowl; Supporter gets shark tattoo; Vegan alternative to shark fin soup; ball of a time smashing soup bowls Intended to be discarded anyway, Actor fills in the shape of a shark with broken pieces of soup bowls; ACRES founder, and laying the first pieces of the the soup bowls now have a second — Passer-by Louis Ng, talks to a reporter about the event and the cause; Shape of shark filled with broken pieces of soup bowls; Families show their support by signing a wall

8 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED

news Dressed in full scuba gear, ����������������� ��� the government of the Maldives held a cabinet meeting underwater to highlight the threat of global warming to the low-lying Indian Ocean nation. In 2007, the UN Intergovern- mental Panel on Climate Change predicted that sea level rise will submerge the low-lying islands of the Mal- dives within a century Maldives’ government conducts cabinet meeting under water ������������������������������������� President Mohamed Nasheed, conducted the 30-minute meeting at a depth of 20 feet off the coast just north of the capital, Male.

Sitting five feet deep in the summit in December to ensure Copenhagen in an attempt to lagoon, President Mohamed that “everyone survives”. World forge a successor to the Kyoto Nasheed and 11 cabinet ministers leaders will congregate in Protocol, due to expire in 2012. ■ used hand signals and a white slate to communicate before signing a declaration calling on Natalia ������������� all nations to “join hands and Molchanova C o mm ns reduce carbon emissions and bring down the level of carbon set in the atmosphere to below 350 record at age 47 Wi k i m e d a ppm”. levels of carbon in the atmosphere stand at 390 Russian freediver, ppm. Natalia Molchanova, has become the first Climate change was a serious woman in the world to issue that needed the world’s break the 100 meter ���������������� attention, the president said. barrier in Constant , by freediving to The president appealed for a 101 meters off Sharm el ���� ��������� �������������� ������� ���� ���������� ��������� ����������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������� concerted effort to commit to Sheik, Egypt. Her total ������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������� ����� ����� ������ �������� ����� ���� ����� ������������ ��� ���� “a better deal” at the landmark dive time was 3 minutes ���������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������� Copenhagen climate change and 50 seconds. ■

9 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED By Kurt Amsler ‘Turtle Mafia’ on Bali Sea turtles on Bali are once more in danger of being butchered. You can help prevent it. Once again, we ask for your support. We is at it again have managed to put a stop to this slaughter before. But now the ‘Turtle Mafia’ on Bali is at it again. The governor of Bali is being pres- sured to permit the slaughter of thousands of sea turtles for ‘religious purposes’.

About a year ago, we obviously, such a deci- could proudly announce sion will open the flood- that the campaign to gates to uncontrolled killing stop the slaughter of sea once again, and it will be turtles on Bali had been a impossible to control the success. The cages and number of animals slaugh- slaughterhouses in Tanjung tered. Benoa were all empty and We need to react now! no more turtles were being It is not too late. The op- traded in public places. position and the Pro Fauna While it was still possible organisation is engaged to find some animals on the in ongoing discussions on black market, they were various political levels. But harder to find. The number they need our immediate of killed and traded ani- support. mals dropped around 90 SOS-Seaturtles is already percent since the onset of financially supporting the the campaign. entire administration as there were reasons to be well as initiating a petition proud. After an eight-year during which thousands of battle against the Turtle letters of protest will be sent Mafia, we seemed to have to the authorities. We are won the war. very concerned for Bali’s sea turtles and don’t con- The ghost reappears sider such a decision just a Yet, the issue is now raising domestic issue. its ugly head again. Watch this video from thanks to an intensive Bali. This movie was filmed a lobby by various interest decade ago. Do you want groups, the Balinese Gov- this to happen again? If not ernment is now considering please sign our petition on permitting the killing and the following link. trading of a thousand sea turtles per year for Balinese Thank you for your support! ■ rituals. Let’s stop them

10 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED the dive news network presents the 3rd AnnUAl DIVE & TRAVEl EXPO May 21 -23, 2010 tacoma, washington, U.S.A. • 250 Exciting • Try Scuba FREE Exhibitor Booths • Try Scuba FREE • 40 FREE Seminars • Great Deals • See The Latest On Travel Diving Products • Meet Diving Seaweeds • Win Thousands Celebrities Of Dollars In Prizes are not DISCOVER AN OCEAN OF POSSIBILITIES plants

www.diveandtravelexpo.com P ete r S ym e s A bed of the macroalgae bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) is home to diverse sealife including this rock- pool shrimp (Palaemon elegans) PIXEL QUARTERLYWET

PIXEL QUARTERLYWET ISSUE #1 WELCOME

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11 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck NOAA locates US Navy Ship rap Sunk in World War II Battle A NOAA-led research mission has located and identified the final resting place of the YP-389, a U.S. Navy patrol boat sunk approxi- mately 20 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, NC, by a German Edited by submarine during World War II. Mathias Carvalho

Built originally as a fish- of the Atlantic,” home to Consistent with U.S. and Lost Fighter Jet Found in California Bay ing trawler, the YP-389 U.S. and British naval ves- international policy, both was converted into a sels, merchant ships, and the Bedfordshire and the Pat Macha, an aircraft archeologist who with a lot of aluminum, which indicated coastal patrol craft and German U-boats sunk YP-389 wreck sites are con- has identified about 3,700 crash sites that it was an airplane. They also found pressed into service after during the Battle of the sidered war graves and and visited more than 800 around the landing gears, which corroborated it. the Japanese attack on Atlantic. Today, the rela- are protected by United Santa Monica Bay seafloor, was part of Ray’s crew identified a manufacturer’s Pearl Harbor. The ship was tively intact remains of the States and international a search team that have accidentally number on a feed mechanism for a equipped with one 3-inch YP-389 rest upright on the laws, including the Sunken found and identified the wreck of a 50-caliber machine gun. The engine gun to protect the ship’s . The wreck site Military Craft Act, which Lockheed T-33A jet fighter that disap- appeared to be a jet, so he knew it ship from enemy aircraft is home to a variety of prohibits removal of arti- peared nearly 54 years ago. wasn’t the Mustang, which had a pro- and surfaced subma- marine life. Much of the facts and any alteration or computer expert Gary Fabian is the peller motor. rines and two .30-caliber outer- plating has fallen disruption of the wreck site. founder of UB88.org, a group that dis- At that point, Arntz realized that, “We machine guns. However, away, leaving only the covered a missing German know it’s not what we’re looking for.” when the ship was intact frames exposed. “The story of the YP-389 per- U-boat off the California coast in 2003. Researching government documents, attacked on 19 June 1942 sonifies the character of the He was the one who identified “a few the searchers found that the manufac- by the German submarine NOAA and its expedition Battle of the Atlantic along little pixels” on a high-definition U.S. turer’s number indicated it was a T-33 U-701, the ship’s deck gun partners mapped and shot the East Coast of the United Geological Survey image map of the Shooting Star, which had disappeared in was inoperative, and the video of the wreck using States, where small poorly Santa Monica Bay ocean floor. the area. YP-389 could return fire only high-resolution camera armed fishing trawlers were fabian met Macha about five years “It just matched what we had,” Arntz with its machine guns and equipment, multibeam called to defend Ameri- ago in Huntington Beach, California, said. “The T-33 was it.” six sailors died in the attack. and an advanced can waters against one of while researching for military aircraft There were 18 survivors. remotely operated vehi- Germany’s most feared wrecks. Lost and not found Weeks after the attack on cle deployed from the vessels,” said David W. Macha told him about his 11 year While looking for one missing plane, the YP-389, the U-701 was NOAA ship Nancy Foster. Alberg, expedition leader search for another missing aircraft, a Macha and the others came upon an sunk by Army aircraft in the Researchers were able to and superintendent of the P-51D Mustang fighter flown by World unexpected wreckage. same vicinity as the YP-389. locate and positively iden- Monitor National Marine War II Women’s Air Service pilot “It’s a funky thing,” said Macha. tify the YP-389 by reexam- Sanctuary. ■ Gertrude “Tommy” Tompkins Silver, pre- “You’re looking for one aircraft, and you The wreck is located in ining data from the Duke sumed lost at sea in 1944. Silver’s is the find another.” about 300 feet of water in Marine Laboratory expedi- only wreckage that has not been found. Macha’s interest in aircraft wrecks a region off North Carolina tion that discovered the started in the 1960s when he found a known as the “Graveyard USS Monitor in 1973. Dive operation crash site while working in a Boy Scout Fabian sent the map info to Ray Arntz, camp in the San Bernardino Photo mosaic owner and operator of a southern Mountains. of YP-389 California dive company and a fellow there are 2,500 crash sites shipwreck member of UB88.org. around Arntz and fellow employees set out California, he to search and found three wrecks using said, where side-scan sonar. Two turned out to be airplanes and their scat- boats. They weren’t sure about the third, tered remains can still be so they went down to inspect the site. found. Some are listed on his he saw a fairly compact debris field website:,www.aircraftwrecks.com ■ Lockheed T-33 on display

12 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck rap Black Sea Shipwreck

On August 2009, archaeologists found a well- suppose that the slabs were intended to be used preserved, 100-foot (30m) shipwreck dating back at the construction of one of the palaces on to the 18th or 19th century at a depth of 460 feet Crimea’s southern coast,” said Voronov. (140m), approximately 5.6 miles (9km) offshore, Since both masts on the wreck are broken, while testing a remote-controlled, Voronov believes that the sailing deep-submersible research vehi- boat capsized and sunk during a cle. storm. “Another possibility is cargo Loaded with stone sheets, the displacement inside the ship.” vessel’s deck covers “are broken Nicknamed Grin’s Brigantine due up and the cargo can be seen – to its similarity to the ship described marble or granite slabs” according in prominent Russian writer Alek- to Sergey Voronov, a top Ukrainian sandr Grin’s novel, Scarlet Sails. The underwater archaeologist. “In vessel won’t be raised anytime in those times, active construction the near future, according to the was underway in Crimea, and we archeologist. ■

Russian author, Aleksandr Grin

Out with the Old, in with the New RMS Empress of Ireland, 1908. She was an operated by Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. On the morning of 29 , the Norwegian collier, Storstad, The 138 meter long, 4100-ton, missile- (www.vars.org.au), started in 2006, the sula. “It’s like Christmas,” he added. The crashed into the side of the Empress of Ireland. With severe damage to her starboard side, guided frigate HMAS Canberra, was sunk sinking was a result of hard lobbying with area is populated with 46 other wrecks, she sank within 14 minutes. A total of 1012 passengers and crewmen were lost off Victoria’s coast early in October. Built the Australian Navy. and is locally known as the “Ship’s in 1978 and launched two years later, “As a scuba diver, I’m extremely excit- Graveyard”. the Australian vessel served for 24 years ed about diving on a wreck like this,” will be allowed Empress of Ireland shipwreck before it was decommissioned, in 2005. declared the 66-year-old diver, after wit- once commercial clearance divers Resting at 30 meters nessing the ship go down some 3 km off make sure all sinking charges had been deep, it will become Barwon Heads, on the Bellarine penin- properly detonated and moorings are named National Historic Site a local installed by Parks Victoria, attraction as well as the government’s preserve Nearly a century after the five- peice stringed orches- the Empress on the star- a new authority,(www.parkweb. Empress of Ireland sank tra would perform and board side. The Storstad that will help with the vic.gov.au) sometime at in the St. Lawrence River spacious sleeping quarters; had taken action to pass much needed ocean the end of the year. and took the lives of more the Empress was a beauti- the Empress port to port preservation efforts. It is Mr Lawler, cannot wait than 1,000 passengers and ful ship. but instead ran the ship expected that the new to visit the site. “As soon as crew, the wreck of the directly across the path of reef will be populated it’s open, if the weather’s elegant luxury liner that The steamship crossed the the Empress and collided with fish as it began its fine, myself and some of represents Canada’s worst Atlantic Ocean regularly with her on the starboard underwater adaptation. my diving buddies will be maritime disaster has finally for about a decade be- side area. The en- for wreck scuba div- out on the site as quick as been declared a national fore it left , on 29 gine room flooded within ing enthusiasts, such as we can.” ■ historic site. May 1914, with 1477 peo- minutes with the brackish John Lawler, advocate ple aboard and travelled seawater, which shorted and founder of Victorian The Empress was a luxury down the St. Lawrence out the ship’s engines, Artificial Reef Society passenger ship that of- Seaway where it was water tight doors, and the fered 570 feet of elegance caught in a heavy fog. electricity. The Empress Click on the image to and first class luxuries. Teak While approaching the was only able to get one see the report on the decking, gold trimmed mouth of the river in the S.O.S. message out before sinking of the HMAS plates, first class dining, first evening a lookout spotted they lost power and sank in Canberra class music room where a a ship rapidly approaching 30 metres of water. ■

13 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED This Ancient Roman mar- wreck ble statue from c. 191- rap 192 CE, which was also found in an underground chamber in the area of the Horti Lamiani in 1874 and is now housed at the Palazzo dei Conservatori, is of the Greek god Triton, who was the son of Neptune, god of the seas

Blue Grotto reveals ancient roman statues

Celebrated for its incredibly blue beneath its waters, waters and mysterious silvery according to the results of light rays, the Grotta Azzurra an underwater survey. wikipedia (Blue Grotto), is one of Capri’s Rosalba Giugni, presi- top attractions. The grotto was dent of the Mare Vivo environ- carried out in collaboration roman Emperor Tiberius’ private mentalist association (www. with the Pompeii archaeologi- swimming pool (42 B.C. - 37 marevivo.it), declared: cal authority (www.pompeiisites. A.D.). “A preliminary underwater org), the Mare Vivo project aims A number of ancient Roman investigation has revealed sev- at returning the Blue Grotto to its statues were eral statue bases which might ancient glory by placing identi- recently dis- possibly hint to sculptures lying cal copies of Tiberius’ statues covered lying nearby,” where they originally stood. ■

Click on the image to watch a video taken inside the Blue Grotto Datamask HeaDs up. HanDs free.

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14 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED RIGHT: Diver inves- wreck tigates half-buried rap canon. BELOW LEFT: Children examine a model of a shipwreck

Shipwreck Appreciation & Conservation Many divers already know having a certification card from “advanced” wrecks. These are facts from a shipwreck. that you shouldn’t remove a recognized dive instruction typically deep-water wrecks or Any judge will tell you, agency, such as PADI, isn’t good wrecks that have other hazards “Ignorance (of the law) is artifacts from a shipwreck. enough. Every diver must have and require a high degree of div- no excuse.” In addition to being illegal their ability assessed by a provin- ing skill and experience. the important thing is to in most parts, doing so can cially-accredited instructor before one such wreck is the Empress make sure you know the also be dangerous. Diving they can dive. This can mean of Ireland—which lies at the bot- relevant local laws before a foreign diver, even a highly tom of the St. Lawrence River you dive. Better yet, some wrecks requires qualified and experienced, and/ near Rimouski, Quebec. The late before you arrive. Your specialized training and or vacationing one, having to great liner is a spectacular but travel agent, or dive tour experience. perform a skills test in a swimming challenging dive. It’s been called, operator, should be able pool. “the Mount Everest of scuba”. to tell you about the rules In the province of Quebec, Likewise, it’s becoming increas- And, for good reason. A hand- and regulations pertaining Canada, all divers are required ingly common for novice divers ful of recreational divers have to a particular site. to have a special license. Simply to be restricted from diving some died on the wreck. In addition A military ship remains to requiring a the exclusive property provincial div- of its flag country at the ing license, time of its sinking. If you every Empress remove an artifact from diver is also such a wreck, you may required to be find yourself in an interna- “Advanced” tional court, or up against certified and a foreign government. have at least Some war wrecks, such as one hundred the Civil War causalities, dives under Monitor and Alabama, their belt are off-limits to recreation- beforehand. al divers. A diver may also be Fine, jail or required to purchase a worse permit or license before Most jurisdic- they can dive. The money tions have laws generated from the sale that govern of such permits is used to specific dive interpret and conserve sites, such as the site. their bottom time or depth lawsuit, there’s another good rea- shipwrecks. Removing artifacts can also —putting them at risk. Over- son not to remove artifacts. Every You can be cost you your life. Not only can exertion can also increase a time a diver removes something fined, or worse, it be physically demanding, but diver’s risk of sick- from a shipwreck, there’s one less end up in jail being involved in such activity ness. thing for the next diver to see. for taking arti- can cause a diver to lose track of in addition to risking injury, or a

15 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck rap

Not politically correct In the old days, taking arti- facts demonstrated a div- er’s prowess. If a ship’s bell or gear was there, it meant you were the first to dive the wreck. So, you took it. But, like lots of other former past-times, such as big game hunting and scalping Indians, taking artifacts from shipwrecks is no longer socially accept- able. once an artifact is removed they can expect to see on the from the water, it quickly deterio- dive. When it’s not there, they feel rates. If you remove something cheated, and you feel foolish. and it’s not properly conserved, can lead a diver it will likely turn into a pile of rust. into areas of academic research And, when you take an artifact, and study. I know lots of divers you reduce the historical and who would, otherwise, never archaeological significance of have found their local public the wreck that it came from. library. Researching shipwrecks i can’t tell you the number of can be a rewarding activity in times I’ve returned to a shipwreck itself. A friend of mine calls it, “his to find that artifacts have been drug of choice”. removed—often illegally. And, the old adage, “take only pic- sometimes in their pursuit of arti- tures and leave only bubbles”, facts divers have destroyed parts is still the best approach when it of the ship. Surveying the dam- comes to appreciating and con- age, you feel violated. If you’ve serving shipwreck artifacts. And, ever had your house or apart- it’s a good way to meet other ment robbed you’ll know what divers, hone your skills and stay I’m talking about. But, what’s interested in diving. ■ most frustrating is knowing that most divers were acting out of —‑Rob Rondeau ignorance. Marine Archaeologist Likewise, it’s equally frustrat- ProCom Diving Services ing when you’re taking divers www.procomdiving.com on a tour of a wreck to find that artifacts have been removed. CLOCKWSIE FROM TOP LEFT: Sonar You’ve told them about what scan of a wreck; Examining and researching found artifacts; Let oth- ers also enjoy a display of found his- torical artifacts from a ship wreck

16 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED TUSA_013mask1-09DT:TUSA Melea 1/15/09 10:55 AM Page 1 wreck rap 1911 Dreamland Bell found

In May 1911, Coney Island’s Dreamland team, declared that he knew the bell M-17 Concero Frameless Park was in flames for a full 18 hours and existed, but never dreamed he would burned itself into the sea, destroying the find it. “I thought it would be buried in pier around it. mud. I was stunned, especially over the in September 2009, local divers dis- incredible shape the bell is in.” covered a 500-lb bell that sunk to the Ritter found the bell quite recently, ocean floor with the rest of the park but it has been 18 years since he first 98 years after the flames died down. came upon Dreamland’s remnants in It is three feet high and inscribed with the ocean. “James Gregory, NY, 1885”—founding As to the bell itself, it is yet uncertain member of the Gregory Brothers Circus. if it will ring once again, after being fully Diver Gene Ritter, part of the recovery restored. ■

The Dreamland Bell of 1911 and diver Gene Ritter who found it under the waves. Image cour- tesy of the website dedicated to the find, in construction, www.dreamland- It becomes you. bell.com

US Navy Shipwreck from War of 1812 to be excavated The shape and arrangement of sails on an American privateer schooner, brig or brigantine, are quickly movable to much more radical angles. English seamen have written that they saw privateers escaping “sailing directly into the wind.”

long excavation of the site east of T U S A C e n te Upper Marlboro in 1980, the wreck It becomes you. was reburied under four feet of mud and sediment to protect it H i s to r ic al from decay. the US Navy, which still owns US N a v y the flotilla, is considering whether The first USS Scorpion was a sloop- the wreck, which is one of the to excavate the site and possibly rigged self-propelled floating bat- war's most significant artifacts, raise the vessel as part of its plans WWW.TUSA.COM tery in commission in the United was discovered nearly 30 years to commemorate the bicenten- States Navy from 1812 to 1814. ago, but after a limited, month- nial of the War of 1812. ■

17 X-RAY MAG : 32 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel news Media sensationalism surrounding dive deaths plague industry Already hurting from the economic Thomas and Eileen Lonergan off Port media was too quick to brand fatal downturn, worldwide publicity Douglas in 1998, did nothing to help incidents “dive deaths” regardless of surrounding high-profile fatalities the situation. Since then, the death the circumstances, Queensland Dive has continued to plague of honeymooner Tina Watson, left Tourism Association general manager Edited by Queensland’s dive industry. to drown by her husband Gabriel Col McKenzie said, “You can come Scott Bennett the recurring headline “dive `Gabe’ Watson in 2004, garnered to Australia, and Australia will give death” is partly responsible for international headlines, as did the you world-quality diving which is very, crippling the the local dive industry ensuing court case earlier this year. very safe, but we can’t guarantee according to North Queensland the industry is also incensed at you won’t suffer a heart attack,” Mr Smile with a crocodile! tour operators. Although the state’s coverage of people who die of McKenzie said. A spokesman for the tourism industry is flagging generally, medical conditions while diving, which Maritime Union of Australia said there Come face to face with one of the world’s salties in the clear waters of coral reefs, but dive tourism has declined 30 percent can leave businesses struggling to had been two deaths involving the biggest and most dangerous predators in now divers will be able to observe them in in the past 12 months. The release of convince tourists that scuba diving North Queensland dive industry in the the Philippines. their preferred habitat. the film Open Water, loosely based and snorkelling in Queensland is past 12 months. ■ excursions will be guided by German on the disappearance of divers safe. One problem was that the SOURCE: WATODAY.COM.AU Being in the water alongside a saltwater photographer Dieter Heimig and his crocodile is an experience most divers Philippine wife Maygen. Both are long-time would like to avoid at all costs. Philippines- Philippines experts, having led more than Two new artificial reefs created in based Buwaya Adventures now offers the 30 excursions to some of the island state’s unique opportunity to observe and photo- most far-flung regions. Safety is paramount, the Bahamas graph salt-water crocodiles in their natural thanks to strict safety precautions and a habitat. Get up close and personal with team of professionals including a trained Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas has announced two new wreck these magnificent reptiles in the mangrove biologist and a crocodile expert. ■ dives are now accessible to scuba divers visiting Nassau. swamps of the island of Palawan. Most The result of a joint effort between Stuart Cove’s and the images published in magazines feature SOURCE: SALTIES.DE Bahamian government, the Anthony Bell and the Long Island Lady are the latest in a series of wrecks established off the coastline of this popular island destination. To date, nearly 20 wrecks have been created to help increase the health of the . The Anthony Bell, a decommissioned 90- foot tug boat, was sunk in 50 feet of water off the south side of Goulding Cay New supersonic aircraft is set to in mid-August. The Long Island Lady is a fishing boat that sat revolutionize 21st century air travel neglected in the Nassau harbour for a number of years. After being thoroughly cleaned up by volunteers, the vessel was With a non-stop range of more than 4,000 nautical miles, then moved out to her sinking this past June. The 70-foot ves- the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST) is set to revolution- sel sits on a rocky bottom at about 40 feet next to the tongue ize air travel in the 21st century. Up to twelve passengers of the ocean wall that drops down to 6500 feet. will be able to travel in large cabin comfort to global Stuart Cove’s destinations in half the time taken by converntional air- Dive Bahamas craft. offers a variety Flying at uninterrupted supersonic speeds over land of wreck div- and sea, QSST is the only jet with a patented design to ing packages revolutionize travel with a low “shaped sonic signature” in additional which is over 100 times quieter than the recently retired to other div- Concorde. Advanced technologies will help to reduce ing options. takeoff and landing sound, making it virtually indiscern- For additional able to people on the ground below. information, J. Michael Paulson founded Supersonic Aerospace go to www. International (SAI) in 2000 to fulfill his late father’s dream StuartCove. of making quiet supersonic flight a reality. SAI’s vision, com ■ SOURCE: plan and team, coupled with Lockheed Martin’s superior EXAMINER.COM technical design, will make this concept a reality. ■ SOURCE: SAIQSST.COM Click on image to watch the sinking of the Anthony Bell 18 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The FActs and viewpoints in this section ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF x-ray mag. EQUIPMENT PRESENTED IN THIS SECTION HAve NOT BEEN tested BY x-ray MAG STAFF, NOR ARE THE ITEMS warranteEd. information PROVIDED IS CONDENSED from manufacturers’ DESCRIPTIONS. Texts are usually edited for length, clarity and style. Links are active at the time of publication VR200 Evolution point & click Designed for diving in temperate on bold links or cold waters and fitted with Beuchat’s patented “anti- freeze system”. The sec- ond stage is fitted Crank it up! with a thermal exchanger Edited by which pro- Arnold Weisz tects the system from freezing dur- Equipment ing cold water dives. According to the Icon HD manufacturer this design The ICON HD computer is a true full-color makes it very stable display computer. It comes with a screen down to 100 meters made using LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) depth. with TFT (Thin Film Transistor) technology. 4MP ports and 2 HP The Icon allows you to reprogram the ports, balanced and processor as it comes with a rewritable adjustable second stage chip for software upgrades. Further fea- and adjustable venturi flow. tures; mode with 3 different www.beuchat.fr mixes, integrated interface, rechargeable lithium batteries, map function and pic- tures function. Air integration upgrade will be available from spring 2010. Tusa IQ-750 Element II www.mares.com The Element II can be operated as an Air computer, Nitrox (EANx) computer, a dig- ital /timer or as a free dive depth gauge/timer. Features include: Water-activation, 2 Mix Gas Switching ability, a large alphanumeric and backlit display, audible and visual alarms, advanced user safe- BARE ty settings, and PC AquaLung download/upload. Scuba The IQ-750 adds a Pro LT Deep Stop function for enhanced safety. Kayak The Pro LT weight-inte- The deep stop mode is The inflatable dive Kayak is grated, jacket style BC is activated when a dive designed to provide stability and the latest addition to AquaLungs exceeds 80 FT (24M) for versatility. By incorporating three fins in family of “Pro” BCs. It packs features, style and more than 1 second. Upon the rear, this kayak has great tracking ability in durability into an affordable package. Weight ascent. Additional features; waves and wind, and is extremely stable and manoeuvra- integration features the SureLock™II (patented) advanced 3 button puck-style ble. In the rear is a tank cradle to secure your gear as you paddle. 420 mechanical lock and release mechanism. The weight module in wrist boot, audible Denier Nylon top deck with tarpaulin rear deck and underside, heavy- pockets align themselves. A simple, single-pull release and Flashing Icon Alarms, 1 touch duty nylon straps with buckles to secure tank and equipment, metal “D” is all that is needed to jettison the in an emer- log access, automatic altitude adjust- rings to clip your equipment to prior to entry and exit, velcro straps to gency. A new, proprietary backpack has a built in ment from sea level to 14,000’, a user- secure paddle, inflatable seat with high back support for comfort. Weight: traction pad to reduce tank slippage as well as a replaceable battery. www.tusa.com 40 lbs Max Capacity: 425 lbs www.barescubadiving.com built in carrying handle. www.aqualung.com

19 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The mouthpiece is fitted with a bailout switch—the lever on the top left. Flip the lever to horizontal, and you breathe from the open system instead of the closed circuit. Essentially, it is a regular second stage that has been review combined with the mouthpiece

It was not without some positive antici- At first, I found pation that I went to Poseidon’s com- the unit to be pound on the outskirts of Gothenburg— a bit top-buoy- Sweden’s second largest city. As long ant, but that is term readers of this magazine are aware, not unusual in I have been following the development due of their new rebreather from the sidelines to the breath- for quite a while. Now, I was going to ing loop. This is take it for a dive. often countered by placing some Trying out Poseidon’s Discovery / CIS-Lunar Mk 6 Closed Circuit Rebreather Getting it going took just a few easy of the weights steps. First, you analysed and verified somewhere your gas with an analyser—a on top of the routine of which any nitrox certified divers unit. In this case, is also similar to performing it on open Don & Dive CCR are well familiar. Next, you assembled tightening all the straps for a snug fit did circuit except that the diver needs to the unit, which was quickly done. The much of the trick, and it soon felt very exhale just the exact amount of air, and Poseidon’s components—loop, electronics and can- comfortable. no more, to purge water from the mask compact ister—all seemed to just snap or click into the low weight and compact profile in order not to waste gas unnecessarily. Closed Circuit place with no further ado. of the unit, where the centre of gravity once it had been rigged, the user then sits so much closer to one’s body than in Comments Rebreather is performed what is referred to as a ‘nega- other and much bulkier rebreathers, was Overall, I found diving the Discovery was fully automated tive test’, during which the diver creates something I soon came to appreciate. an uncomplicated, relaxed and enjoy- and aimed at a vacuum in the breathing loop simply When diving a closed circuit rebreather, I able experience—a bit like driving an the recrea- by sucking out air and then closing the often feel embedded in bulky equipment automatic car rather than a stick shift. mouth piece. The hoses should remain like a medieval knight in armour who has the build felt reassuringly solid and tional diver. deflated. If they popped back into to be hoisted onto his horse. By contrast, well thought out with the few kinks We won- shape, it meant that the unit wasn’t tight, this unit was light and as easy to wear as seen on the prototypes now ironed out. dered how and all connections and seals had to be a standard open circuit system. According to Poseidon’s Jens Sjöblom, well it met its rechecked. the unit has now been extensively tested once this test was passed, the unit Bailout valve and dived in many parts of the world design tar- could be switched on, and from here My only gripe was that the mouth- under a wide variety of circumstances, get, so we on, the electronics performed another piece was tugging on my jaw, but that and the software has undergone 42 took it for a 35 different tests, including a ‘positive seems to be a common problem for all builds during the process of refining it. test’ during which the loop is slightly over rebreathers. Switching to open circuit in the unit is supervised by what is called spin. pressurized, again to check for leaks— case of a bail-out is simply accomplished a Resource Management Algorithm, prompting the user to i.e. open valves or by flipping the lever on the mouthpiece. the function of which is, put simply, to Poseidon’s close the mouthpiece. Opening and closing it comes easy. combine or merge the functions of the Discovery was the diver just has to follow the instruc- i did a couple of standard routines with the monitoring of listed in Popular tions. The whole sequence takes three to such as taking off the mask and going onboard supplies (gas, battery life, scrub- Science maga- four minutes after which the unit is ready on open circuit and back, and again, ber, etc) and operation (i.e. sensor integ- zine’s Best of to dive. the task load at any given point seemed rity) into a single instrument display that What’s New pretty similar to what you would do with tells you everything you really need to awards in 2008 Into the water a standard scuba system. I ended up know—essentially, how much dive time So, I slipped into the harness and tight- getting a little water into the mouth- the diver has left before he or she runs ened the buckles. The unit was no heavi- piece, but a barrel-roll to the right out of air or goes into deco. er to wear than a standard scuba system drained the water into the water trap and felt like a compact backpack. I slid and down the counterlung from where it Limitations into the water and immediately got to could be purged. That manoeuvre also As the Discovery is specifically built with appreciate the silence that is the hall- cleared that annoying gurgling sound. the recreational diver in mind, not the mark of rebreathers. clearing a mask while on closed circuit tech diver, it comes with a number of

20 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Setpoints explained

A Closed Circuit Rebreather can be likened to a transportable nitrox- blender, which always provides the diver with the optimal blend of breathing gases. With enriched air nitrox, we would usually want the oxygen content to be as high as pos- sible, and the content of nitrogen— which is the culprit in DCS—as low possible. but too much oxygen is not good The Discovery performs an automatic smooth transition from low ot high either. Prolongued exposure to high setpoint (the sigmoid purple curve). See sidebar for furhter explanation. partial of oxygen can lead to seizures—not a good thing when preset limitations. It is rated to max able changes in , nor you are underwater. So, within recre- 40 meters and is not meant for does the user need to worry ational diving, the upper limit is con- decompression diving, though it about doing the changes. ventionally set at at 1.3 bar partial will continue to function and pro- pressure oxygen (pO2). In the case of vide life support should the diver Facing the music the Discovery, 1.2 bar pO2 has been accidentally end up in the decom- As with so many other rebreath- chosen. pression zone or exceed any other ers, this one too has been this is what the limits. greeted with both criticism and rebreather is trying to maintain at Should this happen, or any other scepticism—just like what the a constant level by varying the problem, an alarm will go off. A Inspiration CCR was subjected oxygen-% in the breathing loop in cascading system of alerts with a to when it came out. Some of response to the changing depths. light and a vibrator on the mouth- it is fair, factual and relevant, however, there is a snag with piece as well as buzzer in the bat- but most of it not. this fine principle; It is impossible to tery will draw the is it perfectly designed? achieve a partial pressure of 1.3 bar diver’s attention to the display on Surely not—no machine ever at the surface where the ambience which is shown what the issue is. is—and accidents will ultimately pressure is only 1 bar. If the rebreath- happen. But the Discovery er tried to achieve this level, it would Notable feature seems quite well-designed, just keep inflating the breathing loop If I am to pick out from my extensive and from what I am able to with oxygen perhaps until it popped notes a notable function, or fea- judge through just a single try like a ballon. ture, my choice would be how the dive, asking a lot of probing Needless to say, we would need Discovery handles pO2-setpoints. In questions, and going over the to start off with a lower oxygen par- most rebreathers, the diver changes documentation, it is evident tial pressure. This is conventionally 0.7 the setpoints up and down at his or that at lot of time, money and bar pO2, which at the surface where her discretion; typically the switch is good thinking was sunk into the there is 1 bar translates into 70% made around six meters. Switching development of this unit. nitrox. to the highest point means injection At a glance, it thus appears once one is below the surface, of oxygen into the breathing loop to have fulfilled its design crite- one wants to go from the 0.7 bar to creating a buoyancy spike, which ria of being a straight forward the 1.3 (or 1.2) bar pO2. When the has to be countered i.e. by simulta- automated CCR for the rec- change is performed manually, typi- neously dumping gas from a suit or reational divers to use. How the cally at a depth of 6-10 meters, it is BCD. The Discovery removes both market is going to take to it is referred to as changing setpoints. these potential stressors by applying another question—only time will on many rebreathers, this is a smooth and automated transition tell. done by flipping some switches. of the pO2-setpoint which goes the unit is CE-approved, Descending, one changes from a from 0.5 bar pO2 at the surface to weighs 15 kg including tanks low to a high setpoint, and when one 1.2 bar pO2 at 12 meters. This way, but excluding harness and ascends, one switches from a high to there will be no sudden or discern- wing. ■ a low setpoint. ■

21 X-RAY MAG : 32 : 2009 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED