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 Vuf FOR LENGTH, CLARITY AND STYLE. LINKS ARE ACTIVE AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION Now this is perfect for your POINT & CLICK Scuba Pup - The Dive Flag Dog ON BOLD LINKS Collar. And don’t forget to pick up a matching Leash. Available in sizes S, M and L. Webbing Gotta have it Width is 5/8 inch, 3/4 Edited by inch or 1 inch. Neck Andrey Bizuykin Sizes: 8-13 inches, 11.5- & Peter Symes 19 inches and 15-25 inches. Price: US$9.95 Equipment www.amazon.com

Oceanic Viper Beuchat The new Viper is made for all diving and snor- The Beuchat keling skill levels and is extremely lightweight for Masterlift TEK BC increased performance and ease of travel. The has been designed Viper blade’s Flexible Power Thrust Channel directs to meet the high water off the tip of the blade for improved power and standards of technical efficiency. The engineered channels and side rails direct water dives. It is a single 35-liter flow off the tips of the fin without allowing water to “spill” bag BC with 1000-denier from the sides of the blade for uncompromising power and Cordura structure backplate with efficiency. Power Vents reduce stress while accelerating multiple fastenings for the structure, bag, water over the blade. A generous yet streamlined foot pock- tank, and accessories and a wealth of fea- et fits a wide range of boot styles while significantly reducing drag. tures including a maximum demand emergen- Comes with easy adjust quick-release buckles. www.oceanicworldwide.com cy regulator unit with dump valve. www.beuchat.fr Gravity Zero Aeris T3 The Zero Ranger TXT trilaminate is The elite T3 hoseless air-integrated intended for the demanding user from Aeris Aquatec Aquastar be it a commercial, technical, achieves a remarkable bal- At 15cm, this AquaStar Led Torch Flashlight is not military or sport diver. A telescopic ance between features only sleek but also boasts an impressive 5-hour burn- torso and elasticized waist design and usability. With Aeris’ time on standard AA-sized batteries while operat- make for a perfect fit. The front wireless transmitter, the ed at high intensity. The nominal rated output diagonal zipper is non-magnetic diver can also monitor is 23 Lumens. The rugged military style cas- and covered by a protective gas from up ing makes this flashlight practically inde- flap made in Cordura. Knee to three independent structible and maintenance free. It pads and other exposed areas cylinders – ideal for is depth-rated at 100m. The elec- are also reinforced with an extra both technical div- tronics of this flashlight also layer of Cordura. The suit is fully ing applications with include a constant taped and sealed on the inside compatibility with up control circuitry that with ADS 2000 Polymer Sealant to three mixes maintains the LED’s that comes with a lifetime war- to 100% and brightness output ranty. www.gravityzero.it with throughout their new Buddy Pressure the entire Check™ feature. life of the www.DiveAeris.com battery. www.duton.com.tw

57 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Aqualung Aqua Lung’s New Latitude XLT features the same proven mechanical system as MINI Nocturnal SLX LED some of the most technically advanced Dive/Photo Light Oceanic BCs on the market. Solidly constructed with The Veo 100 Nx from Oceanic is a full- the patented SURELOCK technology, the review By Larry Tackett Nocturnal featured entry level Air or Nitrox Dive Latitude XLT features a balanced and inte- Computer. The Veo 100 Nx coordinates grated system that releases with Lights carefully arranged information with ease- one single instinctive action. The BC, avail- of-use, oversized digits, bar graphs and able in red/black and black/gray/sil- intuitive icons. Loaded with features but ver color combos, is made of the still very user friendly with a single oper- rugged Armorshield Cordura ating button. Features with the weight system “inte- include Air grated” into the jacket, making I must admit that I am a creature of changed them only twice in 16 days of and Nitrox it functional and comfortable. habit. I have been using the same aim- diving. I was shooting supermacro for a Operating Other features include: two ing/focus light for my housed cameras pygmy seahorse project that required Modes, large zippered utility pockets, for about ten years. It is a small plastic manually focusing in low-light condi- water chest strap, grommets for knife housing light with one tungsten (halo- tions. The brightness of this light and its activa- attachments, right shoulder pull gen) bulb and uses four AA batteries. wide beam angle made it much easier tion, dump for quick and easy defla- It mounts on the macro port, moves to see focus points. Safety tion. www.aqualung.com up and down, and it works... always The handle is pre-drilled with two stop has. Never thought much about it. holes to fit readily available mounting prompt But recently, I had the opportunity to options. My light came with a mounting and use one of Nocturnal Lights LED photo ball that worked fine with my UltraLight a12 dive lights. What a joy! It was several times strobe arms. My only complaint was log book. brighter than my existing light, hav- with the very large knob used to hold Diver- ing three LED bulbs, which are easily the ball. It was so large that it made it replaceable bat- changed with different wattage bulbs difficult to hold the light by the handle. tery with Hot Swap Ocean wants to know what being available. With the included dif- There are better ways to do this. As a memory allows you think about full face masks fuser it produced a wide, even beam suggestion it would be nice to have a battery change of light which meant that I did not red diffuser, or a filter gel that fits inside between dives. Ocean Reef is conducting a survey to learn have to move the light every time my the diffuser, for night shots of crusta- www.amazon.com how scuba divers feel about full face masks camera-to-subject changed. It is very ceans and other critters bothered by and underwater communication systems. durable with an aluminum housing and white light. By participating in the survey, you will be handle. In all, this is a great light that has now entered in a drawing for a Limited Edition The light uses six AA batteries and the replaced my previous one. Yes, even Ocean REEF ScubaDoRag! advertised burn time for alkaline batts creatures of habit need to consider www.oceanreefgroup.com is 4.5 hours. I used Lithium AAs and new ideas and products! ■

a component could be Explorer-40 BC’s sold convenience of their have been notified and Halcyon Contact 255015035 355147010 Press release 355147040 355147068 shipped to their custom- after July 2005 that could customers. This problem are prepared to assist any Information: 255015053 355147011 355147043 355147070 Halcyon Recalls ers that does not meet develop problems over was identified during affected customers. If you 255015054 355147013 1-800-HALCYON 355147045 355147072 Halcyon’s expectation of time. In these few units it regular quality control have an affected BC (see 255015057 355147014 some of it’s quality. Even as they do is possible that the over evaluations in which a serial numbers below) (800-425-2966) x307 355147046 355147073 255015061 355147016 Explorer wings their best to ship only the pressure valve (OPV) lamination machine (RF please return the unit [email protected] 355147047 355147074 255015062 355147017 highest quality gear, they could delaminate, caus- welder) showed slight to any Halcyon dealer; 355147049 355147075 Voluntary Recall of Select will announce any recall ing the BC to leak. It inconsistency during pro- you may also contact 255015063 355147018 EXPLORER 40 Serial 355147050 555603031 Explorer 40 BC’s. (Serial in a timely manner, along is unlikely that most of duction. The machine your local distributor for Numbers 255015067 355147019 Filephoto 355147051 555603034 Numbers Listed Below) with the procedure that these units will experi- has been replaced and replacement. If you have 255015068 355147020 of Halcyon 255015005 255015091 355147052 555603039 will need to be followed ence any problems; yet, the few BC’s affected any questions or prefer to 355147031 355147058 255015073 355147022 Explorer to ensure a quick and given their rigorous desire have been identified by work directly with Halcyon 255015008 255015092 355147053 555603062 Halcyon is committed 355147033 355147059 255015075 355147023 CCR-35 unbureaucratic handling to produce only the fin- quality control. Halcyon is please contact Halcyon 255015015 255015099 355147054 555603070 to manufacturing dive (NOT the of the issue. est quality equipment, seeking to minimize any tech services via the con- 355147035 355147061 255015081 355147026 gear that exceeds the 255015016 355147001 355147055 C44679024 Explorer 40 Halcyon Manufacturing Halcyon would like to inconvenience to their tact information listed 355147036 355147062 255015083 355147028 industry’s highest stand- 255015025 355147003 355147056 255015085 in question) has identified a very ensure this problem does customers. To this end, below. 355147037 355147064 355147030 355147057 ards. Nevertheless, they 255015031 355147006 small number of Halcyon not affect the safety or all Halcyon distributors 355147038 355147065 recognize that eventually www.halcyon.net

58 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED MB Sub Hangair The two most successful diver‘s lamps of MB Sub Divers and others who use a are now also available with new high energy lithium have been trying for years to dry the manganese accumulators, which don’t need suit before their next chance to hit protective circuits, don’t self-discharge and the surf. After use, often retain high capacity also in the cold. The cells are take several days to dry rechargeable at any time regardless of the completely. Wetsuit charge state and they don’t suffer from users, and those memory effect. who live with The FUN Light LiMn comes at them, will testify a lower priced as it uses an that they often external charger, whereas develop a strong, unpleasant and the extreme LiMn can be unique odor. Twenty-three-year-old charged without opening it. Michael Appelman, an avid surfer and scuba diver, The extreme LiMn uses knew there had to be a better way, so he created the Hangair Drying halogen burners with System. The system was officially lauched at expos in September and separate, replace- Atomic Aquatics first shipments of Hangairs is expected be arriving in stores the able aluminium SubFrameMask first week of November. www.hangair.com reflectors. These are available with an Receives Prestigious angle of reflected International Design Keep fit with beam with 12° Spot, SUUNTO t6 accurately records how 80° (with hotspot) and Award your body performs during exer- 90° Flood as photo or Atomic Aquatics have been cise, enabling later analysis and video light. awarded the prestigious Red planning with Suunto Training www.mbsub.com Dot Award, an international Manager. By measuring your award that has been exercise load and relating it presented for the last 50 to your personal fitness level, years in recognizing true Suunto t6 tells you if the ses- product design excel- sion improved your condition lence in a wide range or not. www.amazon.com Tech 2G of categories. Uwatec’s Aladin TEC 2G is an easy to use This year, there two-gas computer which offers a predic- were more than tive multi-gas algorithm (PMG) shared 50,000 entries Scubapro Panther only with the Uwatec Smart TEC. The from more than The all-new Panther N1 drysuits are made from 5mm Aladin TEC 2G predictive multi-gas 50 countries. With high-quality pre-compressed neoprene insulates algorithm performs its decom- the selection of its with little or no need for extra undergarments neces- pression calculation taking into SubFrame mask, sary, whilst ensuring stability at depth. The account all planned gas switches introduced earlier Panther C1 (not shown) is a new membrane suit for throughout the dive. This means this year, Atomic warm or cold water allowing you to wear as many that the sched- Aquatics became undergarment layers as necessary to stay warm and ule shown on the display gives the first company in dry. Panther C1 is anatomically pre-shaped and the you the actual total time of the dive industry to diagonal dry front zipper ensures easy access with- ascent. In the background, how- be recognized by out requiring help from your buddy. Additionally the ever, the algorithm also calcu- the Red Dot com- adjustable telescopic torso system provides the perfect lates the decompression schedule mittee in the sporting fit and makes for easy donning; this is particularly ben- for the currently active gas only, so goods category. eficial to divers with slightly longer upper bodies. Both that if you fail to switch to the “deco suits comes with anti-allergic extra long latex wrist gas” at the planned depth, the com- More details on this honor and seals combined with nylon neoprene wrist cuffs. The puter can quickly revert to this calcula- the worldwide competition can self-draining two-sided nylon neoprene collar with tion. You can look up the active gas cal- be found at: en.red-dot.org Velcro closure and self-draining front valve pro- culation at any time at the press of tects the latex neck seal from water damage. a button. Scubapro-uwatec.com www.scubapro-uwatec.com

59 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Ecology

Edited by Michael Arvedlund Medicines unlimited from the Oceans & Peter Symes The Oceanic Cornucopia Text by Michael Symes PETER SYMES

For millennia, mankind has been There has long been folk lore ing from coral reefs, molluscs, attached to the reef obtaining nourishment from the about various prophylac- sponges, to bacteria found in and so cannot escape tic substances that can be the sediments at the bottom from predators. They there- oceans, not only from fish and obtained from the oceans. For of the oceans. fore have to engage in a shellfish but also from the various centuries, coastal communi- chemical warfare using bioac- at types of plant life. The oceans ties have used reef plants and Coral reefs tive chemicals to deter preda- a are also home to some of the animals for their medicinal Currently, one the most tion, fight disease, and pre- depth of properties. In the Philippines, important source of pharma- vent overgrowth by compet- 100 m in the most poisonous and deadly for instance, giant clams are ceutically active chemicals ing organisms. Some animals Mediterranean. organisms in the world, for eaten as a malaria treatment. appears to be in the coral also use toxins to catch their The related com- example the Banded Sea Snake, Today, more and more reefs to be found around prey. These chemicals may be pound Eleutherobin is the Scorpion Fish, and even the research is taking place into the world. As readers of this synthesized by the organism obtained from the shallow- the possibilities of obtain- magazine will know, corals itself or by the endosymbiotic water Eleutherobia species humble cone snail. Yet these ing pharmaceutically active are formed of polyps living microorganisms that inhabit its in western Australia. They are selfsame creatures may well be chemicals from the oceans. within a hard skeleton of cal- tissue. They can also be accu- both active against cancer in our salvation, in that they may The majority of marine-derived cium carbonate. They are to mulated from the food they that they are cytotoxic . compounds are obtained be found almost everywhere eat. Another example is the eventually provide us with life- from either microorganisms in the world, not only in the pseudopterosins obtained saving substances against many or stationary, bottom-dwell- warm tropical seas but also Cancer medicines from a gorgonian coral of the ailments that affect us. ing organisms such as corals, in the colder waters of the Extracts of these chemicals, Pseodoterigorgia elisabethae, sponges and tunicates. Atlantic. Although they mostly like histamines, hormones, found near the Bahamas. There are already many live in shallower waters they antibiotics, and secosteroids These have anti-inflamma- of these compounds are also to be found in deep have led to drugs such as AZ1, tory and analgesic properties, that can, for example, sea waters. Ara-A, Ara-C, and Dolostatin and are now in use in a com- possibly provide cures for Coral reefs are also home 10, which combat AIDS, can- mercial skin-care product to cancer, AIDS, malaria, herpes to a diverse mixture of inver- cer, asthma, arthritis, and defeat allergic responses in infections, etc., but can also tebrates such as tunicates, inflammatory disorders. the skin. act as pain-killers and sun- molluscs, bryozoans, sponges For example, Sarcodictyin A chemical called Kainic

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY screens. The sources of these and echinoderms. These ani- is obtained from the coral acid was originally isolated compounds are legion, rang- mals spend most of their time Sarcodictyon roseum, found from Digenea simplex, a red

60 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED NOAA PETER SYMES

well as in the depths, includ- are those that have been collected from ecology ing sea caves where there the sponges of the Lithistid family, dis- is little or no light. There covered at depths of 300 to 600 meters are even some that live off the coast of Florida. Drugs extracted in fresh waters. Some 5000 from them have been used not only to species have treat acute myelocytic leukemia and already been non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma but also for the identified. treatment of herpes infections using the Most sea antiviral drug Ara-A. sponges Another sponge with an elevated attach microbial population which is exception- them- ally bioactive is the Halichondria oka- selves to dai sponge which lives in remote tropi- coral, cal waters off the coast of Japan. This rocks sponge contains halichondrin B, a chemi- and cal which has been described as ‘exqui- algae found other sitely potent’ in killing cancer cells. A in coral reefs hard sur- synthetic version of this chemical, E7389, off the coasts faces has been produced, which is currently of Japan and along being tested in humans for the treatment Taiwan. This is the of non-small cell lung cancer and other used as an cancers. The drug functions by disrupting anti- cell division. In a recent Phase II clinical worm- study E7389 gave promises of a treat- ing ment for slowing and possibly reversing agent, the spread of breast cancer. The deep and sea sponge Lissodendoryx was later dis- in neu- roscience covered at depths of 100 meters off the research in the modelling of ocean floor. coast of New Zealand. This sponge con- epilepsy and Alzheimer’s dis- Sponges are home tains halichondrins in greater concentra- ease. It is also used as a diag- to huge amounts of tions than the shallow-water species. nostic chemical to investigate bacteria, cyanobac- The deep sea sponge Discodermia Huntington’s chorea, a rare but fatal dis- teria, and fungi, and because a single dissolute is found at a depth of 140 ease of the nervous system. sponge can be populated by dozens of meters off the Bahamas. A compound, different symbiotic bacteria that produce Discodermolide, which interferes with Porifera an extraordinary range of chemicals, dividing cells, has been extracted from The Porifera, more commonly known as they are ideal the sea sponges, are multicellular marine candidates for bio- The sponge, animals usually occurring in complex ses- prospecting. These Discodermia sile colonies in which the porous body associated micro- dissolute, con- is sup- ported by a fibrous organisms have tains agents framework. been shown in agent against solid tumours They are to some cases to be be found responsible for the in every defensive chemi- ocean of cals produced by the world, sponges. Many Microbes that WIKIPEDIA particu- sponge species live inside larly the have elevated sea squirts Antarctic, microbial popula- produce two both in tions. compounds thought to shallow An example of have anti-can- waters as these chemicals cer properties NOAA 61 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Mangrove (Rhizophora sp.) endosymbiont inside the sea Conotoxins also have the human spinal cord. in Queensland squirt Lissoclinum patella. This potential to treat epilepsy Ziconotide, developed ecology produces two compounds from the venom, works called Patellamide A and and clinical depression. by blocking the cal- Plants C, which are thought to cium gateways of the Just like the land plants from have anti-cancer properties. These patel- nerve synapses, so that transmission of which we have previously lamides are small peptides that appear the pain signal to the brain is blocked. obtained practically all our useful in treating some cancers. Ziconotide, also commercially known as medicines, the plants that grow Prialt®, was isolated from Conus magus. in and around the oceans have this sponge. It is an active agent against Molluscs One of the most significant develop- a potential as a source of bio- solid tumours, especially multi-drug resist- These consist of the gastropods (snails, ments is from an omega-conotoxin of logically active chemicals. This ant tumours. Phase I clinical trials have slugs), the bivalves (clams, mussels) and conus geographus. Using the snail’s potential, though, is nowhere been completed the cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopuses). natural conotoxin, a synthetic deriva- as great as that for medicines Furthermore, products from two other One of the most interesting gastropods tive called SNX-111 was produced. It has produced from animal species. deep sea sponges are in pre-clinical from the medicine point of view is the been shown to have analgesic proper- One minor example is the development. These are Topsentin, beautiful but deadly cone snail, of which ties, and has therefore the potential for extracts derived from the fruit which is an anti-inflammatory useful there are more than 500 known species, being the basis for a new pain-relieving of a mangrove species found against arthritis and skin irritations, and found primarily in coral reefs in warm, drug. Studies have already shown SNX- on the coastal regions of the also against colon cancer. It can also tropical waters but also in mangrove 111 to be 100-1000 times more power- Andaman & Nicobar Islands, possibly be used in treating Alzheimer’s swamps. They harpoon other inverte- ful than morphine, without many of the which shows both anti-diabetic disease. It is obtained from the sponge brates with a concealed hollow tooth, associated side effects and anti-diarrhoeal activities. Spongosporites ruetzleri, found at a though which they inject conotoxin Conotoxins also have the potential to Fractionation of the fruit can depth of 300-600 m off the Bahamas. The venom. Despite its small size, it is only a treat epilepsy and clinical depression. separate the anti-diabetic second product is Dicytostatin-1, used few centimetres in length, it has Each species is able to pro- activity from the constipation- against cancer. It is obtained from a enough venom to paralyse or kill Synthetic duce more than a hundred inducing activity. MURIEL GOTTROP sponge of the order Lithistida, family cor- a human. unique toxins. Cone snails as allistadae, living off Jamaica at a depth The most scientifically inter- derivatives a group may thus have more of 440 m. esting venoms are those pro- are relatively potential for new medicines duced by conus geographus easy to manu- than any other genus. So far, Tunicates and conus magus. Their ven- the venoms of only just over fifty Non-pharmaceutical Applications Tunicates, commonly called sea squirts, oms contain substances called facture. species of cone snail have been are marine animals that spend most conotoxins. These are small pep- investigated. As it takes 50-100 Corals of their lives attached to rocks or the , normally only 20-30 amino acids snails to obtain enough venom for analy- Corals have a skeletal structure similar to oped natural sunscreens to cope with bottoms of boats. The photosynthetic in length. This short length means that sis the environmental impact of removing that of bone, with a hard outer sheath long-term exposure to the high-intensity microbe Prochloron didemni lives as an synthetic derivatives are relatively easy cone snails must be considered. and a spongy inner core. They are there- ultra-violet radiation penetrating shallow to manufacture. There are a number of fore well suited to be used as orthopae- reef waters. This sunscreen, structurally different types of conotoxin, each acting Bacteria dic implants in bone grafting. At the unlike compounds in current use, has on different receptors. Salinispora, a new class of marine gram- present time, the best for this purpose are demonstrated great efficiency in absorb- The molluscs’ venom was positive bacteria, have been isolated found to be the tropical genera Porites, ing and dissipating UV radiation in the found to be able to in large numbers from many different Alveopora, and Goniopora. The bam- damaging UV-B region of the spectrum. block pain sig- ecosystems, including the Caribbean boo corals of the family Isididae, genera Luckily, these materials can now be nals in the Sea , the Red Sea, the oceans around Keratoistis and Isidella, which live more synthetically produced, thus avoiding Hawaii, and the Sea of Cortez, together than 1000m down in the North Pacific the destructive exploitation of natural with such extreme environments as the Ocean, are also being resources. sediment on the ocean floor more than used, as the dimensions 1000 m down in the North Pacific Ocean. of bamboo coral are Actinaria A substance, Salinosporamide A, has almost identical to that The Actinaria, bet- been isolated from these bacteria, which of bone. They are still ter known as the sea shows strong anti-cancer properties in preclinical develop- anemones, belong to against melanoma, colon-, breast- and ment but have already the phylum Cnidaria lung-cancer. been found to reduce the which also includes the risk of mammalian disease. jellyfish, corals and hydras. Cone snail The corals have also devel- The jelly fish and sea anem-

NOAA

62 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Urticina sp from the White sea, Russia ONE INDUSTRY. ONE SHOW. ONE MAGICAL LOCATION. anemones can be employed to deliver important pharmaceuti- cals painlessly through the skin of a patient. Research is going for- ward into imbedding a drug such as insulin into the stingers which can be mass-culled from the sea anemones. These are then made up into a cream which, when rubbed on the skin, activates the stingers to inject the drug. These tiny injectors, which are invisible to the naked eye, can deliver up to more than 100 thousand penetra- tion points per square centimetre of skin contact. It is hoped that the method can be used to deliv- er chemotherapy drugs, antibiot- ics and anti-rejection drugs after organ transplant operations. Cure for AIDS? It will be seen that the oceans are potentially a huge source of medically important compounds. It is therefore necessary that we ones have soft bodies and long, that it can kill a person. However, protect them from destructive

PETER SYMES stinging, poisonous tentacles that it is the mechanism of the sting fishing practices such as the trawl- they use to catch fish. They do this that is of interest, for the nemo- ing of the ocean beds. Otherwise,DEMA by paralysing the fish with venom cysts can be used to inject drugs we might lose the chance to find DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF DEMA SHOW! sent out through stinging cells through the human skin. just that substance or mechanism called nemocysts. The venom of It has been shown that the that could cure cancer or AIDS. DEMA Show 2006 is the ONLY international trade event for diving, adventure travel and action water sports professionals—creating an some of the jelly fish is so strong minuscule stingers of the sea But that’s another story. ■ exclusive environment focused on addressing every possible need you have as a dive retailer or instructor.

Scripps Institution of attractive to investors. He hopes “It’s completely out of date,” CONNECT with 600+ companies gathered in one global and UC an interdisciplinary approach to Fenical said. “Where are we in BUSINESS marketplace—see, demo and buy virtually every product, finding medicines from the sea terms of developing new antibi- service and technology you need to stay competitive San Diego’s School of could draw more resources. The otics? We are in trouble. My col- biggest obstacle, he said, is that leagues believe it is a national HAVE FUN while networking with more than 10,000 industry Medicine have teamed PLEASURE professionals during the show and at the industry’s biggest the largest donor of research emergency.” Victor Nizet, associ- social event, the DEMA Awards Party up to hunt for new anti- grants, the National Institutes of ate professor of pediatrics at the biotics on the ocean floor Health, has stopped supporting Division of Infectious diseases at PARTICIPATE in hundreds of hours of educational and get them to market antibiotic research. This lack of UCSD’s School of Medicine, said EDUCATION programming designed to help you stay abreast of changing support extends from a 25-year-old more than 50 percent of strains technology and find new ways to boost your bottom line Bill Fenical, director of Scripps’ agreement to keep the National of bacteria are resistant to com- Center for Marine Biotechnology Institute of Allergy and Infectious mon, first-line antibiotics. DISCOVER programs that support the growth of the dive and Biomedicine, is sorting out Diseases - an NIH arm - from com- A dozen researchers are work- DIVING industry and your business, including Ships to Reefs and how to make the potential new peting with private enterprise, he ing on the interdisciplinary push DEMA’s Diver Acquisition Project antibiotic discoveries effort more said. to find new antibiotics. ■ DEMA Show 2006—One event you can’t afford to miss! Make plans to attend or exhibit, visit www.demashow.com for more information.

63 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wrecks

Vice-Admiral Shoji Nishimura

Japanese BattleshipText and images courtesy of Cedric Verdier Is there anything more difficult in diving? When the dramatic story of a Japanese of the Southern of the Operation hero meets the dream of a few technical Sho-Go, as the Imperial Japanese Navy Nowadays, the name Yamashiro divers. Headquarters in Tokyo search for a final and could have different meanings decisive naval battle against the Americans October 24th, 1944 in the Philippines. His force (named Force C) depending on where you come Vice-Admiral Shoji Nishimura doesn’t like the consists of battleships Fuso and Yamashiro from. If you live in Los Angeles, a way everything goes. Nishimura is known (his flagship), heavy cruiser Mogami, and huge pagoda near Hollywood is for his high respect of the orders. No matter destroyers Shigure, Michishio, Asagumo, and the oldest structure in California what orders he had, he would carry them Yamagumo. And now, he has to go through out even though they could result in the the Strait of Surigao to attack the Allied inva- and hosts a famous restaurant annihilation of himself and his command. sion shipping in Leyte Gulf. named Yamashiro or “Mountain For the time being, he doesn’t know that palace” in Japanese. If you live it’s exactly what will happen in the next few July 18th, 2006 in Kyoto, Japan, Yamashiro is hours in the Surigao Strait. Three technical divers and more than six Only a year after being nominated as hundred kilograms of are the name of an area close-by. a Vice-Admiral, he is named commander boarding the boat that Rob Lalumiere, an And for the older generation, it’s also the name of a never forgot- ten Japanese battleship lost dur- ing WWII during one of the major battles of naval history, the battle of Leyte, October 1944. Finally, if you’re a scuba diver, you might have heard about the wreck of the Japanese fleet leaves Brunei, 22 October 1944 HIJMS Yamashiro as definitely the most challenging shipwreck in the world, because of the remoteness of the location, the extreme depth and the very bad diving conditions.

Top view of Yamashiro Ron Lalumiere’s in the Philippines 64 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Divers Bruce and Cedric prepare to dive the wrecks Yamashiro deep wreck Yamashiro or rent some equipment. There is no recompression chamber less than twelve hours away. The closest boat available for technical divers, a private boat owned by Rob, comes from Ormoc, fifteen hours north. The clos- est town, Hinundayan, has only a few houses on a small road that looks like it is con- stantly being repaired, and more than ten people talking together at the same time is a major event in this very less than six battleships. Amongst them, ed narrow targets in close proximity. quiet area. the deadly USS West Virginia, California It’s late in the afternoon when Vice- Everything has to be and Tennessee, recently equipped with Admiral Nishimura heads to the Strait. brought from Europe, the new Mark 8 fire control radar, an He is now well aware of the trap that is Thailand or Manila. Soda improved system that better discriminat- waiting for him, as a scout plane from Lime and small tanks for the , spare parts, Helium, Oxygen... in short, an expedition as easy to set up Japanese battleship Musashi under attack in the Sibuyan Sea, October 24th, 1944 as a wedding party on top of Mt. Everest. American expatriate and an avid deep in Thailand. We all wreck diver, uses to provide the surface come to Leyte, a remote island in the Shooting a fish in a barrel support to the Yamashiro Project team. Philippines, to dive the Yamashiro and A team made of three technical divers the Fuso. October 24th, 1944 coming from very different horizons. I am Bruce and I spent the last ten months Since its departure from Brunei two days originally from France but spend most of gathering information about the wrecks ago, Vice-Admiral Nishimura considers my time travelling around the world to and the logistics that could be used for himself lucky, as his force has remained teach diving. Pim van dem such extreme dives. We quickly both undetected by the US Navy. Unknown Horst does the same in his dive school in came to the conclusion that it’s a combi- to him though, some aircrafts took off the Netherlands. Bruce Konefe, also an nation of heaven and hell. the USS Franklin to strike an attack on American citizen, resides and teaches Heaven because the wreck of the his ships. They are spotted a few min- Yamashiro lies in pristine condition, still utes later, as they prepared to drop proud of her 213 m/699 feet length, their bombs on the two battleships. her twelve heavy 14 inch guns and her Fortunately, the damages will be minor famous 44 m/144 feet high superstructure and nothing will happen for the rest of nicknamed Pagoda. the afternoon. However, Force C has Hell because the current is never less been uncovered, and US Navy ships from than 7 knots, the visibility on the bottom the 7th Fleet gather in the Strait of Surigao is close to 5m/15 feet, the maximum to welcome the Japanese fleet. depth is almost 200m/656 fsw (only 160m/ Its American opponent, Rear Admiral 525 fsw for her sistership HIJMS Fuso, sunk Oldendorf, had deployed his overwhelm- in two parts only a few miles away). It ing to gain the maximum advan- also means that the team knows what a tage, barring the Strait with an incred- “Logistical nightmare” is. ible layer of PT boats, destroyers, and There is no to fill the tanks finally, the great guns of cruisers and no

Preparations for the dive Philippine island 65 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Yamashiro

the HIJMS Mogami has pro- RESERVED vided him with a report about the American forces and their location. Nevertheless, he knows that following the orders he has received will help Operation FOR SOME Sho-Go to succeed. All of a sudden, US Torpedo Boats come from nowhere and directly aim at the battleships. AD As the night falls, the fight seems to last forever, finally ending around two o’clock in the night. But it’s actually only a pause, waiting for the next phase of the battle… Then, an hour later, the US destroyers start to launch their torpedoes, hit the HIJMS Fuso, breaking her in two parts. HIJMS Yamashiro also takes a hit but keeps on firing from all guns, try- ing to find the enemy in total darkness. Most of the Japanese destroyers are lost or crippled by this time. ad Another hour and the remain- ing American force is within range of fire. All the battleships, some being veterans of the Pearl Harbour attack, start a terrific of gunfire, and every size of projectiles, from 6-inch a few minutes after the order comes refusing to be rescued by the US Ships, through 16-inch, come pouring into to abandon the ship, the distressed preferring to swim ashore to be butch- the few remaining Japanese ships. ship suddenly capsizes and sinks stern ered by the Philippines natives. Shells come down like rain all first following a final hit from two tor- From all the Japanese Force C, around Vice-Admiral Nishimura. pedos in the starboard side amidships only the cruiser Mogami and destroy- Nevertheless, he relentlessly keeps his and aft. Aboard are Vice-Admiral ers Asagumo and Shigure will remain force on its course, trying to make it Nishimura and most of her 1400 crew operable. Every other ship had sunk. through the Strait, even if he members. knows now that his command There are only a few Diving a mountain palace is doomed. hundred survivors from In the chaos of the night the cut-in-half HIJMS July 18th 2006 surface battle of Surigao Fuso, most Time to dive! So many problems are Strait, the HIJMS Yamashiro of them linked to the Yamashiro Project that it is shelled and torpedoed could be funny. Some bottom or sup- into ruin, dangerously tilting port divers couldn’t come to the on one side. Only Philippines,

HIJMS Yamashiro

66 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Bruce doing his deco Cedric learning to wrecks BELOW: Rob’s dive boat fly during deco Yamashiro Yamashiro Project. hard for the divers to reach the buoys. At The divers had to the surface, Pim has a 1st stage regulator fight against it at O-ring that blows up at the last minute. the surface, during The whole crew helps him to fix the reg, the descent and but it’s already too late. After having the ascent, and swum hard against the current at the sur- even on the bot- face, he decides to abort the dive. tom. Bruce, who had some problems with After a day of the Hammerhead, decided to switch extensive search in back to the normal Inspiration electron- the area, in order ics, therefore limited in depth. He will stop to avoid any con- at 120m/393fsw. fusion with other Only I can descend along the shotline wrecks in the Strait that is now at a 45 degree angle. The of Surigao, the only way to go down is to pull myself team was con- with the rope. That’s the plan, but it’s vinced that the quite hard work even with all the tanks huge profile on the side-mounted and a configuration as echo sounder was streamlined as possible. Several times I the wreck of the had to stop for a few seconds to catch HIJMS Yamashiro, my breath, even with a very efficient pre- fast as a runaway train. My canister light still intact, some are lying on the bottom. as it also matches production radial scrubber in my Meg. has flooded and I now rely on a 10W HID A tilted hull... It looks like the complete with side-scan At 120m/393 fsw, I meet a big ther- light. The beam is narrow and hardly cov- wreck sits on her side. images and GPS mocline and the drops ers more than a small part of the impres- Unfortunately, after only a few minutes locations found by from a comfortable 29°C/84°F to a chilly sive wreck. A quick check at my instru- on the bottom, computers and tables previous expedi- 22°C/71°F. It becomes darker, and the ments will tell me that I just finished a very clearly agree that it’s time to start an tions (like the one current does not decrease. long 14 minute descent! ascent that will take 6 hours to complete. conducted by the At 180m/590 fsw, the line is horizontal— It’s so dark and the wreck is so huge The current is still there, the line still late ). well above the bottom. I follow it and dis- that it’s difficult to have any clue about almost horizontal, and it takes quite a None of these cover a huge hull. My heart is beating as where I am. Some superstructures are while to reach the first deco stop at expeditions were 150m/490 fsw. able to explore the Above the , the water is due to professional, financial or per- wreck, mainly because of the current, warm and the visibility excellent. Bruce is sonal reasons; a tropical storm named but they all came back with a lot of use- still deco-ing some 40m/130 fsw above. “Florita” (why such a sexy name for such ful information. Because of the current, we both use a a devastating climatic phenomenon?) After several attempts to hook the Jon-line to relax a little bit while maintain- flooded some islands and delayed the boat on the wreck, Rob and the team ing a constant depth. arrival of the team in Leyte; some equip- decide to drop a shotline on the wreck. The support divers bring down a plas- ment proved to be ineffective at depth, Quickly, Eveline Verdier, one of the sup- tic bag with drinks and magazines. They flooded, broke or were lost; even the port divers swims to the buoys to remove also visit the us to take some pictures. boat had some problems and lost all the the excess line. There is no slack. The Everything looks fine, so far... shotlines the crew set up; the helm broke current pushes everything so hard that it and the boat drifted away; some elec- will be very difficult for her to set up the 9m/30 fsw tronics like the GPS or the depth sounder deco line with the stage tanks. The current is picking up big time, and decided to display inaccurately and to Pim, Bruce and I start to gear up. I jump all over the place at the end of switch off at the worst moment. A long process with the equipment my Jon-line. It’s made in Thailand but it Even the weather played with the used: , rebreathers (Ouroboros doesn’t break, fortunately, as other prob- nerves of all the team members by alter- CCR for Pim, Inspiration CCR for Bruce, lems are waiting for me… nating sun and rain, storm and gentle Megalodon CCR for myself), bail-out I suddenly notice that the oxygen level breeze; and finally the current, a rip- tanks, etc... in my rebreather starts to drop. The oxy- ping current, almost constant even at Even with the boat very close to the gen tank is simply empty because of the slack , was the worst enemy of the shotline, the strong current makes it very high exertion level, much higher than

67 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED the surface in a place that looks like it’s - 2 anchors About the Author in the middle of a storm... A lot of wind, - 550m of ropes Cedric Verdier is the founder of the TRIADE big waves at the start of evening and a - 10 buoys and containers Project, established in 1999, discovering and wrecks exploring more than 20 virgin wrecks located boat that tries to approach me is going - 2 dumbbells (??) in the south of France between 70 and 130m up and down. A support diver jumps at - 1 Otter dry suit (230 ft) and 430 fsw. In 2002, he was the first the surface and catches all the tanks to - 1 Decorider bail-out rebreather diver to identify and dive the British cruiser help me to safely climb the ladder. As HMS Manchester off Tunisia. Amongst other soon as I sit on the boat, everyone can The team also needed: dive firsts, he pushed the limits of the Sra see how tired I look. Nevertheless, they - 400kg of personal equipment Keow cave in Thailand in May 2006, using all want to congratulate the first (and - 14 porters in various airports and ferry his Megalodon Closed Circuit Rebreather, to the worst case scenario. Another tank is only) diver on the Yamashiro. terminal an Asia-Pacific cave depth record of 201m plugged in the rebreather and the oxy- The mood is quite good, even if all - 20kg of rice and chicken (660 ft). He is currently planning the Yamishiro gen is now manually injected. But it looks the divers have not been able to go to - 54cans of Diet Coke and Pepsi Max Project, an international expedition aiming to like the injector leaks, even after having the bottom, this day or the next few. been checked multiple times. Buoyancy The team has done what they could to The tables used were designed by V- control becomes a problem. I have to explore the Yamashiro. The spirit of the Planner and ANDI-GAP, with a 5/75 dilu- dive the Japanese battleship HIJMS Yamashiro exhale a lot, and I am loosing quite a survivors just opened a window for us to ent and a progressive setpoint (1.0 on sunk in the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines in lot of gas. It becomes even worse at the visit the final resting place of the fallen. the bottom increasing up to 1.3 during November 1944 and resting at a depth of 200m shallower stops... Another empty oxygen This window is now closed, and all divers deco). They were backed-up with VR3- (660 ft). Cedric is a PADI Course Director and a Instructor Trainer for IANTD, PSAI, ANDI, tank, and one of the support divers has have to respect that. There is no other VPM computers. DSAT and TDI. He spends most of his time teach- to bring a new one. explanation for all the problems that Thanks to Rob Lalumiere, Ross ing cave and mixed-gas rebreather courses at The last deco stop seems very long, occurred during this expedition. In this Hemingway, Eveline Verdier, the support and the instructor level. He is a past filled with boredom and cold. The dry trip were lost, broke or flooded: divers. Congratulations to Anthony Tully Regional Manager for PADI Europe and DAN suit is full of water because of the last - 1 Hammerhead Electronics for for his so informative articles about the and has written five books and more than 150 two hours of me spinning around at the Inspiration CCR Battle of Leyte. Thanks to our sponsors: articles about diving. As he is always travelling end of the Jon-line like in a washing - 1 video camera and its housing ANDI, PSAI, Golem Gear, Mermaid’s Dive all over the world, you can mainly contact him machine. - 1 Halcyon canister light Center, OMS, Otter Dry Suit, Northern by email at: [email protected] A very slow final ascent and I reach - 1 Poseidon regulator Diver, Cochran, RebreatherWorld Forum. ■

The entrance of the Sra Keow cave, north of Krabi, Thailand, is dark and quiet. All the local kids who use the pond as a play- ground are now back home for dinner. The only three people still there, closely watching the motionless pond, trying to see any bubble or glow that could reach the surface now start to worry. The divers were supposed

68 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Profile

Edited by Gunild Symes

Ralph Hagen Canadian Syndicated Cartoonist Dives to a Different Toon

Hagen spent hours just staring at that cartoon, “trying to figure out how someone could use just an ordinary pencil and a piece of paper and come up with that”. From that day forward, all he did was cartoon. The young Hagen would cut Ralph Hagen can remember the open paper grocery bags for draw- Bonus!” He was hooked and ‘Muppet Babies’ fame. actual moment he started cartoon- ing paper and draw until there couldn’t stop cartooning if he Hagen says that he owes Guy ing as if it were yesterday. Hagen wasn’t an inch of space left. In tried. Hagen said that if he lost his Gilchrist many thanks for entrust- says that he was about four when first grade, Hagen would turn over hands, he would draw with his feet ing him with his panel and all the he saw a cartoon pencil sketch the handouts and draw before he —“those cartoons would just have support Gilchrist gave him over the hanging on his grandfather’s had done the school work on the to come out”. years. “He truly is one of the best”, porch drawn by a second cousin other side. “Now, why wouldn’t my Hagen has been procartooning says Hagen. of his, who eventually grew up to teacher and her wooden yardstick since 1976 when he landed a job as In the early years, ideas and become a commercial artist. The approve of that?” he kids. editorial cartoonist at his local pa- punchlines were harder to come drawing was a rendering of Alfred Hagen sold his first cartoon per. Hagen also did the color work by said Hagen. He really had to E. Neuman of MAD Magazine, at age 17, and thought, “Cool! on the strip, ‘Mudpie’ for renowned work at it. But after 23 years of pro- exclaiming, “What, me worry? “ People will pay money for these? artist Guy Gilchrist, of ‘Nancy’ and fessional cartooning, Hagen seems

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to have taught himself a different way ity work and believe the customer’s of thinking, “one that comes naturally needs come first.” Where a percent now,” says Hagen, “without effort.” In Ralph Hagen lives north of Edmon- fact, now he says it’s hard to shut it off. ton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife, of all sales goes to Currently, Hagen does editorial work three kids, two horses and “the odd ocean conservation! for two papers as well as his panel moose”. SCREAMS syndicated by DBR Media. He freelances and has been published See the hilarious dive cartoons Hagen in hundreds of magazines and papers creates for X-RAY MAG on t-shirts, cal- such as The Saturday Evening Post, endars, posters, mugs and tote bags. The Reader’s Digest and The Birming- Visit X-RAY MAG’s new online store at: WHOLESALE PRICES AVAILABLE, CONTACT: ham Post Daily. Hagen has also done cafepress.com/xraymag [email protected] illustration work for preschool books as well as assignment work for clients For more information about the car- and businesses throughout the US and toonist, please visit Ralph Hagen’s own Canada. Hagen says, “I produce qual- website at: www.hagenstoons.com ■ X-RAY MAG STORE

Every time you buy a Ralph Hagen t-shirt, calendar, mug or tote bag, a percent of the sale goes to help save the seas! Go ahead... be a hero. Buy ‘em at cafepress.com/xraymag PERCENT FOR THE OCEANS CAMPAIGN Do you love the sea? Do you want to help save our oceans and reefs from destruction by global warming, over-fishing, deep sea trawling, cor- al bleaching, algae blooms, run-off and emissions? Do you want to make sure your money goes to solid organizations really doing good work out on the front lines? Join X-RAY MAG in the Percent for the Oceans cam- paign where businesses and local communities can sign up to give a percent of their sales to ocean conservation. Contact Gunild Symes at: www.cafepress.com/xray-mag [email protected]

70 X-RAY MAG : 13 : 2006 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED