There are a few books I think every diver should read. There are also books that every adventurer should read, some of these books do bring the dangers of diving into light but the true stories and heartaches are what make these stories so incredible. Here are a few I would recommend:
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
The Last Dive by Bernie Chowdhury
Fatal Depth by Joe Haberstroh
SCUBA Diving the Wrecks and Shores of Long Island, NY by David Rosenthal
The Treasure by Kathleen Harrison
If you cannot go diving this summer or have not been able to get certified yet, why not take you mind scuba diving for you. All of these books are amazing stories of teh difficulties and the rewards of diving. So dive in...to a good book. (yes i know that was very corny, but I had to do it)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Signals
I recently completed a refresher course, since it has been a while since I have gone diving and wanted to review all the basics before I hit the water again. When I got to the class I realized that I had forgotten all of the hand signals. SO here is a quick review of the basic hand motions when diving.
(Click on image below for larger view of signals)
(Click on image below for larger view of signals)
Gear up!
There are alot of different brands and kinds of equipment out there and it can be pretty confusing at first. However, as long as you have the basics alot of the fancy stuff is not really needed. Still it is always important to know what options you have so here is a breakdown of the necessary gear and the fun extras.
Basic Diving:
Wetsuit
Booties
BCD (with/without weights
Weightbelt(if bc does not come with integrated weights)
Fins
Mask (with snorkle)
Hood
Regulator (full octopus with secondary regulator)
Tank (if you do not go diving that often many dive shops will let you rent for the day or weekend)
Tank accessories(yok/din, k-valve/international valve)
Dive Computer
Compass
Depth Gauge
Dive knife (optional but hightly recommended)
Submersable Pressure Gauge
Fun extras
Flashlight
Underwater Camera
Speargun
Underwater Scooter
Drysuit
Safety Equipment
Dive Flag
Safety whistle
Surface Marker Buoy
Signal Device
Basic Diving:
Wetsuit
Booties
BCD (with/without weights
Weightbelt(if bc does not come with integrated weights)
Fins
Mask (with snorkle)
Hood
Regulator (full octopus with secondary regulator)
Tank (if you do not go diving that often many dive shops will let you rent for the day or weekend)
Tank accessories(yok/din, k-valve/international valve)
Dive Computer
Compass
Depth Gauge
Dive knife (optional but hightly recommended)
Submersable Pressure Gauge
Fun extras
Flashlight
Underwater Camera
Speargun
Underwater Scooter
Drysuit
Safety Equipment
Dive Flag
Safety whistle
Surface Marker Buoy
Signal Device
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Local Marine Life
There are alot of fish that can be seen in New England, and even more of these fish are found at dive sites. If can make a dive that much more interesting when you are aware of the fish that are swimming right along with you.
Fish:
Foureye butterflyfish
Bicolor Damselfish
Goatfish
Beaurgregory -
Trunkfish-
These are just some of the fish you can see when doing wreck dives.These fish are special becuase they are tropical fish that are only seen during the summer and are seen earlier every year many scientists think that it is due to the rapid warming of New England waters. And as the waters warm more fish are coming to new england and more of their eggs are surviving.
Fish:
Foureye butterflyfish
Bicolor Damselfish
Goatfish
Beaurgregory -
Trunkfish-
These are just some of the fish you can see when doing wreck dives.These fish are special becuase they are tropical fish that are only seen during the summer and are seen earlier every year many scientists think that it is due to the rapid warming of New England waters. And as the waters warm more fish are coming to new england and more of their eggs are surviving.
Advanced Dive Sites (Rhode Island)
Block Island:
Spartan was a steel Feighter, it sits at a 222ft long. Located on Old Harbor Point, South. This Freighter is a good ship to try if you are jsut beginning with ship wreck diving, it lies only 16ft under water, many pieces are still scattered across the ocean floor, in fact two boilers are lhying on their sides near the wreck and it is said that if you stand on one at low tide teh diver will be aboce water. There a re a few precautions when diving this site. ONly dive here when teh ocean is calm, if their are large swells then it can because hazardous; also if you arrive by boat, ther are several large boulders that lie just beneath the surface that can cause damage to your boat.
Charleston:
Mary Arnold An old tugboat 70ft below sea level. Located in Charlestown Breachway, teh bow has collapsed adn the deck is level; many of what remains is debris and the large equipment. About 100ft away are the remains of a second boat, Progress there is alot of its machinary remaining and people who dive this site still find artifacts.
Jamestown:
Kettle Rock Bottom is located about 1000 yard form the enterance tinto the west cove of FOrt Wtherill. Many people feel that boating is the only way to get to this dive site but once you get there this is a fun dive bewcause many ships have been known to be wrecked here, what makes it even more interesting is that teh various wrecks has caused many tropical fish and people have been known to encounter Tautog and even eels.
Misquamicut:
Metis is one of the harder wreck dives, it lies 130 ft below sea level, the ship was originally a freighter turned passanger ship. Around 5 miles southeast of Watch Hill the passanger ship was suddenly hit and finally sank in Misquamicut. The ship that hit them made it to dock without one loss of life, an ending the Metis was unable to make. THe Metis lost 1/3 of its passangers and many of the aritifacts that remain are hidden in the sand. Many major machinary peices are still scattered around the wreck as well.
Newport:
Explorer was a wooden trawler 62 foot long vessel. This wreck is very well preserved at only 90ft below the surface, but the diver must be very careful because the mass and outriggers still tower 50ft about the ocean floor. Massive amounts of sea life still clings to the cables anfd rigging which causes some clutter at the wreck. HOwever it is a very intrersting dive because of how intact the ship is still. Other than some holes form the original sinking hte boat still sits upright on the ocean floor.
George W. Humphrey an old wooden fisihgn steamer about 143 ft long. and lies only 15-20ft below the surface. WRecked off the coast of Newport Neck near Brenton Point, the reef is teaming with fish and many aritifacts are still recovered from this dive.
Wreck diving can often be very dangerous escpecially if you plan on going into the wreck, please remember that you hsould always dive with a buddy and make sure that you are comfortable enough and properly certified before you take on any of these dives.
Spartan was a steel Feighter, it sits at a 222ft long. Located on Old Harbor Point, South. This Freighter is a good ship to try if you are jsut beginning with ship wreck diving, it lies only 16ft under water, many pieces are still scattered across the ocean floor, in fact two boilers are lhying on their sides near the wreck and it is said that if you stand on one at low tide teh diver will be aboce water. There a re a few precautions when diving this site. ONly dive here when teh ocean is calm, if their are large swells then it can because hazardous; also if you arrive by boat, ther are several large boulders that lie just beneath the surface that can cause damage to your boat.
Charleston:
Mary Arnold An old tugboat 70ft below sea level. Located in Charlestown Breachway, teh bow has collapsed adn the deck is level; many of what remains is debris and the large equipment. About 100ft away are the remains of a second boat, Progress there is alot of its machinary remaining and people who dive this site still find artifacts.
Jamestown:
Kettle Rock Bottom is located about 1000 yard form the enterance tinto the west cove of FOrt Wtherill. Many people feel that boating is the only way to get to this dive site but once you get there this is a fun dive bewcause many ships have been known to be wrecked here, what makes it even more interesting is that teh various wrecks has caused many tropical fish and people have been known to encounter Tautog and even eels.
Misquamicut:
Metis is one of the harder wreck dives, it lies 130 ft below sea level, the ship was originally a freighter turned passanger ship. Around 5 miles southeast of Watch Hill the passanger ship was suddenly hit and finally sank in Misquamicut. The ship that hit them made it to dock without one loss of life, an ending the Metis was unable to make. THe Metis lost 1/3 of its passangers and many of the aritifacts that remain are hidden in the sand. Many major machinary peices are still scattered around the wreck as well.
Newport:
Explorer was a wooden trawler 62 foot long vessel. This wreck is very well preserved at only 90ft below the surface, but the diver must be very careful because the mass and outriggers still tower 50ft about the ocean floor. Massive amounts of sea life still clings to the cables anfd rigging which causes some clutter at the wreck. HOwever it is a very intrersting dive because of how intact the ship is still. Other than some holes form the original sinking hte boat still sits upright on the ocean floor.
George W. Humphrey an old wooden fisihgn steamer about 143 ft long. and lies only 15-20ft below the surface. WRecked off the coast of Newport Neck near Brenton Point, the reef is teaming with fish and many aritifacts are still recovered from this dive.
Wreck diving can often be very dangerous escpecially if you plan on going into the wreck, please remember that you hsould always dive with a buddy and make sure that you are comfortable enough and properly certified before you take on any of these dives.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Its called a WETsuit for a reason.
The weather is getting warmer and so is the ocean. Time to take our your gear and explore....but where? For beginning divers there are some amazing off shore locations all around you. If you want to just get experience and get a few dives under your belt you and a buddy can always go to a local beach, as long as regulations allow, and go for a dive. Just make sure that you check the beaches regulations to make sure it is a dive freindly area. Also, alert someone where you are going as well as a alternative location and bring your dive flag, this allows for others such as boaters that you are there and for freinds to know whrere you are if worst comes to worst.
For some of the more advanced divers, and if your certification allows it, wreck diving is always a new experience. There are some great wreck sites right here on the east coast.
For some of the more advanced divers, and if your certification allows it, wreck diving is always a new experience. There are some great wreck sites right here on the east coast.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Connecticut and New Hampshire
As I promised here are some of the Dive Shops in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine.
CONNECTICUT
Orbit Marine Sports Center
: Located in Bridgeport, they offer classes for divers as young as ten years old. They also take summer trips that are offered for those looking to get more dives under their weight belt. Their website is at www.orbitmarine.com
Rex Dive Center: NOw that two convenient locations. They offer classes for open water, advanced, dry suit and specialty dives. They offer online as well as on location classes. THey have a full supply of equipment to buy as well as rent. Their website is www.rexdivecenter.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Divers Den Dive Shop: Divers Dens Dive Shop in Manchester, NH has been in the buisness and teaching people how to dive for 44 years. THey offer classes and every year take a trip to an exotic island or country to make incredible dives, just last year they went to Belize. For more information visit, www.diversdendiveshop.com
Aquatic Specialties: Dive shop in Merrimack, unlike most dive shops Aquatic Specialties takes a diving trip everymonth. They offer classes in the summer as well as throughotu the year. They were also voted best Dive Shop in New Hamshire for the last four years, so they must be doing something right. For class times and store hours visit www.aquaticspecialties.net
I hope that these dive shops can provide for you a sound basis to your diving careers. Don't live with regret and Dive In!
Brianna
CONNECTICUT
Orbit Marine Sports Center
: Located in Bridgeport, they offer classes for divers as young as ten years old. They also take summer trips that are offered for those looking to get more dives under their weight belt. Their website is at www.orbitmarine.com
Rex Dive Center: NOw that two convenient locations. They offer classes for open water, advanced, dry suit and specialty dives. They offer online as well as on location classes. THey have a full supply of equipment to buy as well as rent. Their website is www.rexdivecenter.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Divers Den Dive Shop: Divers Dens Dive Shop in Manchester, NH has been in the buisness and teaching people how to dive for 44 years. THey offer classes and every year take a trip to an exotic island or country to make incredible dives, just last year they went to Belize. For more information visit, www.diversdendiveshop.com
Aquatic Specialties: Dive shop in Merrimack, unlike most dive shops Aquatic Specialties takes a diving trip everymonth. They offer classes in the summer as well as throughotu the year. They were also voted best Dive Shop in New Hamshire for the last four years, so they must be doing something right. For class times and store hours visit www.aquaticspecialties.net
I hope that these dive shops can provide for you a sound basis to your diving careers. Don't live with regret and Dive In!
Brianna
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