Staying Focused on Your Diet While on Holiday

How to travel and still lose weight
Being on a diet while you are travelling seems to be a difficult task for many people. In fact, some people use holiday time as an excuse to forget the diet and just eat what they want. The problem is they usually return home to find they have not only not lost weight but have gained some of what they already lost. There are ways you can have fun on your holiday trips and still lose weight.

Make Sensible Food Choices
When you are travelling you do not have to use that as an excuse to throw your diet into the waste bin. Even when you eat three meals out every day, you can stay on your weight loss program by making sensible choices. That doesn’t mean you can’t occasionally have something special as long as you plan for it. Some of the things you may want to consider include the following:
• Do not have a big breakfast every day. Being on holiday doesn’t mean your daily breakfast should consist of pastries, donuts, and three course meals. Even if you attend a buffet, you can choose fruits, whole grain cereals with skim milk, or yoghurt.
• Even if you are not a breakfast eater, make it a point to have something even if it’s whole wheat toast with a little butter or jam. You will snack less during your time out if you eat three meals a day.

• Don’t feel you have to eat everything on your plate simply because you “paid for it.” Some restaurants provide portions that are too large—consume only enough so that you feel full and not overstuffed.

• Choose healthy items from the menu. Every restaurant has some selections that are healthier than others. Lunch may be a salad with a little dressing while dinner may consist of grilled chicken or fish. Avoid making a routine out of greasy and high-calorie foods.
Get Plenty of Exercise
Depending where you go for your holiday, you may have to plan for your activities. It’s easy enough to exercise while on holiday even if you don’t do anything but walk. Many people travel and have a tendency to jump in the car or taxi for short trips that can be accomplished on foot. Even if you can’t travel on foot, if you are using public transportation, you will likely get the exercise you need by walking provided you don’t ride to every single stop.
If the weather is nice, spend time in the park and other places where you can walk rather than ride to your destination. Whenever possible exit your car or the train or bus farther away from your destination and walk the rest of the way. When you are shopping, make it a point to walk between the stores rather than getting into the car or on a bus. Finally, make sure your trip includes plenty of activities that will allow you to burn off the calories from the meals you consume.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Alcoholic beverages are very high in calories, yet many people who don’t drink any other time do so when they are on holiday. Whether it’s because they are not driving or are more relaxed is of little difference. You can enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a drink later, but you need to limit how much you drink. Do not get into the habit or drinking two or three drinks every night while you are enjoying your holiday or you will put on extra pounds by the time you return home.

Watch Review – Croton 1650 Feet Dive Watch CA301062SSGY

One of my very favorite things to do is swim. But its not just swimming I enjoy, its anything having to do with the water, whether it’s on the hot sands off the Atlantic coast, skiing on the ocean’s surface or feverishly pounding Olympic-sized pools with breast stroke after breast stroke.
No matter what kind of water sporting events you enjoy—snorkeling, deep-sea diving, scuba diving, sailing or ocean dwelling—your best swimming companion could very well be the Croton 1650 Feet Dive Watch, primarily due to its amazing water resistance capacity.

To say that 1650 feet is deep is to state the blatantly obvious. In light of this, perhaps the best way to illustrate such a depth is by offering a record-breaking feat. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the deepest dive with scuba gear is 437 feet off the coast of the Bahamas. If you don’t think this is deep, consider what Open Water Sport Diver Manual has to say about going deeper than 250 feet, saying “…the average diver is more or less useless and becomes a safety menace to himself and others.” In other words, the Croton 1650 can withstand what the human body cannot!
Some of the other impressive features of the Croton CA301062SSGY include the band, which is stainless steel with a diver’s clasp and safety lock. This truly is a strong lock that’s a bit difficult to latch into place and equally as difficult to take off. However, if you’re a swimmer, this is exactly what you want (as anyone who has lost his or her watch while swimming will tell you).

Outside of the Croton 1650 Feet Dive Watch’s water resistant capability that places it in the upper echelon of high-end watches (e.g. Tag Heuer), its sleek design is impressive as well. The luminous hands and number markings seem to harness light for a generous amount of time. What’s lacking in this model, I find, is the sweeping second hand that I always look for in watches. However, because this model has a quartz movement, which traditionally keeps better time than automatics, it offsets the drawback of not having a sweeping second hand (the “drawback”—if it can be called that—being that I find sweeping second hands more pleasing to look at).

Another nice thing about this watch is the weight it has. At the rock bottom price of $170, I was expecting it to be on the lighter side, but the weight is considerable (not as much as other Ceylon watches I’ve tried, but at 5.9 ounces, it’s enough weight to satisfy).
Some other features: a unidirectional rotating bezel with a luminous marker at the top of the bezel; the case material is stainless steel with a screw down case back (I like exhibition back’s more, but considering it’s the back of the watch, it’s really a non-issue) with dimensions of 42 mm in diameter and half an inch in thickness.

The dial of the watch has a nice textured look to it, with a zigzag, vertical design. It’s a nice embellishment of the dial because it gives it a dual color look when light reflects off it (i.e. the color of the face is black but if light hits it just right, it has a light grayish hue). The watch is also available with a white face.
Once again, this Croton watch is a great watch for the money and a watch that anyone would enjoy. However, its specs are geared for swimming enthusiasts, all of whom are sure to be impressed by its performance for many laps to come.

Scuba Diving. Features Of A Dry Suit

A suit to use in cold conditions is a major investment for most divers. You are not just investing in keeping dry but also in keeping warm. To do this it must fit well with seals that are efficient at the neck and wrists.

 
Dry suits can be split into two main categories:-

Neoprene and membrane. The former keeps you warm due to the thickness of the foam although the foam does compress during descent becoming thinner the deeper you go. As it becomes thinner it also becomes less buoyant so air needs to be put into the suit to compensate for this.. A membrane suit is usually made from a trilaminate material and is purely for keeping the water out so an undersuit has to be worn for warmth. As you descend, the air in your suit becomes compressed and seems to shrink -this is known as suit squeeze- so air needs to be put in to maintain neutral buoyancy and also to prevent "squeeze". The air added to the suit warms up by body heat and acts as an extra insulation layer, this effect is reduced the more the suit is compressed
Bear in mind that with a neoprene suit you need to counteract the effect of squeeze AND the material compressing.

There are a couple of types of material that blur the boundaries between membrane and neoprene;- crushed and compressed neoprene. These have the toughness of neoprene but without the tendency for the suit material to alter it’s buoyancy during the dive . Usually more expensive than standard neoprene or trilaminate suits.
Seals. These can be made of neoprene or latex rubber. Latex tends to be more watertight but also more fragile while neoprene tends to be robust and warmer on the wrists but often leaves a bit of a damp wrist. If you have sinewy or particularly thin wrists then latex seals are probably your best choice. Latex are usually fitted to membrane suits and neoprene to neoprene though vice versa is possible.
Valves:- You need valves in a dry suit to maintain constant volume and so control your neutral buoyancy.

Inflator valves are usually a simple push button type located at a convenient place on the suit, mid chest being the most popular position. These have a direct feed hose commonly from the diver’s main supply cylinder though some divers carry a small cylinder dedicated to suit inflation.
Deflation or dump valves come in two types;- manual and auto. The manual is a simple flap valve and is usually situated on the wrist with a simple raise of the hand to dump. The auto or to give it it’s Sunday name the constant volume dump is a spring loaded adjustable valve usually located on the upper arm or shoulder.

Zips. The entry to most dry suits is closed by a waterproof zip commonly across the shoulders but, sometimes diagonally across the chest. The latter allowing you to don the suit and seal it yourself.

A growing feature now in dry suits is a pair of braces. This allows the suit to be a bit longer in the body to allow for movement yet reduces the low hanging crotch so often seen on older style dry suits.

Most dry suit manufacturers will make a made to measure for the same price as an off the peg so make sure your suit fits as this represents a major investment in your diving comfort.

What You Need To Know Prior To Scuba Diving

Scuba diving can be a great pastime for you if you love the water. In the summer it's a great water sport where you can cool off while keeping physically fit! However there are aspects that you will want to consider first. These will indeed help you better decide if it's for you, and make it very enjoyable as well.

Diver Requirements

Before beginning any new physical activity, you should always be sure you can handle what it requires. If you have any conditions that preclude you from other activities such as heart conditions, diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems and definitely anything that would make you more susceptible to drowning, you will need to consult a physician to be sure you are able to dive! This is recommended for anyone else as well.
You are also required to complete a form to guarantee you are fit to dive. To find out what is required on the form in preparation, you can find it online at Divers Alert Network. Like any sport, you need to be in a condition to endure times of physical exertion. These include carrying a heavy oxygen tank above water, as well as times when you might need to swim faster. The diving gear adds extra strength demand to some degree as well.
You will need to be at least 15 years old for adult Scuba diving, or at least 10 for junior diving instructions and limited privilege. Certification will involve a Scuba Diving Test which will prove you know what is needed to dive safely.

The Right Equipment
As with nearly any sport, there is some gear required. Though when it comes to scuba diving, having the right equipment, and knowing well how to use it can turn out to be a matter of life and death under extreme circumstances.
Of course the most important scuba diving equipment is your breathing apparatus. It can be heavy, and there are important aspects of it that you need to be sure of each time you use different equipment.
Beyond these, you also need a wetsuit, fins, and other items that will help protect you from the underwater environment where you might need to keep warmer, as well as protected from sharp objects and certain water life.
For the sake of good experienced maintenance, as well as the price, many opt to rent their gear. Often this will be from a sport shop where you scuba dive. You can also buy your own gear, though that will leave much of the burden of keeping it fit on you, as it is yours.

Why Many Scuba Dive
While the majority of scuba diving is recreation, there are those that do it for a living as well. Scientific exploration and research is another area with a lot of scuba diving demand. They spend a lot of time in the water watching sea life cycles, and how microorganisms/coral fit the whole underwater environment. There are also others that work in constructing underwater platforms that are often used for research as well as offshore oil.
Scuba diving can be a usually relaxing form of exercise that still keeps you fit. If you love the water, are interested what happens under it, and looking for a change of scenery, scuba diving is probably for you.
With that, you will need to find a course for certification in scuba diving. This is required to teach you what you know to enjoy, and stay safe while enjoying this inspiring sport. It teaches you how to avoid accidents and other mistakes when you dive that can have dangerous impact on the rest of your life. Then when you dive you will be able to enjoy this potentially addicting experience.

Enriched Air Diving

There are many misconceptions around enriched air diving. This dive article will provide some facts about enriched air, advantages and disadvantages of diving with enriched air, and equipment used for enriched air diving.
Air is a mixture of primarily two gases, approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. Nitrogen is the culprit in causing decompression sickness, more commonly know as the "bends". This fact will be important as we discuss enriched air advantages. Enriched air is the result of adding oxygen to air, raising the level of oxygen in the mixture to between 22% and 99%. However, for recreational purposes enriched air blends range from 22% to 40% oxygen. Nitrox is often referred to as "enriched air"; however there is a difference between the two. Nitrox refers to any nitrogen-oxygen mixture, while enriched air is air that has some oxygen added. Therefore by definition enriched air can only contain greater than 21% oxygen. The two most common blends are 32% oxygen (EANx32) and 36% (EANx36). The abbreviation EAN stands for Enriched Air Nitrox.

The primary advantage of enriched air is to extend the no stop limits beyond the normal no stop limits associated with air. Since enriched air has a lower level of nitrogen than air, you absorb less nitrogen while your body is able to metabolize the extra oxygen, assuming you are diving within recreational enriched air limits. This results in longer no decompression limits while diving on enriched air. The primary disadvantage of diving with enriched air is potential exposure to oxygen toxicity. Oxygen can be toxic based on depth and duration under water, and by increasing the level of oxygen in the gas you breathe, you are constrained by your depth and duration. This is why you must calculate both your no decompression limit due to nitrogen, and your oxygen exposure limit called partial pressure. For most non-repetitive dives under 100 feet, you will be limited by the amount of gas as opposed to either the no decompression limit or the partial pressure limits. Enriched air is particularly effective in enhancing the frequency and duration of repetitive dives, since nitrogen buildup is lessened.

Enriched air diving within the recreational limit of under 40% oxygen requires some special equipment, but for the most part you can use the equipment you purchased for diving air. The only new piece of equipment that you will definitely need is a tank. One reason for this is the special markings that must go on an enriched air tank; the other is that the tank must be cleaned and lubricated for oxygen exposure to facilitate partial pressure blending which involves adding pure oxygen to air. A common scuba community guideline is that regulators, BCDs, SPGs and alternate air sources may be used with enriched air blends up to 40% oxygen without modification. However, you should verify that the manufacturer of each piece of equipment has certified that equipment for use with enriched air. For gas mixes with more then 40% oxygen, special equipment is required. As with any scuba equipment, regular servicing is highly recommended, including O-rings and other critical components. During your enriched air training, you will learn how to properly fill and verify the blend of gas in your tank. The verification step is extremely important and must be done by you the diver; you shouldn't rely on anyone else to verify your gas blend.
Remember, you should never dive with enriched air unless you have been certified by a reputable certification organization. While the benefits of diving enriched air are significant, so are the risks.

London International Dive Show 2008 digital photo clinic

Wetpixel Associate Editor Alex Mustard will be co-hosting the Digital Photo Clinic, with Photoshop expert and Wetpixel member Saeed Rashid, at this coming weekend’s London International Dive Show (LIDS) on March 8-9, 2008. The session will run on both days between from 1:45PM-3:00PM and much of this interactive presentation will focus on helping you get better images. Alex will be advising on how to improve your in water photographic techniques and Saeed demonstrating how RAW conversion and Photoshop processing can improve those images you have already taken.

If you are thinking of coming to LIDS and would like direct feedback on how you can improve your shots please email two or three of your images to info@focusindepth.com (the address can handle files up to 20mb, so RAW’s or JPEG’s are fine). Alternatively you can bring your pictures to the show and give them directly to Alex on the BSoUP stand at the show.

Aqua Lung Airsource 3

 

The Airsource 3 combines a high-performance second stage with a power inflator. By eliminating the need for a traditional octopus, the diver can streamline his entire system. In addition, unlike a traditional octopus that can drag in the sand or damage coral, you'll take comfort knowing that the Airsource 3 is right in front of you ready to deliver life saving air in a moment's notice.

Several new features have been added to this latest version of Airsource to make it the most desirable of all breathable inflators.

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The second stage valve is pneumatically balanced resulting in unparalleled performance and consistent breathing from start of dive to end. Ideal for use with over-balanced first stages

Redesigned “Trim Grip” in the middle of the corrugated hose allows diver to dump air from BC during ascent without removing the Airsource from the mouth

Using a clever bayonet mount, the Airsource quickly and easily separates from the BC at the “Trim Grip”. This allows the Airsource to remain with the diver’s complete regulator for packing and traveling

Rather than use a traditional quick disconnect fitting, the Airsource is connected via a hose like your primary second stage. This allows better flow and better performance. It also prevents particulate matter and moisture from entering the second stage

A specialized cut-off valve allows the diver to quickly and easily shut off air to the unit should there ever be a malfunction

Ergonomic design optimizes button placement for ease of use

Soft-touch purge cover is located on the bottom so it won’t be inadvertently activated in strong currents

Low-profile rapid-exhaust valve is activated by pulling on the “Trim Grip” or the lower unit

Corrugated hose has clips and recessed areas to accommodate the lp hose

Easier to service than it’s predecessor

CORAL REEFS DAMAGE ... WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?

The world’s coral reefs

“Corals reefs all over the world are in serious trouble” according to the World Atlas of Coral Reefs. The total area of the coral reefs of the world is only about 286,000 square kilometers. During the last 20years, the world has lost more than 25 % of these precious natural resources. Moreover, of the remaining reefs (according to the World Resources Institute) 58 % are in imminent danger due to human activities. This scary state of deterioration is probably the most significant catastrophe facing the diving community, because simply, without reefs there would be a remarkable decrease in the diving activities.
Many of the world’s top reef scientists predicted that coral reefs as we know them today will be destroyed by the middle of this century. That means, the next generation will only enjoy reefs in documentary movies and printed materials!
There are several reasons that coral reefs are dying, probably the top four are:
- Nutrient loading into coastal waters from agriculture and poorly or untreated sewage.
- Heavy sedimentation from large coastal construction and/or poor land-use practices.
- Over fishing or destructive practice such as blast or cyanide fishing.
- Global-scale problems like abnormal atmospheric warming and ozone depletion.

Tourism, diving and the coral reef
Of course we can’t ignore the impact on the coral reefs from tourism, but the fact is that the nature of tourism related damage is not what you might think. Most destruction related to coral reefs’ tourism is not because of scuba diving, but due to improper or irresponsible building design or construction practices and other problems related to infrastructure.
Poor planning and practices result in excessive sedimentation and habitat destruction during construction, and lack of adequate wastewater treatment afterward.
It is clear that there has been some confusion and misconceptions over exactly who has been the main reason for the coral reef degradation. Of course, divers are obvious targets to blame, since our activities are so visible and also because scuba diving and coral reefs are as well-associated as skiing and mountain slopes. That is why the view has been expressed by some that scuba divers represent a major factor in the decline of the coral reefs. There is a single major problem with this argument: It is not true. In fact, the beauty, the value of coral, and the efforts made to protect and preserve them, would have not been even an issue if the scuba diving had not been a common sport practice. Many of the coral reefs all over the world have been, for years, mistreated, misused and in fact destroyed by a variety of ignorant human behavior. In addition, scuba divers are the only known group that receives environmental information and adequate reef protection behavior during their basic training.
Researchers showed that the leading cause for coral reef damage from tourism activities is not diving, but in fact anchoring. Fortunately, the problem of anchoring is easily eliminated by using morning lines and doing drift dives as it is the case in the Egyptian Red Sea.
However, the dive community accepts that divers are responsible for some damage to coral reefs (although both the scale and nature of such damage is not nearly as widespread or devastating as from other sources). Moreover, the dive community has been positive in dealing with this concern through its educational programs and continuous cooperation with the nature protection programs.
Since the mid 80s the effect that divers have on coral reefs has come under the close examination of researchers and resource managers. Unfortunately, based on this research, politicians and government administrators now take important decisions about management of coral reefs with respect to diving activities and often disregard other vital effects.
Although these studies seem to be classic in terms of that the divers can have a significant negative effect on coral reefs within limited areas where diving is especially popular, they do overlook that overall damage caused by diving activity is less than 1% of the damage to coral reef.

Research and the outcomes

Some of the best known studies have been conducted on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the Virgin Islands of the Caribbean, Florida Keys and of course the Red Sea. A summary of observations and conclusions is presented herein;
- The vast majority of damage is caused by a very small minority of divers. It was found that 84% of divers caused no damage whatsoever, 4% of divers accounted for more than 70% of the damage. In addition, most damage was unintentional and divers who do damage are often unaware that they did.
- Branching corals such as table, Elkhorn and Staghorn (Acropora Sp.) are much more susceptible to divers’ damage than more robust boulder-type corals.
- 6-4% of all corals on a popularly dived reef were touched during a typical week. In addition 90% of all divers make at least one contact to the bottom, however, only 2% of these contacts caused immediate visible damage.
- Most of the researchers agree that divers do not inflict extensive damage comprehensive to the ecological function of a coral reef. However, divers’ damage can degrade the sparkling value of a reef.
- Many researchers concluded that the experience, the advice, and the quality of the briefing given by competent Dive Masters and/or Instructors is important. This is particularly critical since the prime element responsible for divers’ damage is poor buoyancy control.
- Divers tend to be at their clumsiest during the first 10 minutes of a dive. Studies showed that divers’ impact is greatest near moorings where divers arrive to the bottom and take a few minutes to adjust equipment and/or get control of their buoyancy. This has a critical implication for where mooring lines are placed.
- Out of almost every study, researchers found that women impact the coral reef far less than men do. This is not a call to start a gender war, but your explanation for this consistent finding is welcome!
- Another interesting finding is that there is no correlation between one’s level of diving experience and how often that individual contacted the corals (how about that!). In fact some of the researchers offered that “It seemed that inexperienced divers generally had poor buoyancy and finning control, but were more cautious about approaching the bottom, while more experienced divers spent more time exploring close to the terrain and bumping it as a result”.
- On the contrary to the above finding, some other studies showed indications that the more experienced the diver, the less effect she/he has on coral reefs. They note that the number of contacts with corals is remarkably reduced the higher the level of the diver. So these last two findings are still in the debate!
- Finally, carrying a still camera, video camera, being engaged in close up observation of coral reef are all identified as high-risk factors for reef impact.
Zoning and carrying capacity.

Many researchers are convinced that any damage to coral reef as a result of tourism would be likely to remain insignificant if appropriate management systems were implemented. The protected coral reef management plans include:
- The number and type of tourist visits
- Appropriate behavior of visitors
- Ensure that the coral reef has the proper natural surroundings to rapidly recover from any damage.
In addition, many resource managers use or consider the idea known as “zoning”. This is simply assigning special areas as “for research only” or implementing rules such as “take nothing but photos, leave nothing but bubbles”.
Closing areas to allow them to retrieve has been successfully part of the management plan implemented in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Recently, resource managements have defined the new concept of the “carrying capacity”. A carrying capacity is simply “the maximum level of visitor use an area can accommodate so that high levels of satisfaction are gained by visitors with little negative impact on resources.”
Applying the carrying capacity concept to divers as a management strategy is not only a new area of research, but also inflicts several debatable issues that can be summarized in the following;
- Diver carrying capacity is a highly specific and localized measure, rather than a universal number for all coral reefs.
- The number of divers a reef can absorb without negative effect is totally dependant on the behavior of the divers.
- Other factors affecting the reef carrying capacity are hotels and resorts, snorkellers and other beach users. This is especially important in - easy to access from shore - sites such as those in the Red Sea.
Public awareness and education.

One can observe a positive point, that is, a significant change in the attitude of divers has occurred during the last two decades. Divers are definitely considered one of the most environmentally sensitive groups around, not only because they learn in every beginner’s course about the delicacy of the underwater marine life, but also because the environmental resources turns out to be the major attraction for them.
In addition, divers are the first to notice any decay or degradation in the marine environment. This explains why the damage that would have been done by a specific group of divers would be actually eliminated or at least minimized through education.

In a study done by David Medio in the Red Sea, he found out that;
- Uninformed divers – those who received no environmental briefing made contact with the coral reef 8 times per dive.
- 80% of those contacts were damaging.
- Only 35 % of all contacts were unintentional.

The following findings are especially important for dive guides and Instructors to remember. After a short adequate briefing reminding the diver of the following appropriate practice;
1. Controlling buoyancy
2. Maintaining a respectful distance
3. Being cautious about fin kicking
4. Avoid intentionally touching the corals

The following astonishing results were found;
- The impact went down from 8 to only 1.5 per dive
- Less than 30% of those were damaging
- 80% of all contacts were unintentional

This significant change put a lot of responsibility on dive guides and instructors conducting daily or safari diving. More public awareness efforts should be directed to visitors, especially snorkellers, and prior to conducting any activities. In addition, responsibility should also be shared with tour operators, tour guides and hotels to increase public awareness and encourage responsible environmental behavior.
We - the diving community - have always been not only backing up the efforts of preserving and protecting the natural resources but also delighted to take the initiative to do it. It is certainly unfair to accuse divers of being the cause of the significant and implacable damage to the coral reef. On the contrary, it is probably realistic to affirm that divers revealed the secrets of the underwater terrain, explored the magnificent marine life and introduced the submersed beauties to humanity.
Nevertheless, it is also essential that we - the diving community - continue to do our best to preserve the environmental resources through adapting responsible behavior, promote public awareness, emphasize education and above all promote diving activities.

By: Zeyad M. El Bassel

ARE YOU A SAFE DIVER?

During your basic training as a scuba diver your instructor spent hours teaching you rules, regulations, and limitations. Following the rules, sticking to the regulations and staying within the limits are generally what we are about to sum up.
After a dive or a dive vacation, you would probably say "Wahoo...I really had wonderful time, I really enjoyed it". Well, you won’t really say that and mean it unless the dive vacation was well planned, well prepared, the dives were shared with the right person(s), and above all you were safe.

Although it might sound really logical that everyone who set off for a diving vacation is aiming to “Have Fun”, years of professional work as a dive guide/instructor show that it is also remarkably useful to review the four main classics here in the preparation, what’s needed to be done before, during and after the dive.

1. Preparation:

1.1 Education is a key word for your safety. Safety through education is one of my favorite mottos. Here are some points to consider:

- Learn more about equipment, the physics, the physiology and the limitations
- Stay updated with the latest techniques in self rescue and buddy rescue
- Attend seminars, workshops and dive shows
1.2 Physical fitness is a major factor for diving activities, you may like to:

- Avoid being over weight
- Swim a few laps every week, use your fins
- Jogging is another option if swimming is not applicable
- Have a medical check annually

1.3 Psychological status is a major factor for your safety. Dive only when you feel up to it, not to please or satisfy a friend, a spouse, or even your own ego. Prepare yourself;

- Be physically fit
- Know you limits and stay within
- When you are about to experience a new playing field, ask questions, learn details and buddy up with experience.

1.4 Equipment is the tool with which to go underwater, enjoy, and come back safe. If you take good care of it, it will watch out for you.
- Choose the best fitting equipment; nothing is worse than a loose/ tight fitting fin, mask, or suit
- If you have your own equipment, check, maintain, and replace as recommended by the manufacturers
- When your equipment needs maintenance, use an officially recognized equipment repair specialist
- Thoroughly check and test that items are maintained before using them

1.5 Choosing a buddy is often looked at as an auxiliary point, there is only one problem with that: It is wrong. If I do not have the right person to share the experience with, I would rather be diving alone. It is probably safer. Therefore, maybe you want to consider the following:

- Do you share generally the same interests in a dive?
- Unless you are capable of taking care of other divers (by having the necessary experience and the proper professional training), you better dive with a more experienced or at least a diver who is as competent as yourself
- A person who’s company you would enjoy on land is most probably a good match for your diving activities

1.6 Choosing a destination is an intelligent choice that you eventually have to make. Here is a simplified check list;
- Read and learn about the destination
- When would be the best time to go?
- How can you get there?
- Compare high verses low season advantages
- Would you get all types of services you are looking for?
- Review costs and budget

1.7 “Save the dive” items such as tools, spare parts and first aid kit are essentials. An O-ring or a fin strap can cause you or your buddy to cancel a dive. A first aid kit well prepared to handle simple injuries and medical emergencies can make the difference between a safe trip and a disastrous one.

1.8 Watch out for the Logistics.
The diving vacation general plan allows you to successfully select and arrange details; such as clothing, medication, hotel/boat reservations, flight details, visa, cash, travellers’ cheques, credit cards, vaccinations, etc.

1.9 Diving license, log book and insurance are essentials. During registration with a dive operation, do not get offended when asked to check these out, as they have the right to do so and you also have the right to show your credentials.

2. Before you dive:

2.1 Eat easy to digest nutrition, you need to have the energy and feel well and fit to dive. Avoid heavy or greasy meals that are gas-forming, because discomfort or significant pain during ascents can occur due to expanding abdominal gases. Eating a great deal of any food immediately before diving also can cause discomfort and be genuinely dangerous if it leads to vomiting while underwater.

2.2 Drink enough water; dehydration (abnormal loss of fluid from the body) is considered one of the major elements that make you susceptible to decompression sickness, fatigue, and headaches, certainly because water comprises the greater part of the blood. Dehydration occurs when you take in less fluid than you lose in urine, exhaled moisture and perspiration. Divers lose fluids during preparation in the form of sweat. Each time you inhale through the regulator, you increase the humidity of inspired air 100%. This moisture, along with heat to warm up the incoming air, is drawn from your body. In addition, blood pooling in the body core because of water pressure or cold water temperatures and the effort to draw air from a regulator combined with the decrease of gravity stimulate divers to urinate more frequently than normal.
The response is called Diuresis. Substances that increase the output of urine by the kidneys are called diuretics and include coffee, tea and alcohol. You should avoid diuretics before and during a diving day. Drink fluids before and between dives to offset the diuretic effects of diving.
It is important to consider these losses and essential to compensate for them. Drink lots of water.

2.3 Choosing a dive site is another intelligent choice that you eventually have to make. If you are planning to dive in a known site;

- Read and learn about the site
- Review entry/exit points
- Tide considerations, currents and bottom configuration
- Emergency equipment, nearest emergency facilities. For a new site that no written info is available there is a list of considerations for pioneers;
- Ask the local seamen and experts about the site
- Make an assessment to determine entry/exit, currents and bottom formation.
- Prepare a contingency plan
- Prepare an emergency plan

2.4 Remember your right to abort the dive. Dive only when you feel well and up to it. Positive self-esteem is a prerequisite for safe scuba diving. Confidence is closely associated with positive self-esteem, and it means believing in “you” to get the job done. If you do not see the green light, remember that every diver has the right to skip a dive that he/she does not feel good about.

2.5 Review dive plan. It is your responsibility as a diver to make sure you understand the dive plan well. Every dive plan should consist of the following main points;
- Dive site and facilities
- Weather and water condition considerations
- Objectives and aims of the dive
- Limitations and special considerations
- Schedule, dive time, average / maximum depth and dive profile.
- Communications
- Buddy system and emergencies If you have missed something during briefing or planning, and/or you are confused about a detail, direction or a procedure do not hesitate to ask your guide / instructor or buddy, do not be shy.

2.6 Inform the boat crew, the dive center, or someone not diving about your general plan and when you are expected to be back. This would enable saving valuable time incase an emergency plan needs to be activated.

2.7 Final equipment check procedures that you learned during your beginners’ training program will save you time, effort and enhance your safety. Insure that your buddy’s equipment as well as yours is operating properly every time you are about to enter the water.

2.8 Go over emergency procedures with your buddy. Review the following;

- Hand signals
- Dealing with out of air situations
- Procedures for being separated from the buddy or the group
- Drifted away with the current
- Can’t find the exit/the boat
They often get forgotten and disregarded. However, the seconds you need to agree about what you are going to do, will make the action you or your buddy take in case of an emergency efficient, quick and can simply save lives.
2.9 Alcohol and diving should not be mixed. Alcohol negatively affects alertness, coordination and judgment. The effect of cold, nitrogen narcosis and other diving factors magnify the negative effects of alcohol on divers’ judgment and performance. Alcohol also constricts the arteries that serve the heart and dilates vessels to the skin.

The results are potential heart problems and excessive heat loss, which increase the risk of hypothermia. Alcohol also increases the urine output and can contribute to dehydration whilst diving. Moreover, alcohol combines with the hemoglobin 200 times more than oxygen or nitrogen, this obstructs the hemoglobin from performing its function as a gas carrying media to the lungs causing a dramatic deficiency in the gas exchange process which increase the potentials of decompression sickness hazards.

3. During your dive

3.1 Dive your plan. This rule has always proven to be a major key to safety. A well prepared dive plan simply deserves to be executed fully.

3.2 Activate the buddy system. It is not only for the pleasure of sharing the experience, but it is also for your own safety.

3.3 Keep track of your depth, air and time. The most common problem divers usually have with instruments is failure to monitor them! They are your tools to execute a safe, enjoyable and pleasant diving experience. USE THEM, PLEASE.

3.4 Be environmentally friendly. Keep your “tentacles” away from OUR coral reefs. Please, remember the golden rule “Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but bubbles”. When we dive we are the intruders, shouldn’t we show some respect to the marine environment?

3.5 “There are no old, bold divers” Be on the safe side. For any contingency plans or alternatives that you have to make, take the safe sided decision.

3.6 Enjoy your dive. Being underwater is being “On Top of the World”. There is probably nothing similar to being weightless underwater except walking on the moon.

However, most of us perhaps can’t afford the second one. Look around, move gracefully and appreciate all the surrounding underwater terrain.

4. After the dive

4.1 Drink enough water; this is intentionally repeated again, dehydration is probably the prime cause of de- compression sickness. Please refer to article 2.2

4.2 Remember that alcohol and diving should never be mixed; this point is also intentionally repeated again. Please refer to article 2.9

4.3 Your diving equipment deserves a treat. Take a few minutes to care for your gear;

- Rinse equipment with fresh water and dry it away from the sun
- Store equipment in a cool dry place
-Follow the manufacturers recommendations for maintenance and care.

4.4 To err is human. However, only safe divers avoid repeated mistakes.
If you have encountered any difficulties during the dive, have any questions, or are unhappy about certain behaviors, talk them over with your buddy/dive guide and work on correcting them.

4.5 Allow enough surface intervals for out gassing. Diving activities are typically a combination of sport and social events. Enjoy surface time as much as bottom time.
4.6 Consider the no-flying time. Allow a minimum of 24 hours before flying after a multi day diving vacation.
After all, you need that time for buying gifts for your loved ones and souvenirs to remember the exotic, wonderful and SAFE vacation.

Turn all your diving practices into safe, enjoyable and learning experiences.

Dive responsibly, follow the rules and regulations, stay on the safe side of limitations and refrain from contradictions. In other words, do yourself a favor - be a safe diver.

Happy diving,

By: Zeyad M. El Bassel
( NAUI Course Director # 10661L )

Why Dive the Southern Red Sea?

Sharks, Dolphins, Mantas, Jacks, Nudibranchs and Clownfish, the list goes on and on. If you are after variety then The Southern Red Sea is the place to be. Underwater nature is forever changing with the seasons; it is a spectacular, full of surprises, unforgettable image.

Where is the South? Where does it start and where does it finish? Over the last few years, a coastline of hotels and hotel construction has been developing, appearing out of the desert, marching south, towards Sudan. The hotels and numerous liveaboards have made Fury Shoal, the Marine parks of Zabargad and Rocky Islands, plus St.John's Reef, close to the Sudanese border, trendy and accessible places to dive.

The Egyptian Red Sea has been divided up into three main areas; The North (north of Hurghada), The Brothers (including dives around Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam) and The South (Marsa Alam and beyond). To see all the wonders of the Southern Red Sea you need more than a two week holiday, so plan a few visits at different times of the year and you will see The South in its true glory. It has so many secrets to reveal; take your time and let nature show you the quality, not just the quantity of what waits below the surface.
That's why I love to dive the Southern Red Sea, and that's what I search to find and share with our divers.

The dive sites themselves vary greatly, from big walls that drop away below you, to coral gardens with feasts of colour, tunnels and caves to explore, then plateaus and pinnacles to visit. In the Red Sea, like the rest of the world, the weather patterns have been changing over the past few years. August and BECOME A STATISTIC.

September remain the hottest months with the warm winds, providing some cooling moments. Summer and autumn remain the most popular times to come on holiday, so if it is fish watching that you are after, not people watching, then you should try a different time of the year, the variety in nature is still there; you just need to team up with a good boat, experienced crew and professional dive guide to take you.

Those of you who are new to the idea of treating themselves to a liveaboard safari, it's now time for you to experience this enjoyable way to live on the sea.

Liveaboard life gives you more time to relax between dives and can take you to places out of normal reach. Life on board falls into to regular routine, often starting early with a dive before breakfast! The pattern of “dive, eat, and relax” is soon established and enjoyed. Evenings are spent reviewing the day's events, reading, watching films, playing games or just partying.

Then the next day you could find
yourself hanging out on the walls, watching the mesmerizing view of the deep blue around and below you, waiting with your buddies to be the first to spot the white belly of a Hammerhead cruising sideways along the reef walls, then those signals of joy before checking again in the blue for another possible surprise sighting.

In the afternoon explore the reef, with its variety of corals, overhangs, caves and coral gardens. Take your time to stop, watch and wait. There is a lot of satisfaction gained searching for a camouflaged scorpion or stone fish and succeeding in your challenge.

The Southern Red Sea brings plenty of great moments to remember, you just never know what's next. In the New Year we were diving on St. John's Reef. On the second day we did an 11a.m dive on Shaab Mahrous, a big wall dive site (80m plus deep). We were dropped by zodiac on the north side and followed the reef round and back to the boat.
Fifteen minutes into the dive we could hear ultrasound squeaks and looked up to see a mother dolphin with her baby playing above us.
Mum had a fish in her mouth and was showing her baby how to deal with the two silver tip sharks that were following them! She was happily dropping the fish then picking it up again swimming in circles, all the time being shadowed by the frustrated sharks. It was stunning to watch nature at work. We already assumed that it would be the best dive of the trip, all of us cheering to each other underwater.

However, if we had not been looking around us we would have missed the 5m Manta that cruised past below us! A reminder to all divers, never think you have seen it all! Time to finish the safety stop and head on back to the boat.

People often think that being last in or out of the water is bad and that you do not get to see anything........well...... the last two people surfaced ten minutes after the rest of our group in awe of what they had just been part of.... as they had swum back to the safety line, a swirling shoal of sardines appeared from the deep, surrounding the pair as they moved carefully towards them to get pictures. Suddenly, they were engulfed in the bait ball with six silver tip sharks darting past them feeding! You never know what you will see, and when you will see it!

If you are looking for peace and tranquillity, photo paradise, adrenaline rush and adventure its here, 365 days of the year, Why not put a date in your diary now, and make 2004 your year to come to the Southern Red Sea.

Come And Meet The Sharks Face To Face

There are now quite a few Aquarium places around the UK now and some of them offer the exciting opportunity to come and meet the sharks in their environment now one of these places is the blue planet aquarium in Ellesmere Port. This is has a vast aquarium tank and is also a PADI dive site and training centre.

This place offers the ultimate encounter to go inside the large aquarium tank to meet some of the species of shark on display. The range of sharks is black tip reef sharks, nurse sharks and the sand Tiger shark. The Sand Tiger sharks look fairly aggressive but it's mainly down to the way the teeth stick out at the front and overlap like a very sharp mesh.

The real danger is only that you don't do exactly what is required from the safety brief if you stick to doing exactly what you are told you are in relatively not much danger. I myself am a fully qualified professional diver and have been in the Aquarium tank a great number of times and find the experience very entertaining.

Taking new people into the tank and watching their expressions when one of the big Sand Tigers comes past is most amusing. The experience starts with a good talking about sharks behaviour and the safety requirements with using sub aqua equipment and what to expect from the sharks.

The safety briefing sometimes contains a small demonstration of the dangers of sharks if for example a nurse shark is available in the small tanks at the back then the following might be shown. A nurse shark has the tendency to sit on the bottom and not move very much at all. This is very much an illusion if you where to drop into the small tank a small piece of squid then that shark would jump into life wiz round the tank and eat the squid faster than you can blink.

The upshot being they may look harmless but they are not by a long way another interesting thing pointed out is that they can turn on sixpence or if you are silly enough to grab the tail of a shark you would find your arm in its teeth before you know it. Once a shark has got hold of you the chance of getting it to let go are somewhat remote.

After the safety briefing and the buddy equipment checks are complete it is time for you to descend the staircase into the water. This always has a profound effect on me as I'm descending watching a number of the sharks patrolling round me. Then I'm in and move round into the cave the gathering point. Once all the divers for this trip are assemble into the cave then we can head out and explore the bottom of the tank.

Watching the various fish, sharks and rays in this artificial tropical aquarium is fantastic often there will be videos and underwater cameras used to capture your experience. The whole under water experience last around 30 minutes and there the chance of being able to find some shark teeth at the bottom of the aquarium.

If you are very fortunate some of the rays will come down and land on your head this is because when feeding they sense the air from the divers and think its food time so sometimes they expect some food. Some of the dive leaders may bring something for them sometimes not depending on the experience of the group.

This is a fantastic night out and the memory will live with you a long time especially if one of the bigger sharks gets a little bit too close and you have to get out of the way. There are lots of other fish to interact with some of the fish will go for your whistle on your BCD as they think its food.

All in all a great time and I look forward to being in the tank again soon watching new people experience a close encounter of the shark variety.