snorkeling

in Diving, News, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

AirBuddy is the smallest and lightest dive gear ever created – Digital Trends

Why it matters to you

This lightweight and compact dive system doesn’t require a tank and can be carried with you anywhere you want to go.

If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving but have been put off by the high cost of gear and the prolonged certification process, a new Kickstarter campaign just might be a dream come true. The AirBuddy, which launched today on the crowdfunding site, promises to deliver a full diving experience that offers the ease and simplicity of snorkeling, making it more accessible to everyone.

Weighing in at just 17.2 pounds, the AirBuddy claims to be the smallest and lightest dive gear ever created. The unit is able to cut a considerable amount of weight by doing away with a traditional scuba tank altogether. Instead it employs a unique design, which includes an air compressor that floats on the surface above the diver, pumping fresh air through a flexible tube that is connected to a mouthpiece regulator. The device can reportedly run for up to 45 minutes on its rechargeable battery, allowing the diver to descend as far as 40 feet below the surface without being encumbered by heavy equipment in any way.

The designers of the AirBuddy are quick to point out that their gadget bridges the gap between snorkeling and scuba, delivering some of the best elements of both activities. For example, because the device is so lightweight compared to traditional dive gear, users can take it with them just about anywhere, allowing for more spontaneous adventures. And while renting and refilling a scuba tank can cost upward of $50 each time you want to use it, the AirBuddy only needs to recharge its batteries between dives. And unlike snorkeling, which keeps you relatively close to the surface most of the time, this device actually allows divers to stay submerged for extended periods of time. Best of all, the AirBuddy doesn’t require any kind of scuba certification to begin using it either.

Built specifically with reef diving in mind, the AirBuddy can be put to use in other ways too. For instance, it is a great option for dive training, as well as performing routine maintenance on a boat. Underwater photographers will also appreciate its ease of use and quick set-up time, allowing them to get in and out of the water quickly to capture a shot. The device will also likely prove very popular with beach resorts, which can offer guests an affordable and safe alternative to a traditional scuba experience. The AirBuddy can even be shared by two users at the same time with a reduced dive depth, or two units can be used in tandem as well.

The team behind the AirBuddy are hoping to raise about $128,000 to get the device into production. If successful, it is expected to ship in June of 2018 with a price tag of about $1,400. Early bird Kickstarter supporters can order one now for just $983 however, which makes the initial investment about on par with good scuba gear and lessons. The savings comes later on tank rentals and refills.

https://youtu.be/GHqcxFB_DCg

in Diving, News, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Full Face Snorkel Mask Death

Lifeguards in Maui have begun tracking equipment worn by snorkelers who drown in their jurisdiction and other counties appear poised to do the same.

A state water safety committee on Wednesday heard poignant testimony from the husband of a California woman who drowned off the Big Island last year while wearing a new type of snorkel mask that he thinks may have contributed to her death.

On Wednesday, in a boardroom at the Hawaii Convention Center, Guy Cooper took a deep breath and regained his composure before continuing the story of how his wife drowned in September while snorkeling off the Big Island.

The Hawaii Drowning and Aquatic Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, a group of ocean safety experts, state and county officials, tourism industry leaders and others, put Cooper on its agenda after he raised concerns about the role of the full-face snorkeling mask his wife had been wearing. The committee is now co-chaired by Gerald Kosaki, a Hawaii County Fire Department battalion chief who oversees ocean safety, and Ralph Goto, retired administrator of Honolulu’s Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division.

“On one hand you have an activity rife with significant physical demands, then you exacerbate the situation by adding a new piece of inadequately vetted equipment with inherent design flaws,” Cooper said. “A perfect storm.”

Guy Cooper displays a full-face snorkeling mask like the one his wife was wearing when she drowned.

The 68-year-old retired nurse from Martinez, California, has also complained about significant gaps in data collection by government agencies.

He’s calling for a database that logs information about the equipment worn in each drowning so authorities can analyze it for dangerous trends, much the same way that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collects data to determine if a particular type of airbag is faulty in fatal car crashes.

He isn’t sure the Azorro mask his wife, Nancy Peacock, 70, bought on Amazon is the culprit. But he isn’t sure it’s not either.

And that’s why Cooper, and now a growing list of health and ocean safety officials in Hawaii, are looking at collecting the data necessary to better evaluate the product and possibly even conduct controlled scientific studies on it.

Some people who have tried the full-face masks, a next-era design in snorkeling, have complained that they leak and are difficult to remove quickly because of the heavier straps. Some have cited the potential for carbon dioxide to build up and cause fainting.

Cooper said a surfer found his wife floating on her back in Pohoiki Bay with the mask partially pulled up over her nose.

“That tells me she was in trouble and tried to get the damn thing off — too late,” he said.

Colin Yamamoto, Maui County’s Ocean Safety battalion chief, met with Cooper in January.

“What was intriguing to me is we have no data on these,” Yamamoto said. “It’s something we never thought about.”

Yamamoto has directed Maui County lifeguards to start documenting what type of snorkeling equipment was used in drownings.

Fire officials from the other counties are also moving in that direction.

“Maybe we can start individually with each jurisdiction keeping track of that,” Kosaki told the advisory committee. “We can’t make a policy saying, ‘yeah, we’re all going to keep track of it now,’ but I think each individual jurisdiction can make their own policy or procedures or try to keep a database.”

Hawaii County Battalion Chief Gerald Kosaki and officials from other counties have been receptive to Guy Cooper’s concerns about the policies for drowning incidents.

Kauai Ocean Safety Supervisor Kalani Vierra said the type of snorkeling equipment worn in a drowning is something county lifeguards on the Garden Island can include in their incident reports. He added that he will bring it up at a national conference for lifeguards later this year.

Honolulu Ocean Safety Chief of Operations Kevin Allen noted that in some drownings, the mask sinks to the ocean floor during the rescue and may not be recovered. But he was also open to the idea of tracking such information when it’s available.

Dan Galanis, state epidemiologist, told the committee there were at least 149 snorkeling-related deaths in Hawaii’s waters from 2006 to 2015. Of those, 137 were visitors.

“The reality is we really don’t have the data to say snorkeling is more risky,” he said. “Right now, all we can say is a lot of our visitors die doing it.”

Guy Cooper’s wife, Nancy Peacock, drowned in September at Pohoiki Bay on the Big Island.

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat

A Civil Beat special project, “Dying For Vacation,” published in January 2016, found Hawaii’s visitor-drowning rate is 13 times the national average and 10 times the rate of Hawaii residents. Local water safety experts have cited Hawaii’s unique ocean conditions, insufficient messaging to caution the public and the health of the individual as contributing factors.

Cooper brought a full-face mask like the one his wife had to the meeting. Advisory committee members passed it around, some some of them seeing this type of mask for the first time and reacting with comments like, “I’d be claustrophobic” and “that’s weird.”

“All I ask is that you give serious consideration to the role of these new masks,” Cooper said. “Devote the resources to collect the data. Incorporate the data in incident reports and databases. Look for trends. Make the coroner aware of their use. Secure the gear as evidence. Only then will you truly be able to assess the risk.”

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

https://youtu.be/aWRgzIKau6w

in Diving, News, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Icy Snorkeling Death In Iceland

An unidentified 65-year-old American tourist died of a heart attack on Sunday, after snorkeling in freezing waters at Iceland’s most popular diving spot: Silfra fissure
Scot Hacker, an app developer from California, was diving with a different tour company when he saw the man on the ground
Hacker posted on Facebook that one person started performing CPR on the man before a helicopter flew him to National University Hospital in Reykjavik
Silfra fissure is known for its crystal clear waters – divers can see up to 40ft away from them – but temperatures hover around 30 degrees Fahrenheit year round
‘It was shocking and such a dark thing to happen after such an incredible experience,’ Hacker, who took awe-inspiring photos and video during his dive, told DailyMail.com

Daniel Bates For Dailymail.com

An American tourist died of a heart attack after snorkeling in freezing waters at Iceland’s most popular diving site on Sunday.

The 65-year-old collapsed at the side of the Silfra fissure, where his tour guide performed CPR as other horrified tourists looked on.

The tourist, who has not been named, was flown to the National University Hospital in the nearby capital city of Reykjavik but died soon after.

The death is the eighth serious accident to occur at Silfra since 2010 and the fourth fatal one, according to local reports. The spectacular 90ft deep, 1,500ft long fissure has water so clear that divers can see up to 40ft away from them.

Park officials have raised concerns about the 50,000 people diving there each year as tourists find it hard to adjust to the cold water.

Scroll down for video

An American tourist died of a heart attack after snorkeling in freezing waters at Iceland’s most popular diving site, the Silfra fissure, on Sunday. This photo was taken on the day of the fatal dive by Scot Hacker, who witnessed the scene and spoke with DailyMail.com about what he saw

The unidentified tourist was part of a tour of eight people who went for a lunchtime snorkel in water that hovers around 30 degrees Fahrenheit all year

Large crowds mean they have to wait for some time for their turn in dry suits, which constrict their blood flow, making an accident more likely.

The tourist was part of a tour of eight people who went for a lunchtime snorkel in water that hovers around 30 degrees Fahrenheit year round.

Scot Hacker, 51, who was diving with a different tour company, wrote on Facebook that he ‘watched a person die today, and am feeling shaken’.

Scot Hacker, 51, who was diving with a different tour company, wrote on Facebook that he ‘watched a person die today, and am feeling shaken’

Hacker told DailyMail.com that as he was getting out of the water he looked to his right to see a the man, who had a stocky build, having clear difficulties.

Hacker said: ‘The person was on the ground on their back. There was one person kneeling over them doing CPR and a group of five people standing close by.

‘A helicopter came in and we were asked to move back. Our guide shooed us out of the area. It was shocking and such a dark thing to happen after such an incredible experience.’

Hacker, an app developer from El Cerrito, California, added that there were a lot of tour groups at the fissure that day, meaning each group had to wait on a bench for their go.

The Silfra fissure is considered a bucket list activity by many. Reviews on Tripadvisor say that ‘words cannot begin to describe’ the beauty and say it’s ‘all worth it’.

The site is where the European and American tectonic plates meet, and the water that fills the fissure bubbles up from the center of the Earth.

‘Our guide shooed us out of the area. It was shocking and such a dark thing to happen after such an incredible experience,’ Hacker, pictured on the left at Silfra, said

The tourist was flown by helicopter from Thingvellir National Park to the National University Hospital in Reykjavik, 30 miles to the east, but died soon after

Safety has been a concern for some tourists at the site and one review on Tripadvisor said: ‘The dry suit is kinda scary and when they put the hood over your head you may have a panic attack as you feel tense with sense of suffocation’

Divers at the site, located in Thingvellir National Park, 30 miles east of the Reykjavík, must obtain a permit from park authorities. Most tour groups charge between $250 and $350 for the three hour trip, of which 30 minutes is spent underwater.

Safety has been a concern for some tourists and one review on Tripadvisor said: ‘The dry suit is kinda scary and when they put the hood over your head you may have a panic attack as you feel tense with sense of suffocation.’

An official at the Icelandic Coast Guard, which flew the tourist to the hospital on its helicopter, told DailyMail.com that first responders were nervous about some tour groups being too ‘gung ho’.

The official said: ‘There are so many tourists diving there and there is no infrastructure at Silfra.

‘If you are snorkeling you at least need to be able to swim – they will basically let anybody in.’

Einar Ásgeir Sæmundsson, the spokesman for Thingvellir National Park, said that the tourist became ‘dizzy’ as he was about to come out of the water.

He said: ‘What it seems like is that man suffered from a heart attack in the water.

‘He was snorkeling with his group and he was getting out of the water when he became ill.’

South Iceland police chief superintendent Oddur Árnason said that he was still waiting for the autopsy results to reveal the exact cause of death.

He said: ‘There appear to be indications that the person did not drown but there was an illness, a heart attack or something.

‘Police in Iceland have the duty to investigate accidental deaths whatever the reason. I find it unlikely it will turn into a criminal investigation but we have a duty to investigate.’

A spokesman for the State Department said: ‘We can confirm the death of a US citizen in Iceland on February 12, 2017.

‘We offer our sincerest condolences to their friends and family. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular services.’

in Diving, News, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Haputo Beach – Guam

This weekend we find ourselves along the island’s northwestern coast, hiking down a beautiful cliffline path to one of Guam’s most beautiful beaches.

Designated as an ecological reserve in 1984, Haputo Beach covers about 252 acres of coral reef and limestone forest. Please keep in mind that the area was declared a preserve in order to keep out invasive species, and to maintain the secluded beach’s beauty.

The beach is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it’s the site of the ancient Chamorro village of Haputo.

This hike requires you to have a military identification card, special military authorization, or at least a friend with base access.

Access to the beach is through Naval Communications Station (NCS), in Finegayan, Dededo. Enter the Navy base by turning in at the access point, which is directly across from the Shell Gas Station and left of the old NCS McDonald’s.

Thankfully, the Navy base has lots of descriptive signs pointing to the Haputo Beach trailhead. Be sure to follow them and any other regulations while on the base.

At the parking area, directly across the hike entrance, you can read signs about the ecological preserve.

Haputo Beach

Follow the trail that, a little past them, leads into the jungle and toward the ocean. As you descend, sometimes you’ll have stairs underfoot, and sometimes you’ll be walking on bare, and, at times, loose ground. Be aware of your footing.

For most of the half-mile or 20-minute trek to the bottom, you’ll be shaded by the jungle canopy.

The beach, ocean, and shining horizon of the Philippine Sea are also visible along most of the way.

A little more than halfway down, you’ll reach a pretty stable staircase – about 200 steep man-made steps – from which it’s just a few minutes to the beach’s crystal blue waters, which are great for snorkeling in calm weather.

After reaching the bottom of the staircase, follow the rest of the path to the beach. You made it!

Now, while Guam is an island with dozens of beautiful and pristine beaches dotting its coasts, this beach is definitely on another level. It’s a wonder it hasn’t been more widely featured.

Lined with soft white sand, clear of any rocks, and an abundance of trees to settle underneath, Haputo Beach is naturally manicured by Mother Nature herself, and would find no competition from Tumon Bay beaches, or any other for that matter.

Take some time to soak in the secluded area and vast beauty that is mostly yours for a little while. Also be sure to take advantage of the snorkeling and jungle exploring the hike offers.

Respect your surroundings

While snorkeling, please be careful and considerate of the life in the preserve. Be sure not to step on or damage any coral. Because the waters are secluded and, for the most part, untouched by man, you’ll find lots of brightly colored coral here, along with a variety of fish and other sea life.

Another added feature to the beach is its place in the Chamorro civilization’s history. According to Guampedia, the beach was the site of the ancient Chamorro village of Haputo, which was allegedly captured and burned by the Spanish in 1678.

In the thick jungle situated against the cliff and behind Haputo Beach lie remains of this ancient village.

Put on your Indiana Jones hat and – without fear of rolling boulders or hostile warriors, of course – check out the latte stones, among which Chamorro life would have been bustling four centuries ago.

Since the jungle is very much overgrown, there is little to no trail to follow. Thankfully, the jungle area is not so vast, however, and at any given spot, you should be able to find the colorful tags dotting trees to get some sort of guide to the latte stones.

As you pass a variety of flora – including coconut trees, bamboo forests, and taro plants – you should stumble upon the latte. There is actually one large and intact latte stone with smaller stone fragments of what are possibly other latte stones and ruins.

To return to your car, retrace your footsteps back up the stairs and cliffline, and remember to leave only footprints behind. Happy hiking!

in Diving, News, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving – Third Death In Three Days

A British man has died while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef in the third death in as many days in waters surrounding the natural wonder.

The 60-year-old man was diving on Agincourt Reef near the popular tourist resort of Port Douglas when emergency services were called on Friday.

He was rescued from the water after being seen with his breathing regulator out of his mouth, the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators said.

The company’s executive director, Col McKenziem said: “After an extended effort with no response, the diver was declared dead.”

He had been a passenger on a Quicksilver tour boat and was diving with another person for the second time that day, when he was found on the ocean floor at a depth of 15m.

A doctor who was flown to the reef gave the man CPR on the Silver Sonic vessel and used a defibrillator, but he could not be resuscitated.

Mr McKenzie said: “Accidents like this are a tragedy for the surviving family members, the crew and the passengers.”

The Silver Sonic has operated for 11 years, carrying 230,000 divers without a fatality, according to local authorities.

The man, a certified diver from England, was travelling with his wife.

His death came after two French tourists – Jacques Goron, 76, and Danielle Franck, 74 – died while snorkelling on Michaelmas Cay, near Cairns, on Wednesday.

They were spotted floating in the water by staff working for diving company Passions of Paradise, chief executive Scotty Garden said.

The couple, among a French group of 21 people, had “pre-existing medical conditions and were accompanied by a guide when they were in the water”, he added.

Queensland Police said their deaths were not believed to be suspicious, with a cardiologist telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation jellyfish stings may have triggered cardiac arrest.

in Diving, News, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Channel Islands National Park Resets Guided Kayaking and Snorkeling Tours

A 10-year concessions contract has been granted to the Santa Barbara Adventure Co. to lead kayaking tours and snorkeling tours at Channel Islands National Park/Patrick Cone

Much of the beauty and wildlife protected within Channel Islands National Park can only be seen from the water, and soon, guided sea kayaking and snorkeling tours will be available at Santa Cruz Island without a reservation for the first time.

The park gave Santa Barbara Adventure Company a 10-year concessions contract to run guided sea kayak tours, snorkel equipment rentals, guided snorkel tours, and limited convenience item sales at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. The company, doing business as Channel Islands Adventure Company, has provided guided sea kayak services for more than 18 years and has operated in Channel Islands National Park since 2007.

“This is a significant step towards improving visitor access and enjoyment,” Superintendent Russell Galipeau said in a release. “The contract will, for the first time in the park’s history, afford visitors the opportunity for guided kayak and snorkel tours on the island, with no prior reservations needed.”

The park’s 2015 General Management Plan directed the transition of the Scorpion Area Kayak Guide Service from a limited, commercial-use permit to a concessions contract. Scorpion Anchorage is a Marine Protected Area and part of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

“To be selected by the NPS is a huge triumph,” Santa Barbara Adventure Company owner/director Michael Cohen said on the company’s blog. “We are excited to be able to continue to bring school groups, veterans, and travelers from all over the world to our beloved national park.”

The new contract will take effect on March 1. Details of tours are available at Santa Barbara Adventure Company’s website.

in Diving, News, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Indonesian Reefs are being harmed by diving and snorkeling according to

Diving and snorkeling contribute to coral reef damage according to research by the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB).

The study, conducted at Panggang Island in the Thousand Islands regency between April and June 2013, found that diving and snorkeling in the area had destroyed 7.57 percent and 8.2 percent of coral reefs per year, respectively due to divers or snorkelers who kicked, stepped on, touched or took the coral.

WWF Indonesia marine and fisheries campaign coordinator Dwi Aryo Tjiptohandono said that the main cause of damage to the reefs was the amateur divers’ inability to float and irresponsible divers who took coral for souvenirs.

According to a recent report by kompas.com, vandalized coral reefs were also found in Raja Ampat in West Papua. An Australian who lives in the area, Doug Meikle, uploaded three photographs on Stay Raja Ampat’s Facebook account, which showed three areas of damage.

Meikle said that this vandalism was not the only thing that was destroying Raja Ampat’s coral reefs. Live-aboard anchors were said to be responsible as well. “[The live-aboard anchors] are even worse than the vandalism,” he said.

The head of the underwater tourism acceleration program, Cipto Aji Gunawan, said that the Tourism Ministry would revoke the license of dive operators who were involved in damaging the reefs.