Jeff Cinciripino - Podcast Details

Shows

The Scuba Educational Alliance Ocean Podcast Introducing the Scuba Educational Ocean PodcastComing September 19, 2024, from Jeff Cinciripino, former host of Scuba Shack Radio and owner of Scuba Shack in Rocky Hill, CT. This new podcast is dedicated to ocean health, sustainability and the creation of a new generation of ocean stewards through scuba diving. In conjunction with Scuba Educational Alliance of Connecticut, I hope to empower individuals with knowledge and ideas for keeping our oceans healthy and ensuring long-term sustainability by supporting our youth in pursuit of scuba diving and thus becoming protectors of our seas. Please join me in this journey.

2024-09-0102 min

Scuba Shack Radio 117. Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive – The Lost Ones plus Wet Notes news, information, and commentaryThe wreck of Omani Bay (CVE 79) a WW II Escort Carrier was discovered in the Sulu Sea in July. It was sunk by a kamikaze strike on January 4, 1945 with the loss of 95 sailors. The wreck is in over 100 m of water. WestJet has announced that it will be implementing a non-stop flight from Toronto to Bonaire starting on December 12, 2023 and that it will run through April 2024. The flight will run once a week on Tuesdays. Whale shark tourism is big business but at what cost? There is a study that looked at the impacts of whale shark feeding in Oslob...

2023-07-2419 min

Scuba Shack Radio 94. Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive takes us to season 2 for The Raft plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdatesThe Beaufort Gyre is a whirlpool in the Arctic that stores fresh water, sea ice and heat as it rotates. Every five to ten years the current changes direction and releases this sea ice and fresh water into the North Atlantic. There is an issue. It hasn't reversed in over twenty years. When it finally does release, there will be greater impacts to Europe and the North Atlantic fisheries. NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Blueprint calls for the elimination of shark feeding. This ban does not impact those who chum for catching sharks. DEMA opposes this ban. Lake Hydra...

2022-09-2620 min

Scuba Shack Radio 93. Introducing Scuba Educational Alliance of Connecticut, plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdateThe Women Divers Hall of Fame is now accepting applications for their 2023 scholarship and grant programs. Deadline for application is October 31, 2022. Find out more at wdhof/scholarships. There is a new show coming to the Discovery Channel on diving. It is called Destination Dive. Their first episode aired earlier this month. It was about the Florida Keys. New episodes however won't be aired until the summer 2023, but you can check it out on their YouTube channel. Maui County is banning all chemical sunscreens. This prohibition will start October 1, 2022 and includes the sales, distribution and use of all chemical sunscreens. You...

2022-09-1218 min

Scuba Shack Radio 92. A look at PADI 1983 plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdateSEE Turtle, a non-profit protecting sea turtles has developed an app - SEE Shell to detect illegal trade of tortoise shell. Moon jelly fish are invading Alaskan waters. Why? The Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo has announced four Dive and Snorkel program dates for September 2022. The Historical Diving Society, USA has announced their 2022 HDS USA Pioneer Awards. This awardees are Sheck Exley and Edwin Link. The results of the Great Shark Shapshot 2022 are in - listen for the numbers. Thanks to the work done by The Spicy Shark and others, the last shark kill tournaments in New England have...

2022-08-2920 min

Scuba Shack Radio 91. A discussion on the new diver certification trends, plus Wet Notes News and Information update.The Rosalia Project has teamed up with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to remove debris from the Gulf of Maine. The Ocean Conservancy blog provided an update. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) was instrumental in convincing the American Medical Association (AMA) to advise against unsafe mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy in mild hyperbaric treatment facilities. If you like deep shipwrecks, listen for an update on Dusty Klifman's dive to the wreck of the John V. Moran - a deep Lake Michigan wreck at a depth of about 400 feet. PADI AWARE Foundations' AWARE Week 2022 will take place September 17 to 25, 2022. Check...

2022-08-1520 min

Scuba Shack Radio 90. Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive takes us to season one for The Shipwreck plus Wet Notes New and Information UpdateStream2Sea has been named the number one reef-safe eco-friendly sunscreen by Rolling Stone Magazine for the second year in a row. Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute's president Peter de Monocal recently penned an op-ed piece in the Boston Globe title "Turning the Tide Against Climate Change." The NOAA Administrator - Dr. Richard Spinrad has affirmed the ban on swimming with dolphins in Hawaii. This ban is known as the approach rule and should put an end to the lawsuit being filed on the validity of the ban. Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA has closed, but it is being resurrected as...

2022-08-0119 min

Scuba Shack Radio 89. A review of The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdateCongratulations Tec Clark on the release of his Risk Management for Dive Professionals course. If you are a dive professional, you should seriously consider this class on scubaguruacademy.com Listen for an update on the recently completed shark fishing tournament that took place in Florida in early July. A group of Chinese scientist have come up with a tiny fish robot that eats plastic. More innovation from REEF. They are introducing SMILE - Size Matters: Innovative Length Estimates. They are using a special 3-D camera to support this effort. Divers Alert Network has now introduced a new Spanish emergency hotline...

2022-07-1819 min

Scuba Shack Radio 88. What are the top 10 single-use plastic polluters – find out more plus Wet Notes news and information updatePlastic Free July is a global initiative started in Western Australia in 2011. It is easy to participate. Just pick one plastic item to avoid in July and beyond. REEF is conducting a Fishinar titled Adventures under the Blue Heron Bridge. This is an absolutely amazing shore dive and you can find many unique species at the bridge. Did you know that you can buy a wallet or sneakers made from lionfish leather? Inversa is producing leather made from lionfish skin. The Great Shark Snapshot is just around the corner. The Shark Trust is asking that divers record all sightings of...

2022-07-0418 min

Scuba Shack Radio 87. Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive takes us to season 4 for a Confidential Mission plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdateGlobal Underwater Explorers (GUE) is sponsoring a diving scholarship - the NextGen Scholarship. The deadline for this program is July 1. Listen for more information on the specifics of the entry requirements and the benefits offered by this scholarship. The Crown of Thorns starfish can cause havoc on the reef. Now there is a simple solution for controlling the predator - kitchen vinegar. Seems it is effective without causing adverse impacts. A tech diving team - Darkstar recently completed an expedition to the WW I wreck of the SS Libourne. The ship was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1918. The Libourne...

2022-06-2019 min

Scuba Shack Radio 86. A look at the 1976 British Sub Aqua Club Diving Manual plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdatesCongratulations Leslie Leaney on receiving the 2022 California Scuba Service Award. There is a new bill making its way through Congress. House Resolution 7431, titled the Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act or VACA if passed will be a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA grant program providing funding to non-profit groups who hire, retrain, and redeploy veterans to conduct coastal, Great Lakes and underwater conservation missions. The second quarter Alert Diver magazine from Divers Alert Network is now available. One article that may cause a lot of stir around the dive community is the one on the placement of an...

2022-06-0619 min

Scuba Shack Radio 85. A review of Blue Mind plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdateMay 23, 2022 is World Turtle Day, now in its 22nd year. A day to "shellebrate" and take a "shelfie". The second quarter Journal of Diving History is now available. As always, it is packed with some great information. Get yours delivered to your home by joining the Historical Diving Society, USA. If you are into Ikelite gear, you can tag your gear with their new stickers. You can get a three-pack for $2 from the Ikelite store under their logo gear menu. NASA Climate Change Newsletter reports a four inch sea level rise since 1990. This is based on satellite data and shows...

2022-05-2318 min

Scuba Shack Radio 84. Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive takes us to season 3 with Cindy plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdateDEMA has released the results of their survey related to opening up the DEMA Show to consumers. The survey results indicated that 62% of respondents were opposed so the board has decided that the show will remain exclusively a trade show. Some Hawaii business have brought a lawsuit against the US government on their regulation that bans swimming with spinner dolphins. Lake Mead is at a record low. The 1971 water intake valve is now exposed. More evidence of the impacts of climate change. Ocean Reef, the maker of full-face masks for scuba divers has released a new dive light for their...

2022-05-0918 min

Scuba Shack Radio 83. NASA Climate Change Newsletter reports places will be too hot to live plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdatesAre you a dive watch junkie - check out the new book on vintage dive watches. Want to visit a private island resort - Scuba Diving Magazine lists some really cool places to visit. The Bonaire Bond is a pledge you can take to protect the reefs in Bonaire and help them plant more corals. Stream2Sea is stepping up again - they are making a donation for every tube of mineral safe sunscreen they sell to Reef Renewal. If you are looking for some summer reading about the ocean, check out Katie Hogge's blog post on the Ocean Conservancy...

2022-04-2516 min

Scuba Shack Radio 82. The 1977 NOAA Complete Underwater Diving Manual plus Wet Note’s news and information updateWill DEMA Show open to consumers? Find out more. Green Fins is offering an environmental e-course for dive professionals. NOAA finds the wreck of a whaling ship in the Gulf of Mexico. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge go diving in Belize. Great news for humpback whales. Global population is now tops 80,000. The first edition of the NOAA Complete Underwater Diving Manual was released in 1977. It was developed to provide NOAA divers with the necessary fundamentals for safe and efficient diving. The manual has seventeen sections along with four appendices. Learn more about some of the interesting aspects of the...

2022-04-1819 min

Scuba Shack Radio 81. Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive takes us to Season 2 for The Dam plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdateREEF has announce their 2023 REEF Survey Trips - they have 16 planned trips on the calendar. Divers Alert Network (DAN) is now offering two levels of memberships starting in 2022. You can choose either Regular or Enhanced Membership. Listen for more details. California Diving News is back in publication. After a 2 year hiatus due to Covid-19, it is back. Great news as we recover from the pandemic. More good news. It is looking like Shearwater is back to producing their Perdix and Peregrine dive computers. They are working on the backlog and we should be seeing shipments soon unless there are more...

2022-03-2821 min

Scuba Shack Radio 80. Your Next Dive takes us to the Antilla wreck in Aruba plus Wet Notes updates us on some news and informationThe Florida Fish and Wildlife commission has approved a highly regulated goliath grouper harvest for the Spring of 2023. The Cayman Islands continues to battle Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Progress is slow but the Caymans are leading the way. Dive RAID International recently announced a new diver certification - The Indoor Diver. Aggressor Adventure is launching a new liveaboard on April 9, 2022 - the Philippine Aggressor. The price of raw aluminum spiked 25% last month and is up about 50% in the past year. We just don't know where the price of aluminum scuba cylinders will end up. If you are a professional...

2022-03-1418 min

Scuba Shack Radio 79. Find out more about Commander Edward Ellsberg – Salvage Man plus Wet Notes updates on shark fishing bans in Hawaii, Ghost Divers and moreHawaii has recently banned shark fishing in Hawaiian waters. More protection for these apex predators. Sea turtles on the verge of extinction in the Maldives? Ghost Divers removing fishing nets from deep wrecks. Hear more about their latest effort. The Nautilus Lifeline Marine Rescue GPS. Should you be carrying one on your next dive? In addition to their new Rec Fins - Fourth Element is also releasing a Tech Fin in 2022. These fins look very cool. Immerse Yourself at the History of Diving Museum - virtually. Edward Ellsberg was not only known for his incredible salvage work prior to and...

2022-02-2819 min

Scuba Shack Radio 78. Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive Takes Us to Season 1 for Female of the Species plus Wet Notes News and Information UpdateThe Dive Medical Screening Committee has updated the Diver Medical Questionnaire by taking out all references to Covid-19. Progress. The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) has a virtual book club. The Into the Blue Book Club is a virtual club that meets quarterly to discuss different books and normally have the author participate. www.Reef.org/bookclub. Climate change with warmer water temperatures are causing tiger sharks to migrate to areas they normally do not inhabit. According to the University of Miami Shark Research and Conservation Program, this expanded range will cause ecological imbalances. The first quarter 2022 edition of the...

2022-02-1419 min

Scuba Shack Radio 77. Your Next Dive takes on a dive to Manta Point on Maui plus Wet Notes updates us on some dive computer and other newsPADI has announced a partnership with National Geographic Pristine Seas Initiative to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030. SUUNTO is being sold to Leashing - they will however remain in Finland for now. Shearwater has also announced a special edition Teric - Journeys Edition Teric. Coral Restoration Foundation had a remarkable 2021 and plans to do even more in 2022. There are signs that we are getting back to some sense of normalcy after Covid. The Scuba Show in Long Beach CA will be a physical event and the Philippines is set to open to tourists on February 10, 2022 One of my more memorable...

2022-01-3118 min

Scuba Shack Radio 76. Dark Descent by Kevin F. McMurray takes us diving on the Empress of Ireland plus Wet Notes gives us some timely updatesThe New England Wreck Symposium has been rescheduled to March 26, 2022 due to the current Covid-19 spike. Gray Quarry in Gray, TN used an aerating system to make it into a diving destination. Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA may be open to reservation-only diving in 2022. Beware of stolen Shearwater computers. Seems like a number of these high-end dive computers were stolen from dive shops using bad credit cards. Only buy from a certified dealer. Virtual Divers International (VDI) and Scuba Schools International (SSI) have announce a partnership. Good news on the North Atlantic Right Whales. To date, the New England Aquarium...

2022-01-1718 min

Scuba Shack Radio 75. Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive takes us to season 4 for PT Boat plus Wet Notes covers virtual diving, a shipwreck symposium and more.Virtual Divers International has released a virtual dive program that touts training divers at all levels. Available for both iOS and Android operating systems. The Maldives Manta Research Expedition explored the northern part of the Maldives where they studied the manta population back in October. The first two episodes detailing the results are on YouTube. The SECONN Skin Divers and UCONN Avery Point Scuba Club are hosting a New England Wreck Symposium on January 29, 2022. It will be at the UCONN Avery Point campus in Groton, CT. You can get your tickets at the SECONN website. Aqualung issued a recall notice...

2022-01-0319 min

Scuba Shack Radio 74. Your Next Dive takes you to the Blue Heron Bridge plus Wet Notes talks about a special edition of Alert Diver and more.Divers Alert Network has released a special edition of Alert Diver Magazine. This year-end special edition is a compilation of some of their best articles. This is a great reference. According to the Alaska Daily News, there has been a successful clean up effort in Dutch Harbor where they have removed over 1 million pounds of old fishing net and line. Divers Alert Network has funded a study with Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine to research the safety of Full Face Snorkel masks. They have recently released their results. The December issue of Scuba Diving Magazine is now available. The December...

2021-12-2017 min

Scuba Shack Radio 73. We chat with Roxane Boonstra from the Coral Restoration Foundation for an update on diving operations plus Wet Notes news and information updatesThe 3rd and 4th quarter issues of Alert Diver from DAN is on the streets. It is packed with great articles. One article in particular is from Becky Kagan Schott regarding her work on creating 3-D print outs of Great Lake shipwrecks. Sunset House on Grand Cayman is getting ready to open in January 2022. Great news from a great dive resort. Why are there two different dive flags? Scuba News recently ran an article of how this came about. RAID shook up the scuba training agency industry this week by offering free membership to their professionals and shops. Could this...

2021-12-0628 min

Scuba Shack Radio 72. Listen to my recap of the Dive Equipment Marketing Association 2021 Show plus Wet Notes updates you on some new productsIs there a blood test on the way to detect DCS? Research is ongoing but how close is it? Shearwater has now indicated that production has been halted on the Perdix dive computers along with the Peregrine (they use the same screen). According to Simon Morris from Shearwater it may be March 2022 before they are again shipping the computers. Stream2Sea will be offering a new sunscreen in 2022. It is being branded as An Everyday Sunscreen with Eco-Safe Zinc. This is a great new product that is absolutely reef safe. Diving Unlimited International is about to release a redesign of...

2021-11-2219 min

Scuba Shack Radio 71. Your Next Dive takes us to Pompano Beach plus Wet Notes covers Osborne Reef, Alert Diver Magazine and MoreDan and Betty Orr have a new ebook titled "101 Tips for Scuba Divers". You can get it online at Apple Book Store, Amazon or wisediver.com for $9.99. The Shearwater Peregrine computer is currently on back order. The delays may last until early January 2022. Alert Diver from Divers Alert Network is combining their third and fourth quarter edition. It should be hitting the streets in mid-November. 4Ocean is cleaning up a section of Osborne Reef. In the 1970s, just off Ft. Lauderdale over two million tires were placed in the ocean to create an artificial reef. The tires are now tearing...

2021-11-0817 min

Scuba Shack Radio 70. An Interview with Andy Leisner, PADI’s Chief Consumer Officer where we discuss PADI Club and more, plus an abbreviated Wet NotesAndy Leisner is PADI's Chief Consumer Officer and is responsible for Scuba Diving Magazine, Sport Diver and PADI Club along with other areas of accountability. Andy tells us a little more about his background, this new role at PADI, PADI Club, the benefits and some new and exciting ideas in the pipeline for PADI Club as we move into 2022. It looks like the "highly regulated harvest" of goliath grouper in Florida was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee in early October. Final approval is set for March 2022. If that were to happen, the harvest would begin in...

2021-10-2230 min

Scuba Shack Radio 69. Wet Note updates PADI club, the Shearwater Peregrine, Raise the Reef and more, plus we will recap the 2021 67th Boston Sea Rovers ClinicIf you want to get some great discounts you might consider joining PADI Club. You can get a 20% discount on the SeaLife SportDiver Smartphone housing, plus 20% off 17 different electronic learning courses from PADI. A great deal for the $50 membership fee. You can get a 45-day free membership at https://www.scubadiving.com/padiclub45 If you are on the fence in buying the Shearwater Peregrine because you are concerned that it might become air integrated in the future, don't delay. Shearwater doesn't have any plans to make the Peregrine air integrated. The price point for the Peregrine makes this a great...

2021-10-1119 min

Scuba Shack Radio 68. Wet Note updates The Dive Locker Podcast, Sea Life smartphone housing and more, plus Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive and the Diplomatic PouchScuba Shack Radio is proud to now be the Vurbl Ambassador for Scuba Diving. We are proud to gain this designation. Check us out at Scuba Shack Radio and please consider subscribing. Congratulations to Tec Clark and The Dive Locker Podcast on celebrating their 2nd anniversary. The Dive Locker podcast is a weekly podcast for dive professionals but is very relevant to all divers. Tec also hosts a podcast called The League of Extraordinary Divers. Please check out both. Scuba Shack is a proud patron of The Dive Locker. Another message in a bottle story. This time a bottle was...

2021-09-2718 min

Scuba Shack Radio 67. Wet Notes updates PADI AWARE Week, another photo contest, and new products from Aqualung plus Your Next Dive takes us to the wreck of the Chester PolingIf you want to dive with a purpose, check out an opportunity next year to spend a week at the Atlantis Dive Resort in Dumaguete in the Philippines participating in a program led by the Coral Restoration Foundation. This year the PADI AWARE Foundation's AWARE Week is set for September 18 to 26, 2021. AWARE Week's goal is to empower the global dive community to lead or take part in conservation activities and courses focused on local action for global impact. The 2022 Aqualung buyers guide was recently released and they a lot of new products and colors coming out next year. First there...

2021-09-1320 min

Scuba Shack Radio 66. Wet Notes updates the fate of the Gulf Stream, Dutch Springs and more plus we review the book Descent Into DarknessA study published by Niklas Boers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research indicates that the Gulf Stream is on the verge of collapse. This would dramatically change the weather in North America and Europe - making it colder. Additionally there would be sea level rise, disruption of the monsoon patterns and impacts to the Amazon rainforest and Antarctic ice sheet. Do you miss Dive Training Magazine? Word from Catherine Castle Garcia is that they are hoping to be publishing again in the fourth quarter of 2021. Looking forward to a new edition coming soon. The Boston Sea Rovers annual...

2021-08-3018 min

Scuba Shack Radio 65. Wet Notes updates Dutch Springs developments, Shearwater SWIFT and more plus Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive – Proof of GuiltThe owner and operator of Dutch Springs since 1980, Stuart Schooley has decided to retire and I congratulate him on this well deserved milestone. Stu is selling Dutch Springs to a Texas developer who plans to create a 300,000 square foot warehouse facility on the property. This development will restrict access to the quarry and with that it looks like Dutch Springs will close at the end of the 2021 season. This is extremely sad news for the northeast diving community. So many dive shops like Scuba Shack have made Dutch Springs an integral part of their diving culture. Very sad and disappointing...

2021-08-1619 min

Scuba Shack Radio 64. Wet Notes update on Alert Diver, the Cayman’s opening plan and more plus Your Next Dive takes us to St. ThomasThe 2nd quarter 2021 edition of Alert Diver Magazine from Divers Alert Network (DAN) is out. A great publication packed with so much great information. You can learn about shallow water arterial gas embolism, and travel to Roatan. You can also read about the Flower Garden Banks and Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuaries. It is a cover-to-cover read. The Cayman Islands are still not open to tourists at this time but they have put forth a five phase plan for reopening. The next milestone is September 9, 2021 when they will open for vaccinated tourists to enter with some restrictions but only if 80% of...

2021-07-3020 min

Scuba Shack Radio 63. Wet Notes updates Boston Sea Rovers, Washed Ashore, Deep Pools and more plus a look at Farallon IndustriesThe Boston Sea Rovers clinic is set for October 1-2, 2021. This is a new date for the show which normally was held in the March timeframe. Tickets are on sale now for the Saturday and Sunday clinic along with the Saturday night film festival. Check out the Boston Sea Rovers Site. Need help identifying fish - check out namethatfish.com Reef Divers who run the dive operations at the Clearly Cayman Resorts (Cobalt Coast, Little Cayman Beach Resort and Brac Beach Resort) is expanding their operations to Turks and Caicos. They are partnering with East Bay Resort on South Caicos s...

2021-07-1819 min

Scuba Shack Radio 62. Wet Notes updates REEF Fest 2021, Olympus cameras, manatees and more, plus Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive – The HeroREEF Fest 2021 is scheduled October 14 through October 17, 2021. Four great dives of activities - diving, kayaking, seminars, workshops, and social gatherings. Activities are also scheduled at John Pennekamp State Park, the Coral Restoration Foundation, the History of Diving Museum and the Florida Key Wild Bird Center. Olympus cameras are still available. A new company OM Digital Solution is producing the Olympus cameras, binoculars, and audio gear. You can check them out at getolympus.com. Some sobering news on Florida manatees. As of June 4, 2021 the mortality rate of the manatees is up 151%. So far this year 782 have already died. The record number...

2021-07-0420 min

Scuba Shack Radio 61. Wet Notes updates a new Mission Blue Hope Spot, the PADI Aware Foundation and more plus Your Next Dive goes to Key LargoToday's installment of Wet Notes introduces you to a new BC tag being offered on Bonaire using recycled plastic. PADI has also recently announced that Project AWARE is now the PADI AWARE Foundation - leveraging the power of the PADI brand and operations. Oluwalu Reef on Maui is now a Mission Blue Hope Spot - great news for a reef that is under sever strength. If you are thinking about becoming a PADI Divemaster - learn about a new program from PADI - Introduction to PADI Divemaster. On this edition of Your Next Dive I take you to a dive...

2021-06-2018 min

Scuba Shack Radio 60. Wet Note update on Stuart Cove’s, Stony Coral Tissue Disease in the Caymans plus What is the Jet-O-Sen?In this installment of Wet Notes I talk a little bit about the new Stuart Cove location in Nassau, DAN tags, the spread of Stony Coral Tissue Disease (SCTD) on Grand Cayman, a new five-part series podcast from Hakai Magazine: The Sound Aquatic - The Ocean and the Anthropause and more. What is the Jet-O-Sen? This is a vintage piece of scuba equipment developed by Jim Sawtelle in the early 1950s. The Jet-O-Sen was a quick release device for a scuba tank from the harness. Until the Jet-O-Sen, scuba tanks were bolted to the harness and difficult to release for...

2021-06-0617 min

Scuba Shack Radio 59. Wet Notes News and Information plus Sea Hunt – It’s Still Alive – The InvaderThis time on Wet Notes I talk about an interesting new exhibit at The History of Diving Museum in Islamorado, a t-shirt design contest from Ikelite, an important scuba tank safety note from PSI-PCI, diving with a purpose on Lake Tahoe and more. On this installment of Sea Hunt - It's Still Alive I review The Invader. This episode is from season 3 and premiered July 30, 1960. In this episode Mike Nelson is in a small unnamed Latin American country where he is assigned to create an underwater demolition team. While he is completing his assignment, a revolution takes place, the President...

2021-05-2119 min

Scuba Shack Radio 58. Wet Notes News and Info plus Your Next Dive takes us to CuracaoOn this installment of Wet Notes I provide some interesting information on some WW II bombs found off of Lanai, some plastic eating mushrooms, a proposal in Florida to open up a harvest of Goliath Grouper, an update on traveling to the Bahamas, and more. This latest edition of Your Next Dive takes us to Curacao one of the ABC islands. If you visit Curacao you can opt to stay either on the west side of the island or closer to the city of Willemstad. If you stay closer to the city you have a couple of options - either...

2021-05-0618 min

Scuba Shack Radio 57. Wet Notes updates the NOAA budget, a message in a bottle and more plus a look at Poseidon scuba equipmentIn this installment of Wet Notes I cover the record proposed NOAA budget in 2022, a message in the bottle found in Grand Cayman, some news from Shearwater and more. Poseidon is a company founded by Ingvar Elfstrom in 1958. The company is based in Sweden. Poseidon was an early innovator of regulators with their Poseidon Senior (double hose) and Cyklon Junior (single hose). The company also innovated both wetsuit and drysuits. Additionally, they developed the SEVEN+ rebreather - dubbed the world's first recreational rebreather. Poseidon is still going strong with their regulators, rebreathers, BCDs and computers.

2021-04-2316 min

Scuba Shack Radio 56. Wet Notes update on Seaspiracy, Luxfer & more plus Sea Hunt – It’s Still Alive – The Alcatraz StoryOn this episode of Wet Notes I give you an update on Seaspiracy, how scientists are using fin whale songs to map the ocean, the sale of the Luxfer US plant to Metal Impact, a potential new artificial reef in Florida and more. On this edition of Sea Hunt It's Still Alive we review The Alcatraz Story. This episode premiered on January 4, 1959. This time Mike is in San Francisco. He is hired to teach two brothers how to scuba dive. They claim to be abalone fishermen but there is more to that story. They are trying to spring their brother...

2021-04-0919 min

Scuba Shack Radio 55. Wet Notes New and Information & Project Sealab 1 Report – Part 2On this edition of Wet Note, I talk about REEF Survey Trips in 2022, saving a whale on Maui, new Aqualung branding, a DEMA 2021 update and more. In Part 2 of the Project Sealab 1 Summary report I will cover the mission, the findings, conclusions and recommendations coming from the report that was developed by the Office of Naval Research in 1965. While we were at the height of the space race, the USA was also exploring inner space.

2021-03-2818 min

Scuba Shack Radio 54. Wet Notes news and information, and Part 1 of The Project Sealab 1 Summary ReportOn this edition of Wet Notes we give an update on Dive Training Magazine, when will the Caymans open, the fight against plastic pollution and a new Netflix documentary - Seasipiracy and more. Part one of the Project Sealab 1 Summary Report will take you through the build up to the deployment of the Sealab habitat. The report was developed by the Office of Naval Research and published on June 14, 1965. The report is numbered ONR Report ACR-108. This 62 page report is filled with many of the details in getting the project up and running through the mission. Part one will take...

2021-03-1418 min

Scuba Shack Radio 53. Wet Notes – a new bi-weekly segment and Your Next Dive takes you on a dive trip to NassauIn this premier segment of Wet Notes - Scuba Shack Radio's bi-weekly news segment we talk about using corn starch to dust your dry suit seals, resorts offering Covid testing, big news in the scuba tank business and more. For Your Next Dive we are going to tell you what it is like to go on the Scuba Shack dive trip to the Bahamas where we stay at Orange Hill Beach Resort, dive with Stuart Cove and experience some fantastic dinners. Let's go diving.

2021-02-2819 min

Scuba Shack Radio 52. Underwater Navigation, Turtles Fly Too and Sea Hunt – It’s Still Alive in a Flooded MineWe all use our GPS devices to help us navigate. Great if we are driving our car or looking for a specific location, but right now using GPS to navigate underwater is a bit of a challenge. While there are technologies on the horizon that use GPS for underwater navigation, they are not yet practical. That is where you will need to depend on tried and true underwater navigation techniques. The compass is the primary tool for knowing where you are going and how to get back. We learn basic compass use in our first open water class and then...

2021-02-1420 min

Scuba Shack Radio 51. PADI Pro Night, the Grouper Moon Project, and U.S. DiversA PADI Pro Night is a time to get together with a PADI dive shop to learn more about what it takes to become a leader in the scuba diving community as a PADI Professional. It doesn't matter if you are a seasoned diver or just starting out. A PADI Pro Night will give you the information you will need to make this journey. You will hear from dive professionals and get to ask questions about you can expect by embarking on this rewarding career. The Grouper Moon Project is the most advanced tropical fisheries research program in the world...

2021-01-3118 min

Scuba Shack Radio 50. PADI Equipment Specialist course, the Paris Agreement of 2015 and Where Will Your Next Dive Be?The PADI Equipment Specialist course is a combination of electronic learning and classroom that can be either in person or virtual. This course is not a service technician course. Rather it is designed to give you the knowledge of how and why certain pieces of gear work. You will learn the benefits of owning your own gear and then dive into all the gear. The course covers tanks, tank valves, regulators, rebreathers, dive computers, SPG, compasses and enriched air. After completing the online course, we conduct 3 sessions totally over 6 hours of demonstration, dialog, discussion and questions. Our studio allows for...

2021-01-1721 min

Scuba Shack Radio 49. Maintaining your BCD, Oceanographic Magazine and Sea Hunt – It’s Still Alive at the Point of No ReturnOne of the ways you can ensure that your buoyancy compensating device (BCD) is operating properly is to make sure that you properly clean and inspect the BCD after diving. First you will want to clean out your bladder. If you've been diving in salt water it is important that you drain and rinse out the bladder to avoid salt crystallization inside. Also, make sure that the over pressurization valve (OPV) is operating properly. Rinse your low pressure inflator valve to remove any salt residue or sand. Check the velcro and buckles for any issues. Properly cleaning and checking your B...

2021-01-0321 min

Scuba Shack Radio 48. What is Geoengineering and how can it help with climate change, and another US original – DACORGeoengineering can be another weapon in the fight against climate change. Geoengineering refers to large-scale schemes for intervention in the earth's ocean, soil and atmosphere with the aim of reducing the effects of climate change. There are two broad categories of geoengineering - Carbon Geoengineering focused on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and Solar Geoengineering centered around solar radiation management (SRM). SRM can be done by either deploying sulfates or diamond dust in the upper atmosphere to deflect sunlight. Also, SRM can be done by spraying sea water into the atmosphere to create marine clouds. On the CDR front there are...

2020-12-2018 min

Scuba Shack Radio 47. Underwater Camera Practice, NOAA’s Coral Reef Strategic Plan and Your Next Dive is in ArubaWhen is the last time you had your underwater camera system out. If it has been a while you might want to consider taking it out, making sure it was properly cleaned before you put it in storage, and that you do an inventory of all the components. Then familiarize yourself with how to put it all together and make sure that it operates properly. Also, it is a great time to familiarize yourself with the camera, its settings and ensure you develop the muscle memory so when you are underwater things come naturally. Just because it is winter or...

2020-12-0621 min

Scuba Shack Radio 46. DEMA 2020 Recap, the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and Sea Hunt – It’s Still Alive – Synthetic HeroThe Dive Equipment and Marketing Association held it's annual conference virtually this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show featured a number of virtual presentations that were fairly effective and gave a feel to being there. The exhibitors featured a list of many different vendors. The experience with vendors is one of the big reasons we attend and this is where there were I hope that we find a better way of doing virtual trade shows in the future. The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 became a law on December 23, 2000 and had great bi-partisan support when it was signed...

2020-11-2219 min

Scuba Shack Radio 45. A discussion on tank valves, the Ocean-based Climate Solution Act of 2020 and Dick Anderson – a pioneer in scuba divingTank valves are sometimes taken for granted. Although seemingly simple there are a number of parts deep inside you valve that will deteriorate over time. Tank valves should be periodically overhauled. One recommendation is that you can have it overhauled every five years when you are having your tanks hydrostatic test. Listen for some details about the parts inside the valve and how they work together. The Ocean-based Climate Solutions Act of 2020 was introduced to congress on October 20, 2020 by Congressman Raul Grijalva who chairs the House Natural Resource Committee. The Ocean Conservancy calls this the first comprehensive US bill on...

2020-11-0819 min

Scuba Shack Radio 44. A discussion on decompression theory, Diving Against Debris, and Your Next Dive takes you to Cayman BracDecompression theory is the study and modeling of how inert gas gets from our lungs to our body and then how it is released from our body. All decompression models have evolved from the work by John Scott Haldane. Haldane introduced the concept of tissue compartments that take on nitrogen at different rates called half-times. This work was done in the early 1900s. In the mid-1960s, Dr. Robert Workman developed m-values or absolute inert gas pressure that a tissue compartment can take without presenting symptoms of decompression sickness. Half-times and m-values are used to develop the algorithms in your...

2020-10-2519 min

Scuba Shack Radio 43. PADI Rescue Diver, Chasing Coral and Sea Hunt – It’s Still Alive goes Cave DivingThe PADI Rescue Diver course is an extremely challenging and rewarding evolution. Our course consisted of knowledge development - done through a thorough and comprehensive electronic learning, a review of that material through a virtual meeting, an intense pool session to demonstrate and practice rescue exercises and the open water practical scenario. The class also introduced teamwork among the rescue divers to fully handle an emergency. There are 10 rescue exercises and 2 rescue scenarios in the PADI Rescue Diver course that provided the confidence needed should something go wrong. Chasing Coral premiered in July 2017 and won the People's Choice Award for...

2020-10-1121 min

Scuba Shack Radio 42. Regulator Pressure Discussion, Learn about the Coral Restoration Foundation, and another pioneer of the underwater world – Ed LinkRegulator pressure is a critical component of your regulator maintenance. Every year you should have your regulator's pressures checked and adjusted whether you are having an inspection or overhaul. The intermediate pressure (IP) of the first stage should be within manufacturer specification which is normally between 125 and 150 PSI. If you have an unbalanced first stage, the intermediate pressure should be checked for high and low tank pressure. A balanced first stage should have a consistent intermediate pressure for a full or low tank. For the second stage, a magnahelic gage is used for measuring the cracking pressure. Cracking pressure is...

2020-09-2522 min

Scuba Shack Radio 41. Scuba Air Quality, Project AWARE Week 2020, Your Next Dive – Coco View Resort, RoatanScuba air quality is imperative in diving. Scuba grade air must adhere to the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) standards. The standard for scuba is Grade E and outlines the limits for contaminants in that air. Ensuring that your air meets these standard uses a three prong approach. The compressor must have routine maintenance, proper filtering and periodic testing. The third annual Project AWARE week runs from September 19 - 27, 2020. This year PADI has teamed up with Project AWARE to jointly celebrate the power of the global community. This year's theme is that one person can make a difference. One way to...

2020-09-1119 min

Scuba Shack Radio 40. Delayed Surface Marker Buoy, Plastic Bag Laws, and Sea Hunt – It’s Still Alive – Midget SubmarineWe recently incorporated the delayed surface marker buoy adventure dive in our advanced open water class. Listen to our reasoning and how beneficial this was to both our students and instructors. Being able to deploy your surface marker buoy from depth is an important skill to have. Plastic bag laws work. There are 8 states that currently have statewide plastic bag laws. These states are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Every county in Hawaii have laws restricting use. There are also 500 local ordinances across 28 states. Unfortunately, there are 15 states that have preemptive laws that restrict local...

2020-08-2820 min

Scuba Shack Radio 39. Fen Johnson Part 3 – FENJOHN Company and the equipment he offered plus a discussion on World Ocean ObservatoryER Fenimore Johnson had a company named FENJOHN that build and sold underwater photography equipment along with a wide array of scuba diving equipment. The company was based out of Ardmore, PA. The 1954 catalog featured the FENJOHN Bantam 16mm underwater motion picture camera for the hefty price of $1990 ($19,010 in 2020 dollars). By 1956, the catalog had a lot more equipment listed. He was distributing for a number of companies. In an undated catalog from around 1961 or 1962, the catalog is expanded and is geared more toward the recreational diver. FENJOHN claim to be the worlds oldest and largest manufacturer of underwater photography equipment...

2020-08-1321 min

Scuba Shack Radio 38. Fen Johnson Part 2: His work with the Navy UDT and Your Next Dive takes you to Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PAIn 1948 LCDR Fenimore Johnson again uses his expertise in underwater photography to work with the Navy's Underwater Demolition team. The Navy doesn't really believe that the divers can do all the things they report that they are doing. That is where Fen Johnson comes in. He will document their work using both film and photographs. This ground-breaking work is the visual evidence the Navy needs to see that UDT divers can get in and out of a submarines, use a small submersible boat and also dive at night. Fen Johnson, Doc Lambertson and CDR Douglas Fane save the Navy's Underwater...

2020-08-0218 min

Scuba Shack Radio 37. Who was ER Fenimore Johnson – Part One and Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive – The Defector from 1961ER Fenimore Johnson was a pioneer in underwater photography. He was born in 1899. His father was the founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company. Fen Johnson worked for the company until it merged with RCA in 1927. Fen got involved in diving using a Miller and Dunn shallow water helmet first to clear lines around the propeller of his yacht and later to do underwater photography. His company Mechanical Improvements Company created underwater photography equipment including still and motion picture cameras. With the onset of World War II, Fen Johnson was commissioned in the US Navy and worked with the Bureau...

2020-07-1920 min

Scuba Shack Radio 36. A special interview with Amy Lee from REEFAmy Lee is REEF's (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) Engagement and Communications Manager. In this episode I had a chance to catch up with Amy and chat a little about her background, her work at REEF, her recognition as the 2019 DEMA Wavemaker and some of her favorite dive destinations. Amy has been with REEF since 2014 and is an avid fish surveyor and fish identification expert.

2020-07-0329 min

Scuba Shack Radio 35. A special Father’s Day Edition of Your Next Dive – the Maldives with Peter KatzHappy Father's Day to all the Dads out there On this special episode of Scuba Shack Radio I sit down with Peter Katz - PADI Master Instructor to talk about his trip to the Maldives. Peter was fortunate to get his trip to the Maldives completed just before the pandemic lockdown. We talk about his adventure onboard the Emperor Explorer, the diving, the routine, the food and how he got out to the other side of the world. The Maldives certainly is an amazing dive adventure and Peter has some great insights.

2020-06-2137 min

Scuba Shack Radio 34. Let’s talk about save-a-dive kits and Healthways – an original scuba equipment providerEvery diver should have a save-a-dive kit and your kit should be tailored to your gear and your configuration. Every diver should have o-rings in their kit. Tank valve o-rings and hose o-rings are very important. You should have a spare mask strap but make sure it fits your mask. If you have replaceable fin straps - ensure you have the right ones. Additionally, you should carry a spare regulator mouthpiece preferably the same one that you are using. An air spool or swivel pin is another spare part for your kit; make sure it is the right one for...

2020-06-0724 min

Scuba Shack Radio 33. Underwater comms for scuba divers, World Economic Forum Report – US #32, and Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive – Changing PatternsWireless underwater communications for scuba divers have come a long way since the 1970s. Today there are a number of options if you are ready to go the full-face mask route, whether it be an AGA, Spectrum, Kirby-Morgan, Guardian or G-Diver. Your options include the Ocean Reef GSM G-Diver, Divelink's COM-FF or the OTS Buddy Phone - D2. They all operate with 1/2 watt power and can have ranges between 150 to 1500 feet depending on conditions. All have surface units available. The 2020 World Economic Forum report on Fostering Effective Energy ranks the United States #32 out of 115 countries. The report measures energy system...

2020-05-2419 min

Scuba Shack Radio 32. Emergency Action Plan, MarineBio and Your Next Dive takes you to Sunset House on Grand CaymanYour Emergency Action Plan is an important part of your preparedness in the event of something going wrong. It consists of information regarding where you will be diving. Things like the location of hospitals, hyperbaric chambers, or other facilities. Your plan also should include equipment. Do you have a first-aid kit and is it up to date. Is your emergency oxygen kit in working order and do you know how to use it. You should also practice your EAP. Emergency Action Plans are not just for dive professionals. Everyone should have one. MarineBio is an all volunteer non-profit of marine...

2020-05-1016 min

Scuba Shack Radio 31. Dive Flags, EN-ROADS climate solution simulator, diving the Andrea DoriaA dive flag is a very important piece of your safety equipment especially when shore diving. A dive flag let's boat traffic know that you are in the area. A flag must be within 50 feet of you and be able to be seen from 100 yards away. It should also be flying and 3 feet above the surface. You need to check out the specific regulations for where you are diving. You will need to be proficient in handling the dive flag underwater including keeping it within 50 feet and not allow it to drift too far behind or pull it underwater. EN-ROADS s...

2020-04-2616 min

Scuba Shack Radio 30. An interview with Donna, the National Marine Life Center and another edition of Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive – Diving for the MoonThe dive shop has been closed since mid-March. As we learn to be more virtual, I recently practiced doing a remote interview. I interviewed Donna who was in our dining room while I was in my office in the basement. We used the internet to conduct the interview and talked about how she is trying to keep things going while we are closed. The National Marine Life Center is a hospital to rehabilitate marine mammals. They are located in Buzzards Bay, MA on Cape Cod, a hotspot for stranding. Their mission is to rehabilitate injured and sick marine mammals and...

2020-04-1218 min

Scuba Shack Radio 29. Dive Lights, the Plastic Redesign Initiative, and Your Next Dive takes us to Turks and Caicos where we’ll dive with Dive ProvoIn this episode we discuss dive lights, the Plastic Redesign Initiative, and Your Next Dive takes us to Turks and Caicos where we will dive with Dive Provo. If you are going to do night dives you will need a good dive light. My choice for a primary dive light is the Light and Motion Solo 800 S/F. The Solo is a hand-mounted light with a spot and flood capability. In the flood mode you will get 70 minutes of burn time with 800 lumens. If you go to the spot mode you will get 500 lumens. You can set power at ¼, ½ or fu...

2020-03-2918 min

Scuba Shack Radio Boston Sea Rovers Special EditionThis is a special edition of Scuba Shack Radio. We took the podcast on the road to the Boston Sea Rovers 66th International Ocean Symposium and Film Festival where we had the opportunity to connect with some old friends and meet new folks across the dive industry. I want to thank my guests – Rob Kohl - PADI Northeast Regional Manager, Les Corkhill - Atlantis Dive Resort, Patrick Flannigan – Ocean Learning Laboratory and Immersive Experience (Ollie), and Faith Ortin – Blue Green Expedition. The show was recorded just prior to the dramatic events that have unfolded related to the COVID-19 pandemic. My hope is...

2020-03-1526 min

Scuba Shack Radio 27. What is SAC rate, the state of solar power in the US and Voit – an early scuba equipment manufacturerIn this episode we discuss SAC rate, the state of solar power in the US, and Voit – an early scuba equipment company. Your surface air consumption (SAC) rate is an important consideration in planning and executing your dives. Your SAC rate tells you how much air you consume at the surface and when you are planning a dive you can determine the amount of gas you will use during that dive. It isn't difficult to determine and with air integrated computers you can track your SAC rate real time during your dive. Solar power contributes 71.3 GW of power or 2.4% of th...

2020-03-0119 min

Scuba Shack Radio 26. Boat Diving Etiquette, Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and Sea Hunt – It’s Still Alive – The AquanettesIn this episode we discuss boat diving etiquette, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, and Sea Hunt – It's Still Alive – the Aquanettes. Boat diving is fun and convenient. Boats however are small and move around a lot and can present some challenges. With a little common sense and etiquette you can make it enjoyable for everyone. My number 1 rule for boat diving etiquette is to follow the boats rules even if they do things differently than you are accustom to doing. Be mindful of your gear. Don't spread it around. Follow the boats procedures for getting in and out of the...

2020-02-2318 min

Scuba Shack Radio 25. Our First Interview, Emergency Oxygen – are you prepared, and Your Next Dive travels to the Bahamas to dive with Stuart CoveIn this episode we have our first interview with Ron, discuss the PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider course, and Your Next Dives takes us to Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas in Nassau. From the very first day I started Scuba Shack Radio, Ron Weller – one of our dive instructors has been talking about getting guests on the show. For this 25th episode, I thought it was appropriate that Ron be my first guest. Ron talks about how he started diving, what keeps him motivated and describes a couple of his most memorable dive. Are you prepared to act if someone needs emergency oxyg...

2020-02-0918 min

Scuba Shack Radio 24. Travel Insurance, Wind Power in the US and Scott Carpenter – Astronaut and AquanautIn this episode we discuss dive travel insurance, the current state of wind power, and Scott Carpenter – Astronaut and Aquanaut. Who doesn't like a great scuba diving trip? As we know, we need to plan our trips well in advance and in many cases make a significant investment. Things happen and we should really protect that investment with trip insurance. There are a number of products out there to insure your dive travel. Divers Alert Network and DiveAssure offer a variety of products that cover single trips or annual trip insurance. You can check out these options on their websites. htt...

2020-01-2616 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #23 – 1-12-2020In this episode we discuss the PADI referral process, the North Atlantic Right Whale, and another installment of Sea Hunt – It's Still Alive. If you live in a part of the country or the world where it gets cold in the winter you might not think you can still learn to scuba dive. You can by doing something called a referral. Essentially, you do your confined water training with your local dive shop in a warm pool and then go someplace warm for your open water certification dives. Work with your local dive shop to set up the referral, make su...

2020-01-1217 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #22 12-29-19In this episode we discuss Sink the Stink, 4Ocean, and Your Next Dive takes you to Atlantis Dive Resort in Dumaguete Philippines. Sink the Stink is our go to product for cleaning our neoprene wetsuits and boots. The product is based on technology developed by Bob Denton based on work he had been doing for the oil and gas industry to remove contaminants using bacteria. As an avid diver Bob realized that there was an application for using bacteria to clean wetsuits. The technology is based on good bacteria in Sink the Stink eating the bad bacteria in the neoprene...

2019-12-2918 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #21 – 12-15-19In this episode we discuss the Ikelite Olympus TG-6 package, stony coral tissue loss disease, and some history of New England diving. The Ikelite Olympus TG-6 package comes with the Olympus TG-6 camera, the Ikelite housing, the action tray II with left handle, RC1 TTL (Through the Lens) receiver, a fiber optic cord, the Ikelite DS51 strobe and the compact ball arm for quick release. The camera features four underwater modes – normal, wide, macro, and microscope with 3 filter settings including shallow, mid and deep. You can add a 3 or 6 inch wide angle dome port. The camera shoots both JPEG and RA...

2019-12-1518 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #20 11-30-19In this episode we discuss the Suunto SK-8 compass, Ballast – a five part podcast from Hakai Magazine and another installment of Sea Hunt – It's Still Alive. The Suunto SK-8 underwater compass is my compass of choice. The compass is billed as the world's most popular dive compass. The SK-8 is a liquid filled compass. Suunto claims that both the Northern and Southern hemisphere models can be used over a wider area of the glob based on their upgraded magnets. The compass is 2.58" x 2.58" x 1.72". We prefer to wear our compass on our wrist and you can get it with a wris...

2019-11-3017 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #19 – 11-17-19In this episode we discuss our time at DEMA, clothing made from recycled plastic, and another installment of Your Next Dive – Little Cayman. Our three days at DEMA was packed. We had a chance to meet with all of our partners, look at new products, research various travel options, talk with organizations involved in ocean health and sustainability and meet some interesting people in the dive community. We talked to Autumn Blum - founder of Stream2Sea, Bob Denton - the inventor of Sink the Stink, Cathryn Castle Garcia - executive editor of Dive Training Magazine, and Stuart Cove. We als...

2019-11-1719 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #18 – 11-3-19In this episode we discuss the Halcyon Traveler BC, the Keeling Curve, and some more of our diving history with the salvage of the submarine S-51 in 1925/26. The Halcyon Traveler BC is a great light weight BC with the control and stability of the backplate and wing configuration. The Traveler BC is a 30 pound lift capacity wing and weighs in at just about 7 pounds – half the weight of the Infinity BC with a stainless steel backplate and tank adapter. The nylon backplate has four weight pouches that can hold up to 12 pounds total. You can also add the Halcyon active co...

2019-11-0318 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #17 – 10-19-19In this episode we discuss Project Aware and the PADI Specialty, Marine Protected Areas, and another installment of Sea Hunt – It's Still Alive It is called Project Aware because it started in 1989 as a project with PADI to support ocean conservation. AWARE stands for Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education. Project Aware focused on 10 ways that divers can protect the underwater environment. These 10 ways have evolved into the 10 tips for divers to protect the ocean planet. In 1992 it officially became a separate entity called the Project Aware Foundation. Listen for more information on Project Aware and the PADI specialty or go...

2019-10-1920 min

Scuba Shack Radio Episode 16 – 10-6-19In this episode we discuss DEMA, the latest IPCC Climate Change report, and introduce a new segment called Your Next Dive – first up Maui DEMA is the Dive Equipment and Marketing Association with the mission of bringing business together to grow the diving industry. DEMA has more than 1400 member businesses. They have a number of strategic goals and objectives along with tactical goals. You can read more about DEMA at their website https://www.dema.org. One of their tactical goals is to put on an annual trade show. That is the DEMA Show and brings together over 9000 buyers, vendors and...

2019-10-0619 min

Scuba Shack Radio Episode 15 – 9-22-19In this episode we discuss the value of a log book, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, and motion sickness I consider your log book as a very important piece of your dive gear. Unfortunately, the dive log is often neglected by divers. It is your dive diary. If you keep your dive log up-to-date you will be able to look back and relive those dives. You will know how the dive went, what you wore on the dive, the conditions and so much more. Be a conscientious diver and maintain your dive log. Listen to a couple of my dives from...

2019-09-2217 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #14 – 9-8-19In this episode we discuss scuba tank visual inspections, age and diving, Sea Hunt – the other pilot episode We learn early on in our training that there are two different types of inspections for scuba tanks – hydrostatic (every 5 years) and the annual visual inspection. Only the hydrostatic test is mandated in the US by the US DOT. The visual inspection is a scuba industry standard. It all came about in the 1970s in response to a study conducted by the University of Rhode Island on behalf of the National Underwater Accident Data Center titled Investigation of scuba cylinder corrosion – phase 1. The fi...

2019-09-0819 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #13 – 9/1/19In this episode we discuss Nitrox, whales and ocean noise, and where did the term SCUBA come from (you might be surprised) Enriched Air Nitrox is one of PADI's most popular classes. Why – longer no decompression limits, especially on repetitive dives. With a combination of electronic learning, classroom lecture, use of the dive computer and practical application, you are ready to manage the risks associated with Nitrox, mainly oxygen toxicity and have more fun. Nitrox is an essential class for all scuba divers. The ocean is a noisy place and getting louder all the time. Whether it is from shipping, se...

2019-09-0117 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #12 – 8-18-19In this episode we talk about the Surface Marker Buoy, hyperbaric chambers and "The Terrible Hours" Several years ago PADI introduced deploying a surface marker buoy as a key skill into their Open Water certification. A very important safety feature that every diver should understand and be able to execute in the real world. Sometimes you will need to deploy the SMB when on a drift dive or if you aren't in the vicinity of the boat when you surface, you will want the boat to see you and come and pick you up. Always carry a SMB when diving i...

2019-08-1816 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #11 – 8-4-19In this episode we discuss function checking your dive equipment, seafood waste and the first episode of Sea Hunt. Too often we read about diving incidents that could have been avoided had the diver completed a simple pre-dive function check. It is simple, easy and takes very little time to do. Once everything is assembled, simply turn on your gas, check both regulators (primary and alternate second stage) by breathing both, then power inflate the BCD to ensure it properly inflates and that the over pressurization valve releases. Finally, deflate the BCD. With your function check complete to can now ha...

2019-08-0418 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #10 – 7-21-19In this episode we discuss boat bags, IUNC Red List,, and the movie that inspired Sea Hunt - Underwater Warriors Once you get to your dive destination and are ready to go to the dive boat you will want a boat bag to get all of your gear to and from the boat. Two options are the Akona Delux Mesh Duffel and the Akona Delux Mesh Backpack. Both bags are durable, pack nicely for your trip, and make hauling your gear to the boat practical. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC) Red List of threatened species is now over 10...

2019-07-2119 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #9 – 7-7-19In this episode we discuss why buying a regulator from your local dive shop matters, bamboo and global warming, and the World Recreational Scuba Training Council Regulators are a critical piece of your dive gear and represent a significant investment. As we all know, there are a lot of options for purchasing online. Why not buy your regulator online? Well for one thing, brand new regulators are shipped in a box and not assembled. Unless you are comfortable and capable of properly assembling your new regulator, you are taking a risk. When you buy from your local dive shop, the...

2019-07-0716 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #8 – 6-23-19In this episode we discuss deep diving, cleaning stations and Sea Hunt – It's still alive – the final show "Round Up" What is deep diving? According to many training organizations it is any dive below 60 feet. Why? There is a section in Alex Brylske's book "The Complete Diver" titled Deep Diving Re-examined. Dr. Brylske talks about what he considers deep diving – the range between 80 and 130 feet or as he describes it the forgotten 50 feet. He also discusses things to consider before venturing deeper than 60 feet, specifically experience and training. As for training PADI has a great Deep Diver specialty course that consists o...

2019-06-2317 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #7 – 6-8-19In this episode we review some new Osprey Dive Bags, Climate Change – the book and introduce a recurring segment called "Sea Hunt – It's alive" Going someplace great to dive means that we have to get our scuba gear there in a tough and durable bag. There are many great bags out there and we recently brought in some new dive bags from Osprey. Two of the bags that I think are really awesome are the Transporter Wheeled Duffel 90 and the Shuttle 130L/36. First they are super lightweight. On my scale the Wheeled Duffel came in at 7.9 pounds and the Shuttle was...

2019-06-0818 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #6 – 5-26-19In this episode we discuss wet suits, The Ocean Foundation, and the History of Diving Museum One of the questions we often get at the shop is what thickness of wet suit should I buy. Our answer is it depends. It depends on where, when and how you dive. A 3 mm wet suit gives you a lot of mobility and lessens the weight that you need to carry. A 3 mm wet suit might be the best option for water temperatures at 77 degrees of above. You might choose a 5 mm wet suit if water temperatures are below 77 degrees. If you aren't...

2019-05-2615 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #5 – 5-12-19In this episode we review a couple of dry suit vests, talk about plastic and chemical pollution and discuss the merits of a dry bag. The Thermalution Yellow Grade is a battery powered heated vest using two lithium polymer batteries housed in a sleeveless rash guard type vest. It uses a wireless transmitter on the back of the vest controlled by a small controller you wear on your forearm. It has three settings, rated to 300 feet, can be worn wet or dry and has an advertised heating time of 180 – 240 minutes. The Fourth Element X-Core vest is also sleeveless and is made...

2019-05-1215 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #4 – 4-28-19In this episode we discuss Sunset House in Grand Cayman, defogging a mask, and Project Drawdown. Sunset House in Grand Cayman has been serving the dive community for over 60 years now. Let's hope they keep up the good work. Sunset House's rooms provide all the essential amenities you need to make you stay comfortable. Their boats are well maintained, convenient for diving and offer relatively short trips to some great reefs. Shore diving is spectacular with so much to see. Throw in My Bar and I rarely leave the grounds. Town is a short walk or complementary shuttle ride away...

2019-04-2815 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio #3 – 4-14-19In this episode we discuss a visit to REEF HQ in Key Largo, Hakai Magazine, an update on Plastic Bank During our recent dive shop trip to Key Largo, we conducted a PADI Fish Identification course in conjunction with REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation). Our visit to REEF included an introduction, lecture on the various fish encountered in the Florida Keys, and how to conduct a fish survey. The next morning we were off to do two surveys, diving with Horizon Divers. Our surveys were conducted on The Wreck of the Benwood and Sand Bottom Cave on Elbow Reef. Hakai M...

2019-04-1415 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio Episode 2 – 3-30-19In this episode we discuss car tires and micro-pollution, the Aqualung Reveal mask and diving in Key Largo. According to the National Resource Defense Council as we drive we leave tiny flecks of tire behind. These little flecks are like microplastics that make it to our water ways. Unlike micro-beads this problem is much harder to address. Awareness is important and more studies need to be done. Here is a link to the article. https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/tires-emerging-threat-our-waterways-our-seafood-and-ourselves Fit and comfort are the most important features of a dive mask. We like the Aqualung Reveal mask for its...

2019-03-3016 min

Scuba Shack Radio Scuba Shack Radio – Episode 1 – 3-17-19Welcome to the first episode of Scuba Shack Radio - a bi-weekly podcast in support of our mission of empowering individuals to venture underwater and to advocate for ocean health and sustainability. In this episode we discuss dive computers, growing coral in Bonaire, Beneath the Sea in New Jersey, and some discussion on ocean conservation.

2019-03-2016 min