Marco Colombo
Portfolio
issue n°58
- mar 2022
Biology: The Anthias
Travels: Los Islotes
Review: Quad By Mares
Contest: UW Imaging Competition
Travel: Gordon Bay, Cape Town
Review: Z-330 Type 2
Dear Readers, we wish you all a happy 2022, and the new year couldn’t have started in a better way than with the news that one of our favorite destinations in South East Asia will be welcoming divers back! The Philippines will open its borders to vaccinated tourists without any quarantine or tests upon entry. From the vivid healthy reefs of Tubbataha and Apo Island, through the incredible rock formations of Pescador and Verde Island, and the diverse critter diving of Anilao and Dumaguete, the Philippines houses one of the most biodiversified habitats on earth. From whale sharks to threshers, thousands of nudibranchs and various species of frogfish, we have all missed diving SE Asia! Before the pandemic, we were planning a ScubaShooters annual meeting in the Philippines, and we hope that 2022 will be the year we all meet there. Our Philippines partner Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards will be welcoming divers starting this March, with all inclusive dive vacations and up to 5 guided boat dives per day! Now more than ever, the stunning reefs and critters await! I believe this is truly a great great news and hopefully just the first of many that will lay down our path back to what we were used to! Se you in the Philippines then!
Marino Palla Owner and Founder Scubashooters Network
nautismart.net
Cover image by: Marco Colombo
Contents
Issue
n°58
-
mar
2022
pag. 72
P ortfolio
Marco Colombo Editorial: by Marino Palla
Review: Cosmiq+ Gen 5 by: Deepblu Biology: Anthias by: M. Bicciato and E. Mancuso
pag. 3
Review: Quad Dive Computer By: Mares
pag. 50
pag. 6 Contest: DPG/Wetpixel UW Imaging Competition 2021
pag. 46
pag. 12
Travels: Gordon bay by: K. Jonker
Review: Nautismart Pro by: Bluebox
pag. 60
Travels: Los Islotes, La Paz by: D. Zurub
pag. 100
Dan Europe: Dive Safety By: Dan Europe
pag. 118
Editor: Fabio Strazzi Assistant Editor: Elisa Furlani
pag. 20
Scubashooters - Via Barucchi 37, 37139 Verona
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Graphic Design and Supervising: Elisa Furlani Layout: Elisa Furlani Alessandra Suppo Translations: Piera Pirini
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Review
Review
QUAD by
Mares
www.mares.com
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Review
D • • • • • • • • • •
Facts
escription:
MAGNIFICENTLY CLEAR DISPLAY WITH JUMBO SIZE INFORMATION TWO CUSTOMIZABLE FIELDS FOR ANCILLARY INFORMATION FOUR BUTTONS FOR INTUITIVE USER INTERFACE MIRRORED BUTTON FUNCTION DURING DIVE OPTION TO VIEW DIVE TIME INCLUDING SECONDS RUNAWAY DECO ALARM MULTIGAS CAPABLE DECOMPRESSION DIVE PLANNER WITH USER ADJUSTABLE SURFACE INTERVAL LONG BATTERY LIFE, USER REPLACEABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE INTERFACE AND SOFTWARE FOR DOWNLOADING TO PC
Code: 414134 Max Displayed Depth: 150m / 492ft Memory capacity: 38hr Profile Sampling Rates: 5s Stopwatch: Yes Display: Segment Display Battery Power Indicator: Yes Plan Mode: Yes Choice of Metrical/I mperial Units: Yes Fresh and Seawater Settings: Yes Residual Nitrogen Reset: Yes User Replaceable Batteries: Yes Option To Exclude Audible Alarm: Yes Exclusion of “Uncontrolled Ascent”: Yes Ascent Rate Digital Indicator (m/min ft/min): Yes Altitude Adjustment: Yes Gas switching: Yes
Technologies Software Upgradeability. Keep your dive computer up-todate with the latest Mares developments.
Mineral Glass Display. Tempered glass with superior scratch resistance and improved readability in all diving conditions and viewing angles.
Segment Display Needle-sharp information combined with intelligent placement of information for easiest readability.
Gas Switching Setting the computer to include one or more oxygen enriched - gases (up to 99%) in addition to your main gas; allow you to benefit from shorter decompression times by switching gases during the dive.
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Review
DPG/Wetpixel Master
Underwater Imaging Competition 2021 www.uwphoto.to/DWM2021
Review
DivePhotoGuide (DPG) and Wetpixel are proud to announce the winning images and videos in the 2021 edition of the DPG/ Wetpixel Masters Underwater Imaging Competition. Once again, hundreds of photographers and filmmakers from dozens of countries competed in what has become known as the “World Championship” of international underwater imaging events. Created by DPG and Wetpixel, two of the largest online resources for underwater shooters, the competition invited submissions to five image categories and a video category, with entries evaluated by a panel of illustrious industry experts and award-winning photographers: Florian Fischer, Imran Ahmad, Jennifer Hayes, Mike Bartick and Stephen Frink. This year, Martin Broen received the “Best of Show” prize for his 1st place in the Black and White category. The image, a jaw-dropping capture of the pristine stalactites and stalagmites in a Mexican cenote, earned Martin the top cash prize of $1,000. The 1st place winners in the other categories were Julian Hsu (Macro Traditional), Sander van der Heijden (Macro Unrestricted), Enrico Somogyi (Wide Angle Traditional), Tom Shlesinger (Wide Angle Unrestricted) and Alex del Olmo (Video); each of them received a cash prize of $250. In a joint statement, DPG Editor-in-Chief Joseph Tepper and Wetpixel Publisher Adam Hanlon said: “Once again, the DPG/Wetpixel Masters competition has demonstrated the incredible talent that exists in our community of underwater shooters. As many of us continue to face lockdowns and travel restrictions, these photos and films remind us of the riches under the sea and why we must maintain our collective passion to protect the oceans we love.” The organizers are pleased to announce that 15 percent of entry proceeds will once again be donated to marine conservation efforts.
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Review
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the perfect choice for the traveling underwater photographer
w e NDS51 STROBE www.ikelite.com
Travels
Gordon’s Bay, Cape Town An UWP Paradise
Words and Pictures by Kate Jonker
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ugged mountains hugged the coastline, their sheer cliffs kissed by gentle waves as they plunged towards the sea floor.
vibrant marine life, sea fans, sponges and soft corals. Clouds of silver fish swarmed around the tops of the pinnacles and the delicate, outstretched arms of basket stars swayed in the gentle surge.
The ocean was like a mirror and reflected
2. Huge cuttlefish at Sterretjies reef.
1. Many beautiful creatures to photograph in Gordon’s Bay
the beautiful coastal scenery as the boat sped us from Gordon’s Bay harbour towards Steenbras Deep Reef, 11km into False Bay. Before long, we were descending a shot line to the top of the reef some 15m below. As we came closer, the reef rose to greet us, revealing pinnacles and steep, plunging walls densely covered in a kaleidoscope of
We started swimming slowly along the side of a steep gully and as my eyes became accustomed to my surroundings, many colourful nudibranchs began to appear, inquisitive little fish showed their faces and shy little puffadder catsharks swam alongside me, foraging for their next meal. Suddenly, a seal zoomed past me, coming in for a closer look and then disappeared into
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3. Beauty below and above the waterline in Gordon’s Bay.
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Tecnique
5. Beautiful kelp forests to explore at Blousteen. 4. Close up detail of basket star.
a cloud of silver fish as quickly as it had arrived. My heat beat a little faster at the arrival of our unexpected visitor, but slowed down again once I realised the quick moving object was just a seal. After all, we were diving in False Bay, and here you can expect the unexpected! Although I was there for macro photography, the topography, diversity, and sheer beauty of this colourful and lush reef would have easily pleased even the jaded wide-angle photographer. What an incredible site and so typical of the diving that can be found in Gordon’s Bay. Gordon’s Bay is a beautiful seaside village on the eastern corner of False Bay, 45km outside the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is here that I do most of my
diving and the place that I call home. Surrounded by mountains and natural vegetation, the vibrant beauty of the countryside is mirrored beneath the waves on a myriad beautiful and fascinating dive sites. Most of the dive sites run parallel to the eastern coastline of False Bay, offering something for every diver – from shallow reefs and kelp forests to deeper, craggy reefs with incredible topography. Marine life Fed by nutrient-rich waters, the marine life flourishes in Gordon’s Bay and pristine dive sites are densely covered with colourful soft corals, sea fans and huge vibrant sponges. Beautiful anemones, feather stars and sea urchins add to the riot of colour. 6. The reefs at Steenbras Deep are vibrant and teeming with fascinating marine life.
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This base of vibrant life provides a safe and thriving habitat for a multitude of vertebrates and invertebrates. From colourful nudibranchs to crazily decorated spider crabs, hard-to-spot cuttlefish, and octopus, to small catsharks and reef fish - there is so much to see. Larger visitors to the reefs include huge short tail stingrays, sevengill cow sharks and gully sharks, Cape clawless otters, bottlenose and common dolphins, Bryde’s whales and many playful South African fur seals that often follow divers around underwater.
When to visit The best time to visit Gordon’s Bay is from October to May when the south easterly wind blows, brining clear water along the eastern side of False Bay and great diving conditions to Gordon’s Bay. What to wear Water temperature in Gordon’s Bay can change daily and is affected by the tides and the water coming into False Bay. Temperatures usually range between 15C and 19C, with the odd drop to 13C. Divers are
7. Pink noble coral contrasts beautifully against the temperate green water at Steenbras Deep.. 8. Curious rock sucker peers out from his perch at Whirlpool Cove.
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Tecnique
9. Carpet flatworm at Pinnacle dive site.
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10. Vibrant reef life in the kelp forests of Gordon’s Bay.
11. Horned blenny, one of the many characters you will find on the reefs in Gordon’s Bay.
12. Crowned nudibranch, Polycera capensis, at Stone Dog dive site.
advised to wear either a 5mm wetsuit and hooded chicken vest or a 7mm wetsuit with a hoodie. Many local divers also dive with semi dry or dry suits. Gloves, a hoodie and booties are also a must to stay warm. I feel the cold quite easily and prefer to dive with a dry suit with thick socks and undergarment. The diving The diving is done from eight-metre-long rubber ducks, known as RIBs or zodiacs in other parts of the world. Divers can usually choose to dive with a dive guide or dive in buddy pairs, exploring the reefs at their
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own pace. This is a suitable arrangement for experienced divers and photographers who can take their time instead of rushing to keep up with the dive guide. At the end of the dive, divers deploy their surface marker buoy and the dive boat will come to pick them up. It is therefore important for all divers to have their own deployable surface marker buoys and dive computers. Indigo Scuba Gordon’s Bay’s only dive centre, Indigo Scuba, is owned and run by husband-and-wife team Deon and Kate Jonker, who have been diving and exploring the reefs of False Bay together
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13. Lined flatworm at Blousteen dive site. 14. Many different small shark species at Drop Zone, like this leopard catshark. 15. Beautiful gasflame nudibranch at Sterretjies reef.
since 1999. They are avid underwater photographers and experienced dive boat skippers, running the dive centre with professional ease.
drop down to 30m.
Deon and Kate are always on the boat, ready to accompany and guide photographers around the reefs and seek out wish-list critters.
The reefs upon which the kelp forests grow are covered with vibrant marine life and there is nothing more beautiful than photographing the sun’s rays as they filter through the kelp fronds, lighting up the reef below. Top kelp forest dive sites include Blousteen, Percy’s and Whirlpool Cove which start at 7m and reach depths of 18m.
Wide Angle Photography Many of the reefs have fantastic topography, well suited for wide angle photography, with steep sided gullies and huge sea fans. colourful sponges and schools of silver fish. These include Steenbras Deep, Sterretjies and Drop Zone which start at about 15m and
There are also several kelp forests which are home to many fish species, smaller sharks, rays, and seals.
The reefs of Gordon’s Bay are also perfect for wide angle macro or close focus wide angle photography as the colourful sea fans, basket stars, anemones, reef dwelling fish and larger nudibranchs present beautiful foreground subjects; with rugged topography and green water backgrounds perfecting the image.
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17. Dark shyshark at Drop Zone dive site.
18. Fiery nudibranchs, Okenia amoenula, huddling together at Blousteen dive site. 16. Coral nudibranch, Phyllodesmium horridus, at Rocky Bay reef.
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19. Cape Dorid, Hypselodoris capensis, feeding on its favourite sponge.
20. Beautiful basket stars at Sterretjies reef. 21. Vibrant oranges and yellows of the kelp forests at Rooi Els.
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27. Elegant nudibranch, Cratena sp. at Kate’s Secret Reef.
23. West Coast rock lobster guards the reef at Steenbras Deep.
28. The iconic Gasflame Nudibranch, Bonisa nakaza, is plentiful in Gordon’s Bay.
22. Feather duster fanworm, looks like a beautiful flower.
24. Puffadder shyshark at Steenbras Deep.
29. Orange eyed nudibranch, Cratena capensis at Steenbras River Mouth dive site.
25. Beautiful sea fans and colourful marine life at Steenbras Deep.
26. There are many common octopuses on the reefs in Gordon’s Bay.
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30. The beautiful Gordon’s Bay coastline. 31. The Kogelberg nature reserve and home of Blousteen dive site. 32. Indigo Scuba diving centre in Gordon’s Bay. 33. Feather nudibranch, Thecacera pennigera, at Rocky Bay dive site.
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My favourite lense for wide angle in Gordon’s Bay is my Tokina 10 – 17mm fish-eye on my Canon 7dmkii or my Nikon 8 – 15 circular fisheye with my Nikon D850, either behind a mini dome port which allows me to switch between wide angle and close focus wide angle or wide angle macro; or behind a large dome port for wide angle as well as half and half shots on the same dive. Macro Photography There are many colourful and fascinating macro subjects to photograph in the nutrient-rich waters of Gordon’s Bay. Macro life is plentiful and incredibly diverse, with many unique species found on the reefs here. Macro photography is suitable for all dive
sites in Gordon’s Bay, although Cow and Calf, Pinnacle, Stone Dog, Rocky Bay and Steenbras River Mouth are best suited to macro than wide angle, due to their lower reef profile and huge variety of macro life. For nudibranch fanatics, ‘nudis’ can be found everywhere. They range in size from just a few millimetres to just over 10cm in length. Most popular are the beautiful Gasflames (Bonisa nakaza), Elegant Nudibranch (Cratena sp.) and Cape Dorid (Hypselodoris capensis) nudibranchs. There is even a nudibranch called the Mandela nudibranch (Mandellas mirocornata) that can be found at the Steenbras Deep reefs. Other macro life includes pipefish, spider crabs, cuttlefish, octopus, sea spiders,
35. Mandela’s nudibranch, Mandelia mirocornata, at Steenbras Deep.
flatworms, strawberry anemones, feather stars, amphipods, tubular hydroids, basket stars and quirky little fish such as rock suckers as well as the many colourful and inquisitive species of klipfish. A 60mm macro is a great option as the macro life is pretty big here. This, paired with a +12 (or more) wet diopter that fits in front of your port, should have you covered for anything you might encounter on a macro dive. 100mm (Canon) and 105mm (Nikon) lenses along with a wet diopter are also great, providing beautiful bokeh, but you might find yourself needing to back off quite a bit as most of the macro life is pretty big (1cm upwards)! Macro or Wide Angle?
34. Divers get ready to explore Steenbras Deep dive site.
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It is also best to contact Indigo Scuba the day before you dive to find out what reefs they plan on diving and what lenses they recommend. I usually advise underwater photographers “when in doubt, go macro” as they will be kept busy an entire dive with
the numerous critters that can be found on the reefs and in the kelp forests. Gordon’s Bay is Cape Town’s hidden gem. With its richly diverse, colourful marine life and incredible underwater topography, Gordon’s Bay diving is vastly different to that offered along the western side of False Bay in Simon’s Town, offering a multitude of underwater photography opportunities. Being easily accessible and within proximity to Cape Town, Gordon’s Bay should be on the itinerary of all divers visiting Cape Town. FURTHER INFORMATION: Indigo Scuba Diving Centre, Gordon’s Bay: www.indigoscuba.com Instagram: @indigoscuba Kate Jonker Photography: www.katejonker.com Instagram: @Katejonkerphotography
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Puerto Galera - Oriental Mindoro - Philippines
Share your passion for diving wishlist exploring the magical underwater world of Puerto Galera. This fabulous destination offers the perfect mix of diving and culture, hiding surprises for even the most expert of divers in its unique biodiversity and colourful marine creatures. An ideal destination for macro photographers.
www.fishermenscove.com
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+63 917 533 2985
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info@fishermenscove.com
Review
Review
Cosmiq+ Gen 5
By Deepblu
WWW.DEEPBLU.COM You can follow Deepblu on their social media channels to stay up to date on Deepblu’s lat- est news and products. Facebook: @deepbluinc Instagram: @deepbludivers About Deepblu, Inc.: Deepblu, Inc. is the company behind the COSMIQ Dive Computer, the Deepblu online community for divers, and Planet Deepblu, where divers can discover, plan, and book their next dive. Deepblu, Inc. is a team of divers and technology enthusiasts whose goal is to use technology and the power of the internet to revolutionize the diving community and lifestyle. About the COSMIQ+ Dive Computer: The COSMIQ+ is the trendiest dive computer and the only one in its segment to boast Blue-tooth technology to synchronize digital dive logs with the cloud. Since its launch in April 2016, it has won many awards for its ease of use, clarity and unique design. Contact: info@deepblu.com
Deepblu Introduces the COSMIQ+ Gen 5 Deepblu Inc., the company behind the COSMIQ+ Dive Computer and the Deepblu online community for divers releases the the COSMIQ+ Gen 5. The latest edition of its popular COSMIQ Dive Computer series. In this latest release, the COSMIQ+ Gen 5 features upgrades that were made after listening to user feedback about what they’d like to see improved on the COSMIQ+ dive computer. The Upgrades - The upgraded memory module now allows 200 dive logs instead of 25 logs. - Free-diving customized depth alarms have been increased from 3 to 6 alarms. - The LCD Screen has also been upgraded and features a noticeably, even brighter display.
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Biology
Anthias
Small and Sexy Fishes Words and Pictures: Emilio Mancuso and Massimo Bicciato
Biology
Biological introduction
there is current that brings food, or more adherent to the reef, intent on hiding, if we are in moments of “still water”, which therefore does not bring food towards the reef.
Close cousins of the groupers, the one of the Anthiinae is a subfamily of the Serranidae commonly called groupers. Anthias are small zooplankton feeder fish characterized by bright colors tending to warm tones, soft and well-developed fins with a very falcate caudal.
Curiosity The “goblin groupers” or marine goldfish, as they are called in English, have a fairly dynamic social life: each male (i.e. a large and well-developed female who has then undergone metamorphosis to transform into a male) has a harem consisting of a dozen or more of females.
They are protogynous hermaphroditic fish, that is, they are always born only females, and some during the development within the school undergo a metamorphosis and become males. How deep
The observation is quite easy to be made because Anthias show sexual dimorphism: males tend to be larger, with longer fins, brighter colors and with the first ray of the dorsal fin more developed and higher than the others.
The warm colors of their patterning suggest us not to appreciate the direct sunlight as much. In fact, they are found on average under 10 - 15 meters up to about 60 meters deep, more projected towards the blue if
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Approach, observation and photography technique It is up to the observer/photographer to decide whether to focus on the single specimen, perhaps highlighting the characteristics of sexual dimorphism or the elegant patterning, or to move a little away from the reef to get an overview. He will thus be able to concentrate on observing the various harems that follow one another on the reef and the social dynamics of these fish, or just enjoy the sensation of dynamism and vitality that they generate when well immortalized in an environment photography.
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Review
UMIUMI carbon arms
A New Partnership PADI and
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M (Dia): 27 x (L)233mm 90 gr
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S (Dia): 27 x (L)133mm 76 gr
Review
The Amazing Nautismart Pro WWW.NAUTISMART.NET
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Review
I
n recent times one of the news that struck me more was when I read Olympus shutting down and completely dismantling the compact camera branch of the factory. Wow, what a big news for a big event! Not many years ago the compact cameras was probably the most profitable market for cameras manufacturers like Olympus so
how come they came to such an halt on this production line? The answer is very simple of course: smartphones! Soon after their launch on the market back in the 90s mobile phones have been equipped with on board cameras for messaging purpose and few less applications, but as years went by and smartphones started
to peep on the market better performing cameras started to show up on these products. I still remember my first digital camera. It was of course a compact camera, a Sony DSCP1, 3mega pixels CMOS sensor, 16 Megabyte memory stick, and ... What a wonderful photos that small camera was able to deliver!
No wonder Olympus decided to shut the compact cameras branch down, no wonder at all. I have been an underwater photographer since dive number one. My dive number one after the OWD certification course took place in Sharm el Sheik in Egypt back in 2001 and yes, my Underwater photography gear was the Sony DSCP1 I mentioned before, in its Sony , specific Underwater camera housing, I remember I made terrible photos!
Now, in this very moment while I’m writing this article there’s a commercial on TV showing one of the latest Smartphone on the market... 108 mega pixels and 512 Gigabyte memory..
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So I have been observing this market since its beginning and when I noticed the great improvement smartphone cameras were going through I predicted the advent of the smartphones in underwater photography.
But I believed that so much that I developed the idea and asked for a Patent, later obtained , for this application; it was 2015. At that moment we were already running the scubashooters network so we envisioned a mission...
It was 2014 and when I started sharing my view on the future inside the world of UW photographers I was nearly bullied as no one believed this could ever become an option.
The mission is to enable underwater photography mode for everybody at an affordable price .
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Well , not only underwater photography but also any kind of activity involving some action and wet environment.As it has already been explained the Nautismart pro was first conceived we did it bearing in mind that nowadays smartphones are equivalent to compact cameras and will surely be better in the near future... Action cams were also taken into consideration, especially their price, the need to update them and the lengthy process of transferring big size movies from the cam to another device... is totally un necessary as photos and videos are already resident in your device memory ready to be edited and shared.
When you use Nautismart in conjunction with your smartphone the transfer process
We also took into consideration the average time before upgrading a smartphone; it is slightly over one year and yes, with Nautismart Pro you can upgrade your smartphone as often as you wish and still be able to use it in conjunction with your Nautismart... Or you can share Nautismart for use among the members of your family or with your friends. In other words Nautismart pro has been imagined for maximum safety, flexibility and economy. Get it and you will not regret! Nautismart pro is the best Smart case for smartphones ant it’s made in Italy! Last but not latest, there’s another positive outcome... UW photography is no doubt an amazing tool for scientists to monitor the health of the Ocean, the movements of alien species across the seven seas and the degree of pollution of the waters. But unfortunately, there are few UW photographers compared to the number of divers around the world... With Nautismart Pro, nearly every diver, snorkeler, swimmer and sun bather has the potential to become an Ocean reporter. One more, good , reason to get yourself a Nautismart Pro
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Portfolio
Marco Colombo
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aturalist, photographer and science communicator
Among his books, I tesori del fiume (2016) was totally devoted to freshwater biodiversity and conservation.
Environmental guide, scubadiving master and TV scientific consultant, he is graduated in Natural Sciences; his photographs and articles have been published on several magazines, such as BBC Wildlife, Nat’Images, Unterwasser, Focus Wilde, Naturfoto, EZdive e Ocean Geographic.
Regularly involved in lectures on biology and photography, he exposed his shots in exhibitions all around Italy and Europe. In 2007 he discovered a new spider species in Sardinia.
2. Huge cuttlefish at Sterretjies reef.
3. Beauty below and above the waterline in Gordon’s Bay.
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Many of his shots received awards in main competitions as Wildlife Photographer of the Year (category winner in 2011-2016-2018), Festival Mondial de l’Image Sous-Marine, Asferico, GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year and others. He thinks curiosity, creativity and respect should drive photographers in their works. More on www.calosoma.it
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© Marco Colombo
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Crystal Blue Resort~Anilao
Dedicated to Underwater Photographers Worldwide • • • • • • • •
Nitrox 32 Chef Prepared Meals On-Sight Photo Pro Camera Room Workshops Highly Skilled Spotters 4:1 boat loads Rental Gear
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Macro Life
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Travels
Los Islotes
Lovely Sea Lions
Words and pictures: Damir Zurub
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Travels
T
he island Los Islotes is located just 25 miles or just over an hour’s boat ride from La Paz.
visitors arriving there in order to snorkel or dive. Diving with these animals is quite spectacular.
The ride towards the island is like a small safari through the beautiful bays of La Paz and islets like San Rafaelito, where a smaller population of some 50 seals can be found.
At the depth of just one to five meters you can enjoy unforgettable scenes of playful and curious seals who are accustomed to interact with divers.
Arriving at Los Islotes, look at the spectacular specific round rocks with large flocks of birds and a multitude of seals sleeping on the rocks.
Entering the sea not far from the rocks where the seals are resting is accompanied by shoals of fish and what is specific to diving, under water everything is silent and here all this silence of the underwater world turns into a frenetic activity of sounds produced by the seals.
The island is home to a population of some 400 seals that are already used to the many
Rather than feeling frightened from the multi
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tude of sounds coming from all sides, you will be enchanted because with every moment spent in their environment you will become more and more aware that they like small puppies really only want to play with you. These animals are gracious and playful, and the divers or snorkelers after just a couple of minutes spent in the sea do not hide the enthusiasm of encountering these small marine acrobats.
and tickle your head with their whiskers. Naturally, the more you turn around, the faster they are, because they think you want to play with them, so this is just an additional motive. It is best to try and remain in the same place, that way you will experience the most fun, because at one point they will start to bite your flippers like little puppies or any other part of your equipment they will be interested in and during this interaction some of them will even let you touch and pat them.
Their agility while rushing and turning around you will leave even the best swimmer dis- The little older seals can be a bit shy and watch you from a safe distance. graced.
The seals in this colony are not aggressive at all and most of the adult seals will alert you with a loud bubble burst if you are too close to their home or let you know that they are watching their pups playfully rushing towards They are incredibly fast and change direction and all around you. so quick, that they disappear out of sight within seconds, and while you are looking for them What is certain is that these little acrobats will all around, they will be right above your head make you smile and you will be looking for If you try for even one minute to follow the race and rush of the young seals, trust me, you will literally end up tied into a knot and you will not know where you are.
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for birds so you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, but from the boat because it is forbidden to visit this island for the protection of the habitat of all these animals.
ward to your next encounter with them. Diving with them is pure meditation. The seals are certainly the main attraction of Los Islotes and the underwater world is quite beautiful.
The trip to and from this island is an opportunity to see also other marine life.
One of the islets has a natural arch through which you can pass to the other side of the island, and here you will see large shoals of fish, soft corals and lots of sea stars.
Depending on the period of the year, you will see pods of dolphins, grey whales, whale sharks, as well as humpback whales. In the Sea of Cortez everything is possible.
Above water Los Islotes is a small paradise
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Review
The New Z-330 Type 2 And D-200 Type 2 WWW.INON.JP
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Inon is pleased to announce official release of “Z-330 Type2” and ”D-200 Type2” on June 10, 2021. The Type2 strobes are equipped with newly designed fly-eye dome lens capable of suppressing uneven light distribution to deliver ideal circular lighting. Features The newly designed dome lens has carefully arranged fly-eye inner surface which suppress uneven lighting without sacrificing strobe power and beam angle (110 degree underwater) generated by INON patented T-configuration flash tubes. 220 Lumen Wide Target Light The shutter-linked Focus Light delivers same 220lm and its beam angle gets widen through newly designed dome lens.
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匀 吀䄀夀 䤀 一 倀䄀 刀 䄀 䐀 䤀 匀 䔀
䄀 䜀 唀 匀 吀䄀 䤀 匀 䰀 䄀 一 䐀 Ⰰ 刀 䄀 䨀 䄀 䄀 䴀 倀䄀吀Ⰰ 䤀 一 䐀 伀 一 䔀 匀 䤀 䄀
Be Different Make the Difference
䤀 一 䘀 伀 䀀 䄀 䜀 唀 匀 吀 䄀 刀 䔀 匀 伀 刀 吀⸀ 䌀 伀 䴀 䄀 䜀 唀 匀 吀 䄀 刀 䔀 匀 伀 刀 吀⸀ 䌀 伀 䴀
Via Dalmazia 454, 51100 Pistoia – Italy
+39 0573 19 41 980 www.macanamaldives.com
Divers Alert Network (DAN) takes great pride in being by your side, and for 30 years we have been conducting research to help make diving safer.
DAN Europe
Dive Safety
It’s No Accident www.daneurope.org
Recently, DAN researchers reviewed our accumulated fatality data and conducted a root cause analysis of nearly 1,000 recreational diving fatalities to determine what circumstances and events lead to diver deaths. In this analysis, DAN researchers identified four different phases in the cascade of events leading to a fatality: the trigger, the disabling agent, the disabling injury and the cause of death. As the earliest identifiable root causes that transform dives into emergencies, the triggers merit special attention. Identifying these triggers is essential so divers can avoid or manage them during dives. In the fatality analysis, the triggers were identified as follows:
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Running out of breathing gas 41% Entrapment 21% Equipment problems 15% Rough water 10% Trauma 6% Buoyancy 4% Inappropriate gas 3%
An overhead environment is any in which a diver does not have direct, vertical access to the surface — such as a cave, cavern, wreck or under ice. Every training organization warns divers about the dangers of entering such environments without appropriate training, experience, planning and equipment. The way to mitigate the hazard of this trigger is very simple: Don’t enter overhead environments without being qualified and prepared to do so. When in doubt, stay out.
RUNNING OUT OF BREATHING GAS The most significant trigger was running out of breathing gas. To put this in context, approximately 400 divers from the cases studied might be alive today had they managed their gas supply correctly. Because of the equipment standard in diving today, running out of breathing gas underwater, especially before any other problems occur, should simply never happen. Be “air aware.” Always begin dives with a full cylinder of breathing gas, and end dives (standing on the boat, dock or shore) with gas remaining. Before starting a dive, you and your fellow divers should decide how you will communicate information about your remaining gas supplies during the dive. Establish a point at which you will begin making your way to the exit. That may be when the first diver reaches half of his breathing gas supply, but it may be sooner than that.
EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS The third most common trigger identified in the fatality analysis was equipment problems. This trigger caused 15 percent, or about 150, of the fatalities studied. Notably, this does not mean the equipment failed or its design was flawed. Rather, the problems were most often a result of user error. These errors included improper use, failure toensure correct configuration, lack of maintenance and insufficient familiarity with the equipment.
Many cave divers use the rule of thirds, which has divers using the first third of their gas supply for the dive, the second third for the exit from the cave or the ascent, and the final third set aside for contingencies. This may seem conservative for open-water diving, but the idea of leaving a significant reserve for emergencies or other unexpected circumstances is absolutely relevant. Anything short of total management of your breathing gas puts you, your buddy and every diver in the vicinity at risk.
Dr. George Harpur, an experienced investigator of dive fatalities , states, “We are not able to document a single case in which equipment malfunction directly caused a diver’s death or injury. It has been the diver’s response to the problem that results in the pathology.” It’s important to remember that dive equipment is life-support equipment. Learn about all its features and functions, practice with it, and maintain it; take care of your gear so it can take care of you. Knowing how divers get into serious trouble only advances the discussion so far. For diving to be safer, we must apply the lessons that can be taken from these tragic events. How can we, as divers, reduce the likelihood that these triggers will cause problems for us?
ENTRAPMENT The next most common trigger in dive fatalities is entrapment. Approximately 200 divers in the DAN fatality records, or 21 percent, found themselves trapped in an overhead environment and unable to get back to open water.
EDUCATION Take full advantage of every opportunity to learn. Read dive magazines, spend time with experienced divers, attend dive club meetings, and check out dive safety lectures or seminars online.
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More knowledgeable divers are safer divers. Get trained in the type of diving you want to do, but don’t stop learning when you leave the classroom — treat every dive as an educational experience. Use any unexpected incidents that occur while diving as opportunities to brainstorm and discuss response options, contingencies and prevention strategies with your buddies.
of the dive are also important. If you’re not feeling up to a dive, don’t dive; wait and see how you feel later. The majority of these cardiac cases were associated with a pre-existing condition or age greater than 40. It’s a good idea for everyone older than 35, whether or not they dive, to have an annual physical. A physical is also recommended following any change in an individual’s health status. Divers might benefit from having their physical exam performed by a physician trained in dive medicine. If you don’t know a physician in your area who is familiar with dive medicine, send DAN an email: medical@daneurope.org.
PRACTICE Dive skills and emergency-management skills require constant practice and reinforcement. Refresh your skills often, especially when you haven’t been diving in a while. Take time to familiarize yourself with new equipment in a controlled environment before using it in open water. Although practice may not make you perfect, it will help you make the correct decisions and manage problems appropriately rather than trying to escape to the surface.
PREDIVE PREPARATION As you prepare to dive, it’s a good idea for you and your buddy to configure and assemble your equipment together so you can identify anything that looks odd or out of place. This also provides an opportunity to familiarize yourselves with each other’s equipment. If boat diving, it may be helpful to set up your gear before the boat leaves the dock. This is especially true if you are subject to seasickness, since it minimizes the amount of time you’ll spend on the rocking boat deck. Hastily assembling your equipment in rolling seas while feeling nauseated increases the likelihood of potentially hazardous errors.
EXPERIENCE The value of experience cannot be overstated. Divers with limited experience, including those returning to the sport after a long absence, are at greatest risk. According to the DAN fatality data, 88 percent of the divers died on the first dive of their dive series. Consider that the number of dives in your logbook or the date on your certification card do not automatically qualify you for greater challenges. To truly be prepared for more advanced diving, slowly and methodically increase the complexity and task loading of your dives. Expand your horizons gradually, making sure you don’t outpace your training and your level of comfort. Certification is not the same thing as proficiency. Don’t dive your C-card, dive your experience.
Before diving, review your dive plan with your buddy to ensure you have a shared understanding of the dive’s goals. You’ll also want to agree on the route you’ll take and possible alternatives to your primary dive plan. It’s much easier to communicate the switch to plan B if you decided what plan B was before you descended. Establish the fact that anyone can terminate a dive at any time for any reason, even before the dive begins, without repercussions. Creating an environment in which divers feel comfortable making such calls builds a culture of safety.
HEALTH Approximately one-fourth of the fatalities studied involved cardiac problems. Amazingly, in 60 percent of the cases with cardiac involvement the divers had symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or fatigue but proceeded to dive anyway. Most divers are aware of the importance of good general health and fitness for diving, but comfort and well-being at the time
Develop and continually reinforce a predive ritual. It should involve equipment checks, dive plan review, hand signal review, diver separation protocol review and out-of-breathing-gas procedure review.
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This may seem unnecessary if you dive with the same people regularly, but these rituals are time well spent if they give you confidence and reduce the likelihood that you are unprepared to dive. The use of a checklist to assist in this ritual is highly recommended.
and make sure he is safely out of the water before continuing the dive.
Never say, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” That means one of the divers is not as qualified or prepared for the dive as he should be — a formula for disaster. Anyone making a dive should do so only if he is fully prepared and wants to dive, not because someone else wants him to.
No. There are millions of certified divers who have made tens of millions of safe, enjoyable dives without incident. But consider that there is risk in anything you do. Is this risk we divers subject ourselves to unreasonable? I firmly believe the answer is no. A degree of risk will always be part of scuba diving, but it is a risk we can identify and learn to manage.
THE DIVE Once in the water, check each other to make sure all equipment is secure and in place, there are no leaks and that buoyancy is properly calibrated. Give and receive the OK signal, initiate your preparatory ear-clearing procedures, and begin a controlled descent. Descending feet first using a fixed line makes it easy to stop the descent should the need arise and may be advisable if a current is present. If there is any doubt about your preparation for the dive, make a short stop 4,5 to 6 metres below the surface to give and receive the OK sign before proceeding to the bottom. Maintain constant awareness of your environment during dives, and know when to call off a dive. It’s always wise to plan your dive and dive your plan, but you can modify your dive plan if conditions call for a more conservative approach. If you are working harder during the dive than anticipated, you may want to watch your air consumption more closely and possibly limit the time you spend at depth. As you move underwater, your pace should be dictated by the slowest diver in you group. Never assume another diver can keep up with you. If a recreational dive starts to feel like work, slow down — you or a member of your dive group may be doing it wrong. If you’re diving in a group of three and one diver decides to return to the surface, either end the dive as a group or escort the diver back to the exit point
Does this examination of diving fatalities indicate that recreational diving is inherently dangerous?
唀渀搀攀爀眀愀琀攀爀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀
Scuba diving is a fantastic sport enjoyed by young and old alike. The focus should always be to maximize enjoyment while minimizing risk. You overcome challenges in and under the water by thorough preparation, physical capability and the effective application of knowledge and skill. References: Buzzacott P, Zeigler E, Denoble P, Vann R. American Cave Diving Fatalities 1969-2007. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education 3:162-177; 2009. Denoble P, Caruso J, Dear G, Pieper C, Vann R. Common causes of open-circuit recreational diving fatalities. Undersea Hyperb Med. 35(6):393-406; 2008. Denoble P, Pollock N, Vaithyanathan P, Caruso J, Dovenbarger J, Vann R. Scuba injury death rate among insured DAN members. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine 38(4):182-188; 2008. Orr D, Douglas E. Scuba Diving Safety. Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics, 2007. Vann RD, Lang MA, eds. Recreational Diving Fatalities. Proceedings of the Divers Alert Network 2010 April 8-10 Workshop. Durham, N.C.: Divers Alert Network, 2011. ISBN #978-0-61554812-8.
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3 different accomodation: Sea view; Garden view and Standard Room
Diving in the Bunaken National Marine Park
Diving from the Onong Resort primarily takes place in the Bunaken National Park which is famous for its biodiversity and breathtaking wall dives. Usually diving begins along beautiful cliffs that seem to get lost in the depths, covered by an incredible variety of corals, sponges, and anemones and populated by large schools of fish and many turtles.
You can relax and treat yourself in our spa
Sulawesi Utara - Indonesia E-mail: info@celebesdivers.com / www.onong-resort.com Phone (Indonesia): +62 (0) 813 4154 6880 - Phone (Europe): +41 44 954 0770 (Schweiz)