Disneynature film will help save reefs

Disneynature launched last year with a tree-planting initiative for every ticket sold during the first week of its first documentary, Earth, and now the film company wants to help protect coral reefs in honor of its newest production, Oceans.


Disneynature has partnered with the The Nature Conservancy for "See Oceans, Save Oceans," in which a portion of every ticket sold for opening week will help establish new marine protected areas in the Bahamas to preserve coral reefs. Oceans opens in theaters April 22, which is Earth Day.

Popular SCUBA diving myths and urban legends exposed

SCUBA diving is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable activities on the planet today, at least according to dive industry officials.

Despite the beauty (and challenges) that go with SCUBA diving, there are many myths out there keeping people out of the water. Here's a brief look at SCUBA myths AND realities!

MYTH: Diving is a very dangerous activity
TRUTH: When done within the guidelines you’ll learn about in your open water certification course, diving has an extraordinary safety record. Diving is an exciting activity that combines all the thrills of exploration and adventure, with a safety record that compares favorably to sports such as bowling.

MYTH: Diving is complicated and difficult to learn
TRUTH: Learning to dive is easy today. Professional diving instructors use all the learning materials and proven strategies to make it simple and fun to learn. Before you know it you’ll be breathing underwater and using all the cool "toys" that make diving easier than ever before to learn and participate regularly.

MYTH: You have to be in top physical condition to dive
TRUTH: Like any active sport, diving is more enjoyable if you’re physically fit. And you do need some basic swimming skills in order to learn. But it’s nothing extreme; if you’re comfortable in the deep end of a pool, can swim, and you can walk for several minutes without getting winded, you can probably learn to dive.

MYTH: The ocean is full of dangerous animals like sharks
TRUTH: Most divers actually consider a shark sighting to be a special and memorable occasion, since it is rare to see them. While such critters as sharks and barracuda should be respected and treated as wild animals, the vast majority subsist on a diet of things considerably smaller than a scuba diver. In fact, most sharks and barracuda are somewhat intimidated by divers; with our long fins and other equipment, we appear big to them … something they don’t want to mess with! Besides, it’s a myth that sharks are perpetually hungry or are always on the attack. It’s not uncommon at all for a shark to go two weeks without hunting, and in one documented case, a healthy shark did not eat for better than a year.

MYTH: It’s expensive
TRUTH: When you put it up against other leisure activities, such as owning a quality mountain bike, golfing, boating, or skiing, diving compares very favorably. And the more you dive, the more true that becomes. Dive gear, for instance, is very durable and can last for years and years; after a short while, the cost of your gear can work out to just a few pennies per dive.

Credit to our friends at the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) for assisting in creating this list.

Girl Power!

It started out a couple of chilly mornings this weekend in Open Water Class! But the weather wasn't going to hold this class back before everyone started jumping in!...

Then it was back out of the water to... dry their hair?? No. Some dry land navigation skills basics! Towel overhead, dive compass in hand, and guided by their dive buddy, the students perilously criss'd and cross'd the north side of the parking lot very successfully!

The girls seemed to be the dominant group today (who out-numbered the boys 2-1!). As you can see, they're very happy to show their scuba gender-team camaraderie! ;-)

Poor Sabrina wasn't pictured above because, since she's only eleven years old!, her high energy level always seemed to keep her two fin-kicks ahead of the rest of the girls! Great going Sabrina!

After receiving their official Open Water Diver Certificate, Leslie & Nicole just had to show how they and all of us divers feel, "Like a Supa-Stahr!!" ;-)




Don't forget to add your comments below...
[Click here for a few more pics]

GLDC Graduate Goes Abroad

GLDC Spring class graduate, Sofia, keeps in touch by sharing a few pics for the rest of us homeland-bound divers... she's in Mexico and taking the diver's tour of the best sites down south.

It looks like she's been having a great time in ChiKin-Ha Cenote, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel.

She's baraged me with so many great photos; but most of them have a wide group of sponges, corals and tropical fish! Can't wait to get her first-hand account of her first salt-water adventures! By the pictures and the smiles it seems to be a great success, great going Sofia!

August 2009 Class Ready for the Water

With a full class load of students this weekend, we were busy getting through only half of the required skills so it'll be back in the pool next weekend!

In between skills I had no shortage of willing underwater subjects for my class pictures I must say! (Here we have subjects #1 & #2)

And then yet another subject, #3...

But this happens to be my favorite! ;-) I'm afraid to say that my girlfriend stole my show with her finely tuned bouyancy skills! Good going hunny!! ;-) (Sorry other students...)

Chicago Shedd Aquarium Opens Up!

On my favorite TODAY Show I saw that Beluga Whales are the talk of the Shedd Aquarium this summer! Although not quite a diver's destination yet like the Epcot Living Seas or the Maui Ocean Center, the Shedd Aquarium is opening its doors to the public to experience some one-on-one time in the water with one of the most rare and endangered species in the ocean.

Note to Shedd: Make diving another piece of your public outreach, "build it", and the divers will come! ;-)

Regina mas Fina!

Rec & Tec Diving charters operating out of Port Sanilac is responsible for the smiles on our faces here! Captain Gary Venet was the very gracious host for the day for our dive on the "Regina".


Jim and I were pretty much all smiles the whole afternoon... Luckily the weather held out and we only saw SUN allll day! ;-)


Gary's boat was incredibly clean and organized which made boat-side pre-dive activities flow so much smoother... I have to say that his charters are highly recommended!




I'd L...O...V...E... to say I have pictures to show you about our dive... BUT, "Note to self: Keep the moisture out of your camera before your dive!"

When closing up your underwater camera, BE SURE there's no moisture in it! When traveling downwards from an 80 degree topside temp to the sub 40 degree water of the Regina at 90 feet, that condensation DOES NOT help make for quality photos when the lens completely fogs over! :-( Oh well, I guess you'll just have to dive it for yourself to see all the Majesty!
[Click here for more pics]