The Welcome Lecture: Risks & Benefits of a Life in Social Work

I understand that you are interested in joining our club called “Social Work.” If you could spare a moment, I’d like to share some thoughts with you.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/2cs2C9P

One woman's pursuit to advance journalism in the Middle East

Fatemah Farag wears many hats: she is the founder and director of community media network Welad ElBalad Media, a board member of the World Editors Forum, a member of the steering committee and Director of Advocacy of WAN-IFRA's Women in News initiative and a Knight Visiting Nieman Fellow. Yet all her roles have the same goal - advancing journalism in the Middle East.

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Small Mental Shifts Make Self-Care Possible for Social Workers

Small mental shifts, in individual social workers and in organizations, make self-care possible in our work.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/2bY816B

Top Five Underwater Macro Photography Subjects

Underwater macro photography has become more and more popular each year, as these easy to overlook creatures reveal stunning colors and shapes in miniature. While photographers used to need a large, expensive camera rig to nail that crystal-clear macro shot, modern compact cameras, such as the SeaLife Micro 2.0, are more than capable of capturing photos and video at the super-macro level. SeaLife’s new Super Macro Lens, for the Micro cameras, captures macro images and videos from 3.5 inches to 7 inches. The camera itself is compact and easy to carry on a dive, and the macro lens makes it easy to pull off pro-looking shots. So next time you’re on a dive, ask the guide to point out all the area’s great macro subjects and take a look at a few of our favorites below.

Frogfish

This lie-in-wait predator is the king of camouflage and one of the best photo subjects for macro photography. Add strobes or lights from the Sea Dragon Lighting line to reveal the camouflaged pattern of this perennial diver favorite.

Nudibranch

Nudibranchs come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes, making them a macro photographer’s dream. These tiny nudis all pop in photos when shot either head-on or from an angle.

Ghost Pipefish

Not only are these critters hard to find, they also tend to be difficult to photograph. This challenge, of course, only makes the result more rewarding. Capture the pipefish’s intricate details or photograph the entire scene. Whichever option you choose, patience is key.

Banded Coral Shrimp

Banded coral shrimp help marine life stay clean and free of parasites. You’ll most easily spot these remarkable creatures at night, hidden in nooks and crannies of coral.

Clownfish

No matter if you’re shooting macro or with a regular lens, clownfish are some of the most photogenic creatures in the sea. Set the shot by finding stunning anemone with colorful tentacles to bring out the vibrant colors of the fish. Clownfish are constantly on the move, so trial and error is unavoidable and offers great practice.

All photos are taken with the SeaLife Micro 2.0 Pro 2500 set.

 

 

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Addressing Poor Air Consumption when Scuba Diving: Part III

In this third installment of our series on addressing poor air consumption when scuba diving, we’ll examine neutral buoyancy and breathing.

Donald descended through the water column, pinching his nose to equalize his ears and looking toward the seabed. Diving on a wall with a depth of over 650 feet (200 m), he reached for his BCD’s inflator button at 65 feet (20 m) and put some air in his jacket. He didn’t start earlier because he liked the feeling of dropping like a parachutist from a plane. An incremental addition of air just wasn’t as exciting. Still, he had it under control and slowed to a near-stop at 82 feet (25 m), the maximum depth allowed in the pre-dive briefing.

Donald turned to look at the wall, which was still moving past his eyes. A quick glance at his computer showed his depth at 89 feet (27 m). So he kicked against the unintended extension of his descent, soon finding himself level with the group.

After 10 minutes, Donald noticed that his air pressure had dropped to 2,175 psi (150 bar). It was a relaxing dive with little current, but he noticed his breathing was slightly heavier than intended. He stopped finning for a moment and slowly dropped a little deeper — not far, but remaining still would mean he’d drop even further.

Poor air consumption when scuba diving: why?

When a diver breathes in and out, it represents a cycle. My own is about 15 seconds; eight seconds inhaling and seven seconds of exhaling. That’s four breaths per minute while swimming at a relaxed pace without a head-current.

Tilting upward and finning against negative buoyancy is one of the biggest air thieves in the sea. You have now introduced mild exertion. Not such that you’ll be exhausted or stressed, and you may not even realize it, but you will expend a little more energy, which will require a small increase in your breathing rate.

You are now taking six cycles per minute. Although that may not be noticeable, it’s 50 percent more than your buddy who takes four cycles. When she has 2,175 psi (150 bar), you will have 1,800 psi (125 bar). When she has 1,45 psi (100 bar), you will have only 725 psi (50 bar). And by the time her tank reads 725 psi, you’ll be back on the boat with a cup of tea wondering what went wrong.

Like an athlete, your rate of breathing is proportional to your rate of exertion. Imagine a mild walk turning into a light trot and then into a full-blown sprint; each level of exertion requires a faster intake of air. It’s impossible to run but breathe as if you’re walking. The same is true underwater; increase the workload and you increase the speed of your breath. But you know this, so why do you still get caught unaware?

Many divers are too engrossed with marine life to take stock and check if they’re truly neutrally buoyant. They will always spot a runaway descent due to excess weight at depth, but it’s the failure to make minor adjustments that mystifies divers. If you’re not sure what the problem is, then stop, face the reef, cross your arms and legs and wait. Feedback will be instant.

A slightly negative diver will slightly drop. But the answer isn’t to flap your arms like a chicken, attempting flight or kick your way back up, because it will just happen all over again. A diver has two perfectly functioning tools — his lungs and his BCD — to deal with this problem, yet many choose to ignore them.

Proper BCD Control

Breathing in fills the lungs and slows the fall. Of course lungs have a limit, and we shouldn’t fill them to full capacity because any subsequent upward movement may cause an expansion injury. Inside the left-hand pocket of many traditional BCDs there is a white label which, among other things, states the volume and lift capacity of the internal bladder. An adult male, size large BCD, for example, would have a volume of around 20 liters, over three times the capacity of the diver’s lungs. When the lungs reach their limit, the BCD must take over and a simple inflate will do the job. But keep in mind that proper buoyancy control is as fundamental to diving as the air in your tank.

Pumping several liters of air into your jacket on the way down means that it’s bursting to get out on the way back up. Many divers get caught out from 40 to 20 feet (12 and 6 m) where the pressure-differential is the greatest. What worked between 60 and 40 feet (18 and 12 m) will not slow your ascent in shallower water, where jacket expansion is exponentially greater.

If you’re rising too quickly, stop, vent, look at the escaping air, and check your depth to avoid runaway ascents. Incorrect body position can result in trapped air in your BCD; this would happen, for example, in a head-down position while trying to raise your shoulder-mounted deflator hose to dump air. If the trapped air near your waist is higher in the water column than the outlet from which you’re trying to dump it, then you’re violating the laws of physics by attempting to make air travel downwards. Either become vertical or pull the vent string for the dump valve down by your waist. Finning against positive buoyancy expends energy and consumes more air.

So, what about our diver, Donald? He breathes in and presses the inflator button of his BCD. He is moving neither up or down, hovering motionless in midwater next to the reef wall. Now it’s time to swim with the group. But he’s still feeling a little weighty around the middle and his heavy rubber fins make his feet sag a bit.

His air consumption has improved slightly, but what about his trim? If only he could sort that out he would be gliding effortlessly along with the rest of the group.

By  John Kean

John Kean is the author of four books. He holds the PADI Master Instructor rating along with TDI’s Advanced Trimix Instructor qualification. Since 1997 he has amassed over 7,000 dives, trained over 2,000 students and project-managed several world record deep dive events. His book is available here. 

 

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A Day in Diamonds: Review of The Forevermark Bridal Academy

Anyone familiar with the jewelry world has heard of Forevermark – I definitely have, but I didn’t really know much about them beyond the fact that I once read a great book about the woman who wrote their legendary slogan (“A diamond is forever”). At least, that was the case until last month, when I had the great pleasure of attending Forevermark’s beautiful Bridal Academy in NYC.

The Forevermark Bridal Academy is a celebration of wedding season, and therefore focused largely on bridal trends (as one might expect) but it also offered a comprehensive introduction into the brand itself – the company’s values, its processes, and what makes it so successful.

It also didn’t hurt that the event was held at a 1920’s mansion straight out of my most decadent Gatsby-era dreams.

Not that viewing a wide selection of diamond jewelry is ever unpleasant, but it didn’t hurt that I was doing it somewhere so gorgeous. Forevermark knows how to throw a press event.

One of my very favorite elements of the Bridal Academy is that, in addition to the iced tea bar, social media photo area, and beautiful cases full of diamond jewelry, Forevermark included a large exhibit just about the brand’s commitment to responsible sourcing. The exhibit gave an overview of the journey a Forevermark diamond takes from from rough to polished stone and the care that Forevermark takes to ensure responsible business practices, support for the advancement of women, and protection of the natural world.

I’ve been to a lot of jewelry events, and it’s rare to see someone put the accountability of their mining process front and center the way that Forevermark did at the Bridal Academy. Color me impressed.

Forevermark’s selection process is noteworthy, too – their quality standards are so rigorous that less than 1% of the world’s diamonds qualify. They’re a part of the De Beers Group of Companies (and I know you’ve heard of De Beers), which means that Forevermark is able to draw on over 128 years of diamond expertise. Their finely-tuned selection process goes beyond the standard 4Cs to identify the world’s most beautiful diamonds.

Those exceptional diamonds that do qualify are then inscribed using a proprietary process that marks their table facet with the Forevermark symbol and a unique number, to mark them indelibly as Forevermark quality and make every Forevermark diamond identifiable – kind of like a VIN number, unique to the stone. Even small diamonds can be inscribed, down to stones as tiny as a 0.1 carat diamond.

But that doesn’t mean you’ll look into your diamond and see a numbers or a logo: the inscription will be 1/20th of a micron deep – 1/5,000th the depth of a human hair. You’ll never know it’s there.

This can also come in handy if you ever need to make sure that your diamond hasn’t been stolen and replaced, which actually happened to a friend of mine: he discovered an untrustworthy jeweler was taking small diamonds out of his wife’s engagement ring and replacing them with fake stones, but because the center diamond had been inscribed with an identification number, he was able to verify beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was still the original stone).

The most fun part of the Bridal Academy for me was getting to see pieces by so many different designers using Forevermark’s beautiful stones. There was a wide variety of designs on display, from classic engagement rings to edgy ear cuffs and decadent necklaces.

I couldn’t choose just a few pieces to show you, so here’s a whole glorious slideshow:

Click to view slideshow.
Each piece sparkled with Forevermark’s peerless diamonds – and the knowledge that each piece, no matter the style, was of such quality that it was sure to live on through generations, a precious heirloom waiting to bring joy to your family for years and years.

This photo just amuses me because Forevermark’s photographer caught me and Michelle Graff from National Jeweler sipping our cocktails and apparently having a very serious conversation in the corner (I’m pretty sure we were talking about pigeons).

Thanks again for inviting me to your beautiful event, Forevermark! It’s been a pleasure getting to know you better.

This sponsored post is brought to you by Forevermark.

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Hybrid Shark Discovered Off Australia

In 2012, researchers discovered a previously unknown type of hybrid shark along Australia’s eastern coastline. While the term “hybrid shark” might sound like something out of a second-rate horror movie, there’s nothing to fear in this case. The sharks are mixes of two species of blacktip sharks, the common blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) and the Australian blacktip (Carcharhinus tilstoni).

While the former typically lives in temperate waters, the latter inhabits only Australian waters, along the tropical north and northeastern coasts. The new species lives in both types of water. Its habitat stretches more than 1,200-miles, from tropical Brisbane in the north to the chillier waters off Sydney in the south.

An expedition tasked with studying shark populations along Australia’s coasts discovered the species. The researchers first realized that they were dealing with something new when the genetic markers of one of the sharks showed up as one species, while the animal’s physical characteristics matched those of a different animal.

Hybridization in nature

The concept of hybrid species is not unknown in the animal world. The most commonly found species is the mule, which is a hybrid of a female horse and a male donkey. Killer bees also count as a hybrid species, and came about when scientists crossed a European honeybee with an African bee, ironically in an attempt to create a tamer, more manageable bee. Marine biologists have long thought that interbreeding between sharks, resulting in hybrid sharks, was theoretically possible. But this new discovery has moved the hypothesis from theoretical possibility to fact.

How many hybrids?

The 10 researchers who were part of the discovery identified several generations of the species and a total of 57 individual animals. This is the first species of hybrid shark ever found, and was the result of interspecies mating between the two types of blacktip sharks. Researchers hypothesize that the hybrid shark may be better equipped to live in oceans affected by global warming, as very few other species of sharks are able to exist in such diverse temperatures.

“We are now seeing individuals carrying the more tropical species genes in more southerly areas,” says Colin Simpfendorfer from James Cook University, one of the study’s co-authors.

“In a changing climate, this hybridization may therefore allow these species to better adapt to different conditions.”

While the idea of combining existing shark species and producing a new species with the best of both sounds like a Bond villain’s dream come true, we shouldn’t worry that we’ll now see hordes of super-sharks cruising the seas. The close resemblance between the two species makes interspecies mating much more likely than more diverse species of sharks, the researchers behind the study point out.

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to see great-white-tiger sharks anytime soon, or bull-Greenland sharks,” says Demian Chapman, assistant director of science at Stony Brook University’s Institute for Ocean Conservation Science If any species was going to hybridize, it was going to be this pair.”

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The Galapagos Evolution Expedition

Cressi is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year — and that called for something special. The epic Galapagos Evolution expedition (#galapagosexpedition) was the result. Cressi Ambassadors from around the world met in the incomparable Galapagos Islands for a collaboration of free divers and scuba divers in the spirit of conservation instead of competition.

With the expedition, Cressi sought for people to understand that as humans, we have the power to change and develop — to evolve. There was no better place than the Galapagos, the cradle of evolution. We’ve got all the technological advancements in the world, but without real human change, technology is meaningless. Our evolution to become more conservation-minded can have a huge positive impact on the marine environment. Only species that are most responsive to change can survive, as Charles Darwin once said, but only if we can evolve and adapt to change together.

The final outcome of the expedition will be a documentary featuring all Cressi Ambassadors. It it, they’ll promote conservation and co-existence of marine life and marine sanctuaries, marking the first time a freediving expedition to the Galapagos was recorded with scuba divers’ help.

Participating in the expedition were a number of freediving legends, including Guillaume Néry, professional freediver and world champion, Roberto Ochoa, videographer for Planeta Azul Ocean Conservation television show, Ocean Ramsey, marine biologist and competitive freediver, Leo Morales, scuba world record holder, Pierre Cousteau, Cousteau Divers founder, Juan Oliphant, underwater photographer, Estrella Navarro, professional freediver, Natalie Parra, free diver and environmentalist, and Pelayo Salinas, marine scientist for the Charles Darwin Foundation.

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What entrepreneurial journalism can do for legacy newsrooms

Many journalists have left traditional news organisations to venture into the world of entrepreneurial journalism and set up their own media businesses. And, while it's easier to start from scratch, entrepreneurship has a important role to play within traditional newsrooms too - it helps setting up much-needed systems and processes to better adapt to what our audience actually needs.

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Peter Fray: The future of journalism rests on entrepreneurship

One of Australia's most experienced and innovative media professionals, Peter Fray, has deep experience in transition within legacy news organisations. As a 2016 Tow-Knight entrepreneurial fellow, he has fully embraced the practice of entrepreneurial journalism and now passes it on to a new generation of journalists at the University of Technology in Sydney, where he is professor of journalism practice. 

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Dive Site: Kirby’s Rock, Anilao, Philippines

Divers begin to explore Kirby’s Rock in Anilao by leaving the dive boat near a rocky wall with a little wave action. After dropping down to about 20 feet (6 m) or so, you’ll start to see soft and hard corals and schools of reef fish. Within five minutes, we saw a large purple frogfish. He was just hanging out on the rock wall at around 30 feet (10 m).

Kirby’s Rock

After navigating along the wall for a bit, you’ll swim out to Kirby’s Rock. When we first saw this large rock, we thought yellow nudibranchs were covering it. We were astounded by the quantity of them. But upon closer inspection, instead of nudis, we discovered they were actually small sea cucumbers. This was still very cool since there were so many of them. As we made our way around the rock, we saw multiple moray eels hiding in their holes and one free-swimming. Hard and soft corals were abundant on the rock, including gorgonians and crinoids in a range of colors. Keep an eye out for scorpionfish and lionfish as well, and look closely for nudis here and there.

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This Week's News Items for Social Workers 8/27/16

News items of interest to social workers for the week of 8/27/26.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/2bV0ZNB

The Best Diving in Marsa Alam

Until recent years, the diving in Marsa Alam, Egypt was relatively unknown. This small town on the western shore of the Red Sea is poised for discovery due to pristine reefs and the lack of crowds often found at other Red Sea diving towns. Marsa Alam is by far the best spot from which to explore the southern Red Sea, appealing to experienced divers looking for challenging dives and unique wildlife experiences. Sites offer the opportunity to dive with dolphins, sea turtles, dugongs and manta rays from May through August. There are whale sharks, as well as a variety of other shark species, from May through June. While it’s best to have some experience when diving Marsa Alam, local dive sites also offer a quiet and scenic spot for dive students or those who seek less demanding dives.

The dive season is year-round, though late summer and early autumn have the warmest sea temperature: 84 F (29 C) in August compared to 73 F (23 C) in December. Given that August is also peak diving season, we recommend visiting in autumn when the area is quieter and the water temperature is still balmy. Depending on your cold tolerance, pack a 3 mm or 5 mm wetsuit, and always carry a dive knife, torch, and DSMB. Expect water visibility up to 100 feet (30 m), but make sure to ask an expert about local dive sites and sea conditions before diving unguided. With that said, here are our picks for the best diving in Marsa Alam.

Elphinstone Reef (Sha’ab Abu Hamra)

Where is it: This reef lies in the open ocean, a little over seven miles (12 km) from the Marsa Abu Dabbab coastline. It takes around 20 minutes to get there via Zodiac from Marsa Alam, weather permitting. It takes two hours via motorized boat from Port Ghalib.

What makes it special: This site attracts shark-seeking divers from around the world, on the hunt for oceanic whitetip and hammerhead sharks. It’s one of the world’s few remaining sites where divers can regularly see these sharks, in fact.

Details: Only experienced divers should visit Elphinstone Reef. The open-ocean site is famous for strong and ever-changing currents, deep caves and coral plateaus. A dive depth of 100 feet (30 m) is sufficient for most exploration, but there are interesting features at greater depths, such the sarcophagus archway at 170 to 213 feet (52 to 65 m), accessible only to trained technical divers.

When to go: You can see sharks year round, but they are most numerous from October to December.

The Brothers Islands

Where is it: These two rocky islands sit almost 44 miles (70 km) offshore from Al-Qusayr (also El Quseir), about an hour north of Marsa Alam.

What makes it special: This area has been designated as a Marine Protectorate since 1983, and is known as one of the world’s top dive locations. The islands’ sheer drop-offs offer spectacular wall diving with the opportunity to see abundant soft corals, gorgonian fans and large pelagics, such as gray reef, silky, silvertip and hammerhead sharks, tuna, jacks and the occasional thresher shark.

Details: The Brothers are for experienced divers only and the Egyptian port authorities require a minimum of 50 logged dives to be allowed access. The islands are subject to strong currents and waves, and exploration of the wrecks and reefs beyond 130 feet (40 m) is for experienced technical divers only. The Brothers can be reached by liveaboard only; boats depart regularly from Marsa Alam.

When to go: Visit at the end of spring and fall for favorable sea conditions and fewer crowds at the dive sites.

Daedalus Reef

Where is it: This remote reef is 50 to 56 miles (80 to 90 km) from Marsa Alam and lies within a marine park.

What makes it special: The reef is less than a mile wide and, due to its remote location, dive boats visit less frequently than other area dive sites. It offers pristine hard and soft corals and deep walls. Hammerhead sharks are frequent visitors.

Details: Daedalus is for experienced divers only and is subject to strong currents, waves and surface swells that make the entry and exit conditions challenging. The abundance of marine life is well worth braving the elements, however, and both the eastern and western walls provide interesting drift dives. At the southern point of the reef, keep an eye out for thresher sharks. Dive depths range from 16 to 130 feet (5 to 40 m) and the reef is only accessible via liveaboard.

When to go: Accessible all year, though we recommend the end of spring and autumn as above.

Elphinstone Reef, The Brothers and Daedalus Reef are often combined within liveaboard itineraries, making for a convenient way explore the southern Red Sea. Try aggressor.com.

Dolphin House (Sha’ab Samadai)

Where is it: You can easily reach this offshore reef and lagoon with an 80-minute boat ride from Marsa Alam.

What makes it special: This popular reef is home to a large family of approximately 60 spinner dolphins, and it’s possible to snorkel and swim with them. The reef also offers great dive sites with swim-throughs, pinnacles and coral formations.

Details: Dolphin House is suitable for non-divers and divers of all experience levels. The conditions are usually easy and there are frequent boat trips to Dolphin House from Marsa Alam. A number of operators offer day trips, and liveaboards often also visit this reef as part of their itinerary.

When to go: Accessible all year

Abu Dabbab

Where is it: This sandy bay area is a little over 18 miles (30 km) north of Marsa Alam.

What makes it special: This shore site is popular with divers and non-divers alike and provides colorful snorkeling and shallow diving. You’re quite likely to see sea turtles grazing the sea grass meadows. You may also see guitar sharks and the very rare and endangered dugong.

Details: Abu Dabbab is suitable for everyone from snorkelers to novice and experienced divers. Dive depths range from 13 to 60 feet (4 to 18 m), and Emperor Divers offers a half-day trip to the area. Based at the bay, Abu Dabbab Dive Lodge offers divers the chance to explore the local diving for longer periods of time.

When to go: Accessible all year

Hamada Wreck

Where is it: The Hamada sank off a secluded shoreline south of Wadi El Gamal National Park in 1993. It sits 42 miles (68 km) southeast of Marsa Alam.

What makes it special: The wreck is unique in that it’s suitable for snorkelers, as well as experienced and novice divers. Qualified divers can also penetrate certain areas of the wreck. As a relatively new wreck, the masts and ropes are still intact. They are home to young corals, while the wreck itself is home to a number of species, including humphead wrasse, lionfish and moray eels.

Details: Dive depth ranges from 0 to 60 feet (0-18 m). Emperor Divers offers day trips to explore the wreck and enjoy the secluded bay.

When to go: Accessible all year

 

 

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My eclectic Oakgem jewelry wishlist.

If you’ve browsed much jewelry online, you’ve already heard of Oakgem – the 30 year veteran jewelry store, based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is well known for their eclectic collection of fine estate and designer jewelry. If you’ve spent any time at all browsing jewelry on 1stdibs or even on Pinterest, you’ve probably found your way to an Oakgem piece.

They’re also known for their selection of flatware and United States coins, but we’re not going to talk about those categories here today (although I really do think rare coins are cool).

My very favorite thing about Oakgem is the incredible variety you can find there. It’s not just that they have a lot of different kinds of pieces, but they have a lot of different kinds of pieces that are all remarkable. My Oakgem wishlist has pieces that span hundreds of years, all noteworthy. That’s hard to find.

To give you an idea of the kinds of pieces I’m talking about, I’m going to walk through my personal Oakgem wishlist. Well – an abbreviated version thereof. My actual list of pieces from Oakgem I’d like to own is terrifyingly long.

I thought we’d start with a quartet of rings, because that’s always a good place to start! These are all estate and all absurdly fabulous.

Top left is rock crystal with onyx and diamonds; top right is a fan-shaped design by Georland France in turquoise, onyx, and diamonds; bottom right is a 1960’s gold, diamond, and turquoise cluster; and bottom left is a 1960’s Cartier piece with ruby and turquoise in gold.

This 1980’s David Webb azurite set is a bit chunkier that what I usually go for, but I swoon for the big, beautiful pieces of that magical blue-green stone.

And if I ever did get the funds together to achieve my jewelry bucket list item of a David Webb azurite piece, Oakgem would be a great place to do it – their flawless reputation means you can rest easy that any signed pieces they offer have been properly authenticated.

These gorgeous antique day-to-night earrings are convertible: the larger, lower parts detach and the upper elements can be worn as a more subtle pair of earrings. They’re rose-cut diamonds in silver over gold, and – most interestingly – the designers is Tiffany & Co.. It’s unusual to see a piece like this from the great T & Co.

This necklace is just so weird and so fabulous. It’s from the 1960’s, made in Italy, and features blue sodalite in yellow gold. It’s fun and flamboyant and I adore it.

This glamorous retro brooch features amethyst, tourmaline, pearls, and diamonds in gold. I love how it takes the iconic starburst brooch shape and adds visual interest by making the elements that reach outward geometric.

These colorful earrings have a lot in common with many of my favorite Victorian earrings, but they’re larger in scale – which makes sense, seeing as how they date to the funky 1970’s. Lapis, pearls, and turquoise in gold.

I’m assuming that the reasons behind my love for this antique silver-topped gold and opal ring are obvious: it’s ridiculously beautiful. That iridescent opal, the rich contrast of the silver’s patina with the embellished yellow gold shoulders…where do I sign?

I love the sleek lines of this Georg Jensen bypass cuff bracelet. It’s 18k yellow gold with pearls.

This necklace. What can I even say? It’s just so pretty.

This piece is antique, and features a mix of natural Burmese rubies, sapphires, diamonds, and a few synthetic sapphires and rubies in gold. It’s simply beautiful.There’s nothing like a classic Victorian cuff bracelet. I love the texture on this one! It’s such a simple piece, but so interesting.

Here’s another David Webb piece. This ring is a great example of my favorite Webb designs: it’s bulbous and sort of weird but somehow there’s something perfect about its proportions that makes it incredibly satisfying to look at.

Two great little Victorian brooches (1/2)! These pieces have so much personality. I love brooches for cooler weather – I’m definitely going to try to work more pieces like this into my own collection.

What do you think of my Oakgem wishlist, darlings? Which piece is your favorite?

This sponsored post is brought to you by Oakgem. 

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Dive Boat Etiquette for Kids

If it hasn’t already happened to you, it’s bound to at some point — you get on a dive boat, start putting your gear away and staking out a good spot for your dry bag, when they come crashing, banging and arguing onto the boat. It’s a diving family…with kids. (Cue the “Psycho” shower scene music). Or, maybe you’re the diving family — either way, teaching proper dive boat etiquette for kids (and keeping it in mind yourself) is absolutely vital when it comes to making sure everyone onboard enjoys the day.

Space is at a premium on dive boats, and it fills up fast with gear, water bottles, snacks, cameras, etc. That crowded feeling can extend to the water as well when divers don’t wait their turn to see the latest cool find or are unaware of their position in the water. Kids typically don’t need the personal space that adults do, and they don’t always understand boundaries. As the mother of a teenager, I can confidently say that they can also be… somewhat self-absorbed.

Teaching Good Dive Boat Etiquette for Kids

Because of these things, kids tend to spread out everywhere on a dive boat. One of the most important lessons you can teach them is to pull out only what they need as they need it. Show your kids how to pack their gear in order of what they’ll need first. Teach them to set up gear on their tank as it comes out of the bag. They can tuck their booties inside their fins and stack the fins underneath their tank or even put their booties on if that will not impede them from putting on a wetsuit later. Have them hang their mask and snorkel on the tank valve, stack them on top of their fins, or otherwise attach them to their BC with a clip.

Beside making a good neighbor to fellow divers, staying organized means kids will be ready when it’s time to dive. They’re also far less likely to lose gear. When returning from a dive, kids can reassemble their gear the same way. Or, if it was the last dive, they can stow it back in their gear bag so that it doesn’t get mixed in with someone else’s gear or inadvertently left on board.

Underwater Awareness

Once the gear is properly set-up and stored, it’s time to talk to your kids about their position underwater. Children are generally less aware of where their bodies and equipment are in relation to others; add to this the excitement of a day spent diving and they may create a path of destruction underwater.  “Repeat and remind” is a good rule of thumb, so go over the rules and especially discuss the buddy system before the dive. If they’re reminded that they must stay with you, you’ll be able to monitor or control their movements.

Parents should also explain that when the divemaster taps his tank to get the divers’ attention, it does not mean to take off at warp speed and shove others out of the way to get a look at what he has found. Most DMs will work to ensure that everyone gets a look while also protecting the creature and the reef. Help your kids become more aware by explaining that they can help with this task by knowing where their fins, arms, tank, etc. are in relation to other divers, the divemaster and reef. No parent wants to hear that their child knocked someone’s mask off, kicked another diver in the head, or used another diver as a makeshift landing strip while coming in at Mach 10 to see the seahorse first.

Safe Surface Intervals

A successful surface interval is about not only safety, but courtesy as well. After completing a dive, it’s fun to watch other divers surfacing or jump in for a quick swim, but remind kids to keep the area around the ladder clear. This includes both the areas in the water and on the boat. Divers must be able to ascend when they’re ready without having to navigate through swimmers or people loitering in their way on the boat. Remind kids that the diver coming out of the water is still fully geared up and is not as nimble; they could fall off the ladder onto a swimmer or lose footing on the boat’s slippery deck.

When the boat is underway, either between dive sites or heading back to shore, tell your child find somewhere to sit and stay there for the duration of the trip. Once the boat starts moving, it’s much harder to move around safely, and since kids are usually lighter than we are, they bounce around more and may not have the reach or strength to hold onto something to steady themselves. Your fellow passengers will appreciate a calm, seated child far more than one who’s running around a moving boat as well.

Family diving can be a wonderful experience, and spending a day with someone else’s family on board needn’t cause waves of panic among other divers. A little extra guidance from mom and dad can help ensure that everyone on the boat has a good time. Most importantly, just as parents are responsible for raising their children to be good citizens on land, teaching them good diving habits early can ensure they grow up to be good citizens in the diving community and in the marine world as well.

By guest author Christine Brinkley

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The Power of Brand

What first impression does your salon create in the minds of your clients? What lasting impression does it make? 

Unquantifiable, charm is often overlooked, yet it is the most persuasive beauty communications tool there is. A beauty business requires a presence of charm to create a genuine connection with their audience. Simply put, charm is the secret weapon of successful beauty businesses. So, how can your beauty brand communicate with charm to become more engaging? It’s simple: Make every touch point with your beauty business brand delightful and inspiring. Communicate with charm. 

The power of charm is captivating, influential and magnetic. Every brand can benefit from integrating charm into their creative communications. In the business of beauty the bar is set high, beauty brands need a distinctive style to stand out and attract fashion-savvy clients in an over-saturated market. BeautyMark Marketing’s professional brand identity services create charming, believable, well-positioned brands. Our brand development process focuses to enhance your business and enliven your beauty brand. Charm is a powerful way to deliver your brand message. Charmed? I’m sure.

To play a real role in the beauty industry, it is imperative that guests perceive your business highly.

How would clients rate your salon? How do they perceive your salon brand? Do they have an opinion on the level of service provided? Will they stick with your salon?

Details can make the difference between mediocrity and megastar status in the minds of your clients. Salons that offer that “je ne said quoi” factor enhances the salon experience and stands out from the rest. This is the essence of your salon - make your brand so charming and remarkable that your clients would never think about trying the competition.

3 elements that make your beauty business remarkable:

1. Brand Image:
“Brand” is the definition of a business in shorthand, because you can’t explain the who and the what of your business to everyone (that would be exhausting!). Your brand is your beacon, it signals and calls out to your potential purchasers so they can find you. 

What does your brand say about you? It speaks volumes without saying a word, good or bad. In a world littered with marketing noise and branding buzzwords, distinguishing your brand from the rest of the crowd is paramount to success.

2. Impression:
Your image is dependent on what others think about you. Perfecting and refreshing your salon’s brand presence communicates and reflects your brand message. The goal is for a brand’s impression to create confidence and trustworthiness in your business.

3. Identity: 
Branding is a lot like flirting. Imagine the power of a brand that can genuinely flirt and connect with people. Brand is the combination of creative communications tools that say who and what you are in a visual snapshot. These tools communicate your salon’s identity in the form of fonts, color palette, logo, wordmark, patterns, images, and verbiage (voice). Branding is the creation of charm.

How well is your salon brand communicated, does it leave a lasting impression on clients and guests? A salon’s brand - when all working in harmony with image, impression and identity - are the perfect equation to an irresistible business.

When was the last time you freshened up your brand?
The average salon loses over 20 percent of its client base each month and, for every 10 new clients, less than 3 come back. Poor customer service certainly plays a part sometimes but there is a very different culprit to blame for low returns – branding.

Branding is how you communicate to the public why they should choose your salon. In other words, your brand is your business. The problem is that many salons imagine they can compete solely on the quality of their respective work. So, they select the same overused fonts, decor and colors as a hundred other salons and focus solely on getting their names out there. They try to maintain a competitive edge through quality alone but, in reality, doing a good job is not a basis for competition in the salon business; it is a requirement. 

Many salons do a good job; they wouldn’t exist otherwise. The question is why someone should choose your salon over another. If the only answer you can give is the quality of the work you provide, the decision to choose your salon will be based solely on location and price.

Instead of getting in price wars with your competitors, creating a unique brand for your salon can attract more new clients and keep existing customers coming back. However you envision your salon’s brand, you have to convey your beauty business' USP (unique selling point) to set your business apart from your competition to the public. Everything about your salon’s logo, color choices, layout, pricing, services offered and salon decor should all convey the same message. 

When was the last time you freshened up your brand? If your answer is over 5 years it may be time to re-evaluate your brand and what it "says" about your business. Need branding help? We are the beauty branding experts, contact me at kierna@beautymarkmarketing.com

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What's So Wrong With Social Work School? (And How To Make It More Right)

Don’t get me wrong, I love social work. I even loved social work school. I am offering these reflections and suggestions with the hope that they will be validating and helpful in making your education feel even more worthwhile.

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Fitness for Challenged or Disabled Divers

Personal training is an inspirational profession. Although clients hire trainers and coaches for inspiration, most often the clients instead inspire the trainers. This is particularly true when working with injured, disabled and special-needs clients. Physical fitness is even more essential when it comes to addressing birth defects, disease, accidents and wartime injuries. The average healthy individual who falls out of their exercise and nutrition routine will experience setbacks, but nothing like a challenged or special-needs individual. Exercise enhances life for challenged clients, because physical health is essential when it comes to performing daily activities. Physical-fitness therapies also become the basis for participation in adaptive sports such as scuba diving. Challenged or disabled divers have the opportunity to experience freedom of movement underwater.

Although all certification agencies recommend against exertion while using scuba, diving is a different experience for challenged divers. The Cody Unser Foundation is conducting research on the physical and psychological benefits for challenged and special-needs clients. Handicapped Scuba Association, WAVES, Diveheart, SUDS and the Wounded Warrior Project sponsor adaptive-diving opportunities and train dive professionals to work with challenged clients. The feel-good aspect of diving is also beneficial for overall wellness. The pressurized environment can also offer positive effects for some diseases, such as neurological disorders.

Health challenges can range from short-term injuries to cancer treatment or surgery recovery. Other health challenges include debilitating arthritis, ALS, muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, PTSD, brain and spinal-cord injuries or amputations, among others. A number of restorative therapies help strengthen the body for diving, such as aquatic therapy, electrical muscle stimulation and active therapy, as well as traditional strength and aerobic exercise.

Aquatic therapy

Aquatic therapy is particularly synergistic with diving. The publication Disabled World defines aquatic therapy as “a form of physical therapy that is performed in a pool. The use of heat and warm water is preferable in association with aquatic therapy.” Aquatic therapy is meant to help restore a patient’s strength and movement through the use of buoyancy, resistance and heat. Therapies may involve both active exercise, called hydrotherapy, or passive immersion, called spa therapy. In the United States, aquatic therapy most often involves therapeutic exercise, such as gait training, functional task simulation and so forth. Regarding spa therapy, Disabled World says, “There is something to be said for enjoyment of stillness and inactivity. Remaining open-minded in regards to both spa and aquatic forms of therapy can be very helpful.”

The publication discusses various types of aquatic therapy including Ai Chi, modeled after the principles of T’ai Chi and yogic breathing techniques. Aquatic Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation is modeled after the movement patterns and principles of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF). Aquatic Task-Type Training (TTTA) is a set of parameters for optimizing a person’s treatment, particularly those with neurological impairments.

Electrical muscle stimulation and active therapy

Restorative Therapies, a Baltimore, Maryland company, uses Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) therapies “to help people with neurological disorders or people in critical care achieve their full potential.” The technique uses pulses of electrical current to stimulate peripheral nerves, i.e. the lower-motor neurons that connect the spinal cord to muscles, generating muscle contractions and patterned muscle activity. FES works well for patients with weak or paralyzed muscles, even if the individual cannot consciously participate.

Therapists can use FES with specially designed exercise equipment such as an ergometer. This is best described as a stationary bike for the arms, or one that’s used while lying down rather than upright or seated. This is called active therapy, and according to Restorative Therapies, “is achieved either when an individual moves his muscles on his own or when those muscles are activated by FES.” Either way, the goal is to get the muscles working again.

Traditional strength and aerobic exercise

Last but not least, many health-challenged divers can perform traditional strength training and aerobic exercises, just slightly modified. Some fitness centers have adaptive modular-exercise machines, treadmills, ergometers and bikes. Cables, pulleys, bands and free weights offer additional options to help challenged divers stay fit. It is important to mention that instructors and dive buddies who assist disabled divers must stay in good physical condition. They may also make a good workout buddies. Exercises similar to those practiced during rescue diving courses are especially helpful, as both involve assisting another diver.

 

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Book Trailer: The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals

Watch rhe book trailer for The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals.

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What I’m reading: Vol. 67.

A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean. This is Sarah’s MacLean’s newest and it is SO GOOD. If you like Regency romance novels, read this one immediately.

Internets:

Watch a football player get a ballet lesson. Surprisingly hilarious.

Racked wrote an interesting story about the popularity of charm bracelet giant, Pandora. (If you look carefully, there’s a quote from me in here.)

This is What Your Baby’s Nursery Would Look Like if You Had Actually Married a Backstreet Boy.

How to commission a bespoke engagement ring.

Life Behind the Stacks: The Secret Apartments of New York Libraries.

The history of Whitby Jet jewelry.

For more reads, check out my Amazon recommended books store. This post contains affiliate links. 

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E/V Nautilus Discovers Deep-Sea Purple Orb

Last week, the deep-sea exploration team aboard the E/V Nautilus brought the world’s cutest squid to our attention. What have they found now?

“What is that?”

“I’m stumped,” replies a researcher. “I have no idea. I can’t even hazard a guess.”

During exploration of the 5,000-foot-deep Arguello Canyon in the ocean off the coast of Southern California, researchers controlling the E/V Nautilus stumbled upon a tiny, purple orb.

As you can see, next to a crab on a ledge is a tiny purple globe. After carefully collecting it with the Nautilus and bringing it to the surface, ship researchers found that the globe had a foot and rhinophores, kind of ear-like structures, and a sort of proboscis. This points to it being some form of gastropod.

The researchers currently think the 2-inch (5 cm) organism is a pleurobranch, a relative of the scuba-divers’ favorite, the nudibranch. Researchers are still working toward a definite species identification with partner the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology.

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Self-Care: A Social Worker’s Guide to Staying on Your Feet

Social workers save lives every day, and it does not mean that you are not a superhero simply because you need to recharge.

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3 Tips for Choosing Kitchen Curtains

Framing your kitchen windows with the right window treatment makes a big difference in the look and feel of your kitchen. Here are some tips that will guide you in choosing the perfect curtains for your kitchen.

Image Source: Flickr

Below are 3 tips for choosing kitchen curtains:

Colour and Fabric
Fabric is an essential part of choosing curtains, since the material will dictate how well your curtains function and hold up over time. “If they’re too heavy, they may not fold crisply when drawn; too light and they may not fall well,” says designer Suysel DePedro Cunningham of Tilton Fenwick.
Lana Lawrence, who is vice president of Anthony Lawrence-Belfair curtain fabricators and who works with designers like Alexa Hampton and Katie Ridder, suggests holding fabrics up to a window, even in a fabric showroom. “Pleat it like an accordion at the top and let it drape,” she says. “If it starts to flare like a piece of crinoline, then it’s not going to fall nicely on the window.” Work with a big sample, at least 2 yards, since a smaller piece may not show the fabric’s true drape.
Linen, silk, faux silk, and velvet are best choices to use for window treatments since they tend to hang the best, says Guercio. “Faux silk tends to be the most durable,” she says. And in a particularly sunny room, faux silk doesn’t deteriorate as quickly as real silk.
Some fabrics can help keep out the cold. Many hotels use suede, velvet, tapestry, or tweed since their weight helps block light and keep heat in. Still, nearly any fabric can be interlined with bump, a thick, insulating felt material. And interlining—a piece of fabric slipped between the lining and the face fabric—can also help prolong the life of the curtains. “If silk is unlined, it will rot,” says Lawrence. Adds Cunningham: “Lining and interlining are what give curtains their body and fullness.” Source: ElleDecor

Pattern
When it comes to your curtains’ patterns, once again, it depends on your vision of what feel you want to give your kitchen. Everything is possible:

• United
• Stripes (equal or asymmetrical)
• Flowery (jacquard weaving, embroidery, etc.)
• Geometric shapes

You have a wide range of options on the market with suppliers of fabrics and curtains that can give you the desired final touch for your kitchen, whether modern, artistic or retro. Source: GroomedHome

Length and Lining
Floor-length curtains are the best option when your kitchen has large windows or ones that have odd shapes. Here are several solutions for fitting curtains on large windows.
As a practical advice, no matter the size or the shape of your kitchen windows, a simple, informal style always fits in well.
Take a good look to the other elements of your kitchen when buying the curtains. No matter if you go for the modern, classic or country look, choose the fabric and colors for curtains that go with the cabinets, for instance.
Most kitchen curtains are sill length. This is practical and doesn’t overwhelm the kitchen, and suits most small to medium-sized kitchens, minus the really big ones.
When it comes to curtains, it’s always important to remember one thing: measure right, twice even. You can’t go for the „too short” or „too long” just as you can’t go long or short on a pair of trousers, for instance. „Too rich”, that’s the only thing you can overdo. Anytime. Source: VeryCozyHome

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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Innovation in Denmark: building a community willing to pay for quality journalism

In order to succeed in the new media market, you have to rethink the relationship between journalists and readers, according to Danish publication Zetland, which is well on the way to building a community of readers willing to pay for quality journalism.

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Addressing Poor Air Consumption When Scuba Diving: Part II

In this multi-part series on addressing poor air consumption when scuba diving, we’ll revisit Donald and his attempts to become a better diver.

The dive guide hands Donald his weight belt and tells him that it’s about right for his height and wetsuit thickness. He puts it on without further question, gears up and enters the water. During his buoyancy check, Donald appears a little heavy but not dangerously so. The instructor tells him not to worry. As the tank gets lighter on the dive, he says, the extra weight will compensate.

Donald deflates his BCD and sinks heavily. His wetsuit compresses with depth, further increasing the speed of his descent. Not wishing to hit the sandy bottom, he inflates his jacket and slows to a stop. He is neutrally buoyant, but his legs are tilting downwards as a result of the many weights around his middle.

He spends the dive finning in an upright angle, resulting in heavy resistance and an increased workload. Donald’s jacket accumulates big pockets of air around his shoulders, lifting the upper parts of the BCD uncomfortably around his ears.

The jacket is awkward and difficult to control. The air inside has become harder to steer and guide toward the outlet vent. Donald is not that experienced and struggles with it for the entire dive. His buoyancy corrections are exaggerated and largely ineffective. The tank does indeed become lighter, but not to any great extent. Donald finishes the dive after only 25 minutes. Four other students have to surface with him.

“Great dive, everybody,” beams the instructor. “Did you see that amazing blue-spotted ray under the table coral?” Donald mutters something and manages a half smile, feeling a little guilty at shortening everyone’s dive. He honestly tried his hardest but could not reduce his air consumption.

Diving with the Right Weight

A proper buoyancy check takes a solid two minutes, including making weight adjustments. Five students will take at least 10 minutes. This is a long time for an impatient instructor — much better to slap a few pounds on their belts and tell them to press the inflator button at depth.

Proper weighting makes for maximum control and comfort underwater. A diver who suffers from too much or too little weight will be trying to correct the situation for the entire dive. Subsequently, he or she will consume more air. A few minutes spent before the dive and a greater understanding of how weighting works will transform your diving forever.

The first step in choosing the correct amount of weight is…guesswork. Although charts list body weight, thermal protection and other buoyancy-changing variables, it’s probably quicker to just get in the water and figure it out by trial and error.

Local dive centers generally have a good idea because their variables may not change too much. They use the same tanks and the same type of rental wetsuits. The seawater in the area doesn’t change in salinity. So when you walk up to the counter, the divemaster manning the reception desk has probably sized you up before you even got there. It is likely they’ll be accurate to within just a pound or two.

During our open-water course, we learn that we should float on the surface in a feet-down position while wearing a mask and keeping a regulator in our mouth. To establish correct weighting, take a full breath and hold it for a few seconds while the contents of your BCD empty. With weights around your middle, feet still and an empty jacket, you should remain at the surface only via the air in your lungs. The manual says that if the water reaches eye-level or around the forehead, you’re weighted correctly.

Of course to get down and begin a dive, you must breathe out, empty your lungs and sink below the surface. This is where the problems can begin. The trouble with this well-meaning advice is that it stops way too soon. I have conducted these eye-level buoyancy checks with many groups of students only to find on the actual descent that many of them can’t get down at all. The shortcut is to add more weight, as if you were putting a foot on the diver’s head.

Elsewhere in our manual, we learn that you’ll need about two pounds (one kilo) of lead to offset a liter of air. The average adult male has around six liters of air in his lungs at full capacity. If he breathes out before descending, then together with proper weighting, he’ll drop comfortably below the surface. If the diver continues exhaling until his lungs are empty, he’ll develop a lung squeeze with increasing depth pressure. Conversely, if he barely drops a few inches and then takes a great inhalation, filling his lungs to the brim, then he’ll rise back to the surface. This is when many divers tell their guides they need more weight, not realizing that they’re about to burden themselves with unnecessary lead.

Manuals rarely share advice about lung volume and breathing techniques on a descent when you’re still close to the surface. Here, you want to avoid two things — a squeeze from empty lungs and adding extra weights to offset over-inhaling. By deflating and exhaling you begin your descent. If you take very small inhalations between the surface and 10 feet (3 m), you’ll avoid a squeeze. Below that depth, physics takes over and allows you to swim freely, breathing in and out at full volume.

How does this work?

The neoprene in wetsuits contains multitudes of tiny gas bubbles, trapped together to provide insulation underwater. If you throw a dry wetsuit into a swimming pool, about 90 percent of it will float on top of the surface. At 10 feet (3 m), the same suit will compress and squash the many bubbles, which reduces the positively buoyant characteristics you had on the surface. This effectively gives you back a few pounds of the lead it took to get down. You can also breathe fully without risk of rising to the surface in very shallow water.

But what about the end of the dive when your tank is lighter?

We carry out safety stops at depths between 20 to 15 feet (6 to 4.5 m). Here, our suits are still sufficiently compressed to keep us down. They are also saturated and heavy with water, which means a wayward ascent is unlikely. As long as your BCD is empty and you’re properly weighted, you’ll be fine right down to 725 psi (50 bar) in your tank. Deeper parts of the dive are much easier to control, as the heavier pressure keeps your suit and jacket in check.

A diver who is underweighted from the outset might still descend, but will suffer when their tank becomes lighter. Quite often, the diver turns upside down and fins until the deeper water compensates for the lack of lead. After a while they take short, shallow breaths to avoid filling their lungs and rising upwards. This is dangerous, however, because the diver no longer gets a full intake of air to properly oxygenate the circulatory system during the all-important off-gassing process. The extra exertion of trying to stay down will also increase air consumption and shorten the dive. This of course is the opposite of the intended effect of carrying less weight.

Returning to Donald, although he’s got his weights right now, that alone won’t lead to lower air consumption. Next on his list of issues to address are BCD control and proper trim.

By John Kean

John Kean is the author of four books. He holds the PADI Master Instructor rating, along with TDI’s Advanced Trimix Instructor qualification. Since 1997 he has amassed over 7,000 dives, trained over 2,000 students and project-managed several world record deep dive events. His book is available here.  

 

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Marcelo Rech elected President of the Brazilian newspaper association

Marcelo Rech, President of the World Editors Forum, the organisation within the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) for chief editors and other senior newsroom personnel, has been elected President of the Brazilian Association of Newspapers (ANJ).

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One reader on how DitL inspired her custom engagement ring!

I could not possible be more excited to share this very special post with you today, my darlings. It’s about one of you – a fabulous Diamonds in the Library reader named Bella – and how reading this blog led her to the creation of her very own custom engagement ring.

I had the pleasure of following along with Bella’s story from as distance, since she first reached out ages ago to show me the family ring she planned on having reset, and then followed up to tell me that her husband-to-be had popped the question with the ring of her dreams, designed exactly as she’d imagined.

What do I have to do with any of this? Bella’s custom engagement ring was inspired by an antique piece featured here on Diamonds in the Library! I can’t tell you how honored I am to have been involved in someone else’s engagement ring journey, even in this small way.

Here’s the ring! Isn’t it gorgeous?

Bella is as articulate as she is discriminating in jewelry taste, so with her permission, I’m including the email she wrote me so that you can hear her incredible custom engagement ring story: 

Back in the end of December, my longtime boyfriend said that I should start sending him rings I liked. I actually really had a soft spot for big, warm, old cut stones such as Old European cuts and Old Mine cuts, but my mom mentioned that her old Marquise was sitting in the safety deposit box.

The diamond was fantastic, but the ring was made in 1989 and it showed.

I love the look of vintage pieces, but since my family doesn’t have any heirlooms, he created one for me! I had sent him the photo of the E-W marquise because I liked how it wouldn’t catch on things, it was low-profile, and it seems classic and so vintage.

My fiancé, Brett, went to Wedding Day Diamonds in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota and worked with Sean. He brought in the photo and they worked their magic.

He approved the CAD and the ring was ready in a few weeks.

http://ift.tt/2bbVtnR <—- This is a link to the CAD.

Isn’t it a beauty??

Here’s a peek at the antique piece that inspired Bella’s custom engagement ring – it’s a 1920’s Tiffany & Co. East-West marquise diamond ring, sold by Erstwhile Jewelry Co (the photos are by Erstwhile) and you can read all about it here, in the original post.

I think Bella’s custom engagement ring does a wonderful job of capturing so much of what makes the original ring remarkable while still creating its own spirit. I love seeing the past inspiring the present like this.

Thank you so much, Bella, for sharing your story with us and CONGRATULATIONS again to you and Brett!!!!

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