Teaching Your Kids to Dive: PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program

In the first two of our series on kids’ diving courses, we covered Bubblemaker and Seal Team. In these courses, participants must be at least 8 years old. If your child is 10 or older, the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program may help both of you assess readiness and ensure real interest.

PADI Discover Scuba Diving

We used to refer to PADI’s Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) program as the “Resort Course.”

It’s a great option if you want to be sure about the decision without investing in a full certification. DSD is also great if you’re on vacation and want your child to try scuba while you go diving. Further, many dive shops will apply the DSD cost to Open Water course tuition should you and your child decide on certification.

What will children learn?

This course offers a bit more freedom than Bubblemaker or Seal Team. It can occur in confined or open water — in a pool, off a beach, or even from a dive boat. To be clear, this is not a scuba-certification course, but instead a quick introduction to scuba diving. All activities occur under a PADI professional’s direct supervision. The instructor will emphasize the importance of staying close by, especially in an open-water environment.

During the course, the child will use a mask, fins, scuba tank, BCD with low-pressure inflator, regulator and submersible pressure gauge. The ratio of student to instructor for this course is 8:1 in a pool and 4:1 in open water. Sheila Shelton, IDC Staff Instructor for Texan Scuba in Huntsville, Texas, recommends that parents look for a program that offers a 2:1 or 1:1 ratio of student to instructor, however, so that the child can learn at his or her own pace.

As mentioned, this course is a bit more intensive and challenging. Children will learn breathing rules and equalizing techniques; how each piece of their equipment works; hand signals for underwater communication, regulator recovery and clearing; mask clearing; respect for aquatic life; and BCD inflation and deflation. They will eventually swim in gradually deepening water while monitoring air consumption. Kid will reach depth maximums of only 20 feet (6 m) in confined water and 40 feet (12 m) in open water.

The PADI Discover Scuba Diving program should give parents a solid indication of their child’s readiness for the Junior Open Water course since it exposes them to all common scuba equipment and some of the key skills they’ll need for diving. Parents should think about their child’s readiness for this or any course, however, especially if they sign up at a facility that offers the course off a beach or dive boat.

The post Teaching Your Kids to Dive: PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2s4wWOe

Mexico’s Top Cenotes for Scuba Diving

There are plenty of freshwater cave systems in the world. But when it comes to diving, none compares to the sinkholes of Mexican’s Yucatan Peninsula. Gin-clear freshwater, Mayan history and an idyllic tropical-jungle setting make these cenotes world-class among cave and cavern dives. Many dive centers operate from Cancun south to Tulum. These offer everything from beginner cavern dives to full-fledged cave training, so there’s something or everyone. With that in mind, here are the Yucatan’s five top cenotes for scuba diving.

The Pit

In the jungle between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, is the Pit, one of the world’s most intriguing cavern dives. To reach the site, divers previously had to trek through the jungle and then giant stride 20 feet (6 m) into the water from the edge of the sinkhole. A recently constructed dirt road leading to the entrance and the addition of stairs to the water, however, have made the Pit much more accessible. The deepest cenote in Quintana Roo at 391 feet (119 m), the Pit offers breathtaking visibility and stalactites of all sizes in the first 100 feet (30 m). At that depth there’s a hydrogen sulfide cloud that divers can penetrate to descend into complete darkness at around 130 feet (40 m).

Casa Cenote

Casa Cenote, also called Cenote Tankah, connects one of world’s longest underwater cave systems, Nohoch Na Chich, with the ocean. In the middle of a lush mangrove forest, diving in Casa Cenote offers the unique feeling of diving under a tropical rainforest. The dive never exceeds 30 feet (8 m), and follows the course of the surface river, with big open areas. Because of the river’s connection to the ocean, Casa Cenote features a fresh- and saltwater mix.  This environment hosts both fresh- and saltwater fish. Small caves along the sides of the cenote also occasionally hold manatees, so dive slowly and keep your eyes peeled.

Angelita

At around 10 miles (17 km) south of Tulum, Angelita is the furthest south of the area’s cenotes. A short walk into the jungle reveals a cenote that descends directly to 200 feet (60 m) with no side passages or offshoots. Angelita, meaning “little angel,” also holds a mix of salt and fresh water. At around 100 feet (30 m), there is an eerie hydrogen sulfide cloud that sits atop the cenote’s saltwater layer. Here, in the depths of the cenote, divers will see trees and branches. They peek out of the cloud, creating a surreal scene. Huge stalactites stud the cenote’s shallow walls, offering another fascinating sight. Angelita is popular among technical divers because of its depth. Recreational divers, though, should not exceed depth limits if they descend beneath the sulfurous cloud.

Dos Ojos

Perhaps the most famous cenote of all, Dos Ojos, meaning “two eyes,” is actually two connected cenotes, with a shared cavern zone. Part of a larger cave system, there are 28 known sinkhole entrances in the Dos Ojos system. Exploration continues today. There’s an opportunity for both cavern and cave dives here, shallow and simple enough for divers of all levels. Divers walk a short distance through the jungle to the entrance, where there are bathrooms, changing facilities and concrete tables for gear.

The first of the dives takes place along the opening of the “Second Eye.” Here’ there’s lots of daylight and immaculate visibility. The second dive, also known as the Bat Cave, requires divers to follow a line that twists and turns through tight swim-throughs, where light begins to disappear into the distance behind them. Divers will eventually emerge into a stalactite-filled chamber where bats reside in the hundreds.

Pet Cemetery

Despite its sinister name, Pet Cemetery cenote offers all the best of Mexican jungle diving. Its name comes not from the Stephen King novel, but rather from the multiple animal skeletons within the cenote, including the fossilized remains of an extinct prehistoric camel. Part of the second-largest cave system in the world, it’s further along the same access road that delivers divers to Dos Ojos. Much of the dive is at only 10 feet (3 m), so snorkelers can explore here too. The cave system is filled with stalactites and stalagmites, all in superb visibility. Beware though — divers must have good buoyancy control before attempting the dive, as the column formations are quite fragile.

These are just a few of the area’s top cenotes for diving, with many more systems to explore. Mexico’s unique cenotes draw divers from all over the world, but before you explore here, make sure you’ve got the proper certifications and knowledgeable guides.

The post Mexico’s Top Cenotes for Scuba Diving appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2qXJ9o4

ASWB Launches Path to Licensure Institute

ASWB Path to Licensure Institute scholars will develop a model for introducing information about social work licensing and regulation to their students and design a regulation-specific research project to be completed by August 2020.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/2rDK9uw

Manufacturer Feature: Wolf X-Ray

from CME Insiders http://ift.tt/2qQKEQA

Photographer Spotlight: Christian Miller

In an ongoing series, we’ll chat with prominent and up-and-coming underwater photographers. Today we sit down with Christian Miller.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I became a professional diver in 2002 and have lived and worked in the Caribbean, Central America, Asia, and Australia. My desire to help the marine environment grew along with my camera skills, and I began planning conservation projects. In 2009, I became the director of a turtle rehabilitation center. From then onward, I used my film, graphic and photo skills to help raise funds for turtles through the Cairns Underwater Film Festival, where I am one of the organizers and photo judges.

I also worked with several film production companies, such as National Geographic and the BBC, as well as working on the IMAX movie about the Great Barrier Reef. In 2014, I won the Pride of Australia Medal for environmental achievement, and joined the Ocean Alliance team to study and protect whales. I’ve since begun working with several other organizations, all with the aim of tackling the ever-growing list of problems facing the oceans.

[See image gallery at scubadiverlife.com]

How long have you been an underwater photographer?

I started underwater photography pretty much as soon as I became a professional dive instructor in 2002.

How did you become interested in underwater photography?

In my blood, I am an artist. I used to draw mostly exotic animals, and the underwater world always fascinated me. Photographing marine life allowed me to create my own visual reference from which to draw. Originally, I was not interested in a career as photographer or filmmaker. This desire came later with the urge to help marine life and to be actively involved in conservation work.

What’s your favorite style of underwater photography?

My style of photography has always been based on storytelling, or on showcasing a behavior. I’ve always focused on the megafauna — mostly humans interacting with marine life or environmental issues.

Any favorite subjects?

Sea turtles, sharks, whales, napoleon wrasse, porpoises, school of fish, and anything I have never seen before. On my bucket list are orcas, sperm whales, mola mola, penguins, beluga whales, leatherback turtles and dugong.

Any favorite destinations?

Anywhere I have never been before. The Great Barrier Reef is my backyard. I love to go out with researchers to remote places. I love to take part in exploration and environmental expeditions. But you can throw me into a lake with no vis and I’ll still be happy to breathe underwater.

What’s your underwater setup?

For film, I use an EPIC 6K Red Dragon, a Nauticam housing and fisheye lights. For photos, I use a Nikon D800, Aquatica housing and Ikelite DS161 strobes.

Do you have any tips for new underwater photographers?

Well, one of the obvious tips — don’t start working on photography until you are 100 percent comfortable with your dive skills. Only then should you focus on your camera. Get to know your camera on land first. Understand the manual settings and how change them according to your light conditions and your subject.

Conditions underwater tend to remain fairly constant during a dive, unless you are changing depth. I mostly shoot at the fastest sync speed of my strobes, and a “save” aperture of around f9 to f12, adjusting the strobes according to the subject and its distance from me. If that doesn’t give me the result I want, I must know which variable to change to get the look I’m going for.

Always focus exactly where you need to focus, and double-check after a few shots. Always be aware of your surroundings, of coral, sharp objects, and marine life. Let the animals decide if they want to be your model, but position yourself to increase your chances. Always respect the animal — if it’s not your day to get a shot, don’t worry. The day will come and your patience will pay off. I have missed thousands of shots, but I’ve gotten plenty of great ones as well.

By guest author Christian Miller

Christian Miller is one of the directors of the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Center; an ambassador, photographer and filmmaker for Parley for the Oceans; a filmmaker and photographer for Ocean Alliance; and a filmmaker for Biopixel Ocean Foundation. See more of his work on his website as well.

 

The post Photographer Spotlight: Christian Miller appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2svNVGc

Top Five Reasons to Dive in Tasmania

 

It’s off the beaten path

The island of Tasmania sits 150 miles (240 km) south of the Victoria coastline in Australia. Although it is isolated, you can take a ferry from Melbourne to Devenport. Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart is big enough to have museums (MONA, one of the world’s best) and great restaurants, but small enough that you can still discover most of it in a day. Area dive shops are small and most feature a cozy accommodation section and self-contained options. Boats are also smaller, which means that you’ll get a much more personalized experience.

You’ll see huge schools of temperate-water fish

Lots of people associate giant schools of fish exclusively with tropical dive sites, but temperate sites often feature just as many fish. Divers commonly see schools of thousands and thousands of fish off the coast of Tasmania. With crystal-clear water, you can see for over 120 feet (40 m) at times. Butterfly perch are common off the east coast of the island, but they don’t swim in schools. Instead, they hang around a few feet from the bottom in a random nature. They are undisturbed by a diver’s presence and don’t part when you swim toward them, leaving you feeling like one of them.

It’s not really that cold

Tasmania is closer to Antarctica than parts of the Great Barrier Reef, so it will get cold. But the east-coast water temperatures never fall below 54 degrees F (12 C), so you can dive in a 7mm two-piece wetsuit year-round unless you happen to get chilled underwater. During the summer, the water hits a maximum of 66 degrees F (18 C).

You never know what you’ll see

Huge, deep walls covered in soft corals and sponges, with amazing yellow colors, blanket parts of the coastline. Red, green and yellow algae grow together, creating contrasting patterns that will capture your attention. Look for red velvetfish hiding beneath the seaweed, and spot mola molas further off the coast, not far from seal colonies where these playful animals will interact with you underwater. There are also multiple wrecks, some in great condition, spread along the coast.

Who doesn’t love leafy seadragons?

Finally, who wouldn’t love to see a spectacular weedy seadragon? Relatives of the seahorse, the weedy seadragons in Tasmania are some of the biggest individuals of the species. The bright and unusual purple color of the eggs that males carry on their tails make for particularly vibrant photo subjects.

By guest author Matt Testoni

The post Top Five Reasons to Dive in Tasmania appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2rSTj9n

9 Expectations You Should Have For Your Direct-To-Site Deliveries

In our current economic climate, many healthcare facilities are looking to cut back when it comes to handling equipment delivery and warehousing.

A number of IDNs and large systems often ask distributors and vendors to take on logistical needs they would not have in the past—and instead of keeping large items in a central warehouse, they are leaning more toward direct-to-side delivery.

from CME Insiders http://ift.tt/2qLqqb8