DIVE THE DRY TORTUGAS - Midwest Scuba Diving Magazine

COMPLIMENTARYwww.midwestscubadiving.comSpring 2007DIVETHE DRYTORTUGASMidwest Diving: Haigh QuarryDiving Fitness: Fit For ScubaDiving Medicine: Flying After DivingSunken Treasures: Diving St. MaryDive Buddy: Master Scuba Diver

VOL . 2 NO. 18 MIDWEST DIVINGHaigh QuarryBy Captain Darrick Lorenzen1310 DIVING FITNESSFit For ScubaBy Jessica B. Adams, Ph.D. andJaime B. Adams, MS13 DESTINATIONSThe Dry TortugasBy Captain Tim Taylor andCaptain Jacquie Morales16 DIVING MEDICINEFlying After Recreational DivingBy Paul J. Sheffield, Ph.D.Richard D. Vann, Ph.D.20 SUNKEN TREASURESDiving the Schooner, St. MaryBy Captain Dale Bennett2022 DIVE BUDDYMaster SCUBA Diver,the “Black Belt” of DivingBy Pat Hammer26 SAFETY STOPRalph EricksonCo-Founder of PADI26Visit us online at:www.midwestscubadiving.com

...the Caribbeanof the Midwest!TM- 12-acre spring fed quarry- Fish and underwater attractions- 8 training platforms- Easy access via beach entryor covered docks (20’ x 40’)- Picnic tables and dressing rooms- Rental gear and tank refillsEDITORIALCaptain Darrick Lorenzen, Publisher & Editorcaptdarrick@midwestscubadiving.comBrian Pautsch, Web Development, Graphic Artbpautsch@midwestscubadiving.comADVISORY COMMITTEEPatrick HammerRecreational Training and EducationCaptain Dale BennettTechnical Training and EducationThomas McDonald, Editorial AssistantElizabeth Wilczynski, ComptrollerRichard Talaga Ph.DDiving PhysicsArgonne National LaboratoryADVERTISING SALES773-732-8972Captain Tim TaylorScientific Research and ExplorationNEWS BRIEFS & FEATURES773-732-8972Jessica Adams M.S.Exercise Physiology and Diving FitnessSUBSCRIPTIONS AND CLASSIFIEDS815-344-7956Captain Darrick LorenzenTravel EditorMidwest Scuba Diving is published quarterly by Maximum Publications 4417 N. Riverdale, Johnsburg, Il., 60050. Copyright 2006 by Maximum Publications. All rights reserved. Subscriptionrate U.S. possessions one year $29.95. All other countries one year $39.95. CONTRIBUTIONS. News, articles, information, and photos are enthusiastically encouraged and should be sentto Captain Darrick Lorenzen 4417 N. Riverdale, Johnsburg, IL, 60050. All submissions become the property of Midwest Scuba Diving. Any material accepted is subject to such revision as isnecessary, in our sole discretion, to meet the requirements of this publication. The act of mailing materials shall constitute an express warranty by the contributor that the material is originaland in no way an infringement on the rights of others. Six weeks notice is required to change a subscriber’s address.NOTICE: Scuba diving is a potentially dangerous activity. Persons engaging in this activity should be certified by a recognized training agency. You should always dive within your trainingand personal limits. Information published in Midwest Scuba Diving is not a substitute for training and Midwest Scuba Diving is not responsible or liable for the contents of any informationor recommendations published herein.Cover photograph and all Dry Tortugas photos provided by Captain Tim Taylor2738 E. 2000 North RdKankakee, IL 60901815.939.7797ehead@keynet.netwww.HaighQuarry.comEventsMay5th - 6thDive with Sea Lions at Mermet SpringsWhat a great way to start the season.Check out your gear and also have amini-adventure without using a vacationday. The Best Western in Metropolis, ILis offering a 10% discount. Contact themat 618.524.3723 and ask for the “MermetSprings Diver Discount”.Phone: 630.289.1680sealions2@aol.comhttp://www.sealions.orgJuly15thJim Haigh Memorial Dive andDiver Appreciation DayEntry fee into quarry is $10 (half offnormal price) and free airfills. There willalso be entertainment, door prizes and araffle. Raffle proceeds will go to the JohnG. Shedd Aquarium.Phone: 815.939.7797dive@haighquarry.comhttp://www.haighquarry.com21st6th Annual Treasure Hunt\Location: Midwest Scuba Dive ShopSt. Charles, MOPhone: 636.255.0707staff@midwestscuba.nethttp://www.midwestscuba.netDo you have an upcoming event youwould like to include in Midwest ScubaDiving Magazine? Send an email toevents@midwestscubadiving.comor call us at 773.732.8972.DUI Dayshttp://www.dui-online.com/2007_rally.aspJune 1st - 3rdGilboa Quarry, Findlay, OH419-456-3300http://www.divegilboa.comJune 9th - 10thHaigh Quarry, Kankakee, IL815-939-7797http://www.haighquarry.comJune 16thIronton Mines, Cuyuna Country MinesLake, Ironton, MNSPRING 2007 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING

COMMENTARYThe publication of the Spring issue marks our one year anniversary.With a lot of help from the diving community, Midwest Scuba DivingMagazine has emerged to become the leading dive publication in theMidwest. Our interactive website remains #1 on Google’s search enginewith over 130,000 hits per month. The success of the magazine andwebsite is due to the cooperation of the diving and travel industriesand the Midwestern divers who participate in the website forums andsubmit ideas, photos and articles for the publication. We are all verypassionate about the sport of diving and all too often it seems as thoughthe diving community is working against itself, instead of workingtogether toward a common goal. Midwest Scuba Diving Magazinestands as an example of what can be accomplished if we think outsidethe box and work together promoting the sport we all love. Five partnershave been significant contributors to making this one year anniversarypossible: Tina Haigh from Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, Illinois, DiversAlert Network, Patrick Hammer of Scuba Emporium in Orland Park,Illinois, Glen and P.J. Faith from Mermet Springs in Vienna, Illinoisand Jim Bram from NAUI. These individuals and organizations had theforesight to see the value in promoting diving to the large Midwestern Captain Darrick with Tina Haigh at Haigh Quarry, Kanakakee, ILmarketplace. The Midwest is affluent, but often ignored by the industry thatseems to centralize attention on the Southeast, Northeast and West Coast. Midwest Scuba Diving Magazine is the only publication that focuses its effort onpromoting scuba diving to divers who live in the Midwest region (if we influence individuals outside the region, all the better!).We are featuring an article in this issue on Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, Illinois. In October 2005, when the Magazine and website were just an idea and notmuch more; I approached Tina Haigh with a very rudimentary media kit and a heartfelt request for financial support. Tina understood the necessity and valueof promoting diving in the region and became the first advertiser. I had an opportunity to interview Tina in March 2007 and she told me stories of how localdive shops and divers came out to support the development of Haigh Quarry, which is now one of the premier training locations in the Midwest. “By workingtogether we were able to create something to be enjoyed by everyone”, Tina said.I approached Patrick Hammer in the Fall of 2005 by sending him an email with a media kit attached. Patrick was immediately onboard. “I am glad you aredoing this”, was his reply. He gave me a credit card number over the phone even though I had never met him. Patrick, as everyone knows, is most likely thebiggest supporter of diving in the Midwest. He is the producer of Our World-Underwater, which is one of the largest dive industry expositions in the U.S., and amember of our advisory committee.I contacted Christine McTaggert, Marketing Director for Divers Alert Network, by telephone, in the Fall of 2005. Christine was very helpful and cheery, whichwas refreshing after I had dealt with numerous rejections. Out of everyone I originally dealt with, Christine was by far the most supportive and helpful. Sheprovided me with numerous contacts within the DAN organization, had great suggestions (actually told me a lot about the magazine business which I didn’tknow), and secured financial support. I heard from Greg Holt at Scuba Radio that DAN is always ready to support innovative ideas, and helped him when hestarted Scuba Radio.Jim Bram from NAUI was contacted in January 2006. I presented an idea about cross marketing Midwest Scuba Diving Magazine and NAUI. Jim wasimmediately onboard. Since that initial support NAUI has entered into a cooperative program with Midwest Scuba Diving Magazine to help reduce the cost ofprint and web based advertisement to dive shops that promote NAUI training. Midwest Scuba Diving and NAUI absorb a large portion of the advertising costin the interest of providing an affordable format for dive centers to advertise instruction, services, and equipment. NAUI was also one of the original supportersof Greg Holt at Scuba Radio. Information about the Co-op Program can be obtained on our website.I contacted Glen and P.J. Faith, from Mermet Springs in Vienna, Illinois in Spring of 2006. Glen immediately offered financial support, but was so proud of hisfacility that he needed me to travel to the Springs and dive with his staff, so I could understand the experience he was providing to Midwestern divers. Glen andP.J. demonstrated “southern hospitality” putting me up at their home, treating me to dinner, and guiding me on some memorable dives. I was so impressed, wepublished an article featuring Mermet Springs in the Fall 2006 issue.With the help of the above organizations, individuals and many others, we have successfully completed our first year. The quality of “your” publication, “your”website and the support of our partners will not be compromised. Thank you and dive safely!Snapshot: Captain Darrick Lorenzen Career Highlights: Captain Darrick Lorenzen has over 30 years experience as a recreational and commercial diver. He is agraduate of Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in Underwater Technology. He was an instructor to commercial oilfielddivers in saturation; mixed gas and bell bounce techniques. Captain Darrick is a United States Merchant Marine Officer andwas awarded the U.S. Public Service Commendation for personal courage and selfless initiative.Captain Darrick’s deepest dive was a 10-day saturation to 550-feet with a team of 6 divers. The mission focused on the repairof a severed 8-inch gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico.Captain Darrick is passionate about deep wreck diving, photography and the Great Lakes.www.SmallHope.comDiving the Andros Barrier Reef Since 1960 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007 SPRING 2007 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING

Haigh Quarry can be found nestled betweencornfields on the rich farmland of NorthCentral Illinois. The owner, Tina Haigh,fondly refers to the facility as the “Caribbeanof the Midwest”, a seemingly odd moniker fora body of water that freezes over in the coldwinter months. Tina explains that she wantedto promote an “island theme” to remind diversfrequenting her facility that tropical adventuretravel awaits all divers who completecertification, training dives or excursions atthe Quarry. Jimmy Buffet and Bob Marley areoften played over the public address system.Palm trees, flamingos and tiki huts are situatedwithin the park like setting. Haigh Quarryis located approximately 50 miles south ofChicago, Illinois close to exit 315 on Interstate57 in Kankakee, Illinois. It is a pleasant onehourdrive from downtown Chicago.Medusa Aggregate mined limestone at thelocation until 1972. Rock from the Quarry wasused for the construction of Interstate 57, whichruns just east of the facility. Jim and Tina Haighpurchased the abandoned real estate at auctionin 1978. It was used by the Haigh’s as a “centerof operations” for a tree service they owned.The surrounding woods were also used by thefamily for picnicking and “get togethers”. AtHAIGH QUARRYthe “Caribbean of the Midwest”By Captain Darrick Lorenzensome parties, 200 people were in attendance.In the 1980’s, the Haigh’s decided to build ahouse on the property. Fill was hauled in. Jim,who was a heavy equipment operator, clearedand contoured the grounds. Haigh Quarry isthe 2nd highest point in Kankakee County.Runoff flows away from the pond maintainingexcellent visibility. The house was completedin 1985. The Quarry wasn’t filled with wateruntil the pumps, left by Medusa Aggregate,were unplugged. Artesian springs filled the12-acre facility for over 3 years. Jim Haighwas an avid fisherman. At one time the Quarrywas stocked with trout. Fish and wildlife weremanaged by trial and error with help and advisefrom friends such as Keith Pamper from theJohn G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Bookson aquaculture were obtained from the IllinoisDepartment of Conservation. Many species offish were purchased and added to the marineenvironment. Some of the abandoned miningequipment at the North end of the Quarrymade excellent fish habitats. A very healthypond resulted from “tender loving care”.In 1991, the Haigh’s were introduced to DougGossage from Goose’s Scuba in Dyer, Indiana.Gossage was able to convince the Haigh’s thatthe facility was perfect for dive training andhe was granted exclusive rights to use thefacility for 2 years. At that time, the Haigh’swere not at all familiar with sport diving. In1993, the arrangement was changed to includeuse by Kent Mann of Mann Overboard Scubaand Aquatics Center in Ottawa, Illinois, JeffFafoglia from Adventure Dive and Travel inSpringfield, Illinois, and Pat Hammer ownerof Scuba Emporium in Orland Park, Illinois.The original training platforms were set bya crew from Adventure Dive and Travel. In1995 the Quarry was opened to the generalpublic. The local dive community was at firstskeptical. Jim handled the physical end ofthe facility and Tina handled the people. Tinareceived contact information about Midwestdive shops from the local library and invitedthem to the Quarry. Tina collected the entrancefees and filled out the waivers on a glass patiotable. Haigh Quarry became popular and thesteel building was added in 1997. By 1999 anair compressor system was added along with aclassroom and registration area. The Haigh’sresearched trends and wanted to meet the needsof the diving community; as a result, Nitroxcapability was added in 2000. Rick Riesen,who had experience with gas systems in theNavy, installed the compressor systems. Inthat year, Fox Lake Marina donated a signatureattraction to the Quarry, the Flamingo, a 33-foot steel hulled cabin cruiser. The boat wassunk but it landed upside down in the Southend of the Quarry. Hank and a crew fromLake County Divers righted the wreck. TheHaigh’s decided to add other attractions witha military theme to be different from “everyother quarry” with a sunken school bus. Themilitary dump truck was found locally in2001, the vehicle was cleaned and the motorremoved. The motor was donated to a localfarmer for use as power source for a pump.The truck was sunk in the Southeast region.A, LARC, Light Amphibious Resupply Craft,was later added as an attraction. It was obtainedfrom a military museum in Wisconsin and wasalso sunk in the Southeast region. The originaltraining platform in the Deep Hole at 85 feetwas replaced by a wooden structure fashionedfrom a trampoline. It was designed and setby Brad Knopp from Midwest Divers inChampaign, Illinois. Mike Cooney from ProDive Shop in Decatur, Illinois had the idea ofplacing a PVC ladder extending from the deepplatform to the surface so deep diving andstaged decompression could be taught.Local divers and dive shops cameout to support the developmentof Haigh Quarry, which is nowone of the premier traininglocations in the Midwest. “Byworking together we wereable to create something to beenjoyed by everyone”, Tinasaid. On October 2nd 2001,Jim Haigh was killed in a tragicautomobile accident. Therewas an outpouring of helpand support from the divingcommunity. Divers have sincebeen considered by Tina Haighto be an extended family. Eachyear the Jim Haigh MemorialDive is held at the facility in July.It is a fabulous party sponsoredfor Midwestern divers whosupport the Quarry. Proceedsfrom raffles and donations aredistributed to organizations thatsupport divers in the Midwestsuch as the John G. Shedd Aquarium andDivers Alert Network. Tina now runs thefacility with her two sons Jim and Ben. Otherfriends play a very big part at the Quarry. DickHecht, a retired construction superintendent,who started diving with a local dive shopin 2001, is now responsible for the physicalaspects of the Quarry. Hecht has an interest intechnical diving and is Cavern certified. He is afixture at Haigh Quarry and is indispensable.Haigh Quarry is a facility where you canhave a lot of fun training and exploring. It isa comfortable park like setting that is run byfamily and friends who are passionate aboutdiving. It is the people, not just the Quarry, thatmake the experience enjoyable. Haigh Quarryis one of the best locations for divers in theMidwest. It stands asan example of what canbe accomplished whenthe diving communityworks together towarda common goal. Formore informationabout Haigh Quarry,a c c o m m o d a t i o n s ,restaurants and otherattractions that can befound in KankakeeCounty, log on tohaighquarry.com andvisitkankakeecounty.com.CD’s7Pool & ScubaWe offer basic training throughadvanced certifications and arethe best full service dive shop inNorthern Indiana. We have greatprices on all gear.Call today for our specials!Phone: 574-295-730023672 Old US 20Elkhart, IN 46516 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007 SPRING 2007 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING

Simple Principles to be More“Fit for SCUBA” and LifeBy Jessica B. Adams, Ph.D. and Jaime B. Adams, MSmore energy for the dive itself.The first step is to put your eyes toward theceiling, put your arms out in front of you forbalance, and stand up from your chair withoutusing your hands. Sit back down; now try itagain without using momentum to get up fromyour seat. See how many times you can standfrom a seated position in one minute. Try thisevery day. You are moving, hence burningkilocalories. You are also building the musclesused to get out of a chair.Once you are comfortable with this movement,DIVING FITNESSstart standing with your feet shoulder widthapart and try to sit back just touching the chair,but not sitting all the way down. Still be sureto keep your arms out for balance and eyeslooking at the ceiling. Make sure that yourweight is pressed through your heels.When you have mastered this task, practicefor a few days or weeks without the chair.Once this becomes too simple a task, addsmall dumbbells, soup cans usually work justas well in the beginning. Oh, by the way, youare now doing a squat.Snapshot:Jessica and Jaime AdamsWe are bombarded with information and,unfortunately, some misinformation aboutdiet and exercise. Weight loss and fitnessis discussed everywhere from Oprah to thecheckout line at the grocery store and late nightinfomercials. The supplement industry aloneis a multi billion-dollar industry thriving onfads and “quick fixes”. First came 10-minuteabs, then 5-minute abs, then 3-minute abs, andsoon a magic pill. The fact of the matter is thatmost of us have to put forth more precioustime and effort than advertised.Many popular products express the need tochange diet and exercise habits, which isabsolutely true. The effectiveness of mostprograms depends on how much time andenergy you, the consumer, are willing andable to invest. Almost any gadget or dietwill work to some degree if you adhere to afew basic principles of wellness. You canapply this fundamental knowledge of humanphysiology to improve your personal fitness,and increase your quality of life. Fitness is alifestyle change.1: Calories In vs. Calories OutMyth: Calories are bad. Quite the contrary,calories are the fuel for the human body. Justlike most cars cannot run without gasoline,our bodies cannot function without calories.However, unlike a car we store our extracalories as fat to be used later in times offamine.It is a simple fact that a single pound of fatcontains 3500 kilocalories (aka…dreadedCalories). Therefore, for every 3500-kilocaloriedeficit you will lose one pound. This deficitcan occur by cutting kilocalories out of yourdiet, burning them off by exercising, or betteryet a combination of both.If you cut a measly 140 kilocalories (a singlebottle of soda) out of each day and don’tchange any other habits, you can lose onepound every 25 days.You burn at least 100 kilocalories (more forheavier individuals) for every mile that youwalk, jog or run. Yes, you read correctly itdoesn’t matter what speed however the sloweryou travel, the longer it will take. Therefore, ifyou walk a single mile each day you can losea pound every 35 days.Add it up, if you cut out that soda and walk amile each day you will lose a pound every twoweeks. Not too shabby. The more you moveyour body, the more calories you will burn.One to two pounds of weight loss per weekis a realistic goal depending on your initialweight. Weight loss in excess of two poundsper week can typically be attributed to a drasticreduction in kilocalories or dehydration, bothof which have the potential to yield unwantedlong term results.2: Muscle is MetabolicOur body hasn’t evolved quite as fast as ourtechnological environment. Physiologicallyour systems still believe us to be huntersand gatherers. This, my fellow diver, is whywe store fat so readily. We store up in timesof plenty for the inevitable times of few.However, in today’s society those times of fewnever quite seem to happen upon us.Fat is an extremely efficient storagemechanism. We can store 3500 kilocalorieswhile expending virtually no energy. Fat isa non-metabolic tissue. Conversely, muscleis an extremely metabolic tissue (i.e. Musclerequire many calories to exist). Therefore,unless we need muscles, our body is reluctantto make muscles. If our bodies make muscles,we have to expend more energy to sustainthem. In our bodies energy = kilocalories.Muscle is a metabolic tissue. The more muscleyou have, the higher your metabolism. Thehigher your metabolism, the more calories youburn throughout the day regardless of activity.If you increase your muscle mass, you evenburn more calories when you are sleeping.3: Building MuscleSimply pick up some weight, put it down, andpick it up again….then repeat. It is importantto start with light weights and then graduallyprogress to heavier weights as your bodyallows. Start with simple exercises and thenmove on to more challenging versions. The keyis to remember that this is not a day, or a week,or a year, but rather a lifetime commitment toyou.Muscles will help burn calories and makepreparation for your dive easier. A key exampleis the squat. We use the same motion to standup with full gear, as we use in the squat.Therefore, many of the same muscles areused. If you develop the muscles commonlyused in preparation for a dive, you will haveINTERNATIONALDIVE MAGAZINEwww.xray-mag.comTHE FIRST & ONLY MULTI-NATIONAL DIVE MAGAZINE — WORLDWIDE SINCE 2004Read by divers in over 80 countries and produced by dive editors on four continentsX-RAY MAG truly spans the globe, bringing you dive news from Siberia to Patagonia.Dive Travel ▪ News ▪ Equipment ▪ ProfilesScience ▪ Dive Med ▪ Books ▪ AdventureUnderwater Photography ▪ ConservationMarine Ecology ▪ Tech ▪ Wrecks & more!X-RAY MAG is a full-format eco-friendlybi-monthly digital magazine distributedvia the Internet to your email box in pdfformat — printing is optional, saving treesJessica and Jaime Adams are a husbandand wife scuba fitness team.Together, they co-authored “Fit forSCUBA”. Both are scuba instructorsand personal trainers. Jessicais currently an assistant professor inthe physical education department atKean University in Union, NJ. Jaimeis a health and physical educationteacher at Brick High School inBrick, NJ.www.xray-mag.com10 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007SPRING 2007 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 11

NEWFreeport,Grand BahamaDeparture$879 per weekPlay... Explore... Learn...$879 per weekTwice the Fun... Half the Cost!Pirate’s Lady, Sea Explorer, and Morning Starleave from Freeport, Grand Bahama, sailingthe crystal waters of the Bahamas onweekly dive cruise adventures.102 Feet of liveaboard luxury... leaving weekly fromNassau to the unspoiled reefs and islands of theExumas. Diving, snorkeling, sea-kayaking,fishing, birding, beaching...Live a dream on your own yacht.PADI CertificationNitrox CertificationRescue Diver CertifictionNight DivingWreck DivingCavern and Cave InstructionSearch & RecoveryDry Suit & MOREMost of our training is doneat the Mermet Springsunderwater training facilityPoplar Bluff, MissouriContact Ed Pavey573-778-DIVETHE DRY TORTUGASSecret ReefsBy Captain Tim Taylor andCaptain Jacquie Morales1-800-327-9600www.blackbeard-cruises.com • sales@blackbeard-cruises.com1-800-327-9600www.aquacatcruises.com • sales@aquacatcruises.comLooking through dive web sites, magazines,and travel guides, you will be hard pressed tofind detailed information on the Dry Tortugas.Why? Maybe because the abundant marinelife found here, unlike a string of multi-milliondollar hotels, do not have an advertising budget.Whatever the reason, this largest and healthiestreef system in the Caribbean has been largelyoverlooked. Between 65 and 85 miles west ofKey West, Florida, this underwater paradise iswaiting to be explored.Two ferry services run daily trips to theTortugas National Park, allowing people tovisit one of its islands called Garden Key andthe Civil War era Fort Jefferson. This amazingbrick structure, the largest in this hemisphere,is worth the day trip. Here you can walk theparade grounds, explore the historic CivilWar fort by climbing the battlements, and seethe abundance of avian life, including brownnoddies, sooty terns, and magnificent frigatebirds. The ferries however do not supportany diving activity and, truth be told, 99% ofthe park is underwater. If you want to see themajority of the park you have to take a liveaboarddive trip. This will give you the timeto see all the attractions above and below thisocean wilderness.Often these islands have been called “theGalapagos of North America”. The wildlife isamazing. Depending on the time of year, youcan find sharks mating, bird rookeries or coralspawning, goliath groupers, loggerheadturtles, and even a resident salt-watercrocodile. But the true jewels of theDry Tortugas are the reefs themselves.Considered the healthiest reefs in theCaribbean, these reefs are the exceptionto what is happening to coral reefsaround the world. Today more andmore of our coral reefs are succumbingto pollution, over-fishing, and globalwarming. All over the world coralsmay be living their last days on Earth.According to the Nature Conservancy,“Coral reefs are currently one of themost endangered ecosystems on theplanet. If the present rate of destructioncontinues, 70 percent of the world’s coral reefswill be killed within our lifetimes”.So what makes the reefs of the Dry Tortugasdifferent? One important factor is that as partof the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary(FKNMS) and the Tortugas EcologicalReserve, the area is somewhat better protectedthan others. Its pristine waters are fed by theloop current, which comes north out betweenMexico and Cuba and runs almost to the shoresof Louisiana and then back down to join theGulf Stream, continuously supplying the DryTortugas with clean, clear and warm water.Being located a considerable number of milesaway from the Florida coast means the marineecosystem has been less impacted by man.Sometimes being out of the “mainstream” istruly a benefit!One of the highlights of the Dry Tortugas divingexperience is exploring the Sherwood Forestreef tract. Since its inclusion in the marinereserve, Sherwood Forest continues to astounddivers and scientists alike with its beautifullycolored bottom full of nooks and crannies. Aunique and ancient reef where coral growsto 130 ft depth into an amazing canopy ofmushroom-like formations, providing shelterfor fish and marine life. The reef, estimated tobe over 9,000 years old and the only one of itskind in this hemisphere, remains an importantspawning site for aggregating species.SPRING 2007 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 13

SUNKEN TREASURESSherwood ForestIn the early 1990’s Captain Tim Taylor firstdiscovered, explored and named SherwoodForest Reef. In late August of 1997, whileTim was hosting a group of scientists aboardhis Research Vessel Tiburon, the site wasdiscussed and at Tim’s suggestion, they visitedthe reef. Although not a part of their originalreconnaissance survey of the Dry TortugasNational Park, the group made two additionaltrips to Sherwood Forest; a testimony to itsuniqueness. As a direct result of this expedition,Sherwood Forest became the poster child forscientists to rally support from the state ofFlorida and numerous other national groupsto establish the Tortugas Ecological Reserve.Loggerhead Key - the secondlargest island in the Tortugaschain. With its functioninglighthouse, this beautiful andremote place is home to the 200-foot Dutch shipwreck “Killian”sunk in 1907 and now restingin 0 to 18 feet of water. Don’tlet the shallow depth fool you;this wreck hosts an amazingvariety of coral formations. Ifyou want to see healthy, thrivinggorgonians and brain corals ofall shapes and sizes, this is thedive for you! You will encountersome of the biggest porcupinefish, groupers, and lobsters youwill ever have the pleasure ofdiving with. For some, spendingtime ashore on LoggerheadKey exploring the ruins of thehistorical Carnegie Instituteresearch center, or snorkeling thedelightful coral reef aptly namedLittle Africa ( after its shape asseen from the light house above),is the perfect afternoon shallowwater experience. It is a place where youmay encounter a resident school of enormoustarpons as they silently glide past or, if youprefer, follow the spotted eagle rays, oftenseen here feeding in the sand. At the veryleast, you certainly won’t be able to miss thelarge and feisty red-lipped blennies that liveall over this reef.If seeing sharks and turtles are more to yourtaste, the Dry Tortugas can accommodateyou there as well. There are opportunities tosafely dive with large pelagic animals suchas sea turtles, dolphins and sharks, oncein-a-lifetimefor most recreational divers.Here you will experience a different type ofdiving encounter with wild, untamed sharksthat aggregate to feed off the fishermen’s bycatch.The locations have become attractive toseveral different species. It is not uncommonto see adult lemons, Caribbean reef, sandbar,hammerheads, black tips and, of course, nursesharks. Also attracted in great numbers areturtles, goliath groupers, all kinds of pelagicfish (permits, tuna, etc.) and, sometimes,dolphins as well. These are truly large animaldives designed for photographers.The Tortugas banks are so big and coral headsso numerous several days are needed just toget a glimpse of all there is to see, with dozensof fantastic dive sites far too numerous toname here. At 150 square nautical miles theEcological Reserve has a lot of still unexploredterritory. Who can say what future discoverieswill be made there. In May of 2006, two coralspecies in Florida and the Caribbean, Elkhorn(Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (Acroporacervicornis), were the first corals placedon the Federal Threatened List because ofdangers posed by human activity, hurricanes,and increased water temperatures observedacross the oceans. We are lucky to still havea remarkable resource in the Dry Tortugaswhich may provide us with knowledge on howto better protect and preserve the rest of ourcorals reefs.For more information about diving in the DryTortugas please go to www.rvtiburon.comor to find out how you can help visit www.oceanoutreach.org.Coral reefs are like volcanoes and tropical rainforests combined, in that they build land massas well as capture and store the extra carbondioxide that contributes to global climateissues. In effect our reefs and rain forests areRV TiburonCO2 storage units. Since our atmosphere is made up of 20.7%oxygen and 79% nitrogen just a small amount of excess carbondioxide can contribute to a major climatic change. Healthyreefs are important!Snapshot:Capt. Tim Taylor and Capt. Jacquie MoralesCaptain Tim Taylor is an accomplished naturalistand explorer. He is President and CEO of theresearch vessel Tiburon based in Key West Florida.Captain Tim has guided world famous researchersand explorers on many expeditions over the last 25years. In recognition of his achievements CaptainTim was accepted as a Fellow in the prestigiousExplorers Club.Captain Jacquie Morales joined the crew of theTiburon at Ocean Outreach in December 2001.Captain Jacquie brings to the team her extensivemedical experience, culinary skills and linguisticfluency in Spanish and French.Sherwood Forest CoralIn addition to Sherwood Forrest, divers canexplore the 40-foot coral mountain calledDante’s Pinnacles or swim through the BatCaves, a series of cavities you can drive a Jeepthrough. Always popular with divers of allages, the site was actually named after BrookeA. Taylor, who often accompanies her dadaboard the Research Vessel Tiburon, whileexploring these reefs. Enhancing this dive siteexperience is one extremely friendly goliathgrouper, who calls the Bat Caves home. Heoften greets divers by coming up very closeand following them around, even hanging outwith them on their way up the down line.Another fantastic Tortugas experience is

DIVING MEDICINEIn 2002 a strong group of Diving specialists,representing PADI, NAUI, The US Government(Army and Navy), various Diving Magazines,and DAN were present at the Flying afterDiving Workshop.Many years of experimental trials at the Centerfor Hyperbaric Medicine and EnvironmentalPhysiology at Duke Medical Center wereinitially supported by the ProfessionalAssociation of Diving Instructors (PADI)and subsequently by Divers Alert Network(DAN). Many dedicated professionals werecritical to the value of the trials, with over500 volunteer divers who knew that some ofthem would develop decompression sicknessbut participated anyway for the benefit of alldivers, and more than 35 physicians and staffof DAN and the Hyperbaric Center.The content of the complete Workshop,including all of the discussions, was publishedin 2004, and have been available from DANsince that time. We are pleased to tell you thatDAN has not only allowed us to reprint hereone of the presentations from the Workshop,you can also obtain the complete publicationfrom our website (128pp) at no charge!Following John Freiberger’s presentation arethe consensus guidelines that were publishedin Alert Diver November/December 2002issue.FLYING AFTER MULTIDAYREPETITIVE RECREATIONAL DIVINGFLYING AFTERRECREATIONAL DIVINGJohn J. Freiberger, M.D., M.P.H.Divers Alert Network6 West Colony PlaceDurham, NC 27705Preflight Surface Interval (PFSI)Decompression sickness (DCS) as a result offlying after diving was first reported in1961.Subsequently, there have been reports ofinjury and even death in both the popularpress and medical literature. Although theAmerican Medical Association Council onScientific Affairs raised the topic of altitudeinducedDCS in its report on medical oxygenand air travel, a recently published textbook ofclinical aviation medicine failed to commenton the subject, and only brief discussions ofthe topic can be found in most diving medicinetexts. However, DCS resulting from flyingafter diving does occur, and information onhow and why it happens is of great importanceto the diving community.Richard D. Vann and P. J. Denoble showed thatdivers who flew with symptoms associatedwith DCS II generally experienced incompleterelief after a single recompression. Outsideof this work, most of what is known aboutthe risk of flying after diving comes fromlaboratory studies. Experimental DCS fromflying after diving has been demonstratedin animals and humans, but the literature issparse. A 1989 review found 208 DCS casesout of 721 exposures. Furthermore, whenaltitudes greater than 2,438 m (8,000 feet) wereremoved from consideration, only 17 DCScases in 77 exposures remained for analysis.Paul J. Sheffield, Ph.D., ChairmanRichard D. Vann, Ph.D., EditorDivers Alert Network (DAN)Finally, chamber studies are distinct fromfield conditions where divers exercise, areimmersed, and may dive for many consecutivedays.In 1987, Divers Alert Network (DAN) begancollecting information on recreational diverswho were treated for decompression injury.In 1997, DAN began a prospective study ofDCS, Project Dive Exploration (PDE) thatcatalogues medical, demographic and diveoutcome data on divers as well as their depthtimeprofiles recorded by dive computers.With 11 years of injury data and three years ofPDE data in hand, case-control comparisonsof safe PDE dives with dives that resulted indecompression injury have become possible.We also examined the injury data for a possibleeffect of flying on estimates of DCS severity.Specifically, we addressed the followingquestions in the DAN injury and PDE data:(a) Does the pre-flight surface interval (PFSI)influence the DCS risk in divers who fly aftermulti-day, open water recreational diving?(b) Does flying after diving influence theseverity of DCS?The relative risk of DCS in flying after divingWe conducted a case-control study of flyingafter diving that compared dives resulting ininjury to uneventful dives. Our goal was toestimate how the length of the PFSI and otherfactors affected the relative odds of developingDCS during or after flight. A complete reportof this study has been published.In a case-control study, the investigator findsboth cases and controls and compares thedistribution of suspected predictor variables(like PFSI) between the two groups. This is anefficient technique for rare diseases becausethe investigator can use as many cases as hecan find that meet the selection criteria. Thedrawback is that the incidence of the disease,the absolute risk, cannot be determined becausethe investigator does not have completeinformation about the entire population at risk.However, a case-control study can determineif a particular predictor variable that theinvestigator suspects might be important (likeshort PFSIs) is over-represented in cases ascompared with controls.For data collected from 1987-1999 thatinvolved flying after diving, 382 divers withDCS were found in the injuries, while 245 safecontrol divers were found in PDE. The caseshad been classified as DCS I or DCS II, notarterial gas embolism (AGE), but as they camefrom a retrospective review of DAN injuryreports, we were unable to independentlyverify the diagnosis of DCS. Any patient whoreceived recompression therapy for DCS inour sample was considered to have had DCS,and all cases of DCS were treated as equal inseverity. All dives were on air, and the diverswere exposed to air travel, not mountaintravel, although the actual cabin altitude wasunknown. Some divers may have developedsymptoms from diving alone, but we assumedthat the PFSIs of these non-flying related caseswould be normally distributed and not affectthe overall relationship of PFSI to DCS.Figure 1 shows the results of comparing thelength of the PFSIs in the injury cases to thelength of the PFSIs in the uninjured controls.We used logistic regression to model the dataand controlled for age, gender, height andweight. We also controlled for the maximumdepth of the dive series, the maximum depthof the last dive, the number of dives and thenumber of days in the dive series.As in the chamber study, we found a significantpredictive relationship between the length ofthe PFSI and the relative odds of DCS. ShorterPFSIs had a higher risk of DCS.There was a similar relationship for the deepestdive on the last day of diving. Deeper diveson the last day had an increased risk of DCScompared to shallower dives. Age, height,weight and gender were not predictive. Usingthe curves in Fig. 1, the relative odds of DCSbetween different PFSIs and different depthscan be estimated. These data suggest that theodds increase most abruptly between 12 and15 hours and that the depth of the last dive orlast few dives is important to the risk.The effect of flying after diving on DCSseverityThe next issue we examined was the effect offlying on DCS severity. We compared threegroups of divers from the injury data:(a) Divers who developed symptomsbefore they flew and proceeded to fly withsymptoms;(b) Divers who developed symptoms onlyafter flying(c) All of the other divers with symptoms.Because some divers in the “all other group”probably did fly but were not recorded as flying,the results are biased toward the null, meaningthat any demonstrable effect is probablystronger than indicated in the analysis.As there is no accepted measure of DCSseverity, we used several proxies for severity:(a) Perceived symptom severity(b) The number of treatments given(c) The presence or absence of residualsymptoms after the first treatment and atdischarge.We ordered the cases according to ourperceived order of symptom severity from mostsevere to least severe: serious neurological;cardiovascular; mild neurological; pain,lymphatic / skin; and constitutional. We wereunable to show any difference in perceivedsymptom severity between divers who didnot fly, who flew with symptoms, or whodeveloped symptoms during or after flight.When the number oftreatments receivedby injured diverswas examined, therewas a suggestion ofan increase in thenumber of treatmentsfor the two flyinggroups, but not at astatistically significantlevel. However, theflying groups had asignificantly higherprobability of posttreatmentresidualsymptoms (Table1), although themagnitude of the effectwas small and may notbe clinically relevant.We provide our clients with the Ultimate inservice, quality, and value. We personallyinspect every resort property and dive operationin all 22 countries that we represent. Weare committed to providing our clients with anhonest, first-hand description of any locationof interest. We are the only dive-dedicatedtravel wholesaler in the Midwest. Let ourteam go overboard to provide you with the...ULTIMATE DIVE VACATION!Popular destinations include:Caribbean Central & South AmericaMicronesia South/Southeast AsiaSouth Pacific Australia1-800-737-DIVE (3483)www.ultimatedivetravel.comudive@ultimatedivetravel.com1814 Harcourt Dr., Woodridge, IL 60517ConclusionsWe conclude that:(a) There is increased relative risk of DCS forshorter PFSIs and for deeper dives on the lastFigure 1. The relationship of PFSIto the relative odds of DCS.16 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007 SPRING 2007 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 17

DIVING MEDICINEday of diving.(b) The risk of residual symptoms aftertreatment is moderately increased for diverswho fly with symptoms or who developsymptoms during or after flying.(c) There is a suggestion that divers who flywith symptoms or who develop symptomsduring or after flying require more treatmentsthan do divers who do not fly.Symptoms Before FlightSymptoms After FlightAll Other DiversAfter 1st Treatment61%66%56%At Discharge49%46%32%Table 1.Residual symptoms after the first treatment and at discharge after all treatments.Go Online! Public & Private Manatee Safaris,Eco Tours, Sunset Cruises & More!You choose the activity and we takecare of the arrangements2002 Consensus Guidelines for Flying AfterRecreational DivingThe following guidelines are the consensusof attendees at the 2002 Flying After DivingWorkshop. They apply to air dives followedby flights at cabin altitudes of 2,000 to 8,000feet (610 to 2,438 meters) for divers who donot have symptoms of decompression sickness(DCS). The recommended preflight surfaceintervals do not guarantee avoidance of DCS.Longer surface intervals will reduce DCS riskfurther.For a single no-decompression dive, aminimum preflight surface interval of 12 hoursis suggested. For multiple dives per day ormultiple days of diving, a minimum preflightsurface interval of 18 hours is suggested.For dives requiring decompression stops,there is little evidence on which to base arecommendation, and a preflight surfaceinterval substantially longer than 18 hoursappears prudent.This article is a small subset of the original 128 page study published by Paul J.Sheffield, Ph.D., Richard D. Vann, Ph.D. and Divers Alert Network. The publishedworkshop contains sections which discuss “U.S. Navy Procedures for Ascent toAltitude After Diving”, “Trials of Flying at 25,000 feet After Diving”, “NASA FlyingAfter Diving Procedures”, and “Flying After Diving within the No-DecompressionLimits”, to name a few. Download the entire workshop at:http://www.midwestscubadiving.com/DAN_Flying_After_Diving.pdfFun 2 Dive SCUBAMANATEE SNORKELING TOURSSmall ClassesFull Day Tours2 Charter BoatsScuba TrainingRebreather TrainingReferral Diver TrainingLocations throughout Florida!Visit us on the web: www.fun2dive.com1-888-588-DIVE3 - 4 - 8 - 3w w w . n a t i v e v a c a t i o n s . c o m15% OFFNewEquipmentPurchaseover $100With SAVE coupon only.Expires 063006.SHERWOOD & TUSA SALE!All in-stock Sherwood and Tusa dive gear is 30% OFF whilesupplied last! That means Regulators starting at $224.00,BCs starting at $262.50, Dive Computers starting at $315and Masks starting at $45.50!ALL 30% OFF while supplies last!UPCOMING CLASSESBasic Scuba: Classes start every other weekend.Local Open: Water training starts end of May!Advanced: Do your class now, do your dives locally or on a trip.Nitrox: Classes every 1st Saturday of month from 8am to 2pm, orMonday & Wednesday evening at the end of the month.Rescue: Completed in one weekend!Solo Diver: Classroom, Pool & Open Water.Master Diver: Prerequisite-Advanced Diver or concurrently withAdvanced Diver. Ship Wreck Survey & Penetration.Upcoming Trips 2007* Bahamas Liveaboard* Cozumel* Florida Keys* Cayman BracPrivate Rental Home AvailableCrystal River, FloridaSpecializing in Sales, Service, Trips & InstructionOpen Water Classes start every six weeks.PADI Specialty Classes start weeklyIn-house service on Full-Face AGA Masks andmost manufacturers – Fast turnaroundVisit or Call DJ’s for in-store package specialsPublic Safety Divers – Call for select pricing onequipment, classes & service. Ask about ourPublic Safety Maintenance ProgramLooking to lose a few pounds???Ask about our special weight loss program!For monthly specials, trip & store information,visit us on the web at www.djscuba.comTower Plaza7840 Ogden Ave #9Lyons, IL 60534708-442-438818 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007The Illinois Institute of Diving438 Roosevelt Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL1-800-HOW-TO-DIVE - 630-469-3483www.800howdive.com - diving@800howdive.com

WindlassDiving the Schooner,St. MaryBy Captain Dale BennettIt is early spring and the ice just recently meltedaway on Lake Michigan. The wind carries thechill of the lake as it blows across the deck. Weare glad to be huddled in the heated cabin ofthe Enterprise as we head out from our harborin Waukegan, Illinois. A Southeast headingcarries us toward the final resting place ofthe schooner, St. Mary. My partner, DaveManchester, is at the helm today. As he pilotsthe boat, I give our six charter passengers thepre-dive briefing. The divers are from Indianaand are all advanced certified with someexperience diving in the Great Lakes. Noneof the passengers has been on the St. Marybefore. I give them an orientation on our boatprocedures and then a short introduction to thehistory of this shipwreck.St. Mary foundered in the same storm thatcaused the demise of Lady Elgin. Lady Elginwas a side-wheeled steamer that sunk aftera collision with the schooner, Augusta onSeptember 7th, 1860. Lady Elgin broke upand a great deal of wreckage and many bodiesreached the shores of the lake. St. Mary wentdown on the same night, but sank relativelyintact. What small amount of flotsam wasreleased was mistaken initially for debrisfrom the wreck of Lady Elgin. In fact, it wasnot until St. Mary was substantially overduethat she was reported missing. Her loss wasconfirmed when one of the bodies originallythought to be from Lady Elgin was identifiedas one of St. Mary’s crew. Two weeks laterher lifeboat was found washed up at Chicago.The schooner was constructed at Perrysburg,Ohio in 1848 by Purvis & Jennison for theowners F.F. Hollister and J. Hollister to becaptained by Charles G. Keeler. She waslisted as a two-masted schooner, 114 feet longwith a beam of 25 feet and a tonnage of 253t.She was a vessel typical of the multitude ofschooners that Great Lakes commerce reliedupon at the time.The year 1860 was not the first time St. Maryhad a major accident. In December of 1854 shewas carrying railroad iron out of Buffalo, NewYork for the Galena and Fox River Valley RailRoads when she was driven aground on thenorthern shore of Lake Erie. She was trappedin the ice on the Canadian side all winter. Twoof her crew died when they fell through theice in an attempt to go ashore for supplies.Provisions were eventually obtained, and inthe spring, she was able to get free and makeher way into port for repairs.At the time of her demise, St. Mary was carryinga crew of seven. All perished. Among themwere two captains, Thomas Brown and JohnBennett. There was also an African Americancook. It was not unusual during this periodin our history to find freed or runaway slavesworking on the ships of the Great Lakes.The schooner, St. Mary now lies in 105 feetof water, 14 miles South East of Waukegan,about seven miles offshore of Glencoe. Shesank without breaking up, but through theravages of time and the forces of nature, shehas collapsed upon herself but remains intact.Some sources list the cargo on the last voyageas pig iron. At least one says that she wascarrying lumber from Green Bay to Chicago.Other accounts I have heard said that shecarried pig iron for ballast. In any case, wehave not found any pig iron on the wreck.This is the first time we have visited thisshipwreck this year. Normally, we would havea permanent mooring to tie up to. Not only isthis more convenient (and less strenuous tothe crew) than anchoring, but it causes lessdamage to the wreck. We know, however,that at the end of last season the mooringline was lost and it will need to be replaced.So, while Dave is handling the boat, I startto put together a new mooring line to attachto the wreck. First I measure off 80 feet of5/8” poly propylene line from a spool in thehold. I splice a galvanized thimble into oneend and a bare eye splice into the other. ThenI attach a piece of 5/8” nylon line to the bareend. I make this long enough to reach up toour boat, about 40 feet. I cut a 3-foot length ofchain and fasten it with a shackle through thethimble on the end of the poly line. The chainwill fasten the mooring to a strong point on thewreck. I fasten a large plastic jug at the pointwhere the two lines are tied together. This willsupport the line about 15 to 20 feet under thesurface. A smaller float will support the topend of the nylon line. Once I have the lineready, it’s time for me to get suited up.Our Garmin GPS shows Dave that we areapproaching the position of the shipwreck andhe slows down to idle speed. I drop the ladderand pick up the mooring line that I have gottenready. When Dave sees the hump of the wreckrise up from the bottom on the depth sounderhe sounds the horn. That’s my signal to jumpin. Once in the water, I flood the larger plasticjug/float and put the cap back on. The smallerfloat will stay on the surface, supporting theend of the line. As I do a last minute checkand start my descent, Dave starts maneuveringthe boat into a circle around my position.The visibility is excellent and I begin to seethe wreck as I descend through a depth of 60feet. I pick out the sight of the main mast andstart to slow my descent and swim toward theNorth. The anchors quickly come into view.There are two, the giant iron anchor witha wooden stock that I can see now, proudlystanding straight up from the bottom, and asmaller one laying on the ground next to it.The depth is one hundred five feet. I swimover to the anchor and attach the mooring lineto the eye of the anchor with the chain, secureit with a shackle and tighten it with a pair ofpliers. Once that is done, I take a Styrofoamcoffee cup out of my pocket and let it float tothe surface. When Dave sees it pop up he willknow that it is safe for him to tie the boat up tothe mooring. (Yes, he will fish the plastic cupout of the water with a long-handled fish netthat we have aboard.)After just a few minutes the first pair of diversWheelarrives at the bottom of the line. With handsignals I give them some directions for a tourof the wreck and I start my ascent. My time isup. I head up and as I ascend I pass the otherdivers on their way down. At the twenty footlevel, while I do a safety stop, I take the topoff of the large float jug, fill it with air frommy exhaust bubbles and replace the top again.The mooring line is now secure for the nexttime we, or other dive boats, come back.As I make my stops and get back aboard theboat, the others meet up on the bottom and starttheir exploration of the nearly one hundred fiftyyear-old shipwreck. After spending some timeadmiring the magnificent anchor, they swim tothe edge of the wreck, following the anchorchain and going around counter-clockwise.The chain leads them to the windlass, a sortof winch which was used to raise the anchor.It is spindle-shaped, about eight feet long anda foot in diameter. Some anchor chain is stillwrapped around it. Moving a little fartheralong they find a section of rail with a rowof dead-eyes that once held the shrouds thatsupported the masts of the ship. The wreckextends about 120 feet aft to the south. It isas if the ship settled upright on the bottom inone piece and just opened up onto the bottomas it deteriorated. Toward the after end thereis a small cockpit, about six feet square. Thesteel ships wheel stands there with somespokes slightly askew, as if bent in the tightgrip of a crewman in desperate battle with theelements. It takes little imagination to see theghostly helmsman fighting for control in thatlast, deadly storm.The main mast lies across the wreck andextends off into the lake on the starboard side.The partners that once held the topmast andsupported the crow’s nest are clearly visible.One of the unique features of this wreck isthe fact that many loose artifacts are stillthere. You will see a rigging block (pulley)attached to the deck planking with a smallstrap. There are even some loose blocks justlying on the ground near the main mast. Letus all hope that these ancient artifacts do notget “collected” by unscrupulous divers. Aftera century and a half on the bottom we wantto save this precious reminder of our maritimeheritage for future divers to visit and enjoy.Snapshot: Capt. Dale BennettCaptain Dale Bennett is co-owner ofEnterprise and holds a 100 ton USMerchant Marine master’s license.He has been diving Lake Michiganshipwrecks since 1973. He is a TDIInstructor Trainer and specializes inAdvanced Wreck Diving and MixedGas technical training. Captain Dalecan be reached at 847.640.8113dale@captaindales.comwww.captaindales.comDead Eyes20 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007

Master SCUBA Diver,the “Black Belt” of DivingBy Pat HammerDIVING SCIENCEDIVE BUDDYCaptain Dale BennettWill take you Diving onLake Michigan or Teach You How!Charters and Training Info:P: 847.640.8113 C: 847.431.8113www.captaindales.comWhat do a Platinum Course Director, anAmerican Express platinum card, and a BlackBelt in martial arts have in common? They allrepresent special achievement and the highestlevel attainable. They distinguish you abovethe average as part of a special group.Master SCUBA Diver is the highest nonprofessionalrating a diver can earn. It is trulythe “Black Belt” of diving. Titles, membershiplevels and certification cards mean a lot. It’slike golfing. When you show your PGA cardwith a 5 handicap, the other golfers in yourgroup understand you play at a high level. Inorder to achieve the low handicap, you workedhard and stayed focused. To earn anythingworthwhile takes effort.When you are on a trip or diving locallyand show a Master SCUBA Diver card, youare making a strong statement. You are anexperienced diver who has completed OpenWater Certification, Advanced Open Water,Emergency First Response, Rescue Diver, fiveSpecialties and have logged over 50 dives.You are a customer of the diving industry witha serious commitment. Instead of carrying 5c-cards, this one elite certification defines youas a safe and competent diver.Participating in the “Master SCUBA Diverprogram” as a family has many benefits. Theysay the family that dives together stays together,or is that just my saying? Anyway, what is mostimportant is quality time together as a family,and the MSD program accommodates this.You can be on a dive practicing one specialtywhile your spouse is doing another. Computerdiver may be good for one person, while theother individual wishes to complete multileveldiving. Both training modules may takeplace on the same dive. Going out on weekenddive excursions is great for the family. Duringthe week, everyone has something to lookforward to. The kids just love it, and theyalso understand that when it comes time fora vacation, mom and dad will be taking themto locations that offer both adventure and fun(not to mention education.) It is a great wayto keep the kids focused on interesting andbeneficial activities.HOW TO PLAN YOUR MSD COURSE.CAREER OR RECREATIONAL?Your first step should be to decide what pathyou are going take. A professional path mayinclude specialties a professional diver willrequire such as night diving, deep diving,search and recovery, boat diving, equipmentmaintenance and repair and navigation.The recreational path may include peakperformance buoyancy control, fish ID, multileveldiving and photography or videography.Of course, with either path, you should takecourses that interest and excite you. The MSDmodules will enhance your diving. Experienceis important and having the MSD rating willmake you feel special. You will be moreconfident about your ability. If you are on theprofessional path, the MSD certification willassist you in obtaining employment withinthe diving industry. It is always great to havecareer choices.Your second step will be making a plan toobtain the MSD rating. Obtaining a high level,such as MSD, is very challenging. Qualifyingfor the MSD rating is a great accomplishment.Look at the Master Scuba Diver Challenge andhow it is the first promotion you see when youenter a dive center. Many recreational diverswant to obtain this elite certification and thenslow their involvement in dive training, butwe have those that accept the challenge ofbecoming a Master SCUBA Diver Trainer.So in the big picture there is another levelof training. Is the MSDT part of your bigpicture? Are your intentions or goals to be aProfessional Dive Educator? Once you havea direction, write out your goals, and consultwith an instructor to map out your trainingor career path. Your instructor will be able toassist you in taking advantage of the optionsthat are available to expedite the completion ofyour training. For instance, when the watersof the Midwest become frozen over and openwater-training stops, the eager Open WaterDiver can plan to complete the classroom andpool portions of the Rescue program (you donot need to start rescue training as an advanceddiver). Then in the spring, or on a winter tripto Florida, you can complete the Advanceddives as well as the Rescue dives.You will notice Professional Dive Centerstreat the MSD with respect. You have put ina lot of time to earn this rating and deserverecognition. I know there are Dive Centersthat honor this rating with a nice award,such as a plaque, at their awards dinner. Ialso know many Dive Centers give out anMSD jacket. MSD is a special rating and youdeserve respect for your dedication. If youwere awarded a plaque, certificate, or jacket,display it proudly. You are in a special group.Congratulations on your achievement. Youhave earned the “Black Belt” of diving!Snapshot: Pat HammerPat Hammer is owner of the ScubaEmporium at 16336 S. 104 Ave.Orland Park Illinois. He is a PADICourse Director and has been in thediving business since 1974. Pat canbe reached at 1-800-778-DIVEpatrick@scubaemporium.comwww.scubaemporium.comVoted #1 Scuba Training Agency in the Midwest.“The safest and most comprehensivecurriculum of any training agency”.Sports Marketing Research 2005773.732.8972www.divemaxscuba.comNovice toTechnical toTri-MixEXPLOREA WHOLE NEW WORLD22 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007 23 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007SPRING 2007 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 23

“BACKSCATTER”“BACKSCATTER”Trumpet fish on Valley of the Kings Reef off of Roatan, Honduras.Taken by Dan Schmidt in Jan. of this year during a spectacular weekof diving with his wife, Julie, and friends Richard and Nan Talaga.Richard Golz and son, Richie Golz, pose with Shadow Divers JohnChatterton and Richie Kohler at the 2007 Our World-Underwater show.Richie G. also had his DAN sweatshirt signed by the famous divers.Thumbs up for the Deep hole at Haigh.Troy Griffiths is surrounded by thousands of Silversides while divingthe reefs of Cancun.Tracy and Rachel stop for a quick photo while diving in Crystal River,Florida. Rachel took the trip to finish up her NAUI Advanced Cert.Al and Jerry on their way to becoming certified in Cancun. A greatway for two friends to bond, where their life depends on each other.Rachel and Noelle swim with the Manatees in Crystal River, Florida.Tom McDonald checks out the propellar of the Spiegel Grove before itwas uprighted by a hurricane.“Backscatter”Do you have underwater diving photos, pictures from topside events, photos from scuba club gatherings or vacationalbums? We’d love to show them here in the “Backscatter”section of the magazine.Be sure to include your name, email address and a shortdescription describing the photo.You can email them to:captdarrick@midwestscubadiving.comThe Tritons Dive Club poses for a group photo while on their reuniontrip to the Bahamas.The Edmonds family and friends take a break between dives to shoota group photo in their hotel in Cozumel.Michelle Loftus does her surface interval with Sandy at Haigh Quarry.or mail them to:Midwest Scuba Diving Magazine4417 N. Riverdale24 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2007 SPRING 2007 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 25

Safety Stop: Ralph Erickson, Co-Founder of the ProfessionalAssociation of Diving Instructors (PADI)Ralph D. Erickson, co-founder of the ProfessionalAssociation of Diving Instructors (PADI), died May 25, 2006in Lago Vista, Texas. He was 84. Erickson’s contribution tothe underwater world began at a young age, after his familymoved to Chicago in the early 1930’s. After a competitiveswimming career interrupted by World War II, Ericksonreturned to Chicago and coached swimming and waterpolo teams for nearly three decades. In the summer of1959, he started Erickson Underwater Swimming School.He also attended the first NAUI (National Association ofUnderwater Instructors) Instructor Training Course inHouston Texas in 1961 and became NAUI Instructor No.35. In the same year, Erickson wrote his own instructionbook “Under Pressure,” which he used for his classes. Ata divers association banquet in 1961, Erickson met JohnCronin (then Midwest sales representative for US Divers).Five years later the two men formed a new diver trainingorganization, the Professional Association of DivingInstructors (PADI), and Erickson was made president. In1971, Erickson and Cronin moved the PADI business toCalifornia, but Erickson, busy teaching diving, swimmingand coaching water polo at Loyola University of Chicago,chose to stay in Chicago. In June 1987, Erickson retiredfrom Loyola but continued training divers and swimmers.He owned and operated a PADI instructor-training center inChicago with business partner Patrick Hammer. Throughthe dive center Erickson trained thousands of divers, andhundreds of instructors, often using his favorite trainingfacility, Racine Quarry in Wisconsin. After moving to Texasin 1990, Erickson and wife Karen continued teaching. TheDiving Equipment and Manufacturers Association (DEMA)honored Erickson in 1992 with the DEMA ReachingOut Award for Education and he was inducted into theDEMA Hall of Fame. In 2004, he received the Our World-Underwater Achievement Award for his contribution todiving. Recently Erickson was elected to the InternationalScuba Diving Hall of Fame (for induction in 2007). RalphErickson was truly an innovator. His inspiration changed“ The Way The World Learns To Dive”. Midwest ScubaDiving Magazine is very proud that he was a vital part ofthe Midwest diving community. Erickson’s influence on thedive industry was explosive. His vision was refined in theMidwestern states. Ralph Erickson will be missed.Photo: Ralph Erickson with Sherry HammerExcerpted from Dive Training Magazine