NAUI - 50 Years of Diving History and still Growing! - Midwest Scuba ...

COMMENTARYThis issue of Midwest Scuba Diving Magazine completes our second yearof publication. While on the website today, I noticed that Brian Pautschand I first logged on in January of 2006. We first talked about the magazineand interactive website forum at a dinner meeting held at Maggiano’s inSchaumburg, Illinois. The magazine and website was an idea that I hadbeen toying with for a few years. Brian was a relatively new diver whohad taken my course of instruction along with his wife Tracy. Both of themwere young and fit and jumped head first into the NAUI curriculum, whichtook them through advanced training and nitrox certification. They bothtraveled with me several times to Florida for “Dive Training Weekends”and honed their skills. I found it quite humorous that while traveling inFlorida Brian and his wife both had bouts with seasickness. I have somepretty funny photos of Brian, along with other students “hanging overthe rail” as we all have. They both got over their seasickness and becameexcellent divers. Brian and Tracy now have two children and don’t havethe opportunity to travel with me as much as we’d all like and I am sadabout that. When I first met Brian, he was on his own as an independentsoftware consultant. He offered to design and build my personal website atwww.divemaxscuba.com and we entered into a business relationship. Thewebsite was constructed beyond my expectations. As most of you know,Brian is the webmaster for www.midwestscubadiving.com and he is anexcellent graphic designer as well (although he won’t admit to it). Briandoes the layout for each publication, solo. He now co-owns KeyLimeTie,a web design and software consulting firm, along with his brother Chris,who I also trained as a NAUI diver. Brian also helps the local diveindustry with ScubaCMS (http://www.scubacms.com, see ad on page 10),putting together websites and marketing plans for businesses involvedin recreational diving. Over the last four years, Brian, Tracy and I havebecome close friends and business partners. Our relationship has flourishedCapt. Darrick, Hal Watts’ and Steve Tisinai just completed a240-foot air dive at Forty Fathom Grotto. Hal Watts last divebefore retirement April 2008.because of a common interest in a sport we all love. As businessmen, we sometimes forget that diving is REALLY about, the training, thetravel, the relationships and the FUN!For 30 years I have dedicated myself to the NAUI training philosophy. I am very proud to be a NAUI Instructor Trainer. In this day and age,every other agency seems to provide dive training faster, cheaper and easier. Certifications are no longer “performance based.” I guess thepublic wants it that way. Everyone wants to take the path of least resistance. I believe that inadequate entry-level training is the reason fora 90% drop out rate after the first year of involvement. NAUI has always encouraged their instructors to provide the most comprehensivecurriculum available in the industry. They allow their instructors the freedom to teach, and not follow a “cookie cutter” curriculum. Thisenables the instructor to be an educator and not facilitator. NAUI truly represents the “Quality Difference” in dive training, and the focus of thisissue is the NAUI organization.After 2 years of business, some thanks are in order: Jim Bram and Elizabeth Travis at NAUI, Tina Haigh and family from Haigh Quarryin Kankakee, Illinois, Pat Hammer from Scuba Emporium in Orland Park, Illinois, Beth Oliveira from Blackbeard’s Cruises and ChristineMcTaggart from DAN are the glue that binds this publication. Thank you!Dive safely,Snapshot: Captain Darrick LorenzenCareer 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. MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2008

BBAC Midwest Scuba 1-3 Pg Ad 4/30/08 12:12 PM Page 1Freeport,Grand BahamaDeparturesPADI CertificationNitrox CertificationRescue Diver CertifictionNight DivingWreck DivingCavern and Cave InstructionSearch & RecoveryDry Suit & MOREMost of our training is doneat the Mermet Springsunderwater training facility$929 per weekPlay... Explore... Learn...$929 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.Poplar Bluff, MissouriContact Ed Pavey573-778-DIVE1-800-327-9600www.blackbeard-cruises.com • sales@blackbeard-cruises.com1-800-327-9600www.aquacatcruises.com • sales@aquacatcruises.comSPRING 2008 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING

Palau - Half A World AwayBy Chuck Brinkman IVThe islands of Palau have for many years nowbeen known as a diving paradise. This islandnation offers almost everything the divercould want – wrecks, over 1400 species ofcolorful fish, hard and soft corals, big animalencounters and warm, clear water. In fact,the ocean waters average 80 to 84 degreesFahrenheit year round. It has only been duringthe past 30+ years that Palau has become aworld class dive destination. Jacques Cousteauvisited Palau in the 1960’s, and the outsideworld saw this beautiful island archipelago;giving rise to a new diving community, withthe first dive shop opening in 1972.Dive sites in PalauThere are literally dozens of dive sites in Palau.Almost all of them are marked by buoys fordive boats to tie off on. This is wonderful, as itprevents damage to the reefs. Drift diving andwall diving is the norm in Palau, so you shouldbe comfortable with this type of diving. Theboat will tie up to one of the marker buoys, andthe divemaster will give the group a briefing ofthe dive plan. There will usually be a currentrunning along the wall at the dive site, so thedive will be conducted as a drift dive.Blue CornerBlue Corner is probably the signature dive siteof Palau. This consists of a point along thewall where the current is usually flowing fromthe open ocean, up and over the wall. Thereis usually a pretty decent current running here,depending on the tidal conditions. The divesite is another wall dive, where the reef formsa virtual right angle. You enter up current,swim along the wall to the “corner” and thenattach yourself to the top of the wall usinga “reef hook” – which is basically a big fishhook (shark sized) with the sharp point fileddown. The hook is attached to a line about 5feet long. You gently attach the fish hook ontothe reef, then hold the handle or clip the endonto your BC. Then you put a bit of air in yourBC, so you rise up off the reef and “hang” inthe current – like a human kite. This is greatfun. There are usually sharks, lots of big fish,and sometimes rays. The animals also hangin the current to feed, so this is a good divefor fish and shark viewing and photos. Afterhanging in the current for awhile (10-20minutes), everyone detachs and floats over thereef back from the wall. There are more fishand sharks here, and usually a local big andfriendly bumphead wrasse, maybe a morayeel, and some barracuda. An excellent dive.Wreck divingIf you like wreck diving Palau will keep youoccupied. The islands of Palau actually havemore World War 2 wrecks than Truk, althoughthey are a lot more spread out in Palau. Thereare over 30 documented WWII Japanesewrecks. Some of the popular wrecks, such asthe “Helmet” wreck, the Chuyo Maru, andthe Teshio Maru, are visited on a regular basisby the local diving tours. However, there isanother way to explore these historical relics.We hired one of the dive shop’s boats, forthe entire day, for about $230 per person. Wewere taken to wrecks in pristine condition at“secret” locations, unvisited by the local diveshop crowds.Chandelier CaveThis is an interesting dive, close to the harbor.As the Palau Rock Islands are composedentirely of limestone, there are many cavesand tunnels. Millions of years ago, ChandelierCave was obviously above water. There arestalactites and stalagmites in the cave, whichis now mostly underwater. The entrance is 10-15 feet underwater. The good sized entrance MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2008

is wide enough to accommodate several diversside-by-side, as you swim up into the firstchamber.There are 4 chambers that are connectedunderwater and you need to go underwaterto get from one chamber to the next. Eachchamber has a large area above water, largeenough for 10-15 people to float comfortablyat the surface. When you surface, make sureto keep a hand above your head, as there area few stalactites hanging pretty low, and youdon’t want to bump your head. Each chamberhas some pretty neat formations. A fewchambers have above water tunnel branchesthat go back quite a way. Some chambers havedry above water areas and benches where youcan get out of the water. There are cracks inthe limestone roof, so air (and of course water– to make the stalactites) filters down into thechambers. The water dripping down can tastereally bad, because it filters through the plantmaterial, soil and limestone on the surface.The caves are pretty much in a straight line,and you can just see the faint glow fromthe entrance light coming in when youare underwater at the very back of the lastchamber. While the depth entering the cavesystem is shallow, it gets fairly deep in someareas further back, down to about 45 feet deep.As in any cave, it is best to stay off the bottomto avoid stirring up the sediment and reducingthe visibility. If you turn off your light, it getsdark in the cave, but you can still make out thelight from the entrance. This is a nice, easyshallow dive.Jellyfish LakeJellyfish Lake is a not-to-be-missed experience,a snorkel-only adventure. Grab your mask,snorkel and fins and be ready for a little bitof a “hike or climb” to Jellyfish Lake. Fromthe dock, you need to hike up a trail, over asmall ridge, and back down the other side tothe lake. It is only about a 100 yard total hike,but the “trail” is quite rough and rocky. It iswell marked, but climbs over the limestonerocks in the jungle. There is a rope handrailto use to pull yourself up some of the biggersteps, and down the otherside. There is a nicedock at the lake, with small fish underneath.The vast majority of the jellyfish hang out inthe center of the lake, about a 100 yard swimaway. As you swim out from the dock towardthe center of the lake, you first encounter one,then several, then hundreds, then thousands,then eventually tens of thousands of jellyfish.These are non-stinging jellyfish, whoseancestors were trapped in this salt-water lake,many thousands of years ago. The jellyfishlost the ability to sting, and now survive byutilizing sunlight to feed the photosyntheticalgae that inhabit their bodies. Swim gently,as the jellyfish are very fragile.Enjoying the tripThere are several well-known dive operationsin the Koror area, and a few others on theoutlying islands. The dive boats are smaller,quite fast, usually propelled by twin outboardengines. While most of the dive sites are about30 minutes away, the trip goes very quickly.The scenery along the way is fantastic asyou travel through the rock islands. The rideis usually very calm as you motor over thecrystal blue water. Some people feel that theboat rides to the dive sites in Palau are toolong, but weaving among all the small islandsis not to be missed. This is a time to relax,talk to your fellow divers, the divemaster andcaptain. You can learn a great deal duringthese boat rides; where to eat in the evening,favorite dive sites, what to look for, and otherfun things to do topside while in Palau. Thetrip to the dive sites is like your very own“Jungle Cruise”. The islands are covered withlush, thick tropical vegetation. During yourboat ride, be sure to watch for flying foxes orfruit bats. You might see them flying in thejungles above some of the larger rock islands.The adventurous can even try them on themenu at some of the local restaurants (notrecommended!).Lunch is usually provided by the diveoperation; a surface interval of an hour or anhour and a half is normal. Sometimes you willmotor to a deserted beach for lunch, or tie offat one of the buoys marking a dive site. Youcan do some snorkeling during your lunch/surface interval. There is always something

DESTINATION: PALAUto see. Once, during a lunch break, we playedhide-and-seek with a tiny trigger fish in 2 feetof water. Another time we marveled at theclownfish, anemonies and giant clams on theshallow reef, and visited the beach where theyfilmed “Survivor: Palau”.Palau should be an extremely attractivedestination to US travelers, yet only about 500US citizens a month enter the country. Englishis one of the official languages, currency is theUS dollar, and electricity is North American.As Palau changes, more visitors will flock tothis small corner of the world. But one areahasn’t changed…the underwater world ofPalau…so visit soon.Snapshot:Chuck Brinkman IVChuck Brinkman grew up on thebeaches of Southern Californiaand became scuba certified in HighSchool in 1975. He became a Padiand Naui Instructor in 1980, andworked in the Caribbean on GrandCayman Island and in the Bahamas.He is a PADI Master Scuba DiverTrainer, and holds 10 differentSpecialty Instructor ratings. He is anaccomplished land and underwaterphotographer, and an underwaterhunter. He has been diving in manyplaces and conditions.Call us today at 630-251-5777 or visit http://www.scubacms.comScubaCMS is the only ContentManagement System (CMS) builtspecifically for the scuba industry. Itnot only provides the core features ofa traditional website, but also offersrobust functionality and scuba-relatedfeatures that enable you to buildand manage your own website – nocoding required!Features------------ScubaCMS has all of the features you need. It is very easy to use and optimized forGoogle, Yahoo and other major search engines. Secure web hosting is also available.Ease of Use• Simple Installation• No coding needed• Integrated Editor• Spell-Checker• Image ResizingBuilt-In Components• Website Search• Blog & Forums• Event Calendar• News & Newsletter• TestimonialsScuba Components• Photo Galleries• Dive Log Book• Book a Charter• Upcoming Trips• Find a Dive BuddyEcommerce• Inventory Mgmt• UPS Quoting• Tax Calculator• Shopping Carts• SubscriptionsWho’s using ScubaCMS? Our World Underwater, Scuba Emporium, Haigh Quarry, Midwest Scuba Diving Magazine and many more!

THE FIRST & ONLY MULTI-NATIONAL DIVE MAGAZINE — wORLDwIDE SINcE 2004Get X-Ray Mag today! It’s FREEINTERNATIONALDIVE MAGAZINEwww.xray-mag.comCheck out ourNEW websiteRead 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-friendly digitalmagazine published 8 times a year anddistributed via the Internet to your email boxin pdf format — printing is optional, saving treesAll 23 issues are free to downloadSign up today – it’s FREEwww.xray-mag.comCaptain Dale BennettWill take you Diving onLake Michigan or Teach You How!Charters and Training Info:P: 847.640.8113 C: 847.431.8113www.captaindales.comNovice toTechnical toTri-MixSTEVE BROWNMidwest sales representative for thebelow product lines and supporter ofthe development and introduction ofMidwest Scuba Diving Magazine. Theproduct lines he represents can befound in Professional Dive Centersthroughout the Midwest.563.940.1030 - Dealer inquiries onlyUltimately the Best!We provide our clients with the Ultimatein service, 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 60517SPRING 2008 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 11

How Regulators WorkBy Richard Talaga, Ph.DThe invention of on-demand SCUBA in 1943by Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnanrevolutionized diving. In earlier timesunderwater explorers had to hold their breathlong enough to get a glimpse of the deep.Diving bells gave divers a few extra breathsunder water, but without a source of fresh airthere was no choice but to return to the surfaceafter a few minutes. Why didn’t divers justattach a long hose to their boat and take it downon their dive? After all, this seems to work formovie heroes in chase scenes! They manageto hide from their pursuers, submerged in ariver or lake while breathing through a reeduntil the bad guys move on.Why not explore the depths with somethingbigger and more robust than a reed, like a longsnorkel or a hose? The short answer is: youcan’t do it. It’s virtually impossible to suckair through a reed, snorkel, hose or any otherdevice no matter how wide it is, even if yourchest is only a few feet below the surface.At a depth of three feet the relatively smallpressure increase of 1.5 pounds per squareinch [psi] is enough to constrict breathing.Why is this so and how do regulators work tomake underwater breathing possible? I’ll tryto explain.Normally, air in the lungs is at about the samepressure as the surrounding atmosphere. Toinhale, we draw additional air into the lungsby expanding the lung volume, like an oldfashionedfireplace bellows. This takes muscleaction. Contracting the diaphragm, chest andabdominal muscles expands the abdomen andchest, resulting in a slightly lower air pressurewithin the lung cavity that allows air to rushin and fill the void. Although the decreasedlung pressure is just a fraction of a psi lessthan ambient air pressure, it’s enough to drawin fresh air. That’s how we breathe, day andnight for all the years we’re alive. Breathingis normally effortless because pressure inthe lungs is very close to the atmosphericpressure.In water, pressure increases rapidly withincreasing depth. As mentioned, just three feetbelow the surface the pressure increases by 1.5psi. Pressure produces a force, in this case aconstricting force, pushing inward against thebody. The size of the force depends not onlyon the pressure but also on the area of the bodythat expands and contracts with breathing.Much of the body is solid or liquid, which canwithstand water pressure pretty well. But theupper part of the torso, the chest and abdomen,expand and contract in the breathing processand it is these areas that are affected by theinward force.Force is defined as the pressure acting over anarea and we have a lot of area to deal with. Asan example, let’s calculate the force caused bya pressure difference of 1.5 psi. To simplifythe calculation, assume the diver has a barrelshapedtorso that measures 40 inches around.The surface area of the cylindrical part of thebarrel is given by multiplying the 40 inchcircumference by 20 inches, the distance fromthe collarbone to below the navel. This is asurface area of 800 square inches, which,when exposed to 1.5 psi has 1,200 poundspushing against it (1.5 psi x 800 squareinches). Breathing muscles are not capable ofexpanding against such a strong constrictingforce.Getting back to the movie hero, even if the topof his head is only a foot or so beneath thesurface, sucking air through a reed or a longsnorkel for any period of time would exhausthim and he’d have to come out of the water.The only way to stay down for an extendedperiod would be to breathe pressurized air. Ifthe air pressure in a long snorkel were to beboosted 1.5 psi above atmospheric pressure,our hero could stay down as long as his airsupply lasted. That’s because air, inhaled at thishigher pressure, counteracts and neutralizesthe inward constricting force of water pressureand allows the breathing muscles to do theirwork.The important point is: in order to breatheunder water, air must be delivered at apressure very close to that of the surroundingwater pressure. A long snorkel deliveringair 1.5 psi above atmospheric pressure is justright at a depth of three feet, marginal at fivefeet and useless at 6 feet. Cousteau’s andGagnan’s invention, the Aqua –Lung regulator,provided air on demand and automaticallyadjusted the air pressure to match ambientpressure in water. Today’s modern regulatorsare descendants of the Aqua Lung principle.12 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2008

DIVING SCIENCE: HOW REGULATORS WORKThese robust and efficient devices providenearly effortless breathing to divers up toand beyond recreational diving limits. Therest of this article explains the basics of howregulators do their job.To repeat, a proper regulator system providesbreathing gas (air, nitrox or other technical gasmixes) to a diver at ambient water pressurewith enough volume to satisfy the demandunder strenuous conditions. This requiresprecision pressure regulation with sufficientlyhigh flow rates through rather small apertures.Most readers already know that the standardSCUBA system consists of two regulatorstages: first stage and second stage. The firststage regulator’s primary function is to reducethe gas cylinder pressure, which changesthroughout a dive, to an intermediate pressurethat stays constant* over the course of thedive. The second stage regulator, attached byhose to one of the first stage’s intermediatepressure ports, reduces the pressure to beinhaled to equal to that of the surroundingwater pressure (the ambient pressure). Somesecond stages have manual adjustment knobsto tune the delivery pressure more preciselyfor easier breathing.Three valves separate the diver from his gascylinder. The first valve is the manuallyoperatedcylinder valve which, when open,delivers high pressure gas from the cylinderto the first stage regulator. The next valve isinside the first stage regulator and providesintermediate pressure to the second stage. Thelast valve reduces gas pressure in the secondstage, from intermediate pressure to a pressureequal to the surrounding water pressure,breathable on demand.First Stage RegulatorsThe first stage operates at a wide variety ofinput pressures without significantly changingthe intermediate pressure. As the diveprogresses, cylinder pressure is reduced fromthree thousand psi down to hundreds of psi. Ifthe first stage regulator is of the “unbalanced”variety, intermediate pressure will decreaseto some extent as the cylinder pressure isreduced. This will make it more difficult tobreathe from the second stage. “Balanced”regulators have been designed to provide anunchanging intermediate pressure of 140 psi(above ambient water pressure) even as thecylinder pressure decreases. The exact valueof the intermediate pressure can vary amongregulator manufacturers by a few psi, but fora given regulator model once the intermediatepressure is set it should be constant*.Regulators are precisely tuned instrumentscomposed of nuts, bolts, springs, plungers,valves, and the like. Typically, the first stageregulator uses either a piston or a diaphragmto regulate the pressure. Piston regulatorshave fewer moving parts but, in order to senseambient pressure, some of the components areexposed to sea water. Diaphragm regulatorssense ambient pressure via deflection of asealed diaphragm, so no sea water enters themechanism.Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the basic functionalityof a “balanced piston” first stage regulator.The following examples will walk the readerthrough the basics of how this type of regulatorfunctions. Let’s start by preparing to dive,having just connected the first stage regulatorto a cylinder. The cylinder valve isn’t openyet. Inside the regulator the piston is in itsleft-most position (figure 1) and the pressuresin chamber A and in chamber C are equal; gascan flow freely through the hollow first stagevalve stem connecting those chambers.Next, the cylinder valve is opened and highpressure gas enters chamber C and passesthrough the hollow valve stem into chamberA. Very quickly the pressure in chamber Aincreases, pushing outward against the walls.The wall on the right of chamber A is actuallya piston and the increasing pressure in A wouldpush the piston to the right if it weren’t for astrong opposing force from the spring. Noticethat in addition to the spring in chamberB, there is an inlet to allow atmospheric air(or water, when diving) into the chamber.Atmospheric air pressure (or water pressure,when diving) and the spring push the pistonto the left. In order to produce the correctintermediate pressure in chamber A, thespring is designed to yield and allow thepiston and valve assembly to move to theright when gas pressure in chamber C is140 psi greater than the ambient pressurein chamber B. The motion from left to rightquickly puts the stem in contact with the valveseat in chamber C (shown in figure 2), shuttingoff gas flow. The first stage valve is closed andchamber A is sealed off from chamber C, 140psi above ambient air pressure. The diver isnow ready to test the regulator before enteringwater.As the diver inhales from the second stage thegas pressure in chamber A drops below 140psi (above ambient pressure). Therefore thepiston and stem assembly quickly move to theleft to open the first stage valve; the passagebetween C and A through that valve stemGas output tosecond stageGas output tosecond stageintermediategas pressureAintermediategas pressureAspringwater or airBspringFigure 2Gas inputfrom cylinderAmbient pressure inletFigure 1Gas inputfrom cylinderwater or airBAmbient pressure inletvalve seatCvalve seatThese figures show the cross-section ofa balanced piston first stage regulator.The regulator is shown with only theessential components required to explainits functionality. Figures 1 and 2 areidentical except for the location of thepiston and valve stem, shown in red.Chamber C is exposed to gas from apressurized scuba cylinder. Chamber Bis filled with water (or air when on thesurface) at ambient pressure and chamberA stores gas at the intermediate pressure.Separating chamber A from chamber B isa movable piston with a hollow tube (thevalve stem) attached to its center. Thestem passes through a seal in the wallseparating chambers B and C. A springplaced over the stem pushes the pistontoward the left, as shown in figure 1. Theforce of ambient water (or air) pressurein chamber B assists the spring, which isdesigned to yield if pressure in chamberC is 140 psi or greater than ambientpressure. Once the pressure in chamberC is 140 psi above ambient pressure, thepiston assembly moves toward the rightand the stem presses against the valve seat,stopping further gas flow (shown in figure2). This keeps the intermediate pressurein chamber C at 140 psi Functionality ofthis regulator is explained in the body ofthe article.CSPRING 2008 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 13

DIVING SCIENCE: HOW REGULATORS WORK(shown in figure 1) opens. High-pressure gasfrom chamber C rushes into chamber A until,again, the pressure in A is large enough toforce the valve stem back to the right againstthe seat. The gas supply in chamber A hasbeen replenished and is again 140 psi aboveambient pressure. As the diver inhales, thefirst stage piston valve opens and closes asneeded to provide sufficient gas and maintainthe proper intermediate pressure.Finally it is time to dive. As the diversubmerges, water replaces atmospheric air inchamber B and the pressure in that chamberincreases with depth. As he dives deeper,the absolute intermediate pressure increasessignificantly. For example, at a depth of 100feet the ambient pressure in chamber B is 4ATA or approximately 59 psi. The absoluteintermediate pressure in chamber C at thatdepth is therefore 199 psi but, relative toambient water pressure, the intermediatepressure is still 140 psi.Second Stage RegulatorThe second stage reduces the intermediatepressure of the first stage to provide breathablegas at a pressure that matches surroundingwater pressure. There isn’t much room forslop here. A mismatch of less than 1 psi canmake the regulator free-flow if the pressureis too high or it can cause labored inhalationif the pressure is too low. Because theintermediate pressure is constantly 140 psiabove ambient pressure there is less need tohave a balanced second stage. The followingexamples, shown in figures 3 and 4, illustratethe basic functionality of an unbalanced secondstage regulator. Most, if not all, second stageregulators use a diaphragm to regulate gaspressure.The second stage is a finely tuned instrumentcomposed of nuts, bolts, springs, a lever, avalve, a diaphragm and one large chamber.This chamber serves three functions: (1) itholds gas at ambient water pressure, (2) itreceives fresh breathable gas from the firststage and delivers it on demand to the diverand (3) it vents exhaled gas to the outside.A large, flexible diaphragm is located beneaththe purge button. During exhalation or whenthe diver is between breaths the diaphragmis bowed outward, as shown in figure 3. Asthe diver inhales, pressure in the second stagechamber decreases and the flexible diaphragmbows inward (imagine sucking on an emptyplastic bottle). As the diaphragm collapsesinward, it forces a lever to rotate counterclockwise.The other end of the lever pullsopen the second stage valve, as shown infigure 4. Intermediate pressure gas rushesinto the chamber, where it expands and isinhaled. As the inhalation is completed, gascontinues to fill the sealed chamber until thepressure equals ambient water pressure andthe diaphragm once again is bowed outward.If for some reason the second stage chamberis flooded, it can be cleared by pushing thepurge button. The simple manual operation ofpushing the purge button forces the lever tomove counter clockwise to allow pressurizedgas to enter the flooded chamber. Since thechamber is now above ambient pressure, theexhaust vent opens and the breathing gasflushes water out of the chamber much in thesame way as a diver clearing his mask.The illustrations of first and second stageregulators were simplified to help explainhow regulators function. Needless to say,commercial regulators have many parts builtto exacting specifications. Some regulatorsare specially designed to provide greater gasdelivery at depth or to perform in cold waterwithout freezing over. But the basic principlesstill apply. Now that you have a betterappreciation of how regulators work pleasemake sure they are well maintained withregular professional service. You wouldn’twant a seal, valve seat or any other regulatorcomponent to malfunction on your next dive.* Constant relative to ambient pressure. Theabsolute intermediate depends on depth.For instance, at the surface the intermediatepressure is 155 psi absolute, while at a depthof 100 feet the intermediate pressure is 199psi absolute. In both cases the intermediatepressure is 140 psi above ambient pressure.Note that the first stage can do its job only aslong as the cylinder pressure stays somewhatabove 150 psi relative to ambient pressure.Snapshot:Richard Talaga, Ph.DRichard Talaga has a Ph.D inphysics from the University ofChicago and is a Physist at theArgonne National laboratory HighEnergy Physics Division. Richard isa NAUI Rescue Diver, IANTD Nitroxdiver, and is certified in ExtendedRange Recreational Diving throughPSAI.exhaust ventexhaust ventAmbient Water Pressurevalve leverhigher pressureexhalationAmbient Water PressurePushes Diaphragm Downlower pressureinhalationFigure 3Figure 4purge buttondiaphragmmouthpiecemouthpiecewater portsintermediate pressurefrom first stagevalve seatWater portsintermediate pressurefrom first stageThese figures show the cross-section of asecond stage regulator. The regulator isshown with only the essential componentsrequired to explain its functionality.Figures 3 and 4 are identical except forthe shape of the diaphragm, the positionof the exhaust vent and the location of thevalve (shown in red). Figure 3 shows theregulator during exhalation. Pressure inthe main chamber is higher than pressureof ambient water. Higher pressure keepsthe diaphragm bowed outward and opensthe exhaust vent to allow the diver toexhale without flooding the regulator. Aspring pushes the valve against its seat,shutting off gas supply from the firststage. Figure 4 shows the second stagedelivering gas on demand. As the diverinhales, his suction lowers the chamberpressure. The exhaust vent is closed (as itis between breaths) and the diaphragm issucked inwards, forcing the lever to rotatecounter clockwise. This action opens thevalve as the lever pulls the valve stem tothe left. Gas from the fist stage rushesinto the chamber and expands, as itspressure is reduced by 140 psi to slightlyless than the ambient pressure. At the endof inhalation ambient pressure is restoredto the chamber. The diaphragm expands;the lever rotates clockwise and pushes thevalve shut.14 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2008

NAUI 50 Years of Diving Historyand Still Growing! 1959-2009The story of the National Associationof Underwater Instructors (NAUI) is anidea evolving into a vision of how divinginstruction should be. It is a vision that isshared by thousands of people for whomscuba diving is not just a recreational pastime,but a passion. Imparting safe diving skills andworking in unison to preserve the world’saquatic environments are the noble purposesshared by the pioneers who first formedNAUI. Pursuing this task has not always beeneasy, but it has been richly rewarding. Thisarticle chronicles the dedication, hard workand perseverance, the conflict and resolution,and ultimately, the triumph of the philosophy“Dive Safety Through Education.”The modern diving era in North America tracesits beginnings to 1948 when Jacques-YvesCousteau convinced Rene Bussoz (of Rene’sSporting Goods in Westwood, California) toimport self-contained underwater breathingunits he called Aqua-Lungs. Previously,aquatic adventurers were limited to breathholddives, although they too called themselvesskin divers. It wasn’t until the late 1960s thatthe term “scuba diver” became the acceptedname for Aqua-Lung users.The Aqua-Lung would, for the first time, allowdivers to stay under water much longer thanthey could on a single breath. Rene Bussozimported only ten S.C.U.B.A. units, and oncethey were sold he believed he had saturatedthe market. However, several sportinggoods stores across the country discovered amarket for the Aqua-Lungs. The divers whobought them soon realized they didn’t need abreath-hold diver’s stamina, and they in turnconvinced others to try this new, wonderful,extended, weightless experience. The numberof scuba divers steadily increased and U.S.Divers Company was formed out of Rene’sSporting Goods.During those beginning years, there were nocertification requirements, and anyone whocould afford it could purchase scuba equipment.That equipment pales in comparison to today’sdesigns. The double-hose regulators werehard breathing, and some required specializedtechniques to clear water from the hoses ifthey flooded during the dive. Still, the onlytraining offered by the sellers was the warningnot to hold one’s breath. Training was beingconducted by the military (UnderwaterDemolition Teams, the forerunner of the wellknown SEAL teams in the U.S. Navy) andby the oceanographic institutes at Scripps inSouthern California and Woods Hole in NewEngland. Dive clubs were the only resourcefor training available to civilian recreationaldivers throughout the 1950s. As the populationof divers grew, the need to codify the trainingwas also growing.Jim Auxier and Chuck Blakeslee started amagazine called The Skin Diver (later renamedSkin Diver Magazine) in 1951. They asked NealHess to write and edit a column about teachingscuba called “The Instructors Corner.” Itwasn’t long before Neal was reviewing courseoutlines submitted by others and certifyingthem as instructors. He started a new columncalled the “National Diving Patrol,” whereinhe would publish the names of these new skinand scuba diving “instructors.” Al Tillman,(soon to become NAUI Instructor #1) wasthe director of sports for Los Angeles CountyParks and Recreation during this period andestablished a training program sponsored byL.A. County to certify skin and scuba divers.The impetus was the growing number ofdivers appearing at Los Angeles area beachesand concern for their safety. As Tillmansaid in a 1952 letter to Parks and Recreationdirector Paul Gruendyke: “A new sport—skindiving—is becoming popular in the area.Recently while diving in Palos Verdes, I raninto several divers in the water with me whodidn’t know what they were doing. One hadone of the new underwater breathing units thatallows divers to stay under for long periodsof time... I propose that my department getinvolved in this sport and provide trainingclasses. I believe that diving will grow in thefuture, and we have an obligation to make thesport as safe as possible.”Bev Morgan, a Los Angeles County lifeguardat the time, (he would later be well knownamong commercial and recreational divers16 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2008

alike for his equipment designs, including theKirby-Morgan band mask) and Al Tillmanstudied with Conrad Limbaugh at ScrippsInstitute of Oceanography in 1953. In April1955 they held the first Underwater InstructorCertification Course, (1UICC) and created theworld’s first civilian diver training agency. TheL.A. County program soon began grantingProvisional Certification to instructors acrossthe country to respond to a growing numberof requests.The decade of the 1950s was a periodof growing interest and participation inrecreational scuba diving. “Sea Hunt” airedfrom 1958 to 1961 and starred Lloyd Bridges(NAUI’s first honorary instructor member)and Zale Parry, NAUI #A-12. “Sea Hunt”generated much of the early excitement andinterest in scuba as a recreational activity.There were also early movies and books byCousteau and Hans Hass, but neither did asmuch as “Mike Nelson” to focus the attentionof the general public on scuba diving. ZaleParry and Al Tillman have likened the programto “an underwater Western movie” in theirbook ScubaAmerica: The Human History ofSport Diving.Remarkably there was even an LP recordreleased that purportedly taught listenersto dive. The jacket of the album carried thefollowing explanation, and the lesson contentis eerily familiar.“On the album the great actor–skin diver tells“Recorded text by Lloyd Bridges, written byWilliam Barada” (In 1962 Bill Barada NAUI#A-1 became NAUI’s first “Affiliate” memberwhose number carried the “A” designation.)you—in what amounts to a private lesson—all he knows of the art and science of gettingalong in the world of the fish. It’s all sensible,all practical, all learned by years of fun andpractice under water.“Bridges is the well-known aquatic star onnational TV and has found a perfect way ofcombining his hobby and his work. He’s beenan actor for many years, on Broadway first,then in movies and television. At the sametime, he’s been an enthusiastic skin and scubadiver. So he jumped at the chance to star in aseries which would let him act, skin dive andmake money at the same time. He once wasquoted as saying he would almost have paidthem to let him be in the show—undoubtedlyan exaggeration, but it shows you how muchhe loves the water. And he knows and respectsit, too. On this record, he imparts his love, hisknowledge and his respect.Los Angeles County was followed by otherpublic certifying agencies including theBroward County, Florida, the Red Crossprogram developed by John C. Jones, Jr. andlater, in 1959, the YMCA’s national program.In 1959 the National Diving Patrol wasrenamed the National Association ofUnderwater Instructors (NAUI) and Hess,Blakeslee, and Auxier planned to conducta major instructor certification course thefollowing year. In August 1960, a meetingof the Underwater Society of America wasscheduled to be held in Houston, Texas.Neal Hess asked Al Tillman to organize theinstructor course, and they contacted John C.Jones to work on the project. NAUI’s firstInstructor Certification Course was held at theHouston’s Shamrock Hilton Hotel that Augustwith 72 candidates. After six days of what wasdescribed as a “Hell Week,” 53 graduated, andalong with their staff instructors, became thevery first instructor members of the NationalAssociation of Underwater Instructors. A littleover a year later, in October 1961, NAUIwas incorporated in the State of Californiaas a non-profit educational organization.Al Tillman was the first President and NealHess, the Executive Secretary. When askedrecently why they chose a non-profit status,Garry Howland, NAUI #13 said, “That’s whatwe knew. I was a member of the Electricaland Electronics Engineers, Inc. and Al wasfamiliar with the YMCA.”NAUI’s first elected Board of Directorsincluded Al Tillman (NAUI #1), John C.Jones, Jr. (NAUI #2), Neal Hess (NAUI #3),Garry Howland (NAUI #13), Jim Auxier,(NAUI #A4), and James Cahill, (NAUI#85). A Board of Advisors was appointedand included Captain Albert Behnke, Jr.,Commander George Bond, Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and Dr. Andy Rechnitzer.NAUI grew throughout the 1960s by way oflarge Instructor Certification Courses (ICC’s)conducted in central locations throughoutNorth America. The organization reliedprimarily on volunteers and regional leaderslike Garry Howland and John C. Jones and inCanada, Ben Davis, NAUI #101. Al Tillmanadministered the Association’s business outof his home until Jim Auxier and ChuckBlakeslee, NAUI #A34, with Skin DiverMagazine provided office space and a salary.Skin Diver Magazine published the “NAUIPage” as a regular feature, helping NAUI tocontinue to grow.Al Tillman left the NAUI Board andadministration in 1967 to operate his resort,the Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO),that he had opened in 1965 in the Bahamas.He was elected to a newly created position ofNAUI Resort Branch Manager. Otherwise,NAUI continued to use regional Branches(managers) and local Chapters (leaders) asSPRING 2008 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 17

a way to organize its member populations.In 1968 Art Ullrich was hired as the newExecutive Director and moved NAUI’sheadquarters into his home in Grand Terrace,California, and later to offices in Colton,California—in an area known in SouthernCalifornia as the “Inland Empire” for itsproximity to the base of the mountain rangesthat form the Los Angeles basin.The first International Conference onUnderwater Education (with the acronymICUE and later shortened to IQ) was heldin 1969 at Santa Ana College (now RanchoSantiago Community College) with GlenEgstrom as Program Chairman, John Reseckas Facilities Chairman, Larry Cushman asPromotions Chairman, and Art Ulrich asCoordinator. For many years IQ servedboth as a venue where NAUI nationwidemembers could meet and exchange ideas andas a forum in which papers were presentedon diving skills and safety, teaching, divingphysiology, physics, and other diving andmarine sciences.In the 1970’s NAUI membership began toexpand internationally. A NAUI InstructorCertification Course was held in Japan in1970, and NAUI Canada was organized as aseparate corporation in 1972. The first ICCin Houston had included three Canadians,and the second ever NAUI ICC was held inToronto in 1961, largely under the direction ofBen Davis, NAUI #101 (numbers 1-100 beingreserved at this time for U.S. instructors).NAUI had certified over 5,000 instructors by1979 and had increasing member populationsworldwide.Jon Hardy became the first NAUI GeneralManger when he replaced Art Ulrich in 1975.Jon left in 1978, and was replaced by KenBrock from the YMCA, who left in 1980 andwas replaced by Marshall McNott in 1981.Marshall was the first non-diver to be hired asan executive director of a scuba diver trainingorganization.In 1981, NAUI relocated to new largerheadquarters facilities in Montclair, California,(still in the Inland Empire) where it wouldremain until 1997. In 1986 Marshall McNottleft NAUI and was replaced by Sam Jackson.Sam had served on the NAUI Canada Boardof Directors and emigrated from Canada to theUnited States to lead NAUI as its executivedirector through the rest of 1980s and intothe 1990s. In 1987 Nancy Guarascio becamethe first woman to be elected president of theNAUI Board of Directors. By 1989 NAUI hadcertified over 12,000 instructors.The 1990s were a time of challenge for NAUI.In 1995 Sam Jackson left NAUI to head up theDiving Equipment and Marketing Associationthat had formed out of the Diving EquipmentManufacturers Association (retaining theacronym DEMA) the previous year. After athree-month search NAUI hired Jim Bram,and consistent with other modern companies,changed the title of the NAUI chief executiveto President. Jim initiated a turn around ofNAUI, which was in dire financial conditionwhen he was hired in June of 1995. Amongthe other nitty-gritty tasks of helping acompany achieve a financial recovery, suchas implementing sound business managementpractices and financial policies, Jim resetNAUI to do business as NAUI Worldwide.This global outlook was a factor as NAUIimplemented a strategy to provide businesssupport to members everywhere via licensedservice centers and secure our most preciousasset—the NAUI brand reputation. By 1998NAUI Worldwide had established a networkof twenty service centers supporting a growingmembership population around the world.Along with this strategic shift in servicesdelivery, the independent NAUI associationsthat had formed in the 1970s were retired andtheir members welcomed back into NAUIWorldwide, forming a single membershipassociation teaching to one worldwide standardof training.NAUI sanctioned nitrox training in 1992,the first recreational training agency to doso, continuing to innovate in support of itsmembers and in the interest of diving safety. In

COVER STORY: NAUI CELEBRATES 50 YEARSearly 1997, in keeping with NAUI’s foundingprinciples, the association published standardsfor teaching technical diving, a practice thathad been growing among NAUI membersfor several years. Thereby, NAUI instructorsand leaders were provided support for any oftheir teaching endeavors and consistent withNAUI’s position as the global leader in qualitydiver education.All of this produced unprecedented growth asdivers worldwide saw that the NAUI ideal of“DIVE SAFETY THROUGH EDUCATION”was extremely important in a communitybecoming increasingly crowded with trainingorganizations, all claiming to be either thefastest growing or the most convenient methodfor learning to dive. The NAUI slogan “TheQuality Difference” continues to distinguishNAUI members from the rest, whose apparentqualifications seem to be little more than anacronym, a toll-free number, and a web site.In 1997 NAUI Worldwide headquarters wasmoved to Tampa, Florida. In the same yearthe Board of Directors included members fromEurope and Asia for the first time. In 2000 and2001 NAUI released award-winning, state-ofthe-art,fully integrated educational systemsfor diver education and training, and postedrecord revenues in its 41st year since that firstinstructor course in Houston.NAUI has a wonderful history and is wellprepared for the future. NAUI is its members.Our association will continue to grow as wepromote Dive Safety Through Education.NAUI members are known and respected allacross the industry for the quality of theirteaching, concern for the individual student,and safety awareness. Even as we grow, weremain a real association of members whoshare our common values and a trust in oneanothers commitment to our motto. There hasnever been a better time to become a NAUIleader or instructor.We Can Fit AnySize & Shape!We draft an individual pattern for each suit andwe use only the finest materials. Fast Deliveryand 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Custom full suits starting from only $195.00CHOOSE FROM∙ Full suits, Step-in Jacket with John, Short Sleeve Shorty, Vest withHood or without. (special requests accepted)∙ Thicknesses 2 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm and 7 mm∙ Materials Soft Stretch Nylon two and Nitrogen Neoprene Nylon two∙ Colors and designs are limitless∙ Front or back entry zipperVisit our website www.wetwear.com2930 S.W. 30th Ave.Hallandale, Florida 33009Phone: (954) 458-0400Toll Free: (800) 771-8081

Health & Fitness in Scuba DivingBy Joel Dovenbarger, Vice President, DAN Medical ServicesDAN Explains Why Overall Fitness Is Important andAsks Divers to Take Note When Restrictions Are NecessaryYour Personal Fitness LevelScuba diving creates opportunities for travel,family fun and a friendly interaction withthe environment. So, why the concern forphysical examinations before diving?Answers can be varied for the individualdiver, because the physical demands of divingare many and diverse. Regardless of yourhealth status, you must be able to tolerate thespecific exertion required for scuba.Consider your own fitness level. People of allages and athletic abilities pursue recreationaldiving, and need to take the time to considerthe fitness level required for scuba. Althoughthe relatively weightless underwaterenvironment can make diving appear almosteffortless, scuba diving does require ameasure of strength and stamina.With this general article, DAN explains:• Why overall fitness is important to alldivers.• When you may need to postpone divingbased on medical conditions.• Why you may need a pre-certificationphysical examination.• The impact of medications on diving.In addition, DAN addresses scuba divingsafety for individuals with underlying healthconditions such as asthma and diabetes(see paragraph “Asthma and Diabetes”) inpast Alert Diver articles and in the DivingMedicine section on the DAN website.Learning to Scuba DiveIf you’re considering learning to dive, keepin mind that not all your diving will be inthe same conditions. Water and weatherconditions vary from dive to dive and caneven vary dramatically from the beginning tothe end of some dives.Divers need to have the necessarycardiovascular reserve to perform unexpectedstrenuous tasks while diving, such as movingthrough strong currents to reach your divesite or performing a long surface swim at theend of a dive.Another consideration for diving includeshealth conditions or medications that maycause a loss of consciousness during adive. If you’re already certified, you willrecall completing a medical form. If you’replanning to learn to dive you will be askedto complete a medical history form fromthe Recreational Scuba Training Council,a global organization with the primarygoal of developing worldwide minimumtraining standards. This procedure helps yourinstructor to determine whether you havehealth issues that would affect your ability todive safely.Depending on your answers, a physician’sexamination may not be required. In somecases, students report medical problems thatmay prevent them from diving or temporarilyrestrict their diving. Once they have beenevaluated and receive a physician’s consent,these students will be allowed to dive.Restrictions on DivingSome medical conditions, such as colds, flu,recent injury or pregnancy, will temporarilyrestrict diving. With colds or flu, swellingof the mucous membranes and congestionmay cause blockage in the Eustachian tubes,which connect the middle ear to the pharynx,or in the openings to the sinuses themselves,preventing adequate equalization of these airspaces.Injuries to joints and muscles may notonly reduce your abilities, but they couldalso increase susceptibility to additionalinjuries. It is best to postpone diving untilinjuries are fully healed. Because little isknown about the effects of scuba divingon an unborn child, it is recommended that20 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2008

DIVING MEDICINE: HEALTH & FITNESS IN SCUBA DIVINGpregnant women wait to dive until after thebirth. (For more info on this topic, see HeldHE, Pollock NW. The risks of diving whilepregnant - reviewing the research. AlertDiver. 2007; Mar/Apr: 48-51 at http://www.diversalertnetwork.org /alertdiver and http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=103)Other medical conditions that restrict themovement of your arms and legs maylimit in-water mobility. Some people maysimply be out of shape and experience painor discomfort with the physical exertionof scuba diving. Such health issues requireindividual evaluation by a physician prior tolearning to dive.Predive Physical ExaminationA student is sent for physician referral whena dive instructor requires more health-relatedinformation. The most common reason forreferral is that a student has an existingmedical condition and is under the care ofa physician. The evaluation is simply anassessment of scuba’s compatibility withvarious medical conditions.Other reasons a diving student may be askedto see a doctor include (but are not limitedto):•••••••A history of heart or lung disease.An unexplained loss of consciousness or“blackout”.Unexplained nausea or vomiting.The regular use of prescription or nonprescriptionmedications.Shortness of breath.Repeated trouble equalizing air spaces.The appearance of being physically unfit.No upper age limit exists for participationin scuba diving, provided you meet all otherdemands.During a precertification exam, you maybe asked by your physician to performan exercise tolerance test to rule out anycardiovascular problems. This is appropriatewhen the diver is older or appears generallyout of shape. This test allows a physicianto collect information about how well anindividual responds to exercise.Diving While Using MedicationsTell your dive instructor if you take anymedications, whether they are prescribed byyour doctor or purchased over the counter.Most medications will have no effect ondiving, but some may cause drowsinessor fatigue, which could increase thesusceptibility to nitrogen narcosis. Othersmay affect heart rate. Read the warning labelsand precautions before using prescription orover the counter drugs. If you plan to diveand still have questions, consult your doctoror call DAN.If you start a new medication, be sure youexperience no side effects at the surfacebefore entering the water. (This is especiallytrue of anti-motion sickness medications.)If a medication “may cause drowsiness” orsuggests restricting the use of machinery,reconsider your plan to dive and wait untilyou’re no longer taking that medication. Talkwith your doctor or call DAN if you havequestions.Asthma and DiabetesThere is concern in the diving medicalcommunity about the advisability of divingwith asthma or insulin-requiring diabetesmellitus. After a careful evaluation, somephysicians may permit individuals witha history of either condition to dive.Appropriate medical specialists shouldevaluate diabetes and other medicalconditions, on a case-by-case basis. DANcontinues to research the safety of scubadiving for individuals with underlying healthproblems. Your DAN membership helpssupport these studies.For more in-depth information, see:• “Asthma & Diving” at http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=22•“Diabetes & Diving” at http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=126 and http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=74Enjoy Scuba!Scuba diving is an activity that anyonewith good health and fitness can enjoy for alifetime. To get the most out of your diving,practice prevention of disease and injury andparticipate in a health maintenance program.Adhere to these principles:- See your physician for regular check-ups.- Participate in a regular exercise program.- Be rested and well nourished before diving.- Use proper exposure protection andequipment.- Plan your dive to avoid over-exertion.Good AdviceDon’t hide or downplay any medicalcondition or health problem: It’s better tohave an open and frank discussion before aproblem arises than to wonder if a dive injurycould have been avoided.Finally, call DAN if you have questions aboutyour own diving fitness, certain medicalconditions when diving, or how to find adiving doctor in your area. If your physicianhas any questions he or she can call DAN andspeak with a medically trained professional.Need More Info?If you have questions about your fitness todive, or if you need evaluation by a divingdoctor, DAN can provide you with a list ofspecialists in your area.Call DAN’s Dive Safety and MedicalInformation Line at +1-919-684-2948 (or call1-800-446-2671, press 2, in the United Statesand Canada) from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EasternTime.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 ourspecials!Phone: 574-295-730023672 Old US 20Elkhart, IN 46516SPRING 2008 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 21

The Straits of MackinacA Ferry Trip Through TimeBy Captain Dale BennettSinking The Straits of MackinacIt was an early Thursday morning on April10th of 2003. The chill of early spring wasin the air as the sun pulled itself skyward outof the eastern waters and the cloudless skyslowly lightened to reveal a glass calm LakeMichigan. The dive boat, Enterprise, was theonly thing disturbing the surface as she left av-shaped wake, moved east out of WaukeganHarbor and then turned south. My partner,Dave Manchester, and I were on board aswe began a trip down the lake to witness anend and a beginning. A long and illustriouscareer was about to come to an end and, at thesame time, a new attraction was about to beborn. We were on our way to rendezvous witha small fleet of vessels near Chicago wherethe steamship, The Straits of Mackinac, wasscheduled to be sunk as an artificial reef and adestination for wreck divers.We arrived at the planned site of the sinkingearly so we just motored around in circles,waiting for the rest of boats to arrive. We wouldnot be surprised if The Straits of Mackinacwas late. Nothing really goes according toschedule once you get out on the water. Theone thing we were sure of was, that barring acatastrophe, she would be there. The old ferryhad been in Chicago for only 10 months, butshe had been cleaned and prepared for sinkingand all the permits had been obtained. A sitehad been approved for her final resting place,five miles east of the Wells Burt in eighty feetof water. There had been storms on the lakefor the past couple of weeks and it was deemedimportant to take advantage of this window ofgood weather. No one wanted to give anyonein government a chance to change their mind.After waiting on station for nearly an hour,we saw a shape starting to become visible onthe water to our south. We watched as a largevessel began to resolve out of the morninghaze. After a few minutes the vessel defineditself into the rust-red hulk of an old steamerbeing pushed by a tugboat. Accompanyingit were two specks in the water that, as theycame closer, we identified as the Tow BoatUS vessel, Recovery, and one of the divecharter boats that hail from Burnham Harborin Chicago. Another tugboat pushing a bargewith support personnel and equipment onboard was underway somewhat behind. Wegot underway south to meet them and fell inwith the little fleet.Once The Straits of Mackinac was maneuveredinto position at what was designated to be herfinal resting several concrete-filled oil drumswith attached cables were pushed over thesides. These were to act as anchors to helpkeep the wreck from drifting while it sank.The bilges had been filled with concrete to helpensure that she would sink upright. When allwas ready the sea cocks were opened and twomen in an inflatable dinghy removed safetyplugs from all the through-hull openings. TheStraits of Mackinac began to settle lower inthe water. It took about forty-five minutes forher to gently settle, stern first, forever into thewaters of Lake Michigan.Although we on Enterprise did not participatein the actual sinking, we counted ourselvesprivileged to be witnesses to such a nobleend to the career of this great lady. She had along and valued service that we hope will bepreserved as a sort of underwater museum.The History of The Straits of MackinacThe history of the steamer began with thegeography of the state of Michigan. The upperand lower peninsulas of the State of Michiganare completely separated by the Straits of22 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2008

SUNKEN TREASURES: THE STRAITS OF MACKINACMackinac, a five mile wide waterway thatconnects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Itwas never easy to get from one half of the stateto the other. Up through the first part of thetwentieth century, people had always reliedupon privately operated boats and ferries toget from one half of the state to the other.Citizens were annoyed with the unreliableavailability of regular transportation and madetheir representatives in the state legislatureaware of their displeasure. So it was that,in 1923, the State of Michigan began a stateowned and operated ferry service acrossthe straits. The steamship, The Straits ofMackinac, was the third ferry to be put to thisservice. (Interestingly, the word, “The” is partof the registered name of this vessel.) She wasbuilt for the Michigan Department of StateHighways and began service carrying cars andtrucks across the straits in 1928. At nearly200 feet long with a beam of 48 feet she wasa sturdy, seaworthy coal-fired steamship andshe served the state well until the MackinacBridge was built and opened in November of1957.When the Mackinac Bridge opened, the fleetof ferries was decommissioned. In 1959 TheStraits of Mackinac was sold to Straits Transit,Inc. She continued to serve as a ferry carryingfreight and passengers to and from MackinacIsland until 1968.In 1969 The Straits of Mackinac was sold to theSturgeon Bay shipbuilder, Peterson Builders,Inc. She was moved to Sturgeon Bay whereshe was used as a floating warehouse. Withvirtually no maintenance, she deterioratedover the years and eventually her woodendecks, exposed wooden cabins and other suchstructures became a hazard and were removed.Eventually, in 1994, she was sold to a Greeksalvage company and moved to a dock inKewaunee, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, shortlyafter the sale, the owner of the firm died andThe Straits of Mackinac was left abandoned.After a few years, a weather beaten, vandalizedhulk of the once majestic steamship was left,grounded, in the shallow waters of the harborat Kewaunee.A Green Bay area dive club, Neptune’sNimrods, found the old ferry there in Kewauneeand, in the year 2000 assumed control of thewreck with the intention of sinking it as a wreckdiving attraction near Algoma. They pumpedout the bilges to re-float the hull. They begancleaning out the ship and started the process ofgetting the permits and approvals they wouldneed from all of the governmental entitieshaving jurisdiction. While these effortsprogressed, the marina at which the ferryrested was sold. The new owners wanted thewreck removed as a condition of the sale. InMay of 2002 Neptune’s Nimrods were giventhirty days to move it out.The club was not yet ready to sink the wreckand they did not have another place to storeit. They also lacked the resources to pay for aseaworthiness inspection or to have it towed.It began to look as if The Straits of Mackinacwould end her career in the scrap yard.Just then a white knight appeared. A group ofdivers from the Chicago area stepped up to takeresponsibility for the vessel.The Tim Early Foundation,a 503c corporation, and PatHammer, owner of ScubaEmporium, put togetherthe Mackinac Foundationwhich took ownership forthe purchase price of $1.00.It was June of 2002 whenthey had the ship toweddown to Chicago. A trulyHerculean effort followed.Many Chicago area diversvolunteered their time anddonated their money to helpwith the project. In only tenmonths they had the shipcleaned up and had all of thebureaucratic red tape signedand sealed so that they couldsink the old girl off of thenorth shore of Chicago.Diving The Straits ofMackinacNow, The Straits of Mackinacis a very popular destinationfor recreational scuba divers.Resting in eighty feet ofwater she is easily accessibleto most divers. Dive charterboats from Burnham Harbormake the twelve mile tripout to this wreck on a regularbasis. Enterprise also makesthe trip from Waukeganfor all day, four-tank divetrips. Approaching the site,we usually see one or twopermanent moorings. On arecent visit we found onlyone but, luckily, there wasno one else there when wearrived. Another dive boatcame while we were preparing to get in thewater so we gave them a stern line and theytied up to us. On this day I wanted to takesome pictures of the wreck so I was diving.My partner and co-captain, Dave Manchester,would stay on the boat.I splashed with my trusty Nikonos III (I haven’tgone digital yet.) and swam to the front ofthe boat. Two other divers, Steve and Bob,were right behind me. Normally, there are twomoorings on The Straits of Mackinac, one atthe stern and one at the bow. Since there wasonly one this day I was not sure which onewe were tied up to. I wanted to photographthe engine room, so I was hoping we were tiedSPRING 2008 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 23

up to the stern. Starting my descent next tothe mooring line I checked my gear and thesettings of my camera. The trip to the deckof the shipwreck was fast and it was quicklyapparent that I was on the raised foredeck –the mooring was tied to the anchor windlass.That meant that I would have to swim mostof the 200 foot length of the wreck to get tothe engine room that I wanted to photograph.Adjusting my buoyancy I swam aft to the rearedge of the foredeck and followed the ladderover the edge down to the main deck. On theforeword bulkhead I passed the board thatdisplays engraved nameplates honoring manyof those who donated to make the sinking ofthis shipwreck possible. To one side of theboard is an entryway into the bow section ofthe wreck.On this dive there was no time to explore thisarea, but I have done so in the past. As in anyoverhead environment, one should not enter awreck without proper training and even thennot without using a line to help find your wayout. Even the best divers can make a mistakeand kick up the silt and there is a lot of veryfine silt accumulating in this wreck. The fineclay particles that are the normal componentof Lake Michigan silt are very easy to kickup. They will reduce the visibility to zero inseconds and take hours or even days to settleback out.As I started to swim aft along the port side Isaw Steve and Bob tying off in preparationto go in to the bow section. Just inside theylocated a companionway and ladder that leadsdown and aft to a corridor that goes back halfthe length of the ship. There are state roomson either side of the corridor, with bunks, sinksand toilets. Toward the aft end of the corridoris the galley and dining rooms. As theyexplored this area, I swam on the deck alongthe port side. I passed over many holes thatwere cut in the deck to make it easier for a lostdiver to get out of the wreck. Unfortunately,many of these holes are not quite big enoughto get through with scuba equipment on butthey do provide additional light to the spacebelow. About three quarters of the way backI found the entry to the deck house above theengine room. Just inside was a ladder down tomy destination.Inside I found the massive, triple expansion,steam engine. The crankshaft below thepistons is open and the drive shaft runs backto the stern of the vessel. If I were to go upand enter the next compartment back I wouldbe able to see the packing box along with thesteering post and quadrant. This day, however,I stayed in the engine room and took picturesof the equipment in there. There is what lookslike a motor/generator set, several pumps andwhat seems like miles of plumbing. I tookpictures as fast as my strobe would recycle andby the time I was out of film it was time to turnmy dive and make my way back to the bow.Resting at my twenty-foot stop I couldn’t helpbut spend the time planning my next dive onthis wreck. I know that it will take me at leastanother half dozen good dives to get all thepictures I want.We will return to dive The Straits of Mackinacagain. The old Lady will live on as longas scuba divers come to visit the depths ofLake Michigan to relive the great age of thesteamship.Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel;Chicago Tribune; Michigan State FerryAlbum; Cyber Diver News Network; BowlingGreen State University Libraries and others.Snapshot:Captain Dale BennettCaptain Dale Bennett is co-owner ofthe M/V Enterprise and holds a 100ton US Merchant Marine master’slicense. He has been diving LakeMichigan shipwrecks since 1973.He is a TDI Instructor Trainer andspecializes in Advanced WreckDiving and Mixed Gas technicaltraining. Captain Dale can bereached at 847.640.8113dale@captaindales.comwww.captaindales.com

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“BACKSCATTER”Caribbean Reef Shark. Photo taken by Nate Pittock.Tea cup from the Andrea Doria.Brian, Tracy and Ethan Pautsch interact with the dolphins at Atlantisin the Bahamas.A large angelfish followed Tracy Pautsch during a Bahamas dive.The Wreck of the “Mr Bud.” in Roatan, Honduras. Photo by DanSchmidt.Julie Schmidt on the bridge of the “Mr Bud.” wreck in Roatan,Honduras.SPRING 2008 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING 27

“BACKSCATTER”A elephin spotted in Maui. 1 of 24 remaining in the world.Parrotigers can be seen only on night divers in the Bahamas.Captain Darrick on a wall in the Exuma’s. Photo taken by Nate Pittock.Butterfly fish taken by Nate Pittock in the Exuma’s.28 MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING SPRING 2008

“BACKSCATTER”Steve Tisinai uses “El Cheapo” brand oxygen analyzer before a 190-foot dive on the Roscinco off of Racine, WisconsinDive training weekend at Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, Illinois“Backscatter”Do you have underwater diving photos, pictures from top side events, photos fromscuba club gatherings or vacation albums? We’d love to show them here in the“Backscatter” section of the magazine. Be sure to include your name, email addressand a short description the photo.You can email them to:captdarrick@midwestscubadiving.comor mail them to:Midwest Scuba Diving Magazine4417 N. RiverdaleJohnsburg, IL 60050Specializing in Sales, Service, Trips & InstructionOpen Water Classes start every six weeks.PADI Specialty Classes start weekly15% OFFNewEquipmentPurchaseover $100With SAVE coupon only.Expires 063006.Upcoming Trips* Bahamas Liveaboard* Cozumel* Florida Keys* Cayman BracIn-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 60534708-442-4388SHERWOOD & 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.The Illinois Institute of Diving438 Roosevelt Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL1-800-HOW-TO-DIVE - 630-469-3483www.800howdive.com - diving@800howdive.com

Pat Hammer (standing left) withHarold Bach (standing right) andRichard Hartley receiving thePADI Platinum AwardSafety Stop: Pat HammerPat Hammer, owner of Scuba Emporium in Orland Park, Illinois, is afixture in the Midwest diving community. He is one of only 65 PADIPlatinum Course Directors in the World. Mr. Hammer started diving ata young age. In 1971, while still in college, he belonged to a dive clubwith over 150 members. Being foresighted, he realized the potentialsuccess of opening a dive store. Pat opened his first facility in 1974 andbecame a course director in 1975. Over the years he has owned stores inIllinois, Michigan, Atlanta, Georgia and Crystal River, Florida. Todayhe owns facilities in Orland Park, Illinois and Lauderhill, Florida.Early in his career Pat opened a store in Alsip, Illinois, next to a CoffeeShop, which he frequented. It was there that he met a waitress namedSherry. They married and Sherry became a big part of Pat’s life andbusiness. Sherry loves to teach so it was a great match from the verybeginning. Pat gives Sherry a lot of the credit for the tremendous successof his operations. She wears many different hats, handling accountsreceivable, accounts payable and much of the financial and accountingaspects of the stores. Pat likes to say that “Sherry holds the pursestrings, I am just an employee!” Pat does a lot of Instructor TrainingCourses in Illinois. Since 1980 he has also held training in Caribbeanlocations such as Sandals Resort in Jamaica and St. Lucia. Heeven does Instructor Courses in the desert southwest state ofArizona. He also owns the Our World-Underwater expositionthat is hosted every year at the Donald Stephens ConventionCenter in Rosemont, Illinois. Our World-Underwater is withoutquestion one of the most successful venues in the United States.Pat told us, “Eileen Skiba is my right hand on the project anddoes a fabulous job.”Pat completed two terms with DEMA’s Board of Directors,which gave him the ability to speak and interact with manydive retailers from all over the world. Organizing the trips andtraveling with his clients is Pat’s favorite activity. Unfortunately,traveling for fun has been difficult because of a busy instructionalschedule. He also enjoys spending time at his Florida store wherehe mingles with guests and makes an occasional dive off his boat“Hammer Time.” Pat Hammer may be the most successful diveprofessional in the Midwest and is definitely a Midwest Diveryou should know! He can be contacted at scubapat@aol.com andhttp://www.scubaemporium.com

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