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If you happened to miss
“Foreign Correspondent” on ABC 1 on 12th March, about diving on the
Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, visit http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2013/s3710545.htm. The
program was devoted to saving the aquifer, which is slowly being swallowed up
by Cancun’s tourism ‘en masse’. The link was originally a preview but it now
includes the full program.
On Sunday 10th March, a scuba
diving couple became engaged underwater in Sydney. The lady was so surprised
when the man popped the question. She had to hold her regulator in to stop it
from coming out as she caught her breath. The moment can be seen on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOFNQqEIzZ8 . To see photos of the happy couple, visit http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152198813230476 .
“The Nautilus Lifeline
incorporates both a GPS and a personal DSC (Digital Selective Calling) enabled
VHF marine radio into a compact polycarbonate housing waterproof to 130m.
Designed to be conveniently carried on every dive, in the event a diver
surfaces some distance away from the boat, by simply opening the top of the
unit and depressing the green button the diver can contact the dive boat on a
pre-selected “chat” channel. The diver can then relay his or her exact location
by reading out the GPS coordinates on the large LCD screen positioned on the
side of the unit. In the event the diver cannot contact the dive boat they can
then choose the orange button which allows transmission on VHF Channel 16
(International marine distress frequency). This will allow the diver to speak
with any VHF equipped vessel or shore station within range. In an emergency
situation, the diver can also send an automated distress signal by pushing and
holding the red button for three seconds. In this situation all modern VHF marine
radios within range will receive an automated distress signal alarm and your
exact coordinates will be visible on the readout of their marine VHF radio. In
automated distress mode the range is double the range of normal voice
communication. The inventor of the Nautilus Lifeline, Mike Lever, a live aboard
charter operator of more than 20 years, was focused on a solution for the very
real problem of lost divers, however, end users started to realise that the
opportunity was much larger than just diving. The Nautilus Lifeline is now
being used by a wide variety of water sports enthusiasts including stand up
paddlers, sea kayakers, kite boarders, jet-ski riders, rock fishermen, etc... Literally
anywhere on or near the water is a potential market. Years ago no one had even
thought of a pressure gauge, a BCD, an octopus - let alone a dive computer or a
safety sausage. One by one, all of these items have become mandatory pieces of
equipment. The Nautilus Lifeline in our opinion is as important as any of these
devices.”
