DiveTracker Scout is a very easy, yet very useful, underwater homing system. Standard tasks include marking of underwater objects, safeguarding and recovery of underwater instrumentation and vehicles, general diver navigation, and emergency pingers for divers.

The system consists of two apparatus - a transmitter (aka. pinger) and a receiver. Using the indicators on the receiver, a diver can easily return to any location or object marked with a transmitter. To serve as a distress beacon, the transmitter can be carried by a diver and can be activated if an emergency occurs. A diver can carry transmitters, and then use them to mark underwater objects or locations for a later return. The Scout uses a single 3-color light to indicate both distance and direction. Now just watch the light. Orange means 100 to 300 feet. The light blink speed will also vary. It will indicate that you’re 100 feet away (slowly blinking green) or 20 feet away (quickly blinking green).

Highly recommended!

DIVE TRACKER SCOUT SYSTEM

-Scuba Guy

Hey scuba divers….start preparing for what should be a fun event on May 15th.  The Air Force will be sinking one of their retired ships off Key West, Florida to form the newest artificial reef.  The General Hoyt S. Vandenberg was used for missile and manned spaceship tracking before it was decommissioned in 1983.  The ship will be scuttled in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  Have fun and be safe!

-Scuba Guy

I recently found myself needing to replace my old diving fins.  It’s been awhile since I’ve shopped for fins and to be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to it.

As luck would have it, I ran into some old dive buddies last week.  After a few beers (okay, several beers…LOL), we started talking about diving equipment.  I immediately asked them about their fins. 

One of my friends bought new fins about a month ago.  This particular friend is “Mr. Research” so I knew he spent a helluva lot of time comparing different ones before picking one.  In the end, he went with Mares.  He said he went with the Avanti Quattro open heel fins and absolutely loves them.

He said they were so much better than split fins.  And he said the thrust was amazing.  He mentioned the binding straps are a bit tricky but overall, he said they were the best diving fins he’d ever owned.

After I got back home, I did my own research, found the Mares Avanti Quattro fins at a great price and ended up ordering them.  I can’t wait to try them out.

-Scuba Guy

If you’ve ever dreamt of swimming among marine life but haven’t taken the first step in your scuba diving adventure, you’re in luck (sort of).

Endless Ocean is a new underwater diving video game by Arika. The premise is you have a boat, a diver, some basic scuba equipment which you use to explore a fictional sea. During your dive, you can explore shipwrecks, reefs, etc., take pictures, and interact with various marine life.

Don’t want to dive alone? No problem. You can either explore with a dolphin that you befriended and trained or you can go with another player.

And you’re not limited to simply swimming around looking at things. The diver may receive requests to find some sunken treasures or to serve as an underwater tour guide.

If you prefer some action and violence in your video games, then you’re out of luck. No spearing marine life (or each other) and no shark attacks. But I doubt you’ll miss it with this very entertaining game.

Check it out – it’s pretty cool - - -> Endless Ocean Video Game

-Scuba Guy

I believe it was 2005 when a management how-to book came out by Harvey McKay called “Swim with the sharks without being eaten alive”.  Personally, I always thought the book was a load of crap because why would people want to act like sharks and a__holes at work?  But I guess they do at some places.

 Why am I mentioning this book?  Because I saw an article this week about a chance to dive with sharks and it reminded me of the book title.  (Lame, huh?)  Anyway, the article talked about how people all over the UK were trying their hand at scuba diving in a tank full of sharks, eels, and stingrays.

But that might sound more dangerous and adventuresome than it really is because the dive is held in the Blue Planet Aquarium (Ellesmere Port, Cheshire) and benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.  I think it would still be a great thrill for the beginning scuba diver.

If you happen to be in England and are interested, you can send an email to charlesh@muscular-dystrophy.org for more details.

-Scuba Guy

Sorry but I couldn’t resist posting this video of Jessica Simpson “trying” (and I do mean TRYING) to get into her scuba suit.  After all, I’m only human!  :)  

This is just a good example of why everyone should buy a wetsuit that fits.  You never know when someone will have the camera rolling as you struggle to climb in. -Scuba Guy