A simple to use and inexpensive gauge can help you save a dive or save your life. An IP (intermediate pressure) gauge can:

• Tell you immediately if the problem is with a first stage or second stage of your regulator. Then can help you make a go – no decision if it’s safe to dive.
• It may be the only way to tell if you have even a small leak in your system. You SPG or Computer pressure only measures the first stage/tank pressure and cannot tell you anything about the your system beyond the first stage.
• Track the health of your regulator and know if it needs servicing before the recommended service cycle (usually annual or number of dives).
• Can help you determine if you have blockage in your regulator

Many of those savvy about regulators are surprised that more divers don’t carry an IP (Intermediate Pressure) gauge in their save-a-dive kit. But don’t feel ashamed if you haven’t a clue why. It is likely that no one, in your training or at your local dive shop, ever explained why this inexpensive tool is so valuable when you know how to use it.

On the other hand, we have to say that we found some regulator service professionals who were worried that suggesting to divers that they carry an IP gauge will make it more likely that untrained divers will try to adjust or service their own regulators and contribute to their own deaths (please see the note below)*. All information can be a double edged sword and we hope that you will “read responsibly.”

IP WHAT?

Intermediate Pressure or IP is that air pressure found in the hoses that are between your first stage (on your tank) and your second stage (in your mouth) or your octo (aka safe- second), BCD and or drysuit. The only hose that does not carry IP air is the one going to you submersible pressure gauge (SPG) or air-integrated dive computer. The actual pressure is determined by the design of your regulator and is set by the manufacture. If it is not with in a specific range, you either are not getting a proper breath of air or your regulator is going to be uncontrollably free flowing. The IP can be out or range for a variety of reasons even in a brand new regulator you just purchased. For that reason, Don advises that you only purchase a regulator from a dive shop that can and does test every regulator they sell.  Even so, without an IP gauge you could be diving an unsafe regulator now.

THE GAUGE

The IP gauge for regular every day testing is a simple 0-300 psi gauge with a fitting that will allow it to snap into your BCD hose. While we see many as low as $16 on the web, Don recommends paying a bit more and getting one like the XS Scuba AC380 Intermediate Pressure Checker which features 2” diameter dial, stainless steel case, an overpressure relief valve to prevent gauge damage, protective rubber boot, push button bleeder, o-ring seal and options for different hose adaptors. Besides having better readability and  durability, the AC380 gauges bleeder valve and overpressure relief allows you the flexibility to use the gauge directly connected to a first stage LP port or to connect to non-standard BCD hoses. Please note that you should never connect the cheaper gauges or any gauge without an over pressure relief unless you have a second stage also connected. Even many service technicians have made been injured  by making this mistake.

WHAT CAN IT TELL?

You can plug in the gauge when you have a problem or anytime before a dive just to check the health of your regulator. If you see that the IP is out of the specified range or is not “locking up” (i.e. the needle is not stopping, but is drifting higher), you know that this regulator is not safe to dive, the problem is in the first stage,  and you need to get is serviced before diving again.

If you have a problem with your regulator and your IP gauge needle stops and stays within the specified range you know the first stage is fine. Depending on your skill level, your MAY be able to fix the problem or change the second stage and continue diving.

If you observe that the gauge needle holds fine within the specified range, but drops after you turn off the tank, this will mean that you have a leak somewhere in one of the second stages, hoses or devices connected to the first stage.

If your IP gauge drops way down when you take a breath on your regulator it would likely indicate a blockage somewhere in the regulator.

BENCHMARK: All portable gauges tend to read differently. You should have your repair shop test your regulator on a professional repair bench, then note the reading when you test it with your personal IP gauge. You can now use your gauge to the tell when your system is changing and needs to be serviced by a professional.

*IMPORTANT: Your regulator is life support equipment. The IP qauge can help you asses the health of your regulator. But, all regulator adjustments and service should be performed only by certified and qualified regulator technician. 

Don Peterson has spent over 20 years developing his craft as a master technician. His diving career has followed the development of the industry’s gear. He started diving in the early 70′s on a double hose reg. He turned professional in the 80’s as the dive industry started to serve the needs of a more diverse population. Don  is backed by multiple manufacturer certifications and tens of thousands of hours of experience. He serves divers and dive stores through out the United States.

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• We were impressed with the unique and sturdy Aqualung 3 LED  Alu Trio Dive light, which has a distinctive, flattened, elliptical shape that fits easily in a BC or drysuit pocket. The anodized aluminum light puts out 780 lumens using 8 AA batters but only 4 are required to use the light at full power. The extra batteries increase the burn time. At first glance you might wonder about the fit, but it feels natural and comfortable in your hand. MSRP is $350. There is also a traditional round Alu Solo which puts out 260 lumens.
• We stopped by and chatted with Doc of Doc’s Pro Plugs. Doc has been a fixture at dive shows for decades. He said he created the Pro Plugs back,  in 1978. We find the Pro Plugs are great for helping divers prevent ear problems. Today we learned today that their unique design with the small hole piercing the center also makes them useful at rock concerts and races. The small hole cuts down on the noise but still allows you to hear what is going on.
• Fans of the Light and Motion Sola 1200 dive light  often ask if a car charger is available.  Talking with the Sola rep at the booth, the rep realized that they have a car charger in their famous bicycle line that will work with the Sola 1200. He promised to make it available to dive shops. (OPPS - UPDATE: We called Light and Motion to confirm and it turns out that this product is not availailable. The sell a standard car DC plug to 110 volt adapter, but no direct car to the Sola adapter. Sorry.)
• Jason Gallic of Palo Alto Software showed us their business planning software which he says can help dive shops with sales and marketing. We’re getting a copy for review and will report back.
• The makers of Frog Spit mask defogger, which we have tested and liked, made a smaller dispenser. Divers commented that their previous 2 oz. size allowed too much product to be applied to the mask. The newer size is a small spray dispenser.  Also available are small travel dispensers similar to the design of single use eye drop containers but they still hold several days use of Frog Spit in each. These packages are sealed and can be carried in your dry suit or BCD pocket.
• Zeagle has a new travel BC called the Wicked Lite. Weighing in at less than 4 lbs, this back inflate BC rolls up in a neat package that will fit easily into your luggage. It has 32 lbs of lift and can carry 16 lbs of weight. MSRP is $400.
• The Dive Commercial International booth rep told us that some commercial divers are switching from the traditional compressed neoprene drysuits in favor of the super-flexible Whites drysuits.
• For the first time, Huish Outdoors had all three of their recently acquired companies together on the show floor, Atomic, BARE and StahlSac. BARE was showing their SB System drysuit along with their other new drysuits with similar features except for the breathability.
• Many visitors to the DUI booth were interested in the new Flex Extreme. We found it interesting when the rep reported that there is a trend of more people wanting to dive dry.
• SSI Training had multiple local dive shops working together in their booth. What a concept!!!
• NAUI Worlwide gets the best free bags at the show award, with the return of their colorful and useful bags that were on hiatus last year.

• Seasoft Booth: The new sales manager is really doing her job. She showed me some exciting new products from Seasoft including their “Raygun” dive light family. These are remarkably light and inexpensive 300 lumen lights starting at $99. They have wide and narrow beam versions as well as a rechargeable model for slightly more. I also liked their WATERMARK NITE-EDGE™ Glow-in-the-Dark Titanium Knife. But, most interesting was the new SEASOFT XV-4™ Drysuit. This suit’s 4 mil crushed neoprene was noticeably more flexible than other CN suits. The material was also very slick, as it incorporates the same technology used by swimmers competing in the Olympics to minimize drag.
• Edge Gear  Scuba was showing their new EXP regulator with balanced first and second stages for only $239 msrp. They claim it is the cheapest balanced reg available. The also have balanced octos for $79.
• Peter Hunt was there to sign his book Setting the Hook: A Diver’s Return to the Andrea Doria
• Scuba Pro was showing their elegant Meridian multi-function watch/full function dive computer. It features a unique integrated Heart Rate Monitor that senses your effort, incorporates it into the workload calculation and then adapts the decompression algorithm.
• Sub Gear has a brand new air integrated version of the XP10 computer. The XPH is a full featured (including nitrox) hose-air integrated computer for only $475.
• The Cousteau history exhibit is one the best features of the NWDS. The exhibit is a small subset of features from the Flashback Scuba Museum located upstairs in the nearby Tacoma Scuba Center. The museum is open from 5-9 pm, usually with an included special event on the 1st Friday of each month. Viewings are available by appointment at other times. They recently partnered with the nonprofit Northwest Diving History Association. For information, contact Ryan Spence, the owner and curator at ryan@flashbackscuba.com. They are also selling the Richard Hyman book, FROGMEN The true story of my journeys with Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the crew of Calypso, as a fundraiser. I recently started reading this book and highly recommend it.
• Whites Diving is showing their new super-cozy, super flexible Thermal Fusion Undergarment. This is must see for any temperate diver and is an ScubaGadget Editors Choice award winner. 
• Rendezvous Diving Adventure of Barkley Sound BC, was showing (selling) their new video, Kelp and Critters to raise awareness and money for their ongoing stewardship projects which include a sixgill shark counting.
• Eric Morris, president of High Tide Dry Suits was helpful in illustrating an answer to a long held question of mine. I have always wondered about the effective life of neoprene wetsuits. He showed me the cuff of a new 5 mil neoprene suit next to a the cuff of the same model suit after 350 dives (see a photo on http://facebook.com/scubagadget ). The used suit looked like a 2 mil suit and obviously no longer had any use for thermal protection. Eric said that on average a sport grade neoprene (F02) wetsuit or uncompressed drysuit looses it usefulness in less than 200 dives or on any dive deeper than 100 feet. On the other hand, a compressed neoprene drysuit should last over 2000 dives.
• Ocean Edge Outfitters was showing and selling their EEZYCUT TRILOBYTE simple and safe cutter for lines and nets (see http://www.scubagadget.com/?p=1790). We feel safer diving with this cutter. They also have the Santi (of Poland) drysuit undergarment heated vest and heated jumpsuit.
• American Underwater Products was showing their unique Lavacore garment line. These include jumpsuits, tops, pants, vests, socks and hoods designed to be used as a fleece wetsuit in warm water or under a regular wetsuit for extra warmth and comfort. The windproof garments also work for après dive or most any outdoor sport. The were also showing their unique and new Hollis Explorer, fully automated, recreational rebreather which is reported to be coming soon for around $5500. 
• Liquivision has a new model in the line of OLED, button-less dive computers. After the demise of UEMIS, the Liquivison “Axiom” is the only recreational wrist mount air and nitrox, recreational, OLED computer. It retails for around $895. They are also promising to have an air integrated model soon for nearly the same price (Can you say “Osborne Effect”)
• We saw Mares X-Stream fins (see http://www.scubagadget.com/?p=1555) in new colors, pink, soft blue and black-black. It was a limited run, but could become more if sales are good. They wear also showing the interesting Instinct regulator. The revolutionary design of this second stage has a side exhaust deflects the exhaled breath. The design is supposed to make sure that hardly any bubbles will ever crowd your view. They also have a new mouthpiece made from their super soft “Liquid Skin” silicon used in Mares masks. We also learned that some Mares masks have optional cheater lens inserts available that are much less expensive than current (send away) options.
• The Octopus Gardens Diving shop in Port Townsend at the SSI booth. Shop owner and regulator master Don Peterson is available there for any regulator queries you have.
• The fashionable shirts and bags at the Rum Reggae boot were drawing a crowd and worth a look.
• The Midland XTC Wearable Video Cameras were on exhibit. These surprisingly small (only 3 1/3" long, 1 2/3" tall and 1 1/6" wide) cameras are said to be easy to use even when wearing gloves. Like the GoPro, they  capture action on the go. Unlike the GoPro the kit comes with the flat port needed for making videos while diving. The booth is also showing UV video taken with this camera. The MSRP for the Midland XTC150VP2 with four mounts, 2 AAA batteries, USB cable and owners manual is only $109.99 (online and store pricing may vary). The other models have an MSRP from $99.99 to $249.99. Midland will soon release an XTC350 having a camo finish and 1080p True HD resolution (like the XTC300VP4).

MORE TOMORROW 

ScubaGadget will be reporting live from the show floor both days via FaceBook, Twitter and this ScubaGadget site. We will have live tweets and posts and daily summaries, as well as the post show wrap up and best of show awards. Please let us your tips and choices for best of show via facebook or email john@jmckenzie.com.

PRICE IS $20 OR $10 OR FREE!!

You can pay the regular admission of $20 per day ($15 for youth 10-17)  or you can pay half-price with this ScubaGadget Discount coupon [CLICK FOR DISCOUNT COUPON]. You can also see the show for free if you stay at the expo’s host hotel, the Hotel Murano during the show. If you book a room at the Hotel Murano, you get up to 4 free show passes to add to the $30 discount (show price $139) off of the regular room price ($169). The Murano is across the street from the Tacoma Convention Center.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR

• A beer garden on the show floor featuring live music. It was supposed to be included last year, but bureaucracy won out.
• A dry treasure hunt on the show floor featuring QR code hints that lead you to prizes.
• A dive pool treasure hunt
• A show floor theater showing photo contest entries, dive videos and videos from local organizations.
• A show floor stage featuring vendor talks and demonstrations.
• New and improved kid’s section offering 3-9 year olds a chance to have some interactive fun. Kids under 10 are free.
• Special hand tie-dyed t-shirts for to help raise money breast cancer research through “Dive for a Cure”

…AND MORE

Other show traditions which are continuing and growing this year include the Saturday night banquet and film festival, which includes award for the Local Legends Award: Bill High and Diver of the Year: Diana Hollingshead and the photo contest.

FOOD TIP

I recently had lunch at the Hotel Murano’s Bites Restaurant. Everyone in my party swooned over the fries. We agreed that these were the best garlic fries we had every eaten any where in the world. Each one tasted as if it had been delicately painted with garlic butter. I will certainly be headed there for lunch to re-enjoy this creation by executive chef Matt Stickle. He also suggested trying the Fries in white truffle oil.

THE 3 TREASURE HUNTS

The main underwater NWDS Treasure Hunt has been evolving this year and organizer have made changes for this year that they are hopeful will resolve the previous years’ concerns. This year will be no actual treasure chest, all prizes will be awarded to those that find numbered golf balls. Divers only need to find one ball and only one ball per diver will be eligible to win. The grand prize will be awarded to that person that find the “magic ball” but no one will know which ball is magic ball until the drawing. If no one finds the magic ball, the grand prize worth $1000 will be put in the general prize pool. With the number of prizes and entries, organizers say everyone entering will likely win something. The entry price for the treasure hunt is $35 in advance or $40 on the day. The hunt is held at Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park.

Two other treasure hunts, both included in the admission price, have been added this year; a show-floor treasure hunt and demo pool hunt.

Show Floor Treasure Hunt: Certain vendors will have QR codes at their booth. Scanning the codes with a capable device will both reveal that prize and lead you to others around the show floor. Prizes will be randomly awarded by the vendors to someone who has scanned the code at their booth, but awards will be handed out by the show staff.

Demo Pool Treasure Hunt: The demo pool on the show floor will also have tokens at the bottom and anyone using the pool to test dive equipment will be eligible to grab one for a chance to win a prize. The top prize is a week at the the Atlantis resort valued at $3000.

DIVE FOR A CURE PARTNERSHIP

The NWDS has a goal to raise $12,000 for the fight against breast cancer partnering with Oregon-based Dive for a Cure organization. Dive for a cure has raised over $100,000 in the struggle against breast cancer since 2008.

In a lemons-to-lemonade experience they turned a shirt printing goof-up into an artistic solution.  Rick, Selene and family spent long and grueling hours tie-dying the shirts and turning them into individual works of art. Selene’s son Reagan came up with a special technique that turned out to produce the best shirts of the bunch.  You can help be purchasing shirts and donating at the show. If you get there early enough you may be able to get one of the “Reagan Roll.”

SHOW TIMES and ALL INFO

SATURDAY: Dive Expo Show Floor Open to the public 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Hourly information seminars 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Cocktail Reception 6:30 p.m.; Sat Night Dinner Film Festival 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Treasure Hunt registration at Owen Beach 7:30 a.m.; Treasure Hunt 9 a.m. Dive Expo Open to the Public 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

All other info: http://www.divenewsnetwork.com/tacoma-schedule-of-events.html

SANTA CLARA DIVE & TRAVEL EXPO 2012

Divers from the San Francisco Bay area and all of Northern California again have their own consumer dive show. In past years US Dive shows was producing a small Bay Area dive show but they dropped that venue. Dive News Network, the NWDS sponsors answered that call to bring a consumer dive show to the area. The first SANTA CLARA DIVE & TRAVEL EXPO 2012 will be a slightly small version of the NWDS held in the Santa Clara Convention center. If you know the area, you will recognize that Santa Clara sits in the heart of the Silicon Valley and right between the SF Bay Area divers and the best dive sites they all frequent in the Monterey area.

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The Tech Talk

With all the high tech fleeces available you would think it would be easy to whip up a warm and flexible suit. But, as the cliché goes, if it were easy someone would have done it years ago. There are some serious road blocks and the Whites Team has paved a new path to comfort.

Richard Myerscough (of Ocean Rodeo), former Whites co-owner and current design consultant and gave us some background on the development of the Thermal Fusion.

From the day the first Whites Fusion drysuit was tested in really cold water, the Whites design team and Fusion divers team knew they needed an ultra-warm undergarment to match the flexibility of the suit. When first released, the Fusion drysuit sold well to divers living in moderately temperate areas like southern California. In these areas, the Whites MK2 and other flexible fleece options offered reasonable warmth and flexibility. But the more northern or southern, cooler water (sub 50) divers did not jump on the bandwagon so quickly. The toasty warm Whites MK3 undergarment or other warm-enough options masked the true flexibility of the drysuit.

The pressing need for a more flexible option created a strong incentive to develop with all speed. Yet, it still took a long time for the Whites team to come up with Thermal Fusion. Why was it so hard to combine flexibility AND warmth in one undergarment? Well it is hard because, if you increase either factor in a single suit you decrease the other. More flexible – less warmth, more warmth – less flexible. It seemed like a dead end.

Along with Whites, there were (and still are) other companies that trying to build a form fitting super-flex fleece undergarment. However, there are a batch of “big buts” with form fitting hyper-stretchy suits. When a stretchy fabric stretches, it thins out, and the thinness reduces the insulation. Wetsuit divers have long been aware that the gains of super-stretch neoprene means giving up some warmth over the regular flex options. Another issue with undergarments; if you try to compensate by using extra thick fleece you loose the flex before reaching enough of an insulation factor.

If you just drop the need for form fitting, there is a seemingly simple solution . Just build a suit really loose and oversized. You can make a loose suit out of really thick fleece and a diver will swim in it (sorry for the pun) with no restrictions – think “snuggie.” But put in on under a dry suit and it can bunch in the wrong places and sag down around your ankles… another dead end.

The Whites design team became intimate with all of these limits and almost became stumped. Then Leo Luomala, of Whites R & D had a genius-dah moment. “Why not make it just like the same as Fusion drysuit?” The answer had been staring them in face. Make a ‘thermal fusion’ undergarment. Just like the Fusion drysuit, they combined an oversize inner layer with an outer compression layer. Not only did it allow for a cozy and comfortable oversize core without the sag problems; there was another subtle side effect. It is self adjusting. It will self tune to the most flexible form.

Leo used a baseball example to illustrate why this works. If you watch a baseball player just before batting they often pull up sleeve from the shoulder. He said, “try this.” If you are wearing a normal button down shirt, raise your arm over your head. Unless the shirt is oversized, you will fill the resistance caused by the material in your arm pit. But now first pull up your sleeve by gathering a little material on top of your shoulder. This time when you raise your arm you will not longer feel resistance. When you first put on the Thermal Fusion undergarment the extra material will move into a non-binding configuration and the compression layer holds it there. Plus, the extra material adds extra insulation in high heat loss areas. It also feels surprisingly less bulky than you would think.

With a design that mirrors the Fusion drysuit, it has the sexy look of a custom fit running suit but the comfort of a cozy PJs. After a dive, I hate to take it off.

Another unique feature of the Thermal Fusion is the mesh inserts that are placed under the input and dump valves to allow the flow freely.

EVERY SUIT IS A CUSTOM FIT

Like the Fusion drysuit, the compression layer on the TF makes every suit fit like a custom suit. For divers, this means that you need not worry about the need to purchase a new suit if you gain or lose a few pounds. For dealers, this this feature makes stocking Whites drysuits and undergarments good business. The three core sizes of the suits will fit nearly any man or woman that walks into the dive shop.

COMPARE THEY DID – WITH SCIENTIFIC TESTING…

The Whites team did not depend on mere opinion to make sure this suit keeps you warm. They had the suit run through a battery of rigorous and thorough scientific testing by an independent university laboratory. The testing lab also the same testing on Whites’ competitors undergarments to make sure they had reached their goal of surpassing them all.

…AS DID WE…
Late last year we tested and praised the warmth of the Fourth Element Halo undergarment. With its non-compressible mesh panels and super hero look, it is another amazing piece of warmth technology. However, because the mesh is not flexible it can only be used in certain areas on the suit; over the high heat loss areas of the body. Some flexibility is returned by segmenting the Halo suit and foregoing thickness in other areas. In general that works very well but we did notice some slight restrictions (e.g. across the chest). In the end, the Halo, while still a fine undergarment cannot match the overall flexibility of the Thermal Fusion. While the Halo is generally as warm in the core area as the Thermal Fusion, I noticed that the Thermal Fusion kept my forearms and wrists much warmer than the Halo. These comments are subtle comparisons and do not diminish our appreciation of the innovation of Fourth Element products.

DIVING THE THERMAL FUSION

After donning the Thermal Fusion undergarment in prep for my first dive, in notice I was not overheating. This comfort immediately caused me to lower my expectations. I remember clearly thinking, “well this can’t be a warm suit if I am not sweating on the surface.” But as Gomer Pyle used to say “surprise, surprise, surprise.” I completed a 50 minute dive in 48 F (8.8 C) water and all I had to think about was the beautiful surroundings. Total flexibility and comfort and not a chill.

After over 30 combined test dives, our testers still love the Thermal Fusion. We have even tried diving with as much air evacuated as possible and were still warm in 48 F (8.8 C) water. Other test dives were in around 44 F (6.6 C) water.

There is an initiation that all divers of both the Fusion and the Thermal Fusion must pass. Leaning the unique donning technique. We have heard reps from Whites competitor try to use this to detract from the Whites line. At dive shows they say “look how they have to show or help customers put on the suit. Our suits are easy to don.”  It is a cheap hit and does not hold up. The Whites suits are very easy to don and once you learn how, you can jump in your suit as fast as any other. But if you try to skip this rite of passage you may end up in a tangled mess. A few minutes of instruction are small price to pay.

When we first started diving the Fusion drysuit, it was a conversation starter at the dive sites or on boats. Everyone would ask, “what is it?” and many were skeptical. Now it is common to find 30 to 60 percent of the divers in a group to be wearing Fusions. While the Thermal Fusion undergarment likewise draws attention, there is no skepticism. People see this suit and feel this suit and seem to immediately get it. After a few minutes they are not asking “what is it?” they are asking “where can I get it?”

The Whites Thermal Fusion is not just a great choice for Fusion drysuit divers, it should be a great paring for any drysuit. After only a few dives and even before we understood the genius behind the technology of the Thermal Fusion, we were convinced this product deserved the full five starts and our editor’s choice award.

We are grateful for help provide to us by Richard Myerscough of Ocean Rodeo, Leo Luomala, Justin Balaski, Eric Keating of Whites and Aqua Lung and the entire Whites team.

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Sidemount diving has become very popular with main stream divers of late. It has moved from the realm of the “crazy exploration cave diver” crowd to a configuration that has many benefits for both open water and technical divers. Originally designed to allow cave and sump divers to pass through really small restrictions, the system has become widely accepted and many dive equipment manufacturers now produce and sell sidemount gear.

The primary benefits of a Sidemount configuration (where tanks are slung in a streamlined position along side of the diver) are that it is extremely stable, comfortable and is generally much safer than a traditional back mount configuration. The stability comes from having the two tanks next to your torso, which puts the combined center of gravity of the diver and tanks right in the solar plexus of the diver. This naturally puts the diver in a trim position and allows him/her to swim at any angle desired with no effort. This is so easy in fact that we often swim upside down while in caves so we can admire the decorations on the ceiling without straining our necks. Any of you that have seen the Steve Bogarts videos at http://www.gosidemount.com/ would be amazed at how easy it really is.

The increased safety is provided by having two completely independent cylinders of breathable gas that have their own independent regulators attached to cylinder valves which are both easily reached and easily seen by the diver. This makes it simple to handle regulator/valve/tank failures as you can see what the problem is and can easily reach or inspect the tank/valve/regulator. There is no more fumbling around behind your head shutting down a sequence of valves trying to isolate the failed part.

Technical divers normally use the rule of thirds to insure that there will always be sufficient gas to safely exit. This is also applied to sidemount where frequent gas switching (between the two tanks) always insures that even with the complete loss of all the gas in one tank, there will still enough in the remaining tank to exit safely.

An additional benefit to a sidemount configuration is that you can carry your single cylinders down to the water’s edge, one at a time, and then clip them on in the water. This is a very nice feature for us old farts that have bad backs from hauling a pair of steel tanks up and down our local beaches and boat ladders!

When diving in mixed teams of sidemount and backmount divers, most sidemount configurations will include a long hose on one regulator. This makes it easy for the sidemount diver to donate gas to an out-of-air backmount diver. This type of air sharing works the same as your standard s-drill with the exception that the out-of-air diver signals (hand slashing across the throat) and the sidemount diver then hands the diver their second stage with the long hose. They may or may not be breathing from the long hose at the time, so may have to quickly switch regs. Should the out of air diver panic and simply pull the working regulator from the divers mouth, it will still work, but the short hoses tend to be very short, so they’ll be getting up close and personal until the long hose is deployed.

In sidemount only teams, the long hose is often removed since the chance of anyone losing two completely independent systems is so remote that self-rescue is almost insured and the last resort option would be to swap cylinders with a team mate if all else fails (however, this is much more difficult than it sounds). There are a lot of cave specific benefits to a sidemount configuration that don’t translate to open water, so I’ll skip those in favor of some my recent open water experiences.

Shore diving while sidemounting here in the Northwest works very well. You carry your steel (or aluminum) tanks to the waters edge one at a time and then clip them to your harness and have a great time. On exit, you unclip the tanks in shallow water and then can carry them up to the truck one at a time.

Boat diving on the other hand is not the strong suit for this configuration. Clipping the tanks in place on the boat makes you very wide and makes it difficult to fit through transom doors to get into the water. Clipping steel tanks in place while floating in the water comes with its own challenges. Once one tank is clipped on to your side, the heavy weight will make you roll sideways and makes the second tank an uphill battle. Oh and be sure not to ask your wife to help you hook up the second tank. She may think the current is pulling you away from her, and grab your only working regulator right out of your mouth. Just don’t ask me how I know that a quick pop on top of her head will make her release your second stage so that you can recover it and breath again. I guess we never truly stop learning!

EDITORS NOTE: SSI recently started offering recreational sidemount diving as a specialty and the PADI course is coming within days. For more information see the following: http://www.divessi.com/sc_side and http://tecrec.padi.com/2011/06/01/sidemount-diver-course-coming/.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ScubaGadet welcomes Scott Boyd, our new tec/wreck correspondent. Scott, along with Jeff Carr, is the author of Northwest Wreck Dives. An excellent and enthusiastic photographer as well as scuba diver, Scott’s website, boydski.com, is a treasure trove of photos, as well as information on diving the Pacific Northwest and locations around the world, cave diving and more.  You can read more about Scott and Jeff here.

The Executive Director & Principal Investigator at the Alaska Whale Foundation, Dr. Sharpe has worked with whales for 25 years. When he told me that the humpback populations are recovering across the globe, I was heartened. Too often, the only news we hear is that of our failings: shark finning decimating shark populations to endangered status; coral bleaching from global warming; over-fishing; dumping numerous toxins into the watery world of our undersea brethren – the list goes on and on. It’s great to hear of the comeback of an ocean dwelling species. In fact, in an article from October 2011 in the Alaska Dispatch, it was stated that “the overall humpback whale population in the North Pacific has continued to increase and is now greater than some prior estimates of pre-whaling abundance,” according to a recently published paper in the journal of Marine Mammal Science. Current numbers list these sea giants at 21,000 and growing. This number is 15 times greater than the 1,400 remaining whales following their mid-century decimation from industrial whaling.

As an observer and investigator of whales, Dr. Sharpe described humpback whales as a highly intelligent, diverse culture which employs “tool use, task specialization and forms friendships that last summers, decades, and perhaps lifetimes.” He also contends that “These superlative beings can teach us much about ourselves. Perhaps most importantly, they allow us to find kinship among wild things.” Additionally, he calls the cetaceans “beings of endless possibilities.”

While Dr. Sharpe works on an on-call basis to free humpback whales from entanglement by fishing nets, lines and other gear* (AWF has one of the most experienced disentanglement teams on the West Coast of North America), his primary focus is on social behaviors of humpback whales with an emphasis on bubble feeding. He describes bubble net feeding as a form of “communal tool-using behavior,” initiated by one whale while the rest of the pod teams to drive prey into the net.

The way the bubble net phenomenon works is this: one humpback creates the approximately 65’ wide, 45’ deep bubble net by swimming in a circle and releasing effervescent bubbles from its blowhole. Meanwhile, other members of the pod herd prey, typically herring, to the feeding area using deafening trumpet-like sounds. Once the herring have been caught in the confines of the bubble net, the great beasts feast, bursting to the surface, their jaws open-wide to consume their wriggling meal.

The entire group has to work in concert with one another for prime feeding. There’s a point at which the bubble reaches an optimal point for prey capture. Meanwhile, the herding whales must practice coordinated efforts as a compact group to prevent the herring from moving below them and becoming motionless; a behavior typically exhibited by the fish when frightened. The bubble blowing whale must deploy the bubble net at a depth that is not too deep lest the herring swim up and over the top of the net before it reaches the surface. The complexity of this seemingly simple task is immense.The entirety of this social feeding technique speaks volumes to the intelligence possessed by this species.

When we went to Palau on a scuba diving adventure in October of 2010, my relationship to a different underwater denizen – sharks – changed for the better. Since then, I have become a shark advocate and cheer for each victory won on behalf of shark welfare. While I have never dove with whales (with one exception – they were apparently right over our heads while diving in Neah Bay) but have viewed them on numerous occasions from a boat, it was fascinating to savor a slice of information from one who spends time with them on a regular basis. studying, observing, investigating and cataloging. And, as previously mentioned, it’s nice to hear something positive for a change. If you read the paper or watch the news, every day we hear of tragedy, chaos, doom and gloom, political dissent and mayhem. Hearing that whale populations are going up instead of down, I am reminded that we can assist in positive change. And, listening to Dr. Sharpe speak of whale behavior, as well as reading some of his work, I am again reminded of the richness of ocean life and diversity, and the intelligence that surrounds us. We are only one life form on his planet – there are countless others sharing space with us and we are only beginning to understand the acumen and complexity of other species.

Check out these amazing videos of bubble net feeding and whale vocalization:

• Filming Bubble Net Feeding
• Researchers from the Alaska Whale Foundation
• Humpback whale feeding technique

* If you observe a stranded, entangled or otherwise distressed marine mammal, please consult the NOAA Fisheries Stranding webpage for reporting and response resources in your area.

One Major Problem – Don’t Add Water

In spite of some doubts about quality of the build and the durability of the product — and, after struggling with the recommended but kludgy adjustment – the landside testing was fine. The Easy Tank Strap really did make it easy to snap on the tank and cinch it down tight. But after starting the first test dive, I immediately noticed a problem. My tank was loose and sliding out.  I was a bit surprised because I was using a two strap system so they both had to be loose. I gave the straps the benefit of the doubt and just considered that I had not tightened the ratcheting latch far enough, I lay on the bottom while my buddy gave them another crank.

But something was still amiss. I could not find my pony regulator and after a consultation we realized the pony tank was missing. We retraced our short dive path and found it near the start of the dive. I reloaded, cranked the straps way down and completed the dive with all tanks on board. We noted that straps were again slightly loose at the end of the dive.

On the next dive, I carefully cranked the straps to max and triple checked everything. But again, a few minutes into the dive, I had to catch my pony tank by the hose as it flitted past me on the way to the bottom. Again I noticed that my main tank was also ready to leave me. The bottom strap had also loosened. At least we were getting good loose tank dive rescue practice. With three buddies working on me, we got things back together and I completed the dive. Again despite super tightening the straps they were loose enough at the end of dive that I could slide my pony free with out unlocking the catch.

“Something he forgot to mention…”

When I contacted Alex Strabala, founder and president of Scuba Solutions, to my surprise, he concurred with our findings. He said, “I guess I should have told you that you need to get the straps wet before your attach the tanks.” He also agreed that having to wet the straps ahead of time was an annoying work around for the problem. I added that it may be impossible in some dive situations. Alex said he understood why we could not recommend his product.

Besides the obvious problem of tanks falling out, we also thought the shipping product looked a bit too much like a prototype. The product comes configured for the largest tank sizes. For our 80 and 100 cu ft steel tanks we were told to remove the “ladder strap” and re-attach it using into the second set of grommets. However this leaves an extra section of strap just hanging that you are supposed to fold under when attaching the tank. Additionally, all of the ScubaGadget Labs team and other divers we interviewed felt that ratchet lock device did not look durable and would most likely break on the first accidental impact.

The product came into development as a student project. This company was actually born out of a collaboration between the UNLV graduate departments of Business and Engineering. The Scuba solutions business plan won both the Southern Nevada Business Plan Competition and the Nevada Governor’s Cup award with prizes totaling $70,000. They originally had planned to build a new type of scuba cart. But when that failed the Easy Tank Strap was their backup plan. Alex Strabala, founder and President, is an advanced PADI-certified diver and entrepreneur.

Even though we cannot recommend you purchase the Easy Tank Strap, we certainly give it a star for creativity. We will keep a watch and report on any revisions or new products coming from Scuba Solutions.

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