Archive for the ‘Recreational Diving’ Category

K2 Adventure: Scuba Diving Colorado

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

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Colorado is a landlocked state hundreds of miles from the nearest coast, but you can nonetheless take pleasure in scuba diving; Colorado has a number of lakes and rivers that can offer challenge and enjoyment. A Colorado scuba or snorkel diving family vacation is not as far-fetched as you may surmise. For all those who are "hard-core" about their scuba diving, Colorado lakes and rivers are just as good as anyplace in the globe.

The City That Drowned
One of the much more intriguing locations for a Colorado scuba diving family vacation is Horsetooth Reservoir southwest of Fort Collins. In 1946, the federal Bureau of Reclamation chose to drown the town of Stout, based along the La Poudre River. By 1949, the dam was finished and Stout, which had been established only seventy years earlier as a camp for stone quarry workers, had to be abandoned. The remains of the city are still beneath water at the lake’s southern end; with suitable training and dive gear, Colorado scuba divers can enjoy a fine adventure.

Historic Mining
Following outfitting at their nearby Colorado scuba diving equipment supplier, scuba divers may possibly wish to head for the higher nation to the historic mining community of Leadville, in which scenic Turquoise Lake is correct close by. The lake provides some exceptional opportunities for exploration by way of scuba diving; Colorado’s mining market was the heart and soul of the state’s economy for decades. Provided the close by town’s historical significance, who understands what exciting artifacts a diver may encounter on a Colorado scuba diving holiday?

Obtaining Your Dive Gear
Colorado has its fair share of merchants that sell correct tools, staffed by experienced personnel who also offer certification courses. Colorado diving equipment suppliers can also give you insight as to exactly where in the state to go. If you have the time and cash to go even more afield, however, the very good folks at Colorado scuba diving equipment supply shops can also arrange scuba diving vacations to other, much more exotic destinations as properly.

In any event, you will will need to be certified prior to you go scuba diving. Colorado demands are just as stringent as other spots in the U.S., and this of course is for your personal protection; you’ll need to have to know about the regular hazards, protection practices and how to correctly use and care for dive products. Colorado divemasters and senior divers local to the area can take you on this adventure and assist you in getting prepared for the scuba diving colorado specialties you will need to enjoy your vacation.

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K2 How To’s: Choosing the proper Scuba Mask

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

It is mandatory to get the correct dive gear if one is to safely enjoy the sport. It would be very dangerous and exasperating if you were to get the wrong equipment; for example, if you were to go diving with a scuba mask that has a leakage and keeps irritating you. It is advisable that you take the necessary precautions when choosing your gear, to enable you enjoy your underwater sightseeing experience to the maximum.

The scuba mask enables you to see clearly underwater. It does this by creating an airspace. When diving at depths greater than 10 feet, the airspace created by the mask must be brought to equilibrium otherwise it might crash your face. This is why a scuba diving mask is made to enclose your nose such that your breathing will be used to equalize the airspace. As such, open masks that do not have an enclosure for the nose can only be used for snorkeling and not for diving.

The main features of a scuba diving mask include: a faceplate or lenses, a comfortable skirt and a head strap. Each manufacturer will model these 3 features into various styles and shapes ranging from oval shaped models to low internal volume masks. Besides the design, scuba masks, just like scuba diving finsscuba tanks or scuba wet suits differ depending on the material they are made from. Divings masks are either made from Neoprene or silicone material. Masks made from Neoprene rubber are usually black in color and whereas those made from silicone are translucent. Neoprene masks have the advantage of being cheaper than silicone masks. Neoprene masks do not allow light in from the sides. As such they are more suited for snorkeling since they keep away reflection of the light that may hinder your visibility when snorkeling. Silicone masks on the other hand are more durable and much more comfortable to wear hence are more suitable for scuba diving.

The following features are worth considering when buying a scuba mask.

  • The mask’s field of vision should be wide to allow you greater visibility underwater.
  • The mask should provide a good seal and comfortable skirting with a close fit against your face.
  • The mask should be made of tempered glass lenses – This ensures additional safety since in the event they were to break, the glass is less likely to shatter in fine small pieces.
  • The mask should have nose pockets enabling you to equalize during descents.
  • An adjustable strap with an inbuilt lock mechanism. Stay away from masks that have a fused strap.
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K2 Vacation Ideas: Cruises & Scuba/Snorkel Diving – The Ideal Match

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

So you have made a decision to go on getaway. You like tropical destinations, you want to relax a bit, release pressure of the every day life, but you’re also in for some adventure? What would the perfect getaway appear like for you. . . you good looking and smart K2 Member of the Tribe?

Scuba diving cruises is your solution. With a cruise ship you check out locations all above the planet, which includes some of the very best tropical scuba diving locales.

On a scuba diving cruise you can appreciate the climate, the food and the luxury of the cruise ship. But possibly you also like buying or perhaps you are on family vacation with somebody who like purchasing. No issue, options adequate to shop on the cruise ship alone or at the neighborhood shops when stopping at the ports.

If you are seeking for adventure you truly ought to go scuba scuba diving while on cruise vacation. While you visit all individuals great scuba diving places there is practically nothing that must hold you back again. Cruises often visit some of the very best scuba diving areas close to the globe: the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Australia, Hawaii, Jamaica, Malta, Mexico, Egypt, and Thailand. There is a purpose way scuba scuba diving is turning out to be far more and far more well-known.

Do you know that you can have your scuba & snorkeling gear shipped directly to your vacation?

It is as easy as calling us up and giving us your drop dead date, we will handle all of the details and have your brand new watersports gear waiting for you at your destination.

Several cruise ship companies have agreements with the neighborhood scuba diving operators to book scuba scuba diving sessions on the ship itself. The excellent issue about this is that the diving trip is organized by way of the cruise company and the ship won’t leave if for some purpose you arrive back late. But don’t be concerned if your cruise company doesn’t offer you such support. You can often guide you diving sessions just before leaving on holiday. There are adequate choices on the net to do this very simple. Often these neighborhood dive operators even offer you choose up and drop off providers from and to the ship to make every thing simpler.

If you live from evening to evening and just sense like you want to dive some working day, you can always publication the working day by itself when you quit at a seaport.

Now here is something we hope you will really like:

Scuba Diving Hand Signals

K2 News: Nude Snorkelling Record Attempt to Help Great Barrier Reef

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K2 How To’s: Underwater Videography (Part 2)

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

In Part 1, we looked at two factors that will influence the purchase of an underwater camera i.e the amount of money you are willing to pay and the area of interest that you will be taking pictures. Let us now look at other factors:

3.  Technical Skill Level

It is recommended that you first perfect your scuba diving skills before you attempt doing anything else underwater, taking pictures included. It is your diving skills that will determine the picture quality of your photo shoots while at the same time ensure your safety. Also consider the fact that while underwater you are your brother’s keeper, so your diving  skills should be good enough to take care of you and your diving partner in case of an emergency.

If you are comfortable with your diving skills, then you can look at your photography skills. If you are not very good at handling camera equipment, consider getting an automatic camera. Otherwise expert divers who can handle sophisticated camera equipment can go for manual camera systems since they are more willing to dedicate a lot of their time to pre and post dive equipment preparation and have the required skills to do it. Look through various scuba diving equipment reviews for more information on automatic and manual cameras.

4.  Diving Destination / Size of the equipment.

Divers who prefer local destinations can easily carry with them all manner of camera /housing equipment however bulky it might be. If travelling to remote destinations, carrying bulky camera equipment might be very inconveniencing, expensive and in some instances impossible taking into account recent travel restrictions.

The size is also a factor when considering other equipment that you will be using e.g. scuba tank, scuba diving bcd, dive computer etc. Carrying too much equipment can easily compromise your safety.

5.  Mode of Distribution

Nowadays, how you will distribute your photos and videos should be a major consideration. Cameras that record directly to memory or disc are preferable due to the ease in sharing the media afterwards. These memory cards are very portable and can easily be stuffed into your scuba wetsuit pockets. However, for others who need professional video and photos for e.g. broadcasting, they may opt for HD recording cameras which are more complex.

Having taken all the five factors into consideration, you can finally make a wise purchase of your underwater camera equipment. Happy buying!!

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K2 Uh Ooh: Surfer Attacked by Shark in North Florida

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Surfer needs 300 stitches in foot after shark attack

A surfer needed more than 300 stitches in his foot after being attacked by a shark.

By Paul Thompson in Miami
Published: 11:53PM BST 27 Jul 2010

Clayton Schultz has described the agonising pain as the shark clamped his jaw around his foot.

“All I really felt was teeth and tearing,” said the 20 year old student.

“I was hopping back on my board and the shark came up and grabbed my foot and shook it around a little it and let go.

“I popped right up and got on my board and lifted my foot out of the water. It was torn up real good.”

Mr Schultz was surfing with friends at Jacksonville Beach, North Florida, over the weekend when he was attacked.

Another surfer helped get him to the shore where he was rushed to hospital.

Doctors inserted over 300 stitches into the gaping wound and he was told he was lucky not to lose his foot.

Wildlife experts believe he was attacked by a Tiger shark that inhabits the Gulf of Mexico.

(Now, for a Shameless Plug)

Shark Shield Antenna on a Surfer's Ankle

The Shark Shield FREEDOM 7 is a compact, versatile and light weight personal shark deterrent system which allows you to explore and enjoy the oceans without fear.
It’s designed for all water sports including, swimming, spear fishing, bodyboarding and snorkeling and is the preferred product for scuba divers. The Shark Shield FREEDOM 7 is fitted to the ankle region with the supplied neoprene and Velcro pouch.
The unit incorporates a velcro pouch, that is attached to the ankle region and 2.2m flexible mesh antenna. Once the antenna is submerged in salt water the electrodes emit the protective field.  You can read more here. . .

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