Stop for a moment, and think of others. Put the anger, the hardness, the walls of your life aside and be thankful for the grace that you have. . . . But don’t stop there, step outside of yourself.
Remember the parable, “I complained because I had no shoes. . . and then I met a man who had no feet”
Think how lucky you are to have your limbs, to be able to walk, to be able to see, to be able to stand upright.
The Scuba Diver Girls, in conjunction with K2 Scuba want to put the heart back into the scuba industry with charitable giving!
The Diveheart Foundation has a need for scuba gear to train disabled divers! These items are displayed on our special featured products page where you can purchase them and we will ship them directly to Diveheart.
Here are some examples of what Diveheart needs from you!
A K2 service specialist will be contacting you after you have made your purchase, however feel free to add any special instructions or comments upon checkout.
Buying Dive Gear for Yourself? You Can Still Help!!!
Receive 10% off most items purchased, plus 10% of any profits will then be donated to the Diveheart Foundation!
More About Diveheart
Diveheart is an incredible organization and it is the “CAN DO” spirit that Diveheart hopes to instill in all its participants by giving them the confidence and independence that allows them to face their own life challenges and overcome barriers that before might have seemed insurmountable.
Through SCUBA diving, the Diveheart Foundation supports and facilitates programs that teach children and adults with disabilities and the military wounded to fly. Thanks to the wonder of the water column, the oceans and lakes of the world become the forgiving weightless environment of outer space, giving perfect buoyancy to a child or adult who would otherwise struggle on land.
LET ME SAY THIS AGAIN: You are going to buy gear. . . buy your gear AND feel good about the fact that you are teaching a wheelchair bound child to dive, you are helping a wounded warrior to feel the freedom of weightlessness.
AND, we are going to give you a discount at that. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
I ask, no expect, no. . .demand your comments!
What other worthy charities should we know about?
What other causes are near and dear to your heart?
The Tribe K2, in conjunction with the ScubaDiverGirls know your heart. . . and it is good!
Savvy Dive Travelers and the TSA Rules and Regulations
DiverWire senior contributing editor John Flanders and boss man at Academy of Scuba did some research this week on scuba travel and related challenges. In the first of a three-part series, he looks at TSA restrictions and their impact on divers.
Traveling with Scuba gear offers many challenges. However, the thought of using rental gear on that “dive trip of a life-time” is enough to make an Open Water Diver cringe. The good news is you CAN bring scuba gear on-board an aircraft – however a savvy traveler understands the TSA rules and airline baggage restrictions.
First let’s look at the Transportation Security Authority (TSA) rules and restrictions. The TSA has nothing to do with weight considerations, but everything about what you can carry on to an aircraft and what you check in the cargo hold. Travelers may bring regulators, buoyancy compensators and masks, snorkels and fins as carry-on or checked baggage. In fact, it is quite surprising how easily these items pass through the TSA scanners without a wink of scrutiny from the TSA personnel. As a rule, all traveling divers should carry on their Scuba regulators, computers and submersible pressure gauges. These items are part of the life support system and shouldn’t be left to possible damage in the airplane’s cargo hold. If you wouldn’t check your laptop computer, why would you check your dive computer? For travelers who need their pony bottle, Spare Air™, or rebreather bottles at their destination, there is good news: Compressed Scuba cylinders are allowed in checked baggage or as a carry-on only if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e. the cylinder has an open end). The cylinder must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection inside. I tape the end of the Scuba cylinder with “painter’s tape” and attach a note to the TSA security officer to replace it after inspection. To date, I have not had an issue doing this. As a rule, TSA Security Officers will not remove the seal or regulator valve from the cylinder at the checkpoint. If the cylinder is sealed (i.e. the regulator valve is still attached), the cylinder is prohibited and not permitted through the security checkpoint, regardless of the reading on the pressure gauge indicator. TSA Security Officers must visibly ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and that there are no prohibited items inside.
Of course, it is no surprise, that dive tools (a.k.a knives) are prohibited from carry-on luggage. These items should be packed in checked luggage. If you travel with a small tool pouch or spare parts kit, you should check those items as well. Spear guns are prohibited from carry-on luggage. These items should be packed in checked luggage. A quick tip, knives and spear guns cannot be brought to a security checkpoint. Pack these items in your checked baggage. If you bring these items to a checkpoint, there it is almost guaranteed that the TSA will confiscate them and a fair chance that you may miss your flight while being detained by the TSA. Like any other baggage, Scuba bags will be scanned and probably hand searched by TSA officials. Do not pack anything suspicious. As always, safety being the highest priority, the TSA requests that all Scuba divers should sheath or securely wrap any sharp objects you pack in your checked luggage to prevent it from injuring baggage handlers and security officers.
The TSA has gone to great lengths to inform travelers and specifically traveling Scuba divers. To learn more about TSA rules, information and prohibited items please visit www.tsa.gov.
Keep your hands free as you dive! This is the world’s only dive mask that has an integrated waterproof HD 720p digital video camera plus photographs at 5 mega pixels.
This is actual video shot by this wicked slick camera:
Operates to a depth of 115′ and eliminates the need to carry an underwater camera. Ideal for scuba diving, spear fishing, free diving and snorkeling. Light attachment accessories available.
This has just been released on the market and we are selling it at K2 for $299.97
Includes: 2GB MicroSD Memory Card Digital Camera Mask USB Cable User Manual Carrying Case ArcSoft Photo Impression Software ArcSoft Video Impression Software 2 AAA Energizer Lithium Batteries included!
Now, your turn! What do you think of this, is it gimmicky and a fad, or is it the future or underwater video and photography?
I got up early, packed my skin, wetsuit, hood, gloves, boots, BCD, regulator, tank, weight, camera, and flashlight…today is dive day with the girls! We met at La Jolla Shores and we were all so excited to dive together. There is nothing better than a Scuba Diver Girls dive day but today we had decided to go find the secret garden which lies beyond the canyon in about 110 feet of water.After gearing up, I guzzled down my big bottle of water and stopped by the shower to rinse off because the sun was beating down on me in my hot 8mm wetsuit! I was sweating and couldn’t wait to hit the ocean. After fighting the wave break and getting on our fins, we started the long kick out to the canyon edge. We dropped down and dove to the garden, enjoying the dive. Suddenly I was cramping up in my leg.
My buddy and I unsuccessfully tried to get the cramp out. After several minutes, I felt tired and just wanted to be done diving. After we got back on shore and rinsed off, I headed home a little disappointed in my dive. About 2 hours later I had a horrible headache and nothing I did would make it go away. What went wrong?
A couple days later I met John Dooley the Managing Director of a company called Diver’s D\Lyte®. We were chatting about diving when I mentioned my bad dive day at the secret garden. He told me “Margo, the answer to your question about what went wrong is not as simple as you think.” And then he said, “Let me explain what happened to you and how dangerous it was!”
“The first thing you did was drink all that water to hydrate before your dive.” John stated
I was confused by this because I thought I should be drinking lots of water before diving to be sure I am hydrated! I asked John what he meant by that and he went on to explain to me that although a core part of diving is to hydrate your body, plain water is not the thing to do it with because it flushes nutrients out of the body. He went on to inform me that scuba diving is the most dehydrating sport you can participate in.
I contemplated what he said…I don’t get all sweaty under the water…but then again…I do pee a lot! John laughed at me and went on to explain that dehydration occurs when the amount of water leaving the body is greater than the amount being taken in and with diving we lose fluids not only when we pee underwater but also from breathing in the super dry air from the tank and expel humidified air from our lungs (ok…he didn’t use the word pee…that was me, lol). Then he added that it is important to drink something with electrolytes added in.
“What is so important about electrolytes?” I questioned.
“Both muscle tissue and neurons are considered electric tissues of the body. Without sufficient levels of these key electrolytes, muscle weakness or severe muscle contractions may occur and may lead to cardiac and neurological complications. Your body needs electrolytes to keep everything firing properly. Without them, muscles can’t move properly and without muscles moving properly, scuba diving can become dangerous.”
That is when I found out that John has worked long and hard on a specially formulated drink just for divers called Diver’s D\Lyte®. I was really interested in understanding why I should drink this so I asked him to tell me more about it.
“Diver’s D\Lyte® is specially formulated with (ionized) electrolytes to ensure your body stays hydrated and in electrical balance so that your muscles and neurons operate optimally.” John explained. “Remember how you were tired, cramped up and got headaches? This is all because you depleted your body of not only fluids but other important nutrients.”
At this point I became even more interested in what was so great about this new drink he was telling me about. I mean there are lots of drinks out there with electrolytes in them. So I asked him, “John, what is so special about Diver’s D\Lyte®? Why is it specifically good for divers?” He told me that what sets his product apart is we use ionized electrolytes in Diver’s D\Lyte® these allow rapid hydration and better absorption of all the vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. They are safe and effective, but are more expensive to make. I don’t know of any other sports related drink that can deliver these levels of electrolytes in a more absorbable form than Divers D\Lyte®.
John smiled and went on, “Simply put, if you are hydrated you are able to release gas off more efficiently so that is critically important to scuba divers. But another important component of our drink is the Antioxidants.”
“I have heard of antioxidants of course John, but I guess I don’t really understand how they work, can you explain this?”
“An antioxidant is a molecule that can slow down or prevent oxidation of other molecules in our bodies. When we exercise like in scuba diving, a chemical reaction occurs that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. This type of reaction can produce free radicals that start a chain reaction that ultimately damage cells. So antioxidants basically terminate these chain reactions by cleaning up the free radicals. This is so important in diving because the oxidation process can cause micro bubble formation which can lead to Decompression Illness (DCS). So we included a potent combination of antioxidants in Diver’s D\Lyte® essentially to slow or stop this process.” John explained.
“OK, I think I understand the role of the electrolytes and the antioxidants. I must have been crazy to have been diving without supplementing my body with these! Is there anything else I need to know about Diver’s D\Lyte®?”
Testing the product to get the formula just right!
“Our drink does not stop there Margo, we also wanted to be sure that divers would have more energy and mental acuity. There is nothing more important when diving than to be able to concentrate and pay attention. So we added an Ayurvedic blend of ingredients that give the diver a source of energy and clarity.” John told me. “We also added B vitamins to improve energy balance instead of loading it up with sugar, this opens up energy channels in the body like clean fuel!”
John was passionate when he told me more, “What’s more important is the Ayurvedic Blend we discovered for a natural peace and balance that allows for a sense of well being and clarity. Mental focus is critical to diver safety for the most enjoyable dives, remember we dive too. In researching proven functional ingredients we selected the best organic and all natural products. These extracts have been used for thousands of years and more recently studied at leading universities around the world to better understand their benefits. The best way I can describe the effect is the level of improved focus we all experienced on the reef. It was like putting on a pair of reading glasses at the age of forty and admitting that they really work well! One of our dive buddies on the test dive was a 63 male diver Michael, I will never forget when he surfaced, spit out his regulator and shouted “this stuff really works!” Since we don’t have the time now to cover all the details surrounding the energy pathways of Diver’s D\Lyte®. Let’s just say for now that Diver’s D\Lyte® offers a subtle source of energy.”
John handed me a few packs of Diver’s D\Lyte® and told me that I should try it out on my next dive. I had one planned for the following Saturday where I would be not only deep diving but doing multiple dives. So I gratefully took the packets and then asked him how I should use it.
He then instructed me on how to use the product, “Drink one pack in a liter of cold water as early as 90 minutes before your dive. This is what we call preloading. This is important because once you get dehydrated, it is hard to play catch up and get hydrated…so it is better to stay ahead of the game. Then drink another in between dives because you lose a full liter of fluid and essential nutrients during your dive. Once you are done diving, drink another as this will help with your off gassing.”
I thanked him and went home to pack the Diver’s D\Lyte® in my dive bag and promised John I would give him a review of how my dive went.
I used the product as instructed on my dives. I never felt better on a dive! I found myself so clear headed and my energy level was perfect. I did not feel the normal fatigue after multiple dives and I experienced no cramping during my dives. But the most important benefit I experienced from using Diver’s D\Lyte® was the absence of my dive headache afterward. I felt like I went from a dive in 5 feet viz to a dive in 50 feet viz! I am extremely pleased with the product and have now decided that this will be a regular part of my dive kit!
John promised me that he would teach me more about the product when we have more time to talk. I had learned so much that I can’t wait to talk to him again! The distribution of the product will start in April and guess what?? Scuba Diver Girls Fans will get a chance to try it first! More on that in the next blog!!!
Thank you Margo for a wonderful product review.
folks, would you like a sample of Divers D/Lyte, please give Debby a call at the office: 818 982 2652 or ping us at debby@k2scuba.com
We are tickled to support such a revolutionary product. . . .
What do you think? is this hydration stuff just snakeoil pretty colored, and sugared water. . . or is it something that every diver should carry in her save a dive kit?
We want to hear your thoughts, so leave your comments below!
Always wanted to know more about scuba diving? Uncover invaluable secrets? I’m willing to give you this eBook for FREE! Just follow the red arrow and join the Tribe Called K2!
Date: February/March 2010
From the Desk of: Tevis Verrett of K2scuba.com
Do you ever envy those adventurous people that plunge below the depths of the ocean to get an up close and personal view of the exciting world of sea life?
Without the right tools and information, it could take you years to figure out the secrets to successful scuba diving. Instead of spending a fortune on so-called experts or knocking yourself out with the old trial and error method, there is an easier way to learn how to scuba dive the way you’ve always dreamed.
I have always had an interest in scuba diving and when I moved near the ocean, I couldn’t wait to give it a try myself. More than once I tried; however, and all with dismal results.
I didn’t understand what I was doing wrong but I was determined to find out!
What I discovered completely changed the way I approached scuba diving! Now I scuba dive all the time and love every minute of it.
How did I do it?
I would love to share my secrets with you and my new special report on scuba diving does just that!
Introducing …
The Kitchen Sink of Scuba Diving!
Everything you need to know about scuba diving is included in this special electronic version of this book:
A Brief History of Scuba Diving
Scuba Diving Basics
Where to Learn to Scuba Dive
Scuba Diving Certifications
How to Choose Scuba Equipment
How to Find a Good Scuba Instructor
How to Buy the Right Wetsuit
Inside Scoop on Scuba Specialties
Where to Find the Best Deals on Scuba Equipment
The Power of K2!
And much more!
I leave absolutely nothing out! Everything that I learned in order to improve to learn how to scuba dive, I show you.
This is the most comprehensive eBook on scuba diving you will ever read! This comprehensive special eBook covers the following topics:
No stone is left unturned in this comprehensive report!
You won’t want to miss out on this!
this hardcover book sells for $97 on the K2 Website. .
Why are we giving this away for free? What is the catch?
No catch really, but a bribe. We want to earn your business and make you a longterm K2 customer.
Our motto, “come as a customer, leave as a friend” is our mission.
We would like to welcome you to the Tribe called K2 by paying it forward and giving you an electronic book that we normally sell for $47 for absolutely free!
I am so confident that you will love this book that I am offering my ironclad guarantee.
Sign up below, and if it isn’t everything that has been promised. Double your money back!
Blessings, Get Educated, Join the Tribe, & Dive Safe. . .will you?
Tevis Verrett
P.S. You’ll be amazed at how simple and easy it is to learn how to scuba dive successfully with The Kitchen Sink of Scuba Diving. You will feel more confident and secure when you master the incredible techniques presented in this special report.
Go on, page up, fill in your stuff. . .mash the button!
The Scuba Diver Girls, in conjunction with K2 Scuba want to put the heart back into the scuba industry with charitable giving!
Diveheart is an incredible organization and it is the “CAN DO” spirit that Diveheart hopes to instill in all its participants by giving them the confidence and independence that allows them to face their own life challenges and overcome barriers that before might have seemed insurmountable.
Through SCUBA diving, the Diveheart Foundation supports and facilitates programs that teach children and adults with disabilities and the military wounded to fly. Thanks to the wonder of the water column, the oceans and lakes of the world become the forgiving weightless environment of outer space, giving perfect buoyancy to a child or adult who would otherwise struggle on land.
