A Tribe Called K2 Buhl-oog!

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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.

Now, that you are grateful.  Become your brother’s keeper: Put the Heart Back in Scuba: Give Now to the Diveheart Foundation

Posted By Scuba Diver Girls Margo

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!

• 3 mm Wetsuits all sizes
• Full Face Masks
• Scuba Hoods
• Gift Certificates (tell us which item you want the money to go toward)

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!!!

• Purchase your gear from K2 Scuba
  
• At Checkout use Coupon Code: SDGDiveheart
• 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!

Tevis

This Post was written by, and seeded from Duane Johnson  of Precision Diving On February – 26 – 2009

I recently had a conversation with a potential student about how I teach team diving techniques compared to what is taught in traditional diving classes. It occurred to me that many divers do not know the difference between team diving and buddy diving. They feel that if they stay with their buddy and can air share in an emergency, that is team diving. It is not, team diving is much more than sticking with your buddy and helping out in an emergency.

First, let’s define buddy diving as it is taught in traditional diving classes. When people go through these classes, they are taught to stick with your buddy, do air shares, and some basic buddy rescue skills. While these skills are important, it does not take the place of working as a team. Buddy diving, is simply looking after each other. The buddy is just there. It doesn’t do much for the safety of the team nor the objectives of the dive. One of the biggest areas where buddy diving fails is in the pre-dive planning stage. In traditional PADI diving classes, students are normally taught BWRAF as their pre-dive plan. That is an acronym for: BCD, Weights, Releases, Air, Final OK. There is no discussion as to how they will descend, swim around, communicate, when to thumb the dive and ascend. This is where buddy diving breaks down.

So, what is team diving? Let’s use the analogy of a football team. US football, not soccer that is. In football, the team works together to work their way down the field to score a touchdown. Everyone on the field has a job to do in order to ensure success. If one area of the team fails, then the quarterback gets sacked, the running back fumbles the ball, or the team must punt away the ball. If an offensive lineman does not do his job effectively, then the quarterback or running back can, potentially, get hurt. The same is true for team diving. The team must work together to ensure the safety of all members of the team. Next time you watch a NFL game, watch the offensive linemen. They are always pointing to something, shouting at each other, etc. The quarterback reads the defense and may change the play at the line of scrimmage (i.e. call an audible). This is an excellent demonstration of constant team communication. Each member of the team knows where other teammates are at at all times. Just as in diving, we must be able to effectively communicate to let the team know where we are at, what to look out for, etc. We do this with passive and active light communication.

It all Starts in the Beginning

To ensure team success, the entire team must be on the same page. Not just in knowing what is expected, but in skill and experience level. Inexperienced divers can learn a great deal from experienced divers, but they must learn it at their current experience level before moving on to something more aggressive and out of their level. This is one aspect of diving where people get into trouble. They simply try to do dives, or take classes, that are above what they are really capable of handling. The problem is they don’t know when to put the brakes on their diving and say, I need to get better before moving on. They don’t do a honest assessment of their diving skills. I had to learn this the hard way, see here.

As part of the pre-dive plan, the team must get together and determine how the dive will get done. They must determine what the goal of the dive will be, who will lead, what the gas plan is, etc. For shallow reef dives, this can be very simple and take only a few minutes. For complex decompression dives, it can take days.

The Team that Descends Together, Stays Together

The majority of diving problems occur during the initial descent of the dive. As a team, it is important to stay together during the descent. There are multiple team descent techniques that can be employed, depending on the water conditions. This is where you need to have learned team diving from a good instructor to knows team diving protocols, not reading off the internet.

A good number of diving accidents have occurred when diving alone. Now, that doesn’t only mean solo diving. It includes when buddies lose contact and separate from one another. If the team descends together and gets to the target depth, then the leader can communicate to the team the direction to swim. This helps keep the team together and swimming off in the right direction. In other words, everybody starts the dive together.

Lending a Helping Hand, or Two, or Three

When the proverbial crap hits the fan, I want my team members there to help me out. This shouldn’t be confused with being self-sufficient. If I’m having a problem with a gas leak, my teammates can see my valves where I cannot. They can tell me which one to shut down, or just do it for me if I am dealing with another problem. They are there to provide me gas, if for some reason I need it. In other words, my teammates must be on the same page as me so that we can prevent small issues/problems from becoming larger (i.e. the incident pit). When diving as a team, all resources become team resources. This includes equipment, gas, etc. But it also includes that person’s experience. This is where solo diving courses fail because the diver solely relies on their own, possibly limited, experience. When I’m diving with less experienced divers, I’m able to prevent or foresee potential problems they may have based on my past diving experiences. A diver’s education and experience level is a big resource one can bring to the table in the team environment.

The bottom line is that divers shouldn’t be fooled by instructors/dive stores who are claiming to teach team diving. Nine times out of ten, they are only talking about buddy diving and not team diving. Do your homework and ask the all important question, “How?”. An instructor who truly teaches team diving will be able to teach more than just the “buddy system” and teach how the team can achieve it’s goals, including teams with more than 2 or 3 people.

I welcome your questions or comments.

Dive Safe,
Duane Johnson
Precision Diving

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Folks, John Flanders, my friend, my team mate, my partner in crime, has written a beautiful article for the new prospective diver.  You can find the best SCUBA instruction in all of Arizona at www.academyofscuba.com  Tell em, Tevis sent cha!

Here it is:

Scuba diving is an equipment intensive sport. Breathing and exploring is not normal for us land-walking

mammals.  Scuba diving requires the training, familiarization and use of all types of equipment. As a diver

matures, the use of different equipment for different types of diving only adds to the complexity of

equipment selection. Equipment selection should not be a cavalier or impulsive purchase. It is life support

equipment. Proper training, fit, comfort and practice makes this equipment feel like a second skin. Proper

maintenance is essential to the proper performance of all Scuba gear. Buy right, buy once.  This is the

mantra of advanced divers!

Selecting Personal Scuba Equipment

Personal Scuba Diving Equipment includes: (1) Mask (2) Snorkel (3) Fins (4) Timing Device (watch, bottom

timer or computer).  Generally, most dive shops or charter operators do not rent personal dive equipment.  (that’s most dive shops but that is stupidity.  At K2 it is about taking care of you. So of course, we will rent you mask/snorkel/fins so that you can decide whether this sport is for you. ..before you make a huge capital investment).

There are many sizing options and “fit” issues.  With this in mind it is not economically or logistically viable

when, for a few hundred dollars, most divers can be outfit with some great choices in personal dive gear. 

Being that this is personal dive gear, fit is essential!  You have to try it on. When buying fins, you have to try

the boots on with the fins (if open heel).  Masks are very individual and fit directly on the face and create a

seal.  I am not saying you can’t buy through a catalog or Internet, but you have to try it on first. Treat

personal gear as such.  A nice mesh bag to keep it all in is a very nice add-on.

Buying versus Renting

Familiarity of gear is an essential component to advancing your diving skills.  Call it muscle memory. 

s why most golfers don’t rent clubs. When you rent, there is an adjustment period for familiarizing yourself

with the gear you have rented.  Additionally, when renting gear, you do not know its history or maintenance

cycles.  How can you rely on gear to save your life when you don’t know its history or if it has been

maintenance appropriately? Additionally, rental gear tends to be the lowest cost, most basic setups 

available in the market.  How far would you want to take basic dive equipment?  Lastly, the pure economist

in me just hates putting money into other people’s pocket.  Most dive rental gear is paid for over and over

again.  If you buy right; that equity is yours to keep.  Of course, the reward is far greater than economical. 

Divers who own their own equipment have a safer, longer, more enjoyable experience exploring the

underwater kingdom.

The Pitfalls of Used Gear

Full Disclosure:  I don’t support purchasing used gear! Most used gear is poorly maintained, misused,

broken, out-dated, and lacks the necessary qualities for an advanced diver to progress with his/her skills. 

Now, I am not going to say I have never bought used gear. But, I have done so with the knowledge of who

owned it before and how they stored and used it.  Additionally, I usually insist that it undergo maintenance

before buying it. I at least know it is in working condition and safe to use.  When buying used gear, you do

so under the auspice of Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware).

Computers Helping Divers Stay Safe

Dive computers are an essential piece of gear for advanced divers.  Dive computers are another tool that a

Scuba diver can employ to not only increase bottom times, but also increase safety.  Dive computers

monitor (conservatively) decompression profiles, have time, depth, and ascent alarms (both visual and

audible).  Some dive computers also monitor air consumption and tank pressure.  These air integrated

computers generally have a lower margin of error than analog gauges (at lower pressures).  Recreational

Advanced and Technical Divers can benefit from dive computers.  Dive computers require about as much

training as dive tables.  Don’t make the same mistake many divers make by purchasing a computer and

relying on trial by error as your training guide.

As you progress through your diving education, your experience, your local dive shop and your mentors will

help guide you through equipment choices. Don’t underestimate trying new gear configurations or be

afraid to purchase more gear.  Many of us, once we buy our first set, think we have finished.  However,

trying new gear and further using that new fear can be rewarding and exciting.

Articles for assisting you in selecting Dive Gear brought to you by Academy of Scuba!

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What happens in Laguna, Stays in Laguna. . .

Event Info

Host:

Team K2 SCUBA & Freediving

Type:

Party – Barbecue

Network:

Global

Time and Place

Date:

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Time:

9:00am – 6:00pm

Location:

Heisler Park

Street:

375 Cliff Drive

City/Town:

Laguna Beach, CA

View Map

Google

MapQuest

Microsoft

Yahoo

Contact Info

Phone:

8189822652

Email:

admin@k2scuba.com

Description

This is the happy continuance of our weekly/bi monthly beach diving gathering/socializing!

We are once again crashing the paarty, so as good citizens of the K2 Familydom, we hafta bring something so please think of groceries for your self and two more!
I like anything pastries, and you carnivores bring something to burn!

Laguna is a little piece of diving heaven on the beautiful Southern California Coast. . and it is the home of the "Housewives of Orange County."

You get the beauty of Catalina, without the large sucking sound of spending $$$, large and your whole day on a rocking boat.
Also, since I just loove you all, Again, I’m going to do a beach diving primer at 10/11a for those rusty/or new to beach diving, more info as we get closer!

. . and let me make this perfectly clear, NON DIVERS ARE WELCOME AND CRAVED! This is about friendships and camaraderie with a little bit of diving mixed in!

We have developed a Beach Diving Calendar on the K2 Homepage in the header under "Dive Calendar" or just bookmark: http://bit.ly/4zuF4i
This is about meeting folks and becoming friends so one (or two) dives and then retire to a slick beach side bar for a witty repartee.
This time, we are staying at the the Park!

Finally, since Bruce Bearfield of Dive Rite is in the HOOUSE, I am going to to see if we can get some toys to demo/play with!
Any other suggestions?  This is about taking care of YOU!

Triple finally, take my number 818 982 2652, in the event you get lost, or cannot find the location. . . call me, and I will vector you in!

Tevis

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My Friend, my Ally, my Master:

As your dreamskeeper, and the arbiter of your inventory of desires. . . it was my hope that all your heartfelt wishes for 2009 all come true.

That you find yourself surrounded by friends, laughter, and good times.. . .

That your cup runneth over financially, romantically, spiritually, and creatively. . . . 

That good health be your faithful companion, that peace be your guarded ally, and love your perpetual guide. . . .

When suddenly, it dawned on me that you my master. . . as an infinite, powerful, fun-loving gladiator of the Universe, with eternity before you and the power of your thoughts to help shape it. . . it is you. . . .

. . .  you are the dreamskeeper who will wield the power to grant your heartfelt wishes this year!

Master, your wish is my command. . . . What is your ask?

 The Universe