April 2008 >> Archives

Caribbean Diving – No Passport Required
“In like a lion, out like a lamb.” Not in the Florida Keys! The water here is already approaching 80F/27C.
You might think you're in the Caribbean except ...there are no passport hassles.


Introducing the Gear Meister to answer all of your gear questions...
We’ve talked about why it’s important to own your own gear and where to shop for it. This month, let’s talk about what equipment you need.

The first thing you should buy is “mask, fins, and snorkel.” Why? Divers, you’re going to use it more than any other equipment that you own. You’ll use it on every dive. (and perhaps between dives, during your surface interval). In addition, almost every scuba certification agency requires that students have this gear for their initial certification class. Snorkelers, it’s all the equipment you’ll need.

First, let’s talk about the most neglected piece of the three, your snorkel.

Divers, this may seem like an unimportant piece of equipment and many of you have asked the Gearmeister  “Why should I have a snorkel?”  Answer: because you never know when you’re going to need one!  How about low on air with a long surface swim? Or a lot of chop while waiting to board the boat? (Worried about entanglement or don’t like wearing one? Consider a fold up snorkel…) For you snorkelers,  it’s an extension of your airway. Need I say more?

Snorkel Types and Features:

The basic “J” shape rigid snorkel - it’s. low cost, lightweight, and low drag. Humble, but it gets the job done.



Flexible lower section type snorkel. Adding a flexible section between the mouthpiece and the snorkel barrel allows the mouthpiece to come to you, rather than you having to contort your face to reach the mouthpiece. This adds a lot in terms of comfort.


Barrel size - a large diameter snorkel will be easier to breath through, but more difficult to clear. Conversely, a narrow barrel will clear more easily but more difficult to breath through.

Purge valve - this is a drain in the bottom of the snorkel, which  allows  it to clear more easily. In simple terms, the water will drain out of whatever length of snorkel that is above the water, leaving less water that the diver/snorkeler has to blast clear.

Splash guard. Found on top, it does exactly what it’s name implies. On the surface, it minimizes water splashing into the top of the snorkel. You’ll find many types of splash guards. One thing  for divers to remember: a large splash guard may create drag when swimming submerged so look for a more streamlined design. Snorkelers, this isn’t an issue for you swimming on the surface. In any case, there’s no such thing as a completely “dry” snorkel. All snorkels will get some amount of water in them, so both snorkelers and divers should know how to clear them.





New Dive Site
Hail the Vandenburg! This 523 foot long vessel was a troop transport ship, missile tracking platform and movie star (Universal Pictures “Virus”) in its previous lives. Now, it will become the Lower Keys’ newest artificial reef after it’s sunk in May 2008. Join us at Looe Key Dive Center as we begin running trips to explore this exciting new site  and watch the changes as the wreck ages. For more information visit Artificial Reefs of the Keys
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Digital Photography
Digital has taken the underwater photography world by storm. Get in on the action with the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty course. You can quickly and easily capture the underwater world with your camera and on your computer.
During the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty course, you’ll learn to use the PADI SEA (Shoot, Examine and Adjust) method, which takes full advantage of digital technology. The result is good underwater photos, fast. You not only learn how to take good photos, but how to share them with your friends via email or printing, how to optimize your pictures on your computer, image storage and more. Other info:

• This is one of PADI’s most adaptable specialty courses, and can even be started during the last dive of your PADI Open Water Diver course
• The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer certifications credits toward the Master Scuba Diver rating.
• Not a diver? You can take the course as a snorkeler and receive a nondiving certification. .

For all the details, check it out at PADI.com

Have you seen me?

This month’s Looe Key Fish of the Month is…

The foureye butterfly fish is a great example of survival and adaptation. Often seen grazing on algae along the reef, the butterfly family uses its long snout to reach into tight places to find food. The large “eye” towards the tail is designed to confuse predator fish about which end to attack. Ideally, the predator goes away with only a mouth full of water and a few tail spines instead of a full meal! The foureye butterfly fish is typically silver-gray with numerous dark, thin lines on a diagonal across the midbody and 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) in length.We often see them in pairs on Looe Key Reef.