Aquanauts

[Larry M]

My wife ran across this cable TV program today on Animal Planet. It's kind of interesting, kind of fluff, about a live-aboard vessel staffed with marine biologists, divers, and journalists/actors who travel around the world doing "research". I'd say the research factor might be doubtful, but for someone landlocked and snowbound it ain't a bad way to spend part of a Sunday afternoon. :)

------------------
Larry M

See my tanks at Northern Reef (http://www.reefcentral.com/northernreef/index.htm)

[Playfair]

My family and I watch that show all the time! I can't figure out if those "models" are the actual divers, or if they have "stand-ins" do the real work :)

My DIVING page: http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/uganda/539/scuba.html

[Larry M]

There was an article about the female host (can't recall her name) in our Sunday paper this week, supposedly she does the diving. I agree about the "models". I mean, the beautiful woman is ok, but the guy with the washboard stomach has to go. ;)
One thing I saw yesterday made me sit up and take notice--they were diving on a reef with some pretty strong current, so in order to stay in position they tied themselves off to a lead fastened to the reef. Seemed to me this is a big violation of the "don't touch" rule.

------------------
Larry M

See my tanks at Northern Reef (http://www.reefcentral.com/northernreef/index.htm)

[billsreef]

I've read about some places in the South Pacific that secure permanant anchors into the reef to enable a small group of divers to tie off and suspend themselves in the current like that. The idea is simular to establishing permanent moorings. One spot is disturbed just once instead of several spots being assaulted several times a day.


------------------
Bill

If damsels grew as big as sharks, the sharks would run in fear!
My dive photos (http://hometown.aol.com/billsreef/)
ICQ 56222784

[Aquaman]

It is not uncommon for boats and/or divers to tie off onto a anchor or lead. It is quite common in the keys for boats to tie off, When you have a hundred or so divers in the water from 10 different boats the boats can't just cruz around to pick up the divers. The moorings do very little damage to the reef and usually provide surface for something to grow on.

There are several Wrecks off the coast of Fla that are in VERY strong current and the only way for the divers to get down is to go down the boats anchor to the mooring, Once on the wreck the current is forced around the wreck and its a very nice dive.



------------------
Teach what you have known for years as if you learned it yesterday,
Teach what you learned yesterday as if you have known it all you life.
Life is short so Reef Hard

www.magicnet.net/~jwhite/aquamans.html (http://www.magicnet.net/~jwhite/aquamans.html)