K2 News That You Can Use: Advice on Cleansing and Maintaining Your Snorkeling BCD, Which Makes The Product Last Baby!
I experience a slogan whenever it comes to purchasing Scuba Equipment, “procure ideal” is informative advice, even more so in cases where it comes to someone’s life support devices.
Shopping a BCD or Buoyancy Compensating Device is one of the biggest and most substantial accessories a large percentage of leisure scuba divers will make. It could be and additionally among the most forgotten pieces when it comes to cleansing and preservingyour BCD.
It’s a very common situation to stand next to a person kitting up for a dive, look at their BCD and see “salty crud” stuck to the outside. You can only imagine what plague lives inside of it. This “shortage of cleaning” is not only economically fool-hearty; it is also a well-being problems. There are many steps of a BCD that need to be cleaned and well managed in order to properly and safely execute a dive. Think about it, absolutely nothing frightens me more than a caught inflater button and a rusty low pressure hose that needs to be unconnected in a hurry right before an uncontrolled ascent.
A number secrets to keep your gear in good performing order:
1. Have a certified Scuba technician maintaining your Technical BCD frequently and at least according to the specifications outlined by the manufacturer.
2. Make positive it fits securely and you are properly trained in using the equipment.
3. Unplug all hoses after finished scuba diving. Check and clean all hoses including the corrugated hose for damage, cuts, slices, and splits. Remove and inspect weight belts. If velcro weight pockets, then inspect velcro and clean with toothbrush. Don’t leave any dirt in the velcro. If they are locking weight pockets, make sure they snap back into the BCD with a loud snap. Weakened snaps may mean a loose connection. In both cases, make sure pockets release easily – but not too easily. Remove all knives and empty pockets. Clean independent of BCD.
4. Saturate the outside of BCD in fresh water after for each visit of snorkeling. The longer the more effectively, having said that don’t get fanatical.
5. Fill BCD with water and the air. Rinse the internal fully. Shake vigorously with air and H2O inside the bladder. Perform at least twice.
6. Make sure liquid runs through the Inflator Valve (expand with water and air and empty through by sustaining the line down and deflating). Use toothbrush to scrub around the inflater and deflator buttons. Repetition at minimum more than once.
7. Refill bladder up together with air and fresh water. Use dump valves to empty bladder. Make sure fresh water runs through dump valves. Take off and look at dump valves. Look for ferric oxide on springs. Remove and replace if rusty.
8. Inflate Bladder to loaded. Hold submerged. Inspect seams of bladder for seeping air. If seeping air, present to a licensed Scuba Technician.
9. Hang Dry. Do not lie down on the asphalt flooring.
10. When Dry, examine completely. Look for compound spills or grime. If you find them, spot clean up or reproduce appropriately.
Tell us what you think about this article, contact us at K2 SCUBA
Dive Safe, dive looong! We will keep the lights on!
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 5,100 times in 2010. That’s about 12 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 13 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 119 posts. There were 27 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 2mb. That’s about 2 pictures per month.
The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, en.wordpress.com, en.search.wordpress.com, google.com, and statistics.bestproceed.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for underwater fashion, fashion shoots, oceanic geo 2.0 review, underwater fashion photography, and calderon dolphins.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
The strongest and most indestructible two-window mask ever. The Atomic Aquatics SubFrame Mask is so durable, it carries a Lifetime warranty against frame breakage.
What is ARC lens technology?
The strength comes from the internal frame (subframe) molded directly beneath the surface of the silicone rubber skirt (patent pending).
This subframe provides incredible strength and rigidity as well as eliminating the bulky external plastic frame in other masks.
A stainless steel retainer locks the lenses in place and provides added strength to the nose bridge area of the mask. A wide field of view and great fit completes the combination of function, style and durability. (US Patent #7,181,778).
Anti-Reflective Coatings ARC Lens Technology Elevates UltraClear To A Higher Level. Atomic Aquatics developed ARC (Anti-Reflective Coating) technology to reduce reflected light and actually increase the amount of available light transmitted to a diver’s eyes.
The result is a greatly improved transmission of 98% of available light, compared to a loss of more than 14% of light with standard green "float" glass used on the majority of masks on the market.
Anti-Reflective Coatings or “ARC” is a multi-layer metal oxide coating process applied to both sides of the UltraClear lenses. This allows more light to enter the mask by reducing light reflections off the inside and outside surface of the lens. The metal oxide coating is only a few microns thick.
Between 4-14% of light can be reflected back or “lost” by the standard “green float glass” mask lenses used by our competition.
ARC technology lenses are especially important for SCUBA divers underwater, where available light is quickly absorbed by the surrounding water. What is the underwater benefit of ARC for divers? • Clearer, crisper vision. You will see more clearly underwater and objects in the distance will become more defined and acute. • Increased contrast and clarity. • Reduces eyestrain, glare, and prevents ghost images on the viewing area of the lens. • An absolute must for night diving, limited visibility conditions, and underwater photographers.
Consumer Review:
Paul Shanderling gives it 5 stars
I am really pleased with mine, i have had it a couple of years now. This is not a standard mask, it is a precision instrument which does out perform other masks on the market especially on night dives and poorly lit environments. It depends what you demand from your kit. However, the ARC application can make it awkward to defog properly. What is recommended is PSI 500, both from Atomic and from K2 here, once this has been thoroughly cleaned you will not have a problem with it. i would not give it a 2nd thought to buy another one!!!
This puppy retails for $150, give us a call at 818 982 2652 and mention this blog post, or that you are a member of the Tribe K2, and we will give you your extra special, insider schweet dealeo!
. . . .delivers ultra-high light output of up to 500 lumens. Combined with a series of smart features and ergonomic design, this powerful handheld device brings ease of use and portability to even the most demanding diver.
Our high output 3 x 5W LED system delivers brilliant luminosity with a burn time that is four times that of the ordinary halogen torches.
The energy efficient design and excellent quality of the LED guarantees a lifespan of 50,000 hours of burn time, reducing the need for frequent replacement of the bulb.
The 6500K white light reflects the true vibrant colors of the underwater world.
Only requires 1.5V AA or C Size Alkaline batteries.
Also compliant with AA or C Size, 1.2V Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.
The Hi-Lo Power Output lets you choose between two output levels, Hi at 100% or Lo at 70%, extending the burn time and reducing reflections on objects at close range.
The Rotary Magnetic Switch not only makes it easy to switch between the Hi-Lo power output, but is also built to be insulated from all internal parts, eliminating the risk of leakage.
Choose from a range of colors for the main body of the torch.
The thermal protection system prevents the torch from overheating by automatically cutting off its power in cases where there is prolonged use on land, or exposure to temperatures above 70°C. As soon as the torch cools off, the light comes back on.
The safety lock on the switch keeps the torch from being accidentally switched on during transportation.
Specifications
Light source
3 x 5W LED, 3.7V each, with optical diffusion lens
Light output
500 lumens
Casing material
Non-corroding, polycarbonate plastic case
Colors
A choice of different main body colors:
Magenta, Yellow, Crystal Clear, Translucent Black and Blue
Power source
8 AA or C size batteries, Alkaline 1.5V or Ni-MH 1.2V
Angle of light beam
60°
Color temperature
6500K
Light efficiency
Equivalent to a 25 watt halogen bulb
Burn time
AA size batteries:
Hi-Output – Up to 12 hours, 1st hrs at 100% – 2nd hrs at 50% – 5th hrs at 25%
Lo-Output – Up to 12 hours, 1st hrs at 100% – 2nd hrs at 60% – 5th hrs at 40% C size batteries:
Hi-Output – Up to 20 hours, 1st hrs at 100% – 3rd hrs at 50% – 7th hrs at 25%
Lo-Output – Up to 20 hours, 1st hrs at 100% – 3rd hrs at 60% – 7th hrs at 40%
Gradual reduction of output strength until switched off
and because you are all flippedy, we are going to twist the factory’s arm and send you some surprise junk you caint get nowhere else. . .y’all is special. . .flip on wit your baad self’s!
This is a quiet, insider offer for our RSS Feed subscribing Blog Tribal Members. You get first notice of this wicked deal from our friends at Flipilicious!
ThePrinceton Tec Miniwave LED Light is a continuation of the trend toward the bringing the sun underwater. . .becoming so popular with scuba divers.
Shockwave Mini–337 Lumens of wicked sunlight in innerspace!
This is the new 337 lumen version of the Princeton Tec Miniwave LED Light. Which has a triple 3 watt max bright LED. What exactly does that mean? Well, the best way to explain it is like taking the sun underwater with you, a crisp clear true light with unprecedented brightness, a full 9 watts to be exact. The Princeton Tec Miniwave LED Light even has Low and High settings.
SPECIFICATIONS :
Lumen Output – High 337 – Low 170
Burn time – High 4+ hours – Low 10+ hours
LED life – 10,000+ hours
4 C alkaline batteries – INCLUDED
LAMP 3 Maxbright LEDs
BURN TIME 10 Hours
BATTERIES 4 C Alkaline
WEIGHT 650g
UL RATING: APPROVED
Class I Division 2 Groups A, B, C & D
UL TEMP CODE: T4
As always, move fast, it is one deal, one day, and when it is gone. . .it is GONE!
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.
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!
Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, February 23, 2010
An ad hoc group of the International Whaling Commission suggested Monday that the commission condone commercial whaling for the first time in nearly 30 years in exchange for reducing the number of whales killed each year.
The draft plan, the product of nearly a year and a half of closed-door talks, aims to break a long-standing deadlock between countries that favor whaling and those that oppose it. Only three nations — Japan, Norway and Iceland — hunt whales, although they have the support of dozens of other members of the commission.
The proposal does not say exactly how many whales would be killed each year as part of the whaling compromise, which would last for 10 years. Cristian Maquieira of Chile, chairman of the commission’s support group, said in his report to the commission that any final deal would "reduce catches significantly from current levels" and "establish caps of takes that are within sustainable levels for a ten year period."
Cutting the number of whales killed each year is seen as an essential part of any global deal, because several countries, including the United States, say that no whales should be hunted in light of a 1986 international moratorium on whaling. The three whaling nations say that the practice is an important part of their culture.
The U.S. commissioner to the whaling commission, Monica Medina, said in an interview that the process remains "incomplete" and that the Obama administration has not decided whether to endorse the document. But she said the administration is eager to find some sort of resolution to the impasse, which has undermined conservation efforts.
Japan kills hundreds of whales each year on the grounds that it is "scientific whaling," a permissible practice under commission rules. Norway and Iceland hunt whales commercially, saying that they do not accept the commission’s moratorium. In the 1990s, 300 whales were hunted annually for commercial or scientific purposes; a decade later, that number was 1,000. In the past five years, almost 2,000 whales have been killed each year.
"It’s troubling that whales continue to be killed," Medina said. "All of our loudly articulated and strongly felt views have not resulted in an end to commercial and lethal scientific whaling. . . . We view this effort at finding a negotiated solution as an interim step toward full reform of the IWC and its promotion of whale conservation."
Environmentalists condemned the draft plan, saying that it would open the door to official whaling.
"This is a proposal for the long-term conservation of whaling, not whales," said Patrick Ramage, director of the global whale program of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. "In return for insignificant, short-term concessions from Japan, Norway and Iceland, the IWC would legalize commercial whaling in the 21st century."
The governments of Japan, Norway and Iceland could not be reached for comment.
Any final plan that the working group produces would be subject to a vote in June when the commission meets again. Officials from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Norway, Antigua and Barbuda, Sweden, Germany, Japan, St. Kitts and Nevis, Iceland, Brazil, Cameroon and Mexico worked on the draft.
The draft plan, the product of nearly a year and a half of closed-door talks, aims to break a long-standing deadlock between countries that favor whaling and those that oppose it. Only three nations — Japan, Norway and Iceland — hunt whales, although they have the support of dozens of other members of the commission. 
Recent Comments