TwoTank

Neoprene Swimsuits

2010-06-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

For the ladies: This is a neoprene swim suit from the Roxy website (click the post for a link). Has anyone worn these under a wetsuit?

What do you wear under your wetsuit? I find that the wetsuit wears out my regular swimwear, and regular bikinis can sometimes shift around. I might give this a try. It might even work without a wetsuit in the warmer water on shallow, tropical dives. Then again, after that jellyfish nightmare in Cozumel, I'm tempted to wear a drysuit everywhere.

Free Diving

2010-06-20T00:07:00.000-07:00

This is the most incredible free diving video I've ever seen! Guillaume Nery at Dean's Blue Hole.

If you're on YouTube, check out our channel - TwoTankScuba - where we'll be posting original videos and collecting our favorites posted by others. You can access it by clicking the link to this post. Please feel free to let us know about your diving videos so we can include them on the channel.
Jenny

Twitter

2010-06-19T22:16:00.001-07:00

TwoTank is now on Twitter! Come follow us for all things SCUBA! And please let us know if you're on so we can follow you, too.

Username: TWOTANKTV

Look forward to seeing you there!
Jenny Mo

Passport Changes

2009-03-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

On June 1, 2009, new passport requirements go into effect for border crossings within the Western Hemisphere. Click on the title of this post to go to the website that lists all the important changes. For scuba divers, this is important as U.S. citizens will now need to present a passport or a passport card when entering the U.S. from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, and Canada. This is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Has anyone traveled with the U.S. Passport Card (as opposed to a passport)? Just wondering if there's any benefit to it.

Thanks!
Jenny

Packing a Diver's First Aid Kit

2009-03-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

So I'm packing for Belize, and I'm not going to get caught in a foreign country without an adequate supply of medications and first aid stuff this time. I'm getting together some items for my kit, and I'd love your input.

My first stop on the Internet was DAN - Divers Alert Network - to see if they had any helpful suggestions, and of course, they did. They emphasize the importance of protecting yourself from malaria, so the first thing to go into my bag is going to be mosquito repellant.

Here's my list so far:
Mosquito Repellant
Calamine Lotion
Benadryl
Hydrocortisone Cream
Dramamine
Motrin
Decongestant
Nose Spray
Band aids
Neosporin

DAN lists the various potential concerns with medications here: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=84

Does anyone have any further suggestions?
Thanks!
Hugs and fishes,
Jenny

When Thimble Jelly Fish Attack

2009-03-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

"Sea Bather's Eruption" - it sounds as disgusting as it is. It's the reason I abruptly stopped blogging in Cozumel on my last dive trip in August, and I'm just now getting around to posting the photos six months later.

If you've never experienced Sea Bather's Eruption, count your blessings. Click on the title of the post to read a dermatology site's thorough explanation, but to sum up: it's an allergic reaction to the stings of tiny jellyfish larvae. These jellyfish larvae tend to be incredibly tiny and omnipresent in Cozumel in August, and they sting like the devil. Apparently, not all people are allergic, but I developed a rather inconvenient and incredibly painful skin rash the first day of diving on a ten day trip. Having had no prior experience with this condition, I found myself hitting several different pharmacies looking for answers and buying medications. I even tried a few folklore home remedies I heard about from locals and was close to seeking out a Mayan witch doctor for the antidote to what seemed more like an ancient curse than a simple skin condition.

I'm including a photo of my rash covered arm, and as you can see, it's covered in raised, red, inflamed bumps. It's hard to see but my neck was also extremely red and inflamed.

I was told on day two of this vacation that I would need to stay out of the sun. A pharmacist assured me that my skin condition was sun poisoning. Another informed me that I had scabies. A lifeguard told me to pour vinegar all over myself and scrape my skin with a credit card or a razor. The only thing more absurd is that I actually did it and it actually helped (somewhat).

So I hope this particular post helps someone because no one should have to needlessly endure a dive vacation fraught with skin rashes, hideous itches, misdiagnoses, benadryl hangovers, long sleeves, etc. Here's the deal: the dang things attacked me at my most vulnerable point - the neck of my wetsuit. Teeny tiny transparent jellyfish - the size of thimbles - were floating near the surface of the water. I paid them very little attention. I felt a sting, but I was enjoying my dive so much on that first day that I didn't really think about it. The site of the sting was red, but that wasn't the issue. That night a rash covered my arms, chest, legs. It looked like I had been simultaneously been sunburned and attacked by mosquitoes. So, I used aloe and insect bite stuff which was entirely pointless and didn't relieve anything. I bought a long sleeve shirt which I wore for the remainder of the trip while I mostly sat in the shade.

Fortunately, I was able to dive a few more times. But I had to stay in the shade of the boat when I wasn't in the water, and I must have spent $200 on medications that didn't work. Here's what happens: Jellyfish sting with barbs. Those barbs get stuck into your skin and will keep stinging you long after you're out of the water. If you scratch, more venom will be released. Vinegar cuts the sting of the venom, and scraping the skin with a razor will cut the barbs out, at least at the skin's surface. Benadryl will arrest the skin rash, but in my case, it was either too late, or it just had to run its course. The pharmacy told me to get prednisone, but I didn't want to take it without a doctor's supervision. The three most important things I've learned: (1) get out of the water if you see them (2) pour vinegar on your skin immediately if you've been stung, don't put freshwater on it first (3) wash your wetsuit and swimsuits thoroughly in vinegar and in soapy water before you wear them again as the barbs might get stuck. And if you do get stung and you're allergic, your whole body might break out, not just the site of the sting so be prepared to take benadryl or prednisone. If you're severely allergic in general, talk to your allergist before scuba diving, especially in the Caribbean in May - Sept.

I'm going to buy this product: http://www.buysafesea.com

Has anyone tried it? Does it work?

This Sea Bather's Eruption stuff was only identified in 1949 according to Wikipedia, and it seems like there's a lot of misinformation out there about it. The best bet is to avoid the water if these little demons are visible.

BELIZE

2009-03-05T23:08:00.000-08:00

I've just booked my next dive trip for the spring, and we're going to Belize. It's my first time there, and I can't wait to get back into the water. I'm ready to plan dives and adventures, so any tips are welcome! Click on the title of the post to read an article about a new dive shop at Las Terrazas resort in Belize. I'm not staying there, but it sure looks nice!

Apparently Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world as well as the Great Blue Hole that can be seen from outer space.

Hugs and fishes

Jenny

Sunken Treasure

2009-02-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

A new law has recently opened Greece's coastline to scuba divers, and archaeologists are worried that artifacts may be discovered and taken by underwater treasure hunters. Experts believe there are ancient ships dating back to the first century B.C. as well as numerous antiquities just waiting to be discovered. Has anyone done any diving in Greece?

It would be very exciting to discover history underwater, but it presents a dilemma - should scuba divers be permitted to scour under the sea for sunken treasure?

Click on the title of this post to read the article.

At the Movies: TAKEN

2009-02-22T07:59:00.000-08:00

TAKEN - a new action movie starring Liam Neeson - is currently in theaters. Luc Besson, the son of two scuba diving instructors, is one of the writers of the screenplay. What caught my eye in this article is that Besson directed a diving film called "The Big Blue." Has anyone seen it? Has anyone seen "Taken" yet?

I haven't seen a lot of great diving films, but I'll be checking out "The Big Blue" as soon as I get the chance and will report. Nice to be back in the blogosphere.

Hugs and fishes,

Jenny

19th Century Wreck Discovered

2008-10-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

It's always exciting when recreational scuba divers discover a wreck, and today divers announced that they had successfully reached "The Portland" off the coast of Massachusetts this summer. For more, click on the title of the post!

Congratulations Bob Foster, David Faye and team!

Presidente Intercontintental

2008-08-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

Quick post about this fantastic hotel. Naturally, it's amazing that there's a dive shop and dock steps from the room - that goes without saying. But there are plenty of dive-friendly hotels that focus entirely on the diving and don't bother with the other details. When planning this trip, I wanted a bit of luxury with my diving adventures, and I found it. It's not uptight luxury though. Everything is perfectly laid-back and casual, but the staff are incredibly well-trained in service and the restaurants and additional features are exceptional. The pyramid above is a playground for the iguanas that have taken up residency on this gorgeous beach. I love that they have their own little Mayan temple.
My favorite food so far is pictured here - iced tea and Panuchos - shredded grilled chicken, lettuce, avocado on corn tortillas stuffed with black beans. Amazing, and relatively healthy. The restaurant has breathtaking views of the ocean, a great happy hour with 2 for 1 drinks, and fantastic food! There's something for everyone - Mexican food, American food, pizza, salads. It is a little more expensive than I anticipated - lunch is coming in around $35 - $40 without cocktails. Water is kind of absurd at $5 per bottle, and $3.50 for iced tea with no refills. But, they have expenses and we seem to be practically the only ones in the hotel, so I'm not complaining.
I also had an incredible massage on the beach under a thatched roof that I arranged through the Spa. This spa is really nice, and just small and quaint enough to fit nicely with the overall vibe of the hotel. The most important thing is that it's clean and offers a nice variety of services by trained professionals. The brochure mentions yoga and pilates, but when I asked about this, the receptionist explained that the "lady left town" for a while, and also, that it wasn't "real" pilates but something similar. I thought that was kind of hysterical. The one thing about this laid back island is that you have to be flexible. Fortunately, I'm so relaxed here that I feel very able to go with the flow.
And how could you not be relaxed having almost an entire hotel (and a 4 1/2 star one at that!) to yourself!!

I highly recommend this hotel to anyone who loves a little taste of the finer things mixed in with their diving. It strikes just the right balance between easy casual and luxury service and accommodation. It's unpretentious yet impressive. And what a view!

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

Divelog: Palancar Gardens / Chankanaab Reef

2008-08-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today was a SCUBA dream! Our first dive day in Cozumel, and it was fantastic! Palancar Caves, followed by Chankanaab Reef. A great way to begin over a week of diving one of the world's best locations.

I have to back up a bit and explain that after trying on my Mares BCD, I exchanged it for a SeaQuest Libra travel BCD. The Mares looked great, but I could tell it would chafe my neck. So today I broke in the new SeaQuest Libra BCD. It has back inflation with integrated weights. Before today, I've always rented my BC -so I was excited to see if this improved the dive.

This morning we didn't have to wake up at 6 am to wolf down coffee and breakfast and lug our gear to a car and drive to a dock. Instead, we walked right out of the hotel room onto the beach at 7 am, had a leisurely breakfast on the water, and walked about 25 feet to the dive boat in time for an 8:15 departure. Scuba Du - the onsite diveshop at the Presidente Intercontinental - was fantastic. The dive masters are extremely professional yet easy-going. It's no wonder they have a top PADI rating. On our boat, we had divemasters Sarah (who spoke French, English, and Spanish!) and Giovanni (our divemaster who was simply the best I've had the pleasure of diving with). They helped us set up our gear quickly and correctly and had every detail covered.

Palancar Gardens was our first destination, and it was gorgeous. Incredible coral formations, grouper, sea turtles, and a nice current that made finning almost completely unnecessary on the entire dive. Both of today's dives were drift dives as Cozumel is famous for its currents. It was a multi-level dive: we started around 40 and went as far as 80 ft. deep. The water was as warm and as clear as I've ever seen. I wore a 2 mil. shorty wetsuit and I was perfectly comfortable.

Two particular details to mention: (1) I was under-weighted - I only brought 8 lbs. and I needed 10. I struggled with buoyancy most of the dive and kept floating upwards. It became a real problem when I tried to do a 3 minute safety stop toward the end, and simply couldn't stay down. I don't know if it was the air expanding in my tank or the back inflation, but combined with the fact that I was underweighted, I didn't manage more than a minute at most. Fortunately, no harm done. (2) I kept getting stung by tiny jellyfish. Nothing serious, but they felt like pinpricks. Gloves are strictly prohibited in the area (as I discovered when putting them on), and naturally the jellyfish went straight for my hands. The stings didn't leave any marks, and I didn't feel them at all once I surfaced.

Once we surfaced, I realized that the back-flotation meant that it was far easier to lay on my back horizontally than to try to bob up and down in a vertical position where I had to keep treading water to stay upright.

On our second dive, we headed over to Chankanaab Reef after a brief surface interval when the dive crew brought us fresh cantaloupe and bananas. The Reef was gorgeous, although it was not as spectacular as the Palencar Gardens. Still, there were incredible colors, coral, grouper, and we even saw a massive Barracuda just hanging out. While we were down, a brief rainstorm passed over us. We could see the raindrops on the surface, but the visibility was still remarkably good. What a great way to ride out a little rain! This time, my weight was correct and I had gotten used to the back flotation to the point where my buoyancy was clearly much better. The currents were strong, but staying with the group was easy. Properly weighted, I was able to do a 3 minute safety stop with no problem.

A short boat ride to the dock at the hotel, and we were back in time for a nice lunch and a nap in the sunshine. We met a couple of nice divers - Jeff and Julie from Houston - which is always a plus.

The photos (taken yesterday) with this post are of the restaurant and Scuba Du - right on the beach, steps from each other and the hotel room. I can't imagine anything easier.

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

Cozumel

2008-08-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

Bienvenidos everyone! I am officially on vacation, and I have stumbled into paradise. If you have read this month's Scuba Diving magazine you've seen incredible photos of Cozumel, and that's exactly where I am as I write this. Keep checking our blog over the next couple of weeks as I'll be posting all about my adventures in this incredible place.

I arrived yesterday, and I haven't done any diving yet. Therefore, the first round of photos will be on the surface. I bought a new digital camera for this vacation. I ordered it on Zappos.com, and it arrived in plenty of time. However, I ordered the housing on Amazon marketplace two weeks ago and the seller didn't bother to ship it until the day before I left. So a friend will be sending it to me as soon as it arrives. Fingers crossed!

Getting here was very easy. We booked the whole thing through Expedia.com. We flew Continental Airlines and connected in Houston. Apparently you can fly to Cancun and take a ferry over to Cozumel, but now that airlines are offering flights directly to the island, flying seems like the way to go. I have to say that flying economy in Continental was actually more pleasant than some experiences I've had flying first class on other airlines. The flight crew was really pleasant, the connection was easy, and the seats were comfortable. I was really surprised, and it got our trip off to a great start. Also, the Mexican customs agents were very nice and friendly. No problems there at all.

Tip: We booked a taxi from the airport to the hotel through Expedia and had vouchers. We were supposed to meet a guy in a yellow shirt when we arrived. He was waiting for us, but we were stuck in a hot passenger van with 9 other people who weren't going to our hotel. From the little Spanish I speak, I heard him basically auction off our vouchers to the lowest bidder. A small bunch of drivers with vans were calling out numbers, "Cuarenta!" "Treinta!" and the one who took us shouted, "Veintesiete!" We could barely fit into the van, and someone had to sit on the arm rest. When we tried to ask for a different van, the man in the yellow shirt acted like there was nothing he could do. But it was 7 minutes to the hotel, so no real problems. Next time - cab.

The hotel is the Presidente Intercontinental, and it's gorgeous. There's also a dive shop - Scuba Du - onsite right on the beach! Apparently the hotel had a renovation not long ago, and the furniture, the bathrooms, and the flat screen tv are fantastic. They tried to upgrade us to a beachfront room for free, but we wanted a great view from a higher floor, so we stayed with what we'd originally booked - an Ocean Suite. The hotel is practically empty!!! It's unbelievable. There are a couple of great restaurants, a gorgeous spa, and one mile of private beach in paradise. The temperature is in the low 90's with a beautiful breeze and the water is crystal clear. I have no idea why this place isn't crawling with people, but fortunately, it's not. However, it is crawling with Iguanas. They're amazing creatures, and this guy was sweet enough to let me take a photo.

I will be posting frequently, and I'll try to break it up by topic. I will do my first dive tomorrow - Palencar Gardens. Also, I'm taking a trip over to the Yucutan peninsula to visit some Mayan pyramids and to dive in some cenotes. Please feel free to weigh in and share any tips about Cozumel or ask any questions if you want me to investigate something.

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

O Dark Thirty

2008-08-09T06:04:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I'm up and at 'em this morning, ready to get in the water. I'll be going to Cozumel in a couple weeks. To prepare for many diving adventures, I've decided to do a refresher course with Eco Dive Center. I took classes with them in early 2005 when I first got certified, and they're great. Even though I feel pretty good in the water, I have a new BC, and there are a couple of general safety things I want to go over because, thankfully, I've never had to put much of the safety training to use. So hopefully later today I'll have a few funny photos of me in a giant swimming pool in full gear. I'm now just trying to decide whether to wear a shorty or a full suit. Even though it's just a pool, if you're in it long enough, it can get cold!

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

"You Caught Me Kissing"

2008-08-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

For those of you that think Scuba adds romance to your life, you're not alone! I just found a sweet review of a book I'd love to get my hands on and settle down for a good read. Doesn't this look like the perfect beach read?

Click on the link to read the simple, but touching, review about this book. To give you the highlights:

For more than fifty years, Dorothy Bridges wrote a love poem to television's SEA HUNT star Lloyd Bridges every Valentine's Day. For this Valentine's Day 2005, she published the book "You Caught Me Kissing: A Love Story" (© Copyright 2005, ibooks, distributed by Simon & Schuster).

The book is the story of the romantic saga of this legendary Scuba Diving Hollywood couple told through vignettes written by Beau, Cindy, and Jeff Bridges. Loaded with family photos and Dorothy's poems, the book is a tribute to their life-long romance.

If you see this book in a store, or any other great beach/plane read, let us know!

Hugs and fishes,
Kari

Blackberries Instead of Bar

2008-08-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

Well, we survived the Bar, despite the earthquake! I just wanted to say thanks for all the well-wishes and support :)

I haven't gotten back in the water yet, but I did get a chance to go pick wild blackberries - YUM!

We should be back in action in about a week - give us some time to feel human again :)

Hugs and fishes,
Kari

Bar Exam and Mares BC

2008-07-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Over the next three days, Kari, Traci, Zee and I will be taking the California bar exam. As soon as this is behind us, I'm heading off to Cozumel to go diving, and I have just purchased this Mares BC. As you can see, it's great for travel because it folds up into the size of a handbag, and it even has a handle so you can carry it easily. It's full back inflation, and I've never used one like it before. People say it takes some getting used to - so I ask you - have you ever used a back inflation BC? Have you ever gone diving in Cozumel? Any dive site recommendations?

Hope all is well wherever in the world you are today, and please wish us luck!

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

scuba skivvies

2008-07-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

The end is near...less than two weeks away from the CA bar!

I found these fabulous boxers for the man who loves scuba and wants everyone to know.

Check 'em out at: http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/MensBrowse/Men_Feature_Assortment/NewArrivals/boxers/PRDOVR~94536/94536.jsp

hugs & fishes,
traci

***bonus - you can have them monogrammed!***

My vacation: COZUMEL?

2008-07-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody!

I am looking to book at dive vacation after the bar exam is over, and I've been considering a few different destinations. I am seriously leaning toward Cozumel, although the Cayman Islands is a close second. I have also considered Fiji, but it may be too expensive. If anyone has any experiences of Cozumel they want to share, please leave a comment! I look forward to your thoughts.

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

Stay Focused

2008-07-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

Quick post for today, then I'm off to study.

I read an article (click above for link) about a non-profit organization that offers SCUBA certification for people with disabilities, and I wanted to share it here. An excerpt:

"Inspired by his older brother, Bobby Muller, a paraplegic Marine Corps combat veteran from the Vietnam War, for whom diving represents freedom from his wheelchair, Roger incorporated Stay-Focused in January 2003. In addition to becoming PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) certified, Stay-Focused divers participate in workshops, sample parasailing and riding wave runners, and enjoy recreational outings on Grand Cayman."

The non-profit's website is :
http://www.stay-focused.org

Have a great day!
Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

SCUBA SHOW

2008-07-04T16:15:00.001-07:00

Long time no see! We have been very busy studying for the upcoming California Bar Exam which we're taking at the end of the month, so we haven't had much time for posting. However, I was able to get away for a couple of hours to attend the SCUBA SHOW in Long Beach a couple of weekends back!

Apart from the fact that the Convention Center was also rented out by Jehovah's Witnesses on that particular day, the Scuba Show was fun. Nothing against Jehovah's Witnesses or anything, but they had rented out the entire Convention Center's parking structure and made Scuba Show visitors find alternate parking. The bathroom lines were also very long! If you were there, you know what I'm talking about. Next year, Scuba Show planners, please try to pick a day when there aren't thousands of people from different groups competing for parking spaces and toilets!

However, once we were in, Christina and I had a great time running around the booths and checking out all the gear. I was particularly impressed with Mares new women's line. Also, a company is now offering full face masks with integrated communication systems. The regulator is also integrated into the mask, so you don't have to clear the mask the traditional way. How do you feel about communicating under water? I have to say, I enjoy the peace and quiet down there!

I really miss posting and reading your comments, and I look forward to this study mania coming to a close. I'm trying to book a dive vacation for the end of August, so all suggestions are welcome!! Hope everyone is well!

Hugs and fishes,

Jenny Mo

this is what I think of law school

2008-06-23T00:17:00.000-07:00

i need a wife

2008-06-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

TwoTank friends, family, & lovers -

I am going crazy with bar studying, although I may have been there before. But that is a post for another day with more time to "dive" into my neuroses, ha ha ha. That's just it, there cannot possibly be enough time in the next 5 weeks to get everything done & continue to sleep & exercise.

Basically, I need a wife. I don't mean a liberated post-feminist wife, I need the perfect 1950's housewife who will clean my apartment, do the laundry, iron my sheets, make my lunch, & have a hot, healthy dinner on the table every night...in addition to running any errands that may need to be completed.

Here are some photos of my high-school friend on her scuba trip off of Catalina Island. Enjoy!

Hugs and fishes, Traci

Shipwreck Discovered

2008-06-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

Two men have claimed to have discovered a very old shipwreck - the HMS Ontario, a British 22 gun warship that was lost in 1780 during the American Revolution. The men, Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville, have not disclosed the location, but have spent $100,000 on equipment and 3 years searching for this "holy grail" of shipwrecks. The ship was lost when a sudden gale swallowed it. Lost for over 200 years and now it has been discovered. Brilliant. Approximately 5000 shipwrecks have been discovered in the Great Lakes.

The men have explained that the ship is still considered a war grave (120 souls were aboard when it sank) and belongs to the British government. When I first learned of the HMS Ontario, it reminded me of our first year exam in Real Property because we had a similar fact pattern- interesting to analyze who might have a rightful claim to anything aboard the ship. Click on the title of the post to read more and see a grainy photo of the shipwreck.

Sorry we haven't posted in a long time. The bar preparation is intense! However, we're all trudging along and looking forward to an August dive trip and more time to post!

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

Keeping Time

2008-05-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

The title of this post links to an article about a new Rolex watch that can be used while diving. It's called the Rolex SeaDweller Deep Sea, and it looks amazing. It got me thinking - first, I need a watch. It's one of the mandatory pieces of gear that divers must wear on all dives. I have been naughty, though, and I admit I haven't really worn one lo these many scuba years. I have a nice watch, but I think I need a cheap and cheerful one that I won't worry about at depth. Am I wrong?

According to this article, the Rolex Sea Dweller deep sea is waterproof up to 12,800 feet! This is truly a beautiful watch. However, I'm curious - what kind of watch do you wear when diving? Are dive computers replacing dive watches? Is the money better spent on a dive computer, a dive watch, or does a diver need both these days?

I haven't invested in a dive computer yet because I always just count on my buddy or the dive master since my only experience is with groups of divers. However, I'm definitely going to get my own before my next dive trip. So feel free to post away about what kind of dive computer and/or watch you recommend.

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

SCUBA is not a crime!

2008-05-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

It's been far too long since our last post, but as you can imagine, graduation festivities and bar preparation has left us each with almost no time! However, I had to post this as soon as I saw it. According to the story:

"A Tofino man was recently sentenced in Port Alberni provincial court to 60 days in jail for unlawfully possessing scuba diving equipment contrary to a prohibition order. Gilgamesh Derick Palm also received an additional two year snorkeling and scuba diving prohibition, after pleading guilty to contravening an Order of Prohibition made under Section 79.6 of the Fisheries Act.
Convicted for the second time for possessing northern abalone in 2001, Palm was handed an eight year Order of Prohibition, which prohibited him from engaging in snorkeling or scuba diving activities. However, fishery officers determined in March 2008 that he was in contravention of the order, as he was in possession of scuba diving equipment. Because of conservation concerns, abalone fisheries have been closed in BC since December 1990. Northern abalone was declared a threatened species under the Species at Risk Act in 1999. Killing, harming, harassing, capturing or taking abalone is prohibited under SARA, which aims to prevent endangered and threatened wildlife from becoming extinct or lost from the wild, and to help in the recovery of these species. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said in a press release that one of the largest threats to northern abalone survival is the continued unauthorized harvest, and surveys of northern abalone, including areas accessible only to remote communities, show no sign of recovery."

Sounds like he needs a good lawyer! Too bad we're still studying for the bar. Who knew a person could be on SCUBA probation??

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

One Month Anniversary!

2008-05-12T22:23:00.001-07:00

Hi everybody! It's been exactly one month since we first debuted our blog, and so many of our new friends have given us a fantastic welcome to the online SCUBA community. To thank you for all your kind comments and for dropping by so often, I thought I'd give you an underwater hug. Have a great day.

Hugs and fishes,
Jenni Mo

P.S. We graduate from law school on Friday!

Ice Diving in the White Sea

2008-05-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

I ran across this story in the Wall St. Journal online, and it's incredible! Mark Schoofs wrote the piece and is the diver. The video is truly breathtaking. And the White Sea Center has two captive Beluga whales that played with the divers.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

"But the cold harbors danger. Valves can freeze, either blasting a diver with free-flowing air or shutting off the air supply altogether. Every air tank for ice diving has two valves, not the standard one for warm-water diving, and the mouthpiece valve has a freeze-resistant design. Even so, I encountered an emergency. I wore a vest that inflated and deflated to control buoyancy, and a valve on it froze open, ballooning the vest and sending me straight up. I was pinned against the ice, unable to swim freely, with the air in my tank rapidly flowing out. The safety of the terrestrial world was less than a foot away but walled off by impenetrable ice.

This is the second danger of ice diving: To ascend to the surface, one must return to the ice hole. Out of air and wearing close to 100 pounds of gear, even 25 yards underwater can be a long, even lethal distance. Each diver is secured to a rope connected to two other people: a buddy in the water and a tender on the surface. My buddy saw my trouble and gave the emergency signal: Four yanks of the rope, and our tender hauled us in. We skated along the ice's underside, a sensation so fun and beautiful that I forgot the danger. Up on top, our tender doused the valve with hot water from a thermos, and we resumed our dive."

Click on the title of the post to read the entire piece.

Hope everyone is well. We're done with finals and gearing up for graduation on Friday!

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

Above and Below

2008-05-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

Sunrise on Maui. At the Grand Wailea, they have beach dives right off the hotel. One of the things I love about diving in Hawaii is that waking up at the crack of dawn isn't so difficult thanks to the time change. (For me it's 3 hours behind). I'm happy to get up and go diving first thing in the morning. This is what it looks like above the water and below the water on the same day.

Let's all wish the girls good luck on their exams. I'm finished now, but they still have a few to go!

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

Diver ESP

2008-05-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

Everyone has one - a story about how you just got a little "feeling" that you should or shouldn't do something. I am a big fan of listening to my intuition. My story involves Miami, Florida in March 2007. I flew to Miami, and we were booked to go on a dive - the U.S.S. Spiegel Grove - in the Keys. I went to dinner at a wonderful seafood restaurant the night before, and it was great - until I started throwing up in the middle of the night. I didn't get much rest, and I woke up with a bad feeling (besides just throwing up). I had a really terrible sense of doom, but I wanted to do this dive. After all, I had traveled all this way and I wasn't going to get another chance during that trip.

If you've ever been to the Speigel Grove, you know that it's a huge war ship, and portions of it are in over 120 feet of water. I've done deep dives, but I'm a little more psychologically comfortable at 80 feet max. However, I had seen magnificent photos of the ship, and I couldn't wait to take my own so I was willing to - ahem - take the plunge. (Did I just say that?)

Anyway, I went to the dive shop. The weather was awful - gray, gloomy, rainy. But, again, I had traveled so far, and rain doesn't really affect diving once you're under. Plus, the boat was taking divers. If the boat goes, why shouldn't I? Again, terrible sense of doom. That plus the bad seafood the night before plus the terrible weather made me do something I had never done before - cancel a dive. The shop was kind enough to refund my money. I moped around the rest of the day, wondering if I had made the right call. The next day, I picked up my newspaper outside my hotel room and discovered that three divers died on the Speigel Grove on the dive I was scheduled to do at the time I was scheduled to do it. They had apparently penetrated the wreck without tying a line, bringing extra air canisters, or having a guide. One of them made it back, but three of them got lost inside the ship. They had to send down an extraction team the following day. It was awful. I don't know if I would have penetrated the wreck or not because I tend to be a pretty cautious diver. However, these guys were experienced and certified - probably more experienced than me. I'm really sorry for those divers and their families.

The reason I bring it up is because I think it's really critical to listen to your intuition with SCUBA. It's also critical to respect your buddy's feelings about a dive, too, and to never pressure your buddy. Do you have any stories of DIVER ESP?
Hugs and Fishes,
Jenny Mo

SCUBA's Good For You!

2008-05-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

The Guardian just ran a story about the health benefits of SCUBA v. Swimming. You can read the entire story on Guardian's website by clicking the title of this post, but here are some highlights:

Swimming: Increases appetite. Swimmers gained an avg. of 5 lbs. when put on a 3 month program for weight loss. Oops.

SCUBA: Swimming with fins is like water-based weight training, firming the thighs! Weight loss? Excellent - Someone weighing 70kg burns 13 calories a minute, putting a 45 minute dive at 585 burned calories!! (For those of us Americans - 70 kg is 154 pounds). That is the equivalent of a Carl's Jr. Famous Big Star Hamburger (580 Calories), or 2 Glazed Chocolate Crullers from Dunkin Donuts (560 calories) or 5 Heineken beers (550). Wow!

Both are good for lung capacity. Swimming is better for an upper body workout. As you all know, we don't really do much with our arms at depth.

The last time I burned 585 pounds in 45 minutes, I was on a treadmill listening to terrible techno music, sweating like crazy, and thinking there had to be a better way. Well there is!!

Personally, I eat very healthy and I don't drink - especially before a dive (or even the night before). No wonder divers look great in a wetsuit! We're working hard out there!

Hugs and fishes,

Jenny Mo

Scuba Camp?

2008-05-02T23:06:00.000-07:00

What do you guys think about this one? A live aboard scuba camp for teens... interesting!

Check it out here:
http://www.gobroadreach.com/programs/scuba_diving_camps.asp

April Fav Blogs

2008-05-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

April was a blast! Here are the five most popular posts from April (as measured in comments). We had fun, hope you did too :)

First of all, you guys loved Jenny's Mo's first official underwater post:
http://twotank.blogspot.com/2008/04/down-line_12.html

Also, "Feeding Frenzy" was a hit with the web crowd:
http://twotank.blogspot.com/2008/04/feeding-frenzy.html

"Feeding Frenzy" was not to be outdone by "TwoTone Tan Lines"
http://twotank.blogspot.com/2008/04/twotone-scuba-tan-lines.html

Both with four comments. Moving into the three comments category, we had the very, very sad event of a shark attack in San Diego. Thanks to the community for helping us honor this gentleman in his untimely death:
http://twotank.blogspot.com/2008/04/suspected-great-white-shart-attack-san.html

We had some fun advice from Jenny Mo and web friends about proper mask clearing. I've not been diving in the ocean yet, so I can only "picture" what you guys are talking about. However, it seems like you all did an amazing job describing what I should do once I get certified! If you missed it, check it out here:
http://twotank.blogspot.com/2008/04/loosen-up.html

We also have one more post that was the most "fun" for us... we love making connections online and we really found some great scuba friends in the midst of my ode to Traci's love of mermaids!
http://twotank.blogspot.com/2008/04/traci-who-loves-you.html

As you can tell, we are all nearing the end of finals, but we are still pretty school focused so the blogging has been hit or miss. Soon after finals, Z and I will be getting certified so that will be fun and funny all at the same time :) We have our fingers crossed that we will be taking an all girls dive trip before the summer is out, but we will keep you posted! Any ideas? We need to go somewhere that is a long weekend away from the US.

If you have a favorite friend on TwoTank you can get the posts by author as follows:

Jenny Mo: http://twotank.blogspot.com/search/label/Jenny%20Mo
Traci: http://twotank.blogspot.com/search/label/Traci
Z (who has been studying A LOT): http://twotank.blogspot.com/search/label/Z
Me (Kari): http://twotank.blogspot.com/search/label/Kari

Hugs and Fishes,
Kari

Three Down - One to Go!

2008-05-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished a final that was so confusing and hard that I cannot describe it other than as my worst school nightmare for three hours in slow-mo. Yeah, honey, THREE hours of nothing but essay - corporate law no less. So, that was the end of my third final. I have one more next week.

After that I will be a free woman! I might paint my face blue :) As a celebration, I am taking the rest of the night off from thinking and going to dinner with some old friends from home. I think there are few things on the planet as wonderful as old friends that know you so well, it's almost hard to keep the conversation going because you already know EVERTHING about each other. I love that. So, hats off to old friends and being (almost) done with finals!

Hugs and fishes,
Kari

P.S. Once I'm done with finals I get to start my SCUBA certification... so excited! I've even started calling / e-mailing local shops for price quotes. Don't worry, I blog all the action :)

Nudist Vacations?

2008-04-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

Oh, boy. Where do I begin? The New York Times Travel Section has a story this week, "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem," exposing the growing trend of nudist travel. Apparently there are all-nude luxury resorts from Mexico to the Caribbean. This growth industry is estimated at $440,000,000 last year. There's even an all-nude Hawaiian cruise scheduled for 2010. And - get this - they are referring to a such trip as a "nakation."

There is absolutely no way I would ever do this. Yes, I'm modest. But even more importantly, I really don't want to see other nude people frolicking on a cruise ship or lunching by the pool or playing volleyball / water polo or whatever (like in this photo). However, I think I've figured out why this is becoming popular. Who wants to go through all the hassle of bringing luggage to an airport these days? With the nudist vacation, lost luggage is a thing of the past! Besides, is being nude for a week really that much more embarrassing than having a full body scan at your local airport security checkpoint? Probably not, unless you're taking a trip with your parents or your boss. The main problem I foresee is managing to fit a sufficient amount of sunscreen into those Ziplock bags they make you use now. Click on the title of the post to read the full article in the NYT.

So today's discussion - would you go / have you ever gone on a "nakation?"

Hugs and fishes,

Jenny Mo

TwoTone: SCUBA Tan Lines

2008-04-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

Fellow Blogger Maldives Live commented on the post "Loosen Up," saying that the mask mark is not as bad as the scuba tan. I'm inclined to agree, so I'm posting a photo of what can happen when you leave the bottom half of your wetsuit on and unzip the top half and scrunch it down on the boat ride home! As you can see, top half - fabulous, bronze goddess tan. Bottom half? Dita Von Teese. Note to self: Always take wetsuit completely off after the last dive.

Hugs and fishes,

Jenny Mo

Yo Quiero Scuba Dive

2008-04-29T23:54:00.000-07:00

Cruel and unusual or just funny? You be the judge. Click on the title of the post for more info.

Hugs and Fishes,

Jenny Mo

Loosen Up!

2008-04-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

I tend to wear my mask a little too tight when I'm diving. It always seems like the tighter it is, the more it will keep the water out. However, that's not the case! If it fits correctly, it forms a seal, especially at depth with the pressure. I also tend to clear my mask too often because I always think I'll be able to rid it of those few little drops at the bottom. This, too, is a bad habit and I'm pretty sure that when my mask flooded the last time, I was broken of that bad habit. As you can see from the photo (8 hours after my dive) I still have lines on my face from the mask.

For those of you who may be new to diving, here's a bit of mask clearing 101. Why would you ever clear a mask? You might want to deliberately get some water in your mask, or "flood" it, when you're on a dive if you happen to fog up. Or, you may get some water in your mask accidentally and want to get rid of it. Here's how: All you have to do is look up to the surface, take a breath through your regulator, and blow out through your nose as you gently push the top of the mask, tilting it and lifting the seal from the bottom away from your face. The air from your nose completely clears it. The most important thing is to make sure you're looking to the surface at all times so that water doesn't fill it back up as you're clearing it. This is one of the things you'll learn in your certification course, and you should definitely always take a certification course before you dive.

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

Divers Have Been Rescued

2008-04-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

As we posted two days ago, 8 divers were missing in Taiwan. Psychosolodiver (http://psychosolodiver.com/) commented about the rescue today and gave us a link - the 8 missing divers in Taiwan have been rescued after 40 hours! This is such wonderful news, and an answer to our prayers. Click on the title of this post to read the full story from The China Post.

Hugs and fishes,

Jenny Mo

Northern California Diving for Abalone

2008-04-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

So there seems to be more to do in Silicon Valley than just conquer the tech world and tour vineyards. It's ABALONE season! I don't exactly know what this means, but if you click on the link above, it will take you to a story in the Mercury News (Silicon Valley's Daily Planet) that will more than adequately inform you of all things abalone.

Apparently, these things are a delicacy. There are a lot of restrictions like - you can't use scuba gear! You have to just free dive (that's diver speak for just holding your breath and going to the bottom until you need to come up for air - I don't see the point, but I guess these Abalone people are into it). And get this! Standard visibility is just 5-6 feet! So basically, you can't see anything, you have no tank or reg or any way to breathe, and temperatures can be in the upper 40s! (That's Fahrenheit - 4 degrees Celsius!) You also need particular gear (including a mollusk scraper) and a sport fishing license. You're only allowed 3 per day or 24 per year, and there's a black market for these little sea critters of up to $100 per abalone. It's also pretty risky because they have to rescue about 50 people per season.

Has anyone ever done this who wants to weigh in? I love diving, but I'm not going through this for shellfish. Also, their numbers are dwindling. Here's a pretty good report on the ecological issues regarding abaolone:

www.werc.usgs.gov/ coastal/abalone.html

Thanks to that website (U.S. Gov) for the photo as well! Very educational. Also, thanks to my marine biology professor in college because I still remember that mollusks have radial symmetry (and I think they're gastropods, too!).

Hugs and fishes,
Jenny Mo

Shorty

2008-04-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

One final exam down, one to go. Kari, Traci, and I all took the same exam today, and what a beast! So to take our minds off of it, I'm including a photo of me in a shorty wet suit. I have to say, it's not the most attractive look. There's something sleek and catlike about the full wetsuit. The shorty wetsuit looks more like you're a superhero with a bad dry cleaner. However, O'Neill wetsuits are the best ones I've tried. They fit well, and they hold up year after year. I have two wetsuits and they're both O'Neill - I have a 5 mil full suit and this 3 mil shorty. I don't have a drysuit yet.

The good thing about the shorty is that it's a lot easier to get in and out of. It's also light and a little more comfortable. I just don't feel quite as spectacular in it though. How many wetsuits do you own? Any favorites? And lastly - would you ever wear a rental wetsuit? I wouldn't! Not after I learned that people don't always bother to use the "head" on a dive boat.

Hugs and fishes,

Jenny Mo

8 Divers Missing in China

2008-04-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Eight vacationers went missing on a SCUBA trip to the popular dive destination on the coastal tip of Taiwan at Chihsingyen (Seven Star Rock). Six men and two women were last seen around noon two days ago, and search and rescue teams have been unable to find them. Strong currents may have swept them further out to sea. Click on the title of this post to read the full story.

Thoughts, hopes, and prayers for a safe return.

Jenny Mo

Countries That Have Visited (thanks for the love)

2008-04-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

Thus far, we've met new friends and rad divers who've stopped by TwoTank from the following countries (in order of most hits): USA, Canada, Russian Federation, Guam, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Finland, Argentina, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Northern Marina Islands, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and France. WOW! It's been fun "chatting" with you online and admiring your scuba shots. The next best thing would be to have you show us the best dive sites in all those amazing places. That's the beauty of the web - we can live the adventure with each other! Keep diving, shooting (pictures), and sharing :)

Procrastination Station

2008-04-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ladies & Gentleman,

Do you have rituals? Activities which are performed every day/week/month at a certain hour regardless of time/weather/responsibilities?

Every Sunday, I enter the lives of others by viewing secrets here: http://postsecret.blogspot.com/
I think it makes me a better person. It is also reassuring that I alone do not harbor mean thoughts. I have sent in several secrets but none, thus far, have been published on the web, booooooooo. The secrets change every week, so I save the ones that I think are particularly sad or touching...my favorites are posted here!

In less than 15 hours, I will be taking a Community Property exam & yet I just took 20 minutes to peruse the anonymous secrets of people I will never meet. Welcome to my procrastination station. Happy studying,
traci

Traci - Who Loves You?

2008-04-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

For Traci and Her Love of Mermaids...
Check out the new Annie Leibovitz pics staged as if underwater! For source information, click here: http://www.hotmommagossip.com/annie-leibovitz-just-adds-water-to-make-some-more-disney-magic/

Hugs and fishes, Kari

Suspected Great White Shark Attack (San Diego)

2008-04-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

CNN is reporting the tragic news of a likely great white shark attack that resulted in the death of a 66-year old man.

A 66-year-old man died early Friday after being attacked by what authorities suspect was a great white shark off the southern California coast. Dave Martin, a retired veterinarian, was pronounced dead shortly after the incident, which occurred about 7 a.m. (10 a.m. ET) at Solana Beach, California. Martin was in a group of nine swimmers "when he was bitten across both thighs by what is believed to be a great white shark," according to a statement issued by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. "Some of the other swimmers looked back to see the victim up out of the water flailing, and (he) was pulled back under the water. He came up screaming and was helped to shore by four of the swimmers."

Continue reading article here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/25/ca.shark.attack/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Final Exams

2008-04-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

We haven't posted in a while because we're all studying for final exams, but I thought I'd post a quick note saying hello and wishing everyone well.

Hugs and Fishes,

Jenny Mo

Around The World In A Day

2008-04-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

The proper way to read the title of this post, is by simultaneously gyrating your hips & singing the same line in Ricki Martin's song, Shake Your Bon Bon. If you don't know what I am talking about, click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu9iUD47Fkc and fast forward to second 28! I promise you the very act of my suggested moves will improve your day immensely.

Like any crazy person, I love to travel to far-off locals with barely an itinerary in sight. Okay, I always start out OCD but then I realize sometimes more fun is had without concrete plans. Of course, one can never travel without a good book. If you need a suspenseful, funny novel with tons of scuba diving mishaps check out Olivia Joules & the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding. While the book will never win any literature achievement awards, it's entertaining none the less.

My trips have been relatively short & mostly focused on one region... but how great would it be to travel around the world? One can imagine an adventure filled with scuba diving in every conceivable country & filling one's passport with exotic stamps along the way! Let me introduce you to my friend Angela, who I've known since sixth grade, and her husband, Fritz. Last year, they decided to get away from it all & travel around the world, literally. Fritz maintains a blog (which I obsessively check) spotlighting the highlights of their trip. I am super jealous of this amazing expedition & all of the spectacular places they have visited. Honestly, it's the journey of a lifetime! You can travel along with them too http://www.travelrats.blogspot.com/

Enough rambling

FEEDING FRENZY

2008-04-18T07:33:00.001-07:00

The thing is - I love sharks - but I don't want to be anywhere near a hungry one. I mean it! They might not want to eat me, but hey, even I sometimes eat stuff I don't want when I'm hungry. Stuart's Cove is one of the most famous dive shops - especially for shark diving in the Bahamas. They take the divers out to the feeding spot and explain that the divers must keep their limbs tucked close to their bodies at all times because a shark could mistake an arm for some chum (AARRGH!). Anyway, they descend, kneel at the bottom, and a guy comes down with a box full of chum, and when everyone's ready they open the box and are suddenly surrounded by 40+ sharks! I'm glad it was fun, but I'm seriously in no rush to experience this. Has anyone else done it?

It's FRIDAY! Our first week on the web is coming to a conclusion, and thanks so much for giving us such a warm welcome. I have to be honest about today's photo - I was nowhere in the vicinity. Instead, I was lying in the sun at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas in these really cool cabanas that have plasma tvs, mini bars, private bathrooms, and you can even get a massage. My friend went on the dive, took the picture, and told me all about it. I was a tiny bit jealous, but not enough to jump in with that lot!

Hugs and Fishes!
Jenny Mo

The Biggest Fish Ever

2008-04-17T22:17:00.001-07:00

Who ordered the grouper?

Hugs and BIG fishes,
Jenny Mo

REEFS

2008-04-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

So the girls and I only started this blog four days ago, and we're excited to see that we've had visitors from all over the world. Welcome everyone! One thing you may not know about us is that between us we speak about 7 languages - some better than others! So feel free to post comments in any language and hopefully it will be one of the languages we know. If not, we'll just pretend we know it, and respond in English with something generic like, "Right on!"

Today's post is all about REEFS and how incredibly magnificent they are. One of the most incredible SCUBA experiences is a wall dive - that's scuba speak for diving along the side of a reef (it looks like a wall) as opposed to descending to the bottom. You'll have to forgive me for posting about Molokini yet again, but I have a lot of pictures from there, and it's a diver's paradise! Molokini is a volcanic crater, and the back wall drops down to depths of 300 feet. It's also home to 250 species of fish, so you're sure to see a lot! Also, it's advanced enough for the most seasoned diver, but it still has plenty of entry-level diver areas for those who are newly certified. This is me diving along the wall (still in my first fins, and still not sure what to do with my arms).

What's incredible about reef diving is how the colors change with the visibility. You may be able to see the reef from a hundred feet away or more, but once you get up close, the colors are astounding. The reef looks great from any distance, but once you're within a few feet, the colors are so vibrant that there's nothing like it on solid ground. If you look at Wikipedia for "reef" - you'll find lots of really big words like "Permian-Triassic." As law students, we're used to big words, but these geologists and oceanographers do not mess around. According to wikipedia, the biggest threats to the coral reefs include overfishing, pollution, and shipping traffic. There are lots of organizations you can get involved with to help protect our reefs and have fun diving while doing it! Check out www.reefcheck.org and www.reef.org for more info.

This last shot is a sunset on the Maui shore near the dive site. The clouds accumulate over the other side of the island (near Ka'anapali and Lahaina).

Hugs and Fishes! Jenny Mo

Looking Fish-y

2008-04-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

Jenny Mo and I attended a fun dinner together recently. We tried our best to look like we were underwater in the photo... yeah, we just ended up looking silly, but hey, anything for the love of scuba, right?

Kiwi Dreams

2008-04-16T12:11:00.001-07:00

New Zealand might be the prettiest place on the planet... it definitely has the most charming people, aka Kiwis that you will EVER meet. I visited Wellington, Martinborough, Featherston, (generally the Wairarapa) and the world famous Wharekauhau Country Estate. You have to see Wharekauhau to believe it... http://www.wharekauhau.co.nz/

So, now I need to know, when I head back to that part of the world in the fall... where should I dive? Should I stick to the North Island or should I venture to the South Island? Please help SCUBA pros :)

In the meantime, if you are dreaming about going to New Zealand, do not pass go, do not collect $200, get on a plane right now. New Zealand will change you forever! Here are some of my photos from the trip!

The Romper, Then & Now

2008-04-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for the perfect apres-scuba outfit? Something which will look stylish & sexy but will travel easily? The romper is a classic choice; honestly, it doesn't go out of style. First appearing in 1910, the romper is a one-piece garment usually worn for play. It comes in two varieties: shorts or skirt! (as modeled by myself then & now, respectively)

It can be slipped on over your bathing suit & since most rompers are terry cloth, it's like wearing a flattering towel. It doesn't wrinkle & you can shove it in your scuba bag where it won't take up much space at all. It goes from the boat to the bar with ease.

Come on people, who doesn't want to wear an outfit which embodies the sense of fun shared by childhood & the pursuit of scuba. I promise that your romper outfit will be a big hit!!!

hugs & fishes,
traci

Wreck Diving

2008-04-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

So I have ten minutes left before class, so this is a quick one! These photos are blurry because I don't have a great underwater camera - yet! I hear that it's all about the flash. Please leave comments if you have any advice about a good, reasonably priced underwater camera. So this was my first wreck dive - the St. Anthony. And, yes, I penetrated the wreck! However, it's a very SMALL wreck - she's a 65' shrimper. Some of you may recognize it. Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead) donated money to have her sank off of Maui in 1997 to create an artificial reef for the beautiful sea turtles that live in the area. She's a great wreck for first time wreck divers.

There's a great story about this wreck as well as information on how to contribute to the Maui Reef Fund available at http://www.mauiscuba.com/wrecks/anthony.htm

I also want to urge anyone new to scuba to NEVER penetrate a wreck without proper training. Wreck diving is a separate certification, and the conditions are so much different. This little shrimp boat only had one inside area to penetrate that was maybe 8' x 8' and I followed an instructor who was a certified wreck diver. However, there have been tragic consequences when people try to penetrate wrecks without being prepared. Some of the problems can include getting lost inside the wreck and being unable to "follow your bubbles" to the top, stirring up silt and losing visibility entirely, and running out of air and being unable to ascend. That being said, if you are properly trained and prepared, I hear that it's a lot of fun! I would like to get wreck certified!

This other photo is of me with some gorgeous angel fish near the wreck. They suddenly surrounded me, and it was amazing!

Please feel free to share your wreck diving stories - after all - it's WRECK WEDNESDAY!

Hugs and fishes,

Jenny Mo

Hot Days Make Me Miss the Water

2008-04-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend was scorching hot. Sometimes, the most fun and cheapest way to beat the heat is to throw on a bathing suit and run to the beach - or better yet - grab some scuba gear and take a swim with the fisheez! Unfortunately I am in the middle of finals MADNESS - just two weeks to go!!! So - I had to settle for a bathing suit and my books in the back yard.

Hugs & Fishes,
Z

Calendar: Chamber Day, May 7, 2008 (SoCal)

2008-04-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

Some of our SCUBA buddies have mentioned that it is pretty hard to keep track of SCUBA-tastic events. For the sake of the cause, we are going to do our best to collect scuba events. We will file them under the label "Calendar" and we will try to have the location in the title. So, if you know about, or if you are promoting, a scuba event, bring it to our attention and we will put it under the calendar tab!

That being said, we've just been directed to a really cool event in Southern California. It's called Chamber Day. This year's event will be on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. The official website, http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/chmbday.htm,says the following:

The great thing about this event is that ALL the monies raised goes to the Chamber. No administrative fees are deducted from the proceeds, the local SoCal boats donate their time and services, the manufacturers donate gear for raffle prizes, the Aquarium of the Pacific donates their facility for the evening event, hundreds of volunteers donate their time, and you (hopefully) donate your money.The Catalina Chamber is dedicated strictly to the treatment of diving accidents on a 24/7/365 basis. Although we hope you’ll never need it, having the Chamber available gives divers a vital safety net in the event something should go wrong with your dive. Although there is a grant from LA County, and the Chamber gets income from some outside activities, Chamber Day provides a significant portion (roughly 50%) of the Chamber’s annual budget.

So, if you live and dive in SoCal... get involved!

Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

2008-04-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

I've been blessed to visit some beautiful places on this planet and stay in some hotels with great character. This major travel / adventure bug has lead to my desire to become scuba certified. What better place to explore than underwater? That's the last great frontier, right? I've visited all of the majorly inhabited continents (read I'm not counting Antarctica) other than South America. I hope to visit the magical land of South America soon and very soon. In the meantime, I am just going to share with you places I've been that when I REVISIT will be amazing places to dive (example: my post about my visit to Australia http://twotank.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-time-in-land-down-under.html). If you are lucky enough to already be certified, you may want to check these places out, ASAP.

A place near and dear to my heart is the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LagunaNiguel/Default.htm The pictures tell it all! Notice how much my pictures look like the pictures on the hotel website? This means that the property is SO beautiful that a horrible shot like me can get a fantastic pic :) This hotel is wonderfully appointed, but very laid back. I love that combo. Don't get me wrong, I love nice stuff, but nothing ruins my vacation like pretentious and snotty. Can I get an amen? The beach was amazing, the multiple pools were awesome, and they had the most unbelievable work-out space I've ever seen. I think it was a three-story glass front to the workout / yoga space that basically had you hovering over the water while you were sweating it out on the treadmill. But, if you just want the most relaxing breakfast of your life, this is the place to go. The Ritz has several breakfast rooms overlooking the ocean. It is just pure bliss. So, to send a little bliss and relaxation into your day, I am including a couple shots from my stay at this amazing property. Has anyone done any diving in the OC? Where should I stay when I come back to visit SoCal?

Hugs and fishes,

Kari

Quest For The Perfect Body

2008-04-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Do you want to look H-O-T now? Forget about all those crazy diets which force one to forgo delicious treats, get yourself a super tight wet suit. I am a firm believer that the wet suit camouflages most imperfections. The form-fitting garment creates the illusion of a perfect body; it sucks all the spoogy bits in & keeps them from spilling over one's bathing suit (please observe man in black speedos sans wet suit). Seriously, the wet suit can make one look 15 pounds lighter!!! Besides the slimming qualities, the wet suit is super comfortable and it imparts an added element of self-confidence to the wearer. It is the ultimate must-have for 2008

hugs & fishes,
traci

FINS!

2008-04-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Divers,

Today's blog is about fin preferences. I've noticed a little debate going on in the scuba community about whether or not split fins are the way to go. In case you don't know what a split fin is, I've included a photo. This is the Apollo Biofin, and it's the one I currently use. They're expensive - $200 according to the site. But I lucked out and bought a pair for much less from a friend who had never used them. So the first part of the discussion: I learned that these are not called "flippers" - believe me. People who take themselves seriously will NOT like it if you use the term flipper. It's a fin. To me, that's a little strange because when I think of a fin, I think of a dorsal fin - but then again, I'm a little shark-obsessed. So the split fin (as opposed to the more traditional fin - shown next) is cool because it creates little whirlwinds - like water tornadoes - in the split. This does a couple of things to say the least. I noticed that I swam much faster with much less effort. According to the Apollo website, it reduces muscle fatigue by 40%, increases speed, and increases air consumption. I had never thought about the air consumption issue! Of course - the less you strain or exert, the less air you consume. And as you know, you want to conserve air to make the dive last longer! If you want to see more about these fins, the website is http://www.apollosportusa.com/Products/Fins/Biofin_Pro.html

And - Apollo - if you're out there and you want to give me a free set of fins for saying such good stuff about you, just leave a comment and I'll get in touch. (Hey - it's worth a shot!)

But these cool Apollo fins were not the first fins I ever used. As you can see in my photos on earlier posts I used some really cheap ones for the first few dives. My first ones encased my whole foot, and I didn't have to wear boots. I thought that was a positive until I got my first blister on a dive because it was chafing the top of my foot as I was finning. Let me tell you something - blisters can ruin a dive! The salt hurts, the water hurts, and every time you kick your legs with a blister and your fin rubs your foot, it's agony! Well, maybe I have a low threshold, but I can tell you it's distracting at the very least! So what can you do??

First, in my experience, rubber flip flops (the ones with the piece that goes between the big and second toe) are just a bad idea for divers. The rubber chafes the top of the foot in humid weather. I have no idea why this happens - I'm in law school, not medical school after all. However, my favorite flip flops that I had worn for months suddenly became torture devices in the humidity of Maui. I think the moisture sticks to the rubber or something, causing friction. Naturally, getting salt and water on those blisters is terrible. Also, all rubber flip flops are just unsafe for being on a dive boat because they're too slick and unstable. One big surge and it's "Man overboard!" The best alternative I have found is a pair of Crocs. Divers were wearing these way before they became the latest rage for the under-5 set. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

But back to fins: The cheap fins feel fine when you first put them on, but the rubber surrounding your foot is exactly like the flip flop - moisture + rubber + skin = friction = blister. At least - for me, it does. So the first dive was ok, but when I was on my second - I wanted to leave those fins at the bottom! As you know, though, with all that gear on, there's no way you can swim very far without fins - they're absolutely essential! So the only answer I've found is using fin boots. They also make you feel like a superhero! Or maybe like a cat burglar. Either way, they cover your feet entirely, so no chance of a blister. The ones I wear are O'Neill and look like this.

So my problem with diving has been - false economy. I buy $15 flip flops and $30 fins thinking I'm going to save money. Then I get to a resort with tourist prices and have to buy $80 neoprene flip flops and $150+ fins and $40 boots because my cheap footwear is literally ruining the vacation. Therefore, I suggest that before you take a dive trip, do some research and get quality gear that will last, fit right, and be incredibly comfortable.

But as to the debate - split fins, regular fins, or anything else?

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Hugs and Fishes,

Jenny Mo

My time in a "Land Down Under"

2008-04-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

I spent some time in Australia this past Christmas season and I totally fell in LOVE. Sydney is for lovers, forget Paris :) I am so excited that I am getting my certification this summer because, if all goes as planned, I am spending two weeks in Australia this fall. I cannot even imagine the bliss that will be diving off the Australian shore! Our travel plans are pretty flexible so I'd love some suggestions on where to dive and which dive shops to use. Can't wait until I'm "leaving on a jet plane" and headed back to the land down under :) Here are a few random pics from my last visit... I look forward to your suggestions / tips / fun stories!

Hugs and fishes,

Kari

Blending In

2008-04-14T14:36:00.001-07:00

Do you ever feel invisible? Like no one really notices you're there? Let's face it: Sometimes it's hard to stand out in a crowd! However, there's a silver lining - it's a pretty good thing to blend in if creatures are constantly trying to eat you. So here we have it - the frogfish! These guys can be so hard to spot because they completely blend into the background. It's even kind of hard to see in this photo.

He manages to look like a piece of coral covered in sand. Incredible! Like a chameleon but even more fantastic because his texture even seems to change. But his mouth gives him away, and he always seems to look a little grumpy with the corners of his mouth turned down. I was really excited to see him, though, because they can be very tough to spot!

So this was during one of my first open water dives, and I'm including a picture of myself to show some really BAD scuba technique. I'm finning all over the place and stirring up sand, my buoyancy - well, I had no idea about buoyancy. I'm way too close to the bottom, and I'm not wearing gloves. I had way better training than that! My instructor taught me about the importance of not touching anything if I can help it so I don't impact the delicate ecosystems. I was also taught to wear gloves so that if I do touch something (especially if I want to clean up trash), I won't hurt my hands. This dive was great other than that. I was with Charlie Dolfin, the instructor at the Grand Wailea where they have an amazing Discover Scuba program you can do if you want to try it out, but you're not sure you want to get certified. Charlie was great. I think he teaches mostly kids, so he's really patient, and that's exactly what I needed on these first dives.

Hugs and Fishes,

Jenny Mo

Mermaids

2008-04-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

Scuba SuperStarrs unite!

Scuba diving is the closest thing I have found to being a mermaid. I mean breathing under water, amazing. My first dive experience was off the coast of Turkey in the summer of 2006. The above photo is of my Peace Corps friend, Emre, giving the okay sign on our Turkey diving adventure.

I can't wait to get certified so that I can travel & view life from under the sea...

hugs & fishes,
traci
http://twotank.blogspot.com/

She's Already Doing It - Go Patricia!

2008-04-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

So there is actually an attorney on record that has a thriving law practice AND spends tons of time under the surf. Maybe we can be like Patricia once we start practicing law. Does anyone else out there mix law and love of the ocean? What is the best "day job" to mix with a passion for SCUBA?

Check out Patricia Lin and her dive master self at:

http://www.jdblissblog.com/2007/09/patricia-lin-en.html

Calendar: Long Beach Scuba Show (June 21-22, 2008)

2008-04-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

SoCal divers... mark your calendars for the Long Beach Scuba Show: http://www.scubashow.com/

For those of you who attended last year... how was it? Are you going again this year? Give us the scoop!

Sassy "She" Diver Joins the Ranks!

2008-04-13T18:44:00.000-07:00

This is our cup of tea :) We need more young, sassy, girl divers in the water!
You go Princess Bea!
You can read all about her recent certification here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/travel/article1003098.ece

I break for SHARKS!

2008-04-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

Ok - so I know I should be studying - after all, I only have 2 more weeks to go until finals. But if I can't actually be diving, I'll settle for blogging about it.

So - it was my first actual boat dive - Maui, HI in June. I was on the dive boat, and our dive master was explaining the hand signals for the various aquatic life, safety basics - the usual. Anyway, he explains that Molokini is home to different species of sharks and puts his hand sideways against his forehead (dive sign language for shark). He says if he gives us that sign, don't panic. He tells us that divers almost never get bitten because to sharks, we don't look like food with all that gear on. Besides, the reef is teeming with other things that keep sharks quite happily fed. Still, I was concerned. Until that day, my only encounter with sharks had been watching "Jaws."

As soon as I descended, our guide gave us the shark sign - on my FIRST dive! Sure enough, there was a white tip reef shark close enough to touch (it seemed). They are beautiful, magnificent creatures, and I wasn't scared at all - because it was only a baby! I was a little concerned about running into the mother, but no such luck. Suffice to say, seeing a shark on my first ever SCUBA dive and I was....bitten (by the SCUBA bug, not the baby shark).

For those of you out there who have never been on a dive boat, I'm throwing in a picture of what one looks like. I'm told this is a pretty good dive boat, all things considered. I've never been on a live aboard trip, or had the pleasure of being a guest on someone's fabulous yacht, but I had imagined dive boats being more.... luxurious? I imagined there would be somewhere to stretch out in the sun, somewhere to make snacks, relax... no such luck. Most boats are pretty bare bones in my experience. In fact, I've actually been on worse dive boats than this. At least this one had an upper storage! I'm the girl sitting down, listening intently to the dive master. I don't know who the other two people are. It looks like I'm wearing some kind of weird eye gear, but it's the vest in the background. But the thing is, once you're on a dive boat, all you can think about is getting in the water. There's no time for shuffle board on the Lido Deck!

So my first ever boat dive was a complete success. In fact, I was one of the last ones to ascend, and I still had about 500 PSI. Ha! See ya - Jenny Mo

Hi from Z

2008-04-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

Hey There,
This is Rosette aka Zette, aka Z. I’m so excited about a scuba community that we are trying to create. I have three fabulous friends-some of whom you have already met! We are all law students interested in Scuba.

I grew up in Africa. The heat of the tropics turned me into someone who LOVES being in the water. I started my scuba certification process ages ago. I watched videos and had a guy come to my house to teach me about all the funky equipment and then – never did the underwater training. Sometimes life just gets too busy and things slip by.

But after I graduate – MAY 16, 2008 BABY – I’m going to start from fresh and get my certification. I can't wait to get into the water. I mean – let’s be honest ladies – the idea of being weightless sounds good – and we can do it without having to go to the moon:)

Well – it’s been fun sharing little bits of me with you. Unlike Kari – some of us have to study to keep our grades up. But – I look forward to sharing my certification process with all of you and I encourage anyone who isn’t certified yet to get on it. Hey – we can do and online team thing. I don’t know – we can check on our progress and stuff. Just a thought.

Hugs and Fishes,
Looking forward to blogging with you soon,
Z

Favorite Dive Movies

2008-04-13T14:02:00.001-07:00

Kari's post about Forgetting Sarah Marshall (http://twotank.blogspot.com/2008/04/id-rather-be-in-hawaii.html) got me thinking about movies that remind me of diving. There certainly aren't enough movies shot underwater. I guess it's pretty expensive, and it's probably hard to talk most of the actresses into wearing neoprene and a mask that causes forehead lines. But there are some great movies! I just checked out IMDB for some initial research: Apparently there's a movie called "SCUBA" starring Lloyd Bridges that came out in 1973. Anyone seen it?

And - GET THIS- there's a movie called "National Lampoon's Last Resort: Scuba School" from 1994 - It stars both the Coreys - Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. How did this one escape my notice?? The user review on IMDB is only two words: "Total pukage."

But as far as my top three go:
1. Thunderball - who can beat James Bond?
2. Into The Blue - beautiful photography
3. Lara Croft Tombraider - the Cradle of Life (because she had the coolest diving suit in the world and rode a shark).

As long as they don't harm the sea life, the reefs, or the ecosystem and they don't make a mess, I'm all for underwater movie making.

The girls and I might have to have a SCUBA film festival after the bar! Any recommendations?

xo
Jenny Mo

I'd Rather Be in Hawaii

2008-04-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

I should be studying for finals right now, but I can't stop thinking about Hawaii! Here's why, I can't get away from the all the billboards and bus signs saying how much some guy hates Sarah Marshall.

Have you seen all those signs and commercials about "I hate Sarah Marshall"? The movie attached to this ad campaing, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, opens any day now, at least in the big cities http://www.forgettingsarahmarshall.com/. Why does this movie make me think about my own trip to Hawaii? When I was in Hawaii last summer, I stayed at the Turtle Bay Resort (http://www.turtlebayresort.com) and that's where they filmed the movie. I was there while they were actually filming Forgetting Sarah Marshall. We had a blast watching the huge camera crew, actors, and set design technicans rush around and reshoot sceens. I even got to meet Edward Norton in the elevator!

I cannot wait to go see the movie and relive my amazing time at Turtle Bay. If you ever want to get away from it all, but still stay in a hotel, you should stay at Turtle Bay!!!

Hugs and fishes,
Kari

Down the Line

2008-04-12T23:33:00.001-07:00

I'm Jenny, and I'm excited about my first blog post about diving. If you've ever been SCUBA diving, you know that rush you get when you first plunge into the water, become weightless, and feel the air in your BCD carry you up to the surface before you descend into the completely incredible world beneath us. You know the peace that comes over you as the world becomes silent except for the bubbles of your breath. You know the sensation of discovering an eel hidden in coral or watching a school of spotted eagle rays swim above you. And even better yet, you know the great feeling of sharing that experience with your buddy and the handful of people diving with you.

If you haven't done it yet, it's incredible.

I have to say that although I am passionate about it now, I was a little hesitant before I tried it. I was in Cabo, I wasn't certified, and I met a local at the crack of dawn who agreed to take us out on his boat and rent us some gear. The only advice I got was, "If your mask explodes, don't worry about it. Just make sure you keep breathing." Needless to say, that was not the kind of instruction I expected. I got on the boat anyway - mostly just to make sure a guy I was dating thought I was cool. But when it came time to get in the water, I chickened out. I sat on a rock in the middle of the ocean and sang songs to pelicans and watched sea lions while the rest of my group went diving. And the guy ended up pretty smitten anyway.

I learned such a great lesson that day - NEVER dive if you aren't comfortable. I went straight back to California and enrolled in certification classes, determined to learn everything I needed to know to get back in the boat and into the water. I've been certified for four years now. After learning the ropes, I now know I would not go on an open water dive without having some experience. I needed to get used to the gear, to understand how things work, to learn hand signals, and how to be a responsible diver. Once I had that down, I was hooked. I'm including a photo from my first open water dive in Maui.

My favorite dive so far has been Molokini off of Maui, HI, followed closely by a fantastic dive in the Bahamas. I'm planning a trip to Bora Bora for August and I'm desperate to get to Turks and Caicos. I'll be posting about my dives periodically and I'll include pictures from some of my underwater adventures.

Jenny Mo

Cousteau Digs

2008-04-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

This sounds like heaven on earth... could it possibly be this great? Read the following from the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort website:

The award-winning, five-star Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort is one of the most renowned vacation destinations in the South Pacific. Located on the island of Vanua Levu on 17 acres of a coconut plantation, the accommodations overlook the peaceful waters of Savusavu Bay.

The acclaimed resort is an international favorite for romance, honeymoons and weddings; scuba diving; and families, who want to combine heavenly surroundings and exceptional dining with an unsurpassed range of eco-friendly activities. A sister resort to the Post Ranch Inn and the Hotel Hana-Maui, Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands resort is the only resort that employs a full-time marine biologist to help visitors appreciate the underwater world of Fiji.

No other Fiji Island resort combines relaxation and indulgence with an unsurpassed range of eco-friendly activities when guests are ready to pick up the pace. Trip Advisor recently voted us the #1 World's Top eco resort.

Ok, has anyone been here? Can you give me the real scoop? Should I pack my bags ASAP? AND... have you seen that article in Men's Journal about the Cousteau cousins? Fascinating. Why was I reading Men's Journal (it was some Men's Health mag)? I don't remember why I read it, it was just there! Anyway, who knew that the Cousteau family had such major tension among the cousins? See also http://www.cdnn.info/industry/i030303/i030303.html

Back to Fiji... who has been to the Cousteau resort or who agrees with me that this place looks like heaven? Check the website at http://www.fijiresort.com

Want to know more about traveling to Fiji? http://www.bulafiji.com

The picture is from the Fiji travel site... I wish I were snorkeling there!!!

Hugs and fishes,
Kari

P.S. Off to study for finals...

Girls Who SCUBA!

2008-04-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

SCUBA * SCUBA * SCUBA * SCUBA * SCUBA * SCUBA * SCUBA SCUBA * SCUBA! Welcome to TwoTank. For those of you who dive all the time, you know what that name means:) This is a collective blog by four girls about to graduate from law school who love scuba! We are four friends who cannot get enough of the beach and the ocean, but we have different levels of scuba skills.

This is Kari, but in other blogs you will hear from Jen, Traci, and Z. Jen is the pro and has been on some really amazing, beautiful dives. Traci is the wild diver in the bunch and has been on some really exotic dives... I can't remember the names of the places, but she'll fill you in when she logs on. Z and I are the babies ... I've finished half of my certification (complete with a lake dive!!!), but due to law school, I haven't finished yet. Z is in about at the same place. After graduation (May baby!), Z and I are going to get our certification and you will hear all about it here at TwoTank. We will definitely be seeking some advice from the big boys out there that have been on the pro circuit for a while :) Meanwhile, Traci and Jen will be able to tell some awesome tales about the dives they've done while we've all been in law school. And more importantly, we need to get the scoop on the best dive spots! We are planning an all out girls trip and we want to know where we should go.

We are hoping to create a scuba community here at TwoTank - we are looking for advice and friends... maybe even some dive buddies! So, first question: after I take the bar, I am going to do some traveling... among the dive shops in the USA, what is the best place to get certified? How can you tell if you are working with a "good" dive shop? Do all certification processes take the same amount of time? AND, where can I get the cutest wet suit?

Thanks for your help!
Hugs and fishes,
Kari