An Eight-armed Wonder: The Octopus
Completely motionless, the killer waited in the nighttime shadows as its unsuspecting victim neared. Watching the scene unfold in front of me from only…
The Library
Diving Dry: How to Don A Dry Suit
For years I procrastinated about using a dry suit, until a friend, who was tired of hearing me complain about being cold, offered to…
Off the Wall: The Thrill of Wall Diving
When you are referred to as being off the wall, it doesn’t necessarily carry positive connotations. But to scuba divers who have descended over the sheer vertical facades that surround the world’s landmasses — from the largest continents to the tiniest islands — being off the wall is a sensation like no other. My first off-the-wall experience was one I’ll hold dear forever.
A Brief History of Diving: Free Divers, Bells and Helmets
It may sound like strange preparation for someone in diving, but I was trained as a history teacher. And one of the things I…
Cephalopod Soup: An Underwater Phenomenon
Mother Nature is a master of the sleight of hand. Take the shallow waters off the San Diego beach known as La Jolla Shores,…
Scuba Q & A: Common Questions Asked By Nondivers
When you tell friends and co-workers that you’ve recently been certified to scuba dive, their immediate reaction is likely to be an incredulous, “Wow....
Sharks in Perspective: From Fear to Fascination
I remember quite vividly seeing for the first time the movie “Jaws.” It was the summer of 1975 and, like everyone else, it scared…
The Alien Invasion: Non-native Species Invade the U.S.
What has the power to shut down electrical utilities, disrupt drinking water facilities and cause upwards of $5 billion in damage? An earthquake, hurricane…
AFRICA’S REVENGE: IS AN ILL WIND A BLOWIN’?
It is a sultry August evening in the Florida Keys as the setting sun fires the western sky with colors so stunning that they…
Along the Shore: Exploring Life in the Shallows
The terms that we use in diving are often quite baffling to the uninitiated. I once had a student in an introductory (resort) course…