The Amazing Ocean: The Facts of Life Under the Sea
A well-known Chinese proverb maintains that a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s especially true in a world where we’re bombarded with information,…
The Library
Learning to See, Seeing to Learn Part II More of What’s Going on Underwater
This tiny, well-camouflaged clingfish provides a classic example of commensalism. The clingfish gains protection by hiding on its host — a crinoid — while…
Weather at the Water’s Edge: Forecasting Coastal Weather
The coastal waters that attract divers are often the breeding grounds of storms and other weather surprises. Divers and boaters who venture onto bays,…
Learning to See, Seeing to Learn Part I: A Look at What’s Going on Underwater
Everywhere I looked I saw sharks — big hammerhead sharks — some close to 11 feet/3 m long. I don’t know how many sharks…
The Personal Limits of Fear – Mind and Body
It was one of the scariest dives of my life. The March winds were blowing over the chilling 50° (F, 10°C) waters of Narragansett…
Of Glowing Interest: Bioluminescence in Marine Animals
The only glow-in-the-dark creature familiar to most of us is the lightning bug. A few other land creatures, such as glow worms and types…
Preparation for Foreign Dive Travel: Considerations for Local and Exotic Destinations
Modern divers travel to all corners of the globe, and in doing so may encounter extraordinary health risks. These include uncommon bacterial and viral…
Malaria: Know the Facts and Preventative Measures
Many tropical adventures lead divers through foreign lands, where they can be exposed to vectors of diseases not commonly encountered in North America. The…
Assessing Conditions – Whether your experience is good or bad is often determined before you even enter the water
Once, a number of years ago when I was living in California, I was at the beach and encountered two former students of mine…
Stinging Truths, Part 1: A guide to injuries caused by invertebrates
In previous articles in Dive Training (May 1995 and June 1995) we looked at injuries from vertebrate marine animals that can injure humans, most…