Being swept along on this technical diving thing, has been a long, somewhat twisted, but definitely entertaining journey. If you and I had met when the whole affair started, we could not possibly have envisioned how directly and pervasively, what were then radical activities, like cave diving, trimix diving and rebreather diving, would influence the mainstream dive community.
Rebreather diving is currently one of the fastest growing activities in the diving universe. Divers’ motivations for getting a rebreather vary. Some derive enjoyment from “piloting” a sophisticated machine like a cosmonaut journeying through (inner) space.
The nascence of recreational rebreathers was just waiting to happen. Spurred on by rapid advances in technical diving, new materials and technology, coupled with cost reductions, the allure of long and quiet dives, with vastly improved non-deco times, had to seep from the technical communities to recreational diving, leading to the design of a new generation of closed circuit rebreathers aimed primarily at recreational divers.
Originally from Slavakia, self-taught artist Erika Pochybova-Johnson creates brilliant, spell-binding, intricate paintings inspired by nature, the sea and its creatures. Now based in Lubbock, Texas, the artist shared with X-RAY MAG her artistic vision and connection to the underwater world.
Ask any photographer the one thing they would like to improve in their underwater images and most will likely say, “The lighting.” Lighting in photography is everything and shooting underwater often requires the photographer to read the ambient light and to create durable images on the fly.
We’ve all been there at one time or another: Arriving at your holiday destination, euphoria turns to aggravation upon the discovery your bags are missing in action. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), about 1 percent of luggage worldwide was mishandled last year, costing an estimated $2.6 billion. Fortunately, a number of apps have arrived on the scene to help alleviate the situation. The question is; just how useful are they?
When UK-based Skytrax consultancy SkyTrax released its annual list of the world's top 100 airports, US airports were conspicuously absent. The highest ranked U.S. airport, the small Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, could only muster 27th place.
The highest-ranked U.S. airport, the small Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, could only muster 27th place.
The Economist is also chiming in and the news isn't good. Approximately 67 % of people who fly out of the United States arrive at a better airport. After analyzing data from more than a million flights during 2013, the British magazine concluded U.S. airports to be "awful," beset by "soggy pizza, surly security staff and endless queues."
A project conducted by researchers from Denmark's Technical University showed that 18 hectares of blue mussels in Skive Fjord reduced the levels of algae low enough to prevent oxygen depletion.
The main issue with fertilization of coastal waters causing algae bloom stems from the massive amounts of dead algae sinking to the bottom in thick layers. As they rot, they consume and deplete oxygen, choking huge swathes of the seabed, leading to widespread bottom death. This is a big issue along coasts of agricultural areas.
Tallahassee lawmakers are joining spear-wielding divers in an attempt to control Florida’s ever-increasing lionfish numbers. If passed, the two proposed bills would halt the public’s ability to purchase lionfish for aquariums and raising them for sale would become a level two felony.
“What the bill is going to do is prohibit the importation and sale of them,” said Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, who introduced the Senate version of the bill. “All of the details of the bill have not been decided. I’m saying let’s get rid of them. Put an end to lionfish in aquariums.”
All of the details of the bill have not been decided. I’m saying let’s get rid of them. Put an end to lionfish in aquariums.
—Sen. Greg Ever
Inspired by the magical ambience in the works of early American artists painting scenes with great attention to detail, color and dramatic light, Michael Frank works layer upon layer on canvas to produce brilliant underwater scenes echoing the sumptuous yet mysterious nature of marine life on reefs and in rivers and streams.
In this article, the final one in the series, I will explain my personal experience with wide-angle underwater photography using the Olympus OM-D EM-5 camera.
