Page 13 - AlertDiver_Spring2013
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for decades. These days every little bit of gear has to
be analyzed in terms of efficiency and weight.
Oddly, perhaps, the bits of dive equipment I spent
the most time thinking about were my mask and fins.
Because freediving was such an important part of this
trip, efficiency was paramount. I chose wisely; the long-
bladed fins and the low-profile, hydrodynamic mask
served me well. Not everyone in our group was as well
prepared though. Some came with wimpy fins, leaky
snorkels, bulky tri-window masks and heavy wetsuits
that not only impeded forward motion on the surface
but also provided so much buoyancy that diving down
to any significant depth was impossible.
The design of fins, in particular, is a fascinating science,
and manufacturers offer an immense variety of tools to
choose from. My greatest embarrassment in more than
three decades of dive journalism occurred relative to a fin
review I wrote soon after split fins hit the market. I tried
a pair and found they didn’t give me the precise control
I wanted around fragile corals, so I stated (regrettably)
in print that split fins were bad for underwater
photographers. Shortly thereafter I received a surprisingly
polite reply from the patent holder of split-fin technology,
who explained how not all split fins are the same. Huge
differences exist based on how the rails channel water
through the split, the fin material and composition and
even whether the fin is a full-foot or open-heel design.
He sent me 10 sets of fins by several different
manufacturers that licensed designs under his patent.
They were, indeed, dramatically different in terms of
performance, and several were great for underwater
photography. That experience illuminated my
incompetence to pontificate on dive gear; clearly I
know less about it than those who have made careers
designing and manufacturing it. I just know what I
like, and over the years that has included a diverse
array of fin designs, both full-foot and open-heel as
well as paddle and split, depending on the dive and
thermal conditions of the destination.
Now that I know I can pack lighter, I will continue
do so. I plan to scrutinize each component in my travel
kit. My dive bag will be light and strong and my dive
gear streamlined and efficient. My camera systems
will be pared to the minimum required of the photo-
ops specific to the destination (with a reasonable
standard of redundancy). The airlines have made the
travel aspect of our sport difficult and expensive, but I
found that a little strategic planning and comparison
shopping can restore the fun of dive travel.
AD
What’s New on
AlertDiver.com
The Golden Floating
Rainforest
Journey to the Sargasso Sea in
“Significant Sargassum” (Page
14) and “Fountain of Youth”
(Encounters, Page 28). Learn
more about this unusual place
and its fascinating residents
in two videos: LookBermuda/
LookFilms’ The Sargasso Sea
and Ned and Anna DeLoach’s
Life in the Sargassum. Don’t
miss these portrayals of this
unique ecosystem and the
creatures that dwell among its
floating rafts of seaweed.
An Ocean of
Perspectives
If you can’t get enough of the
captivating images featured in
the 2013 Ocean Views Photo
Contest winners gallery
(Page 86), check out the bonus
galleries for even more views
through the lenses of this
year’s talented shooters.
A Parting Shot
Explore more of late photog-
rapher James Watt’s portfolio
after seeing his Parting Shot
on Page 112. Watt was a
source of inspiration for
photographers emerging into
the new age of digital imaging,
and his work is as relevant
today as it was then.
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MASA USHIODA
LINDA DRAKE
JAMES WATT
All this and much more await at
.
