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you truly missed an opportunity to
educate, and you should admit that
you took those pictures for their
shock effect and the admiration
that would come your way from
all the other narcissistic diving
photographers.
Perhaps the next time one of
your pictures goes viral, you will
use it as a teachable moment. I can
assure you that a person does not
have to be a diver to understand,
learn and appreciate what our
ocean holds.
— Kayleen Lewis, via email
I wanted to say that Stephen
Frink’s article “Perspective
Distortion” in the Fall 2016 issue
was nicely done and very timely.
I had a similar experience with a
cover photo I took of wild spotted
dolphins a few years back. More
than a few people wrote letters
describing how horrified they were
that the photographer and scooter
diver had “run down” dolphins for
a magazine cover.
Anybody who knows anything
about dolphins can tell you it’s
impossible to run down wild
dolphins underwater. Of course,
these writers didn’t know that the
scooter diver was a noted marine
mammal expert or that dolphins
(even those in captivity) love speed
underwater, and a scooter helps us
(slow, awkward humans) make the
game of chase a little more exciting
for them.
We are now fully into the age
where everyone is an expert on
just about everything because of
social media.
— Joseph C. Dovala, via email
PREDIVE SAFETY
During the investigation of a recent
scuba death, the backup pony bottle
was found to have a serious fault
in the second-stage regulator. The
diaphragm in this regulator had
pulled out of the retaining seal at
the rim for more than one-third of
the circumference. Fortunately, the
diver had not attempted to use this
regulator, so it was not responsible
for the tragic outcome. This fault
can apparently occur with exposure
to excess heat (e.g., in a car trunk in
the sun), ozone and oil or grease.
This finding highlights the
importance of fully checking the
function of every piece of your life-
support equipment before each
dive. It is possible this diver turned
on the pony bottle and pushed the
purge button. He clearly did not
try breathing through it, however,
or checking the inhalation bias
by immersing it in water, front
first, to confirm that it would start
to free flow before water filled
the mouthpiece. The predive
equipment check matters. Do it all
— your life may depend on it. AD
— George Harpur, Ontario
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All letters included in this column are
subject to editing for length and content.
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boat dives, airport transfers, taxes and service
charges. Rates are per person, double as noted and
subject to availability and standard terms and conditions.
Valid for select dates in 2017.
CSOT#2111993-40 • WSOT#603254369 • FSOT#38781
LITTLE CAYMAN
Little Cayman Beach Resort
Reef Divers
All Meals
Use of Dive Computer
Price $1500 pp/dbl
Valid: 8/19/17-10/20/17
CAYMAN BRAC
Cayman Brac Beach Resort
Reef Divers
All Meals
Cocktail Reception
Price $1325 pp/dbl
Valid: 7/30/17-10/29/17
GRAND CAYMAN
Cobalt Coast
Grand Cayman Resort
Reef Divers
Unlimited Shore Diving
Breakfast and Dinner Daily
Price $1125 pp/dbl
Valid: 7/30/17-12/17/17
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Cayman-AD-Jan2017.pdf 1 1/5/2017 3:49:29 PM
COURTESY OF JOE DOVALA