United Caribbean & Sea Emperor

A Diving Adventure Magazine
Bonaire - Divers Paradise Marine life: Manta Ray ID KISS GEM: Easy to use SCR Diving the Island of St. Lucia DAN - Understanding PFOs
This publication is underwritten in part by:
United Caribbean & Sea Emperor

- Two Wreck Dives for the Price of One Issue 26 - 2012
Issue 26 - 2012
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www.UnderwaterJournal.com
Explore, Discover, Challenge
PADI 5 Star Dive Center

Open Water to Instructor
CONTENTS
Publisher - Walt Stearns Associate Publisher - Karen Stearns Editor - Pierce Hoover Webmaster - Margaret Chatham Web development - Antonio Isse Graphic design - Josh Miller Advertising - Ralph Viscusi contact: rviscusi@uwjournal.com
TDI Technical Training

Advanced Nitrox Trimix KISS Semi-Closed Rebreather KISS Closed-Circuit Rebreather
Palm Beach Countys only Full Service Dive Center on the water with daily dive trips to Jupiter, Floridas finest reefs & wrecks from two 42 Dive Boats Republic IV & VII
Pg 32 Pg 4 Manta Rays; discovering that there are two species of giants roaming the oceans.
Contributors
Christopher Bartlett Divers Alert Network (DAN)
Pg 13 Bonaire, why it is still a divers paradise. Pg 21 United Caribbean & Sea Emperor: South Floridas double header wreck dive Pg 32 Sea Trial: KISS GEM Semi-Closed Rebreather Pg 41 Diving the island of St. Lucia Pg 49 DAN: Understanding PFOs on your heart Pg 53 Parting Shot
The Underwater Journal is published by Ocean Arts, Inc. All content in this publication is protected, copyright 2012. No use may be made of material contained herein without written consent from Ocean Arts, Inc. Inquiries: info@uwjournal.com
Editorial Disclaimer The articles, positions and statements contained in this publication are not necessarily those of SDI, TDI or ERDI its B.O.D., officers or employees. Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this publication are solely those of the Editor / Writer and are neither given nor endorsed by the agencies mentioned. Total editorial freedom and expression is solely retained and the responsibility of the Editors / Writers.
Air, Nitrox, Oxygen & Trimix Available
Cover: Getting up close and friendly with a large green moray on the wreck of the United Caribbean off South Florida. Photo shot with Nikon D300, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom lens in a Subal ND30 housing with twin Sea & Sea YS-250 strobes set on quarter power. Exposure 90 sec., f5.6, 200 iso. Photo: Walt Stearns 2009 Pg 2
1001 N. Hwy A1A Alternate. Jupiter, FL 33477 Toll Free: (800) 567-9723 or 561-745-7807 email: info@jupiterdivecenter.com
Issue 26 - 2012
www.JupiterDiveCenter.com
I have simply never seen a place as beautiful as Wakatobi. Each day I would wake up, look at the palms, the crystal clear sea and the golden-white beaches and think that this had to be the most beautiful place on the planet. - Duncan Zillman, Sept. 2011
www.wakatobi.com
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Issue 26 - 2012
Marine Life
MYSTERIES OF THE MANTAS

A researcher studying giant mantas finds that one of the oceans most enigmatic symbols has in fact a secret twin. But proving it took six years of hard work, much of it accomplished with limited logistical and financial support, in an environment that offered little understanding or sympathy for her cause.
Story by Christopher Bartlett
Photos by Walt Stearns Pg 4

www.UnderwaterJournal.com Issue 26 - 2012
t one time it was believed there were several species of mantas inherent to the oceans tropical and subtropical regions. But by 1798, the scientific community had reached a consensus that there was only one manta species, Manta birostris. In the decades that followed, the designation would have remained unchanged until a researcher named Andrea Marshall made a ground breaking discovery while studying giant mantas off the coast of Mozambique, Africa. Marshall determined in November 2009 that what she was seeing was not one species, but two. The first being the true giant ocean manta, Manta birostris, with the wingspan recorded up to 23 feet/9 meters as one species; the second belonging to a slightly smaller species with max wingspan of 18 feet/5.5-meters that is nearly identical, but with several subtle differences. It was not just its lesser size that caught Marshalls attention it was also this particular species tendency to venture into shallow waters and reefs, later earning it the name reef manta, Manta alfredi.
Diver with a giant ocean manta, Manta birostris, in the waters of the Easter Pacific. This manta had about a 19-foot wingspan. Photo Walt Stearns Pg 5
Dr. Andrea Marshall, now known as one of the worlds most recognized, leading researchers on Manta Rays, started her path in 2003. At 23, after selling all her belongings, Marshall moved to southern Mozambique to begin research on what would evolve into the worlds first doctoral thesis on mantas. Settling into a small village in the countrys Southern Inhambane Province, the beginning of her field study was a tough existence for this young woman working with minimal resources and no local support. The situation improved when Casabarry Lodge, a resort in the nearby town of Tofo, offered to provide accommodations and office space.
Photo Walt Stearns Within six months of beginning research, Marshall had already observed that beyond the size differences in the rays she was studying, there were two apparent groups with visually distinct features setting them apart. Pg 6
Photo Walt Stearns Compared to the giant oceanic manta ray, the reef manta ray tends to favor more coastal habitats, including coral reefs, hence its name. This trio of reef mantas, Manta alfredi, were cruising along the edge of a reef off Hawaiis Kona Coast. Pg 7
Although she knew she was on to something, she also knew the reaction and controversy that a discovery of this magnitude could provoke within the academic community. Before she could entertain the idea of mentioning her studies to any of her peers, Marshall needed to compile more data to support her findings. She needed to formulate a baseline on the reef mantas natural history, including migratory and territorial behaviors, as well as reproductive cycles all on a animal previously unknown, or unconfirmed. Marshall spent considerable effort on examining the population structure and dynamics of the Mozambican manta, something that had been done in very few locations around the world, neither then nor presently. Another key emphasis of Marshalls work was determining the use of non-intrusive photography as a scientific tool to aid research. Using photographs of the belly markings that are unique to each manta, Marshall identified and named over 700 individual rays in the area, with 90 percent being the more sedentary reef mantas and 10 percent the more migratory, openocean dwelling giant manta. The combined super population of both species was scientifically estimated to include about 1,500 individual mantas. This is arguably the largest remaining population in the world, as mantas in other regions have
suffered unfortunate demise due to unsustainable fishing practices. Defining the differences between the two species will be crucial in protecting the remaining giant and reef manta. Having found that the giant roams the open oceans and the reef manta prefers a more localized lifestyle, different strategies are required to protect them. In order to gain better understanding of their movements and habits, acoustic tags and accompanying listening stations have been set up in Marshalls area of study, and satellite tagging of selected individuals is also in progress. Installing an acoustic tagging program can cost anywhere from $2,000 for one basic receiver and tag, up to $30,000 and more for an elaborate mega net system with multiple receivers and arrays over a significant area. Acoustic tags register information each time a tagged individual passes one of the listening stations located along the coastline. The $5,000 satellite tags record speed, depth, and location data for a pre-determined period of time before breaking off, rising to the surface, and transmitting the data via satellites. The data gathered from these tracking studies are shared with other researchers in Madagascar, Kenya, and Tanzania, and will be a key element in creating the protection policies that are now in the works. - CB
Issue 26 - 2012
Perilous and Enigmatic Nomadic Life

Mantas are largest species of the rays in the family Mobulidae, with the genus Manta birostris, the largest of all rays in the world. Manta rays are global in their distribution which covers almost ever corner of the plants tropical and subtropical oceans and seas, with the oceanic manta, Manta birostris the one exception can be found in temperate waters as well. Oceanic mantas are true pelagic creatures staying predominantly out in deep, open waters, venturing only periodically in to seamounts and coastal reefs to visit cleaning stations. The amount of concrete information that exists on oceanic manta movements is minimal, but general consensus is that they are more transient and migratory than the smaller kin, the reef manta, Manta alfredi, which tend to be a more coastal resident commonly observed on reefs and shallow waters. As such, it is uncommon to see both manta species together. The one thing that is absolute is that these ocean giants live a perilous life, targeted intentionally in some countries for their meat, as well as unintentionally in nets set for tuna by commercial fishermen. In November 2011, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared giant manta rays as vulnerable with an elevated risk of extinction. The same year, the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), an international treaty organization concerned with conserving migratory species and habitats on a global scale included manta rays as strictly protected species in international waters. Although manta rays have protective status from several individual nations, the problem facing proper enforcement is that manta rays commonly migrate through unregulated waters, putting them at increased risk from overfishing.
Dr. Marshalls study (published in a scientific paper by Zootaxa) redefined Manta birostris as the giant manta and described Manta alfredi as the reef manta. The results are visually remarkable and can be witnessed by any diver in the know. Provided you know what to look for. next page >
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Manta I.D. 101
Photos Walt Stearns From below The easiest way for divers to tell the two apart is by paying close attention to the markings on the mantas ventral side (belly region) as both species will typically be seen, in most cases, passing overhead. On the giant manta (above left), there are no black markings in the center of the chest between the five pairs of gill slits. Although there can be a large, often semi-circular spot coming from the rear-most gill slit, the rest should be white. Another tell-tale trait is a clearly visible dark grey to almost black shading along the entire rear margin of the pectoral fin. The reef manta (above right) on the other hand will have dark grey to black markings between the gill slits, plus the markings along the rear margin of the pectoral fin will be far more faint, often replace with scatting of dark spots.
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Photos Walt Stearns From the top: Identifying a giant manta from a reef manta -when seen from above - is a little tricky as a giant mantas back can be entirely black. But for those with visible markings, there will be a clearly visible bold black T on its shoulders, the top of the T running almost eye-to-eye across the head with some white coloration below it. In comparison, the reef mantas shoulder markings (pictured above right) are more sloped, almost triangular shaped with the lighter shades presenting a pattern likened to a large white bottom in a wide-banded black thong.
Adopt a Manta
If you are looking to give a novel and useful gift to friends or for yourself, for approx. $104 you can adopt a manta through the Foundation for the Protection of Marine Mega fauna. As well as contributing to keeping the research team out on the water, youll receive a top-quality picture of your manta, and an update when it is re-sighted. One adoption provides two days fuel and maintenance for the research boat. The Foundation guarantees that your shark or ray will not pester you for cash, will not leave the house with its room untidy, will not dye its hair, and will not annoy you by communicating solely in grunts. Too bad nobody can offer a deal like that for teenagers. For more information go to www.marinemegafauna.org
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Photo Walt Stearns Front on: With giant mantas (pictured above), the coloration around the lining of their mouth will be charcoal grey to black. Whereas, with their smaller kin, the reef manta (below), the lining around the mouth will be all white.
Confusing Cousin Many divers only get a fleeting glimpse of large rays cruising past in the distance, or fleetingly breaching the surface of the ocean with a balletic leap. With an almost identical outline and cephalic pods at the mouth, the devil ray (Mobula japonica) is often misidentified as one of the large manta species (Manta birostris or Manta alfredi). However, fully-grown devil rays are significantly smaller than even a fullygrown reef manta, attaining a maximum wingspan of 9 feet (2.75 meters), and are identifiable by the shape and position of the mouth further underneath their head, as well as a predominant all-white underside. Photo Walt Stearns Pg 11
Photo Walt Stearns
Get Involved, Send in your photos Though both species of manta can be found in most tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, it is rare to see them together at any one time. Research as to the full range of either species is still very scant with little documentation coming out of many places. Prior to April 2009, there had been no confirmed sightings of giant mantas off the Tanzanian coast, until a photo of one off the northeast coast of Pemba Island was sent in. At the same time, the bulk of what is known about reef mantas, since its confirmation in 2009, is that it is a separate species, what has been identified from populations spread out the topical and subtropical Indo-Pacific range. Currently there are few records from both the Central Pacific and tropical East Atlantic, and none from the West Atlantic or Eastern Pacific. As a diver, your photos can help piece together a giant jigsaw puzzle, building a more accurate picture of their global distribution. And because each mantas belly markings are unique, photos that can clearly show the pattern around the gill slits could enable individuals to be identified and tracked. While photos of belly region are considered the best, images of the top of the manta are also useful for research purposes. Please send your manta photos to: andrea@giantfish.org
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Travel/Holiday
A Bonaire Affair
Why the Divers Paradise remains my favorite tropical destination
ts an infatuation that has spanned nearly three decades, and continues to grow. And familiarity has not brought complacency; instead, there always seems to be some new wrinkle in the relationship that keeps things fresh and exciting.
Story by Pierce Hoover

Photos by Walt Stearns Pg 13
And thats why I love Bonaire an island that lures me back time and again, providing a pleasant blend of familiar favorites and new discoveries. In the early years, there was much to explore and discover, and one time was never enough. Like a Las Vegas buffet, Bonaires underwater
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offerings are too generous to be fully sampled in a single sitting. Even guests at waterfront dive resorts who gorge themselves on a combination of boat dives and 24-hour shore access will max out their computers and their stay long before their logbooks include every known site on the island.
Issue 26 - 2012
In the late 80s and into the 90s, Id visit with a group of single friends who, like me, saved up all season for that one big international trip. Bonaire gave us a lot of bang for the diving buck, and between boat trips and shore dives, we often submerged night and day, pausing only when tables and later computers insisted we remain topside for a spell. From perennial favorites on the western shore, our adventures expanded to include more distant sites to the south and the National Park to the north. When conditions allowed, wed even head east to take on the more tempestuous eastern shore. Marriage and parenthood brought modifications to my diving agenda, but Bonaire still delivered. When my son Nash was in diapers, we booked a suite at Captain Dons. And even on those days when his feeding schedule took precedence over catching the morning dive boat, we were still able to take advantage of the hotels nanny service and slip in an afternoon shore dive during nap time. At age 3 Nash watched from the dock; by his next visit at age 5, he had mastered mask and snorkel. This opened up an exciting new realm of possibilities and reintroduced me to some of the islands premier shallow sites.
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At the other end of the spectrum, these same years bought new diving practices to Bonaire. Nitrox became widely available, doubles and deco bottles became an accepted if not common sight, and Walter Starke brought rebreathers to the reefs of Bonaire. The same benign water conditions that have always pampered resort divers also proved ideal for extended range training and explorations, and though single aluminum 80s still dominate the fill stations, Bonaire can also accommodate divers with an urge to more deeply submerge, stay a bit longer or edge closer to wildlife in near silence.
t Nash Hoover at Age 10 Windjammer Wreck at 180 feet q
It was a proud moment when Nash turned ten and earned his Junior Open Water certification. Soon afterward, we booked yet another dive trip to Bonaire, and this time hed be more than a surface spectator. The islands calm western shorelines provided easy access, and with a rental truck as a platform, we could set our own agenda and dive at our own pace. By weeks end, Nashs comfort level was high enough for his first boat dive, and then a night dive. The trip solidified the water skills hed learned in training, and provided a solid foundation for his growth as a diver.
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Bonaires Featured Creatures Bonaires sloping reefs provide a haven for a multitude of macro life, providing attentive divers with ample opportunities for critter spotting. Signature species include the longsnout sea horses and long-lure frog fish, and reef squid, along with a rich variety of invertebrates and colorful reef dwellers.
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The Family Plan Bonaire provides two ways to mix bottom time with family time. Plaza Resort or the Caribbean Club offers ample daytime diversions for both children and adults, along with on-site dive operations and first-class restaurants. For even more elbow room, properties such as the Caribbean Club and Belmar Oceanfront Apartments provide two and three-bedroom villas with home-like amenities, as well as easy access to full-service diving. Afternoon excursions to the National Park, Lac Bay, Butterfly Farm or the Donkey Sanctuary make great memories.
Resorts such as Buddy Dive (right) provide 24/7 diving access right from the dock. Have truck will travel (below). With more than 50 named dive sites acessible directly from shore, divers can create their own dive plan.
Dive-A-Holics Delight Few land-based destinations can compare to Bonaire if the goal is filling pages in a logbook. And even budget conscious divers can rack up some serious bottom time by shopping for airfare bargains between peak seasons, booking a modest villa or apartment and renting one of the ubiquitous fourdoor compact pickups that cruise the island laden with tanks and gear. By hitting the supermarket for staples and buying a tank-swap package from one of the many dive shops, hard-core scubaholics can dive early, often and into the night while keeping the cost-per-dive way down. If theres a few extra bucks in the kitty, a splurge on a few boat dives and dinner and a night out in Kralendijk add to the fun.
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Issue 26 - 2012
Alternative Adventures Even if youve hit every marked dive site on the islands western shore and Kline Bonaire, you still havent experienced Bonaires underwater diversity. Bonaire veterans add variety to their routine with off the grid dives such as Taylor Made or a drift from La Dania to Karpata. Ranging a bit farther afield, one can hit less-trafficked sites down by the Willemstoren lighthouse or up in the Park, either by car or with specialty boat trips such as those now offered by Captain Dons Habitat. A drive over to Lac Bay can serve up adventures at White Hole or Black Rock, where theres a good chance of seeing larger animals such as tarpon and hawksbill turtles. Sites on the islands north and east coasts are more subject to sea state, but when conditions are favorable, should not be missed.
In-Depth Excursions Technical diving is alive and well on Bonaire, with shops such as Rectek Scuba, Dive Friends and Toucan Diving catering to extended-range enthusiasts. Benign water conditions are ideal for training programs, and after a deep excursion to the Windjammer Wreck or the Red Slave anchor chain, divers can fish watch while off-gassing on the sloping reef rather than hang on a current-swept down line. Rebreather divers will also find the support and supplies needed to undertake silent submersion and may discover that their stealthy rigs allow access to otherwise shy marine life.
Getting ready to take the plunge at 1,000 Steps (above). Going deeper on the Windjammer Wreck (left). Pg 19
Low-Stress Submersion If your idea of a dive vacation places the emphasis on VACATION, Bonaire can accommodate. Check into one of the full-service shore side resorts such as Buddy Dive Plaza or Captain Dons Habitat, park your gear at the on-site dive shop and let the staff do the rest. Show up for a few boat dives or just grab your gear and ease in at the house reef. Spend surface time poolside or relaxing on an ocean-view balcony with a good book. All the Right Reasons Theres no single reason for Bonaires continued popularity as a diving destination there are many. Though we share a common goal of going underwater, we divers are actually a fairly diverse lot, with divergent agendas and expectations. But no matter if your goal is maximum bottom time or casual submersions, Bonaire can provide an agenda that fits your personality and vacation plans. - PH
Resources
www.caradonna.com www.washingtonparkbonaire.org www.tourismbonaire.com
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Issue 26 - 2012
Local Diving
United Caribbean
& Sea Emperor
Entertaining a Double Header Wreck Dive on the Broward/Palm Beach County Line
Text & Photos by Walt Stearns
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United Caribbean
ithout a doubt, the vessel with the most notorious history to go down as part of Floridas artificial reef program is the United Caribbean. This 150-foot freighter was sunk back in August 2000, in 70 feet of water south of the Boca Raton Inlet. While her launch to the bottom barely made the five-oclock news, her short-lived career in human trafficking got plenty of international coverage during the early 1990s, when she was known by another name. In early 1992 two men -Lee Peng Fei and Cheng Chui Ping- coordinated a series of smuggling operations for Chinese nationals wishing to enter the United States. The cost for each would-be immigrant was between $15,000 and $30,000. The original plan called for the Chinese passengers to travel on a ship called the Nadj II from Thailand to the United States, but that ship was forced to moor off the coast of Kenya while its 300 passengers were stranded on board with inadequate food and supplies for five months. Mr. Lee then orchestrated the purchase and refitting of a second ship, the Panamanian-flagged Golden Venture, which was owned by a New York Chinese organized crime ring.
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Issue 26 - 2012
The Golden Venture was deployed from Singapore to pick up the stranded passengers off the coast of Kenya. Though it was a cargo ship, not licensed to carry passengers, the Golden Venture was already carrying between 90 and 100 Chinese nationals when it arrived in Africa, where approximately 200 of the Nadj IIs passengers joined them to continue their voyage to the United States. Once aboard, the passengers were confined to a 20-foot by 40-foot cargo hold that had only one ladder leading to the deck. The hold was split into two levels by rows of wooden boards stretching from one side of the ship to the other. Water and food were severely rationed, and there was no water for personal hygiene. The ship had only one toilet, the use of which was restricted to the crew, the smugglers, and the few women passengers on board. It had no life preservers and only two lifeboats, which in turn were adequate to carry only the (unusually small) crew of 14. Passengers who questioned the arrangements were beaten. The 298 passengers spent between three and six months (depending whether they had boarded in Asia or in Kenya) on the ship as it made its way to the United States. Lee, who was then in New York, had hoped initially that he could arrange for small boats to rendezvous with the Golden Venture in the Atlantic to pick up the passengers and transport them to shore. When this plan fell through, he instructed the Golden Venture to approach the New York harbor. Mr. Lee Peng Fei then ordered Kin Sin Lee (whom he had hired to travel Pg 23
on the Golden Venture and oversee its dayto-day operations) via ship-to-shore radio to ground the ship at full speed in the dead of night off the coast of Rockaway Point in Queens. Mr. Lee also told Kin Sin Lee to tell the passengers that those who could swim should jump off the ship and swim ashore when the boat was grounded, while the others should wait for someone to pick them up. No other arrangements were made for disembarking the passengers.
Beginning about midnight on June 6, 1993, the crew began its efforts to ground the ship. After twice beginning to speed for the shore and then realizing that the location was unsuitable, the ship finally picked a spot on the ocean side of Rockaway Point, and at about 3:00 a.m. ran the ship aground. The passengers only warning that the ship was being grounded had been given some 12 hours earlier, when they were told to brace themselves.
Issue 26 - 2012
Jillian Morris moves in to have a look at a large green moray eel exiting from wreckage that was once part of the United Caribbeans mid section, and now partially flattened to the bottom.
Simple Durable Reliable!

Deep down, its what really matters most in a rebreather.
Chaos ensued. Some passengers jumped into the rough water, which was below 60F, resulting in ten drowning deaths and many cases of severe hypothermia. Survivors were arrested and detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service as they applied for asylum. The abrupt and tragic ending to the Chinese immigrants fateful journey set off an unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration in the U.S. Of the surviving passengers aboard the Golden Venture apprehended by authorities, 155 were ordered deported. Fewer than 40 people were granted asylum, with a couple others receiving artists visas that allow them to remain permanently in the United States. Many others spent several years in jail awaiting a decision on their future. In February 1997, President Clinton released the last 53 Golden Venture detainees, though ultimately only two of these immigrants were allowed to remain in the U.S.
Issue 26 - 2012
KISSREBREATHERS.COM
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In 2005, the United Caribbean began breaking apart from passing hurricanes Frances and Jean, with the final blow coming from hurricane Wilma as it came across the southern half of Florida in 2006. Ravaged by the powerful surge generated by these storms, the freighter was broken in two leaving only the bow standing upright with her stern twisted laying on her side.
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Issue 26 - 2012
The freighter was re-floated and put back into service. It changed hands and names, eventually becoming the United Caribbean, only to wind up as a rusting hulk on the Miami River after failing to make a profitable venture of running goods between Florida and Haiti. The vessel was eventually abandoned by the owner, and subsequently purchased for use as an artificial reef. For the first five years of its new life as an artificial reef, the United Caribbean remained intact, sitting upright on the bottom just 250 feet south of the wreck Sea Emperor. Her structure provided excellent penetration in both her wheelhouse and the engine room. In 2005, the United Caribbean began breaking apart from passing hurricanes Frances and Jean, with the final blow coming from hurricane Wilma as it came across the southern half of the state in 2006. Ravaged by the powerful surge generated by these storms, the freighter was broken in two leaving only the bow standing upright with her stern twisted laying on her side. Seeing the wrecks steel plating some up to an inch thick- now ripped apart like tissue paper, provides a vivid testament to the oceans power and fury. Today, both the bow and pilothouse provide a profile that rises 35 feet off the bottom, while most of her midsection lies broken and flat on the sandy bottom, serving as home to small fish and lobster that hide among the many crevasses the twisted steel provides. Twelve years on the bottom have made it a fertile ground for a variety of colorful sponges and encrusting corals. Pg 26
Underwater clarity off Pompano Beach and Boca Raton, can be quite variable between 35 and 65 feet on most days. When the Gulf Stream edges in closer to the coast, wreck divers get to see the same wrecks in a different light with their profiles outlined in blue. Above Jillian passes the large windless atop the United Caribbeans bow.
Issue 26 - 2012
Sea Emperor
Near the resting site of the United Caribbeans stern section is a collection of huge granite rocks placed in a row running off in a northern direction. This bolder trail leads to a second wreck site some 250 feet away, the Sea Emperor. The journey itself can be an enjoyable dive as the rock path is home to a variety of fish including scrappy little sergeant majors which fly at intruders to defend their coveted spots. The Sea Emperor is a 171-foot long hopper barge that was sent to the bottom as part of the artificial reef program back in December 1991. As part of the sinking plan, the barge was loaded up with 1,500 tons of concrete culverts and drainage junction boxes to create additional habitat for marine life. In a case of a good plan gone wrong, when the Sea Emperor began to sink, her heavy load caused her to turn turtle, dumping first to the bottom the piles of rip-rap on her deck. The hull then came to rest upside down on the western edge of the pile. Pg 27
The 171-foot long hopper barge, Sea Emperor, lives up to its nickname, the Aqua Zoo. Its attractiveness is an assortment of marine life like this large southern stingray accompanied by a cobia shadowing it overhead.
Issue 26 - 2012
Culverts like the one below are now home to an assortment of crustaceans and even larger schools of fish life that dwell around the United Caribbean. As a wreck dive, the Sea Emperor is not terribly exciting; unless of course you like marine life, in which case youll be happy to know that the vessel lives up to its nickname, the Aqua Zoo.
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The same collection of rip-rap that spilled from the deck as the vessel sank still completed it mission as habitat for hundreds of yellow goatfish, schools of tomtate and white grunts, glass gobies, parrotfish, and bogas, along with a wide assortment of the small varieties of small tropical fish. For larger fare, the barge features a pair of inquisitive Goliath groupers, and is frequented by some very large southern stingrays, sometimes with remoras and cobia in tow. Pg 29
Dive Charters in the Pompano Beach & Boca Raton Area

(Names are actively linked)
DEEP RELIEF DIVE CHARTERS 954-798-6929 LADY GO DIVER 800-630-3441 or 954-421-2601 MISS CONDUCT CHARTERS 954-698-6139 OCEAN DIVING, INC. 954-943-3337
Both United Caribbean and Sea Emperor are location almost dead center (distance wise) between Palm Beach Countys Boca Raton Inlet and Broward Countys Hillsboro Inlet, in Deerfield Beach. Diving these wrecks is highly popular with local dive charter operations in both counties. When conditions are nice, both sites can easily be seen in one dive, making for a unique and enjoyable experience. - WS
PARROT ISLAND SCUBA ADVENTURES 800-851-9106 or 954-942-7333 POMPANO DIVE CENTER 954-788-0208 SCUBATYME DIVE CHARTERS 954-786-9990 SOUTH FLORIDA DIVING HEADQUARTERS 800-771-3483 or 954-783-2299 Issue 26 - 2012
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Issue 26 - 2012
GEAR: Sea Trial
KISS GEM Exploring the world of gas efficiency through

semi-closed rebreather technology.
f you havent yet seen a rebreather equipped diver aboard your favorite charter boat, just wait. Its not a question of if, but when. And it wont just be techies going for long, deep explorations that will be equipped in CCR s and SCRs. Increasingly, it will be mainstream divers who are simply looking to cut down on the bubble noise, get a bit more bottom time out of a tank, and enjoy a warmer, less-dehydrating gas supply. And thats where units such as the KISS GEM will shine. Review by Walt Stearns photos by Pierce Hoover
The impressions used in this Sea Trial are based on more than 28 hours of underwater time spent with this specific piece of equipment in the waters off Palm Beach County, Florida.
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Issue 26 - 2012
Whats in a Name
The GEM is not a stand-alone apparatus, but rather an add-on system comprised of a scrubber, counterlungs, loop hoses and DSV mouthpiece designed to work with most any Nitrox ready regulator, scuba tank (aluminum or steel) and technical BCD fitted with 2-inch webbing. The heart of this system is the scrubber canister. The top section of this canister the head unit is fitted with two hose attachment points and an over-pressure exhaust valve. The cylindrical bottom, which threads into the scrubber head, is sized to hold a single Micropore ExtendAir 801C large bore CO2 absorbent cartridge. Assembled, the scrubber stands approximately 13.5 inches (34.3 cm) in height with an overall diameter of approximately 5.5 inches (14 cm) - about the same thickness as an aluminum 40CF cylinder. Included with the canister is a mounting system that ties to a BCDs primary cam strap, allowing the system to attach to standard aluminum or steel scuba cylinders. The rest of the system is front-mounted, and includes two counterlungs fitted with protective coverings and mounting hardware with Velcro flaps for attachment to the 2-inch webbing on a technical style harness. There are 4 loop hoses in all. The first pair (one 17-inch, one 22-inch) connects the scrubber canister with the counter lungs, while the other 2 (each 17-inches in length) run from the counterlungs T-pieces to the GEMs mouthpiece. Pg 33
In addition to serving as recipient connection between the loop hoses and counterlungs, the T-piece atop the right hand counterlung features a built-in gas addition system (ADV) in the form of an Aqualung Mikron 2nd stage regulator. The left hand side T-piece houses a single oxygen sensor for monitoring the your PO2 in the loop. The remainder of the GEMs gas delivery system utilizes a standard opencircuit regulator. To integrate an existing regulator system with the GEM, simply attach the hose that connects the ADV to the first stage. There is no need to remove the alternate air source (octo) from your regulator, unless you want to.
Issue 26 - 2012
GEM attached to the side of a steel 80 cu.ft. cylinder showing the hose routing from behind.
Function over Fashion

When I look at the GEM fully assembled on my BCD, I cant deny it has about as much aesthetic appeal as a dead octopus. But once you get past the uncharacteristically long appearance of the hoses, and the unfamiliarity of putting the system on those first few times, you will begin to discover the true merits of its efficiency. Pg 34
All rebreathers are essentially gas recyclers, capturing the air exiting our lungs and running it back through a loop to remove the CO2 our body metabolically produces during respiration. What sets a fully closed system apart from a semi-closed system such as the GEM, is the way that the oxygen our body consumes is replaced before the next breath. GEM is an acronym for Gas Extending Mechanism. The more technically minded will refer to it as a Passive Addition SemiClosed Rebreather, or PASCR for those who enjoy even more acronyms. Unlike a fully closed rebreather, which uses both oxygen and diluent gasses, semiclosed rebreathers require only one gas supply. In the GEMs case, this means the same Nitrox mixes of 32 percent and above that are readily available to recreational divers. And unlike active-addition semiclosed rebreathers, which use gas at a constant rate, the GEMs gas delivery system is keyed directly with the divers breathing at a ratio of approximately 3 to 1 - extending the duration of any cylinders gas supply by a factor of three. Yes, you heard that right, your aluminum 80 will provide you three times the in water time than it normally would on open circuit!
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The key to this efficient rate of exchange is the GEMs mouthpiece. While it may look like a standard DSV, the GEMs mouthpiece actually features a specially designed piston-style valve that responds to the divers actual exhalation process in relation to hydrostatic pressure. Heres how it works: inside the mouthpieces barrel-shaped assembly is an inner, sliding barrel that moves to the right during exhalation. As you exhale, the air re-entering the mouthpiece pushes against the inner barrel, sliding it to the right like a piston. Pg 35
Once it reaches the end of its travel path, approximately one third of the gas is then allowed to escape, exiting through one of three small holes in the DSV. While this is going on, the remaining two-thirds of the gas is sent back into the breathing loop, where CO2 is removed by the chemical reaction within the scrubber. Once each exhalation in completed and the internal pressure within the mouthpiece pressure drops, a pair of small but powerful earth magnets set into the right end of the inner barrel repel each other to push the barrel back to the left.
This simple mechanical process ensures that the work of breathing will remain constant regardless of whether the diver is breathing slow and relaxed, or hard and fast. The inner barrel also acts as a check valve, preventing any exhaled gas from returning to your lungs. While the DSV is shunting and venting gas in the proper ratio, replenishment is taken care of by the GEMs ADV (the Mikron regulator in the right counterlung). It is activated by a drop in loop volume, and replaces the same amount of gas that was just expelled. The amount of injected gas coming back to the loop is at a rate proportional to the divers Residual Minute Volume (RMV), meaning the replenish rate of new gas is directly related to the divers metabolic oxygen needs.
Issue 26 - 2012
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Diving The GEM

Like most all rebreathers, the breathing will be different than what you might be used to on open circuit. Rather than receiving an instant surge of gas from your second-stage mouthpiece as you would on an open-circuit system, your breath will require a bit of suck (during inhalation) and blow (during exhalation) action during each respiratory cycle. This effort is referred to as work of breathing, or WOB. With the GEM, the key to obtaining a desirably low WOB lies in proper counterlung placements. When setting the counterlungs to their attachment points on your BCs harness, the T-pieces should be as close to the nipple line on your chest as possible. For me, the T-piece placement was slightly above that line, but as everyones body type is different, a little experimentation might be necessary to find the most satisfactory WOB. If the counterlungs are set too high, the resultant WOB could leave you feeling as if you are breathing through a 3-foot snorkel.
Issue 26 - 2012
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email: info@shearwaterresearch.com call: 604-669-9958
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In water, the GEMs counterlungs will create a bit more frontal buoyancy that open circuit divers are accustomed to. The forward position of this added volume of gas will be at odds with the weight on your back, and if the system is not properly trimmed, it might roll a diver into an inverted position like an upside down turtle. To counteract this effect, each counterlung is fitted with a weight pocket that will accept a 2 to 4 pound trim weight. Wearing a 3mm wetsuit and a steel 80, and with a single 3-pound weight in each counterlung pocket, I found the system well balanced.
Semi-Closed, Semi-silent
During each exhalation, you notice the small stream of bubbles exiting the GEMs mouthpiece in front of your right eye. As a result of this bubble release, the GEM is not a totally silent system, though it is not nearly as loud as an open circuit system. Ill admit that I found this bubble stream to be slightly annoying at first, and it took me a few dives before my mind would subconsciously put it aside. There is good reason, however, for the position of this bubble stream, as it actually a safety feature. A sudden stoppage of bubbles during exhalation would provide an obvious indicator that something is no longer working properly in the loop - one of which could be an insufficient drop in gas volume within the loop to trip the ADV. Should this or any other problem arise, the diver can simply shut the DSV and go to the regulators primary second stage, which should be at the ready on the rubber necklace in front of your throat. After all, you may be diving the GEM, but you are still using your personal regulator, which now serves as your bailout system. This allows you to perform a bail out to open circuit using the same nitrox mix in your tank. One phenomenon worth noting, while the GEMs mouthpiece is triggered by your exhalation it can also respond to a change in hydrostatic pressure. If your body is in a more angled swimming position, with the mouthpiece slightly higher than the rest of the loop, there can also be enough hydrostatic pressure to trigger a small trickle of bubbles. This is somewhat
Six stainless steel ballast rings are used to counteract the added buoyancy of the breathing loop hoses. Each ring weighs .13 pounds, and can be moved up and down the hoses to achieve optimum balance. With a bit of fine-tuning most divers are able to trim the system for a comfortable prone swimming position. Of course, as with any rebreather, when you try to use your lungs to change your buoyancy as you would with opencircuit scuba, nothing happens, as exhaled or inhaled gas merely shunts between lungs and counterlungs, so there is no additional lift generated by taking a deep breath. Pg 37
dependent on how full the counterlungs are. A vertical, heads-up position may trigger similar results. From a breathing standpoint, the GEM likes a bit of depth. You may notice a bit higher WOB at very shallow depths, but I found that once past the 20-foot mark, the WOB dropped to a point where I no longer took notice of it.
Issue 26 - 2012
Unlike a fully closed rebreather system, the GEM releases some degree of bubbles into the water column following each exhalation. Compared to the sound created by a single exhalation from a standard scuba regulator, the GEMs bubble discharge noise is significantly quieter, which will have a noticeably lesser impact on marine life that would normally retreat from bubble noise. This is a big plus for photographers and videographers.
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As with any rebreather, you still need a means of reporting what is going on in the loop in real time. When purchasing the GEM, divers have the choice between either a single Jetsam LED display or a Fischer Cable. The Fisher cable option allows you to attach Shearwater Predator that is equipped with a Fischer cable port and is opened for CCR/SCR use. The GEM has a starting retail price of $3,550.00 (CDN). KISS also offers a Shearwater GEM (Predator with a special GEM SCR mode added) computer for an additional $1,595.00 (CDN).
With the less-expensive Jetsam LED display, you have a basic digital readout that provides constant PO2 information, which can be used in conjunction with a standard Nitrox computer to plan and monitor dives. Just as you would when diving open-circuit nitrox diving, you would merely calculate the percentage of oxygen in the mix (which in this case means the loop, not the tank), and program the computer to the slightly lower mix to create a safety margin, and you are good to go.
Afterthoughts
To get certified on the GEM through agencies like TDI and IANTD, any other certification agency offering GEM SCR training, a diver must first be at least 18 years of age, and be certified for Nitrox. The actual course is not very complicated, typically taking 3 days, comprised of classroom, one confined water dive, with the remaindere in open water. In addition to being a relatively simplistic semi-closed system that easily integrates to existing open-circuit equipment and most technical BCDs, the GEM is highly portable, and well-suited to international travel, as its dry weight is just 13 pounds (5.9 kg.). It packs easily within standard checked luggage, and could conceivably be stowed within a carry on. My one minor negative comment on the GEMs loop arrangement is that the two front loop hoses running to the DSV are longer than what I am accustomed to when diving rebreathers. Because of the position of the counterlung T-pieces in relation to the divers
Issue 26 - 2012
Simple as Diving Nitrox

The minimum nitrox mix for use with the GEM in a recreational diving scenario is 32 percent, with the more desirable, function mix anywhere between 36 and 40 percent. This is because the recirculation process in the loop will drop the oxygen content from the supply cylinder by 4 to 6 percent. Because this number remains a relative constant, there is not much guess work as what mix you are breathing. The only time the PO2 in the loop could drop towards hypoxic levels is during rapid accents and/or when swimming at or just below the surface. This can be prevented through the use of a skill called Open Loop, which is covered during training on the GEM. Pg 39
Shearwater Predator In addition to functioning as a dedicated SCR computer, it can perform the services of a open circuit air and Nitrox computer that can be upgraded into a full Shearwater Predator mixed gas CCR computer, should you decide to expand your horizons.
head, the highly pronounced curvature in each of these two 17-inche hoses is something that cannot be avoided. Making them any shorter, however, would impede head motion when looking side to side. OK, so nothing is perfect. Undoubtedly, the best feature of the GEM is the ability to extend the duration of your cylinder by a factor of three. For example, I took it on a Build Quality: Design/Fit: Ease of Use: Performance: Pg 40
two-tank dive charter, spending 45 to 50 minutes of bottom time in 80 to 90 feet of water (plus deco), then made a second dive of more than an hour in 60 feet of water, all on a single 80, and still had a comfortable gas reserve at the end. Which brings me back to the advantages of RMV-keyed passive addition rebreathers. The amount of gas used is determined by how often a diver takes a breath. Those who are air hogs by nature can level the playing field against fellow OC divers who are air sippers. Divers with good air consumption, meanwhile, will be doubly rewarded. Then there are the added benefits of breathing warm moist air, which helps reduce heat loss and dehydration, along with the reduction of bubble noise, which wont scare off some of the wildlife. Now thats cool! - WS To learn more about the GEM, as well as fully closed rebreather models like the KISS Classic, Explorer & Sport visit: www.kissrebreathers.com
Cost of Consumables for the GEM

We all know what the costs will be to fill our dive cylinders with Nitrox, with mixes between 32 and 40 percent pretty easy to come by in most locales. The only other consumables necessary are of course the CO2 absorbent cartridges and the one oxygen cell needed for PO2 monitoring. The model oxygen cells with a 3-pin Molex connector compatible with the GEM include: Analytical Industries (AI) R-22DR, Maxtec MAX-305, Teledyne R-22S and the Vandagraph NaNM01 which are package under both Narked at 90 and rEvo Rebreathers. Depending on the brand, the cost for a single cell will run as low as $64.99 to as high as $109.00. The average lifespan for these cells is approximately one year. The ExtendAir model 801C large bore CO2 absorbent cartridges for the GEM are sold in a box of 4 for approximately $130.00., with each cartridge packaged in its own individual can. Currently DiveGearExpress.com offers twin box packages, giving 8 cartridges in all, with free shipping in the Continental US for $249.00, which reduces the cost more to $31.13 per cartridge. One cartridge is good for 4 hours of diving. If you break down the cost by the hour, the cost (roughly $7.78 per hour) equates to less money than to fill a single 80 with Nitrox. When stored correctly, ExtendAir containers maintain proper absorption capacity For info on how ExtendAir for three years.
cartridges work Click Here Issue 26 - 2012
Excellent - as good as it can possibly get Very Good - little room for improvement Good - room for improvement Sub-average - needs work Poor - could have been done far better
Travel/Holiday
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is the sort of island that travelers to the Caribbean dream about - a small, lush tropical gem that still manages to stay relatively apart from tourisms more trodden paths.
Pg 41
by Karen Stearns Images provided by St. Lucia Tourism and Walt Stearns
Issue 26 - 2012
fter many years of traveling and diving the Caribbean, I thought I knew the region well. Then, during lunch with two close friends, also avid divers and photographers, I made the casual statement that there wasnt really much left for me to discover in the region. Have you been to St. Lucia? one asked. I admitted that I hadnt, and asked if they thought it worthy of a trip. Absolutely, they both replied. Some of the most lively reefs youll ever see in the Caribbean. Almost equal to the Red Sea. It seemed like a pretty strong claim, but I trusted my friends judgment, and a few months later, found myself flying into Hewanorra International Airport, still uncertain of what to expect, but excited to be on a journey of discovery. A half-hour cab ride through the green countryside brought me to Anse Chastanet, and to the realization that this island was truly unlike any of the Caribbeans usual suspects of dive tourism.
To begin with, the island itself would be right at home in the South Pacific. Clearly volcanic in origin, it is a land of steep mountains and narrow forested valleys cut by flowing streams. My destination lay in the shadows of one of the islands signature landmarks, the twin peaks of Gros and Petit Piton, which rise precipitously from the sea to a height of over 2,600 feet. These breathtaking steeples of rock are in fact remaining slivers of a dormant volcano which blew apart some four to five million years ago.
Pg 42
Issue 26 - 2012
Unlike the lower islands of the western Caribbean, St. Lucia, as well as several of her neighboring islands, does not have extensive shallows or highly developed fringing reefs. Instead reef structures begin almost directly off the shoreline, particularly on the Western or leeward side of the island. On the first day of my visit I was introduced to one of St. Lucias most beautiful reefs, which began just off the beach at Anse Chastanet. Typically, such wade in sites are rarely noteworthy, and used primarily for introductory dives. This was not the case on St. Lucia, however. Anse Chastanet Reef begins as a gentle slope, with scattered coral heads nearly touching the surface. Meandering towards the drop off, I was impressed by the health and concentration of hard corals, including star, brain and finger corals, along with a copious variety of colorful sponges and tropical fish. I soon encountered another signature feature of this reef: a resident school of Caribbean reef squid that are not shy around divers.
photo Walt Stearns
Pg 43
Issue 26 - 2012
photo Walt Stearns
photo Walt Stearns
Finning 200 feet from shore, I came to the point where the crest of the reef dropped from a depth of 30 down a mini wall to a depth of 60 feet, then soon took another plunge past the 100-foot mark. While the mid section of the reef showed some normal evidence of diver traffic it still glowed all the signs of a healthy ecosystem. Throughout most of the site, the coloration of the corals were robust and free of choking red algae. I think the presence of an equally healthy population of long-spine Diadema urchins may have a lot to do with it, due to their voracious appetite for this nuisance type of algae. Of course their long, needle sharp spines play second duty by inhibiting clumsy divers from putting their hands, knees, whatever on the coral. Heading deeper, I found layer upon layer of scroll and plate corals in the 80 to 130-foot range, but then returned to the mid to upper section of the reef, which had the greatest abundance of fish life. It was surprising to find highly prevalent here many of the species that are uncommon throughout most of the Caribbean and Bahamas: fish such as peppermint bass, longlure frogfish, chain morays and spotted drums to name a few. Finishing the dive, I knew I would make this spot part of my daily diving routine to augment my logbook with descriptions of a few of St. Lucias living gems. As the week progressed, I discovered a number of fascinating sites, most just a 5 to 15 minute boat ride away along the sheltered western shore of the island. Drift diving enthusiasts will enjoy sites such as Supermans Flight, which sits below the base of Petit Piton Mountain. Usually
photo Walt Stearns
washed by mild to moderate currents, this site was named for a segment of the late 70s movie Superman II, which was shot along this particular mountainside. Below the surface is a steep slope covered with hard corals, deep water gorgonians, and a multitude of sponges; azure vase, orange elephant ear, yellow tube and giant barrel being the most prolific. Those who enjoy small and highly colorful fish life, will especially enjoy this site, and there is also the chance of being enveloped by huge
Issue 26 - 2012
Pg 44
swarms of brown chromis. Another signature site is the Pinnacles. Appropriately named, this quartet of massive coral and gorgonian-shrouded mounds rise to within 15 feet of the surface, tapering off on the inside toward the island to a depth of 80 feet, while on the outside plunges precipitously off to more than 200 feet. Other noteworthy sites in the neighborhood include Coral Gardens, Jalousie (at the base of Gros Piton), Piton Wall, the Blue Hole, Trou Diable, Grand Caille, Fairy Land, and Turtle Reef (at the other end of Anse Chastanets beach). All bear the same pronounced growth of sponges and hard corals. Pg 45
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For many years St. Lucias signature wreck dive has been the Lesleen M, a 165 ft. freighter sunk intentionally as a diving attraction in 1986. Sitting upright and fully intact on a sandy bottom in 65 ft. of water, her structure has acquired a comprehensive degree of growth of encrusting sponges, corals, hydroids and gorgonians. Special oddities like seahorses and frogfish are commonly found on this wreck. Pg 46
Also worth a visit for those comfortable with a bit more depth are the wrecks of the 75-foot dredge Daini Koyamoru, which lies on its side in 108 feet of water. And the Wawinet freighter, which sits in 100 feet of water on the islands southern coast, in an area known for stronger currents. Since my visit, Ive learned that the St. Lucia Dive Association is in the process of sinking three more vessels of 40 to 65 feet
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Issue 26 - 2012
in length at a site off the islands northwestern shore. With planned depths of 30 to 40 feet, these wrecks will be suitable for both divers and snorkelers. Of the sites I visited on St. Lucia, my personal favorite was Fairyland, which is actually a continuation of Anse Chastanets shore reef. Fairyland begins along a mini wall that offers depths from 20 to 100-plus feet, and as with most of the sites that show healthy growth, it is regularly fed by currents. About midway down, the reef crest gives way to a large plateau that is littered with more huge boulders and covered in a profusion of multi-colored sponges. Zigzagging my way from one rock outcropping to the next, I imagined I was back in one of the soft coral gardens of the Fiji Islands. Across the bottom, between these scattered mini-precipices, were some of the largest and most plentiful azure vase sponges Ive ever seen. Pg 47
Although I travel primarily to dive, I couldnt help but be impressed by the topside attractions of St. Lucia. Ecotourism is at least as popular as diving on this green island. On the milder side are activities such as rainforest hikes, volcano tours and bird watching excursions, while more adventurous visitors can sign up for zip-lines and aerial tram tours of the forest canopy, mountain biking trips and a whole host of water sports adventures. Equally interesting to me was simply spending some time getting to know the island and its people. A long political tug-ofwar for sovereignty between France and England saw the island change hands some Pg 48
14 times, creating a unique cultural blend of Anglo and Franco traditions that intermingle with the traditions of West Africa. While the official language of the island is English, a great deal of the St. Lucians speak a French Patois which adds further to the islands tropical mystique. Sometimes, a week at a destination seems like enough. In the case of St. Lucia, it wasnt. There are still dive sites along the northern and southern coasts I would like to visit, and one could spend many hours in search of the myriad small reef creatures that inhabit the marine park. Would I go back? Absolutely. And next time, I hope to bring my entire family, because St. Lucia
is an island where the underwater bounty is more than matched by the beauty of the land, making it an ideal destination for anyone looking not only for a dive vacation, but a true tropical island experience that is the stuff of daydreams. - KS
For travel information and assistance for booking a St. Lucia vacation, Click Here. Caradonna Worldwide Dive Adventures provides a wealth of information about this island gem. Go and Enjoy!
Issue 26 - 2012
Corner
Understanding PFOs
New research may determine if there is a link between this condition and an increased risk of DCS
sing the Valsalva maneuver to equalize your ears during descent, lifting gear onto your back as you prepare for your next dive and climbing the boat ladder after surfacing are all pretty typical diving tasks. They are also actions that can cause a change in intrathoracic pressure, which may trigger the opening of a patent foramen ovale (PFO). A PFO is a tiny hole in the internal wall of the heart, which divides the right and left fore chambers (atria). It is a remnant of fetal circulation during the intrauterine period; the foramen ovale allows oxygen-rich blood coming through the umbilical cord to flow directly from the right atrium to the left atrium, bypassing the lungs. This hole generally closes within a few months of birth by means of a flap that acts like a door. But in approximately 25 percent of the population this small hole remains open, or incompletely sealed and prone to reopening creating a PFO. Most of the time, pressure in the left atrium of the heart is greater than in the right atrium, so the PFO door remains closed and shunting of blood does not occur. However, if the pressure in the right atrium exceeds the pressure in the left atrium, shunting will occur. This means that blood flows from the right to the left side of the heart, bypassing circulation in the lungs capillary (just as it did during the intrauterine period). This is called a right-to-left shunt (RLS) and it diverts blood from the venous system directly into the arterial system. Pg 49
The lungs are the bloods filter: The venous blood transports particles including post-dive venous gas bubbles that need to be filtered out by the lungs. When an RLS occurs, the venous blood bypasses this essential filtration system. Factors such as the size of the PFO affect the amount of shunted blood; the more significant the RLS, the more likely it is that particles carried by blood may also pass through the heart. This may occur with certain activities that temporarily prevent influx of venous blood to the chest including the Valsalva maneuver, squatting, lifting heavy items or even coughing. Immediately after these events, blood piled up in the venous system rushes into the chest and increases the pressure in the right atrium, which may establish an RLS if a PFO is present. In about 1 percent of the population, a part of the foramen ovale remains permanently open. This is known as an atrial septal defect (ASD), and permits arterial blood from the left side of heart to flow to the right side of the heart mixing with venous blood . Sometime this reverts, and venous blood bypasses the lungs to enter directly into arterial circulation. In the general population, the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) is approximately 2 in 10,000 dives. It appears that divers with a PFO may be at increased risk for DCS, but a causative relationship between PFO and DCS has not yet been established. Theoretically, for PFO to play a role in DCS, two conditions must be present: venous gas emboli and RLS. These conditions are sometimes met after diving, particularly after deeper and longer dives when post-dive activities involve lifting or straining. Even so, the overall risk is still very low, making prescreening for PFO inefficient. However, if a diver has a history of repeated DCS that affects multiple Pg 50
Diving and PFOs
organs, the spinal cord, brain or inner ear, a PFO test may be recommended by a physician familiar with diving medicine. Currently, divers who are diagnosed with a PFO have three options: discontinue diving, dive more conservatively or undergo PFO closure (generally in combination with diving more conservatively). The long-term effects of PFO closure are unknown at this time. Divers with an unresolved ASD should not continue diving.
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DAN is currently conducting a research project to investigate how diving after PFO closure compares to conservative diving with a PFO. Researchers are gathering data on the incidence of DCS and other adverse events in the two groups of divers. The PFO study started in 2010 and will continue for five years, enrolling a total of 120 qualified participants with annual follow ups throughout its course. As of now, there are 50 participants enrolled in the study. If you are interested in participating, visit www.DAN.org.
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To learn more about PFOs and the current study, visit www.AlertDiver. com and read Divers with Holes in their Hearts, PFO and Decompression Illness in Recreational Divers, and Study Update: PFO. If you have any questions, call the DAN Medical Information Line at +1-919-684-2948.
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laguna Beach Resort, an exclusive diving, fishing, and beach getaway located on utila, combines elegance, privacy and natural beauty. a divers paradise, utila sits on top of the second largest fringing coral reef in the world, and the outer banks are home to dolphin and whale sharks.
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Pg 1 52 Pg www.UnderwaterJournal.com www.UnderwaterJournal.com
Issue 26 - 2012
Parting Shot
Hail, Hail, the Gangs all here!
Each year, between mid August and the end of September the biggest fish of the reef, the Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) gather for their annual spawning at specific sites off South Florida. The largest of these aggregations anywhere takes place at Jupiter, Florida on a wreck site named the Zion Train. As this picture, taken September 9th, 2012 suggests, this years showing did not disappoint. Pg 53
Photo info: Nikon D300 with Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom, inside Subal ND30 housing. Lighting: twin Sea & Sea YS-240 Strobes, set on manual half power. Shot taken at 90 sec. at f6.7. Copyright Walt Stearns 2012
Issue 26 - 2012

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Dive Computers & Rebreather Electronics for Technical Divers

Powerful Simple Reliable

Diving The GEM

Simple as Diving Nitrox

Cost of Consumables for the GEM

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Diving and PFOs

Jupiter Diving at its Best

DAN PFO Study

Randy Jordan, Owner Call: 561-248-8332 or e-mail: randy@emeraldcharters.com

Undersea Voyager Project

When you need Compressor and Nitrox Systems that work!

LAGUNA BEACH RESORT UTILA

Come explore our tropical paradise

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Hail, Hail, the Gangs all here!

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