Sunday, January 18th, 2009 at 10:50 am
On Dec 29th Elmer Munk, a pioneer in the sport of Scuba Diving, passed away at his family home. Mark Zaloudek of Herald Tribune had this to say:
Elmer Munk Scuba Pioneer
Munk was an avid fisherman living in Evanston, Ill., when a newspaper article in 1956 about scuba diving caught his attention.
He took his first dive the following year and lobbied his local YMCA to offer a scuba diving course.
In 1959 he completed the Y’s first course nationwide for certifying diving instructors and instructor trainers, and by 1961 was teaching a scuba course at his Y.
“When I started diving it was literally just getting started in this country,” he told the Herald-Tribune.
Munk turned his hobby into a career when he opened Elmer’s Water Sports in the Chicago area in 1971.
He later helped develop courses in underwater search and rescue techniques, night diving and other advanced skills.(more)
I hope to make it as far as he did, and to be just as influential in this sport. Because of guys like Munk you’re able to enjoy your time underwater, so next time you’re at a dive site and you’re hoping that grizzled old dude with the ancient gear doesn’t start talking to you, take a step back and say hi, without guys, and gals, like them, we wouldn’t be enjoying this sport.
Become the old person in this sport yourself….
Sunday, January 18th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Ed Zieralski of the Union-Tribune reported on the following story January 10, 2009
Some local scuba divers and an executive chef combined this week to eliminate a controversial seafood item from a menu for a Chinese New Year celebration.
Scuba-diving enthusiast Carl Robbins noticed the menu in an advertising flyer from Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino.
Among the offerings was shark fin soup, the controversial Asian delicacy that relies on the fins of sharks, some of which are finned and released in a mutilated state back into the sea. The practice is being blamed for a decrease in shark populations around the world.
The Year of the Ox, which commences Jan. 26, was going to be started with some fin of the shark, which traces its beginnings to the Ming Dynasty in the mid-1300s. (more)
Yeah, it’s part of a culture, and I tend to respect most cultural traditions, but when you’re obviously advancing the demise of a species, maybe it’s time to change those traditions. Every culture has changed traditions with the times, even the tribes that ate humans (not just South Pacific tribes BTW) don’t do that anymore and it was a HUGE part of the culture. Time to take a second look at what’s really important…
Sunday, January 18th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Scuba Herald posted this article on January 14th, 2009:
Most people don’t look forward to tackling the pile of un-ironed clothes in their laundry basket.
And for John Lynch the decision to pick up an iron on Saturday ended up with him in deep water.
As the 38-year-old from Sheringham laboured over an ironing board, he was 12m under water and wearing scuba gear.
Mr Lynch was joined by 130 other divers in a former quarry in Chepstow, Gloucestershire, as he tried to break a world record in the sport of extreme ironing under water.
The current holders of most people ironing under the waves or surface is held by 72 Australians.(more)
The divers then decided to start a daily laundry service. Fluff and fold will be offered, but DRY cleaning is not an option…
Sheesh, what’s next, Underwater silver polishing?
Sunday, January 18th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Just read the following piece:
Today, President Bush designated three areas of the Pacific Ocean as marine national monuments. By designating these areas as national monuments, the Administration ensures that the marine environment will receive the highest level of environmental recognition and conservation. Destruction or extraction of protected resources within the boundaries of these monuments will be prohibited, as will commercial fishing in the coral reef ecosystem areas of the monuments. Scientific and recreational activities may be permitted consistent with the care and management of the protected resources of these monuments. For marine life and seabirds, these places will be sanctuaries to grow and thrive.
* Combined, these designations represent the largest fully protected area in the world. Under the President’s plan, 195,274* square miles will be conserved.
(more)
We now have the following new Monuments
1.) Marianas Trench Marine National Monument
2.) The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument
3.) The Rose Atoll Marine National Monument
It’s about time something positive happened to the Ocean under this administration! Tours to all 3 Monuments will be starting up as soon as McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Hot Dog on a Stick finish building they’re underwater storefronts!
Seriously, this is a step in the right direction, hopefully we keep going that way.
