Postage Stamp of the Titanic

With several TV specials and the re-release of James Cameron’s film- Titanic in 3D, it would have been difficult to miss the 100^th anniversary of the fateful day in which the ship went down.  For those of you who live under a rock and are not aware of such an event, we will provide you with some background information.

The RMS Titanic was believed to be an unsinkable ship (prior to April 14^th, 1912).  With a length of 882 feet and a hefty weight of 46,000 tons, this opinion seemed justified.  However, days after its departure from Southampton, England, the Titanic struck an ice berg and was soon lost to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

In an effort to remember such a tragedy, throughout 2012, tours and cruises are available to those who want to experience the Titanic like never before.  Some groups are even offering a dive via submersibles that can take you directly to the wreckage of the ship.  We at Dip ‘N Dive wanted to present you with some tour information.

Titanic Memorial Cruises

-A cruise that follows the exact path of the Titanic

-Departs from Southampton, UK and takes guests to the site of the sinking

-A few stops in America before the ship heads back to the UK

-For more information: http://titanicmemorialcruise.co.uk/

The Great Canadian Adventure Company

-Offering a Submersible Expedition Dive to view the Titanic

-For a price of nearly $60,000, you can venture down to the actual wreckage of the world’s most famous shipwreck.

-Tours are being offered from July – August

-For more information: http://adventures.com/gasnet/1250-4.htm

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Usually in this instance, a technique called saturation diving is employed.   Essentially, divers live in several chambers that are under pressure, for days at a time.  The chambers are usually bolted together, along with another hyperbaric chamber attached- called a diving bell.  The divers actually live in these conditions and then when it is time to exit the chamber to make the dive, they are already accustomed to the pressure.

The Diving bell simply lowers to a depth where the pressure outside within the water is equal to the pressure inside the diving bell.  Typically one diver will exit to complete the task at hand, while the other diver stays inside the bell to monitor and act as emergency help if necessary.   On longer missions, it is common for the divers to switch out of the water, so that each experiences the same amount of work.  How precisely does the act of saturation diving work? After 24 hours of being under pressure, the body becomes saturated with the mix of gases used for breathing, and therefore the decompression rate will be the same- whether the diver has been under pressure for over a day, week or month.

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• Ways to Gain Attention Underwater
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Those in “Blue water” should employ their lift bags.  What is blue water?  This term is used to describe a depth in which the bottom is not visible, and there are no other visual reference points.

What:

A lift bag is a piece of diving equipment designed to lift objects and or divers underwater towards the surface.  Not only is this item used as a surface marker, but also it helps divers to maintain a steady depth during their safety stops.  Here at Dip ‘N Dive, we have quite a few lift bags to choose from.

Where:

Lift bags are the most beneficial when used in blue water.  As previously mentioned, this situation involves no reference points.  It is important to use the lift bag to alert the boat crew on the surface of your whereabouts.

When:

When you are finished with your dive and are ready to ascend to the depth of your safety spot.  At this point, you will unroll the bag and inject it with enough air to make it slightly buoyant.  It is important to remember that as you ascend to the surface, the bag will expand due to air pressure, so if you are far below the surface, do not inject too much air.

Why:

We all know the importance of safety stops during ascent to the surface at the end of a dive.  The lift bag allows you to hang within the water comfortably without using a lot of energy, thus enabling you to focus on your safety stop while also enjoying your surroundings.

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• 6 Quick Tips for After-Dive Care of Your BC

If you are a following industry trends, want to customize equipment for your needs and feel comfortable to choose equipment by yourself. Build your own Oceanic Scuba Gear Package. This set gives you an ability to choose from the available options.

Manufacturer: Oceanic

Package includes:

• Oceanic Buoyancy Compensator
• Oceanic Regulator
• Oceanic Octopus
• Oceanic Gauges or Oceanic Computer

Please note, all equipment comes with Full Manufacturers Warranty. Every Scuba Gear Package is fully assembled and tested in Dip 'N Dive by a factory trained certified scuba instructors.

2.     After soaking your BC, rinse it off with a hose or shower.  Rinsing the equipment with a hose is more beneficial than a shower because you can direct the water better, but you can use whatever is available.  Don’t forget to rinse the valves and buttons as well as the surface of the material.

3.     Be sure to clean the interior of the BC as well.  Debris and salt crystals can make their way into the BC when underwater through the ventilation of air.  To clean the interior, deflate the oral inflate button while aiming the water from the hose into the mechanism.  Cleaning can also be accomplished by holding the device underwater while holding the inflate button open.  Once water has entered the interior, shake the BC a few times to spread the water throughout the whole inside. You can repeat this process several times.

4.     Empty all of the water from inside of the BC.  You can inflate your BC and then turn it upside down.  Press the inflate/deflate button while pressing the BC against your body, thus forcing the water out through the inflator hose.

5.     Always inspect your BC for tears, ripped stitching, cracks, and any other problems.  This will only take a few seconds and will help you to prepare for your next dive, especially if something needs to be fixed before.

6.     Dry your BC in a cool, dry place, and do not set it out in the sun.  You can inflate it slightly, and then hang it over a railing or hanger.  Be sure that the BC is completely dried before storing it.

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