Over the years I have often admired Gerald Nowak’s underwater photos. There is so little overlap between the markets available to European versus North American photographers, however, that I did not know the backstory of his career. A recent phone call rectified that.
Faith Ortins is a lifelong diver, and her love for the ocean and devotion to educating people about safe diving practices drive her dive career.
Q: I recently had an eye stroke. Can I still dive after it has been resolved? A: The main concerns with an eye stroke (central retinal artery occlusion, or CRAO) are the underlying cause and the medications your doctor prescribed for treatment. Before returning to diving, work with your ophthalmologist or physician to determine the root cause of the initial ocular stroke, the probability of recurrence, and your overall cardiovascular health.
In February 2020 the Royal Bermuda Regiment launched Bermuda’s first coast guard unit, responsible for enforcing maritime law in its waters and providing around-the-clock search-and-rescue capabilities.
On Sept. 2, 2019, the small passenger vessel Conception burned to the waterline off Santa Cruz Island, California, killing 34 people. This wasn’t the first liveaboard fire, but the fearful reactions to this deadly tragedy echoed throughout the scuba industry. Liveaboard fires that have occurred since this incident have further fueled industry concerns.
My friend Evan Gill pointed across the perfect beach to a spot about 650 feet offshore and casually said, “There’s a Japanese patrol boat from World War II,” as he leaned out of our golf cart. The ocean was an ideal blue and smooth as polished glass, not even lapping against the white sand.
Many divers are proud to be comfortable in the water and sometimes push their limits on air consumption, exceed their bottom time, or take one last shot of a big fish with a camera or spear before ascending. Some of them develop reputations in the dive community for being competent divers by looking cool and experienced while taking little risks. It may start small but snowball into making poor decisions for which the price you pay is not worth the reward.
In each issue of Alert Diver, you’ll find advertisements for some of the world’s best and most reputable liveaboard operators. Liveaboards are a great way to explore remote dive destinations for multiple days at a time, giving divers immersive and unforgettable experiences in certain corners of the underwater world.
Scuba diving demands not only physical fitness but also proper nutritional preparation. Like with any activity, we expend energy while diving; surprisingly, the energy required for routine recreational diving is somewhat moderate. Under unusually strenuous recreational conditions, however, it’s possible to burn more than 500 calories.
As a diver and photographer, I seek remote locations offering unparalleled underwater experiences. The farther away and the fewer the people, the better. Papua New Guinea is such a place.
