Ok. It's now 4 years and a couple of weeks since my youngest son was born. I regret nothing except the fact that I haven't been back in the water since.

Sigh.

Eventually...  The water calls to me and I must answer.

Top Underwater Stories of 2010

Hope everyone had a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Now that 2010 is in the can, here's an interesting look back at the biggest news stories in the hydroverse, courtesy of Aquaviews Online Magazine.




Orca at Orlando's Sea World Kills Trainer During Show



Dive Computers

Nowadays, Dive Computer is to Dive Tables as Abacus is to Scientific Calculator. ScubaDiving.com has a nice article for newbies on dive computers, features that are optional, and features that should are (or should be) absolutely required. Check it out here, check-it-outers.

The Dive Table lives on, but now a tiny microprocessing elf does the math for you.

Greenland Sharks in the St. Lawrence

Amazing video at this site of the Greenland Shark. Very cool, and more than a little bit scary considering how big these carnivores can get.

Money quote:

Their stomachs contained the remains of fish and mammals such as seals, deer, horses and bears. [An] entire reindeer, minus its antlers, was found in the stomach contents of [one].



Hey there beautiful, swim here often?



Congrats, Jarrod!

My brother informs me that he received his Open Water cert while he and his beautiful wife were on their honeymoon in Jamaica. Can't wait to hear all about it!

In other news, if you're on Facebook you might want to check out PADI's FB profile.

PADI Fail

No doubt about it: there is no way that the requirements of PADI's "Scuba Diver" certification are enough to allow anyone to dive safely in open water. "Scuba Diver" should be eliminated. It's a joke.

That said, the Open Water requirements seem to me to be thorough enough, provided you have an uncompromising instructor who makes sure you know what you're doing.

Unsafe at any Depth: PADI Scuba Diver

Any of these would be cool to see.

13 Stunning Photos From 10-Year Sea Census