DEFOGGING YOUR MASK

DEFOGGING YOUR MASK

If you find yourself underwater with the fog closing in, there are ways to remedy the situation. However, the best solution is to take steps before entering the water to prevent a fogged mask from becoming a nuisance during the dive. 

Preparing Your Mask

A newly purchased mask usually needs attention before it is ready for diving. During the manufacturing process, most masks are coated with a protective chemical. Unless this film is removed, it’s practically impossible to keep the mask from fogging underwater.

Before its first use, you must scrub the mask window(s) with a mild abrasive such as nongel toothpaste or a gritty cleanser that won’t scratch the lens. Apply it with your fingers or a cloth and rub thoroughly. It might take more than one treatment to completely remove the film.

Unless you’ve invested in a nonfogging mask, an antifogging solution should be applied to the inside of the mask window before diving. Fog is actually made up of thousands of tiny water droplets that form on the internal surface of the glass. A “no-fog” or “defog” solution reduces the surface tension so that droplets can’t form on the glass and helps remove microscopic particles that give the droplets additional surface on which to adhere.

Most divers rely on a commercial no-fog solution. There are several on the market and not all work the same way. Some require reapplication before each dive; others are intended to last the entire day. All work most effectively when applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Following the instructions on the container, apply one or more drops to the inside of the mask window and spread evenly. The appropriate time to apply is generally just before donning your mask to enter the water. Read the directions carefully — the solution you’ve chosen may require rinsing the mask with water before donning. Failure to do so could result in eye irritation.

Individuals with a sensitivity to commercial no-fog preparations have found that baby shampoo rubbed on the inside of the glass and then rinsed off can also help prevent fogging during a dive. You’ve probably also noticed a hard-core group of divers who swear by the superior fog-preventing powers of their own saliva.

Preventing Fog

No matter how well you prepare your mask, it will fog up before you even get into the water if you handle it inappropriately. Once you remove the mask from your gear bag, keep it out of direct sunlight. If you are not going to don your equipment immediately after assembling it, tuck the mask inside the buoyancy compensator or put it somewhere out of the sun where it won’t get damaged.

When it’s time to gear up, do not place the mask on your head — front or back. That is the surest way to cause it to fog up immediately. Fog is caused by condensation of water vapor due to a difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the mask window glass. Your forehead and hair can radiate enough heat to create instant fog. Once a mask has fogged above water, it becomes more difficult to keep it from fogging up again during the dive.

Instead, clip the mask onto your BC, carry it over your elbow or hang it around your neck until you are ready to don it for entry. Avoid exhaling through your nose into the mask — hot breath also encourages fog formation.

Defogging Underwater

Despite all the right preventive measures, masks still sometimes fog up during a dive. On a number of occasions I’ve seen divers suffer through their entire bottom time peering through the blur rather than execute the simple steps necessary to clear the fog out of their mask.

Step 1. Introduce a small amount of water into the mask. Place a thumb on each lower outside corner of the mask frame and your forefingers on the top corners. Carefully pull the top of the mask away from your face just enough to break the seal, allowing sufficient water into the mask to form a small pool in the bottom of the air pocket, but not enough to reach eye level. Let go and reseal the mask to your face.

Alternatively, some divers prefer to introduce water by sticking a finger under the mask seal on one side. Others lift the bottom of the mask off their face with their thumbs. It doesn’t matter how water gets into the mask, as long as you control the amount. You may even flood your mask completely if you like. However, a sudden rush of cold water onto your face can trigger a gasp response that adds to the discomfort and disorientation caused by the fogged mask.

Step 2. Bend your head forward so the mask window is horizontal and the water runs over the inside of it. Move your head to swish the water around and ensure that it covers the entire glass surface (photo 5). Lift your head to verify that the fog has been rinsed off — if not, try swishing again.

Step 3. Clear the water out of your mask. Exhale through your nose while tilting your head backward and pushing inward on the top of the mask frame — or for a mask with a purge valve, tilt your head forward and exhale.

Once your mask has been cleared of water, return to exhaling through your mouth instead of your nose — or you’re likely to cause the mask to fog up again.

Defogging your mask underwater is effective, but unfortunately the relief may be only temporary. If the fog returns, try removing your mask and cleaning the inside of the glass with your fingers. You can also minimize the annoyance of persistent fogging during a dive by leaving a small amount of water in the bottom of your mask. Then you simply swish as needed.

Mask Maintenance

Over time, your mask may begin to fog regularly despite your best preventive efforts. Periodic scrubbing with a mild abrasive removes the invisible film that builds up from mineral-laden rinse water and chemical leaching.

After each dive outing, rinse your mask thoroughly in fresh water and wipe the glass with a clean soft cloth or chamois, or place the mask in a well-ventilated, shaded area to dry. Store it in a box or bag to separate it from the rest of your scuba equipment.

Use the proper preventive measures and maintain your mask with care, and you may never have to worry about diving in a fog.

Caballito de mar

Diving with Phantom Divers

I WANT TO DIVE! 

You have already spent several summers visiting the beaches of Mexico; and you have gotten to know many beautiful snorkel areas with turtles, whale sharks or maybe you just  spent some time looking for fish in the waves; then maybe its time to go to the next level ...     

Imagine that you could breathe underwater, swim for a long time with large schools of fish, turtles or even bull sharks; and have the opportunity to observe how the inhabitants of the Mexican Caribbean reefs live.    

Many people have the idea that scuba diving is very difficult and then just let pass by the opportunity; however is very easy and fun. With Phantom Divers you can try!
 How is a Discover Scuba Diver experience?
 Your diving instructor will spend time with you, to explain the basic principles of scuba diving and to give you a general idea of ​​your scuba gear.  Once you feel comfortable, your instructor will take you to a couple of reefs on Playa del Carmen, where you will be diving within 12 meters / 40 feet.

 Most Discover Scuba Diving experiences last two to three hours.  The exercises you learn during this experience can be use as a credit for the full PADI Open Water Diver certification.   

 Discover Scuba Diving experience is a great way to find out if scuba diving is for you. Contact us for an appointment and try scuba diving in the reefs of the Riviera Maya. Or start your diving lessons online now and finish your certification dives at our center.

 For more images, see our facebook page, twitter and instagram.

Data. Whale Shark

Whale Shark

Globally, whale sharks appear in waters of more than 100 countries and are widely distributed, usually between latitudes 30 ° N and 35 ° S in tropical and temperate, in ocean and coastal waters. They congregate in feeding areas and often make long migrations to reach good food areas.

The main points for whale sharks sighting are Mexico, Belize, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, the Galapagos Islands, Honduras, South Africa, Mozambique, Seychelles and India. 

The whale shark biggest threats are; habitat loss resulting in the loss of prey species,        coastal development resulting in marine pollution, ship strikes, and the disruption or       harassment by boats and divers involved in the irresponsible tourism. The greatest threat, however, is the trade in whale shark parts, including their fins which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Whale sharks live long lives (estimates say over 70 years), so they mature late and produce offspring until 30 years of age and give birth to relatively few offspring during their life, that is why they are particularly threatened by human exploitation.     

On the other hand, to discover the great economic benefit that tourism can offer to swim and look closely at these huge creatures, he has been a major point of conservation.    

If you are interested to know and live this experience; contact us!

Lion Fish

Pretty much everything about the venomous lionfish its red and white zebra stripes, long, showy pectoral fins, and generally cantankerous demeanor says: Don't touch!

                              

The venom of the lionfish, delivered via an array of up to 18 needle-like dorsal fins, is purely defensive. It relies on camouflage and lightning-fast reflexes to capture prey, mainly fish and shrimp. A sting from a lionfish is extremely painful to humans and can cause nausea and breathing difficulties, but is rarely fatal. Lionfish, also called turkey fish, dragon fish and scorpion fish, are native to the reefs and rocky crevices of the Indo-Pacific, although they've found their way to warm ocean habitats worldwide. The largest of lionfish can grow to about 15 inches (0.4 meters) in length, but the average is closer to 1 foot (0.3 meters). Lionfish are popular in some parts of the world as food, but are far more prized in the aquarium trade. Their population numbers are healthy and their distribution is growing, causing some concerned in the United States, where some feel the success of this non-indigenous species presents human and environmental dangers. This fish are slow-moving and conspicuous, so they must rely on their unusual coloration and fins to discourage their predators from eating them. Lionfish are now one of the top predators in many coral reef environments of the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Lionfish consume over 50 species of fish including some economically and ecologically important species.They are active hunters who ambush their prey by using their outstretched, fan-like pectoral fins to slowly pursue and "corner" them.

                                                        ENTERING IN MEXICO

After passing through the Atlantic and the Caribbean, especially the Mesoamerican reef, the first specimen of this species was observed in Mexico in 2009, on the island of Cozumel, southeast of the country, in the state of Quintana Roo. One of the main proposals to mitigate the negative impacts of this species is consuming it as a premium product because their meat is 100% free of toxin and is rich in protein. By eating lionfish, you contribute to  the conservation of marine resources.
Phantom Divers filmed a video showing a very simple way to build a lionfish container. It is in spanish, but we would like to share it with you! We hope you like it!

                                                               

                                                                            www.phantomdivers.com

                                                                            Tel: +52 (984) 182-01-46

Coexisting with Bull Sharks in the Mexican Caribbean

In Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, it is possible to observe Bull Sharks through diving and to be close to this shark, which swims in shallow waters and close to the people.

It was in 1975, when the Hollywood movie "Jaws" directed by Steven Spielberg, whose success resulted in many myths that revolve around the specie that inspired this film: the Bull Shark.
Its size is medium, large and robust body (its name is due to these features), and has long pectoral fins; although it has been classified by experts as an aggressive species, the risk of being attacked by one of them is very low. That's why in our country in the area of Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, it is possible to observe it through the dive, by expert guides.
Although we do not know why these sharks come to the waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Bull Shark appears from December to March. The season can vary depending on the current, climate and food.
All specimens are females and most of them arrive pregnant, according to Jorge Loria, one of the pioneers in this activity that has been performed for 17 years in Playa del Carmen, and which has become an opportunity to see up close the behavior of Bull Sharks in their natural environment.

CERTIFIED DIVERS

To practice this extreme activity, tourists should be certified divers with at least 30 dives in their log books.
We must also comply with a dress code that doesn´t drag their attention. It consists of carrying a full black wetsuit and carry no bright objects such as jewelry or bracelets.
Most people feel scared before diving, he says, but in reality, besides knowing breath control, equalization techniques and have no air consumption problems (asthma), no further security action is needed more than the desire to know the behavior of this animal.
Already in the bottom of the sea, 22 to 24 meters deep, visitors are placed  in a line, lying on their stomachs and close together to avoid blocking the visibility of others. 
The intention is that they can observe how one of the two guides distributes pieces of bait for sharks to come and eat, all within five meters from the group.
This activity lasts around 25 minutes, during which people can appreciate Bull Sharks, inches away. Underwater, this awesome shark which can grow up to three meters, is admired white and imposing.

A SENSE OF PEACE

Most who do this activity for the first time, finish with a sense of peace, contrary to how they felt at the very beginning, says Jorge. Furthermore, it has become an incentive to reflect on shark conservation and join the cause to support its protection since 90 percent of the species in the world has disappeared.
Today, Playa del Carmen is specializing as one of the best places to dive with sharks (in Bahamas, which is first, the activity generates an economic impact of $ 80 million).
Jorge added that the amount of bait offered to them is very small, so they are not altering their feeding practices.
To learn more about the species, Jorge and his team created Saving Our Sharks NPO, in which they work through field support as placing underwater receivers, biopsies (which UNAM analyzes), placing them marks to understand their movement patterns, satellite and awareness actions. 
Before diving please read more about these animals. Since all Bull Sharks are pregnant females, the goal is to determine where they give birth to their babies and protect them.

Bull Shark swims in shallow water, even in freshwater rivers and very close to people, at which incidents occur, when they confuse their food with humans. Besides not trying to touch them (only the specialized guides are allowed), you should know that humans are not part of their diet.
In the world, nearly a hundred million sharks disappear every year, because their meat and fins are sold as exotic food; "We are a danger to them and not them for us," explains the expert. Attack sharks is attacking the balance of the entire marine ecosystem.
The idea of these dives was born in order to show tourists that the bull shark only attacks if it feels threatened or provoked, but currently it´s even protected.
So, besides diving with Bull Sharks, you will get more knowledge about this misunderstood species, and above all, you will know that they are not the aggressive creatures that Hollywood films were commissioned to make us believe.

EL FINANCIERO

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Don't let a Shark take away your sleep

Published in the newspaper Por Esto! in Yucatan and Quintana Roo. June 27, 2014.

By Juan José Morales

To all those who every time they enter the sea looking in all directions fearing to see the fin of a shark quickly approaching, certainly will be interested in the 2013 statistics released by the Record Identification Attribute Table - or RIAT - that keeps the Florida Museum of Natural History.

In total, 125 cases last year, which can be called shark attacks on humans, were documented. But of those, only 72 were considered unprovoked, that means that they occurred in the natural environment without the animal being somehow provoked by the person. Of the remaining 53 cases, 28 were classified as provoked, they ocurred after the shark was harpooned, taken out of a fishing net or disengage the hook when someone tried to hold it; while being fed by tourists, and in similar situations . The rest falls into several categories: attacks in confined waters like aquariums or different types of ponds, drowned corpses, etc.
Most of the attacks - 34 in total, which means almost half - occurred in inland waters of the United States, another 13 in Hawaii, which is also part of the United States, 10 in Australia, five in South Africa, three in the Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, two in Jamaica and the other in different places, with only one case at a time.
That figure of 72 non provoked attacks is down below the 81 that occurred in 2012, and the ones recorded in the two years preceding the latter. However, overall global number has been increasing so steadily, though slowly, for over a century, from 1900 to date. But this should not cause alarm. First, because the increase is minimal, and secondly because it is natural considering that the global population has more than quadrupled during that period, from 1 650 million in 1900 to 7200 million today.
And there is not only more human beings -and therefore more potential victims of a shark attack - but also more and more people are pushed into the sea, for recreation or work. A hundred years ago, only a small segment of the population could afford traveling to the beach and bathe in the sea, now is accessible to almost everyone. And not to mention the amount of people now doing dive practices and waterspouts that remain unknown a century ago, such as sailing table or scuba diving.
But above all, what has occurred in recent times, it´s more and better statistical record. Thanks to international cooperation between research institutes and authorities in different countries, as well as faster and more efficient communications, nowadays you can tell of incidents with sharks occurring anywhere in the world, even in isolated and remote locations such as small islands of the Indian Ocean or the Pacific.
So therefore there is no need to fear sharks. They are not killer beasts that prowl in the vicinity of the beaches in search of unsuspecting bathers, and likely to end in the jaws of some of them are insignificant. It is much more likely to die struck by lightning or victim of an allergic reaction from insect bites.

Comments: kixpachoch@yahoo.com.mx