Dear Undercurrent:
Prior to an August dive trip to
Cozumel, I insured our gear and my
Sea & Sea MotorMarine with DEPP
after reading Undercurrent. Of
course, I hoped we would never
have to submit a claim, but life is
what happens while you plan.
We were doing a night dive at
Chankanaab, shooting a full roll of
film, then ascending and lining up
to get on the boat. As I unsnapped
my camera lanyard to hand up my
camera, I heard a voice behind me
call out "Help me, I can't stay up any
more!" A woman in our group
literally looked as if she was headed
for the bottom. She was just starting
to descend below her nose level with
a completely flaccid BC. I swam to
her, took her BC inflator hose, and
pumped three or four good breaths
into it. Then I realized my camera
was not around -- and the boat
captain said he'd been unable to
reach it. We spent a good half-hour
trying to find it, but Davy Jones had
won again.
Back in the States, I called
DEPP and they promptly stated that
they would buy and ship my
replacement gear! This morning, a
BIG box arrived from Berger
Brothers -- inside was everything I
lost but the roll of film. Losing
photo or dive gear can create
enough stress to undo much of the
good a vacation can do -- and can
cost more than the cost of the trip
itself. I'm relieved that the company
stood behind my belief that in the
final crunch, people are more
important than things. After my
experience, I highly recommend
them!
-- Jose Kirchner, Carmichael CA
DEPP (800-788-4096 or 502-454-
4152) or at http://www.programservices.com.
Aloha Mr. Trigger:
In response to Mr. Randy
Brook's letter regarding octopus
harassment, I would like to
comment. I believe there are many
marine animals that we can handle
in a friendly manner without doing
them harm (shells, echinoderms,
etc.) However, soon after Mr. Brook
made his dive with us, I initiated a
new "no touch" company policy
directed specifically at the octopus.
Although I believe that divers
often get the short end of the stick
when it comes to "marine life
rights" as preached by a few
motivated, vocal individuals, with
knowledge comes responsibility.
Anytime a diver knowingly harms an
animal, it is wrong. A few years ago no
one was thinking about ink and
fatigue as being harmful to an
octopus. Now that we are thinking it
can indeed be harmful to the
creature, it becomes our responsibility
to act in a responsible manner. Our
dive masters have now been instructed
to show, but not touch octopus in
response to that knowledge.
-- Ed Robinson , President, Ed
Robinson's Diving Adventures - Maui