United States

Diver swims over the two-masted schooner, Walter B. Allen, which sank in 1880.
Diver swims over the two-masted schooner, Walter B. Allen, which sank in 1880.

New Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary established by NOAA

At the time of its designation in 2021, the sanctuary included 36 known shipwrecks dating from the 1830s to the 1930s, including Wisconsin's two oldest known shipwrecks, the schooners Gallinipper, which was constructed in 1833 and sank in 1851, and Home, which was built in 1843 and sank in 1858.

DAN to host COVID and Environmental Considerations Webinar

The live event is scheduled for 07.00 AEST, 17.00 EST, 22.00 BST, 23.00 CET.  

It is important that divers understand the important role that cleaning and disinfecting dive gear plays in minimising the spread of illnesses, including COVID-19

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Simone Melchior Cousteau, Scotch & Soda, WDHOF, Women Divers Hall of Fame, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, XRay Mag, X-Ray Magazine, IWD, International Womens Day, scuba diving news, scuba diving grants
Simone Melchior Cousteau onboard the minesweeper 'Calypso'

WDHOF announces new Simone Melchior Cousteau Grant

The North American-based, not-for-profit professional honour society advised that the grant was made possible, thanks to a US$5,000 donation from the Netherlands fashion brand 'Scotch & Soda'. 

Scotch & Soda

Scotch & Soda states "we give the same love and attention to the sustainable production of our garments, as we do to their design."

We strive to make issues surrounding the environment, animal welfare and safe working conditions a priority. Scotch & Soda

Dan Orr has been re-elected to the DEMA Board. He is pictured here with fellow industry consultant Betty Orr.

DEMA announces the 2021 Board of Directors

The following individuals will serve three terms.

A1: Manufacturing

Jenna Meistrell, Body Glove (elected 2021)

A2: Diver Certification and Training Agencies

Tom Leaird, SEI Scuba

Jeff Mondle, PADI Americas (elected 2021)

A3: Dive Publishing, Media, Consulting and Non-Retail Service Providers

William Cline, Cline Group Advertising

Dan Orr, Dan Orr Consulting (elected 2021)

A4: Retailers

Two more dive shows postponed

On Friday 29 Jan and only a few hours apart, we received similar updates from the organisers of the New Jersey-based Beneath the Seas dive show and the Swedish Dive Show, Dykmässen, which in recent years have been taken place in Gothenburg in the Swedish West coast. Both announced that they will be postponing their respective events until next year due to the restrictions being imposed because of the pandemic.

Beneath the Seas writes:

Press Release

Previous studies of shipwrecks in the United Kingdom and the Red Sea have shown that such artificial reefs often create new and different types of habitat than natural reefs.

Fish thrive on WWII shipwrecks

In 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) undertook a closer examination of the wrecks of the German U-boat U-576 and the Nicaraguan freighter SS Bluefields, using glass-domed submersibles. The two historically significant and deep (200m) shipwrecks sank near one another on the continental shelf of North Carolina, USA, during World War II.

Failure to ensure that a roving patrol was maintained allowed a fire of unknown cause to grow and ultimately consume the vessel

Last Year’s Deadly Fire Accident Aboard The Conception Dive Boat Has Consequences For All

In September 2019, off the coast of California, a fire aboard the MV Conception, a 23-meter (75-foot) scuba diving liveaboard, broke out during the night, killing 33 passengers and one crew member. The captain and four crew members barely escaped. After more than a year of speculations and rumors, the NTSB (the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board) published the results of its investigation and the U.S. Coast Guard issued a new policy on a few topics, including the charging of lithium-ion batteries aboard small vessels and liveaboards.

Lockdown Local Diving

Photo by Kate Jonker: Speckled klipfish at Pinnacle dive site in Gordon’s Bay, South Africa

As many divers face travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, our contributors highlight the often overlooked or unsung yet intriguing diving that can be found in one's own backyard.