Conference unifix::sailing

1059.0. "snorkel + scuba = snuba" by WSE082::CLABAUGH (jim ) Fri Dec 02 1988 21:33

	hi folks, 

    	one of the joys i get from warm water sailing is diving into
    	the water after setting the hook.  anyone who has sailed the
    	carribean has spend almost as many hours snorkeling the reefs
    	as navigating through them.  that's why i'm offering this
    	note to the sailing conference.
    
    	this may not be interesting to you if you already are a 
    	certified diver but to a 20 year snorkeler who had never 
    	stayed down for more than one breaths worth and always had 
    	ear pains when free diving past 12 feet, THIS WAS THE CAT'S 
    	MEOW.  ok, so i'm over 40.

	i spent last week in hawaii.  every day, i went snorkeling 
    	on a different reef, off a different beach.  boy, was this 
    	better than working.  
                                
	any way, on the next to last day, i was reading one of those
	"what to do on oahu" brochures and it listed a thing called
		
		SNUBA TOURS OF OAHU

	guy comes, picks me up at the hotel, provides all the equipment, 
	and one scuba-equiped instructor for each group of 4 people.  
	after a surface checkout on the beach, we suited up and into the 
	shallow water we went.  after reaching a reasonable level of 
	comfort, and proving we were listening to the briefing, we dove.

	now, here's the trick.

	the scuba tank stays on the surface in a surfboard-like 
    	inflatable raft.  the regulator is on a 20' line attached to 
    	a harness around my chest.  the raft floats along above me 
    	as i swim and the line prevents me from going even close to 
    	1 atmos. press.  sure, it's not the total freedom that a 
    	scuba diver experiences,  but it sure beats holding your 
    	breath for 45 minutes.

	if you've never scubaed or even if you've never snorkeled but
	would if you had someone knowledgeable along for comfort, look
	into this.  there was an article about it in TIME magazine
	back in april or may, 1988.  

	there are now 3-4 outfits using this equipment in bahamas, maui,
	oahu, and australia.  next time i'm in hawaii, i'm going to do
	it again, but i'm afraid that it's going to hook me and i'll 
    	have to get really certified.  the hawaiian outfit (same on 
    	maui & oahu) is very professional, quality gear and 
    	conscientious staff.  their number is 808-922-7762 on oahu.  
    	the owner's name is mickey and the instructor i had was nori. 

	if you want more info on snuba, the mother company is located 
    	in placerville, calif., snuba inc., 419 main street, suite 212, 
    	95667, (916) 622-1422.

	oh, btw, i don't own any piece of this so i'm not soliciting, 
    	but i do wish i had thought of it.

	

    A similar idea, which has been around for a long time, is a
    'hookah'.  Basically a floating air compressor and a length
    of hose.  

    I have a Johnson Airbouy which is a two-cycle engine, a small
    compressor, 2 twenty foot hoses and two masks.  It was great
    when I was a kid for getting scallops and quahogs!   The
    disadvantage is the hose and therefore the limited depth.
    However, for working around a boat in the water, it's quite
    handy!

    Johnson no longer makes the Airbouy, but there is a similar
    product made in Ft. Lauderdale.  The company is BROWNIE'S
    THIRD LUNG. You can see product at the Ft. Lauderdale & Miami
    Boat Shows, and it is also available from Boat/US.  BROWNIE's
    is a bit expensive though, ~$1000 for a two person set-up.
    I think I have some BROWNIE'S literature at home, if anyone
    is interested, I could copy it.

    	- Lee Lindquist

    You can quite easily kill yourself by holding your breath and ascending
    from 20' with one of these.  If you want to dive, get certified.
    
    If you wish, see the Scuba notesfile.
    						J

    I saw another incantation of these devices last week at the
    Miami Boat Show.  It was electric, and ran three hours on
    a charge.  Much more compact than BROWNIE's (which has a big
    inner-tube).

    	Scubair, Inc.
    	P.O. Box 12613
    	Reno, NV 89510
    	(702) 331-1601

    Sorry, I didn't get any prices as their booth was jammed with
    people.

    Of course, all previous warnings apply.

    	- Lee