Scuba Shack Radio

We recently incorporated the delayed surface marker buoy adventure dive in our advanced open water class. Listen to our reasoning and how beneficial this was to both our students and instructors. Being able to deploy your surface marker buoy from depth is an important skill to have.

Plastic bag laws work. There are 8 states that currently have statewide plastic bag laws. These states are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Every county in Hawaii have laws restricting use. There are also 500 local ordinances across 28 states. Unfortunately, there are 15 states that have preemptive laws that restrict local ordinances on restrictions. They won't act statewide and prohibit any local laws to ban use. Plastic bag laws stop windblown litter, minimize impacts to the marine environment and improve waste management.

Midget Submarine is from season one of Sea Hunt and premiered on March 29, 1958. In this episode Mike is helping a friend with the check out of a midget submarine he is building. Mike is approached by a woman with a Russian accent - Maria Wenzel and she wants Mike to use the sub to rescue her father a Soviet scientist from a spy ship in the Pacific. Mike agrees and rescues John Wenzel from the Russian ship. This episode premiered in the middle of the cold war. Listen to hear all about Mike's adventure.

We recently incorporated the delayed surface marker buoy adventure dive in our advanced open water class. Listen to our reasoning and how beneficial this was to both our students and instructors. Being able to deploy your surface marker buoy from depth is an important skill to have.

Plastic bag laws work. There are 8 states that currently have statewide plastic bag laws. These states are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Every county in Hawaii have laws restricting use. There are also 500 local ordinances across 28 states. Unfortunately, there are 15 states that have preemptive laws that restrict local ordinances on restrictions. They won’t act statewide and prohibit any local laws to ban use. Plastic bag laws stop windblown litter, minimize impacts to the marine environment and improve waste management.

Midget Submarine is from season one of Sea Hunt and premiered on March 29, 1958. In this episode Mike is helping a friend with the check out of a midget submarine he is building. Mike is approached by a woman with a Russian accent – Maria Wenzel and she wants Mike to use the sub to rescue her father a Soviet scientist from a spy ship in the Pacific. Mike agrees and rescues John Wenzel from the Russian ship. This episode premiered in the middle of the cold war. Listen to hear all about Mike’s adventure.

ER Fenimore Johnson had a company named FENJOHN that build and sold underwater photography equipment along with a wide array of scuba diving equipment. The company was based out of Ardmore, PA. The 1954 catalog featured the FENJOHN Bantam 16mm underwater motion picture camera for the hefty price of $1990 ($19,010 in 2020 dollars). By 1956, the catalog had a lot more equipment listed. He was distributing for a number of companies. In an undated catalog from around 1961 or 1962, the catalog is expanded and is geared more toward the recreational diver. FENJOHN claim to be the worlds oldest and largest manufacturer of underwater photography equipment. ER Fenimore Johnson was a pioneer of underwater photography and an unsung hero of our diving history.

World Ocean Observatory (W20) is the realization of the work done in 1998 by the Independent World Commission on the Ocean formed by Mario Soares. The report called for an ocean observatory to be a focal point of communication for ocean-related information on the world wide web. The mission of W2O is to be the leading organization advocating for the health and sustainability through an accessible worldwide network of communications. Their new strategy - W2.0 will expand their mission beyond advocacy and into action. One of these initiatives is called Transforming the Blue Economy.

ER Fenimore Johnson had a company named FENJOHN that build and sold underwater photography equipment along with a wide array of scuba diving equipment. The company was based out of Ardmore, PA. The 1954 catalog featured the FENJOHN Bantam 16mm underwater motion picture camera for the hefty price of $1990 ($19,010 in 2020 dollars). By 1956, the catalog had a lot more equipment listed. He was distributing for a number of companies. In an undated catalog from around 1961 or 1962, the catalog is expanded and is geared more toward the recreational diver. FENJOHN claim to be the worlds oldest and largest manufacturer of underwater photography equipment. ER Fenimore Johnson was a pioneer of underwater photography and an unsung hero of our diving history.

World Ocean Observatory (W20) is the realization of the work done in 1998 by the Independent World Commission on the Ocean formed by Mario Soares. The report called for an ocean observatory to be a focal point of communication for ocean-related information on the world wide web. The mission of W2O is to be the leading organization advocating for the health and sustainability through an accessible worldwide network of communications. Their new strategy – W2.0 will expand their mission beyond advocacy and into action. One of these initiatives is called Transforming the Blue Economy.

In 1948 LCDR Fenimore Johnson again uses his expertise in underwater photography to work with the Navy's Underwater Demolition team. The Navy doesn't really believe that the divers can do all the things they report that they are doing. That is where Fen Johnson comes in. He will document their work using both film and photographs. This ground-breaking work is the visual evidence the Navy needs to see that UDT divers can get in and out of a submarines, use a small submersible boat and also dive at night. Fen Johnson, Doc Lambertson and CDR Douglas Fane save the Navy's Underwater Demolition team.

Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA is a limestone quarry created by the National Portland Cement Company. When the company went out of business the quarry flooded and created a 50 acre lake that was turned into a scuba diving recreational facility in 1980. The quarry reaches depths of up to 100 feet, has several training platforms, and many attractions at various depths. During normal years you can camp at Dutch Springs. There are two bath houses and a snack bar (currently not open due to Covid-19). Gear rental is available as are air fills. Nitrox 32 is not available this year. With plenty of places to stay and eat in the area, you can make a great weekend of diving at Dutch Springs.

In 1948 LCDR Fenimore Johnson again uses his expertise in underwater photography to work with the Navy’s Underwater Demolition team. The Navy doesn’t really believe that the divers can do all the things they report that they are doing. That is where Fen Johnson comes in. He will document their work using both film and photographs. This ground-breaking work is the visual evidence the Navy needs to see that UDT divers can get in and out of a submarines, use a small submersible boat and also dive at night. Fen Johnson, Doc Lambertson and CDR Douglas Fane save the Navy’s Underwater Demolition team.

Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA is a limestone quarry created by the National Portland Cement Company. When the company went out of business the quarry flooded and created a 50 acre lake that was turned into a scuba diving recreational facility in 1980. The quarry reaches depths of up to 100 feet, has several training platforms, and many attractions at various depths. During normal years you can camp at Dutch Springs. There are two bath houses and a snack bar (currently not open due to Covid-19). Gear rental is available as are air fills. Nitrox 32 is not available this year. With plenty of places to stay and eat in the area, you can make a great weekend of diving at Dutch Springs.

ER Fenimore Johnson was a pioneer in underwater photography. He was born in 1899. His father was the founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company. Fen Johnson worked for the company until it merged with RCA in 1927. Fen got involved in diving using a Miller and Dunn shallow water helmet first to clear lines around the propeller of his yacht and later to do underwater photography. His company Mechanical Improvements Company created underwater photography equipment including still and motion picture cameras. With the onset of World War II, Fen Johnson was commissioned in the US Navy and worked with the Bureau of Ordinance - Mine Countermeasure Research Branch.

Fenimore Johnson was put to work developing cameras to document and assess damage to ships, identify mines underwater and study cavitation of propellers. He donated the use of his company's staff and yacht to the war effort. His company build the Model A25 camera for the Navy.

After the war, ER Fenimore Johnson continued to work with the Navy as a reserve officer. We will pick up next time with the work he did the Navy's Underwater Demolition Team.

In this installment of Sea Hunt It's Still Alive we review an episode from season 4 titled "The Defector". In this episode Mike is on vacation in the Bahamas when he takes on training a guy. Mike has to solve the mystery of why this guy needs to learn to dive. Could it be an insurance play or something else? Tune in and find out.

ER Fenimore Johnson was a pioneer in underwater photography. He was born in 1899. His father was the founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company. Fen Johnson worked for the company until it merged with RCA in 1927. Fen got involved in diving using a Miller and Dunn shallow water helmet first to clear lines around the propeller of his yacht and later to do underwater photography. His company Mechanical Improvements Company created underwater photography equipment including still and motion picture cameras. With the onset of World War II, Fen Johnson was commissioned in the US Navy and worked with the Bureau of Ordinance – Mine Countermeasure Research Branch.

Fenimore Johnson was put to work developing cameras to document and assess damage to ships, identify mines underwater and study cavitation of propellers. He donated the use of his company’s staff and yacht to the war effort. His company build the Model A25 camera for the Navy.

After the war, ER Fenimore Johnson continued to work with the Navy as a reserve officer. We will pick up next time with the work he did the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team.

In this installment of Sea Hunt It’s Still Alive we review an episode from season 4 titled “The Defector”. In this episode Mike is on vacation in the Bahamas when he takes on training a guy. Mike has to solve the mystery of why this guy needs to learn to dive. Could it be an insurance play or something else? Tune in and find out.

Amy Lee is REEF's (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) Engagement and Communications Manager. In this episode I had a chance to catch up with Amy and chat a little about her background, her work at REEF, her recognition as the 2019 DEMA Wavemaker and some of her favorite dive destinations.

Amy has been with REEF since 2014 and is an avid fish surveyor and fish identification expert.

Amy Lee is REEF’s (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) Engagement and Communications Manager. In this episode I had a chance to catch up with Amy and chat a little about her background, her work at REEF, her recognition as the 2019 DEMA Wavemaker and some of her favorite dive destinations.

Amy has been with REEF since 2014 and is an avid fish surveyor and fish identification expert.