Friday, June 22, 2007

Underwater Photography - Just a Hobby or is there a Serious Side?

Underwater Photography - Just a Hobby or is there a Serious Side?
by: Sandi Faist

When we think of underwater cameras and photography, we think of capturing what we see while snorkeling and diving; we think about the pictures we’ll take and share. We practice taking better and better pictures; it’s a hobby and we love it. Or we share them with people not lucky enough to have seen the beauty of what lies beneath the seas and oceans. The fish whose colors we’ve only seen in saltwater tanks. We think about good things; vacations and relaxation, adventure and exotic creatures.

But there are other uses for underwater cameras that don’t paint such a pleasant picture. Unfortunately, I was reminded of this recently when two young children disappeared after wandering off. Their home was by a river. I’m sure they’d been told of the dangers of the water, to not go near it without an adult. But the draw may have been too much. The river was running high as there had been recent storms.

Search and rescue operations use underwater photography to search for drowning victims as well as missing objects. Of course, the recovery of drowning victims as quickly as possible to bring closure to families suffering from the loss of a loved one is the primary purpose. These searches typically have been done using divers and water-trained dogs. However; underwater searches can be very treacherous to the divers, and are time consuming. Another problem being that many times it is unknown where the victim was last seen, broadening the search to a vast area, often to hundreds of acres.

Underwater cameras enable law enforcement to see water crime scenes in areas too dangerous for divers, and without disturbing the site. Investigations with video tapes may be used to determine whether or not there actually is an underwater crime scene. Rather than send divers in to dangerous waters, cameras can be used to search in polluted and hazmat areas. There are underwater cameras designed to search at depths of up to 120 feet in most water conditions. Infra-red systems allow for searches in low light situations.

Amazingly, divers have used video photography to locate objects that have been missing for several years or more. A missing persons’ case was solved after 72 years when a couple’s car was found, putting to rest what had happened to them, and bringing closure to their family. Not to mention the unfortunate rumors that they had left their children voluntarily.

Besides simple pleasure and law enforcement, underwater photography is used in many other ways. Marine biologists can locate fish and living marine animals to study their habitats. On a boat, cameras can check the anchor and hull and look for items that have fallen overboard. Pools can be monitored. Swimmers can be filmed under water to evaluate their swimming and diving techniques.

In sport fishing, underwater photography is used to identify actual fish from underwater debris, decreasing fishing time. You can check what type of fish is in your location; see that your lure doesn’t become entangled in weeds; check the hull; and check crab or lobster pots without getting wet. The cameras can even be used for ice fishing.

Not only are these remarkable cameras and their technology an exciting hobby, they have numerous other valuable applications.

About The Author
Sandi Faist was in the insurance and medical industries for 20 years, the last 16 with the same medical practice. Now she is working from home building her internet business and writing articles. She has been published in several directories. One of the best benefits of working from home is being there for her two daughters.

Water Camera Photo

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Career In Scuba Diving: Your Future Being A Dive Instructor

Career In Scuba Diving: Your Future Being A Dive Instructor
by: Clive Jenkins

Scuba Divers are made of many people that are tired of the usual tedious workday, followed by the nerve-racking task of driving; add all the noise pollution it instigates. That's before everything else scuba divers encounter in these fast paced times outside of scuba diving.

Some scuba divers go even further by finding a career in scuba diving. Some become diving instructors themselves. They find their career in scuba diving rejuvenating compared to many other choices.

Scuba diving doesn't usually start there though. It usually starts where many other's scuba diving began; with the open water course. Then they move onto the advanced course and learn much more and realize they really enjoy all that scuba diving has to offer. They see diving underwater in a whole new way, and really want to share that with others as well. Often this leads them to work towards a career in scuba diving instruction.

It's not all simple courses and then going to work with your new career in scuba diving. You need to be a master at it. This of course means a lot of diving time in a variety of situations and an instructor or more. You need to know how to dive and survive well. With that, as a scuba diving instructor you will be able to bring others up to scuba diving. You need to know what they have to, to dive safely. This is quite a worthy career!

Many look up to the diving instructor assuming they know it all about scuba diving. Since the potential to inspire them can be great or potentially heartbreaking, you really do need to know anything they need to know, and more! When you don't, you need to admit that as well! If your journey is endlessly learning more when diving in many situations, you should seriously consider a career in scuba diving as an instructor.

Though also consider that you need to deal with people, and follow timelines. You need to be able to teach your students in a short time, how to remain safe and alive when scuba diving. This is quite a responsibility. If you feel this is for you, it's time we look further towards your career in scuba diving instruction.

To become a diving instructor you must first be a Dive master. With that out of the way, then you have to take the Instructor Development Course (PADI IDC). This extensive course will take you deeper into diving than you have been. It will educate you on diving standards, safety, students, the PADI system, and relevant law. To be all you can be you will definitely want to master every bit of it. That way when you begin your career in scuba diving instruction, you will be well versed from the start. Of course beyond that, experience will follow that will truly make you a complete export in your craft.

As with anything these days, while working on your career in scuba diving, you can expect much product marketing information, as well as sales literature too. While it's not wise to buy everything, you should understand the market, as it does affect your students as well.

About The Author
If you're a Scuba Diving enthusiast you may even consider Scuba Diving Lessons For further info on this please visit the Scuba Diving Certification Site. Clive thoroughly recommends this site so check it out today here: - Best Scuba Diving Certification. For excellent and helpful Scuba Diving advice.

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