This message is a universal one. Every diver should know how to embrace fear to survive. In this short nine minute video I describe life lessons that have helped me face the...
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Diving the D4i Novo Computer I’ve been a Suunto Brand Ambassador for many years and have been using their products for more than two decades. I’ve always been a fan of quality and reliability for documenting my expeditions to extreme environments. Suunto has provided team divers with their flagship D4i Novo computer. This popular design offers lightweight functionality with optional air integration, all in the size of a wrist watch. At the heart of every Suunto dive computer is a mathematical algorithm that keeps track of the diver’s decompression status. The reduced gradient bubble model (RGBM) algorithm was developed by…
The Ambit 2S Sport Watch Suunto has provided Team Sedna with Ambit 2S GPS fitness watches to track our journey through the Arctic. These advanced devices are used by athletes around the world to track their fitness, journeys and adventures. This particular version of the Ambit is specially designed to fit women’s narrower wrists yet provides full features of the watch. The Ambit has become an open source craze among computer savvy athletes. The data can be repurpose using community shared apps. Clever programmers have created apps such as a cupcake counter, letting a runner know how many cupcakes they…
The Santi Ladies First Suit Reliable drysuits are critical for survival in cold water. Without proper exposure protection, one could expect to survive for less than 45 minutes in water near freezing. In less than 15 minutes, unconsciousness would be likely. Santi Diving has outfitted the Sedna team with the first drysuits ever designed specifically for women. These “Ladies First” suits have many special features. The crotch has been recut and reinforcement for better leg motion and comfort. But beyond custom tailoring the suit offers many unique features. It has been redesigned from their unisex line with a…
Where Whales Went to Die We went diving in a graveyard of whales in Dildo, Newfoundland. Thankfully the practice of whaling has long passed in the these waters, but I was struck with the sadness of such a place. Whale carcasses were stripped of all their useful parts and then discarded in this bay. The backbones lead the dive through ribbons of solemnity and when you arrive at a great skull, you are stopped by the magnificent size. I’m hopeful we will swim with these great creatures on our expedition and celebrate them in their majestic life.
I was diving on the wreck of the Rosecastle this morning with Cas Dobbin and used my new Santi heated gloves for the first time. It was glorious. I can’t imagine how I worked without them. We had an hour on the wreck which sites in 150 feet of water. The temperature is 1°C on the bottom and I was comfortable for the duration of the dive. The under gloves are great insulators even without the heat. They sit inside my Kubi dry gloves and mate to the suit with a metal ring that is sealed with an O-ring. A small…
Professional Shooting in a Lightweight Solution When you have to travel light, you have to make difficult choices about imaging gear on an expedition. Becky Kagan Schott will be bringing...
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A Valuable Tool Tip I have always liked using wrist slates. Notebooks are useful for some purposes, but I find that I use a wrist slate much more often due to ease of access. I write down turn pressures or other dive details, teaching notes to review with my students and other tidbits I want to log later. To add to convenience I take a standard pencil eraser and drill a hole through the center, then skewer it with the bungee that secures the pencil to the slate. Having the ability to erase the slate makes it ever more useful….
A Great Idea from Zeljko Dundov of Submorski.com On a recent trip to Croatia, I was giving a presentation about sidemount diving. I met Zeljko Dundov who was manufacturing gear under...
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Getting Packed for the Sedna EPIC Expedition In just over a week I’ll be leaving for my Arctic Odyssey with the other women from the Sedna Expedition. I’ve been digging out all my cold weather gear and discovering some gems that have been long sitting in cases. Snow anchors and ice axes from ice training trips to the Rockies. Crampons and boots used in Antarctica. My trusted Canada Goose parka. They are all saturated with memories from amazing life experiences and learning opportunities. The anticipation of a trip is as great as the experience itself. Packing, testing and developing new gear are all…