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Healthy oceans are essential for life, but a mere 2.9% are fully protected. The question then arises why is ocean protection so challenging? Among the many reasons is the economic allure of extractive activities which poses a barrier to alleviating human pressure on ocean areas. Marine protected areas (MPAs), primarily designed to preserve biodiversity, are often rationalized through a business lens and are expected to yield revenue by increasing tourists’ willingness to pay. However, MPAs are not business entities and require a set of enabling conditions to successfully reach their goals. In a successful marine protected area, a unit increase in natural capital results in a rise in tourist revenue. We developed a bioeconomic model to show how fully protecting diving sites can significantly enhance nature’s recovery and lead to larger revenues for the scuba diving industry. In Mexico, scuba diving generates as much revenue as the fishing industry, yet only 7% of the country’s diving sites are fully protected. Globally, the scuba diving industry generates up to $20 billion dollars per year, even though about half of the diving sites worldwide lack protection. Using global experiences, we designed a five-step bottom-up approach that scuba diving operators can use to amplify marine protection. This approach could catalyze the creation of stricter or new fullyprotected areas designed to incorporate existing businesses a significant departure from the traditional business framework. The Atlas Aquatica initiative advocates for a significant shift in narrative to stimulate broader acceptance of marine protection worldwide. We aim to contribute to a sustainable blue economic growth and the 30x30 conservation target by promoting the protection of diving sites globally.

The safety of SCUBA divers remains at high risk in deep-sea owing to multiple factors such as dangerous surrounding, rely upon technical equipment necessary for life support, decreased underwater navigation, and communication infrastructure. Gradual decrease and increase in water temperature and pressure corresponding to depth are among the most common problems that cause most of the fatalities in deep-sea diving. Therefore, different gadgets for accurate measurement of vital parameters, reliable navigation, and seamless communication are of prime importance. In this paper, we propose an all-optical technique for local and remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure for deep-sea SCUBA divers based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors and underwater optical communication-single mode fiber (UWOC-SMF) integrated transmission system. The proposed technique is implemented using two FBG temperature and pressure sensors fixed over diver's suit and UWOC-SMF integrated transmission system for simultaneous local and remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure. Remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure is achieved at ship station through a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) and UWOC-SMF integrated transmission system by means of shifts in the original Bragg wavelengths of sensors due to temperature and pressure variations. The performance of the sensors is analyzed for pressure and temperature in the range of 0 to 6.4 MPa ( approximate to 0 to 655 m H 2 O ) and 40 to -2 degrees C, respectively corresponding to different depths. The results show that the proposed technique can work well in the deep ocean over a range of pressures and temperatures of 0-7 MPa and 40 to -2 degrees C while achieving a temperature sensitivity of 4.3 p.m./degrees C and a pressure sensitivity of 30.5 p.m./MPa. Clear spectra of reflected signals from FBG sensors at ship station are achieved after signal transmission over UWOC-SMF hybrid link.

The safety of SCUBA divers remains at high risk in deep-sea owing to multiple factors such as dangerous surrounding, rely upon technical equipment necessary for life support, decreased underwater navigation, and communication infrastructure. Gradual decrease and increase in water temperature and pressure corresponding to depth are among the most common problems that cause most of the fatalities in deep-sea diving. Therefore, different gadgets for accurate measurement of vital parameters, reliable navigation, and seamless communication are of prime importance. In this paper, we propose an all-optical technique for local and remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure for deep-sea SCUBA divers based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors and underwater optical communication-single mode fiber (UWOC-SMF) integrated transmission system. The proposed technique is implemented using two FBG temperature and pressure sensors fixed over diver's suit and UWOC-SMF integrated transmission system for simultaneous local and remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure. Remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure is achieved at ship station through a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) and UWOC-SMF integrated transmission system by means of shifts in the original Bragg wavelengths of sensors due to temperature and pressure variations. The performance of the sensors is analyzed for pressure and temperature in the range of 0 to 6.4 MPa ( approximate to 0 to 655 m H 2 O ) and 40 to -2 degrees C, respectively corresponding to different depths. The results show that the proposed technique can work well in the deep ocean over a range of pressures and temperatures of 0-7 MPa and 40 to -2 degrees C while achieving a temperature sensitivity of 4.3 p.m./degrees C and a pressure sensitivity of 30.5 p.m./MPa. Clear spectra of reflected signals from FBG sensors at ship station are achieved after signal transmission over UWOC-SMF hybrid link.

The safety of SCUBA divers remains at high risk in deep-sea owing to multiple factors such as dangerous surrounding, rely upon technical equipment necessary for life support, decreased underwater navigation, and communication infrastructure. Gradual decrease and increase in water temperature and pressure corresponding to depth are among the most common problems that cause most of the fatalities in deep-sea diving. Therefore, different gadgets for accurate measurement of vital parameters, reliable navigation, and seamless communication are of prime importance. In this paper, we propose an all-optical technique for local and remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure for deep-sea SCUBA divers based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors and underwater optical communication-single mode fiber (UWOC-SMF) integrated transmission system. The proposed technique is implemented using two FBG temperature and pressure sensors fixed over diver's suit and UWOC-SMF integrated transmission system for simultaneous local and remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure. Remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure is achieved at ship station through a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) and UWOC-SMF integrated transmission system by means of shifts in the original Bragg wavelengths of sensors due to temperature and pressure variations. The performance of the sensors is analyzed for pressure and temperature in the range of 0 to 6.4 MPa ( approximate to 0 to 655 m H 2 O ) and 40 to -2 degrees C, respectively corresponding to different depths. The results show that the proposed technique can work well in the deep ocean over a range of pressures and temperatures of 0-7 MPa and 40 to -2 degrees C while achieving a temperature sensitivity of 4.3 p.m./degrees C and a pressure sensitivity of 30.5 p.m./MPa. Clear spectra of reflected signals from FBG sensors at ship station are achieved after signal transmission over UWOC-SMF hybrid link.

The safety of SCUBA divers remains at high risk in deep-sea owing to multiple factors such as dangerous surrounding, rely upon technical equipment necessary for life support, decreased underwater navigation, and communication infrastructure. Gradual decrease and increase in water temperature and pressure corresponding to depth are among the most common problems that cause most of the fatalities in deep-sea diving. Therefore, different gadgets for accurate measurement of vital parameters, reliable navigation, and seamless communication are of prime importance. In this paper, we propose an all-optical technique for local and remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure for deep-sea SCUBA divers based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors and underwater optical communication-single mode fiber (UWOC-SMF) integrated transmission system. The proposed technique is implemented using two FBG temperature and pressure sensors fixed over diver's suit and UWOC-SMF integrated transmission system for simultaneous local and remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure. Remote monitoring of underwater temperature and pressure is achieved at ship station through a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) and UWOC-SMF integrated transmission system by means of shifts in the original Bragg wavelengths of sensors due to temperature and pressure variations. The performance of the sensors is analyzed for pressure and temperature in the range of 0 to 6.4 MPa ( approximate to 0 to 655 m H 2 O ) and 40 to -2 degrees C, respectively corresponding to different depths. The results show that the proposed technique can work well in the deep ocean over a range of pressures and temperatures of 0-7 MPa and 40 to -2 degrees C while achieving a temperature sensitivity of 4.3 p.m./degrees C and a pressure sensitivity of 30.5 p.m./MPa. Clear spectra of reflected signals from FBG sensors at ship station are achieved after signal transmission over UWOC-SMF hybrid link.

Isla Natividad is a small fishing community off the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, México. A lease from the Mexican government allows them exclusive rights over the waters surrounding their island. They are part of a successful fishing cooperative, la Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Buzos y Pescadores that sells their seafood on the international market. Isla Natividad is an island of fishermen. Like many small fishing communities worldwide, Isla Natividad is concerned with climate change, diminishing fish populations, and the increased effort required to get their product to market. They also worry about their children's futures on an island with few work opportunities. Isla Natividad is part of a federally protected area, la Reserva de la Biosfera el Vizcaino, so the town's footprint cannot expand, and the number of residents is limited to around 400. As members retire, they must leave the island and return to the mainland. If the children of current members are not interested in working in the fishing industry, they must pursue employment elsewhere.A small group was formed to bring ecotourism to the island. Through interviews with community members, this film explores the island's desire to open up to new avenues of employment while giving voice to its fears of losing its identity. Isla Natividad allows the residents of the island to tell their own story.Please see the film attached to this project here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QylfFaZoZ1KnO1FTGwItCwnyiA-LZTx5/view&nbsp

Background: In Indonesia, the diving industry has experienced a surge in PADI certifications due to the multitude of diving locations. However, the sector grapples with instability. Existing research has underscored the significance of organizational culture and company assets in business valuation, revealing specific issues in these domains. This study endeavors to assess their impact on the valuation of the diving industry in Indonesia. Objective: Our primary objective is to investigate how organizational culture and company assets influence the valuation of diving businesses in Indonesia. We aim to provide actionable insights to industry management, presenting a model for enhancing valuations through the development of corporate assets and organizational culture. Method: We adopted a quantitative research approach, focusing on dive operators as our unit of analysis and the management of these operators as our observation unit. Our sample consisted of 50 respondents, and we collected primary data through questionnaires. This research employed a cross-sectional design and used causality research techniques, employing the Partial Least Square (PLS) method. Our Findings: Our research substantiates the influence of both organizational culture and company assets on the valuation of Indonesia's diving industry. Notably, the impact of company assets surpasses that of organizational culture in elevating business valuations. This discovery offers a promising alternative for industry management, emphasizing the development of tangible assets and organizational stability and control for success in this dynamic sector. Conclusion: Our study underscores the importance of prioritizing the development of tangible company assets in the diving industry in Indonesia. Additionally, it highlights the need for management to focus on enhancing organizational stability and control within the organization as a strategy for improving business valuations.

Actualmente los deportes mayoritarios cubren un gran lugar en los medios de comunicación, ignorando gran parte de actividades que no tienen un público tan amplio como el futbol o el baloncesto, lo que provoca desconocimiento en muchas otras especialidades y ámbitos deportivos. Es por eso que ha nacido este proyecto, para ofrecer un periodismo centrado en uno de los muchos deportes minoritarios que existen, el buceo deportivo. Nitrox es una revista digital creada en una página web que quiere informar a todos los interesados en el mundo subacuático. Esta publicación pretende, también concienciar a la población sobre los peligros que sufren los océanos y su fauna por la creciente contaminación en el planeta. Un asunto que no suele aparecer en los medios convencionales salvo que haya una catástrofe o una convención que haya que mencionar. No se educa al público y eso causa un gran desinterés. Con una periodicidad mensual, la publicación se distribuye por todo el país, debido a su formato, y va dirigida a todas aquellas personas que quieran saber más sobre la historia y la práctica de este deporte., Currently, major sports cover a large space in the media, ignoring a huge part of activities that do not have such a wide audience such as soccer or basketball. Television, radio, newspapers and even social networks are accomplices in this abuse that causes ignorance in many other areas that deserve an equal attention. That is why this project was born, to offer journalism focused on one of the many minority sports that exist, sport diving. Nitrox is a digital magazine created on a web page that aims to inform all those interested in the underwater world. This publication also wants to make the population aware of the dangers suffered by the oceans and their fauna due to the growing pollution on the planet. A subject that does not usually appear in the conventional media unless there is a catastrophe or a convention that has to be mentioned. The public is not educated and that causes a great disinterest. With a monthly periodicity, the publication is distributed throughout the country, due to its format, and is aimed at all those who want to know more about the history and the practice of this sport., Departamento de Historia Moderna, Contemporánea y de América, Periodismo y Comunicación Audiovisual y Publicidad, Grado en Periodismo

Actualmente los deportes mayoritarios cubren un gran lugar en los medios de comunicación, ignorando gran parte de actividades que no tienen un público tan amplio como el futbol o el baloncesto, lo que provoca desconocimiento en muchas otras especialidades y ámbitos deportivos. Es por eso que ha nacido este proyecto, para ofrecer un periodismo centrado en uno de los muchos deportes minoritarios que existen, el buceo deportivo. Nitrox es una revista digital creada en una página web que quiere informar a todos los interesados en el mundo subacuático. Esta publicación pretende, también concienciar a la población sobre los peligros que sufren los océanos y su fauna por la creciente contaminación en el planeta. Un asunto que no suele aparecer en los medios convencionales salvo que haya una catástrofe o una convención que haya que mencionar. No se educa al público y eso causa un gran desinterés. Con una periodicidad mensual, la publicación se distribuye por todo el país, debido a su formato, y va dirigida a todas aquellas personas que quieran saber más sobre la historia y la práctica de este deporte., Currently, major sports cover a large space in the media, ignoring a huge part of activities that do not have such a wide audience such as soccer or basketball. Television, radio, newspapers and even social networks are accomplices in this abuse that causes ignorance in many other areas that deserve an equal attention. That is why this project was born, to offer journalism focused on one of the many minority sports that exist, sport diving. Nitrox is a digital magazine created on a web page that aims to inform all those interested in the underwater world. This publication also wants to make the population aware of the dangers suffered by the oceans and their fauna due to the growing pollution on the planet. A subject that does not usually appear in the conventional media unless there is a catastrophe or a convention that has to be mentioned. The public is not educated and that causes a great disinterest. With a monthly periodicity, the publication is distributed throughout the country, due to its format, and is aimed at all those who want to know more about the history and the practice of this sport., Departamento de Historia Moderna, Contemporánea y de América, Periodismo y Comunicación Audiovisual y Publicidad, Grado en Periodismo

Actualmente los deportes mayoritarios cubren un gran lugar en los medios de comunicación, ignorando gran parte de actividades que no tienen un público tan amplio como el futbol o el baloncesto, lo que provoca desconocimiento en muchas otras especialidades y ámbitos deportivos. Es por eso que ha nacido este proyecto, para ofrecer un periodismo centrado en uno de los muchos deportes minoritarios que existen, el buceo deportivo. Nitrox es una revista digital creada en una página web que quiere informar a todos los interesados en el mundo subacuático. Esta publicación pretende, también concienciar a la población sobre los peligros que sufren los océanos y su fauna por la creciente contaminación en el planeta. Un asunto que no suele aparecer en los medios convencionales salvo que haya una catástrofe o una convención que haya que mencionar. No se educa al público y eso causa un gran desinterés. Con una periodicidad mensual, la publicación se distribuye por todo el país, debido a su formato, y va dirigida a todas aquellas personas que quieran saber más sobre la historia y la práctica de este deporte., Currently, major sports cover a large space in the media, ignoring a huge part of activities that do not have such a wide audience such as soccer or basketball. Television, radio, newspapers and even social networks are accomplices in this abuse that causes ignorance in many other areas that deserve an equal attention. That is why this project was born, to offer journalism focused on one of the many minority sports that exist, sport diving. Nitrox is a digital magazine created on a web page that aims to inform all those interested in the underwater world. This publication also wants to make the population aware of the dangers suffered by the oceans and their fauna due to the growing pollution on the planet. A subject that does not usually appear in the conventional media unless there is a catastrophe or a convention that has to be mentioned. The public is not educated and that causes a great disinterest. With a monthly periodicity, the publication is distributed throughout the country, due to its format, and is aimed at all those who want to know more about the history and the practice of this sport., Departamento de Historia Moderna, Contemporánea y de América, Periodismo y Comunicación Audiovisual y Publicidad, Grado en Periodismo

Background: Wearables and their benefits for the safety and well-being of users have been widely studied and have had an enormous impact on the general development of these kinds of devices. Yet, the extent of research into the use and impact of wearable devices in the underwater environment is comparatively low. In the past 15 years, there has been an increased interest in research into wearables that are used underwater, as the use of such wearables has steadily grown over time. However, there has so far been no clear indication in the literature about the direction in which efforts for the design and construction of underwater wearable devices are developing. Therefore, the analysis presented in this scoping review establishes a good and powerful basis for the further development and orientation of current underwater wearables within the field. Objective: In this scoping review, we targeted wearable devices for underwater use to make a comprehensive map of their capabilities and features and discuss the general direction of the development of underwater wearables and the orientation of research into novel prototypes of these kinds of devices. Methods: In September 2021, we conducted an extensive search for existing literature on 4 databases and for grey literature to identify developed prototypes and early-stage products that were described and tested in water, could be worn and interacted with (eg, displays, buttons, etc), and were fully functional without external equipment. The studies were written in English, came from peer-reviewed academic sources, and were published between 2005 and 2021. We reviewed each title and abstract. The data extraction process was carried out by one author and verified by another author. Results: In total, 36 relevant studies were included. Among these, 4 different categories were identified; 18 studies dealt primarily with safety devices, 9 dealt with underwater communication devices, 7 dealt with head-up displays, and 2 dealt wi

Pycnogonida is a poorly known class of marine arthropods represented by nearly 1350 species described worldwide. We examined data about these organisms available on seven websites for photographs and information sharing among recreational naturalists. We found 384 observations, mainly with data about locality and date. Photos about 65 of them resulted correctly identified to the species level with certainty. The others refer to species whose identification requires a more in-depth analysis under a microscope. Unfortunately, this problem is common to a high percentage of pycnogonids. Therefore it seems unlikely that citizen scientists could contribute significantly to their knowledge. Nevertheless, for some species this would be possible and data on the presence of the taxon could be useful for more general studies at community level.

Pycnogonida is a poorly known class of marine arthropods represented by nearly 1350 species described worldwide. We examined data about these organisms available on seven websites for photographs and information sharing among recreational naturalists. We found 384 observations, mainly with data about locality and date. Photos about 65 of them resulted correctly identified to the species level with certainty. The others refer to species whose identification requires a more in-depth analysis under a microscope. Unfortunately, this problem is common to a high percentage of pycnogonids. Therefore it seems unlikely that citizen scientists could contribute significantly to their knowledge. Nevertheless, for some species this would be possible and data on the presence of the taxon could be useful for more general studies at community level.

Introduction: Interatrial communication is associated with an increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS) in scuba diving. It has been proposed that there would be a decreased risk of DCS after closure of the interatrial communication, i.e., persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO). However, the clinical evidence supporting this is limited. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to identify Swedish scuba divers with a history of DCS and catheter closure of an interatrial communication. Thereafter, phone interviews were conducted with questions regarding diving and DCS. All Swedish divers who had had catheter-based PFO-closure because of DCS were followed up, assessing post-closure diving habits and recurrent DCS. Results: Nine divers, all with a PFO, were included. Eight were diving post-closure. These divers had performed 6,835 dives (median 410, range 140-2,200) before closure, and 4,708 dives (median 413, range 11-2,000) after closure. Seven cases with mild and 10 with serious DCS symptoms were reported before the PFO closure. One diver with a small residual shunt suffered serious DCS post-closure; however, that dive was performed with a provocative diving profile. Conclusion: Divers with PFO and DCS continue to dive after PFO closure and this seems to be fairly safe. Our study suggests a conservative diving profile when there is a residual shunt after PFO closure, to prevent recurrent DCS events.

Venous gas emboli (VGE) are often quantified as a marker of decompression stress on echocardiograms. Bubble-counting has been proposed as an easy to learn method, but remains time-consuming, rendering large dataset analysis impractical. Computer automation of VGE counting following this method has therefore been suggested as a means to eliminate rater bias and save time. A necessary step for this automation relies on the selection of a frame during late ventricular diastole (LVD) for each cardiac cycle of the recording. Since electrocardiograms (ECG) are not always recorded in field experiments, here we propose a fully automated method for LVD frame selection based on regional intensity minimization. The algorithm is tested on 20 previously acquired echocardiography recordings (from the original bubble-counting publication), half of which were acquired at rest (Rest) and the other half after leg flexions (Flex). From the 7,140 frames analyzed, sensitivity was found to be 0.913 [95% CI: 0.875-0.940] and specificity 0.997 [95% CI: 0.996-0.998]. The method's performance is also compared to that of random chance selection and found to perform significantly better (p≺0.0001). No trend in algorithm performance was found with respect to VGE counts, and no significant difference was found between Flex and Rest (p>0.05). In conclusion, full automation of LVD frame selection for the purpose of bubble counting in post-dive echocardiography has been established with excellent accuracy, although we caution that high quality acquisitions remain paramount in retaining high reliability., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

In late 2019, a highly pathogenic novel coronavirus (CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 emerged from Wuhan, China and led to a global pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 has a predilection for the pulmonary system and can result in serious pneumonia necessitating hospitalisation. Computed tomography (CT) chest scans of patients with severe symptoms, show signs of multifocal bilateral ground or ground-glass opacities (GGO) associated with consolidation areas with patchy distribution. However, it is less well known that both asymptomatic and mild symptomatic patients may exhibit similar lung changes. Presumably, the various pathological changes in the lungs may increase the risk of adverse events during diving (e.g., lung barotrauma, pulmonary oedema, etc.), thus these lung manifestations need to be considered prior to allowing resumption of diving. Presently, it is not known how the structural changes in the lungs develop and to what extent they resolve, in particular in asymptomatic carriers and patients with mild disease. However, current evidence indicates that a month of recovery may be too short an interval to guarantee complete pulmonary restitution even after COVID-19 infections not demanding hospital care. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms., QC 20210408

Human diving is known to induce endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to decipher the mechanism of ROS production during diving through the measure of mitochondrial calcium concentration, peroxynitrite, NO°, and superoxide towards better understanding of dive-induced endothelial dysfunction. Air diving simulation using bovine arterial endothelial cells (compression rate 101 kPa/min to 808 kPa, time at depth 45 min) was performed in a system allowing real-time fluorescent measurement. During compression, the cells showed increased mitochondrial superoxide, peroxynitrite, and mitochondrial calcium, and decreased NO° concentration. MnTBAP (peroxynitrite scavenger) suppressed superoxide, recovered NO° production and promoted stronger calcium influx. Superoxide and peroxynitrite were inhibited by L-NIO (eNOS inhibitor), but were further increased by spermine-NONOate (NO° donor). L-NIO induced stronger calcium influx than spermine-NONOate or simple diving. The superoxide and peroxynitrite were also inhibited by ruthenium red (blocker of mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter), but were increased by CGP (an inhibitor of mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ exchange). Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species changes are associated, together with calcium mitochondrial storage, with endothelial cell dysfunction during simulated diving. Peroxynitrite is involved in NO° loss, possibly through the attenuation of eNOS and by increasing superoxide which combines with NO° and forms more peroxynitrite. In the field of diving physiology, this study is the first to unveil a part of the cellular mechanisms of ROS production during diving and confirms that diving-induced loss of NO° is linked to superoxide and peroxynitrite.

Decompression sickness (DCS) is a complex and poorly understood systemic disease with wide inter-individual resistance variability. We selectively bred rats with a 3-fold greater resistance to DCS than standard ones. To investigate possible physiological mechanisms underlying the resistance to DCS, including sex-related differences in these mechanisms, 15 males and 15 females resistant to DCS were compared with aged-matched standard Wistar males (n=15) and females (n=15). None of these individuals had been previously exposed to hyperbaric treatment. Comparison of the allelic frequencies of SNPs showed a difference of one SNP located on the X chromosome. Compared with non-resistant rats, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the plasmatic activity of coagulation Factor X were significantly higher in DCS-resistant individuals regardless of their sex. The maximal relaxation elicited by sodium nitroprusside was lower in DCS-resistant individuals regardless of their sex. Males but not females resistant to DCS exhibited higher neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, higher prothrombin time whereas lower mitochondrial basal O2 consumption and citrate synthase activity. Principal Components Analysis showed that two principal components discriminate the DCS-resistant males but not females from the non-resistant ones. These components were loaded with aPTT, MLR, PT, FX, Fib, for PC1, and ARBC and ANC for PC2. In conclusion, the mechanisms which drive the resistance to DCS appear different between males and females; lower coagulation tendency and enhanced inflammatory response to decompression stress might be key for resistance in males. The involvement of these physiological adaptations in resistance to DCS must now be confirmed.

Decompression sickness (DCS) is a complex and poorly understood systemic disease with wide inter-individual resistance variability. We selectively bred rats with a 3-fold greater resistance to DCS than standard ones. To investigate possible physiological mechanisms underlying the resistance to DCS, including sex-related differences in these mechanisms, 15 males and 15 females resistant to DCS were compared with aged-matched standard Wistar males (n=15) and females (n=15). None of these individuals had been previously exposed to hyperbaric treatment. Comparison of the allelic frequencies of SNPs showed a difference of one SNP located on the X chromosome. Compared with non-resistant rats, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the plasmatic activity of coagulation Factor X were significantly higher in DCS-resistant individuals regardless of their sex. The maximal relaxation elicited by sodium nitroprusside was lower in DCS-resistant individuals regardless of their sex. Males but not females resistant to DCS exhibited higher neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, higher prothrombin time whereas lower mitochondrial basal O2 consumption and citrate synthase activity. Principal Components Analysis showed that two principal components discriminate the DCS-resistant males but not females from the non-resistant ones. These components were loaded with aPTT, MLR, PT, FX, Fib, for PC1, and ARBC and ANC for PC2. In conclusion, the mechanisms which drive the resistance to DCS appear different between males and females; lower coagulation tendency and enhanced inflammatory response to decompression stress might be key for resistance in males. The involvement of these physiological adaptations in resistance to DCS must now be confirmed., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Exposure to outdoor blue spaces can help improve human health by reducing stress, promoting social relationships, and physical activity. While most studies have focused on the adverse health effects of scuba diving, very few have assessed its health benefits. Moreover, when scuba diving is done in large groups with no diving instructor or pre-dive briefing, negative environmental impacts are generated and negative impacts on human health may also occur due to overcrowding, which may create stress. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of scuba diving on divers’ mental health using their diving practices to estimate the impacts on the ecosystem. In the marine-protected area of Cap de Creus and adjacent areas, we assessed the mental health of 176 divers and 70 beach users (control group) by employing a 29-item version of Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaires. According to the parameters associated with reduced environmental impacts, two scuba diving experiences were established. Poisson regression models were performed to assess both the contribution of the activity and diving experiences to POMS scores. Both groups (scuba divers and beach goers) reduced their POMS scores after carrying out the activities. Although no significant differences were found between beach and scuba diving activities, nor between the two different scuba diving experiences, our results showed that subjects with regular medication intake due to a chronic or psychiatric illness had a POMS reduction score significantly higher than other subjects. We conclude that both beach and scuba diving activities have positive effects for human mental health, particularly among subjects with regular medication intake

[ES] Con un ritmo de crecimiento del 5%, el buceo es una especialidad deportiva en pleno crecimiento. Las modalidades de buceo más practicadas son el snorkel o buceo a ras de superficie, donde solo necesitaremos máscara y un tubo para respirar, puesto que no realizaremos inmersiones para contemplar el fondo marino, y el buceo deportivo con botella, donde ya si podremos sumergirnos. Existe otra modalidad menos practicada llamada buceo en apnea, en el que el submarinista aguanta la respiración durante toda su inmersión. Para estas dos últimas se necesitan como mínimo unos conocimientos básicos para realizarlos con total seguridad, siendo los menos frecuentados en buceo recreativo, ya sea por un elevado coste económico inicial, formación y forma física. Para este proyecto tuve la idea de juntar los dos conceptos de buceo, el snorkel y el buceo con botella, para un uso seguro, fácil y recreativo, sin la necesidad de un equipo tan complejo y caro para inmersiones tan profundas o a nivel profesional. Con el diseño de esta máscara facial con respiración autónoma conseguiremos inmersiones seguras, no muy profundas y con total comodidad para iniciarse en el mundo del submarinismo con total libertad y a un precio inicial asequible., [EN] With a 5% growth rate, diving is a growing sport specialty. The most practiced diving modalities are snorkeling or scuba diving, where we will only need a mask and a breathing tube, since we will not make dives to contemplate the seabed, and scuba diving with a bottle, where we can already dive. There is another less practiced modality called apnea diving, in which the diver holds his breath during his entire dive. For these last two, at least basic knowledge is needed to perform them with total safety, being the least frequented in recreational diving, either due to a high initial economic cost, training and fitness. For this project I had the idea of combining the two concepts of diving, snorkeling and scuba diving, for safe, easy and recreational use, without the need of a complex and expensive equipment for deep or professional dives. With the design of this facial mask with autonomous breathing we will obtain safe, not very deep and total comfort dives to start in the world of diving with total freedom and at an affordable initial price.

[ES] Con un ritmo de crecimiento del 5%, el buceo es una especialidad deportiva en pleno crecimiento. Las modalidades de buceo más practicadas son el snorkel o buceo a ras de superficie, donde solo necesitaremos máscara y un tubo para respirar, puesto que no realizaremos inmersiones para contemplar el fondo marino, y el buceo deportivo con botella, donde ya si podremos sumergirnos. Existe otra modalidad menos practicada llamada buceo en apnea, en el que el submarinista aguanta la respiración durante toda su inmersión. Para estas dos últimas se necesitan como mínimo unos conocimientos básicos para realizarlos con total seguridad, siendo los menos frecuentados en buceo recreativo, ya sea por un elevado coste económico inicial, formación y forma física. Para este proyecto tuve la idea de juntar los dos conceptos de buceo, el snorkel y el buceo con botella, para un uso seguro, fácil y recreativo, sin la necesidad de un equipo tan complejo y caro para inmersiones tan profundas o a nivel profesional. Con el diseño de esta máscara facial con respiración autónoma conseguiremos inmersiones seguras, no muy profundas y con total comodidad para iniciarse en el mundo del submarinismo con total libertad y a un precio inicial asequible., [EN] With a 5% growth rate, diving is a growing sport specialty. The most practiced diving modalities are snorkeling or scuba diving, where we will only need a mask and a breathing tube, since we will not make dives to contemplate the seabed, and scuba diving with a bottle, where we can already dive. There is another less practiced modality called apnea diving, in which the diver holds his breath during his entire dive. For these last two, at least basic knowledge is needed to perform them with total safety, being the least frequented in recreational diving, either due to a high initial economic cost, training and fitness. For this project I had the idea of combining the two concepts of diving, snorkeling and scuba diving, for safe, easy and recreational use, without the need of a complex and expensive equipment for deep or professional dives. With the design of this facial mask with autonomous breathing we will obtain safe, not very deep and total comfort dives to start in the world of diving with total freedom and at an affordable initial price.

[ES] Con un ritmo de crecimiento del 5%, el buceo es una especialidad deportiva en pleno crecimiento. Las modalidades de buceo más practicadas son el snorkel o buceo a ras de superficie, donde solo necesitaremos máscara y un tubo para respirar, puesto que no realizaremos inmersiones para contemplar el fondo marino, y el buceo deportivo con botella, donde ya si podremos sumergirnos. Existe otra modalidad menos practicada llamada buceo en apnea, en el que el submarinista aguanta la respiración durante toda su inmersión. Para estas dos últimas se necesitan como mínimo unos conocimientos básicos para realizarlos con total seguridad, siendo los menos frecuentados en buceo recreativo, ya sea por un elevado coste económico inicial, formación y forma física. Para este proyecto tuve la idea de juntar los dos conceptos de buceo, el snorkel y el buceo con botella, para un uso seguro, fácil y recreativo, sin la necesidad de un equipo tan complejo y caro para inmersiones tan profundas o a nivel profesional. Con el diseño de esta máscara facial con respiración autónoma conseguiremos inmersiones seguras, no muy profundas y con total comodidad para iniciarse en el mundo del submarinismo con total libertad y a un precio inicial asequible., [EN] With a 5% growth rate, diving is a growing sport specialty. The most practiced diving modalities are snorkeling or scuba diving, where we will only need a mask and a breathing tube, since we will not make dives to contemplate the seabed, and scuba diving with a bottle, where we can already dive. There is another less practiced modality called apnea diving, in which the diver holds his breath during his entire dive. For these last two, at least basic knowledge is needed to perform them with total safety, being the least frequented in recreational diving, either due to a high initial economic cost, training and fitness. For this project I had the idea of combining the two concepts of diving, snorkeling and scuba diving, for safe, easy and recreational use, without the need of a complex and expensive equipment for deep or professional dives. With the design of this facial mask with autonomous breathing we will obtain safe, not very deep and total comfort dives to start in the world of diving with total freedom and at an affordable initial price.

This qualitative field study is conducted on the Andaman Islands in India and focuses on the sustainable destination development and SCUBA diving tourism. The island in focus, Havelock, is an emerging tourist destination and an international airport is scheduled to open in the Andamans in 2021. The topic is approached through observation and interviews with people involved with the SCUBA diving industry, selected informants, and diving tourists. Different scales that operate with the island’s development - global, national, regional and local - are investigated. Global warming poses a threat to the coral reefs that is the main resource for tourism at the location and the longterm residents’ education in the subject is absent. The communication between state and nation is a problem as laws are passed without participation or awareness from the local community which makes it difficult for businessowners to invest. Furthermore, diver motivation and satisfaction are investigated. The main motivation of beginner level diving tourists from India are not educated in how the underwater world looks like, but are motivated to see what they already know through movies like “Finding Nemo”. The study reveals that a degraded coral reef does not affect diver satisfaction where the divers are not educated in how a healthy reef looks like. The local Marine Protected Area - Rani Jhansi Marine National Park - is in 2019 funded by the government and there are currently no entrance fees for diving tourists. However, this has been proved successful in other destinations. The Marine Protected Area is perceived as positive by the local SCUBA industry, but it is not interacting with its regulation and governing.

This qualitative field study is conducted on the Andaman Islands in India and focuses on the sustainable destination development and SCUBA diving tourism. The island in focus, Havelock, is an emerging tourist destination and an international airport is scheduled to open in the Andamans in 2021. The topic is approached through observation and interviews with people involved with the SCUBA diving industry, selected informants, and diving tourists. Different scales that operate with the island’s development - global, national, regional and local - are investigated. Global warming poses a threat to the coral reefs that is the main resource for tourism at the location and the longterm residents’ education in the subject is absent. The communication between state and nation is a problem as laws are passed without participation or awareness from the local community which makes it difficult for businessowners to invest. Furthermore, diver motivation and satisfaction are investigated. The main motivation of beginner level diving tourists from India are not educated in how the underwater world looks like, but are motivated to see what they already know through movies like “Finding Nemo”. The study reveals that a degraded coral reef does not affect diver satisfaction where the divers are not educated in how a healthy reef looks like. The local Marine Protected Area - Rani Jhansi Marine National Park - is in 2019 funded by the government and there are currently no entrance fees for diving tourists. However, this has been proved successful in other destinations. The Marine Protected Area is perceived as positive by the local SCUBA industry, but it is not interacting with its regulation and governing.

Divers Alert Network Europe has created a database with a large amount of dive-related data that has been collected since 1993 within the scope of the Diving Safety Laboratory citizen science project. The main objectives of this study are the grouping divers by their health information and revealing significant differences in diving parameters using data mining techniques. Due to the methodology of the project, data cleaning was performed before applying clustering methods in order to eliminate potential mistakes resulting from inaccuracies and missing information. Despite the fact that 63% of the data were lost during the cleaning phase, the remaining 1,169 "clean" diver data enabled meaningful clustering using the "two-step" method. Experienced male divers without any health problems are in Cluster 1. Male and female divers with health problems and high rates of cigarette smoking are in Cluster 2; healthy, overweight divers are in Cluster 3. There are significant differences in terms of dive parameters including pre- and post-dive conditions with respect to each group, such as: exercise level, alcohol consumption, thermal comfort, equipment malfunctions, and maximum depth. The study proves the usefulness of citizen science projects, while data collection methodologies can be improved to decrease potential mistakes resulting from inconsistencies, inaccuracies and missing information. It is hypothesized that if naturally occurring clusters of divers were identified it might be possible to identify risk factors arising from different clusters while merging the database with other dive accident databases in the future., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Star Wars and Ironman brought the concept of augmented reality(AR) to the public. In 2012, Google released the google glass and failed. Afterwards, the market is waiting for a better application of augmented reality. In this paper, a new application, a smart diving mask with augmented reality is proposed. There are multiple benefits to integrate augmented reality to scuba diving. First, Google glass was targeting a daily life situation where users did not have need to monitor information constantly. On the other hand, scuba divers always have vital data to monitor and augmented reality can greatly assist divers. Second, scuba divers are high income individual that have high purchasing power. By setting a higher price, a few hundred units’ sales can cover the research and development cost of the product. Third, the scuba diving equipment market is around 2.7 billion US dollars, which is a prefect beachhead market for startup since tech giant is not likely to compete in this market. Finally, a AR diving mask can improve convenience and safety of scuba divers. In this thesis, multiple optical designs are proposed and tested. A final design was accomplished which has low manufacturing cost, reasonable field of view and form factor. A smart diving mask prototype was built and went through pool testing, pressure chamber testing (50 meters) and ocean testing. Future business development plan was documented in this thesis. A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) was filed on 13 August 2018.

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), School of Environment and Sc, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology, Most destination competitiveness models are derived from a suppliers’ perspective, even those that recognise the demand as an important element of the competitiveness of a destination. Some of these studies have investigated competitiveness from a demand perspective based on destination attributes, but these attributes were derived initially from a supplier’s perspective. This study takes an alternative perspective; that the ability to provide superior value to the customer is critical to destination competitiveness. It addresses a gap in the literature of destination competitiveness by focusing on tourists’ perspectives of value. The research investigates customer value in destination competitiveness in the context of SCUBA diving tourism, a niche tourism market using mixed-methods making use of a multi method approach deploying face-to-face interviews and online surveys. In the first stage, interviews (n=34) were conducted in four popular SCUBA diving destinations in Australia and Thailand from August to October of 2015. Using thematic analysis, a total of eighty-four destination attributes were mapped. Analysis of the results indicated that the most relevant attributes were related to SCUBA diving services, underwater fauna and environmental conditions of the dive sites. These interviews sought to cover SCUBA divers with different profiles to gather a maximal range of destination attributes. Respondents with little diving experienced were unable to express many destinations attributes due to their lack of experience. The second stage explored the relative importance of the destination attributes from the perspective of SCUBA diving tourists (n=712). Certified SCUBA divers completed an online questionnaire containing closed and open-ended questions. Data collection took place from January to June of 2016. Among the fifty-two destination attributes used in the second stage, the most important were (1) professional operations, (2) variety and abundance of marine lif

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Dept Account,Finance & Econ, Griffith Business School, One of the greatest challenges for sustaining the ecosystem services that we, as a society, derive from marine ecosystems is to minimize the knowledge gap relating to marine ecosystem values. That is, identifying, eliciting and understanding the economic value of the ecosystem services that marine systems provide for societies world-wide is key to ensuring sustainable resource use and environmental management of these ecosystems. This is particularly problematic for the ecosystem services derived from the deep sea as a tremendous knowledge gap exists for the many marine ecosystems that comprise the deep sea. Addressing this gap in knowledge may, directly and indirectly, facilitate actionable strategies for successful climate change adaptation and reduce the degradation of these important marine ecosystems. Estimating values for certain types of marine ecosystem services in particular the deep sea is imperative for understanding the economic trade-offs associated with human actions and resource use of marine resources. Identifying, exploring and understanding the economic benefits and costs associated with the human resource use of marine systems is also crucial for circumventing irreversible damage to ecosystems, and for addressing the growing problem of ecosystem degradation of marine ecosystems. However, a knowledge gap remains in terms of eliciting and understanding how vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and the deep-sea, generate economic value to local economies, and for societies on a global scale. By employing a variety of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, this thesis explores the economic value of the ecosystems of coral reefs and the deep-sea, respectively. The thesis investigates various aspects of the economic contribution of these ecosystems, namely: (i) the local economic contribution of ) Fiji's coral reefs to tourism; and ii) the economic value of the deep- sea's ecosystems to human societies, globally. Moreover, it discusses

Star Wars and Ironman brought the concept of augmented reality(AR) to the public. In 2012, Google released the google glass and failed. Afterwards, the market is waiting for a better application of augmented reality. In this paper, a new application, a smart diving mask with augmented reality is proposed. There are multiple benefits to integrate augmented reality to scuba diving. First, Google glass was targeting a daily life situation where users did not have need to monitor information constantly. On the other hand, scuba divers always have vital data to monitor and augmented reality can greatly assist divers. Second, scuba divers are high income individual that have high purchasing power. By setting a higher price, a few hundred units’ sales can cover the research and development cost of the product. Third, the scuba diving equipment market is around 2.7 billion US dollars, which is a prefect beachhead market for startup since tech giant is not likely to compete in this market. Finally, a AR diving mask can improve convenience and safety of scuba divers. In this thesis, multiple optical designs are proposed and tested. A final design was accomplished which has low manufacturing cost, reasonable field of view and form factor. A smart diving mask prototype was built and went through pool testing, pressure chamber testing (50 meters) and ocean testing. Future business development plan was documented in this thesis. A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) was filed on 13 August 2018.

Genoa is positioned on a very narrow piece of land, squeezed in between the mountains and the sea. This provides a topography in which the port and the city are forced to live very close to each other. Whereas in other port cities the port recedes itself from the city center, this is not possible in Genoa due the the mountainous hinterland. Thus the large-scale port is directly adjacent to the medieval city. On the dividing line between port and city is an elevated road located, the Sopraelevata, a transborder that has somehow also become a boundary, but an unclear boundary that is sometimes easy, but sometimes impossible to cross. The area of the Sopraelevata, the interweaving of the two worlds is what creates the interscalarity: The intermediary between two scales. What are the consequences of a wrangle between port and city, between large port objects and small residential buildings, for Genoa? What happens on this division line and how can architecture be implemented? Reprogramming this line in order to enhance new public functions might be a solution to make the bridge between the different scales. The public building as an interscalar program in-between industrial and residential buildings., Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences

Navy divers and dive-qualified personnel are often required to operate in cold water. The threat of hypothermia and other health concerns limits the time a diver is allowed in the water. The neoprene wetsuit is the primary material used for protection in low temperature conditions. Small pockets of air within the neoprene create a thermally insulating layer of air between the diver and the ocean. As the individual descends underwater, the increase of static pressure on the wetsuit causes the protective air pockets to shrink. This sharply lowers the overall thermal resistance of the wetsuit. By replacing the insulating air pockets with rigid glass microspheres, changes in depth had significantly less negative influence on the thermal resistivity and buoyancy of the fabricated material. Resulting experimental data related thermal resistivity to volumetric fraction of microspheres in the polymer. This effort ultimately proved the superior thermal properties of the fabricated composite over neoprene and expanded future possibilities for passive thermal protection in low-temperature waters., Office of Naval Research, http://archive.org/details/microspherebased1094559632, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Most destination competitiveness models are derived from a suppliers’ perspective, even those that recognise the demand as an important element of the competitiveness of a destination. Some of these studies have investigated competitiveness from a demand perspective based on destination attributes, but these attributes were derived initially from a supplier’s perspective. This study takes an alternative perspective; that the ability to provide superior value to the customer is critical to destination competitiveness. It addresses a gap in the literature of destination competitiveness by focusing on tourists’ perspectives of value. The research investigates customer value in destination competitiveness in the context of SCUBA diving tourism, a niche tourism market using mixed-methods making use of a multi method approach deploying face-to-face interviews and online surveys. In the first stage, interviews (n=34) were conducted in four popular SCUBA diving destinations in Australia and Thailand from August to October of 2015. Using thematic analysis, a total of eighty-four destination attributes were mapped. Analysis of the results indicated that the most relevant attributes were related to SCUBA diving services, underwater fauna and environmental conditions of the dive sites. These interviews sought to cover SCUBA divers with different profiles to gather a maximal range of destination attributes. Respondents with little diving experienced were unable to express many destinations attributes due to their lack of experience. The second stage explored the relative importance of the destination attributes from the perspective of SCUBA diving tourists (n=712). Certified SCUBA divers completed an online questionnaire containing closed and open-ended questions. Data collection took place from January to June of 2016. Among the fifty-two destination attributes used in the second stage, the most important were (1) professional operations, (2) variety and abundance of marine lif, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), School of Environment and Sc, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology, Full Text

One of the greatest challenges for sustaining the ecosystem services that we, as a society, derive from marine ecosystems is to minimize the knowledge gap relating to marine ecosystem values. That is, identifying, eliciting and understanding the economic value of the ecosystem services that marine systems provide for societies world-wide is key to ensuring sustainable resource use and environmental management of these ecosystems. This is particularly problematic for the ecosystem services derived from the deep sea as a tremendous knowledge gap exists for the many marine ecosystems that comprise the deep sea. Addressing this gap in knowledge may, directly and indirectly, facilitate actionable strategies for successful climate change adaptation and reduce the degradation of these important marine ecosystems. Estimating values for certain types of marine ecosystem services in particular the deep sea is imperative for understanding the economic trade-offs associated with human actions and resource use of marine resources. Identifying, exploring and understanding the economic benefits and costs associated with the human resource use of marine systems is also crucial for circumventing irreversible damage to ecosystems, and for addressing the growing problem of ecosystem degradation of marine ecosystems. However, a knowledge gap remains in terms of eliciting and understanding how vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and the deep-sea, generate economic value to local economies, and for societies on a global scale. By employing a variety of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, this thesis explores the economic value of the ecosystems of coral reefs and the deep-sea, respectively. The thesis investigates various aspects of the economic contribution of these ecosystems, namely: (i) the local economic contribution of ) Fiji's coral reefs to tourism; and ii) the economic value of the deep- sea's ecosystems to human societies, globally. Moreover, it discusses, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Dept Account,Finance & Econ, Griffith Business School, Full Text

Star Wars and Ironman brought the concept of augmented reality(AR) to the public. In 2012, Google released the google glass and failed. Afterwards, the market is waiting for a better application of augmented reality. In this paper, a new application, a smart diving mask with augmented reality is proposed. There are multiple benefits to integrate augmented reality to scuba diving. First, Google glass was targeting a daily life situation where users did not have need to monitor information constantly. On the other hand, scuba divers always have vital data to monitor and augmented reality can greatly assist divers. Second, scuba divers are high income individual that have high purchasing power. By setting a higher price, a few hundred units’ sales can cover the research and development cost of the product. Third, the scuba diving equipment market is around 2.7 billion US dollars, which is a prefect beachhead market for startup since tech giant is not likely to compete in this market. Finally, a AR diving mask can improve convenience and safety of scuba divers. In this thesis, multiple optical designs are proposed and tested. A final design was accomplished which has low manufacturing cost, reasonable field of view and form factor. A smart diving mask prototype was built and went through pool testing, pressure chamber testing (50 meters) and ocean testing. Future business development plan was documented in this thesis. A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) was filed on 13 August 2018.

Genoa is positioned on a very narrow piece of land, squeezed in between the mountains and the sea. This provides a topography in which the port and the city are forced to live very close to each other. Whereas in other port cities the port recedes itself from the city center, this is not possible in Genoa due the the mountainous hinterland. Thus the large-scale port is directly adjacent to the medieval city. On the dividing line between port and city is an elevated road located, the Sopraelevata, a transborder that has somehow also become a boundary, but an unclear boundary that is sometimes easy, but sometimes impossible to cross. The area of the Sopraelevata, the interweaving of the two worlds is what creates the interscalarity: The intermediary between two scales. What are the consequences of a wrangle between port and city, between large port objects and small residential buildings, for Genoa? What happens on this division line and how can architecture be implemented? Reprogramming this line in order to enhance new public functions might be a solution to make the bridge between the different scales. The public building as an interscalar program in-between industrial and residential buildings., Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences

In this article I engage in a discussion regarding how and why to conduct underwater ethnography when studying the social group of scuba divers. The material presented was collected during fieldwork in Brazil 2016/2017, as well as from the researchers own decade long experience of being a recreational diver. The discussion touches on the methodological approach of using a camera to document and engage with a sensorial experience. Furthermore, aspects of power, representation, and framing of images are brought up, noting how the increasing circulation of visual materials has made interlocutors more aware of the way they are represented visually. I also elaborate on the importance of doing backups of your material. Lastly, the aim of this article is to call for further exploration of the scuba diving community and their underwater practices.

Bubble formation during scuba diving might induce decompression sickness. This prospective randomised and double-blind study included 108 advanced recreational divers (38 females). Fifty-four pairs of divers, 1 breathing air and the other breathing nitrox28 undertook a standardised dive (24 ± 1 msw; 62 ± 5min) in the Red Sea. Venous gas bubbles were counted (Doppler) 30-<45 min (early) and 45-60 min (late) post-dive at jugular, subclavian and femoral sites. Only 7% (air) vs. 11% (air28®) (n.s.) were bubble-free after a dive. Independent of sampling time and breathing gas, there were more bubbles in the jugular than in the femoral vein. More bubbles were counted in the air-group than in the air28-group (pooled vein: early: 1845 vs. 948; P = 0.047, late: 1817 vs. 953; P = 0.088). The number of bubbles was sex-dependent. Lastly, 29% of female air divers but only 14% of male divers were bubble-free (P = 0.058). Air28® helps to reduce venous gas emboli in recreational divers. The bubble number depended on the breathing gas, sampling site and sex. Thus, both exact reporting the dive and in particular standardising sampling characteristics seem mandatory to compare results from different studies to further investigate the hitherto incoherent relation between inert gas bubbles and DCS., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Introduction: The popularity of SCUBA diving is steadily increasing together with the number of dives and correlated diseases per year. The rules that govern correct decompression procedures are considered well known even if the majority of Decompression Sickness (DCS) cases are considered unexpected confirming a bias in the "mathematical ability" to predict DCS by the current algorithms. Furthermore, little is still known about diving risk factors and any individual predisposition to DCS. This study provides an in-depth epidemiological analysis of the diving community, to include additional risk factors correlated with the development of circulating bubbles and DCS. Materials and Methods: An originally developed database (DAN DB) including specific questionnaires for data collection allowed the statistical analysis of 39,099 electronically recorded open circuit dives made by 2,629 European divers (2,189 males 83.3%, 440 females 16.7%) over 5 years. The same dive parameters and risk factors were investigated also in 970 out of the 39,099 collected dives investigated for bubble formation, by 1-min precordial Doppler, and in 320 sea-level dives followed by DCS symptoms. Results: Mean depth and GF high of all the recorded dives were 27.1 m, and 0.66, respectively; the average ascent speed was lower than the currently recommended "safe" one (9-10 m/min). We found statistically significant relationships between higher bubble grades and BMI, fat mass, age, and diving exposure. Regarding incidence of DCS, we identified additional non-bubble related risk factors, which appear significantly related to a higher DCS incidence, namely: gender, strong current, heavy exercise, and workload during diving. We found that the majority of the recorded DCS cases were not predicted by the adopted decompression algorithm and would have therefore been defined as "undeserved." Conclusion: The DAN DB analysis shows that most dives were made in a "safe zone," even if data show an evident "gr, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Background Over the last decade, inventorying and monitoring of marine biodiversity has significantly benefited from the active engagement of volunteers. Although several Citizen Science projects concern tropical reef ecosystems worldwide, none of the existing initiatives has yet specifically focused on their Mediterranean equivalents. Mediterranean coralline reefs, known as “coralligenous”, are bioherms primarily built by calcifying rhodophytes on hard substrates under dim-light conditions; they are considered hotspots of biodiversity and are extremely popular among divers due to their complex structure, conspicuous biological wealth and high aesthetic value. Nevertheless, data on their distribution, structure and conservation status is lacking for several Mediterranean areas while they are vulnerable to an increasing number of threats. New information In the framework of CIGESMED SeasEra (ERAnet) project a specialized Citizen Science project was launched, aiming to engage enthusiast divers in the study and monitoring of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages through the gathering of basic information regarding their spatial occurrence, assemblage structure and associated pressures or threats. For its active implementation, a data collection protocol and a multilingual website were developed, comprising an educational module and a data submission platform. Georeferenced data reporting focuses on: (a) basic topographic and abiotic features for the preliminary description of each site, and the creation of data series for sites receiving multiple visits; (b) presence and relative abundance of typical conspicuous species, as well as (c) existence of pressures and imminent threats, for the characterization and assessment of coralligenous assemblages. A variety of tools is provided to facilitate end users, while divers have the choice to report additional information and are encouraged to upload their photographs. The long-term goal is the development of an active commu

Background Over the last decade, inventorying and monitoring of marine biodiversity has significantly benefited from the active engagement of volunteers. Although several Citizen Science projects concern tropical reef ecosystems worldwide, none of the existing initiatives has yet specifically focused on their Mediterranean equivalents. Mediterranean coralline reefs, known as “coralligenous”, are bioherms primarily built by calcifying rhodophytes on hard substrates under dim-light conditions; they are considered hotspots of biodiversity and are extremely popular among divers due to their complex structure, conspicuous biological wealth and high aesthetic value. Nevertheless, data on their distribution, structure and conservation status is lacking for several Mediterranean areas while they are vulnerable to an increasing number of threats. New information In the framework of CIGESMED SeasEra (ERAnet) project a specialized Citizen Science project was launched, aiming to engage enthusiast divers in the study and monitoring of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages through the gathering of basic information regarding their spatial occurrence, assemblage structure and associated pressures or threats. For its active implementation, a data collection protocol and a multilingual website were developed, comprising an educational module and a data submission platform. Georeferenced data reporting focuses on: (a) basic topographic and abiotic features for the preliminary description of each site, and the creation of data series for sites receiving multiple visits; (b) presence and relative abundance of typical conspicuous species, as well as (c) existence of pressures and imminent threats, for the characterization and assessment of coralligenous assemblages. A variety of tools is provided to facilitate end users, while divers have the choice to report additional information and are encouraged to upload their photographs. The long-term goal is the development of an active commu

Background Over the last decade, inventorying and monitoring of marine biodiversity has significantly benefited from the active engagement of volunteers. Although several Citizen Science projects concern tropical reef ecosystems worldwide, none of the existing initiatives has yet specifically focused on their Mediterranean equivalents. Mediterranean coralline reefs, known as “coralligenous”, are bioherms primarily built by calcifying rhodophytes on hard substrates under dim-light conditions; they are considered hotspots of biodiversity and are extremely popular among divers due to their complex structure, conspicuous biological wealth and high aesthetic value. Nevertheless, data on their distribution, structure and conservation status is lacking for several Mediterranean areas while they are vulnerable to an increasing number of threats. New information In the framework of CIGESMED SeasEra (ERAnet) project a specialized Citizen Science project was launched, aiming to engage enthusiast divers in the study and monitoring of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages through the gathering of basic information regarding their spatial occurrence, assemblage structure and associated pressures or threats. For its active implementation, a data collection protocol and a multilingual website were developed, comprising an educational module and a data submission platform. Georeferenced data reporting focuses on: (a) basic topographic and abiotic features for the preliminary description of each site, and the creation of data series for sites receiving multiple visits; (b) presence and relative abundance of typical conspicuous species, as well as (c) existence of pressures and imminent threats, for the characterization and assessment of coralligenous assemblages. A variety of tools is provided to facilitate end users, while divers have the choice to report additional information and are encouraged to upload their photographs. The long-term goal is the development of an active commu

Background Over the last decade, inventorying and monitoring of marine biodiversity has significantly benefited from the active engagement of volunteers. Although several Citizen Science projects concern tropical reef ecosystems worldwide, none of the existing initiatives has yet specifically focused on their Mediterranean equivalents. Mediterranean coralline reefs, known as “coralligenous”, are bioherms primarily built by calcifying rhodophytes on hard substrates under dim-light conditions; they are considered hotspots of biodiversity and are extremely popular among divers due to their complex structure, conspicuous biological wealth and high aesthetic value. Nevertheless, data on their distribution, structure and conservation status is lacking for several Mediterranean areas while they are vulnerable to an increasing number of threats. New information In the framework of CIGESMED SeasEra (ERAnet) project a specialized Citizen Science project was launched, aiming to engage enthusiast divers in the study and monitoring of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages through the gathering of basic information regarding their spatial occurrence, assemblage structure and associated pressures or threats. For its active implementation, a data collection protocol and a multilingual website were developed, comprising an educational module and a data submission platform. Georeferenced data reporting focuses on: (a) basic topographic and abiotic features for the preliminary description of each site, and the creation of data series for sites receiving multiple visits; (b) presence and relative abundance of typical conspicuous species, as well as (c) existence of pressures and imminent threats, for the characterization and assessment of coralligenous assemblages. A variety of tools is provided to facilitate end users, while divers have the choice to report additional information and are encouraged to upload their photographs. The long-term goal is the development of an active commu

The protected coral reefs off the coast of Malaysia receive numerous tourists, while also being as fishing grounds. These joint environmental pressures raise the need for additional costly conservation measures. It is natural to consider the potential for expanding the ‘user pays’ principle, already implemented in the form of various user fees. This study explores the potential for price discrimination among scuba divers at Sipadan in Malaysia. The study applies a choice experiment to estimate scuba divers willingness to pay higher user fees for avoiding decreases of or getting improvements in environmental and recreational aspects of the diving experience. We investigate how sensitivity to fee size and hence willingness to pay vary with suitable selected characteristics of divers. We find potentials for a third degree price discrimination strategy exploiting higher willingness to pay among foreign divers (45%), male divers (16%) and people who has visited Sipadan several times (25%). Thus, revised pricing structures could significantly increase funds for the preservation of Sipadan., The protected coral reefs off the coast of Malaysia receive numerous tourists, while also being as fishing grounds. These joint environmental pressures raise the need for additional costly conservation measures. It is natural to consider the potential for expanding the ‘user pays’ principle, already implemented in the form of various user fees. This study explores the potential for price discrimination among scuba divers at Sipadan in Malaysia. The study applies a choice experiment to estimate scuba divers willingness to pay higher user fees for avoiding decreases of or getting improvements in environmental and recreational aspects of the diving experience. We investigate how sensitivity to fee size and hence willingness to pay vary with suitable selected characteristics of divers. We find potentials for a third degree price discrimination strategy exploiting higher willingness to pay among foreign divers (45%), male divers (16%) and people who has visited Sipadan several times (25%). Thus, revised pricing structures could significantly increase funds for the preservation of Sipadan.

Scuba diving is one of the main activities in the Jardines de la Reina National Park (PNJR), located off the southern coast of Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila and Camagüey provinces. This study was conducted to determine the effect of this activity on the coral reefs of the area, particularly on stony corals. A total of 28 sites were surveyed during a ten-day period. Areas with high, medium, and low diving intensity, as well as no diving were compared taking into account the percentage of stony coral cover. A total of 220 line transects were used and 51 divers were observed. In sites with high diving intensity, 36 species of stony corals were identified, mostly including S. siderea, A. agaricites, P. astreoides, M. alcicornis and O. faveolata. Of the 51 divers observed, 48 violated diving regulations such as making contact with the corals, sediment resuspension, and, to a lesser degree, mechanical damage (breaking of organisms). Gorgonians, followed by stony corals, were the most contacted organisms. The amount of touches per diver was 5.8 touches/minute. Effective carrying capacity in PNJR ranged from 15 to 35 divers/site/day. It is inferred that, in spite of the impact of scuba diving recorded on the surveyed sites, the sites showed no signs of deterioration. However, monitoring affected organisms to follow up post-damage evolution and complying with the number of divers/site/day suggested in this study is recommended., Una de las actividades que más se desarrolla en el Parque Nacional Jardines de la Reina (PNJR), ubicado al sur de las provincias de Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila y Camagüey, es el buceo autónomo. Sobre esta base se realizó un estudio acerca de la incidencia de dicha actividad sobre los arrecifes de esta región, específicamente, sobre los corales pétreos. Para ello se estudiaron 28 sitios, en 10 días, lo que permitió comparar zonas de alta, media, baja y sin intensidad de buceo en cuanto al porcentaje de cobertura viva de los corales, mediante 220 transectos lineales y con la observación de 51 buceadores. En los sitios con alta intensidad de buceo se identificaron 36 especies de corales, siendo las más abundantes: S. siderea, A. agaricites, P. astreoides, M. alcicornis y O. faveolata. De los 51 buceadores observados, 48 cometieron infracciones: contactos sobre los organismos, resuspensión de sedimentos, y en menor medida, daños mecánicos (rompimiento). Las gorgonias fueron los organismos más contactados, seguidas por los corales. La cantidad de toques por buceador en el PNJR fue de 5.8 toques/min. La capacidad de carga efectiva en el PNJR varió entre 15 y 35 buceadores/sitio/día. Se infiere que los sitios de buceo del PNJR, a pesar de la incidencia del buceo autónomo sobre ellos, no muestran deterioro. No obstante, se recomienda monitorear los organismos afectados para conocer con precisión su evolución ante las incidencias, así como cumplir con el número de buceadores/sitio/día que se sugiere en este estudio.

Human activities are largely affecting coastal communities worldwide. Recreational perturbations have been overlooked in comparison to other perturbations, yet they are potential threats to marine biodiversity. They affect coastal communities in different ways, underpinning consistent shifts in fish and invertebrates assemblages. Several sites were sampled subjected to varying effects by recreational fishermen (low and high pressure) and scuba divers (low and high) in an overpopulated Atlantic island. Non-consistent differences in ecological, trophic and functional diversity were found in coastal communities, considering both factors (“diving” and “fishing”). Multivariate analyses only showed significant differences in benthic invertebrates between intensively-dived and non-dived sites. The lack of clear trends may be explained by the depletion of coastal resources in the study area, an extensively-affected island by overfishing.

SCUBA diving exposes divers to decompression sickness (DCS). There has been considerable debate whether divers with a Patent Foramen Ovale of the heart have a higher risk of DCS because of the possible right-to-left shunt of venous decompression bubbles into the arterial circulation. Symptomatic neurological DCS has been shown to cause permanent damage to brain and spinal cord tissue; it has been suggested that divers with PFO may be at higher risk of developing subclinical brain lesions because of repeated asymptomatic embolization of decompression-induced nitrogen bubbles. These studies however suffer from several methodological flaws, including self-selection bias. We recruited 200 volunteer divers from a recreational diving population who had never suffered from DCS; we then randomly selected 50 of those for further investigation. The selected divers underwent brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging to detect asymptomatic brain lesions, contrast trans-oesophageal echocardiography for PFO, and extensive neuro-psychometric testing. Neuro-psychometry results were compared with a control group of normal subjects and a separate control group for subjects exposed to neurotoxic solvents. Forty two divers underwent all the tests and are included in this report. Grade 2 Patent Foramen Ovale was found in 16 (38%) of the divers; brain Unidentified Bright Objects (UBO's) were found in 5 (11.9%). There was no association between PFO and the presence of UBO's (P = 0.693) or their size (p = 0.5) in divers. Neuropsychometric testing in divers was significantly worse from controls in two tests, Digit Span Backwards (DSB; p < 0.05) and Symbol-Digit-Substitution (SDS; p < 0.01). Compared to subjects exposed to neurotoxic solvents, divers scored similar on DSB and SDS tests, but significantly better on the Simple Reaction Time (REA) and Hand-Eye Coordination (EYE) tests. There was no correlation between PFO, number of UBO's and any of the neuro-psychometric tests. We conclude that for une, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The marine environment surrounding Ecuador's Galapagos Islands consists of diverse ecosystems populated by a rich and varied array of organisms. A growing awareness of the unique attributes and scientific importance of this marine resource has spurred increases in scientific research, prompted the Government of Ecuador to establish a marine reserve within the islands and enabled tourist companies to attract recreational divers. The first section of this report summarizes the development and status of diving within the islands. Special attention is paid to the tourist industry which is responsible for promoting and overseeing most of the diving activities in the islands. The second section presents suggestions to strengthen diver and environmental protection. Specific topics addressed include: a brief description of diving conditions and the recommended levels of diving skill, qualifications and training of naturalist diving guides, a discussion of medical treatment available within the islands, a description of facilities for hyperbaric treatment of diving injuries along with their locations a·nd evacuation procedures., Funds from the Tinker Foundation, and the J. Seward Johnson Endowment

Diving, scientific diving, and diver safety are specialized subject areas not generally well-represented in even the largest of academic libraries, largely because of difficulties in locating appropriate items to include in the collection. However, in order to adequately fulfill his/her responsibilities, the Diving Safety Officer of a scientific diving program needs easy access to a broad range of books, reports, and journals covering all aspects of diving. This bibliography outlines a comprehensive collection appropriate to the needs of a scientific diving program in a research or academic institution. Items are grouped in broad subject areas corresponding to various aspects of the diving program. Both title and author indexes are also included.