Welcome to Issue #19 of Inside Scuba

Welcome to Issue #19 of Inside Scuba, where the depths of the ocean meet the thrill of adventure! 🌊 In this edition, we dive into the latest stories, insights, and tips that celebrate our underwater world. From personal accounts of overcoming challenges in diving to the awe-inspiring images showcased in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, we aim to inspire and educate every reader. Whether you're a seasoned diver or just dipping your toes into the aquatic realm, there's something here for everyone. Let’s embark on this journey together! 🐬

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce a fantastic new feature in our newsletter! If you're short on time but still want to stay updated, you can now listen to our articles! 🎧✨

Simply click on the “Read more…” link for any article that piques your interest, and you'll find an option at the top to listen to it. While most of the content is available in audio format, please note that longer articles may be partially available due to length restrictions. We hope this new functionality makes your reading experience even more enjoyable! Let us know what you think!

Happy listening! 🐠🌊

What’s happening in this edition?

• My Experience with Decompression Sickness: Breaking the Silence on Stigma
• Dive News
• Wildlife Photographer of Year 2024 - Underwater Images
• Interview with Wildlife Photographer of the Year - Rising Star Portfolio Award Winner, Sage Ono
• Instagram Spotlight
• Summary

My Experience with Decompression Sickness: Breaking the Silence on Stigma

“My name is Byron Conroy and I’ve had DCS” ….. there you go, I said it …….

When I learned to dive, I quickly found it became an obsession; 15 years later I’m still obsessed. I have seen everything there is to see underwater, from caves to wrecks, to the smallest marine creatures and all the way to the largest creatures including sharks, mantas and whales. My search for these has taken me many times around the world to the most magnificent locations.

However, even though I have seen all of this, I have also witnessed all of the drawbacks of diving. I have seen people die underwater, I have conducted CPR on shorelines, and I have also been treated for DCS.

This is my story about experiencing DCS and the struggle to not only recover physically but also mentally and emotionally from the stigma that surrounds it. Admitting I had DCS is something I tell people all the time, especially when I meet divers on liveaboards etc. Despite the initial look I get from these divers, I do this to share the story. Without sharing our dive stories, nobody can learn from them and no progress can me made.

Read more…

In each issue of our newsletter, we will curate some top dive news from around the world. Links to each of the original articles are available.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards - Underwater Images

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition, developed and produced by the Natural History Museum in London, continues to showcase stunning imagery from around the globe, drawing attention to the beauty and fragility of the natural world. This year, was the 60th anniversary of the competition. In this article we will highlight underwater images from across the categories that tell compelling stories about the wildlife and ecosystems they depict.

This year is especially exciting in that the Grand Title Award, the title given to the overall winner of the entire competition is an underwater image shot by Canadian marine conservation photojournalist Shane Gross who we have highlighted before in this newsletter. Shane won for his breathtaking image, The Swarm of Life, which depicts the migration of western toad tadpoles in Cedar Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Taken while snorkeling for several hours, Shane's photo captures hundreds of just-hatched tadpoles navigating through a carpet of lily pads.

Read more…

Interview with Wildlife Photographer of the Year - Rising Star Portfolio Award Winner, Sage Ono

Sage Ono recently won the Rising Star Portfolio Award at the prestigious 60th Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition for his collection, The Serengeti of the Sea. The portfolio featured six stunning images showcasing life within the kelp forests of Monterey Bay, California. As Wildlife Photographer of the Year is one of the most respected competitions in the field, this recognition marks a significant achievement for Ono. We had the opportunity to catch up with him to discuss his journey in both scuba diving and underwater photography, as well as his award-winning portfolio.

IS: Congratulations on your recent win with Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY). You have had quite a journey to get to this point. How did you get into scuba diving?

SO: My grandfather studied marine biology and taught diving in his younger years so I fell in love with the ocean through his stories of Oregon and Florida diving. I have always loved the water and swam competitively through college so diving was inevitable. Both of my parents were certified and I got certified when I was 12 at Playa del Carmen. We did mostly Caribbean diving, but once I graduated college, I was able to branch out in my destinations.

Read more…

In this issue's Instagram Spotlight, we highlight Grace Pempek. Grace, originally from the desert of Joshua Tree, California, discovered her love for the ocean during family trips and a dive course in Jamaica. After relocating to Florida nearly a decade ago, she began snorkeling and free diving in Fort Lauderdale before upgrading to an Olympus TG-6 to capture macro subjects. Now based in Hobe Sound, she dives in Jupiter's deeper reefs and uses an Sony A7RV in a Nauticam housing and 2x Retra Pro Max strobes for both wide-angle and macro photography. Grace also serves as social media director for the South Florida Underwater Photography Society (SFUPS) and as the resident photographer for the Kyalami Scuba Club.

Summary

As we wrap up this issue of Inside Scuba, we hope you’ve enjoyed exploring the stories and valuable insights shared within. 🌟 Remember, every dive is a new adventure, and we encourage you to continue your journey of discovery—both underwater and in the stories we tell. Don’t forget to check out the new listening feature for our articles, making it even easier to stay connected with the diving community. Thank you for being part of our diving family, and until next time, keep exploring, stay safe, and let the ocean’s wonders inspire you! 🐠🌅

Andy & Byron