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Inside Scuba Issue #16
Byron Conroy, Andy Deitsch & Lena Kavander
September 08, 2024
Welcome to Issue #16 of Inside Scuba
Welcome to the 16th issue of Inside Scuba! We're thrilled to bring you a packed edition featuring captivating stories, expert advice, and the latest news from the diving world. This issue is particularly special as we welcome guest author Lena Kavander, a passionate wreck diver from Stockholm, Sweden. Lena takes us on an incredible journey exploring ancient shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea, offering a unique window into maritime history.
In addition to Lena's fascinating article, we delve into the next step of your scuba education by discussing the benefits of becoming a Rescue Diver. Our photo tip of the week focuses on mastering silhouettes in underwater photography, helping you capture graphically strong, pleasing images. Plus, we've curated the top dive news from around the globe and have a new section of our newsletter called the Instagram Spotlight.
So gear up and let's dive into this edition of Inside Scuba!
Also, also as a reminder, for those looking to catch up, all of our past articles and newsletters are freely available online at Inside Scuba.
What’s happening in this edition?
This issue we have an article by guest author Lena Kavander. Lena is a passionate wreck diver living in Stockholm, Sweden. She’s been working as a dive instructor and guide in places such as Mexico, Australia and Iceland, and enjoys both tropical and cold water diving. Since moving back to Sweden she spends much of her free time exploring and guiding wreck diving in the Baltic Sea.
Lena Kavander
Diving into History: Ancient Shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea
The bottom of the ocean tells a story of human history through the ages. The story I will tell you today starts 1,000 years ago back in the Viking Age. It leads us through the middle ages, the era of huge naval battles, the dawn of global trade, and all the way to the present day. It’s the story about the shipwrecks of the Baltic Sea.
Steering wheel on the wreck of Ingrid Horn
Nestled in Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea is bordered by countries rich in maritime history, including Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. Among these, the waters around Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, hold a particularly dense and fascinating collection of shipwrecks. These wrecks, preserved in the brackish waters of the archipelago, offer a unique window into the past, from Viking vessels to the grand warships of the Swedish Empire.
The Baltic Sea is the youngest sea on the planet, but it is home to some of the oldest, best preserved shipwrecks in the world. For many centuries, the waters around Stockholm have been an important route for trade, wars, traveling and fishing. Anything from ancient Viking ships, to majestic warships and merchant vessels have sailed here. It is estimated that over 100,000 wrecks rest on the seabed in this brackish water with a significant number scattered around Stockholm’s archipelago.
These wrecks tell us a lot more than just the specific ship building techniques and designs of each era, but also about politics, the people and the way they lived. The artifacts on these wrecks tell us what the State and the people valued in terms of goods and personal belongings, where they were sailing and for what purpose.
A well preserved wooden wreck from mid 1700's. The Koster wreck.
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.
ABC News: “At least 20 new species identified in recently discovered underwater ecosystem. Scientists expect even more new species to emerge from the region.”
Women Divers Hall of Fame: 2025 Scholarships & Training Grants Open. Grant Applications are being accepted between September 1st and October 31st, 2024.
Intrieste: “Tragic Death of Cave Diver Patrice Cabanel, 32, in France - A Pioneer of Timavo System Exploration in Trieste. According to the local media, Cabanel died while trapped underwater at a distance of abouth (sic) 200 meters from the entrance of the cave. It was not possible for the rescue team to intervene. The cave diver was simply too far from the access to the long and narrow submerged cavity. The circumstances of the tragic accident are currently under investigation. A malfunctioning scuba tank is among the lines of inquiry pursued.”
Scuba News: October 18-20, 2024. “Diving Talks 2024, the global event that brings together the brightest minds and most passionate individuals in the diving world, held in the vibrant city of Lisbon, promises a lineup that will inspire, educate, and connect the global diving community.”
Ocala News: “Ocala [Florida] boat owner charged with manslaughter of scuba diver during unauthorized charter”
Divernet: “Graffiti carved into plate corals off the popular tourist island of Bohol in the Philippines has shocked local divers.”
Divernet: “Malta wreck divers seek long sought after protection”
Contest Roundup
Divernet: As Clear As Crystal, captured by U.S. photographer Jason Gulley, is the sole underwater image among the 15 photos showcased by London’s Natural History Museum (NHM) as a preview for the 60th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition.
REEF Discover the Sea Photography Contest: Submissions open September 1-19 2024.
Think Pink 2024: Open for entries August 30th - September 27th, 2024. All entry fees this year will go to the UCLA Brain Cancer Research Fund.
The Next Step in Your Scuba Diving Education: Becoming a Rescue Diver
Scuba diving is a lifelong journey of exploration and learning. As divers, we are constantly seeking to improve our skills, enhance our knowledge, and increase our safety in the water. After completing your Advanced Open Water certification, one of the most valuable steps you can take is to pursue a Rescue Diver certification. This course not only builds on the skills you’ve already acquired but also prepares you to handle challenging situations, making you a more confident and capable diver. In fact, I think that every diver should take a Rescue Diver course.
Comparing Rescue Diver Certification Courses Across Agencies
Several major scuba diving certification agencies offer Rescue Diver courses, including PADI, SDI, NAUI, and SSI. While these courses share common elements, each agency has its own unique approach to training. Below, we’ll explore what these courses entail, the specific skills you’ll learn, and why you should consider taking the next step in your diving education.
Commonalities Across Agencies
All Rescue Diver courses focus on preparing you to manage emergencies both in and out of the water. Key areas of training include:
Self-Rescue: Before you can help others, you need to ensure your own safety. The course teaches techniques to manage stress, avoid panic, and handle unexpected issues with your own equipment or environment.
Recognizing Diver Stress: Understanding the signs of stress in other divers is crucial to preventing emergencies. You’ll learn how to identify these signs early and take appropriate action to avoid escalation.
Emergency Management: From coordinating a rescue effort to administering first aid, the course covers the steps needed to effectively manage a diving emergency.
In-Water Rescue Techniques: Practical training includes a variety of in-water rescue techniques, which are often taught through realistic scenarios.
Emergency First Response (CPR and First Aid) and Oxygen Administration courses are required to complete the Rescue Diver certification. In most cases, your instructor can include these in your overall training package.
Students taking a Emergency First Response class in coordination with their Rescue Diver course. Photo by Martin Splitt on Unsplash
Photo Tip of the Week - Mastering Silhouettes in Underwater Photography
Creating striking underwater silhouettes is one of the most visually compelling techniques in underwater photography. Achieving these dramatic shots requires a good understanding of light behavior underwater, effective positioning, and creative use of natural elements. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to master this technique.
A diver in front of strong sunlight makes a silhouette
Understanding Light Behavior Underwater
The key to capturing a great silhouette is understanding how light interacts with your environment. Underwater, light behaves differently compared to on land; it scatters and loses intensity the deeper you go. The water absorbs colors starting with reds, moving on to oranges, and eventually, the blues, leading to a predominantly blue-green environment. To create a silhouette, you need to position your subject between your camera and a strong light source, typically the sun. The ideal scenario is to have the sun directly behind your subject, creating a sharp contrast between the subject and the background. Positioning the sun behind your subject creates a striking backlight, perfect for capturing silhouettes. At shallower depths, this technique also highlights natural sunrays surrounding the subject.
This contrast is enhanced by the fact that underwater subjects will appear darker due to the absorption of light, especially when they are not directly lit by artificial sources such as strobes. Therefore, using only natural light is crucial in silhouette photography underwater.
We're often taught to use sunlight to our advantage, but this technique flips that approach, teaching you to shoot against the light—a powerful skill for mastering more advanced techniques.
Starting with this issue, we're excited to introduce a new section called Instagram Spotlight. Through this feature, we aim to highlight Instagram feeds that we believe are truly worth following and sharing with our readers. This issue, we’d like to introduce you to Shane Gross, a Marine Conservation Photojournalist. Shane who is based in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is a multi-award winning underwater photographer, author and has an amazing Instagram feed. Check him out here and give him a follow.
Summary
As we wrap up Issue #16 of Inside Scuba, we hope you've enjoyed this deep dive into the world of underwater exploration. From exploring ancient shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea with guest author Lena Kavander to learning new skills in our Rescue Diver guide, this edition has been packed with exciting content to inspire and inform your next dive. Whether you’re mastering silhouette photography or keeping up with the latest dive news, we strive to bring you stories that fuel your passion for the underwater world. Until next time, dive safe, stay curious, and never stop exploring!
Andy & Byron
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