The California diving community lost one of its greats recently, when on June 2, 2016, underwater cinematographer Bob Cranston died. He is remembered both for his cinematic achievements and as a pioneering shark diver. Bob Cranston, Underwater Filmmaker By Howard Hall It was the winter of 1993 and the weather was clear and calm at Catalina Island. But there was …Read More »

The recipient of this year’s California Scuba Service Award is Zale Parry. The California Scuba Service award was created in 1989 and is awarded annually by the SCUBA Show and California Diving News to recognize those who have made long-lasting contributions to the California sport diving community. Zale Parry is recognized as “The First Lady of Diving.” Zale is most …Read More »

At the SCUBA Show in Long Beach last month I helped staff the California Diving News booth, gave two seminars, got to introduce several seminar speakers, and was honored to present Zale Parry with the 2016 California Scuba Service Award. I spent the remaining time visiting exhibitor booths on the show floor. Needless to say, I stayed busy. I have …Read More »

Since sea otters rarely spend any time on land most people will never see the lower part of them, which is usually underwater. The body resembles that of the otter’s close cousin the weasel and there is a substantial 10- to 12-inch long tail. Unlike most marine mammals, sea otters swim on their backs, not their stomachs, using their webbed …Read More »

A dentist is a doctor the same as psychiatrists and proctologists are doctors. But these doctors have vastly different areas of expertise. There are times when our healthcare needs can be met with a visit to our “family doctor,” a general practitioner who specializes in providing comprehensive health care. And then there are times when we might need to consult …Read More »

Nearly 350 volunteers collected almost 5,000 pounds of trash and debris during the 35th Annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup, held February 20, 2016. In addition to removing trash from the harbor, the event raised over $20,000 to support the USC Hyperbaric Chamber and the Robert E. Given Fund for Ocean Conservation and Educational Research. This is the only time scuba …Read More »

On March 23, 2016, NOAA and the U.S. Navy announced the discovery of the USS Conestoga (AT 54) in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary off San Francisco, 95 years after the Navy seagoing fleet tugboat disappeared with 56 officers and sailors aboard. The discovery solves one of the top maritime mysteries in U.S. Navy history. “After nearly a century …Read More »

The summer diving season is nearly in full swing. A lot of us dive year round, but in general, we dive in our local waters a lot more during summer and fall. If you and your dive gear have been out of the water for several months, now’s the time to: Take a close look at your gear. Check to …Read More »

By Cathryn Castle Human beings are tribal by nature. We tend to seek the company of people with whom we share common bonds. Whether we’re connected through a common language or philosophy or passion, we experience a sense of comfort and ease when we’re with “our tribe.” For some folks, it’s mountain climbing or stamp collecting, but for us, it’s …Read More »

If you had a chance to sit in on casual conversation with a group of dive industry executives, you might hear someone comment about how the diving business is run by hobbyists. By that, they mean people who fell in love with diving and found a way to make a living at it. The conversation usually winds up with the …Read More »