The June 2009 issue of Dive Training Magazine (page 57) has an article on underwater audio systems.

I find this rather disturbing, not only as an instructor but as any run of the mill recreational diver. For two reasons:

1. Underwater sounds are missed like shrimp and other critters. Not to mention the ability to get away from the sound pollution of our above water world. Why should one take that @#$% with you under water. The logic escapes me.

2. Safety is an even more major problem since one could not hear a buddy signaling for you, the sound of an approaching boat, the recall sound from your dive boat and the distraction from close observation of your gauges.

My question is this: Does any dive operator on Bonaire permit divers to use such gear?

I would trust that such gear is prohibited by all dive operations on Bonaire and elsewhere. Personally I would never dive with anyone using such a system. My safety and that of my buddy for whom I am responsible is at stake.

It disturbs me that the article in DT Mag sort of condones this behavior by reporting on it in a rather positive or at least neutral manner.

Thoughts anyone? Experiences anyone has to report?

Oh pahleeesee.. One of the reasons I like diving is to get away from the mindless chatter I hear at times. And indeed, I do enjoy diving solo once in awhile. What did Cousteau call it; the silent world? Don't tell me sport divers are going to be talking to their dive companions underwater! What's next..playing rap music underwater also?
I guess you know what camp I'm in. In brief, who needs it.

Glad we agree.

I really would prohibit any divers with me using that sort of thing. I will start actively teaching students against it since they all get DT Mag as a freebie student subscription and will likely see the article.

Really bad idea and should be prohibited by any dive op. I just wonder if any Bonaire dive ops have had experience with divers using this kind of thing and/or have policies against it.

I am going to start a thread on ScubaBoard in the instructor section and see what response I get.

Thanks again.

Are there any u/w audio systems advertising in DT Mag? May be potential advertisers...

(Message edited by ruth on May 29, 2009)

Did not see any ads for such items in DT Mag. But search the web and you will find that iPod is developing such an item.

I want to listen to my Ipod under water. I love that song "Under the Sea". Maybe I can get a underwater speaker and get one of the crabs to dance for me.

I really do not see what is so wrong with it. If you want to listen to some music while you dive that is your own choice. As for the saftey you are suppose to keep you dive buddy with in site. As for boats they do not take to many dives out 60ft down. I personally probably would not use one but if someone would find it relaxing to listen to music go for it.

IF you do not like something then DO NOT use it. Why to people think that because they do not like something that it should be band. That is what annoys me. Leave it up to people to make their own choices and just relax a little.

Ryan: On one hand I would not disagree with your right to do as you please. But as an instructor I have to see the safety side of this. And from that standpoint I would not recommend underwater audio for the average recreational diver nor would I dive with a buddy using such a system.

There are fantastic applications for underwater communications needs in technical and construction arenas as well as search and recovery / rescue. These would be the full face mask systems.

From the safety aspect I would see it no differently than seat belts, cell phone use and texting laws we live with for our own safety.

Bruce: When you get the crab to dance I want to see the video !

No, I meant that magazines will frequently run "neutral" articles in an effort to pursue advertisers, or please existing ones. I already have a waterproof case for my ipod shuffle, which I use occasionally while snorkeling (I can hear everything over the music). It's especially nice on long (2+ hour) snorkels out in Lac.

Ryan.. Unfortunately history has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that GENERALLY we humans are incapable of respecting the rights of others. That is one of the reasons (there are numerous others)we have laws; to keep the peace.

Really, if I were underwater and heard some diver next to me blaring rap music, I must confess I'd be mighty tempted to start wearing a knife. But, that's just me. I'm sure there are others who may feel differently.

Safety what safety issue??

Just because you are listening to something other than the coral rubble rolling in the surf or Parrot fish crunching up coral or that boat going by over head how can that be a safety issue.

Get a GRIP, people listen to the radios in their cars going 80 mph on the freeway - 200 kph+ on the autobahn.

3 hour of deco can go much faster listening to music or a audio book.

Vince are you talking about respecting peoples right to listen to music I am assuming that you do not want to take away rights just because you dislike something.

I really do not think there is much of a chance that you are going to hear the music. I have been in the pool when swimmers are doing laps and and you could not hear there music they were listening to.

I do not see that problem here.

Ryan..I think we agree on the issues here. I certainly respect yours (or anyone else's) right to listen to whatever "music" they enjoy. Personally music is one of my great loves in life.

However I try not to force what I like to listen to onto others. That's the issue. If you're underwater listening to your tunes & I don't have to hear it, no problem. If someone is blaring their music underwater so everyone is affected, that's where I draw the line.

if bonaire is going to continue to be the home of diving freedom then i believe that people should be allowed to make up their own minds. if they are apprised of the risks and choose to do it anyway, that's their choice. i agree with vince that if the music can be heard by others it could be offensive and should be turned down.

i guess it's similar to the solo diving argument. if the divers understand the risks and do it anyway it's their choice and they'll have to live (or not) with the consequences. if a particular dive operator won't let someone on a boat with an underwater audio device, it's their choice...but if someone is shore diving solo or with a dive buddy i don't think the island should ban anything unless it's proven to be a direct hazard.

I like hearing my bubbles, but that's just me
And the silence you get as soon as you decend, that is just wonderful to me. I like peace and quiet...so Pat, you be peace and I'll be quiet!!

pegisue...quiet? you? ok...who are you really and what have you done with pegisue?

i didn't say i'd use the underwater audio device...i just don't want them banned unless they are proven to be a hazard or, if they disturb other divers then someone should say they can be used on low volume. too many rules and regs in the world already.

I've got a Speedo Aquabeat, a waterproof MP3 player for when I'm swimming, but then 60 lengths of a pool are pretty boring and I need the distraction - no need for that whilst diving, there's plenty going on.

Why someone would choose to break the beautiful serenity of a dive with music is beyond me. My last dive in Bonaire was Ole Blue. The wind-chyme melody of the coral rubble in the shallows was the most beautiful music imaginable.

Time for some of you old f@#t% to get into the real world, underwater communications is coming faster than your hair is falling out. I am surprised that any instructor worth his or her salt would speak out against improvements to diving, being able to verbally communicate with your buddy is a heck of a lot better than trying to reach out and grab his back up air supply only to find you are ten feet away and not the three you thought you were. Once again on this site you see the opinions of individuals who are living in the seventies, get real folks the world is changing. IMHO!!

Roy, I think these are music systems that the OP's talking about, not voice communication systems. Voice communication systems for sport divers already exist, I saw them in use 10 years ago.

And there's no need to make a dig at old f****, you'll get here soon enough :-)

Gosh, we haven't had the lawn chairs out in weeks....

Fiona, girl, you don't have enough stuff on in you profile pic.....Is it and old Draeger?

Roy. Underwater audio systems (ie u/w iPod) is what was being discussed, not u/w communications systems, which have been around forever.

Hi Barbara, yes that's me on a Draeger try-out dive with Walt Stark coming up the old steps at Buddy Dive dock. But you should see my cold water gear if you want enough stuff, heh heh.

And I think Roy may be taking the mickey out on us, too, judging by _his_ profile pic :-)

Guess I started some controversy! Interesting comments and I can not disagree with the freedom people need. Underwater communications is not the thing to which I was referring. As in all things moderation is generally the key and if one can use audio systems without affecting safety and such - go for it. Just like solo diving, if one is prepared then go for that also. And Walt ks right about using it for deco stops - what a benefit for those situations. I would still not make it a recommendation for students and newer divers.

Perhaps this is no different than computers when they first came into use. I can remember when some said that relying on computers to warn you of deco risks was taking away from the knowledge one needed to obtain by planning dives using the tables.

Appreciate all the comments. Very instructive as were the comments on ScubaBoard. It all serves to modify my thoughts which is some of what these threads are all about.

Hi, Fiona! I trained on one of those....what a beast! As Meriwether Lewis said of the Grizzly, it satisfied my curiosity about rebreathers. I'd love to try the trimix ones, though, if I could find an instructor who did a little more than bark algebra at me.

Our water doesn't get much below 48f, so we just toss on a drysuit and gear....not much more than with with a wetsuit.

"Taking the mickey out on us"....ya never hear that down here in the lower 48....I love phrases....

I usually just listen to the fish, and cut a fart if I want to hear something else. You offgas your way, I'll offgas mine.

LOL John, thats PRICELESS !!! LOL

Barbara: You're lucky, the water here hasn't got UP to 48F yet and I've been diving in it every month this year :-)



John, that's too funny.

Fiona, I'll tell ya, about 42f is my cutoff. Maybe with a better bunny suit....

John, is depth/pressure an issue?

CB, it would probably affect the size of the "bubbles." LOL!

Now, I just know some physicist will chime in and tell me I'm wrong...LOL

I listened to a very drunken conversation once about how deep you'd have to go before farting became an impossibility...these guys had quite a plan worked out for the experiment.

Ok, how far south can we take this thread....

Hey Fiona haven't heard that expression in years. A careful look at the pic in my bio shows a wine glass, red is the choice, Argentina by location, served at Richards, Casa Blanca, or a similar location in Bonaire.

Going to the bubble and farting issue I wonder if a bubble at 99'/48F would be the same size as a bubble at 99'/80F. The ice is now off the lake up here, maybe we could work out a deal, I pay someone to come North to test the cold water portion and they would pay for my trip to Bonaire. A dry suit would be required in both locations to contain the bubble and verify the volume at the surface, this would also require someone to come up with a formula to determine how much air the drysuit would need to maintain a neutral bouyancy at 99' in both environments. I am sure from reading some of the postings over the last while we could find some self proclaimed expert to work the calculations. Although a dry suit in Bonaire is a bit extreme I am prepared to make the sacrifice in the interests of science.

CB, can we share a chair tonight?!
This and the other thread be funny.....LOL

Sure, Kobi...we'll have to run back and forth and see which takes off, so leave the high heeled flips at home, and bring the night vision goggles...

roy said "bubble farting"

Careful, folks!

Farting u/w is an art in and of itself. One miscalculation and you'll be washing your suit for a week! It's best left to the professionals.

My son says "NEVER trust a fart!!" Just thought I'd share that....

Sure that wasn't "old fart" he was referring to!!!

A quick question...and apologies for it being back on the original topic -lol ... these underwater boomboxes....do they just blast the sound out into the blue so everyone gets to be annoyed by it or do they have some kind of 'headphones".

If headphones then who cares? but if they just use an external speaker, then I would be as thrilled as I am about boom-cars blasting thru the neighborhood. I don't care to be forced to share 'your' choices in music or noise.

I think they have headphones...

Roy, He may have meant old fart...his dad is gettin' up there in years and drives him crazy!!!LOL

So how do you feel about the whale boats playing whale sounds to attract them for the tourists. The scientists do it as well don't they?