Hurricane Michelle Affects Diving Little
The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) is pleased to report that although Hurricane Michelle swept through popular dive destinations including the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and South Florida on November 4th and 5th, the storm left these regions’ prime diving spots unscathed, according to Regina Franklin, executive director for DEMA.

“We’ve been in touch with dive operators in these regions to determine the magnitude of what seemed like a torrential storm,” said Franklin. “Dive consumers and industry professionals who frequent these destinations will be happy to learn that all three have reported minor damage compared to past storms they’ve experienced.”

The hurricane has been responsible for at least 16 deaths since the storm first hit Central America last week. Michelle, reportedly the strongest hurricane to hit that area in half a century, moved through Honduras, Nicaragua and Jamaica, and on to Cuba, causing substantial damage. Michelle then swept past southern Florida and the Cayman Islands before reaching the Bahamas on November 5th. The storm lost some strength as it moved off Cuba, before hitting Florida and was listed as a Category 1 hurricane, leaving the state virtually untouched. Authorities had ordered the Florida Keys evacuated, but Michelle’s force was no greater than tropical storms common to the area. Diving off the Florida Keys was entirely unaffected by the storm, according to Spencer Slate, president and co-founder of the Florida Association of Dive Operators and owner of Capt. Slate’s Atlantis Dive Center in Key Largo.

Michelle’s next target was the Cayman Islands, where dive operators report having been hit hard by the storm surge on November 4th. Moderate winds caused no damage to reefs, wrecks or dive boats around the islands, although ocean front property on the southwest and northwest side incurred some destruction from the surge during the storm. Diving resumed on the northwest and south reefs, as well as along the north and south walls Tuesday, November 6th, while diving in the west and south resumed on Wednesday, November 7th, according to Ron Kipp, vice president of Bob Soto’s Reef Divers and member of the Board of Directors of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association.

In the Bahamas, Michelle cut through the northwest islands Monday, November 5th. By Monday night, the hurricane’s full force had abandoned Nassau, though heavy rains and gusts lingered late into the night as Michelle headed northeast. Despite strong winds and rain, the area sustained little to no damage, other than flooding and fallen power lines. Offshore reefs and dive operations were not affected by the storm, and currently everything is in “good, fully operational shape,” according to Neal Watson, president of Neal Watson’s Undersea Adventures and the Bahamas Diving Association.

Former Catalina DM Among Dead in Hurricane Mishap
Divemaster Aaron Stark was among the dead in the capsizing of the Peter Hughes live-aboard dive boat Wave Dancer October 8 in Belize. The Wave Dancer had sought shelter in inland waters, along with other craft trying to escape the ravages of hurricane Iris. In the night, mooring lines parted and 20 passengers and 8 crew, including Aaron, perished.

Aaron had left only a month prior to the accident leaving behind his job with Catalina Scuba Luv.

CPSC, DUI Announce Recall of BCS Over Pressure Valves
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Diving Unlimited International, Inc. (DUI) of San Diego, California, is recalling approximately 3,500 Buoyancy Control System Overpressure Valves. Molding variations in one component of the overpressure valve (OPV) used in the DUI Buoyancy Control Systems (BCS) could, in rare instances, prevent the OPV from sealing properly and creating a potential drowning hazard.

CPSC and DUI have received no reports of injuries due to this malfunction. While this variation is not present in every OPV, it would be difficult to determine in the field which OPVs are suspect. Therefore we are requiring that all OPVs be updated with new assemblies. The old OPVs are equipped with red pulls. All new OPVs are equipped with yellow pulls.

DUI BCSs were sold through Authorized DUI Dealers and Distributors with an MSRP of approximately $598.

All DUI BCS sold prior to November 1, 2001 use this OPV. Consumers should stop using these units and contact DUI immediately at (800) 325-8439, (619) 236.1203, e-mail CustomerService@DUI-Online.com, or visit the DUI Web site at http://www.DUI-Online.com. DUI will send you a new OPV with installation instructions immediately.