The Fate of the HMS Bounty's Replica

We've all seen pictures and heard news stories about the damage of our Eastern seaboard by Superstorm Sandy. Apparently, it also claimed a ship of historical interest: a sailing vessel named HMS Bounty, which was a complete replica ship built in 1960 for a film about the original.

Pictured in Chicago for the Tall Ships Festival 2003

The story of the original Bounty is a story from 1789, when part of the crew mutinied against its captain and sent him and half the crew out to sea in a lifeboat. The lifeboat and some crewmen survived a 3600 nautical-mile journey; the ship, however, was intentionally set on fire after the crew landed on an island to avoid attracting the attention of the British Royal Navy.

The replica ship was built in 1960 as a complete, functional sailing ship for the movie "Mutiny on the Bounty" and also made an appearance in "Pirates of the Caribbean." Only days before Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern seaboard, the captain decided to sail the ship back to port to wait out the storm; unfortunately, it was caught in the middle when a generator blew. Fourteen crew members were rescued by Coast Guard helicopter; however, the captain and a crew member were washed overboard. The captain is still missing.

Take a walk through some distant and recent nautical history, and check out National Geographic's photo gallery about the ship's sinking, crew rescue, and original mutiny here.

Questions about Becoming a Professional Diver?

Is becoming a scuba diver one of those things that sat on your bucket list for years before you decided to take the leap and get certified? You may feel the same way about becoming a PADI pro now. Everyone asks themselves the same questions:

1. Can I handle the stress of a pro class?
2. Are my dive skills good enough to be a pro diver?
3. Am I ready to be responsible for other divers?
4. Can I afford to take the Divemaster or Instructor course?

1. Pro classes can be stressful, but the PADI Divemaster course (the first level of professional certification) is completed at your own pace. It gives you the time you need to tackle the skills and knowledge development at a pace you can handle while you still work your regular job or go to school. That way, by the time you are ready to tackle a PADI Instructor Development Course you've had plenty of time to prepare your skills.

2. Dive skill development is a top priority for every professional course. Practical exercises will dominate your course time, both in the pool and in open water. Current dive professionals will be there every step of the way to mentor you and help you practice your skills until you are comfortable demonstrating them to students.

3. Ultimately, you are the only one who can decide if you're ready to be responsible for newer divers. However, a good way to gauge your readiness is to evaluate how you felt once you completed your Rescue course. Did it feel good to accomplish the skills in the course, knowing that they will help you be a better buddy? If you haven't completed Rescue yet, that course is a great start because it gives you the tools to critically evaluate other divers and help them avoid potential problems (it's also really, really fun).

4. If you're concerned about the cost of the courses, you should come to Sea and Discover at Scuba Emporium on Wednesday, October 24 at 6:30pm. That night, not only will we have manufacturer representatives from both Aqualung and Sealife Cameras, we will also have Gary Joyce from PADI here to respond to any questions or concerns you have that didn't get addressed here. We'll also offer special, one-night-only deals on course packages for recreational and professional divers that will feature interest-free financing! These courses have never been more affordable, and the costs can be managed over a period of time instead of paying for everything up front.

Call us today to register; we'll make sure we have food for you!

Dive the Great Barrier Reef... From Your Computer!

Is it the same as putting your equipment on and descending to the Great Barrier Reef? Maybe not, but it will bring everyone who hasn't tried scuba a little closer to the ocean.

Google Maps released a new extension of its panoramic "street view" feature. You can now get a turtles-eye view of a few amazing dive spots, like Australia's Great Barrier Reef or Maui's Molokini Crater. They've partnered with Catlin Seaview Survey, a company whose ambitions include mapping the world's reefs using panoramic imaging systems. Their belief is that the Google images will bring people closer to the oceans, since many people do not have access to beautiful reefs or scuba equipment. They also hope to track the effects of climate change over years using the images, as they will be able to compare them with the state of the reefs in the future.

Check out their photo gallery by clicking here! You can also see what they've done so far by clicking the link to Catlin Seaview Survey's website above or checking it out on Google's street view feature.