Shark Facts!!

Sharks have between 5 and 7 gill slits on each side of their body in front of their pectoral fins. Bony fishes only have one pair. Having many exposed gill slits probably helps transfer more oxygen into their blood faster which allows them to swim very fast when they need to.


Most shark's skin is covered in small denticles instead of scales. Denticles are a lot like teeth. They have dentine in the centre and enamel on the surface. This makes shark's skin very tough and abrasive like sandpaper. The shape and position of some shark's denticles also helps reduce friction so that they can slip through the water easier.


Sharks have an extra sense that is able to detect tiny electric fields. They can use this to find food that is buried or to search for animals to eat in the dark or in turbid water. Sharks and rays make up the sub-class of fishes called elasmobranches. This sub-class is part of a class of cartilaginous fishes called Chondrichthyes which also includes chimaeras (ratfishes).


How dangerous are sharks?

• Sharks are usually very wary of people and most sharks will swim away long before you see them.
• There are nearly 500 species of sharks but only a few are likely to be involved in an attack. Some of the more dangerous sharks include the Great White Shark, the Tiger Shark, and the Bull Shark.
• Sharks do not normally treat humans as food. If they did, it would be very easy for them to eat all of the people who play in the water at the beach because they are much better swimmers than we are. Most scientists agree that attacks are usually the result of mistaken identity or the sharks feeling threatened because they are cornered. In places like California where there are a lot of White Shark attacks on surfers, scientists believe that the sharks think that the surfers look like seals or sea lions.

What do sharks eat?

• Sharks and rays have a very varied diet. They are carnivores which means that they eat animals rather than plants and algae. Some sharks commonly eat bony fishes, crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, and other animals with an external skeleton), mollusks (snails, sea slugs, octopus and squids), and different types of worms. 
•  A shark's diet is often determined by its habitat. For example, sharks that live out at sea (pelagic sharks) are more likely to eat fish and squid because that is all that is available.

Diving the Reef

The second dive that we were able to experience was just outside of waikiki on a nice reef there. Thankfully it was from the boat so it large stride and in the water instead of having to walk in. We were able to see an octopus, eels, crabs, and many fish. We also saw two white tip sharks hiding out. It was a very colorful dive.

Fun Facts about Scuba

• Who can Scuba? Anyone can scuba! There is a basic level of health and fitness that you need to have to stay safe and be comfortable underwater, but there are not many other requirements. 
• How old do you have to be to Scuba? To be certified with PADI they do require that you are 14 years of age, but there are many classes for children under 14 as well. Children 8-12 can take an open water class to get them started on scuba diving. Contact your local dealer to get started.
• What does Scuba Mean? Scuba stands for Self- Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. A scuba system allows autonomous diving (diving without an air line to the surface). The word also describes the sport of scuba diving.
• Is Scuba Safe? Yes! Some people hear about a diver who died while pursuing their hobby and they question the safety of scuba. It is true a small number of divers do die every year. Most of these deaths are not due to equipment failure as some people might suspect, but are due to inadequate or no training, diving in extreme conditions or diving beyond their personal diving limitations.
• Do you have to be certified to dive? No, but you do need to have proper training before you attempt to breath underwater. This can be as simple as a Discover Scuba course. A resort course, as it is sometimes called, will let you experience diving before taking a certification course. This involves an introduction in the pool and a dive off the beach or in shallow water. A Discover Scuba course can count towards a scuba certification.Once you see how great scuba is, the next step is to complete an open water certification. As a certified diver, you can dive any where there is a dive shop. With 71 percent of the planet covered with water, there is an endless supply of dive destinations.
• How deep can scuba divers go? The recreational (no-decompression) diving limit is 130 ft (40 meters). Recreational diving can be defined as diving to a certain depth for a certain amount of time and being able to make a slow, direct ascent to the surface without doing staged decompression stops and without sufficient risk of decompression sickness.To dive beyond the recreational limit, you need to have technical dive training and equipment. Technical training and procedures enable divers to dive deeper than ever before and experience a fantastic underwater odyssey. With the advancement of science and technology, who knows out deep divers will be able to go in the future.
• How much does Scuba Cost? The cost will differ where you are and the prices will always be changing. The main thing that you should remember is that just like I stated in my older post you should get used to gear before you go out an buy it. Rent gear at first. Scuba certification can be a bit expensive. Taking a Discover Scuba course will help you decide if like the sport before shelling out the bucks for certification training. Scuba diving classes can be cheaper if you join a diving club. Experiencing the thrill and exhilaration of diving is well worth the money you spend.

Utah, A great place to Dive

Some of you would not think that Utah was a very fun place to dive, but for those of us who are located in Utah we think its some of the best diving. Here in Utah there are many places to dive because there are many lakes all around. I personally am located near Utah County where you have over 8 lakes to choose from within a 50 mile radius. That is not including the crater located in Midway Utah. It is said to be one of the most fun sites because of the warm water. Here are a few fun pictures

A beginning to Diving

I have been diving for the past 2 years and have realized that I would love to share my information with those advanced and beginner divers. For those of you that havent been out and are wanting to start diving here are a few small tips I might suggest.
1-Remember that your mask and snorkle with fins are the most important items for you right now. You want to have your own and be able to get comfortable with them to start off. Go to the nearest dive shop and ask them about some of the options they have for you. I personally enjoy a mask with a purge valve in the nose. Its easier to clear your mask of additional water.
2-Dont worry about any other gear. There are always going to be packages that you can buy with all your gear together. Get familiar with dive gear before you spend all your money on a BC that you will realize after trying others that you dont enjoy it.
3-Start slow and realize that diving is about having fun, dont rush yourself or stress out over not knowing what your doing.
4-Always pay attention to your dive instructor and make sure that your comfortable with anything he asks of you. They wont mind if you need to take additional time as long as  and you are happy.
5- Try and start diving in a warm water enviroment. The less amount of equipment you have to put on with your beggining the more comfortable you will feel at first.
Lastly, just have fun! Diving is an incredible sport and you will find that the longer you do it the more you love it.