Text courtesy of DAN World

Task-loading (doing or managing too many things at once) is a common reason divers become distracted from keeping track of their depth or air. A very good example of such a distraction is when divers become too focused on underwater photography.

While diving is an enjoyable and relatively safe activity, divers should never forget that it involves using life-support equipment to venture into an environment that’s not conducive for humans. Most dive accidents result from a series of small deviations from safe procedures, and in almost all cases, the accident could have been avoided if the problem was noticed, its implications understood, and an appropriate response was implemented.

THE CONTEXT

The diver was a 48-year-old woman who was open-water certified but had not dived for many years. She had recently completed a second open-water diving course and was on a seven-day liveaboard trip in Australia.

THE SITUATION

On the second day of diving, the diver reported “getting carried away taking pictures.” When she looked at her gauges, she only had 69 bar remaining and was at 30 metres. Her dive buddy was motioning for her to ascend and she began to do so. She reported feeling worried but determined that she would not shoot to the surface and was able to make a steady ascent. She had about 20 bar remaining as she got to six metres and opted to make a safety stop, watching her gauges intently. When it was completed, she signalled for her buddy to ascend the mooring line, which she did in a slow, controlled manner. Her mind raced as her depth gauge approached zero.

On the surface, the diver tried to inflate her BCD, but her tank was completely empty, and had to orally inflate it. She recalled: “It was a 30-metre dive, and I was very embarrassed. My dive buddy was holding it back, but I could tell he was upset with me. I never told him how close I came to running out of air on the ascent, but I apologised profusely. I spoke with another diver, a former instructor, and told him what had happened. He told me he had made the same mistake once – got carried away with taking photos and forgot to watch his gauges. I was shocked at how easily you can lose sight of the time and depth.”

Analysis

This diver was lucky that she realised she was low on air when she did. If she had stayed much longer at that depth, she would likely have run out of air before she made it back to the surface. Running out of air doesn’t automatically lead to death, but when coupled with panic and a rapid ascent, the consequences can be grave.

Always Dive with a Buddy

Many divers who enjoy underwater photography admit to being distracted when their attention is diverted to photographing their subjects. It is very easy to forget to keep an eye on your depth or air, and this is one reason why DAN resolutely suggests recreational divers dive with a buddy. Generally, a buddy would be able to track the gauges and depth, and look out for each other.

Never Compromise Safety

Task loading should be gradual enough so that mastery on the added task can be achieved without ever compromising safety. Situational awareness is a skill that is instrumental in staying safe while diving.

This diver had a close call, learned a valuable lesson and lived to dive another day. Staying calm during her ascent, staying near her buddy and inflating her BCD at the surface were all essential elements in preventing a dive incident.

Regardless of whether you take up underwater photography as a creative pastime or a photographer eager to capture the beauty of the marine ecosystem, you’ll find that complementary diving skills and shooting skills are integral to success.

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The customised study, conducted by NielsenIQ — the world’s leading consumer intelligence company and commissioned by Fairfest Media, indicated that travel industry professionals who attended multiple trade shows in the region identified OTM as a leading travel trade show in India and Asia.
Mumbai, October 8, 2024 — OTM Mumbai has been named the #1 travel trade show in India and Asia in a customised market research study commissioned by Fairfest Media Limited which was conducted by NielsenIQ – the world’s leading consumer intelligence company. The customised research, conducted among participants and visitors who have attended two or more travel trade shows in the region, found a “significantly higher quantum of respondents stating OTM (Mumbai) to be the leading show at a National, Regional and Asia level” — outperforming other major shows in the region, including ITB Asia, ITB India and SATTE Delhi.

The comprehensive survey evaluated 18 international travel trade shows across Asia and 20 regional shows in India. In addition to identifying the leading travel trade show, the survey highlighted key findings related to exhibitors’ and visitors’ overall experience, satisfaction, and willingness to attend again.

Key Survey Findings:
● OTM as the Top Trade Show in India : 59% of respondents across India selected OTM as their preferred trade show, a
significantly higher percentage than any other event in the country.
● Leadership in Asia : In the broader Asia-wide context, OTM secured 42% of the vote, significantly higher than other
events in Asia, further reinforcing its position as a market leader.
● Exhibitor and Visitor Satisfaction : OTM outperformed its competitors in terms of satisfaction with the quality of
exhibits and the profile of visitors.
● Venue Quality : OTM garnered “significantly higher satisfaction regarding the quality of the venue across all competition
on Top Box Satisfaction,” says the customised study conducted by NielsenIQ & commissioned by Fairfest Media.

The survey extensively covered several granular aspects of satisfaction, including the quality of exhibits, the profile of visitors, the relevance of speakers and conference sessions, and the quality of venue and other services. A copy of the report submitted to Fairfest Media by NielsenIQ is available here. ( link )

The fieldwork by NielsenIQ is done in an unbiased manner without intervention from Fairfest Media Limited and quality control procedures were followed strictly. The date of the fieldwork is 2 nd Aug to 4 th Sept 2024. The areas covered in the customised study (conducted by NielsenIQ & commissioned by Fairfest Media) include India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Kingdom, Kenya, Bahrain, Thailand, Maldives, Rwanda, Greece, Malaysia, Seoul, Philippines, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa. The population covered includes exhibitors and visitors of travel trade shows. The sample size was overall (N=312); exhibitors (N=23), visitors (N=289). The total usable database of visitors shared with NielsenIQ was over 14,000 and of exhibitors was over 2,200. The sampling method was online, purposive sampling.

These findings confirm that OTM consistently delivers high-quality buyers and offers the highest return on investment (ROI) for participants. The survey results reinforce OTM’s status as the leading B2B show in Asia for travel industry professionals. The next edition of OTM, from 30 January to 1 February 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, is expected to be the largest ever, further strengthening its substantial lead in both the country and the region, according to the organisers. It will bring together over 40,000 travel industry professionals from over 60 countries, with pre-qualified buyers from India, Asia and beyond.

About OTM and Fairfest Media Limited
OTM, organised by Fairfest Media Ltd., is the leading travel trade show in Asia and India. Each year, it brings together a global network of exhibitors, buyers, and travel industry professionals to connect, showcase innovations, and generate business opportunities. Fairfest Media also organises TTF-branded travel shows in 7 Indian cities — making it the largest travel trade show organiser in India. As the leading travel show organiser in the region, Fairfest continues to shape the future of travel in the world’s fastest-growing market.

Please direct all enquiries to:
Ms. Sandrine Clarac
Director — Marketing & International Sales
+91 22 4555 8555
sandrine@fairfest.in

This powerful genetic tool is used for species identification, conservation and management, playing a key role in protecting these vulnerable marine predators from overexploitation.

A RIPPLE EFFECT

Sharks are vulnerable to overfishing because they usually have few offspring and take a long time to mature. This becomes a ripple effect that disrupts the balance of marine ecosystems. Worldwide, there is a high and increasing demand for shark meat, fins and liver oil (squalene). In Asian markets, the demand for shark products mainly comes from shark fin soup, a popular dish at celebrations.

In South America, the demand is driven by the consumption of shark meat. In addition, squalene is widely used in cosmetics. There is evidence it comes from threatened shark species, but the full scale of the liver oil trade is still unclear.

AN IMPORTANT TOOL

Shark DNA barcoding is a technique used to identify and differentiate shark species based on their genetic material, specifically by analysing short, standardised gene regions. This method has become an important tool in marine biology, ecology and conservation efforts, as it provides a reliable way to distinguish species, even from small tissue samples like fins or flesh, which is critical for identifying species caught in fisheries or sold in markets.

From various studies conducted on shark DNA barcoding, the top five most frequently encountered species are the milk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus), silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus), scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and great hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena).

KEY ASPECTS OF SHARK DNA BARCODING

1. DNA Barcoding PrincipleDNA barcoding works by sequencing a specific part of the genome that is different between species but similar within a species. In animals, a common gene used for this is the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) protein, which is encoded by the MT-CO1 gene. This gene is stable across species, but has enough variation to act like a genetic “barcode” for identifying different species.2. Application in Shark SpeciesSharks are often difficult to identify by physical appearance alone, especially when only parts of the animal, such as fins, are available (as in the case of illegal finning). DNA barcoding helps researchers and enforcement agencies identify shark species accurately, even when physical features are missing.

   3. Conservation Implications• Illegal Wildlife Trade

   Shark DNA barcoding is instrumental in combating illegal fishing and the trade of endangered species like those listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It enables law enforcement to verify species composition in markets and ports.

   • Bycatch Identification

   Many sharks are caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries. DNA barcoding helps in identifying the species caught unintentionally, which is essential for better fisheries management.

   • Biodiversity Studies

   DNA barcoding helps researchers understand shark diversity, discover hidden species, study shark migration, and track population changes over time.

   4. Challenges and Considerations• Genetic Diversity

   Some closely-related shark species may have very similar COI barcodes, which can make it challenging to differentiate between them.

   • Reference Databases

   For effective barcoding, robust databases like BOLD (Barcode of Life Data System) need to be updated continuously with accurate shark DNA sequences to ensure new and lesser-known species are included.

   • Food Labels

   Vague terminology is used to describe pet food ingredients, for example, using generic terms like “ocean fish,” “white fish” and “white bait”. As a result, consumers cannot make informed and environmentally-conscious decisions, and unwittingly contribute to the overfishing of endangered sharks.

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Text by Sol Foo

You are now certified to scuba dive. What are your next steps? Here are some signposts to point you in the right direction.

IMPROVE SKILLS

Just like any sport, the better you are at it, the greater the enjoyment. And the best way to get the most out of your dives is to do more dives, level up your skills and stay aware of the environment you are in.

Dive Agencies

There are so many to choose from and they basically teach the same skills. Try sticking with the same agency if you plan on continuing your dive education. That way, you’ll be able to find records of your certifications in one place. But you can always switch at any point, as the agencies will recognise your previous certifications.

As you advance up the scuba diving ladder, you’ll discover and learn more skills to practise and master. However, don’t be in a rush to obtain the highest qualification possible. There are so many marine environments to experience and enjoy. Log those dives, hone those skills, meet other divers, try diving in muck, drifting with the current, and doing negative descents, among others. You’ll find your skills are constantly put to the test.

Stay Open to Advice and Guidance

Be open to guidance and advice, and you’ll learn a lot more than just taking a course. I know divers who only have the basic, entry-level certification, but they’ve logged thousands of dives and travelled to various destinations. On top of that, they are better divers than some I know who have a divemaster certification, logged fewer than 100 dives and only dived in one or two places.

Going Professional

If diving is going to be your career choice, make sure you do your research, perfect your skills and stay the course. The choice of agency doesn’t really matter here. For me, the instructor trainers are key to your own success. You don’t want to pay the dollars just so you have bragging rights as an instructor. Training as one is hard work and takes dedication. The lifestyle is very attractive if you love the sun, sand and sea, but remember, you have lives in your hands, and you want to make sure you have excellent training to keep your charges safe, and pass on good habits and practices.

Transitioning to Tek

Some of you might be more inclined to seek your adventures and challenge your skills as a diver beyond recreational limits. Tek diving is a whole new level of courses that require high-level skill mastery and discipline. Selecting a good role model and mentor is crucial to your development as a technical diver.

EQUIPMENT

You are a newly-minted scuba diver, and love it so much that you want to make this a regular thing. Then you should consider purchasing your own personal gear, and boy, you’ll be spoiled for choice! There are several advantages to having your own equipment, the main ones being comfort and familiarity. If you’re on a budget, I would recommend getting these three main items first – a mask, wetsuit and fins.

MASKS

The variety of masks on the market are almost as diverse as the fish you’ll find on a reef, and cater to different face shapes and sizes. There are many tips on the Internet about how to pick the correct mask, but I’m also very sure people at dive shops will be able to help with that. Take your time and explore the options you have, try the different brands and see which ones you are most comfortable with. It’s always best if you get to try it in the water first, but that is usually quite hard to accomplish because dive shops don’t offer that service. The best way is to make friends when you go diving, look at the equipment other divers have and ask (very nicely) if you can try it. Many divers I know will always oblige, because as a veteran diver, I’ve certainly gone through my fair share of equipment until I found the right ones.

WETSUITS

A wetsuit that fits well provides optimal insulation and protection from the environment. You can have one custom made or buy one off the rack. Materials and insulation technology have also improved drastically over the years. You can definitely rent them at most dive destinations and liveaboards, but divers who use them generally don’t tend to take care of them, or the wetsuit is worn so much, there’s not much insulation left. In addition, it’s not easy for resorts and liveaboards to store a wide range of sizes, so an ill-fitting wetsuit is not going to be very effective anyway.

FINS

Like masks, it is hard to try before you buy. Continue to read reviews, consult your dive buddies, and borrow different ones to try. Then you’ll have to make a decision about what type to buy – open-heel or full-foot fins. It all depends on the type of diving you hope to do. If you choose the former, you’ll need a pair of booties, too. But this type of fins is more versatile – you can do shore dives comfortably and use them with drysuits. Using full-foot fins are easier to pack, very convenient on liveaboards, easier to don and doff, and very suitable for diving in warmer, tropical waters.

OTHER GEAR

Your next important purchases are big-ticket items like a dive computer. Again, there are so many brands and types. If you are considering going the tek way, pick one that can calculate multiple gases. Buoyancy compensators (BCDs) and regulators would be next on the list. Truly consider how frequently you will go diving in a year. You don’t want to buy these and only have it collecting dust in the closet and taking up space. In addition, you’ll have to service them annually to keep them in tip-top shape. If you do more than one trip a year, it’s worth considering getting your own. Otherwise, you would be better off just renting. There are many other gadgets and gizmos you can add to your dive bag as well, but wait till you really get into the sport, as you also have to deal with additional weight and baggage when you travel.

TRAVEL

As a new diver with under 50 logged dives, there are really not many places you can go. I suggest doing an advanced open water course before attempting to go to places with strong currents or limited visibility. Increasing your skill level increases your comfort level, and ability to handle different water conditions.

Matching the Destination with Your Skill Level

It also depends on the kind of encounter you want. Macro lovers will travel to destinations like the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia, Anilao or Puerto Galera in the Philippines, or Malaysia. This usually involves diving close to the substrate the critters live in. Your buoyanc really matters here. You want to avoid stirring up the sediment, or touching the rocks and corals when you get up close. Divers who like the big stuff usually have to contend with currents that can be quite challenging for the inexperienced.

Go with a Group

For a start, sign up for trips with a dive centre. They organise groups and itineraries that will include the highlights of that destination. Report your experience in advance, and the resorts and liveaboards are always happy to accommodate newer divers and assign guides that will keep a special eye out for you, or take you to a site more suited to your skill level. Another plus is that you’ll expand your circle of dive buddies you can travel with on other adventures.

Safety

Safety is always – and never – an issue. No dive operation will ever say they are unsafe.

So, no matter how safe the operations are, things can always happen. The onus is on you to exercise safe diving practices. Listen to dive briefings and the guides. And remember, be considerate, look out for each other, be respectful of the environment and don’t dive beyond your limits. You are not the only one who paid for a dive holiday. If something happens to you, especially on a liveaboard, the rest of the group forfeits their holiday, too, because the boat will have to return to port as the crew arranges for a medical evacuation.

Selecting Your Dive Operators

If you go with a dive centre, the dive leader will make all the arrangements. But if you are confident enough to plan your own holiday, or take up a trip at a dive convention (like ADEX), ask questions and be specific about your needs. Be open about your dive experience, so that the operators make sure you are well looked after.

If things still don’t go your way even after you’ve made meticulous plans, take a deep breath, adapt and try to make the best of it. As in life, not everything will go to plan – at least you’ll have a story to share with your dive buddies.

Operators are people, too, and they have a business to run. Many will bend over backwards to ensure you make happy memories. In the event you encounter an unpleasant situation, stay objective, be understanding and learn how to plan a better trip next time.

A New World

The amazing thing about scuba diving is that you are constantly learning and improving, even if you have logged thousands of dives. You can dive the same site hundreds of times but each experience is always different. When you become more confident in your skills and become more comfortable in the water, you will start to notice the life around you, and that’s where the magic begins and addiction starts to set in. You’ll thirst for more and think about where your next trip will be. You might even want to start picking up a camera, but that opens up a black hole to a whole other dimension!

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