Dive Into Your Imagination!

Annie Crawley, AKA "Ocean Annie," has become one of America's leading ocean-environ educators. Founder of www.DiveIntoYourImagination.com, her company changes the way new generations view the ocean. As an underwater cinematographer and educator, Annie has become a Les Brown Platinum Speaker.

CWIC Founder & President Cindi Walters met her at the DEMA Show 2009 in Orlando, Florida and realizing she is a true inspiration, invited her to be a contributor to our blog! We think you will enjoy Annie's perspective and encourage you to visit her site!

A Message from Annie
Breathing underwater changed my life. Originally from Chicago, I never dreamed that I would spend the past two decades living and working around the world. Traveling from Indonesia to Galapagos, Belize to Papua New Guinea, I have explored and documented underwater life on our planet! Inspired by the words of my grandmother when I was only 10-years-old, "You have to travel when you're a youngster because when you get to be my age, you can't climb the mountains!" After graduating from college with a journalism degree, I wasn't ready to get a job, start a family and do all the more traditional things that most of us are raised to pursue. So I saved my money and bought a plane ticket to Australia. There I learned to scuba dive in my second week and then didn't return back to the states for four years! Learning to Scuba dive gave me a freedom I have never experienced on land.

One of the reasons I was excited to contribute to CWIC's blog is because I would never have been able to Scuba dive if I had never learned to swim. From the time we were in diapers, my mom had us in the local swimming pool for family night swims. Eventually, I joined the swim team when I was 9 and grew up with green hair -- due to all the time we spent in the pool. What I didn't know at the time was that my mom had a fear of water and to this day she hates to put her head underwater. The amazing thing is that she didn't instill her fear in any of her children and sent us to swimming lessons. (She was a true hero, my mom...because the greatest of all heroes don't pass on their fears to those who they guide, but they help them exceed their very own limitations.) It is much easier to learn to swim when you are young, but I know that it can be done by adults who want to get over their fears of water...they too can enter into the magical world found when snorkeling and Scuba diving.

Children are 40% of our population and 100% of our future. A few years ago, I founded www.DiveIntoYourImagination.com to change the way that new generations view the ocean. I spent nearly two decades underwater and believe that real ocean animals are much more exciting than those in cartoons. A few of my favorite animals include pygmy sea horses the size of your baby fingernail; cuttlefish that communicate by changing the color and texture of their skin; and Whale Sharks, the largest fish in the ocean...some growing to be up to 60 feet in length!

I still pinch myself when I think about diving with Great White Sharks in Mexico and bottle nose dolphins in Belize. The ocean is the most magical place, and it was all possible because my mom taught me to swim and my grandmother told me to travel...and there is much more to be told.

I look forward to contributing again in the near future!!! If you have any questions, feel free to visit my website site and email!

http://www.destinationwater.com/- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation

The Tub is the Perfect Place to Start

Our customers are always asking for ways that they can get their children comfortable with snorkeling equipment.

Leslie Connolly of Vancouver, BC sent an adorable photo of her grandson Jake practicing in the bathtub.

Thanks for the picture Leslie!! We strongly suggest that children first practice snorkeling in the tub. It is a great way for them to learn how to breathe calmly through a snorkel and get used to the way a mask feels.

Once children have mastered snorkeling in a bathtub they can then move to the pool.

Leslie shared with me that Jake did make the jump from the bathtub to the pool. He loved using the snorkel and mask so much that he was bound and determined to learn to swim with the Body Glove Jr. Lucent/Jr. Whistle combo.

I've asked Leslie to send more pictures when the Summer returns in BC. We look forward to seeing how Jake is progressing!!

http://www.destinationwater.com/- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation

What to Look for in a Snorkeling Spot

Planning a trip to a tropical locale for the holidays? If so, we strongly suggest you enjoy a snorkeling adventure or two! When you start researching snorkeling spots, you will notice that there are many to choose from -- so you may ask yourself, "how do I know I'm choosing a winner?"

Here are some key features to look for in a snorkeling spot:

- A protected lagoon, lake, cove or bay
- Calm waters
- Good underwater visibility
- The warmer the water the better (or wear a high quality wetsuit to keep warm)
-Lots of sea life to view - fish, sea turtles, eels, fauna, coral, rock formations and more.
-One that isn't too crowded.
- Easy entry and exit from snorkeling area

If this will be your first snorkeling adventure, make sure that you practice before you attempt to experience an ocean or fresh water environment.

You want to be as comfortable as possible. And always snorkel with a friend, family member or tour group.

We would love to hear about your snorkeling adventures!! Send pictures and a description of your experience to info@cwicfluid.com.

http://www.destinationwater.com/- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation

A Family Snorkeling Adventure

One morning, my friends Jane and Mark called me to get ideas for a family snorkeling vacation. Mark had never put on a mask, but Jane had been snorkeling many times. Snorkeling with her brother and parents in the Greek Isles remains one of Jane's fondest memories, and she was eager to share a similar experience with her own family. I suggested the Virgin Islands, where abundant marine life thrives in warm tropical waters. After our phone conversation, they took their children - Jessie, 8, and Peter, 6 - to a local dive shop and outfitted them with gear.

"Peter learned to use his mask and snorkel in the tub before we tried the ocean, and it really helped," Jane says. On their trip, they had an amazing time together: "The four of us held hands, making a big circle with our heads in the middle, and floated over a huge school of tiny florescent fish. And it was really safe for the children. The only danger was not wanting to get out of the water."

Floating on the surface of a calm, clear, sea and watching fish dance between shimmering shafts of sunlight is a pleasure an entire family can enjoy together. Even those family members who cannot swim can snorkel with the help of a life preserver. By the time children are old enough to attend school, most are able to master snorkeling techniques.

They key is to get out there! Get into the water with your family and friends, and enjoy all that rivers, lakes and oceans have to offer. Lifetime memories are created when we dare to go and discover...

- Post by Joel Simon, Founder & Owner of Sea for Yourself Snorkeling Safaris. Check out his site at www.seaforyourself.com.


http://www.destinationwater.com/- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation

Critter Profile: Nemo the Clown Fish

In the Disney classic tale Finding Nemo, we are introduced a breed of fish that plays several roles in the vast ocean. Their beauty has the power to take our breaths away, and at the same time, they have the power save an important ocean c0-dweller from destruction and transform in ways unknown to man.


The following are several details on the clown fish that may surprise you:

- There are 28 species including the Skunk, Barrier Reef, Twoband, Mauritian, Tomato, Whitesnout, Madagascar, Pink Skunk and Saddleback.
- They live in small groups: within these groups are only one reproductive male & female. The rest of the fish in the group are non-reproductive.
- The beautiful fish lays eggs on flat surfaces and usually spawn during a full moon.
- When they are born, all clown fish are males. (So how do they mate?...you may be asking...) Some change their sex in order to mate. And...if a female dies during a mating session, another male will be promoted to female and will then change its sex. (what!? Yes, it's true!)
- Clown fish range in size from 4 to 7 inches as adults.
- They are omnivores, feeding off of algae, plankton, mollusks, and crustacean.
- Sea anemones are protected by clown fish because they feed on parasites that are harmful to anemones.
- Clown fish are one of two species that can survive the poison of sea anemones. A mucous membrane coats their bodies for protection.
- They prefer the warmer waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans.
- Find clown fish at these favorite dive & snorkel destinations: Great Barrier Reef, Red Sea, Fiji, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives and Indonesia.

On your next snorkel or dive trip with clown fish...or in an aquarium...or Nemo on the big screen, be amazed! These lil' critters are truly heroes in their own right.

Want to win a free snorkel set? Be the first to tell us where Nemo's father finally rescued him, and you will be the winner of a Body Glove Professional Dive Set!

Go to the following link and fill out the simple form (please enter your answer into the phone number field of the form):
http://www.destinationwater.com/landing_page.asp

- Posted by Jen of CWIC

http://www.destinationwater.com/- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation

A WHAT Valve?!?

Purge:

A. To cause evacuation of a person.

B. To clear of imputed guilt or ritual uncleanliness.

C. To put to death or otherwise eliminate (undesirable or unwanted members) from a political organization, government, nation, etc.

D. To rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; cleanse;

purify.

So Option A, no comment. B, Yoga or a confessional should work just fine. C, Jason Bourne would be proud, or confused... He probably wouldn't even remember. D, You mean to effortlessly get rid of the unwanted water in your snorkel?

YES! That is exactly what I mean. A Purge snorkel does just that. Let's say you are snorkeling and a little splash of water drops down your snorkel. You can still breathe but that taste of saltwater lingers in your mouth. With a purge snorkel you can blow air through your snorkel, like shooting a spit wad through a straw, and the excess water will leave through the purge valve located at the bottom of the snorkel, very close to your mouth.

What is this good for? Well, let's say hypothetically that you have been waiting to see this one particular fish, or crab, or eel for what seems like forever. You can tell it's about to happen but all of a sudden, SALT. Salt all in your mouth and it's disgusting. That right there is a perfect time for a Purge. No need to go above surface and clean everything, just purge it out.

CWIC carries all sorts of Purge snorkels such as the incredibly convenient Alert Whistle Snorkel, Vacater, Siren and Inhale Dry.

Above all else...get in the water. Check it out. Stop watching Planet Earth (Not to knock it, I love the show) and go experience it. It's so close, so accessible, so real and it's basically free! Spending time in the water is a lot like going to the gym. At first you are reluctant; why?, it's too cold, and I'm tired. But afterward, it's all but impossible to regret a little adventure into the water. So purge out everything else and jump in :)

-Anthony; Nature Lover, Intern, Blogger, and that's what I look like in the gym.

www.destinationwater.com- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation

Dear First Timer...

This is my letter, to the snorkeler who is about to embark on their first journey into the blue (movie reference intended.) Your mental state is fragile because you are convinced that snorkeling is like nothing you have ever done before and the very thought of being out in the water is more frightening than filing your taxes, rising gas prices, or, the worst going cellphoneless (One word, three syllables) for a week let alone a day!

You need not to worry! Us at CWIC have all been there before and I can assure you, it is totally worth it. Remember being younger, and being terrified of doing a flip on the trampoline? Or maybe you visited an amusement park for the frist time and actually going upside down on a roller coaster, fuhhgettabawditt! Maybe for some of you it was trying something you never ate, for the first time and absolutely loving it. Eventually, you flipped, you rode the coaster, with your hands up the ENTIRE time and yes you even tried that piece of ahi, that spicy pepper, or, um... Lamb. No matter which story is yours, it's hard to explain where the joy we get from these events comes from and finding that next little challenge can be tough but you, the brave little choo-choo that said they could has come upon it, way to go! Snorkeling, it's your next "worth-it" challenge.

First of all, you have to be comfortable. Girls, you have to get over the fact that you will look a little funny in a snorkel mask and guys I promise you will not compromise your wannabe tough guy persona by putting a pair of fins on. What you will find is that while looking for and choosing gear for your next snorkel expedition, color, size, look, or whether or not it all matches is not as nearly important as if it feels good. I can promise, the fish will not care if your little pink accents in your fins match the strings of your bikini which in turn match the color of your mask. You would be wiser to focus on technique so that the fish don't notice you; it will make your experience so much more enjoyable. Remember you are a guest in their home. Think vice versa, a fish three times our size comes stomping around in our house with no coordination whatsoever and just watches us as we... cook breakfast, or maybe read blogs posted by mildly creative interns. *wink*

To elaborate on the technique topic... once you come upon a site with a decent amount of wildlife or you find that you have moved into an area with a group of snorkelers who seem to be already focusing on something, MOVE LESS! It's very important that you kick less and try to completely refrain from using you arms. A good pair of fins is great because it allows you to do minimal work while getting maximum results. That's my one and only ode to the AB-Doer Extreme informercial that has been dominating the paid programming as of late. Anyway, move so little that you actually allow your body to gently rise up and down with the natural bob of the ocean and take time to focus on each and every movement of your legs to insure that you are not going too fast and are totally in control. technique and Etiquette actually go hand in hand. While you do not want to disrupt the natural habitat that has flourished long before you got there, you also do not want to take away from the experience of those around you.

Safety is the last thing I want to touch on. If you worry,"Well I'm just too exposed, I feel too open like there is nothing I can go to or what if I begin to feel lightheaded or need a rest." CWIC to the rescue, with the Hydrosling. Just think, a non bulky alternative to the lifejacket. Takes absolutely no effort to stay afloat and for many, it is the ultimate secutiry. "But CWIC, what about my kids?" Pretty much any watersport provider carries a comfortable fitting very bright orange cap that can be seen from a mile out. One other thing that Body Glove and CWIC can boast about is that we have many snorkels to choose from that include a whistle. Whatever your worry is, we have the products that will help you feel better in the water. The one thing that will gain you the most comfort in the water is experience.

There you have it; Be comfortable, focus on not disrupting anything or anyone and be a safe as you want. Snorkeling is truly a wonderful way to appreciate what the ocean holds, and I promise, just like the roller coaster, you will want to go again and again.


Anthony- Intern, Product Tester, Nature Lover and now developing gills

http://www.destinationwater.com/- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation

Where Is Your Nitsch?

What do Herbert Nitsch, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the standard sun burnt tourist have in common? They dive!! Three very different names and very different backgrounds but connected in the fact that they spend time in the water. One is the bravest human being on the planet, the other a true innovator and the last (guess who) is in need of some lessons. Unless you are swimming competitively, water activities can be broken down into three categories; Free Diving, Scuba Diving, and Snorkeling. Now please, Proceed…

(Cousteau)

The tourist devours blended fruity concoctions, all inclusive anything and Snorkeling. Le Commandant Cousteau fancied his croissant and fathered the Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. SCUBA! But wait, who is this Nitsch Fellow? WELL, funny you should ask being as he is the World record holder for No Limit Free Diving, 214 meters, down, underwater, in ONE BREATH. Translation = Unless somehow Herbert Nitsch himself tracked down my measly blog in attempt to bolster his own mental resume and is now reading it, no reader of mine will ever compare to the set of lungs and err, yeah, this guy has. More to come on Nitsch… Snorkeling is beckoning.

(Nitsch)

Small tube, set of flippers and a trusty mask… jump in, because you are now a veteran snorkeler. Most snorkeling is done in the warmer climates, where calmer waters are and something interesting, whether it be huge kelp beds, coral, or fish brighter than Fruit Loops can be found. Quick notes about the art of the snorkel; You are already floating in the water with fins you are not used to and a mask that enlarges your eyeballs at least double the size, please don’t draw more attention to yourself by being the one that splashes around imitating your household washing machine. You will soon have no friends in the water, lots of sand around you and maybe if you really have learned your lesson, a few friendly reminders from the coral that they may look pretty but they have a dark, or sharp side. Truth is, snorkeling is great. With nothing more than a plastic tube, the average person can glimpse at what wonder the ocean has in store. May it be the schools of fish or slimy sea cucumber, the sea anemone or the not so friendly sea urchin, the shore has so much to offer one who is willing to simply watch. Be patient, and realize that you are foreign to them, foreign and 6 times most of their size. Think if the tables were turned, a 60 ft fish, walking into your backyard… Howdy Neighbor!

Remember in Finding Nemo, the cleaner fish in the aquarium with the handle bar moustache and the French accent so aptly named Jacques? Yeah he has nothing to do with Jacques Cousteau, but hey, he was French and so is our beloved father of modern day scuba, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Before Cousteau, if a diver wanted to stay underwater by way of an external air source, they had to be hooked up to an oxygen machine and wherever they swam, a very bulky, rather annoying airline was hooked up to their helmet. Cousteau invented the aqualung and now, SCUBA is not just a way of diving, but a way of life. Those who scuba swear it is the most rewarding experience and being part of the water for that long is a treat each and every time. More training is required but that is expected being as deeper depths are attained and if the technique is not performed properly, oh boy, you are in for more than just a little earache. Learn it the right way and never have a problem, plus, it looks cool. Really cool.

Free Diving, where have you been all of my life. This sport, you bet it’s a sport, is incredible. Courage, athleticism, a little bit of insanity and vast amounts of water sprinkled with as much oxygen as you can fill your lings with in one breath. If you bottled up the guts and pinch of madness in an airtight container (pun intended) that come with bungee jumping and released them into the ocean, you birthed free diving, congratulations. By definition, free diving is any kind of swimming done with no breathing apparatus. It could be children having contests to see who holds their breath underwater longest. Or maybe who can go “there and back” on one breath. Free diving is a loose definition which is why most likely, if you have been in the water, you have free dove. Most common free diving includes Spear fishing, underwater Hockey and underwater Rugby. Okay so the second two are not common at all but wow, how do you get tickets? Competitive apnea is really where the sport gets its exposure. All sorts of free diving are recognized consisting of fin and no fin depth contests, assisted and unassisted contests and plain old contests to see who can hold stay under longer. But who is Nitsch? Imagine this, grabbing a few weights, one huge monofin and the biggest breath you ever inhaled and diving the length of 2 ½ football fields and then coming back up!! Yeah, if cheerleading is considered a sport, free diving gets its own category. Goes with skydiving, arm-wrestling, rugby, and unassisted rock-climbing. Herbert, I’m not worthy.

Water is for some relaxing, for others entertainment, and for a select few, a chance to prove their athleticism to the world. No matter what you find yourself doing in the water, do it. Because being weightless and floating seamlessly, being a part of what was here long before us and what will be here long after us, it’s an indescribable feeling.

-Anthony- Intern, Product Tester, Nature Lover and now, Published Blogger.

http://www.destinationwater.com/
- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation

The History Of Fins

What do you call the big rubber shoes you throw on your feet to help you gain an edge in the water? Swim fins, shin fins (also used as a curse word in some countries) or flippers? Perhaps you have a very special name for them (if so let us know). Here at DestinationWater.com we call them fins. Fins are worn on the foot, adding length and propulsion to each of your kicks in the water. Hi-Tech fins are like great sunglasses – our friends in Italy know this to be true. Style, form and function mean one thing - Italian designed and manufactured. Great fins should have the style of a Ferrari and the performance of a Lamborghini. In water language that means a blade that delivers a tremendous amount of power with minimal expenditure of energy. Rubber center section cups water in the down stroke to prevent blade from wobbling or side slipping. In basic terms – you look good when you’re swimming through the deep blue and more importantly you cover more water, faster and with less effort. All of this adds up to more time in the water, exploring one of nature’s greatest resources by swimming, body boarding, bodysurfing and various types of underwater diving.

Unlike Aquaman, who can dash through the water like a great blue or black marlin, the average diver/swimmer cannot effectively use their feet to move through the water. Your toes may be great for helping you count when you need to get past the number 10 but are horrible at underwater propulsion. If you are a diver, adding equipment that increases hydrodynamic drag (you did not wake up and expect to read a hydrodynamic drag, dropping it like its hot blog style – way. Also, hydrodynamic is a triple word score when playing Scrabble; thank your friends at DestinationWater.com when you take home the gold in the international Scrabble competition). Anyways, when you are geared up underwater your feet and toes are no help in moving you through the water. Aquaman can swim circles and squares around you. That is why swimmers and divers, in an effort to be more like Aqua Man, use swim fins….

So what fins will work for you? Depends on what water activity you are in too. Nice shades are made for specific reasons – driving, golfing, fishing, outdoor sports, etc. The same holds true for fins. A fin that will have you darting through the cool blue waters of the Pacific Ocean will not have the same affect in your 12ft X 30ft above ground pool. Fins are specially designed for special activities – a fun day of snorkeling, a day of laps in the pool, a free dive to explore the deep blue – you name the activity and there is a fin designed for it.

Figure out what water activities you want to do, then visit us at http://www.destinationwater.com/ . We have sets, combos and standalone products. Each product is loaded up with information ensuring you get the product you want and you know where you can buy it…

Maximize your time in the water with the right products and never forget the immortal words of Aquaman – “You know not all my friends have fins.”

Maybe you can be a friend. And with the right fins, you might even be able to keep up with the legendary superhero of the deep…

http://www.destinationwater.com/
- A C Walters Intercoastal Corporation