Dive Right In Scuba

Author: Trace

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The Lionfish Invasion: A Menace to Florida’s Marine Ecosystems

Florida, renowned for its vibrant marine life and extensive coral reefs, faces a formidable threat from an unlikely source: the lionfish. Native to the Indo-Pacific, these strikingly beautiful but dangerous fish have been wreaking havoc in Florida’s waters. We’re going to dive into the reasons why lionfish are harmful to Florida’s marine ecosystems and what it means for the future of these underwater paradises.

Lionfish display at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, FL

The Uninvited Predator

Lionfish, with their distinctive stripes and feathery fins, were once admired solely in aquariums. However, their accidental introduction into Florida’s waters, likely has turned them into an ecological nightmare. Here’s why:

Unchecked Population Growth

In their native habitat, lionfish populations are controlled by natural predators. However, in Florida’s waters, these predators are absent, allowing lionfish to breed prolifically. A single female can release up to 2 million eggs per year, leading to a rapid and uncontrollable increase in their numbers.

Voracious Appetites

Lionfish are not picky eaters. They consume a wide variety of fish and invertebrates, including important species like juvenile groupers and snappers. This uncontrolled consumption disrupts the natural balance of the marine ecosystem, impacting the food chain and biodiversity. Moreover, lionfish can reduce native fish populations by up to 90%, according to some studies.

A Threat to Coral Reefs

Lionfish don’t just affect fish populations; they also pose a risk to coral reefs. By devouring herbivorous species that keep algae in check, lionfish indirectly contribute to the overgrowth of algae, which can smother and kill coral reefs. These reefs are vital not only for marine life but also for the economy, supporting tourism and fishing industries.

The Ripple Effect

The lionfish invasion isn’t just an environmental issue; it has tangible economic impacts too. Florida’s fishing industry, which relies heavily on native fish populations, faces declines. The tourism sector, drawn to Florida’s renowned diving spots and beautiful reefs, could also see a downturn if these ecosystems continue to degrade.

Battling the Invasion

Efforts to control lionfish populations include organized hunts, encouraging local consumption, and even innovative traps. While these initiatives help, they are not yet enough to significantly reduce the lionfish numbers. Continuous research and more effective management strategies are urgently needed.

What Can We Do?

Public awareness and participation are crucial. Our biggest saving grace is that lionfish are delicious and can be found on the menu at a bunch of restaurant or purchased in seafood departments in most Florida chain grocers. Publix and Whole Foods around the country can order lionfish, so even if you’re not those outside of Florida can still help. Divers and fishermen can help by reporting lionfish sightings and participating in removal efforts. Education and community involvement are key components in managing this invasive species.

The lionfish invasion in Florida is a pressing environmental issue with far-reaching consequences. These invaders disrupt the ecological balance, posing a threat not only to marine life but also to the economic well-being of communities reliant on these ecosystems. Tackling this issue requires a multifaceted approach, combining scientific research, community involvement, and innovative management strategies. By working together, we can hope to mitigate the impact of lionfish and preserve Florida’s precious marine ecosystems for future generations.

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Guarding the Depths: How Anarchy Scuba is Tackling the Surge in Facebook Sales Scams

There has been an increase in FB sales group fraud where scammers duplicate someone’s Facebook page using their pictures and copy their sales posts in an attempt to trick people into buying high-ticket items, taking their money and then not delivering the product.

As the creator of Anarchy Scuba Swap (which started all this “Anarchy” crap lol), my moderator team sees this frequently and do our best to remove these posts as they are identified/reported. Unfortunately these scam posts are posted simultaneously in many gear swap groups where they can claim multiple victims with a single post.

A friend of mine found a FB group called, “Exposing Scams and Fraud in Beekeeping” where people can report these profiles and posts. He suggested we collect and share the same data in the dive community.

We’ve created a form where you can anonymously report suspicious gear sales posts found in any Facebook group. We will review submissions and share a database of fake accounts or those who have been copied to decrease the number of successful fraud attempts.

Why not just report them to Facebook, you ask? You absolutely should. The problem the Bee Keeping groups identified was that the slime-balls committing these crimes would just make new accounts, often using the exact same names/posts and would end up back in some of the groups that don’t screen new members as well.

Anarchy Scuba Swap’s commitment to keeping you safe: We don’t allow suspicious account into the group, decreasing your chances of getting scammed. The group is not here for popularity. It’s here to provide a safe and unbiased place to purchase used dive gear from the community. Every member is screened and misconduct is taken seriously. Read/listen to “Let’s Talk About ASS” for the story about how the group (and pretty much everything else) started.

If you have a suggestion for how we can make this process better or if there are additional data points we should be collecting, please let me know.

Dive safe (and buy safe!)

Trace

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Liveaboard Dive Travel: 15 Things You Might Be Missing Out On By Staying in a Hotel

Listen along….

When it comes to planning a dive vacation, the choice between staying in a hotel and embarking on a liveaboard dive trip can greatly influence your underwater experience. While hotels may offer comfort and convenience, liveaboard dive travel provides unparalleled access and immersion into the aquatic world. If you’ve never been on a liveaboard, here are some things you might be missing out on:

1. Dawn and Night Dives

Liveaboards offer the unique advantage of being on the dive site, allowing for early morning and late-night dives. In a hotel, you’re bound by boat schedules, which often miss the serene beauty of sunrise under water and the nocturnal spectacle when marine life transforms as the sun sets.

2. Remote Dive Locations

Liveaboards have the freedom to cruise to distant dive sites that are often inaccessible to day boats from hotels. These pristine, remote sites are less frequented, offering a more intimate encounter with marine life.

3. Maximized Dive Time

On a liveaboard, you can usually dive 4-5 times a day (dependent on depth and temperature limits, of course) as opposed to the 2-3 dives typically offered by land based operations. This means more time under water, observing, photographing, and appreciating the dive site.

4. Bonding with Other Divers

The social atmosphere on a liveaboard is one of its greatest appeals. Surrounded by fellow divers day and night, you forge connections and share experiences that can turn into lifelong friendships. When you spend less time hauling gear and traveling to the site, you have more time to hang out with your buddy and new friends.

5. Exclusive On-Board Expertise

Liveaboards often host dive professionals with extensive knowledge of the best and most secluded spots. Hotel-based dive operations may offer expertise, but the continuous presence and guidance on a liveaboard are unrivaled.

6. All-Inclusive Convenience

A liveaboard package typically includes accommodations, meals, and multiple dives, which can be more cost-effective and less hassle than a hotel-based trip with separate charges for each dive and meal. Its not hard to find a liveaboard trip with more value for your money than the alternative. Plus with an itinerary including multiple dives a day, liveaboards can be a good time to take a certification class while onboard.

7. Hassle-Free Dive Preparation

Your gear is set up once when you’re on a liveaboard and is ready for all subsequent dives. The liveaboard staff fill your tanks in between dives while you’re enjoying a meal/snacking, logging your dives or just lounging on the deck. In contrast, hotel stays require daily setups and transfers, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.

8. Intimate Connection with the Sea

Living on a vessel provides a continuous connection with the ocean. From falling asleep to the sound of waves to waking up with a sea view, the ocean becomes a part of your everyday experience.

9. Eco-Friendly Options

Many liveaboards are eco-conscious, practicing sustainable tourism that helps preserve the delicate marine environment. Hotels may also follow eco-friendly practices, but the liveaboard’s smaller footprint and their ability to support conservation directly on the water can be more impactful.

10. Enhanced Learning Curve

The frequency of dives and the variety of dive sites on a liveaboard can lead to a steeper learning curve, improving your skills and confidence much more rapidly than the hotel-based diving schedule allows.

11. Wildlife Encounters

Liveaboards can stay out in areas known for spectacular wildlife encounters, increasing your chances of swimming with the likes of whale sharks, manta rays, and schools of pelagic fish.

12. Seclusion, Serenity and the Chance to Disconnect

Away from the bustle of tourist hubs and crowded beaches, liveaboards offer a tranquility that hotels often can’t match. It’s a blend of adventure and peace – all aligned with the rhythms of nature. Being at sea allows you to disconnect from the distractions of everyday life. It’s a chance to relax, unwind, and be present in the moment, both above and below the water.

13. Tailored Diving Itineraries

On a liveaboard, dive itineraries can be more flexible. If a particular site is spectacular, you might stay longer, something that hotel-based trips can rarely accommodate.

14. Scenic Views and Starry Nights

The ever-changing scenery and the clarity of the night sky when far from land are experiences that are purely the domain of liveaboard life.

15. Higher Levels of Service

Live aboard operations often cater more closely to their clientele and provide more of a stress-free, concierge-style of diving. Dive masters and boat crew work hard to make your experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. As with day charters, the crew work for tips, but you often get much better customer service on a liveaboard and get to know the staff throughout your trip.

While hotels offer their own set of comforts and conveniences, liveaboard dive travel presents an entirely different array of experiences that go beyond diving. It’s about immersing yourself in the marine environment, bonding with fellow enthusiasts, and taking advantage of every opportunity to explore beneath the waves. If you’re a diver who seeks the ultimate underwater adventure, the liveaboard lifestyle is something you wouldn’t want to miss.

Safe Travels!

Trace

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“What Do You Do with Your Shark Teeth?” – A Comprehensive Look at What to do with the Jars and Buckets of Shark Teeth Slowly Encroaching on Every Inch of Free Space in Your House (a working title)

By Tracy B.

Want me to read this to you in my phone voice? It’s your lucky day.

I post frequently about shark teeth I find scuba diving in FL/GA/SC/NC and almost every time I get comments and messages asking me if I sell my teeth. The resounding answer is “no” – which always leads to the follow up question, “what do you do with your shark teeth?” This, in turn, gets me thinking about all the options to utilize shark teeth. I’ve outlined some things you can do with your growing collection of shark teeth, including what I am currently doing with mine.

Here is a list of things you can do with your shark tooth collection:

  • Display It: Create a display case or shadow box to show off your collection. This can be a great conversation starter and an interesting decorative piece in your home. Ensure that the teeth are securely mounted and labeled, possibly with information about the species of shark and where and when you found the teeth.
  • Educate Others: Use your collection as an educational tool. If you have children or friends interested in marine biology or paleontology, you can use the teeth to teach them about different shark species, their habitats, their role in the ecosystem, and the history of these fascinating creatures.
  • Make Jewelry: Shark teeth can be made into unique pieces of jewelry, such as necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. This could be a personal DIY project, or you could collaborate with a jewelry maker for a professional touch.
  • Create Art: Incorporate the teeth into a piece of art. This could range from a mosaic to a sculptural piece. You could also create a wall art piece by arranging them in an artistic manner on a canvas or wooden board.
  • Donate to a Museum: If you have rare specimens, consider donating them to a local museum or university. Researchers can sometimes use well-preserved shark teeth to learn more about shark populations and their historical ranges.
  • Trade or Sell: If you have a large collection, you might consider trading with other collectors to get different types of teeth that you don’t have. Alternatively, there is a market for shark teeth, and collectors are often looking to buy specific types.
  • Start a Blog, Social Media Account or YouTube Channel: Share your collection with the world. You could start a blog or a social media account dedicated to your shark tooth collecting adventures. This could also be a platform to discuss conservation issues related to sharks and the oceans.
  • Contribute to Conservation Efforts: Use your collection to raise awareness about shark conservation. You could host informational sessions at schools or community centers, or even set up a booth at local events.
  • Gift Them: Individual shark teeth can make for a unique and meaningful gift, especially to those who appreciate nature or the marine environment.
  • Craft a Personal Museum: If your collection is extensive, consider dedicating a space in your home to create a personal museum. You could combine this with other nautical or marine life collectibles.
  • Engage With Online Communities: Join fossil and shark tooth collecting forums or social media groups. You can share your finds, learn from others, and even get help with identification. My favorite online community for fossils is obviously Anarchy Fossil Club (but I may be a little biased).
  • Use Them in Educational Workshops: If you’re involved in teaching or workshops, you could incorporate shark teeth into lessons about marine life, evolution, or the importance of sharks in ocean ecosystems.

Here is the list of things I do with MY shark tooth collection:

  • Leave them in buckets in my bathroom.

The end.

Lol Just kidding. I have plans to do a number of the things listed above. I also have some select teeth displayed in my office, including some in cool containers I’ve collected or were given to me as gifts (thanks Nick!) that I fill with smaller teeth I’ve found. I’ve also donated and gifted a fair amount of my collection. Shark teeth are my love language. There are a couple of hurdles keeping me from moving forward with making progress with my shark tooth collection to-do list, though. In addition of time constraints and the fact that most of my shark teeth need to be cleaned, which can be a complicated process, I find that I’d rather use my available time diving for teeth than figuring out what to do with them once they’re dry! Not a bad problem to have lol.

I’ll write some follow up pieces on some of the topics I’ve written about here, but feel free to reach out to me with specific questions. I’m always happy to share my experiences and the knowledge I have (or point you toward other resources for things I may not have the best answer for).

Happy hunting/collecting/diving!

Trace

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Review of the Shearwater Research NERD 2 (Stand Alone) Computer

Want me to read this to you in my phone voice? It’s your lucky day.

If you’re familiar with the Shearwater Research NERD 2 computer, you likely know about it because of it’s use in closed-circuit rebreather diving. With a rebreather, the NERD (near eye retina display) is an amazing device that attaches to the diver’s loop and sits directly below their eye. The diver is able to see a small screen that shows all the same screen components as the larger computer sitting on their wrist. This is particularly helpful for rebreather divers because they are constantly monitoring their PO2 on their computer during their dive. Having this information within the diver’s field of vision at all times is incredibly helpful in operating their unit (and therefore keeping them alive lol). While I believe the NERD 2 is an invaluable tool for technical rebreather divers, there is also a place for this computer in open circuit diving.

Shearwater makes a separate model of the computer called the NERD 2 SA (Stand Alone). This particular model clamps onto the diver’s second stage regulator hose, and displays the same screen they would see on any open circuit Shearwater product. But with a price tag significantly higher than other open circuit Shearwater computers, what real benefit does an open circuit diver gain by sitting the computer directly under their eye, when a quick lift of their wrist will show them the exact same information?

So the answer to that is the digital compass.

Let me pause for a moment. If you don’t use a DPV (scooter) in open water, you’re not a fossil diver or you’re not someone who is just into gadgets, this is your stop. (This computer probably won’t impress you…. Check out this one instead: Shearwater Research Perdix 2 computer.)

If you’re still with me. Let’s talk about the compass. As a recovering “cave-only” diver, I didn’t have much use for a compass in my diving journey. When I started diving for fossils, I had to brush up on my navigation skills. I have found the digital compasses on (all) Shearwater products to be reliable, and I’ve stopped carrying an analog compass for that reason.

The NERD 2 has the same digital compass as the other Shearwater computers, but putting it against your eye gives both DPV and Fossil divers advantages for different reasons.

DPV benefit: Its easy enough to mount an analog (or digital) compass on your scooter, however depending on where you mount it, you may have some interference with the electronic components of the vehicle. I don’t think I need to explain why that is an issue lol. Wearing a NERD 2 on your second stage moves the compass far enough away that you don’t have those interreferences. (Its possible your experience may differ, but I have found this to be the case with my diving.)

Fossil diving benefit: Hands free bitches! Lol. Having to hold your compass in the exact right position takes a hand away from your fossil collecting, not to mention it can be uncomfortable if you’re wearing a wrist-mounted compass and need to hold a heading for the majority of your dive. When the compass is sitting just under your eye, you don’t have to worry about positioning it, or taking the few seconds to orient yourself. You just glace down from time to time and you’re golden.

“But wait, Tracy, doesn’t the screen get in your way and keep you from seeing fossils?” Not at all. In fact, you have to remember to look at the computer to see it, otherwise it just blurs out of your vision like optical magic.

If you don’t believe me, here are all the fossils I found on a recent fossil charter with Top 2 Bottom charters in Venice. I didn’t find all of that with just one eye lol.

 

There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you decide to buy this computer.

1. There is an internal rechargeable battery. This is becoming more common with dive lights, so remembering to charge your gear before a dive is less of a burden these days. The NERD 2 also comes with an external battery to add juice to your computer if you are on a longer trip, but the battery lasts a decent amount of time. I get 6-8 90 minute fossil dives on my computer before I have to recharge.

2. There is a short adjustment period to position the NERD 2 right where you want it. This took me one dive/adjustment, which was easily done on the dive boat during a surface interval without the use of tools. I’m only mentioning this because I don’t want someone to open the box and throw the computer on your reg and expect not to have to mess with it juuuust a little bit. But for me, this was a quick set-it-and-forget-it situation.

3. With a price tag of $1650, this is going to be one of your more spendy gear investments for your open water kit. I still found it to be well worth it to have my hand free and my compass oriented for the entire dive. Don’t forget to use the attached tether string on your regulator hose. This will keep you from losing your investment if something happens to the mount mid-dive.

There you have it. The NERD 2 stand alone is a great tool for open-circuit open-water DPV or fossil divers. If you find yourself regularly participating in one or both of these small subsets of diving, definitely take a look at this computer.

As always, Safe diving!

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How to Buy Dive Gear Like a Pro (…even if you’re a new diver.)

First time gear purchases for new divers can be frustrating and intimidating, but I’m here to help! Read further for ways to find discounts on your dive gear….

If you ask a new diver what their biggest turn off is when it comes to diving, one of the first answers you’ll likely hear is how overwhelming it is to decide what gear they need and the cost around the initial investment to purchase their own set of gear. Diving is an extremely rewarding activity, but let’s face it, dive gear is expensive. And as we all know, buying dive gear can be stressful and frustrating, especially in the beginning. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but for the majority of us who dive regularly, gear purchases don’t stop after the initial purchase – they are seemingly never ending. As someone who paid full retail for dive gear for the first decade of her active diving pursuits, including a full sets of recreational and technical gear, I feel your pain. Allow me to share some tips I learned along the way that I wish I knew about when I started my journey.

Support your LDS, but don’t be afraid to buy gear online

I’m all about supporting your local dive shop if they are supporting your local dive community. That means that in addition to gear sales and equipment rental, they meet a number other criteria to serve their customers and their community. Some examples include:

  • They have a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. I’ve touched on this in other posts. This is a leisure hobby and your dive shop should be an enjoyable place to visit.
  • They provide meaningful guidance with both dive gear and classes. This often means providing fair and unbiased advice on a brand they may carry or provide references for a class they do not teach.
  • They create a sense of community, which includes organizing local diving opportunities (where possible), socials to bring divers together and help them connect and find buddies and dive travel options to exciting places.
  • They don’t price gouge their customers on dive gear. If they’re selling above MSRP or what you can find online, and refuse to come down, they don’t deserve your money. A well-rounded dive shop makes their profits on classes and travel and not just equipment sales.

Even more important than supporting your dive shop, you need to make sure you have the right gear for your diving. There are lots of dive shop that only carry a couple of brands, and whatever their reason for choosing those brands (best margins, preferred brand of the owner, demand from community, etc.), this is your investment, not theirs. Remember that what your shop carries may not be the best brands out there, and they may not have what you need.

Don’t be afraid to buy the specific gear you want for the best price you can find, even if that means shopping online. The internet is a strange and wonderful place, and if you can’t find it in your local shop, order it. If you’re worried your shop will be “mad” at you for shopping elsewhere, find a new shop. They should be competing for your business, not punishing you for their poor business skills.

Do your research and ask for a price match

So how do you support local but still get great deals? Well for starters, do your research online and ask your local shop for a price match. There are a number of shops out there that will price match deals you find online – But you have to ask for it. There are even online shops with price match policies where you don’t even have to speak to a human lol.

Get discounts from online brand affiliates or become one yourself!

We’ve all seen the scuba influencers, selling their souls trying to get you to buy a cheap light or waterproof phone case with their discount codes on Tik Tok. Eye roll. As annoying as most of them are, affiliate marketing has really taken off and many brands are taking advantage of social media and word-of mouth. There are two ways to take advantage of this marketing trend.

  1. Follow brand affiliates/ambassadors/influencers. Chances are, you’re already doing that. Many of them post regularly about the brands they’re associated with because they usually get some sort of kickback when you make a purchase. Start by looking at their bio – There is often a special link to click or they’ll have a coupon code that gives you a discount. If it’s not clear in their profile, send them a direct message and ask, or look for someone else who reps the brand(s).
  2. Become an affiliate yourself! You don’t have to be a dive pro or have 100k (likely fake) followers to become an online affiliate and make money by recommending products to your friends. My favorite site/shop for this is Dive Right in Scuba. DRIS is not only a great local shop for divers in Illinois, but a phenomenal online shop for those of us outside of the area. They have unparalleled customer service and carry pretty much any brand you can think of (I’ve checked). The way it works – You sign up for their affiliate program using this link. Then you share the link with your friends or post to your social media accounts. When someone clicks on the link and completes a sale, you make a small percentage of that sale. It starts off at 5%, which may not sound like much, but if you’re sharing the link with someone making a big purchase or lots of people place orders through your link, it really adds up. You can also sign up for affiliate programs through Amazon or other businesses, but I find it less complicated to just stick to one.

Know when to look for sales

This one may seem a little obvious, but many shops/manufactures have sales on gear throughout the year. Knowing when those sales are likely to happen will help you save big and save you from buying right before something goes on sale. So, when is the best time to look for scuba deals?

  • Black Friday/Cyber Monday – Just like the rest of the world, dive shops/brands take advantage of this internationally growing “holiday” to discount their products and clear out their inventory. A quick google search will help you find online sales, and your shop’s social media should start advertising what is going on sale a week or two ahead of time, many of them running sales the whole month of November. I also post deals I see in Anarchy Scuba Spot, as do others in the group.
  • DEMA Show (usually the first or second week in November) – DEMA is the Dive Equipment and Marketing (lol) Association trade show for dive pros to check out new gear offerings, take industry related classes, and socialize with other dive industry members. Many manufacturers have DEMA Specials to bring on new dealers or introduce their existing dealers to new products. Ever wonder why your shop lists their new travel schedule in December? It’s got nothing to do with it being the end of the calendar year – They’re finding travel deals at DEMA. Anyway – If you’re looking to make a big purchase, ask your shop if they’re sending someone to the show and ask them to get a price for you on that item – even if it’s from a brand they don’t already carry. You’ll also see online deals from some of your favorite manufacturers during this time. Keep an eye on their social media accounts to snag the best deals.
  • Scuba Trade Shows for Consumers – The biggest one in the US is the Scuba Show in Long Beach, CA in June. Lots of shops and manufacturers have deals, but you need to show up in person for this one. It also looks like Beneath the Sea in New Jersey is back after skipping last year. Their show is in March.
  • Time to Dive Show (April-ish) – This is an online show hosted by Dive Right in Scuba where most of the big scuba brands do a web presentation about their latest and greatest products, answer questions, and raffle off prizes (like, good prizes) to people who tune in. DRIS also runs great discounts during the show and does a big raffle at the end. This one is a must for divers interested in dive gear and deals.
  • Memorial Day – Beginning of summer season sales in most local dive shops to get divers ready for local diving.
  • Labor Day/End of Season sales – Shops moving the extra inventory dive shops had stocked up during the dive season.
  • “Sale” sections of online stores – Most online stores have these and you are likely to find some really great deals if you check the Sales page from time to time.

Buy used gear from quality sources

Used dive gear can be intimidating to a new diver, and with good reason. You want to know your life support gear is going to… well, keep you alive. There are some good options to buy safe and reliable gear at really great prices, if you know where to look. (Disclaimer – “Always have used dive gear serviced so you know it works and doesn’t actually kill you… blah, blah, blah…”) Okay, where were we? Where to buy used gear:

  • Your local dive shop – Many dive shops have a bin in the corner with used gear for sale. Make sure you ask them if the gear has been serviced and/or comes with a warranty – or if it’s being sold “as is”.
  • Online dive shops – Same idea. Local dive shops with a strong online presence usually have a section on their page for used gear.
  • Facebook – Out of the slow decline with online scuba forums there has emerged the beast that is Facebook gear swap groups. There is likely a regional group in your area for local swapping. And then of course there are the larger, national (or international) swap groups. I obviously am going to recommend Anarchy Scuba Swap. This was the original group that started the whole online Anarchy Scuba presence. The group is frequented by some pretty great, well-known divers, and has gear ranging from open-water recreational gear, to advanced technical diving gear. When I’m looking for something I want to buy used but can’t find it, I post what I’m looking for and 100% of the time (at current writing lol) I’ve found what I was looking for. The other advantage to the group – While I don’t see every listing that goes up, there are a number of moderators who keep an eye on what’s going on and will remove suspicious posts or call out items that are overpriced or look like they’re dishonest in some way. (If you ever want me to review an item in there, just send me a message on Facebook and I’ll vet the item and the seller – quite a few of whom I can personally vouch for.)

So there you have it. Some sure-fire ways to save some cash on dive gear. Keep an eye out for future posts relating to dive gear and let me know in the comments if you have any other recommendations for saving money on dive gear. I hope some of this information was useful to those of you just starting out with your diving.

Dive Safe!

Trace

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Scootering in the Spring Run at Little River

Playing around with my scooter after a cave dive. I wasn’t ready to get out yet so I joined a school of fish, played in the bubbles coming up through the limestone, and scootering in and out of the river (dark water at the end). Enjoy!! I certainly did! 🙂

Location: Little River Springs County Park, Branford Florida

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Underwater Light Dude – Technical Dive Lights

As a cave diver, I get asked about what light I choose to dive quite a bit. As most of you know, underwater caves have no natural light, so we have to bring light with us. Outside of maybe regulators or a mask, light is THE MOST important piece of gear we have. So important, that we carry not one, but at least two backup lights as standard procedure. As you can imagine, the quality of our primary light has to be top notch. A light failure typically means the end of a dive, and no one wants that! There are many factors to consider when purchasing a technical dive light. Obviously battery life, size, brightness, quality of components are on that list. I have dived all of main light brands available in the United States, and my favorite by far is the UWLD (Underwater Light Dude) Gen 6 LD-40 with a tall can. I’m writing this review because I post about my light a LOT… and I’m lazy, so now when people ask me why I like it I can just send them this link. I know, I know. I’m Brilliant. 😛

So here it is…. The many reasons I am in *love* with my UWLD “Bobby” light! (In no particular order.)

Customer Service

Okay no particular order after this one. UW Light Dude has hands down THE BEST customer service of any light manufacturer. Don’t believe me? Ask anyone else who dives and UWLD light and they’ll tell you the same thing. Think “Shearwater Customer Service” level. Yes. That good. Why is this important? Well despite being the most durable light I’ve found…. Sometimes things happen and when they do, you need those “things” resolved very quickly. Bobby has super fast turn around times, the best warranty on the market, and above all else, excellent communication with his customers. I wish the other give gear brands were half as responsive and supportive as Bobby is. If you couldn’t tell, I’ve been hurt before…

Durability/Quality of components

I am not gentle with gear. I dive in harsh environments, and sometimes my light ends up at the bottom of my pile of gear. And even when I’ve gone out of my way to be gentle with other light brands, their cords just never seemed to hold up. Bobby uses the highest quality parts and components, and after almost a year with and UWLD light, my light has held up against everything I’ve thrown at it. It is quite literally Tracy-proof. Lol.

Lightweight light head

I never realized how much strain I was putting on my left arm whilst scootering through the caves with my previous lights until I slide an LD-40 on my hand. That may not seem like a big deal, but long exposure times with constant muscle strain can lead to DCI symptoms, and Decompression Illness is nothing to mess with, not to mention a sore arm can be downright uncomfortable. But there are other advantages of a lightweight light head. ULWD light heads are PERFECT for photographers pushing already-heavy gear through the water. It’s great to attach to a scooter to light up a passage whilst videoing (Bobby makes a great 5k video light – on my list to upgrade to, or you can buy a third party diffuser to a primary light). I’ve also seen cave divers who wear a helmet add an attachment point to quickly clip their light to the side of their helmet. Definitely something you couldn’t do with a larger light head. While I don’t wear a helmet when I cave dive (you know, because I watch where I’m going and know how to control myself in high flow lol), I starting to put together a helmet set up for fossil diving, which will allow both my hands free to snatch up lots of pretty shark teeth <3.

Beam Angle/Light Output

The new Generation 6 light, which hit the shelves in 2020, has a new and improved tight 6° angle beam, that helps cut through murky water and pesky particulates. In all honesty, this is a big one for me. I really didn’t like the Gen 5 light because of its wider beam (sorry Bobby). The good news is you can upgrade your older version model light to the tighter beam 🙂 The beam doesn’t have hot spots and is fixed at the optimal beam angle so you don’t un-focus your light light like some of those “focusable” lights out there do!

Battery Indicator Ring

Another fancy new feature that appeared in the Gen 6 version of the light is the battery indicator ring. It’s easy to see and easy to read, appearing right around the piezo switch on the (lightweight) light head. This is a nice feature that you don’t see on the other big brand name lights… Although there are lots of other innovative attributes you see on UWLD lights.

Stackable caps/Interchangeable Battery Options

Speaking of innovative…. Likely my FAVORITE design/functional feature of Light Dude lights is its stackable cap system. If you’re a cold water diver or a photographer… Pay attention this one. Stackable caps allow you to use multiple devices on one battery pack. This includes your primary light, video lights, and heat controller (the UWLD heat controller is SIIIICK). You can mix and match what you take on you’re dive based on what you need for that particular dive and can easily add or remove additional devices.

External Sealed Charging System

This is just downright fancy. Opening your can, causing more wear on your o-rings, exposing the interior of your light to water/the elements is SO ten years ago.

Battery life for DAYS

With multiple battery size options, you can customize the perfect set up for your style of diving. The mini, short and tall calls fit all of the current light heads and the head controller, and the adjustable power settings allow you to summon just the right amount of power from your badass light 🙂 If you ever get to the end of your battery life (aka you forgot to charge your light lol) there is an end of battery warning, that flashes the beam multiple times and then turns the power down to low, to allow you extra power efficiency to help you end your dive before your light shuts off.

Things that Don’t get a Full Explanation but are Still Noteworthy

Latch less System – LED over-heat Protection – Redundant Sealing throughout the light – Safe for Air travel – Piezo cover – In house, innovative engineering – True advertised light output – Upgrade path for previous generations – Bobby’s wife does an excellent Borat impersonation – Heat Controller – 5k Lumen video lights – 10k Lumen video lights – IT’S BLUE – Corded Can Light (I’ll do another post on the benefits of this one at some point, and maybe another one about video lights when I go down that route) – Included soft and hard goodman handle (the hard goodman is the best, fight me.) – The light is beautiful and sleek 🙂

So where do you buy one of these fabulous lights?

Reach out to me if you want more information about a light or to be connected with a dealer 🙂

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“Say ‘No’ to Nestlé”

F 10 OUR Izv FLORID SPRING COUNC
Donate to the cause and get a super cute sticker or tshirt! https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/saynotonestle

I’m teaming up with the Florida Springs Council to get the word out about a time-sensitive situation that is quietly going on in Florida right now. If you have ever participated in any water activity in Florida, ever enjoyed pictures of the springs or animals here, enjoyed diving here, or ever want to do any of those things, we need your help.

I’ll start with a quick abstract of the situation and my call to action first, for those of you with short attention spans 🙂

Abstract: The Seven Springs Water Company is trying to renew their permit that will allow them to pump over a million gallons of water PER DAY from the Florida Aquifer via Ginnie Springs… for free… to sell to Nestlé. This is bad for lots of reasons. (See “Why do I care about this?” and some of the links provided below.)

Call to Action: Please read carefully. We need to let the Suwannee River Water Management District Board know that we want them to deny the Seven Springs Water Permit applied for by Nestlé.

Two Options (Bonus points if you do both):

Option 1: If you are in a location close enough to send mail that will arrive in Live Oak, Florida ON OR BEFORE February 23rd, please send a physical postcard with this request. We have found this option to be the most effective. (Example below written by the Florida Springs Council.)

Hem be r s, am a resident "Please dens the Seven Sprinss wafer which will both and the communities of koorth Florida approved. me ase heed of scientists, environmentalists, and your Florida •s and the people that rely on them. Sincerely, Include Your SRWMD Board Members 9225 C R Live Oak, FL 32060 Leave this space blank
Image by Florida Springs Council

Option 2: If you are not in close proximity to Florida, please send an email to the board members with the same information, and copy me…. I will print out the emails and deliver hard copies myself (so we can be sure they don’t get lost in a spam folder).

Example message, copy/paste friendly (please personalize if you have the time to do so):

Dear SRWMD Board Members,

I am a resident of ___________. Please deny the Seven Springs Water Permit, which will devastate both the environment and the communities of North Florida if approved. Please heed the words of scientists, environmentalists, and your constituents. Do your part to protect Florida’s waterways and the people that rely on them.

Sincerely,

_____________

Email addresses of the board: Virginia.Johns@SRWMD.org, Charles.Keith@SRWMD.org, Richard.Schwab@SRWMD.org, Virginia.Sanchez@SRWMD.org, Harry.Smith@SRWMD.org, Larry.Sessions@SRWMD.org, Larry.Thompson@SRWMD.org

Don’t forget to copy me: anarchyscuba@gmail.com

Image by Anarchy Scuba

Why do I care about this?

The aquifer is already dangerously low. Many of you saw the video of the “trash vortex” circling above the spring at Little River Springs County Park in Branford, FL in the last couple of weeks. The springs are not only beautiful and serve as a source of tourism and recreation for millions of people a year, but the aquifer which supports them also supplies drinking water to TENS of millions of people.

The Seven Springs Water Company is requesting to take 0.98 millions of gallons of water per day (which is an increase from the current 0.266 millions of gallons per day they are already taking). 

So they want to take the water we dive in (that’s right guys, all of the springs in (arguably) the cave diving capital of the world), for free, and then sell it to Nestlé who is going to bottle up our water in plastic (#fuckplastic) water bottles and then sell them for a huge profit. These people are literally destroying the planet. This is the problem. Right here.

And we can do something about it. There is strength in numbers. We can actually make a difference here. But we have to do it now.

Do the right thing. Make a splash.

Thank you.

Image by Anarchy Scuba
Image by Anarchy Scuba
Image by Anarchy Scuba

Florida Springs Council Shop:

https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/saynotonestle

Information about the Florida Aquifer:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/03/partner-content-worried-about-water-floridan-aquifer/

https://www.sjrwmd.com/water-supply/aquifer/

Information about the (Nestlé) Seven Springs Water Permit:

https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/nestle-permit-infographic

https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/single-post/2019/10/05/florida-springs-council-statement-on-seven-springsnestlc3a9-consumptive-use-permit-applic

https://www.change.org/p/the-suwannee-river-water-management-district-we-say-no-to-nestle-getting-water-from-ginnie-springs

https://www.change.org/p/the-suwannee-river-water-management-district-we-say-no-to-nestle-getting-water-from-ginnie-springs

Information about the “Say ‘No’ to Nestlé” campaign in Canada:

http://www.wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca/saynotonestle

http://www.csjcanada.org/blog/2019/7/8/inside-the-say-no-to-nestle-campaign.html

https://etfo.ca/BuildingAJustSociety/ETFOTakesAction/pages/say%20no%20to%20nestle.aspx

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Anarchy Scuba Disclaimer/Statement

In the upcoming months I am going to begin reviewing some dive gear, dive shops and dive locations. You all know honesty is my thing, so I’m going to make this statement:

Anything I promote in my blog is done so because I have personally used/experienced it, and I’ve concluded it’s of the highest possible quality available on the market at the time.

I am not an instructor nor a dealer nor a dive professional. My opinion does not, and will not alter with every other month like lots of social media dive “experts”. That’s because no one is PAYING me for my opinion. I’m not trying to make money off of you. I have a real job and diving is my hobby, not my profession. Every dive I do is by choice, and for fun; not out of obligation. My word is all I have, and I want that to mean something… unlike so many others out there.

I’m not a slave to the dive industry… I’m a dive industry anarchist. 😁

While I do have relationships with manufacturers of dive gear, and there may be times when I partner with a brand to promote a particular piece of gear, I will NOT sell out and promote a subpar product. You will only find honest reviews and promotions for high quality gear. You may see ads on my page. I may eventually sell ad space to someone or I may run Google ads that read your mind and display advertisements based on what it thinks you want. But my actual blogs will remain my opinion.

That being said. If anyone would like me to post an HONEST review of your scuba related product/business/service, feel free to reach out. If I like your product, I’ll write about it. If I don’t think you’ll like what I have to say, I’ll do us both a favor and refrain. In most cases, at least. 😉

And as always…. If you need gear advice, or you’re looking for a specific dealer for a product, contact me. Chances are my wide network of dive gear dealers will help you out.

I also can’t guarantee you’ll have the same experience that I had with a product/shop/charter/whatever. Don’t use gear you’re not trained to use, do not dive past your training limits. Don’t be an idiot. Yadda yadda yadda…

So let the anarchy begin…. where should we start……

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Shark Tooth Fossil Auction – In the Memory of Alan Devier

Want to listen instead of read? Use the file above.

When I finished my last blog, I decided the next topic I wanted to write about would be a series on shark tooth fossil hunting. Its a new hobby I’ve only picked up in the last year, but I have become pretty much obsessed with it. While writing my next blog, something unthinkable happened. A very well respected member of the fossil diving community, and a wonderful friend, passed away while he was diving. Before I get into my diving experiences in later posts, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about Alan and the fossil auction fundraiser his friends started in his memory.

Alan on a surface interval. Photo
provided by Mrs. Kim Devier.

The Cooper River in South Carolina may look like any ordinary coastal river from the surface, but to divers and fossil hunters, its and endless treasure hunt. On many dives, we can only see but a few inches in front of us. But among the gravel beds on the river floor are scattered fossils and artifacts from prehistoric creatures that have been extinct for millions of years. The river is dark and the currents are swift and the dives are challenging, but we are drawn to the area from all over for the large concentration of prized Megalodon Shark teeth.

Alan Devier knew the Cooper River better than any other boat captain. Fossil hunting wasn’t just his profession, it was truly his passion. When Alan wasn’t loading up his pontoon boats with a group of eager divers, he was out there diving himself. Looking for new spots and exploring the ever-changing river to make sure his friends and customers had the best experience possible.

Alan preparing for a dive in Port Royal Sound.
Photo provided by Jimmy Armstrong.

Alan’s reputation and knowledge of the river wasn’t the only thing that drew people to him. In an industry full of fake and questionable personalities, Alan was genuine and sincere. And I don’t mean just compared to divers; to many of us who were lucky enough to know him, Alan was one of the best people we knew. He was kind and loyal and honest. Someone who would quite literally give you the shirt off his back. He went out of his way to make sure everyone had a good time. And boy did we have a good time. Losing him has left a void in the dive community that can never be filled.

But something else happened when we lost Alan. The dive community pulled together in a way that I have never seen before to support the one thing Alan loved more than diving. His family. A close friend and dive buddy of Alan’s, the very sweet Debra Powell, put together a brilliant fundraiser where fossil hunters from all over donated beautiful shark teeth and fossils from their trips with Alan. The auction items quickly grew to include unique experiences, jewelry, artwork, equipment, etc., all related to sharks and fossils, to be auctioned off, with 100% of the proceeds going to Alan’s family. Alan’s wife, Kim, has been kind enough to post items from his personal fossil collection for those who would like to own a genuine “Alan tooth”.

The Alan Devier Fundraiser Facebook group continues to grow its members and new auctions are added frequently. The group is open to everyone but tends to attract scuba divers, shark tooth collectors and fossil hunters. The bid items are excellent quality and come from good and honest sources. If you have ever considered purchasing a shark tooth, fossil or shark related gift, it is by far the safest place to do so, with many experts in the group to provide feedback and answer questions. The group is clearly a reflection of how loved Alan was by his friends.

Diving the Cooper will never be the same for me or the countless other divers Alan has touched.

If you’re a diver interested in getting into fossil hunting or diving for shark teeth, there are multiple locations available for varying skill sets. I’ll be writing some follow ups to talk about my experiences with some different places I’ve been diving, but feel free to reach out to me directly or join the Anarchy Scuba Spot Facebook group to connect with other experienced divers.

Thank you for reading/listening,

Tracy

#megalodonteeth #fossilhunting #divemore

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Let’s Talk About “Anarchy”.

Want to listen instead of read? (Or both….) Use the audio file above to hear the current “blogcast”.

This post is dedicated to all the obnoxious dipshits, past and future, who try to claim that they should be able to say or do or post whatever the hell they want in our Facebook group because it has the word “anarchy” in it. I’m not sure how you’ve survived this long, but your mom and I are proud of you.

-me

According to “the Goog”, anarchy has two definitions:

Don’t worry – this post isn’t going to be political.

The most annoying thing that happens in the Anarchy Scuba Facebook groups (in my opinion, at least) is when someone posts something inappropriate and/or totally off-topic that doesn’t appeal to 99% of the group. THEN this moron get angry when they are *asked* (not told) to take their post down. The response, more often than not, is, “oh, I thought this was an anarchy group,” or “this isn’t REAL anarchy!”

You’re right, douche-canoe. Spoiler alert. There’s no such thing as “anarchy” on Facebook. Facebook is “governed” by some pretty strict Community Standards. I’m not going to list them all here, feel free to look into them if you care about that sort of thing, but they are pretty basic. Don’t be racist/hateful towards a specific gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. Don’t post overly offensive content/nudity. Don’t threaten to harm people or animals. You know. Stuff that decent human beings know they shouldn’t do.

Is that a violation of your country’s rights? Doesn’t matter. I’m in the US (for example) and have “freedom of speech”, but freedom of speech does not mean there are not consequences to what I say. When you join Facebook, you sign away your ability to say or do whatever you want, and agree to adhere to Facebook Community Standards. When those standards are violated, Facebook bans or removes individuals and sometimes entire groups. I’m not risking that shit over your need to express yourself in the lamest way possible.

So here’s the deal. “Anarchy Scuba” is not true anarchy. This isn’t the black web. Its a brand, not a political stance. We do have some rules. These rules are also basic. Don’t violate the aforementioned Facebook Community Standards. Keep posts scuba/ocean related. Don’t post vulgar content, even if it doesn’t violate community standards because I personally don’t want to read that shit and that’s the only real personal ask that I have on the page. Turns out, lots of other people feel that way, too. We aren’t against advertising as long as it doesn’t get to be spammy- we actually encourage advertising if a person/business has a unique opportunity or good deal that benefits the group.

Anarchy Scuba Spot is pretty much group-moderated. In the majority of the occurrences where someone posts something that shouldn’t be posted, a member speaks up in the comments and the original poster usually removes it. When they don’t, the rest of the group tends to show up like ants to a picnic and chime in. The need for this is actually really low and we have a pretty good vibe going.

The issue that I had with one of the large Facebook gear swap groups (you can read about it here) that led to me creating Anarchy Scuba Swap and eventually Anarchy Scuba Spot, was there were too many rules. Many of those rules are driven by financial opportunities/obligations for the groups’ admins and moderators and they’re not equally enforced across the board. All too often on Facebook, rules are used as a crutch to remove content that may not benefit the admin or moderator.

Well. That’s not me. I’m not a “dive pro”. I don’t work for a shop. Nobody owns me. I’m just a diver. But more about me later.

The point I want to drive home here is that Anarchy Scuba not a free-for-all. Contrary to what some believe, its not an uncensored group and it’s not just about talking smack, judging divers, or knocking gear or agency preferences. Anarchy Scuba is all about diving. Dive more. Dive safe. Dive well. Dive whatever gear you want. Dive local. Dive travel. Just dive. And as long as you don’t hurt yourself, your buddy, the environment, and DEFINITELY don’t hurt any of the sea life, everything is good. Go have fun.

My next “blogcast” is going to be a little bit about me – why I’m doing this, what my plans are with the blog… and then after that we are going to start “diving in” to….. well…. diving. Lol.

Thanks for reading/listening!

Tracy

#anarchyscuba #anarchyAF #divemore

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Let’s Talk About “ASS”.

Driving? Illiterate? Too tired to read? I did it for you! Click the link to the audio clip above to listen to this article.

Hello ASSes! Current ASSes… Future ASSes…. Anti-ASSes…

Welcome to the wonderful world of Anarchy Scuba. This site has been a long time coming and I’m excited to finally have some time to get it off the ground. I’m going to start off by sharing the origin of Anarchy Scuba and the Anarchy Scuba Spot Facebook group. I should probably put some sort of disclaimer for the site in here about language and mild adult content, but if you got past the title of this blog, you likely get the gist…. or you’re just dense and I’ll probably read about your disapproval in the comments section. I look forward to hearing from the Karens and Cheryls of the interwebs.

Alright. So Anarchy Scuba origin. Story time.

Once upon a time, back in the year 2019 (January 2019 to be exact) I was on the phone with my dear friend Marbry. (That’s right, Mar, you’re basically getting blamed for sparking this internet dumpster fire.) I mentioned to him that in the better-part-of-the-decade that I had been scuba diving, I had yet to sell a single piece of gear that I was no longer using. This accumulated to a small mountain of unused kit consisting of multiple canister lights, dive computers, regulators, etc. – all things I had replaced with new and shiny gear. Marbry convinced me that I should post all of the crap I had laying around on Facebook gear swap groups to make room and funds for even more stuff that I don’t need 🙂

I poured a glass of bourbon and began my sentimental journey down memory lane and started snapping photos of gear from dives past. As I sat down and began writing my sale descriptions, I made the conscious decision to add a little bit of personality into them. As we all know, gear swap groups are exceedingly rigid and boring. I listed some regulators, wings, pockets and one iconic set of fins. These fins were purchased at the beginning of my tech diving adventure – a pair of Hollis F-1 “Bat fins”. They were sleek and black and I was sure I was going to love them. I thought it would be funny to paint “KIC” & “KME” on either fin in large white letters, and they were forever more referred to as my “kick me fins”. Unfortunately the love affair didn’t last long as these fins proved to be heavy and the foot pockets pinched.

I thought it would be appropriate and safe to post my honest opinion of the fins, as they are widely liked and accepted by many divers. They may not have fit my personal preference, but I knew other people liked them and I wanted to make sure whoever bought them was already familiar with the fin as not to cause any further disappointment for someone else.

Within the first 30 minutes of posting, the listings (approximately 5) had reached close to 100 reactions and just as many comments/purchase inquiries, which was the intended outcome. Within an hour, commenting had been turned off on all of my posts and the fins post was removed entirely by one of the group moderators. I sent a message to one of the admins, confused as to why my post was removed and she responded back to me a few hours later. She told me the group was not intended to be a “discussion group”, and that my posts had elicited such. She said the fin post had been removed because I was “brand bashing”. I challenged her on that, as I didn’t mention anything negative about Hollis, only this particular product. There is not a single dive manufacture that hung the moon for me, and I’m allowed to have and voice my opinion. I was promptly removed from the group due to my questioning her. I found this censorship to quite annoying, especially since it was over relevant content.

Driving home from my dive later that day, I called my friend Vanwah and verbally took my frustration out on him. I told him I was going to” just start my own swap group”. I wasn’t heavily into public Facebooking at the time and kept mostly to myself because #theinternetisforever, so I doubt he even took me seriously. I declared I would name it “Anarchists’ Scuba Swap”, “just to be an ass”. The group was started with the objective of “less rules”… Humor, discussion, transparency and gear swapping were all allowed, accepted and encouraged.

I “appointed” (many of them against their will) seven fair and just individuals across a wide range of diving abilities, industry presence and personal backgrounds as moderators for the group.

The group grew fairly quickly in the next few months and we changed the name to the current Anarchy Scuba Swap. There were quite a few suggestions and requests for an additional group focusing purely on discussion, but I wasn’t willing to spend any more of my life watching over a hobby internet forum. However as time passed and close friendships formed with people I would have never otherwise met, I eventually gave in and started the Anarchy Scuba Facebook page which was used to form the group Anarchy Scuba Spot. (Riveting, I know.)

And here we are today. At current writing, the group has surpassed five thousand members and continues to grow daily. We have members from 99 countries and see over 25,000 posts,comments and reactions (combined) a month. The group requires little maintenance on my part, as the members mostly are able to moderate themselves accordingly to avoid any Facebook Community Standards violations and are generally open and respectful of each other.

I will talk more about the underlying purpose and culture of the group in further posts. Stay tuned for more 🙂

Thanks for reading.

Tracy

#anarchyscuba #anarchyAF #divemore