1. Not to forget to bring everything I need
2. Not to bring anything I don't need
3. To keep water on the outside of the camera housing
4. Return to the boat with everything I started with
5. Remember where I left the boat
6. Return to the boat every two hours regardless of remaining air
7. Always keep my buddy in sight
8. Try to keep the beach out of my Jeep
9. Locate the owners of all the dive gear I find
10. Try extra hard to have a good time this year...and keep a straight face

In case you missed it, Delta has announced that it is raising its baggage fees to $23 for the first bag and $32 for the second bag. It will cost Delta passengers even more if they don't pay the baggage fees in advance on the airline's Website. Delta is calling that add-on a surcharge: $2 for the first bag and $3 for the second. That means that if you pay the baggage fees at the airport ticket counter, kiosk or curbside, you will pay $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second. The hike went into effect January 14th.

US Airways had already raised its maximum fees to those amounts last year and Continental is expected to have done so by the time you read this.

Some environmentalists have said that this is a good thing. People will pack less and the airplanes will use less fuel. Those environmentalists could not be divers.

It could be worse and yes, it was:

In May Air Jamaica began charging passengers $25 for a second checked bag but said their luggage won’t be traveling on the same plane. All it would promise is that the luggage would arrive in Jamaica within a one-week window. To add insult to injury, the passenger would have to return to the airport to pick it up.

A check-in clerk with EasyJet, the British ultra-discount airline, refused to let a six-year-old girl bring her teddy bear aboard, declaring it “excess baggage.” The mother was told that it would cost $13 for the girl to check the bear in as luggage.

United has gotten creative. They now offer “Premier Baggage,” an annual $249 baggage fee. It entitles you to check two standard bags every time you fly.  Standard size restrictions apply and each bag may weigh no more than 50 lbs.

The good news: Singapore Airlines, our favorite, allows us to check through two bags free, each weighing no more than 50 lbs.

Who ever said, bigger is better? Sometimes the best things come in small packages.

Sea & Sea’s New YS-01 Underwater Strobe

The YS-01 is a new compact-type strobe that can be used for all applications from wide-angle to macro photography. You can switch between DS-TTL (Digital Slave TTL) and a 10-level manual control function, to enable fine adjustment of the light. You can also set up a lighting system that uses two strobes in DS-TTL mode. Power comes from four AA batteries. The recycle time takes 1.9 seconds. The YS-01 is furnished with an LED target light. It can be used as a primary strobe or secondary strobe, compatible with compact digital cameras as well as digital SLR cameras.

Size: 2.7 x 4.3 x 5.2 (WxHxD) inches. Weight: 17.7 ounces (land).

Here are two HD video packages that are small, compact, lightweight and record remarkably high-quality video images.

Featured in the November 2009 Newsletter

Ikelite Video Housing for Flip Ultra & Ultra HD Video Cameras is compact (just 5.5" wide x 4.25" high x 3.0" deep, weighs less than 1lb  above water and is neutrally buoyant underwater) and backed by Ikelite's long-standing reputation for excellence. A full line of accessories allows you to really get creative with your underwater video. All camera controls are fully functional through the housing and depth rated to 200ft (60m). Easy open latch and drop in camera loading make set-up a breeze. Includes silicone lubricant, lanyard and removable UR/Pro color correcting filter for tropical blue water settings. This housing is compatible with second-generation Flip models U1120 and U2120 only. The Flip Camera and Ikelite Housing Package (with Flex Arm, Tray and Pro Video Light) are available at Joe Liburdi’s Dive & Photo.

JVC Picsio GC-FM1 Compact Video Camera with Ikelite Underwater Housing is ideal for beginning videographers and snorkelers. Image stabilization and an 8mp digital still mode really set this camcorder apart from other cameras of its kind. The FM1 accepts SD or SDHC memory cards so there's virtually no limit to the amount of video and still images that can be recorded without downloading to a computer. All camera controls are fully functional through the housing and depth rated to 200ft (60m). Easy open latch and drop in camera loading make set-up a breeze. Package includes a removable UR/Pro color correcting filter for tropical blue water settings. 5.5" wide x 4.25" high x 3.0" deep (including controls and lens port ). Housing with camera weighs less than 1.25lb above water. Available at Joe Liburdi’s Dive & Photo.

In the old days we didn’t worry about gear breaking while on a trip. We all packed extras: an extra regulator, back-up gauges, even snorkels, I used to travel with two complete camera systems, plus at least three extra strobes. It’s different now. Now I travel with a fix-it kit. Remember, MacGyver, that TV character who could fix anything anytime anywhere? He was an ingenious guy and his jerry-rigging became known as “MacGyverisms.” Here are some of my MacGyver-type tricks for you.

• Electrical tape. I use it to wrap bare wires, secure mounted target lights on strobes, hold a lens caddy in place or a wobbly base tray. Also handy to hold most anything in place, wayward gauges and a bootie with a broken zipper.
• Aqua Seal and aqua seal liquid hardener. Most broken items can be fixed by wrapping tape around the broken piece, coating it with Aqua Seal mixed with the liquid hardener. When it dries, bingo, you have a temporary fix until you can buy new.
• Toothpaste.  Got a few scratches on a lens or port?  Rub a dab of toothpaste in circular motions.  Surface scratches will come off if you rub hard and long enough.
• Rubber bands in assorted sizes and widths. Provide a firm grip to remove screw-on lenses, filters, etc.
• Silk ties or any old clean piece of silk make perfect lens cleaning cloths. Only use silk that has a very fine   weave; a rough weave will scratch the lens.
• Plastic tie wraps. Carry a dozen assorted sizes. Use them to lock luggage compartment zippers. They come in handy if you don’t have locks or the locks have been broken or lost in transit.
• Bubble wrap. In need of a diffuser over your strobe’s reflector? Place a piece of bubble wrap (small bubbles), the type used in shipping, over the reflector. Secure with rubber bands, tie wraps, or electrician’s tape. Make sure the bubbles have not burst; air inside the bubble is what makes it work. 
• Chewing gum.  Yes, chewing gum. Can be used to keep items in place when it’s impossible to use any other means.  Heck, I’ve used it to hold diffusers over my strobes reflector when nothing else would work. Bubble gum is my favorite; it sticks the best.
• Silly putty or museum putty. Same function but not as weird.
• Velcro strips with self-stick on both sides.  Another handy fastener in the field.
• Paper clips. Small and large. They can anchor most anything.
• Quick dry moisture-proof super glue.  Make sure it’s the type that will bond plastic, wood, metal, etc.  I’ve repaired broken viewfinders, hot shoe mounts, etc. many times in the field.
• Spring-grip clothespins and paper clips. Can be used like a little clamp.
• Cigarette lighter or matches. Fry (carefully) frayed ends of a weight belt, lanyard, neckstrap, you get the picture.
• Fishing wire. If you carry accessory lenses on a caddy and fear dropping it into the abyss when changing lenses underwater, or it disengaging when bumped, tie some fishing wire around the lens and attach the pother end to your strobe arm.
• Shower caps. In lieu of  manufacturer’s pouches, bags and covers to protect your ports and lenses.

We welcome questions and this is one I am asked a lot in the shop.

Q. I’ve heard that point-and-shoot digital cameras have shutter lag. What is it? Can it be avoided?
A.  Shutter lag is the delay (time) between triggering the shutter and when the image is actually recorded.

All modern cameras, digital and film, pro and point-and-shoot, have two-stage shutter buttons. The first light press on the shutter button to a halfway point sets up the camera. The second stage, the full press, instantly releases the shutter.

The proper way to use every modern camera is to point its AF sensor at your subject and press the shutter halfway. The camera sets up and readies itself for instant release. Keep finger pressure on the shutter, and recompose the shot. Then press down fully. With a bit of practice, you can do all of this is seconds.

In these hard economic times, dive resorts must have a savvy marketing strategy to attract customers.  When we met AKR at DEMA in Orlando this past October, we were impressed by the package offered us and booked the destination.  Alas, AKR announced this week a deal to the consumer that was better than the one they offered us. Consequently we have cancelled the trip.

JoeLiburdi.com does not sell trips that cost more than an individual can get on his/her own. The benefit of a group is not just to travel with Joe and Cara (but we certainly hope you think of that as a perk) but to reap the rewards of group discounts and negotiated extras. The Internet is a powerful marketing tool. Ten years ago a resort could not go directly to the consumer en masse. They offered incentives to the wholesaler/retailer who in turn offered better pricing to the consumer.

There has been an uproar this month over a similar move by Oceanic, who has started selling directly to consumers.  Such actions are self-defeating. The retailer is the backbone of the diving industry. Cut him out and you cut off your nose to spite your face.

We are looking for another destination. We’ll keep you posted.

Where do you want to go? The first person to send us a reply wins a Joe Liburdi’s Dive & Photo Air Fill Card (10 fills, a $50 value). The second responder wins a Joe Liburdi’s Dive & Photo mask strap. Email your desired destinations to: orca2@cox.net.

Package Includes

Round trip airfare Singapore Air LAX to Bali
Roundtrip private charter flight between Bali and Wakatobi
VIP departure lounge with snacks
7 nights Garden Bungalow accommodations, double occupancy
In-room internet service
3 boat dives daily with guide
Tanks, weights and belts
Unlimited shore diving on house reef
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
Beverages and snacks on boats
Village visit and BBQ feast
Overnight stay in Bali with breakfast
Singapore Transit Hotel
And much, much more!

Space is limited.
Call Cara at 949-448-0499 or Joe at 949-476-8500
Please visit Tours at www.JoeLiburdi.com/tours for details

If you have a dry suit and would like some pointers, Carl will be leading an Intro to Dry Suit Diving dive. No charge!

Please RSVP. Call Carl at 949-476-8500 or email him at carl@JLDiveandPhoto.com

Monday-Friday 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday Closed
Before and after hours, by appointment
Visit online at www.JLDiveandPhoto.com

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