News and Politics Forum

Related to andrew's post, while watches like that breitling are certainly overkill, if you're going to use a watch for actual scuba, the recommendation is nothing less than 300m resistance, and 500-600m for technical (deep, extended period) diving.

Why 300m? I've taken my Tag Pro (200m rated) to 145' without a hitch.

elliot wrote:

Related to andrew's post, while watches like that breitling are certainly overkill, if you're going to use a watch for actual scuba, the recommendation is nothing less than 300m resistance, and 500-600m for technical (deep, extended period) diving.

The deepest I've been is 100', so this is kind of overkill.

another pic. I can't wait to get my hands on it



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Trench

The Mariana Trench (or Mariana's Trench) is the deepest part of the world's oceans, and the deepest location on the surface of the Earth's crust. It has a maximum depth of about 11 km (6.8 mi), and is located in the western North Pacific Ocean, to the east and south of the Mariana Islands, near Guam.

The trench forms the boundary between two tectonic plates, where the Pacific Plate is subducted beneath the Philippine Plate. The bottom of the trench is farther below sea level than Mount Everest is above it (8,848m/29,028ft). At the bottom, the water column above exerts a pressure of 108.6 MPa, over one thousand times the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level.

The United States Navy bathyscaphe Trieste reached the bottom at 1:06 p.m. on January 23, 1960, with U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard on board.[1] Iron shot was used for ballast, with gasoline for buoyancy.[1] The onboard systems indicated a depth of 11,521 meters (37,799 ft), but this was later revised to 10,916 meters (35,813 ft).[citation needed] At the bottom, Walsh and Piccard were surprised to discover soles or flounder about 30 cm (1 ft) long,[6] as well as shrimp.[citation needed] According to Piccard, "The bottom appeared light and clear, a waste of firm diatomaceous ooze".[6]

The most accurate measurement on record was taken by a Japanese probe, Kaikō (かいこう), which descended unmanned to the bottom of the trench on March 24, 1995 and recorded a depth of 10,911 meters (35,798 ft).[7]

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is planning to send its Nereus hybrid remotely operated vehicle (HROV) to explore the trench in 2008

Last edited by amarshall (07-25-2008 06:22 PM)