SECONN 2020 Webinars

SECONN is encouraging everyone to stay safe in this time, but also wants to continue encouraging you to learn more about the great world of scuba diving. Each of the webinars will last approximately 45 minutes with a following Q&A. All of the webinars will be held on the Zoom platform (unless noted otherwise). A link will be provided for you to access the webinars, once there, simply add your name, email, and click register.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions to help us make this endeavor the best webinar series around, please email Ryan – President@seconndivers.org. Cheers!

View Past Webinars

Janna Nichols

Tuesday, April 13
@ 7:30PM EST

Citizen Science for the Submerged (aka: We’ll Make a Fish Geek Out of You Yet!)

Presentation Abstract

Want to give more purpose and fun to your diving? Janna Nichols (REEF’s Citizen Science Project Manager) will show you how to monitor marine life and submit your data to the largest online marine life sightings database in the world, used by scientists, researchers, students, policy-makers, etc. Participating in REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project is easy, fun, and can be done anytime, anywhere, year-round.

Many divers are looking for a purpose to their diving after the “Oh wow” factor wears off. Contributing your observations of marine life to the REEF database will increase your knowledge of what you’re seeing as well as giving you the satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference in the health of our oceans, locally and elsewhere.

Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is an international marine conservation organization that implements hands-on programs to involve local communities in conservation-focused activities. REEF was founded in 1990 and is based in Key Largo, Florida, with remote staff in Illinois, California, and Washington. Its mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community.

FISH-O Game (pdf)

John Edmonds

Tuesday, April 27
@ 7:30PM EST

Welcome to Diving in SouthEast Florida

Presentation Abstract

Diving from Jupiter to Key West and everywhere in between.
South Florida is a unique area for divers to explore with many different options available to suit everyone’s diving preferences.

The area attracts divers from all around the world who venture out seeking large wrecks, shark encounters, Lionfish & Lobster gathering, black water diving, treasure hunting and spectacular photographic and video opportunities. In addition there are some rare annual events that draw divers & dive photographers like the Goliath Grouper Aggregation and summer time Coral Spawning.

Depending on the type of diving you enjoy, South Florida has something for you.

Bio

John Edmonds has been the “Calendar Events Coordinator” for South Florida Divers Inc for the last 6-Years. He is also a member of the South Florida Underwater Photography Society, and the South Florida Reef Research Team. An avid sailor and world traveler, most weekends you will find him on or in the water.

Dr. David Charash

Tuesday, November 24th
@ 7:30PM EST

Diving in the time of COVID-19 and Updates to the Medical Guidelines

Presentation Abstract

Update on Medical Fitness to Dive and Diving in the era of Covid-19 Topics:

1) Understand what Dive Medical Fitness means to the diver

2) Update on the newest World Recreational Scuba training Council Medical Fitness Guidelines

3) Medical Fitness and Diving in the era of Covid-19

4) Update on Newest Dive Medical Fitness Guidelines

Bio

David Charash DO,CWS,FACEP,FUHMDr Charash is Board Certified In Emergency Medicine, Undersea and Hyperbaric MedicineHe has cared for injured Divers since 1992He is a NOAA Certified Dive Medicine Physician and a Certified Dive Fitness Medical ExaminerHe has lectured at the United States Coast Guard Academy and the Naval Undersea Medical Institute on a variety of dive medicine topics.He speaks locally, nationally and internationally on Dive Safety, Dive Technology, and Dive MedicineDr Charash works with recreational, scientific, public safety, commercial and military diving communities.He is a PADI Rescue Diver

Karl Huggins

Tuesday, December 8th
@ 7:30PM EST

Dive Computers and Decompression

Presentation Abstract

What is programmed into Dive Computers and how do they work? These are some of the questions addressed in this presentation. Starting some general concepts of decompression theory, this presentation looks at how those theories are translated into models which can be used to generate decompression tables and ultimately be programmed into Dive Computers. Since there are different models, this talk looks at the response to the same profile by various tables and computers. The advantages and disadvantages of dive computers will be examined, as well as factors that can influence susceptability to decompression sickness which tables and computers do not incorporate, and activities divers can incorporate to reduce their risk for decompression sickness.

Bio

Karl Huggins has been the Director of the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber Facility at the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center since 1992 and has been involved with the treatment of hundreds of divers during that time. He is noted for his work in decompression theory and models, which resulted in the Michigan Sea Grant (HUGI) tables and his participation in the development of the EDGE dive computer. Karl enjoys educating divers in the area of decompression (making divers more aware of the limitations of dive tables and computers) and diving safety. To that end he has given hundreds of lectures, seminars, and workshops as a featured speaker at conferences around the world. In 2011 he co-moderated the Validation of Dive Computers Workshop at the annual meeting of the European Underwater and Baromedical Society in Gdansk. Karl is the 1990 recipient of the Leonard Greenstone Diving Safety Award, the DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year for 1993, the 2004 Conrad Limbaugh Memorial Award for Scientific Diving Leadership and the 2008 California Scuba Service Award.