Replacing lead weights with US nickel coins

[Eric Sedletzky]

There is an old Italian phrase -- "Fare un buco nell'aqua" -- that applies to this thread.

When one is assessing risk of some activity, one needs to take into account the likelihood of an adverse outcome versus the impact of the outcome. In the case of divers using lead weights, both the likelihood and the impact are low regarding lead significantly entering the environment from the normal use of lead weights. intentional dumping of one's weights is a very rare event as well; loss of weight pocket is more common. Either way, the impact is low.

The argument that you should do anything you can to reduce any possible negative impact to the environment is a feel-good argument, not one that is very meaningful. If you truly believe that, then you should make a list of all the negative impacts you have on the environment and put your effort towards those that are higher risk to the environment than using lead weights while diving, for example using your automobile, using any plastics, using anything made from wood, eating beef, etc.

What about all the jet fuel that gets burned flying these people to their far flung dive paradises, “just because they can”?

 

[tursiops]

What about all the jet fuel that gets burned flying these people to their far flung dive paradises, “just because they can”?

Yep. I can easily imagine the diver from California who has flown to Raja Ampat and is using nickels instead of lead to save the ocean. Duh.

 

[BRT]

You could always switch to eating purple urchins, plenty of those around here, they’re free, and they gotta go!

They are invasive? Not natural? We just need to try to control things? Don't take it personally. I'm only attacking the idea that natural is good and things humans do are bad.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

They are invasive? Not natural? We just need to try to control things? Don't take it personally. I'm only attacking the idea that natural is good and things humans do are bad.

No they are not invasive, they are native, but all the natural predators died off so they exploded in population. How the predators died off is unknown but I have my theories and yes it’s a human inflicted problem. Fish & Game upped the limit from 35 individual urchins up to 40 gallons, that’s like 150 lbs. and probably more than a thousand individuals.
The purples are the best eating. The uni is great, super healthy loaded with vitamins high quality protein anti oxidants and cancer fighting compounds. The native Americans knew the power of the food source and it was considered sacred.
So diving for them is a win win.

 

[BRT]

No they are not invasive, they are native, but all the natural predators died off so they exploded in population. How the predators died off is unknown but I have my theories and yes it’s a human inflicted problem. Fish & Game upped the limit from 35 individual urchins up to 40 gallons, that’s like 150 lbs. and probably more than a thousand individuals.
The purples are the best eating. The uni is great, super healthy loaded with vitamins high quality protein anti oxidants and cancer fighting compounds. The native Americans knew the power of the food source and it was considered sacred.
So diving for them is a win win.

We got certified in 1985 and quickly did some diving at Keystone Jetty in Coupeville, WA. There were scads of sea urchins and there were wolf eels. Then for many years there were few urchins and no wolf eels but lots of sun stars. Now there are almost no sun stars, more urchins and wolf eels. Everything comes around. But the change is jarring for those who never dove Keystone in the 80's.

 

[Celt]

No they are not invasive, they are native, but all the natural predators died off so they exploded in population. How the predators died off is unknown but I have my theories and yes it’s a human inflicted problem. Fish & Game upped the limit from 35 individual urchins up to 40 gallons, that’s like 150 lbs. and probably more than a thousand individuals.
The purples are the best eating. The uni is great, super healthy loaded with vitamins high quality protein anti oxidants and cancer fighting compounds. The native Americans knew the power of the food source and it was considered sacred.
So diving for them is a win win.

Some interesting reading here on what happened with purple urchin in Lough Hyne,

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Lough-Hyne-in-southwest-Ireland-showing-d-the-sites-surveyed-for-the-present-study-and_fig1_232607954

 

[Umuntu]

No they are not invasive, they are native, but all the natural predators died off so they exploded in population. How the predators died off is unknown but I have my theories and yes it’s a human inflicted problem.

Are there any projects to bring back the natural predators ?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Are there any projects to bring back the natural predators ?

Yes, they are captive breeding giant sun stars so they can be released into the wild.

 

[Umuntu]

Yes, they are captive breeding giant sun stars so they can be released into the wild.

That sounds like an interesting marine science project !

(Sorry )

 

[rjack321]

Even with an STC, I would not opt to pay/use it. There is generally only AVGAS on the field(s) and using car gas would mean trucking it in and having to lift heavy jerry cans way up high to pour it in. And if away from home base, that's not an option. Also, since most all unleaded road gas in my locality is all fornicated up with ethanol, it would be a no-go thing.

And if I did, it would only be becasue it's cheaper, not because I'm poisoning the atmosphere. in all 100 LL consumed nationwide I would bet my next paycheck that there is not enough concentration to do harm. For the entire fleet of cars on the road, I can see it, but not a few tens of thousands of occasionally flying aircraft.

100LL is a major source of air pollution near airports and contributes to significant blood lead levels in children in those neighborhoods (the most sensitive population who are already overburdened with other urban pollutants in general). It's a big problem.

FAA has been semi slow walking away from 100LL for decades because it's the most stubborn bullheaded agency on the planet.

Regulations for Lead Emissions from Aircraft | US EPA

EPA regulations related to smog, soot, and other air pollution from aircraft.

www.epa.gov

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/leaded-aviation-fuel-and-environment