Missing . . .

KonThaak · Post by **KonThaak** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:34 am

The bends is when any living creature whose body is accustomed to life at one altitude descends into a higher-pressure altitude, then re-ascends too quickly. There is hydrogen mixed in our blood, in much the same way that there is carbon dioxide mixed in our soda pop. When we descend, the hydrogen becomes more highly pressurized, like when the pop companies seal the cans/bottles. If we rise slowly and de-pressurize properly, there is little chance of having a problem...but if we rise too quickly, the hydrogen separates from our blood, creating bubbles. If you're lucky, those bubbles will catch in your joints and capillaries, cutting off blood circulation to certain parts of your body and causing you immense amounts of pain. If you're not lucky, one of those bubbles will pass through your brain or heart, and you die a pretty agonizing death.

Incidentally, it got its name "the bends" long before SCUBA divers started catching it... It's from when miners would work long hours deep in the coal mines, anywhere from fifty to a couple of hundred feet or more below the surface, then jump on the elevator and ride it to the top. If the elevator happened to be going too fast for that individual, they'd be all hunched and bent over by the time they got to the top (if they were lucky).

Most aquatic creatures (note I said "most", Li-sensei) can handle ascending to the surface, in much the same way we can handle riding a plane that ascends to heights of a mile or more with no ill effect. They would have to descend a hundred feet or more beyond their tolerance level before re-ascension would cause them any problems...and for most aquatic creatures, that means descending to depths that would crush and kill them in the first place.

Shang Li · Post by **Shang Li** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:33 am

Interesting, and I thought the deepwater cod I cought as a child were typical. I wholehearted apologize for my ignorance. (I do know that within 2 hours of reaching the surface deep water cod and pacific halibut die from their swim bladders swelling and causing organ ruptures, even if they never leave the water)

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:08 am

If I live at the bottom of the Pacific. I mean the bottom? That is where I live, always, born and raised as if an Irishman in a pub, I can go to the surface and not explode, even if slowly, like an Irishman getting a little sun?

Holister · Post by **Holister** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:12 am

You are forgetting one important factor in your logic Kolya, The Irish don't explode, they may explosions.

But to answer Master Li's question about sharks (and I know about sharks), they do not have dive bladders. This is why when they stop swimming they drown. Ironic that a fish can drown.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:16 am

I was making a figurative analogy

Not all sharks, I think.

Holister · Post by **Holister** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:27 am

A 60 foot megaladon could make it to the surface. It would be a feeding frenzy though. Good thing most sharks are nocturnal (and/or) territorial predators.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:35 am

It's all about the speed of the acension. Too fast and it gets painful. Way too fast and it gets deadly. I doubt the cod wanted to come to th surface quite as quickly as you retreived it Shang.

Holister · Post by **Holister** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:42 am

Cod is good eating, but it doesn't compare to salmon caught fresh as they are swimming upstream.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:43 am

All fish are inferior to Flounder! You guys can keep your Fresh Water Fishing :lol:

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:46 am

Holister wrote:Cod is good eating, but it doesn't compare to salmon caught fresh as they are swimming upstream.

You do not have to tell me about that

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:47 am

Bert, salmon are ocean fish, they just breed in fresh water.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:51 am

Yep, though if you catch them in Freshwater my point still stands :lol:

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:54 am

Why go and try to find them in the ocean when they will just swim up the creek in your backyard?

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:55 am

For the fun of it!

Standing in hip waders in an icy creek at the crack of dawn isn't my idea of fun :lol:

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:55 am

He likes a challenge?

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:58 am

Hey, if it's good enough for the bears.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:59 am

Indeed.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:03 am

I didn't realize the bears used Poles and Waders too :lol:

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:16 am

They would if they had the technology.

But they definitely go out into the creek and sample the buffet as it swims bay.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:18 am

Yuppers.

Bears with Fishing Poles...

I wonder what BearShaman would say.

Holister · Post by **Holister** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:20 am

Bearshaman - "Um, dinner."

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:24 am

You never seen a bear fishing?

Apparently Ron has.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 am

From far closer than I would have liked.

I was apparently using his fishing hole.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:30 am

Close call.

About the only thing worse is coming up on the cubs.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:36 am

Yeah.

A sow with a couple of cubs is about the most dangerous animal in the world.

Except for me.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:37 am

Natasha · Post by **Natasha** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:29 pm

Some walking sticks have bells attached, to alert bears you are coming.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:40 pm

Natasha wrote:Some walking sticks have bells attached, to alert bears you are coming.

Whistling, talking, and generally making noise is a wise thing.

The bear will try to put distance between you and it. Especially the least aggressive bears, like the American Black Bears in the Appalachians and so forth.

Natasha · Post by **Natasha** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:49 pm

Still, watch for cubs..

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:55 pm

yes yes.