I saw Jenny's photo a few days ago and my eyes lingered on it. The caption for "Wish..." reads "Thanks for living in this wonderful world..." and I can't agree more.
If anything could summarize my love of the ocean and diving it would be this one photo. This alien creature flies through the water not like a fish, but a bird, a reminder that the ocean is like nowhere else on Earth.
This is why I dive.
Divester may be retiring but the Divester Flickr Pool will live on. Don't be shy.
The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, a cooperative effort between the U.S. government and the Pew Oceans Commission, announced that U.S. oceans earned a C- grade for 2006. If you think that's bad, it's a modest improvement over the D+ scored in 2005.
The outlook for 2007? President Bush has requested an 8 percent increase for coastal and marine conservation programs bringing the budget just under $2 billion. There's been fisheries reform and the creation of Hawaii's 140,000 square mile marine sanctuary.
Even so, the Pew Oceans Commission says credit should go to States who "are outdistancing the federal government [in] the race to preserve our oceans." They feel more federal funding should go to education and research as well as the U.S. addressing climate change.
You can grab a copy of the report card here. It breaks down the grade into six categories ranging from F to A-.
You know my thoughts about redundant scuba web sites but here's one with a good premise: DiveBuddy.com. Touting itself as a "social network for scuba divers" it offers members a way to find a dive buddy around the corner from you or at your next dive destination.
Membership is free and offers a profile page, buddy search, blogs, classifieds, event calendar, and photo galleries. The blog entries were fun to read and presented in more of a "blurb" style (quick to read) than a conventional blog post. The photo gallery doesn't hold a candle to This Is Why We Dive and I fear the event calendar is doomed to a life of neglect.
To find dive buddies I'm guessing most divers reach out to the shop that trained them, but if you hate your shop or live in an area devoid of one, this may be a useful resource. Sign-up if you're remotely curious since DiveBuddy's success hinges on building a large network.
The Georgia Aquarium got top billing as the only aquarium in the U.S. to display a whale shark. Not just one, but four. This month the attention got hotter when Ralph, a whale shark, and Gasper, a Beluga whale, died in captivity.
Organizations like the Captive Animals' Protection Society and the Georgia Animal Rights and Protection have cited this as reasons why aquariums should be shut down. Individuals have written letters, sent e-mail, even held a candle-light vigil to protest animal captivity.
Aquarium supporters have fired back, insisting their purpose is to research marine life and educate the public about them. They feel raising awareness of certain animals, like the beluga and whale shark, will help their long-term survival.
With concerns about global warming, pollution, extinction, and overfishing, the only place we may see animals like the whale shark are at the aquarium. Most of the public never gets underwater to realize how much sea life needs protection, and if it weren't for aquariums would they ever know? More marine life is killed as by-catch than will die in captivity.
Aquariums should be held to strict standards and be wholly accountable for their actions, but shutting them down would be the greatest disservice to the very creatures they serve to protect.
Last week a creature from the depths washed up on a north Oregon beach. Not a frill shark or giant squid, but a Longnose Skate. Skates and rays aren't an uncommon sight while diving, but most of us won't see a Longnose because they dwell up to 2,000 feet below the surface.
A benthic fish, this deep dweller spent considerable time on the dry sand before being rescued by the Seaside Aquarium. Nearby beach goers (actually a group of people observing a bird for possible rescue), dug a hole in the sand and filled it with water until the aquarium staff arrived. "He's in pretty bad shape because of being in the air so long, so it's hard to say if he's going to make it," according to Keith Chandler of the aquarium staff.
The rescued skate measures 32 inches in length and has two eyespots (fake eyes) to distract predators. Little is known about the Longnose although they can be found between the Bering Sea and Baja California.
DAN's latest medical FAQs cover what some might call a very important topic for anyone living in Los Angeles: the implications of cosmetic surgery and diving. Whatever your latest enhancement there's good news: in a few months you'll be back in the water.
It seems the biggest concern with breast implants and diving isn't the adoring the new looks from your dive buddies, but getting your buoyancy back: "Breast implants filled with saline are neutrally buoyant. Silicone implants are heavier than water, however, and they may alter buoyancy and attitude (trim) in the water, particularly if the implants are large. Appropriate training and appropriate adjustment of weights help overcome these difficulties."
That would be an interesting PADI course to teach.
The Vaquita porpoise can be found in only one place on Earth: the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. Scientists are meeting this week in California to discuss the threats faced by this critically endangered mammal whose population numbers between 100 and 300.
This small porpoise can grow to five feet and is often killed in fishing nets, however it's the level of toxic pollutants from the Colorado River which are an even greater concern. Last year, the Chinese River dolphin was declared extinct due to the high levels of pollution in China's Yangtze River.
If you live in San Diego, stop by the Birch Aquarium tonight at 6:30 PM for a two-hour presentation and dialog with over 50 scientists monitoring these, and other, endangered marine mammals.
Five years ago, rangers with the National Park Service found the carcass of a 45-foot humpback whale in Glacier Bay, Alaska. A necropsy determined the cause of death as massive head injuries. A cruise ship was in the area a few days before and was accused of the whale's death.
Although the legal proceedings aren't finalized, it's expected that Princess Cruises will pay $755,000 to the National Park Service for "failing to operate at a slow, safe speed while near humpback whales." A large portion of the fine will go to support the Glacier Bay National Park.
With all the news about Japan's whaling spree, it's nice to see the U.S. is enforcing the law in its waters.
You've seen the bloated contents of my dive bag so today we'll take a look at something more svelte. Marc Lyng's warm water setup is direct and to the point but not as flashy as Willy's. I envy you warm water divers but at least hauling my bag around is a good workout. If you want details on the gear in the photo, head over to Marc's Flickr page and hover over the photo.
Responding to someone's question about how to sanitize dive gear, DAN crafted a detailed response. Don't use household cleaners, go to your dive shop and buy one specially formulated for scuba diving equipment. Follow the directions and don't forget to rinse your gear with fresh water.
Really people...disinfect your gear? DAN claims there is no documented proof of viral, bacterial, or fungal infections brought on by diving.
How do I clean my gear? I hang it up outside and douse repeatedly with fresh water. Drip dry, return to storage. When I lived in an apartment I let it soak in the tub for awhile before the drip dry.
Considering my entire body is immersed in the ocean and has touched my lips and been ingested in small amounts, disinfecting my gear is probably the least of my worries.
ScubaVision Productions recently launched a weekly podcast and made it to iTunes (and hopefully a larger audience). They shoot video for commercial and non-profit clients and, in our case, produce a 5-10 minute weekly scuba show. The visuals are clean, soundtrack soothing, and make for a nice diversion at work.
Current episodes:
Interview with John Hanzi, Dive Safety Officer at the New England Aquarium and author of adventure novel Out of Hell's Kitchen
Whiteface (The Anchor) at West Caicos
The Driveway at West Caicos
Boat Cove at West Caicos
Although not a podcast, check out ScubaVisions "Now Playing" link for a wreck diving video shot in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos of the Southwind and W.E.
Each year, juvenile green sea turtles call the Gulf of Mexico's San Padre Island home. They congregate in a warm shallow bay, but a recent drop in water temperature left many comatose and immobile. Over three dozen turtles washed up on beaches and rescued by volunteers at Sea Turtle Inc.. Using heat lamps to raise their body temperature, the turtles were "resurrected" as eyes opened and flippers flipped. After a good scrubbing they were sent to munch on lettuce and swim in a warm tub (webcam).
Scientists have long thought seahorses were protected against pollutants because they use internal fertilization to reproduce. Recent studies tell a different story and it turns out the reproductive cells spend a brief time in the water before arriving in the male's brood sac. It's no surprise that water-borne pollutants (i.e.: mercury) can negatively impact the seahorses ability to reproduce.
There are 33 species of seahorses and nine are classified as endangered. These bony fish are caught for the aquarium trade, in by-catch, and (surprise!) used as an ingredient in Asian medicine despite it being illegal.
Read through for some interesting facts about seahorse reproduction, how they eat without teeth or stomach, and why they are monogamous.
The show Steve Irwin was filming when he met an untimely death is airing this evening on Animal Planet. The 90-minute documentary, Ocean's Deadliest, will be narrated by Philippe Cousteau who was with Irwin during production. Afterward, stay tuned for Crikey! What an Adventure which is a 30-minute tribute to Steve Irwin's life. Neither show is purported to cover the topic of stingrays.
The memorial of the USS Arizona was erected in 1962...a little over two decades after its infamous sinking on December 7th, 1941. Its serves as a silent reminder that over 1,000 sailors gave their lives for their country.
But like Titanic, the Arizona is deteriorating in just 30 feet of water. Salt water and the weight of so many reef animals is putting a strain on the hull, once an inch thick, now less than half. There is concern not only for the structural collapse of the ship but for the 500,000 gallons of oil which remain trapped inside.
Today, small orbs of oil bubble to the surface and National Park officials aren't sure how to remove it from the wreck. A weak hull, incomplete maps, and a grave site, they're hoping to keep the ship intact for another two decades while they determine a solution.
If you've been thinking of visiting the memorial at Pearl Harbor, consider booking the trip sooner than later.
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