Thursday, August 31, 2017

Divers destroying reef system in The Maldives. This has to stop! Are you...



#maldives #coralreefs #oceanconservation #diversdestroyingreef #coralbleaching #globalwarming

Maldivian waters are home to several ecosystems, including a variety, 187 species, of vibrant coral reefs. This area of the Indian Ocean, alone, houses 1100 species of fish, 5 species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins, 400 species of molluscs, and 83 species of echinoderms. The area is also populated by a number of crustacean species: 120 copepod, 15 amphipod, as well as more than 145 crab and 48 shrimp species.

Among the many marine families represented are Pufferfish, Fusiliers, Jackfish, Lionfish, Oriental Sweetlips, reef sharks, Groupers, Eels, Snappers, Bannerfish, Batfish, Humphead Wrasse, Spotted Eagle Rays, Scorpionfish, Lobsters, Nudibranches, Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Squirrelfish, Soldierfish, Glassfish, Surgeonfish, Unicornfish, Triggerfish, Napoleon wrasses, and Barracudas.

These coral reefs are home to a variety of marine ecosystems that vary from planktonic organisms to whale sharks. Sponges have gained importance as five species have displayed anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties.

In 1998, sea-temperature warming of as much as 5 °C (9.0 °F) due to a single El Niño phenomenon event caused coral bleaching, killing two thirds of the nation's coral reefs.

In an effort to induce the regrowth of the reefs, scientists placed electrified cones anywhere from 20–60 feet (6.1–18.3 m) below the surface to provide a substrate for larval coral attachment. In 2004, scientists witnessed corals regenerating. Corals began to eject pink-orange eggs and sperm. The growth of these electrified corals was five times faster than untreated corals.

Scientist Azeez Hakim stated,

"Before 1998, we never thought that this reef would die. We had always taken for granted that these animals would be there, that this reef would be there forever. El Niño gave us a wake-up call that these things are not going to be there for ever. Not only this, they also act as a natural barrier against the tropical storms, floods and tsunamis. Seaweeds grow on the skeletons of dead coral."

Again, in 2016, the coral reefs of the Maldives experienced a severe bleaching incident. Over 95% of coral around the islands died, and, even after six months, 100% of young coral transplants had died. The surface water temperatures reached an all-time high in 2016, at 31 degrees Celsius in May.

Recent scientific studies suggest that the faunistic composition can vary greatly between neighbour atolls, especially in terms of benthic fauna. Differences in terms of fishing pressure (including poaching) could be the cause.


Monday, August 28, 2017

Night dive on 8/26/2017 @ Sunrise Motel Hoodsport Washington, Puget Soun...



Lots of cools stuff to see, however the algae bloom came out at night so the visibility wasn't the best. This video is not edited, just one long 30 minute dive. Watch while listening to some tunes!

We did see a dogfish. I only got a quick second of it on the video.

#nightdiving #pugetsound #dogfish #sharkdiving #pugetsoundsharks

(the video is unedited)

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Visit the new fish habitat at Sunrise Motel & Dive Resort, Hoodsport, Wa...



A cool place for fish to hang out and make new homes...

Sunrise Motel & Dive Resort
24520 US Hwy 101
Hoodsport, WA 98548
360-877-5301

#hoodsport #hoodsportwashington #divethepnw #sunrisemotel #sunrisemotelanddiveresort #fishhabitats

Open Water Certification Dives at Sunrise Motel, Puget Sound, for Ian an...



Visibility wasn't the greatest this weekend but there was a nice selection of animals to see. It's always fun to see anemones and hermit crabs. With the low vis, we couldn't find the deep boats, but I know they're still there.

#pugetsound #hoodsportwashington #sunrisemotel #openwaterweekend #certification dives #certdives

Fun dive day under the waterfall at Dugan Falls, Washougal, Washington



Dugan Falls are located in Washougal, Washington about 30 minutes East of Vancouver. The water coming down the falls slows down enough by the first week in August so it's a great time to head up there and take a dip. The water is usually about 61-63 degrees and the pool under the fall gets to about 18ft deep. Every year we see a school of Steelhead Trout. This year there were about 40 of them and they were about 30 inches long.

#duganfalls #douganfalls #riverdiving #waterfalldiving #washougal #washougalriver #steelhead #trout #steelheadtrout


Tuesday, August 8, 2017

British rebreather diver has died on a shore-dive in less than 2m of water

British rebreather diver has died on a shore-dive in less than 2m of water after watching his two children training in Green Bay near Larnaca, Cyprus


SIX FUCKING FEET OF WATER...!!!


Analysis of recreational closed-circuit rebreather deaths 1998-2010

The 181 recorded recreational rebreather deaths occurred at about 10 times the rate of deaths amongst open-circuit recreational scuba divers. No particular brand or type of rebreather was over-represented. Closed-circuit rebreathers have a 25-fold increased risk of component failure compared to a manifolded twin-cylinder open-circuit system. This risk can be offset by carrying a redundant 'bailout' system. Two-thirds of fatal dives were associated with a high-risk dive or high-risk behaviour. There are multiple points in the human-machine interface (HMI) during the use of rebreathers that can result in errors that may lead to a fatality.


While these machines can do amazing things, the human operators are still, failing...

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Pleuroncodes planipes, red crab, a species of squat lobster, raving to A...



This footage is not a loop... the original video is over 10 minutes long. Try to watch the whole thing if you can. It's quite mesmerizing!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleuroncodes_planipes

Pleuroncodes planipes, sometimes called the pelagic red crab (or simply "red crab"), tuna crab or langostilla, is a species of squat lobster from the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The crabs are about 4 inches long, have three small legs on each side of their bodies and two pincers in front, much like a miniature lobster. Their tails are segmented, causing them to swim backward.

Audio is: Axel Thesleff, "Bad Karma"

#pleuroncodes #planipes #pleuroncodesplanipes #redcrab #squatlobster #pelagicredcrab #axelthesleff #badkarma #ravemusic

A compilation of various animals from the Northern Channel Islands off S...


Northern Channel Islands aboard the Truth Aquatics Vessel, "Truth"

July 31st to August 4th

#truthaquatics #channelislands #liveaboard #catalinaisland #seakelp #kelpforrests #littlefishes #garibaldi #soundsofthereef #bluewater #colorsofthereef #blackseahare #purpleseaurchins #seaurchins #nudibranchs #photobomb

Critters, sounds, colors, fishes, and various sea life of the Channel Is...




Northern Channel Islands aboard the Truth Aquatics Vessel, "Truth"

July 31st to August 4th

#truthaquatics #channelislands #liveaboard #catalinaisland #seakelp #kelpforrests #littlefishes #garibaldi #soundsofthereef #bluewater #colorsofthereef #blackseahare #purpleseaurchins #seaurchins #nudibranchs #photobomb #steelanchor #teckdivers #newfinkick

little fishes
Garibaldi
sounds of the reef
blue water
colors of the reef
black sea hare
purple sea urchins
purple nudibranchs
photo bomb
steel anchor
tech divers
new fin kick

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Amazing and beautiful undulating kelp forests of the Channel Islands



Northern Channel Islands aboard the Truth Aquatics Vessel, "Truth"

July 31st to August 4th

#truthaquatics #channelislands #liveaboard #catalinaisland #seakelp #kelpforrests

Some of the larger fish species and other interesting sea life




Northern Channel Islands aboard the Truth Aquatics Vessel, "Truth"

July 31st to August 4th

#truthaquatics #channelislands #liveaboard #catalinaisland #fish #sheephead

Harbor seal swimming through the kelp with me



Northern Channel Islands aboard the Truth Aquatics Vessel, "Truth"

July 31st to August 4th

#truthaquatics #channelislands #liveaboard #catalinaisland #harborseal #sealion

Juvenile sea hare and purple and yellow nudibranch




Northern Channel Islands aboard the Truth Aquatics Vessel, "Truth"

July 31st to August 4th

#truthaquatics #channelislands #liveaboard #catalinaisland #seahare #nudibranch

NEW VS. USED SCUBA EQUIPMENT; Which should you buy?

NEW VS. USED SCUBA EQUIPMENT Which should you buy? How much is a 10 year old piece of scuba equipment worth today on eBay? Take the r...