http://www.divebuddy.com/blogs.aspxScuba diving blogs posted by DiveBuddy.com members.240AquaNorhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6534Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:34:17 CDTCaptain Dave Truitt former Flotilla commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and skipper of the Intrigue one of the main USCGAUX rescue boats in Chicago is well known in the Chicago maritime community, as chairman of the “Chicago Marine Heritage Society” which sponsors many of Chicago&#8217;s well known Marine events and the preservation of many [...] [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsDive_Mistresshttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6533Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:28:14 CDTObviously it has been far too quiet around here lately.  Quiet is a polite way of wording it.So what has been happening for Dive Mistress in 2010?Well 2010 actually started off with a hiss and a roar.I&#8217;ll be adding a trip report from the New Year liveaboard trip &#8211; of which one of the major [...] [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogssharkdiver73http://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6532Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:47:00 CDTChina, Japan and Russia helped defeat a U.S. endorsed proposal at a U.N. wildlife trade meeting Tuesday that would have boosted conservation efforts for sharks - is anyone surprised? We have long been advocates of regional and commercial efforts to conserve sharks. Some of the most effective recent campaigns have been targeted at the commercial sector like Alibaba.com who, under sustained media pressure, targeting partners in the USA eventually banned B to B sharks fins sales on their massive trade portal. This is shark conservation for the new decade. It is unfortunate that the latest meetings in Doha netted little for sharks but if the shark conservation world is serious about conserving these animals we’ll have to do it with regional efforts. A prime example of how to do it can be found with Beqa Adventure Divers in Fiji and elsewhere. It’s not rocket science but it is a science, and it does take dedication beyond Facebook postings, and the tired litany of other high profile yet ultimately useless "save the" campaigns that are embedded in our digital age. Commercial shark fin operators are out on the waters every day finning the animals we profess to care about. Meanwhile the shark conservation world works from laptops and web pages, producing PowerPoint presentations and statistics for disinterested government officials when boots on the ground efforts are what are really needed. Real and lasting change comes from ownership in the same animals that the commercial sector currently claims as their own. It’s a radical thought, but as Doha has once and for all demonstrated to the shark conservation world, we cannot expect big government and business interests to make the changes necessary to conserve wildlife. That legacy belongs to those who create safe havens for sharks, smart regional conservation efforts, and to those who shut down supply chain - now. [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsMatavaFijihttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6531Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:27:00 CDTAs TC Tomas passes East of Kadavu Island and Matava Eco-Adventure Resort, our diving guests clearly demonstrate an adventurous streak.....by going for a shore dive.... Well.....we are an Eco-Adventure Resort ! [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsMatavaFijihttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6530Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:59:00 CDT“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” - ConfuciusAs we sat drinking our tea and enjoying the company of visitors who traveled half way across the planet to find themselves in Hygiene, Colorado, we discussed the excitement of experiencing something new and different when traveling. For our guests from Fiji and South Africa, it was the snow that covered the [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsMatavaFijihttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6529Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:41:00 CDTMatava - Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort is 100% fully open after the cyclone passed Fiji on Tuesday 16th March 2010  KADAVU, FIJI ISLANDS - 17 December 2009 - On Monday 15th March 2010 Fiji was hit by a Category 4 Tropical Cyclone, TC TOMAS. The cyclone passed over the northern islands and well to the East of Kadavu Island. Although the resort experienced high winds and heavy rain, no [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6528Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:18:00 CDTJust a quick update from your local Bahia De Los Angeles internet cafe. The weather here in Baja, California along the Sea of Cortez has been warm and sunny . . . and windy. And that has made filming difficult so far. I am here to film Humboldt squid with Scott Cassell and dealing with these predators can be very interesting to say the least. We sport Neptunic Shark Suits to provide protection from the squid, along with a cable harness tied to the boat (The little darlings can drag you down if they become really interested in you. And we’re diving in water 250- to 1200-feet deep. The winds make it challenging for both the divers and the local fisherman (a panga - the local fisherman’s small boat - can be swamped by wind-swept waves when full of squid as it rides low in the water). We will be back out on the water later this morning, hoping for calmer seas and plenty of squid. There is an important story behind the ecology of these animals, some of which I have posted in the past. But there’s more to come. [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogssimilandiverhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6527Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:42:00 CDT Karina has applied for a new position with Wicked Diving next season.... We’ll see how it goes...? -Similan Islands Diving [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogssimilandiverhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6526Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:47:00 CDT As always - happy guests! Join us for a Similan Liveaboard before the season ends! The Similan National Park closes on May 15th and will not reopen until November 2010...so there are just a few weeks left to arrange your trip! [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogssimilandiverhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6525Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:17:00 CDT"This has been a wonderful experience. Thanks to Therese, Jo, Karin, Damien and the rest of the crew for a great liveaboard. Thanks also to the cook and assistants for the prize-winning meals. Final Thanks (special one) for Karin for her training. I’ve got now the Open Water certificate!! WE will certainly recommend Wicked Diving!!" Cristina and Anders And thanks for joining us! -Similan Diving [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsK2SCUBAhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6524Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:06:19 CDTSavvy Dive Travelers and the TSA Rules and Regulations &#160; DiverWire senior contributing editor John Flanders&#160; and boss man at Academy of Scuba did some research this week on scuba travel and related challenges. In the first of a three-part series, he looks at TSA restrictions and their impact on divers. Traveling with Scuba gear offers [...] No related posts. [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsK2SCUBAhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6523Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:28:41 CDTStop for a moment, and think of others. Put the anger, the hardness, the walls of your life aside and be thankful for the grace that you have. . . . But don’t stop there, step outside of yourself. Remember the parable, “I complained because I had no shoes. . . and then I met a man who had no feet" Related posts:A Newbie Experience and Fresh Perspective on Scuba Diving, Local Dive Shops, and Instruction! I found my SCUBA school at a travel and leisure... Guide to Kiddie Scuba Fin Selection this was so well written that I have scraped... The Equipment a Prospective SCUBA Diver Needs Folks, John Flanders, my friend, my team mate, my... Enhance your Scuba Abilities &#8211; Mask Removal Removing and replacing a scuba mask is the skill... Why Buy From K2 Scuba? There are a boatload of small and large e-tailers as... [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsK2SCUBAhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6522Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:47:42 CDTStop for a moment, and think of others. Put the anger, the hardness, the walls of your life aside and be thankful for the grace that you have. . . . But don’t stop there, step outside of yourself. Remember the parable, I complained because I had no shoes. . . and then I met a man who had no feet"Think how lucky you are to have your limbs. . [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogschazrichhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6521Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:29:47 CDTWell, I managed to get Spring break off for the first time in years. My wife and I just bought a pop-up camper, so we’ve loaded the dive gear and the camper and plan to wander West Texas. We plan at least one dive day at Balmorhea State Park. If you’re in the area and want to come diving just let me know what day and time and we’ll try to get there if we aren’t already. Chaz ...Dive TripCaribbeanDiver2http://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6519Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:16:09 CDT Now is a good time to dive in Phuket and Phi Phi Thailand. The high season is just ending and that means less people, better travel deals and hotel prices. The beaches are awsome and so are the people. I can help you with accommodations as well as where to go on the island. Surfing and body board season is also starting. The diving is still very good and chances to see manta rays as well as sharks . If I can help you in any way let me know. Take care Mike ...Dive TripAmazingLantahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6518Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:22:52 CDTKoh Bida Nai and Koh Bida Nok are two spectacular limestone rocks jutting out the water just south oh Koh Phi Phi. They are really impressive to view above sea level and even more impressive under the water when you go scuba diving.Koh Bida Nok is one of my favourite dive sites in the Andaman [...] [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogssimilandiverhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6517Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:57:00 CDT Sharks are a frequent visitor to our dive sites like Breakfast Bend. These are non-aggressive species and no threat to humans in any way. -Similan Diving [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6516Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:30:00 CDTMy good friends at Shark-Free Marina Initiative have continued to advance their cause, adding recognized marinas worldwide to their member rolls. And now they have the support of another major conservation organization, with the endorsement of the Humane Society of the United States. “The Humane Society of the United States is pleased to join the efforts of the Shark-Free Marina Initiative,” said John Grandy, Ph.D., senior vice president of wildlife for The HSUS. “The HSUS works tirelessly to end animal cruelty, exploitation and neglect and is deeply concerned by the deteriorating status of shark populations.” Luke Tipple, executive director of the Initiative, said, “The Shark-Free Marina Initiative welcomes the support of The Humane Society of the United States and its members to protect beleaguered shark species.” The Shark-Free Marina Initiative promotes a program whereby participating marinas will no longer allow sharks being brought in for any purpose - trophy pictures, weigh-ins, cleaning/gutting . . . no sharks, period. Marinas are encouraged to provide information on catch-and-release techniques and there is informative information on the Shark-Free Marina web site regarding the status of various shark species worldwide. I was honored to be asked by Director Luke Tipple to produce a video which explains the program and runs on their web site and YouTube. Congratulations to both, the Shark-Free Marinas Initiative and the Humane Society, for taking this step forward in collaboration. Let’s hope it produces more tangible results in increasing marina membership and providing important conservation information and alternatives to sportfishermen. Read Humane Society press release. [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6515Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:12:00 CDTWhen we examine a marine ecosystem or the population of a particular species and observe that "it’s not what it once was," we are, in simple terms, observing a shifting baseline. The use of shifting baselines, or what has sometimes been called Shifting Baseline Syndrome (SBS), has become a common but controversial tool in evaluating fishery management, species population, and general ocean vitality. In fact, it has been used as the basis of study for a variety of scientific and societal conditions - from ocean conservation to Hollywood entertainment. One of the challenges in using SBS is in determining what the fundamental baseline is - what is the baseline that represents a fully healthy, functioning marine ecosystem or species population? Is it what it was 10 years ago? A century? Or before the arrival of mankind? To determine such an ultimate starting point, scientists often have to take a variety of empirical and anecdotal data and work backwards. Sometimes this works, sometimes not. As an example, one study in the late 1990’s determined that the appropriate baseline population for green sea turtles in the Caribbean was 660 million, based on an extrapolation of the extent of a particular sea grass that figured prominently in the turtle’s diet. Several years later, based on a reevaluation of the sea grass growth, that number was scaled back to 16 to 33 million - quite a reduction but still, given today’s population of less than 200,000, what can we realistically expect as a conservation goal? In other situations, SBS gets oversimplified in its application regarding policy. When research determined that over-fishing was the primary cause of a drop in Canadian cod fisheries, a moratorium was put in place in the early 90’s. However, the cod population has failed to recover and the moratorium remains in place. What may have been missed is some unforeseen cascade effect, some other component to a healthy cod population that is missing or altered, perhaps triggered by the over-fishing, perhaps not. Many scientists see value in using SBS but there are some who feel that it must be utilized in a more comprehensive fashion that also incorporates other theoretical approaches including resilience and social-ecological systems (SES) which introduce variables of human involvement or impact while trying to determine an appropriate future baseline. In the end, it can be a vexing question: as we consider the health of marine species or ecosystems, what is the ideal goal that we can truly expect to strive for, regardless of how things were in the past? Can science accurately and reliably make that determination? Hopefully, it can but it will require a broad spectrum of scientific approaches to do so. Click here for a proponent web site that explains shifting baselines. Click here to read a scientific paper on SBS weaknesses and solutions. [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6514Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:22:00 CDTThere’s no Friday night partying this week; it’s off to bed for an early call tomorrow as I head to the Sea of Cortez for a two-week film assignment. I will be joined by Scott Cassell of Undersea Voyager Project as we travel to Baja, Mexico’s Bahia De Los Angeles. Hopefully, I will have internet access so that I can post some news and updates while on location. In the meantime, be sure to watch the developments coming from the CITES conference which begins tomorrow (3/13) and runs through the 25th. I’m sure there will news updates and press releases on the CITES web site. Stay tuned - there are a lot of important proposals regarding threatened or endangered species. Hasta la vista! [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogstulsa_diving_divahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6513Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:56:41 CDTWell my "next time" is arriving soon.  In April I will be traveling back to Roatan, Honduras and staying at Fantasy Island Beach Resort. WOOHOO!!  Counting down the days!...Dive Tripsharkdiver73http://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6512Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:41:00 CDTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Humane Society of the United States Joins Shark-Free Marinas to Reduce Killing of Ocean’s Great Predators ‘Shark-Free Marina Initiative’ promotes catch-and-release Note: There are Shark-Free Marinas in Harwich, Mass.; Key Largo, Fla.; Miami; Tequesta, Fla.; Vero Beach, Fla.; West Alton, Mo, Fiji, Tonga, and the U.K (March 15, 2010) — The Humane Society of the United States has teamed up with Shark-Free Marinas in a campaign to significantly reduce worldwide shark mortality. Fittingly, the effort is called the “Shark-Free Marina Initiative” and seeks the support of marina operators worldwide to prohibit the landing of any shark on their premises, thus encouraging catch-and-release fishing. To help publicize the plight of sharks and the need for their protection, The HSUS and SFMI are supplying signs and public information to participating marinas in the U.S. and the Caribbean. “The Humane Society of the United States is pleased to join the efforts of the Shark-Free Marina Initiative,” said John Grandy, Ph.D., senior vice president of wildlife for The HSUS. “The HSUS works tirelessly to end animal cruelty, exploitation and neglect and is deeply concerned by the deteriorating status of shark populations.” Luke Tipple, executive director of the Initiative, said, “The Shark-Free Marina Initiative welcomes the support of The Humane Society of the United States and its members to protect beleaguered shark species.” The HSUS, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, strives to end the killing of sharks in sport tournaments around the United States, and works to raise public awareness about celebrating ocean life instead of destroying it. The Shark-Free Marina Initiative encourages marinas to adopt shark-friendly policies, preventing kill tournaments from using those facilities. Facts Dozens of marinas in the United States, the Caribbean and the South Pacific have registered as Shark-Free Marinas since the initiative began in 2008. The HSUS also works to protect sharks by campaigning against shark finning, and the organization recently petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to list the porbeagle shark as endangered. The Shark-Free Marina Initiative runs a Regional Ambassador program where anyone can get involved in their important work. Visit the SFMI Web site (sharkfreemarinas.com) or The HSUS Web site (humanesociety.org/protectsharks) for more information. Other groups supporting the Shark-Free Marina Initiative include the Fisheries Conservation Foundation and Cape Eleuthera Institute. Media Contact: Liz Bergstrom, 301-258-1455, ebergstrom@humanesociety.org [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogssimilandiverhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6511Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:39:00 CDT This and much more is seen by us at the Similan Islands. Join us for an ecologically friendly liveaboard through Thailand’s most famous dive sites. -Similan Diving [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogsaquaviewshttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6510Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:03:34 CDTOf all the Frequently Asked Questions in Scuba Diving, queries regarding the proper time to fly after diving is one of the most common asked. The dilemma usually crops up, cos as divers we are always keen to squeeze in those few extra dives just before we have to make the most of our diving [...] [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogsoceanboundhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6509Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:47:23 CDT Wednesday, March 10, 2010 -  Wow, it’s been almost a year since that dive at Morrison springs (see my first blog)  Hard to believe I’ve come so far since that dive.  I’ve been to so many different places,  dove and seen so much in less than two years since becoming a certified diver.  I now have over 150 dives. Just a few of the places I’ve dove include Palancar Gardens in Cozumel, the Lost Anchor in Belize, Round Rock in Grand Cayman, swam with dolphins in Roatan,  the Oriskany in Pensacola, The Miss Louise in Destin, the Red Sea Tug in Panama City,  the Spiegel Grove in the Keys, Devils Den, Ginnie Springs, and hunted sharks teeth Venice Florida.   I made my 100th dive at Vortex where diving began for me.  I’ve got to see a Hawksbill turtle up close and personal (another story), nurse sharks, a Big A eel, three goliath groupers which I hid from because of their size,  saw my first sea horse in Coz, and the first of many dreaded Lion Fish in Belize, and made a friend out of a dolphin in Roatan.   I think Nudibracs are cool!  I have seen so many Toad fish there are no way to count them and I finally stopped taking pictures of them.    I’ve learned that Remoras  are pests underwater but they’ll eat left over diver’s lunch if given the opportunity.  I go to some dive sites in Destin so many times that I know the fish and knew which ones were supposed to be where.  Was disappointed when those familiar fish are not seen.   Saw my first bat fish in Destin, first Squirrel fish and Jaw fish in Grand Cayman.  I’ve learned that many fish have personalities.  I’m continuing to learn and improve my photography skills underwater (just glad film is a thing of the past).  I’ve finally learned that I don’t have to take a photo of EVERYTHING (but still do lol).  I’ve learned that Ikelight is a wonderful company and that they’ll replace a flooded flash even due to operator stupidity.  I also learned that a small bug no bigger than the point of a penc...EducationalOceanicDreamshttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6508Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:31:00 CDT Well here is some great news, The Humane Society has joined forces with Shark-Free Marinas. Congrats to Luke and team: ‘Shark-Free Marina Initiative’ promotes catch-and-release Note: There are Shark-Free Marinas in Harwich, Mass.; Key Largo, Fla.; Miami; Tequesta, Fla.; Vero Beach, Fla.; and West Alton, Mo. (March 9, 2010) — The Humane Society of the United States has teamed up with Shark-Free Marinas in a campaign to significantly reduce worldwide shark mortality. Fittingly, the effort is called the “Shark-Free Marina Initiative” and seeks the support of marina operators worldwide to prohibit the landing of any shark on their premises, thus encouraging catch-and-release fishing. To help publicize the plight of sharks and the need for their protection, The HSUS and SFMI are supplying signs and public information to participating marinas in the U.S. and the Caribbean. “The Humane Society of the United States is pleased to join the efforts of the Shark-Free Marina Initiative,” said John Grandy, Ph.D., senior vice president of wildlife for The HSUS. “The HSUS works tirelessly to end animal cruelty, exploitation and neglect and is deeply concerned by the deteriorating status of shark populations.” Luke Tipple, executive director ...External BlogsRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6507Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:34:00 CDTThe annual Canadian fur seal hunt has been a hot button issue with most animal conservation groups. With a slow but growing anti-fur movement, there has been pressure placed on the Canadian government to terminate the hunts, but the government has resisted and remained in favor of the industry that the hunts support (many of the hunters are actually fishermen, participating when seasonal weather curtails their fishing activities). This year, there has been an new wrinkle that poses an additional threat to the seals: a lack of winter sea ice. Normally, there is substantial sea ice that forms in the Gulf of St, Lawrence and this ice layer provides a critical platform for fur seal birthing grounds. (To watch a video, click on the image above, then click on the web site’s video link when the picture of a seal appears.) According to the Humane Society of the United States, " This year, Environment Canada [a government agency] says we are witnessing the worst ice in history off Canada’s east coast. For the first year on record, virtually no sea ice has formed in key seal birthing areas. The impact on seals will be devastating. Many mother seals are likely to abort in the water, and unprecedented numbers of pups will die." Whether this loss of sea ice is a statistical anomoly or the result of climate change is difficult to determine. On the one hand, there is documented evidence of declining sea ice throughout the Arctic region extending over a marked period of years. However, looking at a graph of February winter ice for eastern Canada shows fluctuations dating back to 1969. There was a growing decline starting in 1995, but there were marked increases in the later part of this first decade of 2000 until this year, when it plummeted, reaching an all-time low. In any case, the lack of sea ice will definitely have an impact on the fur seal population due to the loss of seal pups unable to survive at sea. The Canadian Press reports, "A marine mammal specialist for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans recently told The Canadian Press he also expects the death rate for seal pups to rise this year from its average of 15 per cent." The Humane Society, which has always opposed the fur seal hunts, is stepping up their campaign to get the Canadian government to halt the impending hunts if, for no reason at all, but for the additional pressure it will place on fur seal populations already faced with higher mortality due to this unusual loss of winter sea ice. Here’s a video on the challenges facing Arctic sea ice that I assembled for Google Earth and InMER, a marine research and education organization. <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.humanesociety.org/news...External Blogsscubajcfhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6506Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:51:50 CDTThe Academy of Scuba was out at Lake Pleasant today. Spent some time at Desert Tortoise Road. Good news is the lake is cleaning and clearing up. About 10 foot of visibility and the debris is starting to float away from the dive sites. If you are curious about the temperature, [...] [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6505Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:45:00 CDTIt was a year ago that I ran a post about the 800-lb. gorilla-in-the-room problem: world overpopulation. Take a look at what I wrote on March 6 of last year. Not much has changed, other than the human population has continued to grow unabated. But as last year’s posting notes, it’s a touchy subject. The Zero Population Growth movement of the late 60’s and 70’s has faded in our memories, replaced by a more draconian system in China and ignored as a serious issue in most other industrialized nations. However, it is at the core of many, if not most, of our environmental problems. We are pushing nature beyond its limits to sustain us, and all of our efforts to address the symptoms - through increased crop yields, sustainable seafoods, cleaner industrial factories, and even alternative energy - are ultimately stop gap measures at best. But to raise public awareness through fear and dire predictions seems to fall on deaf ears nowadays. Perhaps we are beset with too many problems, too many issues of Armageddon-like proportions, that we just can’t handle one more, particularly one in which there does not seem to be a simple, mutually agreed upon solution. A year ago, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) was painting a bleak picture about overpopulation. This year, they are using a somewhat lighter touch with Endangered Species Condoms. Each individually boxed condom has information about the impact of human overpopulation on all species - although I’m not sure how many people are going to pause to read the box ("Can you hang on a second, dear. I want to read something here."). Maybe afterwards, as a replacement for that traditional post-coital cigarette or snuggle time. CBD’s executive director, Kieran Suckling, says, "The packages are designed to get people talking about overpopulation. And boy, do they work. We tested them on Valentine’s Day, expecting 100 volunteer distributors to come forward. An astounding 5,000 people volunteered taking all 100,000 condoms in just a couple of days! As planned, the media ate it up. We generated funny but deadly serious conversations about overpopulation and the extinction crisis in hundreds of newspapers including The New York Times, L.A. Times, Miami Herald, and Boston Globe. More than 300,000 blogs and Web sites covered the issue." CBD hopes to distribute 250,000 condoms by Earth Day, on April 22nd. You can learn more at a special Center for Biological Diversity web site devoted to the subject. Says Suckling, "It is imperative that we break the wall of silence around overpopulation. If we don’t, all the environmental progress we make will be overwhelmed by the sheer mass of people pushing into the last wildlife habitats, eating the last fish, and damming the last wild rivers." [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsMatavaFijihttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6504Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:40:00 CDTKadavu, an island in the south of the Fijian islands, may become the site of the first true marine reserve in the Pacific.Marine reserves could be the answer to the ocean’s dwindling fish stocks.Learn more:http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/news/overfishing/oceans-in-deep-peril [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External Blogswcreefers1@aol.comhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6503Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:24:03 CDT Hello,   It’s that time to start thinking about the Channel Islands in October. Probably the best time of the year to dive the Islands. If you haven’t dove the Channel Islands, California your missing one of the great diving experiences. I’m preparing for the 2010 Channel Islands dive trip. Don’t get stuck on a overcrowded boat trip  Ours is a limited load (25 divers) 3 day live-aboard trip leaving out of Santa Barbara, CA. As always the best price in the state. I have attached my flyer with information regarding the trip. If you’re interested, let me know right away so I can hold a spot for you. Hope you can make it. Check out www.truthaquatics.com you can see the Vision and their calendar   Safe diving,   John Rush West Coast Reefers wcreefers1@aol.com ...Dive Tripdirtguy49http://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6502Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:43:22 CDTAnybody interested in a budget diving holiday in the Philippines in June 2010?  Two weeks. Airfare about $650 to $850 - SFO/MNL/SFO on an Asian air carrier.   And then about $100 to $120 per day for diving, room, meals and in-country travel.  No firm date yet, but starting to look at 2 weeks some time in June.  I am not a travel agent, I will assist with arrangements, but you will make all your own bookings and payments. Drop me a note, if you want more info.  I have a list of suggested web sites to look at for learning about diving in the Philippines in general and then more info about diving on the wrecks at Subic Bay and Coron....Dive TripRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6501Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:10:00 CDTA well deserved congratulations to The Cove for being awarded the Best Documentary Oscar at Sunday night’s Academy Awards presentation! If you have not seen this film about the brutal harvesting of dolphins and whales in the Japanese village of Taiji and the subsequent distribution of polluted meat to an unsuspecting Japanese public, you can now purchase the DVD (here’s a link to Amazon.com). All of the films nominated in the Best Documentary category are important films and worth seeing. The contenders focused on critical social issues - human rights, abuse, immigration. And all of these challenges deserve our attention. What made The Cove perhaps a bit special was that it combined both a conservation issue (the particularly brutal harvest of marine mammals) with a human issue (the indifference of the Japanese fishermen, the ignorance of the local villagers to the hazard they are exposing themselves to, and resistance from the Japanese government to do anything about it). Add to that the drama experienced by the film crew in secretly filming the harvest, and you have a film that stands out as both education and entertainment with the hope that viewers will be motivated to do something about an ecological and human health tragedy. Perhaps winning the award will provide The Cove with a little extra clout with the Japanese government, but there are plenty of forces currently at work to prevent the film from getting its message out to those who need to hear it the most - the Japanese people. The producers have several online vehicles (web site, Facebook page & cause, blog, etc.) that you can visit to learn what you can do to help them get more exposure to a people who, unfortunately, have such a long heritage of dependence involving seafood. The Cove needs all the help it can get. Links: The Cove web siteFacebook Fan PageFacebook CauseThe Cove blog [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6500Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:21:00 CDTOcean researchers and many conservationists have heard of oceanic low-oxygen or "dead zones" wherein large areas of ocean have lower-than-normal levels of oxygen. To a large extent, these areas are normal or somewhat predictable - deepwater and seasonal movements of water; all part of the ocean’s normal process of oxygen intake, use, and replenishment. But there are more and more signs from throughout the world that these dead zones are becoming more frequent and growing in size. From both coasts of Africa, to South America to the Pacific Northwest, dead zones are becoming a real problem, killing off some aquatic species, displacing others, and affecting the ocean’s relationship with the atmosphere - a relationship that provides a majority of our breathable air. A recent article in the online McClatchy newspaper outlines what has been happening in the Pacific Northwest, along the Oregon/Washington coastline. Some scientists believe it’s too soon to tell whether the root cause - a warming of the surface waters that acts as a cap to suppress the normal cycle of deepwater to shallow, or upwellings and downwellings - is due to global warming, but it’s high on their list of suspects. Some might think that it’s a sign of ocean acidification, but this is a different process taking place here, as well illustrated in the article. However, in any case, the net effect of the coast of Oregon and Washington is tangible, with piles of dead Dungeness crab and 25-year old sea stars littering a sea floor covered with a higher-than-normal bacteria layer. "Areas of hypoxia, or low oxygen, have long existed in the deep ocean. These areas — in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans — appear to be spreading, however, covering more square miles, creeping toward the surface and in some places, such as the Pacific Northwest, encroaching on the continental shelf within sight of the coastline.’The depletion of oxygen levels in all three oceans is striking,’ said Gregory Johnson, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle."If these low-oxygen zones continue to increase in size and/or frequency, the ocean ecology will have to make adjustments, some that will be severe and that we will feel as they impact commercial fisheries. But scientists are not sure just how far-ranging these changes could be. After all, they have no reference models or examples to turn to - we are heading into unknown territory."Scientists are unsure how low oxygen levels will affect the ocean ecosystem. Bottom-dwelling species could be at the greatest risk because they move slowly and might not be able to escape the lower oxygen levels. Most fish can swim out of danger. Some species, however, such as chinook salmon, may have to start swimming at shallower depths than they’re used to. Whether the low oxygen zones will change salmon migration routes is unclear.Some species, such as jellyfish, will like the lower-oxygen water. Jumbo squid, usually found off Mexico and Central America, can survive as oxygen levels decrease and now are found as far north as Alaska." Read entire McClatchy article. <br /...External BlogsK2SCUBAhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6499Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:34:11 CDTReported by Bjarne Wildau &#160; In Australia, where the danger of the deadly jellyfish is not ignored, beaches known to be infested have signs warning people when to swim and when not to. &#160; &#160; The box jelly fish is clear as glass and prefers shallow water with sand bottoms &#8211; just like the millions of tourists coming [...] Related posts:Ben Southall stung by an irukandji jellyfish Article from: Natalie Gregg December 30, 2009 12:00am BEST... May you never have a Jellyfish Bad Day from ScubaDiverGirls Blog! The following post is seeded from the ScubaDiverGirls Blog... [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsK2SCUBAhttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6498Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:48:34 CDTFrom 2003 to 2008, an international research team led by University of Alaska-Fairbanks scientists Natalia Shakhova and Igor Semiletov surveyed the waters of the East Siberian Arctic Shelf, which covers more than two million sq km of seafloor in the Arctic Ocean. &#34;This discovery reveals a large but overlooked source of methane gas escaping from [...] No related posts. [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsOceanicDreamshttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6497Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:07:00 CDTMike (close to 2m long) and "Scarface" (close to 5 m long) Photo: Tim Rock Do you want to know what makes a banker turned into a shark conservationist tick? In case you think about me - you are WRONG. I am talking about Mike DaShark. Mike is one of the brainiest individuals I know, at the same time he is as pleasantly unassuming as you would expect an intellectual heavy-weight to be. If I were asked to describe Mike in one sentence, I’d say this about him: Not a trace of hot air, no underdeveloped ego in need to be puffed up, no show biz on his own behalf, incorruptible, and solid as a rock inmidst the busy pettiness of self-interest that is so characteristic of most shark conservationist groups. Mike is not an English native speaker; he hasn’t even had a formal language training in English - he just picked it up and practiced it. And yet - few educated people speak and write English the way he does. Here are, then, the thoughts of an ex-banker who abandoned a very successful investment banking career, and all that goes with it, to become a dedicated, hard working, and persevering shark conservationist in Fiji. Mike - you rock!! [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsOceanicDreamshttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6496Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:05:00 CDTShe is "Ella" Photo: Wolfgang Leander Nobody really knows how many tiger sharks have been netted in Scottburgh) during the last two years or so; all I have heard is that the numbers of the Aliwal Shoal tigers have gone down. There were fantastic characters among the tiger girls of Aliwal Shoal: "Dartboard" and "Mathilda", both camera lovers, and, my favorite: "Ella", quite large, elegant as befits an elderly lady, and most gentle. In fact, I have never encountered a more gentle tiger shark - and mind you, I was also able to closely befriend serene "Emma", the legendary Tiger Beach resident, so I guess I can tell. I will be travelling to South Africa in less than a week, and am, as you can imagine, very excited about meeting good friends: Jifa (= Jean-Francois Avenier) and "Machin", his new husky, the Addisons, Fiona Ayerst, Hanli Prinsloo, Fred Buyle, William Winram, Roger Horrocks - not to mention the striped ladies, including "Ella", as I very much hope. ) The shark nets have to be removed, in South Africa and the rest of the world. Read why. [ This is an external blog. Read complete blog here... ]...External BlogsGreghttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6495Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:40:41 CDTDiveBuddy.com has passed the 14,000 member mark!  Our members span the entire world...including places you’ve probablly never heard of :)  Need a dive buddy locally or for a destination you’re visiting?  With over 14,000 members you’re bound to find someone to blow bubbles with. Thank you to everyone, especially our Moderators and Life Time Members, that have helped to make this online community so special.  Dive shops have earned new business because of DiveBuddy.com.  Divers have found new buddies because of DiveBuddy.com.  Air has been compressed into more tanks because of DiveBuddy.com ;)  This is your scuba community; learn, research, play, organize...it’s all possible here. Dive safe and often! Greg Davis Member #1 DiveBuddy.com ...Press ReleaseRTSeahttp://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6494Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:24:00 CDTThe CITES Meeting is now only one week away. Scheduled for March 13-25 in Qatar, this meeting is shaping up to be the "Copenhagen Conference of endangered species." Let’s all hope the end results are more productive and substantive. I’ve mentioned CITES in several past postings, but for those of you who are unfamiliar with this international organization, it stands for Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. And although there are some who would be concerned over any organization that would seem to be involved in regulating trade in endangered species rather than eliminate it altogether, it has become an important body because that very position has enabled it to include a large number of member nations. Through its program of Appendix ratings (Appendix I being the most severe: a labeling of "endangered" for the particular species and often a complete curtailment in trade - no hunting, no buying), CITES has become a recognized force in worldwide conservation of flora and fauna. The CITES web site has been completely revamped in anticipation of the meeting and you can look at a program of all the amendment proposals, which include adding species to their list or moving a species from Appendix II (a threatened species with with regulated or restricted trade) to Appendix I and, in some cases, proposals for the reverse based on some measure of improvement. Unfortunately, all of the species are listed by their scientific names, so you will need to pull out your biology and botany books or spend time Googling the Latin names. But here’s a list of those that have received a lot of attention: Bluefin TunaGrey WolfBobcatPolar BearAfrican Bush ElephantNile and Moreletii CrocodilesGreat, Scalloped, and Smooth Hammerhead SharksGreat Hammerhead SharkSandbar SharkDusky SharkOceanic White Tip SharkPorbeagle SharkSpiny DogfishAnd that’s not all. You can look at the entire list and download the complete proposals (15MB Zi...External Blogs