Divetalking » Archive
Administration unveils sweeping plan to protect the country’s oceans
By Andrew Restuccia The Obama administration unveiled on Thursday a federal strategy for protecting the country’s oceans that calls for improving oil-spill response capabilities in the Arctic and managing the effects of climate change. The draft plan outlines a series of steps that various federal agencies will take to meet the goals of a 2010 executive order that called for ensuring the “protection, maintenance, and restoration” of the oceans. “This action plan will help focus our resources on actions that will enhance the stewardship of coastal and marine resources on which so many communities, small businesses, and American jobs depend,” Nancy Sutley, the head of the Council on Environmental Quality and the co-chairwoman of the National Ocean Council, said in a statement. The plan outlines a strategy for improving federal agencies’ ability to respond … Read entire article »
Filed under: Events, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report
Utila Honduras
Saturday August 4, 2012 – Saturday August 11, 2012 | Register Description: 8 day, 7 night all inclusive Utila Honduras excursion. Arriving August 4, 2012 and depart August 11, 2012. Utila is one of the best diving destination in Central America. If you never been you will like the variety of aquatic life in the area. A very layed back island where rest and relaxation is the norm. It will slow you down. Please join us for this August adventure by signing up while space is available. View more detail the Utila Honduras link. Register … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Public hearing on whether or not to open the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park to cave divers
On January 19th, the Florida Park Service will be hosting a public hearing on whether or not to open the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park to cave divers (see the Media Advisory). Currently, diving access to Wakulla Springs has only been through government permit, with few permits having been applied for and granted. As a result, access to Wakulla Springs has largely been closed to technical divers irrespective of training organization or qualifications. If potential future access is of interest to you, than we urge you to attend the hearing in support of opening Wakulla Springs to properly trained and certified technical cave divers, as well as submitting your opinions in writing prior to the meeting (the address for written submissions is included in the below Media Advisory). If you … Read entire article »
7TH Annual Our World International Underwater Photo & Video Competition
HOSTED BY WETPIXEL & DIVEPHOTOGUIDE.COM The Our World Underwater international underwater photography and video competition, now in its 7th year, has become one of the biggest and most respected photography competitions in the world. The competition not only celebrates the beauty of the ocean, but the art of underwater photography as well. The OWU competition, together with the DEEP Indonesia competition, are a unique series with a the prize pool of over $100,000. Winners also achieve the glory of being named one of the world’s best underwater photographers, the respect of their peers, and their images will be exposed to millions of readers of dive, travel and photography magazines and websites worldwide. Esteemed judges will include leading professional underwater photographers, cinematographers and magazine editors from around the world. Underwater photographers of all … Read entire article »
Filed under: Photography, Promotions, Videography
Titanic Items To Be Sold 100 Years After Sinking
By STEVE SZKOTAK RICHMOND, Va. — Items as small as a hairpin and as big as a chunk of the Titanic’s hull are among 5,000 artifacts from the world’s most famous shipwreck that are to be auctioned in April, close to the 100th anniversary of the disaster. Nearly a century after the April 15, 1912, sinking of the ocean liner that hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic, a New York City auction is being readied by Guernsey’s Auctioneers & Brokers. That auction house has garnered headlines in the past by selling off such historical curiosities as prized Beatles photos, famous jewels of the late Princess Diana, beloved Jerry Garcia guitars and a police motorcycle used in the Texas motorcade when John F. Kennedy was slain. But nothing as titanic as the so-called … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Auction, Events, Promotions, Reefs, Reference
ScubaExtreme 2012 Annual Manatee Trip
email ScubaExtreme … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cavern, Drift, Events, Manatee, Promotions, Travel, Trip Invitations
Hybrid sharks found in Australian waters
SCIENTISTS have found the world’s first hybrid sharks in Australian waters. 57 hybrids found in waters along east coast They are cross between two distinct species A sign sharks are adapting to climate change Leading researchers in marine biology discovered 57 animals along a 2000 km stretch from Queensland to NSW. The predators are a cross between the common blacktip shark and Australian blacktip shark, two related but genetically distinct species. The scientists say interbreeding between the two shark species is a sign the animals are adapting to climate change. They also warn that hybridisation could make the sharks stronger. Dr Jennifer Ovenden, of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, said: “Hybridization could enable the sharks to adapt to environmental change as the smaller Australian black tip currently favours tropical waters in the north while the … Read entire article »
Bali – Alarming Shark Hunts
Desy Nurhayati The Jakarta Post Marine scientists have announced that shark hunting in waters offshore Bali and surrounding areas has reached an alarming rate, threatening the animal’s population. Ketut Sarjana Putra, marine director of Conservation International Indonesia (CII), said on Tuesday that the massive catches had taken place in the waters around Nusa Penida, some six kilometers to the north of the island and around the Tulamben area. “Many shark species are endangered, and this excessive degree of hunting could threaten their population, as most of the sharks that are caught are adult females,” he said. He explained that the hunt did not target certain species of sharks. However, the primary species that is targeted around Bali is the thresher shark. Several months ago, a team from CII held a marine survey in waters around Bali. During their 200 hours of diving, they only found three sharks. It … Read entire article »
Paradise Springs Dec 17, 2011
Today I visited Paradise Springs. I arrive at 7:55 to find the gate open. I drive up to the house to check in. I am asked “Do you have a dive buddy?” I answer ‘No.’ I am now told no solo diving in Paradise Springs. Bong! After a 2.5 hour drive, I can’t be the first in the water to take pictures, before it gets all silted up. So what do I do? I wait for other divers to arrive and while waiting, I get suited up in the dry suit, finish setting up the camera and chat with the owner. Then, at last, a vehicle with two divers drive up. I jump in my truck and head down at the site before the owner could blink. It takes me about … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cavern, Open Water, Photography, Report, Trip Report
Conversations with History: Ocean Voyages with Sylvia Earle
I present to you Dr. Sylvia Earle … Read entire article »
Filed under: Conservation, Diver, Featured, Promotions, Reference, Report, Training
New Years Day Dive at Ginnie Springs
Divetalking would like to invite you to dive New Years Day at Ginnie Springs. Bring Friends and Family and come on out and spend the first day of the new year diving. Register for the event and allows me and those attending know you are coming and the number of people. Please bring a dish to share with the others and we’ll make this a day of diving and fun, spending it together. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Larry … Read entire article »
Filed under: Events, Trip Invitations
Greenland Shark
A daredevil photographer went to extraordinary lengths to photograph these rarely seen sharks, which look like they have been etched from stone. These incredible Greenland sharks can survive for more than 200 years at depths of up to 600 metres under Arctic ice. Bigger than the notorious great white, they grow to 23-feet long and are so fearsome they have even been known to eat polar bears. They live further north than any other shark species and can swim in waters where temperatures plummet to just one degree celsius. Doug Perrine had a close encounter with the elusive creatures when they ventured into the warmer waters of the St Lawrence River in North America, hunting for food. The sharks usually eat large seals but have even been known to polish off polar bears and reindeer. But … Read entire article »
Giant plumes of methane bubbling to surface of Arctic Ocean
By Eric Pfeiffer Russian scientists have discovered hundreds of plumes of methane gas, some 1,000 meters in diameter, bubbling to the surface of the Arctic Ocean. Scientists are concerned that as the Arctic Shelfrecedes, the unprecedented levels of gas released could greatly accelerate global climate change. Igor Semiletov of the Russian Academy of Sciences tells the UK’s Independent that the plumes of methane, a gas 20 times as harmful as carbon dioxide, have shocked scientists who have been studying the region for decades. “Earlier we found torch-like structures like this but they were only tens of meters in diameter,” he said. “This is the first time that we’ve found continuous, powerful and impressive seeping structures, more than 1,000 metres in diameter. It’s amazing.” Semiletov said that while his research team has discovered more … Read entire article »
Filed under: Report
Our World-Underwater Announces 2012 UW Photo-Video Contest
The Our World Underwater international underwater photography and video competition, now in its 7th year, has become one of the biggest and most respected photography competitions in the world. The competition celebrates not just the beauty of the ocean, but the art of underwater photography as well. The OWU competition, together with the DEEP Indonesia competition, are a unique series with a the prize pool of over $100,000. Winners also achieve the glory of being named some of the world’s best underwater photographers, the respect of their peers, and their images will be exposed to millions of readers of dive, travel and photography magazines and websites worldwide. Esteemed judges will include leading professional underwater photographers, cinematographers and magazine editors from around the world. Underwater photographers of all levels, from novice to professionals, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Photography, Promotions
