Tugboat to be used as Kyle Conrad Reef en route to Treasure Coast
MARTIN COUNTY — A steel tugboat built over a century ago and originally powered by a steam engine soon will begin a new chapter in its history of service. The tugboat Tuff-E-Nuff has begun its 200-plus-mile tow from just north of Jacksonville to where it will eventually find its final resting place, on the sea floor about 10 miles northeast of St. Lucie Inlet. John Burke, founder of the MCAC Reef Fund, said if all goes as planned, the unique vessel will be sunk next week and take on its new name, the Kyle Conrad Memorial Artificial Reef. More than 100 friends and family of Kyle Conrad, the 21-year-old former soccer star from Jensen Beach High School and Lynn University, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Report, Wrecks
Divers Direct Sponsors Multi-Location Reef and Beach Cleanup
DANIA BEACH, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Divers Direct, the world’s largest retailer of scuba diving equipment, is proud to host its first annual “Scrub & Grub” reef and beach cleanup to benefit multiple locations throughout the state of Florida on Saturday, January 29, 2011. Each of the 5 Divers Direct Florida Dive Shops in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Key Largo and Key West will spearhead its own cleanup of a local beach, coral reef, or both. The cleanup will be followed by a celebration at each location with food and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report
Hard-to-find fish reveals shared developmental toolbox of evolution
(PhysOrg.com) — A SCUBA expedition in Australia and New Zealand to find the rare embryos of an unusual shark cousin enabled American and British researchers to confirm new developmental similarities between fish and mammals. Elephant fish, a relative of sharks, utilize the same genetic process for forming skeletal gill covers that lizards and mammals use to form fingers and toes, researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Cambridge found. The precise timing of when and where that gene is expressed during embryonic development produces dramatic anatomical differences between elephant fish and their close relatives, the dogfish. The study, published online January 10th by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, confirms that organisms separated by hundreds of millions of years of evolution share similar genetic programs for … Read entire article »
TUFF-E-NUFF no longer in the St. Marys River, GA.
Today Saturday January 8, 2011, I, Larry Davis, Joe Kistel, and Ed Kalakauskis boarded TUFF-E-NUFF at 08:12 EST. While Joe and Ed prepared the pumps to remove any residual water, I took picutres and video. At 09:20 we are informed by David with the Marinia that he see’s Dawn Star, the Tug coming to tow TUFF-E-NUFF towards St. Lucie, FL. and Dawn Star ia about 20 minutes away. Well guess what, Ed and Joe jump on our boat and hustle to shore to get the something like 300lb anchor and bring it back before the tug arrives. Guess what? I pop out of the galley on the starboard side and look forward to see this red and white tug staring at me. WOW! kewl!!. I move aft where my camera is … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Reefs, Reference, Report, Videography, Wrecks
TUFF-E-NUFF is on her way south
If you are interested in witnessing the placement of a century old tug as an artificial reef, we will be moving her south this Saturday along the eastern seaboard of Florida. The 19th century tug, TUFF-E-NUFF was scheduled to be moved and placed last year around the December time frame as the last artificial reef placed off the coast of Florida for 2010. Instead, she may be the first placement for the 2011 year. For more information regarding TUF-E-NUFF, you may contact me for more details, check back here at Divetalking.com and tisiri.org. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Reefs, Report, Videography, Wrecks
Divetalking has a new face
After speaking with fellow divers and friends, all two of them. Well, one of the two for sure. I have changed the look of Divetalking. I hope you like this look and feel. Please leave feedback on your thoughts of this new interface. Do you like it? Is it better organized? Cleaner? Thanx for stopping by. Larry … Read entire article »
Filed under: Report
WES SKILES PEACOCK SPRINGS STATE PARK
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) held a special ceremony in the renaming North Florida’s Peacock Springs State Park, a site popular to many cave divers, after internationally renowned cave explorer, cinematographer and photographer Wes Skiles. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s renamed Peacock Springs State Park to honor the late Wes Skiles for his passion for the protection of Florida’s springs and vast understanding of the Floridan aquifer in the form of superb educational and adventurous science films he has produced over the years. As many you know, Wes Skiles died in a diving accident during a filming project off Boynton Beach, Florida back in August 2010. The park’s new name will now be known as Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park. The park, located east of Luraville in Live Oak, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Cave, Cavern, Report
Help REEF Make A Difference
Just a few days remain to get your donation in for the 2010 tax year. Please consider supporting the important marine conservation work that REEF conducts. Click here to donate using our secure online form, or you can mail your donation to PO Box 246, Key Largo, FL 33037. The REEF Survey Project database – the largest marine life species database in the world – is frequently used by the scientific community for a variety of studies that this year included the following scientific publications: An article on the decline of sharks and rays by Christine Ward-Paige et al. “Large-Scale Absence of Sharks on Reefs in the Greater-Caribbean: A Footprint of Human Pressures.” PLoS-ONE; An article evaluating patterns of hamlet distributions … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Events, Fish, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Training, Videography, Wrecks
Support Marine Conservation With a Year-End Contribution
Our winter fundraising campaign is underway, and we would like to thank those of you have already donated. If you haven’t had a chance to make a contribution yet, it’s not too late – just click here now. As a special thank you, individuals who make a contribution of $250 or more will receive this signed 11×14 limited-edition print of a spectacular coral grouper. Don’t miss your chance to get this 2010 print. This year was full of amazing adventures! The following are some of REEF’s major accomplishments in 2010: Expanded the Volunteer Fish Survey Project through an enhanced Field Station program, new home study courses, and increased public presentations throughout our project regions, as well as launching a new survey region in … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Events, Fish, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Training, Videography, Wrecks
Merry Christmas from Scuba Extreme
[singlepic id=83 w=420 h=340 float=] … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Boats, Cavern, Diver, Events, Fish, Manatee, Master Diver, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Rescue Diver, Travel, Trip Invitations, Videography, Wrecks
When Fed-X delivers
Four packages were sent, together on the 14th of December, 2010. Packages 2, 3, and 4 end up at their destination 17 December, 2010 which is shown below. Note the pickup date and destination for packages 2, 3 and 4 [singlepic id=74 w=800 h=600 mode=watermark float=center] (only the screen shot for package 2 is shown. Packages 3 and 4 show the same) Now, there is one package determined not to be a part of Christmas this year. Note the pickup date and destination for package #1 of 4 [singlepic id=73 w=800 h=600 mode=watermark float=center] FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH The package has been reported as moved to a new location. Here is todays, Tuesday 21 December, 2010 [singlepic id=75 w=500 h=300 float=] Here is the full page as of 06:00 est 23, Dec. 2010 [singlepic id=82 w=600 h=400 float=] Let’s … Read entire article »
Filed under: Emergency/FirstAid, Report
ScubaExtremes Monthly Team Meeting
This coming Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 will be ScubaExtremes last team meeting for 2010. The meeting starts at 6pm. Stop by the shop,get you last minute goodies, stocking stuffers, some cookies and be involved with what we’re gonna do in 2011. We’ll discuss events from the past month as well as places and things we would like to do in the coming year. ScubaExtreme may be found by clicking here. I will be there for this event and I hope to see you there as well. Larry … Read entire article »
USS DEYO DD 989
[nggallery id=22]I was going through some boxes of old stuff and came across a ballcap I purchased while serving aboard the USS Deyo DD989 back in 1983 just after her return from the Persian Gulf. I was almost flown out to the ship but was delayed until her return back to Charleston South Carolina, where I met up with her for my new assignment right out of boot camp. That got me searching the web for USS Deyo and found this article. http://www.navysite.de/dd/dd989.htm In the article, it reads: ” DEYO has been an active player in numerous JCS special operations in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific, where she received a second Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.” I remember those trips. Twice we were on these special ops. wow, what an adventure. I remember days and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Report