The Dive Pirates Foundation Your Donation is needed
Hi All I am a proud member of an organization called “The Dive Pirates Foundation”. Dive Pirates is non-profit organization dedicated to bringing scuba diving to persons with disabilities. What began in 2003 as a social club for divers has now been transformed into a non-profit foundation that teaches, equips and takes disabled persons on Caribbean scuba diving trips. The program is open to all medically qualified disable persons, Dive Pirates has chosen to focus on disabled military veterans that have sustained injuries on the battlefield. These men and women have sustained injuries and had lost part of their youth in combat; we hope to restore a sense of adventure, community and hope for these wounded warriors. This year I am taking part in the training … Read entire article »
Reef Environmental Education Foundation
Today is World Oceans Day! Join us at REEF in celebrating by reviewing just a few of our recent accomplishments. We also reach out to you, our valued members, and ask for your financial support to ensure that our innovative approaches can continue to make a difference. Donations made during the next 60 days will be matched by the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, doubling the impact of your support. You can donate securely online at www.REEF.org/contribute, mail your donation to REEF at PO Box 246, Key Largo, FL 33037, or call us at 305-852-0030. Our innovative approach to marine conservation is illustrated by REEF’s Grouper Moon Project. Endangered Nassau grouper are known to group spawn at sites where various currents converge. The resulting larvae then float away on these currents. For … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Featured, Reefs
Lionfish & Whaleshark Expeditions Invitation
Divetalking is hosting an Expedition to film and document on the subjects Lionfish and Whale Sharks September 3-10, 2011. During the week, three Lionfish Expeditions are planned, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, to film the harvesting of lionfish. Divetalking has opened up opportunities for individuals to participate in one, two or all three expeditions. Spots have been reserved for up to 8 divers per expedition and are assigned on a first come first serve basis. Participation in the expedition provides you with first hand experience managing the harvesting of lionfish. Any and all harvested lionfish will be consumed for an evening dinner, which is included in the expedition price. Also included is a lionfish cookbook. On the day of your lionfish expedition we start with a briefing on identifying lionfish, approach, spear or corral the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Boats, Cavern, Drift, Events, Featured, Lionfish, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Specialties, Training, Travel, Trip Invitations, Videography, Whaleshark
TISIRI – Name YOUR Reef Program
TISIRI met with WJXT early Saturday morning to broadcast the following announcement, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Featured, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Wrecks
Florida Budget Woes Mean Environmental Cuts
Florida’s Legislature wraps up its annual budget session this week. Like other states with tight budgets, Florida is setting new spending priorities. Environmental protection is one area that’s seeing big cuts. Tough Choices Driving west from Miami through the Everglades on Highway 41 — the Tamiami Trail — you can see federal dollars at work. Dan Kimball, superintendent of Everglades National Park, says he’s excited about an $81 million project that will raise the road. For decades, it’s acted like a dam, keeping water from flowing south through the Everglades. Despite progress on the project, a new threat has emerged to Everglades restoration. It can be found 500 miles away in Tallahassee, where Florida’s governor and Legislature are grappling with a $4 billion budget shortfall. As Gov. Rick Scott says, the shortfall is forcing … Read entire article »
Underwater Photography / Videography Cozumel 9/5-6/2011
Lionfish and Whaleshark Expeditions September 3-10, 2011 If you are not interested in the Lionfish and/or Whaleshark Expeditions, I am offering the opportunity to attend a photographic and videographic course lasting two days. During this time you will be introduced to methods that will help you produce the best shots and/or video. Please Contact Larry with your interest and I will fill you in with the details. 9/3 – Saturday Arrival 9/4 – Sunday Whaleshark – ALL DAY 9/5 – Monday Lionfish AM / Photography/videography Deep Diving PM 9/6 – Tuesday Lionfish AM / Photography/videography Diving PM 9/7 – Wednesday Lionfish AM / Drift Diving PM 9/8 – Thursday Diving AM / Drift Diving PM 9/9 – Friday Cenote Diving AM / Off Gasing PM 9/10 – Saturday Depart … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Boats, Drift, Events, Featured, Photography, Training, Travel, Trip Invitations, Videography
Lionfish and Whaleshark Expeditions September 3-10, 2011
September 3 – 10, 2011 I will be visiting Cozumel to create a documentary on the subject of Lionfish. Lionfish I am opening the Lionfish expedition up to individuals who have a need to experience Lionfish handling and would like to experience the consumption of any lionfish caught the day of your expedition. Your time will begin with about a 1 hour introduction to the nature of Lionfish, where they are from, what they mean to the local environment, techniques for safely handling. We will then proceed to the boat, heading to locations to begin the hunt for the lionfish. The days diving ends with the proper handing to clean and prepare the lionfish caught that day for consumption. Yes, you will be eating any lionfish caught that day. A lionfish cookbook … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Cavern, Divemaster, Diver, Drift, Events, Featured, Fish, Instructor, Master Diver, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Sharks, Specialties, Training, Travel, Trip Invitations, Videography, Whaleshark, Wrecks
ScubaExreme is Moving to a New Location
Out with the old and in with the new. ScubaExtreme is moving to a new and larger location off Blanding Blvd., Jacksonville Florida. [singlepic id=126 w=640 h=480 float=] Admin … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Boats, Cave, Cavern, Divemaster, Diver, Drift, Emergency/FirstAid, Events, Featured, Instructor, Open Water, Photography, Reefs, Reference, Report, Rescue Diver, Specialties, Training, Travel, Wrecks
Women Divers Hall of Fame Inducts Jacksonvilles Anna DeLoach
A Jacksonville Florida resident, Anna DeLoach will be inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame this month. Here is a nice write up on it at scubadiving.com Congratulation to Anna on her accomplishment. Well deserved! … Read entire article »
The exploitation of the Manta Ray
What is a Manta Ray? Click on this link R. Aidan Martin and the ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research and spend 15 minutes to read about Manta Rays. Facinating creatures. You may spend 15 more minutes to read on the Biology of the Manta Ray. These gentle giants are passive and impose no threat to humans. What I am about to describe is occuring in countries all around the globe, Manta Rays are being slaughtered in unlimited numbers. What is being spread is just like the exploitation of Shark Finning, Manta Rays are being killed off for the same reasons, their gills for soup and traditional medicines to the asian continents. We do know that the slow maturation and reproductive cycles are cause for concern. The reproductive rate of the Manta Ray is slow. With the slughtering occuring at rates … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Fish, Manta Rays, Reference, Report, Sharks
Artificial Reefs
In the February issue of National Geograhic is the article “From Relic to Reefs” in it you will find an exciting story of what artificial reefs do for our ecology and economy. If you are a diver, you will understand the approach from underwater on a sunken object. Some placed there intentionally and some unintentional. The research is in studying the benefits of such placements and the reasons why. Besides bringing pleasure to divers, artificial reefs aid in building homes and safety stops or stations for nomadic creatures as well as those looking for a safe place to setup residence. They also provide a place for fisherpeople to go to catch bait and to catch prey. The economy prospers wth the increase of sales in sporting goods, fishing and diving, boating … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Featured, Reefs, Reference, Report
Reef Research and Reef Building Opportunities
Hello, I want to provide you with an update to our artificial reef projects. To date, we have 100’s of tons of concrete looking for a home. We have willing receipients, we have no money for the projects. While we investigate available avenues for the income, we continue to hunt for material suitable for reefing. Though concrete is a favorite, other material may do, such as steel. Should you learn of any opportunity around the state of Florida in need of experience people to work side by side in placing a reef in your area, please feel free to contact me or visit the TISIRI web site. If you line in or near Jacksonville, Florida and would like to become involved with reef research and artificial reef creation, please visit the Jacksonville Reef Research … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Featured, Fish, Reefs, Report
Dr. Christian J. Lambertsen layed to rest.
I tribute to a forgotten and perhaps an unknown hero. [singlepic id=123 w=320 h=240 float=] Christian J. Lambertsen, who as a medical student in 1939 invented a revolutionary underwater breathing system used by the military in World War II and who later helped coin the popular acronym to describe his device and others like it – scuba – died of renal failure Feb. 11 at his home in Newtown Square, Pa. He was 93. In 1939, Dr. Lambertsem invented the Lambertsen Amphibious Respirator Unit, or LARU which was turned down by the military for its use. Dr. Lambertsen’s LARU let divers swim freely and stealthily. It used pure oxygen and was a closed system. Equipped with a carbon dioxide filter, it enabled the diver to re-breathe … Read entire article »
Urgent Legislative Alert Regarding Goliath Grouper
Next week, the State of Florida will decide the goliath grouper’s fate. Since 1990, possessing or harvesting this fish has been prohibited by law. After reviewing the available studies and reports, the PADI organization believes it is prudent to maintain the current “no-take” status quo until compelling evidence that the population has satisfactorily recovered to levels that would sustain harvesting is presented. The PADI organization believes it is premature to opening the fishery now because: – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s staff analysis indicates there is insufficient data to use detailed assessment methods, thus requiring more assumption-based (rather than data-based) assessments. 2011 Goliath Grouper presentation – page 9<http://myfwc.com/docs/CommissionMeetings/2011/Feb/GoliathGrouperStock_presentation.pdf> – In the required formal review of the State’s goliath grouper population assessment, the appointed independent scientific panel deemed the assessment was not suitable because of these data … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Events, Featured, Fish, Reefs, Reference, Report
South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
January/February 2011 Public Hearing and Scoping Meeting Series The Council will hold a series of public hearings and scoping meetings regarding fisheries management measure proposed for several federally managed species, including those within the snapper grouper management complex, dolphin (fish), wahoo, golden crab and octocorals within the South Atlantic region. These measures will impact both commercial and recreational fishermen. Members of the public are invited to attend the meetings at any time between the hours of 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM to learn more about the proposed actions and provide formal comments to Council members in attendance (See schedule below). Written public comments will be accepted until February 14, 2011. Email addresses for individual amendments are included below. Hard copies may be mailed to the Council office using the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Featured, Fish, General Question, Open Water, Reefs, Reference, Report