Hypoxia Research :: Dive Fitness—Neptune's Triceps :: Mirrorless Cameras Underwater British Columbia Critter Connection Wrecks of GLOBAL EDITION Bikini Atoll November 2012 Number 51 Indonesia's Ambon Thailand's Koh Tao Profile Stig Åvall Severinsen pacific paradise Switching to Rebreathers Galápagos cover photo by nick shallcross 1 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 DIRECTORY X-RAY MAG is published by AquaScope Media ApS Frederiksberg, Denmark www.xray-mag.com
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SENIOR EDITOR Peter Symes Michael Symes, PhD - Science Octopus, Ambon, Indonesia. Photo by Don Silcock [email protected] SECTION EDITORS PUBLISHER, MANAGING EDITOR Michael Arvedlund, PhD - Ecology contents & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Scott Bennett - Travel, Sharks Gunild Symes Andrey Bizyukin, PhD - Features [email protected] Larry Cohen - Photo & Video Kelly LaClaire - Marine Mammals Associate editors Catherine Lim - News, Books Scott Bennett, Toronto Roz Lunn - Equipment News [email protected] Bonnie McKenna - Turtles Catherine GS Lim, Singapore Michael Menduno - Tech [email protected] Robert Osborne - Features, Profiles Michael Menduno, Berkeley Don Silcock - Photo & Video [email protected] Barb Roy, Vancouver Columnists [email protected] Gretchen Ashton - Dive Fitness Leigh Cunningham - Tech Talk Russia - Moscow Andy Murch - Shark Tales Andrey Bizyukin, PhD Mark Powell - Tech Talk [email protected] Cindy Ross - GirlDiver Svetlana Murashkina, PhD Cedric Verdier - Tech Talk [email protected] Lawson Wood - UW Photography
ASSISTANT editors Contributors this issue Roz Lunn, London Ron Akeson [email protected] Gretchen M. Ashton Robert Osborne, Toronto Christopher Bartlett [email protected] Scott Bennett Don Silcock, Sydney Andrey Bizyukin, PhD [email protected] Wilco Both Ayesha Cantrell USA Larry Cohen Larry Cohen, New York City Pierre Constant [email protected] Kelly LaClaire Kelly LaClaire, Portland Catherine GS Lim [email protected] Rosemary 'Roz' Lunn Bonnie McKenna, Houston Bonnie McKenna [email protected] Michael Menduno Pete Mesley ADVERTISING Robert Osborne UNITED KINGDOM Mark Powell 9 17 19 29 45 plus... Rosemary E Lunn, London Barb Roy Wr e c k Ra p : Th e Ta l e o f Tw o Sh i p s : Ga l á p a g o s : Wh e r e Is a b e l a Is l a n d Ko h Ta o EDITORIAL 3 [email protected] Stig Severinsen Bikini At o l l A Fi r s t in Si n k i n g t h e Big Th i n g s Ar e Ga l á p a g o s Th a i l a n d NEWS 4 Nick Shallcross b y e t e e s l e y b y a r b o y b y h r i s t o p h e r a r t l e t t b y i e r r e o n s t a n t b y y e s h a a n t r e l l USA & INTERNATIONAL Don Silcock P M B R C B P C A C WRECK RAP 9 Susan Kochan, Orlando Gunild Symes TRAVEL NEWS 17 [email protected] Peter Symes Matthew Meier, San Diego 56 65 68 88 EQUIPMENT NEWS 41 [email protected] Contacts page: Xray-Mag.com Am b o n Pr o f i l e : Di v e Medicine: Cr i t t e r Co n n e c t i o n BOOKS & MEDIA 54 MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA In d o n e s i a St i g Av a l l Se v e r i n s e n Hy p o x i a Re s e a r c h British Co l um b i a MARINE MAMMALS 70 Arnold Weisz b y Do n Si l c o c k b y Ro b e r t Os b o r n e b y An d r e y Bi z y u k i n b y Ba r b Ro y TURTLE TALES 72 [email protected] SHARK TALES 74 Not yet subscribed to PHOTO NEWS 82 columns... X-RAY MAG? Sign up now! SUBSCRIPTION X-RAY MAG International Edition in English is FREE It’s FREE! QUICK! EASY! To subscribe, go to: www.xray-mag.com 43 75 82 click here... Di v e Fi t n e s s : Te c h Ta l k : Switching UW Ph o t o g r a p h y : COVER PHOTO: Nudibranchs, Koh Tao, Thailand, Ne p t u n e 's Tr i c e p s t o Re b r e a t h e r s Mi r r o r l e s s Ca m e r a s by Nick Shallcross b y Gr e t c h e n As h t o n b y Ma r k Po w e l l b y Do n Si l c o c k
2 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 Amsterdam Barcelona Cape Town Copenhagen Kuala Lumpur London Moscow Orlando Oslo Paris Singapore Tacoma Toronto Vancouver Warsaw Editorial Biased reviews In the early days of my diving Nowadays, a badly performing A family-run dive operation career there was a marked regulator is most likely just a will probably offer a more difference between a bad and badly maintained specimen in relaxed and affordable holiday, a good regulator. When I got dire need of a fix. thus being a better value for my first dive training with a local the money for many divers, dive club, it had an assorted And, just as we seem to care compared to what one might bunch of school regulators, a lot less about a car's top get at a posh resort or on a Take control of your business and career at some of which were nice top- speed and horsepower—they fancy liveaboard, which would of-the-line models and others can all break the speed limit be the obvious choice for the the ONLY international trade-only event for were—uh—less fancy, shall we these days—and more on the well-off, busy executive looking diving, action watersports and travel! say. practicality, economy, look for big pelagics. and feel of a car, our choice The good ones were easy to of diving equipment has also And this is exactly why our breathe and delivered plenty become a matter of other and travel reports are much longer of air even at depth. The often more subjective criteria and in-depth than the norm. cheaper ones, which we always such as taste, or bias, if you will. We want our stories to help dreaded, were like sucking readers—divers of all levels— through a straw filled with So, how do we go about make informed choices. We cotton at depth. Going deeper reviewing not just equipment therefore always ask and require than 20m became hard work but also destinations and our reporters and reviewers to just trying to suck air. It certainly operators today? We are no give their honest opinion and put limits on our ventures. longer occupied with objective not to shy away from possible performance tests and data less-favourable reviews or Needless to say, as we dreamt in a test rig. By virtue of being conflicts. It needs to be told. about purchasing our own CE-marked, crucial tests have regulators and painstakingly already been passed, and there Is it subjective, or possibly saved for it, we pored over is rarely much we could add even biased? Yes, by virtue of magazine reviews and tests as far as testing is concerned. human nature, the individual and whatever other information Instead, we look into how well perspective always will be—we we could get our hands on. the equipment fulfills its design are not robots. But, by asking In those days, it was often criteria and whether it is a good our contributors—many of whom commonplace that reviews purchase for its intended target have been with us for several included objective tests and group—in other words, its value years and have developed a measurements and had graphs for the money. recognisable style and standard on performance, so we could upon which they elaborate and compare numerical data. Like comparing a VW Bug to argue their cases—we aim to a Rolls Royce when asking make our reviews as transparent We haven’t seen that kind of which car is the better design as humanly and practically data in reviews for quite some makes little sense (unless you possible. time and for good reason. specify the yardstick) it makes Regulators have became so little sense to make direct With that, we wish all of our NOVEMBER 14–17, 2012 � SANDS EXPO CENTER � LAS VEGAS, NV much better, as they have had comparisons of small family- readers a terrific, fun-filled to adhere to quality standards— driven dive operations to five season of happy diving. Visit www.demashow.com to register! such as the CEN 250—in order to star facilities run by upscale be marketed in the first place. multinational corporations. —The X-RAY MAG Staff
3 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO from the deep
News edited by Peter Symes NEWS
A Vaccine for Corals Inoculation of corals with virus can protect them against white plague disease. See Why More Divers Choose Sunset House White plague disease is caused by the marine bacteria. It progressively destroys For Their Dive Holiday! coral tissue, leaving an expanding area ZooKeys that appears bleached. It has been epi- This new coral species lives on the ceilings of caves in tropical coral reefs demic in the Caribbean. White syndrome' is a name given to a number of diseases exhibiting similar symp- toms, such as such as white pox, white Healthy White Coral band and white plague disease. The caus- es of white syndrome are in many cases Coral without symbiotic algea dwells in holes and ceiling of caves unknown. where almost no light occurs. White syndrome has increased in abun- dance 20-fold in the last five years, with The whiteness of Leptoseris troglodyta is less susceptible to bleaching than those increases on inner, mid-shelf and outer- no anomaly. This species has no zooxan- at shallower depths. Despite the lack of shelf reefs along the length of the Great Dr Graham Beards / Wikimedia Commons thellae, the symbiotic photosynthesizing zooxanthellae and its small size, the skele- Barrier Reef. It also had a major impact on algae that delivers nutrients. ton structures of the new species indicate Caribbean reefs. Electron micrograph of Bacteriophages (vira) in the newly described coral species lives that it is closely related to these Leptoseris Special Discounts for in areas of the Great Barrier Reef sur- the process of infecting a cell. This is not the virus or on the ceilings of caves in Indo-Pacific corals, although it has not been found X-Ray Magazine veyed, white syndrome, along with skel- bacteriophage in question but a generic photo coral reefs. Its distribution range overlaps deeper than 35m so far. etal eroding band, was the most common with the Coral Triangle, an area that is the species is named Leptoseris trog- Readers! disease. percent. Doing the same to infected cor- famous for its high marine species rich- lodyta. The word troglodyta is derived als stopped the disease in its tracks. ness. from ancient Greek and means "one Testing a cure Rosenberg is now in talks with the Israeli Most reef corals generally do not who dwells in holes", a cave dweller. The Follow URL Below! Eugene Rosenberg of Tel Aviv University government to treat large parts of the occur over 40m depth, a twilight zone discovery sheds new light on the relation in Israel and his group have now found a Gulf of Aqaba with BA3 by artificially intro- where sunlight is not bright anymore, but of reef corals with symbiotic algae. The potential cure—a virus named BA3. ducing the virus to reefs. some species of the genus Leptoseris are new species has adapted to a life with- www.sunsethouse.com/xray to test its usefulness, they inoculated the virus exists naturally in the Red Sea, exceptional and may even occur much out them. Consequently, it may not grow corals living next to infected ones with so they think it's unlikely to have adverse deeper. At greater depths, seawater is fast, which would be convenient because [email protected] BA3. The odds of infection dropped to 5 effects. ■ generally colder, and corals here may be space is limited on cave ceilings. ■ 800-854-5767 345 949 7111
4 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO news
Seagrass may help revive endangered coral reefs
Who would have thought that the simple sea- grass may be the solution to saving endangered coral reefs around the world? This is the promise brought to light by researchers from Swansea PHOTO CONTESTS / SEMINARS / PRIZES University, Oxford University and James Cook University in Australia. headed by Swansea University's Richard Unsworth, the team discovered that some varie- ties of seagrass could reduce the acidity of the water around coral reefs by photosynthetising carbon dioxide quickly and efficiently into oxy- gen. David Burdick/NOAA Photo Library elaborating on this, Dr Unsworth said, “Highly productive tropical seagrasses often live adja- Crown of thorns starfish are thought to be a major cause of coral destruction on the Great Barrier Reef cent to or among coral reefs and photosynthe- sise at such rates you can see the oxygen they produce practically bubbling away”. Half of Great Barrier Reef coral lost in 27 years this new oxygen can help to combat the increased acidity of the oceans caused by the A study published in the jour- Science (AIMS) and colleagues. years. One of the researchers, raising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, nal Proceedings of the National Outbreaks of crown-of-thorn star- Hugh Sweatman, said that the find- which in turn has caused coral reefs to become Academy of Sciences shows that in fish caused another 42 percent ings suggested that coral could eroded at an unsustainable rate. the past 27 years, Australia's Great of the damage. In addition, there recover from trauma but that Come rub elbows with the results of the research have been positive, Barrier Reef has lost over half its were two coral bleaching events— recovery takes some 10-20 years. showing that in shallow water reef environments, coral cover. Data on the condition one in 1998 and another in 2002. "At present, the intervals between the top underwater coral calcification downstream of seagrass had of 217 individual reefs were ana- Bleaching occurred due to ocean the disturbances are generally too shooters in the world, the potential to be 18% greater than in a place lysed by researchers who found warming and had "major detri- short for full recovery and that's experience great without seagrass. that coral cover has declined from mental impacts" on the central causing the long-term losses," diving and have lots however, Dr Unsworth warned that unless 28 percent in 1985 to 13.8 percent and northern areas of the reef, Sweatman said. action is taken to protect them, the seagrass in 2012. putting its cost at 10 percent of the While storms and bleaching of fun in Yap. itself could be under threat from overfishing, the cause for this decline is total damage. events may be difficult to control, chemical pollution and climate change. ■ attributed to three factors: severe "This loss of over half of initial researchers could help reduce storm events; an invasive star- cover is of great concern, signi- the devastating effects of the 7 Nights fish, which eats coral; and coral fying habitat loss for the tens of coral-eating starfish, said John 10 Dives $1,359 pp/db bleaching, which is linked to cli- thousands of species associated Gunn, head of AIMS. As crown-of- mate change. There were 34 with tropical coral reefs," wrote the thorn starfish larvae feed on algal tropical cyclones since 1985 that authors of the study. blooms, which are caused by agri- BOOK WITH THE DIVE TRAVEL LEADER Mor caused 48 percent of the dam- the study is a result of the cultural run-off, improving water ut e O age to the Great Barrier Reef, world's largest ever reef monitor- quality would be critical in control-
d
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according to Glen De'ath from ing project, compiling data from ling the starfish's outbreaks, the i F the Australian Institute of Marine 2,258 separate surveys over 27 study authors s. ■ SOURCE: BBC noaa
5 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO nasa news Animal movement mixes our seas to life A study published the journal according to Dewar. good nutrients up and down the Biogeosci-ences Discussions sug- it was previously thought that column of ocean layers through- gests that the movement of winds and tides were responsible out the day and night. whales and other marine spe- for moving nutrients around, but indeed, according to marine cies is key to the health of the Dewar told NBC that marine ani- biologist Stephan Nicol at oceans. The researchers said mals play just as important a role Australia's University of Tasmania that world-wide all that splash- in mixing the seas. Nitrogen and (unrelated to either study), ing around moves several tons iron are the two most important groups of krill can create a col- They can see of nutrients up through the dark elements for plants to convert lective updraft with the wakes layers of the oceans to surface solar energy into food. These ele- from their tiny limbs, shifting nutri- blue in the dark waters. ments are abundant at depth ents along their migration. in specific terms, the study stat- but limited at the surface. Big Unlike large events like storms, Deep-sea crabs have col- tivities to blue and ed that just 80 sperm whales near animals such as whales and lit- which are less frequent, animals our vision despite living up ultraviolet wave- Hawaii can move 1,100 tons (1m. tle animals such as krill moving in move continuously all day long, to 1,000m below the sur- lengths. kg) of nitrogen per year through groups do a lot to transport the every day. ■ face, scientists find. to test how larger the pycnocline, a layer of the species perceive ocean below which it is too dark Measuring the spectral sensitivities their environment despite the lack for light-loving plants to survive. of crabs' retinas, sensitivity peaks of sunlight, the researchers used This number may not appear were in the blue region of the vis- a specialist suction arm on the to be very large at first glance, ible spectrum. submarine to carefully collect crus- but multiply it by all the move- investigating deep waters off taceans living at the sites. Of the ment of the all the creatures that Bahamas, U.S.-based researchers eight species studied by the team, live in the world's oceans, and it recorded the glow of tiny biolumi- all were sensitive to blue light and amounts to quite a lot. nescent species using a submers- two also reacted to ultraviolet (UV) in fact, it is suggested by a ible vehicle. wavelengths. 2006 study by William Dewar of Descending to sites between 600 According to the marine expert, Florida State University that ani- and 1,000m down, the scientists the species with the ability to mals and other organisms cause observed flashes of biolumines- detect two channels of colour one-third of the mixing of nutri- cence where plankton collided could be using this to tell the differ- ents that goes on in the world's with boulders and corals. ence between the green-glowing, oceans. If they did not do this, the team also studied how crus- often toxic, corals they live on and the sea would stagnate and die taceans react to this light, and the blue-hued plankton they eat. ■ within a few thousand years, file photo: peter symes found previously unknown sensi-
Mantas affected by moon Manta rays are more likely to gather threatening manta ray populations in ing at dedicated 'cleaning stations', together under either a new or a full various parts of the world." known to be an important activity moon, according to new research enlisting the help of volunteer for manta rays, foraging was the pre- published by researchers from scuba divers and tour operators dominant activity at five of the seven the University of Queensland. The on the island for a 'citizen science' sites surveyed and was the only activ- research by Fabrice Jaine and col- approach, the authors monitored the ity during which large groups of 80 or leagues identifies environmental fac- relative abundance of manta rays more rays clustered together. tors that predict the abundance and indulging in three types of behav- At other sites, rays were more likely behavior of manta rays at Lady Elliott iour—foraging for food, cleaning by to indulge in cleaning or cruising Island in the Great Barrier Reef. smaller fish and cruising—and corre- behaviors in addition to foraging. The the authors commented that lated these with various environmen- overall number of manta rays at the knowing these factors is important for tal factors. island was higher in autumn and win- conservation efforts, "especially in the their results show that manta rays ter, around the new and full moon, context of a changing climate and visit specific sites around the island for and when wind speeds were lower, with targeted fisheries increasingly specific activities. Aside from clean- according to the study. ■
michael aw 6 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO news
Blind cave fishes, oceans apart, are closely related
Through comprehensive DNA have very restricted distributions unique, as it is fully and darkly analysis, researchers from within isolated limestone caves, pigmented. Analysis conducted Louisiana State University and the newfound genetic relation- for this fish’s tree of life revealed the American Museum of Natural ship between the trans-oceanic it evolved from a pigment-free History determined that eyeless groups is a profound discovery. ancestor, indicating that some fishes from Madagascar and “This is the first time that a taxo- subterranean forms can “reverse” Australia descended from a com- nomically robust study has shown themselves. “Only two specimens mon ancestor nearly 100 million that blind cave vertebrates on of the new pigmented form were
AB U -M L N R years ago before being sepa- either side of an ocean are each recovered from the first cave A E S D O Ocean and climate change could A R P
I T rated by continental drift. other’s closest relatives,” said we searched in Madagascar, S the study, appearing in the Prosanta Chakrabarty, an assis- despite the fact that we spent lead to smaller fish S MA RT Sipadan journal PLOS ONE, identifies new tant professor and curator of fish- hours in this sinkhole,” said species that add to the exist- es at Louisiana State University’s Chakrabarty. “Even the locals In a new study conducted could have on body size Mabul Resort ing biological evidence for the Museum of Natural Science. “This hadn’t been inside of it before.” by fisheries scientists at the suggests that we may existence the prehistoric super- is a great example of biology because remote locales University of British Columbia be missing a big piece continent of Gondwana. Cave informing geology. Often, that’s with caving opportunities exist (UBC) and published in the jour- of the puzzle of under- fishes normally lack pigment, a how things work. These animals worldwide, the researchers are nal Nature Climate Change, the standing climate change substance that gives an organism have no eyes and live in isolated eager to pursue other opportuni- first-ever global projection of the effects in the ocean.” its color and provides protection freshwater caves, so it is highly ties for discovery. “Conducting potential reduction in the maxi- this is the first global- www.sipadanmabulresort.com from ultraviolet radiation. The unlikely they could have crossed this research really developed mum size of fish in a warmer and scale application of the N I T R O X CAVERN & CAVE DIVING COURSES PRIVATE VIDEO absence of eyes combined with oceans to inhabit new environ- my love for caving,” said less-oxygenated ocean is pro- idea that fish growth is enhanced sensory capabilities ments.” Chakrabarty. “You don’t always vided. limited by oxygen supply, allows cave fishes to survive in one of the new species dis- find something exciting. But, Researchers utilized computer which was pioneered complete darkness. As the fishes covered by the researchers is when you consider how isolated modeling to analyze more than more than 30 years many of these caves are, espe- 600 species of fish from oceans ago by Daniel Pauly, cially in places like Madagascar, around the world and found that principal investigator with and how unaffected they have the maximum body weight they UBC’s Sea Around Us been by the passage of time, can reach could decline by 14-20 Project and the study’s you know that the fish in there percent between years 2000 and co-author.
are going to tell a really good 2050, with the tropics being one “it’s“It’s a constant chal-chal- EXPLORE ASIA TOURS SDN. BHD (Co. No: 372345-X) Lot A -1 -G, Block A, Signature Office, KK Times Square, Off Coastal Highway, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Website : www.sipadanmabulresort.com Website : www.mabulwaterbungalows.com story.” ■ of the most impacted regions. lenge for fish to get E-mail : [email protected] E-mail : [email protected] Office Tel : ++6088 486 389 Office Fax : ++6088 486 628 “We were surprised to see such enough oxygen from License No : KKKP/PL 2941 a large decrease in fish size,” water to grow, and the Typhleotris pauliani (top), said study lead author William situation gets worse as fish get this study highlights the need to a previously known spe- Cheung, an assistant profes- bigger,” explained Pauly. “A curb greenhouse gas emissions cies of Malagasy cave sor at the UBC Fisheries Centre. warmer and less-oxygenated and develop strategies to moni- fish, and the newly discov- “Marine fish are generally known ocean, as predicted under cli- tor and adapt to changes that ered pigmented species to respond to climate change mate change, would make it we are already seeing, or we risk (bottom) through changing distribution and more difficult for bigger fish to get disruption of fisheries, food secu- seasonality. But the unexpectedly enough oxygen, which means rity and the way ocean ecosys- big effect that climate change they will stop growing sooner.” tems work. ■
AMNH/J. Sparks
7 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO news
World’s biggest geoengineering experiment ‘violates’ U.N. rules Controversial American business- “We’ve gathered data targeting tant food webs, should rule out told was a ‘salmon enhancement man Russ George has sparked all the possible fears that have ocean manipulation. History is project’ and would not have outrage after dumping 100 tonnes been raised [about ocean fertil- full of examples of ecological agreed if they had been told of of iron sulphate into the Pacific ization],” George said. “And the manipulations that backfired,” he any potential negative effects or Ocean off Canada‘s west coast news is good news, all around, for added. that it was in breach of an inter- in July. Part of a geoengineer- the planet.” the dump occurred 200 nau- national convention,” Guujaaw ing scheme he calls the “most scientists are concerned iron tical miles west of the islands stated. substantial ocean restoration proj- fertilization can irreparably harm of Haida Gwaii, one of the world’s international legal experts say ect in history”, the act has been ocean ecosystems, produce most diverse ecosystems. George George’s project has contra- labeled a “blatant violation” of toxic tides and lifeless waters, convinced the local council of vened the United Nations’s con- two international moratoria by and worsen ocean acidification an indigenous village to establish vention on biological diversity lawyers, environmentalists and and global warming. “It is difficult the Haida Salmon Restoration (CBD) and London convention civil society groups. if not impossible to detect and Corporation to channel more on the dumping of wastes at satellite images appear to con- describe important effects that than US$1m of its own funds into sea, which both prohibit for-profit firm the Californian’s claim that we know might occur months the project. Haida nation presi- ocean fertilization activities. the iron has spawned an artificial or years later,” said John Cullen, dent Guujaaw said the village “It appears to be a blatant plankton bloom as large as 10,000 an oceanographer at Dalhousie was told the dump would envi- violation of two international square kilometres. A geoengineer- University. “Some possible effects, ronmentally benefit the ocean, resolutions,” said Kristina M ing technique known as ocean such as deep-water oxygen which is crucial to their livelihood Gjerde, senior high seas adviser fertilization, the intention is for the depletion and alteration of dis- and culture. “The village people for the International Union for plankton to voted to support Conservation of Nature. “Even absorb car- what they were the placement of iron particles bon dioxide into the ocean, whether for and sink to the Yellow and brown carbon sequestration or fish ocean floor. colours show rela- replenishment, should not take George tively high concen- place, unless it is assessed and claims his sci- trations of chloro- found to be legitimate scientific entists have phyll in August 2012, research without commercial hope to see swift legal response providing governments and indus- been monitor- after iron sulphate motivation. This does not appear to his behavior and strong action try with an excuse to avoid reduc- was dumped into ing the results to even have had the guise of taken to the heights of the ing fossil fuel emissions.” the Pacific Ocean with equip- as part of a con- legitimate scientific research.” Canadian and U.S. governments,” A former chief executive of ment from troversial geoengi- George dismissed the two said Silvia Ribeiro of the interna- Planktos Inc, his previous failed U.S. agencies neering scheme. moratoria as “mythology” and do tional technology watchdog ETC efforts to conduct large-scale like NASA and Photograph: not apply to his project. Group. “It is now more urgent commercial dumps near the the National Giovanni/Goddard “If rogue geoengineer Russ than ever that governments Galapagos and Canary Islands Ocean and Earth Sciences Data George really has misled this unequivocally ban such open- led to his vessels being barred Atmospheric and Information indigenous community, and air geoengineering experiments. from ports by the Spanish and Administration. Services Center/ dumped iron into their waters, we They are a dangerous distraction Ecuadorian governments. ■ NASA
8 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO wreck
rap Diver inspects torpedo tubes in the mid- ships of the USS Lamson, Bikini Atoll
Text and photos courtesy of Pete Mesley Bikini Atoll—without a doubt— is the undisputed top wreck diving destination on the planet. I remember when I first started diving back in 1989, I would sit around the table and listen to members of our dive club in South London, salivating at the concept of diving Bikini Atolls’ Saratoga, an aircraft carrier and one of the world's largest dive- able wrecks. Only a brave few divers ever ventured to this remote place deep within Wrecks of the Marshall Islands. Costing a small fortune to get to, Bikini was only a destination for the elite (and stinking rich!!). It was a place every diver dreamed of getting to. Bikini Atoll
This was my third trip to Bikini but this onto Kwajalein via an island hopper, ple to be there, but under the Marshal alongside the MV Windward—our home served an impressive career in WWII with didn’t lessen my enthusiasm to get- which stopped at four other Micronesian Island agreement, they have to offer for the next two weeks. direct conflicts with the HMS Prince of ting back there. Traveling to this islands. Some 27 hours later, getting into through fare for travelers. We had two guys who were com- Wales, Bismark and HMS Hood. The ves- Atoll, deep within the Marshal Island Kwajalein meant that we were only half We were met by Brian and Eddy from ing in the following day via Honolulu. sel was later handed over to the British group, takes some doing. Getting way there. Kwaj is an American Ballistic the charter boat at the ferry terminal This gave us the perfect time to do our as part of the German surrender. The there from Auckland, New Zealand, Missile testing base, so you can imagine where we loaded all our gear onto a check-out dive on the German heavy Eugen remained in drydock until January I flew to Cairns, then Guam, then that the Americans just don't want peo- water taxi. Within 20 minutes, we were cruiser, Prinz Eugen. The 18,700 ton ship 1946 when she was handed over to the
9 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Map of our route from Kwajalein to Bikini (left). wreck A diver looks over the rap 8-inch turret of the German heavy cruiser, Prinz Eugen, which had numerous engagments with the Bismark. She sits completely upside down (below)
Americans. Later, deepest section. What an she was allocated to impressive introduction to the target fleet for the trip! Operation Crossroads. once everyone was She survived the Able on board, we stropped and Baker tests (July everything down and set 1946), but was too sail for Bikini. It took us a radioactive to have little over 28 hours steam- leaks repaired. In ing to cover the 240 miles September 1946, she to our destination. On the was towed to Kwajalein Atoll and cap- this massive 212-meter wreck sits upside way, we sailed past Wotho Atoll. This was sized on 22 December 1946 over Enubuj down in 32 meters of water, stern sitting a short distance away from Rongerik reef. out of the water with the bow at the Atoll. This is where the Americans relo- cated the entire rations were made to transfer them 300 bugger! We didn't have much choice population of 167 miles west off Bikini to an atoll known as then but to eat it. This is what it's all about Bikinians in March Ujelang. with expeditions like this to far corners of 1946, in prepara- it just so happened that the Americans the Earth. Just being here, sitting in 4,000 tion for Operation chose another nuclear testing ground meters of water with no sight of land any- Crossroads. in Enewetak Atoll, 120 miles north east where to be seen—I just loved it! Rongerik was of Ujelang. Even after all the buildings originally uninhab- were erected for the Bikinians to move HIJMS Nagato. The first dive was on ited because the into on Ujelang Atoll, it was decided that the HIJMS Nagato. Launched on 9 Bikinians believed the Enewetak people would, instead, be November 1919, the Nagato was the it to be too small moved to Ujelang Atoll. It took two years jewel of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She to live on (it is one of suffering on Rongerik until the Bikinians was the lead ship of her class and the sixth the size of were finally moved to Kwajalein. They only battleship in history to mount 16.1- Bikini), and there were housed in tents beside an airstrip inch guns on her decks. She displaced wasn't enough until an island was finally found for them 42,850 tons, and was 221m long, 34m food and water on to live on. wide and capable of doing 27 knots. the island to sustain Descending onto this historical ship life. Diving the wrecks was very humbling. Knowing that this was Well, they were We arrived in Bikini in the late afternoon the ship that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto right. By July that the next day. On the way, we dragged a gave the order to lead the attack on same year, medi- couple of lures over the side. On the last Pearl Harbor back in December 1941 cal officers from attempt, I got a massive dogtooth tuna. made history more tangable. We got our the United States This time, I ended up hooking a 100kg first sight of the ship with its huge hull and visited the islands. black marlin. four props as we descended into the They were shocked it was taking over an hour and a half crystal clear water. We dropped over the to find that the to get the fish close to the boat, so we port side of the ship and under the hull. people were criti- decided to release it once we could get There, looming out of the darkness, were cally malnourished it close enough to unhook it. But just as two massive 16.1-inch guns. My dive and literally starv- we got the massive fish close to the stern buddy, Nick, swam up towards the barrel ing to death. of the boat, a shark promptly removed ends. His body was dwarfed by its mas- Immediate prepa- the tail section of the fish. sive size.
10 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Diver (left) with massive 16-inch gun of the HIJMS Nagato, the pride of the Japanese wreck High Seas Fleet. Diver (below) at the bow rap of the massive USS Saratoga, 267m long! Bikini Atoll
the interior of the ship is vast, to say the was covered in the finest red rusty silt, very least. Permanent lines have been probably highly radioactive if you dug laid in some areas from a past operation deep enough into it. and still hold well after six years of inac- the wreck is just so impressive. tivity. With seven decks of passageways, Countless planes, bombs, artifacts, rooms, storerooms, accommodations, plates, bowls, jugs, etc, lay untouched galleys, etc, you could spend the rest of since 1946. Even Mk 5 standard dress We came back out your diving career on this ship and never helmets sit alongside each other in one and swam along the port side of the hull at deck level at a constant 45m depth. Then, as we swam along, the bridge came into view. What used to tower above the surface of the ocean, some 30m high, now sits per- fectly placed along the sand to one side of the ship. I swam forward towards the bow section, turned penetration is possible but extreme tend to take care when venturing down around and just hung there in the deep care must be taken. All the wrecks are passageways. The areas that we pen- enjoying the view of the entire bridge over 60 years old and very brittle, so with etrated were not as spectacular as the section. all the heavy gear above your head, you vistas around the outside of the ship—a massive propeller, breathtaking bridge section and impressive bow section.
USS Saratoga. The majority of our after- noon dives were spent on the USS Saratoga. She is the shallowest of the grow tired if diving her. ships in the atoll. The top of the bridge one of the dives that totally blew my ranged in depth from 14m of water mind was the dentist's surgery and sick down to 50m on the sand. bay. We entered through the bomb the Saratoga, first commissioned loading door situated on the starboard in 1925, was a 40,000-ton, 268-meter- side of the ship just forward of the bridge long aircraft carrier. She did tours in the area, dropped two decks into the middle Pacific, Nicaragua, San Diego, Hawaii, section, swam 50 meters down long cor- Guadalcanal and the Marshall Islands. ridors, then dropped down a staircase in 1944, she was commissioned to train into the second and hangar decks. We aviators for night operations. In February then back tracked and swam another 15 1945, she carried night fighters during odd meters, passing the sick bay on our the Iwo Jima invasion and raids on the right. Then, finally, we entered the dental Japanese home islands. After the war in office. 1945, she transported servicemen back three dentist chairs sat in the room, home to the States, was then decommis- completely kitted out with drills, rinse sioned and brought in for target duty for bowls, even head phones for the atomic testing in Bikini. patients. Perfectly preserved. Everything
Diver at bridge of the Nagato Dentist's chair in the Saratoga (bottom right)
11 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Fat Man Bomb (left)—one The Baker nuclear blast (below). The wreck of the atomic bombs used dot on the right of the water column rap for Operation Crossroads is the vertical hull of the USS Arkansas Bikini Atoll
reached the air, it started a supersonic atmospheric shock wave, which, like the crack, was more visually dramatic than destructive. Brief low pressure behind the shock wave caused instant fog, which shrouded the developing column in a “condensation cloud”, obscuring it from of the hundreds of store view for two seconds. The Wilson cloud rooms in the ship. started out hemispherical, expanded into Saratoga, along with a disk, which lifted from the water reveal- another 20 odd other ing the fully developed spray column, ships, sank as a result of then expanded into a doughnut and nuclear testing after the abrupt end of be held in Bikini Atoll named Operation ninety- vanished. The Able shot also produced the Second World War, with the United Crossroads. Two hundred forty-two ships five ships a Wilson cloud, but heat from the fireball States dropping atomic bombs on (150 support and 95 detonation ships), 42 were to Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and then on thousand men, 156 airplanes and hun- be prepared for the blast, four battle ing hot “gas bubble” that Nagasaki three days later. These were dreds of thousands of tons of equipment, ships, two aircraft carriers, two cruisers, 11 pushed against the water, the second and third atomic bombs ever ordinance and materials were shipped to destroyers, eight submarines, numerous generating a supersonic detonated on Earth. So little was known Bikini Atoll. amphibious/auxiliary vessels and three hydraulic shock wave, about atomic warfare. this was to be the most public and surrendered German and Japanese ves- which crushed the hulls of most reported nuclear tests ever under- sels. Twenty ships would be placed in nearby ships as it spread Atomic history taken. Even though there was consider- square mile clusters from the drop zone. out. On the surface, the The U.S. president at the time, Harry able interest by scientists excited about the initial 23 kiloton bomb, named shock wave was visible Truman, issued a directive to army and assessing the full effects of atomic energy Able, was to be detonated 158 meters as the leading edge of a navy officials that joint testing of nuclear in the field, it was still undertaken for the above sea level. This test was to asses the rapidly expanding ring of weapons would be necessary “to deter- sole benefit of the military. Their main effects of pressure, impulse, shock wave, dark water. Close behind mine the effect of atomic bombs on goal: to make stronger, deadlier nuclear velocity, optical radiation and nuclear the slick was a visually more American warships”. This project was to weapons. radiation of this particular bomb. This air dramatic, whitening of the burst was meant to duplicate the condi- water surface. tions of the Hiroshima bomb drop, this At the bottom, it started time, over water. With an air burst, the digging a shallow crater, radioactive matter would rise high into 9m deep and 610m wide. the stratosphere and become part of the At the top, it pushed the global environment with little significant water above it into a “spray local fallout. Many of the closer ships dome”, which burst through received doses of neutron and gamma the surface like a geyser. radiation, lethal to anyone onboard the During the first full sec- ship during the blast, but the ships them- ond, the expanding bubble selves did not become radioactive. removed all the water Within a day, all the surviving target within a 150m radius and ships had been re-boarded by person- lifted two million tons of nel for inspection and data analysis. Able spray and seabed sand sank five ships, Gilliam, Sakawa, Carlisle, into the air. As the bubble Anderson and Lamson. rose, it stretched the spray the second explosion, Baker bomb, dome into a hollow cylinder was detonated 24 days later on 25 or chimney of spray 1,800m July 1946. This bomb was suspended 27 high, 610m wide, and with meters underwater. The underwater fire- walls 90m thick. ball took the form of a rapidly expand- As soon as the bubble
Standard dress helmets can still be Diver inspects anti-aircraft easily seen within the Saratoga gun on the USS Lamson
12 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO wreck Propellors (right) of rap the Nagato wreck; Bikini Atoll Diver (far right) at the stern of the Lamson wreck; A Saratoga Hellraiser rests in the sand (below) dried it out more quickly. ten ships were sunk as a result of Baker bomb. They were LSM-60 (the ship that the bomb was positioned under), Arkansas, Pilotfish, Saratoga, YO-160, Nagato, Skipjack, Apogon, ARDC-13.
USS Lamson. Another outstanding wreck that we dived was the USS Lamson. heading to Guadalcanal, moving onto A 1,500-ton, 104m-long Mahan Class doing tours in Papua New Guinea, New destroyer, first launched on 17 June 1936. Britain and the Philippines. After fighting The Lamson did tours in the Caribbean, off numerous suicide plane attacks and Pacific and Hawaii. being patched up after being badly on that ill-fated day on 7 December damaged, she spent the rest of her term 1941 when Pearl Harbour was attacked, on patrol and air-sea rescue work off Iwo the USS Lamson was returning from patrol Jima Island. She would soon participate duty out at sea during the Japanese in Operation Crossroads in Bikini. attack. After an unsuccessful search for With consistently good visibility in the the Japanese task force, the destroyer Lagoon, the Lamson could be seen patrolled Hawaiian waters, departing as we descended down the shotline. Pearl Harbor on 6 January 1942, later Secured in the midships, I made my way down towards the stern of the ship. 20mm AA antiaircraft guns, mounted on Nagato, Anderson, Arkansas and glory, I suggest you start planning your First land- each side of the narrow destroyer. It was Sakawa. We also dived a submarine, journey here in the near future. During marks that easy to see that in this ships hayday it one of the three sunk during the blasts, the trip, we completed over 38 hours in burst out could hold its own with all the armament the USS Apogon—a 95m-long, 2,390-ton, the water over nine days, diving seven of into view it carried. Balao-Class submarine first launched in the 16 odd wrecks in the lagoon. A place were the heading further towards the stern I March 1943. She sits perfectly upright certainly worthy of multiple trips. ■ amazing swam past two 5-inch/38 Cal dual pur- on a lifeless sandy bottom. Not a lot of 21-inch pose antiaircraft guns. Their dual pur- life is encrusted on the wrecks, just long Pete Mesley is a prolific wreck diver and torpedo pose allowed them to shoot not only sea whips and tight sponges, which give seasoned photographer, who organizes tubes. The low angle, surface targets but also high the wrecks a little colour. Here, my dive specialized trips to some of the most ship had a angle aircraft targets. buddy, Eddy, looked at one of the stern spectacular and out-of-the-way loca- total of 12 i finally got to the stern of the ship— torpedo tubes with a loaded torpedo in tions, globally. His excursions offer full torpedo she was an awesome sight alright. The the spout. technical support for rebreather and tubes on depth charge racks were still fully intact open circuit divers. Not to mention, he the deck with even a few depth charges still laying Afterthoughts is one of the only dive operators who of the ship. on the deck. The wreck was silhouetted Bikini Atoll, was everything I ever brings qualified hyperbaric physicians Moving perfectly against the talcum powder-like dreamed of and more. But the wrecks with him as medical support on all of his on, I came white sand. are starting to show their age. More and trips. For more information about his “Lust across two over the following days, we made more parts of the ships are collapsing, so for Rust” diving excursions visit his site Oerilikon numerous dives on the Saratoga and if you want to see these wrecks in all their www.lust4rust.com.
13 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO wreck rap
New Zealand wreck may pre-date Cook
While speculation remains as to the before the wreck was lost to the identity of a North Island shipwreck sea under 30 metres of sand. The discovered 30 years ago, recent radio wood has been confirmed to carbon dating reveals it to be New be teak and crepe myrtle, tropi- Zealand’s oldest shipwreck. Preliminary cal wood likely used for refitting findings indicate the ship sank around at either Genoa or Java, which 1705, pre-dating Captain Cook’s voy- suggests the possibility of the ages by some 65 years. Speaking at the area being visited earlier than Dargaville Museum, dendrochronologist, previously thought. Dr Jonathan Palmer cautioned the find- it is widely accepted that Dutch Zealand being known to the Portuguese Portuguese Cicilla Maria, but ongoing ings required additional work before his explorer Abel Tasman discovered New in the 1550s. A Spanish helmet discov- research of the Spanish and Portuguese research could be confirmed and pub- Zealand in 1642. Palmer said bitter com- ered in Wellington Harbour and a Tamil archives is ongoing. Palmer argues the lished. petition for discovery during the 16th-18- bell used by a Maori tribe as a cooking wood’s age suggests it is not the Cicilla the wreck was discovered in 1982 by th centuries meant voyages were kept pot in the mid 1880s suggests other tan- Maria, which had sailed a century ear- a local team led by Kaipara shipwreck secret, with many ships sailing with hid- talizing possibilities. lier. Once Palmer’s findings are con- explorer Noel Hilliam. A portion of a den or documented evidence. British hilliam, who was present at the firmed and published, a display will be cross-member and rib was salvaged, Admiralty maps of 1803 refer to New meeting, believes the vessel to be the erected at the Dargaville Museum. ■
Mazotos shipwreck shed new light on ancient shipbuilding
The excavation of planking is preserved to a length of at rae, the ship’s main cargo, a second- the Mazotos ship- least 15 meters. ary type was also transported on the wreck sheds light the Mazotos ship was a late classical Mazotos ship: wine jugs, which were on very important period (mid-4th century B.C.) merchant stowed among the amphorae found in issues such as sea- ship that was located in the sea of the the aft part of the hold. faring in Cyprus modern village of Mazotos, at a depth Furthermore, small fine ware pottery in antiquity, com- of 45m. was recovered from the stern cabin, merce between the ship was carrying wine amphorae which was also partly excavated. the Aegean and mainly from Chios but also from other These vessels must have belonged to Cyprus, the types north Aegean islands. Previous research the crew or the passengers of the ship; and sizes of the at the site, which began in November one of them bears two inscribed letters, period’s cargo 2007, focused on the photographic and most probably the initials of someone’s ships. According drawing documentation of the ship- name. to the press wreck. An interesting piece of evidence release, this year’s this year’s findings are of prime impor- which provided information on the con- results, in combi- tance, as it places this wreck among ditions under which the sailors of antiq- nation with the the very few in the Mediterranean that uity lived, are the large numbers of olive findings of previ- can provide information on shipbuilding pips that were found during excavation, ous field seasons, indicate that the keel during the Classical eriod. since these pips must have been part of and a considerable part of the ship’s together with the Chian wine ampho- the crew’s food supply. ■
14 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Ex-NRP Oliveira e Carmo sank in less than three minutes
Text and images by Barb Roy A new record was set when two ships were scut- tled as artificial reefs in one long day. On Tuesday, 30 October 2012, the ships were placed in Algarve off the coast of Portimao in southern Portugal as the first of four ships, part of the Ocean Revival Project. The 85-meter-long Corvette Ex-NRP Oliveira e Carmo went down in less than three minutes without a problem, and the Ex-NRP Portugal Zambeze, a 44-meter- long patrol vessel, slipped under the surface not long after. Both ships were do- A Tale of Two Ships nated by the Portuguese Navy. A first for sinking in one day
To help prepare the ships for sinking, Luis Sa Couto of Sub Nauta Dive Center and RAND coordinator for the Ocean Revival Project B N E E solicited the assistance of the Canadian H W T Artificial Reef Consulting company from British Columbia, Canada, which has pre- PALAU SIREN pared over a dozen ships around the world. LIVEABOARD Together with the help of several Portuguese T Navy Demolition Instructors and a few local R Y U R key recruits, the first part of the project (five E LUXU years) took only six months in the actual ship preparations. After both ships were resting on the ocean floor and the okay was given by the Navy Clearance Divers, visiting div- ers eagerly jumped in to check out the new site. The second part of the project will take place in the Spring of 2013. It involves the scuttling of a frigate and a hydrographic ship. All ships will be placed parallel to one another and the beach. Ex-NRP Oliveira e Carmo as it passed the port of Portimao on the Demolition teams from CARC and the Portuguese Navy way to the sinking site
15 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO X-RAY MAG AD.indd 1 12/21/11 12:20 PM feature Portugal
Wreck Trek. The final frontier.
The Zambeze with its stern in the air, as the demolition crew looks on (top); A large fireball lifts off the back of the Ex-NRP Zambeze (bottom); Bruno Freitas, a dive instructor for Sub Nauta dive facility in Portimao, Portugal (right) The Florida Keys Wreck Trek is a series of challenging dives on some of the most O G R For more information on the project amazing shipwrecks in the universe. From the 510’ Spiegel Grove off Key Largo A L Y E K and diving in Portugal, see: to the recently scuttled 524’ missile-tracking USS Vandenberg in Key West,
Sub Nauta, it’s a must for any diver’s (or captain’s) log.
A AD www.subnauta.pt fla-keys.com/diving/wrecktrek OR M LA IS
Ocean Revival Project
ON K ATH EY W MAR www.oceanrevival.pt EST S BIG PINE KEY & THE LOWER KEY Canadian Artificial Reef Consulting www.artificialreefs.net
16 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO “Цифровой” travel news журнал IV Digital непечатный, экологически чистый журнал для разумных дайверов, которые любят жизнь www.ivmag.org/ivdigital
Edited by Scott Bennett IV Digital magazine - paperless eco-friendly magazine Organised crash of unmanned Boeing for Diver Sapiens, who enjoy life. 747 reveals cheap seats could be safer www.ivmag.org/ivdigital
Budget concious travellers will ting position during impact, three safety indications,” stated Sanjay be reassured to hear the cheap dummies were placed in different Sighal from production company seats could be safer. As part of an positions. The dummy in the clas- Dragonfly, which produced the experiment, a Boeing aircraft was sic ‘brace’ position with seat belt programme. On a more positive fitted with cameras and crash- fastened would have survived; note, he added, “It’s never been test dummies to help scientists another with just the belt fastened safer to fly.” determine the safest seat loca- would have suffered severe head if economy seats begin to adopt tion. While none of the first-class injuries. The third dummy, which premium price tags for safety, passengers would have survived, had neither, would have died. Business Class comfort might just Apps it was concluded those sitting fur- “Planes are sold entirely on be in the realm of affordability for thest from the cockpit would have comfort, food, entertainment sys- the average traveller. However, the greatest chance of survival. tems, space in your business class Boeing’s own site states that one SAS Crew Guide 2012 to experiment with the safest sit- seat. They are never sold on the seat is as safe as another. ■
With the new Crew Guide, Scandin- avian Airlines continues to recognize and promote the voice of their crew, giving you the chance to benefit Sleeping with the fishes in Sweden from their unique knowledge and passion for travel. It is 352 pages and For those who have tired of hut features an above-surface ited islands before spending the written in English. beaches, a floating hotel in kitchen with the sleeping quarters night underwater. the result is a book and an app Sweden offers a room with a below. “A lot of people who have packed with travel tips to hotels, res- decidedly different view: ten feet “It’s like a reverse aquarium— visited have said they slept taurants, shops and sights in 22 cities beneath the surface. Situated the fish like looking in at the guests extremely well because of the around the world. on Lake Malaren, the Utter Inn and are fascinated by them,” said rocking motion on board,” added With more than 500 tips from the features windows on every wall Genburg. “I don’t think there is Genburg. “People with busy lives crew of SAS and nine other Star revealing a lake teeming with fish. an experience quite like sleeping and high-pressure jobs tend to visit, Alliance airlines, Crew Guide has it in operation since 2000, the underwater, and many people I think for the natural peace there covered. ‘floatel’ is the brainchild of art- have come to find out if they like is in the very relaxing surroundings. From Beijing to New York and ist Mikael Genburg, known for his it.” You can hear the lapping of the beyond, Crew Guide will open your unique hotel designs including one After being taken out to the water outside of the windows as eyes to the best neighbourhood res- in a tree in a city centre park tree floating hut by Utter Inn staff, visi- well, which I think is a very thera- taurants, bargain shopping, great house and another in a sunken tors can relax on the deck or use peutic sound.” ■ sights and true local experiences. ■ villa. Designed in the style of a tra- the hotel’s inflatable dinghy to ditional Swedish cottage, the little explore one of the lake’s uninhab-
17 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel news
Oman to build luxury underwater hotel Deep Ocean Technology A new underwater luxury hotel cal ocean environment. Stunning ceived to protect the marine is going to be built in Dubai by views of the flora and fauna can environment. “Oman has been a Swiss-based consulting, engi- be seen through huge windows. chosen precisely because of its neering, and brokerage firm, so, what if there’s an emer- natural underwater life. Of course, BIG InvestConsult. It’s called gency and you have to get out the exact location of the Water ® the Water Discus Hotel (WDH) quick? Well, the underwater disc Discus Hotel will be a consider- ® and has a revolutionary design can surface immediatly, as rescue able distance from coral reefs in www.sealife-cameras.com with patent-protected concept boats always at hand speed in to order to safeguard them from any and technology, which is new assist. There’s also a helicpter pad impact. BIG Invest Group is expe- facebook.com/SeaLifeCameras to the hotel and tourism indus- on the top of the above water rienced in the delivery of invest- try, developed by Deep Ocean disc, which can transport guests ments with respect for the natural Technology of Poland. and crew to safety. environment. We are experts in tom disc) as well as other equip- of the marketing specialists of mence? Gutkowski said: “The the ground-breaking structure this and we take care of environ- ment for marine life observation, BIG InvestConsult AG, the Water project is still in the concep- consists of two parts -- a residen- Sustainability mental issues with the greatest for example, three-person subma- Discus Hotel may become a sym- tual stage. However, we have tial disc underwater and a water But is it sustainable? Bogdan attention.” rine vessels that enable (non-div- bol or signature of the city, region planned to find an exact location leisure disc above water, which Gutkowski, President and CEO in fact, in line with the com- ing) hotel guests to travel under- or country where it is built.” within 3-4 months. Then we will has two satellite extensions. The of BIG InvestConsult, told the pany’s commitment to the envi- water a few miles from the hotel so, when will the Water Discus start to develop the project and hotel of 21 luxury rooms ten meter Observer that the Sultanate of ronment, they are in the process and admire the natural underwa- Hotel project in Oman com- look for a co-investor.” ■ below sealevel will offer guests a Oman is an ideal location for the of developing an international ter environment. WDH will also be chance to live among the reefs underwater hotel and assures program for coral reef restoration a place for diving courses, start- and fishes in a magnificent tropi- that the building has been con- and protection. In this plan, the ing with the swimming pool on hotel could be modified into an the sundeck. Indeed, the Water underwater lab and become a Discus Hotel will be a fantastic base for coastal marine studies for showcase of Oman’s living marine scientists and research students. treasure,” he said. however, marketing is still an Diving important ingrediant. Gutkowski But can we dive there? Yes, and said that the project with it there’s more. Gutkowski said, immense scale and appeal “What is important is that the could have a positive effect on Water Discus Hotel will make it Oman’s tourism industry. “Today, possible for all guests (even those we are aware of the huge glo- who do not go diving) to observe bal interest in the Water Discus life in an Animal Coral Garden project. We expect the Water (that will be created around the Discus Hotel will arouse great underwater disc of the hotel). interest in the media as well as The WDH will be equipped with a among the tourists, when it will Diving Centre (located in the bot- be constructed. In the opinion
Deep Ocean Technology Deep Ocean Technology 18 X-RAY MAG : 51 : 2012 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO