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New Zealand Sharkwater

New Zealand Sharkwater

Spring Dive Fashion & Accessories Protecting the Indonesia Ambon Dive & Kayak GLOBAL EDITION New Apr :: May 2007 Number 16 Zealand Science Black Sea Portfolio Jeroen Verhoeff Dive Medicine Vitamins Help Divers ’s

TheCOVER PHOTO BY WOLFGANG VisayasLEANDER 1 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 silver

cinema of dreams

www.seacam.com

2 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 DIRECTORY X-RAY MAG is published by AquaScope Spring Dive Fashions & Accessories Copenhagen, Denmark - www.aquascope.biz www.xray-mag.com For the Well-Dressed Diver... page 54 “LIFESAVER” SCUBADIVER DIVE FLAVORS AIR TANK SHIRT AVAILABLE FROM DIVE TONIGHT AT WWW.DIVINGTOYSFROMDIVETONIGHT.COM PUBLISHER CO- EDITORS (continued) & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Arnold Weisz - News, Features Peter Symes Willy Volk - News, Interviews reefshark. Photo by Wolfgang Leander [email protected] Millis Keegan - Opinions, MANAGING EDITOR Brian Keegan - Equipment contents & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Michael Arvedlund - Ecology Gunild Pak Symes Jason Heller - Photography [email protected] Dan Beecham - Videography ASSOCIATE EDITORS Michel Tagliati - Medicine & REPRESENTATIVES: Leigh Cunningham - Tech USA: Millis Keegan Edwin Marcow - Sharks [email protected] Russia: Andrey Bizyukin CORRESPONDENTS [email protected] John Collins - Ireland Jordi Chias - Spain South East Asia Rep & editor: Enrico Cappeletti - Catherine GS Lim, Singapore Tomas Knutsson - Iceland [email protected] Gary Myors - Tasmania Marcelo Mammana - Argentina ADVERTISING Svetlana Murashkina - Russia International sales rep: Amos Nachoum - USA Kevin Brennan (US/Can & UK) Barb Roy - WA, USA [email protected] Michael Portelly, UK International sales rep: Robert Aston - CA, USA Geoff Mellard (Europe) Nonoy Tan - The Philippines [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE International sales rep: Dan Beecham Harvey Page ( Sea & Africa) [email protected] Scott Bennett Andrey Bizyukin, PhD International sales rep: David F Colvard, MD Arnold Weisz (Business Directory) Jason Heller [email protected] Millis Keegan Wolfgang Leander Catherine GS Lim SENIOR EDITOR Edwin Marcow Michael Symes Cindy Ross [email protected] Barb Roy 27 35 55 65 plus... HE ISAYAS MBON CIENCE LACK EA EDICAL EACTIVE Gunild Symes T V A S : B S M : R EDITORIAL 3 ONLINE EDITOR Michael Symes THE PHILIPPINES INDONESIA PLACE OF MYSTERY SPECIES NEWS 6 Willy Volk Peter Symes BY NONOY TAN BY SCOTT BENNETT BY MICHAEL SYMES BY ANDREY BIZYUKIN, PHD [email protected] DIVE GURUS 50 Nonoy Tan Cedric Verdier EQUIPMENT 47 TECHNICAL MANAGER Jeroen Verhoeff WHALES&DOLPHINS 51 Søren Reinke Willy Volk 68 74 77 99 SQUID & TURTLES 53 [email protected] SPRING DIVE FASHIONS PROFILE: ROB STEWART DIVING & KAYAKING PORTFOLIO: BOOKS & MEDIA 87 Further info see contacts page: & ACCESSORIES SHARKWATER JEROEN VERHOEFF MARKETING MANAGER: www.xray-mag.com BUSINESS DIRECTORY 97 Yann Saint-Yves BY GUNILD SYMES BY WILLY VOLK BY BARB ROY EDITTED BY GUNILD SYMES [email protected] Not yet subscribed to SUBSCRIPTION columns... X-RAY MAG? Sign up now! X-RAY MAG International Edition in English is FREE It’s FREE! QUICK! EASY! To subscribe, go to: www.xray-mag.com 73 80 85 89 94 MERMAID MATTERS: DIVEPSYCH: TALES: TECH TALK: UW PHOTO & VIDEO: click here... COVER PHOTO BY AN EECHAM Caribbean Reefsharks, by Wolfgang Leander SWIMSUITS FOR DIVING STUDY BITS & BITES ADVENTURE D B (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) BY CINDY ROSS BY DAVID F COLVARD MD EDITTED BY EDWIN MARCOW BY CEDRIC VERDIER & JASON HELLER

3 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 Amsterdam Barcelona Cape Town Chicago Copenhagen London Moscow Okinawa Oslo Paris Ravenna Reykjavik San Francisco Sharm El Shiekh Warsaw Shark Conservation: guest-editorial Wolfgang Leander Growing from www.oceanicdreams.com Indifference to Awareness Because you can’t stay underwater forever... The first time I consciously real- that were once “shark infested” (what a Shepherd and WildAid actively assist Join the World’s largest Online Diving Community ized that sharks are at risk delight for sharkpeople like me!!) in 1997 the Galapagos Marine Park authority to was when I read a Rolex ad in became “cleansed” of sharks within a enforce the existing laws against shark and you will never be without a buddy again. few years. finning. which , the Henri After looking into this more closely, I For a protest article, I wrote about Imagine a resource that will answer are looking for. It’s free, it’s huge, it’s Cartier-Bresson of underwater sadly became aware that the authorities in the Galapagos Islands. almost every question you ever had ultra friendly and we are waiting for photography, was being quoted did very little to enforce the laws, to say Visit my website (www.oceanicdreams. about diving: photography, gear, you to show up! ScubaBoard.com it politely. In a country where corruption com) and klick “Galapagos” to read it. physics, flora, fauna, destinations, is the ultimate place to begin your as saying that sharks needed is a deeply ingrained legacy of Spanish wrecks, , and then research and to find a host of dive to be protected from humans, colonialism coupled with a remarkable Stop online trade of shark fins imagine this resource is but a click buddies all around the world with a not the other way around. Even lack of understanding for environmental Unfortunately, Ecuador and the away. What would you call it? Well, common goal: to share our under though I thought it was much problems, I felt that there was very little Galapagos are only paradigmatic. The we call it www.ScubaBoard.com water heaven in a safe and friendly hope to reduce, let alone stop the sense- problem is world-wide—just as global atmosphere! See you on the ‘Board more than just a gag, it did not less slaughter of sharks merely to cut off as the shark fin trade is, which is now Join over 75,000 users, including 1200 tonight! really hit me hard. their fins. being promoted on the Internet by such Scuba Instructors, hundreds of manu- In March 2005, I free-dove for the last companies as the Chinese online broker facturers and so many dive experts Of course, I knew of the finning problem, time in a small island of the archipela- Alibaba.com in which Yahoo.com has a in the World’s largest Online Scuba and I must have been aware of the sta- go where I would normally see many 40% stake worth one billion dollars. It was Community and find the answers you tistics. However, statistics are lifeless unless Galapagos sharks. It was my preferred only by accident that I discovered the you are a passionate statistician (which spot to observe and photograph these shark parts trading activities of Alibaba to me seems like a contradiction in magnificent predators. On this last dive, last fall. terms). But it was a most devastating per- I saw none. The sharks were gone, fished The Ocean Realm Society, the Shark X-RAY MAG is distributed six Views and information X-RAY MAG accepts no responsi- sonal experience that turned me into the by the local aleteros, or shark finners, Research Institute, The Sea Shepherd and times per year on the Internet. expressed in articles are those bility for unsolicited materials sent sort of shark conservationist I am now. as I was later told by dive operators. I many other organizations, which I sub- © 2004-2006 X-RAY MAG. All of the individual author and to its office, nor is it liable for loss or While living in Ecuador (1997 - 2003) I was outraged and decided to boycott sequently alerted, immediately took up rights reserved. are not necessarily repre- damage to such materials. could afford the luxury of going to the the Galapagos. From what I hear, the the issue and spread the news. By now, Material in this publication sentative of views held by Galapagos Islands at least twice massacre of the sharks in the the diving communities around the globe may not be reproduced or X-RAY MAG or its affiliates. X-RAY MAG observes a strict a year. When I first dived the “Enchanted Islands”—as the know about Alibaba.com and their transferred electronically in Unsolicited manuscripts, privacy policy. No personal or Galapagos, I was struck by Galapagos are being shameless activities. There will be mount- any form without written per- photographs and illustrations private information will be shared the sheer abundance of sharks: called—still goes on, prob- ing on them and others to stop mission from the copyright should be emailed to: with a third party without the writ- white tipped sharks, scal- ably more clandes- fueling the international shark fin trade by owner. [email protected] ten permission of the owner. loped hammerhead sharks, and the tinely as organizations providing both buyers and sellers a con- most elegant and sleek of the requi- such as The Sea venient trading platform. Editorial state- em sharks, the omnipresent Galapagos ment regarding shark. Stop recreational News from To my growing dismay, however, every of sharks NAUI in X-RAY time I went back I noticed that the shark My passion for MAG: population was dwindling—it was the diving with This issue of X-RAY MAG and others includes news direct result of indiscriminate shark finning sharks and press releases from NAUI in sections designated in what is supposed to be a marine sanc- does by the NAUI logo. While the page design is done by tuary where sharks are officially protect- not X-Ray Magazine is a member of X-RAY MAG as an integrated part of the magazine, ed from being fished. What I discovered & Marketing these news stories are brought to you by NAUI at was not “statistic”; it was the real thing Association: www.dema.org NAUI’s discretion. I could painfully see for myself. Places

4 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Guest-editorial diminish with age. Quite the Tiger sharks have the repu- Create awareness, educate the contrary, the older I get, the public relentlessly, boycott places more fanatical I become about tation to be ‘man-eaters’, where shark products are being interacting with sharks. I am now a ludicrous term for any sold, join conservationist organiza- 66, and I prefer to dive in what shark. Sharks, even large tions and promote shark diving. I consider the last paradise for Individuals who love sharks should sharks on earth—the Bahamas. ones, don’t eat ‘man’ go out and tell their story. While sharks might get fished One example worth mentioning occasionally by sportsfishermen in is the work of a German baron, Bahamian waters, they seem to They occasionally bite people, Jupp Kerckerink zur Borg. Jupp is be safe from and very rarely do humans die a retired advertising executive, and the so-called recreational from shark bites. who has decided to dedicate shark fishermen who are doing much of his time to the cause of their share to decimate the shark Don’kill sharks, shark preservation. Have a look populations. I simply believe that swim with them! at his website and see what he it is wrong to fish sharks for “fun” This is how I described my first does. Go to Sharkprotect.com. knowing what is at stake. encounter with tiger sharks to Leading marine biologists Talking about the Bahamas, some friends: should unite outside of academia in the “I just got back from a shark and make forceful attempts joint- Bahamas will be substantially diving trip in the Bahamas where ly, such as public manifestos and curbed as the Bahamian authori- I could, for the first time in my coordinated press conferences ties have introduced very strin- life, free-dive with tiger sharks in those countries where shark gent fishing regulations a couple sized between 7 and 12 feet finning is an issue, to induce gov- of months ago that will make it (2.5-4m). The experience was so ernment leaders to enact a com- rather unattractive for foreign overwhelming that I cannot ade- plete ban on finning immediately anglers (mostly Americans from quately describe what I felt. Let world-wide, not just in national ) to fish in the Bahamas—a me say just this, I wish people who waters. Scholars have much to smart and responsible move by are scared of sharks, hate sharks, say, not only to their students and the Bahamian government. Good or love to fish them as a recrea- fellow scientists. When scholars news for the sharks and other big tional activity, could face tiger speak up publicly, the non-aca- ! sharks in their habitat just once. A demic world listens. Professors, to I only wish those macho shark humble glance into the dark eyes the front! anglers, and others who do not of these majestic creatures would Shark fishing has to be control- care about the survival of sharks, probably change their lives for- led and monitored effectively on would have the chance to dive ever as they would feel a sense of a global basis before it is too late. close to a large tiger shark, which awe in the fact that to save the is what I did recently at Tiger oceans they would have to pro- “Too late” can be sooner than we Beach in the Bahamas. Tiger tect the very shark that is look- all think..... sharks have the reputation of ing at them.” being “man-eaters”—a ludi- —Wolfgang Leander crous term for any shark. What you can do to help Director of Shark Preservation Sharks, even large ones, What can be done to stop Ocean Realm Society don’t eat “man”. the mindless killing? www.oceanicdreams.com

‘Too late’ can be sooner than we all think.....

5 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO THOMAS SAUCÈDE Antarctic sea star from the area that the Larsen B iceshelf once covered

News edited by Peter Symes & Catherine GS LIm NEWS

That is, until the two ice shelves, Together with the excite- changed, and how global warm- A new species of Epimeria, dubbed Larsen A and Larsen ment of exploring an ecosystem ing has altered the marine eco- a 25-mm-long amphipod B, collapsed in 1995 and 2002 untouched for millions of years, system,” said Gauthier Chapelle, crustacean found near respectively, exposing its secrets to there was also a sense of urgency. a biologist from the International Elephant Island the world. This meant that scientists “This is virgin geography. If we Polar Foundation. were now able to study, collect don’t find out what this area is like And so, for ten weeks, the sci- and catalogue the unique wildlife now following the collapse of the entists, hailing from 14 nations, beneath the two ice shelves; they ice shelf and what species are lived aboard the research vessel The Antarctic didn’t have to peek through holes there, we won’t have any basis to Polarstern and conducted the very octopus normally

C D’UDEKEM, ROYAL BELGIUM INSTITUTE FOR NATURAL SCIENCES drilled into the ice any more. know in 20 years’ time what has first comprehensive survey of the ► lives in deeper water AntarcticWhat the ice was hiding Lifeforms Last year, 52 scientists spent the Christmas present. Christmas and New Year season They had departed from South working in the bitter Antarctic Africa on 23 November 2006, on cold aboard an upgraded this historic mission to find out research , millions of kilome- about one of the world’s little- tres away from family and friends. known ecosystems and its indig- Although they were away from enous . Their destina- family and friends during the tion was the Weddell Sea where, festive period, we suspect that for at least 5,000 years, two ice they would not have wanted it shelves shielded the sea bed for any other way. In fact, chances an area of 10,000 square kilome- were high that these 52 scientists tres. could not have asked for a better These deep-sea sea cucumbers are abundant in the Larsen B area. They are all heading in the same direc- tion—for some unknown reason 6 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED This ice fish has no red blood pigments or red blood cells as an adaptation Antarctic Lifeforms to low tempera- news These large glass sponges, found at Larsen tures A, are extremely slow-growing and must therefore have already existed before the Edited by recent disintegration of the ice shelf Peter Symes sources. the presence of sea squirts, which would region. They carried with them hi-tech, There are not have survived under the ice cover. sophisticated sampling and observation also 15 poten- Abundant settlements of these creatures equipment including a vehicle that is tially new were found latched on the sea bed pre- remotely operated and equipped with amphipod spe- viously covered by Larsen B. a camera. cies, some as Gutt believes that a fully mature com- In all, the discoveries made during the large as ten munity would require several hundreds expedition has given us a glimpse of centimetres to thousands of years to develop. what life must have been like under the science. long. Although the expedition ended its stint Antarctic ice. Picture a world filled with The latter include an ice fish that has “We were in the unique position on January 30th, the story does not end deep-sea lilies, long-limbed sea stars, no haemoglobin (red blood pigment) to sample wherever we wanted in a here. The scientists have taken about a amphipod (shrimp-like) crustaceans, set- or red blood cells. This characteristic marine ecosystem considered one of thousand specimens for further analysis. tlements of gelatinous sea squirts, glass allows its blood to flow more freely, the least disturbed by humankind any- Explained Dr Gutt, “The results of our sponges, orange starfish, clusters of sea saving on energy used to pump blood where on the planet,” said Julian Gutt, efforts will advance our ability to predict cucumbers… through its body. There is also a venom- a marine ecologist and chief scientist on the future of our biosphere in a chang- Scientists have managed to collect ous sea anemone that lives on a snail’s the expedition. ing environment.” about 1,000 specimens, some of which shell, in a symbiotic relationship in which He added, “we also found the first The first findings from this analysis have adapted to the unique conditions it provides protection for the snail in hints of a shift in the species composi- are expected to be announced in under the ice, while others are new to exchange for transport to food tion.” This was exhibited, for instance, by September. ■ Wanted : New Coral Scores of New Marine Species Importers and Sales Agents for all countries Species Found of entire Europe Discovered Off Philippines No less than thirteen coral spe- Reputable German manufacturer of immer- cies new to science have recently An international team of scientists has discovered sion- and diving suits with own label is looking been identified in the Gulf of thousands of new species of crustaceans and for importers and sales agents. Mannar Marine National Park. molluscs in waters off the Philippines. From a sur- These discoveries come as the vey conducted in 2004-05, the researchers found In case of interest please contact us per e- gulf’s existing coral reefs are found between 150 to 250 new crustacean species and mail:[email protected] to be deteriorating rapidly, with up to 2,500 new mollusc species. The discoveries their coverage shrinking by 30 include a variety of new shrimp species: fat salm- For information about us please visit per cent over the last two dec- on-coloured shrimp with antennae longer than www.aquata.com ades according to a four year their bodies, mustard and tan shrimp with thick www.immersionsuit.com survey conducted by the Suganthi front appendages that bend like bananas, Devadason Marine Research and lavender shrimp with segmented tails that Institute (SDMRI) in the 560km2 look like stacked purple marshmallows. At park. a ceremony at the Philippine National According to the report, 117 Museum a new five-year program to study species of coral exist in the park and discover additional fauna, titled Census SUGANTHI DEVADASON MARINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE but according the report by the of Philippines Deep-Sea Biodiversity, was SDMRI team live coral is present only on a 78km2 area in the park. announced. That is 32km2 less of the coral cover found 20 years ago. The new initiative is just one of a series of scientific “The degradation happened mainly because of destructive fishing expeditions in the region. This past fall, a team from and sewage disposal,” said J. K. Patterson Edward, Director, SDMRI. ■ Conservation International announced the discovery of 52 new species off Indonesia, including a walking shark. ■

7 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news

This species of shark Edited by recently discovered Peter Symes in Indonesia, called a This Bali catshark is whitefin smooth hound, distinguished by its closely resembles simi- -like colors and lar sharks found as far leopard-like spots away as 20 New Species of Sharks and Rays Discovered Twenty new species of sharks At least 20 previously unknown species First real survey since 1860 Papua. Scientists are preparing to and rays have been discovered of sharks and rays have been found The survey represents the first in-depth describe a further 14 of the spe- in Indonesia in a five-year sur- no by using high-tech mini-submarines look at Indonesia’s sharks and rays since cies. or expensive deep-sea diving opera- “Good taxonomic information is vey of catches at local fish mar- Dutch scientist Pieter Bleeker described tions. Instead, investigators travelled to more than 1,100 fish species from 1842-60. critical to managing shark and ray kets by Australian researchers. Indonesia’s fish markets over a period At the time, scientists in Europe rejected species, which reproduce relative- of five years, checking out what was for Bleeker’s finds, saying they doubted such ly slowly and are extremely vulner- Images: CSIRO sale. high levels of diversity could exist among able to ,” White said in a (AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL The survey by scientists from Australian statement. “It provides the founda- RESEARCH ORGANIZATION) marine life. The survey also forms the basis Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial of a new field guide called, Economically tion for estimating population sizes, Research Organization (CSIR was part Important Sharks and Rays of Indonesia, assessing the effects of fishing and of a broader project working toward which is available in English and Indone- developing plans for man- Atlantis Reef Project Completes improved management of sharks and sian. agement and conservation.” The Phase One Construction rays in Indonesia and . The guide represents the first in-depth island region also has the world’s On February 22, the last structures and sculptures “Indonesia has the most diverse report of Indonesia’s sharks and rays since largest shark and ray , White were deployed to complete the project launch and shark and ray fauna and the Bleeker’s work in th mid 1800´s. said, with reported landings of first phase of construction. When completed, there largest shark and ray fishery From 2001 to 2006, researchers pho- more than 100,000 metric tons a will be approximately 5,000 individual pieces of sculp- in the world, with reported tographed and sampled more than year. tures and columns, set along five concentric circles landings of more than 130 species on 22 survey trips to 11 The new finds come only shortly with eight spokes on the wheel meeting in a central 100,000 tons a year,” said ports across Indonesia. More than 800 after two expeditions off the coast plaza. The site will cover 600,000 sq ft and rise to with- William White, a co-author specimens were lodged in reference of Indonesia revealed a remark- in 25 feet of the ocean’s surface. ■ of the study. “Before this sur- collections at the Museum Zoologicum able “lost world” of marine species vey, however, there were Bogoriense at Cibinong, Java, and the also new to science. One of the vast gaps in our knowledge Australian National Fish Collection at most unusual finds were two new of sharks and rays in this Hobart. So far, six of the new species small epaulette sharks that swim region.” have been described in scientific jour- among coral reefs and have an nals. These are the Bali Catshark and odd way walking around in the Jimbaran Shovelnose Ray found only in bottom on on their pectoral fins, Bali, and the Hortle’s Whipray while hunting for mussels and crabs found only in West and the things that live in the sand. This sleek, spade-shaped SOURCE: CSIRO ■ Hortle’s whipray, for The Jimbaran shovel- example, is the newest nose ray is among of 17 whipray species at least 20 new spe- known to live in the cies found during a muddy shallows along five-year survey of Indonesia’s shores Indonesian fish markets

8 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED HAVFORSKNINGSINSTITUTTET These photos were taken in deep water, under very World’s Northernmost Coral difficult conditions Where’s the world’s north- “The coral is gorgeous and some west of Narvik. It lies at a depth of ernmost coral? Off Sørøya in of the most special that Norwegian 300-400 meters about 110 kilom- Finnmark, Northern . nature has to offer,” Jan Helge eters west of Røst. The reef itself Fosså of the marine research insi- is about 35 kilometers long and Local fishermen have known about it tute (Havforskningsinstituttet) told three kilometers wide. for years, because their trawlers often newspaper Aftenposten. He’s Environmental groups are also pull some of it up. Over the past few been leading the research group keen to preserve the coral reefs, years, researchers have been diving that has responsibility for the coral with more than 1,000 of them lying to the deep in mini-subs to chart it mapping project. outside Træna. WWF Norge claims and photograph it. They’ve found The world’s largest cold water they’re endangered even though one reef after another and want to was found off , they’re large, and is demanding make sure that oil exploration efforts the scenic archipelago that better monitoring and protection don’t damage it. stretches into the Norwegian Sea for them. SOURCE: AFTENPOSTEN ■

Ancient Corals Predict Future of Global Climate

Much like scientists can read the rings of trees to determine climate changes that tree has endured, researchers can “read” coral. For example, by analyzing the coral’s strontium-calcium ratio, scientists can measure how much rain fell as much as 6500 years ago. In a recent study, in fact, researchers with the British Antarctic Survey concluded that the periodic and normal increase in

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau monsoons in the Indian Ocean para- doxically result in stronger droughts in Indonesia and Australia. While this trivia may not have Impression of ancient coral reef, by Heinrich Harder (1858-1935) much import for the typical subur- ban mom, the implications of this planet’s past. According to Nerilie matter of analyzing them.” Of research are fairly staggering. Simply, Abrams of the British Antarctic course, we can’t analyze them if corals provide a giant, untapped Survey, “There is a lot more we we’re destroying them. ■ library of information about the can learn from the corals. It’s a

9 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The Dive Expo The Golden Dolphin news A sense of history and the classic past greets you Edited by at Gostiny Dvor, Peter Symes where the Golden Dolphin Dive expo is held. Where Moscow in February—for a else in the world Westerner, that brings up certain is an international associations; one, is the image of dive expo held the bitter cold that devastated on marble floors Hitler’s armies during WW2, and and in a building which adults don’t recall, the with colonnades footage of the tight formations and chandeliers, of soldiers and missile batteries but in Russia? If parading across the Red Square there was a prize with the politbureau saluting for the most classy them from the top of the Lenin venue, this expo mausoleum. Boy, were some would take 1, of us scared that the Ruskies or 2 and 3 place! Commies were coming, watching The atmosphere is relaxed, espe- high ranking dive industry profes- Moscow International Festival those grainy images during the cially for the first two days of the sionals discretely walking around “Golden Dolphin” is a special exhi- cold war. four day show. As in many other somewhat incognito without bition, dedicated to diving, spear parts of the world, the general name tags or wearing company fishing and leisure on the water. It How thing’s have changed public have jobs to go to dur- apparel. Either they were just is the largest diving show in Eastern An Ikea store now greets you ing the week and so, attend the there on a covert fact-finding Europe. More than 210 exhibitors when you leave the airport, giant show during the weekend, making mission or they were there to from 33 countries were gathered billboards for mobile phones and Thursday and Friday seem more meet or help their local reps but this year in Moscow. Among the cars are everywhere and, on characteristic of a trade show. were steering clear of the grunt- exhibitors there were Russian and the Red Square where the tanks As Russia doesn’t have much of work. Since they were not able foreign manufacturers, distribu- were, is now a skating rink full a native dive equipment manu- to speak Russian, that would be tors for diving and spear fishing of laughing kids. And across the facturing industry—aside from understandable. The language equipment, underwater photo square, opposite Lenin’s mauso- a couple of companies doing barrier is certainly prevalent and and video-housing; training scuba leum, the classy department store and goes both ways—the Cyrillic schools, dive-tourism companies, Gum is now full of designer stores. equipment—a number of the letters don’t help the average tourism representatives; photo Here, you can find Vero Moda big American, Western Westerner either. But a lot of the and video studios, film makers and and Armani, and have a cappuc- European and Asian younger Russians had remarkably photographers; well-known jour- cino and a crepe when you take brands were present good English skills; it was mostly nalists from leading international a moment to rest your legs at one Moscow has come a very long strange, foreign, either as themselves the older generations who could diving publications. And of course of the mall’s fancy cafés. way in a very short time. The mystic, yet unde- or represented by their be hard to communicate with. the whole pallette of dive training city is now cool and hip, with niably European, local distributor. Or both, agencies: PADI, SSI, PDA, IANTD, Communism and all its shortages too, and with somebody from Upbeat dive industry NAUI and CMAS were all vying for being seemingly distant memories comes with a Headquarter’s lurking in the The show was very dynamic and the interest of new divers. already. In the streets, you now lot of history. background. I spotted several the enthusiasm that characterises see so few Ladas and other sput- tering putt-putts that you could easily mistake Moscow for any Report from Golden Dolphin 2007 By Peter Symes & Andrey Bizyuikin other European city, if not for the Feb 14-19 Cyrillic lettering everywhere and the overwhelming grandeur of the city. Moscow is big, and it’s Shopping-shopping got big buildings everywhere. It is

10 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 Moscow’s cool EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Irina Kochergina took third place Киносал, means in the category, Seas, Lakes & movie theatre. Rivers of Russia, with this poetic Simple, no? Thenews Golden Dolphin and stunning image a young industry was almost tan- though there is gible. In other places in the world, the occasional Edited by there seems to be an almost weary bureaucracy, Peter Symes sentiment in comparison, following which still rears its years of recession in the industry. ugly head and But Eastern Europe seems to be on makes for a hair- the upswing. While the restraints pulling experi- of communism now lie some years ence. Getting back, there still seems to be a lot of visas, for exam- pent up energy and yearning for ple, takes quite freedom and adventure that is still some time, effort being unleashed. This energy was and money. But a nice sensation. What was more once you arrive, stressful was the noise level, at times. you get through For one thing, there were constant the airport and taxi faster than any- Golden Dolphin. The main pur- and repeated public announce- where else. It took us 20 minutes pose of the show was to get new ments made over a supercharged from the time we arrived at the divers into diving, says Gennady PA system that forced any on-going gate to the moment we were sitting Grutsya. This was not easy as div- conversations you might in the taxi heading into the ing was only for the middle class be engaged in, to stop The main city. Beat that. and rich people. Diving was tied involuntarily. The other The show is the brainchild of in with economic development. thing, was the stage, purpose of Gennady Grutsya and he is a “In Russia, we will see more which had ongoing fash- the show was piece of history himself. Now middle class people, and we are ion shows, rock bands a wealthy man, whose print- confident in the future,” he said. or award ceremonies of to get new ing business manufacturers Now, there are about 200,000 some sort. I did not fancy divers into half the envelopes produced divers in Russia. Considering the that they permitted smok- in all of Russia, and sponsor dive industry there is only consid- ing in the building. I hated diving and president of the Golden ered to be 12 years old, that is having my clothes stinking Dolphin, he was formerly in of tobacco smoke after a day at the Soviet special and military the show. But that was not enough advisor or instructor in Libya. Who to ruin an impression of an otherwise would have guessed? He explains very nice show. Aside from the big that he has been into photography international manufacturers, there since childhood. He later got into were a lot of Russian dive clubs and CMAS photography competitions. a range of Russian dive and tour He has dived all over the world, operators. I don’t suspect that many including, of course, Russia itself from the West have yet gone on a from the White Sea to Kamtjatka. dive trip to Russia, but I have—both Six years ago, he started photo to the White Sea and Lake Baikal— exhibitions in Moscow; the first ones and I can vouch for the impressive- were only 500 square meters. In the ness of the diving, which is quite following years, Russian divers want- something. So, if you are looking for ed to adjoin their dive-expo to the a new and different experience, photo-exhibition, and the joint perhaps look in this new direction. venture was then called the The resort and operators seem to be quite able and willing to han- President and founder of dle outside tourism on a level that Golden Dolphin, Gennady is fully on par with what is offered Grutsya, is happy, too, that elsewhere. Once you’re there, eve- the old divisions of the Cold rything works remarkably smooth, War are now long gone

11 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED

Celebrities Pascal Bernabe, the legendary Underwater World award The show also hosted a number of French cave diver and record Russia’s maritime history and The Golden Dolphin celebrities, conferences and talks. holder for the deepest dive on legacy goes as far back as any The triple spear fishing world SCUBA. His record dive was done European nation—this great champion, Pedro Carbonello, off the island of Corsica, where he country was and is among the was present, and Natalie Tirukalo, reached the staggering depth of leading powers in the world. course-director in НSА, held a 330 meters. Such a dive was only In honour and recognition of master class about the handi- made possible thanks to the sup- the many great people who cap divers training. The master port and sponsorship of a number were pioneers, or devoted their class of underwater video and of diving companies and the help lives, to the Big —whether photography was headed by of a team of good friends. geologists, biologists, historians, Igor Dvinjaninov, director of The The audience had many ques- doctors, sportsmen, travellers or faculty tions for Pascal Bernabe and writers—a national “Underwater VGIK with cameraman Grigory vividly discussed the record, tech- World” award was inaugurated. It Jablochnikov letting the audi- nical details, modern decompres- was awarded to Yana Churikova ence in on his secrets. sion programs, the problems con- and Oleg Sedov who captained The round table debate, nected with unreliable equipment the legendary four masted bark “Tourism Safety and Dive Industry and various amusing anecdotes. Krusenstern on its 60-year anni- Development in Russia”, took There were many questions relat- versary around-the-world tour place here also, to which all dive ed to diving beyond the depths in 2005-06. At the ceremony, professionals, dive centers, tour of 120 meters in caves and on the famous Russian singer, Edita Pascal Bernabé’s presentation held the operators, instructors and clubs wrecks. All visitors got complete Pyekha, performed assisted by packed audience captive. As second, were invited. Representatives information about future mas- the “Valaam” chorus from the X-Ray Mag’s Andrey Bizyukin translated of the Russian Tour Operators ter classes, expeditions and the institute of Singing Culture. Association, Russian State Tourism champion’s upcoming schedule. VI Moscow International Photo not a bad number. The first PADI Agency, Rescue Service Ministry Visitors with children had the and Video Festival “Golden center in Russia didn’t start until and the Russian Foreign Ministry option to leave kids at a specially Dolphin” had participation 1996 (the federation is from 1958 also took part in the discussions. equipped children’s playground from 89 photographers from though) and Gennady Grutsya The technical divers visiting the where skilled animators were 15 countries who had entered started diving with this center, show would not miss the entertaining the kids. 452 images. The five-person jury Aquanavt, in 1997. presenta- tion given by included Gennady Grutsya, Jury Gennedy Grutsya stresses the importance of the presence of foreign guests and media to have Golden Dolphin firmly stiched into the fabric of the international diving community, “Once we were a closed society, now we are open.” He got the inspiration Mihael Semenov won the category, Seas, Lakes & Rivers of Russia, using for Golden Dolphin from travel- an unusual model ling to all the biggest dive shows on the planet from Antibes and Trankvilichky, Alexander Evteev, and judges of the festival par- DEMA to Düsseldorf and what Vladimir Vyatkin and Maxim ticipated. Andrey Makarevicha not. He combined all the best ele- Gubatov. All winners were presided over the competent ments from each show into the awarded Golden Dolphin tro- jury. Golden Dolphin. The show now phies and cash prizes. By the end of the four day covers 5,000m2 and is growing by In the video category, more event, more that 15,000 people 1,000m2 a year. than 90 films from 17 coun- passed through the tillers. The tries were entered. They were next Golden Dolphin expo is shown non-shop in a specially scheduled for 14-17 February The coveted Golden Dolphin equipped cinema hall. Another 2008, once again at Gostiny Statuette. CENTER: Andrey Oborin ‘s first at the film festival was Dvor—a stone’s throw from the entry won second place in the cat- Andrey Makarevicha’s Round Red Square. ■ egory, Seas, Lakes & Rivers of Russia Table in which the producers

12 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED News& Pressreleases from NAUI

Congratulations to the first four NAUI instruc- tors in Denmark. In NAUI course director, Michael Henrichsen, stands in the back (photo). The four new instructors—Armin, Jens, Lars and Michael— look forward to start teaching after a hard Navy Submarine but very interesting and NR-1 to unlock giving course. Armin the secrets of will work in Holland and the Gulf Austria, the others will operate in Denmark Exploring the Mexican Gulf for a Sign of Early Americans DAN and NAUI are pleased to announce their the strength and quality alliance to work together for the greater good of its diver education pro- One early morning in March, a NR-1 and the remotely operated ago. The reef is built atop large of diver safety. Effective immediately, DAN is the grams.” research expedition steamed out vehicle (ROV) Argus will use high reserves of salt, and Ballard official dive accident insurance provider for NAUI Divers currently carry- of the Port of Galveston, Texas, for definition cameras to record bio- says it’s possible that Native Worldwide. ing NAUI’s Dive & Travel the Flower Garden Banks National logical and geological features of Americans would have mined NAUI has discontinued its Dive & Travel Insurance Insurance will be noti- Marine Sanctuary—about 180 the ocean floor and help archeol- it from caves or tunnels. “We’re Program and is endorsing the Membership and fied of the change as kilometers off the coast of Texas ogists locate and examine where confident something is out there; Dive Accident Insurance programs offered by their policies come due and . Led by Robert shorelines may have been in the we just need to see if we can DAN. “We’ve always supported DAN’s mission,” for renewal, and they Ballard and Kevin McBride, the past. These sunken shorelines may find it,” Ballard said at a press says Jim Bram, President of NAUI, “and the quality will be offered the oppor- expedition consists of a 44-meter- hold relics and clues of ancient conference. The research isn’t all of their insurance program is well known. We value tunity to join DAN. In addition, NAUI dive cent- long Navy research submarine people. ; scuba divers from what DAN provides to the dive community, and ers and instructors will be provided materials on NR-1, the world’s only nuclear The submarine and ROV will one of the research vessels will we hope that our joining in this alliance will contrib- DAN and its programs, including the DAN Student powered research submarine, survey the bottom of the reef, 120 also observe conch, parrotfish, ute to DAN’s continuing success for many years to Membership Program. two and a remotely oper- meters deep, which is thought and manta rays on the shallow come, while allowing NAUI to focus on maintaining ated vehicle (ROV). to have been the location of reefs. ■ When humans first trekked from the shoreline some 20,000 years Artist’s impression Asia to North America, perhaps of NR-1 at work as long as 25,000 years ago, Visit NAUI During the following the continent was gripped by International and Regional Trade Shows in 2007! ice sheets and glaciers. Those early immigrants probably trav- Asia Europe elled along the shore, where TDEX Show – Bangkok, Thailand The Dive Show – Birmingham, DEMA – Orlando, FL (October finding food and shelter would (May 24-27) England (October) 31-Nov 3) have been easier. The trouble MIDE Show – Kuala Lumpur, for archaeologists is that as the Malaysia (July 6-8) USA Plan to visit the NAUI booth at ice melted, the seas rose and CDEX Show – Beijing, China Ocean Festival – Ft. Lauderdale, FL each of these shows to catch covered any traces of this early (August 25-27) (April 20-22) up on the latest news, view new migration. Now, marine geologists CDEX Show – Hong Kong Scuba Show – Long Beach, CA products or get together with and archaeologists are hunting (September 14-16) (June 2-3) your fellow NAUI members for underwater clues in the .

13 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Missing Divers Found? US Air to Use DNA Analysis to Identify Recently Discovered Bones news Twenty-eight years ago, three American Though the general consensus seems divers—Air Force Sgt. Donald Michaud, to be that the bones belong to these Airman 1st Class Jan Granroth and divers, no one is certain. This month, Edited by her brother, Mark—went missing after the Greek government handed over Willy Volk in Vouliagmeni Lake, an the bone specimens to the Air Force, area known for and now, Air treacherous cur- Force patholo- rents. Michaud gists are using Pro Wrestler Gets and Granroth DNA analysis to into the Ring to were stationed try to determine at Hellenikon Air whether the Larry Smith Passes Away Fight...for Turtles? Base in Greece bones are those in Indonesia at the time. Late of the divers. Hijo del Santo is a Mexican professional last year, the Experts say it of Wetpixel.com writes: Larry wrestler. Recently, Santo announced that, in bones of three should take four Smith, beloved dive pioneer, guide and addition to fighting Spandex and mask-wearing meat- China Com- divers—along with to eight weeks to critter expert in Indonesia, passed away heads in the ring, he plans to fight overfishing, turtle pletes Its First American-made positively identify on March 20, 2007, in Sorong, Indonesia. egg hunting and pollution along Mexico’s west coast. dive equipment— the remains. Larry spent two days in a hospital in Fakfak WWW.ATHENSGUIDE.COM During a news conference—that included the presenta- Helium-Oxygen were located in a SOURCE: ESTRIPES.COM ■ with what everyone thought was pneu- tion of a mock movie trailer announcing “Santo vs. the Saturation Dive cave in the lake. Vouliagmeni Lake near Athens, Greece monia. He was on his way to Bali when he Enemies of the Sea”—the wrestler pledged to raise con- passed away at the Pertamina hospital sciousness about how human actions On December 30, in Sorong from complications associated damage the ocean. To do this, he 2006, 12 Chinese Knitting for Dolphins Woman Does Extreme with pneumonia. Our heart-felt condo- plans to join forces with conservation divers working Knitting...Underwater lences go out to his family and friends. group, WildCoast, and work to stop with the Shanghai Recently, the US Navy made public its Letters and images have been pouring sea turtle consumption in Mexico, Salvage Bureau plan to use dolphins and sea lions to help Diver Laura Apps- likes to do some in for the last two days, and we’d like to defend protected beaches of Ministry of protect the Pacific Northwest’s coastline different things while she’s diving. While share them here. If you would like to share and promote gray whale Communications from terrorists. Training the animals to on a family trip to Sharm El Sheikh this your condolences or a story about Larry, protection. He also intends completed a string locate—and, in some cases, apprehend winter, Apps-Green claims she “was just please leave a comment at the end of to visit coastal communi- of 28 dives, work- intruders—the Navy thinks marine animals lying on the beach and thought I would this page. To send in images and video, ties in northern Mexico ing underwater for are perfectly suited to this kind of work. do a dive and take my knitting with me.” please contact us. and distribute educa- a combined total of However, some people don’t like this Of course! What a common tional comics featur- 126 hours to change proposal, and to demonstrate thought! Later that day, LARRY SMITH FAMILY MEMORIAL FUND ing his character con- an oil field pipe. their displeasure for it, they’ve she made her extreme The Benefit of the Larry Smith Family fronting threats to the Though the divers taken up…their knitting nee- knitting debut at the ocean. had trained in a sim- dles. bottom of the Red A memorial fund has been established While it’s easy to ulated environment, In an effort to raise Sea. for Dewi and Breezy, Larry’s wife and make jokes at Santos’ this was their first offi- awareness about the Though she daughter. The Benefit of the Larry Smith expense, you have cial dive to a maxi- issue, an informal col- didn’t actually Family honors Larry’s dedication to his to admire his dedica- mum depth of 103.5 lection of women, men, complete the knit- family, friends and marine world. To tion to working on such meters. This occasion teens and children in ting project she donate to the fund, you can: an important cause. marks China’s first the Pacific Northwest was working on at 1. Donate via Paypal or credit card (you Interestingly, Mexico’s successful helium- have started a campaign the time, she plans can donate via credit card without pro-wrestlers are a very oxygen saturation called Knitting for Dolphins. to complete it soon. signing up for an account): activist group, using dive, which is similar Arguing that only a Meanwhile, Apps- 2. Send a check payable to “The Benefit their celebrity to raise to a space launch, would serve the mammals bet- Green claims she’s look- of the Larry Smith Family” to: awareness in every- except for two ter, the knitters have decided that ing to take her extreme The Benefit of the Larry Smith Family thing from presidential important differenc- the symbolic act of creating sweaters sport elsewhere. Who knows? 6113 Fox Ridge, Angleton, TX 77515 campaigns to battles es: divers work under for the animals is the best way to get the Maybe she’ll figure out a way to com- 3. Wire money directly into the account. for affordable housing. extreme pressure at word out. No word yet on what colors bine the English Channel, knit- For more information on how to SOURCE: SIGN ON SANDIEGO ■ extreme depth. ■ suit dolphins most. ting and raising money for charity. do this, contact the Smith family at SOURCE: COM.CN SOURCE: KNITTINGFORDOLPHINS.COM ■ SOURCE: EVENINGNEWS24 ■ [email protected].

14 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Dunkleosteus who? news It was ten meters Department of Geophysical mouth. Fish typically have a A photo- long, weighed four Sciences of the University powerful bite or a fast bite, graph of the tons and ate any- of Chicago. Anderson and but not both, the researchers Edited by Dunkleosteus ter- thing in the ocean Mark Westneat at the Field said. Peter Symes relli fossil skull upon that got in its way. Museum in Chicago, used Dunkleosteus was one of which the study Meet Dunkleosteus a fossil of Dunkleosteus to many species of placoderms, was based terrelli, a prehis- produce a computer model a diverse group of armored toric fish that of its muscles and fishes that dominated aquat- lived 400 million It would its bite. They found ic ecosystems during the years ago. It was is could bite down Devonian period, from 415 equipped with the most bite a with 5,000 kgs of million to 360 million years powerful jaws of any fish shark in force, which trans- ago. Warming Oceans Will ever; its bite rivalling that lates to 5.5 tonnes The creature’s powerful of the T-rex and modern two per cm2 at the tip of bite would have allowed it alligators. a fang. And it was to feed on other armored Contain Less Oxygen for Fish “Dunkleosteus was able fast, opening its jaws in just aquatic creatures of the As the of the world’s oceans increases due to global to devour anything in its one-fiftieth of a second. That time, including sharks and warming, there may be more and more areas where oxygen in the environment,” said study action would have created arthropods. ■ water is either limited or absent, them several thousand square leader Philip Anderson at the suction to draw prey into its and that could have a deadly kilometres in size. effect on huge numbers of But now, because of global marine species. warming, it is possible that the The so-called “dead zones” number of such zones, where Why are caused by excessive levels of fish that need oxygen cannot nitrogen in the oceans. Nitrogen thrive, could rise even higher. ■ Does is a component of most commer- cial fertilizers, and rivers carry the residue of these fertiliz- Ocean Air ers from farms to the ocean. Here, it nourishes phytoplank- Smell So Good? ton giving rise to algae blooms. When these algae die and rot, Why does the air at the sea- for the mechanism that con- it consumes great quantities of side have such a delight- verts the plants’ decay prod- oxygen. Mexican ful and distinctive smell? ucts, called DMSP, into DMS. As a consequence, the Scientists have not known the But the bacteria only switch number of man-made Govern- full story until now. The gas on the gene if the DMSP is dead zones—areas of ment Passes that gives ocean air its fishy, around. the ocean where oxy- tangy smell is dimethyl sulfide, Understanding how the gen is either depleted Sweeping or DMS, and is produced by odorous gas is produced or gone—has grown ocean-dwelling bacteria. could be important because to more than 150 Shark Scientists had long known it is implicated in cloud for- in the last 50 that bacteria could be found mation over the ocean and years, some of Protection Legislation consuming decay products helps some animals find food. In February, the Mexican government published sweeping in places where plankton Some seabirds rely on DMS new regulations and protections for sharks, including: a ban on and marine plants such as as a homing scent to find shark finning; an extension of the moratorium on new commercial shark seaweed were dying. But food. On one occasion the fishing permits; and extensive protections for great white sharks, whale while it was known that quite researchers opened a bottle sharks, basking sharks and manta rays. The new rules and regulations come a lot of bacteria could pro- filled with the DMS-produc- after ten years of debate and the broad support of researchers, scientists, duce DMS no one knew how. ing bacteria only to be bom- conservations groups, eco-tour operations, local citizens and, of course, It turns out that a single barded by hungry seabirds. ■ divers. Hopefully, other less conservation-minded Latin American nations will bacterial gene is responsible WOLFGANG LEANDER follow Mexico’s example and publish similar restrictions. SOURCE: WWW.PR.COM ■

15 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The European Union said it has granted €7 million to help Indian Ocean nations combat illegal fish-    ing. news      The European Commission and has entered into a surveillance Edited by Saving the      partnership with the Indian Ocean Willy Volk “Sustainable management of the world’s tuna fisheries should be International possible, if the will can be found.” SeaCure™ Custom Mouthpiece Action Plan is moldable and remoldable. Bluefin Tuna on Tuna Given a Breather Delegates from Created by an orthodontist, The European Commission New Zealand sends air force some 60 nations SeaCure is designed to fit has published reduced Regulators Aim to Slow Decline in Tuna patrols to look for poachers, but adopted the first your mouth, teeth, and quotas for the fishing of countries such as Vanuatu want joint plan to com- gums . . . PERFECTLY. tuna for 2007, part of a glo- Tuna stocks are quickly by small mobile fleets. Tuna theft more patrols, as they do not have bat overfishing of bal agreement to prevent disappearing, some criti- in the ocean could grow rapidly the resources to monitor the fishery. tuna at their meet- Available at your local . the immensely popular if moves to stop illegal fishermen And the Marshall Islands have ing in the western fish from being hunted to cally, due to ineffective operating elsewhere push them now asked New Zealand for Japanese city of extinction. management of fishing into its seas, Alejandro Anganuzzi, more help, a request the Foreign Kobe in January. Tuna fast disappearing to over-fishing: The total bluefin tuna on the high seas, the WWF head of the intergovernmental Minister Winston Peters says he is The plan, while catch for the EU as a whole has warned. Indian Ocean Tuna Commission treating sympathetically. short on specific WWF was set at 16,779.55 tonnes (IOTC), told Reuters. Dr Simon Cripps, director of measures, commit- www.seacure1.com for the year, down from The European Union has grant- WWF’s global marine programme, ted five regional Gland (dpa) 18,301 tonnes in 2006. WWF’s new briefing paper, Tuna ed €7 million to help Indian Ocean said that the talks in Japan pro- tuna regulatory The move follows a deci- in Trouble: Major Problems for nations combat illegal fishing and vide an opportunity for nations to bodies to sharpen sion by an international the World’s Tuna Fisheries, details has entered into a surveillance implement practices to protect their efforts to man- commission to cut the rampant illegal, unreported and partnership with the Indian Ocean tuna as well as the well-being of age tuna fishing, to total hunt of bluefin tuna unregulated fishing, unsustainable Commission to fight “illegal, unre- other coastal communities. rebuild stocks and in the Atlantic Ocean and quotas and far too many boats ported and unregulated fisheries “Sustainable management of minimize environ- Mediterranean by 20 per- competing for the remaining in the region.” ■ the world’s tuna fisheries should mental damage cent by 2010. ■ . be possible, if the will can be from tuna fishing. Despite efforts by some govern- found,” he said. “But many gov- The plan calls ments within tuna Regional Fisher- Pacific Nations Ask for ernments are routinely ignoring for each nation to ies Management Organizations, Help with Poachers scientific advice, failing to imple- share information on populations of important species ment the available conservation fishing boats, coop- such as bluefin tuna are critically Meanwhile, Pacific nations are and management measures, erate in monitoring depleted. Atlantic bluefin, used asking New Zealand for more turning a blind eye to illegal fish- illegal fishing boats for high-end sushi and sashimi, help in catching poachers target- ing and not prosecuting those and report the out- is severely overfished, and the ing lucrative tuna stocks. who flout the rules.” ■ come. ■ spawning stock of Southern blue- Illegal fishing and fin in the Indian Ocean is down over-fishing is costing approximately 90 percent. the region billions of dollars a year. EU Stepping in The United Nations The Indian Ocean has already warned needs better intel- that tuna resource ligence gathering management is fail- and tougher law ing, raising fears that enforcement to stocks could col- fight the threat of lapse. illegal tuna fishing

16 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED PADI.com got a face lift Training www.padi.com has been revamped. The new user-friendly interface is available in seven languages: English, German, French, Italian, �����Puts More Ogle in Your Goggle! Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese. The website is divided up into three bulletin main topics: “Start diving”, “Keep diving”, “Teach Diving”. “My PADI” Flat masks block over 75% of your natural field-of-view. Enjoy natural is available to already certified PADI divers as personalized area. After panoramic vision. See almost 5X more through a Double-Dome™ lens Edited by logging in, it is possible to view certifications, to keep an online log- perfected with NASA technology. NanoFOG™ coating, applied at the Peter Symes factory, ensures fog-free dives. Only naturally nearsighted divers (broad book and to share one’s diving experiences with other divers. Rx range) can use the MEGA® 4.5DD mask with their naked eyes. But over 700 divers around the world with 20/20 vision wear disposable contact lenses to use this mask. These divers become temporarily nearsighted. The incredible view is worth the effort. Endorsed by 1,000 eye doctors worldwide. Older divers love the Magic Bifocal phenomenon. Seeing is believing!

New International www.HydroOpti .com LLC © 2006 HydroOptix x Standards for Diving RSTC Endorses DAN In January 2007, six stand- These ISO standards will Diabetic Guidelines ards for Recreational become an international bench- Diving Services were mark that can be used to com- The latest guidelines from DAN pare divers’ qualifications. This () for those approved by the mem- means it will be easier for divers to with diabetes allow for some ber countries of the travel and easier for dive profes- ISO (International Organization for individuals with diabetes to International Organization sionals to work internationally. Standardization) is the world’s larg- dive. After a thorough over- for Standardization (ISO). There have been similar Euro- est developer of standards. ISO view of these guidelines RSTC pean standards in place for sev- standards also have important eco- (Recreational Scuba Training These new ISO standards will be eral years, and it was because nomic and social repercussions, not Council) unanimously published in mid-2007 and pro- of the success of the European just to engineers and manufacturers WIKIPEDIA endorsed the guidelines vide international standards for Norms (ENs) that the new ISO for whom they solve basic problems View of Ankara from the botanical garden DAN has advised diabet- three levels of divers, two levels of standards were developed. in production and distribution, but ics against diving for many instructors and a service provider Once the ISO standards are pub- to society as a whole. Number of Diving Courses Grow in years until the mid-1990s or dive centre. Each of these lished, the ENs will be updated They are useful to industrial and Landlocked Turkish Capital, Ankara when they determined that standards equate to a PADI cer- to exactly reflect the content of business organizations of all types, a percentage of their mem- tification or member level, which them, so that the ISO standards to governments and other regula- Gazi University Natural Sports Location and Reservation Center bers were not only diabetic means that, in effect, a diver or and the ENs will be identical. tory bodies, to trade officials, to (GÜDAK), in collaboration with Ankara Nature Activities Center but those with insulin requir- member holding one of these Governmental bodies may not conformity assessment profession- (ADAM) Diving School, have begun a new ing diabetes. This informa- qualifications can also be said to be familiar with PADI credentials, als, to suppliers and customers of course in Ankara, writes Turkish daily, Today’s Zaman. tion led DAN to launch a have met the requirements of the but they will certainly be familiar products and services in both public There are now three diving programs in Ankara. The course study, which ran from 1997 relevant ISO standard—as though with ISO standards. They are used and private sectors and, ultimately, is limited to 35 students because the diving practicum takes to 1999 to determine the they had gained two credentials as measures of quality for a huge to people in general in their roles as place in the Aegean costal city of Fethiye. It will give both the- possibility of those with dia- at once. range of things in most of the world. ■ consumers and end users. ■ oretical and practical training to a larger number of students. betes being able to dive. The six Participants will receive certificates from both the Turkish The finding of that study standards Underwater Federation and the World Underwater Federation prompted the Undersea and are listed ISO Level ISO Standard PADI Equivalent (CMAS). The cost for the course is YTL 350. ■ Hyperbaric Medical Society here with (UHMS) and DAN to hold a work- their PADI Diver Level 1 - ISO 24801-1 PADI Scuba Diver shop in 2005 with the diving medical equivalen- Diver Level 2 - ISO 24801-2 experts from around the world to seek cies: Diver Level 3 - ISO 24801-3 formal guidelines for diabetes and diving. Instructor Level 1 ISO 24802-1 Assistant Instructor These guidelines can be found on the Instructor Level 2 ISO 24802-2 Open Water Scuba Instructor home page of DAN www.diversalertnet- Service Provider ISO 24803 Diver Centre or Resort work.org, by searching for “diabetes”. ■

17 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck rap

Vandenberg’s sinking getting closer?

A World War II troop car- Administration has announced. ble horizontally through seven by has seen a long and varied his- of the day. Newly commis- rier that saw duty in the The Vandenberg ten foot holes in the hull. The fuel tory. Launched in 1944 as the troop sioned in 1963 as Gen. Hoyt Cold War and had a role will be a world-class dive site for tanks, tank-top and first platform transport, USNS Gen. Harry Taylor, S. Vandenberg, she served in all levels of diving experience. will be sealed and ballasted to she served in the Pacific. After the the Cold War between the in a movie is destined to This site will be the signature dive insure upright positioning. But first war, Taylor transported European super powers and in early become the largest artifi- of Key West and the Florida Keys, the Vandenberg will be towed refugees to new lives in the US and NASA programs. A documen- cial reef in Florida. and will become one of the most to Colonna’s Shipyard in Norfolk Australia. Called to action again in tary is in production to record famous warm-water wrecks in the where crews will spend months 1957, the ship transported refugees and preserve the ship’s history. The 533-foot Gen. Hoyt S. world. All four upper decks will be removing asbestos, lead paint, from the Hungarian Revolution to Vandenberg, will be towed to opened to divers, with access ver- PCBs in wiring and thousands of Australia. In 1961, she was acquired On the Net: waters off Florida’s Key West and tically through the 18 stair towers, pounds of waste oil, according to by the US Air Force and completely Artificial Reefs of the Keys: sunk as an artificial reef, prob- elevator shafts and cargo holds. federal officials. re-fitted as a missile-tracking ves- www.bigshipwrecks.com ■ ably in one year, the U.S. Maritime The spaces will also be accessi- The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg sel, carrying the highest technology England: Napoli Disaster – How divers can help?

Project AWARE is deeply con- There are also some - • Please don’t use coastal cerned by the developing scene ous substances that need to be footpaths that are closed. of destruction caused by the professionally cleared first. The • Please take care where grounding of the MSC Napoli agencies working together to co- you park at Beer. off the East Devon Coast. Dive ordinate the response to the MSC Work currently continues to Centre Fathom and based Napoli incident have appealed remove oil from the stricken in Portland and many other con- to the public to help them get on cargo vessel, and opera- cerned divers from Devon and with the massive task of clearing tions are expected to start Dorset have contacted Project the wreckage from the shoreline. soon to remove the first of AWARE to seek advice, assistance the 800 containers from the and ask what could be done to The key messages are: ship’s deck. Hundreds of ensure the environmental dam- • Please stay away from the other containers will later age created during the clean-up shoreline at Branscombe and have to be removed from operations are minimised. nearby beaches. the Napoli’s hold.■

18 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED : ® Five-year Ban on NEW! OMS Ultra Bright Head Lamp Shipwreck Diving Lifted Historic shipwreck divers can re-apply ® for their salvage permits after the and VEGA South Africa Department of Arts and Culture recently lifted its controver- The Ultra Bright 3 W LED Head Lamp and the sial five-year ban. It has also been ® ® decided that divers could re-apply VEGA flashlight introduced by OMS are two of to salvage wrecks until 2010. the brightest 3W LED luminaries in the world with For one of the teams, which were over 80 lumens output! Both have a burn time of forced to stop salvaging in 2001 3 hours (using CR-123A batteries) and incorporate when all permits were revoked, it redundant O-Rings for a depth rating to 100 meters. means an opportunity to salvage the remaining 60 percent of the The headlamp can be mounted on a (helmet Oosterland, a ship that was transport- and hardware not supplied) placed on your Hood ing Huguenots to South Africa and (band supplied) on your head (band supplied), used sank in 1697. as a Goodman (strap supplied) or even HMAS Adelaide The team’s partners spent millions mounted to your chest strap (band supplied). Best Green Light Given to Sink Her as Artificial Reef of rands, and it spent thousands of all both are competively priced. Visit your local of man hours underwater on the ® The Australian Federal Government sioned on 15 November 1980 Oosterland before the ban came authorized OMS dealer for a demonstration. has given the go ahead for the and was the first of six guided- into effect. HMAS Adelaide to be sunk off the missile to be delivered to Another salvor said that while the central coast the (RAN). permits were revoked, the wrecks as a dive wreck. The Adelaide Adelaide is the second ship in lay “waiting to be pillaged and for will be sunk about 30 metres off the RAN to carry this name. The Mother Nature to destroy them”. He the coast of Terrigal early next first was a light cruiser that served added that the only way to protect year. The wreck is expected to from 1922 to 1945. the sites was to issue permits as divers provide a great boost for tourism Adelaide is powered by gas in control of wrecks were given the in the region. Due to the proximity turbines for it’s main propulsion. right to police them and made sure of the central coast to Sydney it Guided-missile frigates can be that unauthorised divers were not will attract lots of additional tour- underway from a cold plundering them. “In three ists—between 10 and 20,000 extra start in less than 30 years you can do a lot,” he people is expected. minutes. In addition, said of the permit exten- HMAS Adelaide is a long-range two forward mounted sion until 2010. “It’s a very escort with roles including auxiliary propulsion units good move and the only area air defence, anti-subma- provide a secondary way to protect the sites.” rine warfare, surveillance, recon- means of propulsion and The department’s direc- naissance and interdiction. The excellent manoeuvrability tor for heritage policy, Mbhazima ship can simultaneously counter in confined waters. ■ Makhubele, agreed that a prob- threats from the air, surface and lem with the permits having sub-surface. Adelaide was the been revoked was that it left first guided-missile frigate to be the wrecks open to pillage. home-ported in Western Australia. The department had The ship has participated in the also found that the way 1990-91 Gulf War, peacekeeping in which the per- operations in in 1999 mits were withdrawn L191 3W LED VEGA Flashlight and was deployed to the “raised seri- Arabian Gulf as part of Launched: ous the International Coalition 21 June 1978 legal Ocean Management Systems against Terrorism in 2001 : issues”. ■ and 2004. 4,100 tonnes P.O. Box 146 Montgomery, NY 12549 Built in the , Length: 138.1 metres Phone 845.692.3600 ~ Fax 845.692.3623 ~ www.omsdive.com Adelaide was commis- Beam: 14.3 metres 19 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED WRECK-HEAD +VEGA #1.indd 1 2/22/07 3:28:03 PM wreck Is Shipwreck Off Israel the Key to Napoleon’s Holy War?

rap A mysterious shipwreck drawn by a British soldier wreck was found. discovered outside the in 1799 and showed the The ship, which is 30 Mediterranean port of formation of the British fleet meters long and 9 meters Acre, Israel, may throw light off the coast of Acre as wide, was first discovered on Napoleon’s attempt to they faced a blockade of in 1966, but systematic conquer the Holy Land. Napoleon’s ships. The British excavations have only just Marine archaeolo- Royal Navy were helping begun. Scientists are hop- gists from the University the inhabitants of Acre ing to discover whether the of Haifa were led to the defend their city against ship was involved in battles Shipwreck Enthusiast Napoleon in his study, wreck by an 200 year old the French. The map also in 1799 or 1840 and wheth- Locates Plane Missing Central part of painting by map, which they found showed a sunken ship at er it was a French or British Since 1967 Jacques-Louis David, 1812 in a British archive. It was exactly the spot where the vessel. SOURCE: CNN ■ Last summer, Michael Barnette, author of Shipwrecks of the Sunshine State, found something Persian Gulf Shipwreck Remain a Mystery unusual resting in 60 feet of water off the Florida coast. From its Not only does its origin remain a open the gates to this system in Iran.” shape, he could tell it wasn’t a mystery but its location at a depth In the meantime, the first step in boat. An examination of underwa- of 70 meters below the waters of the bringing this Partho-Sassanid ship out ter photos and a thorough search Persian Gulf makes the excavations of the water could be accomplished of official documents revealed technically challenging and expen- by taking out samples of the ship. This that he had discovereda Coast sive as only commercial divers using can be done using the existing facili- Guard Grumman Albatross, a 60- techniques can ties. However, even taking out small foot long airplane that could take work at these depths and there is a bits and pieces from such depth off and land from land or sea. Lost lack of this expertise in Iran. is a hard task which can only be since 1967, the location of the Captain Mehdi Masoumi, formerly achieved by few diving professionals, Iran and Australia to Cooperate plane had remained a mystery of the Iranian Navy, explains: “The not exceeding five people in Iran. on Underwater Archeaology? for nearly 40 years—until Barnette need for such facilities has always Some Iranian experts hope the find and his friends came across the The first video taken from the ship was been felt in Iran. The country’s petro- can settle a dispute over the Persian In a recent meeting between experiences of countries with wreck last summer. According to made last October. leum installations, which are consid- Gulf, as some Arab states attribute Taha Hashemi, director of long background in under- Barnette, “We were very careful ered vital for Iran must have become this body of water to themselves, the Research Center of Iran’s water archeological activities not to disturb the site in any way. The remains of a merchant ship belong- equipped with such technology long by calling it the Arabian Gulf. Some Cultural Heritage and Tourism such as Australia. We treated it with respect, realiz- ing to either of the two superpowers ago, but today we can see that Iranian experts hope the discovered Organization (ICHTO), and Stressing the importance ing that it could be the final resting of Ancient Persia, namely the Parthian it was never acquired. At present, shipwreck will clearly show that this Gregory Laurence Moriarty, of culture as a means to cre- place for the three brave men,” (248 BC - 224 AD) or Sassanid (224-651 enormous amounts of money is spent waterway has always been part of Australian Ambassador in ate cultural bridge between whose bodies were never recov- AD) empires, recently discovered off by the country’s oil companies for Iran (formerly Persia) throughout his- Iran, the two sides stressed nations and expand their ered. Barnette hopes to commem- the Iranian port of Siraf in the Persian hiring foreign divers to do the job tory, as it was used for commercial the need for expansion of cooperation, Hashemi further orate the site in some way and is Gulf continues to be a challenge for at deeper levels. We do hope that and military purposes 2000 years ago. cultural and archeological asked the Australian official looking for surviv- ing the archaeologists. the salvation of this shipwreck would ■ cooperation, especially in the for a more inclusive coop- family members area of underwater archeol- eration with Iran in different of the crew, if Raids in Spain Net 300,000 Artefacts ogy. areas of research includ- there are any. Spanish police have arrested 52 people accused of plundering Pointing to the exist- ing archeology, renovation, SOURCE: SP TIMES ■ 300,000 artefacts from excavation sites throughout Andalusia in ence of numerous his- anthropology, civilization the largest swoop against illegal archaeological treas- toric relics from differ- history and tourism. He also ure hunting in the world, the interior ministry said. ent periods of time announced that ICHTO’s The coins, urns, sculptures and mosaics from in the northern and Research Center is ready to Iberian, Roman and Islamic settlements were southern waters of cooperate with Australian stolen at night using metal detectors, histori- Iran, Hashemi said universities and research insti- cal maps of the digs and excavation manu- that Iran is intend- tutes in the above-mentioned als, police said. ■ ing to make use of the areas. ■

20 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The Royal Australian Submarine anyone? Navy is searching for wreck the RAN submarine US Navy seeks new owner HMAS AE1, which dis- for vintage submarine rap appeared with its full crew near Rabaul in The U.S. Navy, is looking for someone to September 1914 while take over the recently decommissioned patrolling near Rabaul USS Dolphin, one of the oldest submarines on the island of New in its fleet. The Dolphin, a one-of-a-kind Britain, in what was research vessel, was decommissioned then German New Jan. 15. In a notice dated Jan. 24 and Guinea published in the Federal Register, the Navy said it will accept offers for the sub- © Australia Searches for WWI Sub ©Stephen Frink The Australian navy began a assistant defence minister Bruce Billson search for the nation’s first sub- said in a statement. Billson said investiga- marine in a bid to end the mys- tions suggested that the submarine could have sunk after running aground or col- USS DOLPHIN Location: San Diego, CA tery over what happened to the liding with a submerged object near vessel, which disappeared in the Duke of York Islands. The AE1 and its marine from government agencies, muse- the Pacific in the first months of sister ship, the AE2, were purchased from ums, nonprofit organizations or similar insti- World War I. It may have been Britain and arrived in Australia in May tutions wishing to operate the submarine ’s most spacious 1914. Both were commanded by British as a museum. The Navy said it hopes to found in Papua New Guinea officers with a mix of British and Australian keep the vessel in its home port of San waterfront Condos. Located waters. crew. Diego. Any new owner will be required to in front of the Caribbean’s In August 1914, five days after Australia maintain the sub in good condition. ■ #1 Reef. Ask about our Ride The submarine, the AE1, vanished in declared war on Germany, the AE1 was September 1914, with the loss of all 35 dispatched to support the military opera- to the Reef Packages with crew while patrolling near Rabaul on the tions against German forces on New Free Upgrades! island of New Britain, now part of Papua Britain. The AE2 was also lost during World New Guinea. It was the first major loss War I. It sank in April 1915, in Turkey’s 1-800-288-4773 of Australian life in World War I, and fol- Sea of Marmara after penetrating the [email protected] lowed Australia’s first military action of Dardanelles during the Gallipoli cam- www.SandDollarBonaire.com the conflict when troops had captured light on to the whereabouts of the AE1 paign. Unlike the AE1, the AE2’s crew all a German radio base at Rabaul. “I am and provide some answers to the rela- survived. Australian submarine hunters hopeful that this search will shed some tives of those brave crew members,” found the wreck of the AE2 in 1998. Did you know? SOURCE: REUTERS AND ABC ■ Merchant Submarine

A merchant submarine is a type of sub- Submarines Discovered Off Isle of Man Plan Aims to Raise WWII U-boat marine intended for trade, and being UK Divers have discovered three submarines off the Isle of Man In Ireland, an ambitious plan has been presented to raise a without armaments, they are not con- which are believed to be WWII German U-boats. Divers from U-boat from the sea bed off County Donegal. If it gets the sidered warships like most other sub- BSAC club Castle Rushen Divers together with shipwreck expert go-ahead, the aim is to house the boat in a museum where marines. The intended use would be to Adrian Corkill located the vessels using scanning equip- people can get a glimpse of one of the iconic vessels from avoid naval blockades or to dive under ment. The club has already dived one of the submarines, situ- WWII. A number of U-boats lie 70 metres deep off the coast Arctic ice. Strictly speaking, only two ated approximately 20 miles off of the island. It lies at 52m and of Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Even submarines have so far been purpose- is fairly broken up. Further exploration dives on the submarines in the murky depths the outline of the U- built for merchant shipping use, though using are planned for late April or early May when boat is quite clear, with divers saying the standard or partly converted subma- sea and weather conditions improve. The remaining two vessels aerials and periscopes are still intact. ■ rines have in many cases been used to lie at a depth of 40-50m transport smaller amounts of important and 64m. SOURCE: DIVE ■ cargo, especially during wartime. ■ Deutschland unloading in New London, 1916. 21 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Alien Mysids Invade Great Lakes Caspian A half-inch-long shrimp from Eurasia has made is an almost perfect home for its way to Lake Ontario and could threaten the them, since they prefer shallow waters Caviar Export news lake’s food chain. The tiny critter, called the with rocky bottoms. Their discovery has Quotas Set, bloody red mysid, like so many other invaders, set off alarms for biologists, who fear most likely was brought to the lakes through the they could upset the food chain in the But Beluga in Edited by ballast water of an ocean-going ship. The species lakes, which has already been compro- Limbo Peter Symes is native to the Baltic and Black Sea region. Lake mised by other invasive species. ■ Exports of caviar from three Caspian Sea sturgeon species will be permitted this year by the international organization and Moray that controls trade in the luxury deli- cacy after a year when no Caspian exports were allowed. Exports of bel- Eels Hunt Cooperatively uga, the world’s most valuable cavi- ar, are not yet authorized for 2007. ■ observed working with each predation by swimming Atoll in the Barrier Reef. other to catch prey in the Red into open water and In January 1999, the fish South African Sea. TIntraspecific group hunting avoid predation experts found approxi- to Come Under Intern- has received considerable atten- by hiding in crevices. A mately three thousand tion because of the close links coordinated hunt con- one hundred adult Nassau ational Trade Groupers and between cooperative behaviour fronts prey with a multi- NOAA groupers. This year, they dis- Controls and its cognitive demands. predator attack that is dif- New covered only five hundred and morays that hunt Obviously, fish of different spe- ficult to avoid. Study Says seventy examples of the spe- South Africa together caught almost five cies can communicate, and It is remarkable that different cies. “This dramatic decline in has taken a times more prey through underwater filming revealed that species of fish have actually cre- grouper numbers is mostly due decisive step both partners benefited from the ated a language, taught each is Disappearing to over fishing,” says Enric Sala. towards stem- mutual hunting than they association. Their normal hunt- other the language, developed a ”The Nassau grouper is going ming the illegal would otherwise, accord- ing strategies are quite different. plan, work together harmoniously Over the past eight years, Dr. down in Belize, and the only way harvest and trade ing to recent findings Groupers are semi-benthic pisci- to carry out the plan and do not Enric Sala and fellow researcher of recovering the numbers, the of its endemic aba- vores, which hunt in open water. eat each other in the whole proc- Rick Starr have used various only way of saving the grouper lone populations by listing the species Groupers (Plectropomus pes- Moray eels, on the other hand, ess. types of tracking equipment from extinction, would be a under the Convention on International suliferus) and Giant moray eels sneak through crevices to corner The partner that successfully to monitor the grouper spawn- moratorium on Nassau grouper Trade in Endangered Species of Wild (Gymnothorax javanicus) have their prey in holes. Prey avoid eel caught and ate the fish was not ing site at the Glover’s Reef fishing.” ■ Fauna and Flora (CITES). ■ been showed any aggression from the unsuccessful partner. Groupers US: Puget Sound Fighting initiated the hunt by visit- New Billfish Species May Have Inflated Sea Squirt Invasion ing the giant eels and shaking their heads Population Estimates of White Marlin Tunicates, or sea squirts, are threatening vigorously. The Scientists from the Guy Harvey found in the northwestern to take over Washington state’s Puget head is shaken Research Institute at Nova Atlantic Ocean, where its distri- Sound. One species has covered New three to six times Southeastern University and bution overlaps that of the white England’s —a massive a second just a NOAA Fisheries Service has con- marlin—a prized game fish that underwater shelf in the Atlantic Ocean— few centimetres in firmed the existence of an enig- bears a close resemblance. in 225 km2 of slime, while another has front of the moray’s matic billfish species that closely This means that recent popula- hurt the Prince Edward Island shellfish head, and the soft part resembles the heavily-fished, tion assessments of the white industry in eastern . ■ of the dorsal fin is erected. over exploited white marlin. marlin may have been overesti- The morays respond by leaving Known as the roundscale mated. their crevices, with the moray spearfish, this species has been ■ and grouper then swimming off across the reef. The fish would stay together from a few seconds to up to 44 minutes. ■

NOAA NOAA 22 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news

Edited by Peter Symes

Some Caribbean Coral Resistant to Global Warming? , Crown-of-Thorns and Global Warming

Most coral species can only survive temperature What’s really going on? fluctuations of about 12 degrees. If water tem- In December, a massive outbreak of Monitoring Team have been under- peratures vary more than the deadly crown-of-thorns starfish taking surveys of reefs between this, corals can suffer (COTS) has been reported at Bait Cairns and Cooktown, which are bleaching, aspergillosis or Reef, off the Whitsundays. thought to be the source of the coral other lethal diseases. So, A COTS control boat has been eating pest. thanks to global warming, searching the Whitsundays to remove Meanwhile, scientists also warn that corals’ days are num- any starfish on the COTS control pro- the hysteria surrounding the impact of bered, right? gram, finding 120 starfish a day, or climate change on the Great Barrier 30 COTS per 40 minute dive. When Reef could lead to less being done Maybe not a diver finds more than one COTS to protect it from immediate threats According to Drew every ten minutes, it’s defined as a such as pollution and over-fishing. ad Harvell, Cornell professor COTS outbreak. The amount of COTS Recent reports based on a study of ecology and evolution- at Bait Reef is about three to four by the Intergovernmental Panel on ary biology, Caribbean times more than what’s considered Climate Change have predicted that gorgonian sea fan corals sustainable. the reef will be extinct within decades show surprising warm- However, recent “early warning” as a result of rising sea weather tenacity. In surveys suggest a crown-of-thorns caused by global warming. fact, they not only show starfish outbreak is not an immi- But reef experts claim the impact of temperature resilience, nent threat to corals on the Great climate change on the reef is more but they seem capable Barrier Reef. Researchers from the complex and say that other threats of boosting their cellular Australian Institute of Marine Science are far more immediate. ■ and enzymatic defenses (AIMS) Great Barrier Reef Long-term to fight lethal microor- ganisms as temperatures rise. In other words, what Plant-Grazing Fish Boost rous fish species exhibited resilience doesn’t kill coral might Resilience of Stressed Reefs in recovery, recruiting new corals to make them stronger. As the reef and keeping algal growth such, Harvell and other Australian researchers have found in check, the reef areas from which scientists have begun that grazing by large herbivorous large fish were excluded showed a examining the so-called fishes plays a key role in the ability of distinct erosion in reef quality with Peckish fish key to reef “hardy corals” to see coral reef ecosystems to recover from assemblages of algae and plant life what clues they can bleaching events and maintain resil- overgrowing the reef and preventing health learn and apply to other, ience in the face of thermal stress due the recruitment of new coral. weaker corals. to rises in ocean temperatures. Reefs SOURCE: BIOLOGY 17, FEBRUARY 20, 2007 SOURCE: SCIENCEDAILY ■ subjected to grazing by large herbivo- WWW.CURRENT-BIOLOGY.COM ■

23 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED diving, exploring or just lying on one of Crimea its many wild beaches. Balaklava offers 30 dive sites with an Travel News array of shipwrecks, underwater caves, AccessCrimea launches vertical walls and even an old Soviet Diving Tour Off Balaklava submarine factory built into a mountain. Balaklava is the diving destination for Edited by Peter & Gunild Symes AccessCrimea, the leading tour people who want to experience the operator in Crimea, is now offering a new and exciting. Diving into History in Kaş week long diving tour to Balaklava in The founder of AccessCrimea is from the south-west of Crimea. Balaklava Britain but has resided in Crimea for five The Kaş Underwater Historical Research is in a unique and fascinating loca- years. He said, “Many divers today are Association has created an underwater tion that offers an intriguing mix of looking for something new and off the Turkey archeological park by sinking a replica history and natural beauty. It was the beaten path. Balaklava is the destina- of Uluburun, an ancient shipwrecked location of the Crimean war of 1854 tion for such divers. There’s a lot more ship, off the coast of Kaş. In August 2005 between Russia and Britain, to this trip than just diving; the tour New Tourist Submarine another Uluburun, Uluburun-II, sailed to and Turkey, and the southern-most includes a day in Kiev and two tours to Heading for Bodrum Cyprus, following the same route the point that the Germans reached in Crimea’s main sites; the ancient cave original ship did 3,300 years ago. Upon the second World War. Balaklava’s towns at Bakhchisarai and the historic The submarine is planned to be 38 the return of the ship from Cyprus, the clean waters and magnificent scen- palaces of Crimea’s stunning south meters long, 4.5 meters wide and 3 Kaş Governor proposed that the boat ery make this a great destination for coast.” ■ meters high with a 47-person capac- remained where its precursor had been ity. The submarine’s top speed will be discovered. In the following days, the 20 miles per hour and dive to a idea of a harbor reflecting the life of depth of 40 meters allowing the Bronze Age, in which Uluburun-II tourists to experience Turkey’s could be exhibited, came up. From this fascinating underwater life sprang the concept of an underwater and archaeological treasures archeological park. In September, the for 12 months of the year. Society for Naval History constructed The submarine is expected the Uluburun-III, destined to be sunk for Red Sea Resorts to cost around $1.3 million the archeological park. Uluburun-III and would be built in Tuzla is not the only artifact in the park. Booming in Off-Season or Bodrum. The subma- Imitations of the original ship’s rine is estimated to carry load of and bronze bul- Despite being the off travel period, Egypt’s Red 50,000 tourists per year, lion, earthenware pots and Sea resort town is seeing a boom in vacationers reported the Doğan Kenan amphorae have also coming from colder European nations. Russians News Agency. ■ been planted on the wreck, and Germans have flocked to Hurghada on

according to the plan of SEVASTOPOL.NET the Red Sea for relaxation and sun. where the originals were According to hotel manager Ashraf Ahmed found when the ship- Bonaire Dive Into Summer of the Dana Beach Resort, this is one of the wreck was discovered This summer everyone is invited to Curacao Prepares for Second best February’s for the resort. Hundreds of in 1982. experience the Caribbean’s top-rated Annual Dive Festival Russians have escaped freezing temperatures SOURCE: TURKISH DAILY NEWS ■ dive destination with Bonaire’s new in their home country for the warm and friendly summer-long promotion, Bonaire Dive Curaçao is pleased to announce confines of Egypt. Into Summer 2007. Taking place June 3 the dates for its Second Annual Dive “This is great for the hotel and for Egypt through September 29, 2007, this island- Festival: May 26 through June 2, 2007. because at a time when we usually do not wide event will focus on Ranked among the Caribbean’s best have that many visitors, the temperatures in through a series of specialty topics: islands for diving, called one of the Europe are very cold, so people want to come Family, Fotography, Fish and Fun! top destinations for new divers, home here and get some warm weather,” Ahmed There is no registration fee to par- to “Mushroom Forest”—one of the said. ticipate in Bonaire Dive Into Summer top dives in the world, and rated best However, even the hotel manager is skepti- (select activities may have a nominal in the Caribbean for shore diving, cal of the way all-inclusive resorts are heading in cost involved) and all activities are Curaçao is, or should be, on any div- Egypt. He believes that there needs to be a more open to anyone on the island wishing to er’s wish list of places to visit. ■ concerted effort to offer more of Egypt to the mil- take part. ■ lions of visitors the country receives each year. ■

24 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Dubai Getting an Undersea Global Warming news Hotel for Rich Abyss Fans & Tourism Scandinavia’s coastlines can become Edited by of the largest contemporary you start caring about all the new Riviera attacting tourists fleeing Peter Symes construction projects in the the associated issues,” he the scorching heat and drought around world covering an area of explains. “Humans consist of the Mediterranean. This is approximately 260 hectares. The $600 mil- 80% water; the earth consists the scenario painted in a recent report lion hotel is due to open of 80% water. Without water, from EU’s enviromental directorate on Architect and designer at the end of 2007 and will there is no life.” the effects of global warming, which can Joachim Hauser incorporate a host of inno- Hydropolis mimics the have devastating effects on Southern vations that will take it far human organism in design Europe. For countries like Spain, Greece Estimated cost Hydropolis in beyond the original blueprint with a direct analogy and Italy, the extra degrees not only put £300 million Dubai is the for an underwater complex between the physiology of the poorest and the elderly at risk but world’s first worthy of Jules Verne humans and the architecture. also may mean an enormous decrease Projected completion luxury under- “Hydropolis is not a project; The geometrical element is in revenues from tourism. December 2007 water hotel it’s a passion,” explains a figure eight lying on its side Joachim Hauser, the devel- and inscribed in a circle. The oper and designer of the spaces created in the basin Meanwhile, diving could spark an eco- hotel. He developed it out will contain function areas, nomic boom in Scotland. A £20,000 of a passion for water and such as restaurants, bars, study is to be carried out to see if diving the sea and goes much meeting rooms and theme off the coast could spark deeper than just building a suites. These can be com- an economic boom. Currently under construction station where guests will be hotel underwater. More than pared to the components The research has been commis- in Dubai and taking shape welcomed; the connecting just curiosity, it is a commit- of the human organism: the sioned by Scottish Enterprise Borders to 20m below the surface of tunnel, which will transport ment to a more far-reaching motor functions and the find out if income from diving could be the Persian Gulf, Hydropolis is people by train to the main philosophy. “Once you start nervous and cardiovascular increased to benefit more of the region. the world’s first luxury under- area of the hotel; and the digging deeper and deeper systems with the central sinus The and area is water hotel. It will include 220 suites within the subma- into the subject, you can’t knot representing the pulse of renowned throughout the UK for its three elements: the land rine leisure complex. It is one help being fascinated and all life. SOURCE: DESIGNBUILD-NETWORK.COM ■ varied and exciting marine life and it is thought that more than 20,000 divers visit the area each year. Budget Airline Targets Maldives Indonesia Maldives can expect to see a rapid growth Indonesia could lose about 2,000 islands in the number of tourists from China, Hong by 2030 due to climate change, says In order to enter this surre- Kong and Macau following the introduction the country’s environment minister told al space, visitors will begin of direct flights from the region with a new Reuters. Rachmat Witoelar said studies by at the land station. This budget fare airline. U.N. experts showed that sea levels were 120m woven, semicircular According to chief executive, Andrew expected to rise about 89 centimetres cylinder will arch over a Pyne, Viva Macau aims to bring residents in 2030, which meant that about 2,000 multi-story building of Macau, Hong Kong and the Pearl River mostly uninhabited small islets would Delta to exciting destinations like the be submerged. “We are still in a better Maldives at fares that represent great value position. Island countries like Saint Lucia, Hauser plans to incorporate for money. and the Bahamas would likely disap- many different elements The Maldives have been a favourite des- pear.” associated with the sea. tination from China and the Pearl River Indonesia, which consists of 17,000 He views his creation as a Delta region since the Maldives received islands, has been trying to avert such a place where those who do Approved Destination Status (ADS) from scenario by reducing reliance on fossil not dive, or do not even China in December 2002. The Maldives have fuels and switching to bio-fuels, he said. swim, can experience the seen a robust increase in Chinese arrivals as “We are optimistic it can be prevented.” tranquillity and inspiration a result. ■ ■ of the underwater world

25 X-RAY MAG : 16 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news Turtle Tourism www.underwater.com.au Edited by Gain Momentum Peter Symes The Tourism Department of Orissa in India has drafted ambitious plans to attract foreign tourists by develop- ing infrastructures like roads, small huts and tents at the turtle nesting sites of Devi and Rushikulya river mouth areas— the two major nesting grounds of the endangered Olive Ridley Scientists to map world’s deepest sink hole with “intelligent” ROV sea turtles. States like Goa and Kerala Diving Deep: Robot Explores have recently started pro- grammes to woo overseas Waters in Central Mexico for Life tourists by keeping a few sea dive in. turtles in some pens near the Plunging more than 1,000 measure geochemical prop- sea beach, but Orissa is lag- feet underground, the world’s erties of the water, search for ging behind to promote the explore. deepest known sink hole, microbes and other life forms, eco-tourism idea, even though Mexico’s Zacatón, has and bring back samples for millions of turtles come each only been partially mapped; its subsequent analysis. Amazingly, year here for nesting, said a discover. true depth remains unknown. In DEPTHX even creates 3-D maps turtle conservator. mid-March scientists returned to of the areas it explores as it Artificial turtle hatcheries Zacatón, to further investigate swims, and then uses those constructed by the forest offi- the hole and to resume tests of maps to navigate back to a NASA-funded robot called the surface. the Deep Phreatic Thermal Zacatón first achieved Explorer (DEPTHX). DEPTHX notoriety when two divers —a bulbous, pod—is attempted to reach the designed to survey and explore bottom in 1994. One of Earth’s most extreme regions, them, , died JP BRESSER as well as, potentially, outer in the attempt. The other, space. DEPTHX is a completely , survived, autonomous—some might say descending to a record Longest UW Cave Found “intelligent”—probe designed depth of 925 feet. to map underwater caves, SOURCE: PHYSORG.COM ■ In January, German Robbie mum depth of 72 meters (236 File photo: Kurt Amsler Schmittner and Englishman Steve feet). The aquifer also ranks ninth Boagarts managed to con- on the list of the world’s longest cials on the nesting ground—to nect two rivers in the Yucatan known underground caves. The Divers to lay artificial reefs near protect the turtle eggs from peninsula previously thought to discovery occurred in January the predators like dogs, jackals be independent. In so doing, just south of Cancun, and is the Pulau Tioman and other animals—could be the pair have discovered what culmination of three years of used to attract tourists. After appears to be the world’s long- research. The system has been At least 300 local and foreign divers will deploy artificial reefs emergence of the hatchlings est underground river. The total named “Sac Actun,” after the that will be home for the marine life in Soyak Island off the from the hatcheries, the tourists length of the river measures 153.6 Mayan name for the larger of the famous Tioman Island. The event is a conservation effort under could release the baby turtles Tailgating the lone dugong, KAT, on Cocos (Keeling) Islands. kilometres (95 miles) with a maxi- two branches. SOURCE: JURNALO.COM ■ the Pahang Regent Reef project launched four years ago. ■ as is done in other countries. ■ Photographed by Karen Willshaw ~ underwater.com.au member

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