New Scuba Marketing & Gifts for Sea Divers Andy Murch’s Shark Diving for Dummies

GLOBAL EDITION Wreck Treasures February 2010 Number 34 The Santa Margarita Korea Mermaids of Jeju Expedition Life Amphibious WALINDI & LOLOATA Glass Sea Creatures Papua New Guinea Joe Peters 1 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 cover photo by scott bennett DIRECTORY X-RAY MAG is published by AquaScope Media ApS Frederiksberg, Denmark www.xray-mag.com PUBLISHER SENIOR EDITOR Interior of wreck, , Scotland. Photo by Lawson Wood & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Symes Peter Symes [email protected] [email protected] SECTION EDITORS contents PUBLISHER / EDITOR Andrey Bizyukin, PhD - Features & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Arnold Weisz - News, Features Gunild Symes Catherine Lim - News, Books [email protected] Simon Kong - News, Books Mathias Carvalho - Wrecks Associate editors Cindy Ross - GirlDiver & representatives: Cedric Verdier - Tech Talk Americas: Scott Bennett - Photography Arnold Weisz Scott Bennett - Travel [email protected] Fiona Ayerst - Sharks Michael Arvedlund, PhD Russia Editors & Reps: - Ecology Andrey Bizyukin PhD, Moscow [email protected] Correspondents Robert Aston - CA, USA Svetlana Murashkina PhD, Moscow Enrico Cappeletti - Italy [email protected] John Collins - Ireland Marcelo Mammana - Argentina South East Asia Editor & Rep: Nonoy Tan - The Philippines Catherine GS Lim, Singapore [email protected] Contributors this issue Kurt Amsler ASSISTANT editors Scott Bennett & representatives: Nick Bostic Malaysia Editor & Rep: Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD Simon Kong, Kuala Lumpur Mathias Carvalho [email protected] Linda & Phillip Cash Glen Cowans Canada/PNW Editor & Rep: Justin Gilligan Barb Roy, Vancouver Lloyd Godson [email protected] Des Hill Tim & Wandy Hochgrebe GirlDiver Editor & PNW Rep: Leila Jeffreys Cindy Ross, Tacoma, USA Catherine GS Lim [email protected] Bonnie McKenna scott bennett Andy Murch ADVERTISING Gunter Noack International sales rep: Tony Palliser Arnold Weisz 20 28 44 46 51 plus... Ron Pierson t h [email protected] Rob Rondeau 17 C Tr e a s u r e s f r o m Wa l i n d i & Lo l o a t a Gi f t s f o r Sh a r k Diving Expedition: EDITORIAL 3 Robert Sterner t h e Sa n t a Ma r g a r i t a Pa p u a Ne w Gu i n e a Se a Lo v e r s f o r Du m m i e s Li f e Amphibious NEWS 5 Asia-Pacific rep: Chris Surman b y Ca r o l Te d e s c o b y Sc o t t Be n n e t t e d i t e d b y Ca t h e r i n e GS Lim b y An d y Mu r c h b y Ll o y d Go d s o n Simon Kong (Malaysia) Gunild Symes WRECK RAP 15 [email protected] Peter Symes TRAVEL NEWS 25 Udo Van Dongen French speaking territories: Carol Tedesco 55 65 82 86 BOOKS & MEDIA 42 Mathias Carvalho Ec o l o g y : Ha e n y e o Me r m a i d s Un i q u e Di v e Si t e : Gl a ss Se a Cr e a t u r e s : SHARK TALES 46 [email protected] Marketing Manager: o r a l a r m i n g o f o r e a h r i s t m a s s l a n d o e e t e r s Yann Saint-Yves C F K C I J P MEDICAL NEWS 66 Canada [email protected] e d i t e d b y Pe t e r Sy m e s b y Bo n n i e McKe n n a b y Wa n d y Ho c h g r e b e e d i t e d b y Gu n i l d Sy m e s TURTLE TALES 69 Wendy Jankovic [email protected] Further information: contacts EQUIPMENT NEWS 71 page at www. xray-mag.com Not yet subscribed to WHALE TALES 75 PHOTO NEWS 86 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 17 64 73 76 click here... Wr e c k s : U-Bo a t s e w c u b a q u i p m e n t h o t o COVER PHOTO: Pygmy Seahorse, Papua New Guinea N S E : UW P : PHOTO THIS PAGE: South Emma, Kimbe Bay, Papua New My t h v s Re a l i t y Ma r k e t i n g Ge a r Ch e c k Ba c k l i g h t Guinea. Both photos by Scott Bennett b y Ro b Ro n d e a u b y Ni c k Bo s t i c b y Ro b e r t St e r n e r b y Ku r t Am s l e r (Continued on page 4)

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Recreational diving is A small—but by no means sci- hindsight one must also not doing so well these entific—investigation which we ask whether there was days. Not only has the ongo- conducted recently revealed a hefty price to pay. ing global financial crisis, and that an overwhelming propor- By turning before that the spiralling fuel tion of the over-40’s cited their into something more costs, had a deep impact on inspiration to start diving came ordinary that even your many dive centers and opera- from watching, as kids, the first middle-aged and over- tors, but the dive industry also underwater series on TV with uncle could do, seems to be struggling to adapt Jacques-Yves Cousteau. This scuba diving became un-cool to new realities, after decades was mentioned over and over and ordinary. It didn’t help that of continuous growth and an again, but so was a range of companies chose as increasing popularity of diving and Sea Hunt. These pioneers their role models and marketing in the past century. inspired and made a whole figure heads tech divers who generation dream. For baby- were often beer-bellied and Did scuba diving just undergo boomers, diving stood out as bald middle-aged with grumpy a natural progression reach- a special achievement and a or even scary expressions. All ing a peak or saturation point fulfilment of childhood dreams. due respect to their achieve- around the turn of the millen- Becoming certified as divers ments and skill levels, but as nium before falling somewhat became part of our identities. role models go, it was a very out of fashion with the general unwise choice. No teenager public —– or is something more As our inquiries soon made would like to look like them. worrisome going on? clear, most of the younger divers have only a vague Scuba diving will bounce back. Look around at who is attend- notion of who these pioneers I have no doubts about that. ing dive expos in Europe and were and certainly no role The ocean is there and human- the United States these years. It models or heroes attract- kind has always been attracted is hard to spot anybody under ing them to the sport. Many to it and to playing in water. the age of 30, unless they are would reply that diving is cool Exploration is also in our genes, kids or teenagers accompany- enough, but it ranks on the and diving makes it possible ing their parents. The average same level as so many other for many of us to live out that scuba diver in the West is no outdoor activities. Now it is just dream, longer a young, adventurous one of many fun things you can and athletic person in their do on your holiday. Or you try I do also see signs that a new 20’s but a graying and some- it and then go onto something generation is taking to diving. what middle-aged person in else. The dive expos in Asia in par- the late 40’s. While it is on one ticular are now filled with joy- hand impressive and reassur- In the 1990’s, one leading train- ful youngsters who are clearly ing that so many people have ing agency in particular went intrigued and attracted to the stayed loyal to their hobby for to great lengths to market oceans. If only the West would Datamask decades, it is also grounds for scuba diving as something that look in that direction and learn. HeaDs up. HanDs free. concern that a whole genera- everyone, pretty much, could Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his tion of new divers seems to be undertake. While the efforts to films were instrumental for the An advance so groundbreaking, you’ll have to see it to believe it. Experience the future missing. change the perception of div- rise of the dive industry, but he of diving on our web site or stop by your local Authorized Oceanic Dealer. ing as something reserved for is now gone and so are many What went wrong? Was it just young, fit and adventurous ath- of the others who inspired a the fashion pendulum that letes did appear to break down whole generation. swung the other way for a barriers and got even more while? people diving for a while, in It is now time for the industry to finally move on and embrace the new reality and the new www.OceanicWorldwide.com generation. Bring a friend — Peter Symes, Editor-in-Chief 3 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED X-RAY MAG is a founding member of the Underwater Network Underwater Network.com Heart to Heart Gifts

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z a zz l e.co m casual, comfortable & stylish Moray apparel, gifts, cards and foot- Eel wear for divers. High quality Keds Lacy Champion Sneakers Lace-ups and Scorpionfish Totebag Slip-ons with rubber soles. Great for travel, in town, and on Regarding news from NAUI in X-RAY MAG: This issue of X-RAY MAG and the beach. Organic T’s and Kids sizes, others may include news and press too! Bulk discounts and international releases from NAUI in sections des- shipping. Lots of other marine life ignated by the NAUI logo. While the designs on shoes, t-shirts, Sea Mugs, page design is done by X-RAY MAG tote bags and gifts. Sport your spots as an integrated part of the maga- zine, these news stories are brought to and stripes. Find them at: you by NAUI at NAUI’s discretion. www.zazzle.com/oceanatomy

4 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Shipworms have slen- der worm-like forms, but nonetheless possess the characteristic structures of bivalves. The valves of the shell of shipworms are small separate parts located deep stuff at the anterior end of the worm, used for excavating the burrow News edited by Peter Symes & Catherine G S Lim “Around 100 wrecks are already infested in NEWSThe Baltic Sea is full of unique and well Medieval preserved shipwrecks, some of which shipwrecks attacked the Southern Baltic” date back to the Medieval and Viking “Wrecks that have been resting Ages, that have now come under unharmed since the 14th cen- threat from shipworms, Teredo navalis. tury have now been attacked off Shipworms are notorious for borrowing the coast of Rügen in Germany, into and gradually destroying wooden and we are also noticing attacks structures in saltwater. These animals along the Swedish coast, including discovered,” Appelqvist said. “Every are capable of completely destroying destruction of the Ribersborg cold time researchers go down there with large maritime archaeological finds in bath house in Malmö,” says Christin remotely operated vehicles they find only ten years earning them the nick- Appelqvist, with the Department new wrecks.” name “termites of the sea”. The ship- of Marine Ecology, University of shipworms greatly damage worm, which is really a wood-boring Gothenburg. wooden hulls and marine pil- mollusc, has avoided the Baltic Sea in Another artefact of global warm- ing, and have been the subject the past, since it does not do well in its ing? of much study to find methods low salinity water, but it has now been Appelqvist and her colleagues sus- to avoid their attacks. Copper spotted in several locations along the pect that increased water tempera- sheathing was used on wood- along both the Danish, Swedish and tures may be helping the shipworm to en ships during the Age of German Baltic Sea coasts. tolerate a lower salinity. Exploration, as a method of the shipworm invasion could prove preventing damage by 100,000 wrecks may be at risk disastrous for marine archaeology in “teredo worms”. ■ Thanks to the absence of Teredo nav- the region, home to long-submerged alis there are currently around 100,000 prehistoric timber settlements and When shipworms bore well-preserved shipwrecks resting in the remarkably preserved wrecks—such into submerged wood, Baltic Sea, a true treasure for historians as the salvaged 17th century Swedish bacteria in a special and archaeologists. If the shipworm warship, the , a major museum organ allow them to continues to spread, these ships may attraction in Stockholm. digest cellulose. The excavated burrow is vanish before anyone has a chance “Really nice tall ships with the mast usually lined with a to explore them. and everything intact are still being calcareous tube Shipworm enters the Baltic, threatens wooden wrecks and marine treasures The shipworm invasion could prove disastrous for marine archaeology in the region, home to long-submerged prehistoric timber settlements and remarkably preserved wrecks such as the salvaged 17th century Swedish warship the Vasa 5 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED

Jim Capaldi — license licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license news Why and how did gills really evolve?

Biologists have cast doubt chemicals in their Freshwater stingrays use on the long-held theory blood earlier than water as a “tool” in prob- they began to take lem-solving tests, scientists that fish gills evolved pri- up . have demonstratated for the marily for the purpose of the team meas- first time. Using a plastic pipe ured the uptake with one end sealed and con- . of ions across the taining hidden food, research- ers observed how the fish over- A new experiment suggests that gills. Ions, which are came the challenge of getting it is likely that fish evolved gills for charged chemical the meal from the container the primary purpose of regulating particles such as the chemicals in their bodies. sodium, are neces- Gills usually consist of thin fila- sary for the body’s ments of tissue that have a highly cells to function, but folded surface to increase sur- they become toxic face area. A high surface area if their levels in the is crucial to the blood become too of aquatic organisms, as water high. To maintain this Stingrays use tools contains only 1/20 parts dissolved delicate ion balance oxygen compared to air. The fila- in their blood, fish ments contain blood by which exchange these ions gases are exchanged through with the surrounding the thin walls. Oxygen is carried water through their gills added. to solve problems by the blood to other parts of “In freshwater fish, like rainbow “We found that ion uptake shift- the body. Carbon dioxide passes trout, they tend to lose ions from ed from the skin to the gills earlier Stingray tool use show- portunity of correcting a wrong ties, in part because they have from the blood through the thin their blood to the water, because than oxygen uptake. This led us to cases its cognitive abili- visual cue decision, resulted in been difficult to study, says Dr gill tissue into the water. the ion in blood is propose that the gills are needed four out of five subjects correct- Michael Kuba from the Hebrew clarice Fu, a zoologist from the greater than that of freshwater,” for ion regulation earlier than they ties ing an error rather than making University of Jerusalem in Israel University of British Columbia in Fu told the BBC. are needed for oxygen uptake.” In a recent study just published an initial right choice. One of five who undertook the latest study. Canada, and colleagues who “When the gills are still imma- ■ in the in the scientific journal subjects reached 100 percent The stingrays not only performed studied the development of gills ture, a significant portion of ion Animal Cognition a team of correct trials in the visual discrimi- the tasks well but also demon- in rainbow trout larvae found, as uptake occurs at the skin. As the researchers tested the ability of nation task. strated a range of problem-solv- the larvae matured, their fish get older and the gills mature, As the larvae of rainbow trout captive South American sting- the ability to use water as an ing strategies. gills developed the abil- [this] can gradually shift developed, the drove ion rays Potamotrygon castexi to agent to extract food from the “Tool use in fish is far from any- ity to regulate the to... the gills,” Fu exchange to the gills before the ani- solve problems, by setting them testing apparatus is a first indica- thing seen in birds or mammals,“ mals started to breathe through their a series of underwater tasks. All tion of tool use in batoid fishes. explained Kuba. He said that gills, so the same thing may have happened five test subjects quickly learned Freshwater stingrays, found in the definition of tool use, using as the fish to use jets of water as a tool to many tropical waters such as an agent to achieve a goal, evolved extract a meal of hidden food the Amazon River, are related to was set by cognitive scientist Dr from a plastic pipe. It reveals ocean stingrays. Like sharks, they Benjamin Beck in 1980. that the fish, once thought a have skeletons made of carti- the stingrays meet this defini- “simple reflex animal”, has cog- lage, rather than bony skeletons tion by using water as a tool, nitive abilities to rival birds, rep- of less closely related teleost manipulating their bodies to cre- tiles and mammals, scientists say. fish. In the past, scientists have ate a flow of water The experimental protocol, assumed that such cartilaginous that moves food which gave the animals the op- fish have limited cognitive abili- towards them. ■

6 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Amorous leafy sea dragons news succumb to Christmas tradition Blame it on the mistletoe When Christmas decorations were put up at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, Dorset, UK, the leafy sea dragons went all-flutter. And this was precisely the reaction that the staff had wanted. to encourage the leafy sea dragons to mate, the staff had placed some mistletoe in their tank. This intru- sion caused the males to go into a mating frenzy. “The males have suddenly started engaging in heated courtship with the females. It seems they view the Christmas decorations as potential rivals, and they are making sure they don’t lose out,” said display supervisor Fiona Smith. ■

Underwater sponges could soak up PROPULSION

Materials science at the service uranium for nuclear power stations in Japan of a fin.

A new fabric that’s able to tons of uranium needed yearly dition, the former is more environ- get the funding. This would meet • The blade allows perfect soak up minute amounts by its nuclear power industry. This mentally friendly. one-sixth of Japan’s uranium needs. performance/ compromise. • The fl uid dynamic channels of uranium from the would end its reliance on imports so, if things go according to plan, According to him, “Other coun- collect, contain, and channel sea has been devel- sourced from the uranium mines the future would see huge ura- tries are conducting similar research water with no dispersion. • The ample shoe off ers the right oped by a scientist in Canada and Australia within nium farms on the seabed along but none are as advanced as we comfort and support. from the Japan Atomic five years. This situation would be Japan’s eastern seaboard. At this are. We need to conduct more de- Energy Agency. This in- most ideal, as about 4.5 billion tons initial stage, the fabric’s developer, velopment research and be able novation, would enable the of uranium can be found in the Dr Masao Tanada, simply hopes to to produce the absorbent mate- island nation of Japan ocean, 1,000 times more than that build a 400 sqare mile underwater rial on a large scale, but we could to harvest the 8,000 found within uranium mines. In ad- uranium farm once he manages to achieve this within five years.” ■ Sponges recycle carbon to give life to coral reefs Even though Halisarca caerulea that so many overweight he presented his findings, he dis- sponges grow in the deep cavities individuals seek? Not necessarily. covered that the division caused beneath coral reefs, they provide choanocytes to be shed every- the colony with nutrients by recy- What happens is that during where. In the aquarium in the lab, cling dissolved organic carbon. the intake of carbon, half of the tiny piles of brown material were sponge’s choanocyte (filtration) found next to the sponges every In fact, 90 percent of the sponge’s cells divide, with a cell division morning. Seac. Discover a Wonderful World. diet comprises of dissolved organ- cycle was a surprisingly short 5.4 ic carbon, which their neighbours hours. “That is quicker than most De Goeji explained, “The sponges in the coral find inedible. bacteria divide,” said researcher were shedding the newly divided This amounts to as much as half Jasper De Goeij. cells, which other reef residents their body weight every day. Yet, could now consume. Halisarca as excessive as this sounds, the Yet he still could not figure out caerulea is the great recycler of en- sponge does not get any larger. where the excess weight was ergy for the reef by turning over en- Glass disappearing to. Then, working on ergy that nobody else can use into sponge Could this be the weight loss a hunch from the audience when energy that everyone can use.” ■

7 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Seac_TECNICO_2010_ENG_Propulsion_60x260.indd 1 22-01-2010 15:41:29 wikipedia / gfdl with disclaimers Cultivated conch pearls demystified For over 25 years, researchers laboration with have attempted the tricky busi- the Gemological ness of culturing pearls from the Institute of America queen conch, Strombus gigas. (GIA), HBOI con- Now, scientists from the Florida ducted extensive test- Atlantic University’s Harbor ing of the queen conch Branch Oceanographic Institute cultured pearls in the (HBOI) have succeeded where laboratory. Independent others have failed. They have for analysis by the GIA used tech- the first time produced beaded, niques such as conventional or nucleated, and non-beaded gemological examination, in danger. cultured pearls from the queen chemical composition, spec- Davis said: “Perhaps conch. troscopy, spectrometry and the most significant outcome Using new methods they devel- microscopy. Results of the trials from our research is that the oped, co-inventors Dr Héctor are to appear in the scientific technique we have developed Acosta-Salmón and Dr Megan journal, Gems & Gemology. does not require sacrificing the Davis produced over 200 cul- senior vice president of the conch in the process … The 100 tured pearls within just two years GIA Laboratory and Research, percent survival rate of queen of research and experimentation. Tom Moses, said, “Several of the conch after seeding and the fact It is a major accomplishment as pearls we examined are truly that it will produce another pearl no high-quality queen conch top-quality gems. With the equip- after the first pearl is harvested pearls have been cultured prior ment and expertise available at will make this culturing process to this breakthough. It is thought the GIA Laboratory, identification more efficient and environmen- to be a feat comparable to the criteria are being compiled to tally sustainable for commercial commercial application by the separate queen conch cultured application.” Japanese of the original pearl pearls from their natural counter- In recent years, commercial culture techniques for pearl oys- parts.” fishing has depleted wild popu- ters in the 1920’s. With this dis- lations of queen conch, which covery, a new gem can be intro- Shell issues were once abundant. They are duced to the gem industry. It is most likely due to the queen now considered a commercially In col- conch’s complex shell and sensi- threatened species in Florida and tivity to traditional pearl seeding throughout the Caribbean. techniques that previous efforts of the six conch, or molluscan in culturing conch pearls were gastropod, species found in the not successful. The challeng- shallow seagrass beds in these ing spiral shape of the shell regions as well as the Bahamas, makes it almost impos- Bermuda, and the northern sible to reach the coasts of Central and South gonad, one of America, the queen conch the pearl- is the largest. source: forming sciencedaily ■ parts of pearl oysters, with- out putting the life of Drawing of the animal Strombus gigas by Louis Charles

wikipedia / public domain Kiener, 1834 8 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Caribbean dive operators Florida: New watch list news helps citizens report enlist divers to fight lionfish invasive marine fish

invasion For the first time, a field guide for non-native Over 300 scuba divers have been cer- Bay. marine fishes can be tified to catch red lionfish in a captain Don’s Habi- used to help prevent race to prevent the inva- tat on is hosting the establishment of sive and voracious species the first “Lionfish Wran- invasive species that from consuming all the gler” event aimed at do- could pose risks to young and small fish on the ing something about the Florida’s coastal eco- Cayman Islands’ corals reefs. growing lionfish problem. systems. Native to the Indian and From March 6-13, scuba “Non-native fishes Pacific Oceans, red lionfish divers can actually earn can have cascad- have no natural predators a “bounty” every time ing effects that ulti- in the Caribbean and can they spot a lionfish during mately degrade the produce 30,000 this weeklong event. productivity and eggs each month. DiveTech on Grand diversity of coral Within five weeks, Cayman is running a boat ecosystems,” said they can each week to specifically Dr Pam Schofield, a consume all catch the fish. Licensed USGS biologist and the juvenile and fishermen also collect lead author of the small fish on a them on regular boat trips field guide. reef, threaten- and dives from the shore. Many non-native ing the deli- Divers typically work in fish spotted in cate eco- teams of two, using plastic coastal waters are system, said nets, gloves, and sometimes thought to be aquarium fish that were released Mark Hixon, sticks, to capture the fish, which has or escaped captivity. There may be a small win- a marine bi- a large head with reddish-brown and dow of opportunity to remove these invasive fish ologist at Oregon white stripes and elongated, venom- immediately, before they begin reproducing. State University. U.S. ous spines. Without careful handling, it “Once they are established—that is, once government researchers can cause a painful sting. their populations are self-sustaining—there’s no believe the red lionfish was intro- “We tell them this is not a pleasure known method for eradicating them,” added duced into Florida waters during dive and they are hunting fish,” said Si- Schofield. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 when mon Dixon, a lionfish hunter and scuba the red lionfish, which was first documented an aquarium broke and at least instructor for DiveTech. ■ off Florida in 1985, provides an example of six fish spilled into Miami’s Biscayne what can happen once an invasive fish spe- cies becomes established. It is now widespread along the southeast United States and parts of the Caribbean, preying upon ecologically-impor- Wanted: Lionfish, dead or tant native species such as alive fishes and crustaceans. If you want to help by volunteering your time to survey reefs, contact REEF (www.reef.org). ■

9 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Ocean acidification rates pose disaster for marine life, major study shows Ocean acidification is an “underwater time-bomb” that threatens fish stocks, marine life and coastal communities around the world, a Natural England report has warned. The world’s oceans are becoming acidic Acidity in the seas has Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of at a faster rate than at any time in the increased 30 percent Natural England, which co-sponsored last 55 million years, threatening disaster since the start of the indus- the report, said, “The threat to the for marine life and food supplies across trial revolution. Many of the delicate balance of the marine envi- the globe. A report by more than 100 effects of this acidification ronment cannot be overstated; this is of Europe’s leading marine scientists, are already irreversible and a conservation challenge of unprece- released at the recent climate talks in are expected to accelerate, dented scale and highlights the urgent Copenhagen, states that the seas are according to the scientists. need for effective marine manage- absorbing dangerous levels of carbon the report, published by ment and protection.” dioxide as a direct result of human activ- the EU-funded European Although oceans have acidified ity. This is already affecting marine spe- Project on Ocean naturally in the past, the rate of cies, for example, by inter- Acidification, a consortium acidification is so fast that it is becom- fering with whale navi- of 27 research institutes Dr Helen Phillips ing extremely difficult for species and gation and depleting and environment agencies, habitats to adapt. “We’re counting it in planktonic species states that the survival of a number of decades, and that’s the real take-home mes- at the base of the marine species is affected or threatened, sage,” said Dr John Baxter, a senior scientist with New SCUBA Marketing food chain. in ways not recognised and understood Scottish Natural Heritage and the report’s co- until now. author. “This is happening fast.” ■ Learn to use modern tools including blogs, social networks Starfish and sea urchins counteract our carbon emissions and email marketing to build your SCUBA business. Go to: j.mp/6uRz9V Out of the estimated than plankton, but the finding noderm consists of up to 80 5.5 gigatonnes of is still significant since no one percent calcium carbonate, carbon emitted each expected them to catch such and according to the Lebrato year by human activi- a large proportion of our way- study, these hard-shelled ani- ties, about 1.8 percent ward carbon. mals collectively capture 100 are removed from the air and the new discovery is the billion tons of carbon each “This sort of evidence may help persuade govern- stored by echinoderms such as result of a study led by Mario year. ■ starfish, sea urchins, brittle stars Lebrato, a PhD student at the study has been published ments to reduce the fishing of key herbivores like and sea lilies. This makes them the Leibniz Institute of Marine in the journal, ESA Ecological parrotfishes, and help reefs cope with the inevitable less important “carbon sinkers” Science. The body of an echi- Monographs threats posed by climate change.”

“In order to protect reefs Coral able to recover from climate change damage in the long-term, we need A surprising and encourag- Scientists and environmentalists have Approximately two percent of the world’s aged by bleaching and then by hur- ing research study performed warned that coral reefs may not be able coral reefs are located within marine re- ricane Frances in the summer of 2004. radical action to reduce CO emis- to recover from the damage caused by serves, areas of the sea that are protect- At the beginning of the study, the reefs 2 by scientists at the University of sions. However, our research shows climate change, and that these unique ed against potentially-damaging human had an average of seven percent coral Exeter indicates that coral reefs environments could soon be lost forever. activity like dredging and fishing. cover. By the end of the project, coral that local action to reduce the may be far more resilient and Now, this new research adds weight to the researchers conducted surveys cover in marine protected areas had effects of fishing can contribute capable of bouncing back than the argument that reducing levels of of ten sites inside and outside marine increased by an average of 19 percent, fishing is a viable way of protecting the reserves of the Bahamas over 2.5 years. while reefs in non-reserve sites showed no meaningfully to the fate of reefs.” we had previously believed. world’s most delicate aquatic ecosystems. These reefs have been severely dam- recovery. ■

10 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news Unique data from the Indian Ocean

A team of the world’s leading marine experts, paired with scientists from the Indian Ocean region, returned from a six-week research expedition above seamounts in the high seas of the Indian Ocean with a whole new understanding of seamount ecosystems. They gathered a very rich collec- tion of data and specimens, including some strange- looking marine creatures.

The est, most of which for the first time in scien- tific are very vulnerable the region, and survey was organ- to over-exploitation. The we hope to have Splendid Alfonsino, ized by IUCN, the International Union for results of the research do not found some species Beryx splendens. Photo Conservation of Nature, and its partners only have a scientific interest, new to science. It was by Oddgeir Alvhaeim to improve knowledge of seamounts but will help improve conservation and also very interesting to discover across the southwest Indian Ocean management of Indian Ocean marine that the six seamounts we ridge. resources. surveyed are very differ- “I am extremely pleased with the data ent from each other, Hotspots that we have collected and the number and I believe our find- Seamounts, underwater mountains of of species that we have encountered”, ings will certainly improve volcanic and tectonic origin, are known says Dr Alex David Rogers, Chief Scientist our global knowledge of to be hotpots of biodiversity and attract of the Cruise and Senior Research Fellow seamount ecosystems”. a range of oceanic predators, includ- at the Zoological Society of London. “The the Norwegian research ing seabirds, whales and sharks. They diversity of species that we sampled is vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen left on also attract deepwater fisheries, as they higher than what I would have expect- 12 November from Reunion island, host many species of commercial inter- ed. Some species have been recorded and travelled 6,000 miles in 40 days to

11 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The six seamounts we surveyed are very differ- news ent from each other

Silver spinyfin, Diretmus argenteus

study five seamounts on the southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and one seamount further north on Walters Shoal, south of tion Madagascar, before dock- benefits of ing in Port Elisabeth, South protecting Africa, today. seamount features on International waters the ridge. This All features were located in waters will inform future beyond national jurisdictions, at two management of to three days’ sailing from the near- deep-sea ecosys- est land. Two of them had been set tems in the high seas aside on a voluntary basis as pro- globally”. tected areas by the Southern Indian fying Ocean Deepsea Fishers Association, to know New species which would allow comparison that this work is not an isolated In total, nearly 7,000 specimens between fished and unfished scientific trip, but will directly feed have been collected and labeled, seamounts. into conservation and manage- from two-metre long fish to tiny “It is ment recommendations”, crustacean larvae. They include an grati- says Sarah Gotheil, impressive variety of fish, shrimps, Programme Officer squids and gelatinous marine crea- with IUCN’s tures. Many more microscopic Global Marine species of phytoplankton and zoo- Programme. plankton, representing the base “Through our of the food chain in the ocean, study we have also been collected. The hope to two seabird and marine mammal confirm the observers recorded thousands of conserva- seabirds from as many as 36 spe- cies, and 26 marine mammals. Two of them, majestic humpback whales, even offered the team a wonder- ful 30-minute show of jumping around at just a few metres from the ship. ■

12 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED AIDA elects new legend returns, president and board teams up with Karol Meyer

AIDA International has a new Belgian freediver, Patrick Musimu, has executive board. The number announced his comeback to freediv- of board members has been ing and world record attempts together reduced from 12 to nine, and with Brazilian freediver, Karol Meyer, they also have some new posi- who have jointly announced a No-Limits tions. AIDA has also created Tandem World Record attempt for May a special Medical and Sience 2010, to -140 metres. Commission for which Dr John sponsored by Buddy Dive of Bonaire, Fritz-Clarke will be the chair- where the attempt will be held, Musimu man. The original election in and Meyer will stage the Tandem late November 2009 re-elected Patrick Musimu and Karol Meyer attempt No-Limit, which is a unique category of Bill Stromberg president, who new world record in Tandem No Limit freediving created by the

promptly resigned two days later. www . aida - i nte r n a t on al .o rg International Freediving Kimmo Lahtinen was voted in as Kimmo Lahtinen is the new president Association under the supervision of Francisco (Pipin) Ferreras. ■ the new president. ■ of AIDA International Austrian Freediver Nestling right next to Mark Caney appointed President the clear blue sea sets three Tasik Ria Resort & Spa of European Underwater Federation is an intimate new World Records boutique-style During the European Underwater dive resort in Federation’s recent General Assembly Herbert set a Variable Weight record Manado in Amsterdam, Mark Caney was elected to 142m, a Free Immersion record to President. He will serve in this position 112m, and a Constant Weight (CWT) until the end of 2012. record to 123m at the Dean’s www.tasikria.com It is the second time Mark Caney, in the Bahamas. In Variable Weight, the who is also Vice President of Training, freediver descends with the help of a bal- Education and Memberships at PADI last weight and ascends using his own International Limited in England, is serv- strength—arms and/or legs—either by Director ing as president of the EUF. pulling or not pulling on the rope. In Free of The the European Underwater Federation Immersion, the freediver dives underwater (EUF) is a body representing the inter- without the use of propulsion equipment, Cove wins ests of over three million divers in the but only by pulling on the rope during for best European region and has a membership descent and ascent. In Constant Weight, www . aida - i nte r n a t on al .o rg Herbert Nitsch consisting of a broad range of European the freediver descends and ascends using documen- www .p adi .co m training agencies, including both for- Mark Caney his fins, or , and/or with the use of tary profit and non-profit organisations. his arms without pulling on the rope or changing his ballast; only a single hold of the EUF has become a highly influ- the rope to stop the descent and start the ascent is allowed. ■ The Directors ential body within world of diving, in part through its involvement in Guild of EUF Certification International—a separate body that audits training America systems and, where appropriate, certifies named Louie them as being compliant with European Longest dive Psihoyos the and ISO Standards for . best documen- Such certification has become a legal Will Goodman broke the world record for staying underwater by remaining tary director of 2009 for The Cove. requirement for dive operations in several submerged for a total of 48 hours, nine minutes and 17 seconds. the film, a shocking piece of advocacy filmmak- countries such as Egypt and Greece. the 33-year-old Briton has previously made two unofficial world records—the ing about dolphin slaughter in Japan, documented For more information about the EUF, visit first in 2005 when he spent 24 hours underwater and a second in 2008 when the clandestine killing of the mammals in a small www.euf.eu ■ he spent 33 hours underwater. This new record has been duly witnessed and fishing village of Taiji. ■ will be registered with Guinness World Records. ■

13 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Training SSI Moves Dive Tables bulletin in the Edited by Peter Symes Student Manual

BSAC has published SSI has chosen to focus on the use of dive their Annual Diving computers in their Open Water Program. Dive tables are not being eliminated from Incident Report the manual altogether, but they are now placed in the Appendix. This will allow dive centers and dive professionals the option to use the tables if they choose. For the past two years, it has been option- al for SSI dive centers and professionals to train with either dive tables or comput- ers. The dive tables can still be used as another way to help students understand how divers absorb, eliminate and track nitrogen. Then, students will have the knowledge they need to complete their recreational dives with a computer. ■ IAHD acquired by WOSD As of 1 January 2010, IAHD, International Association for Handicapped Divers, has a new owner, the World Organisation of Scuba Diving (WOSD). IAHD aims to be a leading glo- organisation that presented itself the IAHD website, the link to the bal dive training organisation for with viable ideas and a clear Member Database, which was people who are either physically strategy for the future. IAHD will developed by WOSD. WOSD has or mentally challenged. In this remain IAHD while bringing to the a logistic system, into which IAHD regard, IAHD has undergone a board of directors the new main can be seamlessly integrated. substantial expansion in the later shareholders, Gerard Oynhausen Through this system, the entire years though not without certain and Fred Siebers. application process for scuba ‘growing pains’. In response, the certification will be improved and organisation has extended its Plans simplified. In addition, WOSD has board of directors to cope with As of the publication date of developed a completely new the additional tasks at hand. this issue, the two organisations training system, which can be In the next phases, IAHD plans have been cooperating for a used by IAHD for their courses. to further professionalize its staff period of time. Over the com- This system is called the “Digital and implement a number of ing months, additional changes Learning System” or “D-Learning”. necessary changes all of which are going to be implemented. A This system provides the trainee requires more resources than new website is said to be in the with a highly flexible approach hitherto available. For this reason, pipeline, and a new ‘house style’ to learning the required theoreti- Klaas Brouwer, president of IAHD with a fresh new logo has won cal knowledge using multi-media and previous owner of IAHD, initi- approval. Additional projects are tools and the Internet, or, a tradi- ated contact with various parties. on the planning board. Already in tional classroom with an instructor. WOSD came forward as an place is a new members’ area of ■

14 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED large-sized vessels, as well as a vari- wreck ety of other materials that help to enhance and create a habitat on rap The sunken the bottom for corals, sea life,” said freighter is Stephen Blair, a member of the Miami- expected to pro- Dade Department of Environmental vide a boost to Resources Management both the South Many SCUBA diving companies in Florida diving the area base their outings around and fishing indus- artificial reefs. “This is going to add Edited by tries, as well as to a destination for environmental- Mathias Carvalho strengthen the marine habitat ists looking at fish and reef restoration and sports divers looking for another opportunity to seize underneath-the- water adventures,” said Miami-Dade German WW2 U-Boat discovered in Gulf of Oman County Commissioner Sally Heyman. Immediately after the vessel settled In the deep waters of the Gulf of Oman ship then sank to the bottom in a forward Sea Taxi scuttled for new off Miami down, over twenty amateur scuba lies the remains of a twin-screwed, motion marking the epic death of 52 divers started exploring the wreck. “It 76.8-meter-long Nazi U-boat, the U-533 German mariners.” In an effort to help the local marine Brian and Lavinia Snyder bought the ship was the first time for me to see some- that was lost during the Second World only one crewmember somehow ecosystem, as well as the diving and for their daughter, Ophelia, and the ship thing like this. It was great to be able War. made it to safety from the wreckage. fishing industries, the 40-year-old was later donated to the county. The to witness it. It’d be great to come Dubai shipwreck hunter and diver Mechanic, Gunther Schmidt, survived the Ophelia Brian, a.k.a. Sea Taxi, was ship was the latest addition to a long list back in a few years and see what’s William Leeman discovered the U-boat, heavy seas for more than a day before scuttled off the coast of Miami-Dade of retired vessels, currently laying on the new and what sea life has moved lying 108 meters deep on the seabed reaching the coast, only to be taken pris- County, Florida. It used to be a German seabed of Key Biscayne. The event was in,” said one of the divers. a few years ago, and a new deep-sea oner. “How the survivor got out, we can’t freighter until it was seized in a drug the largest artificial reef sinking off the environmental experts declared mission deployed in October 2009 con- say,” Leeman said. bust. coast of Miami-Dade, since 2003. that it should take only a few weeks firmed that the vessel went down after In recent years, along with fellow mem- After such a shady past, it’s rechristen- “Over the years, we’ve put down before wildlife begins to settle in on a blast ripped her rear port side, sealing bers of the Desert Sports Diving Club of ing was due after Miami philanthropists approximately about 30 to 40 various the wreck. ■ the fate of her 52 crew members. Dubai, Leeman returned often to the equipped with electric underwater wreck, but usually in poor visibility condi- scooters and high-powered spotlights, tions. The last expedition found surpris- Leeman’s team observed a two-meter ingly clear waters, with great visibility that Newly discovered Centaur paid special hommage gash near the U-boat’s propellers, enabled an unobstructed view of the confirming reports made by 244 RAF U-533. Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 would the wreck’s discoverer, believes it was Squadron of a British light bomber aircraft “A lot of people have told me I don’t have prevented a ROV (remote done just in time. “Probably in ten or 15, direct strike attack on 16 October 1943. have proof that the ship we found is operated vehicle) from carrying a 20 years, all the paintwork on the vessel “This is where she was hit by a depth the U-533. If you look at the British and plaque more than two thousand that really gave it that iconic look that charge by a British Blenheim that struck German military records, they confirm meters deep, and attaching it to the everybody could recognize (and say) from the air,” said Leeman. “During that this is, in fact, that submarine. The wreck of the recently discovered ‘that’s the Centaur’—the white back- our last dive, we could see the jagged British recorded a direct hit on the sub, AHS Centaur. ground, the red cross, the green band— edges of the hole where she was blown we have a German survivor, and we she was finally discovered after will be gone. Mearns was also responsible up. That was the moment of truth—the have dived it.” ■ going down 67 years ago, sunk by for finding HMAS Sydney and the German a Japanese sub that was patrolling raider Kormoran in 2008, both off Western the are off Queensland. The Centaur Australia. was a hospital ship on its way to Port “The 47s (identification numbers) are Moresby, during the final days of nearly gone now, and slowly but surely, WWII. The vessel’s end marked the the vessel will erode away. So, it was very highest number of casualties on any timely to do that so the families could get non-military ship sunk in the Pacific comfort from looking at a ship that they Australian Federal Environment Minister, stage of the War. recognized.” The Centaur task force’s Peter Garrett, approved a special permit Acting Premier Paul Lucas said the war next mission is to memorial service for sur- allowing a unique homage to be per- grave, would be policed by Australian vivors and relatives, in consultation with Image supplied via Press release formed on a protected shipwreck. Customs. the Centaur Association, the RSL and The two-metre gash near the propellers confirms reports that a British aircraft scored a direct Under any normal circumstances, the british shipwreck hunter David Mearns, other interested parties. ■ strike on the submarine 15 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED the dive news network presents Expedition seeks the 3rd AnnUAl to uncover secrets of DIVE & TRAVEl EXPO May 21 -23, 2010 wrecks tacoma, washington, U.S.A. —A testiment to human endurance ber remains of a previous wreck. Among the crew were master's • 250 Exciting • Try Scuba FREE Exhibitor Booths The 430 ton armed cargo ship Cato mate and a ship's carpenter, both • Try Scuba FREE was making its way to when got expert witnesses with an intimate • 40 FREE Seminars grounded, along with another ship knowledge of marine technology. • Great Deals called HMS on a sand- Apparently, the timber used on • See The Latest On Travel bank, northeast of Sand Cape, on their vessel’s repair came from Diving Products the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, on the stern of a 400-ton, sturdily built • Meet Diving the morning of 17 August 1803. A ship, which had already been on • Win Thousands Celebrities third vessel, the Bridgewater, made the reef for a long time. There is Of Dollars In Prizes it from the treacherous waters no other hard evidence, as they and sailed away, not risking an immediately burnt the timber as attempted salvage operation. The firewood. DISCOVER AN OCEAN OF POSSIBILITIES shipwrecked crews and passengers “What was another wreck doing Matthew Flinders is the man who gave were able to land on a sandbank there when the Cato hit the san- Australia its name. A Voyage to Terra (today known as Wreck Reefs and bank?” That is a truly intriguing Australis, first published in two volumes www.diveandtravelexpo.com located in the southern part of the mystery, which a team of maritime in 1814, is his masterwork describing his Coral Sea Islands, nearby Cato archaeologists, divers and marine circumnavigation of the great island continent in the late eighteenth and Reef, so named after the wreck- scientists will try to solve on that early nineteenth centuries age) just as both their ships broke remote location. up. Kieran Hosty, the expedition’s With no sign of rescue by August leader, explained that the expe- explore the Porpoise, confirm the 26, HMS Porpoise’s passenger dition might well provide clues to wreck of the Cato and, hopefully, Matthew Flinders (the explorer one of many untold sagas of mari- locate the pre-1803 wreck. We pre- and author of A Voyage to Terra time history. sume it did the same thing as the Australis), Cato’s captain, John At the time, when Flinders heard Porpoise and Cato: came up on Park, and 12 crewmen sailed to of the discovery, he deduced the the southern side of the reef, where Sydney on the only ship left avail- wreckage must be the remains the wreckage was found, then able (aptly rechristened Hope) and of one of the French explorer La sank in between ten and 20 meters headed to Sydney to seek rescue. Perouse’s shipwrecked vessels, the of water.'' the Hope made it to Port Astrolabe or the Boussole, which If that wreck truly predates Jackson by September 8, under had gone missing after leaving Cook's voyages along the east hard conditions, and the remain- Botany Bay in 1788. We know coast of Australia, they might ing passengers were rescued. Only today, however, that the Boussole uncover another important part of three lives were lost in the joint lies on another location, on the Australian maritime history. shipwreck when many more could Santa Cruz Islands. hosty declares that it will prob- might have perished, if not for the Alternatives to the wreck’s origin ably not be as spectacular as courageous endeavors of a few. include the Dutch (however unlike- finding a ship as old as the Dutch ly) and the Portuguese fleets. Duyfken (which translates to “Little The Unknown Wreck ''I think it is most likely to have Dove” in English), credited with While most of the survivors been American,'' Hosty concludes. the first authenticated European remained aboard the HMS ''There were certainly American discovery of Australia, in 1606. ''The Porpoise, other crewmembers whalers in that area around that crew from the Porpoise would have made a startling discovery on time.'' recognized it if the wreckage was the treeless sandbank: the tim- ''Our objective is to continue to that old.'' ■

16 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED U-352 the damaged u-boat didn’t a unique display at the North wreck A Type VIIC u-boat, the U-352, remain at the surface for long Carolina Aquarium at Pine rap was sunk on 9 May 1942 after though. It quickly took on water Knoll Shores. The main section being depth charged by the and sunk to the bottom, coming of the sunken u-boat has U.S. Coast Guard cutter Icarus. to rest off the coast of North been replicated in fiberglass, Many of the u-boat’s crew died Carolina. The wreck of the U-352 at three-quarter scale, and in the initial attack, and the was discovered in 1975. Since is the centerpiece of the sub’s engines were disabled, then, it’s been stripped of most of 306,000-gallon “Living Shipwreck” leaving its captain no choice its artifacts. But, it’s still a popular exhibit. The giant aquarium tank U-BoatsSeparating Cultural Myth from Historical Reality but to order the remainder of his destination with recreational is home to hundreds of schooling crew to surface the boat and scuba divers. fishes and a nine foot-long sand abandon ship. the u-boat is also the topic of tiger shark. ■

Text by Rob Rondeau Who built it and why? How was it or a city flooding. A shipwreck for working on ancient Greek loves u-boats. They’re the topic of describes itself as “the” authority Photos courtesy of the used? Why did it end up where it contains everything that was and Roman underwater sites—or books and movies, and genuine on all things u-boat helps North Carolina Aquarium did? aboard at the time it went down. what I’ve said about the need artifacts from them command perpetuate the myth—going so at Pine Knoll Shores, USA on land, artifacts from different If people were forced to flee to protect them. Everyone seems high prices from collectors and far as to organize annual social periods can get mixed up. And, their community because of an to appreciate their historical enthusiasts. Divers have risked events where enthusiasts can Interpreting artifacts is the most artifacts recovered from impeding flood, they didn’t have significance—partly because their lives (some losing them) to meet former u-boat captains. most important aspect sites on land are mere remnants— time to take much, if anything. they’re so rare! acquire trophies. They dine and drink with the old broken bits and pieces that were In either case, more is left for an but, this isn’t the case with but, such u-boat worship is submariners, sing Kreigsmarine of archaeology—either either thrown away intentionally archaeologist to find underwater newer shipwrecks I’ve worked directly at odds with the historical songs and listen to stories from the on land or underwater. or were left behind accidentally. than would be on a typical land on, especially those from WWII. record. True, they were fearsome u-boats’ “happy time!” Deciding what an artifact Archaeological sites found site. Artifacts from this period, most killing machines, but u-boats were but, the perception that is, or rather—what it was, underwater are unique because the older a culture is the easier notably German ones, are (for ineffective in changing the War’s the u-boat war was good for they were lost (usually) due to a it is to be objective about it. I’ve many) irresistible. outcome. Germany isn’t reality. The facts can be tricky though. single event, such as a ship sinking never had anyone criticize me our current popular culture one group on the Web, which tell a much different story. Of

Composite photo of the wreck of U-532 17 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck THIS PAGE: You don’t have to be a diver to appreciate rap the wreck of the U-532

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18 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck rap Wreck hunters find another intact schooner in Lake Ontario

Text and images courtesy of Dan Scoville and Jim Kennard

A 19th century schooner has been discovered in deep water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario near Oak Orchard, New York, USA. Shipwreck enthusiasts, Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville, finally located the old schooner after a search effort that took them more than five years.

Schooners collide at night a large gap in the side of the Reeve’s hull During the early evening hours on 22 No- allowing water to pour into the schooner. vember 1862, a blinding snow storm set in Within a few minutes, the Reeve sank out across Lake Erie with a strong wind com- of sight into the depths of Lake Ontario. ing out of the North and visibility was al- most nonexistent. The schooner C. Reeve No lives lost was travelling east to Oswego, New York, The Exchange was not without significant and the Enchange was headed west for damage either, as she lost her bowsprit, Discovered by chance ride right over the the Welland Canal. Neither crew could which became tangled in the foremast After searching for many hours with so- top of a shipwreck. see ahead of them, and the schooner rigging. She also sustained severe dam- phisticated technology and precise The position was Exchange collided with the Reeve. The age to her cutwater, the forward por- positioning equipment and not finding quickly noted for accident occurred approximately three tion of the stem of the vessel which cuts any potential targets to check out, the a return trip. In Au- to four miles off the port of Oak Orchard, through the water. Leaking but still afloat, shipwreck searchers were in the proc- gust, the explorers Two masted gaff rigged schooner similar to the C. Reeve New York. the Exchange was able to take on board ess of packing up their equipment for returned to the wreck the Exchange had plowed right into the crew of the Reeve, then turned the day and took a few minutes to eat site and deployed a remote operated feet beneath the surface and at a depth the rigging that secured the Reeve’s about and headed back for the port of before heading back to port. Mean- vehicle (ROV) developed by Scoville to beyond the limits (135 feet) for recrea- foremast to the starboard side of the ship. Rochester. The crew of the Reeve only while the boat was being pushed along do the actual underwater exploration tional SCUBA divers and for This caused the foremast to lose any sup- had enough time to save themselves, the lake by a light breeze. Dan Scoville and to try to confirm the identity of the most technical divers port, and it immediately toppled over the and consequently, lost all their personal glanced over at the depth recorder just shipwreck that they had discovered by utilizing mixed gases. ■ side of the ship. The collision also created effects. as the wind was taking their boat for a chance. The ship was lying nearly 400

19 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Gold chalice discovered by Blue Water Ventures (right) and detail wreck of chalice arms (bottom); Gold rap toothpick and earwax scoop grooming tool (below). Photos this page by Ron Pierson, Blue Water Productions

The Lost Treasures of the Santa Margarita

Text by Carol Tedesco sures. In registered wealth, the Marqueses Keys in the Santa Margarita carried 166,574 Florida Straits. Drowned Inconveniently for mere silver “pieces of eight” treasure were 550 passengers and mortals, serendipity is coins, more than 550 ingots of crew, 142 from the Santa not concerned with silver weighing some 10,000 Margarita. Lost was a pounds, and over 9,000 ounces king’s ransom in treasure, time, so twists of fate of gold in the form of bars, discs a serious setback for often pass unknown, and bits. Additionally, there Spain, whose supremacy witnessed only by the was contraband—a fortune in in the world was upheld sun, wind, and ripples “unregistered” treasure having by the wealth of the on the sea. For W. Keith been smuggled on board to Indies. avoid paying a 20 percent tax Webb and the team of to the Spanish king. The Santa Salvage the shipwreck search Margarita also carried riches in Margarita in Greek and discovery company the form of copper, silverware, means “pearl,” and the Blue Water Ventures of indigo, and personal posses- first attempt to find and sions of officers, passengers, salvage the Santa Margarita Key West, the quest for and crew, including medical and other fleet casualties was the famed treasure gal- tools, navigational instruments, undertaken almost immedi- leon Santa Margarita has gold coins, and precious jew- ately by the Spanish mariner been as much about elry of almost unimaginable Captain Gaspar de Vargas, discovering her myster- opulence. who, knowing of their skill’s, spain and her creditors sent for pearl divers—from the the Santa Margarita and win Margarita was forgotten, ies as in uncovering her awaited the arrival of the fleet island of Margarita—to aid in his freedom. but not forever. Records of treasures. anxiously, as its return would the search. Melián continued, with Melián’s salvage efforts sur- refresh the royal coffers, repay then, in 1624, Havana politi- some success, to salvage vived in fragile worm chewed The saga of the Santa loans, and lessen the financial cian Francisco Melián obtained treasure from the galleon papers in Spain’s archives. Margarita begins in 1622. pressures that plagued the a royal salvage contract for for several years, though Fast forward to the 21st Namesake of the patron saint kingdom. But when news of the the fleet galleons. This inven- his efforts were frequently century, and the emergence of homeless people, midwives fleet arrived, it wasn’t good. tive risk-taker manufactured interrupted by weather and of search and salvage com- and reformed prostitutes, Santa Subsequent to departing the a remarkable piece of equip- Dutch sea . Eventually, pany Blue Water Ventures, Margarita was a Spanish gal- island of Cuba on September ment that allowed his divers to however, search and recov- founded by entrepreneur W. leon of 600 tons, armed with 4, the fleet was overtaken by a see and breathe while working ery became unfeasible, and Keith Webb. 25 cannon. One of a fleet of rapidly developing storm. Within underwater. It was a diving ended, and a vast fortune Largely the result of exten- 28 ships, she was voyaging to days, the Santa Margarita, bell, and it was this invention was left buried in the deep sive research conducted for Spain with an enormous cargo along with five other ships in the that allowed an enslaved diver shifting sands of the Florida the late treasure hunter Mel of plundered New World trea- fleet, were wrecked near the to locate the first treasure of Straits. In time, the Santa Fisher by historian Dr Eugene

20 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck rap c ar o l te d esco

W. Keith Webb, President and CEO, Blue Water Ventures Key West

LEFT TO RIGHT: Crew diver Gavin Rall (left) and Captain Dan Porter (right) surface with encrusted silver candlestick; Gold and rock crystal reliquary; Search and recovery vessel, Lyon, a portion of the Santa Margarita luck has resulted deposits. Now, Blue Water Rose; CENTER: The newly discov- was discovered in 1980. “The rest­­—multi- in the most suc- working further ered gold chalice before conservation held millions in treasures and artifacts—is still cessful series of north than ever by Mike DeMar, who discovered it out there,” said Webb. “Remote sensing discoveries on the before, the crew on his first expedition at age 21. Photos by technology has progressed dramatically site in more than of the companies Ron Pierson, Blue Water Productions since the last significant finds occurred, 20 years. primary search and this advancement prompted me to vessel, Blue contact Mel Fishers Treasures (MFT), the Treasure Water Rose, have company that holds the federal permit The value of the made astound- ABOVE: to search the area. I proposed a joint- treasure recov- ing discoveries of Close up of venture partnership whereby I would ered from the elaborate gold some of the bring my own team, vessels, and tech- Santa Margarita artifacts, chains rare natu- nology to work.” by the Blue Water and jewelry, ral pearls With a partnership agreed upon, Ventures team has gold bars, rare discovered Webb began to recruit a world-class well exceeded silver coins, a on name- lineup of professionals that today US$16 million to date. The search and gold and rock crystal religious reliquary, sake Santa includes historian Lyon; archaeologist/ recovery is funded by investors who a captivating solid gold combination Margarita by conservator James Sinclair; and as share in the discoveries, receiving their toothpick/earwax removal spoon, a Blue Water Operations Manager, second-gener- portions each year following a formal magnificent solid gold chalice, and one Ventures ation search and recovery specialist legal adjudication and division proce- of Santa Margarita’s most serendipitous Key West Dan Porter. Captain Porter and Gary dure. hidden treasures—a lead box contain- LEFT: Box Randolph, Blue Water’s Chief Technical the Santa Margarita broke apart and ing 16,184 rare and valuable natural of Santa Advisor and MFT Vice President of was scattered in a series of storms. Over pearls, not listed on the ship’s manifest— Margarita Operations, immediately began digitiz- time the wood disintegrated and the now believed to have originated from pearls. ing old charts and coalescing the past ship’s remains and cargo became bur- the pearl island of Margarita. Photos by with the present. ied in deep sand and mud. By mapping For more information on Keith Webb’s Ron Pierson, this aligning of knowledge, experi- and recording all finds, the team is able Blue Water Ventures of Key West, visit Blue Water ence and skill, backed by resources, to identify scatter patterns, which even- the companies web site at www.bwvkw. Productions technology, and the requisite touch of tually serve as pointers to substantial com. ■

21 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The Conferring of wreck the Sword on the rap Coat-of-Arms of Haarlem, by Pieter Franz de Grebber

Exploring the mystery of a 17th Century Seal Discovered in the Florida Straits

Text by Carol Tedesco dream. In a ludicrous accident that a sentence of at least three occurred between the deck of the months in a no-weight cast. On 6 September 1622, a vio- Southland and the shallow ocean floor, I believed the adventure was lent tempest ripped through the I fractured a bone in my ankle. It was a done for me—our funding and Florida Straits, destroying no sharp, quick pain that I chose to ignore. our window of opportunity was settling down on the sea floor not far limited. Then, one of our team less than half a dozen vessels from Andy, who was operating the airlift, discovered an artifact; it was of the 28 ship Tierra Firme fleet. I immediately and happily discovered dark, flat, and circular—about Among the fatalities were two one silver “piece of eight” treasure coin. the size of a quarter—but with of the richest Spanish galleons Then, still refusing to look at my foot, I one side folded under, and the ever lost at sea, the legendary began to perform my work of measuring other folded up. There were and recording the dimen- markings on it, but barely vis- Nuestra Senora de Atocha and sions of the excavation ible due to a layer of marine Santa Margarita. area, and exploring it encrustation. It was so with a metal detec- small and nondescript wikipedia / public domain It was the final quarter of the 20th century tor. that it could easily and I was a teenager in Texas when I Finally, I could no have been disregarded curation. Once their conservator had small disc as a type of identification seal began dreaming about shipwrecks and longer ignore the and passed over if it done his magic, the markings on the used between the 13th and 19th centuries their treasures. It was the Atocha and the discomfort, nor the had been happened artifact became visible. We could see for merchandise and cargo regulation. Margarita that inspired those dreams. odd “clicking” sensa- upon anywhere else, that an Arabic number 20 Dr Lyon added that the partially visible What else to do but follow them to Key tion when I tried to but on the site clearly dominated one markings were a coat of arms, though it West, Florida? By the summer of 2000, kick with my left fin. of a historic side, but the design was not a crest that he could immedi- I had nearly a decade of historic ship- Looking back over my shipwreck, on the opposite side ately identify. wreck professional work behind me, and shoulder I gasped with everything was difficult to fully how intriguing! Whose arms were they? now was partnering up with two world- dismay; my ankle had is of conse- decipher, due to What did the number 20 represent? class diving and shipwreck professionals, swollen to immense propor- quence. the folding. This was just the mystery and challenge Andy Matroci and Kevin Gurr, in a proj- tions. Returning to the boat no one on the needed to take my mind off of my foot. ect to conduct search and recovery on ladder, I discovered that my dylan kibler Research Southland or MFT We documented the arms side of the the Santa Margarita. On the deck of the foot could not bear even the slight- Our group was a sub- teams was familiar seal as the “obverse,” noting: MV Southland, surrounded by a blazing est weight. Kevin had to haul me up the contractor of Motivation, with an artifact of Within a “bouche” style frame, a cen- sunset at the end of our first day at sea, I ladder. Inc., now Mel Fisher’s this sort, so the next tered sword blade points directly above blissfully whispered to myself, “My dreams the next day, after 24 hours of staring Treasures, who holds the step was to consult with to a cross. Three visible stars located at are coming true!” at my foot and waiting for it to miracu- admiralty claim on the Santa historian Dr Eugene Lyon, approximate positions of 1.5 o’clock, the mirthful universe must have thought lously heal itself, I returned to Key West Margarita, so every artifact we an expert on the Spanish 3.5 o’clock, and 10.5 o’clock frame the this story in need of a twist, because and a doctor who (gleefully, it seemed discovered went to their lab in colonial period. He imme- sword blade, suggesting a fourth star soon I was jerked awake from my happy to me) pronounced a spiral fracture and Key West for conservation and diately recognized the would be located at the 7.5 o’clock Lead seal obverse view (left) and reverse view (right) 22 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED LEFT & BELOW: The Haarlem Arms, wreck 17th century Dutch bale Vicit, Vim, Virtus th rap seal R & A — Regten en 17 c Seal Accisen, state finance department BELOW LEFT: 1678 Dutch lead bale seal. Photos this page courtesy of Wiard Krook position, under the fold. Some around each side of found a match. letters of a surrounding legend a textile and were shortly thereafter,

are visible, including the let- stamped closed, simi- he called again. He d o mai n ters “ET”, preceded by what lar to the way coins had solved the mys- could be an were stamped. tery. “O” or a “D” Ours, however, professor Wieber from approxi- was a single had received a large wiki pe dia / p u b li c mately 9:00 disc without shipment of seals—the to 11:00 posi- a connect- contents of a small tions, and an ing strip, and private museum in the “R” near 4:00. the fact that it Netherlands. Opening In the year folded under the first box, Professor 2000, the and over indi- Wieber reached internet was cated that it inside, and to his just beginning was a bale astonishment there to emerge seal, used to in his hand was the as the invalu- fasten a cord same coat of arms— able research that once sword and four stars. It resource it is today. There was not encircled a was not Spanish, and much information to be had on lead parcel of mer- it was not a family crest. It was the seal of type of seal would typically display a of fabric or the weight of a parcel. The seals; but there were a number of chandise. the city of Haarlem, Netherlands. city’s arms, while the reverse would visible letters “ET” in the legend of the resources for family arms. Initially, I sus- professor Weiber explained that this record data such as the length or width Santa Margarita lead seal is, in fact, a pected that the legend on our seal was Origins similar to the legend found on Spanish So, now we knew more about types of Colonial coins, with the letters “ET” being seals, and how they were used, but still as in “Hispaniarum ET Indiarum Rex,” and no information had come to light on the since the Santa Margarita was a Spanish origin of this particular one. Then, one galleon, it seemed reasonable to start sleepless night while sending out a string my research with Spanish family arms. of internet search queries, a miracle none looked remotely like those on our occurred. It was a link to an article about seal. a special event in which a particular When they returned from the sea every guest was named, Professor Alexander ten days or so to re-supply, Andy and Wieber—an expert on lead seals. Kevin would climb the three flights of by early morning I had found contact stairs to my apartment, and we would information for Professor Wieber. I was so exchange discovery stories: theirs—silver excited that I could hardly wait until the coins, a rare 16th century gold “dou- sun was up to call him. Professor Wieber bloon” coin, gold jewelry and beads, a was kind and gracious and said he pre-Colombian jade pendant, and little would be happy to look at the seal. But flakes of gold that had to be picked out he soon called to say that after comb- of the sand with tweezers—and mine— ing more than 10,000 European coats of two different types of seals, disc cloth arms in his research books, he had not seals joined by a connecting strip. This kind of seal was the most thorough- Capturing Damietta by Cornelis Claesz. ly documented type. These were folded van Wieringen, oil on canvas, 1628, Frans

Hals Museum, Haarlem, the Netherlands wikipedia / public domain 23 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wikipedia / public domain

LEFT: City map of Haarlem, wreck ca 1550. BELOW: Dutch Ships th rap Ramming Spanish Galleys off 17 c Seal the Flemish Coast in October 1602, by Hendrick Cornelisz. Vroom, oil on canvas, 1617. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

on a 1622 Spanish galleon in Florida. I am back to work on the mysterious coat of arms roughly portion of the leg- the Florida Straits is tantalizing Santa Margarita adventure, now engraved in a recently discov- end “HAERLEMS because of the complex his- as a consultant for Keith Webb’s ered, magnificent solid gold drink- GOET” or “Goods toric relationship that existed Blue Water Ventures Key West ing cup. from Haarlem.” between the Netherlands and (joint venture partner/Mel Fishers To learn more about the adven- Spain at the time. But that is Treasures) whose team is work- tures of Blue Water Ventures Haarlem another story. ing to solve Santa Margarita’s Key West, and to see pictures of Now that we had the lead bale seal our team foremost puzzle—the location of the golden chalice and its yet a place of origin discovered during the sum- the missing portions of the vessel unidentified coat of arms, visit for our seal, the mer of 2000 is now on perma- and the treasures stowed there— www.bwvkw.com. ■ next step was to nent display at the Mel Fisher and a smaller, but familiarly tan- find experts able to Maritime Museum in Key West, talizing enigma—the origin of a solve the remain- ing pieces of the puzzle. These mate- rialized in the forms of Karla Brouwer, of the Stichting Archeologische Werkgroep Haarlem, and Wiard Krook, of the Amsterdam Department of Archeology. Krook revealed that the Arabic number 20 locat- ed on the seal’s reverse refers to a length of fabric long. Before it was released for in taking the town of Damiate measured in Dutch els. The Low selling, it was officially measured, in Egypt. In reward, the Emperor Countries city of Haarlem was the and the final length indicated on bequeathed Haarlem a ban- hub of the linen industry for much a lead seal. One Leidse el is con- ner red as blood with a sword of the 16th and 17th centuries and verted to 69 centimeters, making pointing toward heaven. The was renowned for the fine linens it one full laken 27.6 meter and one Pope gave them their cross, and exported. half laken 13.8 meter. The width of because they came so far, the he wrote, “From the official reg- a laken from Leiden was between patriarchs of Jerusalem delivered ulations of the city of Leiden, we 1 el (69 cm) and 3 3/4 el.” the stars. A painting of this event, know that one full woolen laken As for the arms symbolism, entitled, Wapenvermeerdering (in 17th century Dutch spelled as Brouwer explained that the inter- (The Increasing of Arms) by Pieter “laeken” or “laecken”, mean- pretation is found in a poem by Franz de Grebber (1630), hangs in ing one uncut length of woven 15th century poet Dirc Mathijszen, Haarlem’s City Hall. The accom- woolen fabric packed and folded inspired by a legend from the panying legend, “Vicit Vim Virtus”, to a bundle), should measure 40 time of the fifth crusade. It tells translates to English as “Virtue Has Leidse (or old Dutch) el in total. of crusaders from Haarlem who Conquered Violence”. So, a half laken should be 20 el fought as knights and succeeded the presence of a Dutch seal wikipedia / public domain

24 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel news A TLANTIS

Edited by Scott Bennett Queensland tourism authorities back away from proposal to sink F-111 fighter jet off the Gold Coast Cebu Pacific offers excess baggage fees to be paid at time of booking Queensland Scuba Diving eager support from scuba late on what the artificial reef Company owner, Mark Salter, dive operators, who say it may feature.”We were put- The mere mention of the gloom is the odd glimmer of initially proposed the sinking of could become the first of its ting the horse before the cart term “Excess baggage” reprieve. military aircraft to Gold Coast kind. Gold Coast dive opera- in making any suggestion of is enough to make the While making an online AMAZING RESORTS City Council in January last tor, Ian Banks, said a sunken possible dive structures,” he average air traveller booking for a Cebu Pacific year. The proposal has won F-111 would be a major draw- said.”It may not be financially wince. We divers are domestic flight in the card for domestic feasible.” In response, the especially cursed. Philippines, I was somewhat and international state government has com- Travelling with dive gear surprised to see options for tourists but would missioned a AU$71,800 study is bad enough, but excess baggage payment. only work as part into the feasibility of add underwater There are a variety of selec- of an artificial reef. a man-made reef, photo gear to the tions based on weight; just The F-111 jets are among a range of mix coupled with figure out how much weight due to be decom- new attractions on baggae restriction you are over, click the box, FANTASTIC DIVING missioned in the Gold Coast. rules that change and the amount will be December of this sunken mili- like the wind added to the purchase price. year. tary aircraft had direction, and its Divers will like the sporting Gold Coast proven to be enough to put goods option, which includes Tourism spokesman hugely popular a damper on dive equipment. The pay- John Kaarsberg in waters off any dive trip. ment will be indicated on said it was too Phuket, in south- Fortunately, in your e-ticket. early to specu- east Thailand. ■ this sea of travel ■ SUPERB CUISINE Australian shipwreck proves popular on debut Since its official unveiling on it will take one person about 20 A dive booking and permit 9 December 2009, hundreds dives to really see everything is required from Parks Victoria of divers flocked to the HMAS the wreck has to offer.” for recreational dives from pri- Canberra dive site in the Resting in approximately vate boats on the ex-HMAS Australian state of Victoria. 28m of water, experienced Canberra. The currently pro- Queenscliff Dive Centre divers can explore many posed fee for a dive/ COMING FALL 2009 managing director, sections of the ship including permit is AU$5 per diver/snor- Jason Salter, said business flight decks, the bridge, keller. The ex-HMAS Canberra has boomed since the engine rooms, galley, and is located offshore from Ocean innaugural weekend in accommodation quarters. Grove within Bass Strait in December.”Without a doubt Many of the vessel’s original Victoria. It is approximately this is the best artificial reef fixtures and fittings have been 25 minutes by boat from in Australia, and I think it will preserved. Over time, the Queenscliff Harbour (on the make people realise just how vessel will become a haven for Bellarine Peninsula) or Portsea good the diving is around marine life, transforming it into (on the Mornington Peninsula). here,” Salter said. “The thing is a spectacular reef. ■ HMAS Canberra 25 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED

Fiji flights make Guam stronger hub 737-800 air- uled the Fiji flights to conveniently craft with connect with Continental’s flights

155 seats. from the U.S. mainland, Japan As a result “Nadi is and Micronesia,” he said in a press of the new non-stop a popular vacation spot release. Continental Micronesia service that attracts visitors from around the Fiji to Guam service com- between Guam and Fiji, Guam will the world and fits well with our menced after another airline’s

become a major transit hub for portfolio of destinations throughout direct flights between Tokyo and ��� passengers flying from Japan and the Pacific,” said Jim Compton, Fiji ceased in April. Continental ����������������� Hawaii. The twice weekly flights are Continental’s executive vice presi- Micronesia is the Guam-based sub- operated using two-cabin Boeing dent of marketing. “We’ve sched- sidiary of Continental Airlines. ■

Four Red Sea liveaboards destroyed by fire The four boats—MY Typhoon, MY VIP One, MY Hyatt and Sweet Dream—were in dry dock at Suez when the fire started, according to the Egyptian Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS). Nobody was injured in the fire.

Authorities are conducting an www .to r n ad o mari ne fl eet.co m investigation, and preliminary MY Typhoon of the Tornado Marine Fleet was one of the Red Sea liveaboards ������������������������������������� findings indicate that the fire that were lost in the blaze started in the electrical system aboard MY Typhoon. Firefighters control because of strong winds operators, Red Sea Diving College, tried rescue the four boats, but and sandstorms in the Suez region. which owned MY VIP One, tells they fought in vain as the fire the operators are now working CDWS. spread quickly and was difficult to hard on finding alternative options “The boat will be missed, but we for guests who would be with the hope to announce an expansion four boats later this year. Guests of the fleet in the near future,” who have booked tours will be Typhoon Marine Fleet, who contacted as soon as possible, a owned MY Typhoon, added in a spokesman for one of the affected statement. ■ ������������� Gains Popularity in the Caribbean A hybrid of and scuba at least the late 1980s, when a diving, snuba provides the group of California divers started unique opportunity for people Snuba International. The Snuba to experience the underwater experience starts with a training world without dive certification. session on safety procedures. While offered in a few places in Participants are then outfitted with California, Florida and Hawaii, flippers, a weight belt, a mask and ���������������� the activity has caught on in the a regulator linked to a long, sna- Caribbean, where tourists can king tube connected to an oxy- experience Snuba diving in Aruba, gen tank that rests on a small raft ���� ��������� �������������� ������� ���� ���������� ��������� ����������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������� Turks and Caicos, Cancun, and at the surface. There are limitations ������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������� ����� ����� ������ �������� ����� ���� ����� ������������ ��� ���� San Juan, Puerto Rico. however, specifcally the 20-foot air ���������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������� snuba has been around since line attached to a raft above. ■

26 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED