X-Ray Magazine | Issue 43
AquaCorps :: Dive Volunteerism :: UWPhoto Flash Photography British Columbia Port Hardy Sweden
GLOBAL EDITION Tech Wreck July 2011 Number 43 Park Caribbean Southern Belize Ecology Mangroves China pacific Qian Dao Lake Sharks Yap Broadnose Sevengill 1 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 cover photo by barb roy DIRECTORY X-RAY MAG is published by AquaScope Media ApS Frederiksberg, Denmark www.xray-mag.com PUBLISHER SENIOR EDITOR & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Symes, PhD Peter Symes [email protected] Hawksbill sea turtle, Southern Belize. Photo by Kate Clark [email protected] SECTION EDITORS PUBLISHER / EDITOR Michael Arvedlund, PhD contents & CREATIVE DIRECTOR - Ecology Gunild Symes Scott Bennett - Photo & Travel [email protected] Andrey Bizyukin, PhD - Features Mathias Carvalho - Wrecks Associate editors Wayne Fenior - Equipment & representatives Simon Kong - News, Books Americas & Europe Kelly LaClaire - Whale Tales Arnold Weisz Catherine Lim - News, Books [email protected] Bonnie McKenna - Turtle Tales Cindy Ross - GirlDiver Russia Arnold Weisz - News, Features 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 Nonoy Tan - The Philippines Catherine GS Lim, Singapore [email protected] Contributors this issue Scott Bennett ASSISTANT editors Daniel Brinckmann & representatives Kate Clark UNITED KINGDOM Aaron Gekoski Roz Lunn, London Julia Golosiy [email protected] Wayne Grant Bob Halstead USA East Coast Tyge Dahl Hermansen Millis Keegan, Fort Lauderdale Scott Johnson [email protected] Brian Keegan Wayne Fenior, Orlando Millis Keegan [email protected] Elaine Kwee Kelly LaClaire USA Pacific Northwest/Canada Rosemary E Lunn Barb Roy, Vancouver Barb Roy [email protected] Don Silcock Kelly LaClaire, Oregon Gunild Symes [email protected] Peter Symes 18 26 34 60 plus... Arnold Weisz Te c h Wr e c k Pa r k Ya p : Ho me Ya p : Ex p l o r i n g So u t h e r n Be l i z e : EDITORIAL 3 USA West Coast Lawson Wood Sw ede n o f t h e Big St u f f t h e Ga r de n o f Ede n Al o n e At La s t Philip "Gisborn" Yakimov NEWS 4 Matthew Meier, San Diego b y r i a n ee g a n b y a n i e l r i n c k m a n n b y c o tt o h n s o n b y e l l y a l a r k [email protected] B K D B S J K L C WRECK RAP 18 Contacts page: Xray-Mag.com TRAVEL NEWS 25 ADVERTISING UNITED KINGDOM International Sales Rep 52 74 86 100 EQUIPMENT NEWS 45 Rosemary E Lunn, London Arnold Weisz Di v e Ec o l o g y : Po r t Ha r d y Qi a n Da o La k e WHALE TALES 57 [email protected] [email protected] Vo l u n tee r i s m Ma n g r o v e s British Co u m b i a Ch i n a SHARK TALES 78 USA West Coast French speaking territories b y El a i n e Kw ee b y Ty g e Da h l He r m a n s e n b y Ba r b Ro y b y Do n Si l c o c k BOOKS 92 Matthew Meier, San Diego Mathias Carvalho [email protected] PHOTO NEWS 99 [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 82 77 93 click here... Br o a d n o s e Se v e n g i l l : Te c h Ta l k : Aq u a Co r p s UW Ph o t o : COVER PHOTO: King Crab on Kelp, Lucan Chute, Port Hardy, Diving w i t h Di n o s a u r s On Yo u r Ow n Fl a s h Ph o t o g r a p h y British Columbia, Canada, by Barb Roy b y Aa r o n Ge k o s k i b y Bo b Ha l s te a d b y La w s o n Wo o d (Continued on page 4)
2 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 Amsterdam Barcelona Cape Town Copenhagen Kuala Lumpur London Moscow Orlando Oslo Paris Singapore Tacoma Toronto Vancouver Warsaw go quietly, amid the noise and haste... Editorial
[ 3 hours @ 20m - no deco ] Death Porn, no thanks
A middle-aged gentleman on could you imagine a car show, diver who mostly dives on holi- his annual two-week vaca- such as BBC’s very popular days or perhaps on weekends tion at a resort plays a game Top Gear, make statements is like making inferences from of tennis and drops dead on as to the weekly number of Formula One racing to com- the court from a heart attack. fatalities or injuries? Or how muting to work, or comparing Would that qualify as a ‘ten- about travel magazines inter- the climbing of Mount Everest nis accident’? Would we see spersing their articles about to hiking in the national forest. the rebreathers of choice from 6m to 160m tennis magazines or websites vineyards in France, cruises on Technical divers are aware of make a mention of another the Nile and museums in New the added risk; they're trained ‘tennis death’? York with reports of tourists to handle it, and they accept being abducted by terrorists or it. And that is a completely dif- A lady in her 40’s suffers a mugged in a dark alley? ferent matter than going on a stroke and collapses during her leisurely shallow dive to watch Saturday shopping in the mall. That would come across as the clown fish and corals with Is that a shopping fatality? rather odd. friends or family on a vacation.
It's ridiculous, right? So, why is it that the diving Like the general car industry press seems to have this mor- benefits from research and These people all died from bid propensity for revelling in developments in F1 and much common maladies resulting fatalities? of the outdoor wear we use from modern unhealthy lives. today have mountaineering to Too many French Fries or cook- Diving is a wonderful past time thank for its existence, we can ies and a sedentary life style is giving many of us joy and and indeed should learn from what killed them. adventure. Diving is also by accidents and use the insights any reasonable yardstick quite gained to make the sport even Yet, if any of these persons had safe—even the insurance com- more safe. But that is a sepa- suffered their heart attack or panies have to appreciate rate issue. Image by Ray van Eeden of Prodivers, Kuredu, Maldives strokes in the water during a that. dive or swimming back to the Nothing in life is totally risk free, third party test-house approved patented dual oxygen controllers with independent displays and power sources dive boat, it would immediate- Sure, there are some high- and people die every day optional open circuit bailout mouthpiece high performance scrubber proven to 160m trimix or nitrox decompression with ly be labelled as a dive acci- profile incidents, such as known from a wide variety of causes user variable gradient factors and multiple gasses polyethylene fibre-optic dual head up displays future proofed software dent, and everybody would be personalities meeting their including disease and starva- upgradeable by user uploads & hardware upgradeable with plug and play versatility pc log download 9 language options up in arms, somber editorials untimely demise, but many of tion. Diving is all about living life crystal clear primary display hard memory storage - gas, options and history retained even when the batteries are removed would be written and admoni- these most unfortunate events and not about losing it. patented scrubber monitor with effective warnings full customer support and aftersales - spares & service the equipment of tions given. are often associated with choice for underwater photographers, film-makers, marine biologists, cavers, under-ice explorers, deep dive specialists, deep support exploratory or deep dives with Let’s keep that in mind. ■ teams, expedition divers and sport & technical diving enthusiasts worldwide - all achieving time and depth profiles previously unthinkable It’s gotta stop. high levels of complexity. Yet, comparing cave divers push- Traffic accidents kill and injure ing the envelope in pursuit of AMBIENT PRESSURE DIVING a lot of people every year, but the unknown with the average tel: 0044 1326 563834 email: [email protected] web: www.apdiving.com
spares & accessories online at www.apdivingdirect.com see apdiving.com for your nearest instructor
3 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED out of the deep
News edited by Peter Symes & Scott Bennett NEWS A two-week marine survey conducted by scientists with Conservation International (CI) in Indonesia, along with local partners, led to the discovery of eight potentially new species of fish and a potentially new species of coral in the waters surrounding the island of Bali. CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Euphyllia new bubble coral; Text by Arnold Weisz. Photos courtesy of Siphamia new cardinalfish; Conservation International / Gerald Allen Heteroconger new garden eel
A two-week marine survey documented were two Coral reefs recovering conducted by scientists with types of cardinalfish, two This Rapid Assessment @ conservation international / gerald allen Conservation International varieties of dottybacks, a Program (RAP) survey, along (CI) in Indonesia, along with garden eel, a sand with a previous variety of habitats, surprising- ing well, with a seven-to- local partners, led to the dis- perch, a survey conduct- ly high levels of diversity and one ratio of live to dead covery of eight potentially fang ed by CI and the coral reefs appeared coral, the RAP survey team new species of fish and a partners for the to be in an active stage observed that commercially potentially new species Bali government of recovery from bleach- important reef fish were of coral in the waters in November of ing, destructive fishing and severely depleted. In over surrounding Bali 2008, document- crown-of-thorns starfish 350 man-hours of diving, island. ed 953 species of outbreaks in the 1990’s." the team only observed a Among the reef fish and 397 spe- Acting Executive Director for total of three reef sharks and potentially cies of coral in the waters off CI-Indonesia Ketut Sarjana three Napoleon wrasse—a new the coast of Bali. Putra added, "Compared to stark contrast to a healthy spe- blenny, "We carried out this 12 years ago, we observed reef system where a diver cies a new spe- present survey in 33 sites an increase in healthy coral would readily encounter this @ conservation international / gerald allen cies of goby and around Bali, nearly complet- reef cover in the area sur- number of large reef preda- a previously unknown ing a circle around it, and veyed, indicating a recovery tors in a single dive. Improving also providing food security Euphyllia bubble coral. were impressed by much of phase. That is why it needs the team also saw that sustainability and ensuring the sustain- Further study will need to be what we saw," said Dr Mark serious protection and man- plastic pollution was omni- "This RAP survey highlights ability of small-scale artisanal done to confirm the taxono- Erdmann, senior advisor for agement, to complete the present and noted the how important these Marine fisheries," Erdmann said. my of each species. the CI Indonesia marine pro- revitalization." encroachment of fishers on Protected Areas are to Among the recommenda- gram. though the survey found no-take areas in the West improving economic returns tions made by the CI team "There was a tremendous the reefs to be recover- Bali National Park. from marine tourism while are a prioritization of which New Marine Species Discovered on Bali Reefs
@ conservation international / gerald allen 4 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news
@ conservation international / gerald allen
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Parapercis new sand- perch; Grallenia new goby; Apogon new car- dinalfish; Pseudochromis new dottyback
@ conservation international / gerald allen areas need immediate @ conservation international / gerald allen protection, the need for undertaken by CI at the request Government’s spatial planning to reduce the of the Bali provincial government Office @ conservation international / gerald allen See Why More Divers clash between marine tourism and the Department of Fisheries of and many unsustainable fishing and Marine Affairs to assess reef Choose Sunset House practices, the need to commit health and provide management to enforcement and public fund- recommendations for 25 areas For Their Dive Holiday! ing to manage the MPAs and proposed to be developed into the need for strict measures to a network of Marine Protected be put in place to manage pol- Areas (MPA) in Bali, which will be lution from plastics, sewage and designed to be ecologically-con- agricultural runoff. The survey, nected and resilient. Marine part of CI’s 20-year long Rapid cI’s partners in the Marine Affairs and the Bali Assessment Program (RAP), was RAP survey include the Bali Department of Fisheries, the spe- cies of as well as the Marine most coral, at least 3,000 species Research and Observation diverse marine ecosystems of fish and the greatest remaining Office and Warmadewa in the world, and more than 500 mangrove forests on Earth. ■ University. Funding for the scien- tific survey was provided by USAID Indonesia as part of Coral Triangle Support Partnership (CTSP). The Special Discounts for Coral Triangle Support Partnership- Indonesia (CTSP-I) is a collabo- X-Ray Magazine rative five-year project to bring about the protection of marine Readers! systems and their myriad habi- tats for the benefit and sustain- able livelihoods of communities Follow URL Below! across the Coral Triangle Region of Indonesia, which is the global center of marine biodiversity—with www.sunsethouse.com/xray [email protected]
Manonichthys new dotty- 800-854-5767 345 949 7111 back (left); Meiacanthus
@ conservation international / gerald allen new fangblenny (right) @ conservation international / gerald allen 5 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED THEMOSTEXCITING “This intriguing EVENTOFOUROCEAN finding 10TH CELEBRATE THE SEA FESTIVAL • 23-25 SEP 2011 • MANADO, NORTH SULAWESI demonstrates that changes
FORUM, PRESENTATION & UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY SEMINARS at the top of
THE SPECIAL OF the food web GUESTS OF 2011 Howard Hall, Michelle Hall, can affect Emory Kristof, Neville Coleman, Mark Erdmann PhD, even the most Leandro Blanco, Eric Bettens, Michael AW, Mathieu Meur, fundamental William Macdonald and many more ecosystem processes.”
THE “MOST INFLUENTIAL David Garrison, UNDERWATER SHOOT OUT PHOTOGRAPHER director of COMPETITION” NSF’s Biological Staged at 10 supporting resorts, the Oceanography shootout competition 19-23 Sept; competitor stand to win the coveted Program title for the ‘Most Influential Underwater ShootOut Photographer with cash and holiday prize of USD 5000. Join the panel of speakers & judges, to discover the splendour of underwater North Sulawesi - situated in the apex of the INTERNATIONAL UNDERWATER coral triangle. Oceanic walls, soft coral FILM FESTIVAL canyons, extensive coral meadows, and The current Best of the Best – award winners intriguing muck dive locations offer of documentaries and music videos from the Jellyfish Blooms Transfer Energy from unparalleled photographic opportunities World Underwater Pictures Festival will be found nowhere else in the world. screen over the weekend. Fish to Bacteria
CALL FOR ENTRIES A new study by researchers at that would otherwise be eaten matter from jellyfish they – THE CTS INTERNATIONAL the Virginia Institute of Marine by fish, and converting that shunted it toward respiration UNDERWATER PICTURES COMPETITION Science shows that jellyfish food energy into gelatinous rather than growth.” Compete in the International Underwater Pictures have a more significant impact, biomass. This restricts the Competition – the most prestigious and richest drastically altering marine food transfer of energy up the food The upshot of this “jelly carbon underwater imagery competition in the Asia Pacific. Over $50 000 in cash and holiday prizes; Win webs by shunting food energy chain, because jellyfish are shunt” is that bacteria in jelly- the OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: MERIT toward bacteria. An apparent not readily consumed by other laden waters end up converting OF EXCELLENCE: HONOR OF DISTINCTION: High Commendation for each category plus the increase in the size and predators.” Jellyfish also shunt carbon back to carbon dioxide, most coveted ‘Award for Highest Achievement – frequency of jellyfish blooms in food energy away from fish rather than using it to grow Photographer of Festival 2011’ title with cash and coastal and estuarine waters and shellfish that humans like to larger or reproduce. This means holiday prize of USD 5000. Finalists will be displayed in special galleries for the duration of the show and CHILDREN ART COMPETITION around the world during the last eat through their effects on the the carbon is lost as a direct with more than 10000 focus audience. Compete The theme this year is ‘My Ocean’ finalists will be few decades means that jellies’ bacterial community. source of organic energy for in 7 categories; Black and White print, invited to compete in the final round in Manado impact on marine food webs is transfer up the food web. Colour Print, Portfolio of Festival, Digital for the Ocean Ambassador award. Register to Trio, Slide Shows, short video and feature participate now. likely to increase in the future. “Marine bacteria typically play length documentary. a key role in recycling carbon, The researchers think the shift “Jellyfish are voracious nitrogen, phosphorus and other toward bacterial respiration CTS festival Weekend Package with Masterpass predators,” said Rob by-products of organic decay happens because jellyfish to seminars, forum, film festival, award Supporting Publications ceremony at Sintesa Peninsula Hotel available. Find out more at [email protected] : Condon—a scientist at the back into the food web,” said produce organic matter that is CelebratetheSea.com. Official Venue and Hotel: Sintesa Peninsula Hotel Manado. Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) Condon. “But in our study, extra-rich in carbon. ■ Organiser: Ocean Geographic Society – in Alabama. “They affect food we found that when bacteria Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of OceanNEnvironment Ltd webs by capturing plankton consumed dissolved organic Sciences
6 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 OG16AD CTS1.indd 1 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT 3/18/11 BOO 2:03 AMKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news
Edited by Matt Meier
First species of mushroom found to be growing underwater The International Institute for Species Exploration has named its top new species discovered in 2010, and an Oregon mushroom, Psathyrella aquatica, is on the list. Aquatica is the first species of mushroom with gills that scientists have observed fruiting underwater.
species of Basidiomycota with true gills that has been observed fruit- ing underwater in the clear, cold, flowing waters of the upper Rogue River in Oregon. Fruiting bodies develop and mature in the main channel, constantly submerged, near aquatic vegetation, and where observed fruiting over 11 weeks. Its sequence data place this fungus in the genus Psathyrella. These appear to be truly underwa- ter mushrooms and not mushrooms fruiting on wood recently washed into the river. Substrates include water-logged wood, gravel, and silty river bed. Water constrains spore dispersal. Spores were observed as wedge- shaped rafts released into a gas pocket under the cap. Underwater gills and ballistospores indicate a recent adaptation to the stream environment. this particular river habitat com- bines the characteristics of spring- The mushroom appears to be quite tion of whether other species of fed flows, clear, cold, aerated strong and can stand up to fast- gilled mushroom could be found water with woody debris in shallow moving river currents. It was found in streams. Biologists at Southern depths on a fine volcanic substrate. in 2005 in the Rogue River in the Oregon University studied the The presence of nitrogen-fixing U.S. state of Oregon by Southern mushroom and decided last year cyanobacteria near fruiting body Oregon University professor Robert that it was a genetically unique attachment sites suggests a source Coffan and described in the species that grew in river grav- of nitrogen in an otherwise clear journal Mycologia in 2010. Gilled els and on submerged logs, and stream. This observations adds to mushrooms usually reproduce using wasn’t accidentally washed into the biodiversity of stream fungi that spores that travel through the air. the river. degrade woody substrates. ■ He said that it raised the ques- Psathyrella aquatica is a new
7 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news Nudibranch (Coryphella verru- cosa) on hydrozoans (Eudendrium sp.). Fladen, Kattegat, Denmark Oceana:
Baltic Sea EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell is heading towards collapse Photos courtesy of Oceana Oceana concluded one of its most comprehensive expeditions to date to document species and habitats in the region around the Baltic Sea. The international marine conservation organization completed over 100 dives with an underwater robot (ROV) and a team of divers in the coastal countries. EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell The Baltic covers an area of 415,266 seas in the world. In addition, destruc- covered 7,000 square kilometres in Northern Europe, tive fishing practices like bottom trawling, nautical miles in two months, was to almost entirely surrounded by nine differ- high levels of by-catch and illegal, unreg- collect data on the state of conservation ent countries. Baltic Sea is a very unique ulated and unreported fishing all lead to of the Baltic to prepare proposals to brackish water environment. But, at the the degradation of its marine habitats. improve the network of Marine Protected same time, it’s one of the most polluted The objective of the expedition, which Areas and their management. “There is no precedent of any other international expedition that has covered all the Baltic countries and filmed depths ranging from three to 450 meters —the deepest area being Landsort Deep, Sweden,” explained Xavier Pastor, executive director of Oceana Europe and the leader of the expedi- tion. “Oceana’s expedition is valuable because it proves that there are areas still rich in biodiversity in this devastated sea—areas that show how the Baltic Sea can look like if adequately protected. We’ve also seen areas that have been completely destroyed or are heavily pol- EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell luted, proof of the lack of adequate con- ABOVE: Chamelion prawn (Hippolyte varians). Hirsholmene Marine Reserve, Kattegat, Denmark; servation measures.” Oceana diver (top right) watching a fourhorn sculpin (Triglopsis quadricornis) on the seabed. Seventy percent of the dives were Långron, Bothnian Sea, Sweden
EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell The Oceana Hanse Explorer in the Baltic Sea 8 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news
EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell
completed with an ROV EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell capable of filming marine life in high resolution. The Nudibranch (Dendronotus frondosus). Fladen, Kattegat divers took photographs and video footage of the shallow activities in the Baltic, filming dozens of areas, in some cases at temperatures vessels from different countries using a below zero. This graphic documen- variety of fishing gear. These observa- tation was completed with samples tions will be combined with the data of sediments and macroorganisms obtained from official sources and taken with a Van Veen dredge and a other analyses of the fishing sector in CTD—a device which measures hydro- the Baltic Sea countries compiled by graphical data such as salinity, tem- the organization. perature, oxygen, chlorophyll. “One of Oceana’s characteristics In the coming months, marine scien- is that our campaigns are not only tists from different countries will study based on analyzing scientific research, this data, including experts specialized facts and figures, but on doing our in visually identifying species filmed own field work as well. This expedition with the ROV. Oceana will publish will be a tool to promote the crea- proposals with specific conservation tion of an effective network of Marine measures based on the results of this Protected Areas that includes all types analysis. of habitats and species, while also pro- oceana’s team on board the Hanse moting more responsible fisheries man- EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell Explorer also documented fishing agement in the Baltic,” stated Anne Fourhorn sculpin (Triglopsis quadricornis) on the seabed. Älgön, Bothnian Sea, Sweden; EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell Diver in the seabed. Kopparstenarna, Northern Baltic Proper, Sweden Dead man’s fingers. Kattegat, Sweden 9 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news
Image courtesy of PADI
Heron Island is a natural coral cay Over 20 different dive sites to explore. Crystal c lear waters. on the Great Barrier Reef.
Heron Island, Australia. Like no other island on earth. Dive Festival Special from AUD $299pp/pn* Inc ludes EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell ABOVE: Blue jellyfish (Cyanea lamarckii). Kattegat, Accommodation, 2 dives daily, Sweden; Shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius). Enjoy 2 complimentary dives per day. 5-11 September 2011 all meals & boat transfers. Kalmarsund, Western Gotland Basin, Sweden (left)
Schroeer, Oceana’s Project are overfished, and HeronIsland.com/xray +61 3 9413 6293 Manager in the Baltic. some like the European *Conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability. Rates are per person, per night, based on a 7 night package and lead in room type, twin share. Rates for shorter stays are available. The offer includes accommodation, 2 dives daily ICES, the International Whitefish are threatened (per diver booked), tanks and weights, 3 meals daily and return boat transfers from Gladstone to Heron Island return for 2 adults. Airfares to and from Gladstone are an additional cost. Further conditions may apply. Council for the Exploration species according to the of the Seas, published their Helcom redlist. advice on recommended however, after a dec- [HER11006] Heron x ray mag hp.indd 1 28/03/11 9:34 AM catch amounts for Baltic fish ade during which coun- stocks in 2012. Based on this tries ignored their obliga- advice, the European Com- tions to report scientific mission will propose a Total data, this is the first time EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell Allowable Catch (TAC) per that ICES scientists ap- fish stock. plied the precautionary While approach and advised around 60 a TAC for brill, dab and different plaice that is not higher fish species than catches in 2010 and are caught a reduction of catches in the for flounder and turbot, Baltic Sea all of which are currently for con- unmanaged. sumption, the species for which ICES has ICES gives advice, cod, only given herring, sprat, salmon EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell advice and sea trout are over- Painted goby (Pomatoschistus pictus), Örskar, Bothnian Sea, Sweden for ten of fished and most of the them. The stocks are far from making sustainable much too high given member states’ re- Schroeer commented, “This is the first rest of spe- fisheries possible. The situation is particu- quirement to reach Maximum Sustainable time that scientists have followed the cies remain larly bad for western Baltic cod, which is Yield by 2015. Meanwhile, after the 2011 legal obligation to apply the precaution- largely un- only very slowly recovering from an almost ICES recommendations on herring stocks ary approach and propose catch limits managed depleted state, and for the central Baltic were ignored, scientists now advise a fur- for stocks that are currently unmanaged despite herring, which is still severely overfished. In ther reduction of catches as the current as Oceana requested. That is a big step EUO © OCEANA Carlos Minguell the fact fact, ICES scientists recommended a 2012 catch level is unsustainable. forward.” ■ European flounder (Platichthys flesus). Kopparstenarna, that many catch limit for western Baltic cod that is oceana Baltic Sea project manager Northern Baltic Proper, Sweden 10 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news
Edited by Arnold Weisz Asteroid Research Begins Under the Sea A NASA team is going underwater in the U.S. Florida Keys to lay the groundwork for the space agency’s first simulated journey to an asteroid.
To determine how best to explore mission to simulate a trip to an manager, Bill Todd. “There may asteroids in the future, U.S. asteroid, there’s a lot of work to be asteroids that we don’t even National Aeronautics and Space do before the mission can start. know about yet that we’ll be visit- Administration (NASA) scientists To prepare, engineers have jour- ing. So, we’re figuring out the best and engineers are taking their neyed to the National Oceanic way to do that.” experiments underwater in the and Atmospheric Administration’s The aim is to determine which 15th expedition of NASA Extreme Aquarius Underwater Laboratory tools and techniques work best Environment Mission Operations, near Key Largo, Florida, to work for asteroid exploration. NASA has or NEEMO. This year’s NEEMO through some of the concepts gotten quite familiar with micro- expedition, which will include that will be tested in the fall. gravity operations on the Interna- the usual compliment of astro- “Even experts don’t know what tional Space Station, and traveling NASA nauts and engineers, is slated the surface of an asteroid is going around the moon or Mars doesn’t NEEMO engineering crew diver simulates anchoring to an asteroid surface for October. Since this is the first to be like,” said NEEMO project pose all that much of a chal- lenge, gravity-wise. In a sense, making your way around an as- teroid combines the worst of both worlds: Most asteroids are so small, it’s virtually like working in zero-G. But unlike the space station, there are no built-in handholds or railings. “We have no control over what this asteroid looks like,” NASA astronaut Mike Gernhardt said. ■ NASA
An artist’s conception shows astronauts practicing for asteroid exploration on an underwater rock wall
11 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Seagrasses are disappearing news Across the globe, seagrass species are disappearing at an Ocean warming detrimental alarming rate, with some species now threatened with extinction. The first global survey of individual seagrass species has discov- to inshore fish species ered that 14 percent are at risk of becoming extinct. Common species are also in decline, indicating a loss of habitat.
Heading up the survey manatees and dugongs. have both an overall loss To assess the impacts of this was Professor Frederick They also contribute to of habitat and a loss of temperature increase on a marine Short of the University of the health of a variety of bio-diversity,” stated Short. species, the research team Hampshire in Durham, marine habitats ranging “Seagrasses are both analysed long-term changes North Carolina, USA, and from coral reefs to man- direct food for important in the growth rates of director of SeagrassNet, groves, salt marshes and species, and as they the banded morwong an international seagrass oyster reefs. Seagrasses break down within the (Cheilodactylus spectabilis) monitoring program with have vanished from the coastal ecosystem, they 114 sites around the world. most developed coast- are part of a vast food lines due to a mixture of web that provides food Along with an interna- sedimentation and runoff to many organisms within tional team of the coastal experts, Short ocean, Australian scientists convened three including have reported the first workshops to many com- Wikipedia gather all the mercially known detrimental knowledge about and rec- impact of southern individual sea- reationally hemisphere ocean grasses, utilizing important warming on a fish species. the findings to species.” evaluate how each species The team Surface water temperatures in the dence of is at risk. The discovered Tasman Sea have risen by nearly 2°C both slowing growth rates of the banded workshops were that 15 of over the past 60 years. This warming, growth and morwong (Cheilodactylus spectabilis). hosted by Con- the 72 sea- one of the most rapid in the southern increased These fish can live for almost 100 years servation Interna- grass spe- hemisphere oceans, is due to globally physiological stress as higher tempera- and, as adults, they stay in essentially the tional, the Global cies should increasing sea-surface temperatures tures impose a higher metabolic cost same area even if the water tempera- Marine Species be consid- and local effects caused by southward on fish at the warm edge of the range. ture shifts. Assessment ered En- extension of the East Australian Current. In this case, off northern New Zealand, programme and dangered, ocean warming has pushed the banded The bony structures fish use for orien- SeagrassNet. Vulnerable “Generally, cold-blooded animals morwong—which inhabits temperate tation and detection of movement— or Near respond to warming conditions by reefs in waters 10-50m deep—past the called otoliths—have annual growth Forming vast Threat- increasing growth rates as temperatures point where increasing temperatures are rings which were measured for changes. meadows that ened, rise,” CSIRO marine ecologist Dr Ron beneficial to growth.” Similar to growth rings in trees, they can flower and seed See grass bed. If you look closely you will see a school under Thresher said. “But theory and laboratory be counted to indicate a fish’s age and underwater, of razor fish criteria laid studies show that this has a limit. As tem- Influence on body function annual growth rate, estimated by meas- seagrasses form down by peratures get too high, we begin to see Climate change can affect species uring distances between each new ring. important marine habi- from impacted water- the International Union for increased signs of stress, possibly eventu- directly by influencing how their bod- tats, providing food and sheds and deforestation. Conservation of Nature ally leading to death. We are looking at ies function, their growth and behaviour Dr Jeremy Lyle from the University of habitat for a plethora of (IUCN) Red List. Of those, whether climate change is beginning to and indirectly through environmental Tasmania said the study showed that ocean species. As well “Many widespread, com- ten face a significant ex- push fish past their physiological limits. effects on ecosystems. To assess the growth performance in banded mor- as being nurseries for mon seagrass species, tinction risk. Results of the impacts of this temperature increase on wong began to suffer above average young fish, they are also which are not presently study have been pub- “By examining growth across a range a marine species, the research team annual water temperatures of about the primary food for large threatened, are none- lished in the journal Bio- that species inhabit, we found evi- analysed long-term changes in the 17°C. ■ marine mammals such as theless in decline, so we logical Conservation. ■
12 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news
island is home to the densest mass entific cruises, fisheries vessels and of marine mammals on Earth, mak- by scuba divers from the seas encir- ing it the the richest area for marine cling the islands resulting in approxi- life in the Southern Ocean. Highly mately 1,500 species being record- diverse, poorly studied and uniquely ed from 17,000 specimens. Species threatened by climate change: an identified include sea urchins, free- assessment of marine biodiversity on swimming worms, fish, sea spiders South Georgia’s continental shelf by and crustaceans, with many rare Oliver T Hogg, David K. A Barnes and and occurring nowhere else on Huw J. Griffiths is published online in Earth. “This is the first time anybody PLoS ONE. has mapped out the biodiversity South Georgia is the most Specimens were obtained via sci- of a small polar archipelago in biodiverse island in Southern Ocean
South Georgia is richer in biodiversity than even many tropical sites, such as the Galapagos Islands.
Photos courtesy of overseas territories. the British Antarctic Survey Reporting recently in the online journal PLoS ONE, a team from Brit- The first comprehensive study of sea ish Antarctic Survey (BAS), funded creatures around the sub-Antarctic by the British Government’s Darwin island of South Georgia has re- Initiative and the South Georgia vealed a region richer in biodiversi- Heritage Trust analyzed over 130 ty than even the fabled Galapagos years of polar records, discovering Islands. Made famous by great po- a biodiversity that exceeds that of lar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Galapagos and Equador in terms expedition, the sub-Antarctic is- of the number of species inhabit- land of South Georgia is one of the ing its shores. According to lead remotest outposts of Great Britain’s author Oliver Hogg from BAS, the
13 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED the Southern Ocean. If we are to understand how these animals will respond to future change, a starting point like this is really impor- tant,” added Hogg. the near-surface waters around South Georgia are some of the fastest warming on Earth, so this study You haven’t been diving in the provides a framework to identify ecologically sensitive areas and spe- Cayman Islands? You haven’t been diving. cies, identify conserva- tion priorities and monitor Breathtaking reef, wreck, canyon and wall dives, together with water temperatures future changes. Over of 27º and visibility of 30 metres make the Cayman Islands a diver’s paradise. You’ll an 81-year period from 1925-2006, research- encounter turtles, barracudas and stingrays and many more colourful and exotic ers observed significant species. Thanks to our rich marine life, it can get pretty crowded down there – warming, with a mean but fortunately not with other divers. You see, we only allow one boat per site. increase of 0.9°C in An example of the depths we go to make this an unforgettable experience. January and 2.3°C in August in ing levels are much greater last 50 years. The atmospheric the top 100m of the water col- than reported elsewhere in the temperature on the Antarctica THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CARIBBEAN. umn. Southern Hemisphere. Peninsula has increased by 2.5°C A significant decrease in warm- The temperature of the ocean over the same period and is one caymanislands.co.uk ing was observed at depths of around Antarctica has increased of the most rapidly warming areas 200m. However, these warm- by an average of 1°C in the on the planet. ■
X RAY Mag_March.indd 1 31/01/2011 11:47 14 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news
In Bahama Deep Successful expedition places humans at lower limits of Mesophotic Zone.
Text and photos by Michael Lombardi
Ocean Opportunity announced that is has successfully conducted an expedition to explore and document the natural history of the mesophotic, or ‘middle light’, zone from 200 (61m) to 500 (152m) feet in the Exumas, Bahamas. the not-for-profit organization, based in Rhode Island, USA, con- a-boxes ducted the expedition from April 28 mer Ca to May 8 and was hosted in the Ba- BS- from Kinetic hamas by the John H. Perry, Jr. Car- s ibbean Research Center—a facility breather dives in excess of 300 feet, tific discoveries.” ng e dli BS Kinetics GmbH rg an with a long history of advancements with one to 400 feet, and another When asked, “Why work to the on sy h Großweierer Straße 70 omic and ea 77855 Achern in marine technology and innova- reaching 446 feet. These explora- frontier limits of manned explora- Germany tions in ocean exploration. tions allowed the team to observe, tion?” Lombardi stated, “The reac- Fon: +49 7841 668437 nless and the mesophotic zone expedition first hand, below the presumed sea tion time, real-time decision making, stai UV -res built upon the Ocean Opportunity level at the end of the Pleistocene and personal interaction offered by istant team’s previous success in November ice age, some 370 to 420 feet below wet diving at these depths, as op- , small, ght s up to 80 2010 with a project at Andros in the today’s sea level. Numerous images, posed to robotics use, brings the raw li tr ed m ong riz Bahamas when they worked down to samples, and specimens were gath- and intimate experience of human & pressu for mera 430 feet—more than three times the ered, which are being evaluated by exploration back into the game. – near f ca ly each type o depth of conventional scuba diving. project collaborators. Nearly 70 years of marine science the expeditions are being led by Lombardi commented, “Working has been fuelled by the ability to ter photog wa rap explorer, Michael Lombardi, who to the lower limits of this newly acces- routinely access the shallow coral er hy nd has been funded by the National sible realm is wrought with challenges reef ecosystems—that excitement, u Geographic Society to carry out from a technical and psychological and creativity made possible by a re- & e the work. Collaborators on this latest perspective. We are working with the searcher actually being there cata- r b i expedition included individuals from best and brightest in the industry to lyzed the marine science field that f
the American Museum of Natural His- improve human accessibility to this we know today. We are on the verge n
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tory, the City University of New York, alien environment, and bring back of creating an opportunity for the r
a the University of Connecticut, and data and knowledge from each dive next 70 years. This is a very exciting c the University of Kansas. that will advance the necessary life time for benthic marine scientists.” ■ m .co the deep diving team conducted support technologies to improve in- www.bskinetics several mixed-gas closed circuit re- water efficiency, and catalyze scien-
15 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news Swimmers, a fun experience Dive Caching Everyone loves a great treasure write, and various items that might for sea lovers hunt, and the Diving Equipment be of interest to the dive cacher, Marketing Association (DEMA) such as collectible coins, lapel pins, A new original and fun idea has underwater has officially launched their new key chains, beads, money, stones, been born, so that water sport adven- real life, in-water game called or other treasures. These items, enthusiasts enjoy the sea by treas- ture. The DiveCaching. DiveCaching— known as, SWAG (Stuff We All Get), ure hunting. Any swimmer, snorkel swims are a an underwater variation of can include handmade items, stuff or scuba diver can hide underwa- great way “Geocaching”—is all about from the dollar store and anything ter ceramic figures called, Swims, to attract adventure and fun. else the DiveCacher can imagine. in a ceramic amphora, then fill in other swim- The basic idea behind Dive- Items don’t need to be expensive information online about the road mers to Caching is to locate containers but should be a reflection of the map with photos, videos, coordi- great free- called, caches, which have been cacher’s personality. nates and all the clues you want or scuba hidden underwater by divers using There are many rewards for Dive- to indicate so that another swim- diving a GPS-enabled device and a com- Caching, and everyone has their mer, snorkel- or scuba diver can enthusiasts, pass. When the cache is found, the own favorite reason for participat- find the treasure, hide another by placing finder logs their visit to the cache ing. Some will thrive on the fun and figure in the amphora and take the hidden online, and puts the cache back adventure of discovery. Others one in exchange to be hidden in treasures where they found it. The cache, enjoy exploring a new dive site or another corner of the world. With in the sea itself, is usually composed of a returning to one that they have not Swimmers, you will discover beau- you consider attractive because had, or simply because of its container holding a log book or visited in a while. Still others enjoy tiful underwater places you have of the marine species, any pleas- originality, it could be the perfect log sheet, something with which to practicing their diving skills or using never been, and you will live an ant sea experience you have location for a swim. And remem- new skills in navigation or search ber the environ- GEOCACHING and recovery, or just simply being ment. Therefore, Grown-up men and women are with friends and family. Some, es- the amphoras searching planet Earth, on land pecially the younger DiveCachers and swims used and in lakes and seas, all looking will love the treasure! should only be to swap worthless objects. They are the cache container is hidden made of clay, Geocaching, a fun, internation- underwater and out of sight of without lacquer al game that spread like a bush non-caching divers or swimmers. finish. The use of fire more than a decade ago, thanks to the Internet. Anyone with The surface coordinates of the non-self-degra- access to a computer, the Internet, item are recorded using a Global dable materials to help us to hide more ampho- a handheld GPS and, of course, Position System (GPS) and are are not allowed. rae and swims. There are already a bit of that childhood sense of posted online so that other divers Swimmers is a hidden swims in Spain, Italy and adventure can play can partake can find the cache. DiveCach- new activity that Egypt. Are there any swims in your of the game. GPS positions along ing is a form of “Geocaching”, a needs your sup- country? Swimmers is organizing with a few clues to the caches can decade-old land-based activity port to be suc- contests and competitions for be found on the Internet. Small trin- with more than five million partici- cessful! Diving you in order to make this game kets, sometimes not even that, are pants worldwide who are looking centers, activity fun and enjoyable, so check out found in durable containers, well- for (mostly land-based) caches centers and indi- www.swimmersexperience.com/ hidden but not buried. So, it’s really not the treasure they are looking hidden by others and posted on viduals interested en become a pirate and start to for, it’s the hunt itself that makes the internet. To view the introduc- in participating live the Swimmers experience. ■ the game interesting. Geocaching. tion video of DiveCaching visit: are encouraged com. www.DiveCaching.org ■
16 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news
Human Factors in Sport Diving Incidents
For the last two years, Gareth future incidents may be Lock has been working on prevented. This work has a paper which takes the been the baseline for his Human Factors Analysis and presentations on Human Classification System (HFACS) Factors and Diving Incidents, devised to investigate the which he has presented at root cause of incidents and DiverSE ’10, Eurotek 2010, accidents in aviation and LIDS and TEK 2011. (More applies it to sport diving, presentations are planned for covering both recreational this year, too, including the and technical diving. The Global Diving Conference in application of the HFACS to Germany in November 2011). U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps accident analysis Some reviewers have reduced accidents whose commented that such a root cause was violations system will not be adopted of rules or regulations from within a recreational sport approximately 44 percent to because it costs money, approximately 12 percent and therefore drawing over a nine-year period comparisons with an activity ending in 2000. (aviation or medicine) which is well funded, is not a valid The paper looks at how comparison. He leaves that incidents develop, and whilst to the readers to decide, but Three dive computers - Unlimited possibilities it includes the individual’s the drivers must come from actions to ‘create’ the the top down, rather than the event, it also looks at the bottom up. influence of the supervisor or organisation on how The full paper can be found the incident develops. By on the Cognitas website. ■ identifying those influences, www.OceanicWorldwide.com
17 X-RAY MAG : 43 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck rap
News edited by Brian and Millis Keegan
A group of Swedish divers is working on creating a wreck park in Lake Vättern. Vättern is Sweden’s second largest lake and is located in the center of the country.
Text by Brian Keegan for divers in Sweden, the group became interested in doing the same. The process The centerpiece of the park will be the of applying for the wreck park includes wreck of the Eric Nordevall. She was carefully documenting the condition of built in 1837 and is a rare type of side the wreck. They worked for one and a wheeler steam powered paddle wheel half years to get the permit to do the
ship that was built to traffic the Göta dives as www . n o rd ev all .co m Canal, an inland waterway that runs research Var v, through Sweden, connected through for the park, the lakes, between the cities Stockholm and got it. and Gothenburg. In order to fit through If they suc- the canal locks, they came up with a hull ceed, and design called a violin, or fiddle boat, that the park was narrow in the middle allowing the is estab- F ör e ning n Fo rs v iks paddle wheels to be recessed into the lished, another survey of the condition like this. It is not exactly an easy task! Erik damage. “I could dive Eric Nordevall, sides of the hull. of the wreck will have to be done in one told me that he’d wanted to dive Eric and I would have the chance to make the wreck was protected by the year, regarding how diving has affected Nordevall ever since his uncles dove her her available for others, to fulfill their law 1999 because of its historical the wreck. in 2001. They showed him some fantastic dream dives.” value, and as such prohibited to the extraordinarily well-preserved videos of her, and after seeing the amaz- this is not a one-man job. I asked: dive on. After reading about wreck of the Eric Nordevall sits upright on ing footage, he set a personal goal of “Who else is involved in creating this other efforts to create the bottom of the lake at a depth of 45 diving her some day. dive park? Between your day jobs and a historical wreck meters. That means it’s out of sport divers In the beginning of 2009, he read your other regular activities, how do you park reach, so the park itself will be aimed about how the Swedish maritime muse- and the others manage to find the time at tech divers. A number of other well- um planned to develop a dive wreck and resources you need for the work on preserved wrecks in the lake will also be park at Dalarö in Sweden. establishing the park?” included in the park; some wrecks will be he started the project alone with some within sport diving depth, but it will be Fulfilling the dream advice from one of his uncles, who is advanced diving. Eric then realized that this could be the now a part of the project as one of two I had a talk with Erik Rådström, who solution—to create a wreck park with a project leaders. “We are at the moment started the project. I was interested in possibility to dive historical wrecks but between seven to ten guys that are www . n o rd ev all .co m what inspired him to try to create a park under supervision to protect them from involved in the documentation of the Var v,
F ör e ning n Fo rs v iks Tech Wreck Park in Sweden 18 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Rusting cannons DISABLED person’s right is another person’s also a good thing to keep as a ref- wrong, so it will be a difficult discus- erence on deco. sion. on our next dive, we are going to DIVERS INTERNATIONAL I don’t put down all this time, so a dig them down a bit in the bottom shipper can go and do as he wants, so they stay in place. We are also WWW.DDIVERS.ORG and it results in damages to the going to place a line between the wreck. We have examples of ship- wreck and the anchor line. Nothing pers anchoring in wrecks from the can be attached to the wreck, so 19th century and dragging it until it we will be putting a weight near the hits the wrecks. We need a way to side of the wreck and attaching the keep them away from the start. line to that and a small float to hold it up at the same level as the upper BK: Any clever names in mind? deck.
The name is Dykpark Vättern. It’s a BK: What do you envision as the end brand that will include several com- result? panies in the future, just like Dalarö Dykpark. ER: I picture a wreck diving park with wrecks at all depths for all types BK: Are there any dive centers of divers and the Eric Nordevall as involved to run the logistics and if so a main attraction for tech divers. www . n o rd ev all .co m which one(s)? Many of the wrecks are dived regu-
Var v, larly by the local diving clubs. They ER: No centers at the moment, it are great wrecks that are worth visit- is too early in the process to start ing even for divers from other parts. talking to dive centers about these We just need to advertise them for things. the public.
PHOTO: DAVID PILOSOF F ör e ning n Fo rs v iks BK: I read a little on the system you BK: Anything else you would like wreck and all the work around the As soon as he came home from his you allow sport divers to dive on came up with to anchor the boat at to share with us that you feel is of dives. Everyone helps as much as day job, he started working with the depth-appropriate wrecks, or will the wreck site. Can you tell us a lit- importance? they can, and some do much more dive park project. the park’s management only cater tle about that? Are there any other work now, and others will do their he feels it is all worth it, though. to tech divers? major tasks you are currently work- ER: I would like to encourage all of part later.” Sure, it is hard work, but in the end, ing with to make this work? you out there with an idea to go for erik is dedicated. He has a vision, something good will come out of it. ER: Eric Nordevall will never be avail- it. If it is a good idea, you will suc- a dream. But all the hard work is The work he and his team are doing able for sport divers. You can’t do ER: The anchor system is a combi- ceed, but it will take more time than getting to him, especially since will open the area up for other safe dives at that depth when you nation of several different systems you ever could plan for! It will never the paperwork for the park is tak- divers and give them a great expe- are at that level. There will be other I read about on the Internet. We be fun all the time, but the good ing time from the dives and the rience by visiting a one of a kind, a suitable wrecks at shallow depths, think it will be a good solution at the moments will carry you through the documentation of the wreck. “I just truly unique wreck site! so there will be a wreck for every- wreck site. The bottom at the wreck rough parts if you set your mind to realized that I need to slow down a It’s great that one person’s dream one at any level. site is sand, and we decided to it. If everyone does one thing for the bit, I don’t want to get burned out. may result in a dive park that gives use used brake drums from a large diving community, we will have fan- ABLE We just had a very time consuming everyone a chance to dive on such BK: What do you think is the most truck; they weigh 50kg each and tastic options in the future! period getting the permits, sponsors, and interesting wreck while preserv- important aspect of establishing a look like a piece of pipe. They sink website updates and PR. I hope it ing it for future divers. We wish Erik tech wreck park like the one you themselves into the bottom, and by LINKS TO will calm in a couple of weeks and and his project the best of luck and are working on? putting a chain in one side of the The wreck park’s web site is: we can focus more on the diving will finish off with just a few more drum, it will dig down in the bottom www.dykparkvattern.se DIVE and documentation.” questions: ER: The hardest thing with the entire if you pull on one end. The Facebook page is: It turned out that much of the project is the work we have ahead We chose to put a buoy at 6m, www.facebook.com work that needed to be done he BK: Given the 45-meter depth of the of us when we are going to discuss because if the buoy at the surface needed to do on his own, resulting main attraction, how will tech div- who is suited to guide and arrange gets cut, we won’t need to go At the time of this writing, there are in late hours and few hours of sleep. ing figure into the operation? Will trips to the Eric Nordevall. One down 45m to pick up the line. It’s plans to translate them to English. ■ WWW.DDIVERS.ORG
19 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The Lion Wreck A couple of years ago, Johan The Flute looked astonishing, as if it had Luck Rönnby, professor at the Ma- gone down within the past year or so, The find was by pure luck. The divers— the masts still standing tall. Markus Hårde, Anders Backström and rine Archeology Institute of Jonas Rydin—were looking to dive a Lejonvraket Södertörn University in Sweden, Amazing woodwork steel wreck from the 20th century, out- got a call from two divers say- The images showed some amazing side the island of Värmdö. When the so- ing they wanted to show him woodwork. A carving of a lion on the nar picture of the site showed up on the rudder naturally led to naming the ship screen, the divers went down. Rather something, and they wanted to the “Lion wreck”. Rönnby found the surprised, they found a wooden wreck do it right that minute. He didn’t whole thing hard to believe. Just a few instead, richly decorated with wooden know what to think, but said, years earlier a ship was found from the sculptures and canon ports. The bot- very same era, so eerily well-preserved, “Sure.” He did not regret that tom depth read close to 50 meters (150 it was named the Ghost ship. That wreck feet). decision. was a remarkable find for the entire the future for the Lion wreck is an world of marine archeology, a one of a international research project together The divers had images of a pretty well kind, one thought. The research gave a with the Netherlands, England and intact ship with details telling him it had lot of insight into the past. Now, he was the USA. There have been talks about to be around 400 years old. He identi- looking at yet another well-preserved salvaging the Lion wreck, the know-how fied it as most likely a Dutch Flute, one wreck from the 17th century found near exists. The Maritime Museums of Sweden of the more popular trading sail ship Stockholm. The Lion wreck appears to have already salvaged an historical models during the 17th hundred, be- be untouched, so there are some hopes wreck—the well-known Vasa ship. Still, it cause it could be manned by fewer to find a cargo in the cargo hold. is a huge undertaking and is nowhere in sailors than other sail ships of that size. the near future. ■ ► Watch video You never know... As Markus Hårde and Jonas She might not be as historically impor- War I.” That information is a time stamp. Rydin’s group and a few other tant as their other finds, but every dive He put the bottle back in the set and on her has revealed something new. left it as they found it. “Many groups are dive teams were looking for On the latest dive, the team penetrat- still looking for the wrecks, and we want four steamships that went down ed the wreck and found a small room it to be as pristine for them as it was for in the outer archipelago of with a complete set of 20 pharmaceuti- us. We just hope they have the same Stockholm when they made a cal bottles. They were all in great condi- code of honor as we do and the other tion; many of them are still sealed and few [folk] that know its location.” ■ another intriguing find. with liquid inside.
Underwater cliffs at all depths makes Morphine the area a challenging place to search “I lifted a bot- even with modern technology, but all tle out of the four steamers were eventually located. set,” Jonas said, They were in excellent condition, basi- “and to my cally untouched, and the team would amazement, the like to keep it that way so the posi- label was still tions have not been disclosed. One on the bottle. It steam ship in particular caught the read Morphine, team’s interest. They knew the name and a date and of the ship and an approximate loca- a year. I can’t tion. What they did not know, was the quite remember extraordinary shape she was in. Five the year, but it years have now gone by, and only ten was sometime dives have been conducted on her. around World
A diver sheds light on a wood Jo nas R ydin / www .DeepSe a . s e carving on the Lion Wreck 20 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck Steamship Dix: Puget Sound’s worst maritime rap disaster discovered after 104 years
The steamboat Dix not been seen since. mond, tasked with collect- operated from 1904 OceanGate then provided ing fares, was absent from an ROV with an experienced the pilot house, leaving the to 1906 as part of the crew on Dive Bum, and on mate Charles Dennison in Puget Sound Mosquito 19 March 2011, the first video charge. Fleet. She was sunk in images of the wreck were Armored WWII trawler found in a collision, which re- recorded along with high- Disaster definition sonar. “The deep Off Duwamish Head, Dix ap- mains one of the most wreck is clearly a wood- proached near the Alaska Norway serious transportation hulled passenger steamer Coast Company steamer accidents in the U.S. from the Mosquito Fleet era Jeanie, and then mate state of Washington to and is in a location consistent Dennison (who, it turns out, with the last sighting of the was unlicensed) inexplica- this day. Dix,” said James. bly turned the vessel directly into Jeanie’s path. Jeanie Using a five passenger sub- Dix was purpose-built for was ten times the size of Dix marine and a remotely one route only—the run and loaded with iron ore. operated vehicle (ROV), across Elliot Bay from Seattle Even though Jeanie had Scott Boyd—wreck diver to Alki Point, then the main already reversed her en- and co-author of Northwest recreation area for Seattle. gines, and was barely under Wreck Dives—and under- on 18 November 1906, Dix steerage way, the impact water videographer, Laura was not on her customary was sufficient, given the James, discovered an historic Alki route, but was acting as much greater weight of the Mosquito Fleet Steamer in a relief boat for the Mon- Jeanie, to cause Dix to heel Elliott Bay near Alki Point (the ticello on the Seattle-Port sharply over on her port westernmost point in Seattle) Blakeley run. She left Seattle side. She quickly filled with The Jan Hubert that they believe is the SS Dix, with about 77 passengers. water, rolled over, and sank which sank in 1906 and has Her captain, Percy Ler- in 103 fathoms (188m). ■ The 50-meter-long M-1104, Jan Hubert, was a German armed trawler and minesweeper that collided with another vessel on 8 July 1941 and sank not far from the city of Kristiansand in Southern Norway. The wreck was located by side scan sonar last fall at a depth of 50m by divers Arne Wathne and Steinar Monsen, who first On 18 November 1906, the Dix visited the wreck on January 3. was underway from Seattle to “It was a fantastic sight that greeted us as we came down the bot- Port Blakely on Bainbridge Island tom line. In the incredibly good viz, we could see most of the vessel, with 77 passengers which stood there as if it was neatly parked along the side of the and crew when she cliff. Objects were still in place as well as cannons in both ends,” Arne struck the three- Wathne told Dykking, the Norwegian dive magazine. masted schooner M-1104 Jan Hubert is very similar to the Mosel, which was found Jeanie one mile west near the town of Lillesand in 2001 and has become a very popular of Duwamish Head. wreck. The excellent state of preservation of the two wrecks are also The Dix sank within reported to be similar. ■ minutes with a loss of 39 lives ► Watch video
21 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED found, but researchers wreck have never been able to rap reconcile any of the offi- cial versions with where the wreck was actually What sank the Soviet located. the prevailing official theories as to what sank destroyer Moscow? the Moscow come in four varieties: she was hit by a large-caliber grenade from coastal artillery; fire from enemy ships hit her; she hit a mine; or she was attacked by a subma- rine. As regards to the location of the sinking, scans were made of the sea floor at the alleged position, which was marked on sea charts but no remains of the ship Text by Julia Golosiy were detected. and Philip ‘Gisborn’ Yakimov Dive team On 1 May 2011, a Moskva (Moscow) was commissioned in 1938 and twice made port visits in Turkey before Operation Barbarossa began on 22 June 1941. Both Romanian-Russian- ships bombarded the Romania port of Constanţa with a total of 350 rounds on June 26, but Moskva either struck a mine or was torpedoed Ukrainian team of divers arrived in the city of Nearly 70 years ago, on About 13 hours later, at 4:40 pm, left out that the otherwise successful Constanta, following an invitation the night of 22 June 1941, three submarines—Щ-205, Щ-206 operation had cost the Soviet Navy by the leader of the Respiro Diving and Щ-209 (Щ is short for Щука or one of its finest ships—the destroyer, Society, Mircea Popa, who has been German troops crossed the shuka, which means pike in Russian)— Moscow. searching the Moscow for more than Soviet border, and opened received approval from the Kremlin even after so many years, it is quite two years. up the East Front. It is a com- to move towards the eastern shores difficult to determine the course of the first day, the team scanned mon belief that the Soviets of the Black Sea, while the M-33 and events and what actually caused the seabed in a sector that archival M-34 left for long-range patrol near the loss of the ship. According to the Romanian sketches showed was the were taken by surprise and the main base. It was the first day of testimonies on both sides, the explo- battlefield, but it produced no results. the command was passive the war in the Black Sea. sion was so monstrous that a column During the debriefing the same and slow to respond during on the night of June 26, Soviet war- of white flame and smoke shot more evening, the team once more went the first days of fighting. This ships attacked the Romanian port than 30 meters into the air. The ship over the various information discard- of Constanta. The artillery fire from broke midships, and the bow almost ing the scenarios that they consid- may be the case in other the Soviet vessels, which were led by immediately sank while the stern, with ered improbable. places but not in the Black the Kiev and Moscow, completely the still rotating propellers now stick- First, the team discarded the theory Sea. Already the same morn- destroyed the port’s oil reserves ing up in the air, remained afloat for that artillery from enemy ships sunk and also took out several trains with several minutes. Until it too slipped the Moscow. The armament of the ing the city of Sebastopol arms and ammunition destined for under the waves, the aft bridge was Romanian Royal Navy’s destroy- was blacked out, and the Romanian troops and the invasion of continuously strafing enemy aircraft ers, Regina Maria and Marasti, were Black Sea Fleet put on the Ukraine. with anti-aircraft fire. probably too light for such a devas- highest alert. And by 3:15 the these events were reported to Surprisingly, during all these years tating hit, and combined with the the Soviet government, but it was the story of the ship and its sailors fact that the Soviet vessels were tak- same morning anti-aircraft through the Soviet Information Bureau has been shrouded in an information ing evasive manoeuvres and were batteries shot down the first that the whole world learned about vacuum. Perhaps in the depths of the hidden under a smoke screen and German aircraft. the successful raid. But, as often hap- (Russian – ed.) Central Naval Archives already at the maximum range of pens, the full story was not told. It was answers to all these questions can be their 120mm Bofors cannons, this
22 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED ► Watch video Diving the Mosvka. Satellite image of Constanta and its port events of 26 June 1941. The meet- boiler compartment—aft gun tur- ing took place in the offices of rets, anti-aircraft cannons, stern the Marea Noastra magazine and fire post and filled torpedo tubes. was attended by Rear Admiral But further ahead, it was just a Petre I. Zamfir, who served on the tangle of collapsed metal, and it destroyer, Regina Maria, remem- is impossible to comprehend the bered the battle. This meeting magnitude of the destruction. The opened with an interesting piece team did two dives with a bottom of information, which was not time of 40 minutes, which allowed mentioned in any of the Soviet for a preliminary inspection of sources. the ship, but obviously was not According to this information, enough for detailed study. the Soviet vessels which were From the condition of the beyond the range of the German “box”—which in size was very heavy (280mm) Tirpiz coastal similar to the main superstructure, batteries attracted the fire from which was located at the edge the Romanian (105mm) bat- plete search of the area north of the S-10 minefield—the team tery, Elisabeth, which, unlike the of the S-10 mine field in order to concluded that the ship explod- German batteries, opened fire exclude this region from further ed as a result of striking a mine. three minutes after the Sovient search. During the second part, But it is difficult to understand how vessels entered the battle at 5:05. after about ten hours of search- a 200-kilo mine could cause such At that time the Soviet ships were ing with sonar at a depth of 45 severe destruction of the bow by scenario struck the team as quite the team did not really believe location of these events, and only moving at 26-28 knots, heading meters, they first located an inde- itself. This could be explained by unlikely. in the latter option either. a small error in navigation could 221°, which took them, directly finable object with the dimensions accounts that during the begin- Also the team considered it According to available archival have put this submarine within the towards the Elisabeth battery. The of eight by six meters, later affec- ning of the war, spare torpedoes unlikely that the Moscow were documents the only Romanian battlefield. However, the Kharkov light calibre of the battery was tionately nicknamed the “box”, were kept directly on the deck hit by heavy artillery from the submarine, the Delfinul, was much made an observation of wakes insufficient to defeat the ships at and a few seconds later, the near the explosion. Perhaps then, Tirpiz coastal artillery battery. further north at that time. The from two torpedoes just a few the beginning of the operation, sonar pictured the hull of a vessel it was a detonation of the torpe- According to German sources, as only submarine in any meaning- seconds before the explosion. but it’s probable that the fire from about 90 feet long. does on the port side that caused well as the report of the flotilla’s ful proximity was the Soviet U-206 Nonetheless, the team felt that the Elisabeth battery made the on May 5, divers went down the terrible explosion. flagship, Kharkov, the battery’s under command of Lieutenant-SA this scenario was the least likely of Soviet ships change their course to examine the wreck, and they Indirectly, this theory is substan- first salvo only came quite late in Karakaya. However, this vessel the two and turned their attention and withdraw along a bearing of were able to confirm beyond a tiated by the fact that after the the battle. It landed dangerously was not involved in the raid, and to the minefield theory. 123°. doubt that the Moscow was final- operation in Constanta, such tor- close to the Kharkov, but only in fact, he most likely knew noth- After analyzing all available ly found! The ship had rolled onto pedos were removed across the after the Moscow had already ing about it. It should be noted, information, the team pinpointed Diving the site its left side and was resting at a entire fleet. Furthermore, upon exploded. The team was then left however, that the northern posi- what was the most likely position While part of the team was at degree of 35º rising about ten examining of the wreck, the divers with the options of hitting a mine tion of the boat was only seven for the sinking—the first quadrant the meeting, the other part of meters above the seabed. The did not find any spare torpedoes or being struck by a torpedo. to eight miles from the alleged (south-western part) of the S-10 the team was busy searching the divers inspected the intact rud- except one detached from the mine barrier. Unfortunately, all area that was selected the previ- der and propeller. The whole aft main part of the crew compart- sources differ in regards to the ous evening. The first part of the part appeared to be in a good ment, which was on the right side accounting of the movement day was devoted to the com- state of preservation up to the first of the ship. of the Soviet vessels before the explosion, but by comparing the information, the team estimated the most logical course of the ship, taking all circumstances into account. the next day produced some interesting moments. Firstly, the team managed to meet with the historian, Prof. John Damaschin, who has spent more than a dec- ade trying to understand the
Constanta today The Kharkov 23 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Unfortunately, neither the weather nor the time allowed the team to dive French divers locate steamer sunk in 1892 to the cherished “box”, and it will await exploration by future researchers. After a two-year-long search, French divers—Florent M. Locatelli, Lerome Espla and on 26 June 2011, on the 70th anni- Romain Lhost—reach and identify the wreck of the steamer Maréchal Canrobert versary of the loss of the Moscow, the Respiro Diving Society is planning to resting at a depth of 108m. drop a memorial plate on the deck of the Moscow and a wreath in memory of In 1892, off Marseilles, the steamer some of the people were killed the disaster occurred 18 miles the dead sailors and the first Soviet war- Maréchal Canrobert collided with by being struck by the ram of the outside Marseilles, and was due ship, which perished during the Great the Ironclad Hoche and sank with Hoche when she crashed into the to an error of judgment on the Patriotic War. the loss of 107 lives. side of the steamer. There were part of the steamer’s captain. As a result of the expedition, all the on 7 July 1892, at the end of 85 passengers on the deck of the data and project materials, as well as a crossing between Bône and Maréchal Canrobert watching Well-preserved information about the location of the Marseilles in the Gulf of Lyons, the the maneuvres when the collision According to the divers, the wreck will be sent to the archives of ship sank in eight minutes, close happened. 75-meter-long vessel, which was Romania and Russia, and various web- to the Island of Planier, following the Maréchal Canrobert was launched in 1881, is still in an resources. Everyone in any way interest- a collision with the armoured bat- literally cut in two by the ram of astonishing state of conservation. ed in further information on the project, tleship Hoche during manoeuvres the man-of-war, and eight min- The dive, which took four hours should contact [email protected] with its squadron off Marseilles. utes later the two portions sank, and 20 minutes, was conducted In 1892, off Marseilles, the steamer Maréchal Canrobert collided with According to an article in New all lives, with the exception of two with trimix and CCR rebreathers, Thanks the Ironclad Hoche and sank with the loss of 107 lives. York Times dated 8 July 1892, 107 soldiers and three children, being which permitted a bottom time The members of the expedition would lives were lost. It is supposed that saved by the Hoche’s boats. of 30 minutes at 110m of depth. ■ like to thank Colonel Banshatsu Boris Shoylovichu and Lubyanovu Kolmogorov for the great job they have done compiling a large number of Former British flagship, HMS Ark Royal, could become documents and versions in the book, The leader of the destroyers—Moscow. Thanks goes also to Professor John the largest artificial reef in Europe Damascene who assisted and provided A group of divers in the United Kingdom is bidding to turn the decommissioned valuable information not previously stud- aircraft carrier in to a dive wreck. ied. The team is also grateful to all those who directly or indirectly helped in the Michael Byfield and James the idea could repeat the “We would love to get it ready We would love to get search and believed in the success of Doddrell, from Torbay, believe success of HMS Scylla, which, in time for the closing ceremony the expedition. turning the former Portsmouth- since being sunk, has attracted of the 2012 Olympics when we it ready in time for based ship into a reef could thousands of divers to could sink it, with a fireworks dis- the closing ceremony Note: Submarine U-206 did not return bring GB£40m into the Devon Plymouth, generating mil- play, to coincide with that and of the 2012 Olympics to base and is considered “missing in economy, creating the lions of pounds for the local get worldwide coverage. action”. It is difficult to say how credible largest artificial ship- economy. “It should bring us worldwide when we could sink the reports are about the torpedo track wreck reef in Europe. The divers have attention because Ark Royal is it, with a fireworks at the Battle of Konstanz before the sink- It would mean towing formed a team called the flagship of the Royal Navy, ing of the Moscow, and several hours the vessel to a port to Ark Royal Reef, which and it would be the third larg- display, to coincide later, the sinking of the Kharkov. There be stripped and was one of a number est artificial shipwreck reef in with that and get are documents about the successful made clean of interested buyers the world and the largest in attack of the destroyer, Soobrazitelnyi enough to be to tour the vessel last Europe.” ■ worldwide coverage. (the quick-witted)—the vessel, that sunk. week. It should bring us protected Kharkov—directed towards an unknown submarine in the square worldwide attention 3953. On the other hand, there is no because Ark Royal confirmation of the sinking of a U-boat from Kharkov, which, in fact, hailed the is the flagship of the Soobrazitelnui to protect and attack Royal Navy. submarines. This is another dark page in history to be investigated further. ■
24 X-RAY MAG : 43 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED To all those divers returning to the Red Sea travel news with an excess of luggage, take note: In a bid to woo tourists back more and more tourists from all to Egypt, Egyptair has doubled over the world, as people, when Edited by its baggage allowance for they travel abroad, like to travel Scott Bennett both international and domes- in their comfort zone with all their tic passengers. With this latest personal articles on them. This development, the airline has will be one incentive to travel to become one of the few airlines Egypt as not many airlines allow One price for one in the world allowing two free such baggage allowance”, said checked bags. The announce- Mr. Nabil. flight ment was made by Mr Medhat The effects of the Nabil, General Manager Egyptair democratic movement Budget airline add-on and Mr Adel EL Masry, Director in January, 2011 has charges set for EU-wide ban Egyptian Tourism Office in India. dealt a severe blow to “Because of the recent politi- Egyptian tourism. More
Most air passengers are all too famil- cal movement, the airline had than twelve percent Bennett iar with this scenario: after discover- lost its business considerably. This of the country’s GDP is ing a so-called ‘bargain’ fare online, move will help Egyptair attract derived from tourism. Scott the final cost is much higher due to fees and taxes. A growing trend among budget airlines to advertise a low price for fares before hitting the customer with a series of charg- es could be a thing of the past if a proposed ruling comes into effect. European Commission transport Evidence mounts that electronic interference impacts airplane safety chief Siim Kallas is considering a European-wide ban on hidden add- We’ve all heard the those pre- They are flat-out ignored by try study indicates that the real- Association( IATA), 75 separate ence hampering aircraft opera- ons to ensure airlines must offer the flight announcements about many passengers, who seri- ity may prove to be quite the incidents have been docu- tion. Spanning the years 2003 to final price for flights on their web- turning off personal electronic ously doubt such devices pose opposite. mented that may link mobile 2009, the report is based on sur- sites. The ruling would combat levies devices (PED’s) such as cell any threat to airplane safety. According to a report by phones and other electronic vey responses from 125 airlines made by airlines, such as Ryanair’s phones, blackberries and iPods. However, a confidential indus- the International Air Transport devices to electronic interfer- accounting for a quarter of £1.75 charge on all flights which is the world’s air traffic. Reported set to earn it £150m extra a year. incidents affected a range of The justification for the levy is to pay airline operations, from affect- compensation for delays and can- ed flight controls including the cellations. autopilot, autothrust and land- ing gear, to navigation and However, British Labour MEP Brian communication systems. The Simpson, chairman of the European culprit most often suspected in Parliament Transport Committee isn’t the incidents was cell phones, buying it. “Flyers are being ripped linked to four out of ten. The off by an endless list of charges that report, which stresses that it is airlines add to the prices they adver- not verifying that the incidents tise. I am calling for the European were caused by PEDs, includes Commission to look at how passen- a sampling of the narratives gers are being misled and how it provided by pilots and crew- can force airlines to be more trans- members who believed they parent in showing holidaymakers were experiencing electronic exactly what they’re buying.” interference. Sc andina v ian A irlin e s
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