The picturesque little port town pearls of the of Komiza is the home of the mediterranean Manta Diving Centre

Tito’s bastion

Text by Harald Apelt and Wolfgang Pölzer Photos by Wolfgang Pölzer

If there is any hidden secret in the From a distance, they just looked like a yellow Mediterranean, it is the island of Vis. variety of a gorgonian, but as I got closer, the real secret of this drop-off revealed itself in the For many years, it was a forbidden beam of my lamp. The remarkable growths in and restricted military area. It was front of me were black corals, a very rare spe- not until 1991, when the iron cur- cies of cnidarian in the Mediterranean. tain finally came down, that it was Scientists assume that these beautifully col- oured polyp colonies can reach the age of opened up for tourism and diving. 1,800 years, and as such, are one of the long- On Vis, small picturesque port towns est living sea creatures in the world. Inspired, I and spectacular wrecks, drop-offs began to position my lights. These corals were and caverns are waiting to be dis- not only scientifically interesting, but also a beautiful photo subject. covered by divers. Some minutes later, our dive guide Lorenz signalled us onwards. He wanted to show us The drop-off a grotto full of red corals. And indeed, not far Although I have had several hundreds of dives from the yellow corals, a cavern entrance big in Croatia, I have never seen a drop-off like enough to contain three divers, opened up this before. It is not just the vertical fall into a few meters into the rock. Unbelievable, but the deep blue, but the unbelievable natu- true, the ceiling of the cavern was completely ral growth that impressed me. Between the covered with precious red corals. As the bub- numerous red fan corals, I spotted what I first bles from our exhalations rose to the ceiling thought were other bright corals and bushes. and brushed against the furry white polyps, they retracted, leaving their fire red skeletons The precious red coral can be discovered even naked and exposed. For thousands of years, in depths that can be reached by scuba divers 71 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Josip Broz Tito pearls of the Croatia Josip Broz Tito was the they have served as raw materials go to twice the leader of the Socialist mediterranean for making jewellery. These growths depth to find Federal Republic of remind me of gnarly fingers, as them. Yugoslavia from 1945 they stick 10 cms out of the ceiling. But we do until his death in 1980. After a couple of quick shots, not have much During World War II, it was time to start our ascent. time to listen to Tito organized the anti- In shallow water, we had a final Marovic’s tales fascist resistance move- glide through the spacious tunnel of his work as ment known as the before being picked up by Lorenz a commercial Yugoslav Partisans. Tito Marovic’s . diver. Aniska, his was the most prominent wife and able leader of the Anti-Fascist Coral diver helmsman, has Council of National This Croatian, who is also fluent in swiftly brought Liberation of Yugoslavia English, has constructed his ves- the speedy dive (AVNOJ), which in 1943 sel from the bottom up. Marovic’s boat back to established the basis for boat design includes a large dive their dive centre, Josip Broz Tito post-war organisation deck and a cham- which they run of the country, making ber, which is included not only as together. it a federation. In Jajce, Tito was named a matter of safety, but also to sup- President of the National Committee of port Marovic’s professional as a Island history Liberation. On December 4, 1943, while commercial coral diver. In Croatia, We are on the small Croatian most of the country was still occupied Marovic is one of just a dozen who island of Vis, which is located on by the Axis, Tito proclaimed a provisional are licensed to harvest and sell the Dalmatian coast not far from democratic Yugoslav government. genuine red coral. the Italian border and about 45 km After Tito’s communist partisans stood The biggest specimens that we off the main coast. This strategically up to intense Axis attacks between saw on our last dive could possibly important position has secured Vis January and June 1943, Allied leaders bring in 200 Euros, which is, howev- a place in history books, not always switched their support to the partisans. er, hardly worth considering. “Real” for the better. King Peter II of Yugoslavia, American red corals would bring in ten times In the 4th century B.C., Vis President Franklin Roosevelt and British as much, but you would have to became the first Greek colony in Prime Minister Winston Churchill joined the Eastern Adriatic. In Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in officially a short time span, the recognizing Tito and his partisans at the island developed into Tehran Conference. This resulted in Allied a prosperous demo- aid being parachuted behind Axis lines cratic city-state and to assist the partisans. The Balkan Air an important centre was formed in June 1944 to control of commerce, which operations that were mainly aimed at soon founded its own helping his . colonies. It wasn’t until On 5 April 1945, Tito signed an agree- several centuries later, ment with the USSR allowing “temporary during the 7th and 8th entry of Soviet troops into Yugoslav ter- centuries AD, that the ritory”. Aided by the Red Army, the par- Croatians arrived on tisans won the war for liberation in 1945. the island, where they At the end of the war, all external forces mixed with the existing were ordered off Yugoslav soil after the population of Greek end of hostilities in Europe. Later, he was and Roman origin. The a founding member of Cominform, but original name of the resisted Soviet influence, and became island, Issa, was soon one of the founders and promoters of the ABOVE: One of the colourful drop-offs covered with col- “Croatiafied” to Vis. Non-Aligned Movement. He died on May our changing gorgones and the rare black corals. INSET 4, 1980, in Ljubljana. SourCe: wikiPedia ■ RIGHT: “Iaaaahhhh”: Stubborn mule, but historically, the most reliable transportation mode in the pathless hills

72 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Harvest: A Vis farmer Red Coral Jewelry pearls of the brings in heavy grapes for the tasteful Vis In jewellery, it is corals such as Corallium involves divers going down and harvest- wine “Plavac Mali” rubrum and Corallium japonicum that ing the sensitive coral branches. After mediterranean are used. The unprocessed hard skeleton that, the branches are cleaned, sorted of red coral branches is naturally matte, and processed by means of saws, knives, but can be polished to a glassy beautiful files or drills. Coral is not usually ground or Tito’s shine. cut on a wheel. Bastion Red corals resemble small leafless It is often porous, full of holes or cracked, It was not bushes up to a meter tall. Their valuable and in these cases it is of lesser quality. until the skeletons are composed of intermeshed Coral of that kind is sometimes filled with Croatians spicules of hard calcium carbonate, col- coloured wax to improve its appear- arrived on oured in shades of red by carotenoid ance. High-quality coral is of an even the island pigment. colour and free of cracks, blotches, stria- that it Even if red is thought of as their typical tions and holes. Since genuine untreated became an colour, corals come in a wide range of coral is rare, it does fetch good prices. important colours from red to white and from blue For that reason, anyone being offered navy base in and brown to black. The most popular what appears to be high-quality coral the Eastern are the red hues from pale pink, or salm- cheaply should be sceptical. The best Adriatic. on, to a deep dark red. Black corals and thing to do is to purchase one’s high- Countless gold corals are very much in fashion, quality coral jewellery from a reputable bloody bat- whilst the blue ones are extremely rare. merchant. tles and changes of power took place The white of the angel skin coral, suffused Like the pearls, these are also organic here, and later, during World War II, it with pink, is regarded as particularly pre- jewellery materials. It certainly is an inter- regained its strategic importance. Vis cious. Other well known colours are the esting fact that both of these are prod- became a base for Allied Air Forces and rich red Japanese Moro coral, the pale ucts of the water, chemically closely Navies, and was, at one time, also the pink “Boke” and the red “Sardegna”. related with each other. Both consist of headquarters for the staff of commander Red corals grow on rocky sea bottom more than 90 percent calcium carbon- Josip Broz, more famously known as Tito, with low sedimentation, typically in dark ate. And it really is a miraculous thing and later, as president of Yugoslavia. environments, either in the depths or in that nature has created both the scar- Its unique location as a strategic strong- dark caverns or crevices and have tradi- let coral and the pearl from the same, hold and outpost in the Adriatic unavoid- tionally been brought up from the depths unprepossessing raw material. ably made Vis part of the war. Even 45 with trawl nets. However, since first-class On the one hand, corals are not par- years after the war, most corals have now ticularly sensitive, but with a hardness of of the inhabitants were become rather only 3.5, they are much softer than any military personnel. For rare as the shal- other gemstone material. Their beauty this reason, the island lower of these can easily be impaired by the wrong has been completely habitats have treatment with, for example, cosmetics, off-limits for foreign tour- been largely hot water or bright light. Coral jewellery ists. No investments in depleted by har- should be kept in a safe place, and from infrastructure or tourism vesting, divers are time to time, cleaned with a soft, damp were made on the island, now deployed, in towel. If the surface of the coral does since only the needs of a less destructive get scratched, the jeweller can have it the Army and the few process, which repolished. ■ inhabitants of the island were accommodated. Endangered or not The only factory on the Red coral has been widely sought after since ancient times island was a small textile to supply a prosperous jewel industry, but over-harvesting manufacturer, which sup- of the deep-dwelling, commercial populations of this slow- plied the military. growing, long-lived species has led to drastic reductions in It was not until the the size of harvested colonies and has depressed the regen- 1970’s when two hotels, eration of the commercial banks. Red coral, however, is not an endangered species as such, due to the wide distribution Lorenz Marovic inspects the of small, non-commercial colonies spread out over numer- results of an extended dive ous predominantly coastal reproductive populations. ■ for red corals 73 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED A really lovely Mediterranean port town: Vis is the capital pearls of the of the island of Vis Croatia mediterranean What you see topside on Vis is also quite attractive, thanks in large part to the artesian wells under the island, which provide a plentiful supply of freshwater that makes the island one of greenest in the entire Adriatic. Apart from the typical Mediter- ranean vegetation, wine also seems to favour the sandy soils of the island. From their grapes, a full-bodied red- wine, the “Plavac mali“ is produced. This wine will please the palate of any discerning visitor with an interest in wine. Add some grilled fish, fresh out the ocean, or a lamb chop with some potatoes and rosemary, and what more can you ask for? The five best dive spots Blue Grotto. A very impressive cave, which is not to be confused with its more famous name sake on the island of Capri. From the little island of Bisevo in front of Vis, you either swim or dive through a narrow tunnel in shallow water. After a few meters, you will arrive in an expansive hall,

one in Vis and one in Komiza, were breakfasts. So, even in the high the more famous dive sites in the built to stimulate a bit of tourism season, Vis hasn’t got more than Northern Adriatic to shame. on the island. But because only 4000 inhabitants and will not turn Under the huge gorgonians, you domestic Yugoslavian tourists were into a tourist hell like so many other can find red corals of considerable permitted to go, it was all just an places in the region. size, even at air diving depths. exercise in futility. The only enter- A majority of the few guests It appears that the years during prises that really functioned were that visit the island are Italians, which the island was off-limits have the ancient wine growing and fish- who arrive by ferry from the ports protected and preserved Vis in a ing industries. of Ancona and Pescara on the historic time capsule. Independent opposite coast of the Adriatic. of Croatian dive regulations that A virgin island were enforced in more recent When the military finally evacu- Divers’ paradise years, Vis has already been using ated island in 1991 and the long- From a diver’s point of view, we licensed dive guides for six years. standing travel restrictions were can thank the military for hiding Thanks to this diligence, underwa- lifted, Vis was a virgin destination. these little secrets for so many ter archeological artefacts, which Even to this day, more than 17 years. Long stretches of coastline date all the way back to ancient years later, the island retains its and the surrounding archipelago Greek and Roman eras, have original charm. have hardly been dived at all. The remained largely intact. There are only a limited number impressive cover of marine life, of hotel beds on the island, of as well as the many wrecks and in extended ranges: which most are private bed and caves that lie further north, put Lorenz Marovic harvesting red corals at 70 meters of depth 74 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED LEFT: The wreck of the Greek freight ship Vassilios T can be dis- covered in a depth between 20 pearls of the meters and 55 meters. The ship was transporting coal when on mediterranean the night of March 19th, 1939, it hit the rocks of “Cape Stupisce” outside of Komiza. RIGHT: A diver investigates some black coral

rywhere. In shallow water, there is another cave to tempt divers.

Seal’s Cave. An extensive, yet uncomplicated, cave to dive on the island of Bisevo. It is named after the colony of monk seals that, until a few years ago, took up residence in the rear of the cave. Here, it is pos- sible to exit onto the beach, which was once the peaceful refuge of the seals. Aside from incredible vis- ibility, it is also possible to locate rare creatures such as orange cleaner shrimps and porcelain snails. This trip was supported by Manta Diving Centre. ■

which stretches out before the visitor. It in an excellent state of preservation. seems possible to enter only through this Laden with coal, it ran aground under entirely submerged, but huge entrance, mysterious circumstances on the night which is illuminated by reflected sunlight of March 18th, 1939. Since no one was from above, which paints the ceiling injured, it was suspected that it was of the huge vault blue. Past a ridge of intentional, and probably a case of rocks and some other weird formations, insurance fraud. it is possible to reach the bottom of the The bow and gigantic anchor are the cave at a depth of 20 meters. Right shallowest and easiest part to dive. The after that, a drop-off follows. stern, with the richly encrusted propellor and rudder, should only be visited by Teti Wreck. A partially well-preserved experienced and appropriately trained shipwreck in 7 to 35 meters depth that divers, since it is located at a depth of is easy to dive. The 70-meter long Italian 55 meters. freighter wrecked on the northern coast in 1930 after running aground due to Totac. A fantastic and richly overgrown a navigational error. The bow is com- drop-off that extends down to great pletely destroyed. The wreck is erect, depths. It measures up to anything that resting at an angled slope, with the you could see in the tropics. A rocky stern covered by beautiful coral growth. ridge runs from the island and seems The steering wheel is an excellent photo to disappear in the bottomless clear subject. Quite often, you will see conger blue abyss. The region of about 30 to eels on the wreck. 40 meters of depth seems to be cov- ered with red and yellow gorgonians Vassilios Wreck. Resting on its port and countless cup corals. There are side off the northern coast of Vis, this small caves in which it is possible to see 104-meter long Greek freighter remains red corals. Stately langusters are eve-

75 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The cowrie shell looks beautiful but is—besides human beings—the most dangerous enemy of the red corals. pearls of the BELOW: Drop-off walls are brightly covered with red gorgones Croatia mediterranean pation of Yugoslavia (repre- Winston Churchill had in polls, Šubašić and other Republic of Yugoslavia was sented by Josip Broz Tito) The mind when he supported the officials stepped down in established as a socialist state treaty became known as the Agreement. October. during the first meeting of the Tito-Šubašić Agreement. In reality, although Tito On 29 November 1945, Communist-led Parliament in Despite the signing, the led a coalition government while he was still in exile and Belgrade. Josip Broz Tito was new government that would and Šubašić became its for- after a questionable referen- named Prime Minister. have resulted was not eign minister, the real power dum, Peter II was deposed The official Yugoslav post- formed until more than four was in the hands of the by Yugoslavia’s Communist war estimate of victims in months later, on November Communist-led Anti-Fascist Constituent Assembly of Yugoslavia during World War 2nd, with the signing of the Council of Yugoslavia. the “Anti-Fascist Council II is 1,704,000. Subsequent Belgrade Agreement. This It was only in the follow- of National Liberation of data gathering in the 1980s brought an interim govern- ing year, in the autumn that Yugoslavia” (Antifašističko by historians Vladimir Žerjavić ment into the picture, effec- the Treaty became void, V(ij)eće Narodnog (Croatian) and Bogoljub tive until post-war demo- following elections held by Oslobođenja Jugoslavije, Kočović (Serb) showed that cratic elections could take the Communists. Following or AVNOJ). On the same the actual number of dead place. At least, this was what a communist victory at the day, the Federal People’s was about one million. ■

The Treaty of Vis Edited by Catherine GS Lim creatures just waiting to pop up in your viewfinder. Vis is a small Croatian island One wonders what the in the Adriatic Sea, measuring scene was like on 16 June roughly 90.3 square kilome- 1944, during the second world tres. Its highest peak stands war, when this isle became at 587 metres high, and over- the venue of the signing of sees about 5,000 citizens liv- the Treaty of Vis. This historic ing in two towns and several agreement was an attempt at smaller settlements. a merger between the exiled It is your typical idyllic Yugoslav government (repre- Mediterranean isle, complete sented by Ivan Šubašić) and with clear blue seas, sunken the Communist-led partisans wrecks and unique marine who fought against the occu-

76 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED fact file Croatia

SourCe: Harald aPelt, Cia world faCt book Croatia’s coat-of-arms

ABOVE: The island of Vis. RIGHT: Regional map with location of Vis

History Up to the close of Sea islands, which are made up Endangered Species, Hazardous good ferry connections World War I, the lands that com- of 1,200 islands, islets, rocks and Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine from Split via Hvar to Vis. prise Croatia today were part of ridges. Coastline: 5,835 km com- Dumping, Layer Protec- The transfer takes about the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In bines 1,777 km of the mainland tion, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, two hours. Price (car + 2 1918, a kingdom was formed by and 4,058 km of the islands. The Whaling. Agreements signed, persons): € 35. Time tables Diving The underwater scen- the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes, terrain of Croatia is geographi- but not ratified: Air Pollution- are available at ery around Vis is diversified and which became known as cally diverse. Along the Hungar- Persistent Organic Pollutants, www.jadrolinija.hr offers all that scuba divers and Yugoslavia after 1929. The coun- ian border are flat plains; near Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Entry to Croatia with passport experienced tech divers are try became a federal independ- the Adriatic coastline and islands (valid for six months) or identity looking for: colourful drop-off’s, ent Communist state after WWII, are low mountains and high- Population 4,493,312 (July card for EG-members. caverns, grottos and wrecks. under the strong leadership of lands. Lowest point: Adriatic Sea 2007 estimate). Ethnic groups: Good visibility is one of the big Marshal Tito. In 1991, Croatia 0 m. Highest point: Dinara 1,830 Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other Best time to visit The cli- advantages of this Mediterra- declared its independence from m. Natural : destructive groups 5.9%—including Bosniak, mate on the island of Vis is milder nean region. Most of the year, a Yugoslavia, but it took four more earthquakes. Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and than at the coastline. In summer- 5-7 mm is suitable; only in years to be realized. These years Roma (2001 census). Religions: time, are about the beginning of the dive season were marked by sporadic and Climate Croatia has both Roman Catholic 87.8%, Ortho- two degrees lower, and in win- is a drysuit more comfortable. bitter fighting between Croats Mediterranean and continental dox 4.4%, other Christian religions ter, two degrees higher than at There are four dive centres on and the occupying Serb armies. climate with predominately hot 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other religions the Croatian coast. Season starts Vis: In 1998, the UN supervised the summers and cold winters inland 0.9%, those with no religion 5.2% in beginning of May and runs return of the last Serb-held and dry summers and mild win- (2001 census). Internet users: until the end of September. Manta Diving, Komiza enclave in eastern Slovenia to ters along the coast. 1.576 million (2006) www.manta-diving.com Croatia. Government: presiden- Accommodation During Issa Diving Centre, Komiza tial/parliamentary democracy. Environmental issues for- Languages Croatian 96.1%, the high season, it is difficult to www.diving.hr/idc Capital: Zagreb ests are being damaged by Serbian 1%, other and undesig- get transfer tickets and accom- Diving Centre ANMA, Vis air pollution from metallurgical nated languages 2.9%—include modations. There are only a few www.anma.hr Geography Croatia is lo- plants and its resulting acid rain; Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slo- small hotels on the island (three Dodoro Diving, Vis cated in southeastern Europe. It industrial and domestic waste is vak, and German (2001 census) in Vis, one in Komiza). But there www.dodoro-diving.com borders the Adriatic Sea, be- causing coastal pollution; civil are some more private rooms tween Bosnia and Herzegovina strife between 1992-95 led to Currency kuna (HRK). and apartments available, Deco Chamber and Slovenia. Strategic loca- the need for land mine removal Exchange rates: 1EUR=7.2HRK, which can be booked through The Manta Diving Centre has its tion: Croatia controls most land and reconstruction of infrastruc- 1USD=4.6HRK, 1GBP=9HRK, the diving centres or at the tour- own decompression chamber routes from Western Europe to ture. Croatia is party to these 1AUD=4.26HRK, 1SGD=3.38HRK ist agency, Darlic & Darlic: on board the dive boat. The the Aegean Sea and Turkish agreements: Air Pollution, Air tel. 00385-21-717 205 next big decompression cham- Straits; Off the coast of Croatia Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Travel by car or plane to Split: www.darlic-travel.hr ber is at Split. Transportation via lie a vast majority of the Adriatic Climate Change, Desertification, During summertime there are speedboat or helicopter. ■

Boats in the harbour at Komiza 77 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED technical matters

Dealing with Column by Cedric Verdier Fitness Training rent and drag off your deco tanks, your i.e. the ability of your body to efficiently a way to determine the ratio between fat lower BMI means a less buoyant body,

bailout tank(s), your huge twinset (the transport and use the O2 in your lungs) tissues and muscles in your body, based which in turn means a lesser need for one you nicknamed Potemkin!) or your and risks of . And on your age. A lower BMI has the follow- , something that all divers should By Cedric Verdier, favourite , swim at the surface, a better use of the means a bet- ing significance for a rebreather diver: appreciate. And with less , re- climb the ladder or the shore and carry ter/slower ventilation. You are less exert- breather divers have usually a better trim. BAFA, International Fitness Association everything again! And some people think ed if you have to swim for a long time, or • Less fat and more muscles is a good • More muscles also mean more strength, Instructor, IFA Sport Nutritionist we do that just for fun! Needless to say, harder than usual, and it becomes easier way to decrease your susceptibility to something that can prove to be useful in

preparing for these kinds of dives goes for your body to get rid of the CO2 you DCS. Because of a higher vascularisation, case of an unexpected situation (fight- beyond just resting the evening before produce. muscles tend to be less prone to DCS ing against a strong , holding on a the dive and drinking a The Body Mass Index than poorly perfused fat tissues. shotline, etc.) or an emergency (helping There is no such thing as safe so-called energy drink a (BMI) is • Muscles are heavier and less another diver to surface, rescuing a diver technical few minutes before buoyant than fat tissues and removing him/her from the water, kitting up. It takes (1.10gr/cm3 for muscles etc). without proper preparation. But year-round prepara- and only 0.90 gr/cm3 preparation means much more tion. Moreover, it’s a for fat tis- The Body Mass In- than just checking equipment, lifestyle! sues). dex can be calcu- going through and So, a lated by different The benefits complex equa- “What-ifs”. It is also a matter of of fitness tions based on long-term preparation. training the skin thickness, A better car- or more simply, Just think about how strenuous a techni- diovascular with modern cal dive could be and how it impacts system means digital scales. your body. You carry tons of tanks, cases, a lot for your Obesity is bags and equipment, travel for hours in body. It doesn’t when your an uncomfortable position, gear up with only improve your BMI is a under a tropical sun, and wait dives but also your long minutes before being able to jump general health. in the water. And this is just the beginning Some studies show that of the stress you are going to put your there is a relationship body through. You still have to swim to go between VO2max down, swim on the bottom, swim to go (your maximal up, on-gas, off-gas, fight against the cur- O2 consumption, for Technical Divers

78 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED education Fitness Training over 20 percent, if you are under the water with all the gear on. after surfacing. Your heart has to 35 years of age (31 percent for During the dive, swimming be- pump faster and harder to supply women). But if you are older than comes less tiring and less stressful, blood to your muscles when 35, then obesity only appears if allowing your muscles to better you already have a your BMI is over 25 percent (37 avoid cramps. You swim more peak in percent for women). So, check it efficiently and more relaxed, and out on a regular basis! your gas consumption (or your oxygen consumption, if you More comfort dive with a rebreather) Fitness is of paramount impor- doesn’t go through tance for your comfort the roof every bub- ble never forget to spend level at the surface time formation in your blood- five minutes every time and underwater. Be- stream. to exercise your abs. They help fore the dive it gives you to keep a good posture at you more strength you A good program the surface and to stay horizontal to carry the tanks have to Fitness training is like so much else underwater, hence avoiding back

and all your kit, no- swim slightly in life. You have to find the right problems when you carry heavy Viatour

ticeably reducing the harder. After balance between too much and stuff. L u C pre-dive stress. the dive, your not enough. Too much and your heartbeat) and Car- dons, liga- It also helps body will be body becomes tired, reducing Improving your diac output, and im- ments and you subjected to a your motivation. Not enough and cardiovascular system proving any of these comes joints. It also helps you to certain level of the results are difficult to perceive. Aerobic exercise refers to exercise with some clear benefits to a reach all your equipment (sling post-dive decom- So, no need to hurt yourself, if that involves or improves oxygen rebreather diver. The best way to tank clips and D-rings, isolation pression stress. But the only kind of physical activ- consumption by the body. Aero- train your aerobic energy produc- valve on your twinset, etc) more to one of the most ity you’ve done in the last few bic means “with oxygen”, and tion system is to use the muscular easily. Always do a short—about stand up, stressful events is years was to move your giant flat refers to the use of oxygen in the group you’re supposed to use in five minutes—but careful and slow walk and to climb a ladder screen TV from your living room body’s metabolic[2] or energy- diving. Swimming, but also running stretching session at the end of jump in (or anything else), minutes to your bedroom. Better to start generating process. Many types or bicycling are some of the best each aerobic training session. Go slowly and gradually, rather than of exercise are aerobic, and by training methods. Practice two or through all the main muscles and giving up after a week. definition are performed at mod- three times a week, at moderate joints and gently stretch them one 1. Get more muscles. Which erate levels of intensity for ex- intensity but for at least 30 to 60 by one for at least 20 seconds. ones? The ones you use the tended periods of time—about 85 minutes. A heartbeat monitor can most in diving. You don’t need percent of your maximum output, help you to adjust your intensity, Don’t forget to become the future governor depending on your age—but is following these recommenda- hydration and diet of California for that. Just slowly more or less stable for a long pe- tions: A proper hydration program increase the mass of your legs, riod of time. Anaerobic exercise doesn’t start a few minutes before chest and back and their abil- is what happens when you need Maximum heart rate = 220 – age a “big” decompression dive. You ity to transform into energy the your muscles for a very short and should at least increase your fluid nutriments they store. Between intense period of time. Of the two If you haven’t done any exercise intake 24 to 48 hours before the one and three times a week, go forms of , aerobic is for a couple of years, keep your dive. Food is also a very important to a gym club and work out for the one you use the most in div- heart rate between 60 and 70 issue, as most of the people have 20 to 40 minutes. Focus on some ing, while you swim at the surface percent of maximum heart rate. an improper balance between critical muscular groups like quad- or underwater. With more training, you can slowly the different types of nutrients: riceps (the thighs), back, deltoids Aerobic activity has a benefi- increase your target heart rate. carbohydrates (glucose, or glyco- (shoulders) and arms. If you have cial effect on your Vital Capac- gen stored in the cells), (fat) enough free time to go working ity (the maximum amount of Become more flexible. and proteins. out several times a week, a com- gas you can exhale from your Proper stretching is an important A good starting point for your plete circuit (all body muscles) lungs), Stroke Volume (the blood part of any fitness program. It daily intake is 60 percent of sugar once a week is a good idea. And pumped by your heart at each helps to protect your muscles, ten- (“slow sugars” like bread, pasta

79 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED education Fitness Even if you feel A healthy lifestyle after a while decreasing) over-weight, don’t If you committed to a fitness blood and heart try to reduce training program, it might rate, something you don’t your food in- be the right time to also really need during a tech- take. Just select improve your lifestyle. nical dive. And caffeine carefully what Quit smoking. Nicotine and is a diuretic that increases you eat. A techni- 32 other components de- dehydration and definitely cal diver with a light/ crease your ability to prop- requires a P-valve on your medium level of erly use your alveoli for ef- dry suit. exercise should have ficient . Slow Most technical divers a daily intake around down your alcohol intake. spend a lot of time prepar- or rice (40 x weight) calories. For Alcohol is as high as fat in ing their equipment and are more instance, if you weight 80kg, caloric content. No chance fine-tuning their dive plan useful than “fast sugars” you should eat 3200 calories to loose your love handles and decompression. like candies), 30 percent of per day, and that’s quite a if you don’t give up the 20 Just don’t forget that proteins (meat, fish, cheese, lot of food. Have a look at beers you usually drink to your most important tool is milk, eggs) and 10 percent a nutrient table to have an celebrate a good and safe not your dive gear but your of lipids (unsaturated oils). idea of what it is. Spread deep dive. Slow down your body! ■ Don’t forget a large portion this food over three meals, caffeine intake. Caffeine of fibres (salads, fruits) to according to the above (in tea, coffee, soda) is a Aboard the NOAA help your digestion and get 60-30-10 ratio. stimulant of the basal meta- research vessel, Ron Brown, the necessary vitamins and bolic rate, increasing (and Operations Officer LT Mike minerals your body Hoshlyk’s duties include act- needs. ing as the liaison between the scientists and the ship’s Some proteins crew, serving as dive mas- (amino-acids) are ter for the ship, standing good anti-oxydants, in as the ship’s medical but physiologists are officer, conducting dam- still puzzled with their age control drills, and safety ability to decrease and lifesaving equipment one’s susceptibil- maintainance. He endures ity to oxygen toxic- long periods at sea by keep- ity. More proteins ing to a daily routine. From also actually helps 12-4am, Mike is on navi- gational bridge watch; he to decrease your catches a bit of shut eye , before he is on watch again the ratio between from 12-4pm; he exercises a oxygen metabolized bit and then gets to do it all (used by your body) again the next day, seven

and the CO2 pro- days per week. Mike’s daily duced. A good way fitness regime, proper hydra- to decrease your tion and diet, rest and relax- ation helps him maintain a CO2 production and to save your scrub- healthy outlook, focus and noaa on the job. ber!

80 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED media the Wrecks Books Film DVDs CDs and Shores of Long Island, NY Edited by by David Rosenthal Catherine GS Lim 372 pages A Shark Documentary point & click We admit that the waters will be cold. The Made With on bold links currents will be strong, and alas, the visibility Heart usually isn’t much to brag about. So why dive Sharkwater in the waters of New York? Well, the more- Directed by than-70 stories in this book tell you precisely Rod Stewart that. Written for and non-diver, this 89 minutes book allows you to savour the excitement of Northeast Technical scuba diving. Indeed, “I wanted to the very difficulties of diving off Long Island – make a film that the variable visibility, cold temperatures and shows sharks the strong currents must be some of the reasons way they really that divers continue to make the location their are, as beautiful The Certified Diver’s underwater playground. That, and the countless shipwrecks in the and magnificent Handbook: The vicinity (some more than 500 feet long)… Writer David Rosenthal creatures that Complete Guide to is a native New Yorker with more than 500 local dives to his name. don’t want to hurt Your Own Underwater While the stories provide sufficient adventure for the reader, there humans, and to Adventures are also site maps and photos to enhance the story-telling. For the show how our fear has blinded us to the fact by Clay Coleman convenience of readers who want to read about specific wrecks that their populations have been reduced by 90 or sites, he has added a site/equipment index in the book. ■ percent over the last 50 years.” —Rod Stewart, Yes, we know that this book Director first appeared on the book- To say that the filming of the documentary, stores way back in 1994. Sharkwater, was a challenge must be the However, it still warrants for Health understatement of the year. Despite having a read from new as well Care and Diving Professionals never shot a video camera before, Director as seasoned divers. The Softback: 186 pages, Rod Stewart wanted to produce a beautiful reason is simple. This book Aqua Press, April 2008 film about sharks. This promising premise turned must be the ultimate how-to guide to how potentially deadly as Stewart, in teaming up with life should be like after receiving your C-Card. Call it a If your interest veers towards the medical conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd 384-page passport to your new life as a diver. This book cov- side of diving, particularly in the area Conservation Society, gets on the trail of the ers the many many aspects of diving, from renting/buying of hyperbaric medicine, then this book international sharksfin trade. equipment at the right prices, planning dives, executing dive should somehow find its way onto your During the production, they had to contend expeditions, safety, rescue procedures, etc. Different types of bookshelf soon. This 186-page book is with a pirate fishing boat in Guatemala, a dives are covered, including , diving, diving a comprehensive manual covering the gunboat chase, espionage, gangsters, corrupt at night and . One thing that we can many aspects of hyperbaric medicine. legal systems and attempted murder charges, identify with is the fact that this book shows how one can get Targeted at those who see themselves as putting their lives at risk countless times. on a dive trip regardless of the location, budget, time of the a future Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Filming took place in 15 countries, with the year, and availability of your regular dive buddy. No need to or Certified Registered Nurse, the majesty of the world’s sharks taking centerstage. confine this wonderful sport to sporadic weekend trips (too topics covered run the gauntlet of Amid the exploitation and corruption surround- short!) and Christmas vacations (too crowded!). Author Clay the regulations, chamber design and ing these creatures, viewers get to revel at these Coleman shows how divers can make diving an integral part operation, environmental health, diving fascinating creatures. Watch this documentary of their lives (the way it should be). As it says on the cover: and hyperbaric physics, various roles of and you’ll come away in awe of the beauty of “You’ve earned your C-Card, now use it!” Yes, we know how team members, fire suppression systems, life and how our actions affect (and threaten) that feels like… ■ patient care and management, etc. its tenacious balance. It’s no wonder the film Edited by Steve McKenna, this manual enjoyed a record-breaking box-office opening incorporates the British Hyperbaric Association Core Curriculum weekend, as well as receiving 21 international and serves as an approved course for health care and diving awards at film festivals worldwide. ■ professionals. ■

81 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Review Diver media by Tony Groom Show me your fish identification, please! Seafarer Books 216 x 135mm, 336 pages 20 bw / 12 colour illustrations By Arnold Weisz you can’t go back ISBN: 978 1906 266 066 into the ocean to The interactive reef fish round up all the This book reads like an adven- idenfication DVD for suspects, use your Practical Handbook ture novel, complete with Florida, Caribbean and computer. For any of Marine Science, Third Edition wartime action and intrigue. It the Bhamas by Canadian Underwater CSI, the edited by Michael J Kennish tells about the life and times of Reefnet is out in its fourth search panel makes 896 pages one Tony Groom, who has been edition. They have put the job of looking ISBN: 0849323916 diving since the age of 17 in the together a rather impres- for the “most want- Royal Navy, and continued his sive package containing ed” easy. There The oceans cover 71 percent of the earth’s underwater adventures as a satu- more than 4500 images, are a wide range surface. The mean volume of the oceans is ration diver in civilian life. 1800 videoclips describ- of search criteria, 9 ~1.35 x 10 kilometres. The mean depth of the While in the navy, Tony special- ing over 840 species from so you can narrow oceans is ~3,700 metres. The Pacific Ocean is ised in diving and bond disposal in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. down the final line-up to a few choices. the deepest at 4,188 metres, followed by the Indian the Falklands War. It was not a job I have used a bunch of such books and There are far more features in this program Ocean at 3,872 metres and the Atlantic Ocean at for the ordinary soldier, as it required CD’s over the years, as “knowing your fish” than I can manage to fit into this article, 3,844 metres. a lot of courage and steel-mindedness. The spe- is an important part of the job-description. but I would also like to mention the articles You can find this information within the first four cial breed of men who took upon themselves the Without hesitation, this is one of the bet- and also the identification charts. They are lines of the first page of this book’s first chapter. incredible task of ensuring the safety of their com- ter products. After having flipped through all in the very handy PDF format, which The rest of the page practically overflows with rades and civilians shared a bond that those out- images, videoclips from awesome hammer- means you can get nice prints. If you can’t information, and the same can be said for the side their circle would never understand. head sharks to tiny dwarf seahorses, I don’t bring the laptop on your dive trip, at least remainder of this impressive volume. Despite this, Tony chronicles his wartime experi- really miss the books with colour drawings you can make some prints with some of the Weighing in at an impressive 896 pages, this third ences in a down-to-earth, matter-of-factly sort of that do not really match the real thing information you would like to use. And to edition is not to be taken lightly. Covering ocean manner. There is no arrogance in the prose, no out there in the blue. Having the fish swim help you register your sightings, there is a physiography, marine chemistry, physical oceanog- excessive patriotism. In other words, he tells it as it around in their little virtual Sighting Log. raphy, marine geology, , and marine is. reality ocean on your Having heavily pollution and other anthropogenic impacts, this And the same goes for his life after the military, computer screen is a far endorsed this prod- book offers an extensive cover- as a commercial saturation diver. Spending as better option. uct, I can’t leave it age of practically all many as 28 days in a isn’t for everyone. With a few clicks you without mentioning aspects of the marine Sometimes, you’re on your own, sometimes you’re can have a unicorn file- some points where environment. there with five other guys living in that compact fish swimming around improvements could With such a wide scope, space. Yet, in the oil fields of the North Sea, the on the top right of your be made. More this third edition takes care dangers that abound are no less harrowing than screen, while you take a images! Yes, I know of the multi-disciplinary those found in the battlefield. closer look at a sketch to not all the fantas- needs of anyone working As one flips one page after another, one gains get to know the fellow tic creatures of our in the realm of marine sci- a strong respect for Tony, as well as the men who intimitely. You can also oceans are readily ence and geology. With served and worked alongside him. This book is truly get a lot of information available as mod- more than 800 tables and a page-turner, giving readers a rare (and long about his nearest family els, but... Maybe I’m figures, this single reference overdue) insight into the lives and experiences members, where to find getting a bit slow does away with the hassle of wartime mine disposal and , him and what his favourite dinner is. The sighted, but I would love another font used of heading to the library or made all the more exciting and mind-boggling by small windows that pop up on your screen for the text—maybe one size larger as well. scouring online databases the fact that the incidents in the book are true. ■ don’t have as fancy a design as the CODIS Or... I could get some spectacles! ■ every time you need to look program frequently used in CSI Miami, but up some obscure informa- they work well and fast. What they have in For more information: www.reefnet.ca tion. This handy guide is sure common is a lot of information. Product: Reef Fish Identification (Florida – to have the info somewhere, Eyewitness accounts from divers are as Caribbean – Bahamas), 4th edition and lets you log in some arm- unaccurate as from fishermen. And picking Publisher: Reefnet Inc. strengthening exercises at the a fish out of an “mugshot” catalog, hours or ISBN: 978-0-9685300-7-8 same time. ■ days after a dive, has never been easy. If

82 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED ED_X-ray_61x110 09.11.2007 22:16 Uhr Se

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83 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Unique Dive Site

Imagine a beautiful shallow green water reef with kelp, anemones and sponges among which lots of colourful fauna darting in and out and. Now imagine that the reef is growing on some weird sandstone arches and that the water is fizzy like sparkly mineral water, with bubbles coming out of the reef structure.

Text by Peter Symes Photos and illustrations courtesy of Hans Christian Andersen, BubblingReefs.com The Bubbling Reefs At first glance, from a distance, anything but ordinary. The thriving The gas is methane, and what lies in the upper layers oxidise the These structures can be up to the shallow stone reefs in the reef is not only full of interesting beneath the seabed is what you methane, they turn the loose 500 m2 and consist of columns shallow water off the northern macro life—in large part thanks to could call an oil field still in the sand into solid carbonate up to four meters high, arches, peninsula of Jutland, Denmark, the marine reserve status the area process of forming. cemented sandstone structures. It complex formations of overlying does not seem to be much out of enjoys—but delicate arches and The methane most likely stems is believed that the cementation slab-type layers, and pillars up the ordinary. Diving in Denmark pole-like structures poke out of from microbial decomposition occurred in the subsurface, and to 4m high. The rocks support a is all right—it has it moments and the sand. The overgrowth of kelp of plant material deposited that the rocks were exposed in diverse ecosystem ranging from decent locations, but cannot and sponges gives them a furry during the Eemian and early the open by subsequent erosion bacteria to macroalgae and compare to the often exceptional appearance. But it is the slow Weichselian periods, i.e. 100,000 of the surrounding unconsolidated anthozoans. diving that the other brethren fizz of bubbles coming out from to 125,000 years B.P. The gas sediment. In other words, the Many animals live within the Scandinavian countries can the inside of these structures that then seeps up through the sandy surrounding sand was later rocks in holes bored by sponges, offer—with a few exceptions, and gives the dive experience here a seabed forming channels, or washed away by changing polychaetes and bivalves. Within this is one of them. definitely surreal tint. funnels, along the paths of least currents, leaving the solidified the sediments surrounding the As you get closer, you will resistance. parts standing free as a sculpture seeps, the abundance and soon realise that this location is So, what’s going on here? As other aerobic microbes garden. diversity of metazoan fauna

84 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Denmark

ABOVE & RIGHT: Views of the columns that rise up from the sea floor at the bubbling reefs. Images captured and compiled from the DiveFilm Podcast Video by Hans Christian Andersen, which can be viewed at: www.mefeedia.com

Distribution of ‘bubbling reefs’ is poor—probably due to Tyvholm, Kølpen and Deget, due to the vast number of birds in the northern part of the the toxicity of the hydrogen making up about 45 hectares all nesting on the islets, including a Kattegat and in the Skagerrak sulphide contents in the gas. together. number of rare and protected off Hirtshals, and gas wells in Only the biggest islet is species. Vendsyssel and on Læsø (light The Hirsholm islets inhabited, most of the time by In 1981, the reserve was area). The seeps and gas Hirsholmene (the Hirsholm islets) no more than 8-10 residents expanded to include the wells follow a NW-SE direction parallel to faults along the are located approximately five though through the summer surrounding sea area consisting Fennoscandian border kilometers north-east of the port season. Yachters will visit or of about 2,400 hectares. The of Frederikshavn, at the tip of come over by a small ferry. landscape is dominated by the Jutland pensinsula. Beside The islets are state-owned and rocky embankments and the main islet, Hirshold, there is surrounded by territorial waters. banks of deposited sand and one larger islet, Græsholm, and In 1929, the site was declared sediments along the beaches. a group of smaller islets called, a Scientific Sanctuary, mainly On some of the islets, the rocks

Proposed formation of a 4 m high pillar at 10 m water depth in the Kattegat: (A) Methane-oxidation induces precipitation of carbonate, which lithifies the sediment along gas channel. (B) Cementation of sediment fills channel and the pillar structure grows from outside. (C) Exposure of the carbonate- cemented sandstone pillar on sea floor as a result of erosion of unconsolidated sediment; meth- ane seepage visible in the vicinity. Erosion may have been triggered by post-glacial isostatic uplift in the Kattegat

85 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Bubbling Reefs

THIS PAGE: Some of the marine life found at the bubbling reefs ABOVE: Detail view of the spines on a starfish

have been covered by a thin Diving there layer of top soil formed by There are no regular dive trips decomposed seaweed. going out there, although The small islets, Tyvholm and some of the local dive shops Kølpen, are almost completely in Northern Denmark will barren and consist only of rocks, occasionally put excursions giving an impression of how the to the islets on their tour whole area looked in times past. programmes. Sediment carried by currents The islets are only 20-30 around the islets have been minutes sailing with a RIB from deposited in some locations the main coastline, so dive clubs, creating small sandy beaches, or dive centres, will often launch especially on the north side of their boats from a jetty in one of Græsholm and the main Islet, the local marinas. Diving is easy Hirsholm. The site is important for with depths ranging from only marine biology research. There is 9-12 meters, although visibility a visitor centre at the site. can vary from the extraordinary to pea soup. ■

ABOVE: Instead of scales, Agonus cataphractus is totally cov- LEFT: Alcyonium digitatum, attaches CENTER INSET: One of the largest ered with hard bony plates aligned in lateral rows of sharp itself to rocks, shells and stones in species of jellyfish, Cyanea capillata spines. It has a wide, flattened, triangular head that is over three locations with storng currents and- is commonly called the Lion’s mane times its body length, which is elongated and tapered. This fish where the normally predominent jellyfish because of its highly distin- can grow up to a length of 21cm algae do not grow to abundance guishable mass of thin, long, hair-like due to lack of light or the presence tentacles. Growing up to 30-50cm in TOP LEFT: Metridium senile is an anemone, which varies a lot in of preying crabs and gastropods. diameter, it is usually yellowish brown its form and can grow up to 30cm. Its irregular base is wider than Found on the lower shore but more or reddish in colour the column. Its many tentacles make a ‘plume’ over a parapet often sublittorally at depths of at the top of a smooth column when the anemone is expanded approximately 50m Illustration of the underwater landscape at the bubbling reefs 86 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED point & click on bold links

Edited by Gunild Symes

All PHotoS are CourteSy of tHe indiVidual artiStS and gallerieS Ocean Arts Paintings & Sculptures inspired by the sea...

Gini Holmes BP, 2005, Printmaking Giclée, Open Edition, 16 x 13 inches Original Price: US$ 150, € 95, UK £ 74. www.mesart.com A traditionally trained print maker, Gini Holmes focused on more experimental methods after she received her BFA from Stanford University in lithography and painting. She com- pleted a Masters of Science in Visual Studies specializing in experimental graphics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she worked with Electrographic Printing using a variety of copiers and handmade papers. She is now working with dye-sublimation transfers onto fabric and tile surfaces.

Donna Schaffer Rainbow Starfish in Monterey Bay, Oil on Canvas, 20 x 20 inches. RIGHT: Reflection of a Humpback Pectoral Fin, Limited- Edition Museum-Quality Giclée on Somerset Watercolor Paper, 16 x 24 inches. www.underwaterpaintings.com Donna Schaffer has been a scuba diver since 1976 and an underwater photographer since 1983. Since 1998, she has Jens Poulsen Jens Poulsen says, “I’m attempting been a full-time fine arts oil painter. She travels to dive loca- Fisk, Oil on Canvas, 160 x 160 cm to catch a coherence with my sur- tions in many parts of the world where she photographs the www.Poulsen-Arts.dk roundings, a gathering of informa- underwater marine life and scenes, and makes reference An autodidactic Danish artist who tion/situations—simplified in composi- sketches for her paintings. primarily works with oil on canvas, tion.”

87 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Sandra & Carl Bryant ocean arts Tradewinds, 2007, Mosaic, 30 x 28 x 1 Art of the Sea inches. Original Price: US$ 1,890, € 1,207, UK£ 935. An abstract swirl of waterlife in blues, greens and warm hues. BELOW: Beautiful Dreamer, 2007, Mosaic, 24 x 24 x 1 inches, origi- Steven Forrai nal sold. Abstract mosa- Untitled, 1999, Steel Sculpture, 75 x 17 x 31 inches ic of the sand clouds Price: US$ 17,000, € 10,858, UK£ 8,416. Absolutearts.com sky and sea. The work of self-taught artist, Steven Forrai, evolved from the Artistic husband and bending, shaping and fusing of scrap electrical metallic tub- wife team, Carl and ing. Later, he focused his energies on fine art and replaced Sandra Bryant, special- his stock with refined materials including steel and alumi- ize in handmade glass num, brushed then sealed with an epoxy base coat and and ceramic fine art an aliphatic urethane at the end. He says, “My creations mosaics. Their studio is are never completely planned, but started with a size and located in the Pacific object in mind. From there my mood, sounds and atmos- Northwest where they phere finishes off the piece for me.” first started painting and making handmade

Jangling Jack Octopus made from two recycled silver forks features two crystal eyes. Height: 10cm. Price: AUD $35 + delivery www.janglingjack.com.au Jangling Jack is the creation of Chris Hartshorn and Steve Dessaix who have been working together since 1989 in a joint effort to “recycle the past to cre- ate the present”. On 25 acres of virgin Australian bushland, their work- shop is located on the Hawkesbury River William Nutt in New South Wales. Octopus, 2003, Champlain Black (Marble/Limestone) Their work is inspired Sculpture, 29 x 34 x 22 inches by the natural beau- www.wnuttsculptor.com Joe Pogan ty of their surround- tile. In 2001, they discovered their pas- William Nutt was an engineer before turning to fine art. Fish, 2006, Found Metal Sculpture, 23 x 19 x 11 inches ings as well as sion for mosaics, which combined the He says that many have asked him, “How does one go Native Oregonian, Joe Pogan, received college education “the histori- two. Each piece is made by hand from engineering to an artist sculpting stone?” To that he in art and welding after serving four years in the US Navy. cal past and blending high quality glass, ceramics has two answers: “One, how could I not; and two, I don’t He worked for more than 20 years as a professional welder. industrial begin- and other fine materials into a piece find there to be much difference between art, science, Combining his welding expertise and artistic talent, he has nings”. of art that is unique and lasting. Most and engineering.” He believes that great works of art created a variety of animal sculptures using “found metal” of their fine art works have an aver- and theory and results of engineering and scientific dis- objects such as old watches, sprockets, nuts and bolts. He age of 1,600 individually shaped piec- covery are similar in that they both can contain incred- says, “...the end goal is an eye-catching, fascinating amalga- es of glass per square foot. ible beauty, artistry, elegance and meaning. mation of metal with odd nooks and crannies you can explore www.showcasemosaics.com for hours.” www.joepogan.com

88 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED John Brooke Pacific Warrior, 2007 IN OUR NEXT ISSUE ocean arts Wood Sculpture, 23 cm x 67 cm x 18 cm Original Price: US$ 2000, € 1277, UK£ 990 Art of the Sea www.absolutearts.com Sulawesi John Brooke’s home overlooks a beach, and so, he has ample opportunities to swim on most days. This sculpture is all about the amazing underwater creatures he meets. Palau Weh, Sumatra He says that more often than not, “Contemporary Art talks only to the cognoscenti” and feels that this defeats its original purpose, which is to speak to anyone who wants to use his or her visual imagina- tion. As an artist, this is what he tries try to do with his work.

Dan Townsend Alice the Angler fish, 2007, Mixed Media wolfgang PÖlZer Sculpture, 22 x 11 inches x 4 inches. Original Price: US$ 100, € 63. UK£ 49. www.absolutearts.com A fun whimsical fish, Alice the Angler is made from palm fronds and papier maché. She is then air brushed and hand painted. Dan Townsend says she is the only true palmfish in the world, just Google “Palmfish” and find out. A true inven- tion of a creative mind, the artist discovered this fresh new idea 14 years ago and is still having fun with it.

wolfgang PÖlZer Fatmir Gjevukaj Underwater, Painting 36 x 48 inches. Original Price: US$ 3,200, € 2,044, UK£ 1,584. www.fatmiri.com

Bernadette Badali says, “I have learned that Travel Lines - Water, 2006, tactile surfaces in nature are Mixed Meda on Canvas formed through a process of 36 x 60 inches. growth and layering. I bor- www.badalibeal.ca row this method to build the Toronto artist, Bernadette organic forms in the compo- wolfgang PÖlZer Badali, graduated from the sition using fabrics and pa- Ontario College of Art and pers with different qualities. the University of Guelph, I structure the forms within COMING IN JUNE where she studied painting the painting, but the surface and photography. Working area, such as folds and rip- Subscribe now FREE! in these two mediums, she ples, are created randomly www.x-ray-mag.com continues to explore textures through the flexibility of the in nature and architecture materials, further imitating as her subject matter. She nature’s process.”

89 X-RAY MAG : 23 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED