Ecology Tagging Whalesharks The Philippines

GLOBAL EDITION Cabilao June - July Siberia 2005 Number #5 CaveDiving Ireland U-89 Norway Narvik Wrecks Profile Cayman Islands Portfolio Bloody Bay Wall Sam MacDonald Coral Spawning COVER PHOTO BY ALEX MUSTARD 1 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 DIRECTORY X-RAY MAG is published by AquaScope Copenhagen, Denmark - www.aquascope.biz www.xray-mag.com

PUBLISHER CO- EDITORS & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrey Bizyukin Peter Symes - Caving, Equipment, Medicine Feather worms, Little Cayman [email protected] Michael Arvedlund - Ecology MANAGING EDITOR Dan Beecham - Photography & ART DIRECTOR Michel Tagliati - Videography, contents Gunild Pak Symes , Medicine [email protected] Leigh Cunningham ADVERTISING - Claude Jewell Edwin Marcow [email protected] - Sharks, Adventures

SENIOR EDITOR Michael Symes REGULAR WRITERS [email protected] John Collins Nonoy Tan TECHNICAL MANAGER Amos Nachoum Søren Reinke [email protected] Robert Aston Bill Becher

CORRESPONDENTS CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE John Collins - Ireland Alex Mustard Yann Saint-Yves - France John Collins Jordi Chias - Spain Peter Symes Enrico Cappeletti - Italy Michael Symes Gary Myors - Tasmania Lawson Wood Marcelo Mammana - Argentina Nancy Easterbrook Svetlana Murashkina - Russia Enrico Cappeletti Tomas Knutsson - iceland Andrey Byzuikin Jeff Dudas - United States Dan Beecham Garold Sneegas - United States Peter Batson

Robert Aston JOHN COLLINS Further info on our contacts Edwin Marcow page on our website Craig Nelson Jim Tierney and Tim Carey 19 25 36 40 31 plus... Sam McDonald OCUS ON THE AYMAN ISTER SLANDS ORAL PAWNING AYMAN AYS ORLD ECORDS F C S I C S C R W R : EDITORIAL 3 X-RAY MAG is distributed six times per year on the Internet. CAYMAN ISLANDS BLOODY BAY WALL IN THE CAYMANS OF STINGRAY CITY CAYMAN IN MEMORIAM: 5 All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be BY MICHAEL SYMES BY JOHN COLLINS BY ALEX MUSTARD BY JOHN COLLINS BY DIVETECH John Neuschwander reproduced or transferred electronically in any form without NEWS 6 written permission. Views and information expressed in arti- cles are those of the individual author and are not necessar- EQUIPMENT 43

ily representative of views held by X-RAY MAG or its affiliates. 51 61 70 82 88 OPINION 69 Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and illustrations should WRECKS OF NARVIK HYDROTHERMAL VENTS PLAYING TAG WITH CABILAO be emailed to [email protected]. X-RAY MAG accepts IN SIBERIA NORWAY BY MICHAEL SYMES WHALESHARKS THE PHILIPPINES WATER FACTS 76 no responsibility for unsolicited materials sent to its office, nor is BY ANDREY BIZYUKIN BY ERLING SKIOLD AND PETER BATSON BY ROBERT ASTON BY NONOY TAN CLASSIFIED 97 it liable for loss or damage to such materials. AND FRANK BANG PORTFOLIO 99 SUBSCRIPTION Sam MacDonald X-RAY MAG International Edition in English is FREE. columns... To subscribe, go to: www.xray-mag.com 45 48 60 77 80 93 COVER PHOTO SHARK TALES: MANUFACTURER: UW PHOTOGRAPHY: TECHNICAL MATTERS: PROFILE: WRECK RAP: U-89 Stingrays of Stingray City, Grand Cayman Island ELECTRORECEPTIVITY FOURTH ELEMENT GOING DIGITAL GEAR CONFIGURATION CATHY CHURCH BY JIM TIERNEY Alex Mustard, PhD BY EDWIN MARCOW BY PETER SYMES BY DAN BEECHAM BY LEIGH CUNNINGHAM BY GUNILD PAK SYMES AND TIM CAREY 2 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 editorial

Sea lovers. Don’t be part of the silent majority

We have clearly arrived without any options at all. or the to go diving, the at a point of no return. The Assessment’s good news is aircraft burns about 40 gallons of that we do still seem to have a fossil-fuel per mile per passenger. Either we continue blithely on our chance to change direction. But None of us can avoid the taint of way as we nearly always have how? We can’t just revert back being eco-damagers. done—hoping for the best, and to more simple societies where As the Assessment points out, ending, if not in complete disas- we all move to the countryside there are problems with unsus- ter, then at least in permanent and live off the land. Aside from tainable overfishing and logging, misery for all. Or, we can make the planet being far too small for loss of fresh water supplies, defor- far-reaching decisions. Difficult estation, increasing urban human as they might be now, that will pathogens, loss of biodiversity, ensure the world will be a good The Assessment’s increasing poverty, etc, etc, etc. place for us all to live in. There are problems everywhere, This is very clear from reading good news is that we not just in the Third World coun- the conclusions of the Millenium do still seem to have tries but also in the industrialised Ecosystem Assessment (recom- nations, which very often cause mended reading, page 7) where a chance to change the environmental problems. It is 1300 scientists have assessed the a bleak picture. state of the Earth’s resources, of direction Yet, the picture is not com- which many are being exploited pletely black. Something can be beyond sustainability. This is hardly done. To take the local example surprising to anyone who reads that, we are also now depend- of the big windmill park out at newspapers regularly. What is ent on our complex infrastructure sea in Copenhagen, Denmark, now painfully clear, however, is where our manufacturing plants just where incoming aircraft are that there is so little time left to pollute as do our means of trans- on their final approach to the make the necessary decisions to portation. Every time a diver, for international airport. Former US change course before we are left example, flies to the Caribbean President Bill Clinton was recently Proton Metal. • All Metal Technology: metal second stage for spine-tingling performance • Large purge button is easy to use, even when wearing thick protective gloves • V.A.D., Vortex Assisted Generalagent/Norden: Design, for easy at any depth • Orthodontic CBM Produkter AB mouthpiece for unmatched comfort • D.F.C., Dynamic Flow www.cbm.se Control, for unrivaled first stage performance. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +46 8 4482890 For you, who love to experience the whole sea. Fax: +46 8 7168063

3 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED editorial Psst! X-RAY MAG is free – pass it on...

in Copenhagen where he com- it also pays off economically, as and café lattes, but we may have mented that the Danes were Denmark has become the lead- to accept that hydrogen-pow- CAYMAN SPLASH!! smart because they had all these ing exporter of windmill technol- ered or electric cars don’t accel- windmills, whereas the US was so ogy in the world, and the country erate quite as fast as our June 1 – Oct 15, 2005 dependent on oil. now gets 30% of its energy from cars. (Blackout dates apply) Yes, it was a smart decision at various renewable resources. ADVERTISEMENT the time, because it now also In times of great stress, a World The Millenium Ecosystem • 5th NIGHT FREE! makes sense economically. It is War for example, whole societies The Assessment was the result of • 4th DIVE DAY FREE! not just a feel-good thing that was shift into another mode and state a grass-roots initiative of scien- • 5th BREAKFAST FREE! done to help us feel greener in of mind, and a lot of new inven- tists from around the world. And our hearts. But most importantly, tions are made. Most of these you, too, can take an active part • KIDS (under 12) stay FREE! Kids (12 – 18) dive @ 50%! the whole windmill-story is based are very unpleasant, but human in protecting the environment • SASY, SEALS, RANGERS – Tons of cool diving! on a political decision and vision. beings can be so immensely by writing to your congressmen • FREE SHORE DIVING – UNLIMITED! The politicians decided to sup- ingenious when the is on. or members of parliament, and port and develop this industry. And the pressure is definitely on keeping up the pressure. • FREE RENTAL! (100% Computer diving) There was a need, dating back to now. We are, in fact, fighting a Don’t just be a member of the the late 1970’s and 80’s, among war for the ecological survival of silent majority. It’s your planet too. Packages include: room, all tax & service charge, daily breakfast, welcome cocktail, some foresighted politicians (yes, our planet. If we can find the right daily 2-tank boat trip, unlimited shore diving, dive computer! Based on double occupancy, there really are some) to support , we probably won’t even Peter Symes, per person, US$. greener alternatives. And now, have to give up our cell phones Editor-in-chief 7-nights Garden: 1053. Ocean: 1134. 5-nights Garden: 721. Ocean: 775.

www.johncollinskinsale.com July 23 – 30 & July 30 - Aug 6! 2 dedicated weeks when the kids to learn to dive. An adventure of a lifetime! 7-Nights (Adult) from $1506. www.divetech.com www.cobaltcoast.com [email protected] [email protected] Toll Free 1 – 888 – 946-5656

4 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED In memoriam John Neuschwander1952-2005 one another in cut-throat was easy to be with, and he was one of those fine people that the competition can to a very high indeed real, and a real gentleman world can hardly afford to miss. He degree be attributed to John. too. Many testimonials have come will live on in our hearts, but I, for Characteristically, he was in from novice divers or the random one, will miss him very much. John Neuschwander is in the the process of setting up the holiday diver that he helped out or Goodbye my friend, and thank background. Fellow friend and Curacao dive festival when he buddied-up with on dives without you for everything. We will meet co-editor, Andrey Byzuikin, is in suddenly passed away. Still work- them knowing who he was until again some other place. the foreground. Siberia 2002 ing at his desk, he was struck later. down by massive bleeding within He always wanted to create Peter Symes his heart. something. Full of constructive ideas, Editor-in-Chief The dive festival was meant to he wanted to share his ventures occur the very next week, and and projects generously. Many a Book of condolences as usual, he made sure that all good invitation has come from John, John’s colleagues at the Dutch mag- his colleages were invited. In a ranging from trips, events and some azine, Duiken, have made a book of world divided into takers and givers, fabulous dinners in his own home. condolences on their website . Legendary John John was a giver with a capital G. Characteristically, John was an As we go to press, it can still be Neuschwander, editor-in- And herein lies the great legacy of excellent cook and a generous host. read at: www.duiken.nl/condole- John. This year’s planned event on I was so fortunate to keep com- ance_john.php chief for the Dutch dive Curacao has been cancelled, but pany with John and his life partner, magazine, Duiken, co-editor next year the event will be held in his Brigitte, on a number of trips. His of X-Ray Mag and a lead- honour and many of his colleagues sense of exploration was always a ing industry figure suddenly not, because John was very out- at other magazines have some sort joy to witness. John was a decade going, then at least by his reputa- of tribute to John in the planning. older than me, but he made me John at the Antibes-show 2004, passed away on Friday, tion running ahead of him. One Despite his apparent superstar- feel young again. Yes, John was a pouring champagne into a dive May 6, 2005. of the very special things about dom, John was always very level- good friend to those who knew him helmet. This dive-professional John was his ability to connect, headed, down to earth and, in his – he was very loyal. I guess, I got to was also easy-going and fun John will be missed very much. heal and set a good example. The own unique way, just went about see him in only a few moments of Always larger than life, never bor- reason why so many European doing his business, which he clearly his whole exciting life, but those he ing and full of fun and adventure dive magazines now enjoy a fine loved and enjoyed. shared with me I am very grateful – he was a fantastic friend and col- colleagial relationship doing joint John was no angel. He could roll for. league. Active in dive journalism for projects and aiding each other his eyes and express his feelings I hope John is in a better place more than 25 years, with 15 of them rather than being at odds a with quite well with a colourful array of now, although I can hardly imagine as editor-in-chief and fig- various expletives when he was what could be better than being urehead for leading Dutch dismayed. But thank God for in the water, monthly, Duiken, author of that. Angels can be really hard behind a multiple books and always to live with camera, keen to set up events to —they are together with which he invited all his so unreal. the rest of us. colleagues from abroad. John John was Underwater adventures with Most professionals in the Brigitte (left) and John (right) in European dive industry Lake Baikal, Siberia knew John. If not in person, which was more likely than John Neuschwander John Neuschwander John and lifepartner Brigitte was also co-editor authored several books. This dive Veldman on the shores of Lake with X-Ray Mag and guide to diving in the Dutch region Baikal, Siberia Ocean Realm Zeeland is one of his classics 5 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Prosecution of dive training company owner knee deep HSE issues warning over recreational dive training

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) rapid ascent to the surface. Although the News edited by has warned those who make their living instructor managed to catch him and Peter Symes from recreational dive training to ensure slow him down, he subsequently required it is adequately controlled and man- treatment for sickness. aged. People on the dive were exposed to NEWS In April, the owner of a dive training unnecessary risk because they were company was fined for failing to ade- allowed to dive to a depth significantly quately plan, manage and conduct a greater than that stipulated by PADI rec- diving project, for failing to ensure the ommendations. In addition, the instructor safety of those taking part in the diving did not have an approved medical cer- activity, and for failing to report a dan- tificate of . gerous incident to HSE. Under the law, people who organise Octopus rigs can lead to The prosecution followed an incident in recreational dive training have a duty to which a suffered decom- ensure the safety of those taking part. pression sickness during an Advanced A wide range of advice, guidance breathing difficulties under Open Water Course. Whilst diving, one and useful links can be found on the HSE of the students in website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/div- certain circumstances the party began a ing/index.htm ■

Test results have been published by the Health & Safety Executive (United Kingdom)

The HSE commissioned research fol- stage regulators compared to high ing emergency arrangements. lowing difficulties experienced by cost/performance models. Tests also The use of a completely inde- some divers using second stages as showed that the poorer performing pendent secondary gas supply Breath-Hold Diving Medical octopus rigs in emergencies. Key demand valve of any octopus pair system is recommended, for exam- areas of concern are where an will experience a greater loss of per- ple a pony cylinder set-up. Thus, if Conference octopus set-up, in which two sec- formance with increasing depth and there is a problem with the octopus ond-stage demand valves operate ventilation rate when compared to system, or if a buddy pair become June 2006 at Orlando, Florida off a single first-stage regulator, is the better performance valve. separated, divers have a much based on a less expensive, lower- It was recommended that a increased chance of survival in the Dr Peter Lindholm on physiology and pathophysiology. The performance first stage; and where high-performance first stage should event of running out of air. An alter- is organising a invited speakers are: Dr F. Butler, Dr G. the second stages feature either be acquired if an octopus rig is to native is the twin-cylinder set-up, 2-day confer- Ferretti, Dr M. Ferrigno, Dr P. Lindholm, inefficiently old or inappropriately be based on it. Any two demand which works well for the wearer, ence dedicated Dr C. Lundgren, Dr N. Pollock, Dr E. paired units. valves set up as octopus partners though not of course for another to breath-hold Schagatay, Dr R. Wong, Kirk Krack, and The research found that the per- should be of similar performance. diver if separation occurs. . PHOTO: PETER SYMES diving. The scien- Tanya Streeter. The program will also be formance of a first-stage regulator is Older valves, or ones where per- The HSE report, Breathing tific meeting will open to submission of abstracts for free a vital factor when determining the formance may have degraded, Performance of Octopus Demand be held adjacent to the 2006 Undersea presentations. performance of a complete system, should not be used. Although octo- Systems, can be Hyberbaric Medical Society annual More information will be posted on the and that reduced breathing per- pus rigs are used by most divers, obtained from HSE Books, tel: + 44 meeting. two websites UHMS.org and diversalert- formance was experienced when the HSE stressed that they are best (0) 1787 881165. ■ The program will discuss the diffent network.org during the fall 2005. ■ using low cost/performance first- avoided altogether when consider- aspects of breath-hold diving with focus

6 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED An alarming new global inventory of natural resources The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment More than 1300 scientists ral products and processes that idly and extensively in the past 50 past few decades. governments expect their policies more fish and more meat, and so in 95 countries have taken support life, such as water puri- years than at any other time in Nature, obviously, ignores to deliver and the much longer if we are to avoid environmental fication, are being degraded or human history. The most obviously national frontiers, yet governmen- timescales on which many eco- calamities like the collapse of the four years to put together used unsustainably; and that this irreversible trend is the loss of bio- tal policies are set mainly at the systems work. So the full impact of Atlantic cod stocks in the early the Millennium Ecosystem degradation increases the risk of diversity. Some 10 to 30 national level, so damage a damaging change may not be 1990s as a result of overfishing, Assessment abrupt and drastic changes, such per cent of inflicted by one coun- seen for decades. then the world must (MA). This first as climate shifts and the collapse try may have find less destructive of fisheries. According to the huge impact Traumatic The MA concludes ways of exploiting global inven- report, fisheries and supplies of in another. changes ecosystems. tory of natural fresh water are now so degraded The pri- World population that there is still However, despite resources demon- that they are already well beyond mary has doubled since tremendous scope for all these difficulties, strates conclusively levels that can sustain existing 1961 but we now action that could the MA concludes demands, let alone provide produce more than that there is still tre- that if we continue living for future needs. 2½ times as much mitigate these problems. mendous scope for beyond our means we will food. However, If we act now, we can action that could Overview people in develop- mitigate these damage our global envi- revive the world’s ronment beyond repair. It The MA takes a ing nations will not problems. If we is global over- be able to escape ailing ecosystems. act now, we can view of poverty and hun- revive the world’s The MA recorded no new data stated both the ger because their ailing ecosystems. itself, but draws together all avail- that state ecosystems are collapsing around It presents examples of policies able information on the state of of them. If you focus only on reduc- that will let people coexist more the planet’s ecosystems. This thor- approxi- ing poverty in the short term, successfully with the life around oughly peer-reviewed research mately 60 you’re going to compromise your them. They require politicians to amounts to the fullest ever assess- ability to reduce poverty and think not nationally but regionally ment of the present state of eco- per cent of the hunger in the long term, because or globally, to think long-term and systems, and paints an ominous planet’s natural that depends on ecosystem serv- to develop economic indicators picture of what things will be like ices. for environmental health, or to if we carry on with business as products and proc- con- Another problem is that chang- broaden their thinking beyond usual. esses that support life, cern es in ecosystems, such as defor- the economic. Many countries The MA has no direct link to the is gen- estation or draining wetlands, can have started to think in these people in power as it is the result such as water purification, erally affect the distribution of human ways. For example, European of a grass-roots initiative from sci- are being degraded or used economic pathogens. Many tropical urban farmers are beginning to be paid entists. So governments are under unsustainably growth, yet few populations already suffer from not to produce food but to pro- no obligation to pay attention, assign economic diseases associated with inad- tect biodiversity, while trading of not to speak of actually doing values to their environ- equate water and sanitation. permits to emit sulphur dioxide anything. However, the MA warns ecosystems and their impact the ment. As a result, policy on, say, Similarly, deforestation is linked has worked in the US to reduce that there is a clear link between on human well-being. It world’s logging takes no account of to increases in malaria because acid rain, although these meas- healthy ecosystems and healthy focuses on the importance of land vertebrates impacts such as the reductions in it leads to more swampy habitat ures are only a tiny step in the humans. Destroy those ecosys- ecosystems to people: how they are now threatened water capture, recreational value where mosquito larvae develop. right direction. ■ tems and our economies will suf- feed and water us, clothe us with extinction. And, for and rainfall that follow deforesta- And pressure on ecosystems is fer together with our quality of life. and help us stay warm and dry. example, the world has lost tion. There is also a mismatch set to intensify. As the average For more information, visit: It is stated that approximately It states that human activity has 35 per cent of mangroves and between the four years or so person in the world becomes www.millenniumassessment.org 60 per cent of the planet’s natu- changed ecosystems more rap- 27 per cent of coral reefs in the during which democratic more wealthy they will demand

7 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news

Edited by Peter Symes & The Hunt for I-52 Michael Symes Gold-laden Japanese WWII submarine to be salvaged But does it contain something of much greater interest?

rendezvous with the German sub- immediately dived. Sonobouys Possibly the most marine U-530, which would pro- were consequently dropped advanced submarine vide her with fuel, a radar detec- which transmitted any under- tor and a navigator familiar with water noise back to the aircraft in the world at the time, the Bay of Biscay, that should carrier. A newly-developed type the 2564 ton Japanese have enabled her to enter of acoustic torpedo was there- submarine I-52 left Kure, Lorient undetected. However, after dropped, which homed Japan, in March 1944, unknown to either the Japanese quickly in on the sounds of the or the Germans, their codes had submarine. After a few minutes, bound for Singapore. been broken and Ultra intercepts the sonobouys transmitted the morning, destroyers reached the tant about this vessel that it had large hole, undoubtedly caused There it picked up a had revealed their plans. The I- sounds of an explosion and noise site and found flotsam: a ton of to be sunk? The answer to this by one of the torpedoes, is aft cargo containing, among 52 had been closely watched all from mechanical break-up raw rubber, a bit of silk, and even question could perhaps only be of the conning tower. Debris is a large amount of stra- the way from Singapore! Although the submarine was human flesh. The I-52 had been solved by salvaging the I-52. scattered over a large area. A thought to have been destroyed, destroyed, 1600 kilometers from metal box from this debris field tegic materials, two tons Sink the I-52! some faint propeller noise was the nearest land, but the U-530 The wreck of the I-52 was brought to the surface in the of gold, and 2.3 metric That was the given to the still thought to be heard in the escaped undetected. In 1995, Paul Tidwell, an hope that it would contain some tons of opium, probably escort carrier USS Bogue, en area. A second attack was The mission to sink the subma- American shipwreck salvager, of the sunken gold, but when route to the United States from therefore ordered, but nothing rine had apparently been acom- located the wreck 5240 meters opened, the salvagers found not intended for conversion Europe. Arriving in the rendez- more was detected. The next plished. But what was so impor- deep, mostly upright. Her con- gold, but opium. into morphine painkillers. vous area off Cape Verde and ning tower is Plans were made to raise the But perhaps it was also Barbados, the carrier began intact and submarine and recover the gold. carrying something else launching flights of Grumman her hull However, the Japanese govern- Avenger torpedo bombers to number is ment objected, stating that they of much greater historical search for the submarines. Late still visible. considered the wreck site to be significance. at night on 23 June, one of the The bow a grave. Tidwell has now worked Avengers detected a surface is broken on the proper procedures with After passing through the Indian contact. The area was then illu- up, prob- the Japanese government, and Ocean, it headed for the minated by flares, and depth ably due has received the blessing of the Atlantic, with its final destination charges were dropped, explod- to impact war graves’ authorities in Japan. the port of Lorient, in western ing just to starboard of the on the bot- Tidwell took down a Japanese France. In mid-ocean, she was to sighted submarine, which then tom, and a Naval Ensign and fixed it to the

8 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news German WWII submarine Edited by to be re-housed in Chicago Peter Symes & After a lengthy repair and thorough manent home in April 2003 after Michael Symes conservation, a captured German spending nearly 50 years outside the U-505 submarine was ready for its museum exposed to bitter Midwest wrecked submarine. vessels, the only practical way to carry sen- Switzerland, had been in secret peace move to a new exhibit in Chicago. winters. The exhibit, two years in the Paul Tidwell said that he is now plan- ior military officials, messages and cargo negotiations with a US representative, Allen The U-505, the only Type IX-C U- making, features interactive exhibits, ning an expedition to raise the I-52 within between Japan and Germany, was by Dulles. Mr Fujimura was sent to the port boat remaining in the world, will be nearly 200 artifacts, archival news- a year, and thereafter perhaps even submarine. of Lorient in German-occupied France to placed in a new climate-controlled, papers and photos, radio transmis- return the submarine to Japan. He stated He believes the submarine was on a mis- meet the I-52, and, some historians believe, underground vault at the Museum of sions, re-enactments and videos of that they wanted to return all the human sion of such extreme importance that the to receive the peace proposal. When Science and Industry. U.S. sailors who captured the vessel remains to the Japanese families, and Allied powers took exceptional pains to the sub failed to show up, he returned The 252-foot, 700-ton sub was in 1943. ■ that the Japanese government was giv- make sure it was sunk before it reached to Switzerland empty-handed. Mr Tidwell lowered into its 42-foot-deep per- ing its full support. The salvage operation the coast of France. Initially he thought hopes to have ended the speculation by is expected to take about 30 days, and the submarine might have been carrying this time next year. Because of the depth, then another two weeks would be needed information on atomic bomb paper is preserved, and to transport the submarine to the United research. However, some his- therefore the salvage States before it is eventually returned to torians now believe officials may clear up such Japan. aboard the submarine may speculation. With a large quantity of opium still have had an offer of peace Mr Tidwell has been thought to be on board, the US drug that they were hoping to coor- able to fund the project enforcement administration says it wants to dinate with the Germans. himself with earnings post two agents on the salvage ship. But could Japan really have from several lucrative been preparing to seek peace salvage operations. But was it also carrying with the Allies more than a year He has ploughed $6m a secret offer of peace? before the war ended? Paul into the project and Tidwell uncovered the story of the subma- Tidwell believes the wreckage expects to spend a fur- rine, with its treasure of gold, when search- could contain a peace propos- ther $10m on raising the Sunken submarine restoration ing declassified documents in Washington, al from Tokyo that never made submarine. But Tokyo D.C., in 1990. He was then driven to find it into the hands of its intended has agreed to reim- out everything possible about the subma- recipient. burse him if the opera- efforts continue at Gallipoli rine and what her mission was. Because of According to the declassified tion is successful, and Gallipoli is a peninsula forming the paign, the name of Gallipoli remains the dangers to surface ships in 1944, when documents, Yoshikazu Fujimura, he will receive a 10% southermost European shore of the imprinted in Australian folk memory. the Atlantic Ocean was teeming with allied the assistant naval attache in cut of the gold. ■ Dardanelles, the channel forming This is one of the reasons why an the first part of the strategic water- Australian restoration team are con- way linking the Mediterranean and tinuing their efforts to protect the the Black Sea. During World War I, in wreck of the Australian submarine WW II wreck-fields off Hawaii April 1915, an Allied , predomi- AE2 which sank near Gallipoli 90 nantly British and Australasian, land- years ago. Vast fields of World War II wreckage exist Sensuikan Toku class subs captured in the age is historical rather than monetary, as ed on the peninsula in an attempt The project is also aimed at pro- as incredibly valuable archaeological sites Pacific a week after Japan surrendered in most cargo ships navigating the island to eventually open up a route to tecting remains such as beach jet- beneath the blue-green ocean off Hawaii. 1945. Both subs were deliberately sunk by chain in the 19th century carried goods assist Russia in its fight against the ties, breakwaters and Army stores There is so much to be seen that finding the the United States when Russian scientists that would have disintegrated by now, Germans. Because the Australians that form part of Gallipoli’s battle- more interesting artifacts is a real challenge demanded access to them. such as sugar, lumber, phosphates, sandal- suffered such great losses in this, field heritage. ■ A World War II Japanese submarine, In 2002, the waters off Oahu also yielded wood and furs. Therefore, hunters scouring as it turned out to be, futile cam- scuttled by the U.S. Navy, is the latest sig- a Japanese midget submarine that was hit the Hawaiian ocean bottom for golden nificant find made by the Hawaii Undersea an hour before Japan’s aerial attack on treasure are more likely to find submarines, Reasearch Laboratory among thousands Pearl Harbor in 1941. old whaling and merchant ships, and fish- of wrecks. The ship is one of two I-400 The value of Hawaii’s undersea wreck- ing boats. ■

9 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED What happened to Northwest news Airlines Flight 2501? Edited by Peter Symes & On June 23, 1950, Northwest The local group, Michigan Michael Symes Airlines Flight 2501 disappeared Shipwreck Research Associates, over Lake Michigan with 58 peo- and an international organiza- ple aboard. For two weeks after tion, National Underwater and the disappearance, human Marine Agency, have renewed remains, clothing, personal interest in finding the wreckage Does Lake Toplitz effects and debris were washed of the DC-4. The local group is ashore all along the coastline hoping to go deeper than the of Allegan County. However, no 1950 search for the wreckage. whole bodies were ever found The goal is to determine what High up in the Austrian Alps, in accounts. really hide Nazi gold? nor any large pieces of the happened to the plane and dense mountain forest, lies seclud- There have plane. The cause of the crash offer closure to the families. ■ ed Lake Toplitz. It isn’t large, but been many remains a mystery it is deep. It was to here that a attempts over the to this day. group of fanatical Nazis retreated past 60 years to Now, nearly 55 in the final months of the second locate this pos- Perhaps a final new dive will tell us years later, a local world war. By April 1945, Hitler was sible treasure and an internation- trove, all of which al group are team- have failed. In ing up to search 1947, a US navy underwater forests. Trees had between the Americans and the for the wreckage. diver became entangled in Lake fallen from the mountain and Austrian state. Obviously, if they Toplitz’s many submerged logs were stacked 60 feet high in some recover anything which has an and drowned. In 1959, a team places. Finally, towards the end of identifiable owner, under Austrian financed by the German maga- the scheduled period, a discovery law they will have to give it back. zine Stern had some luck, when was made - not the intact boxes Mr Scott, 72, claims to have dis- £72m in forged sterling currency the crew hoped to find - but only covered fresh clues in archives in hidden in boxes, and a printing the remains of something dec- Berlin and Washington, pointing press, were retrieved. In 1999, ades old, pieces of wood that him towards the gold, though he the Austrian government agreed might have come from the Nazi refuses to give details. He will soon to lease the lake for 30 days crates. And that was that, until begin a detailed underwater sur- dead in Berlin, and the Allies were to Oceaneering Technologies, now. vey of the 107 metre deep lake. ive hoppen closing in. Many of the last lead- Maryland. Oceaneering In what will probably be a final Getting to the bottom of Toplitz D S ers of the Nazi regime fled here, Technologies employed the attempt to solve the mystery, the is quite a feat. After 10 meters it some to make a last stand, others Phantom, which is is a deep-div- Austrian government has licensed gets dark, and below 30 meters to try to save some remnant of ing robot operated by a tether Norman Scott, a hi-tech American the water is nearly freezing. And Udstyr og Kurser i City the Reich in hope of starting over connected to a pilot on the sur- treasure hunter, to make an expe- as there is no in one day. face. This expedition would be dition to the bottom of the water With the Third Reich on its last the first comprehensive search of the lake. Under the there are Gothersgade 159 · 1123 København K legs, a large number of boxes Toplitz. terms of the deal, neither were transported to the edge of The first thing Oceaneering which allows the plants Telefon 3332 3537 the lake and sunk. Some believe found was a layer of silt on the US team to dive for and nor they contained gold while oth- bottom that often blew like a bliz- the next three fishes Åbningstider Tirsdag til Fredag 11-18 · Lørdag 10-14 ers believe that they contained zard, blinding the camera. To the years, any here. ■ Mandag Lukket documents showing where assets tethered mini-sub, the lake floor treasure confiscated from Jewish vic- was a minefield. Oceaneering found will www.diveshoppen.dk tims were hidden in Swiss bank had expected trees but not be divided

10 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news Edited by Peter Symes & North Carolina to allow Michael Symes diving near Blackbeard’s ship Recreational Revenge. They say raging and Portugal had allied itself terrorising all who sailed these seas. divers will that from the evi- with Britain. At the end of the war He soon became captain of his own dence, it looks like in 1713 the Concorde became an ship – stolen of course - creating even be permit- that this could be a armed merchantman. more terror. He eventually made his ted to explore merchant vessel from The Concorde taken by home base in North Carolina, then a near a wreck about the same time. Blackbeard, captured off the island of British colony, near a string of islands that some One of the larg- St. Vincent in the eastern Caribbean called the Outer Banks. In the autumn est pirate ships ever, Queen Anne’s in November 1717, is described as of 1718 he returned from sea to his Boeing 737 to be new artificial archaeologists believe is Revenge was Blackbeard’s flagship being 300 tons, and carrying 26 guns. favourite hideaway off Ocracoke that of Blackbeard’s pirate for seven months, from her capture Apparently, she was sailing from Island to enjoy himself together with in Chemainus area dive tourism ship off the N.C. coast. The in November 1717 in the eastern Africa to Martinique when captured. a number of his croneys. It was here Caribbean until she was wrecked Blackbeard increased her armament that he was caught by the Royal PROMO state program, called Dive in June 1718 at Beaufort Inlet, North to as many as 40 guns and carried as Navy and, after a fight, beheaded. The Society of BC announced that a Down, would allow 320 divers Carolina. many as 150 pirates. She was then his End of story – except that his ship Boeing 737 airframe will be sunk near Chemainus, a year to visit the wreckage flag ship until a few days following the might now have turned up again. on Vancouver Island, instead of near Comox as off Atlantic Beach on trips History Charleston blockade in May 1718. The The archaeological excavation, previously announced Queen Anne’s Revenge is of con- Queen Anne’s Revenge was then run which began in the autumn of 1997, arranged through dive shops. siderable historical importance. aground off Beaufort Inlet to enable will undoubtedly answer many of the State officials said the wreck It is possible that Queen Anne’s Blackbeard to escape with a small questions generated about the pirate Tex Enemark, President of the Artificial Reef Society of BC, site is under regular surveil- Revenge‘s nationality and appear- group of hand-picked men and the and his ships. This project will also and Peter Luckham, of 49th Parallel Diving, Chemainus, said that there had been enough discussion of the project lance by the Coast Guard ance changed at least twice in her recently taken valuables. offer a glimpse into a society which relatively short lifetime of eight years. remains little understood by histori- in the community, and sufficient funds had been commit- and state agencies. It appears that she may have been ans and archaeologists. In addition teduse by the Province andfor by the community, to satisfy the Blackbeard launched in England in 1710, during Blackbeard himself, vile though he to its association with Blackbeard, ARSBC that there was broad support in the community for Nine years ago, researchers found the War of the Spanish Succession. was, is not really as interesting as his the physical remains of the ship itself the project. However, further funds to complete the plac- a major shipwreck at Beaufort While flying the British flag, she may ship. Born before should provide fasci- ing of the artificial reef are still needed. It is felt that once Inlet. Officials of the state under- have been named the Concord, with 1690, he was British, nating clues into ship the airplane is in Chemainus, this fund-raising should be water archaeology branch say a capacity of 300 tons, and armed and his name was construction practices easier. that they think the wreckage is with 20 cannon. thought to be and naval architec- “The ARSBCARSBC had previously announced plans to place that of Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Sometime in late 1710, she was Edward Teach. As ture during a period, the plane in the waters of Comox/Courtenay. However, Revenge, the pirate’s flagship, sunk taken by French privateers, and a young seaman, and for a class of ship, the Comox Valley Dive Association was unable to raise in 1718. They later located 23 can- brought into a French port. In early he had served on where limited informa- sufficient funds to complete the project’, said Enemark. nons resting on the ocean floor. 1711, she was modified so that she a British privateer tion survives today. “We want to express our appreciation to those in Archaeologists have recovered some would be more suitable for use as an based in Jamaica. However, whether or Comoxpressrelease and Courtenay who wanted the 737 sunk there, of them, along with other 18th cen- armed transport. This later caused During the War not the wreck proves particularly the Mayors and Councils of the two communi- tury artifacts, which they say all point confusion as to her origin. The spell- of the Spanish to be that of Queen ties. We regret this decision very much”, said Enemark. to the famous vessel. ing of her name was also changed to Succession he Anne’s Revenge, a Enemark, speaking for the ARSBC said, “The dive com- However, not everyone agrees. Concorde. became an experi- dive here could still be munity in the Chemainus- Ladysmith-Duncan area have Some archaeologists at East Carolina A Concorde of 300 tons and 20 enced sea robber, very interesting – that wanted an artificial reef sunk nearby since the BC artificial University are not so sure. They believe guns was part of a French squadron and after the war is, if you are lucky reef program started a dozen years ago but, for a vari- that there is as yet no evidence which left Brest in the summer of 1711 he joined a group of enough to be one of ety of reasons, it has never happened. This will be a very that this really is the Queen Anne’s for South America. The war was still Caribbean pirates, the permitted 320! ■ interesting and unusual artificial reef,” he continued. ”It will add hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to dive tourism in the area. ■

11 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Whales Gray whale dies stuck between pilings A 9-ton gray whale died after being found wedged tightly between vertical pilings Edited by near Bremerton, in Puget Sound. It was a lit- Peter Symes tle older than a yearling, and very thin and emaciated. It was stated that the awkward location was an indication the whale was Can the endangered right not in good condition to start with. West Coast grays are now making their annual migration between their winter whale survive? breeding grounds off Mexico and summer feeding grounds off Alaska. About 10 gray Increase in births could save the right whales whales are currently in Puget Sound waters, mostly around Whidbey Island. It is believed The endangered North American ships and fishing equipment in the that as the gray whale population increases, right whale was fished to near- past six months, including at least more gray whales are venturing to inland extinction in the 18th century, two pregnant mothers and two waters such as Puget Sound to feed.. but an increased birth-rate gives females that were of breeding Grays are bottom feeders who churn hope of a revival. However, there age. A sixth whale was probably up the ocean floor and use baleen - bony are still fewer than 350 North fatally injured last month when it plates in their mouths - to strain out the tiny Atlantic right whales in existence, was hit by a yacht travelling at sea creatures that sustain them. ■ and they are being battered by 20 knots. Researchers at the New shipping off the East Coast of England Aquarium estimate that America. more than 72 per cent of the Japanese at loggerheads with the Australians Researchers at the New surviving right whales carry scars England Aquarium in Boston from entanglements with ropes Japan to double whale kill in Antarctic waters report that 27 whales were born, at sea, and that up to 84 of them bringing the worldwide popula- become entangled every year. A moratorium on com- whales and non-lethal methods Japan, along with Iceland, tion to almost 350. Nevertheless, Five percent of all reproductively mercial whaling is in of study would be just as effec- uses a loophole in the mora- the whales have already suf- active female right whales have effect, but research, or tive. torium to hunt whales for so- fered heavy losses running the died in three months scientific whaling is per- Discussions on lifting the com- called “scientific research”, but gauntlet of East Coast shipping The whales form one of three mitted under International mercial whaling moratorium will Humane Society International on their way from their calving populations of right whale in Whaling Commission be held at the upcoming IWC claim that there is absolutely no grounds off Florida and southern the world. The others inhabit (IWC) rules. An IWC meeting, divisive talks that have scientific case for killing whales, Georgia to the Bay of Fundy in the North Pacific and the South spokeswoman said the been held at every annual IWC and neither are there economic Canada. This journey takes the Atlantic. They were called right organization has received meeting for the past decade. grounds for Japan expanding whales through some of the most whales because their thick layer the Japanese proposal, A decision to end the morato- its Antarctic hunt. Under IWC crowded and dangerous waters of blubber kept them afloat when which would bring its rium needs a 75 percent vote rules, any meat that results from in the Atlantic, where there is a dead, making them easy to bring minke whale catch to 800 in favour, and to date, the anti- research whaling must be uti- AMY VAN ATTEN, NMFS very high risk of ship strike or fish- aboard and the “right” whale to from the present level of whaling nations have been able lized, and Japan sells whale ing gear entanglement. At least kill. ■ It is understood that the 440 per season. to hold off the Japanese who meat in markets and restaurants. five whales have been killed by Japanese government intends Japan argues that there is a want to hunt whales for com- Japanese officials maintain that to double its catch of minke need to increase its target spe- mercial use. But every year the eating whale meat is part of the whales in the Antarctic Ocean cies to analyze the ecosystem of margin gets slimmer as Japanese Japanese culture. But HSI claim late this year, and begin hunting the Antarctic Ocean and devel- officials persuade small island that the demand for whale meat humpbacks and fin whales, too, op a method to manage whale nations hungry for financial aid in Japan is falling, and the hunt is as part of its research whaling resources. Conservationists say that it is in their best interests to already heavily subsidised by the program. there is no scientific need to kill allow commercial whaling. government. ■

12 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Whales

Fossilised whale skeleton in Egyptian desert An American palaeontologist and a south-west of Cairo. the sea bed. The fossils include five spe- team of Egyptians have found a nearly The 18 metre-long skeleton could throw cies of whale, three of sea cow, complete fossilised skeleton of the light on why there are so many fossilised two crocodiles, several , a sea primitive whale Basilosaurus isis in Egypt’s remains of whales and other ancient sea snake, and large numbers of fossilised Western Desert. Basilosaurus isis is one of in Wadi Hitan, and possibly how sharks and bony fish. the primitive whales known as archae- the extinct swam. Modern whales It is a protected area to be developed ocetes, which evolved from land mam- swim by moving their horizontal fluke up as a national park under an Italian- mals and later evolved into the two types and down in the water, while fish swim by Egyptian cooperative program and it of modern whale. The well-preserved lateral undulations. has been nominated as a UNESCO World skeleton, which is about 40 million years Wadi Hitan is unusually rich in fossil Heritage site because of its natural beau- old, was found in a desert valley known remains from the period, trapped in a ty and scientific importance. ■ as Wadi Hitan (the Valley of the Whales) sandstone formation that then formed Whales and hippopotamuses linked by fossil Meanwhile.... 40-million-year-old fossils provide a missing link Whale-dolphin mix A genetic study suggests that the whale two groups, the early cetaceans, which and the hippopotamus are close rela- gradually moved into the water full-time, The world’s only known whale-dolphin mix has given birth to tives. Now, a team at the University of and a large and diverse group of piglike a female calf at Sea Life Park, Hawaii. The new wholphin is California at Berkeley, the University of animals called . one-fourth false killer whale and three-fourths Atlantic bot- Poitiers in France and the University of This proposed tree of modern tlenose dolphin. Her slick skin is an even blend of a dolphin’s N’djamena in Chad say they have found whales and their first cousin, the hip- light gray and the black colouring of a false killer whale. more evidence in the fossil record. popotamus, shows how the now-extinct The calf was born to Kekaimalu, a mix of a false killer There is a 40-million-year gap between anthracotheres serve as the link between whale and an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Kekaimalu, which fossils of early cetaceans, i.e whales, por- their distant ancestors. These animals means “from the peaceful ocean,” was born 19 years ago poises and dolphins, and early hippos. flourished, forming 37 distinct genera after a coupling between a 14-foot, 2,000-pound false killer The earliest cetacean fossils date back across the world before dying out and whale and a 6-foot, 400-pound dolphin. 53 million years ,while the first hippopota- leaving just one descendant 2.5 million Although false killer whales and Atlantic bottlenose dol- mus fossils date to about 16 million years. years ago, the hippopotamus. phins are different species, they are classified within the The team’s new theory proposes that The theory would class whales, dolphins same family, not being that far apart in terms of . whales and hippos had a common and porpoises with cloven-hoofed mam- False killer whales do not closely resemble killer whales. They water-loving ancestor that lived 50 million mals such as cattle, pigs, and camels. ■ grow to 20 feet, weigh up to two tons and have a tapering, to 60 million years ago. From it evolved rounded snout that overhangs their toothed jaw. Atlantic SEA LIFE PARK bottlenose dolphins reach a maximum size of 12 feet and Wholphin can weigh up to 700 pounds. There have been reports of wholphins in the wild. ■

13 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news Plankton can resist strong currents Edited by Ocean currents sweep zooplankton into position at various depths by “treadmill- unit with a computer and other electronic Peter Symes & patches or clusters, and it has long been ing” against currents. hardware. They were able to see 375,000 Michael Symes suspected that the clusters form when Using a newly developed, 3-D imag- individual zooplankton, many as small as zooplankton swim against these currents. ing system called “Fish TV,” developed 1 millimeter in length, as they were swim- However, until now, researchers have not by Jules Jaffe of the Scripps Institution of ming, and could capture images of such had a way to track the motion of these , the team could track tiny creatures in three dimensions from miniscule sea individual zoo- two meters away. creatures. plankton at two These organisms aren’t simply at the In the May coastal sites in the mercy of physical like currents, they Bob Hunter, co-founder 6 issue of Red Sea. Scuba are altering their position in the environ- the journal divers attached ment in unique ways. The small zooplank- of Greenpeace, has died Science, Fish TV’s ton are capable of remaining at a con- a team of transducer to a stant depth with a precision of centime- After suffering from cancer, Bob Hunter researchers large underwater ters, sometimes in the face of strong verti- died on May 2nd 2005 from Israel, the tripod extending cal currents, implying that these organisms GREENPEACE / ROBERT KEZIERE Hunter, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, United States 20 feet above have extremely sensitive depth sensors. ■ helped set up the environmental cam- Bob Hunter en route to Amchitka to and Germany the sea floor. The paign group in 1971, and was the oppose US nuclear weapons testing showed that transducer was Greenpeace Foundation’s first president, on Phyllis Cormack together with Ben zooplankton connected by a from 1973 until 1977. Metcalfe. July 1971, Pacific Ocean, keep their cable to a control He initially became involved with a Canada few people who wanted to stop a US nuclear weapons test off Amchitka. On September 15, 1971, he and 11 other Hippocampus activists sailed out to challenge the might denise in its of the USA in a rusting fishing boat they SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY natural habitat, a called “The Greenpeace.” In doing gorgonian seafan so, they set off a wave of public sup- port and protest which closed the US-Canadian border for the first time The international marine conserva- Sport Diver Magazine and since 1812, ultimately shut the testing tion organization, Project Seahorse, Guylian Chocolates. programme down, and created a new is pairing up with the Belgian choc- Project Seahorse is seeking force for environmental and peace olatier, Guylian, who makes the the help of the world’s best activism which continues to this day. famous chocolate sea shells one amateur and professional Hunter coined the term “rainbow can find in many upscale gourmet underwater photographers warriors” to describe Greenpeace food markets throughout Europe. to gain new images and activists, and he also raised public They have set up a challenge for knowledge on known and DENISE TACKETT yet to be discovered species awareness about nuclear you: Photograph a seahorse in its smallest species of seahorse. It of seahorses. Entries will be used in testing and the hunt- natural habitat and submit your was named Hippocamus denis in educational settings and scientific ing of whales and image to the competition. Denise’s honour. study. Send in your print or digital seals. In 1978, Every entrant will receive a box With their sharp eyes and keen image of a seahorse in its natural he chronicled of Guylian Belgian Chocolate Sea skills of observation, photographers habitat taken since January 1, the birth of Shells and winners of the competi- play an important role in the scien- 2000. Deadline for submission is July Greenpeace in tion will receive prizes worth a total tific process by capturing images 1, 2005. his book Warriors of $14,000, including a week-long of new species, here to for unseen The project is the brainchild of of the Rainbow. dive expedition to Australia’s Great animal behavior and many new biologist Sara Lourie who identified Greenpeace has Barrier Reef with Mike Ball Dive discoveries. ■ images by photographer Denise now over 2.5 million Expeditions. Sponsors who are mak- members in 40 countries. ■ ing these prizes possible include Tackett as one of the world’s seahorse.fisheries.ubc.ca

14 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news Edited by Peter Symes & Michael Symes

Hyderabad may get under-

water world PETER SYMES

Hyderabad, the fifth largest metropo- Group, which runs a similar project in While the state has grown big in lis of India and the state capital of that city state, has evinced interest medical and spiritual tourism, it is still Andhra Pradesh, is likely to have an in setting up the underwater-world lagging behind in recreational tour- underwater-world showcasing thou- project. ism. This is all the more required in sands of marine species sharks. Apart from the underwater-world, places like Hyderabad where people The project, first-of-its-kind in the a 3D and 4D movie screening facil- from the fast growing IT and bio-tech country,will probably be set up on ity, where the audience will travel industry and other professions look the 90-acre Sanjeevaiah Park locat- through a simulated real-life experi- forward to quality recreation. ■ ed on the banks of Hussain Sagar. ence, is also being planned by the Singapore-based Centosa Leisure Centosa group in Hyderabad. Conservation of the World’s oldest water-level records Underwater museum in Chongqing nearing completion Baiheliang Ridge of Rocks, about 1.6 the water during dry seasons, as it above the water. There is also a kilometers long and 15 meters wide, was submerged in the Three Gorges 2,000 square-meter exhibition hall on contains detailed recordings of the Project construction in 2003. a nearby bank. lowest water levels in the Yangtze The ellipical underwater museum, Wang Hongju, mayor of River each year for the last 1,200 about 70 meters long and 23 meters Chongqing, will apply for Baiheliang years. It also contains the work of wide, was built to protect the middle Ridge of Rocks to be listed as a many famous calligraphers. Located ridge, with its inscriptions. Tourists will UNESCO World Heritage Site. ■ at the upper reaches of the Yangtze be able to descend to the under- River, Baiheliang only emerges from water museaum by elevator from

15 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SC������IENCE & ECOLOGY� EDUCATION PROFILES ��������������������� PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news

Text by Enrico Cappeletti Fancy a fancy ? The great Garbo yacht story If you ever dreamt of own- tion, Porto over her from 1995 to ing a diveboat with a Garibaldi, some the end of 2000. The 36 km (20 miles) Coast Guard has the fanciful history, now’s the further north to right to keep an eye chance. Our Italian corre- be scrapped. on any abandoned spondent Enrico Cappeletti The yacht yacht, ship or boat, found the legendary diva’s was built by and since the Garbo Brooke Marine yacht was inside at yacht rotting in an Italian Company, harbour they finally port on the Adriatic coast. England, It has removed her from There are no apparent two decks, one where she was waiting owners, and it seems prob- saloon with for someone to show loungebar and up. able that it is just a mat- only one big She was taken up ter of time before the port sleeping room. It is known that north to be scrapped. Now the authorities clear it out. Greta Garbo, accompanied by Alimuri, which is her last name, still her secretary, travelled exten- sits there, now half sunk, as the sively in the Mediterranean on pictures show. I visited the yacht- her yacht. In 1970 the yacht was it’s now quite rusty and water is all based in some harbour along the over and it certainly doesn´t look Tirrenyan coast. Later the boat good anymore. I did search for was in the Adriatic sea. the old owners but came up with As for the progression of owner- nothing so far. The very last owner ship the picture is patchy and dif- is probably unknown or they were ficult to put together. In the mid able to hide the documents. 1970’s, she was bought by Pier Nobody seems to know and the Giorgio Pasi from Porto Garibaldi Brooke Marine Company is now and used for taking tourists fishing. part of FBM Babcock Marine. ■ She was then sold to a Giordano

ENRICO CAPPELETTI Placuzzi from Ravenna. The last owner on record This is what we have been able was a company from to piece together. The boat, 35m Salerno, south Italy, The long and weighing in at 100t has Fratelli Trapani, who appar- been sitting in Ravenna since ently didn’t take care of February 1995, where is was pro- the boat. She was then left tected by the Coast Guard. She in Ravenna harbour, where was then moved to a new loca- the Coast Guard watched

ENRICO CAPPELETTI 16 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Ned & Anna DeLoach educate and entertain guests at Buddy Dive RANDY CURTIS DivePhotoGuide.com launched in It will include detailed information Resort Bonaire Oriskany on tow from New Jersey beta during the Beneath the Sea about the facilities of dive opera- The entire month of September world- to be cleaned in Texas show in March. Since then over 600 tors, dive resorts and renowned marine naturalists Ned & Anna divers and photographers have around the globe. Divers can search DeLoach will be at Buddy Dive Resort signed up for the beta-membership. based on general facilities, photo USS Oriskany Bonaire to offer its guests a wide range of RANDY CURTIS DivePhotoGuide.com is on the way BONAIREsubjects, schedules, rates and most educational activities, from guided boat to becoming the most comprehen- importantly photo specific facilities dives and trips to slide shows in the sive dive operator directory in the (down to the size of the rinse tanks To sink or not to sink evening. Ned & Anna are the authors of world, catering mainly to underwa- ADVERTand the availability of charging sta- the Reef Fish Identification and Reef Fish After numerous delays and frayed towing was less expensive than com- ter photographers and videogra- tions, international power adapt- Behavior books. For more info on their nerves, the USS Oriskany will be towed pletely scapping the ship. The 888-foot phers. But there is far more to the ers and much, much more). Each work see www.fishid.com to a Naval docking area in Texas from (271 m) Korean War era aircraft carrier site than the directory. Currently, dive operator will also be ranked Pensacola, Florida, and back again to will have been towed four times across divers and photographers can sign on their environmental responsibil- Activities start on Wednesday August 31st Pensacolo where it will become an arti- the Gulf of Mexico between 2004-2006 up for a free beta-membership with ity, in conjunction with non-profit and continue until the 25th of September ficial reef. The Navy is towing the ship to before it is finally laid to rest on the sea- access to photo galleries from some organization OceanNEnvironment. and are free-of-charge for guests stay- Texas in order to protect it from the hur- floor. Once sunk, the vessel will draw of the top underwater photogra- DivePhotoGuide.com promises to ing at Buddy Dive Resort. To celebrate ricane season said Navy officials. They tourism to its attractive home for sea phers in the world, photo contest be a resource that no underwater the stay of Ned & Anna at Buddy Dive will spend 1.8 million more USD over the creatures and improve fishing in the area calendars and breaking news. The photographer or videographer can Resort, the premium dive resort of Bonaire 12 million already spent on the vessel to of Pensacoloa. The city won the bid to DPG Dive Operator Directory will live without! ■ is offering its special promotion “Buddies- prepare it for becoming an artificial reef. receive the artificial reef from the Navy officially launch over the summer. www.DivePhotoGuide.com Dive-for-Free” For more information Navy spokesperson, Pat Dolan, said the over the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. ■ please contact your favorite travel partner, call 1-866-GO-BUDDY, e- mail buddydive@travelmarketing. News release May 2005 com or visit our website www. buddydive.com. For non-US reservations call your favorite New Luxury live-aboard vessel travel agent, contact us at reservations@buddydive. headed for Papua New Guinea com, call + 599-717-5080 or fax + 599-717-8647. ■ DiveBIZ 2006 to have consumer day Following her March handover, “True the most breathtaking the region has to North” has arrived and entered sched- offer. Elsewhere in the yard the 38 metre ConvEx Show Management, opportunity to view the prod- uled service in the remote Kimberly wil- research vessel for a private owner is producers of DiveBIZ 2006, has ucts that will be available at derness. Owner / operator, North Star undergoing final sea trials prior to ship- added a consumer show seg- their local retailers for the forth- Cruises has reported strong interest in ment and delivery. ■ ment to their January 2006 coming dive season. Because cruise options including this diving trade show. Travel and we are dedicated to maximiz- year’s “Over the Top” cruise Dive Expo, a consumer day, ing the return for our exhibitors, from Darwin to Cairns and, will be held on Saturday, we felt the investment and the new “Adventures in January 28, 2006. The Expo will opportunity more than justified Paradise cruise” - untamed follow two trade-only days: the addition of a consumer Papua New Guinea in ulti- Thursday, January 26 and aspect to the DiveBIZ event,” mate luxury. Friday, January 27, 2006 at the said Guy Miller, International As the attached picture Las Vegas Convention Center. Marketing and Sales Manager clearly shows this larger “Many of our exhibitors have for DiveBIZ. The show dates replacement vessel offers asked us to consider the addi- moved one day to include the passengers the highest levels tion of this one day on which Saturday consumer day. ■ of comfort and facilities, but consumers may have the www.divebizexpo.com is still small enough to access

17 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED 18 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Infamous for pirates and bankers, the Cayman Islands are also a wonderful playground for divers

TheIntroduction text by Michael SymesCayman Islands Photographs by John Collins and Peter Symes

Situated in the sparkling The Cayman Islands were first sighted by Caribbean Sea, the three Cayman Christopher Columbus on 10 May, 1503, when he was blown off course en route to Islands, known as Grand Cayman, the island of Hispaniola, now known as Haiti Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and the Dominican Republic. He decribed lie some 250 km south of Cuba two very small and low islands which, like and about 300 km west of the surrounding sea, were full of turtles, and for this reason he named these islands Las Jamaica. Geographically speak- Tortugas. The two islands were Cayman Brac ing, they form part of the Cayman and Little Cayman. A map from 1523, show- Ridge which extends westwards ing all three islands, gave them the name from Cuba over towards the Bay Lagartos, meaning alligators or large lizards. However, by 1530 the name Caymanas of Honduras. The Cayman Trench, was being used. It is derived from the Carib which goes down to a maximum Indian word for the marine crocodile, which depth of 7686 meters, separates is now known to have lived in these islands. On his 1585-86 voyage to these waters the islands from Jamaica. Sir Francis Drake, with a fleet of 23 ships,

RIGHT: Diver and large Barrel sponge, one of the larg- est marine organisms in the Caymans, reaching over 2m across. Bloody Bay, Little Cayman

NEXT PAGE: Diver encounters one of the large deep water gargonians or fan corals on the Cayman reefs JOHN COLLINS 19 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel

stopped at Grand Cayman and report- there were still many Spanish privateers ed that the island was not inhabited, plying their piracy at this time. For this but crocodiles, alligators, iguanas and reason the settlers were called back to numerous turtles were to be found. Jamaica. Often in breach of the treaty, However, it was the ample supply of tur- British privateers also roamed the area tles and their meat that made the islands taking their prizes, probably using the a popular calling place for ships sailing Cayman Islands for replenishing stocks of the Caribbean. This eventually led the food and water and careening their ves- local waters to being denuded of the tur- sels. During the 18th century, the Islands tle, although the green is still found were certainly well known to such pirates in the seas surrounding the Islands where as Blackbeard, even after the Treaty of their fishing is allowed under licence. Utrecht, in 1713, was supposed to have ended privateering. Piracy On 8th February, 1794, an event The first recorded settlements were locat- occurred which grew into one of ed on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac Cayman’s favourite legends, ‘The Wreck when Sir Thomas Modyford was Governor of the Ten Sail’. A convoy of more than of Jamaica in 1661-7. Although Spain 58 merchantmen sailing from Jamaica had recognised British possession of to England found itself dangerously close the Islands in the 1670 Treaty of Madrid, to the reef at Gun Bay, on the east end

20 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED JOHN COLLINS travel Caymans 1 2 Before slavery was abolished in 1834, Cayman Brac 1 10 there were over 950 slaves owned by 4 3 2 5 116 families. 6 3 Little Cayman 9 When Jamaica achieved independ- 4 7 8 ence in 1962, the Islands opted to 5 remain under the British Crown, and an CAYMAN BRAC DIVE SITES administrator appointed from London 1. Radar Reef assumed the responsibilities previously LITTLE CAYMAN DIVE SITES 2. Plymouth Rock held by the governor of Jamaica. 1. Cumber’s Caves 3. Snapper Reef An airfield opened in 1953 in Grand 2. Bus Stop 4. MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts Cayman, replacing the seaplane service 3. Marilyn’s Cut 5. Charlie’s Reef which had operated since the 1940s. 4. Great Wall 6. East Chute The economy has now grown greatly, 5. Joy’s Joy 7. Tarpon Reef as governments have pursued policies 8. Anchor Wall aimed at developing the infrastructure, BELOW: Grunts schooling in the Cayman reefs. The shallow reefs of 9. Inside Out Bloody Bay’s protected marine park are healthy and full of fish life 10. Rock Monster JOHN COLLINS

Juvenile spotted drum, 5cm long, Little Cayman 14 12 15 of Grand Cayman. Ten 13 11 16 of the ships, including 1 10 HMS Convert, the navy 9 2 8 vessel providing protec- 18 3 7 17 tion, foundered on the 4 5 19 reef. With the aid of 6 Caymanians, the crews 20 and passengers mostly 21 survived, although some Grand Cayman Island 22 eight lives were lost. George Town The court martial of the  25 24 23 fleet’s leader, Captain 26 Lawford, revealed that a current had unexpect- edly carried the fleet 20 miles north of its course. The incident underscores how common shipwrecks There are over 200 dive 7. The Aquarium 17. Babylon have been in the his- sites around Grand 8. Doc Poulson/Mitch 18. Turtle Pass tory of the Islands. At this Cayman Island, including Miller’s Reef 19. Snapper Hollow time the population was those listed below: 9. Little Tunnel 20. Grouper Grotto about 400. 10. Trinity Caves 21. The Maze The first census of the GRAND CAYMAN DIVE 11. Happ’s Pipeline 22. Thee Sisters Islands was taken in 1802, 1. Bonnie’s Arch 12. Ghost Mountain 23. Laura’s Reef showing a population on 2. North West Point 13. Stingray City 24. Pedro’s Pinnacles Grand Cayman of 933, 3. Orange Canyon 14. Hole in the Wall 25. Japanese Gardens of whom 545 were slaves. 4. Big Tunnel 15. Princess Penny’s 26. Eagle Ray Rock 5. Sand Chute Pinnacle 6. Oro Verde 16. Grand Canyon JOHN COLLINS

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CDC

JOHN COLLINS

Moray eels are commonly seen throughout the Caymans

education, health and social services Town, receiving a monthly average and endangered Blue Iguana can of the Islands, and fostering the con- of about 12 cm of rain. The Islands be seen at the Queen Elizabeth II tinued growth of Cayman’s two main are very fertile with coconut trees, Botanic Park. And there are more industries, tourism and financial serv- thatch palm, seagrape, almond and than 180 species of birds here, includ- ices. The population of the Cayman casuarina trees abundant. Breadfruit, ing the Cayman Parrot, Cayman’s Islands is now about 40,000, and the papaya, avocado, citrus, and national bird. main language is English with Spanish mango trees are also to be found, However, beautiful and attractive frequently spoken as a second lan- together with bananas, plantains, as the Islands might be in themselves, guage. sweet potatoes, pumpkins, watermel- it is the multitudinous tropical marine on, cantaloup, green and hot pep- life of all kinds in the surrounding Playground for tourists and pers, tomatoes, etc. waters, especially in Cayman’s coral scuba divers The Islands themselves contain few reefs, that entice scuba divers here This is a well-favoured place. The indigenous animals, none of which from all over the world. The under- climate is mild, with are dangerous. The most common water landscape here is dominated seldom going below 21°C or above are non-poisonous snakes, iguana, by the great Cayman Trench, with 32°C. Rainfall over the Islands is the (freshwater turtle), and its famous North Wall, which plunges seasonal, with the capital, George land crabs. Grand Cayman’s rare down to more than 7000 meters. The

22 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED TOP LEFT: Divers photograph the corals at Grand Cayman where large gargonians Caymans travel can be found emerging from the reef

JOHN COLLINS

BOTTOM LEFT: Yellow-head- ed jawfish, darts from its bur- row to catch passing food

BOTTOM RIGHT: A mug shot of one of the endangered Loggerhead sea turtles raised on a turtle farm by the sea on Grand Cayman Island

CENTER: Orange ball anem- PETER SYMES one, night dive, Little Cay- man

TOP RIGHT: Goby on coral, JOHN COLLINS Little Cayman

walls of this trench are covered with marine life, including sea fans, barrel sponges and sea whips. And there is also Orange Canyon, at the north end of the West Bay, with its incredible of orange elephant-ear sponges, as well as giant black sea fans. Truly, a super playground for scuba divers. ■

Take Note: Effective December 31, 2005, all visitors traveling to the Cayman Islands must have a passport, based on the US implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

PETER SYMES JOHN COLLINS

23 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel The Lost City of Atlantis is Revived on Cayman Brac A local artist on Cayman Brac in a structure of this magnitude. The Atlantis. Phase two will include the who are deemed worthy will be the Cayman Islands, known simply massive columns are constructed giant archway, more columns and immortalised by Foots and known as as FOOTS is realising a 40 year- in such a way that they will attract the sundial, they are collectively The Elders of the Lost City of Atlantis. old dream to build the Lost City and even aid marine life to adhere known as The Inner Circle of Light. The first of these Elders is Lawson of Atlantis and to have it on per- to the surfaces, thus advancing Once the other ten elders are mod- Wood, well known to many divers manent underwater display. Now the colonisation of natural marine elled, they will surround The Inner and underwater photographers for with the full go-ahead from the organisms. Each sculpture is set on a Circle of Light, their closed eyes and his numerous magazine feature arti- Department of Tourism and the massive base, that, should another clasped hands signifying their long cles and dive guides. Lawson has Department of the Environment, his hurricane come by, their align- wait for Atlantis to rise again. The been involved in marine conserva- vision of Atlantis will unfold in the ment and stature will be minimally models for each of the City Elders tion for over 25 years and has writ- coming months. The first sections impacted by a major storm. Should will be moulded from life. The Eleven ten and co-authored over 35 diving were placed underwater off the the columns be knocked over, related books. He is the founder of northern shore of Cayman Brac in they are built in such a way that the first marine reserve in Scotland

the Cayman Islands on July 28th, they will anchor themselves to the FOOTS and a founding member of the 2005. Eventually there will be over seabed, thus further protecting the Marine Conservation Society. His 100 pieces underwater weighing marine environment. wife Lesley said, “It is wonderful for upwards of 300 tons, constructed on The city will consist of various dif- Lawson to be honoured this way, land and placed underwater in a ferent types of sculpture including the first statue of him underwater is series of phases. a sundial; variously sized temple a testimony to his active life in con- The proposed area is a popular columns; a giant archway and a servation, protection and promotion and snorkelling loca- pyramid that will weigh in at over of the marine environment”. ■ tion midway along the northern 30,000 pounds. The first phase is World renown underwater photographer and protected shores of Cayman Brac now underwater and consists of author, Lawson Wood, who is a Fellow of the Royal at a site known as Radar Reef eleven columns Geographic Society, the Royal Photographers Soci- off Stake Bay. The Department of and along with ety and the British Institute of Professional Photogra- phers, has written two dive guides for adventurous Environment have examined the the first of the divers who want to explore the reefs of the Cayman site and have deemed it perfect for eleven Elders of Islands: Shipwrecks of the Cayman Islands The best guide to diving and exploring the amazine natural beauty of the Cayman Islands. It offers ac- curate accounts of about 140 of the best-known identified shipwrecks as well as important details about the various types of sailing vessels that have piled up in the area over the last 500 years. A useful reference for any wreck diver interested in explor- ing the Cayman reefs, it has over 200 photographs and illustrations. Available at Aquapress. www.aquapress.co.uk

The Dive Sites of the Cayman Islands A beautifully illustrated guide to over 260 diving and sites in the Cayman Seas. It offers ratings of each dive site by island and describes the ma- rine life, depths, access and conditions found there. www.aquapress.co.uk

FOOTS

24 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Photographer John Collins takes a look beyond Seven Mile Beach to see what the Caymans have to offer There is such a choice of quality dive operators and accommodation on Grand Cayman, it is hard to beat. It is a great holiday destination with some fantastic diving. If you venture a little further though, the Cayman islands get even better. I rate the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman as the very best diving in the Caribbean. If you have the time and incli- nation, there is also an unforgettable experience, unique in the world, aboard the Atlantis Deep Submersible. These are the highlights of the Caymans to me, and should be on your wish-list for a Cayman island trip.

CaymanText and photos by John Collins Sister Islands

ABOVE: Hermit crab in sponge, Little Cayman

RIGHT: A colourful overhang looks Bloody Bay Wall out into the intense blue water of Bloody Bay, Little Cayman 25 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Caymans

ABOVE: Large sponges are typical of wall dives in Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay marine park LEFT: Sponges, rather than soft corals, dominate wall dives in Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay

Sister Islands like clarity in vibrant blue water. As to fish-life, and healthy marine envi- The sister islands lie 150 km north- they are remote from the main island, ronment. Clearly, this is a very special east of Grand Cayman, about half they are much quieter. Little Cayman place. way between the large island and in particular, is an oasis of calm and Most visitors to the sister islands fly Cuba. They break the surface of the an ideal get-away for a tired body to Cayman Brac. It has a bigger air- Cayman Trench, the deepest part of and mind. Best of all, its Bloody Bay port and a more regular service from the Caribbean, which plunges to 7500 Marine Park is one of the finest diving Grand Cayman. Little Cayman can meters. This deep water, coupled with areas in the world. Year after year, be reached by a short boat transfer the fact that no rivers run into it, make diving publications and their readers or by flying into its small airport. There the underwater visibility particularly award Little Cayman a multitude of is a choice of fine resorts on both good. It can exceed 100 meters: gin- Best of... awards, from best wall diving, islands for a land-based trip or two

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LEFT: Bloody bay wall, a sheer drop-off, covered in corals and sponges CENTER: Red night shrimp, Little Cayman RIGHT: Lettuce sea slug, Little Cayman

live-aboard options: the Grand Cayman in a depth of 25 metres. While the sponges marine parks, replenishment and environ- based Cayman Aggressor, which includes and invertebrate marine life were initially mental zones are exemplary. There are the sister islands in its itinerary, weather slow to grow, the ship was adopted almost permanent moorings to prevent anchor permitting; or Little Cayman Diver, a immediately by fish. The bow area and damage at all of the dive sites, and no Cayman Brac based boat that spends guns are the most striking, though pene- fishing of any kind is allowed. Divers are most of its seven day itinerary at Bloody trating such a safe wreck is also an option. briefed and monitored by staff at the dive Bay. I like live-aboard diving and chose For those of us who generally do not rel- centres and boats to encourage good this latter boat, and really enjoyed it. ish the insides of wrecks, this one is a little diving behaviour. On arrival in Cayman Brac, you are more tempting. Typically, a diving day on any of the picked up and transferred to the boat. dive sites along this north shore of Little Once settled in, your first dive is on the Bloody Bay Cayman will begin with a deep wall dive. wreck of a Russian-built frigate, re-named Bloody Bay Marine Park embodies all of There are two walls in the marine park, the Captain Keith Tibbetts and sunk as an the fine protection measures the Cayman Bloody Bay wall and Jackson wall. Many artificial reef in 1996. It was first made safe authorities have put in place throughout of the marked dive sites have a deep cut for divers before a spectacular sinking cer- the islands since 1986. It is regarded very in the wall, creating a sandy gully which emony gave it a new life on the seabed. highly by any diver who sees it, and unlike brings you back to the shallow reef at the The Cayman island authorities bought many tropical areas worldwide, many end of the dive. Spectacular is a word fre- the 95 meter, 1600 tonne ship from the future generations of divers will continue quently used to describe good dive sites, Russians for $275,000 and carefully sank it to enjoy it. The regulations protecting the but here it is truly apt. This is thrilling drop-

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off diving. I frequently paused on these dives to look around and down into the intense blue, neutral buoyan- cy poising me per- fectly between the surface 30 meters above and the sea-bed 1800 meters below. But it is colours. the life along these walls that makes Fish life is abun- it so special. Huge sponges make dant, individuals reaching enthralling shapes, forming shelter for great sizes in the safe haven of the fellow animals and painting the marine park. This must be how many nurse sharks snooze under coral over- wall with splashes of the world’s coral reefs looked in hangs and bigger fish enjoy a little of rare centuries past. grooming at cleaning stations. This is The second and third dives of the macro photography heaven. day are equally varied, in beauti- I enjoyed many long moments with ful coral gardens. Schools of some of the reef’s most charming fish cruise by, disinter- creatures: the delicate ballet of a ested in their bub- purple Pedersen’s cleaner shrimp or ble-blowing the darting antics of a juvenile spot- intruders; ted drum. Dive and air time will often be finished before you feel you are ready to surface. There are some oppor- tunities too, one of the advantages of live-aboard diving. Unusual animals are to be seen after dark, like orange-ball anemo- nes and crusteaceans that hide during the day.

ABOVE: Barracuda will often come into shallow reefs for cleaning

TOP RIGHT: Spidercrab in sponge, Little Cayman

BOTTOM RIGHT: Hermit crab, Lit- tle Cayman

BOTTOM LEFT:Parrotfish are most approachable on nightdives, when they rest in the reef

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TOP LEFT: The stern of the Kirk Pride, lost in 1976, now rests on a rock ledge in 240m The Deep a panoramic view. The pilot amazingly, there is quite a lot TOP CENTER: The bridge of the Kirk Pride, Even if you decide to spend makes his final checks and of life, so far down. the ship’s telegraph and chart table still vis- most of your diving time on after a lot of noise and bub- Limestone haystacks ible inside the sister islands, there are two bles you are on your way. I appear like boulders, with TOP RIGHT: The bow area of the Kirk Pride, things you must do on Grand really enjoyed the feeling of stalked anemone-like animals showing anchor windlass equipment Cayman: the world famous finally seeing what was Stingray City and a deep dive beyond diving depths, so aboard the Atlantis Deep tempting on the wall dives Submersible. The stingray dive earlier in the week. is described elsewhere in this As the light begins to issue and the deep dive is an fade, the blue gradu- equally amazing underwa- ally merges into darkness. ter experience: an opportu- More hissing and whir- nity to dive in a three person ring and we level off, 250 research submersible, 300 meters down. The pilot metres into the abyss. It is a turns on the lights and first-hand deep exploration in the spirit of pioneering dives to our deepest waters. There is even a wreck at 250 meters. This is not a dive for the claustrophobic. The submers- ible is small, with room for just two passengers and the pilot. You are even weighed before the dive so that the ballast can be correctly adjusted for the dive. A boat transfer brings you to the dive site, just offshore from Georgetown. Once aboard, you are seated right in the bow, with a large dome in front giving

ABOVE: Atlantis Deep Submersible, dives to 1000ft, 300m down the Cayman trench off Georgetown BOTTOM RIGHT: Giant Gorgonian, over 2m, in 240m, this is one of the largest measured by National Geographic INSET: A stalked anemone on a haystack, 250m depth

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LEFT: Diver investigates the long fronds of a red finger sponge. The walls along Bloody Bay and Jackson wall are sometimes cut, allowing a swim-through back to the top of the reef

TOP RIGHT: Sponge colonies, Little Cayman

BOTTOM RIGHT: Inside the wreck of the Russian frigate, renamed the Capt Keith Tibbets, Cayman Brac

perched on their edges. A giant gorgoni- operation until November 2005. an sea fan is a remarkable sight, about 1.5 The Cayman islands clearly have a lot to meters across. The pilot maneuvers care- offer . The variety of underwater fully around it and continues down. experience is remarkable and the seri- The lights go out for another minute or ous protection given to the environment two as we move through the blackness. ensures its future. So, whether the luxury Then as the lights go back on, the incred- and vibrance of the Seven Mile Beach ible sight of the stern of a ship appears. hotels appeals to you, or you prefer qui- The Kirk Pride was lost in a storm in 1976, eter sister islands, there are diving adven- and is perched on a ledge, as if on dis- tures in abundance throughout this charm- play. The rusticles are reminiscent of the ing island nation. ■ first images of Titanic when they were shown to the world in 1985. The ship is For more information or to order prints remarkably well preserved, the bridge directly from the photographer, please area clearly visible, with a collapsed tele- visit: graph and chart table on the floor. A few www.johncollinskinsale.com fish move around the bow, mooring ropes For more information about excursions on and windlasses still intact. the Atlantis Deep Submersible, visit: The slow ascent back to the surface www.atlantisadventures.com allows more time to take in the reef but Little Cayman Diver the deep part of the dive is unforgettable. www.littlecaymandiver.com Due to damage from Hurricane Ivan last Cayman Aggressor year, the deep submersible will not be in www.aggressor.com

30 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED World Freediving Records

Text by Nancy Easterbrook Photos courtesy of Divetec at Caymans. Video clips by PerformanceFreediving.com Thursday, April 14th was the last day for record attempts for Team PFI (Performance Freediving International) off Divetech at Cobalt Coast on Grand Cayman. The event now sees three athletes with four new world records and one national record in the sport of freediving / breath-hold diving.

Freediving or breath-hold diving as a sport is where athletes com- pete in disciplines involving time, depth and distance with different subcategories in each. The com- petitive world of freediving emerged in the late 1940’s and today is enjoying unprecedented growth and booming popularity with underwater enthusiasts the world over. Although freediv- ing as a sport is relatively new, freediving as a means of suste- nance can trace its roots back 4500 years. Since April 14th, Team PFI has been on Grand Cayman training for a shot at five different world records and one US national record. Mandy-Rae Cruickshank (Canada), Martin Stepanek Team PFI and Divetec support staff prepare to aid a freediver in a record attempt, Cayman Islands

31 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED (Czech Republic) and Dr. George minutes and on one single breath -plus visibility, this is a wide range records ‘Doc’ Lopez (USA) make up the of air! of vision. Then the advantages of team with Mandy-Rae and Martin a constant PO2 comes into play already holding four and five Safety strides by providing a constantly chang- world records respectively prior to As we learn more about the ing mixture of gas to the diver that the event. human body and its ability to varies based on their current Although the Cayman Islands accomplish incredible feats in the depth, versus a constant PO2 as in were damaged by hurricane Ivan freediving arena, safety and sup- open circuit diving. This allows September of last year, Team port are also being driven to new CCR divers to stay at depth for PFI decided to continue with limits to figure out how to do all of much longer times and not even their planning of this years event. this in a safe and sound fashion. enter decompression. “Cayman’s infrastructure was In order to provide the best pos- Along with a myriad of other more than ready to support the sible support to freedivers, a features, the ability to use a extreme needs of our event from number of new systems have helium based mixture in the CCR a safety and performance point been devised for safety at these with requires an extremely low of view,” said Kirk Krack, coach/ great depths by Performance gas usage, the CCR divers form trainer and organizer of Team Free Diving. These are mechanical a huge part of the support and PFI. “We’re very pleased with devise that allow a freediver in video/documentation team. The the support we’ve received from trouble several options to get to safety divers know to give the ath- the many sponsors and supporters the surface quickly, including a letes no more than 10 seconds at who helped make this event scuba diver assisted freediver the bottom before they deploy a reality, and without their support retrieval system, a climbing clamp the safety ascent bags, that will and financial assistance, this that can be snapped onto the lift the whole system and the ath- wouldn’t have been possible.” line with pillow-bags to inflate the lete to the surface in case of an It appears that the sport of freediver and sled and balanced emergency. scuba diving and freediving counter balance. The key is a fast Following over 3 weeks of alike are getting deeper and ascent. The safety divers have intensive training, the divers get deeper with every passing year. their own descent and safety lines ready for the world records. After Freedivers (breath-hold or to keep them away from the stretching and marking the line, a divers) are pushing new limits that counter line for everyone’s safety. comprehensive safety and organi- in prior years would have been Freedivers enter the water with- zational meeting occurs. The ath- thought impossible for a human out any scuba tanks, totally bub- letes, evacuation boats, safety to attain. This past April in Grand ble free. Then, enters the human CCR divers, videog- Cayman, Mandy-Rae Cruickshank factor for the final safety feature raphers, photographers, emer- accomplished a new record to 74 — the Closed Circuit Rebreather gency personnel (two paramed- meters in the freediving discipline (CCR) divers. ics and one doctor), safety of free immersion (no fins, pulling Closed Circuit divers have the freedivers, athletes, schedules, up and down a line) and Martin advantage of a number of fea- gas blends, run times, emergency Stephanek won the title for the tures that this new technology protocols, and judges are all coor- world deepest freediver in the brings. First of all, there are no dinated for the world records. Variable Ballast discipline to 136 bubbles, so vision is unencum- Everything, in fact, is done to meters! (Riding a weighted sled bered for the safety divers to be ensure a safe and successful down and kicking back to the sur- able to monitor the freedivers at record day. face) And all of this in only a few all times. In Cayman, with 100 foot “The calculated execution of

Mandy-Rae Martin Stephanek Doc Lopez Cruickshank ◄ Click on the video screen to see clips from the diver’s world record attempt. A freediver returns to the surface from depth Links active as of publication

32 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED the dives is hard work, regardless of the successfully achieved a depth of 50 m the United States Apnea Association records depth. Each of us has our own real and (164 ft) in the discipline of constant bal- (USAA). Doc, a highly successful CEO, is imaginary barriers that we need to chip last no-fins where an athletes swims also a blue water world record spearfish- away at piece by piece. Freediving down to and back from depth without ermen. may seem extreme, but we don’t see it fins. In addition, she also set the free Officiating the event was the that way. Sure, there are calculated risks immersion world record to 74 m (243 ft) Association for the International which we constantly work to evaluate, where an athlete pulls to and back from Development of Apnea (AIDA), the minimize and/or correct so that in the depth without fins. world governing body for the sport of end we create the most comfortable Joining Mandy-Rae is team member freediving. AIDA Level A Judges Bill training environment with the best safety Martin Stepanek of the Czech Republic. Stromberg (Sweden) and Nicolas procedures. This is what enables the ath- Martin is 28 years old and a five-time Laporte (Switzerland) were the officials in letes to perform at their best.” world record holder now holding four attendance ratifying the attempts and world records also including constant ensuring the strictest of safety protocols World record events ballast at 103 m (338 ft) surpassing Carlos were followed. Divetech at Cobalt Coast Resort has Costa’s record of 102 m (335 ft). In April, Along with ICU Medical Inc, Divetech hosted the these world record events for Martin successfully achieved a depth of and Cobalt Coast on Grand Cayman the past 2 years. Divetech offers training 80 m (264 ft) in constant ballast no-fins provided diving and accommodations in both free diving and technical diving, breaking the previous record of 66 m while Danny Kupkowski of Off The Wall including CCR’s on a year-round basis, (216 ft). The last record attempt of the Divers provided a daily training boat. as well as training and charters for all event was by Martin who reached 136 m Underwater video services were provid- divers from beginners to seasoned vet- (447 ft) in variable ballast previously held ed by Amphibico Inc of Montreal, erans. The deep, sheer walls of Cayman by of Venezuela. Variable Canada. Professional furnished are only minute’s off-shore, with excel- ballast has an athlete riding a weighted by Oceaner Sporting Goods and lent visibility, minimal currents and abun- sled to depth and then fining and pulling Yamamoto Corporation. ■ dant marine life, providing an environ- back to the surface unassisted. Daily journals with photos and streaming ment for all levels of divers to enjoy. Partnering with Performance Free videos are available at www.perform- Performance Free Diving trains athletes Diving International is Dr. George ‘Doc’ ancefreediving.com. More information to be their best in the world of freediving, Lopez, CEO of ICU Medical Inc regarding next year’s free diving records operating out of Vancouver Canada. (NASDAQ; ICUI). Doc joined Mandy and plase contact [email protected] or Training and clinics are available on a Martin in Cayman for his second year visit www.divetech.com. year round basis. and completed a US national record for The 2006 World Free Diving Records will be hosted again in Grand Cayman from April 1 - 7th/2006. Packages are availa- ble for visitors to come and witness these spectacular events, enquire with Divetech at [email protected] for information. Clinics for everyone will take place for 4 days following the world free diving records. Mandy-Rae is thirty years old and resides in Vancouver, Canada. Freediving competitively since 2000, Mandy-Rae has now held six world records and currently holds three includ- ing the constant ballast world record where an athlete swims to depth and back with fins and retains their ballast. In March 2004 in Grand Cayman, she achieved a depth of 78 m (256 ft) sur- passing Tanya Streeter’s record of 70 m (230 ft). During this event Mandy-Rae

An athlete attempts free immersion where a freediver pulls to and back from depth without fins 33 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Wrecks The Cayman Islands are home to some spectacu- lar wrecks like this one Can the Cayman shot by UK underwater photographer, Julian Calverley. It’s the 110 m (330 ft) Russian Frigate Blue Iguana be saved? #356, which was sunk in 1996 to create an artifi- Only 25 of them left on Grand Cayman cial reef and renamed the MV Capt. Keith The blue iguana is found only on Grand avoiding the severe mortality that would usu- Tibbets. The bow of the Cayman, and DNA evidence suggests it has ally decimate a year’s hatch. The blue igua- ship rests in 110 feet, with been around for the past three million years. nas are then released back into the wild and its radar tower protruding However, greedy humans and their pets have radio-tracked as they mature and start breed- to within 5 m (15 ft) of the now so seriously threatened their survival that ing. The programme seems to be working, and surface. they are on the brink of extinction. The igua- it seems that it is possible to bring the iguanas We will see more of nas do not instinctively recognise dogs and back to the numbers required to sustain a Caverley’s work in future cats, for example, as lethal predators and viable population. If enough habitat can be issues of X-RAY MAG. their first chance to learn is often the last. protected and maintained free of unnatural But if you want to get a In an attempt to save these iguana, a predators, including humans, then there is rea- sneak preview of some of captive breeding programme has been set son to hope the blue iguana will survive. his photography now, visit The Russian Frigate lies on its side on the ocean floor off of Cayman Brac up in cooperation with the Cayman Islands The blue iguanas are so named because his website at: Department of the Environment. Blue igua- their skin slowly turns from grey to blue www.juliancalverley.com nas are hatched and reared for two years, so throughout the day as the sun shines. ■

Blue Iguana Stamps will be issued by the Cayman Islands National Trust’s Iguana Recovery Programme on 18 November. Images taken by Fred Burton show the most endangered iguana in the world, the Grand Cayman Bue Igauna (Cyclura lewisi) in its natural habitat. Donations can be made now and 600 W. Nickerson Street, Seattle WA, 98119 • 206.286.6596 • [email protected] stamps can be ordered soon at www.blueiguana.ky

34 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Hurricane Ivan enters the Gulf of Mexico in this photo taken at about 5:40 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 13, 2004 by Astronaut Mike Fincke. Credit: NASA

Text by Peter Symes InnerSpacePhotos courtesy of DiveTech

Jetsam Technologies, Ltd., presented the new Sport KISS CCR which is a light- recreational rebreather developed over the last 2 ½ years. Tomar Gross and Dr Randy Klein of Bubble Seekers LLC presented the new Nemesis, which was introduced to recreational “NASA-GSFC, DATA FROM NOAA GOES” OuterSpace divers for the first time at Inner Space. Doug McKenna of Technology Micropore introduced the Back to business after and Closed Extend Air CO2 absorbent Circuit Research system. It utilizes easy to use introduced the disposable cartridges for Hurricane Ivan DiveTech Fowler Orobourus CCR and the various CCRs. Rany Polany of for everything that is and Cobalt Coast of Silent Diving Rebreather Evolution. Ron H O Audio demonstrated the 2 Last Autumn the Cayman Islands open, and cleanup Resort is hosted the annual Systems presented the new Micjan of TMIShop.com intro- new underwater MP-3 players were battered pretty badly by has been done event, Inner Space, a closed Vision Electronics while div- duced a CCR conversion as well as download acces everywhere. As of circuit pro- ing the Inspiration and newly kit for Dolphin SCR divers. from a computer for loading Hurricane Ivan, but now the facilities are being rebuilt. Nancy the end of May, gram for certified CCR divers released Evolution models of Gordon and Kim Smith of favorite music onto the unit. ■ there were still who want to get certified at CCRs. Lamar Hires Easterbrook of Divetech writes: some facilities the recreational, normoxic or of DiveRite intro- under con- advanced level. duced features • 40% of accommodations are struction, The week-long event offers and benefits of back on-line and totally refur- roofs being divers exploration of the deep the new O ptima 2 bished—more coming on-line repaired, walls of Cayman, seminars CCR which every month but then with leaders in the field, new has just been • 90% of all restaurants open again again, when “It’s welcome equipment testing and daily released. While • 100% of car rental agencies is there ever not any back - we’re open live video and photography Leon Scamahorn are open with rental inventory construction going on? to take home. of InnerSpace • Attractions are open or are going The vegetation is for business and This year’s speaker line-up Systems Corp. to open. Reopenings happen daily coming back, the bou- want divers” included several top lead- introduced the • The reefs are undamaged. gainvillea is blooming, ers in the field. of new Mini-meg They are even better than ever after but we are missing larger tress, etc. There IANTD presented comparisons and demonstrat- Mother Nature did her not so gentle are some empty lots with foliage down in of all CCR’s on the market, ed the use and cleaning process. There is truly vibrant them that will be tackled in the not too an intimate look at CCR acci- benefits of the marine life—corals and all are intact, distant future Signage, welcome signs, dents and how to avoid them Megladon CCR. even in the shallows. We have whips, markers, etc., are all being replaced. as well as cave diving and Kevin Gurr seafans, soft corals and the like. Reports Cayman has very strongly recognized deeper diving on CCR. Mike of Delta P. from divers coming since we officially the value of tourism and customer serv- re-opened Nov. 20th have all been won- ices levels are at an all time high. ■ derful. Cayman is practically brand new

35 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Coral Spawningin the Caymans

Text and photos by Alex Mustard, PhD

Mass coral spawning is one of the most spectacu- lar sights in the ocean – a moment when the whole reef explodes into efferves- cent life. It is also one of the most illusive; the majority of corals only spawn once a year, at night, and the whole show is done and dusted in less than 15 min- utes. Waiting for it can feel like torture, but time it right and it can be one of the best experiences of your life.

It was a night dive just like the many others I have enjoyed on the reefs of Grand Cayman’s East End. That was the problem. This wasn’t supposed to be just another night dive. I glanced down at my dive computer. I had been in the water for 15 minutes. But in truth, this dive A large Star coral releasing bundles of eggs and sperm

36 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Coral Spawning

ABOVE: A sequence of images showing Star coral spawning LEFT: A diver watches a female gorgonian releasing white eggs

had started long before my giant stride als had spawned earlier in the evening? chances to persuade him to try again. off the boat, when I made a leap of Maybe they had spawned yesterday? We were optimistic when we left the faith that led to me buying plane tickets Maybe they had spawned a month dock, Steve noting of the conditions and flying across an ocean to be right earlier, along with corals from Florida “Only rarely does it get so glassy calm here, right now. A bright blue octopus to Puerto Rico? Maybe they just don’t out here, it’s as if Mother Nature knows out hunting caught my eye, I ignored it spawn in Cayman? I looked at my com- that tonight’s the night.” and I stared again at the lump of coral puter again. Still 23 minutes! I was less confident. Steve was on the in front of me. “Come on! Come ON!” Our target species for this night were other side of the reef spur, which was sil- Nothing. 21 minutes. Elkhorn and Staghorn corals; species houetted by his light. The moon was yet 23 minutes. I was expecting to see the that were once widespread in the to rise and we had chosen weak torches first signs of spawning ten minutes ago Caribbean, but were decimated dur- so as not to put the corals off. The water and as each minute passed it became ing the 1980s by white band disease. was inky black and blood hot. It was more likely that tonight was not the In many areas both species are now claustrophobic and uncomfortable, like night. Coral spawning predictions are extinct, but on the East End of Grand wearing a suit that is too thick at a sum- best guesses based on experience, Cayman you have the chance to dive mer wedding. I wasn’t relaxed and I and despite a US University expedition back in time and see them in their glory. tried to concentrate on the coral. nobody had ever seen mass spawning in 26 minutes. I was now feeling guilty for Suddenly the Staghorn coral looked Grand Cayman before. In the hustle of dragging my buddy into the water. different. Perhaps I had been staring at the last hour of loading the boat, kitting Steve Broadbelt is the co-owner of it for so long that my eyes were invent- up and jumping in, I had forgotten how Ocean Frontiers dive centre and like me ing new patterns. I screwed up my eyes, much the odds were stacked against has a keen interest in marine life, some- blinked, and stared again. As I inched us, but now those thoughts returned and thing that is clearly reflected in how his closer I could see the shape of the pol- my stomach felt hollow. I had staked dive centre operates. Steve had been yps was subtly, but definitely chang- time, effort and money on being here. trying to see coral spawning for many ing, as beige bundles a few millimetres Maybe we were to late? Maybe the cor- years, and I had been bullish about our across were beginning to dome up

37 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Coral Spawning

from within the polyps. I raced to over to Steve, flapping frantically to get his attention and dragged him back to the coral. I could now see the change from several metres away - even the colour of the colony was different. Staghorn, like most corals, is a hermaphrodite, being both male a female at the same time and these bundles were made up of eggs laced together with sperm. I checked the next colony and the next, now everywhere I looked Staghorn coral was preparing to spawn. Steve and I exchanged perhaps the most cheerful OK signs ever made and a few less traditional underwater gestures that indicated spawning was definitely on! About 15 minutes later the bundles started to burst free. The buoyant fat filled eggs slowly pulling themselves away Bundles of eggs and sperm float up from a spawning Brain coral from the spiky branches of the Staghorn. Within a couple of minutes there was a steady stream of bundles rushes straight up your nose. Well, rising from colonies across just at this moment I really did not the reef. It was like diving care. Although I was now coughing in a glass of Champagne, water out of my regulator, nothing the bundles looking just like could dampen my spirits. Steve and tiny bubbles. They made an I finned around with the joy and dis- intoxicating sight. belief of children running in snow for I’m sure that you know the first time. All around us coral bun- what happens if you smile dles were heading to the surface, while you are diving? As where they would break open so the corners of your mouth eggs could be fertilized by the sperm go up, your cheeks rise, from other colonies and start the your mask no longer fits next generation of Staghorn coral. and water gushes in and And with a bit of luck help drag this species back from the brink. The end of the dive came all to quickly, as I glanced down and saw the needle on my air gauge buried in the red. Excitement has meant that I have gulped through my air, but as I finned slowly back to the ABOVE: A female Giant Star coral boat I knew that I would never look releases a cloud of eggs at coral reefs the same way again. RIGHT: Bundles of eggs and sperm momen- tarily float above the surface of this Star coral before drifting away The water column is filled with the small white eggs of gorgonians

38 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Coral travel Spawning

LEFT: Steve Broadbelt watch- es bundles rise from a spawn- ing colony of Elkhorn coral

RIGHT: The frenetic spawning activity across a section of the reef

Since that first encounter I have made of the colony and try to catch the spawning is so different – for once six more successful coral spawning bundles as they are released. we must dive to nature’s rhythm to dives in Grand Cayman and have Giant Star coral is quite different. catch the show. Mass coral spawn- never had a no show. While that first Unlike regular Star coral the colonies ing is still a recent discovery, the world experience with the Staghorn will of the Giant variety are either male had watched Spielberg’s E.T. before always remain special some of the or female. Furthermore they do not even scientists knew how corals repro- other species are far more spectacu- release bundles, but instead the male duced. And to this day each spawn- lar. So far in Cayman we have seen at colonies squirt out streams of sperm, ing dive is filled with anticipation and least 10 coral species spawning. while the females explode with a uncertainty. But for me the angst is Coral spawning makes particularly dense cloud of eggs. Gorgonians very much part of the experience. We addictive viewing because most of have separate sexes too and are live in a “now-culture” world where the different coral species have quite very plentiful at the East End of Grand food is fast and we can find just about distinct spawning behaviours. Star Cayman. Although not that much is anything we want in a few clicks of a coral is Cayman’s most stellar per- know about their reproduction we mouse. Coral spawning is a refreshing former because not only is it the most have found out that it coincides with reminder that we cannot always have abundant with some colonies as large the hard corals and is a much longer what we want exactly when we want as barn doors, but also whole colonies event. Female gorgonians release it. I, for one, would not have it any tend to spawning in one go, releasing their small white eggs in a steady other way. ■ all their bundles in waves that spread stream over several hours filling the across the surface of the colony like water column with a million white These amazing photos were taken by a blush. The intensity of spawning can specks that wash back and forth with Dr Alex Mustard who will be featured be shocking, and this blizzard of eggs the waves. Before they float free the in our next issue’s portfolio section due and sperm can cause the visibility white eggs often get tangled up in out in August 2005. To order prints of to tumble from about 25m to about the polyps, its an amusing sight as the the photographer’s images, visit: 5m in about 2 minutes. On one dive I gorgonian looks like it is suffering from www.amustard.com even lost the dive boat! Just after the a nasty case of dandruff! Star coral, the Brain coral usually goes, So many underwater experiences For more information about the coral which usually attracts hordes of deep are there ready and waiting for us spawning excursion by Ocean Fron- red brittlestars that clamber up on top whenever we choose to dive. Coral tiers, visit: www.oceanfrontiers.com

39 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED CaymanThe sleek lines of the stingray enhances its gracefulRays and ghostly move- ments over the sandy floor of the Grand Cayman Island shallows Text and photos by John Collins Stingray City, the ace in Grand cleaning their catches in sheltered as divers tend to carry food, if they Cayman’s hand, is arguably the waters before heading ashore to mar- distract them they will get a free meal ket. more easily. world’s most popular dive site, Cayman waters are home to five spe- This is why it is best not to wear a snor- and the graceful wild animals cies of rays, the southern stingray being kel, because the cunning stingray knows that live there attract hundreds the most famous. Fully grown speci- that if it knocks it, the divers mask will mens measure 1 to 1.5 m across, and flood and the food will be discarded of divers every day. they can sting using the strong barbs in by the diver while the mask is being their tails. The barbs face backwards yet cleared! Stingrays one, divers nil. This site, and the nearby sand bar, both can sting in any direction. Similarly, the rays have learned that on the north shore of Grand Cayman, The rays appear totally unafraid of divers without suits make easy targets. are home to more than 200 southern humans, and will envelope and almost The rays do not have teeth, but a stingrays. These bottom feeders were harass divers as soon as they enter the series of rasping plates that they use to first attracted by the local fisherman, water. They seem to have learned that crush the shellfish on which they nor-

A diver shares a playful moment with a friendly local at Stingray City

40 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Cayman Rays

everything. pattern on their back. Of the The electric or torpedo ray is much other rays smaller and a rare sight for divers. This in Cayman ray has a rounded body and elec- waters, the tric organs that it uses to stun its prey. Manta ray is These can generate up to 220 volts, more likely to more than many a Red Sea livea- be seen off board! Bloody Bay Finally, the yellow stingray is the baby Wall in Little of the Cayman rays. At a maximum of Cayman. A only 45 cm, this circular Ray will often few years be seen resting under coral outcrops ago, a friendly when it is not feeding. It has a venom- female was ous spines at the end of its strong tail, a regular and so, probably packs the punch of a nightly visi- heavyweight despite its small size. tor to a dive While the rays of Stingray City get site called plenty of free meals from divers and the mead- snorkelers, there are potential dangers At 45 cm, the shy yellow stingray is the smallest of the Cayman rays ows. Here, in the interaction. The stingray is dan- Molly, as she gerous only if trodden on or caught has became when it can thrash out and sting, caus- mally feed. With their powerful suck- known, would ing serious lacerations. The danger for ing action they can give exposed perform barrel rolls as she fed on the the stingray may be more serious as skin a nasty hicky that can bleed and plankton and krill attracted to the divers wearing gloves can remove the be sore. This is all part of the game of divers’ torches. protective mucus from the fish’s skin, interacting with these resourceful ani- The spotted eagle ray is also regu- allowing infections to develop, which mals. The diver on the receiving end of larly seen on Bloody Bay Wall. This large can be fatal. Close encounters with such a kiss quickly surrenders the food elusive ray has the same graceful flight these large, inquisitive and fearless - stingrays 2, divers nil ! as the manta and may initially be mis- animals is an interaction replete with taken for one. Eagle rays have snouts, excitement and fun for divers and snor- An array of rays not unlike a pigs, which they use to dig kelers, and a great opportunity to learn Southern stingrays are the most com- and forage in the sand for their diet of about their world. ■ monly seen rays in the wild throughout crustaceans the Caymans. They’re generally spot- and mollusks. ted swimming gracefully over the coral However, they or foraging for food in the sand. Here, tend to be they are almost always seen with a wary of divers barjack. He waits for the ray to dig up and will swim the sand for food and darts in, getting away showing an easy meal before the ray gets the spotted

LEFT: A diver pets one of the large female stingrays at Stingray City off Grand Cayman Island

RIGHT: Southern stingray with a buddy barjack, an opportunist who waits nearby to snatch food the ray digs up

41 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED dema ad_215x280mm 5/9/05 4:54 PM Page 1

BUSINESS PLEASURE EDUCATION DIVING

factCayman file Islands

History During the 18th and 19th Economy centuries, the Cayman Islands were The islands are colonized by the British from Jamaica. a thriving off- Since 1863, the islands have been shore financial administered by Jamaica. When center since Jamaica became independent in there is no 1962, the islands remained a British direct taxa- dependency. They lie at an important tion. As of 1998, location between Central America more than and Cuba. Government: British crown 40,000 com- colony as overseas territory of the UK panies were THE WINNING registered in Geography An island group in the Cayman the Caribbean Sea, almost one-half of Islands including Map of the Cayman Islands COMBINATION the distance from Cuba to Honduras; nearly 600 banks Area: 262 sq km; Coastline: 160 km; and trust companies; banking assets Web sites Terrain: low-lying limestone base sur- exceed $500 billion. In 1997, a stock Cayman Islands Tourism DEMA SHOW 2005 Is the World’s Only rounded by coral reefs; Elevation: low- exchange was opened. Tourism is also www.caymanislands.ky International Event for Diving, Adventure Travel est point: Caribbean Sea 0 m, highest a primary source of income, making up Sister Islands Tourism Association point: The Bluff 43 m; Natural resources: about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign www.sisterislands.com and Action Water Sports Professionals. fish, climate and beaches that entice currency earnings. The tourist industry Cayman Brac tourism; Natural : hurricanes targets the luxury market and mainly www.caymanbrac.com BACK IN LAS VEGAS for the first time Connect with more than 10,000 industry (July to November) serves visitors from North America. In Cayman Web World since 2002, DEMA Show provides you professionals on the show floor, on the 1997, total tourist arrivals were over 1.2 cayman.com.ky with more business resources and more strip or at the industry’s biggest social Capital George Town million, with 600,000 from the US. About Dive Cayman value than ever before! event, the DEMA Awards Party. 90% of the islands’ food and consumer www.divecayman.ky Climate Tropical marine; warm, goods are imported. The Caymanians Atlantis Adventures Grand Cayman See more than 600 exhibits of the hottest Participate in hundreds of hours of rainy summers (May to October) and enjoy one of the highest standards of www.atlantisadventures.com equipment, destinations, services and educational programming sponsored by accessories on the planet. View the current DEMA, exhibitors and certifying agencies – cool, relatively dry winters (November living in the world and one of the high- exhibitor list at www.demashow.com. including enhanced Ships to Reefs to April) est outputs per capital. Agriculture: Dive Operators sessions, the Adventure Travel Symposium, DEMA Show 2005 vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farm- DiveTech and FREE Power Up Your Morning October 4-7, 2005 Population 44,270 (July 2005 est.); ing; Industries: tourism, banking, insur- www.divetech.com seminars. Las Vegas Convention Ethinic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, ance and finance, construction, con- Ocean Frontiers Center black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic struction materials, furniture www.oceanfrontiers.com groups 20%; Religions: United Church Little Cayman Diver 150,000 square Feet • 10,000+ attendees • 600+ exhibits • 4 days • 1 event LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (Presbyterian and Congregational), Currency Caymanian dollar (KYD); www.littlecaymandiver.com IT ALL ADDS UP TO A WINNING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU! www.demashow.com Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Exchange rate: 1 KYD = 1.21250 USD / Cayman Aggressor Liveaboarc Protestant, Roman Catholic 0.946672 EUR www.aggressor.com ■ Language English Make plans to attend or exhibit at www.demashow.com

42 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED THE FACTS AND VIEWPOINTS IN THIS SECTION ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF X-RAY MAG. EQUIPMENT PRESENTED IN THIS SECTION HAS NOT BEEN TESTED BY X-RAY MAG STAFF, NOR ARE THE ITEMS WARRANTED, INFORMATION PROVIDED IS CONDENSED FROM MANUFACTURERS DESCRIPTIONS. TEXTS ARE USUALLY EDITED Any colour you like FOR LENGTH, CLARITY AND STYLE LINKS ACTIVE AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATIONS Zeagle cut and sew BCDs in their own Florida POINT & CLICK factory, so now can custom make your BCD ON BOLD LINKS to your order. This picture shows how colour- ful and customized the Ranger, their most popular BC, can be made to look. Each of the fabric panels can be ordered in a custom New & Interesting colour, enabling an almost endless number of Edited by pattern combinations. Have it in your compa- Andrey Bizuykin ny colours, or make the instructors stand out. & Peter Symes Equipment www.zeagle.com Extreme Pen InkaTM is a precision-crafted all-weather, compact pen engineered to perform in extreme environments. It writes underwater, at any angle, and altitude. It has a sleek, lightweight, stainless steel cylindrical design and Compact Oxygen Boosters pressurized ink cartridge. Hydraulics International’s Rebreather The pen can be used by the Booster for Dive Shops and Dive Boat outdoor enthusiast – from pilot Owners ensures full 2400-3450 psi (166- to scuba diver, mountain climber to 238 Bar) rebreather bottle fills even if fisherman. Inka’s innovative design enables the oxygen supply drops below 500-psi it to change from a quick-use pen to full-size writ- (34 Bar). It weighs only 9.5-lbs. The unit is ing tool. Inka’s key-ring can easily and securely attach compact, manually operated by means to gear or clothing. Inka has a lifetime warranty and is of its integral hand pump assembly, made in the US. Refills are available. www.inkastore.com air driven by means of a low- Regulator pressure conventional with side exhaust air compressor and uses This side exhaust regulator less than 4-cfm @ 90-psi model puts the entry and exhaust of air. It is HP gas driven points on the same side, leaving one by means of a Regulated side free of bubbles and obstruction. The high-Pressure air storage first stage automatically compensates for supply (SCBA bottles). depth changes (without lube or grease) E-Dive Table USD 1599 without letting water or debris enter, The PADI eRDP is an elec- www.hiinet.com thus reducing the chance of freezing tronic version of the good ol’ RDP or fouling. It is available as yoke or DIN dive table that will calculate your by 5-port or hammerhead swivel. dive profiles just as the old plastic With an optional conversion did, but with lots of new features and kit, this regulator can be con- benefits including auto shut off, three verted from side to bottom modes, , minimum sur- exhaust, or vice-versa. face interval planning, maximum depth The hose can be con- planning, five consecutive dive plans, warnings and reminders, nected on either side metric and Imperial options, plastic ring for slate, splash proof, with the bottom exhaust convenient pocket size for carrying in a dive bag or pocket. It configuration. Available in is user friendly, easy to navigate with no need for paper/pencil. brass, monel, and titanium. £14.89 plus VAT. www.padi.com www.dynamodiving.com

43 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Environmental and Microbubble Fast Attachments Cognizant (EMC) Computer This Gear Keeper Low Force The new Cochran EMC model has improved Retractor provides a conven- Touch Contact Programming method. ient and secure attachment A Lithium battery is used for improved system for divers. It is ideal reliability and longer battery life (but for small items that need to one can still use Alkaline). The new be tethered underwater. This EMC-20H is capable of three auto- retractor can’t pull tools out matic gas switches. Its depth has of your hands. Divers can be been extended to 130 meters. streamlined with gear right www.divecochran.com where they need it. The rec- ommended use of the unit is for securing knives where a high retraction force could be dangerous. The unit’s Snap Clip attaches to a D-ring. It is built to last and designed to survive extend- ed salt water and chlorine exposure. Sand and debris are flushed from the unit when Seatrend shorty from SeacSub operated in water. Made in the USA, it is This 3mm shorty is especially suitable for backed by a full manufacturer’s warranty. diving in warm waters and in swimming Snap Clip Model RT2- 0040, USD 19.99. pools. Arm and leg toroidal ring seals, www.gearkeeper.com Multi-Battery tester diagonal back zipper and anatomic This small 3 oz battery tester tests AA, AAA, C, D, NIMH, cut ensure perfect wearability. The outer NiCd, alkaline, 3v photo lithium, or 9v batteries under lining is made of nylon and fine mesh load. Using a 2-second pulse load test, it computes the and the inner lining is made of nylon. remaining power capacity. Now, you’ll know whether Available in sizes from XS to XL, it is a Flexi Fun Star charging in a foreign country has charged your bat- practical and easy to wear suit. The latest Green Force divetorch and is composed teries to full capacity or how much power is left in your www.seacsub.com of the ‘Flexi Fun’ batterypack and the ‘Star’ light- alkaline batteries. Runs on 4 AAA batteries. USD 29.50 head. Due to the universal Green Force connection plus shipping. www.ulcs.com and the ‘easy-to-replace’ AA batteries, the Flexi Fun Star is not only great for starters, but is also a handy travelling companion. The ‘Star’ lighthead contains a 3 Watt LED which has an output equivalent to 25 Watt. In combination with the ‘Flexi Fun’, this lighthead garanties a burntime of 16 hours. www.green-force.com Knife news Riffe Silencer Knife has a self locking sheath, 1/2” serrated Teflon coated blade design, remarkable cable cut- ting capabilities and easy one-hand removal. A tool is built in at the end of the black and grey soft-grip handle for removing shafts wedged in rocks. It can also be used as a banger to attract the attention of other divers or fish. Rubber leg straps are included. www..com

44 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED shark tales Electroreceptivity

Text and photos by Edwin Marcow of Sharks ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF FIONA’S SHARK MANIA WWW.OCEANSTAR.COM

Gansbaai, South Africa, Great Concentrating on the un-hooked White shark capital of the world bait, why did the shark investigate an empty cage? It has long been Bang…. we did not see it an accepted opinion that, when coming…Blinded by the a Great White shark, or any shark for that matter, attacks, bites, sun, a large four-and-a- or merely interacts with metal half meter Great White objects in the water, it is simply a shark crashed into the question of sensory overload. The side of the submerged shark detects the bait by smell and by sight, and also by detect- cage moored alongside ing electric fields. In a hunting our boat. Topside, it was mode it would most probably cool but sunny with blue utilise these senses in the order skies, although our noses given. Just prior to mouthing the object of interest, for example dripped continually from bait in the water, the shark will roll the sea air. We dare not its eyes backwards and the nic- talk, scratch, wipe our titating membrane will cover the eyes. noses, or do anything It is at this stage that the shark other than concentrate hunts totally by its electroreceptiv- on the seal decoy, which, ity. Some people believe that the along with the un-hooked shark can, in fact, only hunt with just a single sense activated. With Nibbling to know shadow or reflection down onto investigating its own reflection, ing the fins or any extremities of bait, took an almighty this highly sensitive sensory organ In the case of the Great White the water. This shadow or reflec- and ignoring objects producing a large whale carcass, floating pounding every few min- employed the cage, or any other shark some disagree with this tion will lie parallel to the surface significant electric fields. This bit- motionless in the surface of the utes. metal object, will produce far hypothesis. For example, Andre of the water, even though the ing and mouthing of props, cage water. The boat is viewed in the higher levels of sensory input than Hartman, an acclaimed shark person is sitting vertically. The and even the bow, has been same manner. The shark is asking a seal carcass or shark liver, which behaviourist, believes that this shark will see this shape and col- seen many times. This behaviour itself where it can start eating this is a particular delicacy to these shark bites and mouths metal our, and will attempt to mouth this appears to be quite complex but object. This is borne out by the sharks. Tricked and confused, the objects because the shark is ‘floating’ reflection. In a recent there may be a surprisingly simple fact that Great White sharks will shark bites and mouths any metal investigating the object, be it the documentary production, a large answer. often bite and mouth the bow of object. To the uninitiated, pre- boat, cage, props, etc., floating Great White shark approached The shark views the boat in the a boat even though there are no dominately the non-diving com- on the water. A good example the boat, between the props, water as it would a large dead electric fields present there. munity, comments range from of this is when the bait is floating ignoring the cage, boat and any whale carcass. The mouthing and However, I believe the truth lies “this man eater is even trying to on the surface of the water, with metal object raised out of the biting of the props and cage is somewhere between these two sink the boat to get to us” to “stu- its all prevading odour. Any per- water, and mouthed the camera- not due to external electric fields hypotheses. For it is absolutely pid dumb animal.” son sitting on the boat will cast a man’s video-lens. The shark was but is like when a shark starts bit- certain that sharks do have this

45 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Electrical fields of Lorenzini may act as a very accurate shark tales It is a fact that all marine organisms, how- electromagnetic compass. The dusky ever small, generate an electric field. smoothound shark, for example, regu- This includes fish hiding in the sea floor, larly migrates southward for the winter and sharks of all species use this to their months, from the waters of Cape Cod, advantage. A good example is given Massachusetts. They must be endowed in a recent study of hammerhead pups with an excellent sense of direction, for at the Hawaii Institute of . how else could they arrive every year extraordinary sensitivity to electromag- An electric field source placed in the at the same location? It is thought that netic fields. This sensitivity is made possi- seabed would be attacked immediately sharks can detect the local geomag- ble by the ampullae of Lorenzini, named after being switched on, and then, when netic signature of the sea-bed, thus after the 17th Century Italian anatomist, it was switched off the hammerhead enabling it to navigate tremendous dis- Stefano Lorenzini who made his discov- pups would swim idly by. tances. The smooth dog-fish, for one, can ery in 1678. These ampullae are located Perhaps this great ability to detect detect a change in direction of electric around the head of the shark and its electric fields can provide the answer to field intensity of 5 x 10-9 volt snout, and there can be as many as 2052 some of our own problems. A fascinating cm-1. in the Bull Shark. Shaped like small round flasks connected to the sharks The Shark Pod lateral line, they are joined to the sur- By sampling the information com- face of the skin by a tube filled with ing from a wide source of objects a conductive jelly of mucopolysac- from within the water, the shark charides which surrounds a bundle creates a picture of the electric of modified hair cells. These hair cells world within its immediate vicinity. are receptive to local changes in This extraordinary ability can be electrical polarity which then trig- used to protect both shark popu- ger the release of neurotransmitters. lations and people. In the early These then inform the brain of the 1990s the Shark Pod was invented electric fields present in the water by the Natal Sharks Board to pro- outside the shark. tect divers in the ocean. A bat- Recent research at the Scripps tery and two sensors worn on the Institute of Oceanography has body emit powerful electromag- shown that the elasmobranches, to netic radiation that deter sharks which the sharks belong, can detect but not other marine life. extremely small voltages. It has been In 1999 SeaChange Technology been noted though, is that if individual answer to the prevention of accidental shown, in fact, that sharks respond to was formed and, under exclusive sharks, not specific species, are exposed attacks on bathers and swimmers. This electric fields as low as a 10-8 volt example is a little known problem faced licence from the Natal Shark Board, built to an electrical field from the Shark will in turn help to give the shark a more cm-1. This is equivalent to the electric field by oil companies. In the exploration of and marketed the Shark Shield. Many Pod in the middle of a feeding frenzy, friendly image, and thus help protect produced by a torch battery connected new oil fields many kilometers of cables versions have been produced, extend- they will ignore this in their heightened shark numbers for generations to come. to electrodes spaced 16000 kilometers are placed with an array of sensors and ing from military and state of excitement. Once their feed- The benefits of the technology of apart in the ocean. Thus some shark spe- sonar devices that map the geology applications to versions for snorkellers ing has ceased they will then become the Shark Shield and its predecessor cies are able to detect electrical activity of the ocean floor. The problem is that and surfers. It is hoped that, one day, aware of the large electromagnetic have given us the best chance that down to 5x10-9 volt at a distance of up sharks attack these cables and sensors, versions of the Shark Shield will replace field and exit swiftly. This behaviour was we may have to co-exist peacefully, to about 30 cm. To put this into perspec- causing damage running into millions of shark-nets in the protection of beaches. witnessed in a handful of cases where side by side, in the realm of the shark. tive, the movement of a the gill-cover dollars. Can, therefore, an electrical field There has been a lot of in-water practi- the shark was at a heightened level of Elasmobranches possess this extraordi- of a plaice will generate an electrical be found that is repellent to sharks? cal experience gained using the Shark excitement. nary ability which is shared by only a few signal 5 million times greater than the The navigation abilities of sharks Pod. Although the sharks receive a shock other species. These electroreceptive minimum threshold of detection for an Can sharks detect the earth’s own from the overwhelming level of elec- Protection abilities assist sharks in the detection of elasmobranch. The electrical charge, magnetic field and thereby use it to tromagnetic energy Grey Reef sharks, One day I hope the Moses sole, as dis- prey, in their spatial awareness of their however, tends to dissipate readily in sea navigate the oceans? Can they use this for example, can appear to become covered and pioneered by Dr Eugenie surroundings, and in the navigation of water which means that the ampullae of underwater super highway, which is full accustomed to these encounters, and Clarke, may, in conjunction with the their ocean realm. ■ Lorenzini are only accurate to a distance of information that we are unable to after each initial shock appear to cir- Shark Shield and its predecessor the of 20-30 cm from an object. decipher? One idea is that the ampullae cle back to re-investigate. What has Shark Pod, prove a more all-round ILLUSRATION: THE FRESHWATER AND MARINE IMAGE BANK

46 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED manufacturer

Text and Photos by Peter Symes Future Fabrics Putting the glamour back into diving

“Where did airport as I arrived with James Bond the early bird flight from London. Having to fly as the go?“ Looking only practical option to get for passion and here only served as a testa- style. ment to the fact that Cornwall is a considerable distance from London. So far south, that there are, in length As I boarded the fact, some palms here. “Why on earth over a cup of aircraft heading place an emerging enterprise all the java at a quaint little café in out to Cornwall to way out here?” I queried Jim, as he picturesque Falmouth where we ate a drove us through the spring-green land- see Fourth Element healthy meal of true English breakfast. scape where the The answer as regards it really hit me that ancient stone-fenc- When the layman to the choice of location I didn’t quite know es brought images thinks about div- couldn’t have been more what to expect. of King Arthur and down to earth. Paul Striker, Sir Lancelot to mind And rightly so. What ing, the thing that the other founding man- rather than those of ager of Fourth Element, is I found was not a modern enterprises. comes to mind is from Cornwall, and being plant full of sputtering In fact, the remains James Bond and a former rugby champ and machinery with pulsat- of one of the fabled Ursula Andress - local hero not only made it castles from these natural to locate the busi- ing pistons, but a bunch myths, Tintagel, is and the Adventure. ness here where he has his of ideas and visions on one of the local Diving is meant home, but the goodwill how to rebrand diving for sights to be seen in he enjoyed from these parts. to be something the local town’s the 21st century. “Did the county elegant, a lifestyle people also or maybe the EU facilitated Fourth Element is headquartered offer any special not far from to England’s south- the matters incentives to lure of get- ernmost tip. Jim Standing, who is businesses out into this fringe area of one of the two founding directors ting a business the kingdom?” I wanted to know. I was off the ground. of Fourth Element, came to pick me still craving my morning coffee, so I up at the not so nearby Newquay Besides, now- Jim Standing welcomed Jim’s offer to answer me at adays, with Fourth Element Co-Director Paul Striker Fourth Element Co-Director 47 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Fourth Element FAR LEFT: Jim Standing

CENTER: The picturesque location of Fourth Element’s Head Quarters in Cornwall, England

BELOW: Fourth Element’s Xerotherm Artic suit is part of a high performance sys- tem for divers in the most extreme environmental conditions. It combines two layers of advanced fabric to manage the microcli- mate around the wearer’s body. The low bulk construc- tion makes it ideal for using under neoprene drysuits. Even when wet, the suit retains its performance.

the world-wide use of electronic com- been a joint munication and the availability of effi- discussion, but cient global shipping to a world mar- it started back ket, it really doesn’t matter in which in the Sanafir end of a country you are located. hotel (a hotel That being said, I soon enough in Sharm el found myself going down a narrow Sheikh, Egypt pot-holed county road to find that ed). We didn’t Fourth Element’s headquarters is locat- know one ed in idyllic surroundings, with its offices another that well at that time, but Bond and Ursula Andress - and the windsurfing and a lot of other sports. tainly wanted to try it. directly overlooking the rolling land- when we looked around, we both Adventure. Diving is meant to be They have a completely different scape disturbed only by the ongoing saw all these divers wearing expensive something elegant, a lifestyle image. We wanted to put the excite- X-RAY: Are you using the fact construction of their new warehouse. equipment, and some of them were ment back into it. Surfing and other that you are manufactur- Stepping inside was like being going on these really exclusive livea- Paul: What PADI did was making div- sports are displaying the passion. ers to convey a vision and beamed out of one world and into boards, but at the same time they are ing an everyday thing to do. They idea, or is it the other way another. Here, the distance from rural just wearing really cheap t-shirts and made it low risk. Consequently, it took Paul: … and we are trying to inject around? And why clothing countryside to a modern and buzzing such. It was such a mismatch. We then the edge out of it, and I don’t think that passion into our clothing. Make rather than something else? office landscape with ringing phones came to ask ourselves, what would that it did the perception of diving so the clothing and diving something to and printers was only one short step. you buy clothing wise? much good. get excited about again. Jim: There is a number of fac- Right, where is my pen and notepad? tors… Let’s uncover the truth behind Fourth Jim: …why has the technology for Jim: The growth of diving, and now X-RAY: Are you “crusaders” or manu- Paul (kicks in): … there was a Element. thermal protection not changed for I am thinking primarily through BSAC facturers then? (laughter) need! so many years? And why are we still and the way it was taught through the Jim: As regards to how divers X-RAY: Where did the idea come wearing these woolly-bears as thermal clubs in this country, also led to a low- Paul: What could we do to bring the were dressed, we had this feel- from? Who had the original idea? protection inside our drysuits? When budget approach to diving. Everyone excitement back into diving? We ing of, “I wouldn’t be seen dead the layman thinks about diving, the wanted it cheap. The end result was didn’t have delusions about what in that”. There was a lot of other Paul: The entire process has always thing that comes to mind is James the glamour was removed. Look at impact we could have, but we cer- odd and outdated stuff around,

48 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED manufacturer  Special        

           

Paul Striker discusses the future of fabrics in the dive industry while on coffee break at nearby Lizards Point, the southernmost point in England.

and we got into this conversation that Jim: … exactly. Someone came up to Paul: Diving also set itself apart in the existing dive clothing was really unsub- us at a show and said: “You guys are to sense that it doesn’t have – as surfing tle, “Divers do it Deeper” t-shirts and scuba diving what Gucci is to clothing” – a fitness requirement. such. and that felt really good.  X-RAY: Does that pose a marketing chal- Paul: We felt that there was a need for X-RAY: Do you see branding and chang- lenge?  another brand, more stylish something ing the image of diving as the new main  you could wear in the evening too… challenge for the scuba diving industry? Jim: Absolutely… (pointing to a group  and better thermal clothing. picture of 12 top technical diving Jim: PADI and National Geographic did instructors – all being bald pot-bellied   X-RAY: So, it was a reaction against ugly a good example of re-inventing diving blokes). Does this lure more people into t-shirts? as something adventurous and giving diving? I think not. These guys, as sweet the edge back into it again. It is, in a and nice and professional as they may Paul: It was a reaction against hav- way, brilliant. It is edgy so far that the be, do not sell any tickets and get more ing as contrast to an expensive litigious circumstances American society people into diving. These are the harsh watch, you have this cheap t-shirt, suffers from permits. realities we must address. We must have cheap in more than one sense. something sexier, even if it means risk- www.nauticteam.com [email protected]

49 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED manufacturer

ing to revert to some old stere- otypes.

X-RAY: But don’t we risk that the whole brand / branding issue take over the focus from the FOURTHELEMENT product it sells?

with technical innovations. We FOURTHELEMENT Paul: The product needs to be hope that the brand will then X-RAY: So, in your good. Branding is no good if tell something about the diver. opinion, is scuba div- to new projects or setting up at Pinewood film studios but your product is bad. ing a means to an end or an funds or sponsorships? now she works for the British Paul: … but the brand needs end in itself? Antarctic Survey. Jim: We are building up the to be good. The brand is just a Paul: First of all, we want to get brand, but we are backing it part of the overall parcel. Jim: A means. We want to into shark conservation, but also X-RAY: How did these new fab- get more into marine con- get involved in projects like the rics come about? servation – like the Rolex Rolex OneWorld sponsorships. OneWorld Scholarship, and In the future, we want to do Paul: There were not dedicated next year, we are planning more expedition types of work. empirical tests, but a lot of lit- to get into shark conserva- We are also involved in a boat erature research, looking into tion. project that would do conser- specifications and then trying vation work. fabrics out in practice to see Paul: The greater picture is what worked. After experiment- important. The ecological Jim: We are happy to be asso- ing, we also started looking into awareness is something ciated with the Rolex / One a commercial niche. The ther- that we would like more World Scholarship because it mal protection seen in scuba people to get involved has exposed young people diving was old. Thinsulate, for with, and we believe that who would otherwise just be example, has been around for most divers are very eco- white collars workers to the ages, but the new fabric tech- logically aware. So, the marine environment. Take Joe nology has already gone far more divers we have, the Stephens (the first European beyond that. So, we looked more knowledge and Scholar, ed) he is now with into many interesting fabrics awareness we can cre- the BBC Natural History unit. with much better properties as ate to promote a greater Richard Somerset is running a regards to thermal performance understanding and appre- dive school over in Bristol. Jade weight for weight. Our fabrics ciation of the oceans. Berman is a sponge expert. are also machine-washable. ■ Phoebe Rudomino-Dusiacke X-RAY: Do you have any was the production coordi- For more information, visit: concrete plans as regards nator of the underwater unit www.fourthelement.com

At Fourth Element’s headquarters one can enjoy a wonderful view over the Cornish landscape

50 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Cave Diving in Siberia Text and photos by Andrey Bizyukin

ABOVE: View of the huge Tuim’s collapse from above. The wall is 120 m high, and the lake is covered with thick ice. From this height, people on the bottom look like ants

It is only four hours by plane from Moscow to Abakan, capi- tal of Khakassia. The above- freezing temperatures, sunshine and the absence of snowdrifts contradict the traditional idea regarding the severe climate of Central Siberia. Together with Mountain-top subsidence close to Tuim the Novokuznetsk cave diver’s Huge crater formed team, we drove up through the foothills of Kuznetsk Alatau and A diver lowers a homemade soft for comfort during decompression in the cold water under the ice the picturesque valley of the The surrounding forest-covered, beautiful 34 000 years ago. Ours divers’ base is in musical instrument in the world, a flute, strongly saturated with salts that it is easily Small Sya river to the mining mountain ranges are inspiring, and there the old village called Small Sya. This is a has been found here. Here are salt lakes, possible to read a newspaper while float- are caves with painted rock pictures favorite place for modern shamans and possessing wonderful medicinal proper- ing on the surface. There was already town of Tuim. and many untouched historical monu- is a well-known Stone Age settlement. ties from the very oldest times, around a prospering nation here five thousand ments everywhere. The first settlements Stone axes, bones of mammoths killed which people collected, seeking for a years ago from which has survived one of Homo sapiens appeared here about by our ancestors, and the most ancient vision of God. The water of the lakes is so of the most ancient observatories in the

51 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED adventure Siberian caves

captions

ABOVE: Local mountains with cave TOP CENTER: View of the local river, Malaya entrance. Caves here are where ancient Sia. There are many old places to be found peoples lived during the Stone Age with evidence of Stone Age people

world, Shira with its dolmens resembling camp for enemies of the Soviet govern- Stonehenge. Everywhere there are bar- ment which worked the copper-ore rows and fresh excavations of them. mines here. It was very hard labouring Our objective, though, was a huge here, and after only two years many subsidence in the top of a moun- had died. In the Stalin years all the tain close to Tuim town. This is a slopes of the copper mountain were place described as Tuim camp by A. literally covered by prisoners from the Solzhenitsyn in his book The GULAG Soviet concentration camps. At any Archipelago. It was a correctional one time there were up to 2300 exiles working here. Prisoners dug many shafts into the lime- stone in order to get to the deposits of copper- and molyb- ground caverns. Later, being afraid of INSET: One of the Shamans’ stones. On the denite-ores inside a possible collapse, part of the top of rope around the stone, you can see pieces the mountain. The the mountain was brought down by a of textile material. These are wishes and surviving local resi- large force-directed explosion. This cre- prayers to local Gods dents recently told ated a majestic subsidence, a hole with that they sometimes vertical rocky walls up to 140 meters TOP RIGHT: Divers on the ice of the lake at penetrated into high. Some years after that a beautiful the bottom of the collapse. They are going natural caves or, turquoise lake formed at the bottom to prepare some equipment before div- when removing the of this hole which has since became ing. In the middle of the wall, you can see ore, created huge a popular place for cave divers to entrances to old copper mines man-made under- explore. BOTTOM RIGHT: Excavation of a settlement Divers place a soft underwater chamber under the ice of ancient people from an unknown age

52 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED adventure Siberian Caves

Diver under ice with guide line. Don’t lose a way to get back home

to dive into sumps was so strong that I began my scuba diving studies. In 1983, at the age of 17, I plunged into my first sump in a cave, Pandora’s Box. Many years later, after becom- Divers share a short meal and a coffee brake on ing a dive instructor, I had to travel and dive in the ice tables. This is a view from one of many many various places, in warm and cold seas, mine entrances that can be found in the area rivers and lakes, to communicate with the large number of divers around in the world.” Oleg It is not the first visit of Oleg and his team The leader of the diving project for the to the Tuim subsidence, they have already exploration of the Tuim subsidence was dived here many times. In the beginning they Oleg Grigorjev who is a very experienced used ropes and speleological techniques to dive instructor and cave diver from the get down from the top of the rocks to the city of Novokuznetsk. “I entered my first lake, and to carry down underwater equip- cave when still a schoolboy “, said Oleg. ment. It was a very dangerous and unsafe way “I was attracted by the darkness and the because of frequent falls of rock. Later they vertical pits. I have always been keen on found a more simple way, an old 250 meter exploring caverns and apparently end- horizontal mine which connected the subsid- less labyrinths, and I was fascinated by ence to the open mountainside. the mysterious magic of the subterranean world. I started as an ordinary caver and Entering the cave a member of a cave divers’ support Having armed ourselves with miners’ lanterns, team. We just carried cylinders through we now dragged our cylinders through a caves to sumps. But my dream and wish seemingly endless underground tunnel. It is very

Twin sets are going into a mine entrance. This is the way each day to the air compressor 53 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED adventure Siberian Caves

LEFT: Free flow for filling a chamber with air

INSET: Checking a valve at the top of the chamber. It should be ready to release air for any rescue incident

BELOW: Time to go for decompression inside the chamber

cold here, with temperatures below tom of the lake, some freezing point, and the floor of the 40 meters in depth, mine is covered with ice. It is nec- has been filled up with essary to be very careful that one huge blocks of rock. It does not strike one’s head on a low is thought that there is stone arch or on the many spikes of an entrance into a big rock sticking out everywhere, and underwater cave somewhere also not to fall on the slippery ice. within the depth of the lake. Happily, having avoided all dan- The sun is rarely a visitor to the gers in the mine, we finally come bottom of the subsidence, so to a strong sheet of transparent ice that the water temperature here covering the lake at the bottom of seldom rises above 2 - 3°C, and the subsidence. Rocky walls reach- visibility varies from season to ing to the heavens hang above season. The best visibility is up to our heads, and the broken blocks 10-15 meters, under the ice, and on the ice are the traces of recent therefore just as we arrived here rockfalls. Recalling a Latin saying, at the end of March. memento more, there isn’t much relaxation. Goals Our expedition is a part of the Within the framework of present long-term research project. Step expedition our team had three by step, trip after trip, cave-divers main objectives: will eventually explore all the underwater areas. There are many • A support team will make two underwater mine shafts, some of big ice-holes in the ninety cen- which have very narrow entrances. timeter-thick ice. One of them In others there are old rails, trolleys, will be very close to the egress cables and wooden logs. The bot- from the dry mine, where the

54 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED adventure Siberian Caves

ABOVE: In the main tunnel, people carrying tanks INSET: Diver under clear ice TOP CENTER & RIGHT: Divers from the support team assist in the decompression across the slippery ice floor should be very careful procedure. Little tanks attached to the chamber are filled with pure oxygen

depth of the lake is only 18 meters, aspiration to spiritual and least it is necessary to be Therefore, the plan for this dive was to and the other above a deep part, physiological perfec- very clever, prudent, and be eliminate all such risks as far as possible. which we think is just above a prob- tion. Here we have all rich. These are the key con- Prior to such deep dives, speleolo- able entrance to the underwater the requirements for this ditions for a top-rank cave gists usually carry out training dives, for a cave. It will be necessary to lay 150 in the subsidence; huge diver. And you can add to couple of days, down to depths of 55-60 meters of guide line on the bottom underwater volumes, this the narrow and muddy meters with air, checking and adjusting between both ice-holes at depths depth, a gloom and the sumps of Siberian caves, equipment, refreshing skills and getting from 18 up to 40 meters. ice’s clear water. Even with their cold and stagnant themselves in the right frame of mind. the most powerful torch water, which so easily grows For the deep diving a bottom mix has • Divers are to fix a . Last does not always reach to turbid, so that it is generally been prepared with MOD for 90 meters, year an attempt to do so failed, as the opposite wall or the necessary to search for a consisting of 16 % oxygen, 34% helium, the six ton steel cable could not hold ceiling of the huge under- way home through the zero and 50% nitrogen; travel mixes 28 and 50 it and broke. The cave explorers ground tunnel. The history visibility using only touch. This EAN; and separate cylinders with pure have now made all the necessary of the subsidence and the means that Siberian under- oxygen for the final decompression from constructional changes, and were events connected with water cave explorers must five meters. The danger of the regulator perfectly prepared. it can bring gloomy thoughts to mind sary to overcome my own reluctance. A also have qualities such as exceptional freezing is so high that a time turn around of the diver. Most of all, I am afraid of very high degree of endurance, together patience and purposefulness.” point is moved from the traditional 1/3 of • After a successful completion of the terrible cold of the water and of the with being very fit, is necessary for div- the volume of gas to 1/5 of it. The bigger these objectives, Oleg Grigorjev will non-stable functioning of the regulator, ing at the subsidence at Tuim.” says the reserve of gas left for the return back make a deep-water dive to reach or its freezing, when it will then be neces- Oleg. “Siberians nevertheless differ from It is dangerous to dive for long in ice- to the surface, the more safe will be such the greatest possible depth and to sary to close the valve of cylinders and Europeans. Maybe they worry less, but cold water, in this case more than one an extreme dive. explore a possible new underwater to wait, while the first stage thaws. And due to the Siberian temperament they and a half hours. Hypothermia can cave. so over and over again, before the next do things faster and more rationally. They cause cramping and muscle pains in the The dive problem. I like diving in the subsidence just have no other ways for survival. To hands and legs, hallucination, and loss of The dive begins in the ice-hole. Oleg is “Diving is, first of all, a pleasure and an very much, though it is sometimes neces- become a good cave diver, at the very consciousness and control underwater. under the ice and begins falling very

55 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED �������������������������� ����������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� Siberian Caves ������������������������������������������������ adventure ����������������������������������������� A diver ascends to the underwater chamber under the ice ���������������������������������������������������

as the light of the torch can reach there is dark- ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ness all around, with only the right wall being vis- ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ible from time to time. There is the feeling that the ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� water here is black in colour. Oleg goes down ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� between blocks bigger than a man. It sometimes ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� seems that his guide line goes down straight ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� into black emptiness. The blockage is behind his ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� back, and ahead, where the torch reaches, is ���� ���� ����������� ����� �������� �������� ���� ����� ���������� ��� ���� ����� �������� ������������� ���������� the all-consuming gloom and uncertainty. The �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� descent continues for 13 minutes, at which point ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ the floor starts to appear at 70 meters depth with ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� a little slope, and finally at 80 meters he arrives at the horizontal bottom which is covered with ����������������� large rubble. Neither ceiling nor walls are visible. ������������� It is possible to move any direction and Oleg has chosen a way and started to unwind the thin white guideline. Fears about possible prob- lems with equipment began to return with their ominous whispers, and he thinks about the long decompression time in the ice cold water. But all the same, it is necessary to move forward, so he

fast, following a rope, and has already reached the visibility limits of the subsidence wall. A huge arch, about 20 in height and about 30 meters wide appears at a depth of 22 meters. This is the majestic �������������������� entrance to an underwater cave and the deep- est underwater part of the subsidence. Very big flat block lies on the steeply inclined slope of 45-50 degrees at the bottom of the arch. A guide line from previous dives is fixed to its lower end. At this ���������������������������

moment, looking back, it is still possible to see the �������������������������� greenish gloomy daylight which can hardly make its way down through great thickness of water. There are friends, fresh air, the sun and warmth, so far back, above a thick layer of ice and water. Having jumped out from the slope, the cave explorer starts a seemingly endless fall down into the black attracting abyss. The fall is so fast that from time to time Oleg loses the guide line, but grabs it again at a depth of fifty meters. He tries to maintain a correct direction and orients himself on rocks of ������������������������������������������������������ the blockage during this descent. ����������������������������������������� The size of the tunnels are very impressive. As far �������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� A diver explores the depths of the ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ abyss in a huge underwater cave �����������������������������������������������������

56 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED

FREE back issues Siberian Caves Did you get the previous adventure issues of X-RAY MAG?

pulls himself together, for he has a specific geographical exploration to carry out. And the most difficult part is not to cross that invisible line beyond which it is not necessary to go, not make that superfluous pre- cipitate step which could lead to one’s death. Only three minutes at that depth to spend on exploration and further PACIFIC NORTH WEST AMERICA. Vancouver searching. It is done! Oleg fixes the Island, Puget Sound, Neah Bay, Alaska, guideline, knotting it round a stone. Honduras Sharks, Amous Nachoom, Jon It is time to return, back to warmth, Gross, , Fish Sense Link: X-RAY #4 light, hope and smiles – a long way back through the depths of the cave water and ice. At a depth of 40 meters, it will be necessary to re- clip on the guideline which shows the way to the decompression bell, and then to cross the 150 meters under the ice up to a shallower part of the lake. Here, under the second ice-hole, is the warm underwater MALAYSIA. Coralreeefs after the Tsunami, chamber and the previously stored Whale beachings, Tragedy in South oxygen cylinders. There, in relative Africa, Nemo’s Nose: The Science of Fish comfort, it will be possible to stay for Fashion, in Russia. Todd Essick the whole decompression time. Link: X-RAY #3

Story time During the long way back to the surface Oleg tried to cheer him- self up by recalling amusing stories about things that have happened to his friends under water. In the gloom of the cave, while at one of the stops, he remembers the fright- Diving in the Himalayas, Swimming ened Maldivian diver who hid from with Orcas in Norway, El Dorado in the Philippines, Gaansbai in South Africa a shark in an underwater grotto. Link: X-RAY#2 Only there, in the full darkness, did this scuba diver feel himself in safety, so nobody could entice him back. Resisting the underwater cold and the great weariness that comes after a long deep dive, Oleg recalls one Russian cave diver, Ivan, who

Featuring Belize’s , Tasmania, A diver approaches a huge arch of stone, which is the entrance into the underwater cave Balmorhea in Texas, Norway’s Egersund, Liveaboard on Lake Baikal, Siberia Link: X-RAY#1

57 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED adventure Siberian Caves fell asleep in the 45 meter-deep sump. Vladimir Komarisov”, said Oleg later. Afterthoughts Weariness and had “Many people think that we are After the end of our diving trip, Oleg so affected him that his brain was abnormal. Why do we dive in such Grigorjev expressed the opinion that almost disabled, but he continued cold place? But for us this cold water even if there is a technological break along the guideline by subconsciously diving to great depths is excellent through in the near future and the kicking his fins. Ivan only woke in a training and fine recreation. It is just working for cylinders increas- cold sweat when his helmet struck the interesting for us to explore all of the es up to 1000 atmospheres, or even wall with great force. He was really subsidence at Tuim, and to dive even if rebreathers which actually work in lucky that he was fastened by a clip more deeply here. Besides, here is the cold water make their appearance, to the guide line. “How are you? What ideal place to test equipment under the subsidence at Tuim will still remain happened? Tell us?”, friends asked very extreme conditions. My dream an unique range for testing all these him later. “I remember nothing”, Ivan is to find the finest, most trouble-free, innovations. replied. “I remember only the great underwater equipment, although last It is not surprising that much of what impact of my head on the wall. Bang! time I had already begun to doubt is suitable for Red sea techno-divers Splash! And I returned to full con- that such equipment really exists”, said does not function here. Gradually, step sciousness. Where am I? In the sump? Alexey Bazarov. by step, ignoring whatever the adver- Forward! Go!” “The subsidence at Tuim gives one a tisers might claim, cave divers will test Close to the underwater decom- feeling of Man’s smallness in Nature’s and choose the most reliable and trou- pression chamber Oleg thought greater order of things. We are moved ble-free equipment for all types of div- about his idols Olivier Isler and Jocben by a hope to touch uncertainty, and a ing. Oleg is confident that the explo- Hasenmayer, the world famous cave- passion to be the first to explore a pre- ration of the subsidence will inspire divers, the heroes that have broken viously unknown subterranean aquatic other divers to do similar underwater many records and survived, but only space. Here, under water, is the voice researching in other places of Russia. because they trusted themselves, of the Abyss, giving us this unforget- “I am a patriot of my country and planned dives correctly, and had the table sensation of peacefulness. The believe that the future diving exper- excellent support of the dive team. history of an ancient underwater cave tise of Russia will grow in Siberia”, with “Our power is in our team and its help can be only a story, but all of us trust these words Oleg Grigorjev finished his is vital for me. I could not make these in the dream and we amuse ourselves story of the subsidence at Tuim. ■ dives without the help and support by hoping to find it”, explains Gleb of Alexey Bazarov, Gleb Sitnikov and Sitnikov.

1935 8th Ave West Seattle, WA, USA 98119-2817 Phone: 206-284-1142 www.jackconnick.com Oleg on the deco-stop with oxygen during one of the check dives Toll-free: 800-359-1295 www.deepics.com

58 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED and i-Pod. i-Pods may be used as data- medium to store images. i-Pods come Photography in various models with up to 40Gb of storage

Text and photos by Dan Beecham Digital Underwater Photography: Part One

Reflex), the screen cannot be used for with a film camera. In the past few years composition. The camera viewfinder Another great thing underwater pho- must do instead. about compact cameras When used as a viewfinder, the LCD is that you can start off using tography has been screen provides a large, bright, a camera and housing on its transformed by new clear viewfinder. This is a very own, and when you want to push camera technologies and new important feature in an under- your photography forward and and hous- ideas. It’s not only the water camera. When using the explore new areas, you can add ing may LCD, you can hold the camera on accessories. These include set you equipment and tech- at arms length, and still clearly ancillary wide angle and close back £500 niques that have changed. see the screen. This feature can up lenses, external flash units and (USD 916) or less. This on its own will The way we store and view our be handy when trying to shoot colour corrective filters. This allows you to offer you tremendous flexibility. At the never been photographs has also been shy critters, which may not like you and spread your costs over time, and get to other end of the scale, the costs can achieved before. your bubbles getting too close. grips with using one piece of equipment be astronomical. Some manufacturers revolutionized. This has made In this issue, we’re going to look at Previously, on entry level cameras, before moving onto using something now produce housings for top-of-the-line underwater photography more the advantages and disadvantages of the viewfinders were very poor. You else. DSLR’s such as the Canon EOS D1s Mk popular than ever. digital, and in the future we’re going to also had to battle parallax (the differ- II, or Nikon D2X. These cameras are the tackle many different aspects in detail, ence between the image seen in the Number of Exposures tools of professionals, costing many thou- including specific types of cameras, viewfinder and the image which is actu- In the days of film, if you wanted to take sands of pounds. Housing systems often Cameras are everywhere nowadays techniques, lighting, digital enhance- ally recorded by the camera). With an more than 36 pictures on a dive, you cost as much or even more than the — on our computers on our phones. In ment/manipulation, storage of images, LCD you see exactly what the camera had to carry two cameras. Only having camera. fact, most people have a digital cam- and maintenance of cameras. We’ll also is going to record, and you can see the 36 exposures often stopped you taking era of some sort with them at all times. be looking at , loca- image after it’s been taken. This means risks or trying new techniques or ideas — The same is now true for many divers. Compared to film however, the tions and resorts that are set up to cater you learn on the dive, and this is what every shot had to count. Nowadays, by Entry-level cameras are now so cheap, running costs are much lower. for the needs of the underwater photog- has allowed people to get underwa- using a large media card, you can take compact and effective, that they can rapher. ter pictures they hundreds, or (if you really try) thousands Let’s say you’re planning a trip to the be carried on every dive — slipped into Many of the advantages and are happy with of pictures on a dive. You can just shoot, Red Sea, shooting film. You’re going a BCD pocket for a quick snapshot if the disadvantages of digital under- much sooner shoot, shoot — and if you fill up your to be doing three dives a day for five opportunity presents itself. Most divers water photography are the same than they memory card, you can days. This means you could get through now enjoy early success with their pho- as those on land, but it’s worth would start deleting the fifteen rolls at a total cost of as much tography. Whereas, in the past, entry looking at how they affect us as with shots you don’t as £70 (USD 128) for a high quality film. level film cameras took a lot of time and divers. want and shoot Processing at a reliable lab can cost as attention to get pleasing results. some more. much as £5 (USD 9) a roll, that’s another Things have also changed in profes- LCD £70 (USD 128) or more. If you’re using sional level equipment. There are hous- The LCD on a digital camera Costs slide film, you now need to pay out for ings available for the top of the line allows you to review images and The start up scanning of images if you want to view Canon and Nikon digital SLR’s, and navigate the camera menus. costs with most them on your computer, and the cost of nearly all professional underwater pho- On a compact camera, this is entry level sys- prints if you want pictures to keep in an tographers have now made the switch to also used for composing the pic- tems is extremely album or on display in your home. digital, this is allowing them to produce ture. On a digital SLR (Single Lens low, a compact Now consider that with digital you new and exciting images which have ABOVE: Film vs image card Sizes: Digital camera and house compared to a UK passport 59 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED photography There are ways to reduce shutter lag, may not be as vibrant as you would like. however, that sometimes computers are but if you choose to use a com- simply out to ruin my day. I’m blessed pact camera, expect shutter lag. Reliability with the dolcid tone of my Mac restarting When using a Digital SLR, the One final point which needs to be made a few times every day. Just remember only delay you have is that of about the disadvantages of digital cam- this, if you’ve got a picture that’s impor- the camera’s autofocus locking eras is something that we are all too tant to you, BACK IT UP! onto the subject, and so is familiar with: computers can be unreli- When you consider all the features that generally unoticeable. able. When I was getting ready to send digital offers you over film, the few dis- could be taking many more pictures per The obvious down off the final draft of this article to the advantages seem insignificant. The trick dive, and you would be seeing straight side to this is editor, I transferred the file on a portable is to use digital cameras where they are away what you were getting. You could the greatly hard drive to broadband over from my most effective, rather than attempting to then save the pictures you’re pleased work computer. When I tried to open it replicate pictures where film would out- with, and even print them out on a up to double check the perform. home printer. Your only cost for the text was present and cor- Digital is here to stay, and day-to-day whole process would be that of paper rect, to my horror, we’re discovering just how much these and ink for your printer. no article could be cameras are capable of. These are excit- found. I went back ing times to be an underwater photogra- Adjustable ISO to my laptop, with pher. In the next issue, we’ll look at spe- Traditional film is available in many dif- creeping cific types and models of cameras, from ferent sensitivities, or ISO’s. Higher ISO’s in — the origi- Entry Level compacts up to Professional produce a lower quality image, where nal file was no level DSLR’s. We’ll also look at the hous- the grain of the film is often visible at very where to ing systems available for these cameras, high levels. A picture taken using a film pho- be and find out which one is right for you. ■ with a lower ISO yields much higher quali- tography does ty, but you need more light to expose the have a few disadvantages. Dan Beecham of Ocean Optics in the picture properly. This means you could Sometimes digital cameras do UK won the Our World Underwater start the dive using a film such as 100 ISO, not handle strong areas of contrast Young Photographer prize at the but when you get under water you may very well. As an example in an image of 31st Annual World Festival of find out that it’s too dark, and that you a diver with the sun in the background, Underwater Pictures in should have used 400 ISO instead. the sun will not be as crisp and defined Antibes, France, 2004 On a digital camera, you can change as it would have been when using film. the camera sensitivity on the dive to suit Another problem, which is present only the light levels at the time. in compact cameras, is shutter lag. This is a small delay between pressing the Size and Weight shutter release button, and the camera Entry level compact cameras are so actually taking the picture. This hap- increased small and light that they can be car- pens because the camera’s on board expense involved ried at all times. This is beneficial not only computer takes time to adjust its set- with getting an SLR under whilst diving, but also when travelling. tings, achieve focus and record the new the water. Many underwater photographers have image. When using many digital cameras, or difficulties transporting their heavy and When you first use a camera with when using RAW settings on your cam- found. bulky equipment to a destination. This shutter lag, it can be very distracting, era, the images that come off the card After some can still be an issue when using an SLR. especially if you’re used to the instant and are transferred onto your computer frantic search- The size and weight generally remains shutter release on an SLR. If the camera need to be adjusted to get the best pos- ing, I managed to the same using a compact, however you is very slow, it can stop you getting the sible result. This requires knowledge of dig up the article buried can slip a whole system into your rucksac picture you wanted, especially if you software such as Adobe Photoshop, and deep in my hard drive. I and carry it with you on the plane. are photographing fast moving subjects can often be time consuming. If you do don’t know why the file such as dolphins or sharks. However, for not put the time in on the computer to went missing, and I don’t Disadvantages the majority of subjects, shutter lag is not get the best of your images, you may know why it didn’t trans- They’re few and far between, but digital an issue — take wrecks as an example. find your pictures look flat, or the colours fer properly. I do know,

LEFT TO RIGHT: Olympus 5060 camera with underwater housing and lens, Olympus 5060 camera with underwater housing, Olympus 5060 camera body

60 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED NARVIK – Norwegian Eldorado for wreck-divers Wrecks of Narvik

Text by Erling Skjold (history and diving) and Frank Bang (diving) Underwater photography by Frank Bang Ship photography by Erling Skjolds, NSA collection Translation by Michael Symes Dieter von Roeder

The port of Narvik in north Norway was established around the export of iron-ore from Sweden. This was due to the very good harbour and its ice-free con- ditions. At the outbreak of World War II, Narvik was a strategically important harbour, and during the first few days of the war a very intense battle was fought out here between German, Norwegian and British naval forces. During this fighting several ships were sunk, both warships and civil merchant ships. Narvik harbour was transformed into a great ship ceme- tery, with wrecks sticking up out of the water every- where. Several of the ships were later salvaged, but many wrecks still remained. With its high density of wrecks, Narvik is an eldorado for wreck divers.

A diver explores the wreck of the German destroyer Hermann Künne in Trollvika

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www.navalhistory.net

Narvik harbour

Maps outline battles in Narvik and around Norway during World War II Narvik harbour

The importance of Narvik as a strate- Attack on April 9th the Eidsvold in just a few seconds. The that it was British gic harbour increased immediately at The German attack was a great surprise German ships could thereafter sail into forces that were the outbreak of World War II. Germany for Norway, and the forces in Narvik the harbour basin, partly hidden in a attacking, as three needed large amounts of iron ore for were quite unprepared for the attack. strong blizzard. On board the armour- torpedoes hit the their armaments industry, and had a big In the morning mist, the armoured war- plated Norge, it was clear that some- ship. He therefore advantage, in that the ships carrying ship Eidsvold, which was anchored thing was terribly wrong, and slipped ordered the ship to the ore could use neutral Norway and outside Framnesodden, discovered its moorings. When the foreign warships be beached and Sweden to get safely through, without that foreign naval vessels were on their were discovered in the harbour, the blown up. the British navy being able to attack. way in to Narvik’s harbour. Even with Norge immediately opened fire against In the space The export from Narvik went ahead its forty years, the armament of the them. Again, it went terribly wrong for of just a short therefore, with ore ships from many Eidsvold was a big threat to the much the pride of the Norwegian navy. Norge time Narvik har- countries. Due to the war between smaller German destroyer, Wilhelm was struck by a torpedo fired from the bour was under Finland and the Soviet Union, Norway Heidkamp, which stopped a few ship’s German destroyer Anton Schmitt, and German control.

had moved her largest warships to lengths away. It must have seemed capsized and sank in just two minutes. All the merchant www.navalhistory.net North Norway, and in April 1940 both very strange for the commander of the Out in the harbour basin, all was total ships that were not the antiquated armoured warships were Eidsvold to be requested to surrender chaos. The merchant ships launched German were immediately put under The British hit back guarding Norway’s neutrality in Narvik, to a German destroyer a long way lifeboats into the water, and thereby German control, and the guns on the Even though the attack was surpris- in order to ensure that the traffic with in a Norwegian fjord. As the Eidsvold rescued a number of survivors from the British cargo boats were demounted to ing for Norway, the Royal Navy were the ore carrying ships was not disrupted prepared to open fire the Wilhelm Eidsvold and Norge. The captain of the be used as land-based artillery. already out in the Atlantic in a hunt for by the warring nations. Heidkamp fired torpedoes, which sank German ore-boat Bockenheim thought the German warships that were sail-

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Neuenfels

ing north. Thus, the retreat of the aged, and the German naval Narvik harbour took place. Under 10 German destroyers in Narvik leadership in Narvik was nearly command of the British battleship could be cut off. As the weather totally wiped out when the Wilhelm HMS Warspite, a large British force conditions were good for a surprise Heidkamp was hit by a torpedo. sailed into Ofotfjord to annihilate attack, the British second destroyer The retreat of the British ships was, the German destroyers. German group was ordered into Ofotfjord in however, not quite so easy, as the submarines attempted to attack order to attack the German forces German destroyers guarding the but the torpedoes didn’t work! Thus, there, and to create the greatest fjord threw themselves into the fray. all the remaining German destroy- possible damage to both the war- The British destroyers HMS Hardy ers could be destroyed. This time ships and the merchant ships there. and HMS Hunter were thus sunk the British losses were small. Only The attack was a total surprise, in Ofotfjord. The remaining British the destroyer HMS Eskimo had its as the German destroyers at forces also discovered the German bows destroyed by a German tor- the mouth of the fjord had not supply ship Rauenfels, which was pedo. Most of the German destroy- observed the British attackers. The beached and blown up. Essential ers were beached, emptied of British could therefore fire their tor- supplies of ammunition, weapons ammunition and blown up. The pedoes straight into the harbour and provisions were thereby lost for merchant ships were not spared. basin without meeting any serious the Germans. When the British forces pulled out, resistance. The results were over- After this there were some quieter all the merchant ships were either whelming. Two German destroy- days. Planes from British aircraft sunk or destroyed. Narvik harbour ers and several cargo boats were carriers attacked the harbour, but was transformed into an enormous sunk after being hit by torpedoes. caused only limited damage. ships’ cemetery with wrecks sticking In addition, many ships were dam- On April 13th, the great battle of up out of the water everywhere.

View of the great damages in Narvik Harbour after it was attacked on April 9, 1940, World War II

63 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL EDITORIAL FEATURES FEATURES TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS NEWS EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT BOOKS BOOKS SC SCIENCEIENCE & & ECOLOGY ECOLOGY EDUCATION EDUCATION PROFILES PROFILES PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED CLASSIFIED features Narvik Wrecks the wrecks. These rules and regulations, and self-declaration can be found on the internet at www.narvik.kommune. no/havnetj/dykking.html When one has registered, a dive per- mit can be obtained for NOK 50.00 per week. The dive permit is valid for the wrecks: Martha Hendrik Fisser, Stråssa, Romanby, Neuenfels, Anton Schmitt, Wilhelm Heidkamp, and Diether von Roeder. It is totally forbidden to dive down to some of the other wrecks that lie in the Narvik area. This is because they have either not been cleared of ammuni- tion, or that they are preserved as a historic site. Among others, it is forbid-

◄ A diver explores the bridge of the wreck of the German destroyer Anton Schmitt

▲ Close up of a porthole on the destroyer Anton Schmitt

► Captain Terje Seiness with divers on the way to the wrecks of the German destroyers

German bombers also sank several allied were blown up so that the ore-boats in the company of its Other shipwrecks ships in this area. The most well known could pass over them. After the war, the slayers. Narvik was a quiet place for the rest of these is the Norwegian fast-route ship salvaging work continued on the remain- of the war. The most dramatic event Dronning Maud in Gratangen. ing ships. From 1949 until 1956 most of the Diving to the that otherwise occurred was when the cargo boats were lifted and broken up wrecks German ore-boat Odin sailed into the Clearing up for scrap. Only the most damaged and All diving in Narvik German anti-mine boom at the entrance The big work of salvaging the sunken heavily loaded were allowed to remain, is controlled by the to the harbour, and immediately sank. ships in Narvik was started already in the and today they make a fine and excit- Harbour Authorities. Apart from this, it was only minor ships Spring of 1940. Norwegian and German ing diving site for wreck divers. In 1964, Anyone wishing sinking due to collisions, overloading, etc. salvage boats worked at top speed, and three German destroyers were lifted from to dive must regis- There are several wrecks of aircraft in just a short time most of the wrecks the harbour basin and moved out to ter with the Narvik to be found in the area around Narvik, which were blocking the quays were lift- Framnesodden, where they are out of Harbour board, and both in the sea, in fresh water, and in the ed and sent overseas for repair. In addi- the way of shipping traffic. Thus the total- sign a declaration mountains. During the fighting in 1940, tion, the wrecks out in the harbour basin ly destroyed armoured vessel Eidsvold lies regarding diving to

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◄ Divers explore the wreck of the German destroyer Wilhelm Heidkamp. INSET LEFT: Gunnery holes. INSET RIGHT: Corridor of the wreck ▲ A diver gets up close and personal with artifacts still visible on the wreck of the German destroyer Wilhelm Heidkamp ►A door blown from the wreck of the British cargo boat Romanby

den to dive down to Eidsvold, Norge, down-line, one arrives at the roof to be remembered. This vessel could Odin, Erich Giese and all the German of the control room of the Wilhelm do 35 knots at its fastest. On the port- destroyers in Rombaks fjord. Heidkamp, which is the middle one side af the wheelhouse below the first of the three destroyers. The vessel lies deck, there is a hole straight into the Three German destroyers on its keel, with its stern blown off. crew’s laundry. Otherwise, there is a in one dive! It is recommended that one swims lot of detail that should be studied. Imagine diving down to three straight out from the starboard of the To get over to the Diether von German destroyers from World Wilhelm Heidkamp, to arrive at the Roeder you should swim straight out War II in one single dive! It is pos- Anton Schmitt, some 7 meters away. from the the port side of the Wilhelm sible in Narvik. The destroyers Anton Anton Schmitt lies leaning on its Heidkamp, that is, in the opposite Schmitt, Diether von Roeder and starboard side. Up at the highest part direction from the Anton Schmitt. Wilhelm Heidkamp lying outside (the port side) it is about 15 meters It is about a 30 meter swim. Of the Framnesodden, were opened for div- deep, and it is 24 meters at the Diether von Roeder, just about only ing a few years ago. The destroyers deepest. Most of the ship’s stern has the mid-section remains. The stern make a fine and well preserved div- been blown away, but the wreck is and the bows were blown away, and ing site, with a dive depth of 12 - 24 otherwise fairly intact. Among other much of the remaining ship shows the meters. The wrecks lie close together, things, there is the wheelhouse with ravages of time. But there are still a so that if you are a practiced diver its many details. A good route, is to number of details that are worth tak- with lots of air, you can visit all these swim forwards to the bows and con- ing back with you. Outside Framne- three wrecks in the same dive without tinue down towards the keel, there- sodden, it is also not as muddy as it is the need for decompression. after swinging slightly towards the in the harbour basin. Normally, there is a small plas- starboard where one will meet the tic buoy attached to the Wilhelm bows of the Wilhelm Heidkamp. The Wrecks of merchantships Heidkamp to which the dive boat bows of the destroyer stand up from in the harbour can be moored. Following the the sea bottom, and it is a fine sight, The wreck of the British cargo boat

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◄ Diver reveals the reserve pro- peller blades of the German Narvik Wrecks cargo ship Neuenfels

Romanby lies in the harbour basin. The sticking out. Being 130 meters in length, deck the depth is about 12 meters, which after the torpedo ▲ Colorful corals decorate the boat was being loaded on 9th April and the Romanby is a big wreck to explore. gives a long bottom-time and thereby hit 10th April is also walls of the ship wreck Neuenfels sank after being hit by a torpedo on 10th Beautiful growths of sea anemones and good time to explore. an imposing sight. april. Of the wrecks in the harbour, the sea carnations can be seen many places After being sunk, the Neuenfels lay with Normally, there are ► Jarles checks out the propeller Romanby is probably the best to dive on the wreck. The depth along the deck its masts and some superstructure above buoys on this wreck blade of the Neuenfels down to. The wreck is fairly complete, is about 12 meters, and the maximum the surface, although they later had to too. and it is easy to swim through the cor- depth to the bottom outside the wreck is be blown up in order not to be a danger About 4-5 years ◄ INSET: Jarles with the rudder of ridors and down into the engine room, 28 meters. Romanby lies on its keel on a for the shipping traffic. The remains of the ago the whole the Neuenfels which lies completely open. It is recom- flat bottom. There are normally buoys on blown up superstructure lies on the bot- deck was covered mended, though, that inexperienced the wreck. tom beside the wreck. with 30-50 cm of mud. All the mud has Stråssa and Martha Hendrik divers should not swim down into the If you swim through the first cargo com- now gone after Narvik Urban Council Fisser engine room. Neuenfels partment from the stern you can see one extended the industrial area, which Further out in the harbour basin lie the Behind the rear cargo compartment, Further in, lies the German cargo ship of the reserve propeller blades. Down at caused a greater flow between high- wrecks of the Swedish cargo boat Stråssa you can see, among other things, a Neuenfels. This is the biggest wreck the bottom, under the stern, both pro- water and low-water. This should be and the German cargo boat Martha folded stock anchor. Swimming further remaining in the harbour, and it is an pellers can be seen sticking up from the taken into consideration when planning Hendrik Fisser. There is only about 30 back towards the stern, and letting imposing sight, with its 143 meters length seabed, and also the rudder which is half dives to the wrecks in the harbour. The meters between the two wrecks, so it oneself glide out from the railing, you and 18 meters breadth. Here, too, there sunk into the mud. Looking out from here, surface current can often be extremely is quite possible to visit them both in a will see the fine rudder of the wreck is a maximum depth of 28 meters to the one can really get an idea of the impos- strong. single dive as long as one just wants a together with the propeller axle that is flat sea bed outside the wreck. Along the ing size of the wreck. The hole in the hull general overview. If you just want to dive

66 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED features Narvik Wrecks cargo compartment, towards the remains of the superstructure of the mid- ship section, where the engine room, among other things, is to be found. The engine room of this wreck is not open from above, but it is relatively easy to swim through. Look out for possible divers behind you, as it can easily become cloudy. Penetration here should not be carried out by inexperienced divers. The wreck is otherwise easy for everyone to get around on. Remember to turn back in good time if you started your dive from the Stråssa, and must get back to the down-line on this wreck. If the visibility is not so good you should give yourself good time for the return. With depths down to some 28 meters (at the seabed), the most sensible is to use at least two dives to expore these two wrecks, as there are so many dif- ferent things to see. If you keep to the deck, an overview of both wrecks can be obtained in a single dive. Common to all wrecks in the harbour basin, is that the parts that have been blown away lie on the bottom just beside the wrecks. With a little planning, one can therefore also visit masts and super- structures, but visibility can be bad. Hermann Künne in Trollvika With regard to the German destroyer Hermann Künne, which lies in Trollvika in Herjangs fjord, the wreck can be CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: down to the Martha Hendrik Fisser, one usually one can look down into an open engine room reached both by car and by boat. Either ▲ A diver checks out the does so via a descent/ascent from the Stråssa. with the ship’s big motor in place. There is also Over on Martha... way, it takes about 30-40 minutes to trav- rudder of the German One can then follow a rope that is stretched a workshop here with, among other things, a Martha Hendrik Fisser was the victim of a British el the 30 km from the centre of Narvik. cargo boat Martha between the two wrecks. Both vessels have lathe and other machines. Unfortunately, due torpedo 10th April. This wreck, too, lies upright If you intend to go by car, it is important Hendrik Fisser been affected by work with explosives, but to the stagnant water, the visibility is generally on its keel on the 28 m deep, flat bottom. The first to contact some of the local divers ► Divers explore the wreck the hulls and parts of the superstructures not very good here. The wreck is well deco- depth along the deck of this wreck is 10-12 from Narvik Sports Divers Club or Bjerkvik of the Swedish cargo boat remain. rated with colonies of dead man’s fingers, and meters. If you get to this wreck using the rope Divers Club. In order to be able to get Stråssa Stråssa was kept partly afloat after the there is a rich animal life. from the Stråssa, you will arrive at the stern of down to the water where the Hermann ▼ Stråssa in its glory days attack, but was finally blown up by the The rope between Stråssa and Martha the Martha Hendrik Fisser, where, among the Künne lies, you have to pass the boom ◄ The Stråssa is a wreck Germans in May. Today, the Stråssa is a fine Hendrik Fisser stretches between the sterns first things you will see, is a curved staircase which closes off the the final stretch of with lots of details to dis- wreck with lots of detail. The wreck lies upright of both ships. On Stråssa this rope is fastened down to the rooms that were in the stern. In the old national road to Harstad. The cover on its keel on the flat seabed. The depth is beneath the railing at the front edge of the front of the stern lies the rear cargo compart- wreck of the Herman Künne starts at about 28 meters to the bottom outside the stern on the portside. On Martha Hendrik ment, where one can see a 4-bladed reserve the low-water line and goes down to 40 wreck and 15 meters along the deck. Parts of Fisser’s stern the rope is fastened to the star- propeller. meters depth. It is a fine subject for pho- the wheelhouse are still relatively intact, and board side. One can easily swim down into the after tography, and a wreck which is suitable

67 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Technical data Narvik Wrecks for the most relevant features wrecks in Narvik:

Wilhelm Heidkamp – Z-21 Built: 1939 Shipyard: Deschimag, Bremen #923 Owner: German Navy Weight: 2411 tons displacement Dimensions: 125.1 x 11.8 meters GPS: 68°26.086”N 017°22.643’E

Anton Schmitt – Z-22 Built: 1939 Shipyard: Deschimag, Bremen #924 Owner: German Navy Weight: 2411 tons displacement Dimensions:125.1 x 11.8 meters GPS: 68°26.058”N 017°22.588’E

Diether von Roeder – Z-17 Built: 1938 Shipyard: Deschimag, Bremen #919 Owner: German Navy Weight: 2411 tons displacement Dimensjon:125.1 x 11.8 meters GPS: 68°26.083”N 017°22.682’E

Romanby Built: 1927 Shipyard: W. Gray & Co, West Hartlepool #987 Owner: Ropner Shipping Co, West Hartlepool Weight: 4887 tons Divers explore the wreck Dimensions:127.9 x 18.0 meters of the German destroyer GPS: 68°25.533”N 017°22.629’E Hermann Künne, which lies in Trollvika in Herjangs fjord Neuenfels Built:1925 Shipyard: AG Weser, Bremen #397 Owner: DDG Hansa, Bremen Weight: 8096 tons Dimensions:143.2 x 18.6 meters for divers at all levels of experience. Many German Dornier 26 seaplane, also from be obtained from the Harbour Authorities • Narvik Dykkerklubb (Narvik Diving Club) GPS: 68°25.230”N 017°23.601’E details from the ship are to be found eve- the wartime. Relatively intact (one can (telephone 76- 95-03-75) in order to be can assist with tips about diving and over- rywhere. The propeller has disappeared actually see that it is a plane …), it lies at able to dive in Narvik. Information, regu- nighting, and also boat trips. Contact Stråssa Built: 1921 but the gigantic rudder is still there, stick- a depth of 22 meters. The fuselage stands lations og conditions for diving in Narvik, Frank Bang on telephone 957-56-450. See Shipyard: AB Götaverken, ing majestically out to the side. Many fish upright but the wings broke off when it together with a self declaration for a also Bang’s website: Göteborg #356 Owner: Trafik AB-Grängesberg- live in and around the wreck. Those who sank and are now lying over the fuselage. dive permit can be found on the Narvik http://home.online.no/~f-bang/ Oxelösund, Stockholm just want a relaxing time can study the Another German plane from World Harbour board’s website: www.narvik. Weight: 5602 tons many different things that they had on War II is a Junker 52, which lies east in kommune.no/havnetj/dykking.html • Tore Lie and Torje Løvgren provide boat Dimensions:120.1 x 16.3 meters board. It is still forbidden to remove any- Hartvikvannet about 3 miles from Narvik. trips with a 23 ft RIB. Contact telephone GPS: 68°25.142N 017°24.032’E thing that lies in and around the wreck. The plane is quite intact at a depth of 2 to • Narvik Dyk & Äventyr (Narvik Dive and 911-94-960 (Torje) 9 meters, and there is easy access to the Adventure) are currently the only tour Martha Hendrikk Fisser Built: 1911 Plane wrecks too... plane in the summer. It is a good photo- operators who have a complete presen- • Kristoffersen Dykk (Kristoffersen Dive and Shipyard: Ropner & Sons, Not only is Narvik favoured with the graphic subject. tation with dive boats (live-aboard), over- leasing) fill air, give service and sell equip- Stockton #456 wrecks of many ships, but there are also nighting and diving. The firm runs week ment. Contact telephone 907-211-05 ■ Owner: Hendrik Fisser AG, Emden plane wrecks. In Rombaks fjord some Diving in Narvik? tours from weeks 13 to 45. See website: Weight: 4879 tons kilometers north-east of Narvik, lies a As previously stated, a dive permit must www.narvikdykaventyr.nu Dimensions:118.2 x 15.9 meters GPS: 68°25.207”N 017°24.220’E

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OpinionsAll perspectives expressed in this section are those of the individu- al author and do not necessarily reflect the views of X-RAY MAG or its associates

Edited by Peter Symes Open Letter to Disney

Attention: Mr. Michael Eisner Please consider the following: developing in the mother for up to Instead of supporting conserva- Chief Executive Officer, Disney World two years. tion, DISNEYLAND HONG KONG is 1. In the minute it takes you to read 6. Sharks are vanishing from our now contributing to the extinction Dear Mr Eisner, this letter almost 200 sharks will world’s oceans very quickly. The of sharks, promoting cruelty and Since Sylvia Hui’s editorial in have their fins removed while still demand for shark fin soup in wastefulness to children and young The STANDARD on 18 May 2005 - alive and thrown back into the sea Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong adults. Since many shark species are “Disneyland weddings for the young to die. Shark experts estimate that and China is primarily responsible protected, DISNEY is therefore seen and wealthy..The menus feature tra- 100 million sharks are slaughtered as encouraging the sale and con- ditional Chinese banquet delicacies each year for their fins. sumption of endangered species. In such as roast suckling pig, shark’s fin 2. Shark fin is tasteless and has no this aspect, DISNEY is promoting to soup and sliced abalone”, you would nutritional value - they are carti- Instead of support- children and young people a mes- have received hundreds of pleas at lage, just like your fingernails and ing conservation, sage that cruelty and exploitation of a global level to remove the grue- hair. animals is acceptable. some item from the menu. 3. It is Cruel to consume shark fin. It DISNEYLAND We are disappointed at the is akin to chopping legs off a cow HONG KONG is now THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE response or lack there of to the issue; and throwing them back into the it is apparent that shortsightedness field and allowing them to bleed contributing to the We respectfully suggest the following or plain ignorance from your ban- to death. extinction of sharks, actions: Admit the shortsightedness of quet and PR staff. By promoting and 4. Because of the demand from Asia, current policy, and instead, support offering shark fins soup, DISNEYLAND fishermen from Galapagos are promoting cruelty and the conservation of sharks by remov- is seen as supporting the culling now pushing for wholesale revisions wastefulness to chil- ing shark fins soup from wedding PHOTO COURTESY OF BIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION of sharks, eventually causing their to the fishing statute by demand- dren and young adults banquets and replace it with other This guy is cutting the fin off a great hammerhead shark. Most shark finners dump extinction in the world’s oceans. ing a year-round fishing calendar, more sustainable delicacies. the carcasses or live sharks back into the sea to die a horrible slow death of suf- Imagine shark fins to be the hand use of long-line fishing, a lifting of Since 2002, Ocean N Environment fication. A surfboard-sized fin from a basking shark can get USD 5,000 on the mar- and legs of Mickey Mouse; chop the prohibition on shark fishing. In and Asian Geographic have pro- ket. Studies show that, since 1986, Hammerhead populations in the North Atlantic have decreased by 89%. them off and throw the lame strug- this respect, the Asian culture is for the peril of sharks globally — duced a card/letter package “ WHY gling body of Mickey on the side threatening to destroy one of the some 100 million animals are killed WE ARE NOT SERVING SHARK FIN walk to die a slow painful death! That most unique and fragile eco-sys- every year just for their fins. SOUP TONIGHT” for couples to distrib- Mouse struggling in agony without his is how sharks are harvested from the tems remaining on this planet. ute at their wedding dinner. Perhaps arms and legs on the cover. Get the world’s oceans. 5. Sharks reproduce very slowly and To conserve sharks and the preserve you may wish to consider this as an picture? we are killing them faster than they the species, we must address the option. By doing this, DISNEYLAND can replace themselves. Sharks issue at the heart of the problem. We and prospective wedding couples Submitted by: have slow growth rates and do must reduce the demand for shark will be seen as intelligent, eco-savvy, Michael AW, Chairman not reach sexual maturity for years. fins in Asia. Since 2001, Ocean N and most importantly, contributing to Ocean N Environment Australia It takes a whaleshark 25 years to ENvironment and Asian Geographic the preservation of our ocean envi- Publisher of Asian Geographic, reproduce. For Hammerheads and have launched the ‘Say No to Shark ronment. Scuba Diver Australasia and Tiger sharks it takes 15 years. Once Fins” campaign on an annual basis I trust that you will respond expe- Underwater Channel sexually mature, sharks have long targeting young couples and chil- diently. Imagine the next edition www.asiangeographic.org gestation periods with the embryo dren. of Asian Geographic with Mickey www.scubadiveraustralasia.com

69 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED science Hydrothermal Vents Ephemeral Underwater Oases of the Ocean Depths

Text by Michael Symes Photos by Peter Batson (www.exploretheabyss.com)

Hydrothermal vents are places rocks are to be seen on Iceland and Cyana. They first found slightly warm in the Earth’s crust where very other volcanic islands today. And sedi- water with the deep tow, then dived ments with unusually high amounts of on that spot in Alvin. As they hoped, hot water arises from vents in iron, manganese, and other metals are they found 20°C warm water seeping the cold, deep-sea floor. This found near mid-ocean ridges. There from fissures. But more importantly, they hot, mineral-laden water is a are also large chunks of ocean crust, found a strange alien landscape littered rich environment for the devel- kilometers thick, known as ophiolites, with what looked like chimneys expel- that have been lifted up onto land by ling clouds of black smoke. opment of an exotic marine tectonic forces. These ophiolites show The greatest surprise, however, life, previously unknown before evidence of hot seawater circulation was that there were very numerous, the discovery of hydrothermal through fissures in the rocks in the dis- large animals living around the vents. vents. This marine life uses a tant past. Furthermore, heat flow anomalies quite different chemistry from indicated that the crust near a mid- Global View: Pacific Ring of Fire other animal life, be it marine ocean ridge crest was cooler than life in the upper sea levels, or expected. It was infered that the crust was cooled by circulation of seawater terrestrial life. Thus, hydrother- through cracks and fissures in the rock. mal vents are not only very There were also deep-tow tempera- Explorer interesting geologically speak- ture anomalies. An instrument package Ridge ing, but even more so from the towed at about 2500 meters depth near Mariana the East Pacific Rise, a geologically biological point of view. active zone betwen the Pacific tectonic Arc plate and the Nazca plate, measured East Their discovery an average temperature of ca 2°C, but Pacific Prior to the 1970s, hydrothermal vents detected warmer water temperature Rise were an unknown phenomenon, but peaks of 0.1°C to 0.2°C. certain observations had led marine This then led geologists, in 1977, to geologists to hypothesize that vents organize an expedition to an area of existed. Rocks had previously been the East Pacific rise near the Galapagos recovered from the sea floor contain- islands, some 2500 meters below the sur- ing minerals known to form when vol- face. They took a deep tow instrument MID OCEAN RIDGE SYSTEMS canic rocks react with seawater. Such and Cousteau’s research submersible ISLAND ARC/TRENCH SYSTEMS

Tevnia plume PETER BATSON

70 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED TOP LEFT: Alvin submersible BOTTOM LEFT: Alvinellacaudata Hydrovents FAR RIGHT: Black smoker science BELOW RIGHT: Map of Active Sites

Surrounding these chimneys was a assumptions. Here was proof unique type of ecosystem that had never for the first time that life could been seen before. These animals turned be sustained by the earth itself, out to be completely new species, often totally cut off from the world of new Families or Orders, and even one sunlight. new Phylum. Until then, it had always been assumed that all life on Earth Hydrothermal vents obtained its energy from the sun. Using a and their formation process called photosynthesis sunlight is Hydrothermal vents occur in converted into energy by plants which, geologically active regions of WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE THE CHEMISTRY OF A “BLACK SMOKER” IS UNIQUE: AFTER SEA WATER SEEPS in turn, provide food for countless species the ocean floor where the planet’s crus- INTO THE CRUST, OXYGEN AND POTASSIUM AND THEN CALCIUM, SULFATE, of animals in a complex web of life. But tal tectonic plates are slowly spreading AND MAGNESIUM ARE REMOVED FROM THE WATER. AS THE WATER HEATS UP, SODIUM, POTASSIUM AND CALCIUM DISSOLVE FROM THE CRUST. MAGMA here was a sight that challenged those apart thus allowing magma to well up SUPERHEATS THE WATER, DISSOLVING IRON, ZINC, COPPER, AND SULFUR. THEN from below to form moun- THE WATER RISES BACK UP TO THE SURFACE, WHERE IT MIXES WITH COLD SEA- NOAA WATER, FORMING BLACK METAL-SULFIDE COMPOUNDS. tain ranges known as mid- ocean ridges. Vents are As cracks form in the ocean floor at usually clustered in fields these spreading centers, seawater seeps and normally found at a a kilometer or two down into the hot rock

depth of more than a kilom- where it is heated by the intense heat of NOAA eter. Most have been dis- the magma. As the water is heated to covered along the crest of boiling point, it expands and rises back to chimneys are formed from dissolved met- the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, a the surface, up through the cracks and als that precipitate out when the super- 74000 kilometer-long chain fissures through which it dropped. On hot vent water meets the surrounding of mountains that wraps its way back up, the hot water dissolves cold deep ocean water. Individual vent around Earth like the seam minerals and other chemicals from the openings typically range from less than on a tennis ball. A few vents rock. When it reaches the ocean floor, a centimeter to more than two meters in have also been found at the water is a rich, chemical soup. Some diameter. seamounts, underwater vol- of the minerals precipitate out of the sea Vent chimneys can grow very rapidly, canoes that are not locat- water and harden on the rim of the vent. up to 9 meters in 18 months. During a ed at the intersection of the Over time, the rim of the vent is built up December 1993 dive to the Phoenix vent tectonic crustal plates. into a tall, chimney-like structure. These field, Alvin accidentally toppled a 10

USGS PETER BATSON 71 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED science Hydrovents high temperatures, high pressures, and total darkness existing at these vents. Similar communities have since been found at several hundred hot spots around the world. Hydrothermal vents are like underwater oases, providing a habitat for many creatures that are not found anywhere else in the ocean. More than 300 new species have been identi- fied since the first vent was discovered in 1977. These creatures are like nothing else on Earth.

NASA Thickets of giant tube worms, some more than two meters tall, can be seen around calcium, potassium, and sodium, together with

silicon, barium, rubidium, PETER BATSON iron and manganese. The black smokers are the hottest of the vents. They throw out mostly iron and sulfide, which combine to form the black iron monosulfide. It is this compound which gives the smoker its black colour. There are also so-called white smok-

PETER BATSON ers which release cooler Strange and unique species develop in the ecosystem of the hydrothermal vents such as the vulcan octo- water, and which con- pus (ABOVE), shrimp and vent crabs (INSET). tain amorphous silica mixed with zinc- and iron- meter-tall smoker. When the sub returned However, the intense heat is limited to sulphide, and calcium- and bar- for a brief visit three months later, the just a small area. Within less than a cou- ium-sulphate. These compounds chimney had already grown back 6 ple of centimeters of the vent opening, are white. meters. the water temperature drops to 2°C, the However, important and com- The dark colour of the water spewing ambient temperature of deep seawater. mercially interesting as the chemi- forth from these vents has earned them cals in the vents might be, it is the the name black smokers. Chemicals in creatures surrounding the vents As the vent water bursts out into the hydrothermal vents that are the most interesting. ocean, its temperature may be as high There is a very mineral-rich environment as 400°C. This water does not boil, how- surrounding these vents. The water ris- Creatures at these oases ever, because it is under so much pres- ing from the vents is acidic, with a pH Scientists once thought that no liv- sure; for when the pressure on a liquid of about 3.5, and contains up to 0.03% ing thing could survive the harsh

is increased, its boiling point increases. H2S. It contains significant amounts of combination of toxic chemicals,

TOP RIGHT: Stalked barnacles RIGHT: Alvinella head PETER BATSON 72 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED science Hydrovents

the vents. The tail ends of the worms are likely that they emerge from below when the THE TUBE WORM firmly fixed to the ocean floor, while the red conditions are right. Most of the creatures that A particularly remarkable type of vent animal plumes at their heads look like a field of red congregate around vents live at temperatures is the tube worm. These can be 3 or more poppy flowers. When Alvin had been at the just above freezing. meters long. They live within a tough, white same spot less than two years earlier none of tube attached to the sea floor near a vent. these strange creatures had been observed. Thus chemicals are the key to vent life, not A red “plume” protrudes from the top of the Measurements at the site have since shown heat. tube. This structure contains red haemoglobin, that individual tube worms can increase in that absorbs oxygen, carbon dioxide, and length at a rate of more than 80 cm per year, Incredible deep sea creatures had been hydrogen sulfide from the water surrounding making them the fastest-growing marine inver- known for quite some time, but these animals the worm. The brown, spongy tissue filling the tebrates. all depended on the regions above for their inside of a tube worm is packed with symbiotic In addition to the giant tube worms, which sustenance. They feed on small scraps of food bacteria - about 10 billion bacteria per gram have so far been found only in the Pacific, and dead animals that fall from above. Here of tissue. The bloodstream of the tube worm there are Jericho at the vents, though, some- transports the absorbed chemicals to the bac- worms, bristley orange SYMBIOSIS thing entirely different was teria, which are housed within a special organ worms, small benthic Symbiosis is an association between taking place. These organ- called the trophosome. The bacteria then worms living in the mud, two organisms that benefits them both. isms were using another use these chemicals to grow and to produce and finger sized, red In the case of many of the vent ani- process to get their food organic substances that are absorbed by the palm worms that stand mals, the animal has chemosynthetic directly from the vents worm for food. Having no digestive tract at all, upright, topped with bacteria as symbionts. The animal gets themselves. the worm thus depends solely on the bacteria fronds. A special class its food from the bacteria. The bac- This process is known as for its nutrition. of small worms, called teria get an ideal location for growth, chemosynthesis, with bac- Tube worms reproduce by spawning: They Alvinellids (named after because the animal provides them with teria in the water actually release sperm and eggs, which combine in the sub), live on the both oxygen and hydrogen sulphide. feeding on what would the water to create a new worm. Biologists walls of mineral deposits otherwise be a lethal soup don’t know how the infant worm acquires its that form around vents. of noxious chemicals. Small own bacteria. Perhaps the egg comes with a Mussels, shrimp, clams, animals feed on these bac- starter set. and crabs are abundant at many vents, but teria, and these small animals again provide At least 5 different species have been dis- these are not the same species we usually eat. food for the larger animals. It is an entire eco- covered. The prawn-like shrimps that dominate vents in system, totally separate from the world of light. the mid-Atlantic, for example, have no eyes. It should be noted, though, that not all vent Both clams and mussels reach enormous size animals have symbionts. Some are scavengers near vents. They appear to live about 20 years or carnivores that benefit from the rich food and attain lengths of 20 to 30 cm. Like the supply, for example, crabs and amphipods tube worms they, too, have symbiotic bac- teria that live within specially modified gills. Chemosynthesis Although the clams and mussels do have Chemosynthesis is analogous to photosynthesis digestive tracts, it appears that the symbionts but with a different energy source. provide nearly all of their food. Photosynthesis, which is used by all terrestrial It is still not fully known how shrimp and other plants, and the great majority of the marine

PETER BATSON vent creatures can cope with chemical-laden ones too, is exemplified by how phytoplank- seawater that would kill ordinary shellfish. ton produce their food. In this process, carbon ABOVE: Riftia on tevnia While octopuses are at the upper end of dioxide and water react under the energy RIGHT: Palm worms are the vent’s food chain, bacteria are at the bot- input of sunlight, with chlorophyll as a catalyst, one of the many species tom. They are the first organisms to colonize to produce organic molecules such as sugars that live near hydrovents newly formed vents, arriving as if in a blizzard and starch, with oxygen as a biproduct. and then settling to form white mats attached

to the ocean floor. Bacteria have been found CO2 + H2O → ‘CH2O’ + O2 living beneath the ocean’s floor, and it seems WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE

NOAA PMEL VENT PROGRAM ABOVE: Colony of tube worms

73 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED science Hydrovents

PETER BATSON

Stalked barnacles

where ‘CH O’ is the basic building block of sugars, the energy in H S is restricted to certain types of 2 2 Photosynthesis Chemosynthesis , etc. bacteria containing the oxidising enzyme. Chemosynthesis takes place in two stages, with CARNIVORES For the production of a specific compound, sugar, the first stage being catalysed by bacteria such as we can write the following process. Thiomicrospira and Thiothrix.

6CO + 6H O → C H O + 6O H S + 2O → SO - - + chemical energy + H O 2 2 6 12 6 2 2 2 3 2 BACTERIA SULFIDE CHLOROPLASTS Sulphide Energy i.e. six molecules of carbon dioxide plus six mole- The chemical energy produced here then facili- Light Energy cules of water produce one molecule of sugar plus tates the reaction between carbon dioxide and Reduced six molecules of oxygen. Here the sugar can be water to produce organic molcules. Carbon glucose, for example. Compounds However, due to the absence of light-energy CO2 + H2O → ‘CH2O’ + O2 from the sun to power photosythesis other energy Reduced sources must be used to drive food synthesis. Now, As shown above, symbiotic chemosynthetic bac- Carbon Hydrothermal the most prevalent chemical dissolved in vent teria can use hydrogen sulfide as their energy Green Compounds Vent water is hydrogen sulphide, H S, which is produced source. However, methane-using symbiotic chem- HERBAVORES 2 Plants when seawater reacts with sulphate in the rocks osynthetic bacteria also exist, especially at cold- below the ocean floor. And it is that which supplies seeps (see below). There are many varieties of the energy to drive the chemosynthesis, for hydro- chemosynthetic bacteria. Nearly all use a reduced gen sulphide is a highly reduced molecule, and chemical energy source, using oxygen to oxidize it CARNIVORES therefore a great deal of energy can be obtained to produce the energy they need. when it is oxidised. This ability to oxidize and release Instead of photosynthesis, hydrothremal vent ecosystems bon dioxide and water to produce sugars. Photosynthesis get their energy from chemicals in a process called chem- gives off oxygen gas as a byproduct, while chemosynthe- osynthesis. Both methods involve an energy source, car- sis produces sulfur. Information source: NOAA

74 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED BONAIRE science Hydrovents Hospitality Without Limits Transience are sessile, and even animals like crabs Vent fields are tens of kilometers apart can’t move that far. So, how are new vents along ridge axes, and most vent fields are colonized? How do vent species survive probably active only for about 20 years, when vents frequently die? although some can be active for 100-1000 years. The chimneys eventually become Colonization of new vents blocked as chemical precipitates plug up It is not known how tube worms and other the cracks and fissures and flow ceases. organisms locate new vents for coloniza- ����������������� The animals near such dead vents also die. tion. The vents are small, and they are ������������������������ However, new vent systems form fairly fre- separated, like islands. Most vent organ- ����������������������������������������������������� quently, as forces of plate tectonics open isms have a free-swimming larval stage. ������������������������������������������������������ ������������ new cracks and fissures. But it is not known whether the larvae float ������������������������������������������������ Most of the animals that live near vents aimlessly or purposely follow clues, such as ����������������������������������������������������������� chemical traces in the water, to find new ��������������������������������������������� homes. Many vent animals produce eggs $ with large yolk sacs. It seems that their 599 pp/sext eggs and larvae can survive for a long �������������� time, perhaps years. It is thought that the ������������������������������ ����������������� larvae drift with currents along the bot- JOHN COLLINS tom, which may tend, at least slightly, �������� to flow toward active vents. When the Sponges and soft corals do not grow near hydrothermal vents. It is thought that they cannot survive ������ ���� ���� ������ in this extreme environment ������������������� larvae find favorable conditions, they �������������� settle to the bottom and grow to adults. However, most die because they fail to high temperature, etc.) are harmful to affected by the harsh and highly variable ������� find an active vent. When the flow of them. conditions on the Earth’s surface, where ������������� hot, sulphide-rich water slows to a trickle, any photosynthetic organisms would have ������������ ��������������� death also comes quickly. Hydrothermal vents are needed to live. Certain microorganisms ������������������������ ����������� ������� important sources of knowledge have adapted to thrive on these vents �������������� ������������� Cold Seeps and create rich underwater ecosystems ����������������� These are entirely different, geologically, Interesting as it is in itself, the life surround- that some scientists believe may represent �������������������������� from hydrothermal vents. They occur in sit- ing hydrothermal vents is also an impor- some of the earliest life forms on Earth. SILVER-SPECIAL! uations where sediments are compressed, tant source of knowledge. For example, Biologically, hydrothermal vents have a �������������������������� squeezing out the water between the vent bacteria can withstand higher tem- lot to tell us about the origins of life and ������������������������� mineral particles and causing it to seep peratures than any other organism. That the conditions in which life can be found, out of the sea floor. Cold seeps are men- makes them attractive to researchers who which is important to our continuing search tioned here because they have hydro- are developing heat-stable enzymes for for life elsewhere. thermal vent-like organisms that use a genetic engineering, and culturing bacteria There are many other reasons why scien-

CH4- or H2S-based energy source. designed to break down toxic waste. Also, tists want to learn more about hydrothermal these bacteria and tubeworms may show vents. For example, these underwater gey- Animals that don’t live the way to the development of new drugs, sers are believed to play an important role near vents industrial processes, and other products in the ocean’s temperature, chemistry, and Some animals normally found in the deep useful to us all. circulation patterns. Hydrothermal vents are ���������������������������� JOHN COLLINS ocean are not found, or are rare, near Some biologists think that life, in the form central to the function of the Earth system ������������������������������������������������������ vents. These include sponges and anemo- of chemosynthetic bacteria, first evolved and the life that is part of it; the vents at ������������������������������������������������������������ ���������������������� Hydrothermal vents may play a role in the regulation of nes and echinoderms. Perhaps the condi- at vents. One reason is that such deep ocean ridges are an essential part of the ���������������������������� �� �������� ocean temperature which has a large affect on coral tions near the vents (hydrogen sulphide, sea organisms would have been less chemical balance of seawater. ■ �������������������������������������������������������� growth and health ������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������ ���������������������������������������� ����������������������� ��������������������������

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Text by Micheal Symes Visit our sponsors or Water Facts become one THE HEAT CONTENT OF WATER For the first, the large heat capac- releases such a large amount of heat force called a hydrogen bond. Thus, It has often been stated that life depends ity of the oceans and seas allows energy to the skin that it causes the when water molecules are close togeth- on the anomalous properties of water. them to act as heat reservoirs, so that damaging and very painful scald. er, their positive and negative regions WWW.XRAY-MAG.COM More than 40 properties of water appear sea temperatures vary only a third as But why has this apparently simple sub- are attracted to the oppositely-charged to be anomalous in some way or other, and much as land temperatures. This effect stance such a high specific heat? The regions of nearby molecules. This hydro- among these is its large heat capacity. moderates and stabilises our climate, answer is hydrogen bonding, which also gen bonding is shown by dotted lines The specific heat capacity of a sub- reducing extremes in temperature. explains many of the other properties of in the diagram. Each water molecule stance is the amount of heat energy That is also why coasts experience water. has the potential to be hydrogen-bond- required to heat one gram of the sub- a milder climate than areas that lie ed to four others. It is these hydrogens UV-fotoutrustning för proffs stance one degree. The original unit of more inland. The heat stored in water HYDROGEN BONDING bonds that account for some of the Även för digitalkameror heat energy was the calorie, which was is also transported to other plac- Water is a polar molecule, having a essential and unique properties of water. the amount of heat energy required es around the globe through cur- weak, partial negative charge d- at As water is heated, the addition of to heat water one degree celcius. rents and will warm up colder water. the oxygen atom and a partial positive energy first causes the hydrogen bonds However, the relative unit of the calorie Secondly, and of more direct impor- charge d+ at the hydrogen atom. This to bend and break. And, as water is a was later replaced by the absolute unit tance to humans, the high water con- is because the electron shell round a light molecule there are more molecules of the joule, where one calorie equals tent in organisms contributes to thermal hydrogen atom is rather thin, and the per gram than most simlar molecules to 4.18 joule. Water then has a specific regulation and prevents local tempera- positive charge on its nucleus shows absorb this energy. Now, because the heat capacity of 4.18 J g-1 K-1 , where K ture fluctuations. This allows us to more through, thus giving the hydrogen atom energy absorbed in these processes is refers to the absolute temperature scale. easily control our body temperature. a small but definite positive charge. not available to increase the kinetic Water has the highest specific heat of The high heat capacity of water is On the other hand, the electron shell energy of the water, and thereby raise all liquids except ammonia, and can thus also the reason, for example, why hot round an oxygen atom is rather thick, its temperature, it takes a considerable retain and store large amounts of heat. water can cause such serious scald- and so the oxygen atom has an extra input of heat to raise the temperature of This high heat capacity of water has as ing. Hot water, when cooled from bit of negative charge. These opposite water. Which is the same as saying that least two major impacts on our lives. say 100°C to the temperature of skin, charges attract, giving a relatively weak it has a high specific heat. ■

AQUA-BILDER Leif-Göran Hjelm www.aqua-bilder.nu Tel: 0708-293341

76 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED technical Leigh Cunningham is matters the technical manag- er and TDI Instructor Trainer for Ocean College, Sharm El Configuration Sheikh. Probably best known for his records - Leigh once Leigh held the record for the Cunningham deepest dive in the Red Photos courtesy Craig Nelson Sea - and attempts of www.aquaimaging.co.uk & Hose Routing reaching extreme depths, Two hotly debated subjects he also has a wide range of teaching credentials to his cur- riculum:

Since the introduction of or decompression diving. And advantage of having the a dive, the back- In my opinion, As stated, having TDI instructor trainer, DSAT Tech Scuba diving in the mid there are also the personal back-up Low Pressure Inflator up system should a creeping inflator Trimix instructor, PADI MSDT experiences and preferences (LPI) connected would be the be checked along the specifics 1950s, one of the most could cause buoy- IANTD Technical diver instructor of the individual diver to con- possibility of having a ‘creep- with everything regarding kit ancy problems dur- CMAS 3 star instructor. hotly debated subjects sider. What might be a very ing’ inflator. else. For if this isn’t configuration can ing the dive. When in the world of technical logical, safe configuration in done there is the diving in environ- diving is that regarding one environment, could lead But what is a creeping inflator? possibility that salt frequently vary ments where the to a multitude of difficulties in For those using wet suits, the crystals could form bottom very close, the best type of gear a very different environment. tech wing (BCD) would have around the inflator or you are above configuration. Over the For example, I have had much a redundant bladder to give mechanism. This would then your maximum depth, then years, many experi- discussion with many divers independent back-up buoy- cause the back-up inflator to there is no problem. In the on the issue of whether or not fill only very slowly, i.e. creep, enced divers, instruc- ancy. Divers using dry suits event of losing to have the back-up inflator may consider the as a causing buoyancy problems. abruptly you can just sit on the tors, and training agen- connected to the redundant form of back-up buoyancy or The diver would then have to bottom and connect the LPI to cies, have all claimed wing. A redundant wing sys- opt for the redundant wing. vent gas from two bladders your back-up wing. However, that their method and tem is standard kit for divers Normally, divers would not use during the ascent, which can in an environment where, for using wet suits, and is also the back-up bladder unless be very tricky. practical purposes, there is no style of kit configuration an option for those using dry there was a problem with the Unless equipment is not bottom, it might be wise to is the best. suits. The dis- primary bladder. During a rig maintained by cleaning and have your LPI connected check washing after every dive, to your back-up wing. In my opin- prior to it is highly unlikely salt The questions you ion, the crystals will form. I have, should ask yourself specifics though, met numerous in this type of envi- regarding divers who do not have ronment are (i), kit con- the back-up inflator con- how long would it figura- nected to the LPI. In my take to connect tion can opinion, because of the the LPI? and (ii), frequently possibility of a creeping infla- what depth might vary tor in some environments, e.g. I be at by the time because of the effects of a bottomless wall, it would be I get it connect- different diving environ- very wise to have the back-up ed and estab- ments, be they fresh- inflator connected to the LPI lish neutral water deep cave, at all times.. buoyancy? Gear Configuration Gear open-ocean, When hoses are routed down and behind, they don’t snag on objects, and it is more streamlined

77 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED technical Example of a single bladder Hose routing matters wing - the Gravity Zero 55lb This, too, is a subject that has had seen at www.abyssuk.com many a group of technical divers Many factors dictate the Be safe! Have a debating in open session for hours degree of negative buoy- neat and tidy, on end. In the caving community, ancy at depth. These can a pioneer of configuration proto- streamlined div- col is William Hogarth Maine, or be the depth itself, the ing system. Bill Main as this highly respected thickness of the wet suit, caving pioneer is called. The term and how close you are to Hogarthian was adopted due to a perfectly weighted sys- Also, a diver may be able to Bill’s philosophy. Originally, this maintain his depth at the bottom philosophy was based on safety tem (steel tanks all round by lightly finning. However, finning issues in caving, where, if divers make an over weighted too hard and for too long could used exactly the same equipment diver). lead to excessive CO2 produc- and configuration down to even tion. The breathing rate would the smallest detail, i.e. if one diver then increase, and the flush- was a replica image of the other, ing and exhaling of CO2 would then, in an emergency, other become less efficient. This would team members would be com- then cause the breathing rate to patible with the diver in trouble increase even more, producing Incorporated in this style of con- more CO2 and thus predisposing figuration is a very rigid hose rout- the diver to a heavy narcotic hit, ing, the specifics of which include essar- together with a greater possibil- what side you have your primary ily heavy ity of O -toxicity problems. This gas by first stage and back-up regulators, 2 equipment, is the well known vicious circle adjust- a 2m primary hose that would be becomes over- of too much CO , leading to ing his wrapped once around the neck, 2 whelming. too much N2, leading to too body to and the location of additional much O2. an optimum equipment for the dive. Again, Very deep diving for Bungee or not? position, then the due to differing diving environ- technical divers will have Another hotly debated bungee would assist ments, this configuration may not a different set of consid- subject is whether to in self-deflating the wing always be the most suitable. For erations for buoyancy have a bungeed or an by squeezing the gas out example, in open-ocean do we compared to the aver- un-bungeed wing system. from any position. However, that really need a 2m long hose when age recreational diver, Again, much like the Low Pressure advantage could also turn into a one of 1.5m may be sufficient? who may experience Inflator issue, there is no one right disadvantage in the event of a depth changes of only or wrong answer. There is only the wing malfunction, such as a split In summary, what is funda- just a couple of atmos- consideration of what should be or ruptured bladder. In this sce- mentally important is that, no pheres. At 200m there used in a variety of environments nario, a rapid loss of gas would matter what the environment, is a great deal of differ- or diving circumstances. For occur from both the split and no matter where the hoses are ence, with a pressure example, in confined or closed by the bungee squeezing away located and their length, no mat- change of over twenty environments, such as cave or badly needed gas. In the un-bun- ter whether your back-up LPI is atmospheres. At these wreck penetration, the bungeed geed system there is always the connected, divers depths, an over-weighted wing could result in snagging or option of turning sideways to trap MUST know what diver runs the risk of reaching entanglement, whereas in open some of the remaining gas inside. they have the point of no return, where water or ocean diving this prob- This is not for the faint-hearted and where the ability to inflate is exceeded lem would not generally occur. but is an option none-the-less. So, it is situ- by an increasing descent speed, The advantage of a bungeed there is no right or wrong answer, ated. This as suit-compression and excess wing is that, if a diver found him- only what is best for the given is the only lead, or the addition of steel self in an undesirable position environment. way to tanks, steel plates and unnec- where it was difficult to dump Gear Configuration Gear

The secondstages are rigged on different first stages as is a Erh..no! Fine and orderly source of bouyancy. This way, in case a first stage fails, i.e. hoserouting but this is not it freeflows, it’s valve can be closed and the diver will still quite what we had in mind have both and buoyancy.

78 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED technical matters resolve a problem in a worst- they dangle like a dog’s tail!. community, by breathing off case scenario, whether it be Nearly all recreational agen- the second stage that would in a cave, in open water or cies have a general agree- be donated to the out-of-gas inside a wreck. It therefore ment that the alternate air diver, and having the back up makes great sense to have source is usually stowed in the regulator on a bungee around a tidy, streamlined and neat imaginary triangle between the neck, where it can be configuration that is well suited the chin and down and located with ease. ■ to the given environment and across the rib cage. However, the diver. I believe that in an out-of-air This discussion is by no emergency, the stressed diver means restricted to the techni- on the bottom will always pre- cal diver. Recreational divers fer to take the regulator from also need to consider their his buddy that he can clearly hose routings, many of which see and knows that it is work- may have been learned or ing. The alternate air-source in become a habit, good or bad, the triangular region may have over many years of just taking flashing fairy lights on it, but I such things for granted. I have can guarantee that in most seen some recreational divers cases the out-of-air diver will stow their alternate second always go for the one in their stages in various unsuitable buddy’s mouth. If I had my places like BCD pockets and way, I would adopt the same restrictive retainers, or even philosophy in the recreational 37975#175¥185x125attached to 3.30.2005nothing, 03:17 where PM Page 1 community as in the technical C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Gear Configuration Gear

Composite 79 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Text by Gunild Pak Symes Underwater Photography by Cathy Church Portraits of Cathy Church by Peter Symes Unique, unmatched, magical... Cathy Church Down the stairs to the and renowned author- friendly photo shop at ity on underwater pho- tography, Jim Church, Sunset House Hotel, a dive Cathy co-author a stun- resort on Grand Cayman ning array of over 200 Island, one enters the world articles and three books of the colourful and inimita- on underwater photog- raphy with Jim including ble Cathy Church, a legend the Handbook. Her under- at the apparent image and not tive, especially since her darkroom in underwater photography water images have been published beyond it at an angle to compen- was damaged by Hurricane Ivan and an inspiring teacher to in many underwater and non-div- sate for water distortion and to in 2004. The photo centre has since many a diver who found his ing publications over the years as avoid backscatter and hot spots. A been remodelled and is hopping well as advertisements for Cayman simple well-known concept these with business and photo classes or her way to her popular Islands Department of Tourism, US days, it was not common knowl- once again. week-long super courses. Virgin Islands, Kodak, Nikon, various edge back then. These days, she continues inspir- At the tender age of 60, cruise lines and other businesses. Church said that she enjoys ing students with her regular cours- In 1987, Church was awarded exploring the medium of black es in the Caymans and u/w photo Church is still excited about the prestigious NOGI award for and white, that perhaps it is her tours to the Pacific tropics her craft and looks forward the arts from the Academy of background in science that as well as developing her ABOVE: Grotto with one fish to many more years of Underwater Arts and Sciences, spurs her interest into the photo centre and gallery helping divers take better and in 2000, was inducted into the complexities of the craft to serve customers bet- RIGHT: Jellyfish Women Divers’ Hall of Fame and behind the form – a ter, which she manages shots underwater. received the DEMA Reaching Out process that includes with her husband, Herb FAR RIGHT: Barracudas Award. She acted as president of the mixing of chemicals Rafael, a published and Since 1972, Church has been the Academy of Underwater Arts and working through a accomplished underwa- teaching underwater photography and Sciences in 1999 and 2000. zone system. Still open to ter photographer in his in the Caymans and has conduct- Church has been pioneering the changing technolo- own right. ed seminars in most of the major new techniques in underwater gies in the field, Church In the early days, cities in the US. She is one of the photography from the beginning also explores the Church was a pioneers in the field of underwa- and passing along her knowledge digital realm in women in a field ter photography and has been a to her students. In fact, she was the underwater dominated by contributing editor for SKIN DIVER first underwater photographer to photogra- men. She is magazine for 15 years in the 70s identify and write about the com- phy – a candid with and early 80s. mon mistake u/w photographers welcome her views While married to another pioneer make when they aim a strobe alterna- and per-

80 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED profile Church

Solomon seafan Fumisuki bow Manta cleaning station

spectives on and inclusion of women as well degree in biology. She had her discontinued her studies toward substitute teacher after receiv- Students shot a roll of black and the changes as the rising accomplishments of first taste of underwater pho- a doctoral degree since women ing a teaching certificate at San white. Church processed the in diving women in the field and sciences tography at Stanford University’s were not allowed, at the time, to Jose State College. She taught film, and then the students held and under- in general. She said that she Hopkins Marine Biology Station overnight on the research vessel, middle school for several years in their film over special light sensi- water pho- has seen a positive growth and in Monterey, California, where nor at any research station. the 70s. But she still wanted to see tive paper out in the sun until an tography in change over the years. she met Jim Church. He taught After completing her degree the natural habitat of marine ani- image emerged. That was their regards to the Church was first intro- her how to take u/w shots with a in marine biology, Church want- mals, and so diving and underwa- studio proof. Nowadays, the involve- duced to SCUBA diving Calypso camera and a twin lens ed to work in research in an ter photography were a natural regularly packed courses have ment at the University of reflex Rollei camera. Hopelessly underwater job for fisheries, for development. 15 Nikonos systems available with Michigan biol- hooked, she attended underwa- instance, but doors to jobs in the In 1971, the Churches were several sets of lenses and strobes, ogy station in ter photography courses at the field were closed to women then. invited by friends to stay at their housed systems and digital sys- Pelston. At Brooks Institute of Photography. Jobs with the California State newly built dive resort (now the tems, three hour dives from large the time she In 1970, she received her gradu- Fish and Game Department, for Spanish Bay Reef) and help guests boats loaded with tanks, , was earning ate degree in Marine Zoology example, were not available to with underwater photography. and most importantly, snacks. a bachelors from the University of Hawaii but women. So, Church became a Procedures were simple then. What a difference 30 years of

81 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED LEFT: Stairway to the star profile Orange Canyon Angels Cathy Church in the field, Church was turned and underwater model out on fierce. But Church warns photogra- down for jobs only to find that a location. phers not to give their images away man who was no better than an She suggested that photogra- to clients for nothing. It hurts the amateur was hired to fill the post. phers gain a combination of skills, business and themselves. Another ugly side of the dive com- become resort photography profes- “Underwater photography is a munity emerged in the early years sionals, work hard and develop their challenge,” said Church. “It is a of her photo courses, when Church skills on land and on boats. Church wide open field. You first have to found out that male colleagues in said that it is helpful for photogra- be good at it. It can’t be hurried.” the area were telling students not to phers to get certified as a SCUBA With the wisdom of over thirty years go to her. But she agreed that pro- dive master or instructor, and in the in the field, Church concluded that fessionalism, or lack thereof, cannot beginning, be willing to work underwater photog- be blamed on gender. in exchange for camera raphers must bal- Church said that underwater pho- equipment and gear and ance creativ- tography is a passion, and those diving experience when- ity with the that go into it must contend with a ever possible. Church said business of field that can be fickle and difficult underwater photographers selling images. was domineering over the other, so to survive upon. Most, she said, must do what they do “because ■ Church split them up and worked supplement their habit with some- they can’t not do it”. with them separately. Responses thing else – finding a job that is not She said that there is no from wives to Church’s sensitivity too far from their passion. She said money in stock images, but and disposition to listen to them that some photographers work as dive writing and underwater were that of surprise and appre- tour operators, and she finds that photography can get you ciation. Many women went on to there are a lot of couples working contacts and free advertis- further develop their underwater together in the field. They comple- ing, though the assignments photography skills. Church said that, ment each other’s skills and talents are far and few between as nowadays, women outnumber men and provide an instant dive buddy competition for publication is in her classes, and she also often sees couples LEFT: Starry night enjoying each other’s BELOW: Solitude progress over the run of RIGHT: Two stingrays the courses. Church said that in the early years, she saw soci- instruction makes! the water or in learning how ety being protective of Church loves to teach. She to dive. Church continues women, unduly prohibit- likes to help students visual- to seek new directions and ing them from exploring ize their pictures, find where methods to aid those who are and excelling in mostly the scene exists in nature and apprehensive, yet yearn to male dominated fields help them set up the shot. learn underwater photogra- such as marine science Church said that she helps phy. and diving. But after them learn how to optimize Over the years, Church has the women’s liberation what they have and find observed differences in the movement of the 60s out what they can get out genders as they approach and 70s, she can see that For more information, visit: of a shot – how to get the underwater photography. In women can be anything Cathy Church’s Underwater Photo most that they can. She is the early years, women usual- they want to be now. Centre and Gallery also sensitive to the unique ly did not come to her course Church´s own career www.cathychurch.com needs of individuals, some out of their own interest, but was often blocked by Academy of Underwater Arts and of whom may have certain through that of their spouse outdated views towards Sciences fears or issues to overcome in or partner. Often, one spouse women. As a professional www.auas-nogi.org Sunset House Hotel www.sunsethouse.com

82 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED LEFT: Tagger, stealthy scientist with three-band spear gun loaded with a number ID tag OF WHALE SHARKS AND MANTAS RIGHT: Taggee, unsuspecting whaleshark Playing Tag with a whaleshark

Text and photos by Robert Ashton and Lynn Jaye is the smallest of the Bay Islands off the coast of I welcomed Honduras, where divers go the chance to also investi- in search of whalesharks, gate pelagic animal field research but find much more. Being and local conservation efforts. Threatened Species list as vulnerable the Executive Director of Whalesharks are the largest of all to extinction. CITIES (Convention on sharks and are the largest fish in the International Trade in Endangered The Manta Network, a glo- sea. They can grow to more than Species) has also listed them in an bal conservation organiza- 50 feet long and feed on plank- effort to protect them from the inter- tion, I was very interested in ton, which are some of the small- national trade of whale shark prod- the local efforts to protect est organisms in the ocean. These ucts. highly migratory animals are capa- Several worldwide manta ray whalesharks. Patric Douglas, ble of sustaining high speeds yet programs have recently been initi- Director of SharkDiver.com, usually display a leisurely grace. ated and we are taking many of the invited us to stay in Utila and These gentle giants show no fear same directions as global whaleshark of humans but have been merci- conservation efforts. I received sev- write about his dive group’s lessly exploited and are now on eral reports saying that Utila was the whaleshark experiences. the World Conservation Union’s best place to see manta rays on the

83 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED features Whalesharks

actions to take and the biologists are the boil is created and the sharks use shark may sense a boil from far below trying to establish guidelines for all their superior senses to locate the and ascend directly into its center. the dive operators to follow in order bait-ball. Whalesharks have cartilage spines not to frighten the whalesharks away It is possible that the whaleshark that run the length of its body. Some and to give them space to feed. may first locate food and then circle biologists believe that these spines There are two local groups from the depths to force the baitfish are sensing devices and can accu- researching whalesharks on Utila. Jim upwards. Circling ever closer, the fish rately pinpoint an active boil. Tuna Engle, who runs the Utila Lodge and are concentrated and are forced to circling the small fish may be respon- BICA (Bay Island College of Diving), the surface. When the boil has suf- sible for creating the boil. has been studying whalesharks for ficient density, the whaleshark opens more than 12 years. In the last few its mouth and a ton of small fish cas- Whaleshark Tagging years he has also been working with cade down into its waiting gill rakers. We were invited by Jim Engle to par- SRI (Shark Research Institute). He has The other theory is that the whale- ticipate in the tagging of a whale- now established an independent research and conservation organi- zation called WSORC (Whale Shark Oceanographic Research Center) and has started a tagging program. Another resort and dive operator, Deep Blue, has also begun to collect information about whalesharks. They are working with Ecocean, a whale- shark conservation group in Australia that has created a Global Photo ID Library. The library consists of a visual database of individually catalogued whalesharks and encounters. It is maintained and used by marine biol- ogists to collect and analyze whale- shark data in order to learn more about the behavior of these amazing creatures.

A tagged whaleshark Dynamics of a Boil A boil (also know as a bait-ball) is Caribbean side of Central America. Only a tors. The number of dive boats racing to see an area on the water’s surface that few months earlier in Roatan, another of the each whaleshark that surfaces was creating a has so much activity of fish jumping Bay Islands, I was able to obtain some foot- dangerous and chaotic situation. Whalesharks and splashing that it resembles boil- age from a local photographer who was lucky were being disturbed, snorkelers were being ing water. This is where we can find enough to catch a rare glimpse of manta hurt and fishermen were angry because the whalesharks, other types of sharks rays. Therefore I was eager to see what I could presence of so many dive boats affected their and even manta rays. Jim Engle has find in Utila. ability to fish. There was a report of local fisher- found that only the boils containing During our stay, we learned more about the men who had purposely killed a whaleshark. bonito tuna are where the whale- problems that face Utila than could possibly They were threatening to kill more in order to sharks feed. be imagined. One of the main attractions of stop the dive boats from surrounding the boils There are two schools of thought this island is the opportunity to be in the water of jumping tuna where the whalesharks sur- on how a boil is created: one theory with whalesharks. However, this eco-tourist face to feed. is that the whale harks create the experience is being threatened by many fac- The government is trying to decide on what boil themselves and the other is that

A member of the tag team holds up one of the number ID tags to be attached to a whaleshark in order to identify it and track its movements for scientific research 84 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED features Whalesharks

ABOVE: The splashing of a boil of fish can be seen at the surface while a whaleshark hunts its prey. INSET: Members of the tag team prepare for an encounter with a whaleshark

shark. Luke Tipple, a young and ener- without hurting the ABOVE: Unique spot pattern behind the fifth gill identifes individual whalesharks getic biologist working for WSORC, spear- animal. Shooting heads the tagging program. Luke has a the tag into its Spot Pattern image-processing software that performs BSC in Marine Sciences and has been thick skin requires Recognition pattern matching on the whaleshark’s studying whalesharks since coming to a lot of force but it The Ecocean Library began spots. Utila from Adelaide, Australia. In the last does not harm the in 1995, building on the The best way to spot whalesharks is three months he has successfully tagged whaleshark. research of Brad Norman from the air. On three occasions, Patric at least ten whalesharks. With cameras at Ningaloo Marine Park, hired a scouting plane. We circled and Luke is also planning to take tissue in hand, we spent Western Australia. Every watched while flocks of birds and dive samples for DNA analysis to learn about the better part of a whaleshark has a unique boats converged below. When viewed the relationship of Utila’s whaleshark day searching the pattern of white spots on its from above, the whalesharks look like population to that of other areas around waters on the north grey skin. The spot pattern large catfish in the blue water below. the world. These samples will be sent to side of Utila for behind the fifth gill on the While snorkeling with Patric’s group, we Ecocean and will combine with other surface boils. Birds left side is used to document captured some images of whalesharks data to build a picture of the whale- gathering from a whalesharks. Any scars also underwater, one of which clearly showed shark’s family tree and possibly their long- distance signal the help to distinguish between the spot pattern behind the fifth gill on range migration behavior. creation of a boil. individual animals. the left side. We submitted the image Using a three-band spear gun, visual Not all boils attract In 2002, Jason Holmberg data and learned that we had identified identification tags are attached just whalesharks so we established the Shepherd a new animal, now nicknamed lynnjaye below the dorsal fin. These white or yel- had to be very patient. its tag and my photograph determined Project, which has enabled the library to for the photographer. These activities will low tags are large enough to be visible On our second encounter, Luke suc- that it was a female. Filing the sighting grow through sighting submissions from lead to insights into whaleshark migra- from a distance. Luke is a highly accu- cessfully attached tag No. 0173 to a report and photograph with Ecocean‘s research, conservation, and eco-tourist tory behavior and will make possible the rate shot, having grown up free diving small 20-foot whaleshark, but did not on-line global database is the first step in communities around the world. As part development and establishment of bet- and spear-fishing. He can place the tag determine its gender until a later dive. the identification process. of Ecocean’s global database of whale- ter conservation practices. at precisely the best location for reading We then recognized the whaleshark by shark sightings, they have developed

85 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED  City Seahorse Inc.  Whalesharks  features

Rules of Encounters one, it was guessed that a silky tourist industry. However, Luke and The whalesharks off the coast of shark was responsible. This has the other marine scientists face Utila exhibit behavior very different never happened before in Utila an uphill battle to protect the from anywhere else in the world. and hopefully the new guidelines young whalesharks. He is intent on It is believed that they may be will prevent it from ever hap- educating and building aware- shyer because they are juveniles. pening again. If this were truly a ness through sound eco-tourism Here, the sea is nearly a half a shark bite, it was probably not the principles. These include programs mile deep and encounters take shark’s fault as the woman may to educate and integrate the place in the deep blue water. have accidentally jumped right in fishermen, dive operators and the Whalesharks dive quickly when its path or on top of it, or it would island’s children, who are often Millions of Sweetlips they are startled or have finished not have bitten her. It probably found catching the rare seahorses feeding. It is for this reason that only did so in defense. which are dried and sold to tour- tourists are only allowed to snorkel Obviously, whaleshark eco-tour- ists. with them. It is feared that scuba ism will not be allowed for long Producing informative materials Can’t be Wrong divers will follow the whalesharks unless strict rules for the safety of for each group is important but on their quick descent and lose sharks and snorkelers are estab- they must also be convinced of track of their depth in the excite- lished and enforced. the economic benefits. The fisher- Raja Ampat is our favorite ! ment of the chase. New rules for whalesharks men need to realize that over-fish- It has been the practice in Utila encounters were drawn up by ing will lead to a complete col- for many dive boats to surround Luke and his team at WSROC lapse of the food chain, causing one unsuspecting shark. All of a and were modeled after those the reef to die along with their  sudden there can be as many initially developed by Ecocean. livelihood. This has already begun thirty snorkelers in the water splash- These include creating a 600-foot as most of the grouper, barracuda  ing and kicking. The young whale- diameter contact zone around and snapper have been over- sharks are usually disturbed by the the whaleshark in which only one fished. Algae have proliferated,  onslaught and immediately dive boat, designated by a special suffocating parts of the reef and for the deep. Amidst the commo- flag is allowed at a time. Only a affecting the diminishing popu- tion, some of the snorkelers do not maximum of eight snorkelers are lation of reef fish. This situation is  get to see the whaleshark at all. allowed in the water at a time unaided by the lack of sewage We accompanied Luke and his and entry must be made as qui- treatment on the island. team on several tagging trips. On etly as possible. Touching, riding or      our second excursion, members of obstructing the path of the whale- Conservation       the Honduran Ministry of Tourism shark is not allowed nor is the use Conservation plans in Utila include     were on board. They were wit- of flash photography. The ten rewards to fishermen for whale- ness to several boats racing to get guidelines were approved by the shark sightings. It is hoped that snorkelers in the water to see the local dive association but are yet many fishermen will elect to whaleshark before it disappeared. to be fully adopted by everyone. become whaleshark tour opera-  They were also on board when tors thereby earning a better a dive boat steamed through Politics and Education income. In order to protect their  the center of the boil right over a As with most small island poli- economy, the fishermen and the whaleshark and narrowly missing a tics, the needs of several groups dive industry must learn to work  snorkeler. have to be carefully balanced. together. With the aid of the gov- One day as we joined the snor- Fishermen, dive operators, scien- ernment and the scientists, they  kelers jumping into the water, a tists and government all have their must learn to protect the entire woman received a major injury special interests. The Honduran marine eco-system including the consisting of a large gash on her Government is quickly becoming whalesharks, the fisheries and the  calf, a fractured tibia and a huge aware of the importance of the .  bruise on the other inside thigh. marine ecosystems and the value The Bay Island College of Diving,   Although no one actually saw of whaleshark encounters to the where Luke also works as a dive

86 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED features Whalesharks

instructor, has been first to implement surround Utila. While waiting for a whale- the guidelines that he proposed to the shark to surface within the boil, we spot- Robert Aston is the Executive Director of local dive association. We were there the ted a large manta ray close to the sur- The Manta Network and Chief Editor of evening Luke announced that they had face. This was the first time that we had On-The-Edge Magazine. Lynn Jaye is a been approved and everyone was jubi- observed two of the largest fish in the sea contributing editor and photographer for lant. It is a big step towards safeguarding together. The possible interdependence both organizations. Both Aston and Jaye the presence of whale sharks in that area of these two important pelagic species are actively involved in conservation efforts and the tourist economy that surrounds raises new questions as to their migration worldwide. They can be reached via email it. This was a large accomplishment for patterns and increases the importance at [email protected] or [email protected] Luke, the young marine biologist who of protecting their common food source. came to Utila to take on his first assign- In other parts of the world, mantas gener- For Additional Resources, visit: ment after graduating from the University ally swim in the shallow waters over coral The Manta Network of Adelaide in Australia less than a year reefs and this also applies to whalesharks. www.Save-the-Mantas.org ago. In Utila, it is extremely rare to see a On-The-Edge Magazine Once these safeguards are fully manta ray in the shallow water and www.on-the-edge.com adopted and enforced, the whaleshark whalesharks are never found there. This Shark Diver, Patric Douglas encounters should prove to be more suggests that the manta rays are not resi- www.SharkDiver.com enjoyable and of longer duration. The dent to Utila but are migratory and they Whale Shark Oceanographic dive operators must learn to understand may even accompany the whalesharks Research Center that the guidelines will not only ensure on their long pelagic migrations. www.WSORC.com that whalesharks return each year but We left Utila with a new-found appre- [email protected] that encounter times will be longer. This ciation for the work being done there Ecocean will lead to higher satisfaction for the and for what lies ahead in our efforts to www.ECOCEAN.org divers and assure a growing eco-tourism protect the world’s manta and mobula Utila Lodge industry. populations. The challenge we face www.UtilaLodge.com Luke’s important work will help establish obtaining scientific data to make the Deep Blue Resort Utila a baseline to determine whether Utila’s case for manta ray protection is only a www.deepblueutila.com/whale_sharks.htm whaleshark population may be declining. small part of the ultimate conservation His data may also shed important insights effort. Economic impacts, political mean- into the health of the world’s populations. derings and the need to balance local interests must be carefully weighed. In Whale Sharks & Mantas the end we are all connected and must Manta rays are often seen in the vicinity realize that biodiversity also includes of whalesharks in the deep waters that human beings. ■

87 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Creatures of Cabilao Discovering the fancy faces of the Philippines Text and photos by Nonoy Tan

After a two-hour car ride and an hour boat travel, I finally reached my destination—Cabilao, an island paradise located near Cebu, Philippines.Before com- ing here, I had read exciting accounts about Cabilao Island, particularly about the stargaz- ers and pygmy seahorses that reside in its surrounding waters. On this trip, I was determined to see these critters, at the same time discover other things that Cabilao had to offer. A decorator crab mimicks the color and texture of its soft coral host

88 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED features Cabilao

Subsequently, my guide led me I made the mistake of glancing at my a two-inch Pegasus seamoth darting towards an adjacent sea fan. He aimed camera controls and consequently lost across the sand caught me attention. It his finger to a pair of red pygmy sea- sight of the pair. I spent several minutes had a long snout and a scaly body, but horses. One was a third of an inch in searching the same coral while the sea- looked nonetheless beautiful. Just as I size, while the other was even smaller! horses remained motionless. Completely had used my last film exposure, another They easily blended with the color and delighted at finding them again, I took seamoth emerged into the scene. This texture of the tiny coral branches; their their images until my film was almost new seamoth was larger and had an camouflage was perfect I had to keep exhausted. It was time to head back to alluring mint green body color. Too bad, my eyes glued on them in order not to shore. I did not have any film left in the cam- lose them from my sight. At one time, On my return journey, the sight of era. Nonetheless, I was determined to go

Completely oblivious to my presence, this white octopus continued it search for prey

The white-sand beaches and crystal blue expectations were high. waters immediately captivated me. As I went to shore, my gracious host Babie Diving adventure gave a pleasant welcome of her vaca- The following morning, I was at the dive tion haven called La Estrella dive resort. facility early. In no time, I was geared The ambiance scene was very tranquil. up and ready for the dive. Together with Apart from the intermittent courting an expert guide, we took a shore entry sounds of the birds, I could hear only the into calm and clear waters. Less than rhythms of the sea and wind. Located ten minutes into the dive, I discovered a a few steps from shore was the native- long-snout pipefish hidden among the inspired restaurant where I had an ice- seagrass. With a length of about a foot, I cold drink offered to me by the staff. could easily have mistaken it for a dead Later, I was guided me to a nipa hut tree branch. Apparently confident of its that would be my home for the next four camouflage, it was unmindful of my pres- days. In front of the hut was a hammock ence as I took a few photographs. A few tied between two coconut trees. It was minutes later, my guide pointed a por- very inviting. celain crab to me. I clicked the shutter After settling in, I decided to comb the several times and then continued to trail beach. At a distance, I could see the my escort. scuba diving facility earlier pointed to Upon reaching 80 feet, I noticed a me by Babie. I headed towards its direc- magnificent red sea fan stretching out to tion. Upon reaching the place, I was the open sea. Upon closer inspection, I met by the Sea Explorers dive personnel detected a red spider crab slowly mov- with whom I had a chance to plan my ing across its branches. The crustacean diving itinerary for the subsequent days. had overly long and thin legs; it looked I would be provided with a dedicated like a spider. After taking several shots, dive guide so I could have a lot of flex- I realized that this dive was becoming ibility and time to take photographs. My photographically intense. Closer inspection of soft corals reveals a variety of residents such as the porcelain crab

89 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED features Cabilao

LEFT: A brown leaf fish poses for a portait

TOP RIGHT: Sea moth

BOTTOM RIGHT: This star- gazer waited underneath the sand for an ambush

back later in the evening. In the mean- for another dive. Armed with a flashlight, time, the hammock in front of my hut was I was soon underwater. Crabs, prawns, waiting for me. As a result, I spent the rest eels stalked the reef for food. Particularly of the day in dreamland (sleeping). interesting was a stargazer that laid motionless underneath the sand waiting Night diving for unsuspecting prey. As I took a mug By nightfall, I was well rested and ready shot of this monster in disguise, another

90 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Spider crab on a sea fan

91 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED factCabilao file, Philippines

History: The Philippine Islands became a urban centers; coral reef degradation; Spanish colony during the 16th century; they increasing pollution of coastal man- were ceded to the US in 1898 following the grove swamps that are important fish Spanish-American War. The islands attained breeding grounds. their independence in 1946 after Japanese occupation in World War II. The 21-year rule Population: 86,241,697. Percent of pop- of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when ulation below poverty line: 40%, Ethnic a widespread popular rebellion forced him groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim into exile. In 1992, the US closed its last mili- Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%. Reli- tary bases on the islands. The Philippines has gions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant had a series of electoral presidential transi- 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%; tions since the removal of MARCOS. The gov- Language: Filipino & English A pigmy seahorse uses its ingenious camouflage to disappear in the matching patterns of ernment continues to struggle with armed the corals it inhabits Muslim insurgencies in the south. Medical/Decompression chambers: Cebu City Recompression Chamber Government: Republic Camp Lapu-Lapu Lahug / Doctor Capital: Manila Memerto Ortega. (032) 310-709 or (032) stargazer suddenly jumped out of the amount of activity in the reef. Again, Currency: Philippine peso (PHP) 312-325 / (032) 746-652 loc. 2625 sand beside me. Curiously, it exposed I ended the dive with great anticipa- per US dollar - 56; per Euro - 70. itself for a few seconds before digging tion that the succeeding days will be as Dive Travel: The best time to visit the back into the sand. Other critters showed enchanting. I was not disappointed. Geography: Southeastern Asia, archipelago Philippines is during the period from up as well, such as the brown leaf fish For three more days, I savored the between the Philippine Sea and the South November to June. Precipitaion is low- that posed while I took a portrait photo- sights underneath the waters of Cabilao China Sea, east of Vietnam, mostly moun- est during April and May. Temperatures graph. After a few minutes, an octopus – beyond doubt, a paradise for critter tains with narrow to extensive coastal low- are cooler during December to Feb- appeared. This nocturnal predator was shutterbugs. Cabilao is best dived and lands; Coastline: 36,289 km; Elevation: ruary (26- 27°) and warmer between oblivious to my presence as it prowled experienced with the warmth and hospi- lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m; highest March and May (29°). the reef while using its tentacles to poke tality of La Estrella Resort (www.laestrella. point: Mount Apo 2,954 m Agriculture: rice, inside rock crevices in search of prey. ph) and Sea Explorers Philippines(www. coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, Web sites: I followed the octopus for several min- sea-explorers.com). For additional infor- pineapples, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef, fish Sea Explorers utes until I spotted a soft red coral. Upon mation about diving the Philippine islands Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, www.sea-explorers.com closer inspection, I discovered a thorny check out the Philippines Department of cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper. El Dorado Beach Resort little crab crawling across the stems. Its Tourism website (www.wowphilippines. www.eldoradobeachresort.com red and white coloration, and spiny body com.ph). ■ Climate: Tropical marine; northeast mon- La Estrella Resort mimicked its soft coral host. Unless it had soon (November to April); southwest mon- www.laestrella.ph moved, I would not have noticed it. In our next issue, we will visit the mystical soon (May to October). Philippines Department of Tourism As I explored the reef, I realized that and magical Philippine island of Dauin www.wowphilippines.com.ph the underwater night scene was full of with dive writer and award winning un- Environmental issues: Uncontrolled defor- life. I was already awed by the large derwater photographer, Nonoy Tan. estation especially in watershed areas; soil Dive info: www.starfish.ch erosion; air and water pollution in major

92 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The embedded Quicktime videoclips in this article are wrecks between 2 and 7Mb in size

Exploring U-boats in Ireland Text by Jim Tierney Underwater pictures by 10barpics Historical Pictures by www.uboat.net U89 A long awaited dive trip to Malin Crawling with life, the U-89 is now at last came and went all too patrolled by large cod, pollock and, of course, conger. Its 60 meters boasts life quickly, but with great success. everywhere. On the dive, visibility was 25- For the last four years, both my dive 30 meters with sea conditions buddy and I have been diving with prime. On board a fast 8 meter Buddy Inspirations. We agreed that this was our most memorable dive. Using a rib, we got out to the dive site 19-60 trimix, all was very sober at 60m. within an hour. For October, Our bottom time was a little under 30 water temperature was good, minutes, and our total run-time was 85 and the air was fresh and crisp. minutes. Decompression was carried out with VR3’s. Bail out tables were planed The targeted wreck for the day with V-Planner. Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip was the U-89. The U-89 was a relic from “the war that would Loaded ABOVE: Stern gun end all wars” but at last was not. Armed with only a video camera, I was days, it was a time during which they LEFT: Natural light at no match for the very impressive arse- were sinking vessels at their ease. Enemy 60 meters Now laying 25 miles off Malin nal on board the U-89. Deck guns were ships with no radar or sonar were very Head, time stands still for this located both bow and stern. Torpedoes vulnerable. U-boats would surface in well- very impressive war machine. were left in storage never to be used known shipping lanes, select a target, again. shoot and be on their merry way. Rammed and sunk by HMS It is quite easy to see why the U-boat Unfortunately for the U-89, the vessel Roxburgh, all lives were lost packs terrorised the seas. A period popped up 200 yards in front of the cruis- on board the U-89. named by the U-boat fleet as the happy er HMS Roxburgh, which with out hesita-

Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip

93 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip wrecks U89

Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip

ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: Bow gun with conning tower; Two views of bow torpedo hatches; Hydrofoil stripped from Its outer skin

LEFT: U-Boat Crew 1918. Men who trained RIGHT: Diagram of U89 with and grieved the loss of the U-89 INSET: Mark of U89

tion, rammed U-89’s conning tower. vive. Soon after, explosions were heard. They knew their chances for survival German voices were also heard were low. Even if you did survive a amongst the waves. U-89 was sunk battle and make it to the surface, with the loss of all their lives. So, out of it was most likely instant execution respect for the dead, the only souve- for you. One was most likely shot nirs I took were in the format of pic- in the water. Such instances have tures to share with all. The rest was left been reported after the sinking of to the memory of the many souls lost the Lusitania. No doubt the action regardless of personal beliefs about was revenge for the sinking of the the war – who was right and who was Lusitania by a comrade U-boat, U-20. wrong. Inside history Close quarters As I investigated further into the U- Most of us have seen the film Das boats’ history and talked to islanders Boot and can picture how claustro- with memories of the past from the phobic and cramped it was on board South and West coasts of Ireland, I the vessel. As big and impressive as learned how U-boats and Allied boats the U-89 was, it was still daunting to would come to the islands to trade look inside a hatch and imagine that for provisions. In doing so, unwrit- men used to sleep, work and fight in ten rules of war were made where Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip those conditions and sometimes sur- momentary cease fires occurred in U89 in action Aft torpedo tube with torpedo remains

94 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip wrecks U89

TOP RIGHT: Gear-laden diver ascend- ing after an adventurous dive CENTER RIGHT: Natural light at 60 m BOTTOM RIGHT: Natural light at 60 m

BELOW: Conger on guard duty mid ship. Torpedos were propelled by pet- rol or alcohol steam generators

INSET: Torpedoes in storage room

Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip

Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip

Natural light at 60 meters

order for both sides to gain supplies. museums and should be treated with coastal waters of Ireland at Sir Roger David Casement (1864- respect. U-89 offers layers of U-boat this time. The vessels, U-30, U- 1916), the British traitor and Irish nation- history to view. Open in some areas. 43, U-44, U-57, U-60 and the alist hero who was hanged by the Intact and in good condition in other U-64, helped sink the Justicia. British in mid-1916 for his part in work- areas. Don’t forget that this is a ves- The vessels, U-68, U-70,U-73, ing with Germany and Irish nationalists sel that has been in the open sea U-79 and the U-80, laid mines in planning the Dublin Easter Rising of for nearly a century. Peering at the in Lough Swilly and caused 1916 came back from Germany in a wreck’s cross-section, it is as if you can the sinking of the Laurentic. U-boat after arranging armaments for see different levels of construction. The vessels, U-94, U-95, U-107 and Head. U-124, which also helped sink the 1916 Rising. There is no doubt that (Take notes and build your own). the U-45, lie offshore near Donegal. the Justicia, lies off the north coast of U-boats played a part in Irish history. There were plenty more U-boats UB-82 lies off Rathlin Island. UB-85 lies Donegal. UC-42 and UC-44 were sunk These wrecks are our underwater operating around Malin and all the in Belfast Lough. U-110 lies off Malin offshore at Cobh Co Cork. UB-65 lies

95 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED ABOVE LEFT: Torpedo ABOVE RIGHT: Gun wrecks CENTER: Torpedo U89

near the Fastnet Rock. U-68 and UC-29 are located off the Coast of Kerry. U-83 lies offshore at Bullrock, Co Cork. And that’s just the list for WWI. There are many more U-boats off the coast of Ireland from WWII with the highest number of wrecks off the coast of Malin identified by Operation Deadlight (www.operationdead- light.co.uk), an expedi- tion which was the first attempt by technical divers to survey and identify the wrecks of Click to watch Quicktime-videoclip German U-Boats scut- tled by the Allied forces after WWII in the waters north of occasions, not just deep wrecks. had the pleasure of Ireland. It was a scuttling of 42 There are shallow wrecks and all diving the Laurentic plus U-boats. So, the next time the scenic diving you could want. as part of the crew you get in the water, it might not The dive operator we choose of Teilifis na Gaeilge ABOVE: Good-bye natural light be a shark stalking you but a U- with 100% satisfaction was Dive (TnaG), Ireland’s Irish boat instead. North (www.divenorth.com). language TV chan- Thanks to our host and guide, nel, and I dived the Audacious, Malin also seems to be becom- Gary Fox who comes to Malin to For more information, visit: Malin matters Geoff, we will be back for more. through the courtesy of the ing a very popular destination get good diving and pass on his www.10barpics.com Malin offers excellent visibility. But this was not the first time I Inishowen and Derry Sub Aqua for technical diving courses of all experience through training and www.uboat.net Relaxed atmosphere. Diving for all have been to Donegal. I have Clubs. I shall be back for more. disciplines under the guidance of courses (www.diveaction.co.uk).■

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Comex BC

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98 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Portfolio

Detail of “Opah“, moonfish Silver and copper 36 cm x 12 cm £250 Sam MacDonald Text by Gunild Pak Symes Photos by Lighthouse Photography

A move to the remote tures the textural and fleeting forms of fish in various metals of northern Scottish province copper, lead, pewter and gold of Orkney sparked a love leaf. He finds the dimension of the sea, fishing and div- of time in his work by utilizing ing for the increasingly the concept of fossilization. By studying the impressions of sea known metals artist, Sam life left in split rocks millions of MacDonald. Made up of years old, Sam fashions prehis- 70 islands, Orkney, which tory and ancient memory in his also has a rich cultural sculptures with masterful ma- nipulation and disstressing of and historical heritage, is metal materials. a haven for diving, fishing He often leaves out visual and outdoor enthusiasts. information of fish forms, offer- ing only clues to the subject, Sam has taken inspira- thereby creating a sense of tion from his beautiful and mystery to the image. He says magical surroundings to that the mind’s eye will often inform his work of marine fill in missing visual information in a way that gives the viewer life forms and textural sur- a more faces. full and rounded Originally from Lewis, Sam began experi- to study and contemplate the ence sculptural form of fish after taking of the up fishing. From the glint of scales artwork. to the skeletal structure, Sam cap- Sam is

Detail of “Herring Hook” Pewter copper and gold leaf

160 cm x 50 cm x 2 cm £5000 Fiona MacDonald

99 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Detail of “Slimehead Composition” Brass, ferracotta and copper 58 x 58 cm £500

“Born in a Storm” “Turbot” Pewter, copper and gold leaf Ferracotta and copper 40 cm x 40 cm £780 53 cm x 54 cm £550

100 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED “Velvet and Gold” “Sandeels“ “Slime Head Bed” Silver, copper, brass and gold leaf Pewter, lead, copper and gold leaf Lead and copper 58 cm x 122 cm £1100 58 cm x 122 cm £1500 25 cm x 48 cm £1600

interested not only in the beauty of the sea, but also my when crafting something of value from a suppos- These concerns are often expressed in his artwork where in its more terrible aspects and its predatory side. He edly dead material”. He also works with gold leaf to both a texture of the natural world of today and the time- finds inspiration in the the exposed beauty of a skel- accentuate the flash of scales that can be seen in less experience of the prehistoric past co-exist. ■ etal structure in, for example, the remains of a fish. He nature when a school of fish changes direction. sees the beauty in its “dead eyes”. Beauty and mean- Ecology is a great concern to Sam as he questions Sam has exhibited his work widely and has a two year wait- ing can often be found in what many would call ugly. what will be left of the world’s natural treasures in the ing list on commissions from patrons all over the world. For Sam often works in lead. He says that since it is an future and what fossilized remains of our present time more information or to contact the artist, visit his web site ugly and poisonous metal, “there is a feeling of alche- will be left for future generations to contemplate. at: www.sam-macdonald.co.uk “Silver Darlings” Pewter, copper and gold leaf 50 cm x 163 cm £1500 101 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED “John Dorys” “Flounder“ “Herring Shoal at Depth” Lead and copper Pewter, copper and gold leaf Pewter, gold leaf, copper and brass 81.5 cm x 21 cm £900 50 cm x 70 cm £500 81.5 cm x 122.5 cm £2500

102 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED TOP: “Herring Square“ TOP: “Old Fish” TOP: “Hatchet Fish” Pewter, copper and gold leaf Lead and copper Silver, brass and copper 20 cm x 20 cm £280 30 cm x 30 cm £650 40 cm x 40 cm £500

BOTTOM: “Oxeye” BOTTOM: “Herring Square“ BOTTOM: “Hatchet Split Frame I” Lead and copper Pewter, copper and gold leaf Pewter,copper and gold leaf 30 cm x 30 cm £650 20 cm x 20 cm £280 30 cm x 30 cm £350

103 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

SPECIAL FOCUS Diving in Ireland! plus... Bikini Atoll Wrecks

TOP: Detail of “Hatchet on Plate” Pewter, copper and brass 25 cm x 28 cm £150 COMING IN AUGUST Subscribe now FREE! LEFT: Detail of “Skate Profiles” Copper www.xray-mag.com 77 cm x 46 cm £700

For more information or to order art works, visit www.sam-macdonald.co.uk e-mail: [email protected]

104 X-RAY MAG : 5 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED