Fall Dive Fashions: Stylish Duds for Divers Norway Saltstraumen France

GLOBAL EDITION Catacombs Oct :: Nov 2007 Number 19 of Paris Shipwrecks Gulf of Suez Bail Out! Portfolio Zena Holloway Science Subsurface Noise 1 FijiX-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 DIRECTORY Fall Dive Fashions: X-RAY MAG is published by AquaScope Media ApS Frederiksberg, Denmark Stylish Duds for Divers... page 58 www.xray-mag.com LAVENDAR “SCUBA BABE” CAMISOLE VEST FOR WOMEN AVAILABLE FOR GB£16.00 FROM DIVING DAISY AT WWW.DIVINGDAISY.CO.UK PUBLISHER CO- EDITORS & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Arnold Weisz - News, Features Peter Symes Willy Volk - News, Interviews [email protected] Goby on Coral. Photo by Scott Johnson Millis Keegan - Opinions, MANAGING EDITOR Brian Keegan - Equipment & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Michael Arvedlund - Ecology Gunild Pak Symes contents Tony White - Photography [email protected] Scott Bennett - Travel ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Edwin Marcow - Sharks HARALD APELT [email protected] CORRESPONDENTS John Collins - Ireland ASSOCIATE EDITORS Enrico Cappeletti - Italy & REPRESENTATIVES: Gary Myors - Tasmania USA: Millis Keegan Marcelo Mammana - Argentina [email protected] Svetlana Murashkina - Russia Russia: Andrey Bizyukin Barb Roy - WA, USA [email protected] Robert Aston - CA, USA Nonoy Tan - The Philippines South East Asia Rep & editor: Catherine GS Lim, Singapore CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE [email protected] Harald Apelt Kurt Amsler Scott Bennett ADVERTISING Andrey Bizyukin, PhD Coordinating sales manager: Millis Keegan (US) Peter Collings [email protected] David F Colvard, MD Jason Heller International sales rep: Zena Holloway Arnold Weisz (Americas+Asia) Stein Johnsen [email protected] Scott Johnson International sales rep: Millis Keegan Harvey Page (Europe & Africa) Catherine GS Lim [email protected] Edwin Marcow Svetlana Murishkina, PhD International sales rep: Michel Ribera Geoff Mellard (Europe) [email protected] Cindy Ross Christian Skauge 20 32 37 44 50 plus... Gunild Symes FABULOUS FIJI SALTSTRAUMEN SHIPWRECKS OF THE CONSERVATION: SCIENCE: EDITORIAL 3 SENIOR EDITOR Michael Symes SOUTH PACIFIC NORWAY GULF OF SUEZ FISH FOR ALL, OR NOT SUBSURFACE NOISE NEWS 5 Michael Symes Peter Symes BY SCOTT BENNETT BY CHRISTIAN SKAUGE BY PETER COLLINGS BY ARNOLD WEISZ BY MICHAEL SYMES [email protected] Cedric Verdier EQUIPMENT 46 Willy Volk WHALES&DOLPHINS 48 ONLINE EDITOR Arnold Weisz BOOKS & MEDIA 69 Willy Volk Further info see: 53 58 63 83 87 BUSINESS DIRECTORY 81 [email protected] COLOGY ALL IVE ASHIONS ROFILE EACAM S NIQUE IVE ITE ORTFOLIO E : F D F P : S ’ U D S : P : OLD ATER ORALS TYLISH UDS FOR IVERS ARALD ORDASCH ATACOMBS OF ARIS ENA OLLOWAY MARKETING MANAGER: contacts page: C W C S D D H H C P Z H www.xray-mag.com Yann Saint-Yves BY ARNOLD WEISZ BY GUNILD SYMES BY SVETLANA BY MICHEL RIBERA EDITTED BY GUNILD SYMES [email protected] MORISHKINA, PHD Not yet subscribed to SUBSCRIPTION columns... X-RAY MAG? Sign up now! X-RAY MAG International Edition in English is FREE It’s FREE! QUICK! EASY! To subscribe, go to: www.xray-mag.com 57 62 71 75 DIVEPSYCH: SHARK TALES: TECH TALK: UW PHOTO & VIDEO: click here... COVER PHOTO BY URT MSLER “What’s up?” STUDY BITS & BITES BAILING OUT K A CORAL GOBY BY PETER SYMES BY DAVID F COLVARD MD EDITTED BY EDWIN MARCOW BY CEDRIC VERDIER

2 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 Amsterdam Barcelona Cape Town Chicago Copenhagen London Moscow Okinawa Oslo Paris Ravenna Reykjavik San Francisco Sharm El Shiekh Warsaw You are OCT 31 – NOV 3, 2007 what you E PLORE eat WWW.DEMASHOW.COM Pamphlet from Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program DEMA Show 2007 is the ONLY international trade event for diving, adventure travel and action water sports professionals — creating an exclusive environment focused on addressing every possible need you have as a dive retailer or instructor.

Business: Connect with more than 700 companies What kind of irony is this? Cod is now precious and cost an arm and a leg, whilst salmon is cheap and regularly gathered in one global marketplace — see, demo and buy When I was a little boy I just hated when on offer at the local supermarket. virtually every product, service and technology your business my Grandmother served us boiled cod with washed out veggies. I still recall how The times has surely changed. Over-fish- needs to stay competitive. we always got our mouths full of these ing of cod and other common species for tiny spiky bones that were like needles consumption that even in the highly regu- Pleasure: Have fun while networking with more than that you had to somehow fish out of your lated industrialised nations went pretty mouth while it was still full of half-chewed much unchecked for decades. Thanks to 11,500 total attendees during the show and at the industry’s dinner. Yuck! But at that time cod was a politicians only catering for selfish local biggest social event, the DEMA Awards Party. cheap stable food, a working man’s diet needs in their constituencies, widespread and typical dinner for the working class cheating on the scales and loopholes in on the weekly “fish day”. It was cheaper the quotas being invented an already Participate in on-target, practical training Education: than meat. I also remember how salmon inefficient system and only half-heartedly designed to help you stay abreast of changing technology and used to be an exclusive delicacy reserved policed was being abuse to the fullest. for the better off, or for rare special occa- Now we have to pay the price. The stocks find new ways to boost your bottom line. Orange County Convention Center sions.. have collapsed and there is no sign that Orlando, Florida they will recover in the foreseeable future. Discover programs that support the growth of Diving: [email protected] Not any more. the dive industry and your business, including Ships to Reefs and But perhaps that was bound to happen. +1.703.683.8500 The simple but inconvenient truth is that DEMA’s Diver Acquisition Project. the human population can’t feed itself from purely natural resources any more. We actually Take advantage of this golden opportunity, make plans to attend or exhibit at DEMA Show 2007. pretty much ate the fish out of the ocean – us, our Visit www.demashow.com for more information. pets and our livestock.

Cod, Gadus Morhua STEIN JOHNSEN 3 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Then there is the matter with salm- But if we have to choose That is not to say that we should on. It is cheap now. But is also between two evils there is no forsake wild fish all together. It does not wild. Fish and crustaceans doubt that we will have to rely have a better taste I think. are now reared in fish farms of more on farmed fish in order to some sort, from closed aquacul- preserve the wild stocks. We But do “Eat smart”. Pay a visit to ture, ponds or oceanic fish farms just have to regulate and police Oceans Alive, the #Seafood Watch to meet our demand for protein. the production better and have Program – A Consumer’s Guide to In essence not unlike we do with a proper check on both waste Sustainable Seafood” or any of the cattle, pigs, sheep and other land treatment as well as the food other good guides around. animals. It has been a real long safety. As a recent investigation while since we hunted buffalos. showed the farmed fish is of as There is still good seafood around to Fish farms make cheap foods good nutritional value as the wild be had. and if it can save preserve wildlife ones – that is as long as the farm- then it is a good thing, right? ers don’t put all kinds of weird Just think about it. additives and chemicals into the Snag is that fish farming, like farms fish fodder. www.oceansalive.org with livestock are highly pollut- www.mbayaq.org ing. All these animals has to have I want clean and safe food! (SeaFood Watch) something eat – and producing their fodder is in itself quite energy consuming – but all that stuff has to come out again. As yes - lets call a spade a spade –as loads of crap and urine. This has to go somewhere. Aquaculture in open water has been known to be leach excessive amounts of nutrients into the sea from excreta and the constantly drizzle of fod- der pellets that just pass right through and sinks to the bottom. There has also previously been issues with the use of antibiotics in the fodder

X-RAY MAG is distributed six times per Views and information expressed in arti- X-RAY MAG accepts no responsibility year on the Internet (eight in 2008). © cles are those of the individual author for unsolicited materials sent to its office, Because you can’t stay underwater forever... 2004-2007 X-RAY MAG. All rights reserved. and are not necessarily representative of nor is it liable for loss or damage to such views held by X-RAY MAG or its affiliates. materials. X-RAY MAG observes a strict Material in this publication may not be Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and privacy policy. No personal or private Join the World’s largest Online Diving Community and you will reproduced or transferred electronically illustrations should be emailed to: information will be shared with a third in any form without written permission [email protected] party without the written permission of never be without a buddy again. from the copyright owner. the owner. Imagine a resource that will Join over 75,000 users, including begin your research and to find answer almost every question 1200 Scuba Instructors, hundreds a host of dive buddies all around X-Ray Magazine Editorial statement regarding of the magazine, these news sto- you ever had about diving: pho- of manufacturers and so many the world with a common goal: ries are brought to you by NAUI at is a mem- News from NAUI in X-RAY MAG: tography, gear, physics, flora, dive experts in the World’s larg- to share our under water heaven NAUI’s discretion. ber of Diving This issue of X-RAY MAG and fauna, destinations, wrecks, tech- est Online Scuba Community in a safe and friendly atmos- Equipment others includes news and press nical diving, and then imagine and find the answers you are phere! See you on the ‘Board & Marketing releases from NAUI in sections this resource is but a click away. looking for. It’s free, it’s huge, it’s tonight! Association: designated by the NAUI logo. ultra friendly and we are waiting www.dema.org While the page design is done by What would you call it? Well, we for you to show up! ScubaBoard. X-RAY MAG as an integrated part call it www.ScubaBoard.com com is the ultimate place to

4 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED News edited by Peter Symes & Michael Symes NEWS

Viper fish Chauliodus— from 400-500m

Photos by David Shale The jew- elled squid, ‘New Continent’ and Species Discovered in Atlantic Study Histioteuthis, from 200-500m A contribution to the global Census research programme Census of Marine Life

5 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Professor Monty Priede, are absent and unusual ones With a suite of eight deep sea from the University of are common. Species are being cameras they were able to cap- news found that are rare or unknown ture images of life on the peaks Aberdeen, UK, is lead- elsewhere in the world. and valleys of very rugged ter- ing a team of interna- The team of scientists rain. Colourful sponges and cor- Edited by tional researchers whose mapped over 1,500 square als encrust rocky cliffs, whereas Peter Symes work will continue our miles, exploring the deep sea areas of soft sediment are popu- creatures living in the depths lated by starfish, brittle-stars, understanding of life in of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. They sea cucumbers and burrowing the deepest oceans, and used the latest technology to worms. Fishes, crabs and shrimps contribute to the global learn more about what is liv- forage over the ridge exploiting Census of Marine Life. ing in this remote and relatively whatever they can find. Trawls, unexplored deep-sea environ- traps and corers have brought ment using remotely operated back thousands of specimens After exploring life in the North vehicles equipped with digital for study back in the laboratory. Atlantic Ocean at various cameras. Professor Priede said that they depths of 800 to 3,500 metres, were trying to imagine what a team of 31 the north Atlantic scientists has would be like returned from without the ridge a five-week sci- that literally cuts entific expedi- it in half, as it is tion along the thought that it has Mid-Atlantic a major effect on Ridge between ocean currents, Iceland and productivity and the Azores on the bio-diversity of board the Royal the North Atlantic Research Ship Ocean. James Cook The aim of (image next the voyage is to page). A wealth contribute to the of new informa- wider MAR-ECO tion and insights project studying has been bio-diversity along obtained with mid-ocean ridges stunning images The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (www.mar-eco. and marine life no) and to the global Census specimens, and with one spe- research programme. Census of cies thought to be new to sci- Marine Life is a ten-year global ence. scientific initiative to assess and It is like surveying a new conti- explain the diversity, distribu- nent half way between America tion and abundance of life in and Europe. The creatures can the oceans. The team already be recognised but familiar ones think they may have discovered a new species of Ostracod (or Professor Monty Priede is the Director of seed shrimp) that was found Oceanlab and responsible for a world- swarming in large numbers on wide programme of marine research the western side of the ridge. specialising in use of unmanned Specimens are being sent to autonomous lander vehicles to carry Southampton where world- out experiments and make obser- renowned expert Professor vations with both stills and video Martin Angel will ultimately A small cranchiid squid cameras on the deep sea floor determine whether this is a new

6 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news

Edited by Michael Symes

species, and if so, describe it and National Centre, of Norway and the Census of allocate a name. Southampton, University of St Marine Life, a global project The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is still Andrews, Scottish Association for involving over 2,000 scientists. ■ relatively unexplored so this voy- Marine Science, Plymouth Marine FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT: age will have played a vital role Laboratory, University of Durham WWW.OCEANLAB.ABDN.AC.UK/RESEARCH/ECOMAR.PHP in expanding our knowledge of and University of Newcastle. It WWW.OCEANLAB.ABDN.AC.UK/BLOG/ the bio-diversity of the region. provides a contribution to the WWW.MAR-ECO.NO Water currents and over wider MAR-ECO project co-ordi- WWW.EUROCOML.ORG/ the ridge were studied intensively nated by Odd Aksel Bergstad WWW.COML.ORG/ and daily measurements were WWW.NERC.AC.UK made of productivity in surface waters. The team left behind automatic equipment on the sea floor at six observing stations that will continue measurements and photography over the next two years. Further voyages are planned in 2008 and 2009 that will include retrieval of the gear. The expedition is run under ECOMAR, an affiliated project of EuroCoML. It is a £2 million con- sortium project funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council, led by the University RRS James Cook in of Aberdeen dock at the National with partici- Oceanography Centre, pation from: Southampton.

7 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED    news          

Edited by Peter Symes SeaCure™ Custom Mouthpiece is moldable and remoldable.

Created by an orthodontist, SeaCure is designed to fit your mouth, teeth, and gums . . . PERFECTLY.

Available at your local . View across the Gulf of Aqaba towards the Jordanian port of Aqaba Israeli-Jordanian team set up first artificial coral in the Red Sea Off the coast of Eilat now sits a The reef was first installed in May this year ish. Dr Nadav Shashar, the supervisor of the to understand what makes a reef www.seacure1.com huge yellow concrete and wire and has already attracted a great deal of research project, and a marine biologist at and how the corals interact with marine life. There are now 32 species of fish the National Center for Mariculture does each other,” he explains. construction that stretches four swimming through or living on the reef— not want to wait that long, so the team has “In the natural world corals grow in yards up from the seabed, is four half the number normally found in the reefs a nursery in Haifa where they are growing a certain order, replacing one another “In the 50 years of our generation we may yards wide, and is full of holes. of the Red Sea. These include bass, sea 13 different types of coral. in a specific sequence until they reach lose half the world’s corals on our watch.” goldfish and butterfly fish. Sea urchins, fan These corals will be planted in the spe- the climax community, which you find This is going to be the first artifi- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVE VAUGHN, worms, tunicates and tubeworms can also cially prepared holes in the reef structure in mature reefs. We want to discover MOTE TROPICAL RESEARCH LAB cial in the Red Sea. be found there. and the work begins in the fall. There are if we have to plant the corals in that In the last three decades, 25 percent of the world’s At present, no coral has been planted 1,000 colonies to plant, and this will be the order or whether we can go straight to corals have been lost, primarily because of rising The reef is a unique new approach to on the reef, and that’s why some of the first time in history that a team has tried to the climax community.” ■ sea and increased carbon dioxide conservation in the Red Sea and part fish are still missing. If the scientists were do this. Shashar is very excited at the pros- VIA PRESSRELEASE, ISRAELI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS levels caused by global warming. of a joint co-operative project between to let nature take its course, it would take pect. Israel and Jordan. between 80-100 years for the corals to flour- “This gives us a very unique opportunity Desalination could aggravate climate change, says the Supporting Coral Research to Save Singapore country’s natural protect existing the Florida Reefs World Wildlife Fund Now Has corals. It is estimat- reefs and scientists houses and businesses, reduce the leak- ed that three-fifths hope that after a To fund some Desalination has become a growing age in pipes and recycle waste water, a Coral of Singapore’s year, the corals of the research trend worldwide to handle water shortag- he said. “In most cities desalination Nursery reefs off its south- can be transplant- of growing cor- es, but the WWF said its study has found plants are not required.” ern coast have ed to reefs around als, the State that desalination uses large amounts of Marine life is also put at risk by desali- Off Semakau been lost over Singapore’s south- of Florida is energy, emits greenhouse gasses and nation plants. As the seawater is taken Island on Singa- the past 200 years ern coast. The now offering a destroys marine life in some coastal in, small life forms such as plankton, pore’s southern because of rapid corals are then special auto- areas. eggs and fish larvae are also removed. coast, a coral economic growth. placed about mobile license Making more drinking water with the The brine—the highly concentrated nursery has been It is focusing on three metres plate. Scientists help of desalination plants “creates a saline water discharged from the founded with the using fragments under the seawa- at Florida’s Mote wasteful attitude to water use,” said plants—is mostly sent back into the sea aim of conserving of naturally-bro- ter at mid- on Marine Laboratory are also studying Jamie Pittock, who heads WWF’s fresh- where it increases the salinity of the and growing the ken hard coral to the seabed. ■ the effectiveness of coral planting. ■ water program. People should set up water, posing a threat to sea life and more water-effective technologies in disrupting the ecosystem. ■

8 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Tanzania sorcerer dies in failed PADI 3D Entertainment’’s underwater spirit stunt Mantello Brothers A traditional medicine man in Tanzania drowned after jump- Europe to Present Daryl ing in a river and promising to resurface three days later Hannah with Reef with relevations from ances- sacks CEO tral spirits, regional police Check’s Reef Rescuer commander Daudi Siadi told In a move that came as a AFP. widespread surprise in the 2007 Award Dozens of villagers chanted industry, PADI EUROPE Ltd. and drummed as the fortune- has chosen to part ways with The Reef Rescuer Award was awarded teller, a local witch doctor its long standing CEO Jean- to Hollywood star and environmentalist named as Nyasio Alfonso, dived Claude Monachon stating in Daryl Hannah for her dedicated sup- to confer with the riverine spirits, a public newsletter that the port and advocacy of reef and ocean he said. board of directors have decic- conservation at ’s 5th Four days after Alfonso threw ed to terminate the working annual Reef Rescue gala on Sunday, himself into the river his decom- relationship ‘solely as a result of September 16th. posing body was fished internal differences in commu- “It’s a great honor for us to present out several metres down- Perhaps he should nication and work styles’. this award to such an accomplished stream. ■ have worn an AGA? actress and environmentalist as Daryl Jean-Claude Monachon, Hannah, whose sole motivation is a Man surprised by shark, stabs who was with PADI for over 17 genuine passion for and appreciation of the company’s unique ocean con- own arm with harpoon years will be replaced by Jürg of the world’s surviving ocean com- servation-themed film trilogy for IMAX Strasser, CFO / COO of PADI munities and ecosystems,” said the 3D theatres. “We are also very pleased A 26-year-old man, diving without any div- EUROPE taking the lead as Mantello brothers. Francois Mantello is to support Reef Check in their noble ing equipment some 30 meters off the coast Director. chairman of 3D Entertainment Ltd, and and vital cause three years after the in Yonago, Japan, was surprised by a shark Jean-Jacques Mantello, the director tremendous support they showed us and accidentally stabbed himself in his left The move have been widely during the launch of our highly success- arm with a harpoon inflicting a wound that questioned by the industry and ful film SHARKS 3D presented by Jean- is expected to take two weeks to heal, the his successor greeted with some Michel Cousteau.” Sankei Shimbun reports. ■ scepticism. It has been a public Internationally renowned marine secret that there for some time biologist, former chief scientist of the US Lifeguard saves baby shark has been a strained working re- National Oceanographic Atmospheric lationship between Monachon Administration (NOAA) and A lifeguard had to save a baby shark from and the chairman Jürg Beeli. National Geographic “Explorer-in-Resi- a mob of panicking swimmers off a beach dence” Dr will also be hon- on New York’s Coney Island, reports the

Monachon has just briefly WWW.AIDA-INTERNATIONAL.ORG ored at the event with the Poseidon New York Daily News. stated “Let’s just say that we Award for her lifetime achievements in “There must have been 75 to 100 people decided to part ways.” marine conservation. ■ circled around the shark in the water,” said Mr Mironescu, 39, of Brooklyn. “They were PADI would like to assure all holding on to it and some people were their business partners and as- actually hitting him, smacking his face. sociates that all ongoing work Well, I wasn’t going to let them hurt the and negotiations entered into poor thing.” with our office will continue in He carried the shark—a baby and harm- the same spirit and with the from New Zeeland has less to humans—to a less populated area same goals. ‘PADI EUROPE with 244 meter set a NEW WORLD and started backstroking out to sea, drag- remains in an excellent state of RECORD in the dicipline Dynamic ging the shark with one hand. prosperity and development With Fins extending his old record by “He was making believe like he was and is expecting to finalize this 18m. This fantastic swim was done dead, then he wiggled his whole body and current year with its best results in Wellington, NZL on Sept.23rd. tried to bite me. He didn’t get it,” added ever’. Total dive time: 4’02” Mr Mironescu. ■

9 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Australians Discovers Weakening of Gulf current is probably a normal variation Ocean ‘Missing Link’ A perceived slow down in circulation, linked to global warming, may actually have Australian scientists have identified one been normal variations in the flow pattern. of the last missing links which shows how the world ocean system is inter- A massive ocean circulation pattern the cold Arctic, it sinks, returning easier to pick out any connected in governing global climate that plays a crucial role in shaping the southwards deeper in the ocean. changes related to man- world’s climate may not have been Using instruments strung out made global warming. The Southern Ocean, which swirls around the slowing down over the last few dec- across the Atlantic, a UK-led team “The Atlantic Ocean car- Antarctic, has been identified in recent years ades as scientists previously believed, shows that its circulation varies ries a quarter of the glo- as the main lung of global climate, absorbing a according to a study published in the significantly over the course of a bal northwards heat flux, third of all carbon dioxide taken in by the world journal Science. year. In these data the scientists so having the information ocean system. The ocean flow has been a focus have found enough normal varia- to plug into climate mod- New research shows that a current sweep- of global warming debates. Some tion in the pattern to suggest that els will be a major addi- ing past Australia’s southern island of Tasmania computer models of climate change previous studies were premature tion,” Stuart Cunningham toward the South Atlantic is a previously unde- has suggested this in asserting from the National tected part of the world climate system. Atlantic Meridional The most astonishing event a long-term Oceanography Centre Overturning trend. (NOC) in Southampton Circulation, of which occurred in early November Last year has told the BBC News the Gulf Stream is the 2004 when the southward, the same website. ■ best-known compo- colder flow of deep water essn- UK-led team nent, would weaken published evi- severely or even stop tially stopped completely. dence that completely as global the circulation temperatures rise, a scenario taken to may have weakened by about Unique monitoring system for the Atlantic circulation extremes in the Hollywood movie The 30% over half a century. But that

IMAGE COURTESY OF CSIRO AUSTRALIA Day After Tomorrow. was based on historical records proves its worth The perceived slowdown had been from just five sampling expedi- considered alarming support for com- tions, raising concerns that the Making the measurements has been everything but trivial. Early in 2004, UK puter predictions that global warming data was not robust enough to researchers deployed 19 sets of instruments across the Atlantic from the north- would disrupt the planet’s heat regu- provide a clear-cut conclusion. western coast of Africa to the Bahamas. US investigators subsequently installed lation. The Atlantic circulation brings The key for scientists, then, has further moorings on the western side of the ocean. warm water to Europe, keeping the been to actually measure and Each set of instruments is strung out along a cable, which is tethered to the The newly discovered Tasman Outflow, which continent 4-6°C warmer than it would understand how the circulation sea floor at the bottom end and to a float at the top. This array of instruments sweeps past Tasmania at an average depth of be otherwise. As the water reaches varies naturally, making it much has for the first time enabled researchers to continuously monitor the daily vari- 800 to 1000 metres, is classed as a “supergyre” ations in flow, salinity, and water . that links the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic south- Since then, the instruments ern hemisphere ocean basins. In each ocean, have provided a continuous water flows around counter-clockwise path- record. In combination with cur- ways, or gyres the size of ocean basins. rent measurements of the Gulf Ridgeway and co-author Jeff Dunn said iden- Stream in the Straits of Florida pro- tification of the supergyre improves the ability of vided by scientists from NOAA’s researchers to more accurately explain how the Atlantic Oceanographic and ocean governs global climate. Meteorological Laboratory in “We knew that the deep ocean pathway cur- Miami and satellite measurements rents could move from the Pacific to the Indian of the wind-driven flow across Ocean through Indonesia. Now we can see 26°N, the Meridional Overturning that they move south of Tasmania as well.” ■ Circulation has been calculated on a daily basis. ■

10 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED & Pressreleases Were Dinosaurs Able to News from NAUI Swim? exclusive to dive retailers, and is Ancient footprints have provided designed to help grow their over- compelling evidence that some all business. Scott Evans, Division dinosaurs were able to swim, scien- Manager stated, “Many retail- tists report. They were left by a large, ers spend so much time running bipedal, carnivorous dinosaur. The the business they find there isn’t shape of the scratch marks suggest- a lot of time left for training their ed the beast was swimming. own staff members. Our goal is The 15m trackway that reveals one to develop a strong partnership animal’s underwater odyssey was with retailers and help them cre- discovered in the Cameros Basin in ate instructors who make a dif- Spain, once a vast lake. The marks ference in the bottom line.” are about 125 million years old, dat- When a retailer refers a student ing to the Early Cretaceous, the team for the program, the Institute writes in the journal Geology. trains student instructor to The S-shaped prints suggest the become competent, qualified beast clawed at sediment on the

NAUI Pro Career passing the final review, the dive professionals—plus sends lake floor as it swam in about three GUILLAUME SUAN, Training Institute certified instructors are ready for the referring retailer $1,000 refer- meters of water. ■ UNIVERSITE DE LYON 1 their successful new career. ral bonus. SOURCES: BBC NEWS WEBSITE. GEOLOGY VOLUME 35, ISSUE 6 Launched This program is made pos- (JUNE 2007) PP. 507–510 sible by CDA’s acquisition of For more information about the Academy 40 Fathom Grotto, the ultimate NAUI Pro Career Training Institute launches the “NAUI Pro Career facility (the deep- visit: www.NAUIpro.com Where did the oceans really come from? Training Institute”. est freshwater diving facility in For more information about Commercial Diving Academy the Southeast). The facility is Commercial Diving Academy visit: Most scientists think they came found in water-rich asteroids, sug- than we see in sea water today. of Jacksonville, Florida has offi- going through extensive reno- www.commercialdivingacad- from water-rich asteroids and gesting a common origin. But Genda and Ikoma have got cially launched its new division: vations; among the completed emy.com. For more information comets raining down on the But now planetary scien- around this problem. Their calcu- The NAUI Pro Career Training projects are all new docks, bath- about 40 Fathom Grotto visit: planet in its youth. Just after the tists from the Tokyo Institute of lations show that the ratio would Institute. In keeping with the house and ’s Lodge. www.40fathomgrotto.com Earth formed, it was very hot Technology suggest the oceans have naturally drifted upwards company’s mission, the NPCTI Students reside full-time at the Questions? Call Toll-Free 888-974- and dry. Prevailing theory sug- were actually created by Earth over time. strives to produce the best pro- facility allowing them to focus 2232 ■ gests that millions of water-rich itself—they may have formed Several effects would have fessional divers worldwide. The on becoming comets and asteroids bombard- because the young Earth had a contributed to this rise, including candidates attending the Scuba educators. The real-world experi- ed our planet around 3.8 billion thick blanket of hydrogen, which leakage of hydrogen into space. Instructor Program will receive ence includes training student years ago, neatly explaining why reacted with oxides in the Earth’s Energy from the sun would have the same world-class training divers from all across the United oceans later appeared. mantle to form lakes and seas. made most of the hydrogen and education that has been States. This hands-on experience Also, the ratio of deuterium— If the water on Earth did form escape, but the heavier deute- the key to the success of the prepares the NPCTI graduate to or “heavy hydrogen” because from a thick hydrogen atmos- rium would have escaped less commercial diving program. be an asset to any prospective it contains a neutron in addition phere, however, it should have easily, so it would have become “There is a lack of quality edu- resort or retail establishment they to a proton—to hydrogen in our originally had a far lower value of more concentrated. ■ cators in the recreational div- choose. sea water matches the value the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio SOURCE: NEW SCIENTIST ing industry,” says Captain Ray The NAUI Pro Career Black, company president. “We Training Institute will be train high-quality employees to exhibiting at the 2007 meet the needs of dive opera- DEMA Show, booth tors.” (#1092) and The four-week Total Immersion launching their program is intensive and new refer- unmatched. During this three- ral program, phase program, students eat, the Gold Star sleep, and breathe diving edu- Program. cation. Upon completion and This program is

11 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Fighting Breast Cancer many men will Fishing ‘destabilises Black Sea’ Europe bans be touched by Excessive fishing in the Black Sea has triggered major changes the diagnosis news in the marine ecosystem. The collapse of fish stocks altered bluefin tuna of a female the sea’s food chain, triggering a “regime shift” that allowed How Deep loved one, a species of invasive jellyfish to bloom, scientists report in the fishing the American Edited by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ■ Cancer Society Willy Volk Would You Go The European estimates that in the U.S. alone, Commission has for the Cure? 1450 new cases banned the fish- Text by Cindy Ross of male breast Seafood giants join to combat ing of endangered This October, divers along the cancer are bluefin tuna in the west coast of the U.S. will be gath- diagnosed, and ering in Seattle and San Diego, approximately pirate fishing in the Barents Sea eastern Atlantic and to raise monies for and aware- 470 die annu- Mediterranean for the ness of breast cancer. Sponsored ally from the dis- rest of the year. by North America and ease. GirlDiver.com, the event encour- The five-year The move was taken to curb ages women to become involved survival rate for over-fishing and dwindling with the recreational sport of women with stocks of fish, after the EU scuba, while supporting programs breast cancer reached its 2007 quota. An designed to assist young women is 86%. (The sur- EU official said it would move diagnosed with breast cancer. vival rate is the to prevent under-reporting of On October 5, the Seattle percentage of catches and unequal shar- event will hold a dinner/auction women who are ing of the quota. “Clearly gala with live music for divers still living a period of time after there are problems both of from Washington and Oregon. they are diagnosed with breast over-fishing a stock already October 7, will find divers gath- cancer.) The ten-year survival rate threatened with collapse and ered along the shores of the is 76%. These rates include women of equity between the mem- Puget Sound where a Discover at all stages or levels of severity of ber states concerned,” said Scuba into the chilly waters will breast cancer.

PÅL JULIUS SKOGHOLT EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe start the day, followed by new Women with cancer that has The trawler Arosa Quinze docked in Tromsø after being arrested by the Norwegian Coast Guard for illegal fishing Borg. divers doing their final certification not metastasized—that is, the The ban affects Cyprus, dive at the event, and finalizing cancer has not moved to the In a joint letter to the Norwegian gov- ing all fish from vessels blacklisted by Greece, Malta, Portugal and with a “Big Splash” event, show- lymph system or other parts of the ernment, eight of Europe’s largest and Norway or relevant regional fisheries Spain. Italy and France have casing divers entering the waters body—have a five-year survival most influential seafood companies have management organizations like the closed their fisheries for from dive charters, dive kayaks rate of 96%. Women whose breast committed themselves to do their best to North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission 2007. ■ and inflatable watercraft. cancer has metastasized to other avoid illegal Barents Sea cod and have (NEAFC). Figures published by the The following weekend, a similar parts of the body have a five- called on the Norwegian government to International Council for Exploration of event will take place in La Jolla, year survival rate of 21%. provide up to date black lists, so compa- the Seas (ICES) last year indicated that California. With a mass dive of up This shows the importance nies can live up to this commitment. every fifth cod from the Barents was ille- to 100 divers entering the water, of early detection in the fight Last September, the European Fish gally fished. ■ donning pink ribbons on their against breast cancer. Processors and Traders Association SOURCE: WEBWIRE tanks in honor of loved ones, In 2008, Dive for the Cure plans (AIPCE) adopted a set industry guide- to do a single dive for the to increase the size and effective- lines to avoid Illegal, Unregulated and event. ness of the original two venues, Unreported (IUU) Barents Sea cod and Breast cancer and eventually take the event to haddock. is a disease four locations in 2009. Organizers The signatories include some of that affects hope to inspire and assist local Europe’s largest seafood processors and both men and dive clubs and shops to hold purchasers such as restaurant chain women. One in smaller events in their locales. McDonalds as well as Espersen, Royal seven women For more information on how Greenland, Youngs Seafood and Iglo/ will be diagnosed you can bring Dive For The Cure Birds Eye, Frosta/Copack. with breast cancer to your neighborhood, please The commitment also entails refus- in their lifetime. And while visit: www.diveforthecure.com ■ NOAA 12 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The Search for HMAS Sydney wreck (The continuing story —cf previous Wreck Rap)

rap The Australian Navy has sent the survey ship HMAS Leeuwin to examine a wreck that a private search team believes could be HMAS Sydney, the cruiser sunk in 1941 with its crew of 645. The find was reported in previous issue of X-RAY MAG. HMAS Leeuwin has high-definition equip- ment that includes a state of the art side-scan . Similar equipment was used this year to produce images of the Black Hawk helicopter lost in waters off Fiji. The new search will employ two submersibles that helped to locate the liner Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean. ■

Raise the U-boat Wreckhunter joins search The council of Derry, Ireland, Internationally renowned shipwreck hunter David hopes to recover one of the many Mearns—who found the lost WWII battleships HMS German vessels scuttled off the Hood of Britain and the Bismarck of Germany— Irish coast and put it in a museum. has joined a new AU$5m search for the HMAS Sixty years ago, the Nazi U- Sydney. The month-long deepwater operation is boat fleet that menaced wartime Gallipoli sub salvage under way expected to begin next January. Atlantic convoys and threatened The government said the search for the Sydney Britain with starvation was scuttled The Australian AE2 submarine which played a pivotal role in was a matter of national importance. It warned off the north-west coast of Ireland. the Gallipoli campaign during WW1 may be raised the private group that it would be breaking the The sunken hulls and rusting torpe- The submarine, which was scuttled in 1915, five days after the Gallipoli land- law if it did not hand over any evidence it had to do tubes are encrusted with coral. ing, might not have the archaeological status of Greco-Roman finds, but it the authorities so the find could be confirmed. ■ Salvage plans are now being has become the new touchstone of the modern relationship between Turkey explored to see whether one of and Australia. Almost a century on, Gallipoli continues to be a sensitive issue the German submarines could be on both sides. raised from the deep and brought Technically, the submarine presents a chal- ashore. The vessel and its wartime lenge: Should it be left 73 metres down on the technology could be put on dis- floor of the Sea of Marama as a “living natural play as the central attraction for a museum”, or raised, restored and put on display new maritime museum in Derry. ■ so future generations can appreciate its signifi- cance in Gallipoli’s shaping of Australia’s national identity? Japanese submariners Crucial to the future of the submarine is the state of the hull, and whether it could withstand remembered in Australia any attempt to move it, possibly to a public view- Relatives of two Japanese sailors ing tank at Canakkale, close to Gallipoli. who died when their M24 midget The Turks are keen. A memorandum of under- submarine was lost during World standing between Turkey and Australia, signed in War II attended a memorial serv- 2002, suggests the Turkish Ministry of Culture could ice at sea off Sydney on Aug 6. provide the viewing pool near Canakkale. Rev- The submarine disappeared enue from an admission fee would pay for main- after an attack on Sydney tenance. There is no suggestion the submarine Harbour in 1942 and was found will be brought back to Australia. Canberra has late last year by a group of made it clear that if the submarine is raised, or amateur divers, about 5km off moved, it has no claim on it. ■ Sydney’s northern beaches. ■

13 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Artificial Reefs

wreck Two decommissioned foreign naval ships are poised to be simulaneously rap sunk in Malaysian waters next year to create artificial reefs, the first of its kind here. The ships, between 110m and 160m in length, will come from the United States and Canada and are Rediscovering scheduled to be sunk off Pulau Redang the legend of here and Pulau Tioman, Pahang. the lake dwellers. The project, estimated to cost about Five sites vie for RM20 million, will be undertaken by the heritage status. Kuala Terengganu Rotary Club and the Painting by Aug- B&J Diving Centre Sdn Bhd as well as Possible Prehistoric est Bachelin the state government. The Rotary club and B&J are looking Carving of Mastodon to choose two from the three options Found 40ft Under- Switzerland: Rediscovering the legend of the lake dwellers made available, namely a US navy ship, water in Lake a Canadian destroyer or a Canadian Archaeologists have discovered scientists used dendrochronol- Divers working for the cantonal MARS class ship to be either donated or Michigan traces of Switzerland’s oldest ogy —tdating by tree rings—to archaeological service came purchased with a minimal fee. ■ known building. It lies underwa- give a precise figure of 3863 BC. upon the site in the winter of Archaeologists believe they ter in the middle of Lake Biel, The find has as described as 2006 when they were investigat- have found a prehistoric carv- northwest of the Swiss capital, “sensational” by Albert Hafner, ing prehistoric villages built on ing of a mastodon, with a spear Bern and is almost 6000 years old who is in charge of underwater piles in the once densely popu- embedded in it’s side, carved Since it was made of wood archaeology in the region. lated area of Sutz-Lattrigen. ■ Red Sea: Ferry wreck located into a boulder underwater in SOURCE: SWISSINFO Grand Traverse Bay. The mas- off Hurghada todon was an elephant-like creature, which once inhabited A team of divers in Egypt have found, North America, writes Discovery Century Old Shipwreck Found in Lake Superior (USA) dived and positively identified the Channel website. wreck of the Al Qamar Al Saudi Al Misri, The carving is in a gran- Explorers have discovered the Just beginning a second day Initially believed to be the a 125m-long ferry, which caught fire, ite rock 40ft underwater. wreckage of an ore carrier that of searching, crew member Tom D.M. Clemson, mysteriously lost capsized and sank near Shadwan Is- Archaeologists found the rock mysteriously sank during a storm Farnquist, saw a target that was with all hands on December 1, land on 19 May 1994, with the loss of 21 while searching for shipwrecks. on Lake Superior 100 years ago clearly a shipwreck. In a few 1908, a ROV enabled the wreck lives. It was divers from Tekstreme Diving They are waiting for an expert the Cyprus, an ore carrier that short minutes, the target began hunters to read the ship’s name who found the ferry lying at a depth of to verify the find and specialists mysteriously sank during a storm to look more and more like a positively identifying her as between 64 and 83m. ■ who have been shown pictures Oct. 11, 1907. Only one survi- long, steel freighter, very deep Cyprus. ■ want more evidence. vor made it to shore as the ship at 460 feet. “Experts in petroglyphs gen- went down not to be located Further care- erally don’t dive, so we’re again for a century. Last month, fully positioned running into a little bit of a a team with the Great Lakes passes with the stumbling block there,” said Shipwreck Historical Society sonar provided Mark Holley a scientist with the found the wreckage of the clear acous- Grand Traverse Bay Underwater Cyprus about 460 feet below tic imagery, Red outlines have been Preserve Council. ■ the surface. In August 2007, the showing hatch added to an image of a SOURCE: DISCOVERY CHANNEL crew of the Society’s R.V. David openings and granite rock found at 40 feet Boyd was doing seach passes a debris field in Lake Michigan. The mark- using sidescan sonar unit out among mounds

ings outline what divers say is of the port of Grand Marais, of lake bottom GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK HISTORICAL SOCIETY an etching of a mastodon Michigan, on Lake Superior’s stirred up by the A team with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found the wreckage of the Shipwreck Coast. wreck’s impact. Cyprus about 460 feet below the surface

14 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED “Cyprus is a Turkish archaeologists map wreck crossroads and country’s sunken heritage is very rich in rap Archaeologists from Dokuz Eylül ancient ship- University (DEU) have set out on a wrecks.” five-year project to map Turkey’s underwater history: The lost under- water history of the Aegean and PAVLOS FLOURENTZOS, DIREC- TOR OF CYPRUS’ DEPARTMENT Mediterranean. The project, which OF ANTIQUITIES started in May, is the first of its kind ever to be carried out by a Turkish university, which has 12 scientists assigned to the project including archaeologists, biologists and geo- Cyprus in search of ancient physicists. The project has already located over 20 shipwrecks, eight underwater shipwrecks ruins and six sunken locations dating back to the Ottoman era. Cyprus is to survey areas where dozens of vessels led by warring Harun Özdas, project manager and assistant professor of Underwater successors to Alexander the Great are believed to have sunk in Archaeology at DEÜ, told Asian News battle for control over the island in 306 BC, Reuters reports International, “Our goal is to find the sunken heritage of our country. Cypriot archaeologists recently found a of Sicily, in 306 BC, Demetrios the We focus on the commercial route Roman wreck dating from the first cen- Poliorketes (Besieger) triumphed over of old times. So far, we dived to 15 tury A.D. off the south-east tip of the Ptolemy I of Egypt in a naval engage- sunken areas between Anamur and island, known as Cape Greco. The exten- ment off Cyprus, with dozens of vessels Izmir.” Findings discovered in Alaçati sive wreck, dating from the early Imperial sunk as the result of combat. belonging to 5 BC sites in the Gulf of Roman era, carried a mixed cargo of Further mapping of the wreck would Gökova have been placed within the several amphora, predominantly jars take place in 2008. Searches for better Hellenistic and Roman period. from the southeast Aegean area. preserved shipwrecks would extend to “Underwater remains provide Encouraged by the discovery, a further the deeper sandy seabed, which was important information about the life survey slated for the summer of 2008 will suited to remote sensing techniques, in the past, as well as about geologi- extend into deep waters, the island’s the antiquities department said. ■ cal changes. The remains reveal the Antiquities Department said. changes in the water level of the Historical accounts suggest that the Aegean and Mediterranean. We can Cape Greco region—a rocky outcrop also find information about construc- between the now popular tourist resorts tion technologies employed. So far, of Agia Napa and Protaras, saw one we have found plates, tiles and dif- of the biggest naval battles of the ferent cargo ships,” said Professor ancient world. According to the Özdas. ancient Greek historian, Diodorus After the Aegean and Mediter- ranean, there are plans for a similar project in the Black Sea. Upon com- A Roman pletion of the project, the data will be trireme published in geography books map- ping the sunken history of Turkey. ■

15 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Travel News

Edited by Scott Bennett Insights - Travelling Tips

Which airline seats to book?

Galapagos Update – September 2007 mean fewer dive boats will be offering charters By Dominick Macan to Darwin & Wolf in 2008, and while vessels such Don’t you just hate being seated beside as the Aggressors and Sky Dancer already have the lavatories, in a seat that can’t We owe many of you a large debt of gratitude full dive permits, other dive yachts such the Deep recline or have some hardware stowed for taking the time to write letters and sign peti- Blue, Lammer Law, Galex and Reina Silvia, will in your overhead compartment? tions in support of the campaign to stop shark have to go though the new permit process to Gökova Gulf What If finning in Ecuador and Galapagos. The first bat- obtain these permits. Whether other boats will do you could tle was won when on August 27, diving permits it remains to be seen. check in were restored to many boats to dive Darwin Why the re-instatement of these permits has Turkey: Gökova’s Underwater advance? & Wolf, that had been prevented from doing been so important is that more dive vessels now In so in a Presidential ruling of July 10. These per- have access to Darwin & Wolf, which means Caves to Be Explored October mits only apply until December 31, 2007, after they exert a controlling influence to stop the fish- The underwater caves of the Gulf of Gökova, one of Muğla’s 2001, fre- which all vessels will need a special permit to ing boats that are illegally fishing in the National most spectacular coastal towns, will be discovered and uti- quent flyer dive this area. Although we don’t yet have all Park. lized for tourism thanks to a project by a group of underwa- Matthew the details, it appears more than likely that it will Although the island of Darwin & Wolf have no ter researchers. Daimler ranger station and no navy patrols to stop the The project is a joint initiative to be carried out by the launched fishing, the fishing boats do not want to be seen and Research Group (MAGAD) and ODTÜ SeatGuru. by diving boats, as they risk being reported to Underwater Research Society on August 12-30 along the com with the authorities and serious actions taken against Gökova coast. The project anticipates the ecological, geo- a single them. ■ logical, archaeological and anthropological examination of color- over 40 underwater caves in the Gökova Gulf. ■ coded SOURCE: TURKISH DAILY NEWS interactive airplane seating chart. Trend: Underwater Hotels Having realized the Originally built in the 1970s as a research laboratory vast differences between airline seats, Jules’ Undersea Lodge became the first underwater he was determined to build a repository hotel. Located off the coast of Florida, it caters mostly of this useful information and share it to scuba drivers and can hold up to six guests. But that with other travelers. is just the beginning. Easy colour coding and explanations Hydropolis, near Dubai in the United Arab Emirates show you which seats are the best avail- (UAE), is under construction at a cost of US$500 million. able and which ones to avoid. The hotel sits 60 feet below the surface and has 220 Over ten million visitors later, SeatGuru rooms, a shopping mall and three bars. has enjoyed incredible success and has Poseidon Undersea Resort is a competitor in develop- expanded to over 275 airplane seat- ment off the coast of Fiji. Situated about 40 feet below maps from over 40 different airlines. the water’s surface, according to Poseidon’s website, www.seatguru.com ■ it is much smaller than Hydropolis but boasts a view of some of the world’s grandest coral reefs. ■ Poseidon Undersea Resort. Promotional image from press kit

16 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news New York State establishes diving trails for scuba enthusiasts “Dive the Seaway Trail! ...and you’ll enjoy some of the Northeast’s finest freshwater diving sites, with a full Edited by Peter Symes complement of wreck, shoal, drift, deep and historical diving. For over three cen- turies, Great Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers have been major shipping thoroughfares. Today, the waters along the Seaway Trail are the Underwater Adventures final resting place of hundreds of ships, dating back to the late 1700’s.” for Gap Year Students SportSkool, the creator of SnowSkool Typically regarded as a paradise for The other trail is the Underwater Where Niagara and PoloSkool, is offering an exciting hikers, climbers and campers, upstate Blueway Trail, a project in its pilot year River meets new experience this summer with the New York also offers some of the finest in six communities. It is designed to Lake Ontario launch of ScubaSkool. freshwater in the United provide diving access to shipwrecks Students travel to the tropical island States - a cloistered natural attribute and supply maritime heritage infor- of and go from beginner to dive- state officials and scuba enthusiasts mation to divers and non-divers. master in just seven weeks. Students are trying to promote through the are encouraged to stay on and par- creation of two “diving trails.” While a handful of states have cre- ticipate in the four week conservation ated underwater parks for diving, project. With modules in whale shark Dive the Seaway Trail offer explora- they are located on ocean water, and dolphin research as well as coral tion of five diving sites along the 730- said Doug McNeese, president of reef protection, the course provides a kilometre Seaway Trail Scenic Byway, Scuba Schools International, one of Dive Site valuable learning opportunity and an which runs along the St. Lawrence the country’s leading diving certifica- marker

experience students will never forget. River, Lake Ontario, Niagara River and tion organizations. New York is the first bouy BOSINTANG The base price for the seven-week Lake Erie, waterways filled with ship- state to link a series of freshwater sites programme for 2007 is £3250. ■ wrecks, rock formations and aquatic into a ‘trail,’ and could become a life. model for other states.

Lighthouse and Cleopatra’s Sunken Palace Set Lure More Tourists to Egypt After 15 years of hauling priceless relics from in and around its harbor, Alexandria municipal officials and Egyptian antiquity authorities are trying to figure out how to make thousands of artifacts still at the bottom accessible for viewing by the public. Municipal officials want to create an underwater archaeological park. Proposals under consideration include construction of an underwater bubble audi- torium, conversion of the harbor into a giant pool with filters to remove silt and pollution and a submarine on rails to ferry visitors around. Last year, Alexandria’s underwater glories burst into international view with a touring exhibition called “Egypt’s Sunken Treasures”, which opened in Berlin, showed in Paris and is currently on display at Bonn’s Kunst und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deut- schland museum. In 2008, it goes to Madrid. ■ Alexandria’s lighthouse was one of the Seven Wonders of the world. The remains were rediscovered on the seafloor in Alexandria’s habour in the 1990’s

17 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Spaniards deploy turtles to combat jellyfish invasion off Granada In Spain, turtles are being bred and released in an effort to Come see us control jellyfish numbers, at DEMA booth 2443 which are expected to be high this year. In the past few summers. thou- sands of holidaymakers in the Mediterranean have been stung by jellyfish as huge swarms of the gooey creatures invaded coastal waters and fouled beaches and fishing gear in Australian spotted jellyfish, Phyllorhiza punctata the area. The jellyfish popula- tions exploded because of overfishing,and higher tem- Australian Jellyfish peratures and higher salin- ity near the coast. Invade U.S. Waters The invasion closed some Spanish beaches with beaches Swarms of invasive Australian jel- in Sicily and North Africa also lyfish have been reported from reported to be badly affected. But now east Texas to Florida in the the Spaniards have had it. While the cen- What’s Gulf of Mexico and along the tral government in Spain has warned that it cannot Atlantic coastlines of Florida stop the arrival of jellyfish on beaches, in Málaga, the this? and South Carolina. local government is attempting to fight fire with fire by The jellyfish are only mild- releasing a tradi- Nudi Pixel is an online nudibranch or sea slug pho- ly venomous and do not tional jellyfish preda- resource for nudibranch tos (of course, you must be pose a threat to humans tor—loggerhead and sea slug identification the photographer and the who may come in contact turtles (Carretta that uses photographs. This photos are taken in nature, with them, experts say. Caretta), known is a useful resource for all not in captivity). Another But some commercial locally as the Tortuga nudibranch enthusiasts like way to contribute is simply fishers and shrimp trawl- Boba. scuba divers, snorkelers, helping Nudi Pixel by identi- ers in the Gulf are finding Armed with a budget of underwater photographers, fying some unidentified nudi- their nets fouled with the €400,000, a plan to breed naturalists, dive guides and branch species or correcting gelatinous blobs, which may the turtles in captivity has educational institutions. It misidentified species. weigh up to 11 kilograms. been started, and a search is basically a repository of In its early age, Nudi Pixel Interference with fishing is underway for sites where nudibranch photographs has become one of the operations can result in a they can breed naturally. from all over the world. Nudi resources for many nudi- reduced catch. But an even Also, a network of volunteer Pixel processes the data fur- branch experts like Dave greater concern for biologists boats has been set up to warn ther to make it suitable for Behrens, , and fisheries managers is that the bathers of the presence of jellyfish. ■ species identification. Read Helmut Debelius and Rudie invaders may harm native fish and suggestions on how to use H. Kuiter to collect nudi- other marine species. ■ this web site for nudibranch branch photographs for their SOURCE: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and sea slug identification. soon to be released books. ■ You are invited to submit

18 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED