Nine new dive sites for Red Sea

So, the end of the year was not a happy one for parts of the Red Sea and our thoughts remain with the families of those injured and killed in the shark attacks.

Sadly, it would appear that sharks are now fair game in the region.

Despite calls for there not to be a cull, a number have been plucked from the waters.

However, the authorities are claiming there is no licence to kill - it's just unfortunate a number of sharks have died after being caught. Oh, that's okay then.

But on to some other Red Sea news........

Nine new dive sites are to be opened in the Ras Mohammed national park to ease the pressure on local dive sites that are being deluged by divers.
But it could mean the closure of popular easy sites such as Ras Katy and Near Garden. For many new divers to the Red Sea, these two sites may have been their first sight of the wonders of the Red Sea.
But it also means that they are suffering from overuse.
As the port of Sharm El Sheikh has grown into a major tourist destination, making it easier than ever for divers to experience the delights, it also threatens to be its downfall.
However, such a spectacular growth also carries sensitive environmental challenges.
It is an unpalatable fact that the biggest threat to the area is the very group who love it so much. Yep, that’s us divers.

Experienced Red Sea guide and Instructor Francesco Germi said more thought needed to be put into how the environment was used.
It is clear that natural resources are finite and cannot resist unlimited use.
He argued that there is a limit – a ‘carrying capacity’ for human use – which has to be embraced to ensure that natural resources are not destroyed.
In an article in Blue magazine, he wrote: “Many observers and industry experts already point to the deterioration of the environment in South Sinai, and in particular the coral reef system and marine life, as the single largest threat to the long run growth of tourism.
“The marine ecosystems have a limited carrying capacity, and there are indications that this carrying capacity has been exceeded, exhibited by a deterioration and loss of coral habitat due to: (1) marine pollution from raw sewage discharge from boats; (2) coastal development and construction; and (3) tourist related activities themselves (diving, snorkelling and boating).
“How much each is a contributing factor is not clear, nor is the degree of deterioration over time.”
With tourism representing Egypt’s biggest earner, he said it it would be prudent to make every effort to mitigate the causes of coral reef deterioration,
in other words to protect ‘the goose that lays the golden egg’.
Coral reefs are not able to support an indefinite amount of recreational use.
The damage inflicted by divers or snorkelers consists mostly of breaking fragile, branched corals or causing lesions to massive corals.
He wrote: “Research indicates that reef communities can tolerate a certain level of degradation before irreversible changes in ecological structure occur.
“The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommends a sustainable carrying capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 dives per site per year as a general principle. However, recent research by the National Parks of Egypt showed that some sites in the Sharm el Sheikh area were receiving up to 60,000 dives per year, with an
average of 15,000 dives per year across all sites in the area.
“In order to address this bottleneck, a realistic strategy is needed to plan the development and management of recreational reef use. It is clear that the current number of divers and snorkelers per site cannot be increased without incurring ecological degradation.”

Maybe the only answer is to see the rotating closure of popular dive sites to help relieve the pressure on them and that is something we as divers should encourage if we want this wonderful natural resource to remain.
Which brings us back to the new dive sites.
Francesco was involved in the three day survey in a stretch of coast between the Travco marina and Marsa Ghozlani. The sites are perfect for training or introductory dives with sandy bottoms peppered with coral pinnacles.
And the team recorded a wealth of marine life, including eagle rays, morays, blue-spotted stingrays and barracuda.
So if in the future your favourite dive sites are closed, don’t moan. It is for all of our goods in the future.

Latest on shark attacks in Sharm el Sheikh

THE experts called in to examine the Jaws-like drama in Sharm el Sheikh have suggested two sharks were involved in the attacks, according to the CDWS.

In a statement, the organisation said scientists had indicated that their findings, up to now, suggest one oceanic whitetip shark and one mako shark were responsible.

And they have suggested four factors which may have contributed to the behavioural change in sharks involved in attacks. They include the following:

*One or more incidents of illegal dumping of animal carcasses in nearby waters

*Depletion of natural prey in the area caused by overfishing

*Localised feeding of reef fish and/or sharks by swimmers, snorkellers and some divers

*Unusually high water temperatures in Sharm el Sheikh

The statement continued: "The three international shark experts are continuing to work with authorities in Egypt to determine the causal factors involved in the spate of shark attacks in Sharm el Sheikh.

"The team is progressing with its scientific research and is verifying available data, as well as evidence gathered through eye witness reports from people both in the water and at the shore at the time of each of the five attacks on snorkellers.

"CDWS would like to make it clear these are NOT the final conclusions, and that the investigation is still ongoing. The CDWS would also like to underline that it has NOT been, or will be, involved in any shark hunts.

"The scientific work is currently in phase one: the diagnostic phase. Once this is complete, phase two will involve the exploration of options to deal with the factors of the diagnostic phase. The third phase will be the implementation of chosen options. Phase four will cover the long-term measures that will be taken."

Is this the killer shark?

The BBC has broadcast an image of what is believed to be the oceanic whitetip shark behind the attacks in Sharm El Sheikh.



Diving operations in some parts of the area were starting today as the authorities continued the hunt for the shark.

Now there has been a lot of comparisons between this episode and the move Jaws and it's fair to say the similarities are pretty amazing but before the powers that be get Flint in to start pulling out sharks from the sea lets get things in a little bit of perspective.

Yes it has been without doubt tragic for the victims and their families and ones thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

But we have to accept that the shark has been attracted to the area by man, whether it be over-fishing or the dumping of dead animal carcasses from a cargo ship.

More than 70 million sharks a year are killed by humans and they are an essential part of the marine ecosystem so I hope we don't see the authorities landing dozens of sharks just to appease the tourist industry. We have to remember the devastation we are doing to the underwater world.

The BBC has a good piece on the attacks here.

In it David Jacoby, who specialises in shark behavioural ecology at The Marine Biological Association of the UK, agreed that if animal carcasses had been dumped, it was likely to be a significant factor in the sharks' behaviour.

"Pelagic, or oceanic, species of shark often feed opportunistically because the open ocean can be a sparse environment for food," he said.

"Both species [white tips and makos caught last week] rarely encounter people as they spend large amounts of their time in blue water - open ocean."

Oceanic whitetips are a Red Sea species but are not normally seen in Sharm. Instead they are typically found in the southern Red Sea. And this time of year, the northern Red Sea has been emptied of its pelagics as they head south for warmer waters.

Ian Fergusson, a shark biologist and patron of the Shark Trust, a UK conservation organisation, said it was very rare for shortfin makos to be found in the Red Sea - and exceptionally rare to find them close to shore.

Shark Experts called in over attacks in Sharm

Three shark experts from the US are flying to Sharm el-Sheikh where a tourist has died and four others were badly injured in attacks during the last week.

The majority of areas in Sharm el Sheikh will be open to diving activities for the Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) members and their clients tomorrow (7 December), but all snorkel activities and other watersports remain suspended in the whole of the Sharm el Sheikh coastal area.

Qualified divers with a minimum 50 logged dives were permitted to dive in Tiran and all sites south of Naama Bay but diving remained suspended in the area between Ras Nasrani to the north of Naama Bay where the Ras Mohammed National Park teams are currently working.

In a statement the CDWS said: "Following discussions with sharks experts and a series of exploratory dives, it was decided that the areas to be opened, which include the Ras Mohammed National Park and popular sites such as the Thistlegorm, were safe for experienced diving activities.

"CDWS is working with four world-renowned shark experts at this time. Three of the experts will be arriving over the next two days in Sharm el Sheikh to form an advisory team to try to assess and advise on the best course of action following the four shark attacks in areas north of Naama Bay this week."

Dr George H Burgess, the director of the Florida Program and curator of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History for Shark Research, was flying to the resort today (MONDAY).

Arriving on Tuesday are Dr Marie Levine, head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, USA, and Dr Ralph Collier, of the Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century. Shark behavioural expert Dr Erich Ritter is assisting from his research centre based in the USA.

A Swedish research vessel is currently surveying the topography of the ocean around Sharm el Sheikh in order to supply data to shark experts to assist their work. CDWS enlisted the help of this vessel to carry out the topography survey and secured all the relevant permissions.

Another shark attack in Sharm

The Foreign Office has warned holidaymakers in an Egyptian resort to be on their guard following a string of shark attacks that have left several people seriously injured and one woman dead.

An elderly German tourist died after she was attacked by an oceanic white tip shark in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh a few days after three Russians and a Ukrainian tourist were badly mauled in similar attacks.

Officials said the tourist died immediately after her arm was bitten off by the shark while she was swimming at the resort.

In response to the attacks the Foreign Office amended its travel advice for people visiting the area.
A statement on its website read: "Attacks by oceanic white tip sharks are extremely rare and shark attacks of any kind are very unusual in the Red Sea.
"If you are considering diving or snorkelling in any of the Red Sea resorts be aware that safety standards of diving operators can vary considerably.
"A basic rule is never to dive or snorkel unaccompanied."

Egypt's Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) sent an urgent message to its members in Sharm el-Sheikh, instructing them to clear the water.

"Following reports of another incident in Middle Garden local reef, CDWS is calling for all its members in Sharm el-Sheikh to stop any snorkelling activities happening from any boats or shore. Please tell all your boats to immediately recall any snorkellers who may be in the water," it said.

Jochen Van Lysebettens, manager of the Red Sea Diving College thought the same shark had been responsible for all the attacks. He suggested it may have been drawn to the coast by dead sheep left in the water. "I have no idea why this shark is behaving so aggressively," he continued.

"This must have been triggered by something in the past. Unfortunately in this case he is now looking at snorkellers."

One Rolf Schmid, manager of the Sinai Divers’ Centre said the sharks could have been drawn to the coastline by dead cattle – being brought in for the Islamic feast of sacrifice, Eid al-Adha – being dumped in the water.

"It is unusual to have four attacks in a week,’ said

"A possible reason for these attacks is cattle and sheep imported from Australia die on the long voyage and are thrown in the water before the ships reach the harbour."

Fourth Element launch 3D Wreck Maps

We’ve all experienced it at some time or another.
Jumping off the back of a boat and landing somewhere on the wreck, only to wonder exactly where we are and what we are looking at.
Guidebooks and drawings have been a big help, and there is nothing better than experience for helping to crack that problem.
But thanks to dive gear manufacturer Fourth Element, that may be a thing of the past.
Their new project has created 3D maps of some major wrecks, giving divers chance to explore some of the world's top dive sites from the comfort of their own homes.

Fourth Element has started the project with four well known wrecks, the Thistlegorm, the James Eagan Layne and the Um El Faroud, The fourth wreck, the San Francisco Maru was documented and recorded by Team Divers Pete Mesley and Leigh Bishop, whilst leading the fourth element expedition to Truk Lagoon. The 3D visualisation of the San Francisco Maru is part of our wider Truk Lagoon project.

The interactive 3D wreck maps offer a vast amount of visual information allowing divers to create memorable visual landmarks in their minds giving them visual clues to navigate around a wreck.
The 3D models are carefully generated using precise architectural software, and transferred into rich media web applications to allow you to explore the wreck interactively. Photos are then plotted onto the maps along with labels to give the greatest level of information to divers.
Having dived the James Eagan Lane a number of times, it is fair to day the map provided me with the first complete understanding of the wreck.
Check out the site here.

Two sharks caught off Sharm El Sheikh after attacks

REUTERS news agency and other are reporting on Thursday night that Egyptian conservation workers hunted down and captured two sharks that attacked four people in the space of two days at Sharm El Sheikh

Environment Ministry staff said the sharks matched descriptions made by divers who rescued the three Russians and one Ukrainian after the attacks near Sharm El Sheikh on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"The predator shark is 2.5 metres in length, of grey colour and white abdomen, characterized by sharp teeth ... and by a partial cut to the dorsal fin," a ministry report said.

So it looked like a shark then.

The Environment Ministry said the 12-member conservation crew caught the first shark near Sharm, which draws divers from across the world to explore its clear waters, abundant coral and exotic fish.

The second was caught later by local state environmental officers.

Sadly for divers who use this area, the sharks were captured and KILLED. So much for the 'catch it and release it somewhere else policy'.

Initial report suggested one oceanic white-tip was responsible so how they have come to land two sharks is a bit of a mystery. I just hope the authorities can control themselves and fishermen and leave it be now.

As divers, the chance of seeing a shark is an amazing opportunity. They are already disappearing in numbers as illegal fishermen in the area reduces the food supply.

While it is a tragedy for those individuals who have been injured or maimed, let us not use them as an excuse to commit further atrocities on the shark population in the Red Sea. They are facing enough threats as it is without a gung-ho attitude from the authorities.

A swimming ban along part of the coast remained in force.

Egypt's Environment Minister Maged George said the sharks would be examined for research purposes and embalmed for display at a visitor centre in South Sinai.

Scuba diving sites closed in Sharm El Sheikh after shark attacks

WATERSPORTS bosses in Sharm El Sheikh have closed the beaches and suspended diving after four people were mauled by a shark.
A hunt is under way to track down a shark responsible for maiming the Russian tourists one of whom remains in a critical condition.
In the first attack on Tuesday a man's legs were torn by the shark and the woman sustained injuries to her legs and back and had to be resuscitated after rescue.
On Wednesday there was a further attack, believed to be by the same oceanic whitetip shark, on a woman snorkelling on Ras Nasrani north of the city's Na'ama Bay. Her arms were bitten off, and she was flown to Cairo for emergency treatment.
"We are monitoring the situation very closely and working together with all authorities to ensure the safety of all members and visitors in the Red Sea," said Hesham Gabr, chairman of Egypt's chamber of diving and watersports.
Diving instructor Hassan Salem said he was on a dive at the same time of the attack and was circled by the shark before it went for the couple.
"I was able to scare the shark away by blowing bubbles in its face, but then saw it swim to a woman and bite her legs," he said.
Mr Salem described how the water turned red with blood from the attack and he rushed to take the diver he was training out of the water.
Attacks by oceanic white tip sharks are extremely rare and shark attacks of any kind are very unusual in the Red Sea.
More so at this time of the year when the pelagics have left the northern part of the Red Sea by Sharm and moved further south. Whether this is a shark that has lost its way or been drawn in by other sources souch as illegal fishes remains to be seen.
Richard Peirce, chairman of the UK-based Shark Trust, told the Guardian: "Since records began in the late 16th century there have been only nine recorded attacks on humans by an oceanic whitetip.
"It's abnormal behaviour; this shark hasn't just decided to be in the wrong place at the wrong time – there must have been a specific activity or event that brought it there."
And before we get all gung-ho about killing sharks, let us remember they are apex predators whose own survival is under threat as that are being killed in great numbers mostly for their fins.

Blue Light Night Dive: Flourescent corals in Egypt

Underwater, the Red Sea offers a kaleidoscope of colour, but I never expected blue, orange and inky black to produce the most fluorescent greens I have ever seen.

Yet this was the result of the most unique of night dives.

I had seen the sun-bleached poster at Sinai Divers, and thought the Blue Light Night Dive would be a different Sharm experience.

I was handed a blue torch - yes a torch with a blue beam –and had an orange visor cable-tied to my mask.

Trudging to the water’s edge, the bright lights of Na’ama Bay illuminated the skyline.

But they were about to be dimmed by a unique ‘glow in the dark’ underwater perspective, normally invisible to the naked eye.

Now, we all know that the reef changes come nightfall and a pinnacle that looked spectacular in the sunlight would be almost unrecognisable in the darkness as the coral burst into life from its daytime slumber.

But cruising above the sandy bottom of the bay just a few metres beneath the surface, a lone anemone signalled what we the sea was about to reveal.

Most divers would most likely glide past the lone animal. But illuminated by the bright blue torch beam, and filtered through our orange visors, the tips of the fronds glowed a brilliant green as they wafted in the gently swaying water.

This was not just any old green, but a bio-fluorescent green brighter than the dials of our gauges.

Now the science bit.

Studies have found some corals fluoresce, thanks to a physical and chemical reaction involving proteins in the animal. Researchers believe many cnidarians fluoresce in green, blue, yellow and red colours and this gleaming originates mostly from special protein structures.

This is normally invisible to humans, because it operates on a wavelength beyond what our eyes can typically perceive. So we adapt.

During fluorescence, special pigments (proteins) absorb short wave, energy rich (UV-) radiation (the blue bioluminescent light)and redistribute it nearly simultaneously – however with a higher wavelength which lies in the visible spectra and seen as green through the orange visor.

The Green Fluorescent Protein was first discovered in bioluminescent jellyfish in the 1960s. Half a century later, scientists are still trying to work out why.

But are they acting as sunscreen, protecting the coral from the sun’s harmful rays? Or converting the energy of the sunlight into light that can drive photosynthesis? Are they providing a beacon to coral life that can detect light?

Researchers have found that certain zoooxanthellate (algae housing) corals are able to thrive below the euphotic zone through auto-fluorescence. In the Gulf of Aqaba, the zooxanthellate coral Leptoris fragilis has been found living at a depth of 145 m – depth in which no photosynthetically active light can penetrate. Though, specific pigments in the coral tissues catch the remaining UV light. These UV radiations are shifted / diverted into photosynthetically active radiations which can be used by the zooxanthellae (algae) for photosynthesis.

But back to the dive.

My enthusiastic guide, Slovak Jan Karpis, told me it would be a darker night dive than normal. It took a few minutes to get used to the reduced visibility as the orange filter removed the ambient light.

But once we arrived at a coral block it didn’t matter.

As our specially made blue torches flicked across the reef the illuminated certain corals with a brilliant green. The favites was so bright, it looked like someone had switched a light on inside.

As the tentacles of an anemone swayed in different shades of green, an occasional flash of dark moved between them. Apparently this was the fish but because not all fish fluoresce, we were told that we would see very little in marine fauna. There only trace was as they crossed in front of the beams of our lights.

But who cared when the coral gave off such tremendous colour?

If this was on land, this ‘glow in the dark’ treat would be the tacky neon streets of Las Vegas, but underwater, the beauty of the reef was tremendous.

And it wasn’t just green. Some of the corals glowed a stunning orange or red.

The luminous green also helped find the critters, tiny nudibranchs became easy to spot as they flashed brightly.

A coral pinnacle that one would glide across at daytime kept our attention for the full 50minute dive.

But beware, even though we were using blue lights, lionfish were still attracted to us.

Lifting the visor away long enough they could be spotted swimming just beneath us, piggybacking divers to help with the hunt and hoping the light would illuminate a passing fish for lunch.

Afterwards, I asked Jan for his thoughts on the natural wonder. He admitted that the whys didn’t matter to him, it was the wonder that kept him jumping back in the water every Friday night.

And with this wonderful light display, who could blame him.

The Great Barrier Reef of Norfolk

THE world’s longest underwater chalk bank has been discovered off the coast of Norfolk.
Despite being less than ten metres below the surface and a short hop from the shore, it has lain undiscovered for 300 million years.
Some commentators have joked that the true reason that the chalk reef off Norfolk had been overlooked was its closeness to Cley and Trimingham, familiar places where wonders are unexpected.
But it is an important scientific discovery, made when divers surveyed what they thought was a small rocky plain earlier this year and uncovered towering arches of rock and deep chasms actually stretched for more than 20 miles.

The marine haven has so many species, including sponges, sea slugs and fish, that experts are describing it as ‘Britain’s Great Barrier Reef’.
Diver Rob Spray, 43, whose team discovered the reef, said: “It was like finding a natural Stonehenge hidden under the water.
“We couldn’t believe it when we found it was actually 20 miles long and had this amazing complex of gullies and arches. In some areas it looks like a moonscape.”
Three species never before recorded on the East Anglian coast have already been found there.

Woodhouse collision: boat owners fined

The owner of a cargo ship that smashed into Woodhouse Reef has been fined up to 5million US dollars for damages to the environment, according to the Chamber of Diving and Watersports.

Readers will remember from an earlier post that the giant 260m long CSCL Hamburg container ship collided with the northern side of the popular reef on December 31.

According to reports, it was more than a kilometre off course when it smashed into the reef.

Dr Mohammed Salem told Blue magazine, the publication of the CDWS: “The damaged area is almost 700m-square because of the slope. To 35m there is 100 per cent damage, which we estimate will take 100 years to recover.”

The money will be used to supplement environmental projects.

No drinking and diving?

First it was champagne, now it's a 200-year-old beer.

Divers salvaged the world's oldest drinkable beer from a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea on Thursday, just days after work began to retrieve dozens of bottles of 200-year-old champagne, local officials said.

"We believe these are by far the world's oldest bottles of beer," Rainer Juslin, a spokesman for the local government of Aaland, said in a statement.

The beer bottles were unearthed from a shipwreck believed to be about 200 years old as divers were recovering bottles of what is thought to be the world's oldest drinkable champagne, discovered in July.

The haul, found intact on the seabed at a depth of 50 metres , comes from an unidentified wreck which the Aaland authorities believe sank off the coast in the early 1800s.

"The constant temperature and light levels have provided optimal conditions for storage, and the pressure in the bottles has prevented any seawater from seeping in through the corks," Thursday's statement said.

The champagne bottles alone are estimated to be worth tens of thousands of euros.

Aaland, a semi-autonomous province of Finland, legally owns the contents of the wreck, but has yet to determine what to do with the champagne.

Historic remains Young man of Chan Hol recovered by cave divers

The remains of a prehistoric child that was found in an underwater cave and could re-write the history of the Americas have been recovered by a team of divers.

The Young Man of Chan Hol, as the skeleton is known among the scientific community is one of the earliest human skeletons of America, dating back more than 10,000 years ago.

It was recovered by Mexican specialists from a flooded cave in Quintana Roo.



It is among the oldest remains studied as part of a National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) project.

After three years of studies conducted underwater to prevent information loss, the Chan Hol skeleton was removed from the water by a team of specialists headed by biologist Arturo Gonzalez, coordinator of the project Study of Pre Ceramic Men of Yucatan Peninsula and director of Museo del Desierto de Coahuila (Museum of the Desert of Coahuila).

The Young Man of Chan Hol, named after the cenote it was found in, was recovered in a 542 meters long and 8.3 deep cave where stalagmites abound, and is reached after going through flooded, dark and difficult labyrinths.

UNAM (National University of Mexico) physical anthropologists that studied the remains think they were placed in the cave after a funerary ceremony that took place by the end of Pleistocene, when the sea level was 150 meters lower, before the caves, probably walked by this person, got flooded.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History said 60 per cent of the skeleton was collected, inlcuding bones of four extremities, vertebrae, ribs and the skull, as well as several teeth. Normally, in cases of 10,000 year old samples only the skull or jawbone is found, and sometimes, 20 or 30 percent of the skeleton.

Arturo Gonzalez, paleo biology specialist, said: "Our dating confirmed that skeletons collected in Quintana Roo caves belonged to members of Pre Clovis groups and are part of the few human rests found from the American Terminal Pleistocene, with physical features similar to those of people from Central and South Asia, suggesting there were several migrations to our continent”.

The first physical anthropology report, conducted by physical anthropologists Alejandro Terrazas and Martha Benavente, from the UNAM (National University of Mexico) Institute of Anthropological Investigations, indicates the skeleton belonged to a young adult, probably a male; legs were flexed to the left and arms extended to both sides of the body, which is a “new fact to be studied”, since no skeleton had been found before in this position.

The remains were discovered in 2006 by two German divers exploring the Chan Hol cave.

Wes Skiles: In memory of an amazing photographer

THIS amazing image of cave divers taken 80ft beneath the surface of the Bahamas graces the cover of the new edition of the National Geographic magazine.

But it's publication is twinged with sadness.

Wes Skiles, the highly thought of photographer of the shot (actually a composite of three images), 52, died last month during a research expedition examining underwater wildlife in his home state of Florida, just days after publication.

Bahamas Blue Holes was his last story for the magazine. The images were described as a "testament to his photographic skills, courage and child-like wonder in the search for the unknown".

An investigation is now under way to determine why Skiles was found unconscious and underwater near a reef and had not returned to the surface, as friends had thought he had.

National Geographic Society Editor in Chief Chris Johns said: "Wes was a true explorer in every sense and a wonderful spirit.
"He set a standard for underwater photography, cinematography and exploration that is unsurpassed. It was an honor to work with him, and he will be deeply missed."

Keenan Smart, National Geographic Television Natural History Unit added: "Wes Skiles was a brave, brilliant and pioneering underwater cameraman with an extraordinary passion for exploring and documenting the world of cave and technical diving.
"His knowledge, courage and expertise in this field was tremendous and he played a vital role in improving safety procedures for diving in difficult and dangerous conditions.
"His explorations of his beloved Florida cave systems contributed a great deal to our understanding of groundwater science and the dynamics of water flow through Florida's karst aquifers. It was this knowledge that led him to name his company Karst Productions.
"Over the years Wes participated in numerous filming expeditions worldwide and his creative work featured in many award winning films.

Sadie Quarrier, senior photo editor, National Geographic Magazine added: "He was deeply passionate about diving, exploring, photographing and protecting the waterways. H
"is boyish enthusiasm was infectious, and he delighted in telling non-divers about the wilder aspects of his watery underworld.
"Wes was big-hearted and humble yet extremely driven. He was doggedly determined to produce the best possible article on these caves he called home. He dared to dream big, and no budget or contract would stop him from going after a shot he felt we needed, even if it was on his own dime.
"But what I will remember most about my friend is his absolutely wonderful sense of humor, his over-the-top descriptions when he was really enthused about what he had just seen, and his twinkling eyes. He was sort of the Santa Claus of the underwater world, bringing us gifts that we could never get on our own."

The story about Bahamas Blue Holes also featured in the documentary extreme cave diving that
Skiles worked on.

The production followed the team of scientists as they ventured into blue holes (formed during the last ice age and are one of Earth's least explored and perhaps most dangerous frontiers) as they discovered intriguing evidence of the earliest human inhabitants of the islands, found animals seen nowhere else on Earth, and recovered a remarkable record of the planet's climate.

For more on the Biology of Marine Caves try Anchialine Caves and Cave Fauna
or click on the link for info on the Bahamas Caves Research Foundation

Spots v Stripes marine creatures battle it out for Cadbury

From the team that brought us the amazing TV ad featuring a gorilla drumming to Phil Collins hit 'In the Air Tonight' comes a new fishy tale.

Making use of the unique markings of marine creatures, Stops V Stripes is the latest eye-catching commercial from Birmingham-based chocolate manufacturer Cadbury.

It is part of a massive £50 million campaign to boost Britain’s community spirit and bring a “spirit of play” to the nation ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

The first Spots and Stripes adverts will be aired on TV on Saturday.

They will feature two teams of Finding Nemo-style marine creatures, one with spots and one with stripes, who play a game with seaweed balloons.

Viewers will be urged to log onto a website to join a team and compete in any game they wish, from golf to tiddlywinks, building up national totals online for each side.

The Birmingham-based chocolate manufacturer aims to create the “biggest game the UK has ever seen,” called Spots v Stripes through eye-catching adverts.

Nick Bunker, President, Kraft Foods UK and Ireland, said: “London 2012 will be the largest event the UK has seen in our lifetime and in the run-up to the Games people will be naturally thinking about coming together to show their support.

“However, we believe that, across the country, we have lost our community spirit, and we want to use our heritage in community engagement to reignite this. With Spots v Stripes we hope to create the biggest game the UK has ever seen, encouraging people to play games again and bring back the joy of community spirit in a fun and innovative way.

“Our aim is for millions of people to have organised or played games in their areas by 2012 and to use the power of playing games to unite and strengthen communities, leaving the nation with the ideas and inspiration to continue playing games in the future."

REport highlights fears over fish stocks

Britain's fishing industry cannot cope with demand, a report has concluded.
The UK's fish supplies only last for seven months of the year, the research by independent think-tank nef (the new economics foundation) and OCEAN2012 found.
The report, named Fish Dependence, points to the upcoming reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as a "unique" opportunity to turn the situation around and create a new fisheries model that will restore marine ecosystems and deliver a fair share of resources across the world.
Researchers mapped resources over a calendar year and found the day when the EU and each one of its member states starts to eat the catch from the rest of the world.
It showed that if people in the UK were to only eat fish from its own supplies, it would run out on August 3, based on current levels of consumption.
However the findings showed that the UK fares better than other EU countries such as Germany which goes into fish debt on May 5 and Spain on May 10.
Aniol Esteban, head of environmental economics at nef and co-founder of OCEAN2012, said: "We've cashed in the chips on our fish supplies; but we now have a big chance to restore fish stocks at the UK level and beyond.
"A healthy marine environment is a pre-condition to building a stronger economy, a more robust industry and happier fishing communities.
"There are fish without fisheries but no fisheries without fish."

Most biodiverse oceans identified

So now we know where to head on our next diving trip after a "roll call" of marine species has identified Australian and Japanese waters as the most biodiverse on Earth.
Each ocean zone contains an estimated 33,000 known forms of life, ranging from algae and single-celled protozoa to whales and sea birds.
The Mediterranean was also listed as a hotspot for different kinds of species by Census of Marine Life (CoML) scientists who surveyed 25 key marine regions.



Waters around popular holiday resorts in southern Europe were in the top five of the biodiversity league table, along with oceans off China and the Gulf of Mexico.
However the Mediterranean was also one of the areas where biodiversity was most threatened.
On average, the number of known species per region totalled 10,750, ranging from 2,600 to 33,000. But for every marine species of all kinds known to science, experts estimate that at least four are yet to be discovered.
Fish made up only 12% of the marine species identified in the round-up, described in a series of papers in the online journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) ONE.
Crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters and prawns were the most abundant forms of life, making up around a fifth of species in any given region.



The next most plentiful were molluscs which include squid, octopus, shellfish, snails and slugs. They made up 17% of a region's species population.
Plant and animal micro-organisms, such as algae and protozoa, each accounted for 10% of marine biodiversity, and segmented worms 7%.
Much of the remainder was made up of other non-vertebrate animal species including sea anemones, corals, jellyfish, starfish, sponges and sea urchins.
A category listed as "other vertebrates" that made up just 2% of the total contained some of the best-known marine animals, including whales, sea lions, seals, walruses, turtles and sea birds.
The "roll call" was published in the run-up to the long-awaited final report from the Census of Marine Life in October.



Almost 400 scientists from more than 80 nations are involved in the project, which aims to provide the most accurate assessment possible of the diversity, distribution and abundance of life in the oceans.
Dr Mark Costello, from the Leigh Marine Laboratory at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, lead author of the latest research, said: "This inventory was urgently needed for two reasons. First, dwindling expertise in taxonomy impairs society's ability to discover and describe new species. And secondly, marine species have suffered major declines - in some cases 90 per cent losses - due to human activities and may be heading for extinction, as happened to many species on land."
Biologist and author Dr Nancy Knowlton, from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, US, who heads the Census coral reef project, said: "At the end of the Census of Marine Life, most ocean organisms still remain nameless and their numbers unknown. This is not an admission of failure. The ocean is simply so vast that, after 10 years of hard work, we still have only snapshots, though sometimes detailed, of what the sea contains. But it is an important and impressive start."
She added: "The sea today is in trouble. Its citizens have no vote in any national or international body, but they are suffering and need to be heard. Much has changed just in the few decades that I have spent on and under the sea, but it remains a wondrous and enriching place, and with care it can become even more so."
Scientists found that many species appeared in more than one region. The most highly travelled "cosmopolitan" species lay at both ends of the the evolutionary scale, and included algae and protozoa as well as sea birds and mammals.
The "Manylight Viperfish" (Chauliodus sloani), found in more than a quarter of the world's marine waters, was described as the "everyman" of the deep ocean.
The Mediterranean had the largest number of invasive species of any region, with more than 600 immigrant varieties - 4% of its total. Most had arrived from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal.
Along with other "enclosed" sea areas, such as the Gulf of Mexico, Baltic and the Caribbean, the Mediterranean also had some of the most threatened biodiversity.

Underwater photographs with an Epoque strobe

Well here it is, the first pic with an external strobe.

Okay, it's more than a little overexposed in places and the pipe fish probably had stars in its eyes for a few minutes. I had guessed what the power output needed to be and then tweaked a little more. Perhaps should have wound it in a bit - but everyone has to start somewhere.



I have moved on, or across from the Canon G9. It's a truly fantastic camera but it cost a fortune for the bulky Ikelite housing and without it there was no way of attaching external lenses to it.

The IXUS 980i offered variable shutter speed, a little control over aperture (ie choice of two settings) and manual focus, so it was like a hybrid camera in a compact body. But best of all, the housing had a round port so an INON wide angle lens fits perfectly. And with that I thought I might as well go for a slave strobe.

Having never used one before, I stuck to the KISS (keep it simply stupid) principle and opted for the Epoque ES-230DS. It has a couple of settings for different cameras but it is essentially an on-off button with a knob to increase or decrease the power of the flash.

Hence the 'little' bit of over-exposure of the first pic.

But with a little bit of trial and error, it was possible to get closer to the right level. There are some values on the knob which relate to exposures but I just thought I would twist and turn until it looked about right.



What it did allow was faster shutter speeds than the camera suggests making it possible to capture more of the colour and detail without any of the motion blur.

The image of the Batwing Coral Crab above has captured a lot of detail at 1/125 but without the handshake blur I normally get with slow shutter speeds the camera would go opt for when trying to shoot natural light.
I actually don't think my pics have ever had as much red as before.



I know the water looks green but, honestly, these were taken on the recent Grenada trip on the Veronica L wreck, a perfect photography spot because of the depth and variety of life.

With a little work the above sponge pic could be tidied up (backscatter caused by really poor viz) but it demonstrates how simply turning the strobe so the light is coming from the side of the subject helps cut out a lot of the mess. An earlier effort was a complete blur. Colour-wise, I like the contrast between the red of the sponge and green of the water behind.

The below image shows how dramatic shadows can be created. Again there is a lot of backscatter but at this point I was just experimenting. The diffuser also gives the same coverage as the lens so most of the frame should be illuminated.



The rest of the images, like the ones above, are nothing special by any stretch but have been included to show the depth of colour (particularly the reds) that the strobe allows to be captured.





I know there is still a long way to go until I starts producing great quality images but the strobe has taken things on a giant step forward. It has already reduced my reliance on trying to shoot natural light (the inbuilt flash was always rubbish).




Now all I need to do is practice!

Scuba Diving Grenada Part 3

“May I extend you a warm Grenadian welcome,” gushed ebullient guide Roger Augustine, as we trundled from the airport after arriving in the sun kissed Caribbean.

“If you’ve been to Grenada before, then you are returning because you know it is the best island in the Caribbean. “If this is your first visit, you’re about to discover the Caribbean’s best kept secret.”

Despite feeling a little like an undiscovered gem, the Spice Island may be a reasonably popular spot on the UK holidaymaker's tourist map but when it comes to diving trips, it doesn’t seem to rank that high on the must-see list. Yet is does have it’s fair share of underwater riches.

The Caribbean islands have an eclectic mix of individual diving experiences – sharks in the Bahamas for instance – and Grenada is no different.

This is the wreck capital of the region. While the thought of Caribbean wrecks inspires dreams of long-lost Spanish galleons loaded with treasures ready to be plucked from the deep, the top wreck is a little more modern.

Justifiably known as the ‘Titanic of the Caribbean’, the Bianca C has few rivals in the realms of warm water wreck diving and has been listed as one of the ‘top ten’ worldwide wreck sites. All we had to do was find it.



Now you wouldn’t think the enormous 180m (600ft) cruise liner sank that sits upright on her keel in 50m (165ft) of water would be that difficult to find.

But on the day we hit the water a plankton bloom or the Orinocho Flow (depending on who you choose to believe) had turned the normally tropical waters into something...well...resembling the British coastline. Yep, it was dark and green.

The wreck itself is not buoyed and typically the dive guide descends onto stern reeling off a line to an SMB which the group follows downwards until the deck emerged in the aqua blue waters like a ghost from about 15 to 20 metres.

Yet in the gloom and dwindling viz, we couldn’t find it. And we must have been virtually on top of it.

Full marks go to our guide Ben from Devotion 2 Ocean. Rather than drag us around the blue, or green as it was, aimlessly looking for the wreck, after 15 minutes called the dive. It was a brilliant decision made by an experienced guide and instructor and highlighted that safety would not be compromised and one deserving of full praise.

Built in France 1939, Bianca C as she finally became known had a chequered history before ending up with an Italian firm taking tourists from Naples to Guaira, in Venezuela, via the Caribbean.

On October 12 1961 the Bianca C left Italy on her final voyage. Ten days later, whilst anchored off St Georges, the capital of Grenada, there was an explosion in her boiler room, killing a crew member and sparking a fire which spread rapidly through the stern of the ship. A flotilla of boats piloted by locals helped save the remaining 672 passengers and crew.

British Frigate the Londonderry was drafted in to remove her from the local shipping lanes but the Bianca C’s large rudders had become jammed by the extreme heat of the fire and she slipped the tow line sank to the ocean floor.



Luckily the wreck site is directly in front of the dive centre and after a decent surface interval we were back on the powerful boat making the five-minute ride hoping for a better shot.

And this time we found the wreck, hitting the twisted stern at about 36m. At first it was hard to fathom exactly what we were looking at until we came across what was once the swimming pool.



Where once, wealthy guests frolicked away the afternoon, fish are now the regular visitors to the retangular pool, the ornate tiles still visible. It seemed odd doing ‘lengths’ in full scuba gear, but we couldn’t not do it either.

As the minutes ticked down towards our no decompression limits we headed forward and slightly shallower over the top of the superstructure towards the funnel. Apparently you can still make out the 'C' but I'm no so sure.

Dives normally continue on to the bow for the 'King of the World' Titanic moment but our earlier dive had left us short on time so we made a short detour through the blue, err green, to Whibble Reef which runs parallel to the wreck.

This is one of the top reef dives for spotting pelagic fish on the Caribbean side of the Island. Spotted Eagle Rays, large Barracuda and Hawksbill Turtles are regularly seen. Unfortunately for us they were probably beyond our eight metre viz although we did have large schools of Horse Eyed Jacks darting amongst us as we meandered above the pristine corals and sponges.

Time on the wreck is obviously short because of its depth (unless of course you are a tech diver, then this would be a great wreck to explore fully) and there are a couple of occasions that require swimming in the blue with no reference point other than other divers. We were lucky with the current but it can sweep across the wreck.

After such a deep dive, one for advanced only, we slowly ascended hanging midwater as we off-gassed, the occasional fish approaching to see who the group of interlopers were. There is something magical about hanging there with nothing to distract you.

Mentally refreshed we headed back to the hotel for physical refreshment. Digs for the first part of the trip was the Flamboyant Hotel above Grand Anse Beach.

Now I'm always suspicious of resorts that try to suggest some grand design with their name. While it's not the most luxurious of places, it has its own unique Caribbean chic charm and the views over the famous beach cannot be beaten. The rooms were spacious and well equipped (ours even had a kitchen with cooker) and the bar was right on the beach.

But beware, anything offering great views from the cliff-top inevitably means steep climbs from beach to room. We hadn't banked on such a slog up and down but the views from the top and the beach at the bottom certainly made it worthwhile, and the grunting tortoises kept a smile on our faces as we huffed and puffed up the steps.

Next to the beach bar is Dive Grenada dive centre. Well equipped, with a fast boat (that could do with a bit more shade as my shoulders will testify) the centre Run by former Navy diver, Phil and his wife Helen.

He is a fascinating host who heads the island's scuba association so has the industry at his heart, whether it's planning to sink more wrecks or continue developing the sculpture park.

While the centre may not have been the plushest, I can imagine a group of blokes on a diving trip together would be happiest here in his company, sharing some underwater adventures some beers and good stories.

But back to the underwater world. Next up was the 25m wreck of the Veronica L. This fully intact coastal freighter was placed on Upper Boss Reef in 2003 after being moved from St Georges Harbour and was about a 15 to 20-minute boat ride away.

Phil at Dive Grenada said she probably had the largest diversity of marine life in such a small area of all the island's dive sites. On a normal day you could find patrolling barracuda, horse eyed jacks hunting amongst the brown chromis and creole wrasse patrolling around the bow towering from the seabed 16 metres down.



Some might look on the reduced viz as a problem, but for us it was a blessing because it meant we had to look a bit closer to find Arrow Head crabs nestled into small sponges, Christmas tree worms, small morays around the bow and on top of the crane. Looking closer also means you get to witness their behaviour.

We spent a good 35 minutes exploring the wreck, there is little to penetrate but we had a good poke around an at such a shallow depth, it is ideal for all levels of diver and a good spot for photographers (I used my strobe for the first time and got some interesting results, but more on that in an upcoming post).

Also about 15 minutes out from Grand Anse beach is 'Purple Rain', named so because of the large quantities of Creole Wrasse that descend upon you during your dive at this location.

This dive site is stunning with a fantastic diversity of both hard and soft corals, and barrel sponges. With a nice steady current carrying us effortlessly above the reef it felt like a marine animal version of the Generation Game: moray eel, crab, shrimp, moray, crab, crab, frog fish. In the end, I put the camera to one side and just watched the fish shoal around us.

After soaking in the amazing fish life beneath the waves, it kind of seemed criminal to head to Gouyave for Fish Friday. But there is a unique charm to this weekly local festival as the fishing families set up the frying pans under tarpaulin to cook the fresh catch for you. With music drifting through the air, a beer in hand and a plateful of snapper, plantains and vegetables the locals welcome you into their party company and it ended up feeling like a barbecue with friends.

After a short detour to Carriacou, we relocated to the True Blue Bay resort. This family-run Caribbean boutique hotel is set among tropical gardens sloping down to the sparkling blue waters of True Blue Bay where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet.

For the more serious diver, the Atlantic side offers some pumping currents and chance to see pelagics. I had hoped to dive the San Juan two miles off shore after reading one of the guidebooks enthusing about the large collection of nurse sharks that have gathered there. One dive centre said the sharks had gone after the hurricane of a few years back had moved the wreck and most had made the Hema there home.

While the guide books can be dismissive of the inshore reefs, there was still plenty to see among the 30 or so popular sites, particularly at the Marine Park area at Moliniere Bay and Flamingo Bay.

Here you will find the Sculpture Park (see earlier post) and some fine reefs with a plethora of corals. This being the wreck capital of the Caribbean, there is obviously a sunken ship. The Buccaneer, an 18 metre sailing vessel, is laying on its side just off Moliniere Reef, its deck disappeared leaving the ribs of the boat to create an interesting ambiance with lots of schooling grunts and squirrelfish.

Heading back along the reef above the sea grass, look for the extensive eel garden and mesmerise at the Yellow head Jaw Fish protruding vertically from the burrows in amongst the flora .

Happy Valley is another National Marine Park site which lies between Flamingo Bay and Dragon Bay. This is an interesting dive of contrasts, giant lobsters hidden among the reef and tiny little shrimp squirreled away in the sponges.

There is a very old admiralty anchor which is slowly becoming part of the reef and some very good examples of Black and Whip corals. Manta Rays are seen here at certain times of the year and we were treated to a giant ray that glided over the sand beneath us.

It was here that we spotted this little critter. A near translucent shrimp with blue and white legs perched on the red coral. Despite scouring the identification books I have still not been able to come up with a name yet, So if anyone can help, I would be much obliged.

While the wrecks are an ever present, the big stuff in can be elusive underwater, mantas were spotted in the shallows just off the beach when we were there but remained out of sight beneath the waves, Grenada still has enough treasures of the deep to offer.

Topside, the temptations are varied with a full blown rainforest to explore, exotic flowers brightening the green foliage and birds feeling the air with their squawks. There is also chance to swim beneath waterfalls. Grenada being the Spice Island, a visit to one of the processing Boucans will fill your senses with the wondrous smells of nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cocoa and ginger.

And this being the island of 150 proof rum, that is in such demand none of it ever makes it to export a trip to a distillery is worth it. And it will ensure you have something to keep you warm in the night as well.

See the guide for more details.

Scuba Diving Grenada: The Guide

View Grenada Scuba Diving in a larger map

Best time to go: Seasons in Grenada are split into two - dry and wet. Go any time between October/November and May. June is okay but depending on rainy weather elsewhere, viz could be impacted. Mid June saw viz down to between five and ten metres and green water. Some said it was down to the Orinoco Flow - water flooding up from Venezuela bringing with in all sorts of muck, others blamed an algae bloom. Go earlier to avoid.

Where to dive: Dived with Dive Grenada at the Flamboyant, Eco Dive at the Coyaba and Devotion 2 Ocean at the Grenadian and would happily recommend all three. My wife preferred Eco because of excellent guide Marvin Wolf and liked the set up at Devotion. I found Phil who runs Dive Grenada to be a knowledgeable and excellent host

Best Dive Sites:Bianca C for the amazing site of seeing an ocean liner resting on the ocean floor, the Underwater Sculpture Park because it is so unique and happy valley for it's amazing diversity of marine life. I didn't get chance to dive the Atlantic side but that offers some interesting experiences as well.

Biggest gripe:Can't really think of one. Walking up the steps to the Flamboyant but that is stretching it a bit

What suit to take: Sea was like jumping into bath water, routinely had 27/28C so a 3mm will do, particularly if you are planning to do the wrecks.

Where to Stay: We stayed at Flamboyant Hotel and True Blue Bay, both had dive centres on site. Flamboyant was perched on the side of a cliff overlooking Grand Anse Beach. With anything offering such fantastic views you know there is a steep walk up and down. Resort had that typically Caribbean chic with good sized rooms. Food in the restaurant was good but needed air con to take the humidity out when dining. Same can be said of the beach bar - although after a few cool beer quenchers you will soon forget. You do get a nice corner of a fantastic beach to yourselves though (probably because no one can be bothered to walk this far). True Blue Bay was tremendous with beautiful rooms. The Dodgy Dock bar and restaurant overlooking the bay was beautiful and a great place to relax. Only downsides, no beach and bar shut at 11pm when we were there.

Miscellaneous dive info: Three dive centres we used all launched from the beach so take a dry bag to keep stuff dry and be prepared for a walk through the sea with your kit. Aquanauts at True Blue Bay launches from a jetty

Guidebook: Couldn't find one. The Caribbean really needs a good guidebook.

Other info: Where to eat and what to do. I don't care what people say about Patrick's Homestyle Cooking, we had a fabulous meal there. Imagine Caribbean tapas and that is what it is like. Food was gorgeous. Gouyave Fish Friday is a great experience and interesting to try the freshest local catch with great music in the background. At the other end, eat at the Spice Island Resort, as fine dining goes, this was sumptuous and a meal to savour the taste buds for a long time. Get out around the island as well. Swimming the water falls was refreshing, savouring the smell of the River Antoine Rum Distillery (they do a 150 proof bottle that will burn your insides) was interesting, and listening to our host at the Boucan lovingly talk about spices with a knowledge gleaned over years was truly interesting.

Worth going: Absolutely


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