You know how we all hate filling in the official form every ten years asking us what we do, how many people we've got stashed away at home and how much we earn?
Well thankfully there's a few scientists who can't get enough. And God love 'em because they've come up with an interesting study about marine life at either ends of the earth.
And there's some fantastic news. The Census of Marine Life recorded some 7,500 species in the Antarctic and 5,500 in the Arctic, including several hundred that researchers believe could be new to science.
But while polar bears live in the north and penguins prefer the south, researchers also found the Polar oceans shared some 235 species, including whales, worms, crustaceans and angelic like pteropods- despite being separated by nearly 7,000 miles.
University of Alaska Fairbanks plankton ecologist Russ Hopcroft, who took part in the Arctic survey said: "Finding species at both ends of the Earth — some of which don't have a known connection in between — raises a whole bunch of evolutionary questions."
The survey is one of several projects of the Census of Marine Life, an international effort to catalogue all life in the oceans which will be published next year.
Victoria Wadley, a researcher from the Australian Antarctic Division added: "The textbooks have said there is less diversity at the poles than the tropics, but we found astonishing richness of marine life in the Antarctic and Arctic oceans We are rewriting the textbooks."
I guess the polar oceans are not biological deserts after all.
S'pose I best start looking at that PADI Ice Diving Specialty.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Google Ocean - dive without leaving your desktop
Just finished playing with a new version of Google Earth, and it promises to be a fantastic dive-planning-research-gathering-marine-life-saving resource. Or timewaster depending on what takes your fancy.
The plaything of deskbound travellers' (or those who want to zoom into their own house from space as if an invading Martian) now includes some of the great dive spots in the world.
A new layer called Google Ocean aims to bring the Blue Planet to life by featuring large swathes of the ocean floor and abyssal plains.
It gives users a 3D exploration of the sea floor, allowing them to visit underwater volcanoes, run videos on marine life, shipwrecks, clips of favourite dive spots and includes info from the world's leading scientists, researchers, ocean explorers and conservation groups.
Sylvia Earle, the National Geographic Society's explorer in residence, who helped develop the programme said: "I cannot imagine a more effective way to inspire awareness and caring for the blue heart of the planet than the new ocean in Google Earth."
The Marine Conservation Society said they can now map for the public where in the world some of the most sustainably-sourced kinds of fish come from.
In a statement, the charity said: "MCS is tremendously excited by the sheer potential of Ocean on Google Earth. Its new features will help bring the ocean to life in homes, businesses and classrooms in a more visual form than ever before.
"Our first layer shows the fish available to consumers that can be obtained without risk of depleting stocks, a positive message to accompany the launch."
The plaything of deskbound travellers' (or those who want to zoom into their own house from space as if an invading Martian) now includes some of the great dive spots in the world.
A new layer called Google Ocean aims to bring the Blue Planet to life by featuring large swathes of the ocean floor and abyssal plains.
It gives users a 3D exploration of the sea floor, allowing them to visit underwater volcanoes, run videos on marine life, shipwrecks, clips of favourite dive spots and includes info from the world's leading scientists, researchers, ocean explorers and conservation groups.
Sylvia Earle, the National Geographic Society's explorer in residence, who helped develop the programme said: "I cannot imagine a more effective way to inspire awareness and caring for the blue heart of the planet than the new ocean in Google Earth."
The Marine Conservation Society said they can now map for the public where in the world some of the most sustainably-sourced kinds of fish come from.
In a statement, the charity said: "MCS is tremendously excited by the sheer potential of Ocean on Google Earth. Its new features will help bring the ocean to life in homes, businesses and classrooms in a more visual form than ever before.
"Our first layer shows the fish available to consumers that can be obtained without risk of depleting stocks, a positive message to accompany the launch."
Here's a quick example of what I found.
Thistlegorm - most of us have been there so it seemed an easy one. Zoom in close enough and you'll get an image of the liveaboards lined up (a familiar site for most of us). Click of the dive site symbol and it will show a nice pic of the gun on the stern. There is also footage from Cousteau's Silent World 1956 documentary. If you haven't been to the wreck it gives a nice introduction to where it is and what you can expect.
Nine boats1! Thistlegorm on a good day
Scapa Flow - you get a number of dive sites with pics including sonar images such as this of the SMS Dresden
4009 - that's the number given to a 4m long Great White Shark tagged off the coast of California and you can check out where she's been.
satellite track of 4009
Black bream - according to the MSC black bream caught in the English Channel are kind of okay to eat because they are caught in a reasonably sustainable way.
Zenobia - Oh my God!
Where has the past 90 minutes of my life just gone?
New Scuba Diving Drysuit
I've ordered my new dry suit from Aquasport this week and I've gone for the "Suit of Choice".
Well almost!
I tried the Oceanic Aedura Black front loader and really wanted to like it but ended up with two problems. First I found it a faff to get on.
"It'll get easier with practice," I'm sure people will say.
And I'm sure it does.
But I never really wanted to be a contortionist (I don't think I'm supple enough for that). I just found it awkward to get on and could imagine students watching me fighting into my drysuit on a training course and questioning what kind of idiot was meant to be looking after them.
Secondly, I think you need to be a bit more broad shouldered and chested than I am (or leave the coathanger in) to really wear the frontloader well because of the way the zip runs.
I ended up with enough extra material across the front that I could have fitted Jordan's assets in as well.
That said, the Aerdura was incredibly warm and comfortable so I went for the tradional back zip instead. It only comes with one cargo pocket but, hey, can't have everything and I've gone for the neoprene sock and rock boot. Should have it by the end of the month.
Strange Scuba Diving Behaviour
Is adventure in the world beneath the surface becoming a bit tedious? I only ask because it seems divers are on a quest to find the most bizarre thing to do underwater.
Following on from the Underwater Ironing record at Chepstow last month (watch the video, it is pretty impressive), two divers que'd up for a game of billiards beneath the waves in the Bay of Bengal
Sabir Bux, the scuba diver and Ahsan-ul-Haq, a billiards player, dropped an 8x4 sq feet green coated iron table in about 20 feet deep in the water and used six specialised balls during the play. Now they are too going for a world record.
Bux, 43, who runs Kalinga Divers, said: "This is the first of its kind attempt in the world. It was a trial match. We will play the final in the deep sea very soon to set a world record."
Following on from the Underwater Ironing record at Chepstow last month (watch the video, it is pretty impressive), two divers que'd up for a game of billiards beneath the waves in the Bay of Bengal
Sabir Bux, the scuba diver and Ahsan-ul-Haq, a billiards player, dropped an 8x4 sq feet green coated iron table in about 20 feet deep in the water and used six specialised balls during the play. Now they are too going for a world record.
Bux, 43, who runs Kalinga Divers, said: "This is the first of its kind attempt in the world. It was a trial match. We will play the final in the deep sea very soon to set a world record."
And then there was the breath-taking Scuba Diving Olympics in Florida.
The events included a parade, the 100 meter dive buddy tow, balloon lift, three-legged buddy race, bicycle event and obstacle course for professionals with proceeds supporting a new Special Olympic Swim team program at the pool.
Another US Sport claiming to be a worldwide contest but only featuring the Yanks. Or a bit of a laff that is sure to catch on elsewhere?
Let's hope British divers don't get carried away with a new competition - they are already in an on-going battle with the Aussies over the underwater ironing title.
The divers braved water temperatures of just 5C to carry out the attempt at the National Diving and Activity Centre.
They each had to iron one item of linen within a 10-minute time limit and 86 of them completed the task under the watchful eye of adjudicators, beating the previous world record of 72 set in Melbourne, Australia, last year.
Organiser Gareth Lock said the charity challenge is set to raise £10,000 for the RNLI - while raising awareness about the "joys" of underwater ironing.
The divers braved water temperatures of just 5C to carry out the attempt at the National Diving and Activity Centre.
They each had to iron one item of linen within a 10-minute time limit and 86 of them completed the task under the watchful eye of adjudicators, beating the previous world record of 72 set in Melbourne, Australia, last year.
Organiser Gareth Lock said the charity challenge is set to raise £10,000 for the RNLI - while raising awareness about the "joys" of underwater ironing.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Divefest and Basking Sharks
While the research into foreign dive destinations continues to trickle in, we've already got a UK trip planned - and it's going to be a cracker in Cornwall.
DiveFest is a brand-new diving festival (it does exactly what it says on the tin) and is set to be the UK’s biggest diving event of the year.
And Aquasport International are going to make even better.
Around 40 of us staff and customers are already signed up to go and we've got three nice boats booked for the weekend's diving.
With a post-dive beer or two thrown in, it promises to be a party weekend in mid May.
If you don't know what it's about, check out the website for the full run down.
In a nutshell, there's going to be to be diving and diving and diving.
And that’s not all. There’s a party on the beach on the Saturday night, with a band, hog lamb roast, dancing and a bonfire. Famous divers, such as Monty Halls, (that will send my missus' heart a-flutter) will be speaking about their work and there will be films shows.
Diving manufacturers will also be on hand to show their latest products and in some cases give you a chance to dive with their new kit.
Any dive site recommendations would be gratefully received.
A couple of us are also planning to spend the whole week down there and I was hoping for a bit of basking shark watching.
Amazing Cornwall is a good site for spotting the gentle giants of the ocean particularly in late spring and summer when (he's the science part) warm water from the Atlantic pushes into coastal waters on the western coasts of the UK and brings microscopic nutrients to the surface (that's plankton bloom to most of us). These blooms feed other tiny animals which are the basking shark's favourite food.
Results from the Wildlife Trusts' Basking Shark Survey (click for the summary or full report)suggest we might be a little too early in the season.
During the 2006 season, the project recorded 303 sharks, the most ever recorded in a year by the study group. Researchers said one area stood out clearly as a shark hotspot from Lizard Point west to the Runnelstone Buoy. July seemed to be the peak month
The eight year study also highlighted a remarkable change in shark distribution over the study period, with a marked decline in sightings in the South West of England, and an increase off Scotland.
The report identified numerous threats to the species particularly as by-catch in fishermen's nets. Colin Speedie who led the study project said the proposed Marine Conservation Zones proposed by the Government were desperately needed.
“We need to see Marine Conservation Zones set up to help rebuild healthy seas in order that UK waters can truly support the marine life once common off our shores," he added.
The Shark Trust also has also published some interesting studies on basking sharks in conjunction with the Marine Biological Association.
DiveFest is a brand-new diving festival (it does exactly what it says on the tin) and is set to be the UK’s biggest diving event of the year.
And Aquasport International are going to make even better.
Around 40 of us staff and customers are already signed up to go and we've got three nice boats booked for the weekend's diving.
With a post-dive beer or two thrown in, it promises to be a party weekend in mid May.
If you don't know what it's about, check out the website for the full run down.
In a nutshell, there's going to be to be diving and diving and diving.
And that’s not all. There’s a party on the beach on the Saturday night, with a band, hog lamb roast, dancing and a bonfire. Famous divers, such as Monty Halls, (that will send my missus' heart a-flutter) will be speaking about their work and there will be films shows.
Diving manufacturers will also be on hand to show their latest products and in some cases give you a chance to dive with their new kit.
Any dive site recommendations would be gratefully received.
A couple of us are also planning to spend the whole week down there and I was hoping for a bit of basking shark watching.
Amazing Cornwall is a good site for spotting the gentle giants of the ocean particularly in late spring and summer when (he's the science part) warm water from the Atlantic pushes into coastal waters on the western coasts of the UK and brings microscopic nutrients to the surface (that's plankton bloom to most of us). These blooms feed other tiny animals which are the basking shark's favourite food.
Results from the Wildlife Trusts' Basking Shark Survey (click for the summary or full report)suggest we might be a little too early in the season.
During the 2006 season, the project recorded 303 sharks, the most ever recorded in a year by the study group. Researchers said one area stood out clearly as a shark hotspot from Lizard Point west to the Runnelstone Buoy. July seemed to be the peak month
The eight year study also highlighted a remarkable change in shark distribution over the study period, with a marked decline in sightings in the South West of England, and an increase off Scotland.
The report identified numerous threats to the species particularly as by-catch in fishermen's nets. Colin Speedie who led the study project said the proposed Marine Conservation Zones proposed by the Government were desperately needed.
“We need to see Marine Conservation Zones set up to help rebuild healthy seas in order that UK waters can truly support the marine life once common off our shores," he added.
The Shark Trust also has also published some interesting studies on basking sharks in conjunction with the Marine Biological Association.
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