After a few days away from the computer I've come back to an in-box full of alerts about this that and the other.
Quickly skimming through them, I've come across a few interesting tit-bits. Rather than write chapter and verse, here they are in a (chunky) nutshell....................
A unique study by a scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at San Diego has provided fresh evidence of fishing's impact on marine ecosystems.
Researcher Loren McClenachan looked at archive photos spanning more than five decades to analyze and calculate a drastic decline of so-called "trophy fish" caught around coral reefs surrounding Key West, Florida.
In a paper published in an upcoming issue of the journal Conservation Biology, she describes a stark 88 percent decline in the estimated weight of large predatory fish imaged in black-and-white 1950s sport fishing photos compared to the relatively diminutive catches photographed in modern pictures.
Primitive deep-sea fish may have viewed the world in colour.
The elephant shark, which evolved about 450 million years ago, is the oldest vertebrate to have "the colour vision system we know as humans", says David Hunt at University College London.
Even sharks are feeling the bite from economic tough times with reported shark bites are down - because fewer tourists are hitting the beach.
According to George Burgess of the International Shark Attack File, shark attacks dropped to their lowest level in five years worldwide last year, falling from 71 in 2007 to 59 in 2008, and killing four. One theory is that fewer people are putting themselves in harm's way because they can't afford it.
The tragic death of a Teesside diver might have been avoided had better warning signs been placed around the wreck they were exploring, an inquest heard.
Paul Swain, 49 of Billingham, died on November 3 last year after becoming disorientated in a compartment of a sunken ferry, the MV Xlendi on the island of Gozo, off Malta.
Hartlepool Coroner’s Court was told how the upturned ferry was not equipped with proper warning notices alerting them to the dangers of exploring the site.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
French warship Danton found at the bottom of the sea
In a case of “anything you can do, I can do better”, underwater explorers have now announced they have found a French battleship torpedoed by a German U-boat more than 90 years ago on the sea floor.
And from the video it looks in remarkable condition.
The Danton, which sank with 296 sailors still on board, is sitting upright in more than 1,000 metres of water and 15 metres proud of the seabed.
It was found 35km southwest of the island of Sardinia during an underwater survey for a gas pipeline across the Southern Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Italy.
The Fugro geo-sciences announced today (Feb 18 2009) that their survey vessel Geo Prospector found the sunken warship was carrying out a deepwater marine survey.
Detailed examination of the side-scan sonar data shortly after Christmas 2007 revealed a large wreck approximately 125m long with a beam of around 27m, lying upright on the seabed.
In January 2008, the Fugro support vessel Skandi Inspector used its ROV to examine the wreck site which revealed the wreck looked like a battleship.
Full video on Fugro website
A study of records suggested it could be the warship Danton which was sunk in the area in March 1917.
“Its condition is extraordinary,” Rob Hawkins, project director with Fugro GeoConsulting Limited told the BBC.
A comparison with the original plans for the battleship, including the position of its 240mm guns, confirmed the wreck’s identity.
The pipeline has been re-routed around the wreck site.
The discovery comes just weeks after it was announced that the wreck of the HMS Victory, sunk in 1744, was found in the English channel.
And from the video it looks in remarkable condition.
The Danton, which sank with 296 sailors still on board, is sitting upright in more than 1,000 metres of water and 15 metres proud of the seabed.
It was found 35km southwest of the island of Sardinia during an underwater survey for a gas pipeline across the Southern Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Italy.
The Fugro geo-sciences announced today (Feb 18 2009) that their survey vessel Geo Prospector found the sunken warship was carrying out a deepwater marine survey.
Detailed examination of the side-scan sonar data shortly after Christmas 2007 revealed a large wreck approximately 125m long with a beam of around 27m, lying upright on the seabed.
In January 2008, the Fugro support vessel Skandi Inspector used its ROV to examine the wreck site which revealed the wreck looked like a battleship.
Full video on Fugro website
A study of records suggested it could be the warship Danton which was sunk in the area in March 1917.
“Its condition is extraordinary,” Rob Hawkins, project director with Fugro GeoConsulting Limited told the BBC.
A comparison with the original plans for the battleship, including the position of its 240mm guns, confirmed the wreck’s identity.
The pipeline has been re-routed around the wreck site.
The discovery comes just weeks after it was announced that the wreck of the HMS Victory, sunk in 1744, was found in the English channel.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Canon G9 Camera Underwater
While pulling together a slideshow of underwater images I got thinking about things have moved on since my first camera. As some of you may be looking to upgrade from your point and shoot, here's a review of the Canon G9 instructor Jason Clarke posted on the Dive Magazine website. The review won him a set of Poseiden regs (I have the same camera and wish I'd got a review in first)
PERFECT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR COMPACT CAMERAS
Strengths: the option for full manual functions will give you greater control over how your photos turn out and RAW function allows for greater fiddling on a PC afterwards.
Weaknesses: Takes a bit of getting used to. Also the Canon housing doesn’t allow for wide angle or wet lenses to be attached. If that is your thing, you will need to purchase the more expensive Ikelite housing.
Overall: The advent of compact digital cameras and watertight housings has revolutionized underwater photography, giving us chance to share our experiences with people not yet converted to life with an aqualung.
Inevitably, there will be some of us who will outgrow our simple point-and-shoot models as we aspire to replicate the images of the likes of Alex Mustard or David Doubliet.
However, the thought of trying a digital SLR will leave a lot of us in dread. Too expensive, too fiddly and you’d need some sort of degree to learn how to use one, I thought.
But after much searching I’ve discovered the Canon G9 which I bought with a Canon WP-DC21 housing. It’s slightly bigger than your average compact but comes with a wealth of manual functions usually found only on SLR cameras, thus providing a perfect bridge between the two vastly different disciplines.
More experienced photographers can better explain the qualities of the camera so I’ll just stick with its underwater uses.The camera comes with all the gubbings you’d expect if buying one of its compact cousins (cables, software etc) and operates in exactly the same way.
However, turn the dial to full manual and it opens up a world of new things to try to improve your photos. Crucially, the camera gives you control of shutter speeds and aperture, two key elements in controlling the amount of light hitting the sensor and affecting how your pictures turn out.
On land, the functions are operated by a simple wheel with your thumb. Underwater, it involves pressing a couple of buttons. My advice, read the manual that comes with the Canon housing. Skip through any number of underwater photography forums and you will find countless divers have discounted the G9 because they didn’t think the manual functions would be available to them beneath the waves.
White balance and ISO control can also be controlled manually and there is a macro setting. There is also scope for a slave flash with the Canon housing.
The G9 also lets you shoot in RAW format, effectively a digital negative that has had no post-shot processing done by the camera and is perfect for those who link to tinker with their shots on a PC afterwards.
Getting good results with the G9’s manual functions does take a bit of work. A professional photographer friend recommended experimenting lots on land so they become second nature. But with digital, it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t cost you anything. Such is the quality of the camera, he even bought one as a back-up.
After eight months playing with the camera, my pics are slowly improving and I’ve discovered that, underwater, there are colours other than differing shades of blue.
Comparing shots I take now with my first scuba snaps and I’ve come on in leaps and bounds.And with automatic functions just a twist of the dial away, you can always use it like any other compact to make sure you don’t miss that (possibly) once-in-a-lifetime shot as I did when a whale shark swam past us in Sharm in June.
There is one major sticking point however. Due to the shape of the housing port it is not possible to attach wet lenses such as wide angle or macro. I only discovered this after buying the camera. It now means another £500-ish outlay for an Ikelite housing for when I want to make the next step forward.
That aside, this is a perfect camera for taking those baby steps towards publication-quality pics
PERFECT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR COMPACT CAMERAS
Strengths: the option for full manual functions will give you greater control over how your photos turn out and RAW function allows for greater fiddling on a PC afterwards.
Weaknesses: Takes a bit of getting used to. Also the Canon housing doesn’t allow for wide angle or wet lenses to be attached. If that is your thing, you will need to purchase the more expensive Ikelite housing.
Overall: The advent of compact digital cameras and watertight housings has revolutionized underwater photography, giving us chance to share our experiences with people not yet converted to life with an aqualung.
Inevitably, there will be some of us who will outgrow our simple point-and-shoot models as we aspire to replicate the images of the likes of Alex Mustard or David Doubliet.
However, the thought of trying a digital SLR will leave a lot of us in dread. Too expensive, too fiddly and you’d need some sort of degree to learn how to use one, I thought.
But after much searching I’ve discovered the Canon G9 which I bought with a Canon WP-DC21 housing. It’s slightly bigger than your average compact but comes with a wealth of manual functions usually found only on SLR cameras, thus providing a perfect bridge between the two vastly different disciplines.
More experienced photographers can better explain the qualities of the camera so I’ll just stick with its underwater uses.The camera comes with all the gubbings you’d expect if buying one of its compact cousins (cables, software etc) and operates in exactly the same way.
However, turn the dial to full manual and it opens up a world of new things to try to improve your photos. Crucially, the camera gives you control of shutter speeds and aperture, two key elements in controlling the amount of light hitting the sensor and affecting how your pictures turn out.
On land, the functions are operated by a simple wheel with your thumb. Underwater, it involves pressing a couple of buttons. My advice, read the manual that comes with the Canon housing. Skip through any number of underwater photography forums and you will find countless divers have discounted the G9 because they didn’t think the manual functions would be available to them beneath the waves.
White balance and ISO control can also be controlled manually and there is a macro setting. There is also scope for a slave flash with the Canon housing.
The G9 also lets you shoot in RAW format, effectively a digital negative that has had no post-shot processing done by the camera and is perfect for those who link to tinker with their shots on a PC afterwards.
Getting good results with the G9’s manual functions does take a bit of work. A professional photographer friend recommended experimenting lots on land so they become second nature. But with digital, it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t cost you anything. Such is the quality of the camera, he even bought one as a back-up.
After eight months playing with the camera, my pics are slowly improving and I’ve discovered that, underwater, there are colours other than differing shades of blue.
Comparing shots I take now with my first scuba snaps and I’ve come on in leaps and bounds.And with automatic functions just a twist of the dial away, you can always use it like any other compact to make sure you don’t miss that (possibly) once-in-a-lifetime shot as I did when a whale shark swam past us in Sharm in June.
There is one major sticking point however. Due to the shape of the housing port it is not possible to attach wet lenses such as wide angle or macro. I only discovered this after buying the camera. It now means another £500-ish outlay for an Ikelite housing for when I want to make the next step forward.
That aside, this is a perfect camera for taking those baby steps towards publication-quality pics
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Man made shark womb
Bizarre news of the day......
Scientists are developing an artificial uterus to help save the endangered grey nurse shark whose pups engage in a spot of cannibalism.
While still in the womb the strongest will devour their weaker siblings meaning only two can be born from each female at a time.
The research has been funded by the New South Wales department of Primary Industries in a desperate bid to save the species, acknowledged as one of the most threatened in the waters of eastern Australia.
Dr Nick Otway, who is leading the research estimates that fewer than 1000 grey nurse sharks of optimum breeding age are left in the wild in Australian waters.
It is hoped the man-made womb will help in an artificial breeding program
Check out the cannibals in action.
Scientists are developing an artificial uterus to help save the endangered grey nurse shark whose pups engage in a spot of cannibalism.
While still in the womb the strongest will devour their weaker siblings meaning only two can be born from each female at a time.
The research has been funded by the New South Wales department of Primary Industries in a desperate bid to save the species, acknowledged as one of the most threatened in the waters of eastern Australia.
Dr Nick Otway, who is leading the research estimates that fewer than 1000 grey nurse sharks of optimum breeding age are left in the wild in Australian waters.
It is hoped the man-made womb will help in an artificial breeding program
Check out the cannibals in action.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Marine Conservation Society Award
Slumdog Millionaire v The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? Brad Pitt v Mickey Rourke? Kate Winslet v well, Kate Winslet? I'm sure there are people arguing right now over who deserves this year's Oscar.
While they're doing that, let me tell you that the Marine Conservation Society has nipped in to win it's own honour - the Best Environmental Campaign 2009 award with their battle for Clean Seas.
Campaigns to reduce pollution at sea were nominated by readers of Coast Magazine and debated by a panel of judges including dive hottie Miranda Krestovnikoff.
Among it's initiatives, MCS Beachwatch involves over 5,000 volunteers each year in cleaning up and surveying beaches.
The conservation group has also brought the issues of plastic bags, balloons, sewage dumped at sea to public and government attention through its Campaign for Clean Seas.
Dr Sue Kinsey, of the MCS pollution team, said: "We're absolutely delighted to win this award, which we accept on behalf of the team of volunteers and staff who have worked so hard to bring about change."
Congratulations to the team.
My money's on Slumdog, Pitt and er Winslet by the way.
While they're doing that, let me tell you that the Marine Conservation Society has nipped in to win it's own honour - the Best Environmental Campaign 2009 award with their battle for Clean Seas.
Campaigns to reduce pollution at sea were nominated by readers of Coast Magazine and debated by a panel of judges including dive hottie Miranda Krestovnikoff.
Among it's initiatives, MCS Beachwatch involves over 5,000 volunteers each year in cleaning up and surveying beaches.
The conservation group has also brought the issues of plastic bags, balloons, sewage dumped at sea to public and government attention through its Campaign for Clean Seas.
Dr Sue Kinsey, of the MCS pollution team, said: "We're absolutely delighted to win this award, which we accept on behalf of the team of volunteers and staff who have worked so hard to bring about change."
Congratulations to the team.
My money's on Slumdog, Pitt and er Winslet by the way.
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