SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011): Issue 34

SCUBA News 34

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) Issue 34 - February 2003 http://www.scubatravel.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello, and thank you for subscribing to SCUBA News. Today we are starting a new feature: Creature of the Month. Each issue we'll pick an underwater animal and give a few details on its appearance and lifestyle. We hope you enjoy SCUBA News but should you wish to cancel your free subscription please do so at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html Contents: - What's new at SCUBA Travel? - Creature of the Month: Jewel Anemone - Maritime Archaeological Field School - Diving News from Around the World If you have any diving news, comments on this newsletter or dive reports we'd love to hear from you. Just fill in our Contact the Editor form. __________________________________________________________ What's New at SCUBA Travel? =========================== Bahamas, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Maldives, Oman and Vanuatu More comments on Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Aliwal Shoal (South Africa), Ari Atoll (Maldives), Muscat (Oman) and the wrecks of the Bahama Mama (Bahamas) and the President Coolidge (Vanuatu). See http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/scuba.html Sharm El-Sheik, Red Sea We have listed have more dive operators in Sharm El-Sheik. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/redsea/sharmop.html Photo Gallery We've again added to the British Isles room of our photo gallery. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photouk.html __________________________________________________________ Creature of the Month: Jewel Anemone ==================================== When a myriad of colour patches cover a rock it may well be because of jewel anemones (Corynactis species). These flower-like animals, up to 2.5 cm (1") across, feed on invertebrates which are paralysed and caught by their 100 ball-tipped tentacles. They favour fast-flowing water, so look for them where strong currents occur from shore level down to around 50 m. The reason for the large patches of jewel anemones is their capacity for asexual reproduction. The adult anemone splits itself longitudinally into two. When repeated large colonies form. Different species of jewel anemones are found in temperate waters around the world. Corynactis viridis occurs around the British Isles, South West Europe and in the Mediteranean. C. californica (also known as the strawberry anemone) is found from San Diego to British Columbia. C. autralis lives around South East Australia. For photos of jewel anemones, illustrating some of their varied colours, see our photo gallery http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photos/Jewelanemone.html http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photos/Jewelanemone2.html http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photos/Jewelanemone3.html http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photos/Jewelanemone4.html http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photos/Jewelanemone5.html http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photouk.html For more about European jewel anemones, plus other marine life, we recommend the book "Marine Animals of the South West", by Paul Naylor. Available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0952283158/1286 __________________________________________________________ Maritime Archaeological Field School ==================================== ADMAT, the Anglo-Danish Maritime Archaeological Team, still have some spaces available on their underwater survey of historic wrecks around St Kitts. A non-profit organisation, ADMAT assists Caribbean governments to survey and protect their underwater cultural heritage. The White House Bay Maritime Archaeological Project is open to any diver and lasts from 2 April 2003 until 30 April 2003. For more details visit http://www.admat.org.uk :ADV_____________________________________________________ Save money on a vast selection of posters and prints: whales, sharks, dolphins, fish, seascapes... Browse the offers at www.allposters.com ______________________________________________________ADV: __________________________________________________________ Diving News From Around the World ================================= OLDER DIVERS RESASSURED Scientists have compared carbon dioxide retention of divers under 40 with those over 57, whilst in a hyperbaric chamber simulating a depth of 60 feet. Happily, they have concluded there is little difference between the younger and older groups. http://www.healthcentral.com/news/ PADI RECALLS RECREATIONAL DIVE PLANNERS Recent PADI RDPs have inaccurate or missing numbers and should not be used for planning dives. The tables were printed from June 2002 through January 2003 and bear the mark "Printed in the USA". The product number and production code resemble "Product No. 60049 XXXPDJ2". Visit the PADI web site for full details. http://www.padi.com/rdprecall 1995 ALADIN AIR X NITROX DIVE COMPUTERS RECALLED UWATEC are recalling Aladin's manufactured in 1995 as their software may inaccurately calculate desaturation times. The manufacture date is on the back of the computer, in the lower right hand corner. The date code reads the number of the month followed by a decimal point and the year, for example, "01.95." Applies to air and nitrox computers sold across America http://www.uwatec.com/imperial/safety_notice.html ITALY BANS OLD TANKERS FROM ITS HARBOURS Italy is to forbid access of tankers 15 years and older, as well as single-hulled tankers with a capacity of over 5000 tons, to its harbours in an effort to protect the Italian coast from oil spills. Good news for divers off Italy. http://www.panda.org/news_facts/ CORAL REEFS' 30 BILLION DOLLAR BENEFITS Threatened coral reefs provide nearly US$30 billion net benefits a year to world economies, an independent report claimed. Almost 60 per cent of the planet's coral reef systems are either permanently lost or at risk of being destroyed during the next 30 years. Primary threats to coral reefs include careless mass tourism, unregulated coastal development, overfishing, land-based pollution and coral bleaching related to global climate change. Download the report from http://test.panda.org/cesardegradationreport100203.pdf :ADV_____________________________________________________ Log data from GPS, sonar and other instruments to your database or mapping program with the free Windmill software. For diving, marine archaeology, salvage, coral reef monitoring, etc. Download your free copy at http://www.windmill.co.uk/gps.html ____________________________________________________ADV: FISH FARMS THREATEN WILD SPECIES Fish farms threaten stocks of wild species, says WWF, because more and more wild fish are being fed to the captives. Four kilos (8.8 pounds) of wild-caught fish are needed to produce one kilo of farmed fish. The WWF urged more research into alternative feeds for farmed fish, including vegetable proteins such as soya or corn gluten, use of fish offal, or use of trawlers' by-catches that are often dumped in the sea. http://www.enn.com/news/2003-02-19/s_2699.asp THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL DIVE SHOW This weekend (1-2 March) sees the LIDS at ExCel - Docklands, London. In its 23rd year with over 250 exhibitors, the show features new equipment, holiday destinations, presentations and seminars. http://www.diveshows.co.uk/ DIVERS DAY AT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC, SAN DIEGO The Aquarium of the Pacific will host its second annual Divers Day on Sunday, March 23, from 9 am to 6 pm Divers who present valid proof of certification with their photo ID will receive free admission. Displays include antique diving equipment. http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/NEWS_EVENTS/diversday.htm BENEATH THE SEA EXPOSITION America's largest consumer scuba and dive travel show is on at at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey between 28-30 March http://www.beneaththesea.org/ DIVE SCOTLAND For wide choice of gear, holidays and other diving services and a whole range of free to enter seminars visit Dive Scotland on 29-30 March at SECC, Glasgow. http://www.diveshows.co.uk/ __________________________________________________________ * Copyright SCUBA Travel Ltd - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/ * Reprinting welcomed with this footer included. We are happy for you to copy and distribute this newsletter, and even use parts of it on your own website, providing the above copyright notice is included, and a link back to our website is in place. Previous editions of SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) are archived at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html SUBSCRIBING AND UNSUBSCRIBING Visit http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html and add or remove your e-mail address. CONTACTING THE EDITOR Please use the Contact the Editor form to send us letters or press releases or write to: The Editor SCUBA News The Cliff Upper Mayfield DE6 2HR UK ADVERTISING Should you wish to advertise in SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011), please fill in the form at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/newsad.html PUBLISHER SCUBA Travel Ltd, 5 Loxford Court, Hulme, Manchester, M15 6AF, UK

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