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SCUBA News 54~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) Issue 54 - October 2004 http://www.scubatravel.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to SCUBA News. This month we're delighted to launch the "Diving Board", for the discussion of all aspects of SCUBA diving. At the moment it's just for SCUBA News subscribers - we'll roll it out to other divers later on. Give it a try at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/ We hope you enjoy the newsletter, but should you wish to cancel your subscription you can do so at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html Contents: - What's new at SCUBA Travel? - Top Ten SCUBA Diving Bestsellers - The Diving Board: New Discussion Forum - Creature of the Month: - Diving News from Around the World __________________________________________________________ What's New at SCUBA Travel? =========================== The Diving Board: SCUBA Discussion Forum and Message Board For discussion of all aspects of SCUBA diving, with especial focus on dive sites and travel tips. Plus, special offers on diving equipment, holidays, insurance, etc. Scroll down for more details or go to http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/ :ADVERT:_________________________________________________ $5 off posters and prints: coral reefs, sharks, dolphins, seascapes...go to http://www.allposters.com/ select your posters and enter OCT04GET5OFF in your shopping cart. Offer ends 31 October, minimum spend $24.99 __________________________________________________:ADVERT: World's Top 100 Dives Updated The Yongala (Australia) keeps its number one spot in the list of the top 100 dives, but many of the other dive sites have risen or fallen. Discover the dives you shouldn't miss at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/topdiveslong.html Recommended Diving Operators You've recommended more diving operators in the Philippines and Thailand. See which have the "five fish" rating at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/philippines/philop.html http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/thailand/thaiop.html More Notes on the Diving in Cuba Read about the Bay of Pigs and other Cuban dive sites. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/scuba.html#Cuba New Diving DVDs Available Some classic films are now available from the web site, including The Big Blue and The Abyss. Also featured are underwater documentaries like Blue Planet and Coral Reef Adventure. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/presents2.html#DVDs Low-Cost Travel Insurance For suppliers of travel insurance that includes diving cover see http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/insurance.html __________________________________________________________ SCUBA Bestsellers: Third Quarter 2004 ===================================== The ten best selling diving books in the last three months are as follows... 1. Dive Atlas of the World: An Illustrated Reference to the Best Sites by Jack Jackson 300 Pages detailing some of the world's best dive sites. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1843303647/1286 2. Lonely Planet: Diving and Snorkelling the Red Sea by Jean-Bernard Carillet, Gavin Anderson, Peter Harrison Guide to the dive sites of the Red Sea. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1864502053/1286 3. Red Sea Reef Guide by Helmut Debelius Identification guide to fish, coral and other marine life of the Red Sea. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0953891909/1286 4. Lonely Planet : Sardinia by Paula Hardy Guide to the Italian island of Sardinia http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1740598725/1286 5. Lonely Planet Diving and Snorkeling Baja California by Walt Peterson Guide to the dive sites of Baja California. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0864425724/mussoutdoorpursu 6. Scuba Diver's Travel Companion by Jeremy Agnew Tells you for what level of diver a dive destination is suitable. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0762726687/1286 7. Neutral Buoyancy: Adventures in a Liquid World by Tim Ecott Tales of the characters and episodes in the history of diving: the sponge divers, the second world war saboteurs, the free divers, etc. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/neutral.html 8. Collins Pocket Guide: Coral Reef Fishes by Ewald Lieske, Robert Myers A compact, guide to over 2000 species of fish you might see whilst diving on coral reefs. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1853109223/1286 9. Sardinia Diving Guide by Egidio Trainito Excellent photography and includes descriptions of the sea life in Sardinia. Thirty-one dive sites around the island are described. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1853109223/1286 10. Sardinia by Dana Facaaros and Michael Pauls Very good on Sardinian history and cuisine. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1860111521/1286 __________________________________________________________ The Diving Board ================ Today we're pleased to launch the "Diving Board" - the place for discussion of all aspects of SCUBA diving. At SCUBA Travel we've always welcomed your comments, questions and recommendations, and still do. However, there are times when we can't answer a question, or when you might find a broader view more useful. Hence the new discussion board. Don't have a comment or a question right now - why not just introduce yourself? Go to http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/ and register now. How to post a message --------------------- To use the board you need to register, confirm your e-mail address, then log in. To do this 1. Go to http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/ 2. Click "Register" 3. Accept the terms and conditions (these basically say that you won't post offensive material and if you do it will be removed) 4. Reply to the automatically generated e-mail that you will receive. 5. Click "Log In". You are now ready to post. To to this 1. Select the SCUBA Diving Forum 2. To start a new topic of conversation, click "New Topic" 3. To take part in an existing conversation, click your chosen topic and then click "Post Reply" Any problems see the FAQ or fill in the form at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum.html I hope you find the new Diving Board useful - let me know what you think by e-mailing news@scubatravel.co.uk __________________________________________________________ Creature of the Month: Picasso Triggerfish, Rhinecanthus spp ============================================================ Photo at: http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/picasso.html Trigger fishes are so called because of the shark-fin shaped trigger they are able to raise in defense. They use this to jam themselves into a crevice in the coral. The trigger is actually the first spine of its dorsal (top) fin. They bend the second spine forward to fix the first firmly in position. When the fish is swimming the fin is flattened into a groove. Trigger fish are easy to identify from their distinctive shape. They have deep bodies, high eyes, small mounths and colourful patterns - no more so than the Picasso Trigger Fish. Five of the six species of the Rhinecanthus genus are known as Picasso Triggerfish (or just Picasso Fish). They are all between 23 and 30 cm long and mostly live in shallow water, less than 20 m deep. They feed on a wide variety of animals living on the bottom: fish, invertebrates and algae. You will find them in the Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Pacific and Indian Oceans. An attractive fish with blocks of colour on a white and beige background. Unlike some trigger fish, these aren't commonly aggressive towards divers. However, they do lay eggs in a nest on the sea bed which is guarded by the female fish, who will attack other fish that approach They are also territorial. Further Reading: ---------------- Coral Reef Fishes (Collins Pocket Guides) by Ewald Lieske and Robert Myers http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/fishbook.html __________________________________________________________ Diving News From Around the World ================================= If you would like to read this news as it happens, without waiting for this newsletter, then grab the SCUBA News feed from http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/newsfeed.html It's free and updates you with the latest diving news via e-mail, your web site or any news feed reader. Moray eel attack in the Tropics: a Case Report A SCUBA diver bitten by a moray eel off the coast of Cuba received an extensive crush injury with near loss of his right upper arm. A review of the existing literature identifies the significant characteristics of such attacks. Given the potential seriousness and complications of these attacks, a greater awareness among both treating physicians and emergency personnel may improve overall management of injuries. In addition, greater respect for moray eels among divers and other ocean users may decrease the likelihood of serious eel encounters. http://highwire.stanford.edu/cgi/medline/pmid;15473459 Great White Shark and Others Given New Protection At the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), governments agreed to give protection - for the first time - to the great white shark, which is hunted for its jaws and teeth. The humphead wrasse, that can fetch up to $130 per kilo in the live reef fish trade, has also benefited. Both now need a government permit to be traded internationally. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996536 32 Divers Freed after detention by Indonesian Navy The 32 divers who were detained this month by the Indonesian navy have been freed. While they were in the South China Sea, their dive boat, the MV White Manta, was intercepted by an Indonesian navy craft and then escorted to Tanjung Pinang, in Bintan, by a warship. http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/ :ADVERT__________________________________________________ World Nomad offers qualified divers low-cost travel insurance which doesn't limit the depth to which you can dive. For more details visit http://www.worldnomads.com.au/ __________________________________________________ADVERT: Divers Used to Test Prickly Pear Hangover Cure Divers know that it is not uncommon to feel extremely fatigued after a day's diving, which apparently mimics the effects of a hangover. The manufacturer of a restorative cure is therefore using divers to test its product. http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2004/10/emw167072.htm New Study Says Bush Administration Puts Sea Turtles at Risk Of Extinction New rules that have reopened US waters to longline fishing for swordfish and tuna have been corrupted by faulty science and political influence, says a new study. Scientists warn that the Pacific leatherback, a critically endangered species that migrates across the Pacific to feed and lays its eggs, will go extinct within the next 5-30 years if its adult mortality is not drastically reduced. The Pacific leatherback's nesting population has plummeted from 91,000 in 1980 to fewer than 5,000 in 2002. The highest sources of adult mortality are due to industrialized longline fishing targeting swordfish, tuna, and shark. http://www.enn.com/aff.html?id=64 New Research on Baja California's Olive Ridley Turtle Baja California is the northernmost reproductive area for Olive Ridley Turtles. This region is characterised by its high temperature and low humidity. Thus, nest site selection plays an important role in reproductive success. Hatching success was affected by humidity and distance. In addition, hatching success was higher between 10 and 30 m above the high tide line. Larger hatchlings were found in October and smaller ones in November. Generally speaking, the sizes found in Baja were larger than those obtained in other areas. http://springerlink.metapress.com/ Call to Ban Bottom Trawling A coalition of leading environmental and conservation groups has called for a ban on the damaging fishing practice known as bottom-trawling. The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition says the technique of dragging heavy nets across the seafloor is doing immense harm to fragile ecosystems. As well as bringing up valuable fish species, the trawlers also gouge out corals. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3719590.stm Terrorists Target Taba Hotel in Popular Red Sea Diving Area Five Egyptians have been arrested on charges of plotting a series of simultaneous bomb blasts in Red Sea resorts earlier this month. The Interior Ministry also identified the mastermind of the attacks as a Palestinian man, Ayad Said Salah. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3951153.stm Scholarships for Diving Courses The Women Divers Hall of Fame are accepting applications to award 9 scholarships that offer financial and/or educational assistance to women (and in some cases men) of all ages, particularly those who are preparing for professional careers that involve scuba diving. http://wdhof.org/scholarship.html Free Diving World Record Gianluca Genoni reached 133 metres to beat his own free diving record in the Tigullio Gulf, Italy. http://www.agi.it/ Divers Tackle Invasive Sea Squirts Volunteer divers have applied chlorine tablets at the Edmonds Underwater Park (Seattle) in an effort to kill sea squirts which have been recently discovered in the area. These invasive sea creatures could threaten the state's shellfish. http://www.katu.com/outdoor/story.asp?ID=71818 Funding Sought to Investigate Killer Jellyfish A university is hoping to research a new species of tiny jellyfish, which cause irukandji syndrome in divers. Pearl divers have been the victims of the jellyfish despite wearing full wetsuits. The jellyfish stings have been fatal in two divers. http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/ __________________________________________________________ * Copyright SCUBA Travel - 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 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 send your letters or press releases to: The Editor SCUBA News The Cliff Upper Mayfield DE6 2HR UK ADVERTISING Should you wish to advertise in SCUBA News, please fill in the form at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/newsad.html PUBLISHER SCUBA Travel, The Cliff, Upper Mayfield, DE6 2HR, UK Subscribe To SCUBA NewsOur newsletter, SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011), is absolutely free. It is a monthly publication, delivered by e-mail. To receive your copy fill in your details below. We will never pass your e-mail address to any third parties, or send you unsolicited e-mail. You will receive an e-mail confirming your subscription. If you don't receive this you have probably entered your e-mail address incorrectly - revisit this page and re-subscribe. 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