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SCUBA News 82~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) Issue 82 - February 2007 http://www.scubatravel.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello. Many thanks to all who filled in our survey last month - we'll give the results in the next issue. If you haven't yet completed the survey, but would like to do so and have your say in the direction of SCUBA News and the SCUBA Travel website, go to http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/scubanews81.html Should you wish to cancel your subscription to SCUBA News you may do so at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html Contents: - What's new at SCUBA Travel? - Your Letters - Creature of the Month: Geometric Eel - Diving News from Around the World __________________________________________________________ What's New at SCUBA Travel? =========================== Diving in Thailand For more ideas on where stay in Thailand, and how to get there, visit. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/thailand/thaiacc.html Diving in Italy We've added to our list of dive shops in Sardinia and in many cases pinpointed their location on a map. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/italy/sardop.html Dive Operators in Dahab, Red Sea Find more dive centres in Dahab and Nuweiba in the Sinai. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/redsea/dahabop.html Dive Operators Visiting Southern Egypt The diving at the Brothers and the south of Egypt is excellent. We've updated our listings of dive operators visiting these sites at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/redsea/brothersop.html ADVERT:__________________________________________________ TRAVEL INSURANCE with the option of diving to 50 m. For more details visit http://insurance.essentialtravel.co.uk/scubainsurance.asp and quote ref 100534 to ensure you get the best deal. __________________________________________________:ADVERT __________________________________________________________ Your Letters ============ If you can advise any of our correspondants either e-mail news@scubatravel.co.uk or post on the Diving Board at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/ Red Sea I am staying at the Conrad Sharm El Sheikh resort. Can anyone recommend a good value dive operator? I am PADI qualified to 18m. Bob Milne -- From the Diving Board... Snorkelling on coral: where to go to snorkel from shore? I am an English woman of 66, but retired to France five years ago. My passion is snorkelling on coral and I have been several times to Malaysia, the Caribbean, the Red Sea and the Maldives. I was very disappointed to find that the coral around my island in the Maldives (Paradise Island) had been bleached by the rise in water temperature and was grey and dead. I have been able to join dive boats on several of my holidays and happily snorkelled alongside the boat while it waited for divers. To avoid any more expensive mistakes, I would be so grateful if anyone could tell me the best places to visit where I can snorkel from the beach onto live coral. I don't need beautiful scenery (I live in one of the loveliest parts of France), nightlife, or fancy entertainment. I would be happy in a simple room with a private bathroom, reasonable food (I am not picky) - anywhere as long as I can see the coral. Carol Sheridan http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1029 - Divers Questionnaire I am doing a questionnaire at school but the problem is that there are only 2 divers in my school. I would appreciate it a lot if you would take the time to answer it. Thank you. Timmy http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1041 - Central and South America Will be going travelling for a few months to Central/South America and I thought I must take up diving to get the best out of Galapagos and the like. Where do you think I should start diving and what is not to be missed diving-wise around there? Ingrid http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1051 - Bali We are still looking for someone to work in the AquaMarine Diving office, starting April 2007. English must be your first language and you must be able to type well. Annabel http://scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1069 - Underwater Filters for Camera I have just purchased an underwater housing for my Olympus camera and will be taking it to Jamaica. What colour filters would I need if any? I only have a passing interest in photography but it would be nice to have some pics of the dives. Keith http://scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1067 - Australia Any info on dive sites in Brisbane and Cairns? Bob http://scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1231 If you can help with replies to any of these, either register and post at the Diving Board (http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/), or e-mail us. __________________________________________________________ Creature of the Month: Geometric Moray Eel, Siderea grisea (Also known as Grey Moray and Gymnothorax griseus) ================================================== The Geometric moray has a long body with one continuous fin along its back. Like other morays it has elonated nostrils. You can easily recognise it by the dashed lines patterning its face, as shown in our photo at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/geomoray.html Morays live in holes and generally hunt by night, locating their prey by their excellent sense of smell. Moving with snake-like motions, they are extremely quick. When at rest you may see them rhythmically opening and closing their mouths. They do this to maintain a respiratory current past the gills. The Geometric moray is the most common eel in the Red Sea. It is also found throughout the Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Mauritius, Oman, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, etc. Quite small for a moray, the Geometric moray reaches 65 cm long. It lives at depths down to 40 m on coral and rocky reefs. You may see groups of up to 10 young eels sheltering in rock crevices. The black dashes on the face and body of this moray mark its pores. These are part of its lateral line system which detects changes in pressure and so can be used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. __________________________________________________________ Diving News From Around the World ================================= If you would like to read the diving 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 automatically updates you with the latest SCUBA news via your web site, e-mail or any news feed reader. Vitamins benefit divers' health Vitamin doses can reduce ill-effects of scuba diving on divers' circulation, a study suggests. Scientists gave vitamins C and E, which work as antioxidants, to divers. The vitamins stopped ill-effects of the dive on the cells lining blood vessels, which can lead to high blood pressure and other associated diving problems. But diving experts said the vitamins would have a limited impact. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6314901.stm USA gets a "C minus" for protecting oceans The USA made modest progress in 2006 on ocean policy reform, but the progress that has been made is jeopardised by a lack of funding at all levels of government, according to a new report. http://www.news.scubatravel.co.uk/ River Run-Off Threatens Great Barrier Reef Satellite images of Australia's Great Barrier Reef show that sediment from river run-off is threatening the reef at a greater rate than previously realised. The images show sediment creating a hazy cloud over the reef, blocking sunlight and hindering photosynthesis, the process that keeps coral alive. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12262 ADVERT:__________________________________________________ FREE ADVERTISING: Post a month of diving-related adverts for free at the Diving Board Forum. For anything related to diving, travel or the underwater world. http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=5 __________________________________________________:ADVERT Diving Several Times a Day May Damage the Ear Diving several times a day for several days causes damage to the structures of the ear, Brazilian research suggests. http://www.news.scubatravel.co.uk/ Sea Creatures to Be Tracked Electronically In a modern update of "fish and chips," researchers are planning a worldwide effort to track the movement of sea creatures tagged with tiny electronic devices. Following pilot testing in the north Pacific, the Ocean Tracking Network will expand to the Atlantic, Arctic, Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico. In the new system tagged sea creatures will also collect data from other tagged animals they encounter. That means scientists studying data from a shark, for example, would also know what other fish or sea mammals it had encountered in its travels - or even the ones it ate if they were tagged. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12202 Proteus undergoes sea changes An ocean-crossing vessel that can adapt its movements to the surface of the sea has undergone sea trials. Known as the Proteus, the craft adjusts to the surface of the sea rather than forcing the water to conform to its hull. As a result, it has very low fuel consumption and creates minimal wake, even at high speed, making it more environmentally friendly. http://www.theengineer.co.uk/ Wind shifts devastate ocean life The delicate interplay between the oceans and atmosphere is changing with catastrophic consequences. Entire marine ecosystems have been wiped out, devastating populations of sea birds and larger marine mammals. These "dead zones" occur where there are disturbances to the nutrient-rich ocean currents, which are driven by coastal winds. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6370905.stm Hundreds of Turtles Die along Bangladesh Coast Hundreds of endangered sea turtles have been found dead along Bangladesh's coast over the past two weeks, triggering concerns about pollution and local fishing practices. At least 65 of the turtles have been found dead along a five-kilometer (three-mile) stretch of beach near Cox's Bazar, one of the main cities on Bangladesh's coast. Hundreds more dead turtles have been found elsewhere in the area. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12182 Rare Shark Photographed Alive A frilled shark, which usually remains thousands of feet below the ocean's surface, was photographed recently during an unusual, and short-lived, appearance in shallow water. This 160-centimeter shark was transferred to a marine park where it was placed in a seawater pool. However, it died hours after it was caught. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ Live-Fish Market Grows, Stripping Reefs Live reef fish like grouper -- a status symbol for many newly rich -- has caused the populations of these predators to plummet around Asia as fishermen increasingly resort to cyanide and dynamite to bring in the valuable catch. A study about the trade in Malaysia found that catches of some grouper species and the endangered Napoleon wrasse fell by as much as 99 percent between 1995 and 2003, a period coinciding with soaring economic growth in countries where the exotic fish are a delicacy. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12098 Australia to Change Lightbulbs to Curb Warming Australia will be the world's first country to ban incandescent lightbulbs in a bid to curb Greenhouse gas emissions, with the government saying they would be phased out within three years. The Environment Minister said the banning of incandescent bulbs would help trim 800,000 tonnes from Australia's current emissions level by 2012 and lower household lighting costs by 66 per cent. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12256 More Marine Life Discovered under Antarctic A voyage to explore the marine life beneath a vast sheet of Antarctic sea ice has enjoyed great success, uncovering new species and terrain ranging from barren to teaming with fast-growing life. The Polarstern expedition found a new species of giant crustacean and sea-cucumbers that had previously only been seen in the deep sea in any number. The investigation was made possible by the collapse of the Larsen ice-sheet in northeast Antarctica. http://environment.newscientist.com/ Master Guide for Underwater Digital Photography New book shows how to make the most of digital technology, with tips for purchasing gear, selecting camera settings and taking the first dive with a digital camera. Also included are exposure techniques; lighting tips; ideas for close-up and super-macro photography; tips for fish photography, reducing backscatter; travelling with and caring for underwater digital equipment; and tips for reef protection. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/asin/1584281669/1286 __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ * 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 web site, providing the above copyright notice is included and a link back to our web site 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 Ltd, 5 Loxford Court, Hulme, Manchester, M15 6AF, 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. Send us your Press Releases
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