What do you know about NOAA?  First, do you know what NOAA stands for? Second, do you know what NOAA does and third do you know how you can be part of NOAA?

NOAA is the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, a division of the US Department of Commerce.  “NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing …

Census of Marine Life-affiliated scientists consolidating world databases of ocean organisms have demoted to alias status almost one-third of all names culled from 34 regional and highly specialized inventories.

The new World Register of Marine Species contains about 122,500 validated marine species names (experts having recognized and tidied up some 56,400 aliases - 32% of all names reviewed). It also contains some 5,600 images, hyperlinks to taxonomic literature and other information.

Marking the World Register’s …

Recently Lori Rackl, Travel Editor for the Chicago Sun-Times wrote about her trip to the Galapagos Islands.  At the Galapagos Islands you can see reef fish, sea lions, sting rays, golden rays, eagle rays, invertebrates, morays, garden eels, turtles, marine iguanas, white tip reef sharks, hammerheads, whale sharks, whales, pelagic fish — all this adds up to just one thing — Galapagos Islands Scuba Diving. Being voted one of …

I have been to Dominica twice and the diving and snorkeling is some of the best in the Caribbean.  Healthy coral reefs, wonderful walls full of life, and adventure above and below the surface.  Now there is a good reason for you get to Dominica.  Starting July 11 through July 20 is the Dominica Dive Fest.  To …

So, what do you know about Lake Erie of the Great Lakes?  It is the 2nd smallest of Great Lakes but still the 10th largest lake globally.  It has an average depth of only 62 feet and is the warmest of Great Lakes.  Did you also know that there are 277 known wrecks?  Check out the website Shipwrecks and Maritime Tales of the Lake …

PopSci.com recently reported about a new underwater rebreather.  If you plunge into the sea to ogle exotic wildlife, why not stay a while—and get an even closer view? Cave-diving engineer Bill Stone makes that possible with the most user-friendly version yet of a rebreather, a device that recycles your exhaled air, removes carbon dioxide, and adds oxygen. (A scuba device quickly burns through tanks of fresh air.)

On a typical …

Divers believe that they have discovered the 300-year-old remains of a ship once skippered by the notorious British pirate Captain Kidd.  Complete with cannon and anchors, the wreckage of the 400-ton Quedagh Merchant has lain untouched off the coast of Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic.

The ship, sought by treasure hunters for hundreds of years, was located by a local scuba diver.  The wreck, …

This summer, while completing the second phase of a two-year broad scientific survey of the waters around the Aleutian Islands, scientists have discovered what may be three new marine organisms. This year’s dives surveyed the western region of the Aleutians, from Attu to Amila Island, while last year’s assessment covered the eastern region.

During the dives, two potentially new species of sea …

Ask most people if they have heard of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia and the answer is yes. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometers (1,616 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers (132,974 sq mi). The reef is located in the …

I recently found out about the Coral World Ocean Park in St. Thomas Virgin Island.  There are many different activites for adults and children including:

snorkeling in a shark pool
a touching ray pool
an undersea observatory over a living coral reef

and much, much more.  Your park admission even includes access to Coki Beach, which is right next to the aquarium.  So the next time you are in St. …