Have you had the opportunity to see Disney’s Earth?  If you like nature films, this epic story of 3 families is one you want to see.  And now for anyone who loves our oceans and the creatures in them, Disney Nature is about to release its newest film in theaters. .

On April 22, 2010 Disney will release Oceans, in theaters throughout the US.  The oceans of the world make up 71% of the earth and we are not doing a good job keeping them healthy.  The are many beautiful and unusual animals who inhabit our waters.  Unless you are one of the small percent of scuba divers you rarely get a chance to see these creatures unless you visit your local aquarium.   In addition, Disney will make a donation for everyone who sees this film during the first  week to Oceana, an international organization to help save our oceans.  I hope you will take the opportunity to see this film and support OUR oceans.

Over the last two years, there have been growing populations of lionfish throughout the Caribbean waters. This highly invasive species of fish has been known to decimate reef life, multiple fish habitats and even pester the occasional scuba diver.

While there are many theories as to “why” the lionfish invasion is happening, one certainty is that local scuba diving resorts are not going to sit by idly and watch their reefs attacked.

One well-known dive operator in the scuba diving hotspot on Bonaire yesterday announced a “bounty” award for divers who help spot and capture the lionfish in local waters.

Captain Don’s Habitat, is working hard to do something about the growing lionfish problem. From March 6-13, the resort is hosting the first “Lionfish Wrangler” event. Scuba divers can actually earn a “bounty” every time they spot a lionfish during this weeklong event.

According to Jack Chalk, manager at Habitat, “We know we won’t be able to track and eliminate all of the lionfish that are out there, but we can certainly try and control the problem. To date, Marine Park Officials have captured 76 lionfish and this is just the start.”

Chalk said that divers who stay at Captain Don’s during the week will receive an immediate $120 credit when they spot their first lionfish that is subsequently captured by a Marine Park official. If a diver spots more than one of the invasive creatures, a $60 credit per lionfish will be awarded for future travel the the Habitat Resort.

There will be official Marine Park Lionfish “Wranglers” on every boat that departs Habitat during the week and every diver will be given the official marking ribbon to mark the spot where you found the lionfish so that if the “Wrangler” cannot capture it during that dive, they can go back later and capture it on another dive.

There will be Lionfish capture workshops during the week as well as lectures on the behavior and potential threat that the Lionfish presents not only to Bonaire but to the entire Caribbean.

This is just the first of perhaps many Lionfish “wrangler” events. For more details, call 1-800-327-6709 or contact your favorite Dive Travel Professional to make a reservation.

The website UWPhotographyGuide.com has been in beta for several months already, with articles on theory, technique and equipment being added every week. Many award-winning amateur and professional underwater photographers worldwide have contributed to the Underwater Photography Guide. Reaction to this resource by industry professionals has been overwhelmingly positive.

Well-known professional underwater photographer Alex Mustard says “The Underwater Photography Guide is an excellent and free resource that every underwater photographer who wants to improve their photos should bookmark”.

Bonnie Pelnar, of dive destinations around the world that offer underwater photography opportunities.

About UWPhotographyGuide.com

UWPhotographyGuide.com is a Santa Monica based website dedicated to helping underwater photographers and scuba divers learn and improve their underwater photography. For more information, visit http://www.uwphotographyguide.com.

Verbal communication is not an option underwater unless you are wearing a full-face mask, but most messages can be conveyed using a combination of hand signals and drawings on a slate. Using hand signals will allow you to exchange information with your dive buddy and even ask each other questions underwater. They can also be reassuring. Signal to your buddy regularly during a dive, as this will ensure that you remain in close contact and can easily notify each other of any problems that may develop. Repeat any sign that is not clear to your buddy, and acknowledge every signal that he or she makes with an “OK” to show you understand. If your buddy is slow to respond to a signal, check that they are OK. If you are diving at depth, sluggish responses may indicate the onset of nitrogen narcosis, which impairs reaction times and mental acuity. Signals are not just limited to showing each other how much air you have left or highlighting problems. They can also be used to inform your buddy of interesting things you have seen, or to alert them to something you are both looking for, such as a particular marine organism. There are numerous signals for marine animals, and you can develop your own within your buddy pair. A common example is the use of a straight, upright hand (representing a fin) on top of your head, meaning “I’ve seen a shark.” Signals for animals like turtles and rays can be readily improvised.

To make it clear that a signal refers specifically to yourself—for example, “watch me”—point to yourself first.

Common hand signals

There are a number of standard hand signals that are essential to all divers, and you can also improvise new signals with friends. Always review signals at the start
of a dive, especially if you are diving with a new buddy. Give signals to your buddy slowly and clearly, to ensure that they are understood. Use combinations of signals
to convey messages more precisely (for example, something is wrong/I can’t clear my ears). Below are some of the most important and common diving signals.

OK/Are you OK?
Form an O with thumb and index finger. Point the other fingers up.

Something is wrong
Tilt the flat of your hand from side to side, palm down.

Up/Let’s ascend
Point thumb straight upward with fingers clenched in a fist.

Down/Let’s go down
Point thumb downward with fingers clenched in a fist.

1,500 psi (100 bar) left
Form T-shape with hands to indicate 1,500 psi remaining.

750 psi (50 bar) left
Make a fist, with palm outward, to indicate 750 psi remaining.

I am out of air
Make a horizontal chopping motion across base of neck.

Stop
Present flat of hand, palm outward, to halt buddy or other divers.

Slow down
Move palms slowly downward together (pivoting at elbows).

Stay/Move together
Move index fingers together, until touching side by side.

Stay at this depth
Hold both hands horizontally and move one over the other.

Watch/Look
Point at your eyes, then at subject of interest, or self, or another diver.

I am cold
Hug yourself with both arms crossed to indicate chill.

I can’t clear my ears
Point at ear to indicate you are having difficulty equalizing.

Feeling breathless
If you are feeling out of breath and need to rest for a moment, you should use the flat of your hand to mimic your chest rising and falling.

The British Virgin Islands came away with three prizes in Scuba Diving Magazine’s 2010 Readers Choice Awards. Earning the number one spot for Top Beginner Diving Site, second for Top Underwater Photography and third for Top Wreck Diving.

Acting Director of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, Hadassah Ward, said the Board welcomes the bestowment from Scuba Diving. “We are very proud of the Territory’s natural appeal that extends from the top of our hills to the depths of our seas.  These awards confirm that they are not just enjoyed by BVIslanders and residents, but also by our visitors.  That is why it remains important that our community continuously be better stewards of our environment.”

Ward adds, “The Tourist Board will continue to do its part to bring sailors and divers to experience the beauty of the Virgin Islands while working with our local partners to further protect our marine ecosystem that sustains our vibrant marine life and shores.”

The awards were presented based on results from the magazine’s readers’ survey.  Awards were given for the following categories, marine life, visibility, health of marine environment, wall diving, snorkeling, diving for beginners, underwater photography and overall rating of the diving.  Readers had the opportunity to choose the best in those categories in the world’s three dive regions, North American, Pacific and Caribbean/Atlantic.

The awards were announced in the magazine’s January/February issue that is presently on international newsstands.  Scuba Diving has a readership of 85,000 and is printed eight times a year.  The magazine is published by Bonnier Corporation, owners of over 40 special interest magazines.  Scuba Diving is part of the company’s four targeted publications catering to international divers

A university professor says the Great Barrier Reef is moving from being dominated by coral to being overrun by seaweed. (Reuters: GBR National Park Authority)

It is one of the natural wonders of the world but the Great Barrier Reef is almost constantly at risk.

Scientists say farming chemical run-off is threatening the Reef, which is also battling climate change, coral bleaching and the crown of thorns starfish.

Now experts at the Australian Research Council (ARC) say around 43 per cent of the inshore reef is being overrun by seaweed, a claim hotly disputed by local tourism operators.

James Cook University marine biology Professor David Bellwood, who is also an ARC expert, says a shift from a coral-dominated reef to one overrun by weed shows the health of the ecosystem is in decline.

“What we can say is at the moment there is a lot more weed than we expected and that this weed does constitute a potential threat,” he said.

“It certainly rings a few warning bells, the biggest implication is whether this weed starts to expand.

“So we need to know its history and that’s what we’re currently trying to find out. Does this constitute a change? Because if it is a change then it is very worrying.”

Professor Bellwood warns if the weed is taking hold it is a difficult condition to reverse.

“There is always going to be some algae on the reef, it’s just what makes it spread and that’s what we’re trying to understand - why is there so much weed on inshore reefs and what are the primary factors driving it?” he said.

“The main indication is that it’s the fish that determine the distribution of the weed. If you’ve got lots of fishes eating the weed, the weed doesn’t spread.”

Professor Bellwood says it is critical to protect browsing and grazing fishes and he has written to the Federal Government urging it to develop a national policy.

“We’ve got to protect our herbivorous fishes - that’s the only thing that is clear at this point in time that we can do that is a step towards protecting the reef,” he said.

“And the other thing is, even though the weed is out there, it doesn’t mean to say the reef is rotting, what it means is things are different, it’s still a beautiful place and if people get a chance they should go out and look at it.”

‘A load of rubbish’

But the Research Council’s report has raised the ire of tourism operators who rely on the reef for their livelihoods.

The sector normally supports most conservation measures but this time it has dismissed the study as a load of rubbish.

Col McKenzie, head of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators in far north Queensland, says the findings are inaccurate.

“For a scientist to come out and say that 40 per cent of the reef has been taken over by seaweed, I just think that he needs to rethink where his control sites are,” he said.

“He might have one or two reefs somewhere. For him to pick on those two reefs and say that’s indicative of the whole Great Barrier Reef which is 2,500 kilometres long is just absolutely ludicrous.”

Mr McKenzie says the ARC are exaggerating the figures and using “scare tactics” to try to step up protection of the reef.

“The scientists tend to think that if they can show dramatic results, or say that this is going to be a really negative thing … they can get more research money,” he said.

“I think over a period of time it desensitises the Australian population and it presents a message that look, this is buggered and we’re not going to be able to fix it, and so why should we continue to spend all the money and time and effort doing so?

“The reality is, the reef is not that far gone, we can save the Great Barrier Reef, we’ve just got to get the water quality right

The suits are available in 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm at Roddenberry.com All three come in the colors shown above and cost about $450 -$495. Each suit is made to order by JMJ Wetsuits.  Now you can be Captain Kirk, Spock, Bones or any other Star Trek character both above and below the water.

Currently we cannot find any Star Wars wetsuits, but they shouldn’t be far behind.

Blue Ocean Institute

From Arctic Alaskan fishing villages to Zanzibar’s shores, the staff of Blue Ocean Institute studies and articulates how the ocean is changing and how everything humans do—both on land and at sea—affects the waters, wildlife, and people of our world. But gloomy environmental warnings and predictions don’t move people to make changes that can help our shared ocean. MacArthur Prize-winning scientist/author Dr. Carl Safina and Mercédès Lee created Blue Ocean Institute in 2003 as a unique voice of hope, guidance, and encouragement.

Blue Ocean Institute is the only conservation organization that uses science, art, and literature to inspire a closer bond with nature, especially the sea. We translate scientific information into language people can understand and use to make better choices on behalf of the sea. Whether you’re a fisherman, seafood lover, student, faith leader, parent, artist, or chef, our programs help you learn how and why you should protect our planet’s life-giving ocean.

What You Can Do?

Tell your local representatives that you support expansion of marine reserves to protect valuable and threatened marine species and habitats.  To learn more about marine reserves and take action see: www.piscoweb.org/outreach/pubs/reserves; www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov.

Get involved with management of marine areas in your neck of the woods.  Visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website and click on a link to your local fisheries management council: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/councils.htm. These sites will provide information about upcoming council meetings and other events in your area.

Help reduce climate change. Take steps to curb your own carbon footprint, and encourage action by your local community, religious group, and schools. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly to preserve the life support systems of the planet as we know them.  This challenge requires action at the individual, community, national, and international levels, but we can all play a role.  There are several organizations with scientifically sound, trusted information about climate change and how we can each make a difference.  We recommend the following:

http://www.350.org/action-ideas

http://www.earthlab.com/

One of the most important steps you can take is to support urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by writing to your representatives in Congress.  Several bills are currently in Congress regarding ocean legislation and climate change—you can make a difference by voicing support for the measures that need to be taken now to protect the seas and the people who depend on them.  See www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ta_actionalerts

to receive updates on pending legislation and let your voice be heard.

Beach Clean ups are a good way to get to know your community and help keep garbage out of the sea or prevent it from re-entering the sea.  This is also a great way to introduce kids to the concept that “all drains lead to the ocean” and that the ocean is not endless—it is just a big salty pool and what goes in, eventually washes back up or fills up the water.

Limit your use of plastic. Not only does new plastic require use of fossil fuels, but every year tens of thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals drown or starve due to entanglement in marine debris, over half of which is from plastic.  Once in the ocean, it is hard to clean up plastic waste, so it is best to stop it at the source—demand less and less will be produced. You can start by bringing your own bag to the grocery store, and purchasing foods with minimal packaging.

Make educated choices when purchasing seafood in restaurants or grocery stores.  See www.blueocean.org/seafood for a guide to healthy, sustainable seafood and for information about FishPhone, our text messaging service to give you on-the-go information.