SCUBA News...

Warmer climate not the cause of oxygen deficiency in the Baltic Sea

Oxygen deficiency in the Baltic Sea has never been greater than it is now. But it is not an effect of climate change but rather of increased inputs of nutrients and fertilisers. This is the finding of researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, who have analysed the ocean climate of the Baltic Sea since the 16th century.

Ocean observatories give new marine view

Ocean observatories will give people a never-before-seen view of the world's oceans.

Update: Shipwreck Photo Gallery

The wreck of the Ulysses lies at 27 m in the Straits of Gobal, Egypt. A popular dive, new photos are now on the SCUBA Travel site at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photoulysses.html

Western Australia to Protect Whales with Marine Park

The state government of Western Australia is creating a marine park to protect and manage a key nursery of the world's largest humpback whale population. The marine park is to be at Camden Sound, about 400km north of Broome.

Update: Diving Sardinia

SCUBA Travel have added more dive sites and centres to their Sardinia diving directory.

Plumose anemone is creature of the month

The pretty plumose anemone is the SCUBA News creature of the month.

Albatrosses feed with Killer Whales

Scientists have recorded the first observations of how albatrosses feed alongside marine mammals at sea. A miniature digital camera was attached to the backs of four black-browed albatrosses. The still images recorded from the cameras show that albatrosses associate with marine mammals in the same way as tropical seabirds often do with tuna. In both cases the prey (usually fish) are directed to the surface and then it's easy hunting for the birds

Discount on Thailand Diving

Thailand Divers are offering SCUBA News readers a discount on diving courses, day trips and liveaboards to the world famous Similan Islands.

Coral bleaching increases chances of coral disease

Mass coral bleaching has devastated coral colonies around the world for almost thirty years. Now scientists have found that bleaching can make corals more susceptible to disease and, in turn, coral disease can exacerbate the negative effects of bleaching. A paper in the October issue of the journal Ecology shows that when they occur together, this combination of afflictions causes greater harm to corals than either does on its own.

SCUBA News 113 Now On-line

The latest issue of SCUBA News is now up at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/scubanews113.html. It includes diving in Thailand, Madagascar and Italy; underwater photos of the wreck of the Ulysses; Creature of the Month: Plumose Anemone; and diving news from around the world.

Blue Whales drowned out by seismic surveys

The intense noise produced by seismic surveys affects Blue Whales, making them call much more frequently.

Endangered Grand Banks cod catch doubles in 2008

Halifax, Canada: The amount of cod caught on the Grand Banks this past year exceeded the 420 tonnes bycatch reduction target set by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) by 119%

Killer Whales Die without Salmon

When you mention killer whales, the image of one ambushing a terrified seal often springs to mind. But there are populations of killer whales who live exclusively on fish. And not on just any fish: they are very specialised in which fish they will eat. If their chosen fish declines in numbers, the whales decline in numbers too.

Italian researchers find rare black coral forest

Researchers have found one of the largest forests of rare black coral in the world off southern Italy and a related coral species never before studied in its natural habitat. The coral is at a depth of 50-100 metres between mainland Italy and the island of Sicily.

Diving honeymoon groom has sentence increased

American man, David Watson, who swam off as his new wife died on the ocean floor during a honeymoon diving trip will spend an extra six months in jail after a court upheld an appeal.

Arctic Sea Ice Reaches 2009 Low

The Arctic sea ice cover appears to have reached its minimum extent for the year, the third-lowest recorded since satellites began measuring sea ice extent in 1979, according to the University of Colorado at Boulder's National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Scotland adopts CCTV discard monitoring system

The Scottish government has decided to experiment with the controversial CCTV camera monitoring system and place cameras on fishing boats in an effort to reduce discards. This comes five weeks after a one-year-long CCTV camera test drive was shown by the Danish to reduce discards in the North Sea. Meanwhile, the fishing community is split -- opponents argue the initiative is an invasion of privacy, while supporters say it will prove that discard estimates, currently at 1 million tonnes per year just in the North Sea, are exaggerated.

Update: Diving Madagascar

Madagascar hosts the world's largest continuous coral reefs. The Madagascar dive operator directory is now completely revised at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/madagascar/

New wreck dive off Comino, Malta

There is a new dive waiting off the coast of Comino: former Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) Patrol Boat P31. The wreck is 52 m long and lies at 18 m.

Pacific bluefin tuna fishing to be restricted

Bluefin tuna fishing in the Pacific Ocean will be restricted next year, and will be made to return to prior 2002-04 levels in terms of number of vessels and fishing days.

Rare algae saves Caribbean coral

Rare algae saves Caribbean coral when water warms temporarily, but could be harmful in long term, according to new research.

Maldives to introduce green tax on tourists

The Maldives archipelago, threatened by rising sea levels blamed on climate change, said on Monday it would introduce a new environment tax on all tourists who use its resorts and provide its economic lifeline.

Warming Oceans May Shift Earth's Pole

Human-induced warming of the oceans could shift Earth's axis up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) by the end of the century, according to a new study.

Herbivorous reef fishes critical for long-term coral reef health and resilience

Herbivorous reef fishes not only have a key role in keeping algal growth at bay and thereby enabling corals to grow and reproduce, they are also important players in the long-term health and survival of coral reefs in the face of climate change and other threats. These are the findings of a new report published by IUCN and its institutional partners.

Ocean coral offers pain therapy

A compound harvested from soft coral off the coast of Taiwan could provide a new treatment for pain from intractable nerve damage, experts say.

Safe Diving: A Medical Handbook for Scuba Divers

This new book covers the full spectrum of conditions and ailments that affect divers. Diagrams highlight key aspects, such as ear barotrauma, while therapeutic decompression tables complement the chapters on acute decompression illness, deep diver rescue and emergency ascents. Written by an experienced diving medical officer who has been a board member of DAN (Divers Alert Network) Southern Africa since 2001.

Humpback whale trapped in controversial fishing line

Images have been released showing a female whale fighting for her life after becoming entangled in a fishing net in the South Pacific. They show the desperate plight of a whale trapped by equipment used in a controversial form of commercial fishing.

Northwest Dive Guide: A Scuba Handbook for BC, Washington and Oregon

Cold water diving is more gear-intensive than warm water diving, but the diversity of marine life and panoramic beauty of the world below the water line are a delight to explore. In this new book Mike Hughes shares over three hundred dive sites in BC, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

100 Best Dive Sites in the World

Discover the 100 best dive sites in the world, according to SCUBA Travel readers. Newly updated list at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/topdiveslong.html

Warming Ocean Contributes to Global Warming

The warming arctic ocean is already releasing methane gas: contributing to further global warming much sooner than expected.

Healthiest Coral Reef in the US?

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is among the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the US Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, according to a new NOAA report.

Update: Wrecks of France

Find out more about the excellent wreck diving in the South of France at the SCUBA Travel site at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/france/francedive.html

Book Review: DIVER

One man's story of becoming a Navy diver clearing unexploded mines and bombs around the world, including in the Falklands War. Read the full review of Diver at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/diver.html

Earthquake off Andaman Islands

An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale has struck the Andaman Islands off the coast of India. It has triggered a tsunami watch for India, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh.

Fish surveys could be inaccurate

Fish surveys are often conducted by SCUBA divers or snorkellers. A new study has found that these surveys may be inherently inaccurate as snorkellers frighten away the fish they are supposed to be counting.

Update: Diving the Maldives

Brand new page on the SCUBA Travel site about the diving in the Maldives. With more underwater photos, recommended dive sites and diving centres.

Creature of the Month: Dragonet

The fish that pulls faces as part of its courtship ritual is SCUBA News's creature of the month.

Update: Maldives Underwater Photos

Many more underwater photos are now in the SCUBA Travel Maldives gallery at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/photomaldives.html. Sharks, turtles, rays, lobsters, wrecks, corals...

Dive to Adventure: Exploring the World's Most Famous Wrecks

Just published, guide to the wrecks of the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Dahlak Islands.

Belize barrier reef in Danger

UNESCO has added the Belize Barrier Reef to its list of world heritage sites in danger. The main problem with Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System concerns mangrove cutting and excessive development. The reef is also the country's top tourist destination.

Update: Diving Dahab, Egypt

If you like driving around the desert in 4x4's and jumping in the water from the shore to find a complete contrast between the desert above and thriving life below then go to Dahab on the Egyptian Red Sea. To help you SCUBA Travel have updated their directory of dive centres in Dahab.

Third of Ocean-Going Sharks Threatened with Extinction

The first study to determine the global conservation status of 64 species of open ocean (pelagic) sharks and rays reveals that 32 percent are threatened with extinction, primarily due to overfishing, according to the IUCN Shark Specialist Group.

Poseidon Recall BCDs

Poseidon are recalling their Besea W50 Diving Wings (also known as a BCD or stab jacket). The inner bladder inside the diving wing can break, causing the wing to fail as a buoyancy device.

Scientists predict Large Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

University of Michigan scientists say this year's Gulf of Mexico "dead zone" could be one of the largest on record, continuing a decades-long trend. The Gulf dead zone forms each spring and summer off the Louisiana and Texas coast when oxygen levels drop too low to support most life in bottom and near-bottom waters. Farmland runoff containing fertilizers and livestock waste-some of it from as far away as the Corn Belt-is the main source of the nitrogen and phosphorus that cause the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.

Captain's Guide to Wrecks and Reefs

New book includes detailed descriptions and information on over 1000 diving locations along the Florida coast and the Bahamas. Filled with detailed wreck drawings and underwater photography, it also contains articles on how to locate a wreck, anchoring, safe diving procedures and tips on underwater photography.

Snorkeller killed by shark in Red Sea

A female French diver was attacked and killed by a shark whilst snorkelling at the Saint John's reefs in the Red Sea. The first fatal shark attack in Egypt for five years.

Update: Diving Bali

Bali lies in the Indian Ocean, north-west of Australia. There is diving all year round. SCUBA Travel readers have been recommending more diving operators on the island. See which have the five fish rating.

Protecting the oceans makes economic sense

Protecting the oceans through marine protected areas can provide higher and more sustained income through tourism and controlled fisheries than continued exploitation. This is the result of IUCN's new compilation of case studies about the economic benefits of marine protected areas, launched on World Biodiversity Day at the 2nd International Marine Protected Area Congress.

Basking shark mystery solved

Once thought of as a strictly cool-water species, basking sharks migrate to deep tropical waters each winter, according to research published in the June 2009 issue of journal Current Biology.

Endanged right whales found where they were thought extinct

Using a system of underwater hydrophones that can record sounds from hundreds of miles away, a team of scientists has documented the presence of endangered North Atlantic right whales in an area they were thought to be extinct. The discovery is particularly important, researchers say, because it is in an area that may be opened to shipping if the melting of polar ice continues, as expected.

Manage corals and minimise climate change

A better assessment of the threats to coral reefs along with improved management will give corals a much higher chance of survival in the face of warming oceans, says IUCN's latest report. "We already know that climate change is destroying coral reefs through warming waters that cause coral bleaching and through acidifying oceans that hinders coral skeleton growth. We also know that if we want to save these beautiful living entities we must do something about it immediately," says Gabriel Grimsditch, IUCN Corals Expert.

New initiative to reduce shark deaths

Today, the Shark-Marina, a not-for-profit company launches its strategy to prevent the deaths of millions of vulnerable and endangered species of shark. The initiative aims to win over the fishing community by working with game fishing societies, tackle manufacturers, competition sponsors and marinas. The Shark-Free Marina Initiative works by prohibiting the landing of any caught shark at a participating marina, promoting catch-and-release fishing.

World's Largest Leatherback Turtle Population Found

An international team of scientists has identified a nesting population of leatherback sea turtles in Gabon, West Africa as the world's largest. The research estimated a population of between 15,730 and 41,373 female turtles using the nesting beaches.

Caribbean Big Fish Disappearing

Sharks, barracuda and other large predatory fishes disappear on Caribbean coral reefs as human populations rise, endangering the region's marine food web and ultimately its reefs and fisheries, according to a study published today in the journal PLoS One.

Ocean-Going Robotic Submarine Returns

Scientists are celebrating the first successful deployment and retrieval in Australia of a remotely controlled, deep ocean-going robotic submarine destined to play a central role in measuring changes in two of Australia's most influential ocean currents.

Book Review: Ghosts of Rosevear and the Wreck of the Nancy Packet

Tale of Scilly ghosts and wrecks.

Antarctic marine biodiversity data now online

Information on antarctic marine species now online and free. Includes over 2000 photos and videos. http://tinyurl.com/SCAR-MarBIN

The Diver's Handbook

Published today: 2nd edition of The Diver's Handbook by Alan Mountain. A good book for beginners it covers training, first aid, photography, wreck diving, ice diving...

Dolphin Underwater Pics

Gallery of photos of Spotted Dolphins swimming in the Red Sea.

Four Thousand Year Old Coral Found

According to research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, newly applied radiocarbon dating of the deep water corals Gerardia and Leiopathes species show that their growth rates are extremely low, and that individual colonies live for thousands of years. The longest-lived specimens were Leiopathes species (black corals) at 4265 years old.

Fins evolved from gills, research suggests

The genetic toolkit that controls the development of gills in sharks, is the same as that used by animals to build fins and limbs, according to research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Update: Diving Indonesia

Many more SCUBA diving centres in Indonesia are now listed at the SCUBA Travel directory. Find which have been given the "five fish" rating in Sulawesi, Sumatra, Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Komodo, Alor, Irian Jaya and Bali.

BSAC Photographic Competition 2009

From now to the end of November, the British Sub-Aqua Club are inviting monthly submissions of underwater photos. Each month they will select the best 9-15 shots to go forward to the grand final.

97% of Divers disturb seabed: Males worst

Most SCUBA divers disturb the seabed, Spanish researchers say, with inexperienced males carrying a camera or torch being the worst offenders. A study published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science found that nearly 97% of divers in marine protected areas (MPAs) made contact with the bottom.

Follow SCUBA News on Twitter

You can now follow SCUBA News updates on Twitter, the micro-blogging service.

Update: Diving Italy

Discover the best dive companies and dive sites in Italy at the newly updated SCUBA Travel site.

Loss of small fish may be starving the oceans

According to a report by Oceana, there is widespread malnutrition in fish, marine mammals and seabirds because of the global depletion of the small fish they need to survive. These "prey fish" underpin marine food webs and are being steadily exhausted by heavy fishing, increasing demand for aquaculture feed, and climate change.

Faulty Sensor causes Arctic Sea Ice Error

A faulty sensor has caused a slowly growing underestimation of Arctic sea ice extent by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). The underestimation reached approximately 500,000 square kilometers (193,000 square miles) by mid-February.

Scuba Caribbean

Seventy-five species of coral and over 500 species of fish, clear water, sandy bottoms, and relatively shallow depth combine to make Caribbean conditions especially interesting for both novice and expert divers. This claims to be the first all-inclusive book providing an overview of the many islands in the Caribbean, plus the Bahamas and Bermuda. It provides information on dive sites, dive operators, pertinent island or country information and diver-friendly accommodation. Good reference for anyone looking for new scuba destinations in the Caribbean. See also http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/americas/

Best Diving in Europe: Top Ten Dive Sites

See the top ten dive sites in Europe, as voted for by SCUBA Travel readers. The Zenobia (Cyprus) takes the top spot, closely followed by the Blue Hole (Gozo), Cirkewwa (Malta) and the Booroo (Isle of Man). Disagree with the list? Cast your vote at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/topdiveseurope.html

Coastal fish farms pollute the Sea

Marine aquaculture can have some nasty side effects, especially when the pens are set near sensitive coastal environments. All those fish penned up together consume massive amounts of commercial feed, some of which drifts off uneaten in the currents. And the crowded fish, naturally, defecate and urinate by the tens of thousands, creating yet another unpleasant waste stream. The wastes can carry disease, causing damage directly. Or the phosphate and nitrates in the mix may feed an algae bloom that sucks the oxygen from the water, leaving it uninhabitable, a phenomenon long associated with fertilizer runoff. New research shows "the icky stuff from the pens will travel farther, and in higher concentrations, than had been generally assumed".

Ocean Survey Finds Identical Species at each Pole

Hundreds of species live in both polar seas, despite an 11,000-kilometer distance in between. So finds the census of Marine Life. Among many other findings, the scientists also documented evidence of cold waterloving species shifting towards both poles to escape rising ocean temperatures.

Update: Diving in India

Read about some great diving in India in the new SCUBA Travel section. The best dive sites and recommended diving centres in the Andaman Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Goa.

Interview with Tony Groom, Author of Diver

Tony Groom talks about the book of his his underwater experiences as a Royal Navy Mine Clearance and commericial diver. "Day and night for about 10 months, I wrote and re-wrote about my diving life. About the intensive training the Navy required to become a 'Sneaky Beaky' attack swimmer. Getting trained in re-breathers that give out no bubbles, enabling you to sabotage ships, or work on mines unseen and undetected..."

Europe launches shark protection plan

The European Commission has launched a Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks. The aim is to rebuild shark stocks and to set down guidelines for the sustainable management of the fisheries, including where shark are taken as by-catch. The plan also hopes to increase knowledge of shark stocks and shark fisheries.

Explore the oceans in Google Earth

Google has launched Ocean in Google Earth, a new feature that lets you explore underwater in 3D and browse ocean-related content. combines sea floor terrain and expert content to provide you with an opportunity to explore some of the most difficult-to-reach parts of the world. Virtual travellers to Hawaii, for example, can examine underwater volcanoes, see videos about the marine life of the region, read about nearby shipwrecks and contribute photos and videos of favorite surf spots.

New edition of Dive Thailand is now out

This fully updated dive guide covers 140 dive sites in Thailand. From the fringing reefs of Koh Lanta to the pinnacles of Koh Tao, it looks at the premier spots - describing access, conditions, marine life and special points of interest.

USA Creates Three Marine Protected Areas in Pacific

President Bush has designated three areas of the Pacific Ocean, covering nearly 200000 square miles, as new marine "national monuments".

SCUBA Travel releases its diving best seller list

SCUBA Travel are pleased to release their list of the 2008 best selling diving books and DVDs. For the fifth year running, The Dive Atlas of the World retains its top spot! Its author, Jack Jackson, achieves two entries in the list: his Diving with Giants is a new entry at number nine. Another new entry, this time at number three, is Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die. This was only published last October but sold masses of copies in the run up to Christmas. Perhaps the best performer though is the Blue Planet DVD which has not been out of the top ten since the list began in 2001.

CO2 emissions harm jumbo squid

The elevated carbon dioxide levels expected to be found in the world's oceans by 2100 will likely lead to physiological impairments of jumbo (or Humboldt) squid, according to research by two University of Rhode Island (URI) scientists. The scientists speculate that the squids may eventually migrate to more northern climes where lower temperatures would reduce oxygen demand and relieve them from CO2 and oxygen stress. While it is possible, they say, that the squids could adjust their physiology over time to accommodate the changing environment, jumbo squids have among the highest oxygen demands of any animal on the planet and are thus fairly constrained in how they can respond.

Deco for Divers: Decompression Theory and Physiology

This new technical guide provides a comprehensive overview of the principles underlying decompression theory. This book aims to bridge the gap between introductory books and source scientific information.

Fifth of corals dead: only emission cuts can save the rest, says IUCN

The world has lost 19 percent of its coral reefs, according to the 2008 global update of the world's reef status. The report, released by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, shows that if current trends in carbon dioxide emissions continue, many of the remaining reefs may be lost over the next 20 to 40 years.

Oceans

Drawing on the most exciting stories from the fields of sub-aquatic archaeology, geology, marine biology and anthropology, professional diver and explorer Paul Rose reveals an astonishing hidden world of lost cities, forgotten shipwrecks, underwater caves and submerged volcanoes. He also looks at life in the ocean habitat, from great white sharks to the myriad exotic, but rarely seen, creatures that thrive in the extreme conditions miles beneath the surface.This book, like the landmark television series it accompanies, examines the possible consequences of upsetting this delicate balance and its impact on global warming.

New Book: Sea Fishes and Invertebrates of the North Sea

Visitors to the North Sea are astonished at the profusion of marine life that exists in this relatively small, box-shaped sea that is bounded by Britain to the west and the shores of northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and the far south-west of Sweden in the east. This book includes more than 300 full-colour photographs and black-and-white line drawings. The introduction describes the formation of the North Sea, the habitats and types of animal found there, and the urgent conservation issues of this ecologically diverse area. The core of the book is the field guide section. This contains fascinating species accounts accompanied by identification photographs of nearly 300 species of sea creature, including fishes, molluscs, crustaceans, starfish, sponges and corals. Now with 34% off at http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/asin/1847731252/rss1-21

You buy...we donate: Support charity when you buy insurance

Fancy a warm charitable glow when you buy insurance? From now on if you purchase World Nomads travel insurance via SCUBA Travel, we will donate to the Footprints charity of your choice.

Books for Divers

Hand-picked diving books: guides to diving around the world, stories of the history and pioneers of diving, books featuring great underwater photography and some just stories about diving.

Find a Cheap Flight and see Arrival and Departure Times

The SCUBA Travel site now lets you find the cheapest flight to diving destinations from a range of airlines. It also provides information on the arrival and departure times for flights around the world.

Low Cost Advertising to over 36000 Divers a Month

For just 2.45 GBP a month you can advertise your new SCUBA products, late deals and special offers on the "Diving Board". This special introductory price is guaranteed for the lifetime of your subscription.

Insert this SCUBA Newsfeed into your web site

You can now use either php or Javascript to display this news on your own web pages, absolutely free.