Blue Marble Private are offering diving expeditions to the Titanic wreck site in May 2018. For $105,129 per person, tourists can explore this world-famous wreck off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada during an eight-day expedition. With the wreck continually deteriorating, this is an opportune time to dive the Titanic before she disappears.http://ca.thescubanews.com/2017/04/06/dive-tours-of-the-titanic-wreck-to-begin-in-2018/
Scientists and volunteers conducting surveys of North Atlantic right whales off the Florida coast have seen a significant decline in right whale numbers this winter. They have seen only four adults and three calves so far. With a whale population of over 500, these sightings are the lowest since surveys began. A meeting in Massachusetts later this month will discuss the possible reasons for the lack of sightings. Climate change and a lack of food are likely causes leading to dwindling numbers of right whales.The North Atlantic right whale has a long history of human exploitation. Current threats include entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships. This species of whale had a population of just 50 individuals until the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration passed rules to protect them. The population has grown to over 500 in recent years.Annual surveys of the right whale population provide population size estimates. Photo identifications of individuals are also used tell ships where whales are located to prevent collisions. A network of committed volunteers and organizations, including the Marineland Right Whale Project, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, conduct both aerial and shore-based surveys each season. This consistent and large-scale effort resulted in sightings of up to 200 whales off the coast of Georgia and northeastern Florida in winter of 2011.Jim Hain, program director of the Marineland Right Whale Project, confirmed that the low number of whales during the 2017 season has occurred despite good weather and survey conditions. While the winter season has not yet ended, surveyors do not expect an increase in whale numbers.
These sightings are part of an annual right whale migration. Found off the coast of New England and Nova Scotia in the summer, pregnant females, juveniles and some males migrate to the southeast Atlantic coast in winter. The whales may not have not migrated as far south in 2017. But surveys carried out further north at Cape Hatteras have also confirmed an absence of whales.Philip Hamilton, a research scientist at Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at New England Aquarium, confirmed a significant decline in the distribution of right whales in other habitats, such as their summer feeding grounds in the Bay of Fundy and the Great South Channel. Cape Cod is the only place where more whales are present at their feeding habitat.Scientists are unsure what’s causing the decline, but it may be due to climate change and warmer ocean temperatures. Hamilton’s concern is that female whales are not getting enough food and so are experiencing a longer calving interval. Calving usually occurs every three or four years, and the females lose one third of their body weight while pregnant and nursing. A lack of food sources may result in a longer recovery time for the females. This may in turn delay calving to every six to seven years.
Wellingtonian Dave Mullins has set the New Zealand freediving record at the Cressi New Zealand Depth Nationals, Lake Taupo, on 18th March 2017. Diving to a depth of 105m, using a single mono-fin, he has beat the previous record of 93m set by Austrian Herbert Nitsch.Well done New Zealand!Read more here: http://nz.thescubanews.com/2017/03/29/wellingtonian-sets-new-zealand-freediving-record-at-105m/
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhat Binsar Pandjaitan, has announced a pledge of up to $1 billion USD to reduce Indonesia’s plastic waste by 70 percent over the next eight years. He made the announcement at the 2017 World Oceans Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali. Luhat confirmed that Indonesia will be focusing on plastic alternatives and education initiatives to achieve their goal. Their plan is part of the global U.N. Clean Seas campaign to reduce major marine waste sources by 2022.Read more here: http://seasia.thescubanews.com/2017/03/29/indonesia-pledges-1-billion-to-reduce-plastic-waste/
The family of Rob Stewart, a Canadian filmmaker and shark conservationist, filed a wrongful death lawsuit on 28th March 2017 at Broward County, Florida. The lawsuit has been filed following the death of Rob Stewart during a dive off the Florida Keys in January 2017 and seeks unspecified damages.Rob Stewart died whilst filming for Sharkwater Extinction at the Queen of Nassau wreck, 9.7 kilometres off the coast of Islamorada. According to the lawsuit, Stewart dived to a depth of 70m with dive organizer Peter Sotis and came into difficulties during the third dive of the day.Read more here: http://ca.thescubanews.com/2017/03/29/wrongful-death-lawsuit-filed-by-conservationist-rob-stewarts-family/
Diving with sharks is at the top of many, if not all, divers’ bucket lists. Here are 10 tips to help you have a safe, and fun, encounter with the ocean’s apex predator.http://scubadiverlife.com/top-shark-diving-tips/
CALLING ALL WRITERS & OCEAN FANS!I'm looking for new/experienced writers to write about their scuba adventures, marine life profiles, kit reviews, diving tips and ocean conservation initiatives for The Scuba News. With our growing network of regional editions around the globe, this is a great time to get involved and gain some online exposure.If you're interested in sharing your stories* and/or being pitched ideas to help improve your writing skills and share your passion for the oceans, get in touch!
Mangroves may not be as sexy as coral reefs but they’re just as important to the overall health of the ocean. Read on to find out why.http://scubadiverlife.com/mangroves-roots-ocean/
A very proud day seeing my shark conservation article for Forest and Bird New Zealand in print. With over 70,000 members/readers, this will go some way to spreading the shark conservation message.Full article here: Caretakers of the Oceans
