9 October 2009
Creature of the Month: Plumose Anemone
Plumose anemones (Metridium senile) occur in large numbers in good diving areas in temperate waters. They comprise a tall, smooth column topped with a crown of feathery tentacles. When they contact they look like swirly blobs, as can be seen in our photograph.Individuals may be white, orange, green or blue in colour. They grow up to 30 cm tall and 15 cm across at the base. They like areas with currents so tend to live on prominent pieces of wrecks or on rocky pinnacles.
With fine, delicate tentacles they are unsuited to capturing large animals like fish. Instead they specialise in smaller prey such as small planktonic crustaceans. The anemone's columnar body is narrower just below the tentacles. A current will bend the stalk at this point and expose the tentacles broadside to the flow in the best position for feeding on suspended matter.
The Plumose anemone occurs from the Bay of Biscay (North of Spain) to Scandinavia in the northeast Atlantic, and on the west and east coasts of North America. It is unknown from the western basin of the Mediterranean but has been seen in the Adriatic, where it is believed to have been introduced. It has also been seen in Table Bay Harbour in South Africa where it was probably introduced from Europe.
Further Reading:
Great British Marine Animals, by Paul Naylor
Ask Nature
What do you think of this news item? Join a discussion.
Labels: environment, Europe, marine biology, SCUBA diving, SCUBA News, SCUBA Travel, UK
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more news, articles, diving reports, reviews and marine creature of the month.
(SCUBA News is published by SCUBA Travel once a month. Will will keep your e-mail address confidential and only use it to send you the monthly newsletter.)
15 July 2009
Creature of the Month: Dragonet, Callionymus lyra
One hundred and eighty-six species of the "Little Dragon" fish live from Iceland in the North to the Indo-Pacific oceans in the South. You will find the species we are concentrating on today, Callionymus lyra, from Norway to Senegal: in the Eastern Atlantic and the North, Irish, Mediterranean, Black, Baltic, Aegean and other Seas.
The adult male C. lyra is colourfully patterned in orange and blue. The females are smaller and a mottled brown. They have an interesting courtship ritual. The male performs an elaborate display, darting around the female, spreading his brightly coloured fins and pulling faces! If the female is impressed the pair then swim side-by-side, almost vertically up to the surface. There they release the eggs and sperm into the water, spawning at dusk. Dragonet males are thought to mate only once in a lifetime.
Dragonets spend most of their lives on sandy or rocky bottoms. They live from the shallows down to 100 m. They are sometimes confused with gobies but have a much broader triangular, head and a long dorsal ray on their backs. If you see slender fish meeting this description darting away from you on the bottom it is probably a dragonet.
Further Reading:
Great British Marine Animals, by Paul Naylor
Labels: fish, marine biology, SCUBA diving, SCUBA News, SCUBA Travel, UK
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more news, articles, diving reports, reviews and marine creature of the month.
(SCUBA News is published by SCUBA Travel once a month. Will will keep your e-mail address confidential and only use it to send you the monthly newsletter.)
11 March 2009
Survey Reveals Top 10 Dive Sites in Europe
- The Zenobia, Cyprus
The pristine wreck of a huge ferry. Lying on its port side, the wreck starts at about 15 m and descends to 42 m. Fabulous dive. Possibly the best shipwreck dive in the world in recreational depths. 20 m plus visibility and some great swim-throughs. Needs several dives to see anything like all of it.
- Blue Hole, Gozo
A beautiful sharp drop off into the blue hole with what seems like limitless visibility and literally feels like you are on the very edge of the world. A most extraordinary dive.
- Cirkewwa, Malta
Features the wreck of the Rozi MV as well as stunning underwater topography. Visibility is very good and there iss ea life in abundance: barracuda, morays, octopus, cuttlefish and even dolphins.
- Booroo, Isle of Man
The Burroo, with its extremely diverse and plentiful marine life offers a truly magnificent dive. In fact, in areas exposed to the fast flowing current, it is something of a challenge to find a single square centimetre of bare bedrock, so abundant is the life here.
- Blockship Tabarka, Scapa Flow, Scotland
This shallow 18 m dive is a real beauty. One of the block ships scuttled to prevent submarine attack during WW2. Covered in life, a beautiful place. Worth the trip and the one of surprises of Scapa.
- Diamond Rocks, Kilkee, Ireland
Claimed to by on a par with the famous Yongala. It is a cold water dive off Ireland's west coast. The bay is fairly sheltered and is teaming with life. The terrain is full of rocks and gullies and the water is really clear.
- Eddystone Reef, England
12 miles off Plymouth, England. The reef is from 8 to 60 m. Encrusted with jewel anemones and with the remains of ancient wrecks, including a large 17th century anchor. Stunning.
- Secca della Columbara, Italy
One of the best dives in the Mediterranean. It features a steep, beautifully-decorated, wall; large shoal of barracuda; grouper; giant amberjacks and a wreck. The wreck is a 74 m ship which was carrying slabs of marble. It sank in 2005 and rests at 20 m in two parts.
- Fanore, Ireland
Shore dive in crystal clear Atlantic water with abundant fish.
- Chios island, Greece
Small undersea caves and paths between impressive rocks, colourful reefs and vertical walls.
What do you think of this news item? Join a discussion.
Labels: Europe, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta and Gozo, Mediterranean, SCUBA diving, SCUBA Travel, UK
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more news, articles, diving reports, reviews and marine creature of the month.
(SCUBA News is published by SCUBA Travel once a month. Will will keep your e-mail address confidential and only use it to send you the monthly newsletter.)
5 November 2008
A million tonnes of North Sea fish discarded every year
A million tonnes of fish and other sea creatures caught in the North Sea are thrown overboard every year, according to a new report from WWF-Germany.The study, Sea Creatures Are Not Rubbish, shows that one-third of North Sea catch is discarded and calls for a gradual ban on the practice of discarding in the European Union.
This practice occurs when boats decide to dispose of fish which they catch but cannot land or derive income from, or when they have caught more fish than they are allowed to land, or they discard the less valuable fish in order to make more space for more valuable fish.
For example, the report cites the situation with Dover sole, for which six kilos of sea creatures are caught incidentally and discarded for every kilo found in the fishmonger. Similarly, catching one kilo of Norwegian lobster or scampi results in five kilos of bycatch.
The European Union recently declared that 88 per cent of the fisheries stocks of the EU are overfished, compared with 25 per cent on average globally. Bycatch is a major contributor to overfishing, and this unsustainable and illogical practice should be addressed.
WWF is calling for a European-wide discard ban and a bycatch action package. In the future every fish caught should be landed and allocated to the catch quota.
At the same time fishermen should be obliged to use better catch technologies and in this way the bycatch in some fisheries could be reduced by up to 90 per cent.
A legislative initiative against discard practice, announced by the European Commission, was only recently torpedoed by the powerful fishery lobby of some member countries.
You can download the report from the WWF site at http://assets.panda.org/downloads/studie___meerestiere_sind_kein_muell_.pdf
--
What do you think of this news item? Start a discussion.
Bookmark with: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
|
Slashdot It! | Facebook | StumbleUpon --
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more free news, articles, diving reports and marine life descriptions - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more news, articles, diving reports, reviews and marine creature of the month.
(SCUBA News is published by SCUBA Travel once a month. Will will keep your e-mail address confidential and only use it to send you the monthly newsletter.)
9 October 2007
Meet the Author: Todd Stevens
Todd Stevens is the author of Wreck of the Colossus, The find of a lifetime. The story of the discovery of a 200 year old historic shipwreck and its aftermath.
- What prompted you to write the book?
- I was living my dream and wanted to write about my experiences. Incorrect reporting within the media regarding the discovery of the wreck and its carving were also factors. There also seemed to be many misconceptions written about the Colossus and its history.
- How long did it take you to write?
- In total-6 years!! I first had to learn to write and then to use a computer. My first two years of one finger typing (about 100 pages) were lost when the computer crashed and the file was irretrievable. After starting again it took 4 years to complete.
- What were the main lessons you learned from your experience with the Colossus?
- Not to trust those in authority, archaeologists, the media, or anyone wanting to make a buck from diving and salvage.
- Do you still get the same satisfaction from searching for wrecks?
- Yes, since the Colossus I have discovered five new wrecks in my local area, one of which was protected by the government in 2005. Another I am working on at present has, due to the fantastic history behind it, prompted me to write a second book. (It will be out next spring hopefully)
- What do you do when you are not working or diving?
- Hunting for shipwrecks; writing; researching; I like walking and am also a keen snorkeler. I am also a trustee of my local museum and currently have a weekly show on local radio .
- What would you say is the biggest change in diving since you started?
- I suppose it would be the types of people the sport now attracts, there are no longer the swash buckling types around that there once were.
- About the author
- East London drop out heading nowhere; my brothers and I took up diving with the BSAC in Northampton in 1979 and the sport has kept me on the straight and narrow ever since. Carpenter by trade I was extremely active in the sport all around the British coast. I moved to the isles of Scilly in 1999 to hunt out undiscovered shipwrecks found the stern of Colossus in May of that same year. I lost the wreck to anyone who thought they had a vested interest in it, then wrote the book. Along with my wife Carmen (who is also a keen diver) I am now head of a small team that actively hunts for undiscovered historic wreck sites - there's usually treasure involved.
You can purchase Wreck of the Colossus by sending a cheque for £17 (including p&p) made out to Colossus Publications to Colossus, Pilot's Retreat, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0NA. Alternatively visit the web site at http://www.hmscolossus.co.uk/.
What do you think of this news item? Start a discussion.
Bookmark with: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
|
Slashdot It! | Facebook | StumbleUpon --
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more free news, articles, diving reports and marine life descriptions - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more news, articles, diving reports, reviews and marine creature of the month.
(SCUBA News is published by SCUBA Travel once a month. Will will keep your e-mail address confidential and only use it to send you the monthly newsletter.)
14 September 2007
Wanted: Mary Rose Divers
The Mary Rose trust is organising a 25th anniversary reunion for divers who took part in raising the historic warship.The Mary Rose is the only 16th century warship on display anywhere in the world. Built between 1509 and 1511, she was one of the first ships able to fire a broadside, and was a firm favourite of King Henry VIII.
After a long and successful career, she sank accidentally during an engagement with the French fleet in 1545. Her rediscovery and raising were seminal events in the history of nautical archaeology.
The reunion is to be held on 10th, 11th and 12th October in Portsmouth.
If you dived on the Mary Rose or know anyone who did dive on the Mary Rose then contact
Divers' Reunion
c/o The Mary Rose Trust
1/10 College road
HM Naval Base
Portsmouth
PO1 3LX
mail@maryrose.org
www.maryrose.org
What do you think of this news item? Start a discussion.
Bookmark with: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
|
Slashdot It! | Facebook | StumbleUpon --
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more free news, articles, diving reports and marine life descriptions - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more news, articles, diving reports, reviews and marine creature of the month.
(SCUBA News is published by SCUBA Travel once a month. Will will keep your e-mail address confidential and only use it to send you the monthly newsletter.)
5 July 2007
Scapa Flow Dive Guide
On Midsummers Day in 1919, a German Admiral ordered the German High Seas Fleet to be scuttled. Seventy-four German ships had been anchored at the Orkney Islands of Scotland. They were sunk to prevent them being divided up amongst the allies. Many of the ships were recovered for salvage; but those remaining submerged have helped make Scapa Flow into one of the most popular dive sites in Europe.
Lawson Wood's latest book is a comprehensive guide to diving Scapa Flow. The book begins with an introduction to the Orkneys and a history of the German High Seas Fleet. It goes on to cover travelling to, and staying in, Scapa. The rest of the book is a guide to the diving
It is a very extensive guide covering 75 wrecks and 9 reefs. Wood gives the history of each wreck and has plenty of photographs of the dives and the ships. He also provides sea-bed scans of the wrecks and detailed descriptions of each dive site. For each site there is a key points box with a summary of vital information such as location, depth, access and diving experience required.
Many divers assume that you must be extremely experienced to dive Scapa Flow, but the book makes plain that even novice divers can enjoy a good diving holiday there. All of the Motor Torpedo Boats and Blockships are in less than 18 m (60 ft) with many in less than 9 m (30 ft). Lawson Wood rates these as "quite possibly some of the best shallow shipwrecks in the world".
If you are considering going to Scapa Flow then this book is a must. I would buy it well in advance to help you prepare for the trip, deciding where to dive and what equipment to take. It is a great diving guide which is a blend of detailed diving information, wreck history and local information.
About the Author
Lawson Wood has written more than 40 historical and diving guides, including the successful Shipwrecks of the Cayman Islands. He is a founding member of the Marine Conservation Society and founder of the St.Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Nature Reserve in Scotland. He made photographic history by becoming a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and Fellow of the British Institute of Professional Photographers solely for underwater photography. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Review by Andrew Reay-Robinson
The Scapa Flow Dive Guide is available from Aquapress, Amazon and all good bookshops.
What do you think of this news item? Start a discussion.
Bookmark with: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
--
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more free news, articles, diving reports and marine life descriptions - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
Labels: books, dive destination, UK, wrecks
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more news, articles, diving reports, reviews and marine creature of the month.
(SCUBA News is published by SCUBA Travel once a month. Will will keep your e-mail address confidential and only use it to send you the monthly newsletter.)
4 October 2006
Save the UK Marine Reserves
--
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more free news, articles, diving reports and marine life descriptions - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
Labels: environment, UK
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more news, articles, diving reports, reviews and marine creature of the month.
(SCUBA News is published by SCUBA Travel once a month. Will will keep your e-mail address confidential and only use it to send you the monthly newsletter.)
