The working relationship between recreational boaters and scuba divers can often be tense.  In the busy recreational waters off of the south Florida coast, a scuba diver’s biggest threat can be the danger posed by fast recreational boats as they dart about in the congested coastal waters.  Scuba divers spend some amount of time on the surface, and just a slight lapse of attention or judgment can put them in the immediate target zone of a speeding boat.  Divers typically display the familiar red and white dive flag to warn boaters when they are operating in the area, and commercial dive boats always display the flag to alert other boaters that there are divers in the water.  Unfortunately, some recreational boaters don’t see the warning, and many don’t understand the meaning of the flag when they see it.  Just such a case resulted in a disaster last month in south Florida.

Rob Palmer was enjoying the crystal clear Florida waters while diving from a commercial dive vessel.  After surfacing from a dive, Rob and his dive buddy were attempting to make their way back to the dive boat for boarding.  For reasons not yet known, a recreational boat swerved from its course and struck Rob on the surface.  The resulting accident severed both of Rob’s legs.  While he is making a good and rapid recovery from this horrible accident, there are still questions as to the boaters understanding that there was diving in the area.  Despite the large dive flag displayed on the nearby commercial dive vessel, Rob was overrun.

Rob has many diving friends in south Florida.  Their concern for him and their general concern about a seeming rising number of accidents and “close call” between boat and divers has lead them to conduct a Dive Flag Awareness Event on Saturday January 31, 2009.  Representatives from this volunteer group of friends will be at a number of Florida boat ramps informing boaters about the meaning of the red and white dive flag, they laws that impact boaters when a diver is present, and what precautions boaters should take when divers are in the area.

For more information about this safety awareness effort, we encourage you to visit a thread on the popular online scuba diving website ScubaBoard.com.  The link below will lead you to this discussion.  If you are not a member of ScubaBoard.com, we encourage you to join and participate in the conversations.  It is absolutely free and lots of fun.

Dive Flag Awareness Event Thread on ScubaBoard.com

Phil Ellis

www.divesports.com

I have written several posts here on our blog about the dangers of the invasive spread of lionfish in the waters near the United States and Caribbean islands.  The feeding habits and aggressive nature of this fish is a serious threat to our reefs.  Reef.org has recently received the first “official” and documented sighting of the foreign predator in the Florida Keys.   While there have been undocumented sightings for over six months, this is the first to be photographed and reported in a timely manner.  This sighting allowed for capture of the sighted individual.  On January 12, 2009,  Lad Adkins from Reef.org  issued the following news release.

The first confirmed lionfish sighting in the Florida Keys occurred on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. REEF received this specific sighting report at 2:30pm on the 6th from one of our volunteer divers from South Carolina, who was diving on vacation in the Keys. She found the fish near the base of Benwood Ledge (66?) just offshore of the Benwood wreck, Key Largo. Via the numerous REEF media alerts and notices, she knew the invasion of lionfish was an issue and grabbed a few images with her digital camera to confirm the sighting. She then took detailed notes on the location of the fish in relation to the dive site and upon her return to shore, contacted REEF staff to report the sighting. Upon review of her images, we confirmed the sighting and gathered a detailed description of the location of the fish. Following protocols developed in a multi agency workshop held in June of 2008, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) was notified and the report was forwarded to the US Geological Survey (USGS) Invasive Species Program. Response plans were coordinated between REEF and the FKNMS and a removal team was assembled.

The removal effort was initiated on the morning of January 7th. Following the extremely accurate site descriptions provided by the volunteer, the fish was found at the same location reported. The fish was captured alive via hand nets by REEF staff and returned to the shore where it was euthanized in a eugenol solution prior to dissection. No other lionfish were observed in the immediate vicinity. Total time between initial report and successful removal was less than 24 hours.

Additional information collected as part of the response effort included site conditions, habitat characterizations, and prey community assessments. Data on size, reproductive status, and stomach contents were gathered during dissection and tissue samples, genetic material and otoliths were preserved for further analysis.

The process of early detection, verification, warning, rapid response, habitat characterization, collection and dissection follow protocols developed in close partnership by REEF, the NOAA Beaufort Lab, USGS, Simon Fraser University, the National Aquarium in DC, the Bermuda Aquarium and others participating in our June 2008 invasive species workshop held in the Florida Keys and through our work in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Reef.org is operating an intensive investigative and research project to further study and develop an eradication plan for lionfish in the Florida Keys.  As I reported in previous posts, a few single specimen of this fish can quickly grow to an explosion of individuals combing the reef.

Reef.org is asking for anyone who spots a lionfish in the Florida Keys to develop clear coordinates of the location of the lionfish and to immediately contact Lad Atkins at (305) 852-0030.   Immediate notification is essential if they are to be successful in removing the pests from our waters.

Phil Ellis

Discount Scuba Gear - DiveSports.com

A growing legal battle has been brewing since early 2008 between the states of Ohio and Kentucky…all over a rock.  It appears that local historian Steve Shaffer, a life long resident of Portsmouth, Ohio had heard about Indian’s Head rock, a popular river landmark,  most of his young life.  It seems that Indian’s Head rock was once a popular place to carve your initials, and the majority of the visible surface of the rock contains just that.  The rock was partially visible during the 1920’s as it sat in the Ohio River about 60 feet from the Kentucky shoreline.  When navigational dams raised the level of the Ohio River during the 1920’s, it was lost from sight forever.  But Shaffer, diver David Vetter,  and several  other scuba diving friends were determined to find the notorious rock.  It took a while, but they eventually located the 8-ton boulder and removed it from the river.    The divers donated the rock to the City of Portsmouth for display. City officials, realizing that the Ohio river is actually in Kentucky, promptly offered the rock to the City of South Shore, Kentucky.  When the city of South Shore showed no interest in the sandstone rock, Portsmouth officials made plans to display the rock in their city.  That is when the legal dispute began.

Indians Head rock has long been the subject of much discussion among the residents of  Kentucky and Ohio.  Believed to possibly be the work of Indians native to the area, the rock  was placed in the Ohio registry of antiques.  Just before the completion of the dam that would eventually cover this rock forever, the following entry was made in Volume 30 of Ohio History.

“In all probability, neither the Indian’s head, nor the rock upon which it is cut, will ever be seen again, as it is hardly within the realms of chance that the dam will be broken at such an opportune time. Unquestionably, the Indian’s head was not the work of a quarryman. It bears strong resemblance to other Indian carvings and impresses the mind with the fact that it is thoroughly Indian in its execution. The outline is cut in the southeast corner of the rock and faces east.

“There is another rock, about one hundred years upstream from the Indian rock, upon which someone in recent years carved an Indian profile with feathered head-dress, but this one is not the genuine Indian head, though frequently taken for it.”

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway wrote a letter to the Portsmouth city government demanding the return of the rock.   The Kentucky Attorney General insists that the well-inscribed rock is actually a  registered antiquity in the state of Kentucky, and that removal of the rock is theft of an antiquity and subject to prosecution.  To make matters worse, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is claiming jurisdiction over the rock because it was taken from a waterway regulated by the Corp.  Steve Shaffer is making no comments, since his involvement in the removal might be the subject of criminal penalties.   The rock now sits in a maintenance garage at the City of Portsmouth, pending the outcome of this interesting legal battle.

More about this story can be found at NPR.org

Phil Ellis

Save with Rock Bottom Scuba Prices at Divesports.com

Diving in the southeast during the winter and spring months presents unique problems.  Though we seldom experience the conditions that our northern friends would see during the winter, we still have our need to stay warm while diving.  Of course, we all know that a properly fitting wetsuit, or even a dry suit, is essential for diving in lower water temperatures.  Nothing else can properly protect you from lower water temperatures.  However, staying warm BEFORE and BETWEEN dives is also essential for your health and your enjoyment.

When you come out of the water in lower-than-comfortable air conditions, your wet dive suit acts just like an air conditioner.  The evaporation of the water from the suit take swith it valuable body energy and heat.  Add a little breeze to the mix and you have all of the conditions necessary to make you really, really cold.  Of course, being cold is not good for you physically and it certainly is not comfortable.

Divers should remember to IMMEDIATELY cover themselves when they come out of the water.  Any large coat or blanket will probably do the trick.  There are even special coats, made to be worn over your wetsuit.  These “boat coats” will warm you quite nicely.   Anything that blocks the flow of air and reduces the rate of evaporation will make tons of difference and help your body recover the valuable heat lost from the dive.  While you might think you are “tough” enough to stand out in the elements while you change your tank over for the next dive, it is a bad idea.  While already chilled from the previous dive, things do not improve if your body continues to loose heat during the surface interval.  This only makes the second dive even colder and harder on your body.  This is not about being tough; it is about being smart.

ScubaMax Hooded Boat Coat.  This boat coat is designed to be worn directly over your wetsuit or dry suit when you come out of the water.  The long below-the-knee design covers you completely.  The nylon outer shell provides protection against wind, and the carbon fiber inner shell provides the insulation you need to stay toasty warm.  Extra large arms allow you to easily wear this coat without removing your wrist computer.  The dual zipper provides easy closure against the elements.  Available in 4 sizes.

So remember, use your head and stay warm between dives.  Subsequent dives will be much more fun and you will be protecting your health.

Phil Ellis

Shop at DiveSports.com and Save on Your Scuba Gear

The Gulf of Mexico at the northern panhandle of Florida offers those of us in the southeastern United States some absolutely great diving.  The water is warm, the shipwrecks are numerous, and the fish are plentiful.  As the water warms in the spring and heads toward the high temperatures of the summer, we also get another unwelcome visitor……jellyfish.   During the peak of the summer breading season, they are so plentiful that they are present in large numbers, known as jellyfish “blooms”.  Blooms are simply large aggregates of the jellyfish, typically  prospering in a the local area  around a plentiful food source or exceptionally warm water.

Like many organisms found in the ocean, jellyfish are unique characters.  With no bones, no brains, and very little body mass material, they are the most “nothing” creatures in the sea.  The body mass of a typical jellyfish is only about 5% biological material, with the remaining body spaces filled with water.  However, this simple little “nothing” creature sure can cause some pain.  Just one entanglement with the jellyfish’s tentacles will often leave a pretty severe rash and that nice stripped, red appearance many have seen.  There is no doubt that  the stings from jellyfish cause more than a few tears each year among Gulf coast visitors, and the pain from a serious encounter with these creatures can be quite severe.

The two most common jellyfish types found in the northern Gulf of Mexico are the moon jellyfish and the sea nettle.  The moon jellyfish is a bell-shaped, softball-looking character, with the stinging tentacles hanging below.  Almost completely milky-white in appearance, the moon jellyfish can be distinguished by the four pear-shaped darker organs seen just inside the “moon” of the jellyfish.  Divers often tangle with the moon jellyfish as they near the surface, often surfacing into them without realizing they are present.  Of course, any uncovered skin areas that contact the tentacles will result in numerous stings.    The pain associated with the sting of the moon jellyfish is not severe, but it does persist for 15-30 minutes and is uncomfortable.

Sea nettles are also bell-shaped, much like the moon jellyfish, but have a slightly darker appearance and the characteristic brown body color.  Sea nettles also tend to have slightly more tentacle mass hanging beneath, and the sting of the sea nettle is slightly more painful than that of the moon jellyfish.  Sea nettles stings often have moderate to severe pain for up to an hour, and the itching from sea nettle stings can last for several weeks.

There are a number of treatments for jellyfish and sea nettle stings, including household vinegar, weak ammonia cleaning solutions (such as Windex spray window cleaner), and frequent flushes with clean, salt water.  Flushing with fresh water is a no-no and only makes the nematocysts that remain in the skin from the initial contact continue to fire, causing additional pain and discomfort.  Treatment with various cortisone creams can also ease the discomfort of the itching that persists from stings.  In addition, there are several commercial treatments designed just for the treatment of jellyfish stings and reduction of the associated pain.

Safe Sea Jellyfish Protection Lotion.  Safe Sea is a unique lotion that actually makes you “invisible” to the jellyfish.  When protected by Safe Sea, jellyfish do not sense your presence and do not fire the stinging nematocysts that cause the pain.  Safe Sea is effective on about 95% of all users.  Safe Sea is available with or without optional sunscreen protection.

Sting Zapper Gel.  This is a single-use package of gel designed to be applied directly to  sting areas to relieve the pain and itching of jellyfish stings.  This gel contains Lidocaine HCL and provides almost immediate relief when applied  directly on the affected area.

StingMate Sting Neutralizing Gel.  StingMate is a Lidocaine-free treatment that deactivates the stinging cells, providing relief very quickly.  Liberal applications of StingMate, along with scraping of the skin to remove the remaining nematocysts, provides very good remedy for the pain.

So, as you make plans to dive the beautiful Gulf of Mexico this spring and summer, don’t forget to take a few precautions.  Look around when submerging and ascending for the presence of jellyfish.  Avoid direct contact with jellyfish and sea nettles and avoid the pain that can put a damper on your diving adventure.

Phil Ellis

Protection and Treatment  for  Jellyfish Stings at DiveSports.com

Update: January 25, 2009 10:30 AM.  I have provided a pretty neat video of moon jellyfish filmed at the Perth Aquarium.  The use of black light makes this really cool visual effect.  Enjoy.

Like many of my posts, my January 20 post on the lionfish invasion in the Caribbean and the Atlantic coast got me more interested in this species.  I was particularly intrigued when reading an article where an observer noticed a single lionfish eating as many as 20-30 fish in a single hour.  This seems to be quite an appetite and further helps to explain the danger of this invasion to the fragile reefs in these areas.

The lionfish has been known to attack and devour fish almost 1/2 to 3/4 the size of the predator.  When the dorsal and pectoral fins are completely spread, the prey feels completely cornered and trapped and often makes only weak or  no attempts to flee.  This clearly aids the lionfish in the hunt.   The appetite of the lionfish also seems to be gigantic.  They often times consume their own weight in fish in a single day.

The video below gives a good view of the tenacity of the lionfish when feeding.  Notice how a “miss” does not deter the lionfish at all; he simply continues to attack until the attack is successful.  We would love to have your comments on this post and others posts on our blog.

Phil Ellis

Don’t Get Eaten Alive  By High Scuba Prices - Shop at DiveSports.com

I recently got a phone call from Ronda Moniz, a member of the old and famous Boston Sea Rovers dive club.  For 55 years, they have sponsored an annual Underwater Clinic and Film Festival.  This event is very popular with divers from all over the country.  At her request, I am providing a copy of the press release announcing their next event.

The Boston Sea Rovers

Underwater Clinic and Film Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Boston Sea Rovers, one of this country’s oldest and most prestigious dive clubs, have announced they will be sponsoring their historic 55^th Annual Underwater Clinic March 6^th – 8^th, 2008 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, St. James Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. This year’s event is sure to uphold their time-honored tradition to “Raise the Level of Knowledge of the Underwater World”. Features of the Clinic include over forty daytime seminars covering every aspect of scuba diving and the marine environment, including a dozen detailed workshops on advanced diving techniques, a world class evening film festival, and, with over sixty booths, the largest display of dive equipment and services in New England for the year. Tickets at the door for the evening show are $25 per person, and tickets for the Clinic Saturday, which includes exhibit displays and the diverse programs offered, are $25. On Sunday, admission is $20, children under 12 are free, and admission for students with valid ID and Senior Citizens is only $15. Daytime events run from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 7^th, and 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM on Sunday, March 8^th. Exhibit hall opens 15 minutes prior.

The spectacular Saturday Evening Film Festival is one of the most prestigious in the underwater world. The Saturday Evening Film Festival runs from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM, and will be held at the John Hancock Hall, two blocks from the hotel.
The Sea Rovers are a not-for-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to increasing the awareness and appreciation of the marine environment. A portion of the proceeds benefits scholarships, and SeaMark, an organization dedicated to helping children with disabilities. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets or obtaining further information should call (617) 424-9899, write to the Boston Sea Rovers, P.O. Box 935, Bedford, MA 01730-0935, or visit our website at http://www.bostonsearovers.com.

We wish the Boston Sea Rovers great success with this event.  Maybe some of our readers will be in the area and can make plans to attend this event.

Phil Ellis

Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSports.com

In tight economic times, divers begin looking for ways to enjoy our great sport without spending a ton of money.  Short, weekend trips become all the rage when money and time are short.  Here in Alabama, we are fortunate to be close to lots of great scuba diving.  Our panhandle coast destinations in Panama City, Destin, and Pensacola provide ocean shipwreck diving that rivals almost anywhere.

We are also fortunate to have easy access to the some of the best freshwater diving in the country.  The natural springs of central Florida and the Florida panhandle  provide some amazing diving.  If you haven’t taken advantage of these great fresh-water resources,  maybe this would be the year.  For those who might have forgotten just how good this diving can be, we have provided a image that will make you forget the cold weather and head just a little bit south for some simply amazing diving.

We are in the process of planning some weekend, fresh-water diving trips for the 2009 diving season.  If you have particular dates you would like to travel and particular sites you would like to visit, give us a call and maybe we can plan a weekend group trip that fits your travel needs.

Phil Ellis

Fun Group Dive Travel with DiveSports.com

About the Image Above: This image was provided to us by our friend Matthew Bull, or “SuPrBuGmAn” as he is known on ScubaBoard.com.  Matthew took this photograph in 2004 at Cypress Springs.  Matthew made a great photograph here, but he also had a great subject.  Looking at this picture surely makes you want to explore the fresh-water springs of Florida.  We will be providing you with a few more of Matthew’s photographic gems in future posts.

After posting the cool video of divers interacting with a big Goliath Grouper about a week ago, and after reading a heated debate thread on ScubaBoard questioning the need to reopen the Goliath Grouper fishery in the United States, I starting searching YouTube and  found this amazing video taken near Jupiter, Florida in September of 2008.  Spear fishermen were swimming a local reef and came upon an entire school of these gigantic fish.  There must be 30 to 50 of these monsters, most as large as 400 pounds.  Take a look at this video and you will see that, regardless of the past prospects of this species in Florida, they are making a big come-back now.

Phil Ellis

www.divesports.com

The beauty and diversity in the world’s oceans provide us with an amazing variety of species that are both colorful and unique in their habits.   As  scuba divers, we have unique opportunities to see this variety in real life, under completely natural conditions.   Seeing a  clownfish in nature is surely one of the real  treats for divers lucky enough to have the experience.

The clownfish gained the attention of the world as a result of the release of a popular movie in 2003.  Since that blockbuster release, people young and old alike  know Nemo, the adorable little clownfish.  Through excellent cartoon animation, the  lovable little character introduced many people to the vast wonders of the underwater world, and began a love affair with a single fish species that was unmatched in previous history.  Just like the cartoon character Nemo, real clownfish are a pleasure to watch and their real life actions appear to demonstrate a personality that all can understand.

The clownfish is native to  a narrow stretch of the worlds oceans around the tropical reaches of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.  Clownfish are also found in northwestern Australia, Japan, and Malaysia.  These colorful fish grow to a length of 2 to 5 inches, and are almost always found in the vicinity of their only natural protection, the sea anemone.  In almost all sightings, clownfish are found in pairs in the anemone.  The connection between the clownfish and the sea anemone is a critical symbiotic relationship, possibly one of the most unique in the oceans.

The sea anemone is a poisonous animal that stings and stuns its prey before digesting the kill.  Unfortunately, the immobility of the sea anemone causes the critical tentacles to get clogged with the remains of the prey upon which it lives.  The clownfish seeks protection from its predators in the safety of the dangerous tentacles of the anemone.  The slick, mucus covering on the clownfish makes them resistant to the sting of the anemone,  allowing them to find sanctuary in a protective habitat that is critical for the little fish.  The clownfish feeds on the remains of the animals found around the anemone tentacles, keeping the anemone clean and vibrant.  In addition, the constant movement of the very active clownfish provides constant water movement through the anemone tentacles, helping maintain a fresh and nutrient-filled environment.

While the coloring of the popular Nemo character is bright orange with white stripes, there is actually considerable color variation in nature.  The following video shows a perfect example of active clownfish and the important relationship to the sea anemone.  This video was shot in the waters of the Red Sea.

Phil Ellis

DiveSports.com