On Tuesday, January 6, 2009, President Bush will continue his committment to preserving marine resources with the official designation of three new areas in the Pacific Ocean as U. S. National Monuments. This designation will provide national protection to over 195,000 square miles of marine habitat. This continues the legacy of President Bush as one of the most active Presidents in the area of marine preservation and protection. The new conservation areas are located in Guam, the Central Pacific Islands, and American Samoa. The following text is quoted from www.bloomberg.com.
Bush to Create Three Protected Sea Areas in the Pacific Ocean
By Catherine Dodge
Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) — President George W. Bush tomorrow will designate three areas in the Pacific Ocean as U.S. national monuments, giving environmental protections to 195,000 square miles of marine habitat.
The designation will limit fishing and regulate other human intervention in areas that environmentalists said include the deepest canyon on the globe, the most pristine coral reefs and the world’s smallest coral atoll.
The areas to be designated are the Mariana Trench and Islands near Guam; the Central Pacific Islands, about 1,500 miles west of Hawaii; and the Rose Atoll in American Samoa.
The move, applauded by environmental groups, is similar to protections Bush gave in 2006 to 140,000 square miles in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and surrounding waters.
Taken together, the two acts mean Bush “has done more to protect unique areas of the world’s oceans than any other person in history,” said Joshua Reichert, managing director of the Pew Environment Group in Washington.
“While we and others in the conservation community have frequently been at odds with the president on a variety of environmental issues, this is a memorably positive moment for which Mr. Bush should be roundly applauded,” Reichert said.
The areas will receive the “highest levels of conservation,” said James Connaughton chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, on a conference call today with reporters. “These places are exceptionally dynamic when it comes to the marine environment.”
Diane Regas, managing director of the oceans program at the Environmental Defense Fund in New York, said officials at the organization are “absolutely thrilled.”
“This isn’t a last-minute action, this is something that they have been building the local support for and the science for a couple of years,” she said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Catherine Dodge in Washington at Cdodge2@bloomberg.net; Last Updated: January 5, 2009 17:32 EST
Getting kids interested in water fun and the ocean environment is essential if we want to continue to produce scuba divers. There is no better way to get the young ones jazzed up about the ocean than exposing them to ocean life and the variety of fish found around the world. A local Nashville, Tennessee business has combined dining and a pleasant exposure to the beauty of the sea with the Aquarium Restaurant at the Opry Mills Mall. This is part of a larger national chain of restaurants with the same aquarium theme. My interest in the concept was peaked by some reading that resulted in my recent blog post about the same concept restaurant in Guatemala City. It is great to see that we have this same unique combination right here less than two hours from our store.
Reading through the website for the Aquarium Restaurant, it is clear that they have a great outreach and training program for kids. With programs like their Marine Biologist for a Day class, the guided tours of the facility, and the interactive Stingray Reef, this business is the perfect place to combines a short road trip, some good dining, and a great learning experience. Aquarium Restaurant also caters birthday parties for the kiddies, a great way to combined a celebration and some solid learning.
I encourage everyone to visit the website at www.aquariumrestaurants.com and take a look at the offerings at this unique Nashville, Tennessee enterprise. During the cold days of winter, what better way to get the kids interested in the wonder of beautiful sea life. Of course, for the parents, there is always the Dive Lounge for relaxing while the kids play.
We are very close to the end of another year. It seems like many people are ending this year on a low note. The housing crisis, the amazing troubles with some of the largest banks in the world, American automobile companies facing bankruptcy, and everyday people finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. At Dive Sports, we certainly fell the pain. The economy has been as tough on us as it has on any other business. Business certainly could have been better though out the year and the Christmas shopping season we have come to count on could have been much better. Many of you feel the same way about your personal business and finances.
During tough times, we often find it difficult to see our way forward. The darkest of clouds often obscure any silver lining that might by present. Tough times make it difficult to focus beyond our own problems, but it is important to look outside ourselves and give thought to what we want for others. Personally, I would like to just say joy to the world. No matter who you are, where you live, and what your circumstances, having joy in your life simply makes life better. In addition to solutions to our own problems, we could also do nothing more meaningful than wising joy to the world.
Since our military service people are so important, I guess it is OK to make two posts in a row about how we might express our gratitude for their service. Over the past couple of days, I have received several emails from people that thanked us for turning them onto the Gratitude Campaign. Several of them also mentioned the great Budweiser commercial from the Super Bowl. Anheuser-Bush promised to run this commercial only once, but I will bet you that MILLIONS of people have viewed the video of this great tribute. You have to admit, it makes you feel sort of good when you view it…and, it is likely to bring a few tears. Hope you enjoy watching it again. Personally, I watch it weekly.
Thank you to Anheuser-Bush for choosing to spend your advertising dollars to produce this commercial. We love it.
You are standing in line at the ticket counter at the airport and are amazed at the number of people traveling in this bad economy. I guess at Christmas time, everyone goes home, no matter how tight money is. This certainly doesn’t help you move past the 26 people in front of you any faster, but it does explain the crowd. Out of the corner of your eye, you see a young man and young woman walking past you. Dressed in desert camouflage uniforms, carrying heavy backpacks, you immediately know these are U.S. soldiers or marines….not just because of the uniforms, but because of the upright way they walk and carry themselves. You continue to glance and notice that the woman couldn’t possibly weigh more than 125 pounds, yet she walks upright, head held high, carrying that backpack that must weigh 75 pounds! Guys and girls in the military, traveling home for a Christmas visit. This is a common sight.
Your thoughts bounce back to stories you heard from your granddaddy about his service in the United States Army. He dropped everything, left his family and friends, just to serve a cause that his government thought was important. You remember how proud he was of his service and how his face glowed when he talked about it. You know he was proud and you were proud of him. For a brief moment, you think about walking over to the young man and young woman and giving them thanks for their service to our country. You know your granddaddy would. But, this time it is a little different. After all, you are still mad at our President for getting us into this mess to begin with. It angers you that the rest of the world looks on us so poorly, mostly because of the mistakes they think we have made in the conduct of this latest war. The amount of money we have spent on this war maddens you. So, you stand still and move slowly through the ticket line. The young man and young woman disappear into the crowd.
Finally, with your bags checked and your ticket in hand, you arrive at your departure gate. Here too, the crowd is stifling. You grab the only seat available in the departure area, and get out the magazine you purchased at the gift store. Just as you start reading, you hear the announcement that Flight 865 is arriving at your gate. You know it will only take them a few minutes to empty the plane, do a little cleaning, and then you can board. Finally, you get to leave things behind and begin your Christmas with your family. As the passengers start filing off the plane, you notice a man and woman, probably in their middle 50s, waiting anxiously and watching every passenger as they walk out the jet way door. The man is wearing a black ball cap and he looks like a hard working type. His hands are a little beat up and he looks like he earns every cent he gets. The woman, apparently his wife, is standing close to him. The expression on her face is pure anticipation. Every few moments, she glances up at her husband. She knows him well, and she knows how he is going to react when this reunion happens.
All of a sudden, a young man walks out of the jet way door, his head high and he is wearing the same desert camouflage uniform and the same heavy backpack as the two you saw earlier. The man and woman rush over to him, the soldier puts his backpack on the floor, and the man in the ball cap collapses in this soldiers arms. This hard working guy probably never cries, but this is just too much for him. After years of dad holding the son up, now the son keeps dad standing straight. Mom stands watching them both with tears in her eyes. This father hugging this son is probably the best Christmas gift she has ever had.
This reunion brings a flood of tears to your eyes. You notice many others having the same reaction you have. You are seeing the reunion of a military family at Christmas time. For a moment, you wish you had gotten out of line and said something to the young military man and young military woman you saw in the main terminal. You wish you knew what to say to this family, holding each other in a flood of tears. You flash back to six years ago when everyone in the airport stood still and clapped with appreciation when a small group of military people walked through the airport terminal. Back then, after the events of 911, everyone had great gratitude for our men and women in uniform. You know that personally, you still do.
This is not about politics. This is not about the last President, or the current one, or the President-Elect. This is not about Congress, or political parties, or any other of the myriad of things we have been bombarded with; things that created lines between us. This is about YOUR personal gratitude that there are those who are willing to give their best years in service for those of us who just stand and wait. This is about people who take a call, knowing that it could well be the last call of their life. It is about pure, simple gratitude for a job well done.
The Gratitude Campaign knows that showing your thanks is often a little embarrassing, it often seems like an intrusion into the lives of others, and that doing it very publicly is sometimes a little awkward. They have developed a way to allow you to show your respect and gratitude every time you see a man or woman in uniform, and to do it in a personal way that both YOU and THEY will understand. Please visit the website of the Gratitude Campaign and view their video. Learn about the single gesture that you can give, as a sign of gratitude to our men and women serving in the United States military. It only takes a couple of minutes for you to view the video and a couple seconds for you to make the sign. They will nod back graciously, and you will have the comfort of knowing that you showed your real gratitude for a job well done. Oh, and if you are the type that doesn’t mind open displays of affection, it is OK to grab them and give them a big hug.
Update 12/20/2008: I have embedded one of the videos from the Gratitude Campaign for your viewing. Please take a minute to email a link to this post to your friends, so they can visit our blog and view this very informative video.
Phil Ellis
Note: The encounter I described in this post is fictional, but I think this exact same situation happens every day. My thoughts are certainly not those of the fictional character who is mad about our current situation. This post was written simply to draw attention to the Gratitude Campaign. I made a blog post about this organization last year at Christmas. Gratitude for our men and women in national service is just as important this Christmas. If you are interested in reading the post from last Christmas, click here.
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I was doing my morning reading and an article in Kentucky.com really caught my attention. It appears that the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky has created an attraction that combines the festive celebration of Christmas with the thrill and excitement of the underwater world. Imagine Santa Claus, his sleigh loaded with toys, being pulled by brightly colored seahorses! Well, it is for real at this very inventive Kentucky attraction. Their Scuba Santa Water Wonderland attraction is so popular, it has been featured on several television networks. Popular with both kids and adults, this is the “must-see” attraction at the aquarium during December. What a cool way to excite those who love sea life and Christmas? An excerpt from the article on Kentucky.com is shown below.
Santa Claus has been known to make some dramatic entrances depending upon where you live — from a pirogue in Louisiana to a surfboard in Hawaii — but for the sixth year in a row, he has arrived in Northern Kentucky with a mask and fins and a scuba tank strapped on his bank.
The Newport Aquarium’s Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland has become so wildly popular with kids, and adults, in the tri-state area that it’s been featured on all three major television networks (CBS This Morning, NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America).
Through Jan. 3, visitors buying a ticket to the aquarium will receive free admission to the Water Wonderland exhibit, and be able to “ooohhh” and “aaahhh” with delight as Santa arrives in the world’s largest underwater sleigh pulled by prancing seahorses. In the spirit of the season, even the sharks are happy as Santa dives into their tank to find out which ones have been naughty or nice.
Aquarium admission is $18.95 adults, $11.95 ages 2-12, free for children younger than 2. For a schedule of the Scuba Santa dive shows, call (859) 261-7444 or visit www.newportaquarium.com.
Who says Santa can only be found at department stores, in parades, and in chimneys on Christmas Eve night? Apparently, the folks at the Newport Aquarium have other ideas. The read in this article seems to indicate a well thought and elaborately produced Christmas attraction. So, if you are in Northern Kentucky over the holidays, make a little detour to Newport, Kentucky and visit the real underwater Santa.
I previously wrote this blog post about a Yahoo! News article on the impact that increasing jellyfish blooms are having on beach goers and water sports participants. Jellyfish stings are painful and preventing them is important anytime you go in the ocean. I was thinking that this might be a good time to discuss a very unique product we offer, the Safe Sea Jellyfish Protection lotion.
A jellyfish stings a human as a final step in a complicated mechanical and chemical detection and defense process. This complicated “signal and reaction” process is not widely understood, but one company has spent millions of dollars defining the steps in the process and developing a response to interrupt the process. Nidaria Technology recognized that the signal and reaction stinging process of the jellyfish is one of the fastest processes in the natural world. Common sense indicated that if they could interrupt any part of the process, they could essentially stop the jellyfish from firing the cells that cause the sting. Their extensive research and development yielded the Safe Sea Jellyfish Protection Lotion. Safe Sea is a formulation based on the same chemicals that protect a Clown fish from stinging predators. When properly applied, the Safe Sea lotion simply makes the wearer “invisible” to the jellyfish. Without the ability to “know” that an organism in making contact, the jellyfish simply doesn’t send the signal to fire the stinging cells.
Safe Sea lotion does even more than protect against jellyfish stings. The active chemicals are packaged in a pleasant lotion that also provides protection against sunburn. Available in SPF 15, SPF 30, and a special SPF30+ formulation for children, users can now combine the beneficial effect of stopping jellyfish stings and protection from the burning rays of the sun. Priced no more than cost of high-quality sunscreens, it seems silly to use any product other than Safe Sea. Don’t go near the ocean with a supply of Safe Sea jellyfish protection lotion. You can use the link below to purchase this product right now from DiveSports.com
There are a number of internet websites that claim to offer the Safe Sea product. We have heard that many of them take the orders, but never deliver the product. DiveSports.com ALWAYS has this product in stock and ready for immediate shipment. If you have any questions about the Safe Sea product, please give us a toll-free call at (800) 601-3483.
This is the morning after. Each year, we have our one-day Christmas Party and Sale. Again, this year, we had hundreds of customers join us for some good food, lots of great conversation with friends and other divers, and some absolutely great deals. It was clear that the poor economic situation took a toll on the level of shopping this year, but everyone had a good time and we all got to spend some time with friends.
We have lots of people that help us pull this event off every year. As always, I am extremely thankful for their help. This year, two of our good friends and customers went way beyond the call of duty. Ann and Kathy provided some great food and I am very thankful for this contribution. Things like this remind me that even in business, it is not all business. We can’t get by without friends.
Thanks to everyone who came by and enjoyed the fun and food. Thanks to those who took advantage of the great sale prices. Thanks to everyone who has helped us make it through another year. We look forward to diving with all of you next year.
We only have a few days remaining until our annual Christmas Party and Sale. Saturday, December 13, 2008 we will be open from 8AM until 8PM and will have plenty of great sales and deals for your last minute Christmas shopping. Plan to join us for a good time, snacks, soft drinks and lots of fun. Remember, we will be offering the Open Water Scuba Diver $99 tuition certificates again this year. There is no better gift for a friend or loved one. Quantity on these is limited, so get here early and make sure you get this great gift. If you have any questions about our Annual Christmas Party and Sale, give us a call at (800) 601-3483.
Welcome to the daily blog for Dive Sports. Dive Sports is a local scuba store in Decatur, Alabama and we operate an online retail store at www.divesports.com. We like to say that we are your local scuba store, no matter where you live. Our store and website are operated by scuba divers. We love diving, we love talking about diving, and we love all of the cool equipment and "gadget stuff" that goes with diving. Our store is a small family operation and we promise you friendly service, friendly information and conversation, and the best possible prices we can offer. We hope you will become a frequent visitor to our blog and our retail online website. If you ever have any questions, please give us a call toll-free at (800) 601-DIVE. Remember, we ALWAYS have time to chat with you about this really cool sport of scuba diving.
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