Undercurrent Online Update for Subscribers

For David Denson Whiteside (with username 'dwhitesi', exp: 2024-08-20, at dwhite95815@hotmail.com )

Forward this email | Home | Login | Forgot Password? | My Account | FAQ

August 18, 2021

Brain coral affected by SCTLD

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease: It's running amok off Florida and throughout the Caribbean, leaving dead corals behind. We have gathered the latest information on its spread and talked with scientists involved in studying the disease to get the latest and learn what role divers have in stopping the spread. The report is attached to this email, and you can also read it online here.

Freediving and Scuba May Enhance the Side Effects of the Vaccine. Diver Alert Network (DAN) reminds us that divers should keep out of the water about seven days after receiving the COVID vaccination and keep that in mind when it's time for your booster. Mild side effects are common in the first three days, and these can include a sore arm, red at the injection site, fever/chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, or nausea, which may be enhanced by increased ambient pressure. As for the side effects, not to worry; they simply indicate your body is building an immune response (called 'reactogenicity').

Watch Out For Nippers in Fresh Water. We all know the cautions of wearing jewelry and sparkling objects when diving because, on rare occasions, a triggerfish or puffer has gotten too curious. Now, Mary Wicksten (Bryan, TX) tells us that while she was diving in fresh water at the Scuba Ranch near Terrell, Texas, "One of our unfortunate divemasters was wearing silver earrings while at 'Scuba Ranch' near Terrell, Texas, and she was startled when a bluegill nipped her on the ear several times! Some of the bluegills were nesting, which may have made them cantankerous, or maybe those earrings flashed. (I wore a hood)."

Only Your Computer Counts: Recently, we've received too many reports of divers depending on a guide's computer to finish their dive. It doesn't work that way. Your computer keeps YOU safe from the bends by monitoring YOUR time and YOUR depth to compute, through its algorithm, YOUR safe ascent time. You need to be fully versed in what the data on the screen tells you. Different computers use different algorithms and give different results, some more liberal than others. The only computer that is accurate for your dive is the one YOU carry. No other diver has the same dive profile you had (or, most likely, the same algorithm). If you wish to carry a backup computer, make it identical to your primary computer.

Caymans to Reopen for Tourism. The Cayman government has announced a six-phase plan culminating, if the first stages are successful, with a full welcome back for tourists in January 2022. Limited tourism will begin by September 9, and quarantine restrictions will be removed for fully vaccinated travelers by October 14. Details here.

Manatee Casualties at an All-time High. The Florida Wildlife Commission reports an unprecedented 842 manatees died during the first half of this year, surpassing the total of 830 mortalities from the previous highest number in 2013 -- but most of the deaths occurred during the colder months when they migrated through the Indian River Lagoon where most of the seagrass had died off. Once the water warmed up in June, watercraft-related mortality became the leading cause of death. The long-term effect of winter starvation is yet to be assessed.

Camping at Sea. The press calls it an inflatable tent, but it is an inverted tent that holds air underwater so that divers can effectively use it for camping out. It was invented by Winslow Burleson, a professor at the University of Arizona College, and professional diver Michael Lombardi. The tent provides a relatively dry and protected space underwater for divers to enter, remove their equipment, and carry out tasks before returning to the surface. The high-tech habitat provides a place for divers to decompress after deep scientific dives and even an underwater facility to treat decompression sickness in remote locations. It also provides shelter for long-term observations of wildlife behavior. The highly portable system can provide adequate life support to two occupants through an overnight stay.

Scientists Fight to Protect the Shark and Turtle Superhighway. It's 430 nautical miles between the marine reserves of Ecuador's Galapagos and Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica, and schooling hammerhead sharks and turtles migrate along the route between them. As recently as last February, a tiger shark tagged in the Galapagos turned up in Cocos. Alas, Chinese long-line fishing fleets know this too, so a coalition of scientists and environmental groups are campaigning to protect the entire swim-way. MigraMar and environmental organization Pacifico have produced a document outlining the need to create the swim-way.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at a Scuba School. The director of U.K. company Aqua Logistics, Geoffrey Shearn, narrowly avoided a jail term this month after the tanks his company filled from a 'modified compressor' for a 2017 Manchester, England, school scuba class were found to be contaminated with carbon monoxide, poisoning eight children and putting two in a hospital, one who had to be put in an induced coma. The company was fined the equivalent of $13,000 with more than $15,000 in Court fees. Daily Mail

Stop Coming to Hawaii. That's the message from some Hawaiian residents because, although it's one of the few places Americans can go without COVID hassle, newly imposed water restrictions, thanks to an ongoing drought, mean that locals are being deprived in favor of the hotel and tourism industry. Washington Post

Who Knew? Most movies portray sharks in a negative light, hurting conservation efforts. It all appears to have started with JAWS, and the Daily Mail reports that 96 percent of shark movies since then portray interactions between humans and sharks as overtly threatening. Around two percent of 548 known shark species have been involved in shark attacks, and the chance of being killed by a shark in U.S. waters is around 3.7 million to one, but don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Using the Wrong Sunscreen Can Cost. Thailand has just banned the use of sunscreens that damage coral, joining Palau and Hawaii. You may think that's a drop in the ocean regarding the ecological damage we're doing to the planet, but you may be more concerned with the damage to your bank balance if you are caught flouting the rule: Fines in Thailand approach $3000. The banned lotions are those containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor or butylparaben. BBC

Is the Weather Too Hot for You? In February, German national Tolga Taskin made a breath-hold dive 245 feet below the surface of a frozen lake in Lake Weissensee, Austria, with water at 33°F. To gain a Guinness World Record, her feat took more than three minutes. Bild

Sharks in the Canal. Hundreds of sharks took refuge in a Florida canal after fleeing the annual red tide of toxic algae, killing tons of fish and marine life. Bonnethead, blacktip, nurse, and lemon sharks were spotted in Longboat Key at the beginning of August. Their usual habitats in Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and along the coast from Pasco to Sarasota counties have been affected with unusually high blooms of the algae Karenia Brevis. Daily Mail

New Entry Rules for Bonaire. From August 8, PCR tests for travelers to Bonaire must be completed within 48 hours before departure. The unvaccinated and those not fully vaccinated from high-risk countries must take an antigen test immediately upon arrival. Info Bonaire

Undercurrent is Back, and it seems that's just what divers wanted. Since we offered a deal on 6-month subscriptions, we've been inundated with requests for new ones. Tell your friends.

Stay Safe
Wear a Mask, Get Vaccinated
Don’t Share Your Air

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
BenDDavison@undercurrent.org