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September 21, 2021

angular rough shark

Is It a Shark or Is It a Pig? In early September, Italian naval officers near Portoferraio on the island of Elba, a popular diving spot, were stunned when they pulled the corpse of a shark with a face of a pig from the water. Rumors of it being some kind of mutant were quickly dispelled when it was identified as a rare angular rough shark. You won’t get to see one while diving because these animals inhabit waters 2,300 feet beneath the surface. Daily Mirror

Have you lost any money after booking a trip that was later postponed or cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic? We learned that some divers have been stiffed, and if you happen to be one, let us know about it. If you can’t get your deposit or payment back for that trip that didn’t happen, let us hear about it so that we can forewarn others. Write to BenDDavison@undercurrent.org and tell us all.

Where’s High-Risk for COVID-19 Infections? In mid-September, the U.S. Center for Diseases Control and Prevention listed many diving destinations as having the highest risk for COVID-19 infections. The good news is that destinations such as Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Saba, Belize, Honduras’ Bay Islands, Cozumel, and Egypt don’t make that list. What does: French Polynesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Israel, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Aruba, Curaçao, the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Sint Maarten. Regardless, no destination is entirely safe, and vaccinated divers must still be cautious. Plan your trips accordingly.

Reefs Surviving Phoenix-like. Some coral communities are becoming more heat tolerant as ocean temperatures rise, offering hope for corals in a changing climate. The authors of the new study by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute suspect heat-tolerant offspring from the surviving corals are repopulating the reefs in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (in the middle of the Pacific), allowing the community to keep pace with warming seas, at least for the time being. The Republic of Kiribati established the reserve in 2008, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated PIPA as a World Heritage Site in 2010. Phys.org

Going Diving? You Might be Surprised by the Crowds: With few places to travel, the Caribbean being about the only option for American divers, you might be surprised by the crowds. In July, says Irina Zeylikman (Lexington MA), Captain Don's Habitat in Bonaire “was packed, I have never seen that many people at the same time in all our years coming there. They were running all boats three times a day, and all boats were full. But we did not mind, we've been diving, and it was good. There were noticeably fewer big fish and more lionfish. But the rest was plentiful, turtles, eagle rays, squid, seahorses . . . The flights were packed. Restaurant reservations were a must as the island was packed, too. Can't wait to go back.”

South Africa’s First Black Free Dive Instructor. Zandile Ndlovu's Black Mermaid Foundation aims to introduce the ocean to the country's black youth, millions of whom live in impoverished shanty townships, where beach trips are a luxury and swimming skills are in short supply. This enterprising female is pushing back further the South African memories of apartheid, under which, before South Africa's first democratic vote in 1994 ended white-minority rule, public spaces such as bathrooms and beaches were reserved for whites only. Not now. Reuters

Who Owns the Beach? Last summer, a group of oceanfront homeowners in Rockport (MA) sued their town to stop scuba divers from undressing in front of their homes and being a noisy nuisance. Now the Back Beach Neighbors Committee has filed another lawsuit claiming it owns the beach, Beach Street, and an old house where the American Legion operates. All this, just to get rid of scuba divers. Boston Globe

You Think You’re Bent? Don’t jump back into the water, as one Bahamas spearfisherman did at the end of August near Providence Island. After early dives, the captain was motoring the two divers between dive sites when one diver collapsed. The captain stopped to administer first aid. The other diver, recognizing his buddy had a bends hit, re-entered the water to descend and recompress himself. Shortly afterward, however, the captain saw him floating motionless at the surface. Both divers died. Bahamas Press

Long Arm of the Law. Ten years ago, two Brits, Christopher Jones and Alison Gracey, who ran the Key Largo Scuba Shack, were accused of manslaughter when their boat Get Wet capsized off Molasses Reef, drowning Aimee Rhoads and injuring others (see Undercurrent August 2015). While the couple was in the Bahamas at the time of Rhoads’ death, they were later arrested on St. Maarten in 2015, but eluded extradition when they left the Dutch island. The U.S. indictment states, "The alleged unlawful and careless manner in which the defendants operated the boat caused the death of a scuba diver . . . the defendants knowingly and willingly made a false statement to the U.S. Coast Guard about the boat's ownership.” They were arrested last April in Spain, and now face extradition to the U.S. Federal News Network

U.S. Coast Guard Sued for Negligence in Conception Fire. Family members of the 34 people who died in the Southern California Conception liveaboard fire two years ago have sued the U.S. Coast Guard for lax enforcement of safety regulations and repeatedly certifying passenger boats that are fire traps. Since the owner of the Conception had only insured liability for the value of the vessel, leaving little more than chump change after the costs of its recovery, plaintiffs are looking to litigate where they can. One of the surviving members of the crew, Ryan Sims, who broke a leg while jumping clear from the burning vessel, is among the plaintiffs in the wrongful death lawsuit. The U.S. Coast Guard has declined to comment. More coming in October issue of Undercurrent (Associated Press)

Sea Snake

Call Me Snake Hips. Sexually frustrated olive sea snakes often mistake divers for potential mates. In a new study, researchers from Macquarie University in Australia analyzed 158 interactions with olive sea snakes (Aipysurus laevis) over several years in the Great Barrier Reef and found that interactions were more common during the reptiles’ mating season. The research team noted that the sea snakes cannot tell a diver from another snake until they lick the object to identify it. The snakes’ poor vision is believed to be behind the confusion. While the olive sea snake is highly poisonous, we’re unaware of any unprovoked attack on a diver. Live Science

Worried About COVID? Charter Your Own Day Boat: A number of our readers are doing just that with family or friends, so they have better control over risk -- or maybe, just better control over diving. Glenn Snyders (Virginia Beach, VA) arranged a private charter with Conch Republic Divers in Tavernier, FL, in September for two days of diving the wrecks of Spiegel Grove and Duane, plus shallow reef diving for lobster. “Donna was a great divemaster, leading and watching but permitting us to dive our computers. She was an even better lobster hunter. Mark (former Marine) was an excellent captain. Dive boats were comfortable and seaworthy. Both Donna and Mark appear to love what they do now in retirement from other careers.” If you have enough loose change in your pocket, any dive operator anywhere can arrange private boats for you.

Your Reader Reports Have Never Been More Important. Now that we’re starting to travel again, your reports to Undercurrent are more crucial than ever. Reflecting your own experiences, both the good and the bad, they help make Undercurrent a unique source from serious divers -- and for you. Your reports join more than 10,000 others in our online database (and our annual Travelin Divers’ Chapbook), which is easily searchable by any other subscriber -- and you. Even add your own photos if you wish. File your report at www.undercurrent.org/SubRR

Stay Safe
Wear a Mask, Get Vaccinated

Wash Your Hands
Don’t Share Your Air

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
BenDDavison@undercurrent.org

 

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