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

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June 25, 2020

More Underwater Art. British artist Jason deCaires Taylor’s latest submerged art and sculpture installation off the Queensland coast is designed to help regenerate the Great Barrier Reef. “The beam sections provide minimal resistance to wave energy while providing an ideal surface for filter-feeding organisms and schooling fish to congregate,” he says. “Inside, workbench sculptures aim to provide a refuge for different marine creatures, from octopuses to sea urchins.”(The Guardian)

How to Watch the film A Picture of His Life, about Amos Nachoum’s effort to film polar bear underwater. It’s a great film, not to be missed by divers. Click here.

Social Distance Diving in Cayman. As an indication of what to expect in the future, face coverings must be worn by all passengers and crew when on board Ocean Frontiers’ vessels, and a Hoo-Rag or neck-gaiter are recommended as they can be kept around the neck while diving and can be used wet. Each tank station will have its own bucket for disinfecting dive gear and seats have arm rests. To see a full list of requirements and prohibitions go here.

The Complications of Dying While Diving Abroad. Desmond Boucher, 59, an experienced diver, lost consciousness after surfacing and died in a Sharm el Sheikh hospital in July 2019. Although a post-mortem examination was carried out, Egyptian authorities can take years to release the information. A British pathologist said at the inquest it had been difficult to establish a cause of death because of an embalming process before repatriation that did not include the heart of the deceased. Don’t expect the same standards that you have at home. (Wales Online)

Where Can You Go Diving? As the impact of the virus spreading and receding from each country evolves, local regulations adapt, creating a patchwork of situations that is hard to stay up to date with. PADI provides a useful interactive map showing the status and requirements of different countries regarding Covid-19 precautions. Click here.

The Bahamas Rethinks Its Opening. Since the beginning of June, the government of the Bahamas has rethought its policy on allowing in all visitors. Now you must be in possession of a certificate for a negative Covid-19 test result not more than 10 days old. International travel including commercial flights will resume from the beginning of July. More info: https://covid19.gov.bs/travel

DEMA New Orleans Show Canceled. No Bourbon Street parties this year for the industry. The DEMA Board of Directors has canceled this year’s show, for reasons of Covid-19 safety. In November 2021, it will return to Las Vegas with additional measures taken to ensure the health and safety of all exhibitors and attendees.

Indonesian Resorts Refocus. In early April, Indonesia temporarily banned foreigners from entering the country. Through a focus on conservation efforts and a plan to serve local populations, Bawah Reserve and Nihi Sumba, 160 miles northeast of Singapore, seem to be staying afloat for now. So, the hundreds of staff employed are using their time not only with maintenance, but they are cleaning up the ocean around them, retrieving tons of discarded fishing nets. (Jakarta Post)

US Government Failing to Protect the Environment: Since January 2017, the federal government has reversed endless environmental protections created by previous administrations, including many protecting our oceans. Here is the list, as prepared by the New York Times.

Ocean-Friendly Disinfectant for Dive Gear. We don’t normally promote products, but with anxiety surrounding the cleanliness of dive kit and Covid-19, we’d like to point out that Fourth Element, in co-operation with The Diver Medic, has introduced a disinfectant called GoodToDive that uses powerful oxidizing agents, but leaves a solution that can be safely discarded without damaging the aquatic environment. Effective in both fresh and seawater, it’s available in powder form and can be used safely to disinfect masks, regulators, and BCs. Don’t inject it! www.goodtodive.com

Pyramids Discovered Off the Coast of Cuba, some speculate, might be Atlantis. Canadian and Cuban researchers have discovered the remains of what might be a 6000-year-old city underwater off the west coast. Sophisticated sonar and deep-water video revealed some structures around 1200-feet wide with clearly revealed symbols and inscriptions. In 1966 archeologists excavated a land-based megalithic structure close to the underwater discovery. (Archeology World)

Solomon Islands Open for Tourism, but not for Americans. Free of Covid-19, the nation is allowing entry for tourists from Australia and New Zealand. The Solomon’s Tourism CEO said he was hopeful the very low instance of Covid-19 infections in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and Tahiti combined -- 88 cases and zero deaths -- could soon point toward the resumption of inter-Pacific island travel, but doesn’t auger well for travellers from countries less successful at coping with the infection.

Florida Politician Make Her Case Scuba Diving. In a new advertisement released by her re-election campaign for Congress, Rep. Mucarsel-Powell is recorded scuba diving with a large sign saying she will “never” support offshore drilling. Energy companies continue to pressure lawmakers in Congress and the Trump Administration to open up waters on the West Coast of Florida to drilling. In the past, Mucarsel-Powell helped pass the Defending Our National Marine Sanctuaries from Damaging Chemicals Act to ban the use of coral-killing contaminants in marine sanctuaries. (NBC 6 South Florida)

Covid-free Turks & Caicos Enjoy a Real Estate Boom. With Providenciales airport now open, wealthy Americans are flocking to buy property in the islands. Previously more inclined to rent, but now, with an eye on future pandemics, they see these islands, together with the Bahamas and some islands in the Caribbean proper, as a future bolt-hole and somewhere comfortable to fly to should the need arise. The Turks & Caicos have remained relatively unscathed by Covid-19, with just 12 cases and one death, according to the World Health Organization. As of June 15, officials said there were no active cases of the illness in the country. (Fox Business)

World Oceans Day Photo Competition Winners. The event and competition are coordinated by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea and were produced in partnership with Oceanic Global. The competition was hosted by DivePhotoGuide. Hannes Klostermann (La Paz, Baja California Sur) won the Underwater Seascapes category with this picture taken in California’s Channel Islands of two sheep’s head and a giant sea star.

Stay safe, have pleasant dreams about diving, and don’t take unnecessary risks, on land or underwater.

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
Contact Ben