Undercurrent Online Update for Subscribers

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

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November 28, 2023

Belize Aggressor IV Runs Aground. While Aggressor Fleet was busy promoting week-long trips on their 115-foot liveaboard at the DEMA show the morning of November 16, in Belize, the vessel broke free from its Lighthouse Reef mooring and drifted aground while some divers were underwater. All 17 passengers and 8 crew were evacuated by Belize Coast Guard to a nearby island and then transported to Belize City by the Aggressor III. Early reports say the hull is breached. Belize authorities may fine the vessel's owners for damaging the reef. One week later the vessel was still stuck on the reef. The whole story will be in the next issue of Undercurrent in January.

Coral Disaster in Florida. Scientists call it the worst coral bleaching event in Florida's recorded history. In July, reports spread of a mass bleaching devastating the Florida Keys, which was in the grip of the hottest summer ever recorded on planet Earth. Coral biologists from Shedd Aquarium joined scientists from the University of Miami and other institutions on board Shedd's RV-2 research vessel for an urgent expedition. In the Dry Tortugas, at 35 locations where several weeks previously they had observed healthy populations of staghorn corals, all the staghorn was dead. The hot ocean caused endless corals to expel the symbiotic algae that feed and give them color, turning them white as they slowly starved to death. Undercurrent readers report similar bleaching through most of the Caribbean.

Underwater Earthquake Captured Live on Camera. If you wonder what it would be like to be diving during an earthquake, tourist divers in Indonesia's Banda Sea captured rare underwater footage of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on November 14. See the video here.

Bad News about Crowns-of-Thorns. Research published by marine biologists from the University of Sydney in the journal Global Change Biology reports that juvenile crowns-of-thorns starfish can withstand heat waves well above levels that kill coral. These starfish then become carnivorous predators that devour reefs as they develop. Even if adult numbers decline during periodic heat waves, their herbivorous young wait patiently for the opportune moment to grow into carnivores. They're a serious threat to the well-being of the Great Barrier Reef.

You Never Know What You'll Find. An Italian sport diver of Sardinia in the Mediterranean unexpectedly discovered about 50,000 ancient bronze Roman coins, exceptionally preserved with still-legible inscriptions. Called follis, they're bronze coins introduced around 294 A.D. Most were found in a shallow sandy area between seagrass and the beach, suggesting nearby shipwrecks.

Island Dreams Founder Ken Knezick Retires. After more than 40 years operating Island Dreams, Ken Knezick is retiring in December. Ken ran an exemplary business, led great overseas trips, and rarely had a complaint. He credits Undercurrent for turning him on to Wakatobi 25 years ago, to which he's taken hundreds of divers. His customers will continue to be served by his long-time manager, Tina Robinette-Miller, who operates under a new brand, Divetrip.com

The Good Old Fashioned Compass. Forgotten in the Digital Age. "The wreck's over there." While you probably have compass software on your dive computer, don't forget a simple wrist magnetic compass is still helpful if you want to swim to a reef or wreck and return on a 180-degree course. It's easy to use, and while following it, you won't lose your computer display. If you have forgotten how to use it, it takes a little practice (even on land) to become proficient again. An inexpensive device, it can save you a ton of embarrassment when you must surface several times to locate your boat.

Don't Feed the Dolphins. Sarasota Bay off Florida's west coast is year-round home to bottlenose dolphins. Boaters frequently offer them fish and guts from cleaned fish, and the dolphins love an easy meal. But the boaters are killing their kids. Researchers have found that dolphin mothers who interact with boaters have nearly twice as many babies as those who don't. However, those babies are nine times more likely to die prematurely because young and juvenile dolphins can get killed by boats or fishing gear as they try to stay close to their mothers. Feeding dolphins is illegal under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Scuba Diving Magic. A 13-year-old magician, Avery Emerson Fisher, combined her love of magic and scuba diving by plunging into a new Guinness World Record for the most magic tricks performed underwater, 38 tricks within three minutes, at the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco (CA), where the water was 58°F, and schools of fish swam around her. She trained for months and even earned a Scuba Magician certificate from Chef Anton, the creator of Scuba Magician, a PADI Distinctive Specialty. (What's next, underwater turkey roasting?) See the video here.

Delicious But Illegal. A man in Key West collected, cooked, and ate two queen conchs, noted for their beautiful shells. His decision landed him in hot water similar to that in which he cooked them, or, rather, he landed temporarily behind bars when he was arrested by Florida Fish and Wildlife police. Harvesting queen conch in Florida can be a felony.

Be Warned About Thefts. Jeff Goodman, a professional underwater video-maker from Cornwall in the UK, reports that his dive bag was cut open and the contents rifled after checking in at Cozumel airport in mid-November. He discovered the theft while connecting flights in Atlanta. Several valuable items were stolen, including an expensive Sea Flare underwater light. It may have happened in Cozumel, but Atlanta is also possible. Put expensive gear in your carry-on and pack your ordinary gear in an old suitcase or duffel. Any bag with a scuba logo, like Scubapro, or even a baggage tag with a dive flag on it is like writing Steal Me all over it.

Other Subscribers Depend on Your Reports. Independent reader reports are your opportunity to tell everyone about your dive trip. Unedited and unmoderated, your reports will brief other subscribers about dive resorts you've visited and liveaboards you have taken. Don't hold back. You can tell both the good and the bad and everything in between. Over 11,000 entries have become essential reading for traveling divers. You can post photos. It's easy to post a report of your last dive trip. And your fellow divers will be thankful. File your report at www.undercurrent.org/SubRR.

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
BenDDavison@undercurrent.org