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Archive for the ‘Asia Pacific’ Category
With Pirate attacks on the rise, CNN has thoughtfully produced an article outlining survival tactics in case you fall victim to this unthinkable and frightening situation. I offer a summary of their suggestions:
Steer clear of pirate hot spots – Certain waters are high-risk like those off the Somali coast, so ships are advised to avoid them. The planet is round, after all, so just plot a course in the opposite direction and you’ll eventually reach your destination.
Keep a good lookout – The article suggests that many ships don’t know they are under attack until the pirates board the boat. A good lookout is critical since there are so many good places for Pirates to hide in the open ocean.
Defensive maneuvers to take if Pirates attack:
Don’t slow down if fired upon – Despite most spy movie-gathered intelligence, your ship will not become invisible if it stops. So, do the natural thing and run like heck.
Consider short cycle zig-zags – Yes, you will make your crew seasick, but you’ll also create an amplified wake that will disrupt the pirates’ efforts. As an added benefit, instruct your crew to aim overboard if ill.
Use deafening horns – If you make really loud noises, the pirates might run away. Of course your crew may join them on the retreating boat just to get away from the painful sound, but hey, you’ll still have your boat!
Use barricades such as barbed wire – This is a useful tool to prevent people from boarding your boat uninvited. Please disregard this instruction, however, if you think you may need to leave your boat quickly such as if it is sinking or if someone is offering to separate your head from your shoulders. In these cases easy egress may be required.
Don’t make sudden movements around the Pirates – Spontaneously breaking out into Broadway show tunes is ill advised.
Transmit Mayday signals – This is useful so that the nearest Navy ship, usually several hours away, can get the first pick at the salvage that once was your boat.
Inform the Pirates that you are armed and prepared to defend yourself – Sticking your tongue at them and flipping them the bird may also help.
By now, most people have heard of the Ocean Garbage “Vortex,” a Texas-sized patch of North Pacific Ocean filled with floating plastic debris. This phenomenon is, of course, bad news for sea life and humans alike. Several great organizations are trying to fix the problem, like the Scripps Research Institute and Project Kaisei.
But a recent CNN article brought my attention to a lesser known, but still problematic, feature of the trash raft – its ability to transport invasive species across the oceans, devastating the ecosystems where they land. Think about the lionfish’s invasion of the Caribbean (and the devastation it is having on reef fish populations) and then multiply that exponentially based on the size and potential reach of the items in the vortex. Now that is a really dirty problem.
Nomadic in nature and notoriously bubble-shy, Manta Rays are undoubtedly one of the most appreciated underwater sightings once you finally find one. There are, however, a few places in the world that can almost guarantee a manta sighting on any given dive.
Yap, Micronesia – This tiny Pacific island just north of the equator houses a resident colony of manta rays, a rare living situation for the animals. Check out Yap Diver’s blog that highlights pics from “Manta Fest” including one dive trip accompanied by a pod of Orcas. As a bonus, visitors to the island also get a unique top side cultural experience that frequently includes grass skirts, loincloths, and the use of huge wheels of stone money for barter.
Kona, Hawaii – This manta experience is decidedly more manmade, but no less exciting. Dive operators and hotels light up the waters off the Kona Coast at night, attracting swarms of plankton that, in turn, attract the manta rays. Divers and snorkelers alike hover in the water column, watching the giants glide and swoop as they feed. Check out Kona Honu Diver’s page for a cool video of what the dive actually looks like.
Atlanta, Georgia – On this trip you have a 100% chance of seeing not one manta, but two. If you buy tickets to the aquarium, that is. Whether you agree with the idea of aquariums or not, you have to admit that this place really has it all when it comes to sea life. The two mantas swim in a six million gallon exhibit next to four whale sharks, a handful of hammerheads, and a ton of other fish. Rumor has it that one of the rays likes to do flips out of the water at the surface, a rare treat for people on the Behind the Scenes tours.
Idyllic Maldives...Still Above Water (for now)
OK, I get it. The Maldives are sinking. Rising ocean levels caused by climate change will shortly wipe the archipelago off the map. I keep seeing snippets of news mentioning the islands’ plight and the Presidential efforts to find a new home for the 400k non-gilled individuals who live there. But the latest publicity stunt to bring attention to the issue seems a bit…wet. The President of the Maldives and his Cabinet met underwater to sign a declaration calling for global cuts in carbon emissions that will be presented before a U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December.
It couldn’t have been a long meeting, since though shallow, they were relying on scuba gear and canned air. And, communication must have been difficult because, as far as I know, there are no underwater hand signals for “declaration,” “carbon emissions,” or “pass me a pen so I can sign this darn thing.” Once back on land, the ministers signed their wetsuits and are planning on selling them to raise money for coral reef conservation, which I hope they are not relying on to fund the entire effort. At last check on Craig’s list, used wetsuits weren’t going for much. Used wet suits, $15. Sorry I peed in it, we were down there for awhile trying to get that pen to write. Finally, after seeing a picture of the ministers congregated underwater, I now understand the message they were trying to send: “Please help us stop rising ocean levels because we look really ridiculous sitting at desks underwater trying to conduct business.”
Vinnie the Venomous Fish
Great White sharks get all the press when it comes to discussion of the ocean’s deadliest killers. But, plenty of other things in the sea are just as mean and nasty, if not more so. A selection of some of my favorites:
Vinnie the Venomous Fish – Imagine being a lowly fish, armed only with the ability to school and a sense of sea humor. Now add a little venom to your arsenal, and suddenly you are a Big Bad Swimming Machine. Venomous fish like stonefish, lionfish and scorpion fish produce their own toxins then generously share it with the rest of the aquatic world via their already unpleasant spines. My favorite is the stonefish, who are at their deadliest when lying on the ocean bottom doing nothing at all except looking like…you guessed it…an ugly stone. All it takes is a passerby with a naked foot and a bad aim and bam, you get one unhappy tourist (and the fish is a little flatter for the experience as well.)
Octopussy – James Bond proved one could overcome their enemies by throwing a Blue Ringed Octopus on their face in this classic 1980’s spy movie. Theoretically I suppose this could work, though you are likely to get bitten in the process. Since it injects neuromuscular paralyzing venom that can kill a human in minutes, you won’t really get to enjoy your victory over the forces of evil for very long. Better to remove the bad guy’s shoes and point him in the direction of some stonefish instead.
They Freak Me Out On Land, Too – Sea snakes tend to favor the warm, fish-filled tropical waters that most scuba divers also like. Though shy unless provoked, a single snake produces enough poison to kill not only you, but the rest of the folks on your dive boat, too. Most are a normal snake size, but a few can grow to seven feet or more. I personally am sure that if I ran into a seven-foot sea snake while diving I would give up the sport right then and there.
The most un-fishlike robots we've ever seen...
Nissan is fishing ideas out of the sea. Last week, at a Tokyo technology show, the carmaker revealed Eporo, robot cars that mimic fish schooling behavior using laser range finders and radio communications. Their goal is to ultimately apply the technology to cars to produce crash-free driving experiences.
I love the concept, but I have to say that the worldwide commentary surrounding this new technology has not been kind. Perhaps it is the shape and colors of the robots, earning them comparisons to Teletubies, Weebles, ewoks, and, unfortunately, klansmen (just the white ones, though.) Or, perhaps the name is the problem, as one blogger said “I read the logo as Eporno. Now I’m disappointed.” Whatever the case, Nissan will have to revisit the marketing of its aquatic initiative if they want the public to think of it as anything other than fishy.
Call me a purist, but my idea of a great dive involves warm water, great visibility and plenty of sea life. There are those, however, who are looking for something a bit more…challenging. Thanks to an interesting article on webecoist.com, I’m now enlightened on some of the most bizarre dive sites on the planet. A sample:
Nuclear Missile Silo – Fortunately the US Government took the nukes with them when they abandoned the site located right in the heart of Texas. Now a technical diving training facility, this place boasts cold, dark water to a depth of 130 feet. Sure, you might start glowing in the dark after prolonged submersion, but hey, the fun is worth the radioactivity.
Giant Red Sea Hole – The coast of the East Sinai Peninsula contains a huge, water-filled vortex that reaches over 400 feet into the earth. Divers descend into the gloom to reach the hard-to-find passageway that connects the hole to the open ocean. The creepy-factor of the place is increased exponentially by the large number of makeshift monuments around the hole that honor all the people who have died while diving it. At this site you can come face to face with death, and find out what brand of BCD he uses.
Ammunitions Depository –Historically Thai people dumped ammunition in the Samaesan Hole. Now they dump divers there. You can have a real blast here diving to 300 feet amongst unexploded munitions. Though advertised as a perfect site for trimix training, I would challenge that the person who needs to hone their “deep diving with exploding bombs” skills probably needs to find a new job.
Fish love...
The Yapese way of life and its ocean wonders had enriched our time on the island. However, we had one last dive we wanted to do before leaving. It was a very shallow one, only sixteen feet maximum, and had to be done right after sunset. At that time of night in the shallows of Rainbow Reef there is a special “adults only” show: Mandarin Fish in Love.
The Mandarin Fish is only two to three inches long, but has a stunning, striped color pattern of blue, green, orange, red, and yellow. They are shy creatures, hiding amongst the coral most of the time. But at dusk the males hit on the ladies at the coral reef pick up bar.
“I’m a Pisces. I like slow swims and moonlit crustacean dinners. Turn offs include bright light, sudden movements and predators. But, jump on my pelvic fin and I’m yours for at least thirty seconds! No scales here, I’m covered in sexy slime. I’ve only got a twelve-year lifespan, so I’m not looking for long term relationships.”
We entered the water, floated to the bottom, and sat on the sandy floor facing a large boulder of coral. Tanks seemed like overkill; we could have used long straws for this shallow depth. I had put on a hood to keep me warm as I usually do on a night dive, but quickly realized my mistake when I started to sweat in the eighty degree water. We had bright flashlights to spot the fish, but if it was me at the bar I would have found the beams to be poor mood lighting.
We did not have to wait long for the peep show to start. Soon the heads of females were popping up between the coral fingers, closely followed by the males. They met near the coral and swam up together several feet off the reef. Their mating then culminated in a brief release of sperm and egg. Finally, in a fraternity house finish, the pair then quickly separated and disappeared among the coral.
It was an easy, but amazing dive; a great way to end our time in Yap.
Mushroom Islands of Palau, Micronesia
Palau is chock full of unique diving experiences. In addition to the reef hooks and the Jellyfish Lake there is a unique diving opportunity at Chandelier cave, named in honor of the gaudy stalactites that hang from the ceiling. Most cave diving requires an advanced diving certification that includes more than twenty hours of classroom and open water education in an effort to prevent the diver from expiring underwater. Chandelier cave was an exception to this requirement because of its small size, straightforward shape, and available air chambers.
The entrance to the cave at Ngarol Island was in a small harbor where old boats went to die. Several littered the area in various states of decay and drowning. Reflecting on my last tetanus shot, I hopped into the hazy water. The sea floor was not much better. Random boat debris was everywhere; bottles, hunks of metal, even a toilet seat. At least nothing pretty or remarkable was going to detract us from our goal.
We swam towards the semi-circle entrance fifteen feet below the surface. The cave had four separate air chambers in a row. The plan was to surface in each of them to take a look at the rock formations. The fourth, if we made it, had a space big enough to get out of the water and walk around. We took flashlights to enable us to see as we got deeper in the cave.
We swam into the cave then ascended up to the first air chamber. It was about ten feet by eight feet in size with four feet in between the water’s surface and the roof. Long ago the cave was dry before the sea flooded it, so stalactites that once hung down from the roof into the air now touched and sometimes even pierced the water. The limestone rock island was permeable which allowed fresh air into the cave. We were able to surface in the air chamber and talk, something a diver does not get to do too often in the middle of a dive.
“Long ago when the cave was dry, rainwater seeped in through the rocks. It carried calcium carbonate that dripped and built up over time, causing the stalactites,” our dive master said. Some of the stalactites were large, indicating a very lengthy process of dripping and growth that impressed me. At home I can’t even wait for a red light to change.
We descended again and went further back into the cave to the next air chamber. This one was smaller and lined with yellow sulfite deposits on the rock that looked like a mustard jar had exploded. This time when we dove back into the main part of the cave I had some trouble with my gear. I went back towards the air chamber to fix the problem. Unfortunately, I was so busy looking down at my scuba vest that I did not see the stalactite above. It got lodged directly between my back and all of my hoses. Had my aim been this good on land, I could have excelled at the javelin.
All of my gear was hooked in some way to this fang of a rock. I was just plain stuck and dangling in mid-cave like an upside down popsicle, which was a bit embarrassing. The dive master and my husband were disappearing deeper into the cave not knowing of my frozen treat predicament. I started to panic envisioning the sea monsters, kin of the ones that hide under the bed at home, that were waiting to capitalize on my lack of coordination.
I started switching my flashlight on and off like a mating lightening bug, hoping that one of the Good Humor men might swim back and give me a tug. Then I waited. As I composed myself I started to sink ever so slightly. I noticed that I was a little less entangled than before. This may seem logical now, but at the time physics was not playing a big role in my thought process. My body said “swim away, swim away” not “sink down, sink down.”
By the time the dive master and my dive budy reached me the popsicle had fallen off the stick. Feeling a bit embarrassed I made a “broken” hand signal underwater and pointed to my light. When in doubt, blame it on the equipment. I made it to one more air chamber before deciding my cave diving experience needed to come to a merciful end. A fellow diver had told me that the last air chamber was the most impressive. I’ll certainly never know. But I did have a strange craving for a popsicle that night for desert.
Yap Manta Ray
Nomadic in nature and notoriously bubble-shy, Manta Rays are undoubtedly one of the most appreciated underwater sightings once you finally find one. There are, however, a few places in the world that can almost guarantee a manta sighting on any given dive.
Yap, Micronesia – This tiny Pacific island just north of the equator houses a resident colony of manta rays, a rare living situation for the animals. Check out Yap Diver’s blog that highlights pics from “Manta Fest” including one dive trip accompanied by a pod of Orcas. As a bonus, visitors to the island also get a unique top side cultural experience that frequently includes grass skirts, loincloths, and the use of huge wheels of stone money for barter.
Kona, Hawaii – This manta experience is decidedly more manmade, but no less exciting. Dive operators and hotels light up the waters off the Kona Coast at night, attracting swarms of plankton that, in turn, attract the manta rays. Divers and snorkelers alike hover in the water column, watching the giants glide and swoop as they feed. Check out Kona Honu Diver’s page for a cool video of what the dive actually looks like.
Atlanta, Georgia – On this trip you have a 100% chance of seeing not one manta, but two. If you buy tickets to the aquarium, that is. Whether you agree with the idea of aquariums or not, you have to admit that this place really has it all when it comes to sea life. The two mantas swim in a six million gallon exhibit next to four whale sharks, a handful of hammerheads, and a ton of other fish. Rumor has it that one of the rays likes to do flips out of the water at the surface, a rare treat for people on the Behind the Scenes tours.