Tuesday, October 30, 2007

 

No sunglasses required for fish supper

Goldfish
Fishermen are always looking for a tasty catch - but it is the fish that have a natural advantage when it comes to spotting dinner, according to new research from The University of Manchester.

In a paper published this month in the Biophysical Journal, Dr Nicholas Roberts reports how individual light sensitive cells within the retina of goldfish are able to detect polarised light.

It's believed this type of polarisation vision improves visual contrast and can help an animal catch its prey more easily.

Researchers say this latest research is important because it is the first direct experimental evidence of a polarisation detection mechanism in any normal vertebrate eye.

Dr Roberts says: "Vision is the primary sense of many animals and the way they see their world is of fundamental importance to understanding aspects of their behaviour.

"Numerous animals have amazing visual abilities, which allow them to see the world in very different ways. One such ability is polarisation vision.

"Just as fishermen wear Polaroid sunglasses to help improve contrast, many different animals - including fish - have evolved to do the very same thing without the need of sunglasses. It is a surprisingly common ability throughout the animal kingdom."

Journal Reference: Biophys J. 2007 Nov 1;93(9):3241-8.

Photo Credit:US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

 

Researchers pronounce diving with asthma "safe"

SCUBA diving has grown in popularity, with millions of divers enjoying the sport worldwide. However, people with asthma are generally advised not to dive. This advice is ignored by large numbers of asthma sufferers.

In a new study, Israeli researchers reviewed the scientific literature to evaluate the risks asthmatics take when diving.

They found that although there is some indication that asthmatics may be at an increased risk of pulmonary barotrauma (burst lung), the risk seems to be small.

Thus, under the right circumstances, they concluded that patients with asthma can safely dive without any apparent increased risk of an asthma-related event. They added that decisions on whether or not diving is hazardous must be made on an individual basis and be founded upon an informed decision shared by both patient and physician.

Journal Reference: Sade K et al. [Asthma and scuba diving: can...[PMID: 17476937]

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Scientists develop artificial coral reef in Red Sea

Israeli and Jordanian scientists has developed the Red Sea's first artificial coral reef.

Take a dive off the coast of Eilat these days and you're liable to find yourself swimming around a huge yellow concrete and wire construction that stretches four yards up from the seabed, is four yards wide, and is full of holes.

The reef is a unique new approach to conservation in the Red Sea and part of a joint co-operative project between Israel and Jordan.

Dr. Nadav Shashar, the supervisor of the research project, and a marine biologist at the National Center for Mariculture, says "Because of the increase in the number of visitors, the coral reefs are unable to overcome the damage caused and are beginning to die out.

Part of the problem is novice divers. "They kick up the sand, or damage the corals by accident. Multiple that by 100,000 people and that's considerable damage," says Shashar. "These people don't mean to harm the reefs, but they just don't know how to dive properly."

The developers hope that the artificial reef will create a new attraction for these divers, steering them away from the natural reefs, reducing the pressure there and enabling them to recover from some of the damage inflicted on them over the last few years.

At the same time, the Tamar reef which is located near Coral Beach also provides the researchers with a unique underwater laboratory, enabling them to observe and unravel the development and growth of this unique and complex ecosystem.

Further reading: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Tuesday, October 09, 2007

 

Meet the Author: Todd Stevens

Wreck of the ColossusTodd Stevens is the author of Wreck of the Colossus, The find of a lifetime. The story of the discovery of a 200 year old historic shipwreck and its aftermath.


What prompted you to write the book?
I was living my dream and wanted to write about my experiences. Incorrect reporting within the media regarding the discovery of the wreck and its carving were also factors. There also seemed to be many misconceptions written about the Colossus and its history.
How long did it take you to write?
In total-6 years!! I first had to learn to write and then to use a computer. My first two years of one finger typing (about 100 pages) were lost when the computer crashed and the file was irretrievable. After starting again it took 4 years to complete.
What were the main lessons you learned from your experience with the Colossus?
Not to trust those in authority, archaeologists, the media, or anyone wanting to make a buck from diving and salvage.
Do you still get the same satisfaction from searching for wrecks?
Yes, since the Colossus I have discovered five new wrecks in my local area, one of which was protected by the government in 2005. Another I am working on at present has, due to the fantastic history behind it, prompted me to write a second book. (It will be out next spring hopefully)
What do you do when you are not working or diving?
Hunting for shipwrecks; writing; researching; I like walking and am also a keen snorkeler. I am also a trustee of my local museum and currently have a weekly show on local radio .
What would you say is the biggest change in diving since you started?
I suppose it would be the types of people the sport now attracts, there are no longer the swash buckling types around that there once were.
About the author
East London drop out heading nowhere; my brothers and I took up diving with the BSAC in Northampton in 1979 and the sport has kept me on the straight and narrow ever since. Carpenter by trade I was extremely active in the sport all around the British coast. I moved to the isles of Scilly in 1999 to hunt out undiscovered shipwrecks found the stern of Colossus in May of that same year. I lost the wreck to anyone who thought they had a vested interest in it, then wrote the book. Along with my wife Carmen (who is also a keen diver) I am now head of a small team that actively hunts for undiscovered historic wreck sites - there's usually treasure involved.

You can purchase Wreck of the Colossus by sending a cheque for £17 (including p&p) made out to Colossus Publications to Colossus, Pilot's Retreat, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0NA. Alternatively visit the web site at http://www.hmscolossus.co.uk/.



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Wednesday, October 03, 2007

 

SCUBA diving bestsellers list updated



The SCUBA Travel best selling diving books of the last three months. (Previous quarter's position is shown in brackets.)

  1. Dive Atlas of the World: An Illustrated Reference to the Best Sites by Jack Jackson
    300 pages detailing some of the world's best dive sites. (1)

  2. Sardinia (Lonely Planet Regional Guides)
    by Paula Hardy
    Complete, practical regional guide for independent travellers. Includes dedicated activities chapter including the best dive spots. (2)

  3. Dive: The Ultimate Guide To 60 Of The Worlds Top Dive Locations by Monty Halls
    Describes 60 of the world's best diving areas, and highlights specific dives not to be missed whilst you are there. (3)


  4. The Rough Guide to Sardinia
    by Robert Andrews
    Reviews the best places to eat, drink and sleep around the island. (--)

  5. Coral Reef Guide Red Sea (Coral Reef) by Ewald Lieske, Robert Myers
    Covering jellyfish, corals, nudibranchs, starfish, sea urchins, fishes and turtles of the Red Sea. (5)

  6. Neutral Buoyancy: Adventures in a Liquid World, by Tim Ecott
    Tales of the characters and episodes in the history of diving: the sponge divers, the second world war saboteurs, the free divers, etc. (8)

  7. Thailand (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides) by Tim Rock
    Features a selection of dives experts to beginners. (--)


  8. Dive in Style by Tim Simond
    Luxury diving around the world.(--)

  9. Adobe Photoshop for Underwater Photographers by Jack and Sue Drafahl
    Handbook for underwater photographers explains how to edit, fine-tune, retouch and enhance underwater images with the help of Adobe Photoshop. (--)

  10. Diving with Giants: The World's Best Pelagic Dives
    by Jack Jackson
    The best places to dive with the big, open water, species: sharks, manta rays, dolphins, whales... (--)


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