The dives were great, but it was a bit chilly. Conditions underwater were better than above... With near freezing temperatures and a cold wind coming from the polders, along the dikes.
The good thing, though:
---
---
Showing posts with label biology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biology. Show all posts
28 October 2012
Returned from Zeeland. Great dive weekend
I just returned from a great diveweekend in Schelphoek, Zeeland. I'll blog more about it .. but the most important stuff first:
The dives were great, but it was a bit chilly. Conditions underwater were better than above... With near freezing temperatures and a cold wind coming from the polders, along the dikes.
The good thing, though:
We spotted some divers that spotted a seahorse. This particular one was found at Zoetersbout (/Zijpe) and was already around for three weeks. The great thing is, I stayed there long enough to even do some video. It is relatively low quality, but it gives a good impression on what we saw.
updated... now with vimeo video
The dives were great, but it was a bit chilly. Conditions underwater were better than above... With near freezing temperatures and a cold wind coming from the polders, along the dikes.
The good thing, though:
03 May 2012
Ocean's 11th hour on video
Ocean's 11th hour... or a collection of horror and beauty video's after which you would gladly sign an online petition.
As a hobby underwater photographer, last year I decided to do a biology training... if you know the biology, you'll understand better how to photograph it, was the idea. It seems to work... Last year I made a new kind of photo's, more attention to detail and species I did not notice earlier.
One of the things I was made aware of, last year, was the peril, the ocean and the earth are facing right now.
Probably the easiest way of learning more on this subject is to check out some movies and video. Just reserve one evening with your friends, go and watch The end of the line and The Cove to get some basic understanding of the ocean issue. Then, after seeing the horror in the films below, also check out Sylvia's pledge and the other material.
Besides biology class, I have been inspired by a few great activating storytellers:
Sylvia Earle the oceanographer with her very moving 2009 TED Prize wish speech activated me the most. Shocking statistics combined with beautiful pictures, creating a sense of urgency like no-one else did. Sylvia is a scientist and engineer that actually did quite a number of VERY cool things starting in the '70s with things like walking on the sea bottom in a JIM suit, setting deepdive records along the way. She knows what she's talking about... not only as an activist, but also as a scientist. She understands the world cannot be moved by simply using violent action, with nothing more than a dogma... she explains the reasons why we should pursue a better, sustainable, life for ourselves and the earth. "Without Blue there is no Green." --Sylvia Earle.
Sea Shepherd. The little David that is bullying the Goliaths of fishery. Although they are a bit extreme, and to me they appear to be explaining the "why" too little and being a bit too much the fundamentalists of the sea, they actually have some very good points and they have good actions. Sea Shepherd know how to get their story published using the full media, including social media and new technology like drone and unique scouting ships. In recent years the little David has grown up and has more of a fund racing and marketing group, using media as a weapon. that is a good thing .. it requires them to better explain their actions, making their context and background more clear. They are extreme .. but they are getting better in telling us why.
The end of the line, a film shown at one of the theme nights at the dive club. Director Rupert Murray created this documentary that tells the story about how the fishing industry is doing and what the impact of this industry is on the sea and the world. In a bit more depth it shows how (mainly European) politics seem to work and it tells us what simple actions we can take... that actually can help. "ask before you eat, tell politicians, join the campaign." All good actions, but it will only be helpful if we are with a big enough group... The film itself is worth seeing. It is a good documentary, nothing fancy, good storyline. It explains our need to act now. If you are new to the subject, I would advise you to start with this documentary.
The Cove, also from 2009 but directed by Louie Psihoyos is another film to watch. This film is a bit more commercially set.
It builds up more tension, and has a storyline that evolved around Ric O'Barry, the person behind the training of dolphins for the Flipper tv-series. His life story twisted around quite dramatically after one of his dolphins committed suicide, being imprisoned for the currently multi-million dollar Dolphin Training industry.
The cove is about the industry... but the extreme form. In Taiji, Japan, the industry catches several ten-thousands of dolphins per season of which only a few end up as trained dolphins. The rest is "disposed of" in the way only the Japanese would be able to do. The film describes how activists (mainly Sea Shepherd) try to expose this to the public, how the activists get opposed by government and the locals and what health-risks Japan is taking. See the trailer... be shocked. (you were warned) This is a "must see" film, but it actually only addresses the marine mammals, not so much the wider subject of sustainability or the ocean.
Brian Skerry with his great talk on TED shows a less dramatic view, focusing on how and what he photographs, warning us, but still quite gentle. It is more on topic than The Cove. What Skerry tells us is what most of us could have seen happening. The decline of numbers and species.
The Fin Trail, another recent documentary addition to the same subject. This is about Sharkfinning, killing sharks by the 1000ths for their fins only.
Recently the news is more focused on "activist" Gordon Ramsay, who decided to attach his name to this specific finning issue. It is a pitty that the discussion seems to go more about him than on the subject. Gordon has done some great finning video's, he is working to convince the food industry.
Just to end this post with some more positive things.. also have a look at what we still discover, what beautiful things are there... for instance in the deep sea
So, if you like, don't just FBlike the article. Take action, even if just a small token like signing a petition... it is a start. My goal is to get the world aware, starting with me and you. Discuss other good initiatives in the comments, send links, tweet me.
As a hobby underwater photographer, last year I decided to do a biology training... if you know the biology, you'll understand better how to photograph it, was the idea. It seems to work... Last year I made a new kind of photo's, more attention to detail and species I did not notice earlier.
One of the things I was made aware of, last year, was the peril, the ocean and the earth are facing right now.
Probably the easiest way of learning more on this subject is to check out some movies and video. Just reserve one evening with your friends, go and watch The end of the line and The Cove to get some basic understanding of the ocean issue. Then, after seeing the horror in the films below, also check out Sylvia's pledge and the other material.
Besides biology class, I have been inspired by a few great activating storytellers:
Sylvia Earle the oceanographer with her very moving 2009 TED Prize wish speech activated me the most. Shocking statistics combined with beautiful pictures, creating a sense of urgency like no-one else did. Sylvia is a scientist and engineer that actually did quite a number of VERY cool things starting in the '70s with things like walking on the sea bottom in a JIM suit, setting deepdive records along the way. She knows what she's talking about... not only as an activist, but also as a scientist. She understands the world cannot be moved by simply using violent action, with nothing more than a dogma... she explains the reasons why we should pursue a better, sustainable, life for ourselves and the earth. "Without Blue there is no Green." --Sylvia Earle.
Find Sylvia on the net, with her alliance website or check out mission blue.
Sea Shepherd. The little David that is bullying the Goliaths of fishery. Although they are a bit extreme, and to me they appear to be explaining the "why" too little and being a bit too much the fundamentalists of the sea, they actually have some very good points and they have good actions. Sea Shepherd know how to get their story published using the full media, including social media and new technology like drone and unique scouting ships. In recent years the little David has grown up and has more of a fund racing and marketing group, using media as a weapon. that is a good thing .. it requires them to better explain their actions, making their context and background more clear. They are extreme .. but they are getting better in telling us why.
The Cove, also from 2009 but directed by Louie Psihoyos is another film to watch. This film is a bit more commercially set.
It builds up more tension, and has a storyline that evolved around Ric O'Barry, the person behind the training of dolphins for the Flipper tv-series. His life story twisted around quite dramatically after one of his dolphins committed suicide, being imprisoned for the currently multi-million dollar Dolphin Training industry.
The cove is about the industry... but the extreme form. In Taiji, Japan, the industry catches several ten-thousands of dolphins per season of which only a few end up as trained dolphins. The rest is "disposed of" in the way only the Japanese would be able to do. The film describes how activists (mainly Sea Shepherd) try to expose this to the public, how the activists get opposed by government and the locals and what health-risks Japan is taking. See the trailer... be shocked. (you were warned) This is a "must see" film, but it actually only addresses the marine mammals, not so much the wider subject of sustainability or the ocean. Brian Skerry with his great talk on TED shows a less dramatic view, focusing on how and what he photographs, warning us, but still quite gentle. It is more on topic than The Cove. What Skerry tells us is what most of us could have seen happening. The decline of numbers and species.
The Fin Trail, another recent documentary addition to the same subject. This is about Sharkfinning, killing sharks by the 1000ths for their fins only.
Recently the news is more focused on "activist" Gordon Ramsay, who decided to attach his name to this specific finning issue. It is a pitty that the discussion seems to go more about him than on the subject. Gordon has done some great finning video's, he is working to convince the food industry.
Just to end this post with some more positive things.. also have a look at what we still discover, what beautiful things are there... for instance in the deep sea
So, if you like, don't just FBlike the article. Take action, even if just a small token like signing a petition... it is a start. My goal is to get the world aware, starting with me and you. Discuss other good initiatives in the comments, send links, tweet me.
24 October 2011
Season closes: Calamari Schelphoek kamp 21-10-11
OK, as I blogged earlier on my dutch blog, the dive season was at it's end somewhere in September... or so I thought. Weather was getting worse and diving in rainy weather makes all but the underwater-part of diving a bit less appetizing so I ended my diveseason.
What actually happened is that I ended up joining the Calamari diveteam for their autumn dive weekend in Zeeland at the 21st.
Although the weather was "not good" for wetsuit divers, there was no rain but much sunshine. The temperature was a bit low, though, being only 8-13 Celcius in the late afternoon, with some mild frost at night. I've only managed to make 4 dives as on sunday I was having a bit of a cold myself and opted for doing the dishes etc. instead.
The dives I did were very nice since the light from the sun managed to get thru to at least 5 meter without losing too much intensity. This meant light was good... but visibility was good too. on the four dives I have had moments where sight would be close to 8 meters.
Dive photo's can be found here.
What actually happened is that I ended up joining the Calamari diveteam for their autumn dive weekend in Zeeland at the 21st.
Although the weather was "not good" for wetsuit divers, there was no rain but much sunshine. The temperature was a bit low, though, being only 8-13 Celcius in the late afternoon, with some mild frost at night. I've only managed to make 4 dives as on sunday I was having a bit of a cold myself and opted for doing the dishes etc. instead.
The dives I did were very nice since the light from the sun managed to get thru to at least 5 meter without losing too much intensity. This meant light was good... but visibility was good too. on the four dives I have had moments where sight would be close to 8 meters.
Dive photo's can be found here.
08 June 2011
Looking closer
Advantage of doing a Biology training is that you tend to look a bit better and closer. Just to show off some first results of the effect of training during my last 2 dives see the following.
- smoke in the water
Seen many times in different locations. This time in Tynaarlo. I can still do with some explanation on what I see here .. but seeing this invited me to check and analyse a bit better as the following pics might show.
- baby crayfish
Nothing special... finding a crayfish in some hole along the north-bank of the Veenmeer pond. It get's interesting when you discover the crayfish has something moving under the belly... and what do you know... it is swarming with small white babycrayfish, in this photo a bit hard to see as they still are a bit camera-shy.
- donut
I noticed these Mosdiertjes (bryozoan?) for a couple of years. Usually nothing more than a line of these, on some branch, rock or other stuff. This time they formed a nice donut shape.
- dragonfly
Someone painted this dragonfly silver? Great to see, great to find underwater. Too bad I do not have more than 2 pictures, as it showed some grace when moving away from the camera when I got real close.
- smoke in the water
- baby crayfish
- donut
- dragonfly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)