Ripples VZiNE - Video Interviews, Interesting People, Interesting Stories and Musings from the Sport Diving Community
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Polar Bears anyone?
A blindingly painful icecream headache!
That's what I remembered from my last cold water dive.
The water was the color of lead and absolutely flat calm. The sky hung low and gray with winter's chill in the air. But for the fact that the air temperature was 50 degrees and there was no snow on the ground you could almost believe it was an early spring day on the St. Lawrence River. But this was the first day of 2011 in the northen climes.
I arrived at Dive Brockville Adventure Center in Brockville Ontario at the appointed hour excited to take part in the seventh annual Polar Bear Dip-n-Dive. Mind you I had my reservations, mostly about the cold and some new equipment I was trying out. But I figured that this would be a great way to start my 2011 diving season and test my new equipment.
So, after the hustle and bustle of the dive shop and a lot of typical diver's good natured ribbing we all adjourned to the park on the river's edge. Because the weather was only chilly (not the typical minus whatever with blowing snow and feet of ice on the river) a lot of the local residents came out to see the specticle. See, we divers were doing our diving thing but , at the same time there was a group of daredeviles who were going in wearing only their bathing suite - the "Dip" part of the Dip-n-Dive! The dipper were there to raise money for a local charity. Interestingly the leader of the Dippers and the charity drive was thirteen year-old Emily.
We divers all know that our love of the sport includes a love of the technology too - come on , in your heart of haearts you know its true. And that dispite all of our best attempts sometime equipment fails, most often at the worst of times.
When I arrived in my warm fleece undergarment to start putting my rig together there were divers already geared up and getting into the water. I assembled my gear on the tailgate of my truck, checked it to be sure all was working - then checked it again - and began getting into my drysuite. After some wrestling, grunting, and a little persperation (thank goodness it was chilly!) I finally got my suit on.
Ok. So now its time to zip the suite up. If you've used a drysuite you know that this is a task that requires assistance. (Yet another way that diving is a social sport) Looking around I asked a nearby diver for her assistance - yep, thats right I was solo diving with a group. She stepped upp and was only behind me for a second or two when she said ...."the zipper's broken" !!!!
And just like that my first dive of the year was done!
And no the drysuite was not the new piece of equipment I was trying out. It was my regulator!
(at least I didn't show up after all the action was over like the local TV cameraman did !!!)
That's what I remembered from my last cold water dive.
The water was the color of lead and absolutely flat calm. The sky hung low and gray with winter's chill in the air. But for the fact that the air temperature was 50 degrees and there was no snow on the ground you could almost believe it was an early spring day on the St. Lawrence River. But this was the first day of 2011 in the northen climes.
I arrived at Dive Brockville Adventure Center in Brockville Ontario at the appointed hour excited to take part in the seventh annual Polar Bear Dip-n-Dive. Mind you I had my reservations, mostly about the cold and some new equipment I was trying out. But I figured that this would be a great way to start my 2011 diving season and test my new equipment.
So, after the hustle and bustle of the dive shop and a lot of typical diver's good natured ribbing we all adjourned to the park on the river's edge. Because the weather was only chilly (not the typical minus whatever with blowing snow and feet of ice on the river) a lot of the local residents came out to see the specticle. See, we divers were doing our diving thing but , at the same time there was a group of daredeviles who were going in wearing only their bathing suite - the "Dip" part of the Dip-n-Dive! The dipper were there to raise money for a local charity. Interestingly the leader of the Dippers and the charity drive was thirteen year-old Emily.
We divers all know that our love of the sport includes a love of the technology too - come on , in your heart of haearts you know its true. And that dispite all of our best attempts sometime equipment fails, most often at the worst of times.
When I arrived in my warm fleece undergarment to start putting my rig together there were divers already geared up and getting into the water. I assembled my gear on the tailgate of my truck, checked it to be sure all was working - then checked it again - and began getting into my drysuite. After some wrestling, grunting, and a little persperation (thank goodness it was chilly!) I finally got my suit on.
Ok. So now its time to zip the suite up. If you've used a drysuite you know that this is a task that requires assistance. (Yet another way that diving is a social sport) Looking around I asked a nearby diver for her assistance - yep, thats right I was solo diving with a group. She stepped upp and was only behind me for a second or two when she said ...."the zipper's broken" !!!!
And just like that my first dive of the year was done!
And no the drysuite was not the new piece of equipment I was trying out. It was my regulator!
(at least I didn't show up after all the action was over like the local TV cameraman did !!!)
Vampires diving with us in the St Lawrence River.
Vampires diving with us in the St Lawrence River.
Slithering upstream, its powerful long dark body easily handling the currents, it swims up the Hudson and St. Lawrence rivers to the Great Lakes. Continuing its primordial quest for large fish from which it can suck blood, it moves on through the dark waters. This voracious predator is native to the coastal regions of the Atlantic Ocean. It is thought to have migrated from its native habitat in the Atlantic drainage up the Hudson River and through the Erie and St. Lawrence Canal system. Though its possible that these predators caught a ride on unsuspecting boats using the Canal system.
The Lamprey is a real vampire that survives by attaching itself to the body of large sportfish – like Lake Trout and Salmon – and sup on their blood and body fluids. They actually suck the life’s blood from the fish!
Six out of ten fish will die from the Lamprey’s “free ride”. Those that survive are easy prey for other predatory fish and infections from the gaping round wound. A single Lamprey can kill over 40 pounds of fish in it’s lifetime. (Sounds like a lot of fish but I’ve seen 40 lb Lake Trout.) Some fish will have several of these blood sucking predators attached to them! Yikes! ( I wonder if there is a market for Lamprey stew? ,,,,, eeew!!)
The Lamprey attaches itself to the side of the target fish by its circular mouth. The Lamprey uses suction (little sucker!) to attach it and has rings of teeth that chew through the scales and flesh of the fish in order to suck the bodily fluids from it. (Hey, in some countries they eat blood stew ,,,, even drink the fresh warm blood from a kill ,,,,, there really is no accounting for some people’s tastes!!!)
As you can imagine controlling the Lamprey is a real challenge. That’s the problem with invasive species, once they get into a habitat it is almost impossible to control them, let alone eliminate them from the new habitat. (Think of the rabbit and mongoose problems in Australia,). But there are several ways that both Canada and the US are using to help control the Lamprey population in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence. Among them is Lampricide treatments. The Lampricide treatments have proven successful but cost millions a year (your tax dollars at work!). Other methods include male sterilization programs ( so,,, just how do you find their little,,,,, um, you-know-whats to cut them off ?? A teeny pair of tweezers?), Lamprey ladders that keep them from migrating into the wrong habitat, and Lamprey pheromones that lure them into traps. (Pheromones? Really? Lampreys have a sense of smell !?!? Who knew!)
So, once again we have an invasive species causing havoc in a habitat that got there riding on boats and through our unintended actions, (like digging canals). How does this effect divers you ask? Well it doesn’t – directly - I guess. I have not heard nor seen any divers with a Lamprey stuck to them. But you can rest assured that this invasive blood sucking species, like many others has had an impact in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence water world we all love diving in.
,,,,,,,,, and then there are the Zebra and Quagga Mussels! That’s a subject for the next article.
INCREDIBLE! AMAZING!
Those of you who know me know that I love to freedive. One of my favorite spots to freedive is the wreck of the Keystorm in the St. Lawrence River. But my freedives are nothing like world freediving champion Nery's
.I just came across this clip of him doing the most incredible underwater sequence of freediving !
Just watching it make my tummy tickle!
CHECK IT OUT!
.I just came across this clip of him doing the most incredible underwater sequence of freediving !
Just watching it make my tummy tickle!
CHECK IT OUT!
Freediver Plunges Into the Abyss
In this remarkable clip, world freediving champion Guillaume Nery stands at the edge of the world's second deepest underwater sink hole. And he jumps. The ensuing photography is a hypnotic adventure into the impossible.
Publish Date: 06/10/2010 11:00
http://gizmodo.com/5559553/freediver-plunges-into-the-abyss
Just sharing! Its all about diving! Its all good! Scott (Freediver!)
How to decide where to go SCUBA Diving next
One thing avid SCUBA divers, sport divers do well is dream about far flung exotic places they'd like to go.
Question is, how do you choose the place? I mean - there are so many! (BTW, now is a great time to go on a live-aboard dive charter 'cause they need to fill the boats, so rates and extras are good)
The best way is to gather information (stories) from other avid scuba divers who have been there. WIth the aid of the internet its a fairly simple thing to do. Though you have to be careful not to get overloaded with information.
Think a bit about where you are in your diving adventure - how experienced are you? What type of diving interests you, is it fish gazing, exploring, diving walls, open ocean diving with pelagics, underwater photography? The list goes on, and on.
What kind of support would you like, live-aboard charters, all inclusive resorts, camping? Of course cost plays a big roll in the decision making process but still you need to find the sort of diving you are comfortable with and can afford. What I'm saying is that you need to focus on what you want and stick with it so you won't get distracted by all the fantastic places available.
Here is a great place to start, one of many blogs to get an avid scuba diver's juices going,,,,, dream on!
Question is, how do you choose the place? I mean - there are so many! (BTW, now is a great time to go on a live-aboard dive charter 'cause they need to fill the boats, so rates and extras are good)
The best way is to gather information (stories) from other avid scuba divers who have been there. WIth the aid of the internet its a fairly simple thing to do. Though you have to be careful not to get overloaded with information.
Think a bit about where you are in your diving adventure - how experienced are you? What type of diving interests you, is it fish gazing, exploring, diving walls, open ocean diving with pelagics, underwater photography? The list goes on, and on.
What kind of support would you like, live-aboard charters, all inclusive resorts, camping? Of course cost plays a big roll in the decision making process but still you need to find the sort of diving you are comfortable with and can afford. What I'm saying is that you need to focus on what you want and stick with it so you won't get distracted by all the fantastic places available.
Here is a great place to start, one of many blogs to get an avid scuba diver's juices going,,,,, dream on!
World's Top 8 Scuba Diving Destinations : Tips from the T-List
Gliding past rainbow-colored corals and swimming alongside giant manta rays and languid turtles: scuba diving gives us a chance to acquaint with the deep realms of nature. In this world where nature is overrun by tourism, scuba-diving ...
Publish Date: 06/19/2010 4:16
http://www.tipsfromthetlist.com/26257.html
Its all about diving!
Its all good!
SCOTT.
Episode ONE of Three, The SCUBA Connection.
Well ,,,,
As any SCUBA Ddiver will attest, its about the details, dummy. All the gear that you wear to support your life in the alien atmosphere is really about details. Technical details.
And the sport of diving is getting more and more "technical" every year.
When I started it was just a tank of compresse air, a modified LP gas regulator, a couple of corrogated hoses and you strapped it on and went in.
No special equipment ,, we learned as we survived.
You sank ?
Well don't wear so much weight then.
You say you got all, like fuzzy headed at 250 feet?
So don't go so deep already!
A learning curve with potential short duration!
I am learning that my techie learning curve is VERY steep!
,,,,,,,when it comes to editing videos. (Technical diving is another subject for later!)
I've been working on the video interviews I made with The SCUBA Connection ,www.tscscuba.com in NJ for ,,, well months.
At one point I lost them alltogether. They fell through the virtual cracks somewhee !?
When finally found them they were in a format that I cannot "clean up". (I really, really need to get an apple for the video editg work!) .......
So, not to detract from what Wayne has to say about all the great services he provides I've posted the first raw video clip. The first of three, so stay tuned for more.
By the way Wayne is something of an expert when it comes to video editing too.
You'll have to excuse the roughness of the clip but still ,,,, The SCUBA Connection really has it together.
So anyway heres Wayne (drum roll please!,,,) ----------------> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChhlItnWkzo
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="
Its all about diving.
It's all good!
SCOTT
As any SCUBA Ddiver will attest, its about the details, dummy. All the gear that you wear to support your life in the alien atmosphere is really about details. Technical details.
And the sport of diving is getting more and more "technical" every year.
When I started it was just a tank of compresse air, a modified LP gas regulator, a couple of corrogated hoses and you strapped it on and went in.
No special equipment ,, we learned as we survived.
You sank ?
Well don't wear so much weight then.
You say you got all, like fuzzy headed at 250 feet?
So don't go so deep already!
A learning curve with potential short duration!
I am learning that my techie learning curve is VERY steep!
,,,,,,,when it comes to editing videos. (Technical diving is another subject for later!)
I've been working on the video interviews I made with The SCUBA Connection ,www.tscscuba.com in NJ for ,,, well months.
At one point I lost them alltogether. They fell through the virtual cracks somewhee !?
When finally found them they were in a format that I cannot "clean up". (I really, really need to get an apple for the video editg work!) .......
So, not to detract from what Wayne has to say about all the great services he provides I've posted the first raw video clip. The first of three, so stay tuned for more.
By the way Wayne is something of an expert when it comes to video editing too.
You'll have to excuse the roughness of the clip but still ,,,, The SCUBA Connection really has it together.
So anyway heres Wayne (drum roll please!,,,) ----------------> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChhlItnWkzo
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="
Its all about diving.
It's all good!
SCOTT
Aliens Invade our waters! Second in the series
In this missive, the second in the "Aliens" series I reveal a sticky invader.
I don't know how many divers are also fishermen - or women! (sorry ladies) but if you've been fishing in the St. LAwrence River or the Great Lakes in the last decade or so you'll remember the cotton-like globs that got stuck on your lines
-looks like snot on a string!
Especially if you're trolling. Well it's the Spiny Waterflea (Bythotrephes Longimanus) that is getting tangled in your fishing gear.
This tiny predatory crustacean has a long, barbed tail spine that protects them from other predators. They float in the water eating and proliferating. Their diet consists of Zooplankton so whenever the Zooplankton is high in the water column, like when its warm, there will be lots of the little Waterfleas. (no Dilbert, dogs don't get them if the swim, !.)
The female (hmmm, so how do they meet, these males and females? At a flea club? Then what? ,,, but I digress.) of these prolific little aliens produce up to 10 young every two weeks or so during the warm summer months but are largely invisible underwater.
Like so many other invasive species they are a result of our highly mobile society. They too got a free ride to this waterway onboard freighters in their ballast (notice a recurring theme here !?) from Northern Europe and Great Britain. First discovered in Lake Ontario in 1982 they have since spread throughout the Great Lakes and SLR.
I have to admit that in all the years I've been diving the SLR I have not seen them in the water.Though I have seen them on the anchor rhode when I pull it up. But the once or twice I go fishing a year they sure are evident on the tackle!
Their impact on the food chain is still unknown but I bet there is some impact if they compete for Zooplankton with the Zebra and Quagga mussels.
So, next time you dive your favorite wreck pay attention to the life around you, even the minute life forms.
There is a war going on in the water column! From the Alien species to chemicals, pharmacological, silt runoff, to oil spills all have a cumulative impact.
Speaking of diving on wrecks - watch this spot (and www.DiveJunkee.com) for more details about this season's special dive challenge!
Stay tuned to this spot!
Its all about diving.
Its all good!
SCOTT.
I don't know how many divers are also fishermen - or women! (sorry ladies) but if you've been fishing in the St. LAwrence River or the Great Lakes in the last decade or so you'll remember the cotton-like globs that got stuck on your lines
-looks like snot on a string!
Especially if you're trolling. Well it's the Spiny Waterflea (Bythotrephes Longimanus) that is getting tangled in your fishing gear.
This tiny predatory crustacean has a long, barbed tail spine that protects them from other predators. They float in the water eating and proliferating. Their diet consists of Zooplankton so whenever the Zooplankton is high in the water column, like when its warm, there will be lots of the little Waterfleas. (no Dilbert, dogs don't get them if the swim, !.)
The female (hmmm, so how do they meet, these males and females? At a flea club? Then what? ,,, but I digress.) of these prolific little aliens produce up to 10 young every two weeks or so during the warm summer months but are largely invisible underwater.
Like so many other invasive species they are a result of our highly mobile society. They too got a free ride to this waterway onboard freighters in their ballast (notice a recurring theme here !?) from Northern Europe and Great Britain. First discovered in Lake Ontario in 1982 they have since spread throughout the Great Lakes and SLR.
I have to admit that in all the years I've been diving the SLR I have not seen them in the water.Though I have seen them on the anchor rhode when I pull it up. But the once or twice I go fishing a year they sure are evident on the tackle!
Their impact on the food chain is still unknown but I bet there is some impact if they compete for Zooplankton with the Zebra and Quagga mussels.
So, next time you dive your favorite wreck pay attention to the life around you, even the minute life forms.
There is a war going on in the water column! From the Alien species to chemicals, pharmacological, silt runoff, to oil spills all have a cumulative impact.
Speaking of diving on wrecks - watch this spot (and www.DiveJunkee.com) for more details about this season's special dive challenge!
Stay tuned to this spot!
Its all about diving.
Its all good!
SCOTT.
Avid divers need a challenge
I've been thinking ,,,,,
Avid divers need a challenge sometimes just to get things going.
get the juices flowing so to speak ,,,,,
We all look for reasons to do things. I guess its my "A" type personality and my competitive nature but competing for a prize while I'm doing something I love is really "IT".
One of the reasons I love to free dive is the challenge. Training myself to dive deeper and stay longer. Can I do it? How far can I go???
So (drum roll please,,), I've decided to start a very special challenge this dive season and am in the process of putting all the details together.
So, keep posted here and at www.DiveJunkee.com for more details as they develop.
Great fun, Diving, pictures, a challenge, and Prizes.
Can't go wrong!!
Its all about diving.
Its all good.
SCOTT.
Avid divers need a challenge sometimes just to get things going.
get the juices flowing so to speak ,,,,,
We all look for reasons to do things. I guess its my "A" type personality and my competitive nature but competing for a prize while I'm doing something I love is really "IT".
One of the reasons I love to free dive is the challenge. Training myself to dive deeper and stay longer. Can I do it? How far can I go???
So (drum roll please,,), I've decided to start a very special challenge this dive season and am in the process of putting all the details together.
So, keep posted here and at www.DiveJunkee.com for more details as they develop.
Great fun, Diving, pictures, a challenge, and Prizes.
Can't go wrong!!
Its all about diving.
Its all good.
SCOTT.
New dive sites
So, whats an avid diver?
well ,,,, a diver who loves to dive and looks for any reason to dive.
The problem is that as an avid diver you can run out of new diver sites quickly. looking for foreign dives sites is an option but you can only do that once or twice a year. So, how to find new sites to dive ? Dive sites you can afford to visit without breaking the bank.
One way to solve that problem is to join your local statewide diving association. Statewide dive associations off organized dive to a variety of site nearby in your state. A weekend of diving with things to do for non divers and the camaraderie of divers on a budget that will allow you to be avid.
Not that I'm knocking your local dive club, more as an addition to your club. You could get in even more dives in the season by joining both
I remember weekend dives at state parks with 15 or 20 divers, some staying in tents and others in camper trailers. Divers came from all over the state. We dived the cool green waters of the St. Lawrence all day and picnicked on the rocky tree lined islands. When we returned to the park, tired but fired up at the end of the day we ate steaks or spaghetti around the bonfire and shared tales from the day and other great dives we'd had. In one weekend we would dive several sites, mostly wrecks, and have a great time of it - sometimes even when it rained.
My recommend is the New York State Divers Association ,(www.scubaNY.org). They organize dives every month to a different sites around the state thought the season. Its a great way to meet new divers and old friends while you're having a great time. Yeah well, it ain't Papua New Guinea but for an avid diver its great to be diving. NYSDA will also welcome non members at their dives too so don't be bashful.
John Krake says it a lot better at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho41YrWYKPM
Its all about diving.
Its all good.
Scott.
well ,,,, a diver who loves to dive and looks for any reason to dive.
The problem is that as an avid diver you can run out of new diver sites quickly. looking for foreign dives sites is an option but you can only do that once or twice a year. So, how to find new sites to dive ? Dive sites you can afford to visit without breaking the bank.
One way to solve that problem is to join your local statewide diving association. Statewide dive associations off organized dive to a variety of site nearby in your state. A weekend of diving with things to do for non divers and the camaraderie of divers on a budget that will allow you to be avid.
Not that I'm knocking your local dive club, more as an addition to your club. You could get in even more dives in the season by joining both
I remember weekend dives at state parks with 15 or 20 divers, some staying in tents and others in camper trailers. Divers came from all over the state. We dived the cool green waters of the St. Lawrence all day and picnicked on the rocky tree lined islands. When we returned to the park, tired but fired up at the end of the day we ate steaks or spaghetti around the bonfire and shared tales from the day and other great dives we'd had. In one weekend we would dive several sites, mostly wrecks, and have a great time of it - sometimes even when it rained.
My recommend is the New York State Divers Association ,(www.scubaNY.org). They organize dives every month to a different sites around the state thought the season. Its a great way to meet new divers and old friends while you're having a great time. Yeah well, it ain't Papua New Guinea but for an avid diver its great to be diving. NYSDA will also welcome non members at their dives too so don't be bashful.
John Krake says it a lot better at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho41YrWYKPM
Its all about diving.
Its all good.
Scott.
Aliens invade our waters !
This the is the first of a short series on invasive aquatic species and their impact on the sport diving community.
We have all heard the term "invasive species" and I don't me aliens from another planet. Though in some cases they might as well be from another plante they are alien to the US.
There are many invasive species, plants, animals, and aquatic species. In almost every case they are here in this country - or any country they are not natural to - as a direct result of MAN. There are Zebra and Quagga mussels, the Sea Lamprey, the Round Goby, Asian Carp, the Spiny Waterflea, the Asian Snakehead Carp to name a few. There are, of course species of plants as well but , since we are divers I'm focusing on the aquatic invaders.
The aquatic species were all either unintentional freeloaders or purposely brought to this country, like the Asian Carp. The Quagga and Zebra mussels were brought in as freeloaders by freighters bringing goods from Europe, the Eastern Block, or Russia. The tiny eggs, or "Veligers" came along with the fresh water ballast taken on from the Black and Caspian seas where they are a natural species. That is how they were transported to the St. Lawrence river.
Another story for later ,,,,,
In this missive I want to talk about the Round Goby or "Neogobius melanostomus" for those who speak Latin.
As a regular diver in the St. Lawrence River ("SLR") I have noticed the Goby for the last several years. The increase in the number of Gobies has increased dramatically in the last couple of years. In some place the bottom seems to be moving because of all the Gobies. I've seen them 4 inches long and as thick as 1 1/2 inches! (Almost big enough to get a fillet from!). They have absolutely taken over in th SLR.
The Goby is an aggressive species that can grow to a length of 10"!. The Goby has a large head and a grey body with mottled brown and black blotches on it. The large eyes and dorsal fin are another feature that make them easy to spot.
They too are originally from the Black and Caspian Seas first spotted, by divers of course in the Great Lakes in 1990.
Now here is a little bit of natures balance at work. The Round Goby eats as it's primary food - the Zebra & Quagga Mussels. (!?!?) The concern is not that the consumption of the mussels might reduce the viz in the water (we definitely don't want that!) but that the contaminants that are concentrated in the mussels ( they are bi-valves and filter the water for food) will then be even more concentrated in the Gobies that are eaten by game fish - where the contaminants are further concnetrated.
So, how does the Round Goby affect sport divers?
Well,,,,,, not so much - yet.
However, if the population increases to the extent that it reduces the mussels that are keeping the water so clear then it sure will!
Until then they are just something new to watch and monitor in our underwater realm.
Be sure to tune in for the next issue on ,,,,,,,,,, (Que scary music ....) INVASIVE SPECIES!
Its all about diving
Its all good!
SCOTT.
Join www.DiveJunkee.com and invite your dive buddy.
We have all heard the term "invasive species" and I don't me aliens from another planet. Though in some cases they might as well be from another plante they are alien to the US.
There are many invasive species, plants, animals, and aquatic species. In almost every case they are here in this country - or any country they are not natural to - as a direct result of MAN. There are Zebra and Quagga mussels, the Sea Lamprey, the Round Goby, Asian Carp, the Spiny Waterflea, the Asian Snakehead Carp to name a few. There are, of course species of plants as well but , since we are divers I'm focusing on the aquatic invaders.
The aquatic species were all either unintentional freeloaders or purposely brought to this country, like the Asian Carp. The Quagga and Zebra mussels were brought in as freeloaders by freighters bringing goods from Europe, the Eastern Block, or Russia. The tiny eggs, or "Veligers" came along with the fresh water ballast taken on from the Black and Caspian seas where they are a natural species. That is how they were transported to the St. Lawrence river.
Another story for later ,,,,,
In this missive I want to talk about the Round Goby or "Neogobius melanostomus" for those who speak Latin.
As a regular diver in the St. Lawrence River ("SLR") I have noticed the Goby for the last several years. The increase in the number of Gobies has increased dramatically in the last couple of years. In some place the bottom seems to be moving because of all the Gobies. I've seen them 4 inches long and as thick as 1 1/2 inches! (Almost big enough to get a fillet from!). They have absolutely taken over in th SLR.
The Goby is an aggressive species that can grow to a length of 10"!. The Goby has a large head and a grey body with mottled brown and black blotches on it. The large eyes and dorsal fin are another feature that make them easy to spot.
They too are originally from the Black and Caspian Seas first spotted, by divers of course in the Great Lakes in 1990.
Now here is a little bit of natures balance at work. The Round Goby eats as it's primary food - the Zebra & Quagga Mussels. (!?!?) The concern is not that the consumption of the mussels might reduce the viz in the water (we definitely don't want that!) but that the contaminants that are concentrated in the mussels ( they are bi-valves and filter the water for food) will then be even more concentrated in the Gobies that are eaten by game fish - where the contaminants are further concnetrated.
So, how does the Round Goby affect sport divers?
Well,,,,,, not so much - yet.
However, if the population increases to the extent that it reduces the mussels that are keeping the water so clear then it sure will!
Until then they are just something new to watch and monitor in our underwater realm.
Be sure to tune in for the next issue on ,,,,,,,,,, (Que scary music ....) INVASIVE SPECIES!
Its all about diving
Its all good!
SCOTT.
Join www.DiveJunkee.com and invite your dive buddy.
Recent interviews
I have made contact with several Dive Shops over the last few weeks. Shops in Kansas and NJ.
The interviews offered a window into a cross section of the sport diving industry from the Midwest to New England. Not all the dive shop owners were willing to go on camera but each had a view on the industry and sport divers. Each of the dive shop owners I interviewed on camera were operating what appears to be successful retail operations. ( I only came across one shop that was closed - so no interview there - obviously they were not among the successful ones.) Watching the video interviews you will hear about numbers of store who have recently closed due to the tough times.
A couple of the shops declined to appear on camera but I talked with them about their stores and their divers.
All the shop owners expressed similar sentiments. That the sport diving industry is suffering from arguably the "perfect storm". Several things have lined up to creat really tough times for the shops and some of it can be traced directly to some of the manufacturers and the schools. Their decisions to authorize shops in close proximity to each other in an effort to increase dues income has resulted in a very poor balance of retail operations. As is evidenced by one manufacturer that still has strong retail outlets, SCUBAPRO who protect their retailer's territories.
Another attack has come from the advent of big box stores and on-line equipment sales. Both have negatively impacted the brick and mortar retail dive shops.
And of course, the current financial slump. We all operate on a disposable income paradigm - many people just don't have the disposable income to buy dive equipment or dive trips these days.
The answer for most of the shops I visited is adaptation. Being able to adapt to the new business atmosphere and challenges has allowed them to maintain - and in some cases prosper.
More as it develops.
For more details, and more insights into their success check out the video interviews. Most recently with AAI Neptune Divers Las Vegas NV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqB4wB_4NSw.
in the next month or so stay tuned for interviews with Divers Equipment and The Scuba Connection.
SCOTT.
The interviews offered a window into a cross section of the sport diving industry from the Midwest to New England. Not all the dive shop owners were willing to go on camera but each had a view on the industry and sport divers. Each of the dive shop owners I interviewed on camera were operating what appears to be successful retail operations. ( I only came across one shop that was closed - so no interview there - obviously they were not among the successful ones.) Watching the video interviews you will hear about numbers of store who have recently closed due to the tough times.
A couple of the shops declined to appear on camera but I talked with them about their stores and their divers.
All the shop owners expressed similar sentiments. That the sport diving industry is suffering from arguably the "perfect storm". Several things have lined up to creat really tough times for the shops and some of it can be traced directly to some of the manufacturers and the schools. Their decisions to authorize shops in close proximity to each other in an effort to increase dues income has resulted in a very poor balance of retail operations. As is evidenced by one manufacturer that still has strong retail outlets, SCUBAPRO who protect their retailer's territories.
Another attack has come from the advent of big box stores and on-line equipment sales. Both have negatively impacted the brick and mortar retail dive shops.
And of course, the current financial slump. We all operate on a disposable income paradigm - many people just don't have the disposable income to buy dive equipment or dive trips these days.
The answer for most of the shops I visited is adaptation. Being able to adapt to the new business atmosphere and challenges has allowed them to maintain - and in some cases prosper.
More as it develops.
For more details, and more insights into their success check out the video interviews. Most recently with AAI Neptune Divers Las Vegas NV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqB4wB_4NSw.
in the next month or so stay tuned for interviews with Divers Equipment and The Scuba Connection.
SCOTT.