Bubbles January February 2016

T HE A T LA M SUBA QUA C LUB E -M A G A Z I N E

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 2016 Atlam Committee Members :Joseph Azzopardi President guzeppi56@gmail.com Anton Debattista Secretary andeb@go.net.mt Klaus Farrugia Treasurer klafster@gmail.com Alex Arena P.R.O. Victor Fabri Diving Officer vfabri@gmail.com Alvin Pace Activity Officer tamsinjane@yahoo.com George Mugliett Activity Officer

IN THIS ISSUE

page

Editor’s Note | 2016 Membership Fee 2 ATLAM Committee for 2016 3 Species Page - Sunfish- Edward Vella

4

Club Dive Depth - Dorian Law

5

BOM - Dive Inside Gozo - Dorian Law

6

Dived Overseas - Cape Town - Dorian Law

Photo by : David Agius Read about his recent diving experience in the Red Sea (page 12/14 Part 1)

7-9

Environment Matters - Edward Sultana

10-11

A Trip to the Red Sea - David Agius

12-14

www.atlam.org

The Editorial And so the Annual General Meeting is now over, which means that the new Atlam SAC committee for 2016 has been elected and more or less set up – may they keep up the good work! For the benefit of the newer members, or those who do not attend the clubhouse that much, this year, a full frontal of the elected committee members along with their assigned roles may be seen on page 3. (Please note that the choice of page is purely co-incidental - this e-magazine has nothing to do with The Sun).

At long last, the Atlam website has been renewed. This was way overdue, not that there was anything really wrong with the old one, but when compared to current website presentation trends, it was definitely showing its age. The new site is still work in progress – and it is now up to the members, and of course the committee to improve on the basic framework. Some time ago President Guzi asked the Atlam photographers who were interested to post their pictures on the website to contact him or Mr Alfred Muscat (who is overseeing the web page project). Let us work together to make the new Atlam website a success!

There were not many club activities during these first two months of 2016, surely foremost among which was the most enjoyable New Year Party held on the 9th January, and a dinner evening at the Clubhouse on the 10th February.

As is to be expected during this time of the year, during the so called ‘shoulder’ months for Bubbles, when wintry conditions provide the opportunity to refurbish the Atlantis II at this time – not that (up to now) we had any real winter conditions – but anyway the point is, that without the boat dive logs, the compilation of Bubbles, requires a bigger effort than usual. This brings about a very important point.

As one may safely conclude, Bubbles takes a considerable investment in time and effort to produce. Unfortunately lately contributions of articles and photos from members have been noticed to be steadily going down, to the point that the production of Bubbles became essentially a two man band. Clearly this is not a sustainable situation.

This state of affairs was made known to the members during the AGM, and an appeal made by President Guzi for more participation. It would seem that the appeal has been picked up hence the features in this issue. A big thanks goes to the authors. It is sincerely hoped that more members take the plunge and participate - it is a satisfying experience to see one’s work published and appreciated worldwide on ISSUU.com.

Please contribute your work to keep Bubbles alive.

Keep diving!

Edward Vella evella@onvol.net

M A L T A

established 1955

Tul il-Kosta, Ba˙ar Iç-Çag˙aq Naxxar NXR 9038, Malta email: info@atlam.org web: www.atlam.org

2016 Atlam SAC Membership Fee Your 2016 Atlam SAC Membership Fee is now due. (actually overdue) Membership fees of €25 may be submitted to any committee member.

Support Atlam by paying your Membership Fee as soon as possible.

Many Thanks.

Looking forward to a super Atlam SAC diving 2016.

The Committee

JOIN ATLAM SUBAQUA CLUB and share the fun & experience Activities for Divers: • Shore Dives • Boat Dives • Night Dive • Diving Excursions Abroad • U/W Photo Competitions • Lectures on various subjects • Nitrox Courses.

• Free e-magazine

Activities for the whole family • Weekly Club Nights & Bar • Barbecues • Majjalata • Pasta Nights • Boat Parties • Gozo Diving Breaks • Camping on Comino and other places.

For more info contact the President Guzi Azzopardi on 79493275

Atlam Sub Aqua Club Committee Members for 2016 President

(2nd sitting)

Joseph Azzopardi Segretarju (1st from left - sitting) Anton Debattista Tezorier (3rd from left - sitting) Klaus Farrugia PRO (4th from left - standing) Alex Arena Diving Officer (1st from left - standing) Victor Fabri Activity Officer (2nd from left - standing) George Mugliet Activity Officer (3rd from left - standing) Alvin Pace

Species Page Research by Edward Vella

Ocean Sunfish

(Qamar) - Mola mola

When is a sunfish also a moonfish and vice-versa….but then, what’s in a name? The reason for this statement is that in one this species’ known habitats – the Mediterranean – this fish is called moon fish, which translates into Qamar (Maltese) and Pesce Luna (Italian), whereas the English name is Sunfish. Irrespective whether relating to brother sun or sister moon, the name surely originates from the similarity of its flat circular almost disk like body to these shape of these celestial bodies. Encountering a Mola mola is surely for many, the stuff of diving dreams. A couple of years ago a group of divers were lucky enough to meet one close to Gozo’s north west shoreline (Wied il-Mielah) – we all went green with envy when we saw the video one of them posted on You Tube!

Even though Sunfish are within the family of bony fishes, their skeleton is largely made up of cartilage, rather than bone tissue. Even so, this happens to be the heaviest of the known bony fishes, but in spite of their size – average 1.8m / 2.5 m from fin tip to fin tip – they feed mostly on jellyfish, of which they need to devour copious quantities, given the scarce nutritional value of the jellies, and the bulk of the Sunfish.

When it comes to reproduction, I learnt that this fish holds the record for laying more eggs at any one time than any of the known vertebrates (animals having a backbone) – try counting up to 300,000,000! This means of course that the chances of making it to adulthood must be indeed slim, even though when fully developed, Sunfish have very few natural predators – sharks being among the foremost, but even these are on the decline.

They are also not considered to be good for eating, and any caught by Mediterranean fishermen, will be caught as by catches – that is the sunfish goes into a net Photo by Yohan Cordelle.

Courtesy of: commons.wikimedia.org

intended for other species. In some far eastern countries however, its flesh is considered to be something of a delicacy, however I do not know what does not qualify to be a delicacy in that part of the world!

In spite of being considered as being clumsy swimmers, waggling their large dorsal and anal fins to move in a sculling fashion – much like a Venetian gondolier would manoeuvre his single oar on a gondola’s stern - individuals have been recorded swimming 26 km in a day. Steering is carried out by means of the large tail.

Parasite infestations are a fact of life for these slow moving fish, and there are well known sites which serve as cleaning stations, where the infested fish allows the resident reef fish to pick off the pesky critters! It is at these sites that divers congregate to see these marvellous creatures.

Now hoping to find one such station during one of our boat dives!

April - May Rainbow Wrasse G˙arusa - Coris julis P L E A S E S E N D P H OTO S

Club Dives Depth A Change in Club’s Statute

Dear Atlam divers, Many things have changed in the past years in the diving industry. Changes in technology have produced better diving apparatus, including reliable dive computers and software, giving the diver safer dive profiles. We have gone from diving solely on air (21% oxygen), to using a variety of gases like Nitrox (>21% oxygen) and Trimix. Many divers have done courses beyond their CMAS 2 Star qualifications (Advanced Open Water) and have started to use their new qualifications such as Nitrox, Extended Range or Trimix, to extend their bottom time without increasing their decompression time and also to dive safer with a better choice of gas.

Following several discussions heard, both at the Club and on the dive site, regarding the subject of ‘Depth Limitations’, and with these technological changes in mind, I put forward a proposal for a change in the Club’s statute regarding the ‘maximum allowed depth of 40meters’. I am sure that most of you agree that this ‘restriction’ does not reflect the reality of today’s divers and diving activities.

The proposal, as unanimously passed by the members in the annual general meeting, reads as follows: Proposal.

Section 10: Officers of the Executive Committee.

10.8 The Activities Officer, or any Executive Committee member to who any one or more of the following functions may be delegated, shall be entrusted with: (d) to ensure that all the diving activities

should not exceed the maximum depth of forty (40) metres as allowed by C.M.A.S., represented locally by the F.U.A.M.; and To read as follows: 10.8 The Activities Officer, or any Executive Committee member to who any one or more of the following functions may be delegated, shall be entrusted with: (d) to ensure that all divers participating in any of the Club’s organized diving activities, are advised not to exceed the ‘maximum depth’ as per their current diving qualification. This shall be in line with the ‘maximum depth’ recommended by their respective qualifying body; and This clearly makes every diver ever more responsible for his planned and executed maximum dive depth, according to his / her current diving qualification level and experience. It is not expected from the Diving Officer or Dive Marshall to act as a watchdog. Rather than that, the Diving Officer or Dive Marshall can, shall and I hope will, monitor the diving activity and reprimand anyone not diving along this set criteria, which at the end, is made to promote safer diving activities, especially during a Club organised dive.

The following article, written by Jessica Shilling, is rather quick to read but puts forward what I think is the most important issue regards safe diving.

The article, entitled ‘Shallow vs Deep Diving’ is available at scubadiverlife.com and reads as follows; ‘It’s common for divers to seek deep dives over shallow dives, most divers have probably experienced being on a dive boat

and the dive master asks the entire group if they have a preference, deep or shallow and most of the group shouts out “as deep as possible”. Though deep diving can be awesome some divers might not be aware that it significantly reduces bottom time and requires a longer surface interval. Whether it’s the thrill of going deep or simply being able to brag about the depth it seems to be most divers’ first choice.

What is considered a deep dive? Different divers have different ideas about when a dive is considered a deep dive. An Open Water Diver is certified to dive to 60 feet / 18 meters and an Advanced Open Water diver is certified to dive to 100 feet / 30 meters. As part of the Advanced Open Water course a student must complete a deep dive to 100 feet / 30 meters, so for an Advanced Open Water Diver any depth greater than 60 feet / 18 meters is considered deep. Usually, a deep dive is considered to be a dive between 100 feet / 30 meters.

There are many creatures that can be seen at deeper depths that can´t be found at shallower depths. On tropical reefs its common to find healthier coral reefs at greater depths due to less sun and human waste damage exposure. Another factor is commonly wreck dives are found at very deep depths and always attract many interesting marine animals.

A shallow dive is usually between 30 to 40 feet. Diving this shallow has many benefits such as increased visibility and dive time is limited only by air consumption. On a deep dive your bottom time is limited because of nitrogen absorption, additionally air consumption increases at depth because of ambient pressure. Due to more rapid air consumption at greater depths it is important to closely monitor air gauges and to allow a greater air reserve at the end of the dive.

Deep diving is also only for Advanced Certified divers.

On a deep dive your bottom time is very short while on a shallow dive you´ll have a much longer lasting dive. Another benefit of shallow diving is the reef and fish appear much more vibrant and there tend to be more fish to see, on deep dives the colors disappear as you go deeper.

Which is better? Both shallow diving and deep diving are great and have their benefits. I personally think that the perfect depth is between 50 to 60 feet, just inbetween shallow and deep. I find that most creatures seem to like this depth.

Although I to o enjoy the thrill of a deep dive, I hope I´ve given you enough comparisons to try both and not limit yourself to just one depth.’

For me the most important issue is ‘Knowing your limitations’, especially on the day of the dive. Miss Shilling puts everything into perspective with only one question, ‘What is considered a deep dive?’. Every diver should ask this question to himself prior to diving. Or rather, one should ask ‘What is the maximum depth I can safely dive to today?’.

She writes ‘Deep diving is also only for Advanced Certified divers’, which in our case, might be better arranged to read, ‘Deep diving is only for Suitably Certified and experienced divers’, a very bold and righteous statement indeed.

I hope that this article together with the change in statute helps the reader and diver to explore and see the importance of knowing his limitations in diving. It is safer not to exceed your limitations today but train and gain more experience and thus increase the dive limits you might safely reach in the future.

Enjoy safe diving, Dorian Law.

Name of Book: Dive Inside Gozo. .

Authors: Taucher Net GMBH. Publisher: Gutenberg Press. Malta.

ISBN Number: Unknown.

Book in short: This is a project of Taucher Net GmbH of Germany on behalf of and in association with the Ministry for Gozo. Sixty divers were chosen to participate in this project and their experiences and impressions were written down as articles forming the basis of this book. The book, full of colored photographs, contains interesting and useful information for any tourist visiting Gozo.

Following an introduction on the idea behind this project, the book is divided into five parts, namely: The Island: The journey starts with the Gozo Channel, the island’s life line, bringing the visitor to Mgarr Harbour where the tales and tips can be asked for at the Gleneagles Bar. Getting around the islands is another topic which finally brings the reader to the heart of the island, the capital, Victoria.

Ecology: Malta’s quiet and greener sister is seen through the eyes of its visitors with visits to its beaches, bays and the countryside. Eco Gozo, sustainability and a culinary journey are also worth reading to better understand the island’s green footsteps. The pedestrian island of Comino is also visited and described.

Gozo’s dwellings: This part of the book starts from the tiny paradises behind thick walls that are found inside the island’s typical farmhouses, going towards Gozo’s famous Churches where

BookReview of bythe Month Dorian Law

Catolichs pray to God (ALLA – in Maltese). The journey takes the reader to the underground grottos and caves of Ninu and Xerri and also to the World Heritage Site of Ggantija Temples.

Impressions: Fifteen pages filled with colored photographs depicting Gozo in all its beauty, on ground, underground and underwater.

Diving: Dive sites mentioned include Dwejra’s Blue Hole, Inland Sea and Tunnel, Billinghurt Cave and the wrecks of MV Karwela and patrol Boat P31. Other useful information include a list of dive centers on the island and dive sites around the three islands forming Malta’s archipelago.

The following quote, from the editorial by the then Minister for Gozo Mrs. Giovanna Debono, shows the scope behind this project, which is that of bringing forth, the incredible beauty of the island of Gozo and makes this, the book of the month: “60 male and female divers have been visiting … and plunged into everything that makes Gozo such a lovely place. Their impressions have been collected in this very personal travel guide; stories, experiences and anecdotes that show Gozo’s numerous facets. ‘Dive inside Gozo’… an invitation to dive into the original variety of an island in the Mediterranean. And most of all it is a declaration of love to Gozo… - plunge into Gozo and enjoy its great stories!”

Availability: Item 009 147 941. Malta Public Library.

Personal note: This is a complimentary copy in English and it is available at public libraries only.

As this book was printed through a government tender process in July 2012, copies are not found for sale around the island but used only to promote Gozo and its diving.

Article compiled by Dorian Law

Cape Town South Atlantic Ocean | South Africa

Destination:

Getting there:

Facilities:

Although South Africa has no legally defined capital city, Cape Town, as the seat of Parliament, is the legislative capital. There are 11 official spoken languages in South Africa, including Afrikaans and Zulu, with 60 percent of the country’s population of about 50million people, understanding English. The currency used is the African Rand (1€ = 17 ZAR).

The fastest way to travel from Malta (MLT) to Cape Town (CPT) is via Istanbul (IST). It takes about 24hrs each way and a round trip with Turkish Airlines costs about €975. Car hire costs about €40 daily while an 8-person van costs €75 daily. This article covers dive sites other than shark cage-diving in the Cape Town area, so travelling to and from the arrival airport to dive destinations should be considered. The longest route is from Cape Town Airport (CPT) on the West coast to Richards Bay Airport (RCB) on the East. The 3hour flight with South African Airways, includes one stop and costs about €300, while for other destinations around South Africa the cost is lower.

Accommodation includes choices varying from hotels to self-catering apartments, chalets and even campsites. Prices vary depending on the area and budget. A double bed room per night is expected to cost between €20 and €75 as shown next; €23 at the Beach Motel on the South coast of KwaZulu Natal or €30 at the Crayfish Creek Guest House at Richards Bay on the East Coast.

Campsites (including family units) and most of the remote dive locations are equipped with sanitary facilities. Food prices vary from €5 for breakfast to €10 for lunch or dinner. It is expected to spend about €30 per day on food and drink.

South Africa is the 25th-largest country in the world by land area with about 2800km of coastline, ranging from about 35°S to 27°S. The Indian Ocean is on the East side and the South Atlantic Ocean on the West side shores. The Mozambique Current flows down the East coast, bringing warm tropical water with it past Sodwana Bay, where one finds, what are considered as the most southerly coral reefs in the world.

photo courtesy of: www.southerndestinations.com

Package cost: A 9day Sardine Run package including daily boat trips and full board food costs about €300. This activity runs through June and July and is very weather dependant, thus land based activities may replace some of the daily boat trips. An 8day whale shark expedition, including 10 reef dives and various other activities costs about €700. A 2dive Good Hope Reef and Wrecks package, with full equipment rental, with snacks on the boat and lunch on shore costs €80. Pisces Divers has this offer, with boats departing from Simons Town harbour in False Bay. A basic, 7 to 10 day package including flights, accommodation, food and leisure and diving costs about €2500.

Care should be taken with regards to nofly limits, as with an hour flight from sea level to Johannesburg a gain in altitude of about 2000metres is made, without even considering the flight. This represents a risk in blood gas-bubbles decompression due to changes in altitude, so it is advisable to include a day of sightseeing, shopping or beach lounging between diving and travelling to Johannesburg.

The variety of dive sites chosen might require different travel options including internal flights or land transport. The best option is to choose a site which offers the most variety for the price paid, although this choice can be very difficult to make.

The below mentioned dive sites are some of the best non-Great White shark dive destinations that South Africa has to offer.

Dive Sites West Coast: The wreck of the SAS Gelderland, a Ford Class Seaward Defense Boat, was scuttled in December 1988, North West of Duiker Point. It lies in two pieces at a depth of

36meters in an area fairly exposed to swells and wind. The 5557ton Portuguese twinscrew liner, the SS Lusitania was wrecked on Bellows Rock off Cape Point in April 1911, due to fog. The scattered wreck lies just beyond the steep drop-off on the east side of Bellows Rock at depths varying from 10 to 36meters.

A little dive nook between Pyramid Rock and the shore, can be found next to Miller’s Point, off the west side of False Bay. At this well-hidden dive site, the diversity of life is created by the interaction of kelp forests, rocks, sandy bottoms and the sea. The Broad-nose seven gilled shark is a frequent visitor to the area, best dived in the winter months.

Klein Tafelberg Reef, which translates to Small Table Mountain Reef, is a group of pinnacles at the South Eastern end of the large Tafelberg Reef complex, which extends all the way to Vulcan Rock in the West. This site is also known as Salad Bowl or Yacht Wreck, after the wreck of the Patti, a small yacht. The ‘table’ top of the reef is at 15meters and the bottom of this pinnacle slopes down to a sandy bottom with scattered boulders at 42meters.

into the waters of southern KwaZulu-Natal during the winter months remains an unexplained phenomenon. The sardines, in their search of plankton, converge close to the shoreline and to the surface, where they are hunted by big pelagics, Bronze Whalers, Zambezies, Hammerheads, Coppers, Great Whites and hundreds of birds. Bottlenose and Common dolphins herd the sardines into a tight ball and push them towards the surface, into what is referred to as a ‘bait ball’, before gorging themselves on the tiny fish. Dive boats depart from various locations on the South East shoreline at about 0700hrs.

A microlight helps to locate the sardines in open water and the boat is driven towards any evident surface indication of the feeding frenzy taking place. This phenomenon can be observed from the boat, by snorkelling or scuba diving.

Dive Sites East Coast: Mabibi, located in north-eastern KwaZuluNatal between Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay, forms part of the Maputoland Coastal

Dive Sites South Coast: The Sardine Run: From May to July, millions of sardines migrate north easterly, from the colder waters of the Cape into the warm sub-tropical waters of the Northern Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, coming close to shore in the South Coast area during autumn and winter, moving further offshore in the Durban area and finally, disappearing into the vast blue yonder. The adults’ prolonged breeding season goes through the spring and early summer, at the main spawning grounds off the Southern Cape coast. Their migration

photo courtesy of Google Images

Forest Reserve. Two boats operate in this area with dives staring early in the day because the wind usually picks up in the afternoon. Between October and February, migrating whales and Whale Sharks frequent the area, while from November to January Ragged-tooth sharks can be found resting in the warm Indian Ocean waters. Other dive sites in the area include Regal Reef, Gogo’s and Coachman’s Ledge.

Sodwana or ‘Sordie’, located about 100km south of the Mozambique’s border, offers numerous reefs named according to how far they are situated from Jesser Point, with the most popular being the Two Mile and Seven Mile reefs, where the marine biodiversity includes South Africa’s corals, dolphins, whales and sharks.

Ragged-tooth sharks can be found at Aliwal Shoal in the winter months between June and November, at Raggie’s Cave and Cathedral, when they congregate on the shoal to mate. Over 100 individuals of these ferocious-looking, yet docile animals can be sighted on a single dive.

In summer, at Shark Alley, Tiger and Hammerhead sharks can be encountered. ‘Tiger Shark Diving’ or ‘Baited Diving’, is practiced out to sea from Aliwal Shoal on a sandy area where sharks get lured in with the scent of fish oil and sardines so divers can get to see Tiger and Blacktip sharks.

This 62meter ship was scuttled in 1972 after conducting surveys and mapping of the ocean floor for the South Africa’s Ocean Science and Engineering Company.

Other Dive Sites: Wetsgat is a dolomite cave with no access to daylight and with water temperature at about 17°C. It requires deep diving and advanced cave diving qualifications and experience. Located on an undeveloped private property, it is not open to the public and special permit must be obtained. This is a three chamber cave with a maximum depth of about 50meters and about 200meters in length.

During summer rains the cave can be quite unstable, so it’s best dived during winter.

Two wrecks can also be dived at Aliwal Shoal . The Produce, a 120meter long cargo vessel, hit the Pinnacles and now lies on her starboard side at a depth varying between 15 and 35meters. The Nebo, a 2000ton steamship sank on her maiden voyage in May 1884. She was carrying the Amanzimtoti railway bridge, which many believe, was the cause of her being upturned before sinking. The wreck is split into two parts and is lying upside down at a depth of 28 metres, north of Aliwal Shoal.

At an altitude of approximately 1400m above sea level, in the North West Province, one can dive the natural Wondergat Dolomitic Sinkhole, the deepest natural hole in the interior of South Africa. Before becoming a sinkhole, Wandergat was a water-filled cavern until the roof caved in. The deepest point of the sink hole is at 58 meters which is why this site is used for advanced scuba diving as well as a training ground for instructors and technical divers.

7,5km out to sea off Shelly Beach lies Protea Banks, a 6km long, 800m wide fossilised sand dune reef, between 27m and 40m beneath the surface. The Southern and Northern Pinnacles are the most dived areas. Protea is better known for big fish encounters, including the Zambezi shark which is encountered during the summer months. Hammerhead, Guitar, Copper, Ragged-tooth and Blacktip sharks frequent the reef, while encounters with the elusive Tiger shark are common. The Humpback whale, Manta ray and the Whale shark can also be found around this reef.

Difficulty level: Low to High.

Good Hope Reefs and Wrecks Cape of Good Hope is aptly named the ‘Ships Graveyard’, for the 2500+ wrecks that lie at the bottom of the sea in this area. The dive site, Good Hope Reef, which gets its name from the nearby wreck of the HMSAS Good Hope, is an offshore rocky reef in the Smitswinkel Bay area in False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province. This Marine Protected Area is a small granite reef on a sandy bottom at a maximum depth of 35 to 40 meters, with the reef’s top at about 30meters. There are five wrecks on this site in a 350meter stretch of sandy bottom. This is a typical example of a manmade reef, or the extension of a natural reef, since the five wrecks found in this site were all scuttled and did not become wrecks due to unplanned circumstances.

The HMSAS Transvaal, sister ship of the HMSAS Good Hope, was scuttled with explosives in 1978, after serving

Depth: 10 to 40 meters. as a royal escort and troop transport ship. She is at the northernmost area of the reef. A few meters off her starboard stern lies the wreck of the 50meter long fishing trawler, MFV Ortava. It was donated to the False Bay Conservation Society in 1983 for scuttling. 50meters west of the reef and listing to her starboard side, lies the trawler, MFV Princess Elizabeth, that was added to the artificial reef in 1983 after being damaged beyond repair due to an engine room fire. 10meters from the stern.

Visibility: 5 to 20 meters.

The MFV Princess Elizabeth lies the wreck of the 95meterelong, loch-class frigate, the HMSAS Good Hope, scuttled in 1978. 75meters south southeast of the bow of the HMSAS Good Hope, lies the Rockeater, an ex-United States Navy coastal freighter.

Big fish: High

Wrecks: -High.

Caves: -Medium.

Walls: -Low. Snorkeling: Available along the shore line and during the sardine run and whale shark expeditions..

Marine life diversity: - High Water temperature: 10 – 26 °C. Best time of the year: All year round, depending on location chosen.

Environment Matters!

Part 1

Article by Edward Sltana

No1: Ocean acidification

is ending up in our seas! Was it not for the oceans, the increase in temperature Over the last decades, environmentalist due to our emissions would be much and scientists have been advocating higher. the problems associated with the But these high amounts of CO2 increase in the green house gases absorbed by the oceans is altering in our atmosphere. The high levels the chemistry of our seas primarily by of the primary greenhouse gases making the earth’s oceans more acidic– (mainly water vapour, carbon a process called Ocean Acidification dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone) is causing what is called The rate of change is so sudden that the “global warming” - a gradual global marine environment is not adapting increase in atmospheric and sea quickly enough leading to changes in the marine habitat and loss in species temperature.

Ever wondered how these gases are effecting our seas and oceans?

So far the oceans have come in our aid by absorbing approximately 30 to 40% of all the CO2 generated by us humans.

That is a very large percentage and large quantities indeed. Think about it - nearly half of all the CO2 generated

What is ocean acidification?

When carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by seawater, chemical reactions occur that reduce the seawater pH, making the oceans more acidic. We all know what an acid can do. Acids are very strong corrosive agents. Imagine what the effects can be on harmless marine creatures we see around us.

Over the past 200 years, the surface ocean waters has seen a 30 percent increase in acidity. Future predictions indicate that the oceans will continue to absorb more carbon dioxide and become even more acidic. Estimates based on current emission scenarios, indicate that by the end of this century the surface waters of the ocean could be nearly 150 percent more acidic.

Base photo: Joe Formosa

“

Since so many organisms depend on calcium carbonate, their very existence is being seriously threatened.

“

Of all these gases, CO2 has seen the most marked increase over the past centuries and is generated primarily through human activity such as the use of fossil fuels and burning down of forests amongst others.To give an idea, since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmospheric has risen by 40 % - from 280 ppm to 400 ppm in 2015

Photo: Edward Vella

“

acidic waters will make it easier for these shells and skeletons to dissolve.

Possible solutions :

“

Various research projects are currently underway to find ways and means to reduce this phenomenon. These include adding chemicals to counter the effects of acidification and Ion fertilisation (a process of adding ion elements in the seas to increase plankton activity hence absorbing a larger amount of the oceans absorbed carbon dioxide)

science community on studying the potential impacts of ocean acidification.

Since sustained efforts to monitor ocean acidification worldwide are only beginning, it is currently impossible to predict exactly how ocean acidification impacts will cascade throughout the marine food chain and affect the overall structure of marine ecosystems.

Hence it goes back to what environmentalists have been saying for decades - Reduce greenhouse gas emissions before it is too late if not too late already.

Since so many organisms depend on calcium carbonate, their very existence is being seriously threatened.

Reduction in plankton will effect fisheries worldwide. Ocean acidification together with higher sea temperatures and chemical contamination will also have a great effect on coral leading to The studies are still at an early stage, coral bleaching. the long term effects are not known.

Ocean acidification is an emerging So far no feasible solutions has been global problem. Over the last decade, found which does not compromise there has been much focus in the ocean other aspects of our environment.

Photo: Edward Vella

by the end of the century the surface waters of the ocean could be nearly 150 per cent more acidic.

“

“

Alarming? Yes it is. The full effects are still being studied but first indications are worrying.

Effect of ocean acidification Calcium carbonate is a main building element in the marine environment.

Many organisms need this calcium carbonate to build their shells and skeletons.

Such organisms include microscopic calcareous plankton which are at the base of the food chain, shellfish and molluscs, and even encrusting plants that bind the coral reefs together.

An increase in CO2 content in water has a two fold effect .

1. It leads to an increase in saturation levels of calcium carbonate in the water. This will make it harder for species to build their shells and skeletons 2. and the more acidic waters will make it easier for these shells and skeletons to dissolve.

Another big uncertainty remains on how long the oceans can come to our rescue. There must be a limit to the amount of carbon dioxide the oceans can continue to absorb. There will eventually be a saturation point. If the current levels of between 30 – 40 % absorption cannot be sustained, this would leave much more CO2 in our atmosphere than predicted. the current predicted and approved levels of 2 deg raise in atmospheric temperature will not be met.

Next Issue Environment Matters!

Preservation of Coral

Photo: David Agius

A Trip to the Red Sea • Wrecks & Reefs Back in October, the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh was in the news, for the worst reasons possible, a fatal air crash which killed 224 persons. Most of the victims were Russian nationals returning to Russia after a holiday in the Red Sea and most probably, there must have been a few buddies on board. RIP.

I had been considering for probably about two years to book a live aboard holiday there and almost clicked the “book now” button a couple of times. The above tragedy tickled my interest in diving there again and since my only diving trip abroad so far had been a trip to Cyprus slightly more than a year ago, I again had a look at the websites and this time, I did hit that button.

When discussing the possibility of booking a diving trip there with other local divers, everyone lauded the nice reefs and nice shallow wrecks, especially the SS Thistlegorm which for a wreck diver, it’s simply a boxful of Belgian chocolates waiting to be unwrapped and eaten. With the recent political and religious upheaval in the Middle East, ISIS and the like, everyone however has been a little bit more than apprehensive about considering Egypt.

I’ve been on different kinds of holiday to Turkey and Lebanon in the past before the world turned crazy and I think they are some of my best trips abroad with many good memories and experiences.

Article & photos by David Agius

PA R

T1

After the Paris carnage as well, is there anywhere completely safe? The fruits on the tree looked too good so the waiting time from booking date to actual trip date was filled with dread that some other terrorist organisation will hit the resort areas and lead to issues with my booking arrangements.

Alas, the date arrived with no major issues (although three tourists were stabbed at a hotel I had to stay for a day on my arrival) and diving equipment and camera in hand, checked in at the Malta International Airport eager for a week of diving, diving and some more diving.

Logistics included a flight from Malta to Istanbul and from there directly to Hurghada (further south from Sharm el Sheikh and on the Egyptian mainland rather than the Sinai peninsula). There I was picked up and taken to a nice hotel for some needed rest (I checked in at 04:00AM, a full 19 hrs after departing from our shores). I was meant to be picked up in the late afternoon for a short drive to the Hurghada Marina where MV Emperor Asmaa was waiting for guests to start the 7 day safari.

MV Emperor Asmaa is a purpose built live aboard boat, 30m long with 10 double cabins and operated by Emperor Divers, the company I booked my trip with. It has a diving deck which makes you kit up and get in the water very easily and the two RHIBs provided drop-off and pick up from the areas that the larger boat could not wade in.

No diving yet, this was an evening occupied with settling in, aided by our Spanish guides Sergio and Ana who started with a briefing about life on the boat and the necessary paperwork. Checking that we had all the equipment and a bit of getting to know the other cruise participants (four Dutch, a Belgian, a Finn and a Ukrainian with a private Egyptian guide) made it a quick evening followed by a good on board cooked dinner. We thus settled in nicely for an early departure the next morning to make our way to the first dive site: Poseidon’s Garden at Shaal el Erg.

Dive 1: Poseidon’s garden Poseidon’s garden is a reef dive meant for first day dives, where you can get a refresher if you’ve been off diving for a while (not my case definitely) and start to get to know what the Red Sea offers. The dive is shallow (max depth 20m) and the seabed is full of corals and small Red Sea fish which use the corals as their home.

Dolphins are also spotted here occasionally but it wasn’t to be on this dive.

I was however impressed by the beauty of the coral and the abundance of fish, something we don’t see on these shores in both numbers and type. I also saw at a distance a few large Napoleon fish but my meeting with them would come later in the week. In the meantime, here’s a few pictures of what was a good start to my first Red Sea experience.

From Shaab el Erg, we then departed for another reef system called Abu Nuhas which is also nicknamed “The Ship’s Graveyard” due to 5 wrecks being just a few hundred meters away from each other. Three of these would be visited with the next 24 hours, but this will come in my second instalment on this trip.