Rescue teams were Friday searching for a group of European vacationers who disappeared while on a scuba diving trip in treacherous waters off a remote tropical island in eastern Indonesia.
The divers were exploring waters in the Komodo National Park, between the islands of Flores and Sumbawa, when they failed to return from a trip, according to an employee of Reefseekers diving center, which organized the expedition.
Cave diver, Marc Laukien, was diving Madison Blue Cave system in Florida when we was electrocuted underwater. He was able to complete his dive and make it to the surface where they exited the water and were told by bystanders that there were several lighting strikes during the time period they were diving.
…I was diving Madison Blue, together with John K. (jkaterenchuk). We first did the short traverse to Martz sink, and then started the Godzilla circuit.
When I placed the jump for the circuit, I suddenly felt a strong electric shock through my right arm. I was touching the cave wall with my right hand at this time. I was a little bit disoriented for a few seconds, and didn’t really know if I imagined what just happened, or if it was for real. In any case, it was definitely a very “refreshing” experience, to put it mildly.
We completed the circuit without any further incidents. When we reached the basin, it became clear to me what happened: there was a huge thunderstorm above us. Staying in the water during such a thunderstorm wasn’t a good idea, and neither was getting out really, given that we had lots of metal on our backs. Since the thunderstorm could last a long time (and it did), we got out of the water, and after dropping our gear, we made a run for the bathhouse, where other divers and the park warden already took shelter.
Once we arrived there, the others told us, that they had seen several lighting strikes very close to where the Godzilla room must be located. One of these lighting strikes must have made its way through the cave wall and my right arm.
Crazy, I guess it’s another lesson for all of us to respect mother nature. You can read the rest of the account here and the subsequent discussion.
Hugh Bradner, a UC physicist whose love of the ocean and curiosity about everything in it led him to revolutionize diving by inventing the neoprene wetsuit, died at his home in San Diego at the age of 92.
This 14ft monster was caught in a Thai river after an extensive search by a biologist looking to study them. They have a 15inch arrow-shaped barb on their tail that can penetrate thru bone. They feed on clams and shrimp by detecting their electrical signature with special sensors and bury themselves in the mud as a defense.
The biologist who studied them claims that these creatures may be the largest freshwater fish in the world.
There are unverified accounts of individuals growing well over 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms) in weight and more than 20 feet (6 meters) in length
Surpisingly, they exist in a rivers in heavily-populated areas and aren’t on the local menu because they are extremely hard to catch. The one caught in the picture gave birth shortly after being captured and was released without harm.
This is pretty cool if they do it, it will make finding new shipwrecks a whole lot easier. But like Google Mars, I’m not exactly sure how they are going to sell ad space on it.
The company has assembled an advisory group of oceanography experts, and in December invited researchers from institutions around the world to the Mountain View, Calif., Googleplex. There, they discussed plans for creating a 3D oceanographic map, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The tool–for now called Google Ocean, the sources say, though that name could change–is expected to be similar to other 3D online mapping applications. People will be able to see the underwater topography, called bathymetry; search for particular spots or attractions; and navigate through the digital environment by zooming and panning. (The tool, however, is not to be confused with the “Google Ocean” project by France-based Magic Instinct Software that uses Google Earth as a visualization tool for marine data.)
This is awful but I hope people don’t go shark crazy again.
A Coast Guard helicopter is being sent to assist Solana Beach officials after a fatal shark attack was reported there this morning. A man was killed in the apparent attack, officials said.
The HH-60 helicopter crew has been dispatched and is going up in support of lifeguards and other emergency crews.
“It is not an active search-and-rescue,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer Clinton Dotson. “We will help clear the area … and see if we can spot the culprit.”
http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2008/04/coast_guard_to_assist.html
Scripps Institution of Oceanography will be selling the scientific naming rights for newly described marine species to the highest bidder.
Scientific names for species are the generally two-word Greek/Latin names that are used to identify a species more precisely than a common name might. Usually this left up to the first scientist to describe the species; sometimes it’s descriptive while other times it’s named after a colleague, friend, spouse, girlfriend or mentor.
For example, a local nudibranch is named Doriopsilla spaldingi after local diver San Diego scuba diver George Spalding , who helped collect the samples used in describing the species.
This is the permanent name for the species and now Scripps, which is one the premier oceanography institutes in the world, is going to be selling them to the highest bidder. The funds will go towards maintaining their collections department which lost it’s Federal funding a number of years ago.
I think it’s an interesting idea but my main concern is large company’s coming in and naming things like Chromodoris goldenpalace.com or Doriopsilla pepsi.
From what I’ve heard unofficially, this woman was finishing her Advanced Open Water course and during her second dive on the Yukon, something went wrong and she was unconscious on the surface. The life guards were called and able to wake her up. So, this story has a happy ending, the woman walked off the boat.
The woman was exploring the the former Canadian destroyer Yukon when she “had some difficulties and made a rapid ascent,” Lt. Nick Lerma said. “When she surfaced, she was unconscious.”
Her instructor and the crew of the charter diving boat Marissa pulled the woman from the water and rendered first aid, and called lifeguards around 11:20 a.m., Lerma said.
She was able to walk off the rescue boat when she returned to shore, the lieutenant said. She was taken to UCSD Medical Center.