Bubbles - January / February 2014

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

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2014 2014 Atlam Committee Members :Nader Bassily President nbassily@vol.net.mt Joseph Azzopardi Member guzeppi56@gmail.com Denise Baker Member denise.baker63@ymail.com Nicholas Agius Member agius.nick@gmail.com Anton Debattista Member andeb@go.net.mt Reuben Borg Member reuben.borg@vodafone.com.mt Daniel Fenech Member

IN THIS ISSUE

page

• Note from the Editor -

2

• Live-Aboard Diving - Dorian Law

3/6

• Scuba Biodiversity Projects - Dr Adriana Vella

7

• Species Page Nudibranchs - Edward Vella • Dived Overseas - Azores - Dorian Law

8/10 11/12

• Book of The Month - Dorian Law

13

• Diving the Egyptian Red Sea - Joe Formosa 14/17 • Dive KitBag - The reviews - Tano Rolé

18/19

www.atlam.org Photo by Veronica Busuttil

info@atlam.org

Marvelous Designer 3

The Editorial

This time last year, this Editorial stated that probably the 2013 Annual General Meeting would be taking place for the last time at Valletta – at that time, the breath of fresh air of the brand new Bahar ic-Caghaq premises was getting stronger and stronger. Now the dream has come true and the 2014 AGM was held in the New Big One – the names of the attendees will go down proudly in Atlam’s history books!

Obviously, the club is not the club house - I guess that is one good reason to hold AGMs! This year’s committee saw Daniel Fenech replacing Simon Ciantar – and this after an election, since the members had to pick the magnificent seven from nine hopefuls. As I see it, this is another good effect of the new club house – the members feel more motivated to come forward and serve in the committee – there were times in the not too distant past, when it was a struggle to find enough members to put the committee together. At the time of publication, their assigned roles have not yet been officially announced, but the names and contact details of the elected committee members may be seen on the cover – with the exception of Nader Bassily – who has been elected as President. Congratulations to all – an eventful year surely awaits!

Member support is the force that encourages the committee – and therefore the least one can do is to pay the membership fee as soon as possible – after all, you do want to be an Atlam SAC member no?

Apart from the diving activities, the committee, and the supporting sub-committee (responsible mainly in the issue of Malta’s foremost diving e-Magazine - Bubbles!), also do their utmost to organise interesting and educational club-nights.

On this page, you will also see an announcement for what should be a very interesting evening. Keep the evening of the 13th March free. Dr Adriana Vella conservation biologist from the Department of Biology (University of Malta) will be giving a brief talk titled Why conservation followed by the screening of the DVD ‘Waves of Life’.

I am sure that most members are now looking forward to the resumption of the boat dives. As per the Hon. Treasurer’s report, this year, there has actually been a positive balance for the club coming from boat dive income. Something encouraging for sure – after all, boat dives give the opportunity to dive in the most inaccessible and remote sites – with no hassle (well almost) at all. So why not take advantage of this super opportunity?

Sea temperatures at the moment are not high, but winter diving has its own attractions, and suitably equipped (of course those who have dry suits – now is the time),with thickish neoprene (7mm recommended) should do the trick.

Keep Diving

Edward Vella

evella@onvol.net

Waves of Life 13th March 2014 @ 9:00pm sharp Dr Adriana Vella from The Biological Conservation Research Foundation (BICREF), will be giving a brief talk about Why conservation is an important local need followed by the screening of the DVD ‘Waves of Life’.

Conservation is the science of the protection and management of biodiversity This should be a very interesting evening.

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 Nader Bassily on 99499101

Live-Aboard Diving by Dorian Law Dear Atlam divers,

Most divers know that there is no better way to explore the world’s oceans and seas or any remote diving destination, than from the comfort and convenience of a live-aboard diving boat. In diving destinations like Egypt, Indonesia, Belize, Fiji, or the Similan Islands in Thailand you may have the choice between a land-based stay and a live-aboard boat and this is where personal preference comes in. You may be happy to dive locally from the shore or you may prefer to experience a more superior span of marine habitat from a day boat or dive safari live-aboard boat.

Exotic and well sought after destinations include the Maldives, Sudan and Egypt’s Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Galapagos, and Cocos in Costa Rica, Komodo, Raja Ampat and the Banda Sea in Indonesia and Myanmar or Chuuk in the North Pacific. The diversity of these sites and marine life demands a dive charter in order to see the full range of delights on offer, a premise that the diving will be unforgettable.

In this issue of Atlam’s Bubbles newsletter, I will try to highlight some of the most important aspects and points to consider when diving from a live-aboard boat.

Boat vs Shore.

Shore diving offers more diving destinations, which means more different names to enter in your diving log book.

On the other hand, everyone knows that remote and offshore areas attract diverse pelagic fish like sharks, mantas and whales. Many divers would prefer to log a shark sighting in their log book rather than a site’s name. Shore diving includes land travel to reach destination, whilst a diver on a live-aboard boat experiences sea travel with the unwelcomed sea sickness that might affect the unfortunate individual. Entry in the water is much easier from the boat’s diving platform or the rubber inflatables (better known as RIBs or Zodiacs), than it is from shore, where walking on uneven surfaces with the equipment on the back might prove to be a challenge for some. Most of the long-distance traveling is done during the night or early morning when all the passengers are still asleep. Dive package costs of shore based or live-aboard diving

varies depending on the location. Weather is also a factor to consider. On land, if the sea is not practical, other plans can be made. While on a live-aboard trip, the boat is at the mercy of the weather especially when travelling between dive sites, until the shelter of a reef or island is reached.

Generally, the accommodation’s star rating (price) and money spent on food are determining factors that might make shore based diving more expensive than live-aboard diving.

Many divers still prefer shore based diving than a live-aboard package. The main reason for this choice, according to various questioners and surveys is space and options. Many divers prefer hanging around the beach or stroll through the city walkways, maybe with a visit to a local pub for a beer, between dives or before going to bed. This is not possible while on a live-aboard, even on a 40meter boat.

Apart from diving whilst on shore, divers tend to do other adventurous activities

or sightseeing, which are limited if at all available whilst on a boat. Due to the possibility of adding other activities to the diving trip, shore based diving will normally be the best choice for a group which includes non-diving persons such as small children.

Boat layout.

Steel or fiberglass boats of various lengths make up most of the world’s live-aboard diving fleet, but wood is also used. Traditional pinisi style live-aboard boats, as those found around the Komodo National Park in Indonesia, are made from teak. A typical boat layout is as follows.

The engine room is situated well below the waterline. This houses the engines, generators, compressors and pumps which provide the needed power for the voyage, providing the commodities requested to make a pleasant vacation like electricity, ventilation, hot and cold

water and also the air or Nitrox mixes to be put in the diving cylinders. This machinery is controlled from the wheel house or bridge, which is situated on the upper deck where you would normally find the captain or boat master. His sleeping quarters will normally be on the same deck. The guest cabins are normally found on the sound insulated deck above the engine room and in the forward area on the next deck. The lower cabins will have portholes (small round windows) about 1meter above the waterline which will have to be closed during open water trips or during storms or rough seas. Higher cabins will have bigger windows or a small balcony. Cabins on the forward side tend to be less affected by the engine room noise but will be the worst hit during high seas travelling, while cabins on the aft part of the boat tend to better ride the waves.

Center and aft cabins are directly above the engine room and some machinery noise is expected even on the best sound

this is normally kept empty to avoid splashing about and wastage of water, but it will be prepared by the crew in a matter of minutes.

The diving area is normally found on the deck just above sea level, many times at the same level as the indoor recreational area.

This area holds the cylinders to be used during the diving trip. These are held with straps on custom made benches which accommodate the diver whilst putting on his equipment while in a seated position.

How more pampered can diving, be! Other personal diving equipment is normally held in plastic boxes under the bench. You will be requested to choose and keep the same place during the whole trip. Showers are normally found in this area. On the aft side of the diving area a large bathing / diving platform will serve as an entry / exit point from where to begin the dive or board the RIB that will take you to the dive site. A rinsing area is also available on the platform which should be used for photographic equipment only.

insulated boats, unless travelling under wind power using sails. Lower cabins tend to be a better choice for sea sickness travelers than higher ones.

The dining area is situated on the deck above the diving platform. It is normally made up of one or two long tables and it is not common to find smaller tables.

This requires eating in a community.

Some people might find it hard to adjust to this way of eating, especially when the person does not know everyone around the table. Once the place to eat is chosen, it is normally kept for the whole journey, although there are no rules that stipulate this. The kitchen is also found in this area, and thanking the cook for the varied breakfast, lunch and dinner plates coming out of this small area would be greatly appreciated, even if not a must. The bridge is situated forward of the dining area and the sofa deck on the aft side of this deck is the place where many instructors do the briefing session prior to the dive. It is also an ideal place to lay down right after a meal.

The recreational area includes the indoor bar / tv / sofa area and the outdoor sundeck. The bar area normally includes

What to take. a self-catering bar providing free teas, coffees, cakes, fruit, water and soft drinks.

Alcoholic beverages such as beers and whiskeys are normally paid for prior to leaving the boat. This area is chosen for relaxation away from the sun or to wind down and watch some television, read a book, play board games or go through the day’s photographs on your laptop computer. Normally wifi internet is available in this area. The sundeck is situated above the dining area and is the place chosen by those who wish to retreat in the sun after a dive or a meal. Sunbeds and cushions are provided and towels and sunscreen are a must to take. Some boats also have a Jacuzzi for the pleasure of those aboard. Due to sea travel conditions,

Equipment. The only items of equipment that should be left at home are cylinders and lead weights. Due to the wear and tear of the boat’s equipment it is advisable to take your own weight belt or integrated weight pockets. Delayed surface marker buoys (DSMB or popper) and reels are mandatory on many boats especially where drift or open water diving is practiced. Some operators instruct their clients to inflate their DSMBs when starting the safety (deco) stop. These will serve as a means of signaling to the RIB’s crew the current position of a single diver or a group. Although the boat will carry spares and extra equipment, it is ideal to carry spares and extras, like o-rings, batteries, mask and fin straps.

Clothing. Although daytime temperatures may be hot, 25°C+, evening temperatures, especially in open areas can drop significantly and what was a gentle morning breeze will turn out to be a refreshing chilly night. Some people prefer to wear a pair of long thin trousers and replace the t-shirt with a long sleeved shirt. Others prefer a windcheater or a towel over any exposed parts. Personal preference and some knowledge of the temperature variations will help in the choice of clothing, thus making the stay much more comfortable without having to carry ‘the whole wardrobe’. Swim trunks should be worn only during the dive and not to walk about on the boat. With respect to the other divers on the boat, it is advisable to wear at least a t-shirt on shorts or trousers especially in the dining area. Plan for, at least a change of clean underwear every day. Footwear should include slippers (tennis or jogging shoes) or sandals and for health reasons flip-flops should be used in the showers. Going bare footed on a boat is standard policy for most boats. Many boat operators supply towels to be used in the cabin or outside.

They also operate an energy saving and environmental protection policy where guests are asked to use the supplied towels for as long a period as possible thus reducing the frequency of use of detergents, electricity and water. We should all participate in their effort. You should take a pair of bathing towels and a face cloth and these should be enough for a week-long trip.

Medications. Sea sickness is unfortunately a most common and unwelcomed illness that affects in a way or another, more than half the number of divers that go on live-aboard safaris every year.

Symptoms include a general feeling of being un-well (malaise), nausea and/or vomiting, headache, cold sweating, which means you sweat even though you’re

not overheated and a very recognizable pale appearance. Many people get these symptoms at the latter part of the trip but the most susceptible to motion sickness will be affected at the onset of the voyage or after a few hours. These symptoms usually go away soon after ‘touching land’ and the motion stops.

Sometimes it can take a few days for symptoms to pass. Antihistamines are the most frequently used and widely available medications for motion sickness. Some examples include cinnarizine, cyclizine, dimenhydrinate, promethazine (oral and suppository), scopolamine (hyoscine, oral and transdermal), antidopaminergic drugs (such as prochlorperazine), and benzodiazepines. Sedation is a common side-effect of motion sickness prevention drugs and although non-sedating ones are available they appear to be less effective. Some products have to be taken before the start of the voyage while others can be taken as soon as the first symptoms occur or even during the unpleasant experience of motion sickness. Vomiting almost always occurs during a sea sickness bout and dramamine or dimenhydrinate medication is taken to cure nausea, upset stomach, and vomiting. If severe vomiting has not stopped for a period longer than two days, it is advisable that the patient is taken to hospital because he could be dangerously low on fluids and may need to be hooked up to an IV. The vomiting sensation can also be reduced by sipping small amounts of water followed by liquids that are high in potassium and sodium, providing the body’s most important electrolytes that are often lost when the body goes through the vomiting process.

These include, weak tea, bouillon, apple juice and sports drinks. Syrups help calm the stomach while liquids with caffeine, carbonation, and high amounts of acidity like sodas and coffee, as well as fruit juices and lemonades should be avoided.

Solid foods, like crackers, should be taken in small amounts, increasing gradually as the symptoms ease. Very hot or very cold, acidic, spicy, fatty and fibrous foods like vegetables, meats, and coarse grains should be avoided. If diarrhea accompanied vomiting, dairy products should also be avoided.

Dehydration occurs when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. Body fluid is lost in the form of water vapor in the breath we exhale and in our excreted sweat, urine, and stool.

Along with the water, small amounts of salts are also lost. This causes our bodies to become out of balance or dehydrated and in severe dehydration cases this can lead to death. The best way to treat dehydration is to rehydrate the body by drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, semi-skimmed milk, diluted squash or diluted fruit juice.

Drinking a rehydration solution as that found in rehydration sachets, will enable you to re-establish the right balance of body fluids. This over the counter medication should contain a mixture of potassium and sodium salts, as well as glucose or starch. A sweet drink can help replace lost sugar and a salty snack can help replace lost salt. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications such as Catafast, Cataflan and Panadols (paracetamol) are used to treat inflammation and pain like headaches and toothaches.

Travelers’ diarrhea is the most common travel-related ailment. The cornerstone of prevention is food and water precautions.

Treatment with an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal drug is to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs, defined as three or more loose stools in an 8-hour period or five or more loose stools in a 24hour period, especially if associated with nausea, vomiting, cramps, fever or blood in the stool. A quinolone antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin or a three day

course of rifaximin is usually prescribed.

An antidiarrheal drug such as loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate (Lomotil) should be taken as needed to slow the frequency of stools, but not enough to stop the bowel movements completely.

Most cases of travelers’ diarrhea are mild and do not require either antibiotics or antidiarrheal drugs. If diarrhea is severe or bloody, or if fever occurs with shaking chills, or if abdominal pain becomes marked, or if diarrhea persists for more than 72 hours, medical attention should be sought. Adequate fluid intake is essential to avoid dehydration.

Vaccinations are needed depending on the country being visited. These vaccinations will provide immunization against diseases such as Malaria, Hepatitis A and B, Typhus, Polio, Measles-mumpsrubella and Cholera. Information on the required vaccines is readily available from the World Health Organization web-site, the Malta Health Department and travel related web-sites on the internet. Some vaccinations are time sensitive, so these should be planned for prior to the leaving for the live-aboard trip.

Stings and bites from jellyfish, fish and insects are not uncommon. Jellyfish bites are best treated by first removing the stingers with the help of a credit card, then applying white vinegar to the area followed by a hot shower. Soothe any remaining skin irritations with over-thecounter antihistamine pills or creams containing diphenhydramine. Some people have a severe allergic reaction to insect bites and stings. A life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis can occur and requires urgent emergency care and can be fatal if untreated. It is recommended that known sufferers of these allergic reactions carry the proper medication as a precautionary measure.

Fish stings like those from prickly fish like

the scorpion fish, lionfish and stonefish are very painful as these carry poisonous venom. Symptoms include fainting, shortness of breath, nausea and seizures. It is recommended that any foreign parts be removed and the area is immersed in very hot water. Pain medication, antibiotics and a tetanus shot might be needed while in severe cases the patient might have to be taken to the nearest hospital and put on life support.

Although not a medication, sun protection or sunscreens are regarded as the item that most forget to put in their bag.

Sunscreen is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical product that helps protect against sunburn, by absorbing or reflecting the sun’s ultraviolet radiation on the skin exposed to sunlight. It is recommended to buy a sunscreen product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 35 and above, depending on the country being visited.

What results from an overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a rather painful sunburn, which effects living tissue, such as the skin. Symptoms consist of red or reddish skin that is hot to the touch followed by fatigue and mild dizziness which can be life-threatening in extreme cases. Treatments that help manage the discomfort or facilitate the healing process include using cool and wet cloths on the sunburned areas, taking frequent cold showers or baths, and applying soothing lotions that contain aloe vera or topical steroids to the sunburn areas. For those who do not use sunscreen protection, it is advisable to wear light clothing covering as much of the body as possible or alternating the time spent between staying in the sun or the shade.

Sunglasses are the sunscreen of the eyes and should be worn during daylight hours.

In this part I have tried to avoid recommending or naming any brand names of medications to avoid misleading

the user. Doctors should be the providers of such information that will help with the right choice of medication to take with you on your live-aboard trip. The doctor should make sure that his patients understand the risks and benefits, possible undesirable side effects and potential drug interactions especially when the patient will be exposed to pressure at depth and other diving stresses. It is advisable to try the medication before travel to see what effect it has. Remember also that even if you are going on a vacation, your daily medication must also be taken with you on your trip, unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Types of diving.

Depending on the dive site chosen, you can expect to perform any of the following types of diving. When diving from the back of the boat or diving platform you might be diving directly on a wreck, plateau or reef. You might be asked to swim to a wall or shallow reef wall before starting the dive along the wall then returning back to the boat. This is rather limited in the area that can be covered. When RIB or Zodiac diving,

the area covered is vast in anyone of the three types of RIB diving. You can start the dive from the dive platform on the boat following a wall or reef, under your own power or as a drift dive to be later picked up by the RIB and returned to the boat. You can also board the RIB to be taken to the starting point of the dive and end the dive under the boat. On very big or scattered reefs, divers will board the RIB, taken to the starting point of the dive and later picked up by the same RIB when the divers end their dive. When diving with the use of RIBs it is recommended to use the delayed SMD and reel as a means of marking your position to the RIB’s crew. Snorkeling, although not scuba diving is considered as an integral part of the live-aboard package in many areas especially where whales, dolphins and other uncommon marine mammals like the dugong can be encountered. In some restricted areas scuba diving is not permitted and only snorkeling is practiced. Care should be taken when snorkeling close to reefs as wave action or waves created by passing boats can put the snorkeler over the reef.

This might lead to cuts or injuries from the reef or damage to the reef itself.

Best live-aboard destinations worldwide.

The following is a list, in random order, of the best diving destination best appreciated while on a live-aboard trip, according to scuba diving magazines and websites. Thailand trips visit sites such as the Simian Islands National Park, Palau, Surin and Koh Bon. Ribbon Reef, Cod Hole and the Coral Sea are well known areas of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Many well-known dive sites of the Red Sea in Egypt include the Brothers Islands, St. John’s Reef and Ras Mohammed with its famous wreck the SS Thistlegorm. The Maldives is a dive destination in the Indian Ocean with beautiful atolls like those of Male and Noonu. With 13000 islands Indonesia offers a variety of dives in well-known areas such as the Komodo Island National Park, Raya Ampat, Sulawesi and Bali as does Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean with places to dive such as Guam, the Marianas and Chuuk. Another destination is that of the Galapagos with Darwin and Wolf Islands. Live-aboard boats in the Belize and the Caribbean cover the area from the Yucatan Peninsula to the Bay of Honduras with stunning islands, seas and beaches.

Less known but very beautiful destinations include The National Marine Park of Bonaire in the Netherland Antilles off Venezuela and North Carolina in the United States starting at Cape Hatteras to the wrecks of the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’ at Cape Fear. The area from Cancun to Punta Allen is covered by boats operating in the Riviera Maya in Mexico. For those who can brave the cold waters and strong currents, British Columbia off Canada offers unforgettable diving.

Live-aboard diving can be a wonderful experience where you can dive remote locations and meet new people, being it tourist or crew. I strongly suggest this type of diving to all divers who have not yet experienced it.

To those Atlam Club members who will be going on the live-aboard trip this year in Egypt, I wish them ‘buon voyage’. I am sure they will enjoy the wonderful diving that the Red Sea offshore reefs and islands have to offer.

Enjoy safe diving,

Dorian Law

BICREF Scuba Biodiversity Projects Supporting BICREF’s monitoring in regular surveys will produce reliable data, which BICREF researchers will analyse and apply to fundamental conservation research. It also makes diving more interesting, educational Divers and snorkelers play an important and truly worthwhile! role in protecting and monitoring the Currently, Malta’s diverse biological underwater environment.

The heritage is under threat and needs our opportunity for action is here, with the protection. Vulnerable species such as Scuba Biodiversity Project. By simply groupers and seahorses need to be taking a BICREF picture slate on your monitored for effective conservation of dive and noting the key species you their habitats. The marine ecosystem’s see, you can make a significant health is of utmost significance; as well contribution to scientific conservation as aesthetic value, they are of great economic importance. research.

BICREF BIODIVERSITY MONITORING PROJECT

Each diver can help to monitor and promote the conservation of Malta’s captivating marine life by contributing to BICREF’s SCUBA biodiversity monitoring project that has been launched in 2002.

Many dive centres in Malta and Gozo support this project and encourage public participation, gathering data for BICREF. Their support is invaluable and has led to greater awareness and appreciation of marine ecosystems by locals and tourists alike.

Ultimately, your contribution will help conserve the marine environment for future generations. We must think about the implications of our choices on our descendants - they too deserve to benefit, as we do today, from our beautiful and bountiful oceans.

In 2007 the project gained international recognition with sponsorship from Project AWARE (Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education), a world-renowned organization that recognizes the importance of every diver’s role in conserving the marine environment. As a result, the scope of the project was broadened, leading to greater involvement from local dive centres.

We invite and encourage all divers and snorkelers, visitors and locals, to enhance their underwater experience and take part in this invaluable project.

For any further information visit www.bicref.org or contact BICREF via bicref@gmail.com or BICREF, PO BOX 30, Hamrun

Accurate and detailed conservation information and monitoring is a must to safeguard our marine natural heritage and promote future survival of our marine biological diversity.

As a SCUBA diver you can do your part: –

Pick up the BICREFBICREF-AWARE Biodiversity slate;

–

Observe carefully the creatures you see during your dive;

–

Fill up the data form after your dive and forward it to BICREF.

–

Feel free to add any extra observations you felt are interesting or worrying.

Address: BICREF, PO BOX 30, Hamrun, Hamrun, Malta Website: www.bicref.org Email: bicref@gmail.com

photos by BICREF members E. Agius & H. Vella.

The Biological Conservation Research Foundation is sponsored by the AWARE Foundation to promote this effort through out the Maltese Islands.

Species Page Research by: Edward Vella

When we started off the ‘Species’ page in Bubbles of December 2010, the first subject chosen was nudibranchs - and it does not take much to realise why.

We wanted to start off with a popular subject, of which many divers had favourite pictures – because after all, one of the prime reasons for starting off the species series, was and still is, to encourage the participation of the photographer members. At that time, it was also stated that Nudibranchs would feature again in future articles - it took a bit over three years, and quite a bit of Bubbles - and now here are the nudis again!

Nudibranchs are sometimes commonly referred to as sea slugs, and the comparison to their terrestrial cousins can easily be seen. These marine molluscs are entirely without shell, and hence the term Nudi - branchs means gills, in other words – nudibranchs means naked (exposed) gills. Another feature which readily distinguishes nudibranchs (which are found in all of the world’s seas), are their striking bright colours. In some environments, the colours are used for camouflage, but in nature there is also a well known truth – ‘food’ that comes in brightly coloured packages is usually bad for your health!

Nudibranchs go about in their bright colours, which send out the message – Do not bother trying to eat me – unless you want to be sick, or worse – but of course I guess that there will always be that juvenile or inexperienced predator around......

Nudibranchs

Photo by Edward Vella

Chromodoris Purpurea w egg mass Cratena peregrina

Photo by Alan Mizzi

Photo by Joe Formosa

Berthella ocellata

Chromodoris Purpurea

Photo by Edward Vella

All nudibranchs are carnivores – that is, they feed on other animals – foremost among which are sponges and hydroids - closer observation of the plant like hydroids in the background of some nudibranch photos, will reveal open ‘buds’ with displayed tentacles.

Hydroids harbour toxins and these get transferred to, and accumulate within the nudibranchs that feed on them.

While the nudibranch is not affected, any predator which tries to feed on these nudibranchs may not live to regret its mistake.

Photo by Tano Rolé Photo by Joe Formosa

Hypselodoris valenciennesi

Bursatella leachii

Nudibranchs have both male and female reproductive organs ( this makes them hermaphrodites), but they cannot fertilise themselves. Variety is the spice of life! The fertilised nudibranch lays its eggs in a foamy spiral or ribbon shape.

Locally, the more common species seem to be the spiky purple Flabellina affinis, the white with blue and red spikes Cratena peregrina, the cigar shaped purple and yellow Chromodoris purpurea, and of course the white and black patched Discodoris atromaculata (popularly known locally as Baqra – cow).

For the diver, especially the photographer diver who wants to identify that nudibranch, the web has a lot of good sites. I would suggest trying out these two: http://www.nudipixel. net/ and http://www.seaslugforum. net/

Photo by Mario Micallef Photo by Mario Micallef

Flabellina affinis

Janolus cristatus

Photo by Joseph Azzopardi Falzon

Haminoea cyanomarginata Photo by Tano RolĂŠ

Berthella aurantiaca Photo by Joseph Azzopardi Falzon

Elysia timida

Photo by Joseph Azzopardi Falzon

Janolus cristatus

March-April ­- Sponges - Sponoz Photo by Joseph Azzopardi Falzon

Umbraculum umbraculum

Photo by Edward Vella

Discodoris atromaculata

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS

O

“Dived verseas Where"!!!

Article compiled by Dorian Law

Azores

Atlantic Ocean. Portugal

Destination: The Autonomous Region of the Azores is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1400km West of Portugal. Composed of nine volcanic islands and an islet cluster, in three main groups, the Azores extend for more than 600km in a Northwest to Southeast direction. The main islands are Flores and Corvo on the west side, Graciosa, Terceira, Sao Jorge, Pico, and Faial in the centre while Sao Miguel and Santa Maria are on the east side. Being an autonomous region and forming part of Portugal it is the Western tip of the European Union.

Getting there: Since there are no direct flights from Malta, the flight plan and price vary between a one or a two stop schedule. The shortest travelling time to Ponta Delgada (PDL) airport is a 4hour 1stop journey via Lisbon and a round trip ticket costs €635. The most economic flight plan is a 12hour 2stop journey via Vienna and Lisbon with a return ticket costing €470. There is an airport on each main island served by SATA International Airlines and this has to be considered when deciding in which part of the Azores you plan to dive. All flights to the Azores depart from Lisbon Airport (LIS) in Portugal.

Facilities: Accommodation, from hotels to self-catering apartments, is available on most of the islands and the choice depends on the area being dived and personal budget. High season prices start at €105 per room per day for a twin room, breakfast included at the Talisman Hotel in Punta Delgada or €110 per night for Caso Do Misterio, a self-catering cottage sleeping 6 persons. A 7night, 6boat dive package with hotel stay on bed and breakfast basis costs about €590 and with 10dives costs about €750. A 10dive only package costs about €370. Diving operators offer two main expeditions, the Mantas and Mobulas costing around €150 and the Blue and Mako Shark at about €125. Food prices range from €8 for a buffet of seafood at the Mercato di Pesce to over €10 at the major restaurants on all the islands.

Local currency is the Euro and the major credit cards are accepted everywhere except in some smaller restaurants. There are various dive centres on each island specialising in their area, some also cater for technical diving, and it is difficult to identify the best centres for the whole Azores region. There are no liveaboard diving operators in the area but various licenced boats take divers out for day trips.

Package cost: A 10 day package with flight, accommodation, 10shore dives and 2expeditions costs around €1600 depending on the choice of accommodation. About €200 is expected to be spent on various items such as food and leisure for the 10day period.

Dives: The following are the most dived sites around the Azores. Princess Alice Bank is a submerged seamount 50nm (nautical miles) off Pico Island in the Azores at a minimum depth of 35mtr is visited by the mobular rays with high chances of seeing hammerhead sharks.

The Blue shark experience occurs on an offshore bank around 20nm west of Faial. Chumming (putting food, blood and oil in the water) is used to attract Blues and even Makos which come very close during this dive in the blue, where buoyancy control is a must. Pontoon 16 is a working pontoon on a sandy seabed at 24mtr accessible for most divers. Panama Viana is an 80mtr long wreck and sits keel up showing its 4 bladed propeller. At a maximum depth of 50mtrs this is dived as a technical decompression dive. Other wrecks include the steamship Olympia and the Terceirense at 20mtr. Gruta Profunda is a cave dive for technical divers with entry at 35mtr. Well known shore dive sites include Calheta de Nesquim at 30mtrs with its black coral and arches, Arcoc do Pico presents various arches at depths between 10 and 25mtrs and the reef of Santa Cruz at 25mtrs famous for its lighthouse. The best diving area is found around the islands of Pico, Faial and Sao Jorge due to the shark and manta trips but the other islands do offer the same quality of diving. Snorkelling with sperm whales or bottlenose dolphins is possible during encounters in the open ocean nearly all year long.

Difficulty level:

Medium – High.

Depth:

10 to 50+ meters.

Visibility:

20 to 40 meters.

Wrecks:

Low.

Caves:

Low.

Walls:

Average.

Snorkelling:

Available only on dolphin or whale encounters.

Marine life diversity: High for fish and corals.

Big fish:

High.

Water temperature: 15 – 25 °C. Best time of the year: July to September.

Book of the Month

Article by Dorian Law

Name of Book: Guide Yourself Around the Maltese Islands.

Author:

Karistu Abela.

Publisher:

PublikazzjoniGardjola.

ISBN Number:

979-99932-16-03-2 or 978-99932-16-03-2.

Book in short:

Walks and tours:

This book is definitely the most detailed and informative book about the Maltese Islands that every tourist visiting our islands should buy. The information supplied by this book is also ideal for Maltese groups or families who want to visit interesting places that can be found in the cities or any rural village or for those who want to go out for walks in the countryside or around the island discovering our past. With hundreds of photographs, a travelers’ heritage map and a road atlas to compliment the detailed information, this book is divided into six sections, namely;

This section is dedicated to walks and tours around the island. The author describes what is expected to be seen in these activities and makes use of numbered maps and photographs to further help the user orienteering around during his walk or tour.

These include walks around Malta’s fortifications, the Dwejra Lines, Dingli Cliffs, the south of the island and a drive around Gozo.

General Background: Historical outline, climate and general information.

What to see and where: This section takes each village or city in Malta and Gozo in alphabetical order and lists all the various places of interest and attractions, with very detailed information like history, opening times and address.

Going where: In this section you simply ask yourself ‘where should I go to do anything of the following?’. The answer provides the best places to go to if you are looking for beaches, coves and diving spots, museum exhibitions or the best places for photography.

What to do: This section is dedicated to those whose aim is not sightseeing but other activities such as shopping, entertainment, kids’ activities, sport or eat and drink.

Index & Maps: This section contains an alphabetical list of all the island’s main attractions, with street name and the book’s page references. An index of the island’s streets and squares in alphabetical order is also in this section. With the help of a map page-number and square grid reference number/letter annexed to each street name, any street can then be found on the road atlas that forms an integral part of this section.

The following quote from the introduction by the author clearly defines the objective of the book which is that of helping the reader to explore all the corners of the Maltese Islands, and makes this, the book of the month:

“

In 1948, Winston Churchill has described Malta as ’that tiny rock of history and romance’…. The Islands in the last years have gained two nicknames; ‘the island of sunshine’ and ‘the blue waters island’. Malta and Gozo are like a dream, full of passion, joy, color and a huge romantic hearth.

Availability: Item 945.85.686482 (or 550064).

Malta Public Library. Birgu or Pembroke.

“

Diving the Egyptian Red Sea Article & photography by Joe Formosa

The offshore islands of the Egyptian Red Sea offer great opportunities to dive very deep reef walls covered with a vast fusion of hard and soft corals inhabited by an extreme variety of colourful fish life. It is also an excellent chance to encounter big pelagics which include sharks, hammerheads and manta rays.

Last October, the ‘Malta team’ composed of 8 divers went on a live-aboard trip organised by Joseph Azzopardi Falzon on board the M/V Horizon to Brothers Islands, the Daedalus and Elphinstone reefs.

We arrived late at Hurghada via Cairo, stayed overnight at the ‘Bob Marley Hotel’, and late next day took the 3hr hour drive to Port Ghalib, an exclusive international touristic resort with port from which most liveaboards depart. All 26 guest divers including others from the UK had checked in by the evening and slept onboard ready to start the trip the next morning.

Our first scuba dive was at Marsa Shouna: a small outcrop from the coastline, 30 minutes away from Port Ghalib. This reef drops down only to a maximum of 17m and although the visibility was poor compared to the usual Red Sea standards, there was plenty of life including lion fish, clownfish, bannerfish and frequent blue spotted rays on the sandy seabed. We did 3 relaxed dives which served to test weights and equipment, and including a night dive with diverse marine life.

Immediately after surfacing from the night dive, the boat left for a tough 8hr voyage to the distant Brother Islands cruising against north winds of force 8 and waves big enough to repeatedly lift the vessel out of the water. It was an uneasy night’s sleep. We arrived on Big Brother just before sunrise and moored on the southern tip, sheltered from the rough waves and currents from the north.

We spent two days on Brother Islands. These islands are two adjacent pinnacles of undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss covered in soft corals, fan corals and forests of gorgonians creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. A thresher shark was spotted on Big Brother circling at a distance before disappearing into the blue on the south shelf at 40m. Other marine life encountered on the reef was a friendly Napoleon wrasse, big moray eels and turtles. Due to a bad stomach, I had to miss the dive on the Aida II and the Numidia wrecks which lie on the northern walls of Big Brother.

Malta team - Noel Abela, Charles Cutajar, Alfred Buhagiar, Peter Attard, Joe Azzopardi Falzon, Dorian Law, Steve Micallef & Joe Formosa

The next two days were spent on Daedalus Reef, an oval reef beneath the water level with a protruding lighthouse.

The east wall was dived in the mornings and the western wall in the afternoons, both walls making drift dives to the southern point. Both sides are thickly overgrown with fans and soft corals but the western wall had more variety.

In one of the dives along the east wall, a manta ray was spotted cruising away from the reef, whilst other divers claimed to have encountered hammerheads. Diving at the north point was tough due to strong currents, but it was here that another thresher shark was spotted down at the 40m submerged reef ‘cleaning station’.

The last day diving was at the Elphinstone which gave us the opportunity to dive close to a curious oceanic white tip shark encircling divers and boats close to the surface.

A typical day on the liveaboard generally started with a very early wake-up call served with coffee and getting ready for the 6:30am briefing on deck. We were then split in two groups to kit up and dive consecutively. After the first dive was breakfast time served with scrambled or fried eggs or Spanish omelettes. Briefing for the second dive was usually at 10:30am, then buffet lunch, then briefing for the third dive at 13:30pm. Night dives were not allowed in these remote reefs.

Big Brother Islands

Dive guiding on this particular expedition was marine biologist Dr. Elke Bojanowski Ph.D in her quest to track and collect population data on oceanic whitetip sharks. After the third dive, Elke would give us an audio-visual presentation about the biology and behaviour of sharks in the Red Sea, followed by buffet supper.

Apart from diving uncrowded remote reefs, the next best thing about of liveaboards is comfort. Personal equipment is kept on the diving deck and cylinders are immediately filled direct from overhead feeds. There is also the comfort to wash equipment straightaway, shower, and hang dry wet suits on the diving platform. Assisting crew was incredibly helpful to ensure comfort and safety of divers while kitting up and getting on board. All rooms were equipped with sanitary facilities, the lounge and dining area are very spacious, with plenty of space on deck for lazing around. Food was good with biscuits, chocolate, fruit and soft drinks available free all the time from the bar.

Dive guide assistance was optional. Most of us dived with 12l aluminium cylinders, but nitrox and 15l were also available on request. Dive time and maximum depth were logged by the dive master after each dive. On some dive sites, each group was further split up taken and later picked by zodiacs along the reef distant from the moored vessel. It was compulsory to dive with an SMB and utilise it for the safety stop unless surfacing directly next to the liveaboard. Consecutive dives were made with 12l cylinders, with a maximum dive depth on the reefs was 30 to 40m, but the seabed was hardly ever visible. Currents were occasional usually from the north to south direction.

Oceanic white tip shark

This was the third time diving with this team along the Red Sea. The following is a personal review of visited dive sites: The Fury Shoals in the south are my favourite with impressive huge coral rock formations and fantastic coral gardens on sandy sea beds; stunning swimthroughs with directional penetrating sunlight, and large quantities and variety of colourfull fish just below the surface.

Dahab is a dive resort located to the north on the Gulf of Aqaba. The Thistlegorm is a MUST, an impressive wreck dive whilst the Blue Hole is remarkable for depth, rock formation and the amount of visiting divers. Most dive sites are in the vicinity of the town and easily accessible from land (except the Thistlegorm). There are many shallow coral gardens with abundant tropical marine life which include lionfish, moray eels, glassfish, clownfish, coronet fish, turtles, etc. Ideal for beginners and macro photography. The seafront is packed with exotic restaurants offering abundant seafood. There was the opportunity for a camel ride dive safari, and excursions into the Sinai mountanous desert.

Napoleon Wrasse

Oceanic white tip shark

The marine offshore Islands on the other hand are accessible only by liveaboards and for experienced divers.

Dives are stunning along sheer dropoff walls into the blue abyss and lot of opportunity to spot large fish. Due to the great depths fish life commonly found on sandy seabeds such as clownfish, lion fish, blue spotted rays, glass fish and macro life are rare. There is more blue but less colour than the south reefs.

Elphinstone reef

SCUBAPRO M25/A700 System Regulator Tano’s dive gear reviews Now let’s face it – we ALL love dive gear and, I must admit that, I love it probably more than most other divers. I got my first full-face dive mask at the tender age of eight (a few decades ago!) and graduated to a Pinocchio mask a few years later. By the way, truly veteran divers would know what a Pinocchio mask is – or rather was. These masks and Pirelli fins opened up a new world for me and my life changed forever. I guess that is why I still love diving kit. New gear opens up new possibilities in diving deeper, or exploring submerged caves, and I just cannot wait to put it through its paces underwater.

This is only one of the reasons why I decided to start a feature in Bubbles magazine which reviews essential, and perhaps less essential, pieces of dive kit. The other reason is that, as an instructor, I am often asked to recommend what sort of diving equipment a novice diver should purchase. I hope that these features will provide useful advice to divers in their choice of new equipment and others who may consider upgrading their gear. I hasten to add that this column is not meant to act as an advertisement. We have no sponsorship and we present the facts however pleasant, or unpleasant, they may be.

SCUBAPRO M25/A700 System Regulator Regulators have got to be one of the most important pieces of dive kit and, over time, they become an extension of our own body. We become so used to breathing from a regulator that we forget that we are doing so in an alien environment. Try to remember the first breath you took underwater on your first ever dive. In my case, it was a very tentative sip of air and I half expected that I would get a lungful of water. After a while, I placed some more trust in my regulator but I still ended up keeping my lungs full and exchanged only a little bit of air – just to make sure I had enough air to get to the surface! If this sounds familiar it would explain why we all put on a lot of extra weights in our early dives. Those full lungs needed serious weights!

The first regulator I used was a primitive upstream model borrowed from a famous nautical archaeologist who started teaching me scuba diving when there were no such things as convoluted certification systems. This regulator was a real beast and I had to fight it to get some air even when the tank was half full.

Why am I telling you this? It’s because nothing could be more different than diving with a modern regulator. We have come a long, long, long way since those early days and proof of this is the bewildering choice of regulators which are now on the market.

One of these is the Scubapro M25/A700 regulator. Scubapro has an enviable reputation in the diving industry and

Technical Information MK25 First Stage

A700 Second Stage

Air balanced flow-through piston

Air balanced valve

Chrome plated brass body

Coaxial flow

Anti-Freeze protection

Diver-adjustable inhalation effort

Externally adjustable intermediate pressure

Diver-adjustable Venturi-Initiated Vacuum Assist (VIVA)

Low pressure ports: 5 on swivel turret

Super-flow hose

High pressure ports: 2

High comfort orthodontic mouthpiece

Tank connection: INT232 bar / DIN 300 bar

Full metal case

Weight: INT232 (g/oz): 825 / 29.1 /DIN 300(g/oz): 592 / 20.9

Full metal valve housing

Air Flow at 200 bar (l/min / SCFM): >8500 / 301

Weight: 265g / 9.3oz

Intermediate pressure (bar/psi): 9-9.8 / 130-142

Air flow at 200 bar: 2000 l/min 71 SCFM Maximum low pressure: 14 bar / 203 psi

the M25/A700 regulator has contributed significantly to maintaining this reputation.

The Scubapro tradition of designating alphanumeric codes to the first and second stages may put some people off but it is really quite simple. M25 refers to the first stage of the regulator (for the benefit of the total novice, this is the part of the regulator that attaches to the tank at the pillar valve). A700 is the second stage (that’s the part that goes into your mouth).

Divers can choose between several combinations which match different types of first stages with second stages as best suits their needs.

The M25 is a balanced piston first stage which is a truly tried-and-tested design.

Scubapro claim that this ensures an ultrastable intermediate pressure that can deliver a consistent air supply under the most demanding of conditions irrespective of depth. This balanced first stage includes two HP and five LP ports (LP ports are placed on a swivel). The swivelling turret affords some flexibility in the placing of hoses and some divers appreciate that configuration but I guess that I have to get used to it since my current regulator does not have such luxury.

The A700 second stage version I tested was a polished chrome edition which is meant to be particularly suited for cold water diving. Of course, this is not really relevant to Maltese conditions and I was more worried about the weight of the rig in my mouth. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, despite the all-metal design, this second stage proved reasonably easy to swim with and was very comfortable.

The orthodontic mouthpiece is particularly comfortable and holds the regulator perfectly in place. The A700 also allows

adjustments to the venturi system by turning a knob on the side of the regulator.

This controls breathing resistance. I have my doubts about the utility of such a system since I always kept the setting on maximum delivery. Perhaps novice divers may choose to reduce the air flow in order to save some air or technical divers may increase breathing resistance to reduce the risk of freeflow on a stage tank but I did not use the rig under such conditions.

I tried this regulator on a shallow dive on the Maori (19m depth max) and at Wied iz-Zurrieq (34m depth max). I would have liked to test it deeper since Scubapro maintain that this regulator truly shines at depths of 50m+ but I just did not have the opportunity to do so. All I can say is that, at the depths that I dived in, it delivered all that it promised and more. I tried to get it to freeflow, even on the maximum airflow setting, and it still refused to do so until I gave it a good shake! Breathing was effortless and resistance in the water was minimal thus saving my jaw muscles. I tried to breathe upside down to see whether water would enter the mouthpiece but the regulator remained wonderfully dry and delivered the required air perfectly. In conclusion, this regulator combination is difficult to beat. It is certainly not a cheap regulator but then, I guess that you get what you pay for.

Weblinks www.scubapro.com

Underwater photos by Veronica Busuttil