Scubashooters net e mag issue n5 july 2015

ISSUE

N° 5

J U L Y 2015

DIVE INTO THE PAST

Discover with us the wonders of Baiae

PORTFOLIO Vanessa Mignon

MALAPASCUA A macro photography heaven

SHARKS BAY To be in Sharm but not to be “in Sharm”

MONTHLY CONTEST Ian Morton wins “Marine Ambient”

SWEET FRESH WATERS

by Michel Lonfat

THEY WALK, THEY SEE Feather dusters

Dear Scubashooters, Time is really flying sometimes and we are already spreading the fifth issue of our magazine. We are really pleased about the first encouraging results obtained by the first four issues; they have been downloaded/read in more than 90 countries throughout the world. Of course we will keep on trying doing our best to bring you the best underwater photos from fellow photographers all around the globe.

Sometimes it is amazing thinking how complex it is to create a nice Underwater picture. And how expensive it can be! Of course this is true for all kind of photography. Getting a decent shot out of a camera is not always a simple task; anybody who handled a DSLR could easily attest what I am saying, but …. well, when it comes to take photos Underwater it is a whole different story. On top of the normal difficulties you encounter taking “dry” photos you must add those coming from the fact you are underwater, floating, handling a camera gear which even if neutral weighing it can be really bulky, wearing a gear which doesn’t allow complete freedom of movement, fighting the almost always present underwater currents and maybe trying to frame a 1 or 2 millimeters big creature which isn’t always posing for you like a model… yes, it can be reeeally frustrating and difficult ! But this is our passion, we like the challenges that come out of this wonderful activity and in the end we travel half the globe and spend many thousands dollars ( between camera, camera housing, lenses, trip and accommodation ) to be delighted and to delight other’s eyes with maybe a couple dozens nice photos. It may seems that underwater photography is an expensive hobby and of course as many other hobbies it can be expensive but nowadays you don’t need a pricey DSLR to shoot decent photos underwater and you don’t need to travel half the globe to some exotic destination. We have seen truly amazing photos taken in every possible form of water ( including rivers, caves, mountain lakes and iced mountain lakes ) also with budget compact cameras; smartphones housings are also starting to be more and more technical and sophisticated so I believe that as for today, any scuba diver around the world could easily give underwater photography a go, and I’m sure that few will regret!

Remember that in september we will be launching our new platform for photo contests on our website. The software is undergoing last eating for fine tuning these days and we really can’t wait the launch!

So stay tuned for more news and colors from the underwater world!

Marino Palla Owner & Founder Scubashooters Network

Cover image “The Eye” By: Vanessa Mignon

C O N T E N T S 3

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RELEVANCE OF BACKGROUND IN MACRO-PHOTOGRAPH Cristian Umili

EDITORIAL Marino Palla

THINKING OUT OF THE BOX Zul Ng

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PORTFOLIO Vanessa Mignon

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MONTHLY CONTEST Theme: Red

DIVE INTO THE PAST UW archaeological park of Baiae Pasquale Vassallo

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MALAPASCUA ISLAND A MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY HEAVEN Elly Jurissen THEY WALK, THEY SEE : FEATHER DUSTERS Suzan Meldonian

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MONTHLY CONTEST Behind the shot: lSABELLA LEE

SWEET FRESH WATERS Featuring: Michel Lonfat

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SHARKS BAY To be in Sharm but not to be “in Sharm” Mauro Mainardi

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DAN : YOU CAN STILL GET THAT ?

Tropical diseases and the traveller

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Editor: FABIO STRAZZI Verein Scubashooters, 8952 Schlieren - Switzerland

TRAVELS

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DIVE INTO THE PAST

UW ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF BAIAE Campi Flegrei are a vast volcanic area situated nor th-west from Naples where history and nature merge between earth and sea, and the coastline represents the symbiosis between mankind history and sea life. The Campi Flegrei waters reve al to divers these wonders.

Here, the sea preserved topical the signs left by the passage of ancient Romans and Greeks.

and unexpected underwater Mediterranean landscape.

This extraordinary characteristics lead to the creation of a Marine Protected Area between the municipalities of Bacoli and Pozzuoli. Octopuses, small crustaceans and fishes snoop undisturbed around submerged buildings and roads, colonized by sessile organisms such as algae, sponges, sea anemones, sea urchins and starfishes.

Ruins of villas, thermal baths and roads lie just a few meters from the surface and, together with marine life and gaseous emissions, create a unique

By kind permission of the italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and tourism- archaeological superintendence of Campania, Naples.

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Dive sites of the submerged archeological park of Baia.

Emperor Claudio’s submerged nymphaeum: a rectangular building with a semicircular apsis and four lateral recesses, housing the statues Prothyrum Villa and Pisoni’s Villa: just outside the nymphaeum, there is Herculanea road, leading just in front of two impressive villas’ remains.

- The Prothyrum Villa got this name because of its peculiar entrance made of a series of rooms receiving light from a central atrium.

One of these rooms let the divers appreciate and admire an amazing mosaic, creating a black & white hexagonal pattern.

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- The Pisoni’s villa, belonging to a noble family, de velops around a courtyard and reveals mosaic floors, semi-columns, marbles, therm al baths and fish breeding pools Portus Julius: Important harbor structure, used as a dockyard by the Miseno fleet. During the dive, it is possible to admire the ancient harbor remains.

Smoky Shoal: The fumaroles, columns of volcanic gas bubbles bursting out from the seabed, are the main features of this dive site, together with uncountable sulphur deposits creating an extraordinary and unique underwater environment and landscape.

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WORDS AND PICTURES

Pasquale Vassallo

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THINKING OUT OF THE BOX

WORDS AND PICTURES

Zul Ng

The day that changes everything The day that I plunge into the deep mystic ocean…I found amazing beauty The day that I decided to re-write my chapter…I found art The day that I decided to see things in different perspective… I found The Art of Luminance AND THIS IS MY STORY Let’s begin by asking ourselves: what is photography?

Obviously, many of us will say capturing beauty or some say, capturing the moment.

None of these are wrong as the objective is the same… to capture and combine beauty and moment into a single piece of visual and by doing so, it leads to similarity in visual which many has done it before in simple term I name it “photocopy” let me walk you through a journey that will change everything from a basic photography into an Art. CHANGE YOUR SPACE It’s important to get away from all the typical routines in order to foster creativity. The idea of changing it up is a common one amongst successful and creative thinkers. This means that you either create a specific ritual around creativity, or that you simply find a way to take a break.

TECHNIQUE

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Try and go for a walk. There is something about walking that fosters creativity. Whether it’s taking a walk as a prelude to getting started with your creative project, or as part of the project itself, taking a walk will help get those creative juices flowing.

• Steve Jobs used to hold walking meetings to brainstorm ideas.

• Tchaikovsky took several walks around his village before working on his latest creation.

• Writer Toni Morrison always watched the sun come up in the morning before she would begin writing.

Create psychological distance between your normal routine and the time for creativity… the heart is the key to many hidden questions.

So how do walks improve the way I take photo? Let me share with you about creativity. It doesn’t start while you are taking photographs be it on the surface or while underwater. Instead, creativity is a single tool that requires constant practice and hard work, advance planning, preparation and most importantly, happy feeling. Understanding how nature behaves will also be a bonus to achieve the results.

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EXAMPLE HOW I PLAN FOR MY SHOT BY APPLYING CREATIVITY TO THE VISUAL In my visual thinking, I understand that it is possible to achieve such illusion.

Now I need to put everything that I plan for to a test. This is how I do it.

• Wait for the right angle of elevation of the subject • Hide all other elements, leaving only the subject • Set to the smallest aperture so as to dilute everything on the background • Angle green luminance toward the background • Once the stage is set, take the shot.

As what I mentioned above, the camera is just a photocopy machine if you let the camera take control over the visual that you are going to shoot.

Be different! Be in control and let the camera see what you want it to see. When I achieve this, I call it Art.

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PORTFOLIO Vanessa Mignon

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Since an early age, Vanessa has always been fascinated and captivated by the natural world and its wildlife.

She has a special affinity with the oceans.

Born in Brittany, in the West of France, she spent most of her childhood on the beaches of that wild coast. And, with her 2 grand fathers in the navy, she grew up listening to amazing travelling tales who captured her imagination.

Her passion for travels and discovery led her to live in several countries, including Burundi, Mexico and Canada. She always had a little disposable camera or point and shoot camera to document and capture all those special moments, and loved how a simple picture could tell a whole story.

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In 2003 she arrived in Australia and fell in love with the wild and “real� feel of that country. No where else had she seen such a diversity of landscapes and easy access to many wild animals.

She got her first SLR camera at the end of 2009 and a few months later bought an underwater housing. Since then she has been very fortunate to travel to remote locations and witness amazing wildlife spectacles including the Manta feeding vortex in the Maldives, Whalesharks feeding frenzy in West Papua or Humpback whales courting behaviour in the Kingdom of Tonga.

During those trips she met passionate people committed to protect those creatures and their environments. Their devotion was inspiring. Vanessa became very keen and focused on sharing the beauty of the world around us and hopefully playing a part in protecting it.

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Vanessa is now based in Sydney where she works as a full time Business analyst.

She packs her bags whenever she can to go and capture the beauty of the natural world.

She hopes that her photography and experience sharing can inspire others and increase people awareness of how diverse and beautiful nature is, and how essential it is to protect it.

She is a member of the Ocean Artists Society and also runs Eco wildlife tours, including trips to swim with whales, sharks and dolphins.

She has won several awards including the Ocean Geographic Photo Journalist award 2011Â and first place in 2 categories of the 2011 Australasia Underwater Festival. She has been published in various magazines, books, and calendars.

www.vanessamignon.com

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Liveaboard Trip Tiger Beach 2015 Bahamas

Come join us on Tiger Beach for the Tiger Shark Diving adventure of a lifetime.

These unique sail liveaboard trips are being run exclusively for shark enthusiasts and photographers. Tiger Beach in the Bahamas offer the opportunity to dive with tiger sharks, lemon sharks, nurse sharks, caribbean reef sharks and great hammerheads inexlusive liveaboard expedition. We are taking out a small groups, so space is limited to a maximum of 6 people.

Location:Tiger Beach,

Itinerary:

(Grand Bahama) Bahamas

Dates: Nov 15 - Nov 21 2015 Nov 27 - Dec 02 2015 Price $ 3100 per person

Included: 7 nights accommodation aboard a Catamaran sail yacht with 4 ensuite cabins 5 days Diving with sharks ,all meals ,soft drinks.tanks,weight NOT Included: Airport and Island Transfers Crew tips Airfare Alchoolic drinks

Day 1: Arrival in Freeport,(morning, mid day, and afternoon flight options) Grand Bahama, meeting place Old Bahama Bay Resort and Marina, night one spent in harbour.

Day 2: Diving Tiger Beach Day 3: Diving Tiger Beach Day 4: Diving Tiger Beach, Day 5: Diving Tiger Beach Day 6: Diving Tiger Beach AM, sail back to Bahama Bay Resort and Marina, spend final night in port.

Day 7: Fly out from Freeport.(AM flights to be best options to ensure better flight connection possibilities)

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A little slice of heaven

Hoga Island, Wakatobi National Park is located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, one of the most bio-diverse regions of the Indo-Pacific and indeed the world. This makes for a unique diving experience, where you will see incredibly colourful corals teeming with marine life from large trevallies, schools of barracuda to small but stunning nudibranchs and cleaner shrimp.

Hoga Island Dive Resort

Hoga Island Dive Resort is a budget dive resort in the middle of Wakatobi. The traditional cottages are built on stilts facing the beach and the sea, each with their own balcony and hammock for relaxing. On the beach there are also hammock areas where guests can read a book, meet for a cold beer and watch spectacular sunsets. The resort has electricity from 6pm till 10pm. Two rooms share one mandy bathroom with water from the well. Dive package: 95 € per person per day, accomodation , meals and 2 dives.

Often served on the beach, meals are varied and generous and are made with fresh ingredients including the catch of the day brought in by the local fishermen. Wiah’s chips and spaghetti are famous as well as her traditional Indonesian dishes!

When not diving, Hoga Island Island also offers other activities such as walking around the island (5-6 hours at low tide), a visit to the local sea nomad village, a trip by motorbike on nearby Kaledupa Island. We also have a small library of books in various languages as well as marine life reference books.

Hoga Island Dive Resort’s involvement with the local community includes providing local children with a boat to take them to & from school each day with funds raised by the charity (www.piara.nl). On Sundays, the children clean the beaches to earn money to pay for their school uniforms.

Diving with Hoga Island Dive Resort

The dive sites are all within a short boat ride from the Resort and include fantastic pinnacles, ridges, walls, ledges and overhangs which together, make this an unforgettable, underwater paradise.

Due to Hoga Island’s remote location we do not have to compete with other divers for nice quiet dive sites and, whatever the weather, there is always a great choice of varied locations.

Asrul, our local dive guide has a great eye for the small creatures on the reef, he easily finds creatures such as pygmy sea horses and the orangutan crab in the bubble coral. Some sites have a superabundance of fish, where you can hang out at the end of your dive at 6 meters in utter bliss.

MALAPASCUA ISLAND, CEBU (PHILIPPINES) A MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY HEAVEN !!!!

TRAVELS

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56 Malapascua is a Filipino island, situated in the Visayan Sea, located across a shallow strait from the northernmost tip of Cebu Island. Malapascua is a tiny island (Âą 2.5 kilometers long,1 kilometer wide), and has eight hamlets in the center of the island.

The trip to Malapascua can be a bit challenging, especially for visitors from Europe or the Americas. If you are travelling from these parts of the world to Malapascua, you have to be prepared for a long, exhausting trip.

With international flights from Singapore, Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur e.g. or domestic flights you arrive in Cebu, at Mactan Cebu International Airport. From there it will take 3-4 hours by car or by bus to the little harbor of Maya in the north. There is only a two lane road going north to the little harbor, with the usual Filipino traffic‌.

When we visited Malapascua, we booked and organized the whole trip ourselves. We were picked up at the airport by a car from SeaQuest and in Maya by a boat, also from the SeaQuest Dive Center itself. I think other dive centers offer this service too. If you book your trip through a travel agent, mostly transports from and to the airport and boat trips are included in the package.

There is also a ferry between Maya and Malapascua which sails several times on a daily basis.

The boat trip is about 30 minutes.

We visited this beautiful bounty island 2 times, in 2013 and 2014, staying both

times for 3 weeks in the Malapascua Legend Resort, back then the only hotel with a swimming pool.

The rooms were nice and spacious.

A plunge in the pool was a real treat after a day of diving.

For some people a 3 weeks stay at this rather small island might be too long. Therefor a stay at Malapascua is often combined with stays on other islands (island hopping) like Leyte, Cebu (Moalboal) or Bohol, only to mention a few possibilities.

As I already mentioned, we dived with SeaQuest Dive Center. This was very well organized, with an excellent, friendly staff. The dive center is located on the premises of the Legend Hotel.

But there are quite a few other dive centers on the island, some of them affiliated with hotels, others operating independently.

There are hotels in different price categories, and all of them are more or less situated along a pristine white beach at the south-east side of the island. Hotels are interspersed with restaurants, small bars and dive centers.

Within the villages, local restaurants can be found too. It really pays off to visit those locals occasionally. The food is very affordable and really tasty. Visiting these local restaurants will give you a better picture of the real life in Malapascua and you can meet the friendly locals.

58 There are no paved roads on the island, and even better: no cars! Local people use small motorcycles, but these are not allowed in the hotel areas.

Don’t expect much entertainment. It is a quiet holiday destination, but great for diving and relaxation. Now and then a hotel, bar or restaurant organizes an evening with music and dance, but all on a small scale.

I really liked the laid back atmosphere. Sipping your cocktail at a beach bar at sunset, with your bare feet in the white sand….. getting the picture already…?

Furthermore your stay on the island will be perfected by the friendly people, the excellent diving opportunities and the enormous variety of unusual critters.

Diving Details: The number-one dive site of Malapascua is Monad Shoal, a natural cleaning station at 20 to 24 meters depth. The site is best known as the world’s only place where thresher sharks can be seen regularly before sunrise. The shoal also attracts other pelagic such as devil rays and eagle rays. Manta rays and hammerheads are seasonal. Unfortunately most of the coral reefs at the shoal are damaged by destructive fishing methods. Next to Monad Shoal is Kimud Shoal, where schools of Hammerhead sharks and other pelagic are spotted frequently in the right seasons.

All dives in Malapascua are boat dives. There are plenty of dive sites at the east side of the island, all reachable in 5 – 15 minutes. Also some dive sites at the north and northwest side. Most of the local dive sites are sandy areas with scattered coral blocks and vegetation, great for muck diving.

A few dive sites are situated in the leeward sides, and therefor don’t have any currents, but on most dive sites you can experience more or less strong currents. A few dive sites can only be visited a few times

60 a month due to extreme strong currents most of the times.

Most dive centers offer following trips on a daily basis: • Sunrise-dive to Monad Shoal • Day trips to Kalanggaman or Gato Island (mostly 2 dives) • Dives at the different local dive sites by boat, 5 – 15 minutes • Sunset-dive to see mandarin fish mating • Night dive.

Marine Highlights: You can find a huge variety of crabs, shrimps and nudibranches. Furthermore harlequin - and mantis shrimps, anemone fish, (flamboyant) cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, (blue ringed) octopus, tube worms, blennies, frogfish, mandarin fish

(pygmy) seahorses, flatworms…..

I think I forgot more than half of what you could encounter on a daily basis at the Malapascua reefs.

I was surprised more than once by yet another critter I didn’t see before….

If you are more interested in the big stuff, you might get a bit disappointed with the dive sites in Malapascua. As I mentioned before, the bigger pelagic marine life is found around Monad Shoal.

Then there are reef sharks, turtles etc. which can be found at Gato Island.

But overall I think Malapascua is pre-eminently a macro destination, so if you are a macro lover, you are in the right spot!

Malapascua can be a guarantee for a great holiday, but unfortunately there are downsides too. There is still quite a lot of dynamite fishing going on, despite of prohibitions. The government is trying to guard the waters and catch offenders, but the area they have to cover is far too big for the few cost guard boats that are available.

We experienced the dynamite blasts ourselves during a few dives; we heard the loud bang and felt the pressure on our chest and ears. It really scared the hell out of me!

But even worse is that due to that dynamite fishing, much coral reefs surrounding the island close to the shore are totally damaged.

Best visiting time is February to May (dry season, calm sea), but this is also one of the busiest times of year, so be sure to book well in advance.

‘Rainy season’ is from June to January; ‘typhoon’ season from July to October.

Normally typhoons are not too intense because Malapascua is protected by the islands Leyte and Cebu.

However, in November 2013 the islands Malapascua and Leyte were severely hit by a category 5 typhoon called Yolanda (or Hainan). In a span of just a few hours both tropical paradises were destroyed. On Leyte in particular, many people died because of a huge tidal wave.

We had already booked our trip to Malapascua in April 2014, when we heard about the typhoon in 2013. At first we thought about rebooking our trip to

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64 another island, but then we realized that Malapascua is entirely dependent on tourism and the best way to support the inhabitants was by pursuing our travel plans as before, despite of the damages above and under water. A decision we did not regret for one second!

What were our findings in April 2014?

The tourist areas were all cleaned up already, hotels and most restaurants were rebuilt. We didn’t experience any problems with finding a restaurant or bar.

During our stay the damages in the villages were still evident though. But that was in April 2014. I think now there will be only a few small signs left of the devastation after the typhoon.

Most eye-catching still will be the declined number of palm trees. There had been a substantial clear-cutting among palm trees and other vegetation. Consequently there was much fewer shade, especially in the villages.

New palm trees were already planted in April 2014, but they will not have fully grown yet.

Also some reefs suffered substantially from the typhoon, mostly in the shallow parts. My personal favorites, the local dive sites called Ka Osting and Bool Reef, were completely destroyed. Such a pity!

Other reefs like Chocolate island, Gato island, North Point, Lighthouse etc. had been damaged too, but still nice hard and soft corals could be found there in the more deeper parts.

Also Kalanggaman Island, a bounty island which could have been cut right out of a Bacardi advertisement, was hit hard. After the storm the island was merely half covered with trees.

But the total destruction of the beautiful reef top of Kalanggaman was what shocked me

most. In 2013 this reef top was simply stunning, all covered with hard and soft corals and teeming with marine life. In 2014 all that was left was a plateau of bare rocks. Locally some soft corals were trying to get a foothold but that was it.

Fortunately the drop-off at Kalanggaman was beautiful as ever.

Don’t get me wrong, This is not only an elegy about Malapascua. There are still plenty beautiful reefs to visit.

In particular the more deeper parts of the reefs are intact and also those parts that were in the leeward side during the typhoon, were saved. And the recovery of the reefs will already have been started.

Therefore our conclusion can only be that, despite of the setbacks due to the typhoon in 2013, Malapascua is absolutely worth a visit.

And it is a heaven for macro photography…..

WORDS AND PICTURES

Elly Jeurissen

Red Sea

Yachting & Diving The Best Experience in the Red Sea For the best shots, trust our knowledge of all dive sites particularities

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Like on FB : www.facebook.com/redseayachting Infos & news :

www.redsea-direct.com JosĂŠ-Nelson Gonzalez: nelson@scubaswiss.com Egypt : +20122 3783467 Switzerland : +4179 2023801 Italy : +39340 5221723

Divingo (www.divingo.it) is the new website reference, made in Italy about the world of diving.

With Divingo all amateurs and professionals can find diving spots, diving center, specialized shops, diving schools and sports clubs and receive information, contacts, directions and special offers.

One of the strengths of the portal is the ability to print for free and without registration exclusive coupons offering deep discounts for courses, diving tours, travel, and equipment.

Divingo born because the Italian world sub has not a real point of reference with which communicate on Internet with simplicity, quality and wealth of information.

The success of Divingo starts from this simplicity and ease of use: already on the homepage you can see the map that summarizes and highlights the centers and possible activities in Italy.

In fact the project, started from just two months, already has more than 900 centers included throughout the country and now aims to conquer foreign markets thanks to the translation of the entire site in English and to agreements for the insertion of centers in Europe .

It will not be an immediate process, but the good response at the national level bodes well for rapid growth of the project.

The peculiarity of the portal is in the fact, that are not present only structures that can afford a showcase internet.

For this reason it was decided to activate a basic service free thinking of the small companies and startups, consumers and people who visit the portal, offering first of all complete information.

Divingo in fact offers free use of facilities that want to join the project immediate visibility or a number of subscriptions to insert more information, content and offers.

Visiting Divingo will also find photo galleries and a blog with articles and curiosity, travel and environment. Also the staff that runs the site is always careful to interact with visitors through the many social channels and share the information and pictures of the users.

Lastly the portal offers and invites all divers, to leave a review and share real news for the benefit of future users of the same structures.

The dream of every sub is to discover a sunken treasure: Divingo is the treasure map!

THEY WALK, THEY SEE FEATHER DUSTERS

PART OF THE EVOLUTIONARY EDUCATION SERIES WORDS AND PICTURES

Suzan Meldonian

One minute you see it . . . and in a quick vvvvvip! they are gone in a blink. At one time or another, we’ve all been captured by the mysterious Feather Dusters and how swiftly they can vanish. And of course, we’ve secretly accepted the personal challenge to photograph one as it slowly unfolds its beauty while trying desperately not to let our presence be known. So alluring are they, that they’ve even inspired movie producers, like James Cameron to feature them as exotic alien creatures in his film, Avatar. How dare they call these beauties of nature - worms! To most underwater photographers a feather duster is an objet d’art dé la mer, so delicate. But somewhere in the back of our mind, our brain still says, “Worm? How can this be a worm?”

Today we are focused on two discoveries: They do walk about and they do have eyes?

Recently, while completely engrossed on capturing a Sailfin Blenny patiently waiting for it to blast its magnificent sail, I spied motion just to the left of my elbow. Something orange was lumbering slowly towards me. If I broke eye contact with the Sailfin, surely he’d erupt the minute I took my eyes off him. I could not see clearly what this movement to my right was. These are stressful times, when one has to give up their attention from one subject to regard another, risking a possible golden moment. Reason wrangled with me. The sailfin is not going to leave, but this orange thing is moving away.

The orange thing won the challenge. It took several minutes for it to register in my mind what I was seeing. Perhaps one of the rarest moments, but a live full-bodied feather duster worm, body and all (a Branchiomma) was apparently out for a stroll. This is surely not something you will see every day. Finally my question had been satiated.

How do you like that, it is a worm. Looks just like an earthworm with a very fancy fluffy tail. Something only scientists may see in a lab. The fluffy tail is actually part of the head, a tentacular crown consisting of two half circles of feather-like tentacles (radioles). These “feathers” are used for oxygen absorp-

EVOLUTIONARY EDUCATION

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72 Here, we have the genus Megalomma, the only genus with eyespots on the tips of some or all of the “feathers.” Low and behold the eyes are more readily seen as the feather duster is unfolding, and the eyes become nearly invisible once fully extended. Meanwhile, Branchiomma, my orange worm-friend out for a stroll with the fancy hat on, has external eyespots along the median ridge of the radioles (with short filaments on the outside of the feathers). Branchiomma is the only genus that has these filaments.

If you want to amuse yourself, take a couple of quiet minutes to study, one of the larger eagle shaped Branchiomma move and twist its stalks following the motion of a snorkeler passing overhead. It is rather fascinating to watch.

Please compare the following images: Megalomma two dorsal most radioles in a crown have terminal eyespots typically raised above the others, for better viewing.

tion and also gathering food. As it goes, they don’t normally leave their tubes unless they are disturbed by the threat of a predator or low oxygen levels. Normally they rely on currents to carry them to a new location, then burrow the worm part back into the sand to begin creating a new tube.

This cruising Feather Duster never once retracted its plumage. It seemed oblivious to my presence through several photographs. Trés bizarre. A little research turns up that they do “walk about” the same as their cousins, earthworms. Earthworms have bristles or setae around their body. Sure enough, upon close inspection, those bristles are in there in the image. These bristles, found on each segment, move in and out, clutching the ground, pushing themselves forward or back, stretching and contracting their muscles.

Now the second discovery that I wanted to bring to light, are that some worms do have eyes… that is to say, some even have eyes that you can see. I’ve laid there for hours observing how these Feather Dusters (also referred to as Fan Worms) can react so quickly when something comes close by, and have often wondered, is their snap disappearance triggered by a big dark shadow moving overhead? Or, can they really see us? And the answer is, yes! They can see us.

74 Branchiomma eyes not so easy to see but are there. along the radioles with the presence of external filaments on the radioles.

Reference material : http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=919; Special thanks goes out to Leslie Harris, (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County), who has shared much of her knowledge with me for this article, well known for her research and understanding of worms.

Moral of story, yee who hath super super macro lenses… take the challenge… see if you can find the eyes on the Branchiomma.

We’ve seen Feather duster worms extending out of paper-like sheath tubing ( family Sabellidae from a word meaning sand), and Tube worms like Christmas Tree worms, that bloom right out of the coral – called Calcareous Tube Worms (family Serpulidae).

Only once before had I seen a worm out and about that wasn’t one of the known “crawlers.” That was called a Fringed Worm, from the family Terebellidae.

Of course there is a whole variety of other segmented worms on the move like Fireworms, Bobbit Worms, Ribbon Worms, Horseshoe Worms and Scale Worms, but I digress. We’ll save that for another time.There are thousands of different types of worms, any with whom you might chance upon on your next dive!

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More about urchins: Here a Magnificent Urchin, Astropyga magnifica, recently discovered at the Blue Heron Bridge in Florida, by Elaine Blum, rarely seen in Floridian waters, also quite potent. Cousin to Astropyga radiata found in the Indo-pacific region.

We are located exactly 74 km far from Trieste, near the small town of Kantrida, which is about 5 to 6 km before downtown Rijeka.

Our Diving Centre is right under the swimming pools area, directly in front of the open beach. On one side, we are overlooked by Mount Major (Ucka) and on the other, we face the beautiful islands of Krk and Cherso: in brief, we are right inside the Kvarnaro Gulf.

Our flagship is wreck diving by boat: three wrecks situated at different depths, each one no farther than maximum 20 minutes boat ride. And there’s more! Our shore dives directly from our Center’s beach offer an easy and colorful training ground for any kind of diving courses. Finally yet importantly, our diamond tip dedicated to macro photography lovers: a wide variety of critters to increase the pleasure of diving.

From our beach, with our boat... ...come with us and enjoy your dive!

www.diving-marcopolo.com

RELEVANCE OF BACKGROUND IN MACRO-PHOTOGRAPHY

We might also think about blurring a little our background and playing with the LIGHTS AND SHADES produced by our strobe.

Positioning a pale subject in the side of the image where background is darker, makes the subject itself stand out clearly. In this case, the background was as clear as the subject, which a plain lightening could camouflage.

WORDS AND PICTURES Cristian Umili

When photographing, we focus mainly on the subject, making sure of its right position and correct focus on the spot we are interested in (usually the eye).

We do check composition, but often omit to consider the background, which is also part of the picture. If neglected, background might make the subject difficult to read, enlighten it, or disturb the view by drawing the eye away from the main subject.

To pop-up cleanly our subject when it is close to some rocks, we could blur the background to make it a shapeless stain, thus making foggy anything around that possibly disturb the sight.

In this picture, you could choose to make the background completely black or blur it to give three-dimensionality to the picture, and context to the subject.

For some subjects we might decide to use, as a background, the BLUE SEA SURFACE. In these cases, we need to find a subject a bit ‘off the rocks or a fish swimming in open waters.

BLACK BACKGROUND is widely used in underwater photography because allows to forget about what we have around, since it will be hidden. On black, all subjects with medium to light tones stand out well but, unless we illuminate the subject properly, the picture could come out a little “flat”.

Pictures are illustrative of the background (tutorial use)

A side lightening allowed giving more three-dimensionality to the subject

A frontal lightening, on the other hand, made our picture flat. The black background even emphasizes this perception

Gobies on whip coral - black background Gobies on whip coral - blue background Yellow-banded fish - blue background

TECHNIQUE

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84 Using COLORS IN CONTRAST WITH THE SUBJECT enhances a lot the image’s visual impact: a warm colored fish on a blue background well stands out in our picture, as well as vice versa.

A green and orange damselfish passes in front of a purple sponge

A red grouper against a blue background

BACKGROUNDS POORLY MANAGED will penalize the image:

In this case, the gorgonian, portrayed in perspective, creates a blurred background less enlightened than the subject, making it better visible

The pale background, even if very blurred, makes the shrimp little visible

In this picture, the background makes the subject mimetic and poorly perceptible

In this case, using the dark green soft coral stem as background, we make the shrimp much more visible

A red background under a subject with similar colors makes the fish’s enhancement more difficult. The final image might be of a great visual effect, but we should use our lights properly to draw the subject’s profile

Underwater Photography Expedition

Tim & Beth will be in the water engaging in one-on-one mentoring, helping with strobe positioning, camera settings and teaching beginning to advanced techniques. Learn valuable information about composition, lighting, camera gear and image editing using LIGHTROOM & PHOTOSHOP. All cameras and level of photographers are welcome, those with “Point & Shoot” to “DSLR”

To make a reservation contact Amy Garrow at:

www.softlitestudios.com tdneumann@softlitesstudios.com www.facebook.com/TimothyDNeumann 1-614-312-0655

www.bethwatsonimages.com bethwatsonimages@gmail.com www.facebook.com/bethbwatson 1-573-247-0462

SPONSORED

t e c h n i c a l w o r k s h o p

BY INON THE OFFICIAL

L I G H T

P h i l i p p i n e S - 2 0 1 5

SUPPLIER

The Luminance and ZEN Cinematography Experience

OF LUMINANCE

Zen Cinematography 7th, 8th & 9th Sept. 2015 Art of Luminance 8th, 9th & 10th Sept. 2015 SHOOT WITH INON SYSTEM

ANILAO PhilippineS SEPTEMBER

2 0 1 5

ZUL NG, the pioneer of Luminance photography, will teach the participant how to achieve his modern art style of Luminance.

This contemporary style of underwater photography uses variances of colored lights to achieve an abstract look of vibrance never before performed in marine imaging.

The ZEN CINEMATOGRAPHY WORKSHOP discusses the technique in mastering basic skills, variable lighting positions, and the importance of video editing proficiency.

2 0 1 5

PhilippineS SEPTEMBER

ANILAO

This September, in Anilao Philippines, a WORKSHOP will take place like none other before.

The collaboration of 2 specialized marine artists, Zul Ng and Charlie Fasano, to personally instruct and teach their professional craft to the lucky participants for 3 days.

The LUMINANCE WORKSHOP will concentrate on the colors and lighting systems utilized, along with application and effect.

CHARLIE FASANO, an award winning underwater

cinematographer, will teach the importance of mastering basic skills to achieve the proper method of underwater storytelling. Using techniques associated with zen, he has mastered the form of properly being in the element and with the subject to form a singularity of all aspects associated with the story.

In-water practice for both workshops is mandatory and assessments of the final work is performed by both Zul and Charlie.

All images from both workshops will be presented at the Dive Resort Travel Expo in Manila in September.

The workshops are held at the beautiful MAYUMI DIVE RESORT directly on the shoreline of Mabini.

All scuba and class facilities are on premises so more personal time can be spent with the instructors.

SPONSORED BY INON, the official light supplier of Luminance.

15° “RED”

MONTHLY CONTEST:

FIRST PLACE

ISABELLA LEE “Red pinocchio”

MONTHLY CONTEST

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FOURTH PLACE MATTEO VISCONTI “Red goby on blue tunicate with eggs”

SECOND PLACE DAVID MOCHOLI “Living at Volcano” FIFTH PLACE ANDREY SHPATAK “Barbed hunchback poacher”

SIXTH PLACE NADIA CHIESI “Goby”

THIRD PLACE STEFANO SCORTEGANGNA “Bug-eyed squat lobster”

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Sheikh Coast Diving Center is inside the Domina Coral Bay Resort in Sharm el Sheikh since 1994 and is considered the most comfortable Diving Center in Sharm El Sheikh thanks to the private harbor which is only few meters from the diving center from which our boats depart every day for fantastic excursions to discover the most beautiful coral reefs of the Red Sea including the atolls of Tiran and the Ras Mohammed marine park avoiding waiting times at the main port of Sharm and bus transfers.

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Sheikh Coast Staff undertakes to always give all its guests courtesy, friendship, honesty, competence and professionalism.

Sheikhcoast Diving Center offers courses at all levels, from beginners to professionals, all specialties and this year became one of the most sought for technical diving as well as the reference point for divers with disabilities.

w it h Pr

Higiene - Cleanliness - Environmental Integrity efficiency and high quality of services - Adequate training in a professional and funny enviroment

Ce nt er

in Sh arm

Best quality / price ratio

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Behind the shot:

ISABELLA LEE This photo was taken in Feb 2015 at Hairball in Lembeh Strait, a famous place for its diverse frog fish species.

I was using Nikon D810 camera, Nauticam NA-D810 housing, Nikkor 105mm lens, dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes at the setting of F22, 1/200 and ISO100 and a Reefnet snoot in addition.

The image was reproduced internally using Double Exposure camera function to add a sunny background.

Born in Feb 1971, South Korea, I had left Seoul at the age of 19 and lived in France, Germany, Australia & Papua New Guinea and currently reside in Singapore since Nov 2014.

I have been taking pictures underwater for 15 years now since Nikonos / film era and I currently own 4 sets of DSLR cameras; Canon 7D, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 5D Mark III and Nikon D810 which is my favourite for its focusing speed, image clarity & versatility.

I have been diving in many countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Fiji, Vanuatu, Seychelles, Mexico, Palau, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, etc. and my favourite places are Miline Bay in PNG, Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Maldives.

I am a zero gravity breather.

I like spending my time underwater because it offers me a kind of escape from above-ground reality. I love living this illusion of being on another world underwater, breathing peacefully in no gravity environment.

Time spent on earth between my dives is nothing but an annoying process of finding & preparing means for next dive trips so that I could spend maximum of my time underwater again and everything else seems trivial to me.

Abyss: City of Venice 2015 The International Competition of Underwater Photography “Abyss-City of Venice” is now in its eighth edition and also this time will be hosted by the Natural History Museum of Venice. During the previous seven editions around 300 underwater photographers from around the world joined the contest (United States, Indonesia, France, England, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Turkey, Norway, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and other countries) presenting more than 2,500 photographs and more than 25,000 visitors appreciated the exhibition of the winning photos. As every year, some categories will be dedicated to the museum that will use the images for purposes of research and enrichment of his archive.

The competition of Venice opens the winter season of the competitions of underwater photography in Italy and many of the winning photos in Venice have subse-

quently been awarded in many of the most important competition in the world and that means that the work of the jurors has always been of the highest professional level . Abyss-City of Venice has been honored three times with the Top Award at dell’EUDI Show in Milan and Bologna in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Media partners of the event are Scubaportal, the most important National Portal of diving, Scubashooters, first international portal of underwater photography in Italy, and the magazien Lagunamare, and it is sponsored by the City of Venice, the Veneto Region and the Foundation of the Civic Museums.

The winning images of previous editions were often exhibited at fairs and events related to diving or to the sea as the European Diving Show, Genoa Boat Show, America’s Cup. The competition is organized by the cultural association Abyss-UnderWaterPhotoVenice, Argo Group of Archeological Research and Sub San Marco .

Registrations will begin in June and the deadline for delivery of the images

will be on September 20.

Also this year there will be rich rewards offered by manufacturers of diving equipment and the most famous glass factories of Murano. For further information contact info@underwaterphoto-venice.it.

SWEET FRESH WATERS FEATURING: MICHEL LONFAT

FRESH WATERS

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“The need to be in the water .... The desire to share my passion ... The hope to raise awareness of the beauty and richness of our oceans, lakes and rivers .... “ Born in Sierre in December 1968, I lived all my youth abroad, my father working for an international oil company. I had the pleasure of discovering scuba diving in Papua New Guinea in 1985 where I passed my first diving license.

From this experience, all my holidays were based on the sport that I loved practising only at sea.

It was only in 1995 that I discovered diving in our cold waters by taking a course for the obtention of a new certification in a Swiss diving school ...

And that was for me the “Spark” - the beginning of a real passion .

Since then I dive regularly, exploring lakes, rivers and seas of the world with my wife Caroline - who fortunately - is also sharing my passion.

I discovered underwater photography almost by chance, during a visit to the Maldives and it is for a Liveaboard in Thailand in 2003, that I bought my first camera with a waterproof case.

Since this experience, passion for photography is following me during all my dives.

Currently my main goal is to show people my passion, my work,. But most of all I would like to raise awareness of the unknowned beauty and wealth that we find in our different waters, specially in our freshwaters.

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Words and Pictures

Michel Lonfat

Compare & Book more then 8000 liveaboard diving cruises easily online

wanderlass.com

TRAVELS

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SHARKS BAY

TO BE IN SHARM EL SHEIK BUT NOT TO BE “IN SHARM”

WORDS AND PICTURES: MAURO MAINARDI

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Fifteen years ago, for the first time, I stayed for a week in Sharm in a all inclusive village. After a few days, wanting to see something different, I asked a taxi driver to drive me to the MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH IN SHARM EL SHEIKH. He drove me to SHARKS BAY. Every year since that first visit, I return to Sharks Bay that has became like my second home.

The world is full of beautiful and special places.

Sharks Bay is one of them: a small Paradise 4 hours flight far from Europe; a private bay 500m long overlooking an AMAZING CORAL REEF. You will not find nightlife, parties, swimming pools here: Sharks Bay is the perfect place for those who love the natural environment and want to enjoy the sea. This place has been preserved by overbuilding; the owners take care of it… nature is above all.

Sharks Bay is located in front of the Tiran straight in a strategic position; it is a paradise for divers, snorkelers and romantic people… here you don’t shout, you whisper…

It is just LIKE A SMALL VILLAGE. In a couple of days you will know everyone and you will find only friendly people.

The reference point of this amazing Bay is UMBI DIVING VILLAGE. It offers beautiful rooms in front of the sea and a very efficient diving center.

You can choose between standard WOODEN BUNGALOWs that are located just in front of the beach or superior BEDOUIN ROOMS located behind the bungalows and built over a small cliff in front of the sea (take a look here http://sharksbay. com/hotel-gallery).

Umbi diving Village offers also a SEAVIEW RESTAURANT and a BEACH BAR. Life goes on at the pace of the waves in this Bay, while diving and snorkeling. THE HOUSE REEF is one of the richest and colourful and offers unexpected encounters: over the year you can easily meet eagle rays and turtles just a few step from the seashore and almost every morning you can see a big lonely barracuda waiting for its prey under the jetty.

Some years ago in the evening a big turtle decided to lay eggs in the Bay just in front of Umbi Seafood Restaurant…

You can’t imagine the guests astonishment! They were sitted at the restaurant, looking at the scene literally open mouth!

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Sharks Bay offers a great deal of DIVE SITES: it takes only 15 minute sailing to reach the famous JACKSON, THOMAS, WOODHOUSE and GORDON reef in TIRAN STRAIGHT. You can also dive in the RAS MOHAMED NATIONAL PARK known as “Allah’s garden” and enjoy the beauty of SHARKS AND JOLANDA REEF (recommended by Jacques Cousteau as one of the world most beautiful dive site).

How not to mention JACKFISH ALLEY and its sparkling caves with colourful soft corals? The beauty of this place will leave you speechless!

UMBI’S DIVING CENTER has a fleet of FOUR SHIPS (the “Freedom” fleet).

Daily trips usually start at 8.30 am until 16.30 pm. During the trip, usually you can dive twice in the mornig and once in the afternoon after the lunch aboard.

You can also decide to have a short or a long “DIVING SAFARI” liveaboard (2 to 7 days long) or plan WRECK DIVES to see the famous Thistelgorm and Dunraven sites.

After a daily trip, the divers can leave on the boat all their equipment and step towards Umbi’s place: the jetty is only 200 meters far from the beach.

Now they can relax at the diving center chatting and drinking fresh fruit juice or at the BEDOUIN TENT just in front of the sea.

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So… what will you find in Sharks Bay? Amazing dives, relaxation, a kind staff at your disposal, expert guides that will help you and support you both you are an expert underwater photographer and an openwater diver.

As you can read on Umbi Diving Village website: “you come as a guest but leave as a friend”… and it is true!

Sharks Bay is a charming place that will seduce you from the very first time!

This is the reason why every year I need to go back in “my” Sharks Bay...

It is amazing to meet people who have visited this bay once and bewitched by its beauty have decided to come back again and again and again…

SHARKS BAY IS A RARE GEM: far from the chaotic noise of Naama Bay, far from the sparkling lights of Old Sharm.

It’s a QUIET PLACE where you can ENJOY THE SEA AND THE NATURE. If you miss the nightlife, don’t worry… call a taxi and in ten minutes you will be there.

Time goes by too fast… I have to come back home… Goodbye Sharks Bay… you know it’s only a goodbye…

More info: http://sharksbay.com

Accommodation Sharks Bay Umbi offers traditional Bedouin style and hospitality alongside modern facilities.

We have three types of accommodation to fit every budget: Bedouin Village Rooms, Beach Cabins and View Huts.

Contacts info@sharksbay.com www.sharksbay.com

With our friendly, personal and professional approach come and enjoy warm Bedouin hospitality in a relaxed setting with stunning views of Tiran island.

Sharks Bay Umbi is a picturesque bay with everything on site – its own private jetty, dive centre, boats, restaurant, Bedouin cafe and 3 types of accommodation -

making it the perfect resort for your next holiday.

Unique in the area, Sharks Bay Umbi manages to retain a friendly village feel whilst still being only ten minutes from the bright lights of Sharm El Sheikh. Sharm residents describe the bay as having the feel of how Sharm used to be before the arrival of large scale tourism.

Free Nitrox to qualified divers - Free airport transfers for hotel guests Discounts apply for all bookings made before the end of 2015 - T&Cs apply To redeem these very special offers please quote ‘CLICK2015’ at the time of booking

DAN EUROPE

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YOU CAN STILL GET THAT ?

Tropical diseases and the traveller

Part of the allure of dive travel is the opportunity to enjoy unique environments both above and below the water. Exotic locations entice us with vivid beauty but may also harbor unique health risks. DAN’s medical department is often asked to provide information on various travel-related ailments, and this article provides an overview of some of the topics about which we are asked most frequently.

For residents of many developed countries, the diseases and plagues of history are distant memories, far removed from our current consciousness. Advances in medicine and public health have either eradicated or minimized the impact of many diseases that used to claim countless lives. But the stark reality is that such diseases are still very real in many parts of the world, and some are spreading to areas that previously enjoyed sanctuary. Fortunately, most of the more serious diseases are preventable. Do some research before your trip; travel health begins at home. There are several sources of reliable, up-to-date and readily available information for travelers, including the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (in Europe, please refer to the The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). DAN defers to these resources for answers to questions about disease prevention and potential health risks faced by travelers.

Vaccinations Preventing disease transmission and infection is one of the most powerful health-preservation techniques available. In addition to staying in good shape, getting sufficient sleep and maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration, vaccines are critical for protection against many diseases that have no specific treatment. Make sure your vaccinations are current, and ask your doctor if particular boosters or vaccinations are recommended for the area you’ll be visiting. Among the most commonly recommended vaccines are those for hepatitis A and B and the combination booster for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP). Others include polio and varicella (chickenpox).

If you can’t remember when or if you received these immunizations, your doctor can test the antibody levels in your blood to confirm sufficient immunity. As some of these vaccinations may require a series of injections, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor well before you travel.

Rabies Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system that is most often transmitted through infected saliva from a dog or wild-animal bite. Nearly all cases of infection are fatal to those without immunization. Post-exposure vaccinations are effective for preventing rabies if they are administered before symptoms develop. Initial symptoms may last for days following a bite, are similar to the flu and include generalized weakness, fever and headache. Symptoms then progress from anxiety, confusion and agitation to delirium, hallucinations, insomnia, paralysis, difficulty swallowing and hypersalivation.

Death usually occurs within days of these symptoms.

The CDC recommends avoidance of wild or unknown animals such as dogs, cats, raccoons, skunks, ferrets, foxes, monkeys and bats. If contact with any of these animals is possible, consider getting vaccinated. Rabies vaccination consists of a three-shot series administered over four weeks. Even if you receive a pre-exposure vaccination, you will still need immediate medical treatment if you are bitten or scratched by an animal that is a potential carrier.

Malaria Malaria is a potentially fatal vector-borne infectious disease transmitted to humans and

other vertebrates from female Anopheles mosquitoes. These night feeders can be found in tropical and subtropical areas around the world, and they may transmit protozoa of the genus Plasmodium into the bloodstream when they take a blood meal. According to the CDC, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2010 and approximately 655,000 deaths, 91 percent of which occurred in Africa.

The CDC and the WHO maintain listings of malaria risk by country, island and specific region on their websites. As you make your travel plans, consult these sites to determine if malaria is endemic to your destination. With frequent global travel there may be outbreaks in countries where malaria is not normally found. The recommendations for prophylactic medication are based on which medicine or medicines are most effective for the risk area. The choice of medicine is based on the strain of nonresistant malaria dominant to the particular area.

Once a person is infected, the parasite travels through the blood to the liver, where it goes through an incubation period that lasts from one week to several months. After that, the parasites enter red blood cells, where they replicate to the point of rupturing the red blood cells. This rupturing causes flu-like symptoms and may cause darkening of the urine. Resistance to commonly used medicines is a growing worldwide problem. The WHO Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response defines drug resistance as “the ability of a parasite strain to survive and/or multiply despite the administration and absorption of a drug given in doses equal to or higher than those usually recommended but within tolerance of the subject.” This generally applies to the persistence of parasites after treatment. There are individual parasites that are resistant to particular medicines.

The risk of contracting malaria differs by location. For most people traveling to regions where the disease is present, prevention is much easier, safer and less expensive than the cure.

Dengue Fever Dengue fever is also a mosquito-borne disease. Transmitted by several species from the genus Aedes, the incidence and geographic spread of this viral infection is increasing.

The mosquito species that spread dengue include Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Unique features of these mosquitoes are that they live and breed in proximity to human dwellings and are low-level flyers. According to the WHO, dengue is the most prevalent, worldwide, mosquito-borne viral disease, with more than 50 million infections estimated each year.

The initial infection may go unnoticed, or it may appear as flu-like symptoms. Individuals who experience no symptoms or mild, unremarkable symptoms may become carriers who enable international spread. Clinical manifestations of the disease typically occur within four to six days of being bitten. Symptoms include a sudden onset of chills, fever, severe headaches and intense muscle and joint aches, often referred to as “breakbone fever.” Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, vomiting and, in children, a cough.

The symptoms typically last about a week, and some patients experience sudden temperature drops (known as saddleback fever) during the third or fourth day.

Of particular concern is the more severe form of dengue fever, known as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). As the name implies, clinical signs include bleeding, bruising, blood

134 in the urine and stool, rash and profound shock. This form of the disease results from repeat infection when the antibodies from the initial response are still present. Therefore it is most often seen in endemic areas (areas in which the disease is known to exist) and in infants within whom maternal antibodies are still present.

Diagnosis of dengue is largely based on clinical presentation and is more likely in endemic areas where clinicians see the condition frequently. People who present to emergency rooms or primary-care offices who neglect to talk about recent travel may go undiagnosed. As this is a viral infection, treatment is supportive (intended to relieve symptoms), consisting primarily of fluids and pain medications. Although treatment is not curative, an elevated clinical suspicion may enable a more focused evaluation and preclude a lot of unnecessary testing. Such insight may also enable more appropriate surveillance and more rapid response in the event that symptoms worsen.

Mosquito Bite Prevention An important component of preventing dengue and malaria is reducing the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes. Use of protective clothing (long sleeves, pants and closed-toe shoes) and DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, the most common active ingredient in insect repellents) can minimize exposure. There is no evidence that products containing more than 50 percent DEET are any more effective. Window screens and removal of free-standing water in areas around your home will keep living spaces safer and decrease breeding opportunities. With regard to dengue fever, Aedes mosquitoes can’t fly higher than a few metres, so use of elevated beds with mosquito screens are additional strategies with demonstrated effectiveness. These precautions also reduce the risk of bites and stings by other insects that are not as worrisome as mosquitoes but can nonetheless make a vacation less enjoyable.

Food and Drink Operators of resorts and large hotels work to ensure the well-being of their guests; it is in their best interest to maintain a safe and healthy environment. In circumstances where you are not confident in the safety of food, consider the adage “boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it.” Hot and steaming is safe, as is fruit if it is freshly peeled by the consumer. Bread is safe, too, but avoid buffets, room-temperature foods, previously peeled fruit, raw produce and salads. Also avoid raw or insufficiently cooked seafood and milk products unless they are boiled or pasteurized.

Tap water at resorts is usually safe to drink, but do not hesitate to ask about the water supply and purification process before use. Venturing outside resorts increases uncertainty. The source of the water may not be known, and its potability may be suspect. Factory-sealed bottled water is safe, as are other sealed beverages. Filling water bottles or obtaining bottled water from the resort before exploring is a good idea in some areas. If you have any doubt about whether a water bottle you have bought is truly sealed, do not drink it. Ice is also suspect, especially if you are uncertain of the water source.

Ciguatera The risk of many foodborne pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli or scombroid can be minimized by following safe handling guidelines, but there are exceptions to this rule. Ciguatera is a notable example. Ciguatoxin is originally produced by dinoflagellates, minute marine organisms eaten by herbivorous fishes, which are in turn eaten by larger predatory fish such as jacks, barracuda, snapper and grouper. What makes this toxin different is that it is heat stable, which means cooking does not break down the toxin.

Symptoms of ciguatera typically appear within six to 12 hours of ingestion and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and numbness or tingling of the lips and skin around the mouth. The numbness and tingling can spread to the extremities. There may even be a reversal of hot and cold sensations. This toxin is not generally life-threatening, but there have been exceptions. Symptoms of ciguatera have been mistaken for decompression sickness, but hyperbaric treatment has no effect. Care is supportive, and symptoms usually resolve within a few days or weeks.

The best resource for knowing what fish is safe to eat is local residents, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Traveler’s Diarrhea Despite our best efforts at prevention, traveler’s diarrhea may strike. It can usually be managed without professional medical care, but it is important to know when to seek care

and to not wait too long before doing so. The following points should be used as guidelines for when to seek assistance: • Diarrhea with accompanying abdominal pain that lasts for more than 12 hours • Diarrhea with a fever of 39˚C or higher • Pain that is localized to a specific area of the abdomen • Unusual tenderness or hardness of the abdomen • Signs of shock (dizziness, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, sweating, anxiety) • Blood in the urine or stool Even if none of these serious warning signs is present, anyone who has diarrhea for 24 hours or longer should seek medical treatment. Fluid loss may surpass the individual’s ability to replace the loss solely by drinking. Over-the-counter medications to minimize diarrhea are often used and may decrease discomfort. These should not be used for more than a day or two; they are better considered as temporary relief than a definitive solution. Antibiotics may also be prescribed for traveler’s diarrhea and can speed resolution.

Wounds High heat and humidity, endemic pathogens and varying levels of sanitation mean some tropical environments present a higher risk for infection of wounds. Immediate, thorough cleaning is important once any bleeding is under control. Irrigate the wound with water clean enough to drink to remove debris and help flush out pathogens. Wash around the wound with soap; the same soap you would use at home is fine. Consider application of a topical antibiotic ointment and a sterile dressing. It is important to keep the wound as clean and dry as possible. Repeat this process every day until the wound is closed. Any redness, fever, increased drainage or pain should prompt medical attention.

The best defense against disease is maintenance of good health. Routine hygiene, a healthy diet and regular exercise are essential. Knowing what diseases you are likely to encounter will provide direction for preventative measures and help guide your choices when it comes to eating and drinking, excursions and activities. With proper planning and preventive strategies, your travels can be rewarding and uncomplicated.

Malaria Medications and Diving Traveling divers frequently ask which malaria medicines are safe for diving. There is a particular piece of incorrect information that surfaces from time to time. It has been stated erroneously that some malaria medications increase the risk of decompression illness (DCI). There is no evidence this is true. Mefloquine (Lariam®) may produce side effects that could potentially mimic symptoms of DCI. Less-common side effects that raise concern are vivid or bizarre dreams, restlessness or anxiety, confusion, paranoia and depression. These side effects are rare but clearly problematic should any of them occur during a dive.

The DAN Medical Information department has received reports of dive operators in certain parts of the world who denied service to divers using mefloquine because of some of the drug’s known side effects. Due to this possible controversy, divers should consider requesting an alternative medication that is equally suitable for the area of travel. Some branches of the U.S. military prohibit flight crews and diving personnel from using mefloquine.

The most common alternative medications are chloroquine (Aralen®), atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone®) and doxycycline, none of which are known to be particularly problematic for divers. Verify which medication or medications are effective for your planned destination using the CDC’s website ( ECDC in Europe) or WHO’s website and then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each medication with your personal health-care provider.

WORDS

Marty McCafferty and Nick Bird

Our ACTION CAM BRACKET is made of AISI 316 stainless steel (3 mm thick and with black Delrin inserts).

It consists of two laser-cut plates and a pair of folding handles with blocking mechanism. The coupling of the two plates is via a M8 dowel acting as a guide. In the rear part the handle has an additional 1/4 UNC thread for extra applications (eg. Gorilla POD or similar), an extendible guide plate and a small base for bi-adhesive connections.

An anodized aluminum stick simplifies macro recording allowing to force the minimum recording distance from the subject. The handles terminate with preanodized 6026 aluminum alloy SML-pearl-grey spheres (Ø 25 mm), thus allowing for the maximum flexibility for lights and additional parts to be connected to the base. The system can be offered with Lock-line terminations instead.

Our products are all MITQ (MADE IN ITALY TOTAL QUALITY) and allow an OPTIMAL BUOYANCY during video and photography.

Our LIGHT ARMS are made with a preanodized 6060 aluminum alloy blue tube (Ø22 mm) and have two preanodized 6026 aluminum alloy SML-pearl-grey spheres (Ø 25 mm) at the ends (9 different lengths are available).

Our BLOCKING SYSTEM (CLAMP) is composed by two preanodized aluminium alloy 6026 pearl grey SML butterfly clamps, a button-head stainless steel screw and an aluminum alloy 6026 anodized blue wing nut.

Thanks to the clutches mounted inside the clamps, tightening is smooth for adjustments but at the same time sturdy and rigid for operation.

Our SCUBA VIDEO LIGHT Led C-95, electronically realized in cooperation with Elbatech Srl, is made by an 6026 SML pearl-grey anodized aluminum alloy body (Ø 60 mm) (milled from full aluminum bar), with a ring-bezel rear cover in black Delrin (Ø 70 mm) and with a 8-mm thick front polycarbonate glass. Its weight out of the water is 750 g, in the water 270 g.

LIGHT FEATURES: - High intensity LED diode: CREE LED array CXA1304, 900 lumen, 5000°K - Viewing Angle: from 85° to 140° - CRI: 90 to 95 - Battery: Li-Ion rechargeable battery pack, 14.8V 2000 mAh (dedicated battery charger IMAX B6AC included) - Burn Time: 120 minutes @ 100% - Hydrostatic test: 120 minutes @ 9 bar - Electronics: custom-made power-led driver (Elbatech Srl, Marciana (LI), Italy) Our scuba light model 170/30 N is offered a beautiful blue briefcase containing: - 1 scuba led video light model C-95 - 1 battery charger IMAX B6AC - 1 black Delrin dedicated holder terminating with an anodized aluminium SML pearl-grey sphere (Ø 25 mm) About MECHANICS please refer to SML-SUB www.sml-sub.it e-mail: info@sml-sub.it About ELECTRONICS please refer to ELBATECH srl www.elbatech.com e-mail: info@elbatech.com

www.sml-sub.it

Sportissimo Milano by Giorgio Sangalli Via Ripamonti 15 (corner Via Giulio Romano) 20136 Milano (IT) Ph: +39 02 58305014 - e-mail: info@sportissimomilano.com At Sportissimo Milano you will always find professionalism, experience, customer service, products selection and the best quality/price ratio.

You will find the best products and the best brands, you will see and touch and try (many products are available also to an underwater test) before you decide to buy anything.

Visit also www.sportissimomilano.com a MEGAStore on-line in which you will find a huge amount of selected and guaranteed items.

You will find all the latest products and special offers such as warranty extension, all inclusive equipment inspections and many other!

Sportissimo Milano is also on facebook: click “like� here and find special offers every day https://www.facebook.com/sportissimo.milano?fref=ts

www.easydive.eu

This accessory has the function of “rear-view mirror�, applied at the junction of the arms through a triple clamp CP/3 allows to view what happens behind.

Through an additional quick release arm AR13/SF it is possible to use the mirror by hand for macro photo effect.

The front part is arranged with a 67 mm thread that allows to place additional lenses. The side is also arranged with threaded holes M8, Kodak and M6 that allows to place balls SF/M8, SF/WT and SF/M6.

The ball and the mirror holder are made out of anticorodal aluminum anodized 40 microns to ensure the maximum durability and excellent resistance to wear and to sea salt.

The mirror is resined in order to maintain a long lifetime.

N O LL II M M I IT T N O

visit us online: www.hollis.com/eu www.facebook.com/HollisGear