Known for their striking colors, patterns and forms, nudibranchs are found in seas all over the world. Sculptor Gar Waterman’s fascination with these sea slugs extends beyond his aesthetic appreciation for their unique, organic form. Because most nudibranchs have a life span of less than a year and adapt rapidly to changes in their environment, they help scientists understand the impact of global warming on ocean health. With each nudibranch that he has cut, chiseled and polished from stone, Waterman hopes to communicate their quirky beauty and scientific role.
AS YOU MAKE PLANS TO DIVE THIS SUMMER, remember that an important benefit of DAN membership is access to DAN Medical Services.
We’ve all seen tragic images of suffering marine animals entangled in monofilament line or other marine debris.
DAN RESEARCH IS CONTINUALLY LOOKING for divers, researchers, and health care professionals to volunteer to support our work. Depending on your availability and location, you might qualify as a diver […]
Dive training agencies track the number of certifications they issue, but the number of active divers worldwide is still unverified. As dive research grows, identifying the denominator for the dive population is increasingly important.
In 1943 a hyperbaric chamber in London reached an air pressure equal to 300 feet (91 meters), and nitrogen narcosis hammered the three dry divers inside. They reached for the rubber mouthpieces of their dive gear, which delivered 100% oxygen.
Ken Nedimyer’s connection to the sea began early. He put himself through college by collecting tropical fish and diving for lobster in the Florida Keys.
Coral restoration projects are currently underway in the Florida Keys to help rebuild these reefs from the ground up. Coral nurseries off the coast of Florida, grow and later transfer corals.
Cristina Mittermeier has been recognized as a Sony Artisan of Imagery, one of Outdoor Photographer magazine’s 40 Most Influential Nature Photographers and a recipient of the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Conservation Photographer of the Year award.
In the six years Neha Mani has been diving, she has seen a notable difference in coral reef vitality as a result of climate change. Coral skeletons on the powdery sand of the seafloor haunt the living coral with their cautionary tale. Numerous factors contribute to coral bleaching, but we know it is an extension of our changing climate. The steps we take to protect the reefs have broader benefits beyond just the coral. Through our conscious efforts to protect our oceans, we can hopefully pave a path to environmental recovery.
