Conch
Conch snails are remarkable creatures with a set of eyes, a nose (sort of), a mouth and one foot. And because they’re slow, conches are commonly picked up and are a considered a delicacy in some regions.
Alert Diver Issue: Q1 2017
Differentiating Coral Bleaching and Coral Mortality
Corals bleach, or turn white, when their symbiotic algae are expelled from the corals’ tissues due to stressors such as excessively warm water. Bleached corals can and do recover when favorable conditions resume.
Night Drifters
Recent studies have shown larval fishes to be strong swimmers with sophisticated instincts for remaining in local waters. But exactly where they go between spawning and settlement remains a mystery.
Invisible Crystals
Polymorphic crystallization inside hoses has recently emerged as a hazard divers should be aware of. Be sure to replace old hoses, limit hoses’ exposure to high temperatures, and follow manufacturers’ maintenance recommendations.
Dutch Springs
Pennsylvania is not known as a premier dive destination, but on the east side of the state is a gem for divers. Dutch Springs is an old quarry-turned-lake and was made into a scuba diving facility.
DAN Member Profile: Deano Cook
Tattoo artist Deano Cook is also an accomplished painter and underwater photographer. The DAN member discusses how he got into scuba diving and what he enjoys about the sport.
Studying Deep Reefs and Deep Divers
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is the largest marine conservation area in the United States and one of the largest in the world. Studying the biodiversity of the Hawaiian archipelago using scuba has given scientists a unique opportunity to monitor the physiological impacts of deep dives and thus expand our knowledge of diving science, particularly decompression risk.
Member to Member: Giving Back
An ophthalmologist set up a team to perform eye surgeries in Grenada as a way to give back to the local community. More than 100 children received eye exams.
Rediscovering History Preserved by the Sea
During a short, 25-minute dive professional divers were able to extensively photograph an aircraft that sank in 1944.
The Restoration Revolution
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.