"Getting It Right" in Social Work

A Social Work Month Message From Darla Spence Coffey, Council on Social Work Education President & CEO

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/2lnqzhn

Social Work Month 2017 - Greetings & Proclamation

The National Association of Social Workers has chosen "Social Workers Stand Up" for the 2017 Social Work Month theme. Here is a proclamation, signed and read by The New Social Worker publisher/editor, Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW.

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3 Curtain Rod Alternatives

From time to time, it’s good to change things up a bit. Instead of going with a traditional curtain rod, why not try one of the following alternatives for a more creative option?

Image Source: Flickr

Rod-Free Curtains
Curtains don’t have to be hung with rods. Instead of using a store-bought or homemade rod, hammer a line of nails across arched and straight windows. Evenly space the nails and paint them to match the walls or the curtains. Once the paint is dry, loop the curtains over the nails or hang them with ribbons or large hooks. Another unique option is to space old door or cabinet knobs about 12 inches apart along the top of the window; use wood screws or nails to secure them in place. Cut holes in the curtains or use tab top panels and loop them over the knobs. If you’re using brass or metal knobs, paint them to ensure that the curtains won’t be stained should the knobs tarnish. Source: EHow

Coat Hangers
You can use coat hangers as another alternative for curtain rods. Put the coat hooks on the window frames. You can simply attach the curtain to the rods. Or, if you want something really eye-catching, you can use a ribbon to tie the openings of the curtain to the rod. This will add a whimsy appeal to your curtains. This style goes best in the living room or children’s room. You can even paint the coat hangers to make it stand out or blend with the colors of the walls. Source: DoItYourself

Branching Out
Sometimes the perfect object for a lightweight drapery rod may be sitting right outside your window. Branches can make for excellent, sculptural drapery rods with a few simple do-it-yourself updates. Search for a branch with the proper length and width to fit above a window and handle the weight of the chosen drapery panel. Next, cut it to size and spray-paint it in a color which contrasts well against the wall. Lastly, secure standoffs, ready-made drapery rod brackets or L-brackets directly to the wall using plastic drywall anchors, then attach the branch with screws or bailing wire. Source: HGTV

Tell us your creative plans! We’ll try our best to help you out. Contact us!

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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Dive Site: The MV Captain Keith Tibbetts

 Unseasonal winds made for a choppy sea and uncomfortable ride to the dive site. It was obvious how boats could run aground on Cayman’s barrier reef in these conditions. But on our recent visit to the wreck of the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts, it was a different story once we were underwater. The calm enfolded us as the broken frigate’s shape loomed out of the blue. Once-threatening guns now invited me to explore one of Cayman’s most iconic dive sites.

Cayman Brac, known locally as “the Brac,” (pronounced Brack) is the second-largest of the three Cayman Islands. Largest in size and population is Grand Cayman; smallest is Little Cayman, also a great dive destination. The Brac is named for the bluff that’s the highest point in all of Cayman. At only 140 feet, it’s not even as high as many of the cruise ships that visit Grand Cayman, but it is popular for land activities such as hiking and rock climbing. At 90 miles northeast of Grand Cayman and within sight of Little Cayman, visitors can only reach Cayman Brac via small plane (or a long boat ride). The trip is worth it, though. There are almost as many dive sites as permanent residents, and one of the very best is the wreck of the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts.

Diving the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts

On the northwest side of the Brac, also reachable via boat from Little Cayman, lies the wreck of the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts. The Soviet Union built this 330-foot-long Koni II class frigate in 1984 for the Cuban Navy. The Cayman Islands government purchased it for tourism and scuttled it off the shore of the Brac in 1996. It was renamed the MV Captain Keith Tibbets after a local dive operator.

Although you can reach the wreck via a long surface swim of about 200 yards (183 m) on a calm day, it’s far easier to hop on a dive boat. Depart from Cayman Brac Beach Resort or Southern Cross Club if you’re staying on Little Cayman.

There are diving buoys fore-and-aft on the wreck, with 85 feet (26 m) of depth at the bow and 60 feet (18 m) at the stern. The conning tower reaches up to the shallows, and offers a good place to work your way up to a safety stop. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 caused massive damage on the land, and also tore the Tibbetts in two, scattering a lot of debris.  Old wiring and parts dispersed by the hurricane make it seem like the wreck met a dramatic end, rather than a planned scuttling.

Sights on the Wreck

The turret guns remain in place and make for great photos. We didn’t penetrate the wreck, focusing instead on the outside. There are several safe entry points for experienced wreck divers, but use caution and don’t attempt penetration without proper gear and experience. The wreck has only been underwater for 20 years, but the sea life is quite well established. You can also see coral growth on the reef wall just off the bow, and there’s a friendly resident goliath grouper.

Visibility in Cayman is usually excellent. When we dived the Tibbetts you could easily see 100 feet (30 m) along the wreck. The depth of the foredeck means, however, that you’ll lose most of the color. Hurricane season runs from July to November, although there can be some great summer diving with the pressure flattening the water. The most popular time to visit is in March and April. May and November can be quite wet. Water temperatures range from 76 to 82 (24 to 27 C) degrees year-round. A 3mm to 5mm wetsuit should be plenty for most divers.

By guest author Jez Snead

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What I’m reading: Vol 77.

 

Hello darlings,

You may have noticed I’ve been posting a bit less often. I hate to be here with you less, but I’m doing so very many things now that I felt like I needed to reduce my blog schedule a little bit. I want to make sure I have time to put together quality content for you, rather than cranking something out just because I wanted to stick to my beloved 3 times a week schedule.

Continue reading What I’m reading: Vol 77. at Diamonds in the Library.

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Beauty Retailing Tips to Attract Customers & Increase Sales

Few small beauty business owners focus on retailing, yet retail product sales have the potential to support service revenue and increase profit margins. Considering retail has a much higher profit margin than services, focusing on a retail strategy can increase the bottom line and salon success. We have assembled a list of tips designed to attract customers and increase retail sales:

No1- Sell products you believe in
Sell the products used during services in the retail area of your salon or spa. If you’re passionate about a product or a brand and genuinely believe in it's performance, it will be evident. Clients are far more likely to purchase a product if recommended authentically. A salon that is lucky enough to co-brand with a prestige hair or beauty brand inherits associated recognition and trust.

No2 - Demonstrate and display products
Product demonstrations allow you to show off your expertise as well as a product's performance. Rather than talk about the finisher you’re using on the client’s hair, hand them the product to examine for themselves. Let them touch and smell it - creating a tangible connection. Ideally, every appointment should conclude with customized product recommendations. 

No3 - Product Recommendations
Selling retail is simply equipping your clients with the products required to recreate their new look at home themselves. Style maintenance is the last step of your salon service and contributes enormously to client satisfaction. As a professional stylist, your product recommendations create both loyalty and trust.

Retail Tip: Every time you sell a client retail product, client retention (for that client) goes up 30%! 

No4 - Tempt customers with a first time discount
Even a small discount (10%) may be enough to sway a client into purchasing a product for the first time. Casually mention that you’re able to offer a first time discount if they express an interest in the product or compliment it as you’re using it. Keep in mind the potential of future repurchase profits.

No5 - Window displays
Regularly freshen-up your window displays to match seasonal changes and trends. Walk or drive-by traffic will be drawn in by new, interesting displays. Dress up your windows to match the occasion and include retail product in your displays to entice and communicate your product offerings.

No6 - Keep displays neat and inviting
Organized, creative, colorful product displays draw the eye are much more likely to tempt curious clients. Create a boutique environment by investing in details that make your retail area standout. 

Retail Tip: The first place guests naturally look when they enter a salon is to the right, so merchandise products on a display table to the center-right of the door where clients walk in.

No7 - Let customers touch and try products
For beauty retail products it’s important that clients be able to touch and try the products before purchase to guarantee satisfaction. Offer "testers" of every item you sell from eye shadow to fragrance – few will be able to resist! This applies to hair tools as well; display a "tester" appliance allowing potential consumers to hold it, feel the weight, and get an overall 360° view.

Retail Tip: If the product is stocked below or behind the display it encourages clients to pull and purchase. Cha-ching!

No8 - Pick products with obvious selling points
It’s human nature to be curious and it’s hard to resist trying a new lip shade, whiff a scent, or browse pretty objects. In addition to salon retail, mix in seasonal merchandise such as headbands, clips, makeup, jewelry, cosmetic bags and greeting cards (perfect accompaniment to a salon gift card). Unique retail items displayed and merchandised add to a guest's "salon experience".

No9: Try me station
Create a "Try Me" Station to encourage clients to test products. The station should be located at a mirror with a chair and a duplicate set of testers, cotton balls, tissue and Q-tips. Encourage testing with a "try me" sign at the station.

No10 - Point of sale signage
Point of sale signage, or shelf talkers, mixed into retail displays both inform and encourage purchase. Signage should be designed to clearly communicate product attributes, ingredients and price.

No11 - Loyalty cards or points
Set up a retail reward program - offer rewards when clients spend over a specific dollar amount on retail products or buys a specific number of retail products. This encourages guests to purchase retail from your salon, and your salon only. Salon management software helps you track client’s spending and reward loyalty.

No12 - Hold product parties
Boost retail sales by throwing an after-hours "invite only" product party. This is a fun and social way to reward loyal clients, as well as introduce them to the latest retail launches. Tempt clients with free treatments, mini-spa services, or discounts on products purchased the night of event. Give-away product samples or discount coupons off their next salon retail purchase.

No13 - Front desk retail follow up
Even if you or your salon stylist has spoken enthusiastically about a product, it’s the front desk that often seals the deal; set up a system that includes a retail follow-up at check out. 

No14 - Team competitions
Run an informal retail competition between your employees – the stylist that sells the most each week gets a free product of their choice – or an alternative cash prize. 

March Beauty Retailing Tips
With a bit of luck you can have your salon or spa decked out in green and welcome clients with clever incentives throughout the month of March. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired:

Stand Out In-Salon Merchandising  —
While green is the color of shamrocks and leprechauns, emerald green is also the color du jour. We love this sophisticated jewel tone used throughout the salon, try small bouquets of live clover and lavender, mix-in merchandising elements such as clover shaped point of sale signs. 

Go Green —
Green is the traditional symbol for sustainability and environmentalism. Create a “green” email campaign that highlights your salon’s sustainability efforts, or use clovers as an accent to reference the green-themed holiday.

Point of Sale Signs —
Tell your story clearly with themed point of sale signs or shelf talkers mixed into retail displays. Point of sale signs clearly state prices, products, packages, or specials you wish to highlight which both informs and encourages purchase. 

Fresh Flowers —
We love to use fresh flowers mixed into displays - for such a little cost, fresh small bouquets in varying mini vases filled with pink or red roses or peonies add zest to any retail display. 

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Need a Brand or Website Makeover (or both)?

MARCH SPECIAL BRAND IDENTITY AND READY TO WEAR WEBSITE FOR $4000
(SAVINGS OF $500)

Beauty branding is all about first impressions and in the business of beauty the bar is set high. Salons need a distinctive style to stand out and attract fashion-savvy clients in an over-saturated market. With new salons and product lines popping up at a rapid pace, building a strong brand identity is an essential part of owning a business, and one of the most important assets you can use to help set your salon apart from it's competitors.

Building a brand can take a good amount of time, effort and resources, and can often be challenging if you don’t know where to begin. If you’re developing a new brand for your salon, make sure you are on the right track to building a strong brand that represents your salon and attracts the clientele you want by asking yourself these 5 questions.

1. What is your salon’s personality?
If your salon were a person, would you describe it as “lighthearted and bubbly”, or “elegant and disciplined”? Defining the personality and essence of your salon is important, and the answer should be reflected throughout your branding. The goal here is to let customers know what the atmosphere of your salon is before they even schedule an appointment, so you can feel confident you are building relationships with potential long-term clients from the first interaction you make with them.

2. What are your client’s needs?
Building your salon’s brand is more than a one-person job — it requires input from you, your staff and, most importantly, your clients. The customers you have can help you determine the direction you need to move in while developing your brand. If the majority of your clientele are looking for an environmentally friendly salon that focuses on all-natural products and treatments, being aware of this will help you work it into your brand to further cater to your audience.

3. What are your competitors doing?
Spend time studying competing salon’s brands and identities to help you decide the direction you should be taking with your own brand development. If your closest competitors pride themselves on their exclusive, boutique-like atmosphere, it may be beneficial for you to take more of a low-key, down-to-earth approach to set yourself apart. Creating a brand that is memorable and unique will help you stand out from the other salons in your area as well as in the minds of your clients.

4. How will you be consistent?
Being consistent is one of the most important aspects of developing a brand. If there’s no cohesiveness to your website, business cards, and salon’s exterior and interior design, clients will not know what to expect from your business. Make sure the decisions you make about colors, visuals and word choice are consistent to help bring strength to your salon’s brand.

5. How will you get your brand out there?
So you’ve developed a unique, cohesive brand — now it’s time to get it out there. Set up a website and social media accounts that also reinforce your salon’s brand, and encourage your clients to spread the word through posts on Instagram and Facebook, and by taking part in a client referral program. You and your team shouldn’t be the only ones pushing out the brand you have developed — your clients can help with this process in a genuine way while attracting other potential customers.

A salon’s brand should be carefully crafted to ensure it represents the salon in an authentic way. If developed correctly, your brand can help persuade clients to choose the services you offer over others. By asking yourself a few questions before you begin the process of developing a brand for your salon, you can be sure you are not only setting yourself apart from competitors, but also attracting the clientele you desire. Building a brand is the first step to salon success, and can have a huge impact by helping boost your business and increasing client satisfaction. 
For more information about our Brand Identity Development services click here

Our new Ready-to-Wear Website package gets customized to make it all your own. Everything from text, to images, color palette, fonts, and wallpaper to reflect your beauty brand. Site designed upon our very own SquareSpace designed theme created just for beauty businesses like you. 

Page N°1 Home
Page N°2 About Us
Page N°3 Services
Page N°4 Your Choice
Page N°5 Contact
Page N°6 Book Appointment/or Your Choice

All of our websites include:
- Fully Mobile Responsive Design
- Search Engine Friendly Coding
- Homepage Slide Show
- Email Contact Form
- Social Media Links
* Annual website hosting and maintenance is not included

For more information about our Ready-To-Wear Websites click here

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Top Five Underwater Drones

Drones are coming to a sea near you. After the last few years’ advances in underwater digital imaging and videography, the next big thing is likely to be remote-controlled underwater drones.

The technology is already there, with professional salvagers and underwater explorers using remotely-operated robots for some time now. But the technology has thus far been prohibitively expensive, and has required quite a lot of skill and training to operate. But prices have dropped with this new generation of consumer drones, and usability is quite high. So take your pick — we’re counting down five of the best underwater drones.

OpenROV Trident

This drone is the layman’s version of a professional ROV, communications tether and all. But where professional ROVs can run up to $20,000, this one comes in between $1499 and $2000. Users control the unit topside using a smartphone or tablet. A built-in HD camera and up to 330 feet (100 m) of tether allow you to capture high-def video at depth. Shipping starts later this year; pre-orders are open now.

Maximum depth: Up to 330 feet (100 m), depending on tether
Autonomous: No
Camera: Onboard 1080 HD
Price: $1499 and up
Available: Pre-order available; launch expected mid-2017
More information here

 

Fathom ONE

Closely related to the Trident is the Fathom ONE. This one also utilizes a tether and wireless controls using Android or iOS devices. The price tag is lower, though, with the Fathom ONE having a retail price of only $600. The drone does have a depth-limit of 150 feet, however. The drone has backing through Kickstarter, but you can pre-order one on their website, with delivery expected in July 2017.

Maximum depth: Up to 150 feet (46 m)
Autonomous: No
Camera: Onboard 1080 HD
Price: $599
Available: Kickstarter campaign running; pre-order available; launch expected July 2017
More information here

 

Deep Trekker DTG2

Another consumer drone that emulates a professional one, the DTG2 claims to be one of the easiest to maneuver. It also boasts up to eight hours of battery life (compared to one hour for the Fathom ONE). The DTG2 is part of a product line, so you can pick the one that suits your needs. The basic model, called the DTG2 Starter, will take you to 165 feet (50 m) with its tether and features a 700 ppi camera. The advanced model, the DTG2 Smart, sports a 246-foot tether (75 m) and features such as depth and pitch sensors. Prices are steep, though — up to $10,000 for the Smart drone.

Maximum depth: Up to 490 feet (150 m) depth rating for the DTG2 Smart
Autonomous: No
Camera: Onboard 700 HD
Price: From $3,899 to $10,000
Available: Now
More information here

 

iBubble

The first truly autonomous of the underwater drones on the list, the iBubble is the first one developed specifically for scuba divers. About the size of a lifeguard’s flotation device, the iBubble will quite literally follow you around like a dog on your dive, recording not just the dive site, but also you and your buddies as well. The operator wears a bracelet so the iBubble knows who to follow. You can also use the bracelet to call the drone to you if you want to use it as a camera, or if you need to surface. The drone can move up to 80 feet (25 m) away from divers.

An optional tether is available for surface-based real-time video. Interchangeable, rechargeable batteries (rather than permanently built-in ones) mean you can use the drone on repetitive dives; each battery lasts about an hour. The company behind the iBubble is currently running an Indiegogo campaign.

Maximum depth: Up to 197 feet (60 m)
Autonomous: Yes
Camera: No, but GoPro compatible
Price: $2,599 retail; $1,999 on Indiegogo
Available: Expected May 2018
More information here

 

Loon Copter

A team from Oakland University in California developed the Loon Copter, by far the most futuristic of this group of underwater drones. It’s the Navy SEAL (SEa, Air, Land) of drones: an aerial drone capable of diving and swimming. The design closely resembles a traditional airborne drone, with four propellers giving it lift and helping it take off, fly and hover. But submerse it in water, and something crazy happens: it turns on its side and uses the propellers to start maneuvering underwater. The Loon Copter is the one-stop-shop drone that allows you to capture above-water footage of hikes or boat trips and then transition, within a single film, to underwater footage.

It is untethered, but does need a pilot. This does limit range, particularly underwater. The third version of the prototype won the Drones for Good exhibition in Dubai in 2016, but there’s no news yet of when, or if, there will be a commercially available version.

Maximum depth: Unknown
Autonomous: No, but untethered
Camera: Yes, but specs are unknown
Price: Unknown
Available: Unknown
More information here

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Conservation Spotlight: Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project

Dedicated to protecting dolphins since the 1970s, the Dolphin Project aims to stop dolphin hunting and captivity around the world. Today we are chatting with Christine Gau, Project Coordinator. She offers more details about the different actions led by Dolphin Project.

What is the Dolphin Project doing?

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project has worked to protect wild and captive dolphins worldwide since 1970. We seek to end the hunting, slaughter, and live capture of dolphins for the entertainment industry. We rely on a combination of field-based projects and public-awareness initiatives. 

How and why did it start?

Ric O’Barry, a former trainer for the television show Flipper, founded the organization. The Dolphin Project arose from the desire to bring the suffering of captive dolphins, forced to perform unnatural behaviors for human entertainment, to an end. After watching his favorite dolphin deteriorate and ultimately die in his arms, O’Barry realized the toll that captivity takes on the lives of marine mammals. Thenceforward he dedicated his efforts to ending dolphin captivity, and in the years since, he has advocated tirelessly for the end of captive marine-mammal entertainment.

What are the main actions and/or areas of focus?

Dolphin Project is working to end dolphin hunts in areas including Indonesia and the Solomon Islands, and to offer sustainable economic alternatives to hunting. We work within the community to increase understanding of marine protection. We have established a dolphin rehabilitation center in Indonesia for stranded and accidentally-caught dolphins. And we also work closely with government officials to provide infrastructure for enforcement of conservation regulations.  

How many people are involved and what are their roles?

While our core team remains very small, Dolphin Project thrives with the support of dedicated volunteers. For six months each year, Dolphin Project staffs volunteer Cove Monitors in Taiji, Japan. Here they observe and document the dolphin slaughters that take place. The 2010 Academy Award-winning documentary, The Cove, highlights the hunts there and Ric’s involvement. Raising awareness about these hunts, which supply aquariums around the world with live-caught dolphins, has been a primary objective for Ric and the team for over a decade. Fishermen sell dozens of dolphins each year and drive the remaining members of their pod to shore to be slaughtered for meat or feed.

How can people help?

Ongoing public awareness is a key objective. We endeavor to support the efforts of grassroots organizations and individuals who wish to raise awareness. One of the biggest ways people can help is by learning about and sharing information on how dolphins are captured from the wild and how they are trained to perform in aquariums. Take the pledge not to buy a ticket to a dolphin show. Don’t participate in a swim-with-dolphins encounter. Ask others to do the same. Individuals can reach their own family, friends, and communities with direct communication.

By decreasing consumer demand for these exploitative forms of entertainment, we can collectively end the hunts that fuel them, and end the harmful conditions of captivity for dolphins. Please visit our website for more or donate here.

 

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Five Marine Species Threatened by Polar Climate Change

Often referred to as global warming, climate change is caused by a combination of natural and human influences. Human factors that affect climate change include deforestation, animal agriculture, ozone depletion and the massive increase in fossil-fuel consumption since the Industrial Revolution. When we burn fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, we release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases accumulate, trapping heat from the Earth’s surface and creating a significant increase in global air and sea temperatures. The effects of global warming are visible everywhere, but perhaps nowhere more so than in the Arctic and Antarctica. Polar climate change affects habitat for countless species that cannot survive elsewhere.

The most obvious impact of polar climate change is the large-scale ice melt as a consequence of rising sea temperatures. In the Arctic, when ancient permafrost thaws, it releases carbon and methane gases that have been trapped beneath the ice for millions of years. These gases add to the greenhouse effect, causing further warming and melting, and so the cycle continues. Similarly, while ice and snow reflect approximately 90 percent of the sun’s energy, open water absorbs approximately 94 percent of it. Therefore, as the ice melts and exposes more water, the polar environment absorbs more heat.

The entire ecosystem at both poles relies on the continued presence of sea ice. Polar animals, depending on the species, use the sea ice as nesting sites, a resting place or a breeding ground. Most importantly, the polar food chain is built upon the sea ice. Sea algae adheres to the underbelly of the ice, providing food for krill. This in turn provides sustenance either directly or indirectly to the entire spectrum of polar wildlife. Without ice, life in the Arctic or Antarctica would be impossible. This why climate change has the potential to wreak such devastation in these fragile regions. Here we’ll take a look at five of the marine species most threatened by polar climate change and melting ice.

Polar Bear

Conservationists often depict polar bears as the poster species for climate change in the Arctic, and for good reason. In 2014, a study carried out on polar bears in northeast Alaska and the Northwest Territories documented a 40 percent population loss between 2001 and 2010. These figures represent this species’ decline throughout its range as a direct result of disappearing sea ice. According to experts, Arctic sea ice is melting at a rate of 9 percent per decade. This puts the polar bear’s exclusive habitat in danger.

Polar bears depend on the ice as a hunting ground and as a vital resting place. The bears prey mainly on seals. They ambush the seals as they sleep on ice floes or surface through holes in the ice to breathe. The disappearance of the sea ice means that polar bears have to swim greater distances to find the seals. In 2008, the U.S. Endangered Species Act listed the polar bear as a threatened species.

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Walrus

Walrus populations in the Arctic are also at risk due to imminent habitat loss. Walruses spend approximately half their life on the ice, which they use as a resting place, and as a breeding and pupping ground. Traditionally, female walruses and their calves spend the summer on the fringes of the Arctic sea ice. But in 2014, the drastic shrinking of the summer ice fields forced 35,000 walruses to haul out at Point Lay beach in Alaska instead.

On land, walruses aggregate in one spot instead of spreading out as they would on ice. The slightest disturbance can cause a stampede, in which the newborn calves are often crushed and killed. Disease spreads quickly and the accumulated filth of the impromptu walrus colony ensures that any injuries rapidly become infected. With scientists anticipating that summer sea ice could disappear completely in the near future, the horrors of the 2014 mass haul-out at Point Lay may soon become commonplace.

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Greenland Shark

The Greenland shark is one of only two shark species that live in Arctic waters. Relatively little is known about this enigmatic species thanks largely to its preference for deep water. However, we do know that the Greenland shark is a predator at the top of the complex Arctic food web. If the sea ice disappears, the algae that forms the basis of that food web will also disappear, causing a collapse that will affect all species, including the Greenland shark. Another potential hazard of climate change in the Arctic is the expansion of commercial fisheries as the melting ice makes the region more accessible.

Greenland sharks have toxic flesh, so fisheries do not target them. However, because they live predominantly on the seafloor, they are susceptible to bycatch as a result of benthic trawling methods. Greenland sharks mature at a late age and have a slow rate of reproduction, making it unlikely that they could recover should overfishing become a problem.

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Emperor Penguin

In 2014, a group of researchers published a study based on an emperor penguin colony at Terra Adelie in Antarctica. The study stated that by the end of the century, more than two-thirds of Antarctica’s emperor penguin colonies will have declined by at least 50 percent if climate change continues at its current rate.

Like most polar species, changes to the sea ice are triggering this decline. The ice provides crucial habitat for the emperor penguins as a breeding and nesting site. In Antarctica, shifting weather patterns have resulted in the decline of ice in some areas, and an increase of ice in other areas, both of which adversely affect the penguin colonies. If there is too much ice between their nesting site and the sea, adult penguins have to travel further to hunt and bring back food for their chicks. If there is not enough ice, the penguins risk losing their nesting sites as well as a reduction in the abundance of krill, a critical food source for this species.

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Belugas

The imminent collapse of the food chain as a result of disappearing sea ice threatens beluga whales as well. As Arctic waters become increasingly navigable, fisheries and oil and gas prospectors will flock to the region. This means an exponential rise in shipping traffic. This causes a problem for belugas (and all Arctic whales), as the ships’ sonar interferes with their echolocation techniques. The melting sea ice also means that the belugas can’t use camouflage as a defense mechanism against predation.

Perhaps most seriously for the belugas, rising Arctic sea temperatures have caused the proliferation of one such predator, the killer whale. Unpredictable weather patterns associated with climate change often cause pack ice to rapidly shift and refreeze, as well, trapping the belugas underneath. The whales then congregate around small holes in the ice to breathe, where they become easy pickings for their other major predator, the polar bear.

These five species represent just a tiny fraction of the total biodiversity threatened by polar climate change. Sometimes, the sheer scale of this destruction seems overwhelming. It’s easy to feel that losing the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems is a foregone conclusion. But all is not lost. Although the Arctic ice sheet has undoubtedly diminished over the last 10 years, measurements of the ice sheet at its minimum summer extent in 2014 showed an improvement of approximately 580,000 square miles on the same measurements for 2012.

We can still win the fight to save the polar regions, and you needn’t be a scientist to help. Human activity is largely to blame for climate change, so take charge of your choices and reduce your footprint. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Stop eating meat and fish, or at least drastically curtail your consumption. Walk or bike short distances instead of driving. These actions may seem small, but if we all committed to them, the cumulative benefits for not only the polar ice, but for the entire planet, would be huge.

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Truli Wetsuits for Women Reveals its Most Colorful Wetsuit Yet

 Truli Wetsuits, scuba diving’s newest women’s wetsuit brand, announces an additional color, a new collection, one more size and a SALE to celebrate! Paying close attention to what female scuba divers prefer is what makes Truli Wetsuits a refreshing alternative to the mainstream wetsuit market.

From now until February 28th, 2017, divers can save 25 percent off the Truli-Mi in Pashy Passion Pink and Truli-Capri in Harmony. Orders placed now will be shipped in March 2017. At check-out use discount code: TRULI25

In 2016, Truli announced their first collection, the 3.5mm fleece-lined shorty called the Truli-Mi, with rave reviews. Women adore the extra warmth that the fleece-lining provides, front zip, detailed craftsmanship, and stylish design.

Over the past year, women requested slight variations in the Truli-Mi design. They asked for pink trim, brighter colors, longer legs, and more sizes. With a goal to offer all women a wetsuit that is true to them, Mia Toose, CEO and designer, made some simple, but very impressive updates to the Truli-Mi.

The Truli-Mi – Follow your heart, follow your passion. Fall in love with scuba diving in your Truli-Mi wetsuit in Pashy Passion Pink.

Pashy Passion Pink is the newest color in the Truli-Mi collection. A total of four bold color options are now available: Fireball Orange, Into the Blue, Pot of Gold yellow and Pashy Passion Pink.

Scuba girls who aren’t afraid to stand out in a sea of black wetsuits will embrace Truli’s second design, the Truli-Capri in Harmony. The suit offers vibrant outside colors in tune with the sea, matched with blaze-orange fleece lining to ignite the spirit. This colorful wetsuit also offers a longer leg, adding more skin coverage, warmth and protection.

The Truli- Capri – When everything comes together in just the right way, we call it Harmony.

Truli Wetsuits recognizes that women who feel good in their gear and apparel perform better, possess confidence, and feel empowered to pursue their sports and adventure goals. Therefore, it is Mia’s mission to ensure that the wetsuits accommodate every female form. The style and cut is flattering for all figures and with an additional size now available, even more divers can be a part of the Truli family. Review the Truli sizing chart and stay tuned as more sizes become available.

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Reviews

Hayley Eaude of Black Manta Photography says,

“Soft to touch, this is extremely comfortable and easy on the skin. It’s also nice and toasty when you are out of the water on those surface intervals!”

Andrea Traynor of Mommy Gearest reviews her Truli-Mi and says,

“The sizing is spot on. I’m a size 10-12 right now and assumed I would need an XL, but in the end, the L fit me beautifully.”

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Videos

Hayley Eaude’s review of a Truli-Mi wetsuit in Mauritius

Truli Wetsuits for women sunrise scuba adventure in the Truli-Capri      

Designer, Mia Toose’s first impressions of the Truli-Capri

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Wetsuits can be purchased online and in select retailers in Toronto, Canada, Dominican Republic and the Turks & Caicos Islands. Interested sales representatives are asked to contact Mia directly to express an interest.

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Aller Media all-in with video future, but cautious with investment

"All our brands produce video, both through dedicated video people, wired content, and journalists who do video as part of their reporting," says Stephan Granhaug, Executive Vice President Digital, Aller Media AS, Norway.

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Did Kelly Slater Really Just Call for a Shark Cull?

It seems wildly out of character for someone who claims to be dedicated to conservation, and yet here we are: pro-surfer Kelly Slater has called — unbelievably — for a shark cull around Reunion Island in the aftermath of a bodyboarder’s death there after a fatal attack on February 21.

What happened?

A shark bit Alexandre Naussance, a former shark spotter for a surfing association, in the leg while he was bodyboarding in an area that was marked as off-limits to swimmers and watersports enthusiasts, precisely because of the danger posed by sharks. Bitten in the femoral artery, Naussance bled to death before fellow bodyboarders and fishermen who witnessed the attack could stanch the wound. Saint-Andre deputy mayor Marie-Lise Chane told The Sun that the area is well-known for attracting sharks.

“The dangers of the site were indicated by signs prohibiting swimming and water activities, but they were sawn off over the weekend,” Chane said.

The BBC further reported that fishermen had warned the bodyboarders of sharks in the area that day. And finally, local authorities had issued an island-wide ban on swimming outside tightly supervised areas earlier in February.

According to The Daily Mail, “The fact that the victim was unaware of the danger prompted fears that he was a holidaymaker who had no idea that the waters were so dangerous. Locals later said that the man was part of a group of bodyboarders who had arrived on Sunday or Monday.”

Despite this, it’s still not clear whether Naussance ignored the warnings or didn’t know about them.

What gives, Kelly Slater?

Since 2011 there have been 20 shark attacks off Reunion Island, which sits off the east coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Eight of the attacks have been fatal, including this one. It’s this relatively high number that led Slater to call for a shark cull in the area on an Instagram post in tribute to the victim. Slater’s comment in full read as follows:

“Honestly, I won’t be popular for saying this but there needs to be a serious cull on Reunion and it should happen every day. There is a clear imbalance happening in the ocean there. If the whole world had these rates of attack nobody would use the ocean and literally millions of people would be dying like this. The French govt needs to figure this out asap. 20 attacks since 2011!?”

This comment is especially backward given Slater’s foray into conservation with a partnership campaign between his company, Outerknown, and the Ocean Conservancy. Called “It’s Not Okay,” the tagline for the campaign is a quote by Slater: “We need to shift our awareness. It’s not ok to destroy our ocean.” Rather than revisit the dubious science behind any shark cull, we’ll say that the bottom line is that when we get in the ocean — as divers, swimmers, surfers, snorkelers, paddleboarders, etc. — we are entering their environment.

Sharks belong in the waters around Reunion Island; we are just visitors. If we decide to get in the water, we must know the risks and be comfortable with them. Shame on you, Kelly Slater, for behaving as though you and other surfers have more rights in an environment in which you have no natural place. Let’s hope that the French government ignores ridiculous, vengeful proclamations like this and instead relies on science and focuses on marine-species education for those who choose to get into dangerous waters.

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Brown Safes is giving me new #jewelryboxgoals.

I don’t mean to shock you…but I have a lot of jewelry. It isn’t all especially valuable, but it’s all important to me and it’s a constant struggle to figure out how the heck to store it.

Thanks to Brown Safes, I now know exactly what my jewelry storage dreams look like. Are you ready for this magnificence?

Does anyone else hear angels singing when they look at that photo, or just me?

Continue reading Brown Safes is giving me new #jewelryboxgoals. at Diamonds in the Library.

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What is Shark Finning?

Fins from as many as 73 million sharks end up in the global shark-fin trade every year. Shark finning – a wasteful and inhumane practice – is one of the greatest threats facing sharks today.

Researchers in 2013 estimated that between 63 and 273 million sharks die every year at the hands of fishermen and shark-finning operations. Some sharks reach sexual maturity late, grow slowly, and produce few offspring. This makes replenishing populations affected by unsustainable fishing and finning difficult. Scientists estimate that we kill sharks, on average, 30 percent faster than they can rebuild their populations.

Oceana, is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. It works on a variety of issues, ranging from offshore oil drilling to seafood fraud. When it comes to sharks, Oceana is committed to putting an end to the shark fin trade, reducing bycatch, and protecting vulnerable species and marine habitats.

What is shark finning?

Shark finning is the practice of cutting off a sharks’ fins at the surface and discarding its body at sea by throwing the still-live animal overboard. The practice is illegal in U.S. waters. Managed fisheries in this country require that sharks are landed at port with their fins attached. Foreign fisheries, however, target many more animals in this brutal practice. Victims suffer a slow death – often bleeding out, being eaten alive by other fish, or even drowning because they can no longer swim to move water through their gills.

The Asian market for shark-fin soup is the primary driver of demand for shark fins. Traders boil and dry the fins, then bleach them using hydrogen peroxide or Sulphur. They are most commonly prepared in chicken stock.

Hong Kong is the largest trader of shark fins, though in recent years the trade has shifted to Guangzhou, a city north of Hong Kong. Of the 14 most popular species in the fin trade here, more than 70 percent face possible extinction. Despite evidence of a downturn in the shark-fin trade in Hong Kong and a possible decline in appetite for fins, the demand and price for shark fins remains high.

Why are sharks vital for ocean ecosystems?

Sharks are hard at work in their environments. As predators, they help keep the ecosystem balanced. They are often the sole predators of certain marine reptiles, marine mammals, seabirds and other sharks.

It’s clear that sharks positively impact ecosystems in their roles as predators, but their presence can also indirectly influence the distribution of other animals. This too has important ecological consequences. For instance, tiger sharks in Australian waters are partly responsible for the health of seagrass beds by keeping plant-eating species like dugongs in check. In turn, healthier seagrass beds help the ocean recycle carbon and, ultimately, help regulate climate change.

Coral reefs, a diver favorite around the world, also reap benefits from sharks. Some species cycle nutrients via their waste, remove invasive species, and clean up the reef by scavenging. With help from sharks, reefs can remain vibrant and full of biodiversity.

What does shark finning mean for divers?

Seeing a shark while diving is a great experience. In fact, a survey of U.S. scuba divers found that sharks topped the list of species they wanted to see on a dive. The survey found that divers would be willing to pay an average of $35 extra per dive to see sharks. But unfortunately, divers can expect to see fewer and fewer sharks if conservation measures aren’t taken.

This has important consequences for those working on the water. Scuba instructors, guides, divemasters and other professionals benefit greatly from shark tourism. Tourists spend an estimated $314 million on global shark tourism every year. In the Bahamas alone, sharks and rays generate $113.8 million USD annually for the economy, most of which is from shark diving.

What can we do?

Fortunately, the U.S. has already made shark finning illegal in our waters. However, shark fins are still being imported to and exported from the U.S. Once a fin enters our market, we cannot tell if it came from a legally caught shark or from a finned shark, threatened with extinction. The U.S. also continues to import shark fins from countries that do not have regulations against shark finning, thereby indirectly supporting the fin trade by allowing the import of these products.

If divers want to continue having shark sightings, and if those in the shark-diving sector wish to continue enjoying the economic benefits, we must protect sharks and end the fin trade entirely.

Oceana recognizes sharks’ ecological and economic importance and believes Congress should ban the buying and selling of shark fins. Eleven U.S. states and several companies including Amazon, GrubHub, many hotels and major airlines, Hong Kong Disneyland and multiple shipping companies have already banned the sale of shark fins in a commitment to conservation. So, let’s work together to keep shark sightings plentiful, and fins out of soup bowls.

If you love sharks and want to help keep them healthy and alive in our oceans, please call your member of Congress and tell them to support the Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act. You can also visit Oceana’s website and sign the petition telling Congress to ban the buying and selling of shark fins.

Guest post by Lora Snyder, campaign director, Oceana

Oceana is the world’s largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world’s oceans.

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Denmark's Zetland grows its 'members-only' business model

Danish digital media publisher Zetland was launched in 2012 by four former traditional media journalists as a membership-based site to help readers make sense of the news. Today, it has grown to a staff of 23 and thousands of paying members who also regularly pay to attend the publisher's live events.

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3 More Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors

Choosing a window treatment for a sliding glass door can be a challenge because you don’t want to hinder the usefulness of the door. Consider these 3 common window treatments as you dress up your sliding door.

Image Source: Flickr

Vertical Blinds
Sliding door blinds are the most common window treatments and provide the best solution for privacy concerns in a home where sliding doors and French doors are used. Sliding doors are attractive and efficient, but they need to come with the proper kind of treatment to preserve privacy and filter sunlight.
But choosing the wrong kind of blinds can ruin the beauty and efficiency of a sliding door. So in order to keep this from happening, you need to know the different choices you have when it comes to sliding door blinds. Sometimes having tons of choices can be overwhelming, but it is a blessing in this case if you know what options you have.
Blinds are commonly made of PVC plastic, Faux Wood, Real, Wood, and Fabric. They are constructed using slats or vanes that can be adjusted using a cord, a wand, or a remote control. Their slats slightly overlap, making the blinds and shades very easily adjustable. Because they are easily adjustable, blinds can provide privacy whenever you want it. You can also control the amount of light that can get in your home. Source: DecorSnob

Side-Mounted Panels
Purely decorative treatments, such as these side-mounted panels, are perfect for sliders that receive constant use or that frame unbeatable vistas so the view remains barrier-free. The panels don’t move, so go ahead and mount the rods out of reach (these are positioned 12 inches above the top of the door’s frame) for a design trick that visually adds height to a low ceiling. Source: BHG

Privacy Sheers
If you are looking for a classical, elegant look, Luminette Privacy Sheers are a good choice. The sheer facing resembles traditional sheer draperies, while the 180-degree rotating vertical fabric vanes give you complete control over light and privacy to create the perfect ambiance you desire. Source: HunterDouglas

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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Troubleshooting Tips for Light & Motion Sola Lights

The Light & Motion Sola line is one of the best and simplest underwater imaging lights ever created. It is one of Backscatter’s best sellers and performs consistently well under challenging conditions to help produce outstanding images. There are a few features and issues you may encounter. Here is a handy field guide for resolving some issues quickly.

With the informative guide, you’ll learn how to properly use travel-lockout mode, how to wake a hibernating Sola, how to use S.O.S. mode, how to clean the contacts, and how to deal with charger problems. Visit Backscatter for more!

 

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Basic Fish ID: Part I

Whether you’re a seasoned diver or brand new to the sport, chances are you’re keenly interested in the aquatic life around you. New divers especially may wonder what they’re swimming with. With over 20,000 different species, basic fish ID can be baffling, and becoming an expert can take years of study and experience. As a starting point, we’ll look at 10 key warm-water fish families to help make basic fish ID easier on your next dive.

Parrotfish 

Basic fish ID must begin with parrotfish are a relatively common sight. You’ll often see them munching happily on the reef, adding color and character to the scene. Largely a tropical family, parrotfish inhabit most warmer waters. A reef’s health relies largely on parrotfish, which use their powerful, parrot-like beak to scrape algae off rocks and coral. They digest the algae, but the tiny particles of coral pass through them as excrement, creating large quantities of the white sand we all love so much. Watch a parrotfish on your next dive and you’ll often see them excreting sand as they scurry over a reef.

Males are often, as is common in the animal kingdom, much more colorful than the females. Green is generally the dominant colour.

Parrotfish to watch for: blue-barred, humphead, rainbow, blue, queen, stoplight, redband, longnose, bicolor

Wrasse

Wrasse, with an estimated 600 individual species, make up one of the largest fish families on coral and rocky reefs. These fish are quite diverse and even while growing up can change color and sex. In fact, juveniles are usually female first and later become male, then acquiring a harem of female wrasse.

With such a breadth of family shapes, sizes and colors, it’s difficult to pinpoint wrasse precisely in terms of shape and size. Wrasse are generally slightly smaller than parrotfish with more elongated bodies. At one end of the wrasse spectrum are small hogfish and razorfish, and at the other are the famous Napoleon wrasse, which can grow to the size of a coffee table.

Wrasse to look out for: Napoleon, rainbow, cleaner, bird

Butterflyfish 

Among the prettiest fish families circulating in shallow reef waters, butterflyfish are usually small and disc-shaped. They feature intricate coloring and patterns, often blue, red, orange, or yellow. There are over 100 species, and many, like tiny super-heroes, have dark “masks” around their eyes. Many species also sport dots on their sides that look like eyes, a feature evolved to confuse predators so they won’t know which way the butterflyfish is likely to flee when attacked. Butterflyfish have long, thin snouts and divers sometimes confuse them with their cousins, the angelfish. Unlike the haremic wrasse, however, the butterflyfish will often choose a single mate for life.

Butterflyfish to look out for: raccoon, chevron, beaked, longnose

Triggerfish

There are approximately 40 species of triggerfish. Although very attractive, experienced divers know that triggerfish are famous for their potentially aggressive attitude. Particularly around their nests, triggerfish are wary of intruders, from other fish to divers simply passing by. They’re likely to bump or charge their victim and bite with their powerful teeth, so give them wide berth if they seem agitated. Many dive instructors and guides around the world have experienced triggerfish attacks.

Divers will often see triggerfish pounding and digging at the seabed, searching out prey such as crabs and worms. They also use their prominent, tough teeth to feed on sea urchins, sometimes spinning them over to expose the urchins’ bellies, which are armed with fewer spines.

Although varying in size — the largest being the stone triggerfish, which can grow up to 3 feet (1 m) long — the most common are the blue, clown and titan triggerfish. You can generally identify them by their large heads, “trigger-like” dorsal fin, and protruding incisor teeth.

Triggerfish to look out for: titan, blue, clown, starry, redtooth

Seahorses

Seahorses and their cousins the pipefish and ghost pipefish number around 200 species in the world’s oceans. These interesting creatures feature not only the equine facial characteristics for which they’re named and an upright stance, but are also the only animal on the planet where the male of the species gives birth. When mating, the female deposits her eggs into the male’s pouch and he fertilizes them internally. Baby seahorses emerge into the water fully formed at the end of the gestation period.

You can find seahorses in tropical waters around the globe, usually in shallow waters less than 100 feet (30 m) deep. They cling onto seagrass or coral in sheltered areas away from strong currents, partially because they are not strong swimmers. They have only a small fin on their back, which flutters up to 35 times per second to propel them onward. Seagrass and coral also offer access to the crustaceans that seahorses feed on, sucking them up through their long snouts.

A favorite with underwater photographers for their natural beauty, seahorses vary in size from the tiny and difficult to spot pygmy seahorse through to the gregarious leafy seadragon, only found in Southern Australian waters.

Seahorses to look out for: pygmy, tiger tail, thorny, zebra snout

In the second installment of our basic fish ID series, we’ll look five more fish families: sharks, rays, eels, barracuda, and lionfish/scorpionfish/stonefish.

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Sweet Suzy Landa pink tourmaline delights.

I hope you’re in the mood for something wonderfully pretty today, my darlings. These Suzy Landa pink tourmaline delights caught my eye on Instagram, and I couldn’t resist sharing them with you.

A delicious pink tourmaline, set in bright white gold and sprinkled all around with bright, white diamonds.

I love the way Suzy Landa plays with texture and space. Just look how I think the fact that each accent diamond is in its own metal bezel with space in between them, and how that design is echoed on the ring’s gallery with plain metal bumps.

Continue reading Sweet Suzy Landa pink tourmaline delights. at Diamonds in the Library.

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First Criminal Charges for Shark Finning in Costa Rica

Shark finning is a serious problem in Costa Rica, involving organized crime and the Taiwanese Mafia. The high value of shark-fin soup as a delicacy in restaurants within Asian countries, where a bowl can cost $100 USD, led to Costa Rica becoming a significant contributor to the international shark-fin market by the 1990s.

Costa Rica has since become a leading example in conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. In recent years, the Costa Rican government has been involved in initiatives to manage shark populations more responsibly and, most notably, banned shark finning in 2012. The government has also joined efforts with other countries to include hammerhead sharks in Appendix II of CITES and Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). 

Shark finning arrest in Costa Rica 

A Puntarenas court heard the recent case of illegal shark finning against Taiwanese businesswoman Tsung (surname), and subsequently sentenced her to a 6-month prison sentence. Her haul of shark fins was destined for sale abroad when authorities found her fishing boat, the Wan Jia Men 88, in October 2011 with 151 finned sharks on board. The case was initially acquitted in 2014, was appealed and then finished with a guilty verdict.

Despite this positive development, there is still lots of work to do in Costa Rica when it comes to protecting sharks. The Representative Council of Scientific Authorities (CRAC-CITES) is currently considering a request to export a shipment of 1,500 pounds (690 kilos) of hammerhead shark fins from Costa Rica to Asia. Smalley Development S.A. submitted the request for export permit, which conservationists have roundly criticized. The decision to approve the export would have to be based on evidence that the removal of the animals would not negatively affect the hammerhead species population, as required by Costa Rica’s wildlife conservation law. There is currently no evidence to suggest hammerhead shark populations have recovered enough to justify renewed trade. 

This current issue threatens the country’s international image as a leader in conservation.

In stark contrast to this, the delivery of Tsung’s prison sentence is a clear message to those involved in the shark-fin trade that finning will not be tolerated in Costa Rican waters.

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A Walk on the Deep Side

 

Deep, dangerous and truly inspirational, “A Walk on the Deep Side,” is the riveting account of a golden age in deep diving. Brimming with colorful characters and their record-breaking exploits, it evokes the magical, mysterious and sometimes deadly allure of the abyss.

Diver Magazine Reviews

“Kean’s new book, “A Walk on the Deep Side,” is an intensely readable account of deep diving.”

“John Kean remains one of the most informed of Red Sea writers and everything that goes with it.”

“There was never any doubt that John Kean’s book would be well-written. His books are always well-written”

• Steve Weinman, Editor, Diver magazine UK

Between 1999 and 2005, more world-record deep-diving attempts were made than at any other time in recent history. From DIY lunacy to aquatic mastery on the world stage, “A Walk on the Deep Side” tells the story of driven souls, sudden death and spectacular victory.

In this extraordinary new book, John Kean takes us far inside the highly-charged fraternity of deep-diving misfits, gurus and geniuses who stretch the limits of the possible.

This stirring, uplifting true story about one of the most fascinating and dangerous of all human pursuits will draw in even the most recreational divers who never intend to push their depth limits.

About the Author

John Kean is an aquatic and literary locksmith. His books open doors, eyes, and minds, allowing an unparalleled first-hand view of the greatest force on Earth. With five titles and counting, Kean continues to entertain, enthrall and inspire a generation with his stories from above and beneath the sea. Get your copy of “A Walk on the Deep Side” here, and see more of Kean’s work here.

 

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An Introduction to Ice Diving

The temperature outside is well below freezing and snow is falling from the sky. It’s a perfect day to go diving — ice diving, that is.

Equipped with a drysuit and several thick undergarments, you and your diving team walk out onto a frozen lake. The rumbling of a chainsaw breaks the winter silence as your buddy cuts a three-foot hole hole into the ice to reveal the black water below. Dropping in with your gear and safety line, you quickly realize how shocking 34-degree F (1 C) water truly feels. Despite the numbness in your face, you’re mesmerized by the light and texture of the under-ice environment. It’s unlike anything you’ve experienced before. If this description sounds accurate, you may already be hooked on ice diving. But for those who need some convincing, what exactly is ice diving? Where and why would you do it? Read on for the answers.

Photo by Justin Judd

What exactly is ice diving?

Cold-water diving, not to be confused with ice diving, often involves diving in near-freezing water temperatures. For example, Silfra Fissure, a popular dive site between two continental plates in Iceland, sees water temperatures colder than 40 degrees F (1-2 C) year-round. So what, then, is the difference between cold-water diving and ice diving? Ice diving refers to diving beneath a solid or broken layer of ice that exists over a portion or the entirety of the dive site. Simplified, ice diving always involves an overhead environment and cold-water diving does not.

In order to dive safely under the ice, divers take additional precautions unique to ice diving:

• The diver is always tethered to a safety line, which a dive buddy team at the surface holds. The diver wears a specialized harness, clipped to the line so that equipment doesn’t interfere with the tether. The safety line is used not only for emergencies, but also as a communication device while under the ice.
• Each dive buddy team is increased from two to four members. Only one of the four members dives at a time; the other three play different surface support roles throughout the dive, ensuring the submerged diver’s safety.
• Dive times while using recreational scuba equipment are typically limited to less than 30 minutes. This time limit reduces exposure to freezing temperatures and provides plenty of extra air in case of an emergency. 

Why try ice diving?

Why learn to dive under ice? The chance to see penguins and leopard seals underwater comes to mind, but the Arctic isn’t the only place for ice diving. Much of the Northern, and some of the Southern, Hemisphere experiences below-freezing temperatures each year, so marine and freshwater bodies could be partially or completely covered in ice and snow. When you can’t afford to travel to the tropics, why not enjoy winter diving in your own backyard?

Beside the beauty of the surface ice layer, ice diving provides unique animal experiences and dive activities that you won’t find anywhere else. Under wintertime conditions, cold-blooded aquatic animals slow their metabolisms dramatically, meaning they don’t move if they don’t have to. As long as a diver swims calmly, he or she can approach fish and invertebrates within unusually short distances. Fill up your drysuit and invert your positioning, and you can even observe those animals while standing upside-down on the surface ice.

The cold water inherent in ice diving has benefits as well. Clarity in freshwater bodies tends to increase dramatically in the winter. The lack of water circulation allows particulate matter to settle. Animals and objects you may never see in summertime are easily visible under ice. Learn to deal with near-freezing temperatures and you’ll have some of the clearest dives of your diving career.

Photo by Justin Judd

Ice diving is a team sport

Ice-diving training not only gives you the skills to dive in extreme climates and overhead environments, it’s also a team-building exercise. Unlike most recreational diving, ice diving requires constant surface support. Don’t expect to jump in all at once — only one diver per team goes in the water. The other team members are there to support, assist in navigation and ensure diver safety.

There are four positions on each buddy team: diver, tether, bucket and safety diver. While the diver is in the water, he or she is clipped and tied to a lengthy rope. This rope is held taut on the surface by both the tether and the bucket. The tether communicates with the diver by tugging the rope, and the bucket keeps the rope slack free and organized in, well, a bucket. Safety divers are suited up and ready to retrieve the diver in the case of an emergency. In any ice-diving training course, you will learn how to play each role with confidence.

How do I know if I’m ready to ice dive?

Harsh frozen environments and the risk associated with diving underneath an icy shelf mean ice diving is not for everyone. However, the unique buddy system and heightened safety measures allow recreational divers to ice dive without any technical training. While there aren’t many diving outfits that offer “try ice diving” experiences, the specialty certification courses offered by PADI and NAUI are both affordable introductions to ice diving. After six short training dives, you’ll become a certified ice diver.

To cover the ice-diving course prerequisites, you should have over 100 logged dives, some drysuit experience, and at least an Advanced Open Water certification level. Because most frozen lakes are at altitude, be familiar with altitude-diving considerations as well. Achieving your drysuit, altitude, and ice-diver certifications at the same time is not unheard of, but we don’t recommend it.

Photo by Justin Judd

What gear do you need for ice diving?

Though most modern dive gear will perform adequately in ice water, you must consider two items: your regulator and your exposure suit.

Many regulators are designed to function well in water warmer than 41 F (5 C). As water approaches the freezing point, however, forming ice crystals can become dangerous for your regulator’s internal parts. Purges can freeze open and first stages can go into a runaway free-flow. To prevent these problems, manufacturers install chambers in first stages that contain non-freezing liquids. These allow your first stage to operate smoothly in very cold water. Nearly every manufacturer sells environmentally sealed or cold-water regulators.

As for staying warm, a good drysuit is a must. Any type of drysuit material will work for ice diving — the undergarments are the key. Some manufacturers make thick, custom undergarments that work well for ice diving, but these are typically expensive. If you already have winter gear, you can use that, provided you can fit it under your drysuit. Puffy down coats and vests work great, as do wool layers. Wear several pairs of thick hiking socks at once — you won’t regret it.

A few accessories to consider:

• Dry gloves are a great addition to your exposure suit, especially for ice diving. However, neoprene gloves will work fine if you don’t have a dry option.
• A form-fitting dry hood will keep your neck and head more comfortable than a typical tuck-in style neoprene hood. Make sure whichever hood you choose does not interfere with your dry seals.
• Full-face masks can eliminate skin exposure to the ice water. However, simplicity is key when learning new dive skills. You may find that numb cheeks are more comfortable than dealing with a full-face mask while training.

Ice diving for photographers

Advancing their training and pushing themselves out of their comfort zones are enough reasons for many to try ice diving. Photographers and videographers have an entirely different incentive: cathedral lighting.

The only light that penetrates the snow-covered ice comes from holes, cracks and clear lines on the ice surface, much like a cave or cavern. Light hits animals, divers and other subjects in a heavenly way. Combined with the water’s clarity, a frozen lake or coastline turns into a one-of-a-kind studio set.

Here are some tips for photographers who are considering bringing gear below the ice:

• Finish your ice-training dives before bringing the camera. With so many new techniques and new gear to focus on already, bringing a camera too soon is not safe.
• Consider the effects of low temperatures on your gear. Lithium batteries run empty much faster if they are cold. Always start with a fresh battery. Also, your lens ports may fog — the temperature difference between a warm car and ice water is considerable. Use moisture control packets and keep your housing out of direct sunlight.
• Dry your housing after your dive. When water forms ice, it expands. This can crack glass components and prevent knobs or levers from operating.
• Plan communication methods with your team prior to jumping in the water. Because you are always on a safety line while ice diving, you may need to alter your communication methods. Your buddy may unknowingly jerk your arm while you’re getting your best shot yet. However, you still need to be safe, so balance your safety signals with your desire to shoot.

By guest author Alexander Finden

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