News
Dive Against Debris with Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas
Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas have organised a Dive Against Debris event later this month. The event is taking place on Saturday 27th September and will be held at 5pm at the Palace Wall dive site in Nassau.
Project AWARE launched Dive Against Debris in response to the onslaught of marine debris, one of the biggest ocean issues of our time.
Created by divers for divers, this global, underwater survey of rubbish is designed to increase debris removal efforts, prevent harm to marine life and connect your underwater actions to policy changes and prevention.
It’s thought that the main task during the event will be the removal of fishing lines. The organisers ask that you bring gloves, scissors, dive knife and a mesh bag.
Before the event, Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas will be running the PADI Coral Nursery & Restoration Specialty, which will take place from 9am till 4:30pm. The theory part of the Specialty course will take place in the morning followed by two dives on the nursery in the afternoon. You will learn coral identification, biology, reproduction, why coral nurseries are needed and how the nurseries are created and maintained. By the end you will be certified to assist in coral nursery restoration, including the cleaning of coral structures and identification of paling, bleaching, predation and disease. The course price is $200 per person.
For more information or to book, email Training@stuartcove.com or call +1-242-3624171.
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Creature Feature: Butterfly Rays
In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.
As we’re currently in butterfly season, this month we decided to concentrate on the Butterfly Rays!
Within the family Gymnuridae, there are two genera and 12 species of Butterfly Ray. These species are morphologically different to lots of other rays because of the width of the disc and pectoral fins – in contrast to many other species of Butterfly Ray, their bodies are much wider than they are long, especially considering their very short tail. This gives them the appearance of gliding or flying across the sand.
Gymnura altavela – Spiny Butterfly Ray
Gymnura australis – Australian Butterfly Ray
Gymnura crebripunctata – Longsnout Butterfly Ray
Gymnura japonica – Japanese Butterfly Ray
Gymnura lessae – Lessa’s Butterfly Ray
Gymnura marmorata – California Butterfly Ray
Gymnura micrura – Smooth Butterfly Ray
Gymnura natalensis – Backwater Butterfly Ray
Gymnura peocilura – Longtail Butterfly Ray
Gymnura sereti – Seret’s Butterfly Ray
Gymnura tentaculata – Tentacled Butterfly Ray
Gymnura zonura – Zonetail Butterfly Ray
Today we’re taking a look at Gymnura altavela, the Spiny Butterfly Ray. Like all Butterfly Rays, the Spiny Butterfly Ray is a demersal species, meaning it spends the majority of its time on the bottom of the seabed. Butterfly Rays are known for their burying behaviour in the sand, a technique they use to camouflage themselves when they are resting during the day. This protects them from predators, in some areas larger sharks. It also aids them in their ambush hunting technique – by hiding themselves under the sand they are able to easily snatch up their dinner – usually crustaceans, molluscs or other small fish – as they swim by unawares. This behaviour can leave tell-tale butterfly-ray shaped imprints in the bottom of the seabed.
Spiny Butterfly Rays can grow up to 260 cm (disc width (wingspan)), although average is around 200 cm. They give birth to live young, and each litter consists of 1-8 pups. This species has also been found to aggregate, likely for mating. One study found that aggregations of primarily females in the coastal regions off Gran Canaria may correlate with the shifting water temperature.
It is estimated that the species has undergone a population reduction of 50-79% over the last 33 years. This is primarily due to fishing pressure – the Spiny Butterfly Ray is targeted and bycaught in both industrial and artisanal fisheries types using a variety of gear types. The species is now Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean and Southwest Atlantic.
Scientific Name: Gymnura altavela
Family: Gymnuridae
Maximum Size: 260 cm (disc width)
Diet: crabs, shrimps, various invertebrates, fishes, small crustaceans, and molluscs.
Distribution: throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Habitat: muddy and sandy substrates down to 150m.
Conservation status: Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean and Europe, Endangered Globally.
For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website
Banner Image: ©Tomas Willems. Main image: ©Andy Murch
Gear News
DiveAlertPLUS: a Dual Function Surface / Subsurface Signalling Device
DiveAlertPLUS is a specially designed, small, lightweight pneumatic signalling device that uses quick-connect/disconnect hose couplings to become an integrated part of your power inflator.
It uses a small amount of air from your SCUBA tank to make a piercingly loud sound in air or water. It can be heard a mile away from where the diver in need is above water.
How it works
The DiveAlertPLUS uses chrome-plated brass couplings to attach to your power inflator. Squeezing the device engages the actuator valve stem causing a small amount of air to flutter a stainless steel diaphragm emitting a piercingly loud sound. The subsurface/underwater signal is produced by a percussion “buzzing” noise made by a piston hitting a stainless steel diaphragm much like a drum.
To Learn more about the DV1 an DV3 DiveAlert click on this link to their website: https://www.divealert.com/index.php/divealert-plus
Sea & Sea is the home of DiveAlert and other leading diving brands in the UK.
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