MilaBooks.com Newsletter
The Sea-gram
April, 2015
For ocean lovers, divers, and
"deep-thinkers."
|
|
|
|
|
Hawksbill Turtle Swims Through My Rising Bubbles. Paul Mila photo, Cozumel Mexico
Find out how you can volunteer to help save sea turtles!
Read about Sea Shepherd's
Operation Jairo, in Conservation Corner.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
April was a busy month. For those who stopped by the author booth at this year's Beneath The Sea Exposition it was great to see you.
The highlight of the show for me was exchanging signed copies of my new book (coauthored with Judy Hemenway), Bubbles Up, with dive legend Stan Waterman, and his new book, Sea Salt II.
Stan Waterman & Paul sign books for each other
-------------------------------------
This month's
Conservation Corner
features
the
Sea Shepherd Conservation Organization's latest initiative, saving endangered sea turtle nesting sites in Southeastern Florida, Costa Rica and Honduras, named Operation Jairo.
Read how you can volunteer for this exciting opportunity!
-------------------------------------
This month's
Story Behind the Photo article, features a wonderful experience I enjoyed, taking a photo of Nai'a owner Rob Barrel shooting video of a humpback whale in Tonga, South Pacific.
Recently, Rob sent me this video of his children cavorting with giant humpbacks in Tonga.
Click and enjoy their experience:
For more information about how you can experience Nai'a whale encounters, click here:
If you have a photo with an interesting story or would like to share a good dive yarn, let me know at
[email protected]
and I'll be happy to include your story in a future issue.
If you know someone who would enjoy reading Sea-gram, perhaps a friend in need of an overdue "dive fix," please forward Sea-gram to your buddy, using the link at the end of the newsletter.
To view past Sea-grams click our ARCHIVE link below:
I hope you enjoy Sea-gram !
Sincerely,
516-578-1482
|
|
Conservation Corner . . .
You can help Sea Shepherd
Save Sea Turtles
. . . Find Out How!
|
 Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is spearheading a sea turtle defense campaign, Operation Jairo, this summer in three regions critical to nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings - Southeastern Florida, Honduras and Costa Rica.
Six of seven species of sea turtles are on the brink of extinction. The odds are against these endangered marine animals from the start, with an average of only one in 1,000 hatchlings surviving to adulthood.
Sea Shepherd's Operation Jairo campaign will span the peak nesting months for sea turtles in all three locations, in an effort to save as many hatchlings as possible - giving the next generations of these endangered species a fighting chance at survival.
Click below to find out how you can volunteer in one of these three regions:
Don't let me go extinct!
Paul Mila photo, Cozumel, Mexico
|
|
Story Behind the Photo . . .
Diving With Giants
By Paul Mila, Carle Place, NY
|
Several years ago I ventured to the South Pacific aboard the liveaboard dive boat Nai'a, to encounter humpback whales. Free diving with these giants in Tonga was truly a memorable experience. The trip provided many great photo-ops, and one of the more interesting shots was this one:
|
|
| Rob Barrel video-ing a Tongan Humpback Paul Mila photo, Tonga, South Pacific |
I was setting up to photograph a humpback rolling down for a dive when all of a sudden
Nai'a owner Rob Barrel swam into view just below me, shooting video. I started snapping away and caught them both in the frame just before they parted ways -- Rob for the surface and the humpback for the deep.
Photo Equipment: SeaLife 1000 Camera & Wide Angle Lens.
Photo Tip: Use a wide-angle lens for shooting big subjects (like whales!), and when more than several feet away, use ambient light, no flash.
|
| About MilaBooks.com |
www.milabooks.com
is your home for exciting dive adventure novels
and YouTube videos featuring various ocean creatures.
Bubbles Up Available now, from MilaBooks.com!
A non-fiction foray into Planet Ocean, with coauthors
Judy Hemenway & Paul Mila.
SPECIAL OFFER FROM AMAZON & MILABOOKS.COM:
Purchase the print version & get the kindle e-book, with color photos, for FREE!
Click on the cover for ordering information.
 |
| Click the reading dolphin and swim into our website |
Thanks for visiting, and we'll see you next month!
MilaBooks.com
75 Titus Avenue
Carle Place, New York 11514
516-578-1482
To forward Sea-gram to a friend, please click the "Forward email" link below.
|
|
 |
| Conservation Corner: Volunteer to save sea turtles!
Operation Jairo
Story lower left column. |
|
|
| Quick Links |
|
Updates & Miscellaneous Features
Shark "Asks" Divers for Help
Our friends at Scott Jones' DiveNewsWire reported this incredible story in the Bahamas:
An amazing event occurred on a recent shark interaction scuba dive at Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas - a shark actually sought out shark wranglers for help with a rope wrapped around its body. On April 4th 2015, Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas staff scuba divers witnessed a shark approach their shark feed and ASK for help to remove a rope that was tight around her throat! Shark Wranglers Charlotte Faulkner (from the UK) and Pia Venegas (from Argentina) were able to help the shark and remove the rope. The shark stayed around the feed afterwards and has been back several days since the encounter. Check out this amazing video of the unique experience:
|
|
| Shark asks divers for help!!! |
* * * * * * * * *
Georgia Aquarium's
Ocean Voyager Dive
Sea-gram fan Adam Cohen sent us this adventure, diving in the Georgia Aquarium's 6.3 million gallon fish tank,
the only one in the western hemisphere that houses 4 Whale Sharks, along with 4 giant Mantas.
Enjoy the amazing video:
|
|
|
Georgia Aquarium Whale Shark Dive 4/13/15
|
Here is a brief description of Adam's adventure, in his own words: "After pulling on our wetsuits and boots we received a 10 minute briefing. Our dive gear was all waiting for us, completely assembled, each marked with our names. All the gear was the aquariums except for my mask, the only personal piece of gear we were allowed - after disinfecting of course. The aquarium staff helped us on with our gear and when ready we each awaited a staff member's signal to enter the water so that we wouldn't drop in on top of any sea life. The dive staff included a divemaster, a safety diver and a videographer. "We weaved in and out of coral formations and witnessed tons of sea life. Suddenly a shadow passed over me and it was Nianni, the largest of the giant Mantas, gliding right over me... Whoa! "Then, after rising up to around the middle of the water column, there they were, two of them side by side, seemingly as big as two busses, heading right for us, the largest fish in the sea; the two female Whale Sharks - the largest of the four - Alice and Trixie. I was just transfixed on both their enormity and their beauty. Up until this point I have only seen whale sharks in pictures, videos, or (most very recently) through the glass wall of an exhibit. This was the first time I have ever been in the water with them just a few feet away. It was at this point that I first realized, not just how big they really are, but how truly beautiful and graceful they are. With slow graceful sweeps of their giant tails, they propel their mammoth sized bodies through the water like harmless "angels", completely oblivious to us yet fully aware of their surroundings." Thanks for sharing, Adam. (Editor's Note: For all you purists out there, yes, I too have mixed feelings about keeping giant sea creatures confined in aquariums. However, if it creates awareness and advocacy among people who would otherwise never see these creatures in person, perhaps it is worth it?) * * * * * * * * * Great Scuba Blog Jill Smith, one of our friends North of the border in Canada, writes an interesting blog. This issue deals with tips for sharpening your underwater photos. Take a look: Jill's Sports Blog
* * * * * * * * * Great Scuba Site Visit the new Scubaverse TV channel for interesting videos and other updates from the world of SCUBA "The World's Best Online Dive Companion" Scubaverse TV Channel * * * * * * * * * Sea Shepherd Update Saving Sea Turtles Read about Operation Jairo in Conservation Corner; left column. * * * * * * * * A Different Kind of Adventure Last year I took some time off from diving for a private snorkel trip. If you're looking to snorkel, surf, fish, dive, or arrange some other custom excursion, contact Pancho & Lorena at Reef Life Cozumel: Reef Life Cozumel * * * * * * * * * www.cozumelisparadise.com A fun dive site, where you can rent my beachfront condo, view great dive photos, and more! Check out the view from my condo:
|
|
|
Morning at the Residencias Reef Beachfront Condo
|
* * * * * * * Scuba Network of Long Island Sales, Service, Basic & Advanced Dive Instruction, Local Diving & Exotic Dive Trips www.scubalongisland.com For the best scuba experience in the New York area, contact * * * * * * For the best in Cozumel diving, check out dive operator Alison Dennis: Scubawithalison.com Looking for your own Slice of Paradise ? Contact Nancy Edwards at: www.cozumelliving.com or Jaime Ramirez, at: http://www.residenciasreef.com/
Post a link to your web site on Sea-gram!
* * * * *
|
|
Join Our Mailing List
If a friend forwarded Sea-gram to you and you'd like to receive future issues, let us know. Click the JOIN link above, or e-mail me at [email protected]
|
|
|
| |
|
