August Sea Gram

The August

Sea-gram

from MilaBooks.com

For ocean lovers, divers,

and "deep-thinkers."

Cozumel Never Disappoints!

Paul Mila video; Spotted Eagle Rays, Cozumel Mexico ©

Welcome to the August 2022 Sea-gram, from MilaBooks.com

I recently returned from another amazing Cozumel dive adventure, courtesy of ScubaWithAlison.com.

Before you start reading the August Sea-gram, watch my YouTube video of our eagle ray encounter above, to put you in a tropical, Caribbean mood.

In Story Behind the Photo, we have some great underwater photo tips from photographers Andy Bachhuber, & John Hand, who shot some great moray eel photos in Cozumel and Belize, and Jamie Pollack, who shared her great shot of the elusive Ribbon Eel when she was diving in the Philippines.

In the Featured Creature section we take a look at green sea turtles. August is when the sea turtle hatchlings begin emerging from their nests, after incubating for about 60 days. We have a great video of a green sea turtle nest release to share with you.

And please visit the Book Corner, where we have several interesting books to tell you about.

I hope you enjoy this Sea-gram, and share it with your friends and family.

Paul Mila

* * Featured Creature * *

Green Sea Turtles

On Yucab Reef we came a cross a very large green sea turtle

having a bad day. A shark-sucker, a type of remora, was nipping the turtle's flipper. Normally, the relationship is beneficial for both (symbiotic): the turtle gets a shell/body cleaning & the remora gets a free meal of parasites hitching a ride on the turtle. But this turtle just wasn't enjoying the experience!

Green Sea Turtle Hatchlings

Race, Scamper, & Tumble into the Sea!

After incubating in a two-to-three-foot deep hole for about 60 days, sea turtle hatchlings are ready to rumble! We were able to join the Cozumel Ecological Society on this nest release on Cozumel's ocean-facing east-side beaches.

Enjoy this inspirational experience!

Green Sea Turtles Hatchlings Reach The Sea, Cozumel

An interesting climate change concern:

The temperature inside the nest determines the sex of the baby sea turtles. Warmer temperatures result in more females, cooler temperatures more males. The eggs are at different depths and temperatures in the nest, ensuring a mix will be born. But if the entire nest is either too hot or cold, more of one sex will be born.

Ecological Society Volunteer Patrick Crane told us an easy method to remember this: "It's hot chicks & cool dudes!"

* * * * * * * * *

Stories Behind The Photos

Underwater photography friends John Hand, Andy Bachhuber, and Jamie Pollack share some photo tips behind their great Eel photos.

Andy and I spotted a green moray eel resting under a coral outcropping on Cedral Wall. I photographed Andy getting into position. In order to get both Andy and the eel in the same frame I had to back off several feet . . .

. . . while Andy closed to within a couple of feet of his subject, and he took this great photo below.

Here are Andy's 5 photo tips for taking great underwater photos:

1 - Get your diving skills down before you start using a camera underwater. Holding a camera still underwater (especially in current) can be a challenge!

2 - If you think you are close, take a photo then get closer. Repeat until you can't get closer to your subject. It is surprising how much farther away the subject is than you think! Water reduces color, contrast, and sharpness.

3 - For best composition - get low, shoot at an upwards angle or at least even with the subject. Try to fill your frame with the subject. Don't shoot "down" at the subject.

4 - Make sure the subject's eyes are in focus.

5 - When possible, take more time to position the camera before you press the shutter. This will lead to a steadier camera and lead you to happier results!

Thanks, Andy! Hope our readers take advantage of your tips!

* * * * * * * * *

Then, I shot some video of the same eel. The "floating dots" are sand and other particulates in the water that my video light illuminated.

In Belize, John Hand took this colorful, toothy shot of a green moray peeking out from the coral.

Here are some photo tips from John:

"I took the attached picture while diving at Turneffe Reef Resort in Belize."

Details:

Depth - 70 feet.

Dive Site Location - The Elbow.

Camera - Canon Power Shot G16 (F16 Housing) with Sea & Sea Strobe.

"When seeing this Moray Eel, I remembered YOUR Teaching and Instructions Paul. I remained steady, proper buoyancy and aimed my shooting upward."

Jamie Pollack, Executive Director of Shark Angels Conservation, was diving in the Philippines when she came across a shy ribbon eel.

"The shot was taken in April 2019 in Dumagete Philippines during a Shark Angels trip. The blue ribbon eel was one of those shots that I had always wanted to take along with several others that I took during that trip. I told our dive guide and he took us there.

The blue ribbon eel is much smaller than I thought it would be. However still very cool, and unique to that part of the world.

I shot it using my Mirrorless Sony A6300 camera with a Nauticam housing two strobes and a macro lens. Don't remember what settings I used as it was quite a while ago."

And another underwater photo tip all four of us follow:

Use an external light source.

Thanks for sharing your great photos, Andy, John, & Jamie!

* * * * * * * * *

* * The Book Corner * *

Your young sea turtle lover will enjoy reading how

Gracie Green Turtle Finds Her Beach.

Beautifully illustrated by author photographs.

Click on the book cover

for more information.

* * * * * * * * *

For Middle-grade Readers,

From NYT Best Selling Author

Mary Alice Monroe

and Angela May:

Book #2 in The Islander Series,

Search For Treasure.

Click on the cover for more information

Granddaughter Ava enjoyed this story!

Coming soon!

Tales of the Sea–A Short Story Anthology

From Red Penguin Books

A collection of seafaring stories from an array of writers sharing their amazing adventures with you. Join them on the open ocean, both above and below the deep blue sea!