July 2023 Sea-Gram

The July

Sea-gram

from MilaBooks.com

For ocean lovers, divers,

and "deep-thinkers."

"Hey, Take My Picture For Shark Week!"

(Paul Mila Photo ©, Nassau Bahamas)

During a shark feeding dive in the Bahamas many years ago, I was taking a photo of the professional Stewart Coves photographers, who were wearing shiny chain-mail anti-shark suits.

All of a sudden, one of the Caribbean reef sharks decided to ham it up and squeeze in for a photo.

I couldn't have asked for a better pose!

Welcome to the July2023 Sea-gram,

from MilaBooks.com

This month we're celebrating another upcoming Shark Week, July 23-30. Enjoy several of my favorite shark videos, featuring encounters with Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, and our all-time favorites, the great whites.

Sea turtle nesting is now in full swing, and we have a nesting update from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

This month's Story Behind the Photos features an unusual jellyfish.

Please visit the Tropical Book Nook, for a new selection from the Tropical Author's Group.

This month's Kids' Corner features new children's adventure books.

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

Paul Mila

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Shark Week starts on July 23rd!

To celebrate, enjoy my favorite shark videos

Bahamian Shark Feed

Sometimes you just never know who'll show up.

When our Scuba Network group did this Caribbean reef shark feeding dive in Nassau, Bahamas,

things got a little crazy.

Nurse sharks are graceful swimmers, and will provide good photo/video ops, as long as you don't do something stupid, like try to grab their tail.

This shark let our Scuba With Alison dive group tag along on a deep wall in Cozumel, Mexico.

Then, there are the heart-stopping great whites!

My first shark cage encounter in Guadalupe Island, Mexico, with Nautilus Dive Adventures, was the stealthy approach of a great white as it glided up

from of the depths.

On this close pass, we definitely got the impression that they know who's in charge!

We experienced their power as this great white

bounced our two cages around like corks,

with the power of its caudal (tail) fin.

And the highlight of our trip,

on the last dive of the last day!

Sarah Scott's great video captured "Big Momma" smashing into our cage! WOW!

SOS !

Save Our Sharks!

Please support shark finning bans,

and other shark conservation legislation.

Sea Turtle Update

From the Loggerhead Marine Life Center in Juno Beach, Florida

"Summer is heating up in Juno Beach, and so is the amount of nests we are recording in our 9.5-mile survey area. This past Friday evening, our research team documented a record 575 nests in a single day on local beaches. It has been a really busy nesting season to date, and our team of staff and seasonal techs are monitoring the beaches every day in extremely hot conditions."

Jen Reilly photo above: numerous sea turtle tracks

indicate a lot of nesting activity on the beach!

We hope to report on successful nesting & hatching in next month's Sea-gram.

Sea-gram fan Joel Perry sent in these two photos

from Florida:

The local Sea Turtle Patrol checks out a marked nest,

yellow stick, left side of photo.

* * * * * * * * *

Story Behind the Photos

Walking along Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina after the high tide receded, we found numerous strange jellyfish stranded, strewn across the sand.

It was a type I had never encountered before.

But sending a quick email to my "go-to" marine biologist friend, Dr. Marianne McNamara, professor at Suffolk County Community College, solved the mystery.

Marianne's reply:

"Hi Paul,

Hope all is well! That looks like a cannonball jellyfish.

They are really cool and I've never seen one up here.

Cool find!"

Marianne

Above, a photo with my foot for scale.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Your Tropical Book Nook

Enjoy summer with these exciting beach reads!

Click on my Tropical Author Page below . . .

PAUL'S TROPICAL AUTHOR PAGE

. . . and also click on the Tropical Authors logo

to dive into tropical adventures with our other

Tropical Authors!

Check out this Tropical Authors New release!

Once again, FOUR TROPICAL AUTHORS combine their talents (and characters) to bring you an action-packed page turner!

Click on the cover for more information

* * * * * * * *

* *Kids Corner* *

I attended the annual Children's Author's Night fundraiser event at New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District last month, with many other authors.

Young Timothy bought a signed copy of

Larry Loggerhead Travels to the Sea Turtle Hospital.

Click on our photo below to learn more about the book.