The August
Sea-gram
For ocean lovers, divers,
and "deep-thinkers."
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The Caribbean is Cookin'!
Warming ocean temps are taking an
early toll on the Coral.
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(Paul Mila Photo, bleached coral ©, Cozumel, Mexico)
This coral is bleaching due to warming ocean temperature, already in the mid-80's.
Read the analysis by Cozumel dive operator Alison Dennis, below.
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Welcome to the August 2023 Sea-gram,
We were back in Cozumel after a several month hiatus.
Enjoy our video, Another Cozumel Adventure.
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 the scrawled filefish. Read about this "chameleon of the sea."
Please visit the Tropical Book Nook, and check out some entertaining books by the Tropical Authors' Group.
This month's Kids' Corner features a new children's adventure book by author Leslee Flanagan:
Washed Out to Sea.
I hope you enjoy the August Sea-gram, and share it with your friends and family.
Paul Mila
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First, some shark humor from
The Far Side
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Another Cozumel Adventure
Enjoy this 5-minute video, featuring some of Cozumel's local reef inhabitants
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Instead of moving in for that perfect "head shot" sometimes it's fun to lay back and just observe the local sea life going about their day, which consists primarily of eating without being eaten.
First we visit a healthy community reef. How many different fish species can you ID?
I spotted parrotfish, black durgons, blue tangs, and a trunkfish, among others.
Cruising along, we wake up a southern stingray, and then watch a French angelfish searching for a meal.
Next a large porcupine puffer swims past. Watch it's rotating eye searching for something to eat.
Finally, a hawksbill turtle totally ignores me as it looks for lunch, accompanied by several colorful wrasse.
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The Caribbean is Cookin'!
Dive Operator Alison Dennis shares her concerns about ocean temperatures warming earlier than usual:
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"Mild and temporary coral bleaching occurs normally every Autumn. When water temperatures get into the mid 80´s the stony coral polyps begin to expel a symbiotic algae called Zooxanthellae from its tissues. This algae gives stony coral its colors of yellow, green or brown. The coral polyp itself is transparent on top of its calcium based exoskeleton."
"When water temperatures begin to cool the Zooxanthellae returns to live in the coral´s tissues and the color comes back. This symbiotic relationship between the coral polyp and the algae keeps the coral alive. The algae provides vital nutrients that the polyps need to survive."
"When the water temperature is too warm for too long the coral becomes sick and dies."
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Alison points out bleached coral on Santa Rosa Reef |
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"This year the water hit 86 degrees in July. This is two months earlier than normal, and mild bleaching is already being noted in the month of July. I fear that if this goes on for four or five months we will lose a lot more coral than we normally do."
"Another observation is that we usually see small schools of baby Caribbean reef sharks in September and October each year. This year the sharks are already here. I saw three yesterday and one last week."
"The ocean´s normal cycle is two months early and I wonder what repercussions this may have on our reefs."
Thanks, Alison!
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Sea Turtle Nesting Updates
From the Loggerhead Marine Life Center in Juno Beach, Florida
"As summer continues to heat up in Juno Beach, so does the amount of nests we are recording in our 9.5-mile survey area! As of this week, our research team documented record-breaking nesting numbers, now totaling 22,469 nests to date this season on local beaches.
With another three months to go, this year’s nesting count has already beaten our previous record set in 2019, totaling 20,998 nests."
"Thank you" to our team of staff and seasonal techs who are monitoring the beaches every day in extremely hot conditions! We appreciate the hard, long hours they dedicate to sea turtle nesting season."
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Update From Cozumel
The photo below, at Cozumel's Mirador San Martin beach, shows red-stake marked nests by the Cozumel Ecological Society volunteers as far as the eye can see! Note the sargassum seaweed the turtles must cross to make their nests.
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This photo shows a mama turtle's tracks from and back to the sea. Note the red stake marker just to the left of the nest (depressed sand) to confuse smart predators (racoons & dogs) from digging up and eating the eggs. |
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Your own sea turtle lover will enjoy reading about how Harry Hawksbill helps Gracie Green Turtle find her nesting beach!
Click on the book cover for more information:
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Story Behind the Photos
The scrawled filefish --
chameleon of the sea!
One of the most interesting fish we observe when diving is the scrawled file fish, which can alter it's color pattern to suit it's mood and immediate surroundings.
Here, this file fish is flashing bright colors to match the brilliant background . . .
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. . . and then a few minutes later, it displays more muted colors to blend with the surrounding area.
A great way to hunt without becoming a meal!
Other sea creatures, such as octopus and flounder, also have this amazing capability.
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Your Tropical Book Nook
Enjoy summer with these exciting beach reads!
Click on my Tropical Author Page below . . .
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. . . and also click on the Tropical Authors logo
to dive into tropical adventures from our other
Tropical Authors!
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I recently presented my nonfiction book, coauthored with Judy Hemenway,
Bubbles Up, Buoyant Adventures in Planet Ocean, at the Plainview-old Bethpage Public Library, with the assistance of
Cultural Program Specialist Andrea Vaglio.
Click on our photo for more information about ordering your copy of Bubbles Up!
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* *Kids Corner* *
Start Teaching Them Young!
Grandma Florence points out interesting sea creatures to Carter . . .
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. . . and pretty soon Carter is getting the hang of it! |
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Author Leslee Flanagan recently published Washed Out To Sea, beautifully illustrated by Remesh Ram.
Your 4-8-year-old ocean lover will thoroughly enjoy this entertaining and captivating story, a great addition to your child's home library!
Click on the book cover for more information.
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Other Fun Things to Check out! |
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My beachfront studio condo in Cozumel, Mexico is available for rent.
Perfect for your romantic getaway or dive vacation!
For additional details please visit:
Also call 516-578-1482
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Loggerhead Marinelife Center Update
There's always something exciting going on at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Check out:
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Discover the
Coastal Discovery Museum,
Hilton Head, SC.
You can adopt a
sea turtle nest,
and so much more!
Click on the
sea turtle hatchlings
for more information
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Two Great Dive Industry sources of Information:
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For New York Area Diving
For the best
Cozumel diving
contact Alison Dennis:
Looking to buy your
Slice of Paradise?
Contact Nancy Edwards
Fulvio manages my
Little Slice of Paradise.
For other properties that Fulvio manages, visit:
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About MilaBooks.com
Your home for exciting dive adventure novels, nonfiction, children's books, and YouTube videos.
Just click on the reading dolphin, and swim around our website for more information.
C
Thanks for visiting;
we'll see you next month!
Paul J. Mila
MilaBooks.com
75 Titus Avenue
Carle Place, New York 11514
516-578-1482
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