X-Ray Mag

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New dates for EUROTEK.2014

10 years ago By Chief minion

"When we heard that the Birmingham Dive Show would be held on the same weekend, we were pleased because it would have meant that delegates had the opportunity of attending both shows.

"However we know that certain delegates want to devote themselves to a specific event and choosing can be tough. We felt the fairest option would be to change dates."

With EUROTEK.2014 now being held on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September, divers are free to attend both shows.

Fresh shark fins drying on sidewalk
Fresh shark fins drying on sidewalk

Chinese demand for shark fins has plummeted

10 years ago By Chief minion

Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins while the remainder of the living shark is discarded in the ocean.

NBA All-Star Yao Ming pledged to stop eating shark fin soup at a news conference on August 2, 2006. However at that time Yao's comments were largely unreported in the Chinese media.

Last call for MyShot Underwater Photo Contest 2013

10 years ago By Chief minion

The contest features both macro and wide-angle categories for compact and SLR (interchangeable lens) users.

MyShot is an online underwater photo competition. Photographers can submit their images until the 31 October 2013 deadline and the registration is free. The jury will decide the winners of the categories and there’ll be a public vote as well for a selection of 100 pictures (25 each category). A final party will close the contest.

Soon you may use your phone on planes

10 years ago By Chief minion

According to the New York Times the committee’s recommended policies “allow reading e-books or other publications, listening to podcasts, and watching videos” during takeoff and landing. The ban on emails, text messages, or using WiFi during takeoff and landing will remain in place.

The primary concern has been the potential interference from Portable Electronic Devices with the aircraft’s communications, navigation, flight control, and electronic equipment.

DAN announces their 2013 DEMA Show Talk Schedule

10 years ago By Rosemary E Lunn

Dr Neal W Pollock, DAN's Research Director stated, "Our lecture series is a wonderful way for us to reach out to divers from all over the globe. We have found that DEMA Show attendees appreciate hearing in-depth lectures that make you think, on the latest in physiology, diving medicine or safety research. Our audiences are very positive and we often get excellent questions that produce ideas for new presentations and initiatives.

A new Maldivian liveaboard is launched

10 years ago By Rosemary E Lunn

blue to two state this luxurious vessel has an open-air dining area, a modern and comfortable saloon and an elegantly designed dining area and bar. Apres diving facilities include a spacious sun deck, jacuzzi, and onboard spa.

Diving facilities include nitrox, equipment rental, a charging station, and it has been designed to be photographer friendly.

blue o two are celebrating the launch of M/Y blue 'Honors Legacy' by giving away a 7 night liveaboard holiday onboard this luxurious vessel, or one of three £500 blue o two holiday vouchers.

Hong Kong bans shark fin at official functions

11 years ago By Scott Bennett

In a move hailed by conservation groups, Hong Kong's government announced it would cease serving shark fin and bluefin tuna at official functions. In a press release, the government announced it was taking steps because the items "have aroused international and local concern because they are either captured or harvested in ecologically unfriendly or unsustainable ways, or cause other conservation concerns". It has also encouraged government-funded bodies to follow suit.

Goliath grouper spawning divers’ delight

11 years ago By Amanda Cotton

For best viewing of the massive numbers, head to Jupiter on the eastern coast of Florida. Groupers travel from as far away as Fort Myers and northeast Florida for the spawning events on wrecks and reefs. The window of opportunity to dive with these large fish in these high numbers is quite small. Most of the fish are gone by mid-October, but some remain year round. Goliath groupers can reach up to 800 pounds and were nearly fished out in the 1970s and 80’s, but have made a strong comeback under a protection ban that was established in 1990.

Fish-Eye for Critters

Words
Andrea & Antonella Ferrari
Images
Andrea & Antonella Ferrari
Download the full article as pdf ⬇︎

The apparently contradictory choice of adding teleconverters to fish-eye lenses to obtain arresting “wide-macro” images has long been adopted by many rainforest and insect specialists—notably Frans Lanting, the grand master of them all—while several Japanese authors have pioneered its use in underwater photography since the last decade.

North Sulawesi: Buyat Bay & Lembeh Strait

Words
Kelly LaClaire
Images
Kate Clark
Mandarinfish, Bianca, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. Photo by Kate Clark
Mandarinfish, Bianca, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. Photo by Kate Clark
Download the full article as pdf ⬇︎

There are very few places in the world that remain unknown to the dive community. Let’s face it, scuba enthusiasts are nothing if not resourceful when it comes to finding new and uncharted waters to dive in. But chances are excellent that when you read the title of this article you asked yourself, “Buyat Bay? Where the heck is that?”

Beyond the Muck

Words
Mike Bartick
Images
Mike Bartick
Download the full article as pdf ⬇︎

Muck diving is a term used quite frequently these days that can be applied to either a dive site, a type of diving or even an entire region like Lembeh Strait in Indonesia or Anilao in the Philippines.

These areas of the Indo-Pacific have consistently ranked amongst the highest in terms of high coral counts, reef fish and of course the high impact Holy Grail of critters.