Clown Nudibranch

Doug Biffard, a Marine Biologist who does volunteer work with Reef Dot Org was up to DiveSafe International this past weekend and conducted the Level 2 and Level 3 surveyors course. The course is a free one, which involves some classroom work, and then if you are a certified scuba diver, there can be one or two dives conducted in conjunction with the training.

Saturday’s training had Doug explaining why the diving in the Pacific Northwest is so diverse, and amazing.  Also, during this session we are introduced into the various Fish and Invertebrates that can be found in our local waters.

On day two, we headed out on the boat for a dive at Lone Tree one of our many awesome dive sites, where we encountered many different rock fish, Greenling, Giant Pacific Octopus and even a Shark (Dog Shark).

DiveSafe is going to have Doug back up in late September, or early October for our next Reef Course, so if you are interested be sure to get a hold of DiveSafe to book your seat.   What do you have to loose…after all its FREE for the classroom sessions!!

Dive two was on the outside of the spit, and visibility was a little better, and the temperatures were maybe 5 degrees warmer.  We were on a rocky reef, right down where the kelp and sand met up…we were treated in 100′s of tube snouts schooling, with a couple of Red Irish Lords being present and even a SailFin Sculpin…overall it was a great great dive!

What makes the dive even more fun is the fact that you are in only 20 feet of water, and you can make it last forever….if you are good on air.   So, if you are interested in taking a “FREE” Reef course, be sure to contact UWE and we will hook you up on one!

The course was conducted over 4 days, with all students having no problems completing their training, the course was run in the same fashion of any other Openwater course, though we got many many boat dives in the students….what a great confidence booster!!

Once the course was completed, we rolled right into the Advanced Openwater course, one that is normally only 5 dives in length, but we here at DiveSafe, have decided to conduct a 20 dive Advanced Openwater program.   Once you are completed the 5 dives that are needed for the course, we dive you 15 more times in all sorts of conditions while still under the supervision of an instructor.  How can you not help but be an amazing diver coming off this training!!  Excellent work!!

UWE will be conducting the next OW and AOW training at DiveSafe in Sept, so if you are looking to get your training completed you should be sure to book now!!

Danny S. & Steve L.

UWE would like to congratulated Dan S and Steve L for successfully completing the EFR O2 Providers course that was given at DiveSafe International.  Danny and Steve showed up and worked hard to complete the new program.  EFR has just been accepted in industry fro Canada, so be sure to check back and see how the new accreditations work for this program.

Need to complete a First Aid or O2 Providers course be sure to contact us or DiveSafe to ensure your seat is reserved.  Our next course is scheduled for the first week of August.

Abalone

If you were to Google “Abalone” you would find many sites that discuss how threatened this Mollusk is or what amazing recipes that can be used for cooking these little guys up.  So, I thought I would include some interesting facts about what is happening and maybe, just maybe you will get in there and help protect these guys.

Firstly, here are some facts about the Abalone;

• sexes are separate;
• they broadcast spawn, with the release of 10,000 eggs or more;
• eggs hatch as microscopic living larvae.  it drifts with currents for about a week then the abalone larvae settle to bottom, if suitable habitat is located it may grow to adulthood, mortality still probably exceeds 99%; and
• predators, eggs, and larvae are eaten by filter feeding animals, juveniles are threatened by crabs, lobsters, octopi, starfish, fish and predatory snails, while larger adult  abalone predators are fish such as the Cabezon, bat rays, and sea otters

In the last 20 years, the commercial catch of abalone worldwide has declined from 18,000mt to a little over 10, 000mt.  Below are listed 6 major reasons for the decline.  Number 5 (Illegal harvesting) is by far the largest and most important reason for the decline.

1. Predators
2. Mortality of small abalone
3. Over harvesting
4. Competition, Sea urchins and other species, utilizing abalone food and living space
5. Illegal harvesting
6. Loss of habitat

Here is an exert from the Times Colonist discussing in-depth Illegal Harvesting, so be sure to take a read it is very interesting!

Poachers biggest threat to endangered abalone

DFO asks for the public’s help in watching for suspicious divers

By Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist. March 20, 2010

The wetsuited killers often hang out in rocky inlets or deserted beaches, where there are few witnesses, but the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is hoping eagle-eyed observers will help stop the destruction of a species.
Read More

DiveSafe International

So, things have been pretty darn quiet on the blog…and needless to say, it has not been on purpose.  UWE has relocated at short notice to of all places Campbell River, so we could join up with DiveSafe International, which is a Commercial Dive Training College, who wants to expand into the Recreational market.

We are offering career training, Dive Master and Dive Instructor training and obviously Commercial Dive training…which is there main stay work.  We are also in the process of opening a retail store which is already partially stocked, and ready to go.

So if you are in Campbell River, or planning on coming here be sure to stop in..you never know there may be a career change in your future.

Graceful Decorator Crab

UWE has returned to Canada, and where was our first cold water dive…you have it Tuwanek!  I had to wear this strange suit called a drysuit…not a 3mm short like I had been wearing not all that long ago while working on the Baja…but a drysuit.  Needless to say, it took a minute or two in order to remember what went where and why….but we figured it out pretty quickly.

As we entered the water, we ran into at least 10 divers up to the coast from Vancouver…welcome guys!  After a few questions we had it confirmed to us that vis was pretty good.  Actually it was very good…I would say at least 50 foot anyways.  As on all the other dives we slide down the hill and hit the wall at the 70 foot mark, and yes I was hunting for my favorite Octopus den, and sadly no one was home…and this seemed to be the same story for the other two dens we went to check out.  I think we are still a little early for the big boys to return.

I can not believe, back to cold water…dam I have missed it!!  Interested in doing some training with us…be sure to let us know!!

Last minute checks

UWE, is in the process of updating the Training Center here at Uw Explorers.  We have completed the Technical Diving section.  We have updated prices and number of dives.  Don’t miss out on some of the best training and diving you can imagine.

We offer Technical training through PADI/DSAT and TDI.  If there is a technical course you want to take and you do not see it on our website be sure to send us and email, so we can send you out some information of the course, and where you can take it.  In most cases we bring in guest instructors if we are not able to conduct the course.

Taken by Dave and Dean

UWE was out once again helping out Vista Sea Sport, with a charter of 3 divers from California.  Tom, Scott and Cortlandt headed down to Cabo Pulmo for some great diving.  The weather was amazing with very calm seas.  Actually flat calm seas which is nice!!

Dive one had us down at Islote, this is easily one of my favourite dives in Cabo Pulmo.  Islote stands for Little Rock, and that is exactly what it is.  This rock that breaks the sruf to about 25 feet heigh.  We rolled in and headed down to circumnavigate the area.  We were treated to no less then 4 Green Moray Eels, a guitar ray, and numerous bright colorful tropical fish!

Dive two had us rolling in on El Bajo.  Todays dive was amazing…there were a large number of fish, rays and once again eels.  The reef is pretty short and narrow but it is certainly worth diving.

Not to be out done…we had some fabulous whale breaches before the dives and during the surface intervals.  I am not sure I will ever get use to seeing that.  It is simply amazing!  Just seeing the whales breaching is well worth the trip down to Cabo Pulmo

Down in the Baja, looking to do some diving, be sure to drop Mark and email at Vista Sea Sport.

Panamic Green Moray Eel

UWE has added more to the Marine Life of the Sea of Cortez section.  In the Bony Fish Section we have added some footage of a Panamic Green Moray Eel.  These kinds of eels are prolific here in the Sea of Cortez.  It is not unusual to count 4  or 5 per dive.  As long as you are on the rocky reefs, there will be Green Moray Eels for your to check out.  Eels are one of my favorite fish in the ocean, and I am not sure why…but I never get tired of searching for them.  Just remember to keep you fingers out of their mouthes!!

If you like the footage then can be down loaded at the following link.

Round Stingray

The second video was added to the Ray & Skate page.  We added the Round Stingray to our collection.  There is something so majestic about Stingrays.  To me, they are the undersea birds flying by as we try to increase our explorations of the ocean.  I have many other pieces of footage of various rays which I will add as the weeks go on.  Be sure to go and check out our new additions.

If you like the footage then can be down loaded at the following link.