Deep Sea News Moves-Again!

The guys over at Deep Sea News have moved (again). Turns out the relationship with Discovery was not to be, we think the boys needed some breathing room to be "all they could be":

"Discovery pursued new terms in December. The terms were unacceptable to us, so we terminated the contract. What can I say? We're on to better things. :)"

Here's the new home of Deep Sea News. See you there.

Nominating Frederic Buyle's Photography-Magazine Cover

Every once in a long while comes an underwater image so stunning, so perfect, that you just sit quiet for a minute or two enjoying every single thing about it.

This is one of those images. Please vote for this image by clicking this link today. The image is called "Dancing With Tigers".

To actually be able to "capture the moment" is every photographers dream. To capture that, and everything else is pure magic. Well done Frederic!

Shark Tech-Ocean Reef

On the subject of shark tech-we would like to introduce you to Ocean Reef.

For the past 5 years Shark Diver has been using these full face mask/comm gear set ups for our shark diving operations worldwide.

From spotting Salmon Sharks in Alaska's murky waters to calling out sequence shots for Discovery Channel's Shark Week Ocean Reef has been with us since the beginning.

If you happen to find yourself in an underwater space, surrounded by sharks, and need to communicate fast with clarity this is the gear you need to be using.

As you know by now, the crew of Shark Diver like their gear, and the gear we use is tested by the best in conditions that require our shark gear to work the first time and every time.

Aliens at the Gate?

The Earth is mostly covered by oceans, we're a blue planet.

For a shark diving company with a cool blog this pretty much gives us an unlimited supply of items to cover, like, for example this latest weird news coming out of NOAA.

NOAA has a series of deepwater microphones listening for any underwater sounds they can hear. These listening stations have recently heard "strange noises" in our oceans.

But don't take our word for it, click this link and have a listen yourself. We're not even going to try a speculate what this sound might be...O.K, maybe aliens?

Shark Tech Cool

Or not. Turns out this is the week for the roll out of all manner of new underwater gadgets and gizmondo's designed to prove to the entire world two things:

1. That you Mr.Consumer have way too much money
2. That you Mr. Consumer will spend it an anything

Take for example the latest offering from Rinspeed sQuba.

Available at your local dive stores in and around 2015. This underwater electric car will take you anywhere in style. Estimated sticker price...$400,000.

Want to go white shark diving? Tiger diving? Whale sharks anyone?

O.K, so the concept is cool. But like we like to say with commercial shark diving operations...just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Think we'll pass on this in favor of a ratty old BCD and dive computer that beeps too much, add a 50 square foot shark cage to that with a huge shark on the other side...now you got something!

5 Questions with a Shark Diver

We caught up with Shark Diver Derek Heasley owner of the online underwater image site Sea Pixels. When he's not shooting some of the closest shark shots on the planet he's usually to be found in Ireland. He just stepped off a 14 day adventure in Socorros with the Nautilus Explorer.

1. What draws you to sharks?

They are shaped beautifully. Just look at the curves on them. They are streamlined for perfect hunting. I get a huge thrill taking images of this shape in motion. From a tiger sharks snout to a basking sharks mouth. There is a lot to see.

2. How hard is it to shoot sharks vs say, blennys?

Blennys are beautiful also.They generally stay in their own area and pop their little heads out to see whats going on.  Always a close background in the image.  Sharks are always on the prowl and open water is where their at.  Blennys tend to be easier by their nature.  Stay still and a 105mm macro lens, your sure to get a good image.  With sharks its a different ball-game.  I mostly stay still when the sharks are around and use either 10-22mm or 18-55mm lens.  If your shooting
upwards, watch out for your air bubbles in the frame.

3. Favourite shark story?

Coordinating a photo shoot with a great white and a diver. We noticed the great white sharks were coming up to try catch the bait on the surface. We were cage diving at Guadalupe with Shark Diver. But myself and Colin Ball from England arranged that when I give him the thumbs up sign, that he was to face me and put his two thumbs up while I captured the great white which was right behind him...We couldn't have planned it any more precise. I couldn't have laughed anymore while taking the images:)

4. Your take on shark finning and what to do about it?

Its like somebody coming up to you and cutting your arms and legs off.Then walking away.I think there must be a huge demand for these fins. You and I know that if you eat shark fins its no more going to cure you and make you healthy than it is if you drink pints of Guinness...If there was a pro active government agency in country's where shark finning takes place. A simple education system that categorically list benefits of NOT finning.  So education is key.

5. Where's your next dive adventure?

Well, I live in Ireland, so there is plenty of good diving here. Abroad, I think the Coco Islands for the Hammerheads.

Editors Note: We could not agree with you more!

Shark Diving-Guadalupe Moment

Over the years we have had many memorable moments at our Isla Guadalupe dive site.

When you are fortunate enough to have had as many years of Great White shark encounters as we have had-things just have a way of happening.

Take Sterling Wilson and crew here. They joined us from Texas (the cool part) and like so many divers were hoping to just "see a great white shark".

By day two of their dive adventure our crew had personally introduced them to well over 20 different animals and they were beginning to run out of film. That's when they said they wanted to get a group picture.

All four intrepid divers decided to sit on top of the shark cages with Cuban Cigars to get this memorable shot. It was the last dive of the day, and the sharks had disappeared for an hour-"Let's go!".

It's moments like these that make a shark diving adventure. Good friends, great sharkin', and a Cubano. Does it get any better?

China Olympics: Speed Whale Shark Champions

China Daily, Shengzuo--As The Peoples Republic of China prepares to host the 2008 Olympics,China's Demonstration Sports Committee invited the International press corps to preview it's latest team sport-"Competitive Speed Whale Shark".

With it's early roots in logging this latest demonstration sport will be included in this years 2008 Olympic Games to promote the local sport and to gauge interest and support.

Speed, accuracy and safety are hallmarks of these three day medal events that include the complete disassembly of 60 foot Whale Sharks by sweaty teams of "Sawyers".

"It is our hope the world will adopt this sport for future Olympic Games before we run out of sharks" said Liu bo Xiang, Team Captain Alibaba.com, recent medalist, and three time "Sawyer Champion".

The following Underwater Onion was brought to you by Shark Diver.

Seriously, the Olympics would be a great place to highlight the fact that 80% of the worlds 100 million shark fins go to China.

Fathoms Magazine

Update: Since this blog post the publisher of Fathoms Magazine "took over" the magazine and killed it leaving behind many unfulfilled subscribers.

Cancel your Nat Geo membership...lock your kids and your wife in the car, and get ready to have your entire underwater world rocked.

This is Fathoms Magazine and they are on a mission to change the way you look at underwater images and dive adventures...forever.

We just got our latest installment this week. This underwater mag's hallmarks are big juicy images paired with great writing. Under the guidance of Ethan Gordon (editor) Fathoms has blossomed into the leading underwater magazine of our time.

Oh, and he's one of the industries nicest guys as well. Enjoy!

Shark Cages: Building 'em Since 2002

In a world filled with "broken promises" it's nice to know you can absolutely rely on some things.

Case in point Shark Diver shark cages. Used on more private yachts worldwide than any other shark cages, in fact, we're pretty sure we're the only company on the planet who furnishes shark cages on an industrial scale.

To date none of the shark cages provided by Shark Diver have failed the test of weather, water, or sharks.

Ever.

After all, our cages are designed to tackle 16 foot-2300 pound Great Whites in every condition imaginable. Keeping divers safe, while providing them with comfort, and thrills, since 2002.

If you were curious about "other" shark cages, let us introduce you to the competition at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico.

They maintain the following claim on their website:

"Our cages have set the industry standard for excellence. Our design and application is the envy of all other operators ".

Here's the video from their operation in 2007 to prove that claim:

Adopt A Shark

Mexican shark researcher Mauricio Hoyos is in the eco news-this time with the internationally recognized Adopt a Shark Program.

Adopt a Shark is a unique way for the public to support shark and ray conservation primarily in Mexico, but they are branching out worldwide.

You literally Adopt a Shark that get's tagged and tracked. Your donation pays for the tracking tags-and for guys like Mauricio to stay in the field for months on end.

Research dollars for shark conservation are at all time lows in Mexico. We would know. Without serious researchers like Mauricio with the backing of CICIMAR and U.C Davis the future of shark conservation in Mexico is pretty bleak. To enact any rules and regulations protecting wild animals-all governments demand solid research data.

Here's the recorded shark catch just in the Sea of Cortez:

1994-10,000 sharks
2004-300,000 sharks (Asian Fin Market)

Adopt a Shark today, it really is a race against time: