Marine Habitats, Part IV: Life in the Open Sea
We loaded the boat in the first flickering light of dawn. Three hours later we were 20-plus miles/32 km out to sea, completely out…
Ocean Science
Marine Habitats, Part III: Life in a Coral Reef Community
Question: Can you name the largest biologically produced structures to ever exist on Earth? Clue: It is not an extinct dinosaur, nor is it…
Life in the Sand and Rubble ecosystems (Part 2)
This article is the second in a four-part series that deals with different ecosystems in the world’s oceans. In this segment, we will take…
How Fishes Use Color
What is the most beautifully colored fish in the world? This is a question that can be passionately debated for hours. Surely the Harlequin…
Sea Breezes: How Winds Affect Diving
The chance of finding Spanish treasure is one of the bonuses of diving in many places along Florida’s coast. In fact, a few people have become wealthy diving for gold, silver and jewels recovered from the sites of wrecked Spanish ships. Anyone who finds even a single 16th-century coin can thank Mother Nature, especially the wind. The extreme winds of hurricanes and the waves they kick up sank most of the ships from three different Spanish fleets along different parts of Florida’s Coast.
The Amazing Ocean: The Facts of Life Under the Sea
A well-known Chinese proverb maintains that a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s especially true in a world where we’re bombarded with information,…
Weather at the Water’s Edge: Forecasting Coastal Weather
The coastal waters that attract divers are often the breeding grounds of storms and other weather surprises. Divers and boaters who venture onto bays,…
Of Glowing Interest: Bioluminescence in Marine Animals
The only glow-in-the-dark creature familiar to most of us is the lightning bug. A few other land creatures, such as glow worms and types…