Animals may sense chemical changes in groundwater that occur when an earthquake is about to strike. This, scientists say, could be the cause of bizarre earthquake-associated animal behaviour. Researchers began to investigate these chemical effects after seeing a colony of toads abandon its pond in L’Aquila, Italy, in 2009 – days before a quake. They [...]
The Australian government says it plans to establish the world’s largest marine reserve in the Coral Sea. Environment Minister Tony Burke said the protected zone would cover an area more than one-and-a-half times the size of France. New fishing limits would be imposed and and exploration for oil and gas banned. The proposal is subject [...]
A man who stayed behind to defend his home from a bushfire in western Australia used scuba diving equipment to escape the blaze. While others in the town of Margaret River fled their homes, Peter Fabrici got his wife to safety and then went back to fire-proof his home. Seeing houses in the distance going [...]
Measures to prevent illicit fishing of Mediterranean bluefin tuna have been strengthened at the annual meeting of governments involved in the industry. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (Iccat) decided to implement an electronic system for recording bluefin catches. Research shows catches have been far higher than skippers have declared. The meeting, [...]
Scientists have discovered how two marine creatures are able to rapidly “switch” their colours – from transparent to reddish brown. The species, an octopus and a squid, use their adaptable camouflage to cope with changing light conditions in the deep ocean. The creatures’ skins respond light that deep-sea predators produce to illuminate their prey. The [...]
Sea Bees Diving is taking part in the Phang Nga Bay Conservancy ‘A Day in the Bay Cleanup’ to be held next Saturday 15th October. Together with other members of the local community, we are out to do our bit to keep Flip (the fish in the logo below) happy! One Sea Bees Diving boats [...]
The Marshall Islands government has created the world’s largest shark sanctuary, covering nearly two million sq km (750,000 sq miles) of ocean. The Pacific republic will ban trade in shark products and commercial shark fishing throughout its waters. Tourism, including diving, is a staple of the Marshall Islands archipelago, which is home to just 68,000 [...]
King crabs have been found on the edge of Antarctica, probably as a result of warming in the region, scientists say. Writing in the journal “Proceedings B”, scientists report a large, reproductive population of crabs in the Palmer Deep, a basin cut in the continental shelf. They suggest the crabs were washed in during an [...]
Here I am again with my next article on the Mantis Shrimp also known as Stomatopoda. Once you have read to the end, I am sure you will agree they are amazing creatures. Read on about their amazing vision. The eyes of some groups of mantis shrimp are probably the most complex in the animal [...]
Mantis shrimps are mere inches long but can throw the fastest punch of any animal. They strike with the force of a rifle bullet and, with the aid of super-speed cameras, we can truly appreciate how powerful this animal is. (And the online administrator is OBSESSED WITH THEM!) A few years ago, an aggressive creature [...]
