This month we're reporting from Cozumel, where I celebrated a milestone birthday diving Santa Rosa Wall with instructor Alison Dennis and dive buddy Fulvio.
Paul celebrates the Big 7-0 with Alison; Miguel Núñez photograph.
For more information about Miguel's photography visit:
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International Sea Turtle Day occurred during June, so in this month's
Conservation Corner we're focusing on these worldwide traveling
"Ambassadors of the Oceans."
Check out the video, showing a scene that's as old as the dinosaurs. A green sea turtle lays her eggs and then covers the nest before she prepares to head back into the ocean.
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In
Story Behind the Photo, we experienced a different adventure: exploring a cenote, one of the Yucatan's freshwater
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If you have a photo with an interesting story or would like to share a good dive yarn, let me know at [email protected]
and I'll be happy to include your story in a future issue.
If you know someone who would enjoy reading Sea-gram, perhaps a dive buddy in need of an overdue "dive fix," please forward Sea-gram using the link at the end of the newsletter.
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I hope you enjoy Sea-gram !
Sincerely,
516-578-1482
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Conservation Corner . . .
. . . Green Sea Turtle Nesting
By Paul Mila, Carle Place, NY
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One of the most dramatic events you can witness is watching a sea turtle lay her eggs. It is a primordial scene that has played out on beaches worldwide since the age of the dinosaurs.
The Ecological Society of Cozumel permitted me to join them on a nighttime excursion to mark new nests as the turtles laid their eggs. On the east side of the island, we came upon a green sea turtle, such as the one in this photo, already in the act of laying her eggs. Sea turtles are graceful in the water, but on land they struggle as they must support their full weight, in many cases over 300 pounds.
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Green Sea Turtle, Paul Mila photo
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In this 2-minute video, the turtle is bathed in red light, to enable photography without scaring the turtle, since they cannot see the red spectrum.
One of the volunteers pulls back a rear flipper so we can see the eggs as they drop into the chamber she has prepared.
Then, we see her use her rear flippers to cover the eggs. Finally, she uses her front flippers to camouflage the location of the nest from predators such as crabs, raccoons, dogs, and, unfortunately, humans.
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Green Sea Turtle Nesting in Cozumel
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All sea turtle species are endangered, which is why we must preserve and protect their nesting beaches.
Turtle nesting is currently underway worldwide, and hatchings will soon follow, so we'll be posting updates.
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Story Behind the Photo . . .
Something Different: Exploring a Cenote
By Paul Mila, Carle Place, NY
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On my last trip to Cozumel, dive buddy Fulvio invited me to join him exploring a cenote. I had always wanted to visit a cenote, pronounced
say-no-tay, the flooded underground caverns that honeycomb the Eastern Yucatan. Cenotes provided crystal-clear freshwater for the ancient Mayans.
Fulvio took me to Dos Ojos, located just north of Tulum, which can be explored as a dive or a snorkel. Since this was my first time, we opted for a snorkel.
First we descended steps to water level . . .
And then we snorkeled through beautiful underground caverns.
Diving beneath the surface, my SeaLife video light illuminated a strange underwater world of stalagmites and stalagtites.
Even Fulvio looked amazed. . .
I couldn't believe the beauty I was seeing . . .
SeaLife DC2000 Camera with SeaDragon strobe and video light.
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| About MilaBooks.com |
www.milabooks.com
is your home for exciting dive adventure novels
and YouTube videos featuring various ocean creatures.
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To swim into my website click on the reading dolphin
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Thanks for visiting;
we'll see you next month!
Paul J. Mila
MilaBooks.com
75 Titus Avenue
Carle Place, New York 11514
516-578-1482
To forward Sea-gram to a friend,
please click the
"Forward email" link below.
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| Conservation Corner: Green Sea Turtle Nesting Story Behind the Photo: Something Different: Exploring a Cenote
(Stories, lower left column)
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| Quick Links |
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Updates & Miscellaneous Features
Shout-Out for Sharks!
Sea-gram fan Adam Cohen sent us this
shark conservation story, sponsored by
Nautilus Liveaboards
Shout Out for the Sharks is October 18 in Eilat Israel on the Red Sea. Whether or not you can make it for the dive, spread the word and donate what you can.
Check out this moving video about shark conservation:
For more information, click on the link:
You can also contact Nautilus at:
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The Giant Mantas of Sirocco
Adam Cohen also sent us this amazing video from his May 2017 adventure diving in Islas Revillagigedo, commonly known as Socorro, located about 280 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas.
Check out Adam's video, featuring the
Giant Pacific Mantas of Socorro in all their beauty, flying to the music of Enya.
Adam used a GoPro Hero 3 and
the new SeaLife DC2000 camera.
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The Giant Mantas of Sirocco
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Thanks for sharing, Adam!
Grandson Max, in his scuba pjs, enjoys his toy manta. Diving with manta rays is on my bucket list. Perhaps Max will join me some day?
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Calling All AQUAWOMEN !
Long Island diver Linda Gotti recently informed us about an upcoming
Aquawoman event:
August 5, 2017, they have two boats reserved in Freeport, the Sea Hawk and the Tempest, and also two boats in the Hamptons, the Side Kick and the Half Time.
For details contact:
Victoria: 917-376-5654 or
Linda: 631-680-8168
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Threats Continue!
Unfortunately, threats to ocean and sea life continue.To stay abreast of the problems click on these links for the latest updates:
Grandson Luke is already on board with protecting the whales.
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Sea Shepherd Update
For the latest Sea Shepherd conservation initiatives, click here:
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A Great Newsletter !
If you don't subscribe to
Ben Davison's
Undercurrent Magazine,
you should.
It is informative and always full of good tips on travel, dive equipment, and more.
Check it out:
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Check out my Cozumel Mexico beachfront condo on VRBO:
Condo Details
Here is the view from the condo:
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Morning at the Residencias Reef Beachfront Condo
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Fulvio and Sandra manage my
Little Slice of Paradise.
For other properties that Fulvio manages visit his web site:
New York Diving
For the best scuba experience in the
New York area, contact:
Scuba Network of Long Island
Sales, Service, Basic and Advanced Dive Instruction,
Local Diving & Exotic Dive Trips
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For the best in
Cozumel diving,
check out dive operator Alison Dennis:
Looking for your own Slice of Paradise ?
Contact Nancy Edwards at Cozumel Living:
or
Jaime Ramirez, at:
Post a link to your web site on Sea-gram!
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If a friend forwarded Sea-gram to you and you'd like to receive future issues, let us know. Click the JOIN link above, or e-mail me at [email protected]
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