The March
Sea-gram
For ocean lovers, divers,
and "deep-thinkers."
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In This Issue: We're Diving Curacao!
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A wall dive among flowing rope sponges and
soft corals in Curacao
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Welcome to the March 2023 Sea-gram,
We have something different for you this month:
Exploring the Dutch Caribbean's deep blue waters in Curacao, with Ocean Encounters.
In the Featured Creature section, we visit Curacao's green sea turtles, always a treat to see!
Next, we share some Favorite Video Moments with some fascinating creatures we encountered.
We also have some other interesting stories, including a great Story Behind the Photo, and please check out our Tropical Book Nook.
I hope you enjoy the March Sea-gram, and share it with your friends and family.
Paul Mila
So join me, and let's dive in!
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Featured Creature:
Curacao's Green Sea Turtles
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One of the more interesting animals you're likely to encounter in Curacao are green sea turtles. After they've enjoyed a breakfast snack you'll often find them snoozing. This one was taking a nap inside a large, soft barrel sponge:
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Some sea turtles tend to be camera shy. This one definitely did not enjoy being disturbed and hid beneath the coral, so we moved on:
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Our best green sea turtle encounter was finding two turtles together, on Double Reef.
I thought we had found one turtle, but the second one surprised us when it popped up:
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Worldwide, green sea turtles are classified as "Endangered" mostly due to the following human activities: overharvesting their eggs, hunting adult turtles, catching sea turtles accidentally in fishing gear, known as "by-catch," plastic pollution, and ocean-front development resulting in loss of nesting beach sites.
"Gracie Green Turtle" overcame many challenges to make her nest. To learn more, click on the cover of my children's book: Gracie Green Turtle Finds Her Beach.
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Start Them Young!
I met eleven-year-old Luca, who was diving with his family. It's always great to see youngsters getting into the sport!
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. . . and even younger!
Eighteen-month-old Carter is hanging out with the sharks at the Camden NJ Aquarium!
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Enjoy videos from our
interesting Curacao encounters
The Phantom Flounder: In this short video, a flounder changes its blue-speckled color pattern within seconds of noticing my presence, blends with its surroundings, and seems to disappear. Where did it go?
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This colorful reef was typical of our dives. Note the school of four butterfly fish, and the school of squirrel fish.
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Knowing that this lionfish, a beautiful but invasive predator, will consume many reef fish by the next morning was not a pleasant thought.
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Gliding over another colorful reef -- the video speaks for itself.
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Always fun to spot a spotted drumfish, even for a few seconds!
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Finally, this hawksbill sea turtle joined our dive group and calmly swam with us, seemingly unconcerned with our presence. It helped that the divers were respectful, and did not make any aggressive moves to get near the turtle.
We noticed small hooks on the front edge of the flippers, so this was a young male: perhaps Harry Hawksbill Jr.?
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Cross one off the bucket list!
Free-diving with a dolphin has always been on my list.
Finally did it for a few seconds in Curacao!
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for a great week of Curacao diving!
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Camera Equipment:
SeaLife DC2000 Digital Camera (still-shots and video), using both ambient light (no flash), and the Sea Dragon flash & Video Light. Visit: sealife-cameras.com
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Speaking of Sea Turtles:
A Very Cool Find!
Hank Binger, retired Carle Place High School teacher who taught Marine Biology, Zoology and Regents Biology (now called "The Living Environment"), currently subs at Connetquot School District.
Hank sent us a fascinating story about a sea turtle shell (carapace) that a student gave to him many years ago.
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Here is Hank's story:
"One day, after showing my sperm whale tooth and goosefish jaw collected over the years, a student at lunch time came to me and said he saw a large turtle shell in a garbage can near the high school. 'Would I like it?' he asked. (I'm sure to get a few needed extra credit points in Marine Bio class.)
I told him I had a few carapaces, but could add another to my collection. When he arrived about twenty minutes later, I almost fainted.
"Firstly, at the time 1990s, I said all 7 species of sea turtles are on the Endangered list (as of 2017, CITES has moved the Loggerheads, Caretta Caretta, to the VULNERABLE and THREATENED list), depending on the region of the ocean found.
"I did realize at the time, it was illegal to have this and was meaning to get an "educational permit" to keep it, and use in my classes. Well, 25-30 years later, I am still risking arrest and fines to show this fantastic carapace. It is worth it since it always brings awe and fascination to the students I show it to. At first I thought it was a Hawksbill, but further study proved it was Loggerhead.
"I continue to sub at Connetquot school district (Grades 7-12), and use it to start a discussion of plastics and our oceans. It never ceases to inspire, and is well worth jail time if it helps one student to begin caring about our planet's water."
For more conservation information, click on this book title:
Hank Binger
Thanks for sharing your story, Hank!
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Story Behind the Photo
Jonathan Balcombe, author of "What a Fish Knows," a NY Times bestseller, and the children's book "Jake and Ava: A Boy and a Fish" sent in this interesting photo, taken by Susan McCourt.
Here is Jonathan's Story Behind The Photo:
"On a snorkeling excursion to Caye Caulker in Belize (January 2023), we were given the opportunity to feed wild tarpons in the shallows. These large fishes definitely knew the drill. This 3-foot tarpon has just leapt up and grabbed a small dead fish from my hand. Several brown pelicans floated nearby to snatch any stray fish missed by the tarpons. Smart fishes, smart birds!"
(Click on the photo to view Jonathan's work)
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Your Tropical Book Nook
These exciting beach reads
will get you through the winter.
Click on my Tropical Author Page below . . .
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. . . then, click on the Tropical Authors logo
and dive into adventure with our other
Tropical Authors!
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A Hidden Jewel in
Topsail Beach, North Carolina
I had the pleasure of visiting the Quarter Moon Bookshop in Topsail Beach, NC, last month, met proprietor Lori Fisher, and signed copies of my children's books.
Click on the photo of Lori and me for more information about this wonderful bookstore, which features "Fascinating Pages and Gifts to Enchant."
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Quarter Moon Books & Gifts is located at 708 S. Anderson Blvd, Topsail Beach, NC 28445.
Next time you're in the area, do yourself a favor and visit!
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* * Kids Corner * *
My nautical adventure novels are geared toward older readers, but grandkids Max, Luke, Sophie and Ava, seem to be getting a kick browsing through them.
Click on their photo for descriptions about all my books:
The Sea Turtle Adventures of Harry Hawksbill for children,
and The Manetta Mystery Adventure Series for adults.
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Other Fun Things to Check out!
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My beachfront studio condo in Cozumel, Mexico is available for rent.
Perfect for your romantic getaway or dive vacation!
For additional details please visit:
Also call 516-578-1482
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Loggerhead Marinelife Center Update
There's always something exciting going on at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Check out:
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Discover the
Coastal Discovery Museum,
Hilton Head, SC.
You can adopt a
sea turtle nest,
and so much more!
Click on the
sea turtle hatchlings
for more information
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Two Great Dive Industry sources of Information:
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For New York Area Diving
For the best
Cozumel diving
contact Alison Dennis:
Looking to buy your
Slice of Paradise?
Contact Nancy Edwards
Fulvio manages my
Little Slice of Paradise.
For other properties that Fulvio manages, visit:
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About MilaBooks.com
Your home for exciting dive adventure novels, non-fiction, children's books, and YouTube videos.
Just click on the reading dolphin, and swim around our website for more information.
C
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
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