The October
Sea-gram
For ocean lovers, divers,
and "deep-thinkers."
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"Gracie Green Turtle"
resting inside a giant barrel sponge.
Paul Mila Photo; Curacao, Dutch Caribbean ©
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We have an action-packed Sea-gram this month. There is something for everyone!
This month's headline photo features a scene from Gracie Green Turtle Finds Her Beach, the best selling story in the Harry Hawksbill Sea Turtle Adventures series.
Click the photo above for more information, and scroll down for a sea turtle update.
Don't miss this month's featured article, Saving Giants, when humans intervened to undo damage caused by other humans.
This month's Featured Creature is the green moray eel, always a treat when divers encounter them out in the open.
In Story Behind the Photos, we show how shooting at the correct angle results in very dramatic photographs.
We also have a Sea Turtle Nesting Update for you.
Finally, please visit the Book Corner, where we have interesting books for all ages to tell you about.
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I hope you enjoy this Sea-gram, and share it with your friends and family.
Paul Mila
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* * Featured Article * *
Saving Giants!
Sea-gram readers sent in these two fascinating videos. Enjoy the happy endings for a humpback whale, and a giant whale shark
Turn up the volume for interesting narration.
Sea-gram fan Ton Helmke sent in this video from the BBC about and encounter with a humpback whale in Canadian waters dragging heavy fishing gear tangled in its jaw.
Watch as the whale actually helps out in its own rescue!
Karen Sunde sent in this story, about a Hawaiian family who spotted a giant whale shark entangled in a 150 pound rope cutting into its skin. Watch them free-dive to free the shark. Amazing!
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** Featured Creature **
The Green Moray Eel
There are over 200 species of moray eels, but today we'll take a look at one of the larger species, the green moray, found throughout the Caribbean.
I took these videos in Cozumel, Mexico.
Divers frequently spot moray eels hiding under rocky outcroppings and tiny caves, like this one below. Morays look fearsome, as they open & close their jaws, but they're just helping push water over their gills to breath.
Most accidents happen when divers try to feed them. Moray eels have a good sense of smell but bad eyesight, and that's when accidents happen.
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Moray eels also have a second set of teeth in the back of their throat, so whatever goes in is not coming out!
Evidently Alison knew this moray, and felt secure in stroking it! But don't try this at home, folks!
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It's a treat when we find a green moray swimming outside, usually looking for a new hiding place, or to hunt. But most of their hunting is done at night.
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They usually ignore divers, unless we get too pesky. In this case the moray finally had enough of us, and ducked into a coral nook for some peace & solitude.
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Story Behind The Photos
Photo Tip:
shoot upward for dramatic effect
To enhance your underwater photography, try to get below your subject so your shooting angle is slightly upward.
Here are three examples:
First, this great white shark in Guadalupe Island, Mexico made several passes at our shark cage. I shot different angles, but none compare to the dramatic effect when this apex predator passed over us, like a jumbo jet with teeth!
You can read about the entire adventure in the new anthology, Tales of the Sea (scroll down for details).
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Second, we saw plenty of humpback whales to photograph when we were free-diving in Tonga, South Pacific. I got lucky when this whale turned and gave me a great view of its extended pectoral fins!
Hence their Latin name: Megaptera Novaeangliae, or "Giant Winged of New England," the name 19th century Yankee whalers bestowed on humpbacks.
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Final example: Our patience paid off when this large eagle ray on Cozumel's Palancar Reef made one final pass over our
ScubaWithAlison dive group before flying away.
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You get the idea: Stay low, and shoot up for dramatic effect!
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Photo Equipment: SeaLife DC1400 (humpback whale photo), SeaLife DC2000 (shark and eagle ray photos), using ambient light.
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Sea Turtle Nest Update
Terri Johnson, Sea Turtle Nest Adoption Coordinator for the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head (where Gracie Green Turtle Finds Her Beach in my story), sent me this update about my adopted nest:
Dear Paul,
"We had a marvelous sea turtle nesting season in 2022.
423 nests were laid on Hilton Head beaches!
The Sea Turtle Protection Project has received 2022 sea turtle hatching data from the South Carolina Department of Resources and we are sharing how YOUR nest did!
Nest #105 emerged on July 30th, had 127 eggs in it – and 115 of them hatched for a 92.9% hatch success!"
How do they know? The photos below show sea turtle volunteers checking on a hatched nest to count the eggs, and then giving a helping hand to any stragglers:
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Of course, life isn't easy when you're a hatchling.
Watch this little one struggle even when he reaches the sea, in Cozumel:
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Find out how you can help sea turtles, and more!
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Now Available!
"Tales of the Sea - A Short Story Anthology"
This anthology includes my great white shark diving adventure, and the works of ten other ocean-faring authors.
Join us as we share fictional and true-life adventures,
above and below the blue horizon!
Meet JAWS, up close & personal, experience fantastical mermaid encounters, fly through the Bermuda Triangle,
and so much more!
(Click on the book cover for ordering information)
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For young readers,
Gracie Green Turtle Finds Her Beach, the second story in the Harry Hawksbill Sea Turtle Adventures !
Click on the book cover for more information
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Middle-grade fiction
for older students,
From NYT best selling author
Mary Alice Monroe:
the first two books in
The Islanders series
Click each photo for more information
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New Release!
From Dr. David Guggenheim,
"The Ocean Doctor:"
The Remarkable Reefs of Cuba
A story of hope for coral reefs
Click on the cover for more information
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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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Great Beach Reads
Click on the Tropical Author's logo and check out exciting tropical stories.
Please also visit my page:
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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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