Mike Gerken's Dive Blog Report: 2011

Jan 3, 2012 - The Ultimate Shark Challenge

Scroll Down for the "Ultimate Shark Challenge" story.

Photo of the Week.
Sand Tiger Sharks on the buoy deck of the USCG Cutter Spar.

Just a Few Words First
I have experienced some pretty exciting New Years Eve's in the past such as, four back to back trips in to Times Square, NY and a millennium party in the bush of Mozambique. This year, I got to experience my first New Years Eve in Southern Style. A good friend of Annette and I invited us to her small farm house outside of Beaufort, NC. It was here were we met some great down to earth people and celebrated till the wee hours of the morning. The food was all potluck and included some traditional items such as fried collard greens, black eyed peas and grilled local oysters which we was washed down with plenty of good beer and wine. Pretty soon the fireworks were pulled out and then the evening really got going. At first I stood back so not to accidentally get singed or blown up with low flying ordinace, but then I lapsed in to a state of regression therapy and jumped right in shooting rockets off like a teenager. As this was going on a couple of guys decided to take the farm tractor out for a spin driving in circles around the massive fire pit that was keeping us all warm through the night. After nearly running a few lawn chairs over the tractor drivers came to their senses and shut it down. After a few more hours of eating oysters, drinking a few beers and shooting off more fireworks, midnight arrived but with little fan fare. Someone looked at their watch and said it was midnight, we all said Happy New Year and then I went back to being intrigued with the pyrotechnics and shot off more rockets. By the end of the night, after probably becoming fed up, one of the dogs evolved into a more intelligent species than us humans and decided to disappear for the rest of the night. We looked with flashlights for an hour or so but we all knew this dog did not want to be found. At sunup, the owner awoke to have another look for her beloved pet and no sooner than she opened the door, their he was traipsing through the field and back in to the house were all us humans sat, mulling over a great evening and readying ourselves for 2012.

I for one am extremely optimistic about this coming year. Let's just call it a hunch, but I suspect the dismal economy that has plagued us for more than three years will improve, unemployment rates will decrease and housing prices stabilize. When this happens people will be able to return to doing what they love to do in their spare time. To be more specific they will have more time and money to GO DIVING! I for one am weary of digging through my couch cushions looking for spare change to apply towards my photography habit and look forward to a prosperous year of diving in the lap of luxury with some new camera gear. Before any of you dismiss what I'm saying with your negative energy just remember that positive thinking is a powerful entity, so join me in my desire for a grand year of diving and it will come to fruition.

All the best to you in 2012!

-Mike

The Ultimate Shark Challenge
Not too long ago I heard some guys talking on the boat I captain, the Midnight Express with Olympus Dive Center, about a shark tournament, where all the sharks were released alive after caught and measured. This has not been the standard in most shark fishing contests since the sharks were brought back to the dock for weighing, photos and bragging rights, so I decided to do a little research on the net and find out what this was about. Sure enough, I discovered a new style of tournament where no sharks are landed or killed. I'm not a supporter of fishing tournaments that land fish for the sake of prize money, but I do understand there economic significance. This new style of tournament could change the industry.

Catch and release sport fishing tournaments, both fresh and salt water, have been around for more than three decades. The rules of these tournaments are varied from one to the next but the general policy is just like it sounds. You catch a fish, keep it alive, weigh and measure it and then release it, hopefully, while it is still alive. The angler with the biggest and/or most fish caught has the chance winning a cash prize and prestige that goes along with it. The purses for such tournaments can run in to the hundreds of thousands of dollars. These catch and release practices were established by the sport fishing industry as an attempt to conserve fish stocks for a more sustainable long term industry that is vital to our economy. How vital? It is estimated, by the American Sportfishing Association, that as of 2011, there is $125 billion worth in economic output and more than one million American jobs in the recreational sport fishing industry alone. That's bigger than IBM. These tournaments, that are an integral part of the industry, are here to stay wether you like them or not.

There are catch and release tournaments for dozens of different fish species from fresh water bass to the pelagic ocean going marlin and of course sharks. It is not possible to keep large bill fish alive for the weighing process, so only a select few are actually landed in the hopes of a prize while most are released. There is not much of a commercial fishing market for billfish in the US so the landed fish that are brought to shore for the weigh-in are either donated to marine science research or tossed out in to the trash. The killing of even a few fish, is of course not ideal, but it is a vast improvement from past practices where every fish was landed, returned to shore and tossed in to a dumpster regardless if it would yield a prize. (This article doesn't discuss the negative effects of by-catch in the commerical fishing industry but it's shortcomings are recognized.)

Shark tournaments have also been widely popular in sport fishing in the US as in the rest of the world, but have not been given the same respect as bill fish or other fresh water species of game fish. Sharks have been seen as enemy number one in the oceans and are caught and landed with impunity even if the angler intends to consume it or not. It is not uncommon at marinas to see a sport fisherman proudly posing next to a shark with its rows of razor sharp teeth highlighted. Once the photo is taken and the jaw removed for posterity the sharks that are not edible are tossed out with the trash. For that matter many of the edible ones are also tossed out as well. These tournaments are not about catching sustenance but are all about ego and cash prizes that show contempt for sharks and teach nothing about how vital they are to the overall marine ecosystem. After all, an ocean without sharks will inevitably harm humans by disrupting the natural order in the food chain and diminish food stocks that are already suffering today.

With the growing worldwide movement in marine and shark conservation, wasteful sport fishing practices such as these are drawing a lot of negative criticism from environmentalists, scientists and the general public alike. There is hope though for saving sharks and the billion dollar industry they are a part of with a new type of tournament. Famed angler, artists and conservationist, Guy Harvey, founder of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has introduced a novel catch and release shark tournament, the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge, founded in 2009. Prizes are rewarded to the angler(s) who score points based on the length and variety of shark species caught, but not the weight. No shark is permitted to leave the water at any time and all must be released alive. In addition, many of the sharks are tagged with the hope of yielding valuable scientific data. (Read more about the tournament rules here.) So far, this tournament has been well received by environmentalists, anglers and scientists alike for combining the goals of sport, science and conservation. I encourage you to read more about Guy Harvey, his work and this tournament in particular at the links provided. The job of maintaining and protecting our environment is a complex one that will need continued innovation and cooperation to be successful in the future. Guy Harvey's ground breaking shark tournament is just one step of many in the right direction towards these goals.

If you have insight or an opinion you would like to contribute on tournament fishing and shark conservation, I encourage you to leave a comment or contact me to share this information. Thank you.

Dive News
Newsletter Sign Up
I will be simultaneously posting this blog report and sending out my first experimental Dive & Photo Newsletter via email. The newsletter will cover news items and links to stories that I find significant to the diving industry and marine conservation. It will also give you updates on what is going on in my part of the dive world. If you would like to receive the newsletter please click here to fill out your form. If you don't enjoy it you can always unsubscribe later. Sign up now though and automatically enter for a chance to win a fine art print of your choice from my portfolio. The drawing will be on January 15th.

Beneath the Sea Dive Expo
I am pleased to announce that one of my underwater photo workshops was chosen to be conducted at Beneath the Sea diving expo in Secuaucus, NJ on March, 25th of 2012. The title of the workshop will be, Wreck Photography Techniques: Wide Angle to Macro. If you would like to sign up for the course please click here. I will also be conducting two presentations. One on the film I produced, The Wrecks of Truk Lagoon and the second on North Carolina Wreck Diving. The schedule is to be announced on these.

The 10th Annual Penguin Plunge

Penguins plunging on New Years Day, Atlantic Beach, NC.

This is not exactly diving news but since we are not doing much diving this time of year in North Carolina this story will have to do. The Penguin Plunge is a not for profit organization that makes efforts to raise funds for local charities. On New Years Day those interested parties can brave the frigid waters and make a mad dash down the beach and jump in to the Atlantic Ocean. This year came to be one of the biggest turn outs to date. Since I volunteered to take photos of the events, I opted not to take the dive myself. It had nothing to do with me not being man enough, but I didn't want my camera to get wet. (That is my excuse and I'm sticking to it.) This year there was a few special plungers taking part in the festivities. First, a woman took a swim and celebrated her 90th birthday!

I hope very much that I have her kind of fortitude at 90. Then again I hope I can find her fortitude right now. Next, a couple got married right on the beach in front of all the Penguins and they themselves jumped in with wedding dress on and all. What a wake up call that must have been that you just got married. No sooner did the newlyweds make there swim, a horde of mad human penguins came barreling down the beach towards the water in an image reminiscent of a battle scene in the movie Braveheart. The shrill cry of warriors doing battle in the surf was intimidating. I for one nearly got run over and water splashed on to my lens and camera. The gang from Olympus Dive Center was there doing there part for charity with Robert Purifoy leading the pack.

"I do", now lets go get wet!

The fact that many of us have not been in the water for some weeks now made the swim all the more worth while. Even though dive tanks and wetsuits were left at home it was still exhilarating all the same. As for me, I did manage to get wet up to my knee caps before retreating to the safety of the beach with a dry camera in hand. If you would like to see additional pictures of this event please visit my Facebook page here.

Capt. Robert taking the plunge.

If you would like to sign up for one of my online photo lessons, visit my web site www.evolutionunderwater.com or contact mike@evolutionunderwater.com to learn how.

If you know someone would might enjoy this Dive Blog Report, then please share this page.

Thank you!

Visit Mike's Facebook Page

Please visit Mike's web site

www.evolutionunderwater.com

to peruse his portfolio of underwater photography, view his video excerpts from his documentary films and purchase fine art prints from his online gallery.

If you wish to dive North Carolina contact

www.olympusdiving.com

Olympus Dive Center, Morhead City, NC.

Please leave comments.

I would like to hear from you.

Dec 23, 2012 - Diving Therapy

Photo of the Week
Sand Tiger Shark atop the superstructure of the USCG Cutter Spar.

A Few Words First
SCUBA Diving, as a form of therapy, has been a frequent theme in my Dive Blog Reports in the past and even as recently as the previous issue from Dec 15, 2011. For years I have benefitted from diving's healing properties when it has help me cope with adverse times in my life. With the war in Iraq now officially ended and the men and women returning from over seas, I wanted to take a moment to touch on this theme again in this issue. It could be of relevance to some.
Also, win a free fine art print from my portfolio by simply signing up for Mike's Dive & Photo Newsletter (sign up here). This newsletter will give you up to date dive industry and marine conservation news plus updates on my presentations and workshops. I will be drawing a name January 15th. The winner can pick out a print of their choice from my web site: www.evolutionunderwater.com. The first issue newsletter will be out shortly after the New Year.
For you photo buffs out there scroll down within this blog and check out the Photo Tip of the Week and pick up the latest dive news from North Carolina and Olympus Dive Center.
In my next Blog Report I'll be reporting on recent developments in shark fishing tournaments in the US and how these new practices are affecting the sport fishing industry, conservationist movements and scientific research alike.
Thank's again to everyone who takes the time to view my Dive Blog. I have had a lot of fun writing this and sharing my work with you. 2012 is going to be an even better year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!
-Mike

Diving Therapy

Most people who participate in the sport of SCUBA diving will emphatically tell you that being submerged in the alien, but beautiful underwater world, is both peaceful and euphoric as well as, calming and uplifting. For many, during tough times in their life, it is of all things, an emotionally healing experience. Everyone has their own inspirations for diving. Wether you are simply having a bad week at work and need an escape, or a veteran seeking a way to over come the physical and emotional scars of war, SCUBA diving has proven to be a highly effective form of therapy for all.

If there is anyone who is more aware of these healing properties, it would be the men and women from Soldiers Undertaking Disabled SCUBA or SUDS (Please read previous Blog Report on SUDS for more information: July 12, 2011 - SUDS & Subs). Many of these men & women, some who have suffered debilitating amputations and injuries, have discovered the liberating feeling of weightlessness that diving offers and how it speeds up the healing process by promoting mobility. The success of this form of physical therapy can be easily measured with performance data while the emotional healing may be more difficult to determine, but is as important as any part of the healing process.
Recently, I had a very insightful discussion on this topic with a Marine Officer and avid SCUBA diver about what diving has done for him since his return from duty. After serving three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) , he solemnly said to me, "SCUBA diving has been the most effective therapy I've found in over two years of medical treatment". "It helped save me". After speaking to him in more detail, I became deeply moved by his passion for diving and the solitude that it offers him. After a while, I began to try to relate his feeling for diving to mine. After pondering this thought for a few moments, I concluded that I don't think I have ever felt this intense about diving, but I've also never had to deal with the traumatic effects of war. Do I take for granted what the ocean and diving is? In some ways, maybe. This can be acquainted to a person whose home has a beautiful view of the mountains and has lived in this house their entire life. The first thing a new visitor entering this home will notice is the striking view, while the home owner may simply shrug it off as common. After all, the view has always been there. Can they feel as passionate as the person who just saw it for the first time? I have looked out my window often in the past, but after the conversation with this Marine Officer, I will be looking out it much more.
Wether you are a wounded warrior or someone who simply is having a bad day, SCUBA diving can be a effective form of therapy. It can offer tranquility and the opportunity to forget. The fact that we are merely visitors in the watery world and cannot stay long, is an added incentive to return again and again. If you are a diver and reading this you can already relate to what I'm saying. If you're not, and are looking for a needed diversion from life, then I can strongly recommend becoming a diver. If SCUBA diving is beyond your means there is more than one way to feel the healing effects of being immersed in water. Visit your local beach, lake or watering hole and try snorkeling or just take a splash and swim around. If all else eludes you then simply fill up your bath tub up and allow the water to soak in and sooth your skin. It can help cure whatever ails you and put a smile on your face where there was none before.

Enjoy the view. Always!
(The summit of Blackcomb Mt., Whistler/Blackcomb, BC.)

Dive News from NC
All is quite in the dive world at Olympus Dive Center here in Morehead City. Last week, the 'six pack' charter boat, the Thomas S out of Olympus Dive Center did made it out to the wreck of the Tako which is a small tug only a few miles off Atlantic Beach. Visibility was about 12' and the water temp a chilly 57 degrees, but the wreck was loaded with black sea bass, sheepshead and flounder. A good time was reported by all who went. The dive wimp that I am, I was home with my fireplace running, drinking tea and staring at my camera gear piled in the corner. Woe is me.
Olympus will be running charters all winter if the demand is there. So give them a call at 252-726-9432 to check on the schedule or sign up for a dive in the 2012 peak season starting in May.

Photo Tip of the Week

Histograms

Many of you photographers who are new to the hobby may be wondering what that funny looking line graph is on your camera's LCD that accompanies each photo. Some of you may know what it is, but choose to ignore it because it looks too complicated. I say this confidently because I was one of those people who chose to ignore it when I first started shooting. I can now tell you now earnestly that you are making a mistake by paying it no mind. This funny looking graph is called a Histogram. In actuality, it is a very simple representation of the exposure of your image. When you can learn to read a histogram properly you can ascertain wether or not the image is too dark, too light or in between. The y-axis or vertical axis represents the number of pixels. The x-axis or horizontal axis represents the tone from shadows of the left to highlights on the right. Usually histograms are set up where the left side of the x axis is the shadow while the right side is the highlights but this depends on the camera.

The histogram that is shaped like a bell curve, where neither the left or the right side of the graph runs off the side and the mid-tones dominate the image, represents a properly exposed image. (See item a.) If the graph runs off the side to the left in the shadows, this is an indication that the photo was under exposed, thus loosing the details in the shadows. (See item b.) If the graph runs off the page to the right this in turn indicates an over exposed image where there is loss of highlights or burning. (See item c.) This clipping, as it is called, is undesirable with most subjects and can easily be compensated for by adjusting your exposure settings such as f-stop or shutter speed (see last weeks Photo Tips). Ascertaining what your image looks like by merely inspecting the LCD is not sufficient. LCD's can be misleading depending on how bright or dim your viewing light or ambient light is. Histograms, however, never lie!

Item a. Proper Exposed: note minimum clipping.

Item b. Under Exposed: note clipping on left.

Item c. Over Exposed: note clipping on right

Sometimes you may be shooting a subject that is strong in the shadows and lacking any highlights. Your Histogram will look like this:

Sometimes you may be shooting a subject that has strong highlights and lacks shadows. Your Histogram will look like this:

Are you starting to see the correlation? Once you do, analyzing your shots while on the fly will be a cinch and save you a lot of time and effort on poorly exposed images. Have faith in this little graph. There is a plethora of information within in it. Good luck!

Note: The top photo is a Pink Anemone Fish and Magnificent Sea Anemone taken in Truk Lagoon, Micronesia. The middle image is a sink and mirror taken on the Heian Maru, Truk Lagoon, Micronesia. The bottom image is the ship builders stamp, Toyo Toki Kaisha, taken from the side of a porcelain sink from the wreck of the Hanakawa Maru in Truk Lagoon, Micronesia. To view more of Mike's images from Truk Lagoon visit here.

If you would like to learn more please sign up for one of my online photo lessons. Each session is private and can be done from the convenience of your home with the use of a web cam and microphone. Visit www.evolutionunderwater.com to learn more or contact mike@evolutionunderwater.com.

If you know someone would might enjoy this Dive Blog Report, then please share at the side bar of this page.