Lobster keeps watch on seabed

The 18th of June 2004

Divers undertaking routine maintenance work in a British harbour have discovered a giant lobster standing guard over a barnacle-encrusted wristwatch.
The lobster, which is thought to be more than 30 years old, was spotted by members of a diving club in Blyth harbour, Northumberland.
On closer inspection they were amazed to find that the ancient crustacean appeared to be guarding the watch.
Incredibly, on their return to the surface the divers discovered that the watch - a Citizen Pulsar - was still telling the time accurately to within a few seconds.
Graham McDonnar, a member of the Lady Francis Dive Team, said: "We've estimated that the watch had to have been under water for at least three years due to its condition and what's even more amazing is that it's not even a waterproof model.
"We're all highly experienced divers and none of us has seen anything like this before.
"Not only is this the biggest lobster any of us have ever come across underwater but it's also the first sea creature we've encountered that can tell the time."

The lobster has been taken to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth where it is settling in well in the harbour tank display.
Blue Reef's Zahra d'Aronville said: "Lobsters are well known for being extremely territorial.
"Perhaps it identified the watch as part of its territory and has been standing guard over it ever since.
"We're not sure whether we will be allowed to keep the original watch but if not we'll definitely supply the lobster with a waterproof replacement as he's clearly very keen on being on time."
PA

SMH 18-6-4

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/18/1087245053136.html

Vanuatu opens world's first underwater post office

1st of July 2003

Vanuatu has unveiled what it claims to be the world's first underwater post office, providing jobs for four dive-accredited postal workers operating in shifts.

But it isn't as silly as you might think - provided you buy special waterproof postcards available from shops on terra firma in Port Vila.

Then you scuba dive three metres down to have your postcards embossed with a waterproof stamp, specially created by Vanuatu Post to celebrate the 83-island archipelago's status as a marine paradise.

The fibreglass post office is surrounded by beds of coral and shoals of multicoloured fish in a marine sanctuary off Hideaway Island on the oustkirts of Port Vila.

It is all aimed at drawing attention to the diversity of Vanuatu's underwater world, and easily accessible dive sites.

"The landscape beneath the waters mirrors that found above: mountainous terrain with plunging cliffs, grottoes and overhangs, huge caves and intricate interconnecting underwater tunnels formed by frozen lava - and life abundant over all," Vanuatu Tourism says.

"Sea fans, soft corals and acropora gardens, plate corals and sponges and thousands of curious fish are there for all to see.

"Then there are wrecks! Planes, an old square rigger sailing ship, a destroyer and of course the mightiest shipwreck in the world, the SS President Coolidge. Come with us on a voyage of discovery as you explore the world below Vanuatu's seas."

AFP

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/30/1056825341156.html

SMH 1-7-3

PADI

 

Thursday 13-2-3

 

PADI is recalling dive tables:

 

“Planners (RDPs). The problems may appear in six (6) versions of the RDP, including both air and enriched air tables. Our printer is working diligently with us to correct his error.

 

These tables may be included in Open Water and Enriched Air Crew Paks, book and table combinations, CD-ROM combinations and alacart tables shipped between 1 October 2002 and 31 January 2003. Please note that not all RDPs you may have received during this period contain printer errors.

 

While analysis of the problems shows that the risk of injury from the errors is remote,…..”

 

Printer errors on a CD ROM!