News Article: February/March 2003

International News

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER COMPETITION

-02-2003

This prestigious photographic competition, which last year attracted more than 18,500 images, is once again searching for the Wildlife Photographer of 2003.

Entries close 2nd April 2003-01-29 For entry form and conditions visit www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto More

JEAN MICHEL COUSTEAU INDUCTED INTO THE INTERNATIONAL SCUBA DIVING HALL OF FAME

-02-2003

The Hall of Fame ion is yet another honour for Cousteau, one of the most recognized figures in ocean exploration and environmentalism in the world. More

WHALING COMMISSIONER CHOSEN

-02-2003

Former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer has been appointed New Zealand's representative on the International Whaling Commission. More

TERROR FROM DEEP

-02-2003

Jules Verne would have been delighted. More

ROCKS PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF ANTARCTIC MELTING

-02-2003

Rocks in Antarctica have provided the most direct evidence yet that parts of the ice sheet have been naturally melting for thousands of years.

The research, published in the journal Science, suggested that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been melting and constantly contributing water to the ocean over the last ten thousand years. More

HUNGRY SHARKS PUT THE BITE ON COOLING OFF

-02-2003

In Sydney, Australia hungry sharks are venturing up Australian rivers as drought reduces fresh water levels, forcing schools to warn children not to cool off in the local rivers.

Australia is in the trips of one of its worst droughts in 100 years. More

CHEAPER, FASTER HIGH-TECH SUBMARINE

-02-2003

On 23 January, Graham Hawkes unveiled years of work when he demonstrated Deep Flight Aviation in San Francisco Bay. More

GOVERNMENT LOOKS AT FREEDIVING

-02-2003

The Australian Queensland State Government will tighten safety regulations for recreational diving after a spate of snorkelling deaths.

The Government was drafting changes late January to diving codes of practice after the deaths of four men - in their 20's and all apparently fit - in snorkelling accidents since mid-December.

At least two of the deaths may have been caused by a syndrome known as "shallow water blackout", in which snorkellers hyperventilate in order to stay underwater longer.

The dive industry, stunned by the deaths, recently called for a tougher stance on hyperventilation among snorkellers, including a possible ban on the practice. More

US FEAR TERRORISTS THREAT FROM THE SEA

-02-2003

Captured al Qaeda operative Omar al-Faruq has told interrogators that he planned scuba attacks on US warships in Indonesia. More

DIVERS LOCATE ARK ROYAL

-02-2003

Divers filming a BBC documentary have located the wreck of the famous wartime ship HMS Ark Royal.

The aircraft carrier's torpedo planes hit the German battleship Bismarck in 1941, allowing other British warships to close and sink her. More

AUSTRALIAN SCIENTISTS EXCITED ABOUT RARE SHARK FIND

-02-2003

Western Australian scientists are excited about finding their first extremely rare speartooth shark. More

BENDS RISK TO SAFE DIVERS

-02-2003

Scuba divers could suffer from the potentially fatal condition know as "the bends" even if they religiously followed diving tables, a specialists has warned.

Dr Gregory Emerson, a consultant in diving and hyperbaric medicine at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, said international studies had shown that about a third of people who suffered decompression illness were within the guidelines.

Dr Emerson said it was important for divers not just to rely on the guidelines but to seek help as soon as they experienced symptoms. More

SOUTH AFRICAN SCUBA DIVER LIVES UNDERWATER FOR TEN DAYS

-02-2003

A South African scuba diver has claimed a new world record, after living underwater in a steel tank for ten days. More

PRE-INCA RUINS BENEATH LAKE TITICACA, PERU

-02-2003

Peruvian divers have found pre-Inca stairways, ramps and walls beneath the waters of Lake Titicaca, but experts say the discoveries were not eh remains of a legendary lost city.

The remains were found at a depth of between two and eight metres. More

SURVIVORS OF BELIZE DIVING ACCIDENT SETTLE CLAIMS

-02-2003

Families and survivors of an 8 October 2002 capsizing in Belize that resulted in the deaths of 17 recreational divers and three crewmembers have settled claims for several thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars.

The 120 foot Wave Dancer capsized during Hurricane Iris.

The settlements were hindered by a complex global search for assets of the diving firm, Peter Hughes Diving Inc.

While the total payouts were well over $17 million, there is only about $4 million left from the Lloyd's of London insurance policy on the Wave Dancer operation. More

THERE'S NO HOPE FOR KEIKO THE KILLER WHALE

-02-2003

Oslo - Keiko, the killer whale star of the Free Willy movies, will never be able to fully re-adapt to life in the wild despite a US$20 million rehabilitation programme, Norwegian experts said recently.

What we are exposing this whale to verges on cruelty to animals. More

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