Greetings fellow snorkellers!
First post on my new (2nd hand) laptop. With barely enough horsepower to run Windows XP, and less RAM than most desktop calculators, it is still serving me well by letting me do the most essential computing tasks -- post to my blog, check Facebook, watch stupid but entertaining YouTube clips (Bert & Ernie try gangsta rap ) and most importantly -- play Minecraft.
Anyway, back to the snorkelling! I went with my sister this morning. Today was overcast, cool, and with a brisk easterly wind. I wasn't expecting a very good snorkel ... But the ocean has a way of surprising us.
Before even getting into the water, we saw a dolphin(s) splashing around out past the reef. As I observed it, I realized that dolphins are clearly not as intelligent as people think. While his family are probably in the Pacific somewhere getting chased down by Japenese whaling ships, and being served in sushi bars, this little guy was spending his time splashing around the West Australian coast. Completely unproductive, failing to provide for his/her offspring, and generally making a pain of himself. Why do dolphins seem to have so much free time on their hands? It's strange.
After hitting the water we headed straight out to the depths, leaving the kiddies and the breast-stroking grannies behind. The first thing I noticed was the water became about 5 degrees warmer. Also, it was clearer -- much clearer. There were fish everywhere. I mean, it was getting to the point where we couldn't swim for all the fish. Slightly annoying to be honest. I can't see why fish have so many babies -- from what I've seen this morning, the oceans are already overcrowded.
Aside from all the time-wasting dolphins and annoying fish, we did see a couple of other fascinating things today. The first was some bubbles, rising from the rocks about 15 feet below us. I thought it was a diver, and even thought I saw his air tank retreat under a rock. But no diver surfaced. Passing the spot again later, I noticed that the bubbles had decreased to a sporadic trickle. My theory here is that what we saw was some type of ghost -- a diver who had died, some years ago, and was now haunting the depths with his ghostly bubbles. It's the most plausible theory I can come up with. Unless dolphins release bubbles when they are underwater? If anybody has further info / suggestions, please leave a comment, because I'm scratching my head on this one people.
Also, there was jellyfish. They were swarming with obvious intelligence, gradually surrounding the high-energy source of protein that foolishly swam amongst them (that would be us). Why can't we invent some type of "pesticide" to spray into the ocean, that will eradicate this dangerous pest once and for all? There is simply no need to have them, floating about and stinging people.
Finally, on the way back in I came across a patch of clear sand, which was home to several dozen "sacks". They were about 5 inches long, attached to the sand by a small black spot, and waving freely in the current. I dived under to check them out closely, and saw that they were pulsing with life. Anybody who has seen the movie Alien, or it's superior sequel Aliens, will know what I'm talking about. It looked exactly like the eggs that facehuggers emerge from. Scary stuff, and again, amazing that I can snorkel the exact same beach 25 times, and still be finding new lifeforms and new civilizations, boldly going where no man has -- oh never mind.
Blog posts may be few and far between -- my waking hours are now divided between work and Minecraft, which is the single most addictive(*) and compelling game I've ever played. I think it just taps into the primitive part of our brains that says "hunt, gather and build". It's silly how fast this game eats up the hours.
Cheers all and stay safe out there!
-Gray
* - I maintain that the word "addicting" can't be used in this sentence. If you are one of those people who use "addicting", please slap yourself in the face for me. Thankyou.
Showing posts with label snorkel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snorkel. Show all posts
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Jellyfish attack!
Yesterday I snorkelled with my sister. I spotted what I thought was a big, flowery lump of coral or something, floating in the water. As I approached, I realised it was man's natural enemy -- the jellyfish. As wide as a dinner plate, this beast was pulsing confidently through the water, searching for small fish or mammals to feed on. Either it had evolved to look like coral, so it could hunt better -- or this was a particularly cunning jellyfish who was carrying around a chunk of coral and whistling casually. In the same way a cartoon character will hide inside a bush with just his feet sticking out the bottom, this jellyfish was using the camouflage to sneak up on people! Dastardly!
Being the seasoned snorkeller's that we are, we of course stayed a few meters away from this great beast. But before we could warn them, it had floated into the midst of three guys in full wetsuits and high-vis snorkelling gear! These clowns were obviously out for "a good time", and weren't aware of the dangers that lurk just below the surface. I watched with morbid fascination as the tentacles of the great fish brushed against the chest of one. His head was above the water! How could he be so unaware of the attack happening just inches below his face?! His friend noticed, and desperately warned him, and the trio made a quick escape. But if it wasn't for his thick wetsuit, this poor soul would have been quickly paralysed by the stinging tentacles, and sunk beneath the waves to drown. And eventually be consumed by the jellyfish.
A similar sort of thing happens on Ski slopes(*). At the start of the season, the locals will see groups of cashed-up morons walking around in $900 ski jackets, carrying $4,000 skis -- but none of it saves them from breaking their legs when they hit a tree. Gear doesn't make you safe -- experience does. Please try to remember this.
Also, my sister claims to have seen a school of "swordfish". I highly doubt this dubious sighting, which conveniently happened while I was out of the water. Swordfish have been extinct for over 50 years! But some people don't want to hear "facts"; more likely, she saw her own shadow cast against the sea bed.
Anyway, it goes to show you -- after 20+ trips to this beach, I am still seeing new and cruel dangers, just waiting to claim the unwary swimmer.
Stay alert out there!
-Gray
* Disclaimer: I have never been skiing. This article is purely conjecture on my part.
Being the seasoned snorkeller's that we are, we of course stayed a few meters away from this great beast. But before we could warn them, it had floated into the midst of three guys in full wetsuits and high-vis snorkelling gear! These clowns were obviously out for "a good time", and weren't aware of the dangers that lurk just below the surface. I watched with morbid fascination as the tentacles of the great fish brushed against the chest of one. His head was above the water! How could he be so unaware of the attack happening just inches below his face?! His friend noticed, and desperately warned him, and the trio made a quick escape. But if it wasn't for his thick wetsuit, this poor soul would have been quickly paralysed by the stinging tentacles, and sunk beneath the waves to drown. And eventually be consumed by the jellyfish.
A similar sort of thing happens on Ski slopes(*). At the start of the season, the locals will see groups of cashed-up morons walking around in $900 ski jackets, carrying $4,000 skis -- but none of it saves them from breaking their legs when they hit a tree. Gear doesn't make you safe -- experience does. Please try to remember this.
Also, my sister claims to have seen a school of "swordfish". I highly doubt this dubious sighting, which conveniently happened while I was out of the water. Swordfish have been extinct for over 50 years! But some people don't want to hear "facts"; more likely, she saw her own shadow cast against the sea bed.
Anyway, it goes to show you -- after 20+ trips to this beach, I am still seeing new and cruel dangers, just waiting to claim the unwary swimmer.
Stay alert out there!
-Gray
* Disclaimer: I have never been skiing. This article is purely conjecture on my part.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Trap and the Rocks
 |
| Working with the enemy! An Angel-fish helps Blowfish to hunt. |
It turned out to be just a distraction, because as I glanced to the side I saw the mother of all Blowfish swarms surrounding me. At least 20 of the vicious predators were about to strike. I managed to swim away quickly enough to avoid being bitten. If I had panicked, I may not have made it back to shore.
This is the first time I've seen this tactic used -- inter-species co-operation. The Angel fish is helping the Blowfish to catch their prey. This is very similar to the way that the Velociraptor hunted in the documentary "Jurassic Park". In this educational film, we can see the way that distraction, or "misdirection", is used to catch a victim.
So please be careful, if a harmless fish seems more friendly than usual -- maybe it just wants to say hello. Or maybe it's working in cahoots with the Blowfish "hive mind". Keep your wits about you!
 |
| Hunter! The Raptor perfected techniques still used by fish today |
Here is an actual Velociraptor. Although it lives in the jungle rather than the ocean, it uses the same type of techniques. This is further proof that the fish is directly descended from the dinosaur (for the similarities between the trout and the dilophosaurus, check this previous Blog entry).
Also today, I had big problems trying to get in and out of the water. In the main ocean bit, away from the tidal pool, there are rocks. Because of the lapping tide, sand was being stirred up, and I couldn't see the rocks. I could easily have damaged my flippers as I stumbled across them. Getting out was worse, as I slipped on the rocks and embarrassingly fell face-down in 3-inch deep water. Fortunately everybody at the beach in the mornings is over 80 years old, so none of them had the eyesight to actually notice. But if anybody has any tips, please let me know. Thanks.
Although you all look up to me as your Mentor in snorkelling, I too have much to learn. "Learn much, must I, still to." as Yoda said.(Ultimate Yoda impression ).
-Gray
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Quick-Start FAQ of Frequently Asked Questions to Quick-Start Snorkelling (QSFAQOFAQTQSS)
So you want to try snorkelling? Good for you! Snorkelling is one of the fastest-growing extreme sports in the world, and is definitely the cheapest and most inferior way to view the world beneath the waves! Read on for everything you need to know ...
How old is snorkelling?
Snorkelling has been around since the 14th Century, when highly-trained Ninjas would use hollow reeds to move underwater without being seen. Prior to this, pearl divers had been snorkelling without masks, or a snorkel.
Isn't snorkelling just "a poor man's scuba diving"?
Yes, this is a very apt way to describe the sport of snorkelling. However, if I had thousands of dollars to dump into scuba diving, I wouldn't be writing a Snorkelling blog.
What type of snorkel is the best?
Basically, a snorkel is a snorkel. The retail people will tell you that the SnorkelMate 4000 with teflon coating, automatic dump valve and electro-carbon splash guard will let you have more fun. But you can have just as much fun with a $9 Big W snorkel.
If you're going to dump $200 on a snorkel with all the bells and whistles, you may as well go the whole hog and learn scuba diving. A snorkel is a plastic tube that you breathe through. End of story.
A purge valve or purge snorkel will have a one-way valve at the bottom. This helps channel away the water when you surface, and exhale sharply. Almost all snorkels should have this feature.
A semi-dry or splash guard snorkel will have some type of guard over the top opening. This is to help stop waves and splashes entering the pipe. This is nice, but certainly not necessary (I don't use this kind of snorkel myself).
A dry snorkel will have some type of "float valve" at the top, which closes when the top of the snorkel sinks below the water level. The idea is that the snorkel won't fill with water, so you don't have to blow to clear it when surfacing. What a load of crap. What next, GPS tracking on your snorkel? Underwater MP3 player built-in? There is simply no need for this type of valve. It just adds weight and drag to your snorkel. Only an absolute sissy would buy this kind of snorkel.
What type of mask is the best?
With masks, you really get what you pay for. If you're going to spend $15 for a "Fun Snorkel Diving Mask!" from China, expect to get salt water in your eyes.
Now, you don't need to go for anything too fancy, but at least budget $40 for a good-quality mask with tempered glass and silicon skirting. You don't need a purge valve, tinted glass, magnifying glass, or any other crap. You don't need heads-up display, windscreen wipes, or anti-fog air jets.
Do I need flippers?
Flippers add significantly to the cost of snorkelling, and since you're reading this Blog, I can assume you're a cheap-ass like myself.
You certainly don't need flippers to snorkel, and in fact I usually don't use mine. But they are great to have as an option when you want to swim further out, or just explore more thoroughly without using too much energy. They also allow you to stay underwater for longer, as you can blast along the sea-bed like a demented stingray, without using any energy. Swimming breaststroke underwater will use your arm muscles, and force you up for air much sooner.
If you are going to use flippers, remember -- lift your feet way up high when walking into the water. Yes, you look like a bit of a knob, but it stops the blades bending backwards and tripping you. When the water is around your shins, you need to turn around and walk backwards. Now you will look even stupider. When the water is around your knees, you can turn and launch yourself forwards into the water like an overweight turtle. Now you're snorkelling!
How do I care for my equipment?
This is easy. Rinse as soon as possible after swimming, with fresh water (that means water that isn't from the ocean). Always dry in the shade, not direct sunlight. Try to avoid putting sun-cream on your face, where you mask will sit -- it can warp the skirting.
My mask is fogging up.
Before you enter the water, spit in it. You don't need to clear your throat of last night's meal; just a bit of saliva is fine. Wipe it around the glass. Then quickly dunk it under the water. This should stop most fogging. There is no scientific explanation for why this works. It just does.
Can't I use "anti-fog spray", available from my local dive/adventure shop?
Sure, but as I just told you -- spit works fine. So save that $10, send it to me instead, and do like the rest of us do -- spit.
You yuppie.
What other equipment do I need?
Basically nothing. I invested in this watch because it has a tide graph, titanium (rust-proof) not stainless steel, and it's orange like the stuff American Coast Guard "Rescue Swimmers" wear ("The Guardian" on IMDb).
Unfortunately, I have since learned that the tide graph won't work for Perth (diurnal tides). Stainless steel takes a long time to rust -- titanium is completely unnecessary.
But it's still orange. So it's paid for itself, as far as I'm concerned. However, it does seem to scare the fish a little ...
What training do I need?
To snorkel safely for the first time, you will need to be able to swim. Although this sounds like common sense, many needless deaths occur every year by non-swimmers trying to snorkel.
Also, it is helpful to have some understanding of breathing.
What is "spearfishing"?
I would like to be serious for a moment. Spearfishing is the barbaric practice of using a spear-gun to shoot innocent fish, and kill or maim them. It made sense back in the 1920's when we didn't have boats or fishing nets. But in this day and age, it is needlessly cruel, and should be banned. There are perfectly humane ways to catch fish for food, such as a fishing line with a razor-sharp hook, or a drift-net which suffocates the fish over several hours.
Spearfishing takes the beautiful, peaceful pass-time of snorkelling -- and turns it into a blood-sport. This is the same as somebody learning ballet, and then attaching knives and throwing stars to their limbs, and using the dance to slaughter the audience. It just doesn't make sense!
If you see somebody spearfishing, remember -- do not approach them. There is a high probability that they are a Bogan, and may turn violent against you. Just return to your peaceful snorkelling, and console yourself that some day, they will spear a Blowfish, and will probably get swarmed and killed.
Where can I snorkel?
If you live near the ocean, then snorkel there. Bog Snorkeling is not quite as much fun.
Of course, you don't need to be in the Bahamas or Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel almost anywhere. Please remember, if you are snorkelling in a harbour, there may be boats nearby! Snorkellers are often not seen by boat drivers, and may be run over. Especially if the boat is filled with drunk Bogans returning from a piss-up at Rotto.
Snorkelling in a pool is generally boring, especially if you're the only one in it.
Sharks. Do I need to worry?
All jokes aside, I am quite passionate about sharks. One day I will learn Scuba Diving, and I'll dive with some sharks.
They are misrepresented by the media. I won't bang on about it (I'll save it for a future blog entry), but let me make one point clear -- you are much more likely to be horribly killed in a car accident, driving to the beach, than even seeing a shark. And if you do see it, chances are it'll swim away from you.
If you're interested, check out Save Our Sharks and also SharkWater.com. Sharkwater is a superb film/documentary and I recommend you check it our at your local DVD rental shop.
OK, I'm snorkelling -- what should I look out for?
The natural instinct of most people born after 1980 will be to thrash quickly through the water, viewing as much of the reef as possible. When you do happen to spot a fish, you will try to reach down and grab it.
This is because of our society, with it's TV-on-demand, fast cars and express drive-through coffee franchises (Muzz Buzz was MY idea. I'll never forgive myself for not acting on it.)
The "correct" way to snorkel is to relax, move slowly, and let the underwater world sooth your brain. Float idly while the fish forage and fight beneath you. Feel the connection to the ocean -- remember, the ancestors of man-kind climbed out of the ocean just a few million years ago. You belong here!
A peaceful 30 minutes with your face in the water can relieve all the stress of the day, and put you in a calm and contemplative frame of mind. The heavy traffic on the way home will instantly destroy this, but it's nice while it lasts.
Study the fish, watch the way they behave, maybe duck-dive down to the bottom and swim behind them. Although this seems playful and enjoyable to us, I'm sure from the fishes point of view, you are some terrifying beast from another world chasing them while they scream in terror to their fish friends -- "Geika! Geika!" (for more info, watch the first 30 seconds of this YouTube clip ).
I keep bumping into other snorkellers! How can I avoid this?
You can't. Even when you specifically look out for others, you often won't see them approaching. Just give a "sorry wave", and keep going. If the person you bumped into is very attractive and wearing a bikini, you may prefer to stop, remove your mask, and engage in some snorkel-related conversation*.
Argh! Swimmers are pounding through the water and scaring away the fish!
This is common and unavoidable. The only thing you can do is pull off your mask, and scream loudly "SHARK! SHARK!" while waving your arms. This should clear the water for the next 30 minutes or so, allowing you to snorkel in peace.
If you have any further questions, please leave them in the Comments section below. I will try to answer quickly and honestly. Thanks for reading, and I hope this guide helped you! Or at least inspired you to try snorkeling.
Keep your mask clear and your shorts wet!
-Gray
*Snorkel-related conversation = try to get her phone number
How old is snorkelling?
Snorkelling has been around since the 14th Century, when highly-trained Ninjas would use hollow reeds to move underwater without being seen. Prior to this, pearl divers had been snorkelling without masks, or a snorkel.
Isn't snorkelling just "a poor man's scuba diving"?
Yes, this is a very apt way to describe the sport of snorkelling. However, if I had thousands of dollars to dump into scuba diving, I wouldn't be writing a Snorkelling blog.
What type of snorkel is the best?
Basically, a snorkel is a snorkel. The retail people will tell you that the SnorkelMate 4000 with teflon coating, automatic dump valve and electro-carbon splash guard will let you have more fun. But you can have just as much fun with a $9 Big W snorkel.
If you're going to dump $200 on a snorkel with all the bells and whistles, you may as well go the whole hog and learn scuba diving. A snorkel is a plastic tube that you breathe through. End of story.
A purge valve or purge snorkel will have a one-way valve at the bottom. This helps channel away the water when you surface, and exhale sharply. Almost all snorkels should have this feature.
A semi-dry or splash guard snorkel will have some type of guard over the top opening. This is to help stop waves and splashes entering the pipe. This is nice, but certainly not necessary (I don't use this kind of snorkel myself).
A dry snorkel will have some type of "float valve" at the top, which closes when the top of the snorkel sinks below the water level. The idea is that the snorkel won't fill with water, so you don't have to blow to clear it when surfacing. What a load of crap. What next, GPS tracking on your snorkel? Underwater MP3 player built-in? There is simply no need for this type of valve. It just adds weight and drag to your snorkel. Only an absolute sissy would buy this kind of snorkel.
What type of mask is the best?
With masks, you really get what you pay for. If you're going to spend $15 for a "Fun Snorkel Diving Mask!" from China, expect to get salt water in your eyes.
Now, you don't need to go for anything too fancy, but at least budget $40 for a good-quality mask with tempered glass and silicon skirting. You don't need a purge valve, tinted glass, magnifying glass, or any other crap. You don't need heads-up display, windscreen wipes, or anti-fog air jets.
Do I need flippers?
Flippers add significantly to the cost of snorkelling, and since you're reading this Blog, I can assume you're a cheap-ass like myself.
You certainly don't need flippers to snorkel, and in fact I usually don't use mine. But they are great to have as an option when you want to swim further out, or just explore more thoroughly without using too much energy. They also allow you to stay underwater for longer, as you can blast along the sea-bed like a demented stingray, without using any energy. Swimming breaststroke underwater will use your arm muscles, and force you up for air much sooner.
If you are going to use flippers, remember -- lift your feet way up high when walking into the water. Yes, you look like a bit of a knob, but it stops the blades bending backwards and tripping you. When the water is around your shins, you need to turn around and walk backwards. Now you will look even stupider. When the water is around your knees, you can turn and launch yourself forwards into the water like an overweight turtle. Now you're snorkelling!
How do I care for my equipment?
This is easy. Rinse as soon as possible after swimming, with fresh water (that means water that isn't from the ocean). Always dry in the shade, not direct sunlight. Try to avoid putting sun-cream on your face, where you mask will sit -- it can warp the skirting.
My mask is fogging up.
Before you enter the water, spit in it. You don't need to clear your throat of last night's meal; just a bit of saliva is fine. Wipe it around the glass. Then quickly dunk it under the water. This should stop most fogging. There is no scientific explanation for why this works. It just does.
Can't I use "anti-fog spray", available from my local dive/adventure shop?
Sure, but as I just told you -- spit works fine. So save that $10, send it to me instead, and do like the rest of us do -- spit.
You yuppie.
What other equipment do I need?
Basically nothing. I invested in this watch because it has a tide graph, titanium (rust-proof) not stainless steel, and it's orange like the stuff American Coast Guard "Rescue Swimmers" wear ("The Guardian" on IMDb).
Unfortunately, I have since learned that the tide graph won't work for Perth (diurnal tides). Stainless steel takes a long time to rust -- titanium is completely unnecessary.
But it's still orange. So it's paid for itself, as far as I'm concerned. However, it does seem to scare the fish a little ...
What training do I need?
To snorkel safely for the first time, you will need to be able to swim. Although this sounds like common sense, many needless deaths occur every year by non-swimmers trying to snorkel.
Also, it is helpful to have some understanding of breathing.
What is "spearfishing"?
I would like to be serious for a moment. Spearfishing is the barbaric practice of using a spear-gun to shoot innocent fish, and kill or maim them. It made sense back in the 1920's when we didn't have boats or fishing nets. But in this day and age, it is needlessly cruel, and should be banned. There are perfectly humane ways to catch fish for food, such as a fishing line with a razor-sharp hook, or a drift-net which suffocates the fish over several hours.
Spearfishing takes the beautiful, peaceful pass-time of snorkelling -- and turns it into a blood-sport. This is the same as somebody learning ballet, and then attaching knives and throwing stars to their limbs, and using the dance to slaughter the audience. It just doesn't make sense!
If you see somebody spearfishing, remember -- do not approach them. There is a high probability that they are a Bogan, and may turn violent against you. Just return to your peaceful snorkelling, and console yourself that some day, they will spear a Blowfish, and will probably get swarmed and killed.
Where can I snorkel?
If you live near the ocean, then snorkel there. Bog Snorkeling is not quite as much fun.
Of course, you don't need to be in the Bahamas or Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel almost anywhere. Please remember, if you are snorkelling in a harbour, there may be boats nearby! Snorkellers are often not seen by boat drivers, and may be run over. Especially if the boat is filled with drunk Bogans returning from a piss-up at Rotto.
Snorkelling in a pool is generally boring, especially if you're the only one in it.
Sharks. Do I need to worry?
All jokes aside, I am quite passionate about sharks. One day I will learn Scuba Diving, and I'll dive with some sharks.
They are misrepresented by the media. I won't bang on about it (I'll save it for a future blog entry), but let me make one point clear -- you are much more likely to be horribly killed in a car accident, driving to the beach, than even seeing a shark. And if you do see it, chances are it'll swim away from you.
If you're interested, check out Save Our Sharks and also SharkWater.com. Sharkwater is a superb film/documentary and I recommend you check it our at your local DVD rental shop.
OK, I'm snorkelling -- what should I look out for?
The natural instinct of most people born after 1980 will be to thrash quickly through the water, viewing as much of the reef as possible. When you do happen to spot a fish, you will try to reach down and grab it.
This is because of our society, with it's TV-on-demand, fast cars and express drive-through coffee franchises (Muzz Buzz was MY idea. I'll never forgive myself for not acting on it.)
The "correct" way to snorkel is to relax, move slowly, and let the underwater world sooth your brain. Float idly while the fish forage and fight beneath you. Feel the connection to the ocean -- remember, the ancestors of man-kind climbed out of the ocean just a few million years ago. You belong here!
A peaceful 30 minutes with your face in the water can relieve all the stress of the day, and put you in a calm and contemplative frame of mind. The heavy traffic on the way home will instantly destroy this, but it's nice while it lasts.
Study the fish, watch the way they behave, maybe duck-dive down to the bottom and swim behind them. Although this seems playful and enjoyable to us, I'm sure from the fishes point of view, you are some terrifying beast from another world chasing them while they scream in terror to their fish friends -- "Geika! Geika!" (for more info, watch the first 30 seconds of this YouTube clip ).
I keep bumping into other snorkellers! How can I avoid this?
You can't. Even when you specifically look out for others, you often won't see them approaching. Just give a "sorry wave", and keep going. If the person you bumped into is very attractive and wearing a bikini, you may prefer to stop, remove your mask, and engage in some snorkel-related conversation*.
Argh! Swimmers are pounding through the water and scaring away the fish!
This is common and unavoidable. The only thing you can do is pull off your mask, and scream loudly "SHARK! SHARK!" while waving your arms. This should clear the water for the next 30 minutes or so, allowing you to snorkel in peace.
If you have any further questions, please leave them in the Comments section below. I will try to answer quickly and honestly. Thanks for reading, and I hope this guide helped you! Or at least inspired you to try snorkeling.
Keep your mask clear and your shorts wet!
-Gray
*Snorkel-related conversation = try to get her phone number
Shells and Waves
Good day fellow explorers!
Every now and again, I will grab an interesting shell from the bottom, and bring it home. Today I would like to share a couple of my shells with you. Please be aware that "shell poaching" is illegal in most states of Australia. I generally hide the shell inside my shorts.
Firstly, we have a lovely example of the "corkscrew shell", or "corkimimus shellicus". This is a very rare find, and I have only found 1 so far. As with all shells, they are created on the shores of France by hand.
Next, please take a look at this magnificent snail shell (in latin: snailem shellicus). This example is virtually flawless. A close examination reveals the intricate detail that make this shell one of the most beautiful in the ocean. These shells tend to be a home for beautiful "sea snails", which move gently along the seabed, nibbling at seaweed and nourishing the water around them -- until they are brutally ripped from their home by a Blowfish, and eaten alive while still screaming. Enjoy the pics!
Finally, have a look at this magical shell which I found just this afternoon. It is fairly worn away and needs a good clean, but one side of it displays every colour of the rainbow! This is a type of defence mechanism for the shell's inhabitant -- when a predator approaches, the swirling colours of the shell will often hypnotise it, and put it into a trance. This allows the shell's occupant to crawl away safely. I will dub this the "rainbow shell", obviously.
Finally, I would like to say a few words about the ocean. I will be getting a bit "Zen-master" on you here, but bear with me. After my permitted 6 minutes of sunbathing (fair skin), I sat up and found myself hypnotised by the gentle waves breaking on the sand. It got me thinking about the ocean, that timeless puddle of water which covers two-thirds of our planet (more info here ). I had some very, very deep thoughts about the very nature of humanity and it's relationship to the magma-filled ball that we call "Earth". Unfortunately I forgot those thoughts on the drive home.
Now, to digress ... Every night for about 2 months, I have been putting Naturespace on my bedside speaker dock, playing the sound of the ocean waves. (Naturespace, more info here ) is "holographic audio" for iPhone and iPod Touch. It sounds amazing over the ear-buds, but the gentle sound of the waves works great through speakers too. It has literally become like a "sleep switch" to me -- I turn it on, I fall asleep. I don't even hear it any more. (Obviously this is a huge problem when I want to sleep away from home, because I can't ...) Anyway, try the App if you want -- it's completely free unless you want to buy more tracks of different environments. I use "Liquid Phase" which was $2 or something. But they're all great. There are rainforests, storms, beaches, summer nights, alien jungles ... All sorts.
Hopefully in the next day or so I will be posting an FAQ for new snorkellers!
Be the shark, not the coral!
-Gray
Every now and again, I will grab an interesting shell from the bottom, and bring it home. Today I would like to share a couple of my shells with you. Please be aware that "shell poaching" is illegal in most states of Australia. I generally hide the shell inside my shorts.
Firstly, we have a lovely example of the "corkscrew shell", or "corkimimus shellicus". This is a very rare find, and I have only found 1 so far. As with all shells, they are created on the shores of France by hand.
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| Corkimimus shellicus. The rare corkscrew shell. |
Next, please take a look at this magnificent snail shell (in latin: snailem shellicus). This example is virtually flawless. A close examination reveals the intricate detail that make this shell one of the most beautiful in the ocean. These shells tend to be a home for beautiful "sea snails", which move gently along the seabed, nibbling at seaweed and nourishing the water around them -- until they are brutally ripped from their home by a Blowfish, and eaten alive while still screaming. Enjoy the pics!
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| Sad but beautiful. Previously a home for a lovely Sea Snail. |
Finally, have a look at this magical shell which I found just this afternoon. It is fairly worn away and needs a good clean, but one side of it displays every colour of the rainbow! This is a type of defence mechanism for the shell's inhabitant -- when a predator approaches, the swirling colours of the shell will often hypnotise it, and put it into a trance. This allows the shell's occupant to crawl away safely. I will dub this the "rainbow shell", obviously.
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| Rainbow! No camera can show the real beauty of this shell. |
Finally, I would like to say a few words about the ocean. I will be getting a bit "Zen-master" on you here, but bear with me. After my permitted 6 minutes of sunbathing (fair skin), I sat up and found myself hypnotised by the gentle waves breaking on the sand. It got me thinking about the ocean, that timeless puddle of water which covers two-thirds of our planet (more info here ). I had some very, very deep thoughts about the very nature of humanity and it's relationship to the magma-filled ball that we call "Earth". Unfortunately I forgot those thoughts on the drive home.
Now, to digress ... Every night for about 2 months, I have been putting Naturespace on my bedside speaker dock, playing the sound of the ocean waves. (Naturespace, more info here ) is "holographic audio" for iPhone and iPod Touch. It sounds amazing over the ear-buds, but the gentle sound of the waves works great through speakers too. It has literally become like a "sleep switch" to me -- I turn it on, I fall asleep. I don't even hear it any more. (Obviously this is a huge problem when I want to sleep away from home, because I can't ...) Anyway, try the App if you want -- it's completely free unless you want to buy more tracks of different environments. I use "Liquid Phase" which was $2 or something. But they're all great. There are rainforests, storms, beaches, summer nights, alien jungles ... All sorts.
Hopefully in the next day or so I will be posting an FAQ for new snorkellers!
Be the shark, not the coral!
-Gray
Monday, December 6, 2010
Rottnest next week
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| Some water and land. |
If I can borrow an underwater camera that would be awesome. Hit me up on Facebook if you can loan me one.
If anybody knows the best spot(s) to snorkel on Rottnest, please leave a comment below since otherwise I'll end up getting smashed against some rocks, or swept out to sea, or something ...
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| The "rodentus maxima", or "giant rat" |
Cheers.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Introduction
I just tried Snorkelling for the first time about 2 weeks ago. I have been almost every day since. This blog will be a rip-roaring account of the wild and often-dangerous adventures which I have been having beneath the sea!
Although many people consider snorkelling to be a relaxing, sedate pastime, the truth is slightly different -- it is long periods of relaxed observing, yes, but punctuated by moments of sheer terror when your survival instinct kicks into high gear and you find yourself struggling against strange and lethal enemies.
Anything from a rogue wave which fills your snorkel with water, to a jellyfish pulsing gently towards you with it's highly-venomous stingers -- the ocean doesn't want you there. You don't belong there. And it will make your life difficult every chance it gets.
However, please don't let these reports put you off visiting the ocean. There is much fun to be had with a mask pressing against your face, and the sun steadily burning your back, as you peer into the strange world below the waves ...
Although many people consider snorkelling to be a relaxing, sedate pastime, the truth is slightly different -- it is long periods of relaxed observing, yes, but punctuated by moments of sheer terror when your survival instinct kicks into high gear and you find yourself struggling against strange and lethal enemies.
Anything from a rogue wave which fills your snorkel with water, to a jellyfish pulsing gently towards you with it's highly-venomous stingers -- the ocean doesn't want you there. You don't belong there. And it will make your life difficult every chance it gets.
However, please don't let these reports put you off visiting the ocean. There is much fun to be had with a mask pressing against your face, and the sun steadily burning your back, as you peer into the strange world below the waves ...
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