New Jersey Scuba Diving

August 7, 2023

The Silent World

August 7, 2023

I love the part where they dynamite the coral reef to get the boat through. For science! They also run over a baby whale, and kill the poor thing. At least they didn't fondue it. I have so say though, science was manlier in those days, and scientists weren't afraid to wear short-shorts.

What a blast from the past! I remember when I was a kid, the whole family would watch Cousteau's semi-annual specials on TV. Back then, they only showed things once, and if you missed it, you missed it! Not like today, kids will probably never understand how a TV show could be special. And I don't remember them killing any whales, honestly it was a little shocking to re-watch it now, after all the years.

*Calypso* in 1980
Calypso was *BYMS-26*, a Royal Navy minesweeper built in Oregon, 1942

Uncategorized, 08/7/23

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Northern Stargazer

Astroscopus guttatus

Size
to 22" and 20 lbs.

Description:
Don't expect to see these fishes very often - they live buried in the sand, with just their eyes protruding. The eyes are directly atop the flat head, and the mouth is almost vertical. Of course, they are ambush predators. If you flush one from its hiding place, it will clumsily swim a short distance, and then rebury itself in just seconds. Stargazers are capable of producing weak electric currents from organs located behind the eyes. I doubt that it is enough to be dangerous to a diver, although it might be startling! Midshipmen are similar but smaller, with a continuous dorsal fin and luminescent spots instead of electrical organs.

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