Photo of the Day

"Free-diving Devils"

Taken March 2012 at Ginnie Springs in High Springs, FL

Click on the Photo to view in full resolution

Shark Love

"Sharklove was founded in 2002 with a simple sticker designed for the Northern California surf community. It was a sticker that told the world, "I recreate in waters inhabited by Great White sharks so I am sending them good vibes. Because though they could easily swallow me whole, they are not monsters. They are awesome. And it's an honor to play in their backyard." But we soon learned that Sharklove should, and could, mean so much more. So today, Sharklove.com is a home and resource for shark lovers - a place where we can learn, share and rally. So whether you use it to get a free sticker, post a recent sighting or help stop what is arguably the greatest threat to our planet, as long as you're using it, we'll be stoked. And we think the sharks will be too."

sharklove.com

SAS. Surfers Against Sewage, & The WAR Report

SAS RELEASE THE WAR REPORT (WAVES ARE RESOURCES)

"The UK is blessed with some world-class waves on all of our coasts. The very best waves in the UK, which could almost be considered freaks of Nature, are the result of a combination of offshore bathymetry, unique coastal geology and prevailing wind and swell patterns found almost nowhere else in the world. It is easy to see that these ‘world-class’ waves, just like other unique natural feature of this planet, should be protected. However, quality is just one factor that is considered in the WAR Report analysis. Consistency, location, number of surfers affected as well as personal preference are all investigated in the report.

There’s a myriad of threats that constantly jeopardize our finite surfing resource, our waves. Last year SAS launched the new Protect Our Waves (POW) campaign that focuses on protecting waves from overzealous on and near shore development, environmental impacts and waverider’s rights of access.

SAS’s WAR Report gives a detailed account of both the intrinsic and economic values of waves to surfers. For the first time, SAS also explains the value of waves to non-surfers. For people who don’t use the sea, the value of waves can be measured financially. Surfers travel to surf waves, eat, need accommodation and other supplies, and even settle in communities where there are waves. In doing so, surfers and their friends and family who may join them, will all spend money in return for these goods and services whilst chasing the next surf session. The WAR report comprehensively details how the entire community around quality surf spots benefit from the waves.The WAR Report was written by SAS Director Dr Tony Butt PhD. Dr Butt is one of the world’s most highly respected authorities on the science of waves and how they interact with the coastal environment. The WAR Report was written for planners and waveriders alike. Copies of the WAR Report will be given out free by SAS campaigners from the tanks and at the SAS tent on site at the Boardmasters all day.

SAS will ensure that all relevant planning bodies in the UK have a hard copy of the WAR Report and will expect the WAR Report to be referenced alongside SAS’s other reports when coastal developments schemes are in the planning process. Download a copy of the SAS WAR Report here on Pdf

SAS Protect Our Waves Project Officer Dom Ferris says: ”The WAR Report is an important document for all UK surfers and waveriders. We’re not calling for a Ministry of Surf Defense, but we need to ensure waves are framed in the planning process as valuable resources for the entire community, not just surfers. Waves Are Resources and as such need protecting for this and future generations.”

For more information on this story please contact Andy Cummins on 01872 555 950 or 07711 767 548 or email andy@sas.org.uk

Check out Hundred Waters Debut Self-titled Album

Hundred Waters from Tiny Waves on Vimeo.
Tiny Waves had the great pleasure of hanging out at the Hundred Waters house to talk about their collaborative writing process, and the trials and tribulations the band went through to ready their songs for the stage. Buy the CD

Tour Dates

3/7: Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium w/ Emily Reo and Cuddle Formation (previously known as Phillip Seymour Hoffman)

3/8: NY, NY @ Piano's w/ Conveyor + ILLMNTR + Floating

3/9: Athens, GA @ 424 King Ave at The Johnson House AKA Babe City w/ Vestibules + Nuclear Spring

3/10: Orlando, FL @ Orange You Glad Festival |

3/11: Gainesville, FL @ The Church of Holy Colors w/ Secret Mountains + Saskatchewan + Hear Hums
3/12 - 3/18: HUNDRED WATERS @ SXSW !!

Tiny-Waves.com
ElestialSound.com

Check out my new short film

Click here to watch it in HD

Amazing sustainable wildlife havens combat urban pollution

The idea is young, but the vision is real. The sea tree will provide a sustainable habitat for a diverse populous of wildlife. The potential uses of this design are great in cities devastated by urban pollution and poor planning. Wildlife havens may prove be essential to the preservation of certain species endangered by modern urban society. Koen Olthuis came up with the concept because it is so difficult to add extra park zones to a city on land. Open space such as rivers, seas, lakes and harbours should instead be utilised, he believes. He proposes using offshore technology similar to oil rigs to construct the Sea Trees and has even suggested that oil companies donate them to cities to show 'their concern for a better city environment.' You can learn more about his design at: waterstudio.nl

 

Urban future: The Sea Tree offshore nature park will be a haven for wildlife and will address the rise in pollution

 

Anchored: The water-based park will provide valuable living areas for birds, bees, bats and other small animals, bringing positive green effects to urban environments. It will also provide a habitat for aquatic creatures

Eco-friendly: Designed for use in cities with large waterways, such as London and New York,          the Sea Trek will not be accessible to humans

Positive effect: The Sea Tree will allow all sorts of wildlife to thrive in areas of cities

 where it previously was unable to do so

Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news

Are you a waterkeeper?

PSA paying tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act. 

Join the Water Keepers Alliance in their campaigns:

"Pure Farm, Pure Waters" 

"Defending Clean Water"

 "Save Our Gulf" 

 ACT NOW

Don't throw away that old filter! RECYCLE.

Brita and Preserve teamed up to create a take-back recycling program for Brita pitcher filter cartridges. You can drop off filters at number of participating locations, or mail them in. Unfortunately, since the faucet mount filters are made from a different type of plastic from the pitcher filters, they are not part of the program at this time. However, Brita and Preserve are continuing to explore options to recycle faucet mount filters and hope to have a solution in the near future.

Preserve is a U.S. company manufacturing household products from recycled plastic, will recycle 100% of the plastic casing. And the filter material will be regenerated or converted to energy.

For more information check out takebackthefilter.org/

Right Time for Right Whales

Photo courtesy of NOAA

Right Time for Right Whale Off Florida's Northeastern Coast

There are only about 300 northern right whales left in the world! The right whale was hunted to near-extinction. In the last century, when whale products like baleen and blubber were in demand, right whales were a favorite. Hunters named them the right whale; simply because it was the "right" whale to hunt. Right whales move slowly and travel close to shore. When they die, their high blubber content makes them float. An international accord stopped the hunting of right whales in 1935. Scientists believe the right whale population slowly recovered after that, and has been after being placed on the Endangered Species List in 1973. These days, ship strikes are a major problem for the whales. Many right whales die from ship strikes, which account for 30% to 50% of right whale deaths. Considering their endangered population, this percentage is staggering.

You are... what you eat.

Join the Food & Water Watch! Stop the Franken Fish!

Genetically Engineered Salmon

If approved by the FDA, GE Salmon would be the first transgenic species allowed into our food supply. At least 30 House members and 14 senators have written the Obama administration either expressing serious concerns about the manner in which the FDA conducted its review of Aquabounty’s GE salmon, or calling for the outright prohibition of its approval for human consumption. So why isn’t the FDA listening?
Below the Surface: The Dangers of Genetically Engineered Salmon
Protect food and water in your community by joining the Food & Water Watch.
www.foodandwaterwatch.org

Check out Cynthia Hawkins Photography

http://www.cynthiahankins.com/

"Cynthia is passionate about the underwater world and her goal is to share that with you. She is a scuba instructor, underwater guide, and biologist. Most importantly she is an insightful photographer who gets the shots due to her observing and studying the underwater world everyday."

Bubble Ring at Main Ginnie

Happy New Year!

New Year = New Posts 

Underwater Thoughts continues into new the year with new posts. Expect new photos & short films featuring new locations around the state of Florida.  For now enjoy this potential groundbreaking research into water's strange ways, a preposterous idea that water has memory.

"Water -- just a liquid or much more? Many researchers are convinced that water is capable of "memory" by storing information and retrieving it. The possible applications are innumerable: limitless retention and storage capacity and the key to discovering the origins of life on our planet. Research into water is just beginning."