MilaBooks.com Newsletter  

 

The Sea-gram

   For  ocean lovers, divers,

            and "deep-thinkers."

 

October, 2012

 

 

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Green Moray, Grand Cayman 

          
"Say Ah!"
Green Moray Eel; photo by Paul Mila, Grand Cayman�


Paul & Mike, Antigua
Paul & Mike Holland, Grand Cayman
Welcome to the October issue of Sea-gram, the monthly newsletter from
milabooks.com 
 





 
 
I shot this month's headline photo, Say Ah! in Grand Cayman Island, diving with Marilyn and Michael Holland a couple of years ago. It was our first dive, and we spotted this green moray peeking out from his coral home.
 
 To keep things fresh we're adding a new topic to Sea-gram: Featured Creature,  a close look an an interesting sea creature. This month we'll take a look at moray eels (see story below).
 
Each month we'll alternate Story Behind The Photo with a Featured Creature.
 
 If you have a good photo with an interesting story, or would like to share a good dive yarn, let me know at [email protected] and I'll be happy to include your story in a future issue. 
 
 Our Conservation Corner topic this month concerns Sharks -- 50 years after JAWS 
 
If you know someone who would enjoy reading Sea-gram, please forward a copy to your buddy, using the link at the end of the newsletter. 
 
To view past Sea-grams click our ARCHIVE link below:

I hope you enjoy Sea-gram !
Sincerely,
 Paul J. Mila
MilaBooks.com
516-578-1482
 Featured Creature . . . 
                   Moray Eels
                                 By Paul Mila

Moray eels are found in all the world's oceans. They come in many sizes, depending on the species, and take their names from their different color patterns.

 

For example, the Green Moray is, well, green.
At 4 to 6 feet long, they are the "big-boys" of the reef. 
This one had suffered jaw damage, but the wound healed. Morays are very hearty.
Green Moray, injured 
                           Paul Mila photo �
 
Moray eels are very graceful swimmers, as this short YouTube video shows:
Moray Eel in Cozumel Checks Out Divers

Moray Eel in Cozumel Checks Out Divers

Paul Mila video

They are also relatively docile. I wouldn't try this, but Alison knows this moray enjoys an nice stroking.
Petting green moray 
        Paul Mila photo �

Spotted morays are -- you guessed it: spotted. They're smaller than their green cousins (3 to 4 feet long) and like to peak out from narrow coral openings.
Spotted Moray. Cozumel  
                      Paul Mila photo �

The smallest member (1-2 feet long) of the Caribbean morays is the golden, yellow/brown in color. They are shy and unless you look carefully you'll swim right past them.
Golden Moray 
                             Paul Mila photo �

Of course, feeding moray eels is not the smartest thing you might want to do. This YouTube video shows Emma the Eel mistaking a diver's thumb for a sausage. The "snap" you hear is the thumb being bitten off! 
!!EEL(EMMA) BITES OFF SCUBA DIVER'S THUMB!!
EEL(EMMA) BITES OFF SCUBA DIVER'S THUMB!!
                                       
Conservation Corner . . .
SHARKS -- 50 Years after Jaws

50 years ago, JAWS hit the Big Screen -- and life (or death) has never been the same for sharks. That summer, everyone was afraid to venture into the water. Everyone wanted to kill sharks, and shark fishing tournaments became the rage.

  

Experts estimate during the past 50 years, shark populations have plummeted by 90% -- and the decline continues, due to destructive practices such as shark finning, long-line fishing, shark nets, and shark fishing tournaments (even so called "catch & release" results in sharks being killed).

 

This short video from Micronesia highlights the problem:

Micronesia Speaks Up to Save Sharks | Pew
Micronesia Speaks Up to Save Sharks | Pew

 

The recognition that removing an apex predator from the ocean will have long-term devastating consequences for the planet, as well as for the super-apex predator, the not-so sapiens Homo Sapiens, has spawned many shark conservation organizations.

One of the best is Shark Savers. Visit their website below.  

Click on their site and scroll down to the short video of JAWS author Peter Benchley, speaking about sharks, and the JAWS legacy.

And also learn how you can help save sharks:

 Shark Savers Website

 

 

   

About MilaBooks.com
www.milabooks.com is your home for exciting dive adventure novels (in both e-format and print format), YouTube videos featuring ocean creatures, and more.
 
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Click on the reading dolphin and swim
 into our website

 

In November we hope to be telling you about a new dive adventure novel, the fourth in the series featuring diving duo, Terry and Joe Manetta.
 
Thanks for visiting, and we'll see you next month!
Paul J. Mila 
 Paul in Cozumel

MilaBooks.com
75 Titus Avenue
Carle Place, New York 11514
516-578-1482

 

 
To forward Sea-gram to a friend, please click the "Forward email" link below.
In This Issue
Featured Creature - Moray Eels
Conservation Corner: SHARKS -- 50 Years after Jaws
 
 Featured Article in this Conservation Corner:
SHARKS - 50 YEARS
                        AFTER JAWS
Lower left column.
 
 

Quick Links
         
Updates & Miscellaneous Features

 

Dancing With Dolphins
The mission of the Dolphin Dance Project is, "to ensure that a wide audience can be moved by the experience of co-creating a dance with wild dolphins.
  "Help us inspire people around the world to respect and protect dolphins and their habitats."

 

As part of their fundraising project they have released a new dancing with dolphin video.
Watch Introducing "Jalape�o":   
Introducing

 

To learn more, visit: 
 
 
* * * * * * * * *
 
Speaking of Dolphins . . .
 
Dolphins have the power to move and inspire us, even when we see them from a distance.
 
Last week  I received an email from Lorraine Fico-White, the editor of my next book, and a Sea-gram fan.
 
Lorraine was walking a North Carolina beach when she saw a pod of dolphins.
 
In Lorraine's own words . . .
 

"Took a walk on the beach to clear my mind. I saw about 50 dolphin feeding, playing, and having a good time for 45 minutes! They were jumping in the air, spiraling, back flipping, and playing. Babies and adults, chasing fish, riding waves, and playing in circles. The afternoon sun was glistening on their bodies and they were as far as I could see. It was awesome and the best dolphin show I've ever seen. I can't even imagine the thrills you get when you swim with whales, dolphin, and sea turtles. "

 

Lorraine Fico-White

Magnifico Manuscripts

www.magnificomanuscripts.com

 

 

* * * * * * * * *

 
DOLPHIN BIRTH
 
Lorraine Fico-White also sent this link to a unique video: birth of a dolphin.
This incredible dolphin Birth was taken at Dolphin Quest Hawaii. Great underwater video! Keo and female calf- born Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 at 5:10pm. Video by Mike Peterson, Dolphin Quest.
Incredible Dolphin Birth at Dolphin Quest Hawaii
Incredible Dolphin Birth at Dolphin Quest Hawaii
My comment: I had mixed feelings watching the video. On the one hand, great that the mother dolphins trusted humans to be so close to the birth. On the other, this baby dolphin, born into permanent captivity, will never know what it is like to be a wild dolphin.
 
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AWESOME Photography!

 

Last week a friend sent me an invitation to view the underwater photography of Lynton Burger at a NYC gallery.
I couldn't make it on short notice, but I checked out the site.
Have a treat; take a look:

 

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Can Whales Talk?

 

Sea-gram reader
Petya Mattys,
all the way from Poland,
sent us this story about a Beluga whale that learned to imitate human speech patterns.
The question: WHY?

 

 

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More information on their website:
 
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