MilaBooks.com Newsletter   
  
  The
 Sea-gram
 December, 2013
  
For ocean lovers, divers, and 
"deep-thinkers."
 MilaBooks Logo

Can't We All Get Along? 

Caribbean Lobsters & Reef Crab, Competitors Hangin' Out Together.

Colombia Shallows, Cozumel Mexico. Paul Mila Photo

           
Welcome to the year-end December issue of
Sea-gram, from MilaBooks.com
      

From our Little Fish and Big Fish,

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays!

   
                     
Wishing all our Sea-gram readers a very
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all the best for a great Holiday Season!
 
__________________________________
 
 
Ocean creatures can be as funny and unpredictable as they are awesome and beautiful. Check out Pilfering Pancho, a sea lion with a taste for a free meal, sent in by Sea-gram fan Russ Chiappetta:
Sea Lion stealing Monster fish!!
Sea Lion Steals Monster Fish!
  ______________________________________
  
In this issue' Story Behind The Photo, check out Cavi's (pseudonym for this "shy" diver) story about his hammerhead shark encounter at Punta Maria, a dive site off Cocos Island.
  
If you have a photo with an interesting story, or would like to share a good dive yarn, contact me at: paul@paulmila.com and I'll be happy to include your story in a future issue. 
 
Video Year in Review: As we close out the year we're taking a break from Conservation Corner
to show you some of the most interesting video encounters of 2013, featuring barracudas, turtles, moray eels, whales, etc., as well as a few favorites from past years.
Check out the Favorite Videos section, below.
  
If you know someone who would enjoy reading Sea-gram, perhaps a friend in need of an overdue "dive fix," please forward Sea-gram 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 
 The Story Behind The Photo . . . 
             Swarming Hammerheads
            By Cavi, (the alias for his outdoor adventures)
Here is Cavi's Story Behind the Photo:
  

I took the photo two years ago at a dive site called Punta Maria off Cocos Island. One of my last photos underwater, using film and Nikonos V, before I retired from underwater photography rather than buy all new digital gear.

 

The dive that day required an unusually rapid descent. The current was so brisk that the buoy marking the site was underwater, and it was not possible to descend on the line.

Fortunately, our entire group of 8 was able to get down quickly enough to find shelter in the lee behind large boulders. From there we made our way with a little hand over hand on rocks to the cleaning station where we sat tight. The cleaning station consisted, as is the case in those waters, of a type of butterfly fish called "barberfish."

In less than 5 minutes the hammerheads started cruising in and buzzed around, very close, for about 15 minutes, affording many good photo-ops.

Interestingly, the previous year that same site was a cleaning station for Galapagos sharks with very similar action taking place.

Favorite Videos of 2013, plus some oldies but goodies . . .
                                         By Paul Mila, Carle Place, NY
   
Eagle Ray Flyover
Eagle Ray Flyover
  
Turtle Diving in Cozumel
Turtle Diving in Cozumel
  
 
Moray Eel Swimming With Us In Cozumel
Moray Eel Swimming With Us
  
Barracuda Feeding Frenzy
Barracuda Feeding Frenzy
Gray Whales of the Baja, Scammon's Lagoon
Gray Whales of the Baja
  
Stingray and Bar jack hunt together
Stingray & Bar Jack Hunting
 
Drift Diving With a Hawksbill Turtle
Drift Diving With a Hawksbill
  
  
Eagle Ray Flyby
Eagle Ray Flyby
Equipment:
 SeaLife 1000 and 1400 Cameras & wide-angle lens.
About MilaBooks.com
www.milabooks.com 
Your home for exciting dive adventure novels,
and YouTube videos featuring ocean creatures.
  
FREE GIVEAWAY!
Extending through the end of December, Goodreads is sponsoring a free giveaway contest for my anti-whaling novel, Whale's Angels,
WHALES' ANGELS Cover       
Just click on the book's cover to enter my website and join Goodread's free contest.
MilaBooks Logo
Click the reading dolphin and swim into our website
  
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.


Favorite Videos of 2013:

 

Story lower left column.

  

  
Quick Links
         
Updates & Miscellaneous Features
          
A few words about
Sea Turtles
  
Pixtures (sic) and stories from
the scuba adventures of
Linda and Mike Boyd. 
  
Mike Boyd writes a great blog featuring his photos and underwater adventures.
 
 
To read Mike's story about this hawksbill turtle photo, and to check out his blog,
click on: 
  
  
* * * * * * *  
     
Whales!

 

 

Sea-gram readers Seth Baer & Tom Helmke sent in this story about a group of unsuspecting tourists not realizing that rare southern right whales were hiding beneath their skiff:

Whales Beneath Boat

 

 

 

 Sea Shepherd Update

 

Check out Sea Shepherd Conservation Organization's latest initiatives, and how you can help with a year-end donation:

 Sea Shepherd News

 

 

Paul Stessel sent in this story about an environmentalist law suit to stop the Navy from sonar testing in Hawaiian waters populated by whales

Navy vs. Whales

 

 

 

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 Devolution, Not Evolution!

 Sea-gram reader Jeff Reed sent in this story about the consequences of oceanic destruction.

Very sobering, but perhaps some young Sea-gram readers will figure a way to solve these problems:

Devolution of the Seas

 

Trouble in Paradise!

The protected waters of the Bonaire Marine Park are under assault from private developers.

Check out this story sent in by Bonaire resident and diver Tish Dace, and become informed.

If you love diving in Bonaire and want to see its waters and sea life protected, consider donating to the cause:

Save the Bonaire Marine Park

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 Dolphin Killer Virus

Worse Than Usual

Dolphins up and down the East Coast have been dying in record numbers.

Scientists may have found the answer:

Dolphin Deaths Solved?

 

 

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www.cozumelisparadise.com

   A fun dive site, where you can rent a beachfront condo, view great dive photos, and more!

  

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GUEST LINKS 

 

For a unique Cozumel experience check out:

 fulviocozumelrentals.com

Fulvio provides boutique rental accommodations and rental management services.

  

  

For Cozumel concierge and rental management, Kelly & Ivan will take care of you:  
 
 
  
* * * * * * * *
  
SCUBAVERSE, a great new diving website was recently launched.
Check it out:
Where Do You Want to Dive?
Check out this new website, for the online dive community:

 

* * * * * * * * *

 
Great Cozumel
Information Resources
 
Whether you want to advertise a service, or just find out what's going down on the island, check out Laura Wilkinson's fabulous local newsletter:

 


 
 Want to buy property in Paradise?
 
Check out the Residencias Reef Condos.
Contact Jaime Ramirez:
 
Check out the Cozumel Living newsletter:
 
 * * * * * * * 
  
Available Links!
Post a link to your web site here!
E-mail paul@paulmila.com
 for details.

 

  

* * * * * 

 

 

 
 
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