MilaBooks.com Newsletter   
  
  The
 Sea-gram
 February, 2014
  For ocean lovers, divers, and 
"deep-thinkers."
 MilaBooks Logo
Paul with a hawksbill turtle
Paul Swimming With A Hawksbill, Dalila Reef, Cozumel Mexico. Photo by Alison Dennis
 
Greetings to our Sea-gram readers. Hope you enjoy the February issue, from MilaBooks.com     
Dive Buddies Fulvio & Paul, in Cozumel
Just returned from a week of world class diving in Cozumel, featuring close encounters with turtles, rays, moray eels, lionfish, sharks, and sea horses, just to name a few creatures.
One exciting encounter happened when this nurse shark cruised by: 
Cruising Nurse Shark
Cruising Nurse Shark
    
                
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This issue's Featured Creature is the Hawksbill Turtle.
Scroll down for the story, but first spend a minute watching this fascinating creature as it descends into the deep on Palancar Reef, probably searching for a juicy sponge lunch:   
Swimming with a hawksbill
Swimming with a hawksbill
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This month's Conservation Corner
features an amazing story: How shark attack survivors are trying to help save sharks.
  
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If you have a photo with an interesting story, or would like to share a good dive yarn, contact me at: [email protected] and I'll be happy to include your story in a future issue. 
 
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 
 Conservation Corner . . .
             Shark Attack Survivors Unite  --
    to Help Save Sharks
shark dive
Paul Mila photo, Nassau Bahamas
As worldwide shark populations continue to decline, the PEW Charitable Trust environmental organization reports that sharks have gained some unlikely allies: shark attack survivors.
  
Read this amazing story, and watch survivor videos below :
Featured Creature . . .
 The Hawksbill Turtle
                                     By Paul Mila, Carle Place, NY
On my recent trip to Cozumel Mexico we encountered hawksbill turtles on almost every dive. Below, dive buddy Fulvio cruises past me with a turtle.
       
  Fulvio, cruising with a Hawksbill   

 

Hawksbills are identifiable by their hawk-like beak and colorful carapace, or shell, which has  saw-tooth pattern along the edge. Another unique feature is that their front flippers sport two small claws. The average adult is about three to four feet in length and weighs 180-200 lbs.
  
Like most sea turtles, hawksbill are classified as critically endangered due to human predation. Thousands are killed annually, either as accidental by-catch, or intentionally for their meat and beautiful shell, which is made into tortoise-shell jewelry.
In addition, humans take their eggs for food, and on-shore breeding locations are being reduced due to beach front development.
Their diet consists primarily of sponges and jellyfish.
  
The hawksbill's calm demeanor and trusting nature makes it a great photo subject for divers:
Hawksbill Turtle photo, Paul Mila
  Equipment:
 SeaLife 1400 Camera, Digital Strobe & Wide-angle lens.
  
Photo Tips:
For eye-popping color, use an external strobe.
Stay low, where the turtles hang out, to avoid shootng downward.
The wide-angle lens enables you to shoot close for great detail while capturing the entire subject in your frame.
Sea turtle resting
Hawksbill Turtle photo, Paul Mila
 
You need to get close for great head-on shots like the one above, so approach low and slow to avoid spooking the turtle.
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 February, GoodReads is sponsoring a free giveaway contest for Fireworks.FIREWORKS Cover 
 
In this adventure, terrorists are planning an explosive Fourth of July for New York City. But a team of scuba divers, aided by a very unique dolphin, have other plans.
        
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.


Conservation Corner:

 Shark Attact Victims Unite --     to Save Sharks

Story lower left column.

  

  
Quick Links
         
Updates & Miscellaneous Features
 
Grandson Maxwell shows fine literary taste, devouring Grandpa's latest Caribbean thriller,
Near Miss
    
Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Award Contest judges agree with Max.
 
"This book has a great plot that moves . . . what I would expect in a thriller. The book swept me up and carried me right along . . ."
Judge, Writer's Digest 21st Annual Self-Published Book Awards

   

 "Author does a good job of opening with a jolt . . . Well done. Fascinating to learn details of scuba . . . Reader is on a global trip in this adventure . . . Ending is very satisfying; nice wrap-up, no loose ends."  Judge, Writer's Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards    

 

To order Near Miss from Amazon, click on Max's photo.


 

The Sharks of Rhode Island 

Diver Adam Cohen shows that North-east divers can have fun with sharks too.

He writes, "The first two sharks showed up within fifteen minutes. It was another beautiful day..."

Check out Adam's video:

Rhode Island Blue Sharks
Rhode Island Blue Sharks

 

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Leapin' Mantas!
Long Island diver John Hand was in
Guanacaste, Costa Rica, when he caught these two mantas breaking the surface:
  
  
  
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Interested in diving Asia, Pacific, or Africa? Contact the experts at Scuba Dive Asia:
  
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Time and Tide Wait for No Man
 (Geoffrey Chaucer)
  
Sea-gram reader Tony D'Allesandro sent in this amazing link. Click on the link and then the photos to see amazing tidal changes around the world:
  
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  Dumb & Dumber
  
Sea-gram fan Tom Helmke sent in this story about government approved dumping in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
  
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Stop The Dolphin Trade !
 
Last month we reported on the dolphin slaughter & capture in Japan's infamous Taiji Cove. 
 
Chisa Hidaka of the Dolphin Dance Project sent us this petition from Sakae Hemmi, of the Elsa Nature Conservancy.
 
Their goal is to halt the live dolphin trade, which is now more profitable than slaughtering dolphins for their meat.
 
You can help by signing the petition:
 
   
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   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:  
 
   
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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:

 

 Looking for property in Paradise? 
Check out the Residencias Reef Condos.
Contact Jaime Ramirez:
  
Kathy Heinz, One of our Residencias Reef condo owners, salutes the sunset with one of her Caribbean concoctions on our west-facing beach.
Kathy Salutes the Sunset
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Check out the Cozumel Living newsletter:
 
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Available Links!
Post a link to your web site in Sea-gram
E-mail [email protected]
 for details. 

  

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