I have had some of my most incredible diving experiences on beach dives. Many frequent beach divers will testify to the same. All three of my gray whale encounters have been while beach diving, same as my dolphin encounters. Other diving fun that I have had only while beach diving includes staring a mola mola in the eye …Read More »

According to researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), persistent heat on land and in the sea this June shattered records, yet again. June 2016 was 1.62 degrees F above the 20th century average, breaking last year’s record for the warmest June on record by 0.04 degrees F, according to scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. NOAA’s …Read More »

In California, as is the case with most of the worldwide diving community, the majority of us spend a lot more time admiring the beauty and antics of smaller creatures that inhabit our kelp forests, rocky reefs and sand flats. While those smaller wonders often leave us scratching our heads in sheer amazement during our dives, they don’t grab the …Read More »

Marine researchers estimate that at least 34 species of sharks have been recorded off the Pacific Coast of North America. Some of them are rarely seen, and some species that were once commonly seen have, in recent years, become scarce due to overfishing. Thankfully, with proper resource management, shark numbers, at least in some species, appear to be increasing. This …Read More »

My success at photographing rays has hinged on chance. The ray(s) and I have been surprised to see each other and I somehow managed to take one or more photos before it (or they) departed. With the exception of Pacific electric rays, most of those departures were rather hasty. The electric rays, however, seem to be curious about divers and …Read More »

The California diving community lost one of its greats recently, when on June 2, 2016, underwater cinematographer Bob Cranston died. He is remembered both for his cinematic achievements and as a pioneering shark diver. Bob Cranston, Underwater Filmmaker By Howard Hall It was the winter of 1993 and the weather was clear and calm at Catalina Island. But there was …Read More »

The recipient of this year’s California Scuba Service Award is Zale Parry. The California Scuba Service award was created in 1989 and is awarded annually by the SCUBA Show and California Diving News to recognize those who have made long-lasting contributions to the California sport diving community. Zale Parry is recognized as “The First Lady of Diving.” Zale is most …Read More »

At the SCUBA Show in Long Beach last month I helped staff the California Diving News booth, gave two seminars, got to introduce several seminar speakers, and was honored to present Zale Parry with the 2016 California Scuba Service Award. I spent the remaining time visiting exhibitor booths on the show floor. Needless to say, I stayed busy. I have …Read More »

Since sea otters rarely spend any time on land most people will never see the lower part of them, which is usually underwater. The body resembles that of the otter’s close cousin the weasel and there is a substantial 10- to 12-inch long tail. Unlike most marine mammals, sea otters swim on their backs, not their stomachs, using their webbed …Read More »

A dentist is a doctor the same as psychiatrists and proctologists are doctors. But these doctors have vastly different areas of expertise. There are times when our healthcare needs can be met with a visit to our “family doctor,” a general practitioner who specializes in providing comprehensive health care. And then there are times when we might need to consult …Read More »