Which are the best 222 Dive Centers in the world?

Which are the best 222 Dive Centers in the world? That question is now been answered by more than 10.000 divers world wide.

Diversclick Award 2005 is the first internet based, impartial award for Dive Centres World Wide. Diversclick aims to recognise the best 222 dive centres in the world as voted by the divers themselves.

Diversclick is not looking for the biggest dive centres but those dive centres who provide excellent customer service, superb knowledge of their dive sites, and operate in a safe and professional manner.

Any dive centre world wide is eligible to win a diversclick award, regardless of the centres affiliated organization or number of divers per year. The important thing is their commitment to the SCUBA industry and to their customers.

Over 9000 reviews of dive centres have been received already and many more are expected before the announcement of the winners in December this year.
Customers from first time divers to Instructors are welcome to review the dive centres and help them win a Diversclick Award.

The reviews include environmental details, customer satisfaction, diving quality, safety, and of course.. fun level!

Diversclick.com extends an invitation to the SCUBA Diving Community world wide to get online and review their favorite dive centre and help them to win a Diversclick Award this year.

For more information visit http://www.diversclick.com.

Shark survey on Protea Banks

www.sharklife.co.za are conducting a survey on shark sightings on Protea Banks. The purpose of the survey is to establish if there is any trend in the sightings
over the last few years. We need as many divers to complete the survey as possible so please pass this on.

The survey can be completed in a less than a minute at http://www.sharklife.co.za/survey.htm.

OCTOPUS SCUBA SCHOOL

Very friendly, English run bed and breakfast, dive centre, catering for both diver and non diver – for the diving experience to be remembered on the sunny Costa Brava, Spain.

Brand new villa with breathtaking views overlooking the clear waters of the Med and the world famous Medes Isles, where fish are on steroids, where dolphins play and huge grouper are your best friend.

Octopus Scuba School has some amazing offers to be had for the forthcoming season.

Our resident Padi Staff Instructor is at hand at all times for any questions and conducts courses from try dives to Divemaster plus most specialties all at reduced fees. Children are more than welcome and there is no single supplement.

FOR 2005 SEASON ONLY BOOKING OF 6 ONE PERSON COMES FREE !!!!!!

See their website here.

The Malta Marine Foundation held an underwater clean up as part of 'Dive In To Earth Day' campaign that the CORAL and PADI organize yearly.

This event was held at Wied iz-Zurrieq. The aim was to not only to clean up the underwater habitat from the litter dumped by users of this incredible site but also to create awareness on the beauty and importance our marine environment.

Wied iz-Zurrieq is a prime diving site in the Maltese islands for the thousands of foreign and Maltese divers.

The Malta Marine Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Malta's fragile marine habitat. The foundation was set up in January 2005 by representatives of the non-commercial diving clubs, Federation of Underwater Activities Malta (FUAM), Malta diving establishments, Gozo diving establishments and the Malta Tourism Authority. Through research and exploration the foundation pledges to protect our reefs and the wrecks that have become part of our underwater heritage. They also pledge to promote the awareness of the importance of a healthy eco system without which our existence as a Mediterranean nation would be seriously jeopardized.

Visit the Malta Marine Foundation (MMF) website here.

Scientists discover new Australian reef

Diving on Australia's spectacular Great Barrier Reef is always listed among the top things to do before you die.

Brightly coloured reef fish, exotic looking underwater plants and the chance to swim with giant turtles make it an unforgettable experience for all who undertake it.

But now scientists have uncovered a previously undiscovered 60-mile stretch of reef off Australia's north coast in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It follows a three-week marine science survey funded by Geoscience Australia and the National Oceans Office.

"This discovery makes the Gulf of Carpentaria an important modern coral reef region of Australia, encompassing as many as 50 small coral patch reefs, one to ten km in diameter, plus an elongate platform coral reef that is around 100 km in length extending westwards from Mornington Island," said voyage leader Dr Peter Harris.

"The thickness and wide distribution of the reefs point to a long history of reef growth extending possibly over the past 100,000 years or more."

A survey carried out two years ago found small patches of reef, which hinted at the existence of a larger reef.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It lies off the country's east coast, running for over 1,300 miles from the northern tip of Queensland to just north of Bundaberg.

Dive with Emperor Divers in June and join their 4th Annual Red Sea Bash Party for the chance to win fantastic diving give-aways!

During the month, divers with Emperor in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Dahab will have the chance to join in the adventure. There will be Underwater Treasure Hunts, dive equipment prizes, including free annual subscriptions to UK diving magazines, discounted dive trips and free NITROX, free food and beer and the chance to win a free ‘Oceans Range’ tee-shirt – this season’s ‘must have’ fashion accessory!In Hurghada and Dahab, special offers will abound on 3rd dives of the day!

The Annual Red Sea Bash Party has been extremely popular with divers in the past, and this year will prove to be just as much fun for guests, with a fun party theme and pub quiz nights!

For more details, please visit www.emperordivers.com and go to Red Sea News or email reservations@emperordivers.com

3 Russians die in Hurghada through diving rules neglect

Three Russian citizens died off shore the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada on April 14 through the neglect of diving rules, consular department head at the Russian embassy in Cairo Sergei Stepanov said.

Fifteen Russians from St. Petersburg went diving in the Red Sea near Hurghada on that day. The group members believe that the deaths resulted from the excessive self-confidence.

The dead divers have been identified as Yelena Myasnikova born in 1963, Sergei Moiseyenko born in 1955, and Anton Kolchev born in 1969. The dead woman has been found, and the search for two men goes on.

Many Russians, who come to Egypt for extreme sports, do not have sufficient training and frequently get serious injuries.

New Specialist Scuba-Diving Auctions Listings Site Feature

UK based Scuba Diving holiday and travel company, www.diving-holidays-4u.co.uk announces its latest feature for scuba-divers, its' New and Used Diving Equipment Auctions in conjunction with eBay.

Scuba-divers searching for New and Used Equipment Auctions now need look no further than the new auctions listings at www.scuba-diving-holidays-4u.co.uk.

"We send so many newbie divers on their first scuba-diving holiday that we thought we would help them further by adding a one-stop source of new and used diving equipment to help save them money in their early diving days".

www.diving-holidays-4u.co.uk, a fully licensed UK based Scuba-Diving Holiday company has now partnered with eBay to offer the latest new and used diving equipment auctions listings.

Since its' inception the site has offered specialist diving books, videos, DVD's, diving computers and software. Now as well as great diving holiday bagains the site offers divers the latest new and used diving equipment bargains.

According to Colin Maddocks, the companys' web manager, "We have always offered diving products as well as diving holidays and travel arrangements. By partnering with eBay we can now offer our visitors the best eBay Diving Equipment Auctions at the same time as they book their diving holiday arrangements."

For more information, visit www.diving-holidays-4u.co.uk.

Celtic Diving GET new DIVE BASE!

Celtic Diving have now moved their dive base from Main Street, Goodwick to the former Watersports Centre at Goodwick Parrog. The premises are ideally suited being prominent, with easy access to the sea. This purpose built facility has a large classroom area, office, equipment room, drying area, accommodation for 16, male and female changing/shower rooms.

Initially Celtic Diving will provide the following sports and facilities: PADI sports diver training, ITDA technical diver training, supervised diving expeditions, boat charter, sale of diving equipment, overnight accommodation, RYA power boating, conservation and environmental activities.

Mark Deane of Celtic Diving stated: “We have entered into a lease/partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council on this project and are extremely happy with the support we have received and the efficiency with which the council have helped us settle in.

We will be delighted to assist and offer facilities for any of the usual sports and community based events that take place in Fishguard and Goodwick such as the Festival of the Sea, the Goodwick Tri-Atholon, Lions Fun Day and Fish Week.

Celtic Diving will be researching the level of interest in sea kayaking, RYA sailing tuition and windsurfing. If there is enough demand for this to be a viable proposition then it will make economic sense to offer these sports alongside the sub-aquatic pursuits.”

It is clear from the success of Celtic Diving over the past three years that there has been a rising demand for water sport amenities in this area. The Pembrokeshire coast is a superb environment which appeals to both residents and visitors looking for new water-based experiences.

As well as commercial operations; the centre will accommodate both the local Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and those from other areas. There are also plans for a local Coast Care group to be formed after the success of recent beach cleanups organised by Celtic Diving.

With full support from Seatrust South & West Wales the wildlife conservation charity based in Pembrokeshire. One of the main targets for Celtic Diving this year is to achieve status as a National Geographic Diving Centre; this is an important conservation, educational and environmental initiative that will compliment the policies and orientation that the company focus on especially with regard to operating in a wildlife sensitive area.

Set for a steady expansion of the facilities in line with demand and resources Celtic Diving is looking forward to an exceptional season. The next phase for 2006 will be the provision of additional services and facilities such as; dive instructor training, commercial diver training, GMDSS radio courses, marine mechanical courses and sea survival training.

Celtic Diving Limited is entirely funded by its own investments and will still be keeping the shop on in Main Street as our main office and dive equipment store.

Click here for their website.

Ocean Frontiers, one of Cayman’s leading Dive Centres, in partner ship with Ecoventures bring you a week full of adventure, challenge, excitement, fun and fresh air. Best of all, no experience is needed! Escape the city, untie yourself from the desk and refresh your soul - and join us and many like-minded out door enthusiasts for a week to remember, on this stunning tropical island.

Adventure Week is for all levels of fitness and experience to share what they love most in the tropical elements of Cayman. The Caymanian love of nature and inherent sensibility has ensured that large expanses of Cayman is untouched and protected by the National Trust. For you, this means that the many activities available – snorkelling, kayaking, bike trailing, diving, geocaching and dry-caving – are held in some quite extraordinary surroundings, including the turquoise crystal blue waters that are the signature of the Cayman Islands.

“The geography on Cayman gives us at Ocean Frontiers, the perfect opportunity to introduce Geocaching or GPS Stash Hunt as part of this Adventure Week”, stated Steve Broadbelt, Co-Owner of Ocean Frontiers. “Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game. The basic idea is that caches have been set up all over Cayman, with the location of these cashes found on the Internet. GPS users can then use the location co-ordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. Participating in Geocaching is deceptively easy. It’s one thing to see where an item is; it’s a totally different story to actually get there. You can geocach both above and below the water!

The topside ambience and marine wilderness that defines the East End is definitely reason enough to venture off the beaten track when visiting Grand Cayman. We pride ourselves at Ocean Frontiers in providing memorable holidays where visitors experience the Frontiers of East End, Grand Cayman. You will be exposed to the best coral reefs and the best wall diving in the Caribbean in a safe, enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere with professional, courteous service and ecologically minded staff. And all tours are operated by certified and experienced guides or instructors, trained in rescue and first aid. You will never be short of things to do in the Cayman Islands”.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

Wall & Coral Reef Dives for certified dives and dive students, Kayaking, Team Challenge Raft Race, Geocaching Bike, Snorkel & Scuba Trails, Night Diving, 3 Tank Dive Safari, Stingray City Dive, Caving & Climbing, Deep Sea Fishing, Speciality Dives, ‘Round the Rock Rally’, Awards Beach Party & Slide Show.

This 7-night holiday with Ocean Frontiers costs just £799*, per person with double occupancy accommodation in a luxury onsite oceanfront condominium at Compass Point Dive Resort. Also included is a 4x4 Wrangler Jeep Rental, continental breakfast, Limited Edition Event T-Shirt and much more. All you need to do is pick up the flights. For more information check out www.oceanfrontiers.com, www.compasspoint.ky or www.ecoventures.ky

* Pricing calculated on Jan 1st 2005 Exchange Rates on US$1495.00 and subject to change in line with exchange rate at time of booking.

PSAI (Professional Scuba Association International) is proud to announce that Dave Crockford is to be the European Vice President for PSAI, effective immediately. Crockford will be responsible for all forms of business development and technical operations. He joins Mike Ange, VP of the Americas, in bringing the proven PSAI programme to all interested divers and professionals alike.

Although PSAI may not be as well known as some other training agencies, divers will be reassured to know that key personnel at PSAI have a long accomplished history in the diving industry, and this ethos continues with Dave Crockford.

“I am looking forward to this new challenge”, stated Dave Crockford. “Hal Watts maintains an incredible track record and still so keen to learn from others. His philosophy of The ‘Safety-Integrity-Knowledge’ Golden Triangle still holds true 20 years after introducing it. That spirit, along with fun and the shared experience, reminds me just why I go diving in our wonderful British climate! Performance based diving and truly international support text will be such powerful tools for the discerning professional I just had to say yes!”

Crockford has been instrumental in developing a wide range of standards for acceptance within the EU as well as involvement with Police Diving Teams, Scuba Industries Trade Association and the Health & Safety Executive. Dave has also acted as an Equipment Diving Techniques Expert Witness for many of Her Majesty’s Coroners over the last 15 years. This key inquest role has included the use of rebreathers. In addition, Dave brings a wealth of background from his previous engineering and diving and rebreather research experiences with Maurice Cross at DDRC (Diving Diseases Research Centre) and technical diving advisory with British Sub Aqua Club.

Joe Odom, President of PSAI stated, “What can I say? Dave and I have been together through thick and thin for many years in a wide range of diving situations. I have nothing but the greatest respect for his technical understanding and demonstrated abilities in the underwater environment. PSAI is known in Europe through a small but dedicated group of instructors, but now, with Dave on board, this will bring to the fore the true impact of performance based certification.”

The appointment of Dave Crockford has been blessed by founder and CEO of PSAI, Hal Watts. Watts, who is no stranger to the diving industry stated, “The expansion of PSAI as a co-ordinated international activity is something I used to dream about. Now with the addition of Dave, I know PSAI will blossom into the international training agency it deserves to be. Where divers can access performanced based training, and upon qualifying know that they are justified with holding that ticket”.

“Recognised professionals that the diving community can relate to, allows the various extended range technical programs to develop. Having professionals such as Dave Crockford an integral part of this simply adds another layer of profound credibility to an already established programme”, Joe Odom commented.

In the early 90’s Kevin Gurr set up IANTD UK (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers), as the first technical diver training agency in Europe. Now after more than a decade of technical training, Gurr has passed the mantle of IANTD UK to Simon Pridmore.

Simon has been involved in diving since 1981 and is no stranger to IANTD, having run IANTD Micronesia, with dive centres in such exotic destinations as Truk, Palau, Pohnpei, Saipan and Majuro. Over the years he has taught over a thousand people to dive, working mainly in the Asia-Pacific region where he was responsible for training many of those who are now the region’s top instructors; in Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand and particularly in Guam. It was here that he built ‘Professional Sports Divers’, a scuba diving resort, and the Western Pacific’s first technical diving centre. As such Simon brings to IANTD UK a wealth of experience in the fields of customer service and professional management.

“My primary aim is to maintain and enhance IANTD’s reputation as a pioneering body at the very top of this sport. IANTD’s name was made through its place at the forefront of Technical diving, an innovative branch of scuba in which exotic gas mixtures, new technologies and a strong emphasis on discipline, skills and contingency planning are used to enable advanced recreational divers to extend their range and develop their abilities. The training focuses on safety and awareness and these techniques have revolutionised scuba diving worldwide. Virtually every experienced diver and instructor in the UK has done an IANTD training course at some time in their career. But I believe that the level of knowledge and awareness required to scuba dive safely and with confidence should not be the sole province of the very experienced. This knowledge can be made accessible to all divers, and through training not only can they benefit significantly in terms of their enjoyment of the sport, but they will also dive with less risk of injury. IANTD UK has always prided itself on offering high standards of diver education at all levels via its network of our highly qualified instructors, instructor trainers and dive centres and this continues today. I have inherited a very good team and I look forward to working with them!”

IANTD UK can be contacted by email on iantdsales@aol.com.

Underwater record attempt?

A scuba diver from Borehamwood is preparing to take the plunge of his life in an attempt to break the world record for the longest-ever dive — staying under water for an entire week.

Qualified instructor, Will Goodman, 28, of Stapleton Road, is in Indonesia this week carrying out a number of practice dives in his bid to beat the current world-record holder, American Jerry Hall, who spent 120 hours underwater in September last year.

To complete the 168-hour challenge, he will have to learn to sleep, eat and go to the toilet under the water, as well as keeping his mind occupied.

"I know I can do it," he said."It's going to take a lot of hard work but I am determined to break the record."

Mr Goodman will be spending his time teaching lessons, reading books and even playing poker and scrabble underwater.

He added: "If I don't plan my activities properly I will go mad — I need to be kept busy at all times."

The preparation and training for such a stunt must be meticulously planned down to the last detail.

He will undergo a full medical examination and follow a strict dietary plan drawn up by a nutritionist to ensure he keeps his hydration levels up.

A personal trainer will also be on hand to help him through a regime of exercises to keep his body healthy.

And to fend off any extreme wrinkling, he will need to use special cream to protect his skin — a lesson learned by Mr Hall, whose hands were a lifeless grey-blue and badly shrivelled when he emerged from his record-breaking dive last year.

Mr Goodman plans to dive initially to a depth of about 30ft to meet Guinness World Records regulations, which require divers to stay at least 20ft underwater for more than 20 minutes, after which he will rise to about 12ft.

Cliff Newcomb, owner of Diver Training Services, said: "There is no doubt that this is one of the most risky dives he could do. Staying underwater for that length of time means that his entire body will be saturated.

"His main problem will be keeping his breathing regulated and maintaining his hydration levels. He is absolutely mad, but good luck to him."

Mr Goodman will be carrying out his dive for charity.

Rick Stein, targeted by conservationists

Rick Stein, the seafood chef, is being targeted by conservationists over his recipes that encourage people to eat shark meat. Pressure group Bite Back is urging Stein to stop promoting the fish as an exotic meal. The campaigners claim his “shark vindaloo” recipe is encouraging a boom in consumption of species that are endangered.
Many supermarkets have stopped selling shark, but fish and chip shops serve it and it is widely available in fish markets.

Conservationists claim more than 100m are taken from the sea each year and many species are being killed faster than they can reproduce.

Graham Buckingham of Bite Back said: “More people are eating shark than ever before, but you can’t farm them and it’s difficult to reverse the damage that’s done by over-fishing.”

Stein was not available for comment. There are no shark dishes on offer at his restaurants.

Surfers and 'shark tourists' blamed for increase in attacks by great whites

Eco-tourists and surfers invading the natural space of great white sharks are directly responsible for the recent spate of attacks, a leading shark expert said yesterday.

George Burgess, director of the Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida, said: "As more people take part in aquatic pursuits they are bumping into sharks more. It's as simple as that. The number of shark attacks is rising year by year while the shark population is dwindling - it's not rocket science to see that something is provoking them. We are swamping the near-shore environment."

He was commenting on incidents in the past few weeks that have seen one Australian killed and two Britons attacked. One was surfing and the other was in a shark cage on a "see great whites" tour.

Dr Burgess had harsh words to say about the growing number of firms in South Africa, Australia and the United States offering "great white shark tours" by boat, or, for braver souls, in a cage lowered into the sea. These often strew bait, known as "chum", in the water to attract great whites. "When you feed a shark you are provoking him, so most shark attacks are not actually attacks, just responses to the environment," Dr Burgess said. "Throwing fish and blood into the sea is altering the way that sharks behave. Shark tourism is not seeing sharks in their natural habitat - what tourists are watching is a circus.

"A lot of what you see with cages is the white shark being fooled by the electrical field from the metal. These animals have very acute electro-magnetic sensitivity, particularly up close, as they use it to catch fish. The cage fools them."

Dr Ellen Pikitich, of the Pew Institute for Ocean Science, New York, agreed: "Putting a cage into an area where there are known to be great whites is irresponsible." In the past decade, both surfing and shark tourism have boomed. The same period has seen a big increase in unprovoked shark attacks, according to the International Shark Attack File. This deals with confirmed cases and excludes provoked attacks, such as when a diver grabs at a shark. In the 1950s, there were barely a dozen unprovoked attacks a year; by the 1980s there were about 20; and last year there were 61.

Very few conform to the popular image fostered by Jaws. A mere handful are on bathers entering or exiting the water; the vast majority are on swimmers and surfers. Forty years ago, attacks on swimmers were twice as common as those on surfers, but last year they were both around 40 per cent.

There is, as yet, no category for attacks on shark tourists, but there may soon have to be. Andrew McLeod, senior aquarist at the Deep Submarium in Hull, said: "The problem is that some tour operators are more scrupulous than others. The practice of tow-roping - baiting a rope and pulling it towards the boat for a better view of the shark - is incredibly irresponsible. It really angers them."

Although attacks on people have been made by 30 or so species of shark, most are attributed to tiger, bull and great whites, with the last most commonly blamed. Yet, surprisingly little is known of what, for all its power, is a creature that experts say combines inquisitiveness and nervousness in equal measure. Its mating and birth have never been observed, its migrations and living arrangements are largely conjecture, and estimates of its numbers mere guesswork.

There are two main theories on attacks by great whites. One is that the silhouette of a wet-suited surfer, strikingly similar to that of a seal when seen from below, leads the shark to mistake it for its favourite meal and attack. When the shark realises it is not the fatty taste it was expecting, it spits the swimmer (or bits of him or her) out.

The second theory is that the inquisitive great whites, which use their mouths much as we do our hands, take a bite to feel an unfamiliar shape. (They have been known to bite platforms, boats and buoys.)

Most shark attacks do not result in death, which is more than can be said for our attacks on them. Last year, seven people worldwide were killed by sharks. And the number of them killed by us? Around 50 million.

You can watch this show right now. Just click on www.divingpassport.com.

Three months after the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster saw Indonesia's Sumatra island nudged slightly towards Sri Lanka, the latest quake to hit the region has again altered the landscape.

Anecdotal evidence collected from witnesses in the remote islands of Nias and Simeulue, which were close to the epicentre of Monday's 8.7-magnitude quake, points to substantial change on shorelines around the islands.

In some areas, the land has tilted, exposing large tracts of beach that were once below the water line and thrusting coral reefs up into the air, while dipping other low lying coastal areas into the sea.

Photos shot by Brian Williams, an Australian running a surf camp on Simuelue, show a wide strip of white sand in Simuelue's Gusong Bay, which people familiar with the area say was not there before.

"I was there recently. The beach used to be three metres wide, now it's 30 metres wide and reefs that were underwater are now above water," Kirk Wilcox of the surfing goods firm Quicksilver, said.

"The same lifting occurred on the top part of Simeulue island after the first earthquake on December 26, 2004, while the lower part of Simeulue dropped."

The December quake, now measured at 9.3 on the Richter scale, caused major upheaval in the region as two continental plates that collide on a fault line close to Nias and Simeulue crunched against each other.

Tsunamis unleashed by the quake also caused enormous damage to the region's coastlines, killing in excess of 270,000 people.

Eyewitnesses say the latest quake also triggered a moderate tsunami, three metres in height, which caused a small amount of damage on Simeulue and the Sumatra coast area of Singkil, where it surged several hundred metres inland.

Two New Zealand surfers returning from the north-western tip of Nias island, where they had been holidaying in the tiny village of Alufu, say the coastal geography had also been altered by the latest quake.

"Before we left we went down and had a last look at the local beach, and we noticed the water had gone at least 200 metres farther out to sea than it was originally," said surfer Bevan Carr.

"The reef was sticking out of the water in a place that we didn't know there was reef before. It was absolutely mind blowing what has happened there. The earth moved."

Television footage shot on the tiny Banyak islands, which lie midway between Nias and Simeulue, closest to the epicentre, show areas of coastal housing had sunk slightly, leaving them ankle-deep in water.

Reef faces extinction from large colony of star fish

Six to seven hectares of a coral reef that is home to the world's largest manta rays are facing extinction if authorities do not move fast. This is the latest problem in the Phillipines that is affecting the coral reefs.

A large colony of crown of thorns, a kind of starfish, has invaded the Tacdugan Reef, 13 km off the coast of this town.

Serafin Lacdang, head of the fishery department of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said the colony has been eating the polyps out of the corals. A big part of the reef is already bleaching, indicating that this portion is already dead.

The damaged corals could no longer be rehabilitated, Lacdang said. He added the death of the corals would cut the food chain in the reef and endanger the plankton-eating manta rays. The area is considered by divers as a haven for the giant rays.

Manta rays are gentle sea creatures tolerant of humans, but dangerous when threatened. They use their wings to seize enemies and squeeze them to death. An adult ray could reach 5.8 meters long and weigh up to 2,000 kilograms. The manta ray has been declared an endangered species and catching it is prohibited by law.

Lacdang said the situation calls for immediate action to save the reef and with it, the mantas.

The crown of thorns multiplies by the hundreds and could cover the entire area in a few months. It reaches about 60 cm in diameter and has 23 arms covered with strong, sharp spines. A female produces up to 100 million eggs in one spawning and could live up to three years.

A group led by Sorsogon City Councilor Dave Duran and Lacdang said they would try to convene a meeting of all government agencies and local governments for help.

Lacdang, however, said the reefs lie within the jurisdiction of San Jacinto, Masbate, and are outside the territorial waters of Sorsogon.

"We just want to help save the reef," Lacdang said. Bobby Labalan, PDI Southern Luzon Bureau.

Great white shark released off California

A great white shark in captivity for a record six months was released into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday after it attacked and killed two smaller sharks in its tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The female shark -- not quite a year old now -- was starting to act like a hunter in the huge display tank where she has lived 198 days with a number of smaller sharks, tuna and other fishes and turtles, aquarium scientists said.

She bit and killed a soupfin shark in late February and another earlier in March, but the aquarium staff did not see clear hunting behavior until Monday, said Randy Kochevar, a marine biologist at the aquarium.

"For the first time, she was chasing other things around. She was hunting," he said.

Before the Monterey Bay Aquarium obtained this shark, the longest a great white shark had survived in captivity was 16 days.

The young shark was also growing too large for the exhibit, growing to 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 metre) and 162 pounds (73.5 kg) since she was caught in a fisherman's net off Southern California in August 2004, the scientists said.

"We were concerned with her size and when we saw this change in her behavior, we decided the time was right to release her," Kochevar said.

The shark was about 5-foot-long (1.5 metre-long) and weighed 62 pounds (28 kg) when it was first brought to the aquarium. It has been hand-fed two to four pounds (1-2 kg) of salmon, tuna and mackerel almost every day since.

The great white shark was released into the waters of Monterey Bay, about 100 miles (161 km) south of San Francisco, shortly before sunrise on Thursday.

Marine scientists said the young shark should adapt easily to life in the wild. She was equipped with a tag to track her movements for the next 30 days.

Nearly one million people have crowded around the display to watch the shark swim and hear commentators talk about survival challenges in the oceans and the need for conservation.

News archives :

March 1st to April 2nd 2005.
January 30th to February 27th 2005.
January 7th to January 30th 2005.
December 8th to January 7th 2004.
November 24th to December 8th 2004.
November 1st to November 24th 2004.
October 19th to October 31st 2004.
October 6th to October 19th 2004.
September 27th to October 6th 2004
September 13th to September 26th 2004.
August 28th to September 13th 2004.
August 11th to 27th 2004.
August 6th to 11th 2004.
August 1st to 5th 2004.
July 2004.
June 2004.

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