Orcas Ahead!

“Leaning forward to escape the Arctic wind, I catch sight of my snow-filled fins and can’t stop laughing. The feeling in my face has long since disappeared, and the other guests are equally rigid, turning purple in the minus 4°F Norwegian wind chill. Snow is everywhere, and I long to throw myself into the 36°F water to warm up. I never knew snorkeling could be so extreme—frankly, it’s absurd.”

Read my latest article for Scuba Diving magazine Orcas Ahead to find out what it’s really like to come face-to-face with orcas in freezing cold Arctic waters.

Kathryn Curzon dive writer

MAKO MATTERS

Mako sharks have fascinated divers and shark fans for many years. But having recently been listed as endangered, will we still be able to dive with them in years to come? And more importantly, what will happen if we lost these vital apex predators for good?

Are mako sharks endangered?

The Shark Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently announced that both the Shortfin and Longfin Mako shark are now classified as Endangered.

Previously listed as Vulnerable, they have been downgraded to Endangered and are now officially at risk of going extinct.

Does it matter if mako sharks go extinct?

As an apex predator, mako sharks play a vital role in sustaining the health of ocean ecosystems.

They are one of the most efficient hunters of all shark species and eat mostly bony fish such as tuna, mackerel, swordfish, plus cephalopods, other sharks, porpoises, sea turtles and sea birds. 

They control the populations of those species they feed on – ensuring ocean food webs remain in balance and no single population gets out of control. 

Apex predators also feed on vulnerable prey, such as old, injured and sick animals; which leaves more food for the healthy prey animals to survive on. 

What happens when you remove apex predators, such as makos, from the ocean?

Prey populations explode in numbers when you remove apex predators such as mako sharks. As those prey populations increase unchecked, the prey animals they feed upon then decrease and eventually collapse. 

What happens then? The prey populations that boomed in the first place have nothing to feed on and also eventually collapse. 

In short, oceanic food webs collapse and ocean biodiversity is lost. 

Apex predators prevent that cycle from occurring by keeping prey numbers balanced and under control at all times. They improve the health of ocean ecosystems and ensure marine biodiversity is sustained for all.

shark diving

Is it too late to save mako sharks?

If we act now, it is not too late to save mako sharks. The latest news on mako shark conservation is cause for hope:

• The EU is facing pressure to announce catch quotas for mako sharks in its waters.

• Numerous sharks and rays, including makos, are being proposed for listing at the next meeting of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in late May 2019.

Help protect sharks from extinction with two simple lifestyle changes:

• Don’t purchase products made from sharks.

• Use sustainable seafood guides online to ensure the fish you eat doesn’t have bycatch*

*Bycatch commonly includes sharks and marine mammals.

NEW - French Articles

I have been providing French articles for a variety of news, dive and travel outlets this year. Read on to find out more and get your latest scuba diving fix!

ZeSea.com

Read about my top tips for improving dive fitness and 10 top tips to master perfect buoyancy in my recent article for ZeSea. This upcoming French blog is one of the 'blogs to watch' in 2019 and has an ever-growing following around the world.

Plongeeonline.com

Micronesia is paradise for divers with its thriving reefs, impressive drop offs and world-class wreck dives. Find out more in my article for Plongeeonline Micronesia’s must-see wrecks.

Lepetitplongeur.com

In my latest article for Lepetitplongeur I discuss four of my top dive destinations for 2019 including:

• A hidden gem in Western Australia

• 'Walls of sharks' in idyllic French Polynesia

Read 4 Unmissable Dive Destinations for 2019 to find out more.

Top Tauchsafaris für Tauchbeginner

“Tauchen zu lernen ist wahnsinnig aufregend und fast jeder Taucher erinnert sich noch an seine ersten Atemzüge unter Wasser sowie an den allerersten Tauchplatz. Es gibt unzählige, großartige Tauchurlaubsziele für frisch zertifizierte Taucher – Tauchsafaris eignen sich hervorragend, um mehr Erfahrung zu sammeln und seine Technik unter Wasser zu verfeinern und dies auch noch an weltklasse Tauchplätzen.”

Lesen Sie meinen neuesten Artikel, um mehr zu erfahren: Die zehn besten Tauchsafari-Ziele für Anfänger

Diving With A Sore Back

Back pain is a common occurrence these days, but it needn’t stop you from enjoying your time in the water - I speak from experience! You can manage chronic back pain whilst travelling and diving, plus take steps to minimise the chance of back injuries reoccurring.

Find out how to minimise back pain and injuries in my article for for Scuba Diver Australasia magazine: Diving with a sore back.

SportDiver Cage Diving With Sharks

Featured on SportDiver:It has been great to see my top tips for cage diving with sharks featured on SportDiver recently. I really admire this publication and it is a privilege to be a part of their online presence. Shark cage diving can be a great tool for shark conservation when done properly.https://www.sportdiver.com/top-tips-for-cage-diving-with-sharks

Wreck Diving Essentials

Featured on LiveAboard: The site of Abu Nuhas in Egypt is known at the Ships Graveyard and is a submerged reef famous for its wrecks; the Giannis D, Chrisoula K, Kimon M and Rosalie Moller. It is also home to the oldest shipwreck accessible to divers in the Red Sea, the 1869 Carnatic.Find out more about wreck diving and top destinations to visit in my latest article:https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/scuba/wreck-diving

Wall Diving Essentials

Featured on LiveAboard:Wall diving is exhilarating and there is nothing quite like hovering at the edge of a wall and watching the vast inky depths of the ocean below. It offers the opportunity to enjoy striking and unique terrains, colourful coral formations, plentiful reef fish and larger pelagic species.Dive in to find out more...https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/scuba/wall-diving

Ice Diving Essentials

Featured on Liveaboard.com:I loved researching and writing this article about ice diving. It is a cold but incredible type of diving!https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/scuba/ice-diving-essentials

Top Underwater Destinations To Explore

Featured on Travel Gumbo:The global ocean covers a staggering 70.8 per cent of Earth’s surface and yet its depths still remain largely a mystery. One thing we can be certain of though is the benefit of spending time in or around water on our wellbeing. It is known to improve our physical and mental health. With that in mind, here are my top underwater destinations to explore:http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/top-5-underwater-destinationsThis is a great article for non-divers to learn a little bit more about the wonders of the ocean and why I fell in love with being underwater!