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North Carolina: Wrecks & Sharks

Sand tiger shark on wreck of the Atlas. Image by Olga Torrey

The waters off the coast of the US state of North Carolina are treacherous. Bad weather, rough seas, heavy current and inlets that are difficult to navigate are common. So why do underwater explorers consider this area to be a world-class dive destination? Because when you do get offshore, it is extraordinary.

Aerial view of the USS Lexington on 14 October 1941

WW2 aircraft carrier USS Lexington wreck located

The USS Lexington was scuttled about 800 kilometres (500 miles) miles off the eastern coast of Australia in May 1942 after sustaining serious damage from Japanese aircraft. A series of secondary explosions after the Japanese attack sealed the ship's fate and one of her own escorting destroyers was ordered to finish off the crippled carrier.

Soma Bay in Egypt

Arabian Picasso triggerfish with bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Soma Bay, Egypt. Photo by Lawson Wood.

I first visited the Red Sea as part of a marine biological expedition with Dr Paul Cragg back in 1973. After having run safaris out of Israel and ending up living there for several years working on the legendary liveaboard dive boats Lady Jenny III and Lady Jenny V, my love for the Red Sea has never diminished. Now, some 45 years later, a return trip to the Red Sea was increasing my heartbeat in anticipation.

Miflex XT-TECH Technical Diving Hoses

The XT-Tech series of medium pressure flexible scuba diving hoses, have been developed with the main purpose to offer technical divers additional safety with Kevlar reinforcement in the inner braiding, combined with a smooth outer PU layer.
The XT-Tech series of medium pressure flexible scuba diving hoses, have been developed with the main purpose to offer technical divers additional safety with Kevlar reinforcement in the inner braiding, combined with a smooth outer PU layer.

Miflex introduced the diving world to braided hoses in early 2007. Since then the brand name 'Miflex' has become synonymous with this style of hose, in much the same way that a permanent marker is regularly called a 'Sharpie'.

Eastenders, mass balloon release, Tony Hall, BBC Director General, environmental littering, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, XRay Mag, X-Ray Magazine, scuba diving mag
Eastenders release balloons into the sky three days after the BBC's Director General states the Corporation will tackle waste and harm created by single-use plastic

BBC's spectacular 'single-use plastic' own goal

The BBC has just invested several million pounds and four years of filming Blue Planet II. Its key and primary message is to educate the world that our oceans are overwhelmed with plastic pollution. And the message is getting through. The series is having a positive impact.

It seems however that not everyone within the Corporation has read Tony Hall's memo and got the 'Blue Planet' message. Or perhaps the artistic whims of the BBC producers have put their egos before the environment.

Pressure play, David Haigh, James Stagg, D-Day, Normandy Landings, weather forecast, General Eisenhower, Malcolm Sinclair, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, XRay Magazine, X-Ray Mag, scuba diving news
Dr James Stagg briefs the Allied commanders (Image: Cambridge Arts Theatre)

'Pressure' - A different view of the D-Day Landings

The way our weather twists and turns can catch out even the most experienced meteorologist, as Michael Fish found out to his cost, following his infamous broadcast on Thursday 15 October 1987.

He stated "Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way... well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!"

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The Play

Operation Overlord, June 5th 1944. All the factors have been accounted for, apart from the weather. 350,000 lives depend on the most important forecast of the 20th century. 

Thursday 1 - Saturday 10 February 2018: Arts Theatre, Cambridge

Tuesday 13 - Saturday 17 February 2018: King's Theatre, Edinburgh

Tuesday 20 - Saturday 24 February 2018: Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne

Fifty-nine percent of the attacks worldwide involved board sports. French said this group spends a large amount of time in the surf zone, an area commonly frequented by sharks.
Fifty-nine percent of the attacks worldwide involved board sports. French said this group spends a large amount of time in the surf zone, an area commonly frequented by sharks.

2017 "average year" for unprovoked shark attacks

In 2017, there had been 88 reported unprovoked shark attacks worldwide. Although this figure is an increase from the most recent five-year annual average of 83, it is pretty much considered to be an "average year", according to Lindsay French, who manages the University of Florida International Shark Attack File (ISAF).

The ISAF is the world's only scientifically documented, comprehensive database of all known shark attacks.

Mark Caney, Martin Parker, Jack Lavanchy, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, EUF, European Underwater Federation, Dusseldorf, Boot Show 2018, XRay Mag, X- Ray Magazine, scuba diving awards, diving news
Martin celebrating his EUF Award at Boot 2018 | Image Credit: Martin Denison

Martin Parker Receives EUF Lavanchy Award At Boot 2018

The new award was to honour of former EUF Honorary Vice President, Jack Lavanchy. It would be presented annually to an individual who EUF members felt "had made a significant and sustained contribution towards the responsible development of the European diving community."

The inaugural winner in 2017 was Deric Ellerby.