Flotsam & Jetsam

Weird Wonder of the Deep. Researchers with the Monterey Bay Aquarium stumbled upon a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a peculiar deep-sea fish with a transparent head. The barreleye fish frequents waters of the Pacific up to 2,600 feet deep. SFGATE

Omicron Variant Changes the Rules. If you have an international trip planned, you better check the entry rules to your destination daily, or you could be refused travel under new rules. For example, the Cayman Islands now requires a negative COVID-19 test the day before departure from the last port of call, and unvaccinated travelers are prohibited from visiting. Apple Newsx

Poop From Human Meat Eaters Threatens Coral Reefs. From animal welfare to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, there is growing awareness of the harm done by meat production. In December, a new study published in PLOS One uncovered a new evil: human meat-eaters. Meat puts more nitrogen into poop. We excrete almost all the nitrogen. It reaches the ocean via our rivers and sewer systems and harms coastal ecosystems like coral reefs. Want proof? The seagrass that feeds manatees is dying off because of too much nitrogen, and Florida's manatees are starving.

Hyperbaric Chambers are Not Just for the Bends. Long COVID describes COVID-19 symptoms that last for weeks or months. The Midlands Diving Chamber, situated in Rugby, UK, reports successfully treating the symptoms. Professional boxer Rachel Ball's symptoms persisted for months, threatening to end her career until she recovered after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. They've treated many patients with 100 percent oxygen for an hour daily for two weeks and claim excellent results. However, if you're a Long COVID victim, don't rush out and fill your tank with oxygen and go for an hour dive. If you remember what pure oxygen does under pressure, you know it's a sure thing you won't be back.

Octopuses Have Feelings Too. Divers always enjoy an encounter with an octopus, though some forget about that when handed a dinner menu. Tentacles sizzle in pans, coil on plates, and float in soups worldwide. In South Korea, the creatures are eaten alive. No wonder octopuses in the wild are decreasing. An estimated 350 thousand tons are caught each year - 10 times more than in 1950. One relief is that a Spanish company will soon market farmed octopus. An octopus is a sentient creature, so keep that in mind the next time you see it on a menu. It's almost intelligent as you are. Want proof? Read Sy Montgomery's Soul of an Octopus, a very worthy best-seller.

A Breathtaking Video That Left the Internet in Awe. My, how this octopus changed colors while dreaming as it slept. The incredible clip aired in the PBS documentary Octopus: Making Contact and led researchers to conclude it's dreaming. You can see the creature change from light to dark and flash patterns while hanging upside down. See it here: https://tinyurl.com/5n78kwfv

Nature Adapts to Circumstances. According to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, the plastic mass waste accumulating in the oceans provides a unique habitat for coastal species that may evolve to adapt to a life on floating plastic. A decade ago, marine researchers believed coastal organisms that live along sheltered shorelines could not survive in the inhospitable open ocean. Yet Japan's 2011 tsunami, which sent some 300 species of marine life riding durable and buoyant plastic garbage onto North American waters, disproved that.

Remote Working in the Time of COVID? Imagine those Zoom meetings or taking conference calls while enjoying the white sands and turquoise waters of the Cayman Islands. The Crown Colony has extended its Global Citizen Concierge Program to two years, so those with a proven annual income over $100,000 and health insurance are invited to live and work remotely and dive head-first into the Cayman way of life. Would suit a scuba diver! https://tinyurl.com/2p8mwdkd

Anti-Masker Tries Scuba. The "Anti-this" and "Anti-that" brigade is falling victim to satire on social media. An example is the spoof story of an anti-masker drowning while trying scuba diving without a mask, poking fun at those that insist it's their choice not to wear a mask. Of course, choosing to drown is a personal decision, whereas, in times of COVID, not wearing a mask can affect those you come close to, and every properly trained scuba diver should be proficient at swimming without a mask.

A Wetsuit for the Office? Avant-Garde New York fashion designer Thom Browne suggests you might like to wear something reminiscent of your office or your favorite pastime (whichever) with this Tromp L'oeil technical wetsuit. It's perfect for diving instructors who hanker to be accountants instead. It will set you back around $4000. We understand other wetsuit manufacturers are not concerned about the competition. www.thombrowne.com