It doesn’t seem so long ago that I rolled into Key Largo, Florida, with a Nikonos II camera and a darkroom sink in the back of my Chevy van to figure out how to make a living as an underwater photographer. Things have changed since 1978, and underwater photography is not the novelty it was when I started.
The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch (AMITW) had an exceptional summer in 2024. By July 31, AMITW patrollers had documented 683 nests on 9.6 miles (15.4 kilometers) of beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida.
There is a magic art to keeping divers’ attention long enough to impart safety-critical information. Talking about the cool things you will see is easy, but briefings also contain vital information that will keep your divers safe.
Dive sites are vulnerable to a variety of threats, including air and water pollution, invasive species such as zebra mussels and lionfish, destructive fishing practices like blast fishing, and even sunscreen.
Recreational diving is a fun and relaxing sport meant to be enjoyed. But what happens when things don’t go as planned: Your mask comes off, your regulator gets knocked out, or someone in your group runs out of air?
The drive to Eastport from my home in southern Maine would typically take about four and a half hours, but I was towing my boat so I prepared for more than six hours on the road.
