One diver, after a seemingly brief period below the surface, discovers that his gas supply has run perilously low. Another, paralyzed, bobs helplessly on the surface, and when a poorly trained divemaster attempts rescue, things go from bad to worse. Two other divers, fascinated by the bountiful undersea life of the Caribbean, fail to notice that a powerful current is sweeping them rapidly away from their unattended boat.

These are just a few of the true stories you will find in Diver Down, most of them involving diver error and resulting in serious injury or death. Each of these tales is accompanied by an in-depth analysis of what went wrong and how you can recognize, avoid, and respond to similar underwater calamities. This unique survival guide explores the gamut of diving situations, including cave and wreck diving, deep-water dives, river and drift diving, decompression sickness, and much more. It shows you how to prevent tragic mishaps through:

• Inspection and maintenance of primary and secondary diving gear
• Learning and following established safety protocols
• Confirming the training and credentials of diving professionals
• Practicing emergency responses under real-world conditions

About the Author

Captain Michael R. Ange is a senior member of the Technical Training Staff for SDI & TDI (Scuba Diving International & Technical Diving International), International Training Director for Emergency Response Diving International, and contributing author and technical editor for SCUBA Diving magazine. A published writer and photojournalist, Mike has a personal training background as varied as his list of diving students which includes military personnel, law enforcement officials, and technical and recreational enthusiasts. Certified with several agencies, he holds instructor trainer ratings that include Advanced TRIMIX, Semi-Closed, Closed Circuit Rebreathers, Technical Wreck, and Cave. Additionally he’s a Certified Advanced Diver Medic with the International Board of Undersea Medicine and an USCG Licensed Master with Power, Sail and Commercial Towing endorsements.

Click to Purchase

Dr. Sam Willis delves into the origins of HMS Terror, which was inspired by the BBC series ‘The Terror,’ a chilling tale based on one of polar exploration’s deepest mysteries. The TV show was based on the Terror’s final and tragic voyage, when the ship sailed into the ice off the west coast of Greenland in 1845, under the command of Sir John Franklin and alongside another ship, HMS Erebus, in search of the Northwest Passage.

In this Mariners Mirror episode, Sam Willis talks with Ed Williams-Hawkes, a powerboat specialist, historian, and resident of Topsham, Devon, where the Terror was designed, about the fascinating history of the HMS Terror, which had a long and remarkable career.

Both ships were beset by ice, but the crews remained with the ships until April 1848, when they abandoned them. At that time, Franklin and over 24 sailors had perished. The survivors tried to walk to the Canadian mainland but disappeared and were never seen again.

The TV show is a fictional and fantastical account of what could have happened to the men; the fact is that we know very little about their fate, and it remains one of the greatest maritime mysteries of all time.

Mariner’s Mirror

The Society for Nautical Research’s journal is The Mariner’s Mirror. The Society was founded in 1910 to promote research into seafaring and shipbuilding in all ages and across all nations, as well as the language and customs of the sea and other nautical subjects. Mariner’s Mirror is recognized as the international journal of record for maritime and naval history. It is ranked by the European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH) as an INT1 journal (the highest classification), which has internationally recognized scholarly significance with high visibility and influence among researchers in the various research domains in different countries and is regularly cited all over the world.

“The Terror” originally was broadcast on AMC in 2018/2019.

“The Terror” is currently available for viewing on Prime Video.

“Some memories can’t be made on land”

Charismatic TV host Steven Bull is back for the Season Two premiere of WaterWays TV.

The show follows Steve as he explores anything and everything about the boating lifestyle, from buying a used boat and restoring it for a Toronto to NYC adventure, examining the history of boating and some of its unusual traditions, to going behind-the-scenes at some of boating’s most unique and exciting locations.

Season Two will premiere in Canada Saturday, September 23rd on Global TV and will run through to December 16th.

The 13 episode series will air on WaterWays YouTube after the cable tv broadcast.

The list of highlights for Season Two is extensive and viewers will get to join Steve on a coast-to-coast journey across Canada as explores everything boating has to offer.

Viewers will get an inside look at Canada’s various maritime cultures — from the scenic West Coast of British Columbia and its labyrinth of inland waterways, to central Canada’s massive Great Lakes cruising region, to East Coast maritime culture and its love for seafood, and even the northeast U.S. to explore New York City and sit down for an interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Episode 1 will feature Steve’s trip to Vancouver Island where he meets with the RCAF Snowbirds who practice over the waters of Comox, B.C.

Episode 2 will head all the way across the country to Nova Scotia for an attempt at tidal bore rafting on the Bay of Fundy’s massive tides. Steve also takes in the historic Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race.

Episode 3 will feature a fun sit-down interview with famous scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson in New York City where he answers viewer questions about the physics of boating.

Later in the season viewers will also get to see how Steve’s ‘Project Boat’ from Season 1 turns out when he takes the restored 30-year-old ‘pocket cruiser’ on a 750 nautical mile journey from Toronto to Montreal to New York City.

Other episodes will feature adventures in sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and various dives into local maritime culture whenever the crew hits the mainland.

“If you’re floating you’re boating and we’re there to tell the stories.”

BoatBlurb Newsletter

Many books on scuba diving have been published over the course of time, almost since the beginning of the scuba era. The Scuba News Canada will post these “nostalgia” books considered a “blast from the past” on a regular basis, and we want you, our readers, to make suggestions of “older nostalgia diving books” you have enjoyed, or believe our readers will. We will publish it and add your social media/website link to the article if you send us the proposal. Contact us.

The SS Anglo Saxon was an iron screw steamship owned by the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company that was wrecked on the Newfoundland Coast (Chance Cove) on April 27, 1863, with a large loss of life. About 300 people were thought to have perished, and some were buried on the beach nearby. The remains of those lost were reburied inland after the beach cemetery was dug up. The beach was being washed away by rising sea levels.

An Interesting But Tragic Read

“Tragic Wreck of the Anglo Saxon” available at Amazon

Applications for 2024 are open. They close November 15, 2023, except for the Undergraduate Marine Research Internship, which closes January 15, 2024.

Scholarships

• Marine Conservation Graduate Scholarships
• Sherry Reed Memorial Undergraduate Marine Conservation Scholarship
• J. Berman Memorial Grant for Sea Turtle Conservation
• Undergraduate Marine Research Internship
• Cecelia Connelly Memorial Scholarships in Underwater Archaeology

Training Grants

• Basic Dive Training Grants (learn to dive)
• Advanced Dive Training Grants (for Certified Divers): Recreational Diving
• Advanced Dive Training Grants (for Certified Divers): Professional Diving
• Advanced Dive Training Grants (for Certified Divers): Scientific Diving
• Advanced Dive Training Grants (for Certified Divers): Technical Diving
• Amelia Behrens-Furniss Memorial Hardhat Dive Training Grant
• Advanced Dive Training Grants (for Certified Divers): Photography
• Dive Training Grant for Sea Scouts, Sea Cadets, ROTC, JROTC, military academy students
• Instructor Advanced Education Training Grant
• Diver Medical Education Grant – UK and Europe areas
• Diver Medical Education Grants – USA or Canada

About the Women Diver Hall of Fame (WDHOF)

Recognizing the contributions of women pioneers, leaders and innovators in the many fields of diving. Promoting careers & opportunities for women in the dive community.

WDHOF is a nonprofit tax-exempt 501C(3) volunteer driven organization.

Apply for a Scholarship or Grant

Sean McMullen (Saltwater Sean) and The Scuba News Canada are happy to announce that the short environmental documentary “Saltwater Souvenirs,” which was produced last year, won the Best Environmental Short Documentary prize at the Sugar Loaf Film Festival in New York earlier this year.

Sean McMullen will visit New York to attend the festival and see the short film’s premiere along with director Sean MacDougall.

Learn more at The Scuba News Canada: Saltwater Souvenirs – Upcoming Documentary

Treasure hunter, free diver, and explorer Sean McMullen is on a quest to discover what lies beneath Nova Scotia’s waters. Sean resides in Chester, Nova Scotia.

The Scuba News Canada is pleased to have presented many of Sean’s videos and his underwater finds.

Many books on scuba diving/Canada’s history have been published over the course of time, almost since the beginning of time. The Scuba News Canada will post these “nostalgia” books considered a “blast from the past” on a regular basis, and we want you, our readers, to make suggestions of “older nostalgia diving/history books” you have enjoyed, or believe our readers will. We will publish it and add your social media/website link to the article if you send us the proposal. Contact us.

Evelyn M. Richardson writes in We Keep A Light (published 1945) about how she and her husband acquired the tiny Bon Portage Island and created a happy home there for themselves and their three children. The Richardsons shared the duties and pleasures of island life on a remote lighthouse station off the southern tip of Nova Scotia, from carrying water and gathering firewood to making preserves and doing homework at home. The close-knit family enjoyed the variety and beauty of island life and didn’t mind their isolation.

A memoir, We Keep A Light is much more than that. It is a beautifully written, captivating account of family life set against a glowing lighthouse, Nova Scotia’s enduring shores, and the constantly shifting sea.

“We Keep a Light” Available at Amazon

Acclaimed for her courage and voracious curiosity as she pursues discoveries in the most arduous water landscapes in the world, Jill Heinerth is receiving her first honorary doctorate, from Victoria University in the University of Toronto. She will be honoured for her role as a deep-sea diver, explorer, scientist, author, teacher, photographer, filmmaker, documentarian and environmental advocate with a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. Chancellor Nick Saul, renowned food and social justice activist, will confer the degree on Oct. 11, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the Isabel Bader Theatre on Victoria University’s campus, as part of Charter Day celebrations, marking the anniversary of the University’s founding in 1836.  

“More people have been to the moon than to places that Jill Heinerth has explored deep inside our watery planet. A world-class technical diver and filmmaker, Jill’s extraordinary path from under Antarctic icebergs to tropical blue holes is proof that real life is far more exciting than fiction.” —James Cameron, Academy Award-winning director. 

As one of the world’s most respected explorers, cave divers, polar explorers and scientists, Jill Heinerth has discovered and surveyed some of the most remote water-filled cave systems on the planet, illuminating and advancing our understanding of the planet’s inner workings. Her contributions to public education about the environment and climate change through her books (bestseller and critically acclaimed Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver), television and radio series (CBC, BBC, NPR, A&E, PBS), podcasts, photography and art exhibits, and public speaking engagements inspire awe and have earned her many prestigious awards including being named the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s first Explorer-in-Residence in 2016. She is the inaugural recipient of the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration, was awarded the Canadian Polar Medal and has been named to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. 

“On the farthest fringe of adventure is a world unseen, a place with the merest hint of light, short breaths of air, abundant danger and one extraordinary woman, Jill Heinerth.” —Sports Illustrated Women

Ms. Heinerth has been a speaker in Vic One, Victoria College’s acclaimed first-year program, her stories leaving attendees in awe. By speaking honestly about risk and fear, she related her personal experiences to the daily lives of Victoria College students and their long-range aspirations, inspiring them to be their calmest, most curious and most disciplined selves.  

“At Victoria University, we are committed to helping our students explore big ideas and landscapes so that they can envision their roles in shaping our world in meaningful ways. Jill Heinerth exemplifies someone who, through deep exploration and determination, is helping us all understand our relationship with our wonderous planet, and we are so pleased to celebrate her remarkable achievements,” said Dr. Rhonda N. McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.    

To learn more about Jill Heinerth, visit her website

About Victoria University in The University of Toronto

Victoria University, federated with The University of Toronto, was founded in 1836 and is one of the oldest universities in Canada. As a recognized leader in undergraduate education in the arts and sciences and in graduate education in theology, Victoria University creates an environment where students discover how to match their distinctive talents to some of the world’s most pressing issues. It is home to two outstanding colleges. Victoria College—with its small class sizes, its distinctive first-year programs and its exceptional students—is recognized as one of the most rewarding places in Canada to pursue an undergraduate education. Emmanuel College prepares students from many faiths and backgrounds for leadership roles in religious contexts. The iconic campus is located on the east side of Queen’s Park, south of Bloor Street, in Toronto.

Learn more at: Victoria University @ University of Toronto

Facing the fury and danger of Lake Michigan.

Written by Michael Passwater.

Lake Michigan has been the site of thousands of shipwreck rescues and tragedies since French explorers first laid eyes on it. As mishaps and disasters became more common, a dedicated service of lifesavers emerged. These brave servicemen saved those on board the merchant schooner Havanna from certain death. The daring St. Joseph Lifesavers rescued the City of Duluth’s crew and passengers. Unfortunately, not all rescues result in heroism, as was the case with the doomed Arab, which went down with two other ships.

“The book is well-researched and gives in-depth accounts of twelve of Lake Michigan’s most dramatic shipwreck rescues. The author has selected some exciting and tragic lesser known stories that deserved to be revisited. All twelve wrecks involved US Life Saving Service crews and the accounts tell their stories as well as those of the shipwrecks.

Each chapter has its own detailed bibliography and the author has done a great deal of original research in the archival news accounts as well as USLSS annual reports.“

Brendon Baillod From Facebook

Historic Shipwrecks and Rescues on Lake Michigan is available on Amazon.

A new company dubbed Floating Motors is turning classic car designs into luxury motorboats. The company calls their stylistic method ‘resto floating,’ as opposed to the typical car terminology of ‘resto mod,’ and honestly we’re here for it.

Some of their designs include the classic Porsche 550 Spyder, the Jaguar E-Type, the original Fiat 500 and Mini, the Dodge Charger, the Mercedes-Benz SLS, and the Volkswagen Microbus. The VW is likely to appeal to boaters the most with its cruiser-style layout including a full top deck and a rear hatch. The idea is, according to the company, to “deliver a unique and original water vehicle, respecting the original spirit of the vehicle.”

Floating Motors is joint venture between Italian boat-maker Jet Capsule, who make ultramodern pod-style water taxis, and Lazzarini Design Studio and hasn’t yet produced any boats beyond digital renderings, but that can all change with your investment or donation. The company is actively looking for donations as low as US $1000 (which will get you a $5000 discount off a boat once they’re in production), up to US $35,000 investment to become a “full partner” in the business. Investors with full partner status will also receive one of the La Dolce models, which resembles the Fiat 500, once production has begun.

The hulls are made with respect to the size and dimension of the cars they mimic and range in length from 9.8 feet (presumably for the Mini) up to 24.6 feet. Depending on the model and size, the boats will be offered with either a Torqeedo electric engine or Mercruiser outboard configurations ranging from 40-240 horsepower. The La Dolce/Fiat 500 model is their entry level model and comes in at 12’6″ (3.8 m) with a 6′ beam (1.6 m), a 40 hp electric outboard, and seating for two passengers. ​

One of the more intriguing features about the designs (aside from the fact you can get one dressed up as the General Lee), is they can be configured in one of three ways: as a classic boat hull, at a twin-hull catamaran, or as a hydrofoil. The LaFoil design comes with a 70 hp electric pod engine and a starting price of US $60,000.

The applications for the boats are nearly as limitless as they are fun. Aside from the appeal to classic car enthusiasts or even recreational boaters looking for something unique, the boats could also serve as a tender, water taxi, or commercial shuttle.

BoatBlurb Newsletter

The Shark Trust and Blue Planet aquarium teams have been busy installing the Oceanic 31 shark art exhibition which will open to the public on Saturday 26th August and will run until Sunday 1st October 2023.

The Shark Trust has brought together a group of artists who are passionate about sharks, conservation, and using art as a tool for positive change. Each of the 31 paintings, drawings, sculptures and digital media represents a species of shark or ray that lives in the open ocean.

Why 31?

2021 saw a review of the status of 31 oceanic shark and ray species. Of the 31 species reviewed, 24 are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List. Some of these species are famous – like the Great White or Whale Shark. But others, like the Pygmy Longhorned Devil Ray – aren’t quite so well known. Featuring all 31 in this exhibition is a great way to showcase just how varied and amazing oceanic sharks and rays are.

Why Oceanic?

Oceanic means relating to the high seas or open ocean. The species featured within Oceanic 31 all spend a large amount of time during their life here. These are the international waters beyond country borders, outside of normal jurisdiction and, crucially, at heightened risk from overexploitation due to a lack of agreed management and/or enforcement of regulation.

What can you do?

The Big Shark Pledge is at the heart of an ambitious campaign. By signing the petition, you can be part one of the biggest campaigning communities in the history of shark conservation. To put pressure on governments and fisheries. And make the positive changes required to safeguard these awesome sharks and rays.

Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition gives us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. “

Unable to attend in person? The Shark Trust has created a 360° virtual exhibition. No matter where you are in the world, you can experience this awe-inspiring artwork.

Limited edition prints of some of the artwork are available to buy. If you want the chance to bid for an original artwork you can register your interest to attend the final auction. All profits will go towards the Shark Trust Big Shark Pledge campaign, working to protect the magnificent sharks and rays that swim in the high seas.

To find out more visit: https://www.sharktrust.org/oceanic31

In the early morning hours of New Year’s Eve 1862, the Civil War Ironclad, USS Monitor, sank beneath the ocean waves during a terrible storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. That morning, 16 men went down with the ship, and although numerous people searched for it for over a century, the Monitor’s final resting location remained a mystery until 1973.

Join John Broadwater, president and founder of Spritsail Enterprises and former superintendent at Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, to learn about the search for the USS Monitor. Discover why the shipwreck was difficult to locate and learn about the expeditions to find it. Go back in time to August of 1973, when John G. Newton led a team of scientists in search of the elusive shipwreck. Learn why it continued to be difficult to identify once they thought they found it and what finally convinced the team it was indeed the USS Monitor.

This webinar is one of the first in our 50th anniversary celebrations of USS Monitor. Stay tuned for more, as we commemorate the confirmation of the location of Monitorin 1974 and the shipwreck becoming our nation’s first national marine sanctuary in 1975.

August 31, 2023

7am Hawaii / 10 am Pacific / 12 pm Central / 1 pm Eastern

Learn more and register at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4906494106359444822

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) new 200 Voices podcast launches on Friday 18 August 2023 and, in the run-up to the charity’s bicentenary on 4 March 2024, an episode will be released every day for 200 days, exploring captivating stories from the charity’s history, through to the current day. 

The charity has been saving lives at sea since it was founded in 1824 and, in that time, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 144,000 lives. Funded by voluntary donations, and with lifeboats crewed by specially-trained volunteers, the RNLI is a truly unique rescue organisation with a remarkable 200-year story to tell – many highlights of which are shared through the podcast series. 

Available across all podcast platforms and the RNLI’s website, listeners can hear from survivors, supporters, volunteers, lifeguards, celebrity ambassadors, historians and many more from across the UK and Ireland – and beyond.  

The series will hear from celebrity ambassadors such as The Sixth Commandment actor Timothy Spall, Gavin and Stacey actress Ruth Jones, Irish musician Phil Coulter, gold medal Olympian Sir Ben Ainslie and BAFTA-winning actress Joanna Scanlan who is supporting the RNLI’s Omaze campaign. 

The unique podcast series will also hear from people whose lives have been touched by the lifesaving charity, including Milena Smith, whose daughter Mabel was rescued by Barmouth lifeboat volunteers; Radio Caroline DJ, Nick Richards, who stuck with the pirate radio ship until its last moments and Niamh Fitzpatrick, whose sister Dara tragically lost her life in the 2017 Irish Coast Guard Rescue helicopter 116 crash.  

RNLI Strategic Content Manager, Rory Stamp said: ‘We knew we had to do something really special to mark the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, which is such a monumental milestone.   

‘200 Voices is an incredible collection of stories that are emotive, powerful, inspiring and heart-warming. The series gives us a chance to hear from a whole variety of amazing people who have played a part in or been touched by our lifesaving charity. 

‘200 Voices is the first in a programme of activity planned to mark the RNLI’s bicentenary as we celebrate the world-class lifesaving service we provide today, remember our remarkable history and aim to inspire the future generations of lifesavers and supporters as we move through into the next 200 years.’ 

Launch into a podcast like no other: Listen to the RNLI’s 200 Voices daily, launching on Friday 18 August, wherever you get your podcasts or at RNLI.org/200Voices. 

To find out more about the RNLI’s bicentenary, visit RNLI.org/200

The Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium is a catch-and-release seasonal public aquarium located just 15 minutes outside of St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Hands-on touch tank exhibits, live animal displays, one-on-one science interpretation, daily programs, school and group visits, and so much more engage people of all ages.

Get Your Hands Wet

Come to the Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium, located in the picturesque community of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, to touch and feel all of the amazing creatures that live just beneath the surface. Perfect for the young and young at heart – no squidding.

Fostering Curiosity of Marine Life

Get a hands-on learning experience with enthusiastic staff. In an 800-square-foot facility within a retired fish processing plant, touch tanks and thirty beautiful exhibits showcase the creatures.

Catch and Release

The best part about the Mini Aquarium is that the animals are returned to the ocean from which they were collected. As you assist us in returning the animals to the sea, bid a fond farewell to our marine friends. It’s the ideal way to cap off another season of aquatic awesomeness.

35 Southside Rd. Petty Harbour, Newfoundland (15 minutes south of St. John’s).

General Admission

$9.00 – Adults

$7.50 – Students and Seniors

$6.00 – Youth Ages 3 to 17

Under 3 Years of Age FREE

$25.00 – Family Pass (2 Adults | Up to 3 Youth)

(Plus HST)

10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily

June 3rd to September 4th, 2023

Contact Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium

Please note, this is a pre-order. This title will be released on November 14, 2023. Discover the extraordinary history and thrilling frontiers of exploration with this gorgeously illustrated guide from The Explorers Club, the esteemed home of the world’s most prominent explorers.

The discovery of the North and South Poles. The summiting of Everest. The moon landing. The (largely unknown) birth of climate change science. These are just some of the stories from The Explorers Club, the organization that, since its inception in 1904, has pushed the envelope of human curiosity.

This guided tour of The Club’s most riveting journeys includes hundreds of photos and fascinating anecdotes about The Club’s distinguished members, including Teddy Roosevelt, Neil Armstrong, and Jane Goodall. From the darkest depths of the ocean to the highest points on Earth and to outer space and beyond, this book shares not just the inspirational history of modern exploration, but also reveals how it has evolved and continues to be relevant—even urgent—today.

Publisher: ‎Ten Speed Press (November 14, 2023)
Language: ‎English
Hardcover‏: ‎304 pages

Learn more at: https://store.explorers.org/products/the-explorers-club-a-visual-journey-through-the-past-present-and-future-of-exploration

Sarnia, Ontario’s waterfront has the Bluewater Bridge, connecting Sarnia, Ontario to Port Huron Michigan, a walking path, benches and of course the french fry truck. This is a popular place for locals and visitors to sit, watch and enjoy the freighters leaving Lake Huron and passing under the bridge on their journeys south, usually with a full cargo. Common cargoes carried on lake freighters are taconite, limestone, grain, salt, coal, cement, gypsum, sand, slag, and potash. Because of the ease of transport, some of their cargo supplies the auto industry’s steel mills, which are centred on the Great Lakes.

About Rocky the Snake

Wendy Marsden, a Sarnia retiree who, with her partner, placed 13 painted stones and a hand-written sign next to a sidewalk overlooking the St. Clair River at the Rotary Flag Plaza, near the Blue Water Bridge, in mid-June. What began with 13 painted rocks has now grown to over 3,000 (as of this article) and is still growing. Wendy, was inspired by a video she saw online for this project.

Volunteers from the Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton recently set up a table with art supplies, thanks to funding from Bluewater Power, so kids could paint stones to add to Rocky.

Some rocks are artistic impressions, messages and even a proposal.

The City of Sarnia has not inferred with Rocky, as he continues to grow. Rocky makes no hiss or slither, just a line of colourful rocks for people to enjoy.

TikTok Video: Christy Bartts

Call For Applicants for the 2023 Zale Parry Scholarship.

The Academy of Underwater Arts and Science is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Zale Parry Scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program, Masters or PhD at the time of application. Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2023.

The award will be presented at the 62nd Annual NOGI Awards Banquet on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at the Marriott Hotel, 555 Canal Street in New Orleans (during this year’s DEMA Show).

About Zale Perry

Parry began diving as a young girl in the 1940s. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1933 and raised on a Wisconsin lake, where she learned to swim and fell in love with the water at a young age. While working for the Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, California, as a young woman, she became involved in pioneering diving and scientific work for Sports Illustrated magazine. She began working as an underwater equipment tester for Scientific Underwater Research Enterprises in 1953. Later, she and her partner (an aeronautical and aquatic engineer named Parry Bivens) designed, built, and marketed the first civilian hyperbaric chamber for divers. They were crusaders for the purchase of hyperbaric chambers all over the world to provide lifesaving facilities for divers suffering from “the bends.”

Parry set a women’s depth record of 209 feet in 1954. When she reached the bottom, she is said to have come to a halt at 209 feet.

Parry’s background extends beyond diving and acting. She is a skilled photographer and writer. She has used her organizational skills to bring underwater photography to the public’s attention. Parry co-founded the International Underwater Film Festival in 1957, which lasted 17 years. She was the first woman elected president of the U/W Photographic Society in 1960.

Parry received the NOGI Award for Distinguished Service, the DEMA Reaching Out Award, the Scuba Diver of the Year Award from the Women’s Scuba Association, and the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Education Award. The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences named Parry a “Lifetime Ambassador at Large” in 2001.

Zale Perry Scholarship Application

Shark Week is back starting Sunday, July 23rd on Discovery.

Discovery’s most-anticipated event of the year, SHARK WEEK, returns for its 34th edition with more shock, more jaw, and more “Vitamin Sea” than ever before. Jason Momoa hosts Shark Week 2023.

Learn more at: https://www.discovery.com/shark-week/schedule

Seaway Queens focuses on the design and beauty of the most celebrated Lakes vessels built between 1950 and 1969 on the American and Canadian sides of the Great Lakes, when form and function were not mutually exclusive. The book includes first-person accounts and interviews with some of the vessels’ and industry’s builders and shapers. It also provides a brief overview of the modern era, in which technology and innovation ensure that the freshwater fleet continues to play an important role in society.

Jim McRae’s book covers the history of shipping from its beginnings to the present day, with ten themed chapters covering major changes and developments in areas such as technology, fleet renewal, and the environment.

ABOUT SEAWAY QUEENS

The Style & Grace of Legendary Lakers
Jim McRae

FOREWORD   Joseph P. Fischer
DESIGN Salma Belhaffaf

Published by Griffintown Media
© Copyright 2022

PUBLISHING DATE   Fall 2022

Hardcover | 10.75″ x 9.6″ | 144 pages 

$44.95 CAD

In The Tales of Scuba Steve: Isfjell Point, once again we find Ben and his friends excited to get the camp day started. Unfortunately for Oliver, he finds himself on thin ice with Mr. Stu and his day will not begin as expected.

Oliver, along with Ben, Danielle, Ava and Al quickly head to swim eager to see where Scuba Steve is taking them and what kind of adventure he has planned for the day. With the usual razzle-dazzle they end up in a place unlike anywhere they have seen. Or felt! Getting out of the water, everyone noticed the same thing. It was cold. Very cold. They find themselves experiencing unique phenomena, meeting new animal friends and witnessing a global problem.

Dive right in and join the adventure!

Where To Buy

The Tales of Scuba Steve is available everywhere books are sold including Amazon and Barnes & Noble

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, The Scuba News may earn a small commission, but this does not affect the price you pay. Any prices included are correct at time of publication.

This is a beautifully illustrated, expanded and updated edition of the Diving & Snorkeling Guide to Raja Ampat & Northeast Indonesia.

Exploring among these islands at the edge of the Pacific Ocean is a life affirming, bucket-list-topping experience. The waters in this part of the Coral Triangle are abundantly rich in marine life and are proving to be the gift for underwater adventurers that keeps on giving.

Raja Ampat is the superstar destination, but other areas such as Cenderawasih Bay, Triton Bay and Southwest Halmahera are shining brightly too and acquiring similarly mythical status.

This detailed and informative guide is the first to cover all of these incredible places! It tells and shows you what to expect from this remote, fascinating and often downright astonishing part of the world. It will help you plan your trip, enhance your experience when you get there and provide you with the best possible souvenir of your visit.

And once you have been there, it will whet your appetite for adventures ahead – because you WILL be back!

The Diving & Snorkeling Guide to Raja Ampat & Northeast Indonesia 2019 includes:

• Over 100 Dive & Snorkel Sites
• 240 color images
• Travel advice
• Dive safety tips
• Topside attractions
• Diving terms in Indonesian

Chris Mitchell from www.divehappy.com says “A wonderfully thorough but concise guide that helps you quickly get a grip on exactly where all the best fishy action is located, both before the trip and while you’re out on the ocean, Don’t dive Indo without it!”

Available in Kindle and Paperback Editions

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All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, The Scuba News may earn a small commission, but this does not affect the price you pay. Any prices included are correct at time of publication.

A comprehensive work on the design function operation science and history of the Scuba Diving Regulator. Become skilled in proper preventative care, learn money saving secrets and knowledge most divers will never know.

Available as Kindle and Paperback Editions

“Music is an incredible tool for storytelling,” said Events and Development Manager Anya Zanko, “these songs interpret our collection at the Museum, and give us a chance to all sing together as a community. When the event is over, you can keep on singing at home.

“Song books will be available as a free souvenir for attendees,” said Zanko, “We really want folks to sing their hearts out!”

The Auditorium at St. Ann’s Academy has some accessibility features. Entrances and exits are on street level; aisles accommodate wheelchairs and power chairs, and there is a single-stall washroom on the same level. St. Ann’s Academy has only paid parking, but there is extensive street parking in the surrounding area.

There will be reserved spaces available for wheelchair users and for other accessibility needs near the stage—please contact Anya at azanko@mmbc.bc.ca to reserve these spots.

Details

• General Admission: $21
• Youth Admission (under 25): $15
• Date: Wednesday, June 28th, 2023.
• Time: Doors open 6:00 PM; event from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
• Location: Auditorium at St. Ann’s Academy, 835 Humboldt Street Victoria, BC V8V 4W8

This is an all-ages event. There will be beer, cider, and non-alcoholic beer and pop available for purchase. Please bring two pieces of photo ID if you plan to consume alcohol.

Tickets are available now at: www.mmbc.bc.ca/salty-singalong

From the Hellenistic and Roman eras to the Second World War and modern times, exciting historical events have left their traces on the bottom of the Adriatic Sea. 

You must be interested in how the French destroyer Dague sank near the port of Bar. Make a dive and check what the wreckage looks like now. See the deck of the steamer Tihany, the most beautiful Montenegrin shipwreck. What is left of Golešnica 91, which participated in all the wars of the 20th century? Take a dive on the German Stuka plane, the sound of which was blood-curdling. Explore the ancient shipwreck near Scedro in Croatia. Visit the archaeological research of the Deslo site in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Explore the most interesting underwater cultural attractions of Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on your mobile device with the help of WRECKS4ALL application. Use its Augmented Reality (AR) plugin to fill your space with underwater cultural heritage sites, and place a shipwreck in your living room.

You can download the WRECKS4ALL application from:

Android devices: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cl.yoy.divingm.twa

Apple, IOS devices: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wrecks4all/id1670177947

The Maritime Faculty of the Kotor University of Montenegro, the Center for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship developed and led the implementation of the project entitled: “Protection of underwater heritage through digitization and valorization as a novel tourist offer” – WRECKS4ALL. The project was approved for financing by the Joint Supervisory Board of the second call Interreg IPA cross-border cooperation program Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2014-2020.

As part of the project, virtual reality showrooms were opened in Kotor, Mostar and Split. Another public outreach result is an application for mobile devices that allows visiting the sites of the underwater cultural heritage of the Adriatic region.

Strap in for the global escapades of a scuba diving fanatic who swapped the streets of Wales for some of the most exotic locations on the planet. The diving bug took hold while backpacking through Australia and South East Asia. The journey continued into South and Central America, ending on a small island off Honduras. While there joined a tribe of scuba professionals, who survived on rum and baledas while earning $10 a day. Over the next ten years the world then opened up, working in resorts and liveaboards in The Maldives, Palau and the Philippines. Enjoy breathtaking marine encounters with killer whales, whale sharks, manta rays and bull sharks. From lion fish stings, grouper attacks and diving through earthquakes, this book will make you want to quit your job tomorrow and become a dive professional.

Available in Paperback, Kindle and Audiobook Formats

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, The Scuba News may earn a small commission, but this does not affect the price you pay. Any prices included are correct at time of publication.

The earth’s oceans hold many wondrous surprises―be they the small, colorful “critters” off the coast of Papua New Guinea, opportunistic red demon squids in the Sea of Cortes, or naval wrecks in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll.

In Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die Chris Santella has invited diving experts from around the world to share some of their favorite destinations, so ardent divers can experience these underwater wonders for themselves―either on location in their SCUBA gear, or at home in their armchair. 

The fifth in Santella’s bestselling “Fifty Places” series, the book takes divers from hot-spot destinations like Raja Ampat (off the coast of West Guinea) to old Caribbean favorites like Grand Cayman Isles. Readers will swim among whale sharks off Myanmar, befriend wolf eels off the coast of Maine, and marvel at the giant mola mola of Lembognan, Indonesia.

These wonderful creatures―plus the brilliant coral reefs that often provide their backdrop―are captured in 40 gorgeous color photos from the world’s greatest underwater photographers. And for readers who want to travel to these breathtaking locales, Santella provides complete “If You Go” suggestions to help you plan your trip.

Available in Hardcover and Kindle Editions

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, The Scuba News may earn a small commission, but this does not affect the price you pay. Any prices included are correct at time of publication.

This is a guide to the best scuba diving sites of the Big Island, a do-it-yourself manual for vacation planners with a tilt for adventure. Dive sites descriptions include directions, entrance and options to plan your dive. Typical marine habitats and species of fish and animals you’ll see are also described and shown on more than 170 photographs. This second edition also mentions other outdoor activities for every site described herein.

Available as Paperback and Kindle Editions

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, The Scuba News may earn a small commission, but this does not affect the price you pay. Any prices included are correct at time of publication.

A non-fiction exploring some of Northern Canada’s greatest forgotten mysteries- the stories and legends surrounding the watershed of the South Nahanni River.

Deep in the heart of the Canadian North lies a mysterious valley shrouded in legend. Lured by tales of lost gold, prospectors who enter it tend to lose their heads or vanish without a trace. Some say that the valley is cursed- haunted by an evil spirit whose wailings echo in the canyons. Others claim that it is home to monsters- relics of its prehistoric past. What secrets could the valley be hiding? What mysteries lie buried beneath its misty shroud?

Available as Paperback and Audiobook

Nearly every boater dreams of turning their part time hobby into a full time lifestyle. Living aboard is the end goal for many, like those who embark on the arduous Great Loop, or those who invariably decide that life on the high seas is preferable to life on solid ground. For Toronto resident Stuart Galloway, ditching the urban jungle wasn’t totally realistic, but living onboard was a definite possibility provided he made a few tweaks to the typical accommodations.

According to Galloway, five years ago he decided to follow a childhood dream and live aboard a boat full time. The problem, however, was finding a way to stay in the city. His compromise came in the form of a refurbished 1920’s ferry called the Norvic 1. After making the purchase, he set about living his new lifestyle paying mooring fees instead of property taxes. The history of the boat is interesting enough, as it had shuttled passengers across the Ottawa river from Quebec to Ontario beginning in 1922. The name of the vessel comes from both its original home port of Norway Bay in Bristol, Quebec and from the original builders Vicker’s Marine in Montreal. With a length of seventy two feet and a beam of twenty two feet, the solid steel single diesel engine ship had a distinctive bow and stern shape and was originally designed to carry eight vehicles and their passengers across the Ottawa river. The boat was decommissioned from ferry use and sold to Canadian real estate executive William Teron in 1989 who converted it to a luxury yacht. It was resold again in the early 2000s and traveled through several owners before landing in Galloway’s eager hands.

When he took ownership the boat had no plumbing, no electricity, and no bathroom. In the five years since, he has made it fully functional home with a bedroom, bathroom, a rooftop deck, and a fireplace as the primary heat source during Toronto’s frosty winters. Shore power provides the necessary voltage to run the boat’s internal systems, and he’s in the midst of adding a second bedroom and bathroom. He didn’t reveal the total cost of the endeavor, but given real estate values in the city suffice to say it’s significantly cheaper than buying a condo. Once complete, the Norvic 1 will boast a plush 1700 square feet of living space nestled just a block from the Roger’s Centre and the CN Tower.

According to Galloway, the lifestyle certainly has its perks, but he wouldn’t recommend following in his footsteps. “I would say it’s the best decision ever made. I’d also recommend not to do it, because I don’t want too many neighbours” (laughs).

BoatBlurb Newsletter

The Maritime Museum of BC, with support from the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, and the City of Victoria Festival Investment Grant, will be hosting the 44^th Annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival this Labour Day Weekend, from September 1^st – 3^rd.

Registration for Boaters

The Maritime Museum of BC is excited to be able to welcome boaters back for the 2023 Victoria Classic Boat Festival. Registration is open to vessels of Classic design and Traditional construction. Unique vessels of maritime interest are considered by invitation only. Contact info@mmbc.bc.ca for more information.

To register for the festival boaters can visit the festival’s webpage or our online form.

2023 Registration Costs

Up to 19’  – $165.00
20’ – 30’  – $220.00
31’ – 45’ – $253.00
46’ – 59’ – $286.00
60’ – 80’ – $308.00
Beyond 80’ – $330.00

Cost includes four nights moorage and two complimentary tickets to the Friday evening Welcome Reception.

About the Victoria Classic Boat Festival

The Victoria Classic Boat Festival is a spectacular annual gathering of vessels of a Classic design, both new and old, power and sail.  Vessels attend from all over the Pacific Northwest, with the occasional visiting vessel from distant oceans. Each year during the Labour Day Weekend, approximately 10,000 visitors tour the docks and the boats on display. The public is invited to view the boats while they are moored at the Inner Harbour docks. Many owners generously offer tours of their boats. 

William Noon, Festival Chair, noted that “the Pacific Northwest is blessed with an enormous number of traditional boats – from sailboats, to workboats, to cruisers. The Festival began in 1977 with the idea that our maritime heritage must not only be preserved, but also celebrated. The Festival’s open docks, events, and activities serve to engage our community and visitors on our maritime history, culture, and its ongoing story. ”

As in previous years, these classic boats will participate in a “sail past” and race on Sunday, September 4. The modern day “sail past” tradition began at the first yacht club that was formed in England nearly 200 years ago. It was first introduced as a continuation of the naval habit of having Admirals and Royalty review the fleet on special occasions. The Festival’s tradition is similar, however, the Honourary Commodore instead of the Admiral receives the salute. Spectators can head out to watch the parade of ships and races from Victoria Waterfront on Sunday afternoon.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The Maritime Museum of BC is delighted to announce the Abernethy & Gaudin Boatbuilders Ltd. Young Boaters Scholarship and the Maritime Museum of BC Boat Bursary to help improve access to the Festival.

Both will cover registration and four days of moorage at the Festival, two tickets to the Friday night opening reception and two tickets to the Awards Banquet on Sunday.

Maritime Museum of BC Executive Director Brittany Vis said, “we want the next generation of young boaters to join the Festival and continue this nearly 45-year tradition in the Inner Harbour. Providing this support will ensure the Victoria Classic Boat Festival continues for the next 45 years.”

Boaters under 30 are invited to apply to the Young Boaters Scholarship; the Boat Bursary is open to all. Applications are due by May 10, 2023, and will be reviewed by the VCBF Committee. Only one scholarship and one bursary will be awarded per year. Previous holders of both may apply again, but not in consecutive years.

Apply here.

Learn more at: http://mmbc.bc.ca/news-and-events/classic-boat-festival/

A nonfiction exploration of some of Northern Canada’s greatest forgotten mysteries: the stories and legends surrounding the South Nahanni River’s watershed.

A mysterious valley shrouded in legend lies deep in the Canadian North. Prospectors drawn in by stories of lost gold tend to lose their heads or vanish without a trace. Some say the valley is cursed, that it is haunted by an evil spirit whose wailings echo through the canyons. Others believe it is inhabited by monsters, relics of its prehistoric past. What secrets might the valley be concealing? What secrets are hidden beneath its misty shroud?

Prospectors arrived in the area for the first time during the Cassiar gold rush in the 1870s. The MacLeod brothers were famously discovered dead along the Nahanni in 1906 after allegedly staking a lucrative claim along the Flat River. Later, two prospectors arrived in the South Nahanni from the Yukon by ascending the Ross River, crossing the divide to a Nahanni source, and descending the river in search of the lost claim. One died mysteriously and was discovered years later by his partner. Several more prospectors and trappers disappeared or were found dead along the Nahanni and its tributaries over the next few decades, sparking rumours and giving the river a reputation for being extremely dangerous.

Available at Amazon

In Ross Kemp: Deep Sea Treasure Hunter our host travels further around the world to dive even deeper on shipwrecks of major historical importance. The new series follows Ross as he explores the remnants of some of the most significant moments in British history, including the site of one of the most famous shipwrecks ever discovered, the Mary Rose to mark the 40th anniversary that the ship was raised. Ross and his team also dive on the wreckage of D-Day abandoned in the English Channel, wrecks off the Cornish coast, and as far afield as the Red Sea in search of Britain’s Imperial past. On his journey, Ross is once again joined by marine archaeologist Mallory Haas and legendary dive master Neil Brock along with tank expert and safety diver Mark Culwick joining the team with a host of new historians and maritime experts.

Learn more at The History Channel: https://www.history.co.uk/shows/ross-kemp-deep-sea-treasure-hunter

Anna Garrity was one of the first female lighthouse keepers on the Great Lakes. Anna was born on March 29, 1872, at the New Presque Isle Lighthouse, to Irish immigrants Patrick Garrity and Mary Chambers.

The New Presque Isle Light was built in 1870 on the namesake peninsula in Presque Isle, Michigan, east of Grand Lake. It is one of 149 lighthouses in Michigan, more than any other state. Because of changing shoreline particularly, or alternatively deterioration of the original building, it is not uncommon for a replacement lighthouse to be placed in the vicinity of an earlier light, in this case, the Old Presque Isle Light.

Patrick Garraty was selected by Abraham Lincoln as fourth keeper of the old lighthouse and also instated as first keeper of the new lighthouse. His wife Mary was appointed by Patrick as assistant keeper which was extremely rare for the times. Of course, wives would help their husbands, but very seldom did they hold a paying position.

The lighthouse keeper’s duty was never-ending. The station was expected to remain neat and orderly, and the lens required a daily cleaning, every two months a wash, and yearly a special polish. Wicks needed to be trimmed daily. Light towers were expected to remain in top shape, and this required sweeping, snow shoveling, and other care. This was to be done before 10 am, in preparation for that night’s use. Additionally, many lightkeepers also maintained a garden on the property which would sustain them with enough fresh vegetables when tenders would not come.

Anna Garrity was the youngest of the Garrity children, with six older siblings. The children, who lived after childhood, grew up learning daily lighthouse keeping duties, and four out of the six continued to pursue careers in lighthouse keeping just as their parents did.

Anna became the keeper of the Presque Isle Harbor Range Lighthouses in 1903 at the age of 31 and served until her death on May 21, 1937, at the age of 65. She walked the often-slippery boards leading to the Front Range Light twice a day. Every day, she turned on the light at dusk and turned it off at dawn. She managed the lighthouse keeper job by herself, but did have assistance from her niece that stayed with her in the summers.

In recognition of Anna’s service as a lighthouse keeper, a 400-pound high carbon steel statue of her stands on Range Light Beach in Presque Isle, overlooking the harbour. Her statue serves as a symbol for all of the women who have dedicated their lives to the Great Lakes Coast Line. Dawn Barr, a sculptor from Cheboygan, created the statue.

More than 50 women served as lighthouse keepers in Michigan over the course of time.

Stuck for ideas on what to do over the Easter Holidays? Want to get outside and do something fun to work off all that chocolate? Want to get closer to nature? The Shark Trust has an Easter Egg Hunt with a difference for you to try. Take part in the Great Eggcase Hunt and get involved with a big citizen science project that helps shark and skate conservation.

2023 marks the 20th anniversary since the Great Eggcase Hunt began. To celebrate this monumental milestone, the Shark Trust has launched a new app that features the Great Eggcase Hunt along with four other citizen science projects to take part in. Through these projects, anyone with an interest in sharks, skates and rays can contribute to valuable research by submitting your eggcase finds or shark sightings – while unlocking collectable shark cards as you build your logbook of finds.

Senior Conservation Officer Cat Gordon says “We’re really excited to be celebrating the Great Eggcase Hunt’s 20th anniversary this year! The project has evolved so much since it first began back in 2003. We’re now well on our way to receiving half a million eggcase records!”

New finds from around the world are regularly being added to an ever-growing database. The project now has an impressive 440,000 eggcases recorded from a total of 49 species documented from 30 countries.

Cat goes on to add “One eggcase find may not seem that significant on its own, but when all of this information is brought together it can help us better understand species presence and diversity. It’s also a great way to get involved in shark conservation, and of course, it’s fun – and not to mention competitive!”

Last year saw over 51,600 eggcases recorded in total, and 2023 has got off to a flying start with 22,400 eggcases already recorded since January! It looks set to be a bumper year. During last year’s two-week Easter holidays, we had 7,560 eggcases recorded – this Easter we’re on a mission to keep up momentum and beat the number of submissions!

So, what actually is an eggcase? Some sharks, and all true skates, reproduce by laying eggs. These are surrounded by a tough leathery capsule that protects the embryo as it develops inside. Small slits in the eggcase allow fresh oxygenated seawater in, and let waste out, while a yolk sac provides plenty of nutrition. After several months (although this will vary depending on species) they are ready to hatch. The top of the eggcase will open and a fully formed shark or skate will emerge and be completely independent, having to fend for itself. Once empty, the eggcases (or mermaid’s purses) often wash up on the beach.

You don’t need to be part of an organised event to join in with an eggcase hunt (although check with your local marine centre or aquarium to see if there is one running near you!). All you need to do is head to your nearest beach and take a look around to see what you can find. The best places to search are in the strandline where seaweed and debris washes up, and in sand dunes at the back of the beach as they often get trapped in the grass.

The eggcases of different species vary. So, once you’ve found an eggcase, look at the size, shape, and features to identify which species it belongs to – we’ve developed identification resources to help you figure it out! Once you’ve got your answer, head over to the Shark Trust’s Recording Hub or use the new citizen science app to submit your finds.

The Shark Trust is continuing to add to the project’s resources by developing regional identification materials, collaborating with additional partners, and will soon be releasing a series of videos to help those who want to take part in the project and become Eggcase Champions – so watch this space for further developments.

Paul Cox, Shark Trust MD, said “The Great Eggcase Hunt makes for a fantastic family day out at the beach. Once you spot your first one, you’ll find it hard to stop! So get involved with shark conservation and have fun too!​”

Find out more: https://www.sharktrust.org/great-eggcase-hunt

The non-profit Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior is looking for applicants for the residency programs at its lighthouse on Porphyry Island. Porphyry Island Lighthouse is located on the eastern side of the Black Bay Peninsula in Superior Country, 24.8 miles (40 kilometres) east of Thunder Bay. The closest launching point is at Silver Islet, at the far end of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. There are also charter boat excursions available from the Thunder Bay Marina.

Available residency programs include artist in residence, host keepers and summer students. The artist program has a week-long term and transportation to and from the island is provided. It is open to those working in all media that have created a portfolio of work over several years and enjoy engaging with the outdoors.

The summer student program has a two-month and transportation to and from the island is provided. Participants will be housed in the lighthouse keeper’s dwellings. In exchange for room and board, they will have a list of chores to do and an opportunity to share with visitors the history of the island’s 150-year-old lighthouse.

The host keeper’s program offers a week-long working holiday. Each day, participants complete daily chores, work on specific projects and meet visitors who frequent the island. A bedroom is provided in the keeper’s dwelling and participants are welcome to use the available amenities including sauna, swimming area and hiking trails.

To apply or for more details, see https://clls.ca/programs/

Many expressions we commonly use today originate from early nautical activities. With a little research I found some interesting nautical origins for sayings we currently use. How many of these expression explanations do you know?

1) Pan, Pan, Pan: No, this does not refer to kitchenware for a sail ship galley. This emergency call, which is used for non-life threatening marine emergencies, is derived from the French word “Penne,” meaning mechanical breakdown. Due to translations and local vernacular, it is now generally pronounced as “pan.”

2) More Than One Way to Skin a Cat: Catfish were a favourite catch for sailing ships in the Caribbean. But skinning the fish presented a problem because its tough skin would stick to the edible meat. Several methods were developed to accomplish this skinning and the word catfish shortened to ‘cat,’ as the expression began referring to other situations with multiple procedures.

3) Piping Hot: The boatswain on early sailing ships would announce when meals were ready using a windpipe whistle so the crew could come and get their meals. Hearing the whistle and racing to the galley to eat while the meal was still hot quickly turned into “piping hot” food.

4) A Granny’s Knot: A reef knot tied the wrong way is called a “granny’s knot.” This knot jams when pulled and is very difficult to untie. When encountered, sailors would say that it was like a knot tied by an old woman, or granny.

5) Cut of Her Jib: As in, “I don’t like the cut of her jib.” A jib is the forward sail on a sailboat. French and Spanish warships would often use a smaller or cut down foresail or jib to reduce the possibility of the ship being blown off direction in gusty winds. British captains would observe this size difference and identify enemy ships by the cut of their jib.

6) Cut to the Chase: The expression today means to get on with what is important. For sailing ships, it referred to a quick getaway. Raising an anchor and untying knots that held sails in place took considerable time, so if a ship was anchored and needed to make a fast move (whether being chased or chasing another), the captain would call “cut to the chase.” The order meant for all restricting lines to be cut so the ship could get on with the chase.

BoatBlurb Newsletter

The Real Origins of Boating’s Most Common Terms: Part 1, Part 2

Jill Heinerth’s documentary “Under Thin Ice” is featured as a resource for educators in the “Connect & Share” section of Ocean Week Canada’s Schools Toolkit #1, which can be found here: https://buff.ly/40cr81a.

This toolkit contains a carefully curated collection of resources designed to assist educators in increasing ocean literacy in their classrooms and communities. The Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE), the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC), and Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) collaborated to create this resource for Ocean Week Canada.

“Under Thin Ice”, the documentary from explorers, Jill Heinerth and Mario Cyr, has won a significant award from the Canadian Cinematographers Society. DP Geoffroy Beauchemin won the Best Cinematography category award.

See the Scuba News Canada’ Article “Under Thin Ice“

About Toolkit

This toolkit was created for teachers and students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 education communities across Canada, both coastal and inland. The goal of this toolkit is to engage students in ocean education, deepen their understanding of and connection to the ocean, and inspire action in the classroom and beyond. It is intended to meet curricular objectives in numeracy and literacy, science and social studies, health, and other areas. This toolkit also incorporates Indigenous and place-based knowledge and provides students with hands-on learning opportunities. These ready-to-go learning activities and pedagogical strategies will engage students and inspire action in their daily lives, and are designed to be accessible to both ocean enthusiasts and educators taking their first dip.

Under Thin Ice Toolkit #1

The ice road network spans the Northwest Territories, resupplying communities and connecting them to civilization. Winter means freedom in remote communities. They use the ice roads to transport supplies, visit family members, and travel to larger communities. Nearly 2,000 kilometres of icy highways are plowed through terrain that is impassable (or non-existent) in the summer.

Northern Canada’s winter road systems are basic access routes to remote northern communities with no alignment standards. There are no posted speed limit signs on land roads, and the recommended speed limit for vehicles weighing seven tonnes or more on all ice roads is 15 km/h. Winter roads are built on the land’s and ice’s natural terrain. They travel through muskeg, rocky ridges, streams, rivers, and lakes. Weather changes can cause the road surface to deteriorate quickly.

An ice highway or ice bridge is a man-made structure that runs on the surface of frozen water (a river, a lake or a sea water expanse). Ice roads are usually part of a winter road, but they can also be simple structures that connect two shorelines. They can be planned, built, and maintained to remain safe and effective, and a number of guidelines with information on this subject have been published, and can be built year after year, to meet community needs during the winter. It could also be for a year or two to supply specific operations, such as a hydroelectric project or offshore drilling sites. Every year, the ice road must be rebuilt. Work on the road begins shortly after Christmas. When the ice is one meter (42 inches) thick, it can support a fully loaded truck carrying more than 40 metric tons (44 tons) of fuel. The speed limit for full trucks travelling north is 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) per hour.

Winter roads connect 12 towns in the Northwest Territories, providing them with temporary access to the outside world. Some of the routes are short and were built and maintained by the territory’s transportation department. The winter road to Nahanni Butte, for example, is only a few kilometres long, crossing the Liard River and connecting to Highway 7. The Mackenzie Valley winter road begins in Wrigley and connects five communities, the farthest of which is 651 kilometres away, Colville Lake.

A Class 1 Commercial Driver’s License is required to work as an ice road trucker (CDL). You must also pass a medical exam, have a clean driving record, be at least 19 years old, and have at least three years of Class 1 driving experience.The pay is competitive, but If you are not prepared, the consequences of an unexpected delay, breakdown, or accident while travelling in this remote area can be fatal. It is the driver’s responsibility to make his or her own arrangements for assistance. In the event of a problem, assistance may take a long time to arrive. Every vehicle travelling on the winter road system should have adequate clothing, personal medication, enough fuel to get to your destination, vehicle and survival equipment, a satellite phone, and CB communication.

The ice roads of Canada and Alaska were prominently featured in the History Channel’s reality series “Ice Road Truckers”, albeit embellished for viewing.

The Maritime Museum of BC is running their third annual fundraising campaign called “Float the Boat”. This campaign has a goal of $25,000 and will run from March 1 to April 30, 2023. Throughout the campaign the museum will be marking milestones by filling the tank below with water to float the boat higher and higher. We’ll be posting updates so make sure to follow along!

As a registered charity and incorporated non-profit the Maritime Museum of BC runs a variety of public programming and engagement initiatives, all with the goal of promoting and preserving BC’s maritime heritage and culture. In order to keep the programming and exhibit rates accessible to the public they rely on the help of grants and private donations.

“This year’s campaign will help support our ongoing operations as we continue to offer new programs, exhibits, and events for the public, while caring for our vast collection.” said Brittany Vis, Executive Director at the Maritime Museum of BC.

The Maritime Museum of BC is a multi-disciplinary organization. It cares for a collection, provides exhibits, and helps educate/entertain the public through a variety of programming. These areas have been broken into different categories to demonstrate some of the ongoing costs associated with each one. The museum is asking people to consider donating to one of these areas by selecting them in the drop-down menu on the donation page (visible after entering an amount to donate). If someone wants to contribute to the museum in general, they can simply select the “General” category and enter the amount of their choice.

DONATE to “Float The Boat”

DIVE INDUSTRY MARKET STUDY

Since we started collaborating with InDepth Magazine on a series of dive industry surveys about a year and a half ago, we’ve received a ton of positive feedback. There is a dire need for more market data in this industry, and we’re glad we could help!

As a consequence, we also regularly receive more requests for more data. So we thought it was about time we tackled the elephant and worked on a comprehensive “State of The Industry” (SOTI) study. So, here it is!

Help us help you! Take part in the State of The Dive Industry survey here.

Results will be made available to all dive industry stakeholders on Scubanomics. The idea is to help each one of us in the dive industry navigate toward success. We can remain competitors on different sailboats while contributing to a valuable, accurate weather forecast that none of us could produce in isolation.

In this first SOTI survey of the Dive Industry, we will look at 2022 results compared to the prior year for certifications, travel, and dive gear sales in recreational and tech diving, freediving, snorkeling, and surface-supplied air diving around the world. We will also evaluate expectations/forecasts for 2023.

Our goal with this State of The Industry (SOTI) study is to provide you with:

• A gauge of how the industry is doing: Are you doing better or worse than your peers?
• A business weather forecast: What are the trends in our industry? What product/service markets are growing? Which ones are shrinking? In which geographical regions?

Our intent is also to:

• identify the most pressing issues we should work on solving as a group of professionals; and
• highlight opportunities for growth in changing markets.

In addition to sales & certification trends, we will study a myriad of other metrics of value to dive business owners and managers, like:

• What percentage of dive gear is sold online nowadays?
• What percentage of divers start with online learning?
• Are dive centers with their own pool performing better?
• How many dive stores also carry freediving and swim gear? Do these dive centers perform better?
• Which department performs better in today’s dive center? What is the split in revenues between training, gear sales & travel? The last study on the topic dates to the 80s!
• Is there a change in the type of gear new divers purchase (e.g., more dive computers & accessories but less hard goods like regulators & BCDs)?
• How is tech diving performing compared to recreational diving?
• Is rebreather and sidemount diving gaining traction?
• Is surface-supplied air diving making inroads in our industry?
• And so much more! Contact us if you have specific questions about the dive industry. We plan to keep producing dive industry surveys and market research studies throughout 2023 to help dive professionals like you.

All answers are anonymous. We estimate it should take most of you less than 30 minutes to answer this survey. However, the survey contains more questions for local dive shops & dive centers because they sell all products & services offered in the dive industry. We thank you in advance for your time and commitment to this exciting industry!

To draw a complete picture of the dive industry, we need participation from all stakeholder groups, including:

• Dive Shops & Dive Centers
• Dive Schools (e.g., University programs)
• Dive Clubs
• Independent Dive Instructors
• Dive Boat Operators
• Dive Resorts
• Dive-Specialized Liveaboards
• Dive Operators on Cruise Ships
• Dive Travel Agencies/Agents
• Dive Training/Certification Agencies
• Dive Gear Manufacturers/Brands
• Dive Gear Wholesalers/Distributors
• Dive Gear Sales Representatives/Agents
• Dive-Specialized Media

Subscribe to be notified when the results become available and to participate in future SOTI studies.

This study is part of a series of dive industry surveys by the Business of Diving Institute in collaboration with InDepth Magazine with support from DAN Europe, Shearwater, GUE, and most importantly, YOU! Besides participating in this survey, please let us know if you would like to add your name to the official list of supporters.

San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival has announced its slate of films for the 20^th annual Festival, April 13 – 16 taking place at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason: 33 films representing 11 countries. Especially anticipated is the Festival’s opening night offering Deep Rising, a Sundance Film Festival winner. This up-to-the-minute tale of geopolitical, scientific, and corporate intrigue that exposes the machinations of a secretive organization empowered to greenlight massive extraction of metals from the deep seafloor that are deemed essential to the electric battery revolution. Other Festival highlights include Collision, an eye opening film about the main cause of death in large whales, and Patrick and the Whale in which stunning underwater footage explores the fascinating nature of the Sperm Whale and its intriguing and complex intelligence and relationship with humanity.

“After 20 years we’re still making waves and saving our world’s oceans one film at a time,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival. “In an era when climate change is topic number one, and the state of our oceans is a daily priority, never has the work of our filmmakers and activist been more vital, or more newsworthy.”

The Festival accepts films of all genres that focus on any of the varied aspects of our big, blue ocean. Subject matter ranges from, but is not limited to, marine wildlife, conservation efforts, ocean environments, coastal cultures, ocean sports and exploration, ocean heroes, and innovative technology designed to help protect the ocean. Films can be documentaries, narratives, shorts, animation, and full-length films from around the world. A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned International Ocean Film Festival Traveling Program. This year’s film categories include Environmental, Marine Sciences/Wildlife, Exploration & Ocean Sports, Coastal Island Culture, Animation, Conservation, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Shorts and Female Directors.

Sponsors for this year’s festival include RingCentral, Jenga Ocean, Hapag Lloyd, SSA Group and the Consul General of Canada in San Francisco. Note: Additional sponsorship opportunities are available through March 1^st.

Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 815 films from 40 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Below is the full list (in alphabetical order by title, followed by director, country of origin and running time)

1. And yet, I remain, Rick Wall (South Africa) 8 min

 2. The Arctic Halocline, Amy Lauren (USA) 21 min 

3. Big Waves Guardians, Luke Stirtz (USA) 90 min

4. Blue Carbon, Paul Nicklen (USA) 3 min 

5. Bottle Cap, Marie Hyon & Marco Spier (USA) 5 min 

6. Changing Seas: Vanishing Whales, Alexa Elliott (USA) 27 min 

7. Cold Refuge, Judy Irving (USA) 79 min 

8. Collision, Philip Hamilton (UK) 80 min 

9. Deep Look: Barnacles Go To Unbelievable Lengths To Hook Up, Josh Cassidy (USA) 4 min 

10. Deep Rising, Matthieu Rytz (USA) 98 min 

11. Fishing Into The Future: A San Diego Story, Lindsay Bauman & Andrea Sanchez Davidson (USA) 5 min 

12. Gender Outlaw, a bodysurfing story, Peter Williams (USA) 16 min 

13. The Gift of Bathsheba, Zach Hellmuth (USA) 4 min 

14. Havana Libre, Corey McLean (USA) 85 min 

15. Huff, David Mangum (USA) 7 min 

16. Hypnotise, Ste Everington (Australia) 4 min 

17. The Impossible Wave, Jessica Frankovelgia Johnson & Jay Johnson (USA) 40 min 

18. Inseparable: Ava, Andrew Harrison Brown (USA) 11 min 

19. Mediterranean LIFE UNDER SIEGE, Fred Fougea (France) 91 min 

20. New Boats, Lansana Mansaray (Sierra Leone) 50 min 

21. Patrick and the Whale, Mark Fletcher (Austria) 72 min 

22. Planting Coral Forests, Johann Vorster (Kenya) 27 min 

23. PLSTC, Laen Sanches (France) 2 min 

24. Restoring the Farallon Islands: A Critical Conservation Opportunity, Brandon Schilling (USA) 4 min 

25. Rise of the Clambassador, Alexander Davidowski (USA) 8 min 

26. Robots in the Deep, Leo Richards (UK) 13 min 

27. SAGRES, José Eduardo Zuzarte (Portugal) 44 min 

28. SB2508: A Death Threat to Everglades Restoration, Noah Alexander Miller (USA) 30 min 

29. Seagrass for Sea Change, Whitney Beer-Kerr (Australia) 12 min 

30. The Storm Chaser, Jack Pirie (UK) 7 min 

31. Tangled in the Tides, Henk Ekermans & Barend van der Watt (South Africa) 50 min 

32. Truluck, Matt Cannon & Jake Smallwood (UK) 20 min 

33. Washed Ashore, Ley Heimgartner, Cameron Nielsen (USA) 16 min

The 20th International Ocean Film Festival runs April 13 – 16, 2023 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. The International Ocean Film Festival is a 501(c) 3 non-profit. 

Learn more at: https://www.intloceanfilmfesthttps://vimeo.com/796779664.org

I am sure that all of you have heard of the Halifax Explosion of 1917. While the Halifax Explosion of 1917 was a calamity, it was not the only major wartime explosion suffered by the locals. Most people believe that World War II ended with V day on 8th May 1945, but the reality was that, after the resolution in Europe, war continued in the Pacific.  While most Canadians returned home following VE day, people and material moved to the Pacific theatre.

Halifax Explosion of 1945

Atlantic vessels were refit for their new duties in the Pacific.  As part of the refit process, all ammunition was removed from ships in port.  The  ammunition was stored in the Canadian Naval Ammunition Storage Depot at Bedford Basin, just inland from the main port of Halifax.

July 18, 1945 was a fairly peaceful night in Halifax.  However at about 6:30 PM, the calm was broken by a tremendous and earth moving flash and explosion.  What was once the Depot was now a mushroom cloud billowing up to the heavens.

Ammunition and small explosives “pickled off” throughout the night and by midnight the “show” seemed to be over.  A final bright and loud explosion almost precisely at midnight announced the end of the display.

The last report on the explosion stated that a fire, of unknown origin, which started on the  dock, had spread to the ammunition depot.  Although there was only one casualty (a workman who was on the jetty at the time of the first explosion) and very few injured, the explosion brought back dark memories for the local population.  Up to 15,000 people in Halifax and another 10,000 in Dartmouth spent the night in parks, well away from the effects of the explosions.

But it could have been worse as some 50,000 depth charges were reportedly saved from the fire.

A number of eyewitness reports tell of the calamity caused by the explosion:

Janet Gorden was a very scared seven-year old kid living one block south of Quinpool.  She recalls: “None of the storage buildings, which were full, caught fire, nor did they explode – the munitions stored outside is what went up as a result of a brush fire generated by the first explosion on the jetty – as the fire reached each dump and the firefighters retreated to safety, that dump went up; these explosions continued until close to 4 AM at which time there was a very large blast, but the fire was brought under control at about that time, avoiding the explosion of a very large dump of depth charges.”Russell McManus was a seven-year old: “I was sitting on a radiator next to an open window when the first boom went off and it blew me off the radiator unto the floor.  My Father, a Master Gunner, was at the ammo dump a few days earlier inspecting the storage of artillery shells and he said that if the dumps had not been designed to blow up instead of sideways there would have been a lot more damage.  Anyway we spent several hours on the Halifax commons and spent the night in the Halifax Armory.”

Janet Golden

In 1995, some 50 years after “Halifax Explosion II”, the military began to remove some of the ammunition that fell into the harbor.  They used the subtle method of blowing it all up.  Could that be called Halifax Explosion III? 

Learn more at: https://mysteriesofcanada.com/military/halifax-explosion-of-1945/

The Thridrangar Lighthouse is one of the most dramatic and unique lighthouses in the world, and it’s also one of the most remote, lying 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometres) off Iceland’s southern coast in the Westman Islands. The lighthouse is only accessible by helicopter. Prdrangaviti Lighthouse, also known as Thridrangaviti, has also been described as the world’s most isolated lighthouse. The name Prdrangar refers to the three named rocks at the location; Stóridrangur (on which the lighthouse stands), Fudrangur, and Klofadrangur. It was built in 1938/1939 and was dedicated in 1942. Originally built and only accessible by scaling the rock on which it is located, it is now accessible by helicopter thanks to the construction of a helipad.

The lighthouse was built under the supervision of Arni G. Orarinsson, who enlisted the help of experienced mountaineers to scale the rock on which it stands. They couldn’t bite into the rock near the top, and there were no handholds, so they built a human pyramid (one man on his knees, another atop him, and a third climbing on the second one) to get there.

Some Facts

• The light can be seen at nine nautical miles (10 miles)
• The lamp is situated 34 metres (110 feet) above the sea level
• The building itself – a single story with a deck and the lamp on its roof – is 7.4 metres (24 ft) high

While the lighthouse appears to be the ideal hermit’s, monk’s, or anti-humanity retreat, it is actually uninhabitable.

Arnie Saeberg (photo credit photographer above) had no idea his lighthouse photo had been published all over the world for years until his barber showed him the photo on a German website. The barber’s daughter also informed him that the photo had been shared on social media by “The Biebs” (Canadian singer Justin Bieber, born in London, Ontario).

Netflix has premiered its new documentary series Earthstorm, a series of stories that examine first hand experiences of people navigating the realities of hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanos, and earthquakes. Our partners from the SUSTAIN Laboratory (Waterlust) are featured in the Hurricane segment, along with many other scientists across various disciplines. It’s a documentary show with 4 episodes over 1 season

Waterlust – Wear Your Values

Waterlust was founded in 2011 with little planning by PhD student, Patrick Rynne. He witnessed a lot of fascinating research being conducted by bright and passionate researchers. But he wasn’t seeing that hard work and positive energy reaching a large audience in novel and impactful ways. So that’s what Patrick set out to accomplish. His early work focused on creating and disseminating digital media, but quickly realized that even the most stunning photograph or well-crafted film was too fleeting to leave an impression. We needed to wrap environmental knowledge and scientific wisdom into something that would touch people’s lives repeatedly, and clothing was the answer.

Waterlust

Earthstorm @ Netflix

In this short film by Canadians (Calgary) Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby, two ships collide in a harbour, sending a passing sailor skyward as he contemplates the wonder and fragility of existence. “The Flying Sailor” is nominated for Best Animated Short at the 2023 Academy Awards.

The French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on the morning of December 6, 1917. The Mont-Blanc, laden with high explosives, caught fire and exploded, destroying Halifax’s Richmond district. The blast, debris, fires, or collapsed buildings killed 1,782 people, mostly in Halifax and Dartmouth, and injured an estimated 9,000 more. The explosion was the largest man-made explosion at the time, releasing the equivalent energy of approximately 2.9 kilotons of TNT.

Read The Scuba News Canada’s Article on the Halifax Explosion

Almost all structures within an 800-metre (half-mile) radius, including the Richmond community, were destroyed. For kilometres, a pressure wave snapped trees, bent iron rails, demolished buildings, grounded vessels (including Imo, which washed ashore by the ensuing tsunami), and scattered Mont-Blanc fragments. Dartmouth, across the harbour, suffered extensive damage as well. The tsunami caused by the blast wiped out the Mi’kmaq First Nation community that had lived in the Tufts Cove area for generations.

About Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis

Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis are an animation duo from Canada. They received their second Oscar nomination on January 24, 2012, for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short film, Wild Life (2011). They received several nominations and awards for their latest film, The Flying Sailor, including Best Canadian Film at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, and on January 24th, 2023, they received a nomination for the 95th Academy Awards in the category Best Animated Short Film.

They met at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver. They moved from Montreal to Calgary, where Forbis was raised, in 2003. They have worked on commissioned projects in addition to their NFB work. “Interview”, their commercial for United Airlines, received an Emmy nomination in 2004. They founded the Bleak Midwinter Film Festival in their hometown of Inglewood, Calgary, in 2007. In 2018, they were recipients of ASIFA’s Winsor McCay Award for their ‘exceptional contribution to the art of animation’.

Many expressions we commonly use today originate from early nautical activities. With a little research I found some interesting nautical origins for sayings we currently use. How many of these expression explanations do you know?

1) Mayday: When sailing ships from France found themselves in great peril, they repeated the words ‘m’aidez’ meaning ‘help me.’ The expression morphed into “Mayday” and is used today to broadcast a request for help, for a life threatening emergency.

Read The Scuba News Canada’ Article Part 1: The Real Origins of Boating’s Most Common Terms

2) Loose Cannon: As in, “He is a loose cannon.” A person who acts in such a manner that they can cause damage is being compared to the damage an improperly secured heavy cannon can cause onboard a ship.

3) Posh: We use the word today to refer to classy or upscale persons. Back in the days of early cruise ships and before air conditioning, wealthy passengers preferred the cooler cabins that did not face into the sun and would pay more to get them. Their tickets were marked “POSH” which stood for “Port Out, Starboard Home. There must have been a lot of requests for this in order for the word to have evolved as it has.

4) Feeling Blue: If the captain of a sailing ship died for any reason while at sea, the ship would raise a blue flag or paint a blue line on the hull when returning to its port. “Feeling blue” came to describe a sad scenario.

5) Give a Wide Berth: As in, “stay well apart from that person or thing.” Where a ship is docked or anchored is called a ‘berth.’ It is important to have a wide berth in order to leave sufficient space around the berth to maneuver or allow for wind and tide movements.

6) Eat My Hat: Early sailors stored their chewing tobacco in their hat band. When mixed with a little forehead sweat it produced tobacco juice. While they didn’t like to do it, when out of tobacco and in need of a tobacco fix they would chew on their hat band. When they were in a disagreement and thought they were in the right, they came up with the phrase “If that is true, I will eat my hat.”

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Many expressions we commonly use today originate from early nautical activities. With a little research I found some interesting nautical origins for sayings we currently use. How many of these expression explanations do you know?

1) Over a Barrel: Old sailing ships often recruited crew members by force, including men that did not know how to swim, which made drownings a frequent concern. To help save sailors who were pulled unconscious from the water, the crew would place them over a barrel and roll the barrel back and forth to drain water from their lungs and possibly resuscitate them. Today, if you have a person “over a barrel” it means you have control over their situation or fate.

2) Kicked the Bucket: Persons convicted to be hanged were usually roped around the neck, placed on a scaffold, and dropped through a trap door. On ships there was no such scaffold, so a convicted sailor was placed on an inverted bucket, which was then kicked out from under him. Today if someone has “kicked the bucket,” you are saying they are dead.

3) Bombed or Tanked: Early pubs carried beer to tables in leather jugs that held several pints. This container was called a ‘bombard’ or an ale ‘tank’. If a sailor on shore leave drank a full bombard he would most certainly be intoxicated, and was described by his mates as being “bombed” or “tanked.” These descriptive words linger today.

4) Toe the Line: On special occasions, sailors in the British Royal Navy were required to stand on deck at attention. To keep them in a straight line, they were told to line their toes up to a specific plank on the deck. This was called ‘toeing’ the line. Today, if someone is asked to “toe the line” they are being asked to keep up to a standard performance level, or follow the standard of others.

5) Bite the Bullet: Floggings were a standard punishment on early ships. Men being flogged were generally given a bullet to bite on to help keep them from screaming as they were flogged. Today, if you tell someone to “bite the bullet” you are suggesting that they accept without complaint something that they regard as unpleasant.

6) Above Board: If a ship was carrying any cargo that was illegal they would hide it somewhere beneath the main deck boards. Even people were similarly placed. For example, pirates would hide below deck boards when approaching a merchant ship in order to disguise the larger number and type of persons onboard. Items and crew that were legitimate and legal could be stored above the deck boards and visible to others. Today, someone described as “above boar” is deemed to be acting legally and within the rules.

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A documentary film about Canadian Great Lakes commercial fisheries.

Last Boat on the Lake is a documentary about the commercial fisheries of the Great Lakes, which are one of the world’s largest freshwater commercial fisheries but are largely unknown to the general public. This film examines the challenges and opportunities that these fisheries face in a rapidly changing world, as well as providing an intimate look at the people who bring local fish to North American tables.

Last Boat on the Lake, which will be released in 2023, is a research-based documentary film about the Canadian commercial fisheries of the Laurentian Great Lakes. These unique fisheries can be found in small ports throughout the Great Lakes, but most Canadians are unaware of them. This film will use the voices of fish harvesters as well as never-before-seen footage of commercial fishing life to provide viewers with an intimate portrait of the challenges and opportunities that this historic industry faces. Learn about the greatest fishery that most people have only tasted.

This film is supported in part by: The Conservation of Change lab at the University of Guelph, the Arrell Food Institute, the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the MEOPAR network, and Dalhousie University.

Coming in 2023.

The book, DEEP, DARK, AND DANGEROUS: The Story of British Columbia’s World-Class Undersea Tech Industry, is now available for purchase online, in a store near you, or on BC Ferries. It’s the result of four years of interviews conducted by author Vickie Jensen to document the little-known stories of this province’s underwater trailblazers. They’ve built, operated, outfitted, and sold the submersibles, tourist submarines, underwater robotic systems like ROVs and AUVs, and inventions that have shaped and continue to shape British Columbia’s remarkable subsea reputation. Beginning in the mid-1960s, British Columbia gained a reputation as the north’s subsea NASA. That legacy is still recognised around the world, but strangely, very few Canadians are aware of this fascinating chapter in our country’s history. Today, the subsea industry in British Columbia and Canada is expanding. Jensen includes stories of young AUV, ROV, and submersible pilots.

At one point, each of these pioneers came to the same conclusion:

“There has to be a better way!”

As a result, they set about designing a variety of manned and unmanned vehicles as well as inventions that enable us to “see” at greater depths and work there safely.

The book also chronicles a largely unknown chapter of BC’s work history. As one reader added, “This book gives us Canada’s unknown heroes”.

Purchase: Deep Dark and Dangerous or for Kindle at Amazon

Many of the boat builders we have explored so far in this series developed and enjoyed national or even international exposure with their products. In Part Five of this series, we examine a builder who became synonymous not only with canoeing, but is also perhaps the cornerstone of wooden boatbuilding in Ontario in the early-mid 1900’s. So much so, that their hometown of Peterborough became the location of the Canadian Canoe Museum.

Peterborough Boats/The Peterborough Canoe Company

Following a devastating fire that wiped out the Canadian Canoe Company in the early 1890’s, the Peterborough Canoe Company was established under new ownership in downtown Peterborough, Ontario. During the company’s early formation they employed some of the craftsmen from the burned-out Canadian Canoe Company still residing in the town. Located in central Ontario and with the city perched on the Otonabee River, Peterborough, as a city, was an early haven for outdoor recreationalists and would only grow with time.

As did its predecessor, the Peterborough Canoe Company company serviced the growing demands of the tourism and resort industries springing up along the shores of the the Kawartha Lakes region of east-central Ontario. The completion of the Trent-Severn Waterway in 1920 linking the many Kawartha Lakes together spurred this growth even further and faster.

As it began to prosper into the early 1900’s, the Peterborough Canoe Company expanded its design suite to include nearly every conceivable style of unpowered boat, plus its primary focus of every size and style of canoe you could possibly imagine. Some boats even had available accessories to convert them into sailboats with masts and centreboards. Some had a central cockpit with covered bows and sterns. Later, some had square sterns to accommodate outboard motors.

Peterborough experienced exponential growth during the first few decades of the 1900’s, due in part to the quickly expanding market for pleasure boating and the company’s wide range of offerings. It also saw success in part due to its recognized and appreciated build quality, and partly because it bought out several Ontario competitors. In 1915, the company bought out a competitor, the William English Canoe Company. Then in 1923, it merged with the Chestnut Canoe Company and became Canadian Watercraft Ltd. Then another Peterborough firm, the Canadian Canoe Company, was purchased in 1928. Between its acquisitions and its foresight towards building boats capable of utilizing an outboard motor, Peterborough would reach new heights by the early 1930s.

Peterborough was fortunate in having Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) build its Canadian factory in Peterborough as well, where it manufactured a full line of Johnson and Evinrude outboard motors. OMC made a deal with Peterborough to supply these motors for its expanding line of motorboats. Peterborough utilized an early form of assembly line production to satisfy the growing demand for its products, not only across Canada but also in the United States and Europe. In 1948, it presented one of its canoes to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip as a wedding gift.

In the ’40s and ’50s, the Peterborough Canoe Company could (and would) claim to be Canada’s largest manufacturer of boats, marketed under the brand name of simply Peterborough. It continued to expand its offering with more outboard-powered runabouts. The Streamliner class alone consisted of eight different models of multiple sizes suitable for fishing, family outings, and for the growing watersports enthusiast experimenting with the newfangled kneeboards and waterskiis.

It was during the mid-’50s that this author as a young boy enjoyed his first ride in a motorboat; a brand new sixteen-foot Streamliner-equivalent Peterborough runabout sporting a red 25-horsepower Johnson Sea Horse outboard. The boat had a windshield, remote steering, remote controls, and the signature Peterborough varnished deck and interior, along with the red painted hull bottom. The boat had been purchased by the father of my best friend at the time, who had a cottage on Long Point on Lake Erie, and I even was allowed to drive it – my first experience of driving a powerboat.

By the late ’50s, both fibreglass and aluminum started to supplant cedar strip and mahogany boatbuilding by utilizing mass-production techniques and less labour content per boat. The Peterborough Canoe Company finally closed its doors in 1961.

In 1965, the Aluminum Boats and Canoe Company of Princeville, Quebec, offering the Princecraft® line of aluminum boats, purchased the Peterborough Canoe Company and moved it to Princeville. This merger allowed the marketing of a full line of aluminum and wooden boats from canoes to utility boats to family runabouts through a comprehensive dealer network right across Canada.

To catch up on our exploration of Canada’s early boatbuilding history, you can check check out the rest of the ‘Before Fibreglass’ series below:

1) Part One- The Muskoka Region & Ditchburn Boats

2) Part Two- The Muskoka Region & Greavette Boats

3) Part Three- Georgian Bay & The Gidley Boat Company

4) Part Four- The 1000 Islands & Cliffe Craft Boats

For further information and pictures of Peterborough boats, check out these websites:

1) Johnny’s Little Boat Shop- Speedster Dubois

2) Canadian Canoe Museum

3) Port Carling Boats

4) Authentic Boats

5) Douglas Brooks Boatbuilding

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