Jellies Plague Europe

by Erik Olsen on

Summer is drawing to a close and I have to say I hardly got any diving in. The sad state of affairs when you live in New York City and your nearest body of water is the Hudson River. But a buddy of mine who dives and who moved to Europe a little bit ago mentioned to me that there was an epidemic in European waters. No, not cholera or the plague … or at least not a plague in the traditional terms. In this case, Europe this past summer was plagued by jellyfish. Now, anyone who has ever dived and gotten stuck in a bloom of jellies or stinging nettles knows that the experience can be horrible. I’ve had it happen in Mexico. And more, scientist say that things might only get worse with a rise in global temperates.

Still they also say that the species reaching European beaches aren’t thought to be lethal to humans, but some of them, like the purple jellyfish, can sting like the dickens and can cause an allergic reaction. According to this piece over at National Geographic, the Spanish Red Cross says that they’ve treated more than 19,000 bathers for jellyfish stings in the famous Costa Brava resort region alone.

So while we are easing our way into summer, folks who thought a last dash to Europe for some beach fun, might have to think again.

Miami Herald On the Caribbean

by Adrienne Wilson on

Trying to decide on the Caribbean island that’s best for you? I know, the decision can be a toughie, but shouldn’t be too much of a strain. The Miami Herald features an excellent piece highlighting noteworthy hotels, environmental aspects, restaurants and the basic ‘why’ you should come questions all there to help you plan. Ready to go nude? Try visiting St. Maarten’s Orient Beach to score your full body tan. Need a good reason to head over to St. Lucia? If beautiful beaches aren’t enough, grab a sunset cocktail at Ladera and just lounge to the sweet sounds of island music. Whether it’s live or from the stereo I’m sure there will be some coming from somewhere. Oh, and there’s my personal island favorite – Trinidad & Tobago. If you can’t make it for Carnival next year try planning a week long getaway to hike and bird watch. There’s always a blissful thing to do in Trinidad & Tobago – if you ask me. See the Miami Herald for all their spicy Caribbean island recommendations.

Underwater Photos

by Erik Olsen on

Is getting cold now, and many of us are dreaming of heading to warmer climes to, say, go diving. Well, here for your Monday morning pleasure is a nice little site dedicated to diving photography. It’s been a while since I posted anything as colorful as this, related to one of my favorite pastimes, so I figured I’d keep this short and let you go check it out. The shots are by photographer Reinhard Dirscherl, and the pages of luscious photos go on and on.

Stingrays Attack!

by Erik Olsen on

Let’s not panic people. Stingrays are NOT attacking us humans out of revenge for ruining the planet or electing George Bush. I want to make that clear. They are mad about something else, I’m sure, like the popularity of the Olsen Twins or The O.C. But it sure does seem like they are on a tear about something. First, one of them goes after Steve “The Croc Hunter” Irwin, and now they are jumping into boats and slashing around with their long tail barbs.

Just go ask one James Bertakis (who is a hale and hearty 81 years old) who was boating last week with his granddaughters near the town of Lighthouse Point, 15 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, when a three-foot-wide spotted eagle ray leapt out of the water and fell into the boat. The octogenarian tried to lift the ray out of the boat, and in the course of so doing, was stabbed in the heart by the barb on the animal’s tail. Doctor’s actually had to pull the barb out THROUGH the heart, and Bertakis remains in critical condition. As a diver, I now have a new found respect for Sting Rays and will not call them the winged wimps of the sea anymore.

Parks in Winter

by Erik Olsen on

One of my new favorite blogs on the National Park Service – Park Remark – has got a post on some info put out by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees. Don’t let the “retirees” part fool you. The list is about the best parks to visit during the winter, and the suggestions are NOT about Bingo and Backgammon, let alone erectile dysfunction. The piece is titled “Beyond Yellowstone: Seven Winter Travel Favorites” and Park Remark rightly points out that too much is often made of Yellowstone and that lots of other parks around the National Park System offer stuff to do in the colder months. Here’s the brief list courtesy of Park Remark:

  • Apostle Islands National Lakeshore – Wintertime magically transforms the Lake Superior shoreline at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore into a frozen fairyland.
  • Mount Rainier National Park – Storm tracks in the northwest bring enormous snowfall to this area, in some years exceeding 1,000 inches of snow for the season.
  • Dry Tortugas National Park – Not all winter national park visits have to involve waist-deep snow and sub-zero temperatures! (located among the Florida Keys)
  • Big Bend National Park – “For birders, Big Bend is a great place to build those all-important life lists. “
  • Yosemite National Park – “For those who want to get away from civilization and are willing to engage in a bit of strenuous activity, Ostrander Ski Hut is a wonderful destination”
  • Cabrillo National Monument – Between mid-December and March, it is possible to see pods of gray whales as they migrate from summer feeding areas off Alaska to sheltered bays in Baja California.
  • Statue of Liberty – To avoid long lines, plan a winter trip when visitation is way down.