A Plastic Pandemic. A glut of discarded single-use masks and gloves is washing up on shorelines and littering the seabed. Conservationists have warned that the coronavirus pandemic could spark a surge in ocean pollution -- adding to a glut of plastic waste that already threatens marine life -- after finding disposable masks floating like jellyfish and waterlogged latex gloves scattered across sea beds. Divers have found “Covid waste” -- dozens of gloves, masks, and bottles of hand sanitizer -- beneath the waves of the Mediterranean, mixed with the usual litter of disposable cups and aluminum cans. Wear a mask, but be careful with its disposal. 129 billion facemasks are disposed of every month. ( The Guardian/BBC)
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-53287940/coronavirus-the-masks-you-throw-away-could-end-up-killing-a-whale
Face Masks from Recycled Ocean Plastic. PADI has partnered with sportswear company Rash'R to make face masks out of plastic recovered from the ocean. Each mask is sold with five replacement filters (at $20.40). These PADI masks are a sustainable alternative to the N95 respirator masks reserved for front line workers. Children's masks are available too. So far, 1,300 pounds of ocean plastic have been recycled into masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. https://rashr.com/collections/face-masks-by-rashr
Microplastics on the Ocean Floor
Highest Microplastic Concentration Found Deep Down On Ocean Floor
Sleeping microbes wake up after 100 million years buried under the seafloor
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sleeping-microbes-wake-up-after-100-million-years-buried-under-the-seafloor/ar-BB17n5yA?ocid=spartandhp
The Vanishing Sharks of South Africa. Those operating cage diving from Cape Town are concerned that this year no great white sharks have been seen -- not a single one. Their absence could be the most dramatic environmental change there in 20 years. Not long ago the sheer numbers gathering around one island off the stunning curve of sand just east of the Cape of Good Hope made it the great white capital of the world. Longline fishing, pollution, the arrival of orcas – what’s causing these crowd-drawing sharks to shun these waters?
Great white vanishing act: where have South Africa's famous sharks gone?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/08/south-africa-return-great-white-sharks-disappearance-species-marine-biologists-eco-tourism
A Tokyo Aquarium Needs You to FaceTime Their Shy Eels Right Now
https://www.sciencealert.com/tokyo-aquarium-needs-your-help-reminding-their-eels-to-not-fear-humans
Local scuba divers explore Fall River
https://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/rexburg/local-scuba-divers-explore-fall-river/article_842384a9-54d0-5213-8c45-2b35960f9713.html
Can you beat the bog?
https://www.visitwales.com/en-us/things-do/events/sport/can-you-beat-bog
Jim, Mack and Darrin get up in the Scuba's news this week with some sub raising talk. Two out of three divers getting web...
**Fuel nearly removed from shipwreck, oil still appearing in marsh** [https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/fuel-nearly-removed-from-shipwreck-oil-still-appearing-in-marsh/article_00dbad4c-a6ce-5ac4-b43d-0a1df66f2fff.html](http://) **Ocean cleanup device successfully collects plastic for first time** [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/03/ocean-cleanup-device-successfully-collects-plastic-for-first-time ](http://) **Pittsburgh Airport...
Mack, Jim and Darrin cover some more scuba in the news. Jim share is dives from the last week.