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While diving, it is important to be aware of the environment, your body placement and equipment in use. A lot of damage to coral reefs can be done unintentionally by hitting the corals or dragging equipment, spending a bit more time to become aware of your surroundings and also swimming with care and grace will reduce the opportunities for this. Coral is very fragile and can be damaged when knocked about, the coral is also very slow growing, so to hit accidentally, knocking bits off it takes time to grow again, causing long-term damage to corals.

At all times you should be aware of, consider and respect the aquatic life around you. Sea life can get extremely stressed when interfered with, you should avoid touching, feeding and handling creatures as this can disrupt the feeding and mating behaviours of these creatures. Many sea creatures do not pose as a threat to humans so ensure you do not cause stress to them.

It is recommended to avoid the collection of souvenirs, and other objects underwater. Areas may be very quickly destroyed because of the collection of corals and shells, etc. In popular destinations, it will lead to areas known for their beauty, to become very limited and damaged. If you appreciate the beauty of the underwater world, leave it that way for others to enjoy and take your camera diving and capture the beauty and respect the environment instead.

If you notice any damage or destruction while you dive, you must report it. This could be something from strange substances in water to seeing a shoal of injured/ deformed fish in the region. If you are unsure about whom to report it ,then please let a local dive centre know and they will contact the organization necessary for example, environmental officials and other Authorities. This could prevent further destruction, and even save many lives; even small changes are worth relaying to the necessary authorities.

You should always be a role model to fellow divers, if you appreciate the beauty of the oceans then you must also respect it and help keep it clean, if everyone did this then we will be able to see the beauty for many centuries to come. Being a role model is important as people will notice your good attitude and respect for the sea they should follow suit, especially divers as they can witness for themselves the damage already done.

For those that are interested in helping the environment and marine conservation check out Phi Phi Dive Camp, they have many projects currently running in order to protect the sea life and coral reef in Thailand. As well as conservation you can also look at Diving Phi Phi

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The Irukandji Jellyfish is really tiny but fatally venomous - it is just one cubic centimeter. It is found in the marine waters around Australia. The symptoms are known as the Irukandji Syndrome. There are two kinds of Irukandji Jellyfish - Malo Kingi and Carukia Barnesi. Hugo Flecker first documented the symptoms of the Irukandji Syndrome in 1952 - named after the Irukandji folk who inhabited the coastal strip tat lies north of Cairns in Queensland. Carukia Barnesi was the first species to be identified by Dr. Jack Barnes in 1964. Dr. Barnes, wanting to prove that this jellyfish had caused these symptoms, got himself to be stung by it, along with his son and a life guard.

The Irukandji Jellyfish has four tentacles that can range from a few centimeters in length to around 35 centimeters. The stingers are grouped in clumps and look like rings made up of small red dots around the bell of the jellyfish, and also along the tentacles. Since the Irukandji Jellyfish is too tiny and fragile to handle and contain, very little research has been done. However, it is known that its venom is a hundred times more potent than that of a cobra, and a thousand times as much as that of a tarantula. What ever research has been done, has confirmed that the potency of its venom allows it to stun its prey (like fast and small fish) very fast.

The Irukandji is cover in millions of microscopic singers, responsible for the venom release. To understand how these stingers work, you can imagine a long inside out sock, coiled along the lines of a spring. Someone unlucky enough to come in contact with the Jellyfish by touch will cause an uncoiling of the spring latching the stingers into the skin like barbs. When the victim pulls away the stingers are ripped from the Jellyfish’s body and remain embedded in the victim. The Irukandji has the unique ability to ‘fire’ the stingers from it’s tips and inject the venom, a unique phenomenon.

Burning on the area of contact, drop in blood pressure and heart rate, sweating, severe and intensely pain muscle cramps in the arms, legs, back and kidneys are some of the Symptoms of Irukandji Syndrome, a very painful and unpleasant experience. Ocean explorers beware, the Irukandji Jellyfish!

An individual recently stung by the Irukandji will notice symptoms within 4 - 30 hours which may take up to 2 weeks to completely be resolved. Pain management is the only treatment for the Irukandji sting as there is no known anti-venom. Patients have been known to experience pain so intensely that they beg the doctor for death. The best way to avoid the sting is to avoid the Jellyfish. Be mindful of the conditions, seasons and areas you are swimming or diving. Divers beware, the Irukandji Jellyfish!

Want to learn more about the Irukandji Jellyfish, including how to deal with a Jellyfish Sting? Check out JellyfishFacts.Net for all you need to know about Jellyfish.

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Underwater photography can create some of the fondest and prettiest memories that you can find elsewhere, this is because the environment is completely different down under and therefore the creation of underwater digital camera is considered as one of the best creation for outdoor enthusiasts.

Pretty pictures aside, some of these underwater pictures are also essential for research and study purposes for scientist and marine biologist. One thing that you need to understand that underwater camera is not your waterproof camera, in fact they are not built the same way.

Waterproof camera is unlike underwater camera is because it can not withstand the pressure when submerging underwater, which is unlike a dedicated underwater camera. A waterproof camera is made to withstand certain amount of water only, not taking into the consideration of pressure underwater.

So if you are looking to take picture while you’re submerged in the sea, you will need an underwater camera, whereas waterproof camera is sufficient to be used around the pool.

That said, if you are not a marine biologist or scientist which spends a lot of time underwater, you might not need to invest in such expensive equipment just yet. Underwater casing for your digital camera can actually help do the same as an underwater camera, this is a cheaper alternative for those who do not spend too much time underwater, and they too can withstand pressure.

Using a underwater casing can turn your traditional camera into one piece of equipment that can withstand the heavy pressure underwater.

Here are some underwater pictures shooting tips:

You need to know that the deeper you dive, the less light will be available and as such it can really affect the quality of the pictures you take underwater. What you can do to compensate a lack of light is to adjust your white balance, as it can help give you more lights and provide you with more natural colors when you’re diving deep.

Another thing you can do to get more light underwater is to use an external flash instead of using internal built in flash found on most cameras. Using built-in flash will result in white particles across your pictures, as they do not first flash up the area before the picture is being capture like what you will find in an external flash.

Another tip to ensure that your camera is always in good shape is to make sure you use fresh water to wash off salt water after every trip; salt water is notorious and can quickly deteriorate the devices.

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A good start for a diving trip is getting to the venue, be it a dive shop or dive boat on time or better early. Getting there early allows you time to sign in, pay for services and time to get the right equipment if you are hiring them. If it is also better to be early then late, you don’t want to be disappointed or keep other divers waiting for you.

Before you board the dive boat it is worth checking you at the right equipment. Ensure all your equipment is present and if you are hiring it then check you have the right size and the correct weights for you. Once you are on the boat there isn’t much chance of changing your equipment so make sure your check thoroughly before hand to avoid disappointment.

You should also store your equipment in the bag, not only does it protect you from mislaying any of your equipment but it is also it saves space on the boat as they are usually fairly small and can be crowded. There is a large range of Scuba Diving bags you can get, many are designed to be easy to carry, waterproof, padded for protection and have many pockets for smaller bits of equipment.

In the dive boat they usually have a selection of cleaning and rinse buckets, which should be assigned to specific items of equipment for example a bucket for mask rinsing only. Always respect the rules regarding what item is assigned to what bucket it is courteous of others and their equipment. If you are unsure of what buckets are assigned to what equipment always ask.

Many divers think it is best to get ready in advance; some divers even put on their wetsuits and assemble their equipment before even getting on the boat. If you are a regular diver then doing this is fine and you know yourself what to look out for and what may be missing. If you are not familiar with the kit then wait until the organizers let you know when they are ready to fit your kit with you.

No matter how many times you have dived before, it is important to always listen carefully to the briefing of the dive. They will provide adequate safety tips, and should also mention all the difficult circumstances you may encounter such as strong currents. Briefings will generally be different for each dive, so listen to what is said and take the advice, not only for your own safety, but for the whole team.

Other things to think about are bringing a camera, money if you want to tip the organizers, a dry bag, sunscreen and any other requirements. You will be surprised how often people return from dives sun burnt even if you are in and out of water, it is worth re-applying a good waterproof cream between dives or when you can.

If you want any more advice or information about diving, check out Phi Phi adventure,as well as information you can find out about day trips, and various other water sports and activities on their website, you can also browse a huge range of images and videos of diving. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory

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Scuba diving accidents are not myths and are very real, in fact no attempt should be made in order to cover up the danger and risks of diving related accidents as the public should be well aware of it. As enjoyable as diving is, one must also take the proper precaution and steps to minimize this form of recreational sport from becoming a dangerous one.

Even though it is a dangerous sports, it should not be a barrier for you from picking up this hobby, because it is indeed one of the most relaxing form of hobbies you can pick up and many have done so without meeting an accident. When you think about it, the risk is much less than motor racing, and yet you can find a huge following of crowd who enjoys motor racing. The trick is to learn how to scuba dive in a safe manner.

If you have wondered as to why diving accidents happened, then the answer you seek lies in the training of divers who are either not following standard practiced or do not know how to operate each equipment appropriately. If you are looking to start, you should start on the right foot by enlisting in training organized by the licensed PADI diving institute, currently many diving places will recognize them as being the official training institute.

If you have graduated from PADI and have not gone diving for a while, it is also advisable to undergo refresher course, especially if it had been a year since you last dived. Refresher course can refresh your memory as well as the proper steps in the case of an accident, which can save you life! Diving vacations are meant to be fun and safe, and one of the most important thing about diving is always to dive comfortably, if diving has become somewhat painful and uncomfortable for you, perhaps you should stop for a while and look at what is causing you to feel that way.

Another important safety aspect to bear in mind always understands your limit and respect the underwater environment. Many things will go wrong when you have confidence the size of the ocean! That means if you get too confident, then things will bound to go wrong, as such you want to always keep your confidence in check, as well as paying attention to your immediate environment when diving. This way you will be able to react quickly which might save your life when situation warrants.

Ultimately, always get a dive buddy because it is safer to have someone who knows where you are and one that will watch your back and give you a helping hand. What fun is diving if nobody shares the same thrilling experience with you!

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