Port Jackson shark project update #1

The project is looking great so far!

After a week or two of bad visibility I was finally able to get out into the water again to take some images. Pulling on the neoprene (my relatively new Neptune Dry Ice wetsuit!) is always a good feeling. Couple that with the amazing feeling of seeing 15+ Port Jackson sharks each dive on my last three research dives - yeah, it's good.

So the data gathering stage of my project is sailing along pretty smoothly at the moment. I haven't set myself a benchmark or limit on how many photographs I am looking to acquire (yet). I'm sure as the project develops I will get overwhelmed by shark images! Especially when every shot comprises the same orientation and subject matter (see below)!

Hopefully I'll be able to schedule a regular dive on Friday afternoons after uni has finished to increase my dataset of images. Finding a dive buddy for the Friday dives looks promising, with some of my uni mates becoming certified divers.

I'm really enjoying this project and depending on the results I may look at taking it further...

Check out http://nudibank.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-port-jackson-shark-project.html to read what this project is about.

Stay tuned for more information and results!

Peace,
Dave

New Port Jackson shark Project

I've recently started a project looking at the possible uses of natural markings to identify individual Port Jackson sharks - Heterodontus portusjacksonii.

From my preliminary results it looks as if the project will be quite successful.

I have played around with a program called StripeSpotter and had a little bit of success. I am now trialling some software that is used to analyse manta rays, whale sharks and great white sharks - I3S Manta.

Stay tuned for my results. Also, anyone who is doing similar research, I'd love to hear from you. Please get in contact and we can network and share experiences.

HMAS Adelaide

It's been a while since I posted a blog. Just so you loyal followers know (all 4 of you) I have not lost my interest in nudibranchs! I just haven't seen many recently...

I dived the HMAS Adelaide recently and I thought I'd share a few photos.

Also, if you are interested in an uplifting website. Check out my Bucket List website - www.crossitoff.net

First blog - Intro, welcome, etc

I've been meaning to start a blog for a while now...

I had a few ideas running through my head on different subjects to write about. Mostly animal related.

First I had better introduce myself. I am Dave. Proud Vegan and animal rights supporter. I'm also an avid diver and environmentalist. I guess if I had have been born 20 years earlier I would be sporting an awesome hippy mo and muttering phrases like "send the troops home maaaan".
Fortunately I was born 2 decades later, into a world that, thanks to those hippies, allowed freedom of speech and ideas.

I am a very strong believer of education - mainly in the form of environmental education. Going Vegan WILL SAVE THE PLANET!

Anyways, enough rambling, and more, umm... "related rambling"?

I have started this blog as I am a nudibranch enthusiast. For those of you with no idea of what a nudibranch is, do not feel alone. I remember laughing at my dive buddy when he uttered the word 'nudibranch', thinking it was some kind of weird erotic sea thing that scuba divers do...

The most simple, yet inaccurate, way to describe a nudibranch is - a sea slug found in many different colours and forms. The word 'nudibranch' means naked gill in latin.

This blog is my attempt to help new and established divers, and any other interested people, in the joys of Nudibranchs.

Cheers,
Dave