DIVE LOG DECEMBER 25 ISSUE 415

We have been told that there is a great loss of bio-diversity all across the planet. This is in every ecosystem in every continent. We have been told this again and again and again for centuries. The co-conspirator of Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace wrote about deforestation 150 years ago and about the consequences of forest destruction. Divers see every marine ecosystem is severely out of balance. Sea Grasses, sea weeds and Insect populations across the globe has shrunk to less than half of what they were just sixty years ago. Same for birds, mammals, fish, whales, everything. We are destroying our home! Plankton in remote oceans like the Alaska seas are depleted. Professor Michelle Hoffman joined an Expedition to record an alarming report by the University of Alaska in Dive Log 390. Sydney’s Fish stocks are less than 5% of the 1960’s population. The report card for humanity’s role in caring for the planet is a dismal FAIL. Frankly, the human race needs a big kick in the pants to wake them (us) up. We can fix this easily. It is called gardening! What if…. If every country in the world planted a billion trees a year. If everyone grew something. If every country in the world would set aside 30 to 40% of its marine areas as absolute no-take marine reserves, a whole series of miracles would happen. They would happen quite quickly in just a few decades. Paradise lost, Paradise regained. Fish stocks would recover significantly within 5 to 7 years depending on the breeding cycles of each species. So many species would claw their way back from the brink of extinction. Fishers would discover that their livelihoods would be vastly improved. Fish stocks build up; sad memories of empty net hauls would fade. They would be delighted with the outcome, the newfound abundance, just like it used to be; and should be. For those of us that observe Nature,this is easy to understand . One of the greatest driving forces and energy in the universe is the ability of life to proliferate. Mother Nature has the ability to regenerate, to rebuild, to restore, to overpower the forces of destruction caused by endless exploitation and consumption of all three main lifeforms. The take, take and take whilst giving nothing back has to stop! All GAIA needs is for humanity to give her a helping hand so that the life force rebuild the Garden of Eden. Humanity does do this to a degree but we do need to redouble our efforts and do a lot more. Plant a tree, clean up rubbish, don’t use toxic chemicals; set aside marine reserves. Stop overfishing. Stop dumping toxic waste into the sea. Anyone and everyone who plants a few trees in their backyard can observe the miracle of Mother Nature slowly, quietly and steadily growing like magic. The trees provide food and shelter for countless lifeforms, birds move in, life proliferates. It is the miracle of life! Everyone craves close contact with nature and its lifeforms. Steady cycles of flowering plants fill all of the days. You get to smell the roses. I have a rainforest in my backyard and a large garden in my front yard. My ¼ acre block is alive. It does not have Net Zero. It so Net Positive. It is a balanced ecosystem with so many billions of lifeforms. I have millions of Talitrus and Slaters that feed on compost, (the only marine sand flea and isopods that lives on land in your compost), compost worms, Kookaburras, Crested Pigeons, Ravens, Magpies, Currawongs five types of Parrots. We had four Tawny Frogmouths in the front yard. It is a living suburban oasis. Lots of people do this. Advocates of compost farming tell us that if half of the world’s YOUR COVER PHOTO Kevin Deacon’s photo of Cherie and the Ships Telegraph on the Fujikawa Maru, Chuuk Lagoon.

agriculture turned to composting their farms, the soil would contribute up to a massive 30% towards Net zero climate by 2050 by storing carbon products in the soil as humus for decades. Then, the farm productivity would improve, we could wean ourselves off deadly pesticides like Roundup. Imagine if we used the oceans as a garden on an industrial scale. This is happening in Aquaculture in a small way. If we plant massive areas of sea weed and coral; cultivate more fish farms and release a percentage back into the wild. Create 30% marine parks and stop illegal fishing using effective policing. We could stop massive corporations raping and pillaging fisheries until the sea is empty. There is hope and many scientists are working on finding ways to help the ocean recover from endless overfishing and slaughter. Unfortunately, stupid governments defund CSIRO scientists and limit research. They forget that Science is knowledge and research by very clever people will find solutions to problems facing humanity. Clever politicians should increase funding ten-fold to solve the planet’s problems. The main point is that there is hope. We know the problems so we can set about fixing them as a matter of urgency. Dive Log is launching the HERON ISLAND DIVE FESTIVAL next year. The dates are June 20 to 27. The festival is all about celebrating the fabulous marine life of the Southern Great Barrier reef. I have dived all across the Pacific Ocean and more than fifty extended dive trips to the Great Barrier Reef. I am in the very fortunate position to provide a balanced opinion based on observation and experience. Bin there , dived that… In short, the diving on the GBR is returning to its rightful position as one of the all-round best diving destinations in the world! A big claim but it is true. It has got big fish, turtles and sharks! The Green zones have been protected from all forms of fishing. Fish stocks are increasing; corals are recovering; Professor Peter Ridd tells us that the GBR is in good shape. Research has found that as fish populations recover, coral growth improves. It is connected ecosystem. Healthy fish life helps to balance ecosystems in a superb feedback energy flow. The GBR has abundant populations of marine life. There is nowhere else I have been that has such healthy fish, turtles and marine mammals. Heron island has thousands of recorded rays and turtles. It had superb fish biodiversity with plentiful big fish. Diving here is as good as or better that most overseas dives. The December Dive Log is another magnificent blockbuster. The aim is to strive for excellence in U/W photography, educational editorial content and armchair diving adventures. My aim is to inspire and energise divers to dive, learn and marvel at the many marvellous marine encounters that can be found as soon as you enter the briny blue. Fortunately, most divers develop great passion and love of the ocean and are so enthusiastic about preserving it. Best of all it is free. As always, we ask you to share Dive Log with your diving friends so that the good news and good vibes in Dive Log can resonate across the universe just that little bit further. Dive Log Australasia would like to wish all of our readers a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year filled with peace. Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative. Don’t worry, be happy and expect wonderful things to come your way. Buy your diving mates a copy of my books.

Mike

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Divelogaustralasia #415 - December ‘25

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