» Club News

Rena owner charged

Will Stone — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:05:11 +0000

The decision to prosecute the Rena’s owner is welcome but highlights the inadequacy of the laws for recouping the costs of a major environmental disaster, the Green Party says.

From nzherald.co.nz

Maritime New Zealand today announced Greece-based Daina [SUBS TICK] Shipping Co has been charged under two sections of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), which relates to the “discharge of harmful substances from ships” in the coastal marine area.

The charge carries a maximum fine of $600,000 and $10,000 for every day of continued offending.

Read full NZ Herald article here

James Cameron reaches deepest point on Earth

Will Stone — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:19:05 +0000

Director James Cameron has made it to Earth’s deepest point.

The director of Titanic and other films used a specially designed submarine called Deepsea Challenger to dive nearly 11 kilometres. He completed his deep dive a little before 8 a.m. Monday local time, according to Stephanie Montgomery of the National Geographic Society.

(photo from nzherald.co.nz)

“All systems OK,” were Cameron’s first words, according to a statement. He arrived at a depth of 10,898 metres early Sunday evening (UST) on the U.S. East Coast.

Read full NZ Herald article here

Raewyn Peart: How to save the Maui dolphins

Will Stone — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:01:46 +0000

There has been speculation for some time that the small population of Maui’s dolphins located off the northwest coast has been in decline. But the latest numbers from the Department of Conservation are worse than expected. Scientists now estimate that there are only 55 adult dolphins remaining.

This estimate is much lower than that of 2005 which put the population at 111. It means that the dolphin is rapidly heading towards extinction. We have a short window of opportunity to save them.

Read the full NZ Herald article here

Welcome to the Auckland University Underwater Club!

Kathryn — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:25:24 +0000

Orientation week only deal: get full year student membership for the discounted price of $25 or non-student membership for the discounted price of $50. Bring your mates along to our stall at Auckland University to take advantage of this deal.

Or you can join online.

The fine print: after Orientation Week 2012 membership will cost $30 for students and $60 for non-students, so join up now!

The Auckland University Underwater Club is a non-profit, recreational dive club. Student and non-student members are welcome. Our goal is to provide our members with access to the great sport of scuba diving, and other sub-aqua sports such as freediving, at student-oriented prices (read: damn cheap!).

We offer PADI Open Water courses, dive trips, freediving, spearfishing, a club boat, gear hire, club meetings, deals with dive shops, advice, underwater photography, buddies, wicked social life and advanced diver training… all at fantastic prices.

If you’re a keen diver, or you’ve always wanted to dive, join us and start enjoying life below the waves. No experience is necessary as we provide the cheapest PADI Open Water dive course to get you started. From there you can come on one of our many trips around New Zealand. We look forward to seeing you underwater soon.

Stingray Bonanza at Poor Knights Islands

Mazdak — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:21:15 +0000

Whale researchers call for speed restictions in Hauraki Gulf

Will Stone — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:47:13 +0000

NZ Herald: 4:35 PM Monday Feb 20, 2012

Scientists want ships slowed down in the Hauraki Gulf to stop endangered whales from being killed.

University of Auckland research has revealed the endangered Bryde’s whales are vulnerable to being killed by ships in the area, prompting scientists to call for speed restrictions to reduce the chance of ships hitting them.

A similar approach had been effective in protecting whales overseas, said Dr Rochelle Constantine.

“We only catch brief glimpses of Bryde’s whales at the surface in the Hauraki Gulf, but our research shows that they spend more than 90 per cent of their time in the top 12m of water. This makes them extremely vulnerable to being hit by vessels of all kinds, especially large ships that are highly likely to kill the whales when they do collide,” she said.

Read the full NZ Herald article here.

SEAWEEK 2012

Donald — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:55:56 +0000

The new taxman

Mazdak — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:55:42 +0000

‘Supergiant’ crustacean found in deepest ocean

Matt — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:31:22 +0000

A huge crustacean has been found lurking 7km down in the waters off the coast of New Zealand.

The creature – called a supergiant – is a type of amphipod, which are normally around 2-3cm long.

But these beasts, discovered in the Kermadec Trench, were more than 10 times bigger: the largest found measured in at 34cm.

Alan Jamieson, from the University of Aberdeen’s Oceanlab, said: “It’s a bit like finding a foot-long cockroach.”

Read the full article on the BBC website here.

Hybrid shark found off Australia

Donald — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:41:33 +0000

By ROB WAUGH

Last updated at 8:31 AM on 4th January 2012

A hybrid black tip shark containing both common and Australian black tip DNA in Australian waters. The mating of the local Australian black-tip shark with its global counterpart, was an unprecedented discovery with implications for the entire shark world

Scientists have found the world’s first hybrid sharks in waters off Australia – a discovery that researchers said could have implications for the whole world.

The predators are a cross between the common blacktip shark and the Australian blacktip shark.

Scientists say interbreeding between the two species is a sign the animals are adapting to warmer waters. They have also warned it could make the sharks stronger.

Read Full Article at DailyMail.com