A man died in a cave two days ago; a man we knew, a friend, an industry leader, a family man with a wonderful wife, two children and a long life ahead of him. He was an accomplished and trained cave diver, an experienced rebreather diver, an instructor with thousands of hours under his belt. He grew up breathing scuba diving and technical diving. But he is no longer with us. When these incidents happen it is very easy to hear people saying that what we do is dangerous, pointless, that they would never do it, that we should never go. Instead, after we mourn and cry and speak to each other, we prep our gear and go cave diving, again. We go because it is a way to honor the friend we lost; we honor his passion, his dedication and we continue forward to respond to the same call that has us all going in there. It is the call of human nature to explore, to investigate, to discover, to understand. It is the call that has allowed us to move forward from a fire camp, to technology, to think about going to space, to travel to the depths of the ocean, to climb the highest of mountains. It is a call that might take its toll, but what would we be without that call, without that burning desire to go and push forward? Where would science and technology be if at the first failure we all had given up? Many won’t understand, but those who have been at the edge of their comfort zone and pushed through the boundaries, have found the beginning of their world, their meaning, their passion, their truth. In loving memory of Jared Hires, may you rest in peace, we will see you on the other side, gear in hand.
It’s time to say goodbye. I have waited for several months, but the truth is that I knew her time had come from the first few times she stopped showing up for the dive. Grandma had been at the dive site for nearly 14 years, but considering Caribbean Reef sharks live an average of 15-19 years and only show up once they are young adults, I knew her time was coming. Grandma had started to show the signs of aging, something I have seen way too many times. She was thin, with a gaunt look that one acquires towards the end of life. She was no longer interested in coming in and started to skip some days. Grandma is gone, but I still look into the blurred blue, hoping to see her swimming through. My relationship with them is a unique one. It’s one of love and hope and worry. It’s one of never closure because I never really know. It’s one that leaves a piece of my soul empty every time one goes and never comes back. Image of Grandma, named after her light skin color, as gray as the hair of a grandma, and her very calm predisposition. Grandma had a blemish in her left eye and Periodontitis. @isotta_underwater_housings
In the land of shark fin soup I am attending Adex in Singapore. This is a great opportunity to discuss the mindset that needs altering when speaking about the conservation of the ocean in general and of sharks in particular. While I understand that demand is driving a market, when speaking about sharks’ demise, I find that many people are quick to point away from themselves and blame “the others,” be it a culture, a fishing industry, or, as in this case, a location. While a demand drives a market before we engage in hostile confrontations and overlook personal responsibility, here are a few points we should consider, many of which are lessons I have learned from sharks: 1. We don’t know what we don’t know. Many consumers are not as aware of the exact product they are eating or consuming; in some cases, they might think it’s just a name (like Tiger Balm, which, BTW, is NOT made from tigers) 2. One size does not fit all. Labeling someone under one name because of their origins and culture is incorrect because many people of that location or culture are invested in ocean and shark conservation. There is an entire conference going on right now. 3. Let’s check our situation and what we have done so far to help against practices such as shark fishing or finning, by-catch, and destructive fishing practices such as longlines where we are, in our territory, where we have the power to vote 4. Understanding and communication go a long way together with education. Screaming and calling derogatory names won’t change the situation; if anything, it will alienate a possible audience. To communicate effectively, we must realize that we all perceive the world differently and use this understanding to guide our communication with others.
Do female sharks become mamas? While sharks go through different lengths of pregnancies and give birth in various ways (material for another post), according to each species, no sharks give parental care. That means once the pups are born or the eggs are left for the pup to develop, the mother leaves the babies to fend off for themselves. Following instincts, the young ones slowly figure out their diets and locations while using the extra reserve fatty tissues of the liver to survive. The small fish swimming with the sharks can differ depending on location and, again, species of sharks, from remoras, like the one in the image, to pilot fish. Image by me of Nacho with a remora slightly detached from her body. @peopleofthewater @wdhof
Recharge. I have been very busy with courses and classes. I spent a ton of time teaching cave, cavern, shark, online mentorship, and interviews. I have gone through one significant heartache, but what has disturbed me the most has been the wave of negative interactions with strangers on different subjects, the gratuitous, unjustified anger, and verbal abuse with the use of derogatory and exaggerated words because our views are different on a topic. To recharge, I spend time with the creatures who, despite being heavily judged, present none of the negative traits they are accused of. For a few hours, I forget, clean my mind, and I realize that those who manifest so much anger are the unfortunate ones. They are the ones not addressing an important emotional issue in their lives, that their beliefs, values, desires, or ambitions are compromised, and they take it out on those people who are true to their beliefs and act on them. Image by @kewinlorenzen who shares the same journey. Crook is a Caribbean Reef shark and I have known her for 14 years. @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @scubapro
She or He. How do we recognize male from female shark? Contrary to most of the marine life, the one of sharks is visible at a glance. Look at the second set of abdominal fins, known as pelvic fins. A male has two extensions known as claspers; a female has a slit known as cloaca. 1. Image of male Caribbean Reef shark, Black Spot (note claspers showing behind pelvic fins) 2. Male anatomy 3. Female anatomy Images by me with @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @scubapro @neptunic_com @peopleofthewater @wdhof
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
“While his background is engineering, Kewin now works as a professional underwater photographer a videographer in the Bahamas. A man wearing many hats, he also uses his engineering skills to crea 3D, interactive, and digital maps of the underwater world, especially caves. As you’ll see here, while h portfolio does feature a Bahamian favorite (sharks), there are a lot of cave images as well. Kewin is als on the board of directors of the non-profit People of the Water, the goal of which is to “change th relationships people have with our aquatic world through exploration, education, and conservation.” Several of the images featured here were made by Kewin specifically to show the relationship betweer people and water, and are infused with a sense of fantasy and adventure. Kewin’s portfolio is refreshing and diverse, from nudis to great hammerheads to an underwater archer. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there is an image in here for you!” Matthew Sullivan @kewinlorenzen featured as photographer of the week on @divephotoguide Link in bio to Kewin’s online gallery and sale
At a glance! When I look at the group of sharks I dive with all the time (and some of the other groups around The Bahamas), I immediately see individuals. With the recognition of each individual comes also the understanding of each personality. I have identified and explained sharks’ personalities for nearly 30 years; each one looks different and is unique in how they approach and interact around us. As I always say, one size does not fit all. We cannot clump sharks into one generalized concept, and even more so, we cannot clump the same species of sharks into one either, as each one has a unique way of behaving. Image by @kewinlorenzen with @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @waterproofinternational @scubapro @peopleofthewater @wdhof
Meet Half-Baked and the art of naming sharks! It is normal to receive some odd looks when I mention some of the names these wonderful ladies have. Naming the sharks starts with making sure that they have decided to stay; when I new shark comes on the location record the presence for six months. Once the shark is established, Instead of giving a general name, I give one reflecting a physical detail. For this reason we have Crook, with two crooked fins, we have Hook, with the dorsal fin free rear tip shaped like a hook or like Half-Baked, with a unique coloration of her right eye, the same color of an eye-shadow with that name. Images of Half-Baked,l Hook and Crook by me With @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @waterproofinternational @scubapro @peopleofthewater @wdhof
Meet Half-Baked and the art of naming sharks! It is normal to receive some odd looks when I mention some of the names these wonderful ladies have. Naming the sharks starts with making sure that they have decided to stay; when I new shark comes on the location record the presence for six months. Once the shark is established, Instead of giving a general name, I give one reflecting a physical detail. For this reason we have Crook, with two crooked fins, we have Hook, with the dorsal fin free rear tip shaped like a hook or like Half-Baked, with a unique coloration of her right eye, the same color of an eye-shadow with that name. Images of Half-Baked,l Hook and Crook by me With @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @waterproofinternational @scubapro @peopleofthewater @wdhof
Meet Half-Baked and the art of naming sharks! It is normal to receive some odd looks when I mention some of the names these wonderful ladies have. Naming the sharks starts with making sure that they have decided to stay; when I new shark comes on the location record the presence for six months. Once the shark is established, Instead of giving a general name, I give one reflecting a physical detail. For this reason we have Crook, with two crooked fins, we have Hook, with the dorsal fin free rear tip shaped like a hook or like Half-Baked, with a unique coloration of her right eye, the same color of an eye-shadow with that name. Images of Half-Baked,l Hook and Crook by me With @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @waterproofinternational @scubapro @peopleofthewater @wdhof
Earth Day, April 22nd, 2024: a reflection. I will not share the most fantastic action I completed today because I won’t complete anything spectacular. While these days are excellent reminders of what is essential in our life, I prefer to complete small daily actions to mitigate my presence on this planet. Repeated actions have a significant impact and cost little in terms of time and attention, making it easier to implement a few in our routine. Some of my day-to-day routine includes cleaning only with white vinegar, baking soda, and alcohol, with zero use of poisons, even when I have a few pests in the apartment (after all, we live in the tropics, so they are not entirely avoidable), using canvas bags for grocery shopping, avoid single-use – fill in the blank both in the house (wipes, paper towels) and outside (to go coffee – take out) or clean up the little corner of the planet we use, be the beach, the forest or even the street we live on. The impact we have changes from place to place in the world, depending on location, the presence of recycling or not, and many other factors; however, what doesn’t change is that Earth Day is every day; we need to remember there is no Planet B. Image by Sandeep Vladamundi
Here is to strong women: We Know Them We Are Them We Raise Them Reflection from the floor. I grew up the daughter of an engineer who took my mom and me around the world for construction projects, like roads and railways; yet I was forbidden to visit some of these projects (like unfinished bridges and tunnels) because, as a woman, I would have brought bad luck to the site (note: not from my dad but the mentality of the local workers). I never considered taking any route into STEM, engineering, because the examples showed me they would be inaccessible. I still found my way, but I had to break away from the constraints of my culture and even from the comments of some of my family’s closest people. It is imperative that we lead, inspire, and help other women fulfill their aspirations and dreams by giving examples, supporting, and being there for a word of encouragement, an idea, and a little push The last three days at @asiadiveexpo have been full of encounters, first by the incredible team behind such an incredible event and then by the women in the industry. The meeting, speaking, sharing, and watching the younger ones’ journeys have been excellent, refreshing, and recharging. I do not have all the pics with all the outstanding women I had the opportunity to share time with, but here is to all of them: we know them we are them we raise them (directly and figuratively) Left to right clockwise: With @christine_regent_west , US polar explorer With @martinazimmitti , Italy Entrepeneur and professional diver With @shruti_bhanushaliofficial , India, technical diver, leading the way in India for women to become more involved in diving and tech diving With @mihirikorala, Sri Lanka, Adex event team member, scuba diver, wellness coach. There are way more wonderful women I met but as always I spent more time sharing the moment than remembering to take pictures with, @julia.waterchild @sinosicat @julia_into_the_blue
“The home of the fog” Nifelfheim is a unique cave world with amazing passageways, the most incredible sedimentations, and features we had not found anywhere else on the island. Caves are a book about the history of this planet. They preserve what was here before us, they show the present, and they are a portal to possible future developments. Delving into the mysteries of caves, their water flow, and their composition is not just a scientific pursuit. It is a vital mission to comprehend the changes our planet is undergoing, to understand how our actions might influence these natural processes, and to learn how to safeguard these invaluable places. It is a call to take a more conscientious approach to our presence on this planet. Presenting about this topic today April 13th ADEX – Asia Dive Expo during my TekTalk 3:30 pm Singapore time (Not recorded or streamed) Image by @kewinlorenzen with @isotta_underwater_housings using @kissrebreathers @waterproofinternational @fourthelementdive @bigbluedivelights
Conservation has broad spectrum applications and it can come in many different forms. Conservation for me it’s a life style and that includes day to day choices. While we can never eliminate our footprint and presence we can learn to mitigate it or to make it more an advantage for the area we visit. We are currently visiting the archipelago of Revillagigedo, commonly known by the name of bigger island of Socorro. A @unesco world heritage site, Socorro is part of the successful stories of conservation to benefit the marine areas and the people tied into these areas. While far away from any shore (30 hours navigation) Mexico, has decided to make it a sanctuary. Many pelagic species of animals, including 241 fish species, 146 invertebrates species and 12 shark species find refuge in these waters, which extend their protection following the currents that run through their “neighboring” Clipperton, Coco, Malpelo and Galapagos. By visiting these areas we fuel income to the Countries providing the protection with their direct presence. We saw this in Cocos Island as well as here, where the local naval controls the permits to visit as well as patrols the waters to prevent poaching. Video of our first two days of diving by @kewinlorenzen With @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @scubapro @fourthelementdive
