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24.04.2005

the underwater videos together with the  latest photos are up.

22.04.2005

before eikes departure we collected all our equipment and went back to limassol where we gave everything a good wash and sorting out the kit. tanks were filled and in the evening eike left cyprus.

within the next days the video footage will be uploaded and more detailed reports (CLICK AT LINK ABOVE) about the dives will follow.

21.04.2005

after an 8 hour surface interval we set out again for a morning dive. the sea was flat with calm winds. as soon as we arrived on site a heavy swell came up and winds increased to a strong 4 bft. already anchored we jumped in and made a 50 minute dive exploring the area around the pin. the dive included further video footage. after our ascend and final deco we got back in the boat facing very rough seas and strong winds. 

arriving at the beach we had to get the boat out in big surf. the car nearly got stuck in the sand and the boat was swamped several times. as it turned out it was the final dive of the project as during the day the beach surf increased making it dangerous to launch the boat.

20.04.2005

FINALLY GOOD WEATHER. THE 1ST DIVE IN THE MORNING WAS IN CALM SEAS. WE ANCHORED AT THE PIN AND DESCENDED TO THE WALL EDGE. FROM THERE WE DOVE IN EAST AND FURTHER DOWN TO THE BIG CAVE EXPLORING THE AREA. ON THE WAY WE PASSED A LONG FISHING NET. THE RETURN WAS ALONG THE WALL SLOWLY ASCENDING TOWARDS THE PIN. THE REMAINING TIME WE SPENT ON TOP OF THE WALL UNTIL WE GOT UP TO OUR DECOMPRESSION STOPS WITH A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES. .

AFTER WE SPENT THE TIME FILLING OUR TANKS IN LIMASSOL AND FINALISED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VIDEO LIGHT ARM.

THE SECOND DIVE WAS A NIGHT DIVE AND STARTED AFTER A SURFACE INTERVAL OF 13 HOURS AT 2330HRS. ON THE SURFACE WAS A STRONG EAST CURRENT AND WE HAD TO PULL OURSELVES DOWN THE ANCHOR LINE WHICH WAS PLACED AT THE PIN. THE CURRENT DECREASED ON THE BOTTOM BUT WAS STILL STRONG. VISIBILITY WAS ONLY 10 METERS. DURING THIS NIGHT DIVE WE SHOT SOME VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE CREATURES OF THE NIGHT (FEATHER STARS, HERMET CRABS, SHRIMP, SEA CUCUMBERS, ETC...).

19.04.2005

again strong winds with rough seas and a high surf at the beach. diving was cancelled.

the day was spent to construct a light arm for the underwater video camera as we plan to do some filming for the remaining dives.

18.04.2005

in the morning the tanks were filled and the boat engine was repaired. however due to  increasing strong winds and waves diving had to be cancelled again.

17.04.2005

a short breakthrough in better sea conditions and we set out for a dive.

today we descended over the wall ledge directly to the bigger cavern for an inner exploration.

the entrance is at -43 meters and the bottom consists of very fine silt of about 30 cms thickness. outside the cavern we deployed a bailout tank and next to it we secured the beginning of the guide line.

equipped with several lights we entered the darkness of the cavern and observed many colorful fish swimming upside down at the ceiling of the cavern. also much other marine life in many different colors was present.

every few meters we tied off the reel line and entered deeper into the cavern system. at about 15 meters in, the cavern parted in 2 chambers leading downwards. further to the left dim light showed a second entrance point but it was to restricted to fit through.

we choose to enter the left chamber for further exploration but shortly afterwards we got stuck in a complete silt-out. within seconds there was zero visibility and AFTER A BOTTOM TIME OF 35MIN.  we turned around to find our way out.

carefully following and reeling in the guide line we got back to the entrance, clipped the bailout on and ascended the wall to our 15 min. deco stop.

back in the boat we decided for a night dive. shortly on our way the cooling system of the engine stopped. drifting at open sea we managed to call the local surf shop at pissouri which had a boat in the water and half an hour later we were towed back to shore. the boat had to go in the repair shop next day Monday.

14. - 16.04.2005

strong winds - no diving.

13.04.2005

yet another low pressure system moving in. although the wind increased to a good 4 bft and the sea became very choppy we pushed out for a dive.

it was calm under water and we descended to -40 meters exploring the marine life around the pin. under an overhang we found a colony of yellow corals. further on the way we observed sea cucumbers hiding in little caves and a rock covered in feather star fish.

during This dive the remarkable presence of macro plankton attracted our attention. It was visible to the naked eye and many fish such as Chromis Chromis (“Moenchsfisch”, genus Pamacentridae) were consuming it. The reason for this higher-than-average appearance was probably the stormy weather that caused a change in the currents.

We commonly characterize plankton as the group of small organisms who are floating or swimming but unable to move against the current autonomously. We further distinguish between Holoplankton (floating in the water their whole life-cycle) and Meroplankton (only a certain part of the life-cycle is spent floating). The single organism is called “Plankter”; if it is an animal it is called “Zooplankton”, if it is a plant it is called “Phytoplankton”. In the first place, a characteristic trait for “plankters” is an appendix that increases the water resistance and is used for floating and reducing the sink rate. Furthermore, typical attributes are a high percentage of water content of the body and the accumulation of gas and fat.

as described above, the limiting factors for the horizontal and vertical dispersion are proper motion, currents, reproduction rate and discreation rate. Many species show a regular variation in their vertical dispersion not only on a yearly but on a daily basis (the circadian rhythm). Especially for the vertical relocation, light is an important factor. Additional factors are nutrition, temperature, oxygen level and currents / turbulences. The maximum concentration of plankton therefore moves to different depths.

We could further observe a notable appearance of some “Moenchsfisch” and groups of Antedon Miditerranea (“Mittelmeerhaarstern”, genus Antendonidae) at locations exposed to current.

working our way up we spent some time in the shallows at -25 meters. there we found a Kowalski dive light lost 2 weeks ago. ascending to our deco stop we encountered some current but the h2o temperature was 2c warmer than at depth.

the 2.5 nm back and forth in the boat was a wild ride and as wet as underwater.

12.04.2005

wind and rough sea. no diving.

11.04.2005

IMPROVED MARINE WEATHER CONDITIONS LET US DO TWO DIVES. THE 1ST LEAD US TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE PIN TO CHECK ON THE FEED FOR THE BRISTLE WORMS WHICH WAS COVERED BY THEM. IN THE AREA WE CHECKED OTHER SMALL CAVERNS AND HOLES FOR MARINE LIFE.

THE 2ND DIVE WAS DONE ON THE WEST SIDE AND WE DISCOVERED SEA CUCUMBERS AND SHRIMP DEEP IN LITTLE CAVERNS. ALSO LOTS OF NUDI BRANCHES WERE AROUND.

VISIBILITY WAS SLIGHTLY BETTER AND WE ALSO HAD A BIT OF A CURRENT. EACH DIVE HAD 11 MINUTES DECO TIME WITH A SURFACE INTERVAL OF 90 MINUTES.

Yesterday we displayed some baits to attract scavengers and to closer study their maxima of activity. We were able to observe that the fire worms were attracted by the baits instantly and reduced the mass of the bait by 50% within the next 24 hours. According to our expectations, unlike their vulnerable relatives the bristle worms are independent from the time of day. They are not constricted by the factor light. Sea cucumber, scissors shrimps (“Scherengarnele”) and other animals have adapted their circadian rhythm to the circumstances of their environment: Their foraging takes place when they can be relatively sure to be safe from scavengers and too much competition. This is their way to protect themselves. In contradiction, thanks to its poisonous bristles the fire worm can perform foraging the whole day. Its maximum of activity is only restricted by the presence of possible prey.

In comparison, the other bristle worms we encountered are all nocturnal, because they are an easy prey to diurnal fish.

This experiment therefore evidences the “niche” of the fire worm, something which we can generally describe as the adaptation to scavengers, nutrition, temperature, time and space.

Furthermore, during the dive we met some “Scherengarnelen” (Scissors Shrimps) waiting in their lairs. They reacted very carefully to our torches, which again proofs the distinctive susceptibility to the abiotic factor light.

! LOTS OF NEW PHOTOS !

10.04.2005

BEST WEATHER AND WE DID A DIVE IN THE EVENING. TODAY WE WERE FEEDING BRISTLE WORMS AND FISH. IT WAS OBSERVED HOW PLANKTON WAS RISING FROM THE DEPTH.

VISIBILITY WASN'T TO GOOD - ONLY 20 METERS. WE HAD CURRENT AT THE SURFACE AND THE H2O TEMPERATURE IS STILL 16C.

07. - 09.04.2005

ANOTHER PASS OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WHICH IS BOILING UP THE SEA. NO DIVING.

THE DAYS WERE SPENT TO UPDATE THE REPORT PAGES AND TO ADD DETAILS TO THIS NEWS SECTION.

06.04.2005

PERFECT FLAT SEA AND SUNSHINE. GOING FOR A MORNING DIVE WE EXPLORED AGAIN THE DEEPER PART OF JUBILEE SHOAL DOWN TO -40 METERS LOOKING FOR THE CORALS. INSIDE THE CAVERN WE FOUND NUMEROUS YELLOW AND GREEN SMALL CORALS AND TOOK PHOTOS OF IT. A LOT OF NUDI BRANCHES WERE AROUND TOO. VISIBILITY WAS STILL LIMITED TO 20 METERS. AFTER A BOTTOM TIME OF 39 MIN. WE ASCENDED TO OUR DECOMPRESSION STOPS.

the yellow stone corals are located at the bottom side of a ledge. This place is heavily exposed to current and spangled with yellow stone corals and caryophyllia inornata (“Runde Nelkenkoralle”), which features red-brown to white polyps. Additionally, some fig sponges (“Feigenschwämme”) with leopard slugs as well as a Jamulus cristatus (“Gestreifte Dickkolbenschnecke”, genus Janolidae). In a depth of -20, -30 mETERS we saw a Polycirrus sp. (“Vielfädiger Borstenwurm”, genus terebellidae) sticking out ITS long, thin tentacles from THE tube.

05.04.2005

EIKE RETURNED LAST NIGHT AND CALM WIND AND SEAS LET US DO A MORNING DIVE. BECAUSE OF THE BAD WEEKEND WEATHER VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED TO 15 METERS. TODAY WE EXPLORED THE DEEPER PART TOWARDS THE BOTTOM WHERE WE REACHED A MAXIMUM DEPTH OF -52 METERS. ON THE WAY WE FOUND A DIVE LIGHT WE LOST LAST WEEK. DIVING ALONG THE WALL IN EAST WE SHORTLY INSPECTED A BIGGER CAVERN. IN IT WE DISCOVERED SMALL CORALS. ASCENDING TO THE TOP WALL EDGE WE RETURNED TO THE ANCHOR INVESTIGATING THE SURROUNDING AREA. A FEW NEW THINGS WERE DISCOVERED AND FINALLY WE WENT UP FOR THE DECOMPRESSION TO FINISH THE DIVE AFTER 45 MIN. .

Discovery of a yellow stone coral (Leptpsammia pruvoti, genus Dendrophyllidae). Additionally, miscellaneous starfish and sea urchins, among them Centrostephanus longisoinus („Diademseeigel“) and Paracentrotus lividus (“Steinseeigel”). Also different kinds of bristle worms and tube worms as well as the fire bristle worm.

Fire Worm
Hermodice Crunculata
Genus Amhinomidae

The fire worm reaches a length of up to 30 cmS, a thickness comparable to a human finger and it lacks any scales. Characteristic for this worm are the up to approx. 150 bristled segments. The bristles are shaped like a harpoon or an arrow. They are arranged in several clusters per segment (at the sides of the body together with the gills). The colour of the fire worm varies from green to brown with bright stripes at the segment borders. The bristles are white, though the gills and head region is coloured shiny red. On its head the worm carries a ramified appendix known as Caranculum. Most probably, this is a chemosensory organ useful for scenting.
The fire worm lives on primary and secondary hard grounds as well as it resides within sea grass meadows. It can be found in shallow and deep water. As a predator, its nutrition includes sea anemones or carrion that IT can smell over a distance of several meters. In contrast to other bristle worms, which are nocturnal, this worm is also diurnal. The poisonous bristles provide protection against predators, especially against fish. This protection through Ektotoxines (also known from the yellow stone coral’s cnidoblasts) institutes the possibility to release the organism from the dependency of light and darkness. Less hostile predators offer the chance to populate new ecological niches. Therefore, this animal can enforce foraging every time independently from the abiotic factor light.

31.03.2005

A SMALL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PASSING CYPRUS BROUGHT STRONG WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS. DIVING WAS CANCELLED.

THE DAY WAS USED TO WASH AND SORT OUT THE EQUIPMENT AND GET ON WITH THE PAPER WORK.

30.03.2005

STRONG WINDS DURING DAY TIME PREVENTED THE DIVES. HOWEVER THE WIND CALMED DOWN IN THE EVENING AND WE DID A NIGHT DIVE STARTING AT 2200HRS. THERE WAS A SURFACE CURRENT DOWN TO -8 METERS AND VISIBILITY WAS DECREASED TO 15 METERS. AT THE BOTTOM WAS NO CURRENT AND WORK COULD BE DONE IN A COMFORTABLE WAY. AFTER A BOTTOM TIME OF 40 MIN. WE ASCENDED TO A 7 MIN. DECO STOP.

The dives during the NIGHT were characterized through the ascending plankton which go up to the water surface. This vertical migration between day and night in the water changed the hole ecological system. You can see the plankton during the night when there is a movement and no light. It is "biolumniszens" which means that the plankton glow in the dark so you can see it. at night a lot of animals hunting plankton in his vertical migration like feather stars or bristle worms. other animals hunt animals which eat the plankton. These animals like the prawns eat small cancers. So we can conclude that there is a huge difference in day or nighttime because of the plankton.

Good evidence of plankton: When irritated by the motor boat or fin movements, these micro organisms reveal a green glow that probably originates in bioluminescence (during the day the energy is being accumulated and in case of irritation revealed at night). Thus, already on our way to the Jubilee Shoal we were able to see the plankton. In the evenings the plankton migrates to the surface and in the mornings it moves down again. The biological reason for that behaviour may arise from the consumption of pytho-plankton and safety aspects concerning possible predators. We primarily discovered first and second hand plankton consumers, among them several decapods (e.g. Diogenes Pugilata, “Sand Einsiedler”, or Pogurus Anachoretus, “Gestreifter Einsiedler”, both genus Paguridae).

We could also keep track of small Scorpoena Notata (“Drachenkopffisch”, genus Scorpaenidae) and spotted a noticeable strong activity of bristle worms (“Borstenwürmer”). Besides, we were able to observe some fire bristle worms (“Feuerborstenwürmer”): These seem to set their maximum in activity independently from the abiotic factor light, since they have shown the same level of activity during daytime.

29.03.2005

TODAY WE DID 2 DIVES STARTING AT 0700HRS. WEATHER AND SEA CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. ON SITE WE WERE VISITED BY FISHERMEN ASKING IF THERE IS ANY FISH DOWN THERE.

THE DIVES HAD AN AVERAGE OF -35 METERS WITH BOTTOM TIMES OF 45MIN. DECOMPRESSION AT -6 METERS WAS DONE ON 100% OXYGEN SURFACE SUPPLY. SURFACE INTERVAL: 60 MIN. . VISIBILITY: 20 METERS. ACTIVE MARINE LIFE WAS VERY LITTLE.

A NEW WEB PAGE WITH PART OF THE REPORT IS UP (SEE ON TOP) AND A NEW PHOTO ALBUM IS ADDED.

The dives during the day were characterized through a very low activity of fish. We investigated the upper side of the pin AND DOWN TO -35 METERS. In this area we discovered a lot of benthic life, most of them with defence mechanisms like the sea-hedgehog or fire worm or snails. Most of the animals are herbivores or destruenten, sometimes carnivore. Very interesting were the bristle worms or large, rarely shells. All this organism filter the water FOR food intake.

The area is for us so interesting because it unites a multiplicity of different habitats like caves, sandy and stony soils, the POSEIDONIA area and the rock slope. We can observe how the animals adapt to THEIR habitat, like the snails to the sponges or eudendrium colonies or the shell in the POSEIDONIA.

A closer look on the leopard slug (Peltodoris Atromaculata)

So far, I could observe the slug only on the top of some Petrosia ficiformis (“Feigenschwamm”, genus Renieridae). Apparently, either this sponge or some symbiotic algae living on its surface are the preferred source of food. Even if there are no slugs visible on a particular sponge, small bright grooves on the top indicate former slug presence. The slug resides in a depth between 20 to 55m.

Furthermore, during the dive we found the Flabellna Offinis (“violette Fadenschnecke”)  and the Coryphella Pedata (“Weissspitz Fadenschnecke”). In the majority of cases, we met these animals on colonies of Eudendrium, which is a polyp-like species looking similar to sea grass. We also saw egg laying slugs as well as some clutches within these colonies.  Depending on the species the Coryphella Pedata’s clutch appears white, whereas the Flabellna Offinis’ clutch is coloured pink to violet.

The following dive we encountered a Pinna Nobilis (“Grosse Steckmuschel”) within the widespread meadows of POSEIDONIA grass (20 - 80cm tall). This clam can grow up to a length of 100cmS and is very rare today: Already in the ancient world, it was hunted for its fine and durable fibres (‘Bysussfaeden”). These fibres were processed to fine-spun fabrics with nylon-like characteristics. More recent threads for this clam include their red pearls or their meat.

26. - 28.03.2005

THESE DAYS WERE SPENT at BASE CAMP TO EVALUATE THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE MARINE LIFE AND BEGIN THE WRITTEN REPORT FROM LOGS, NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS TAKEN.

THE FIRST CONCLUSION IS THAT THE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM IS DISTURBED AND UNBALANCED. THERE IS AN OVER POPULATION OF PLANT EATERS BUT DUE TO OVER FISHING THE MEAT EATING LIFE FORMS ARE GREATLY MISSING.

BECAUSE OF INCREASED WINTER RAINFALL,  NITRATES FROM OVER FERTILIZING ARE WASHED INTO THE SEA LEADING TO INCREASED GROWTH AND SPREADING OF ALGAE WHICH ENCOURAGES PLANT EATING LIFE.

IT IS OBSERVED THAT THE SEA IN THE RESEARCH AREA IS POLLUTED BY NITRATES AND DISCARDED FISHING MATERIAL AND OVER FISHED.

25.03.2005

1ST DIVE LAUNCH TIME AT 0600HRS. CALM SEAS AND SUN. WATER TEMPERATURE 15C. VISIBILITY 30 METERS. NO CURRENT.

A MARKER BUOY WAS SET. THE DIVE WAS FINE WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS AND EIKE STUDIED THE MARINE LIFE DOWN TO -35 METERS. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE POSEIDONIA SEA GRASS WAS COVERED WITH MICROBES INDICATING WATER POLLUTION. DECOMPRESSION WAS DONE AT -6 METERS WITH 100% OXYGEN FROM A SURFACE SUPPLY SYSTEM.

DIVING IN A 5MM WETSUIT LEFT EIKE COLD UPON RETURN.

THE 2ND DIVE OF THE DAY STARTED AT NIGHT AT 2000HRS. ANCHORING AT THE SURFACE MARKER THE DIVE WENT TO -33 METERS WITH SOME SOUTH CURRENT. VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED TO 15 METERS. THE WALL WAS VERY ACTIVE WITH MARINE LIFE ESPECIALLY IN SOME CAVERNS WHERE SHRIMP WERE BUSY WITH THEIR NIGHT ACTIVITIES.

24.03.2005

CALM WIND. FLAT SEA. FIRST DIVE AT 0700HRS.

THE FIRST DIVE HAD ITS COMPLICATIONS WITH EIKE GETTING VERY SEASICK AND PUKING OVER HIS DIVE PARTNER WHO WAS WAITING IN THE WATER. FOLLOWING DIVE EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS WHICH WERE SORTED IN THE WATER STRESSED THE BEGINNING OF THE DIVE MORE.

NEVERTHELESS - FINALLY GETTING DOWN, FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE RESEARCH SITE AND GENERAL STUDY OF MARINE LIFE WHERE UNDERTAKEN.

DURING ALL DIVES A BAILOUT TANK WITH BOTTOM GAS (AIR) IS DEPLOYED AT -20 METERS AND A BAILOUT OXYGEN TANK AT - 6 METERS.

LAST DECOMPRESSION STOP AT -6 METERS WAS DONE WITH 100% OXYGEN FROM A SURFACE SUPPLY SYSTEM.

THE AFTERNOON WAS SPENT TO SORT OUT EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATION.

23.03.2005

RISE AND SHINE AT 0530HRS. DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY SWELLS THE FIRST DIVES HAD TO BE CANCELLED.

THE DAY WAS SPENT FOR IN DEPTH BRIEFING OF DIVE AND BOAT SAFETY, SAFETY AND BOAT DRILLS, DIVE AND WORK MANAGEMENT AND PREPARATION OF UNDERWATER CAMERA AND FILM EQUIPMENT.

ANALYSIS OF WEATHER FORECASTS PROMISE GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING DAYS.

22.03.2005

PREPARATION OF DIVE AND BOAT EQUIPMENT IN LIMASSOL DURING THE FORENOON.

SETTING UP BASE CAMP IN PISSOURI BAY IN THE AFTERNOON.

IN THE EVENING MEETING WITH MARINE BIOLOGISTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESEARCH.

21.03.2005

ARRIVAL OF EIKE IN CYPRUS.