Saturday, May 25, 2019

World Oceans Day - June 8th


Celebrating Blue; Celebrating Life




Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

On World Oceans Day, June 8th, people around our blue planet will be celebrating and honoring the ocean that connects us all.


A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. In the words of National Geographic explorer-in-residence, marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle: "No water, no life. No blue, no green."


“Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, the ocean touches you,” says Earle, “with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone, everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea."


There will be events spanning the globe from the Santa Monica Aquarium, CA…


to the Coralpalooza in Key Largo, Florida.


Open Doors at the Marine Biology Institute of Piran, Italy…


Movies on the beach in Curacao…


an Ocean Expo in Guam, and many more.


To the tip of South Africa.


Plus, Seth Matson of non-profit Drains to Ocean, is hosting the Saltwater Benefit Artshow in Costa Mesa, CA, featuring over 20 of the top ocean artists from San Diego to LA. and beyond. SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti are big fans of Seth's art and volunteer work and know this will be an epic way to celebrate the day.


And, to get the groms on board, the National Wildlife Federation is holding a contest with Joel Harper, author of All the Way to the Ocean, asking children to write Facebook and Instagram posts about how they are protecting the ocean. 


So, find a World Oceans Day event near you and join in the celebration!


Celebrate Blue! Celebrate Life!



Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.


Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given. 


Saturday, May 11, 2019

Dumbo Octopus A Rare Sight


Takes Flight in Ocean Depths


Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

While movie-goers are heading to theaters to see the new, live-action version of Disney’s movie classic Dumbo…


ocean scientists on the E/V Nautilus exploration vessel have been looking at another Dumbo deep beneath the sea.  


The scientists were treated to a special sight at the end of the 2018 exploration season when they spotted a rare Dumbo Octopus while surveying the deep waters of the Davidson Seamount in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary off California's coast.


The ship was using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to photograph the area when the Dumbo Octopus – with its large fins that resemble the ears of the well-known elephant – unexpectedly drifted into view.


The 2 ft.-long octopus, which was swimming at a depth of some 10,000 feet below sea level, delighted the crew with its twists and turns and other maneuverings.


Dumbo octopuses, who spend most of their time hovering just above the ocean floor, can move quickly, using their fins and eight webbed-together legs to propel themselves. 


With the start of the exploration vessel's 2019 season just getting underway, who knows what new wonders it will find hidden in the ocean's depths? 





Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.


Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.