Ocean Watch http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch RSS Feed for Ocean Watch en-us Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:30:00 GMT Banded wana unbothered by crab's bodily invasion http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20121029__Banded_wana_unbothered_by_crabs_bodily_invasion.html Last week, while snorkeling off Lani­kai Beach, I found a huge, gorgeous black-and-white wana strolling along a stretch of white sand with all the confidence of an armored tank. Sea lions run the gamut from aggressive to docile http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20111114__Sea_lions_run_the_gamut__from_aggressive_to_docile.html I have had some memorable experiences swimming with California sea lions here in the Sea of Cortez, but none as thrilling as two incidents last week. Leviathan proves elusive to fan of great blue whale http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20111107_Leviathan_proves_elusive__to_fan_of_great_blue_whale.html Loreto, Baja Sur, Mexico » This week I'm sailing along the coast of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, my boat's location for the last two years. Diamondback terrapins at home in brackish water http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20110801_Diamondback_terrapins_at_home_in_brackish_water.html While I was reading a newspaper in a mainland airport several weeks ago, a two-sentence news story caught my eye. Snatching lunch from water, ospreys put on a talons show http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20110725__Snatching_lunch_from_water__ospreys_put_on_a_talons_show.html Last week, while preparing my sailboat for Mexico's hurricane season, I heard a squeaky, high-pitched bird sound, sort of a cross between a mynah and sparrow. This, though, was no songbird. 2009 shark bite makes the news as first nip by a cookie-cutter http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20110718_2009_shark_bite_makes_the_news__as_first_nip_by__a_cookiecutter.html Areport of a swimmer bitten by a cookie-cutter shark, published this month by a University of Florida researcher, sounded familiar. 'Diaries' tells of scientist's adventures with dolphins http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20110711__Diaries_tells_of_scientists_adventures__with_dolphins.html When I was growing up, I enjoyed Jacques Cousteau TV specials, and I also liked "Star Trek. Harmless moon jellyfish are more fun than fearsome http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20110704_Harmless_moon_jellyfish__are_more_fun_than_fearsome.html This email came from reader John Swindle: "Decades ago I used to swim at Ala Moana Beach, usually near sunset. Handfish and frogfish share skill of camouflaging selves http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20110627_Handfish_and_frogfish_share_skill_of_camouflaging_selves.html A friend sent me an article recently about Australian researchers naming nine new handfish species, bringing the world's total to 14. Mystery Hanauma Bay creature probably related to man-of-war http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/oceanwatch/20110620__Mystery_Hanauma_Bay_creature_probably_related_to_manofwar.html Hawaii resident Suzanne Hammer snorkels daily around Hanauma Bay, rain or shine. One stormy Kona-weather day last month, she photographed a purple creature no one could identify.