Q2-Spring-2016_Alert-Diver

8 / 116

64 THE MALDIVES
A NEW LOOK AT AN
OLD FAVORITE
Text and photos by
Stephen Frink
The 1,200 islands of
the Maldives are
spread over 35,000
square miles of
Indian Ocean. This
vast wilderness of
reefs and atolls
features a stunning
variety of reef
dwellers and
pelagics both great
and small.
72 FINDING
TREASURE
IN THE BVI
Text and photos
by Tanya G. Burnett
Steeped in pirate lore
and warmed by
tropical breezes, the
British Virgin Islands
are a playground for
sailors and divers.
The wrecks and reefs
of “nature’s little
secrets” teem with
color and life.
78 GIANTS
OF THE
UNDEAD MED
By Doug Perrine
Far from being dead,
the Mediterranean
Sea is home to
abundant marine
mammals and other
wildlife, including
fin whales, sperm
whales, pilot whales,
many species of
dolphins and more.
82 DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS
AND HEALTHY
FOODS FOR
DIVERS
By Petar Denoble,
M.D.,
Might certain foods
and vitamins provide
some measure of
protection for divers?
Petar Denoble
explores the potential
benefits of a variety
of healthy foods and
dietary supplements.
86 OCEAN VIEWS
2016: CHANGE
THE WORLD
The entrants in this
year’s Ocean Views
photo contest are
truly ambassadors
for our ocean world.
As photographer
Brian Skerry states
in his introduction
to the contest
gallery, “The images
we produce bear
witness to the fact
that this stunning
realm exists.”
Features
6 | SPRING 2016
Spring 2016
CONTENTS
A polar bear mother and cubs take a break from hunting seals in Svalbard,
a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Photo by Amos Nachoum
7th
Place
PILOT WHALES
Nice, France
By Greg Lecoeur
While sailing in the Mediterranean with
friends, we spotted several big dorsal fins
on the horizon. No sooner had we changed
course to approach them than they came
to us. We stopped the boat, and I put on my mask and fins,
grabbed my camera and eased into the water for one of the
best underwater encounters I’ve ever had. These whales were
very interested in me and swam around me for five long minutes.
Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, 1/160 sec @ f/9, ISO 320,
Nauticam natural light housing;
ON THE COVER: