Tom Nic wrote:Waynne Fowler wrote:We've been watching this group of sponges for more than a decade. They've been nearly obliterated by touching and/or accidental kicking and of course the normal natural hazards sponges face.
Sigh... I remember watching an instructor unaware of where their fins were as they turned around take a good hunk out of a cloud sponge on a deep wall some years ago. Sigh...
I know I've destroyed my share of wildlife rototilling over years, but sure try hard not to do so and wish others would do the same.
Waynne Fowler wrote: Over the last 5 or so years they've gone from football size to this bosu ball size.....
Now this is really cool! Interesting to see their growth rate.
I don't think there are too many of us that haven't done MORE than our share of 'accidental maiming' while we learn proper buoyancy control.
( I sometimes have nightmares about animals I've maimed coming in my house and crawling all up and down my face! ) While it's never cool, we all have to crawl before we can walk. The good news is that more and more instructors in our area try to get the kiddies to walk BEFORE they are unleashed in the ocean. As more people become eco conscious they will take their business away from those shops that do not require this. Hopefully we will see a shift from shops who simply see students as a wallet to be emptied and will focus on creating conscientious, thoughtful divers.
Yes.... I have a dream!
I have been AMAZED at the speed these things grow. And as a cool side note... they apparently grow very well (maybe ONLY) over old dead stock, so they have found a way to turn the bad in their favor.... or at least that is what research into cloud sponges has revealed - if someone knows different I'd sure love to know.
Again... amazing video Mr. Z.....
