Happy 4th Of July to our US readers!

If you find yourself out on the water today, please be smart! Lots of crazies come out on the 4th.

#1 Goal - Be safe!

#2 - Don’t end up on Qualified Captain!

Keep Diving,

Connor

Hey there, spearos. This is The Stone Shot, your weekly dose of spear content (and maybe some fishing, but we try to keep it below the water line)

If you’re new around here, every first Thursday of the month I send out the DIVER email. What’s that, you ask? Let me break it down for you:

The D.I.V.E.R. Email

Deal • Interesting • Video • Environment • Record

Deal

Riffe Vortex 3.5mm Wetsuit - $118 OFF

Link to deal

“Open cell eco-friendly neoprene fits like a second skin. Designed for functionality, warmth and comfort. Glued and blind stitched seams offer maximum heat retention.”

Interesting

Before we jump into the subject below, I wanted to share this GoFundMe link. Donations are providing hurricane relief for the Grenadines and Union Island, which have been devastated.

If you have a couple extra bucks and would like to help, please visit this link.

Hurricanes Impact On Coral Reefs

As I write this, a category 5 hurricane named Beryl is tearing through the Caribbean. Beryl is the first major hurricane ever to hit before July 1st—a sign of what’s to come this season? Hopefully not.

As a spearo, it got me thinking.

Obviously, hurricanes tear through islands, coastal cities, and any other landmass they come in contact with. But what about underwater? How do our reefs hold up?

Here’s what I found.

Physical Damage

Hurricanes produce strong waves and currents that break, dislodge, and scatter corals. This physical destruction can take decades for the reef to recover, if at all. The strong swells also scrape away the protective algae that corals rely on, leaving them vulnerable to further damage and disease​.

Sediment and Light Blockage

The turbulent waters stirred up by hurricanes cause sediments to be suspended and then settle on the reefs, smothering the corals.

This sedimentation blocks sunlight, which is crucial for the photosynthesis that corals depend on, causing stress and potentially leading to coral bleaching​

Algal Overgrowth

Post-hurricane environments can favor the growth of fleshy macroalgae over corals. The removal of corals and sponges, combined with the influx of nutrients from storm runoff, can lead to algal dominance. This shift makes it more difficult for coral reefs to recover, as algae outcompete corals for space and light.

Restoration

Efforts to restore damaged reefs involve activities like reattaching broken coral fragments and removing invasive species.

Organizations like NOAA and the ANGARI Foundation work on such projects to support the recovery and resilience of coral reefs following hurricane impacts​.

Video

Danny MaKo is my favorite underwater videographer. He has a unique ability to capture the underwater world and bring it to life. All of his videos are mesmerizing. Like so:

Environment

Summer Holidays

This one’s for those of you who are celebrating the 4th of July this weekend. Normally, we feature environmental non-profits, eco-friendly businesses, or major environmental hazards that affect our world.

But today is a direct call to action.

Don’t Be Part Of The Problem

If you find yourself celebrating on the beach, lake, or river today, make sure you clean up after yourself. Summer holidays wreak havoc on our bodies of water.

Fireworks. Plastic cups. Plastic silverware. Water balloons. You get the gist.

It’s easy to get lost in the excitement. Trust me, I get it. But do our waters a little favor this year and clean up after yourself.

Or better yet, on Friday morning, go out and clean up as much trash as you can! There’s no better hangover cure than hopping in the water with a mask and snorkel and picking up some fireworks debris.

Also, cheers! And happy birthday, America!

Record

Common Snook

Weight: 60.3 lbs/27.3 kg

Spearo: Jorge Tanure

Location: Brazil

Date Speared: 3/8/1998

I hope you enjoyed this months DIVER email!

PS - We’re searching for great spearfishing stories. Any stories of your own that you'd be willing to tell? Respond to this email and we’ll send over a short questionnaire!

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