This past weekend the Live Stream Crew of ‘Made In Puget Sound’ reassembled for our first or two practice and test events of 2023. Samantha, Anson, Avery and I dusted off and unpacked our highly specialized electronic equipment and electronics designed to operate in our cold, green, murky Northwest waters. These brilliant, highly motivated young marine biology students worked with me during 2022 to create the first ever live streaming, interactive, in real-time method for conducting totally unique underwater research in Puget Sound. Once the batteries were charged, and gear assembled / tested on dry land, it was time to head to the water. It was a spectacular day. The weather was nearly perfect, visibility below the surface was about 20 feet. Although there was not an abundance of wildlife to video during this first experiment in nearly six months, we were able to successfully complete the battery of tests. As expected, we had issues with cables getting tangled, communications equipment momentarily failing, cameras intermittently blinking out, and minor issues piloting our amazing 4K underwater drone. All will easily be worked out. In our video you can hear sporadic street noise near the dock and a few curious bystanders trying to get a glimpse at what we are doing. On the bottom, note the discarded bikes, dive gear and other trash. We often see and report on the many abandoned fishing lures, lines and nets, along with the increasing accumulation of pollutants, toxins, plastics that our wildlife must survive. In a few weeks we will be conducting our second and final test before the launch of the 2023 season of Puget Sound Underwater Live. If you're a teacher, school administrator, or student, and would like your class to get involved and interact with our diver(s) and scientists as we conduct live underwater research of our ecosystems and its wildlife, please contact me. Our live events are free, no charge, no cost to schools! Everyone is invited to participate and view our live or recorded events on YouTube Live. Ask questions from the comfort of your classroom, laboratory or home. For dates and times of upcoming events, please send me an email. Notices will be sent out a few days in advance of an event. Please note that our live events are wind, weather, tides and currents dependent. Our first and primary goal is the safety of our crew, followed with the safety of the plants and animals we engage with. We never touch, move, stage, or harm any animals ever. We have a strong appreciation for our delicate wildlife and the ecosystems they inhabit.
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Our team of amazing young marine biology student volunteers (the Live Crew) and myself research and uncover the wonderful world of Puget Sound Underwater. We explore the depths beneath the surface to reveal rarely seen and mostly under studied fantastic creatures that populate our estuary. Our first of its kind in the world, live streaming, interactive, underwater events identify and report on fish species and wildlife populations, report on crab and shrimp habitats, and much more. We measure water temperatures, and salinity levels, while documenting the many toxins, pollutants, and issues presenting challenges to our delicate and precious local ecosystems. Samantha, Zoe, Anson, Avery, Dylan and the rest of Live Crew learn more every year how vital our work is to the scientific community, students and everyone that lives in the Northwest. Puget Sound is home to not only salmon, orcas and the Giant Pacific Octopus, but so many other wonderful creatures, such as the Hooded Nudibranch. One of about 89 different species of nudibranch or sea slug in our waters, This is one of the very few in the world that can actually swim. They possess many unusual characteristics. They have both male and female reproductive organs. Their eggs, as many as 30,000 are fertilized internally. They can escape from predation by dropping one of their cerata, and there's more. For this and so much more great information about these gorgeous and somewhat rare animals, that only occasionally populate our waters, spend a few short minutes watching my latest video. Learn how you can Get Involved either in person or with your financial help. Every dollar goes toward our work, we are all volunteers, including myself. If you have questions, suggestions, or comments please reach out. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy and learn something new. Although the weather was cold and rainy, with the occasional snowfall, it was a great month in Puget Sound Underwater. I love being in the world of our amazing wildlife. I work to protect our ecosystems and its wildlife. If you would like to get involved in our work, contact me directly on this site. Original 4K Video Short - Barnacle-eating Nudibranch
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