The Daily Reel: June 19, 2012

• South Africa Keeps Its Great White Sharks at Bay
• California Man Rescued After Collision with Whale
• World’s First Underwater Nightclub?

South Africa Keeps Its Great White Sharks at Bay

In an effort to combat a high fatality rate of shark incidents, the Cape Town community is employing several techniques that are working to protect people. Following a rash of sightings and bites of great white sharks in 2004, a program called Shark Spotters began wherein human lookouts are placed high above popular beaches with binoculars and walkie-talkies, ready to give the signal to clear the water should a shark be spotted. Flags and sirens are also used to give people adequate warning. Fish Hoek, one of Cape Town’s most popular beaches, is slated to have exclusion nets installed for further safety. Although the nets were ruled out years ago due to their tendency to harm other marine life, the nets they plan to use has one square inch mesh, small enough to keep a large majority of marine life from swimming through or getting caught. The nets are currently in use in Seychelles and Hong Kong with success. Since the Shark Spotting program began, there have been more than 1,200 sightings of great whites.

California Man Rescued After Collision with Whale

A northern California man who was on the final leg of a sailing trip from the east coast back to his home in Sacramento suffered a collision with a whale about 40 miles off the western coast of Mexico, completely knocking out the steering and creating a hole from which the 50-foot vessel began rapidly taking on water. Acting quickly, Max Young activated an emergency beacon that notified the Coast Guard and stuffed a mattress into the hole. Turning on four bilge pumps and furiously bailing water, Young awaited the Coast Guard’s arrival, who were 60 miles away from his location. He was rescued before the vessel sank, however, and is expected to be back in Sacramento in a week.

World’s First Underwater Nightclub?

Divers like to throw one back with their buddies after a dive, generally speaking. But if you could do it underwater, would you? This is actually more or less a commercial to advertise TechnoMarine Underwater watches, but the diving bells used are absolutely functional and actually available on the commercial market, making the whole underwater nightclub idea not impossible. The whole set was built at a marine training facility 14 feet underwater, and the “actors” are navy divers. We have to admit, it’s pretty cool. Check it out: