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itsbatman-butpoor-andmurderous · 3 years

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when vacationing in florida:

tips from a born and raised floridian

wear (reef safe) sunscreen

this is a given y’all. if you’re out in the sun for longer than 10-15 minutes you need to have sunscreen on and re-apply every hour. let it soak in for about 30 minutes before you go into water. if you don’t you will get a nasty sunburn, and skin cancer isn’t fun either but it takes a lot of sunburns to get to that point. however, you can get sun poisoning from one really bad sunburn. sun poisoning, or photodermatitis, is a form of allergic contact dermatitis which is your skin having an allergic reaction to sun exposure. it can lead to swelling, difficulty breathing, burning sensations, an itchy red rash that looks like small blisters, skin peeling, nausea, and itchy brown/orange tinted blotches that mostly appear on your face/neck area and can stay there for days after the initial poising.

see the point on reef safe sunscreen to learn more about why you need to use reef safe sunscreen.

take your jewelry off before going in the ocean. sharks are attracted to jewelry, blood, and things like surfboard or boogie boards that make you look like a seal

sharks don’t eat people on purpose, they can’t see very well so they rely on their sense of smell, to smell blood, and their limited vision which mistakes shiny jewelry for shiny fish scales and boards for seals due to the similar shape. sharks do something called sensory biting, meaning they will bite you to see if you are food. don’t do things that make you look like food.

avoid swimming at night

during the day sharks tend to stay out past the sand bar, an area off the shore where sand has built up to a platform. however, at night they move closer to the shore, so try to avoid night swimming. and because the moon is out, the waves are always bigger and rougher.

stingray shuffle

the stingray shuffle is getting your feet buried slightly under the sand in the ocean and shuffling your feet aa you walk, hence the name. depending on what time of year you come it may be stingray season and it’s recommended to do this during that time to avoid getting stung.

be cautious of currents

currents can move you every which way and suddenly your 30 feet away from your set up on the sand. currents can also move you out to sea which can be extremely dangerous. so if you notice a tugging feeling or notice that your further away from your stuff, watch yourself to make sure you don’t stray to far away.

try not to shave the day of going into the water and try not to enter the water with open wounds

while oceans aren’t as bad as lakes when it comes to bacteria, they are still very bacteria filled and you can get an infection real quick. so shave a day or two before and make sure your wounds are closed because some infections can lead to rashes, bubbles, or even amputation.

check for red tide and research it

red tide isn’t talked about very often but it is disgusting. red tide is discolored sea water caused by toxic red dinoflagellates (microorganisms). it kills tons of sea life which causes said dead sea life to wash up on beaches and float in the water which attracts predators like sharks and big fish. it also releases toxins into the air which makes it hard to breathe, and for people with asthma or any other respiratory problems this can cause serious illness. the west coast of florida is dealing with some red tide right now if you want to research it.

try not to honk at people while driving

this is something taught in other southern states as well, and my parents taught it to me when i was learning to drive. if you honk at someone you are running the risk of being followed and shot. a lot of people have guns down here and they aren’t afraid to use them. now this will not happen every time you honk, i have been in cars where the driver has honked and nothing happened. but it’s better to be safe than sorry because some people don’t know how to handle their road rage.

prepare for the humidity

i know your weather app says that it’s 85 degrees but it feels like 93 when you go outside because of the humidity. that’s why florida people wear layers.

rain does not last as long here as it does in northern states

if it starts raining your day is not ruined. in florida , unless there is a hurricane or tropical storm, rain storms normally only last for like 20-30 minutes at a time. if there is a little group of them you will get spurts of rain and no rain for like an hour or two at most. when there are big storms they normally last for a couple hours, but we don’t get storms like that super often.

gator safety

something that it taught in all florida elementary schools, if an alligator is chasing you run in one direction for 10-15 feet, then make a hard turn in another direction and repeat (this is what we mean when we say running in zigzags, not like hopping side to side as you run), if an alligator has a grip on one of your limbs or someone else’s, plug your fingers or something else up it’s nose so it’s forced to open its mouth the breathe, and don’t touch gator babies, the mom can and will come for you.

shark safety

also something that is taught in all florida elementary schools, but shark safety is more common knowledge than gator safety. it a shark has a grip on you, punch them in the nose. it’s a sensitive point and they normally release you and swim away. as previously mentioned, sharks don’t like to eat people, they don’t think we taste good. so unless it’s starving sharks won’t try to eat a human that they can tell is a human. however if you don’t follow the previously stated shark safety tips, they may mistake you for a fish or seal.

unless you’re on a private beach, spots on the sand are first come first serve

just because you had a spot yesterday does not mean you have that spot for the rest of your vacation, that’s not how the beach works. you have to get there early if you want a specific spot.

don’t touch the manatees

manatees are an endangered species, meaning that you can not touch them. it’s illegal. that being said, if the manatee floats it’s happy round little self over to you and touches you then that’s fine, you can’t control what the manatee does. but if you actively swim towards and reach for the manatee and someone with a legal standing or a life guard sees you, you can get in trouble.

most sea life is not violent until provoked

manatees are not violent at all, they just float there, that’s why they’re endangered. but creatures like sharks and stingrays are not dangerous unless they think your there to fight or they mistake you for food. that’s why you stingray shuffle, because if you step on a stingray it will see you as a threat and sting you. and that’s why you take the shark prevention seriously so they don’t mistake you for food.

dolphin safety; admire from a distance

oh but dolphins are nice! wrong! dolphins are very dangerous creatures, just not in all the same ways that sharks are. they are one of the only creatures on the planet aside from humans who do malicious things knowing that they are malicious. dolphins at swim with experiences have given humans lacerations and broken bones. they are still predators and while it only happens rarely, dolphins do bite and attack people. dolphins are incredibly smart, strong, and fast. if they feel threatened they will swim at you full force and hit you with their head/body as hard as they possibly can. one woman named valerie ryan was hit by a dolphin which resulted in six spinal fractures, a damaged lung, and ptsd. dolphins are civil for the most part, but they are astonishingly smart and strong, and will attack if provoked or threatened, so it’s better to avoid close contact with them and admire from a distance or from a boat.

get reef safe sunscreen

all spray sunscreens and quite a few lotions contain toxic chemicals that are contributing to killing reefs. australian gold makes botanical reef safe sunscreen with spfs from 30 to 70, and they make a spray with the smallest amount of the toxic chemical that they can if you desperately need a spray. get reef safe sunscreen. it doesn’t matter if you’re not swimming in the ocean all run off from showers, sinks, toilets, and other water systems ends up in the ocean. so even if you spend the day in the city or at a theme park, if you come home a wash off that sunscreen it will end up in the ocean.

theme park tips

bring a mini battery powered or chargeable fan or you will wish that you did. watch the weather, if it looks like it’s going to rain head to a restaurant and eat lunch or dinner, by the time you’re done the rain will most likely be over. do what you want to do the most or what normally has the longest line right when the park opens, the line will be the shortest then. download the park apps to monitor the wait times for rides and to see if any are closed, delayed, or virtual line only. if you plan on buying souvenirs do so an 2-3 hours before the park closes, this way you won’t have to carry the bags around all day and you can beat the closing crowd. try to plan your route ahead of time so that you won’t be walking to and fro because someone wanted to do this ride that’s on the other side of the park and after that someone else wants to do a ride that’s right by the place you were before, if you don’t your feet will hurt like a mf at the end of the day and you’ll waste time walking all over the place. bring a travel sized deodorant, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, period products, and anything else you may need that they might not sell.

theme parks with kids (courtesy of my mother)

bring your own snacks and water (you’re allowed). once again, mini fan. frog togs are another way to keep kids cool without having to do much cause you just like put it on their neck. find a rest spot, my mom said that when she and my dad would take us to theme parks when we were little they had designated rest spots where they would sit and let us nap, eat snacks, and cool off in the shade. put a bead bracelet on your child with your name, their name, and your number on it if your worried that they may get lost. make reservations, hungry kids are no fun, and if they have to sit and wait for a restaurant for a long time they will get hangry, making a reservation around the time that they normally get hungry is a way to avoid this. bring a change of clothes.

think that’s all, and enjoy your vacation lol

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noaasanctuaries · 7 years

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Disentangling Giants: In Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Helping Whales Is All About Teamwork

Despite several coastal states, including California, implementing gear recovery programs in recent years to promote retrieval of derelict nets, tons of debris remains in our sea. Carried on ocean currents, fishing debris can travel across the globe. Wherever it goes, this traveling debris can entangle marine life like humpback whales.

To combat the threat of entanglement, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and our partners have been working to remove marine debris and disentangle trapped animals. Over the years, "the efforts have gotten more organized and coordinated," says Ed Lyman, resource protection and response coordinator at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Just this spring, community members completed a successful disentanglement off of Maui, Hawai'i with the help of an unexpected partner all the way from the East Coast!

Tons of marine debris enters our ocean every year. This debris poses risks to marine life, including humpback whales. Here, a humpback in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary trails fishing gear. Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary leads the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network. The network is overseen by NOAA Fisheries' Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, and includes partnerships with NOAA Fisheries, the state of Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as whale researchers, Hawai'i's tour industry, fishermen, and others to coordinate large whale entanglement responses around the Hawaiian Islands.

Lyman notes the utility of such a vast network, stating that "At 45 feet, the average length of a humpback whale, it still ends up being a needle in a haystack. The ocean is a large place! Having the on-the-water community report makes it possible to locate entangled whales and helps us respond safely. Since 2002, the network has a mounted over 155 on-water or in-air responses."

The specially trained team at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in an on-water response to free a humpback whale from entangling gear. Photo: NOAA

On March 11th, 2017, reports started coming in to the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network from concerned locals about a possible entanglement. A humpback whale was exhibiting odd behaviors near the Pali Lookout on Maui. That same morning Tasia Blough, research specialist at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Massachusetts (also a popular site for humpback whales), had scheduled to meet with Lyman.

Blough, too, had noticed the whale resting off Pali Lookout on the way to their meeting, but at that time the whale hadn’t been exhibiting any unusual behaviors. With calls coming in, the two researchers set out to observe the whale and confirm the reported entanglement.

"It was an interesting case because at first, there weren't any visible signs of entanglement," Blough says. "Finally I saw a slight bit of yellow at the side of its jaw. I didn't know what it was but we didn’t want to risk it."

Lyman called in an official on-water response with the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network and, within hours, an authorized response team with support from the U.S. Coast Guard began working to free the whale. They worked right up until dusk, when the team was forced to terminate their efforts for the night.

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How do experts at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale disentangle humpback whales? Very carefully, and without getting in the water.

Bright and early the following day, the team returned on board the R/V Koholā, the sanctuary's research and response vessel designed specially for working around large humpback whales. Vessels like Koholā can be invaluable in disentanglement efforts, enabling responders to minimize response time and carry all the gear they will need to safely respond.

Blough, Lyman, and a number of fellow responders worked tirelessly to sweep hanging gear from the whale's mouth, but traditional tools weren't cutting it. Exemplifying the important support role locals and other members of the public can also play in disentanglement events, the team called in a volunteer to help pick up new supplies from a local hardware store, Eventually, the team freed the whale from nearly 800 feet of ⅝-inch coaxial, communications-type cable — with a brand new pair of bolt cutters.

A responder prepares to attempt to remove entangling fishing gear from the humpback whale. Photo: NOAA, under NOAA MMHSRP permit #18786-1

Although some cable remained in the whale's mouth, the whale eventually swam out to deeper waters exhibiting improved behavior and free swimming. Because of the excellent communication between all parties who played a role in this young whale’s disentanglement, the humpback whale's prospects are good and chances at survival are far improved.

That expert communication — between Blough and Lyman, the U.S. Coast Guard, Maui Ocean Safety, Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission, local tour operators, volunteers, and two national marine sanctuaries — is what makes programs like the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network a success of humpback proportions.

The network has now freed more than 23 whales from all or significant amounts of entangling gear, and in the process removed more than 10,000 feet of gear from the animals. With the most recent disentanglement at Pali Lookout in mind, the potential of the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network to strengthen relationships among sanctuaries, and between sanctuaries and their local communities, is evident.

Trained responders successfully removed 750 feet of communications-type cable from an entangled whale in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary on March 12th, 2017. Photo: NOAA HIHWNMS/MMHSRP, Permit #18786-1

The recent rescue effort off Pali Point "created a connection," Blough says. "It’s a great learning experience to see how other teams do things. Whales in New England face entanglement issues too — and it’s an uphill battle. Getting to see how the Hawai'i team responds, working together and with communities to use the best resources and techniques we have, is the way to go."

Coastal communities across the country face many similar challenges like entanglement and marine debris. Lyman adds that "The goal is not just to free whales, but to gain information to reduce the threat in the future. To that end, we have gone a long way towards identifying the gear, where it came from, how was it set, and more." Answering these questions could help reduce the amount of gear and debris in our oceans, and to help create more whale-safe gear for the future.

In Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Blough notes that some groups are working with different colored fishing lines to see if whales are better able to avoid gear of a certain color. The fishing community "is very willing to try new things," she states, noting that growing connections not only between sanctuaries but with local fishing communities and others is an essential step in tackling the issue of humpback whale entanglements.

"When you go out on a whale watching boat, you see that most of those whales have entanglement scars on their body. It’s happening to a large portion of the population each year." Blough says. But finding ways to better communicate the issue with the public and share strategies that work among trained groups can help.

If you find an entangled whale, don't try to help it yourself — that can be dangerous for both you and the whale. If you’re in Hawai'i, start the chain of communication by calling the regional NOAA Fisheries Hotline at (888) 256-9840 or reaching out to the US Coast Guard at VHF Channel 16. If you’re outside Hawai'i, you can find contact information for your local stranding network here. Though it may require the coordinated effort of many professionally trained individuals to disentangle humpback whales, reports from the public can be essential in initiating timely responses. By coming together, we can protect humpback whales from derelict gear for generations to come.

#whale #humpback whale #🐋#whales #hawaii #entanglement #ocean #nature #teamwork #Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary #noaa

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hollowworldentertainment · 4 years

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Aza’Roe

A small encampment of hunters sat behind the safety of wooden walls they stole from those now buried deep. A deep forest to their East shook gently in the winds rolling in from the Western channel. The camp was lit up from the full moon rising high into the sky, leaving a shimmering line over the ocean towards a distant landmass.

“Vars, what is out there?”

A man walked up onto the cat walk, covered in blankets. Parting with one for the man already on guard.

“Besides water that will drag you to the depths, and monsters that swallow you whole. There is an island, you can sort of make it out on clear nights like this.”

“What’s on the island, have you been there?”

“Technically no, I stayed in the boat. Good thing I did too, otherwise I would not be here right now.”

The second man stood a little closer, eager to hear the story at hand.

“It was a couple of years ago now, back when I wasn’t a part of a group. I was wandering the Western shore line when I came across a group of men preparing a boat. I assumed they were going to be fishing, but they were loading weapons, and tools. Taking a risk, I approached them.”

3 Years Earlier

“That is a lot of weapons to go fishing with.”

I yelled as I slowly approached with my hands raised high in the air.

“If you are looking for a good fishing spot, I just left a poorly walled one about ten k’s in land.”

The group of men laughed as they continued to load the boat.

“We are not fishing on Nyil-Vispyr, we are going there to fish.”

The man pointed out over the water, his finger leading to a shimmer from the moon which drew my eyes to a small island in the distance.

I peered out over the water, I tried to figure out why they would risk traveling the ocean for a spit of land.

“Why you ask, because we have seen blue lights flickering over there. No way they are better armed than us, we are going to claim that land for our own. If you come you can join us.”

I did not have to think for long, no one has ever tried sailing so far before.

“Hell, life here aint so great. Might as well live an exciting one while I still can.”

I walked over to them and shared what little supplies I had with them, and they in turn shared some with me.

“What do you call your selves?” I asked.

“Nothing yet, but we will be the five most famous men over all of Hollow if we can claim an island. Sorry I mean six.”

We laughed for a while sharing stories, but as soon as the boat was loaded we set sail.

“Alright joker, your new here so listen. You stay out of our way and watch what we do, we can’t afford any fuck ups so stay down unless we call for you. Today is not a day for learning.”

I had driven many vehicles on Nyil-Vispyr, but nothing is as complicated as trying to sail in a boat. There are no dials, no information displayed, you just have to estimate how much rope to let go, how much rope to pull, how many degrees you will turn when you spin the wheel. While it is not that hard to do on land with constant terrain, it is near impossible as you travel over rolling waves that could crash down at any second. These men read the seas as if they were apart of them, they had clearly practised this journey before.

“Joker grab this, if you let it go we all die.”

I ran over and grabbed the rope holding it with my life, beneath my feet were the splinters of what I assume was the thing that had my job before me. I held that rope, for nearly two hours I held that rope. It would slip in my hands, tearing at the skin, but I would pull it back in and hold again. There was not much more to the trip.

Once we reached the shore of the other island we all collapsed, I had had the easiest trip but still I collapsed to the ground. Wet from the oceans waves and the tremendous amounts of sweat I produced. My arms fell to my side as my hands shook uncontrollably, the blood from my hands dripping into the sands beneath me.

I don’t remember what the other ones were doing at that time, I was focusing on breathing and the throbbing in my hands. I remember being lifted off the ground and tossed back into the boat, the others had taken the trip a damn sight better than me.

“We are going inland, you take the boat out to the deepest water before it gets too choppy. Then toss down the anchor.”

I was incapable of doing it, I could still barely breath let alone pilot that thing. One of the others did all that, then they jumped over board and swam to shore. I fell asleep moments after I heard him splash.

The next time I opened my eyes I heard cheering. I pulled myself up, looking over the edge of the boat was the five guys. They were holding up massive crystals, not shards, but barely lifetable chunks that took two people to carry. They dropped the chunks and raised their fist into the air, shouting as if they had just conquered the world. But they were soon drowned out by the sounds of drums, and flashes of blue.

They turned to see what was there, they should have run.

Present day

“Well, what was there?”

Vars wrapped himself up in his blanket as he stared out towards the island.

“Men. Their skin was dark and they stood a foot taller than those on the beach. They just appeared out of nowhere, within seconds those on the beach had crude clubs smashing their skulls open.”

“Well how did you get out Vars, you said yourself you did not know how to pilot the ship.”

“Fucking got lucky.” He said turning to the fellow guardsman.

“I cut the rope holding the anchor, pulling ropes I fumbled my way into the unrelenting waters. The wind took out the sail, knocking me out in the process. I woke up in this camp, someone saved me, I now owe them my life. So here I am working the shitty night shift.”

“Well work no longer, for it is I, your relief.”

Vars looked at him, he gave back the blanket he was given as he walked off.

“While you should always look to the tree lines for nightmares, keep an eye out on the shore for those who come from over the seas.”

“Oh look at me, I am Vars, I tell scary stories about the sea.”

Vars stopped in his tracks.

“I heard that Zen.”

Zen waited till Vars left ear shot.

“I aint worrying about voodoo men from across the sea, I am not wasting any of my time watching the waters. The only concerns to this camp are the nightmares from the East, dumb fucking idiot.”

Zen slowly made his way to the other side of the camp, getting a better view of the woods. Meanwhile over the turbulent waters unrest was stirring.

The tribal camps of the distant shores were readying boats, they loaded weapons and drums, ready for a slaughter.

The largest of men stood by the boats, he stood tall covered in intricate tattoos. His body was illuminated by the moon above, his grass skirt was the only thing obscuring the light from his body.

“Too long we have been raided by those who cross the blue, they defile our shore with their ships. They invaded our lands, took our blue gems, and harvested our resources.”

Those standing in front of him cheered with each statement told by their leader.

“Tonight, we will row across the blue, we will invade their land, we will harvest their resources, and we will kill all who stand in our way. The small men stand no chance against us, we are stronger, we are faster, and we have the blessing of the god of war.”

The whole camp cheered, the leader signalled for everyone to enter the canoes. Cheering everyone climbed into the canoes lining the coast. With an oar in hand the war canoes left the shore.

“The small men use the wind, they have big boats, the blue chews them up, we will cut through the blue with our war canoes, powered by muscle. The blue respects our strength, demonstrate your strength men, calm the blue with your ferocity, tonight the Aza’Roe bring war to foreign shores.”

Men at the ends of each canoe stood, hands rising above their heads they grasped sticks. Their fists brought down unto the drums before them, flashing blue with every strike lighting up the runes painted on the drums. The heavy drumming echoed over the seas as the Aza’Roe powered over the waves with relentless paddling. The drumming got louder, a blue glow wrapped itself around the Aza’Roe, their muscles growing, they paddled harder, and faster. Right as the waves seemed to be at their worst the chief stood once again, he began to speak in a tribal tongue. The other men followed in chant, their voices drowning out the sounds of the drums, and calming the waves ahead of them. The waves that once rose to oppose them calmed, carving a path through the waves to the shores of Nyil-Vispyr. All around them the waves crashed down, narrowly avoiding their ships, but ahead there was nothing but the moons reflection over the glassy water.

Back at the camp Zens foot started to tap to the beat of the drums, it took him a moment but he eventually turned looking for the source of the sound. He turned to the sight of a hundred war Canoe gliding across the waters between the crashing waves, blue flashed to the beat of the drums as those on board chanted with a deep thundering voice.

“Everyone up, up, up, everyone get the fuck out here.”

Zen dropped his blankets as he ran through the camp screaming.

“Pistols, rifles, bows, swords, get everything we are under attack.”

The camp was shocked to life, they scrambled around fetching all the weapons at their disposal. The cat walks were lined with men wielding ranged weapons. Zen looked for Vars, finding him heading to the east side of the camp.

“What are you doing man, they are invading from the West. You were right the tribal men are coming.”

“I know, I can hear their drums. If you are smart you will leave, everyone who stays here will die.”

Vars strapped his pack firmly to his back, he loaded his rifle then headed out the East gate.

“Fucking coward, once we slay these tribals we will come for you.”

Zen ran back in to the camp, joining those lining the Western catwalk. The Aza’Roe were still too far for the guns to reach, yet their war call could be heard word for word.

“Why are there no waves where they row? I have never seen the ocean so flat.”

“Must be some kind of tribal magic, do not fear men, we will gun them down before they reach the shore.”

The encampment waited for the canoes to get closer while the chief watched the shore line carefully. Right before the Aza’Roe got in range the Chief changed the chant, the waves reared up before them once again hiding them from view.

“Hold men, once the waves break we will let loose hell on their ships.”

The encampment waited, watching the white tips of the waves as they final came crashing down. The Canoes had changed course, they had started a diagonal approach veering away from the front of the camp. Their forward canoes already hitting the shore before anyone had noticed.

“Fire, kill the savages.”

A volley of gun fire was let loose to no fatalities, bullets burnt through flesh as arrows tore at it, but the Aza’Roe continued their charge with inhuman speeds. The second volley fell the lead men, but by this time the majority of the Canoes had landed on the shore. The drums changed their beat, those running one the sands once again were wrapped with a faint blue as their legs granted them extra speed. Gunfire and arrows greeted all of those who marched the beach, but the tidal wave of men was bearing down on the camp.

Those leading the charge plunged their long spears into the base of the walls charging even after the spear had made contact. The spears bent till they could take no more, they started to straighten dragging the Aza’Roe high into the air, flinging them over the wall of gunfire. The next men charging gripped the same spears for the same result, the camp tried its best to gun down those sailing through the air, but were incapable of keeping up with sea of men.

The whole time the Aza’Roe charged they all chanted, empowering themselves with the runic magic they had mastered. The first men over the wall drew their weapons mid-air, landing firmly on their feet.

Zen ran down to greet their guests, he ran towards one still knelt over from his landing. Zen screamed as he raised his mace above his head, alerting his presence to the tribal in front of him. The man stood up towering in height above the already short Zen, Zen leaped into the air reaching eye height with the warrior. Letting off another scream he brought down his mace, but the tribal man caught his swing with one hand and his throat with the other. Not once did he stop his war chant, he screamed it into Zens face before he broke his arm and choke slammed him to the ground. The warrior reached behind him pulling a flat wooden club from his grass skirt, he brought it down into the chest of Zen silencing his winded moans.

Vars watched from a nearby hill as the wave of blue consumed the encampment, the screams of those inside occasionally sounding louder than the Aza’Roe’s war chanting. He lowered his binoculars and spoke to himself.

“That is probably the most beautiful slaughter I have ever seen, I am just thankful that I got to see it and not be a part of it.”

Vars walked off into the night rifle at the ready, prepared for the horrors that lurked in the night.

The chief witnessed one of his men being cut down by a small group of Holites.

“Brother, call upon the god of war. Die for a deity, not for a small man.”

The dying tribal began another chant, his body swirled with wind. His tattoos began to glow and he stood strong once again. Once the chant finished he picked up his tribal war club, upper cutting the closest Holite to him, sending him flying over the walls. The tribal man roared at the sky before sending Holites flying into the walls of the encampment with every swing. Once there were no more men around him he leaped half the encampment to reach a small crow’s nest filled with gun wielding Holites. His club was shot out of his hand as he sailed effortless across the camp.

Once in the crow’s nest he tossed the first Holite he could get his hands on, the others were ripped into pieces, limbs sent flying from the crow’s nest as the tribal man started to turn blue. All the Holites had been killed, but the tribal man slowly turned to crystal as his war chant wore off.

The chief stood victorious in his new encampment.

“Claim what is of use, burn the rest. We ride back to Triskya-Svelt tonight.”

The chief looked upwards at the now inanimate crystal warrior above him.

“Bring him down, he will be remembered by being ground up and added to our tattoo’s”

The Aza’Roe took as they pleased before they set light to the encampment that had stood since the beginning of Hollow. Once back in their canoes they chanted again, clearing a path back to Triskya-Svelt, back to their home.

To anyone who likes my stories, you can find the full catalog on my website, additionally you can find me on a variety of other social media.

Instagram | Twitter | Patreon | Facebook

#writeblr #writing #writer #hollowworldentertainment #azaroe #chapter38 #horror #short stories #horror stories #short horror stories #horror writing #scifi #scifi writing #scifi stories #fantasy #fantasy writing #fantasy stories #dark

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islandsunfla · 6 years

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SCUBA DIVING OR SNORKELING BRADENTON BEACH, ANNA MARIA ISLAND, FL

Imagine being able to dive or snorkel directly across from your vacation property. When booking with Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals – 601 Gulf Dr. N. Anna Maria Island, Florida 34217 you can do just that!

The Bradenton Beach shipwreck of the Regina makes for a fun Anna Maria Island dive. The dive site sits approximately 175 feet off shore at about 7th Street in only about 20 feet of water and is marked with a buoy. The wreckage itself is over 200 feet long.

The Regina is Florida’s 10th Shipwreck Underwater Archaeological Preserve. The SS Regina built in 1904 in Ireland, sank during a nasty storm in 1940 in about 20 feet of water just off Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria Island. The 247 foot long steel steamer was carrying over 350,000 gallons of molasses between Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to US ports along the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast shorelines. The molasses was primarily used for making rum and other items. The Regina was en route to New Orleans which is a principal port of the world’s molasses trade. The vessel, which had been converted to a tanker barge, was being towed by the tugboat Minima when it encountered a cold front, freezing temperatures, with strong winds and 8 to 12 foot waves. As they attempted to seek shelter in Tampa Bay the towing cable broke and they helplessly drifted toward Anna Maria Island running aground on a sandbar. Only 200 yards from shore the crew stayed aboard, afraid that abandoning the ship would drag them under the turbulent waters. Nighttime approached and the Regina’s hull cracked and broke apart. Anna Maria Island residents built fires along the shore to let the crew know they had been seen, unfortunately their wait was not over. The Coast Guard was unable to reach the stranded vessel and several attempts at shooting a line from the beach to the barge by the Bradenton Beach Police proved unsuccessful. The only non-survivor of the crew of 8 was the ship’s cook and his dog. The cook jumped overboard followed by his German Shepherd and disappeared minutes later beneath the waves. The remaining crew were rescued, but the barge and its cargo were lost.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34736421.html#storylink=cpAs they attempted to seek shelter in Tampa Bay the towing cable broke and they drifteThe vessel was seen by a local resident, who reported the situation to the St. Petersburg Coast Guard Air Station. Help would soon arrive, but would it be soon enough?

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34736421.html#storylink=Anna Maria Island residents built fires to let the crew know they had been spotted, unfortunately their wait was not over. The Coast Guard was unable to reach the stranded vessel and several attempts at shooting a line to the barge by the Bradenton Beach Police proved unsuccessful. The only non-survivor was the ship’s cook who jumped overboard into the stormy sea, followed by his German shepherd, and in minutes disappeared beneath the waves. The remaining crew members were eventually rescued, although the barge and all of its cargo were lost.

Seeking shelter from storm

A cold front swept across the Gulf of Mexico, bringing with it strong winds, 8- to 12-foot waves, and freezing temperatures. Those aboard Minima planned to seek shelter from the storm in Tampa Bay, but before they could reach safety, the towing cable attaching the tug to Regina was torn apart in the storm.

Regina and the eight crew members on board began to drift helplessly toward Anna Maria, before running aground on a sandbar.

The vessel was seen by a local resident, who reported the situation to the St. Petersburg Coast Guard Air Station. Help would soon arrive, but would it be soon enough?

As nighttime approached, Regina’s hull began to crack and break apart. The crew stayed on board. Although they were just 200 yards from shore, they feared abandoning the ship would mean getting dragged under the turbulent waters. Instead, they sought shelter in the cramped crew’s quarters at the front of the vessel, despite flooding that reached almost up to their shoulders.

Along the shore, residents built fires to reassure the stranded crew they had been spotted. Unfortunately, their wait was not yet over. USCGC Nemesis and patrol boat CG145, both dispatched from St. Petersburg, were unable to reach the stranded vessel at night in such shallow waters.

Several attempts were then made to shoot a line from the beach to the barge, but each effort fell just short of the stranded vessel. A Coast Guard plane dropped life preserves down to Regina’s crew. All but one were returned to shore by the wind and waves.

One didn’t make it

A man, later identified as the ship’s cook, chose to risk the perilous swim to shore. Onlookers watched in horror as he jumped overboard into the stormy sea, followed just moments later by his German shepherd, only to disappear beneath the waves.

Fortunately, the remaining crew members were eventually rescued, although the barge and all of its cargo were lost. Over the years, the wreck has become a popular destination for scuba divers and snorkelers because of its close proximity to shore.

In fact, Regina is now one of 11 Underwater Archaeological Preserves recognized in the state of Florida. Each site contains interesting archaeological features, and plays host to an abundance of marine life. For more information on these sites and how to find them, visit museumsinthesea.com, and please remember to always use safe diving practices.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34736421.html#storylink=cpy

The Regina was being pulled by the tugboat Minima moving towards shelter of Tampa Bay when the tow lines snapped. The Regina drifted south in the storm and finally grounded on a sand bar. The storm was so bad the Coast Guard couldn’t get to the ship and several attempts by the Bradenton Beach with a line-towing gun proved unsuccessful. The heavy, high seas beat the barge to the point that it finally cracked and broke apart. AMI residents saw the ship in distress and built bonfires on the beach to let the ship’s crew know they had been seen. The crew was afraid to abandon the ship because the water was so rough and eventually all but the ship’s cook and his dog, were rescued and the Regina sank.Below is a video of what can be found while diving the Regina Sugar Barge.

This wreck is located across the street from the Sea Kat Dive Shop where you can get information about snorkeling / diving. If you’re are looking to dive the Regina wreck or for any Island dives we suggest calling Sea Kat Divers. They can assist you with any scuba diving/snorkelling inquiries. Sea Kat Divers is conveniently located at 105 7th Street North, Bradenton Beach, FL. 941-779-0100. It is a only a couple minute walk from the condo, therefore, parking is not an issue.

Sea Kat Divers is a locally owned licensed dive shop run and operated by PADI Dive Instructor Jim who has years of experience and local knowledge. Your one stop shop on Anna Maria Island offers friendly, family oriented, full service. This dive shop is ready to meet any of your scuba or snorkelling needs, rentals , gear, service, tank fills, and private chartered trips for both scuba and snorkel. They offer personalized daily snorkel trips for $60.00 per person (3 person minimum) to Egmont Key and a two tank scuba dive trip starting at $90.00 per person (3 person minimum) to multiple reefs, wrecks and local dive spots. Each snorkel and dive trip departs around 9:00 a.m. (weather permitting) from the Kingfish boat ramp on Manatee Avenue. To participate on any of Sea Kat Divers trips you must call or stop by the shop to book! All trips are customized to the individual customers wants and generally last around 4 hours. No need to worry if you didn’t bring your equipment, Sea Kay Divers offer offer rentals and sales on everything you might need. If you’re looking for something specific ask Jim and he will try his best to customize your trip.

Reviews Tripadvisor …

1. We dove with Captain Jim on Thursday, November 2nd at a wreck. The visibility wasn’t that great because the gulf was stirred up, but a day on the water can’t be beat. They called us the day before our scheduled dive on Tuesdaybecause the visibility was so bad and kept in touch with us to reschedule. Lesley in the shop is wonderful. Captain Jim did a great job. We will dive with them when we travel to the Bradenton area again.

2. I did my PADI Certification with Jim over Labor Day weekend. Jim did a great job of getting us up to speed quickly! The visibility was a challenge because of all the storms over the past few weeks but Jim found a way to make it work and took us out to the Regina Ship Wreck only about 75 yards off shore right across the street from his Shop. We had a great time and saw a lot of neat stuff. Jim was patient and a great job showing us the ropes. By the last dive everything felt completely natural!

3. What a fun family charter. Saw four Goliath Groupers, a large school of snook, and tons of assorted reef fish. Very helpful and professional. All gear was on the boat ready. At the end of the dive just grab your stuff and walk away. Jim and Joe took care of everything. I also can’t forget Keith at the store. Always helpful always happy and always available for information or to kid around with. Overall a wonderful group of people.

*Please note Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals offers the above company name and any affiliated links as suggestions only. We are not receiving commission and are listing it only to aid our guests. We only recommend services that we or close friends and family have experienced so we know you will be in good hands.

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