In August 2021 we once again organize a series of Underwater FotoBlitzs within the scope of NEMA, and this year with the theme "In search of the fire worm in Algarve" !!
The fire worm "Hermodice carunculata" has been recorded on the south and west coast of the Algarve, being the oldest known record from December 2015. This is one of the species that has been appearing on the Portuguese mainland coast due to the increase in sea temperatures, in a process known as tropicalization. Records already validated can be consulted here.
The fire worm, as its common name indicates, if handled carelessly causes a strong burning sensation and localized pain that can last for a few days!
This is because its bristles, a kind of white hair that it has throughout its body, when in contact with the skin, inject a toxin that causes pain, redness, swelling, and a burning sensation.
Its handling is therefore extremely inadvisable!
It is therefore necessary to alert to the presence of this species still little known to the population of the Algarve, so in the 2021 Underwater FotoBlitzs we will dive with special attention to this species. It is therefore necessary that each participant has an undewater camera, or some type of action cam that has a photography option, in order to collect these records. After the dive, participants will be invited to upload their photographs to an online citizen science platform so that the species that were photographed can be correctly identified by experts.
The booking of the dive is carried out directly with each associated dive center, and it is also their responsibility to organize the logistics and value of each dive trip. For August 2021 we have organized the following Underwater FotoBlitzs:
14th of August, 2021 - PORTISUB, Portimão:
1 dive, minimum certification: Open Water diver
Meeting time / check-in: 09h00
Reserved for club members
Check some of the photographs taken here.
15th of August, 2021 - EASYDIVERS, Albufeira:
2 dives, minimum certification: Open Water diver
Meeting time / check-in: 08h30
Bookings: info@easydivers.pt / +351 966 192 299
Check some of the photographs taken here.
21st of August, 2021 - SUBNAUTA, Portimão:
2 dives, minimum certification: Advanced Open Water diver, or Deep speciality
Meeting time / check-in: 08h00
Bookings: info@subnauta.pt / +351 935 577 001
Check some of the photographs taken here.
27th of August, 2021 - WEDIVE, Lagos:
2 dives, minimum certification: Open Water diver
Meeting time / check-in: 08h30
Bookings: info@wedive.pt / +351 936 959 234
Check some of the photographs taken here.
29th of August, 2021 - DIVESPOT, Armação de Pêra:
2 dives, minimum certification: Open Water diver
Meeting time / check-in: 09h00
Bookings: info@divespot.pt / +351 966 077 113
Check some of the photographs taken here.
A FotoBlitz is NOT a photography contest!! The main objective of a FotoBlitz is therefore to photograph the greatest possible diversity of species. In this case, we will be especially interested in the fire worm. However, and to facilitate the dive, you can photograph as many species as possible, which will be identified later.
After the dive, you just have to select a photo of each species and upload it to BioDiversity4All, taking care to check if the date of the photos is correct and put the location of the dive spot, provided by the organization. This process is facilitated by using the option to change the information of all photographs together. For more detailed information, see the following guide on the NEMA Underwater FotoBlitzs and the photo upload process:
On each dive trip there will be a briefing on the subject, but you can always contact us by email or on our social networks: https://en.nemalgarve.com/contactos. We recommend you to read the above guide before the dive.
An initiative supported by the ATLAZUL project - Promotion of the atlantic coastal alliance for blue growth.
