Marine Lance Cpl. John McCall, a combat correspondent from Boca Raton, on patrol in Helmand province, July 16, 2009. Photo / Staff Sgt. William Greeson McCall photographs a government building during a patrol in Helmand province, July 7, 2009, and captures himself. Photo / Lance Cpl. John McCall Marines run for cover during a firefight [...]

  Scuba divers, get ready for Halloween! Surrounded by “spectator fish” against a coral reef background, divers off Key Largo will transform hollowed-out pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns during the Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest on Sunday, Oct. 24. Buddy teams can meet at Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort, located at mile marker 104.5, to compete during the [...]

Yoga on stand-up paddleboards continues to grow in Jupiter, says instructor Cora Ciaffone. Ciaffone has taught yoga for 15 years and recently began conducting classes on SUP boards. Ciaffone’s classes take place in the Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve near Jupiter Outdoor Center. The boards present a stable platform for yoga exercises. And they can be floated [...]

  South Florida artist and scientist Guy Harvey has joined the Angels of the Seas Conservation Initiative to stimulate the growth of marine conservation projects. Harvey will provide art prints for awards and be present for photo opportunities with the winners. A partner with the non-profit Save Our Seas Foundation, AOS provides incentives for grass-roots [...]

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s panther team has released its “Annual Report on the Research and Management of Florida Panthers.” Hikers and mountain bikers in western Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties should stay informed since they might encounter the large carnivore, which can weigh more than 150 pounds. A sampling of panthers [...]

  The Bahamas’ blue holes are famous for their coloration, their uniqueness and their mystery. Near South Florida, they should be scuba diving paradise. Except for the pesky hydrogen sulfide gas that “leaves divers with burning skin, retching stomachs or worse.” That’s how the Miami Herald’s Curtis Morgan describes diving the blue holes in a [...]

The Miami Rowing Club recently won four gold medals in the 2010 World Rowing Masters Regatta held in to St. Catherines, Ontario. The regatta, for competitors between 27 and 80 years old, attracted almost 3,000 participants from 261 clubs in 35 countries. Despite inclement weather and high winds, the Miami Rowing Club team bested several of [...]

The Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup will take place on Saturday, Sept. 25. Each year, the worldwide event collects at more than 6,000 sites and includes half a million volunteers. During the 2009 cleanup, 498,818 volunteers picked up 7.4 million pounds of marine debris in 108 countries 45 U.S. states. Information and logistics for sites can [...]

  Below is a letter from Sam Van Leer, executive director of Urban Paradise Guild, Miami. It also recently appeared in the Miami Herald. The letter addresses growing frustration surrounding development of Virginia Key, the island between Miami and Key Biscayne. An important part of the development is a trail system for mountain bikers. —- [...]

  Miami native Andy Malchiodi won a gold medal in the freeflying discipline at the 2010 U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships on Sept. 17. The championships are taking place Sept. 10-24 in Chicago. Malchiodi is one of more than 500 of the country’s top skydivers competing for the title of national champion in six [...]