Nature Blog Network

No, not the eyes of your beloved, or that crazy chess playing computer, or even Aquaman’s sister (I’m not kidding).  The ocean. That mysterious realm that covers more than 70% of the earth’s surface and, in its depths, contains a good deal more of the earth’s habitable space (though not habitable by us, unless you’re Aquaman’s sister), but a disproportionately smaller percentage of the sites on the Nature Blog Network.

It’s all the easier to tie the together in a neat little package for you all, I suppose.  The NBN’s marine blogs chronicle the breadth and depth (see what I did there?) of the ocean’s wonders, and as such, always have something cool. Largely because the oceans are so full of cool things.

Let’s dip below the surface, shall we?  Bring your scuba suit and remember to breathe, we don’t need anyone getting the bends and the NBN does not, as of yet, have an on-site recompression chamber (something to think about, Mike?).

- Top marine blog in the NBN and affiliated with the mighty Discovery Network, Deep Sea News was mentioned last week as they are also, at least partially, from North Carolina.  No, they are not paying me for publicity, but it’s mere random chance that I mention them twice.  The blog, however, remains an excellent one.

- Ever wanted to jump back in time to the golden age of biological exploration?  I have, which is what makes the Beagle Project Blog so appealing.  It chronicles an ongoing project to rebuild the ship on which Darwin hitched his famous ride and to recreate that epic journey.

- News about fish and aquatic happenings can be found at the appropriately named Fish and Aquatic News.  It perhaps can also be considered your go-to site for sea cucumber recipes.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

- Notes and News on ocean conservation issues are on the agenda at Wallace J. Nichol’s Blog and also from British Columbia at Simon Donner’s Maribo.  Come for the ocean news, stay for the policy insight.

- The tiny nation of Singapore is home to a pair of fine marine blogs, which makes sense as the it’s a very small island surrounded by some of the world’s most unique ocean habitat.  Both wildfilms and the wild shores of Singpore seek to document the rampant destruction of city-state’s marine ecosystems, but not without a keen eye towards the amazing things that need saving.

- For phenomenal underwater photography, The Right Blue is the right place.  It’s kind of amazing to see the kind of work that can be done beneath the surface, my cameras always break when I drop them in the water…

- When one thinks of beaches in the United States, Florida is often near the top of the list for good reason.  Understand why at Waternotes, Sarah’s blog about marine environmental education in the Sunshine State.

- Perhaps the most traditionally dramatic ocean denizen, whales are under-represented on the NBN.  Maybe attempting to make up for this deficit, Monika at Orca Watcher has not only named her blog after whales, but has lovely photos of them from her home in Washington state.

- Hailing from California and writing on all nature of marine nature, Malaria, Bedbugs, Sea Lice and Sunsets is a all-encompassing look at ocean issues and hosts the always informative and frequently weird “Moray Monday”.

- Last, but certainly not least, the impressively named Cephalopodcast.  Fan that I am of both great puns and podcasts, this would be a must read blog even if it wasn’t already insightful, informative, and funny.  But of course it’s all of those things so do yourself a favor and check it out.

Those are the current, active, blogs producing lots of marine related content on the NBN.  So in both the wave and internet senses, the surf is definitely up.