We are thrilled to introduce you to the exquisite NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort, a haven of natural sustainability and indulgence.

Whether celebrating your sweet honeymoon or planning a memorable family vacation, NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort is a five-star resort offering an enhanced experience that will mesmerize you.

The island is located in the deep south of the Maldives, in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, accessible by a 55-minute flight from Velana International Airport to Kaadhedhoo Domestic Airport, followed by a 10-minute scenic speedboat transfer to the resort.

The resort features 60 beach villas and 60 overwater villas, each designed to provide the utmost comfort. Experience pure bliss as you wake up to stunning ocean views and explore the pristine house reef at your own pace.

Euro-Divers Havodda offers scuba diving courses and dive trips tailored to all levels. The team of experienced instructors will guide you every step of the way, ensuring a safe and enjoyable learning experience from mastering the basics in beginner courses to advancing your skills.

Whether you’d like to glide along the surface on a paddleboard, travel at speed on a jet ski, snorkelling or scuba diving, you will find an option that matches your needs.

Don’t miss out on experiencing this slice of paradise!

Learn more about Euro-Divers Havodda at: https://www.euro-divers.com/havodda-maldives/

Book your stay now at NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort at: https://world.nh-hotels.com/en/nh-collection-maldives-havodda

Divers around the globe care about the environment and protecting marine life. They are looking for centers that are environmentally friendly, are actively part of the solution to marine pollution and protecting coral reefs and marine life. We focus on doing all we can to preserve the 27 km or coastline we have in the Gulf of Aqaba, a beautiful part of the Red Sea.

We are proud to announce that we have met the three criteria as a PADI Operator to quality as a PADI Eco Center:

• Participation in the PADI AWARE Adopt the Blue program
• Be an active Green Fins Member
• Demonstrate an exemplary level of environmental performance, through the above programs

Deep Blue Dive Center has been actively involved in PADI Aware for several years. We have adopted Yellowstone Reef as part of the PADI Adopt the Blue program and have reporting the debris since September 1, 2020. During the pandemic we accelerated our efforts to reduce marine debris and removed 1230 kilos in 6 months. And we continue to be involved in dive cleanups and our staff make every effort to make every dive a survey dive.

Last year DBDC became a Green Fins digital member. All our staff were trained in the Green Fins Code of Conduct, and we began educating our guests about the initiative during boat briefings. Green Fins helped us improve our business by reducing single use plastics and finding practical ways to be more eco-minded.

We began working hard to meet all the thresholds of environmental performance when we learned about PADI starting the Eco Dive Center credential. Because we were already involved in Green Fins, PADI Aware, and we were already committed to leading the way in protecting our marine environment, we are honored to be awarded this prestigious credential. When you dive or snorkel with us, you can be assured we are committed to running an environmentally sustainable business. If you’re looking for an eco-conscious dive center, then contact us to book a day on the boat or a dive course.

Learn more about Deep Blue at: https://www.deepbluedivecenter.com

In a landmark ruling, a diving company has been slapped with a staggering fine of $730,000 for endangering the lives of divers and committing reckless safety breaches. The fine, imposed by WorkSafe Victoria, highlights the severity of the company’s negligence in maintaining adequate safety measures during underwater inspection services.

Underwater Inspection Services Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court last week after pleading guilty to seven charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The company had come under scrutiny following a series of alarming incidents involving their divers. WorkSafe Victoria launched an extensive investigation into the diving company’s operations, uncovering several grave safety violations.

According to reports, the violations included inadequate equipment maintenance, improper training, and a lack of proper risk assessments before diving operations. Such reckless behavior put the lives of their divers at significant risk, leaving them vulnerable to potential accidents and injuries during underwater tasks.

WorkSafe Victoria’s investigation revealed that the diving company had repeatedly ignored safety protocols and industry best practices. The company’s disregard for essential safety measures, even after previous warnings, led to the imposition of this substantial fine, which serves as a stark warning to other companies in the industry.

The recent case bears resemblance to a similar incident reported by ABC News on June 27, 2023, where a different diving company was fined $380,000 for similar safety breaches. In this case, too, WorkSafe Victoria found evidence of reckless endangerment of divers during underwater inspection services.

Diving safety has been a growing concern within the industry, prompting authorities to take stringent action against those found guilty of compromising diver well-being. The substantial fines imposed in both cases send a clear message that companies operating in this sector must prioritize the safety and well-being of their divers above all else.

Under the mounting pressure to enhance safety standards, diving companies are urged to reevaluate their practices, invest in robust safety training programs, and ensure regular equipment maintenance checks. It is essential for the industry as a whole to foster a culture of safety and responsibility, ensuring that divers can carry out their underwater duties without unnecessary risks to their lives.

As the fines raise awareness about the importance of safety in the diving industry, they also serve as a reminder that recklessness will not go unnoticed or unpunished. WorkSafe Victoria’s proactive approach aims to protect divers and prevent further incidents that could potentially result in serious injuries or fatalities. The message is clear: safety must be the top priority in every underwater operation, and those who ignore this mandate will face severe consequences

Aims to protect and preserve the Red Sea’s pristine coral reefs and marine ecosystems

The Reef-World Foundation is delighted to announce that Jordan is now the 15th country globally to implement the Green Fins programme — a UN Environment Programme initiative. The programme’s launch in Aqaba is evidence of Jordan’s commitment to safeguarding its natural resources and promoting sustainable tourism as the country builds its reputation as a world-class diving destination.

Green Fins is implemented in the country by Aqaba Special Economy Zone Authority (ASEZA) with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the “Employment-oriented MSME promotion” project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with the ultimate aim of improving the communication of environmental best practice from local diving centres to environmentally conscious tourists to help protect the environment.

Dominik Lee Zaax Wyszogrodzki, Green Fins Local Team Leader, said: “Divers are willing to pay more for services provided by dive centres that follow environmental regulations, and they expect dive centres to be leading the way in protecting the ocean. Implementing Green Fins in Aqaba is going to open us up to new markets and bring us to be one of the top diving destinations in the world.”

Following a week of training by an all-female-led training team from Reef-World (10 to 15 June 2023), Jordan now has a national Green Fins team comprised of five fully certified Green Fins Assessors and two Green Fins Coordinators from representatives of the Royal Jordanian Navy Forces, Aqaba Marine Reserve and the University of Jordan made up of a diverse group of local diving experts, environmentalists, and industry leaders. The Green Fins Jordan team is led by Ms Thelma Redwan, the Product Director at ASEZA, who coordinates the programme in collaboration with The Reef-World Foundation, GIZ, and other stakeholders.

The newly established local Green Fins team will be responsible for recruiting, assessing, training and certifying dive and snorkel operators to become Green Fins Members in the country. This involves providing training about the ecology and threats to coral reefs, advice for adopting simple and practical solutions to these threats and guidance to the Green Fins’ environmental standards for dive and snorkel operators. Green Fins membership will help marine tourism operators identify priority areas to improve their business sustainability performance and communicate their commitment  to following environmental best practices as a way of attracting eco-minded tourists.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Jordan to the Green Fins network as the fifteenth country to adopt the initiative to secure the future sustainability of their marine tourism industry,” said Chloe Harvey, Executive Director of The Reef-World Foundation. “ASEZA has shown exceptional leadership in recognising the opportunity to establish best environmental practice among their diving community with Green Fins. Jordan is a unique diving destination and home to a bountiful array of marine life. Our coral reefs are in serious trouble; it’s possible that coral reefs globally could be lost in our lifetime. Reducing local, direct threats to coral reefs, such as those posed by diving and snorkelling activities, will significantly improve their chance of survival.” 

Diving and snorkelling-related damage to sensitive marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, is becoming an increasingly significant issue. This damage makes them less likely to survive other local and wider threats, such as those associated with overfishing or plastic debris and the effects of climate change. Based on robust individual assessments of business practices, the Green Fins initiative helps identify high-risk activities. The assessors then work with participating business leaders to build and commit to a tailored sustainability action plan to address these risks. Through Green Fins implementation in Jordan, Reef-World aims to improve the sustainability of the diving industry in the region by working with 15 marine tourism operators, training 75 dive guides and raising awareness of sustainability best practices among 15,000 tourists in the first year of implementation.

Abdullah, Manager at Red Sea Dive Center, said: “I signed up for the Green Fins membership and got the help and support of the Green Fins team. I saw how thorough the process was and all the things they do on the assessment day. Now I’m convinced it’s an amazing programme that could really help the environment and one I’m very proud to be part of!”

Green Fins is a UN Environment Programme initiative, internationally coordinated by The Reef-World Foundation, which aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines to promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry. Green Fins provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance. 

To date, four dive operators in Aqaba have joined the global network of 700+ trained and assessed Green Fins Members. These are: Aqaba Adventure Divers, Arab Divers, Coral Garden Diving Center and Red Sea Dive Center.

For more information, please visit www.reef-world.org or  www.greenfins.net/countries/jordan.

Dive and snorkel operators in Jordan interested in becoming Green Fins Members can sign up at: www.greenfins.net/register or contact the team at jordan@greenfins.net.

Summer holidays are the perfect time for families to bond and spend quality time together. 

Euro-Divers Meeru Island has a special family diving offer for guests staying between 1^st June till 30^thNovember 2023 in Meeru Island Resort & Spa, Maldives. Children until the age of 18 years get 50% off on all diving packages and courses WHEN ONE family member is pre-booked for any diving packages or courses. 

Boat prices, student kits and equipment rental are to be paid locally and according to local prices. A voucher for pre-booking with the tour operator or Euro-Divers has to be shown to receive the discounted package for the children. 

Take advantage of the resort’s attractive family offer and save 20% on May to December 2023 stays with a complimentary stay for children under the age of 14 years. 

What a fabulous offer to make your dream family holiday a reality. 

• Learn More
• Prebook your dives
• The Resort

Why Dive Meeru Island?

Meeru Island Resort & Spa is “Simply Maldives.” A scenic 55 min speedboat ride from the airport, the island is stunning, covered with vegetation and offers a huge variety of activities for everybody. The resort has separate adults-only and family-friendly facilities, ideal for couples and families.

Located in the centre of North Male Atoll, we can dive into almost every corner. The protected lagoon with Meeru’s coral garden is the perfect place to start your diving adventure. There are 50 beautiful dive sites within 15 to 70 minutes by speed Dhoni and you will find all kinds of diving to perfect your diving holiday. 

We are lucky to be surrounded by various dive sites like Channel, corner, Thila, shipwreck or simply an easy-going outer reef dive that offers a lot to see! All those enchanted places await you to jump on board. Sightings of Manta rays are possible between January to April and June to November. 

Divers can expect to see reef sharks, eagle rays, Napoleon, schooling snappers, stingrays, and turtles. Some of our guest’s favourite dive sites are Helengeli Thila, Aquarium, H.P Reef, Okobe Thila, and Lankan Manta Point. 

Helengeli Thila

Helengeli Thila is at the Northeast of North Malé Atoll. The amount of fish at the dive site is unbelievable when the current is outgoing. There is a good chance to see eagle rays, grey reef sharks, tunas and more. The overhang at 27 meters beckons with about a hundred Gorgonian sea fans. Just amazing!

Aquarium

The name says it all. One of the most requested dive sites by our repeater guests and it is worth repeating. The corner is packed with fish and there is always much to see—Oriental sweetlips, snappers, eagle rays, green turtles, sharks and more.

H.P. Reef

H.P. Reef is one of the best dive sites and a must for every experienced diver. The soft corals are the stars of the show at this beautiful site. In addition, divers can see eagle rays, trevallies, tunas, sharks and more.

Okobe Thila

This marine-protected dive site is outstanding. There are amazing colourful soft corals, big schools of fish and dense schools of Bannerfish gathered outside the overhangs. Blue-lined snappers, Tunas, Napoleons and more. This dive site is necessary for experienced divers when exploring the North Malé Atoll. Don’t forget to bring a torch!

Lankan Manta Point

Lankan Manta Point is on the East side of North Malé Atoll. The dive site is among the Maldives’ most famous manta ray cleaning stations. Between May to November, this dive site comes alive. Divers often looked overwhelmed while watching the manta rays hover to be cleaned.

Divers seeking adventure can add an underwater scooter (DPV) to a dive. With some explanation from your guide, off we go for a dive like never before. With a DPV, you can explore a bigger area and conserves air. Most importantly, it is FUN and EASY to handle.

Our morning, afternoon, full day and night dives will bring you to North Male Atoll’s incredible dive sites for a spectacular dive you will never forget. 

Recommended experience from the team: NIGHT DIVE ON A SHIPWRECK. The magical dive on the wreck at night is truly a macro lover’s dream.  

Learn more about Euro-Divers Meeru Island at: https://www.euro-divers.com/diving-maldives/meeru-island-resort-spa/

Only one month until our annual “Wednesday” Night Dives begin! Join us for a fun social dive at all of Niagara’s best sites, and we promise there will be no piranhas.

Group meets at 6:30pm and the diving start at 7pm. SMB required for all sites.

Dive Sites

• June 7 : Train Bridge, Niagara River
• June 14 : Frenchman’s, Niagara River
• June 21 : The Barge, Niagara River
• June 28 : Netherby, Niagara River
• July 5 : Swing Bridge, Welland
• July 12 : Ontario Bridge, Welland
• July 19 : Scuba Park, Welland
• July 26 : Navy Hall, NOTL
• Aug 2 : Train Bridge, Niagara River
• Aug 9 : Frenchman’s, Niagara River
• Aug 16 : Netherby, Niagara River
• Aug 23 : Scuba Park, Welland
• Aug 30 : Swing Bridge, Welland
• Sept 6 : Navy Hall, NOTL
• Sept 13 : Ontario Bridge, Welland
• Sept 20 : Frenchman’s, Niagara River
• Sept 27 : Netherby, Niagara River
• October 4 : Swing Bridge, Welland
• October 11 : Scuba Park, Welland
• October 18 : Ontario St, Welland
• October 25 : Navy Hall, NOTL

Dan’s Dive Shop, St Catherine’s Ontario

The team behind Y-40 – The Deep Joy have announced a brand new deepwater project and sister of the Y-40 facility.

The facility, to be named PHI 12 is a new deep thermal water space for scientific, underwater medical, and aerospace research. It will also be used for rescue / recover training and cinema productions.

The new facility will be a 12 metre wide cylinder with a 30m depth, filled with thermal water a temperature of 32/34 degrees Celsius.

With an open air entrance, this brand new project will allow for large equipment or specialist filming gear to lowered from above.

Learn more in this video at: https://www.facebook.com/reel/223526730304597 (in Italian with English subtitles)

Whether you’re drysuit certified or looking to take your PADI Dry Suit Certification; we now have our own fleet of Fusion Sport dry suits.

We know it’s been a long time coming

It’s no surprise that Tobermory is cold water diving. And yes, wetsuits are totally fine for our summer diving, especially our open water dive sites. 

But, if you want to progress your diving or just stay warmer on your dives, we now have dry suits in house. 

Booking your rental ahead is required.

DRYSUIT CERTIFICATION is required for renting dry suits.

Contact Us For Rental

Learn more about Divers Den at: https://www.diversden.ca

As part of our ongoing coverage of the Carlton Queen Liveaboard which sadly capsized in the Northern Red Sea earlier this week, we have received this picture from one of the guests onboard. In our interview with a guest yesterday, it was claimed that the vessel was listing heavily from the start of the trip with no satisfactory response as to why from the onboard crew.

This photo was taken earlier in the day of the sinking, whilst the boat was still moored at the previous dive site and clearly shows the heavy listing our source referred to.

We will keep you updated as and when more information is available.

Late yesterday evening, following our recent article on the sinking of the Carlton Queen Liveaboard in the Northern Red Sea, we were contacted by a guest who was onboard during the incident. We have spent the last few hours in a constant back and forth discussion with this guest on what happened, from their perspective.

Please note, that this is following the conversation with the guest and events are to the best of their recollection and clearly we were not onboard during the incident to verify the details.

According to the account we have received, the trip started with a check dive before heading to Abu Nuhas to dive the SS Carnatic, followed by a night dive. The morning began with a dive on the Giannis D before heading to the Sinai region.

The vessel was apparently listing from the beginning of the trip and despite this being mentioned, no real answers were given to the reason and nothing done to address the problem. During what the guest considered to be relatively calm seas, the Captain turned the boat and this caused her to list even further, before capsizing.

The Captain was the first to depart the vessel and some guests evacuated to a life raft or into the water. Some guests were in the downstairs cabins and were able to escape with some assistance, in what was clearly a harrowing situation.

Some people were able to retrieve phones and wallets as they were easily accessible but the majority of personal belongings and diving equipment have been lost. The guests are currently liaising with their embassies to arrange replacement passports.

The group was collected by another boat which was close by and assisted in providing replacement clothes and were taken to a hotel on return to the marina. Some minor injuries required hospital treatment.

Our contact is unable to comment on the condition of the boat, which we understand to have only recently launched but he did put the responsibility with the boat captain, whose actions he believed directly resulted in the sinking.

In a final comment, he told us that he was still shaking and crying from the incident and simply wanted to return home to his children.

We will update when more information is available.

A Red Sea Liveaboard capsized yesterday at Abu Nuhas Reef in the Northern Red Sea.

It is being reported locally that the vessel was the newly launched Carlton Queen, operated by Carlton Fleet, although we have not been able to fully confirm this.

From what we understand, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.

We will keep you updated with more information as it becomes available and our thoughts are with the guests and dive crew.

The Scuba Club, now The Kyalami Scuba Club, a well-established diving and scuba instruction center, is excited to announce its new ownership. The owners of Kyalami Charters and Jupiter Water Tours have taken over The Scuba Club from Ken Ward and JD Duff, who has been with them for over 40 years.

The Scuba Club has been a staple in the Palm Beach diving community for almost 50 years, offering top-notch instruction and a variety of diving experiences. The new ownership team is thrilled to continue the tradition of excellence that The Scuba Club has established over the years.

“We’re honored to be taking the reins of such an iconic diving institution,” said Rick Ratliff, the new President of The Kyalami Scuba Club. “Our team has been passionate about diving for years, and we’re excited to bring that enthusiasm to The Kyalami Scuba Club.”

Shawn Murphy, another new owner and VP of Operations, echoed Ratliff’s sentiments. “Our goal at The Scuba Club is to provide exceptional service to our guests, and safety is our top priority. As a new owner taking over the operational side of things, I’m committed to ensuring that every aspect of our operations is of the highest quality. We want to make sure that our guests feel welcome, comfortable, and safe during their time with us. We’re dedicated to providing an unforgettable diving experience, and we’ll go above and beyond to make that happen.”

The Kyalami Scuba Club will continue to offer one and two-tank dives, as well as a variety of scuba diving classes and instruction. Ken Ward, who has been with The Scuba Club for over seven years, will remain as the SCUBAPRO specialist, and the rest of the crew that divers know and love will also be staying on.

“We’re excited to continue to work with the incredible team of instructors and crew that The Scuba Club has assembled over the years,” said Shaun Gallant, another new owner and VP of Instruction & Education. “Scuba diving is a lifelong adventure, and we are excited to offer a range of classes and instruction that enhance our divers’ experience. At The Scuba Club, we offer everything from beginner to advanced courses, including Advanced Open Water Certification, Rescue Diver Certification, Divemaster certification, and more. We believe that continuing education is essential for divers to stay safe and get the most out of their underwater experiences. I’m excited to take over the education side of things and help our customers become the best divers they can be.”

The Kyalami Scuba Club dive shop will remain in operation, and will remain a ScubaPro Platinum certified dealer. ScubaPro is a leading manufacturer of scuba equipment, and the company requires its Platinum Dealers to maintain the highest standards. The staff at The Scuba Club possesses thorough knowledge of all the products, and their certified service technicians receive extensive training.

Jon-Luke Ratliff, the final new owner, added, “We understand that The Scuba Club has been a part of many divers’ lives for years, and we want to assure them that we plan to honor the legacy and continue to provide the same high-quality service that they’ve come to expect.”

The Loggerhead 3, The Scuba Club’s dive boat, has been renamed to “Kyalami Too”, and has been completely updated with countless new amenities. The new ownership team is excited about the improvements that will make the boat an even better diving experience for guests.

The new owners of The Kyalami Scuba Club are also committed to preserving the coral reefs and marine species in Florida. Florida is our home, and we believe that we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the natural resources that make our home unique.– stated Rick Ratliff. He continues, “As divers, we have a unique perspective on the beauty and fragility of our coral reefs and the marine animals that call them home. We have seen firsthand the amazing diversity of marine life in Florida, and we are dedicated to protecting it for future generations.

We believe that conservation and responsible diving practices go hand in hand. We are committed to educating our divers about the importance of conservation and providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to be responsible divers. We believe that by working together, we can make a difference in the preservation of our coral reefs and the marine species that inhabit them” stated Shaun Gallant.

Being based in Palm Beach, Florida, means access to some of the most amazing diving in the world. We are passionate about sharing the beauty of our underwater world with our guests, and we believe that by promoting conservation and responsible diving practices, we can ensure that future generations can enjoy these amazing experiences as well.

At The Kyalami Scuba Club, we are committed to being synonymous with conservation. We believe that by leading by example, we can inspire others to join us in our efforts to protect our coral reefs and the marine species that depend on them. We invite you to join us in our commitment to conservation and responsible diving practices, and to experience the beauty of our underwater world for yourself– said Shawn Murphy.

“The Kyalami Scuba Club will be the same great Scuba Club you’ve known for fifty years–with a few drops of Kyalami blood added to it,” Rick Ratliff added. “That means our number one priority has always been and always will be YOU–the diver. The guest comes first, and we make sure your needs are being taken care of from the second you drive up to our beautiful location!”

For more information about The Kyalami Scuba Club, visit their website at https://www.thescubaclub.com

PADI has awarded Jo Armitage, Course Director at The Go Pro Family in Mexico, Platinum status for her contributions to professional training and educational excellence during 2022.  This year marks the tenth consecutive year she has achieved this status.

This milestone comes just a year after The Go Pro Family’s other Course Director, Angel Navarro, received his 15^th consecutive Platinum award. 

Jo, originally from the UK, says “Time really does fly when you’re having fun.  I can’t believe it’s been ten years since my first Platinum Course Director award.  Training future PADI dive instructors is such a fulfilling job and every IDC brings something new.”

Jo adds “Currently only around 15% of PADI Course Directors are female, so I am stoked to receive this award and I hope to encourage other women divers to become PADI Pros and to be Course Directors themselves one day.”

Jo currently conducts IDC in three locations in Mexico, which she says helps her to keep her training fresh and relevant.  “It’s great to be able to experience new dive locations and work with some great teams at our affiliate dive centers.” said Jo

The Go Pro Family is Course Directors Angel Navarro (from Spain) and Jo Armitage (from the UK), and their team of pros.  Together, they have personally trained over 900 PADI Instructors, and have issued over 4000 professional-level certifications.  Based in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, The Go Pro Family offers professional-level scuba training as well as technical, cave diving and freediving.  They also conduct PADI Instructor Development Courses in Mahahual and Huatulco.

For more information about their IDCs or other training options, visit https://thegoprofamily.com/en/

Omaha, Nebraska-based Diventures, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing network of swim and scuba centers, announced its latest acquisition of Underwater Connection (UWC) located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Underwater Connection was founded in 1989 by Troy Juth and is the largest diving center in the state of Colorado offering scuba, travel, retail, equipment service and swim.  

“Colorado has historically had the highest number of certified divers per-capita in the United States. UWC is consistently a national leader in dive certifications, equipment sales, service and travel. So, entering Colorado by acquiring UWC is an ideal move,” said Dean Hollis, Founder of Diventures. “I’ve known Troy for over a decade and have always admired him and the UWC team for their innovative, customer-focused approach. Over the last several years, we have sent numerous Diventures team members to visit and learn from UWC’s amazing team. To now have them as part of the Diventures family is incredibly exciting. I’m honored we can continue and build on Troy’s legacy, and I am excited to welcome, support and continue to learn from Jessy Robinson and their entire team.” 

“UWC has all the key elements Diventures looks for—a comprehensive facility, world class programs and, especially, great people,” said William Munroe, General Manager of Diventures. “We are excited to learn from them, while we also support them and continue to serve their wonderful customers.” 

“One new focus will be launching Diventures learn-to-swim program to complement the instruction UWC already offers,” continues Munroe. “Our unique swim approach offers important water safety skills and at the same time fills the diver funnel, creating lifelong aquatics enthusiasts. Expansion into the Front Range is key to our strategic geographic plan of bringing water safety and enjoyment to all areas of the country.” 

In 2014, UWC moved to its current location, a 12,000-square-foot facility off I-25 and Garden of the Gods Road, making it convenient for team members and customers. The 15-feet deep pool, 88-degree water, and room temperature of 90 degrees mirrors Diventures locations elsewhere. The all-inclusive facility includes training, equipment sales, and service and group and private travel. Service and repair are staffed with experienced technicians making it a one-stop shop destination for aquatic enthusiasts in the area. Given its excellent design and comprehensive offerings, Diventures intends to remain in the existing facility. 

“For 34 years, we’ve offered scuba diving lessons, and while ownership is changing hands, our commitment to aquatic adventures does not,” said Troy Juth, founder of UWC. “Dean and I have known each other for many years, and we’re aligned on our vision for the industry and our values, especially that the customer comes first. Becoming part of the Diventures family allows us to expand our reach to share our passion of swim and scuba.”  

As with other Diventures acquisitions, store management and staffing will remain the same. Diventures will continue UWC’s mission to bring water sports through safe and fun instruction to the Front Range of Colorado. 

About Underwater Connection: 

Underwater Connection was founded in Colorado Springs in 1989 by Troy Juth and provides southern Colorado with scuba and swim instruction, retail, travel and equipment repair. It is the considered the lead dive business in the state of Colorado and in the top five for the entire United States. In 2014 and after 25 years in business, Underwater Connection moved into a new, state-of-the-art facility customized to provide customers and students with a comfortable learning experience and convenient location. Underwater Connection offers instruction and all major brands for retail for scuba, technical diving, freediving, snorkeling and swimming as well as a full-service travel agency with dozens of international destinations every year. Underwater Connection’s mission is to teach customers and their children not only how to be safe around the water, but how to have loads of fun! 

Visit  https://uwcscuba.com for more information.     

About Diventures

Diventures was founded in 2009, with one location in Omaha, Neb. It since has expanded to eighteen locations (Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Little Rock, Ark.; Colorado Springs, Co.; Alpharetta, Ga.; Marietta, Ga.; North Liberty, Iowa; Lexington, Ky.; Battle Creek, Mich.; Columbia, Mo.; Kansas City, Mo.; Springfield, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Memphis, Tenn.; Sterling, Va.; Vienna, Va.; Fitchburg, Wis.; Sun Prairie, Wis.). Diventures provides concierge-level customer service for swim lessons, scuba certifications, equipment sales and service and group and private travel. Diventures is committed to safety and fun in the water, as well as giving back to support local and global communities. Employing hundreds of people and serving thousands of customers per year, Diventures uses their passion and the power of the water to impact lives, change the world…and has fun doing it!

Visit www.diventures.com for more information

Building on the tremendous success from the past three years, Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort and Caradonna Adventures have partnered with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and the Reef Oasis Dive Club to create a special all-inclusive stay-and-dive package for Grand Bahama Island Dive Week. 

From June 18 to 24, 2023, Grand Bahama Dive Week takes over the island with a five-day gathering of Bahamas Dive Ambassadors, open water-certified divers and local dive operators. This event features dive sites including the Sea Star, Pretenders and Papa Doc wrecks, the Blue Hole and the colorful coral reefs at Peterson’s Cay. An added highlight of the week is an all-day excursion to the famous Tiger Beach (weather permitting with a minimum of six passengers), known as one of the world’s most thrilling shark encounters. Dive Week also includes plenty of shoreside fun with nightly entertainment programs, a beach bonfire and dance party, the famous Smith’s Point Fish Fry, and a brewery visit to sample local beers and more.

“We are excited to partner with Caradonna Adventures to welcome guests from all over the world back to our Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort, an enchanting destination only 45 minutes away from Miami, with convenient ferries out of Fort Lauderdale,” said Amanda Santana, Viva Wyndham’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. “With this location so alluring to divers we were delighted to conceive this unique week for them and other lovers of the saltwater lifestyle.”  

With 26 acres of secluded beachfront property, Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach is the perfect place to stretch out and relax while enjoying some well-deserved sunshine and vitamin sea. With over 4,000 feet of pristine white sand beaches and more than 70 percent of rooms having ocean views, the resort also features a wide variety of amenities, including an oceanfront pool, jacuzzi, sauna, multiple bars and restaurants, as well as a spa, gym, theater and full childcare amenities. There’s even a kiddy splash park. 

The ultimate package includes six nights of all-inclusive Superior Room accommodations, four days of two-tank boat dives and a two-tank Tiger Shark Dive at Tiger Beach (weather permitting with a minimum of six passengers), full breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, snacks and beverages including alcohol, non-motorized watersports, daily scheduled entertainment, free WiFi, roundtrip airport transfers, all other transportation and includes hotel taxes and service charges. 

To ensure a seamless experience, this exclusive package can only be booked by visiting Bahamas Dive Week | Caradonna Adventures.

Poni Divers, Brunei’s leading local diving company, is set to make history with the world’s first underwater lion dance at open sea (as far as we’ve researched, there hasn’t been any other underwater lion dance at open sea, there have been a series of underwater lion dance at indoor aquariums in Malaysia and Thailand). The event took place on Monday, 23rd January and featured a team of expert divers dressed in the traditional lion dance costume performing an underwater choreography along with other local dive enthusiasts to celebrate the Chinese New Year from underwater Brunei. The event kicked off with a lion dance performance by local professionals on land at our dive center at Serasa Beach to usher in the New Year before the divers departed to Pelong Rock about 35 mins out to sea for their exciting Chinese New Year dive. 

A total of 14 divers, 10 snorkelers and a freediver witnessed the feat. And to commemorate this event, Poni Divers was awarded the First Underwater Lion Dance in Brunei from the Brunei Book of Records and also received a honorary certificate from representatives from the Brunei Book of Records. 

The lion dance is a traditional Chinese performance that symbolizes good luck and fortune, and is typically performed on land during festivals and celebrations. Poni Divers is excited to bring this cultural tradition to the underwater world, showcasing the beauty and diversity of marine life while also celebrating the Chinese New Year and adding an innovative spin to this cultural tradition. This Lunar New Year is the Year of the Water Rabbit, ushering in a time of change and hope.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this unique and exciting experience to our divers and to the public,” said Mohd Tahsin Wong, the CEO of Poni Divers. “Not only will this be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our divers to see a lion dance underwater at the open sea, but it will also showcase the importance of marine conservation and the need to protect our oceans, putting Brunei on the map as a diving pioneer of exciting underwater diving community events.”

Learn more about Poni Divers at: https://ponidivers.com

We love to scuba dive. And we hope it comes through. It’s a basic human need, exploring the world and searching for adventure. If you look at history, we’re scattered across the globe now, because we’ve been driven by that need to explore. We’ve been about diving for a very long time. We’ve made a career out of it and are very passionate about it. We can’t get enough of it. It continues to change our lives. We believe that once you train a diver, and teach them to dive safely, they tend to care about the ocean, about its conservation and ecology, and about its preservation and protecting it. The more people that we can bring in as certified divers and teach them these things, the better off that stewardship will be along with the survivability and future of our oceans. We think the earth needs a little bit more of that. If you have that drive for adventure and exploration, we would love to help get you started.

Welcome to the largest fully stocked inventory selection of snorkelling, and scuba diving equipment in the Cochrane, Alberta area. As one of Canada’s newest dive shops, we are proud to offer the largest brand selection available and we recommend only the best brands in scuba, manufactured of the highest quality and design to maximize comfort when diving. Come visit Generation Wave Scuba and see our impressive scuba gear selection. Our friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced advisors will help you choose the right gear.

About Us

Ron Nelson

In 2012 I took my PADI open water, and was quite amazed on how tranquil and relaxing diving was. In 2015 I made the decision to go pro and became a PADI Divemaster, which was an amazing experience to see new open water students take their first breath underwater. The look on the students face and how it made both the instructor and I feel knowing that something we love to do so much can make others feel the same way, I was hooked. August 11, 2016 I became a PADI Open Water Instructor and what an amazing accomplishment for myself as now I instruct students on how to take their first breath underwater, no words can describe the feeling you get when you look into their eyes while they take that first breath, absolutely amazing. I had no urge to go further up the PADI ladder, but somebody had different plans for me.

In 2018 my son was diagnosed with cancer, while doing his treatments a lot of kids would ask me about my diving tattoos and how they wished they could go diving. I contacted PADI to see if this could become reality for these kids and later that year I became a DDI Instructor (Disabled Divers International Instructor) where I learned how to teach students with disabilities (blind, paraplegic, autistic) how to dive. I am affiliated with Children’s Wish Foundation, anyone who wants to dive and can have their doctor sign off on them, PADI Canada and myself will teach that student and their family free of charge.

In August I also became a Master Scuba Diver Instructor, then IDC Staff Instructor, and in April 2021 I achieved Master Instructor status. For someone who just wanted to be an instructor and nothing more I started moving up the PADI Ladder and instructing more and more students to blow bubbles underwater. On May 16, 2022 and 700+ student certifications I achieved my end goal, I am now a PADI Course Director (1% of divers achieve this) now not only do I still get to teach students to blow bubbles underwater, now I also get to teach instructors how to teach students to blow bubbles under water. I hope to see and meet you out blowing bubbles someday….

Address: 240 River Avenue, Cochrane, Alberta Canada

Phone: (587) 362-5929

Learn more at: https://www.generationwavescuba.org/index.html

Reef Oasis Dive Club welcomes PADI platinum course director Kai Steinbeck to head the PADI Instructor Development Programs in the Caribbean on the island of the Dominican Republic.

We are excited to work together and develop the Instructor Development Courses out of our PADI 5 star IDC centre located on the South East Coast in Bayahibe.

Over 30 years as a PADI Pro

Kai Steinbeck has been a PADI Pro since 1992 working as an instructor, trip director, operations manager, marketing manager and course director in some of the most sought after destinations of the world such as Australia, Indonesia, the Pacific Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Most of his diving career has been spent on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Having worked in one of the biggest dive schools in the world, where we used to run 13 learn to dive courses per week, as well as in small operations with only one other instructor has given me the experience to prepare my candidates for the real world of being a dive instructor.

I still teach Openwater courses and love it. I think it’s important to keep your fins in the game and expose yourself to the challenges the candidates face every day, teaching the full spectrum of PADI courses.

The PADI IDC programs include

We run a 14 day IDC program which includes an unparalleled IE pass guarantee, the training for Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Boat and Oxygen provider specialty instructor ratings. We have developed our own dive theory eLearning platform which candidates can log into to prepare themselves for the IDC as well as a marine life knowledge courses which every IDC candidate has access to.

GO PRO with platinum course director Kai Steinbeck

Visit our website at www.diveinstructor.net to find out all about the PADI IDC programs in the Caribbean on the island of the Dominican Republic, or email Kai direct at kai@diveinstructor.net or WhatsApp on +61419172910

Andrew Rachlin brings eight years of liveaboard sales experience to the team at Explorer Ventures and started on December 27, 2022.

Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving Fleet® welcomes Andrew Rachlin as a sales associate in North America. For the past eight years, Andrew has worked as a sales representative for another liveaboard company and will apply his customer support expertise and ‘people-first’ attitude to ensure each of Explorer Ventures Fleet’s guests has a successful experience. 

“Andrew is an outstanding addition to Explorer Ventures,” said Diana Heaton, Vice President of Operations and Sales. “Several industry friends reached out to us to recommend him. His experience and top-notch customer care skills mean he already fits in with our dedicated reservations team.”

Before employment in the liveaboard industry, Andrew attended Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida, receiving a BA in Communication. Although he is highly knowledgeable about scuba diving, he does not dive, instead prefers gaining elevation by skiing, climbing, and skydiving. Andrew is also an avid gamer and a big New York Giants fan.

Andrew will be responsible for selling global diving holidays plus assisting guests through the reservations process, ensuring each guest is satisfied and well taken care of. Explorer Ventures continues to be at the forefront of providing the best customer service in the liveaboard industry and retaining passionate staff like Andrew is the reason. 

Again, please welcome Andrew to the EV Family!

Learn more about Explorer Ventures Fleet at: https://www.explorerventures.com 

We are delighted to welcome our new PADI Course Director as the leader of Pro Dive International’s Career Development Center, Instructor Development Center, GoPro & TecRec Academy, as well as the Quality Department.

His name is Walter, Walter G. Schmit.

Over 20 years of pro diving experience 

The passion for diving has led Walter’s life since 2001, when he became a diver in his native land of Puerto Madryn, Patagonia, Argentina.

Walter started his pro career in Spain and the Canary Islands, where he got his first taste of technical diving and rebreather diving. Wanting to live the dream life that diving instructors can supposedly have, he explored the world as a PADI MSDT, gaining experience in the Caribbean, Dominican Republic and Honduras on the island of Roatan, moving after to Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, the Philippines, Greece and most recently India over the last 12 years, certifying divers in recreational and technical diving and achieving the PADI Gold Course Director rating for 4 consecutive years. 

Walter staffed some of the most talented Course Directors to become himself one in 2019. He trained in technical diving with record-holding divers and attained his Tec Instructor Trainer rating, and continued learning with a mCCR rebreather and mCCR Trimix course this year. His passion for learning about diving equals his love of sharing his knowledge. 

Mexico is one of the top diving destinations in the world for diving, and according to Walter one of the best training locations. He is thrilled to be joining the team at Pro Dive and bringing his knowledge of teaching and diving to the company’s award winning PADI CDC.

With close to 10,000 dives, over 2,000 students spread over all continents, Walter has worked in the Maldives, on liveaboards in Thailand, in Lombok’s Gili islands, with the Thresher Sharks of the Philippines’ Malapascua, and will be sure to share anecdotes of his experiences if you are curious and ask him. 

His friendly smile and joyful personality will make you feel right at ease, to relax, enjoy, and learn about diving. Now is the time for him to teach about Pro Dive’s diving, and he will offer professional diving courses like DMC, assistant instructor, OWSI, staff instructor, and a wide range of specialties, technical diving and technical instructors options.

Walter’s Philosophy 

“Make it real”, says Walter with a big, determined smile on his face. “I teach instructors to be ready for real life situations, using my comprehensive experience as an active dive instructor for over fifteen years to train my candidates and prepare them for their own students. Having worked on four different continents and in different oceans, exposed to the most diverse scenarios, means that my mind is full of examples that wait to be shared with my students. I believe that sharing those stories will help my candidates understand what can happen and prepare them for their own future students and how to use the standards.”

Walter offers packages and instructor development within Pro Dive’s GoPro IDC Mexico, and teaches in English and Spanish, and French and German assisted by his wife Dorianne. He’s looking forward to sharing his passion, experience and knowledge with you, and to turning you into a world-class Divemaster or Instructor.

Go Pro with Pro Dive in Mexico! Get in touch with PADI Course Director Walter and reserve your spot today at  their website (needs updating)!

With the striking support of their many loyal divers among those thousands who voted in Scuba Diving magazine’s annual Readers Choice survey, Pro Dive International has been awarded as one of the BEST DIVE OPERATORS – CARIBBEAN & ATLANTIC for their ninth consecutive year. This time in almost every single category, with awards won in 5 out of 7 categories, including “Best Overall”!

Best overall · Quality of Dive Boats · Quality of Facilities · Quality of Staff · Attention to Safety

About the Award

Meanwhile in its 30th year, Scuba Diving magazine’s annual Readers Choice survey has thousands of active, certified divers vote for their favorite dive destinations, operators, liveaboards, resorts, sites and more, bringing the Readers Choice Awards to life. 

Their responses are collected and analyzed by an independent agency that finally reveals the world’s best in each category. 

Why this award is so important to Pro Dive International

Throughout their twenty years of operation and with the goal and philosophy in mind of providing Excellence through Quality, Pro Dive’s expert team of diving enthusiasts has been keen on keeping the industry benchmark high in regards to customer service, safety standards and scuba diving experiences, aiming to fulfill their customers’ needs for hassle-free dive vacations, great value, fun adventures, and convenience.

“We are especially proud to receive these accolades for a period that has been exceptionally challenging, sparing no effort to navigate out of the Covid-19 crisis. It has been tougher than usual to provide excelling service and continuing to raise the bar. The more thrilled we are that Pro Dive International has received those supporting votes without encouraging the participants of the survey.” says Markus Fleischmann, President & Founder of Pro Dive International. “The Reader’s Choice Award and being featured among the World’s Best Diving & Resorts reflects that our customers notice and appreciate our constant efforts.”

Since 2003, Pro Dive International has established as a leader in the diving industry and ranks among the Caribbean’s top dive operations and PADI Career Development Centers. Their multilingual team under German management has proved to be a competent partner for dive groups, individual travelers, renowned dive tour operators worldwide, and Go Pro candidates.

Learn more about Pro Dive International at: https://www.prodiveinternational.com

Liveaboard “Felo”, which is operated by Seawolf Diving Safari sadly hit a reef at Shabrour Suyl on late Sunday evening and sank into the Red Sea.

According to the operator, all guests were safely collected by another safari boat and returned to port with only minor injuries being sustained. These included a broken toe, mild concussion and a small incision.

Most of the diving equipment was saved and following medical checks, the guests were taken shopping by the team from Seawolf.

The new Green Fins Hub is a game-changer in overcoming the biggest sustainability challenges in the marine conservation tourism industry.

Sustainable marine tourism is receiving a major boost with the launch of the Green Fins Hub this week. We are delighted to have been part of the pilot program with five of our liveaboards already Green Fins Hub members and in various stages of completing their assessments. 

“The new Green Fins Hub offers enhanced and global membership for participating dive and snorkel operators to conserve the marine environment. It is the first-ever global marine tourism industry platform, helping operators to make simple, cost-efficient changes to their daily practices by utilizing tried and tested solutions, keep track of their annual improvements and communicate with their communities and customers. The tool has been developed by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to overcome the biggest sustainability challenges in the marine conservation tourism industry. The industry-backed digital platform is expected to scale up reach from about 700 operators across 14 countries today to a potential 30,000 worldwide, thus increasing coral protection and conservation worldwide.” UNEP

Explorer Ventures Fleet’s participating liveaboards include:

Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Tiburon Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Islands
Caribbean Explorer II, Saba & St Kitts
Black Pearl Explorer, Palau

Since the beginning of our partnership with The Reef-World Foundation in 2018, we have become a pioneering liveaboard fleet for the Green Fins environmental program. We received the first official liveaboard Green Fins Membership in 2018 (Caribbean Explorer II) and have assisted in paving the way in overcoming the unique hurdles the liveaboard industry faces. Alongside our own sustainability management program Dive Green®, we have used Green Fins as a tool to guide and support best practices. Our organization is working towards creating an eco-friendlier liveaboard community and aiming to reduce our own footprint. We hope to expand the Green Fins Hub to the rest of our Fleet as part of our continued commitment to a more sustainable future. 

Learn about the Reef-World partnership and dedication to our Dive Green sustainability program here.

The Reef-World Foundation has launched a new online platform, the Green Fins Hub, which will assist Curaçao’s leading sustainable dive tourism operators as Green Fins Digital Members in developing best environmental practices for marine tourism.

These leading sustainable dive tourism operators (Ocean Encounters, The Dive Bus, Scubacao and GO WEST Diving) in Curaçao have all become Green Fins Digital Members to reinforce the absolute need to create change in order to provide future generations with an opportunity for a healthy and sustainable environment, both above and below the waterline.

“From a private sector point of view, Dive Curacao is incredibly proud to support sustainable dive tourism and these leaders of the Curaçao Dive Tourism Industry to create change. Afterall, if we do nothing to support the environment, we will eventually have an unsustainable dive tourism industry in Curaçao. This will lead to an inability to deliver exceptional dive travel and vacation experiences in the future. Bottom line is that apathy can no longer be embraced.”, says Bryan Horne, Founder of Dive Curacao

Why should responsible Curaçao Dive Tourism operators become a Green Fins Members?

The most important reason why Curaçao Tourism operators should become Green Fins Members is, of course, to support the environmental component of Curaçao. Coral reefs in Curacao comprise 104 square kilometers of extremely bio-diverse systems and therefore represent a high economic value.

Consequently, it is important to protect the dive sites and snorkel sites to ensure the sustainable growth of this valuable industry. The same way these dive operators take part in certification programs to raise their service level, The Reef-World Foundation developed the assessment system to measure compliance to the “Green Fins Code of Conduct” that was co-created with UNEP. The Green Fins tools and resources also support industry compliance to Sustainable Diving and Snorkelling ISO standards that address the needs of the industry to meet the rapid shift in demand for sustainable tourism plus the mounting threat towards the marine environment.

Accordingly, initiatives like this combined with government support for progressive marine management legislation will change, legitimize and strengthen the position of the dive tourism industry in Curaçao. As recent studies have shown, their contribution to the Curaçao economy is of great value.

“Marine tourism plays an important role in Curaçao’s economy and as the industry grows, it is critical to establish practical approaches to protect the marine environment. By adopting Green Fins, dive operators are taking vital steps in ensuring Curaçao’s dive market is sustainably managed to increase corals and marine life’s resilience to wider global threats and protect the valuable marine ecosystems for future generations.” said JJ Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation

About the Green Fins Hub

The Green Fins Hub is the latest development by The Reef-World Foundation to meet the growing industry demand for environmentally friendly underwater sports. The foundation recently surveyed more than 2,400 dive tourists and professionals, 75% of whom said they are willing to pay more for marine tour operators with a firm commitment to sustainability.

Created in partnership with UNEP and industry key players such as PADI, PSS, RAID, DAN, ZuBlu and PADI Travel, the Green Fins Hub hosts both the existing Certified Members and registrants to its new digital membership program.

The Hub includes a Community Forum where members can discuss solutions and other topics related to sustainable marine tourism with like-minded operators, NGOs, governments and industry partners; a Solutions Library with information on how to implement best practices; and an Action Plan Tracker to track, collaborate and improve operation’s conservation efforts.

It is hoped the new global digital platform will increase Green Fins uptake, not only in Curaçao, but globally, from the current 700 Green Fins certified operators in 14 countries to a potential 30,000 operators worldwide.

The Green Fins digital membership is available to dive, snorkel and liveaboard operators around the world, in which they will receive environmental scores based on a detailed online self-evaluation of their operation’s environmental practices and most importantly, solutions and actions to the results of their self-evaluation.

This process is seen as the first step to implement Green Fins in Curaçao on a national level with a government-led team to enable dive operators to become Green Fins Certified Members where they will receive annual in-person assessment, on-site training for staff and consultation to help the business develop and implement best practice to improve the sustainability of the marine tourism industry.

Operators that have registered, successfully completed their online self-evaluation and developed their own action plan will be provided with a digital certificate enabling tourists to identify operations that have committed to taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint whilst carrying out their activities. 

For more information about Green Fins and the new digital membership, visit www.greenfins.net/digital-membership/

Blue Force Fleet, operator of liveaboards in the Red Sea and the Maldives have announced the relocation of their popular Red Sea liveaboard, Red Sea Blue Force 3 to the Maldives at the end of 2022.

Red Sea Blue Force 3 will make her last safari in the Red Sea on 19th November 2022, after which she will sail to the Maldives on 1st December 2022. Following a name change to Maldives Blue Force 3, she will begin working in the region from 25th March 2023.

Blue Force Fleet have been operating in the Maldives for 26 years according to a recent Facebook post.

The 42m Blue Force 3 has been operating in the Red Sea since 2018 with a capacity for 26 guests in 12 cabins.

Learn more about Blue Force Fleet at: https://www.blueforcefleet.com

Building on the tremendous success from previous years, Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort, located in Freeport, Grand Bahama is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 2022 Grand Bahama Dive Week.

From May 22 to 28, 2022, Grand Bahama Dive Week takes over the island with a five-day gathering of Bahamas Dive Ambassadors, open water-certified divers and local dive operators. This event features customized two-tank dives of major dive sites, including wrecks and reefs, descents on underwater walls and one of the world’s most exciting shark encounter experiences at legendary Tiger Beach plus plenty of hours of fun and relaxation at the end of each day. 

“We are excited to welcome guests back to our Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort, an enchanting destination for this unique week for diving lovers that’s just minutes away from the United States, with convenient ferries out of Fort Lauderdale,” said Amanda Santana, Viva Wyndham’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. “We are the only true all-inclusive family resort on Grand Bahama Island with loads of amenities and land and water sports, so it’s ideal for divers and the whole family.”

With 26 acres of secluded beachfront property, Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach is the perfect place to stretch out and relax while enjoying some well-deserved sunshine and vitamin sea. With over 4,000 feet of pristine white-sand beaches and more than 70 percent of rooms having ocean views, the resort also features a wide variety of amenities, including an oceanfront pool, jacuzzi, sauna, multiple bars and restaurants, as well as a spa, gym, theater and full childcare amenities. There’s even a kiddy splash park. 

For Dive Week, Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach has added a special package for you: 

• 6-night, all-Inclusive Resort, Superior Garden View Room accommodations, 4 days of 2-tank boat dives plus 1 day 2-tank Tiger Shark dive including coral reefs, wrecks, blue hole, and sea turtle snorkeling encounters with Reef Oasis Dive Bahamas. 

Prices start from $1606 per diver based on double occupancy and non-divers rates start at $672 per person based on double occupancy with a diver in the room. This special price is only valid for the Event Week From May 22-28, 2022.

To book packages with your resort stay, you must have a minimum stay of two nights. The tank, belt, weights and guide are included. Additional equipment is at additional cost and may be rented onsite. PADI courses may also be booked at the dive center for an additional fee.

2022 Grand Bahama Dive Week is sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investment & Aviation, the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board, Reef Oasis Diver, and Bahamasair.

For more information or to make reservations, visit Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach and Bahamas Dive Week | Caradonna Adventures. 

In celebration of Euro-Divers’ 50 Years of Diving with Friends in the Maldives, we are very excited to announce the latest addition of a PADI 5 Star Dive Center at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives to the Euro-Divers family.

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives retreat lies at the northern edge of the Maldives in the tranquil Raa Atoll, reachedvia a panoramic 45-minute seaplane voyage from Male. The island has 80 all-pool-villas, 36 of which are over water with a private pool for your enjoyment and 44 beachfront villas designed seamlessly to immerse guests in the natural surroundings. In support of sustainable tourism, Alila hotels adopt Earth Check operating standards, integrating their environments’ natural, physical, and cultural elements.

Raa Atoll is well-known for the excellent scuba diving it offers. The underwater landscape of Raa Atoll is characterized by a high number of Thilas scattered inside the lagoons. These underwater coral mountains are magnets for marine life including huge schools of tropical reef fish, a generous splash of colour, iconic bucket-list-must-see marine creatures including sharks, mantas (appearing during the entire year), turtles,and uncrowded dive sites—a perfect diver’s heaven for beginners and experienced divers. We offer a fullrange of PADI courses for different levels. From November till March, the Manta cleaning station is located 15 minutes away by boat.

Beyond our stunning house reef, guests can enjoy a snorkeling trip to the famous Hanifaru Bay UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, where seasonal gatherings of hundreds of manta rays and periodically even whale sharks have made this site world famous in recent years, attracting tourists and marine biologists from across the planet to immerse themselves in the equatorial waters amongst a feeding frenzy of these gentle giants. Seasonal from May to November.

Learn more about Euro-Divers at: https://www.euro-divers.com

Emperor Divers has a new home in Marsa Alam.

With the Marina Lodge still closed, Emperor has opened a new shop located in the brand-new Port Ghalib Marina City complex.

And, as locations go, it is the best yet for Emperor who are this year celebrating their 30^th anniversary of diving in Egypt.

Their new shop in Marina City is situated among all the retail, hotels, restaurants right on the Port Ghalib waterfront and is right next door to where the Emperor fleet is based.

Emperor Divers Red Sea general manager, Luke Atkinson, said: “We have all the facilities you’d expect, from equipment rinse to luggage store, as well as a fully-stocked shop. 

“Our boats – Emperor Skye and the larger liveaboards – can be walked to in a couple of minutes or, if you prefer, by zodiac tender! So, whether you’re joining us for daily diving trips, for courses or on week-long liveaboard safaris it’s a must visit. 

“We are still offering our complimentary collection service from all hotels within 20km of Port Ghalib so, wherever you choose to stay, there’s every reason to dive with us. 

“It’s a new location but the same convenience and the same great team.”

View the new locations on Google Maps 

Learn more about Emperor Divers at: https://www.emperordivers.com

Two diving students have died while training at CDA Technical Institute in just two months, and many are now calling on authorities to shut the school down for safety reasons.

A Hurghada based liveaboard named Scuba Scene was sadly destroyed by fire this week. Local reports suggest that the boat was leaving the marina for a safari when an engine room fire broke out. All guests were evacuated and no injuries have been reported.

M/Y Scuba Scene was steel-hulled liveaboard at 43 m long and 9 m wide catering to trips throughout the Red Sea.

She was scheduled to be hosting a deep technical expedition this August complete with talks, seminars and live streams with world recognised technical divers including Karen van den Oever, Sami Paakkarinen and Ahmed Gabr.

PADI has awarded Angel Navarro, PADI Course Director at The Go Pro Family in Mexico, Platinum status for his contributions to professional training and educational excellence during 2021. This year marks the fifteenth consecutive year he has achieved this status.

Besides being a PADI Course Director for the past fifteen years, Angel is also a PADI TecRec Instructor Trainer, Full Cave Instructor Trainer, and Instructor Trainer for Disabled Divers’ International.  
In reminiscing about his career, Angel, originally from Spain, says “Fifteen years as a Platinum Course Director is something that I never envisaged when I started my career as a PADI Pro. Training future PADI dive instructors is both a great honor and responsibility and I feel lucky to be in this position.” Having worked as an instructor around the globe, Angel credits his success to variety and continual development. “We are always striving to improve our courses and programs, and we never stop learning new things. I am fortunate to have a great team of passionate professionals around me, and our students benefit from our diverse backgrounds and strengths.” 

Angel is looking forward to another successful year teaching PADI professionals. “The last couple of years has been a wild ride for the scuba industry but I’m happy to see that the world still has an appetite for scuba diving and now more than ever there is a demand for new PADI Instructors.” said Angel.

The Go Pro Family is Course Directors Angel Navarro (from Spain) and Jo Armitage (from the UK), and their team of pros. Together, they have personally trained almost 900 PADI Instructors, and have issued over 4000 professional-level certifications. Currently celebrating their tenth year based in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, The Go Pro Family offers professional-level scuba training as well as technical, cave diving and freediving. They also conduct PADI Instructor Development Courses in Mahahual and Huatulco.

For more information about their IDCs or other training options, visit https://thegoprofamily.com/en/

We cater to all kinds of scuba diving in the Red Sea but supporting technical divers is our area of speciality. March 2022 saw a group from France join us to undertake some Trimix Training dives in preparation for an upcoming expedition to the Baltic Sea.

During this #DivingwithLegends trip the group were also studying health aspects of scuba diving, with a focus on decompression sickness. We will share the results of their research when they are available.

In the meantime, enjoy this excellent video by Armel Ruy who was a participant of the trip and someone we look forward to seeing again soon (along with the rest of the group obviously).

Please be sure to follow Armel via his website at: https://www.armelruy.com and on the following social media channels.

https://www.facebook.com/armel.ruy/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC7LqAh24WWVy8jBz9ZGVzg
https://www.instagram.com/armelruy

The video also features:

TEKDiving

• https://www.tekdiving-sciences.com/en/
• https://www.facebook.com/TEKDivingAndSciences/
• https://twitter.com/DivingTek
• https://www.instagram.com/tekdiving/

Mares

• https://www.mares.com
• http://www.instagram.com/maresjustaddwater
• http://www.youtube.com/mares
• http://www.facebook.com/maresjustaddwater

rEvo Rebreathers

• https://www.revo-rebreathers.com
• https://www.facebook.com/rEvoRebreathers
• https://www.instagram.com/rEvoRebreathers
• https://www.twitter.com/rEvoRebreathers

SF Tech

• https://www.sftech.ch
• https://www.facebook.com/SF-Tech-Drysuit-171615034240/
• https://www.instagram.com/sftechdrysuit/
• https://www.pinterest.ch/sftech_drysuit/

UBO

• https://m.univ-brest.fr
• http://www.facebook.com/UBO.UnivBrest
• http://twitter.com/UBO_UnivBrest
• http://www.youtube.com/UnivBrest

As part of the Euro-Divers 50 years of “Diving With Friends” celebrations in 2022, we are inviting photography enthusiasts to participate in our Underwater Photography Competition.

Between 1st of March 2022 & 31st of May 2022, guests can submit their best single picture taken at any Euro-Divers Worldwide Dive Centers indicating the location and date when the photo was taken. A title and short description must also be submitted.

• The Competition is Free to enter
• Each participant is allowed to submit 1(one) single picture
• Picture category: OPEN (wide-angle, macro, split shot)
• The picture should not be smaller than 1MB and no larger than 5MB
• The picture should be in a JPEG file
• All participants must be able to supply a high-resolution picture suitable for printing in media should the image be required
• Entries must be submitted by 31st May 2022, at 12:00 GMT
• Entries will be selected between 1st June – 30th June 2022, and the name of the Winners will be announced online on the Euro-Divers Worldwide website and social networks

Submit your picture here

Learn more and see all of the prizes up for grabs at: https://www.euro-divers.com/underwater-photography-competition/

Established in 2002, Sinai Blues represents the ultimate luxury in diving and water sports. 

We excel in offering seamlessly tailor-made experiences for water enthusiasts of all ages right from the beach of the Four Seasons Resort, Sharm El Sheikh. 

Using the knowledge we have gained and state-of-the-art equipment we are fortunate enough to have access to, we focus on delivering the ultimate customer service and experience. 

Proudly being associated with Four Seasons, one of the most renowned hotel chains in the world, means that the level of service we provide is in line with the chain’s famously high standards. 

Meeting ISO safety standards, we are a multilingual PADI centre, licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. 

Our goal is to help our guests capture memories that will last a lifetime…

What you can do at Sinai Blues, Sharm El Sheikh

From shore or by boat, Sinai Blues Team provides you exclusive access to miles of pristine reefs, where diverse and fascinating underwater landscapes s some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity on the planet. Take the plunge in world-class dive and snorkeling sites located right at your doorstep. Besides the stunning beauty of our underwater realm, there are equally unforgettable experiences awaiting you above the Red Sea.

Learn more at: https://www.sinaiblues.com

We had a great start to the new year. The weather in the Maldives has been tremendous and settled to the beginning of the Maldivian dry season. Calm sea and 30 meters of visibility on average. It is that time of the year again.

In the first week of January, our dive center at Kagi Maldives Spa Island was the first to enjoy a Turtle week, at Vilamendhoo a Manta week, and it was enjoyed by guests and team alike. There were snorkeling and scuba diving adventures where lots of turtles were spotted. Sightings of Manta rays have been relatively consistent in South Ari Atoll making this worth repeating every day.

There was an opportunity to learn more about the different sea turtles and manta rays we have here in the Maldives and this was very much appreciated by all who attended. A big thank you to all who made the week such a success.

As a remarkable memory of celebrating 50 years of Diving with Friends, we added a special edition T-shirt to the collection featuring the big ’50 years’ at the back. It is now available at all our dive centers in the Maldives.

As part of the Euro-Divers 50 years of “Diving With Friends” celebrations in 2022, we are inviting photography enthusiasts to participate in our Underwater Photography Competition. Between 1st of March 2022 and 31st of May 2022, guests can submit their best single picture taken at any Euro-Divers Worldwide Dive Centers.

In addition, we are honored to have been recognized as a 2021 Travellers’ Choice at Trip Advisor for our dive center at Euro-Divers Club Med Kani and Euro-Divers Vilamendhoo.

Learn more about Euro-Divers at: https://www.euro-divers.com/

Let the 2022 season begin at Ocean Quest!

The year 2022 has been dubbed “ComeHome2022“, and to commemorate the occasion, we’re launching our Come Home Here campaign!

We are now accepting bookings starting in June 2022 for the following tours:

• Ocean Safari tours
• Coastline Paddle Tours Sea
• Cave Paddle tours
• Marine Wildlife Snorkeling tours

Book an adventure early as a gift for a loved one and start the New Year off right!

Ocean Quest

Ocean Quest is an award winning Adventure Resort and Commercial Service company in St. John’s and Conception Bay South, Newfoundland. We offer SCUBA Charters and training, Adventure expeditions, Whale and Iceberg Tours, Kayaking and BBQ Cruises. Our CBS training facility is a 5 Star PADI IDC center with a classroom, indoor swimming pool, and guest lodge with SCUBA equipment rentals. Our St. John’s location has our Retail Shop, Full SCUBA Rental Equipment fleet, Air and Nitrox fills, and Commercial Service Bay. On The Mermaid (our tour boat) in Conception Bay out of the Sunset Key Marina we offer Party Boat tours and Corporate events for large groups up to 45 passengers. At this same location, we offer Close Encounter RHIB tours with Sea Caves where you can also Kayak or Snorkel in and around the caves of Bell Island. Our Close Encounter with Humpback Whales tours is a boat or snorkeling tour which runs out of Petty Harbor during whale season.

Come Discover Our World!

Book a “ComeHome22” Ocean Safari Tour

2022 is a very special year for Euro-Divers, it marks our 50th Anniversary of Diving in the Maldives!

Euro-Divers first opened its doors to divers at Kurumba Maldives in 1972, this was shortly followed by Meeru Island Resort & Spa. Over the years, Euro-Divers has expanded its operation and built a solid reputation and brand name regarding safety standards, working conditions, and service philosophy in the Maldives and now worldwide.

With 11 dive centers in the Maldives, 2 in Egypt, 2 in Mauritius, 2 in Spain, 1 in Oman, 1 in Thailand, and 1 in Japan, Euro-Divers’ mission is to provide world-class diving, water sports, and excursions, giving clients access to the best location in the world in a safe, friendly, and professional manner.

“Diving with friends” and “having fun together” has always been, and will remain, our philosophy.

Over the years, Euro-Divers has built a strong community of countless repeater guests who enjoy a 15% repeater discount. For the 50th Anniversary, we have created an incredible program with ‘special weeks’ in the different Maldives’ islands (Event calendar)

There will also be an online underwater photography competition from 1st March – 31st May 2022. Stay connected with our social media platforms for more details as information is released.

Learn more about Euro-Divers at: https://www.euro-divers.com

Helping the country to achieve the national biodiversity targets

The Reef-World Foundation, the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) and Misión Tiburón are delighted to announce that Costa Rica has joined 13 other countries globally to implement the Green Fins initiative — a UN Environment Programme initiative. Costa Rica is the first country on the American continent to adopt Green Fins environmental standards to reduce the threats associated with diving and snorkelling on the marine environment.

Green Fins is implemented in Costa Rica by Misión Tiburón through the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) with support from Cynthia Barzuna Gutiérrez, Vice Minister of Water and Seas. Green Fins is being piloted in Guanacaste province, the North Pacific of Costa Rica, a major hub for scuba diving and snorkelling, as the first step in a national process. In North Pacific Costa Rica itself, there are around 50 sites with ideal conditions for snorkelling and recreational diving. Scuba diving tourism is a source of employment for many families in communities such as Playas del Coco, Brasilito or Tamarindo. Ensuring the sustainable use of these dive and snorkel sites is essential so that they continue to be a source of employment for current and future generations. 

Over the last 10 years, the tourism industry in Costa Rica has seen a steady increase. The implementation of Green Fins in Costa Rica responds to the national and international goals set to reduce threats to biodiversity. One of its goals is to increase the number of marine tourism companies with sustainability certifications to promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling industry in the country. The adoption of Green Fins in the country also contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 14, established by the United Nations and adopted by Costa Rica.

Following a week of training by Reef-World (9 to 14 November 2021), Costa Rica now has a national Green Fins team comprised of four fully certified Green Fins Assessors from Misión Tiburón and one Green Fins Coordinator from the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC). They will be responsible for recruiting, assessing, training and certifying dive and snorkel operators to become Green Fins members in the country. This involves providing training about the ecology and threats to coral reefs, simple and local everyday solutions to these threats and Green Fins’ environmental standards to dive and snorkel operators. Green Fins membership will help marine tourism operators improve their sustainability and prove they are following environmental best practices as a way of attracting eco-minded tourists.

James Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation, said: “Marine tourism in Costa Rica is growing fast with high demand from both national and international tourists coming to visit the incredible marine species that the country has to offer. Implementing best practices and guidelines through the Green Fins approach with support from the government of Costa Rica is critical to ensure that this market is sustainably managed, protecting valuable marine ecosystems for years to come. The national team of SINAC and Misión Tiburón have set out ambitious yet realistic targets to achieve a high level of uptake of Green Fins amongst dive and snorkel operators across the country. This will reduce local threats to the marine environment and increase corals and other marine life’s resilience to wider global impacts, including climate change.”

Diving and snorkelling related damage to sensitive marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, is becoming an increasingly significant issue. This damage makes them less likely to survive other local and wider stressors, such as overfishing or plastic debris and the effects of climate change, such as rising sea temperatures. Based on robust individual assessments, the Green Fins initiative helps identify and mitigate these risks by providing environmental consultation and support to dive and snorkel operators. Through Green Fins implementation in Costa Rica, Reef-World aims to reduce negative environmental impacts in the region by reaching 14 marine tourism operators, training 70 dive guides and raising awareness of sustainability best practices among 14,000 tourists in the first year.

Ilena Zanella, Director of the Misión Tiburón, said: “The diving and snorkelling industry is an important ally to promote conservation practices on our marine and coastal ecosystems. Thanks to the industry’s natural involvement with these ecosystems, threats can be mitigated, and a more sustainable diving and snorkelling industry that follows Green Fins international standards can be established.”

Green Fins is a UN Environment Programme initiative, internationally coordinated by The Reef-World Foundation, which aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines to promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry. Green Fins provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance. Reducing diving and snorkelling-related damage to sensitive marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, helps to make them more resilient to other stressors such as those associated with climate change.

The Green Fins approach includes proven assessment criteria to identify and mitigate high-risk practices above and below the water. Green Fins members are evaluated annually based on a 15-point code of conduct, which measures the company’s impact on coral reefs: of a possible score of 330, the lower the score, the lower its impact. The robust assessment then enables Green Fins Assessors to provide one-to-one consultation to help the business develop and implement best practice to improve the sustainability of the marine tourism industry. 

The individual feedback from the assessments of the pioneering Green Fins members in Costa Rica and support provided includes practical, low-cost alternatives to common threats to the marine environment such as anchoring, provision of single-use plastics such as plastic bottles and lack of awareness of existing rules and regulations – is based on each company’s area of highest negative impact on the reef, as determined by the assessment. 

To date, four Costa Rican dive operators have already joined the global network of 600+ trained and assessed Green Fins members. These are: Deep Blue Diving, Kraken Divers, El Refugio Guanacaste and Rich Coast Diving. There has also been significant interest from other operators who have signed the membership form and are looking forward to their training and assessment.

Mauricio Méndez, Technical Director of National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), said: “Green Fins serve as an important tool for local diving communities to move towards a more sustainable use of their dive sites; so that they can maintain their scenic beauty and biological richness to provide livelihoods for many generations to come.”

The launch of Green Fins Costa Rica was made possible thanks to financing support from IDB Lab under the Beyond Tourism Challenge. The Beyond Tourism Innovation Challenge was run by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through its innovation laboratory, IDB Lab, and in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

For more information, please visit www.reef-world.org, www.greenfins.net/countries/costarica or www.misiontiburon.org. Dive and snorkel operators interested in signing up to Green Fins can find the membership application form at: www.greenfins.net/how-to-join.

Costa Rican dive and snorkel operators interested in signing up to be Green Fins members can contact the Green Fins Team at Misión Tiburón (costarica@greenfins.net).

Woohoo! They were successful!

Ocean Quest are overjoyed to report that they won the Canadian Sustainable Tourism Award for 2021 on December 1, 2021. It feels incredible to be acknowledged for our environmental work and to have the opportunity to represent Newfoundland and Labrador on a national level.

Thank you to our dedicated team and adventurers! We couldn’t have done it without your help.

Read The Scuba News Canada’s article on Ocean Quest’s Nomination.

Ocean Quest

Ocean Quest was founded in 1997 with the goal of delivering high-quality service to the Newfoundland and Labrador scuba diving community. As a PADI 5 Star IDC Center, OCEAN QUEST has earned not only the respect of the local diving community, but also an international reputation. We provide exceptional service to the recreational, technical, and cave diving communities as one of the East Coast of Canada’s best scuba diving facilities.

Learn more at Ocean Quest Adventures

October 9, 2021 was the date, Neptune & Salacia Diving was the organizer and over 800 pounds of debris were recovered from the water.

While the winds and the waves were a bit of a challenge, everyone had a lot of fun during the cleanup dive. With more than 20 divers, 15 shore support volunteers, we were able to collect just over 800 pounds of debris.

Many old tires have been removed, and our local water will no longer be polluted. Community booths, the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, Swim Drink Fish Canada, Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre and Turtles Kingston were able to meet with the public and inform them on the aspects of their work in the area.

We are already planning for our next event, more than likely in mid June 2022.

Again, thank you everyone for all of your hard work and see you next year!

Thanks to Neptune and Salacia in Kingston for this contribution. Follow them on Facebook.

Video: Aerosnapper Mike Hill

“We have been nominated as finalists for Tourism Industry Association of Canada 2021 awards! It feels great to be recognized for this but we couldn’t do it without all our incredible guests and staff”.

Ocean Quest

Ocean Quest is Canada’s largest adventure and diving destination, complete with a full-service adventure/dive store.

Ocean Quest Adventures is based in Newfoundland, Canada, and “dives” into a wide range of Canadian tourism opportunities. St. John’s, Petty Harbour, and Conception Bay South all have locations! We have something for everyone on your Newfoundland trip, whether you’re seeking for adventure or just want to enjoy a Staycation in our beautiful province!

Ocean Quest is well-known for its snorkeling exhibits, boat excursions, paddle boarding, kayaking tours, and dive expeditions to Conception Bay South to see and explore the four WWII shipwrecks that were attacked and sunk.

Learn more about Ocean Quest Adventures at: https://oceanquestadventures.com

Top 10% of Attractions Worldwide!

Deep Blue’s Great Traveler Reviews Earn it a Place Among Travelers’ Favorites in Aqaba, Jordan

Mohammed Leddawi today announced it has been recognized as a 2021 Travelers’ Choice award winner for Tope 10% of Attractions Worldwide.  This achievement celebrates businesses that consistently deliver fantastic experiences to travelers around the globe, having earned great traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, Deep Blue Dive Center stood out by continuously delighting travelers.

“We are honored to have received this award during such a challenging time. We thank our guests for their kind reviews and for choosing to scuba dive with us here in Aqaba, Jordan.” Mohammed Leddawi

“Congratulations to all the winners of the 2021 Travelers’ Choice Awards,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor. “I know the past year has been extremely challenging for tourism businesses. What has impressed me is how businesses adapted to these challenges, implementing new cleanliness measures, adding social distancing guidelines, and utilizing technology to prioritize guest safety. The Travelers’ Choice Awards highlight the places that are consistently excellent – delivering quality experiences time and time again even while navigating changing customer expectations and new ways of working. Based on a full year of reviews from customers, this award speaks to the great service and experience you provided guests in the midst of a pandemic.”

To see traveler reviews and popular activities of Deep Blue Dive Center visit https://bit.ly/2XEQSby or learn more about Deep Blue Dive Center at: https://www.deepbluedivecenter.com

We’re excited to announce the launch of the new Euro-Divers website. We’ve redesigned our web experience with you in mind.

What’s new? Our new site features a modern, easy, and responsive interface and at the same time device-optimized for more comfortable reading and finding the content you are looking for.

We have been working for several months to create a new booking system for our clients, which is easy to use and is up to the latest technology standards and user-friendly! So NOW- we are happy to launch our new system and invite you to book your diving packages and diving courses for your next holiday with us through this new system! You will find this under BOOK MY DIVES.

For your first booking as a repeater client, you would have to use the following code to receive your repeater discount: edrepeater2021. To validate the reservation, you need to create your account with a password. When you book your dives again with Euro-Divers you just need to login with your account and the discount will be done automatically. Should you have lost your password you can request a new password anytime, by using LOST PASSWORD. Please remember that you need to verify your repeater status upon check-in at the dive centre with your logbook!

Start your diving adventure with us stressless and right away by using our new online check-in interface. You can check-in from any device before you start your journey and enjoy your vacation from the very first moment.

Social media channels have been integrated with the new website so that you find all the latest news about our dive centers comfortable in one place.

We are looking forward to having you diving with us soon again! Take a minute and tour around our new site.

Be the first to know about the latest updates, sign up for our newsletter.

Learn more about Euro Divers at: https://www.euro-divers.com

Follow your dreams! Go Pro with Pro Dive International in Mexico to start moving your office under water, enjoy endless summer and scuba diving!

Sign up for your 14-day life-boosting PADI Instructor Development Course with our PADI Course Director Leo, incl. hands-on IDC Prep and workshops.

10% Off + Freebies for EARLY BIRDS, until 31 OCT 2021!

IDC PROGRAM DETAILS

Your training will be hands-on, conducted by our PADI Course Director Leo Saldunbides who has already certified over 2,200 students.

You will practice at our top training facilities located at coveted four and five star resorts, and dive at some of the world’s best dive sites along the Riviera Maya and in Cozumel.

Successful candidates await an internship or job placement at one of our PADI Five Star Dive Centers, subject to availability. As Mexico remains one of the most popular and easily accessible destinations for instructors and divers alike, the chances are high that you’ll find your perfect spot in our Caribbean paradise.

1. IDC PREP (2 days)

Review and strengthen your knowledge of dive theory, and develop your demonstration skills.

2. ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING

During all our programs.

3. WITH EVERY IDC PURCHASED, WE INCLUDE 

• 2 days IDC – Dive Theory & Dive Skills Review
• 2 days I.E. Mock Simulation
• PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty Course
• Cenotes dive
• Introduction to Freediving Workshop
• Sidemount TEC Demo
• Fun dives in Cozumel
• ScubaPro Resort Technician Workshop
• REAL employment opportunities

PLUS

• Seasonal special offers – Contact us for more info!
• Special rates for IDC & TEC/ CAVE combos
• Sidemount Training

4. MSDT Prep Program – Opportunity not to be missed!

Additionally to the five Specialty Instructor training courses, our MSDT Prep Program includes a technician clinic certificate for ScubaPro and a free 3-week instructor internship at one of our busy dive shops to work alongside experienced instructors to gain valuable experience in the “real world”.

5. GOPRO MEXICO IDC DATES 2022

6. YOUR GOPRO IDC MEXICO TRAINER – PRO DIVE’S COURSE DIRECTOR

Leo Saldunbides (Brazilian, speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, ) – Leo has trained and certified over 2,200 students, and earned Platinum, Gold and Silver accolades for his outstanding achievements in PADI Instructor Development. Moreover, he’s fun to work with and excited to share his passion and expertise with you, gathered over his 19 years as a PADI Instructor.

Courses are available in English & Spanish! 

Get in touch with Leo and reserve your spot today at info@idcmexico.com, call +52 984 806-4797, or visit www.idcmexico.com!

Like all dive centers around the globe, Deep Blue Dive Center in Aqaba, Jordan, was hit hard by the pandemic. Jordan closed its doors to tourists and required all tourism related businesses, including dive shops, to be shuttered as well for several months. 

Once employees could return to work, they did so. Tourists were still not allowed in Jordan, but there were a few guests coming from Amman and other parts of the country. Because the staff were not very busy, they began to focus their efforts on dive cleanups and started the Deep Blue Cleanup Team.

They made a concerted effort to rid a nearby dive site of years and years of fishing line, cleaning the newly opened Underwater Military Museum of the single use plastic and aluminum cans that blow in off the shore of the public beach, and their house reef.

From December 15^th – June 29^th they cleaned 1230 kilos of debris. Anywhere from 2 to 5 volunteer divers joined the staffs in these cleanups. The dive center did not charge any of the volunteers for dives and if they wanted to do a fun dive afterward, they did so at 20% discount.  

Every one of those kilos of debris were sorted, counted, and weighed according to PADI Project Aware and then the data was uploaded on the Project AWARE website.

Deep Blue partnered with their next door neighbor, H&S Watersports, in these cleanup campaigns. The staff of H&S did several shore cleanups and gathered loads of plastic bottles, cigarette butts, plastic bags, and other items. In addition, two volunteers at the dive shop did a Go Fund Me campaign to help pay staff salaries for cleanups. They successfully raised $2835, exceeding their goal of $2800. And Deep Blue management was able to find other creative ways of funding salaries for the cleanups as well. All of this helped keep staff on board during the challenge of the pandemic.

When business started picking up after Jordan’s reopening to tourists, the cleanup campaign was slowed, but the effect of the work they did was apparent. 

Mohammed Leddawi, the Operation Manager, and owner of Deep Blue also used the down time to give the business a face lift, ensure that all equipment was in top shape, ensure Covid measures were put in place, and work on improving the dive boats through remodels and refurbishing. All of this to improve customer experiences.

Slowly the dive center is rising from the pandemic. The pandemic was tough, and still is, on tourism related businesses, but Deep Blue staffs kept up good spirits through continuing to work hard and showing their love and concern for healthy reefs through regular cleanups. 

Learn more about Deep Blue Dive Center at: https://www.deepbluedivecenter.com

Investigators have begun the process of determining why a full dive boat sank suddenly this week.

The 10m Safari Diver was carrying 11 guests and 2 crew when she began taking on water at the stern before sinking two miles off the cost of Pompano Beach in South East Florida. Witnesses report that the sinking took less than a minute.

Nearby vessels scrambled to help and were able to retrieve divers and crew from the water. The vessel sank in 20m and will not be recovered.

An investigation by the Coast Guard into what went wrong and caused the boat to sink is ongoing.

Only five percent of the world’s ocean has been explored and charted, leaving the remaining 95 unknown. All sorts of underwater creatures have yet to be discovered and the possibility of what could be out there is endless. From glow in the dark fish to the world’s biggest whales to even mythological creatures such as mermaids.

The legend of mermaids and mermen began as a European folklore and has evolved ever since. Mermaids have found themselves in children’s stories, games, and even into a famous Disney princess named Ariel from the movie “The Little Mermaid”. 

The idea of becoming a mermaid has been every kid’s dream. Swimming around with a long, gorgeous tail instead of legs was originally only possible in a game of pretend or imagination. Now, there are options available for people of all ages to slip into an actual mermaid tail in the water. At Scuba Adventures, juniors ages 6-14 and teens ages 15 and up can become mermaids and mermen. 

The introductory Discover Mermaids class at Scuba Adventures is where most students will start their journey of becoming a mermaid. The one-hour, $45 class will be guided by an instructor and will teach students the basic motions of what it’s like to be a mermaid and allow students to become familiar with their tails.

After completing the Discover Mermaids class, students are encouraged to continue their mermaid journey with Scuba Adventure’s other advanced mermaid courses.

Scuba Adventures offers three different mermaid courses: Discover Mermaids, Mermaid Class, and a Siren Class. Each class is designed to teach skills to achieve cool surface tricks, muscle control and exercises that will allow students to safely swim in Scuba Adventures’ heated, indoor pool in their mermaid tails.

Learn more at: https://www.scubaplano.com/

Manitoba’s PREMIERE Dive Shop is Underworld Scuba and Sport. In Manitoba, we are the only PADI 5 star Instructor Development Center. We’ve been in the diving industry for almost two decades.

Underworld Scuba and Sport has exciting news around the corner.

Hope everyone is as excited as we are for this summer! We will be heading out to the lake soon and have an open water training site that we have been working on and is almost ready for its big debut. Call to book your courses and get some insider secrets on the new site!
 
We also have two limited editions stand-up paddleboards that are available for $1150! These are inflatable paddle boards that fit into a backpack, are extremely sturdy and easy to inflate!
 
Currently, our store hours are still Tuesday and Thursday 10-5 and Saturday 10-3. We are looking at expanding the hours soon, but as always we are open to making appointments on any day. We miss seeing you guys, can’t wait to see you all!

Learn more at: https://underworldscuba.com/

Reproduced from Underworld Scuba and Sport Newsletter

Located in Nad Al Sheba, 15 minutes from downtown Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai now claims to be the “world’s deepest and largest underwater attraction”.

Boasting a record-breaking depth of 60 meters, this underwater attraction allows novices to explore in the safety of a controlled diving environment. Filled with 14 million liters of warm water, it opens up new adventures for experienced divers and thrill-seekers who want to go deeper and explore further.

Deep Dive Dubai website

Set to open at some point during July 2021, Deep Dive Dubai certainly looks like there will be lots to see and do in this mammoth underwater attraction. In addition to “out of the water” activities for non divers, including restaurants and viewing locations.

Key Figures of Deep Dive Dubai

• Constant, Year Round 30 Degrees Celsius Water Temperature
• 14 Million Litres of Water
• 56 Cameras

Where Will It End

Competition seems to keep pushing the boundaries of how deep people can make a swimming people. What began with Y-40 in Italy at 42.15m, followed by Deepspot in Poland at 45.4m. There is currently a project to bring a 50m pool to Cornwall in the UK (Blue Abyss) but construction is yet to begin. This now leaves Deep Dive Dubai claiming the record at 60m.

A group of veterans from Scuba Diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy have pledged to take part in a 40 mile expedition-style trek along historic Hadrian’s Wall this July to raise funds for the staff at Egyptian dive centre and resort Roots Red Sea.

The dive centre in El Quseir has been closed since the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic last Spring and with Egypt now on the red list for UK travellers it is unlikely to be able to re-open in the near future. UK couple Steve and Clare Rattle, who own Roots Red Sea, have been supporting the 16 staff of the dive centre and their families but faced with an ever increasingly uncertain future, the Deptherapy beneficiaries wanted to add their support too.

Roots Red Sea is Deptherapy’s home from home in Egypt and the location where the charity’s majority of overseas training courses and expeditions are held. The facilities at the Egyptian dive centre and resort are a perfect fit for the charity offering an ideal combination of self-contained and fully adapted accommodation, as well as a team of highly trained staff.

Deptherapy normally runs 2-3 trips to Roots Red Sea each year but recent and planned trips continue to be a casualty of Covid. For the time being, training has shifted to UK waters, but their Egyptian family is never far from the minds of the Deptherapy Team.

“We’re hoping to raise £3,000 for the staff at Roots to support their families due to hardship caused by the pandemic,” explains Tom Oates, Deptherapy Divemaster, Ambassador and former Scots Guard.

“Deptherapy has been a lifeline for so many of us beneficiaries and an essential part of that journey has been our scuba diving adventures at Roots Red Sea. We view the staff at Roots as part of our extended families. They have become close friends. The welcome, service and care we are shown is unbelievable but now it is our turn to give something back. The staff at Roots have given us everything and have helped to save and change our lives. Now, they need our support.”

“This is an amazing endeavour from the guys at Deptherapy,” says Steve Rattle, who isorganising the logistics of the trek which is planned to stretch over several days. “We have supported the charity for many years; it’s always been a delight to have them come to Roots and to see them really benefit from the experience. Now the tables are turned, and it is the families of Roots that are in need of help. It is really humbling to have Team Deptherapy now raising money for them. Awesome effort!”

The fundraiser is scheduled to take place from 12th -16th July 2021 starting from Heddon on the Wall in the east to Lenercost in the west. The route has been designed to take in a variety of features including many historical sites such as the Roman Army Museum at Greenhead.

Please give generously to sponsor Team Deptherapy in their quest to raise £3000 for the families of Roots Red Sea at the special JustGiving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rootsredseafundraiser

For more information about the work of Deptherapy and Deptherapy Education visit http://www.deptherapy.co.uk