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Underwater Sculpture rises from the seabed at luxury Indonesian resort

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The world-renowned underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has completed one of his most ambitious works yet – a man-made reef in the shallow waters off a beach voted Indonesia’s best by Tripadvisor.

For more than a decade the British-born artist has created hauntingly beautiful sculptures in waters from the Caribbean to the Canary Islands and the River Thames. His latest work, entitled Nest, is formed of 48 life-size human figures set in shallow water a short swim from the soon to be completed beachclub at BASK Gili Meno, a sustainable resort being developed on one of Indonesia’s most unspoilt tropical islands.

Gili Meno has a permanent population of just 500 people but is lapped by warm, crystal clear waters famed for their turtle population and blessed with one of the world’s richest ecosystems.

Nest features a ring of human figures, each sculpted from pH neutral, environmental grade concrete and based on the casts of real people. The material provides a natural home for corals, and within a year the ocean’s teeming marine life population will transform the sculpture into a reef. The work will continue to evolve and transform as the reef forms around it.

The work was commissioned as a centrepiece for a resort being developed by the acclaimed luxury developer BASK. When completed in early 2019, BASK Gili Meno will comprise of 87 secluded, chic and airy villas, each designed to celebrate natural beauty and respect the local culture.

The development blends sustainable materials, modern architecture and the latest energy-saving technology, as well as sensitivity to the car-free island’s unspoilt natural environment. Baywatch star David Hasselhoff became an early buyer at the resort after a visit to Gili Meno left him spellbound.

Greg Meyer, CEO of BASK Gili Meno, commented: “Gili Meno is a pristine island paradise and we’re determined that it should remain so. Our vision for BASK Gili Meno is to create an exclusive retreat that blends seamlessly into the rich tropical landscape. Jason’s works aren’t just sculptures, they are vibrant, thriving ecosystems in their own right. Nest is more than just a thing of beauty that will draw visitors to the island – as a perfect intersection of mankind and nature, it also symbolises what we’re trying to achieve at BASK Gili Meno.” 

Jason deCaires Taylor added: “First and foremost Nest is an environmental space. The figures are arranged in a circular formation as an echo of the circle of life, and they will soon teem with life. Soft corals and sponges should flourish quickly paving the way for delicate hard corals and a fully established reef. But Nest is also a bridge between the human and marine worlds. It’s accessible to anyone and is just a short swim from a beach open to all. I hope people will visit it both as a piece of art and as an entrance point to the underwater world”.

“40% of the world’s coral reefs have been lost over the past few decades and scientists predict many more are now at risk. We hope Nest will remind visitors of the many treasures of the underwater world and how fragile they are,” continues Jason.

Visit www.baskgilimeno.com and www.underwatersculpture.com to find out more.

Gear News

Poseidon Diving Systems Announces New UK Distribution Model

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poseidon diving

poseidon diving Poseidon Diving Systems, a global leader in innovative diving equipment, has announced a significant change in its distribution model for the recreational diving market in the United Kingdom. Effective March 3rd, 2025, distribution will be managed by Liquid Sports, headquartered in the UK.

This strategic shift underscores Poseidon’s commitment to strengthening its dealer network, improving service levels, and ensuring greater availability of Poseidon products across the UK. By working directly with Liquid Sports, Poseidon aims to enhance efficiency and provide better support for retailers and diving professionals.

Liquid Sports – A New Era of Distribution

Liquid Sports is now the sole authorized distributor of Poseidon™ brand sport and technical diving products in the United Kingdom. Led by Managing Director Alastair Ansell, the team at Liquid Sports brings extensive experience in dive industry sales, modern logistics, and superior B2B customer support. They are currently stocking up their warehouse which will ensure that most orders can be fulfilled immediately from inventory based in the UK. Streamlined logistics and operational efficiencies will also introduce attractive new pricing for retailers and consumers alike.

Key Information for Dealers:

Quotes from Leadership:

The CEO of Poseidon Diving Systems AB stated: “This new distribution model represents an exciting evolution for Poseidon. By partnering with Liquid Sports, we can ensure a stronger and more responsive presence in the UK market, ultimately benefiting both our dealers and customers. Liquid Sports have a wide range of products in the premium segment where we at Poseidon can fill a gap in their portfolio when it comes to our breathing technology.”

Alastair Ansell, Managing Director of Liquid Sports, added: “We are thrilled to take on the responsibility of representing the Poseidon brand in the United Kingdom. Our team is committed to delivering exceptional service, streamlined logistics, and a superior product experience to our retail partners and diving professionals.”

Poseidon Diving Systems remains in a strong financial position, and its leadership is confident in the success of this transition. The move marks a pivotal step toward expanding the long-term presence of the Poseidon brand in the UK market while delivering enhanced support to its dealer network.

About Poseidon Diving Systems

Founded in 1958, Poseidon Diving Systems has been at the forefront of innovation in the diving industry, pioneering groundbreaking technologies in open-circuit and closed-circuit rebreather systems. Headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, Poseidon continues to set industry standards in performance, safety, and reliability.

www.poseidon.com

Liquid Sports

Alastair Ansel

Email: alastair@liquidsports.co.uk

Phone: +44(0) 7585935522

Website: www.liquidsports.co.uk

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Go Diving Show 2025 Main Stage Speaker: Steve Backshall

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Go Diving Show 2025

Multi-award-winning TV presenter Steve Backshall – headline speaker at the GO Diving Show in March – will be turning his attentions to two diver-favourites, whales and sharks.

An all-action hero, Steve has explored some of the most-remote places on the planet. This, coupled with his unparalleled knowledge of wildlife and the natural world, make him a fascinating guest speaker.

As one of the busiest presenters on television, perhaps best-known for his phenomenally successful Deadly series, Steve will be appearing on the Main Stage in Sydney alongside the likes of diving luminaries Dawn Kernagis, Monty Halls. Andy Torbet, Rannva Joermundsson and Maria Bollerup.

Steve recently travelled across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans filming Whale for Sky TV, a ground-breaking programme tracking our most-iconic, yet-threatened, species. He has also filmed Expedition and Shark for Sky TV and appeared in Our Changing Planet for the UK’s BBC One – an ambitious seven-year series documenting six of the planet’s most threatened ecosystems.

Prior to this, for Lost Land of the Jaguar, he made the first ascent of Mount Upuigma in Venezuela, slept on the vertical cliff face, and found unknown species of animals on the summit. He also abseiled to the bottom of the Kaiteur Falls in Guyana to the soaked wonderland below.

In Lost Land of the Volcano, Steve was the first outsider to enter the Volcano Mount Bosavi – where the team discovered as many as 40 new species, including the largest rat in the world! Steve also took part in a brutal caving expedition opening-up a new passage in Mageni Cave in New Britain.

Other series include Expedition Alaska, where he was almost swallowed by humpback whales and was swept into the guts of a glacier, and The Venom Hunter, where he endured the stings of hundreds of bullet ants (the world’s most-painful stinging invertebrate) in an initiation ceremony.

Other films he has made include Wilderness St KildaExtreme Britain – CavesSpringwatch TrackersAlaska Live, Blue Planet Live and Undiscovered Worlds with Steve Backshall.

A prolific writer, Steve’s most-recent book, Deep Blue, is a blend of memoir, travel, and marine and environmental science that takes us on a tour of the many worlds of aquatic life: from underwater deserts and rainforests to the evolution of ocean heroes like the sea turtle and the great white shark, to the rapidly declining state of white polar seas and coral reefs. Steve will be signing copies of Deep Blue immediately after his talks both days.

As if that wasn’t enough, in 2023, Steve showed immense resilience, determination, drive, and ambition to break a new world record – for the fastest time to paddle the length of the Thames River in the UK.

Steve’s talks on the Main Stage will be:

Learning to speak ‘whale’

We’re entering a golden era of understanding the world of the whale, and a near future when we can not only understand whales, but even talk back…

Sharks – older than trees

Nose-to-nose encounters with everything from tiny tasselled wobbegongs to great whites, tigers, bulls and great hammerheads.

Go Diving Show 2025 takes place at the NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on the 1st -2nd March.

BUY GO DIVING SHOW TICKETS HERE

www.godivingshow.com

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