News
blue o two introduce brand new dive guides to the Maldives
UK-based dive tour operator blue o two has announced their new dive guide team in the Maldives; Gabriel Hermida and Maria Tello, who will be on board blue o two’s fleet vessel in the Maldives M/Y blue Voyager from late July 2016.
Although their careers began in marketing and system engineering, Gabriel and Maria began their diving career 17 years ago when they discovered their passion for scuba diving, taking the huge leap to leave everything behind and follow their dream of beginning their dive careers.
Gabriel says, “Life is too short to have the wrong job, so we have decided to follow our passion in diving. We are very thrilled to be members of the blue o two team and are very eager to share with our colleagues and guests aboard M/Y blue Voyager the fantastic underwater adventures that the Maldives has to offer!”
Becoming PADI Instructors and opening a dive centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maria and Gabriel gained a huge amount of experience and knowledge, diving in some incredible locations such as Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Thailand, Borneo and many many more.
After leaving their dive centre and moving to Egypt in 2006, as their real dream was to work on liveaboards, they began working in the Egyptian and Sudanese Red Sea for eight years.
Whilst working in Sudan, Maria and Gabriel were able to encourage the Sudanese Government to open new protected marine parks, as well as creating a law against shark finning, due to promoting laws against shark fishing and reef awareness.
With a huge amount of experience on liveaboards, they have taken part in more than 300 trips with more than 4000 logged dives, including 1000 decompression dives, and have worked with a variety of well-known Red Sea fleet companies.
Maria says, “Dive guiding is not our job, it is our passion. We will be waiting for everyone in the Maldives to share with them the experience of the amazing underwater world!”
With a rapidly expanding portfolio of destinations, liveaboards, itineraries and staff, blue o two are currently experiencing some very exciting developments. The recent move of M/Y blue Voyager to the Maldives brings with it a fantastic opportunity for customers to enjoy the blue o two experience in one of the most beautiful and action-packed diving locations there is. Also, the launch of the new itinerary ‘TrukTec with Ahmed Fadel’ offers the perfect opportunity for divers to progress their training and share knowledge with fellow divers, while enjoying some of the best diving that Micronesia has to offer.
For more information about blue o two and their scuba diving holidays, visit www.blueotwo.com. Alternatively, speak to the blue o two team by emailing divingholidays@blueotwo.com or by calling +44 (0)1752 480808.
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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