News
Check out these Maldives and Red Sea liveaboard offers from Scuba Travel
UK-based tour operator Scuba Travel are offering some great Maldives and Red Sea liveaboard deals for the coming months that are sure to keep the winter blues at bay.
Here are the details:
Sudan, Southern Red Sea / Royal Evolution liveaboard / Early Bird Offer – Book for Feb 2017 / Only £2445
Save £550. Royal Evolution is the only choice for anyone serious about diving Sudan. 13 nights full board on board this fantastic liveaboard and 1 night in a hotel. All trips are fully guided with 2 expert dives and up to 4 dives per day.
The opulent diving is matched by the boat herself, yet the advantages of being on board are not just limited to your comfort… Royal Evolution is also one of few steel vessels in the Red Sea, making her incredibly stable. Her powerful engines cope easily with the distance between remote dive sites. See more of the Red Sea than ever before with one of the most attentive boat crews in the Red Sea. This outstanding itinerary goes from the popular southern Red Sea sites of Fury Shoal to the untouched sites of Sanganeb and Abington. Combine this with wrecks of the Umbria, Blue Belt and Cousteau’s Con Shelf for an exhilarating dive holiday. This itinerary is best suited to advanced divers.
Find out more about this trip here.
Maldives / Emperor Serenity liveaboard/ 25th November / Only £2150
Save £250. New for 2016, the luxurious Serenity is ideal for divers and non divers. 7 nights full board with an average of 3 fully guided dives per day.
Scuba Travel’s Best of the Maldives itinerary aims to mix up big fish manta and shark dives with scenic reefs dives, hunting out the smallest reef fish, morays and macro life that are so abundant.
Emperor Serenity is a contemporary, spacious liveaboard where fine accommodation and service is standard. Enjoy the open air dining area at the stern of the main deck. As of September 2016, a complimentary glass of wine will be served with your evening meal. Several sofas and tables await you inside the air-conditioned saloon for relaxing or watching TV. The Upper deck boasts a covered and open area ideal for watching photos and footage from your diving or just relaxing, star gazing and soaking up the wonderful Maldivian atmosphere. The sundeck is perfect for catching some sun or having a nap.
Find out more about this trip here.
Djibouti / Lucy liveaboard / 11th – 20th November 2016 / Only £2295
6 nights on board luxury liveaboard Lucy on a full board basis in a lower deck cabin. 16 dives offered over the week plus several whaleshark snorkelling sessions. Includes 12ltr tanks, weights and airfills are included.
Djibouti is certainly off the beaten track for most travellers but if you are a scuba diver on the look out for a liveaboard holiday with a difference, Djibouti has to be on your holiday wish list.
Effectively closing the Red Sea, Djibouti has become a stop off point for divers on the hunt for the largest shark on this planet – whalesharks. This is one of a handful of global diving destinations that can virtually guarantee whaleshark encounters between November to January each year. And we don’t just mean a fleeting glance on a reef. A Djibouti liveaboard will get you in the water with scores of whalesharks day after day after day.
Find out more about this trip here.
To find out more about Scuba Travel and the dive holidays they offer, visit www.scubatravel.com.
Gear News
Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Marine Life & Conservation
Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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