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Dive Fest Diaries – Day 4
Each year the magical, Caribbean island of Barbados holds a festival to celebrate scuba diving, free diving and marine conservation. This year, Nick and Caroline went along to see what it was all about…
Saturday 7th July: Day 4
Our fourth day at Dive Fest Barbados was supposed to see us diving the east coast of the island. However, news broke that a tropical storm was heading our way, and so it was with little hope that we headed to the east side of the island to see what diving conditions were going to be like. As expected, the waves had picked up and even the chance of going out on the boat to get some above water shots was impossible. So, the guys from Barbados Blue asked what we would like to do instead. We all said – Carlisle Bay! It is close to shore, easy to dive and, with visibility getting worse, it was the obvious choice of dive for us. So, we jumped back in the van and headed back the dock to jump on our boat and go diving.
Whilst the visibility was not great, we had an idea from our last visit to the Bajan Queen wreck and wanted to try something out. Enlisting help from Christie, we jumped in and swam back into the engine room. Nick was going to try getting a backlit shot of Christie. It took a while to get right, but it was worth the effort. We spent a bit more time trying out some shots that had escaped us on the last dive before heading back outside to photograph the schools of grunts and red snapper that hang-out around the prop.
On our second dive, the Barbados Blue team wanted to go back to the coral nursery, as we had seen 4 lionfish there the previous day. They grabbed their spears and safe container and our job was to spot them. They had moved away from their spot from yesterday, and so we spread out and started searching. It was not long before the first one was bagged, but it took us the whole dive to find the four we were looking for.
That evening we ate at the sumptuous Cin Cin by the Sea. A frozen chocolate cocktail from heaven as the sun set was the perfect way to end the day.
That was the end of our diving at Dive Fest Barbados, but there was one final day in the schedule. We got to see watch Barbados Blue launch their boat made from trash collected on the beaches, Kyle, our host from Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., try out diving for the very first time before heading to the closing ceremony to hear the final speeches, and listen to the success stories of many of the local kids and how they had learned to swim, freedive and get involved in clean-ups. We then watched the prizes being given out and most importantly, welcome the fact that Barbados will be doing it all again in 2019! We hope we can be there…
Want to join in on all the fun at Dive Fest Barbados 2019 – put the dates in your diary: 3rd to 7th July 2019
Equipment used:
- Nikon D800, Nauticam housing, INON Strobes
- Olympus OMD EM-1 mkII, Nauticam housing, INON Strobes
- Olympus TG5
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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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