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Grenada Dive Fest – Our first taste of diving the Spice Island
After a stunning start to our Pure Grenada Dive Fest adventures on the smaller island of Carriacou, it was time for our first dives on the main island. And what a day we had planned – with 3 dives in the day and a night dive to look forward to.
We started the day meeting up with the team at ScubaTech who cater for both recreational and technical divers from their base at the Calabash Hotel. After a bit of discussion, we decided on a reef and a wreck for our two morning dives and headed out for a short boat ride to a site called Purple Rain. A great name for a dive site, that had us humming all the way round, especially when we saw how it got its name, as a huge school of Creole Wrasse descended on us.
Our second dive was on the Tyrrel Bay wreck, a recent addition to the huge fleet of wrecks that have made the diving here famous. It was sunk in 2018, and yet already had signs of life taking hold. The famous compass has a coral fringe and glass fish patrol the rooms within. The wreck lies just off the reef and so once we had explored the wreck fully, we made our way to the shallows along the reef, prolonging our dive time. In just a single morning set of dives, we had already seen why divers flock to the fabulous island.
The ScubaTech guys had dropped us off on the beach in front of Eco Dive Grenada and helped us with our gear, so we had time for a quick lunch from an eco-friendly vegan take away restuarant and we were ready for more diving. News of our love of frogfish had reached the team and so they took us out to a dive site where their resident photographer had found some the day before – Flamingo Bay. This is an easy going, shallow dive site with a mixture of reef and sandy seabed to explore. Sure enough, tucked under a sponge, there was well camouflaged frogfish for us to enjoy.
Our final dive of the day was to be a night dive on the wreck of the Veronica L. This was a dive we were really excited about, as we had heard it is covered in orange cup corals that open up in all their glory as the sun goes down. It exceeded expectations! While Christie modeled for Nick, I went in search of little critters and found tiny crabs covering the sponges, while octopus hunted them. We had to be dragged back to the surface!
After a truly wonderful day of diving the wrecks and reefs of Grenada, our perfect day was topped off by visiting the first craft ale brewery on the island, the West Indies Beer Company. Great beer, food & live music with friends made for a perfect end to our day.
Read more about our trip to Grenada in the new WINTER 2020 edition of Dive Travel Adventures magazine! You can find out where you can obtain your personal printed copy HERE or download a digital version for free, right HERE!
If you want to join in on all the fun at Pure Grenada Dive Fest 2020, save the date: 3rd – 9th October 2020. Watch out for more information coming soon here.
For more information on Grenada visit the Pure Grenada website by clicking here.
Dive Centres featured in this blog:
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.
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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