News
GTS launch online courses and scholarship programme for divers who have lost income due to COVID-19
Girls that Scuba – the world’s largest female dive community – have clubbed together with its members to offer exciting and interactive online dry courses to help support incomes and connect the dive community at this time. But don’t worry, these are not more webinars or social media live events. These courses are taught just like they would be in person and you can even come out with a new certification!
Each course is hosted by a different instructor who is a member of Girls that Scuba and has been affected by the loss of income due to COVID-19. The price of the course (minus any course fees) is split between the instructor and GTS helping the instructor stay in work and helping run the Girls that Scuba community. The courses are run every Saturday and have limited spaces.
This is an unprecedented time for the dive industry and everyone at Girls that Scuba is committed to our mission of helping women grow as a diver.
Courses currently available: view all here
9th May: Equalisation Workshop – For Scuba divers and Freedivers – Run by Argentinian sister team Lu and Cande Fabre from Amanacay Freediving this course is aimed at anyone that has ever experienced issues equalising either in freediving or scuba diving. You will learn new techniques in equalisation and understand the process more helping you more successfully equalise. £33 GBP
16th May: Journey into Marine Conservation – Project Aware Specialty Course
Run by Ellen from Dive Ninja Expeditions this dry conservation workshop will jumpstart your journey in marine conservation. Ellen is an instructor from USA that has worked in conservation projects ranging from coral to sharks and rays in some of the most abundant yet threatened regions of the world. For those that are looking to make a positive impact in their dive careers, or share their passion for the ocean in their own communities this is a great place to start. Empower yourself with the resources and tools that conservationists use to speak out for our oceans and create change, with these passionate instructors who are immersed in the field every day. £60 GBP, includes a $10 donation to project aware plus your own project aware cert card with a manta or a whale shark on it!
23rd May: Coral Identification Course – Easy Techniques for Spotting Corals
Run by coral expert Nicole Helgason the ‘coral queen’ who has her own blog dedicated to coral education, and leads coral identification presentations at numerous dive shows, and dive resorts worldwide. Whether you are a dive professional looking to increase your coral knowledge, a recreational scuba diver, or underwater enthusiasts interested in learning more about corals, this course is for you. Learning to identify corals can be a challenge, especially if your only resources are a few old ID books. This course will give you simple techniques for identifying corals and will have you seeing the reef with new eyes in no time. £37 GBP
30th May: Turtle Identification, Anatomy, Surveying Techniques and More – PADI Distinctive Specialty: Hosted by Natasha Gillespie-wong from Hong Kong who is PADI master scuba diver trainer looking to make a positive impact on the fragile underwater world! She has worked as a dive instructor and researcher in Indonesia for the last two years and is now based on the glorious island of Gili Trawangan. This course is open to anybody aged 10 and above, whether you dive, snorkel or just want to learn more about sea turtles!
You will learn in this course how to identify turtle species, sea turtle anatomy and feeding habits, mating, nesting and hatching habits, surveying techniques, threats to turtle populations and the importance of conservation plus much more. £95 includes a PADI speciality card.
Scholarship programme
Girls that Scuba has launched a scholarship programme alongside these courses to give divers the opportunity to join one of these courses free of charge – as sponsored by a dive company/brand/dive centre/diver. An application is available for anyone who has lost income in the dive industry due to the effects of COVID-19 but also for young divers who are looking to progress in diving but don’t have the funds. All divers aged from 13 years old onwards are accepted into the application process. One place on every course is guaranteed by Girls that Scuba as a sponsor and the hope is to get more sponsors in the dive industry that would be willing to sponsor an applicant. Promotion will be given during the courses by Girls that Scuba on their network of over 700,000 divers for any sponsors if wanted. Sponsors can also be anonymous and only known by the selected scholar, and can also be an individual who would like to sponsor. Sponsors will be presented with a list of scholars and can choose which one they would like to sponsor. GTS understand this is a financially difficult time and ask to only consider sponsoring if you are able to.
To apply for a scholarship (open for all dives ages 13 and above) click here.
If you are interested in sponsoring an applicant (the price is the price of the course) please contact Sarah, founder of Girls that Scuba at sarah@girlsthatscuba.com
If you know anyone you think would benefit from our scholarship programme (especially any young divers) please send the application on to them to apply. We really want to sponsor as many young divers as we can to further their education.
To find out more about Girls That Scuba visit their website by clicking here
News
Spooktacular Underwater Adventure: Oyster Diving’s First Halloween Scuba Party at Mercers Lake
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.
Marine Life & Conservation
Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction
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.
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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