News
Top 5 Liveaboards for Shark Lovers
It’s Valentine’s Day and not everybody wants a bouquet of flowers and chocolates from their loved one. For shark lovers and adventurous divers, there are some great liveaboards to choose from to share time with your dive buddy for life and show a little shark love in 2018.
Here are our top 5 liveaboards for shark lovers:
Guadalupe Island, Baja California
This wouldn’t be a shark diving article without mentioning the premier place to dive with great white sharks. Guadalupe liveaboards offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with great whites in calm, crystal clear and turquoise waters. Other great white diving locations have cooler water temperatures, but Guadalupe’s water temperature is a relatively warm 19 to 22 degrees Celsius. This makes it easier to spend longer in the water with these magnificent sharks. The shark diving season is approximately July to December, with the larger female sharks appearing in October and November. Liveaboards depart from San Diego and there are a variety of Guadalupe liveaboard diving vessels available. Divers looking for luxury should consider the custom-built Nautilus Belle Amie; complete with soundproofing for better sleep, premium suites, and a fantastic food and wine selection.
Ari Atoll, Maldives
Ari Atoll is the most reliable Maldives location for whale shark diving, as well as being great for manta rays, reefs sharks and turtles. The dive sites are dominated by thilas, or pinnacles, and kandus, which are current-filled channels from the open ocean that attract large marine life. Maamgili Beyru in the southern part of Ari Atoll is great for juvenile whale sharks year-round, with balmy water temperatures of 26 to 29 degrees Celsius. There are numerous Ari Atoll liveaboard diving vessels to choose from and divers looking for serious luxury and pampering should consider the Scubaspa Ying, complete with six full-time spa therapists.
Tiger Beach, Bahamas
Tiger Beach is fantastic for diving with tiger sharks and is just an hour off the coast of Grand Bahama Island. With no current, great visibility, and dive depths of 6 to 30 meters, it is easy diving with some of the world’s most characterful sharks. October to January are the peak months for tiger sharks, though they are present year-round. Divers can also enjoy nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and lemon sharks. The Bahamas Master has tiger shark and dolphin combination safaris; visiting Tiger Beach and White Sand Ridge, which is famous for dolphin encounters.
Monad Shoal, Malapascua, Philippines
Monad shoal is an underwater island at 20 meters depth, famed for its thresher shark encounters. With thresher sharks being critically endangered, this is one of the few areas in the world where divers have a high chance of seeing these shy and cautious sharks. The Monad shoal acts as a cleaning station for thresher sharks visiting in the early morning, so expect to be in the water at dawn. The current and depth at Monad Shoal make it more suited to advanced divers and nitrox diving is recommended. Liveaboard diving there is possible year-round and the water temperature is consistently warm, at 24 to 30 degrees Celsius. The beautiful S/Y Philippine Siren yacht is perfect for a luxurious liveaboard and offers Monad Shoal as a destination.
Malpelo Island, Colombia
Malpelo Island is a tiny island in the East Pacific Ocean, accessed by Panama liveaboard diving. It has a well-deserved reputation for abundant schooling sharks, though is less well-known than its equivalent at Cocos Island in Costa Rica. Divers at Malpelo can enjoy large schools of hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, and numerous free-swimming moray eels. Divers may also see Galapagos sharks, sandtiger sharks, and whale sharks. The sea conditions of this wild and remote dive area can make it challenging and great for drift dives. The peak dive season is May to September, with silky sharks arriving in large numbers during July and August. Only one liveaboard dive cruise is allowed at this UNESCO World Heritage Site at any one time, making it a crowd-free shark diving experience.
Discover more liveaboard diving holiday solutions around the world at Liveaboard.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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