How can conservation, tourism, research and community engagement work in partnership to help save sharks and rays?

How can conservation, tourism, research and community engagement work in partnership to help save sharks and rays? PROJECT AWARE NEWS By Ian Campbell, Manager – Sharks, WWF 25 FEBRUARY 2017  |  10:20 AM Even though I have logged too many dives to keep count, almost none of them have been for recreational purposes. And definitely, in my early diving days…

Providence Equity Sells Scuba Certifier PADI for $700 Million

Providence Equity Sells Scuba Certifier PADI for $700 Million  Professional Association of Diving Instructors is world’s largest organization with 25 million certifications        A Border Patrol scuba diver in San Diego Bay during a training exercise. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the world’s largest diving membership organization was purchased for $700 million. PHOTO: BILL WECHTER/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES By  MATT…

Responsible Shark and Ray Tourism: A Guide to Best Practice

Responsible Shark and Ray Tourism: A Guide to Best Practice One in four shark and ray species is facing an increased threat of extinction due primarily to overfishing. Responsible shark and ray related ecotourism can be a powerful, complementary conservation strategy.  It can also serve as an important supplementary source of income benefiting operators and the local communities alike. When…

Book Review: Underwater Photography Masterclass by Dr. Alex Mustard

Book Review: Underwater Photography Masterclass by Dr. Alex Mustard Posted on March 21, 2016 by Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown in News http://bit.ly/2n7yL80 581x” alt=”9781781452226″ width=”268″ height=”300″ />We have been eagerly waiting for our copy of this book, and so when it arrived it was tempting to dive in, find a topic that we want to know more about, and not take the proper time to…

Humpback whales are organizing in huge numbers, and no one knows why

Humpback whales are organizing in huge numbers, and no one knows why It flies in the face of typical humpback behavior By Sara Chodosh March 15, 2017       Jean Tresfon/PLOSone The humpback’s scientific name, Megaptera novaeangliae, literally means “big-winged New Englander.” They can use their “big wings” to maneuver backwards, though they have no beeping sound to warn other animals that…

Now US Politicians Are Attacking Ocean Science, Too

Now US Politicians Are Attacking Ocean Science, Too Fishing industry reps and lawmakers claimed that protected ocean zones are based on “junk science.” posted on Mar. 16, 2017, at 4:50 p.m. Nidhi Subbaraman BuzzFeed News Reporter     Jonathan Ernst / Reuters Swaths of ocean that are the last holdouts for hundreds of rare species are at risk of losing the…

14 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Octopus

14 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Octopus BY DR. RICHARD SMITH DECEMBER 8, 2015       Intelligence and adaptability make the octopus unique. Check out these 14 interesting facts about the octopus.   1 of 5 Flirt/Alamy The eye of an octopus 1. Octopuses and squid have a single-lens-camera eye, which is more like our own and other backboned animals’ than the eyes…

British-owned cruise ship wrecks one of Indonesia’s best coral reefs

British-owned cruise ship wrecks one of Indonesia’s best coral reefs Ship ran aground at Raja Ampat, one of the country’s most popular dive sites that has been likened to an underwater Amazon, reports Mongabay      Yellow butterflyfish, Klein’s butterflyfish and Moorish idols with a school of bigeye scad on the reef at Raja Ampat, West Papua. Photograph: Getty Images  …

LSD Raffle Winner Announced!

And the winner is…… Congratulations to Camilla Hulf who was the first pick from the LSD Open Weekend raffle. Camilla has first pick of the prizes which were a ScubaPro torch or a ScubaPro cabinbag. Second pick from the raffle was Tracy Noble who will claim the remainig prize. The Facebook Tagging competition is running until Friday 10th March so…

New LSD divers!

A huge congratulations to our Open Water and Dry Suit divers from the past week! Very well done Kymme, Hugo, Nick, Matthew and James. http://bit.ly/2npWZcB