Bob accomplished more in 85 years than most and lived his life to the fullest. He was a risk taker who truly did what he loved and inspired others to do the same. If there wasn’t a way, he created one.

Divers and those in the industry will remember Bob as a groundbreaking influence not only within the sport of scuba diving but also in the field of underwater photography. Bob’s love affair with the ocean began in 1955 after reading an article about underwater exploration in Popular Mechanics. Following his first scuba experience, Bob became one of the earliest underwater photographers on the West Coast and established the Underwater Photographic Society of Northern California in 1966. Additionally, Bob was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Underwater Parks and Reserves (California State Parks Department), where he helped explore the coastline and identified future areas for preservation, including Point Lobos, La Jolla and the Salt Point State Park.

A true entrepreneur, Bob truly met the moment and realized that the scuba and underwater photography equipment available at that time did not meet his needs—so he began developing his own, all while attending school for business and engineering and working at Standard Oil to support his young family.
 
His tenacity paid off and, in 1966, Bob opened the Anchor Shack dive shop in Hayward, California, and began developing underwater camera housing, strobes and hand lights, the foundation of his company, Oceanic. By 1976, the Oceanic product line had completely developed, ultimately turning both Bob and the Oceanic brand into leaders in the scuba community. During his lifetime, Bob founded many companies, including American Underwater Products, Pelagic Pressure Systems, ROMI Enterprises and renowned scuba diving brands Oceanic, Hollis, and Aeris.
 

Using his experience, Bob helped create an underwater saturation system in 1978 for the Andrea Doria shipwreck. The system was attached to the wreck at a depth of 240 feet for up to seven days, allowing divers to explore the wreck for several days without having to swim to the surface. Bob logged more dives than anyone on the wreck and, in 1981, served as the underwater photographer for the nationally aired film Andrea Doria: The Final Chapter, detailing the team’s goal of recovering the bank safe from the sunken Italian ocean liner.

In addition to developing photography and scuba diving equipment, Bob also led some of the first-ever dive trips to Cozumel, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Belize, the Yucatan Peninsula and the Galapagos. He also led tours to Papua New Guinea, where he later built a family home and destination dive resort.

Over his storied career, Bob received many awards and achievements, including the NOGI Award, the DEMA Reaching Out Award, and was an inductee of the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.

Throughout all his professional success, Bob’s greatest achievement was his family, including his children Debbie (Jon), Mike (Molly), Nick (Brittany) and Zach (Danica), grandchildren Heather, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Caitlin, Robert, Seth, Preston, Olivia and Sloane, and great-grandchildren Benjamin, Natalie, Henry, Eleanor, Samuel, Ian and Colin. Bob shared his passion of the ocean and traveling the world with them, including abalone diving trips on the California coast, family liveaboard dive trips, motorcycle adventures, and creating memories for many lifetimes. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

The family will hold private services in Orland, California and asks for those interested in honoring Bob to share your story and photos via social media. If you would like to also share those with the family, they can be sent to bobhollisfamily@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to an ocean conservation charity in Bob’s memory.

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The Oceanic+ app dropped today for Apple Watch Ultra, turning the watch into a powerful dive computer that offers all the key features divers need, plus dive planning and post-dive data. The app, designed by Huish Outdoors in collaboration with Apple, allows divers to hit depths of up to 130 feet (40 m) with the all-new depth gauge and water-temperature sensors on the watch.

“At Huish Outdoors, our purpose is fueling the human spirit for adventure. Oceanic+ on Apple Watch Ultra is one of the biggest innovations to hit the dive industry in a long time. We’re creating an accessible, shareable, better diving experience for everybody,” said Mike Huish, the company’s CEO, to Apple in an article published about the watch.

The Apple Watch Ultra

First up, the Apple Watch Ultra: the watch’s existing features perfectly complement the app’s functionality, and include a large, bright retina display, making for easy underwater visibility, an advanced, dual-core processor, a compact size and sleek design, and dedicated Action button. One of the coolest integrated features is the watch’s haptics, quite noticeable in the water, said Andrea Silvestri, Huish Outdoors’ vice president of product development and design, who led the creation of Oceanic+.

“Sound propagation in the water is much more powerful than in air,” Silvestri explained in an article first published by Apple. “So, if I’m diving with someone and their dive computer is emitting sound, I can’t really recognize if it’s my beep or it’s theirs. I’m hearing a beep, but I don’t know the direction. Incorporating the haptics designed for Ultra, we’ve made the experience very personal; it’s like a gentle nudge to guide you.”

“One of our first goals was to keep it intuitive,” said Mike Huish in the same article. “People who know how to use an Apple Watch already know how to use this dive computer, because it’s telling them things in a simple format they can understand. The navigation menus are simple — scrolling with the Digital Crown and using the Action button, you can navigate and use all the functionality of the dive computer while diving.”

The Oceanic+ App

Next up, the Oceanic+ App: some of the app’s key features include a dive planner, wherein divers can set their surface time, depth, and gas of choice. The Oceanic+ then calculates no-deco times based on the information. The planner also highlights dive conditions like tides, water temperature, and up-to-date information from the community like visibility and currents. Post-dive, data including GPS entry and exit locations automatically pops up on the watch, along with the dive profile, a map of entry and exit locations, depth graphs, temperature ascent rate, and no-decompression limit.

Curious divers can grab the Oceanic+ app today on the App Store. The basic plan is free and includes common functions like depth, time, and a recent dive log. For more advanced features and unlimited logbook capacity, Oceanic+ costs $9.99 per month, or $79.99 annually.

Apple Watch Ultra aims to give recreational divers a more convenient, accessible device with all the features users already know and love on Apple Watch—let’s see how they did.

Images and quotes courtesy of APPLE

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A National Treasure at Risk

The clear turquoise waters of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary contain part of the only coral barrier reef in the continental United States, the largest documented contiguous seagrass community in the Northern Hemisphere, hard-bottom habitat, sand and mud flats, and an array of submerged historical and cultural resources. Mangrove-fringed shorelines hug the shallow coastal waters and protect the narrow and low-lying island chain from storm surge and erosion, while providing a living habitat for fish, invertebrates, and birds. Each of the above-mentioned components of the 3,800 square-mile sanctuary are ecologically connected, requiring a comprehensive plan for restoring and managing the resources within these waters both individually and cohesively. 

The resources in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are increasingly under threat from hurricanes, diseases, vessel groundings, rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and human interactions. The 2011 sanctuary condition report showed that the habitats and resources were continuing to be degraded, and since then tourism has continued to increase, putting added pressure on these fragile resources. Additionally, Hurricane Irma caused massive damage in 2017, and the sanctuary and its partners have been responding to a serious coral disease outbreak and a seagrass die-off. These issues are especially concerning for a community where 54% percent of local jobs are supported by tourism.  

In 2020, NOAA received over 1,200 comments on the draft environmental impact statement. Based on the best available science and broad public engagement during previous steps of this process, the Restoration Blueprint proposes regulatory changes to address increasing marine uses and ongoing and emerging threats to marine resources, while using tools within reach to restore and reverse trends of decline in many habitats. 

According to Sarah Fangman, superintendent of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, “The end goal is to build the ecosystem’s resilience in such a way that it can better withstand the elements that caused these declines in the first place.”

Boundary Expansion

The ability for natural processes to flow freely and for wildlife to move unimpeded between habitats is known as “ecological connectivity.” This is an important consideration for an ecosystem-based management approach. When living things can move freely, populations can intermingle. This helps maintain genetic diversity and supports healthy populations. With ecological connectivity in mind, and to address a range of resource management needs expressed during public comment periods, NOAA proposes to expand the sanctuary boundary in a few key areas. The proposed boundary expansion would align the geographic boundary of the sanctuary with the “area to be avoided” regulatory boundary; would enhance ecological connectivity and support fish spawning by closing a gap in the Tortugas region; and would add a separate area at Pulley Ridge to protect corals in deeper water.

Sanctuary-Wide Regulations

NOAA proposes to modify some of the existing sanctuary-wide regulations to address issues such as water quality, and help the sanctuary be more consistent with state regulations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established No Discharge Zones under the Clean Water Act for vessel blackwater (sewage) in Key West (1999) and then all state waters of the sanctuary (2002). NOAA expanded this prohibition to all waters of the sanctuary in 2010. NOAA is now proposing to further protect sanctuary waters from cruise ship gray-water discharges (waste from showers, sinks, laundries, and kitchens) and deck wash-down by removing those exceptions from the regulations, while allowing an exception for engine cooling water. Cruise ships are among the largest vessels in sanctuary waters and are the source of a significant volume of discharges.

Regulatory changes related to temporary emergency and adaptive management, historical resources permitting, feeding fish from vessels or while diving, grounded and deserted vessels and harmful matter, and the use of mooring buoys for large vessels are also under consideration. 

Rethinking Marine Zones

While some regulations are applied across all sanctuary waters, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary also manages different marine zone types with specific purposes and special regulations. In 1997, the sanctuary implemented its management plan that created special areas of varying sizes and purposes, and that manages certain activities within them. In July 2001, the largest of the sanctuary’s fully protected zones was implemented—Tortugas Ecological Reserve.

NOAA is proposing some changes to the existing zones, and the proposed rule includes five marine zone types: management areas (maintaining existing Key Largo and Looe Key management areas), conservation areas (combining ecological reserves and special use areas into this new zone type), sanctuary preservation areas (adding two, removing two, combining two existing into one, and expanding three), restoration areas (a new zone type, less than one and a half square miles in total, protecting coral reef nursery and active coral restoration habitat sites), and wildlife management areas (adding 23).

All Hands on Deck

“It’s a natural human instinct to confront challenges in their simplest form; to distill complex problems into single solutions,” said Fangman. “But there is no simple solution to what is happening with the complex issues affecting the Florida Keys, and certainly no miracle cure that will return our ecosystem to what it was like, or how it functioned 50 years ago. What is needed is a multi-disciplinary approach, one where the ‘whole is greater than the sum of the parts.’”

The decades-long declines in the health of the marine habitats in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a community-wide problem, and the solution requires many levels of collaboration and community involvement. NOAA has put forth a proposed plan to move these efforts forward, and now wants to hear what you think about it. Whether you live in the Florida Keys, visit occasionally, or hope to visit one day, we want to hear from you. There are several ways to weigh in on the Restoration Blueprint.

“From the beginning, the Restoration Blueprint has been a stakeholder-driven process informed by constituents who love and rely on this ecosystem, and their voices can be heard in this proposal,” said George Garrett, chair of the Sanctuary Advisory Council. “I encourage everyone to thoroughly review the new Restoration Blueprint materials and come prepared to offer more feedback.” 

Additional Information

Restoration Blueprint for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

NOAA Press Release

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Guest post by Rachel Plunkett, Writer/Editor for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

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“The new Green Fins Hub offers enhanced and global membership for participating dive and snorkel operators to conserve the marine environment. It is the first-ever global marine tourism industry platform, helping operators to make simple, cost-efficient changes to their daily practices by utilizing tried and tested solutions, keep track of their annual improvements and communicate with their communities and customers. The tool has been developed by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to overcome the biggest sustainability challenges in the marine conservation tourism industry. The industry-backed digital platform is expected to scale up reach from about 700 operators across 14 countries today to a potential 30,000 worldwide, thus increasing coral protection and conservation worldwide.”

—UNEP

Explorer Ventures Fleet’s participating liveaboards include:

Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Tiburon Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Islands
Caribbean Explorer II, Saba & St Kitts
Black Pearl Explorer, Palau

Since the beginning of our partnership with The Reef-World Foundation in 2018, we have become a pioneering liveaboard fleet for the Green Fins environmental program. We received the first official liveaboard Green Fins Membership in 2018 (Caribbean Explorer II) and have assisted in paving the way in overcoming the unique hurdles the liveaboard industry faces. Alongside our own sustainability management program Dive Green®, we have used Green Fins as a tool to guide and support best practices. Our organization is working towards creating an eco-friendlier liveaboard community and aiming to reduce our own footprint. We hope to expand the Green Fins Hub to the rest of our Fleet as part of our continued commitment to a more sustainable future.

Learn about the Reef-World partnership and dedication to our Dive Green sustainability program here.

About the Green Fins Hub

The Green Fins Hub has been co-created with key industry partners from around the world, to ensure it meets the needs of our stakeholders. Diver training agency, PADI, and its network have pioneered and financially backed this project from its inception. In addition, industry leaders including training agencies PSS, RAID, diver insurance company DAN, dive holiday booking platforms such as ZuBlu and PADI Travel, and a series of Green Fins Members from around the world have helped shape the platform throughout development. Read the full release here.

About Reef-World

The Reef-World Foundation is a registered UK charity which delivers practical solutions for marine conservation around the world. The charity promotes the wise use of natural resources – particularly coral reefs and related ecosystems – for the benefit of local communities, visitors and future generations. It is dedicated to supporting, inspiring and empowering governments, businesses, communities and individuals around the world to act in conserving and sustainably developing coastal resources.

Reef-World leads the global implementation of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkeling practices across the industry globally. As such, the charity provides low cost and practical solutions to local and industry-wide environmental challenges associated with the marine tourism industry. It provides education and capacity building assistance to empower environmental champions (within the diving industry, local communities, authorities and governments) to implement proven coastal resource management approaches. 

For more information, please contact rachel@explorerventures.com.

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Official Update from the Government of St Kitts

Effective on August 15, 2022, The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has ended all COVID-19-related entry testing and vaccination requirements. The recent announcement indicates that the Federation is now open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Additionally, travelers will no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter the Federation. However, all incoming passengers must complete and submit the Immigration and Customs ED form which includes a Custom and Border Form at: knatravelform.kn. This change comes under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, who also serves as Minister of Health.

“We’re overjoyed that St. Kitts has finally reopened. This has been the longest time that we have been away from diving in the area. It’s great to get back to St. Kitt’s huge variety of dive sites and a favorite itinerary of repeat clientele. It’s been my personal favorite route since the 1980’s and is the last link in finally returning to normal operations in all eight of our destinations.” President Clay McCardell

Itinerary Update

Currently, St. Kitts and St. Maarten do not have the same government requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. This makes re-instituting Caribbean Explorer II’s original one-way itinerary between the countries difficult. The current plan is to incorporate St. Kitts into the weekly itinerary as weather permits while continuing to operate round-trip from St. Maarten through mid-November 2022, then return to one-way itineraries thereafter.  Follow the latest updates here or contact us for details.

About St. Kitts

The Island of St. Kitts sits in the cross-section of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Exemplifying natural beauty, its lush rainforests envelop dormant volcanoes, battle forts, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Underwater, tropical gardens abound with unique life and wartime treasures.

Whether you’re an adventure seeker or looking for a relaxing holiday, St. Kitts is where you can indulge all your senses. Rediscover this gem with us aboard Caribbean Explorer II.

Learn more here.

_______________

Explorer Ventures Fleet

The Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving Fleet offers eight destinations including the Red Sea, Palau, Maldives, Northeastern Caribbean (Saba/St. Kitts), Turks & Caicos Islands, Galapagos Islands, and Indonesia. The M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II also spends 10 weeks in the winter/spring offering snorkeling with humpback whales on the Silver Bank, Dominican Republic, under charter to Aquatic Adventures.

The post St. Kitts, We’re Back! Country Reopens to Visitors appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Cozumel

Cozumel is the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean and a world-famous dive destination with coral reefs full of life. With dive sites suitable for novices to experienced divers, it’s the perfect destination to get back in the water post-pandemic.

Covid entry requirements

• There are no Covid entry requirements for people traveling to Mexico.
• Most resorts ask guests to fill out a health questionnaire.

What makes Cozumel great for getting back into diving?

Cozumel offers stunning diving in clear, turquoise waters that are warm all year. There are a multitude of dive sites just off the coast, with abundant reefs and a variety of dive types available.

What to expect when you get there

Cozumel is very quiet at the moment and has numerous topside highlights to explore on your non-diving days. There are traditional towns, historic ruins, and theme parks for families, plus white-sand beaches, beach bars, and restaurants.

Diving in Cozumel

Boasting the second-largest reef system in the world, Cozumel has exceptional coral reef diving and an astonishing diversity of marine life, including numerous sea turtles and vibrant reef fish.

Cozumel’s top dive sites for beginners include Columbia Reef and Chankanaab Reef, both of which have beautiful, sunlit corals in clear, shallow waters with gentle currents. More experienced divers will enjoy Cozumel’s thrilling drift dives, including at Punta Tunich, and the huge 100-foot-high (30 m) wall and coral pillars at Colombia Wall.

Bonaire

If you love exploring at your own pace and self-guided diving, Bonaire is for you. This relaxed, slow-paced island lacks large chain hotels and has dozens of well-preserved local dive sites just a few steps offshore.

Covid entry requirements

• There are no Covid entry requirements for people traveling to Bonaire. 

What makes Bonaire great for getting back into diving?

Bonaire is the shore-diving capital of the world and offers easy, accessible reef diving that provides a gentle reintroduction to the underwater world. With an arid climate and little rainfall, diving in Bonaire is excellent all year and the waters are extremely clear.

What to expect when you get there

Bonaire is a small island, but it has plenty of wild spaces, including a vast desert landscape, so it rarely feels crowded. That said, Bonaire’s restaurants can get busy, so book in advance.

There are plenty of adventure sports available, including caving, sea kayaking, hiking, windsurfing, and mountain biking, plus 22 gorgeous beaches.

Diving in Bonaire

Bonaire is all about reef and wreck shore diving, so rent a car and explore the dozens of dive sites at your feet. Salt Pier is an easy shore dive with pillars covered in soft and hard corals. Bari Reef is an excellent night dive for macro fans, and Karpata is a good place to spot pelagics in the blue. The famous Hilma Hooker wreck is one of Bonaire’s most popular dives, and you can explore this impressive wreck as a self-guided dive from shore.

Belize

With over 400 islands and 240 miles of Caribbean coastline, Belize is an incredible dive destination. It is home to some of the world’s best dive sites and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Belize Barrier Reef. What more could you need to get back into diving?

Covid entry requirements

• There are no Covid entry requirements for people traveling to Belize.
• Purchasing Belize Travel Insurance is no longer mandatory but it is highly recommended by the Belize Tourism Board.

What makes Belize great for getting back into diving

Belize hosts a diverse array of reefs that provide idyllic reef diving for novices right through to experienced divers. Belize’s waters are warm all year and you can enjoy a mixture of land-based and liveaboard diving there.

What to expect when you get there

Belize is popular with U.S. visitors, so book ahead during public and school holidays. Once there, you can go jungle walking and bird watching, explore Mayan ruins, and enjoy Belize’s mouth-watering cuisine. And if that’s too much effort, just relax on Belize’s golden and white-sand beaches.

Diving in Belize

The Belize Barrier Reef is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, boasting three turtle species, hundreds of reef fish species, pelagic fish, whale sharks, and hundreds of corals and sponges.

Ambergris Caye has over 40 accessible dive sites dotted along its shores, and it is a good place to base yourself to explore Belize’s other top dive highlights: the Great Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef, and Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

Turneffe Atoll is another top place to enjoy all that Belize scuba diving has to offer. This atoll has over 200 cayes, with diverse underwater landscapes, including huge walls covered in corals. There are ripping currents for experienced divers, shallow aquarium-like dive sites, and plenty of pelagic action.

Florida Keys 

If you are looking for somewhere closer to home, try the Florida Keys. It’s a wreck diving mecca, with plenty of coral reefs as well. And if you live nearby, you can get your diving fix over the weekend.

Covid entry requirements

• There are no Covid entry requirements for people traveling to the Florida Keys.

What makes the Florida Keys great for getting back into diving?

As well as being accessible, with no need to go overseas, the Florida Keys have consistently warm waters, plenty of sunshine, and varied diving that offers something for all divers.

What to expect when you get there

 This is a popular U.S. vacation spot, so be sure to book ahead. Once there, you can enjoy plenty of topside highlights, including gorgeous beaches, charter fishing, art galleries, museums, spas, and a fine-dining scene.

 Diving in the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys has the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States and is also home to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. There are endless reefs, seagrass fields, sandbars, islands, and extensive mangroves to explore, with over 6,000 marine species, including manatees.

Added to that, the Florida Keys has epic wreck diving. There is a shipwreck trail with nine historic wrecks, and an estimated 1,000 shipwrecks in total. If you love rust, diving in Florida is hard to beat.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas is one of the easiest destinations to access from the U.S., being just a short flight away. Famed for its shark diving, it ticks the boxes for shark fans who want a world-class dive trip without traveling far.

Covid entry requirements

• Vaccinated travelers must provide proof of vaccination.
• Unvaccinated travelers (aged 2 and older) need to show proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken no more than 72 hours prior to travel.

What makes the Bahamas great for getting back into diving?

Warm weather, a multitude of islands, and water that rarely drops below 80 F (27 C) is enough to tempt anyone to visit the Bahamas. Below the surface, there are colorful reefs and crystal-clear waters that host an abundance of sharks.

What to expect when you get there

Unsurprisingly, the Bahamas continues to be one of the most popular destinations for Americans. These stunning islands have an endless list of topside activities that cater for just about every interest, making it perfect for families and group trips.

Diving in the Bahamas

The Bahamas has been a designated shark sanctuary since 2011 and has exceptional shark diving. Visit Tiger Beach to dive with numerous tiger sharks in warm, shallow waters, then hop over to Bimini for diving with great hammerheads. Alternatively, Cat Island offers swimming with oceanic whitetips.

If shark diving isn’t your thing, try the Exuma Cays and Eleuthera. There, you can dive the famous Austin Smith wreck, experience a unique current dive called the Washing Machine, and drift over beautiful reefs all day long.

Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for SSI (Scuba Schools International), wrote this article.

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As more countries open up and Covid restrictions ease, the world’s best dive destinations are accessible once again. It’s a great time to get back in the water, take advantage of quiet dive sites, and support the destinations you love. It can be a little overwhelming to plan a dive trip these days, but we’ve taken the hard work out of it. Read on for our top tips to help you plan your first post-Covid vacation.

1. Research your dream destinations

Researching your dream destinations is one of the best parts of planning a dive trip, but it was a littler trickier during the pandemic when many places were closed.

Thankfully, many of the world’s best dive destinations are now open. Go diving in Bonaire for world-class shore dives and sea turtles, or explore all that Cozumel, the Bahamas, and Hawaii have to offer.

A little further afield, the vibrant soft coral reefs and impressive wrecks of Egypt await. With Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands open to tourists as of July 2022, and Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia open as of August 2022, the world is your oyster.

2. Revisit your favorite dive spots

It is understandable if you are nervous about going away or the extra planning needed to travel in Covid times. Take the pressure off yourself by revisiting your favorite dive spot.

You can book accommodation you are familiar with, stay in a town you know well, and explore with a dive operator you trust. All of these will dramatically reduce your stress levels and ensure you come home refreshed.

3. Find out what’s open

Once you have chosen your destination, find out which tourist attractions are open and if there are any Covid precautions you need to take. It’s better to find out what you can and can’t do before booking, especially if you have kids who will need non-diving activities to keep them entertained.

If you are not sure how to find out what is open, have a chat with a local dive center at your chosen destination. The staff will be more than happy to help you.

4. Find the best accommodation for your needs

Staying at a luxurious hotel or resort that provides delicious food and post-dive snacks all day long is wonderful. If you are comfortable with communal eating during Covid times, then hotels and resorts are great options. Most of them have Covid control measures in place.

However, a private vacation rental is a good choice if you want to avoid communal dining and minimize the chances of catching Covid. Either way, make sure you have a backup quarantine option just in case you get sick.

5. Make sure your booking is flexible

It’s important to check the Covid cancellation policy and the cost of booking changes for your preferred flights, accommodation, and diving. Make sure your booking is flexible and that you know what will happen (and the costs) if you cannot travel due to Covid.

6. Check your destination entry requirements

Make sure you check Covid-related entry requirements for your destination, including:

• Vaccination status and if proof is required
• Pre-departure and arrivals Covid testing
• Medical insurance
• Quarantine requirements
• What to do if you test positive for Covid during your trip

If you are traveling from the US, you can find destination-specific requirements on the CDC website. The foreign travel advice on gov.uk is also a good place to start.

7. Know how to get medical care

If you get sick during your trip, you may need medical care. Make sure you are prepared by writing down your destination’s hospital, doctor’s surgery, and pharmacy details. If you are going diving somewhere remote or on a liveaboard, have a chat with your dive operator to find out what will happen if you become unwell.

8. Budget for unexpected costs

Put some extra money aside for your trip if you get Covid so you can afford additional nights at a hotel, quarantine, and unexpected healthcare costs.

9. Check if you need a dive medical

If you have been diagnosed with Covid, and depending on how recently, you may need to get fit-to-dive clearance from a dive medicine specialist. Request a diver medical form when you book your dive trip and go through it with a physician to see what you will need to do.

10. Pack some Covid essentials

Dive trip excitement builds when you start packing your dive gear, swimwear, and reef-safe sunscreen. Make sure you also pack these Covid essentials:

• Hand sanitizer
• A reusable water bottle
• Masks and gloves
• Disinfectant wipes or spray
• Some at-home Covid tests in case you start to feel sick at your destination
• Painkillers, vitamin C tablets, and throat lozenges
• Anything else you might need if you must quarantine

11. Make sure you have easy access to your medical records

If you get Covid on vacation, you may need antiviral treatment. Take a copy of your medical records with you so that healthcare providers can see if you have any health issues or are taking medications. Make sure you also keep a copy of your dive, accident, and travel insurance handy.

12. Refresh your dive skills

Your dive skills might be a bit rusty if you have been out of the water for a while, so make sure you refresh your skills pre-departure.

Completing a scuba refresher course will ensure you are a safe and confident diver again so you spend less time trying to remember your skills and more time having fun.

13. Keep it simple and have fun

You made it! Have a fantastic vacation and remember why we travel — to relax, explore beautiful dive sites, experience different cultures, and have fun with new dive buddies.

Every moment of planning is worth it when you step into the ocean and descend into our gorgeous, watery world. Remember that and enjoy!

Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for SSI (Scuba Schools International), wrote this article.

The post Top Tips for Planning Your First Post-Covid Dive Vacation appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

According to reports, the vessel ran aground on Socorro Island around 2 am on May 9^th and the crew immediately radioed for assistance. The Mexican Navy found 14 passengers and 11 crew members in a life raft; some having sustained minor injuries. All were transported to Isla Socorro Naval Sector for medical evacuation and then onward to San Jose del Cabo. As more details emerge, we will update this breaking story.

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WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO MEXICO?

According to CNN Travel, visitors to Mexico don’t need to provide a negative Covid-19 test result or quarantine on arrival. You will need to complete a health declaration form and scan the associated QR code on arrival.

WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR RE-ENTRY INTO THE USA?

Upon departure for the United States, all travelers (including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated travelers) are required to have a negative Covid-19 test result no more than three days before they board their flights to the U.S.

The CDC Mexico guide outlines what to do after returning to the U.S., including when to self-isolate and when follow-up tests are required.

WHAT IS THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MEXICO?

Mexico is open to travelers and has a four-tier traffic light system of restrictions for each state. The restrictions will vary depending on the area you travel to, though as of June 2, 2021, most states are listed as green or yellow. Yellow means all work can resume and public gatherings can take place, and green means there are no restrictions.

According to the Reuters COVID-19 tracker on June 2, 2021, there have been 2,413,742 infections and 223,568 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.

IS IT WORTH VISITING MEXICO? IS ANYTHING OPEN?

Absolutely. Businesses are open and Mexico is welcoming travelers.

WHAT YOU’LL SEE IN MEXICO AND WHY IT’S WORTH IT

Scuba diving in Mexico offers something for just about every dive experience level and interest. Wherever you go, the waters are full of life, and you’ll be surrounded by Mexico’s vibrant culture and rich history.

With numerous dive destinations to choose from, you can go diving in Mexico year-round and have the adventure of a lifetime. Here are our top dive spots to visit in this breathtaking country.

Guadalupe Island

Ask any diver where to go diving with great white sharks and they will likely tell you Guadalupe Island. It takes a 24-hour boat ride to reach this remote rocky island, but the rewards are well worth it.

Guadalupe’s waters are bright blue and calm, making it perfect for cage diving with great white sharks, which congregate here in large numbers. It is also the only place in the world where you can see great white sharks in relatively warm and astonishingly clear water. All of which makes Guadalupe the top cage-diving destination in the world.

Socorro Island

Socorro Island is Mexico’s premier liveaboard diving destination, renowned for marine megafauna diving and striking underwater landscapes.

Part of the Revillagigedo Islands, this group of four volcanic islands is famous for having numerous friendly giant Pacific manta rays, especially at San Benedicto Island’s manta cleaning station The Boiler.

These wild islands also host abundant sharks including silky, Galapagos, whitetips and silvertip sharks. Depending on when you go diving at Socorro, you’ll also likely see bottlenose dolphins (January to March), humpback whales (December to April) and whale sharks (November and December).

Cabo Pulmo

If you love coral-reef diving, don’t miss the Cabo Pulmo National Park. It is home to a 20,000-year-old reef, which is the oldest reef on the west coast of America.

With clear waters and sheltered diving, it’s easy to spot some of the 6,000 marine life species that call this reef home. There is plenty of macro life and reef fish, as well as passing sharks and humpback whales.

That said, diving with schooling mobula rays is the real highlight of diving at Cabo Pulmo. These rays congregate in enormous groups at the Sea of Cortez every year.

Take a trip to nearby La Paz for the chance to dive with schooling hammerheads, sea lions, and whales. You’ll also find excellent wreck diving, caves, and seamounts in the area.

Cozumel

Another of Mexico’s best reef-diving destinations, Cozumel offers year-round diving at thriving reefs that are protected by the Cozumel Reefs National Park.

Diving in Cozumel is for every diver. As well as exciting drift and wall dives, there are easy shallow dives and deep dive sites. All of them feature the lure of azure waters and hundreds of fish species. And if that’s not enough, there are endless white sand beaches to relax on after your dives.

Isla Mujeres and Cancun

lsla Mujeres is a picture-perfect island in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Cancun. Renowned for its idyllic beaches and coral reefs, it is also Mexico’s best destination for swimming with whale sharks.

These gentle giants visit Isla Mujeres every year from mid-May to September and various local operators can take you out to snorkel with them. While you’re there, be sure to visit MUSA — the Cancun Underwater Museum of Art.

Make sure you take time to visit nearby Playa del Carmen to go diving with bull sharks (November to March) and go cenote diving from Cancun. Exploring Mexico’s beautiful cenotes is a unique experience not to be missed.

Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for Scuba Schools International (SSI), wrote this article.

The post The Diver’s Guide to Mexico in Covid Times appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

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WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO BELIZE?

All travelers must provide an official vaccine card showing they have received a single or dual dose vaccine at least two weeks before arrival in Belize. If you cannot provide a vaccine card, you will need to show proof of an alternative negative test result. Details of acceptable COVID-19 tests are available on the Belize Tourism Board COVID-19 Update for Travelers.

If you don’t have proof of a negative test result, you will need to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival. If you test positive at Belize international airport you will be placed in mandatory quarantine for a minimum of 14 days, at your expense.

WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR RE-ENTRY INTO THE USA?

Upon departure for the United States, all travelers (including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated travelers) are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than three days before they board their flights to the U.S.

There are numerous Belize approved COVID-19 testing sites where you can get your pre-departure test done.

The CDC Belize guide outlines what to do after returning to the U.S., including when to self-isolate and when you may need a follow-up test.

WHAT IS THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN BELIZE?

Travelers are welcome in Belize, and you can move about freely so long as you comply with Belize’s COVID-19 safety measures.

According to Worldometer, Belize had 83 active cases as of May 24, 2021. According to the Reuters COVID-19 tracker as of the same day, there have been 12,764 infections and 323 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.

IS IT WORTH VISITING BELIZE? IS ANYTHING OPEN?

Yes! Businesses are open and Belize has created a new Tourism Gold Standard to keep you safe during your visit. This extensive program includes accommodations, tour operators, transport providers and more that are all certified and trained in enhanced health and safety measures. All of this means you can relax and enjoy exploring this gorgeous country.

WHAT YOU’LL SEE In BELIZE AND WHY IT’S WORTH IT

With over 400 idyllic islands and coral reefs stretching to the horizon, it’s no wonder Belize diving is so popular. This small destination packs a punch above and below the waterline for any adventurous traveler and has some of the most famous dive sites in the world.

With the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and an abundance of dive destinations, there is something for every diver in Belize. New divers can enjoy shallow coral reefs while experienced divers get their thrills at the outer reefs and deeper dive sites. Take your pick from fringe, patch, and barrier reefs, plus coral atolls. Belize has it all and more.

One of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, Belize has no shortage of awesome marine life. Green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles are often cruise by divers, and the reefs are teeming with colorful reef fish, pelagics, and hundreds of coral and sponge species.

If you go diving in Belize around the full moons of December to March, you can also witness thousands of spawning Nassau groupers. These critically endangered fish are certainly an impressive sight, growing to over 3 feet (1 m) long and weighing up to 55 pounds (25 kilograms).

With consistently warm waters, diving in Belize is great year-round. But if you love whale sharks — and who doesn’t — make sure you visit Belize from April to June — especially at Gladden Spit, Placencia.

Ambergris Caye

Diving in Ambergris Caye is a highlight of any dive trip to Belize and offers easy access to Belize’s world-famous dives. There are over 40 accessible dive sites dotted along the eastern side of the island, with lush coral gardens, deep canyons, swim-throughs and gently sloping sand flats.

It is also a perfect departure point to access the famous Great Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef, and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. 

Lighthouse Reef

Lighthouse Reef might be best-known for featuring the Great Blue Hole, but it is also an epic dive destination in its own right. There are numerous wrecks to explore, exciting walls and the popular Half Moon Caye. With crystal-clear waters, Caribbean reef sharks, stingrays and plenty of macro life, it is a great place to while away your days.

The Great Blue Hole

Belize blue hole diving is an experience not to be missed if you are an advanced diver. Just make sure you watch your gauges as you plunge into the seemingly endless depths.

At more than 1,000 feet (300 m) across and 400 feet (120 m) deep, you’ve got to see this dive site to believe it. As you descend into the depths, you’ll leave the coral-fringed rim behind and find yourself surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites.

A lack of light means there is little coral growth or fish to see at depth but the sharks appearing out of the dark more than make up for it.

Turneffe Atoll

Turneffe Atoll is the most biodiverse of Belize’s outer islands and has over 200 cays with mangroves, lagoons and flats that host abundant fish life. There are big walls swathed in corals and the aptly named Aquarium dive site has numerous reef fish. If you love swift currents and big pelagics, don’t miss diving at The Elbow.

Whichever dive sites you choose at Turneffe Atoll, expect colorful reef life and passing sharks and sea turtles.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Another top Belize dive destination, Hol Chan Marine Reserve is packed with marine life and has interesting coral formations. It is one of the best places to go night diving in Belize and offers diving among beautiful coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forests.

The Wreck dive site, a 30-foot-long (10 m) sunken barge, is great for rust fans and famous Shark Ray Alley is the place to go for swimming with numerous laidback nurse sharks.

Glover’s Reef

Make sure you leave time to dive at Glover’s Reef when you visit Belize. This unique dive destination has over 700 pristine patch reefs with an array of different dive sites. There are shallow areas perfect for new divers and an underwater cliff that plunges over 3,000 feet (900 m) at The Wall.

Gladden Spit, Placencia

Gladden Spit hosts an unmissable wildlife phenomenon around the full moons of March to June each year. Thousands of fish spawn around Gladden Spit at those times, attracting numerous whale sharks to the area. It is one of the best places to go scuba diving with whale sharks in the Caribbean — don’t miss it!

Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for Scuba Schools International (SSI), wrote this article.

The post The Diver’s Guide to Belize in Covid Times appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO BONAIRE?

If you are 13 years or older, you can only travel to Bonaire if you provide a negative Covid-19 test result. Fully vaccinated travelers must also provide a negative result to visit.

All travelers to Bonaire, 0 years and older, must also submit a completed health declaration before departure. A printed copy of the health declaration and Covid-19 test result must be provided at check-in, boarding, and arrival on Bonaire.

Bonaire also advises all travelers to make sure their health insurance will cover the costs of medical care during their stay, including care related to Covid-19.

Travelers who provide a negative Covid-19 test result do not have to quarantine on Bonaire. If you travel to Bonaire without providing a negative test result, you will have to go into quarantine for 10 days at your own expense.

There is a helpful Q&A for travelers to Bonaire on the crisis website of the Public Entity Bonaire.

WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR RE-ENTRY INTO THE USA?

Upon departure for the United States, all travelers (including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated travelers) must have a negative Covid-19 test result no more than three days before they board their flights to the U.S.

The CDC Bonaire guide outlines what to do after returning to the U.S., including when to self-isolate and when follow-up tests are required.

WHAT IS THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN BONAIRE?

Bonaire is open to travelers and has safety measures in place. Covid-19 infections are decreasing in Bonaire and there were 18 active cases as of May 17, 2021. According to the Reuters Covid-19 tracker, there have been 1,610 infections and 17 coronavirus-related deaths in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba since the pandemic began.

IS IT WORTH VISITING BONAIRE? IS ANYTHING OPEN?

Absolutely! Diving in Bonaire in Covid times is absolutely worthwhile. Travelers can move about the country freely as long as they comply with Bonaire’s safety measures. Dive centers, restaurants and other facilities are open, making Bonaire a great vacation destination.

WHAT YOU’LL SEE IN BONAIRE AND WHY IT’S WORTH IT

Go diving in Bonaire in Covid times and you’ll be exploring one of the best dive destinations in the world. Rightly known as the shore-diving capital of the world, this gorgeous island has numerous dive sites, offering something for every diver.

Take a short walk into Bonaire’s turquoise waters and you’ll find pristine coral reefs, thriving seagrass beds, fascinating wrecks and mangroves — all of which are bustling with Caribbean marine life.

It’s no surprise that Bonaire is considered the premier Caribbean biodiversity hotspot. The oldest marine reserve in the world, the Bonaire National Marine Park, has protected these waters since 1979. There are hundreds of different fish species on the reefs, plus seahorses, frogfish, nudibranchs and other prized critters. Bonaire’s corals are healthy and eagle rays, dolphins and sea turtles often pass by.

If you love exploring at your own pace or want to combine diving with a family holiday, Bonaire is for you. Either bring your gear or rent some at one of Bonaire’s dive centers, grab a rental truck with room for tanks in the back, and start exploring.

With an arid climate and little rainfall, Bonaire offers year-round diving and exceptionally clear waters. The water temperature rarely falls below 77 F (25 C) and peaks around 84 F (29 C). Visit from December to April to make the most of this island paradise.

Dive Sites

1,000 Steps

This famous shore dive begins with numerous steps — though it will feel like 1,000 when you’re wearing your gear, it’s not quite so many — down to the beach and is a perfect spot for snorkeling and shallow diving. The waters are clear; there is minimal current; and the beach is idyllic. Dive in and you’ll discover a thriving reef with beautiful corals, numerous fish, barracudas, and passing turtles. 

Hilma Hooker

The 236-foot-long (72 m) Hilma Hooker is one of Bonaire’s best-loved dive sites, offering a spectacular wreck for advanced divers. Sitting at around 100 feet (30 m) between two reefs, this freighter is encrusted with marine life and surrounded by huge schools of fish. It is an ideal spot for underwater photographers. There’s a bit of a surface swim to reach the wreck, which is typically also dive-able by boat with your dive center.

Salt Pier

New divers won’t want to miss Salt Pier. It’s an easy and shallow shore dive with pillars covered in vibrant soft corals, hard corals, sea fans and sponges. Large schools of fish surround the pillars and sea turtles glide among the corals.

Karpata

Known for its incredible underwater panoramas, the Karpata dive site is another perfect spot for photographers. The dive starts around 20 feet (6 m) and quickly drops down to 100 feet (30 m). There you will find coral formations and ridges surrounded by fish life and numerous sea turtles. There is also a huge ship anchor embedded in the coral.

Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for Scuba Schools International (SSI), wrote this article.

The post The Diver’s Guide to Bonaire in Covid Times appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE BAHAMAS?

From May 1, all fully vaccinated travelers who have passed the two-week immunity period can enter the Bahamas without proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

At this time, the Bahamas government is only accepting vaccines by Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca. Visitors still need to follow other safety protocols during their visit.

Unvaccinated travelers must provide a negative COVID-19 test result before travel, taken no more than five days prior to arrival.

All travelers must opt in to COVID-19 health insurance, which covers them for the duration of their stay in the Bahamas. This cost is included in the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application fee.

Is there any quarantine involved? There is no quarantine required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers.

WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR RE-ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES?

Upon departure for the U.S., all travelers (including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated travelers) must have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than three days before they board their flights to the U.S.

The CDC Bahamas guide outlines what to do after returning to the U.S.. This includes when to self-isolate and when you will need a follow-up test.

WHAT IS THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN THE BAHAMAS?

All islands in the Bahamas are open to international and domestic arrivals and there are testing and safety procedures in place. As of May 11, 2021, there have been 10,773 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 212 COVID-related deaths in the Bahamas, according to the Reuters COVID-19 tracker.

IS IT WORTH VISITING THE BAHAMAS? IS ANYTHING OPEN?

Yes! Travelers can move about the country freely as long as they comply with safety protocols. Public outdoor spaces are open, there is some indoor dining available, and the beaches are open. The Bahamas Interactive Island Guide provides a comprehensive overview of what facilities are open on each island.

WHAT YOU’LL SEE AT THE BAHAMAS AND WHY IT IS WORTH IT

Warm weather, plenty of sunshine and water that rarely drops below 80 F (27 C) make the Bahamas a perfect escape from the bustle of daily life. Visit from October to June to make this most of this gorgeous destination.

Wherever you choose to go diving in the Bahamas, expect to see plenty of sharks. The Bahamas has been a designated shark sanctuary since 2011 and is positively teeming with these charismatic fish. Caribbean reef sharks, lemon, blacktip reef, nurse and gray reef sharks are common. There are world-famous, dedicated shark dives as well, giving you the chance to get up close and personal with great hammerheads, tiger sharks, bull sharks, and oceanic whitetips.

Tiger Beach

Take a trip to the West End of Grand Bahama and you can experience some of the best shark diving in the world at famous Tiger Beach. True to its name, you can dive with numerous tiger sharks there, plus bull sharks, great hammerheads, lemon, and Caribbean reef sharks.

The diving is shallow and easy; you just kneel on the sandy bottom and watch the sharks glide past. Visit from October to January for peak tiger shark numbers, or February to March for bull shark encounters.

As well as shark diving, Grand Bahama has reefs ideal for new divers, plus exciting walls, wrecks and fascinating underwater cave systems for tech fans.

Bimini Islands

Bimini, a chain of islands in the western Bahamas, is the place to go for great hammerhead shark encounters. Visitors can also enjoy the pristine beaches these islands are known for. While there, make time to visit Bimini Island’s mangroves. They are a real hidden gem of this Bahamian destination and host plenty of wildlife, including juvenile lemon sharks.

While hammerheads live in the Bahamas all year, visit from December to February for peak hammerhead shark season.

Cat Island

It may be just a 30-minute flight from Nassau, but Cat Island in the Central Bahamas is a secluded paradise island not to be missed. It is the best place in the world to swim with oceanic whitetip sharks.

These confident pelagic sharks visit Cat Island each spring, following the tuna migration, and Cat Island’s calm water conditions are perfect for diving with them. Divers and snorkelers alike can spend hours drifting along in the blue with these fascinating sharks.

Exuma Cays and Eleuthera

With numerous wrecks, jaw-dropping wall dives and shallow reefs, diving in the Exuma Cays offers something for every diver.

Don’t miss the famous Austin Smith wreck while you’re there. Originally a 90-foot Bahamian Defense Force Cutter, the Austin Smith wreck is now a thriving artificial reef in the Exuma Cays. As well as numerous sharks, this wreck also hosts eagle rays, turtles and numerous colorful fish.

If you love current diving, the Washing Machine at Highbourne Cay offers ripping currents. The currents move so fast that there is little marine life to see but being tumbled about in the current is a fun dive experience unlike any other.

Other highlights of diving in the Exumas include the rolling seagrass beds of Moria Harbor Cay National Park and diving with stromatolites, the world’s oldest living fossils. There are abundant wrecks at nearby Eleuthera and don’t forget to take a hop to Long Island. There you can experience the world’s second deepest blue hole, Dean’s Blue Hole.

And if you need one more shark fix before heading home, leave time for Stuart Cove’s famous shark diving adventure. This Nassau dive is all about close encounters with numerous Caribbean reef sharks.

Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for Scuba Schools International (SSI), wrote this article.

All images courtesy of Nadia Aly

The post The Diver’s Guide to the Bahamas in Covid Times appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Intact arch image by DANIEL NORWOOD

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The Museum is Jason de Caires Taylor’s first installation in the Mediterranean Sea. It features a series of six monumental three-dimensional portraits, each over 6.5 feet (2 m) in height and 10 tons in weight. They are sited near the island of Sainte-Marguerite, one of the Lérins Islands, just off the coast of Cannes, France. Placed at a depth of between 6.5 to 10 feet (2 to 3 m), these artworks rest on areas of white sand, in between oscillating Posidonia seagrass meadows in the protected southern part of the island. The shallow depth and close proximity to shore make the site easily accessible, and the crystal-clear waters provide ideal conditions for snorkeling. This is one museum you can access in a socially-distant way — wearing a scuba mask over your eyes rather than a mask over your mouth.

The six works are based on portraits of local community members, covering a range of ages and professions — for example, Maurice – an 80-year-old local fisherman, and Anouk, a 9- year-old elementary school pupil. Each face is significantly upscaled and sectioned into two parts, the outer part resembling a mask.

The split mask is a metaphor for the ocean. One side of the mask depicts strength and resilience, the other fragility and decay. From land, we see the surface, calm and serene, or powerful and majestic. This is the view of the mask of the sea. However below the surface is a fragile, finely-balanced ecosystem – one which has been continuously degraded and polluted over the years by human activity.

The theme of masks connects to the history of Île Sainte-Marguerite, well known as the location where the Man with the Iron Mask was imprisoned. Cannes, through its famous annual film festival, is well known for its relationship with the performing arts.

The location of the sculptures was previously an area of disused marine infrastructure. Part of the project was a significant clearing of the site, including removing marine debris such as old engines and pipelines to create a space for the installation of artworks. All pieces were specifically designed with Ph neutral materials to attract marine fauna and flora. The site has now been cordoned off from boats, making it safe for snorkelers and divers, and preventing damage by anchors to the seagrass meadows. Posidonia grass is a vital habitat area and is sometimes referred to as the lungs of the ocean for the vast amount of oxygen it creates. With all his projects, de Caires Taylor aims to draw attention to the sea as a fragile biosphere in urgent need of protection.

All images courtesy of Jason de Caires Taylor

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All you have to do is set up your gear once, then relax, revive, and dive!

For Saba/St Kitts/St. Maarten and Turks & Caicos destinations, book and deposit by February 15, 2021, for $600 per person savings. After February 15, 2021, the discount drops to $400 per person on the selected departures. There’s no better way to recharge and disconnect than a week of sunshine and impossibly blue water. Why not jump in while the savings are hot?

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Liveaboard diving specials are available for every month of the year!

The earlier you book, the better the price. It’s that simple.
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Phone: 800-322-3577 or +1 307-235-0683
Email: info@explorerventures.com

Plan’s change, we get it. Read Explorer Ventures COVID-19 Booking Assurance here.  Or for more information on one of Explorer Ventures’ other unique destinations, visit them here.

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Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving Fleet

The Explorer Ventures Liveaboard diving fleet offers seven destinations including the Red Sea, Maldives, Northeastern Caribbean (Saba/St. Kitts), Turks & Caicos Islands, Galapagos Islands and Indonesia. The M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II also spends 10 weeks in the winter/spring offering snorkeling with humpback whales on the Silver Bank, Dominican Republic, under charter to Aquatic Adventures.

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The world mourned Stewart’s passing, and offered praise for the spotlight he shone on the issue of shark-finning through his films “Sharkwater” and, posthumously, “Sharkwater Extinction.”

Almost immediately, some media outlets began to report on a narrative that suggested that Peter Sotis was to blame for Stewart’s death. The implication was that an experienced technical diver — Sotis — had led a relatively inexperienced technical diver somewhere he wasn’t qualified to go.

Within a few months, Stewart’s parents launched a negligence suite against Sotis, Horizon Divers, the crew of the boat and the equipment manufacturer. “The dive instructor had this student’s life entrusted to him, and took him on a third, unprecedented dive to 220 feet depth to get a $15 piece of equipment,” said their lawyer, Michael Haggard, at a Miami press conference. He also suggested that “their decompression profiles were reduced by the dive instructor” and that Stewart “was not prepared to do that kind of dive and the number of dives that he did that day.

The narrative went that Stewart, through a lack of experience, went along with what his instructor told him to do. Although that’s been the most common explanation for the tragedy for several years, it turns out that it may not be true.

New information comes to light

Quite recently, two defense documents were filed in the Stewart case that offer information about Stewart’s qualifications as a technical diver. It turns out that, far from being a neophyte, he held multiple technical certifications at an instructor level from Technical Divers International (TDI.)  Certifications included Draeger Dolphin rebreather instructor; trimix instructor; advanced trimix instructor; extended range instructor; advanced gas blending instructor; advanced wreck instructor; decompression procedures instructor; advanced nitrox instructor; and equipment specialist instructor.

Many of those certifications allow a diver to go deep, use mixed gas, and follow decompression protocols to get back to the surface. Along with an instructor certification from PADI, Stewart was arguably more qualified as a technical diver than Sotis.  There’s little question that Stewart knew that the dives he was completing were risky, and fully understood the implications of adjusting his gradient factor and gas blend to shorten decompression times.

Counterarguments and further twists

Critics have counterargued that Stewart’s experience was related to open-circuit diving, not rebreathers. While that’s a valid argument, Stewart did have nearly 50 dives and a year of training on his rEvo rebreather unit, and much of the deep-diving theory is the same regardless of what apparatus a diver uses. Appreciating the risks of decompression sickness is a very basic lesson in deep diving.

Following these new revelations and in an interesting twist, rEvo’s lawyers have now suggested that if anyone was negligent, it was Sharkwater Productions, which was producing the film shoot, as well as Stewart’s companion Brock Cahill. He organized the dive with Horizon, set up the training with Sotis and Add Helium, and negotiated for the rebreathers with rEvo. According to the court documents, Sharkwater should have been following Canadian and American standards on to conduct a safe dive while filming.  They contend Sharkwater Productions did not do that.

More revelations

These latest documents also allege that Stewart did not disclose a preexisting medical condition — a predisposition to black out. He talks about it in his book “Save the Humans” but, according to a court filing by Sotis, never mentioned it in his medical release when he began training. According to the court filing, “Robert Stewart, either in whole or in part, caused the injury, incident and damages alleged…by knowingly failing to disclose pre-existing medical conditions that rendered him unfit for the commercial dive operation he was engaged in at the time of his death on three separate Medical Questionnaires administered to him by Sotis and Add Helium LLC.”

The court document goes on to suggest that if the company had known about a predisposition to black out, Sotis and Add Helium would not have taken Stewart on as a student.

The fallout from the lawsuit continues. Sotis’ company Add Helium has gone bankrupt and Sotis says he has left the dive industry permanently. The case is dragging into the end of its fourth year and shows little signs of resolution.

Robert Osborne is a journalist and author who recently published “The Third Dive: An Investigation Into the Death of Rob Stewart.” Osborne continues to research the story and update Scuba Diver Life. His book is available on Amazon or in Canada at this link. All images courtesy dam builder Productions.

The post Updates on the Tragic Death of Rob Stewart appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

This year’s contestants used creative techniques and thoughtful compositions that capture everything from historic shipwrecks to sunsets over misty waters, and delightful portraits of wildlife above and below the surface. Thanks to the work of these incredible photographers, viewers can enjoy the wonders of America’s national marine sanctuaries without leaving home.

Photographers of all skilled levels submitted photos in four categories: “Sanctuary Life,” “Sanctuary Views,” “Sanctuary Recreation,” and a new category to accommodate life amid a pandemic, “Sanctuaries at Home.”  This year’s winning photos document the extraordinary beauty of our ocean and Great Lakes and the creative ways people are finding to enjoy and appreciate nature.

The winning photographs will be featured in NOAA’s Earth is Blue magazine, Get Into Your Sanctuary recreation magazine, and the Earth is Blue social media campaign. The photo contest will run again next year from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

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