For immediate release.

Grand Sea Explorer®, operating as Sea Serpent Grand, received a fresh new facelift. This spacious Red Sea liveaboard from Explorer Ventures Fleet® is specifically designed for divers looking for luxury and speed between dive sites. In the two month long dry dock, Grand Sea Explorer received many upgrades including refurbishment of the lower deck cabins and bathrooms, new upper deck cabin beds, a complete exterior repaint, and more.  These updates were added to the modernized vessel which already offers spacious lounges, premium amenities, a huge waterline dive deck and a state-of-the-art safety system. All specifically designed with divers’ comfort in mind.

See the new vessel updates below:

Caption: Grand Sea Explorer’s exterior was repainted.

Grand Sea Explorer Liveaboard Package Details:

• 8 days / 7 nights aboard Grand Sea Explorer®
• Up to 5 dives daily (Up to 4 dives daily in winter)
• Accommodation, meals, snacks, and local beer, a glass of wine at dinner, non-alcohol beverages
• Around the clock service from an experienced, multi-language crew
• Onboard diving amenities; camera table, air and Nitrox
• Great for intermediate to advanced divers
• Same-day transfers in Hurghada or Marsa Alam
• Starting at $1,995 USD per person in 2023.

Learn why Explorer Ventures Fleet’s premium Red Sea liveaboard diving packages are a step above the rest.

Extension tours of 2-6+ nights can be arranged to Cairo, Pyramids of Giza, Alexandria, and more for an additional cost. Don’t miss Egypt’s ancient antiquities! Browse Explorer Ventures Fleet’s Liveaboard Diver’s Guide to the Egyptian Red Sea.

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Book your Red Sea liveaboard holiday on this incredible liveaboard:

www.explorerventures.com  
info@explorerventures.com
1.800.322.3577 (US only) / +1.307.235.0683

The post Grand Sea Explorer has been refurbished! See the updates in this photoblog. appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Experience the new Humboldt Explorer this summer for only $3,995 pp – that’s $2200 in savings!

Humboldt Explorer, Explorer Ventures Fleet’s liveaboard based in the Galapagos Islands, has been newly remodeled and is back in the water ready for divers. Diving on Humboldt Explorer is already a five-star experience, but now the liveaboard has even better accommodations. It also features a more contemporary salon and sun deck, upgraded dive deck, and fresh plumbing. Humboldt Explorer received the Fleet’s largest overhaul to date. Short of building a new vessel, the liveaboard is brand new.

The staterooms were torn down to their bulkheads; the rooms have had a complete restoration with new walls, new plumbing in the bathrooms, and an installation of new fire protection in electrical outlets and light plugs. The cabins were redesigned with more ambient light and neutral colors, plus new floors, doors, art, closets, and dressers. The cabin air conditioner units and entertainment systems have also received upgrades. Guests can be assured they will sleep well on the new Humboldt Explorer.

The salon was modernized with increased ambient lighting and neutral paint colors, new or re-upholstered living and dining room furniture, and new floors and cabinets. Along with these big changes, the salon received new air conditioners and buffet equipment. Up top, the sun deck received new teak flooring and a very attractive bar with grill to allow the chef to make meals upstairs. Two custom designed seats were added on the bow for guests to enjoy the Galapagos’ panoramic views.

The dive deck had one of the biggest physical changes, with the deck being expanded and raised to a single level to allow easier movement of divers. Outdoor showers were also relocated to the stern and new charging stations were installed. The crew also did maintenance on tank hoses, stainless steel seats, and the diving table.

Lastly, the engine room had an overhaul of the two MTU series 60 marine machines, changing every part of the engine, leaving it practically new. Maintenance and painting of the bilges was done, and all water circulation and hot water pipes, were upgraded. The compressor, nitrox, 100kw generators, steering system and hydraulic jack all received maintenance or repair. Meaning Humboldt Explorer’s moving parts and safety systems are all operating as good, if not better, than new.

Experience the upgraded Humboldt Explorer for yourself and receive $2200 in savings. The limited-time Introductory Offer means you only pay $3,995 per person when you book a trip for one of three departures: May 29-June 5, July 10-17, or July 31-August 7, 2023. The Introductory Offer is valid until May 5, 2023, after which these dates go back to the normal rate – so do not miss your chance!

EXPERIENCE THE NEW HUMBOLDT EXPLORER
+1.307.235.0683 / US 1.800.322.3577
info@explorerventures.com

www.ExplorerVentures.com

Are you a qualified travel agent, dive shop owner, or wholesaler interested in a great deal for a FAM aboard Humboldt Explorer? Inquire with Explorer Ventures Fleet’s Galapagos Manager Jennifer Cumming for details – jcumming@explorerventures.com.

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In this blog post, we will explore the depths of scuba diving by examining its definition, necessary equipment and safety considerations for deep sea dives; learn about types of dive sites suitable for advanced recreational divers; as well as gain tips on having a successful dive trip to the ocean’s depths. Additionally, we’ll also discuss some fascinating marine creatures you might encounter during your adventures in the depths.

So join us as we embark on this thrilling journey towards answering “how deep is scuba diving?” while enhancing our knowledge about this exhilarating sport.

What is Scuba Diving?

Participants of scuba diving are able to take a plunge and discover the depths of the aquatic realm. It involves using special equipment, such as a scuba tank and regulator, to breathe while submerged in water. Scuba divers can go to greater depths and remain submerged for extended periods, allowing them to observe marine life more closely, take photographs, or simply appreciate the underwater scenery. This makes it possible to observe marine life up close, take photographs, or simply enjoy the beauty of the ocean from below its surface.

Scuba diving is an activity that utilizes SCUBA gear to allow a person to stay underwater for extended periods of time. The term “scuba” stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus which refers to any type of breathing device used by divers when exploring undersea environments.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, scuba divers must equip themselves with the necessary gear such as wetsuits or drysuits, masks, fins, buoyancy control devices (BCDs), regulators, tanks, weights, computers/gauges/depth gauges/timers, knives/shears/cutting tools and lights. Additionally, emergency signaling devices like whistles or flares should be kept on hand in case of an unforeseen circumstance. With all these components in tow you’ll be ready to dive into the depths. Keywords: Scuba Diving; Equipment; Safety; Emergency Signaling Devices

Another benefit associated with scuba diving is that it provides access to some parts of our planet which would otherwise remain unexplored due to their extreme depth or hazardous nature. Additionally, regular dives can lead to improved physical fitness and increased mental wellbeing by being immersed in nature while focusing on something other than work related issues back home. Moreover, most dives involve little effort besides swimming around with your gear strapped onto you, so there is no need worry about getting tired out quickly either. Finally, many people find joy in observing sea creatures they wouldn’t normally have access too without taking part in this exciting sport.

Diving into the deep can be a thrilling and fulfilling adventure for anyone, but it’s essential to take precautions when preparing for an underwater excursion. With proper training and preparation, divers can safely explore the depths of our oceans for unforgettable experiences.

Safety Considerations for Deep Sea Diving

Before engaging in deep sea diving, it is essential to assess if you are physically and medically fit enough to withstand the pressure and conditions. Divers should possess a sound physical condition and not have any medical issues that could impede their ability to dive securely. Divers should possess adequate physical fitness, as they may be required to carry heavy equipment and swim for extended lengths of time underwater. It is also recommended that divers have experience in shallow water dives before attempting a deep sea dive.

At depths greater than 30 meters, nitrogen narcosis can set in, causing confusion and impaired judgement which could lead to potentially hazardous circumstances if left unaddressed. Additionally, oxygen toxicity may occur when inhaling pure oxygen at depths over 40 meters, possibly resulting in seizures or even loss of consciousness if not closely monitored. Even during warm weather months, hypothermia is a risk due to the cold temperatures at deeper levels; thus all divers should be sure to wear proper insulation no matter the depth or temperature outside the water. Therefore, it is essential for those engaging in deep sea diving to bear these hazards in mind prior to beginning their descent.

Before attempting a dive, familiarizing oneself with the potential risks associated with deep sea diving is key to ensuring safety and having an enjoyable experience. Subsequent to this, we shall investigate a few of the distinct areas available for deep sea divers.

Types of Deep Sea Dive Sites

Exploring the different dive sites in the deep sea can be a remarkable experience, with shipwrecks and artificial reefs providing an ideal opportunity to observe marine life closely. Exploring submerged wrecks and man-made reefs is a popular activity for divers, providing an unparalleled chance to observe aquatic life up close. These areas also offer great opportunities for photography and videography. Divers can discover an unfamiliar realm when they plunge into the depths of underwater caves and caverns. Walls and drop offs are another type of dive site that can offer breathtaking views from depths that cannot be reached by other means.

Shipwrecks and artificial reefs provide a fascinating glimpse into marine life that may otherwise go unseen. Divers can view fish species such as groupers, snappers, barracudas, eels, wrasses, sharks, rays, turtles and more living among shipwrecks or sunken structures made specifically for scuba diving exploration purposes. Artificial reefs often have vibrant coral formations that attract a wide variety of fish species which adds color to any underwater photograph or video taken during your dive trip.

Caves and caverns create a mysterious atmosphere, allowing divers to get lost in their own thoughts while exploring these dark yet beautiful places at depths which natural light could never reach them. Over time, geological activity causes cracks to form in rocks creating the formation of caves when water erodes away rock layers; whereas, caverns are created through tunnels formed by mountainsides or cliffsides like those found around cenotes (underground sinkholes) located throughout Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula coastline region renowned for its world-class cave diving experiences regardless of the seasonal changes above ground level temperatures fluctuate greatly depending on which part you’re visiting within this country’s geography.

Exploring the deep sea offers a wealth of opportunities for scuba divers, from shipwrecks and artificial reefs to caves, caverns, walls and drop offs. Descending from the wreckage of ships and man-made reefs, we can take a peek into the underwater caverns, chasms, walls and precipices that lie beneath in the ocean’s depths.

Marine Life to Look Out For When Scuba Diving in the Deep Sea

Underwater exploration can yield many different forms of sea life, from fish to sharks and invertebrates. From fish species and sharks to invertebrates, divers can experience an array of underwater creatures.

The deep sea is home to a diverse range of fish species, such as anglerfish, lancetfish, dragonfish and flashlight fish. Some common species include anglerfish, lancetfish, dragonfish, and flashlight fish. These species are usually found at depths between 500-1000 meters below sea level where little light penetrates and temperatures remain low year round.

Sharks like great whites, threshers, whale sharks, makos, hammerheads and reef sharks can be seen swimming around wrecks or foraging in the dark crevices and caves. Furthermore, electric rays have evolved to thrive at extreme depths due to their electroreceptive organs which allow them to detect electrical fields emitted by other creatures even when it’s pitch black out.

Invertebrates, such as octopuses with their chameleon-like ability to blend into the environment; squid with their long tentacles for swimming; jellyfish containing venomous stinging cells within a transparent bell body; bristle worms equipped with sharp spines for protection against predators; starfish covered in hundreds of tiny tube feet allowing them to scuttle across rocks on land and through water alike; krill providing food sources for many aquatic organisms, from small hermit crabs up to large Japanese spider crabs dubbed “living fossils” due to remaining unchanged since prehistoric times – these are just some of the creatures you can expect while deep sea diving.

All these creatures combined make exploring this mysterious world both exciting and rewarding. With proper safety precautions taken into consideration before each dive trip, such as making sure your equipment is functioning properly, anyone who has ever dreamed about experiencing this underwater paradise should not hesitate any longer.

Venturing beneath the waves can reveal a wondrous realm of aquatic life, ready to be explored by scuba divers. With the right preparation and safety measures in place, it’s possible to have an enjoyable dive trip while exploring this underwater world. Next we’ll look at tips for preparing for and enjoying a successful dive trip to the deep sea.

Tips for Enjoying a Safe and Successful Dive Trip to the Deep Sea

Preparing for a Dive Trip to the Deep Sea:

It is important to properly prepare before embarking on any deep sea dive. This includes having all necessary equipment and supplies, such as tanks, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks and snorkels. Additionally, divers should research the area they plan to explore in order to be aware of any potential hazards or restrictions. It is also important that divers get adequate rest before their dive so they are well-rested and alert during their trip. Lastly, it’s wise for divers to review basic safety protocols with their diving buddies prior to entering the water.

Staying Safe During a Dive Trip to the Deep Sea:

Divers must remain vigilant when exploring deeper waters as there are many risks associated with deep sea diving. To ensure safety while underwater it’s essential that divers adhere strictly follow established guidelines regarding depth limits and bottom time limitations set by local authorities or dive centers where applicable. In addition, it’s important that divers maintain proper buoyancy control throughout their dives so they don’t inadvertently damage coral reefs or other sensitive habitats located at greater depths below them.

FAQs in Relation to How Deep is Scuba Diving?

How deep is typical scuba diving?

Scuba diving usually occurs in depths between 10 and 40 m (33-130 ft). The maximum depth for recreational divers is generally considered to be 40 meters (130 feet), although technical divers may dive deeper. Divers should always check with their local dive center or instructor before attempting any dives beyond the recommended limits. Despite adhering to the recommended limits, scuba diving can still pose a variety of risks and potential dangers that must be taken into account.

What is the 1 3 rule in scuba diving?

The 1-3 rule is a safety measure used in scuba diving. It states that divers should not descend more than one meter per second, and they should ascend no faster than three meters per second. This ensures that the diver does not experience decompression sickness or nitrogen narcosis due to rapid changes in pressure as they move through the water column. Additionally, this allows time for the body to adjust gradually and safely when moving up or down in depth. Following this rule helps keep divers safe during their dives and reduces risk of injury or illness associated with deep sea exploration.

Conclusion

Scuba diving in the deep sea can be a thrilling and rewarding experience, but it is important to remember that safety should always come first. Researching dive sites ahead of time and taking all necessary precautions before embarking on your journey will ensure you have an enjoyable adventure while staying safe. No matter how far the depths of the sea may reach, with proper planning and preparation you can confidently have a successful scuba diving experience.

Discover the depths of scuba diving and explore the underwater world with us. Join our courses today to become a certified diver and experience an adventure like no other!

The post How Deep is Scuba Diving? Exploring Depths and Safety Tips appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

• Pearl S. Buck, American novelist (1892-1973)

Michigan is a water state—in fact, it has the highest percentage of water out of all states in the U.S.—41.5% to be exact. Lake Huron, which is in Michigan and Ontario, is famous for its treacherous waters, ice, and fog, which have claimed the lives of many sailors, such that it was nicknamed “Shipwreck Alley.” There are mysteries still out there, beneath the waters, just waiting to be discovered. Mysteries, such as shipwrecks, that hold the stories from over 200 years of Great Lakes shipping and countless sailors and passengers who traveled the freshwater seas.

Ever since Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 2000 as the first national marine sanctuary in the Great Lakes, staff and partners have undertaken several expeditions to search for shipwrecks, and have even discovered some that were lost for decades. Probably one of the most notable discoveries within the sanctuary since designation is that of the steamer Choctaw (1892-1915) and wooden bulk freighter Ohio (1873-1894) in historic shipping lanes off Presque Isle, Michigan in Lake Huron. 

On a cool, foggy morning on July 12, 1915, the freighter Wahcondah was traveling east from Fort William, Ontario, carrying a cargo of wheat. The dense fog made it difficult to see, and at 5:30 a.m. the crew noticed another ship in Wahcondah’s path—but it was too late. That ship was Choctaw, carrying a cargo of coal along with Captain Charles A. Fox and his crew of 21 men. The 267-foot, steel semi-whaleback ship sank rapidly, and all lives on board were rescued. Despite search efforts, the exact location of the sunken 1,573 gross ton steel freighter—which was an innovative “monitor” design—remained a mystery for about 100 years. Archaeologists and shipwreck hunters have searched for Choctaw for years, and in 2011, a team of NOAA researchers, university partners, and high school students from Saginaw, Michigan came close to finding it.

In addition to protecting and educating the public about known maritime heritage resources in the sanctuary, the 2009 final management plan for the sanctuary outlined a Research Action Plan that encourages sanctuary staff and partners to locate, document, and analyze shipwreck sites of interest using historical and archival research and advanced technologies such as side-scan sonar. In 2014, after nearly seven years of research and stakeholder engagement and input, NOAA expanded the boundaries of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to 4,300 square miles in order to protect an additional 100 known and suspected historic shipwreck sites. 

This allowed for an exploratory research project funded by NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, where high- -resolution sonars were used to map the bottom of Lake Huron within the northern extents of the expanded sanctuary boundary. Two targets of interest were discovered and investigated. Follow-up investigations carried out between June and August of 2017 included the use of two underwater robots—an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from Michigan Technological University’s Great Lakes Research Center and a remotely operated vehicle provided and piloted by Northwestern Michigan College, as well as direct observations through technical scuba diving.

After carefully observing the features of the wrecks and comparing the images and videos to historical records of the vessels, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary officially announced the discovery of Choctaw and Ohio. When Choctaw’s wreck site was found, Captain Fox’s granddaughter, Ruth Schwartz Fisher, and her niece, Diane Hausler, expressed how relieved they were to finally have closure and that the discovery brought their family back together.

Interestingly, while providing closure on the resting places of Choctaw and Ohio, this project also re-opened the door to another mystery—the whereabouts of the schooner-barge Ironton, the vessel that collided with Ohio. Researchers are still working to uncover that mystery today.

Keeping Shipwrecks and Divers Safe

After a historically significant shipwreck is confirmed in sanctuary waters, it becomes a cultural resource that is routinely monitored and protected. In 2021, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff set out to assess the site, and document and monitor the wreck of Choctaw from a much larger Coast Guard vessel platform. The team was able to get excellent underwater footage of the historical site using an ROV, allowing for closer observation of the wreck’s features. The sanctuary plans to place a mooring buoy at the wreck site, which is about 300 feet deep, in order to protect the wreck from accidental anchor damage and ensure recreational scuba diving safety.

Uncovering Mysteries and Engaging Communities

When a historical shipwreck is discovered, it’s brought back to life. Not only for shipwreck hunters, archaeologists, maritime history-lovers, and the surviving family members of those lost at sea, but for the surrounding community, including K-12 students. In addition to protecting the wreck sites, the sanctuary works with partners to ensure that these findings get translated into oral and visual history in museums, videos, 360 degree virtual experiences, and other outreach products to keep the stories alive and strengthen the surrounding community’s connection to their local waters and American maritime history.

The expeditions that led to the discovery of Choctaw were funded by a grant from NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, and the project was made possible through research partnerships with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, University of Delaware, Michigan Technological University, Northwest Michigan College, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the United States Coast Guard, and University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Undersea Vehicle Program.

Rachel Plunkett is the writer/editor for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Videos and Other Resources

Project Shiphunt

Explore the Blue 360: Shipwreck Alley

Thunder Bay Shipwreck Videos on YouTube

About Choctaw

Pushing the Boundaries: Technology-Driven Exploration

History Meets Technology in Shipwreck Alley

Finding history: The discovery of two lost shipwrecks

Researchers Discover Two Historic Shipwrecks in Thunder Bay

Earth is Blue: Finding History

Great Lakes Maritime Collection Archive

The post History and Economy of the Great Lakes Region appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Queensland

Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea

There’s never been a better time to dive the pristine, rarely-visited dive sites of the Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea — you’ll be sharing them with a very small group of divers. Both Mike Ball Dive Expeditions and Spirit of Freedom dive liveaboards have three-, four- and seven-day itineraries departing every week to the Ribbon Reefs, Coral Sea, Osprey Reef (Shark City), as well as Holmes and Bougainville Reefs.

Each year there are also a number of exploratory expeditions, visiting Horne Island and the far northern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef, and diving the incredible Yongala wreck — but these trips book out months (sometimes years) in advance so you need to plan ahead.

Cairns Outer Reef by liveaboard

Pro Dive Cairns and Divers Den run flexible itineraries to the Outer Reef each week. Choose from one-, two-, three- and four-night trips diving a variety of reefs including Saxon, Norman and Hastings Reefs. The trips include four to five dives per day, including exciting night dives with reef sharks. You will encounter a wide diversity of marine life including giant clams, turtles, stingrays, reef sharks, an incredible variety of tropical fish, spectacular coral formations and consistent underwater visibility.

Minke Whale Magic

During June and July each year, dwarf minke whales visit the northern Ribbon Reefs to breed and now Mike Ball, Spirit of Freedom, Divers Den and Pro Dive all offer three- to four-day liveaboard trips for an in-water encounter with these friendly and inquisitive cetaceans. This a passive encounter, in which 26-foot (8 m) baleen whales approach snorkelers, for a truly magical experience. This is the only place in the world you can experience an encounter like this.

Townsville and Magnetic Island

In recent years the stunning central Great Barrier Reef has played second fiddle to the reefs out from Cairns and Port Douglas, but there are two great reasons to rediscover beautiful reefs such as John Brewer and Lodestone: the 100-year-old wreck of the Yongala and world-famous sculptor Jason deCaire’s underwater installation; the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA). Dive it by liveaboard with Adrenalin Dive, based in Ayr with Yongala Dive, or base yourself on beautiful Magnetic Island.

Heron Island

Heron Island is in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, and you reach it via helicopter or ferry from Gladstone, Queensland. Heron Island is most famous for its spectacular coral reef and as a sanctuary for a wide variety of marine life. Accommodation ranges from rooms set among a leafy forest, to beachside rooms with immediate access to crystal-clear waters teeming with nesting turtles, reef fish, turtles, rays, reef sharks, and more. The 20 nearby dive sites are easily accessible by boat within minutes of the jetty.

Lady Elliot Island

Lady Elliot Island is one of those rare gems that exist through the serendipitous combination of location and human intervention. Location is important as the island is just 6 miles (10 km) from the edge of the continental shelf and the East Australian Current. This translates to frequent pelagic action such as manta rays, migrating whales and nesting grounds for green and loggerhead turtles. And human intervention? Lady Elliot Island sits within the Green (no take) Zone of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which is why the corals are in perfect condition and over 1,000 marine species can be found in the waters around the island.

New South Wales 

Lord Howe Island

Imagine you had to design the perfect place for an adventurous scuba diver to escape to for a week’s diving vacation. You’d probably go for an island, maybe where tropical, sub-tropical and temperate ocean currents converge, a nice long reef around a lagoon, so you could dive and snorkel inside the lagoon, and explore more adventurous stuff outside in the gullies and arches. Then you’d probably give the island some sharp drop-offs, and maybe add a few small islands around to create a variety of dive sites. You could not design a more magnificent setting if you tried. The island has limited capacity, so is booked up quickly (especially now) with many divers returning annually

Plus! Ever thought of becoming a PADI certified Exploratory Diver? Lord Howe Island is the only place you can do this.

Julian Rocks

Among the regular species found year-round at Julian Rocks, a 10-15 minute boat ride from Byron Bay, are wobbegong sharks, eagle rays, cuttlefish, king fish, trevally, mulloway, and three different species of sea turtle: loggerhead, green, and hawksbill. There is an abundance of hard and soft coral as well. You can also see manta rays, gray nurse sharks, and leopard (also called zebra) sharks at various times throughout the year.

Nelson Bay

Whether you’re interested in the big stuff or teeny, tiny macro delights, you’ll find them here in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, which has long been a popular NSW seaside retreat. Some locals will tell you that if you haven’t dived North Rock or Looking Glass (think large schools of gray nurse sharks), you don’t deserve to call yourself a real diver. Others opt for Fly Point or Pipeline, which feature nudibranchs, seahorses, and all sorts of macro wonders.

Jervis Bay

Weedies, whales and the world’s whitest sand—Jervis Bay is three hours’ drive south of Sydney, and it’s already Insta-famous for having the world’s whitest sand at Hyams Beach. And the underwater world in the bay itself is pretty special as well. With over 60 dive sites, divers can expect to see weedy sea dragons, wobbegongs, gray nurse sharks, Port Jackson sharks, beautiful sponge gardens and potentially humpback whales, depending on the season.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour diving opportunities include the marine reserves of the Solitary Islands; South Solitary Island in particular. There, among boulders, walls and gutters, you will see anything from mantas to handfish, and everything in between. At nearby Split Solitary, among coral and kelp, you will see many species of resident fish, as well as eels, turtles and gray nurse sharks. In season (May to September) you can also swim with migrating humpback whales.

Western Australia

Whale Sharks and Whales at Ningaloo Reef

Swim with whale sharks and humpback whales and dive Ningaloo Reef with Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks. The Coral Coast’s Ningaloo Reef is a pristine aquatic wonderland that is home to an abundance of marine life, including dolphins, manta rays, turtles, humpback whales and, of course, the whale sharks. Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks are whale shark tour pioneers, with the experience, knowledge and reputation that will ensure that your day will be unforgettable.

Exmouth Navy Pier

Also based at Exmouth, Dive Ningaloo is the only dive center with access to world-famous dive site Exmouth Navy Pier, voted as one of the top 10 dive sites in Australia and one of the top shore dives in the world. 

Rowley Shoals

The Rowley Shoals are a chain of three spectacular, pristine coral atolls that rise up from the ocean floor 1,300 feet (400 m) below on the very edge of Australia’s continental shelf, creating one of the most remote dive locations in Australia. Diving Rowley Shoals is seasonal, with trips only available around October each year. Dive among the giant clams, shellfish, giant potato cod and Maori wrasse. Trevally, mackerel, and tuna hover in large schools around you, and you can discover over 200 species of coral and over 650 species of fish. Visibility in excess of 200 feet (60 m) is common.

Christmas Island

Dive Christmas Island, Australia’s own Galapagos in the Indian Ocean, with pristine coral reefs and plenty of pelagic action, including schools of silky sharks, mantas, eagle rays and whale sharks. Being so remote, you’ll be diving with small groups, with reefs, forests of enormous gorgonian fans, and plenty of sea caverns to explore. Plus, during surface intervals, swim with spinner dolphins.

Cocos Keeling Island

Dive Cocos Keeling Island—a little jewel in the Indian Ocean, with pristine coral reefs and mantas, eagle rays, schooling reef sharks, pods of dolphins, a resident friendly dugong called Kat — and (officially) Australia’s most beautiful beach at Direction Island — is also home to one of the world’s best drift snorkels.

South Australia

Neptune Islands

To see a great white shark in the wild is absolutely grand and rare, but to come face to face with one underwater is one of the most exciting experiences available to divers today. Come and ‘hunt with cameras’ the world’s best-known and most-feared shark with the world’s best: Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions. On a four-day liveaboard trip you will also encounter New Zealand fur seals and an abundance of bird life, dolphins and other unique fish and wildlife.

Fleurieu Peninsula

The beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula is home to one of the world’s most unique species of marine life, the leafy seadragon. These stunning creatures are found nowhere else in the world except the Great Southern Reef of Australia.

Whyalla

Each winter, tens of thousands of Australian giant cuttlefish gather to mate and spawn. This mass event happens nowhere else in the world. These cuttlefish are endemic to South Australia and have a very short life cycle of two years, which means the need to mate in such large numbers to ensure the success of generations to come. 

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is a nature lover’s dream. With large, resident pods of bottlenose dolphins, it is the ideal location to immerse yourself with these playful mammals. Shore diving at Kingscote Jetty will also reveal a wide array of macro wonders, from blennies and angler fish to the odd leafy sea dragon. 

The post Australia’s Best Local Diving appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

The National Park Idea

In March of 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant established Yellowstone National Park, and Americans were introduced to the idea of setting aside special places for the enjoyment and pleasure of the people—sparking a worldwide movement. The creation of modern parks became a powerful tool for the conservation and protection of valuable places. As more and more terrestrial places were set aside for protection, so too were national seashores and wild and scenic rivers. Eventually came the realization that protection doesn’t have to end at the shoreline. Flash forward to 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, and three years later, the underwater resting place of the shipwrecked Civil War ironclad USS Monitor became the first national marine sanctuary in the United States.

Growth and Global Leadership

From 1975 to 2000, 13 national marine sanctuaries were designated within the U.S., with the 1990s being the most active decade for new sanctuary designations. Stellwagen Bank, Flower Garden Banks, Monterey Bay, and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale national marine sanctuaries were all established in 1992, followed by Olympic Coast in 1994. It wasn’t until the reauthorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) in 2000 that the disparate collection of underwater parks of all different sizes, shapes, and purposes scattered across the U.S. formally became known as a system—the National Marine Sanctuary System—as we refer to it today.

In 2001, the program that managed these places, the National Marine Sanctuary Program, was elevated from a division to an independent office within NOAA, with its own budget and resources. This is how the agency became known as NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This restructuring opened the door to building increased operational capacity and infrastructure, the creation of new education, outreach, and science programs, and a more formal approach to managing the system for better results.

Each national marine sanctuary and marine national monument within the system has a unique history and purpose. These special places all across the United States were put in place to protect important natural, cultural, and historic resources, while also allowing compatible uses in responsible ways that have a low impact on the environment. “Over the years, NOAA has mapped, surveyed, monitored, and evaluated changes in the health of resources within these underwater parks, and used this information to make smarter management decisions,” said John Armor, director of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “This approach has made us a global leader in the conservation of natural and cultural underwater resources.”

This global leadership role was first demonstrated in 1986, when the sanctuary program hosted the first international meeting of marine protected area managers in the sanctuaries in Florida and California.

International collaboration was further strengthened when, in 2013, the National Marine Protected Area (MPA) Center was integrated into NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, connecting the system of sanctuaries with the larger network of MPAs throughout the nation. The MPA Center leads international partnerships, working with marine managers around the world to protect shared resources and address common challenges, such as the whales of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary that migrate to the warm waters of the Caribbean to calve and raise their young.

Science and Maritime Heritage

From lush seagrass beds to slow-growing, deep-sea corals, the habitats protected by sanctuary waters vary greatly from place to place. Due to threats such as climate change, pollution, and increasing population growth in coastal areas, effective management is necessary to keep these fragile ecosystems protected for future generations. Since sanctuaries serve as sentinel sites where the impacts of ocean acidification and climate change can be studied over time, sanctuary researchers have also been monitoring ocean conditions and assessing the impacts of a changing climate on ecosystems and coastal communities.

Many sites serve as a proving ground for new approaches to restoring and managing marine ecosystems in the face of climate change and other threats. Mission Iconic Reefs, a massive collaborative effort to restore almost three million square feet of reef at seven iconic sites within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to a sustainable state is currently underway, and in California, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the Greater Farallones Association are implementing strategies for kelp forest restoration, monitoring, research, and public engagement. 

National marine sanctuaries are also great places to research and test approaches for mitigating human impacts on wildlife. Since 2007, NOAA  has worked to better understand how ship strikes impact endangered whale populations in national marine sanctuaries on the West Coast. This information was used to create the Blue Whales and Blue Skies initiative, where they worked with major shipping companies who voluntarily reduced their vessel speeds in key areas to 10 knots or less. The 2020 vessel speed reduction program resulted in cutting over 700 tons of smog-forming emissions, and a 35% decrease in ship strike risk.

With some major advancements in technology, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and benthic mapping, our ability to explore deep-sea habitats and make new discoveries in deep-ocean science has increased dramatically. Vailulu‘u Seamount in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, was discovered in 1975, but it wasn’t until 1999 that researchers were actually able to map this seafloor feature using remote sonar methods, and found it to reach 16,000 feet deep and summit at about 2,000 feet deep.

In 2005, NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted ROV dives there and found there was a very dynamic and robust hydrothermal system, providing habitat to an array of deep-sea organisms. In 2012, the sanctuary expanded to include Vailulu’u Seamount (and other important sites). Since then, more expeditions were made to the seamount using ROVs to explore geologic features and marine biodiversity, including an expedition on Ocean Exploration Trust’s E/V Nautilus in July 2019 when a new hydrothermal vent was discovered, signifying that Vailulu’u is still active.

In addition to protecting natural resources, national marine sanctuaries also protect cultural resources such as shipwrecks and heritage artifacts and locations. Currently there are 1,211 known shipwrecks protected throughout the sanctuary system, with thousands still waiting to be discovered in these waters. The program focuses on several key research areas, such as maritime history, site inventory and assessment, and maritime cultural landscapes.

Putting Sanctuaries on the Map

National marine sanctuaries and monuments are often thought of as the national parks of the ocean. One major difference, however, is these places do not have roadways that lead to entrance gates with a ticket booth like most national parks do. So how do we inspire people across America to get into their sanctuaries? How do we make sure people know that the waters they enjoy boating, fishing, surfing, diving, and wildlife viewing in are part of a protected national treasure? We do this through strategic communications, education and outreach programs, and by working with hundreds of public and private partners on the federal, state, regional, and local levels.

Thanks to the goals laid out in the 2000 reauthorization of the NMSA, there was a major shift in focus towards enhancing public awareness. This was the catalyst that led to some of our most successful education and outreach programs today, such as the Ocean Guardian School program, LiMPETS, the Bay Watershed Education and Training program (B-WET), and the Sanctuaries Webinar Series. Additionally, over 44 million people attend our visitor centers and those of our partners in the zoo and museum community annually.

A Model For Public Involvement

Your National Marine Sanctuary System serves as a model for community involvement in the protection and management of public resources. The 1992 reauthorization of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act was a significant overhaul of the act, which included giving the program independent authority to establish a Sanctuary Advisory Council at each site within the system.

Sanctuary Advisory Council members represent a broad cross-section of the communities adjacent to national marine sanctuaries, and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and represent local interests such as conservation, education, research, fishing, wildlife watching, diving and other recreational activities, boating and shipping, tourism, harbors and ports, maritime business, agriculture, maritime heritage, and Indigenous cultures.

The people who live and work in the communities surrounding national marine sanctuaries care deeply about these places. Sanctuaries have always been tightly woven to the local communities around them, but perhaps the most significant change to the system came in 2014, when the new Sanctuary Nomination Process was implemented, leading to a community-driven process for deciding which special underwater places should be considered for sanctuary designation.

Shortly after, nominations for new sanctuaries came from members of communities from all across the country. Nominations that successfully complete the process are added to an inventory of areas NOAA could consider for designation, which then undergo an extensive scoping, proposal, public review, and designation process. It was through this new process that Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary officially became designated in 2016, followed by Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary in 2021.

The National Marine Sanctuary System will surely continue to grow. As communities around the country recommend new areas for protection, we are responding. Currently, there are four nominated sanctuaries in the inventory being considered by NOAA for designation, including Alaĝum Kanuux̂ (Heart of the Ocean) in Alaska. The proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary and proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary are both in the process of designation, after having received public input on draft documents. In addition to adding new sanctuaries to the system, several sanctuaries have seen boundary expansions over the years, such as Thunder Bay, Cordell Bank, and Greater Farallones national marine sanctuaries in 2015, and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in January 2021. Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was also proposed for expansion in 2016 to protect the final resting place for nearly 1,700 men lost in World War II during the Battle of The Atlantic.

The 2021 National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) review concluded that despite the small staff size and modest budget of the National Marine Sanctuary System, it has fulfilled its promise by successfully advancing its mission and vision; has developed a trusted reputation with the marine community; and has achieved positive outcomes for its communities. Keeping our core values in mind as we look toward the future, we fully embrace our responsibility to save these spectacular places and ensure the National Marine Sanctuary System remains a source of pride and enjoyment for people across the nation.

Learn more about the history of your National Marine Sanctuary System.

Rachel Plunkett is the writer/editor for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

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Enjoy the best liveaboard rates, the flexibility to personalize your air plans, and the security knowing our reservations team is available to help you book your liveaboard trip hassle-free. Choose a highlighted week from the destinations below and the discount will be taken off the package rate at the time of booking. You then apply the money saved to your own flights offering you more control over the route and time that’s best for your schedule. Better yet, if you would prefer to apply the savings to something else (say, new camera gear to snap a close-up of that hammerhead), you could do that too!

This offer is for a limited time only. Book a liveaboard package, book your flights, then book it out of there! Ready to dive in? Here are the details:

Flexible Flights Offer

Booking window: February 28 to March 31, 2023
Travel window: Select dates between March-December 2023
*Browse Departures Here

Galapagos Islands – $1000 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Humboldt Explorer

Galapagos Islands – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Tiburon Explorer

Maldives – $250 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Emperor Explorer

Turks & Caicos Islands – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Turks & Caicos Explorer II

Saba & St Kitts – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Caribbean Explorer II

Red Sea – $100 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Grand Sea Explorer

See Offer Details >>

Contact the Explorer Ventures team or your preferred travel agent to book.

1-800-322-3577 / +1.307.235.0683
info@explorerventures.com
www.explorerventures.com

*Terms & Conditions: Offer valid for new bookings made and paid in full between February 28 and March 31, 2023. Subject to availability. Not combinable with other discounts or group booking terms (excl. Red Sea), not applicable to previously booked trips. Does not count toward the sixth trip credit.

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When it comes to liveaboard diving in the Red Sea, vessel options can seem endless. However, few offer the incredible amenities and level of service that Explorer Ventures Fleet®  does aboard Grand Sea Explorer® (operating locally as Sea Serpent Grand). With an eye on what divers really want, Explorer Ventures’s exclusive Red Sea package has been uniquely designed to ensure guests are highly catered to while maximizing their bottom time. Explorer Ventures’s package includes smaller dive groups, four daily dives (instead of three), a beverage package, free Wi-Fi, and more. Guests will be hard-pressed to find a better liveaboard option for the Red Sea. 

PREMIUM RED SEA PACKAGE ADDITIONS:

1. Smaller Dive Groups
Exclusive for Explorer Ventures bookings on Grand Sea Explorer, an additional dive guide is added to the vessel and the dive group ratio is smaller. The ratio of guides to divers is one to eight, whereas the Red Sea’s typical standard is one guide to twelve divers. 
 
2. Bonus Daily Dives
The average liveaboard in the Red Sea offers three daily dives. The Grand Sea Explorer package includes up to four daily dives with a couple of additional night dives, which means divers will get up to 25 dives during their week onboard. That’s five more than the other liveaboards! The dive schedule is also flexible, set to the wishes of the guests and guests will receive a hot towel after each dive. 
 
3. Beverage Package
Exclusive for Explorer Ventures’ guests is a drink package that includes free local beer and wine. In addition to American coffee and freshly made juice, served at any time free of charge.
 
4. Next-Level Suite & Cabin Service
Guests on this package will have a fruit basket in the suites and cabins, which is constantly replenished. Plus, a hot beverage station and more towels with frequent changes. Although there is a small supplement for the large suites, there are no upper deck cabin supplements.
 
5. Premium Dining
Catering to the highest standard is included in Explorer Ventures’s packages. All onboard catering is upgraded compared to the normal offerings when Explorer Ventures’s guests are on board. The food, and its preparation, are of the highest quality, and the number of staff on board is increased to implement this exclusive service.
 
6. Free Unlimited Internet Access
Whilst other liveaboard packages offer limited internet, Grand Sea Explorer‘s package includes unlimited internet access. When you’ve just finished an amazing dive with oceanic white-tip sharks, they know you’ll want to message home about it!   
 
Well, there you have it! Six more incredible reasons to book your Red Sea liveaboard diving holiday with Explorer Ventures Fleet. Upgrade your diving holiday to 5-stars aboard Grand Sea Explorer for your next trip!
 
Contact them to book your Red Sea diving adventure!
info@explorerventures.com
1-800-322-3577 / +1.307.235.0683

About 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 Exclusive Red Sea Liveaboard Diving Packages: Premium Amenities Await appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Organized for dive guests through the Grand Sea Explorer, our trip is an optional add-on before or after any liveaboard tour. These bespoke experiences are set up as guests wish—a few days in Cairo or Luxor, a visit to Aswan or Abu Simbel—and we’ve opted for a week-long itinerary that encompasses the greatest hits. We’ll start in Hurghada with a private driver, who will transport us to Luxor, where we’ll spend two days. From there it’s further south to Aswan and Abu Simbel, and finally a flight to Cairo for two days before heading home. The sheer scope of the history we’re about to see could—and has—filled libraries full of books, so let it be said that this short story cannot possibly summarize what we saw on our visit. I’ll focus instead on highlights and leave it to you, dear readers, to dig deeper into the history of any particular topic that strikes your fancy.

Luxor

“Habibi means sweetheart, so that’s our call sign,” says our guide, Nermeen Melad. “In a crowded place, I say habibi, you answer the same.” We meet Nermeen upon arrival in Luxor, which rises like an oasis out of the brown land, hugging the east bank of the Nile. This remarkable river is distinct not only for being the world’s longest, but also for flowing from south to north. So, confusingly (at least for us), we’re starting our tour in Upper Egypt, meaning the southern portion of the country.  

Nermeen, a Luxor native, picks us up at our hotel, the Steigenberger Nile Palace, after lunch and a swim at the Nile-front hotel’s pool. Our first stop is the magnificent Karnak Temple, which can get crowded—hence her habibi call and response. Turns out we don’t need it though; the crowds are pretty light on this sweltering September day.

Throughout the trip, I find myself in an almost perpetual state of awe at the sheer age—and size—of everything we see, starting with Karnak. Encompassing about 200 acres, the massive temple complex was built to honor the sun god, Amun, his wife Mut, and their sun Khonsu, with each successive pharaoh putting his stamp on it. Reigning from ca. 1291 to 1279 BC, the pharaoh Sety I’s contribution stands out—the Great Hypostyle Hall, an enormous forest of 134 gigantic sandstone columns, originally built to support a heavy roof. Atop each column sits a lotus; the closed flowers meant to support the weight of the roof, and the open ones meant purely for decoration. And though today most of the color has washed away, we can still see glimpses of the jewel-like tones that once adorned these columns.

Our second stop of the day is the Luxor Temple, connected to the Karnak complex via the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes, lined—as the name implies— with sphinxes. Today, it’s been excavated, and visitors can walk the length of the road, roughly 1.7 miles or 3 km, though we opt to drive in the heat.  

Luxor Temple, though smaller than Karnak, is no less impressive. Built around 1400 BC by Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BC) and completed by Tutankhamun (1336–1327 BC), it’s Ramses II, (1303–1213 BC), who added onto the temple, that exerts the strongest visual influence here. Flanking the entrance are two gigantic statues of the pharaoh, 46 feet tall. Already larger than life in his own time, this influential king was the father to well over 100 children, and he’ll pop up again all over the place during the week.  

With our first day spent in the temples, the second day is reserved for the tombs. Because the sun sets in the west, the western bank of the Nile symbolized the end of life for ancient Egyptians, so it’s here that you’ll find both the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Nermeen starts our day at the Valley of the Queens, visiting the two monumental sites in the opposite order from most tours so that we don’t have to contend with crowds. Her ploy works, and as we trek into the valley from the parking lot, we see two or three other people at most.

There are more than 90 known tombs here, all built from 1292–1075 BC. Tombs open and close on a rotational basis for preservation’s sake, and our first stop is the tomb of Nefertari, the first and most beloved wife of Ramses II. Only reopened in 1995 after many years of restoration, the tomb requires an extra ticket, but it’s well worth it. Built around 1250 BC and covered from floor-to-ceiling in stunning hieroglyphs that look as though they were painted yesterday, this breathtaking underground space offers an astonishing level of artisanship.

After the Queens, we’re off to visit the Kings, who occupy a far more impressive valley (who’s surprised?). There are 63 known tombs here, built between 1539–1075 BC, also open on a rotational basis. We’ve got to take a tram up to the tombs, where our ticket includes visits to three of them—we’ve chosen those of Ramses I, Ramses III, and Merenptah, Ramses II’s 13^th son and successor—each of which consists of a long, sloping corridor descending downward and carved through solid limestone, terminating in the burial chamber itself. Upper chambers along the way would have held items the king would need in the afterlife, including such modern-day essentials as beer and wine. It’s hard to describe the scope of each tomb, each long hallway covered in elaborate, colored hieroglyphs, each ending in an enormous sarcophagus that would have held the Pharoah’s mummy.

The rest of our second day is spent touring the spectacular mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, one of a few female Pharaohs. Carved into sheer cliffs, it’s three terraces are like nothing else we’ve seen—or will see—anywhere else on the trip. After two (very) full days in Luxor, the next morning brings an early departure to our next stop: Aswan.

Edfu and Kom Ombo

Our trip becomes somewhat of a whirlwind at this point, which I suppose is to be expected when you try to take in 5,000 years of history in a week. Though there’s a bypass road from Luxor to Aswan in the far south, we take the scenic route, hugging the Nile Valley all the way. Both Julie and I continually marvel at the scope of a civilization that was confined to this tiny strip of fertile land on either side of a vast desert.

On the way, we stop at two more temples. Edfu Temple, dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god and son of Isis and Osiris, was built from 237–57 BC, relatively new by comparison to the tombs and temples we’ve just seen. It fell into disrepair and spent many centuries covered by sand until rediscovery in 1813 by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette.

Our next stop is Kom Ombo, which means “Hill of Gold,” constructed from 205–180 BC. This temple is unique due to its double design, with two sets of courts, halls, sanctuaries, and rooms, each meant for worship of a different god—the crocodile deity Sobek and Horus, once again. And, speaking of crocodiles, we stop into an absolute can’t miss here—the Crocodile Museum, filled with the mummified bodies of 22 enormous Nile crocodiles. Because they represented a physical manifestation of Sobek, live crocodiles were often worshiped and cared for by priests and, after they died, their bodies would be mummified.

Aswan

“They’ll take you to a garden; that’s enough temples for today,” says Nermeen upon arrival in Aswan. We’re meeting our next guide, Galal Kayed, at the Mövenpick Aswan on Elephantine Island, our luxurious hotel for (unfortunately) just the one night. After stashing our bags in our Nile-view room, we hop on board a felucca for what proves to be one of the trip’s most relaxing afternoons. Our first stop is the Aswan Botanical Garden, which occupies Kitchener’s Island to the west of Elephantine. Both islands float in the middle of the river, with greater Aswan to the east. Just as in Luxor, the city is built on the east bank of the Nile, as the western side was reserved for the dead.

After a slow stroll through the 16-acre garden, featuring plants from around the world, we board the felucca once again for a several-hour cruise on the Nile. It’s just us, Galal, a boat captain, and his assistant on the boat and, as the sun starts to set while we sip our tea and drift with the wind, Galal, who’s been a guide since 2007, tells us a bit about Aswan.

Most famous as the location of the Aswan High Dam, construction of which created the enormous reservoir Lake Nasser, the city itself is home to several can’t-miss sites, including the Unfinished Obelisk—one of Hatshepsut’s—and the Philae Temple complex, originally on Philae Island, but dismantled piece by piece and moved to nearby Agilkia Island to preserve it from being flooded when the dam was completed in 1970. Unfortunately, we do miss them both—and everything else in Aswan, aside from a very quick visit to the Dam—because of travel snafus the next day. We do, however, make it to Abu Simbel, which I’m thankful that Julie was intent on including in our itinerary.

Abu Simbel

Construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s and 70s threatened quite a few ancient Egyptian monuments with submersion, including the astonishing pair of temples at Abu Simbel, built in 1244 BC. To reach this isolated site, we’ve got to be at the Aswan airport early—like 5 am early. We’re to fly to Abu Simbel, 174 miles (280 km) south, visit the temples for several hours, return the same day, tour Aswan, and then fly to Cairo that same night. But, as is common in travel, the day does not go according to plan, and our flight to Abu Simbel is so severely delayed that we miss our entire day in Aswan. Nonetheless, we’re both gob smacked by the temples when we do arrive, albeit several hours late.

Just as at Philae, the temples at Abu Simbel weren’t originally located here, on the shore of Lake Nasser, but rather in a valley that was flooded when the High Dam was completed. These temples—the larger of the two dedicated to Ramses II and the smaller to his queen Nefertari—were relocated starting in 1964, piece by piece, over 200 feet (65 m) higher up and 650 feet (200 m) further inland. And because the temples were originally carved straight into a cliff, and not constructed of pieces of stone, the rock above the temple roofs had to be peeled off to gain access. Then, each temple was carefully sawed into enormous blocks, each weighing between 20 and 30 tons—over 1,000 of them. Each numbered piece was meticulously put back into place, at exactly the same alignment to the sun as the original so that its rays would still illuminate the interior statues as before.

Today, a visit to Abu Simbel is almost as much about the sheer magnificence of the engineering feat that got it here as about the magnificence of the temples—almost. Ramses’ enormous temple is flanked by four colossal depictions of himself, each measuring 65 feet (20 m) high. Inside are more towering statues of the Pharoah and walls covered in intricate hieroglyphs, depicting his glorious military victories. The smaller temple on the site features four statues of Ramses and two of Nefertari, still enormous at around 30 feet tall (10 m). Simpler than the main temple, this one still holds impressive depictions of the queen’s coronation by two ancient goddesses, as well as ubiquitous hieroglyphs and carved scenes. After taking our time, and many pictures, we head back to the airport and, after a quick trip to the top of the Aswan High Dam, we’re on the way to Cairo for the final leg of our trip.

Cairo

“If you want to drive in Cairo, you need three things—a good horn, good brakes…and good luck.” Our guide for the next two days, Ereny George is not wrong. She and our driver meet us the next morning at our downtown hotel, the Ramses Hilton for our visit to the trip’s main event: the Pyramids of Giza. After the relative quiet of Luxor and Aswan, the cacophony of Cairo, a pulsing city of 21.7 million people, is astonishing to the senses—car horns beep 24/7; there seem to be no actual lanes of traffic; and there are people everywhere, all the time.

Here, just as in other Egyptian cities, the dead were buried on the western bank, so that’s where we’re headed. Giza today is an enormous city in its own right, contributing just over 8 million people to Cairo’s total population. But, even surrounded by so much modernity, the first glimpse of the pyramids from the car is truly breathtaking. It’s a strange feeling to see something in person, finally, that you’ve seen depicted so many times in art, movies, books, and popular culture. We’re here relatively early in the morning and in the shoulder season, so it’s not overly crowded when we disembark the car, already snapping pictures before we’re even through the entrance gate. There are three well-known pyramids on the Giza Plateau—The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Khufu Pyramid or Cheops Pyramid for the king formerly buried within; the pyramid of Khafre; and the pyramid of Menkaure, also named for the kings they entombed. Though these three are by far the most famous, Ereny tells us there are over 130 pyramids in Egypt, with nine at the Giza Plateau plus the remains of 10 more.

“Do you know how many blocks are in the Great Pyramid? I’ll give you time to count,” says Ereny as we approach the entrance. The answer, she quickly shares, is 2.3 million, and the towering structure took a little over 20 years to build.

The Great Pyramid originally stood 481 feet (146 m) tall and was covered in smooth, white limestone over the now jagged-looking bricks. As it eroded, the pyramid’s height fell to a still astounding 454 feet (138 m), especially when one considers that this was all done by hand. Even more mind-boggling are the pyramid’s ages—built in the 26^th and 25^th centuries BC (roughly 2,600 BC–2,400 BC), these structures predate the first construction at Karnak Temple in Luxor, which was begun around 1971 BC, by over 600 years.

Though visitors have long been disallowed from climbing the outside of the pyramids, they can go inside all three; and we’ve opted for the Great Pyramid. Entrance is through a hole on the pyramid’s north face and, after a short walk through a tunnel, we’ve got to walk up a steeply slanted, extremely hot, extremely claustrophobic ramp through the Grand Gallery, less than 7 feet wide, over 150 feet long, and around 30 feet high. The long ramp leads—slightly anti-climatically—to the King’s Chamber, holding only an empty granite sarcophagus. That said, just knowing we’re climbing inside the only one remaining of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is thrill enough.

After our climb, it’s off to see the Great Sphinx of Giza, whose nose-less visage is just as famous as the pyramids themselves. Carved around 2,500 BC of solid limestone with the head of a human and the body of a lion, the Sphinx seems to represent the Pharoah Khafre. After the Giza burial site was abandoned, the remarkable statue spent many years buried up to it shoulders in sand. The first excavation attempt took place around 1,400 BC, but incredibly the full statue wasn’t excavated entirely until the 1930s.

With visits to the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx behind us, we spend the next day visiting the Egyptian Museum—a landmark in its own right—in downtown Cairo. Built in 1902, it now houses many of the treasures found in King Tutankhamen’s tomb, innumerable mummies, papyrus, ancient statues, sarcophagi, jewelry, and more. Two hours there barely scratches the surface, and although many of the museum’s pieces have already been moved to the as yet unopened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on the Giza Plateau, we don’t feel their absence in the still jam-packed museum.

Our final stop in Cairo is the Khan el-Khalili souk in the historic center of the city, which has functioned as a center of trade for the city at least since the 14^th century. Today, it functions as the kind of place that tourists happily haggle with local shopkeepers for souvenirs of their trip.

Ereny drops us off at the entrance, and we spend several hours perusing the hundreds of stalls, selling everything from pyramid keychains to one-of-a-kind artisanal souvenirs.

Though neither Julie nor I leave with a keychain, we’re both pleased with our purchases as we prepare to head home. Visiting Egypt has been such a remarkable cultural immersion and thrill for the senses, yet we’ve only scratched the slightest surface of this truly spectacular place. We both agree that another visit may be in order once the GEM opens and, in any case, I know I’ll be back—I should have bought that pyramid keychain when I had the chance.

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Dive long enough and you will surface with a headache at one time or another. According to DAN, headaches are one of the most common complaints of divers who contact the organization. To get to the bottom of the problem, it’s important to look at when post-dive headaches occur to try and find a common cause.

Generally, a one-off headache that goes away spontaneously after a dive, or after taking mild headache medication, is rarely a cause for concern. Repetitive headaches, or those not clearing easily, may require a closer look, however.

Ill-fitting equipment

Ill-fitting equipment can be one of the main culprits when it comes to post-dive headaches. New divers, in particular, often over-tighten their mask strap, hoping it will prevent water from entering the mask. Over the course of a dive, however, the strap can put tension on the face and around the skull, leading to a headache.

Another culprit might be a hood that’s too tight or the neck seal of a drysuit that doesn’t quite fit right. At the same time, a hood that’s too wide is a poor insulator against cold water and may lead to too much of the diver’s face being exposed. A so-called ‘ice cream headache’ is often the consequence.

It’s worth taking the time to try on various masks, hoods, and adjusting neck seals until they fit well. The more comfortable you feel underwater, the more likely you are to dive more, and vice versa.

Another pain point could be your tank valve. Especially if you have previously experienced neck or shoulder problems and feel that your neck is in an unnatural position throughout the dive, this may result in a tension headache. Some divers report this problem when they start diving in trim. Just like holding a yoga position, your body may take a bit of time to get used to the position, so take a few minutes during your dive to relax and stretch to avoid excessive tension.

Sinus problems and squeezes

It’s worth considering where your head hurts. If your headache manifests in the frontal area, behind your forehead, for example, poorly equalized sinuses might be the cause. Equalization may be one of the first skills diving students learn, but not everyone masters it right away.

Divers may also sometimes dive with a slight cold and equalize forcefully or perhaps incompletely, which may lead to a reverse squeeze on ascent. All these scenarios can cause headaches.

Mask squeezes may be another cause. If you are task-loaded on your descent and equalizing your mask is not yet automatic, a mask squeeze will manifest with some trauma around your eyes (in bad cases, you may end up with two black eyes) and with a headache. The easiest prevention is to include equalizing your mask in your descent routine.

Dehydration

Dehydration plays a role in many dive-related problems. Especially when tech diving or diving on consecutive days, it’s crucial for divers to hydrate regularly and prevent dehydration in the first place. That doesn’t mean downing ½-gallon of water first thing in the morning after a big night out, but instead hydrating regularly and limiting alcohol, caffeine, and other diuretics to avoid creating an electrolyte imbalance in the body.

Dehydration has also been linked to decompression sickness, giving divers even more reason to prioritize regular and consistent hydration.

Gases

Other sources of post-dive headaches are carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Carbon monoxide is most often associated with cylinders filled from unsuitable sources, such as a compressor air intake near a busy road pulling in car exhaust fumes, for example. A badly maintained compressor pumping insufficiently filtered breathing gas may be another reason.

Carbon monoxide headaches tend to be severe and can be accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. They often start during the dive and, contrary to minor headaches, they are impossible to ignore. If you suspect someone has a carbon monoxide headache, it’s best to get the diver out of the water and give them oxygen. Depending on the severity,  you may also require professional medical treatment.

Carbon dioxide headaches, on the other hand, are mostly related to improper breathing techniques such as skip-breathing and overexertion. Our bodies produce CO₂ when we metabolize oxygen, and it is needed to trigger our breathing reflex. However, too much CO₂ starts causing several problems.

Overexertion leads to excessive CO₂ build-up and retention in our body. If the diver doesn’t stop to relax, the CO₂ excess can lead to strong gas narcosis, thus negatively influencing decision-making underwater. CO₂ build-up has also been associated with a higher susceptibility to oxygen toxicity and DCS.

Skip-breathing is another cause of CO₂ retention as divers limit the gas exchange taking place in their lungs. By skipping breaths, we minimize both the amount of CO₂ that is removed from our bodies and the amount of O₂ that is inhaled and distributed from our lungs to the rest of the body. In the short term, skip-breathing may appear to reduce gas consumption, but it’s not worth it considering the consequences of allowing CO₂ build-up and retention.

Another factor in CO₂ retention is gas density. Associated with taking dense gases, like air, to greater depths, this is especially a concern for technical and rebreather divers.

Some divers report feeling better when diving nitrox. While there appear to be quite a few divers who feel this effect, there is no real scientific evidence of this to the best of the author’s knowledge. Saying that, if diving nitrox fits your dive profile, either by extending bottom time or making your dive more conservative, this should be enough reason to use it.

Stress and Anxiety

How did you feel about the dive? If you enter the water stressed out or anxious about the dive ahead, this is likely to lead to a headache. Stress itself cannot be avoided— maybe this is the check-out dive for your next qualification? Maybe there are certain skills that you must perform on this dive to stay on track? But our response to stress is under our control. Ensuring a thorough briefing, sharing your concerns with your buddies, dive team, or your instructor will all go a long way toward managing the stress or anxiety you feel.

DCS

Most diving headaches are not serious and are easily resolved. However, they can be a sign of decompression sickness. If your post-dive headache accompanies a particularly deep or long dive profile or a rapid ascent, or if you surface with any other DCS-related symptoms, it’s time to contact DAN or the nearest hyperbaric chamber for guidance.

If you have serious concerns about your post-dive headaches or if they become anything more than a minor inconvenience, consult a diving physician for professional medical advice. After all, dive trips should be something enjoyable, and post-dive headaches should never ruin the fun.

The post What Causes Post-Dive Headaches? appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Seize the day by seizing a fantastic deal with the Explorer Ventures 2023 Year of Savings event! Offers include savings of up to $1000 off select liveaboard departures in the Turks & Caicos, Maldives, Palau, Galapagos, and Caribbean. Choose from five highly sought after liveaboards.

“Wonderful trip! Wonderful crew, great food, awesome dive masters, cool captain. Always aware of safety first. All of this made for a fantastic voyage!” C. Robinson

For these 2023 Year of Savings, discounts range from $300 up to $1000 per person. Plus, there’s an additional incentive for the Caribbean boats if you book by February 10, so save more!

As a special bonus we’ve included discounts for popular holiday weeks over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. What better way to celebrate than on a liveaboard!

Browse our Year of Savings specials below and check back later this year for more sale dates.

Liveaboard Deals for June-September 2023

Turks & Caicos Explorer II – Discover reef sharks and vertical walls while enjoying epic visibility, and one of the best crews around!

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the Turks & Caicos Islands on a Green Fins-certified vessel. The package includes accommodation, meals, alcohol, beverages, diving services, and up to 27 dives! Now starting at $2595.

Caribbean Explorer II – Snap a photo of frogfish and seahorses while exploring volcanic reefs and coral-covered wrecks.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the Caribbean Islands of Saba & St Kitts on a Green Fins-certified vessel. The package includes accommodation, meals, alcohol, beverages, diving services, and up to 27 dives. Plus, an optional add-on of two land excursions to sightsee the local islands! Now starting at $2095.

Emperor Explorer – Swim alongside whale sharks and giant mantas at cleaning stations while exploring channels and thilas.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the tropical Maldives atoll. The package includes accommodation, airport transfers, meals, beverages (plus wine with dinner), diving services, nitrox fills, and up to four daily dives! Now starting at $1982.

Black Pearl Explorer – Discover giant caverns, and WWII wrecks while cruising along stunning reefs with rare marine life.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the exotic islands of Palau. The package includes accommodation, same-day hotel transfers, meals, beverages, diving services, nitrox fills, and up to 18 dives. Plus, snorkel in a lake with sting-less jellyfish! Now starting at $2850.

Humboldt Explorer – Spot whale sharks and schooling hammerheads while discovering the famous islands of Darwin and Wolf.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the Galapagos Islands on a Green Fins certified vessel. The package includes accommodation, same-day transfers, meals, local alcohol, diving services, and up to four dives daily. Plus, two land tours to see endemic birds and giant tortoises! Now starting at $5195.

Tiburon Explorer – Feel the awe swimming with rare iguanas and schools of hammerheads, while keeping an eye out for giant sunfish and dolphins.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the Galapagos Islands on a Green Fins certified vessel. The package includes accommodation, same-day transfers, meals, local alcohol, diving services, and up to 4 dives daily. Plus, two land tours to see endemic birds and giant tortoises! Now starting at $6195.

SEE THE YEAR OF SAVINGS Departure Dates HERE

Contact the Explorer Ventures’ team or your preferred travel agent to book.

www.explorerventures.com
info@explorerventures.com
1-800-322-3577 / +1.307.235.0683

___

About 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 2023 Liveaboard Deals on Explorer Ventures appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

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.

The post Oceanic Founder and Industry Icon Bob Hollis Passes Away appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

As a dive destination, Indonesia needs no introduction. An archipelago made up of over 17,000 islands, the country boasts dive spots that regularly top ‘must-see’ lists, including Raja Ampat and Komodo. Due to challenging conditions, these are suitable to deeper and longer dives.

Reason 1: A growing community offering high quality training

Competent technical divers learn from highly qualified and experienced instructors. Over the past few years, the tech diving community on islands like Bali and the Gilis near Lombok has grown and both areas have become the home base for technical dive shops, as well as instructors and instructor trainers offering a wide range of courses from different agencies.

While technical diving is not (yet?) the norm, it’s becoming more widespread and it’s becoming more common to see someone gear up in sidemount gear or pre-breathe a CCR. This is partly due to dive professionals discovering another kind of diving for themselves and spreading their enthusiasm to visiting divers. More demand has led to more supply, and so the community continues to grow.

Reason 2: Exciting dive sites to keep you coming back

Developing skills as a technical diver means more than completing one level of training after another. Building experience between courses by planning and leading dives with other tech divers or a competent technical diving guide is just as important. Arguably, these dives are more enjoyable when there is something to see. In Indonesia, the islands of the Bunaken Marine Park in North Sulawesi offer deep, sheer walls that drop for several hundred feet in places. Bali and the Gili islands have steep slopes, pinnacle and wall dives that also often exceed the 325-foot (100 m) mark.

The beauty of many of those sites is that they make for a great dive, no matter whether you are heading to 130 feet (40 m) or pushing your limits on deeper dives. The marine life will change with every 30 feet (10 m) of depth, with increasing depth usually also increasing your chances to encounter larger, pelagic species.

Reason 3: Accessible dive sites and short travel times

Indonesia offers both extremely remote diving and relatively easily accessible dive sites. The more remote the location, the more you must be prepared to handle a full-on diving expedition. More on this below, under Reason 5.

On the other hand, you can access depth directly from the shore in other places. Northeast Bali, for example, has drop-offs and sloping walls that start directly from the beach. In some cases, you can conduct technical dives here directly from the shore. It’s easier to do deeper dives with boat support, allowing for a safety diver and drop tank. Bunaken Marine Park relies on boat diving with very few exceptions as currents tend to push divers along its steep walls. Again, however, mind-blowing deep walls with overhangs, ledges, and big marine life are accessible within minutes of resorts.

Another advantage of this topography is divers can often conduct decompression stops on the reef, giving them something to see and pass the time, especially during longer stops.

Obtaining gases and bringing tech equipment requires a degree of planning. Established dive centers will be able to supply oxygen-rich mixes on demand. Depending on where in Indonesia you go, helium may require a bit of advance warning, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead, but, as a technical diver, that should be par for the course.

Standard equipment is widely available but pricey due to import taxes. Specialized equipment, including rebreather diving consumables, may be available in the part of Indonesia you are visiting — again, it’s worth checking with the dive operator you are using. If you are planning major equipment purchases, check prices at home and at your destination to see which option works out better.

Reason 4: Combining technical with recreational diving

With depth being easily accessible often directly from the shore, tech divers traveling with recreational divers may be able to dive with the same operator. Several operators are set up to accommodate both, albeit diving from different day boats or on different trips. This is a good way to accommodate recreational-only friends and family until you can convince them to join the dark side.

Reason 5: Exploration

What tech diver doesn’t dream of discovering dive sites no one has seen before? In Indonesia especially, so much of our ocean remain unexplored, that there is a real chance of being on the frontier of tech diving.

South Sulawesi, for example, recently opened Indonesia’s first cave-diving facility. In North Sulawesi, the search continues for the elusive coelacanth. And even in a place as well-traveled as Bali, only a few divers see the depths of the ocean, and a recent project by Unseen Expeditions is exploring species in depths around 325 feet (100 m). At the same time, divers are still discovering deep reefs around Lombok, including deep cleaning stations.

With more than 17,000 islands, much remains to be explored in Indonesia. In any case, it pays to research your tech diving shop ahead of your trip and check on specific requirements. As a rule of thumb, the more remote your destination, the more the journey there will become part of your tech diving adventure.

The post Five Reasons Indonesia is (Becoming) a Top Tech Diving Destination appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

This special sale event offers a first pick of liveaboard deals from January to May next year. Then in early January 2023, we release everything — all Year of Savings’ holiday departures through to December! So, if you’re looking to travel late next year, make sure to put a note in your calendar and sign up for our monthly newsletter. Get in line first to grab your preferred trip dates for reduced prices.

If you’re ready to get in the water asap, check out the below sale!

This sneak peek deal ends January 3rd so don’t miss your chance.___

Liveaboard Deals for January to May 2023

1. Maldives – Whale sharks, mantas, channel dives and more

Everyone wants to dive the remote islands of the Maldives, but few actually go. Here’s your chance to discover the famous atoll on Emperor Explorer, on sale. Originally starting at $2,335, now starting as low as $1,856 pp on select weeks!

2. Palau – Giant caverns, WWII wrecks, stunning reefs, and more

When it comes to exotic diving, Palau should be at the top of your list. Join us on our newest liveaboard, Black Pearl Explorer, without breaking the bank! Originally $3,150, now starting at $2,850 pp.

3. Turks & Caicos – Reef sharks, vertical walls, epic visibility, and more

Now’s your chance to book a diving holiday on the award-winning and guest favorite, Turks & Caicos Explorer II, for a wildly affordable price! Originally from $3,095, now starting from $2,495 pp!

4. Saba & St Kitts – Frogfish, seahorses, volcanic reefs, and more

How cool is it to visit three Caribbean Islands on one diving holiday? See a bit of everything on Caribbean Explorer II, for much less than it would cost you on your own! Originally $2,595, now $1,895 pp!

5. Galapagos Islands – Marine iguanas, schooling hammerheads, whale sharks, and more

Book the highly rated Tiburon Explorer and Humboldt Explorer liveaboards for less, both recommended by divers for their level of service, safety standards, and quality of staterooms! Humboldt Explorer – originally $6,195, now starting at $5,195 pp! Tiburon Explorer – originally $6,995, now starting at $6,195 pp!

See the full list of departure dates for the Sneak Peek sale HERE >>

Contact the Explorer Ventures’ team or your preferred travel agent to book.

1-800-322-3577 / +1 307-235-0683
info@explorerventures.com

_______

Looking for more options? Visit our fleet schedule and browse other destinations, dates, and discounts.

*Terms and conditions apply to all specials. Sneak Peek sale ends January 3^rd, 2023.

The post Shop Explorer Ventures Sneak Peek Sale for up to 30% OFF in 2023! appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Diving the Rainbow Warrior

The Rainbow Warrior, 130 feet (40 m) long, lies in 88 feet (27 m) of water at the deepest point. Ironically, the wreck lives up to its name, now covered in spectacular, colorful jewel anemones. It is home to a variety of macro life, and divers can see schools of golden snapper, kingfish, and john dory. The rear cabins house bigeyes, while divers can spot roughies in the forecastle. 

Although the top of the wreck sits at around 50 feet (15 m), the main structure descends hits 88 feet (27 m). The depth of the wreck makes a dive on the Rainbow Warrior a deep(er) dive, which requires at least an advanced qualification. A wreck specialty qualification is required for penetration. 

The wreck is upright, leaning slightly to the starboard side. Although penetration is possible, the hull has started to break apart, and pieces of the vessel can be seen scattered along the bottom. The top part of the bridge has collapsed; the masts are gone, and the decks are covered in kelp. Divers can easily see the hole caused by the blast that originally sank the vessel on the starboard side of the hull. 

The port side of the wreck faces north and is covered in seaweed that attracts leatherjackets. The starboard side’s shade creates perfect conditions for sponge growth.

Water temperature ranges between 59 F (15 C) from late winter to early spring and 71 F (22 C) in summer, with visibility between 50 to 65 feet (15 to 20 m). Summer and fall (between January and May) bring the best visibility. The currents around the wreck are usually quite mild, although stronger currents can be present at the surface.

You can dive the Rainbow Warrior either by small boat from Matauri Bay, or by joining a charter boat that departs from Paihia in the Bay of Islands. 

The post Scuba Dive the Rainbow Warrior appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

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

The post Oceanic+ App Released Today for Apple Watch Ultra appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Boat Sweet Boat

“We want you to feel at home on this trip, so please treat this like your mother’s sofa.” I’m sitting on one of three large, comfy sectionals in the lounge with dive guide Amr Ibrahim of the MV Grand Sea Explorer on my first day. After an unplanned arrival at 4:30 am that same morning thanks to severely delayed flights, I’ve slept through the boat briefing and check-out dive, and am now receiving a personalized introduction to the boat and dive procedures. Everything onboard the luxurious, 142-foot (43 m) ship is much as on other liveaboards—our general itinerary will be “dive, eat, sleep.”

There’s a bar and open-air gathering area on the second deck where we’ll spend lots of time discussing the day’s dives, and a fly deck above that, where those who’ve come looking for a tan can sunbathe. Divers will choose a station on the spacious dive deck and remain in the same spot all week, with several eager deckhands ready to assist at every turn. Each day, save the last, will feature three dives, and on this, the B-D-E itinerary, we’ll visit the big three: the Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone reefs, beginning with Big Brother the next day.

As the morning wears on, I meet the rest of the guests. Though the boat can hold up to 28 divers, there are 20 onboard this week, hailing from nearly as many countries—Germany, the U.K., Finland, Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, and more, though I’m the only American. My South African dive buddy, Bruce, and I gear up for his second, my first, dive of the trip at Gotta Abu Ramada (the Aquarium) to check gear and buoyancy. Though uneventful (i.e., no longies), the lovely site lives up to its name and we spot tons of huge moray eels, lionfish, trevallies, clownfish, and a blue-spotted ray.

After the check-out dives, all dives will follow roughly the same procedure. Divers are split into groups A and B, each numbering 10. Amr and the other dive guide, Ahmed Fouad, will take turns guiding each group, with most of the diving done via RIBs, though we will jump off the back of the boat on several occasions. All three sites we’re visiting are famous for current, so the guide will back-roll into the water first, check which way it’s flowing, and signal the all-clear. On a countdown of three, we’ll all back-roll into the water too, conducting negative entries each time.

But first—dinner, which does not disappoint. As I make a return trip to the abundant buffet, my dreams of dropping those last few stubborn Covid pounds slip away. With a full tummy, I head downstairs to my cabin, hoping for a solid night’s sleep on the overnight trip to the Brothers, a journey of roughly seven hours, or 70 miles, from port in Hurghada. 

The Brothers

In giddy anticipation, I’ve set my phone alarm for our first dive day at Big Brother, but I needn’t have worried—each day begins the same way. At 6 am sharp, Amr comes downstairs and sing-songs “wakey, wakey, happy divers, good morning,” to roust us out of bed. After a quick cup of coffee, Ahmed delivers the briefing at 6:30, as he will every day, for a 7 am dive. Renowned among divers, the small, barren islands of Big and Little Brother are reachable only by liveaboard, sitting around 40 miles (64 km) from shore. Both narrow, teardrop-shaped islands rise with sheer, vertical walls from the depths with nothing surrounding them but open water.

On Big Brother, a lighthouse has stood watch since 1883 to protect ships from the reef below, manned with four keepers who trade out shifts every 60 days. Unfortunately for the Numidia, which sank in 1901, and the Aida, which sank in 1957, the reef won. After two wall dives, featuring an insistent current, spectacular coral, and teeming fish life, we drop in on the Numidia for dive No. 3, and it’s by far my favorite. This huge British cargo ship was on only its second journey when it hit the reef with no loss of life, not 400 yards from the lighthouse. Now, it’s lying nearly vertical, cemented to the coral starting in around 65 feet (20 m) and extending all the way down to 246 feet (75 m).

Though we don’t penetrate the structure, the visibility is great—at least 80 feet (25 m)—and the metal surfaces are carpeted with soft coral, gleaming in the sunlight. Orange anthias swarm over the entire scene, and we all take turns posing with various parts of the now rainbow-colored metal as backdrop. On our leisurely swim back to the boat we fin over acres of coral inhabited by hunting lionfish and hordes of busy reef fish going about their lives and pass the engine block of the ill-fated Aida in about 25 feet (8 m) of water.

That evening, after another delicious dinner, we’re all in for a treat, as two whale sharks appear off the boat’s port side. They’re making lazy laps between our boat and the one anchored parallel to us about 200 feet (60 m) away, using our lights to hunt the inky ocean waters for dinner. And, as if to taunt us, a longie shows up too, slicing through the water sinuously near the back of the boat. Though we’re hopeful to see them underwater the next day at Little Brother, it’s not meant to be, and after three lovely—but sharkless—dives there, we motor on to our second stop: Daedalus reef.

Daedalus

I don’t always skip a dive, but when I do, it’s the best one of the trip. On our second dive at Daedalus, I’m feeling tired—a bit lazy if I’m honest—and we hadn’t seen much on the first dive. And, just like a newbie who hasn’t yet learned the lesson that the ocean can withhold one minute and deliver spectacularly the next, I skip the dive. And what a dive it turns out to be—at least according to my boat mates. Graced with both a manta ray sighting and school of hammerheads, everyone else is giddy when they get back on the boat. As Ahmed has said each day, “One percent luck is better than 100 percent experience.” Turns out I should have listened.

We’d arrived at Daedalus in the early morning hours, after a 10-hour, overnight boat ride. Sitting smack-dab in the middle of the Red Sea 46 miles (74 km) from shore, it’s another small, uninhabited island save for those manning another lighthouse, built here in 1863 and rebuilt in 1931. Just like the Brothers, it’s only reachable by liveaboard, and features similar underwater topography—sheer, coral-covered walls dropping off to the depths, with a 165-foot-wide (50 m) plateau starting in 80 feet (25 m) of water. This, of course, is the best place to see sharks. Which I don’t. Nonetheless, our third dive is lovely.

The current here, just as at Brothers, typically runs north to south and splits when it hits the wall. We’d planned to drop in on the Red Sea’s biggest anemone city, which clings to the wall on the western side of the island in around 30 feet (10 m), say hi to the Nemos, and turn right, keeping the reef to our left shoulder all the way back to the boat. Instead, after snapping a few pics with the obliging clownfish, our intrepid guide Ahmed turns us left, allowing us to drift with the current nearly all the way up the side of the island to its point.

Though there are plenty of other liveaboards at Daedalus and lots of bubbles in the water, we blissfully see no one on our dive, save for the turtles, napoleon wrasse, tuna, and jacks that swirl in abundance. After dinner, it’s another overnight journey of around seven hours to our final destination: Elphinstone, and our last hope to see longies in the water.

Elphinstone

Running north-south, the cigar-shaped Elphinstone reef is entirely submerged, save for a few breakers at the surface. It sits around five miles offshore, 18 miles (30 km) south of Port Ghalib and 18 miles (30 km) north of Marsa Alam, making it a popular day-boat destination, as well as a liveaboard mainstay. Just as at Brothers and Daedalus, its plunging walls are covered in coral and reef fish, but never mind that—we’re here to see sharks. We’ve got three dives to do it, and the anticipation on the boat is palpable. After Ahmed’s briefing, everyone gears up excitedly and boards the RIBs. We’ll motor up the east side of the island for the first morning’s dive, past all the other boats at mooring, and try to swim out to the plateau to look for sharks.

On the count of three, we back-roll into the water, but the current is not our friend, preventing us from reaching the plateau and instead gently insisting that we drift along the wall back to our boat. After an uneventful 40 minutes or so, we’re nearing the other moored boats and we see a crowd of divers under one in particular. Then Ahmed spots it—a juvenile longimanus, doing figure eights around the group. We hang out in the water for a bit, entranced, as we drift back to our boat. Along the way we spot two more of these unmistakable sharks, with their clear, searching eyes and bright white patches at the tips of their pectoral, dorsal, and caudal fins.

The group surfaces, giddy after seeing the longies, but the best dive is yet to come. Oceanic whitetips often hang out right underneath the boats at Elphinstone, so on our second dive, after a brief foray out to the plateau, we turn and head back to the boat to wait and see who shows up. All 20 divers from our boat are here, and we’ve been told in our longie briefing to stay together as a group in about 20 to 30 feet (6 to 10 m) of water, and to watch all directions—in front of us, behind, left, right, and especially from below. Known for their fearlessness and curiosity, longies often approach divers directly, only veering aside at the last second.

When they materialize out of the blue, we’re all pointing and shouting excitedly into our regulators—though that may just be me. Three separate sharks appear during our dive, each roughly 6 feet (2 m) long. They approach the photographer in our group, bumping off his dome port, perhaps curious about the reflection of themselves they see in the shiny apparatus. In total, we spend 52 minutes with the sharks, as they grow ever nearer and bolder in their examination of us. One comes up beneath me and takes a quick nibble on the weights dangling from a line beneath the boat, and I inch back ever so slightly.

A particularly curious shark takes an interest in one of our divers and, after it comes just a bit too close for comfort, our time with the longimanus is over. As I surface, I’m left with a feeling of both exhilaration and respect for these animals that we were all so anxious to see. In our excitement, it’s easy to forget that these are apex predators. They don’t care how many dives we’ve had, or that we just need to get the right angle for the right shot, or that we’ve traveled across the world to see them. Reverence is due, and that’s what I’m left with as we pull anchor and motor toward the last dive sites of the trip near Hurghada, where we’ll disembark the day after next.

Epilogue

And what a gift our last dives are, at an island aptly named Small Giftun. Two more drift dives are in store, both starting in around 100 feet (30 m) and gradually leveling up into a stunning, sun-dappled coral garden. We drift over an enormous stand of gorgonian fans, and the light’s rays pierce through the healthy fields of hard coral while the soft coral sways in the current. It’s an explosion of life and color, with schooling fusiliers, anthias, moray eels, and a blue-spotted stingray all swimming by to say hi. Though I don’t see a single shark on these two dives, they stand among my favorite of the entire trip. And so maybe I’ll learn my lesson this time—nature often offers treasure where you least expect it. I may have come to Egypt for one thing, but the Red Sea gave so much more.

Make it Happen

The MV Grand Sea Explorer operates in Egypt as M/Y Sea Serpent Grand and conducts both northern and southern itineraries. At 142 feet (43 m) long, the spacious ship can accommodate 22 to 28 divers in 14 state rooms, with two suites, two double cabins, and 10 twin cabins.

There are two itineraries, both departing from Hurghada, though occasionally from Port Ghalib. For ease of arrival—and luckily in case of delayed flights—the boat spends the first night in the marina at Hurghada, departing around 7 am each Friday. The North & Brothers itinerary features greatest hits like the Thistlegorm, Ras Mohamed National Park, the Brothers, and Abu Nuhas. The B-D-E itinerary is just as it’s named, covering the big three: the Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone.

Although the boats operate year-round, September, October, and November make for particularly appealing diving as the air and water are a bit cooler and its prime oceanic season. High season runs from March through May.

Divers on the MV Grand Sea Explorer can expect one guide for every 8 to 10 divers, depending on how many passengers are on board. Nitrox fills are free, so it’s best to be certified far in advance. Because most of the dive sites are conducted on walls with the possibility of strong currents, the Red Sea is best suited to divers with some experience.

All underwater images courtesy of Daniel Gut

M/Y Sea Serpent Grand/MV Grand Sea Explorer images courtesy of Explorer Ventures

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Choosing the Right Agency

Starting tech diving training is often more about finding the right instructor than it is about choosing a specific agency. However, it’s worth looking at the agency side also. Each training agency has a somewhat different philosophy, often influenced by founders and training directors.

This philosophy will be reflected in their training programs and materials. As far as materials go, two areas can make a difference. The first point is access: online learning is convenient, cost effective and environmentally friendly, but not every diver finds it easy to learn this way; some people may prefer books, and some may prefer instructor-led theory classes. It’s worth checking whether your chosen course can accommodate your preferred learning style.

The second difference lies in the timeliness of the material: when was it written? Technical diving is evolving fast. There are regular updates to best practices, not just underwater, but also regarding dive planning, equipment specifications, and more. Online-based materials can accommodate these changes far more easily than printed books.

Course Flexibility and Curriculum

Aside from the material, looking at the degree of flexibility within a course is important. Some agencies prescribe exactly which skills divers must perform during each course dive. Others list all skills required for certification but leave it to the individual instructor to decide which skills to tackle on specific dives. The latter often allows for a more tailored course that accommodates individual learning styles and paces.

Also investigate how an agency’s course progression is structured and how it fits with your diving goals. Some of this is evident in course flow charts and course descriptions, but it’s probably something you should discuss with an instructor.

Many technical diving instructors are affiliated with multiple agencies and therefore can advise you on which curriculum best fits with your preexisting qualifications, experience, diving goals, and the environment you are training in. Based on that, you may well stick with one agency’s training.

Does switching have benefits?

Are there any benefits to switching? Definitely. Mainly, you’ll have the opportunity to compare and better understand which curriculum and teaching style works best for you. Generally, crossing over between agencies at a recreational level is as simple as signing up for a new course. However, as technical diving curriculums are not as streamlined as the entry level courses, you may have to take a step sideways to fit into the other agency’s course flow.

As an example, both IANTD’s and TDI’s Advanced Nitrox courses qualify divers to utilize nitrox mixes up to pure oxygen. However, while the IANTD version of the course covers conducting limited decompression stops, TDI’s Advanced Nitrox course stays within no-stop limits. So, coming from IANTD and wanting to continue within the TDI curriculum, divers still need to complete TDI’s initial decompression diving training course, Decompression Procedures. Even though much of the material is similar and the difference in potential maximum depth is only a few feet apart, Decompression Procedures allows unlimited decompression stops—a major difference between the two.

Crossing Over for Dive Pros

For dive professionals, crossing over is a more structured process. Details vary depending on existing qualifications and teaching experience. The process may range from a shorter version of an instructor course to a simple administrative switch. All depends on the individual agency’s requirements and the instructor’s existing qualifications and teaching experience.

Most agencies will recognize that teaching experience is valuable, even the instructor has been teaching different curriculum. At the end of the day, the instructor has still explained technical diving principles and practices to their students. A crossover usually entails spending some screen time learning about an agency’s history, understanding its teaching philosophy, course structures and—perhaps most importantly —teaching standards.

Underwater, a crossover may include a skills circuit, often conducted as a peer review rather than an exam situation. This means that the instructor crossing over is being assessed in a more workshop-like scenario. However, some crossovers are more like a shorter version of an instructor training course, including academic and underwater skills presentations. There may also be requirements to assist on courses.

So, while moving between diver training agencies is fairly straightforward at diver level, those intending to add professional ratings to their qualifications will find more formal requirements.

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