Marine Life & Conservation
A Straw Poll
A warm welcome to our latest bloggers, the Scuba Genies – aka John & Mona Spencer-Ades…
In April this year, Mona and I had the pleasure of diving with our friends and dive buddies Rob and Susie at Magic Oceans Dive Resort on Bohol in the Philippines. This is a place that has received loads of press of late, as Nick and Caroline recently penned for Scubaverse, and it is well-deserved press. But we’d like to cover this from a different angle.
Firstly, it is safe to say that this was the very best diving we have ever done, and we are no strangers to scuba travels. The waters were immaculate – not a single bit of flotsam or jetsam that shouldn’t have been there, and therefore, very, very healthy reefs that are full to bursting with marine life.
Sitting with our friends at meals we were inspired as they refused the plastic straws that were provided with drinks and other guests started to do the same. Later in the week, we found ourselves deep in conversation with Eef and Arie of Magic Resorts discussing the impact of single use plastics and what they might be able to do to help the effort. I doubt that we are the only ones that have seen the video of the turtle having the straw removed from its nostril.
The conversation turned to solutions for the “straw issue.” We have seen pasta replacements, but these taste funny. Paper straws go soggy, and use trees. The glass ones could be dangerous. Then there are bamboo ones, silicone and acrylic. Eef and Arie were excited at the options and went straight to work. As we’re writing this, Magic Island Dive Resort is using reusable silicone straws and Magic Oceans is providing guests with stainless steel straws. And Nick shared with us that other resorts and local establishments in the Philippines are doing the same!
Mona and I were spurred into further action – we have been evaluating various branded ‘gifts’ for some time, but could not decide completely on one single object. We wanted something useful, and really wanted something that would have a positive environmental effect too.
We have now made our decision! The Scuba Place will be providing every client that books a trip with or through us with a BPA-free, aluminium water bottle, complete with carabiner clip and screw top lid. We hope that our clients will find them useful and that it might help to reduce the amount of plastics ending up in the oceans.
Surprisingly picking a reusable water bottle was more difficult than we expected. So many vendors use plastic bags as packaging and we don’t want those blowing overboard into the sea! We’re delighted with our final selection and can’t wait to see them on dive boats around the globe. Our next hosted ‘Come Dive With Us’ trip is to Jardines de La Reina in Cuba this coming September (spaces available!) and we’ll be taking some of our bottles out for the dive staff.
We are pleased to be doing our bit for our Oceans – Come Dive with Us!
Contact: reservations@thescubaplace.co.uk
Tel: 0207 644 8252
The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!
Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants
The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.
The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.
Campaign Aims
- Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
- Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
- Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
- Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!
Donate, and double your impact. Click Here
Marine Life & Conservation
Leading UK-based shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, is delighted to announce tour operator Diverse Travel as a Corporate Patron
Corporate Patrons provide a valuable boost to the work of The Shark Trust. The Trust team works globally to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, engaging with a global network of scientists, policymakers, conservation professionals, businesses and supporters to further shark conservation.
Specialist tour operator Diverse Travel has operated since 2014 and is committed to offering its guests high quality, sustainable scuba diving holidays worldwide. Working together with the Shark Trust will enable both organisations to widen engagement and encourage divers and snorkellers to actively get involved in shark conservation.
“Sharks are truly at the heart of every diver and at Diverse Travel, we absolutely share that passion. There is nothing like seeing a shark in the wild – it’s a moment that stays with you forever!” says Holly Bredin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Diverse Travel.
“We’re delighted to celebrate our 10th year of business by becoming a Corporate Patron of the Shark Trust. This is an exciting partnership for Diverse and our guests. We will be donating on behalf of every person who books a holiday with us to contribute towards their vital shark conservation initiatives around the world. We will also be working together with the Trust to inspire divers, snorkellers and other travellers to take an active role – at home and abroad – in citizen science projects and other activities.”
Paul Cox, CEO of The Shark Trust, said:
“It’s an exciting partnership and we’re thrilled to be working with Diverse Travel to enable more divers and travellers to get involved with sharks and shark conservation. Sharks face considerable conservation challenges but, through collaboration and collective action, we can secure a brighter future for sharks and their ocean home. This new partnership takes us one more valuable step towards that goal.”
For more information about the Shark Trust visit their website here.
For more about Diverse Travel click here.
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