News
Monty Halls to launch Innovative Expedition Boat at DIVE 2014
TV explorer Monty Halls will unveil a revolutionary new dive and expedition vessel at DIVE 2014 at the Birmingham NEC this weekend.
The boat is the result of over a year’s collaborative work between Halls and many of the leading brands in the fields of marine exploration and design. The 7.5 metre fast RIB – called “Odyssey” – is designed to access remote regions at high speed, ferrying divers, scientists and natural history film makers through challenging environments in comfort and safety. And it is not just the exterior of the boat that is special.
“Much of the cutting edge technology in this vessel is unseen,’ said Halls. “For example the lean burn engine uses far less fuel than standard engines, giving us greater endurance and a lower environmental footprint. The electronics are absolutely space age, and give what is a relatively small craft genuinely large boat capabilities. The design work of the boat manufacturers at Humber has also created ground breaking stowage facilities and safety features. There really is nothing like this boat anywhere in the UK, and possibly the world. It has been designed from the keel up for adventure and exploration.”
The boat is a truly collaborative venture, involving equipment manufacturers from all spheres of both the diving, adventure, and boating worlds. The main aim from the outset was to create something unique, to shake up the design of RIB’s which has essentially remained unchanged for many decades. Halls has no doubts that it will prove a genuine talking point at the show and beyond.
“I can’t wait for the covers to come off this weekend. I’ll be very interested to see what the diving public make of it, and how commercial users such as expedition teams and scientists view some of the features we’ve incorporated.”
The next question is which projects the boat will be involved in after the launch? Halls is already discussing options for expeditions with various conservation groups and charities, as well as collaborative ventures with those involved in the build.
“It’s one thing at a time with this vessel. So much has gone into the design and the build, that I think we’ll pause for thought before our first expedition with it. There are a few ideas on the table, all of which will present real challenges to “Odyssey” after the launch. Suffice it to say that she will soon be on the water working, and hopefully pushing the limits of small boat exploration.”
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
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