News
ScubaCaribe support PADI AWARE Week
ScubaCaribe, one of the most established dive and water sports operations in the Caribbean with more than 25 years of experience in the industry, announces their participation in PADI AWARE WEEK to teach environmental awareness and inspire on global scale.
Besides ocean cleanup dives and beach cleaning in their destinations – Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Panama, Mauritius, Jamaica – together with the Rotary Club, ScubaCaribe has developed a public program in collaboration with Dreams La Romana and Dreams Dominicus in the Dominican Republic:
- 18/09/ 7:00 PM documentary “Chasing Coral”/ Dreams La Romana hotel
- 19/09/ 7:00 PM documentary “Chasing Coral”/ Dreams Dominicus hotel
- 20/09/ 7:00 PM documentary “The Fog of the Sea”/ Dreams La Romana hotel
- 21/09/ 7:00 PM documentary “The Fog of the Sea”/ Dreams Dominicus hotel
Following each of the screenings, there will be a series of questions and answers between the public, employees of ScubaCaribe and FUNDEMAR, a non-government organization dedicated to the promotion of the sustainable use of marine resources and ecosystems through research, education, and the development of conservation projects. Staffed with a multidisciplinary team of biologists, ecologists, and educators capable of acting with scientific rigor and a network of service-minded local and international volunteers, the organization is able to mobilize its knowledge, resources, and efforts in support of its goals.
“All participants will be invited to sign up for the PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation course. There is no requirement to enter the water, and therefore any guest can join without age limit” says ScubaCaribe Dominican Republic’s Marine Biologist and Dive Team Leader Soledad de Pino. “Certified divers will be offered the opportunity to dive at ScubaCaribe’s Coral Nursery to DIVE AGAINST DEBRIS and support the ecological fishing of Lionfish, on 22nd and 23rd of September. Those who sign up for any of our activities will be given a themed shirt as a gift.”
AWARE Week marks the perfect time to focus on the ocean through learning, inspiring or acting. Whether it’s becoming a debris activist, saying no to single-use plastics or making responsible seafood choices, no action is too small to enforce positive benefits. Public, hotels and other businesses are invited to join!
For more information visit the ScubaCaribe website by clicking here.
News
Euro-Divers to close dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda
Euro-Divers have announced that as of 15 April 2024, they will no longer be operating the dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda (formerly known as Amari Havodda).
The popular dive centre chain released this statement regarding the closure:
Dear valid customers, business partners and friends,
We are leaving NH Collection Maldives Havodda – former Amari Havodda as of 15th of April 2024.
Unfortunately, the information reached us on short notice that we are no longer operating the dive centre at the resort.
It was a great pleasure to work with the Amari Hotel group and continue to work with the NH Hotel group.
We wish our partners great success with all their new changes.
Thanks a lot for cooperating during our time at the resort. We wish everyone with whom we have worked a good and hopefully successful future.
Euro-Divers continue to operate in several other dive resorts throughout the Maldives in addition to other locations.
To finds out more about Euro-Divers, visit www.euro-divers.com.
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Creature Feature: Undulate Ray
In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.
This month we’re looking at the Undulate Ray. Easily identified by its beautiful, ornate pattern, the Undulate Ray gets its name from the undulating patterns of lines and spots on its dorsal side.
This skate is usually found on sandy or muddy sea floors, down to about 200 m deep, although it is more commonly found shallower. They can grow up to 90 cm total length. Depending on the size of the individual, their diet can range from shrimps to crabs.
Although sometimes called the Undulate Ray, this is actually a species of skate, meaning that, as all true skates do, they lay eggs. The eggs are contained in keratin eggcases – the same material that our hair and nails are made up of! These eggcases are also commonly called mermaid’s purses and can be found washed up on beaches all around the UK. If you find one, be sure to take a picture and upload your find to the Great Eggcase Hunt – the Shark Trust’s flagship citizen science project.
It is worth noting that on the south coasts, these eggcases can be confused with those of the Spotted Ray, especially as they look very similar and the ranges overlap, so we sometimes informally refer to them as ‘Spundulates’.
Scientific Name: Raja undulata
Family: Rajidae
Maximum Size: 90cm (total length)
Diet: shrimps and crabs
Distribution: found around the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat: shelf waters down to 200m deep.
Conservation Status : As a commercially exploited species, the Undulate Ray is a recovering species in some areas. The good thing is that they have some of the most comprehensive management measures of almost any elasmobranch species, with both minimum and maximum landing sizes as well as a closed season. Additionally, targeting is entirely prohibited in some areas. They are also often caught as bycatch in various fisheries – in some areas they can be landed whilst in others they must be discarded.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website
Image Credits: Banner – Sheila Openshaw; Illustration – Marc Dando
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