News
Take the Plunge at Dive Fest Barbados
Explore Barbados’ wonderful aquatic life at the first Dive Festival Barbados debuting on the island from July 5th– 9th 2017. From novice to advance divers, there’s something for everyone or you can simply spectate while soaking up some sun on the beach.
There’s a fully packed schedule with an array of activities to choose from; freediving demonstrations by experts Alex Davis and Johanna Loch-Allen, lion fish hunting for advance divers, water awareness programs, beach clean-ups, conservation tips and of course plenty of scuba dives all over the island, including the exhilarating East Coast. The festival promises to be an enriching experience not only highlighting some of the island’s world-class dive sites but also bringing attention to Barbados’ extensive marine eco-system and why it needs protecting.
The festival kicks off with Celebrate the Bay in conjunction with Project AWARE ‘Dive Against Debris’ campaign in Barbados’ largest Marine Protected Area. This initiative encourages locals and visitors alike to fight back against the overwhelming amount of debris entering our oceans and beaches by doing a clean up in specific areas around the island on Wednesday July 5th.
‘Our ocean is under siege, more than 250 million tons of plastic are estimated to make its way into our ocean by 2025.’ Project AWARE
Snorkel Day offers snorkel demonstrations by the shore, discover a variety of beautiful marine life including turtles and stingrays by simply submerging your face in Barbados’ shallow waters. Later that day Barbados National record holders Alex Davis and Johanna Loch-Allen will give freediving demos and breath holding techniques at the impressive Aquatic Centre. For any advanced swimmers and divers this is a great opportunity to improve your skills and get your questions answered! These wonderful activities act as a great introduction to beginners or equally can be the perfect refresher course for those who haven’t taken the plunge for sometime, taking place on Thursday July 6th.
Conservation Day gives visitors the opportunity to mingle with marine scientists, shark conservationists & local dive instructors. These experts are on hand to give advice on how to protect marine animals, fellow divers, swimmers and beach goers. The conservation work will take place from 4pm – 6pm on Friday July 7th followed by the screening of the inspirational film ‘A Plastic Ocean’.
For those thrill seekers and advanced divers a Lionfish Hunt will take place on the North and East Coast on Saturday July 8th called Dive On The Wild Side. Divers will be invited to join their favourite dive shop on, and go head to head to find the biggest fish, the team with the biggest fish wins a prize. To finish the day’s hunt, lionfish tasting and samples will be served at the Bay Tavern on Martin’s Bay.
As the festival draws to an end on Sunday July 9th – Closing Activities features an awards ceremony offering awards for the most debris removed from the beach, best new swimmers and of course the biggest Lionfish caught. The finale will also include rum tasting to make sure you leave the island with a real taste for Barbadian spirit and culture.
“We are delighted to introduce Dive Fest Barbados to our island for the first time. This fantastic event gives both locals and visitors an insight into all aspects of oceanic life on our island, from amazing dive sites to conservation. The festival is accessible to everyone and encourages those who have never tried snorkeling or diving to come and participate. Barbados has such a wealth of marine life and a lot of it visible in shallow water, it’s the perfect place to try it out. Dive Fest Barbados is one of the new events we have introduced on the island for Year of Sport 2017 and one that we hope will be a recurring event.” said Cheryl Carter UK Director Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Whether diving is in your blood or you’ve never dipped your toe into the ocean, Dive Festival Barbados will inspire you to explore the Barbadian seas. Offering a varied range of activities for beginners who are looking to try something new to enthusiasts who are looking for their next challenge. Don’t miss out on your chance to discover what lies beneath the beautiful Caribbean shores.
For more information on Dive Fest Barbados please visit: www.divefestbarbados.com
For more information on Barbados please visit: www.visitbarbados.org
Shells of the World: A Natural History by M.G. Harasewych
Shells of the world is a guide to the world of marine, shelled molluscs. And what a varied and interesting world it is. Some of my favourite things to find on a dive are detailed in this book, including disco clams (or Electric File Clams as they are correctly names), the cephalopods, giant clams and sea hares. There are also many on my wish list, top of which is the Nautilus.
Each chapter provides a detailed description of the species, along with beautiful images. You can dive deeper and discover where they live, both with global distribution and the habitat they prefer. Learn about their diet, reproduction and diversity.
Having dipped in and out of this lovely book over the past few weeks, it has inspired me to learn more about this group of animals that we see on most divers, wherever we are in the world. Some of the shells are incredibly intricate and beautiful. I have always agreed with never collecting, or touching, marine life. The description of a certain set of cone shells should be a warning to those that are happy to pick up marine life! One of the cone shells has a local name called the cigarette snail. Why? Because once the venom is in your system from this animal, you only have time to smoke one cigarette before the affects of the venom are fatal!
What the publisher says:
Mollusks are invertebrate animals with a remarkable natural history and a rich fossil record, and their shells are prized for their breathtaking variety and exquisite beauty. Shells of the World provides a wide-ranging look at the incredible diversity of marine mollusks. An informative introduction outlines the lineages covered, followed by a directory section, split into classes, that profiles a broad selection of different taxa to give a sense of their sheer numbers and variety.
- Features hundreds of beautiful color photos, depicting both the live animals and their shells
- Discusses mollusk evolution, anatomy, life cycles, behavior, and ecology
- Describes unique characteristics, distribution, habitat, and size
- Provides valuable insights into the conservation of the world’s marine mollusks
- Ideal for malacologists and shell collectors everywhere
About the Author:
M. G. Harasewych is research zoologist emeritus and former curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is the author (with Fabio Moretzsohn) of The Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred Seashells.
Book Details
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Hardcover
Price: £25
ISBN: 9780691248271
Published: 9th April, 2024
Stahlsac dive bags and travel luggage are built for our community of divers, surfers, kayakers and outdoor explorers who need bags that are constructed with durability, toughness, and 
the highest quality the industry has ever seen. We were founded by one man determined to build better watersports and dive bags, and today, that mission is carried on by many. Adventure doesn’t just present itself; it requires discovery. When we design dive bags, we make sure they are tough enough for you to explore in all conditions—warm and cold, wet and dry—to the nearest and farthest reaches of the earth. And for those times you want to push the boundaries of adventure, Stahlsac dive bags make sure you can truly GO ANYWHERE.
Abyss Duffels
Made to be your partner-in-crime on every adventure, Stahlsac’s Abyss Duffels protects your gear from Mother Nature’s worst. Tough and 100% waterproof with double-TPU nylon material that shrugs off daily wear-and-tear, and RF-welded seams further boost the bag’s potential for lifelong exploring. Get Wet. Get Lost. Go Anywhere with Abyss.
- A weatherproof duffel for trips, travel, and adventure
- Ultra-durable double-TPU nylon protects your gear
- Material repels water and keeps your equipment dry
- RF-welded seams are flush, tough, and waterproof
- Removable straps transform duffel into backpack
- Zippered internal stow compartments carry essentials
- External zippered flap is easy to open and close
- Welded external handles make transporting a breeze
Panama Mesh Backpack
The most copied design in scuba diving, the Stahlsac Panama Mesh Backpack is the “original” design and features two high-density foam padded shoulder straps, extra durable polyester mesh, duffel bag handles and our unique zippered dry pocket inside that combines with a wet pocket outside. The bottom’s built from reinforced 18-gauge PVC nylon to combat the wear and tear of your active coastal lifestyle, and, as a bonus in every bag, we supply a 12″ x 12″ mesh drawstring satchel for extra stowing utility. Pack up your beach kit and go.
- Density foam padded shoulder straps
- Outside wet/dry pockets
- 2 Carry handles
- Tough, snag-resistant polyester mesh
- Reinforced PVC bottom
For more information about Stahlsac bags, visit www.stahlsac.com/dive-bags.
Sea & Sea is the home of Stahlsac and other leading diving brands in the UK.
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