News
Divers report rare Manatee sighting in Playa del Carmen (watch video)
Divers on a dive with Pro Dive Mexico have spotted a Manatee at Jardines Reef in Playa del Carmen.
This is unusual, as Manatees usually inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Encounters with these gentle creatures are rare in Playa del Carmen, so it’s no surprise that they leave an awe-inspiring impression on divers when they occur.
It was perfect timing for Pro Dive Mexico’s professional videographer Tomas Durban/A La Aventuras, who was right there accompanying some Discover Scuba Divers and able to capture some great footage of the amazing creature, which you can watch here:
Manatees are generally solitary animals, apart from mothers with their young, or males following a receptive female.
They can grow between 8 – 13ft (2.4 – 4m) and weigh 440 to 1,200lbs (200 to 600 kg) – which is quite a lot for a Herbivore that only eats water grasses, weeds and algae. Manatees never leave the water but, like all marine mammals, they must breathe air at the surface.
Manatees were traditionally hunted by Native Americans for their meat, but also to make warshields, canoes, shoes. They also collect their bones to treat asthma and earache. Manatees are currently classified as endangered.
Jardines (Gardens), as the name indicates, is characterized by a colourful garden-like vegetation and small overhangs inhabited by an abundance of marine life like moray eels, turtles, snappers and schools of fish, a variety of sponges, hard corals, fans and seawhips.
With low to no currents, Jardines provides divers of all levels with a very rewarding and picturesque dive in a depth of just 20-45ft/ 6-13m, and is always good for a nice surprise – even Bull Sharks can be spotted there during the winter season (Dec-Mar) if you are lucky.
To find out more about the wide range of services and dive experiences that Pro Dive Mexico has to offer visit www.prodivemex.com.
Dive Worldwide has recently introduced Kenya to its portfolio of dive destinations, making it a new must-visit for divers. The company has chosen Temple Point Resort, located in Watamu, a small town on Kenya’s Indian Ocean Coast. The resort embodies the spirit of Kenya, with thatched roof buildings and bright white interiors, complemented with local art. The Creek Deluxe rooms enjoy a creek view and sunset vistas, whilst Boutique Garden rooms offer peace nestled in lush greenery.
An abundance of activities such as golf, stand up paddleboarding and kite surfing await those looking for action; while those in search of rejuvenation may partake in a range of yoga classes, or indulge in the spa. Spend evenings dining poolside dining or lazing in hammocks suspended over the creek; there is no detail missed at Temple Point.
The waters surrounding Temple Point Resort are bustling with life, however, there is also an opportunity to explore on dry land. Tsavo National Park is close enough for a day safari, allowing guests to double up on the wildlife experiences Kenya has to offer, from elephants to whale sharks.
Suggested Dive Itinerary: Dive and Discover Kenya
Embark on an adventure to one of Africa’s finest marine parks, Watamu, the first of its kind in the continent. Created in 1968, Watamu offers excellent diving and snorkelling for those of all experience levels. Lively coral reefs and the surrounding waters are home to over 1,000 species of fish, devil rays, mantas, whale sharks, dolphins and turtles.
DEAL: Stay 12 nights for the price of 10 at Temple Point Resort
Price: Dive and Discover Kenya now costs £2295pp, saving £150 per person. Including international flights from the UK, 12 nights’ B&B (for the price of 10), transfers, 5 days, 10 dive pack, tanks and weights. Based on travel in September ONLY. https://www.diveworldwide.com/trip-ideas/dive-discover-kenya#details
For more information visit: diveworldwide.com or call 01962 302 087
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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