News
The UK’s seas make us feel anything but blue
Time spent by the coast brings health and happiness, research finds
- Three quarters (75%) of those surveyed feel better knowing the coast and sea is thriving
- 69% of people who visited the coast in the last year feel the benefit even when far from it
- 77% of people who visited the sea in the last year felt happier
Research from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) in early 2019 explored our enduring connections to the UK’s blue spaces and looked to uncover why it is we look to the sea for solace. The findings of the research are even more relevant in the current climate, where lockdown has provided many of us with an increased appreciation of the natural world.
The charity’s research found that 77% of people who had visited the sea in the past year felt happier and 81% felt healthier when they were by the coast and sea. Freedom, escape, inspiration and spirituality were just some of the feelings people cited experiencing when spending time by the coast and sea, so it’s no wonder that we’re yearning for the coast during lockdown when our happiness and sense of wellbeing is tied to freedom and escape!
The benefits of being by the coast are not just reserved for being beside the seaside. MCS research found that 69% of people who had visited the coast and sea in the last 12 months said they felt the benefit of that time even when far from it. As such, MCS has been bringing the #OceanIndoors throughout lockdown to bring the wellbeing benefits of the coast to people across the UK, no matter how near or far from the sea they may be.
Cheeringly, three quarters (75%) of those surveyed said they feel better just knowing that the coast and sea and all life living within and beside it is thriving, showing the intrinsic link between the health of the environment and our own sense of happiness and calm. MCS is encouraging people to make ocean-friendly choices and get involved with small acts of kindness to our coast, not only for your own personal feel good factor, but for the future health of our seas too.
Sue Ranger, MCS Engagement & Education Manager said: “Our own mental and physical wellbeing is so closely tied to the natural world; our research shows just how much of an effect the natural world can have on our sense of health, happiness and calm. Clearing your local area of litter, cutting back on single-use plastics, and getting involved in some armchair activism are all fantastic ways to safeguard the ocean and feel good yourself.”
To find out more about the Marine Conservation Society’s #OceanIndoors project, please visit the charity’s website here.
News
Dive Worldwide Announces Bite-Back as its Charity of the Year
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
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
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