News
Dive Worldwide Reveal Plans For The World’s Largest Manta Ray Sanctuary In Indonesia
This week marks a huge milestone in manta conservation – tailor-made specialist Dive Worldwide is delighted to reveal that the Indonesian government is to establish the world’s largest manta ray sanctuary, encompassing a massive 6 million sq. kms. of ocean. The new legislation now enforces full, nationwide protection for both manta species across Indonesia. To protect these giant rays still further, UK based tour operator Dive Worldwide are introducing a conservation holiday that monitors the mantas in Raja Ampat, an archipelago of islands in eastern Indonesia, at the epicentre of the Coral Triangle.
Indonesia boasts the second-largest manta tourism industry in the world, making the species vital for many communities relying on ecotourism for their livelihood. However, manta rays are a highly threatened species as they are targeted for their gill plates which are sold as a medicinal tonic on the Asian market, despite no scientifically proven health benefits. Although there is clear evidence that stocks are in decline, these fisheries continue to increase their fishing efforts, posing a huge threat to the survival of manta populations.
Dive Worldwide offers its new trip in association with the Manta Trust which continues to research and monitor the Indonesian manta population and works closely with local communities to increase awareness and support of alternative, sustainable incomes.
Guy Stevens, chief executive of Dive Worldwide’s new partner in conservation, the Manta Trust,commented: “Manta rays are an iconic species; they symbolise what is at stake if we choose not to protect our oceans and their inhabitants for our future generations. The Indonesian Government’s decision to legally protect manta rays is a great step along the road to effective conservation of these increasingly vulnerable species. I applaud the government for this positive action and I strongly urge other nations to follow in their footsteps.”
New Dive Worldwide Conservation Trips in Partnership with the Manta Trust
As the only UK tour operator to work in partnership with the Manta Trust, Dive Worldwide has introduced the following trips to its Just Conservation programme in Indonesia and elsewhere:
Monitoring Mantas in Raja Ampat, Indonesia: This trip invites divers to explore the underwater paradise of Raja Ampat in Indonesia. From a luxurious liveaboard vessel, visitors can take on the role of research assistant, monitoring manta rays, collecting data, taking underwater photographs to identify them, or naming one if it’s unknown. Dive up to three times per day.
Price: An 11-day trip costs from £4,865 pp inc. international flights and full board accommodation. Group size 1 – 10. Recommended for experienced divers.
Manta Research in Yap: Head to Micronesia to join the Manta Trust, where time is divided between a superb liveaboard in pristine waters and on shore diving. Research assistants use diving skills to help identify manta populations and to collect habitat data. As no other liveaboards exist in the area, it is possible to explore waters where no divers have previously been.
Price: A 14-day trip costs from £5,385 pp inc. international flights, transfers, and 12 nights’ lodge / liveaboard accommodation. Departs 30 June & 7 July 2014. Group size 1 – 10. Recommended for experienced divers.
Manta Monitoring in the Maldives: working alongside expert Dr Guy Stevens (founder of the Manta Trust), the team will cruise the less explored Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, on board The Explorer, a luxury Four Seasons liveaboard. While taking on the role of research assistant, witness the incredible mass feeding natural phenomenon, and study both reef and giant oceanic manta rays – with aggregations of up to 150 mantas. Divers are also likely to see hawksbill and green turtles, whale sharks, honeycomb moray eel, Napoleon wrasse, scorpion fish, titan trigger fish, schooling banner fish and colourful coral reefs.
Price: A 10-day trip costs from £5,325pp inc. international flights, 7 nights’ full board on the liveaboard, all transfers, and up to 4 dives daily. Departs 20 August & 10 September 2014.
All prices are per person based on two sharing and include a donation of £100 to the Manta Trust.
For further information visit www.diveworldwide.com or call 0845 1306980.
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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