Blogs
Announcing Dive Curaçao Week 2025: A Celebration of Underwater Exploration, Cultural Immersion, and Sustainable Tourism
Calling all dive enthusiasts and adventure seekers! Mark your calendars for Dive Curaçao Week 2025, set to take place at LionsDive Beach Resort from April 12th to April 19th, 2025. In collaboration with Ocean Encounters, Dive Curaçao Week 2025 promises an unforgettable diving vacation experience led by Bryan Horne, Managing Director of Dive Curaçao, and David Leander, a 36-year veteran of Curaçao dive tourism.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore the vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs of Curaçao’s crystal-clear waters alongside expert guides. But Dive Curaçao Week 2025 is more than just diving; it’s a total immersion into the island’s rich culture and dedication to sustainable dive tourism.
Bryan Horne, Founder, and Managing Director of Dive Curaçao, stated, “Dive Curaçao Week 2025 is not just about exploring the breathtaking underwater landscapes of Curaçao; it’s a collective effort to intertwine adventure, culture, and sustainability. Our goal is to create a dive vacation experience that goes beyond the ordinary, where participants become stewards of the ocean, contributing to its preservation. This week will be a celebration of our commitment to responsible dive tourism in Curaçao. It will also be a unique opportunity for divers to connect with the heart and soul of Curaçao.”
LionsDive Beach Resort: Host Resort for Dive Curaçao Week 2024
LionsDive Beach Resort, the host dive resort for Dive Curaçao Week 2025, offers an unparalleled experience for diving enthusiasts. With a range of accommodations from luxurious suites to cozy rooms, guests can enjoy comfort with a touch of Caribbean charm.
The resort boasts four on-site restaurants serving delectable cuisine, catering to every palate. Its private beach provides a serene escape, while its proximity to the Curaçao Sea Aquarium and Mambo Beach Boulevard offers endless entertainment options.
What sets LionsDive apart is its dedication to eco-friendly practices, showcasing leadership in sustainable tourism. From harnessing solar energy to efficient recycling programs and mindful water consumption, the resort exemplifies responsible hospitality.
Welcome Happy Hour, Group BBQ, and Daily Breakfast
To kick it off, Dive Curaçao Week 2025 will commence with a vibrant welcome happy hour and conclude with a grand Group BBQ. Participants will also enjoy daily buffet breakfasts at Hemingways Beach Bar and Restaurant, providing ample energy for the day’s diving adventures.
Experience Total Immersion with Ocean Encounters in Curaçao
Participants will enjoy five days of thrilling 2-tank AM boat dives and unlimited air for shore diving with Ocean Encounters. Expert guides will tailor dives to suit all skill levels, ensuring an inclusive and unforgettable adventure for everyone involved.
Supporting Eco-Dive Tourism with Reef Renewal Curaçao
Dive Curaçao Week 2025 embraces sustainable dive tourism with a focus on supporting eco-dive initiatives like Reef Renewal Curaçao. Participants will engage in coral restoration courses and dives, actively contributing to the preservation of the local marine environment.
Lionfish Scuba Dive Experience
A unique event added to Dive Curaçao Week 2025 is The Lionfish Scuba Dive Experience, where participants will learn to safely hunt lionfish, an invasive species threatening Curaçao’s reefs. This initiative, sponsored by Dive Travel Curaçao, underscores the commitment to marine conservation.
Cultural Tourism Experience in Curaçao
Participants will also enjoy cultural exploration, including a breathtaking Sunset Cruise to Downtown Willemstad and an optional guided cultural experience at Punda Vibes, showcasing Curaçao’s rich heritage and creative spirit.
Welcome Dry Bag Sponsors and Limited Spaces Available
All participants will receive a special welcome Scubapro dry bag filled with dive goodies courtesy of the event sponsors: Dive Curaçao, LionsDive Beach Resort, Ocean Encounters, Stream2Sea Body Care products, Scubapro Curaçao, and Dive Travel Curaçao. With limited spaces available, early booking is essential.
Book Early and Save
Early reservations with a deposit made by August 31st, 2024, qualify for a 10% early bird discount, ensuring participation in this exclusive dive and cultural tourism experience.
Contact Dive Travel Curaçao
Ready to make a splash for Dive Curaçao Week 2025? Contact the reservations team at Dive Travel Curaçao for more details and to secure your spot at this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Blogs
The BiG Scuba Podcast Episode 180: Dawn Kernagis
Gemma and Ian chat to Dawn Kernagis. Dawn joined DEEP in 2023 as the Director of Scientific Research. DEEP is an ocean technology and exploration company with a mission to ‘Make Humans Aquatic.’ DEEP’s undersea habitat and submersible systems, combined with multi-phased diver and human performance training, will create the next evolution of subsea science, research, and exploration capabilities. Dawn is a NASA-trained NEEMO Aquanaut, Explorer’s Club Fellow and Women Divers Hall of Fame Inductee and who is also tasked to establish DEEP’s first US presence in North Carolina. Dawn has also been a diver with numerous underwater exploration, research, and conservation projects since 1993, including the mapping and record-setting exploration of some of the deepest underwater caves in the world.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-kernagis-995383152/
The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90. “Beyond Technical” Narked at 90 If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements https://www.narkedat90.com/. There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is BIGSCUBA2024.
If you are interested in the INSTA360 action camera we discussed then please click this link: https://www.insta360.com/sal/x3?utm_term=INRAI8S
We hope you have enjoyed this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast. Please give us ★★★★★, leave a review, and tell your friends. Contact Gemma and Ian with your messages, ideas and feedback via The BiG Scuba Bat Phone +44 7810 005924 or use our social media platforms. To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us:
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Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Creature Feature: Butterfly Rays
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.
As we’re currently in butterfly season, this month we decided to concentrate on the Butterfly Rays!
Within the family Gymnuridae, there are two genera and 12 species of Butterfly Ray. These species are morphologically different to lots of other rays because of the width of the disc and pectoral fins – in contrast to many other species of Butterfly Ray, their bodies are much wider than they are long, especially considering their very short tail. This gives them the appearance of gliding or flying across the sand.
Gymnura altavela – Spiny Butterfly Ray
Gymnura australis – Australian Butterfly Ray
Gymnura crebripunctata – Longsnout Butterfly Ray
Gymnura japonica – Japanese Butterfly Ray
Gymnura lessae – Lessa’s Butterfly Ray
Gymnura marmorata – California Butterfly Ray
Gymnura micrura – Smooth Butterfly Ray
Gymnura natalensis – Backwater Butterfly Ray
Gymnura peocilura – Longtail Butterfly Ray
Gymnura sereti – Seret’s Butterfly Ray
Gymnura tentaculata – Tentacled Butterfly Ray
Gymnura zonura – Zonetail Butterfly Ray
Today we’re taking a look at Gymnura altavela, the Spiny Butterfly Ray. Like all Butterfly Rays, the Spiny Butterfly Ray is a demersal species, meaning it spends the majority of its time on the bottom of the seabed. Butterfly Rays are known for their burying behaviour in the sand, a technique they use to camouflage themselves when they are resting during the day. This protects them from predators, in some areas larger sharks. It also aids them in their ambush hunting technique – by hiding themselves under the sand they are able to easily snatch up their dinner – usually crustaceans, molluscs or other small fish – as they swim by unawares. This behaviour can leave tell-tale butterfly-ray shaped imprints in the bottom of the seabed.
Spiny Butterfly Rays can grow up to 260 cm (disc width (wingspan)), although average is around 200 cm. They give birth to live young, and each litter consists of 1-8 pups. This species has also been found to aggregate, likely for mating. One study found that aggregations of primarily females in the coastal regions off Gran Canaria may correlate with the shifting water temperature.
It is estimated that the species has undergone a population reduction of 50-79% over the last 33 years. This is primarily due to fishing pressure – the Spiny Butterfly Ray is targeted and bycaught in both industrial and artisanal fisheries types using a variety of gear types. The species is now Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean and Southwest Atlantic.
Scientific Name: Gymnura altavela
Family: Gymnuridae
Maximum Size: 260 cm (disc width)
Diet: crabs, shrimps, various invertebrates, fishes, small crustaceans, and molluscs.
Distribution: throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Habitat: muddy and sandy substrates down to 150m.
Conservation status: Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean and Europe, Endangered Globally.
For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website
Banner Image: ©Tomas Willems. Main image: ©Andy Murch
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