News
AWARE Week returns in September to inspire action for a healthier ocean
Project AWARE® and PADI® are once again mobilizing the global dive community to be citizen activists for a healthier ocean during the second annual AWARE Week. From 14-22 September 2019, ocean lovers around the world are invited to join conservation activities focused on ocean protection.
“Working together with Project AWARE, our long-time partner in conservation, and PADI Dive Centers and Resorts around the world, AWARE Week empowers even more scuba divers to truly be a force for good,” says Drew Richardson, President and CEO of PADI Worldwide and Project AWARE Chairman of the Board. “Whether it’s reporting Dive Against Debris data, making every dive a survey dive, saying ‘no’ to single-use plastics or making a conscious effort to reduce your plastic footprint, no action is too small to make a difference. AWARE Week provides the tools and inspiration to educate and encourage local action for global impact.”
Coinciding with International Coastal Cleanup Day on 21 September, AWARE Week 2019 encourages dive professionals and the global dive community to lead or take part in AWARE Week activities and courses. Many of the activities will focus on tackling ocean pollution, raising awareness about plastic pollution, and empowering local communities to take positive actions for a clean and healthy ocean.
Ever since the landmark television miniseries Blue Planet II, ocean plastic pollution has become a popular topic: Recent studies estimate that as much as 250 million metric tons of plastic could make its way into the ocean by 2025. AWARE Week marks the perfect time to focus on this issue through local community action and active participation in Dive Against Debris®, Project AWARE’s flagship citizen-science program.
Although it’s believed more than 70 percent of marine debris entering the ocean ends up on the seafloor, little quantitative information is available regarding the types and quantities of this trash. The Dive Against Debris program aims to fill this gap, providing quantitative data and an accurate perspective about underwater marine debris to drive policy change. Dive Against Debris data collected during AWARE Week and throughout the year helps Project AWARE highlight the underwater view of ocean plastic pollution, and identify target areas where waste-prevention efforts are needed most.
“We can all be part of the solution. Lead the way for your student divers or friends and family to become ocean activists. Provide them with the tools and knowledge they need to protect our ocean planet on every dive or at home,” says Danna Moore, Project AWARE Global Operations Director. “Our collective actions add up to big results and take us one step closer to a clean ocean.”
In addition to equipping divers with the skills needed to conduct Dive Against Debris surveys, AWARE Week is also designed to bring together divers from all over the world to be a voice for the ocean and act for change. From learning about tips to protect the ocean planet to understanding how underwater citizen science and marine debris data can help affect policy change, AWARE specialty courses give ocean enthusiasts the power to protect the ocean, with or without their fins, this AWARE Week and all year.
During AWARE Week, PADI and Project AWARE invite divers to make a positive impact for a healthier ocean by prioritizing initiatives focused on conservation-minded practices, taking the Project AWARE Specialty and Dive Against Debris Specialty courses, and making every dive a survey dive. Contact your PADI Dive Center or Resort to learn more about how you can take part locally to make a difference globally.
For more information visit the Project Aware website by clicking here.
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.
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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