News
Deptherapy Ambassador Ben Lee wins Endeavour Fund Award
At a special Awards Ceremony at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London last night, inspirational Deptherapy Programme Member and Ambassador Ben Lee was one of three wounded ex-servicemen honoured to receive an Endeavour Fund Award in the presence of HRH Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle.
Ben Lee, a former Sapper in the Royal Engineers, who lost both his legs and suffered other catastrophic injuries whilst searching and disposing of IEDs in Afghanistan in 2011, was presented with The Recognising Achievement Award.
The Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund supports wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women and encourages them to rekindle their fighting spirit through sporting and adventurous endeavours. The Recognising Achievement Award is given to the individual, who in the judges’ opinion, has best utilised their endeavour experience to promote and catalyse their recovery.
Ben was introduced to scuba diving through UK diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy when he completed his PADI Open Water Diver course on a specialist training programme in Egypt in 2016. Double-amputee Ben’s achievement is all the more incredible due to the fact that he had drowned in a swimming pool as a child and although successfully resuscitated, the experience had left him with an overwhelming fear of water.
With the close support of his Deptherapy team mates, diving instructors and fellow wounded veterans, Ben overcame his fears and discovered the power of scuba diving to both heal and rehabilitate. Since passing his Open Water course with flying colours at Roots Red Sea, Ben has progressed rapidly through the PADI Continuing Education programme, subsequently completing his Advanced Open Water, Deep, Wreck, PPB and SMB Specialties, as well as his Rescue Diver course. Ben is now a PADI Master Scuba Diver and a trainee Divemaster.
Not only are his personal achievements awe inspiring but on completing his Open Water Diver, Ben stated that he wanted to “give back to the charity.” His commitment to helping and inspiring others has made him the ‘go-to-guy’ for new Programme Members and he has become an active Ambassador for both scuba diving and the Deptherapy charity.
Most recently, to enhance his ability to help others, Ben and his partner Sophie attended a two day Deptherapy Mental Health First Aid Course for the Armed Services’ Community.
On receiving The Recognising Achievement Award, Ben said:
“This has been an amazing journey and I am so honoured to have been selected to receive this Award amongst so many incredible individuals… but this Award isn’t about me. It is about Deptherapy and all my brothers and sisters in arms that the charity helps and supports. None of this would have been possible without the support of Richard Cullen (Founder and Chairman of Deptherapy) for whom I have the utmost respect. Deptherapy is a small charity, run entirely by volunteers. I personally don’t know how they do so much, with so little income. Richard and the Deptherapy Team have changed my life, just as they are changing the lives of many others.”
The Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund contibuted funds that enabled the charity to run an additional Open Water Diver training course in 2017 to reduce the ever-growing waiting list of injured and wounded ex-service personnel wanting to join the Deptherapy specialist programme. The charity is now actively seeking funding and sponsorship to continue being able to offer its life-changing programmes in 2018 and beyond.
Find out about the work of Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education at www.deptherapy.co.uk.
News
Discover the diving Papua New Guinea has to offer in 2025 with Indigo Safaris
MV FeBrina Escorted Photography Trip
Dates: 5-15 September 2025
Itinerary: 10-night trip to Kimbe Bay, the Witu Islands, and Fathers Reefs. This is widely considered the best diving itinerary in Papua New Guinea.
Capacity: Only 10 spots available.
Cost: $4990 USD per person sharing.
- Two small single occupancy cabins available for $4990.
- Two large single occupancy cabins available for $5990.
Why Choose This Trip?
This trip offers what is likely to be some of the best reef diving you’ll ever experience. The itinerary has been chosen for its extraordinary variety, abundance of marine life, and the fact that you’ll encounter very few (if any) other divers. With 75% of the world’s hard coral species and thousands of documented fish and invertebrate species, including some yet to be described, this area is truly special. Pelagic fish are abundant, and highlights include species like horse-eye jacks, pickhandle barracuda, and mega-rarities like Coleman’s pygmy seahorse. The corals remain in pristine condition, and the diversity of marine life is unparalleled.
Photography Coaching
This trip includes photography coaching by Christopher Bartlett, founder of Best of PNG and a renowned underwater photographer. Christopher has had over 100 articles published and a dozen dive magazine cover shots to his name. He will cover everything from basic to advanced lighting techniques for macro and wide-angle photography, using clear examples to help you enhance your skills. From setting up gear to processing images in Lightroom, Christopher’s coaching will cater to all skill levels.
The Diving Itinerary
This signature itinerary will take you to the spectacular reefs of Kimbe Bay, the volcanic Witu Islands, and the offshore Fathers Reefs.
- Kimbe Bay: Known for its stunning coral formations, vibrant sea mounts, coral walls, and lush coral gardens. The area boasts more than 40 reef dive sites, including a beautifully preserved WWII Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane.
- Witu Islands: This volcanic island group offers diverse diving experiences, from sea mounts like Lama Shoals to coral arches and exciting night dives in black sand bays. You’ll also interact with local villagers trading fresh fruit from canoes, with a planned village visit during the trip.
- Fathers Reefs: These offshore, volcanic reefs feature dramatic underwater topography, including arches and swim-throughs. The pelagic activity here is remarkable, with sightings of sharks, rays, barracudas, jacks, and turtles. A baited dive for Silvertip sharks is included.
The experienced dive guides of MV FeBrina know the sites extremely well and are skilled at spotting marine life. You can provide a wishlist of critters, and they will work hard to find them.
Getting There
The trip starts with a one-hour domestic flight from Port Moresby to Hoskins Airport in West New Britain. The flight over mountain ranges and diverse landscapes offers a stunning preview of the adventure ahead. Regaldive will book the domestic flights for you, with an estimated cost of $360 USD for a return ticket.
As described by Professor J.E.N. Veron, former Chief Scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science:
“The coral reefs of Kimbe Bay take me back forty years, to a time when corals grew in lush profusion, untroubled by the problems that beset them today… I am hard pressed to think of anywhere on earth that has this combination of vibrant health, diversity, and beauty.”
Inclusions
- 10 nights of ensuite accommodation on MV FeBrina
- All meals, snacks, unlimited tea and coffee
- Final night dinner at Walindi Plantation Resort
- 8.5 days of diving (4-5 dives per day)
- Filled tanks, weight belt, and weights
- Return transfers to and from Hoskins Airport/Walindi
- Light daily laundry service
Exclusions
- Flights
- Bar expenses and soft drinks
- Nitrox
- Dive equipment rental
- Meals at Walindi prior to or after the liveaboard
- Souvenirs, personal items, and gratuities
- 10% GST on purchases in Papua New Guinea
Additional Costs
- Environmental and Safety Fees: $90 per person, payable in advance.
- Nitrox: $270 for all dives or $10 per fill.
- Equipment Hire: Available with prior arrangement.
- Alcohol/Bar: Local beers, soft drinks, and wine available at varying costs. It is recommended to bring your preferred spirits duty-free.
Payment
Payments can be made via credit card (MasterCard/Visa/Amex) or cash in AUD, USD, PGK, or Euros. Prices for bar items and additional purchases are subject to change.
Extensions
Regaldive offers pre- or post-liveaboard extensions, including trips around PNG. From 15 to 22 September 2025, Christopher Bartlett will lead a Highlands Tribes Tour, featuring bird-watching, village visits, private Sing-Sings, and the Goroka Highlands Cultural Festival. The full tour costs $3240 USD. Alternatively, a four-night option for the Goroka festival from 17-21 September starts at $1260 USD. Additional extension options include extra diving at Walindi Resort, volcano treks, WWII plane wreck tours, or diving near Port Moresby. Post-festival, Christopher will also lead a five-night Sepik River tour, exploring ancient customs and Spirit Houses deep in the jungle.
For more information or to book, contact Indigo Safaris:
Email: safariexperts@indigosafaris.com
UK: +44 771 334 27 29
USA: +1 718 312 8777
France: +33 668 74 97 05
Skype: christopherbartlett
Gear News
OrcaTorch D710 Dive Light now available in pink
Already available in Black, Green, Red and Blue, the D710 Dive Light from Orcatorch is now available in Pink too.
Whether you’re a recreational or a professional diver, you’ll find the OrcaTorch D710 dive light useful in your underwater activities.
With max 3,000 lumens, the D710 is one of the strongest torches in its class. You also have plenty of brightness settings to choose from if you prefer less power.
It runs on one OrcaTorch 21700 5000mAh rechargeable battery with a Type-C charging port, easier for you to charge it anywhere. Now it offers five exterior colour options: Black, Green, Red, Blue, and Pink, to satisfy your diverse needs.
Featuring:
* Uses Luminous LED, max 3000 lumens
* Uses 1 * 21700 Li-ion battery
* 6° beam angle
* Offers four exterior colour options: Black, Red, Green and Blue
* Easy operation with side titanium alloy push-button switch
* Safe lock function, prevents mis-operation
* Intelligent Over-Heat protection
* Battery indicator
* Water pressure resistant construction, depth rated to 150 meters
* Reverse polarity protection, to protect from improper battery installation
* Over-discharge protection function
* Constructed from high-strength A6061-T6 aluminum
* Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized finish for durability and corrosion resistance
* Two sides coated toughened glass with high water pressure resistance under deep water
Sea & Sea is the home of OrcaTorch and other leading diving brands in the UK.
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