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Deptherapy wins prestigious Soldiering On Award

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The outstanding work of scuba diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education has been recognised with the presentation of a top military Award.

Richard Cullen, Founder and Chairman of Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education, received the Soldiering On Award on behalf of the charity at a black tie gala event at the Westminster Park Plaza in London on Friday 20th April 2018.

Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education was judged by an independent panel to be the winner in the Healthcare & Rehabilitation (Group) category. This Award, sponsored by Redwood Technologies Group, was given in recognition of the charity’s exceptional contribution to recovery and rehabilitation of former members of the British Armed Forces Community.

The Soldiering On Awards, now in its eighth year and under the patronage of the Rt Hon Earl Howe PC, Minister of State in the House of Lords, honours those who have served within the British Armed Forces and the organisations supporting them.

Guests at the Awards ceremony included Deptherapy Programme Members and Trustees, who were inspired by stories of those veterans who have overcome remarkable adversity. Classical singer Carly Paoli and the London Military Band provided the evening’s entertainment, whilst the hosts for the event were Vicki Michelle MBE and Jeremy Vine.

Left to right: Jeremy Vine, Richard Cullen, Vicki Michelle, Martin Taylor – Co-founder and CMO of the Redwood Technologies Group – and Major General Martin Bricknell OStJ PhD DM – Surgeon General of the UK Armed Forces. Photo credit: Schmooly/Soldiering On Awards.

On receiving the Award, Richard Cullen said:

“Winning the Healthcare and Rehabilitation Category at the prestigious Soldiering on Awards in London was a stunning achievement given the very stiff competition we faced in the group.

Huge thanks to the team at Soldiering On, those who nominated us, the Judges and Redwood Technologies Group for sponsoring the Award. However, the highest praise goes to the Trustees, Patrons, Ambassadors and Volunteers who work tirelessly and for free to help our Armed Forces’ veterans.

I sincerely hope that this major acknowledgement of our work will act as a key to open the door to corporate sponsorship, which we so badly need.”

The Soldiering On Award is the second prestigious Award this year for the Deptherapy charity.

Deptherapy Programme Member and Ambassador Ben Lee received The Recognising Achievement Award at The Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund Awards in February 2018 in the presence of HRH Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle.

You can find out more and support the work of Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education at www.deptherapy.co.uk.

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Discover the diving Papua New Guinea has to offer in 2025 with Indigo Safaris

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papua new guinea

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.

papua new guinea

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.

papua new guinea

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.

papua new guinea

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.

papua new guinea

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.”

papua new guinea

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.

papua new guinea

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.

papua new guinea

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

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Gear News

OrcaTorch D710 Dive Light now available in pink

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d710 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.

d710 pink

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

www.orcatorch.com

Sea & Sea is the home of OrcaTorch and other leading diving brands in the UK.

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