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Diving with… Craig Yon, Dive Saint Helena, South Atlantic Ocean

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In this ongoing series, we speak to the people who run dive centres, resorts and liveaboards from around the world about their businesses and the diving they have to offer…


What is your name?

Craig Yon

What is the name of your business?

Dive Saint Helena

What is your role within the business?

Director and Founder

How long has the business operated for?

10+ years

How long have you dived for, and what qualification are you?

17 years, Padi MSDT 306289 /8 Instructor Specialties.

What is your favourite type of diving?

Deep Diving and Videography.

If you could tell people one thing about your business (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?

We have a friendly operation giving you the best St Helena has to offer which very few divers have experienced!

What is your favourite dive in your location and why?

The wreck of the RAF Darkdale; its an old war grave wreck, yet still intact with a lot of history behind it. Very good for photography.

What types of diving are available in your location?

Reef, wreck, cavern, swim throughs, pinnacles, overhangs, pelagics and, best of all, snorkelling with the Whale Sharks.

What do you find most rewarding about your current role?

Introducing new divers to our wonderful ocean and offering visitors an experience of a lifetime.

What is your favorite underwater creature?

The Chilean Devil Rays.

Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?

Yes! The introduction to nitrox and the arrival of a recompression chamber.

As a centre what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?

Lower diver numbers due to the cost of flights to St Helena.

Is your centre involved in any environmental work?

Yes we work very closely with the local marine department. We are also involved with other organisations like Blue Marine Foundation and for several years we have worked with Georgia Aquarium carrying out Whale Shark research. We are also involved in local clean up projects along the coastline.

How do you see the SCUBA / Freediving / snorkelling industry overall? What changes would you make?

Personally, I think it is already well managed, However I would like to promote free diving a little more.

What would you say to our visitors to promote the diving you have to offer?

I have dived in quite a few places in the world and really believe that St Helena should be ranked as one of the top 10 best dive destinations worldwide.

Where can our visitors find out more about your business? 

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered. Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

News

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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