News
Diving with…George Gross, Valentines Dive Center, Eleuthera, Bahamas
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?
George Gross
What is the name of your business?
Valentine’s Dive Center
What is your role within the business?
Owner
How long has the business operated for?
Over 25 years
How long have you dived for, and what qualification are you?
I have been diving since 1975, I am a PADI Dive Master
What is your favorite type of diving?
Big animal action diving (sharks, Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, seals, whales)
If you could tell people one thing about your business (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?
Top shelf service on a great island with complementary professional underwater images provided to customers of all our dive and snorkeling trips.
What is your favorite dive in your location and why?
Current Cut is a high speed drift dive with high probability of big animal action. We have seen sharks, squadrons of Eagle Rays, turtles and more…
What types of diving are available in your location?
We have wreck dives, shallow and deep reef dives and drift dives.
What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
I get to dive daily with visiting clients and provide them with free underwater images that will keep their memories of diving with us alive.
What is your favorite underwater creature?
Sharks!
Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?
Yes! We are working with the Perry Institute of The Bahamas and Florida to set up coral nurseries.
As a center what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?
We see the potential resources of our seas being depleted due to the high demand from customers for seafood.
Is your center involved in any environmental work?
Yes, as I mentioned above we are involved in an exciting project to help our coral reefs by setting up a coral nursery.
How do you see the SCUBA / Freediving / snorkeling industry overall? What changes would you make?
I would love to see the government policing the marine resources here in The Bahamas. We need Marine Protected Areas, limits on catch sizes and more protection of vulnerable species.
What would you say to our visitors to promote the diving you have to offer?
We specialize in divers just starting out, as well as those on vacation in The Bahamas.
Where can our visitors find out more about your business?
Website: www.valentinesdive.com
Email: dive@valentinesdive.com
Phone: 242-333-2080
Facebook: @Valentines.Dive.Center
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
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.
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