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Exclusive Tobago offer from Regaldive and Extra Divers

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There’s never been a better time to visit Tobago. With spectacular drift diving, outstanding coral formations and nutrient-rich waters that explode with marine life, Tobago is fast becoming one of Regaldive’s most popular destinations. Add to this the contrasting choice of Atlantic or Caribbean diving, renowned Caribbean hospitality and a range of great value resorts and flight options, and Tobago really does tick the perfect holiday box for every diver.

Regaldive guests booking their 2015 holiday before 30th June 2015 can save up to £100 off Tobago holidays when diving with Extra Divers and staying at the Nabucco’s Resort Speyside Inn. This attractive and popular divers’ hotel is located at the edge of Speyside village and offers amazing views across the water to the nature reserves of Little Tobago and Goat Island. Guests looking for more luxury should consider the beautiful boutique hotel Blue Waters Inn, also close to Speyside, and they can still benefit from 10% saving on five day dive packages when diving with Extra Divers.

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Guests staying in Speyside will find themselves right in the thick of the best Atlantic diving action. The concentration of over 20 excellent dive sites just a few minutes boat ride from Speyside has made Tobago’s reputation as a dive destination. Kelleston Drain / Little Tobago Drift is a favourite dive on the island and offers one of the best chances of seeing Manta Rays, as well as a close-up view of what is considered to be the world’s largest brain coral. Similarly, the reef at Japanese Gardens is packed with corals, swirling reef fish and sponges of all types and is named after its numerous sea whip corals which resemble bonsai trees. This exceptionally pretty site is a justifiable reward after a thrilling passage carried along by the brisk current through a crevasse at the so-called Kamikaze Cut.

Regaldive guests diving with Extra Divers will benefit from the team’s many years’ experience on Tobago and can also dive some of the highlights of the Caribbean coast with Extra Divers sister operation at the other end of the island. Dive packs can be split across the two centres and Regaldive can offer 10% saving on diving packages at Extra Divers Black Rock which is located at the Grafton Beach Resort on Stonehaven Beach, a short drive from the tourist hub of Crown Point.

Tobago has not developed as rapidly as some other Caribbean islands and divers looking for a laidback and unspoilt destination will find much to enthral. The island offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy spectacular natural wonders above water, as well as below, with lush rainforests, picturesque waterfalls and incredible birdlife. With new flight options* and resort developments, there’s no doubt that tourism to Tobago is on the up… just be sure to book a holiday there soon to catch the magic.

For further information or to book, visit www.regaldive.co.uk or call +44 (0)1353 659999.

*Virgin Atlantic has resumed flights to Tobago from London Gatwick Airport since March 2015. Departures are weekly between March and October, and twice weekly between October and March. Flights to Tobago are also available from the UK with British Airways.

Marine Life & Conservation Blogs

Creature Feature: Undulate Ray

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In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.

This month we’re looking at the Undulate Ray. Easily identified by its beautiful, ornate pattern, the Undulate Ray gets its name from the undulating patterns of lines and spots on its dorsal side.

This skate is usually found on sandy or muddy sea floors, down to about 200 m deep, although it is more commonly found shallower. They can grow up to 90 cm total length. Depending on the size of the individual, their diet can range from shrimps to crabs.

Although sometimes called the Undulate Ray, this is actually a species of skate, meaning that, as all true skates do, they lay eggs. The eggs are contained in keratin eggcases – the same material that our hair and nails are made up of! These eggcases are also commonly called mermaid’s purses and can be found washed up on beaches all around the UK. If you find one, be sure to take a picture and upload your find to the Great Eggcase Hunt – the Shark Trust’s flagship citizen science project.

It is worth noting that on the south coasts, these eggcases can be confused with those of the Spotted Ray, especially as they look very similar and the ranges overlap, so we sometimes informally refer to them as ‘Spundulates’.

Scientific Name: Raja undulata

Family: Rajidae

Maximum Size: 90cm (total length)

Diet: shrimps and crabs

Distribution: found around the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea.

Habitat: shelf waters down to 200m deep.

Conservation Status : As a commercially exploited species, the Undulate Ray is a recovering species in some areas. The good thing is that they have some of the most comprehensive management measures of almost any elasmobranch species, with both minimum and maximum landing sizes as well as a closed season. Additionally, targeting is entirely prohibited in some areas. They are also often caught as bycatch in various fisheries – in some areas they can be landed whilst in others they must be discarded.

IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website


Image Credits: Banner – Sheila Openshaw; Illustration – Marc Dando

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Guarding Against Coral Invaders

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Protecting (Dutch) Caribbean Reefs from Unomia stolonifera

Recent reports highlight the concerning spread of the invasive soft coral, Unomia stolonifera, currently devastating Venezuela’s marine ecosystems and detected in Cuba. With the potential threat of its expansion to the (Dutch) Caribbean islands, urgent action and awareness are essential to safeguard marine biodiversity and local economies from possible catastrophic consequences.

Invasive species are animals or plants from another region of the world that don’t belong in their new environment. These species can have major ecological effects by decimating native flora or fauna. They can also cause large economic losses and impact human health. Invasive species also pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems worldwide, including the Dutch Caribbean. Among these invaders is the octocoral species Unomia stolonifera or “Pulsing Xenia”, originally from the Indo-Pacific. With its rapid growth and lack of natural predators, this species can outcompete native species and disrupt fragile marine habitats such as seagrass beds and coral reefs.

Background

The invasive soft coral U. stolonifera was first identified in 2014, off the coast of Venezuela. It is believed to have been introduced via the illegal aquarium trade.  Since this species can reproduce sexually and asexually (or fragment), even small pieces can regenerate to spread.  Once introduced it quickly took over shallow reefs and hard substrate at depths of 0-50 meters, outcompeting local corals and seagrass for space.  Follow on surveys found that this coral species exhibited average percentage cover as high as 80%, vastly outcompeting native corals. In highly colonized areas, fish are disappearing due to loss of habitats.

In 2022, during a survey conducted in Cuba by the University of Havana, an unknown octocoral was discovered which was later identified as the invasive Unomia stolonifera. It is suspected that the coral larvae arrived in ballast water from fossil fuel ships originating from Venezuela, as nearby sites adjacent to Venezuelan ports have been heavily affected by the invasion.

How to help

Prevention through continuous monitoring, particularly in high-risk areas such as marine harbors and oil facilities, is paramount. Early detection plays a pivotal role in mitigating the threat posed by Unomia stolonifera.

The public’s involvement and awareness are also vital. Local communities, recreational divers, tourists, and all stakeholders are urged to participate in early detection efforts by reporting sightings (photo, location and date) of this invasive coral to their respective Protected Area Management Organization (PMO’s)- the Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA)STINAPA BonaireCARMABI Curaçao Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF)Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM) and St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA). If an invaded area is confirmed, follow the recommendations by the local PMO’s.

Keys to Success

Despite the challenges, early detection is key to mitigating the threat posed by Unomia stolonifera. With continued vigilance, research, and community engagement, there is hope for containing this potential issue before it becomes a major threat.

About the DCNA

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) supports (science) communication and outreach in the Dutch Caribbean region by making nature related (scientific) information more widely available through amongst others the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, DCNA’s news platform BioNews and through the press. This article contains the results from several scientific studies but the studies themselves are not DCNA studies. No rights can be derived from the content. DCNA is not liable for the content and the in(direct) impacts resulting from publishing this article.

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