News
Five diving brands collaborate to promote Ocean Exploration, Awareness, and Inclusivity
Five of scuba diving’s leading brands – Apeks, Fourth Element, IQSub, Paralenz, and Shearwater have launched a collaboration to promote exploration, ocean awareness, and inclusivity within the sport of diving. The first outcome of this partnership, a short film, “Unexplored” shatters the misconception that cave diving, often referred to as the most dangerous sport in the world, is reserved for men.
As the first-ever collaboration of this scope in the diving industry, the project brings together innovators in the field of imaging, instrumentation, equipment, and clothing to present a progressive approach to some of the challenges faced by the sport and the environment. Increasing “ocean awareness” is understood by the participating brands to be one of the industry’s most essential responsibilities. Consequently, the mission is to initiate and catalyze stronger collaborations within the industry, and greater inclusivity of the diving community to become ambassadors of the ocean.
At the core of the partnership is exploration. Our oceans remain relatively unexplored: an estimated 80% of the underwater realm and 90% of underwater caves remain undocumented. However, while NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) budget for the fiscal year 2019 stands at $21.5 billion, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) receives only $42 million for ocean exploration and research.
“Growing a general interest in underwater exploration, for example through the promotion of cave diving, will increase the amount of ocean ambassadors to address pressing issues. Technical divers are a great asset to marine research, as they access some of the deepest and darkest water-filled parts of our planet,” says Jacob Dalhoff Steensen, Partnership Manager at Paralenz and key partnership initiator.
The first outcome of the partnership, a short film entitled “Unexplored,” follows two technical divers exploring the Tortuga Cave in Tulum, Mexico. It sheds light on myths and stereotypes about technical diving, presenting cave diving as a pursuit of something more spiritual than dangerous, with a positive message about inclusivity.
“I wanted to challenge the stereotype that technical divers are usually men,” declared Maria Bollerup who was joined by long-time diving partner Rannvá Jørmundsson in the film. “The diving industry and technical diving is very open. I see more and more women and female teams at the technical dive sites. It’s refreshing. However, away from these sites, the external image of the sport is much different.”
When Maria and Rannvá told Jacob Dalhoff Steensen about their ambition, he was thrilled. “It’s great to hear the community speak up. The idea for the film emerged directly from the community. Their enthusiasm to get people interested in technical diving is contagious.”
The partnership will continue working together to increase awareness for our ocean through future projects. “It’s exciting to be part of this project,” said Jim Standing, co-founder of Fourth Element. “Initiatives like this show that together our organizations can achieve more than they can working in isolation. We’re looking forward to the next project.”
News
Dive Worldwide Announces Bite-Back as its Charity of the Year
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
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
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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