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“Guardian of the Reef” Sculptor to donate 30% of sales to Philippines relief effort

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Canadian-based sculptor Simon Morris, creator of the new “Guardian of the Reef” bronze statue that was unveiled at DEMA recently, has committed to donating 30% of the sale price on selected items from his website to the Philippines typhoon relief effort.

Here are the items that Simon is including in his offer:

Hang Time 1/4 life scale

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Hang Time is the price that diving pioneers pay for going deep and staying long in their quest for exploration, knowledge, and adventure. “Hang Time” the sculpture represents a fully equipped and properly configured Technical Diver ascending from a deep dive. I travelled to Florida in 1998 to take a cave diving certification course in preparation for the creation of this sculpture.

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Crossroads – Manatees

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This mother and calf Manatee sculpture captures the beauty and slow moving grace of these gentle creatures.

As their habitat shrinks and they come into more frequent contact with humans, their future and ours are at a crossroads. I have tried to capture the hope for the coming generations fostered by the mother for the calf.

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Dofleini Domain

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The Giant Pacific Octopus of British Columbia and Puget Sound is the largest octopus species in the world. Called “Enteroctopus Dofleini” after the german biologist who named them in the early 20th century, they are territorial and the mothers are very protective of their eggs. The original clay sculpture was built draped over a real rock, then both were molded and cast together, to give an authentic “in situ” look.

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Orca Spirit

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A large bull orca embodies the spirit of the Gulf Islands in British Columbia where I live. The patina on this piece reflects the sun dappling on his back through the rich green waters of our Emerald Sea. It is mounted on a museum quality walnut base.

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Trilogy 1 – Humpback Whale Calf

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First of three sculptures in the related Trilogy Series, Trilogy # 1 is a single humpback whale calf incorporating an abstract bronze section, mounted on a walnut base.

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Mermaid 1/12 scale

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Based on the famous 9-foot Mermaid sculpture placed under water at Powell River BC and Sunset House at Grand Cayman. At one-twelfth scale of the full size sculpture, this 9″ tall figure stands 14 1/2″ high on the included unpolished travertine base.

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The Navigator

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This life size bust is taken from the same mold used to create the life size memorial sculpture commemorating the seafaring people of Grand Cayman. Unveiled on May 10th, 2003 by HRH Prince Edward at Georgetown Grand Cayman, the full sculpture shows a father and son team on a schooner, with the son at the helm, and father fixing their position with a sextant. This bust includes the head, hands, and sextant, with a portion of shoulders and chest. Mounted on a custom black steel base. Each piece signed and numbered by the sculptor.

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Mermaid 1/3 scale

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Based on the famous 9-foot Mermaid sculpture placed under water at Powell River BC and Sunset House at Grand Cayman. At one-third scale of the full size figure, this 36″ tall sculpture stands 60″ high on the included Walnut pyramid base.

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If you would like to help the Philippines relief effort by purchasing one of these sculptures you can contact Simon directly by emailing him at simon@sculptorsimonmorris.com.

The “Guardian of the Reef” Sculpture will be sunk at Divetech’s Lighthouse Point resort on Grand Cayman on Jan 26th.

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Indo siren destroyed by fire

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Indo Siren

Indo Siren, a vessel from the Master Liveaboards Fleet, has been destroyed by a fire this morning. Thankfully, all guests and crew members are safe.

Master Liveaboards have released the following statement:

During our current cruise in Raja Ampat, on the morning of 30th November, a fire broke
out on Indo Siren. At the current time we are still assessing the events around the incident,
and will be working with authorities, so cannot currently comment further.

All guests and staff departed the boat, without further incident. They are now with our
ground crew who have organised accommodations while we assist with all their other
needs going forwards.

We are currently evaluating the issues created by the fire on upcoming trips. Guests who
are likely to be affected by enforced cancellations or changes will be contacted in due time
when plans are finalised.

We are incredibly grateful that this incident was not more serious and that everyone who
was onboard, both crew and guests, are safe and well.

masterliveaboards.com

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The healing powers of adaptive diving

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PADI highlights how scuba diving helps enrich and heal lives

This International Disabilities Day (3rd December) PADI is reminding the world of the healing aspects that the ocean (or any body of water) can provide and how important it is for helping those with physical or mental challenges improve their wellbeing. From simply being within close proximity of it or diving beneath the salty surface for an underwater adventure, the ocean has the power to heal.

Regardless of your age, ability, or even limitations, the ocean can benefit us physically, emotionally and even spiritually. This is why PADI is on a mission to make those benefits accessible to all, with their Adaptive Techniques Diving Course in the hope that all of humanity can experience the full transformational power of the ocean.

While many are more familiar with traditional therapies, diving, mermaiding or freediving, has changed the lives of those around the world by connecting with the water and enabled them to conquer mental or physical perceived limitations.

The PADI Adaptive Techniques Specialty course is unique in that it’s a pro-level specialty designed to educate and empower PADI Professionals who wish to make scuba and freediver training more accessible.

Through classroom, confined water and open water workshops, dive professionals further cultivate their ability to be student-centered and prescriptive in approach when adapting techniques to meet diver needs. This hands-on training increases awareness of differing abilities and explores adaptive teaching techniques to apply when training divers with physical and mental challenges. PADI Pros learn to adapt course content to accommodate virtually any student diver.

PADI Members Helping those with Disabilities

This International Disabilities Day PADI highlights a shining example of a member who is championing teaching those with disabilities how to dive.

DiveHeart Empowers Individuals Worldwide Through Adaptive Scuba Programmes

DiveHeart, a PADI Dive Centre founded by PADI Scuba Instructor Jim Elliott in 2001, continues to revolutionise the world of adaptive scuba. Using zero gravity and adaptive scuba, DiveHeart aims to instil confidence, foster independence, and elevate self-esteem among individuals facing physical and cognitive challenges.

DiveHeart has established Adaptive Scuba programmes across North America and the Caribbean and reaches global destinations including Malaysia, Australia, China, Israel, and the UK. Through a combination of donations, grants, and strategic partnerships, DiveHeart ensures inclusivity by providing services to children, veterans, individuals with ALS, autism, and others, irrespective of their abilities or financial means.

A significant milestone in DiveHeart’s journey was the hosting of the inaugural Adaptive Scuba Symposium in 2009, held at the prestigious Our World Underwater event in the Midwest. This pioneering symposium attracted a diverse array of experts, including researchers, physicians, professors, therapists, adaptive dive professionals, and participants from across the globe. The event delved into the current state and the future of adaptive scuba, scuba therapy, the adaptive scuba market, the latest in adaptive scuba training techniques and the latest in scuba therapy research.

At the forefront of adaptive scuba initiatives, DiveHeart offers specialised training courses for certified scuba divers to become adaptive dive buddies. Every diver with a disability is paired with two dive buddies to form a cohesive dive team, ensuring a safe and empowering experience.

DiveHeart further hosts regular pool diving programmes catering to divers of all skill levels nationwide and organises immersive week-long adaptive diving trips to ocean locations like Cozumel, Roatán, and others at least three times annually.

Jim Elliot, the Founder and President of DiveHeart, a scuba diving instructor since 1997, recognised the transformative potential of adaptive diving for individuals with physical disabilities. Witnessing firsthand the holistic benefits encompassing physical fitness, emotional well-being, and mental health, Elliot embarked on a mission to make scuba diving accessible and empowering for all.

DiveHeart remains committed to breaking barriers and creating opportunities for individuals facing challenges, enabling them to explore the vast wonders of the underwater world while unlocking their true potential. For more information on DiveHeart and its impactful initiatives, visit www.diveheart.org

People Who Have Healed from Diving

For people with disabilities—whether they use a wheelchair, have a sight impairment or a neurological condition like cerebral palsy—scuba diving can be a fun activity that offers freedom and mobility in the weightlessness of the water. PADI’s Adaptive Support Diver specialty is a course designed to teach friends and family adaptive techniques for diving with a buddy who has a disability. Many students take the course to support a particular person in their life, and the instructor can work with them on the specific skills they require.

Ryan Chen: Diving to Heal the Mind, Body and Spirit 

Ryan is a PADI Open Water Scuba Diver who was in a tragic accident as a teenager that left him paralysed. He found healing and clarity through scuba diving with his dive buddy Kent Yoshimura – so much so that during one scuba diving trip he and Kent ended up creating their current company Neuro Gum – a collection of functional gum and mints that help you get energised, calm or focused that has now led him to be named on Forbes 30 under 30.

“Scuba diving was one of the ways I learned that I can do anything, I just have to do it differently,” Chen says, “Scuba diving is one of those things that can change your whole framework. There’s no cooler feeling than taking that first breath underwater. All of a sudden you have this superpower, to breathe underwater and explore.”

Scuba diving continues to be his physical and mental therapy he continually seeks out amidst his busy entrepreneurial life. Now, with Neuro a national success and leading wellness brand in the United States, Chen has kept up his diving, and remained close to PADI as an organisation. Neuro even has a collaboration with PADI’s coral reef restoration project coming up—a special pack of Neuro, with proceeds going to PADI’s non-profit foundation.

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