News
Help save the world’s seahorses!
Help The Seahorse Trust save the planet’s seahorses!
The Seahorse is an extraordinary little creature, and it is this extraordinariness that is the reason it is now one of the world’s endangered animals.
People want to keep them as pets because they are unusual and exotic-looking; unthinking people want to make a bit of money from them by creating jewellery and taxidermy ornaments; people in some parts of the world still think powdered seahorse is a good treatment for asthma, throat infections, insomnia and abdominal pain. Then there are others who simply harvest seahorses illegally from the wild, in their millions, and sell them by the kilo online as a money-making exercise. This trade in seahorses is driving them to extinction – in 25 – 30 years there may be no seahorses left in the wild.
The curio trade has to be properly policed and offenders brought to account for their crimes – seahorses are protected under Appendix II of CITES and it is an offence to trade in them without the relevant CITES paperwork. Yet, all over the internet, particularly on Facebook and Etsy, seahorses and seahorse products are openly traded. Seahorses die an awful death, baked alive and suffocated in full sun. Is that piece of seahorse jewellery really worth this horror?
The Seahorse Trust is a very small charity totally dedicated to helping save the world’s seahorses. They have years of research and experience with seahorses and have recently started the new Stop the Curio Trade campaign, with particular emphasis at the moment to persuading Facebook and Etsy to remove seahorse sellers from its platform. Some of the sellers on Facebook are selling seahorses in vast numbers. They have succeeded with Ebay, Amazon, Pre-loved, Shpock and Alibaba – these two other giants of the online marketplace need to stop as well and reduce the demand for seahorses.
But they need your help!
Donations – The Seahorse Trust is reliant on donations from seahorse lovers to help fund their work – they advise projects all around the world, including 7 governments, organisations and individuals on all aspects of seahorse education and conservation. They have volunteers in over 30 countries, some scuba diving in the seas to help them record seahorse sightings for the seahorse surveys, others looking out for seahorses for them in seahorse surveys in the sea and for the various illegal trades such as the curio and medicine trades. This year they are hoping to start a project in April/May in Jordan to assist the Jordanian government on seahorse surveys, education and captive breeding of their native seahorses for release back into the wild. This is a tri-country project which includes Jordan, Ireland and The Seahorse Trust.
One of their main projects is the World Seahorse Survey. This was started back in 1994 and it is now the longest-running continuous survey of its kind in the world. The information from this survey is used for the conservation and education about seahorses throughout the world.
You can donate via the Paypal link (or, if you have a Paypal account of your own, you can send a donation directly to their email address – theseahorsetrust@gmail.com). You can also donate the cost of a cup of coffee or two via Ko-fi. The Seahorse Trust donation page has a variety of other ways to donate (including by good old-fashioned cheque!).
Volunteer – If you can volunteer in any way, please do get in touch. Maybe you can do a fundraiser or help with seahorse surveys, for example.
Join The Seahorse Trust – become a valued member of the Seahorse Trust – www.
Adopt a Seahorse – The Seahorse Trust has a number of beautiful seahorses for whom your regular donation of just £4 a month will help towards not just their their protection but other seahorses too – www.
Support them on social media – support them on Facebook by joining the page, sharing their posts and encouraging others to join. This is a fantastic way to share seahorse news and the plight of this species – www.facebook.com/
Facebook Trade – They have an additional page dedicated to stopping the trade in seahorses on Facebook so please do join and share that page too – www.facebook.com/
For more information about The Seahorse Trust please visit their website by clicking here.
Diving Talks, Portugal’s internationally acclaimed diving conference, has officially become the second most visible diving event online worldwide, according to aggregated performance data across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other digital platforms.
With a rapidly growing digital presence that includes over 365,000 YouTube views and more than 25,000 social media visitors, Diving Talks has solidified its position as a global reference in diving content, storytelling, and thought leadership.
“In just a few short years, we’ve built more than a conference — we’ve built a global conversation about the future of diving,” said Arlindo Serrão, spokesperson for Diving Talks. “From deep cave expeditions to marine conservation, our speakers are some of the most accomplished and inspiring figures in the underwater world — and now their stories are reaching a truly global audience.”
Global Ranking
Based on comparative visibility across digital media, the current ranking of the top five diving events by online visibility is as follows:
1. ADEX Asia Dive Expo – Long-established brand with multi-platform digital reach across Asia
2. Diving Talks – The fastest-growing platform in Europe, with unmatched video engagement and curated speaker content
3. DEMA Show – The largest trade-only show in the world, with strong B2B digital presence
4. boot Düsseldorf (Dive Segment) – Massive event footprint, with diving as a key but not exclusive focus
5. Salon de la Plongée (Paris Dive Show) – A dominant force in Francophone markets, growing steadily online
An Invitation to Brands
“For dive gear manufacturers, training agencies, destinations, and ocean-focused brands, this is your moment,” added [Spokesperson Name]. “Diving Talks has become one of the most powerful digital platforms in the diving world. If you want your message to be seen, heard, and respected globally — this is where you show up.”
Sponsorship and digital placement opportunities for the upcoming edition are now open, offering brands high-visibility integration into Diving Talks’ growing multimedia ecosystem.
An Expanding Digital Footprint
Diving Talks’ rise has been fueled by a video-first strategy, high-profile speaker interviews, and deep audience engagement through debates, lightning talks, and behind-the-scenes content.
Its YouTube channel is now the most-watched in the diving conference space, attracting both recreational divers and technical specialists from around the globe.
The conference continues to grow its presence across platforms and is investing in new digital initiatives to further expand its global community.
Looking Ahead
With the next edition already in the works and an ambitious content strategy in place, Diving Talks is poised to challenge for the top spot in online visibility — setting a new standard for how diving events connect with the world.
Contact:
Arlindo Serrao
arlindo.serrao@portugaldive.com
www.divingtalks.com
The DAN.PADI programme brings ocean knowledge to all through a free eLearning platform
The DAN.PADI Ocean Literacy Project has been officially recognised as an Ocean Decade Action by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, joining the prestigious Ocean Literacy With All (OLWA) programme under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
This endorsement is a significant recognition of the scientific value and social relevance of the programme. It also plays a vital role in extending the project’s reach and impact, helping to spread marine culture across all ages, languages and nationalities – a goal at the heart of DAN Europe and PADI’s shared vision to achieve balance between humanity and ocean.
The DAN.PADI Ocean Literacy Project is an international educational initiative designed to raise awareness and empower younger generations to become stewards of the ocean. Through a dynamic e-learning experience, its mission is to make ocean knowledge accessible and engaging by combining science, sustainability and storytelling. The programme features high quality content developed by DAN Europe in collaboration with university professors and marine science researchers. Available in English and Italian, it is currently being used by DAN and PADI instructors in schools, dive centres and youth initiatives.
It consists of four core learning modules:
- Citizen Science – Encouraging students to take an active part in marine research.
- Plastic Pollution – highlighting the impact of human waste on marine ecosystems.
- Climate Change – Understanding the ocean’s role in the global climate crisis.
- Underwater Archaeology – exploring history through underwater cultural heritage.
The project is based on a successful initiative – Scuola D’Amare – launched in Italy in 2019 by a local PADI association, with the approval of MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education). 180 PADI instructors were trained to deliver the programme, which used diving as a gateway to environmental education and discovery. In just five years, Scuola D’Amare has introduced over 80,000 students in 17 regions to the wonders of the Mediterranean Sea.
From this successful start, the project evolved into the DAN.PADI Ocean Literacy Project – a scalable, international programme that embeds ocean literacy into diving education. The aim is not only to equip students with environmental knowledge, but also to instill a deep, personal sense of responsibility for ocean conservation.
Now, with UNESCO’s official endorsement, the programme is expanding its original scope to provide wider access to ocean education for people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. With freely accessible content, the programme pushes the boundaries of traditional learning environments and aims to inspire curiosity and promote awareness of the ocean far beyond schools and into communities around the world.
This collaboration brings together DAN Europe’s expertise in dive safety and scientific outreach with PADI’s global reach, supported by a network of 128,000 dive instructors and more than 30 million certified divers in 186 countries over the last 50 years. Together, the two organisations aim to embed ocean literacy into the educational journeys of new generations and global communities, promoting sustainable ocean use, climate action and collective responsibility.
“UNESCO’s support is a powerful boost to our mission,” said Laura Marroni, Exec. Vice President of DAN Europe. “It strengthens our ability to spread marine culture on a global scale – reaching new audiences, in new places, and inspiring a deeper connection with the sea.”
“This recognition by UNESCO reinforces the critical role divers play as ambassadors for ocean protection,” said David Murray, Managing Director of PADI EMEA. “Through the DAN.PADI Ocean Literacy Project, we are making ocean education more inclusive, accessible, and impactful—empowering individuals of all ages to become true Ocean Torchbearers. Together, we’re creating positive ocean change in everyday life, not just for divers, but for the global community.”
Go to https://oceanliteracy.edu.daneurope.org/index to access the programme.
The platform is also accessible via the TalentLMS app, available for iOS and Android. When using the app for the first time, mobile users must enter the full domain https://oceanliteracy.edu.daneurope.org/ to log in and begin their learning journey. Whether learning on desktop or mobile, course progress is automatically synced across devices for a seamless experience.
About DAN Europe
DAN Europe (Divers Alert Network Europe) is an international non-profit medical and research organisation devoted to the health and safety of divers. Since 1983, it has provided medical assistance, scientific research, education and innovative safety initiatives to the global diving community. DAN Europe is also an advocate for environmental responsibility and the responsible practice of diving.
About PADI
PADI® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) is the largest purpose-driven diving organization with a global network of 6,600 dive centers and resorts, 128,000 professional members and more than 30 million certified divers to date. Committed to our blue planet, PADI makes the wonder of the underwater world accessible to all, empowering people around the world to experience, explore and take meaningful action, as Ocean TorchbearersTM, to protect the world beneath the surface. For over 50 years, PADI is undeniably The Way the World Learns to Dive®, setting the standard for the highest quality dive training, underwater safety and conservation initiatives while evolving the sport of diving into a passionate lifestyle. For divers by divers, PADI is obsessed with transforming lives and, with its global foundation, PADI AWARETM, creating positive ocean change. Seek Adventure. Save the Ocean.
News2 months agoAqualung Group Enters Court-Supervised Reorganization Process
- Gear Reviews2 months ago
Gear Review: Garmin Descent G2 Dive Computer (Watch Video)
- News3 months ago
Saeed Rashid Joins Scubaverse as Underwater Photography Editor
- Marine Life & Conservation3 months ago
Book Review: Shark The Illustrated Biography
- News3 months ago
The Revillagigedo Islands: a Pelagic Paradise
- Blogs3 months ago
Swimming with Sharks in the Bahamas: My Most Magical Dive Yet
- Marine Life & Conservation1 month ago
David Attenborough’s Ocean: A Review
- News3 months ago
Shannon Moran Joins the Scubaverse Underwater Photography Team
