Connect with us
background

News

Legend of the Statue Documentary Earns Global Recognition and Multiple Accolades

Published

on

Legend of the Statue

Legend of the Statue, a compelling short documentary produced in collaboration with Diveheart, explores the profound journey of war veteran and adaptive scuba diver Gabe Spataro. The film tells the inspiring story of Gabe’s role in installing the legendary “Christ of the Deep” statue in the 1960s and his remarkable return to diving decades later—after losing his sight. Now blind, Gabe rediscovers the underwater marvel he helped bring to life, thanks to Diveheart’s adaptive diving programs.

Legend of the Statue

Legend of the Statue combines powerful storytelling, stunning underwater footage, and heartfelt interviews to celebrate resilience, community, and healing—earning acclaim and awards at top international film festivals. The documentary is now available to watch on YouTube, making this inspiring story accessible to audiences around the world. News articles and more background on Gabe’s story are also available on Diveheart’s website.

 Official Selections & Award Highlights

  • One Ocean Film Tour (Official Selection)
  • International Christian Film and Musical Festival (Official Selection)
  • Best Shorts Competition (Official Selection)
  • Chicago Indie Film Awards (Official Selection)
  • LA Film Week (Official Selection)
  • Venice Shorts (Official Selection)
  • Cine Paris (Official Selection)
  • New York Film & Cinematography Awards (Best Cinematography in Short Documentary)
  • New York Film & Cinematography Awards (Best Short Documentary)

Diveheart Founder’s Statement

“Seeing Gabe Spataro return to the ocean and reunite with the statue he helped install is one of the most powerful moments in Diveheart’s history,” said Jim Elliott, founder and president of Diveheart. “His journey embodies everything Diveheart stands for—resilience, healing, and the power of possibility. This film reminds the world that disability doesn’t define a person’s ability to inspire or make an impact.”

About Diveheart

Diveheart is a nonprofit organization that uses scuba therapy to build confidence, independence, and self-esteem in children, veterans, and adults with disabilities. By enabling adaptive divers like Gabe Spataro to rediscover their capabilities beneath the surface, Diveheart opens the door to transformative experiences that change lives.

Contact:

Jim Elliott, Diveheart Founder & President

Jim.Elliott@diveheart.org

www.diveheart.org

Jeff is a multiple award winning, freelance TV cameraman/film maker and author. Having made both terrestrial and marine films, it is the world's oceans and their conservation that hold his passion with over 10.000 dives in his career. Having filmed for international television companies around the world and author of two books on underwater filming, Jeff is Author/Programme Specialist for the 'Underwater Action Camera' course for the RAID training agency.Jeff has experienced the rapid advances in technology for diving as well as camera equipment and has also experienced much of our planet’s marine life, witnessing, first hand, many of the changes that have occurred to the wildlife and environment during that time.Jeff runs bespoke underwater video and editing workshops for the complete beginner up to the budding professional.

Comments

News

PADI Launches World’s First Scuba Technician Distinctive Specialty Course with Octo Diver

Published

on

Scuba Technician

Octo Diver, in collaboration with PADI, have introduced the first-ever PADI Scuba Technician Distinctive Specialty Course, designed to raise the standard of dive equipment knowledge and safety in the scuba diving industry.

Scuba Technician

This 7-day hands-on course is open to all certified divers, dive professionals, and dive centre/resort staff, and focuses on vital life-support equipment servicing.

The course modules include:

  • Scuba Regulator Servicing (Diaphragm & Piston types)

  • 2nd Stage Servicing (Balanced & Unbalanced)

  • K-Valve Cylinder Valve Maintenance

  • Scuba Cylinder Visual Inspection

  • Power Inflator Servicing

  • Oxygen Cleaning for Scuba Equipment

  • Scuba Compressor Service & Maintenance

  • Standard Service & Repair Reporting

It is developed by Octo Diver’s professional team, led by a certified PADI Scuba Technician Instructor with a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering and over 15 years of experience in the diving industry.

Scuba Technician

This professional-level course can be conducted at Octo Diver’s classroom in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, or hosted at dive centers worldwide. Hosting dive centers receive exclusive benefits, including high commission, special course rates, and free seats.

Upon completion, students will receive certification from PADI along with official technician credentials.

Octo Diver is currently looking for dive centers and resorts globally to host this course. Let’s work together to make diving safer and more professional — Be a Certified PADI Scuba Technician.

For more information, visit www.Scuba-Technician.com

Continue Reading

Blogs

Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort – A Hidden Gem in the Northern Moluccas

Published

on

Northern Moluccas

Far from the usual tourist trails, on a small island in the Northern Moluccas, lies a place of extraordinary beauty: Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort. Nestled between dense tropical jungle and a powdery white sand beach, the resort offers a peaceful escape immersed in nature at its purest. With panoramic views of the turquoise sea and direct access to some of Indonesia’s most untouched reefs, it’s a dream come true for those seeking tranquility above and adventure below the surface.

Northern Moluccas

The resort features just 16 spacious beachfront bungalows, each only steps from the ocean. At its heart is a beautifully designed open-air restaurant, built entirely from natural materials, where guests can enjoy a diverse selection of Indonesian and international cuisine.

Northern Moluccas

But what truly sets Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort apart is the underwater world that surrounds it. The reefs of the Northern Moluccas are among the most pristine and biodiverse in all of Indonesia – and remarkably, they remain largely untouched. Thanks to the remote location, dive boats are often the only ones around, giving divers the rare privilege of exploring vibrant coral gardens, dramatic walls, and colorful drop-offs in complete solitude.

Northern Moluccas

Marine life here is nothing short of spectacular. Blacktip reef sharks are spotted on nearly every dive, while nutrient-rich walls attract sea turtles, schools of jacks, and bumphead parrotfish. For macro enthusiasts, the area is a treasure trove of rare and photogenic species, including pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, and several types of octopus and shrimp.

Northern Moluccas

One of the region’s most extraordinary highlights is the Halmahera Walking Shark, a rare species endemic to this part of Indonesia. First described by scientists only in recent years, this small shark is unlike anything else in the ocean. Rather than swimming, it uses its muscular pectoral and pelvic fins to “walk” along the seabed. These elusive yet fascinating creatures are most often encountered on night dives – and witnessing one in the wild is a truly unforgettable experience.

Northern Moluccas

The reefscapes surrounding Spice Island Resort are equally impressive. Flourishing hard coral formations spread across the seabed, interspersed with vivid sponges, large sea fans, and colorful soft corals. The biodiversity is astonishing, and the visual spectacle underwater is a dream for photographers. Most importantly, the reefs here are healthy—a rare treasure in today’s marine environment. With minimal tourism and careful management, the ecosystem remains intact, vibrant, and teeming with life.

Northern Moluccas

Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort is more than just a dive destination – it’s a retreat for those seeking peace and a haven for underwater explorers looking to experience the authentic magic of Indonesia’s last true frontier.

Book your next diving adventure at Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort with Extra Divers!

info@extradivers.org

Continue Reading

E-Newsletter Sign up!

Instagram Feed

Shortcode field is empty!Shortcode field is empty!

Popular