News
Lovin’ Saint Lucia: Diving in the Shadow of the Iconic Pitons (Part 1)

Whilst we have been lucky enough to dive in much of the Caribbean, Saint Lucia was still on our wish list. Until November, when we got a chance to visit this beautiful island on a 6-night diving trip that would see us enjoy incredible scenery both above and below the waves. We were able to sample three different hotels, dined at a host of local eateries, spoke to local school kids about the ocean and even took a tour into the rainforest canopy. Find out all about this trip over this series of three blogs on Scubaverse.
The Pitons are the most recognisable volcanic peaks in the Caribbean and are the symbol of Saint Lucia. Our first couple of days of diving would be in their shadow and what a backdrop they make. They are in the south of the island, and as we were based in the north, we had a 30-40 minute boat ride to take in the stunning coastline. We watched as pelicans and brown boobies hunted in the shallow water just off the coast, as we put our dive gear together.
Alas extremely heavy rain the day before we arrived had caused havoc with the visibility. The more northern dive sites were to remain un-divable all week. Even the southern dive sites we were heading to now had suffered. We were not holding out much hope for our images. But as we dropped below the surface at our fist site – Superman Drift, we were stunned at the healthy and colourful reef that greeted us. This must be a very special dive in good conditions, as we were delighted with it even though the vis was down to just around 10 meters.
- Beautiful corals are a feature of diving in the south of Saint Lucia
- A moray eel followed throughout the dive
- Our guide surfaces in front of the Pitons
- Colour and marine life feature heavily
- Schools of fish swim over the reef
- Glassfish in cavern
- Our dive boat with Pitons in background
- Diver and elkhorn coral
At Keyhole Pinnacles, a moray eel took a shine to us and accompanied us for the majority of the dive. Just when we thought it had settled and found a crevice in the reef that suited, he or she would see us move away and come out free swimming alongside us.
Fairyland and Anste Chastanet also delighted us with sponges, coral and marine life covering every inch of our dives. It was wonderful to see large, healthy elkhorn and staghorn corals. The swim through at the end of the dive, filled with glassfish, was a real treat to finish off this part of our diving.
Saint Lucia is very well known for its beauty. It has to be the most stunning of Caribbean islands with its lush rainforest covering the hills and mountains and tumbling down to the white beaches and sparkling blue water. But for us it was the warmth of the people that put Saint Lucia firmly in our hearts. Our crew at Eastern Caribbean Diving could not have been more helpful and the greeting we got from every member of staff at the Bay Gardens Marina Haven made us feel so welcome.
Nick and Caroline were hosted by:
News
Indo siren destroyed by fire

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.
Blogs
The healing powers of adaptive diving

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.
-
Blogs2 months ago
Discover Peace and Tranquillity in Egypt’s Eastern Desert and its Amazing Red Sea
-
News1 month ago
Emperor Echo liveaboard sustains “irreversible damage” in lightning storm at Fury Shoals
-
Blogs2 months ago
A Flying Visit to Nusa Penida, Bali
-
Blogs2 weeks ago
My week on Scuba Scene: simply the best Red Sea liveaboard experience
-
News2 months ago
2023 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition Announced
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months ago
Book Review: The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives
-
Equipment2 months ago
Oceanic+ Now Has Freedive Mode on Apple Watch Ultra
-
News2 months ago
Miss Scuba UK on Bridging the Gender Gap in Commercial & Recreational Diving