News
Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center now offers daily Tiger Beach dives
Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center has announced that it will officially be offering daily Tiger Beach dives starting December 15th, 2019 from Old Bahama Bay Resort & Yacht Harbour, West End, Grand Bahama. Both companies expect this partnership to widen its customer base and stimulate tourism on Grand Bahama — especially post Hurricane Dorian.
Daily Tiger Beach Safaris are a complimentary addition to Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center’s reputable Great Hammerhead Shark Safaris — currently offered from its long-time established dive shop at the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina in Bimini, The Bahamas.
“For years, Tiger Beach has been elusive and complicated — requiring scheduling, private charters and/or a week-long commitment to a live-aboard. Cut to now, we are proud to announce daily trips — departing 8 a.m. from Old Bahama Bay (West End). Dive an entire week or just a day — the choice is yours!” comments Neal Watson II.
Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center opened its first scuba diving operation in Bimini in 1975 at the Bimini Yacht Club on South Bimini. For over forty years, Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center has had a presence in Bimini and as such, has played an essential role in building the reputation of Bimini and The Bahamas as a top dive destination.
More recently, Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center has become well known for its Great Hammerhead Shark Safari. As the first scuba diving operation to offer this safari, Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center has set the bar when it comes to safety standards for both divers and sharks alike. Not only has the Great Hammerhead Shark Safari been good for local tourism, but it has also contributed to a profound amount of awareness regarding the protection of these magnificent and endangered creatures.
“What we’ve learned over the years from our shark encounters in Bimini — specifically our commitment to safety and protocol — will no doubt parlay into our Tiger Beach dives in West End,” adds Neal Watson II.
Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center’s Tiger Beach operation at Old Bahama Bay Resort & Yacht Harbour will offer both Dive-Only and Dive + Hotel Packages.
For more information about their Tiger Beach rates and/or package information, please visit www.biminiscubacenter.com/tigerbeach or call Toll Free (800) 867 4764 or Local BAH +1 (242) 473 8816.
News
Euro-Divers to close dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda
Euro-Divers have announced that as of 15 April 2024, they will no longer be operating the dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda (formerly known as Amari Havodda).
The popular dive centre chain released this statement regarding the closure:
Dear valid customers, business partners and friends,
We are leaving NH Collection Maldives Havodda – former Amari Havodda as of 15th of April 2024.
Unfortunately, the information reached us on short notice that we are no longer operating the dive centre at the resort.
It was a great pleasure to work with the Amari Hotel group and continue to work with the NH Hotel group.
We wish our partners great success with all their new changes.
Thanks a lot for cooperating during our time at the resort. We wish everyone with whom we have worked a good and hopefully successful future.
Euro-Divers continue to operate in several other dive resorts throughout the Maldives in addition to other locations.
To finds out more about Euro-Divers, visit www.euro-divers.com.
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Creature Feature: Undulate Ray
In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.
This month we’re looking at the Undulate Ray. Easily identified by its beautiful, ornate pattern, the Undulate Ray gets its name from the undulating patterns of lines and spots on its dorsal side.
This skate is usually found on sandy or muddy sea floors, down to about 200 m deep, although it is more commonly found shallower. They can grow up to 90 cm total length. Depending on the size of the individual, their diet can range from shrimps to crabs.
Although sometimes called the Undulate Ray, this is actually a species of skate, meaning that, as all true skates do, they lay eggs. The eggs are contained in keratin eggcases – the same material that our hair and nails are made up of! These eggcases are also commonly called mermaid’s purses and can be found washed up on beaches all around the UK. If you find one, be sure to take a picture and upload your find to the Great Eggcase Hunt – the Shark Trust’s flagship citizen science project.
It is worth noting that on the south coasts, these eggcases can be confused with those of the Spotted Ray, especially as they look very similar and the ranges overlap, so we sometimes informally refer to them as ‘Spundulates’.
Scientific Name: Raja undulata
Family: Rajidae
Maximum Size: 90cm (total length)
Diet: shrimps and crabs
Distribution: found around the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat: shelf waters down to 200m deep.
Conservation Status : As a commercially exploited species, the Undulate Ray is a recovering species in some areas. The good thing is that they have some of the most comprehensive management measures of almost any elasmobranch species, with both minimum and maximum landing sizes as well as a closed season. Additionally, targeting is entirely prohibited in some areas. They are also often caught as bycatch in various fisheries – in some areas they can be landed whilst in others they must be discarded.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website
Image Credits: Banner – Sheila Openshaw; Illustration – Marc Dando
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