News
Professional Scuba Schools Holds Member Update

As part of its commitment to enhancing the member and diver experience with Professional Scuba Schools Worldwide, an important member update was held on January 15, 2024. During the meeting exciting features, benefits, and improvements in PSS material and procedures were highlighted and discussed.
“PSS continues to experience unprecedented global growth,” said Giuseppe Minopoli
President, PSS Worldwide. “We know this is in large part due to our enhanced member support and dedicated customer service. We continue to evolve our products to meet our members needs and used the update as an opportunity to highlight our recent accomplishments and discuss future goals.”
A few of the highlights from the update included:
- No membership or certification material fee increases in more than five years, and none planned in the near future!
- Continued access to PSS EVO Diver Management System by Dive Centers at no annual cost (i.e., no dive center or dive club affiliation fees).
- Updated open water diver skills videos.
- Updated Nitrox and Scuba Rescue courses.
- Enhanced analytic functions in the EVO System for better marketing.
- Continuation of access to more than 17 basic and specialty courses and certification at no cost.
“I crossed over to PSS in 2022 and am pleasantly surprised by their focus on the instructor and willingness and responsiveness to change,” said Dan Goldan, Scuba Instructor from Westminster, Colorado. “My direct access to decision makers and quick responses to recommended material updates is unmatched in the industry. The update reinforced my commitment to the PSS training philosophy.”
PSS has been training and developing divers and dive leaders around the world since the mid-1990s and has been growing rapidly in North America since 2019. It is renowned for providing flexible, innovative, cost effective, and collaborative training in more than 18 languages.
To take advantage of the remarkable incentives offered by PSS simply register for an instructor crossover at https://www.pssworldwide.org/en/registrazionexOver.aspx?lang=en and select “other”. After registration, a PSS Course Director will contact you to discuss the process and next steps.
If you own a Dive Center or manage a Dive Club and wish to find out more about joining the PSS Evolution email pssnorthamerica@pssmail.org or call 813-344-2868.
Members who were unable to attend the update can view the recording in their EVO Reserved Area under “Downloads”.
News
PADI Launches World’s First Scuba Technician Distinctive Specialty Course with Octo Diver

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.
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.
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
Blogs
Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort – A Hidden Gem in the 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
- News2 months ago
Aqualung 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
- Marine Life & Conservation1 month ago
David Attenborough’s Ocean: A Review
- Blogs3 months ago
Swimming with Sharks in the Bahamas: My Most Magical Dive Yet
- News3 months ago
Shannon Moran Joins the Scubaverse Underwater Photography Team