News
Sunset House announces collaboration with Eco Divers Reef Foundation
Sunset House and Sunset Divers welcome Aaron Hunt, coordinator of the Eco Divers Reef Foundation, to the dive resort’s scuba training program as a contract instructor specializing in coral conservation and reef renewal. Hunt manages 14 coral nurseries in Grand Cayman, including the one at Sunset House, under the Cayman Islands Coral Nursery Program which was started in 2016 to seed local reefs.
At Sunset House, Hunt will also certify divers through the CoralWatch Distinctive Specialty Course which teaches people how to properly collect real-time data to be submitted to CoralWatch, a global network of volunteers building a database that can be used to combat coral reef loss across the world.
His extensive work with Cayman’s coral nurseries gives Aaron Hunt hope for the future of Cayman’s reefs, recently witnessing transplanted corals in the Sunset House nursery spawning and sending baby corals out in the water to settle somewhere else to grow.
“After two years of the coral nursery program, we have an 85% survival rate of our transplanted corals. In 2017 we recorded the coral spawning, and now we can see the new corals growing. It’s very exciting and satisfying to see that it works,” he said.
“We’re excited to be working with Aaron on coral conservation education because we are all concerned about our reefs and environment,” said Dive Manager Mike Pinnington. “Not only will he be teaching our guest divers, and guiding them through our coral nursery, but he will also train our instructors to teach coral restoration work.”
Hunt has certified approximately 300 local divers through the PADI Reef Renewal Distinctive Specialty Course, and most are now dedicated volunteers who help with the foundation’s work. Local businesses are also getting involved.
“There’s something about Cayman, that people who live here want to help. We’ve had tremendous support from the local community, people give up their weekends to help on the reefs,” he said.
Sunset House Marketing Manager Emma-Jane Fisher says the resort, always environmentally conscious, has stepped up its green policies and expanded its reef renewal courses. This collaboration with Aaron Hunt is a win-win for everyone who cares about the ocean environment.
“We as a community need to respond to the problems faced by our seas and do what we can to help educate the public directly,” she said. “Sunset House runs various programs for local kids throughout the year to teach them to be environmentally conscious through scuba dive, swim & snorkel classes. Our restaurant and bar are now using cardboard take-out boxes and paper straws, both better for the environment. Sunset Divers has added skimming nets to dive boats so staff can pick up trash or plastics floating on the water. It all matters.”
PADI Reef Renewal courses now available at Sunset House include:
- Guided Coral Nursery Dive
- Guided shore dive to the nursery to help clean coral.
- PADI Reef Renewal Distinctive Specialty Course
- Classroom session and 2 open water dives to learn correct reef renewal techniques.
- Nursery maintenance by conducting a survey, cleaning, removing algae and predators that can damage the corals and affect their growth.
- Coral Spawn Lecture & Reef Survey
- Classroom session about coral spawning in Sunset House nursery. Dive the survey area to see new corals found on the reef after spawning events
- Reef Renewal Dives
- Two guided shore dives to assist staff (at the coral nursery). Tasks will be assigned and can include maintenance, cleaning, removing predators, conducting surveys, collecting data and restoring reefs.
Aaron Hunt is excited about the collaboration with Sunset House, the growing number of volunteers and the future of the coral nursery program. He reports great success with transplanting Staghorn and Elkhorn corals, and says they are now working with pillar coral too more challenging, but they are seeing success there too.
“This is about community. The Cayman Islands can be an amazing example of a successful coral restoration and transplantation program.”
For more information, please visit www.sunsethouse.com.
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
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!
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