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 about Sunset House visit their website by clicking here.
Blogs
Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire
Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.
Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.
Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:
- 12 April
- 5 July,
- 20 September
- 29 November
Partnership with Casita Palma
If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.
Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.
Blogs
SOMABAY: Scubaverse Trip Review (Watch Video)
In a video created exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman visits SOMABAY in the Egyptian Red Sea to experience the diving on offer there.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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