News
The Shark Trust launches Christmas Appeal

The Shark Trust launches Christmas Appeal to raise funds to boost their vital work into 2019.
The recent headline in The Guardian ‘Stop biodiversity loss or face our own extinction, warns the UN’ highlighted the need to progress action quicker and that the window of opportunity to stop biodiversity loss is narrowing. There are over 1100 shark, skate and ray species and sadly a ¼ of these are now threatened with extinction.
For over 20 years the Shark Trust has been actively working to safeguard the future of sharks, skates and rays and they’ve achieved great things. Whether protecting vulnerable species, ending the finning of sharks, working to transform shark fisheries or leading future conservation action, the Trust are proud to be at the cutting edge of change that will shape the future of the oceans. For the better.
But there’s always more to do and 2019 looks like being another challenging year for shark conservation. The Christmas appeal will help raise vital funds to help the Shark Trust get 2019 off to a flying start.
Heather Carstens, Fundraising and Engagement Officer said “We (Shark Trust) believe collaboration and partnership is vital to safeguarding shark populations around the world. This isn’t just important with Stakeholder and Governments but it’s also important with members of the public. They might be a supporter; member; champion; advocate or fundraiser. They make our work happen and this Christmas we’re asking people to make a donation, however big or small and help us to continue to do more for sharks”
In the first 3 days after the launch of the Christmas Appeal, Donations reached £1,700 meaning that 17% of the target was hit.
Paul Cox, Managing Director said “We’re constantly overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown for the work of the Shark Trust. Our supporters have helped make shark conservation what it is today. But we need to do more. We need to make more of a positive change, for sharks, for oceans, for future generations. By supporting our appeal this Christmas your donation will directly help shark conservation. Our team prides themselves in their work and work tirelessly to achieve a positive outcome. Be part of this change and donate now”
If you would like to donate to their Christmas Appeal text SHRK18 to 70070 or visit www.sharktrust.org/xmas
This Christmas will you add sharks to your gift list?
News
Frontline workers honoured with free dive trip to Yap

The remote island of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia is among the few places in the world that remains free of Covid-19 thanks to its ocean border and a strict travel ban that has kept its residents safe.
Nonetheless, Yap has been affected, too. As one of the world’s premier, award-winning destinations for divers, this paradisiacal location in the western Pacific Ocean has had no outside visitors to its rich shores and reef for nearly a year. But while there may be no virus, the island hasn’t been cut off from the economic impact experienced around the globe.
That didn’t stop Bill Acker, CEO and founder of the Manta Ray Bay Resort and Yap Divers, from doing something, though.
Last March, soon after the island went into lockdown, Bill began to realize the effect of the virus on daily life beyond the island. “Yes, we are closed, have no divers, had to send our employees home and prepare for difficult times,” he said. “But we’re lucky in that we have, for the most part, avoided the human suffering and death this pandemic has caused.”
Thinking about the problems faced by his family business, they paled when he compared them to those endured by the healthcare workers who have been fighting selflessly around the clock for months on end for the well-being and lives of others.
“One evening, while checking the news online, I saw pictures of frontline workers who were tending to desperately ill and dying people when families and friends could not be with their loved ones. It was heartbreaking,” he added.
The next day, a meeting was held with the resort’s staff and Bill invited suggestions for ways they could do something to honor healthcare workers. The result was the idea to award twenty divers who are working on the frontline to save other’s lives during this pandemic while risking their own, with a free week at the resort.

Manta ray, Manta birostris, gliding over a cleaning station in M’il Channel, Yap, Micronesia by David Fleetham
Divers around the world who had been guests at Manta Ray Bay in the past were invited to submit the names of candidates for the award by December 31, 2020. “We received nominations for 126 individuals from as far away as Germany, the U.S., Australia and Canada,” he said. “It was not easy choosing the winners but our committee of staff members took on the job and selected the 20 finalists.”
“While trying to choose the people to reward for their hard work during this Covid-19 crisis,” Bill added, “by reading the nominations we saw that every one of the nominees was doing things above and beyond the call of duty. Sadly, we don’t have the finances to offer over 100 free weeks in Yap, but we do want to recognize the contributions all of them are making to our world. So, we are offering the rest of the nominees a free week of diving in Yap which includes room, hotel tax, airport transfers, breakfast, diving and Wi-Fi. The only requirement is that they travel with at least three other people and stay in two rooms or more.”
“We do not yet know when Yap will open its borders,” said Bill, “but when it does, we will welcome these important guests to Yap to relax and dive with the manta rays and the other beautiful denizens of the ocean surrounding our island home. They are the true heroes of this devastating, historic time and we look forward to honoring them with a well-deserved dive vacation.”
Watch out for our exclusive trip report from a healthcare worker from the UK who is one of the 20 to have been awarded this amazing dive trip!
For more information on Manta Ray Bay and Yap Divers visit their website by clicking here.
Dive Training Blogs
Dream Dive Locker Build Out. Part I: Demolition (Watch Video)

It’s finally here! Time to start building the greatest dive locker the world has ever seen! Part I: Demolition! #dreamdivelocker
This is the first of a series of videos showing the evolution of building out my dream dive locker. My dream dive locker needs to be dive gear drying and storage, dry storage, workshop, office, editing suite, You Tube studio and classroom. That’s a lot of functions for a small space!
The first step is planning out the space and demolishing the laminate flooring. Then I taped up the walls to get a feel for the space. We have a lot of work to do!
But finally we will have a purpose built space to house all of our dive equipment! Subscribe to our channel to follow our progress!
Thanks for watching, Team!
James
Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/DiversReady
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