News
Tobago… Clean, Green and Serene
Tobago is a small island – only 26 miles long and 7 miles wide – but it offers so much. It has a warm tropical marine climate, varying from 25 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius throughout the year, meaning the water temperature is always at least a nice swimming pool temperature. Its 54,000 residents rely heavily on the service sector to tick over its economy; 60-70% of the locals are employed by the local Government, and when you take into account the decent sized private sector, there is very little unemployment in Tobago. This means there is very little poverty, so you have an island perfect for travellers to enjoy a relaxed, well run, peaceful inviting island.
Tobagonians are a beautiful people; relaxed, warm and hospitable. They are friendly and have a good sense of humour. The island is hassle free and fun. It has a vibrant culture, unique cuisine and breath-taking beauty. There are no crowded beaches (there are only 2,500 rooms on Tobago for those lucky enough to get them). It has good weather all year round; as one of the most Southerly of the Caribbean islands, Tobago is level with the Northern tip of South America, which means it lies South of the hurricane belt which gives it a major advantage when choosing off season holidays in the Caribbean.
It is a must for the adventurous traveller, with kayaking, glass bottomed boats, kite boarding, wind surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving and swimming in secluded waterfalls on offer. Golfing, mountain biking and sailing are also available. The main ridge forest has been voted the world’s leading eco tourism destination in the past by the world travel awards. It is the oldest protected rainforest in the world. It is a bird watchers paradise and has 210 species of birds. Giant Leatherback turtles nest and hatch on the beaches at Stone Haven Bay. It is a smorgasbord of culinary wonders, an island that needs to be smelt, touched, seen, tasted and heard to understand what an amazing place it is. It is all about culture and heritage and it has an amazing legacy to protect. It is also an ideal destination for romantic trips, honeymoons and weddings.
It is an island of many festivals – there’s something happening every month. There are unique activities too, like goat and crab racing at Buccoo race track for example. Pigeon Point is worth a visit. It is said to be the island’s most beautiful beach, although many of the beaches are amazing! You shouldn’t miss the steel pan entertainment on offer there and visit its iconic thatched roof jetty where many weddings have been filmed. Fort King George is another place worth visiting. This was one of the last colonial forts to be built on Tobago, and offers an amazing viewpoint over the island. The lighthouse built there is still in commission.
The diving is varied, but all good. I would describe this as a perfect destination to travel to if diving wasn’t your main focus, as there is so much to do on the island. The diving is similar to the reef diving and reef drift diving in the unspoilt parts of the Red Sea. Tobago’s dive sites are unrivalled anywhere in the Caribbean. The best diving is from 10 metres deep, to maybe around 30 metres deep, so suits the recreational diver rather than the technical diver. You can dive at various sites to see more than 300 species of coral, turtles, nurse sharks and manta rays, especially at Speyside which is the island’s diving Mecca. It meets the Caribbean on one side, and the Atlantic on the other. It has some boisterous water movement which makes for some fun drift diving at certain dive sites at certain times of the day.
A full dive review is to follow, but for now I’ve put together a short video of a day on Tobago including some off-season diving footage:
How to get there
Flights from Gatwick in the UK, or connecting flights via North America. Trinidad, its larger sister island is 2.5 hours by ferry, or a short 20 minute flight.
Information
Tobago is a friendly island. Make sure you pack sun tan lotion, mosquito repellent and that you hydrate regularly (whether you are feeling thirsty or not).
Dive Centres
- www.Rseadivers.com
- www.underseatobago.com
- www.tobagofrontierdivers.com
- speyside@extradivers.info
- www.tobagoscubadiving.com
- Blue Waters Dive’n
Eco and tourism
Restaurants
Hotels
News
Dived Up Publications announces the release of The Diver and the Cook by Lasse Spang Olsen
A ship lost. No survivors. A grim recovery mission begins, pushing a team of commercial divers well beyond their comfort zone.
Braving treacherous conditions, saturation diver Nico van Heerden single-handedly combs the cramped, debris-strewn, zero-visibility Jascon 4 shipwreck searching for any sign of the lost crew.
Then, in a scene akin to a horror movie, while exploring a small, isolated compartment, Nico feels a tap on his shoulder. Could someone have survived underwater for over sixty hours?
The Diver & the Cook is the incredible true story of a seemingly impossible underwater rescue. With first-hand accounts, authentic images and detailed reconstructions, author and documentary maker Lasse Spang Olsen brings this gripping tale to life. The book is the result of over four years of work, including intensive interviews, access to previously unknown material, and deep study of conversations and film recorded during the actual incident.
Witness the unwavering determination of the human spirit as Jascon 4 galley chef, Harrison Okene, fights for survival after his ship goes down. Meanwhile, rookie saturation diver Nico van Heerden faces a daunting challenge: spearheading the rescue mission in a perilous underwater environment. With time running out, what rules must the dive team break to save Harrison before it’s too late?
An unprecedented operation, this story provides a unique perspective on the dangers and challenges faced by divers, showing the importance of teamwork and communication in high-risk situations. An incredible survival story against all odds, with an equally surprising aftermath.
Quote from the author, documentary-maker Lasse Spang Olsen:
“There are a whole lot of different versions of this story out there. But I believe that by speaking directly to the key people involved, creating meticulous reconstructions and doing original research we have dug much deeper and got far closer to the truth about the rescue and the sinking than anyone has ever managed to before.”
About the author
Author and veteran filmmaker Lasse Spang Olsen – in a 40+ year career – has participated in stunts and FX on over 600 films, directed eleven features and filmed extensively underwater. He’s led expeditions uncovering historical mysteries like the Flying Enterprise wreck and documented adventures worldwide. He’s also a producer and lecturer. Originally published in Denmark as Dykkeren of Kokken (February 2024), this is his fourth book.
The Diver and the Cook (ISBN 978-1-909455-61-0) is released on 12 November 2024 in paperback and ebook. It is available via online retailers, bookstores, from DivedUp.com and to the dive trade via Nautilus UK.
Dived Up Publications website: www.DivedUp.com
Facebook @DivedUpPublications / Insta @diveduppubs / X @DivedUp / TikTok @divedup
Blogs
Scubaverse Christmas Gift Guide 2024: Day 1
Welcome to Day 1 of Scubaverse.com’s week-long Christmas Gift Guide!
Struggling to find the perfect gift for that special scuba diver in your life? Read on for Team Scubaverse’s pick of this season’s must-have Christmas gifts.
Every day this week, we are publishing a special Christmas Gift Guide full of different gift ideas that are all ideal for divers, so you’re sure to find something that’s perfect. Take a look at today’s selection below…
Bigblue Dive Lights
by Liquid Sports
info@liquidsports.co.uk / Bigblue Facebook / Liquid Sports Facebook
Bigblue lights are high performance lights from 250 to 64,000 lumens. From back up to main lights and an extensive range of video lights, Bigblue brightens up your dive.
With advanced designs and unprecedented affordability, Bigblue offers the most affordable and technologically advanced LED lights on the market. We incorporate the latest technologies, producing the most efficient portable illumination. In addition to brilliant design features, we offer the most ideal lights for underwater illumination, night diving and underwater videoing.
Whether you are looking for a simple recreational dive light or a full-blown technical underwater illumination system, Bigblue has a light for you! Bigblue is a recognised brand that divers all over the world prefer.
info@liquidsports.co.uk / Bigblue Facebook / Liquid Sports Facebook
AP Diving Gift Vouchers
sales@apdiving.com / www.apdiving.com / AP Diving Facebook / AP Diving Instagram / AP Diving TV
It’s November, the nights are drawing in and it’s time to start thinking about what present to get the dive buddy in your life…
Who doesn’t love a voucher?
Why not get your diver a unique personal GIFT VOUCHER from AP Diving? Printed on quality textured card (145mm x 75mm), each voucher can be personalised with your own message. Just let us know what you want to say in about 10-20 words.
Keep your someone-special supplied with their diving essentials (cells, sofnolime, etc…) or a shiny new piece of kit of their choice by creating a line of credit to any value you like, £25, £50, £100… Call the AP elves on 01326 561040 or email sales@apdiving.com today.
sales@apdiving.com / www.apdiving.com / AP Diving Facebook / AP Diving Instagram / AP Diving TV
SlipIns
Team@slipins.com / www.slipins.com / SlipIns Facebook / SlipIns Instagram / SlipIns Pinterest
DiveSkins are perfect for scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, paddling, surfing, and all water sports. It shows up beautifully in pictures under water.
This tight-fitting, tailored lycra suit offers maximum comfort. stretchy, breathable, fast-drying fabric with the world’s best sun and stinger protection.
SlipIns are:
*Ultimate 50+ UPF sun protection
*Abrasion protection.
*Quick dry, breathable, soft fabric
*The ultimate stinging critter protection
Save 10% on your order if you mention you saw this ad in Scubaverse in your order note!
SAVE YOUR SKIN…WEAR OUR SKINS
Team@slipins.com / www.slipins.com / SlipIns Facebook / SlipIns Instagram / SlipIns Pinterest
Aqualung i770R Dive Computer
info@oysterdiving.com / www.oysterdiving.com / Oyster Diving Facebook / Oyster Diving Instagram
Experience the future of diving technology with the Aqualung i770R Dive Computer. This state-of-the-art device combines an ultra-bright TFT colour screen and wireless Bluetooth connectivity, all within a durable and compact design. Navigate through your dive information effortlessly using the intuitive 3-button interface.
The Aqualung i770R comes with a rechargeable lithium battery, and full-tilt compass, and offers multiple gas capabilities across its 4 operating modes. With Bluetooth connectivity, you can wirelessly manage your dive data and settings on your mobile device, and then share your dive memories, stats, photos, and dive sites via the free DiverLog+ app.
- Dive into the future of scuba technology with the Aqualung i770R Dive Computer.
- Long lasting rechargeable lithium battery.
- High-visibility Thin Film Transistor (TFT) colour screen.
- Easy-to-use interface.
- Colour screen, ultra-bright, high-contrast, full-colour TFT display.
- Battery savings when a high-intensity screen is unnecessary.
- Easy-to-use interface with intuitive menu structure.
- Intuitive 3-button navigation interface allows for easy settings preview and updates.
A 3-axis full-tilt compass allows for easy-to-read compass graphics.
FREE Transmitter with the i770R Black Dive Computer!*
*while stocks last
info@oysterdiving.com / www.oysterdiving.com / Oyster Diving Facebook / Oyster Diving Instagram
Fog-X: Anti-Fog Film for Dive Masks
info@fogxsolutions.com / www.fogxsolutions.com / Fog-X Instagram / Fog-X Facebook
Fog-X is a new anti-fog film that is inserted once into the dive mask and will provide fog free diving forever! The hydrophilic, anti-scratch film protects your mask and prevents fog from forming. Six mask designs and a swim goggle design are available.
Fog-X is the perfect gift for the diver you know! If they hate fog as much as we do, Fog-X is what they have been looking for.
Use code “SCUBAVERSE” for 20% off your order!
Free USA shipping if over $20 order.
info@fogxsolutions.com / www.fogxsolutions.com / Fog-X Instagram / Fog-X Facebook
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