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Wrecks & Sharks – a fantastic finale to our time in The Bahamas

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Our final day of diving had arrived, and while we were sad about this, we knew we had an amazing set of dives ahead of us. We were heading out with Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas to dive the wreck of the Sea Trader and then to do a shark dive (also on a wreck). The diving around Nassau offers plenty on wrecks, but the Sea Trader is one of the most impressive. Then to finish off with the signature shark dive was to be a real treat.

The Sea Trader has moved over the years and the last hurricane has shoved it so that now the bow hangs over the edge of the wall. It makes her an impressive sight, as she is a big oil tanker that was deliberately sunk by the team from Stuart Cove’s to make an artificial reef, just 5 minutes boat ride from the dive centre. Marine life has now made this structure their home and we were greeted by a large school of batfish as soon as we swam onto the deck.

For those feeling adventurous, this wreck is perfect for penetration and you can visit the engine room safely and with ease. We stayed on the outside for this dive and there was certainly plenty to explore. You can start this dive, at the bow, at about 30m in depth and then slowly rise up to the wheelhouse and up to the very top of the structure for your safety stop, it is perfectly situated. Fingers crossed the next tropical storm does not push it over the edge of the wall!

Our second dive of the day was to be another wreck, the Ray of Hope. This wreck is famous for just one thing – sharks. Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas have been doing a shark feed dive here for many years and so a group of sharks can be found in the area, day or night, all year round. We had shark expert, Andrea, on board with us and along with Nacho, they were going to feed the sharks pieces of fish as we watched from the bow of the wreck.

We descended first and got ourselves into position, hanging on the bow of the wreck in a semi-circle, looking in on the wreck. Once we were all sorted, Andrea brought down the bait box. He looked like a sharky pied-piper, with around 20 sharks following behind him as he came towards us. It was very exciting. The sharks then swam in circles around the bow of the wreck, waiting for their chance to grab a piece of food from the feeder.

The sharks get very close and so the dive offers some great photo and video opportunities. Grab a spot in the middle and you will get more of the action, grab a spot at the end of the line, and you can get more shots with clean blue water behind the sharks, rather than lots of bubbles. It is up to you!

Watch our video of the shark dive, shot with a Paralenz Dive Camera below:

For more information, please visit:

www.bahamas.com

www.stuartcove.com

All image, video & text by Frogfish Photography.

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered. Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

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Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire

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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.

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SOMABAY: Scubaverse Trip Review (Watch Video)

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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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Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

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