Win A PADI Digital Underwater Photographer eLearning Specialty Course
Competition
PADIis offering DIVE readers the chance to win one of three Digital Underwater Photographer (DUP) eLearning courses to get you on track for earning the full certification once lockdowns are lifted.
The DUP eLearning section (normally priced at £135) will teach you the basics of underwater photography in preparation for the two practical training scuba dives (not included*) required to complete the certification. The online training – which involves videos, audio, graphics, reading and short quizzes – takes approximately 12 hours to complete and access to an online version of the Digital Underwater Photographer Manual is included.
Once completed, the Digital Underwater Photographer specialty counts towards the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course and the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating. The full range of eLearning courses can be found a www.padi.com/courses
Answer the question below to enter the competition. Doing so unlocks the possibility of gaining five more chances to win by signing up to our newsletter**, visiting PADI’s course catalogue, liking a post on Facebook, following us on Instagram or visiting our YouTube Channel. The competition will close at midnight (GMT), 31 October.
NOTE: If you have previously entered one of our competitions you may be asked by the Gleam competition widget to confirm that you are the owner of the address.
*Additional fees apply for practical training, dives, dive equipment and logbook. Please contact a local PADI Dive Centre or Resort for further information or to book the certification dives. For more information about PADI’s eLearning programmes, visit www.padi.com/courses
**Our newsletter is completely free; we will not use your details for any other purpose without your express consent, and you can unsubscribe at any time without penalty.
Thailand has a well-deserved reputation for having some of the best dives sites and impressive marine life in the world. Tropical, care free islands with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters have attracted divers and travellers for decades – and it’s a great place to get scuba certified!
Thailand has an abundance of fringing reefs with shallow coral gardens which make for excellent training grounds while experiencing close encounters with some amazing sea creatures. There are numerous impressive diving regions in Thailand that offer a choice of professionally run dive centres with excellent facilities for beginners – here are 10 of our favourites…
Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi tourism has developed around diving and there is no shortage of dive centres to choose from. Learning to dive in Koh Phi Phi gives you access to great dive sites which boast a wide variety of colourful corals and reef fish, as well as turtles and black-tip reef sharks. Koh Phi Phi’s numerous sheltered bays mean there are plenty of sites offering good visibility and calm, conditions – perfect for building your confidence underwater.
Known for its stunning scenery on land, the dive sites of Koh Phangan more than meet up to expectations too. You’ll find kaleidoscopic coral reefs that are bursting with colour and teeming with life. Located between the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao, Koh Phangan is an iconic Thai diving destination renowned for dive sites such as Sail Rock where whale shark sightings are a major draw card.
As a well-known hub for divers, there are a multitude of services available from accommodation through to dive centres – all of which offer the PADI Open Water Diver course for beginners who want to get certified in this phenomenal region.
Koh Chang has retained its traditional island vibe and is a more chilled out destination than some of the more renowned islands. Koh Chang Marine National Park has some really outstanding reefs at shallow depths, giving even beginner divers plenty of time to explore. It’s a good place to perfect your buoyancy control before progressing onto the more impressive places further up the list.
Koh Lipe
Located in one of Asia’s oldest marine national parks – Tarutao National Park. Koh Lipe is home to amazing reefs and a wide range of abundant marine life. The shallower sites around Koh Lipe offer little current and excellent visibility for those learning to dive. Once you’ve mastered your skills underwater, there are also sites closer to the edge of the national park where it’s possible to catch sight of whale sharks and manta rays.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is a diving mecca for beginners through to professionals and there is a wide range of dive services to accommodate divers who visit here. The name ‘Koh Tao’ literally translates to ‘Turtle Island’, and this is an island that’s surrounded by impressive marine life from its name sake turtles through to visiting whale sharks at Chumphon Pinnacle. Koh Tao’s crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand and its numerous sheltered bays, make it a top-spot for learning to dive in Thailand
Khao Lak has some pretty local reefs but the real reason Khao Lak is on the map is because it is the gateway to the Similan and Surin Islands which are visited by liveaboards. If you are planning a trip to these islands you’ll need to get certified before you leave and there are plenty of dive operators in Khao Lak who cater to those heading out on trips.
Some of the dive sites commonly found on liveaboard itineraries offer more challenging conditions so it’s important to let your operator know your experience level before heading out. For those who dive the Similan’s there are big rewards – stunning coral reefs, leopard sharks, turtles and large schools of fish.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is the closest point to one of Thailand’s most iconic marine parks – the Ang Thong Marine National Park. Undoubtedly beautiful above the water, the forests of hard and soft corals beneath the surface are no less amazing.
During the season, Koh Samui has generally calm conditions and the shallow dive sites make excellent underwater classrooms for learning and practicing skills. When you’re not working on your dive technique you’ll be amazed by the diversity of tropical reef life from cuttlefish and lionfish through to multi-coloured parrot fish and regal angelfish swimming by.
Unlike many regions in Thailand which are seasonal, you can learn scuba diving in Pattaya all year round. If you live in Bangkok and want to make a short diving trip, or learn to dive without needing to take time off work, then Pattaya should be on your radar. It’s possible to make weekend breaks to Pattaya without flying, and there’s plenty to see when you get there! Diving around Pattaya offers a range of dive sites including a number of wrecks to explore.
As an established scuba diving destination, there are a range of professional dive centers and accommodation options in and around Pattaya.
Krabi
Krabi is a renowned hotspot for travellers, adventurers and outdoor pursuit enthusiasts. Not only can you trek and scale staggering limestone rock formations, this is an excellent place to pick up some underwater skills too. This impressive region of Thailand is home to over 200 species of fish and 80 species of reef building corals, with stingrays, cuttlefish and leopard sharks all quite common around Ao Nang. The calm, clear, protected waters make a great spot for beginners while advanced divers will find some exciting caverns and swim-throughs, particularly on the nearby islands like Koh Yawabon.
Phuket
Phuket has an excellent range of sites for beginners and there is an abundance of facilities for divers from dive resorts and dive centres through to local dive boat operators. Phuket is also a well-situated base for trips to nearby islands, including the Similans, the Racha Islands and Phi Phi. If you are travelling with non-diving companions, Phuket is an ideal location with plenty of entertainment and things to do on land too.
Koh Lanta is a gateway location to some of Thailand’s best dive sites including the famous sites of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, which are home to over 200 hard corals and 108 catalogued reef fish species. These two sites also have among the highest recorded number of whale shark sightings in the world, as well as regular sightings of leopard sharks and manta rays.
While the sites immediately around Koh Lanta are not nearly as impressive they provide excellent training dive sites for those who want to get certified. Once you’ve got your Open Water certificate you’ll be in the right place to explore some of Thailand’s best diving.
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In October 2020, we’ll start accepting applications (and nominations) for new PADI® AmbassaDivers™. We’re looking for people who champion their local dive environment and actively share their passion for the underwater world.
Do any of the scenarios below describe you or someone you know? If so, you may be in the presence of a future AmbassaDiver:
Learning to scuba dive (or freedive) was a turning point in their life.
Whenever you hang out, the conversation inevitably turns to diving.
They can’t walk (or swim) by a piece of debris without picking it up.
Their social media feed is full of underwater adventures, marine life memes and conservation messages.
PADI AmbassaDiver FAQs
What information do I need to apply or nominate someone?
The application is a short, online survey. Here’s what you need to know:
There’s no minimum age, but we require an active social media presence. In many countries, the minimum age for a social media account is 13.
There is a field for certification level. If you are not a certified diver or freediver, simply write “not certified.”
Be prepared to list relevant achievements and experience, and (briefly) explain how you, or the person you’re nominating, will inspire others to try diving and become ocean stewards.
What if I’m not an instructor or a professional photographer?
We love looking at beautiful images from around the world (who doesn’t), but pretty photos alone aren’t enough to be a PADI AmbassaDiver. As the name suggests, we’re looking for people who are ambassadors for diving. An AmbassaDiver should inspire others to try diving, dive locally, and be a voice for the ocean.
A PADI Instructor who teaches a lot of students doesn’t automatically qualify to be an AmbassaDiver either. PADI Pros who aspire to become AmbassaDivers should make an exceptional effort to promote diving in their area and/or support conservation.
What if I’m not a certified diver?
You don’t have to be a certified diver or freediver to be a PADI AmbassaDiver; however, one of the questions on the application is, “how will you inspire others to try diving and become ocean stewards?” If you’re not already a diver or freediver, consider how you will answer this question.
If your social media followers are passionate about conservation, travel, and/or ocean sports, we’d love to introduce them (and you!) to scuba diving. In your application, tell us how you’ll encourage others to try diving once you’re certified.
How many social media followers do I need?
We look for applicants with a strong and active social media following, but there isn’t a minimum follower number to apply. We recognize a small but passionate group can be more influential than a large, disconnected one.
That said, saving the ocean will take billions of us in a united effort. So, if all other factors are equal, the size of an applicant’s active following may determine who gets selected.
When will PADI start accepting new AmbassaDiver applications/nominations?
The next application period begins in October 2020. Applications will be reviewed in October/November and new AmbassaDivers will be notified in December.
What’s the difference between a PADI Torchbearer and a PADI AmbassaDiver?
PADI Torchbearers are 100% focused on saving the ocean. They seek to bring about meaningful change and restore the balance between the oceans and humanity.
A PADI AmbassaDiver is passionate about ocean conservation, but it may not be their primary activity. For example, 2020 AmbassaDiver Alex Rendell started an educational program in Thailand to teach children about marine science, scuba diving and how to be an advocate for the environment.
What are the benefits of being a PADI AmbassaDiver?
Increased visibility and amplification of messages
Greater awareness of your programs and initiatives
The opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals (other AmbassaDivers)
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Simone Melchior Cousteau was the matriarch of scuba diving — but have you heard of her? Of course, you’ll recognize the name ‘Cousteau,’ as the perhaps the most famous one associated with diving, and that of Simone’s business partner and husband, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. But let’s set aside the godfather for scuba diving for just one moment. Instead, let’s dive into the criminally underreported life and legacy of Simone Cousteau, who died in 1990.
Simone Melchior Cousteau (Courtesy Ocean Futures)
Simone Cousteau’s early life
Despite being born on the Mediterranean French coast in 1919, Simone and her family soon moved to Japan. Her father, Henri Melchior, took a job as a director with Air Liquide (France’s main producer of industrial gases at the time). This, surprisingly, was the key to the invention of the aqua lung and the scuba diving apparatus we know today.
In 1937, Simone met Jacques Cousteau — at the time a naval officer — at a cocktail party when she was 17 and he was 26. They married the same year and went on to have two children, both of whom were born on the kitchen table.
Invention of the aqua lung
In 1942, Simone’s father provided financing and the manufacturing expertise of Emile Gagnan at Air Liquide to build the aqua lung. Would the diving industry look as it does today if Simone had never met Jacques? We’ll never know, but things could have turned out quite differently had the stars not aligned.
In no time, the Cousteaus’ zest for aquatic exploration led them to purchase the Calypso, a ship fueled by the family jewels and fur that Simone sold to make the voyage possible. The Calypso set off in 1952 on its maiden voyage to the Red Sea. Simone was the only woman on board.
Life onboard the Calypso
The Cousteaus underwater (Courtesy Ocean Futures)
By 1963, Simone had become the world’s first female aquanaut by living in Starfish House, an underwater habitat, alongside her newfound role as mother, healer, nurse and psychiatrist to the all-male crew for 40 years, earning her the nickname “La Bergère,” meaning “The Shepherdess.”
As the world’s first female underwater videographer — arguably the first of either gender — Simone ensured that each exploration achieved its objective, filming the award-winning underwater footage we now associate with Jacques Cousteau for The Silent World: A Story of Undersea Exploration and Adventure.
As Jacques described, “She was the happiest out of camera range, in the crow’s nest of Calypso, for example, scanning the sea for whales. Nothing would get by her.”
He continued, “She lives to spend hour after hour in the wind and the sun, watching, thinking, trying to unravel the mystery of the sea.”
The legacy of Simone Melchior Cousteau lives on, not only in the deep love affair each diver has with the ocean, but also as a voice for conservation of earth’s beauty and biodiversity.
As is all too often the case in history, whispers of inspirational female figures disappear among louder stories we tell about male heroes. Let that not be the case with Simone Melchior Cousteau.
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Emma Daffurn / About Author
Emma has been diving since she was 8 years old, a proud member of the PADI Seal Team and now scuba instructor currently working for PADI Travel. She’s most at home tinkering around light-filled coral shallows, spying on the smallest of reef residents as they go about their daily activities. A keen traveler with an environmental outlook, she advocates planting seagrass as a means of mitigating the negative effects of climate change on the ocean’s delicate ecosystems.
Raja Ampat
has many names; Four Kings; the crown jewel of the Coral Triangle;
the underwater Serengeti; the end of the rainbow (okay, that one
was us), but no name can quite do justice to the diving in
Indonesia’s Raja Ampat. Home to the highest marine biodiversity on
earth, descending into the water is like entering an underwater
Eden, thick with a flurry of life and vibrant, healthy corals
(hence the rainbow). And whilst there are so many unforgettable
dive sites that pepper the archipelago, read on for a few of our
favourites.
Boo Windows – Boo Area, Misool
Boo islet looks rather lonely. Approach it by boat and you’ll
wonder what all the fuss is about – but dip below the waters and
you’ll see why. This iconic dive site owes its name to two swim
throughs that pierce the reef like giant windows. Aside from the
incredible topography (leaving many a diver to question how on
earth the above rock doesn’t collapse with such gaping holes), the
reef is carpeted with a rainbow display of soft corals that warrant
a whole day’s diving in themselves.
Level: Advanced
Depth: 3 – 30m
Current: Yes
Shadow Reef – Boo Area, Misool
South of Boo lies Shadow Reef, a submerged pinnacle frequented
by a large number of one of the ocean’s most graceful creatures
(discuss): the manta ray. Position yourself at one of the cleaning
stations and watch both oceanic and smaller reef manta rays glide
past alongside nursing white tip sharks, napoleon wrasse and
schools of pelagics.
Level: Open Water
Depth: 7m
Current: No
Four Kings – Wayilbatan Area, Misool
Four Kings comprises four underwater pinnacles, three of which
are connected by a ridge. The shallowest pinnacle starts at seven
metres descending down a narrow gap (15 metres) to the other three
pinnacles. The dive site itself is a playground of colourful soft
corals, schooling barracuda, trevally, turtles… the list goes
on.
Level: Open Water
Depth: 7 – 30m
Current: No
Citrus Ridge – Dampier Strait
Picture all the colours of citrus. That’s Citrus Ridge. An
explosion of yellow, orange, pink, purple and green soft corals
drape the sloped reef, itself home to such a huge variety of marine
life it’s often affectionately referred to as an aquarium; from the
thousands of glassfish that dance over the corals to lurking
wobbegongs; whirlpools of barracuda, surgeonfish and batfish to
expertly hidden macro critters. This is one of the most beautiful
dive sites of Raja Ampat.
Level: Advanced
Depth: 10 – 30m
Current: Yes
Cape Kri – Dampier Strait
Located to the East of Kri Island, Cape Kri might just be the
most famous dive site in Raja Ampat (if not the world) due to its
mind boggling diversity – it has a record number of reef fish
species recorded in a single dive (374, incidentally). Ever. Think
white-tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, moray eels, groupers,
tuna, turtles, trigger fish, napoleon wrasse, cuttlefish,
porcupinefish… you get the gist.
Level: Advanced
Depth: 5 – 30m
Current: Yes
Blue Magic – Dampier Strait
Located in the blue ocean between Mioskon and Cape Kri, this
site is quite simply magic (see what we did there?). The underwater
pinnacle starts at seven metres, descending to around 30 metres.
It’s topped with a variety of corals (from sea fans to sponges,
soft to hard corals) and as you descend look out for huge schools
of barracuda, octopus and black tip, white tip and grey reef
sharks. But the best part lies in the cleaning station for oceanic
manta rays – grab a good spot and watch them glide inches from your
face.
Level: Advanced
Depth: 8 – 30m
Current: Yes
Want to know some of the other incredible dive sites
that dot the archipelago? Drop us an email, or
better yet, call us on +44 (0) 20 7978 0505 and discover the best
of the rest.
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Picture the scene. It’s the Original Diving office Christmas
party, and several members of the team start an impromptu round of
the ‘Guess the Three-Letter Airport Code’ game. One of the interns
is overheard to say: ‘Wow, you lot really are travel nerds.’ Thank
you, Fenella – there is literally no greater compliment. You see,
travel nerdery (copyright new word) might not make us much fun at
parties but it’s how we know when the octopus mating season is in
Dumaguete, or your best chance of seeing the huge gatherings of
groupers in Fakarava South before spawning. In short, travel
nerdery is how we tailormake your Original Diving trips to
perfection.
But there’s a problem. At the moment, all that expertise is
going to seed. With no-one able to travel for the time being we’re
like world class athletes stuck at home not able to compete. There
are two solutions. First: the slow but steady rise in the number of
enquiries we’re seeing as clients plan for life after lockdown. And
the other? Simple – until the trickle of enquiries becomes a
torrent again we have tasked the team with designing a devilishly
difficult dive-related travel quiz.
So, drum roll please, welcome to the inaugural Original
Travel Quiz. With questions provided by teams from across the
business from Finance (guess the currency) to Flights (yes, those
three-letter airport codes) you can pit yourself against the true
travel experts. Or shamelessly steal the questions for when you’re
hosting your next virtual pub quiz. Good luck!
The Questions
1. Rhincodon typus is the scientific name for which
species of large migratory fish that gives birth to live young?
2. If you were flying into diving hotspot Honiara, what country
would you be landing in?
3. The flag above is the national flag of which country?
…
4. What type of shell was used as the first known currency in
the Maldives?
5. The airport with the three-letter code ‘GPS’ serves an
archipelago world famous for diving. What is the archipelago
called?
6. Name two of the three official languages in the
Seychelles.
7. At which famous dive site was this photo (above and to the
right) taken?
…
8. If the time and date in the UK is 9am on 1st May, what is the
time and date in Papeete in French Polynesia?
9. ‘Wednesday are go’ is the anagram of which rare marine
creature found only in the cooler waters of southern Australia?
10. In which country was the famous underwater scene in James
Bond movie Thunderball filmed?
11. What is the common name for this tropical reef dweller
pictured above?
…
12. Which 419ft long ship (and world-famous wreck) sunk on 6th
October in 1941 in the Red Sea, later to be discovered by
Jacques-Yves Cousteau?
13. Name three of the seven species of marine turtle
14. What year was the first successful scuba dive with an
Aqua-lung completed, and by whom?
15. What is the largest number of fish species ever recorded on
one dive, at Cape Kri in Raja Ampat?
a) 374, b) 437, c) 743
The Answers:
1. The whale shark
2. The Solomon Islands
3. Palau
4. Cowrie shells
5. The Galapagos in Ecuador. The airport in question is Seymour
Airport, on the island of Baltra
6. English, French and Seselwa (Seychellois Creole)
7. Boo Windows in Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
8. 10pm on the 30th April. French Polynesia has three time
zones, and Papeete (Tahiti Time) is GMT-10, then another hour to
factor in British Summer Time
14. 1942, by Jacques-Yves Cousteau (and, for a bonus point, his
co-inventor Emile Gagnan)
15. 374 species
Scores on the Doors
0 – 5: Errrr… What were you actually doing in
geography lessons? Maybe listen in on the children’s home schooling
next time. And it might be time for a PADI refresher course.
6 – 10: You need to get out more. When legally
permissible, of course. Until then, swot up on the Original Diving
website.
11 – 15: Better, but you won’t be winning any
pub quizzes – virtual or otherwise – with a score like that.
Underwater Photography Guide’s 2020 Photo Competition Open For Entries
DIVE Report
The Underwater Photography Guide (UPG) has announced that it is accepting entries for the 2020 edition of the annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition from now until 30 November. The announcement comes swiftly after the successful conclusion of UPG’s ‘Safe Under the Sea’ competition, held this year to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Ocean Art is open to all photographers around the world, both amateur and professional, with twelve categories this year covering a range of photo disciplines and cameras. The 2020 prize fund is valued at over $40,000 and includes trips to some of the world’s top scuba diving resorts, liveaboards, and underwater photography equipment manufacturers.
The sixteen categories of 2019 have been consolidated into twelve of ‘the finest and most fruitful’ for 2020. The Wide Angle, Macro, and Marine Life Behavior categories will have corresponding categories for compact cameras, with further categories including Marine Life Portrait, Cold/Temperate Water, Blackwater, Underwater Conservation, and Nudibranchs. An Underwater Art category encouraging creativity in post-processing is also available.
Ocean Art 2020 will be judged by world-renowned underwater photographers including Silent Symphony author Tony Wu, Martin Edge, author of The Underwater Photographer, the Emmy-award winning and National Geographic photographer Marty Snyderman, and Scott Gietler, owner of Bluewater Photo, Bluewater Travel, and the Underwater Photography Guide.
Photos must be submitted via the competition entry portal before the deadline of 23:59pm PST on 30 November 2020.
Ocean Art 2019 | Virginia Salzedo Gaspare
Ocean Art 2019 | Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez
Ocean Art 2019 | Fabien Michenet
Ocean Art 2019 | Ferenc Lorincz
Ocean Art 2019 | Francisco Sedano
Ocean Art 2019 | Greg Lecoeur
Ocean Art 2019 | Jenny Stock
Ocean Art 2019 | Jules Casey
Ocean Art 2019 | Kuowei Kao
Ocean Art 2019 | Nicholas More
Ocean Art 2019 | Paolo Isgro
Ocean Art 2019 | Paula Vianna
Ocean Art 2019 | Shane Gross
Ocean Art 2019 | Stan Chen
Ocean Art 2019 | Stefano Cerbai
Ocean Art 2019 | Talia Greis
Category winners from the 2019 Ocean Art Competition
2020 Ocean Art Prizes
Ocean Art competitors can choose which prizes they prefer most upon entering the competition, which this year include a choice of 7 or 8 nights for two aboard the Coralia liveaboard in Raja Ampat or Komodo, a 7-night liveaboard trip on the MV Bilikili in the Solomon Islands, a 7-night dive package at Villa Markisa in Bali, a 7-night dive package at Siladen Resort & Spa in Bunaken, a 12-night Passport to Paradise at Murex Dive Resorts in three different Indonesian destinations, and a variety of gift certificates from Bluewater Photo and Bluewater Travel.
Premium travel prizes are provided by Volivoli Beach Resort (Fiji), Crystal Blue Dive Resort (Philippines), Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort (Philippines) and Solitude Liveaboards & Resorts (Philippines and Indonesia). Premium gear prizes are provided by Sea & Sea and Ikelite.
New Law Limits Florida Shark Fin Trade – But Avoids Total Ban
The carcass of a finned shark, thrown overboard and left to die (Photo: Shutterstock)
By Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell
The Governor of Florida has signed into law a bill prohibiting the import, export and sale of shark fins in Florida. However, it will remain legal in Florida to trade in fins harvested from sharks by federally approved and licensed businesses.
The new legislation, which takes effect from 1 October, is named the ‘Kristin Jacobs Ocean Conservation Act’, in honour of the late senator Kristin Jacobs, who originally sponsored the bill but died of cancer earlier this year.
Like many other nations, the US has outlawed the practice of shark-finning, in which fins are removed from live sharks with the rest of the animal disposed of – usually still alive – at sea. Although 19 endangered species of shark are off-limits to US fishers, many species have no such protection and can be legally caught and sold on the open market, with fins sold mainly to support the Asian restaurant trade, where shark-fin soup remains a sought-after menu item.
As a result, fins can be cut from these sharks and sold throughout much of the US, with the exception of 12 states which have banned the trade in shark fins entirely.
Such unrestricted trade in shark fins gives rise to a loophole whereby fins aquired either illegally, or from nations that do not ban shark-finning, are easily distributed throughout the US – and, indeed, most of the world. Identifying which fins come from legally-caught sharks or which come from endangered species is virtually impossible without expert assessment or DNA sampling.
This difficulty in tracking illegally imported fins, coupled with the difference in legislation between locations, has created a vast international black market for shark fins. Early in September, a multi-agency law enforcement operation in the US brought down a shark fin smuggling syndicate which is thought to have been in operation between the US, Mexico and Hong Kong, for at least ten years.
The international black market for shark fins is a billion dollar operation (Photo: Shutterstock)
The loophole is by no means confined to the United States, with similar laws in the European Union under attack by campaigners. A recent petition sponsored by the UK’s Shark Guardian called for citizens to take advantage of the UK’s imminent departure from the EU to put pressure on the UK government to end the currently legal trade in shark fins.
The exceptions to the ban on trading shark fins in Florida, as stipulated by the new bill, include:
The sale of shark fins by any commercial fisherman who harvested sharks from a vessel holding a valid federal shark fishing permit on January 1, 2020
The export and sale of shark fins by any wholesale dealer holding a valid federal Atlantic shark dealer permit on January 1, 2020
The export and sale of domestically sourced shark fins by any shark fin processor that obtains fins from a wholesale dealer holding a valid federal Atlantic shark dealer permit on January 1, 2020.
The legislation requires that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) ‘evaluate the potential economic impact to the commercial shark fishing industry associated with prohibition of the import, export, and sale of shark fins in Florida,’ and submit its findings to the Senate by 31 December 2021, warning that a total ban on the trade in shark fins in Florida may be imposed upon receipt of the FWC’s report.
Shark advocates across America, however, are saying it’s not enough and are calling for further action, with numerous campaigns running to put pressure on the US Senate to pass the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, which would ban the trade in all shark fins at the federal level. Should the bill be passed, the US would join Canada as only the second G20 nation to have enacted such a ban.
‘The bill that Governor DeSantis just signed continues to allow Florida shark fishermen and Florida shark dealers to sell and export fins,’ said Whitney Webber, campaign director for conservation charity Oceana. ‘It’s now more clear than ever that state shark fin bans, while a step in the right direction, are simply not enough in the fight to end the trade in shark fins as those in the fin trade continue to exploit this patchwork of laws.’
‘The discovery of a transnational drug and shark fin trafficking ring, where the legal shark fin trade in Florida was used to disguise an illicit shark fin business in California … underscores that a nationwide shark fin ban is the only way to ensure the United States is no longer participating in the global shark fin trade,’ said Webber. ‘That’s why we’re calling on the US Senate to pass the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, which passed the US House of Representatives on a strongly bipartisan vote nearly a year ago. We need a fin ban now.’
Small but stunning harlequin shrimp are fascinating animals that nearly every diver would love to see underwater. Here are all the nitty-gritty details on harlequin shrimp— and on their creepy feeding habits.
Daily life of a harlequin shrimp
It’s well-known that harlequin shrimp prefer to live in pairs. If they remain undisturbed, they can live that way for their entire 7-year lifespan as a paired male and female. The female grows to be just about 2 inches (5 cm) long and her male counterpart is even smaller.
The harlequin shrimp’s sole food source is starfish, including the menacing crown-of-thorns species. But, as much as we would love harlequin shrimp to solely take care of this ocean plague, there simply aren’t enough of them to eliminate this invasive starfish. We must hand it to these tiny powerhouses, however, as they do play an important role in controlling numbers of these pests.
Sadly, as they are extremely unique and beautiful, humans represent a major threat to these shrimp. Aquarium enthusiasts see them as significant assets and love to put them on display, which makes their already small population dwindle. Although they are undoubtedly lovely to look at, they belong in their natural habitat rather than captivity.
Types of harlequin shrimp
There are two variations of harlequin shrimp, native to the Indo-Pacific and Central and Eastern Pacific Oceans respectively. They are Hymenocera Elegans — the ones we see when diving in Myanmar with orange spots surrounded by blue — and Hymenocera Picta, also called the Hawaiian harlequin shrimp, with pink-purple spots surrounded by yellow. Scientists once thought they wer two independent species, but now know they are the same with the only their color differing. As tropical reef dwellers, they prefer to live in waters ranging from 71 to 77 F (22 to 25 C).
Divers can regularly see harlequin shrimp in the spectacular reefs of the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar. This region is a macro-lover’s paradise and the harlequin shrimp is only one of the jewels that dwells there.
How to identify harlequin shrimp
Like many shrimp, their eyes are fixed on stalks. They use two enormous, flat claws a bit like scissors while hunting for and harvesting their prey. The most notable feature of harlequin shrimp, though, is obviously their magnificent coloring. They range from white to light pink with touches of red, orange, blue, or purple. Their vibrant colors and unique shape make them highly sought-after subjects for underwater photographers.
The body pattern does more for the shrimp than simple vanity, however — it’s an evolutionary adaptation that helps protect them from predators. Traditionally in the world of marine creatures, a bright color means ‘danger,’ and the harlequin shrimp is no exception. Their vibrant patches help warn predators to stay away and the shrimp can also camouflage very quickly to appear as corals or sea plants. They gladly accept the help of shadows cast by the overhead sun to perfect their deception. This simple advantage allows them to attract fewer predators than a creature of this size should.
Harlequin shrimp prefer to live near branched corals and rocky corners to create hidden safe havens. While the reef offers a comfortable, protected habitat, harlequin shrimp do their part to return the valuable favor. Their diet creates a symbiotic relationship wherein they protect the corals by gobbling up parasites like the Asterina starfish before they can inflict lasting damage.
Feeding and hunting methods
Harlequin shrimp feed on a starfish
Harlequin shrimp are notoriously picky eaters as they prefer starfish alone. Even though some have been seen munching on sea urchins, it is clear that those are not their first choice, and they will even turn their nose up at brittle stars. They hunt as a matter of responsibility, with each shrimp in a pair having a specific task.
One shrimp first detects the scent of the starfish using its antennae. Once it has detected a delicious morsel, the pair proceeds to catch up with their prey. Using its pincers, one shrimp will snip off the soft, tube-like foot attachment of the starfish, and the other will pull the starfish until it’s turned on its back.
Now, here comes the gruesome part: the shrimp eat the starfish’s soft tissues and tube feet slowly. The starfish goes through a slow, painful death for weeks — or even months — as it is eaten alive. Over time, the starfish regenerates the eaten parts, providing even more food. Some harlequin shrimp will even feed their prey to extend their life. Therefore, a captured starfish can sustain an entire harlequin shrimp family for a long time.
Mating, reproduction and species safety
If a pair of harlequin shrimp mates find a comfortable place to live, they will stay for months or even their entire lives. As mentioned, a mating pair will stay together for life and share tasks equally to fiercely protect their family.
Mating occurs after the female molts. In one breeding season, a female can produce between 100 to 5,000 eggs. And although this number seems high, harlequin shrimp are still endangered as their tiny babies are very vulnerable and human interference further aggravates this.
Apart from humans directly harvesting them for the aquarium trade, harlequin shrimp are also in grave danger of losing habitat due to human activities that damage coral reefs. In aquariums, harlequin shrimp do care about humans and are likely oblivious to the fact that they’re on display. But in the wild where they truly belong, they are skillful hunters with one thing in mind: to find starfish.
Camille has been traveling the world since her mid twenties and dived many seas before finally settling down in Thailand in 2012. With her husband Franck, they opened The Smiling Seahorse liveaboard to offer cruises in the most unexplored area of South East Asia and became quite the experts when it comes to diving in Myanmar! Proud mother of two she still travels as much as she can and usually joins a dive trip to Mergui Archipelago every month.
There are dozens of reasons to become a scuba instructor: you get paid to dive, you meet amazing people, etc. But that’s not what this article is about.
This article is about the myths, misconceptions and misunderstandings that prevent people from taking their passion for scuba diving to the next level. Read on to learn the truth about becoming a scuba instructor and the PADI® Instructor Development Course (IDC).
MYTH #1: You Need an Encyclopedic Knowledge of Scuba Diving
Don’t know the difference between a nembrotha cristata and a nembrotha kubaryana? That’s okay. Some PADI Instructors are animal ID experts, others know fascinating details about their local wrecks. These skills are nice to have, but they aren’t necessary to teach someone how to scuba dive.
The PADI Divemaster course will teach you the fundamentals of diving physics, physiology, equipment and the environment.
In the PADI IDC, you’ll learn how to work with students, handle various problems, and explain concepts like buoyancy in a way that’s easy to understand.
The PADI System has helped thousands of divers become successful PADI Professionals. All you need to bring to the table is love for the underwater world and a desire to share that passion with others.
MYTH #2: It Takes a Long Time to Become a Scuba Instructor
If you’re already a PADI Divemaster (or hold a leadership-level certification with another training agency), you can become a PADI Instructor in about 11 days (on average). Or, you can complete your training gradually over a series of weekends.
First, you’ll need 10-12 hours to complete your online training (IDC eLearning®).
Next, you’ll spend minimum 6 days working with your PADI Course Director(s) practicing teaching presentations, completing workshops and perfecting your dive skills.
The last step, the PADI Instructor Examination (IE) takes place over two consecutive days.
You’ll need at least 100 logged dives to start the IDC and proof of EFR training within the past 24 months. If you don’t already have these things, your training time may be longer. Here’s a complete list of prerequisites to start the PADI IDC.
MYTH #3: It Costs a Lot of Money to Become a Scuba Instructor
MYTH #4: The PADI IDC is Only Valuable If You Want to Teach Scuba for a Living
One of the most common things we hear from PADI Instructors is how much their IDC training helped them succeed in the “real world.” During the IDC, you’ll learn how to:
Break down complex information into simple concepts
Help people embrace new ideas by comparing them to things they already understand
If you don’t feel ready – that’s okay. Most people don’t, that’s why it’s called “The Instructor Development Course.” Your PADI Course Director will show you the in’s and out’s of teaching scuba, just like your Open Water instructor showed you how to take your first breaths underwater.
https://diveayianapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/padicdlogo2bw-300x84.png00ScubaJoeyhttps://diveayianapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/padicdlogo2bw-300x84.pngScubaJoey2020-09-20 15:00:162020-09-20 15:00:16The Top 4 Myths About Becoming a Scuba Instructor
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