Underwater Photography Guide’s 2020 Photo Competition Open For Entries

ocean art 2019 winners title

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. 

 

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.

For more information and to register for the competition, visit www.uwphotographyguide.com/ocean-art. Follow along on The Underwater Photography Guide’s Facebook page, Instagram @uwphotographyguide and Twitter @uwphotography

 

New Law Limits Florida Shark Fin Trade – But Avoids Total Ban

florida shark fins title

The carcass of a finned shark, thrown overboard and left to die (Photo: Shutterstock)

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.

shark finning shutdown title

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.

harlequin shrimp

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.

harlequin shrimp

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.

harlequin shrimp

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 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

harlequin shrimp

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.

harlequin shrimp
All photos by FRANCK FOGAROLO

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

We ran the numbers and the average cost to become a scuba instructor is about the same as becoming a watersports instructor or 200-hour yoga instructor. An average PADI Instructor course is actually less expensive than an average ski or snowboarding instructor course.

Bonaire - Dive Instructor - Signals

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
  • Give feedback in a positive and supportive way
  • Appeal to people with different learning styles
  • Establish a positive learning environment

Learn more about how becoming a PADI Instructor benefits you in the real world. Or, read up on the many (many) career options for PADI Pros including, marine biologist, underwater crime scene investigator, stunt person and underwater archeologist.

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. 

In this author’s opinion, the Open Water Diver course® is a lot harder than the IDC. 

  • At the beginning of the Open Water Diver course, you start with zero knowledge. 
  • When you start the IDC, you already know how to dive. The course teaches you how to transfer your knowledge to others.

Contact a PADI Five Star IDC or CDC with any questions you have about becoming a PADI Pro. They’ll be happy to share their expertise. You can also watch this recorded webinar that explains how to become a PADI Professional. 

Further Reading

Share This

This week, we are proud – and excited! – to announce our new partnership with The Ocean Foundation.

PADI has partnered with The Ocean Foundation to offer the PADI Community a means of engaging with seagrass, mangrove and salt marsh conservation and restoration, in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and support the foundations of life in the ocean.

At PADI Travel, we know all about exploring – you’re just one click away from the world’s largest selection of dive packages across the entire world, including Antarctica! Yet when it comes to saving the ocean, we realize that we – along with the rest of the travel industry – still have some way to go.

At first glance, international dive travel can seem like a tricky one to reconcile with a desire to save the ocean.

Whether it’s coral bleaching, climate change or the threat to marine biodiversity posed by widespread destruction of coastal habitats, no one can deny the fundamental challenges facing the ocean. What’s more, there’s no getting away from the man-made nature of these challenges, and the role that travel and hospitality have played in getting to where we are now. It’s enough to make you question whether a trip to your favourite dive destination is even worth it.

Spoiler: It really is! Dive tourism – when handled correctly – can be a powerful tool for coastal communities and conservation.

Take Misool Resort for example – a remote getaway in Raja Ampat built entirely from materials found in the local forest. By working with the local community to set up the resort and provide alternative employment, they’ve been able to establish the Misool Foundation and marine protected reserve. This way, biodiversity and coastal communities are able to thrive simultaneously in a way that ensures long term protection for the reef and it’s inhabitants.

Credit: Misool Resort

The advantages of sustainable dive tourism outweigh the value of simply cutting down on carbon emissions by never flying. Without divers to support conservation measures at home and abroad, communities are often forced to turn to unsustainable fishing practices to provide for their family. And that, is no good for communities or the ocean.

Without a doubt, coastal communities and ocean health are inextricably liked. As divers, we are in a position to fulfill our diving dreams and support a healthier future for people and planet.

That just leaves us with one tricky sticking point – the carbon emissions associated with air travel. Absolutely, we must reduce our carbon footprint to ensure a healthy future. However, unless you’ve got all the time in the world to travel by land or sea, let’s be honest, you’re going to be boarding a plane sooner or later.

That’s where The Ocean Foundation comes in. In a matter of weeks, you’ll be able to mitigate and reduce the carbon footprint of your dive adventure by adding per tonne carbon offset contributions to your booking.

Just look out for the ‘Offset Your Adventure’ tab at the checkout stage – the same place you’re already used to selecting transfers, pre-booking rental gear and reserving optional extras.

Seagrass and mangroves? Why not just plant a tree?

Well for starters, because seagrass and mangroves are really powerful.

Seagrass and mangrove habitats are up to 35x more effective than Amazonian rainforests in their carbon uptake and storage abilities. So impressive, that they are responsible for 11% of the organic carbon buried in the ocean, despite occupying only a tiny amount of the seafloor.

Secondly, because they are the foundation of life in our ocean.

A single acre of seagrass can support as many as 50 million small invertebrates and 40,000 fish, including sharks, turtles and manatees. As divers, this is super-important to us. Learn more about seagrass, and the important role it plays in maintaining healthy oceans here.

The scary part? Seagrasses and mangroves around the world are being lost at a rate of about two football fields every hour.

As a global community of Torchbearers, this is our call to action. If not now, then when? And if not us, who?

OK, tell me more about The Ocean Foundation and the SeaGrass Grow Project.

Who better to introduce you to The Ocean Foundation, than their own President Mark J. Spalding? Check out this video for a quick and inspirational intro.

The Ocean Foundation is the world’s only community foundation committed to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments.

The SeaGrass Grow Project works together with communities to actively restore abundance and enhance the productivity of coastal ecosystems. So, what this actually means in practice is conserving and restoring seagrass and mangroves, which often includes planting and working with locals to ensure long-term protection.

Currently, the primary focus is on Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, a 1,140 hectare site in Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. To learn more, click here.

For every $20 donated, one tonne of carbon is sequestered from the atmosphere.

To give you a rough idea, a single person flying from London to Sharm for a week in a budget resort will be about 0.7 tonnes. A couple jetting off to the Caribbean from New York for a luxury week’s stay comes in at just over 1 tonne. A bucket-list two week adventure for two in Raja Ampat comes in at just over 3 tonnes, if flying from mainland Europe.

After booking, we’ll hook you up with The Ocean Foundation directly, giving you the option of estimating the exact carbon footprint of your vacation via their Carbon Footprint Calculator. From there, you’ll be able to make further donations directly, should your heart desire.

How much you choose to donate is up to you – in partnering with The Ocean Foundation, we’ve made one more step towards our goal to provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to make informed, sustainable choices.

Just remember, there is still hope and there is still time to turn this around. Become a PADI Torchbearer for the ocean today and join the growing community at www.padi.com/onebillion

Share This

A Feast for the Eyes in DIVE’s 2020 Autumn Print Issue 

promo pic new title2

If, like most of us, you can’t get underwater yourself, don’t worry we’ll bring the diving to you. In our latest print edition, we have a feast of ocean delights. From predators in action to the icy stillness in frozen Greenland. From the frontline of industrial fishing in the Galápagos to the best drones for travelling photographers. Enjoy!

6

autumn print issue greenland

We all love to dive under the water, and a few hardy souls love to dive underwater when it’s frozen, but for those that do, the breathtaking seascape more than compensates for the drop in temperature. Tobias Friedrich follows champion freediver, Anna von Boetticher, under Greenland’s ice for a photoshoot that takes place on the same planet as the rest of us, but in a completely different world.

4

autumn print issue feast

All day, every day, aquatic animals engage in a life-or-death struggle for survival, trying to find food to feed themselves without becoming food for others. There are very few species that don’t participate in the never-ending battle not to be eaten – and there are no prizes for second place. Douglas David Seifert breaks down the complex relationship between predators and their prey, with his stunning photography capturing the incredible action.

2

autumn print issue galapagos

If there is one predator that outstrips all the rest, then it is humans. We take away the prey from predators and we prey on the predators themselves; stripping the ocean of its natural resources. Steve Jones reports from the Galápagos, examining how human activity is rampaging through the Cradle of Evolution. Can even the fittest survive?


choose subscription banner


8

autumn print issue drones 2

What do underwater photographers really need? Flying cameras, of course! These days, all the best scuba diving movies and photo albums provide elevated context to the dive experience, but you no longer need a private helicopter and professional camera to film it. Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell takes a look at some of the best drones available for the travelling diver.

7

autumn print issue narcosis

Most people learn about narcosis with stories about divers offering their regulators to fish, or seeing pink elephants sauntering along the reef. Sadly few of us ever see the pink elephants, but pretty much everybody will get narc’d at some point in their diving career. So what causes it? Colin Munro takes a look at the science behind nitrogen narcosis.

3

autumn print issue bigshot

For our third Big Shot photo competition in partnership with Aggressor Adventures, we asked entrants to submit their best underwater shots from the Philippines for the chance to win a Philippines Aggressor liveaboard trip and the chance to be published in DIVE. Check out the winning entries from the hundreds that were submitted, exclusively in our Autumn 2020 print issue.

1


choose subscription banner


 

No matter where you go in New Zealand there is always the promise of adventure, and diving is no exception. Dive sites range from stunning colourful reefs to rugged rock drop offs; and from tranquil bays to open ocean. If you are seeking adventure, diversity, and phenomenal marine life then New Zealand checks all of the boxes. With such a wide variety of diving on offer, which spans both the tropical and temperate South Pacific, a matching suite of diving skills and techniques is required.

New Zealand -Karikari Peninsula - scuba diver

Here are a selection of PADI Specialty Diver courses which will ensure you maximise the range of sites you can visit and enhance your experience in this unique region.

  1. Dry Suit Diver Specialty

If you are planning to dive around the South Island then the PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty is a must. Milford Sound and Kaikoura are just two of the amazing places you can get your drysuit skills up to scratch. Milford Sound provides an exceptional experience. The sheer cliff faces of Milford combined with the regions heavy rainfall, results in a unique ecosystem to explore where black-coral trees flourish. Kaikoura attracts dusky dolphins, albatross, New Zealand fur seals, and Sperm whales. Water temperatures range from 50°F (10°C) in winter to 62°F (18°C) in summer. If swimming with some of New Zealand’s most impressive marine life and majestic sea mammals is on your hit list then a dry suit is your best bet for enjoying the mesmerizing South Island sites that New Zealand has on offer.

Dry Suit diving is a different experience to wetsuit diving and during your course you’ll learn about the different types of suits available, how to take care of a dry suit, getting prepared for a dry suit dive, correct weighting, and how to master neutral buoyancy while diving in a dry suit.

Dry Suit - Diver - Cold - Mountains

  1. Boat Diver Specialty

New Zealand has some stunning shore diving available, however, if you want to see all that is on offer, you’ll definitely need to undertake some boat diving – and in some areas, boat diving is the only way to access the sites.

The PADI Boat Diver Specialty will prepare you for a day out on the water. As well as learning about preparing for a boat diving expedition, you’ll familiarise yourself with boat diving terminology, boat diving safety protocols and boat diving entries and exits. Upon completion of your Boat Diving Specialty you’ll be ready to set sail and dive into some of New Zealand’s finest dive sites!

  1. Wreck Diver Specialty

It’s almost impossible to imagine diving in New Zealand and not wreck diving! Some of the most famous diveable wrecks in the world lay off New Zealand’s endless coastlines.

The former NZ Navy Frigate Canterbury, F421, sits intact and upright in Deep Water Cove, located in the breath-taking Bay of Islands, the wreck is covered with colourful encrusting life and a myriad of fish species that now call this majestic site home.

The HMS TUI allows for phenomenal penetration dives with purpose cut entry points making the control room, bridge, crew living quarters and engine rooms all accessible.

The famous wreck of the Rainbow Warrior, the flagship vessel from Greenpeace, sits in Matauri Bay. It not only offers divers a historical landmark but a kaleidoscopic underwater playground packed with colourful jewel anemones, John Dory, kingfish, moray eels and crayfish.

Rainbow Wreck - New Zealand

For those who want to dive a 20,000 ton, 576 feet (176 meter) Russian Cruise liner and explore it’s ballroom, spiral staircase and chandeliers, the Mikhail Lermontov wreck is one of the world’s largest and most dive-accessible wrecks which sank just off Port Gore.

While near New Zealand’s capital, visiting the HMNZS Wellington – F69 is a must do dive. This Leander class frigate was decommissioned in 1999 and was scuttled to create an artificial marine reef and a world class recreational dive site in 2005.

Wreck diving is a phenomenal experience and during the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty you’ll learn about navigating wrecks, potential hazards, safety protocols of wreck diving and how to plan and make safe penetration dives. Once you’ve completed your course you’ll be ready to explore some of the historic wrecks that lay beneath the surface of New Zealand’s waters.

  1. Deep Diver Specialty

The PADI Deep Diver Specialty will prepare you to make dives up to a maximum depth of 131 feet/40 meters. You’ll learn about the additional considerations that need to be taken into account when making deeper dives including dive planning, nitrogen narcosis, air supply and decompression factors.

New Zealand has stunning dives at all depths, however, the ability and awareness of how to make deeper dives will mean you are not limited in dive sites. Head over to the Poor Knights Islands after your course and discover the impressive drop off at Landing Bay Pinnacle where schooling mackerel and maomao will leave you mesmerized. Or check out some of the deeper areas around the immense Lermontov wreck.

  1. Night Diver Specialty

Why limit yourself to diving New Zealand during day light hours? As the sun sets some of New Zealand’s most impressive critters start to get active – and so should you. Check out the night diving around Matauri Bay where the Big Eye’s that hide away during the day time come out to play and crayfish roam free under the cover of darkness.

There are amazing night diving opportunities all around New Zealand with most PADI Dive Centres scheduling regular night diving activities. During your Night Diver Specialty course, you’ll learn about night diving planning, equipment, underwater lights, underwater signalling and communication, and how to navigate underwater at night.

  1. Digital Underwater Photography

Take home images of your dives that will impress even your most seasoned dive buddies! If you want to capture your underwater moments on camera, hone your skills with the Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty. Whether you are taking your first shots underwater or you want to work on capturing brighter colours and enhanced focus, this PADI Specialty will help you to make improvements in a short space of time.

You’ll learn the basics of photography together with how the key principles are affected by shooting underwater. You’ll take a look at the different photography equipment that’s available and what’s most suitable for your needs as well as lighting, understanding histograms and composition.

Your Instagram account will never have looked better!

  1. PADI Enriched Air Diver Specialty

Diving with Enriched Air (or Nitrox), means diving with a gas mix of over 21% oxygen (air). By increasing the percentage of oxygen in your tank, you’ll automatically decrease the amount of nitrogen. It is the accumulation of Nitrogen in your body that determines your no decompression limits, so less nitrogen means you can stay under for longer while exploring New Zealand’s dive sites.

Enriched Air - Nitrox - Scuba Diving

Nitrox diving requires the use of some special procedures and dive planning and this PADI Specialty course is an excellent way of building on your existing skills and knowledge of decompression theory. If you are thinking about venturing into the word of PADI TecRec in the future then this is a required certification. Likewise, if you are considering a future liveaboard trip, on many vessels, a Nitrox certification is a requirement. In New Zealand, it means you’ll get to spend longer admiring the stunning seascapes and incredible marine life.

Are you planning to dive in New Zealand? Get yourself prepared by taking your PADI Specialties in advance with PADI’s online eLearning program.

Share This

 A Netflix Love Story Between A Man and An Octopus

octopus600

Netflix is here to save 2020, with the love story we didn’t know we needed – My Octopus Teacher, a man’s bond with an octopus.

After a chance encounter while freediving in a South African kelp forest in 2010, Craig Foster, who also produced My Octopus Teacher, decided to follow a curious young octopus. Filmed over the course of a year, Foster documents his experiences with the octopus and the effect the relationship had on his life, culminating in a rousing scene where the octopus hesitantly reaches out to touch Foster with a tentacle. See the official trailer below. 

 

Popular and Enduring SemiDry Gets a Makeover for 2020

northern diver storm 644 semidryn

Northern Diver’s Storm semi-dry wetsuit has been given a fresh makeover for 2020, the latest model in a successful line of suits that has been around for decades.

Suitable for use by all levels of diver and designed for cool water diving, The Storm has been continually developed over its lifetime and is now constructed from a softer and more flexible neoprene making it easier to don and doff, with wrist and ankle seals constructed from Northern Diver’s bespoke ‘Smooth Skin’, for added comfort and to prevent water flush.

The suit features a front entry vertical-cut YKK plastic zip, abrasion-resistant overprinting on the shoulders helps prevent BCDs from slipping off the shoulders, and protective grips on the cuffs helps to keep wrist gauges and computers in place. Strong pads in the elbow, knee and seat areas are built into the Storm for further abrasion resistance in the highest wear areas.

The Storm is 6mm thick in the vital areas of the body, with a 4mm thickness in areas requiring extra flexibility and movement. Ribbed neoprene features at the back of the elbows and knees for comfort and flexibility when in motion.

northern diver 64 semidry

Storm 6/4mm Semidry Features:

  • 6mm superstretch neoprene construction, with 4mm neoprene present in areas of increased movement – underarms, back of elbows, crotch, back of knees
  • Seams triple glued and blind stitched
  • Top-quality front entry YKK zip
  • Superstretch smooth skin neoprene neck, wrist and ankle seals
  • Strong pad elbow, knee and seat protection
  • Ribbed neoprene on backs of elbows and knees for extra comfort and flexibility
  • Reflective Northern Diver logos
  • Separate neoprene hood supplied
  • Available in both men’s and women’s patterns

RRP Storm 6/4mm Semidry: £120

www.ndiver.com

 

In the clear, blue water about 30 minutes from Cancun, divers and snorkelers can visit the Cancun Underwater Museum of Art. British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor brought Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA) to life with his  pieces, and installations now feature other artists as well. The museum lies within the Cancun National Marine Park, which includes Cancun, Isla Mujeres, and Punta Nizuc.

Visiting the Cancun Underwater Museum

The Bankers sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor
The Bankers sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor

The installation, which features just over 500 sculptures — by deCaires Taylor and five Mexican artists — opened in 2010 with an installation called The Silent Evolution.  

Aside from offering divers a unique experience, the museum also functions as an artificial reef. In fact, it was originally conceived to relieve pressure on local reefs. The artist used pH-neutral concrete to create the sculptures, which encourage coral growth and thus attract marine life.

Anthropocene sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor
Anthropocene sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor

MUSA has two galleries, the Salon Manchones and Salon Nizuc. Salon Manchones is best for divers, with sculptures sitting between 26 and 33 feet (8 to 10 m), while Salon Nizuc is best for snorkeling, with sculptures sitting at 6.5 to 13 feet (2 to 4 m)

deCaires Taylor based the sculptures on local people from Puerto Morelos, and each one of the sculpted men, women, and children has unique expressions and features. Each sculpture or group of sculptures also has a different meaning and name that depicts a specific theme, such as Man on Fire, Dream Collector, Anthropocene, and The Banker. One of the more famous exhibitions in this area — although better suited to snorkeling than diving — is Vicissitude — an installation that depicts a group of people looking up at the sky while holding hands.

Silent Evolution sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor
Silent Evolution sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor

Since the installation in 2009, coral growth has covered the statues, and they continue to attract schools of fish, turtles, rays, and other marine life. Eventually, it is hoped that the sculptures themselves will become unrecognizable as they are covered in so much life.

Time Bomb sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor
Time Bomb sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor

MUSA is an excellent dive site for novice and more experienced divers. Divers must, however, carefully interact with the space to promote its conservation.

When to go

Cancun and nearby Cozumel are popular dive destinations that offer around 300 good diving days a year. The dry season — also the high season — falls between November and April. The hurricane season is between June and October, but storms can arrive as late as December.

Water temperatures range from 73 F (23 C) in the winter to around 84 F (29 C) in the summer. MUSA offers very shallow diving — so lots of bottom time — and little to no current. Average visibility is around 65 feet (20 m).

The Cancun Underwater Museum of Art offers interesting dives that you will want to add to your logbook. The warm, clear water offers excellent diving conditions and a unique chance to take some time out and revel in the art.

All images courtesy of MUSEO SUBACUÁTICO DE ARTE (MUSA)