| Seychelles
annual underwater festival 14 - 17 October SUBIOS is Seychelles annual underwater festival celebrating the underwater world, through a range of diving and snorkeling activities, and creating awareness with evening programs of film, video and slide presentations by acclaimed local and international guest speakers. As part of the festival, there are also underwater film and photography contests. Barefoot Traveller are offering packages to this great festival. Click here for more information. |
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| Fourth
Element returns to its roots with Red Sea Launch
The days of coming home from Egypt with a t-shirt that falls apart, fades or shrinks in the wash are numbered with the launch of Fourth Element Red Sea. The long sleeved tops, t-shirts and strap vests, have been given a new twist, but are still made to the same demands of quality as the t-shirts in the UK, and are available in dive centres and shops from Taba in the north of the Sinai peninsula to Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh. They will soon be available in other resorts throughout the Red Sea. The launch event took place on 2nd July at the Camel Bar in Sharm El Sheikh, and was very well attended by dive professionals from Sharm as well as visitors, many of whom took advantage of the offer of a beer with every purchase! “We had a great response from everyone and the event was a great success for us.” said Alasdair Clarke of Fourth Element Egypt. “The new rooftop bar at Camel was the perfect place to announce the launch of Fourth Element in Sharm, and we are looking forward with excitement.” The idea for Fourth Element was conceived in Sharm El Sheikh in 1999 and company founders Paul Strike and Jim Standing put some of that down to the consumption of beer at the Camel Bar. Said Jim, “We definitely approve of the choice of venue. It has a lot of significance for us!” Fourth Element plans to follow this success with the introduction of its swimwear and technical ranges in the near future. For more information, visit www.fourthelement.com |
Partying with Fourth Element in the Red Sea |
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Camel
Bar in Sharm a great place to party |
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| Caribbean
coral under threat Conservationists say nearly two-thirds of the Caribbean's coral reefs are threatened by human activities. The Washington DC-based World Resources Institute says the reefs are struggling to cope with over fishing and runoff of pollution and sediments from the land. Bleaching caused by warming waters, disease from new pathogens, and damage from storms also pose difficulties. The WRI says local economies and the environment will suffer if the reefs are allowed to deteriorate further. The institute's report, Reefs At Risk In The Caribbean, is timely given the current focus on the region because of hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne. "Hurricanes have been important in shaping the Caribbean. Reefs can recover from these storms, but not necessarily, and they're less likely to recover with all the added stress from other sources," report co-author Jon Maidens said. "This has economic implications." Maidens, lead author Lauretta Burke and colleagues have calculated that continuing degradation of the region's coral reefs could reduce net annual revenues from dive tourism - which provided an estimated $2.1bn in 2000 - by as much as US$300m per year by 2015. The authors also estimate the reefs to provide goods and services with an annual net economic value in 2000 between $3.1bn and $4.6bn from fisheries, dive tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection services. The WRI team calls for "the establishment of better management practices to encourage sustainable fisheries, to protect reefs from direct damage, and to integrate the sometimes conflicting approaches to management in the watersheds and adjacent waters around coral reefs". "Fundamental to supporting these actions is wider involvement of the public and stakeholders in the management process, as well as an improved level of understanding of the importance of coral reefs." |
Phuket
reefs perish under assault of tourist hordes
Beneath the blue Andaman Sea, Phuket's coral reefs are in ruins. Just as Thailand prepares for an upsurge of new visitors, with the Government aiming to double its tourist revenues, marine biologists have warned that careless development has already wrecked two-thirds of the reefs surrounding the resort island of Phuket. Seen from a high-rise hotel room or a deserted beach, the vistas of forested limestone islets that featured in a classic James Bond speedboat sequence and The Beach are just as breathtaking as ever. But being one of the world's top 10 yachting and diving destinations is slowly damaging and destroying its 14sq km underwater garden. Sludge and debris washed into the sea from construction work across the island is the main cause of the reefs' demise, said Nipon Pongsuwanthe, from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. Commercial fishing and day tripping divers have also harmed the delicate coral formations. And researchers at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources say this part of the Andaman Sea is awash with 10,000 tonnes of rubbish. Floating garbage has increased by 10 per cent since last year, they say. "Tourism has increased and tour groups irresponsibly dump litter," said the Environment Minister, Suwit Khunkitti. In co-operation with the Scuba Diving Association of Thailand, the environment ministry enlisted 100 underwater dustmen who voluntarily retrieved 300kg of rubbish around the tropical island of Koh Racha Yai, near Phuket. The majority of damaged coral around Phuket was found in the most popular diving sites for tourists, such as the Ha Noi Islands, Koh Ngam, Koh Tapao Yai, Koh Tapao Noi and Koh Rang Yai. Three bouts of global warming, which raised temperatures enough to kill and bleach coral during the 1990s, also contributed to the ecological crisis. Thai environmentalists are equally dismayed by a 240km petroleum pipeline in the works. The proposed Strategic Energy Landbridge is planned to link Middle Eastern oil producers to consumers in East Asia, bypassing a long tanker journey around the Malay Peninsula. Few of Phuket's diving shops welcome the prospect of the pipeline's offshore platform, scheduled to be built south of Khao Lak, because of the increased risk of pollution. Three local tourism authorities have written protest letters to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Aggressive promotion of the so-called Andaman Triangle, which includes Phuket plus mainland resorts in Krabi and Phang Nga, is part of a government scheme to boost high-end tourism and double the industry's takings by 2008. The travel industry accounts for 6 per cent of Thailand's economy. Promoters have launched a feasibility study for developing Phuket as a duty-free port city, similar to Malaysia's Langkawi. Phuket has become home to a lively expatriate community, serviced by several international schools and regular international airlinks. Now the island's airport is destined to become a hub for South-east Asia's burgeoning no-frills airlines, as well.
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| SA
divers object to marine park charges South African divers have supported the creation of marine parks, but are now angry at new proposals that target divers as the only sports people who will be charged to use them. South Africa's first protected marine reserve was declared in 1964, and the latest areas to be protected were declared in June 2004. Marine parks now cover around 15 percent of the South African coast, and many divers and dive operators have lobbied to extend the marine reserves, believing that the marine life and reefs would be protected from fishing and souvenir hunting. However, less welcome is the news that under new proposals in the Marine Living Resources Act, divers are the only group who will end up paying for access to these 4 new areas. If the proposals are agreed, divers will have to pay an annual permit of R75, equivalent to around £6.50 sterling, and dive operators will pay R10,000 - around £850 sterling to visit the marine reserves from January 2005. Surfers, snorkellers, swimmers and any others involved in watersports will not have to pay for a permit. The Environment Minister will also be in a position to limit the number of permits issued, though no guidelines on how this will be determined have been published. Many divers believe that the sport is being unfairly targeted, and are angry at claims by the Marine Coastal Management government agency that divers have caused damage to the reefs. A marine scientist from Marine Coastal Management admitted that damage caused by scuba divers is negligible compared with pollution or fishing. |
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| VIP 1 last minute availability Places are still available on the VIP 1 live aboard, northern wrecks and reefs itinerary in the Northern Red Sea run by Longwood holidays. Places are available for the following dates: 10-17
October Visit www.longwoodholidays.co.uk or www.vipone.com for more information.
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Dive the world brochure The latest Kuoni dive brochure has now been released and has details for a number of top dive destinations around the world. A number of long haul destinations are included such as the Red Sea, the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Kenya, the Maldives, Borneo, Indonesia, Tahiti and Fiji.
For further information visit www.kuoni.co.uk. |
| NEW 2004-2005 Regaldive brochure out now!
Exciting
new destinations featured for the first time include
Djibouti, Pemba and the For those looking for something close to home, Regaldive has expanded its Red Sea operations and made it easier for you to get there! Direct flights are now available from Gatwick and Manchester to Sharm and Hurghada whilst a direct flight to Marsa Alam makes it easier than ever before to reach the spectacular reefs of the Southern Red Sea. Also in the Red Sea and of particular interest to learner divers or those wanting to continue their training, are the fantastic Buy One Get One Half Price Dive Pack offers on selected dates. Learn to dive with Regaldive and save money! Regaldive’s new programme has some great offers for groups so club together and take advantage of the best deals on hotels, diving and liveaboards. There are FREE places available (and a free DNA T-shirt for leaders!)…So start planning that group adventure now. Djibouti promises to be one of the most popular of the worldwide options available. Located at the mouth of the Red Sea, Djibouti offers unparalleled opportunities to dive or snorkel with whale sharks particularly during the Autumn. During these months, Regaldive is offering five exclusive whale shark charters aboard the 26M MY Deli. Limited places are available for these dates in 2005 so don’t delay. Booking by the end of this year not only helps to guarantee your place but also saves you money with an early booking discount. Another highlight of the 2004-2005 worldwide dive programme is the re-introduction of the unique destination of Manado in North Sulawesi. To help you take advantage of some of the most bio diverse diving in the world, Regaldive are offering two resorts in Manado. Tasik Ria gives direct access to the award-winning Bunaken national park, whilst Kungkungan Bay occupies an enviable position overlooking the Lembeh Straits. Manado will satisfy even the most adventurous diver and is an underwater photographers’ dream. Finally, there is more choice than ever before if you’re thinking of travelling to the Maldives. With three new liveaboards exclusive to Regaldive and five idyllic new islands available, you can now dive the length and breadth of the Maldives with Regaldive.
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DIVE show 2004 30/31 OCTOBER, NEC, Birmingham This year’s ‘divefest’ at the NEC will house over 300 suppliers of the very latest diving equipment, dive and leisure wear, training organisations, holiday resorts, destinations plus much more. Packed full of ideas and inspiration, the show will give seasoned and wannabe divers the chance to see what’s hot, what’s on the cards for next year and where to go for the best dive thrills. The popular Try Dive pool will again provide the opportunity for visitors to get hands-on experience, and for divers who can’t get enough of the underwater world there will be one of the largest, stand-alone aquariums in the UK full of fish and marine life. More intrepid visitors will be able to hear first-hand about diving wrecks such as the Scilla and the Britannic, and for those who want to learn how to bring back images of what they see underwater, there will be photographic and film presentations on the free seminar programme. Tickets to the show cost £7.00 each if booked in advance (£9.50 on the door) and £2.00 for children under 12. Visit www.diveshows.co.uk to buy tickets online or call the advance booking line 020 8977 9878.
Great prices from the companies present
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Big crowds expected again
Why not try a dive at the show?
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