Nature/Wildlife
We live busy lives, often in urban settings, so when the time comes for a vacation, many of us know that the best thing to do is to turn to nature. Nothing blows the cobwebs away more than a trek in the mountains or communing with creatures in the deep forest. Whether peering into a volcano, riding horseback along a trail, or spotting wildlife on a river cruise, something deep within us needs to feel connected to the natural world. All regions of the world present opportunities for enjoying nature.
In cooler temperate climates you may seek out snow-capped mountains such as the Alps, while equatorial regions offer the dense jungles of Asia or the vast plains of Africa. Anywhere animals live free offers us the chance to witness their majesty and understand better our place in the natural order. We can give ourselves privileged memories of seeing lions, elephants and gorillas on safari, or witness orangutans, monkeys and birds in the trees of the rainforest. The oceans and coastlines of the world offer opportunities for encounters with whales, dolphins, penguins, seals and more. Nature is always good for the soul.
Gardens of the Queen – Cuba’s Underwater Garden of Eden
Today's trending dive destination is Cuba and the diving hotspot is Jardines de la Reina. This incredible dive destination has been a marine park for over 20 years and the protection has paid off. The area resembles the Caribbean at the time when Christopher Columbus...
Time To Dive The Great Barrier Reef?
Over the past 2 months, the Great Barrier Reef has received a great deal of attention in the media. How much of this reporting is sensationalism? How much is political jockeying between conservationists, the government and the coal mining industry? And how does all...
South Africa’s Marine Protection – Have Your Say!
South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs is lobbying to establish 22 marine protected areas (MPAs) along the coast. This move is a long time coming; currently less than 0.4% of South Africa’s coastline is protected! World famous Aliwal Shoal is set to be...
The ‘bends’ treatment for Tucker the Turtle
An olive ridley turtle was near death and stranded on the shores of Oregon, USA. Since his rescue, he has been receiving treatment traditionally used to cure divers suffering from the bends. Tucker, as his carers at the Seattle Aquarium affectionately call him, was a...
Galápagos Marine Life Now Protected!
Monday 21 March 2016, President of the Republic of Ecuador Rafael Correa, announced the creation of a marine sanctuary in the area of the Galápagos Islands. The Galápagos Islands are a World Heritage site. The area has been protected since 1998 by the Galápagos Marine...
‘Famous’ Great White Sharks Contribution to Conservation
Have you ever wondered why the ocean’s apex predator needs to be protected? Are you interested to learn how certain ‘famous’ lady sharks have contributed to bringing awareness to their plight. Let us introduce you to a couple of 'leading ladies' in the world of shark...
‘Enslavement of sentient beings’ at Nemo Aquarium in Thailand
While the world moves towards banning the incarceration of dolphins, Dolphins Bay Phuket opened in November, undeterred by public objections. Strong opinions against this facility have been expressed on the Dolphins Bay Phuket community Facebook page about Nemo. An...
Should El Nino affect your choice of dive destination?
El Nino. What is it? El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of what is referred to as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. This cycle is a a description of temperature fluctuations between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central Pacific region. El Niño...
Ocean Plastic – The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Everybody knows the main problem with plastic is that it is non-biodegradable – it simply doesn’t go away. So while disused plastic is taking up space in landfills across the Earth, what about all the stuff that ended up in the sea? You may have heard of the Great...