Dive Operators

Diving Legend Neal Watson Re-elected President of the Bahamas Diving Association.

THE BAHAMAS—JANUARY 24, 2012— Dive legend and businessman Neal Watson has been re-elected for another two-year term as President of the Bahamas Diving Association.

Stuart Cove, owner of Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas in Nassau and Stuart Cove’s Tiger Beach Safaris on Grand Bahama Island, was re-elected vice president.

Watson and celebrated marine artist, scientist and conservationist Dr. Guy Harvey joined forces last year to open Neal Watson’s Dive Bimini at the Bimini Big Game Club in Alice Town. read more »

South Africa's Sardine Run

Sardine Run South Africa - The Greatest Shoal on Earth

(Dive Travel Business News - January 22, 2012) -- This article is provided by shark specialist Debbie Smith, owner of eco-tourism company Diving With Sharks. Her specialty area is annual Sardine Run in South Africa. read more »

Dive Within - A Week-long Retreat Combines the Synergies of Yoga and Diving

(Dive Travel Business News - January 19, 2012) -- The Dive Cooperative, a dive operation and training academy in Cozumel on a mission to bring a higher consciousness to diving, is launching an innovative new retreat entitled "Dive Within". This unique 7-day program brings together the synergies of scuba diving and yoga in an integrated program that allows for exploration of many aspects of day-to-day life.

Meditation, breathing and visualization exercises will help participants achieve a sense of calm, peace and expanded awareness under water, while the physical elements of yoga will help them to prepare and recover from the strenuous diving activity.

The Itinerary: read more »

DEMA Invites Industry To Strategic Visioning Session

(Dive Travel Business News - May 24, 2011) -- The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association invites industry members to a strategic visioning session in Long Beach on Sunday June 5, 2011 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, in conjunction with Scuba Show 2011.

Held by the DEMA Board of Directors and lead by Tom Ingram, DEMA's Executive Director, "Moving Toward 2020: Developing a Strategic Vision for the Recreational Diving Industry" is series of brainstorming sessions with industry members that began with two sessions held at the Beneath the Sea Dive & Travel Show in March 2011. DEMA has been seeking industry input on the direction of the diving industry for the next 10 years. "Where is the recreational diving industry headed? How do we grow? What challenges lie ahead? What challenges us now?" are just some of the questions requiring the input of Dive Industry professionals. read more »

Legendary Bimini Big Game Club Re-Opens

Guy Harvey Outpost Resort features Neal Watson's Dive Bimini

(Dive Travel Business News - March 3, 2011) -- The legendary Bimini Big Game Club recently celebrated a public grand re-opening as a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort property in Alice Town, North Bimini. The resort just introduced Neal Watson’s Dive Bimini, a Guy Harvey Outpost Dive Center, offering diving experiences with amenities ranging from a 60-foot, glass bottom dive boat to all-new tanks and rental gear and even frequent chances to dive with Neal or Guy.

Closed for two years, the Club’s recent renovations include updated guest rooms, the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill, the Outfitter Shop - a retail experience featuring Guy Harvey sportswear and gifts, and a new marina, pool bar and patio. Rates start at $149 per night. Call 800.867-4764 or visit Bimini Big Game Club. View the Dive Bimini Youtube Video.

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Shark Dive Operator Recovering from Shark Bite

Shark Feeding Expedition in rough waters off Bahamas goes awry

(Dive Travel Business News - January 31, 2011) -- Shark dive operator Jim Abernethy is recovering from a shark bite that occurred on a diving excursion with the commercial diving vessel Shear Water in the Bahamas last week. In a press conference this past weekend, Abernathy stated he had been mistaken for a fish. The operator had been ten feet down tending to bait in rough water in a cluster of about 40 sharks when he was bitten on the arm. The choppy water stirs up the bait and can confuse sharks. Abernathy stated that he would no longer bait sharks in rough waters.

Apparently concerned about the press releasing bad information about sharks, Abernethy, who wore a shirt that read "Stop eating shark fin soup”, took the opportunity at the news conference to spread the his message that sharks must be protected.

"Any diver anywhere on Florida, the Bahamas, or most of the world, realizes that our reefs are covered with algae. Scientists now believe that this algae is caused by the removal of over 90 percent of the sharks," Abernethy said. read more »

Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park

(Dive Travel Business News - December 8, 2010) -- Since its inception in 2006, Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park has received international acclaim, captivating locals and visitors alike as a unique art installation.

Located in clear, shallow water and dappled by sunlight, the Park's sculptures can be readily viewed by snorkelers, divers and passengers in glass-bottomed boats. The 65 sculptures currently placed in the park are nestled within the topography of the coral reef at Molinere Bay within Grenada's National Marine Protected Area.

The sculptures and reef have created the foundation for a diverse marine eco-system whose residents include seahorses, lobsters, octopus, a myriad of fish and a seasonal display of huge shoals of silvery jacks. read more »

Scubaocity offers a Dive Booking, Tracking and Marketing System for Dive Businesses.

(Dive Travel Business News - November 14, 2010) - Scubaocity is a new dive booking, reservation tracking and marketing system for dive retailers and dive operators. The management tool and booking engine promises an easy cohesive framework for dive businesses to collect, access, process, analyze and disseminate data that is vital to a company's success.

The application helps a dive business to manage their current customer base, create and track reservations and provides a Secure Socket Link (SSL) for secure transactions. The tool also includes a bulk email system and integrates social media to connect with existing and new customers.

There are two distinct parts to Scubaocity.com: An internal view which allows the User to manage the business, and an external view which allows its customers to see follow the business, make reservations, and manage their own accounts.

read more »

Worldwide Dive & Sail Expands its Fleet of Classic Luxury Sailing Yachts

New S/Y Maldives Siren expands Worldwide Dive & Sail Fleet to 5 sailing vessels

(DiveTravelBusinessNews - November 14, 2010) -- Worldwide Dive and Sail, live-aboard company that has become known for its luxury dive and sail itineraries around Southeast Asia, now has 5 vessels taking guests to the best dive sites in Thailand, Burma, India, Philippines, Indonesia, and its newest destination - the Maldives.

Since 2003, Worldwide Dive and Sail has been expanding its fleet and destinations portfolio to include a wide range of destinations. The S/Y Siren plies the diving waters off Thailand, Burma and India including: the Similan and Surin Islands of Phuket; Burma Banks and Mergui Archipelago and; India's Andaman Islands. The S/Y Philippines Siren offers four different itineraries around the Philippines including: South Visayas; Southern Leyte; Boracay and area and; Tubbataha Marine Park. The S/Y Mandarin Siren travels to Northern Sulawesi and Raja Ampat (North and South). The S/Y Indo Siren conducts several journeys including: Komodo National Park; Komodo to Flores, Flores to Raja Ampat, Raja Ampat and Raja Ampat to Ambon. read more »

Explorer Ventures Celebrates 24 Years at DEMA Show

(Dive Travel Business News - November 5, 2010) -- Celebrating 24 years of live-aboard diving, Explorer Ventures is using DEMA Show 2010 to say thanks to the industry. During the show, Explorer Ventures will partner with Scuba Radio to give away over $11,000 in Explorer Ventures’ live-aboard trips.

Each morning between 9:30 - 10am DEMA attendees will have a chance to win one of 5 live-aboard trips to one of Explorer Ventures destinations to the Southern Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Saba-St Kitts, Galapagos or Maldives. Each evening during the show Explorer Ventures will give away a $2000 dive travel certificate that the winner can apply to their Explorer Ventures destination of choice.

Learn about the unique diving found at each Explorer Ventures destination on Thursday November 18 when Explorer Ventures presents "The Destinations, the Diving, the Distinction" (Room S202). On Friday attendees will learn about the Maldives with its seminar "The Maldives newest yacht, the Carpe Vita Explorer" (Room S203). Seminars will be held at the DEMA Show in Las Vegas. read more »