News articles in Marine Life

Divers Weigh In as World Renowned Dive Sites Re-Open to Dive Tourists

Report: World Renowned Dive Sites Re-Open to Dive Tourists

(Dive Travel Business News - April 15, 2013) -- It's now been two months since Thailand's Similan Islands National Marine Park re-opened two dive sites to recreational scuba divers. This major dive tourism destination closed East of Eden and Beacon Reef in late 2010 in response to the wide spread coral bleaching that had occurred between May and June earlier that year.

“The main factors causing the coral bleaching are the combined effects of global warming, which has raised the sea temperature by 1-2 degrees Celsius” said a spokesperson for the Mu Ko Similan National Park; emphasizing that a rise in temperatures is to blame and not an excess of human disruption.

When news of the May-June 2010 S.E. Asia coral bleaching finally came to the world's attention in late November 2010, the media made much of the closing of the two chosen sites, yet failed to mention the pressure on the reef from human recreation, or the illegal longlines a short distance from the dive sites, possibly the main contributing factors to the deterioration of the national park wildlife. read more »

Coral Bleaching causes Dive Tourists to Travel to islands in Myanmar.

(Dive Travel Business News - April 5, 2013) -- Coral bleaching around Thai islands in the Andaman Sea has made a dent in tourism numbers. According to A-One Diving Co Ltd, the coral bleaching at key diving spots in the region has caused foreign divers to switch to St. Luke Island in Southern Myanmar instead.

Based in Ranong, A-One Diving Co Ltd arranges dive trips to various destinations in the Andaman Sea. Some destinations are in Thai waters while others are in Myanmar territory.

"Each trip to the island takes at least seven days. Despite that, the number of tourists to St Luke Island has now jumped by more than 30 per cent when compared with the previous year," a tourism representative pointed out.

Ranong Tourism Association president Somchai Ouitekkeng said St Luke Island was becoming popular among Asians and Europeans. But, on the bright side, he believed Ranong could still reap benefits from the situation. read more »

Good News for Our Oceans - Aquarius Reef Base has been Saved.

Good News for Our Oceans - Aquarius Reef Based has been Saved.

(Dive Travel Business News - Thursday January 17, 2013) --Yesterday, news that gives us hope for future ocean exploration was confirmed – Aquarius Reef Base off Key Largo has been saved. Through a great deal of work by a great number of dedicated people, including many in the dive industry, the only underwater laboratory on earth has been funded for continued operation. Aquarius is an invaluable tool to study the ocean environment allowing us to gather knowledge of our changing ocean and its inhabitants. read more »

Palau's Fish 'n Fins Dive Shop Begins Helicopter Touring Service

(Dive Travel Business News - January 16, 2013) -- Palau’s pioneer dive shop, Fish ‘n Fins, in the western Pacific's Micronesia, has introduced a new helicopter service. Officially known as Palau Helicopters Inc., Fish ‘n Fins now owns and operates a new Robinson R66 turbine helicopter, which allows visitors to experience the beauty of Palau’s Rock Islands from the air. Scenic flight and photography tours include 20-, 40- and 60-minute options, which offer an opportunity to explore the Rock Islands, Jellyfish Lake, the World War II battlefields of Peleliu and dive sites from a different point of view. read more »

Sustainable Seafood Guide Helps Dive Travelers Choose their Food Wisely.

(Dive Travel Business News - Friday January 4, 2013) -- Dive Travelers heading for the diving mecca of Bonaire can now wisely choose their seafood dining options thanks to InfoBonaire.com. The website provides a quick-reference sustainable seafood guide to safely order seafood when dining or shopping for seafood to prepare while on Bonaire.

Included on the Do Not Eat List are: Swordfish, Marlin, Blue fin or Yellow fin Tuna, Grouper, Yellowtail Snapper, Coney, Hind, Barracuda, Red Snapper and Conch. High up on the Okay to Eat List is Lionfish. Other sustainable choices include Mahi Mahi, Shrimp, Crab, Jack and Rainbow Runner. For a complete list visit InfoBonaire's Sustainable Seafood Guide. read more »

Maldives Reef Survey Shows Signs of Recovery After Devastating El Nino.

(Dive Travel Business News - November 12, 2012) -- Project Aware Foundation -- Scientists have witnessed a “promising” recovery in the coral reefs around the Maldives, a recent survey has revealed. The results show that some reefs now have more live coral cover than before the catastrophic El Niño bleaching event in 1998, which killed 95 percent of the country’s reefs – a key attraction for foreign tourists.

The project was set up by international conservation non-profit organisation Biosphere Expeditions. Scientists from the UK-based Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and the Maldives Marine Research Centre (MRC) surveyed areas known to have suffered from heavy bleaching.

The reef check conducted in September showed that many badly damaged reefs have recovered to populations in excess of 60 percent live coral. On one site, the survey team found there was more coral cover now than there was in 1997.

The latest findings follow a severe case of coral bleaching in 2010, when the MRC reported a resurgence of coral bleaching following a prolonged sea temperature rise. read more »

Newly Protected Honduras Reefs Are A Diver's Dream

(Dive Travel Business News - November 14, 2012) -- Tela, Honduras—A unique dive site, previously unknown to the scientific community, has been discovered by the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), The Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI), and their local partners near the coastal town of Tela, Honduras. The reef is so exceptional that the local municipal government recently declared it a marine protected area, and CORAL is now launching an effort with local officials, conservation groups, and business owners to ensure its future protection.

Divers who have the opportunity to visit this area will get an extraordinary glimpse of what a Caribbean reef looked like nearly thirty years ago. The healthy reef includes an area known as Capiro Banks, which boasts an astounding 69 percent live coral cover. With the average coral cover in the Caribbean today at less than 20 percent, the reef is a rare find. read more »

Palau Authorities and Greenpeace Sink Illegal Fish Aggregation Devices

(Dive Travel Business News - November 8, 2012) -- Palau -- Palau’s law enforcement officers, with help from activists from Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza, have sunk 3 fish aggregation devices (FAD) illegally deployed in Palau’s exclusive economic zone. Just 4 days after signing a MOU, the Palau-Greenpeace joint patrol spotted 5 illegal FADs that Palau enforcement officials sought to dispose of.

“Illegal fishing, including the use of FADs, is not only destroying the livelihood of people in Pacific island countries but also sabotaging our beautiful oceans. We are pleased that Greenpeace is joining our patrol to bring illegal fishers to justice, and send a clear message that we will not tolerate pirate fishing,” said Earl Benhart, Palau's marine law enforcement officer who is part of the joint surveillance and enforcement expedition on board the Esperanza. read more »

Pioneer Shark Expert Ron Taylor Dies

(Dive Travel Business News.com -- September 9, 2012) -- Australian marine conservation pioneer and renowned shark expert Ron Taylor has died at the age of 78. He suffered myeloid leukaemia for two years and died peacefully at a private hospital near his Sydney home.

Taylor first became fascinated with marine life in the 1950s as a champion spear fisherman, but later decided to "hunt with a camera" instead of a spear. Considered amongst the world's premier shark experts, Ron Taylor and his wife Valerie are regarded worldwide as pioneers in underwater cinematography and known for their groundbreaking marine documentaries like Inner Space. read more »

Invasive Pacific Brittle Star found in the Caribbean

(Dive Travel Business News - August 21, 2012) -- “Coral Reefs”, the journal of the International Society of Reef Studies, just published a new study co-written by Dr. Gordon Hendler of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) that details the first occurrence of an invasive species of Pacific brittle star, Ophiothela mirabilis in the Eastern Caribbean.

First observed off southern Brazil in 2000, the brittle star species was previously restricted to Pacific waters, but surprisingly, growing populations have established themselves at distant points in the Atlantic. Its presence near Brazilian and Caribbean ports indicates that O. mirabilis could have been spread by shipping. read more »