World News & Events

(Dive Travel Business News - April 11, 2012) -- Communities and resorts located along the Indian Ocean Rim breathed a collective sigh of relief earlier on April 11 when tsunami alerts were called off after a pair of deep-sea earthquakes off the coast of Indonesia. Those earthquakes, which had magnitudes 8.6 and 8.2, respectively, produced only scattered small tsunamis, according to AccuWeather.com.

The earthquakes were centered off the northern end of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, about 120 miles from the epicenter of the 9.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that killed some 230,000 people in the region, mostly in Sumatra, in 2004. When the quakes hit this time, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre was activated and there were reports of panicked crowds in the region moving to higher ground. Those fears also were fueled by the March 2011 Japan quake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - March 30, 2012) -- A once-in-a-lifetime lunar event may be the underlying cause of the sinking of the Titanic. The iceberg that sank the Titanic was sent on its deadly path by the closest approach of the moon to the Earth in 1,400 years.

According to astronomers, an super-high tide on January 12, 1912 maximized the Moon’s tide-raising forces on Earth’s oceans, setting loose a deadly fleet of icebergs, three months before Titanic sank on April 14, 1912 with the loss of approximately 1,500 lives. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - February 9, 2010) -- A coup d'état in the Maldives on Tuesday February 7 has resulted in the removal of President Mohamed Nasheed.   The UK Foreign Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential travel to Male Island. There are political demonstrations in the capital Malé, which have resulted in violent clashes involving police, military and demonstrators.  There have been reports of unrest on other non-resort islands generally around municipal buildings such as police stations and courtrooms.

The situation remains uncertain. Tourists in Malé, or those who choose to travel to Malé, should exercise caution, avoid demonstrations and beware of spontaneous gatherings. Tourists should check with their tour operator or travel company for further information. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - January 15, 2011) --

With the growing popularity and influence of social media and online review sites, more consumers are using these sites as resources when booking their travel.  According to a new study by Mondial Assistance, USA, 60% of consumers now say they consider travelers’ online reviews when booking a vacation. TripAdvisor, whose tagline is "Get the truth. Then Go",  has become the world's biggest travel site, with more than 50 million reviews, all written by consumers.

"In these tough economic times, consumers want assurance that if they are going to spend on travel, they are selecting the best experiences, and reviews from peers and colleagues act as a security blanket for uncertain travelers," said Daniel Durazo, director of communications for Mondial Assistance. read more »