Safety & Security

(Dive Travel Business News - January 16, 2012) -- Scores of Italian cave-rescue divers from the coast guard, navy and firefighting service are racing against time to find survivors in the debris-filled partially sunken Costa Concordia since it ran aground on rocks off Italy's west coast. Divers are searching the miles of submerged corridors and more than 1000 cabins for 25 passengers and 4 crew members still unaccounted for after 3200 passengers and 1000 crew were rescued from the hull-torn ship off the coast of Isola del Giglio. The waters off Giglio, popular with scuba divers and snorkelers, form part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park - a marine protected area for dolphins, porpoises and whales. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - December 22, 2011) --The safety and security of a destination influences travelers' "go/no go" decision, and yet both government and the private sector leadership discount the importance of “law and order” as a factor in visitor arrivals. Philip Farina, an expert in global security issues as they impact on the hospitality, travel, and tourism industry, suggests the first steps in creating a safe environment for travelers.

According to Farina, founder and CEO of Farina and Associates, Ltd. and Antiterrorismcareers.com, hotel property and destination vulnerabilities are visible to a trained eye. Unfortunately, many tourism industry managers are not experienced in risk assessment and are reluctant to bring in the experts to conduct a security audit, leaving the hotel, (including staff and guests) at risk. Whether the property is at the top of the luxury ladder or offers back-packers a clean bed and shower, risk assessment is the first step towards developing a viable security audit and action plan to be implemented in the face of an emergency. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - December 6, 2011) -- The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) updated its travel warnings to Mexico on December 5, 2011.  While most major tourist areas have not been affected by the extreme levels of violence in the northern border region, travelers to Mexico should exercise a high degree of caution due to a deteriorating security situation in many parts of the country.

it is highly advisable to travel to Mexico by air (please refer to our official warning for the Mexico-United States border below). High levels of criminal activity, as well as occasional demonstrations and protests, remain a concern throughout the country.
Presidential elections are scheduled for July 1, 2012. In the period leading up to and during the elections, Canadians are advised to remain vigilant, avoid large crowds and demonstrations, exercise caution, follow the advice of local authorities, and monitor local media. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - December 20, 2011) -- The Snorkeling Trap, an informative article from Marine Marketing and Consulting, outlines potential risks in running snorkeling activities. The article is available for free at the Marine Marketing & Consulting website. The Snorkeling Trap is based upon a snorkeling fatality case that recently went to trial. This unexpected accident, and the litigation that surrounded it, reveals possible gaps in how the diving industry approaches snorkeling excursions. The article provides valuable insight for industry professionals who run snorkeling outings. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - January 9, 2012) --

(Dive Travel Business News - October 13, 2011) -- A 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook the island dive destination of Bali at 10:16 am Central Indonesia time on Thursday, October 13. The quake caused no deaths and only minor injuries to about 50 people, in part because of the better development standards the tourist industry has pushed, say observers.

The US Geological Survey reported that the quake’s center lay 62 miles south of Denpasar in Southern Bali, and 21 miles beneath the ocean floor and it did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami. Although powerful enough to shake ceiling tiles loose and crumble the walls of Hindu temples, the jolt did not trigger a tsunami warning.  But the quake was felt in East Java to Bali’s west, from Banyuwangi to Surabaya and to its east to the island of Lombok. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - January 2, 2012) -- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to Egypt, except for Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, and the main tourist centres of Luxor and Aswan, due to the unpredictable security situation and continuing demonstrations throughout the country. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - January 7, 2012) -- The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued new travel advice for flood-hit Thailand. The last six months have been a difficult time for the Far Eastern nation, with excessive monsoon rains leaving many areas under water – and new downpours in the southern regions have led to the FCO publishing a new travel warning.

Recent downpours have caused mudslides in the south, and dangerously swollen seas in the Gulf of Thailand. Heavy rainfall has caused landslides and flooding in some districts of the far southern provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani, Songkhla, Phattalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon, Trang and Krabi. The west coast region of Krabi, in particular, is a significant destination for sun-seekers, who come for beaches that can often be quieter than more popular areas such as Phuket.

Last week saw the official death toll from the floods rise above 800, with Thailand’s head of state King Bhumibol Adulyadej decrying the chaos caused by the rising waters. read more »