All Articles

British Foreign Office Warns of Travel to Kenya, Turkey

(Dive Travel Business News - June 12, 2013) -- The Foreign Office has issued new advice to travellers heading to Turkey and Kenya following fresh outbreaks of violence in both countries. read more »

Trip Advisor Recognizes Southern Cross Club for Great Guest Experience

Southern Cross Club Earns 2013 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence

(Dive Travel Business News - June 11, 2013) -- LITTLE CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS -- Southern Cross Club, Little Cayman;s original dive and fish resort, has earned TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence, recognition awarded by the number of positive guest comments posted on the widely-read travel website. The resort also received the recognition in 2012.

TripAdvisor is used by millions of visitors to review resorts, restaurants, watersports operators, service providers and other tourism-related businesses around the world. Only about 10 percent of them receive this prestigious award because to qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers. read more »

Global Outcry Over Murdered Sea Turtle Activist Intensifies

(Dive Travel Business News -- June 10, 2013 ) -- LIMÓN, Costa Rica — Conservation organizations and concerned individuals from around the world last week announced a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who murdered Jairo Mora Sandoval, a young sea turtle biologist. In the past week several additional pledges, including a reward established by Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Society, have brought the new reward amount to $56,000.

The groups announced today that a memorial fund has also been established. The Jairo Mora Sandoval Memorial Fund will help provide immediate assistance to Jairo’s family and carry out turtle conservation projects for sea turtles in Costa Rica in his name. The memorial fund currently has $7,000. read more »

Ship Speed Rule Proposed to Protect Critically Endangered Northern Right Whales

(Dive Travel Business News - June 7, 2013) -- WASHINGTON— Wildlife conservation and animal-protection groups are applauding a National Marine Fisheries Service proposal to keep existing speed limits along the U.S. East Coast to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. The current speed rule, which requires vessels 65 feet in length and greater to slow to 10 knots (about 11 miles per hour) in areas and at times when right whales are present, is set to expire December 2013.

The Humane Society of the United States, Center for Biological Diversity, Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Defenders of Wildlife petitioned the Fisheries Service to maintain the ship speeds in June 2012. read more »

Belize Tourism Board Honors Tourism Industry Partners at the Twelfth Annual Tourism Awards Ceremony.

(Dive Travel Business News.com - May 28, 2013) -- On Saturday, May 18, 2013, over two hundred and thirty guests, including industry stakeholders and government officials, gathered at Bannister Caye in Belize to honor the recipients of the 12th Annual National Tourism Awards. Among those was Splash Dive Center based in Placencia who BTB named Tour Operator of the Year.

"Splash Dive Center - A licensed tour operator that excels in customer service, creativity, and personalization, while offering a variety of tours. This tour operator sets the bar for marketing initiatives, meeting the standards of safety and security, equipment quality, cleanliness and reliability. This awardee ensures that visitors have a memorable and enriching experience, therefore, leaving guests with a great lasting impression of Belize."

Belize has some great diving including the famous Blue Hole and is one of the few places on the planet where you can schedule diving with whale sharks. You can check Splash Dive Center Belize our at www.splashbelize.com read more »

Twitter Tips for Sellers of Travel

(Dive Travel Business News - May 27, 2013) -- Carrie Finley-Bajak, a social media consultant who specializes in building travel industry branding online, says that Sellers of Travel need to invest a minimum amount of time each day to maintain a social media marketing presence.

The social media pro advises travel professionals to choose a couple of sites to master, committing to a minimum amount of time each day to curate, comment and share travel information. To expand the marketing reach and meet potential new customers, Finley-Bajak suggests that Travel Pros focus on sites that have large membership numbers, such as Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter. read more »

NOAA Predicts Active Hurricane Season in 2013

(Dive Travel Business News - May 24, 2013) -- In its 2013 Atlantic hurricane season outlook issued today, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an active or extremely active season this year.

For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).

These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
read more »

Florida’s Manatees are Dying in Record Numbers

(Dive Travel Business News - May 23, 2013) -- Sea Shepherd Jacksonville - Manatees are beloved here in Florida, and we saw just how much at this year’s Manatee Festival in Crystal River raising awareness about the endangered animals. Aside from their lovable nature, manatees are important to the marine ecosystem as grazers of seagrass and other vegetation. However, the manatees that call Floridian waters home are facing serious and imminent threats.

Due to their declining numbers, protections have been established for them. The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 protect manatees under both state and federal law. Under these protections, it is illegal to harass, hunt capture or kill them in the United States, but they continue to face other threats including boat collisions, loss of habitat, pollution, fishing lines/nets and an annual toxic algae bloom known as red tide named after the color change it creates underwater. read more »

Who Owns the Dive Travel Client?

Supplier-Direct Initiatives Nothing New in dive travel.

(Dive Travel Business News - May 22, 2013) -- The dive travel industry has long contended with an issue that places suppliers in direct competition with professional sellers of dive travel. It is the issue of Dive Travel Suppliers marketing directlly to the customers brought to them by Sellers of Dive Travel.

This is nothing new. All members of the dive travel distribution chain are out there marketing to their peeps. Tourism boards, certification agencies, even gear manufacturers and online media and photo equipment companies are on the dive travel bandwagon. read more »

Bikinis and Booze are Welcomed in Egypt.

(Dive Travel Business News - May 22, 2013) -- Earlier this month, Egypt's tourism minister claimed the Islamist-ruled country was open to bikini wearing, alcohol drinking tourists as part of his plan to boost Egypt's tourism numbers.

Hisgam Zaazou is looking to increase the country's tourism rate after it drastically declined when a popular uprising overthrew president Hosni Mubarak in 2011. The minister said the government had "optimistic goals" for the sector, and played down comments from radical Salafi Muslim groups who have called for a ban on alcohol and women wearing swimsuits.

In 2010, before the uprising, Egypt received $12.5 billion in earnings from 14.7 million visitors, but in 2011 arrivals slowed to 9.8 million producing a revenue of $8.8 billion.

Zaazou's strategy looks to promote the idea that Egypt is safe and open for all kinds of visitors. During his visit to the United Arab Emirates he disparaged comments from radical Salafi Muslim groups who have called for a ban on alcohol and women wearing bathing suits. read more »