Discussion Archive

The Trouble With Artificial Reefs

Artificial reefs, created by deliberately sunk ships and other structures, may not be all that they’re cracked up to be, according to two American academics. One, Prof William Lindberg, who specialises in fisheries science at the University of Florida, has said that artificial reefs may actually hinder rather than improve levels of marine life in the [...]
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Cornish dolphin takes to divers

A club diving group could hardly believe their eyes when a dolphin decided to tag along with them for the entire duration of a September dive on the wreck of the Volnay, off Porthkerris in South Cornwall. The group of eight divers from the British Sub-Aqua Clubs Lincoln & District branch were on the last day [...]
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Don’t wear your mask on your forehead

Am I being over sensitive? Maybe getting older and or grumpier? Why is it now positively fashionable to wear your mask on your forehead? As a diver and instructor with thousands of dives under my belt, I feel comfortable in the water. I don’t take my mask off whilst in the water, I need it to [...]
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HEPCA lays into rogue operators in Egypt

An Egyptian environmental group has launched a remarkable attack on diving and fishing operators in the country, claiming that many are indulging in practices that are damaging the marine environment. In a statement headed “The Gloves Are Coming Off!”, the Hurghada Environmental Protection & Conservation Association (HEPCA) has said that it is being forced to “launch [...]
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Marine Conservation Zones Proposed In The South East

Beachy Head and the Goodwin Sands amongst others are being proposed as conservation zones designed to protect our coastline and the seas inhabitants in those areas. Some 30 recommendations are being proposed by the Balanced Seas group who specialise in Marine Conservation Zones. Marine Conservation Zones can be used to stop or reduce fishing and dredging [...]
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New coral reef found in Alboran Sea

Oceana’s crew has found an extensive white coral reef in the deep waters of the Alboran sea. The reef in the Western Mediterranean was discovered on the Ocean Ranger 2011 expedition, led by Ricardo Aguilar, the director of research of Oceana Europe. The international marine conservation organisation said the 1.5m high reef lies at a depth of [...]
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PADI Certification Cards To Go Digital

To keep up with the times PADI recently announced they will be including a new eCard option into their existing smartphone app later this year. PADI’s app – currently available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry will allow recreational and professional divers to carry their certification card around on their phone which means they are less [...]
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The Weirder Side of Scuba Records

We regularly hear of new scuba and apnea diving record attempts but its well known that the Guinness World Records holds more than its fair share of wackier records like the ‘Loudest Purr by a Cat’. So what other diving related records are in there? Well here’s some for you: Fastest 100m hurdles wearing swim fins The female [...]
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New scheme to protect coral reefs

A new project has been introduced to safeguard marine life in the Maldives, particularly the dwindling coral reefs. The new scheme has been initiated by local environmental consultancy Seamarc, in collaboration with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and travel company Kuoni. Speaking at the launch of the project at the Nalahiya hotel in [...]
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Call to protect horse mussel reefs

A new report has called for increased protection for horse mussel reefs in Northern Ireland’s marine nature reserve of Strangford Lough. Queen’s University Belfast published its findings after carrying out a £1 million study to assess the damage to the reefs and come up with a restoration action plan. Following a 2003 survey that revealed the worsening [...]
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