EDA Co-Founder’s Note

SPIRIT OF THE UNION 2022

As we celebrate the 51st UAE National Day this year, we reflect on the spirit that ties us all together, the Spirit of the Union that enables millions of people to coexist and build lives together. The Spirit of the Union is derived from the vision and leadership of the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, EDA’s founder , and now lives on through His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and his fellow leaders of the nation’s Emirates who are shaping the UAE’s future.

In other big news, we would like to announce that EDA’s Board of Directors have welcomed Mohamed Faraj Abdulla Jaber as EDA’s Health, Safety and Technical Inspector who will be providing support to the UAE Dive Centres from now on.

In this issue, we share so many great ocean stories from so many passionate contributors. You must check out the articles by The SeaNomads, and by XR HUB on their exploratory dive down to 144m.

We’ve also got cetacean research news from both the Fujairah Research Centre whom are offering volunteer opportunities to join their projects, and the UAE Dolphin Project explain what you can do to help their research if you encounter a whale or dolphin while you’re out on the water.

Get some pointers from this issue’s diving destinations, and find out what this quarter’s product reviews are all about. There’s something for everyone.

We’re so happy to have been able to start our Cleanup Arabia campaign back up again this year after the Covid hiatus. The event’s results speak for themselves, and the diving communities support and involvement has been as strong as ever. We’re looking forward to doing much more environmental work in 2023, especially with our Reef Check EcoDiver training now in action. We have so many things to look forward to in 2023.

I would like to wish everyone a happy 51st UAE National Day. I also want to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. See you all in the New Year!

Happy reading and safe diving,

Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi