News round-up

Each month, we bring together the latest industry news from the Asia-Pacific region, as well as all over our water planet. To find out the most up-to-date news and views, check out the website or follow us on our various social media @scubadivermag www.scubadivermag.com.au/news

THRESHER SHARK NUMBERS INCREASE AROUND MALAPASCUA

Thresher shark numbers have increased through lockdown – and the pandemic kickstarted a scholarship programme for local Divemasters

The tiny island of Malapascua in the Philippines is

fringed with picture-perfect white sand beaches, palm trees and blue waters, but is most famous for its population of thresher sharks. Malapascua is the only place in the world where they can reliably be seen every day, and in normal times, divers flock from all around the world to dive with these majestic creatures. Of course, Covid put that all on hold, and the island once bustling with tourists has been deserted in recent times.

Thresher Shark Divers (TSD) is the premier PADI Dive Centre on Malapascua and the only Career Development Centre. When TSD first opened nearly 20 years ago, they would see one or two sharks in the morning, with about a 50% chance. But now, they often see ten or more and they are much more reliable. It is wonderful in these days of shark over-fishing to hear stories of shark numbers increasing, rather than the opposite. TSD reopened as soon as it was allowed, to cater to the odd diver passing through. Ironically, but understandably, with few divers on the island, the shark dives have been incredible; with fewer divers in the water and less bubbles, they are less shy, and come in larger numbers and come much closer. For the last few months divers have even been granted visits from something we had only ever heard from fishermens’ tales - tiger sharks! Toni Plaza is TSD’s Spanish PADI Course Director and he has been teaching for the last ten years all over the world until finally making his home in the Philippines. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a scuba diver and remembers watching documentaries about sharks on TV and falling in love with them. He dreamed that one day he would dive and interact with them.

So one of the reasons he choose to work with TSD was the opportunity to dive every day with these beautiful thresher sharks. Toni has now done many hundreds of dives on Monad Shoal with them - “Every time I see them it is like my first time, and the whoops and hollers and massive smiles of my divers seeing them for the first time is just an incredible feeling.”

Toni stayed on the island throughout the pandemic. Although there was little work, he tried to make the most of his time there.

During the pandemic, there was only a small amount of work available for TSD’s staff and most of them had to go out fishing every day to survive and feed their families.

This situation was heart-breaking, and Andrea, the owner of TSD, pitched in to help with food and extra money, but there was only so much she could do for so many staff. They were very worried about how the staff would manage, but somehow they made it through, and as always with Filipinos, with lots of smiling and laughter along the way.

Toni and Andrea decided to do something more to help the local staff, and together with PADI, sponsored a scholarship programme. They took some of their most-promising members of staff, and trained them up from beginner to PADI Divemaster. When Toni first brought them in to propose the idea, it came as a complete surprise, and their faces lit up like a child on Christmas day. Growing up on such a tiny island, they have been in the water all their lives, and to become a DM is the ultimate dream of many locals - not only for the prestige and the fun job, but if they get a good position in a shop like TSD, it is very well paid, and they will be sure to improve the lives of their families immeasurably. Little wonder it is the goal of many, but way out of financial reach for most of them. But TSD has trained up a good number of staff on their scholarship programme, and it can work very well. Most of their staff are made up of DMs who came up through the ranks at TSD and are familiar faces to many customers having been around for many years. www.malapascua-diving.com

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DIVEPLANIT TRAVEL APPOINTS DIVE TRAVEL SPECIALIST JESS CHRIMES

Diveplanit Travel is kicking off 2022 with an explosion of new enquiries as the world starts to open up for international travel once again. Gearing up for expected extraordinary growth, the company has recruited senior dive travel consultant Jessica Chrimes. A passionate scuba diver, Jess has almost 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, across a variety of companies - most latterly focused on dive travel and group dive travel, managing travel arrangements for a wide portfolio of dive centres and dive clubs throughout Australia.

On accepting the position, Jess said: “I’m excited to be joining such a dynamic company and look forward to working with the Diveplanit team to help take their sustained growth to the next level.”

Diveplanit has come through two years of Covid border closures with a strong sales forecast for 2022 and 2023, thanks to adaptive and versatile business planning and a powerful marketing engine. According to Diveplanit Managing Director Simon Mallender: “We’ve worked hard over the past two years to maintain strong relationships with our client base, suppliers and marketing partners as well as investing time into new product development. This has seen us through possibly the hardest two years our business has experienced, and we are now gearing up for a very busy year ahead!

“Jess is our first new appointment this year, and we are hopeful to announce more in the coming weeks and months.”

Diveplanit co-founder Deborah Dickson-Smith is delighted with Jess’s appointment, and said: “Jess brings a wealth of experience to our team and she’s also a lovely person that I have known personally for a few years. I’m really looking forward to working with her!” www.diveplanit.com

ENDURANCE DISCOVERED ‘IN AMAZING CONDITION’

The Endurance22 Expedition, which has been employing state-of-the-art technology in the search for the fabled Endurance, has announced that Shackleton’s ship was discovered over the weekend of 5-6 March lying in over 3,000m of water and ‘in amazing condition’.

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s vessel has not been seen since it was crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915. Now, 100 years after the explorer’s death, his ship has been located – just four miles south of the position originally recorded by Captain Worsley as the crew abandoned the stricken vessel.

The Endurance is protected as a Historic Site and Monument under the Antarctic Treaty, ensuring that the wreck would not be touched or disturbed in any way while it is being filmed and surveyed.

Mensun Bound, Director of Exploration on the expedition, said: “We are overwhelmed by our good fortune in having located and captured images of Endurance. This is by far the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen. It is upright, well proud of the seabed, intact, and in a brilliant state of preservation. You can even see ‘Endurance’ arced across the stern, directly below the taffrail.

“This is a milestone in polar history. However, it is not all about the past; we are bringing the story of Shackleton and Endurance to new audiences, and to the next generation, who will be entrusted with the essential safeguarding of our polar regions and our planet. We hope our discovery will engage young people and inspire them with the pioneering spirit, courage and fortitude of those who sailed Endurance to Antarctica.

“We pay tribute to the navigational skills of Captain Frank Worsley, the Captain of the Endurance, whose detailed records were invaluable in our quest to locate the wreck.”

He added: “I would like to thank my colleagues of The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust for enabling this extraordinary expedition to take place, as well as Saab for their technology, and the whole team of dedicated experts who have been involved in this monumental discovery.”

Dr John Shears, Expedition Leader, said: “The Endurance22 expedition has reached its goal. We have made polar history with the discovery of Endurance, and successfully completed the world’s most-challenging shipwreck search. “In addition, we have undertaken important scientific research in a part of the world that directly affects the global climate and environment, and have conducted an unprecedented educational outreach programme, with live broadcasting from on board, allowing new generations from around the world to engage with Endurance22 and become inspired by the amazing stories of polar exploration, and what human beings can achieve and the obstacles they can overcome when they work together.”

Endurance22 documentary coming in the autumn

Set to premiere this autumn as part of National Geographic’s Explorer series, this documentary will air globally on Nat Geo in 172 countries and 43 languages before it heads to Disney+.

PHILIPPINES REOPENS TO VACCINATED FOREIGN TOURISTS

The Philippines has started to accept fully-vaccinated foreign leisure travellers from visa-free countries, which is fantastic news for avid divers, as some of the world’s best diving will once again be available. Travellers will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of their departure as well as self-monitor for symptoms for seven days after arrival.

Unvaccinated travellers will have to quarantine in a government facility, test negative for COVID-19 on the fifth day, and then quarantine at home until the 14th day, according to the embassy. Children under 18 are exempt from vaccination requirements.

Entry requirements

To enter the Philippines visitors must comply with ALL of the following: • Enter the country as a leisure tourist. • Have six months validity on passport. • Provide a return or outbound flight ticket. • Travel on a passport from a visa-free country. • Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. • On arrival into the Philippines, present a negative RT-PCR test taken 48 hours before arrival. • Quarantine is not required for travellers who fulfill the conditions above.

CARL SPENCER AWARDED ‘TRIDENT IN MEMORIAM’

Carl Spencer was an experienced and well-respected technical diver who was involved in a plethora of projects and expeditions, including the Bluebird Project, X5, Carpathia, Titanic and Britannic. Sadly, Carl lost his life on 24 May 2009 on Britannic, and now he has been recognised by The International Academy of Underwater Sciences and Techniques for his diving career and achievements with the ‘Trident in Memoriam‘ award.

On Sunday 6 March, Carl’s family were presented with the ‘Trident’ in Memoriam‘ award on the Main Stage at the GO Diving Show at the NAEC Stoneleigh in the UK. Very few have been awarded this over the years, and the Spencer family want to continue encouraging youngsters to learn about the deep blue, so it was fitting this ceremony took place straight after a Youth Panel of teenage divers talking about what they love about scuba diving.

PADI AND BLANCPAIN OCEAN-PROTECTION PARTNERSHIP

PADI and Swiss prestige watchmaker Blancpain are joining forces with the aim to fundamentally increase the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) around the globe over the coming decade. The organisations unveiled their collaborative partnership at the 9th Annual World Ocean Summit – the flagship event of the Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative, attended by the world’s top thought leaders from business, science, governmental and non-profit sectors – to tackle the greatest issues facing our blue planet.

“Blancpain and PADI have rich histories rooted in exploration and ocean conservation, inspiring both organisations to become powerful catalysts of planetary change,” says Drew Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of PADI Worldwide. “Protecting our oceans is not only core to our ethos, but critical for our very survival. The world must pull together to stem the urgent crisis in our ocean and we have an immense opportunity to bring about change. We’re proud to work alongside such a prominent partner who shares our optimistic outlook on the future and a deep commitment to further empowering our global community to seek adventure and save the ocean.”

Together, PADI and Blancpain will work with local communities across the globe to expedite the establishment of MPAs. At the heart of the multi-year, multi-million-dollar initiative is the flagship citizen science programme, Adopt the Blue, in which 6,600 registered PADI dive centres and resorts will be activated to develop the largest network of marine protected areas on the planet, enabling millions of PADI recreational divers to proactively engage in marine conservation at every opportunity.

Another keystone of the partnership is the formation of the Blancpain/PADI Community Grant, which funds critical conservation efforts in local communities. These grants will drive both ocean preservation as well as indigenous community support, serving as a force for good for both humanity and ocean.

“With our almost 70-year legacy of the Fifty Fathoms diving watch, Blancpain has developed not only a passion, but a deep commitment to our oceans,” says Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain. “We’re extremely proud of the role we’ve played in advancing global marine protection efforts and we are thrilled to be collaborating with PADI – and its community of divers – to bring about even more positive change.”

The successful implementation of marine protected areas is critical to the health of the world’s largest and most important ecosystem and has been proven to restore biodiversity, build resilience to climate change and reestablish vulnerable species’ populations.”