Shark Adventures
Join us for one (or all) of these incredible shark diving adventures:
The Farallon Islands - Great white sharks are closer than you think! Choose from a one day adventure departing from San Francisco or a two-day expedition that leaves from nearby Sausalito. The Gulf of the Farallons Marine Sanctuary is home to some of the world's biggest great white sharks. Read more >
Bahamas - A one-day tiger shark adventure departing from West End, Bahamas. The area known for very big tiger sharks is also home to reef sharks, lemonsharks and hammerheads. Read more >
Isla Guadalupe - 5 day live-aboard adventure to the newly discovered and pristine Isla Guadalupe site off the coast of Mexico. Read more >
False Bay (Cape Town, South Africa) - Just down the coast from our Cape Town jets, there's another incredible adventure. Shark dives depart from the scenic village of Simon's Town and are led by a professional shark photographer and experienced researcher. Dive for one day or dive for ten. Read more >
Gansbaai (South Africa) - Cage diving is incredible in the area near Dyer's Island better known as Shark Alley. You don't have to be a diver to see great action. Read more >
Sardine Run - Follow the annual migration of sardines along the Wild Coast of Africa. This rugged dive adventure puts you in the middle of a feeding frenzy. Read more >
Showing posts with label skin diving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skin diving. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Nature Conservancy Announces Marine Fellowship Program
Nature Conservancy Announces Marine Fellowship Program
HONOLULU, HAWAI'I — The Nature Conservancy is launching a two-year Marine Conservation Fellowship Program to train recent college graduates to become the next generation of marine conservation leaders in Hawai‘i.
Modeled after the Conservancy’s successful Natural Resource Managers Fellowship Program, its marine counterpart will provide training in all aspects of marine resource planning, management and monitoring. Trainers will include senior Conservancy staff, marine resource experts, kupuna and other Hawai‘i conservation leaders.
O'ahu Marine Coordinator Eric Co (center, facing) with Maunalua Bay community members. © TNC
“Hawaii’s near shore fisheries have declined by 75% over the past century. If we are going to reverse this trend, we need a lot more people working in Hawai‘i to protect, restore and manage our coral reefs,” said Kim Hum, director of marine programs for Conservancy’s Hawai‘i program. “At the end of two years, fellows will have the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful marine resource managers in Hawai‘i. They will be highly competitive in Hawaii’s conservation job market for positions not just at the Conservancy, but at state and federal partner agencies, and other private sector marine-based programs.”
According to Hum, the fellowship program is designed to increase the state’s pool of qualified marine resource managers. “It’s difficult to find qualified candidates to fill mid-level resource manager positions,” she said. “These are the people who work directly with local communities to manage local marine resources, and they are key to restoring our reefs and near shore fisheries.”
The two-year program is designed for four fellows: two will be hired in the first year and two more in the second year, with a one-year overlap. The fellows hired in the first year will help train those hired in the second year. Fellows will be based in the Conservancy’s program offices on O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island, and play an integral role in the Conservancy’s marine conservation efforts, working on community-based projects with senior staff, as well as staff from partner agencies.
Manuel Mejia, the Conservancy’s community-based marine program manager, is coordinating the fellowship program. Before joining the Conservancy in 2006, Mejia worked with the Locally-Managed Marine Area Network, coordinating a network of 244 member sites from seven Asia-Pacific countries. In the Philippines, he managed a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Tubbataha National Marine Park for the World Wildlife Fund. He has also worked for USAID evaluating the effectiveness of community- and nature-based enterprises in Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.
TNC marine staff (from left) Manuel Mejia, Zachary Caldwell and Eric Co © Rob Shallenberger/TNCAccording to Mejia, by the end of the training program the fellows will:
1) be able to identify Hawaiian species of fish, coral and limu;
2) understand human impacts on marine ecosystems;
3) be familiar with traditional Hawaiian practices and values that support environmental stewardship;
4) be able to identify the major threats to sustainable marine resource use and management;
5) be proficient in marine biological survey methods, data management and analysis of coastal ecosystem health;
6) be familiar with Hawaii’s regulatory framework and policies for marine resource management;
7) have experience in organizing and managing community-based conservation efforts, including project and volunteer management;
8) know how to communicate scientific survey results to communities, decision-makers and the media; and
9) be certified in SCUBA diving and emergency safety protocols.
The Conservancy is now seeking applicants with undergraduate degrees in ecology, biology, natural resource management, Hawaiian studies, environmental studies, geology, geography, conservation or other related fields. Candidates must be proven “self-starters” who have demonstrated initiative and motivation in all of their past experiences (e.g., school, professional or volunteer projects). Preference will be given to applicants who have knowledge of cultural and traditional marine resource management practices, are dedicated to marine conservation, and are likely to seek careers in the marine resources management and conservation field in Hawai‘i.
For more information, contact Jan Eber at jeber@tnc.org or call (808) 587-6269. The deadline for submitting applications is January 2, 2008.
Funding for the Marine Fellowship Program is being provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Atherton Family Foundation.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at http://www.nature.org/.
Labels:
scuba dive shops, cave diving, ice diving, wreck diving, Shark Diving, Shark Exploration, Baja, South America, vacation, Scuba and Jason Kilgore, Naui and Jason Kilgore, How to scuba dive?, skin diving, snorkel, mask, fins, sight seeing, hotels, Jason Kilgore and Hawaiian islands, Kona, Maui, other specialty certifications, Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup, Costa Maya Hotel, Mexico Hotels, Mexico Scuba Diving, Diving in South American Scuba, Crabs, Sea Slugs, Marine Animals, Wildlife, Florida, Southern States, Marine Life, Pacific States, Pacific Northwestern States, California
HONOLULU, HAWAI'I — The Nature Conservancy is launching a two-year Marine Conservation Fellowship Program to train recent college graduates to become the next generation of marine conservation leaders in Hawai‘i.
Modeled after the Conservancy’s successful Natural Resource Managers Fellowship Program, its marine counterpart will provide training in all aspects of marine resource planning, management and monitoring. Trainers will include senior Conservancy staff, marine resource experts, kupuna and other Hawai‘i conservation leaders.
O'ahu Marine Coordinator Eric Co (center, facing) with Maunalua Bay community members. © TNC
“Hawaii’s near shore fisheries have declined by 75% over the past century. If we are going to reverse this trend, we need a lot more people working in Hawai‘i to protect, restore and manage our coral reefs,” said Kim Hum, director of marine programs for Conservancy’s Hawai‘i program. “At the end of two years, fellows will have the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful marine resource managers in Hawai‘i. They will be highly competitive in Hawaii’s conservation job market for positions not just at the Conservancy, but at state and federal partner agencies, and other private sector marine-based programs.”
According to Hum, the fellowship program is designed to increase the state’s pool of qualified marine resource managers. “It’s difficult to find qualified candidates to fill mid-level resource manager positions,” she said. “These are the people who work directly with local communities to manage local marine resources, and they are key to restoring our reefs and near shore fisheries.”
The two-year program is designed for four fellows: two will be hired in the first year and two more in the second year, with a one-year overlap. The fellows hired in the first year will help train those hired in the second year. Fellows will be based in the Conservancy’s program offices on O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island, and play an integral role in the Conservancy’s marine conservation efforts, working on community-based projects with senior staff, as well as staff from partner agencies.
Manuel Mejia, the Conservancy’s community-based marine program manager, is coordinating the fellowship program. Before joining the Conservancy in 2006, Mejia worked with the Locally-Managed Marine Area Network, coordinating a network of 244 member sites from seven Asia-Pacific countries. In the Philippines, he managed a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Tubbataha National Marine Park for the World Wildlife Fund. He has also worked for USAID evaluating the effectiveness of community- and nature-based enterprises in Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.
TNC marine staff (from left) Manuel Mejia, Zachary Caldwell and Eric Co © Rob Shallenberger/TNCAccording to Mejia, by the end of the training program the fellows will:
1) be able to identify Hawaiian species of fish, coral and limu;
2) understand human impacts on marine ecosystems;
3) be familiar with traditional Hawaiian practices and values that support environmental stewardship;
4) be able to identify the major threats to sustainable marine resource use and management;
5) be proficient in marine biological survey methods, data management and analysis of coastal ecosystem health;
6) be familiar with Hawaii’s regulatory framework and policies for marine resource management;
7) have experience in organizing and managing community-based conservation efforts, including project and volunteer management;
8) know how to communicate scientific survey results to communities, decision-makers and the media; and
9) be certified in SCUBA diving and emergency safety protocols.
The Conservancy is now seeking applicants with undergraduate degrees in ecology, biology, natural resource management, Hawaiian studies, environmental studies, geology, geography, conservation or other related fields. Candidates must be proven “self-starters” who have demonstrated initiative and motivation in all of their past experiences (e.g., school, professional or volunteer projects). Preference will be given to applicants who have knowledge of cultural and traditional marine resource management practices, are dedicated to marine conservation, and are likely to seek careers in the marine resources management and conservation field in Hawai‘i.
For more information, contact Jan Eber at jeber@tnc.org or call (808) 587-6269. The deadline for submitting applications is January 2, 2008.
Funding for the Marine Fellowship Program is being provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Atherton Family Foundation.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at http://www.nature.org/.
Labels:
scuba dive shops, cave diving, ice diving, wreck diving, Shark Diving, Shark Exploration, Baja, South America, vacation, Scuba and Jason Kilgore, Naui and Jason Kilgore, How to scuba dive?, skin diving, snorkel, mask, fins, sight seeing, hotels, Jason Kilgore and Hawaiian islands, Kona, Maui, other specialty certifications, Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup, Costa Maya Hotel, Mexico Hotels, Mexico Scuba Diving, Diving in South American Scuba, Crabs, Sea Slugs, Marine Animals, Wildlife, Florida, Southern States, Marine Life, Pacific States, Pacific Northwestern States, California
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
From "The Garden Island" Newspaper 2004
From "The Garden Island" Newspaper 2004.
With over a million people living in Hawaii and hundredsof thousands of tourists visiting yearly; Hawaiian huis, environmental groups, community members, and scientists alike are realizing that our marine resources are in trouble.
We need to know what our reefs look like and how abundant they are in different places around the island. Baseline surveys of our Marine Resources are imperative. What this means is that locals and scientists must examine the near shore marine coral reef as well as measure ocean health in offshore areas around each island. Baseline surveys are important to discover the health and abundance of animals on the reef, noting areas of importance and abundance, like where juvenile fish may shelter, turtle or monk seal areas, heavy coral spawning sites, other notable features as well as shoreline activity. Mapping the near shore with GPS (global positioning system), GIS (geographic information systems), as well as video and digital photo documentation can show the community what the reefs look like, provide an archive of the reef health if something was to harm it, and then let the community decide what is best for our reefs.
The state appointed stewards of Hawaii, the DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) and DAR (Division of Aquatic Resources) have a severely limited budget, and their funding is constantly being cut. These men and women, local and introduced, are doing the best they can with what they have, and are working hard tohelp Hawaii protect our ocean and land.
Many local groups here on Kauai like Waipa, Limahuli Valley, Hanalei Watershed Hui, Malama Maha’ulepu, Nawiliwili Watershed Council, Save Our Seas, and Reef Check have seen that their own fish catch sizes decreasing, and less abundance of marine animals. They have already taken action and currently are monitoring and surveying local reefs, while training community members, and high school students in these techniques that support Ahupua’a, MPA (Marine Protected Area) and resource conservation projects. Currently, there are NO Marine Protected Areas on Kauai! All of the other islands have them, but we must ask ourselves why we have none here.
Marine Protected Areas have many different designations, some are Hawaiian Sustenance Fishing grounds where native Hawaiians may fish, some are Fish Replenishment and Management Areas, where fish are left by fisherman and collectors to recover and “seed” other areas as ocean currents take the young of these animals and spread them around the islands. Some MPA’s, like the tourist hot spot Hanauma Bay on Oahu, are Marine Life Conservation Districts and are completely protected areas only open to certain activities and even restrictions about fish feeding, litter, and suntan lotion apply. These areas are created by the community, for the community, and it is up to us to get together and make these Marine Protected Areas places that we all can agree on.
Efforts must be made to further educate fishermen on the successful programs already in place like the Ulua (jack trevally), Oio (bone fish), Opakapaka (pink snapper), and Ahi (yellow fin tuna) tagging programs. These programs show that many fish species move around and leave MPA reserves. Fisherman must also work with the communityto make rules and help enforce rules because our own government can not. Bottom fishing and “gill net task forces” must take action and find ways to create restrictions on themselves so that they may care for fish populations, our resources.
Mike Sakamoto, author and TV personality has proposed “a Fishing Task Force to look into a Marine License, smaller bag limits, slot limits, closed seasons on ulua and other species, an ulua enhancement program (stocking of ulua) and other enhancement programs…” as well as “Spear Fishing Task Forces” so that we the fishermen come up with size and bag limits, tournament restrictions, and night diving regulations. All of these ideas are a great way to increase and monitor populations, and the community certainly will be able to come up with more.
The management of Hawaii’s marine resources must evolve. Hawaii’s marine resources must be protected byus working together, with help from the state and federal agencies, to make sure that areas of high diversity are preserved and that future generations may have plentiful resources, we must create a bounty that will ensure the legacy of those that live on these islands
With over a million people living in Hawaii and hundredsof thousands of tourists visiting yearly; Hawaiian huis, environmental groups, community members, and scientists alike are realizing that our marine resources are in trouble.
We need to know what our reefs look like and how abundant they are in different places around the island. Baseline surveys of our Marine Resources are imperative. What this means is that locals and scientists must examine the near shore marine coral reef as well as measure ocean health in offshore areas around each island. Baseline surveys are important to discover the health and abundance of animals on the reef, noting areas of importance and abundance, like where juvenile fish may shelter, turtle or monk seal areas, heavy coral spawning sites, other notable features as well as shoreline activity. Mapping the near shore with GPS (global positioning system), GIS (geographic information systems), as well as video and digital photo documentation can show the community what the reefs look like, provide an archive of the reef health if something was to harm it, and then let the community decide what is best for our reefs.
The state appointed stewards of Hawaii, the DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) and DAR (Division of Aquatic Resources) have a severely limited budget, and their funding is constantly being cut. These men and women, local and introduced, are doing the best they can with what they have, and are working hard tohelp Hawaii protect our ocean and land.
Many local groups here on Kauai like Waipa, Limahuli Valley, Hanalei Watershed Hui, Malama Maha’ulepu, Nawiliwili Watershed Council, Save Our Seas, and Reef Check have seen that their own fish catch sizes decreasing, and less abundance of marine animals. They have already taken action and currently are monitoring and surveying local reefs, while training community members, and high school students in these techniques that support Ahupua’a, MPA (Marine Protected Area) and resource conservation projects. Currently, there are NO Marine Protected Areas on Kauai! All of the other islands have them, but we must ask ourselves why we have none here.
Marine Protected Areas have many different designations, some are Hawaiian Sustenance Fishing grounds where native Hawaiians may fish, some are Fish Replenishment and Management Areas, where fish are left by fisherman and collectors to recover and “seed” other areas as ocean currents take the young of these animals and spread them around the islands. Some MPA’s, like the tourist hot spot Hanauma Bay on Oahu, are Marine Life Conservation Districts and are completely protected areas only open to certain activities and even restrictions about fish feeding, litter, and suntan lotion apply. These areas are created by the community, for the community, and it is up to us to get together and make these Marine Protected Areas places that we all can agree on.
Efforts must be made to further educate fishermen on the successful programs already in place like the Ulua (jack trevally), Oio (bone fish), Opakapaka (pink snapper), and Ahi (yellow fin tuna) tagging programs. These programs show that many fish species move around and leave MPA reserves. Fisherman must also work with the communityto make rules and help enforce rules because our own government can not. Bottom fishing and “gill net task forces” must take action and find ways to create restrictions on themselves so that they may care for fish populations, our resources.
Mike Sakamoto, author and TV personality has proposed “a Fishing Task Force to look into a Marine License, smaller bag limits, slot limits, closed seasons on ulua and other species, an ulua enhancement program (stocking of ulua) and other enhancement programs…” as well as “Spear Fishing Task Forces” so that we the fishermen come up with size and bag limits, tournament restrictions, and night diving regulations. All of these ideas are a great way to increase and monitor populations, and the community certainly will be able to come up with more.
The management of Hawaii’s marine resources must evolve. Hawaii’s marine resources must be protected byus working together, with help from the state and federal agencies, to make sure that areas of high diversity are preserved and that future generations may have plentiful resources, we must create a bounty that will ensure the legacy of those that live on these islands
Friday, January 25, 2008
Pacific Ocean
We've divided the Pacific Ocean into three areas: Cocos and Galapagos Islands, Cook, Fiji and Solomon Islands and the French Polynesia.
Each region has it's jewels to the global diver. For instance, Cocos Island in the East Pacific is the largest uninhabited island in the world, it's remote, wild and excellent for diving. Cocos is located 300+ miles west of Costa Rica, accessible only by boat. Cocos has no hotels and no accommodations and doesn't need them - Cocos Island is only for the determined diver. But with determination comes rewards.
The Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific, only has a few small remote dive resorts but the islands of Uepi and Gizo are outstanding with lots of wrecks from WWII, pristine reefs and walls, and of course, plenty of fish....Fiji is considered "The Soft Coral Capitol of the World" - need we say more? Ever heard of Rangiroa? It's in the Western Pacific, part of French Polynesia, and offers a rocket ride in eight knot currents through shark-filled passes... read more...Click here >>
Cocos Island lies in an Intertropical Convergence Zone. This zone is where the weather patterns of the two hemispheres converge near the equator. Here North and Southeast trade winds meet with the north and south equatorial currents.rainy season) and about 66°F the rest of the year. The Cook Islands experience little fluctuation in climate and have moderate temperatures and humidity. It does rain, however, with the rainy season beginning in December and running through March.Water temperature varies from a mean of 81°F in December to 78°F during their winter in August.
Whale season is September - October. Fiji's weather presents a real mixed bag. The choice is often between good visibility and cool water or warm water and calmer seas with less visibility. The Solomons are hot and humid year-round, with the most rain falling between December and March.
Rangiroa is diveable year-round, with water temperatures of 7983°F.
See each region's sections for more details concerning seasons.
San Jose, Costa Rica Suva (Fiji) Rarotonga (Cook Islands)Honiara (Solomon Islands) TahitiLonely Planet Micronesia :: BuySouth Pacific Tourist OrganizationSouth Pacific Organizer (South Pacific Handbooks)
KEYWORDS:
Advance Scuba training, Adventure Sports, airlines, Basic Open Water, Digital Underwater Photography, discount travel, Divemaster scuba, Enriched Air, Extreme Scuba and Jason Kilgore, family travel, family vacations, Hawaii reef divers, Hawaii Scuba Diving, Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Islands sight seeing, hotels, Jason Kilgore, Kona, Maui, scuba certification, other specialty certifications, NAUI, NOAA, scuba diving, scuba rental gear, sharks, SSI, TDI/SDI, Underwater Instructors, vacation, Scuba and Jason Kilgore, Naui and Jason Kilgore, How to scuba dive, skin diving, snorkel, mask, fins, Reef Relief, coral reef, reef fish, maui divers, dive shops, scuba dive shops, cave diving, ice diving, wreck diving
Each region has it's jewels to the global diver. For instance, Cocos Island in the East Pacific is the largest uninhabited island in the world, it's remote, wild and excellent for diving. Cocos is located 300+ miles west of Costa Rica, accessible only by boat. Cocos has no hotels and no accommodations and doesn't need them - Cocos Island is only for the determined diver. But with determination comes rewards.
The Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific, only has a few small remote dive resorts but the islands of Uepi and Gizo are outstanding with lots of wrecks from WWII, pristine reefs and walls, and of course, plenty of fish....Fiji is considered "The Soft Coral Capitol of the World" - need we say more? Ever heard of Rangiroa? It's in the Western Pacific, part of French Polynesia, and offers a rocket ride in eight knot currents through shark-filled passes... read more...Click here >>
Cocos Island lies in an Intertropical Convergence Zone. This zone is where the weather patterns of the two hemispheres converge near the equator. Here North and Southeast trade winds meet with the north and south equatorial currents.rainy season) and about 66°F the rest of the year. The Cook Islands experience little fluctuation in climate and have moderate temperatures and humidity. It does rain, however, with the rainy season beginning in December and running through March.Water temperature varies from a mean of 81°F in December to 78°F during their winter in August.
Whale season is September - October. Fiji's weather presents a real mixed bag. The choice is often between good visibility and cool water or warm water and calmer seas with less visibility. The Solomons are hot and humid year-round, with the most rain falling between December and March.
Rangiroa is diveable year-round, with water temperatures of 7983°F.
See each region's sections for more details concerning seasons.
San Jose, Costa Rica Suva (Fiji) Rarotonga (Cook Islands)Honiara (Solomon Islands) TahitiLonely Planet Micronesia :: BuySouth Pacific Tourist OrganizationSouth Pacific Organizer (South Pacific Handbooks)
KEYWORDS:
Advance Scuba training, Adventure Sports, airlines, Basic Open Water, Digital Underwater Photography, discount travel, Divemaster scuba, Enriched Air, Extreme Scuba and Jason Kilgore, family travel, family vacations, Hawaii reef divers, Hawaii Scuba Diving, Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Islands sight seeing, hotels, Jason Kilgore, Kona, Maui, scuba certification, other specialty certifications, NAUI, NOAA, scuba diving, scuba rental gear, sharks, SSI, TDI/SDI, Underwater Instructors, vacation, Scuba and Jason Kilgore, Naui and Jason Kilgore, How to scuba dive, skin diving, snorkel, mask, fins, Reef Relief, coral reef, reef fish, maui divers, dive shops, scuba dive shops, cave diving, ice diving, wreck diving
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
