Latest news with #PADI
ILoveQatar.net
20-07-2025
- General
- ILoveQatar.net
Team of over 50 gather at Sealine for PADI Women's Dive Day clean-up event
In a powerful demonstration of unity, environmental responsibility, and shared joy, scuba divers from across Qatar gathered at Sealine, Mesaieed for an inspiring underwater and shoreline clean-up event on 19 July 2025. The clean-up dive brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, transcending gender, roles, and borders, all driven by a common mission: to protect the ocean and spread the happiness of scuba diving. Spearheaded by PADI Instructor Meech del Carmen and Dive Master Margaux De Pauw, the initiative received overwhelming support from local dive centers, certified divers, environmental volunteers, and members of the wider community. Officially registered under PADI Women's Dive Day 2025, the event aligned with global efforts to promote ocean conservation, inclusivity, and empowerment through diving. A total of 17 female divers registered and all 17 showed up, achieving a perfect attendance. Alongside them were 34 surface supporters, a mix of male divers and non-diving volunteers who took part in the beach clean-up. Together, this 50+ strong team made waves not just in the water, but in the hearts of everyone involved. In total, 40 kilograms of general waste mostly composed of difficult-to-recycle debris, were successfully collected and removed from the ocean and shoreline. What began as a clean-up quickly evolved into a celebration of connection, purpose, and shared responsibility. The event proudly embraced the theme #SEAstersInAction, a nod to the growing number of female divers taking the lead in marine conservation while uplifting and supporting each other. 'This wasn't just a women's dive, it was a community's dive,' said Meech del Carmen. 'We may have started under the banner of PADI Women's Dive Day, but what we witnessed was a collective movement. People showed up not just to clean, but to care. Every dive is a clean-up dive, and every diver has the power to pass on joy, purpose, and impact. We want to #PassTheScubaDivingHappiness far and wide.' 'Today, I love diving—but for a long time, I didn't think it was for me,' shared Dive Master Margaux De Pauw. 'It seemed like something for people who were braver, more adventurous, more experienced. Now, I'm here to support every woman who's curious about the ocean and to celebrate the divers who are protecting our planet. Because divers know the ocean is in trouble, and women protect what they love. That's why PADI Women's Dive Day matters.' With tanks on their backs and purpose in their hearts, divers and surface support teams removed marine debris and raised awareness for ocean sustainability. The event fostered new friendships, strengthened community bonds, and showcased how grassroots efforts can lead to tangible, lasting change. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the final pieces of debris were cleared, one message rang clear: One ocean. One community. One purpose. We are grateful for the following: SantaFe Associates International, Alghais Diving, Bay Divers, Deep Blue Diving, Sea Fever, Al Naham Diving, Alicafe, Cuecastt, Project Paule, scuba diving instructors, dive masters, rescue divers, all the female divers and all the surface supporters, and our sustainability partner: SEASHORE.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Forbes
5 Restaurants Turning Invasive Lionfish Into Upscale Dining
Scuba diver observing lionfish in the wild Lionfish are among the ocean's most striking creatures—elegant, flamboyantly striped, and surprisingly delicious. But beneath their beauty lies a destructive menace. No one knows for certain how they arrived, but many believe they escaped from home aquariums decades ago. With poisonous spines and few natural predators, lionfish pose a serious threat to fragile reef ecosystems. They reproduce rapidly and devour anything, putting native fish at risk. One of the most effective ways to control lionfish is to eat them. Spearfishing, often done by scuba divers, is the primary method of removal. 'Native to the Pacific Ocean, lionfish are progressively invading the northwestern Atlantic and the Caribbean, where they have no natural predators,' says Eric Albinsson, PADI instructor development and training executive. The PADI Invasive Lionfish Distinctive Specialty Course helps divers learn what they can do to control the lionfish population and, during two scuba dives, learn practical ways to safely and humanely capture and euthanize these fish and ensure there is no waste in the process.' For example, Coral Divers Curacao trains divers to locate, safely spear, and prepare lionfish. Back on shore, students learn to clean their catch and enjoy it fresh off the grill. Lionfish's mild, tender meat is sweet and flaky—perfect for sashimi or grilled preparations. Turning this invader into an upscale menu item not only helps protect reefs but also offers diners a unique culinary experience. Here are a few standout spots serving lionfish around the world: Sea Salt Restaurant, Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection As the first Marriott International resort in Belize, Alaia's flagship Sea Salt restaurant and swim-up bar highlight fresh local seafood while supporting reef preservation. Don't miss their lionfish tiradito, served with pineapple aguachile, apple, and red fruit. Lionfish with kale & pickled red onions Jade Mountain & Anse Chastanet This architectural marvel of a resort serves lionfish at its ultra-luxury Jade Mountain property and its sister resort, Anse Chastanet—home to St. Lucia's largest scuba operation. Guests can join lionfish hunting excursions through the resort's PADI Invasive Lionfish Tracker Course and savor their catch at a seven-course 'Eat Them to Beat Them' lionfish dinner, sometimes accompanied by live calypso music. Consulting chef and James Beard Award winner Allen Susser's book, Green Fig and Lionfish: Sustainable Caribbean Cooking, is packed with recipes for adventurous home chefs. Fried whole lionfish Fish by José Andrés, The Cove at Atlantis Renowned chef José Andrés, an avid diver, is a vocal advocate for eating lionfish. At Fish at The Cove in Atlantis, guests can enjoy whole deep-fried lionfish, presented dramatically at the table. The menu celebrates fresh Bahamian seafood and local ingredients, from small plates to large-format dishes. Kondesa, Cozumel Cozumel's lionfish population has become a serious concern, and restaurants like Kondesa are doing their part to help. Their lionfish cakes, made with potato, coconut milk, poblano emulsion, and a panko crust, are a favorite. Dine under the stars in this jungle-surrounded spot, where traditional Mexican cuisine is reimagined with a modern twist. Sake Cafe's lionfish roll Sake Café, Pensacola, Florida Lionfish is on the menu year-round at Sake Café in Pensacola, where you'll find dishes like thinly sliced lionfish sashimi with sriracha, masago, scallions, ponzu, and sesame seeds, or a lionfish sushi roll. Visitors to Pensacola can also sign up for lionfish hunting excursions or join a 'lionfish shootout.' For more restaurants serving lionfish in the U.S. and Caribbean, check out directory.
Times of Oman
09-07-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Details of inaugural Musandam International Diving Festival unveiled
Khasab: The Musandam Governor's Office unveiled details on Wednesday at a press conference in Khasab for the inaugural Musandam International Diving Festival, set to take place during 25-28 August 2025. The event aims to promote eco-tourism and marine tourism in the governorate through a sustainable gathering that will attract divers, tourists, and investors from various world countries. The festival will feature a range of activities and competitions across Khasab, with additional events in Kumzar and Dibba. They include: Deep-sea cleanup campaign; Free Diving Champion challenge; underwater photography competition; Kayak race (traditional Omani Qadah-Bassah) and best marine life video contest. Accompanying events will include: Exhibition of photos and videos from Musandam's depths; Group diving trips to key sites; Short film screenings on marine life; Maritime souq (market) selling diving gear, local seafood, and handicrafts, as well as diving conference aimed at establishing an Omani Diving Federation. The festival will also host specialised workshops and seminars, such as coral reef conservation session, 'the Future of Diving in the Gulf" symposium, PADI-certified training workshop, introductory sessions on diving tourism investment opportunities and beginner diving lessons. Sayyid Ibrahim Said Al Busaidi, Governor of Musandam emphasised that the festival—organised in collaboration with Musandam Exploration Diving Centre—will serve as a global platform for professional divers, enthusiasts, adventure seekers, marine sports athletes, media personalities, diving companies, equipment suppliers, eco-tourists, and local visitors. He noted that the festival aims to position Musandam as a premier diving destination, highlight the governorate's unique marine biodiversity, support local tourism centers and diving projects, besides generating economic opportunities for communities. He highlighted that Musandam's waters—where the Arabian Gulf meets the Indian Ocean—boast a rich marine ecosystem, making it an ideal diving spot for all skill levels. He added that diving tourism will drive economic growth by attracting high-end tourists seeking unique nature experiences, boost infrastructure development, including dive centres, hotels, restaurants, and transport services, as well as generating jobs in diving instruction, boat operations, hospitality, and marine conservation.
Listly
07-07-2025
- Listly
6 pointers for your Maldivian scuba diving adventure – Explore the hidden depths of the underwater world!
If possible, take along your diving gear for your underwater adventure in the Maldives. Some of the equipment you can take along is a mask, fins, a snorkel, a regulator, a submersible pressure gauge (SPG), and a Buoyancy Control Device (BCD). You can also pack a dive watch, a dive computer, a dive light, a dive knife, a wetsuit or drysuit, a dive flag and float, scuba gear bags, and any signalling devices. However, if you find it a hassle to take these along, you can also hire them at a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) dive centre close to your location.
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Travel + Leisure
30-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Scuba Diving Spot Was Just Named No. 1 in the U.S.—Here's What It's Like
Small bubbles trail upward, tickling my nose as cold seawater seeps into my gloves. I try to focus on the black fins of the instructor in front of me, but, in between two looming kelp plants, a shadow stares at me. At first I think it's a statue or a submerged relic placed for divers to discover. But I double take when I realize there shouldn't be a statue 50 feet below the surface. I gasp—no easy feat with a regulator in my mouth—as I lock eyes with a giant sea bass. At nearly 250 pounds, the critically endangered fish is drifting effortlessly in its natural realm. Encounters like this are almost routine off the coast Catalina Island, one of Southern California's famed Channel Islands. Home to lush kelp forests and an astonishing array of marine life, Cataline has earned its reputation as a diver's dream. And recently, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world's largest diving organization, named it the best place to scuba dive in the United States. According to PADI, Catalina is one of the most popular diving spots in the world thanks to the vibrant marine life, unique wreck dives, and the majestic kelp forests that are up to 100 feet tall. Catalina's diving scene was made famous by Jacques Cousteau, the man who innovated modern underwater diving, fought for the protection of marine life, and educated the world through powerful documentaries. Cousteau's internationally renowned documentary about Catalina put it on the map, so he is fittingly honored by a plaque 40-feet below the surface. (Travelers can also honor his memory by participating in a Dive Against Debris, where divers remove litter from precious reefs, advocate for marine protections, and contribute to a global database.) Casino Point, one of the island's most popular dive sites, is the first nonprofit underwater park in the country. This 2.5-acre space is a marine-protected area, which is part of the reason why the underwater creatures are so comfortable around humans. Boats in Avalon Harbor with homes on the hillside in Santa Catalina Island off the coast of Southern I spotted a giant sea bass and California's state fish, the bright orange garibaldi, there are far more than fish in these waters. 'Aside from the expansive kelp forest, divers will find horn sharks, sea urchins, spiny lobsters, sea cucumbers, seals, and giant sea bass,' Kristin Valette Wirth, the chief brand and membership officer for PADI Worldwide, told Travel + Leisure . My In2Deep scuba instructor, Greg Rhines, also gave me advice on what to do if I see the cheeky sea lions or elusive moray eels. According to Rhines, who has been diving since the 1970s, 'You'll see things in Catalina that you won't see anywhere else.' For those who do not know how to scuba dive (yet), Catalina is a fantastic place to learn. Sign up with In2Deep, a dive center in Santa Monica, whose friendly instructors and regular Catalina day trips make it easy to plan a quick trip from Los Angeles. Travelers who plan to spend a few days on the island can also stay at the Catalina Canyon Inn, a relaxing hotel that has a restaurant, pool, and plenty of organized excursions around the island. Sail in style in the Catalina Express's Captain's Lounge, a private room on the ferry with priority boarding, complimentary drinks, and plush seating. Catalina Express offers ferries from Los Angeles and Orange County, and they extend their hours during the summer months. In addition to Catalina, PADI also recognizes John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Florida, Flower Garden Banks in Texas, and Crystal River in Florida.
