Latest news with #SpiritofFreedom
Calgary Herald
13-05-2025
- Calgary Herald
Want to help save the Great Barrier Reef? Become an ecotourist
Article content Article content During my scuba adventure through the Ribbon Reefs aboard the Spirit of Freedom dive boat, our group transformed into part-time marine scientists. Armed with underwater slates and pencils, we conducted rapid monitoring surveys, recording everything from fish species to coral impacts to promising new coral growth. Article content Even getting scuba certified has regenerative benefits. When I upgraded my diving credentials with Diver's Den, a PADI Eco Center that operates our dive boat, a portion of my course fees supported PADI AWARE. This global conservation non-profit partners with the UN's Green Fins Program to minimize tourism's footprint on fragile ecosystems like coral reefs. Article content Article content Article content The impact of visitor participation can be profound. Data collected through the Dive Against Debris citizen scientist program led Vanuatu to become the first country to ban single-use plastics. Thanks to similar community-collected evidence from Sydney Harbour, all Australian states and territories have enacted plastics policy changes. Article content Beyond its five-star comforts, the island houses the renowned Lizard Island Research Station, which provides crucial scientific data for reef management. Resort guests can tour the facility, peer into aquariums meticulously maintained to mirror natural conditions, and have the opportunity to talk with passionate researchers whose work is making a difference. Article content Article content Article content 'Just because the reef is in trouble doesn't mean it's not a wonderful place to visit. We have the data, and we know what the solution is. We as a society need to do our part to remove those pressures. We need action on an individual level and at the government level for policy setting,' notes Howells. Article content My revelation came during my night dive when dozens of sharks glided past me with supreme indifference. These weren't the mindless killers of movie fame but graceful predators with zero interest in adding me to their menu. Article content Article content People protect what they connect with. Lock eyes with a curious Maori wrasse, witness coral spawning under moonlight or share a wave with a sea turtle, and suddenly, abstract conservation concerns feel personal. Article content
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Whale of a time' on special canal day out
RESIDENTS of a Ross-on-Wye care home enjoyed a canal cruise. The Ross Court residents sailed from Frampton-on-Severn on the Spirit of Freedom, along the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal. They stopped at a scenic picnic spot in Purton, where they enjoyed a meal prepared by the home's hospitality team. Agda-Claudia Vasilateanu, general manager of Ross Court, said: "Our residents had a whale of a time on the canal cruise. "Adventures that take place outside of the home are a regular event for the residents, and we always ask for ideas on where they would best like to go. "The day was a lot of fun, residents were able to enjoy a beautiful day on the canal which was quite therapeutic, thankfully the weather held out." Ross Court Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK's largest care providers. It provides residential care for 37 residents, from respite care to long-term stays.
