Latest news with #expedition
CTV News
16 hours ago
- CTV News
What to expect from shark cage diving expeditions off Nova Scotia
The president of Atlantic Sharks Expeditions talks about recent shark sightings in the Maritimes. If you're looking for something exciting to do this summer, one Maritime company continues to offer shark viewing and cage diving experiences in the Halifax area. Neil Hammerschlag, the president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions, says the experience of seeing the animals in their natural environment changes how people see them. shark A shark is pictured swimming in the ocean. (Courtesy: Atlantic Shark Expedition) 'They're so gorgeous, it generates an appreciation for them and that's particularly important at this time because in many places of the world shark numbers are declining, they're being overfished, they've been hunted,' he told CTV Morning Live's Crystal Garrett. 'Luckily they're protected in Nova Scotia and we're seeing healthy numbers and seeing healthy numbers of sharks means a healthy ecosystem, so it's great that people get to see them, experience them and want to preserve them.' Hammerschlag says people have seen 'quite a few' sharks on the expeditions already this season. 'You join our boat, you get a really cool briefing about what our mission is for the day, we head out for a special location where we have success in seeing sharks based on their preferred environmental conditions, we lower a protective shark cage in the water that's secured to the boat,' he says. 'The top is just out of the surface and you get a hose with (surface-supplied air), we give you all the equipment, you get in the cage and we bring the sharks to the cage and we collect scientific data to monitor the populations of sharks, but at the same time everyone gets to see the sharks, take photos, and just experience them.' Shark Cage A diver in a shark cage is pictured. (Source: Atlantic Shark Expeditions) How the animals interact with people depends on the individual shark. 'Some sharks kind of come by and just do a drive by, other ones are very curious about what the cage is and they stick around and will start investigating it,' says Hammerschlag. The most common species seen off Nova Scotia are blue sharks. 'Which are these amazing, curious, sleek animals. We also get porbeagle sharks, the shortfin mako shark, which is among the fastest of ocean species, and then we get the great white shark, and these are species we've seen already this year, in the last week,' Hammerschlag says. However, the marine ecologist says the misconception continues that sharks are blood thirsty animals. 'That's not reality at all. When you come out with us, you'll see these sharks are calm, they're actually very cautious and they don't eat a lot, so a lot of times the reason we can interact with them is just based on their own curiosity, it has nothing to do with food.' Atlantic Shark Expeditions' cage diving experiences off Halifax run until Sept. 4. The fall season in Yarmouth begins Sept. 12. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
How Silversea is streamlining its expedition cruise experience
Teri West Galapagos cruising got cushier this month for those sailing with Silversea's Silver Origin. The cruise line is now providing passengers with charter flights in Ecuador from Quito to San Cristobal Island, a two-hour trip that forgoes the previous layover in Guayaquil. It is becoming ever clearer that Silversea believes luxury in expedition requires eliminating, as much as possible, unpredictability and discomfort before and after the cruise. For Antarctica cruises, the line offers charter flights from Chile and will soon also host guests before their flight at a Silversea-built and owned hotel. In the expedition space, the trick in crafting the journey is leaving room for error, so Silversea's pre- and post-cruise services are a true value, said David Lauwers, a luxury cruise and expedition travel advisor at Q Cruise + Travel. "It's padding out an expedition," he said. "It isn't like going to Europe, where you can get on the next flight, there's loads of carriers and it's not a problem." Lauwers said he likes to direct clients toward Silversea because it eliminates so many of the logistical challenges involved in ensuring his customers are aboard the ship when it leaves the homeport. The services also differentiate Silversea from competitors, and once guests try the Silversea flights there is a high satisfaction rate, Lauwers said. They find the plane ride to be an exciting kickoff for the cruise itself, with Silversea-branded napkins and menus and the opportunity to commune with fellow passengers. "They love that they're all Silversea guests, because they can all chat and talk about the trip, especially on the return," he said. Silversea president Bert Hernandez said the company is focused on evolving. "This enhanced guest journey to the Galapagos reflects this dedication -- streamlining every touchpoint to make visiting this bucket list destination more accessible and seamless than ever," he said. "We always put the guest at the center of everything we do, creating opportunities for deeper connections to the destination, and this is one more way we're leveraging our deep expedition and destination expertise to further elevate the Silversea experience." Lauwers said he expects other cruise lines to take a wait-and-see approach in deciding whether to operate their own Galapagos charter flights, but those that might consider it would also be in the luxury space. "I think they've got quite a niche in the Galapagos," Lauwers said of Silversea. "I think that'll be a big differentiator for them."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This Buy-Rated Travel Stock Keeps Cruising to New Highs
Viking Holdings (VIK) shows strong technical momentum and hit a new 52-week high on July 15. The stock has a 100% technical 'Buy' signal via Barchart. Shares are up more than 60% in the last year. Fundamentals are robust and analyst sentiment is largely bullish on the cruise and expedition operator. Valued at $25.45 billion, Viking Holdings (VIK) operates a smaller fleet of global cruise ships, focusing on unique ocean and river cruises. It also offers expeditions, such as for polar exploration. I found today's Chart of the Day by using Barchart's powerful screening functions. I sorted for stocks with the highest technical buy signals, superior current momentum in both strength and direction, and a Trend Seeker 'buy' signal. I then used Barchart's Flipcharts feature to review the charts for consistent price appreciation. VIK checks those boxes. Since the Trend Seeker signaled a buy on May 12, the stock has gained 26.07%. Palantir Just Launched Warp Speed for Warships. Does That Make PLTR Stock a Buy? This Analyst Just Doubled His Price Target on AMD Stock How High Can Nvidia Stock Go as Jensen Huang Heads to China? Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! VIK Price vs. Daily Moving Averages: Editor's Note: The technical indicators below are updated live during the session every 20 minutes and can therefore change each day as the market fluctuates. The indicator numbers shown below therefore may not match what you see live on the website when you read this report. These technical indicators form the Barchart Opinion on a particular stock. Viking shares hit a new all-time high on July 15, touching $57.73 in morning trading. VIK has an 100% technical 'Buy' signal. The stock recently traded at $57.45, above its 50-day moving average of $48.57. Viking has a Weighted Alpha of +61.43. The stock has gained 61% over the past year. VIK has its Trend Seeker 'Buy' signal intact. Viking is trading above its 20, 50 and 100-day moving averages. The stock made 17 new highs and gained 23% in the last month. Relative Strength Index is at 80.37%. The technical support level is $56.19. $25.45 billion market cap. Trailing price-earnings ratio of 30.35x. Revenue is projected to grow 18.43% this year and another 13.36% next year. Earnings are estimated to increase 30.64% this year and increase an additional 25.00% next year. I don't buy stocks because everyone else is buying, but I do realize that if major firms and investors are dumping a stock, it's hard to make money swimming against the tide. It looks like Wall Street analysts are bullish, but some major advisory sites aren't. The Wall Street analysts tracked by Barchart issued nine 'Strong Buy,' one 'Moderate Buy,' and five 'Hold' opinions on the stock. Value Line does not rate this stock. CFRA's MarketScope rates the stock a 'Buy.' Morningstar thinks the stock is 28% overvalued. 2,650 investors monitor the stock on Seeking Alpha, which rates the stock a 'Strong Buy.' Viking currently has momentum and is hitting new highs. I caution that VIK is volatile and speculative — use strict risk management and stop-loss strategies. Today's Chart of the Day was written by Jim Van Meerten. Read previous editions of the daily newsletter here. Additional disclosure: The Barchart of the Day highlights stocks that are experiencing exceptional current price appreciation. They are not intended to be buy recommendations as these stocks are extremely volatile and speculative. Should you decide to add one of these stocks to your investment portfolio it is highly suggested you follow a predetermined diversification and moving stop loss discipline that is consistent with your personal investment risk tolerance. On the date of publication, Jim Van Meerten did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Watch the moment shocked star is BITTEN on Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters
THIS is the moment a shocked star was bitten by a shark in the first episode of ITV's brand new series. Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters sees seven famous faces embark on a dive expedition to The Bahamas. 5 5 5 5 While the turquoise waters look inviting, they are actually known for being home to the shark capital of the world. Taking on the challenge is Sir Lenny Henry, Call the Midwife 's Helen George, McFly 's Dougie Poynter, comedian Ross Noble, Countdown 's Rachel Riley, presenter Ade Adepitan and Motherhood star Lucy Punch. They are lead on their expedition by shark experts including Dr. Tristan Guttridge, and at one point, he takes the celebrities to an area in the Bahamas known for its Lemon Sharks. Dr. Tristan tells the celebrities that as they stand in the waist height water, they need to remain still, and even if the sharks nudge into them, the key is not to panic. The stars enter the water in small groups so as not to cause too much alarm to the sharks. Comedian Ross, 49, describes the creatures as "peaceful" and while he agrees, Dr. Tristan then adds: "Of all the sharks I've ever worked with, it's the only one I've ever been bitten by." Moments later, a larger shark picks up the scent of the bait box in the bait box near the celebrities, and breaches the water with a fish in its mouth, causing them to be on high alert. Indeed, the Lemon sharks then start to get a bit more "excited" and with the sea bed being churned up by their faster movements, a shark suddenly butts into Ross's ankle and bites him. The funnyman staggers a bit in the water prompting the others to ask: "What happened?" In a very calm voice, Ross replies: "A shark just bit me." Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters In a voiceover, it's explained that the shark had "an exploratory bite" after Ross didn't move when it bumped into his leg. Dr. Tristan then decides that because the sharks are getting "a bit jumpy" they should slowly move back to the boat. Thankfully, the bite is more of a nibble and Ross jokes that he is "lucky to be alive". But with high drama already in the first episode, what else will the celebrities face when they head below the waves later in the series? Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters starts tonight, Monday July 14 at 9pm on ITV1. 5
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists just rediscovered a rare insect we thought went extinct 20 years ago
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. Scientists have managed to find a rare insect after it supposedly went extinct more than two decades ago. The Behningia baei, a species of mayfly that hasn't been seen since 2002, were rediscovered in the Mae Chaem River in Thailand this past year. This rediscovery ends a long gap in humanity's entomological records. Until now, B. baei had vanished from every expedition since its formal description in 2006, with no actual sightings since 2002. The main difference between this study and others looking for the creature is that the team behind the find didn't look to the skies for fluttering adults. Instead, they searched beneath the surface. Today's Top Deals XGIMI Prime Day deals feature the new MoGo 4 and up to 42% off smart projectors Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals One reason for this is because these mayflies only tend to live a matter of hours or days in their final form — the form we most often see fluttering around if you live anywhere near mayfly territory. However, by using kick nets to stir the sandy riverbed, the researchers were able to uncover juveniles of the species, called nymphs, like little hidden grains of rice in the sand. These juvenile mayflies spend nearly their entire lives buried in fine sediments, making them much easier to locate than their short-lived adult forms. The rediscovery of this rare insect is important for more than just telling scientists where it lives. Mayflies are essential to freshwater ecosystems, as they move nutrients from algae to fish, birds, and other animals. They're also an important indicator of the health of a stream or river as their gills require clean, oxygen-rich water. As such, their discovery in the Mae Chaem confirms that the river remains a healthy habitat. Future work, like DNA barcoding, will confirm the species' identity and rule out any hidden relatives. The team also plans to explore nearby tributaries before the rainy season begins. Meanwhile, they're training local students to help with future surveys. This widespread community involvement could turn rare finds of the insect juveniles into a regular means of monitoring data about the mayflies. Considering the current state of the world's climate, and the fact that common farm chemicals might be killing off many insects, this discovery is a massive win for conservationists. More Top Deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 See the
