A Good News Story: How Biorock is Rebuilding our Reefs

Biorock Coral Restoration

I met Paul on Twitter.  For anyone who tells me that Twitter is a waste of time, I tell them about the wonderful people I now know but have never actually met. The people who have made a difference to me and how they’ve enriched my world.  But I’m veering off topic….  Paul hails from [...]

House Selling Tips for Scuba Divers – Get a Calendar!

SeaFocus 2013 Calendar

We got really frustrated a couple of years back when we were selling the London house. So many people just come to snoop, some come just to see how low an offer they can make and others come to fill in time because they are bored. We could always pick the time wasters as they [...]

Vlassoff Cay Shark Lesson

DSCF5285.jpg

The opportunity of a lifetime came my way. A chance to fly by helicopter to a remote coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef with award winning photographer and shark expert, Richard Fitzpatrick. A coral cay is a small sandy island which forms on the reef.  Some are large enough to support inhabitants but many [...]

Sea Walking? Is this a Good Introduction to Scuba Diving?

Sea Walking

Every so often, I read about seawalking and always wonder…. what is it really like?  Is it a good introduction to the underwater world? Sea walking is a fairly new tourist attraction which is growing in popularity. The process is simple – a large glass dome is placed over your head and, as you descend [...]

Underwater photography made easy with the Fuji XP150

fuji.jpg

As a diver, I’ve never been drawn to underwater photography.  For many years, I’ve watched as divers prepare their cameras before getting in the water.  It always seemed complicated and far too much like hard work.  Confusing terms like ‘white balance’ left me cold.   And  many divers seemed so obsessed with taking that one perfect [...]

The HMS Investigator – A Ship Frozen in Time

HMS Investigator

Sitting in just 11 metres of water, high above the Arctic Circle in Mercy Bay, lies the HMS Investigator. Mercy Bay, 800 km north of Inuvik in Canada’s North West Territories, is a punishing environment.  160 years ago, the Investigator, a British vessel, became trapped in the ice after being despatched to search for the [...]

My Politically Incorrect Excess Baggage Rant

Scuba divers hit for excess baggage charges

Come on Australia, if you want divers to come, give us a break on our luggage allowances. I’m sat in Cairns Airport writing this after being charged AU$50.00 per kilo excess baggage by the local airline, Jetstar.  Now, I wouldn’t mind if it was because I’d packed too many pairs of shoes but it was [...]

7 Questions – Ben Southall, Winner of the ‘Best Job in the World’

Ben Southall, winner of Best Job in the World

I’ve just met Ben Southall as part of a trip to the Great Barrier Reef with Tourism Queensland and took the opportunity to ask him 7 Questions.  Born and bred in the UK, Ben famously won the “Best Job in the “World” competition and is now the official Ambassador for Queensland Tourism. 1. What inspired [...]

7 Questions – Mike Wheatley, Owner of Brisbane Dive Academy

314761_10150381962895190_115057120189_10205399_150863470_n

1. As founder of the Brisbane Dive Academy, what is your vision for the the business? I want to see Brisbane Dive Academy grow into one of the most well known and professional dive operations in Australia, with highly trained and capable staff who are willing and able to help with all kinds of diver [...]

The Great Barrier Reef Under Threat

great-barrier-reef

I’m going to Queensland in a couple of weeks’ time (here’s a bit about that) so I’ve been researching news about the Great Barrier Reef and what’s topical.  What I’ve found has shocked me.  Just watch this video.  If it moves you, please pass it on, please comment and please share. Jackie Hutchings is the [...]