Guinness World Record Attempt

Every kid has that fantasy of doing something so incredible that they will catch the attention of the Guinness Book of World Records. Some of those kids grow up to be SCUBA divers, and never lose sight of that dream. A bunch of these grownups in the UK formed a group and have decided to take on this challenge with an attempt to break the world record for the most people SCUBA diving at once.

The standing world record for the most people diving simultaneously was set in 2009 in Indonesia, with a turnout of 2,486 divers. A company called ScubaClick intends to break that record in Swanage, Dorset, located in the United Kingdom. It is part of the launch of their online liveaboard booking and management system, which offers a more interactive platform for those who operate liveaboards and those who want to charter them. Each diver will pay a small fee to participate, which goes to several charities in the Swanage community, like Scuba Trust, an organization that assists disabled divers. Each participant will be entered in a drawing for prizes including a dive computer, diving suits, regulators, and more.

They are looking for participants at every level, including divers, dive boat operators, and kayak operators to assist divers with whatever may be necessary. Training will be provided on site for each type of participant. Divers will be required to be open water certified, have current diving insurance, and supply their own gear. Although the idea is to break a world record as well as create excitement about a new business, safety is the number one priority of this event.

They are seeking a few more sponsors, so if you or your business have resources to offer, this is a terrific way to contribute. Want to promote your SCUBA business? There will be an area cordoned for exhibition as well, so start crafting your pitch! Search the internet for ScubaClick for all the details.

The event will feature live music, a bar, and of course, cheering on all those divers who are making history. This is sure to be a memorable experience for the whole family, so mark your calendar for September 24, 2011 and be a part of a new world record!

*/retrieved from: http://aquaviews.net

Protect the Enviroment

• Do not touch wildlife. Avoiding wildlife is safer for you and better for the wildlife. Some marine animals have a protective coating that is rubbed off when touched, exposing them to parasites and infection. Touching or "playing" with them also stresses the animal.
  
  
• Coral are marine animals. Take care when snorkeling or scuba diving and avoid touching, grabbing, or accidentally grazing the coral with your fins. The portion of the coral that is touched will die.
  
  
• Do not take marine animals out of the ocean for any reason. This also stresses the animal.
  
  
  

  

  
  
• When taking pictures underwater, do not touch the animals. Do not lean or hold onto coral or other underwater structures while trying to "get a good picture." Remember, touching coral in any way damages it, and the portion damaged will die. 
  
  
• Secure "dangling gear" that may damage the reef. Secure the secondary air source, computer console, flashlights, or any other gear that may come into contact with coral and other marine life. 
  
  
• If you witness someone abusing a marine animal, contact the authorities if the information is available. There are many reefs that are under marine law protection (for example, the island of Bonaire) and have organizations to protect the animals.
  
  
• You are in their environment and world. Respect marine life as a living being and take only pictures, and leave only bubbles.

*/retrieved from: http://emedicinehealth.com

Bajau People

The Bajau or Bajaw are an indigenous ethnic group of the southern Philippines. Due to escalated conflicts in their native Sulu Archipelago of the southern Philippines, many of the Bajau have migrated to neighboring Malaysia over the course of 50 years. Currently they are the second largest ethnic group in the state of Sabah, making up 13.4% of the total population. Groups of Bajau have also migrated to Sulawesi and Kalimantan in Indonesia, although figures of their exact population are unknown. They were sometimes referred to as the Sea Gypsies, although the term has been used to encompass a number of non-related ethnic groups with similar traditional lifestyles, such as the Moken of the Burmese-Thai Mergui Archipelago and the Orang Laut of southeastern Sumatra and the Riau Islands of Indonesia. The modern outward spread of the Bajau from older inhabited areas seems to have been associated with the development of sea trade in trepang.

Actually, I met these people in a video which tells about a "diver" in Bajaus. It is really interesting how these people live, how they adapted to sea. In the video that I watched, it was focusing in one specific man who adapted a lot more than the others. He was born to be diver.

*retrieved from http://www.wikipedia.com