Tabla de contenidos para 2/2024 - 130 en Scuba Diver/Asian Diver

The growth and evolution of the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) since its inception in 1995 have been remarkable. Initially just a dive show, ADEX has transformed into a significant platform under the guidance of Asian Geographic Magazines, especially after they took over in 2010. The vision driving this change is to create a space that connects individuals passionate about the ocean, fostering learning and raising awareness about marine protection and conservation. ADEX’s efforts have centred on educating new divers to become role models, appointing ambassadors to inspire change, and inviting industry leaders to spotlight issues like endangered marine species, climate change, and marine plastic pollution. The ultimate goal is to build a forward-thinking, action-oriented community dedicated to sustainability. ADEX has expanded globally beyond Singapore, including shows in China, the Maldives,…

Taiwan is a Pacific island – in fact, it is actually several islands: one large one and some smaller satellites – surrounded by warm, tropical seas. It is easily accessible, has excellent transportation and a First World society whose people are outgoing, friendly and laid-back. 台湾は太平洋の島です 。 実際は 、 1 つの大きな 島といくつかの小さな付属島嶼からなる複数 の島で構成されており 、 暖かい熱帯の海に囲 まれています 。 アクセスも容易で 、 交通の便も 良く 、 人々は社交的でフレンドリー 、 そしてのん びりとした 、 先進国の社会です 。 NEW DIVING GENERATION Especially in the south, and on several of the outlying islands, there is some very good scuba diving and a network of dive centres and resorts. They offer scuba diving experiences, basic training courses, and fun dives for a young Taiwanese generation that is driving development in the sport with considerable enthusiasm. For them, scuba diving is quite…

A new type of ocean hero is on the rise, playing a crucial role in marine conservation. These are the ghost net hunters – scuba divers, volunteers and environmental organisations that actively seek and remove discarded, lost and abandoned fishing nets in the water. These nets drift in the water, trap and entangle marine life such as fish, turtles, dolphins and seabirds, ultimately leading to their demise. 海洋保全において重要な役割を果たす 、 新しい タ イ プ の 海 の ヒ ー ロ ー が 台 頭 し て い ま す 。 ゴ ー ス トネットハンターと呼ばれるスキューバダイバ ー、ボランティア 、 環境保護団体が、 水中に捨てら れたり、 紛失したり、 放置されたりした漁網を積 極的に探し出し 、 除去します 。これらの網は水中 を漂い、 魚 、カメ 、イルカ 、 海鳥などの海洋生物を 捕らえ 、 絡ませ 、 最終的には死に至らしめます 。 “These are the ghost net hunters – scuba divers, volunteers and environmental organisations that…

MARIANAS VISITORS AUTHORITY Lying southeast of Japan, the Marianas are a crescent-shaped archipelago that is part of the larger region of Micronesia. The islands have magnificent beaches and crystal-clear waters, rich history, year-round outdoor activities, world-class diving and golfing and a wide variety of international and indigenous cultures. The underwater world of the Marianas Islands is a paradise for divers with countless breathtaking sites attracting divers from around the world. Saipan has beautiful coral reefs and clear waters. Sites like Lao Lao Bay and Managaha Island are popular for their diverse marine life and excellent visibility. Off Saipan’s west coast, the WWII Maritime Heritage Trail invites divers and snorkellers to see Japanese and US ship and aircraft wrecks from the Battle of Saipan. Tinian’s reefs are less frequented than Saipan’s,…

MAKING STRIDES IN ECO-FRIENDLY TOURISM With coral reefs facing increasing threats from climate change, pollution and unsustainable tourism practices, Onna Village has made strides in promoting eco-friendly tourism and marine conservation. エコフレンドリーな観光における功績 観光と保全のバランス:* 気候変動 、 汚染 、 不持 続的な観光慣行からサンゴ礁が脅かされてい る現状に対して 、 恩納村はエコフレンドリーな 観光方法を導入しました 。 The village’s proactive approach to balancing tourism with environmental stewardship has made it a leader in marine conservation efforts in Japan. This commitment set the stage for the introduction of the Green Fins initiative, further solidifying the village’s role as a pioneer in sustainable tourism and reef protection. How It All Began In July 2018, Onna’s mayor declared the village a “Village of Coral”. He also announced a new approach, strongly focused on conservation. This Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) campaign is a pilot project aimed at…

It can be argued that the title for best dive destination in the Eastern Pacific is shared by three remote volcanic island chains that are all typically visited via long-range liveaboards. The most popular of the three is the Galápagos Islands off Ecuador, known, of course, for Charles Darwin’s historic visit that played a vital role in everything we know about evolutionary biology, followed closely by Cocos Island off Costa Rica, which is famous for being the inspiration for Jurassic Park’s “Isla Nublar”. 東太平洋で最高のダイビングスポットの称号は 、 3 つの遠く離れた火山 島群によって共有されていると言えます 。 これらの島はすべて 、 長距離 のクルーズ船で訪れるのが一般的です 。 3 つの島の中で最も人気があ るのはエクアドル沖のガラパゴス諸島で 、 もちろんチャールズ ダーウィ ンの歴史的な訪問で知られ 、 進化生物学に関するあらゆる知識に重要 な役割を果たしました 。 それに次いでコスタリカ沖のココス島が続きま す 。 ココス島はジュラシック パークのヌブラル島にインスピレーションを 与えたことで有名です 。 The least known and last to make it to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2016 (compared to…

A Colourful and Lively Underwater Scene There’s a vast variety of soft and hard corals, and many types of marine animals, making the underwater scene in Thailand colourful and lively. In addition, the many national marine parks promote conservation and sustainable tourism. 色鮮やかで活気に満ちた水中景観 タイの水中は 、 ソフトコーラルとハードコーラルの多様性に富み 、 多種多様な 海洋生物が生息しており 、 色鮮やかで活気に満ちた景観が広がっています 。 さら に 、 多くの国立海洋公園が保全と持続可能な観光を推進しています 。 BEST SITES IN THAILAND Richelieu Rock, Phang Nga Located in the channel between Mu Ko Surin (Surin Archipelago) and the coast, this large, rocky pinnacle is one of Thailand’s best dive sites. Currents constantly carry nutrients to the coral reefs, making this site one of the most abundant underwater ecosystems in the Thai seas, and also a world-famous diving spot. Tachai Pinnacle, Phang Nga Tachai Island is another isolated island located far away…

FATE OF THE SPOTTED HANDFISH Spotted handfish were once common in Tasmania’s waters, but it is believed there are now fewer than 3,000 individuals in the wild. The species is categorised as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List, and it is still on the decline. The fate of the spotted handfish is due to habitat loss, environmental pollution, and the introduction of an invasive species, the Northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis), which not only feeds on handfish eggs, but also the sea squirts (stalked ascidians) that form the substrate on which the fish spawn. Unfortunately, the spotted handfish has no larval stage: Adult-looking mini-handfish hatch and begin their life right where their mother had laid and guarded her clutch of eggs. スポッテッド ハンドフィッシュの運命 かつてはタスマニアの海域でよく見られました が 、 野生では 3,000 匹未満しか残っていないと…

Of all the obstacles a diver can encounter, currents can be one of the most underestimated and physically demanding. Even experienced divers sometimes seem unable to accurately assess the speed and impact of a current. Currents can accelerate your air consumption and exhaust you, and can even make it impossible for you to return to your dive boat. Water is 800 times denser than air, so it creates a resistance that is magnitudes stronger than the resistance caused by even a storm-level wind. At half a knot, divers hanging on an ascent line will feel their bodies moving into a horizontal position, much like a flag in a 10-mile-per-hour breeze. At currents approaching a knot, turning your head to the side can dislodge and flood your mask. Letting go of…

Mention Tokyo and it is safe to say scuba diving comes low on the usual list of to-dos in Japan. But that should all change and for good reason. After all, Japan is an island nation and Tokyo, being on the east, is flanked by the Boso and Izu Peninsulas. These Pacific-facing peninsulas are blessed with good topography and upwelling currents that bring along an amazing multitude of marine life, from schooling hammerheads to rare critters found nowhere else. The journey there was very straightforward. I flew in to Tokyo with JAL, which offers free baggage allowance for dive gear. This is a great plus, especially for underwater photographers. 世界的に見ると 、 東京と言えばスキューバダイビングは日本の一般的 な ToDo リストにはあまり登場しません 。 しかし 、 それはすぐに変わるべ きです 。 その理由は十分にあります 。 日本は島国であり 、 東京は東側に 位置し 、 房総半島と伊豆半島に囲まれています 。…

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) The GPGP is actually two distinct collections of debris: the Western Garbage Patch near Japan, and the Eastern Garbage Patch in North America. These areas are brought together by the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, an ocean “highway” that moves the debris from one patch to the other. 太平洋ゴミベルト (GPGP) このベルトは 、 日本付近の西部ゴミベルトと北米の東部ゴミ ベルトで構成されています 。これらのエリアは 、 北太平洋亜熱 帯収束帯によってつながっています。これは 、ゴミを一方のベ ルトからもう一方のベルトに運ぶ海洋の「ハイウェイ」です 。 Approximately two million square kilometres in size, this “garbage patch” is not actually an island of rubbish floating in the ocean, but mainly microplastics that create a murky soup intermixed with larger items. The litter in the GPGP accumulates because a large portion is non-biodegradable plastic. This junk comes mainly from plastic bags, bottles and caps, and other contributing sources, including fishing nets…

The Galápagos Islands attract visitors from around the world to a carnival of animal oddities and rarities both on land and sea. So unique are the fauna, one could almost envision an early 20th-century carnival barker loquaciously extolling the exotica. “Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Come and feast your eyes on a one-ton fish that is all head and fins! Marvel at the schooling sharks whose heads are shaped like a coat hanger! Or how about a tortoise as big as a clown-car or a lizard that eats in the sea?” ガラパゴス諸島は 、 陸と海の両方で珍しい動物が集まるカーニバルで 、 世界中か ら観光客を惹きつけています 。 動物相が非常にユニークなので 、 20 世紀初頭のカ ーニバルの呼び込みが 、 その珍しい動物たちを雄弁に称賛している様子が目に浮 かぶようです 。 “さあ 、 皆さん 、 どうぞお上がりください ！ 頭とひれだけの 1 トンの魚をぜひご覧くださ い ！ 頭 がコ ートハンガー のような 形 をしたサメの 群 れ に 驚 嘆してくだ…

DAY 1 Check Dive at Kurumba Beyru The check dive was filled with Maldives‘ beautiful reef life, giving divers a sneak peek into the underwater adventures awaiting them in the coming days. DAY 2 Dive at Maaya Thila and Night Dive at Fesdu Lagoon Amazing dives featuring encounters with whitetip, blacktip, and grey reef sharks, turtles, reef fish, squid, and morays. Freedivers and mermaids enjoyed swimming among the colourful reef fish in the shallow areas. The magical night dive with the mighty mantas was an unforgettable experience for everyone. DAY 3 Dive at Fish Head, Freediving, and Snorkelling This iconic site dive delivered sightings of giant trevallies, tuna, sharks, plenty of turtles, and a huge, sleeping nurse shark. An exciting display of morays fighting for territory added to the thrill.…