Exploring seal and sea-lion populations in New Zealand

Are you looking for a different marine wildlife experience for non-scuba days? How about exploring New Zealand’s populations of seals and sea-lions? With opportunities to view both topside and underwater, spending time with these animals is a great day out for all the family and offers a fascinating introduction into their lives.My article for The Scuba New New Zealand is continued here: http://nz.thescubanews.com/2016/09/18/exploring-seal-and-sea-lion-populations-in-new-zealand/

Cambodia: A diving hidden gem

As the global population increases and world travel becomes more accessible for many people, it is increasingly difficult to find dive sites that offer spectacular marine life and minimal tourism. Many areas of world class diving are overrun in peak season with boats and large dive groups, which is a far cry from the serenity and peace of scuba diving that most of us seek. There are however some lesser-known diving locations to explore, if you are prepared to go off the beaten track and begin a travel adventure both topside and underwater.My article for The Scuba New New Zealand about diving Cambodia is continued here: http://nz.thescubanews.com/2016/09/18/cambodia-a-diving-hidden-gem/  

Snorkeling with Blue and Mako Sharks in South Africa

'Is it possible to have a severe case of the blues when scuba diving? It is if you’re surrounded by blue sharks in the crystal-clear, deep-blue waters of the Agulhas Current off South Africa.'Snorkeling with blue sharks is something I recommend to divers and swimmers of all abilities, as it is a great introduction to the world of sharks. In my latest article for The Scuba News New Zealand, I take a look at what's on offer in South Africa:http://nz.thescubanews.com/2016/08/29/snorkeling-with-blue-and-mako-sharks-in-south-africa/

Shark Diving for Novices

There are many types of dive at the top of peoples’ bucket lists and diving with sharks is surely one of them. There is something incredibly life-affirming about spending time in the water with these apex predators and many divers long to experience shark diving at least once in their lifetime. There are shark trips suitable for both novice and experienced divers and what starts out as a one off event can soon become a lifetime pursuit as the diversity of sharks and dives available becomes apparent. Enjoy my top ten considerations for safe and enjoyable diving with sharks here:http://nz.thescubanews.com/2016/07/18/shark-diving-for-novices/ 

Say Goodbye to Single Use Plastics

The news about plastic in the ocean is unrelentingly bad, and although it’s difficult not to become overwhelmed by the scale of the problem, there are developments afoot to address it.When it comes to single use plastics, the numbers are staggering: 500 million single-use straws are used and discarded each day and 100 billion plastic bags are used annually in the United States alone. Given that plastic beverage bottles take 450 to 1,000 years to decompose (if at all), and plastic bags take approximately 1,000 years, it’s no surprise to hear the largest area of plastic debris in the ocean is estimated to be 3.8 million m² (10 million km²) in size.Read more of my latest article for Scuba Diver Life here: http://scubadiverlife.com/2016/05/15/13428/           

Wanted: Scuba Diver Contributors

I have recently been appointed as the Managing Editor of a new online scuba diving magazine, The Scuba News New Zealand. I am thrilled to be joining the team and launching this regional edition of The Scuba News.Do you have any press releases, offers, articles or blog posts from your dive business or club that you would like me to publish at The Scuba News?Or perhaps you know a keen diver/marine conservationist in New Zealand who would like to become a contributor?This is completely free of charge and every article will be added with links back to your own website.The Scuba News is also seeking contributors outside of New Zealand for editions in the UK, Egypt, Canada and the US. Get in touch if you would like to be a part of this awesome online space for divers around the globe.Happy diving all!KathrynKathryn@thescubanews.comThe Scuba News New Zealand

Cool Scuba Jobs: Great White Shark Guide

There are a lot of cool scuba jobs out there, and one of the coolest is a great-white shark guide. If you’ve ever wondered how to become a shark guide, or just how to find a reputable operator, look no further than my latest article for Scuba Diver Life:http://scubadiverlife.com/2016/04/28/cool-scuba-jobs-great-white-shark-guide/

Mangrove Matters

When it comes to scuba diving it is hard to beat exploring colourful tropical reefs, history-filled wrecks, sun-dappled kelp forests and foreboding caves. Every scuba diver has their favourite type of diving but what of mangroves? What diving opportunities are there within mangroves and why should we care about these dwindling and vital forests?Read more in my latest article for The Scuba News.http://www.thescubanews.com/2016/02/17/mangrove-matters/

Living on a remote island, Cambodia - what is it really like?

I have been thoroughly enjoying the past two weeks of staying on a remote island off the coast of Cambodia whilst volunteering and lecturing with Projects Abroad. The island we are staying on is called Koh Sdach and it is a small island with a population of approximately 3000 people and zero tourists. The village consists of stilted houses that sit above the turquoise waters and there is no mains electricity, sewerage or mains water. We are utterly reliant on rainwater for our shower and toilet needs and it is rustic at its finest!We are here for three weeks to educate the volunteers, staff and local school children about the plight of sharks and we are having a fantastic time. Admittedly, living in 30+C heat and high humidity without air conditioning is a challenge but being a part of this friendly community is a great opportunity. It saddens me that the island has no waste management system and that the majority of the waste generated ends up in the oceans. There is literally plastic everywhere...on local beaches and on the beaches of neighbouring uninhabited Islands. There are discarded fishing nets on the reefs that are killing corals and all manner of other waste to be found.But, this is the good part, Projects Abroad are working hard to tackle this with regular beach and reef cleans up, by educating locals and by hopefully introducing a waste management system in the future. The diving is incredible here and the project is making a very real difference to the health of the coral reefs and the marine creatures that inhabit them.I hope you enjoy my insight into a week living and volunteering on Koh Sdach, including an underwater discovery that had the volunteers smiling all day long:http://www.mytripblog.org/pg/blog/cambodia-social-manager/read/408119/a-week-in-koh-sdach-cambodia-by-kathryn-hodgson-friends-for-sharks

http://www.mytripblog.org/pg/blog/cambodia-social-manager/read/408119/a-week-in-koh-sdach-cambodia-by-kathryn-hodgson-friends-for-sharks