SCUBA News - #312 - July 2026

SCUBA News ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) Issue 312 - July 2026 https://www.scubatravel.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to this month's edition of SCUBA News, in which we travel to Turkey and Dominica, take a close-up look at the shell-swapping life of Dardanus Hermit Crabs and round-up the best liveaboard deals with savings of up to 50%. Plus, as always, read the diving and underwater news. Contents: What's new at SCUBA Travel? Liveaboard deals & destinations House hunting with friends: the life of Hermit Crabs Diving news from around the World You can download SCUBA News as a pdf. What's New at SCUBA Travel? Dive Turkey's Turquoise Coast From the dramatic underwater canyons of Kas to the colorful reefs teeming with fish near Kalkan and the Gallipoli wrecks, diving in Turkey has something for both experienced and new divers. READ MORE Whales to Seahorses in Dominica The Caribbean island of Dominica is unlike any other, and the dive sites quiet. It is a fantastic place for independent travellers to discover. DISCOVER DOMINICA Liveaboard Deals and Destinations Half price on Manta madness in the Maldives and 40% off the iconic wreck dives of Truk Lagoon - just two of the offers we have for you today. Blue Melody, Egypt, Northern Wrecks and Reefs. SAVE 30% August until March 2026. Choose from northern wrecks and reefs, Brothers, Daedelus and Elphinstone. 30% OFF Horizon 3, Maldives. 50% Off. Hanifaru Bay Manta Madness in August and September 2026. The reef at Hanifaru Bay is shaped like a funnel. Plankton get trapped in the funnel which attracts whale sharks and manta rays - the world's largest feeding station. HALF PRICE Ilike, Indonesia. SAVE 30% on 11 day trips in the fabulous Komodo - my all-time favourite place to dive. Save Now Danubio Azul, Galapagos, SAVE 18% on August trips. A small liveaboard, the Danubio Azul can accommodate up to 16 guests across its 9 cabins. Expect hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, tiger and whale sharks Galapagos! The Junk, Thailand, SAVE 20% - dive the Similan and Surin islands from this beautiful, teak wood, boat. More Info or Book Vivax, Malpelo, Save 10%. Only one boat is permitted in the marine reserve at a time, for a remote, exclusive, diving experience. 9 Nights Truk Lagoon, Pacific Master. 40% off diving the wrecks of Truk Lagoon (Chuuk Lagoon) from December 'til May. Dive Truk Lagoon See more liveaboard deals to some of the best diving in the world - Micronesia, Philippines, Galapagos, Indonesia, Socorro, Cocos Islands... House hunting with friends: the life of Dardanus Hermit Crabs Hermit crabs plod about the sea-floor using someone else's shell for a home. They always use empty shells and never kill the original occupant. Red Hermit Crab, Dardanus arrosor, taken in the Azores by Tim Nicholson When the crab becomes to large for its shell, it looks for another. On finding a likely looking one, it tries it on for size. If it isn't pleased with the fit, or the shell is too heavy, the crab returns to its old castoff and continues it search. It may try the old and new several times before it makes its decision. Where there is a large population of hermit crabs and a shortage of shells, the crab will accept a sub-standard home: maybe a cracked or uncomfortable shell. But in good conditions it will be very particular about the new shell it chooses. For particularly good shells, two hermit crabs will fight for possession. Some will even attack an inhabitant to steal it's particularly desirable abode. These fights don't tend to damage the combatants, probably due to complex ritualised fighting Anemone Hermit Crab, Dardanus pedunculatus, taken in the Red Sea by Tim Nicholson Many individuals have to settle for shells that are either too large or too small. A too small shell may result in the crab actually getting smaller after moulting, with a reduction in egg numbers. Too large renders the crab more susceptible to predators and imposes an additional energy load from the extra weight to be carried. Sea anemone "friends" Some of the Dardanas species of Hermit crab stick sea anemones on their shells. Sometimes the anemone assists with the process, loosening their connection to the substrate to ease transfer. The aneomone camoflauges the crab and its stinging cells may protect the crab from predators such as octopus. Anemone Hermit Crab, Dardanus pedunculatus, taken in the Philippines by Andy/CC BY-NC 4.0 via iNaturalist The anemone also benefits from the arrangement. It becomes effortlessly mobile and shares the crab's meals. The crab will also defend the anemone from predators trying to eat them. It's even possible that the hermit crab feeds the anemone directly. Night dives in temperate and tropical water Dardanas species are nocturnal with dark-adapted eyes. Look out for them on night-dives. They live in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. Anemone Hermit Crab, Dardanus pedunculatus, taken in Bali by DiverCraig/CC BY-NC 4.0 via iNaturalist Phylum: Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea Class: Malacostraca > Order: Decapoda (10 legs) > Infraorder: Anomura (reduced/hidden last legs) > Genus: Dardanus Sources and References Karplus, I. The partnerships between hermit crabs and sea anemones: an overview. Symbiosis 93, 1-15 (2024). Chryssanthi, Antoniadou et al. (2013). Symbiosis of Sea Anemones and Hermit Crabs in Temperate Seas. Invertebrate Zoology, Fox, Ruppert and Barnes, ISBN 0030259827 Diving news from around the World Why a live shark is worth more than a dead one A shark is worth infinitely more alive, swimming in its natural habitat, than it is dead in a fish market. Shark fisheries are biologically incapable of being sustainable. Sharks grow slowly, mature late and produce very few young. Remove them faster than they can reproduce - which commercial fishing invariably does - and populations collapse. California to get highest shark numbers in years as great whites head north California is set to see one of its sharkiest summers in a decade, with large numbers of juvenile great whites already on a reverse vacation from the warm waters of Mexico to cooler pastures along the western United States. Apeks recall regulator second stages Apex have issued a product safety recall Apeks XL4, XL4+ and OCEA second stages with serial numbers from 250402212 to 260402893. Rays employ a chemical cue to warn others of danger, new research finds Bat rays employ a well-known anti-predator strategy for bony fish but that has not been documented in cartilaginous fish until now. Valuing conservation and natural wealth: The blue economy of manta ray watching in the Maldives Benefits of the manta ray tourism industry are estimated at over US$311 million per year. The most common seashore litter is crisp and sweet wrappers Marine Conservation Society finds that plastic packets are the most common litter item on UK beaches, followed closely by metal drinks cans and plastic drinks bottles. If only people would take their rubbish home. Microplastics show unexpected link to climate warming Although scientists have long worried about microplastics contaminating air, food and water, new research reveals a previously unknown threat: iny pieces of airborne plastic are heating the planet. Sponges use photosynthesis, boosting productivity of tropical coral reefs Sponges tend to eat other organisms to get their nutrients, but a new study shows how sponges may also use photosynthesis. Seeking swordfish, catching dolphins and whales: EU pushes to rein in driftnets The use of driftnets - nets sometimes kilometers long that drift with the ocean currents - is prohibited in the Med. Current measures though lack adequate definitions and enforcement provisions Scavenger dolphins increasingly rely on trawlers for food in overfished Adriatic In one area 76% of fishing boats were followed, with baby dolphins learning the technique from their parents. An island community in Thailand works to protect and revive its dugongs Koh Libong's seagrass meadows were once Thailand's largest, and a critical coastal habitat that is protected nationally. Yet, between 2020 and 2024, seagrass cover in these protected waters shrank by up to 50%. Artificial light is keeping reef fish awake, and the effects may ripple across coral reefs Fish exposed to artificial light slept less, showed more fragmented sleep, became more aggressive and fed at unusual hours, effectively behaving as if night had turned into day. Arabian Sea humpback whale's long-distance trip Off Oman's coast lives a small population of just over 80 Arabian Sea humpback whales. They are classified as endangered and thought to be the only humpback whale population that doesn't undertake seasonal migrations across the world's oceans. Sao Tome declares first 2 of 8 marine protected areas The West African island nation has formally designated its first two protected sites off its coast. First open-ocean subsea human habitat deployed in the US in 40 years Scientists to live there 31 New species discovered and described in just 14 days Experts worked in ocean midwater off Brazil at near-record speeds thanks to cutting-edge tech.

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What You Need to Know Before Your Next Dive Trip

A quick refresher can make all the difference.

Life Can Get in the Way of Diving. ReActivate Gets You Back in The Water.   A lot of divers don’t mean to take a break from the sport. But it’s easy for time to slip by. You’re busy with work, school, family or just life in general. Before you know it, months or years might have passed since your last dive. Your PADI certifications never expire. But divers who come back to scuba after months or years often find themselves asking some honest questions: Will I feel comfortable with my gear? Am I confident in the hand signals and equipment checks that I haven’t done in years? Will I spend my dives enjoying the underwater world or second-guessing myself? Many divers soon realize that they want help – and that the ReActivate® program is there. Find Out More Alina Parsons used to think that ReActivate wasn’t necessary. She was an Advanced Open Water Diver. She figured she could probably jump back into the water whenever. Then, she booked a dream trip to Thailand. It would be her first time back in the water in years. As the upcoming trip grew closer, she realized that certifications and confidence aren’t the same thing. To her, ReActivate felt like the perfect way to brush up on her knowledge and skills. The course didn’t focus on testing her or make her feel bad for asking questions. Over the course of six hours, her instructor walked her through skills, gave her useful advice and helped refresh all those hand signals that had become ‘rusty.’ There was no pressure or judgement. Just encouragement and guidance. As she was learning, Alina also got to know the instructors and staff at her local dive shop. She left the course feeling more confident and more connected with the dive community. When she arrived in Thailand, she was ready. She felt secure and excited. Instead of worrying about whether she was doing something correctly, she focused on what mattered: enjoying the incredible underwater world. Whether you have an international trip coming up, want to dive locally or are just looking for a way to jump back in, ReActivate can help. For Alina, that simple refresh helped make her Thailand trip unforgettable and motivated her to continue growing as a diver. If you want to hear more about Alina’s adventure and why she says ReActivate was one of the best decisions she made before her trip, you can read her full story here. But if there’s one thing to take away from her experience, it’s this: there’s no better feeling than diving into the water with confidence. ReActivate can help you get there. Dive Back In   P.S Ready to refresh?   Get a free ReActivate Online Scuba Refresher with a PADI Club membership. Join PADI PADI Club →         Unsubscribe from dive education emails | Unsubscribe from all PADI emails Contact | Manage Preferences | View Online PADI Americas | 30151 Tomas, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 92688 USA Europe, Middle East, Africa | Pavilion 1, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE, UK Asia Pacific | Level 4, 120 Old Pittwater Road, Brookvale NSW 2100, Australia This email was sent to nop1002.987654@blogger.com by PADI. Add padi@mail.padidiver.com to your email address book to ensure that you receive PADI emails to your inbox. © 2026 PADI

PADI Club Keeps Your Certification Fresh

Strengthen your diving connection, even when you’re stuck on shore.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    Don’t Let All That Effort Go To Waste.     Your diving certification wasn’t given to you. You earned it. You followed your curiosity. You studied, passed your online quizzes, completed your confined water dives and, finally, finished your open water dives too. You earned that Certification Card and deserve to show it off with pride. But having a certification and keeping it active aren’t the same thing. Of course, there’s the option of going diving every few months, but that’s not always within reach. That’s where PADI Club comes in. With PADI Club, you tap into a global community of divers who are as passionate about the water as you. Plus, you get front-row access to a range of benefits, like: A free ReActivate® Scuba Refresher course (worth $85) to brush up on any diving knowledge that has lapsed. Up to 20% off your eLearning for furthering your PADI education, like Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver or a range of specialty courses. 25% off a stylish waterproof PADI certification card or a PADI eCard – and a free PADI Club member-exclusive e-card each year! A free subscription to Scuba Diving® magazine for gear reviews, diving travel inspo, and so much more. Ready to dive in? Join PADI Club       Unsubscribe from PADI Club emails | Unsubscribe from all PADI emails Contact | Manage Preferences | View Online   PADI Americas | 30151 Tomas, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 92688 USA Europe, Middle East, Africa | Pavilion 1, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE, UK Asia Pacific | Level 4, 120 Old Pittwater Road, Brookvale NSW 2100, Australia This email was sent to nop1002.987654@blogger.com by PADI. Add club@mail.padidiver.com to your email address book to ensure that you receive PADI emails to your inbox. © 2026 PADI