Nature/Wildlife
We live busy lives, often in urban settings, so when the time comes for a vacation, many of us know that the best thing to do is to turn to nature. Nothing blows the cobwebs away more than a trek in the mountains or communing with creatures in the deep forest. Whether peering into a volcano, riding horseback along a trail, or spotting wildlife on a river cruise, something deep within us needs to feel connected to the natural world. All regions of the world present opportunities for enjoying nature.
In cooler temperate climates you may seek out snow-capped mountains such as the Alps, while equatorial regions offer the dense jungles of Asia or the vast plains of Africa. Anywhere animals live free offers us the chance to witness their majesty and understand better our place in the natural order. We can give ourselves privileged memories of seeing lions, elephants and gorillas on safari, or witness orangutans, monkeys and birds in the trees of the rainforest. The oceans and coastlines of the world offer opportunities for encounters with whales, dolphins, penguins, seals and more. Nature is always good for the soul.
Marine Animals Released in Phuket
Thailand's HM Queen Sirikit's birthday was celebrated last week to great fan fair and many symbolic ceremonies. One such ceremony was the release of marine animals in the waters around Phuket, which included 39 sharks and over 10,000 other animals, reported the Phuket...
Matava wins Major Environmental Award
Hot on the heels of winning the prestigious PADI Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award, Matava Resort has bagged yet another major environmental title at the PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards 2009. The PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards were developed specifically...
Maldives bans Reef Shark Fishing
Illustrating their commitment to protecting the precious marine environment of >the Maldives, the government there has slapped a ban on hunting reef sharks. In part to protect the atoll nation's fragile ecology, the ban also seeks to attract the lucrative and...
Freaky Frogfish is a Fabulous Find
Just as we think we know the oceans, something new crops up. A recently discovered frogfish that bounces up and down on the ocean bed, it turns out, is in fact a new species. Not unlike a funky rubber ball, the bouncing frogfish is covered in splattering of trippy...
Shark Finning on Mabul / Sipadan Follow-up
After a forum post showing shark finning on Mabul near Sipadan that we told you about on February 2nd, the diving community made enough fuss about it for the local authorities to sit up and notice. A reporter and diver from a Malaysian national daily, New Straits...
Fiji’s Matava get PADI Project AWARE Award
Matava Resort, Fiji's premier eco-adventure resort, is proudly a PADI Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award winner. The resort was awarded this prestigious title for 2008 thanks in part to their environmental sustainability policies. PADI's Project AWARE...
Bad Week for Thailand’s Dugong Population
Last week was grim for the already dwindling dugong population along Thailand's Andaman Coast, the Phuket Gazette reported. No less than 3 of the mammals died, seemingly due to fishing activities in the region. The first dugong carcass the Phuket Marine Biological...
Coral Transplanting in Mabul July 09
Are you looking for a way to make your diving holiday about more than just diving? Do you want to contribute and better then marine environment? For the 12th year running, Sipadan Water Village Resort in Sabah, Malaysia, is celebrating Mabul Marine Day and you will...
Mabul Shark Finning Scrutinised by Tourism Ministry
A picture post on the WetPixel forum showing shark finning on Mabul Island sparked an outcry from the diving community and a flurry of emails to the Sabah Department of Fisheries. Enquiries regarding the forum thread made the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment...