Thursday 23 May 2013

Our licence extended for another five years!

We have just got the official notification that our Diving Centre Licence has
been extended for another five years! It is now seven years since we started to wade through the red tape and Spanish bureaucracy, dealing with several different government departments to obtain a range of different official papers following the introduction of Diving Centre Laws in the Canaries.

Having gained approval in 2008, we have now been reassessed, re-inspected and reviewed and have obtained the highest level of full licence which covers us on Gran Canaria, diver training and dive excursions through to 2018.

Can I thank everyone who has helped translate, interpret or produce documents, and of course the team of Eduardo,Graham, Marilyn and Brett along with assistants such as Gauthier, Hector and Jorge. It has been their commitment to safe diving, great excursions and outstanding customer service that has gained us the respect and approval of many different government bodies and local supporters.

Friday 17 May 2013

Today is Endangered Species Day

I have just found out that today is ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY! Our vote clearly goes for endangered marine species, in particular SHARKS and RAYS. The recent decision to place hammerheads and Mantas on the CITES Appendix II was a step in the right direction, but much more work is required to educate people on the beauty and value of Sharks and Rays.
Angel Sharks (squatina squatina) are already on the 'RED LIST' of the IUCN, locally in the last ten years Striped Grunts have disappeared from the Arinaga area, and we can see that other populations are 'fragile' (Spiny pufferfish, rays, scrawled filefish, triggerfish) and only seen rarely.
So next time you come diving in Gran Canaria, cast your vote for more conservation, and help the fight to prevent the loss of some of the most thrilling creatures to dive with in the Canaries.