SCUBA News 299
(ISSN 1476-8011)
June 2025

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SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011)
Issue 299 - June 2025
https://www.scubatravel.co.uk
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Welcome to June's SCUBA News. This month an article by Kathryn Curzon about how she went from a fear of being underwater to becoming a dive instructor, with some tips on how you can do so too. Also, dive for less with the liveaboard deals, specially selected for us by Divebooker.com.

What's New at SCUBA Travel?

Dive the Solomons: WWII Wrecks and Untouched Reefs The diving in the Solomon Islands is excellent. Their remoteness means that the dive sites are unspoilt. WWII wrecks, caves, coral gardens and immense biodiversity of marine life, coupled with hardly any divers, make for a great trip. READ MORE...

Best places to dive in August Discover the top locations for diving in the month of August. READ MORE...

Crossing-Over Qualification Agencies There are many different bodies around the world which award diving qualifications. Find out how to transfer between them. FIND OUT...

Your Letters

A friend is interested in diving (I have a deep diving certificate), underwater nature, ships. We will be in Turkey INSULA RESORT AND SPA. What professional diving services would you recommend?

Dalia

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There are not many shipwrecks in the area you are going to, but there is the "coastguard wreck". This was deliberately sunk in 2015 as a dive site and now has fish like moray eels and grouper living around it. One of the nearer dive operators to you is the Alanya Diving Center - more information is at https://www.scubatravel.co.uk/europe/turkey-diving.html

Liveaboard Diving Offers: Dive for Less

A fantastic range of partner deals. With up to 50% off.

1. Ariyal, Maldives. HALF PRICE. Drift dives, night dives and pinnacles with manta rays and whale sharks, with 50% off.

   

   SAVE 50%

2. Aurora, Indonesia From Lembeh to Raja Ampat. Save up to 30% on this beautiful boat to some of the best diving in the world.

   

   Book Now, Pay Later

3. Caribbean Explorer II, St. Maarten / Saba /St. Kitts. From November through December SAVE up to USD 1000 on selected trips this year.

   

   GRAB DEAL

4. Seatopia, Thailand. Explore the Andaman Sea'S most spectacular sites with 30% off from October to April.

   

   BOOK NOW, PAY LATER

5. Galapagos Master. 50% OFF. Dive into some of the world's most biodiverse waters and visit Ecuador's iconic Galapagos Islands.

   

6. Dune Silky, Egypt, SAVE 30%. Newly constructed liveaboard with a steel hull. Free nitrox. Choice of Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone or northern wrecks.

   

   SAVE 30%

See more liveaboard deals to some of the best diving in the world - Micronesia, Philippines, Galapagos, Indonesia, Cocos Islands...

From Fear to Freedom: How Becoming a Dive Instructor Changed My Life

by Kathryn Curzon

Becoming a scuba diving instructor was never part of my plan. But diving has a way of changing plans. One moment you are nervously adjusting your gear before a training dive, and the next you are exploring coral gardens in another corner of the world.

What began with conquering my fear of breathing underwater led to something extraordinary. Diving has taken me around the world, connected me with lifelong friends, and helped me grow in ways I never expected. From England's chilly quarries to the coral reefs of Egypt and beyond, becoming a dive pro turned out to be one of the most rewarding decisions I ever made. This career has given me purpose, freedom, and a global community.

Fear can be a starting point

Fear can feel like a full stop, but in diving, it often becomes a starting point. Every diver has something they find difficult. Rather than pushing fear away, acknowledge it. Take things slowly. Practice breathing calmly on the surface, use visualisation techniques and work with an instructor who is patient and supportive. Fear is not failure. It is often the doorway to transformation.

Confidence develops over time

Confidence underwater is rarely instant. It builds one skill, one breath, one dive at a time. Before going pro, take the time to repeat dives and skills until they feel natural. Consider logging a variety of dives in different conditions to broaden your comfort zone. Instructor training reinforces the truth that confidence is earned through consistency and self-trust.

Resilience grows through challenge

Challenging conditions like cold water or limited visibility can feel intimidating, but they also build mental and physical resilience. Training in tough conditions make you a more adaptable diver, able to cope with moredifficult diving elsewhere.

The world becomes your office

One of the most rewarding aspects of becoming a dive pro is the sheer variety of places you get to explore. From volcanic islands to coral atolls, wrecks to kelp forests, every location brings something unique - and many instructors train and work in multiple countries throughout their careers.

During my journey, I have dived in the rough coastal waters of England, the clear coral reefs of Egypt, current-swept atolls in the Maldives, the Bahamas, Mexico, Australia, and more. It was in the Maldives that I decided to leave my 9-5 career and fully commit to life as a dive professional. Since then, I have travelled the globe and lived in Egypt, South Africa and New Zealand - still in the dive industry, now as a marketing consultant in the travel and lifestyle space. I never could have guessed where diving would lead me.

The first step is the hardest - but it gets easier

Whether you want to dive at remote islands or work in lively resort towns, taking the first step is often the hardest, but it opens the door to adventures across the globe. The more you say yes to new environments, the more you grow not just as a diver but as a person.

If diving is something you love, consider what your next small step might be: a new course, a conversation with a dive pro, or an open water dive you have been putting off. The industry needs people with heart, patience, and lived experience.

You can read the full article, with Kathryn's tips on becoming a dive instructor, on our SCUBA News site. Kathryn Curzon is a dive travel writer for SSI.

Diving news from around the World

Are humpback whales trying to communicate with humans? Humpback whales producing large bubble rings near watching people may be the whales' way of trying to communicate with the humans, say scientists

Divers urged to act to prevent hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber closures The British Sub-Aqua Club is urging UK divers to take immediate action in response to NHS England's recent decision to close 4 hyperbaric oxygen centres

Saudi seeks sustainable marine tourism Recognising that conservation is key to ensuring the future of Saudi underwater tourism, they've launched numerous environmental studies and initiatives.

Sharks rarely seen together may be up for sharing a meal too good to miss Oceanic whitetip and tiger sharks peacefully co-fed on a carcass close to Hawaii's Big Island. Such extremely rare observations could help scientists better understand shark ecology.

Protected Antarctic oceanic life threatened by ships anchoring, underwater videos show At least 195 tourism, research, and fishing vessels, as well as private yachts were recorded in anchorable depths in Antarctica - during the 2022-23 season. Likely more ships operate there without licenses.

Why the Masked Butterflyfish is the Red Sea's most faithful fish The Masked Butterflyfish is a photographer's dream and a must-see for Red Sea divers. Couples form a faithful pair that remains together for life.

Researchers race to understand new disease killing Caribbean corals at unprecedented rates Researchers are developing probiotics that they hope will offer an alternative treatment to antibiotics, with fieldwork in Belize, Colombia and elsewhere.

Divers find Lionfish in Croatia, marking alarming northward invasion The invasive lionfish has reached a new northern record in the Mediterranean Sea. Scuba divers captured two specimens (Pterois miles) in the Croatian Adriatic, off the islands of Brac and Solta.

Fighting Back: How divers are tackling invasive species underwater Divers are some of the first to notice when something is out of balance in the ocean. Invasive species that spread rapidly and disrupt ecosystems are a growing threat to ocean health but divers around the world are stepping up to help.

Green Fins initiative in Jordan achieves 51% reduction in threats to Aqaba Marine Reserve

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SCUBA News is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. This means we are happy for you to reuse our material for both commercial and non-commercial use as long as you: credit the name of the author, link back to the SCUBA Travel website and say if you have made any changes. Most photos though, are copyright the photographer. Please get in touch for details.

Photo credits: Tim Nicholson, Jill Studholme, Tatiana Ivkovich, Rob Atherton/DepositPhotos, divebooker.com.

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CONTACTING THE EDITOR
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SCUBA News
The Cliff

DE6 2HR
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SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011)

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