If you’re anything like us, applying sunscreen is second nature before heading out to surf or spending a day on a dive boat. In fact, our skin type means we need to apply sunscreen before we step outdoors…full stop! Since we were little, it’s been drummed into us that sunscreen protects our skin from harmful…
Few places we’ve dived have captured our imagination quite like Raja Ampat. Our first visit was back in the early 2000s, staying at a homestay on a blissfully gorgeous beach, and our second in 2023 at the eco-friendly Papua Explorers Resort. Both are experiences that will stay with us forever and affirmed what so many…
After almost two decades of scuba diving around the globe, we’ve come to the conclusion that marine protected areas (MPAs) are one of the most powerful tools we have for conserving ocean ecosystems. Essentially, they are like “national parks of the seas” – established to limit activities such as overfishing, habitat destruction and unsustainable development….
A perfect wave is the result of countless natural factors working in harmony. The shape of the seabed or coral reef, the movement of sand, the prevailing winds and tides – all contribute to creating the waves that we, as surfers, travel across the globe to experience. But you don’t have to travel far to…
If you’ve ever had the privilege of seeing or swimming alongside whale sharks, you’ll understand what an incredible experience it is. Even just thinking about it sends shivers of joy through our bodies! Despite growing to more than 12 metres (40 feet) in length, the world’s largest fish moves through the water with effortless ease. Seeing…
When I touched down in Sorong, it had been almost 20 years since I’d visited Raja Ampat and I’d been obsessed with getting back there for years. My first time was in the early 2000s as a young backpacker, eager to see as many Indonesian islands as possible with only a tiny budget at my…
If you’re anything like us, coral reefs are your chosen “playground” – a place you venture to get away from the world and the stresses of modern-day life. They are places of extraordinary natural beauty and we’re always left with a newfound appreciation for the world we live in after an action-packed reef dive. But…
My early scuba diving years focused (mostly) on exploring coral reefs. As someone new to the underwater world, they felt like a sensory overload in terms of colour and species diversity. Over the years, that interest shifted to include wrecks and caves – underwater environments that, for me, required a slower, more curiosity-driven approach. More…
When we think about protecting our oceans, coral reefs tend to steal the spotlight. They’re colourful, charismatic and home to around a quarter of all marine species. But according to marine scientists, one of the most effective ways to protect coral reefs may actually begin on land…or, more accurately, where the land meets the sea….
Every time I’m analysing my Nitrox tanks on dive trips, an air diver asks me: “Is getting a Nitrox certification worth it?” The short answer? For me, yes – it gives you options and opens up more (read: longer) dive opportunities. To be honest, I’m pretty late to the Nitrox game. For many years, I…