AD 2017 Q3

AD-Bahamas-May 2017.pdf 1 5/19/2017 12:02:39 PM
indigenous people in rainforests,
I always wanted to get back to
working with coastal communities.
When Paul and I sat down to
discuss our legacy, we decided we
wanted to create a nonprofit that
would use our storytelling and
photography skills to help protect
the ocean. SeaLegacy is the result.
Learning underwater photography
for the past two to three years has
been training for what I want to do
for the rest of my career. I intend to
focus my lens on the people living on
the shores of the ocean all over the
world. As sea levels rise, coastlines
are changing, and coastal people’s
lifestyles are being challenged. I want
to tell that story.
What do you see as the
biggest threats to the ocean
environment?
Even though we live on an ocean
planet, that concept is far removed
from most people’s lives. We’ve been
using the ocean as a dumpster for
hundreds of years. And we have the
idea that the sea is inexhaustible and
that we can keep pulling resources
from it on an industrial scale without
consequences. Just the fact that we
think that way is incredibly dangerous.
The ocean is the most important
buffer and moderator of weather
on Earth, but human activity is
changing its chemistry as well as
that of the atmosphere. And thus
climate change has become the
overarching issue of our generation.
What have you seen as a diver
that has you most worried?
We are seeing more and more
animals just floating belly up — from
whales and sharks to fish and starfish.
It’s terrifying to watch the marine
ecosystem become uninhabitable
for the creatures that live in it. If
the ocean isn’t good enough for its
wildlife, then it won’t be good enough
for us. More than half of the oxygen
we breathe comes from marine
phytoplankton; as the ocean becomes
more acidic, that phytoplankton is
dying. I don’t want to be a doomand-gloom
person because I am
very hopeful by nature, but it’s really
becoming dire in a lot of places.
What can divers do?
All humans need to care enough
about our planet to make sure we
have a future on it. We each should
audit our life to get an understanding
of how much meat we eat, how
much plastic we throw away and how
often we fail to reuse or recycle. We
should also come to terms with the
fact that it will be our children and
grandchildren who experience the
consequences of these actions.
Recalling the many creatures we
have disentangled or found dead
from plastic, I try to maintain a
C
keen awareness of when I use it. We
should also think carefully about
the marine wildlife we choose to
Y
eat. Travelers who go on safari in
the Serengeti or visit national parks
in the U.S. don’t expect to be served
lion meat or bear meat. Why do we
eat marine animals as though they
are inexhaustible? We can make a
K
difference by finding out where our
seafood comes from and supporting
sustainable aquaculture projects.
What’s next?
Cuba! We are headed there in
October for three weeks with a team
of filmmakers, social media people
and photographers with the aim of
trying to inspire other Caribbean
countries to follow the Cuban model
of protection. Fidel Castro did a lot
wrong, but one good thing he did
was create a national park system
with several marine protected areas.
Today, Jardines de la Reina is one of
the most pristine reefs left on the
planet. Although some people will
say, “But it’s already being protected
— it’s already a national wonder,” we
believe we can use it as an example
for others to follow. Stay tuned. AD
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DIVE
BAHAMAS
THE ABACOS
Green Turtle Club Resort & Marina
Brendal’s Dive Center
Welcome cocktail
$1,244 pp/dbl
Valid: 10/27/17-11/17/17
ANDROS
Tiamo Resort
All meals and soft drinks
$2,620 pp/dbl
Valid: 11/1/17-12/15/17 & 6/1/18-8/31/18
Book by 9/1/17
BIMINI
Bimini Big Game Club
Resort & Marina
Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center
Free WiFi
$883 pp/dbl
Valid: 9/7/17-12/15/17
GRAND BAHAMA
Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach
Reef Oasis Viva Diving
All meals, snacks and
beverages incl. alcohol
Use of non-motorized watersports
$928 pp/dbl
Valid: 11/1/17-12/21/17
Book by 9/1/17
NASSAU
Courtyard Marriott Nassau
Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas
Free WiFi
$1,084 pp/dbl
Valid: 9/1/17-10/31/17
Add $74 pp for travel through 8/31/17 & 11/1/17-12/31/17
SAN SALVADOR
Riding Rock Resort & Marina
Guanahani Divers
10 boat dives
15 meals
Free WiFi in designated areas
$1,194 pp/dbl
Valid: 9/3/17-12/23/17
800-328-2288
www.caradonna.com
sales@caradonna.com
All packages include 5 nights, 4 days of 2-tank boat dives
(unless noted), airport transfers (excludes Bimini & The Abacos),
taxes and service charges. Rates are per person, double as
noted and subject to availability and standard terms
and conditions. Valid for select dates in 2017.
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