DIVE FEST
Join The Party
DIVE FEST 2009 will be taking place at Pentewan Sands Holiday Park in Cornwall, UK, on May 15th to 17th 2009, this brand-new festival is set to be the UK’s biggest diving event of the year. So what’s it all about? Well, what do divers like doing most? Diving, of course, and that’s exactly what DIVE FEST is all about. There’s going to be diving, snorkelling, and try dives. And that’s not all… There’s a party on the beach on the Saturday night, with a band, hog/lamb roast, dancing and a bonfire. Famous divers, such as Monty Halls, will be speaking about their work and there will be films showing throughout the weekend. It’s an event for all the family with MCS beachcombing walks, volley ball and other beach games. There will be an underwater treasure hunt with some great prizes, as well as a photo competition. Diving manufacturers will also be on hand to show their latest products and in some cases give you a chance to dive with their new kit. Winning entries to the British Underwater Image Festival will also be on view, with a prizegiving ceremony on the Sunday. The event starts a 6pm on Friday 15th May and concludes on Sunday 17th May at 5pm.
Visit www.divefest.co.uk
Two divers have found and taken the first ever photograph of a pregnant seahorse off the Dorset coast. Julie Hatcher, who manages the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve, and photographer Steve Trewhella came across the six-inch-long spiny seahorse during a dive off Purbeck.
Spotting a seahorse is something of an art, even for experienced divers; capturing a photo of a pregnant seahorse in UK waters is unheard of. "We couldn't believe our eyes and had to surface to confirm what we had actually seen" Hatcher told the BBC.
The find confirms that seahorses are breeding in UK waters and are not simply accidental or occasional visitors. Disturbance by dredging from fishing vessels and the destruction of seagrass habitats have been identified as threats to the UK seahorse population.
The photo can be seen on the BBC website here