March 2018: Carpe Diem Maldives Pvt. Ltd. extends the Dive with a Purpose trips to include coral reef and marine biology research with Steven Weinberg.
Carpe Diem Maldives is thrilled to provide travellers to The Maldives with the opportunity to dive and meet with internationally acclaimed Marine Biologist Steven Weinberg. As part of the on-going Dive with a Purpose events and International Year of the Reef 2018 celebration with Carpe Diem, avid divers can take to the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean while on board the cruises for two weeks in July, followed by a week at Carpe Diem Beach Resort & Spa in August.
Benefitting from over 40 years of marine biology knowledge with Steven Weinberg, divers can learn or improve their skills and understanding in one of the world’s most beautiful tropical countries and award-winning dive destination. Steven is multilingual (Dutch, French, English, German), a much appr
eciated guest speaker and has inspired countless divers over the years as they discover marine life and underwater photography.
Diving since the age of 8 and passionate about photography since the age of 11, Steven became a qualified marine biologist in 1979. Since then, he has taught reef ecology at the University of Puerto Rico and for almost 30 years he taught biology at the European School of Luxembourg. In addition to over 30 scientific publications, he is the author of more than 550 magazine articles on the underwater world.
With fluent French language skills, since 1992 Steven has become France’s most celebrated marine author with several illustrated books, including a very popular series of underwater field guides (“Mediterranean”, “Atlantic”, “Red Sea & Indian Ocean”, “Caribbean” and “Tropical Pacific”), “Ocean Life”, “Ecologically Yours!” He also co-authored the astonishing “History of Underwater Imaging – from 1856 to the present” and “Ar(t)cachon – Jewels of the Bay”.
In July this year, Steven Weinberg returns to The Maldives for the first time in over 25 years. Steven explains, “I am thrilled to be returning after such a long time away, and especially with opportunity to explore so many different reefs together with Carpe Diem Maldives. The explorations will serve as research for my updated version of the “Red Sea & Indian Ocean” field guide, to be released next year. In the process, I am looking forward to sharing my marine knowledge and underwater photography advice with their enthusiastic divers as we explore the dives together.
Assistant Managing Director, Agnes van Linden says, “Our previous Dive with a Purpose trips have been popular with our guests and we are constantly seeking new and informative ways to bring more variety as well as benefit research. With Steven on our cruises and at the new resort in August, guests can dive in crystal blue water and discover the rich biodiversity of the Maldives while learning, documenting and exploring coral reefs. The majority of our guest divers have underwater camera equipment with them to document their trips, so I am sure there will be lots of questions between dives and around the lunch and dinner tables about camera technique and capturing marine life through the lens.”
On each Dive with A Purpose week with Steven Weinberg, up to 20 recreational divers can join the Carpe Diem Cruises marine expeditions. Priced from USD 1,863 per person for the week, the expeditions include:
- 7 nights aboard the assigned Carpe Diem Maldives vessel
- 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks
- 3 to 4 dives daily (except for on day of arrival and day before departure)
- Use of tanks, weights and belts
- Drinking water, tea and coffee
- Airport transfers on the days of embarkation/disembarkation
- Evening workshops on marine ecology, coral reef, marine life and photography
- On-board marine biologist
- GST 12%
Explore and Record the Maldivian reefs with marine biologist Steven Weinberg
Expedition dates: July 15 – July 22 / July 22 – 29
In January this year, Carpe Diem Maldives began a year-long celebration of IYO2018, inviting all divers to share their underwater images on social media using #maldivesreefawareness, #iyor2018 #carpediemmaldives. This provides research scientist easy access to a live feed of images on regularly visited dive sites. Towards the end of 2018, campaign images posted throughout the year can be submitted to a panel of professional photographers, conservationists and IYOR officials, with a chance of winning a 4-night stay in 2019 at the new resort Carpe Diem Beach Resort & Spa.
Carpe Diem’s Dive with a Purpose trips are aimed at anyone with a passion for the ocean; enthusiasm is valued over experience and you don’t need a scientific background. Whether divers are looking to further their studies or just looking for a meaningful conservation holiday, Dive with a Purpose trips offer something different, and past guests refer to it as an experience they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives.
To reserve your place on board the marine expeditions with Steven Weinberg, email info@carpediemmaldives.com
