Seven Seas Donation to Manta Conservation

By Jo Marlow.

Earlier this month, Indonesian non-profit, Misool Foundation, welcomed guests from the Seven Seas as they passed through on a 2-week liveaboard trip. The group of 14 visited our programme office in East Flores to learn more about our work with the manta hunting community of Lamakera.

Larantuka is the base for Misool Foundation’s ‘Savu Sea Alliance’ Program. Surrounded by the islands of Flores, Rote and Sumba this small, yet incredibly biodiverse sea is home to some spectacular marine life including mantas and whale sharks. Unfortunately, the wildlife here is frequently under threat as this sea is also home to one of the world’s largest manta fisheries.

Misool Foundation is rewriting this story – Indonesia outlawed manta fishing in 2014, and the Savu Sea Alliance was launched to help transition communities away from manta hunting. By creating sustainable new economies, protecting marine life, and conducting scientific research, the Savu Sea Alliance is helping to safeguard the future of mantas, whale sharks, and the communities that used to hunt them.

» CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

Komodo: From Head to Toes - Video by Alex del Olmo

This movie shows some of the highlights of our Komodo trip on the Seven Seas in June 2018. We dove at North and South Komodo and found manta rays, sharks, big schools of fishes, healthy corals and amazing critters.

Komodo and East of Flores Trip Report

By Frances Hunt. Photos by Jane Barron.

Diving and snorkelling with Dr Rod Salm

In the 1970’s I was lucky enough to become a part of a group of young families, most of whom had known each other since, as students, we spent many happy hours crawling and climbing through various Australian caves.

We started camping with our kids, often snorkelling at Jervis Bay, south of Sydney. The kids grew up, had their own families and left us to share all sorts of holidays, still snorkelling at Jervis Bay, swimming with whale sharks in Western Australia and camping around Australia.

With retirement has come a sense of liberation and the ability to enjoy roads less travelled and unusual experiences.

Some of our group had previously enjoyed the delights aboard the Seven Seas in volcanic Indonesia, and when Jane suggested we join her for a similar 14 day snorkelling/diving experience in the seas around Komodo and Flores twelve of us jumped at the chance. The only other passenger, Ellie, a vivacious young American girl, joined in with us extraordinarily well. Rod Salm, our coral expert, and his wife Suze added to our knowledge of the reef biota and the effects of climate change and were a most welcome addition to our occasionally disorderly group.

» CLICK HERE FOR FRANCES' FULL TRIP REPORT

Forgotten Islands Opportunity This Year!

Two cabins are available with an adventurous group of American friends on a rare Seven Seas Forgotten Islands itinerary, this October 21-November 2, 2018 (12 days total). This private charter visits remote islands with exotic cultures and only happens in a very narrow time window every autumn. The orientation of our group is health-conscious (generally non-smokers and light drinkers), healthy and fresh cuisine, and lots of stimulating conversation. Morning yoga and meditation on the upper deck, a "murder mystery" dinner party, dance party, and costume party on three evenings will be some of the extras on this trip. Cost = $5,940 pp, includes 3-4 dives per day, food, and shared double cabin. Arrangements can be made for two singles sharing. Please contact Carolyn Tyler [email protected] for more information.

A few impressions from our current Komodo to Bali trip