The University of Glamorgan’s second group has been keeping our interns busy on Gaya island in Kota Kinabalu.

The group picks up where the previous group left off and continues collecting data about the coral reefs and seagrass beds around our dive centre.

Our professional interns are gaining plenty of group experience as they handle the logistics and make sure everyone gets in and out of the water just fine.

In the meantime they’ve also had plenty of whale shark action to keep them busy in between.

The next IDC is now just a little over 1 month away, so the interns have their work cut out for them over the next few weeks.

It was a beautiful Sunday yesterday, blue skies, clear water; quite perfect for diving really.

As usual Downbelow’s PADI Course Director Richard Swann was out in the water, this time with 6 divers from the University of Glamorgan group, presenting the PADI Adventure Diver course for them.

By his side was Liz Street, one of Downbelow’s Professional Scuba Diving Interns, assisting on the Adventure Diver course.

The Fish ID dive of the course was quite special. A whaleshark, apparently in an effort to be identified, swam by to say hello.

The remainder of the Glamorgan group, the other 16, who were nearby on a fun dive, also got to see the whaleshark, making it quite a spectacular dive.

Talk about adventure diving.

It’s been a busy week on Gaya island here in Kota Kinabalu and both local and international interns were kept busy with big group logistics.

The 18 strong Danish adventure group took part in 16 Open Water and 2 Advanced Open Water courses, 2 Underwater Photography courses and 18 AWARE Coral Reef Conservation courses, while our interns made sure everything ran smoothly.

Resident PADI Course Director Richard and the rest of Downbelow’s professional instructors, ensured the quality and safety of all the courses were maintained at all times.

There’s no rest for the wicked however, as while they waved off the Danish adventurers the group of British uni students arrived for their occupation of Gaya island.

Busy is a good thing though, lots of experience to gain – and that’s exactly what our interns are doing.

Our resident PADI Course Director Richard Swann attended the PADI CDTC Celebratory Reception in Kota Kinabalu recently, and bumped into a famous figure.

Project AWARE Shark Ambassadors Finley and Finn made a much anticipated appearance a the ball, and Richard rubbed shoulders with the illuminates for a good part of the night.

And who is this Finn and Finley? I thought you would never ask.

Having traveled together since bumping into each other in the UK during World Oceans day on 8 June, Finn and Finley are the Project AWARE Shark Ambassadors, icons if you would, for the cause of shark awareness.

If you’re still confused, Finley is pictured on the right in the picture above. The one on the left is Richard. Finn was off being chatted up by some young new Course Director and is absent from the picture.

Anyway, they’ve travel the globe in their quest to spread the word on the dire situation their kin is in. An ever increasing appetite for shark fin from the East and by-catch from every other direction, is putting the world’s shark population in serious peril.

Only through action inspired by awareness can we change this tide and it is this awareness which Finn and Finley are promoting as they travel their way around the world.

Why don’t you join the cause and do sharks a favour by befriending the Shark Tour on Project AWARE’s My Ocean? Together – and only together – can we make a difference.

Make a difference.