An alarmist news story about a commonly found ingredient in sunscreens has recently circulated throughout the mainstream media and online.  Touting a “new study” some are questioning the claims of Reef Safe and the biodegradable suncare products they have been providing divers for years. Here is what you should know as opposed to the fear mongering spewed by would be competitors.

Sunscreen Wars

Visibly shows the difference of sedimentation of Brand “X” Titanium Dioxide and Brand “X” Zinc Oxide SPF 30 Lotions VS. Reef Safe Biodegradable SPF 50+ Lotion.

Note: Reef Safe SPF 50+ has almost twice the SPF value of the Titanium or Zinc lotions.

Conclusion

This experiment conclusively documents that in comparison to Reef Safe, Brand “X” Titanium Dioxide and Brand “X” Zinc Oxide Sunscreens, leave substantial sediment in our aquatic environments, thus are considered ocean pollutants.

For More Information on this experiment, click here!

For More Information on Reef Safe Sun & Skin Care, click here!

There’s nothing quite as thrilling as going out to dive in beautiful water rife with life, and there is arguably no place that can offer as exhilarating an experience as the Caribbean. While finding the best diving spot is all a matter of personal preference, ScubaRadio has a great guide on the Top 10 Dive Sites in the US and Caribbean to help you decide where you want to start. But then, the question is, where would you stay?

The Caribbean is known not just for its diving, but for its active nightlife as well. There are many small hotels and hostels that would serve divers well, but for those looking for a more expansive experience of the Caribbean, an integrated resort may be the right choice. Integrated resorts are those that offer a whole roster of services to their patrons, from spa and gym facilities to indoor pools.

Seeking to provide a more lively and entertaining experience to guests, many resorts have begun offering the services of not just nightclubs, but casinos as well. After all, what better way to liven up the party? As Intercasino explains, “Live casinos usually have a festive and pretty active atmosphere. This usually keeps the gamblers and the people inside awake” – the perfect atmosphere for Caribbean hotels. Many casinos already litter the Caribbean beaches, much like they do the Las Vegas strip, but some resorts make divers’ lives easier, not just offering casinos on the premises, but even having their own diving services. Here are three great resorts you should look into, if you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean:

Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino, Bonaire
Bonaire is recognized as one of the most idyllic dive spots in the world, and while divers are free to enjoy the beautiful water and coral reefs in the day, they can just as easily relax in comfort at night. The Divi Flaming Beach Resort & Casino in Bonaire has a PADI five-star diving service called the Divi Dive, where patrons can rent custom dive boats and gear storage, as well as procure the services of a dive team with 10 years of knowledge and experience of the area.

Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, St. Croix
Another among the Divi chain of resorts, the Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino stands out in that it offers one of the best ways to get to know the culture of St. Croix, offering not just snorkeling and diving for tourists, but even hosting several festivals celebrating St. Croix throughout the year. Their staff will also have plenty of recommendations for areas to see in St. Croix, and how to make your vacation truly memorable.

Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino
A bit more mainstream, the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino is also recognized as one of the premier destinations for affluent divers heading to Curacao. Its proximity to the airport makes it one of the most popular choices for accommodation, and many tourists tend to favor the Marriott over other resorts. They not only have an integrated casino – guests can even reserve complimentary transportation twice a day via the front desk.

DAN Introduces New Travel Insurance Plans

New Trip and Annual Plans Give Divers and Travelers the Opportunity to Travel Smarter

 

Durham, NC (August 18, 2014) – Divers Alert Network, the leader in dive safety, has introduced two new travel insurance plans to the scuba diving and travel communities. Based on DAN’s 30+ years of emergency travel assistance experience, these plans have been redesigned and offer enhanced levels of coverage to provide protection for unforeseen travel events. The introduction of these plans marks DAN’s return to the travel insurance business after a brief a hiatus stemming from underwriter restructuring.

 

DAN’s new Trip Insurance provides valuable travel protection for one special trip and features coverages such as Emergency Assistance and Transportation, Medical and Dental, Trip Interruption and Cancellation and protection for baggage and sports equipment. Other plan benefits include concierge services, identity theft resolution services and on-demand medical services. With three plan levels to choose from, travelers will be able to enjoy the trip protection best suited to their budget and coverage needs.

 

DAN’s new Annual Travel Insurance plan is ideal for individuals who take multiple trips throughout the year. The new Annual Travel Insurance coverage provides protection for every trip taken during the course of a year and includes coverages such as Emergency Assistance and Transportation, Medical and Dental, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Trip Interruption and Cancellation as well as baggage protection with sporting equipment included. The annual plan is available at three levels of coverage.

 

“These new plans offer a wide range of coverage that can be beneficial to business or leisure travelers,” said Dr. Panchabi Vaithiyanathan, Chief Operating Officer at Divers Alert Network. “DAN’s 30 years of experience in emergency travel assistance has helped to shape the coverage and both of these programs are outstanding. With these plans, people can travel smarter with protection against unforeseen events anywhere around the world,” added Vaithiyanathan.

 

Both travel insurance plans can be purchased online by members and nonmembers alike at DAN.org/travel. The website’s easy-to-use interface enables travelers to get an instant quote based on their travel parameters. For travelers on the move, the website features a fully responsive design for the ultimate user experience on smart phones and tablets. In addition to the valuable Trip and Annual Insurance plan features, the modern interface and enhanced usability of the web applications further differentiate DAN’s travel insurance products in a competitive marketplace.

 

About DAN: DAN's mission is to help divers in need of medical emergency assistance and to promote dive safety through research, education, products and diving services. The DAN Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization (Tax ID # 56-1696689) and has grown to become the largest association of recreational scuba divers in the world since its inception in 1980. DAN is supported by membership dues and donations. Membership levels include individual, family, industry partners, professional, and students. Some benefits of DAN membership include emergency medical evacuation assistance through DAN TravelAssist, a subscription to Alert Divermagazineand access to DAN's insurance services. For more information, or to become a DAN member, explore DAN.org

Insurance is underwritten by Generali US Branch, New York, New York; NAIC #11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: In California: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (U.S. Branch) In Virginia: The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch.

Renowned for its civilization, cuisine, the spirit of competition that burns within, and the natural Mediterranean splendour that lies under its sea, Italy has definitely become a cut above the rest of its neighbouring European countries – no wonder poker and diving have become extremely popular in the country. Fantastic scuba diving spots and poker halls are scattered all across the country, more particularly, in the coastal region of northwestern Italy.

Being one of Italy’s smaller regions, Liguria forms a thin strip in the northern part of the country that stretches from France’s border on the west to Tuscany on the east. This section also earned the distinction of being the best diving spot in the Mediterranean. Having been protected since 1998, the Portofino Marine Park boasts an abundance of marine life that is hardly ever seen in the Mediterranean. Going around more than 20 dive sites takes about 15-20 minutes, so it’s fairly easy to explore the hidden wonders of Portofino’s ocean. A lot of multi-level dives, caverns, walls, and swim throughs are seen in Portofino, that’s why it’s a fitting spot for both beginner and advanced level divers. Below, sites such as the world famous “The Christ of the Abyss,” “The Haven,” and the World War II wrecks are dispersed from corner to corner of the town’s seabed. From breathtaking yellow cluster anemones, red corals, and purple gorgonian, to stunning giant moon fishes, moray eels, and scorpion fishes; the flourishing marine life of Portofino is arguably the most bio-diverse and distinctive in the Mediterranean region.

The diversity of things-to-do in the region doesn’t stop underwater, as Liguria also hosts an annual poker tournament that pits dangerous card sharks from all over Europe, and the rest of the world. Once a year, the western Ligurian city of San Remo is the venue of the prestigious European Poker Tour; and the superb felt table action has definitely become one for the books. EPT San Remo always draws a huge contingent of poker players and enthusiasts, and last season was no exception. France’s Ludovic Lacay outwitted a tough field of 797 competitors ranging from PartyPoker’s young up-and-comers to seasoned live tournament veterans. By defeating Canadian pro Jason Lavallee heads up, Lacay took home the title and a fat check worth €744,910 – a nice pay day to spend for a warm Ligurian experience.

As young professionals, it’s important that once in a while we go out of the box to break the tedium of our everyday lives and create something worth reminiscing. These days, it’s highly acceptable that we put our hard earned money on fancy outfits, powerful Apple gadgets, or maybe try our luck in a nice game of Texas Hold’em poker; but we should still put a premium on discovering the hidden beauty of the world, and what lies beneath its vast waters. So whether we plan a cross country poker road trip with our mates or an underwater European adventure with the whole family, taking pleasure in the benefits of travelling is really something worth investing.