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World's first carbon-neutral liveaboard diving fleet (March 2007)
Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving has announced, as part of their 20th Anniversary celebration, that the company has begun a far-reaching environmental initiative designed to minimize the company's impact on the environment. This long term initiative will become an integral part of Explorer Ventures' company-wide plans and goals, and will include in-depth reviews of every aspect of the business from administration to staff travel, purchasing options, fuel and other energy use, local involvement in recycling and marine protection efforts at the 5 destinations the company serves worldwide, and staff and guest training and education. Over the course of the next 3 years, the goal of Explorer Ventures is to have fine-tuned all aspects of the company's operations so as to be an example of how a company and its clients can combine efforts to minimize their impact on the marine environment, and do their part in protecting it for future generations.
Because of the strong scientific evidence pointing to the negative effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide on marine ecosystems, Explorer Ventures has begun this process by offsetting the company's carbon emissions through the purchase of renewable energy credits from NativeEnergy, an internationally recognized marketer of renewable energy credits. All of Explorer Ventures' worldwide activities, from the fuel use of its vessels to the shipping of parts and supplies, staff travel, office energy usage and land-based staff commutes are now carbon-neutral and have no net effect on carbon dioxide emissions.
Early in 2007, Explorer Ventures will focus on planning, evaluating, testing and determining how they can best help protect the environment without altering the positive experience each of our guests has come to expect, as well as make preliminary changes to its vessel operations to reduce as much as possible their environmental effect. Later in 2007 and into 2008, the focus will be on staged implementation of the changes and goals set this year.
In addition to continuing the carbon neutral program, Explorer Ventures will improve their environmental performance in several ways, by:
- Reducing non-renewable energy use by the company
- Reducing the amount of solid waste discarded by the company
- Consolidating and Implementing marine monitoring programs on its vessels
- Maximizing the use of biodegradable supplies on its vessels
- Increasing collaboration with local areas surrounding our destinations
"We will include all of our staff, our clients, and anyone else interested in the effort. There will be some things that will be easy to do, some doable but more difficult, and some that won't be possible given the services that we provide. Figuring out what is and is not possible will be a significant part of the initial and ongoing effort; the rest will involve doing it. This is not a one year project; this will be an ongoing effort over the life of the company" says Clay McCardell, the company's President.
To learn more about Explorer Ventures' environmental initiative and additional events associated with our 20th anniversary, please visit their website at
www.explorerventures.com. Any and all feedback is appreciated; please provide comments and suggestions on the company's environmental initiatives through their blog or by emailing Ariana Arcenas, Environmental Initiatives Coordinator, at
ariana@explorerventures.com.
Explorer Ventures', Nimrod Explorer Receives Minke Whale Project Award (March 2007)
Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving's Australia vessel, the 18-passenger
Nimrod Explorer, once again received an International Excellence Award from The Minke Whale Project organization for the Most Complete Whale Sighting Records for 2006. Due in part to
Nimrod Explorer's contribution and diligence with record keeping, there is now a confirmed occurrence of dwarf minke whales reproducing in successive years. As published in the December 2006 issue of Minke Whale Project Research Update, "In 2005 "Wiggly Nape Streak" (first ID'd in 1999 and seen in four of the seven years since), reappeared with her calf "Little Wiggle." On the 6th of July 2006, she visited us again and was photographed by passengers on Nimrod Explorer, accompanied by "Little Wiggle 2!" Although long hypothesized, this is the first confirmed occurrence of dwarf minke whales reproducing in successive years."
Beginning in May and lasting through early August, dwarf minke whales are commonly sighted along the Ribbon Reef section of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. These little-known marine mammals have been studied by The Minke Whale Project for the past 11 years; due to the dedication of marine scientists and graduate students and the efforts of dive companies such as Explorer Ventures, data about these unique whales is collected annually and helps determine the direction of sustainable interaction with the minke whales. These findings not only aid scientists in understanding their behavior and biology, but also aid in the experience that guests aboard the
Nimrod Explorer can have with these marine animals.
The 2007 expectations for this project include ongoing studies into the biology and behavior of the dwarf minke whales within the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the sustainable management of permitted swim-with-whales interactions. The Nimrod Explorer is one of the very few vessels holding a swim-with- whales permit. This allows our guests the chance to interact and observe these magnificent creatures at close range. If you would like an opportunity to be aboard the
Nimrod Explorer during the months when we see these wonderful creatures contact Explorer Ventures.
Saba Chamber fee instituted (January 2007)
The Saba Hyperbaric Facility, managed by the Saba National Marine Park (Saba Conservation Foundation), has instituted a US$1 per dive Hyperbaric Fee.
See entire letter from the Saba Conservation Foundation.
Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving announces changes and additions to their dedicated US-based staff (February 2007)
Explorer Ventures is excited to announce several changes and additions to an integral part of their liveaboard diving fleet. According to President Clay McCardell, "the long history of people dedicated to making our guests feel at home with the company has now grown." McCardell started Explorer Ventures in 1987, and during the company's 20-year history several people have dedicated over 15 years to their guests' experiences. Capt. Jim Merrill and Sue Bertram first joined
Caribbean Explorer in 1992 and have been with the company ever since, currently as Operations Managers for Explorer Ventures Australia. Fleet Engineer Keith Smith joined us in 1994; Caribbean Fleet Captain Jean-Francois Chabot (better known as JF) and Caribbean Operations Manager Jennifer Cumming joined the company in 2000, and oversee daily operations of the company's 3 Caribbean-based vessels. Laurene Best, Australia Sales Manager, has been with the company in Cairns since 2000 as well.
This month Explorer Ventures announced that Operations Coordinator Diana Heaton will add to her existing duties the responsibilities of USA Sales Manager. Diana joined the Explorer Ventures' operations team in 2005 after spending 5 years with a Florida-based liveaboard diving company. In addition to Diana, the Explorer Ventures operations office in Casper, Wyoming will add an operations assistant. This individual will join the staff of four which also includes Pat Wood, who has been the Operations Office Manager since 2004, husband and Purchasing Coordinator Frank Wood, and Marketing Manager Lynn Rodell.
The company's US Sales Office, located southeast of Dallas, TX, is now staffed full-time by Randy Harris, formerly in charge of group sales, and Barbie Ware. The company's Cairns, Australia office also announced in December that Maureen Zecchinati has been appointed Office Manager, overseeing all day to day operations of the 18-passenger Nimrod Explorer, based in Cairns. These additions and changes will enhance the experience of our guests, and accommodate the company's rapid growth over the past few years. "The foundation of the company remains the same -- providing guests with world-class liveaboard diving vacations at an exceptional value -- but our hope is that each guest we have aboard our vessels becomes more than just a guest but a life-time friend." Mr. McCardell said.
Travel/dive insurance information available on Explorer Ventures website
Explorer Ventures has now provided travel/dive insurance information online for our guests. The general information is intended to aid guests with their insurance decisions and is not intended to endorse any specific insurance. This new information can be found at:
http://www.explorerventures.com/common/general_info.html
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