NOAA's $3.9M Grant, PSS's Scuba Training Incentives & New Dive Sites in Hurghada

In Today's Email:

• NOAA Grants $3.9M to Boost Ocean Enterprise Initiative

• PSS Enhances Scuba Training Offers with New Instructor Incentives

• Three New Dive Sites Open in Hurghada

NOAA Grants $3.9M to Boost Ocean Enterprise Initiative

In a major nod to the burgeoning field of oceanic technology, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has bestowed the Marine Technology Society with a hefty $3.9 million grant. This funding is earmarked for the Ocean Enterprise Initiative (OEI), emphasizing enhanced industry collaboration, thought leadership, and community ties. Touted as a key piece of President Biden's 'Investing in America' roadmap, the grant is set to supercharge efforts in bridging public-private partnerships in ocean data, aiming for profound societal, economic, and environmental impacts. Read more here.

PSS Enhances Scuba Training Offers with New Instructor Incentives

Scuba instructors, gear up! 🌊 Professional Scuba Schools (PSS) is diving deep to make their training programs even more enticing. How? If you're an instructor who joins the PSS ranks between October 1 and December 31, 2023, they're throwing in six Open Water or Advanced Open Water EVOs (worth a cool $200) for your training sessions. And for the uninitiated, the EVO training system is pretty much the Tesla of diver education—interactive, intuitive, and a total game-changer. Tack on the 13 PSS specialty courses available for free, and you're looking at a whopping $2,700+ in training materials.

Three New Dive Sites Open in Hurghada to Counteract Rising Dive Tourism Pressure

Dive enthusiasts, pack your bags! Hurghada's diving landscape just got a fresh makeover. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) and Egypt’s Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS), three spanking new dive sites are now open for business. Nestled not too far from the famed reefs of the Giftun Islands, these sites are more than just a visual treat. Think "Underwater Military Museum" – a submerged world of old tanks and armoured carriers. The move isn't just for novelty's sake. With some of Hurghada's diving hotspots witnessing a whopping 1000% spike in dives recently, these man-made marvels aim to give the natural coral reefs a breather. Dive in, but remember to tread (or swim) lightly!