Big Tree Beach Hotel Mombasa Kenya

There is nothing quite like scuba diving in Mombasa. I remember my first scuba dive in Mombasa. I was visiting Mombasa in Kenya with a friend and I decided on the spur of the moment that it was something I wanted to do, so I went to the local dive shop and signed up for the class. There were only three of us going on the dive, and the two others accompanying me were fully PADI certified, so they didn’t need any instruction. That particular dive required that I have classroom lessons that lasted 4 hours.  And that i had a christmas accommodation in Mombasa Beach hotel. There was a lot that the instructor explained to me during that time like how to use the equipment, what decompression is, what to expect, how to use the buddy system, etc. We did a confined dive first, the afterwards went out to the reef for the open dive.

The scuba dive itself was amazing and exhilarating for me even though it was what is called a non-decompression dive, only to 40 feet. I had been a snorkel for years, but had never been that close to a reef and fish.

For those who crave more diving adventure such as deep sea diving and wreck diving which would take them much deeper in the water they would need much more training, and PADI certification.

It’s easy to learn to dive in Mombasa in Kenya. Not as hard as you might think. PADI certification can be obtained fairly easily, and at your own pace. There are books and videos that you can obtain to help you through the course. Your instructor will give you a short test at the end of each course. After you have completed what is called knowledge training you start diving. You first experience confined dives and then open water dives. Confined dives take place in a pool or a shallow body of water. The first time I put on the equipment and went in the water we were just waist deep. Once you have mastered confined dives and proven yourself to your instructors you will have the opportunity to go on open water dives with the instructor.

Where you will be scuba diving will make the decision for you as to what type of equipment you are going to need. As my dive was in the warm Indian Ocean in Mombasa waters I didn’t need any type of wet suit. I wore a BC vest. However, on deeper cold underwater dives you will want to make sure you are equipped with a dry suit that will handle cold.

You’ll need a good mask. One that seals against your face well. A pair of booties and fins. You’ll need a snorkel, a buoyancy compensator vest and a regulator with a gauge and a second mouthpiece.

You’ll want to do a lot of research on equipment before buying. As with most things technology is constantly changing scuba equipment. You’ll want to talk with friends and instructors as to their recommendations. There is a fairly large initial investment and you want to get the best you can for the money you spend. You also want to make sure that you’re comfortable in all the pieces of your scuba diving gear. If your mask isn’t tight enough and leaks, or if your fins are too tight and rub your heels that is what your mind will be on instead of the wonders of the sea

Many people dream of scuba diving on their exotic vacations in Mombasa, but are afraid that if they learn to dive, they will end up wasting a lot of their vacation time and money on one activity. The truth is, there are diving courses and schools all over the world, and it is possible to begin your learn to dive course in your native country and to complete it while you are on vacation. Or better yet, you can learn to dive before you go on vacation and earn a diving passport that will enable you to scuba dive anywhere in the world. So before you go on vacation, look into your options carefully if you want to learn to dive.

When you learn to dive, you will be taught basic mechanics in a swimming pool. This might seem simplistic, but even the best swimmers need to learn special techniques for movement when they learn to dive, since mechanics are not the same as those used with regular swimming, especially since divers have equipment to deal with as well. The beginning course also teaches the prospective diver equipment use and maintenance. This is the most intimidating aspect for those who want to learn to dive, but once you get the understand how to handle your equipment, you can begin to dive with confidence.

Of course, safety is an important component of your course as you learn to dive, and the buddy system is essential, even for seasoned divers. Other concepts taught in beginning and intermediate courses include:

• Buddy diving
• Human life support
• Gases under pressure
• Ocean diving
• Rescue skills

Most beginning courses will teach you dive theory, which might include some classroom as well as pool work, and open water dive skills. You will learn to dive through handbooks and videos, not just underwater, but many of these materials can be studied at home to maximize the amount of time students spend in the water.

Some schools place restrictions on whom they will accept for their learn to dive programs. Most places have a minimum age, but this is rather young, usually around twelve. For those who have medical conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, their might be certain restrictions, unless a doctor approves the course for the patient. Some schools will require you to take a medical exam, and others will allow anyone to begin the course if they seem to be in good general health.

Many scuba dive schools offer refresher courses; anyone who wants to learn to dive and to continue diving as a hobby will need to take a refresher course if they do not perform a dive every six months; diving passports expire if too much time has passed between dives. Some students who learn to dive at certain schools will want to continue and take more advanced courses, such as open water and ocean diving. Some will want to quit their dull 9 to 5 grind and become full-time scuba diving instructors. It is a great job for those who like to be in the water and to travel to exotic places. However, given the safety considerations, certification for scuba dive instructors is usually quite rigorous, and many would rather simply learn to dive than to contemplate a career in scuba diving.

Whether you want to learn to dive or need to take a refresher course, it is not difficult to find a course available within a reasonable distance. Soon after you learn to dive, you will want to try out your skills on an exotic vacation in the tropics or elsewhere.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday 20 July 2011 set ablaze five tonnes of ivory seized from smugglers in Singapore more than a decade ago.

Kibaki said that Kenya would like to stand counted as a country in the forefront in wildlife conservation. “Through the disposal of contraband ivory, we seek to formally demonstrate to the world our determination to eliminate all forms of illegal trade in ivory,’’ Kibaki told several hundred conservationists at the Kenya Wildlife Service paramilitary training school in Tsavo West National Park.“We must all appreciate the negative effects of illegal trade to our national economies. We cannot afford to sit back and allow criminal networks to destroy our common future.’’

The symbolic burning of 335 elephant tusks and 41, 553 ivory carvings recreated a similar exercise in Nairobi National Park in 1989 which led to the international ban in ivory trade. However, unlike the previous one, the dramatic action was on behalf of the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, a Nairobi-based regional inter-governmental agency for coordinating the fight against wildlife crime. The action, which was part of the first ever African Elephant Law Enforcement Day celebrations, was witnessed by hundreds of conservationists from Kenya and beyond. It was meant to draw the world’s attention to the plight of the African elephant across Africa. Speaking on behalf of the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, Uganda’s Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, said the collective message to poachers and traders in illegal wildlife was that “their days were numbered”. Dr Noah Wekesa, Kenya’s Minister for Forestry and Wildlife said the message had been sent to all in the illegal trade chain “to abandon this business and be part of conservation efforts”.He proposed that in future, confiscated ivory should be disposed off in its country of origin to “send a powerful message to poachers that this business is not acceptable in their country”. Dr Wekesa said Kenya was in the final stages of passing a new wildlife policy and bill which has heavy penalties that would serve as a deterrent to poaching and ensure that “illegal wildlife trade has no sage haven within our region”.

The burning as the chosen mode of disposal and the site of Kenya Wildlife Service Field Training School was made by the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council.Kenya hosted the historic event as a party to the regional agreement on wildlife conservation. The setting ablaze of contraband ivory was the first regional exercise of this kind and the third in Africa after Kenya’s in 1989 and Zambia in 1992. The burning of ivory was the climax of the three-day celebrations on the theme: ‘Fostering cooperation to combat elephant poaching and ivory trafficking in Africa’.

The day had been set aside to recognise the plight of the endangered African elephant and to celebrate its importance and appreciate challenges faced in its conservation. The celebrations focus on demonstrating solidarity with wildlife law enforcers as they strive to curtail elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade as well as other wildlife products. The bulk of the contraband ivory comprising 335 tusks and 41,553 hankos being burned tomorrow was seized in Singapore in June 2002 was found to have originated mainly from Malawi and Zambia. It was exported from Lilongwe in Malawi. Other activities held earlier in the week as part of the celebrations included the launch of the African Elephant Law Enforcement Special Account (AELESA), African Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) and African Wildlife Law Enforcement Award.

This was in line with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United Nations treaty regulations don’t allow commercial trade in illegally acquired ivory or any other seized wildlife contraband specimens but provide for its use for scientific, educational and law enforcement purposes. It also allows the destruction of such ivory since it has no commercial value.The Lusaka Agreement is an inter-governmental Agreement on Cooperative Enforcement Operations Directed at Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora which has established a permanent body known as the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF), a Nairobi-based collaborative agency for fighting wildlife crime.

Out of Africa’s 54 nations, only seven including Congo (Brazzaville), Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia have fully enlisted while Ethiopia, South Africa and Swaziland have signed the treaty but are yet to ratify it. The Lusaka Agreement which is deposited with the General Secretariat of the United Nations is open for accession by all African states. Environmental crimes have been found to be linked other serious and organised crime, especially document fraud, corruption, possession and use of illegal weapons and money laundering.

A regional platform for fighting wildlife crime is important since criminals collaborate across national borders.
Areas for cross border collaboration under the Lusaka Agreement framework included law enforcement, research and monitoring, harmonisation of policies and staff exchange programmes.