Original Diving has created 10 new itineraries to satisfy the demand from what they are calling 'waterculturalists'; divers who want to deepen their understanding of the seas and the life and cultures they support 

Just as horticulturalists are students of the land and plantlife, 'waterculturalists' want to better understand the seas they explore, educate themselves on environmental and ecological issues and help protect and cultivate the waters and the cultures which depend on them – and it's becoming a vital part to more dive trips than ever before.  

In response to this growing trend, the UK's only luxury dive operator, Original Diving has launched a NEW collection of 10 itineraries which will enable divers to get involved in new and innovative projects, including: building reef highways in Fiji; planting coral in the Philippines; restoring coral in French Polynesia; diving with Bubu fisherman in Indonesia and observing local traditional fishing practices from a unique perspective underwater; and joining a safari dive in Tanzania, where you will be equipped with an earpiece to listen to the dive guide as they take you on a tour of coral gardens. Also new is a seahorse safari in Mozambique and sponge farming in Tanzania. 

Tom Barber, Co-founder of Original Diving, says: 'Divers are by nature curious types, so it was only a matter of time before dive holidays evolved into something more than just seeing pretty fish and colourful coral. They also often come face-to-face with the very real damage caused by unsustainable fishing practices that threaten to destroy the habitat they love dearly. It's no surprise then that those involved in marine tourism are often leagues ahead in terms of conservation and preservation and we have really enjoyed researching some of the most important and innovative projects around, in order to offer them to our discerning travellers.' 

Sample itineraries: 

Reef highways - Fiji 

Build reef highways on Original Diving's 14-day trip to Fiji, which includes time spent underwater with a team of marine biologists helping build coral highways to create a thriving reef. You will help the Barefoot Manta marine Biology Team  to create pathways between existing coral pinnacles. All levels of dive experience can participate and a group can create a 10-metre long and one-metre wide highway in each session. The trip also includes five nights in Taveuni, known as the soft coral capital of the world and where you can dive the Rainbow reef dive sites and the Somosomo Strait, home to manta rays, hammerheads, reef sharks and turtles.  

Prices from £6,400pp, based on two sharing and including return flights, domestic flights, transfers and 5 nights full board accommodation and  5 nights' B&B accommodation, plus 10 boat dives and one night dive, as well as the Reef Highway experience. Original Diving, 020 7978 0505, www.originaldiving.com 

Safari Dive – Tanzania 

Learn more underwater with a private Safari Dive in Tanzania. Your dive guide will be equipped with a full-face mask complete with microphone, while you wear an underwater earpiece so your dive guide can take you on a guided tour of the coral gardens, giving you a much deeper and more rewarding scuba experience. The experience is part of your stay on your seven-night stay on Pemba island, home to one of the healthiest coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and where the average water temperature is 26 degrees with visibility of up to 40 metres. The trip also includes three nights in Zanzibar. 

Prices from £6,695pp, based on two sharing and including return flights, domestic flights, transfers and 7 nights full board plus 3 nights B&B accommodation, plus eight dives, as well as the Safari Dive. Original Diving, 020 7978 0505, www.originaldiving.com 

Bubu fishermen dive - Indonesia 

Located East of Flores in the Savu Sea and comprising 20 islands, the Alor archipelago is located in the Coral Triangle and is home to some of the most varied diving in a single location anywhere on Earth. Best known for spectacular coral and muck diving, Alor now boasts a unique underwater experience: an observational dive of the Bubu fishermen. This local traditional fishing practice involves setting bubu traps on the seabed and to watch the process from underwater is a sight to behold and a wonderful photo opportunity. A fairly shallow dive, the experience includes a briefing from your private guide.  

Prices from £6,450pp, based on two sharing and including return flights, domestic flights, transfers and nine nights'  Full Board accommodation, plus 21 dives, as well as the Fisherman Dive. Original Diving, 020 7978 0505, www.originaldiving.com 

Seahorse safari - Mozambique 

As part of a seven-day diving trip to Mozambique, where you explore the dive sites of Tofo, home to humpback whales, mantas, whale sharks, turtles, rays, dolphins and sharks, you now have the chance to join a seahorse safari in Vilanculos. An initiative from the Save the Seahorse project, these dhow tours are led by poachers-turned-guides and take you out to the low tide sandbanks where you can snorkel with these special creatures. The experience includes lunch with a local family and proceeds help fund the project to protect seahorses from poaching.  

Prices from £3,030pp, based on two sharing and including return flights, domestic flights, transfers, and seven nights' B&B accommodation, plus a whale watching experience, a tuk tuk tour of Vilanculos, four dives, as well as the Seahorse Safari. Original Diving, 020 7978 0505, www.originaldiving.com  

Sponge farming – Tanzania 

A welcome add-on to a diving holiday to Tanzania is a visit to a sponge farm, which is a fascinating insight into ways that not-for-profit foundations are developing sustainable sources of income for locals and helping protect natural resources. The practice of sponge farming on Jambiani, on the Eastern coast of Zanzibar, has been developed by Marine Cultures in order to provide a sustainable alternative to fishing, reducing pressures on natural resources along the coast. Unlike fish or pearl farms, this type of aquafarming is much easier and cheaper to establish and provides a reliable source of income for its farmers, many of whom are single women. After a short briefing, a guide will take you out onto the reef flat at low tide. You will wade out about 200 metres from the shore to the sponge farm where you can assist in cleaning the lines on which the sponges hanging, make sure they are all attached and check the young sponges for signs of disease. It's a rewarding opportunity to play a small part in an endeavour that has been developed with no negative effect on the natural sponge population.  

Prices from £4,755pp, based on two sharing and including return flights, domestic flights, transfers, and 5 nights' full board and 5 nights' B&B accommodation, plus six dives, as well as the Sponge Farm experience. Original Diving, 020 7978 0505, www.originaldiving.com 

-Ends- 

Follow us on instagram @originaldiving for more travel inspiration and for more information contact: press@originaltravel.co.uk; 020 3582 4990  

     _________________________________________________________________________ 

Notes to Editors: 

Original Diving is a sister company to Original Travel and curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, 13 of which were recognised in Conde Nast Traveler's 2023 Travel Specialists list, including repeat inclusions for Co-founder Tom Barber (family specialist) and Jacqui Brooks (Indonesia specialist). 

Original Diving clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including: 

• Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting.
• A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a city break, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.
• The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently).
• The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.