Events for July 23, 2016 - October 3, 2018

Come join DUI aboard the Solomon Star, where we will spend 10 full days of diving in the beautiful waters of the Solomon Islands. Situated to the south east of Papua New Guinea and only 3 hours by air from Australia, the Solomon Islands are one of the most peaceful and beautiful areas of the Pacific. Comprised of 992 islands, of which 147 are inhabited, the Solomon Islands has some of the most pristine dive sites in the world. Unspoiled because of the remote location, there are not many divers to put pressure on the reef and fish. You have caverns, wide-angle reefs, large sea fans, soft corals, impressive large pelagic such as sharks and mantas, and rare macro critters. The Solomon Islands promise to have something in store for every type of diver!

Cold water diving at it's best! Come join Faith Ortins and explore Newfoundland!!

Diving day and night, in sandy, rocky or mixed sea beds, in caves or shipwrecks…the potential of the Azores is almost endless in terms of diving spots and types of diving. It offers adequate spots for various experience levels, from beginners to professionals, and the adventure may start with simple snorkeling in order to leisurely enjoy the abundant marine life of the archipelago’s crystal-clear waters. On the other hand, diving an off-shore seamount or in blue water is a guaranteed adrenaline rush and requires an adventurous spirit.

Learn about Cuba’s unique marine environment during an Oceans for Youth Foundation People-to-People educational program. Citizens of the U.S. will fly into Havana where they will spend a full day meeting with scientists about Cuba’s marine parks. After two nights in Havana, transportation is provided to the southern town of Jucaro, where the Jardines Aggressor live aboard docks. Guests will depart for six days of scuba diving in the Gardens of the Queen (Jardines de la Reina) National Park, one of the oldest marine national parks in the world, located 60 miles off the southern coast. Biologists will host discussions and presentations covering many topics including: proper mooring procedures and installations, fish tagging, commercial fishing and other local environmental issues.

On this unique expedition, the emphasis will be on EXPLORATION! Virgin dive sites, blue water bait balls, remote pinnacles PLUS the typical Socorro hot spots such as Roca Partida and the Boilers. This trip is for the adventurous spirit!

Join DUI on an educational diving-oriented adventure to the Arctic Ocean around Spitsbergen. Dive, snorkel and cruise around massive icebergs, spot the endangered polar bear, and explore pristine polar landscapes- all while learning more about medical issues unique to the polar regions. Your adventure will include lectures on diving medicine, dealing with medical emergencies in remote locations and coping with thermal issues in extreme environments. Those who qualify and apply can receive up to 16 CMEs through Wilderness Medicine.

Swim with the magnificent whale shark in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The world’s largest species of fish, with their impressive size, create a visual spectacle as their dark grey bodies glide through the water. While swimming with these wonderful animals, you may see hundred-pound sea turtles, manta rays up to twenty feet and three species of dolphins, entertaining you with their playful swimming and corkscrew jumps.

Join Faith Ortins, VP of DUI, and photographers Michael Salvarezza and Chris Weaver, on an amazing expedition to the far North. The itinerary offers the opportunity to explore both Iceland and Greenland above and below the water line.

Jacques Cousteau and John Steinbeck saw the magic that the Sea of Cortez has to offer. Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez “the worlds aquarium.” John Steinbeck wrote "The Log of the Sea of Cortez" a journey through a remote and beautiful corner of the world, a diary filled with the daily excitements and triumphs of skillful and energetic men. It is also an invitation to see the world anew from a fresh vantage point and perhaps with a broader and more understanding spirit. Dolphins, sea lions, pilot whales, humpback whale, blue fin whales, orca and sperm whales. Flying mantas, blue and brown footed boobie birds, cormorants, frigate birds and the endemic yellow footed gulls.

California’s Channel Islands offers some of the best natural beauty the world has to offer. Sunlight filtered by the canopy becomes an array of thin green-yellow splinters illuminating kelp fronds and fish immediately below. Juvenile calico bass and small kelpfish are well-camouflaged between brown kelp stripes and tangled blades. Small groups of sardines, almost invisible against the blue sky above, dart inches beneath the surface where the canopy clears. Slight surge rocks the entire forest gently back and forth.