ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada--Grenada, known as the spice island of the Caribbean, is hosting its second annual, week-long Dive & Conservation Festival, an unprecedented gathering of global leaders in marine conservation, according to a press release from the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA). The festival will bring together many experts, including government representatives, environmental advocacy organisations, scientists, researchers and the tourism industry.
Grenada is gearing up for its Dive & Conservation Festival, a celebration of the country's aquatic and terrestrial conservation efforts, from May 29 to June 5. This event has been growing since its inception in 2018 and has evolved to incorporate conservation activities in 2022. This year’s festival is a partnership and collaboration between GTA, Aquanauts Grenada and several other conservation groups: Sustainable Ocean Alliance – Caribbean Hub, Grenada Coral Restoration Foundation, Ocean Spirits, Savvy Sailing, True Blue Bay Resorts, Blue Horizon Resort, Mount Cinnamon Resort, The Tower Estate, West Indies Beer Company Brewery, Tropical Adventures, Dive Grenada; and climate activists: Tiffany Geer, Kirpa Grewal, Kate Charles, Vaughan Francis and Volcan Vegan – Joachim, the release states.
The festival returns with a special Grenada edition, where attendees will learn about land and sea conservation practices in Grenada, while enjoying conservation conversations and in-person activities throughout the week. The event kickstarts with a special screening of “Chasing Coral” at True Blue Bay Resort and transitions into plentiful activities on land and underwater, including Wreck Diving, Reef Diving and Restoration with Grenada Coral Reef Foundation, Lionfish Hunting, Beach Cleanup, Sea Turtle Conservation Voluntourism with Ocean Spirits, Culinary: Farm to Table experience with Volcan Vegan – Joachim, Sustainable Sailing with Savy Sailing, Bird Watching hosted by Vaughan Francis at Blue Horizons Garden Resort, and closing ceremony at The Tower Estate, where there will be a scented tour on the estate, a yoga and sound healing session, and tree saplings planting.
Aquanauts Grenada has been under new ownership by the Geer family since January 2021, and they have continually highlighted the importance of collaboration within the path of sustainable actions, according to the release. Tiffany Geer stated, "We chose to live in Grenada because of the incredible diversity above and below the surface. We saw how many groups were taking action towards sustainability and we knew this would be a place where we could collaborate with other organisations and make a lasting impact towards a sustainable future."
Grenada is leading the way in marine conservation by creating protected areas for endangered species, coral gardening and restoration, regulating plastic waste and promoting sustainable fishing practices. The Dive & Conservation Festival will provide a platform to raise awareness of these efforts and bring together global marine conservation leaders to discuss further ways to protect our oceans, the release concludes.
