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'Undersea Formentera' promises islanders savings on scuba diving

foto busseig 2018 1.jpg

The Formentera Council's acting chairperson, Susana Labrador, put her signature today on partnership agreements with two diving centres, Formentera Divers and Vellmari, concerning an initiative, “Descobreix la Formentera submarina“ ("Discover Formentera, under the sea"), to give island residents discounted tuition on diving courses. On hand at the signing ceremonies were the directors of the two diving schools and Formentera's sport secretary Jordi Vidal.

This year the Council will put up eight thousand euros, a thousand more than last year, to be split evenly between the two schools. The money will underwrite another year of discounts on diving lessons, between 40 and 60 per cent depending on whether the course is for first-time divers, beginners or experienced divers.

Descobreix la Formentera submarina“ is about encouraging islanders to dive recreationally, explained Labrador, who added that “scuba diving is a fantastic way to discover this undersea paradise that surrounds us“ and spoke about the importance of “getting people tuned in to the importance of protecting posidonia meadows and the fauna that they support“. Vidal, for his part, said the new Centre d'Esports Nàutics, or “Nautical Sport Centre“, “is part of an effort to promote scuba diving even after the summer season, a time when the island's seasonal workers can take advantage of savings on instruction“.

In more than a decade since “Descobreix la Formentera submarina“ has been in place, more than eight hundred islanders have taken up scuba diving. Last year's course catalogue included 37 courses for first-timers, roughly 15 for beginners and another 25 for returning divers.