blue o two takes 'Project Shark' to the Maldives

Diving tour operator blue o two is pleased to announce that resident marine biologist, Nikki Weeden, will be taking the ‘Project Shark’ itinerary to the Maldives in January 2013.

Nikki, who joined the blue o two team in 2011, studied marine biology at Plymouth University and wrote her undergraduate thesis on shark populations in the Bahamas. Her work contributed to papers that validated the use of baited remote underwater video surveys for assessing the diversity, distribution and abundance of sharks in the Bahamas. Nikki will now be able to go back to roots by hosting the ‘Project Shark’ itinerary from the Red Sea in the new location of the Maldives onboard the luxurious M/V Carpe Diem.

The current ‘Project Shark’ itineraries offered onboard blue o two’s luxury liveaboard fleet in the Red Sea were established in 2007 when Dr. Elke Bojanowski, founder of the Red Sea Sharks trust, joined the blue o two team. Elke began her Longimanus Project in October 2004 and since this date she has been actively collecting underwater photographs and video-clips of Red Sea sharks for cataloguing, review and analysis. Elke was able to continue her research by offering divers the opportunity to learn about sharks in the Red Sea, collect and analyse data, and learn about globally endangered marine species. Research will be continued by Nikki with the extension of ‘Project Shark’ to the Maldives early next year contributing to existing Maldivian trust research projects.

Company Director Jason Strickland commented “We are thrilled to be able to extend the good work of Project Shark to the Maldives, giving customers the opportunity to experience the valuable work of this itinerary in a new and beautiful location.”

For more information, visit www.blueotwo.com/Liveaboards-Maldives-Itineraries.

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