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John Rumney |
OLD DOG, NEW TRIPS
Eye to Eye is the culmination of John and Linda
Rumney's 30 years of extensive experience living
and working on the Great Barrier Reef.
John, founder and former manager of the
adventure dive and scientific research vessel
Undersea Explorer, brings his interpretive and
photographic skills, comprehensive ecological
knowledge, nautical expertise, and contagious
enthusiasm to every charter
Though atypical for conservationists,
John and Linda's experiences with the
reef began as commercial fishermen.
After years diving and learning about
this environment they became first-hand
witnesses to the negative impacts of
human activities and climate change. In
John's words "The more fish I saw
disappearing, the more moved I felt to
do something about it." This
motivated the Rumneys to embark on a new
career, with the primary goal to protect
the sea they had grown to love. John has
since belonged to many different
conservation projects and councils,
consulted for Climate Change panels, and
worked alongside and featured in many
environmental TV programs and
documentaries (including the Discovery
Channel, VOX TV, National Geographic,
ZDF, Stern, Channel 10 news, and 60
minutes)."
The Rumney family and their team of
dedicated guides would like to extend
their passion for the underwater world
to anyone who wants to be involved. By
joining Eye to Eye, you will benefit
from local knowledge and experience,
visit the optimal spots for each day
(ensuring the best conditions and
seasonal highlights), experience a
positive and educational approach and be
assured that your trip has minimal
impacts on the environment.
Every trip we run provides free space to
researchers in the belief that Research
= Awareness = Conservation and
Sustainable Management
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Osprey Reef |
Tim Forderer's Blog ...
"4th of July 2008 It is only
1900 and above their is already
a star speckled dark Australian
night. Their are no city lights
to wash out the stars this far
north in Australia. We are about
130 miles north of the closest
real city. .... "
Click Here
Hi John,
The time we spent on board your
vessel will stay with us as one
of the best memories of our
lives. The crew, Mick + Jules +
Roscoe were great, and above all
we loved your enthusiasm for
diving, animals and life in
general.
Our family had to save up for a
long time before our visit to
Australia. Booking a trip from
overseas meant that our
selection was based on internet
searches, word of mouth and a
belief in the salesman. Thank
god we chose you!
Your passion for nature and
diving touched are souls. And
thanks to your outstanding crew
my wife started diving.... and
still is! We often find
ourselves excitedly reminiscing
about our trip and the memories
we made with you.
Wherever I go I will tell people
what you told me: "a dead shark
is only worth its price in
meat/fins but a living one can
be continuous resource and
attraction for tourists and is
therefore worth far more alive".
Hopefully the revenue created
through eco-tourism and eco-tax
will be enough to pay the poor
fishermen off and keep the
sharks and nature around for our
children to enjoy.
With an email it is impossible
for me to express my feeling and
memories, I hope you will
understand.
We will keep you in our hearts,
Kindest regards, Frits van Boven
and family, PADI Master
Instructor
Dear John and Linda,
First of all - thanks for the
incredible adventures. It was a
great privilege to dive with
you. These four dive expeditions
on Undersea Explorer are among
my very best memories.
Second - thanks for everything
you have done for the GBR and
Osprey. I'm sure you will
continue the good work, but
already now you have done so
much for conservation and for
educating the diving community.
I'm a conservative and very
skeptical of most people who
talk about environmentalism. But
I always knew that you are the
real thing. While the others
were scoring political points
you were fighting
for our reefs, taking the risks
and putting your money where
your mouth is.
Thank you.
And third - good luck with all
your new plans. I hope that your
"Eye to Eye Marine Encounters"
have a great future. Sounds very
special. If I have the money
(always an 'if' in my life) –
one day I hope to dive with you
again..
Thanks again and my very best
wishes to you and your family!
Lev
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Great Barrier Reef |
Dear Linda & John,
…. I remember when I first met
you two, only 2 months after
arriving in Australia, and you
both gave me such inspiration
and motivation. Thanks a lot for
that!! When I had some lectures
that were not too exciting I
often thought about that shark
research trip with you, and that
simply helped me get motivated
again. Big congratulations to
your two (!) exciting and
adventurous companies. With your
experience, knowledge and
creative personalities it will
be a success for sure. I will be
more than happy to send out mass
emails to friends around the
world telling them about your
business, if you like.
All the best,
Jessica
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