Supported by Emirates Diving Association and local businesses, Divers Down in Dubai is getting ready to host their bi-annual family day in support of Project AWARE's global Finathon®

Stuart Martin, the event organiser and Divers Down general manager, is FINatical about sharks.

Ever since his first face to face shark encounter at the very young age of twelve, he has been fascinated by these amazing ocean creatures. When a few years later he became dive centre manager and Project AWARE dive leader, he made it his priority to rally support for shark conservation in his local community.

Stuart's Finathon swimming challenge scheduled to take place on Saturday 3rd May 2014, kicks off Divers Down 2014 Finathon fundraising campaign.

"Fifteen, twenty years ago when you were diving here you would see sharks on every single dive. Now you don't" commented Stuart Martin in a recent Radio and TV Interview.

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In February 2014, efforts to conserve migratory sharks have been strenghetened at an international workshop held on shark conservation supported by the United Nations Government representatives from nine countries who gathered in Dubai to lend more support to shark conservation in the region.

Many shark species found in the United Arab Emirates waters are registered as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) including the smooth, great, and scalloped hammerhead sharks. Since March 2013, these three hammerhead shark species are listed under CITES Appendix II. The workshop and new Sharks MoU in the Arab region signed earlier this year supports the successful implementation of the historic 2013 CITES shark listings when they enter into effect in September 14th.

The tide is turning for shark conservation but sharks continue to suffer from bad public image. The global Finathon® campaign is a fun way to rally support for sharks. To join or support an event visit www.finathon.org.

Divers Down Dubai Finathon is on Saturday 3rd May 2014 at RIVA Beach Club Palm Jumeirah. Visit www.diversdown-uae.comto sign up or support the event with a donation

From all of us at Project AWARE, best fishes for a FINtastic event! Go Team Finathon Divers Down Dubai!

Photo: Hammerhead shark by Philip Simha