Carl F. Bucherer ScubaTec Manta Trust Edition

JToddH, a self-proclaimed superfan of Carl F. Bucherer's ScubaTec line, shares his unbridled enthusiasm for the new ScubaTec Maldives edition, released at Watches and Wonders 2021. His passionate review highlights the watch's aesthetic appeal and its connection to the Manta Trust, an organization dedicated to manta ray conservation. This article delves into why this particular dive watch has captured the hearts of collectors and divers alike.

  I’ll be honest here, there is absolutely NOTHING objective in this post. When it comes to ScubaTec, I am COMPLETELY biased! I’ll even go so far as to ordain myself as the biggest fan of the ScubaTec. (I applaud anyone else making the same claim!) 

  Make no mistake, I was a Carl F. Bucherer fanboy long before the first ScubaTec was ever minted. So, when original ScubaTec was released in 2014, it was lust at first sight! It was (is) the PERFECT tool/dive watch.

  While I have a penchant for dive watches ranging from Seiko, Certina, Rolex, Hublot, etc., the fact remains that I have more ScubaTecs in my humble collection than any other model from any single brand. I am completely infatuated by this watch! And yes, I dive all of my ScubaTecs!

  Still, with five ScubaTecs in my lineup and two more planned (as budget allows) I thought I would be safe from “another” ScubaTec obsession, at least for a little while.

  Then came Watches an Wonders 2021, and a new ScubaTec Maldives edition to support the Manta Trust. (More on the Manta Trust in a bit)

  If you’re still reading, I have to ask, “why?” The images say it all. This watch is SPECTACULAR! 

  Unlike the current blue-dialed models, the new ScubaTec Maldives edition replaces the scales of the traditional ScubaTec dial with flowing waves of blue that cast a mesmerizing, radiant glow. It’s just plain sexy!

  As a diver, I particularly like the bold numerals that clearly mark the stainless steel bezel along with ceramic inlays that make it easy to read, even in murky water or low-light environments. 

  The ScubaTec Maldives edition comes on the brand’s stainless bracelet (I have two CFB bracelets with quality second to NONE!) or on a blue rubber strap with inserts made from recycled plastic recovered from the Mediterranean Sea. (Who thinks this stuff up?) Genius. 

  As soon as I get my hands on an actual piece, I’ll take photos and write a full review. For now, I just wanted to get the good news out and share my enthusiasm for the newest member of the ScubaTec family!

The Carl F. Bucherer Press Release Reads: 

The Patravi ScubaTec Maldives dive watch celebrates Carl F. Bucherer’s long- standing partnership with the Manta Trust. The newest member of the Patravi ScubaTec family, the Maldives watch, was created to raise awareness of the Manta Trust and its remarkable commitment to preserving endangered manta rays and the ecosystems and habitat they need to survive. The Patravi ScubaTec Maldives is the fourth watch Carl F. Bucherer has launched in partnership with the Manta Trust since 2017. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of each model was donated to the foundation, and a contribution from the sale of the Patravi ScubaTec Maldives is specifically dedicated to the Manta Trust’s new floating research station project. The Patravi ScubaTec watches are an essential part of Carl F. Bucherer’s Sport & Adventure brand world and reflect an important part of its DNA. 

A charitable contribution for each Patravi ScubaTec Maldives sold will support a remarkable new Manta Trust initiative: the creation of a floating research station in the Maldives. The Maldivian reef manta population is the largest – and one of the most intensively studied – manta ray populations in the world. 

Most existing research bases are centralized, limiting the extent to which members of the Manta Trust’s team can travel and the area they can survey daily. The floating research station, a vessel secured with the help of funding from Carl F. Bucherer, will provide an opportunity for new discoveries in parts of the Maldives that have so far been inaccessible with the existing centralized stations. A team of trained, knowledgeable manta experts will be able to conduct in-depth research. In this ideal environment, the specialists will be together in one place, and, together, they will be able to conceptualize new strategies, devise plans, and brainstorm ideas for further research and conservation efforts, not only in the Maldives, but also on a more global scale. 

Unprecedented Observation of the Endangered Manta Population 

In short, the floating research station brought to life by the partnership between Carl F. Bucherer and the Manta Trust will allow the world’s leading manta experts to reach far-flung areas within the Maldives and observe and record – in real time – manta behavior and even new manta subpopulations. It elevates the partnership between the watch brand and the NGO to the next level and provides a wonderful opportunity for manta ray research. And when you purchase your new Patravi ScubaTec Maldives timepiece, you’ll be an important part of the adventure! 

Sascha Moeri, Carl F. Bucherer’s CEO, is passionate about the brand’s partnership with the Manta Trust and excited about the floating research station. He says, “We are proud that, with the new Patravi ScubaTec Maldives, we are able to continue our support of the Manta Trust, which has been close to our hearts since 2013. The Patravi ScubaTec Maldives will help raise awareness of the urgent global need for marine preservation, and it will also support an important initiative: the creation of a game-changing floating research station.” 

Dr. Guy Stevens, the founder and CEO of the Manta Trust, also values the partnership. He says: “Anyone involved in scientific research knows that goals can be achieved more easily if you’re working with partners, which is why I’m grateful that Sascha and his team are so enthusiastic about our projects. Together, we’ve made great progress in recent years, and the floating research station will allow us to enhance every aspect of our work on behalf of mantas and their ecosystems. Carl F. Bucherer has generated an enormous amount of interest in these amazing creatures, and we look forward to continuing the partnership well into the future.”