RAMADAM MUBARAK
EDITOR NOTE Dear readers ... Ramadan Mubarak ... Welcome to the May 2020 issue, The Fifth Issue of Diventures Magazine. As we promised you ... our topics this month addressed to all levels from professionals to beginners in diving. In this issue you will know diving types, as well as what are the problems and common mistakes facing divers. And for cave diving enthusiasts, from Greece the famous cave diving team and its discovery at Lavrio caves, as we have not forgotten to tell you how to learn from home and what are the most popular platforms between divers, and finally the topic of the hour ... COVID19, we will answer the most common question among divers, what if I got infected with COVID19 Can I dive ?! We would like to thank the contributors in this issue, especially the Saudi Instructor Nisreen Jan, who gave us the cover photo. This picture has a story inside the Issue. We wish you a pleasant reading ... and do not forget to support us. Mohsen Nabil Founder
Magazine Cover
LANTERN
Photograph for
NISREEN JAN
CONTRIBUTORS
Capt. Mohsen El Gohary
Waleed AbdulMoubde
One of the diving pioneers in Egypt and the
PADI Course Director
Middle East, President of the International
Have many contribution in environmental
Academy for Diving Technology.
activities in E-Learning in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Chairman of the Egyptian Society for the
Founder & Leader of Shark Family Diving Team,
Protection and Safety of the Egyptian Diver.
one of the largest diving teams in GCC.
General Director of the Egyptian International Diving School.
Vasilis Stergiou
Ahmed Khalifa
He is a cave explorer and researcher for many
Ex Special Forces Officer
years in the area of Lavrion in Greece, and
PADI IDC Staff Instructor
specializes in the search for mineral stones and
SDI Specialty Instructor
Vasilis discovered two unique mineral stones and
War Diver
named after him in 2018
Chief Instructor at Scuba Plus Diving Center
SUPPORT US
PATREON
SCUBA NEWS
5
DIVING AFTER COVID19 INFECTION
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
A warning has appeared to divers that they should be especially careful of infection with the Coronavirus, issued by a doctor in Austria, Dr. Frank Hartig, who
is also a diver, head of the emergency unit in the Innsbruck University Hospital
of the emerging COVID19. He told the Austrian News Agency that he
had noticed "tremendous changes" in the lungs of patients who had recovered from the
infection
even
though
their
conditions did not appear serious enough to warrant hospitalization.
5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
6
and is the crisis coordinator for patients
SCUBA NEWS we don't understand what's going on
DAN Says COVID-19 symptoms range from mild to severe. Some people have no symptoms at all while others require complicated stays in ICUs with ventilator support to recover. In addition to the impact of the primary viral infection, factors such as
underlying medical conditions, age, secondary
complications
and
more will affect recovery. COVID-19 shares many features with other serious viral
pneumonias
7
period
of
and
requires
convalescence
a
before
returning to normal activities. The amount of time needed to recover will vary, as will the long-term effects of
here.“ Six active divers were among Covid-19 patients seen at the hospital since the coronavirus pandemic began, but none of them was considered to be badly enough affected to require hospital
treatment. After
several
weeks
all
six
were
considered to have recovered, and showed no outward residual symptoms beyond
coughs
and
“reduced
performance”. Yet according to Dr Hartig their lung CT scans suggested that the damage
sustained
could
be
“irreversible”.
COVID-19 such as pulmonary function. As information becomes available it will be
incorporated
into
COVID-19
prevention, treatment and follow-up guidelines.
Dr. Hartig Opinion Dr. Hartig says, who worries that lung changes as a result of COVID19 infection can
greatly
increase
the
risk
of
underwater accidents: "This is shocking, DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
“They are probably lifelong patients,” he said. “As an emergency doctor with 20 years’ experience, you gulp when you see something like this in a 40-year-old patient.” Two of the divers showed significant oxygen deficiency when under stress, normally a sign of persistent lung shunt. using elevated levels of oxygen, such as
usually observed in asthmatics, and in
when using nitrox, suggesting that this
four cases the scans revealed such
could be dangerous if the lung tissue
significant changes to the lungs that Dr
was still sensitive.
Hartig had to check with the X-ray
And he said that any coronavirus
department that the files hadn’t been
patients hoping to dive again in the
mixed up.
short term should be very cautious,
The doctor said he wanted to issue a
because scientific studies would not be
warning to all divers because, while he
available before 2021.
couldn’t tell how long the effects would last, he found it difficult to believe that his patients’ lungs could heal completely. “After a Covid infection, even if you have had only mild symptoms and your
medical certification to dive is still valid, you should definitely have a diving doctor examine you thoroughly before diving again,” he said. Dr Hartig also cautioned against diving 5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
8
Two displayed the kind of symptoms
9
COVER PHOTO
AFTER DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
BEFORE MAY 2020
Nisreen Jan A kindergarten teacher, the first Saudi woman to obtain a diving license, and the first Saudi woman to dive CCR system. She also works in the field of underwater photography and has participated in
several exhibitions. She began working as a diving instructor in 2013, and she started diving without her family's knowledge due to their fear of being close to the sea, but after a while she decided to tell them and they accepted that she was a diving instructor with understanding.
activities in the city of Jeddah, as well as in a cleaning campaign with 614 divers in Hurghada, which was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. Nisreen told us about that lantern that she found by
chance in one of the diving sites “Dream Beach� in Jeddah and it was in good condition, but when she told everyone about its place so she went to see it again and found it broken and in a bad condition, so she took it with her, and this situation reminds us of many unknown diving sites that get worse once
divers knows about it. Nisreen appeals to everyone to preserve diving sites, whether natural or artificial, such as shipwrecks. 5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
10
Nisreen has participated in many environmental
LET US HELP BUILDING YOUR WEBSITE
11
NOW!
Our Work in Diving Field
+201005246058 sales@diventures.co
12
DIVING 101
13
DIVING INDUSTRY
Capt. Mohsen El Gohary DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
Diving is the transfer of a person from the
air medium to a new environment with a liquid medium (or a gaseous medium with
a
pressure
greater
than
1.1
atmospheric), to engage in a specific activity performing a specific task, and it
is exposed to a different nature (physics) that affects his (physiological) body causing many risks or diseases, and exist
reefs, caves, and wreckage, we must study and preserve its dangers, and apply safety rules that guarantee us a safe return. Due to the multiplicity of diving activities in our lives today and the multiplicity of their applications, it has come to be called (DIVING INDUSTRY), and we start first by getting to know the activities of all kinds and their industrial role. 5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
14
In this fluid environment, marine life,
DIVING 101
treasures.
Military Diver -
-
In the field of frogmen (producing
In the field of marine sciences it
heroic work that allows military
produces
victory) and failure here means
theses that enrich and preserve the
death.
marine environment and related
The field of salvage (services) revives
matters.
a
15
-
submerged
marine
unit,
its
scientific
studies
and
Media diver
offshore or a marine facility for
In the field of (mobile) photography is a
work, or providing the necessary
product for video or cinematic films
services in ports and otherwise.
enriched by the film and visual media
Commercial Diver
industry, and in the field of (static)
Provides many services in various fields,
photography, a product presented in
the services of which serves its service
conferences, exhibitions and readable
according to the task carried out, as its
media.
services reach about 20 industries, including oil and gas, energy industry, marine construction, ports, and others.
Scientific (Research) Diver -
In the field of sunken archeology to explore and restore a sunken trail that enriches the archaeological history and recovers the sunken
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
APRIL 2020
Recreational Diver -
Income is produced in the tourism field which is an important part of the tourism industry, and unlike the tourist delegations that come to see and visit our red sea, which is rich in aesthetics, and our Mediterranean sea,
which
is
rich
in
sunken
-
(Cities and shipwrecks) We must
Sports Diver
know that the shark, which we think
It is a youth sport that encourages and
is an enemy, has one of which
brings together youth and clubs to
produces a tourism income of
compete beautifully on water surface
200,000. Dollars a year (HEPCA).
and under water.
4th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
16
monuments
DIVING MEDICINE
RAMDAN & SCUBA
17
DIVING
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
APRIL 2020
We thank Allah that we reach Ramadan this and we ask Allah to reach Ramadan for many years in the future. “Can I dive
question, so we go to experts to answer
this question in the medical and religious point of view.
5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
18
while I’m Fasting?” is a frequently asked
19
DIVING MEDICINE Medical Opinion
Dehydration leads to some degree of
Dr Adel Taher answered this question in
haemo-concentration (in simple terms
Issue 7 of “Blue Magazine” in 2010, and
thicker blood) as you are taking the fluid
he said: “From the medical point of view:
from the circulating volume of blood.
We always impress on all divers to be
This in turn affects the efficiency of the
well hydrated during dives especially if
blood in acting as a vehicle to transport
they are diving in a sub tropical area with
nitrogen from the tissues to the lungs.
a hot, dry climate such as ours. This is
The factors that affect dehydration
particularly the case if they are in a
mainly are; traveler's diarrhea, which
destination marked as a “resort” area.
divers tend not to treat for the first three
The reasons for that are quite obvious if
days or treat wrongly, alcohol intake the
you have a look at the statistical data
night before, which is quite common in
gathered since 1993 at our facility (Sharm
resorts and of course not drinking
el Sheik Hyperbaric Center). More than
enough water.
60 per cent of diving accidents treated
When fasting in winter, we gave the
were associated one way or another with
advice to instructors and dive masters
an element of dehydration.
who wanted to work and fast to try and drink one and a half liters of water mixed with electrolyte salts just before sunrise and see how they feel throughout the day.
Dr Adel Taher DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
APRIL 2020
face patient of DCS because of fasting
If they did not feel well, became lethargic
except two or three conditions. And he
or noticed a lack of concentration, they
also advised diver to drink from 4 to 5
were told to break their fast or take a
liter of water in the night before diving.
vacation during the month of Ramadan.
Religious Opinion
In summer months, the situation is much
From the religious point of view, most of
worse and it would be foolish to fast and
the Muslim scholars said that there is no
dive if you are a professional responsible
problem with diving during fasting. For
for others under the water.”
example Sheikh Ali Gomaa from Egypt,
Fasting and DCS
and Sheikh Othaimeen & Sheikh Munajid
While Dr. Haikal answered another
from Saudi Arabia. (all links in Arabic
question about the relation between the
language)
decompression sickness and fasting,
But you felt that fasting affecting you
during an interview with Egypt Divers
negatively,
Group on Facebook. He said that fasting
responsible for others, please not to dive
and DCS are not related, and during his
by the concept of the Islamic rule:”no
professional experience as a diving
harm should come to you, nor should you
medicine consultant from 2002, he didn’t
cause harm to others”.
5th ISSUE
specially
20
We also limited them to two dives a day.
if
you
are
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
E-LEARNING
21
E-LEARNING
Waleed AbdulMoubde DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
22
4th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
23
E-LEARNING Why E-LEARNING?
videos that support the presented
Clearly and significantly helps in raising
material.
its efficiency of individuals and scientific
LMS Includes:
societies; As it provides alternatives for
System
people who are not able to go to
institution or organization: sets up
educational
settings,
institutions
for
a
Administrator,
provides
who
is
decisions,
the
and
circumstance that prevents them from
distributes powers.
this time of course, as this method works
Instructor: author and develop content
to employ the capabilities of people and
and tests, generate discussions.
even develop them instead of wasting
Student: to interact with the content,
them and wasting time and using it in a
answer all kinds of tests and the
positive way.
questions posed during the lecture.
Distance Learning Features: You can use your phone or computer and flexibility at the time and the possibility of recording the lecture and listening at any time convenient to you and also the
financial ability because it does not cost a lot of money.
The E-Learning Has Two Axes Content:
It
includes
electronic
presentations of lessons using some programs such as power point supported
by supporting activities that move the curriculum
from
the
traditional
presentation style to a more interactive style, and the use of some pictures and DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
Platforms
Webinar Platform, which is used by
The most popular is Zoom Platform, this
major companies and organizations,
platform is offered after downloading,
because it gives them more than 500
free use and use for 40 minutes, and it
participants
has other options in the settings, either
Advice
a monthly subscription at a cost of $ 15
Don’t take time to make a decision. I
or an annual subscription of $ 140
advise you to start from now using this
GoToMeeting Platform is a platform that
technique, because it is very effective,
you can download and use also and has
and the participants with you can be
a free subscription and another with a
from more than one city or city,
monthly subscription of $ 16 or an
depending on their timing.
annual subscription of $ 192
24
4th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
CAVE DIVING
25
MINES OF LAVARIO
Vasilis Stergiou DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
In Athens, the capital city of Greece and the land that gave birth to philosophy, culture, theatre and democracy, a team of cave divers, called “AddictedH2O�. Erikos Kranidiotis and Stelios Stamatakis are now leading a unique diving exploration project for Greece.
still not widely known to the domestic population, let alone to the international diving community. The team has visited many caves and deep wrecks at various parts of Greece with the main objective being to film, rediscover and enjoy
technical diving.
5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
26
Cave diving in Greece to a great extent is
CAVE DIVING the city's wealth. Abandoned in the 1st century BC, the mines were reactivated in 1864 and mined for their lead by French and Greek companies until 1978. Many remnants of these mines (shafts, galleries, surface workshops) are still
Mine Exploration: The origins A group of cavers visited the Mines of Lavrion and the story of the underwater exploration began‌.
Lavrion is a small city approximately 50
27
Km from the Greek Capital, Athens. It is an area located at the south-east point of the Athenian Coastline. Lavrion is a very beautiful and picturesque place with rich history and culture. There lies a vast complex of mines and other facilities of the industrial past of Greece. The mines were exploited in prehistoric times (3000 BC) as a source of copper and galena, a lead ore. During the classical period (5th-4th Century BC) mining in the area resumed. The Ancient
present in the region. At one of these mines, a group of cavers visited the area in order to descend at a five level mine complex that had flooded chambers at its deepest part. One of these cavers, knowing the work of the Addicted2H2O team, contacted and informed the two divers about the site. Upon receiving the first photos, the team were thrilled about this site and preparations for the first dive began soon
after.
The
team
gathered
information, visited the site to evaluate any issues concerning the transportation of the equipment and conducted the first dive and filming of the underwater passages, all within a month.
Athenians used large numbers of slaves to mine the area, with the silver produced contributing significantly to DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
At the second tunnel, the scene changed dramatically, underwater the divers could see intact rail tracks used by the miners to transport the excavated ore on wagons.
Passing
through
one
underwater central gallery the divers
reached another large gallery with a
mine’s arcades, at least 500 m from the
small passage supported by wooden
main entrance or 40-45 minute walk
beams. Since the dive had gone
inside the dry part of the mine, we
extremely well and being the first in a
reached the entrance to the flooded
series of dives to follow, the divers
section.
decided to return. The team was also
When the team reached the sump Erikos
cautious of percolation which is caused
geared up and entered the water first,
by
looked down through his mask noticing
movement making for a zero visibility
three tunnels at the bottom of this
return.
flooded
followed
entrance, Erikos and Stelios excitement
shortly after by following him in the
could clearly be seen in their faces as
water where a final buddy check was
they described what they had just
made before both descending. The
witnessed.
chamber.
Stelios
the
exhaled
Upon
bubbles
reaching
and
the
fin
sump
divers chose one of the tunnels and went through and after approximately 20 meters reached what appeared to be a stone made wall and a semi collapsed arcade. As this was the first dive Erikos decided they would go back and explore a different tunnel. 5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
28
After a difficult downhill course in the
CAVE DIVING
When reaching the lowest level, there was another surprise waiting for us. Vasilis, Maria and Kyriaki, three of the support members of the team, had
visited the mine a few weeks earlier to evaluate the dry section. Upon reaching the sump, the groundwater was at least
29
0.80-1.00 meter lower, revealing two flooded chambers that were not visible "You feel at awe when you are
during their initial visit.
underwater like you go back in history
Underwater the silt was so bad it hid the
and can almost see faint images of the
entrance through the first chamber and
people who worked under such adverse
the divers had to feel their way
conditions.", says Erikos.
underwater in order to find the right
The team recall the hardships of the
direction and push through. After 20
exploration attempt at Mine Gallery 80.
meters visibility improved, and the
When work abruptly ceased by the end
divers were able to push further inside
of 1970’s, the pumps were shut off and
the mine. Along the way, percolation
the groundwater flooded the deeper
was causing fairly large sized chunks of
levels of the mine tunnels.
gravel and silt to pour down on them
The condition of the mine after the first
from the roof above. This happened
500meters was very poor.
throughout most of the dive.
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
The divers pushed as far as they could before returning to explore the other flooded section. This second section had two different routes underwater. Once
more the divers faced poor visibility conditions resulting in them having to feel their way during many parts of the dive whilst also getting entangled to the
30
line on some occasions. It is in these extreme situations in a dive,
one comes to realize and appreciate the importance valuable
of
good
experience
training gained
and from
previous dives, before attempting such dives.
4th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
CAVE DIVING So far, the team have visited and explored six different mines sites. For information,
photos,
underwater
footage, and to keep in touch with news on the exploration progress please visit: https://addicted2h2o.com/mineexploration/. The Exploration is being supported by XDEEP and the “XDEEP Exploration Support Program”.
Results
will
be
presented at the upcoming TekDiveUSA
31
conference between the 16th and 18th of April 2021.
+20 1021056900 34 Gesr El Suez Street, Cairo DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
APRIL 2020
32
+20 111 64 111 65 | +20 100 884 4443
40 Michele Bakhoum St. Dokki
scuba@scuba-plus.com
https://scuba-plus.com
4th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
DIVING TIPS
33
REBREATHER
Ahmed Khalifa DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
MAY 2020
As a PADI IDC Staff Instructor. SDI Specialty Instructor. But above all, I’m honored to be a war diver, I have started my dive career as a war diver (Egyptian Special Forces, 777)
PADI professional. Throughout this journey, I have witnessed many divers doing common mistakes but before we talk about them we need to
know why we do mistakes!!
5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
34
and then continued my dive education as
DIVING TIPS There are always 2 sides of the coin,
they never seem to forget about it
either the trainer or the diver himself
underwater. Inflate, deflate, inflate,
could be the rout cause of the
deflate — that seems to be the habit of
problem/mistake,
most new divers instead of learning
1- The trainer; some of the trainers can
good buoyancy control. It takes practice
be the reason of the diver’s common
to perfect, but that’s difficult to do if
mistake, those only some examples:
you’re always reaching for your power
- lack of knowledge.
inflator.
- Lack of supervision during the course.
REMEMBER, IT’S ONLY BCD NOT AN
- Not complying with the standard.
ELEVATOR
- Ignoring the requirement. - Being a bad role model.
35
2- The diver; - Ignoring the dive standard. - Use the shortcuts during the training. - Not conducting scuba diving at least every 6 months. - Exceed the recreational diving limits.
Those are some examples of why divers do mistakes and I’m sure you can come up with 100 reasons more. Now let’s discuss some common mistakes in scuba dive;
1- Using the Power Inflator Too
Much Underwater While many newer divers tend to forget about inflating their BCD at the surface, DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
APRIL 2020
3- Not Watching Air Consumption New divers are famous for completely ignoring their air-pressure gauge, which is frightening since air is the single most important thing to a diver. I try to train my students to keep such a close watch on their air that when I ask them how
2- Not Equalizing Soon Enough
much they have, they shouldn’t have to
Many new divers still wait until they feel
look to know. Watch your air and know at
pain or pressure before equalizing, some
all times how much you have — there is
others feel embarrassed to quit the dive
absolutely no excuse for neglecting this.
or delay the start of the dive, Aside from
After
physical problems in the ears, this is the
consumption so that on future dives in
most
similar conditions you’ll be able to
reason
divers
have
dives,
chart
your
air
difficulty equalizing in the first place.
estimate how much air you’ll need.
Once you’re experiencing pain, it’s going
REMEMBER, OUT OF AIR SURPRISE IS
to be difficult, if not impossible, to
NOT PLEASANT
equalize your ears. Even trying to do so could cause irritation and inflammation, making it even harder on the next dive. Equalize every meter on your way down, before you feel pain or pressure, and
especially in the first 10 meters. If you do feel pain, ascend a little and then try to equalize. Don’t force it REMEMBER, WE EQUALIZE NOT TO FEEL PAIN NOT OTHER WAY AROUND. 5th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
36
common
your
37
DIVING TIPS 4- Lack of Buddy Communication
differ++rent BCD — then you need to do
Whether it’s your friend or a family
bouncy check to make sure that you’re
member,
insta-buddy,
weighted properly. The wrong weights
communication is essential. From early
can cost you precious energy and air at
training classes on, I see divers who
best, or cause an out-of-control ascent
don’t even know where their buddy is at
at worst.
any given time. Keeping tabs on the
REMEMBER, PROPER BUOYANCY GIVES
person who may be called upon to help
YOU WINGS
save your life — or whose life you may
6- Over confidence
have to save — should be your top
One of the fetal mistakes which novice
priority. Go over your hand signals so
and
there’s less confusion down below; keep
confidence is required but to the point
a watchful eye on your buddy’s location
of the respecting the safety and
so you always know how far away they
standards of recreational diving. It
are; and keep tabs on their air as well as
pushes the diver to ignore his safety to
your own.
risk his life and others life as well. It’s
REMEMBER, SEE TO BE SEEN
always the two edges weapon, they key
5- Skipping the Buoyancy Check
is to use it and not hurting yourself.
or
even
an
Whether you are over-weighted or under-weighted
while
diving,
it
experienced
REMEMBER,
BE
divers
can
CONFIDENT
have,
BUT
RESPECT THE LIMITS
happened because you didn’t do a buoyancy check at the surface. If anything has changed since your last check — weight loss or gain, new
wetsuit or different thickness, Dry suit or even semi-dry suit, fresh water instead
of
salt
water,
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
new
or APRIL 2020
DIVING SERVICE PROVIDER!
Advertise With Us 38
Contact Us +201005246058 sales@diventures.co 4th ISSUE
DIVENTURES MAGAZINE
club.diventures.co
ONLY 49.99 USD/YEAR!
Subscribe Now! GET FREE DIVENTURES MAG T-SHIRT & CAP
DIVENTURES CLUB
SUBSCRIBE NOW! TO CLAIM UP TO 20% DISCOUNTS IN DIVE CENTERS, LIVEABOARD, & DIVE SHOP
club.diventures.co
Are You a Dive Center, Liveaboard, Dive Shop, or a Travel Agent, and You Would Like to Part of Our Partner Program
Diventures Club We Accept New Submissions, You’ve To Offer Discounts to Our Members
shop.deepblu.com
DISCOUNT CODE: DIVENTURES