EDITOR’S LETTER 3 The Courtyard, Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2AZ
EDITORIAL Editor Mark Evans 0118 989 7265 mark.evans@sportdiver.co.uk Deputy Editor Will Harrison 0118 989 7266 william.harrison@sportdiver.co.uk Art Editor Matt Griffiths 01242 216067 matthew.griffiths@archant.co.uk Reprographics Manager Neil Puttnam 01242 264788 neil.puttnam@archant.co.uk
ADVERTISING Commercial Brand Manager Ross Arnold 0118 989 7220 ross.arnold@sportdiver.co.uk
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Go diving - and help the Red Sea bounce back What with shark attacks, revolutions, military coups and continued civil unrest, Egypt has been put through the ringer over the last few years. Tourism is suffering due to the mainstream media’s portrayal of what is really going on out in the country, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula, where it is only the hardcore Brits, and a few other scattered Europeans keen enough to sort out their own route there, who are enjoying the sunshine and the great hospitality. There has never been a better time to visit Egypt. I was in Nabq with my wife and seven-year-old son for two weeks over Christmas, and have just come back from 11 days in Port Ghalib, near Marsa Alam. Both places were very quiet, with far fewer tourists than I have seen in previous years, yet the people were just as friendly, the sun was just as warm, the sky just as blue, the beaches just as golden, and the water just as inviting. In fact, the waters are even more exceptional at the moment because of the lack of tourists - the reefs look more vibrant than ever, the larger species are being spotted on more-local sites, and you can spend whole dives without seeing another buddy pair. Plus, because it is so quiet, you can pick up some stunning deals on accommodation and diving, so what are you waiting for? Get some Red Sea diving under your belt and get that warm, fuzzy feeling that you are helping Egypt get back on its feet while soaking up some of the best diving in the world. NEVER MISS ANOTHER ISSUE - You can now buy individual issues of Sport Diver and have them delivered direct to your door via: www.buyamag.co.uk/sportdiver Use code: AS112 and get £1 off the September 2014 issue!
Mark Evans, Editor mark.evans@sportdiver.co.uk
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AUGUST 2014
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CONTENTS
August 2014 | www.sportdiver.co.uk facebook.com/sportdiveruk
ON THE COVER
Tweet us! @sportdiveruk
HINTS & ADVICE
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Sport Diver’s acknowledged diving experts offer useful tips and sound advice on a host of dive-related topics to help you dive like a pro
COVER PICTURE: Diver at Stoney Cove PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Evans
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REGULARS 8
News Eddie Kidd goes diving with Red Sea College in Egypt, plus news of UK National Trydive Week, a turtle release project in Wakatobi, and a dive trail to help Brit divers get more out of their wreck dives.
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PADI Diving Society News
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Project Aware page
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Simon Chance discusses stingray conservation efforts off the coast of Mallorca with PADI Course Director Brad Robertson.
Project Aware’s New Media Specialist, Domino Albert, discusses what the team has been up to this last month, and urges you to become a debris activist.
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PADI Diving Society Benefits
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Letters
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Dive Doctor
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The Conservation Diaries
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Photo Workshop
Find out how much money you could save by joining the PADI Diving Society - there are a host of benefits from a wide selection of dive-related companies.
The pick of the Sport Diver postbag, including a reader impressed by their first diving experience, despite having shunned offers to take the plunge on previous occasions.
146 Paul Rose
Paul talks about the power of people when it comes to underwater conservation, from established National Geographic explorers to energetic schoolkids.
Dr Oliver Sykes looks at the trace gas Xenon - its uses, characteristics and peculiarities.
Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown speak to Bite-Back’s Graham Buckingham about the charity’s campaign to make the United Kingdom the world’s first shark fin soup-free nation.
Martin Edge continues his ‘how that shot was taken’ theme, this month starting a new mini-series on opporunities found beneath piers and jetties.
ere GET out ltdih ve centre, Find your loca 138 see our guide on page
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KIT & REVIEWS
Sport Diver brings you more regular UK diving features than any other magazine
Sport Diver travels the world to bring you the best diving destinations
Sport Diver’s Test Team rates and reviews the new releases
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104 What’s
PADI Specialty: Boat Diver Making the most of the many Advanced Open Water certification spin-offs, Sport Diver art editor Matt Griffiths gets stuck into the PADI Boat Diver Specialty.
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Deptherapy This month saw dive charity Deptherapy run its first ever instructor training course. Stuart Philpott journeyed to Crowthorne in Surrey to take part.
Above 18m: The Brazen Patrick Shier heads for East Sussex in search of the Brazen, a Man o’ War that disappeared off the coast more than 200 years ago.
130 TECH DIVER: Are you fit enough? Heading to Chepstow for a tech dive? Are you sure you’re fit enough?
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Egypt Mark Evans celebrates the Red Sea Aggressor’s return to Egypt.
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The Maldives
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Lanzarote
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Florida
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Turks and Caicos Islands
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Euro drive-n-dive: Austria
Jeremy Cuff discovers an island that is both family-friendly and perfect for divers.
The Sport Diver team discovers a gem of a dive island.
New
A selection of new products, including the Aquaviz UTS Pro Core mask, Fourth Element’s one-piece Hydroskin suit and Scubapro’s Nova 200 light.
106 Gear Guide: Dive Bags
The Sport Diver Test Team rates and reviews a selection of lightweight dive bags from a variety of manufacturers.
Wreck treks! Need we say any more?
Stuart Philpott joins up with some old friends in the TCIs.
Mark Evans enters Austria and dives the Weissensee.
122 TECH DIVER: New Zealand
Martyn Farr takes the ultimate selfie.
116 Long Term Test A range of gear is tested over a six-month period, including the Exposure SUB M3 dive light, Scubapro’s Chromis dive watch, and the Fourth Element Argonaut Kevlar drysuit.
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NEWS
Send your dive industry news to: Email: news@sportdiver.co.uk Or write to: News, Sport Diver, 3 The Courtyard, Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2AZ
Eddie Kidd dives with the College Motorcycle daredevil Eddie Kidd recently spent a few days diving with Red Sea Diving College in Egypt, and his positive attitude to life proved inspirational to everyone who dived with him. Photographs by Paul Winkworth
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nyone who is over 30 years old and grew up in the UK will remember the name Eddie Kidd; whether it’s from his death-defying motor bike stunts, his ‘007’ movie stunts or from his sultry ‘no blue jeans’ Levi ad, his name is etched into our memories as the cool kid who had no fear. At only 16 years old, Eddie flew into the record books when he equalled Evel Kneivel’s motorcycle long jump record jump over 13 London doubledecker buses. At 17, he beat the distance over 14 buses to claim the new world record. Eddie jumped his motorcycle for decades all around the world, thrilling the crowds below. Whether he was jumping the Great Wall of China, across viaducts and canyons, he managed to soar impossible distances through the air and safely land the other side. In 1993, Eddie took up the challenge of the Daredevil Dual, a jump-off competition against Evel Knievel’s son Robbie, as Evel had retired by this
Eddie takes to the water with Matt and Chill
Eddie ready for the off with Matt and Chill
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time. Eddie and Robbie jumped huge distances again and again, and Eddie was successful in beating Knievel, the son of a legend, and rode away with the world championship belt. You can still see this belt proudly displayed in Eddie’s home. Fast forward a few years and he is still the cool man with no fear, proving to many that no matter how big life’s obstacles are - he was left paralysed and with brain damage after a motorcycle accident in 1996 - you can still overcome them. Eddie’s visit to the Red Sea Diving College left an undeniable impact; the man is a true inspiration. Guy Haywood, Matt Kitchiner, Paul Winkworth and Mark ‘Chill’ Chilton were lucky enough to have the privilege to take Eddie diving over a three-day period. It seems an unlikely combination; Eddie, Egypt
and scuba, so how did this diving encounter come about? Lance Jones is a regular customer at Red Sea Diving College, who also happens to be a friend of Eddie’s, so when he found out about the holiday plans, he recommended the College and quickly made a call to Guy to make the arrangements. Initially it was to borrow a BCD to make Eddie more comfortable in the swimming pool, but we are talking about Eddie Kidd here, and Eddie doesn’t do things by half. Therefore the only option was to go diving, and what better place to do it than in the Red Sea on Kerry One, one of Red Sea Diving College’s daily dive boats. As always safety comes first, so before diving Eddie paid a visit to Dr Adel Taher and Dr Ahmed Sakr from Sharm’s Hyperbaric Medical facility. After
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Eddie and the Red Sea Diving College team on Kerry One about to depart the jetty
a thorough examination, Eddie was deemed fit to dive to shallow depths and it was off to Na’ama Bay for an orientation introductory dive. Eddie has done a lot of things in his life and has a tendency to flirt with extreme sports, so it was no surprise that he had dived before. Glen, Eddie’s carer and good friend, helped explain the logistics of the dive. Eddie was then kitted up in full scuba gear and assisted into the shallow water of the bay. The only small problem the dive team encountered was Eddie’s great sense of humour, which resulted in him cracking jokes and laughing so much that he couldn’t put the regulator in. Paul Winkworth, who took photos during the dive, said: “The man still has absolutely no fear.” Once the team knew that Eddie was comfortable diving and had ‘no fear’, the next step was to go on the boat for the day. During the next couple of days, Kerry One headed out to some of Sharm el Sheikh’s favorite dive sites, where the team took Eddie diving and
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showed him the amazing marine and coral life. Mark Chilton, who assisted Eddie during the dive, said: “What a fantastic character, it was a pleasure to dive with him. He is a true inspiration and still wants to push the limits, but we followed the doctors’ orders and kept him shallow.” Eddie loves the social life and therefore the only way to end the day was to have a de-briefing at the beach bar. A couple of onlookers recognised him and a few other dive instructors had a chat to him, declaring him as their childhood idol. There was no doubt that Eddie had a fantastic time, his smiles and laughter said it all - he also sent Guy a text message “I had one of the best days of my life today, thank you”. Glen also commented on the fantastic hospitality of Sharm el Sheikh; the hotel, the friendly locals, helpful service and, of course, the amazing diving experience. Something tells us Eddie will be back, and the Red Sea Diving College will be more than happy to dive with him again. ■
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TY’S CIALI EAR D SPE CES ALL Y N A S I E R S L P R U T U F EA CO DER PADI BLE AT GR WON CH E A H E T A B L A V A I O R E N J O Y R O M T H E T R E !! F N D G R CE ROUN RE DIVIN OF OU SU ONT R F PLEA N I CTLY DIRE
NEWS New Coral Reefs exhibition at Natural History Museum
DIVING LANZAROTE THE ALL YEAR ROUND DIVE RESORT. © Tony Gilbert
© Carlos Suarez
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© Tony Gilbert
YOU DON’T KNOW HOW GOOD THE DIVING AND THE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE IS HERE UNTIL YOU TRY!
We will not be beaten on like for like quotes! © Tony Gilbert
© Carlos Suarez
© Tony Gilbert
Family friendly resort with great dive sites and a wonderful array of species, also great for non-divers too ■ Warm weather and water conditions ideal for winter diving! ■ Daily shore, boat and night dives – we can offer the most dive sites all at the same price! ■ Flights from many UK airports with some great winter prices, ■ Ideal also for a long weekend! ■ Accommodation near to the dive centre and local amenities
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The survey’s impressive camera system
Get close to spectacular seascapes next year in a new exhibition announced today by the Natural History Museum and international specialty insurer Catlin Group Limited. Coral Reefs: Secret Cities of the Sea will include a live coral reef, a virtual dive and more than 200 specimens such as corals, fish and fossils. Opening on 27 March 2015, this exhibition will explore the richness of life beneath the waves, and its announcement marks World Oceans Day. Coral reefs are found in shallow waters in the tropics and are home to almost a quarter of all living species in the sea. While they only make up around 0.1% of Earth’s surface, more than 500 million people depend on coral reefs for their livelihood. The benefits they provide, such as fishing, tourism and protection from storms, are estimated to be worth more than £200 billion each year. Dr Ken Johnson, coral reef researcher at the Natural History Museum, said, ‘Coral reefs are not simply beautiful environments. They provide food, income and storm protection for many millions of people around the world. The Museum has an exceptional collection of corals from ancient and modern reefs that we have been studying, to understand how these animals, and the diverse habitats they create, have responded to changes in the ocean. ‘Climate change, pollution and overfishing have had a major effect on them. A quarter of coral reefs around the world are sadly damaged beyond repair
and many more are still under serious threat. Now we have access to new technology, such as the cameras and robots being used by the Catlin Seaview Survey, we can document current conditions of many reefs around the world and gain even more insight into how coral reefs cope with these changes.’ Exhibition partner Catlin Group Limited is the title sponsor of the Catlin Seaview Survey, a multi-year project that works with some of the world’s leading scientific institutions to monitor coral reef health. Stunning imagery from this research project will be an integral part of Coral Reefs: Secret Cities of the Sea. High-definition panoramic views displayed on 180-degree screens will help visitors to the exhibition experience what it is like to navigate through coral reefs. Stephen Catlin, chief executive of Catlin Group Limited, said, ‘Coral reefs are not only beautiful, but they also serve as an important indicator of critical changes currently taking place in our oceans. The Catlin Seaview Survey has been producing independent scientific data for the past three years to help scientists learn more about coral reef health and future sustainability. Catlin is delighted to join with the Natural History Museum to help everyone learn more about both the majesty and importance of coral reefs.’ The exhibition will contain more than 200 specimens from the Museum’s vast collections. Displays will include specimens collected by Darwin on the HMS Beagle expedition from 1831 to 1836, giant washing machine-sized Turbinaria coral, and some of the strange and spectacular creatures that call the reefs home, from venomous blue-ringed octopus to tiny sponge crabs. Although corals can look rock-like, they are actually colonies of tiny animals related to jellyfish, with limestone skeletons. Corals grow incredibly slowly, sometimes as little as one or two millimetres a year. They are highly sensitive to changes in the ocean, such as temperature, pollution and acidity. Coral reefs and the enormous variety of life they host can act as early warning signals, alerting us to changing conditions in the oceans.
World’s marine protected zones could be doubled Contact Wendy Phone: (0034) 928 51 19 92 Mobile: (0034) 625 059 713 Email: enquiry@safaridiving.com Web: www.safaridiving.com
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The world’s marine protected zones could double in size should a new US plan be implemented. The US had revealed its aim to increase the coverage of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The White House wants to ban fishing and mineral exploitation the full 200 nautical miles around the islands - the reach of the area’s economic zone. This could cover two million sq km, doubling the world’s existing fully protected marine reserves.
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NEWS MIMA 2014: UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION BONAIRE SAYS GOODBYE TO DIVING LEGEND
Wide-angle diver with coral growth
The MIMA underwater photography competition is tough! 26 teams, comprising an underwater photographer and a model, compete over two days of diving at the Medes Islands in Spain. Over these four dives, the teams, divided into two boats, visit different dive sites to get images that have to be entered into six different categories: Macro, Fauna, Wide Angle Environment, Environment with Model, Open and the special category for 2014 - Bryozoans. The competition rules are designed to protect both the competitors and the special underwater marine life that exists in this wonderful national park area. Each dive must not be longer than 60mins and all the divers descend at the same time on the sound of the boat klaxon. You must be back up again, within 10m of the boat, before it sounds again an hour later. Divers must not exceed 40m and must return with at least 50 bar. Environmental officers also dive alongside the competitors, to ensure that none of the fragile corals and other reef dwellers are damaged. Each team must wear ID tags and if they are caught damaging the reef, lying on the seabed to take images or any other bad behaviour, points are deducted from their score. The 2014 competition was held over 4-6 June with competitors from the local area, and then others travelling from around Spain, France, Italy, Russia, Canada, Monaco and the UK. The event has a party like atmosphere in the evenings, with interesting talks and exhibitions being held each evening. But in the daytime, things are much more serious. A long line of competitors check their diving equipment and cameras before heading out for the morning on their designated boat. As each photographer is only allowed to take 100 photos per day, and not allowed to delete anything from the memory card,
Up close and personal with a grouper
they need to make each shot count. The pressure is obvious among all the competitors until the dives are over for the day. The diving around the Medes Islands has a lot to offer, with steep walls covered in red and yellow soft corals. Huge grouper patrol these reefs and have no fear of the divers that visit. Schools of fish swim in the sunlight of the shallows and nudibranchs of all colours can be found by those with keen spotting abilities. The topography of the area gives divers caves, caverns and swim-throughs to explore. Once the two days of diving were complete, each team had to select the six images they wanted to enter. The panel of three judges then scored each images and prizes for the best in each category were awarded. Pete Ladell, the guest British judge at the event, said: “We had an excellent collection of images, some, difficult to separate, only after much discussion was the final result agreed. With 138 high quality images to assess, ascertaining the winning order was always going to be a challenge.” Alongside this main “splash-in” style competition there are also annual video and image competitions from submissions online. The local schools also get involved and there is a competition of the pupils art work, on a marine theme, where the winning painting becomes the image used for the following years posters. The biggest prize (1500 Euros) goes to the overall winner with the highest total score for all six images. The standard was very high, but a few sets of images really stood out for having all six images that made you say “wow”! The overall winners were Marc Casanovas (photographer) and Sussi Navarro (model) who took a series of outstanding shots to take the title.
Tourism Corporation Bonaire has released a statement of thanks to the legendary Captain Don, a pioneer of diving on the island who passed away recently. Here is the statement in full: As we know many of you are already aware Captain Don Stewart passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - but we are reaching out again to ensure that everyone is informed. It is with great sadness that the island of Bonaire continues to mourn the loss of Captain Don. He was one of the pioneers of diving tourism on Bonaire and legendary in his own right. Upon his arrival on Bonaire, 52 years ago, Captain Don became one of the major forces behind establishing Bonaire’s dive tourism product. Because of his hard work and dedication to Bonaire’s marine life and conservation, Bonaire became the benchmark for marine parks all over the world. It is with deep appreciation, tremendous respect and in fact is a tribute to Captain Don that Bonaire continues to be recognised as the #1 destination worldwide for shore diving and that it remains top of the list for snorkelling. In 1976, Captain Don founded Captain Don’s Habitat, as what he called a 100% environmental diving resort. The resort is now one of the island’s leading dive hotels. Captain Don was also instrumental in the movement and successful execution of the banning of spear-fishing in Bonaire. Throughout the years, Captain Don had received over 55 awards and had been recognised for this continued pioneering environmental leadership on Bonaire. He will truly be missed by everyone on/off the island and by the generations to come as they will hear his name in Bonaire’s history books, but we had the distinct pleasure of knowing and working with the Captain himself. We send our heartfelt condolences to Ms Janet Thibault, Captain Don’s lifelong partner who remained steadfast by his side. We thank him for making Bonaire what it is today and we are grateful he landed on Bonaire more than a half a century ago. Rest in peace Captain Don. www.tourismbonaire.com
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NEWS NEW UK FREEDIVING RECORD SET
A new national record has been set in the dynamic no fins (DNF) category. John Moorcroft broke the DNF national record at the 2nd Manchester Classic competition, with a marathon swim of 167m. The previous record of 163m, set by Chris Crawshaw at the Great Northern competition, had remained intact since March 2012. John said: “None of my freediving achievements would be possible without my regular training buddies in Apneists UK and of course Steve Millard who has coached me and provided great advice and training opportunities not just for me but for everyone up here in the northwest. “I would also like to thank Alun George who has always been there to inspire and motivate me. And I am grateful to my two sponsors, Polosub and Carbonio GFT whose products I rely upon with my [other] training.” John is now setting his sights on the open water and improving his depths in both constant weight disciplines (with fins CWT, and without CNF).
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Iona II dive trail now open Divers are now able to experience a new interactive dive trail on another of England’s 46 protected wrecks. The underwater self-guided trail has been created by Wessex Archaeology, on behalf of English Heritage, for the wreck of the Iona II which had a short but colourful history before it sank off Lundy Island in 1864. English Heritage commissioned Wessex Archaeology to design the dive trail in consultation with the diving community. The end result is a series of four themed underwater guides that will allow divers to easily navigate around the wreck and learn more about the vessel, its history and the local marine life. There is also an option to contribute to the ongoing preservation of the wreck through a photographic monitoring system. Further information can be obtained through accompanying booklets and the dive trail website hosted by the Landmark Trust. Copies of the underwater guides and booklets will be held by local charter boats and dive clubs and by the Lundy Warden for loan to interested divers but will also be downloadable from the dive trail website to print at home. The focus of this dive trail is the Iona II, a paddle steamer built in 1863 by the renowned Clyde shipbuilding company J & G Thomson for the shipping company David Hutcheson & Co, which now operates as Caledonian MacBrayne. After serving only a few months as a luxury passenger steamer between Glasgow and Western Isles towns, the Iona II was sold to the Confederate cause to act as a blockade runner in the American Civil War. The clandestine nature of the Iona II’s final voyage was demonstrated by reports in the local newspapers, the vessel escaping port authorities in the middle of the night and a mutiny of the firemen stokers.
A diver ready to dive the Lona II trail
Striking out from Ireland towards Madeira, a storm blew up and the vessel started to take on water. Despite the best efforts of the crew to stem the leaks in the hull and to get the vessel into a harbour, the Iona II sank on 2nd February 1864 in the shelter of Lundy Island. Rediscovered in1976, the Iona II was deemed historically significant and declared a protected wreck in 1989. Since then, all divers wishing to visit the site have been required to apply for a free licence from English Heritage. The aim of this dive trail is to encourage responsible licenced diving and provide an interesting and informative dive experience both for local and visiting divers. The local diving community has been heavily involved with creating this dive trail, from providing images and information about the wreck, to testing the underwater guides on the wreck site. Divers who have frequently dived the wreck reported that the underwater guides gave them an increased understanding of the wreck and the information booklets gave new insights to the history of the vessel.
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NEWS Red Sea Diving College launch PADI ‘Rescue Review’ course
Brush up on your rescue tows...
What’s the first thing you remember about your PADI Rescue Diver course? Most people, especially if they did their course in the Red Sea, remember how much fun it was. They remember their buddy shouting ‘Pizza, Pizza’ before disappearing beneath the blue, only to be recovered and dragged up the beach to an audience of rather red sunbathers. Yes, it was great fun - but as a qualified PADI Rescue Diver and on a more-serious note, do you remember the ratio and how to give breaths on the surface of the water while towing? Do you remember how to approach a panicked diver and, more importantly, how to remove yourself from their grip? What about administering O2? Bringing an unconscious diver up from the seabed? Some of us may remember the procedures, but on the practical side, most of us will be a little rusty with the skills. Red Sea Diving College, the first PADI Career Development Centre, have come up with a cracker; the
...and how to do rescue breaths in-water
‘Rescue Review’ course. The review course takes just one day out of your holiday - this one day may well save someone’s life. You will have the opportunity to review the PADI Rescue Diver video and the rescue scenarios, before going into the bay to revise your skills. The instructor will help you practice and refamiliarise yourself with the skill set. After the skill set has been completed, you will go through a little theory, try the final exam and then complete the two complete rescue scenarios in the bay. After the review, you will leave feeling confident and safe in the knowledge that your diver certification level matches your skills. We hope that you never have a chance to use these skills, but in the unlikely event that you do, you will be happy you reviewed them with the ‘Rescue Review’ course. If your EFR course is out of date, we can also provide a Rescue review plus EFR update package. www.redseacollege.com
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Sport Diver
AUGUST 2014
UK National Diving Week kicks off with the Anglesey Scubafest event on the weekend of 16-17 August. Over the course of the nine-day UK National Diving Week period, there will be the opportunity for the British public to ‘have a go’ at diving at their local dive centre or club by way of experiencing ‘try-adive’ sessions as well as snorkelling sessions in swimming pools. UK National Diving Week has teamed up with dive industry organisations such as PADI EMEA, who have kindly offered free Discover Scuba Diving sessions at 100 diving centres situated throughout the UK - that’s 25 try dives per centre totalling 2,500 new diving opportunities to members of the public who have never dived before. Fourth Element, Suunto, Apeks, Aqualung and H20 Films are supporting the event by promoting it and providing a fantastic competition prize to one lucky winner. UK National Diving Week event locations can also provide the opportunity for existing qualified divers to try new experiences such as diving with closed circuit rebreathers or sidemount systems, learning new skills with some of the industry’s leading instructors and gurus as well as having access to kit and top advice from dive manufacturers. It also offers people the simple opportunity to go diving on a UKNDW-promoted dive. It is the goal of the UK National Diving Week to introduce at least 1,000 new divers into the sport within the UK through this nine-day event. UK National Diving Week is taking place this year from 16-24 August 2014 at various diving venues around the United Kingdom. If you are a diver, diving centre or diving club and you want to get involved in UK National Diving Week, visit the website for more details: www.uknationaldivingweek.co.uk
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NEWS IN FOCUS: Wakatobi’s Turtle Nursery When Mother Nature needs a bit of help, Wakatobi’s caring staff play surrogate parent to tiny sea turtles. Sea turtles can live to be 100 years old, but most don’t survive their first few days. In the wild, the tiny hatchlings typically encounter a gauntlet of predators as they hatch and make their way from beachside nests to open water, and they remain especially vulnerable those first few months of life. When nature is in balance, this attrition is a normal part of the circle of life. But when turtles become threatened by factors such as habitat loss, or predators like fish and birds, they may need a little extra help to maintain a normal population. This is where Wakatobi Dive Resort has stepped in. “We’re delighted at finding more and more female sea turtles crawling up onto Wakatobi’s beach at night and laying eggs,” said nursery caretaker Sayafrin. “For the past couple years we have continued to witness increasing numbers of adult turtles on the surrounding reefs, and particularly on the House Reef at Wakatobi. One might conclude that due to the decline in habitat elsewhere, combined with Wakatobi’s ongoing protective measures for our waters, the turtles are coming here to find the environment they need to thrive. Therefore, we put a head start programme into place and built a turtle nursery, which is managed by resort staff, to help give these tiny ancient mariners a better chance at survival in the wild.” The Wakatobi security team patrols the beach at night looking for signs of new nests. When one is discovered, a small fence is erected around the nest site to stop people from accidentally walking over it and to keep would-be predators out. The fences remain in place until after the baby turtles hatch,
Sayarfrin with a juvenile turtle
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Turtle hatchlings emerge from the nest
which could take from 45 to 70 days, depending on nest conditions and temperature. Once the hatchlings emerge from their shells they make their way to the surface. Under normal circumstances, once the baby turtles have succeeded in digging themselves out of the sand, they make a mad dash for the ocean and do not slow down until they hit open water. However, at this time their life faces its greatest perils – from a gauntlet of predators in the sand (like crabs and lizards) to birds in the air (seabirds and wading birds), and fish on the reef. But those slated for Wakatobi’s nursery will take a different path. Once signs of a hatch are noted, the tiny turtles are collected as soon as they emerge, and moved to the holding tanks. The Wakatobi nursery was created when a former greenhouse near the staff quarters was fitted with a large water tank with a seawater circulation system. The tank is divided into two sections, with one half reserved for the smallest turtles, which are only 5-6cm long when they hatch. The youngsters are fed a diet of salad, seagrass and a little raw fish. Water is changed regularly to keep the tanks clean, and they are moved to the other half of the tank as they grow. In all, they are kept for about a year. ANCIENT MARINERS OF THE SEA “More turtles were hatched in Wakatobi in 2014 than ever before. So far, all the turtles raised in the hatchery have been green sea turtles,” said Sayafrin. Often referred to as “ancient mariners,” sea turtles will migrate hundreds of miles between feeding and nesting grounds; some swim more than 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) to reach their nesting beaches. Sea turtles spend much of their first five years within the open ocean. Adults frequent inshore bays, lagoons and shoals with lush seagrass beds like those fronting Wakatobi Dive Resort. They feed on
Wakatobi in all its glory
a wide range of animals and plants, and are mostly omnivorous in their adult life, except for the green sea turtle, which is herbivorous, changing from a carnivorous diet when they are young. By the time they are ready to be returned to the ocean, the young turtles will be 25-30 cm in length, and much more capable of surviving in the wild. They are on their way, but it will take almost another two decades for them to reach full sexual maturity. When they do reach adulthood they are marvellous divers, and some are capable of staying under water for as long as five hours even though the length of a feeding dive is usually five minutes or less. Their heart rate slows to conserve oxygen: nine minutes may elapse between heartbeats. Releases take place near the original location of the nest. Several of the first batches of turtles released came from a trio of nests located on the south beach, beyond the guest bungalows. Two more recent nests were laid on the northern part of the beach directly in front of Bungalow Three. In addition to this new nursery, Wakatobi’s Collaborative Reef Conservation Programme has made great strides in maintaining the healthy status of the surrounding reefs. This area, which stretches over 20km (12.5 mi) of reef and dozens of dive sites, was also designated a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2012. Wakatobi’s nursery programme will allow both humans and sea turtles to co-exist on the resort’s white sand beach, while also ensuring that future generations of turtles will survive to delight divers when they come together on the reefs. The turtle nursery is now one of the highlights of the resort tour, which is offered to guests each week. Guests are also welcome to visit the nursery at any time on their own. Photographs courtesy of William van der Wouw, Didi Lotwze and Wakatobi Dive Resort.
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SEPTEMBER ISSUE ON SALE Wednesday 6 August
GORGEOUS GARDA
Mark Evans continues his epic European diven-drive roadtrip, this time heading into Italy
The ultimate UW play-day aR cing rou on a DPV? We’re in!
nda
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PLUS
• Exploring Australia’s Moreton Island • Oman’s Al Munassir artificial reef deserves more than a passing glance • Always playing second-fiddle - the best shipwrecks throughout the Caribbean that you’ve never heard of • PADI Specialty of the Month - Search and Recovery Diver • And not forgetting the latest edition of Underwater Photographer, with more hints and advice from Dr Richard Smith on effective ways of seeking out and documenting marine-life behaviour
Pre-order the September issue today and SAVE £1 off the shop price! Go to www.buyamag.co.uk SportDiver and enter discount code ‘AS112’ www.sportdiver.co.uk
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DIVE WORLDWIDE
Egypt
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DIVE WORLDWIDE
Egypt
magic PELAGIC After a ten-year hiatus, the Aggressor Fleet is back in the Egyptian Red Sea. Mark Evans joined the vessel for a trip out to the Brothers, Daedalous and Elphinstone - and was not disappointed Photographs by MARK EVANS
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RED SEA - SHARM EL SHEIKH - SINAI COLLEGE - DIVE CENTRE At our British managed dive centre, Sinai College, we are pleased to offer you a high level of professional service in a friendly and welcoming environment. Our services include daily guided dive trips & liveaboard guided dive trips - as well as shore diving and special dive excursions. We offer PADI courses with our experienced instructors from introduction experiences up to dive professional and beyond.
■ Professional friendly service ■ Family friendly ■ British managed ■ Group offers ■ Divemaster internships available ■ Accommodation available
www.sinai-college.com | info@sinai-college.com | Tel: +0020-115-405-5100
DIVE WORLDWIDE
Egypt
T
he Red Sea Aggressor is back. The Aggressor Fleet used to run a boat called the Excel as their Aggressor in Egypt, but this ceased operation some ten years ago. Now the worldwide company has returned to the Red Sea, this time utilising the tried-and-tested Suzanna 1 as their liveaboard. The Red Sea Aggressor is a modern, well-appointed boat that was a good-quality liveaboard when she was initially launched in 2004, but now it has been ‘Aggressor-ised’ it is certainly near the top of the crop in Egyptian waters. The Aggressor Fleet has a global presence, but a high percentage of its clientele hail from North America, and so it was on the itinerary I joined. Apart from a lone South African and a British couple, all the rest were from the USA or Canada. This is great news for Egypt in the current climate - North Americans know and trust the Aggressor brand, so if this is enough for them to want to make the trek across the Atlantic to the Middle East, then I am all for it. Room-mate and buddy Brad Gehrt had been on several Aggressor/Dancer Fleet vessels, and that helped with his decision to try out the Red Sea Aggressor for a week. The Red Sea Aggressor runs two itineraries north to Brothers, Daedalous and Elphinstone (which is known as ‘Simply the Best’ among Red Sea aficionados), and south to St John’s/Fury Shoals back to back, so several of the guests on board had either been on the boat the week before, or were staying on after our trip. A smart marketing idea which is obviously working - hell, if you’ve travelled a long way to get here, why not stay for two weeks? They also do occasional ten-day specials which take in the best bits of both normal itineraries. I was looking forward to our northern itinerary, as the Brothers in particular rank as some of my favourite dives anywhere in the world. First up were a few fringing reef dives to allow everyone to fettle their weighting and get acquainted with the marine life of the Red Sea, then we set off on the long crossing to the Brother Islands.
THE BROTHERS The Brother Islands - also known as El Akhawein in Arabic - are two pinnacles of rock which protrude out of the Egyptian Red Sea some 60 miles offshore. There is simply nothing else around apart from these two barren outcrops, which lie about a mile apart, hence why they are a magnet to marine life of all shapes and sizes.
Scorpionfish on the Numidia
The Red Sea Aggressor
First up was Big Brother, which is topped by a British lighthouse built in 1883 that is manned by military personnel who have got a nice sideline in ‘I Dived The Brothers’ T-shirts! This spit of land is roughly cigar-shaped and is approximately 800 metres long. On the north point lies the wreck of the Numidia, one of the most-stunning wreck dives in the world. This huge cargo ship ran aground in 1901, and then sank down the reef, becoming impossibly stuck on to the sheer wall. The bow has been smashed by constant wave action, and so the top 10-12m comprises broken wreckage, but beyond that the ship is remarkably intact, all the way down to the props at 86m. Swept by sometimes extremely strong currents, the Numidia is absolutely smothered in soft coral growth, which drapes over the superstructure, railings and masts. Reef fish swarm over the wreck, and grey reef sharks can be seen circling around it in the blue, as well as the odd barracuda, trevally and
“Sadly they were too far away for any photographs with my 16mm pancake lens, so I contented myself with a bit of video, while at the same time hammering away on my tank with my knife to alert the rest of the group” www.sportdiver.co.uk
tuna. The sheer size of the wreck, plus its bizarre orientation, make it a dive not to be missed. Around the west side of Big Brother lies the second wreck, that of the Aida. This Egyptian transport vessel was bringing supplies to the lighthouse in 1957 when it ran aground and promptly broke in half - the bow section was obliterated on the shallow reef, while the stern portion sank into deeper water and lodged vertically between 35-65m. You don’t get long on this wreck, but again it is covered with soft corals and makes for a dramatic view disappearing into the deep blue below. Small Brother lies around a mile away from Big Brother and is a small, circular island surrounded by sheer walls and deep plateaus. Currents sweep on to the north point, bringing with them nutrientrich waters, which means the soft coral growth is phenomenal. And you get sharks. Grey reefs are the most-regular visitors, but hammerheads and threshers do put in the odd appearance - we saw a couple of hammers this time around, and the other RIB saw a thresher and a manta ray. The sheer weight of life on Small Brother makes it a smorgasbord of rich, vibrant colours, as all the reef fish flutter in and out of the coral and sponge growth.
DAEDALOUS Well, what can I say. After my last three trips to Daedalous - Abu Kizan in Arabic - were a damp squib, delivering nothing more exciting than the odd barracuda or trevally, this time around it totally overshadowed its Big and Small Brother. After hearing reports of multiple hammerhead sightings over the previous few weeks, I have to admit I was quietly harbouring great hopes for this large, circular reef,
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Egypt The walls of Small Brother are draped in soft corals
“Currents sweep on to the north point, bringing with them nutrient-rich waters, which means the soft coral growth is phenomenal. And you get sharks”
THE RED SEA AGGRESSOR This 36.5-metre vessel has been outfitted to the highest standards and offers a comfortable base from which to explore the Red Sea. It can take 20 passengers and boasts 12 crew, and the large salon has plenty of space to spread out and relax. The same applies to both sundecks, which have more than enough room for every guest. All rooms have ensuite, air-con and, rather niftily, a flat-screen TV equipped with a USB stick. You can simply plug in the USB to the onboard Mac, select a movie from the huge collection, drag and drop on the stick and then watch it in the comfort of your own room. The RIBs are equipped with boarding ladders to make getting back in easier, and are larger than the average liveaboard zodiac, so even with ten divers in it is not too bad a squeeze. Cruise Director David Patterson, and dive instructors Erin Spencer and Mahmoud Abdela, have a great crew onboard with them, and the tasty food is served up in American-size portions, so you will certainly not go hungry! www.aggressor.com
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but equally I remembered my recent visits, which involved long periods in the blue for no reward. I needn’t have worried. On the first dive, a hammerhead put in a welcome appearance literally seconds after we dropped in, cruising into sight at around 10-12m from along the wall. Unfortunately, it swiftly made an exit, but heh, it was a good sign. Alas, nothing else appeared, so we slowly made our way along the east wall, keeping an eye open for any pelagic action. The prolific hard and soft coral growth on the wall kept everybody occupied and entertained, but when two hammerheads came mooching along at 25m, everyone took notice. No one argued when the dive guides suggested doing the exact same dive, and this time three hammerheads came in to check us out after a short hang in the blue, and we were treated to a further close encounter when a lone hammerhead approached the group on the wall in less than 12m. However, the third dive proved to be ‘the one’. Dropping in at the northern end of the west wall negatively, I dropped rapidly to 20m, and came within a few metres of a chunky grey reef shark. Heading out into the blue with buddy Brad, we were hopeful of more shark action, but after 10-15 minutes, I signalled that we should start swimming south in the blue, give it another five minutes, and then head back in to the reef. No more than 30 seconds later, Brad - who was positioned between the reef and I - pointed past me into the blue. I turned to be greeted by the glorious sight of some 19-20 scalloped hammerheads cruising in formation towards us. Sadly they were too far away for any photographs with my 16mm pancake lens, so I contented myself with a bit of video, while at the same time hammering away on my tank with my knife to alert the rest of the group, who were all swimming along close to the reef. As I swam along soaking up the magnificent view of shoaling hammers, I was aware of a tank banger going off near the reef. Turning to my right, I was astounded to see a four-metre wingspan manta ray gliding towards me. I quickly snapped off a series of photographs as it cruised past me and turned, heading back out into the deep directly over my head. This is what everyone on board had come for, this is what Daedalous is all about, and it certainly made up for my last few visits. Inevitably, the second day at Daedalous couldn’t hold a candle to this manic first experience. We again had the odd hammer, and another manta ray came along for a brief encounter on a safety stop, but otherwise everyone was happy to enjoy the bizarrely tranquil conditions and just absorb the views along the dramatic sheer walls.
ELPHINSTONE Once a hotspot for hammerheads, silvertips and grey reef sharks, my last few trips had
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Egypt Manta ray cruising overhead at Daedalous
Coral growth on the Numidia
been shark-less, but the reef is still teeming with marine life and colourful coral growth, so it makes for a superb location for the last two dives of an itinerary such as this. The weather conditions were not ideal - we attempted to moor on the northern plateau, but the wave action soon snapped a line, and our captain wisely motored to the south plateau to join the other liveaboards already in-situ. Large waves made getting into the zodiac ‘fun’, but once we were in the water, conditions improved. A strong current was running over the northern plateau from west to east, and a few of us punched through it and hung at 30m scanning the blue for any sharks, but just as we were about to give up, I turned and caught sight of two large dolphins above and behind my companions. I’d heard them when we entered the water, and now they’d come in for a closer look at us bubble-blowers. I shouted and pointed them out, and as I did so, another four or five swept overhead and around us. The mammals put on a bit of a show, effortlessly darting here and there on the current-ripped plateau before heading off into the blue. We drifted with the current down the east wall, admiring the fine coral on display while keeping one eye on the blue for any pelagic fish that might show up. Alas, it was not to be, and conditions on the surface had deteriorated to such an extent that Dave decidedly to call it quits and we left Elphinstone, finishing out the week on a local reef.
Tornado Marine and Emperor fleets. The rooms are fairly spacious, the ensuite bathrooms have a decent-sized shower, the salon is sumptuously furnished, and the sun decks have plenty of room for everyone even on a full charter. Because it is catering for a mainly North American clientele, it offers four dives a day out at the offshore marine parks instead of the usual three run by its rivals, and I am certain that this number will soon be adopted by other boats. Heh, if you are going all the way out to the Brothers and Daedalous, who wouldn’t want to get an extra four dives in over a normal week-long itinerary? We were often the only divers in the water on our second afternoon dive. One thing they might have to be flexible with if they want to attract more UK and European divers is their maximum depth rule. The boat offers 32 percent nitrox, and so imposed a guideline limit of 33m, but many Brit divers run their dive computers on 1.6 PPO2, which gives an MoD of 38-40m depending on the brand. Also, with the Egyptian depth limit being 40m - and this generally being where the sharks hang out - most seasoned UK liveaboarders are going to want to be near this depth on at least the morning dives. All-in-all, it is great to see a Red Sea Aggressor back in Egyptian waters, and judging by the robust advance bookings, a rosy future is guaranteed for this high-end liveaboard. Dave, Erin and Mahmoud have a good crew on the vessel with them, and I look forward to joining them another time to trial their southern itinerary, which takes in the delights of the Fury Shoals and St John’s. ■
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
EGYPT HOW TO GET THERE There are numerous charter flights into Hurghada, or you can get on a scheduled flight into this airport or Marsa Alam International Airport, which is a stone’s throw from Port Ghalib.
BEST TIME TO VISIT You can pretty much dive at the Brothers and Daedalous all year round, but the better conditions tend to be in the summer months.
“Turning to my right, I was astounded to see a four-metre wingspan manta ray gliding towards me”
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS You just need a valid passport with six months left to expiry, and can then buy a visa on arrival at the airport - it costs US$25.
CURRENCY Egyptian pound (£1 = EGP11).
WHERE TO EAT AND MEET The Red Sea Aggressor serves up tasty meals in the main salon, and there can be few places as appealing to sit back with a beer or cup of coffee than the main sundeck.
“The mammals put on a bit of a show, effortlessly darting here and there on the current-ripped plateau”
VERDICT The Brothers and Daedalous remain some of the best dive sites in Egypt, and the Red Sea Aggressor is a supremely comfortable liveaboard kitted out to the highest specification.
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CONCLUSION The Red Sea Aggressor is certainly a nice vessel. It is right up there with the best in the Blue O Two,
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NEWS Join the world’s biggest diving club
SIMON SAYS... Simon R Chance, manager, PADI Diving Society, and executive, PADI Retailer and Resort Associations
STINGRAY CITY No, this isn’t another panegyric on the pleasures of diving in the Caymans - although that’s certainly a lot of fun. Rather, I am pleased to report a recent conversation with PADI Course Director - and Viral Internet icon - Brad Robertson, during which we reflected on how sometimes you need to come from far away to really see and understand what’s close at hand. In this particular context, we were discussing the stingray populations off the costs of Mallorca,
Become part of one big global family The PADI Diving Society has been in existence since 1997, and from humble beginnings has grown substantially, within a few years reaching the heady heights of ‘world’s biggest diving club’. With membership now standing at over 180,000 keen, active divers across the planet, the PADI Diving Society represents a formidable ‘tribe’. Now all three sectors of the PADI Diving Society - Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa - have moved from been connected but fractured, uniting under a global banner and becoming one entity, with a unified approach and single magazine title reaching all members, everywhere. The magazines in each region will be targeted at their members, with reports and features on dive sites throughout their turf, plus tantalising glimpses of what lies across the world. Benefits and Society partners will also remain regional, but there is now the opportunity for a global focus, giving PADI Diving Society members the chance to make great savings wherever they travel through the scuba world.
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This approach is showcased very well in the viral piece ‘A Ray of Light’, including footage of Brad speaking with local spearfishermen who had taken a couple of rays - both of which appeared to be pregnant - from an area which was supposedly set aside as a nature reserve. Avoiding any urge to berate them for their actions - which, almost certainly, would not encourage them to see reason - Brad’s approach was to talk calmly with the lads to help
“Brad’s work has been described as an excellent model for how awareness, research and development of eco-friendly approaches may progress in the future; lots of local, individual projects, creating local safe zones and sustainable practices, all con-joining naturally to ensure that each local eco-system is support and nurtured toward an overall common good” where Brad - a true-blue, dinky-di Aussie himself - is currently based. A co-founder of Asociacón Ondine, Brad and his team of local eco-warriors have thrown considerable focus on these resident rays in the seemingly unlikely location of the Bay of Palma, Mallorca. On the basis that understanding is usually the first step toward effective conservation, the project combined scientific programme elements with full community engagement, driven by a determined, but pragmatic, approach to creating awareness and provoking thought. Rather than beat people over the head with how thoughtless they are, Brad’s approach is to introduce possibilities, encouraging folk to think, and discover for themselves, how they can start to make changes - maybe small ones at first each of which would provide a genuine step toward beneficial change.
them understand what they were doing, pointing out the rays’ condition and offering advice on how to spot this in future, this appealing to emotional responses far more likely to engage the fishermen with the concept of sustainability. Brad’s work has been described as an excellent model for how awareness, research and development of eco-friendly approaches may progress in the future; lots of local, individual projects, creating local safe zones and sustainable practices, all conjoining naturally to ensure that each local ecosystem is supported and nurtured toward an overall common good. Find out more about Brad’s work at Asociación Ondine, http://asociacionondine.org or contact brad@asociacionondine.org. Donations of time and/or money are also appreciated as always, natch!
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Did you know? MASSIVE RUBBISH HAUL IN DIVE AGAINST DEBRIS
LEADING THE WAY
NEWS
With more than 40 years experience, over 135,000 PADI professionals and more than 6,000 dive shops and resorts worldwide, PADI training materials and services let you experience scuba diving from nearly anywhere. Scuba diving with PADI instructors, dive centres and resorts can help transform your life through education, experience, equipment and environmental conservation.
More determined souls to report again this month, all of whose outstanding achievements have been brought to our attention recently. Congratulations, then, to the following new PADI Master Scuba Divers: • Jasmin Chew, Whitby, North Yorkshire • Nick Chinn, Ulverston, Cumbria • Jason Dunn, Three Crosses, Swansea, Wales • Carl Melbourne, Orpington, Kent • Dean White, Aylseford, Kent Congratulations one and all - and, as always, if you (or your buddy) have been missed from this honour roll, please drop me a line to padidivingsociety.emea@padi.com so I can provide just and well-deserved recognition in a forthcoming issue of your Sport Diver magazine!
On 24 May, over 50 volunteers from Aquanaut Scuba and Snorkelling Centre, Kingston University Sub Aqua Club - in association with Kingston University Students Union Volunteering - undertook a huge Thames River Clean project at Kingston Upon Thames, Thameside. Spectators walking across the bridge and along the tow path looked in disbelief at the quantity of debris (1,338 items in all, equating to four tonnes in weight) that was extracted from such a small area of the Thames, including 105 shopping trolleys, eight traffic cones, five tyres, 14 bicycles, 35 skateboards, 388 bottles, three prams, one stove and three coconuts! While divers hunted down the debris underwater, surface-based volunteers pulled the
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various items out, loaded them onto the barge and also waded to clear debris from the shallow area by Turks Pier. The day was an amazing success, with a great spirit of camaraderie. It was fantastic to see everyone working together to make such a difference to the environment. The event was the brainchild of Aquanaut employee and former Kingston University Student Chris Elliott, who wanted to find a way for scuba divers could contribute to and give back to their community. The project was supported by Thames 21, the RNLI who came along and lent a hand, and various other Kingston University sport participants. The project also supported PADI’s Project Aware current campaign, Dive against Debris.
The prestigious Master Scuba Diver certification - the highest non-professional certification awarded by PADI - recognises a diver’s mastery of personal diving skills in a minimum of five different Diver Specialty areas, as well as their ability to demonstrate dependable Rescue and Emergency Responder techniques. Not surprisingly, given our shared commitment to diving and all things aquatic, a significant number of PADI Diving Society members have either achieved this award already, or are currently working towards achieving it. If you would like to know more about the PADI Master Scuba Diver programme, contact your local PADI professional, or write to me here at the Society offices and I will be pleased to provide any information you require on the topic. As always, if you - or someone you know - has attained a PADI Master Scuba Diver award recently, and we’ve missed the event from this regular announcement column, please just drop me a line to prra. emea@padi.co.uk and I’ll be happy to recognise the accomplishment in the next available issue of Sport Diver!
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About the movement Project AWARE Foundation is a growing movement of scuba divers protecting the ocean planet – one dive at a time. Over the past two decades of underwater conservation we’ve learned that divers are true leaders in ocean protection. We’re ocean heroes numbering in the millions across the globe. We believe together our actions will make a huge impact and will help to rescue the ocean.
MY OCEAN
Are YOU swimming to end finning with Project AWARE?
NEWS
Photo credit: Scuba Scene Taunton UK
DOMINO ALBERT, MANAGER PROJECT AWARE EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
June 2014 marked an exciting month for the ocean and the Project AWARE team! First on our busy calendar was the Marine Litter Network (MLAN) in Birmingham, UK on 3 June. I was excited to personally join the workshop to work with key stakeholders to help identify ways to reduce marine litter. Fresh from the workshop I then travelled to Brussels to attend the Seas At Risk Annual General Meeting, where Project AWARE was invited to present its achievements in support of our successful application to join 20 member organisations from 14 countries working to protect and restore the marine environment in the European Union. In the meantime, Ania Budziak, Project AWARE Science and Policy Associate Director, was at the International Shark Conference in Durban, South Africa from 2-6 June, to discuss what’s in store for sharks in the future, followed by the IUCN Manta and Devil Ray Global Conservation Strategy Workshop. Back in Bristol, the UK team got kids and their parents excited about the underwater world at the Bristol Festival of Nature on 14-15 June. With no time to rest, the team was back in the office ready to follow the International Our Ocean Conference hosted by Senator John Kerry, where Ania Budziak joined experts, advocates, lawmakers, and the international oceans and foreign policy communities to address the topics of Sustainable Fisheries, Marine Pollution and Ocean Acidification.
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Project AWARE is thrilled to announce the first 100 fundraisers to reach the top of the Finathon® leaderboard at finathon.org and raise $500 will receive a shark-tastic Ocean Tank Top cover as a special thank you for their fundraising efforts. But what’s a Finathon®? Like a swimathon, fun run, cycle race or marathon, the Finathon is a great way to bring the community together, raise awareness and funds to support shark conservation. Finathon® is a global fundraiser for scuba divers to raise critical funds for sharks and, of course, have some fun. You can help Project AWARE: • Fight to stop shark finning • Insist on full protections for critically endangered sharks • Negotiate stronger policies to ensure a brighter future for all sharks
Finathon 2014 has partnered with a global company offering fabric architectural and lifestyle designer products. Generously donated by OceanTankTop. com, the Ocean Tank Top are perfect for your scuba tank and a great memory of your commitment to fundraise in support of shark conservation! Frederic Lavorel, COO, said: “I’m pleased to partner with Project AWARE, I took part in many long distance 5km and 10km swim challenges as a young athlete and look forward to supporting the Finathon.” Finathon® is the perfect summer challenge to show your love for sharks! So what are you waiting for? Create your fundraising page at www.finathon.org, plan your swim and get swimming to end shark finning! Promotion conditions: One Ocean Tank Top cover per fundraiser who reaches USD $500 online while supplies last. Available for promotion period commencing 15 May 2014 and mailed during July 2014.
BECOME A DEBRIS ACTIVIST As part of its newly revised 10 Tips for Divers to Protect the Ocean Planet - a code of conduct for scuba divers to safely interact and protect underwater environments at the same time - Project AWARE is encouraging divers to put their diving skills to good use to protect the ocean from the onslaught of marine debris. An astonishing amount of waste makes its way underwater, reaching even the most-remote ocean areas. Once there, it kills wildlife, destroys habitats and threatens our health and economy. Don’t let your dives go to waste. Remove and report what doesn’t belong underwater every time you dive. Make a conscious effort to buy green, buy local
and, when possible, buy less. Marine debris is preventable. Co-ordinated strategies are needed at all levels to prevent, reduce and manage solid waste. Together, we can stop marine debris by taking local action and supporting policy change. Visit the new Dive Against Debris interactive map to see what divers are finding beneath the surface and take action. We know you remove marine litter when you see it during your dives. Now take the next step, Become a Debris Activist and participate actively in the Dive Against Debris global survey on marine litter. Visit www.projectaware.org to get involved.
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Trial 6 months for only ÂŁ10 (saving 60%)*
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS The PADI Diving Society is the largest diver affinity group of its kind offering Society members a vast range of benefits for a lifetime of scuba diving adventures. Whether you’re a raw novice, an experienced diver, or even a seasonded PADI Pro, take advantage of our trial offer and enjoy. • 6 month trial membership to the PADI Diving Society • Subscription to Sport Diver Magazine (6 issues) • Thousands of pounds in valuable rebates and discounts on gear, dive training and more! • Personalised PADI Diving Society Membership Card
EASY WAYS TO ORDER www.subscriptionsave.co.uk/SPD 0844 848 8049 and quote code CSDPG148
BT calls to 0844 cost no more than 5p per minute, calls made from mobiles will cost more. Lines are open 8am-9.30pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Saturdays.
Terms and Conditions: *Offer of 60% saving is a Direct Debit payment only. Direct Debit is a UK offer only. Details of Direct Debit Guarantee are available on request. Trial offer is for a six month (6 issues) subscription and will continue at ÂŁ16 (saving 36%) by 6 monthly DD unless the Direct Debit is cancelled. Savings are based on the cover price of ÂŁ4.20. For overseas subscription rates, please visit www.subscriptionsave.co.uk. Offer ends 30/09/2014.
Boat Diver In this instalment of the PADI Specialty of the Month series, PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Matt Griffiths (Sport Diver art director) tries his hand at boat diving off the coast of Puffin Island, Anglesey Photographs by Frogfish Photography
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ince gaining my Open Water certification back in November 2013 I had logged 22 dives, all of which had been at inland dive sites. However, dives 23 and 24 were to be new experiences for me - diving off a boat and taking on the open ocean! Arriving at Anglesey I boarded the boat, got all my equipment stowed and, with everyone onboard, we pulled away from the dock towards Puffin Island. When we arrived half-an-hour later, boat skipper Scott stopped close to shore to try to keep out of the ever-growing current and let the more-experienced divers drop into the water. By the time they had all departed the boat had to make another pass back round to the shallows to allow myself, Nick and Caroline to get in. One of the skills for the Boat Diver Specialty requires you to trial different entry methods; for dive one I opted for a giant-stride off the stern of the boat. Once in the water we made our way towards the rocky shallows to see if any of the seals would
come and play, which was amazing! All I had seen so far on my diving adventures, at best, was a sturgeon. A few seals slipped into the water with their heads frequently breaking the surface to check where we were, but alas none of them come in for a really close look. We descended down 5-6m and pottered about on the bottom. Nick was in macro mode pointing out anything worth looking at and I was amazed by what I saw. I remember thinking ‘this is great, but wait until I can see sharks, manta rays and turtles!’ As we started to run low on air it was time to surface and call the boat. I found the current okay and I was soon back onboard discussing the dive with Caroline. We had a short coffee break and discussed what we wanted to do for the next dive. We agreed on a drift dive. This was my chance to put my skills learned in the Drift Diver Specialty (see the May issue of Sport Diver) into practice. As we kitted up, Nick explained the correct procedure for doing a backwards roll into the water. I will admit I was less keen on this entry method
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SPECIALTY OF THE MONTH PADI say… Whether you’ve never made a boat dive or you’ve logged dozens, the PADI Boat Diver Specialty course can benefit almost every diver because different boats in different parts of the world do things differently. Diving from a boat is fun, especially when you look at ease when manoeuvring around on it. You’ll learn the tips, tricks and ways to dive from boats ranging from small inflatables to giant liveaboards, how they differ from place to place, gain experience and training from diving on boats in your local area, and how to safely enter and exit the water, stow your gear in the most appropriate areas, use surface lines to initiate or conclude your dives, and locate basic boat safety equipment. For more information about the PADI Boat Diver course, visit www.padi.com or contact your local PADI dive shop or resort.
but it was still fun giving it a go. Once again the more-experienced gang were dropped off first and then it was our turn; the weather was beginning to turn against us and I knew I was in for a thrilling ride. As we descended down to roughly 12m I suddenly realised everything was rushing past me and stuck close to Caroline to avoid losing her. We were coasting along, no effort required. It was bliss - a thoroughly enjoyable experience! When we surfaced conditions had deteriorated and skipper Scott did an excellent job of getting the boat close enough for us to board. With all my gear off I started assisting the other divers out of the water; I was having an awesome time. With everyone back onboard we started our journey back to the mainland, albeit in a very up and down sort of way. ■ Matt’s continued PADI education has been supported by Frogfish Photography, PADI EMEA, Mares, Apeks, DiveLife, Suunto and Fourth Element.
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PREREQUISITES • Minimum age: 10 • (Junior) Open Water Diver or equivalent qualifying rating ----------------------------------------------------
Next month: PADI SEARCH & RECOVERY DIVER
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DIVE UK Deptherapy
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DIVE UK Deptherapy
Deptherapy
Stuart Philpott reports from the very-first Deptherapy instructor training course, and finds out for himself the benefits that diving can deliver to disabled people Photographs by STUART PHILPOTT
I
t’s quite common to give a personal introduction, including name, age, diving qualifications, blah, blah, blah, at the beginning of a training course. This should be a straight-forward task for 20 or more seasoned PADI dive professionals. But here’s the catch - what if everybody in the group has some kind of disability? What if the group are a mix of quadriplegic, blind, bilateral amputees and autistic? How would we all manage to communicate? This was the opening scenario of Deptherapy’s first-ever instructor training course run by PADI five-star IDC centre at Crowthorne in Surrey. Instructor Trainer Dr Richard Cullen had divided us up into groups and chosen a different disability for each group. I was strapped into a neck brace and played the role of a quadriplegic (paralysed from the neck down) which, in my mind, is one of the scariest disabilities of them all. It brought home to me how totally reliant I was on other people. I had to wait for somebody to come and talk to me. The whole experience got everyone ‘thinking outside the conventional box’ and by the end of the session, each group had come up with a solution. This interactive session had laid the foundations for the two-day (weekend) course. When teaching individuals who are mentally and physically challenged, we would need to use adaptive teaching methods. The ultimate goal was to apply these methods to the planning and execution of a full-blown PADI scuba diving course. Dr Richard Cullen set up Deptherapy UK in February 2014. The main purpose is to qualify disabled people to dive and, if possible, give them a world-recognised PADI certification. Richard said: “I want to get as many disabled divers as possible in the water.” The Deptherapy Instructor course is being offered to certified PADI Divemasters or above. On completion of the course, instructors are qualified to teach Deptherapy courses. Richard said: “When you work with disabled guys, you can see what a difference it makes, it’s a life-changing experience.” Open Water Diver certification obviously depends on whether the disabled individual can complete the standard course requirements - there are no cutting corners. If the student can’t manage the skills, then the instructor can offer two Deptherapy certification levels. A level-A diver is capable of self-rescue, but not rescuing another, so must dive with a PADI Rescue Diver, preferably a DE Support Diver, and one other diver. A level-B diver basically needs five adult support divers, including one Deptherapy-trained instructor or Divemaster. For the severely impaired there is also a pool diver certificate. Check out the full details about course and certification requirements at: www.deptherapy.co.uk. Note: Divecrew do not charge any extra for disabled PADI Open Water Diver courses.
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facebook.com/subnauta 路 www.subnauta.pt
the destination of choice for diving
The Ocean Revival Underwater Park, unique in the world, consists of a fleet of Portuguese Navy ships. It is made up of four ships sunk three miles from Portim茫o as their last act of service to Portugal: the Oliveira e Carmo corvette (85 metres long), the Zambeze ocean patrol (45 metres long), the Almeida Carvalho hydrographic corvette (45 metres long) and the jewel in the crown, the Hermenegildo Capelo admiral frigate, which is more than 100 metres long. Diving Packages: Contact Subnauta to find out about the packages that has been set up with the main hotels within a short distance of the diving centre in order to make your stay even more comfortable and at the most competitive prices.
ALGARVE, PO ORTUGAL
UK Contact Paul Hughes 0 1722 780810 E: info@hiddendepthsdivetours.com www.hiddendepthsdivetours.com
DIVE UK Deptherapy ‘Students’ and instructor course participants having fun
“Kit configurations may need to be adjusted to suit the student’s mental and physical abilities and, in some cases, the underwater skills might have to be adapted - mastery of skills doesn’t have to be instructor standard” The participants of the first instructor course
It all began when Richard worked at Aquatic Element Dive Centre in Windsor. There were a number of regiments based around town and the dive centre used to get a fair degree of passing trade. Regular customer and diver Cliff O’Farrell was serving with the Household Cavalry. Cliff got blown up by an IED while fighting in Afghanistan. The force shattered both of his legs and he spent the next three years in a wheelchair. Richard wanted to help Chris out, so he became a qualified DDI (Disabled
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Diver International) Instructor and began teaching courses. He eventually coaxed Cliff back into the water last autumn. Scuba diving alleviated Cliff’s pain, and this lasted for several days. Edgebarrow School sixth form block provided a comfy setting for the first day’s theory and practical work. It was nice to see such a big turn-out of PADI diving instructors, predominantly from Divecrew. I have to add a special thanks to Chantelle Newman from Code Blue Medical Training for providing a huge spread of cakes and biscuits to keep our sugar levels up. Richard gave us a series of presentations on our potential students, which would most likely be male and ex-forces. Richard listed the expected traits which, along with very proud and a strong camaraderie, included rude language and flatulence. He also said they would probably have a very black sense of humour and crack jokes about their injuries, even celebrating ‘happy blown up day’! Instructors shouldn’t be overwhelmed with sympathy, especially no crying. But it was difficult not to
feel some empathy. Richard said: “Don’t look at the injury, look at the person.” Richard had invited along three physically and mentally challenged divers, Chris Middleton, Dean Upson and Dan Richards, to talk about their own personal injuries and get involved in the pool session. Listening to Chris and Dean was quite a moving experience. Scuba diving gets them away from their physical and psychological limitations and allows them to focus on something else. Chris was serving in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards when he got his legs blown off by an IED in Afghanistan. Chris said: “My first reaction was to check that my lunch box was still intact!” When Chris met Richard in 2011, he was drinking six to ten pints a night and didn’t know what to do with himself. Chris qualified as a PADI Open Water Diver in the Florida Keys last year. Dean Upson was serving with Royal Engineers in the bomb disposal (EOD) section in Afghanistan. After four months of solid work, the final breaking point was hearing that
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DIVE UK Deptherapy his best mate had been blown up by an IED. Dean was diagnosed with PTSD in 2009. He was already a qualified PADI Divemaster, but hadn’t thought about diving again. A chance meeting with Ryby Stonehouse from Blue Ocean Diving got him back into the water. Dean said: “Everyone is equal underwater.” Diving stopped the flashbacks and gave him some ‘switch off’ time. I met Dan Richards at the poolside on day two of the course. Dan was serving as a bugler in the Royal Artillery. He was involved in a motorbike accident after coming back from a stint in Afghanistan. The seriousness of Dan’s injuries required an across the right shoulder amputation. Richard went through the issues involved in planning and preparing a scuba diving course. The ‘three ticks’ rule is used as a paperwork reminder. Instructors should check that students have a valid ‘fit to dive’ certificate, have signed the appropriate assumption and liability releases and be satisfied with the medical information submitted. But the system relies on the student being completely honest and some have even been known to lie on their medical form. Richard mentioned that one diver had even made up his own doctors stamp! Some medication can be incompatible with diving, so this also needs to be checked out thoroughly. Kit configurations may need to be adjusted to suit the student’s mental and physical abilities and, in some cases, the underwater skills might have to be adapted - mastery of skills doesn’t have to be instructor standard. For example, Chris has to use his hands and arms for thrust underwater, so a CESA is possible but has to be a modified version of the text book example. Students may well require some extra practice time. My group found that it was much easier to do a ‘dry run’ of the skills before going into the pool. We also covered teaching visually impaired scuba divers. Each group were given a blacked-out mask and practiced tactile communications. For example, a squeeze on the bicep is ‘are you okay’ and pressing up or down on the palm of a hand means ascend or descend. My group took it in turns to walk around the classroom and get used to the feeling. I noticed that my hearing became far more acute We were told to be ready for a black sense of humour!
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Instructors working with a ‘student’
“He also said they would probably have a very black sense of humour and crack jokes about their injuries, even celebrating ‘happy blown up day’!” and I homed in on more of the surrounding sounds. But how would I know where I was going underwater? I would be totally reliant on my support divers. Richard said that partially sighted individuals can pass a standard PADI Open Water Diver course. Totally without sight can also pass when using an audio (pilot) dive computer. As a final scenario, Richard wanted us to plan a day’s diving at Wraysbury Lake in Middlesex. This was a little difficult for me to envisage, as I have never been to Wraysbury before, but the Divecrew bunch seemed to know the site extremely well. We had three students to deal with. There was John, 36, who had been in a serious car accident and was now a paraplegic. John had an infection on his right stump. Then there was Steve, 24, a soldier who had been blown up by an IED and had lost both his legs AK/BK (one above the knee and one below the knee) and finally Ollie, who suffered with severe autism. In this scenario we had unlimited staff available to help out during the day. In our groups we discussed accessibility issues, getting from the car park to the water’s edge, as well as entries and exits; medical backgrounds, in our opinion John shouldn’t be diving with a stump infection; whether John and Steve would be diving with prosthetics or not; any thermal considerations, drysuits or wetsuits; managing the dive; how many support staff would be needed, including properly qualified
personnel, etc. Eagle House School provided us with top rate pool facilities for Sunday afternoon’s wet session. We spent a good five hours putting into practice what we had discussed in the classroom. I spent most of my time trying to get some action pictures of Chris, Dean and Dan being pulled about by 20 eager instructors. There were no real-life visually impaired students to play with, so the blacked-out masks had to make do. Everybody was coming up with ideas and different ways to overcome problems. I was extremely impressed. At the end of the intensive weekend, Richard presented everyone with their well-earned Deptherapy instructor ratings. I am sure there will be an influx of newly qualified mentally and physically challenged divers appearing in the water very soon. In the very first presentation, Richard recited a famous quote by Jacques-Yves Cousteau taken from a 1960 Time magazine article - ‘From birth man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink below the surface and he is free.’ During the afternoon pool session, I had managed to get a few underwater shots of Dan and Chris swimming together. I didn’t see any signs of stress or pain, in fact the complete opposite, they were totally enjoying the moment. If scuba diving can give these guys a more-positive outlook on life, then I say bring it on. ■
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DISCOVER & EXPLORE
A HIDDEN WORLD. Add depth to your life
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Learn to dive with Divestyle, the diving professionals
Dive Doctor Doctor Oliver Sykes takes a closer look at the trace gas, Xenon
Dr Oliver Sykes is an experienced PADI Divemaster with nearly 20 years experience under the surface, logging dives in the UK, Red Sea, Zanzibar, Australia, Greece, Spain and the Caribbean, as well as spending three months with Coral Cay Conservation in Belize.
He qualified as a doctor in 2000, spent a year working full-time at the renowned DDRC in Plymouth in 2002/2003, and has written and run a Royal Society of Medicine course for doctors on diving medicine. He is approved for sport diving and HSE medicals, as well as giving advice on all diving problems. All views expressed in this column are the personal opinions of Dr Oliver Sykes. You must consult your own doctor if you have any doubts about your physical or mental ability to dive.
XENON
X
enon (Xe) is a trace gas in earth’s atmosphere, occurring at 87±1 parts per billion and is also found in gases emitted from some mineral springs. Xenon is obtained commercially as a by-product of the separation of air into oxygen and nitrogen. In a gas-filled tube, xenon emits a blue or lavender glow when the gas is excited by electrical discharge and at gigapascals of pressure, xenon has been forced into a metallic phase, when it looks sky blue because it absorbs red light and transmits other visible frequencies. While Xenon is a noble gas, and relatively unreactive, prior to 1962, scientists believed that xenon was unable to form compounds. However, evidence shows that xenon can form some compounds including sodium perxenate, xenon deuterate, xenon hydrate, difluoride, tetrafluoride and hexafluoride. It can therefore be oxidised by powerful oxidising agents, and many other xenon compounds have been synthesised. Oxygen containing xenon compounds for example are toxic, due to their strong oxidative properties, and also explosive due to their tendency to break down into elemental xenon plus diatomic oxygen (O2). Xenon is used in photographic flash lamps, stroboscopic lamps, bactericidal lamps and in very bright lamps used for deep-sea observation. These
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are said to illuminate better than conventional lights. Xenon itself is non-toxic, it dissolves in blood and penetrates the blood–brain barrier, causing mild to full surgical anesthesia when inhaled in high concentrations with oxygen. Although it is expensive, anaesthesia machines that can deliver xenon are available, because advances in recovery and recycling of xenon have made it economically viable. Xenon interacts with many different receptors and ion channels and, like many theoretically multi-modal inhalation anaesthetics, these interactions are likely complementary. For example, xenon is a high-affinity glycine-site NMDA receptor antagonist. Xenon is 44% more potent than nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and is not a greenhouse gas, therefore when it is vented into the atmosphere, it is returned to its original source and no environmental impact is likely. Inhaling a xenon/oxygen mixture also activates production of the transcription factor HIF-1-alpha, which leads to increased production of erythropoietin, an increase in red blood cell production and therefore athletes’ performance. Finally, gamma emission from the radioisotope 133Xe can be used to image the heart, lungs, and brain and to measure blood flow, while 129Xe is a useful contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging. At 169 m/s, the speed of sound in xenon gas is
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slower than that in air due to the slower average speed of the heavy xenon atoms compared to nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Hence, xenon lowers the resonant frequencies of the vocal tract when inhaled, which produces a characteristic lower voice timbre, an effect opposite to the high-timbre voice caused by inhalation of helium. Like helium, xenon is a simple asphyxiant and consequently, many universities no longer allow this voice stunt as a general chemistry demonstration. As xenon is expensive, the gas sulfur hexafluoride, which is similar to xenon in molecular weight, is generally used instead as it is an asphyxiant without being anaesthetic. ■
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Xenon units give out a bright white light
Your Q&A Session with Doctor Oli Q: Where does Xenon get its name from? A: Xenon was discovered by Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers at 1898 in England and the origin of the names comes from the Greek word “xenos” meaning “stranger” because it was found in the residue after the fractional distillation of liquefied air. Q: Is Xenon allowed in athletics to improve performance? A: Xenon has been banned in athletics. Here is an article that provides some more
details: http://www.theguardian.com/ sport/2014/feb/27/uk-antidoping-agencyathletes-xenon-gas
red light and the UV part of the spectrum supplies sufficient energy for microbial inactivation.
Q: How much does Xenon cost and how is it produced? A: Cost of pure Xenon is $120 per 100g and is obtained commercially by fractional distillation of liquid air.
Q: What is an ion thruster? A: An ion thruster is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft propulsion that creates thrust by accelerating ions. The method of accelerating the ions varies, but all designs take advantage of the charge/ mass ratio of the ions, which favours the use of Xenon, which is a relatively heavy element.
Q: How do bactericidal lamps work? A: Xenon flash lamps have an emission spectrum ranging from ultraviolet to infra-
The Dive Doctor is sponsored by Divers Emergency Service UK, London Hyperbaric Medicine, Whipp’s Cross University Hospital Tel (Enquiries): 020 8539 1222 Emergencies: 07 999 292 999
Email: mail@londonhyperbaric.com Website: www.diversemergencyservice.co.uk and www.londonhyperbaric.com
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Take the plunge into British waters with this shallow dive site suitable for divers with all levels of experience TYPE OF DIVE Boat EXPERIENCE Novice with a guide
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DEPTH 10m HAZARDS Boat traffic & fast currents
VIS Up to 10m
SEABED Chalk & sand MARINE LIFE Cuttlefish, lumpsuckers and crustaceans
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DIVE UK
Above 18m The dive boat in Newhaven Marina
The well-stocked shop
/s/E' d, Z E Patrick Shier goes in search of the Brazen shipwreck, a Man o’ War that disappeared in a storm more than 200 years ago Photographs by SARA BOWRING
INTRODUCTION Situated in a quiet corner of an East Sussex churchyard, overlooking the South Downs, stands a monument to the crew of the Man o’ War Brazen, where all but one of the crew lost their lives during a violent winter storm on 26 January 1800. The ship, built and launched in France as the Invincible Bonaparte, was captured by the British, renamed and refitted at Portsmouth and joined the British Fleet under the command of Captain James Hanson in 1799. The vessel had been sent to Newhaven to ward off attacks by French ships. The evening before the tragedy, the plucky Man o’ War had captured one such enemy ship and, as such, 12 members of the Brazen’s crew went onboard the prized ship and escorted her back to port, inadvertently saving their lives. The Lloyds Register of Shipwrecks records that there was a crew of 154 crammed on board the 18gun, 30-metre-long ship. But during my research, I found other publications indicating that there was a total of 106 crew onboard the stricken vessel. To date, there has been no formal identification of the wreck.
ARRIVAL AT THE SITE If you are physically fit and can carry your entire dive equipment for about half a mile or more, then it may be possible to dive this site from the shore,
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but bear in mind that after the dive you will have to hump your kit back up the 300 or so steep steps which are built into the side of the cliff. So, with that in mind, I decided to take a more-relaxed, leisurely approach and booked a dive with Newhaven Scuba, onboard one of their two powerful RIBs. From the free car park it is just a short walk to the dive centre and the jetty. And for that all-important pre-dive coffee and bacon butty, there is a burger bar right next to the shop.
DIVE BRIEFING My dive guide and buddy would be London black cab driver and PADI Divemaster Allen Prosser, nicknamed Taxi for obvious reasons. He began the briefing by telling us that it would take about 20 minutes to reach the dive site. And although we would be diving on a slack high tide, there would still be a slight current gently pushing us along. The wreckage is spread over a wide area but can mainly be found wedged into the walls of a series of chalk gullies which run parallel to each other, north to south, about one-and-a-half metres wide with a depth of between 0.5-2m. Although every diver should have a DSMB in case they become separated from their buddy, it only required one of the pair to deploy a surface marker. The maximum depth would be 10m and we would be diving for no longer than 45 minutes.
THE DIVE As soon as we had loaded the kit onto the RIB, the skipper Richard Halpin gave us the safety briefing and then it was all systems go. Once out of the marina he opened the throttle and within minutes we had reached the dive site. While we kitted-up and did the necessary buddy checks, Richard placed a shotline as close to one of the gullies as he could get. Then, on his signal, we backward-rolled into the English Channel. We would be diving on a flood tide, which meant the current would be gently pushing us in an easterly direction. One by one we made our way down the shotline to the seabed and, as you can appreciate, with a depth of 6m it only took a couple of seconds. The seabed is a mixture of chalk, sand, weed and mussel beds. We made any necessary adjustments to our equipment and then with torches on we left the shotline and let the current take us to the first of the gullies. As you enter the gullies and head south, you will find that they get slowly deeper. The walls are wrinkled with crevices and fissures. When you shine your torch into them, you find velvet swimming crabs that are willing to defend themselves, and the much-larger and more-sedate edible crabs that have hunkered down. In single file we slowly explored the gully, searching for anything that remotely looked like wreckage. We did come across a large wooden section that
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Above 18m Enroute to the dive site at speed
Common lobster
Newhaven dive centre’s RIBs
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“When you shine your torch into them, you find velvet swimming crabs that are willing to defend themselves, and the much-larger and more-sedate edible crabs that have hunkered down” was embedded deep into the chalk, but we couldn’t make out what section of wreckage it was, or what ship it came from. The floor of the gully is covered in sand, and is where you could find a variety of flatfish, such as plaice and turbot sheltering from the tide. Although running parallel to each other, the gullies are quite a distance from one another, and are separated by mussel beds and literally hundreds of starfish. We moved from one gully to the next in search of wreckage and artefacts, but found nothing that we could say was from the wreck. We explored each of the gullies carefully, heading south down one and then north along another. One of the divers had the advantage of using a metal detector, but apart from an old rivet it didn’t uncover anything. We explored the gullies for 30 minutes
before deciding to spend the last ten minutes or so just drifting across the seabed in search of marine life. Even though the visibility wasn’t on our side, and we didn’t find any wreckage, it was still a great dive. After a while, our guide gave the signal for the end of the dive and for us to do a safety stop. Once back on the surface, Richard was there waiting to help us back into the RIB. As soon as we were all safely back on board, we made our way back to the jetty.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR This shallow underwater vista is an ideal place to find two of the UK’s favourite critters. Lumpsuckers and cuttlefish are prolific along the South Coast between the end of April and July, so have that camera at the ready.
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Above 18m Shoals of fish inhabit the shallows
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW... EAST SUSSEX BEST TIME TO DIVE It is best to dive on a slack high tide. However, please bear in mind that the current here never stops, it just reduces in strength so that you are able to slowly glide over and explore the seabed. You must also bear in mind that you only get a window of 45 minutes to dive before the current picks up again and screams through here at a rate of between 2-4 knots; you could be in Dieppe before you know it. Make sure each diver has a DSMB and knows how to deploy it. The skipper will need to keep an eye on your whereabouts.
The all-important post-dive butty!
HOW TO GET THERE Leave the M25 at junction 7 and join the M23 signposted (Gatwick Airport). At junction 11 merge onto the A23. When you reach Mill Road Roundabout take the second exit onto the A27. At Southerham Roundabout take the second exit. And then at the next roundabout take the second exit onto the A26. At the mini roundabout turn right onto the A259 then bear right onto the A26. Continue onto the A259 and turn left into South Road. Follow this road into Fort Road. The dive centre and boat marina will be on your left.
WHEN TO GO It is possible to dive here all year. However, this is a weather-dependent dive site so may be a good idea to contact the dive centre in advance to check all is okay.
DIVE CENTRES For a list of PADI dive centres in the area, check out the Directory on page 138, or visit: www.padi.com
EXPECT TO PAY Air fills for a 12ltr costs £5, 32% Nitrox fills for a 12ltr costs £8 and boat dives range from £17.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK There are a number of restaurants in the locality; however, for a quick snack and a hot drink, try the burger bar next to the dive centre.
This boat dive is suitable for all level of experience and qualification and as such is a firm favourite to be dived time and time again.
Sport Diver
PADI SPECIALTIES The three PADI Specialties that I would recommend for this dive are: The PADI Drift Diver Specialty although you dive this site on a slack tide, you will always have a slight current gently pushing you along. For those wanting to take home lasting memories of their diving day, the Digital Underwater Photography course would be ideal here. And while you are on a boat, why not learn a little more with the PADI Boat Diver Specialty.
end of the parade of shops, all of the club members lent a hand. Now, with even bigger premises, Glen can offer more exciting brands of equipment. There is a large classroom upstairs for PADI courses, a shower room and toilet at the back of the shop and a filling station that can provide air to 300bar. Along with the kit repairs and servicing, Glen also has access to two fast RIBs, both of which are coded to take ten divers. And, if the weather takes a turn for the worse, Newhaven Scuba have their own inland dive site situated at Brighton Marina.
DIVE CENTRE
VERDICT
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“We explored the gullies for 30 minutes before deciding to spend the last ten minutes or so just drifting across the seabed in search of marine life”
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Glen Hawkins has owned Newhaven Scuba, a PADI five-star IDC Centre, for a number of years and he has built up a fantastic rapport with his students and dive club members. So much so that when it was necessary for Glen to move the business to the other
CONTACT You can contact Newhaven Dive Centre by telephone on 01273 612012 or 07974442182, via email: info@newhaven-scuba.co.uk, or check out the website: www.newhaven-scuba.co.uk
www.sportdiver.co.uk
The charm of Sharm... Hello Sport Diver! I’m a newbie to scuba diving and thought I’d share my newfound amazement of the underwater world with you. Until last week, I had never dived. Neither had my girlfriend. But here I am penning a letter to a diving magazine. As you can probably guess, I found the whole experience pretty special. I have a very good friend who just so happens to be a passionate diver - has been for years. Despite him insisting that I give it a go - both here in the UK (a definite no) and abroad (a casual no) - I just never really fancied it. Weekends, in my book, were better spent in the pub with my mates and holidays were all about the beach and the missus. But it was while undertaking the latter - a two-week break in Sharm el Sheikh - that my friend’s pestering came to mind. There are just so many dive centres out there, and
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the water looked so inviting, that my girlfriend and I decided to give it a go. I think it was seeing a couple of angelfish on a beachside snorkel that convinced us! Anyway, we did a Discover Scuba Diving dive and were both blown away. Because we’d gotten such a good deal on the overall holiday, I went for it and booked two Open Water courses for us. My other half was over the moon with the surprise and the next couple of days were just amazing. We both passed and then did half a dozen pleasure dives straight after. We’re hooked. I can honestly say nothing has mesmerised me quite so quickly as the magic of diving. Of course, my diving pal (who loaned me a copy of your mag btw) is equally delighted!
Andrew Palmer,by email
www.sportdiver.co.uk
Euro splash!
I was delighted to read Mark Evans’ article on diving in Germany last month, and am just as keen to read the next Euro write-up. I have been diving the continent for about 40 years here and there (I am Austrian, but have lived in London since 1986) and have been saying for such a long time that the lakes of Germany and Austria and Poland have a great deal to offer. I understand it because we live on an island, but Brits just don’t seem to consider the Euro ‘mainland’ when planning their next dive trip. I have on several occasions had to pretty much force buddies into crossing the Channel with me (in fact, I normally have to lure them in with other promises, such as German beer festivals and Austrian skiing), but the one common thread with everyone who I have taken over is that they LOVE the diving. It’s not all about Bonaire or the Philippines, and I applaud you Sport Diver for recognising that. I think the other thing that is worth people remem bering is that if you’re into drysuit diving and find yourself in a quarry or at your local shore diving site every weekend, heading over the Chann el offers that little bit of excitement and cultural variation AS WELL AS feeling like a ‘proper dive’. That always turns a few heads, but if you’re not wearing a hood and gloves, you’re not diving in my humble opinio n. Anyway, looking forward to the next one!
Seb Goetze, by email
Cover lover I know this is a slightly unusual thing to email in about , but I was just blown away by the cover of Sport Diver last month ! I’m not a subscriber, I’ll be honest, but do pick up a copy every few month s and always when I’m travelling abroad for a spot of airplane readin g. On perusing the shelves of WH Smith on this occasion I spotte d the mag from a mile off - I had barely stepped into the store! Just beauti ful, and I’m sure you knocked the competition dead that month! Truly inspiring stuff and what a stunning place the underwater realm is!
Sarah Jeffreys, by email
www.sportdiver.co.uk
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The Maldives
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www.sportdiver.co.uk
DIVE WORLDWIDE
The Maldives
BAREFOOT BLISS, laid back days Desperate to return to the Maldives after a lengthy absence, Jeremy Cuff journeys to Bandos, an island that he hopes will fulfil his diving needs and provide a suitable place for his young son to enjoy himself too Photographs by JEREMY AND AMANDA CUFF/WWW.JA-UNIVERSE.COM
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At Secret Paradise, we are committed to providing affordable Maldives holiday options. We offer local island guesthouses and safaris that are affordable, comfortable and give a warm welcome allowing our guests to experience the best from our paradise.
CHOOSE FROM 8 GUESTHOUSES We have chosen guesthouses that offer a diver the essential requirements for a comfortable and pleasant stay. Hot showers; towels and bedding that are changed regularly; 24hr tea and coffee making facilities; bottled water; charging facilities & a friendly, welcoming team.
PRICES FROM £699 PER PERSON INCLUDE: ■ 7 night’s accommodation ■ 5 days of diving - 15 dives including 1 night dive, tanks, weights, safety balloon and unlimited air ■ Airport receipt and transfers ■ Daily transportation ■ Breakfast, lunch and dinner ■ Maldivian cultural evening ■ Beach BBQ ■ Taxes Combine this holiday with a resort or safari boat stay, itineraries can be customized.
SECRET PARADISE
Hulhumale, Maldives Phone + (960) 752 9101 or 335 5590 Email: sales@secretparadise.mv
www.secretparadise.mv
DIVE WORLDWIDE
The Maldives
W
e hadn’t been to the Maldives since 1997, way back when we were novice divers. We’d loved the barefoot bliss and laid back days punctuated by dives, sunsets, books and mealtimes. Now, winding the clock forward to the present day, life for us has changed somewhat. We’ve now got an eight-year old son, and we’re looking to go back, but where should we go? Though the Maldives is most certainly a suitable destination for children, not many of the islands are really set up for families wishing to dive, or for those with a modest budget. A visit to this Indian Ocean paradise certainly doesn’t come cheap, with some islands being prohibitively expensive for many people, whereas others are really only geared up for couples and honeymooners. These days, any destination that offers good diving and good kids facilities might well find its way onto our ‘to do list’ when it comes to family holidays, but we really fancied the Maldives. So the search began to find the right kind of Maldivian Island for us, if such a place existed. For whatever reason, the general assumption seems to be that divers and underwater photographers operate singly or as couples, but what happens if you’ve got a family? Where can you go to practice your hobby and your art? Liveaboards are out of the question except for the unique family weeks offered by the Aggressor Fleet in the Caribbean, and exotic far-flung dive resorts aren’t always affordable or practical. So where in the Maldives can you go to get that rare combination of good diving and family friendliness? After some research, we found that the best answer for us was a mere 15-minute speedboat transfer from the airport in the form of Bandos Resort, a long-established island, popular with families, but with decent diving. We went through our checklist of requirements good house reef, a kids club, a choice of restaurants, a decent dive centre, a choice of dive sites, decent reviews and relative affordability (in the Maldivian scheme of things). It ticked all of the boxes, so we made the booking. Prolific soft coral and sponge growth
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Amanda checking out a honeycomb moray eel
“For a few minutes we watched the mantas circle the cleaning station, with all divers behaving impeccably by respecting their space so as not to spook them. It was a great encounter” Amanda framed to perfection
I vividly remember the first time we visited this unique nation of around 1,200 islands, of catching sight of the Maldivian capital Male from the plane. It’s perhaps one of the most-improbable cities in the world, like model buildings rested on a lily pad in a giant pond. It’s quite remarkable to behold. After the long flight, it was nice to know that our onward journey to the island would be short, and once we’d collected our bags and reported to the Bandos arrivals desk, we were soon escorted to the transfer speedboat and on our way. Bandos is a very well-known and established Maldivian resort, with an excellent infrastructure that includes a medical centre and recompression chamber. There’s also a spa, a couple of shops, a gym, sports facilities, a watersports centre and a choice of excursions in addition to the facilities already noted. But what about the diving?
The first dive that anyone visiting Bandos will do is on the house reef, which is always in the company of a member of the dive centre team, who use the dive to assess each divers competence and skills. Once that’s done you’re free to dive the house reef in buddy pairs or sign up for the daily boat dives that visit a wide choice of sites in the vicinity of the island. The house reef itself is worthy of a special mention, as it’s very good, and can most certainly keep divers entertained. It’s accessed close to the dive centre by an easy beach entry into a small channel, which leads out to the reef slope itself. You can head either left or right when you reach the drop off, though we tended to head right more frequently than left. It doesn’t really matter which way you go, as there’s little or no current to worry about. The reef seemed very healthy despite the amount of divers that head out there on a daily basis, including many that would doubtless be doing courses such as PADI Open Water Diver and so on. On the average dive, expect to see snapper, sweetlips and perhaps some more cryptic reef inhabitants such as octopus, scorpionfish and the occasional stingray. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for turtles and eagle rays in the blue. Anyone who spends any time around the jetty by the dive centre or in the house reef shallows is almost certain to see the resident population of blacktip reef sharks. It’s a good area for these sharks, which benefit from a
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The Maldives The Bubblemaker Brotherhood messing about in the shallows
Manta ray
The boys on the Bubblemaker
protected breeding area located just off the island. Judging by the amounts of young sharks cruising the shallows, it appears that the population is doing well. Divers wishing to see the ‘adult versions’ of these sharks can often find them on the house reef, where they are commonly encountered on dives. In addition, there may well be other surprises that sometimes turn up on the house reef. I recently spoke to a diver who discovered a fantastically camouflaged pipefish at around 30m, so it’s worth having a seriously good look around over the course of several dives. The house reef is also very good for snorkelling, so expect to see non-divers above you over the shallow reef tops from time to time. I took our son Zac snorkelling here on a couple of occasions, which he really enjoyed, but it wouldn’t come close to what he would do a few days later. The Bandos dive centre offers the PADI Bubblemaker course for 8-9 year old children, which we enthusiastically signed Zac up for, even though he didn’t need persuading. We assumed that the course would be conducted in the main swimming pool, but once he’d been briefed at the dive centre and kitted up, along with a young French boy who
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About to take the plunge on the Bubblemaker
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was also doing the course, we discovered that their dive would actually be in the sea, on the house reef. The two boys, under tight supervision from the instructor (who Zac nicknamed ‘Master Shifu’ from the Kung Fu Panda film) enjoyed a superb, and I think somewhat overwhelming, experience along the top of the reef wall, seeing a myriad of colourful fish and even a couple of adult blacktip reef sharks that cruised the reef a few metres below. After such a unique shared experience, the two boys became friends - we called them the ‘Bubblemaker Brotherhood’. Good though the house reef is, the vast majority of divers put their names down for the popular boat dives that head out twice daily to a wide choice of locations, most within a relatively short journey from the island. A list of all the dive sites can be found in the dive centre, so that divers can make an informed choice about the areas they wish to visit. The Maldives is known for drift dives, some of which achieve an almost-legendary status among the dive community. We visited a site called Lankan Reef, which promised a fast-moving show but when we arrived, the current was slight, almost nonexistent. It also boasted a manta cleaning station
Having fun on land
which we would pass enroute down the reef, but it was too early in the year for manta ray encounters (it was April, and the season is May-November). Or was it? Later in the dive, someone tugged excitedly on my BCD. I turned around to find a manta approaching me. I instinctively attempted to capture an image, but it was too late to sort out my camera settings as it passed overhead. Though it was great to see a manta so unexpectedly (and so close), the photographer in me felt more than a little frustration as it cruised majestically away from me down the reef. I guessed it might be the only chance I would get. But no, somewhere beyond the edge of the visibility it must have turned around and began heading back towards me. I didn’t notice it straight away, but when I did, there was time (though not much time) to prepare to capture an image. I quickly fired a test shot to get the water colour ‘in the zone’ but to my horror, it was way out. Way too dark. I’d have to sort it out very quickly, adjusting the settings as the manta headed straight towards me. This was really ‘staring down the barrel’ as I intuitively made some changes with no
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★ PHILIPPINES ★ PALAU ★ PAPUA NEW GUINEA ★ FIJI ★ YAP ★ TRUK ★ AUSTRALIA ★ MALDIVES ★ SRI LANKA ★ MALAYSIA ★ INDONESIA ★ THAILAND ★ GALAPAGOS ★ COCOS & MALPELO ★ SEA OF CORTEZ ★ SOCORRO ★ SOUTH AFRICA ★
MALDIVES
LIVEABOARDS Close Encounters aboard MV Sea Queen LAST MINUTE 7 day trips * Jul 2014 * £1,620pp 7 day trips * Sep 2014 * £1,750pp
Equatorial Far South aboard MV Sea Spirit 12 day trips * Aug/Sep 2014 * £3,175pp Prices include flights from the UK (+tax) Full sailing schedules and Special Offers:www.scubascuba.com/specials/all
2015 EXCLUSIVE TOURS Socorro Islands aboard Rocio del Mar 27 Feb to 10 Mar * £2,300pp | 19 Apr to 30 Apr * £2,485pp
Galapagos Islands aboard Humboldt Explorer 31 May to 13 Jun * £4,619pp | 11 Jun to 24 Jun * £4,619pp Prices exclude international flights
Full itinerary details:www.scubascuba.com/specials/exclusive-tours
01284 748010
www.scubascuba.com Dive holidays to the world’s top dive sites MALAYSIA ★ INDONESIA ★ THAILAND ★ GALAPAGOS ★ COCOS & MALPELO
PHILIPPINES ★ PALAU ★ PAPUA NEW GUINEA ★ FIJI ★ YAP ★ TRUK ★ AUSTRALIA ★ MALDIVES ★ SRI LANKA ★ MALAYSIA ★ INDONESIA ★ THAILAND ★ GALAPAGOS ★ COCOS & MALPELO ★ SEA OF CORTEZ ★ SOCORRO ★ SOUTH AFRICA ★
TRUK ★ AUSTRALIA ★ MALDIVES ★ SRI LANKA ★ MALAYSIA ★ INDONESIA ★
DIVE WORLDWIDE
The Maldives Shoal of snapper on the reef
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
BANDOS ISLAND,
THE MALDIVES WHERE IS IT?
The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean, to the south and west of India.
HOW TO GET THERE To reach the Maldives, we flew directly to Male (the Maldivian capital) with Sri Lankan Airlines.
“We found numerous moray eels and lobster peering from their lairs in the wall and ledges that harboured resting turtles”
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Visas are not required by British citizens, just a valid passport with six months to expiry.
CURRENCY Maldivian Rufiyaa (£1 = MVR25.6).
WHERE TO EAT AND MEET The restaurants on Bandos Island serve a wide range of delicious fare.
“The lone manta was indeed at the cleaning station as we had hoped, but it wasn’t along for long as it was soon joined by another.”
VERDICT Bandos Island ticked all the right boxes for us – nice accommodation, plenty to keep our son occupied, and great diving on the house reef and the boat dives for us.
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“The boys enjoyed a superb, and I think somewhat overwhelming, experience along the top of the reef wall, seeing a myriad of colourful fish and even a couple of adult black tip reef sharks a few metres below” time for another test shot. A quick glance up - I’m thinking ‘don’t panic, don’t panic, it’s not here yet’ - and with the adjustments frantically made, the manta was upon me. This time I captured a small sequence of shots as it soared past. Yes! But the action wasn’t finished yet. As there wasn’t any current, we turned around and headed in the direction the manta had gone, back towards the cleaning station we’d passed earlier in the dive. By the time we arrived there, most divers were low on air and close to deco, but there was one final spectacle to enjoy before we ascended back to the surface. The lone manta was indeed at the cleaning station as we had hoped, but it wasn’t alone for long as it was soon joined by another. For a few minutes we watched them circle the cleaning station, with all divers behaving impeccably by respecting their space so as not to spook them. It was a great encounter. As a manta ray could be a symbol of freedom, the Maldives probably doesn’t strike you as the kind of place that needs a prison, but yes, there is one. And it has its own island, which boasts a dive site called Feydhoo Caves. It makes for an interesting ‘wall and drift’ dive, though the visibility is sometimes impaired compared to other sites in the area. What it does offer is some interesting topography and en-
counters. We found numerous moray eels and lobster peering from their lairs in the wall and ledges that harboured resting turtles. Several scorpionfish and lionfish, along with healthy congregations of batfish and tuna, were also enjoyable at this site. Throughout our ten-day stint, we journeyed out to several of the boat dive sites such as Tuna Pass and Thulhagiri, but particularly impressive was Barracuda Giri, a very active site, brimming with fish and with lots going on. It was one of those dives where we realised that a single visit just wasn’t enough. We knew that we’d only scratched the surface here. Only several dives would begin to unlock the secrets contained in the numerous ledges, overhangs and gulleys that characterise this site. Overall, we thought Bandos was a great choice. The house reef was good, there’s some nice dive sites nearby, the food was good and plentiful, the kids club was open when we needed it, the evening entertainment gave Zac a chance to race hermit crabs and practice his robotic dancing for the talent show, the rooms were pleasant and it had a nice overall vibe. It was just what we needed. The perfect antidote to a busy and hectic life. Though we’re normally loath to repeat ourselves with trips (as there’s so many places on our ‘places to go list’), we might actually go back. Watch this space! ■
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Travel light with free BCD & regulator rental for groups of 4 or more divers! Take advantage of our free BCD and regulator rental for all dive groups of 4 or more divers. For groups of 8 or more divers, not only will we offer free BCD and regulator rental, but we will also throw in 10% DISCOUNT for all group members on their dives! Larger groups of 12 or more divers will enjoy a 15% DISCOUNT on their dives in addition to the free BCD and regulator rentals! Pre-book your group: info@prodivers.com Follow us on Facebook! Facebook.com/prodiversmaldives www.prodivers.com
PROFILE Bite-Back is one of the country’s most-exciting and enthusiastic shark and marine conservation chariti es campaigning to ‘defend the high seas on the high street’ by challen ging restaurants and retailers to put conservation before commerce and stop selling shark and other threatened species. The charity’s campaign director is Graham Buckingham, a former PR consultant turned marine campaigner. Graham is a Divemaster who has dived extensively around the world and continues to describe the experience of being underwater as his ‘happy place’. This year the charity launched its Hacked Off! campaign to make Britain the first countr y in the world to voluntarily ban shark-fin soup.
WHAT IS THE HACKED OFF! CAMPAIGN ALL ABOU
T?
The Hacked Off! campaign is a spotlight on the UK and its alarming contribution to the trade and consum ption of shark-fin soup. It’s also a rallying cry for divers to help inspire restaurants in their own neighbourhood to stop selling shark-fin soup. All too often people imagine that shark-fin soup is a problem confined to the Far East so it’s surprising to them when we explain that more than 60 UK restaurants currently feature shark-fin soup on their menus. The campaign title works in two ways, helping to explain our frustration at the sale of the ridiculous dish in the UK and, to newcomers, describing the terrible act of removing fins from a shark. Bite-Back is convinced that divers hold the key to chang e and that they can be hugely instrumental in makin g Britain the first country in the world to voluntarily ban shark-fin soup. For that reason, the Hacked Off! campaign has been developed to galvanise support and provide the resources for individuals to campaign in their own towns and cities. Within the Hacked Off! campaign toolbox are leaflet s, banners, press materials and even celebrity-signed campaign letters that can be presented to the restaurants asking for change. Significantly, the co-signatories on our letter includ e Gordon Ramsay, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Martin Clunes , Frank Pope (oceans correspondent at The Times) and Charles Clover (author of The End of The Line). The charity will send these items to individuals, dive clubs or groups committed to challenging restaurants on their own turf and coach them on the best way to achieve breakt hroughs.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
If nothing is done to slow the hunt for sharks, the scienti fic and academic evidence points at a slide toward s commercial extinction for many shark populations. It’s hardly surprising when you consider that around 37 million sharks are killed a year. To put that into perspe ctive, it’s equivalent to the entire population of Canada. If we take the North West Atlantic as just one examp le, we have studies highlighting that in the past 30-40 years, hammerhead shark populations have plummeted by 89%, great white shark numbers have fallen by 79%, tiger sharks are down by 65%, thresher sharks by 80% and makos and blues down by 70% and 60% respectively. Of course, there are great organisations out there workin g to achieve Marine Protected Areas and No Take Zones and there are others that are still lobbying government for chang es in catch limits, but no one can argue that a drama tic reduction in the consumption of shark products will have an immed iate and lasting effect on the commercial fishing indust ry. In simple terms, the motivation to fin or land a shark will be gone. And that goal is something that we’re inviting everyone to get involved in helping us achieve.
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THE UK MARKET IS SO SMALL IN COMPARISON TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD - WILL THIS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Anyone can suggest that stopping dozens of restaurants from selling shark-fin soup won’t make any difference to the number of sharks landed or finned each year, but I’d argue that the social consciousness behind that breakthrough is huge. We need to reach a tipping point when people balk at the inclusion of shark-fin soup on menus and we’re getting there. Soon we hope it will be as alarming to see shark-fin soup on a UK menu as it would to see ivory for sale. If it became socially and morally unacceptable to buy or sell shark products, then the urgency to hunt sharks would measurably drop. Already Bite-Back and its supporters have encouraged 16 restaurants in Britain to stop selling shark-fin soup, including the country’s only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant, Hakkasan. Other shark victories include motivating ASDA to stop selling 100,000 portions of mako and bigeye thresher shark every year. We also stopped the nationwide wholesaler MAKRO from selling blue shark and, through these efforts, it’s now impossible to buy any shark product in any multiple retailer. The charity successfu lly prompted Holland and Barratt to remove shark cartilage capsules from 550 stores; it has challenged Rick Stein and Mary Berry to remove shark recipes from cookbooks, it has prompted an Innocent Smoothies drinks brand to stop the promotion of 50 shark-fishing trips as customer prizes, it has inspired a web application with over a million downloads to drop shark from a list of 100 foods to eat before you die. The list goes on. And, if we can achieve a voluntary ban of shark-fin soup in this country, our next challenge has to be replicating that success across the rest of Europe and the developed world. After all, consump tion of shark meat in France, Germany and Spain eclipses that of Britain many times over.
HOW CAN UK DIVERS HELP? CAN THEY GET INVOLVED?
Right now we know of more than 60 restaurants selling shark-fin soup in Britain. So one of the first things we’d encourage divers to do is visit our website www.bite-back.com and check out the Google ‘shark sightings’ map of the UK to see if there is a restaurant near home selling shark-fin soup. If there is one near you, get in touch with us and we can discuss plan of engagement that will work to educate and inspire that restaurant to stop. Really, the Hacked Off! campaign is an invitation to divers to make history. The campaign is a chance for the UK to lead the world in the protection of sharks. It’s an opportunity for divers to celebrate sharks and the marine environment, plus the sport we enjoy. The ethos of the Hacked Off! campaign is about commun ity, belief and integrity. It’s been said before that the measure of a man’s belief is in his actions. If you think shark finning is wrong and you prefer your encounters with sharks to underwater and not in a restaurant, please get involved and support the campaign. And lastly, please don’t assume that anyone else is going to tackle the problem. If it bothers you that a restaurant is selling shark-fin soup, do something about it. Gather your friends, enrol your colleagues - show them the ‘Fin - Help End the Horrror’ commercial on YouTube - get in touch and work with us to make a difference in your own town. It can be done. We’re the proof.
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DIVE EUROPE
Lanzarote
A HIDDEN
GEM
Lanzarote is well known as a package holiday destination, but how many knew that it also offered some great diving, much of it right off the shoreline. Mark Evans and the Sport Diver crew flew south to check it out Photographs by MARK EVANS
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info@canaryislanddivers.com
Canary Island Divers
2014
So I hear you want to become a PADI instructor Next IDC starts the 19th September 2014 With Lanzarote's only resident Course Director Platinum Course Director Kev Turner Winner of the PADI award 2012 and 2013 "BEST PROFESSIONAL DIVE CENTRE IN THE CANARY ISLANDS"
www.cid-lanzarote.com | Mob: (+34) 637 59 16 27
HAVE YOU EVER DIVED
THE CANARIES? ONE WEEK GRAN CANARIA
NEWLY OPENED DIVE CENTRE
START YOUR SCUBA DIVING CAREER NOW!
DIVERS 549€ PER PERSON NONDIVERS 199€ PER PERSON
THE PACKAGE: ■ 30 May till 30 September ■ 10 Dives (including full
scuba equipment, shore dives, boat dives and the natural reserve El Cabron) ■ 7 days beach front apartment accommodation with balcony or terrace ■ 7 x Breakfast ■ Airport transfers and other logistic services ■ Use of the dive centre facilities (showers, storage of dive equipment, wi-fi...)
See u in the Blue!
Working closely with 3 different apartmens, we are able to sort accomodation to any of our divers info@techno-diving.com 0034 928 515 647 / 0034 679 548 769 www.techno-diving.com
PRICE IS VALID ONLY WITH A MIN BOOKING OF 4 PAX!
For booking enquiries please contact us on: info@grancanariadivers.com 0034-676-342-457 / 0034 928-565-900
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DIVE EUROPE
Lanzarote Manta Diving’s Ben Hutchinson swims throug the ‘Blue Hole’
T
he angel shark erupted out of the sand, narrowly missing one of the fish shoaling above it. Dive guide Danny and I looked at each another with wide eyes, giving a quick ‘okay’ to one another to mark our good fortune - we’d both literally just pointed out the well-camouflaged ambush predator when it launched itself at the fish swimming blissfully unaware over the sand patch. I managed one photograph of the now-exposed shark before it began to lazily swim off, and snapped another finning like hell alongside it, but then peeled off to look at an eagle ray and a small stingray also foraging for food. Next up came two huge stingrays, one buried and the other slowly cruising around, as well as some hefty grouper. Wow, what a dive. Sharks, stingrays, grouper, eagle rays, huge shoals of fish - and we were in the Canary Islands! This place just continued to be an eye-opener…
GETTING THERE
Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates year round flights to Lanzarote from Birmingham, East Midlands, London Gatwick, London Luton, Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports, with fares, including taxes, starting from £48.99 one way (£103.98 return) (lead fares summer 14) For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, visit: www.monarch.co.uk
www.sportdiver.co.uk
Orange coral in all its glory
TEAM TRIP Lanzarote had been on our radar for several years, and regular advertisers Safari Diving and Manta Diving had been urging us to come out and see for ourselves what they had to offer. After successful team trips out to Malta and Gozo, and the Egyptian Red Sea, we decided that the Canaries ticked all the boxes we needed for a third instalment, and so it came to pass that mid-June saw myself, Art Director Matt Griffiths, Commercial Brand Manager Ross Arnold and long-time contributor Stuart Philpott jump on a short four-hour flight to Arrecife in Lan-
Ross on the small shipwreck in front of Safari Diving
zarote, and then make the short transfer to Puerto del Carmen, the most-popular resort on the island, and the home of Safari and Manta. Ross and I would be spending a couple of days with both Safari Diving and Manta Diving doing a selection of shore and boat dives, Matt would be completing his PADI Rescue Diver course with Safari Diving, and Stuart would be heading up to Playa Blanca to rack up some serious technical dives with tech specialists Marina Rubicon. The latter two will recount their experiences in a future issue.
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DIVE EUROPE
Lanzarote SHORE THING It soon became clear that Safari and Manta both have enviable positions in Puerto del Carmen. Being based on and near the seafront respectively, they have some of the best dives on Lanzarote right on their doorstep. How do we know? Because every day a veritable fleet of vehicles rolled up from dive centres all over the island to access these choice locations. Shore diving can sometimes be a bit of a chore think lunking your kit over several hundred metres of iron-shore to access some of the best bits in Gozo, for example – but here in Lanzarote, it is an absolute doddle. You walk in off the beach or jump in off the jetty and then the dive sites are all within a short swim. Depending on the site chosen and its proximity to the entry point, you might have to cruise over a gently sloping sandy bottom for five to ten minutes, but there is plenty on this landscape to keep you busy during this time, including flatfish, cuttlefish, weeverfish, lizardfish, stargazers and reef squid. However, once you reach your dive site, they all have one thing in common - deep, seriously deep, water to the one side, and shallow sand to the other. Lanzarote is a volcanic island, and so underwater the topography is dramatic, comprising sheer walls, rocky ledges, overhangs, swim-throughs and crevices. This can drop down from 15-25m at the top to 40m, 50m, even 60m fairly rapidly, before it slopes off into even deeper water. Depths well into serious technical diving range can be found a relatively short distance from the shoreline. Dives we completed included The Cathedral, a large cave at 30m which is smothered in sponge and encrusting coral growth; Veril de Playa Chica, a wall comprising rocky overhangs and ledges harbouring a memorial plaque and urn containing ashes, and even a small wreck as you begin your ascent to the shallows; and Agujero Azul (Blue Hole), where you drop through a tunnel that begins as a vertical hole in the sandy seabed and emerges out on the wall at depth. As well as all the little critters encountered on the sand swims, the rocky reefs and walls are also teeming with life, including various species of nudibranchs, crabs, lobster, starfish and urchins, plus all manner of fish, like triggerfish, John dory and parrotfish, and shoaling fish like bream, sardines and dentex. Then you can throw all the big stuff described earlier into the mix - eagle rays, grouper, stingrays, angel sharks, even tuna and trevally. There have even been sightings of manta rays and other big animals around the island in the past.
Ross hovering in the entrance to ‘The Cathedral’
Ross checking out a bright-red starfish
WHERE TO STAY
If you are after budget accommodation within Puerto del Carmen which is within spitting distance of both Manta Diving and Safari Diving, then the Duplex Guanarama, Costa Volcan and Villa Blancas are worth looking into. Basic but spacious, the duplexes in particular are ideal for groups of divers.
“As well as all the little critters encountered on the sand swims, the rocky reefs and walls are also teeming with life, including various species of nudibranchs, crabs, lobster, starfish and urchins” 68
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I’M ON A BOAT While the shore diving is superlative, sooner or later you will want to go a little further afield, and both Safari Diving and Manta Diving offer boat dives. Safari run their own hardboat, which can comfortably take 12-16 divers, and Manta charter a seven-anda-half metre RIB complete with boarding ladder. Whichever option you go for, you’ll soon find that even the furthest boat-diving sites are only a short distance away - and with the swift drop-off into deep water, they all lie along the coastline, many just a couple of hundred metres off the shore. The few boat dives that we did, including Waikiki and Punta Tinosa, brought us to some moredramatic versions of the shore-diving sites off Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen. Again, the topography was all steep and craggy, but often the relief didn’t get as shallow, and the more-interesting features were in the 30-40m range, making them a good choice for the experienced nitrox diver. We also did the Puerto Del Carmen Wrecks, a group of six wrecks lying scattered on the seabed next to the harbour wall. A few of the wrecks are well strewn over the bottom at 30-40m, with beams, masts and spars everywhere, as well as the odd easily recognisable bit like the prop or bridge area, but the shallowest vessel - which, oddly enough, is the most intact - protrudes from the top of a pile of huge rocks at 18m with its bow seemingly reaching out to the open ocean. The rear section of this boat has been covered by more of the large rocks - which were put down as storm defences and to form a foundation for the extension to the immense harbour wall - so only half of it now emerges from beneath this rocky tomb, which to me actually adds to the atmospheric dive.
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MORE TO SEE. MORE TO DO. MORE TO REMEMBER!
MALTA, GOZO AND COMINO T DIVING, JUST THREE ISLANDS OFFERING GREA
3 HOURS FROM MOST UK AIRPO
RTS.
AMPLE CHOICE OF SITES FOR BOTH RECREATIONAL AND TECHNICAL DIVER
S.
FOR INFORMATION AND RATES ENQUIRE WITH ANY ONE OF THE CENTRES BELOW.
MALTA - DIVE CENTRES Aquatica Dive Centre Aquaventure Buddies Dive Cove Dawn Diving Dive Med Dive Systems Diveshack Scuba School Divewise Maltaqua New Dimension Scuba Ocean Mysteries Diving OrangeShark H20 Diving Centres Seashell Dive Centre
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info@scubadivingmalta.com info@aquaventuremalta.com dive@buddiesmalta.com info@dawndiving.com info@divemed.com info@divesystemsmalta.com info@divemalta.com info@divewise.com.mt dive@maltaqua.com info@nds-malta.com info@oceanmysteriesdiving.com info@h2odivers.com info@seashell-divecove.com
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info@atlantisgozo.com gozo@extradivers.info dive@gozoaquasports.com info@mobydivesgozo.com standrew@gozodive.com gozodiveschool@hotmail.com utina@gozomail.com
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GOZO - DIVE CENTRES Atlantis Dive Centre Extra Divers Gozo Gozo Aqua Sports Moby Dives St. Andrew’s Divers Cove Scuba Kings Utina Diving College
www.atlantisgozo.com www.extradivers.info www.gozoaquasports.com www.mobydivesgozo.com www.gozodive.com www.scuba-kings.com www.utina-diving.com
DIVE EUROPE
Lanzarote Mark, Matt and Ross on the volcano tour
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
LANZAROTE,
CANARY ISLANDS WHERE IS IT?
Located in the Atlantic just off the northwestern coast of Africa.
HOW TO GET THERE Monarch operates year round flights to Lanzarote from Birmingham, East Midlands, London Gatwick, London Luton, Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports. There are many other chartered and scheduled airlines servicing Arrecife.
WHEN TO VISIT You can dive in Lanzarote all year round.
LANGUAGE Spanish, but many people speak English as well. Safari Diving and Manta Diving are both British-owned and operated.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS A valid passport with six months left to expiry.
CURRENCY Euro (£1 = Euro 1.25).
WHERE TO EAT AND MEET Puerto del Carmen boasts a plethora of restaurants, fast-food joints and bars, so you will never go hungry. The Chill Inn is a popular meeting spot for divers to enjoy a cold beer.
VERDICT Lanzarote is one of those places that hardcore divers might well overlook, but it offers some great diving, much of it off the shore, and has plenty for non-divers to keep themselves occupied as well.
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“For whatever reason, I had a pre-conceived idea of what to expect in the water, and from the very first shore dive we did, to The Cathedral, I was simply blown away by the sheer amount of life on display” CONCLUSION Lanzarote surprised me. For whatever reason, I had a pre-conceived idea of what to expect in the water, and from the very first shore dive we did, to The Cathedral, I was simply blown away by the sheer amount of life on display. I was expecting more Med-style diving, but instead, I encountered fish in the sorts of numbers and varieties you’d morereadily see in the Caribbean. Alright, the Canary Islands are never going to be able to compete with the diversity and colour of the Indo-Pacific, but it certainly ranks as some of the best diving I
have done in Europe, that’s for sure. Cheap flights, budget accommodation, value-for-money food and drink, and warm surface and water temperatures all year round make this a destination to add to your ‘must-do’ list. You can even do a long weekend with it only being a four-hour flight away from the UK. Safari Diving and Manta Diving both run slick operations, with experienced instructors/guides who know the sites well and are keen as mustard to showcase what the island’s waters have to offer, and either would make a fine base of operations to explore Lanzarote both underwater and topside. ■
THE DIVE CENTRES Long-established Safari Diving (www.safaridiving.com) has undoubtedly the best location of any dive centre in Puerto del Carmen - right on the beach at Playa Chica, you kit up and walk literally metres and you are in the water. It has held this great spot for over 30 years - current owners Wendy and Steve Hicks have been in charge for nine years - and also runs its own hardboat that can comfortably take 12-16 divers. The centre is quite compact, but fits in the compressor (air and nitrox) room, a reception/check-in hatch, and an equipment area with multiple dedicated rinse tanks, rental kit and guest gear storage. Manta Diving (www.manta-diving-lanzarote.com) is also a well-established company in Puerto del Carmen, and Ben Hutchinson and Rachel Parry have been at the helm for the past six years. The well-laid-out centre has plenty of indoor and outdoor drying room, rinse tanks, a wide range of rental gear, a welcoming reception/classroom area, and air and nitrox on tap. It is handily located just a couple of hundred metre stroll from the entry point to the main shore-diving sites - you walk there in your wetsuit, and the team runs your kit down in the van. Manta Diving can also offer RIB diving.
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Dive Files International This month... SAFARI DIVING LANZAROTE Playa Chica, Puerto del Carmen 35510, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Who’s in charge? Name: Steve Hicks Rank: Owner - PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor – BSAC Open Water Instructor – SSI Dive Con Instructor and NAUI Instructor Date qualified: Padi Open Water Scuba Instructor since March 1986. Number of dives: Approximately 4,750 plus
What’s your story? How did you become involved with your dive centre/resort? As a UK dive instructor I regularly visited Safari Diving Lanzarote for 14 years, to complete training with my dive students in the warmer waters. We also became UK agents for Safari Diving Lanzarote, then nine years ago Wendy and I moved over to the island permanently and became the new owners of the international dive centre.
Question and answer session How would you describe your team at your dive centre in no more than 15 words? A friendly team with extensive knowledge and experience of the diving around Lanzarote. What is your favourite place to dive in your country? Directly in front of our dive centre! Especially at night! What is your favourite place to dive elsewhere? Malaysia If you could change one thing about diving, what would it be? Prevent divers from interfering with the environment in which they are diving, i.e. fish feeding, taking souvenirs from the water, etc. Who’s the worst air-guzzler in the team? All are equally good with their air.
Who’s the biggest wimp out of the lot of you, and give a recent example? Danny, injured himself on our staff night out ten-pin bowling, after telling us he was the youngest and fittest one in the team! Spent one week walking around with a sling complaining about his injury! Who attracts the most attention, bad or good? Joachin, Dive Instructor/Boat Captain, for his never-ending smiles and willingness to help. If you could teach a celebrity to dive, who would it be and why? (Try and keep it clean!) Celebrity Juice star Keith Lemon, because it would just be a riot and entertainment for the whole beach! What’s been the biggest fear factor in your diving career to date? If I had any fears to encounter in this career I would not have pursued it. I have welcomed any challenges.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT OUR DIVE CENTRE/RESORT All year round diving with good visiblity and warm water temperatures. Extensive wildlife, all available from the beach or very short boat journeys.
Top five dives Cathedral - A large cavern at approximately 30m just in front of our dive centre. A favourite of new and experienced divers. Punta Tiñosa – Where lava flows met the sea to form an unusual underwater landscape. Excellent dive for large stingrays and angel sharks - only safely reached by boat. Barranco Del Quiquere Wrecks - Old tuna-fishing boats which were deliberately sunk to approximately 18-25m, creating this popular dive site. Playa Chica night dive - Octupus, stargazers, shrimps, seahorses, anemones, cuttlefish and nudibranchs are just some of the creatures we experience on the night dives in and around Playa Chica. Blue Hole/Agujero Azul - Is a short tunnel that connects a sandy shallow area to a cliff that descends into the stunning depths. Lots of wildlife can be seen at this site.
DIVE CENTRE/RESORT FACILITIES The dive school is located directly on the beach, merely feet from the water’s edge with ample parking nearby - an unbeatable location for diving on the island . The only centre in the area which is a Bauer Pure Air Station and the only dive centre in the Canaries to receive a Quality award from the local government. TRAINING FACILITIES Our confined water training is conducted in the protected bay in front the centre. We also can use a heated swimming pool nearby when necessary. Our PADI courses come complete with DVD Crewpacks, not just manuals. Our instructors are able to teach a wide range of courses and specialties in six languages.
Fact file
Opening hours: 9.30am - 6pm seven days a week - all year round. Plus night dives.
Rental kit and brand: Scubapro and Cressi, regulary updated. Over 120 cylinders on site.
Contact details: Wendy Hicks, Safari Diving Lanzarote Email: enquiry@safaridiving.com Web: www.safaridiving.com Tel: 0034 625059713 / 0034 928 511 992
Courses available: A range of PADI courses up to Divemaster. A large number of PADI Specialties. We also teach courses for SSI and BSAC and arrange boat handling courses for BSAC and RYA.
Gas mixes: Air and nitrox Servicing: Service technicians for Scubapro, Mares and Cressi. Shop: N/A
DIVE WORLDWIDE
Florida
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DIVE WORLDWIDE
Florida DEERFIELD BEACH Description: Wreck Trek Deerfield is a three-wreck drift dive that includes the Ancient Mariner, Berry Patch Tug and Quallman Barge. You can easily cover two wrecks and, if the current is right, you can do all three. It is a great dive - along with all the marine life you get to test your navigational skills, though there are rebar stakes sticking up in the sand in between the wrecks to help guide you along. The boats: The Ancient Mariner is an ex-Coast Guard Cutter, 50 metres long with an eight-metre beam. Built in 1934 as a Prohibition Runner, she was used as a sub-chaser and rescue boat during World War Two. After various names and uses - including becoming Ft Lauderdale’s first floating restaurant - she was eventually bought and scuttled in 1991. The ship now sits upright, the bow pointing towards the Berry Patch Tug. On account of her close proximity to the reef, the Mariner is covered in marine life. The Berry Patch Tug, built in 1940 and originally named A.L. Spencer, is 19 metres long and five metres wide. She sits upright with her bow facing south and is smothered in coral. After a lengthy life towing other vessels, including sand barges from the Bahamas, she was eventually offered eternal rest and scuttled in 1987. The Quallman Barge, scuttled in 2000 by the Broward County Artificial Reef Program, is 30 metres long and ten metres wide. The vessel is a popular spot for shoaling fish. As well as the staple reef fish, divers can expect to see hogfish and amberjacks. Navigation: Depending on the current you either start out on the Ancient Mariner or the Quallman Barge. Circumnavigate each wreck, then take a heading and follow the stakes to each wreck. If you leave from the Quallman Barge follow the stakes (240 degrees) to the reef edge. Then follow the reef edge until you either see a stake or the Berry Patch Tug on your left. The distance between the Ancient Mariner and the Berry Patch Tug is approximately 45 metres and the Tug to the Barge is approximately 180 metres. Be careful not to get your flag tangled on the wreck. If you are going to stay on the wreck for a while, it might be best to tie your dive flag off and then retrieve it when you’re ready to move on. Some wrecks are larger than others
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Sponge and coral growth smothers the wrecks
Many can be penetrated
SOUTH FLORIDA DIVING HEADQUARTERS
Located near the famed Pompano and Ft Lauderdale beaches, South Florida Diving Headquarters has developed a world-renowned reputation for all the right reasons. Accessibility, slick operation and, of course, superb diving have made it one of the premier outfits on the panhandle, if not the US. Boasting three spacious and comfortable dive boats and a multitude of wrecks and reefs within a short motor from port, it is care-free diving at its best. With three international airports nearby and a host of hotels - including the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort and Spa, a newly opened beachfront hotel that boasts all the modern comforts any traveller could want - and waterfront bars within easy reach, this is a dive set-up that has it all. www.southfloridadiving.com
“The engine room, once the life of the ship, adopts a cave-like existence, silent and dark, an open tomb” FT LAUDERDALE Description: Wreck Trek Ft Lauderdale is a three-wreck drift dive that includes the Jay Scutti, Tracey and Merci Jesus. You can easily cover two wrecks and if the current is right you can do all three. There are rebar stakes protruding from the sand to help guide you from wreck to wreck. The boats: The Jay Scutti, a 30-metre-long Dutch-built tugboat, sits upright with the bow pointing north. Originally named Arikok, the Jay Scutti was bought at auction after being confiscated for marijuana smuggling. The auction winner named the boat in memory of his son and had the vessel scuttled in 1986. The Tracey, seized by US Customs for drug trafficking and scuttled in 1999, is 40 metres long with a tenmetre beam. The vessel sits upright, its bow pointing north. Divers should look out for a plaque on the ship, dedicated to local dive instructor Ken Vitale. The Merci Jesus was, just like her Wreck Trek siblings, seized by US Customs for possession of drugs. Confiscated in April 1998, she was scuttled just a few months later, in August. The 27-metre-long vessel now sits upright, bow pointing south. Navigation: Depending on the current you either start out on the Jay Scutti or the Merci Jesus. Circumnavigate each wreck, then take a heading and follow the stakes about 60 metres to each wreck. As with the other Wreck Treks, be careful not to get your flag tangled on the wreckage, and use the ‘tie off and retrieve later’ approach if necessary.
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HOW THAT SHOT WAS TAKEN Expert advice from respected underwater photographer Martin Edge
PHOTO
WORKSHOP
POPULAR OPPORTUNITIES: PIERS AND JETTIES, PART ONE Martin continues his series looking at common photo subjects, this month looking at piers and jetties Photographs by MARTIN EDGE
T
he next few months’ contribution is in parts. From all my ‘Popular Opportunities’ columns over the last eight months, this is by far the most-considerable. Seasoned underwater photographers will be well aware of the excellent opportunities to be found on, in and around piers and jetties. I began my underwater photographic journey more than 30 years ago with regular visits to Swanage Pier in Dorset. Back in the day, Swange Pier was convenient to me and, for reasons which I never appreciated until much later, I was able to concentrate on my photography more under the pier than I could diving out in the bay from a RIB. I felt a sense of calm and safety and I was more than happy to dive solo. This had a knock-on effect of more bottom time, less deco and an all-round general feeling of well being. I took some of my most-successful images under Swanage Pier, which provided the motivation to seek out other shallow-water opportunities. When I began to write and teach underwater photography in the early 1990s, the full potential of photo diving piers and jetties became evident. It was all so much easier to do just off the beach, under a pier rather than out in open water. There are so many popular photo subjects to be found under piers and jetties, that’s obvious. What I want to discuss over the next two issues is
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how to use the backdrop of a pier as outstanding negative space to frame the main subject, whatever that subject may be. The best way to do this is to use screen-grab example techniques alongside the finished image.
FIGURE ONE The Figure one screen shot illustrates an area around the shallow pier called Air Manis close to Maluka Divers, Ambon, Indonesia. The entire group dived this pier many times during our ten-day workshop. The wealth of critters means the safe shallow environment made this the most ‘do again’ photo-dive of the entire ten days. Towards dusk, the horse-eye jacks and silversides would school in sizeable numbers and they were quite easy to shoot with a wide-angle lens. For my photo style the background of the pier was key to a successful result. I’d seen quite a few images of this particular idea around the dive resort and I was impressed, but for my own individual style, the pier formations at the back of the school disturbed the composition. With this in mind I swam around, beneath the pillars, looking for a striking composition to frame and develop the background of my idea. You’ll see three rows, four shots in each. A total of 12 images. The top row illustrates the conclusion of my search. I was inspired by the silhouetted upward
angle of the pier columns alongside two fishing boats moored against it. I had found my ideal background! All I had to do was to retain my compositional idea through my viewfinder and have the patience to wait for the fish to swim into the frame. The middle row of the screen shot illustrates a short moment of unplanned but anticipated success. My fish school swam above and over my head to add that extra touch to my pre-conceived compositional idea. Along the top row the school are too far away to benefit from my ‘kiss’ of flash. When they swam above me (along the middle row) they were close enough to me to be illuminated. The bottom row examples are similar to the top; the school is
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PHOTO WORKSHOP
MARTIN EDGE PROFILE Martin Edge was born in Staffordshire, England in 1955, where he lived and grew up without any inclination towards diving or photography. Years later, he moved to the Dorset coastline and in 1977 it was here that he learnt to dive in the temperate waters around Swanage, Weymouth and Portland. He had never had any particular interest or tuition in photography, but his desire to shoot pictures underwater grew into a passion bordering on an obsession. Frustrated by a lack of knowledge of camera equipment and how best to use it underwater, he set out to understand the ‘mind’s eye’ of those underwater photographers whose work he most admired. Over the last 20 years he has done just that. Introduced, developed, motivated and mentored hundreds of underwater photographers, including many of the finest in the UK today.
SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR! The fourth edition of Martin’s book, The Underwater Photographer, is now available. For a signed copy, phone 01202 887611 or email martin@edgeunderwaterphotography.com
NEED GIFT IDEAS?
out of range, too low in the frame and unexciting. Notice how my backdrop stays the same and the schooling fish move into that backdrop.I didn’t go chasing the position of the school! I waited in hope they would swim into my chosen background. This idea took me over an hour to foresee, find and arrange. I had been swimming around under the pier
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patiently looking for a background composition that would work. Taken at the 10mm end of my Tokina 10mm17mm lens. 320th sec at F8. ISO 400 in view of the reduced light levels beneath the pier towards dusk. Nikon D7000 in Nauticam housing. Two Inon 240 flashguns on manual half power. ■
Treat someone to a Photo Course with Martin. Martin runs one-day photo tuition courses designed for one, two or three persons. He promises to improve your photo skills by at least five years. Group bookings at discounted rates are available. Go to www.edgeunderwaterphotography.com for details or email Martin direct on martin@edgeunderwaterphotography.com
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Want to see your image here? Upload your photographs now to the Sport Diver website! Want to be in with a chance of winning a GoPro Hero 3 White Edition? It’s easy simply select your favourite underwater images and upload them to the Gallery section of the Sport Diver website. Each month, we will choose the best, most-eyecatching image as the Photo of the Month. But to be in with a chance of winning, your images have to be in the Gallery, so don’t sit back and think ‘I wouldn’t win that’, get your images on the website - after all, as with any competition, you have to be in it, to win it!
DIVE WORLDWIDE
Turks and Caicos Islands
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DIVE WORLDWIDE
Turks and Caicos Islands
TCI divefest
Stuart Philpott hooked up with some old friends in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and over a two-week period blitzed virtually every dive site on Providenciales Photographs by STUART PHILPOTT
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NEW for 2014
GRENADA
DIVE WORLDWIDE
Turks and Caicos Islands
W
hen it comes to hooking up with old diving friends, I am not the best cookie in the jar. But there have been a few exceptions and, in this particular case, Torsten Klug (Mr T) and Jo Charman lived and worked in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCIs), which gave me more of an incentive to stay in touch. I can’t think why… Mr T and Jo worked for Dive Provo, owned by Alan and Clare Jardine, based on Providenciales. Jo managed the day-to-day running of the busy PADI dive centre, and multi-talented Mr T guided divers and skippered one of the boats. With the support of my friends and the owners of Dive Provo, I managed to organise a two-week diving trip to the TCIs. This gave me ample time to check out the local dive sites, along with a good number of bars and restaurants. Due to seasonal weather variations, I spent the majority of my time exploring the northwest point and West Caicos dive sites. Alan and Clare had even arranged a personal guide/model for almost every dive, which really helped me get some super-cool images. My most-eventful dive turned out to be at Shark Hotel, off northwest point. The dive staff had mentioned there was a really nice swim-through at a depth of around 35m. This started off as a vertical ‘chimney’ and then turned 90 degrees, opening out onto the wall. I took a few posing shots of my blonde-haired dive guide Nives Skrlj looking out through the hole and then as we started to ascend, three good-sized Nassau grouper appeared. The largest grouper seemed to take more of an interest and as we made our way up the wall it stayed reasonably close by. At around 20m the grouper broke away and disappeared back into the deep blue depths. There were also a number of reef sharks circling, so the dive site had been true to its name, but at the time I was more interested in the grouper.
Deco trapeze under the boat
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The Admiralty anchor embedded on the reef
“Then a huge three-metre-plus wingspan monster came over my head and plonked itself about ten metres away from me. I literally got my camera dome within a few centimetres of its nose tip and there was still no movement” I made arrangements for a return visit, just to see whether we could repeat the encounter and fingers crossed get a little more intimate. When we passed through the swim-through out onto the nearvertical wall, our friendly grouper appeared on cue and then stayed with us for the rest of the dive. This time around the grouper came in really close - close enough for me to fill the entire frame of my 16mm fisheye lens. I managed to get some great shots of the grouper in the foreground, with Nives smiling in the background. This was the best interactive marine life experience of the entire trip. The grouper was totally un-phased by us, and followed Nives around the reef like a lost puppy dog. Alan had booked me into the three-star Ports of Call hotel located across the road from Dive Provo HQ, which couldn’t have been any more convenient. I have absolutely no
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Turks and Caicos Islands Friendly hawksbill turtle
Healthy coral growth
negative comments about my room. I opted for the economy ‘garden view’ with a fridge and sofa. Breakfast was also included in the deal; this was a no-frills help yourself continental style. Dive Provo is located in a small complex which has a number of restaurants and bars (Jimmy’s Bar is a good place to hook up with other divers). There is also a huge, well-stocked American-style IGA supermarket across the main road adjacent to the hotel. Grace Bay’s white sandy beach is just a couple of minutes’ walk (approximately 200 metres) from the hotel and the main town packed with shops, bars and restaurants is not much further. The Flamingo Café (15 minutes’ walk) is a great chill-out beach bar/restaurant for beers, margaritas and fish sandwiches, which doesn’t cost a fortune. I sat there on many occasion, glass in hand, watching the spectacular sunsets. Providenciales doesn’t have any proper shipwrecks as such, but Thunderdome makes an interesting alternative. The cage-like metal dome was originally used as an underwater set for a French game show aired in the mid 1990s called ‘The treasure of Pago Pago’. Contestants had to freedive down through the centre of the dome and collect ‘pearls’ fired out from a tube sponge shaped pump (check out Dive Provo boat skipper Nigel Suffolk’s video (and hair) on You Tube for the full story). Unfortunately, the dome has been broken up into several pieces, but the structure still provides a haven for a profusion of life, including French grunts, barracuda, rays, parrots, angels, and grouper. It’s still possible to get underneath a section of the dome, but on my first photo attempt I came up empty handed. A group of divers had already been inside and kicked up a sand cloud. I went back with Nives a few days later and carefully made my way underneath, corralled the French grunts into a reasonably tight shoal and got the picture I wanted. At a maximum depth of around 10m, I had plenty
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Puppy dog grouper
of time to work out a number of different compositions, which included the outer surface of the dome densely populated with yellow tube sponges. Alan and Clare Jardine set up Dive Provo in 1987. Their clientele is predominantly American and Canadian, with a small percentage of European nationalities. They operate three custom hard boats and are consistently busy all year round. There are about 50 different dive sites to choose from, either as a two-tank morning dive or a one-tank afternoon dive (every Wednesday there is a special three-dive safari). Nitrox is available, but no technical diving. In case of diving emergencies, there is a 24-hour manned hyperbaric chamber run by the Associated Medical Practice. The dive staff unanimously agreed that French Cay was the best site, but due to the breezy conditions it was looking highly unlikely that I would get the chance to visit. During my two-week stay I dived every single day bar one, when I decided to take a break and go horse riding. To my surprise and frustration, this was the day Dive Provo decided to go over to French Cay. I was absolutely gutted. Spanish Anchor, aka Whiteface, was another memorable dive site over at West Caicos, and yes,
Gorgonian seafan
there is actually a large Admiralty pattern anchor imbedded in the reef at a depth of 20m. I must admit that the anchor didn’t stand out particularly well, but one of the flukes is quite prominent. On this occasion I was buddied up with newbie dive guides Carla Pike and Alex Erskine, who had only just arrived on the island. I got the couple to pose by the anchor and when I spoke to Carla later, she hadn’t even noticed that the anchor was there! On a previous dive at the site, there was a two-metre nurse shark lying in the sand directly in front of the entrance to the small canyon. I moved slowly towards the shark while Nives was getting into a modelling pose behind. I managed to take one or two shots and then the shark turned away and skimmed right over the top of Nives’s head. At Highway to Heaven, I was promised big ray encounters and the site didn’t disappoint. In all I saw about five different rays throughout the dive. The first ray I tried to photograph bolted off in a plume of sand before I
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The best of
Turks and Caicos Islands Scuba Diving
Photograph by Stuart Philpott
West Caicos • Pine Cay • Northwest Point • Grace Bay • French Cay
Tel: Island (001) 649 946 5040 or US (001) 954 351 9771 or email: diving@diveprovo.com www.diveprovo.com
DIVE WORLDWIDE
Turks and Caicos Islands Nurse shark
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
PROVIDENCIALES,
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HOW TO GET THERE You can fly direct into Provo via Nassau in the Bahamas from London with British Airways, or you can travel via a US hub like Miami or JFK.
WHEN TO GO You can pretty much visit the Turks and Caicos Islands all year round. “The boats were roomy and well organised and I loved the box load of sandwiches and pastries handed out between dives”
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS A valid passport with six months left to expiry. A US$20 departure tax is payable per person - check this isn’t included in your flight ticket cost. If you travel via the US, you will need to complete an ESTA.
CURRENCY US dollar (£1 = US$1.70).
WHERE TO EAT AND MEET Jimmy’s Bar near Dive Provo HQ is a good place to hook up with other divers, while Grace Bay’s white sandy beach is just a couple of minutes’ walk (approximately 200 metres) from the Ports of Call hotel and the main town packed with shops, bars and restaurants is not much further. The Flamingo Café (15 minutes’ walk) is a great chill-out spot.
VERDICT Providenciales is a great dive location, boasting many superlative walls, rich coral and sponge growth and myriad species. It is easy to get to from the US and the UK, and is particularly good for photographers wanting to make use of the great visibility.
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“Apart from missing out on French Cay, I had blitzed most of the dive sites. My favourite was, of course, the wall dive Shark Hotel” could get close enough. Then a huge three-metreplus wingspan monster came over my head and plonked itself about ten metres away from me. I literally got my camera dome within a few centimetres of its nose tip and there was still no movement. I was with Carla and Alex again. I kept waving them to get closer but Carla wouldn’t have any of it - I’m guessing she was worried about a possible ‘Steve Irwin’ situation. I manage to fire off about ten shots and then backed away without disturbing the ray. Throughout the whole dive we experienced a fairly strong current, far stronger than at any other site. Turtle sightings were quite common; in fact, I saw a turtle on just about every dive. Sometimes just a passing glimpse in the blue, but on three occasions the encounters were right in my face and lasted for more than ten minutes. While diving with guides Anna Proudfoot and Debbie Redshaw at Driveway, I followed one little hawksbill all the way up to 6m for a silhouette shot. I really appreciated having a personal guide/ model to play with, but having so many different guides made it difficult for me to get any kind of continuity. I had to go through the same spiel time and time again - don’t look into the camera, no bubbles if possible, keep a horizontal posture, use clear silicon masks, some eye make-up if possible, etc. Going deeper on the wall obviously increased narcosis, which didn’t help in-water communication. On one occasion I spent about three or four minutes trying to explain to Debbie what I wanted her to do, by which time we had reached our
deco limits and had to ascend before I even took a picture! Grace Bay on the north side of the island is probably the most-popular spot for diving. From Turtle Cove Marina it’s just a short 15-minute boat ride to the mooring buoys. I only got to dive at two of the sites. Aquarium gave me a full 60 minutes worth of picture possibilities, including turtles, puffers, morays, spiny lobster and barracuda. At Coral Gables we found a nurse shark, but it was too far away for a wide-angle shot. Over the two-week period I had got to know the day-to-day routine pretty well. From a diving perspective there was a good variety of reefs and walls on offer, with prospects of seeing bigger marine life, including passing pelagics. The boats were roomy and well organised and I loved the box load of sandwiches and pastries handed out between dives. Apart from missing out on French Cay, I had blitzed most of the dive sites. My favourite was, of course, the wall dive Shark Hotel. After a decade’s worth of diving wanderlust, including several years in Egypt and the Philippines, my old friends Mr T and Jo were well and truly settled in the TCIs. Mr T was even thinking about buying an apartment. Alan and Clare really looked after their staff, and the pay wasn’t too bad either. So this would probably be my final dive article courtesy of Mr T and Jo. Maybe there was the slim possibility of a return visit. I would just have to come up with a convincing story line and somehow persuade the Editor! ■
www.sportdiver.co.uk
Scholarship Diary The Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society is a non-profit, educational organisation whose mission is to promote educational activities associated with the underwater world. It has offered scholarships for more than 35 years. owuscholarship.org
Shark Ecotourism 101: Healthy interactions
On the lookout for basking sharks
Elena Salim Haubold braves cold Scottish waters as she goes in search of basking sharks TEXT BY ELENA SALIM HAUBOLD
I
am in Coll, a remote, stunning Scottish island and an internationally recognised basking shark ‘hotspot’. The purpose of my visit is to learn how to have high-quality encounters with these plankton-feeders without harming them. Shane Wasik, the owner of Basking Shark Scotland, helped me understand why and how we should take care of the species while, at the same time, have fun with them. With his maverick attitude, this brilliant marine biologist started this company which offers wildlife tours around Oban, Scotland. Shane is very enthusiastic about introducing visitors to the abundant wildlife of the Scottish Hebrides and he is also passionate about reducing the impact on the marine environment. Therefore his tours are run under a strict code of conduct. A healthy interaction is a combination of fun and reason. The tourists look forward to connecting with the wild species as much as possible and the tour guide is responsible for reducing their impact to keep it sustainable. If the tour guide fails, and the tourists injure, molest or harass the animals excessively, as a result the species
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might change their behaviour pattern and be less tolerant toward humans the next time, or worse, they might not revisit this place. If the tour guide wants to keep his business running, he should be very careful with this situation. In the case of Shane, he is not just looking after his business, but he is also The beautiful islands engaged with the protecoff the coast of tion of nature for two Scotland strong and deep reasons: Firstly, he is a biologist and that’s the foundation on which he developed his passion for life, and secondly, he belongs to the region, which makes him highly committed to it. I believe this is the mix a tourist should always look for at the moment of choosing the opera-
tion he is going to travel with: Expertise in the ‘product’ (in our case: a naturalist/ marine biologist ‘selling’ marine life) and a sense of belonging to the environment. We spent the whole day in a boat looking for triangular fins on the surface, but we didn’t see any. This is the beginning of the season, so the probability of finding them was low. However, we enjoyed the good weather by snorkelling between kelp forests and playing with seals! They were coming very close to us and their curiosity was heartwarming. Thanks to my new equipment from Fourth Element, Apeks and Aqualung, I wasn’t cold at all while swimming in waters below 10°C! Please check http://baskingsharkscotland. co.uk/code-of-practice for more information about their code of practice!
Elena
www.sportdiver.co.uk
DIVE EUROPE
Austria
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www.sportdiver.co.uk
DIVE EUROPE
Austria The Hotel Moser is well-appointed, with spacious, comfortable rooms, a neat little bar area, and a restaurant serving up some delicious local dishes. It also has a great little ‘wellness’ section, comprising pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and warm relaxing room - perfect for chilling after a day’s diving, walking or mountain-biking. They also serve up afternoon coffee-and-cakes every day, which should not be missed! But I was here for the diving, not just soaking up the surroundings, so I met up with Ernest in the dive centre and we sorted out the kit and our plan of campaign for my two days of diving in the Weissensee. Day one would be shore-diving, and day two would be out on the boat, to tackle some of the further dive sites which are inaccessible by land.
The White Sea boasts some sizeable pike
SHORE-DIVING Loading up Ernest’s little white van, we set off eastwards along the southern edge of the lake. Soon the few buildings in the vicinity came to an end, and we drove on to a forest track that wound its way through the thickly wooded terrain, crossing small rivers flowing down from the mountains. Eventually, we emerged next to the water at an area where there was a large expanse of small rocks and pebbles, which created a kind of ‘beach’, albeit a rocky one. This dive site was named Little Canada, and it was easy to see why - the stunning surroundings were reminiscent of parts of the Rockies. Into our kit, it was only a matter of metres until we were in the water, and we set off eastwards in just 3-4m. Here and there, massive trees lay submerged in the shallows, their roots and branches now home to sizeable carp and perch, as well as a placid pike, which judging from its demeanour had just eaten and wasn’t in the mood to swim anywhere fast. He allowed Ernest and me to ‘wrangle’ him for a few photographs before he slowly cruised off into the gloom. This was a fantastic first dive in Austria, and most of the interesting sections were in 5-6m or less. However, it was on surfacing that the real beauty of the Weissensee hit home. A thick mist hung over one end of the lake, the mountains and trees surrounded us, and the only sounds were the gentle wind blowing through the branches and the odd bird call. It was utterly tranquil, and it was just fascinating to bob around on the surface and soak up the atmosphere. The next dive site, Rock Ronacher, is handily located right next to a guest house owned by Ernest’s uncle. It is the furthest you can drive along this side
tu S
i n
g u A
ROADTRIP TOP TIP! Make sure you check on the legal requirements for each country you are travelling to. At the very least, in Europe you should have your driving licence (both parts), either a GB sticker or the appropriate numberplate incorporating an acceptable logo, a warning triangle, fluorescent vests for all passengers, spare bulb set, first-aid kit and headlamp adjusters. In France you are also required to carry your own breathalyzer.
“A thick mist hung over one end of the lake, the mountains and trees surrounded us, and the only sounds were the gentle wind blowing through the branches and the odd bird call” www.sportdiver.co.uk
of the Weissensee; beyond is just dense woodland stri and winding footpaths. Kitting up from the van, we walked the short distance to the entry point and just strolled into the water, donning our fins once we were waist deep. Descending to a couple of metres, we headed westwards along the edge of a sloping drop-off, past more sunken trees and patches of algal growth. We saw more carp, huddled together in a shoal, but they were quite timid and never ventured into shooting distance. Still, another nice dive that again benefitted from stunning views on the surface. The important thing to remember on any of the Weissensee dives is that the thick white chalky mud and silt that makes up the shoreline can easily be disturbed, and once it is kicked up by careless fin strokes, that’s the vis gone for a few hours.
BOAT DIVING For our second day of diving, Ernest wanted to show me some of his boat-diving sites, so we loaded up the rescue boat (he is also one of the area’s emergency responders in case of accidents on the lake and in the surrounding forest) and took off down towards the undeveloped eastern end of Weissensee. He pointed out several dive locations before we slowly pulled up next to the shore on the southern side - which here was heavily wooded and rose steeply up several hundred metres and moored the boat by tying it to a handy tree trunk that protruded horizontally out
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Austria Ernest admiring the marine life
The lake offers tranquil diving
The water can take on an eerie glow
It’s not all about the big pike...
YACHTDIVER
from the hillside. At this dive site - Laka Wand - the water was only 30cm deep for a couple of metres out from the shoreline before it dropped off over the wall, which made kitting up a doddle. We just lifted the gear out of the boat on to this shallow ‘ledge’ and then got kitted up stood in the ankledeep water. Descending to 3-4m, we set off eastwards, winding our way over and around some immense trees that had fallen into the lake and now lay in a haphazard fashion, criss-crossing one another and creating a bizarre obstacle course for divers. Smothered in a layer of silt and algal growth, the massive
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Yachtdiver is a PADI five-star IDC centre, run by Ernest Turnschek. Ernest has been diving for more than 26 years and has dived all over the world, but holds a special place in his heart for the Weissensee. The centre boasts a wide range of equipment from many major manufacturers, and you can do everything from a Discover Scuba Diving session to a full-on instructor course, as well as tech trydives and full technical courses, including sidemount and rebreather. In the winter months, Yachtdiver becomes one of the most-prolific issuers of ice-diving certifications in the world, as the Weissensee becomes covered in a good 50cm-plus of ice for four months. www.yachtdiver.at
Ernest exiting the water after a dive
The Weissensee’s glacial past is evident
“Smothered in a layer of silt and algal growth, the massive trees would suddenly loom out of the green water, making for a very eerie, atmospheric dive” www.sportdiver.co.uk
All PADI courses from complete beginner to Instructor Level taught in small groups or one-2-one!
Group / Instructor & Club Discounts. Come for a long weekends diving!
DIVEEXPLOREDISCOVER UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP, SEAN AND DONNA TIERNEY, PADI RESORT DIVE CENTER CATERING FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS, ANYONE FROM 10 YEARS PLUS CERTIFIED DIVERS IN SMALL GROUPS MAXIMUM 4 TO 1 DIVE GUIDE, OFFERING SHORE AND BOAT DIVES
NITROX CENTRE 2240%
www.thediveshoplanzarote.com
Tel: 0034 928 512 865 or mobile 0034 652 013 959 LOCATED IN THE MATAGORDA SHOPPING CENTRE
DIVE EUROPE
Austria Ernest hanging out near a drop-off
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
AUSTRIA HOW TO GET THERE I took the ferry across to Calais in France and then drove to southern Austria via Germany, but you can always fly if you don’t want to make the long-haul roadtrip - but that’s part of the fun! The nearest airport is Friedrichshafen.
BEST TIME TO VISIT You can pretty much dive in the Weissensee all year round, though from December to March it is ice-diving central, while in the summer water temps can hit 26 degrees C on the surface.
“By the time we’d de-kitted and packed up, we only had to wait 15 minutes for the daily afternoon coffee-and-cakes to be served in the Hotel Moser!”
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS You just need a valid passport with six months left to expiry.
CURRENCY
a group of carp that would make any fisherman extremely happy. However, Ernest indicated these weren’t the really big specimens. These looked big, the elder statesmen must be immense! Circling this mass of tree roots, we headed back westwards, and cruised over a sloping wall, stopping every so often to eye up perch hiding in the weeds, or chase after the occasional carp. Finally calling it a day, we surfaced next to the boat, clambered aboard and then raced back to the dock, timing our arrival to perfection - by the time we’d de-kitted and packed up, we only had to wait 15 minutes for the daily afternoon coffee-and-cakes to be served in the Hotel Moser! ■ Next month: Italy, and the depths of Lake Garda
Euro (£1 = Euro 1.22).
VW CALIFORNIA
WHERE TO EAT AND MEET
The California proved itself to be an accomplished motorway cruiser, eating up the miles from Calais to Lake Constance in Germany, and then on to the Weissensee in southern Austria. Supportive seats, a commanding view of the road and a smooth turbo diesel engine linked to a six-speed manual gearbox made for comfortable driving conditions in the cab - and the optional £2,676 ‘Travel Pack’ (which consisted of the RNS510 navigation/DAB+ radio system with 6.5” colour touch-screen, voice control, 30 GB hard drive, single CD player, SD card reader, Aux-in socket and eight speakers; premium Bluetooth connectivity; 3Zone climatronic air-conditioning; laminated glass in cab and privacy glass in passenger compartment; multi-function steering wheel and auto-dimming rear-view mirror) fitted to my loan vehicle also helped no end! The Weissensee is apparently a haven for mountain bikers too, and I saw many lycra-clad and helmeted off-road warriors whipping through the woodland in the area. The VW California I had on loan was fitted with a four-bike rack on the back (£485), but alas my bike was back in the garage at home. Next time, it is coming with me! www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/california
The Hotel Moser serves up delicious breakfasts and dinners featuring local produce, but there are plenty of bars and restaurants dotted around the Weissensee.
VERDICT The Weissensee sits in a stunning location, and offers much for divers and non-divers. Ernest runs a tight ship and is endlessly enthusiastic about showing off ‘his lake’. I just want to go back and do the ice-diving now!
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trees would suddenly loom out of the green water, making for a very eerie, atmospheric dive. The wall below just dropped out of sight, and I can only imagine how impressive this looks when the vis is better. Parts of the lake drop to a hefty 99m, making it perfect for technical diving and training. My final dive in the Weissensee was named Mikado. Ernest was determined to find me some of the monster carp which apparently call the White Sea their home, and this was a prime location. Again, we moored the boat to a handy tree, but as the wall pretty much started next to the water’s edge here, we kitted up in the boat and then flopped over the side into the water. Descending to 5-6m, we headed eastwards briefly, through more sunken trees, and surprised
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www.sportdiver.co.uk
ESSENTIAL ADVICE
DIVE LIKE A PRO
Are you a risk-taker?
Martin Sampson takes a look at the different ‘kinds’ of diving enthusiast, and asks ‘what kind of diver are YOU’? Photographs by MARK EVANS
D
ivers take risks. That’s a sweeping statement, I grant you, and I’m guessing that quite a few of you are thinking: “I don’t, I’m a safe diver”. In essence though, we’re trusting some clever technology and deliberately immersing ourselves in a cold fluid we can’t breathe. A substantial number of land lubbers out there regard us with a mixture of awe and envy, not to mention complete derision because they think we’re as mad as a box of prawns. The rest of us, booted and rubber-suited, think we’re normal. Of course, there is potential for harm and injury, but we all intend to go diving safely, don’t we? It’s just that sometimes, at the dive site, this doesn’t happen. In 1986 I dived with one of the first decompression computers. It was called ‘The Edge’. At that time there were only three computers on the market. The Edge and the Decobrain both cost around £600. The third was the Dive Dynamics ‘Aladin’ computer, that was about £250. A popular misconception
Nobody wants something to go wrong at the worst possible time
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Despite the evolution of dive gear, we all take a risk by getting in the water
about dive computers at that time was that you could do any type of dive profile, including ‘saw tooth’ profiles involving multiple ascents and descents. After a few cases of decompression illness proved that wrong, the popular phrase ‘he was bent on an Aladin!’ was coined. Suspicion fell on the reliability of the Aladin. But the Aladin computer was outselling the other two units because it was over £300 cheaper. If you had decompression illness while using a dive computer, it was much more likely that it would be with an Aladin on your wrist. It took a little longer for the diving community to appreciate that thousands of dives were being conducted with greater levels of safety because, for the first time, we had a reliable way of monitoring our ascent rate. Fast forward 24 years to 2010. The 20 or so fatalities that happened in 2010 using rebreathers involved
A good buddy is key to a good dive
some pretty elementary errors. For example, failing to change a scrubber canister in good time, or failing to go through a pre-dive check list and then discovering a major fault in the worst possible way. The use of rebreathers is a rapidly emerging aspect of diving, but the potential risks inherent in the use of rebreathers themselves, say carbon dioxide toxicity, are not specific to any one type of unit any more than DCI is linked to any one dive computer. In the last 24 years, quality in design, engineering, materials, and ergonomics have all improved. But no matter what piece of kit you choose, it is likely to have a limitation of some sort. It may be one of design - perhaps a lightweight regulator that is designed with travel to warm waters in mind rather than the Arctic Ocean. This is where training and information come into play. Good-quality instruction will help you become aware, not just of the
www.sportdiver.co.uk
TOP TIPS An enjoyable dive involves the ability to focus
MARTIN SAMPSON PROFILE Martin is a PADI MSDT and BSAC National Instructor with 30 years of diving experience, much of it spent running Anglesey Divers, the only PADI five-star dive centre in North and mid-Wales. Based in Holyhead, Martin runs Anglesey Divers with wife Caroline, who is also an instructor. Since 1989 they have taught hundreds of divers, specialising in small groups and individual tuition. Anglesey Divers have received several teaching awards from PADI as a result of glowing customer testamonials.
limitations of the gear, but also your own limitations. No matter how good the training is, your ability to retain it decreases dramatically without continued practice. Are you the sort of diver who thinks: “I haven’t been underwater for four months, I think I’ll book a refresher course?” Over the last 24 years, time pressure has also changed, but not for the better. We tend to lead busier lives, made all the more-immediate by 24/7 communications and social networking. Many divers get through the daily stress of Monday to Friday by promising themselves a weekend’s diving. A late Friday night fuelled by high expectations (among other things) is followed by an early start on Saturday and a 200-mile drive to the coast. The possible outcomes are varied, but could include: • Getting a speeding ticket on the way to the dive site because you over-slept. • Not diving at all because you left your regulator hanging in the shed. • Not being able to get buoyancy control right because you couldn’t relax. • Passing all responsibility for navigation and planning over to your buddy or instructor because you’re too tired to think about it. • Having a problem with a piece of kit because you forgot to check it. • Diving with that faulty kit because ‘Hey, I’ve been looking forward to this dive all week’. • Being cold, dehydrated, or simply too tired to do a
second dive. • Completing an uncomfortable dive without major incident and accepting that you survived therefore you must have enjoyed it because everyone else did. • Realising that actually, today of all days, I just don’t feel up to it so I’m not going to dive. That last outcome could only have been bettered by realising on the Friday night that what you needed most was 12 hours sleep and a lie-in on Saturday morning. Perhaps one day of relaxed diving on the Sunday would have been better than trying to cram in two days of diving. Diving and other adventure sports are popular because when they are properly planned and conducted you have to focus in order to achieve your goals. While focusing on those you become free of Monday-to-Friday stresses. From the car sticker school of psychology: ‘Leave it all above you - go scuba diving’. At some point in your training you were almost certainly told to abort the dive if you are not happy. It would be even better to develop the self-awareness and sheer nerve to be able to say to your buddy: “I’m sorry, I’m just not up for this today”. If your buddy can’t handle that, find a different one. We’re entering an exciting era with modern rebreathers that have some very clever fail-safes built in. All they need to work is a relaxed, switched-on, focused user. That could be you! Stay safe. ■
“If you had decompression illness while using a dive computer, it was much more likely that it would be with an Aladin on your wrist” www.sportdiver.co.uk
Both Caroline and Martin are keen underwater photographers and they regularly run overseas dive trips with photographers and beginners in mind.
Before becoming a full-time instructor, Martin was a design engineer in the aerospace industry. He has put this experience to good use and become a highly regarded expert in dive equipment servicing. His other instructor qualifications include PADI TecRec, Emergency First Response and RYA Advanced Powerboat. Martin also puts a lot of time back into the local community, and is a navigator on the Holyhead all-weather RNLI lifeboat. Tel: 01407 764545 Email: martin@diveanglesey.co.uk Web: www.diveanglesey.co.uk
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Each month, the Sport Diver Test Team assembles to rate and review a selection of diving equipment from a range of manufacturers
Gear on test LIGHTWEIGHT DIVE BAGS So you’ve got a BCD, wetsuit, drysuit, regulator set-up, fins, mask, snorkel and various other bits and pieces of diving kit, now you need something to keep it all in! To that end, the Sport Diver Test Team got together a selection of dive bags from a range of manufacturers. We asked them to send in two bags that would fulfil different criteria - one, a more-traditional ‘dive bag’ capable of carrying all your kit and a week or so of clothing, and two, a more-lightweight, basic bag that could be used for trips abroad and around the UK. This issue we are looking at the latter. We were looking for bags sturdy enough to protect our gear but that wouldn’t use up most of our luggage allowance on its own, and large enough to get everything in without having to resort to extreme measures to get it zipped shut. We sorted out a typical set of holiday dive kit - mask, fins, 5mm neoprene suit, boots, BCD and regulator set - and then saw how much room was left over for clothing once this lot was all tucked safely away inside. We also weighed the bags to see how much of our precious luggage allowance they would swallow all on their own.
ON TEST MODELS • Aqualung T8 Roller • Beaver Travel-Lite • Beuchat Air-Light 2 • IST Proline Divers’ Backpack • Mares Cruise Roller • Scubapro drybag • Sub Gear XP Pack Duo
Date tested 9 May 2014
TEST TEAM Mark Evans • Sport Diver editor • PADI Divemaster • 28 years of diving experience
Dave Hope • Dive club founder • PADI MSDT • 18 years of diving experience
Lightweight dive bags Aqualung T8 Roller
Beaver Travel-Lite
PR £47ICE
PRI £99CE Mark: This bag was almost as spacious as its slightly larger and heavier sibling, which we had in Gear On Test last month. It swallowed all the dive equipment and still had plenty of room for clothing. With the comfortable extending handle and subtle design points, this was a wellpriced, robustly built dive bag. Still a bit weighty for a lightweight bag, though. Dave: The T8 comes with rucksack straps, but as I’ve said before, I have never seen anyone with a bag of this style lugged up on to their shoulders. The extending handle is quite solid, and there are grab handles top and bottom (built into the rest). This is a basic but extremely spacious bag. Weight: 3.32kg
WE LIKE... Price, subtle looks, size
Plenty of space
Rubberreinforced handles
Mark: The Travel-Lite is, indeed, lightweight and was one of the lightest products in this review. It is a fairly basic holdall-style bag, but the rubbery finish lifts it out of the ordinary, and it has plenty of room for all your dive kit and the necessary clothes for a week away. Dave: I quite like the rubbery finish, which looks and feels like it should be fairly abuse-resistant. There is a zipped pocket on one end, a small zippered pocket on the side, a removable shoulder strap, and holdall straps on the top. This basic but decent-looking bag offers a big usable space for your kit and clothing.
Spacious storage
Rubberised finish
Weight: 1.6kg
SPORT DIVER VERDICT Performance Comfort - N/A Looks Value for money
SPORT DIVER VERDICT Performance Comfort - N/A Looks Value for money
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
WE DON’T LIKE... Nothing worth mentioning
WE LIKE... Price, size, rubbery finish
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
WE DON’T LIKE... Nothing worth mentioning
Li
tw h g
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Beuchat Air Light 2
eb v
IST Proline Divers backpack
PR
P
£49 ICE .96
£10RICE 4.9 5 Mark: Like the Scubapro from last month, and the same as the Mares this issue, this is one of those clever bags that folds up into itself, meaning it is perfect for storing on liveaboards or anywhere space is a premium. Once it is unfolded, this is a good-sized bag that can easily take a full set of dive kit and still have room for clothes. Dave: Mesh bag outer, which can be used on its own as a wet-bag. Goodlooking bag on it is opened up. Large main compartment that swallows kit, and a small pocket on top that stores a retaining strap for attaching your carry on. There are rucksack straps for those that want them, grab handles on the top and bottom/rest, and nifty red wheels for easy ID on the luggage belt. Weight: 3kg
WE LIKE... Price, looks, size, innovative design
Mark: Well-priced, traditional-style divers backpack with plenty of room for dive equipment in the main compartment, and various other pockets for fins, etc. Large, wellpadded rucksack straps, but they are not removable and we thought represented a snap hazard on the luggage conveyor. Dave: Ruckstack straps which could get snagged on luggage conveyor, be better if you could take them off when sending through check-in. Two big fin pockets, and a further two zip pockets on the main compartment flap. Lots of room for dive kit and clothing in the large central storage space.
Folds up when not in use
Large grab handle
Front pockets
Weight: 1.9kg
SPORT DIVER VERDICT Performance Comfort - N/A Looks Value for money
SPORT DIVER VERDICT Performance Comfort - N/A Looks Value for money
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
WE DON’T LIKE... Nothing worth mentioning
WE LIKE... Price, size, weight
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
WE DON’T LIKE... Rucksack straps a snag hazard
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Mares Cruise Roller
Scubapro drybag
PR
PR £11ICE
£12ICE 7
4
Mark: Mares were one of the first companies to come up with this innovative folding design of dive bag, but they have gone one-step further with the Cruise Roller. Where the previous version folded up and then had to be zipped into a reversible zipped pocket, this one just folds up on itself and ends up being absolutely dinky. Unfolding literally is a case of undoing two Velcro straps. Very neat. Once open, it is huge and easily takes dive kit and clothing. Robust, goodlooking dive bag. Dave: I think Mares have still got the best of the folding bags – the new design has just two retaining straps to hold it in place. Undo these and it just unfolds. Easy. Rucksack straps if you want them, two fin pockets, a half-length pocket on the front flap, with a smaller one at the top, and a whopping big space inside. Swallowed a full set of kit, with lots of room for clothes. Weight: 3.18kg
WE LIKE... Price, subtle looks, size, innovative design
eb v
Folds up when not in use
Large storage space
SPORT DIVER VERDICT Performance Comfort - N/A Looks Value for money
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
WE DON’T LIKE... Nothing worth mentioning
Mark: If you want simple, this is it. A large, spacious drybag complete with a drain valve for emptying out any excessive water, a removable shoulder strap, and various tightening straps to keep it all neat and compact. If you want to add the luxury of wheels and a handle, then you can by utilising the optional £44 trolley, which attaches securely to the bag with a few Velcro-closing straps. Dave: This drybag has a big, padded shoulder strap, which is easy to clip on and clip off. There are grab handles top and bottom, and a drain valve if it is full of water. Big cavernous space inside, and two internal pouches - mask pouch and weightbelt pouch. Full-length mesh pocket along the other side. Took all the dive kit, and left a bit of space for your clothing. Weight: 3.5kg with wheels/2.16kg without wheels
WE LIKE... Innovative trolley idea, build quality
Removeable trolley
SPORT DIVER VERDICT Performance Comfort - N/A Looks Value for money
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
WE DON’T LIKE... Nothing worth mentioning
Lightweight dive bags Sub Gear Duffle
PR
£28 ICE .90 Mark: Simple holdall-style dive bag, but with a quality finish and some neat touches. Big central compartment for your kit, and also room for clothes to boot. Excellent price for an extremely lightweight yet robustly constructed bag. Dave: Basic holdall design, with a grab handle at either end, holdall straps on the top, and a removable shoulder strap. Plenty of room in the main compartment, which swallowed the dive kit and still had room left over for clothing.
Massive storage
Good looks and finish
Weight: 0.88kg
SPORT DIVER VERDICT Performance Comfort - N/A Looks Value for money
WE LIKE... Price, subtle looks, size, weight
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
WE DON’T LIKE... Nothing worth mentioning
The dive bags in the test would all easily take the selected dive equipment, and most were more than capable of taking a wad of clothing as well. Even those which were a bit tighter on space could still cover a week if you packed efficiently and didn’t take too many extras. In the Best Value category, there was one clear winner - the Sub Gear Duffle is a basic bag, but it has a robust construction and looks good as well. Coming in under a kilo in weight, and under £30 meant this was a real bargain for the cash-strapped diver. The Choice award was a little more hotly contended. The Mares Cruise Roller and the Beuchat Air-Light 2 were both proponents of the fold-upwhen-not-in-use design, and both had their pros and cons. We liked the mesh outer bag of the Beuchat, which could be used as a boat bag, and it was a decent size, but the Mares just pipped it to the post by offering more room and boasting a quick and easy fold up/fold open design.
Products which either don’t fit into a group test situation or are new to the market are given the once-over by a member of the Test Team
Test Extra Scubapro Everflex Steamer 3/2mm-5/4mm (SRP: £229-£249 | €285.49-€310.43) Mark Evans: When Scubapro released their first range of wetsuits utilising the then-brand-new Everflex super-stretchy neoprene, I took one of the 5mm versions to the Bahamas for a week on a liveaboard. I remember being blown away by how easy it was to don and doff, being in my suit and ready to go diving before others had even got their legs into their suits. Now Scubapro has completely revitalised the Everflex Steamer range, and the suits - available in male and female versions - boast an eye-catching new design which is mostly always-in-style black with subtle grey, white and reflective panels and features. The suits certainly look the business, though I personally prefer the style of the 5/4mm over the 3/2mm. I took the 3/2mm to southern Egypt for land-based and liveaboard use, and the 5/4mm to Lanzarote for shore-diving and dayboating. Built from 100 percent X-Foam neoprene, which is unbelievably supple and stretchy, the suits both have long glideskin seals at the wrists, ankles and neck which certainly minimise water transfer and help keep you warmer, though lower-thanexpected temperatures in both locations meant I donned a 2mm neoprene vest for additional torso warmth under the 3/2mm and 5/4mm. That said, the double seals with zippers on the ankles of the 5/4mm worked extremely well in particular. The biggest difference between the two is that the 3/2mm male version has a two-way front zipper instead of an off-centre back zipper. Again, as a personal preference, I like the rear zip design over the front zip. I just found getting my shoulders out of the 3/2mm was more of a hassle via the front zip than it was in the more-traditional rear-zipper 5/4mm. Both suits have abrasion-resistant yet stretchy material on exposed areas, such as the
From left, 3/2mm and 5/4mm
Abrasion-resistant panels
Hood D-ring
i-Safe for dive computers
knees, backside and shoulders, there are protective pads on the shoulders and knees, and there are i-Safe computer retainers on both arms. Both suits also have a small plastic D-ring on the right thigh, which is for attaching a hood when you are not in the water - Scubapro hoods now come with a small plastic karabiner for attaching to these rings. This is certainly a very localised thing to do at the moment - all the Italians were doing it when I was on my European roadtrip, but I’ve never seen anyone else
Shoulder pads
do it. Seems a bit daft to me, but heh, the feature is there if you want it! Overall, I was impressed with the Scubapro suits. They look good on, they keep you warm, and they are easy to get on and off. Some people might be dismayed to see Scubapro return to an all-black finish - previous years have had red-and-grey, or blue, panels - but I think they’ve done a good job and created a range of suits that will not quickly date. www.scubapro.co.uk
Each issue, members of the Sport Diver Test Team report on a range of diving equipment being put through its paces on a six-month cycle of diving
Long-term test Scubapro Chromis
Light & Motion GoBe 500 Spot Light & Motion are famed for their durable aluminium video housings and Sola video/ diving lights, but these usually come in with quite a hefty price tag. That’s where the GoBe range comes in. Made to Light & Motion’s usual high standards, utilising shock-resistant plastic in the construction, these are more budget-priced units, but they still perform well - depth-rated to 120m, burn times at three settings from one-and-a-half to 12 hours (even up to 24 hours on an emergency six-percent power setting), and even the ability to change the heads quickly and easily to INFORMATION swap the unit from a spot beam to a Date acquired June 2014 wide-angle beam, for instance. Mark Evans, www.cpspartnership.co.uk
Suggested retail price Number of dives Time in water
The first test for any computer in my eyes is ‘can I just set the time, etc, get in the water and easily understand it’? The answer for the Chromis is a resounding yes (but please, dear reader, don’t try this - read the manual first). The display is very clear, particularly so in both bright sunlight and shady areas. INFORMATION Bottom times were consistently more generous than the Uwatec Galileo Terra I Date acquired Suggested retail price was comparing it to. Dave Hope, www.scubapro.co.uk
Number of dives Time in water
January 2014 £339 31 28hrs 55mins
£180 0 0hrs 0mins
Atomic Aquatic BladeFins I have been using split and Deep Outdoors Six Gill fins for many years now, so I was expecting a bit of a shock to the system using these paddle fins. I have to say though that I was pleasantly surprised by how easy they were to use. The amount of power you got for your effort, especially into current, was great and for such big fins, they are remarkably manoeuvrable. I also like the quick-release strap clips. I really rather like these, and am looking forward to giving them more of a thrashing in the UK in my drysuit to see how they cope with those conditions. Dave Hope, www.atomicaquatics.com
Fourth Element Argonaut Kevlar
INFORMATION Date acquired Suggested retail price Number of dives Time in water
May 2014 £118.25 6 5hr 52mins
The Argonaut Kevlar is proving a solid, reliable drysuit both in terms of how well it is holding up to the usual abuse dished out by a typical UK diver (that’d be me, then!), and the way in which it performs both topside and underwater. Flexibiliy and ease of donning is second-to-none, thanks to the ultra-thin Kevlar material. It still boggles my mind that this stuff is actually waterproof - it just feels so thin and flimsy. This does make it very light, though, and it is only once the boots leave the ground that the suit gains any real weight. It is also still disconcerting to see liquid ‘bleeding’ down the outside of the suit when it is allowing moisture to escape from inside, thanks to INFORMATION the breathable nature of the Kevlar. Date acquired December 2013 Mark Evans, www.fourthelement.com
Suggested retail price £1,699 Number of dives 35 Time in water 33hrs 25mins
Long-term test Hollis M3
Exposure Sub M3 Once you have mastered turning it on and off by rotating the light (it is not rocket science, just needs a bit of practice) make sure you mention how it works to your buddy, or else they will spend some time looking at nothing in particular thinking you are drawing their attention to something by circling it in light. The two light levels are more than INFORMATION sufficient for most divers needs. Only three Date acquired April 2014 LEDs, but they produce a lot of light.
Suggested retail price £374.99 Number of dives 24 Dave Hope, www.use1.com/exposureTime in water 22hrs 55mins marine/diving-lights.com
With back-to-back trips to Egypt and Lanzarote, the Hollis M3 has certainly been put through its paces, and I am pleased to report that it is still performing perfectly. I am really astounded by the comfort of this mask, which just fits your face with ease. The silicon skirt is a blend of reasonably stiff yet also flexible, and it works well, as I can safely say that it doesn’t allow undue leaks in, even when I tried twisting my face in all sorts of shapes while underwater, and even smiling - a cardinal sin that normally floods masks in seconds! I also like the clips, which are easy to INFORMATION adjust, even when wearing gloves, and Date acquired March 2014 work extremely well. Mark Evans, www.hollis.com
O’Three Port 10
The SR2 journeyed out to Egypt with me for a week of diving out of El Gouna, and a welcome companion it was too. It is relatively lightweight, so didn’t take up too much of my luggage allowance, it packs up nice and small due to the size of the compact first and second stages, and it performed faultlessly throughout my dives, which were conducted at a range of depths and occasionally in a current. INFORMATION I’d certainly consider this reg. Date acquired January 2014
And so the O’Three Port 10 comes to the end of its six-month tenure in the Long Term Test stable. This robustly constructed neoprene suit featured many of the features we’ve come to expect on O’Three’s high-quality suits, but at a budget price that puts it right in the firing line for novices and entry-level drysuit divers. Tester Paul Cushing has long been a fan of neoprene drysuits, so it seemed only right that he be the one to lead the testing on this suit from the neoprene masters. He has constantly been impressed by the looks, build quality and features on the Port 10, and has certainly put it through its paces using it as his training suit when he has been conducting various dive courses for Diverse Scuba in Essex. If it can withstands the riguours of instructing, it will be able to cope with normal UK cold-water diving.
Dave Hope, www.sherwood.com
Mark Evans, www.o’three.co.uk
Sherwood SR2
Suggested retail price £439 Number of dives 33 Time in water 31hrs 55mins
Suggested retail price £69 Number of dives 47 Time in water 44hrs 55mins
INFORMATION Date acquired November 2013 Suggested retail price £595 Number of dives 38 Time in water 36hrs 45mins
Providing Quality Diving Equipment Since 1982
The perfect balance between freedom and stability... LIGHTNING B.C.D. The Lightning B.C.D. is a compact and lightweight jacket perfect for travelling or instructional use. It features a comfortable fully adjustable cummerbund with zipped pouch, quick release waist band and twin release shoulder straps ensuring quick and easy dressing and removal. WEIGHT: 2.7KG COLOUR: BLACK LIFT: 17KG
R.R.P. £210
TORNADO B.C.D. Revolutionary design weight-Integrated B.C.D. providing superb comfort and balance for the most discerning diver. Single bladder manufactured from super strong high grade 1000 Denier Cordura. Height adjustable chest strap, padded sturdy 2 piece backpack with carrying handle and cushioned collar ensure great comfort. WEIGHT: 3.3KG COLOUR: BLACK/GREY LIFT: 22KG
R.R.P. £312
STORM SIDEMOUNT B.C.D Back-buoyancy rear bladder provides fantastic freedom of movement. The streamlined flexible design provides reduced drag and simple effective buoyancy control whilst also ensuring a high level of comfort. With full visibility, it is quick & easy to get access to cylinders, valves and regulators, allowing efficient adjustment at variable depths. 25LB BUOYANCY: WEIGHT: 3.0KG COLOUR: BLACK LIFT: 11KG
R.R.P. £395 42LB BUOYANCY:
WEIGHT: 3.1KG COLOUR: BLACK LIFT: 19KG
R.R.P. £425
Available at all leading Dive Stores
e-mail sales@beaversports.co.uk Telephone 01484-512354
DEDICATED TO ALL THINGS TECHNICAL
Are YOU fit to TECH
DIVE?
THE ULTIMATE
‘SELFIE’
Martyn Farr goes underground in New Zealand + INTERVIEW WITH DIVERS OF THE DARK JANNE SUHONEN AND ANTTI APUNEN www.sportdiver.co.uk
AUGUST 2014
Sport Diver
119
EDITOR’S LETTER
Taking the ultimate ‘selfie’ And here it is, yet another ‘edition’ of Tech Diver, the mini-magazine dedicated - not surprisingly given the title - to the world of technical diving. This month, we venture into a shallow cave system in New Zealand with British cave-diving guru Martyn Farr. He reports on the logistical issues involved with getting him, his diving equipment and a box load of precious camera gear through the dive portions of the expedition and into the stunning dry caves beyond. This truly is the ultimate ‘selfie’, and how he achieved it makes for engrossing reading. Turn to page 122 to find out for yourself how he did it. On page 128, Fourth Element’s Jim Standing chats to Divers of the Dark Janne Suhonen and Antti Apunen, who are famed for their stunning photographs captured within the forbidding depths of Finland’s Ojamo Mine. Some have even been used in Fourth Element’s advertising campaigns, and places such as Lucifier’s Pillar and the Gates of Hell have the sorts of evocative names that conjur up almost-mythical scenes. Vikki Batten from PADI’s TTD division looks at dive fitness and technical diving, examining reasons why being dive-fit has never been more important to the technical diver. Turn to page 130 and see all the factors that need to be considered when you take the plunge, whether you are on open circuit or a CCR. Finally, Tech News looks forward to the 2014 TEKCamp event at Vobster Quay, and a new arrival to the technical scene in Sharm el Sheikh, in the form of Chill-Tec Diving. NEVER MISS ANOTHER ISSUE You can now buy individual issues of Sport Diver and have them delivered direct to your door via: www.buyamag.co.uk/sportdiver Use code: AS112 and get £1 off the September issue!
Mark Evans, Editor mark.evans@sportdiver.co.uk
www.sportdiver.co.uk
AUGUST 2014
Sport Diver
121
DIVE WORLDWIDE
New Zealand
down under,
DOWN UNDER Martyn Farr reveals the story behind the discovery of a beautiful cavern and cave system in New Zealand, and how he went about taking the ultimate ‘selfie’ Photographs by MARTYN FARR
T
his is another first. After so many years of diving and caving, I can scarcely believe that this operation is feasible. This is the most-ambitious photoshoot I’ve ever attempted. “What could possibly go wrong?” I ask myself. Here I am (again) at the other side of the world, in New Zealand, at the tail end of a successful exploratory cave-diving expedition, desperate to capture just a few images of one of the world’s most-beautiful caverns, which I discovered only four weeks ago. Where to begin? Try and visualise the scene. I’m waist deep in a large subterranean lake of dark and increasingly muddy water. It’s cold (10 degrees C) and the flow is quietly, insidiously, transporting the murk across the chamber out into the long flooded tunnel leading downstream... where I will shortly be diving. Standing and crouching on the steep, sandy beach, my three loyal friends and indefatigable assistants are doing all they can to get me
sorted and on my way. It’s only 300 metres or so underground to reach the dive base, but the route is complex and challenging. Like last year, simple logistical considerations dictate that I am the only diver and now we have time for just this one attempt to achieve our goal before the forecasted bad weather arrives and the cave floods yet again. The window of opportunity is 24-36 hours and we know that once the place floods, that’s it - no more diving will be possible on this trip. Everything about this last dive is minimalistic - everything bar the imaging equipment! As the dive is only 105 metres long and just 4m deep, I’m equipped in a pair of side-mounted five-litre cylinders, a wing and five lights. Given that the terrain beyond the dive involves climbing and scrambling over crumbling, loose and exposed terrain, it is essential that I wear a wetsuit and sturdy wellington boots.
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“The cavern is ringed with flowstone formations of every kind - stalactites, stalagmites and huge pillars glistening like a million diamonds�
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DIVE WORLDWIDE
New Zealand Martyn’s intrepid support team
The photo gear. Wow. It’s taken days to gather and check and it’s been packed to perfection. For ‘stills’ I have a camera in a housing, a large tripod and ten electronic strobes, each equipped with a sensor to allow it/them to be fired remotely by the camera’s self-timer. And for video I have two small GoPro cameras, an extendable pole, and five video lights. Much of the gear belongs to my friend Rob (Davies) and if the transporting, waterproof box leaks… hmm, I am going to be more than a little embarrassed! It’s the box and the separate bag that are slowing my departure. Yes, the box has been tested in water the day previously and it seems to be okay, but now it’s endured more than a few knocks and bumps enroute to the pool. And here it has to be weighted and trimmed so that it will be manageable underwater. In the end it takes about 8kg of lead, a rock and a stack of rubber ‘snoopy loops’ to get the thing to sink. The big bag isn’t so critical; I can stuff that with rocks. It takes about an hour to get everything right, time enough to reflect that another cave diver would have been useful. Yes, there were divers; yes there were cavers; but there were no cave divers on South Island! The Takaka Valley is out on a limb geographically and, while other teams were due to arrive in a week or two weeks’ time for their own on-going projects on South Island, no one could be found. What a fantastic, successful time we’d had in past weeks. A few days before I had managed to link two of the caves for the first time and the survey forthcoming showed the likelihood that another two
The ultimate ‘selfie’
Venturing into the cave system
caves could perhaps also be joined to the intricate web of interconnecting flooded passages. While people might look at the primitive way underwater caves are surveyed, it was an absolute revelation and a moment of great jubilation when the line laid from the distant Old Cottage Cave hove into view almost exactly where the survey had suggested. It is more than interesting to reflect on the history of these caves. Get this: my friend Rob was so convinced that a world-class cave system lay beneath the Spittal Homestead in East Takaka that when the homestead came up for sale, he purchased the buildings and the complete parcel of land in which the blocked entrances lay. Then, in
late 2011, with his partner Michelle and good friend Tony Salmon, Rob quickly set about excavating and discovered not one but five separate caves totalling approximately one kilometre of passages. All terminated when their roofs quietly dipped beneath the water’s surface. There was clear suggestion that they were all connected somehow and, equally exciting, that they in turn were one small part of a much, much more extensive network. Geologically and hydrologically, this larger system is postulated to extend miles up the Takaka Valley in one direction, eight miles or more down valley - towards the major risings at Pupu Springs - and perhaps two or three miles
DIVE WORLDWIDE
New Zealand The dry caves are magnificent
Martyn exiting the cave
“Rob was so convinced that a world-class cave system lay beneath the Spittal Homestead in East Takaka that when it came up for sale, he purchased the buildings and the complete parcel of land in which the blocked entrances lay” into the massive mountain directly behind the springs. Last year I had discovered over one mile of cave in and beyond the first primary dive site we tackled, Old Cottage Cave. And now less than a year later, the tally had been extended by well over another mile. Ten days ago, a seven-hour solo mission in Old Cottage Cave had pursued an upstream tunnel, following what I presumed was the main stream back in to the heart of the mountain. About a mile from the entrance and having passed three separate sumps, I reached the 2012 terminus, the Blue Lake. Amazingly, this was passed after just 85 metres to gain another stretch of wide open tunnel. Hardly had I removed my bottles than the biggest surprise loomed. All the way to this point the cave stream had been small, flowing in a big tunnel, but here there was a dramatic transformation. In front of me a small river appeared, the size of the largest cave river in the UK. I continued upstream by passing the next sump, to be thwarted soon after by yet another impressive lake, Llyn Fawr. Yes, it’s clear that the further we go into these caves, the more there is to find! Back to the present: Rob, Tony and Michelle see me off and they set off out of the cave. They know there is little point waiting around as this will be a long trip. I slowly, carefully, swim my precious cargo through the murky tunnel and everything goes
to plan. The climb just beyond the dive is slippery and awkward. Concentration is essential as the consequence of just one slip does not bear thinking about. Minutes later I arrive at Avalon Hall, where the real challenge begins… I unpack and count myself lucky that all the strobes are dry and everything seems to work. Just one decent ‘still’ is my aim and I quietly set out the scene. This is the ultimate ‘selfie’ photo shoot. The biggest issue is the limited time presented by the camera’s self-timer - just ten seconds. Yes, lights can be moved and re-positioned for best effect, but great care must be exercised to ensure that no damage takes place to the magnificent formations which I tiptoe between. I could scarcely believe my eyes when I wandered into this tunnel four weeks ago. There is always a sense of awe and wonder when you visit any pristine grotto in a cave. But that feeling is magnified tenfold when it is you - the discoverer - whose light is the very first to shine in those dark halls. And this cavern is special. It is 15 metres or more in height, 30 metres or more in diameter and ringed with flowstone formations of every kind - stalactites, stalagmites and huge pillars glistening like a million diamonds. Yes, exploring a flooded cave is a wonderful, deeply rewarding experience, but when you emerge from the water, shed all the heavy en-
cumbrance of diving equipment and wander along dry galleries like this… this, to me, is the ultimate privilege in life. And that wonderment is as great today as it was when I started exploring as a youth. Oh, the joy of the digital age! To be able to look at the camera display and work towards the vision in your mind’s eye. Everything worked perfectly all bar one of my flash-guns (thankfully not Rob’s) which, after many, many years of dutiful performance decided that enough was enough and literally exploded in my hand after it had been left to get wet beneath a drip of water! I spend over five hours in the Hall before all the strobes are gathered in and re-packed. Nine hours after entry I crawled out of the entrance - job done. Avalon Hall is a very spectacular place in its own right, but it is clear that many such places are still yet to be uncovered. When Rob and Tony recovered the remainder of my equipment the next day, the cave was already filling with water. The Spittal Springs complex is now over 5km in overall length and certainly the longest cave of its type in New Zealand. What a fabulous place in every respect. ■ NB: Thanks to Rob Davies, Michelle Allison, and Tony Salmon for selfless support; and to Greg ‘Bluey’ Powell and Big Blue dive shop’s Nelson for support with equipment.
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THE FIVE-MINUTE DIVE THAT TAKES A WEEK Fourth Element’s Jim Standing talks to Janne Suhonen and Antti Apunen, the famed Divers of the Dark, about the challenges of capturing visually stunning images in the depths of Finland’s Ojamo Mine
T
echnical diving and film-making can be a heady mix of adrenaline and inert gases; the results can be equally stunning. In visualising the depths, enabling those not qualified - or inclined - to descend way beyond the reaches of the recreational diver, two Finnish divers are inspiring a whole generation of cave divers. But the pursuit of their craft is by no means without risk, and requires more planning than most ‘ordinary’ technical dives. A five-hour deco time is a typical cost for just five minutes of filming: planning becomes even more critical. Janne Suhonen is a tall, bearded man, whose 1,000-yard stare of apparent total self assuredness gives an aging quality to a man who, before the age of 40, has wowed the technical diving fraternity all over the world with his ability to capture the excitement and isolation of deep cave and mine systems across Europe. Typically taciturn, he takes a bit of warming up, but the usually quiet photographer
128
Sport Diver
AUGUST 2014
needs little excuse to get animated about Ojamo Mine and his mission alongside his friend, dive buddy and co-author of Divers of the Dark, Antti Apunen, to document it. Antti is a typical Scandinavian at first glance - tall, blond, blue-eyed - and it is his writing which brings the history of the mines to life, but he too is a man of few words in person. “It’s a special place, with a rich history,” says Antti. But it is more than that… Ojamo Mine is Finland’s premier technical diving destination, close enough to Helsinki to be easily accessible by a large portion of the country’s diving population. But its popularity does not mean that it should be taken lightly. Reaching as deep at 250m, with water temperatures that never rise above 4 degrees C, this is as challenging an environment as most divers are ever likely to experience. The limestone mine was opened in the 19th Century, and the rich seam of limestone squeezed be-
tween more-forbidding granite provided the main source of income for the small town of Lohja for many years. During World War Two, prisoners of war were put to work here and the mine was worked up until the late 1960s when, due to the rising costs of extraction and an increasingly globalised market pushing the prices of limestone ever lower, it ceased to be viable. The mine, having been dug below a lake, was allowed to fill with water, which slowly enveloped all evidence of its existence. It is some of the features that were built into this mine which create the fantastic visual experiences that bring avid cave divers across the world. Due to a miscalculation by engineers, one chamber a staggering 60 metres deep was excavated too close to the lake bed above, and the fear of collapse led to the construction of ‘Lucifer’s Pillar’ to hold the roof of the cave, and this also included the famously atmospheric ‘Gates of Hell’, that looks something like a set from the Lord of the Rings meets The Abyss.
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And it is these images that Janne and his team set out to capture. With visibility of more than 50 metres and evidence of human activity throughout giving a haunted, abandoned quality to the tunnels, there are so many stories waiting to be told. But the depth is prohibitive. Typically diving to 88m and beyond to 135m, the team literally has less than five minutes to capture the necessary footage before beginning an ascent involving lengthy decompression. Most dives are longer than five hours in this chilly subterranean world. “Water is the same no matter what the depth, but the mindset for this kind of diving is totally different,” says Antti. In order to make sure that the comparative blink of an eye at the bottom of the cave is not wasted, meticulous planning is required. Janne and Antti have turned to the techniques of filmmakers as a means of planning not just the required decompression, but the photographs and sequences of images. Janne painstakingly storyboards the images and their sequence, imagining the lighting positions and deciding the position of the divers. Rather like a movie, each diver in the usually fiveman team has a strict role to play, and each one is briefed on exactly what they need to do and when. In this way, they are all prepared. “There is so little time down there, especially down at the mine cart [the only remaining truck used to bring stone back to the surface] at 135m. We can’t afford to get it wrong or have to stop and think about the shot composition,” Janne says. “I press the shutter and 25 man hours of diving, and days of sketching, planning and briefing, are suddenly compressed into a few hundredths of a second as the image is captured.” The function of the equipment is critical and a failure of any piece of kit is generally the end of the dive. As each dive requires a week to plan, equipment failure is more than just inconvenient. “We have even developed our own light with the help of a local electronic and optical genius. It needed to be more reliable than anything on the market. Three years of testing and we have ‘The Beast’.” And the results speak for themselves. There are some who, upon overhearing these conversations, or leaving one of their presentations at a dive conference, ask, “This seems like a superhuman effort - do the results justify all that?” Janne’s answer is surprisingly romantic. “Everytime we go in there I reflect that we are just normal guys who got our chance to go into space”. Normal… maybe. ■
www.sportdiver.co.uk
AUGUST 2014
Sport Diver
129
Technical fitness
Technical fitness Working out in the gym
Checking over the kit pre-dive
ARE YOU FIT TO TECH DIVE?
Technical diving is a serious business that is as much about mental focus as it is physical fitness. PADI’s Vikki Batten looks at just how in-shape you need to be before you think about going deep or venturing into caves Photographs courtesy of PADI
S
ome dive fatalities stem from non-diving causes, such as heart attacks or other health/fitness problems. Discussing the relative occurrence of this kind of incident isn’t our purpose here: let’s face it, the statistics are irrelevant if you are the affected diver. Rather, let’s look at the challenges divers face - particularly tech divers - regarding being in shape for diving, and what we can do about it. Most divers recognise the extra (compared to recreational diving) physical and mental demands of tech diving. The most obvious of these is the additional equipment we carry. No matter which equipment configuration(s) you use, as your diving becomes more extreme, you need increasing amounts of equipment. In the face of this, good habits topside gets your dives off on the right foot. Using a trolley, carrying equipment between you and your buddy, and mak-
ing multiple trips can help to reduce and prevent problems such as overexertion, strains and pulls, or even getting tired. If only I had realised this while I was young, foolish and determined to ‘out man’ all the guys. Nowadays, I am more than happy to work as a team, or even (don’t tell anyone this bit…) let someone else lug my rebreather for me. Once in-water, more equipment takes more effort to swim. Optimising streamlining, precision buoyancy control, efficient finning and taking your time reduce this, but you also need a minimal physical fitness level - enough to move you and all your gear in an emergency. A few years ago I took a long hard look at the diving I was doing and the even more extreme diving I wanted to do, and decided that my health and fitness should rise to meet my goals. I noticed that my over-40 friends were being treated for minor DCS hits on dives that had been fine before
and decided I needed an all-round upgrade. It’s not just about body fat (although I did optimise that, too) but about muscular and mental fitness and, as I mentioned above, an attitude adjustment. As with diving, look for an expert to help you achieve your goals. It doesn’t have to be difficult, but you should find a balance that is preventative, corrective and works for you. A lot of diving equipment can also contribute towards task-loading problems. Trying to manage more equipment than you are used to, along with having to do a lot of things in a short space of time can quickly make divers feel overwhelmed. Do you remember being a brand new diver descending for the first time? You had to let air out of the BCD, equalise, keep your orientation, stay with your buddy and then put air back into the BCD to control the descent rate. Maybe you put too much air back in the first time and
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Technical fitness started going back up or maybe you descended a little too quickly? I remember plonking on the bottom of a lake on a very early dive wondering where everyone else was. The debrief after the dive corrected my misunderstanding; I just thought they were all a bit slow! I’m sure the description of a beginner’s problems seems insignificant, maybe even laughable, to most experienced divers, but new situations, skills and equipment cause similar discomfort at all levels. Add to that the fact that if you are feeling ill even basic skills may be challenging. Each piece of equipment you dive with and the skills required for the dive need to be thoroughly mastered until you are so comfortable with it that, even under physical, mental or environmental stress, you can abort the dive effectively. Tech diving adds more cylinders, more regulators, maybe a rebreather or a dual bladder BCD. Perhaps you have a camera or a DPV as well? Reels and DSMBs? Lights? Maybe there is a current and
Tech diving is a team effort
“Dr D, told me: “Dive medicals can act as an ‘MOT’ for divers, sometimes picking up early signs of disease unrelated to diving and allowing earlier intervention than would otherwise be the case”
On a technical rebreather dive
you need to hold the descent line or the vis is poor and you are part of a big team that is harder to keep together. Let’s face it there are a lot of kit variables and a variety of situations you could be trying to manage in tech diving and that is fine if you master each step along the way, just don’t try and do it all at once. Get yourself back into shallow water and practice. Simulation is a fantastic tool to prepare both individuals and teams for more complex dives and we use this technique in PADI tec courses for just this reason. Nowadays, I find the biggest challenge is keeping my skills fresh. I spend about half my working life ‘dry’ so I am constantly practicing with all the different kinds of kit I like to dive with. Listening to other divers at dive sites I know I’m not the only one facing this challenge. Make sure you are not jumping back in ‘where you left off’ if you have had a break. Even if you dive a lot, refresh your skills whenever you change environment, equipment or team - you, literally, don’t need the stress! Talking of stress… besides the normal physical and mental stresses of tech diving, imagine the stress caused by feeling unwell on a dive. It must be incredibly frightening to feel, for example, like you might be having a heart attack while you’re sitting at home watching the TV. Now imagine how it would feel underwater. Now imagine the added stress if you have 70 minutes
Technical fitness Vikki ready for a cave dive
of decompression to complete, or you’re 90 minutes from the closest exit in an overhead environment. On top of that, you’re not alone - what if your team mates have to haul you out? There are several factors that can complicate the management of a health problem, underwater. Deco schedule - Decompression is amazing; it allows us to dive to places we otherwise could not visit. We don’t usually deco for fun (unless you are practicing), but because it is necessary on a particular dive. ‘Necessary’ is the key word. If you are taken seriously ill with decompression remaining, you have a tough choice to make. Do you stick it out and delay dealing with the problem, or do you ascend without completing the decompression, which adds considerable physical stress and may significantly decrease chances of recovery as your body struggles with both illnesses. Overhead environments can create a similar problem. You probably don’t have the option to
ascend, so you will need to remain calm while swimming to the exit. Unlike in many open water tec situations, it’s also unlikely that you can signal surface support to tell them you need assistance. Depth - The deeper you are, the further you need to ascend and the longer it takes. Although you’re not usually physically aware of pressure effects (apart from the need to equalise), they’re there. The deeper you are, the harder your body works to perform normally. At some extremes, it takes all your physical capacity just to be there; you have no reserve. The higher your fitness level, however, the more stress you can tolerate. Back on the surface, we need to consider that some tech diving can take place a long way from the boat or shore and immediate assistance. Even with your team on hand when you surface, you may be hours or days from professional medical care. Factoring this into the plan by having a thorough medical check prior to the trip, diving more con-
servatively or taking a medical team with you can help reduce the risks. Sometimes divers seem to think that the worst case scenario is that a medical examination picks up a problem that prevents them from diving. Yes, that’s bad, but imagine the overwhelming sense of fear you might feel if you became seriously ill underwater, knowing you were facing something you couldn’t control, watching your team mates trying to help you and the surface seeming like a very long way away. Being out of control, with few, if any, solutions goes against everything we learned in becoming divers. Having your doctor find a problem or potential problem gives you the chance to address it, or at the very least avoid exacerbating it, or putting yourself and your team at greater risk. In diving, ignorance is not bliss. It’s with this concern that PADI TecRec courses require students to have an up-to-date diving medical, signed by a physician for tech training courses. Some may see it as barrier to training, but a better outlook is that it is an opportunity to evaluate and improve your dive fitness and as my friend, Dr D, told me: “Dive medicals can act as an ‘MOT’ for divers, sometimes picking up early signs of disease unrelated to diving and allowing earlier intervention than would otherwise be the case.” Even if you pass with flying colours, we can all improve fitness habits. Without debating the ideal diet and lifestyle, few would argue that getting a sensible amount of exercise is beneficial, and that ‘real food’ is preferable to processed sugary snacks. Smoking, alcohol, drugs - well I’m sure you know the issues here. Getting fit for diving may help you reduce your risk of having a medical incident while diving. But, even more importantly, statistically at least, it should improve your health, longevity and wellbeing overall. Don’t forget your loved ones; you’re not just doing it for yourself.
Vikki Batten is the one of the Directors in PADI’s Technical Diving Division and works on course development and member support for TecRec courses. The sense of teamwork and challenge combined with the immense peace of being in an underwater cave mean that Vikki is never happier than when cave diving. Over the last few years, improving her health and fitness for this purpose resulted not only in it becoming easier to manage tech equipment, but also that her drysuit fits better! ■
Tech news
NEW TECH CENTRE FOR SHARM Chill in Thomas Canyon...
...and hanging out on a colourful deco stop
T
imes have been hard in Sharm el Sheikh over the past few years following the shark attacks, revolution and second revolution, but British divers at least are still heading out to the area, and one man has been brave enough to set up a new technical diving centre in a prime position at Shark’s Bay. Mark Chilton, known to most as ‘Chill’, has turned his dreams into reality, opening his own tech centre, Chill-Tec. Based in a great location within Shark’s Bay Umbi Diving Village, he is ideally placed for diving guests who want to maximise their dive experience. Just a ten-minute drive from the international airport at Sharm el Sheikh and with accommodation available on site, a private jetty
and a house-reef reaching depths of 120m plus, Shark’s Bay is so good it could have been purposebuilt for tech training. Mark’s passion for diving began in the 1990s at Stoney Cove; he quickly became addicted and made the move to Sharm in 2003, where he began working as an instructor at Red Sea Diving College. During his diving career he has been flown to the Philippines by the UN to teach tech to the diplomats there, he’s been a support diver for the Suunto product testing team, and done something so interesting in Geneva he can’t remember what it was. So why do so many divers go to Sharm el Sheikh for their tech diving? Well, given the chance you wouldn’t want to learn to drive in the centre of
London, so why begin your tech diving in the North Sea? Just over a five hour flight time away from the UK, Sharm offers a warm, safe environment without distractions allowing you to concentrate on the skills and techniques required for tech diving while at the same time allowing you to sail along 800m drop-offs, and explore canyons, magnificent archways and deep wrecks. World-class dive sites and great facilities will give you a great tech experience - and a good holiday too. Chill-Tec offers a bespoke service for independent tech divers who like to have everything in one place and the opportunity to go onward and downward; as Chill says ‘life begins at 40’. ■ www.chill-tec.co.uk
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Photo by Luke Inman
136
Sport Diver
AUGUST 2014
www.sportdiver.co.uk
UK DIVE CENTRES Directory Key
Advertising: T: 0118 989 7220 E: ross.arnold@sportdiver.co.uk
ENGLAND BERKSHIRE DIVESTYLE DIVESYLE Unit A, Bridge Farm, Reading Road, Arborfield, Berkshire, RG2 9HT Tel: 0118 976 1729 Fax: 0118 926 9616 Email: info@divestyle.co.uk Website: www.divestyle.co.uk Opening Hours: M, T, T, F 10:00-18:00 W 10:00-20:00 S 10:00 - 17:00. Air To 300 Bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC. Nitrox, National Geographic. EH, ESI, TD, EA, FCF, AYRD. PADI IDC centre, Nitrox, Trimix, equipment retail, PADI, SSI, BSAC, EFR, DSAT, TDI, rebreather friendly, Family friendly, child friendly, kids parties (4 weeks notice). ■■■
CORNWALL KENNACK DIVING Sea Acres Holiday Park,Kennack Sands, Helston,Cornwall TR127LT Tel: 07816 903260 Email: mail@kennackdiving.co.uk Website: www.kennackdiving.co.uk Opening Hours: 09.00-1800 Air to 232 Bar. PADI 5 ★ Dive Resort. EH, AYRD, UWP, CAOS. PADI Courses from Bubblemaker to Assistant Instructor ,specialities & guided dives all with freindly local Instructors. Equipment Hire, Heated indoor pool, on site, accomodation available. ■
DERBYSHIRE CHESTERFIELD ADVENTURE CENTRE Wheatbridge Road, Off DockWall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 2AB Tel: 01246 245408 Email: info@divenut.co.uk Website: www.divenut.co.uk Opening hours: Tues-Sat 10am-6pm Air to 300 Bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC, OSS, BS, EH. Full range of courses from beginner to instructor. Equipment sales, dive club, group holidays. Nitrox, Poseidon rebreather sales & training. Easy parking. 3 pool nights. ■■
SHOP KEY OSS ............................Onsite servicing OST ..............................Onsite testing BS ............Testing to British Standards OVERSEAS ABBREVIATIONS Acc ............................Accommodation AIP ....................All inclusive package AT..............................Airport Transfers AYRD..................All year round diving BH ........................................Boat hire CAOS ..............Compressed air onsite CH..........................................Car hire EA ....................Environment Activities EH ..............................Equipment hire ESI ..........English speaking instructors FCF ......................Families catered for LB ....................................Liveaboards NDCF ..............Non-divers catered for OWs........................Other watersports TD ....................................Tech diving UWP ............Underwater photography
138 SportDiver AUGUST 2014
DEVON DIVERS DOWN 139 Babbacombe Road, Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 3SR Tel: 01803 327111 Fax: 01803 314728 Email: info@diversdown.co.uk Website: www.diversdown.co.uk PADI 5 ★ IDC Centre SSI, OSS, BS, EH, ES, CAOS, Nitrox. Active dive club, escorted dives, boat trips organised. Courses from beginner to instructor. Open 7 days a week. ■■■■
DORSET OLD HARBOUR DIVE CENTRE 11 Nothe Parade, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8TX Tel: 01305 760888 Email: info@oldharbourdivecentre.com Website: www.oldharbourdivecentre.com Opening hours: 9.30 - 5.00 pm Monday - Friday but hours may vary.please check website. Air to 300 Bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC and RYA training centre. EH, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, ACC, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox, Trimix, 02. Dorset's most comprehensive scuba diving facilility. Well stocked shop. Hardboat trips daily during the season. R.I.B. facilities outside our harbourside premises. Small/ large Groups catered for. ■■■
DIVERS DOWN SWANAGE The Pier, High Street, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2AR Tel: 07977 142661 / 01929 423565 (April to October) Email: medina@madasafish.com Website: www.diversdownswanage.co.uk Opening hours: 9.00 - 17.00 weekends & most days in summer season. Air to 260 Bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC EH, ESI,TD,UWP, CAOS Nitrox. Three charter dive catamarans all with rear diver lifts, shore diving equipment, hire shop, diver courses, air nitrox, parking. All on Swanage pier. Established 1958. ■ ■ ■
ESSEX DIVERSE SCUBA Ye Olde Plough House Motel, Brentwood Road, Bulphan, Essex, RM14 3SR Tel/Fax: 01375 892444 Mob: 07814 570165 Email: jeanne-marie@diverse-scuba.co.uk Website: www.diverse-scuba.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 2pm-10pm. Sat & Sun 10:30am-5pm (Closed Fri). Our own On Site Pool, Air to 300 Bar, PADI 5 ★ IDC. OSS, EH,On Site Pool FCF, Acc, Restaurant Facilities. Complete range of PADI courses available, from Discover Scuba through to Instructor, with resident course director, Full range of specialities, classroom. Dive shop. Social events and holidays. ❑■■■■■
HAMPSHIRE ANDARK DIVING AND WATERSPORTS 256 Bridge Road, Lower Swanwick, Southampton SO31 7FL Tel: 01489 581755 Fax: 01489 575223 Email: bookings@andark.co.uk Website: www.andark.co.uk Andark Lake Tel: 01489 885811 Email: lake@andark.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon/Thu and Sat 9am TO 6 pm, Fri 9am TO 8pm, Sun 9:30 to 5pm NITROX/TRIMIX. Onsite pool and classrooms. Fully equiped friendly shop. Online sales. Powerboat courses. Underwater escape training. Holidays. Andark lake. Kids Parties. Activity Club. Onisite Servicing. Commercial diving Courses. Parking PADI 5 ★ IDC. BSAC Premier Centre. RYA Centre. HSE Commercial Diver Training and First Aid Centre EH. LB. ESI. TD. EA. AIP. FCF. AYRD. UWP. NDCF. CAOS ■ ■ ■ ❑ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
KENT DIVE MACHINE Unit 11 Orchard Business Centre, SandersonWay, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1QF Tel: 01732 773553 Fax: 01732 773663 Website: www.divemachine.com Email: robert@divemachine.com Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 09.30-17.30,Weds 09.3019.00. Air to 300 bar, nitrox, trimix, idest. PADI CDC, PADI Courses from beginner to instructor. IANTD, Nitrox. Specialities: Enriched air, Dry suit, Photographer, Deep, Night, Underwater navigator, wreck, Oxygen first aid, DAN 02, Boat, Equipment and Drift. Authorised dealer for most leading mfctrs. Large display area. Classrooms. Large free car park. Professional, friendly service & advice. Regulator Services. Suit repairs. Holidays abroad and in the UK. ■■■■■■
UK DIVE CENTRES
Advertising: T: 0118 989 7220 E: ross.arnold@sportdiver.co.uk LONDON AQUANAUT SCUBA & SNORKELLING CENTRE
Opening Hours: Monday - 11am-6pm, Tuesday 11am-6pm, Wednesday - 11am-6pm, Thursday 11am – 7pm, Friday - 11am-6pm, Saturday – 10am – 6pm, Sunday – by appointment. Nitrox & Air to 300bar, 5 ★ IDC Centre / IDEST and BSAC Centre. SITA member. OSS OST BS CAOS EH TD. Courses from beginner to instuctor, Fully stocked dive shop with excellent purchasing advice, Friendly and very active dive clubwith UK and overseas trips and social.
LODGE SCUBA
YORKSHIRE
CO CORK
911 Wakefield Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 7QA
OCEANADDICTS
Opening Hours: 10:30am-7pm Tues-Sat Air to 232 Bar. EH, ESI, TD, EA, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox, Trimix, Oxygen. PADI 5 ★ IDC, BSAC, TDI, NAUI, NACD. Servicing, cylinder testing, technical diving, equipment hire, large equipped shop with changing facilities, childrens parties, government run pool sessions, classroom, online sales, recreational diving, large parking area, courses and equipment, Cafe, BBQ Area.
Opening Hours: 8.30-5.30pm Mon - Fri, Thur 8.307.00pm, Sat 9.30-5pm. EH, ESI, TD, EA, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox, Trimix, Oxygen. PADI 5★, IDC, BSAC, TDI, NAUI, NACD. servicing, cylinder testing, technical diving, equipment hire, large equipped shop with changing facilities, childrens parties, government run pool sessions, classroom, online sales, recreational diving, large parking area, courses and equipment.
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THE DIVER TRAINING COLLEGE
Unit 1,Willow House, River Gardens, N FelthamTrading Estate, TW14 0RD. Tel: 020 8751 3771 / 020 8890 3302 Fax: 020 8751 2591 E-mail: gerryhassell@gheng.com Website: Under construction
Malt Kiln Lane, Appleton Roebuck, York, North Yorkshire YO23 7DT Tel: 01904 744424 / 07967 742420 Fax: 01904 744724 Email: ops@cdms-diving.co.uk Website: www.dtc-diving.co.uk
Opening Hours: 8.30 - 5.30 Mon to Friday. 8.30 - 12 noon Sat. Air to 300 Bar. BSAC, TDI, SDI & PSA. EH,TD,CAOS. Cylinder testing IDEST 2v, Regulator servicing, Air, Nitrox, Trimix, TDI Technical courses. Suit repairs.
Opening hours: 9.00am-5.00pm Mon-Sat. Air to 300 Bar.PADI 5 ★ Centre, OSS-OST-BS-Nitrox. Full range of PADI specialities, RYA courses and specialist commercial diving courses. Full range of equipment sales from our well stocked dive shop.Open Mon-Sat.
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SUSSEX
152 Leeds Road, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire WF16 9BJ
OCEAN VIEW DIVING SERVICES LTD 160 South Street, Lancing, West Sussex. BN15 8AU. Tel: 01903 767224 Fax: 01903 754361 Email: info@oceanviewdiving.co.uk Website: www.oceanviewdiving.co.uk PADI 5 ★ IDC Centre. IANTD, TDI. OSS, OST, EH, BS. Air to 300 Bar, Nitrox. Padi Tec Rec. Tri-mix. Mail order, suit repairs, holidays abroad, on-site indoor pool. Licenced bar and club. Largest selection of equipment in Sussex. ■■■■■
IRELAND
THE DIVERS WAREHOUSE
Tel: 0208 765 1036 Email: info@lodgescuba.co.uk Website: www.lodgescuba.co.uk
G & H DIVING SERVICES LTD
Lettergesh, Renvyle, Co Galway,
SCUBADIVE WEST
Tel: 00 353 9543922 Email: info@scubadivewest.com Website: www.scubadivewest.com Opening Hours: 09.00 till 18.00 (closed Tuesday) Air to 300 Bar. PADI 5* IDC. EH, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, Acc, FCF, AYRD, UWP, CAOS. NITROX, National Geographic. Dive Cente ideally situated on the waterfront. 2 day Island boat safaris, daily boat & shore dives, all courses from DSD to instructor level, snorkelling. ■
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Tel: 01274-307555 Email: sales@diverswarehouse.co.uk Website: www.diverswarehouse.co.uk
MIDDLESEX
AQUASTARS DIVE CENTRE New Harbour Buildings, Guns Green Basin, Eyemouth, Berwickshire, Scotland. TD14 5SD Tel: 018907 50904 Mob: 07886 314008 Email: info@aquastars.co.uk Website: www.aquastars.co.uk Opening Hours: 9am-5pm. Air to 300 Bar. PADI School. SITA, OST, OSS, BS, EH. Guided dives, 10 metre rib, boat charter, shop, hot showers, holiday packages arranged.
Tel: 0208 546 8882 Email: info@aquanautscuba.co.uk Website: www.aquanautscuba.co.uk
8 Hampton Road, Thornton Heath, London, CR0 2XG
CO GALWAY
BERWICKSHIRE
34 Coombe Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 7AG
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SCOTLAND
Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland Tel: 00353 (0)87-7903211 Email: anne@oceanaddicts.ie Website: www.oceanaddicts.ie Opening Hours: 9.00am to 6.00pm. Air to 300, PADI Resort, DAN, LB, ESI, ACC, AT, UWP, NDCF, CAOS, Nitrox. Liveaboard and Day-boat diving, groups and individuals welcome, friendly atmosphere, wrecks and reefs, great photo opportunities, courses available, live the adventure on Ireland’s South Coast ■❑■
NORTHERN IRELAND COUNTY DOWN DV DIVING 138 Mount Steward Road, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2ES. Tel: 02891 464671/861686 Fax: 02891 464671 Email: info@dvdiving.co.uk Website: www.dvdiving.co.uk OSS, OST, BS, EH. DV Diving offer one of Europe's most comprehensive ranges of scuba, technical & commercial diving and powerboat training courses - for the complete beginner through to instructor development for the most experienced professionals ■■■■
CO DONEGAL MEVAGH DIVE CENTRE LTD Milford Road, Carrighat, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland Tel: 00353 749154708 Mob: 00353 8765 90264 Email: reception@mevaghdiving.com Website: www.mevaghdiving.com Opening Hours: 9am to 6pm. Air to 300 Bar, PADI 5 ★ Dive Centre, EH, ESI, TD, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF,CAOS, Nitrox, Tri Mix. Mevagh Dive Centre is Donegal's only dive centre and Ireland's largest all under one roof. With diving equipment, sales, hire, servicing, cylinder testing and our state of the art
PORTSTEWART AQUAHOLICS DIVE CENTRE 14 PORTMORE ROAD , PORTSTEWART Tel: 28 70832584 Email: dive@aquaholics.org Website: www.aquaholics.org Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm. Air to 300 Bar. PADI 5 ★ CENTRE. NITROX, TRIMIX. EH, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, ACC,FCF,AT, AYRD,UWP,CH,BH, NDCF, CAOS.Offering the full range of courses from Beginner to Trimix. Diving the spectacular clear water of the North Coast from Rathlin Island to Malin Head. ■■
swimming pool. ■
ROBIN HOOD DIVE SCHOOL
Tel: 01924 444888 Fax: 01924 474529 E-mail: Dive@Roho.co.uk Website: www.Roho.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9.15- 6.00. Late night Thurs till 8.00.Sat 9.15-5.00.OSS,OST, BS, IDEST, EH,Nitrox. PADI Dive Centre, BSAC Premier level. Training in our on-site heated pool and lecture rooms. Home of the renowned ROHO drysuits.Nitrox courses & fills. Gigantic 5000sq ft showroom fully stocked with dive watersports & snowboarding equipment. Friendly, helpful staff and instructors. Equipment hire. ■■■■■
AUGUST 2014 SportDiver 139
OVERSEAS DIVE CENTRES OVERSEAS AZORES
ARRAIA DIVERS Estrada Regional Nº 1, Silveira, 9700-193 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal Tel: (+351) 914 242 037 Email: info@arraiadivers.com Web: www.arraiadivers.com Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00 UTC Air to 225 bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC. Arraia Divers is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center which offers daily dive trips by both land and boat to Terceiras best dive sites.
CAYMAN ISLANDS
CYDIVE DIVE CYPRUS
EGYPT
ILIOS DIVE CLUB
20,Myrra Complex 33, Poseidonos Ave 1, Paphos 8042, Cyprus. Tel: 00 357 26 934271 Email: info@cydive.com Website: www.cydive.com
AQUARIUS DIVING CLUB
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort, Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt Tel: 002 065 3465442 Fax: 002 065 3465410 Email: info@iliosdiveclub.com Website: www.iliosdiveclub.com Opening Hours: 8am - 5pm
PADI. The First PADI 5 ★ Career Development Centre & Centre of Excellence in Cyprus. CAOS, EH, CH,AIP,Acc, FCF,AT, ESI’s, EAs’, BH, AYRD, UWP, OW’s, NDCF. Fantastic Location, an exciting programme with 2 Boat Dives & Daytrips Daily. Instructor programmes 4 times a year. ■■■❑■
SUNSET HOUSE - GRAND CAYMAN'S HOTEL FOR DIVERS BY DIVERS 390 South Church Street PO Box 479GT Tel: 1-345-949-7111 Fax: 1-345-949-7101 Email: reservations@sunsethouse.com Website: www.sunsethouse.com Opening Hours: 7:00 - 17:30 (Dive Centre Hours) Air To 200 Bar. Stingray City and ex-USS Kittiwake Adventures. PADI 5★ IDC. Full-Service dive operations located at Sunset House. Recreational boat dives. Incredible shore diving. Nitrox. Cathy Church. U/W photo centre. 53 Rooms for accommodations. Bar, restaurant onsite. EH, ESI, EA, Acc, FCF, AT (with packages), ATRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS (with packages) ■■■
DIVE TECH 18 Sea Fan Drive West Bay, Grand Caymam, Cayman Islands Tel: (345) 946-5658 Fax: (345) 946-5659 Email: info@divetech.com Website: www.divetech.com Opening Hours: 7:30AM- 5PM 7 days a week Air To 213 Bar. EH, ESI, TD, A, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS. PADI 5 Star,BSAC,NAUI,TDI,SSI,IANTD,SDI,DAN,PADI Rec/Tec,PADI Seals,PADI rescue,SSI Rangers,Advanced Nitrox,PADI Wreck,PADI Jr. Open Water. All you can dive eat and drink. Unlimited shore diving at two Northwall locations. Beginner diving through advanced. Rebreathers. Warm water, awesome visibility all year round. Enjoy our underwater passion.
CORAL BAY DIVERS Aristo Complex 1, Shop 17, Laxion Street 20, Coral Bay, Paphos, Cyprus Tel: 00 357 26 622980 Email: info@coralbaydivers.com Website: www.coralbaydivers.com Air to 300 Bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC. EH, ESI, TD, EA, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, NDCF, CAOS, Nitrox. PADI courses from DSD and Bubblemaker to Instructor offered. PADI Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50 also offered. Retail shop on site. Full day dive trips to the Zenobia, Akamas. ■■❑■
LARNACA DIVE-IN HTTC Ltd (Hyperbaric Therapy treatment Centre) Poseidonia Medical Centre 47a Eleftherias Avenue, Aradippou, Larnaca, CYPRUS 7102 Tel: 00357 24 252501/24 hr Emergency Diver Help Line 99 518837 Fax: 00357 24 252502 Email: info@hbocyprus.com Website: www.hbocyprus.com Opening Hours: 9-5 Mon -Sat. 24/7 Emergency Diver Response. Air to 232 Bar. If you are concerned or feel that you have unusual signs or symptoms after a dive please always get it checked. We have a 24/7, 365 days service with a full Hyperbaric Medical team on standby at our 14¬ Man fully computerized, HAUX 2200 Starmed Unit.We are the Preferred Provider for IDAN, UK Armed Forces, US Armed Forces, NATO and many more. We offer Direct Insurance billing for all treatments.Also Dry Dives to 40 metres, PADI Chamber Specialty Courses, DAN In-Chamber Tender Courses, DAN Chamber Operator Courses, DAN Consumer and Instructor Courses to all Levels. ❑■■■■■
POSEIDON Domniki Hotel, Protaras, Cyprus Tel/Fax: 00 357 995 45 650 E-mail: poseidon@netmail.com.cy Website: www.poseidon.com.cy Opening Hours: 09.00 - 18.00 Air to 200 Bar. PADI 5 Star IDC. EH, ESI, EA, AYRD, UWP. Poseidon is a PADI 5 star instructor development centre in Protaras, Cyprus.We offer PADI courses up to instructor and dive trips to Cape Greco and Zenobia wreck. ■
SCUBA MONKEY LTD 36c Ayias Mavris Tel: 35723724622 E-mail: dive@scuba-monkey.com Website: www.scuba-monkey.com Opening Hours: 8.30 am - 7pm (or later) Air to 300 Bar. PADI Dive Resort. EH, ESI, EA, AIP, ACC FCF, UWP, CH, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox. Retail, photography. Non diver to professional. U/W Naturalist. Scooter DPV. Underwater Weddings. Education. DPV. Videography. Intern Program. Fish Identification. Multilevel Diver. Wreck, freediving, search and recovery. Equipment Specialists. Underwater Navigation. Deep, night and boat diving. Project aware. ■
140 SportDiver AUGUST 2014
Sheraton Hotel, El Pascha Coast, Sharm el Sheikh Tel: (+20) 01001232785 Email: info@aquariusredsea.com Website: www.aquariusredsea.com Opening Hours: 09:00 - 17:00 Air to 200 Bar. PADI 5 ★ EH, LB, ESI, EA, ACC, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP,BH, NDCF, CAOS. Dive centre's in Sharm el Sheikh, Hurgharda, Marsa Alam, Hamata, Makadi & Sahl Hashish. Diving for complete beginners to experienced divers. Diving trips from shore, daily boat, zodiac and liveaboards. ■
CAMEL DIVE CLUB & HOTEL
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CYPRUS
Advertising: T: 0118 989 7220 E: ross.arnold@sportdiver.co.uk
Centre of Na’ama Bay, PO Box 10, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt. Tel: +20 69 3600 700 Fax: +20 69 3600 601 Email: info@cameldive.com Website: www.cameldive.com PADI 5 ★ Gold Palm IDC Centre, BSAC, Acc. AT, LB, ESI, EA, BH, AYRD, UWP, OW, NDCF, TD, CAOS, EH, FCF. The Red Seas friendliest diver hotel and dive centre. Join us for spectacular diving and the best apres dive in Sharm. Established 1986 ■■■■
CORAL SEA WATERWORLD PO Box 317, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt. Tel: +2 069 3710500 Fax: +2 069 3710511 Email: waterworld@coralsearesorts.com Website: www.coralsearesorts.com EH, LB, ESI, EA, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox. PADI 5 ★ When it’s time to plan your next family vacation, choose Coral Sea Waterworld Resort and experience the newest water park in Nabq Bay, Sharm El Sheikh. ■
DIVE ONE ACADEMY The Mövenpick Resort, Naama Bay Sharm El Sheik, Egypt. Tel: (002) 01099980908 Cell: (002) 01099980908 Email: sharm@dive1one.com Website: www.dive1one.com Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:30 GMT+2 Air to 200 Bar. SDI/TDI/ERDI. EH, LB, ESI, TD, AYRD, BH, CAOS Resort Dive Center. Dive One Academy is world of limitless choices, certified professional to produce joy and mitigate risks. A certified facility to operate and teach scuba diving worldwide. ■
EAGLE DIVERS Based in Ocean Club Hotel, 23 City Council Street, Hadaba, Sharm el Sheikh Tel: 002 01200001590 Email: info@eagle-divers.com Website: www.eagle-divers.com Opening Hours: 8.00am - 8.00pm PADI Dive Centre. Nitrox. Air to 220 Bar. EH, LB, ESI, TD, EA, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, CAOS. Offering personalised and professional service to all levels of diver. Eagle Divers will endeavour to give the best experience possible, every dive. ■
ELITE DIVING'S DIVERS UNITED Uni Sharm Hotel, Sharm Elysees Street Um El Sid Hill, Hadaba, Sharm El Sheikh Tel: 0020 1224 308 780 Email: info@elite-diving.com Web: www.elite-diving.com Opening Hours: 8.00am to 19.00pm Air to 220 Bar. Divers United PADI 5 Resort. Elite Diving BSAC Diver Traning Center.EH, LB, ESI, EA, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, BH, NDCF, CAOS. NITROX, ATOL Bonded through UK Tour oporator. British Owner managers, offering Daily Boat Diving on some of the best reefs in the world, House reef, PADI & BSAC courses, Liveaboards, Special excursions. ■ ■
EH, ESI, EA, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Ilios Dive Club at Steigenberger Resort, Hurghada. Your PADI dive center and diving school at the Red Sea. Daily excursions and all scuba courses!
OCEAN COLLEGE Hilton Fayrouz Hotel, Naama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh Tel: 0020 127792749 Email: info@ocean-college.com Website: www.ocean-college.com Opening Hours: 8am - 6pm. Air to 300 Bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC, Nitrox, ATOL Bonded. EH, LB, ESI, TD, EA, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Ocean College is one of the premier dive operators in the Red Sea and offers diving services for experienced divers and PADI diver education ■■■
RED SEA DIVING COLLEGE SULTANA BUILDING, NAAMA BAY, SOUTH SINAI, EGYPT Tel: 0020 69 3600145 Email: info@redseacollege.com Website: www.redseacollege.com Opening hours: 8am - 9pm. Air to 200 Bar. EH, LB, ESI, TD, EA, ACC, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox, National Geographic. PADI 5★ CDC. Multi Award winning centre offering all courses from entry level to professional. Conducted from a stunning beach-front location, boasting the best facilities in Sharm. ■
SINAI COLLEGE Sinai College, Sharm Inn Amarin, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt Tel: (+20) 01154055100 Email: info@sinai-college.com Website: www.sinai-college.com Opening hours: 7.45am - 6.30pm, 7 days a week Air to 200 Bar. EH, LB, ESI, EA, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, COAS. Nitrox, PADI Dive Centre. We are an European run and managed dive center based in Sharm El Sheikh with a friendly and professional atmosphere. We provide daily diving, mini safaris and liveaboards. ■
SINAI DIVERS Ghazala Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Tel: 00 20 069 3600 697 Fax: 00 20 069 3600 158 Email: info@sinaidivers.com Website: www.sinaidivers.com Opening Hours: 08:00 - 20:00 summer/ 08:00 - 18:30 winter. Air to 200 bar. EH, LB, ESI, TD, EA, Acc, AYRD, UWP, BH, NDCF, FCF, CAOS, AT. Free Nitrox for Nitrox certified divers, NG. PADI 5 Gold Palm Resort. SSI, CMAS (Barakuda) CDC & TDI (Dahab). Easy house reef in the centre Naama Bay, safari boats, north & south. Full tec centre in Dahab, Resort and dive centre in Marsa Alam and Taba. ■■■
Advertising: T: 0118 989 7220 E: ross.arnold@sportdiver.co.uk FIJI SCUBA BULA FIJI P.O. Box 2748 Tel: 00 679 6280190 +34 928 163 172 Email: info@scubabula.com Website: www.scubabula.com Opening Hours: 08:00 - 16:00 GMT +12 Air to 200 Bar. EH, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Scuba Bula - Diving’s Purest Experience. Only 10 minutes to the dive sites. Everyday is good, some days are just exceptional!
FUERTEVENTURA ABYSS Calle Gravina, 10 Corralejo, 35660, Fuerteventura Tel: (+34)928949004 (+34)652958297 (+34)655678392 Email: info@abyssfuertevenuta.com Website: www.abyssfuertevenuta.com Opening Hours: 0900 - 1700 365 DAYS A YEAR Air to 200. PADI Resort with Detheraphy Education Pro Instructor. EH, ESI, FCF, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, CAOS, WIFI. Friendly & flexible family run centre. Small groups. Padi beginner to professional level. DSD and bubblemaker. Dive centre located in the town centre.
DEEP BLUE DIVING S.L
UTINA DIVING COLLEGE Calleja Building, Rabat Road, Xlendi XLN 1101, Gozo, Malta Tel: 0035621550514 Email: utina@gozomail.com Website: www.utina-diving.com Opening Hours: March to November. PADI 5 ★ IDC Gold Palm Resort,Nitrox, Air to 300 bar. Friendly Proffessional - Individual Attention - Experienced and Novice Divers are very Welcome at Utina. EH, ESI,TD, EA,Acc, FCF,AT, UWP,CH, BH,NDCF ■
GREECE NAVY'S WATERWORLD Kamari Beach, Santorini Tel/Fax: 0030 22860 28190 Email: info@navyswaterworld.gr Website: www.navyswaterworld.gr
Opening Hours: 8.00 - 22.00 Air to 200 Bar. EH, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox. PADI 5 ★ IDC Dive Center. Daily 2 tank trips around the volcanic shoreline of Santorini. Dive in the marine protected area, and enjoy the caves, wrecks, wall diving, reefs and more. ■
NERO-SPORT DIVING CENTER
Barcelo el Castillo, Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura, 35610 Tel: +34 606 275 468 +34 928 163 172 Fax: +34 928 16 39 83 Email: info@deep-blue-diving.com Website: www.deep-blue-diving.com
Limni Keriou, Zakynthos / GR-29092 Tel: 0030 26950 28481 0030 698 5666645 0030 26950 49125 Email: info-diving@nero-sport.de Website: www.nero-sport.com
Opening Hours: All year 9am-5pm Air to 200. PADI 5* GOLD PALM IDC CENTRE & IE LOCATION. EH, ESI, AIP, ACC, FCF, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, CAOS. WIFI, Equipment Washing and Storage Rooms. Discover Scuba to Instructor. All year round, water front location, small groups, 20-25m visabilty. Exclusive dive sites, after dive sector. ■
Opening Hours: 9.00 - 18.00 Air to 200 Bar. PADI DIVE CENTRE, IAC 5 ★ EH, ESI, Acc, AT, FCF, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, CAOS. Free childcare. 2-5 trips a day. Day trips. Night diving. Own accommodation. Snack bar. Great family offers. Special group offers. Diving all year round. ■
GOZO
HONDURAS
BLUE WATERS DIVE COVE
UTILA DIVE CENTRE/MANGO INN
Kuncizzjoni Street Qala, Gozo, Malta
Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras Tel/Fax: 5044253327 Email: info@utiladivecentre.com Website: www.utiladivecentre.com www.goproutila.com
Tel: 00 356 7953 6874 Email: info@divebluewaters.com Website: www.divebluewaters.com Opening Hours: 08:00 - 17:00. Air to 232 Bar. PADI 5★ IDC. EH, ESI, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD UWP, CH, BH, CAOS. Nitrox. Free wifi, washing and drying facilities. Classrooms, lounge area, coffee making facilities. ■ ■
GOZO AQUA SPORTS Rabat Road, Marsalforn, Gozo, Malta, MFN 9014 Tel: 00356 21563037 Email: dive@gozoaquasports.com Website: www.gozoaquasports.com Opening Hours: 7 days a week 08:00 - 18:00 Air To 235 Bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC Centre - DSAT Tec Rec EH, ESI, TD, Acc, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS, Nitrox upto 40%, Free Wi-Fi, Free tea/coffee Rinsing/ drying/ storage facilities, Wreck, Boat, Cave, DPV, DSAT gas & Trimix blender, Deep Digital photography, Drysuit, Enriched air, Drift Equipment, Fish ID, Multilevel Naturalist Navigation, Night, Oxygen profidor, PPB, Project aware Search & Recovery Specialities ■■
Opening Hours: 7am to 7pm Air to 220 Bar. PADI Career Development Centre and IANTD facility. Nitrox, Trimix, Rebreather friendly, National Geographic Facility. EH, ESI, TD, EA, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CAOS. PADI certification courses from beginner to Instructor (monthly PADI IDC's) with diving packages and accommodation. The island of Utila offers spectacular Caribbean diving and Whale sharks. ■■
OVERSEAS DIVE CENTRES INDONESIA AQUAMARINE DIVING - BALI Jalan Petitenget 2A, Kuta-Legian-Seminyak, Bali 80361, Indonesia. Tel: +62 361 4738 020 Fax: +62 361 4738 021 Email: info@aquamarinediving.com Website: www.aquamarinediving.com Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00 Air to 200 Bar. PADI 5 ★ Gold Palm Resort 6344. EH, Nitrox, ESI, EA, CAOS, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF. Bali’s only British owner-operated dive company. Only offers Bali’s better dive locations (wrecks, drifts, Mantas, shore, deep). Daily Trips and Customised Dived Packages. UWP Specialists. ■
SAFARI DIVING LANZAROTE Playa de la Barrilla 4, Playa Chica Puerto Del Carmen, Tel: 0034 928511992 or 0034 646752512 Email: enquiry@safaridiving.com Website: www.safaridiving.com PADI, PADI 5 ★ Centre, BSAC, PADI Premier Centre, NAUI, SAA.Acc,AT, LB,ESI, EAs, BH, AYRD, UWP, OWs, NDCF, ATOL,TD, CAOS, EH,CH,AIP, FCF. SSI & RYA. We are a PADI dive centre. BSAC Premier Centre and Seamanship Centre. SSI Diver Training Centre. British owned, beach based diving centre, established for over 18 years. Spectacular Ocean diving all year round which include reefs, drop offs, wrecks etc to suit all levels of diver and the complete beginner! Special offers available for dive packages for shore, night and boat dives. ■■■■
BLUE MARLIN DIVE Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Gili Air, Senggigi, Lombok, Indonesia. Tel: ++62 (0) 370 632424 Fax: ++62 (0) 370 642286 Email: info@bluemarlindive.com Website: www.bluemarlindive.com PADI 5 ★ Premier IDC Centre. Acc., AT, LB, ESI, EA, BH, AYRD, UWP, OW, NDCF, TD, EH, CH, AIP, CAOS, FCF. The Gili Islands most professional & friendly 5 ★ IDC Centre (estblished 16 years). Spectacular world class ocean diving. Ocean front restaurant, bar, night club & freshwater pool. Full retail dive shop on site. DM internship programmes. Full technical diving facility offering TDI & IANTD. Blue Marlin has it’s own luxury livaboard offering trips throughout the Indonesian Archipelago. Packages available. ■■
ISLAND WATERSPORTS LANZAROTE 35510 Puerto Del Carmen, EL VARADERO 36 Tel: 34928511880 Email: info@divelanzarote.com Website: www.divelanzarote.com Opening Hours: Mon till Sat from 09:00 - 18:00 EH; ESI; EA; AYRD; UWP; BH; CAOS; FCF; NDCF. NITROX. PADI DIVE CENTRE. Best equipped dive centre directly situated in the harbour with house reef and close to all popular dive sites. ■
TWO FISH DIVERS One operator/three tropical-island resorts: Bunaken Island, North Sualwesi Lembeh Straits, North Sualwesi Lembongan Island, Bali Tel: 0062-811-432-805 Email: info@twofishdivers.com Website: www.twofishdivers.com Air to 200 bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC. Nitrox, EH, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, CAOS. Two Fish Divers is owned and run by Tina and Nigel from UK. Each of their three tropical-island resorts offer a friendly and relaxed atmosphere with some of the best diving in Indonesia: 1) Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi - the award-winning reefs of Bunaken Marine Park. 2) Lembeh Straits, North Sulawesi - the muck-diving capital of the world. 3) Lembongan Island, Bali - home of the mola-mola's and manta's of Bali. All dive resorts are PADI 5 ★, have european management, max 24divers, small dive groups, and a friendly and personal service. Organise a trip to one of more of these resorts, or book an Indo Dive Safari with all three resorts! ■■
IBIZA PUNTA DIVE Cala Martina, Es Cana, Santa Eulalia, Ibiza, Spain. Tel: (0034) 971 33 67 26 (0034) 971 31 94 13 Email: info@puntadive.com Website: www.puntadive.com Opening Hours: 9:00 - 19:00. Air to 225 Bar. PADI 5★ IDC. EH-ESI-EA-FCF-AT-UWPCH-BH-NDCF-CAOS. 3 centres on Ibiza. Dive don Pedro, sunken fish farm, the cathedral etc. 2 fast RIB's. Group and club offers available. Fun, friendly and professional. ■
LANZAROTE MANTA DIVING LANZAROTE JUAN CARLOS 1, No.6, Local 5, PUERTO DEL CARMEN, Tel: (0034) 928 516815 Mobile: (0034) 649 121142 Email: info@manta-diving-lanzarote.com manta-diving-lanzarote-val@hotmail.com Skype: manta-dive-centre Website: www.manta-diving-lanzarote.com Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8.30-5.30pm all year round. Air to 200 Bar. PADI IRRA RESORT CENTRE, BSAC RESORT CENTRE. OSS, ACC, AT, AYRD, BH, CAOS, CH, NDCF, EA, EH, UWP, ESI, FCF. PADI. Courses & Specialties, Discover Scuba & Snorkelling. Fully equipped, spacious centre, 150mtrs from best sites in Lanzarote. Group Rates All level of divers welcome. NITROX. ■■
AUGUST 2014 SportDiver 141
OVERSEAS DIVE CENTRES MALTA AQUAVENTURE LTD #3083 The Waters Edge, Mellieha Bay Hotel, Ghadira, Malta MLH 9065 Tel: +356 2152 2141 Fax: +356 2152 1053 Email: info@aquaventuremalta.com Website: www.aquaventuremalta.com PADI 5 ★ Gold Palm Resort. BSAC, Acc, ATs, ESIs, BH, EAs, AYRD, UWP, OWs, NDCF, CAOS, EH, CH, FCF. Services: Air conditioned audio/visual classroom plus 3 training pools on-site, free daily pick-up service, scheduled daily escorted shore & boat dives, full range of specialities, retail shop, on-site showers. One of Malta’s leading dive centres, with total commitment to customer care and satisfaction. ■ ■
DIVE DEEP BLUE MALTA 9/11 Annanija Street, Bugibba, St Pauls Bay, Malta SPB 1320 Tel: 00 356 21 583946 Fax: 00 356 21 583945 Email: dive@divedeepblue.com Website: www.divedeepblue.com Opening Hours: 8am till 6pm. PADI 5 ★ IDC. EH ESI TD EA AIP Acc FCF AT AYRD UWP CH BH NDCF CAOS.Nitrox /Trimix. Facilities include:Dive Shop, Private parking, swimming pool, sun deck, gas filling/blending station, euipment rental/sales, drying and storage areas, toilets/ showers, A/C class rooms, techniclal facility, CCR support. ■ ■ ■
DIVESHACK SCUBA SCHOOL 14a, Qui Si Sana, Seafront, Sliema, SLM3111, Malta Tel: 00 356 2133 8558 Fax: 00 356 2134 5670 Email: info@divemalta.com Website: www.divemalta.com Opening Hours: 7 Days a week from 08.00 till 18.00 (17.00 in winter) PADI 5 ★ IDC, National Geographic and TecRec Facility. Seafront Location. Resident Course Director. All PADI Courses Taught. Rebreather Friendly. Escorted Dives from Shore/Boat round Malta, Gozo and Comino. Fully Stocked Shop. Operating from Comino May to Oct. Nitrox, Trimix, National Geographic. Speciality side mount and Tec side mount. EH, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS, OSS + OWS. ■■■■■
SEA SHELL DIVE COVE
THRESHER SHARK DIVERS
Sea Shell Dive Cove, Marfa Road, Mellieha, Malta Tel: +356/21522595 / + 356/21521062 Fax: +356 2152 1062 Email: info@seashell-divecove.com Website: www.seashell-divecove.com EH, Nitrox, ESI, TD, CAOS, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH,BH, NDCF. Family run dive centre. Technical diving & courses. Escorted dives from shore/boat Malta, Gozo, Comino.Wreck dive specialist. Latest equipment for hire & for sale. ■ ■
Malaapscua Island, Cebu 6013 Philippines Cell: +63 917 795 9433 Landline: +63 32 406 6414 Fax: +63324370985 Email: dive@thresherdivers.com Web: www.malapascua-diving.com Opening Hours: 5am-8pm. Air to 200 bar. EH, LB, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, ACC, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox, Trimix. PADI 5 ★ IDC, IANTD, TDI, BSAC. Daily thresher shark dives (as seen on Monty Halls), mantas, wrecks, reefs, macro, muck diving, great walls dives. British owned and run, PADI courses available. ■■■■
ST. ANDREW'S DIVERS COVE 2, St. Simon Street, Xlendi Bay, Gozo, XLN1302 Malta Tel: (00356) 21551301 / (00356) 99829733 Email: standrew@gozodive.com Website: www.gozodive.com Opening Hours: 08.30 - 15.00 (winter) 08.30 - 18.00 (summer). Air to 300 Bar. PADI / FFESSM / CMAS. EH, ESI, Acc. FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, NDCF, CAOS. Established in 1989 St. Andrews Divers Cove enjoys a reputation for friendly professional service. Offering: Night, PPB, boat, deep wreck, EAN dives. ■
DIVE MED Zonqor Point, Marsaskala, MSK 1570 Malta Tel: +356 21 639981 Email: info@dive.com Website: www.divemed.com Opening Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm Air to 300 bar. PADI 5 ★ IDC. EH, ESI, ED, EA, AIP, Acc, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Diving is SAFE, EASE and FUN when done with Professionals. Our 5 Star centre offers a genuine service to make your trips memorable and exciting. All diving services at excellent prices. Special offers available on our website. ■
MAURITIUS ATLANTIS DIVING CENTRE Coastal Road, Beach, Trov Aux Biches, Mauritius Tel: (00 230) 4227126 / 2657172 Fax: (00 230) 2657219 Email: atlantis_divers@yahoo.co.uk vb@atlantisdiving.info Website: www.atlantisdiving.info Opening Hours: 08.30 - 17.00 + Night Dive PADI 5 Gold Palm, BSAC member, CMAS, MSDA. EH, ESI, EA, CAOS, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, Nitrox. Certification, exploration, wreck, night, photo. Dive Centres consistently recommended for their professional and friendly services nautilus diving and Atlantis Diving. Lonely Planet Guide. ■■
MEXICO DIVEWISE Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta Tel: (+356) 21 356 441 Email: info@divewise.com.mt Website: www.divewise.com.mt Opening Hours: 7 days a week from 9am till finish. Air to 300 Bar. PADI 5 ★ CDC Centre. Nitrox, Trimix, Boat Diving,Day trips. EH, ESI, TD, EA, ACC, FCF ,AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF ,CAOS PADI's No1 centre in Malta offering all courses but specialising in Technical diving & Instrcutor level. ■■
PARADISE DIVING Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa, Mellieha, Malta Tel: 00356 21574116 / 00356 21524363, 00356 99491877 Email: sales@paradisediving.com Website: www.paradisediving.com Opening Hours: 9.00-17.00. Air to 300 Bar. PADI 5★ RESORT. EH, ESI, EA,ACC, FCF, AT AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF CAOS, Nitrox.Three summer boat dives daily, Malta, Gozo, Comino. No boat surcharge! Private beach location, Cirkewwa. PADI courses. Free group places. Free transport, Mellieha, Bugibba, Qawra. ■
142 SportDiver AUGUST 2014
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SCUBA CLUB COZUMEL Av R Melgar Prol S Km 1.5, Cozumel, Q. Roo Mexico 77600 Tel: 52+987-872-1133 US# 727-230-9613 Fax: 727-388-3638 Email: scubacozumel@ecozumel.net Website: www.scubaclubcozumel.com Opening Hours: 24/7/365. Acc, ESI, EH, AYRD, UWP, BH, FCF, CAOS. PADI 5 ★ Training center and Dive Resort offering dive packages including room, meals and diving. Full service 5 star training facility offering all levels of instruction and daily dive trips. ■ ■
D'DIVERS AT BUSUANGA BAY LODGE
Air to 200 bar. TDI/SDI 5 ★ CDC & Resort Facility. EH, ESI, TD, EA, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Wreck diver. Nitrox diver. Intro to tech. Adv. Nitrox. Decompression procedure. Extended range. Advanced diver levels. Instructor. ■
SUB-TROPIC ADVENTURES Palm Cottage, New Bridge, Jamestown, St Helena Tel: 00 290 2758 Website: www.stsa.co.sh Email: sub-tropic.scuba@cwimail.sh New and exciting diving with Sub-tropic adventures St Helena Island. Great Diving sites including night diving whales sharks Mantas and much more.
THAILAND BLUE LABEL DIVING
PORTUGAL INDIGO DIVERS Rua do Mercado Lote M Loja A, Areias de São João, Albufeira 8200-269 Portugal Tel/Shop: 00351 289 587013 Mobile: 00 351 913 999 913 Fax: 00351 289 587 013 Email: info@indigo-divers.pt Web: www.indigo-divers.pt Opening Hours: 8:30 - 18:00 - later if night dives. EH, ESI, EA, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, CAOS. We personalise our dives for you! Experienced professional, friendly instructors. All courses to instructor level. Plus specialities. Guided dives from boat, beach. New wreck dives! ■
SOUTH AFRICA UMKOMAAS LODGE DIVE CHARTERS 2 Roland Norris Drive, Umkomaas kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Tel: 27 (0) 39 973 2542 27 (0) 82 800 4668 Fax: 27 (0) 86 603 6819 Email: umkomaaslodge@gmail.com Website: www.aliwalshoalscubadiving.com www.cagesharkdive.com Opening Hours: 7:00am - 16:00pm PADI 5 ★ Gold Palm Resort. Air to 220 Bar. Nitrox. EH, ESI, TD, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, NDCF, CAOS. Shark diving is our speciality!!! (cage dives for nondivers). Tropical reefs at Aliwal Shoal. Join us for the Sardine Run, the greatest shoal on earth. ■■■
SPAIN FLEET DIVE SPAIN Avda Port Canigo, Santa Margarita, Roses, Spain Tel: 0044 7766 985353 Mobile: 0034 6781 36570 Email: info@fleetdive.com Website: www.fleetdive.com Opening Hours: 24 hrs BSAC Resort EH, ESI, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, CH, BH, NDCF. Here at Fleet Dive we offer a complete package holiday equally suited to the small group of prolific divers as it is to the family with individuals with a passion for the underwater world. We are based on the Costa Brava where the diving is truly first class. ■
FleetDive
PHILIPPINES Busuanga Bay Lodge, Barangay Concepcion, Busuanga Island 5317 Palawan, Philippines Cell: +63 (927)4183126 or +63 908 8541655 Email: reservations@ddivers.com reservations@busuangabaylodge.com Web: www.ddivers.com www.busuangabaylodge.com Opening Hours: 08:00 to 17:00.
ST HELENA
S’ALGAR DIVING Paseo Martimo, S/N S’Algar, San Luis,Menorca, Tel: 0034 971 150 601 Mobile: +34 605 054 607 Email: info@salgardiving.com Website: www.salgardiving.com Opening Hours: 9.00-18.00 PADI 5 ★ RESORT, BSAC RESORT CENTRE, IEH, ESI, FCF, AT, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Air to 220 Bar. Best location in MENORCA! Professional Captains. Diving, snorkelling, Boatexcusri Divesites within 15 mins. Reefs, caverns, caves. Divesites for beginners and pro's alike. Clubs/groups welcome! NITROX for courses. ■■■
Indonesia - Bunaken, Lembeh and Bali Phuket - Thailand Australia - Brisbane Tel/Fax: +66(0)76289801 Mobile: +66(0)884509508 Website: www.bluelabeldiving.com www.ccr-cave.com | www.divemedics.org www.benreymenants.com | exclusive-liveaboards.com PADI Dive Center and TDI 5* Instructor Training Facilities ■■
SCUBA CAT DIVING Main shop: The Kee Plaza, Second Floor, C1 152/1 Thaweewong Road, Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand 83150 Opening hours: 9.30am - 10pm Soi Watanna, 78/19 Thaweewong Road, Patong Beach, Phuket Thailand 83150 Opening hours: 8.30am to 9pm 7 days a week Tel: 00 66 76 293 120/1 Fax: 00 76 293 122 Email: info@scubacat.com Web: www.scubacat.com www.scubacat-idc.com PADI 5 ★ CDC. EH, Nitrox, LB, ESI, TD, EA, CAOS, FCF, AYRD, UWP, NDCF. At Scuba Cat we pride ourselves on the wide range of services and facilities we have on offer including Liveaboards, Daytrips, Half day trips, Tech diving, Handicapped Diving, Environmental and all PADI Courses. http://www.youtube.com/user/ScubaCat2007 ■■■■■
SEA BEES DIVING 1/3 MOO 9, VISET Road. CHALONG, PHUKET 83130. THAILAND Tel: +66 (0)76 381 765 + 66 (0)76 381 943 Fax: +66 (0)76 280 467 Email: info@sea-bees.diving.com Website: www.sea-bees.com Opening Hours: 9am to 9pm. Air to 200 bar. EH, LB, ESI, TD, EA, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, CH, BH, NDCF, CAOS, Nitrox, National Georgraphic, SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre. Located in Phuket, Khao Lak, Koh Phi Phi & Pak Meng with our fleet of daytrip and liveaboard vessels, we are 'Adventure In Good Hands' ■
SIMILAN DIVING SAFARIS Co LTD 13/19 Moo 7 Kukkak, Khaolak, Takuapa, Phang-Nga 82190, Thailand Tel: 076 485 470 Fax: 076 485 471 Email: info@similan-diving-safaris.com Website: www.similan-diving-safaris.com www.burma-diving-safaris.com Opening Hours: 9am to 9pm. Air to 200 bar. EH, LB, ESI, EA, AIP, ACC,FCF, ATF, UWP, BH, NDCF, CAOS. PADI 5 Star Dive Center. Livaboard specialist, PADI courses, Nitrox aboard our boat. Ecofriendly toiletries. Similan, Surin, Islands. Myanmar (Burma). Mergui Archipelago. Day trips, diving, snorkeling, European, established for 15 years. ■
Advertising: T: 0118 989 7220 E: ross.arnold@sportdiver.co.uk TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
OVERSEAS DIVE CENTRES
WEST INDIES EXTREME MARINE SCUBA LTD
DIVE PROVO Ports of Call, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: 001 649 946 5040 (shop) Fax: 001 649 946 5936 Email: diving@diveprovo.com Website: www.diveprovo.com Hours: Hours 8am-5pm daily. Air to 200 Bar. EST. Hotel/ dive packages to suit every taste. PADI 5 ★ Resort, SSI Resort. OSS, EH, ESI, EA, AIP, Acc, FCF, AT, AYRD, UWP, BH, NDCF, CAOS. Nitrox 32%. Daily 2 tank dives to all areas around Provo;West Caicos, French Cay, N.W. Point, Grace Bay, Pine Cay.Air, Nitrox, instruction and dedicated snorkel trips. British owners Alan and Clare Jardine. 1990 - 2010: Celebrating 20 years of diving as it should be! ■■
Compton Building, Dockside Dr, nglish Harbour, Antigua, W.I. Tel: (268) 725 7777 Email: info@exttrememarinescuba.com Website: www.extrememarinescuba.com Hours: 7-3pm Air to 200 Bar. ESI, FCF, AYRD, UWP, NDCF, COAS. PADI Dive Shop & Boat. Bathroom on board, Kitchen, Large boat, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, EFR Instructor, Deep Diver, Search & Recovery, Nitrox, PADI MSDT Instructor, Crew know CPR. ■
DIVE GRENADA PO Box 771, St Georges, Grenada, West Indies Tel: (0044) 1 473 444 1092 Email: info@divegrenada.com Website: www.divegrenada.com Hours: 0800 - 1600 Air to 200 Bar. Dive Grenada are the longest established Dive Operation in Grenada and offer a warm welcome from Phil, Helen and their dogs Jack & Jerry. Based at the award winning Flamboyant Hotel we are perfectly placed to offer you the best dive destination in Grenada.
LIVEABOARDS
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AUGUST 2014 SportDiver 143
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ACCESSORIES
EQUIPMENT
Servicing on Site Wet/Dry Suits ● Regulators ● BCDs
HOLIDAYS IN SCOTLAND
Cylinders (IDEST) Computers ● Watches ● Mail order
●
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01924 444888 dive@roho.co.uk
www.roho.co.uk
MEDICAL
www.bowstonediving.com DESIGNERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF HIGH QUALITY DIVING EQUIPMENT #1 UK MANUFACTURER Weight Systems • Bags & Pouches • Marker Buoys • Flags • Bottle Accessories • Accessories
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Discounts for students and large groups
For appointments call 0780 2850 084 email: mclamp@doctors.org.uk
Drs McCann, Roberts and Bettley-Smith - Poole, Dorset HSE, Sport & Phone advice Medicals done promptly at your own convenience Phone 01202 741345 Email:madeira.medical@dorset.nhs.uk
Diving Medicals in the Midlands HSE / Sport / Advice – Email: doctor@midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk / Tel: 01788 579555
CLOTHING
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n a n o t u o Missed sting article? intere
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144 SportDiver AUGUST 2014
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JEWELLERY
English Heart, Swiss Movement Exclusively available online
HOLIDAYS OVERSEAS ■ English owned legal dive centre in Puerto del Carmen, ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Lanzarote, located directly on a family-friendly beach. We can offer you the most dive sites with daily boat, shore and night dives – all same price! Suitable for beginner and all levels of divers – train your own students or complete courses with us. We will not be beaten on legimate quoted prices. We can assist with flights/accommodation, etc. Others promise – we deliver!
SCOTLAND M.V GAELIC ROSE OBAN
Liveaboard diving holidays around the West Coast of Scotland. Weekend, full week and mid week bookings available. Accommodation, meals and airfills included in the price. Nitrox available. Diver lift on board. For more information please contact Nicki 01967 421714 or Bob 07778965618 Website: www.gaelicrose.com, Email: info@gaelicrose.com
DIVE SCOTLAND’S WEST COAST aboard the
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Dive from Oban to Mull, Coll, Skye Hebrides and St Kilda or The Islands of Jura, Islay, Rathlin or The Coast of Northern Ireland. Tel: Jim (01389) 877028, Boat: 07775508242 Email: kylebhan@aol.com
www.lumb-bros-das.co.uk quality diving products www.otterboxes.co.uk rugged waterproof cases for every environment www.unidive.co.uk A Quality range of masks, snorkels, fins and knives. www.tek-tite.co.uk Torches, strobes, marker lights for diving and outdoor pursuits.
REPAIRS
SCAPA FLOW 2014 TO HELP CELEBRATE OUR 21ST BIRTHDAY WE ARE OFFERING AN AMAZING 10% DISCOUNT For a great diving package from our 20m hard day boat, O2 clean 15lt tanks, air to 300 bar, minibus, complimentary airport & Stromness ferry pickups. Self-contained accommodation with hot breakfast in central Stromness, all inclusive plus onboard nitrox. All sizes of parties catered for.
Email: leigh@divescapaflow.co.uk Tel: 01856 850 055 | www.divescapaflow.co.uk
SOUTH Isle of Wight Penetrater. Diving East & West Wight, English Channel. Mainland pick up. All experiences/groups welcome. Electric lift, easy access and parking. Owner/Skipper Mick Martin.Tel: 07890 372958 Email: matzenmarine@btinternet.com
Registering on www.sportdiver.co.uk will give you the opportunity to: Create your own profile page, post images, YouTube videos and chat to other divers online.
CHARTER BOATS NORTH FARNE ISLANDS DIVING William Shiel
Farne Island Diving available all year round in our hard boats and Rhib for both groups and individuals. Air Station with air fill collection service (no queuing for air fills). Tel: 01665 721297 / Mob: 07799 666573 Quote: “SPORTS Quote: “SCUBA” for diving Email: diver@farne-islands.com DIVER” foroffers offers www.farne-islands.co.uk | www.farneislandsdiving.co.uk
In the Kit Finder you can read our reviews and ratings on all the latest Dive Computers, Regulators and BCD’s. If you already own a piece of kit featured - let Ask questions and give advice in our everyone know what you think of it. Forum. Sport Diver will be on hand to help and offer expert advice on ways to improve your diving. Comment and rate divers pictures and videos and have the chance to be selected for the photo of the month! Sign up to our newsletters and have the latest developments and offers sent directly to your inbox.
Visit www.sportdiver.co.uk today! SportDiver AUGUST 2014
145
L
ast week I was at National Geographic HQ in Washington DC at our annual Explorers Symposium and as you might imagine there is a lot of energy, enthusiasm, commitment, learning and fun. But it’s not like those crazy business conferences where the “energy” is artificially frothed up. This is a week of deep, meaningful power that is the result of highly talented, committed people coming together to share their experiences. It’s a great week for us on the Pristine Seas team to meet, make more progress on large marine protected areas, debrief from Mozambique and plot the next two expeditions, which are to Palau and Rapa. And of course it’s wonderful to catch up with the “old hands”, swap our stories and challenges from various frontlines and enjoy the shared
measure of an individual’s value and potential. I spoke at the Plasticity conference in Hong Kong last year and afterwards a schoolboy about 15 years old gave a great and fun talk about how he built a kayak from plastic water bottles he found on the beach and paddled this ugly, highly unstable boat at various coastal beaches to raise awareness of the marine debris issue. A teacher in the audience asked him how she could get her students to be more engaged in environmental issues and come up with similar innovative ideas. He said: “You need to get us out there more”. Yes! The perfect answer. I wanted to run back on stage and hug him. It’s the practical engagement in nature that makes all the difference and I’m scared witless when I see our potential future explorers sitting at desks with the physical side of learning being thought of as an
are just marvellous. Bursting with innovative ideas, full of optimism, well informed and it’s no surprise that they are not stuck at desks – they all do field work, sports of all kinds and travel. Those kids, their teachers and the project organisers (Wastebusters) were a joy to be with and naturally it was almost impossible to judge between the projects to choose the winners. My speech at the awards was focused on celebrating their achievements and my love of the ocean. I fully expect that they will all be motivated to become divers because of their environmental interests but I couldn’t help tell them that the reason I became a diver was because I was desperate to follow Mike Nelson’s footsteps and have proper underwater adventures and watching the great man on Sea Hunt I could see that all the beautiful women wanted Mike to
“Bursting with innovative ideas, full of optimism, well informed and it’s no surprise that they are not stuck at desks - they all do field work, sports of all kinds and travel” spirit of adventure. But the defining group for me are the Emerging Explorers, they bring the most positive view of the future imaginable. This year they included an inventor, educators, ecologists, conservationists, campaigners, artists and musicians, biologists, a social entrepreneur, an electrical engineer, a palaeontologist and a nanoscientist. On stage as a group and in their individual presentations they exuded an uplifting confidence in our future, a fresh feeling of exploration, a keenness to take on any challenges, laser sharp focus and a sense of fun. I love them. I also can’t help but wonder how they got this way and I want to make sure that we do everything we can to make sure that our education system encourages and nurtures our natural sense of enquiry and exploration. I don’t think a box-ticking, exams-obsessed schools culture can possibly do this, let alone provide an accurate
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optional extra. There are about 7.3 billion of us and for the first time in history we have become a true force of nature, but over 60% of us live in urban areas, which means that we have never needed nature more than we do right now and yet have never lived so far from it. It stands to reason that the way to ensure that we have a healthy level of awareness and understanding of global environmental issues is for us to develop a lifelong habit of getting amongst them and the way to do that is to start early and often. And today I saw the rewards of that approach as I was speaking in parliament at the Primary Earth Summit where schools had entered teams to compete in ideas to communicate environmental issues. Along with my fellow judges I was blown away by the high quality of their work – these young ones
teach them to dive. At the EU Ocean HOPE conference in Brussels I called for PADI diving courses to be included in all school curriculums. It will help build our ocean constituency, provide essential practical field skills to compliment the academic subjects, provide adventure and exploration, give the kids a break from the desks and shake up the bureaucrats who think that we can only measure success by endless exams and box-ticking exercises. ■ Paul is the Vice President of the Royal Geographical Society. For 10 years he was the Base Commander of Rothera Research Station in Antarctica and was also the BAS Diving Officer. He presents television and radio programmes for the BBC. www.paulrose.org
www.sportdiver.co.uk
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Sport Diver August 2014
Newhaven • Egypt • Maldives • Deptherapy • Florida • Turks and Caicos • Austria • New Zealand • Gear Guide: Dive bags
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