Phuket Lifestyle - SSI brings dive training online

CONFORMITY CRITICAL: All dive operators must all comply rigorously with SSI standards to be part of their network.

From Phukett Gazette: Phuket Lifestyle - SSI brings dive training online
PHUKET: Scuba Schools International (SSI) is the second largest school-based diving certification agency in the world, and it’s growing at a rapid rate. It’s one of only two diving agencies that holds a global ISO rating, it has been training divers for over 40 years, and it’s the only diving agency that offers free online training. Operating in over 130 countries and with more than 2,400 SSI Dive Centers, SSI training materials are available in over 25 languages, including Thai.

Their commitment to service is more important to them than brand marketing. SSI have, as a result, seen an annual growth of over 35 per cent year-on-year across the region, and, since opening an Area Office in Thailand in 2002, they now employ 25 staff in five full service centres (two in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia), and also have certification card printing facilities in 18 locations across eight countries with at least six more planned before the end of the year.

SSI Thailand has grown to 11 full-time staff, plus four experienced Dive Medical Technicians who emphasize and ensure diver safety. In fact, they regularly visit dive operations under the SSI umbrella and conduct assessments in all areas to ensure that safety standards are maintained.

High quality operators are critical to their success – they already work closely with 20 dive operators in Southern Thailand who have all had to comply rigorously with SSI standards in order to be part of the SSI network.

Sea Bees Diving, in Chalong, was the first dive operator in Thailand to be awarded the prestigious SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre. With over 20 years experience in recreational diving, through day trips and liveaboard safaris, it’s also a training center for those who wish to become professional instructors. They have dive centers in Phuket, Khao Lak, Pak Meng and Koh Phi Phi.

Gary Hawkes, SSI International Training Director, states: "Sea Bees Diving reflects the quality of diving operations that SSI likes to partner with. They ensure SSI divers new and old are given the very best in service and standards available in the diving industry."

"For Sea Bees Diving, SSI allows us to link our philosophy of diving together with an agency that has an established and reliable worldwide network and is a relationship that benefits all – whether they’re customers or dive professionals" says Holger Schwab, Managing Director of Sea Bees Diving.

Their free online training at www.diveSSI.com is part of the social networking features of SSI's global website and online divers network which has over half a million regular users.

Earlier this year they advertised their free online training to gap-year students across Europe using the slogan "Start online today... do your dives in Paradise". Several thousand signed up, a few thousand of whom have already completed their courses in the region and they expect SSI dive centres in Phuket and across the west coast to benefit from this new influx during the coming high season.

But it’s not always about diving – supporting and funding locally based ecological projects directly is an equally important part of their operations. Assisting with illegal wildlife trading, beach and dive site cleanups on Koh Phi Phi, artificial dive sites in Koh Tao and environmental projects involving local schools throughout Thailand are just some of the projects SSI are actively involved with.

For more information on SSI dive services, or to sign up for dive classes, contact Sea Bees Diving T:+66 (0) 76 381 765 or W:www.sea-bees.com

Orissa, India: Scuba diving and snorkeling camp starts

From Rissadiary.com: Scuba diving and snorkeling camp starts
Bhubaneswar: The State Directorate Sports and Youth Services Department in collaboration with Kalinga Divers Foundation is organising five-day-long scuba diving and snorkeling training camp at Biju Patnaik Swimming Pool in Kalinga Stadium here from October 28 to November 1.

This is the first time the sports and youth affairs department has extended their cooperation in my four years effort to promote the adventure sports, said scuba diver Sabir Bux.
As in the history near by the Konark Temple sea many old ships had capsized. In future along with my team and some lifeguards from the Puri beach we would unravel truth and history of the old ships, he added.

As a part of State Youth Welfare Board promotional activity we are committed to promote adventure sports in the state, said sports and youth affairs director Saswat Mishra.

With these five day camp you may not be a perfect scuba diver but it will definitely help you to overcome the fear psychosis from the mind, Mishra added. As many 60 youths along with few visually challenged are participating in the camp.

Scuba diving can be dangerous

There were a couple of articles in the news today about dead scuba divers, which I'm not going to share here. A novice diver in Australia apparently became "separated" from her group and drowned, and the body of a male Scuba diver missing for two years was pulled out of some lake.

What does this teach us:
1. Do not go anywhere without a buddy! Work together with your buddy so you know what to do in case of emergencies and don't panic. Panic kills.

The problem is of course when you're travelling alone - like on a dive boat - and have no buddy you know, but are assigned one. Do you really want to ruin your trip and not dive because the buddy you've been assigned is no good? What's needed, I think, is a buddy finder. Somebody going on a trip to some prime dive sight, there should be a list of experienced scuba divers at that site who will buddy up with the traveller - for nothing. (After all, he or she is getting to dive!)

2. Beware of pitfalls. The most common problem with scuba divers is running out of air. Always have a "pony" (spare air) and always be aware of your air.

3. Never, ever, ever explore a cavern or cave or wreck without proper equipment. It is very very VERY easy to become lost in these things, and if you have no guide rope to take you out...you are out of luck. Or if your gear gets hug up on some kind of protuberance, and you have no buddy, you have no way of getting your gear free. (Which is why you want to be very careful of lose gear when you're going into a wreck, not to mention avoiding any protuberances from the wreck itself.)

Action Scuba Montreal Now Offers a Shark Conservation Specialty Scuba Diving CourseFrom

From WebWire: Action Scuba Montreal Now Offers a Shark Conservation Specialty Scuba Diving Course
Montreal, Quebec (October 26, 2011) Action Scuba, Montreal’s scuba diving experts, have become one of the first scuba diving centres in Canada to offer the new AWARE Shark Conservation Distinctive Specialty certification course.

Although Canada is not normally associated with sharks, Action Scuba regularly offers organised group dive trips to some of the most world’s most popular dive destinations, including the Galapagos Islands and the Bahamas, two areas well known for their shark populations. Spotting sharks is usually a trip highlight for most scuba divers, and is often a reason people become divers in the first place.

Sharks are an apex predator, which means that they play a critical role in managing the planet’s marine population and biodiversity. They help to maintain the health of the oceans and their presence increases tourism revenues for many developing countries. Due to overfishing and public misconceptions, shark populations are in sharp decline, with many species facing extinction.

The new AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course offered by Action Scuba will educate divers about the risks facing sharks, the impact they have on the world around us, and what actions individuals can take as part of the shark conservation effort.

The Action Scuba team will offer this course on most of their group dive trips, including upcoming visits to Little Cayman, the Bahamas, the Galapagos and Belize.

The AWARE Shark Conservation Distinctive Specialty Course can be credited towards the Master Scuba Diver rating, the ultimate goal for most recreational scuba divers.

“At Action Scuba we appreciate the role that sharks play in the marine ecosystem and we’re saddened by the plight faced by these creatures today,” says Gary Davis, owner of Action Scuba and a PADI Master Instructor who has personally certified over 750 divers. “The only way to bring about real change will be to change people’s attitudes through education, which is something we hope to accomplish with this new course.”

To learn more about this course, visit www.actionscuba.com

About Action Scuba
Action Scuba (www.actionscuba.com) is a PADI 5 star Instructor Development Centre and dive shop located in Pointe Claire, Quebec, which has been serving water-loving Montrealers since 1997. As underwater experts they offer training and certification for all levels of divers, from beginners through to specialist technical divers or dive professionals. Action Scuba carries a large inventory of scuba and snorkeling equipment for purchase and rental at their full service dive shop. They also organize travel to dive destinations around the world and offer regular local diving excursions on their own dive boat.

Allen Sherrod seeks to break world record

From 10WTSP News: Allen Sherrod seeks to break world record

LAUDERDALE-BY-THE SEA (CBS4) - There's a spectacular underwater feat taking place off the shores of South Florida. A Florida scuba diver is trying to break a world record for the longest saltwater dive.

Allen Sherrod already holds the world record for the longest freshwater scuba dive at 120 hours and now he's attempting to break the record in saltwater.

He started his attempt Tuesday morning in 15-feet of water just off the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea shoreline. He plans to be there for the next 72 hours but seas are already very rough.

"Temperature is critical," said Sherrod before his record-breaking dive attempt. "You can't stay in this water, temperature is 78 right now so you can't survive without something to keep your body core warm."

Sherrod is wearing a full body suit and has smeared Vaseline on his skin to keep from swelling. He even plays to eat and drinkunderwater.

"I put the bottle in my mouth, open it, squeeze the bottle, take a drink, close it, put the pod back on, take a breath," Sherrod explained about how he'll stay hydrated. He'll be on a steady diet of Gatorade and Ensure but no solid foods. "Unless I find a good lobster swimming by," laughed Sherrod.

What about sleeping? He plans to do that underwater as well.

"It's going to be nice because the current is going to be wiggling me back and forth. It's going to be a really nice sleep out here," said Sherrod.

This daring scuba diver isn't doing this feat without a reason. In addition to trying to break a world record, Sherrod is trying to bring attention to a new artificial reef off the coast of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

"I want more people to come out and take a look at this. Learn more about what we have to do to restore our reefs."

With rough sea conditions, Sherrod has his work cut out for him but the dive community is confident he'll make it to Friday morning.

"Absolutely. I don't think he'll give up," said Brian Gagas from Gold Coast Scuba.

Sherrod will use up to 60 tanks during the next three days. All of them will be changed underwater, day and night, with help from a team of divers.

His biggest obstacle, aside from the rough current, will likely be boredom but he's hoping other divers will come to visit him. So far, he's hanging in there by listening to Jimmy Buffett tunes and texting his friends.

While Mother Nature may not be cooperating at the moment, he's determined to pull this off.

"Oh he'll make it. It's all psychological. If he doesn't make it won't be his fault, it will be our fault for not being able to get stuff in and out to him," said Bob Giguere of bGenesis Productions.

NASA evacuates astronauts from deep-sea training

From Breitbart.com: NASA evacuates astronauts from deep-sea training
NASA evacuated a crew of astronauts Wednesday from an underwater lab off the coast of Florida where they were training for a trip to an asteroid, due to the approach of Hurricane Rina.
"Crew decompressed overnight and will return to surface shortly. Hurricane Rina just a little too close for comfort," the US space agency said in a message on the microblogging site Twitter.

The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) team climbed aboard support boats that were waiting at the surface and they were expected to be on dry land by 9:00 am (1300 GMT).

The crew includes Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques, commander Shannon Walker of NASA, and Steve Squyres, an expert on planetary exploration at Cornell University in New York.

They were about midway through a 13-day mission at the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory, the only undersea lab of its kind in the world located three miles (4.5 kilometers) off the coast of Key Largo, Florida.

The practice run aimed to help astronauts figure out how they would get around on a near gravity-free asteroid, a trip President Barack Obama has said could happen by 2025.

Hurricane Rina, packing winds of 110 miles (175 kilometers) per hour, was forecast to become a major category three storm before making landfall near the sprawling resort city of Cancun on Thursday.

Experts to help recover body in cave

Beginning scuba divers are taught to use a buddy at all times. "Technical" divers, including cave divers, don't always follow this protocol, believing that they wish to be responsible only for themselves and no one else. So when a solo cave diver dies...there's no one left to explain how or why...

From Irish TImes: Experts to help recover body in cave

A British team of cave rescue experts is due to attempt a recovery of the body of Polish cave diver Artur Kozlowski (33) from a cavern in south Galway this afternoon.

Three specialist divers who are described as European experts were en route to Gort, Co Galway, yesterday evening, following a request for assistance from gardaí.

The Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, which confirmed the location of Mr Kozlowski’s body on Tuesday after he had failed to resurface from a dive on Monday, met gardaí yesterday to finalise the arrangements.

The 22-hour search for Mr Kozlowski was initiated on Monday night.

It was stood down shortly before 7pm the following day when a colleague located his body some 800m into the Pollorona borehole at Kiltartan at a depth of about 52m.

Mr Kozlowski, a quantity surveyor and cave diving trainer, had been continuing his exploration of a new shaft in the karst limestone boreholes. He was one of Ireland’s leading practitioners of the sport, and held several records – including one for the longest and deepest cave traverse in Ireland and Britain.

The cave rescue organisation has said he was fully equipped with all necessary gear, and had sufficient compressed air and mixed gases with him

Mr Kozlowski had informed colleagues of his plans as part of correct cave diving protocol, the organisation said.

Recent heavy rainfall would not have been a factor, as he was diving in flooded caves, it pointed out.

The Pole had been using mixed oxygen when he set off at 3pm on Monday, and had sufficient gas for six hours.

He had deposited “stage” oxygen bottles en route, in case of an emergency, and had made arrangements with two colleagues to raise the alarm if he had not returned by 9pm.

Residents of the south Galway area have expressed their shock at his death, as he had become well known in the community, where he helped farmers with advice after the extensive flooding of 2009-2010.

“He got on very well with the farmers, and you’d see his tent up in a field where you’d see a hole of water, and he was usually in it,” Kiltartan resident David Murray said.

The recovery is expected to take some hours today.

A postmortem examination will be carried out, and Mr Kozlowski’s gear will be examined as part of the Garda investigation for an inquest.

Hopes of locating Australian sub lost off PNG in 1914

From Radio Australia: Hopes of locating Australian sub lost off PNG in 1914
An Australian organisation hopes the wreck of a World War One era submarine can be located in PNG (Papau New Guinea) waters before the centenary of it's loss.

The Australian submarine AE-1 sank off the coast of Rabaul in September 1914, just at the start of the war, with the loss of all hands.

It's exact location has remained a mystery ever since, but AE-1 Incorporated, a group of interested Australian including retired Navy personnel and descendants of the crew, hopes new technology and money to fund a renewed search will help find the wreck in time for the 100th anniversary of the sinking in 2014.

This is their website:
http://www.ae1.org.au/AE1-Memorials.php

Austin man left at sea by Florida dive boat

Not a lot of people get left behind by dive boats - but it happens often enough where I just have to say... make sure you talk to your dive boat monkey or your dive boat captain so that they know who you are, and if you don't say hi to them when you return from a dive, they better not go anywhere because you are not on board!!!!

In addition - make sure you return to the surface well within the time limit of your dive. If the dive is supposed to be 1 hour long, don't think 1 hour and 10 minutes will be no problem. Show up on the surface at 55 minutes!

From the Statesman.com: Austin man left at sea by Florida dive boat

Clinging to a grapefruit-size buoy three miles from shore, the sun sinking and no boat in sight, Paul Kline of Austin couldn't help but think about the movie "Open Water." That film, loosely based on a true story, chronicled the tale of two scuba divers left behind by their tour boat. They were never found.

Kline, 44, and another scuba diver had been stranded off the coast of southern Florida.

Moments after surfacing from a dive, the two realized the boat that had carried them and about 28 other passengers to Sugar Bear Reef was nowhere in sight.

"At first it was just shock — how come I can't see it? Am I looking in the right direction?" said Kline, a certified diver who has made more than 50 dives.

Kline, an father of six who works for a hospitality company, had signed up for a four-hour scuba excursion with a dive shop while in Florida for a software conference. The dive shop, South Beach Divers, contracted with RJ Diving Ventures Inc. to take scuba divers to nearby coral reefs on Oct. 2.

On board a boat called Big Com-Ocean, Kline paired up with another diver traveling alone, Fernando Garcia Puerta from Spain.

"They didn't seem to be obsessive about safety," Kline said. "They also didn't seem to be casual."

Kline and Garcia were the last two divers to jump in the water at Sugar Bear Reef. "As I stepped off, the crew member assisting me said, 'Be back in one hour,'" Kline said.

It was windy, and visibility wasn't ideal. Garcia and Kline stuck close . They spotted another diver as they kicked back to where they thought the boat was waiting. After 55 minutes, they started ascending slowly. When they broke the surface at 4:25 p.m. near where they thought they'd gone in, they didn't see the boat.

The divers assumed the boat had headed to shore because of an emergency. Garcia inflated a red safety tube to make them more visible to boats.

And then they waited.

"We knew once night hit, no one would be coming. In the dark, there was no way they'd find us," Kline said.

The sun was just starting to go down when passengers on a passing yacht spotted the two men about 6:40 p.m.

Elie Trichet, captain of No Compromise, said he was headed back to Miami from Key Largo, taking a more inland course than he normally does. "That's the lucky thing, because we spotted divers about 150 yards off starboard," Trichet said. He alerted the U.S. Coast Guard .

Kline says he assumed that if the boat crew didn't realize the two were missing at the end of the dive, they'd notice when they got back to shore.

"That's what bothers me most, when they got back to the dock and found our empty dive bags. How does that not tell you something is wrong?" Kline said.

Kline says the captain of the dive boat called the next day and apologized: "He said he'd done this for 10 years and never had this happen. He said our names had been checked off (a diver checklist) and the tank count came up right."

Robert Arnove, president of RJ Diving Ventures, said in an email that the company has been running dive and snorkel charters in the Miami area since 1982.

"During that time we have taken out more than 250,000 passengers and have remained in business under the same ownership because of our dedication to safety and customer service," he wrote.

Arnove declined to comment further while the incident remains under investigation by the Coast Guard.

Sasha Boulanger, owner of South Beach Divers, where Kline booked his trip, said his shop has stopped contracting with RJ Diving Ventures "until they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that their procedures are bulletproof." The dive shop refunded Kline the $85 cost of his trip.

Kline says he's unsure whether he'll dive again.

"I'd like to say yes but I don't know what I would have to do to get over this," he said. "At the end of the day, safety was taken too casually."

Action Scuba Montreal Introduces New Scuba Diving Activities for Local Scouts

From Webwire: Action Scuba Montreal Introduces New Scuba Diving Activities for Local Scouts
Action Scuba has launched a new scuba diving program for Montreal area Scouts that builds on the globally recognised PADI system of dive education, with particlar emphasis on the environment and personal growth.WEBWIRE – Thursday, October 13, 2011
Action Scuba, Montreal`s scuba diving experts, are pleased to announce a new scuba program for local Scouts Canada troops that incorporates fun diving experiences with educational programs about the environment.

Building on the core PADI scuba diving programs enjoyed by millions of people globally, the new Action Scuba Program for Scouts includes a range of activities from introductory trial sessions in local pools through to full scuba diving certification programs that can allow Scout members to earn merit badges. These courses embrace the values promoted by Scouts Canada, including respect for the environment and personal growth.

Offered as part of the program are free visits to local troop meetings by Action Scuba instructors to promote environmental awareness and educate the troop members about marine conservation and underwater ecosystems.

The program also includes ongoing continuing education courses for those kids and teens who want to improve their scuba skills while working towards their ultimate goal of a career in scuba diving as a Divemaster or Instructor. Becoming a dive professional affords young adults an opportunity to meet new people, travel the world and develop a close bond with the world around them.

Recognising that not all kids can afford these kinds of experiences, the Action Scuba Program for Scouts also includes a scholarship aspect to allow deserving but underprivileged kids to join their friends in the program.

“My team and I have always been passionate about helping young people discover the joys of scuba diving,” says Gary Davis, owner of Action Scuba and a PADI Master Instructor who has personally certified over 750 divers. “This sport really gives kids and teenagers a positive activity on which to focus their energy while developing appreciation for the environment. I really cannot imagine a better way to give back to the local community. ”

Local Montreal Scouts troop leaders interested in organising their own scuba diving experiences with Action Scuba are encouraged to contact the shop directly or visit their website for more information.

About Action Scuba
Action Scuba (www.actionscuba.com) is a PADI 5 star Instructor Development Centre and dive shop located in Pointe Claire, Quebec, which has been serving water-loving Montrealers since 1997. As underwater experts they offer training and certification for all levels of divers, from beginners through to specialist technical divers or dive professionals. Action Scuba carries a large inventory of scuba and snorkeling equipment for purchase and rental at their full service dive shop. They also organize travel to dive destinations around the world and offer regular local diving excursions on their own dive boat.

About PADI
PADI is the world’s leading scuba diving training organization with more than forty years experience, over 133,500 PADI Professionals and more than 5,800 dive shops and resorts worldwide.

Silver Treasure, Worth $18 Million, Found in North Atlantic

From the Mew York Times: Silver Treasure, Worth $18 Million, Found in North Atlantic
Sea explorers announced Monday the discovery of a new sunken treasure that they plan to retrieve from the bottom of the North Atlantic.

Off Ireland in 1917, a German torpedo sank the British steamship Mantola, sending the vessel and its cargo of an estimated 20 tons of silver to the seabed more than a mile down. At today’s prices, the metal would be worth about $18 million.

Odyssey Marine Exploration, based in Tampa, Fla., said it had visually confirmed the identity of the Mantola with a tethered robot last month during an expedition and had been contracted by the British Department for Transport (a successor to the Ministry of War Transport) to retrieve the lost riches.

In recent years, strapped governments have started looking to lost cargoes as a way to raise money. They do so because the latest generation of robots, lights, cameras and claws can withstand the deep sea’s crushing pressures and have opened up a new world of shipwreck recovery.

“A lot of new and interesting opportunities are presenting themselves,” said Greg Stemm, the chief executive of Odyssey. The new finding, he added, is the company’s second discovery of a deep-ocean wreck for the British government this year.

In such arrangements, private companies put their own money at risk in costly expeditions and split any profits. In this case, Odyssey is to get 80 percent of the silver’s value and the British government 20 percent. It plans to attempt the recovery in the spring, along with that of its previous find.

Last month, Odyssey announced its discovery of the British steamship Gairsoppa off Ireland and estimated its cargo at up to 240 tons of silver — a trove worth more than $200 million. The Gairsoppa was torpedoed in 1941.

Both ships had been owned by the British Indian Steam Navigation Company, and both were found by Odyssey during expeditions in the past few months. Odyssey said that the Mantola’s sinking in 1917 had prompted the British government to pay out an insurance claim on about 600,000 troy ounces of silver, or more than 20 tons.

Mr. Stemm said the Mantola’s silver should make “a great target for testing some new technology” of deep-sea retrieval.

The Mantola was less than a year old when, on Feb. 4, 1917, she steamed out of London on her last voyage, bound for Calcutta. According to Odyssey, the ship carried 18 passengers, 165 crew members and diverse cargo. The captain was David James Chivas, the great-nephew of the Chivas Brothers, known for their Chivas Regal brand of Scotch whiskey.

Four days out of port, a German submarine fired a torpedo, and the ship sank with minimal loss of life.

In an expedition last month, Odyssey lowered a tethered robot that positively identified the wreck. The evidence included the ship’s dimensions, its layout and a display of painted letters on the stern that fit the words “Mantola” and “Glasgow,” the ship’s home port.

Photographs show the hulk covered in rivulets of rust known as rusticles, which look like brownish icicles. One picture shows a large sea creature poised near the ship’s railing.

Scuba diving in Pattaya explores meaning behind beer bars and beach party

The Nation: Scuba diving in Pattaya explores meaning behind beer bars and beach party

Although Pattaya has kept its image of wild nightlife, it also has a number of dive sites to occupy you for a few days.

Q: I'm travelling from Montreal to Bangkok for work in a few weeks and would love to do a few days scuba diving for a few days before my job begins. Could you give me some suggestions for dive destinations and beaches that are easily accessible from Bangkok? Thanks a lot. Paul R.

A: There are many dive sites in southern Thailand that are famous all over the world like the Similan Islands, but for a dive destination near Bangkok, I would suggest Pattaya, which is just two hours from the capital.

Although Pattaya has kept its image of wild nightlife, it also has a number of dive sites to occupy you for a few days. Another advantage is that it's also possible to dive here all year round. Pattaya's also offers sites to suit all levels and a number of dive shops to choose from.

Any dive shop will offer you a range of dive sites, some nearer to the coast than others. Koh Sark, Koh Larn and Koh Khrok are around six kilometres from Pattaya and most are ideal for beginners and novice divers with lots of hard coral formations and reef fish. "Far" islands refer to Koh Rin Koh Marn Wichai and Koh Phai, which are about 15 kilometres from the shore. The good thing about these is that they are far away from all the water sports activities and have colourful marine life.

If you are a fan of wreck diving, Pattaya is definitely heaven. There are up to four shipwrecks to explore offshore, namely Khram, Kood, Hardeep and Bremen. If you are interested in viewing US warships that have been intentionally sunk for recreational diving, visit the Khram and Kooh wreck sites. The Khram was sunk in 2003 and the Kood in 2006. Today, they offer plenty of colourful coral and many schools of fish from barracuda, jacks, fusiliers, batfish and sharks. Older wrecks are the Hardeep and Phetchaburi Bremen in Samae San, a village to the south of Pattaya. However, all of wreck sites in Pattaya are quite deep, around 22-30 metres from the surface and the current can be strong. It's possible to spend your days in Pattaya focusing on scuba diving with your chosen dive shop and enjoy a variety of dining and nightlife in the evening. There's a great choice of accommodation and it's easy to find transport back to Bangkok too.

PR: Scuba Diving Vacation Specialist Liveaboard.com Announces Global Expansion

From SFGate: Scuba Diving Vacation Specialist Liveaboard.com Announces Global Expansion
Liveaboard.com is seeking owners and captains of liveaboard boats to join its roster of available inventory for its expanding scuba diving liveaboard vacation business

Augusta, Georgia (PRWEB) October 12, 2011

Liveaboard.com, a scuba diving vacation specialist, is seeking owners and captains of scuba diving liveaboard boats worldwide interested in adding their inventory to the Liveaboard.com roster of specialty diving boats that host vacationers on scuba diving liveaboard excursions. In addition to boat owners and captains, Liveaboard.com is also seeking scuba diving-related businesses and industries as advertising partners on its website.

In order to be listed and promoted on the Liveaboard.com website, every boat must pass a thorough review and boat owners and captains must meet specific experience and qualification criteria. By year's end Clements expects the site to be promoting more than 100 scuba diving liveaboard boats. As part of this initiative, Liveaboard.com is currently offering a 10% discount to divers on bookings made in November and December from their existing inventory (subject to the terms and conditions listed on the website). Clements also indicated that in 2012, he plans on expanding to include sailing, yachting, and fishing boats to promote their services as well.

When asked how he got the idea for Liveaboard.com, Clements said that it was his love of scuba diving and travel, combined with his technical expertise, which resulted in the creation of the online travel agency. Clements added, "I want Liveaboard.com to be the 'go to' site for divers around the world. I want [Liveaboard.com] to be the authority and the best travel agency to book scuba diving liveaboard vacations." According to Clements, employees of Liveaboard.com must all be certified scuba divers, noting "How else are they going to be able to relate to our customers?"

Representatives of the Liveaboard.com team will be attending the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) show in Orlando, Florida, November 2-5, 2011. The Liveaboard.com team welcomes inquiries and looks forward to meeting interested scuba liveaboard boat owners and boat captains at the show along with other dive industry specialists interested in advertising partnerships with Liveaboard.com. If you are unable to attend the DEMA show but would like to know more about listing your boat and services or advertising on Liveaboard.com, contact Stephanie Beavers at diving(at)liveaboard(dot)com or call 800-419-4394.

On travel til Wednesday

I'm visiting elderly relatives in Box Elder, SD who do not have internet.

Will try to sneak out now and again to an internet cafe to post, but more than likely will not be posting until Wedneday.

Being Blind Doesn’t Stop Minn. Woman From Scuba Diving

From CBS MInnesota: Being Blind Doesn’t Stop Minn. Woman From Scuba Diving
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) — For most people, it’s the limited ability to breathe that scares them about scuba diving. But imagine if you couldn’t see while diving.

That’s a feat a 25-year-old woman from New Hope has decided to take head-on.

Asha Duncan was born blind. Although she has no ability to see, she hasn’t let that stop her from pursuing a life dream.

Most people might find a situation underwater a bit frustrating. Duncan overcomes her frustration with a smile.

Duncan said she first got the idea to scuba dive when she [visited] the shark tank at the Mall of America on Oct. 18, 2008.

Duncan said being underwater is the one time her heightened sense of hearing goes silent.

“I like the feeling of it, because you’re weightless underwater, and you don’t hear much sounds. And if you do, you can’t really tell where the sounds coming from,” Duncan said.

Gary Shaleen is the owner of Fantasea Scuba and Travel in Burnsville. Duncan called Shaleen to see if he’d be willing to teach her.

“It was a no-brainer. Let’s do it!,” Shaleen said.

During Duncan’s final certification test, Shaleen swam close by to offer Duncan assistance.

“So we’re just basically right next to each other, following each other along. So, we’ll give okay signals, she’ll feel my hand, then she’ll give okay back, or if we’re going to go down or go up, we’ll communicate,” Shaleen said.

Duncan completed her last swim test on Wednesday, becoming a certified instructor.

“Of course, some people think I’m crazy, but that’s just what they think,” Duncan said.

When WCCO-TV asked Duncan where the first place was she would scuba dive, “Mall of America,” she said.

Duncan said she plans to one day travel to the Great Barrier Reef to swim with the dolphins.

The only limitation Duncan faces when she dives is she must always be accompanied by two supervisors.

Military calls for boost in ocean surveillance

Okay, not scuba related, but of interest nevertheless!

From the Vancouver Sun: Military calls for boost in ocean surveillance
Canada's military wants the Harper government to take part in rebuilding a Cold War ocean surveillance system, arguing that the country's waters, including the approaches to the Arctic, are vulnerable to Chinese and Russian submarines.

The current system, overseen by the U.S., involves specialized vessels and underwater sensors scattered around the globe to detect submarine movements.

But with the end of the Cold War in the 1990s and the collapse of the former Soviet Union, that sensor technology, including systems called arrays, were not modernized. They now need to be upgraded or replaced. In some cases Canada shut down its facilities for monitoring underwater activities.

"The oldest portions of the global infrastructure were terminated without replacement - Argentia, Nfld and Shelburne, N.S. fixed arrays - creating gaps covering the Arctic approaches and major portions of the Eastern Atlantic," reads a briefing note sent by defence chief Gen. Walter Natynczyk to Defence Minister Peter MacKay.

That September 2010 document was obtained under the Access to Information Act.

As proof of the re-emergence of the submarine threat, the military informed MacKay about what it called the dramatic increase in the numbers of submarines around the world; an incident where a Chinese submarine surfaced in the midst of a U.S. naval task force in 2006; the voyage of a Russian submarine into the eastern Atlantic in 2009; and the sinking of a South Korean destroyer in 2010, likely by a North Korean submarine.

The military wants to become more involved in the U.S.-led underwater surveillance system, arguing that it would be too expensive to put its own sensors into the ocean.

The warning about Chinese submarines echoes similar concerns contained in a report issued Wednesday by the Pentagon. It pointed out that China's military capabilities are growing and that could threaten stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Depth of experience

From Santa Maria Times: Depth of experience

Sixty years ago, Pismo Beach resident Sam Miller made his first scuba dive in Laguna Beach using crude equipment, a heavy tank and no wetsuit.

Little did he realize that one dive would change his life.

Miller, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday and 60 years in diving, has made more than 5,000 descents and has received countless awards and recognitions along the way.

The man named the “Father of Free Diving and Fishing” now is working on a book that will incorporate his notes and articles of the past 60 years into a comprehensive history of scuba diving titled “The Way It Was.”

———

It’s ironic that Miller’s life has revolved around water.

He did not come from a family of swimmers. In fact, his grandmother was deathly afraid of the water because of a riverboat accident she’d barely survived.

Miller’s mother had never been allowed in the water, but she decided things would be different for her son.

“When I was 7, I went to the YMCA to learn how to swim,” Miller said. “And, boy, I did enjoy it! I earned every level of swimming (they) offered.”

Miller’s water escapades were almost halted when he developed a serious eye infection. When he was required to swim wearing goggles, his eyes were opened, both literally and figuratively, to a whole new underwater world.

From then on, Miller could hardly stand to be away from the water.

He was living in southern Indiana at the time and discovered that the stripper pits — originally created by the coal mining industry but now popular swimming and fishing spots — were much more exciting than pools.

“The water was absolutely clear and full of fish,” Miller explained.

After moving to Southern California in the early 1950s to earn a college degree in business, he and his friends spent their spare time at Laguna Beach hunting for abalone, scallops, clams and oysters.

One day, one of the guys brought along an “aqua lung,” as scuba tanks were originally called. Miller gave it a try, but he was not impressed. It was crude, heavy and noisy.

“I came out of the water, took off the equipment and stated to the effect, ‘Who would want one of these bubble machines? They’re useless!’” Miller said.

When he got back from serving in the Korean War, however, things had changed for scuba divers with better equipment and training.

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation had created a dive training class, and Miller enrolled.

“It was a really difficult course. I probably couldn’t survive it now,” he said, laughing.

In fact, of the 90-plus people who applied, only 35 completed the course.

Miller not only finished but also went on to become a certified underwater instructor for the program, which he said still is considered the most prestigious scuba education program in the world.

———

Miller has taught all levels of diving from basic to instructor classes, privately and at California colleges.

One of his students, Clive Cussler, went on to become a best-selling author.

In what is probably Cussler’s best-known book, “Raise the Titanic,” the character of Sam Merker is based on Miller and another instructor, Ron Merker.

In fact, Miller said, until Cussler started having his books written by contract writers, Miller showed up in some form or another in every one of Cussler’s books.

Autographed copies of those books are among Miller’s extensive collection, which he claims is the “world’s largest and most complete diving library.”

One complete wall is full of nothing but diving books, including books autographed by his friend Jacques Cousteau.

Another wall is covered with diving magazines, including the very first issue of “Skin Diver Magazine” from December, 1951.

His collection of civilian dive training manuals dates all the way back to the early 1900s.

Miller is a writer, as well. He’s published thousands of articles, including four dedicated columns in national dive magazines, and even a column for the Times-Press-Recorder, a sister newspaper to the Santa Maria Times.

Miller is particularly proud of an article he wrote for L.A. Underwater News in 1965 on diving at Jade Cove in Big Sur.

The cove was very remote, and the exact location was known only by locals, who he had to query. Miller researched the story for several years before publication and said it has become “the definitive article on diving for jade.”

Another article by Miller led to important advances in safety for divers.

He penned a story about a diver who had been struck by a boat near Catalina Island because the driver of the boat ignored the displayed dive flag — a red flag with a white diagonal slash.

As a result of the article, Miller was summoned as an expert witness for the prosecution.

“It was an awesome responsibility, since the dive flag was only a few years old and never been tested in a court of law, and I alone had to defend it,” Sam explained.

The prosecution prevailed and, according to Miller, that was the defining case that established the rights of a diver flying the red-and-white flag and making it the recognized the symbol of recreational diving.

Since then, Miller has been involved in many other litigations and consultations regarding the flag.

———

In Los Angeles County, Miller trained SWAT teams in underwater search-and-recovery methods.

“In those days, when the police force made a narcotics raid on a houseboat in the harbor, the evidence would be dropped overboard, so I’d train divers to recover,” Miller explained.

He is still involved with the San Luis Obispo County underwater search-and-recovery team, lecturing about the history of diving and equipment as well as the evolution of search and recovery.

Among Miller’s many honors are: Outstanding Contributions to Underwater Instruction (1963), Outstanding Underwater Instructor of the Year (1969), Over the Reef Gang Award, for instructors who have been teaching more than 20 years, and many more.

He was the first to receive the Portage Quarry Legend of Diving Award, and he also was given the SSI Pro 5000 for those who have made more than 5,000 dives.

“Only 60 have been honored worldwide. It’s a huge honor,” Miller said.

His family also is enamored with diving. Miller and his wife, Betty, have traveled all over the world to dive — their favorite spots being Egypt and the Fiji islands.

His children are all divers, and his son, Sam IV, is a hyperbaric physician practicing at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria as well as an underwater instructor.

Sam IV also has received the SSI Pro 5000, making the two Millers one of the few father/son teams to receive the honor.

SeaVenture at SeaWorld Discovery Cove offers undersea adventure like no other Orlando theme park

From Inside the Magic: SeaVenture at SeaWorld Discovery Cove offers undersea adventure like no other Orlando theme park

by Ricky Brigante

When SeaWorld opened the new Grand Reef at its Discovery Cove theme park back in June, the new salt water swimming and snorkeling area was teeming with aquatic life, from fish to rays and even sharks. But one unique Grand Reef experience wasn’t quite ready for the lagoon’s grand opening.

In the months since that opening, Discovery Cove has debuted and fine tuned their new SeaVenture underwater walking tour, and invited me back to the park last week to experience it. With bathing suit in hand, I gladly accepted the chance to try something entirely different than any other theme park experience around.



The Grand Reef is located in the back, right corner of Discovery Cove, in an area formerly off limits to guests. When it opened, I enjoyed a couple hours of swimming around, marveling at the close proximity of a variety of sea creatures. But when I couldn’t help being jealous of the Discovery Cove employees who were testing the SeaVenture experience at the time, watching them effortlessly walk around underneath the water, seeing and breathing easily courtesy of special dive helmets.

Three months later, it was my chance to play “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and dive down beneath the water’s surface.

I’ll admit, when returning to Discovery Cove’s Grand Reef, I was slightly apprehensive. No SCUBA certification is required to experience SeaVenture, only the ability to walk and breath normally. Even so, each undersea adventure is prefaced by instructions and warnings of what to do and what not to do while underwater.

It’s repeatedly emphasized to keep your head upright and breath normally (“Don’t hold your breath!”) while underwater. The helmets are designed such that a constant flow of fresh air is circulating within the bubble created by slowly lowering them down from the surface.

Despite it all sounding simple enough, upon finally climbing down the ladder, having the helmet lowered onto my shoulders, and ultimately entering the water, I did - for a moment - have the feeling I needed to hold my breath. After all, I wasn’t wearing a tight fitting mask, snorkel, or hooked up to any other breathing tube, so I didn’t have an immediate physical connection to the air that was around me. But after that initial “this is… new” moment, I realized I could indeed breath normally underwater. And that was when it hit me that SeaVenture is truly a new and exciting experience.



Within seconds of stepping away from the ladder, weightlessly floating across the floor 15 or so feet below the surface, a large ray swam directly over my head (as seen in the video above). This would be the first of many undersea eye-to-eye encounters with interesting creatures. I’m no fish expert, so I can’t name each species I saw, but I’m sure I saw at least 15 different types of tropical fish along with plenty of other sea life including lionfish and sharks.

And yes, the sharks are safely tucked away behind glass - a full, 8-foot-tall, 21-foot long panoramic window, in fact. But while down below, it’s easy to forget there’s a protective transparent wall between you and them, offering a quick thrill.

My SeaVenture experience was abridged, lasting only around 10 minutes. Normally, the underwater trip is around an hour long, for groups of up to six people per excursion. During that time, not only is the adventure of walking and breathing freely underwater an attraction unto itself, but plenty of surprise interactions are offered up by the Discovery Cove guides leading the way, including one-on-one touches with unique animals. The experience doesn’t take guests through the entire Grand Reef by any means, sectioned off to a lap around a special SeaVenture-only area. But with so much to see around the loop, it never feels like a small area.

Of all the events seen during my short trip underwater, I was most impressed when the guide began squirting food into the water surrounding me, creating an instant swarm of hundreds of fish. Fortunately, they were eager to eat the food and not me or my camera, so it made for quite a sight.

On top of the cost to get into Discovery Cove for the day, SeaVenture does cost extra. The price is $59 per participant, which is a bargain for anyone eager to pretend to be Captain Nemo for an hour, exploring the vast blue underwater world that’s normally off limits to us air breathers. But it’s smart (and practically required) to book ahead, as a limited number of guests can experience SeaVenture each day.

Just after my brief life spent breathing under water, I spoke with Reid Miller, director of zoological operations at Discovery Cove, who told me that SeaVenture has been hugely popular and successful in its first few months. With efficiency of getting guests into and out of the water steadily improving in recent months, Miller said they’re currently able to accommodate 80-something guests per day in SeaVenture, with hopes of driving up that over 100 soon, ultimately reaching the maximum capacity of somewhere around 130-140. Even so, Discovery Cove admits up to 1,500 guests each day, so less than 10% will have an opportunity to try SeaVenture. Miller also explained to me that there is simply nothing like SeaVenture around, with the closest similar experience being in Mexico - which he tried and found far fewer sea life sightings than Discovery Cove guarantees.

For anyone looking to try something different not found at any other local theme park, SeaVenture, along with spending a day at Discovery Cove, is a great way to find a new thrill that’s entirely relaxing at the same time. And while the cost of admission plus the SeaVenture experience isn’t cheap, the price also includes memories and stories of enjoying an entirely new experience - and isn’t that what life is all about?

More information about SeaVenture can be found on the Discovery Cove web site, but reservations can only be made on the phone for now, by calling 1-877-557-7404, with online reservation ability coming in the future.

Tourists offered reduced rates to help cull lionfish

From Cayman News Service: Tourists offered reduced rates to help cull lionfish

(CNS): Scuba diving visitors can now pay less for the certification and the licence to help cull the invasive red lionfish, which have become a major environmental issue in recent years. With recent approval from the Marine Conservation Board several months ago, Cayman’s dive operators are now able to teach the PADI Lionfish Tracker Distinctive Specialty course, and upon completion, guests receive the PADI c-card plus the local lionfish culling license. And now some Cayman Island dive operators are offering reduced course fees to visitors and residents this fall.

“With reduced course fees for the lionfish culling course for both residents and visitors, we hope will encourage more manpower to help us fight this invasion” comment Steve Broadbelt of Ocean Frontiers in a release from the Cayman Islands Tourism Association. “We cannot totally eradicate the lionfish, but learning lessons from the Bahamas for example, if we do not keep this fish in check, our indigenous marine life will be gone. This results in a reduction of fish stock, marine life and allows corals to become covered in algae, so the health of the coral reefs is at stake and we need all hands on deck”

Currently, reduced price courses are available from Divetech, Ocean Frontiers, Deep Blue Divers, Cayman Turtle Divers, Divers Down and Dive N Stuff (at the time of release) or check with your local dive shop to inquire about the course. After your course, there are boats running from various operators every week to cull lionfish, along with the tournaments run by Ambassador Divers, so there is a lot of opportunity to use the new skills.

“Snorkelers can help too as many lion fish can be found in shallow waters just off shore and in the canals in the North Sound. This is prime breeding ground for lobsters, groupers, snappers and more, so removing lionfish from the North Sound can play a huge role in helping to cull the invasion” stated Nancy Easterbrook of Divetech. “They are tasty – a light white fish that needs a little special handling while filleting to remove the venomous spines, but well worth it. Many restaurants are now serving lionfish on a special or full time menu, so ask for lion fish when you are next out to dinner, or try it at home. Not only will this help create a market for the lionfish, but it will have the positive side effect of reducing the demand for the ‘traditional’ eating fish like conch, grouper and snapper, allowing fish stocks to grow and be sustainable.”

Rod McDowall of Red Sail Sports “We’d like to express our thanks to all of the sponsors that continue to help us in the effort to cull the lionfish. Its encouraging to see non-traditional dive industry companies and individuals come forward that are helping to make this a truly holistic effort that we hope to win, as it’s a challenge that’s day in and day out, and affects every one of us.”