Team America Dive Tech in Thailand
September 11th
A US Marine Officer, former US Airforce Engineer and a Private Security Consultant joined Big Blue Tech today for some decompression diving. All three men hail from New York and came to Big Blue Tech for different reasons but all dived together this morning.
Mike Borneo, US Marine Captain joined Big Blue Tech to get his TDI Advanced Nitrox but quickly moved on to complete his TDI Decompression Procedures course as well. Mike is on cultural attachment to the US Embassy in Thailand before his next deployment overseas in the new year.
Steve Papapanos, former US Airforce Engineer is travelling through thailand and came to Big Blue Tech for the same reasons as Mike and will continue his travells through the rest of Asia.
Nathaniel Weiss, Business Consultant for Private Security Companies overseas joined Big Blue Tech for his TDI Extended Range course and Khao Sok Expedition at the end of the month but came out today to receive a Technical Refresher before going straight into the course. Nathaniel will join 3 others later this month to start his extended range.
The course was conducted over 4 days and exposed the divers to accelerated decompression to 45m. The divers learned complex dive planning, equipment configuration and new diving techniques to allow them to dive deeper and longer than before.
The students enjoyed the diving so much the signed up for some additional experience dives right after the course. It was a great pleasure hanging out with these lads since we’re very much an ex military school and wish them all the luck in the future.
Canadian harbour sewage woes prompt new diving rules
Navy divers are taking extra precautions before jumping into the polluted Halifax harbour.
The sewage treatment plant on the Halifax waterfront broke down in January. Since then, 82 million litres of raw sewage and wastewater have been flowing into the harbour.
Leading Seaman Amalia Baptista has certainly noticed the difference.
“The worst part is when you’re on the surface and you’re getting ready to go down and you have all these things floating on the surface. Usually, you should keep your mask on and keep well sealed,” she said.
Baptista and other navy divers were out Tuesday for a corporate-sponsored beach sweep around Point Pleasant Park, off Blackrock Beach.
Since January, they’ve had to trade in their wetsuits for full protective gear that limits their exposure to pollution. The decontamination procedures include rinsing with fresh water, using antifungal ear drops and soaking gear in chemicals.
“We don’t want to get anyone sick due to the conditions,” said Petty Officer Jeff Smith, a dive trainer with the naval reserve.
In addition, the navy has designated parts of the harbour near sewage outfalls off-limits for dive training.
The sewage treatment plant malfunctioned on Jan. 14 following a power outage. Raw sewage flooded the station, destroying several kilometres of cable and electronic equipment.
Municipal officials have taken several steps, including adding large deodorant blocks, to mitigate the sewage stench.
Baptista finds the water “pretty dirty and stinky,” particularly compared to how it was when the sewage treatment plant was running. She said the harbour was much clearer then.
“It’s sad to see all this garbage and all this raw sewage being pumped into the ocean,” said Baptista.
Leading Seaman Robert Barker doesn’t like the floatables, either.
“We have a few nicknames for some of the things we come across from time to time,” said Barker, another diver.
Navy officials say there have been complaints about the foul sewage stench at the HMCS Scotian facility next to the sewer outfall, but no illnesses linked to it.
Officials with the Halifax Regional Municipality have said the sewage treatment plant will be fixed by the spring.
