Oris ProDiver 51mm Chronograph Diver Watch Review
At this year’s Baselworld, the Oris ProDiver Chronograph was debuted — the most expensive luxury watch by Oris. This nice looking professional diving timepiece was developed with the innovative Rotation Safety System. The safety system requires the unidirectional bezel to be lifted before it can be turned.
The rotating bezel has a very easy to hold profile, durable, shock-resistant, vulcanized rubber to further increase its underwater usability. The lightweight titanium case with black DLC coated edge reinforcement to protect the crown and chronograph pushers. These can be screwed into the housing and make the ProDivers even in 1000m depth guaranteed waterproof.
The large ProDiver chronograph from Oris has a multi-piece titanium case that measures 51mm. It has a sapphire crystal with double AR-coating. It is water resistant to 1,000 meters and features a helium relief valve. The Movement is the automatic ETA caliber Valjoux 7750 with 25 jewels, beating at 28,800 bph and with a power reserve of 42 hours.
And for those people who will actually use this for deep-sea diving, a self-regulating helium valve is included. This watch will surely be popular among divers. And at a retail of $3,700, it is more affordable than most professional dive watches. Although considering the enormous size of this timepiece, I wouldn’t be surprised to see most people wearing the Oris ProDiver out of the water rather than in it.
Features of the Oris ProDiver include:
- 51.0 mm case diameter
- Automatic mechanical movement with chronograph function. Centralized hour and minute displays, small second at 9 o’clock. Centralized second counter, decentralized minute and hour counters. Date at 6 o’clock.
- Multi-piece titanium case. Screwed case back with special meters-feet scale engravings. Sapphire glass domed on both sides with inner anti-reflective coating.
- Unidirectional rotating rubber, steel and ceramic bezel protected by “Rotation Safety System”
- Automatic helium valve
- Black two piece dial with printed wave pattern. Applied indices with super-luminova inlay. Nickel hands with super-luminova inlay.
- Stainless steel screw down crown and pushers with side protection system
- Extendable rubber strap with folding safety clasp. Also available with extendable multi-piece titanium bracelet.
- Water resistant to 1000 meters
- Set includes case, separate metal bracelet and tools
- 42 hour power reserve
How to be an underwater model
Chris Crumley is one of the most recognized underwater photographers in the world. Over the years, his advertising and editorial work has appeared in hundreds of pages of SCUBA-related marketing materials, travel brochures and a wide range of publications.
Most photographers are known for a particular specialty, Crumley is known for working with people underwater, and he’s turned it into a special “art.” His ability to capture unique moods and colorful backgrounds combine beautifully with skilled models to produce consistently stunning and memorable underwater images.
Crumley and one of his models, Sherry Smith, developed a unique training program for underwater models. Here Crumley shares some of their secrets on “What Makes A Great Underwater Model”
Desire: A model has to WANT to be there and it shows in the shots. Even underwater, you can’t hide certain things. A desire to make pictures that speak, excite and provoke emotion are intangibles necessary with every underwater model. This trait works in tandem with a desire to share the underwater experience with others.
Attitude: A model needs to be enthusiastic, creative, willing to deal with the elements, be patient and be part of a team to be successful, Crumley explains. “It’s not as simple as getting in the water and looking at the camera. There’s a lot that goes into every shot and a good model must have the right attitude.”
Body Language (Attitude): It’s more than just being a good diver. Top underwater models know how to move through the water effortless. They use their fins to propel and steer themselves – not their hands (a common mistake). In fact, a good model’s hands fall naturally alongside the body. The EYES are a major part of quality underwater shots. The diver’s eyes don’t look straight at the camera but at the subject. “I like my models to ‘smile’ with their eyes,” Crumley says. “Expressive eyes – no stares – give every shot an added boost.”
Communications: You can’t talk underwater, but it’s necessary to communicate. This comes from preparation in advance of a shoot. Experienced divers have their own sets of hand signals. It’s no different for underwater models. “Sometimes you don’t have to do anything other than point, other shots require a bit more communication between photographer and model.”
Buoyancy Control: If you’re not a diver, you won’t understand. If you are a diver, you have to appreciate the incredible buoyancy control every good underwater model has mastered. They know how to “hover” over a reef using partial breaths to rise and fall small amounts; they move effortlessly and stop on a dime – despite all the gear, currents and unique surroundings. “We practice this skill a lot because it doesn’t come naturally,” Crumley points out. “But once you master buoyancy control as an underwater model, you are a step ahead of most SCUBA divers.!”
Technical Diving Khao Lak
Big Blue Tech and Big Blue Diving Khao Lak joined forces recently for the installation of a continuous flow nitrox blending system on our new liveaboard the Mv Pawara which will be providing liveaboard trips to the similan islands.
This combined effort was done to create a vessel that could support technical diving for the upcoming season.
Big Blue Khao Lak is the only technical diving facility in Khao Lak offering technical and cave diving course through the instruction of Big Blue Tech. All our training and diving will be done from our new vessel so it had to be installed correctly.
The blending system was organized by Samui Easytek and shipped to the area for installation. The existing ventillation system on the massive liveaboard had to be replaced along with compressor oil replacement from mineral oil to synthetic.
The installation took two days and was tested with 0.1% accuracy. (no leaks)
The install comes just in time as the first trip leaves the shore in just a few days.
In addition to the install, Big Blue Khao Lak is also opening a second shop to support it’s additional 2 speed boats which will be taking people daily to local dive sites.
As a side note, the larger more robust divers of Khao Lak are celebrating the opening of McDonalds directly across the street from the Big Blue Khao Lak office.
Treasure hunters recover ring on wreck of the Atocha
A very rare, delicate, gold amethyst ring was recovered on the famed shipwreck site of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha by SCUBA divers in the Caribbean it was announced yesterday.
In the year 1622, 35 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida the Spanish Galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha sank in a violent hurricane en route from Havana, Cuba back to Spain. Famed underwater treasure hunter Mel Fisher first began searching for this wreck years ago. Today, Fisher’s family and crew continue the search he began for the rear section of the ship, which has been dubbed the Sterncastle. This portion of the ship is known to have held the wealthiest of passengers and thus some of the most precious artifacts and jewelry.
The Fisher’s most recent find, announced yesterday, is a rare gold ring bearing a deep purple amethyst stone. It was found by the seasoned crew of the salvage vessel J.B. Magruder, Captained by Andy Matroci.
It is a rare one-of-a-kind artifact that Kim Fisher describes: “It is a plain gold band with a large box-shaped gold setting on the top with an amethyst inside. The amethyst is so dark it is almost black. It probably would have come from a large crystal in order to be that dark. We have found several other rings with similar characteristics without stones in them, or with emeralds, but this is the first ring with an amethyst found on the Atocha site.”
The Fisher family today takes regular groups to dive the Atocha site. For more details, go to http://www.melfisher.com/myadventure/
Divers recover anchor from reputed Blackbeard ship
An anchor from a shipwreck thought to be Blackbeard’s flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, was so unstable that divers in North Carolina retrieved it Wednesday rather than waiting until next year.
Divers raised the 4.5-foot, 160-pound grapnel, or anchor, from the wreck in the Atlantic Ocean near Beaufort on Wednesday and will display it Thursday at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. The anchor originally had four prongs, but now has 1 1/2.
Two divers put straps on the anchor, then small lift bags that they filled with air, said Mark Wilde-Ramsing, the director of the Queen Anne’s Revenge shipwreck project. When the grapnel reached the surface, a crane brought it on the boat.
“It went great,” he said. “It went as smooth as it could be.”
The grapnel probably was an anchor for a smaller boat that would have been used to transport items between ships or from land to ship, Wilde-Ramsing said.
Archaeologists and conservators with the state Department of Cultural Resources say the grapnel was at risk of washing away after nearly 300 years in the sea and might not weather possible storms until next year, when a full-scale expedition is planned.
The rest of the shipwreck looks very stable, Wilde-Ramsing said.
Queen Anne’s Revenge was a French slave ship that measured about 100 feet long with three masts and a crew of 150 to 200. Blackbeard captured the ship, then known as La Concorde, in 1717 and renamed it before it ran aground off Atlantic Beach a year later. The shipwreck, discovered in late 1996, is within sight of Fort Macon State Park.
Un-Reel Diving in Thailand
Big Blue Tech has recently returned from cavern and cave diving in one of Thailand’s National Parks called Khao Sok. Big Blue Tech conducted a TDI (Technical Diving International) Cavern and Extended Range course for Matt Payne, Mike Borneo and Ash Dunn. Matt and Mike who had already completed their Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures with us earlier in the year returned to join this expedition with Ash Dunn who will be joining the tech crew in December as our new facilities manager.
The 4 day expedition in Khao Sok proved to be a text book adventure of challenging dives in stunning surroundings. On this particular trip the water had risen another 5m making the sunken temple out of range for the 55m certification depth.
The increase in water level on the lake was a result of heavy water fall leading up to the trip. Thankfully the rain fall and preceeding weather didn’t effect diving conditions or underwater visibiility leaving nothing but clear skies and sunshine.
The expedition progressed with the required training dives for the Cavern Diver certification followed by exploration for new cave systems and accelerated decompression dives up to 55m.
The students were introduced to new and unfamiliar conditions with diving from a longtail and in fresh water. While most chose the more formal method of backwards roll, others like United States Marine Captain Mike Borneo chose a more uncoventional method.
One of the more interesting highlights of the caverns was the exploration of a dry pool above one of the systems where a dive could surface to see the stalagtites and stalagmites forming above. An interesting spectacle when all the dive computers registered that we were still at 4m while very clearly above the surface of the water.
As the trip concluded, the divers had experienced 10 fresh water dives and combined their previous training with the challenges of overhead environment.
Big Blue Tech would like to tank Prival Raft House and Big Blue Diving for their support and assistance conducting this expedition.
Big Blue Tech returns to the region for more diving in December of 2009.
It’s rEvo CElebration time!
rEvo Rebreathers is extremely pleased to announce that it received confirmation that the rEvo III fully complies with prEN14143:2009, the basis for the (future) new rebreather standard EN14143:2009.
The EN14143:2009 will be the successor of the EN14143:2003, and is sent out to the national technical committees for inquiry. (which means that from that moment it can be used for certification.)
The compliance to the new rebreather standard is for both the manual version (mCCR) and for the automatic version (hCCR), in both sizes (standard and mini)
As soon as the last tests and certifications of some components (the tank valves and pressure gauges) are validated by the notified body, the Certificate will be issued.
Latest, starting January 1st 2010, rEvo Rebreathers will supply CE type approved units directly to the European market.
This result is obtained after more then 2 years of work, testing, developing, large investments (the rebreather testing facility), but also thanks to the feedback and support of our customers.
rEvo Rebreathers will continue to develop and support their customers.
Poseidon and TDI introduce Cis-Lunar Mk VI
Technical Diving International™ recently announced an agreement with Poseidon Diving Systems, to offer certification on its revolutionary Cis-Lunar Mk VI aCCR, and is offering active CCR instructors the opportunity to upgrade their teaching credentials to cover the automatic, sport-level unit. Instructor upgrades scheduled for NEC Birmingham Dive Show, and DEMA.
“The process is as simple as the unit itself is to operate,” says vice-president of training and membership services, Sean Harrison. “Any active, Closed-Circuit Rebreather instructor can attend the one-day workshop and earn his or her Discovery [Cis-Lunar Mk VI] instructor certification.”
Harrison explains that the unit is aimed at a whole new market and is quite different to ‘mainstream’ closed-circuit rebreathers.
“Poseidon’s Discovery is a remarkable design,” Harrison says. “And the design is the key to our members currently teaching CCR to be able to upgrade to teach it with a minimum of fuss.”
The Mk VI offers all the features of CCR over open-circuit – extended dive times, quiet operation, warm, humid breathing gas, and delivery of ideal gas mixes during all phases of the dive. But the real attraction of Poseidon’s Discovery CCR centers on its ease of use and automated pre-dive tests and operations. It is the simplification and automation of the unit prep and operation that will appeal to sport divers; people who have considered CCR diving but have been put off by their perception that it is complex and not worth the effort for dives within sport diving limits.
The pre-dive procedures for Poseidon’s entry into the CCR market is no more complex than preparing open-circuit gear, due to the pre-packed canister and the Mk VI’s ability to perform all pre-dive tests automatically; from checking gas volumes and loop pressure tests, to calibration of its redundant oxygen sensors. Procedures during the dive are equally simple due to automated operation and no option to “fly the rig manually.” In the unlikely event of any failures in the automated systems, the unit bails out to open-circuit mode.
“The unit promises to bring all the benefits of CCR diving to the avid sport diver, someone who is interested in new concepts in diving but who is less focused on the technical side of things than the average CCR diver has been up to this point. We feel the Discovery will help to open up the CCR market more than any other unit on the market today.”
TDI will be offering upgrades through hands-on workshops to active CCR instructors and instructor-trainers at NEC Birmingham Dive Show, DEMA and other shows and special events in the coming months.
EDGE GEAR and TDI announces a Dive Industry first!
EDGE is pleased to announce an industry first: Manufacturer support for Technical Divers using EDGE’s Highly Optimized Gear (HOG) branded Technical Diving regulators.
While other organizations strive to increase instructors selling techniques, TDI moves to educate their instructors with real skills or the professional diving environment.
In conjunction with TDI (Technical Divers International), EDGE Dive Gear is offering certified technical divers (from any agency) the opportunity to attend HOG Regulator Repair Clinics, to buy parts and get service support from their local EDGE and HOG Dealer.
Chris Richardson of EDGE, a Technical Diving Instructor since 1995, explained the decision by saying: “Technical divers trust in their skills and ability; and the performance of their equipment in extremely demanding conditions. Yet many technical divers choose to service and maintain their own equipment. They buy parts through the grey market and teach themselves service techniques with a book bought online and internet forums.”
Richardson says that in today’s market, technical divers who want to maintain and repair their own equipment should be given the training and tools to do so, “in full understanding of the added responsibility this puts on their shoulders.”
He added that in his experience, a “significant number” of technical divers are not fully connected with their local dive store and this program is one way to reverse things. “The HOG Regulator Repair Clinics are aimed at pulling technical divers back into dive stores, and the purchase of the course can provide a strong incentive for the tech diver to reinvest in the store brand.”
Steve Lewis, Director Marketing and Corporate Communications for TDI, and an experienced instructor-trainer for TDI programs adds: “EDGE is certainly breaking with tradition. But in the real world, we have to face up to the solid fact that many tech divers are a special market segment and DO work on their own gear without training. What Richardson and EDGE propose is simply a program that will help our members maintain some control over the situation and turn a growing gray market into a profit center.”
The course will be available from EDGE Dealers starting in November 2009. Instructors can be searched for at www.edge-gear.com or www.tdisdi.com
At DEMA show 2009, on Saturday, November 7, from 9 until 11 am at the Clarion Inn & Suites, EDGE and TDI will hold the first Instructor course. To become an instructor for the HOG Regulator clinic you must:
* Have attended six manufacturer’s clinics over last 5 years from any life support maufacturer
* Be a TDI, SDI or ERDI instructor in good standing (Crossovers available at DEMA)
* Have been employed at least six months full time as a scuba repair technician during the past five years
For more details, contact Chris Richardson at edgediving@gmail.com or Cris Merz at TDI (cris.merz@tdisdi.com). Course fees for this special workshop are $125 including registration, card and wall diploma.
DAN is Looking for Tecnical Divers
Divers Alert Network (DAN) is looking for divers and/or expeditions to get involved with in 2010 and to invite participants to take part in this observational, non-interventional field study. DAN will enroll adult volunteers, certified divers or students in the process of dive training and follow them during their regular field activities.
DAN is conducting a technical diving field study that will run through 2010. The purpose of this study is to document dive exposure, conduct ultrasound measurements of circulating venous gas emboli (VGE) and evaluate pre and postdive health status in divers of various experience levels and dive modes. The goal is to study those conducting extreme dives relative to the profiles completed by most recreational divers. Field studies in these areas began with pilot data in 2008 and continued in 2009. The most recent study was conducted at Inner Space at Dive Tech, a field research station for the technical dive study.
Accepted subjects will undergo a battery of anthropometric measurements as well as strength and fitness tests. They will complete a questionnaire regarding their health status and their previous diving experience. Participants will then be free to dive according to their own schedule, but each dive will need to be documented on personal dive computers that meet the standards for Project Dive Exploration. In addition to profile documentation, each participant will undergo postdive, precordial Ultrasound monitoring using standard protocols. For technical dives, the monitoring will start between 10 and 20 minutes after the end of the dive and continue at 20-30 minute intervals until no bubbles are detected. At the end of the day, all participants will fill out a standardized Decompression Health Survey.
DAN is primarily looking for 10-12 divers planning at least six days of diving to depths in the range of 210 ft (70 m) or more. Dives using both OC and CCR are acceptable. The most important thing needed by DAN is space to work either on a boat or on a land-based site, and a willing group of volunteers to participate. The commitment can be quite time consuming. But while this study requires a lot of the volunteer diver, the data collected on bubble formation as well as diver health and fitness is invaluable.
If you are a technical diver leading a technical diving trip or expedition, or if you are a diver involved in an expedition and believe you meet the study requirements, please contact DAN Research to learn more about the Technical Diving Study and its collection protocols. You can email Donna Uguccioni at duguccioni@dan.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 919-684-2948 ext. 627.
PADI to new instructors “Sell, Sell, Sell”
PADI, the worlds largest recreational scuba diving certification agency has released an update for future scuba diving instructors with emphasis on selling by expanding their Business of Diving section of their Instructor Development Course. While the Instructor Development Course has always had emphasis on continued education and minor selling techniques it is now being increased considerably with far more attention placed to combat the hardened economy.
Today’s dive professionals must be well versed in both dive instruction and sales techniques in order to succeed; and individuals possessing both strengths are assets to any dive business. Recognizing the need for sales training is now higher than ever, PADI Worldwide has expanded the Business of Diving section in the newly revised Instructor Development Course (IDC). Many PADI Course Directors from around the globe will be reviewing the new sales training section — along with all revised components of the IDC — during the Course Director Update on Monday, 2 November 2009 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The expanded IDC Business of Diving section focuses on proper sales techniques and reinforces the important role instructors play as members of a dive retail or resort sales team. Bob Coleman, PADI Americas’ Vice President of Sales and the International Resort and Retailer Associations says, “In today’s tough economy, it’s critical for everyone involved in a dive business to consider themselves salespeople. This IDC revision ensures that new PADI Instructors have an even stronger sales foundation and deeper understanding of how their sales role contributes to both their professional success and the success of their dive center or resort employer.”
Application of real world sales techniques is just one of the many benefits participants will receive during the revised IDC. That’s because all candidates will participate in a sales workshop — ideally conducted in a dive center or resort retail area — to hone their skills. Applying tactics learned from their PADI Course Director during the knowledge development portion of the IDC, instructor candidates will develop presentations and role play sales scenarios. Each candidate will act as both salesperson and customer with the PADI Course Director evaluating and coaching sales techniques. Candidates will benefit from the multiple iterations as salesperson, customer and spectator — so they will not only learn from doing, but also from watching their fellow candidates.
“PADI Instructors are known and respected worldwide for their teaching ability,” says James Morgan, PADI Americas’ Vice President of Training and Customer Service. “While PADI has always educated dive professionals about the important role they play in the sales process, the expansion of the Business of Diving section in the IDC curriculum will increase and finely tune new instructors’ sales and business acumen.”
All IDC curriculum changes will be unveiled during the Course Director Update held prior to the DEMA Show 2009 next month. At the update, PADI Course Directors will also learn how to teach and evaluate the new Business of Diving section. For more information on IDC course revisions, email PADI Training and Quality Management or call 800 729 7234 (US and Canada) or +1 949 858 7234, ext. 2540. For information on joining the world’s leading diver training and dive business education organization, email Jeff Nadler, International Resort and Retailer Associations’ Manager at PADI Americas, or call extension 2260.
The origional release can be read here
Khao Sok Technical Diving Expedition
Big Blue Tech will be in Khao Sok National from October 23rd to October 28th conducting technical diving, cavern diving and exploring new areas for yet another underwater village. This expedition will be combined with a TDI Extended Range and TDI Cavern Course.
In addition, Big Blue Tech will be on the new liveaboard vessel from October 27th to 29th installing a new continuous flow nitrox system.
During this time email and news might not be as forthcoming as expected. We apologize for any interuption in service.
‘Big Ocean – Big Breath’: The Art Of Freediving
by Christos Kardana
For us divers, being underwater makes complete sense. Abandoning life as we know it and descending to the depths, we find a sense of gracefulness, motivation and challenge. We can direct all anxiety and attention to our feelings inside, whilst reflecting on the beauty and allure of the ocean. All the above hold true, but as I hang off my reel line at 6m completing my last ceiling stop of a recent 50m technical dive, I catch a glimpse of a figure ascending from depth and suddenly I don’t feel very graceful anymore. Adjusting my buoyancy to compensate for my bulky twin set and deco. cylinders, I watch the figure surface; he is cool, calm and collected, preserving the only air he has with him-that in his lungs. He is a freediver.
The art of freediving, or apnea diving, has existed for some time now, the roots dating back to thousands of years with the hanyeao Koreans collecting shells and sponges and the Japanese ama divers searching for pearls. In the Mediterranean, spear fishers, would dive with bated breath hunting for grouper and octopus, forming the historical basis of the apnea sport itself.
Using no breathing apparatus whatsoever, freedivers seem to defy the constraints of the underwater world, by descending dozens of metres, in many cases beyond the limits of an average scuba diver. The potential anxiety of not having enough air to re-surface and the general idea of no redundancy equipment available – as customary in technical diving- in case of emergency is an intimidating concept for me. It’s surprising, that in an extremely physically demanding environment the key to successful apnea diving is relaxation, security and of course concentration.
In the past, scientists believed the chest would collapse at depths greater than 38metres (115 feet), a figure crushed regularly by today’s apnea divers. The human body is resilient indeed, and certain adaptations stemming from the mammalian dive reflex, enable our body under diving conditions to endure depth and lack of oxygen. As you descend, bradycardia kicks in, dropping heart pulse rate up to 7-9 bpm compared to the usual 70 bpm associated with a person at rest. Vasoconstriction (shrinking of blood vessels) directs blood away from the limbs for benefit of the heart, brain and lungs. Oxygen rich blood cells are released (splenic contraction) and when atmospheric pressure crushes your lungs to the size of a melon blood shift ensures capillaries in the lungs swell with blood and reduce residual volume. Without such adaptation, permanent damage would occur, with the human lung shrinking excessively and wrapping into its walls.
“Relaxation and concentration is important” These are the two main elements to a successful freedive according to Jeroen Maertens – freediving instructor at Big Blue Diving, Thailand. “It’s about pushing yourself beyond the urge to breathe” he says. Interesting indeed, the concept is almost inconceivable to me.
When I decided to join Jeroen for an apnea course in the warm waters of Koh Tao, I found the whole approach quite difficult to imagine. Despite my sheer fascination with the sport and the concept of challenging myself an exciting one, I still wondered how anyone could truly enjoy themselves whilst diving down a line to reach depth. Either way, I was on the course. Jeroen is an intriguing character; softly spoken, tall and slim with rugged face and long hair; he is reminiscent of the old freedivers I would watch diving down for octopus, as a child growing up on the island of Cyprus.
After a few videos displaying the remarkable efforts of record-breaking apnea divers such as Herbert Nitch and William Trubridge, he explains the various disciplines and styles:
Constant Weight Apnea where the athlete has to dive to the depth following a guideline that he or she is not allowed to actively use during the dive.
Constant Weight Apnea Without Fins follows the identical rules as Constant Weight, except no swimming aids such as fins are allowed.
Free Immersion Apnea is a discipline in which the athlete uses the vertical guide rope to pull him or herself down to depth and back to the surface.
Variable Weight Apnea is a record discipline that uses a weighted sled for descent. Athletes return to the surface by pulling themselves up along a line or swimming while using their fins
No-Limits Apnea is a record discipline that allows the athlete to use any means of breath-hold diving to depth and return to the surface as long as a guideline is used to measure the distance. Most divers use a weighted sled to dive down and use an inflatable bag to return to the surface
Static Apnea involves motionless breath-holding at the surface and finally Dynamic Apnea; involving breath-hold diving for horizontal distance rather than vertical depth.
Jeroen emphasises meditation and guides us through breathing cycle techniques, highlighting the importance of a three compartment inhalation i.e.: sticking out the stomach, then expanding the rib cage on either side and finally filling up your chest, in an attempt to fully maximise our air intake. I try it a few times with my shirt off staring down at my stomach trying to emulate Jeroen. He takes 5-6 seconds for each compartment with pauses in between simulating a balloon inflating to capacity. My attempts are not so good; as I try to complete the cycles I end up more out of breath than when I started and exchanging looks with Jeroen we start laughing as he assures me it gets easier with time. “I hope so”, I say as we grab our equipment and make our way to the boat.
We arrive at the dive site, a beautiful bay on the west coast of the island; the water is calm and cool and Jeroen sets up the descent line and float, while I practice some shallow duck diving. Jeroen dives down, to examine the line barely exerting himself as he drops to the bottom. As I watch him with my face in the water I look around; the seabed has a nice glow and a small shoal of damselfish are already aggregating around the weights at the end of the line. Jeroen returns to the float, calmly looks at me and says “Ok, your going to do 6 breath cycles, take one deep breath, relax and pull yourself down the line. You can make it to the bottom and back easily, I promise” Yeah right, I thought starting my breathing cycles. Finally I take my last breath-the time had come-I open my eyes and let my weight pull me down, trying to stay focused but remembering everything Jeroen has said on the surface. Suddenly, at a mere 7 metres, I have to turn round; I feel like my lungs are going to explode and as I bolt to the surface I think “ there is nothing relaxing about this”. Jeroen looks at me while we hold on the float bobbing with the waves. “You have more than enough oxygen to get to the bottom of the line and back with no problems” he says “It’s just about relaxing and going beyond your comfort zone. When you feel like you need to turn around, DON’T and don’t be alarmed by the strain on your body, your diaphragm might contract, just ease into it.” I start my breathing cycles again, closing my eyes, rocking with the water, I suddenly feel at peace. I inhale one last time and grab the line. Upside down, I am hypnotised by the line running through my fingers. When the first stirrings of the urge to breathe hit me, I look down and the end of the line is so close I can touch it. I carry on but with a slight panic in my movements. I touch the end of the line and rotate my body preparing for my ascent. Suddenly, my chest contracts and I feel a sense of euphoria. By my side at all times, Jeroen looks at me and motions his hand in a manner as to say, its normal, your doing great” As I break the surface, I have some recovery breaths and then pause, realising I am not starving for oxygen at all. I feel completely placid. It’s a profound moment as I realise one breath is more than enough; its just about learning to utilise it the correct way, not just letting it exist in the way we are accustomed to: a lifetime of stress and pollution, taking our shallow little breaths for granted. Jeroen looks at me, “well done, that’s 14 metres, tomorrow you will go to 22.” Despite my personal achievement of the day, this seems a dramatic increase, but by the following morning Jeroen had me practicing breathing techniques based on pranayama yoga (much like that utilised by renowned freediver Umberto Pellizari), and before I know it I was at 22 metres, crystal clear water above me, circled by curious barracuda and I realise I have discovered a new lifetime hobby.
To know that you can keep swimming even after your body demands more breaths from you, and achieving calm and serenity whilst doing this, is unlike any feeling I have experienced previously as a recreational or technical diver. Conquering my fear was not as hard as I initial anticipated and it really is about concentrating on your breathing and rejecting all of your body’s over-practiced urges and impulses. The result is senselessness and peace, participating in the surreal workings of our body and acting as a wondrous silent observer of the open ocean…
Shark Decompression in Thailand
Today Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Matt Payne and Emily Billingham from their TDI Decompression Procedures course on Koh Tao, Thailand.
The course began with advanced decompression techniques with running schedule with required stops along with buoyancy, gas switching methods, lift bag deployment, while on the small wreck at Japanese Gardens dive site. Emily had completed her Advanced Nitrox over a month ago and required a minor refresher but Matt had just completed his course the following day and was rolling through the curriculum with ease.
After 2 hours of diving we returned to the dive shop to plan the following days diving at Chumpon Pinncale with a dive profile of 45m for 30 minutes. Because the students excelled in their buoyancy control we allowed them to use pure oxygen for decompression for stops 4.5m and shallower.
This morning Big Blue Tech cruised to Chumphon Pinnacle and jumped in to the water early in the morning. Descending to 45m the visibility was in excess of 30 meters. Cruising down to depth we could see the recreational divers above pointing frantically out into the blue. Looking out in the direction they were point we could see a large bull shark skimming the thermocline. Moving away from the shark area Emily pointed out two lion fish huddled at the base of the pinnacle. The students followed their schedule bringing them safeyly to the surface in just over an hour. The students were also given a Suunto Vytec gas switching computer as a backup to their slates.
Finishing their accelerated decompression the divers were met by a Box Jellyfish which has been reported stalking divers around the pinnacle for a few weeks now.
Matt continues on to Khao Sok for his TDI Cavern Course and Emily returns to teaching recreational diving for Big Blue with plans to continue on to Extended Range in the Similan Islands.
Police Divers Go Underwater To Find Bodies and Evidence
Most scuba divers would stay away from a sinkhole, but for divers at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Lakeland Police Department, a sinkhole might contain the evidence needed to solve a crime.
Sinkholes, phosphate pits, gator-filled lakes – these are just a few of the places professional search and recovery divers are jumping into across Polk County. And all of them are dangerous. So dangerous, in fact, that search and recovery diving is the next installment in The Ledger’s ongoing series, “Out of the Cubicle: Dangerous Jobs in Polk.”
“It’s a series of challenges, from the diving to the environment, you encounter everything from microscopic germs to enemies as large as alligators,” said Brian Hanger, a deputy sheriff in the marine unit for PCSO.
Search and recovery divers often are called to the scene when a crime or accident involves a body of water. They recover evidence to solve crimes, bring a sense of closure to families who have lost loved ones in the water by finding bodies, and rescue fishermen on sinking boats.
Divers with the PCSO have dived about 20 times so far this year, and last year they dived about 80 times. The Lakeland dive team sees a little less action, with only a few dives per year. Each team has about eight divers.
To keep divers safe, each team trains regularly at different locations each time.
“We try to do a variety of things because Polk County has such a variety of lakes and we try to get people, when they are training, to keep in the mind-set that every body of water is different,” Hanger said.
The training is usually more diverse than normal sport dive training and focuses on safety. Training consists of learning how to communicate while under water, mapping out grids to perform evidence searches and learning recovery techniques.
An important part of safety is being able to communicate, Hanger said. Because of low visibility in the water, divers must learn to use different methods of communication, such as underwater headsets, because the normal hand signals most sport divers use cannot always be seen.
“When diving in the Lakeland area, we are lucky to see five or six inches in front of us because the water is so murky,” said Hans Lehman, the dive team supervisor for LPD.
The divers wear dry suits to protect them from exposure to any harmful bacteria or chemicals that may be in the water, especially in sinkholes and phosphate pits, Hanger said.
The extra-thick dry suits also protect the divers from puncture wounds from objects along the lake floors. The divers move slowly while underwater to avoid injury, Lehman said, but many discarded items serve as possible traps.
“Some of these lakes, you never know what you will find in them because people throw all sorts of stuff in there,” Lehman said.
“We have found everything from cups to plates to TVs to tires, refrigerators, engine parts and vehicles,” he said.
Not knowing what is lurking beneath the surface is often the most dangerous part of the job, Hanger said.
While diving in Lake Toho in Osceola County in an attempt to retrieve a firearm used in a crime, Hanger became entangled in fishing lures and lines and was unable to free himself.
But he was able to communicate with the other officers on land through the underwater communication system the dive teams use and they were able to pull him out.
“It took half an hour to cut me out of the fishing lines,” Hanger said.
Divers must also be aware of the wildlife in the water.
Lehman said alligators usually leave the divers alone, but the divers try to avoid night dives because alligators are nocturnal.
“For everybody’s safety, we will usually go in the daytime,” Lehman said.
The focus on safety for both teams has meant few injuries for the divers. In 13 years, Hanger could recall three injuries to divers, most of them minor.
“We’ve been very fortunate, but we’ve been practicing very good safety plans because we understand it is very dangerous and we take it very seriously,” Hanger said.
“As time has gone on we have focused on training, to keep us lucky.”
Similans Tech – Departure Schedule for Technical Diving in Similans
Below is our schedule for the upcoming season for technical diving trips with our Khao Lak office.
You can read more about the vessel here
|
Depart |
Return |
Duration |
Destination |
Status |
|
2-Nov-09 |
6-Nov-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
7-Nov-09 |
11-Nov-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
14-Nov-09 |
18-Nov-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
21-Nov-09 |
25-Nov-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Sold Out |
|
28-Nov-09 |
2-Dec-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Sold Out |
|
4-Dec-09 |
8-Dec-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
9-Dec-09 |
13-Dec-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
14-Dec-09 |
18-Dec-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
19-Dec-09 |
23-Dec-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
24-Dec-09 |
28-Dec-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
29-Dec-09 |
2-Jan-09 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Sold Out |
|
3-Jan-10 |
7-Jan-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
8-Jan-10 |
12-Jan-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
13-Jan-10 |
17-Jan-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
18-Jan-10 |
22-Jan-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
23-Jan-10 |
27-Jan-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
28-Jan-10 |
1-Feb-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
2-Feb-10 |
6-Feb-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Sold out |
|
7-Feb-10 |
11-Feb-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
11-Feb-10 |
14-Feb-10 |
3 D / 3 N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
17-Feb-10 |
21-Feb-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Sold Out |
|
22-Feb-10 |
26-Feb-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
27-Feb-10 |
3-Mar-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
4-Mar-10 |
8-Mar-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Sold Out |
|
9-Mar-10 |
13-Mar-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
14-Mar-10 |
18-Mar-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
19-Mar-10 |
23-Mar-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
24-Mar-10 |
28-Mar-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
29-Mar-10 |
2-Apr-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
3-Apr-10 |
7-Apr-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
8-Apr-10 |
12-Apr-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
13-Apr-10 |
17-Apr-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
21-Apr-10 |
25-Apr-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
|
26-Apr-10 |
30-Apr-10 |
4D/4N |
Similans, Koh Bon / Tachai, Richelieu |
Space Available |
At 35 meters in length, the Pawara is by far one of the largest boats cruising in the Similans. Her all steel construction makes her safe and smooth, promising a relaxing ride throughout your trip. Each of her 10 double cabins features its own sink, toilet and shower for the ultimate in privacy and convenience. Each cabin also has its own air-conditioner, so you can adjust your cabin just how you like it. Each cabin also has multiple 220v outlets so you can charge your cameras, laptops, or other diving accessories. The Deluxe rooms also have work desks and chairs for the avid underwater photographers.
Due to her massive size, most guests find themselves spending the majority of their time between dives in the expansive common areas of the boat. There is a spacious lounge with a large flat-screen TV, a DVD player and a wide selection of DVDs available to suit most tastes. There are also several desks in the lounge with 220v outlets for those wishing to do photo or video editing on board.
For those who prefer a quieter form of entertainment between dives, you can borrow a book from the on-board selection in the lounge and relax on the sun chairs of the large upper deck, or in the outside lounge on the main deck.
The Pawara features indoor and outdoor eating areas, each large enough on its own to accommodate all customers and crew for meals, so no matter what mother nature has in store everyone will be able to dine in comfort. And the excellent food prepared by our experienced cooks will ensure your meals are as good as your dives.
Big Blue diving has been offering the highest standard in Thailand diving since 1991, and the Pawara only furthers this reputation for quality service. Our multi-lingual staff on board is able to speak English, German, Swedish, Danish, Norweigan, Dutch, Flemmish, and Japanese. If you have language requirements beyond these, we can accommodate just about any request. All of our staff have years of experience in the Similans and even longer track records for keeping divers safe season after season.
Pawara’s large dive deck in the rear of the boat gives you plenty of room to set up and get in. Our on board nitrox system allows nitrox ceritfied divers to extend their bottom times with enriched air mixes. For those not Nitrox certified, we offer Nitrox certification on board, along with other courses such as deep specialty and photo specialty. Dive groups are maximum of 4 people (unless a group booking prefers to all dive together), and your gear is washed and your tanks are filled for you by our highly trained staff. Standard and DIN tanks are available on the boat.
For those traveling with non-divers, we invite you to bring them along as a snorkeling guest, or sign them up for their PADI Open Water course, which can be completed entirely on the trip. We can even arrange to complete the first day of Open Water training in the pool just before the trip to maximize your dive time out at sea.
The Pawara is equipped with a full first-aid medic kit, as well as medical grade oxygen for emergencies. All of our staff have current first-aid certifications.
Pawara has 3 levels of cabins:
Standard rooms are on the lower deck and can be arranged as twins or doubles. These rooms each have a sink, toilet, hot shower, plenty of storage space and 220v outlets.
38,800b per person for Divers
Deluxe rooms are on the main deck and are all twin beds. These rooms have larger windows and have large desks and 220v outlets and are therefore ideal for underwater photographers. These each also have a sink, toilet and hot shower.
39,800b per person for Divers
Master cabins have large windows all around for the best views. These rooms can be made as twins or doubles, have 220v outlets, and have larger bathrooms equipped with sink, toilet and hot shower.
40,000 per person for Divers
*Prices include technical dive leader, technical diving equipment and all gas
Rates are per person, based on double occupancy cabins. When possible, we will allow individual customers to have their own room. However during busy times we may need to put 2 individual customers in the same room. If we need to combine individual customers in cabins, we will only do male-male or female-female pairings for reasons of privacy. If you require your own personal cabin, we offer it at a 40% surcharge. Private cabins are not available during Christmas and New Years.
Couples traveling with small children may be able to have the child sleep on the private couch in one of Pawara’s master cabins. We do not recommend bringing infants on board for many reasons. If you still chose to do so, we insist that one parent stays with the child at all times. In cases like this, you may pay for one diver and one non-diver and simply alternate dives with your partner.
Every person diving in the Similans in required to pay national park fees in cash at the time of the trip. We will collect these fees from each passenger on our departure day so they can be paid upon our arrival in the Similans. please make sure you have 1600b in cash on departure day.
We have diving equipment available for rental, or we can order equipment for you through our suppliers (at a 10% discount!) and have it ready for you upon your arrival. A complete set of equipment is 500b per day. Email us if you have specific requirements or would like to see a list of equipment available for purchase.
Other than that, everything else is included in your trip except alcoholic beverages, available throughout the trip and paid for on the last day.
*CCR and SCR support available with O2 boosting and on board DiveSorb.
TDI Advanced Nitrox Completed – October
Today Big Blue Tech celebrated the successful completion of a TDI Advanced Nitrox Course for Ash, Matt and Andy.
The students come from different backgrounds and environments. Matt is a oil and gas worker based in Kazakhstan but frequents Thailand; he completed his SDI Solo Diver course last month and has come back for more serious diving. Ash is a Divemaster Intern with Big Blue and will soon move up to join Big Blue Tech in December. Andy comes from Denmark where he is actively serving in the Danish Army as a Sergeant and this is his break before returning home for overseas deployment.
The TDI Advanced Nitrox course is based on familiarity with technical diving methods and equipment, buoyancy, oxygen handling, mixes of nitrox above 40% and extended depth to 40m. Some of the highlights of this course included some wreck diving at Japanese Gardens, some cavern diving at Green Rock and diving with Bull Sharks at Chumphon Pinnacle.
Some of the students will continue on to Decompression Procedures which teaches the methods behind decompression diving and more advanced skills while others would continue to gain experience or return home.
In addition, Christos was awarded the TDI Semi Closed Rebreather rating after completing all the skills and requirements for the rebreather and accompanied the course for more experience and training on the rebreather.
Halcyon new Infinity BC System
*Coming to Big Blue Tech in November 2009
The most exciting thing to happen with BCs since the invention of the Scuba tank.
Halcyon Manufacturing is proud to announce our newest BC model, the Infinity ™. The Infinity’s most distinguishing feature is the novel harness adjustment known as the Cinch™. Our quick-adjust Harness (patent pending) redefines what it means to dive a backplate, providing unparalleled comfort and stability in a system with infinite adjustability. Unlike other designs the Cinch™ adjustment eliminates all quick release buckles and dangling webbing. This industry-first innovation marries the stability and streamlining of a backplate with the comfort and flexibility of a recreational jacket BC.
Key Features
- Infinite adjustability in the blink of an eye
- Snug, stable fit with easy removal
- Easily adjustable while in or out of the water
- Quick, easy fit is ideal for diver training
- Useful for managing stressed or unconscious divers
- Easily convertible for suits of varying thickness
- Seamless use of weight pockets, canister light, hip D-ring
- Includes Quick-adjust Crotch Strap
- Deluxe shoulder/backplate pads for unparalleled comfort
- Backplate pad contains pocket for lift devices
- Comes standard with ACB10 Weight Pockets
- Cinch adjustment can be used with singles or doubles
The difference between this and their other BCs is profound; there is a new adjustable harness which allows you to pull tight your harness. This lets you go between a wetsuit and drysuit without having to adjust those pesky belt slides. We got one as a demo in the shop recently, and we are very impressed with it. The cinch is tight enough that it won’t accidentally loose slack, but tightens with a quick pull. They’ve also created an adjustable crotch strap that can be lengthened or shortened in a pull. The harness has two other features worth mentioning; the left D-ring is on a fixed piece of webbing so it will stay stationary as you tighten the harness, and there is a buckle on the right side that serves to hold your canister light.
The new chinch harness is available in several configurations: you can buy the entire package with wing and backplate for 35,000 thb, just the harness pads for 4500 thb, just the cinch adjustment harness to upgrade your current system for $5000, or just the adjustable crotch strap for 2000 thb.
We are offering these online now as a pre-order. Halcyon has told us they expect to ship the first week of November, and we’ll ship pre-orders on a first come, first serve basis.
Maldives Government Hold Global Warming Meeting Underwater
With fish darting amongst them in a blue lagoon, the Maldivian president and his top team have staged an elaborate stunt to publicise climate change.
Billed as the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting, President Mohamed Nasheed and 11 ministers, decked in scuba gear, held a meeting 4m (13ft) underwater.
While officials said the event itself was light-hearted, the idea is to focus on the plight of the Maldives, where rising sea levels threaten to make the nation uninhabitable by the end of the century.
Mr Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected president, has become an important global voice for climate change since he won in polls last October.
“We have to get the message across through a course of action which resonates with ordinary people,” the president said, as the boat neared our destination.
“What we are trying to tell the people is that we hope there is a better deal at Copenhagen.”
The presidential speedboat took 20 minutes to arrive in the turquoise lagoon off Girifushi, in North Male atoll.
The cabinet then zipped themselves into diving suits and donned goggles and tanks of compressed air before jumping in the water.
Major Ahmed Ghiyaz, the co-ordinator from the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), said all measures had been taken to protect the president, which included checking the coral for dangerous creatures.
“I am 99.9% sure there will be no harmful creatures,” he told the BBC before the dive.
“I’m sure there won’t be any sharks. The nastiest thing would be a moray eel, but we have checked the reef”.
A horseshoe-shaped table was set up around a dark green coral reef with blue tips and home to an array of sea creatures in one of the world’s most famed diving spots.
The president and his team took their seats at 1000 at the bottom of the lagoon, sitting at desks with name tags while colourful parrot fish and black and white damsel fish darted around them.
Using hand signals to gesture that they were OK, ministers then passed round an “SOS” to be signed – an agreement calling for carbon emission cuts.
“We must unite in a global effort to halt further temperature rises,” the message reads.
“Climate change is happening and it threatens the rights and security of everyone on Earth.”
Meanwhile, a handful of journalists kitted out in snorkel gear and swimming around on the surface tried to get a glimpse of the action below.
Emerging out of the water, a dripping President Nasheed removed his mask to answer questions from reporters and photographers crowded around on the shore.
“We are trying to send a message to the world about what is happening and what would happen to the Maldives if climate change isn’t checked,” he said, bobbing around in the water with his team of ministers.
“If the Maldives is not saved, today we do not feel there is much chance for the rest of the world.”
After the dive, the president told the BBC he had seen a stingray swim nearby during the meeting.
“There was a sergeant fish that was particularly interested in what was going on,” he said during a typically Maldivian lunch of fish curry and coconut juice.
“I’ve never been worried about reef sharks and I’ve been diving for a long time,” the 42-year-old added.
He says other Maldivians had heard about the event and wanted to get involved in some way.
On the island of Kuda Huvadhoo, some islanders reportedly created a sealed box and put their TV in it so they could watch the footage of the meeting underwater.
“They told me, ‘if the president is under water, then they want to be too’,” Mr Nasheed said.
But he was keen to push the need for action.
The 1192-island chain is at severe threat from rising sea levels, with 80% of its islands less than a metre above sea level.
“What do we hope to achieve? We hope not to die. I hope I can live in the Maldives and raise my grandchildren here,” says Mr Nasheed.
Sea gives up secrets to experts
With shafts of sunlight shimmering through a few metres of crystal clear water, you can pick out the cornerstones of an ancient civilisation which inspired literature and legend.
There is more than a whiff of Atlantis about the story of Pavlopetri – the world’s oldest submerged town.
But the Bronze Age site has its roots in fact not fiction.
New underwater archaeology techniques – with sonar mapping used by the military and off-shore oil industry – are giving up new secrets.
An international team, given special permission to dive by the Greek government, has found artefacts on the sea bed dating back 5,000 years.
This fresh information puts the world’s oldest submerged town well over a millennium older than previously thought.
Dr Jon Henderson led a team from the University of Nottingham and said the expedition surpassed all expectations.
“This site is unique in that we have almost the complete town plan, the main streets and domestic buildings, courtyards, rock-cut tombs and what appear to be religious buildings, clearly visible on the seabed.
“Equally as a harbour settlement, the study of the archaeological material we have recovered will be extremely important in terms of revealing how maritime trade was conducted and managed in the Bronze Age.”
One of the most important discoveries has been what is believed to be a large rectangular great hall, known as a “Megaron”, from the early Bronze Age period.
They have also found more than 9,000sq m of new buildings, including a pillar crypt, which could be the first example ever discovered on the Greek mainland.
The Hellenic Ministry of Culture’s Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities is overseeing the work.
Official Elias Spondylis said: “It is a rare find and it is significant because, as a submerged site, it was never re-occupied and therefore represents a frozen moment of the past.
The team had a warm reception from local people, who were excited about the project and sense an important part of Greek history and culture would soon be returned to them.
The Mayor of Neopolis, Pavlopetri’s nearest neighbour, Jannis Kousoulis, has become one the the dive team’s most enthusiastic supporters. He hoped the new work will raise the whole region’s profile as a place for culture and tourism.
Archaeological co-ordinator for the Pavlopetri project is Dr Chrysanthi Gallou, a post-doctoral research fellow at The University of Nottingham and an expert in Aegean Prehistory.
Dr Gallou said: “The new ceramic finds form a complete and exceptional corpus of pottery covering all sub-phases from the Final Neolithic period (mid 4th millennium BC) to the end of the Late Bronze Age (1100 BC).
“In addition, the interest from the local community in Laconia has been fantastic.
“The investigation at Pavlopetri offers a great opportunity for them to be actively involved in the preservation and management of the site, and subsequently for the cultural and touristic development of the wider region.”
The team has also been joined by Dr Nicholas Flemming, a marine geo-archaeologist from the Institute of Oceanography at the University of Southampton.
He discovered the site in 1967 and returned the following year with a team from Cambridge University to carry out the first ever survey of the submerged town.
Using just snorkels and tape measures they produced a detailed plan of the prehistoric town which consisted of at least 15 separate buildings, courtyards, streets, two chamber tombs and at least 37 graves. Despite the potential international importance of Pavlopetri no further work was carried out at the site until this year.
The Pavlopetri Underwater Archaeology Project 2009 is at the start of a five-year study of the site which aims to define the history and development of Pavlopetri.
Four more fieldwork seasons are planned before their research is published in full in 2014.
Guardian Full-Face Diving Masks Recalled by Ocean Technology Due to Visor Separation Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Guardian Full-Face Masks
Units: About 900
Manufacturer: Undersea Systems International Inc., dba Ocean Technology Systems, of Santa Ana, Calif.
Hazard: If significant pressure is applied vertically to the top and bottom of the visor clamp, the clear plastic visor may dislodge causing the mask to flood.
Incidents/Injuries: Ocean Technology Systems has received three reports of visors dislodging. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves the Guardian full-face mask which is a scuba diving mask that incorporates the second stage regulator into the mask allowing it to cover the diver’s full face.
Sold by: Direct sales and diving equipment retailers nationwide from March 2009 through August 2009 for $800.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the diving masks and contact Ocean Technology Systems to receive a free repair. Ocean Technology Systems is providing consumers stainless steel clamps to secure the plastic visor.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ocean Technology Systems toll-free at (877) 270-1984 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.otscomm.com. Consumers also can email the firm at OTSrecall@otscomm.com
Drager Dolphin Extreme – Semi Closed Rebreather in Thailand
Big Blue Tech have been rebuilding a Drager Dolphin Semi Closed Rebreather in an attempt to create a Semi Closed Rebreather that functions and resembles the Halcyon RB80
The Drager Dolphin SCR always had some draw back that kept it from being respected amongst the more adventurous divers:
1. The in water trim was terrible; The breathing bag or counter lung was located in the top of the unit and the steel cylinder slung in the bottom which made the diver very vertical, almost like a baloon with a weight tied on to the bottom. Additionally the bail out cylinder was mounted on the side making it unbalanced even if you did get vertical in the water.
2. The blue “Commando” bcd wasn’t black.
3. The white box that held the breathing bag wasn’t black
4. The small steel cylinder wasn’t big enough and a larger cylinder would only make the unit worse.
5. There was no way to mount deco or stage tanks.
6. The BCD was restrictive and could not be used with a backplate and harness.
Our initial purchase of a used unit in thailand gave us everything we would need including the oxygen sensor for our pp02 display. Out of the box, the unit was working perfectly with all the tests passed and no leaks.
Our first goal was to remove the old and restrictive built in bouyancy compensating jacket to allow the installation of a backplate and wing mounting system. This mounting system from V4Tec would allow all technical diving backplates and wings to be fitted in the same manner you fit diving gear to twin tanks.
The mounting system and side by side tank brakets arrived and fit perfectly. This alteration improved trim, bouyancy immediately. With the twin 6Lt (S40) cylinders mounted side by side it was difficult not to be balanced and horizontal.
The final and most dramatic improvement was the flexible manifold. Contacting our friends in Pattaya who own an engineer shop, we were able to source the high pressure hydraulic hose along with the fittings for our cylinders. This would give us redundancy and increased gas volume. We would still carry a bailout but that could be slung from the harness.
The testing later moved into shallow water trials where different divers of different skill levels went for a short dive to test the trim and overall experience. While this would be their first time in a rebreather they found it quite easy to reach neutral bouyancy and effective trim. The divers practiced bail out techniques and general rebreather loop use.
Open water ocean trials will be conducted in the near future to test exposure limits and functionality in saltwater.
SI Tech Recalls Diving Suit Hoses Due to Drowning Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Diving Air Hose for Dry Suits
Units: About 65,000
Manufacturer: SI Tech AB, of Brastad, Sweden
Hazard: The hose contains an insert that can dislodge during diving and restrict air flow to the diver, posing a drowning hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: SI Tech has received six reports of hose inserts dislodging, including one that was involved in the death of a diver in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description: This recall involves a dry suit inflation hose that connects a diver’s dry suit to the air supply and allows for the pumping of air into the suit to set up a positive pressure arrangement to help keep it watertight. The hose contains an air flow restricting insert that may be either black, blue or green in color. The batch code is stamped on the threaded metal end of the hose. They were sold with dry suits and also sold separately. Contact SI Tech for a list of batch codes included in this recall or visit the firm’s Web site, www.sitech.se
Sold at: Diving equipment retailers and distributors nationwide from July 2006 through February 2009 for about $45.
Manufactured in: Sweden
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using diving equipment that contains the recalled low pressure inflation hoses and contact SI Tech for the location of an authorized dealer for a free repair which involves removal of the hose insert, or to receive instructions on how to repair the hose.
Technically it’s extended range diving
Today Big Blue Tech, a technical diving school based on Koh Tao in Thailand celebrates the graduation of Phil Elmer from his TDI Extended Range Course.
Phil arrived on Koh Tao almost a week previously and began with some technical diving fun dives as he was already certified as a TDI Decompression Procedures Diver. After a few trips Phil was ready to start his course. The TDI extended range course certifies the student to 55m and to use a variety of gas mixes and techniques for decompression diving. Phil started off in confined with a skill refresher and an introduction to how we do skills and then we were off deep diving the next day. The course took us to various locations, wrecks and conditions.
The final day was conducted by looking for new wrecks using gps and sonar from fishermen marks on our own boat. After a few sweeps and some dives we came up empty handed but it was great experience for Phil to see how wreck searches are conducted and it was a chance for Big Blue Tech to cross off an area of interest leaving only a few more search areas left.
As reported on the Big Blue Diving blog:
“Meanwhile in the deeply technical world of Deep Tech diving, ‘Canada’ (James Thornton-Allan) & his tattooed team of black hooded twin tank techie boys have been taking Navakid off for a jolly with a fish finder & a depth reader to see if they can find somewhere deep & dark to go diving. Ideally chancing upon a wreck would be a fine thing, but we’ll suffice with a ridge or a wall or a series of pinnacles. As long as its deep & its dark & its technical & it involves carrying around lots of tanks & a gimps hat it doesn’t really matter!”
Tonight the celebration will continue with a party at “Moov” which will be their last for the season.
Below are pictures from his course:
