Win a Free Open Water Course - with The Sun

The Sun (the newspaper) are offering a free PADI Open Water course to lucky winners, to celebrate the DVD release of Fool's Gold.

You can enter the competition here.

XL Airlines go into administration

The airline XL, part of the XL Leisure Group, have gone into administration. All flights have been cancelled and all aircraft grounded.

The XL Leisure Group (including XL Leisure Group Plc, XL Airways UK Limited, Excel Aviation Limited, Explorer House Limited, Aspire Holidays Limited, Freedom Flights Limited, Freedom Flights (Aviation) Limited, The Really Great Holiday Company plc, Medlife Hotels Limited, Travel City Flights Limited, Kosmar Villa Holidays plc) entered into Administration having suffered as a result of volatile fuel prices, the economic downturn, and were unable to obtain further funding.

This affects me personally, as I'm supposed to be going to Egypt on Sunday, and although my flight is not with XL, 99% of the group I'm going with are supposed to be leaving on Saturday, on an XL flight.

The BBC have the story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7611639.stm

Other airlines are trying to meet the demand but currently their greatest priority is in trying to return people back home first. Passengers due to travel today are being advised not to travel to the airport, but to contact their travel agent first.

What to do

Customers booked with XL Airways Through XL.com or XL Call Centres
Unfortunately, customers who booked either through xl.com or xl call centres are not ATOL protected. Consequently, you will be ineligible for a refund from ATOL in respect of your flight.

Customers currently abroad

The CAA will be able to make arrangements for your return journey. As you fall into an unprotected category of customers you will be invoiced a fee on your return to the UK. Please check on the ATOL website (www.atol.org.uk) for details or go to the local airport ticketing desk where they will be able to make arrangements and inform passengers of the likely costs.

Alternatively, you may be able to find a flight better suited to your needs by making your own, independent arrangements to return home. The CAA is not in a position to cover the costs of your own arrangements. For all new bookings please ensure you retain your receipts.

If you are owed money as a result of incurring costs to return to the UK please send details of the amount owed to you by the Companies to Kroll Limited, Wellington Plaza, 31 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL.

Customers should check their travel insurance policy since it may provide cover for airline or accommodation failure. The type of protection provided may also vary depending on the type of policy taken out. A policy may cover the complete or partial cost of the original tickets or accommodation purchased.

If you paid by credit card, you may be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. If you paid by Visa debit card you may also have some protection. You should check with your card issuer for further advice.

In the event that you wish to organise your own return travel, detailed below are a list of potential alternative carriers:
First Choice – 0871 200 7799
Thomas Cook – 0870 750 0119
Thomson – 0871 231 5938
Further information can be obtained from the Administrator’s help line as follows:
From the UK – 0800 068 8991
From Abroad - + 44 208 242 4783

Customers with advanced booking but yet to travel

All flights have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

Aqua Lung Recall Regs

Aqua Lung have recalled some of their Titan DIN 1st Stage Scuba Regulators and Titan/Conshelf DIN Scuba Adaptors. A DIN retainer broke under pressure although no injuries were reported. The recall is due over-tightening of the DIN retainer by a technician during installation. This can result in the retainer breaking under pressure.

Aqua Lung asks all the owners of TITAN DIN regulators whose serial number is lower than 6062501 or TITAN/CONSHELF DIN adaptors that are marked 300 BAR MAX to return their regulator to their Aqua Lung authorized retailer for an upgrade.

All the TITAN DIN regulators whose serial number are above 6062501 and/or whose DIN handwheel retainer is marked 300 BAR MAXI are assembled with a stainless steel DIN handwheel retainer and are not affected by this recall.