Dive Norwich blog

Jonathan Ross to leave BBC

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:15:00 +0000

Jonathan Ross has just announced he won't be renewing his BBC contract. Probably because they won't pay him a billion pounds.

Does this mean our license fee goes down?

Jonathan 'Woss' Ross is 49.

More here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8445581.stm

Product Recall: Mares Nemo Air Quick Connector

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:03:00 +0000

Mares this month issued a safety recall of their Nemo Air Quick Connector, due to a quality issue on the O-ring used in the assembly of the connector.

Under certain circumstances the O-ring can fail and consequently Nemo Air may start leaking through the Quick Connector. As a result, there is a continuous, albeit slow, loss of breathing gas. This situation could potentially lead to an accident, hence Mares has decided to issue a product recall. The solution already exists in the form of an O-ring of different material and hardness which can be retrofitted onto the Quick
Connector of your current Nemo Air.

Please note that the event of an uncontrolled loss of breathing gas from the high pressure hose is regulated by the EN250 Norm, which requires a 0.3mm opening in the high pressure fitting. As a result, the loss of breathing gas is very slow and a diver should always be able to complete a dive safely, NONETHELESS FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND TO AVOID POSSIBLE DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS:

STOP DIVING WITH A QUICK CONNECTOR SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL UNTIL THE EXISTING O-RING IS REMOVED AND SUBSTITUTED WITH THE NEW ONE.

Affected products and codes are:
1. Finished goods
414158 – DIVE COMPUTER NEMO AIR
414159 - DIVE COMPUTER NEMO AIR W/COMPASS NO

2. Spare parts
44200771 – HP HOSE W/QUICK CONNECTOR NEMO AIR
44200770 – QUICK CONNECTOR ASSY. FEMALE NEMO AIR

PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED MARES SERVICE CENTER TO SCHEDULE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE O-RING IN YOUR QUICK CONNECTOR.

NEMO AIR QUICK CONNECTOR O-RING MUST BE REMOVED AND SUBSTITUTED WITH THE NEW
ONE.

Here is a copy of the original Mares recall notice.

Product Recall: Mares Drysuits

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:35:00 +0000

Mares have announced an immediate safety recall of several of their drysuit ranges.

The issue affects the low pressure inflation hose (which are actually made by a company called Sitech), although Mares have said that as well as ceasing use of the hoses, you should stop using any dry suit or equipment which has been connected to the hose as well.

The Mares products involved in this recall, sold from 2006 thru 2009, using the SITECH LOW PRESSURE INFLATION HOSE, are the following:

- 412012 DRY SUIT POLARFIT TLM
- 412014 DRYSUIT DRYFIT 3.5 LX UNI
- 412015 DRYSUIT DRYFIT 3.5 NP UNI
- 412016 DRYSUIT ICEFIT 4.0 LATEX MEN
- 412017 DRYSUIT ICEFIT 4.0 LATEX WOMEN
- 412018 DRYSUIT ICEFIT 4.0 NEOPRENE MEN
- 412019 DRYSUIT ICEFIT 4.0 NEOPRENE WOMEN
- 412010 DRYSUIT DRYFIT 3.5
- 412011 DRYSUIT ICEFIT 4.0
- 480094 DRYFIT 3.5 LX MAN W / RADIAL BOOTS
- 480095 DRYFIT 3.5 LX LADY W / RADIAL BOOTS
- 480096 ICEFIT 4.0 LX MAN
- 480097 ICEFIT 4.0 LX LADY
- 480098 POLARFIT TLM LX MAN

Contact your local Mares Service Centre for more information.

Mares also say (and they put in the capitals): ALL AIR FLOW RESTRICTION INSERTS, REGARDLESS OF COLOUR, MUST BE REMOVED FROM SITECH LOW PRESSURE INFLATION HOSES.

Here is the Mares Safety Recall notice, and here is a guide on how to identify your hoses by code.

If you are in any doubt whether your hose, dry suit or equipment is affected, contact your authorised Mares Service Centre.

PADI Specialty of the Month: August

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:57:00 +0000

PADI's Specialty of the Month for August is Wreck Diver, and there's still time to be counted for inclusion in the competition this month!

Wreck diving is a fascinating part of diving, and you may surprise yourself if you think of yourself as someone who only likes seeing fish! Many fish are drawn to wrecks as they become artificial reefs, and there is something very different about wreck diving - a connection with a historical event and the technical achievement of navigating makes for an inspiring dive.

PADI's Wreck Diver course teaches you how to dive wrecks responsibly.

During the course, you'll:

how to safely dive wrecks, including common hazards and how to avoid them
get an introduction to how to research wrecks, which can enhance a dive into a walk through history
cover the special equipment needed for wreck diving, and how to use it
discover how to safely approach and enter wrecks
plan, organise and dive at least 4 wreck dives with your PADI Instructor.

Before you can enroll onto the course you'll need to be a PADI Adventure Diver and be at least 15 years old.

Interested? Of course you are! Have a look at the full course details and get signed up!

Just a reminder, the Specialty of the Month runs all through the year.

Each month, one lucky diver will be picked to receive a £50 voucher to spend on PADI products or courses (redeemable at your local PADI shop), a PADI Beach Mat and a certificate. In addition everyone who enters in 2009 will be in with a chance of becoming the 2009 PADI Specialty Diver, picking up over £500 in PADI products!

To enter, complete the specialty, then fill out the entry form and send it off to PADI.

Good Luck Everyone!

PADI Enriched Air Diver Course: now online

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:52:00 +0000

The popular PADI Encriched Air (Nitrox to the rest of us!) Diver Course has been run by PADI for quite a while now, and continues to evolve. A while ago, compulsory dives were removed from the course - meaning that you can complete the entire course without having to get away and dive anywhere.

Now, there's a new online programme to enable you to complete the knowledge development portion of the course. This means you can do it when you want to do it, which is great for busy people. Once you've done this, you then meet with a PADI Instructor, as normal, to complete the practical section and assesment.

There's narrated presentation, videos, exercies and a knowledge review to complete. You'll be guided through the whole process, with the usual excellent standard of PADI teaching. If you get stuck, you can make contact with your instructor: they're just a click away.

You can visit PADI's e-Learning Portal to sign up, or see your local PADI Dive Centre for more information.

PADI Speciality of the Month: June

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:52:00 +0000

If you're very quick you can still get in on the Specialty of the Month for June, which is Peak Performance Buoyancy.

This is a really important and worthwhile course. Having neutral buoyancy means that you'll move through the water easier, you won't risk damaging coral, you'll even find you're using less air, leading to longer dive times! Also, perfectly neutral divers look pretty good as well when their slicing through the water, seemingly without any effort at all.

You'll learn about the weight you use, how much you need, where to put it and how to trim it. Your equipment choices also affect your weight and buoyancy in the water, so these are covered too. Finally you'll also be coached into perfect hovering, both vertically and horizontally.

You won't even need any extra equipment!

Having good buoyancy is a really important skill for a scuba diver, and this specialty is one of the single best things you can do to improve yourself as a diver.

To find out more about this course, and sign up have a look at the Christal Seas Scuba Specialty Page, or the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy page.

Full details about the special offer from the PADI Specialty of the Month page.

PADI Specialty of the Month: April

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:38:00 +0000

April's Specialty of the Month for April is Digital Underwater Photography.

If you're looking for a new specialty to enhance your diving, have a look at the Digital Underwater Photography (DUP) course.

The course get you up and running with modern digital photography equipment, meaning you can share you love of the underwater with your land-bound friends and family. Who knows, with some of your photos you might even be able to to tempt them into the water!

During the course you'll:

* Find out about choosing the underwater camera system that's right for you
* Discover the PADI SEA method for getting great shots quickly
* Learn the primary principles for good underwater photos

And... if you complete your certification in April then you could be picked to win a PADI Laptop Backpack.

To find out more about this course, and sign up have a look at the Christal Seas Scuba Specialty Page.

Full details about the special offer from the PADI Specialty of the Month page.

You can download the entry here.

Check Your Dive School!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:06:00 +0000

Diving is a safe sport. It owes it's enviable safety record to the professionalism of its instructors, and to rigorous safety protocols, which ensure that recreational diving is kept within safe limits, making it accessible to all.

Diving is one of the few (the only?) sports where you are required to use a mechanical piece of apparatus to sustain one of your basic life functions (breathing!). Don't you owe it to yourself to get the best possible tuition in it's use, even if that expert tuition might cost a few pounds more?

Whether you're just about to "take the plunge" with PADI and start diving, or are looking to advance up the PADI ladder, make sure you choose a registered PADI diving school.

PADI group dive schools into different categories, just like they group their instructors. These listings will be the subject of a separate post.

If you're starting to wonder how to find your nearest PADI-approved dive school: PADI make it easy! The PADI Dive Centre Finder plots all dive centres onto a Google Maps map, which you can easily search for your home town. The dive centres are then shown on the map, together with their category.

By the way: if you've had a bad experience with a dive centre or instructor, don't keep it to yourself: PADI's Quality Management people want to know! (they also collect positive feedback, so channel that their way too)

PADI issue Customer Alerts to safeguard you against rouge traders and poor quality teaching. PADI advise that you be pro-active and check out a dive school or instructor before signing up. Instructors and Dive Centres won't mind you asking for their numbers (PADI Divemasters / Assistant Instructors and Instructors all have PADI Pro Numbers, and Dive Centres have a Centre Number).

Make contact with PADI and double-check, then you can get on with the diving, safe in the knowledge you are being well looked after.

Project AWARE 2009 Certification Cards Out Now!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:45:00 +0000

Project AWARE's new cert card for 2009 is now available.

For those that don't know, when you receive a PADI certification, you can opt to donate some money to Project AWARE, PADI's conservation and nature-awareness arm. When you donate at least £5 you can opt to have your certification printed on a Project AWARE card, rather than a normal PADI card.

The image of the cards is changed each year and typically features a stunning photograph of underwater nature.

You can also choose to pay £25 a year, and become a Project AWARE patron, which gives you extra benefits.

Are you the face of PADI?!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Fancy modelling for PADI?

PADI are looking for PADI divers to appear in print and digital media, for their new marketing campaigns.

To qualify, you must:

- Be a certified PADI Rescue Diver or above
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have 75+ logged dives
- Have experience diving in a variety of environments (e.g., fresh and salt water, tropical and temperate conditions, wreck/drift/night diving experience, etc.)
Be available for one or more photo shoots this summer, each approximately one week or longer (exact dates TBD)

If you fancy going for it, there's full details and information on how to apply on the PADI site. You've got until the 2nd March 2009....

DiveAlert Plus

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:25:00 +0000

We're probably all familiar with "normal" BCD air horns: they clip onto the inflation valve of your BCD and use the air from your tank to power a piercing air-horn. Handy if you need to be noticed.

But how about underwater? Well, Ideations have come up with DiveAlert Plus. It's a standard surface air-horn, but also has an underwater device built in, also powered using air from your tank.

The idea is that you can attract the attention of your in-attentive buddy underwater, or just generally draw attention to yourself. Of course, it suffers from the usual problem of underwater sound being unplaceable - so it wouldn't be any good if you get separated in low-vis, but no tank-rattlers or anything like that are.

From the photos (I haven't used one) it looks a bit bulky, and I don't know how much it would get in the way, or get accidentally deployed. I have a standard Buddy Air Horn on my jacket at the moment, and I'm not sure I'd want anything much larger on it, but this could just be my personal preference.

It's also available in the UK, via CPS. The nearest retailer I can found to Norwich is Christal Seas Scuba:

Christal Seas Scuba
6 Cromer Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 6ND

Tel: 01603 485000
Email: christal.seas.scuba@hotmail.com
Website: www.scuba4me.co.uk

They are listed as authorised retailers for CPS Partnership products.

Portsmouth Uni research predicts survival time at sea

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:37:00 +0000

Researchers are developing a new computer model to predict how long someone will survive when lost at sea, which will in turn determine when a search and rescue operation may be stopped.

"Using this new computer model will take pressure off humans making very emotional and sensitive decisions about when to end a search." said Professor Mike Tipton, human and applied physiologist from the University of Portsmouth.

"When the model predicts that a victim can no longer survive, the search and rescue team can stop or redeploy the search."

"It will ensure that Coast Guard personnel are not exposed to the high risks associated with search and rescue operations any longer than necessary and will also help to save time and resources." he said.

Some systems are already in place for modelling how people drift in open water: for instance, the US Coastguard currently uses a software system known as SAROPS (Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System) to calculate how far a person will have drifted and how large the search area should be.

The model will be initially trialled in early 2009 in the US. If it is successful then it will be rolled out across the US, and, presumably, from there to the UK and other diver-intensive areas, such as Egypt.

Dive Medicals in Norwich - approved doctors

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:07:00 +0000

If you need an HSE Dive Medical then you'll need a HSE approved medical examiner.

Annual medicals are required for all PADI Professionals (Divemaster and up) who are teaching in the UK.

Here's a list of approved doctors based in Norwich:

Dr JK Mathews
Hellesden Medical Practice
343 Reepham Road
Hellesden
Norwich
NR6 5QJ
Tel: 01603 486602
Fax: 01603 401389
ken.matthews@nhs.net

View Larger Map

Dr H O'Neill
Horsford Medical Centre
205 Holt Road
Horsford
NR10 3DX
hugh.o_neill@nhs.net
Tel: 01603 897 766
Fax: 01603 891 818

View Larger Map

I have personally used both doctors for my medicals and can recommend them both. They are both very flexible in terms of arranging appointment times (evenings, saturdays etc.)

(The full list of approved examiners can be found on the HSE site.

Win a Free Open Water Course - with The Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:36:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:01:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:53:00 +0000

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.

Gnomes underwater - not so unique

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:32:00 +0000

stv.tv have a story about an Edinburgh man "championing an unusual underwater craze" - gnomes underwater.

"Edinburgh man Gordon Mackie is, arguably, the world's number one proponent of scuba-gnoming - the practice of adding a little piece of German kitsch to the sea bed to brighten up the lives of other divers."

I think Gordon should take a trip down south to some of our dive spots, or just have a look the Where To Dive page. He'll notice that both Capernwray and NDAC both already have gnome gardens, and have had for some time!

NEW: Weather reports for dive sites

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:54:00 +0000

We've added a new feature to the Where To Dive section of divenorwich.com - the weather!

For each of the dive sites we cover (Whitlingham, Gildenburg, Stoney Cove, Vobster Quay, Capernwray and the National Diving & Activity Centre) we now show the current weather, plus a forcast for the next two days. You can click on the daily forcast for a 2-hourly report for the day (covering 6am to 4pm).

If you're trying to decide where to go for a dive this weekend, why not use the page to compare the weather at each of the sites before making the final decision. Or if you know where you're going, work out what to pack!

Boy drowns at Whitlingham

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:19:00 +0000

A 13 year old boy has drowned in Whitlingham Broad. The body of the
teenager was pulled out of the broad on Sunday (17th Aug). The tragic
find concluded a search by emergency services, which included search
divers.

The boy got into difficulties whilst swimming with another at around
5.20pm. Adult family members entered the water and managed to pull one
of the boys to safety. However, the other could not be found. Members
of the public waded into the water to try and find him, and the
emergency services called.

The first response teams were on site quickly. Fire crews initially
entered the water wearing standard breathing apparatus. The Air
Ambulance and a helicopter from RAF Wattisham were also used in the
search.

The search was called off when the body was recovered at 7.25pm by a
Broads Authority diver. The boy was announced dead at the scene. An
inquest is expected to take place "in due course".

Inspector Andrew Taylor of Norfolk Police: "It's a tragic accident
that has unfolded at the broad. The boy entered the water and got into
difficulties. Despite everybody's best efforts, he did not survive.".
He also praised the actions of the fire officers who entered the water
in standard breathing apparatus as "absolutely heroic".

The police line for anyone with any information about the incident is
0845 456 4567.

Diving Instructors defraud NHS for bogus recompression

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:26:00 +0000

Two divers, David Welsh and Michael Brass, have been found guilty of billing the NHS for decompression treatments which never were.

The pair paid strangers to pose as divers suffering from decompression illness - the NHS only required names, date of birth, address and NI numbers, and only did basic checks on the information. They then billed the NHS for treatment which never was.

Each decompression case (from between 1998 and 2002) was billed at £6,500. 37 fake claims were submitted.

The dive centre involved - Fort Bovisand in Plymouth - had its own decompression chamber. (it used to be under the control of the navy)

Read the full article on the BBC.

Red Sea to be plastic bag free by 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:56:00 +0000

Hurghada Environmental General Magdi Kubeissi, the Governor of the Red Sea, has decreed that the Red Sea will be the first plastic bag free Governorate in Egypt, from 1st January 2009.

Plastic bags are a problem because they represent a significant risk to birds, dolphins, and turtles - who can mistake the bags for jellyfish.

Recently, Ireland introduced a bag tax, which led to a 90 per cent reduction after its introduction in 2002. In 2007, the biggest supermarkets in France imposed a ban on free carriers. They now charge between 2p and 42p for reusable bags. This has removed millions of free bags from high streets and the French government will impose an outright ban in 2010.

Typically plastic bags are used for only 20 minutes before being thrown out; but they will each take up to 1,000 years to rot away.

PADI Recall EANx32 RDP Table

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:42:00 +0000

PADI have recalled one of their RDP Tables - the Imperial English language EANx32 table. If your table has 'Printed in the USA' on the back, top right hand corner and a product number that ends in PDK7 then it is affected.

More information (and extra checks) available directly from the PADI site. If you have an affected table, return it to your PADI Dive Centre/Resort or PADI directly for a free replacement. Do not plan dives using the affected table.

Name tags for your tank

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:09:00 +0000

New Name Tags from YourBagTag.com Lets SCUBA Diver's Identify Their Gear or Buddy Quickly

YourBagTag.com have launched some new name tags for diving equipment. As far as I can tell there are two sorts, one for the tank and one for the BCD. These don't replace any of the existing straps, they are extra ones and attach using Velcro.

Personally, I can't see how this is much different from using tank stickers, or IDMyGear. Possibly if you were planning on changing or selling your kit then you wouldn't want to permanently mark it with your name - but then having an easily removable tag like this just makes it more attractive to steal than, say, a BCD with a name stitched into the webbing.

First Post

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:56:00 +0000

Welcome to the divenorwich blog.