• The world-wide partnership will see diving products made available on Klook
• Klook is currently the only Online Travel Agency (OTA) in Asia Pacific collaborating with PADI
• PADI and Klook will give 33 lucky winners the opportunity to earn a scuba diving certification 

PADI® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) and Klook, Asia’s leading travel and experiences platform, today announced a world-wide partnership that will see PADI’s diving products globally integrated on Klook’s platform. Today, PADI has more than 7,200 diving products that span from certification courses, snorkeling, fun dives and more across the world. 

PADI is the world’s largest purpose-driven diving organization and Klook is currently the only OTA in Asia Pacific collaborating with the organization. Consumers can now book diving experiences in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, China and Singapore on the Klook platform, with more destinations to come online in the following months. 

Every year, about one million people go through the lengthy, detailed and technical process of planning a dive trip to get certified – from selecting the perfect dive site and haggling for dive packages to coordinating travel and no-fly times. The integration of diving products on Klook’s platform through API will help shorten a booking journey that could have taken days to just under 5 minutes. Consumers will be able to easily compare prices, check availability, read reviews, book and receive immediate confirmation – in a seamless way on one platform.

“Joining forces with Klook is set to simplify the journey to becoming a certified PADI Scuba Diver” says Manuel Kraemer, Vice President of Business Development for PADI Worldwide. “With 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts in 184 countries worldwide and with more than 7,200 products already bookable online on PADI.com, our collaboration is poised for an exciting expansion. As we progress, this extensive selection will become available for booking on Asia’s leading booking platform. Today, on Klook, you can seek adventure and save the ocean on nearly any holiday destination around the world”.

With a willingness to spend more on experiences, specifically nature and outdoor activities, young Asian travelers will want to make the most of their vacation and seek to include experiences like scuba diving into their plans. In 2023, China, Japan and Korea recorded the highest number of new PADI certified divers in Asia. In 2024,  the Asia Pacific diving tourism industry is set to not only fully recover but exceed the market size in 2019, and as demand continues to grow, the region’s revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2% from 2022 – 2030.

Chuan Sheng (C.S.) Soong, VP, Corporate Development, Klook said, “We’re excited to announce this strategic partnership with PADI, and to bring greater access with a seamless booking experience to the diving community. There is tremendous enthusiasm and dedication for diving across Asia Pacific and we want to bring more joy to this community with our platform. At Klook, we continue to expand our offerings to create more exciting, unique and holistic experiences for our customers. This presents the perfect opportunity to inspire a completely new segment of travelers to the captivating beauty of the underwater world.”

In line with PADI’s mission to explore and protect the underwater world and Klook’s goal to bring the world closer together, PADI and Klook are launching UNIVER-SEA-TY, a pilot program to inspire newcomers to dive and give them the ‘fins’ to explore the magical underwater world. To kick start the program, 33 lucky winners will be given a chance to earn an Open Water Diver certification with PADI in their dive location of choice. 

There are three ways to enter the contest: 

• Via Tik Tok – Use the “Let’s Dive” scuba diving filter to take a video of yourself showing/telling us how much you want to dive 
• Via Instagram – Comment on Klook’s post and share why you want to dive and tag 3 friends
• Via Facebook – Comment on Klook’s post and share why you want to dive and tag 3 friends

Winners will be notified in December 2023 via the respective social media channels and receive an E-gift card to book their complimentary Open Water Dive Certification that they can redeem within the year. 

Swim gear, a towel, a mask and snorkel: what could be simpler? And there’s a lot to be seen from the surface, so that sometimes, breaking out the scuba gear isn’t necessary.

Did you know that RAID now has a swimmer-friendly snorkelling program? Perfect for hassle-free exploring for any diver, and a great alternative for anyone in the family who isn’t crazy about scuba.

This program has its official launch in late September 2023. To check out more about the program and to sign up with your local RAID dive centre.

Snorkeling is a great activity that can be done in almost any body of water. You can use rivers, lakes, estuaries and the ocean. Snorkeling is an easy activity that allows you to see many sea creatures, corals and aquatic mammals. Snorkeling is an activity that does not take too much energy to do. Almost anyone who is reasonably fit can do the activity. It is especially good for children and gets them in touch with the ocean. They can learn about animals, corals and plant life while seeing amazing things.

Objectives

• Gain knowledge of snorkeling equipment
• Understand the basics of buoyancy and water movements
• Understand the basics of finning & movement for snorkeling
• Gain knowledge of personal safety and care while in the water
• Gain knowledge and experience of snorkeling
• Plan for a snorkel experience

Why We Need This Course

Snorkeling is a simple, pleasant and convenient way to explore the shallow areas of our oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. It gives both the professional and casual user a way, with minimal equipment to see what is below the surface. With the introduction of the equipment for snorkeling, the experience becomes even better with vision, propulsion and comfort. However, as with all equipment proper use, selection and maintenance are important; this course will teach you these basics and introduce you to the underwater world.

Learn More at RAID

In a surprise announcement via social media, the team behind IANTD UK have advised that they have made the decision to not continue as IANTD licensees for the UK.

The full announcement from Facebook can be seen below:

After much discussion over the Summer, the decision to not renew as IANTD UK licensee has been jointly taken by Martin, Amy, Phil and Tim. There are a number of reasons, which intertwine to remove the viability of IANTD UK.

Firstly, it’s no secret that we have not given IANTD as much time since COVID as it deserves. There has always been an ambition to drive instructor recruitment, support new materials and make sure existing instructors have the support they need. We haven’t managed that as well as we would like. Vobster has supported IANTD for several declining years, but the combination of current factors has made that too difficult. It’s time for someone else to bring a new vision and determination.

Secondly, the number of IANTD UK instructors is at an all time low, following the retirement of many stalwart instructors. It is currently hard to justify re presenting the opportunities for tech training in the UK as worth the investment to new candidates. That may change with a new licensee, more time, energy and a new vision.

Third, the opportunities for deep water training and price of helium are a sector wide problem, but has effectively drastically diminshed technical OC certs in the UK.

We have taken the decision to announce this now, to maximise the chances of finding a successor and supporting them in the transition. We all remain committed to supporting IANTD as instructors and IT, but cannot sustain the effort required for licensee activities. We will happily discuss our experience and the remaining opportunities with anyone interested in taking over as licensee. We certainly hope that they can enjoy the responsibility of running a licensee region that we had, until just a couple of years ago.

On the flip-side, it has been a privilege to steer IANTD from the dangerously liable state we found it in in 2010. Missing certs, dubious accounting, standards oddness, some rogue practice and no communication from licensee. We are happy that we are leaving it in a better state, albeit one facing very different external challenges, instead of internal disorganisation. We have deep thanks for all of you who have been with us on that journey to restore the reputation of IANTD as a training provider – it would not have been possible without you. Phil and Tim will retain their instructor and IT status to support the next licensee as part of a team committed to safe, high quality training.

With best wishes for safe diving,

Amy, Martin, Phil and Tim – IANTD UK

Combined advanced Nitrox and Decompression training

You will learn safe planning, the use of enriched air mixtures containing between 21 and 100% oxygen for dives at depths of up to 150 feet. Upon successful completion of the course, divers are qualified to plan and execute decompression stop dives without supervision and under conditions similar to those of the training.

You can follow this training in double or side configuration (sidemount).

AOW-nitrox / 25 dives / excellent buoyancy are required. As always, our students receive 15% off a variety of equipment in the shop.

Details

Event by Nathalie Lasselin Aquanath

September 26 evening; 30 September/1 October all day

Dives: 6 over 3 days at Ivy Lea, Ontario

All welcome on or off Facebook

Contact: info@pixnat.com

Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/6711229548940200

Imagine a scuba set that’s half the weight of your current one, yet gives you more bottom time. Imagine that scuba could provide the freedom and streamlined experience of freediving. Now, imagine all this with immediately perfect neutral buoyancy. 

Sounds like magic? We call it Avelo.

In September, our guests will have the unique chance of doing the Recreational Avelo Diver (RAD) course. By doing this course, you will be one of the first people in the world to get the Avelo certification.

The Avelo technology can help you provide these advantages for your dives:

• Effortless buoyancy control 
• Dramatically improved air consumption 
• Significant reduction in equipment weight and bulkiness 
• Increased air capacity (up to 30% more gas capacity)

Avelo training schedule:

• 13 & 14 September (8 spots) 
• 15 & 16 September (8 spots) 
• 17 & 18 September (8 spots) 
• 22 & 24 September (8 spots) 
• 23 & 25 September (8 spots)

The price of the RAD course is $750 all in. This includes the 2-day course, rental Avelo equipment and the certification.

Are you joining us in Bonaire?

Contact Dive Friends Bonaire now to secure your spot

• https://www.divefriendsbonaire.com/contact-us/
• https://www.instagram.com/divefriendsbonaire
• https://www.facebook.com/divefriendsbonaire

But what is it? Find out more at: https://www.diveavelo.com, https://www.instagram.com/diveavelo and https://www.facebook.com/diveavelo

After adding more than 300 new Dive Centers and Resorts over the last year to its ranks, nearly half of which joined PADI® in 2023, PADI Retail and Resort Membership continues to grow.

These new members amplify PADI’s vast global presence in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas. As new PADI Retail and Resort Members – many of whom are now exclusively aligned with PADI — they join the world’s largest purpose-driven training organization committed to empowering people around the world to experience, explore and take meaningful action to protect our shared blue planet.

Key drivers for numerous business owners’ decision to align with PADI include the desire to future-proof their operations in line with the growing demand of training more divers and instructors. This alignment provides them with PADI’s superior business support, enhanced training products and a globally-respected brand that engages with new audiences – all offered through the direct assistance of a designated PADI Reginal Team.

“PADI Dive Centers and Resorts are the critical hubs that create and drive the world’s largest diver community, leading the charge by nurturing the next generation’s shared passion for underwater adventure and hands-on ocean conservation,” says Kristin Valette Wirth, Chief Brand and Membership Officer for PADI Worldwide.

“PADI supports its entire global membership by heavily investing in ongoing diver acquisition and retention initiatives including public relations outreach with world-class media, the #LiveUnfiltered campaign, ongoing business consultations and tools, world-class marketing materials, unparalleled educational programs and materials, and effective programs and policies to create positive ocean change.”

With the real challenges that business owners face, PADI is committed to helping members tackle issues with various problem-solving techniques. Some recent success stories and problems that were solved for newly acquired PADI Members include:

1. Filling a Cost-Effective Pipeline of Customers:

PADI worked with Mars Scuba and Steel City Scuba in Pennsylvania, USA to customize a plan that would allow the operator to crossover without disrupting their business model, as they were looking to shift their membership during the global pandemic.

“When we were forced to shut down because of the pandemic, PADI shined with weekly seminars, training and collaborating,” says Chris Lobozzo, owner of Mars Scuba and Steel City Scuba. “We knew we had a real team behind us. They helped us with Facebook advertising and marketing campaigns.  As a result, even during Covid, our business grew overall.”

Now operating as PADI Five Star IDC Dive Center, both Mars Scuba and Steel City Scuba are able to fulfill customer demand.

“Both our centers are working well, systems are easy to use, and we’ve maintained a steady increase in new customers who find us through PADI.com or another PADI vehicle, with referral traffic to our website tripled compared to our previous training agency,” continues Lobozzo.  “You need to account for the incredible marketing and training services layered into the e-learning cost.  Naturally, we’re willing to pay a bit more to have PADI backing us.”

 2. Enticing Customers to Instructor Courses: 

PADI worked with Dive36 in Kuwait to support the growth of their Instructor Development Course. “Marketing the instructor course was not easy, but when we switched to PADI, they helped with advertising and preparing a student to enter the Instructor Development Course,” says Faisal Albayan, owner of Dive36.

Since switching to PADI and becoming a Five Star IDC Dive Center, Dive36 has seen the power of the PADI brand in helping their business acquire new IDC candidates and putting them on track to break previous records and exceed business plan expectations.

 “PADI’s reputation regarding the Instructor Development Course is amazing, with registrations for the IDC requiring minimum effort from us,” continues Albayan. “PADI is the easiest training organization to work with, especially at the pro levels as their curriculum of courses supports the students’ professional development.” 

3. Building a Stronger International Business Strategy:

PADI Dive Resort High Gili Dive Gili Gede in Indonesia streamlined its business strategy to better serve the diverse set of consumer needs, as 90% of their customer base are international holidaymakers looking for unique dive experiences.

“One of the main benefits of PADI is we can offer training materials in many different languages,” explains Neil Barrow, owner of High Gili Dive Gili Gede.  “PADI helps us offer a superior learning experience to our customers no matter what nationality they are. We also gained an increase in our visibility via PADI’s various marketing opportunities like the listing on the PADI travel website, features in their magazines, and promotion on social media. Most importantly we are introducing more people to the wonders of the ocean and sustaining our environment for future generations.”

 “As our organization continues to elevate the demand for diver certifications around the globe, there has never been a more opportune time to be a PADI Retail and Resort Member,” continues Valette Wirth. “These industry-leading dive operations have joined the global membership of 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts in 184 countries that empower more divers worldwide to seek adventure and save the ocean.”

To learn more about the benefits of PADI Membership and join the world’s largest purpose-driven diving organization contact your PADI Regional Office.

At SSI, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our newly renamed Freediving programs. They represent a significant leap forward in providing a comprehensive and immersive experience for our students. 

With a completely revamped curriculum and enriched learning materials, we are committed to offering the best training opportunities for freedivers of all levels. Let us delve into the exciting updates and improvements that await aspiring freedivers.

Explore SSI’s updated Freediving programs

1.New Program Structure

To enhance the learning experience and provide a holistic understanding of freediving, the new Freediver program has been divided into six distinct sections. These sections cover essential aspects such as:

• Physiology
• Pressure
• Freediving Disciplines
• Freediving Equipment
• The Freediving Experience
• Safe and Responsible Freediving

This comprehensive approach ensures that students gain a thorough understanding of the subject matter, preparing them for a successful and enriching freediving journey.

2. Enhanced Student Experience

Our primary objective with the revised Freediver program is to create a manual that enables students to visualize and anticipate their upcoming freediving experiences. The updated student books have been meticulously crafted to serve as the main guide, featuring new visuals, videos, and a refreshed layout.

While we have made minor grammatical changes, the core content remains largely consistent with the original Freediving Level 1 program, ensuring a smooth transition for existing students.

Learn to Freedive: 9 Reasons Why Freediving is the Perfect Hobby

3. Improved Instructor Resources

Recognizing the pivotal role instructors play in shaping students’ freediving abilities, we have dedicated significant efforts to standardize the instructor manuals across all our courses. The new instructor manuals are designed to be more efficient, user-friendly, and practical, equipping instructors with valuable insights and actionable information.

The inclusion of “Practical Application” sessions ensures that freediving instructors have the tools they need to deliver high-quality training that aligns with real-life scenarios.

4. Flexible Learning Options

Understanding that some students prefer self-study, we have introduced an online final exam for those who wish to study independently. This approach allows students to dedicate more time to practice, fostering a deeper understanding and mastery of the material. 

By offering a flexible learning model, we aim to cater to diverse learning preferences and create an inclusive educational environment.

5. Transition for Existing Students

We are pleased to announce that the new Freediver program will be available to all existing Level 1 students. This ensures continuity and allows students to seamlessly progress through their freediving education with SSI. 

We believe that by upgrading the program and enriching the learning materials, we can provide a more comprehensive and fulfilling learning experience for our valued students.

Unlock the Depths: 5 Ways to Increase Your Freediving Breath-Hold

6. Streamlined Administrative Materials

In our commitment to excellence, we have also taken the opportunity to refine our administrative materials. Completion records have been updated to align with the course and skill name changes, providing a seamless and cohesive record of students’ achievements.

Additionally, cue cards have been standardized, and we have added space for instructors to make notes, facilitating effective communication and evaluation during skill reviews.

Looking Ahead

With these exciting changes in place, we are eagerly anticipating the future of SSI Freediving programs. Our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional training opportunities is unwavering.

We are continuously working towards providing instructors and students with the most up-to-date and comprehensive resources, including the introduction of fresh PDF-based PEGs and the upcoming availability of printed cue cards.

At SSI, we are proud to present the newly renamed Freediving programs, representing a significant evolution in our commitment to delivering exceptional training and a truly immersive freediving experience. 

With a renewed focus on comprehensive learning, enriched materials, and improved Freediving Instructor resources, we aim to empower students to embark on their freediving journeys with confidence and knowledge. 

Join us as we dive into the future of freediving education and exploration

START YOUR SSI FREEDIVER CERTIFICATION TODAY

Dive enthusiasts worldwide are in for a treat as DiveShop360, a leading online platform for scuba diving education and equipment, has just announced a groundbreaking integration with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). This new partnership aims to revolutionize the certification process, making it more accessible and streamlined for aspiring divers.

DiveShop360, known for its commitment to providing comprehensive diving solutions, has been at the forefront of the industry for years. With their latest collaboration with PADI, a globally recognized leader in diver training, the diving community can now experience a seamless and efficient certification process like never before.

The integration will allow DiveShop360 users to access PADI’s renowned certification programs directly through the platform. By offering PADI courses and certifications, DiveShop360 becomes a one-stop-shop for diving enthusiasts, providing them with the necessary training and credentials to explore the underwater world safely.

Ken Colbert, General Manager, Dive Shop 360, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to join forces with PADI, a prestigious organization with a long-standing reputation for excellence in diver education. This integration will enable us to enhance our users’ experience by offering them direct access to PADI’s world-class training programs.”

With DiveShop360’s user-friendly interface and PADI’s expertise in diver training, aspiring divers will be able to navigate the certification process effortlessly. The integration aims to eliminate barriers to entry for newcomers while maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

Kristin Valette Wirth, Chief Brand and Membership Officer for PADI Worldwide, also commented on the collaboration, stating, “We are delighted to partner with DiveShop360 in this exciting venture. This integration reflects our shared commitment to making scuba diving accessible to all and promoting safe diving practices worldwide. By combining our resources and expertise, we are confident that we can reach a broader audience and inspire more people to explore the wonders of the ocean.”

The partnership between DiveShop360 and PADI marks a significant milestone in the diving industry. It not only simplifies the certification process but also fosters collaboration between two influential organizations dedicated to the growth and development of scuba diving.

DiveShop360 users can now visit their website (https://diveshop360.com/padi-certification-integrated-into-dive-shop-360/) to explore the newly integrated PADI certification programs and take a step closer to their underwater adventures. With this game-changing partnership, the world of scuba diving has become more accessible, exciting, and safe for all diving enthusiasts.

Ever since I started scuba diving way back when I was fascinated by the Hammerhead Shark, but my luck at actually diving with these amazing predators did not eventuate until early last year when I took a trip to The Bahamas for the sole purpose of fulfilling my dream of getting up close and personal with the Great Hammerhead.

The idea of combining the PADI IDC and a dive trip to The Bahamas was born sitting in the local bar at the marina discussing the concept with an instructor friend of mine I used to work with in Australia. So here it is:

• Limited numbers
• Once a year only at the end of November, early December 2023
• Instructor Exam pass guarantee
• Training for 5 specialty instructor ratings including my own authored Shark Specialty Instructor rating
• Marine life knowledge course
• AND 4 days 3 nights in The Bahamas diving with Hammerheads over two days.

To get the full information pack of this amazing Hammerhead + IDC package please visit the dedicated website we created for this event at www.diveinstructor.pro

There you can leave your name and email address so that we can forward you the information pack for you to see if this is right for you.

It does not cost anything to look and if you want to take it further I am always available for a chat to answer any questions you might have.

Hope to see you at one of our IDC programs real soon.

Kai Steinbeck is a PADI Platinum Course Director with over 30 years in the dive industry. Kai conducts PADI IDC programs in Australia as well as in the Caribbean.

Visit https://www.diveinstructor.pro for more details

All three sessions will be in person, at Bayland Community Center, and via Zoom for any participants that can’t make it to the in-person presentation. The workshops are FREE.

Three 1-hour Workshops for Beginning to Intermediate Videographers – Starting May 20, 2-4 p.m.

The three sessions will only deal with how to take good video clips underwater. They will not deal with editing and assembly into final films. The surprising thing about UW video is that it doesn’t have to be a black art. There are some simple practices that are easily taught and somewhat easily practiced that will make a night and day difference in results you achieve.

• Session one: Achieving Good Color Underwater
• Session two: How to Take Stable UW Video Clips
• Session three: Taking Video that is Critically In Focus

Time will also be spent discussing how to best get reliable results from action cameras, point and shoot systems, and higher end SLRs. Questions will be fielded for answers and discussion.

Contact Dennis at ddeavenport@comcast.net to sign up or get more information

Dive RAID International (DRI) today released a joint statement with Paul Vincent Toomer announcing that PVT has stepped down from the agency’s management team.

In the joint statement released today, DRI and Paul Toomer disclosed that Paul has resigned his position as V-P Product Development for the agency. Citing personal reasons, Paul has also relinquished his general management duties with the company. He will, however, continue as a highly respected professional for RAID—as an ITT/Examiner—instructing at most levels of the RAID curriculum and promoting the RAID Way.

“Paul has served on the RAID board of directors since the DRI purchased the company in January 2022, and before that in various roles under previous ownership,” explained Sabatino Bianco, CEO of RAID’s management team. “During his time with us, especially in the past 18-months, he made many contributions to our success and growth, drawing on a wealth of experience gained over a long and successful career in the dive industry. On behalf of the board of directors, the management team, and our professional partners worldwide, I thank Paul sincerely for his dedication to the agency and wish him and his family all the best in the future.”

Dr. Sabatino Bianco, MD
CEO RAID International HQ

Learn more about RAID at: https://www.diveraid.com

Why sit in a boring classroom when you could be learning at sea?

Learn at sea while diving! Participate in this unique Continuing Medical Education Program on a liveaboard this December. The specialty trip allows medical professionals to explore two incredible Caribbean Islands, dive up to 22 times, and receive 8 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits. Plus, there’s no additional cost for the course!

During the week aboard, guests will dive in the morning and evening, with afternoons spent participating in two 1-hour lectures provided by Dr. Gary Rose MD. Dr. Rose is a former Associate Professor of Microbiology and Surgery at the College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University and member of Divers Alert Network and The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Topics that will be covered include dive safety, injury prevention, venom and stings, shark safety, shipwreck primary care, and more. 

This exclusive liveaboard package includes 7 nights and 8 days aboard the vessel with up to 22 dives during the week. Plus, three chef-prepared meals daily, snacks, alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages. Guests will stay in comfortable accommodation with private ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, towels, linens, etc. Diving services, professional guides, tanks, weights, and air fills are also included.

When: 9-16 December 2023 
Where: St Kitts, Saba, Sint Maarten
Liveaboard: Caribbean Explorer II
Principle Faculty: Gary Rose MD
Credit Received: 8 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits
Who should attend: Medical Doctors, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, Physicians Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, etc.
Diving Certification: Open water diver certification (required), AOW recommended
Cost: US $2,695 per person – no additional cost for the course!

Topics

1. Marine Microorganisms – What Every Diving Physician Must Know
2. Venom, Stings, and Bites
3. Aquatic Animals of The Eastern Pacific Ocean – dive safely and prevent injury
4. Shark Identification and Behavior – dive safely and prevent injury
5. Shark Attack – Acute and Long-Term Care and Management
6. DCS/DCI/Narcosis/O2 Toxicity/Barotrauma
7. Shipwreck Safety and Primary Care
8. Diving with Great White Sharks, Winter and Cold-Water Diving – Safety and Medical Issues

Sample Daily Schedule (May Vary)

TOTAL CME HOURS A DAY: 2 / TOTAL CME HOURS FOR TRIP: 8

About Gary Rose MD

Gary Rose MD has been a certified diver for over 45 years and is a PADI Open Water Instructor. As a Plastic Surgeon and former Associate Professor of Microbiology and Surgery at the College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, he has fulfilled his life passion as a marine biologist with his research on marine microorganisms, as well as large ocean apex predators. Dr. Rose lectures all over the world on “Shark Identification and Behavior” and gives seminars on “Updates On Diving Medicine”. An avid underwater photographer, his articles appear in Alert Diver and X-RAY magazines. Dr. Rose is a member of the Divers Alert Network and The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. You can find him on weekends diving our local waters and photographing our plentiful and diverse sharks. You can reach him at garyrosemd@aol.com

Accreditation and Disclaimer

Accreditation Statement Jointly Provided: “This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society and Gary Rose MD. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.” 

Designation Statement: The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 8 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Full Disclosure Statement: All faculty members and planners participating in continuing medical education activities sponsored by UMHS are expected to disclose to the participants any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. Full disclosure of faculty and planner relevant financial relationships will be made at the activity. 

UHMS Disclaimer: The information provided at this CME activity is for Continuing Medical Education purposes only. The lecture content, statements or opinions expressed however, do not necessarily represent those of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), its affiliates or its employees.

Get Credited at Sea!

Learn more at: https://www.explorerventures.com

Seneca has made the difficult decision to cancel the Underwater Skills program after an incredible 45 years of preparing commercial divers for a wide range of careers both locally and internationally. The college’s closure has been attributed to high operating costs and low student demand. This program is no longer accepting applications. Students who are currently enrolled will be able to complete the program.

Seneca College was sought after by contractors for skilled graduates to work in offshore construction, salvage, inspection, offshore oil and gas exploration, and production.

Seneca’s 35-week program would have allowed the student to dive to a maximum depth of 50 meters (165 feet), under the supervision of Seneca’s Unrestricted Surface Supplied Supervisors, who had more than 100 years of combined commercial diving experience. Students would have received an internationally recognized certificate from the Diver Certification Board of Canada as an Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver upon graduation (DCBC).

Holland College

After operating the Commercial Diving Program in Prince Edward Island for 19 years, Holland College in Prince Edward Island closed it in 2000. Kimball Johnston and a former Holland College team member resurrected the course and rebranded themselves as the Atlantic Commercial Diving Center (ACDC).

Mermaids are the things of legends, mysticism, and beauty. Every little girl grows up dreaming of becoming a mermaid, and now with the popularity of movies like Aquaman, so do boys. Those dreams stay with us as we grow older – the desire to be one with the water, moving gracefully and swiftly with the stroke of a single tail. Increasing popularity surrounding the mystical world of mermaids has brought the production of mermaid tails and fins main-stream. With SSI’s suite of Mermaid certification programs, becoming a true mermaid has never been easier!

There are many reasons to become a mermaid or merman; however, if you have never tried mermaiding before, we are listing our six top reasons to expand your love for the water by enrolling in an SSI Mermaid Training Program today! 

Our top 7 reasons to join an SSI Mermaid Program:

Reason #1: Mermaid Swimming

Swimming as a mermaid is one of the most graceful things you can do. You will find that much power exists within the single flick of your mermaid fin. Mermaid swimming is not only a fast and graceful way to explore the underwater world, but it is also great exercise. A mermaid fin is essentially a monofin, a single fin used in freediving that houses both feet. Using the dolphin kick required when utilizing a monofin not only works nearly every muscle group in your legs but is also a great cardiovascular workout. If you like to swim for exercise, mermaid swimming brings a new, fun aspect to what can sometimes become a monotonous activity.

Reason #2: Make New Friends

Joining a “mermaid pod” is not only really fun but brings many new friendships. A mermaid pod is what you call a group of mermaids, and once you take your SSI Mermaid course, you will find that many mermaid pods meet up regularly all over the world! If you are looking for a new, fun activity to make new friends and travel to new, exciting places, mermaiding is for you!

Reason #3: Look Graceful Underwater

With their long, beautiful tails, flowing hair, and undulating dolphin kicks, mermaids are one of the most graceful looking creatures in the water. Training to be a mermaid is a form of freediving where you will use a mer-fin and tail cover. Once you learn how to properly use your mertail in your SSI Mermaid program, you will be swimming with grace and poise underwater in no time. Mastering the art of swimming in mer-equipment is a rewarding challenge.

Reason #4: Mermaid Modeling

From mermaid make-up to what seems like unlimited choices of mermaid tails, living your mermaid fantasies is about as fun as it gets. By taking SSI’s Mermaid Model program, you will learn the best tips and tricks to modeling underwater as a mermaid. Mermaid photographs and videos make stunning images and fun memories. 

Reason #5: Mermaid Skills

You may not have given much thought to the skill level involved in becoming a mermaid, but there are many fun skills to master in the art of mermaiding. In your SSI Mermaid program, you will learn many mermaid skills from blowing bubble kisses and bubble hearts to performing graceful summersaults and barrel rolls all while underwater. Every new skill you master increases your grace and beauty in the water.

Reason #6: Share Mermaiding With Others

The most fun a mermaid can have is sharing the fantastic world of mermaiding with non-mermaids. Watching the joy on someone’s face the first time they swim with a mermaid tail is a rewarding experience. SSI Professional Mermaid Instructors can have lucrative and unique adventures sharing the world of mermaiding at Try Mermaid birthday parties, conducting mermaid classes, and running Mermaid Modeling sessions. Take your mermaid adventures to the next level by becoming an SSI Mermaid Instructor.

Reason #7: Everyone Loves Mermaids

Our final reason to become a mermaid is the simple fact that everyone loves mermaids. Becoming a mermaid opens up a whole new world you didn’t even know existed. Being a mermaid allows you to participate in mermaid shows, mermaid events, mermaid meet-ups, and even mermaid conventions. 

These are just a sampling of the reasons why becoming a mermaid is so amazing. Dive in and discover the fun, exciting world of mermaiding today by becoming an SSI Mermaid. 

Click here to find the nearest SSI Training Center offering mermaid programs today!

I enjoyed reading Kai Steinbeck’s recent piece in The Scuba News explaining which agency offers the best opportunities to a diver who wishes to become a dive instructor and then: “travel the world and teach scuba diving.” His point of view was interesting and got me thinking. And so, here are some of those thoughts. It’s important to understand, this is not a rebuttal, nor is it a criticism. You might think of it as Part 2 following on from his editorial, but by another writer. Alternatively, this is just another dive professional’s point of view informed by a different experience. Your choice.

But before that and following Kai’s example of providing a disclaimer, the “bit of housekeeping” with which he began his article, let’s start here with mine.

By way of full disclosure, I was an active technical instructor-trainer, IT examiner, member of the training advisory board, and a staff member for TDI when Bret Gilliam opened that agency in the early 1990s. I am now a partner in Dive RAID International. I retired from teaching a couple of years back, and essentially only dive for fun now… mostly in caves. But as Vice-president Marketing for RAID, I feel comfortable putting forward a quite different perspective on the state of the industry: specifically, the pathway to becoming a professional dive instructor. I believe Kai’s article, as detailed as it was, missed a few salient points and outlining those gaps here now may help anyone cuddling up to the notion of travelling the world and teaching scuba diving.

While it is true that in theory all the major recreational training agencies—specifically the so-called Big Seven—follow industry-wide course standards and shared goals designed to deliver similar results for the student, there are loopholes. One of the biggest is how an agency polices it’s professional membership whose job it is to apply those general standards when working with students, and how each agency’s goals (part of its business model) affect that process.  

Let’s start with Kai’s statement: “… by the time you have completed the open water, advanced, rescue and divemaster course you should possess the theoretical knowledge and have the diving skills to be comfortable in your instructor development course.”

Once again, the theory is rock-solid. Every instructor candidate should possess the required skills, values, and experience, but the reality is very different. At the core of that difference is a divergence in the professional development pathway created by each agency. 

The different approaches detailing how an agency makes sure its leaders follow standards, is worth checking into. Does dive agency ABCD ask every student to give feedback before issuing the cert or is the QA process more or less ad-hoc? This is critical knowledge for an instructor.

There is a common diving aphorism that it’s the instructor and not the agency that matters. This is an awful oversimplification. While it’s true that there needs to be good chemistry between instructor and student at every level, at the base of that equation is the original choice the certifying instructor made about which agency to partner with when starting their career. Part was a pure business decision but he or she also had to consider the agency’s beliefs, its ideology, principles, and reputation: and there’s more to that than market share. Most importantly, if one’s goal is to made scuba instruction a job or even just a part-time side hustle, reputation management has to be a consideration if the business is to be truly successful and a happy place to work in. 

Something to think about, if you’re thinking about becoming a dive pro in my opinion.

By the way, and for the record, at last count there are around 120 scuba certification agencies. And a good guess is that some are easier than others for an instructor to work with. Wouldn’t it be great to have a crib sheet detailing that sort of thing to hand to anyone thinking about signing up for instructor training? Can you imagine how long that list of pros and cons would be. But as Kai pointed out, research the practical options. You will almost inevitably end with a list narrowed down to the aforementioned Big Seven whose focus is on recreational instruction (BSAC, CMAS, NAUI, PADI, RAID, SDI, and SSI**). Between them, these companies reportedly own about 94 percent of the market and certify that percentage or better of the divers who go on to become scuba and freediving instructors.

This group of companies are certainly not the same. They are all for-profit companies, so that’s something they have in common. Outside of that, each has different challenges when it comes to reputation management and what a prospective instructor should think about when considering which of them to partner with. 

For example, at least one of them has a business model that fast-tracks the process of taking a punter off the street, getting them into a brief zero-to-hero open water course, and directing them into an instructor program in the shortest time possible. They make money, a lot of it, from the annual subscription fees collected from their instructors. Whether those professionals are actively teaching or not is essentially secondary. For this agency, it’s a numbers game and those numbers include an active and relentless churn-rate of open water scuba instructors.

This approach to instructor development has damaged the scuba industry, and thinned, diluted the average capacity of a “dive professional” to manage student needs. Empathy, wisdom, a willingness to listen and process an individual’s strengths and weaknesses, are not encouraged if one follows this model. The capacity to teach has been replaced by the need to throw more bodies into the meat grinder. A pessimistic view perhaps… a little out of touch with the reality of doing business? 

Anyone who has been reading posts on one of the many active scuba chat groups has seen the posts that go something like: “I’ve just learned to dive; I want to be an instructor; can I log the prerequisite dives in the quarry next weekend?” In my opinion, this is a travesty. Let’s encourage the enthusiasm with vigour but let’s promote common-sense and a more prudent mindset. Most urgently, let’s get away from overpopulating the industry with ill-prepared and poorly experienced leadership. 

Dear wanna-be instructor, give this serious thought, please.

My practice—perhaps over-wrought and too old-school—was always asking students who wanted to become an instructor what they had to contribute to the scuba diving zeitgeist. So, for me at least, rather than simplifying the recruitment message and boiling it down to where one can get a job, with whom, and via which flavour of certifying agency, as Kai did, there is something more important to consider. 

John Kennedy famously said: “Ask not what your country can do for you: ask what you can do for your country!” I don’t think it’s disingenuous to suggest we give a similar consideration to the dive industry when we want to join it. For example, when running instructor programs, one of the workshops I included focused on the extra value, the experience, the life skills as well as teaching and diving skills, instructor candidates brought to the table. And specifically, how their students would benefit? 

Answers from instructor candidates in those workshops ranged from having an advanced degree in phycology, holding an Olympic medal in downhill skiing, and speaking a handful of languages (including one candidate who spoke English, Hindi, Tamal, French, Portuguese, and Arabic), all the way along the skills spectrum to holding a master mariner’s certification, and being an experienced marine-diesel mechanic. Those skills added value to the instructor candidates… and helped to keep the person delivering the IDP—the author—humble. 

Yes, by all means strive to teach scuba, but what are you bringing to the table? What is going to set you apart from the others?

Another proviso that anyone reading Kai’s article should not overlook, is that being an instructor “overseas” (that is, holding a passport from a different country to the one where one wants to work), requires a chat with a bureaucrat… perhaps several… and if things work out, carrying a work-permit. (And even then there is not an absolute guarantee of safe passage!)

Anyhow, it’s time to wrap this up, but I do want to thank Kai for taking the trouble to put his article together. It certainly got me thinking, I hope is did the same for you too.

Most of all, I do not want to discourage anyone with aspirations of traveling the world and turning on crowds of tourists and visiting backpackers to the joys of diving. Far from it. DO IT! This industry needs new blood and a new outlook. And for the record, teaching scuba is one of the most interesting and engaging jobs for anyone who is even remotely interested in people watching or who wants to find out more about the human condition and this planet of ours (more than 70 percent of which is covered in water don’t forget.) Being a dive leader is the most rewarding experience. It’s just that the process requires a little more thought than a casual reader of Kai’s article may have given it. 

Remember what the late president Kennedy said. Oh, and one skill you should consider developing BEFORE you sign up for instructor training is herding cats.

*RAID uses the term IDP (Instructor Development Program) rather than IDC but that semantics and rather unimportant. I just wanted to add footnotes.

**And incidentally, Kia mentioned GUE in his article and I left that agency off the list for a couple of reasons: they are a not-for-profit training agency closely allied to a for-profit equipment manufacturing company, which is a rather unique business model; but also their focus is not primarily on recreational certifications. 

N.B. The views expressed in this thought paper are those of the author, Steve Lewis, and do not necessarily represent those of Dive RAID International, its leadership team or its representatives around the world.

Are you finding it difficult to take two to three weeks off to complete your PADI IDC? We have come up with an answer for that.

Dive Instructor Academy is run by PADI Platinum Course Director Kai Steinbeck and we break the IDC up into two manageable chunks.

First, we have to cover the academic section of the PADI Instructor Development Course. That’s the part of the program that is traditionally conducted in a classroom environment. We have the technology to run the academic portion with you face to face via live online training. IMPORTANT!  This is not eLearning. This is your PADI Course Director presenting the curriculum to you live, face to face, via online platforms to you in your home or office or wherever you want to be, where you will interact, ask questions and even present what you learn.

But hang on I hear you say. I heard that there is eLearning. You are 100% correct. There is a PADI eLearning session that you have to do. You need to complete this whether you are doing a traditional PADI IDC, or if you are doing our version.

We will create a schedule for you to spend 3 hours per day for 8 days to cover everything we need to cover. During these presentations we will use digital whiteboards and other tools to get all the information taught, just as if you were in a classroom setting.

With that out of the way, you’re ready for your in-water training. This will be done at our PADI 5 star IDC centre located in the Dominican Republic. It is here that we will conduct confined water and openwater training and presentations. 

We will have plenty of time to practice rescue training as well as the Emergency First Aid Instructor Course which is part of your PADI IDC program.

What are the benefits?

• If you are short of time and can’t get away for 2 and a half to 3 weeks, then our PADI IDC is ideal for you.
• We can arrange the program for you in a way that the live online training precedes the in-water training so that you are fresh for your Instructor Examination.
• We have more time to focus on actual in-water training.

What else is included?

• Instructor Exam Pass guarantee! Yep, really! If you fail your IE we will pay for your resit and give you extra training. That’s how confident we are that our training is second to none.
• Training for 5 specialty instructor ratings (Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, O2 and Boat)
• Introduction to free diving
• Marine life knowledge course

So, drop everything that you are doing and send us an email at kai@diveinstructor.net or sign up right here https://www.diveinstructor.net/plans-pricing

For all the information check out the website at https://www.diveinstructor.net

PADI has awarded Jo Armitage, Course Director at The Go Pro Family in Mexico, Platinum status for her contributions to professional training and educational excellence during 2022.  This year marks the tenth consecutive year she has achieved this status.

This milestone comes just a year after The Go Pro Family’s other Course Director, Angel Navarro, received his 15^th consecutive Platinum award. 

Jo, originally from the UK, says “Time really does fly when you’re having fun.  I can’t believe it’s been ten years since my first Platinum Course Director award.  Training future PADI dive instructors is such a fulfilling job and every IDC brings something new.”

Jo adds “Currently only around 15% of PADI Course Directors are female, so I am stoked to receive this award and I hope to encourage other women divers to become PADI Pros and to be Course Directors themselves one day.”

Jo currently conducts IDC in three locations in Mexico, which she says helps her to keep her training fresh and relevant.  “It’s great to be able to experience new dive locations and work with some great teams at our affiliate dive centers.” said Jo

The Go Pro Family is Course Directors Angel Navarro (from Spain) and Jo Armitage (from the UK), and their team of pros.  Together, they have personally trained over 900 PADI Instructors, and have issued over 4000 professional-level certifications.  Based in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, The Go Pro Family offers professional-level scuba training as well as technical, cave diving and freediving.  They also conduct PADI Instructor Development Courses in Mahahual and Huatulco.

For more information about their IDCs or other training options, visit https://thegoprofamily.com/en/

The newly updated MySSI App is still making waves within the dive industry, and is now even better! We gathered all the feedback our loyal divers and pros submitted since the App’s launch and used it to remove bugs in the programing and add cool new features. The end result is an all-inclusive tool that modern-day divers should never leave home without. 

Continue reading to learn what all the MySSI App can do for you and check out the linked videos for quick tutorials on getting the most out of the app’s unique features. 

Here are some of the ways the MySSI App can benefit you:

Events Calendar

• See all of your dive center’s upcoming activities with the SSI Event Calendar. From the app homepage you can view every posted class and event your affiliated Training Center is offering. 
• Never miss another dive event in your area! The Events Calendar keeps you diving.

Digital Training & Certification

• The MySSI App gives you 24/7 access to all your registered digital learning materials in 30+ languages and certification cards, both online and offline. 
• Track your progress and access FREE SSI programs like Try Scuba, Try Freediving, Snorkeling, and Try Mermaid.
• Find all your digital certifications, accident and travel insurance, and dive professional liability insurance in one place.
• Since the MySSI App gives you the ability to log all your dives and training in-app, you can earn free SSI Specialty Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Master Diver ratings!

Digital Logbook

• Keep an accurate record of all your dives with the SSI Digital Logbook. Log your Scuba, Freediving, Extended Range and Rebreather (SCR/CCR) dives fast with SSI’s Dive Spot Database and QR codes.
• Add new dives with your device’s GPS and download your dives from selected dive computers.
• Verify your logged dives with an SSI Training Center or Pro and contribute to populating SSI’s dive site data in MyDiveGuide.

Free Online Training

• Get free, immediate access to SSI’s Snorkeling, Try Scuba, Try Freediving, and Try Mermaid programs directly from the MySSI App. 

Digital Dive Gear

• Save important dive gear details, including serial numbers, photos, and invoices.
• Enter maintenance dates to track when your equipment needs servicing.

Statistics

• Share your best dives and epic wildlife encounters with friends in the MySSI App.

Join the SSI Network

• Get the latest industry news and upskill with immersive how-to and skills videos. Connect with SSI Dive Centers and Resorts worldwide.
• Quickly and easily leave valuable feedback that gets sent directly to the SSI IT team.

The state-of-the-art SSI App is unique in the diving industry, boasting new features, a modern design, and improved user-friendliness. Whether you run an SSI Training Center, are a Dive Pro, or just love diving, the MySSI App has all you need to boost your business, support your students, and record your diving adventures. Learn more about the SSI App’s unique features here. Don’t go on another dive without it!

Learn more about SSI at: https://www.divessi.com

Well, they have been in the works for a while, and some of us had almost forgotten them, but RAID has released two new, important programs today: Cavern and Twinset.

These both fill in holes in our course line-up, and we’re excited to see how our Dive Centres and students react. Both have been written from the ground up and add the distinctive Dive RAID International touch to two classic diver courses.

Cavern Diver

Cavern has always been a transition program. Not necessarily a first step in a diver’s plan to move on to becoming a full cave diver (which it can be of course), but an indication that you’re serious about your diving skills and your curiosity is turned up to the max.

RAID’s Cavern Diver program is a completely new one for us and has been written specifically to work as a stand-alone “recreational” and mild overhead course to meet demand from users who do not want to commit to the equipment requirements of a full technical program. However, to program is detailed enough, and of course meets RAID’s basic skills-based philosophy, that it can be a valuable steppingstone to RAID’s popular Cave 1 introduction to cave diving program.

Twinset Foundations

RAID will be launching its Twinset Diver program on March 2. Please note that this launch includes standards and guidelines for instructor and Instructor-Trainer certifications for this program.

Once again, we are adding a totally new program is the RAID catalogue. Twinset Diver (Doubles Diver) is RAID’s answer to delivering formalized training for divers who want to learn the safe and responsible way to use this classic kit configuration for recreational or technical diving. It’s also required training for students who wish to complete Deco 40/50/60 or overhead programs.

Designed as a valuable standalone for anyone who wishes to understand and enjoy the benefits of extending their bottom time while having the protection of contingency gas and knowing how to plan their dives to take full advantage of these benefits. This course may be combined with other RAID courses and will become a prerequisite for students wishing to use twinsets on course much like formal training is required for sidemount.

Learn more about Cavern Diver and Twinset Foundations at: https://diveraid.com

SDI – Scuba Diving International Drysuit Course will be held at Explorer Diving in Kingston, Ontario. It is a two-day event. The first day is spent in class and covers topics such as diving type, drysuit care, and suit types. We will do two dives on the second day. Learn the advantages of diving dry when diving cold water. We have 16 dry suits available, but you are welcome to bring your own if you have one. There are only 6 student places available.

Details

March 18, 19 2023

2214 Paul Blvd., Kingston, ON, Canada, Ontario

Contact Number: (613) 214-1292

Explorer_diving@hotmail.com

In 2018, Technical diving instructor, Lance Palmer was conducting a rebreather user course at Stoney Cover in Leicester with Roger Clark, 55 when the incident occurred.

Mr Palmer had serviced Clark’s rebreather prior to the dive, but an inquest later found that this was carried out with “significant failings”.

Over the course of training, the divers descended into “The Sump” which reaches a maximum depth of 35m, although course standards dictate a maximum depth of 30m. Whilst in the sump, Clark’s rebreather issued a number of alarms which would mean the diver would need to “bailout” and use standard open circuit equipment. Unfortunately during this process Mr Clark became unconscious and despite attempts by Palmer and his safety diver to assist getting Mr Clark to the surface, all 3 divers remained at 35m for 3 minutes. By the time the 3 man team had returned to the surface, Mr Clark had drowned.

The HSE investigation ruled that Palmer was responsible for not adequately maintaining and checking his student’s breathing apparatus; failing to remain in close enough proximity to monitor his student, contravening TDI rules for exceeding maximum diving depths on repeat dives, and failing to have an adequately qualified rescue diver in the water with him and the student.

Ivan Cartwright, coroner for Leicester City and South Leicestershire, found that errors and omissions by the instructor and safety diver ‘significantly increased the risks associated with the dive and may have caused, or contributed, to Mr Clarke’s death.’ Lance Palmer was ordered to undertake 50 hours unpaid work and costs of £3,085.

When Scuba Diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education announced that it will close on 31st August 2023, part of the dream that the founders held since 2014 remained unfulfilled. Now, the charity, along with its partners Dive RAID International and Pharoah Dive Club at Roots Red Sea, is delighted to announce that their final mission, to see beneficiaries who had started their diving journey with Deptherapy progress to teaching others, is to become a reality this year.

In adaptive teaching, particularly in respect of the veterans’ armed service community, there has never before been an Instructor Development Programme (IDP) delivered for a group of veterans who have experienced life changing mental and/or physical challenges.

Later this year, Deptherapy and their training partners RAID will deliver an IDP for five beneficiaries, each of whom has already qualified as a Divemaster. One is a bilateral amputee with PTSD, who stepped on an IED in Afghanistan. One has MS and depression, another was shot by a sniper and lost five pints of blood in combat and is diagnosed with Complex PTSD, Survivor Guilt and Adjustment Disorder. Two others have Complex PTSD from their terrible experiences whilst serving in Afghanistan.

The Instructor Development Programme (IDP) will be run partly in the UK and completed at Roots Red Sea in El Quseir, Egypt. Much of the theory and confined water work will be conducted over a number of weekends in the UK, with a skills refresher, the remainder of the theory and open water work carried out at Roots. An independent Instructor Examiner will conduct a two-day IE with the beneficiaries.

Tom Swarbrick, Deptherapy Ambassador and RAID Divemaster, said: “My two deployments to Afghanistan left me a broken man, mentally and physically. Like so many others, I denied I was mentally ill. Scuba diving has, together with Deptherapy’s 24/7 support, saved my life and changed how I see things. Underwater the demons disappear and when I climb the ladder back onto the boat after a dive, my fellow beneficiaries and the team provide the emotional support I need. For someone, who on return from Afghanistan, saw himself as a burden on society to becoming a Scuba Diving Instructor is an amazing journey and I owe a deep debt to all those involved in making this happen.”

A spokesperson for Dive RAID International said: “RAID was immensely proud when Deptherapy chose us as their training partners in 2019. We were involved in the discussions about running a Deptherapy Beneficiaries’ IDP at the earliest stage and we are working to deliver this world first. For these beneficiaries to achieve Instructor status will be the pinnacle of Deptherapy’s work; being a part of their journey is an amazing experience.”

The Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education Board of Trustees has decided that the charity’s residual funds will be used to support the IDP. Steve Rattle the owner of Pharoah Dive Club and Roots Red Sea has organised a fundraising event to raise additional funds to see Deptherapy’s mission completed.

Steve Rattle said: “Pharaoh Dive Club and Roots Red Sea are long-term supporters of Deptherapy, and we have been privileged and proud to witness and take part in their life changing work first-hand. The team are now working to help facilitate the charity’s final mission. Completing the circle with the beneficiaries that have been helped by learning to dive, becoming Instructors so that they can continue the work beyond the life of the charity is an incredible achievement. This final mission is a true mark of the Deptherapy success story and will ensure that others can benefit from the Deptherapy model for years to come.”

Further details of the IDP will be published in due course. Tickets and more information about the fundraising event, which will be held at the Village Hotel, Coventry CV4 9GZ on Friday 3rd March 2023 on the Go Diving Show weekend, are available from Pharaoh Dive Club at info@pharaohdiveclub.com and their social media channels.

For more information about the work of Deptherapy visit https://www.deptherapy.co.uk

Here at SSI, we are never satisfied. Our goal is to ensure that our dedicated divers always have access to the best digital technology available. This drive to continually improve our products and offerings is what makes SSI’s Training Programs and Services the best in the industry.

We have discovered even more ways to make our digital education system even better. On January 16th, 2023, SSI’s EMS Design will update to offer you more ways to interact with your digital course materials. The MySSI App will also integrate these updates as new app packages are released.

Following the update, you will see immediate improvements within the systems, such as app-like behavior with a single-page approach and a new and improved course design. You will also experience faster page loading, an optimized quiz interface, an accelerated search function, and new right-click options for more immediate feature access.

One of the most exciting features of the EMS update is the improved notes function. You will now be able to search through your notes more efficiently. In addition to enhanced note-taking, you now have the ability to highlight text as you read through the materials.

The design update to the website will occur on January 16th, 2023, starting at 9:30 Central European Time (CET). Please anticipate 4-5 hours of downtime. We look forward to your feedback on these improvements and are excited to see the great dive adventures 2023 will bring your way!

Learn more about SSI at: https://www.divessi.com

As the world’s fastest-growing training agency, SSI is constantly adding new Training Centers and Professionals. There has never been a better time to make the switch and become an SSI Dive Professional. With worldwide career opportunities and unmatched customer support, you would be hard-pressed to find an SSI Pro who regretted making the switch and joining the SSI team.

1.Earn Significant Earnings

The foremost benefit SSI Professionals and Training Centers enjoy is their significant earnings by teaching SSI’s unique approach to continuing education. As a group, SSI stores produce one of the highest conversion ratios in the industry! In addition to increased training revenue, this equates to more equipment and travel sales. With over 70 digital programs in more than 50 languages, SSI offers you something to market to everyone.

2. SSI Does Not Nickel and Dime its Pros! 

SSI Pros get FREE access to all instructor materials, including student digital materials, instructor materials, digital exams, and power points, all at NO CHARGE. In addition, when SSI makes changes to its instructor or student materials, SSI Pros receive these changes and updates at NO CHARGE. In fact, with 24/7 access to your MySSI account, all future updates and improvements happen automatically, saving you both time and money.

3. SSI Pro Rewards Program 

At SSI, the more you teach, the less your next year’s Pro Renewal fees will be. How cool is that! SSI Pro Rewards is the industry’s first cash-back system that rewards you for your performance and loyalty to teaching SSI. SSI Pros earn Pro Rewards for each certification they issue or professional certification they earn. For the first year, new SSI Professionals earn five times their normal Pro Rewards rate for each certification! Learn more about SSI Pro Rewards here.

4. Highly Supported International Market 

If you are a Pro in the Resort Industry, there is no better choice than to teach SSI. With digital materials available in over 50 languages, you can have your students use materials in the language of their choice. And since all of SSI’s materials are fully digital, you don’t have to pre-purchase and carry inventory in these various languages.

5. Renewal Benefit 

You work hard for your professional certifications, and they should work hard for you. As an SSI Professional, you only pay for your highest professional certification. The rest are included in your annual renewal for free!

6. Advanced Technology

SSI’s digital training system sets a new standard in online learning. With the MySSI App, your students can complete their digital learning materials anytime, anyplace, either online or on any iOS or Android device, at no additional cost. There is no need for you or your student to carry printed manuals; all of your content is just a click away. Also, being able to associate your Training Center with Dive Sites around the globe on SSI’s MyDiveGuide gives you some of the best customer reach options in the industry.

SSI has thousands of job opportunities waiting for you in hundreds of exciting and exotic locations. Turn your passion into a career and start living your dream! There are thousands of job opportunities for highly qualified SSI Professionals worldwide. Check out SSI’s current job offerings here. 

Are you ready to join the next generation of highly qualified SSI Professionals? Then contact your nearest SSI Training Center for more details today! 

Interested in taking your diving deeper and longer? Join us to learn more about the TDI Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures and Technical Divemaster Courses!

Details

Event by Matt Lepp and York Region Scuba

Thursday, January 26, 2023

From 7pm to 8pm

Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook

Join the online meeting here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87559950742

Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/875207383631962

Reef Oasis Dive Club welcomes PADI platinum course director Kai Steinbeck to head the PADI Instructor Development Programs in the Caribbean on the island of the Dominican Republic.

We are excited to work together and develop the Instructor Development Courses out of our PADI 5 star IDC centre located on the South East Coast in Bayahibe.

Over 30 years as a PADI Pro

Kai Steinbeck has been a PADI Pro since 1992 working as an instructor, trip director, operations manager, marketing manager and course director in some of the most sought after destinations of the world such as Australia, Indonesia, the Pacific Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Most of his diving career has been spent on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Having worked in one of the biggest dive schools in the world, where we used to run 13 learn to dive courses per week, as well as in small operations with only one other instructor has given me the experience to prepare my candidates for the real world of being a dive instructor.

I still teach Openwater courses and love it. I think it’s important to keep your fins in the game and expose yourself to the challenges the candidates face every day, teaching the full spectrum of PADI courses.

The PADI IDC programs include

We run a 14 day IDC program which includes an unparalleled IE pass guarantee, the training for Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Boat and Oxygen provider specialty instructor ratings. We have developed our own dive theory eLearning platform which candidates can log into to prepare themselves for the IDC as well as a marine life knowledge courses which every IDC candidate has access to.

GO PRO with platinum course director Kai Steinbeck

Visit our website at www.diveinstructor.net to find out all about the PADI IDC programs in the Caribbean on the island of the Dominican Republic, or email Kai direct at kai@diveinstructor.net or WhatsApp on +61419172910

Paul Toomer announced today that he has stepped aside as president of Dive RAID International to take up new duties as V-P Product Development and Member Relations. In this new role, Paul will assist PJ Prinsloo in the Training Department developing new courses, and updating the more than 120 programs the agency currently offers. 

Paul will also head up the new Training Advisory Group (TAG) at RAID. This group has been setup to give professional advice to RAID’s executive while helping to keep standards current, and new courses relevant in the recreational scuba, freediving, technical scuba, and rebreather markets.

The popular and well-known diving personality, one of the original founders of RAID and a current partner in Dive RAID International (DRI), said: “Prior to taking on the president’s job, under the previous company ownership, I thrived as Director Diver Training. It was a job I loved, and I am very happy to think that I’ll be involved once more in Training Department business. As the agency has expanded its reach during the past 12 months, keeping up with the daily demands of our membership worldwide has more than doubled because our network of dive centres and professionals has grown. And so, I’m excited that this new position means I’ll be able to share some of that workload, and keep the level of customer service among the highest in the industry.”

Paul, a well-respected technical diver, and explorer explained that in his new role he will have time once again to participate in more diving expeditions, and to focus on market pressure he has felt to run various training programs including instructor and instructor-trainer level courses.

He added: “Under the new management team, RAID is more stable now than it’s ever been. And on a personal note, as the company moves forward in 2023, I will be able to spend more time with my family, and on personal projects without negatively affecting its continued growth. This. is a perfect balance for me and for RAID.”

In his new role for the company, Toomer will also work closely with the sales and marketing departments to increase RAID’s market share in recreational scuba and freediving as well as to solidify its leadership position in the technical and rebreather market segments.

Toomer begins his new job effective immediately. 

Learn more about RAID at: https://www.diveraid.com

A unique opportunity to learn from both Gareth Lock and Guy Shockey.

Two days of highly emotive and positive learning delivered in-person – this course is for divers who learn best through experiential learning and want to create teams quickly. This is guaranteed to be an enjoyable yet thought provoking two days where you will learn just how much non-technical skills impact the safety of our diving.

Date:

February 11-12, 2023

The benefits and outcomes of attending this in person course are significant. They include:

• Better situation awareness
• More effective communication
• Improved briefing and debriefing skills
• Understanding of how to create a team quickly so that learning can be improved in the context of training and more effective exploration achieved in the context of ‘fun’ diving.

This in-person course embraces all the pioneering elements that The Human Diver is renowned for and is a great addition to every divers training tool kit.

Learn how to Apply Human Factors and Master The Dive.

Lear More about Human Factors: https://www.thehumandiver.com/hfid-level-2

Register Here: https://www.thermoclinediving.com/human-factors-course-dates 

Details

Event by Thermocline Diving

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Public :: Anyone on or off Facebook

Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/850798756161151/

We are delighted to welcome our new PADI Course Director as the leader of Pro Dive International’s Career Development Center, Instructor Development Center, GoPro & TecRec Academy, as well as the Quality Department.

His name is Walter, Walter G. Schmit.

Over 20 years of pro diving experience 

The passion for diving has led Walter’s life since 2001, when he became a diver in his native land of Puerto Madryn, Patagonia, Argentina.

Walter started his pro career in Spain and the Canary Islands, where he got his first taste of technical diving and rebreather diving. Wanting to live the dream life that diving instructors can supposedly have, he explored the world as a PADI MSDT, gaining experience in the Caribbean, Dominican Republic and Honduras on the island of Roatan, moving after to Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, the Philippines, Greece and most recently India over the last 12 years, certifying divers in recreational and technical diving and achieving the PADI Gold Course Director rating for 4 consecutive years. 

Walter staffed some of the most talented Course Directors to become himself one in 2019. He trained in technical diving with record-holding divers and attained his Tec Instructor Trainer rating, and continued learning with a mCCR rebreather and mCCR Trimix course this year. His passion for learning about diving equals his love of sharing his knowledge. 

Mexico is one of the top diving destinations in the world for diving, and according to Walter one of the best training locations. He is thrilled to be joining the team at Pro Dive and bringing his knowledge of teaching and diving to the company’s award winning PADI CDC.

With close to 10,000 dives, over 2,000 students spread over all continents, Walter has worked in the Maldives, on liveaboards in Thailand, in Lombok’s Gili islands, with the Thresher Sharks of the Philippines’ Malapascua, and will be sure to share anecdotes of his experiences if you are curious and ask him. 

His friendly smile and joyful personality will make you feel right at ease, to relax, enjoy, and learn about diving. Now is the time for him to teach about Pro Dive’s diving, and he will offer professional diving courses like DMC, assistant instructor, OWSI, staff instructor, and a wide range of specialties, technical diving and technical instructors options.

Walter’s Philosophy 

“Make it real”, says Walter with a big, determined smile on his face. “I teach instructors to be ready for real life situations, using my comprehensive experience as an active dive instructor for over fifteen years to train my candidates and prepare them for their own students. Having worked on four different continents and in different oceans, exposed to the most diverse scenarios, means that my mind is full of examples that wait to be shared with my students. I believe that sharing those stories will help my candidates understand what can happen and prepare them for their own future students and how to use the standards.”

Walter offers packages and instructor development within Pro Dive’s GoPro IDC Mexico, and teaches in English and Spanish, and French and German assisted by his wife Dorianne. He’s looking forward to sharing his passion, experience and knowledge with you, and to turning you into a world-class Divemaster or Instructor.

Go Pro with Pro Dive in Mexico! Get in touch with PADI Course Director Walter and reserve your spot today at  their website (needs updating)!

Looking for something different? Tired of the everyday grind and feeling like a change of scenery? RAID may have the answer.

There are several opportunities for RAID certified instructors to teach in several of our dive centres in Thailand and South Africa.

RAID is expanding fast and our Regional Offices are anxious to keep up with the demand. Can you help?

RAID is looking for certified instructors at all levels from open water up through technical. However, the primary need is for active professionals interested in teaching our CORE PROGRAMS. If you are currently certified with another recognized agency and have no outstanding QA issues, XOver training to teach The RAID Way is available.

For full details, please contact: Keryn in Southern Africa | Chris in Thailand today!

For other inquiries visit: https://www.diveraid.com

RAID Inline With Industry Standards for Rebreathers

The instructional and certifying pathway for Closed-Circuit Rebreathers has been radically updated at RAID.

The changes include unit-specific courses, replacing the old level 1-4 recreational courses, and updating course materials and standards to reflect these changes. This major upgrade was necessary to have DRI’s standards and course structure follow new industry trends and standards developed by industry organizations.

In brief, the major changes are the launch of a 30-metre air-diluent entry-level sport program aimed primarily at units from Poseidon; a 40-metre non-deco program; decompression rebreather and limited trimix rebreather diver programs to 40 and 45-metres respectively; and normoxic trimix 60-metre full-deco rebreather program. All these new levels are unit specific and have accompanying instructor-level courses developed.

In addition to these new programs, RAID has also developed Rebreather Reboot.

Rebreather Reboot is the CCR equivalent of RAID’s popular Scuba Reboot launched earlier this year. Like its OC cousin, CCR Reboot is a “catch-up” refresher for divers who have been out of the water for a while and feel they need to revisit critical skills and knowledge in a controlled environment with a qualified instructor. CCR Reboot includes a brief academic and dryland component, confined water skills, and an optional open water dive. The CCR Reboot can be taught by any active RAID Rebreather Instructor.

And the good news for current instructors is that FREE upgrades are available to ALL RAID instructors who qualify!

For full details, contact your local RAID Dive centre, your region’s RAID office, or simply email us at info@diveraid.com.

Learn more at: https://www.diveraid.com

Explorer Ventures Fleet is presenting educational sessions at DEMA, and you’re invited! 

Stop by and say “Hello” at booth #1747 to book one of their bonus at-show specials. Then attend their informative seminars. Learn about the Fleet’s journey with sustainability and how you can be a more environmentally friendly diver (or dive travel organizer). Plus, learn tested group travel strategies to earn more through Explorer Ventures’ group policies and DEMA Specials. Join the EV Family. See you there!

Sustainable Liveaboard Travel: Rethinking the Future
November 3, from 3:00pm to 3:45pm / Room S310F
Presented by Rachel Huber

Diver demand has changed since the pandemic. An astonishing 95.3% of dive tourists believe that operations should be doing more to protect reefs. Divers are looking for sustainable alternatives and are willing to pay more for them. Attend this seminar to see how Explorer Ventures Fleet is helping the reefs while protecting the future of liveaboard travel. We will also discuss our journey as a pioneering fleet for Reef-World and the new Green Fins Hub. Learn how your business can achieve this eco-balance too.

Learn + Earn with Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet
November 2, from 11:00am to 11:45am / Room S310H
Presented by Sue Hamilton

Dive shop, travel agent, dive wholesaler, or dive travel organizer? This seminar is for you. Stop by and hear what’s new with the EV Fleet. We will introduce our newest liveaboard in Palau plus share proven ways you can generate more revenue through our group deals, upcoming offerings, and generous booking terms. This includes sharing our 2022 DEMA Specials for groups of up to 28 with extended travel dates. Drop by and learn how to earn more through group travel.

For more information on Explorer Ventures’ unique destinations and availability, stop by Booth #1747 or make an appointment with an agent by emailing info@explorerventures.com.

The Chamber of Diving and Watersports is celebrating the first Green Fins trainers to complete the “Train the Trainer” programme in Africa and the Middle East Region

The Reef-World Foundation—the international coordinator of UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative—has successfully trained and certified three new Green Fins trainers from the Green Fins Egypt national team. They are now qualified to train new Green Fins assessors in the country, building capacity for the initiative’s continued expansion in the country.

Due to the increasing demand for the Green Fins programme by dive and snorkel operators in Egypt, the Green Fins Egypt team has undergone the Green Fins “Train the Trainer” programme in October 2022. Reef-World developed the “Train the Trainer” programme to assist the national teams in becoming more independent and sustainable. Following the week of training, Egypt now has a national Green Fins team comprised of three fully certified Green Fins trainers and nine Green Fins assessors from the Chamber of Diving & Watersports (CDWS).

Chloe Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation, said: “The team behind Green Fins in Egypt are such a unique mix of individuals with decades of diving experience and more than 100,000 dives between them. The team is constantly breaking down barriers and thinking really innovatively to work with the industry to overcome some systemic patterns of behaviour. By building their capacity to now train new assessors, they are more sustainable as a national team and can plan ahead to ensure they have the right people in the right places to continue to drive change within the marine tourism industry. I’m really hopeful that as the Green Fins network in Egypt grows, we can engage the right government agencies in further supporting the future sustainability of the Egyptian diving and snorkelling industry.”

Green Fins Egypt was launched in September 2019. The programme was piloted in the South Sinai Governorate with the CDWS leading all Green Fins activities in the country. The plan is to strengthen sustainability within the marine tourism sector across Egypt by guiding operators towards a more sustainable operating model. Training and encouraging the adoption of the Green Fins management approach to reduce their impact on the marine environment.

Mostafa Hefny, Chairman of the Chamber of Diving & Watersports, said: “Green Fins is raising awareness of the diving industry on the importance of sustainability and providing useful solutions to our problems. Egypt is leading the way in sustainable diving in the Middle East and African region.”

Building on the successful pilot, Green Fins was then expanded to be available to all dive and snorkel operators across Egypt in 2020. The team was lucky to complete the roll-out before the pandemic hit and travel restrictions prevented further implementation. Despite the setback, the team has continued to assess Members where possible, and there are now Green Fins certified dive and snorkel operators in all of the key destinations in the Red Sea.

Lina Challita, Environmental Manager at the Chamber of Diving & Watersports, said: “As a team, we are happy to become some of the few assessor trainers in the world. We hope to reach as many operators as possible and help with positive change in the industry.”

Green Fins provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance. The initiative aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally-friendly guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry.

Are you passionate about your scuba diving business…

But you’re so busy trying to create social media posts and newsletters, that you haven’t gotten to work on your actual business in a very long time?

McCall Digital Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency, which specializes in scuba diving, eco-conscious, and travel industries!

We can’t wait to show you what we can do!

Learn more at: https://www.mccalldigitalmarketing.com

Take a NEW and current cylinder training program. We have numerous government and private agencies using our program: NOAA, NPS, DISNEY, requalifiers & special forces. 

We will be offering our visual inspection program October 31, 2022. 

Cylinder Training Services offers our course to NEW inspectors and those requiring their 3 year renewals. We honor ALL cylinder inspection training programs. Our fresh and updated program covers steel, aluminum, and composite cylinders. We also cover valves, cleaning, and compressors in one class.  During the course you will have hands on exposure to cylinders and tools. If possible, we would request that you bring a cylinder to the class for hands on experience. 

Check out our NEW Cylinder Thread Viewer

During the inspection process unique and specialized tools make the job easier and more economical. Cylinder Training Services has customized and designed specialized reference plates, inspection lights and numerous other tools used by anyone inspecting cylinders.

Visit our website for inspection tools at: https://www.cylindertrainingservices.com 

We’re thrilled to announce a new flexible way of completing your PADI IDC with KAI by incorporating the very exciting and innovative online platform offered by SCUBA DIVE ONLINE.

The PADI Instructor Development Program usually takes about 2 weeks to complete and if you ad travel time it is quite normal for candidates to have to take up to 3 weeks off work to complete the program.

This is where SCUBA DIVE ONLINE comes in, by giving live lectures, (not pre-recorded videos) at a time and schedule that suits you via an online classroom. There are seven, 3 hour online sessions, where one of the SCUBA DIVE ONLINE course directors goes through the material that you would normally complete in a classroom session with me. Additionally, there is a day where you cover the Emergency First Aid instructor knowledge review.

What does this mean for your IDC? It means that you can cut the time away from home and the required time to be physically present at the dive centre to complete your IDC to about half. This is a new and exciting option for those candidates that are short on time and can’t afford to be away from home for longer periods.

Yes, we still will offer our original programs where all the training is done onsite for those who prefer this option 

Is the training just as good? Yes it is, the online training is conducted by one of four very experienced PADI Course Directors covering all the same material I would in a traditional classroom session:

For more information about our traditional IDC programs or the SCUBA DIVE ONLINE version please visit www.diveinstructor.com.au 

Have you thought about becoming a real life mermaid? (Or merman, of course).

SSI offers a range of courses to help you express your mermaid magic underwater. From Model Mermaid, where you learn how to pose for realistic mermaid photographs, to Ocean Mermaid where you discover how to use your tail efficiently and safely in the blue.

If you are excited to get started on your mermaid journey, but you are unsure where to take the courses, we are here to help. We have put together a list of ten of the best SSI mermaid schools from around the world.

So get ready to slip into your tail, and let us take a look.

1.Cornwall, UK

Calling all aspiring British mermaids! Head down south to the stunning coastline of Cornwall and meet the guys from Aquacity Freediving. Offering SSI Mermaid, SSI Ocean Mermaid, and SSI Model Mermaid courses, as well as a range of other freediving activities, you are certain to become a pro-mermaid by the end of your trip.

Cornwall is one of the most beautiful spots in the UK and delivers rolling hills, sandy beaches, and great diving. Below the waves you will find kelp forests, jellyfish, and even seals.

2. Tulum, Mexico

Caribbean Mermaids are ready to welcome you to Mexico. Not only do they offer SSI Mermaid courses, but mermaid camps and tours of the famous cenotes, too.

Tulum is situated on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and is well known for its Mayan ruins, white sand beaches, and unique diving. Not only does Tulum offer great sea diving, but it is also home to the cenotes. The cenotes are thousands of sinkholes of various sizes, often with surrounding mangroves, underwater caves, and fantastic lighting for mermaid selfies.

3. Bali, Indonesia

Bali Mermaid School is excited to introduce to you the art of swimming like a mermaid. They were the first SSI mermaid center in Indonesia, and they strive to raise awareness of ocean beauty by encouraging their students to look after the planet.

Bali is usually high up on the bucket list of divers, with many dive spots to explore around the island. Diving in Bali can bring exciting spots such as manta rays, mola molas, and shipwrecks. Tourists flock to Bali year-round to enjoy the white sand beaches and sizzling sunshine. 

4. Thailand

Super Dive Thailand offers diving experiences in Bangkok, Chonburi, and in Phuket. You can choose from SSI Mermaid, SSI Try Mermaid, and SSI Ocean Mermaid courses, as well as joining them for scuba diving and freediving excursions, too.

Thailand is a stunning location both above and below the waves. With white sand beaches, rich green jungles, and high mountain tops, Thailand has something for everyone. Diving in Thailand brings with it big marine life like whale sharks and leopard sharks, as well as excellent macro diving, with tiny treats such as seahorses and nudibranchs.

5. Nevada, USA

If you follow the SSI blog you may have seen our recent interview with Rachel Novak, SSI Mermaid and freediving instructor, as well as “Miss Mermaid Nevada”. Rachel runs Aquanauts Freediving which is based in Las Vegas and offers courses for aspiring mermaids.

Nevada may not be where your mind first goes when you think of diving, but it is actually home to some great dive spots. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a freshwater lake that has natural stone and even shipwrecks for divers to explore.

6. Hayman Island, Australia

SSI dive center, Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort is excited to welcome you to start your mermaid adventure with them. They offer in depth monofin training, as well as professional photos that you can take home with you.

Australia is home to some of the best diving in the world. Hayman Island is the most northerly of the Whitsunday islands, off the coast of Queensland. With captivating fringing reefs that host tropical fish species, clams, and turtles, Hayman Island is a beautiful holiday location for mermaids and divers.

7. Winnipeg, Canada

Blue Oasis dive center is based in Winnipeg and offers a wide range of diving courses… including mermaid courses! They teach mermaids of all ages and genders, and guarantee comfort and underwater confidence.

Diving in Canada might be a little cold, but it is also quite nice. Weak Hawk lake is around an hour and a half from Winnipeg and is the deepest lake in Manitoba. It ss excellent for taking courses and training dives. 

8. Panglao, Philippines

Freedive academy Panglao offers freediving courses and mermaid courses. Their experienced mermaid instructors are happy to take you along your journey from beginner, to expert mermaid.

Panglao is in the Philippines and attracts tourists year-round who come to lounge on its pristine beaches, and dive in its clear, blue waters. Panglao is known as Asia’s freedive capital as many divers flock there to train and fun dive in near-perfect tropical conditions.

9. Florida, USA

Heroes dive center in Florida offers scuba diving and freediving around the Dunedin, Clearwater, and Palm Harbor area. They also offer SSI Mermaid courses for wannabe mermaids and mermen!

Florida has very exciting and unique diving, from shipwrecks and reefs, to rivers and caverns. There is so much to explore under the surface in Florida, you are likely to dive alongside sharks, turtles, sailfish, and if you are lucky you might even spot a manatee!

10. Rab Island, Croatia

Kron diving invites you to join them in Croatia for some mermaiding fun. Offering the full SSI Mermaid course options, as well as freediving and scuba diving, all on the beautiful Rab Island.

Rab Island is home to thirty sand beaches, picturesque coves, and warm, clear waters. Diving around Rab Island brings with it gorgonians, fan corals, caves and shipwrecks. With lots to explore on land and under the sea, Rab Island is a great holiday location.

With all these incredible dive centers offering mermazing experiences, it is truly difficult to know where to go! But wherever you decide to go, we are sure you will have a blast learning how to mermaid!

CHECK OUT THESE MERMAID MAKEUP TIPS AND TRICKS TO REALLY LOOK THE PART! 

Learn more about the full range of courses available from SSI at: https://www.divessi.com

Wreck Diver Plus Bundle – course starts on Sept 17th

In 3 days you can achieve your Wreck Diver, Deep Diver and Nitrox certifications. Already EANx certified? No problem we can swap it for Emergency O2 Provider.

Book Now for 3 incredible days of continuing education, 7 dives in the Fathom Five National Park and an experience you’ll never forget.

Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/diversdentobermory

DiveISC is an affordable dive training agency that allows you to continue teaching the way you have been doing at very affordable rates.

Highlights

 ISO-approved certification

 HSE-approved certification

 Open Water Certification is £24.25 / US$29
 Free dive centre registration and renewal*
 Free instructor registration and renewal*
 Free digital online training
 Digital student record system
 Automatic auditing of student record files.
 Outcome-based training standards
 Track Dive Professional First Aid, CPR, O2, Dive medical and Public Liability (Worksafe)
 Simple instructor crossover
 Dive centre focused
 Competitive certification cost
 Pay upon certification – not on the issue of training

Learn More At: https://www.diveisc.com/

Dive RAID International has always been known for quality instruction and its focus on enhancing safety for students and professional members. At some point, it was obvious and inevitable that RAID would find a way for its members and students to benefit from the pioneering work of Gareth Lock and his Human Diver, Counter-Errorism in Diving initiative.

RAID, in collaboration with The Human Diver, is making the Essentials of Human Factors in Diving course available to our global community. This baseline course from The Human Diver is designed to improve general communications and improve teamwork among divers in many ways. The course objectives include helping divers make better decisions when planning and executing dives of all kinds and at all levels, from beginner to experienced technical divers and instructors. It also has solid tips on how to make a better and more informed analysis of your decisions and those of others.

The course shows how good teamwork, combined with good leadership and followership within the team leads to good communications and improved situational awareness, and how all of these factors contribute to far better decision making. The course also examines how stress and fatigue can influence all of these factors as well as providing useful insights into the benefits of structured briefings and debriefings to help learning and improvement of diver performance.

This HF Essentials program is strongly recommended as a risk management foundation for all RAID divers and professionals.

Start being a better diver today at: https://www.thehumandiver.com/

Action Cameras have helped change underwater videos forever and for everyone. Technology has revolutionized the whole concept of taking a camera on a dive. Smaller, sharper, easier to operate, and certainly carrying a smaller price tag, action cameras are bringing home images from spots that it would have been nearly impossible to film with traditional equipment a generation ago. However, all that begs the question: has the “democratization” of underwater video, diluted the quality of what’s being recorded?

Award-winning cameraman and author, Jeff Goodman is sure that doesn’t have to be the case.

Goodman created RAID’s new Action Camera program and he says, regardless of whether you are completely new to underwater cameras or an aspiring pro with your own YouTube following, RAID ACTION CAMERA will give you the help, information, and coaching to move your results up to the next level… and more.

Having worked on films above and below the world’s oceans for international clients, and as the author of two books on the art and craft of underwater videography, Goodman goes well beyond the scope of the usual author with this course.

It gives clear and concise guidance on how to get the very best results from your action camera. The rapid advances in technology for diving as well as underwater camera equipment and lighting mean that traditional photography courses don’t hit the mark. Goodman’s content is lively, up-to-date, detailed, thorough, and easy to follow. Moreover, his creativity and understanding of the challenges a diver faces to capture the perfect image—still or moving—make this program unique and relevant for today’s diver using today’s equipment.

“Jeff has managed to condense the experience of more than 10,000 dives and countless hours of underwater filmmaking and photography in a really tight package for us,” says RAID’s P.J. Prinsloo.

Prinsloo, RAID’s VP of Training, adds, “Jeff shows how versatile action cameras can actually be, and that as a product class, they have traveled lightyears away from the earlier versions with regard to capabilities, function, and quality.”

Goodman, who is based in the UK, runs bespoke underwater video and editing workshops aimed at rank beginners up to budding professionals says he is very happy with the course.

“We based the RAID course on a recent book, which while a perfect companion piece for the new RAID course is not part of the official program. I set out wanting to help students to get the very best video and stills from their equipment because it is possible to get wonderful results with just a little extra attention and a few secrets.”

Sign up for RAID’s Action Camera Program at: https://www.diveraid.com/

Order you copy of Jeff’s Books at: https://www.divedup.com/

It gives us great pleasure to welcome our team in the Maldives to the growing family at Dive RAID International.

Dive RAID, Maldives is our newest RRO (RAID Regional Office) and introduce instructing and diving The RAID Way to a beautiful new region.

This is the first time that Dive RAID International has had dedicated RAID ITs and Examiners “on-site” able to service Maldivian businesses quickly and with experience in the local market.

RRO MALDIVES owners, Mohamed Rifshan Shaheem and Peter Black, will be offering local dive operators, resorts, instructors, and dive centers all the benefits of RAID membership including Zero FEe-Membership, online education and academics, and a fresh approach to recreational, technical, and freediving business.

Dive RAID, Maldives will also be offering visiting divers (RAID certified and others) full service and support at their existing RAID dive centres at Scuba Divine Maldives, Huraa, Diffushi, and Dhangethi.

The Maldives has been known as one of the very best diving destinations in the world and welcomes thousands of tourist divers annually. The islands offer pristine beaches, clear water, and great visibility. Its extensive, unspoiled coral reefs are packed with diverse marine life meaning conditions are perfect for underwater photography and unforgettable underwater adventures. Topside support and facilities are world-class.

Rifshan has worked in the dive industry for over 15. He is a RAID Master Instructor and Crossover Instructor Trainer. Rifshan is Maldivian and currently based on Diffushi, North Male Atoll.

Peter, who many UK divers will know, founded Deep Blue Pirates Dive Club in 2010. He is a RAID Instructor Trainer, Examiner, Deco 40 Instructor trainer, Hollis Prism 2 Instructor, and has been an active RAID member for more than eight years.

Both Rifshan and Peter look forward to seeing you in the Maldives.

Learn more about RAID at: https://www.diveraid.com

Scuba Diving Essex – Herts – Cambs

2DiVE4 are the most experienced PADI Dive School in the region and concentrate on conducting safe, fun and professional courses for all our students with 1 on 1 supervision on ALL entry level courses as standard!

Why you should choose 2DiVE4 for your Scuba Diving training

2DiVE4 have been teaching people to scuba dive for 2 decades, making us the most experienced 5 Star IDC PADI Scuba Diving Dive Centre in the South East of England. Our dive centre is situated on the Essex/Herts border which makes us the ideal choice for those who live in Essex, Herts and Cambridge.

The whole 2DiVE4 team we feel, are the best you will find anywhere in the country! Our instructors cover all backgrounds, whether your aim is to go all the way to instructor level, want to add excitement to a dive holiday, take the technical diving route with dives down to extremely deep wrecks. We can help you. The difference is we are not here just as a job. We love what we do! We don’t clock off and forget about things. We are constantly thinking about our divers and how we can improve. We make sure that we are up to date with training, fitness, diving education education. We are continually studying with the best to make ourselves better, and we know how to separate the facts from the fiction to ensure that we provide you with the best diver training support we can.

I hope reading this have given you the confidence to take the next step, which is to come in to 2DiVE4 tosee us. It’s a step we are positive you won’t regret.

2DiVE4 is equipped with a modern classroom, stocked dive shop and offer a dive kit servicing service and scuba air fills.  2DiVE4 offer the full range of PADI scuba diving courses for children and adults from the entry level PADI Open Water Course, taught over two weekends’ right up to PADI diving instructor courses for those who are interested in working in the diving industry. We also offer the full range of TDI technical diving courses for those who want to dive deeper for longer.

We have an experienced dive team that are qualified to the highest PADI standards. The entire dive team are patient and understanding to all our students needs and learning abilities. This sets us apart from all of our competitors.

Steve Hills – Owner & Director

Steve Hills first completed a Try Dive in Falaraki in 1992, before completing multiple Try Dives throughout the 90’s. Steve then completed his PADI Open Water Course over 20 years ago and caught the scuba diving bug in such a way he worked his way up to PADI Instructor level within a year. In 2002 Steve formed 2DiVE4 and started to teach others to dive. Over the years 2DiVE4 has grown into be one of the most successful dive centres in UK, teaching thousands of courses over the last 2 decades, with lots of help from the 2DiVE4 dive team. “Scuba diving is my life. It’s taken me all over the world and given me the chance to experience diving with many people and make lots of new friends. The reefs and wrecks I’ve dived on have been amazing and I have experienced diving with a variety of sea life. I feel truly humbled doing what I do”.

The 2DiVE4 Team

2DiVE4 is made up of a team highly experienced PADI Instructors, Assistant Instructors and PADI Divemasters. The dive team has grown over the years and most of the team have come through the ranks of 2DiVE4 from Open Water Diver level.  Having all learnt their scuba diving skills in the Essex – Herts – Cambs area, they are the ideal instructors to teach you your PADI Open Water Course and future courses. “We currently have the best dive team we’ve ever had”….. Safe, professional and knowledgeable!

Learn more at: https://www.2dive4.co.uk/

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has announced a search and rescue exercise from Monday, May 9 to Friday, May 13.

It will also feature Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels, as well as a Civil Air Search and Rescue Association civilian aircraft. The RCAF has stated that it will make every effort to minimize community disruption.

St. Thomas is a city in Ontario, Canada. At the time of the 2021 Census, the city’s population was 42,918 people. 30 kilometers (18 miles) separate London, Ontario and St Thomas, Ontario (18 miles)

About Search and Rescue In Canada

Search and rescue (SAR) is a shared responsibility in Canada. Because of the country’s vast size, variety of terrain, and weather, many partners are involved. The list of partners includes government, military, volunteer, and business organizations. They all collaborate to provide SAR services across the country. The National Search and Rescue Program is in charge of this.

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are in charge of providing SAR from the air. It also coordinates the national air and maritime SAR response. Every year, CAF assets are tasked with responding to approximately 1000 SAR missions.

Provincial and territorial governments are in charge of searching for missing people, including those who are lost or missing on land or in inland waters – a practice known as Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR). They delegate authority for ground SAR response to the local police services. Parks Canada is in charge of ground search and rescue in federal parks and preserves. The CAF may also assist with ground SAR operations, medical evacuations, and other incidents involving people in distress.

Many factors influence the success of SAR operations. These include having the proper equipment and highly skilled crews on hand to respond quickly. Another consideration is having SAR resources in the right places and following the correct procedures.

CAF SAR assets are meticulously managed and strategically located throughout the country. CAF assets are stationed in areas where they can effectively respond to SAR incidents throughout the country. This takes into account where the majority of SAR incidents occur, how weather affects those areas, and whether or not supporting infrastructure is available.

CAF SAR crews are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The primary SAR crews respond quickly and with the professional dexterity that Search and Rescue personnel are known for. The SAR system remains adaptable, allowing SAR Region Commanders to align response postures with peak SAR activity periods, such as the summer months and the opening of fisheries. SAR crews must be airborne in less than 30 minutes after receiving a task for 40 hours per week. In all other cases, SAR crews must be airborne within two hours of receiving a task.

The CAF employs approximately 140 SAR Technicians (SAR Techs). SAR Techs are highly trained men and women. They aid in the rescue of people in distress in remote or difficult-to-reach areas. They also provide advanced pre-hospital medical care. SAR Techs are trained to the national standard for primary care paramedics.

They also have advanced skills. SAR Technicians are experts in both land and sea survival. They specialize in rescue techniques. This includes Arctic rescue, parachuting, diving, mountain climbing, and helicopter rescue.

SAR Techs are present on every CAF primary SAR aircraft that is dispatched on a SAR mission. They have saved thousands of lives.

Why Do We Attend Diving Talks 2022?

Is it the Speakers? The Talks? The Exhibition and Equipment Trials? Or is it the venue – Tróia?

All those reasons impact one’s decision, but it is pretty evident that one of the main reasons is the Talks, the content each Speaker will share.

However, this year DIVING talks Organisation wants to go a bit further. The program will feature a different type of Panel.

Imagine having PADI, SDI and SSI in the same room to discuss the future of teaching in diving? This would be an exciting debate, wouldn’t it?

Imagine no more. Suppose you are an Instructor or simply a curious diver. In that case, this will be the right spot to listen to Mark Caney, Mark Powell and Jean Claude Monachon talking about diving through the perspective of the three biggest agencies: PADI, SDI and SSI.

Mark Caney, PADI – Professional Association of Diving Instructors’ Industry Relations and Training Executive, is President of the European Underwater Federation, President of the Rebreather Training Council and President of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council.

Mark Powell is the SDI – Scuba Diving International Director of Global Development 

Jean Claude Monachon is SSI – Scuba Schools International Vice-President, International Business Development & Marketing.

Learn more about Diving Talks 2022 at: https://www.divingtalks.com

Looking to explore the silent world? Want to take your diving to the next level? Here at Tekdeep Egypt we have 1 space available on a rEvo Rebreather User Course from 18th to 25th June 2022.

Not only will you learn to dive a rEvo Rebreather in the warm waters of the Red Sea, this course is being held during a safari on our very own specialist Red Sea Liveaboard, MV Legends.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming a rEvo Rebreather Diver with Tekdeep Egypt

Learn more about Tekdeep at: https://www.tekdeep.com

Diver and human factors expert, Gareth Lock, has announced the release of a new course from The Human Diver, ‘Learning from Unintended Outcomes’ which focuses on learning, not blaming, when it comes to incidents, accidents and near-misses in the diving domain.

The first ever of its kind, this course focuses on location rationality and context, ultimately determining ‘how it made sense for those involved to do that they did’. Despite what some might think, no diver plans to end up with an injury, death, or damaged materiel during a dive, and therefore understanding more than what just happened in the previous few hours or day is key to ensuring continued safety in diving.

Most incident investigations focus on non-compliance, rule-breaking and proximal causes, and yet modern safety research shows that there are always multiple, latent factors which precede these adverse events and that by understanding these conditions, we are more likely to reduce the likelihood of a future adverse event. We need to look at what ‘normal’ looks like, not just the non-compliant aspects of the dive. Accidents happen as deviations from ‘normal’, not just deviations from rules. Adverse events occur when the capacity to remain safe has been exceeded and then apply the learning to future diving operations.

The course is run in either a virtual format or face-to-face and provides 3 hours of pre-learning to ensure the core concepts are known before 16+ hours of engaging sessions bring the theory to life with case studies and critical thinking and reflection. The virtual class runs over 5 days of 3.5 hr sessions and the face-to-face class is run over two 8-hr days. The first virtual course is scheduled to start on May 16^th 2022, 17:00-20:30 UK with the first face-to-face happening 21-22 May in Cirencester, UK. Both courses are limited to 6 people attending.

The course is written for those in supervisory positions or positions of leadership in diving agencies or training organisations, in dive centres, in scientific diving establishments, on expedition/projects, or those who want to take their learning further. The cost is extremely competitive given the depth of knowledge provided and the ability to transfer this knowledge to the non-diving space.

Gareth has written a book ‘Under Pressure: Diving Deeper with Human Factors’ which is considered THE textbook when it comes to applying human factors in diving and comes highly recommended. Working with Ashley Bugge and her late husband’s dive team, he also went to Hawaii in November 2019 to film a documentary about Brian’s accident which was called ‘If Only…’ and was released in May 2020. In September 2021, he organised and ran the first ever Human Factors in Diving Conference which had nearly 30 speakers and delivered high-quality materials over two-days via a virtual platform. His is currently undertaking a MSc in Human Factors and System Safety at Lund University, with a view to developing greater knowledge of how safety and performance can be improved in diving.

Gareth lives with his family in Malmesbury, Wiltshire and travels the world sharing his knowledge of how human behaviour can affect diving, facilitating ‘counter-errorism in diving’. Through his company, The Human Diver, Gareth trains high performance teams and speaks at conferences focused on diving, extreme sports and supporting teams in high-risk sectors.

You can see what course contains, the learning objectives, and how to book on here: https://www.thehumandiver.com/lfuo

Emma Farrell, one of the world’s leading freediving instructors and the author of the best-selling book One Breath: A Reflection on Freediving, has been appointed Director of Freediver Training for Dive RAID International.

Farrell has been teaching since 2002 and has been a well-respected Instructor Trainer with RAID for several years. Her new position with the agency reflects its renewed focus on Freediving and its importance to RAID’s vision for the industry and the diving community going forward.

Farrell’s initial focus will be to update the agency’s materials and freediving curriculum bringing it in line with modern practices and freediving’s safest standards.

Speaking immediately following her appointment, Farrell said: “Being at the forefront of global freediving education for the last two decades, my desire has always been to encourage more people to discover the incredible sport of freediving and enable them to do it safely and responsibly. RAID shares my ethos of combining high standards with accessibility and relevancy and I’m thrilled to be leading the team that will take RAID freediving to the next level.”
 
Farrell is a founding member of the AIDA Education Commission and has written courses that are taught internationally, as well she has created several popular and unique specialty courses such as her program for surfers, spearfishing safety skills course, and a Gas Guzzler course.
 
In her new position, Farrell will be working with RAID’s V-P Training, PJ Prinsloo, on the project, which will see the agency’s freediving product completely streamlined and updated.
 
Prinsloo explained that he is excited to have Emma joining RAID HQ.
“She brings to the team not only a wealth of knowledge, and talent but also real enthusiasm and creative energy to tackle what will be a huge project in the coming months,” he said.

“Freediving is a major priority for my department, so having an author and experienced instructor trainer like Emma working with us, makes my role much easier and promises to ensure we develop the best freediving product possible for RAID students, divers, and professionals.”

Learn more about RAID at: https://www.diveraid.com

PADI has awarded Angel Navarro, PADI Course Director at The Go Pro Family in Mexico, Platinum status for his contributions to professional training and educational excellence during 2021. This year marks the fifteenth consecutive year he has achieved this status.

Besides being a PADI Course Director for the past fifteen years, Angel is also a PADI TecRec Instructor Trainer, Full Cave Instructor Trainer, and Instructor Trainer for Disabled Divers’ International.  
In reminiscing about his career, Angel, originally from Spain, says “Fifteen years as a Platinum Course Director is something that I never envisaged when I started my career as a PADI Pro. Training future PADI dive instructors is both a great honor and responsibility and I feel lucky to be in this position.” Having worked as an instructor around the globe, Angel credits his success to variety and continual development. “We are always striving to improve our courses and programs, and we never stop learning new things. I am fortunate to have a great team of passionate professionals around me, and our students benefit from our diverse backgrounds and strengths.” 

Angel is looking forward to another successful year teaching PADI professionals. “The last couple of years has been a wild ride for the scuba industry but I’m happy to see that the world still has an appetite for scuba diving and now more than ever there is a demand for new PADI Instructors.” said Angel.

The Go Pro Family is Course Directors Angel Navarro (from Spain) and Jo Armitage (from the UK), and their team of pros. Together, they have personally trained almost 900 PADI Instructors, and have issued over 4000 professional-level certifications. Currently celebrating their tenth year based in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, The Go Pro Family offers professional-level scuba training as well as technical, cave diving and freediving. They also conduct PADI Instructor Development Courses in Mahahual and Huatulco.

For more information about their IDCs or other training options, visit https://thegoprofamily.com/en/

2DiVE4 are the most experienced PADI Dive School in the region of Essex – Herts – Cambs, United Kingdom. We concentrate on conducting safe, fun and professional courses for all our students.

Why you should choose 2DiVE4 for your Scuba Diving training

2DiVE4 have been teaching people to scuba dive for 2 decades, making us the most experienced 5 Star IDC PADI Scuba Diving Dive Centre in the South East of England. Our dive centre is situated on the Essex/Herts border which makes us the ideal choice for those who live in Essex, Herts and Cambridge.

The whole 2DiVE4 team we feel, are the best you will find anywhere in the country! Our instructors cover all backgrounds, whether your aim is to go all the way to instructor level, want to add excitement to a dive holiday, take the technical diving route with dives down to extremely deep wrecks. We can help you. The difference is we are not here just as a job. We love what we do! We don’t clock off and forget about things. We are constantly thinking about our divers and how we can improve. We make sure that we are up to date with training, fitness, diving education education. We are continually studying with the best to make ourselves better, and we know how to separate the facts from the fiction to ensure that we provide you with the best diver training support we can.

I hope reading this have given you the confidence to take the next step, which is to come in to 2DiVE4 to see us. It’s a step we are positive you won’t regret.

2DiVE4 is equipped with a modern classroom, stocked dive shop and offer a dive kit servicing service and scuba air fills.  2DiVE4 offer the full range of PADI scuba diving courses for children and adults from the entry level PADI Open Water Course, taught over two weekends’ right up to PADI diving instructor courses for those who are interested in working in the diving industry. We also offer the full range of TDI technical diving courses for those who want to dive deeper for longer.

We have an experienced dive team that are qualified to the highest PADI standards. The entire dive team are patient and understanding to all our students needs and learning abilities. This sets us apart from all of our competitors.

Steve Hills – Owner & Director

Steve Hills first completed a Try Dive in Falaraki in 1992, before completing multiple Try Dives throughout the 90’s. Stev then completed his PADI Open Water Course over 20 years ago and caught the scuba diving bug in such a way he worked his way up to PADI Instructor level within a year. In 2002 Steve formed 2DiVE4 and started to teach others to dive. Over the years 2DiVE4 has grown into be one of the most successful dive centres in UK, teaching thousands of courses over the last 2 decades, with lots of help from the 2DiVE4 dive team.

“Scuba diving is my life. It’s taken me all over the world and given me the chance to experience diving with many people and make lots of new friends. The reefs and wrecks I’ve dived on have been amazing and I have experienced diving with a variety of sea life. I feel truly humbled doing what I do”.

Steve Hills

The 2DiVE4 Team

2DiVE4 is made up of a team highly experienced PADI Instructors, Assistant Instructors and PADI Divemasters. The dive team has grown over the years and most of the team have come through the ranks of 2DiVE4 from Open Water Diver level.  Having all learnt their scuba diving skills in the Essex – Herts – Cambs area, they are the ideal instructors to teach you your PADI Open Water Course and future courses. 

Learn more at: https://www.2dive4.co.uk/scuba-diving/