Archaeologists will dive into the lake at a stately home in Wiltshire, to find out what the valley looked like before the garden was created.
Henry Hoare flooded the valley and dammed medieval fishponds at Stourhead as part of his design for the landscape garden in the 18th Century.
The team from the Nautical Archaeology Society wants to find out what plant life was there before its creation. They will also search for any structures that have been flooded. The focus of the work is on the location of the Chinese Bridge to find out where exactly it stood and whether any of it remains. They will also be looking at the bay in front of the Temple of Flora to find out how much of the water cascade built by Henry Flitcroft still exists underwater and the location of Neptune's statue which was originally positioned in a rocky arch in front of the temple.
From bbc.co.uk
Latest Diving and Hyperbarics Headlines
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Seal Rescued From Dungeness Power Station
Divers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue free a grey seal from a water cooling pool at Dungeness nuclear power station.
The volunteers built a floating pontoon to stop the seal from drowning before winching it out. It is believed the 250kg seal, swam into the tank through an inlet pipe.
The volunteers built a floating pontoon to stop the seal from drowning before winching it out. It is believed the 250kg seal, swam into the tank through an inlet pipe.
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Submarines Identified
A wreck off Eyemouth thought to be the British submarine H11 has turned out to be a German U-boat while another wreck seven miles away has been confirmed as the H11. This is the conclusion of submarines expert Innes McCartney after a series of dives carried out with local divers in April.
Apeks Yoke Screw Recall
Recall - Apeks Yoke Screw potential fault
“Recall to all Apeks Customers. There maybe a potential problem with the yoke clamp screw on any yoke clamp type regulator with the serial number starting from 7010001 – 7053528. All Apeks dealers and distributors have been made aware of this issue. Please return your yoke clamp screw to your nearest Apeks dealer for inspection, do not dive with the regulator until it has been inspected. If it is not possible for you to return the yoke clamp screw for inspection, then please contact Apeks’ Customer Service Department for assistance. Apeks apologizes for any inconvenience this recall might cause. We are dedicated to making the world's best diving products and to ensuring diver safety at all costs. This solution is the only reasonable course of action.”
Apeks website
“Recall to all Apeks Customers. There maybe a potential problem with the yoke clamp screw on any yoke clamp type regulator with the serial number starting from 7010001 – 7053528. All Apeks dealers and distributors have been made aware of this issue. Please return your yoke clamp screw to your nearest Apeks dealer for inspection, do not dive with the regulator until it has been inspected. If it is not possible for you to return the yoke clamp screw for inspection, then please contact Apeks’ Customer Service Department for assistance. Apeks apologizes for any inconvenience this recall might cause. We are dedicated to making the world's best diving products and to ensuring diver safety at all costs. This solution is the only reasonable course of action.”
Apeks website
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Police Divers Find Body In Drain
Police divers have recovered a body from Middle Level Main Drain, Middle Drove, in St John's Fen End near Wisbech.
The body is believed to be that of Richard Herbert, 47, who was reported missing from his home in Middle Drove on Monday.
The body is believed to be that of Richard Herbert, 47, who was reported missing from his home in Middle Drove on Monday.
Monday, 21 May 2007
Best Of British Diving DVD
The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) has launched a new DVD to promote diving in the UK. The DVD has been produced by BBC journalist and underwater cameraman John McIntyre and is sponsored by Dive Master Insurance.
Go Diving UK features spectacular footage of Britain’s best dives from wrecks in Scotland to basking sharks in Cornwall.
Go Diving UK will be available from BSAC branches and to participants of BSAC’s Go Dive/Try Dive campaigns as well as anyone wishing to find out more about BSAC and diving in the UK. For more information on the new DVD email Mary Tetley at: maryt@bsac.com.
Go Diving UK features spectacular footage of Britain’s best dives from wrecks in Scotland to basking sharks in Cornwall.
Go Diving UK will be available from BSAC branches and to participants of BSAC’s Go Dive/Try Dive campaigns as well as anyone wishing to find out more about BSAC and diving in the UK. For more information on the new DVD email Mary Tetley at: maryt@bsac.com.
DAN Europe Instructor Trainer Workshop
DAN Europe have organised an Instructor Trainer Workshop (ITW) from 8th - 10th June 2007, in Essex, UK.
During this 3 day course you will be able to get trained as an Instructor and Instructor Trainer for all available DAN Europe Courses (more information about DAN courses is available from: DAN Europe Training Programs).
More details can be obtained by email from: training@daneurope.org.
During this 3 day course you will be able to get trained as an Instructor and Instructor Trainer for all available DAN Europe Courses (more information about DAN courses is available from: DAN Europe Training Programs).
More details can be obtained by email from: training@daneurope.org.
Sport Stars Use Hyperbarics To Aid Recovery From Injury
England cricketer Michael Vaughan may have treatment in a hyperbaric chamber in an attempt to get fit after he broke his finger playing for Yorkshire.
Vaughan could use the chamber to speed up the healing process.
The 32-year-old has missed the first test and could miss the second one as the injury typically takes a month to heal.
Both Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard have used hyperbaric treatment in the past with mixed results.
Rugby league player Adrian Morley is also set for more hyperbaric treatment after suffering another injury 17 minutes into his comeback game.
Second rower Morley, spent hours in an hyperbaric chamber in order to speed up his recovery from his original injury and returned ahead of schedule.
Morley is hoping to have similar success again from the hyperbaric treatment.
Vaughan could use the chamber to speed up the healing process.
The 32-year-old has missed the first test and could miss the second one as the injury typically takes a month to heal.
Both Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard have used hyperbaric treatment in the past with mixed results.
Rugby league player Adrian Morley is also set for more hyperbaric treatment after suffering another injury 17 minutes into his comeback game.
Second rower Morley, spent hours in an hyperbaric chamber in order to speed up his recovery from his original injury and returned ahead of schedule.
Morley is hoping to have similar success again from the hyperbaric treatment.
Sunday, 20 May 2007
Beached Dolphin In Cumbria Dies
A dolphin found beached by a member of the public on Allonby Bay north of Maryport on Saturday morning has died.
Maryport Coastguard and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue were called to the scene but the dolphin died shortly afterwards.
Maryport Coastguard and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue were called to the scene but the dolphin died shortly afterwards.
Saturday, 19 May 2007
Napoli Wreck Experience Shared
Emergency planners from across Europe were in Devon to learn how the county dealt with the stricken MSC Napoli after it was grounded in Lyme Bay.
Experts visited Branscombe Beach to see the salvage operation and the attempts to limit pollution.
The visit was part of a conference organised in Exeter by the Assembly of European Regions and hosted by Devon County Council.
The event aimed to share best practice of how to deal with major emergencies.
It was attended by delegates from regional organisations in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Albania, Turkey, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania and the UK.
Devon County Council's deputy leader councillor John Smith, who was the authority's representative at the Assembly, said the trip to Branscombe was a useful example to share.
MSC Napoli was grounded off Branscombe in January after her hull was damaged.
She was carrying more than 2,300 containers, of which 110 went overboard and 58 were washed ashore.
A team of divers were employed and an army of volunteers helped to clear the cargo and debris from the seabed on a daily basis.
The last cargo was removed from the ship on Thursday. A full risk assessment of the ship's structure will now being carried out.
Dutch salvers, Smit International, hope to refloat the vessel and tow it away.
(From BBC Online)
Experts visited Branscombe Beach to see the salvage operation and the attempts to limit pollution.
The visit was part of a conference organised in Exeter by the Assembly of European Regions and hosted by Devon County Council.
The event aimed to share best practice of how to deal with major emergencies.
It was attended by delegates from regional organisations in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Albania, Turkey, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania and the UK.
Devon County Council's deputy leader councillor John Smith, who was the authority's representative at the Assembly, said the trip to Branscombe was a useful example to share.
MSC Napoli was grounded off Branscombe in January after her hull was damaged.
She was carrying more than 2,300 containers, of which 110 went overboard and 58 were washed ashore.
A team of divers were employed and an army of volunteers helped to clear the cargo and debris from the seabed on a daily basis.
The last cargo was removed from the ship on Thursday. A full risk assessment of the ship's structure will now being carried out.
Dutch salvers, Smit International, hope to refloat the vessel and tow it away.
(From BBC Online)
World's Largest Historical Shipwreck Coin Recovery
In what is believed to be the largest collection of coins ever excavated from a historical shipwreck, Odyssey Marine Exploration recently recovered over 500,000 silver coins weighing more than 17 tons, hundreds of gold coins, worked gold and other artifacts from the wreck of a Colonial period shipwreck code-named "Black Swan", located in an undisclosed location in the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1641, an English ship called the Merchant Royal sank off the Scilly Islands, laden with bullion from Mexico. There is speculation that this is the wreck salvaged by Odyssey.
The secret location of the wreck is believed to be only 40 miles from Land's End.
In 1641, an English ship called the Merchant Royal sank off the Scilly Islands, laden with bullion from Mexico. There is speculation that this is the wreck salvaged by Odyssey.
The secret location of the wreck is believed to be only 40 miles from Land's End.
Diver Airlifted To Plymouth
A diver has been airlifted for treatment from Fowey in Cornwall to Plymouth, Devon for treatment after getting into trouble during a dive.
Brixham Coastguard was alerted and lifeboats helped the diver from the water and he was airlifted by an RNAS Culdrose helicopter to Plymouth for treatment.
Brixham Coastguard was alerted and lifeboats helped the diver from the water and he was airlifted by an RNAS Culdrose helicopter to Plymouth for treatment.
Friday, 18 May 2007
DAN Hosts 2008 Technical Diving Conference
Technical diving is the frontier of scuba diving. While it is high-profile and trend-setting, it has its risks. Distinguishing between real and imagined risks and identifying appropriate alternatives are crucial for technical divers.
DAN will address these tasks in its 2008 Technical Diving Conference The two-day conference, planned for Jan. 18-19, 2008, in Durham, N.C., will feature four half-day workshops. Discussions will include the operational and medical aspects of technical diving. The forum will also address ways to improve effectiveness and safety.
More information and details of early bird discounts from the DAN site.
Thursday, 17 May 2007
Indian Navy Inaugurates First Home Grown Chamber
India's first indigenously made hyperbaric chamber has been installed by the Indian Navy at its Ashvini Naval Hospital in Colaba to treat not just its divers but a wide range of illnesses suffered by the general public.
The country has about half a dozen hyperbaric chambers and the new chamber was conceived with the aim of augmenting facilities at Ashvini for the conduct of studies on diving, submarines and hyperbaric medicine.
The country has about half a dozen hyperbaric chambers and the new chamber was conceived with the aim of augmenting facilities at Ashvini for the conduct of studies on diving, submarines and hyperbaric medicine.
BSAC AGM
BSAC’s Annual General Meeting will be held at the Mountbatten Centre, Plymouth starting at 10am on Saturday.
This year’s event will be hosted by the Totnes Branch who were the 2006 winners of the Heinke Trophy.
At the AGM Sean Gribben will take over from Clare Peddie as BSAC National Diving Officer (NDO). In order to build upon the excellent work carried out by the current National Diving Committee (NDC) the NDO will be establishing and recruiting people to positions within a revised NDC as quickly as possible.
TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff, the National Marine Aquarium’s Doug Herdson and Dr Phil Bryson from the Plymouth based Diving Diseases Research Centre have all been lined up to speak at this year’s AGM.
This year’s event will be hosted by the Totnes Branch who were the 2006 winners of the Heinke Trophy.
At the AGM Sean Gribben will take over from Clare Peddie as BSAC National Diving Officer (NDO). In order to build upon the excellent work carried out by the current National Diving Committee (NDC) the NDO will be establishing and recruiting people to positions within a revised NDC as quickly as possible.
TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff, the National Marine Aquarium’s Doug Herdson and Dr Phil Bryson from the Plymouth based Diving Diseases Research Centre have all been lined up to speak at this year’s AGM.
Xth International Meeting On High Pressure Biology
The Xth International Meeting on High Pressure Biology will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on the 12th September 2007.
The event will be held as a joint meeting with the annual meeting of EUBS which is also taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh between 8th and 15th September 2007.
For more information see the International High Pressure Biology Group website.
Diving and Hyperbarics: EUBS 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting in Egypt
The event will be held as a joint meeting with the annual meeting of EUBS which is also taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh between 8th and 15th September 2007.
For more information see the International High Pressure Biology Group website.
Diving and Hyperbarics: EUBS 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting in Egypt
Wednesday, 16 May 2007
Mock Whale Rescue To Take Place On Loch Ness
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) who battled in vain to save a whale that became stranded in the River Thames a year ago are to practice rescue techniques in Loch Ness.
A two tonne inflatable rubber mock-up of a pilot whale and life-size replicas of a seal and dolphin will be used during the exercise on the 17th June.
Other courses take place throughout the year at various locations.
Visit the BDMLR website for more information.
A two tonne inflatable rubber mock-up of a pilot whale and life-size replicas of a seal and dolphin will be used during the exercise on the 17th June.
Other courses take place throughout the year at various locations.
Visit the BDMLR website for more information.
DAN Online Seminars
DAN has increased the number of online seminars it has available.
The web-based seminars allow people to learn about diving and dive medicine in the comfort of their own home.
The courses now available are:
The web-based seminars allow people to learn about diving and dive medicine in the comfort of their own home.
The courses now available are:
Breathing Underwater is an Unnatural Act
Diving is easy under ideal conditions, but life on dry land doesn’t prepare us for the underwater environment where conditions can be far from ideal. How these conditions affect respiration and consciousness is the subject of this presentation.
Diabetes & Recreational Diving: History and New Guidelines
Learn about diabetes and the new guidelines for diving with it in this presentation by Neal W. Pollock, Ph.D., a research physiologist with DAN.
Inert Gas Exchange, Bubbles, and Decompression Theory
Learn about inert gas exchange in the body and the affect those bubbles can have on your dive in this online seminar, based on a presentation by Dr. Richard Vann, Vice President of Research at DAN.
Pathophysiology of Decompression Illness
Learn about what goes on in the body when bubbles form in this online seminar, based on a lecture delivered by Dr. Richard Moon, Senior Medical Consultant to DAN.
Ears and Diving Seminar
Learn about your ears and how to take better care of them when you are diving in this online seminar, based on a presentation by Dr. Frans Cronje.
BSAC To Launch New Dive Survey
From the BSAC website:
The BSAC, in conjunction with other agencies, is to conduct a major survey of UK diving to build an accurate picture of the nature of sports diving in this country.
The BSAC, in conjunction with other agencies, is to conduct a major survey of UK diving to build an accurate picture of the nature of sports diving in this country.
Brian Cumming, BSAC Safety and Incidents Advisor, reports:
"Each year the BSAC publishes a report on diving incidents (see www.bsac.org/page/546/incidents-information.htm) but we don’t have an accurate picture of the type of diving taking place to put these reports into their correct perspective. For example, in recent years, 13% of diving fatalities in the UK have involved solo divers. Now it is very probable that this is a disproportionate number compared to the number of solo dives that take place, but we just don’t know for sure. Similarly, in the 2006 incident year, 19% of the fatalities were divers using rebreathers; is this high or low in comparison to the amount of rebreather diving taking place? We simply don’t know. A major purpose of the survey is to allow us to put these and other statistics into their correct perspective.
The survey will have two main elements. The first will be a very broad, site based survey, which will provide an overview of the demographics, affiliation and experience of UK divers. The second will be club/branch based and will provide much more detailed information on dive detail – depths, gasses, decompression, equipment, type of dive etc.
The purpose of this article is to alert divers to this survey, to explain its purpose and to seek your support.
The site based survey will take place in June and BSAC coaches and other helpers will be in attendance, for one day, at many key dive sites around the country, with their clip boards. They will be asking for just a few minutes of your time to answer a few simple questions about you and your diving history. No information will be asked that could identify any individual and, as with our incident reporting scheme, we will take great care to respect individuals’ privacy. If you are approached by one of our researchers please support the programme.
The second element, the branch survey, is currently in the planning stage and information on this will be circulated later. We will, however, be looking for branches and clubs, of all affiliations, who would be prepared to fill out a spreadsheet detailing the dives that they have conducted and send us that information on a quarterly basis.
If your club would be prepared to support this part of the survey please let us know via safety@bsac.com
We are also planning other supporting activities such as a web-based reporting facility and data gathering through commercial sports diving facilities (boats and sites).
As stated earlier the purpose is to provide a better understanding of the nature of UK diving and thus to strengthen our ability to provide sound, evidence based advice to UK divers on diving practice and diving safety – please support this initiative either by giving a little time if approached by a researcher or through your branch or club."
For more information on the survey, please contact safety@bsac.com
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Two Divers Rescued
Two divers have been rescued after getting into difficulties when diving south of Dunoon off the west coast of Scotland. One man has been taken to the hyperbaric chamber on Cumbrae while the other man has been taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Monday, 7 May 2007
Waterfall Body Recovered
Police divers searching for a man who fell more than 60ft from the top of High Force Waterfall, in Forest-In-Teesdale, County Durham, have found a body.
Police divers were originally unable to join the rescue efforts because of concerns about conditions in the River Tees. However, they were allowed to take part on Monday morning after the heavy flow of water over the falls was reduced by closing the outflow at Cow Green Reservoir.
The search operation, which began on Sunday evening also involved the fire service and a fell rescue team.
Police divers were originally unable to join the rescue efforts because of concerns about conditions in the River Tees. However, they were allowed to take part on Monday morning after the heavy flow of water over the falls was reduced by closing the outflow at Cow Green Reservoir.
The search operation, which began on Sunday evening also involved the fire service and a fell rescue team.
Farne Island Charter Firm Fined
While diving off Blue Cap Rocks in the Farne Islands in August 2005, Michael Ward was hit by a propeller of the charter boat Sovereign II as he returned to the boat.
His injuries called for the amputation of his left leg and the pinning of his right leg.
Investigations by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency revealed that the skipper Christopher Wilson did not hold the necessary certificate of competence to be in charge of the boat.
In Newcastle Crown Court Mr Toby Douglas, a director of Sovereign Diving Ltd. and Christopher Wilson, acting skipper of Sovereign II pleaded guilty to a breach of the Code of Practice for Small Commercial Vessels.
Sovereign Diving was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £3,500 towards costs, and Christopher Wilson was fined £500 and was ordered to pay £500 towards costs.
His injuries called for the amputation of his left leg and the pinning of his right leg.
Investigations by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency revealed that the skipper Christopher Wilson did not hold the necessary certificate of competence to be in charge of the boat.
In Newcastle Crown Court Mr Toby Douglas, a director of Sovereign Diving Ltd. and Christopher Wilson, acting skipper of Sovereign II pleaded guilty to a breach of the Code of Practice for Small Commercial Vessels.
Sovereign Diving was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £3,500 towards costs, and Christopher Wilson was fined £500 and was ordered to pay £500 towards costs.
Friday, 4 May 2007
Diving Doctor Suspended For Nine Months
A GP and diving doctor who ran internet consultations has been suspended for nine months by the GMC for irresponsible prescribing.
Dr Julian (Jules) Eden was found to have acted irresponsibly, or not in the patient's best interests in the cases of three patients and two undercover journalists who applied for prescriptions from his website.
Drugs he was found to have prescribed included valium and a year's supply of the addictive painkiller dihydrocodeine to patients after just a five-minute internet consultation. In one case a suicidal 16-year-old boy was prescribed 60 sedatives and within two months had overdosed on the drugs.
Dr Julian (Jules) Eden was found to have acted irresponsibly, or not in the patient's best interests in the cases of three patients and two undercover journalists who applied for prescriptions from his website.
Drugs he was found to have prescribed included valium and a year's supply of the addictive painkiller dihydrocodeine to patients after just a five-minute internet consultation. In one case a suicidal 16-year-old boy was prescribed 60 sedatives and within two months had overdosed on the drugs.
April Posts
George Wookey, Naval Record Breaker Dies At 84
George Wookey, a Royal Navy diver who in 1956 dived to a record breaking 183m, which is still a record for a dive in flexible diving dress has died in Australia at the age of 84.
In October 1956, just before his 34th birthday, Wookey set his world depth record near Bergen in Norway's Sorfjord, diving from HMS Reclaim.
Two Missing After Greek Cruise Ship Runs Aground
Two French tourists a 45-year-old man and his 16-year-old daughter are missing after a cruise ship ran aground off the Greek island of Santorini.
The 143-metre vessel 'Sea Diamond' was approximately one nautical mile off the coast of Santorini when it struck a reef.
Greek navy divers smashed the port hole of their cabin, but failed to find any trace of them.
SS Storaa Gets War Grave Status
The UK Ministry of Defence has agreed to grant the SS Storaa, which was torpedoed off the Hastings coast in 1943, full military protection.
The SS Storaa was attacked by German E-boats as it transported steel in convoy to a weapons factory in Cardiff.
Rosemary Fogg and Valerie Ledgard, from Worthing, won a court case and then an appeal in 2006 to protect the vessel.
The women are the daughters of Petty Officer James Varndell, who died with 21 others when the ship was torpedoed.
Divers destroy WWII Bomb Dragged Up In Fishing Nets
Army explosives experts have destroyed a 500lb World War II bomb after a fisherman fishing near Hythe took a picture of the device in his nets and sent it to Dover Coastguard.
Police Divers Assist As Cars Are Pulled From Water
Two cars have been recovered from Bristol's Harbourside by police.
Officers involved in investigating the case believe both vehicles were stolen.
Police divers began exploring the water after a tip-off from a member of the public.
Vessel Capsizes In North Sea
8 people died including a 15 year old boy when the anchor handling vessel Bourbon Dolphin capsized in the North Sea.
Royal Navy divers entered the submerged vessel three times but found no signs of life.
During later salvage operations conducted by Smit Salvage the ship sunk and now lies in 3,600 feet of water.
The Bourbon Dolphin, although only launched last autumn was of a traditional design and similar to many others in the North Sea and Atlantic.
Anchor handling is generally regarded as one of the most hazardous offshore activities because of the risk to crew on the deck, but capsizing is not regarded as a threat.
Busy Weekend For Portland Coastguard
Two divers were airlifted to safety after getting into trouble in separate incidents off the Dorset coast.
As the Coastguard's helicopter was winching a diver from a dive boat near Lulworth Cove it received another distress call and then went on to rescue another diver who had made a rapid ascent just off Anvil Point.
Both men were airlifted to the chamber at Poole for treatment.
Rescue teams also helped a broken down dive boat in West Bay.
Ros Evans, of Portland Coastguard, said: "The dive season has begun with a vengeance.
Body Found In Quarry Search
A body has been found during a search for a teenager at a flooded quarry.
Divers found the body in the Blue Lagoon beauty spot in Arlesey.
During the search thieves broke into an emergency vehicle and stole a radio, mobile phone, digital camera and nitrous oxide.
New Chamber In Dominica
A new hyperbaric chamber has been installed on the island of Dominica in the West Indies.
The chamber at the Princess Margaret Hospital in the capital, Roseau, was financed by the EU, through the Ecotourism Development Programme at a cost of $750,000.
Body Recovered From Car
A Royal Navy Dive Team have removed the body of a man from a car which crashed off a pier and went into the water at Graemsay, a small island south of Stromness, Orkney.
Dr. Joseph Bauer Dies At 76
Physician, Dive Historian and Co-Founder of History of Diving Museum Dr. Joseph Bauer has died after a brief battle with cancer.
The Florida Keys History of Diving Museum, which is based in Islamorada, boasts artifacts collected by Dr Bauer and his wife for more than four decades. It is a historic progression of diving technology from every era and from every part of the world.
WRSTC Endorses DAN/UHMS Diabetes Guidelines
After a thorough overview of the new DAN Diabetes guidelines, the WRSTC unanimously endorsed the guidelines and agreed to work to with the UHMS to add the new information to the current WRSTC Medical Guidelines to the Physician.
The WRSTC is dedicated to the worldwide safety of the recreational diving public. As such, one of the WRSTC’s primary goals is the development of worldwide minimum training standards. The establishment of globally recognised and implemented standards is a valuable asset in addressing local and national regulatory issues.
The WRSTC consists of the following organisations:
* International Diving Educators Association (IDEA)
* Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
* Professional Dive Instructors Corporation (PDIC)
* Scuba Diving International (SDI)
* Scuba Schools International (SSI) and
* Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).
The organisation meets throughout the year to deal with issues involving training in the scuba industry. WRSTC is also the Secretariat for the ANSI Committee Z-375, Scuba Diving Training Standards and Safety.
Body Found In River
The North Yorkshire Police underwater team searching the River Foss in York for a missing man have recovered a body.
British Diver Dies in Spain
A British diver has died after a dive off Malaga, Spain.
The diver, a father of four, was one of Britain's leading classical musicians, working as principal double bassist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
He is believed to have suffered DCI following a fast ascent.
Joint Search For Belgian Diver
An RAF helicopter from Wattisham joined a Belgian rescue helicopter from Koksijde and a fixed-wing aircraft from the Netherlands in the search for a missing diver 40 miles off Aldeburgh in Suffolk.
The diver was diving from a hardboat based in Antwerp and failed to surface during a 35-40m dive.
After the unsuccessful search the diver has been declared lost, presumed dead.
Divers Warned Not To Remove Scallops
A warning has been issued to divers off the Isle of Man about its protected shellfish stocks. The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry said that divers should be aware that the rules apply to them, and not just those who fish.
George Wookey, a Royal Navy diver who in 1956 dived to a record breaking 183m, which is still a record for a dive in flexible diving dress has died in Australia at the age of 84.
In October 1956, just before his 34th birthday, Wookey set his world depth record near Bergen in Norway's Sorfjord, diving from HMS Reclaim.
Two Missing After Greek Cruise Ship Runs Aground
Two French tourists a 45-year-old man and his 16-year-old daughter are missing after a cruise ship ran aground off the Greek island of Santorini.
The 143-metre vessel 'Sea Diamond' was approximately one nautical mile off the coast of Santorini when it struck a reef.
Greek navy divers smashed the port hole of their cabin, but failed to find any trace of them.
SS Storaa Gets War Grave Status
The UK Ministry of Defence has agreed to grant the SS Storaa, which was torpedoed off the Hastings coast in 1943, full military protection.
The SS Storaa was attacked by German E-boats as it transported steel in convoy to a weapons factory in Cardiff.
Rosemary Fogg and Valerie Ledgard, from Worthing, won a court case and then an appeal in 2006 to protect the vessel.
The women are the daughters of Petty Officer James Varndell, who died with 21 others when the ship was torpedoed.
Divers destroy WWII Bomb Dragged Up In Fishing Nets
Army explosives experts have destroyed a 500lb World War II bomb after a fisherman fishing near Hythe took a picture of the device in his nets and sent it to Dover Coastguard.
Police Divers Assist As Cars Are Pulled From Water
Two cars have been recovered from Bristol's Harbourside by police.
Officers involved in investigating the case believe both vehicles were stolen.
Police divers began exploring the water after a tip-off from a member of the public.
Vessel Capsizes In North Sea
8 people died including a 15 year old boy when the anchor handling vessel Bourbon Dolphin capsized in the North Sea.
Royal Navy divers entered the submerged vessel three times but found no signs of life.
During later salvage operations conducted by Smit Salvage the ship sunk and now lies in 3,600 feet of water.
The Bourbon Dolphin, although only launched last autumn was of a traditional design and similar to many others in the North Sea and Atlantic.
Anchor handling is generally regarded as one of the most hazardous offshore activities because of the risk to crew on the deck, but capsizing is not regarded as a threat.
Busy Weekend For Portland Coastguard
Two divers were airlifted to safety after getting into trouble in separate incidents off the Dorset coast.
As the Coastguard's helicopter was winching a diver from a dive boat near Lulworth Cove it received another distress call and then went on to rescue another diver who had made a rapid ascent just off Anvil Point.
Both men were airlifted to the chamber at Poole for treatment.
Rescue teams also helped a broken down dive boat in West Bay.
Ros Evans, of Portland Coastguard, said: "The dive season has begun with a vengeance.
Body Found In Quarry Search
A body has been found during a search for a teenager at a flooded quarry.
Divers found the body in the Blue Lagoon beauty spot in Arlesey.
During the search thieves broke into an emergency vehicle and stole a radio, mobile phone, digital camera and nitrous oxide.
New Chamber In Dominica
A new hyperbaric chamber has been installed on the island of Dominica in the West Indies.
The chamber at the Princess Margaret Hospital in the capital, Roseau, was financed by the EU, through the Ecotourism Development Programme at a cost of $750,000.
Body Recovered From Car
A Royal Navy Dive Team have removed the body of a man from a car which crashed off a pier and went into the water at Graemsay, a small island south of Stromness, Orkney.
Dr. Joseph Bauer Dies At 76
Physician, Dive Historian and Co-Founder of History of Diving Museum Dr. Joseph Bauer has died after a brief battle with cancer.
The Florida Keys History of Diving Museum, which is based in Islamorada, boasts artifacts collected by Dr Bauer and his wife for more than four decades. It is a historic progression of diving technology from every era and from every part of the world.
WRSTC Endorses DAN/UHMS Diabetes Guidelines
After a thorough overview of the new DAN Diabetes guidelines, the WRSTC unanimously endorsed the guidelines and agreed to work to with the UHMS to add the new information to the current WRSTC Medical Guidelines to the Physician.
The WRSTC is dedicated to the worldwide safety of the recreational diving public. As such, one of the WRSTC’s primary goals is the development of worldwide minimum training standards. The establishment of globally recognised and implemented standards is a valuable asset in addressing local and national regulatory issues.
The WRSTC consists of the following organisations:
* International Diving Educators Association (IDEA)
* Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
* Professional Dive Instructors Corporation (PDIC)
* Scuba Diving International (SDI)
* Scuba Schools International (SSI) and
* Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).
The organisation meets throughout the year to deal with issues involving training in the scuba industry. WRSTC is also the Secretariat for the ANSI Committee Z-375, Scuba Diving Training Standards and Safety.
Body Found In River
The North Yorkshire Police underwater team searching the River Foss in York for a missing man have recovered a body.
British Diver Dies in Spain
A British diver has died after a dive off Malaga, Spain.
The diver, a father of four, was one of Britain's leading classical musicians, working as principal double bassist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
He is believed to have suffered DCI following a fast ascent.
Joint Search For Belgian Diver
An RAF helicopter from Wattisham joined a Belgian rescue helicopter from Koksijde and a fixed-wing aircraft from the Netherlands in the search for a missing diver 40 miles off Aldeburgh in Suffolk.
The diver was diving from a hardboat based in Antwerp and failed to surface during a 35-40m dive.
After the unsuccessful search the diver has been declared lost, presumed dead.
Divers Warned Not To Remove Scallops
A warning has been issued to divers off the Isle of Man about its protected shellfish stocks. The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry said that divers should be aware that the rules apply to them, and not just those who fish.
Technical Problems
Due to unforeseen technical issues no posts were displayed in April.
April posts will appear in the next blogg post.
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April posts will appear in the next blogg post.
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