Dive News

UW Naturalist Instructor Course at United Divers

Des Paroz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:43:33 +0000

Yesterday I conducted a PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty Instructor Course at United Divers in Wollongong.

I worked with Ian, a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor who completed his PADI IDC with me at United Divers earlier this year.

During our dive in Wollongong Harbour, we spotted a good range of plant, invertebrate and vertebrate marine life, and looked at interactions between marine species as well as the human impact on the marine environment. We spotted several big stingrays on the sand, as well as loads of small fishlife as we glided around the breakwall.

Ian is now heading off on working travels in the south Pacific. Good luck on your travels Ian!

Congratulations to New Dive Instructor Li Lin Cheah

Des Paroz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:34:52 +0000

Last weekend a PADI Instructor Exam was conducted in Sydney, and it was great to see that Li Lin, a candidate from a recent PADI Instructor Development Course at United Divers in Wollongong performed really well and now joins the ranks of PADI Instructors!

Having completed a part time PADI IDC that included a bonus PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty Instructor Training Course, Li Lin is qualified to teach a range of PADI Courses from beginner to Divemaster, including several specialties.

The next PADI IDC at United Divers will kick off on 11 January 2009, and will run as a full time program, incorporating a PADI UW Naturalist Instructor Course.

Congratulations to Li Lin on her excellent results!

For more information on becoming a PADI Instructor with United Divers, please contact us.

Successful PADI IDC at Frog Dive

Des Paroz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:38:42 +0000

My first PADI Instructor Development Course at Frog Dive Willoughby completed successfully last week, with two candidates - Martin and VC - graduating to attend the PADI Instructor Exam held in Sydney over the weekend. I'm pleased to report that both VC and Martin were successful at the IE, and now join the ranks of PADI Instructors. As well as that, one of Frog Dive's senior instructors staffed his first IDC since becoming a PADI IDC Staff Instructor Course recently.

Frog Dive Willoughby is a wonderful location to do your PADI IDC. Located on Sydney's North Shore, the store is handy to transport and is close to the city. With an on-site pool dedicated to diver training, a PADI IDC at Frog Dive Willoughby provides you with a great opportunity to have plentiful access to the pool (even outside normal IDC hours), and a chance to undertake inwater training throughout the IDC.

All PADI IDCs conducted by me at Frog Dive Willoughby include a bonus PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty Instructor Training Course and a Project AWARE Specialist Course. Taking a PADI IDC with Frog Dive Willoughby and Des Paroz provides the best value PADI IDC in Sydney, and prepares you for teaching diving in the real world.

Congratulations to Martin and VC on their efforts. Many thanks to IDC Staff Instructors Andy and Bob for their efforts throughout the program. I look forward to hearing of VC and Martin's success as dive instructors at Frog Dive.

Please contact us for more information on upcoming PADI and EFR Instructor Courses at Frog Dive Willoughby. Our next PADI Instructor Development Course will run as a part time program in May 2010.

CDAA Recognises PADI Courses

Des Paroz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:31:05 +0000

Great news from PADI and the Cave Diving Association of Australia that the CDAA, the largest and most recognised cave diving body in Australia, now recognises PADI Cavern Diver and PADI Cave Diver Distinctive Specialties. The following announcement appeared today on the DSAT Chat blog.

PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) – the world’s largest diver training organization recently developed training guidelines and standards for cave diving. Qualified PADI Instructors may submit cave diving teaching outlines to PADI for review. These submissions must meet these guidelines and standards.

Officers of the Cave Divers Association of Australia Inc. (CDAA) – acknowledged by the Australian Government as the peak body in cave diver training and also the largest trainers of Cave Divers in Australia – recently reviewed these guidelines and standards and found that they meet the Standards of the CDAA.

The result of this review means that the CDAA now recognizes PADI Divers and instructors who hold the PADI Cavern Diver and PADI Cave Diver Distinctive Specialty qualifications. These individuals may apply to the CDAA to gain CDAA equivalency recognition for the CDAA Deep Cavern Diver and Cave Diver ratings, respectively. This recognition will allow them to access cavern and cave sites where the CDAA has agreements with land owners and Government organizations.

PADI and the CDAA will be working together to develop formal procedures for PADI qualified cave divers wanting to visit CDAA administered sites within Australia. In the meantime, PADI qualified cave divers must contact the CDAA by mail, provide evidence of their qualifications and follow the CDAA protocols before attempting to gain access.

In accepting the PADI cave diving guidelines and standards the CDAA National Director, Warrick McDonald said in a formal communication to PADI: “It is my pleasure to inform you that the CDAA has accepted PADI’s Cave Courses as compatible with our Standards.”

Warrick went on to congratulate PADI for this step towards developing a common training standard for all cave divers in Australia and overseas.

Terry Cummins, International Vice President PADI Worldwide and a member of the CDAA for many years said; “PADI was keen to ensure that our new guidelines and standards for cave diving mirrored those of the CDAA,” and acknowledged the CDAA’s expertise, devotion to the sport and outstanding safety record established over their 36 years of incorporation.

For more information:

PADI Worldwide 30151 Tomas Street Rancho Santa Margarita California 92688-2125 USA 1 949 858 7234 www.padi.com

PADI Asia Pacific Unit 3, 4 Skyline Place Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia 61 2 9454 2800

CAVE DIVERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (Incorporated in South Australia) ABN 65 062 259 956 P.O. Box 290, North Adelaide, S.A. 5006 Australia www.cavedivers.com.au

PADI IDC in Sydney Going Well

Des Paroz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:34:23 +0000

I'm currently conducting a PADI Instructor Development Course at Frog Dive Willoughby, in Sydney.

We've got 2 candidates - VC and Martin - who are in day 4 of the course and doing brilliantly.

Frog Dive has a great setup with an onsite pool and wonderful classroom - ideal for an instructor course.

During this course we will also be doing the PADI UW Naturalist Specialty Instructor Course. We do this so our candidates leave the course with an additional qualification to be able teach this popular specialty.

Tomorrow we head to the beach for open water presentations.

Revised PADI IDC to Incorporate Increased Business Training

Des Paroz — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:49:32 +0000

As a PADI Course Director, I am excited about the upcoming revisions to the PADI Instructor Development Course that will be launched at DEMA 2009 in Orlando, for progressive introduction in 2010.

The revised program will incorporate an emphasis on eLearning for knowledge development, thus providing greater opportunity for hands on practice of teaching in confined water, knowledge development (classroom) and open water. I am looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time with candidates on practical application.

One area that I am particularly looking forward to is the increased emphasis on sales and business skills, as announced in DiverNewsWire. According to the press release:

Applying tactics learned from their PADI Course Director during the knowledge development portion of the IDC, instructor candidates will develop presentations and role play sales scenarios. Each candidate will act as both salesperson and customer with the PADI Course Director evaluating and coaching sales techniques. Candidates will benefit from the multiple iterations as salesperson, customer and spectator -- so they will not only learn from doing, but also from watching their fellow candidates.

Diving is an equipment intensive activity, and in order for divers to get the most out of diving, instructors need to be able to ensure that they can assist their customers with equipment selection and providing the best solution to meet the customer's needs.

Keep an eye on this site for more information about the revised PADI IDC in 2010. I will be attending DEMA, and intend to launch the revised program as soon as the materials are available.

Congrats to Jason Heller (@JasonDPG) for Photo in Todays Sydney Daily Telegraph

Des Paroz — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:11:57 +0000

A big congratulations to Jason Heller (@JasonDPG) for his wonderful page three article and image in today's issue of Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

Showing a magical photo of an image made during the sardine run in July this year, I am in awe of the wonderful result. Its an amazing image.

Well done Jason.

Posted via email from BlueBeyond Dive News

Oceanic and DiveNav collaborate to develop online training class for dive computers

Des Paroz — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:31:55 +0000

Last month's widely applauded announcement by a leading SCUBA training organization is helping re-shape how dive retailers and divers view and utilize dive computers in Open Water SCUBA training.

Oceanic Worldwide has always been on the leading edge of computer and diving technology. As part of its leadership role in the dive industry, Oceanic is helping to produce effective and relevant online training programs involving SCUBA computers to assist the industry as it evolves to the next stage of educational technology.

Oceanic, together with its online training development partner DiveNav, unveils the first online dive computer course, specifically highlighting the Oceanic Veo 100 dive computer. The Veo 100 Specialty Class is the FIRST ever available online dive computer class designed to teach divers how to use a SPECIFIC dive computer. Professionally made, interactive and effective multimedia audio / visual packaged in a cost effective online class that will make for an enjoyable user experience. Once taken, the Specialty Class doubles as an online multimedia Operating Manual that can be consulted from anywhere around the world.

A video demonstrating the Veo 100 Online Specialty Class may be seen now at

"Together with DiveNav, we have designed this class specifically for retailers", said Doug Krause of Oceanic Worldwide. "to better allow them to incorporate the Veo 100 into their Open Water Training. While this specific class highlights the Veo 100, it will certainly NOT be the last online dive computer training program Oceanic will be involved with."

"The Veo 100 is an easy to use, affordable and robust dive computer specifically designed for the new diver and the student diver", said Alberto Mantovani, President and CEO of DiveNav, "and we are honored to have collaborated on this project with Oceanic, one of the most innovative company in the scuba industry.", he concluded.

The Veo 100 Online Specialty Class is available at http://www.divecomputertraining.com/classes.php?page=diveComp&class=2&module=1section=1

Posted via email from BlueBeyond Dive News

DivePhotoGuide Announced Prestigious Competitions for 2010. Over $80k in prizes.

Des Paroz — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:13:43 +0000

Official Call For Entries: 2010 Competitions - Over $80,000 in Prizes

PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO COMPETITION SERIES ANNOUNCES 2010 COMPETITIONS – OVER $80,000 IN PRIZES

The “Superbowl” of International Underwater Image & Video Competitions Celebrates The Splendor, Mystery & Plight of The Oceans With Categories For All Levels From Novices To Professionals

New York, NY (Oct. 12, 2010) – Underwater photographers and videographers have become the unsung heroes of the most important ecosystem on earth. During a time when the oceans are in crisis, a growing global community of scuba divers and photographers have become the eyes and ears of the ocean, helping to educate and inspire the rest of the world.

One of the largest and most prestigious international underwater photography and video competition series celebrates its five year anniversary this year. The competitions showcase the beauty, mystery and delicacy of the marine environment, as well as the art of underwater photography. Underwater photographers of all levels, from novice to professionals, will compete in what has become the “Superbowl” of international underwater imagery events, with over $80,000 of world-class prizes, major industry involvement, and the opportunity to have their images showcased to the world as some of the best. Esteemed judges include leading professional underwater photographers, cinematographers and magazine editors from around the world.

The unique competition series was founded by professional underwater photographers Jason Heller & Eric Cheng and hosted by popular websites DivePhotoGuide.com

and Wetpixel.com

. The series is held in association with two leading scuba diving expos on opposite sides of the world, simultaneously - Our World Underwater, now in its 40^th year, and one of the largest consumer scuba diving expos in the US, and DEEP Indonesia, the first and only scuba diving and watersports expo in Indonesia, one of the most bio-diverse marine ecosystems in the world.

Participants will compete in technical, themed and video categories, to win more than $80,000 in prizes including premium dive travel, underwater photo and video equipment, scuba diving gear and more. Dive packages include trips to some of the top photo destinations in the world.

A complete list of sponsors, prizes and competition guidelines are listed on the website UnderwaterCompetition.com.

** Deadline for submissions Jan 15, 2010 **

Winners for each respective competition will be announced live on stage at either the Our World Underwater film festival in Chicago (February 19 - 21, 2010), or at DEEP Indonesia in Jakarta (March 27 – 29, 2010), and will be published by supporting media partners worldwide. Winning videos will be broadcast via The Underwater Channel, and podcast as episodes of the iTunes-featured DiveFilm Podcast Video and DiveFilm High Definition Podcast Video

As with all UnderwaterCompetition.com events, 15% of entry proceeds will be donated to marine conservation efforts.

Posted via email from BlueBeyond Dive News

OZTeK'11 Launch Announcement

Des Paroz — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:10:53 +0000

MEDIA RELEASE

(08/10/09)

OZTeK'11

12 - 13 March, 2011

www.diveoztek.com.au

“The Ultimate Underwater Adventure”

Continuing to receive high praise since its inception in 1999 and now widely acclaimed as one of the world’s most dynamic diving events, the seventh Australasian Diving Technologies Conference and Exhibition - OZTeK’11 – will take place over the week-end of the 12^th – 13^th March 2011, at Australian Technology Park, in Sydney, Australia.

Having firmly established its credentials as an internationally significant diving event - one that remains focussed on the underwater adventures that new technology and techniques make possible - OZTeK‘11 will again feature one of the world’s largest gatherings of internationally renowned speakers and presenters in their respective fields of diving expertise.

Encompassing recreational, technical, occupational and scientific diving applications, the OZTeK’11 Conference topics will include: Cave and wreck diving, developments in rebreather technology, equipment selection and configuration, deep diving considerations, decompression procedures, extreme explorations, hyperbaric medicine, training programmes, occupational diving applications, search-and-rescue techniques, marine archaeology, underwater photography, diver safety and more.

Complemented by a full-scale exhibition featuring all of the latest diving developments, together with displays, breakout workshops, film and video presentations, OZTeK‘11 is an event aimed at all divers - regardless of their experience level - whose thirst for knowledge is matched only by their spirit of adventure.

Probing beyond the usual diving limits and tapping into the very core of exciting underwater experiences, it’s a two-day spectacular that no diver can afford to miss.

Full details of the action-packed OZTeK’11 event will begin to appear on the website during the coming months, but in the interim those companies and organisations with an interest in exhibiting at OZTeK’11 - or individuals with an interest in presenting talks at the conference - are invited to contact the organisers.

Please visit the website at: www.diveoztek.com.au Telephone: +61 (2) 9971 2559, or e-mail: admin@diveoztek.com.au

Posted via email from BlueBeyond Dive News