Hello Dive Buddies: The PADI Blog

Scouts go deep to earn newly-minted merit badge

noreply@blogger.com (Amy1718) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:09:00 +0000

By Chantelle Lusebrink Cold waters greeted Boy Scouts from Troop No. 609 Jan. 26. Submerging to 60 feet underwater, 20 of the 39 troop members completed their final dive off Alki Beach for their PADI certification for scuba diving and their Boy Scout merit badge. “I’ve been scuba diving before in Maui and it was one of the most fun experiences of my life,” said Scout Sean Fite, 14, who goes to Eastside Catholic High School. “This opportunity came up and I thought I should take it to get my full certification.” Troop 609 is one of the largest troops in the area with members ranging in age from 11-18 and attending schools in Sammamish, Issaquah, North Bend and Renton. “It was cold!” said Scout Will Dodeward, 15, who goes to Mount Si High School. “I know 46-degrees doesn’t sound cold, but it’s cold.” They may be the first ones in the nation to complete the required courses and training for the new Boy Scout merit badge available this year, said parent volunteer Judy Co. The troop is the first to place an order for the merit badge, but there is no national database to confirm it for sure, she added. Beneath the water’s surface — once the shock of the cold water wore off — the boys saw a world full of marine diversity, the boys said. “We saw Rat fish, Artist crab, Red Rock crabs, sea slugs and feather coral,” Sean said. The boys said they also found other interesting things, like toilets, water bottles and plates from a nearby restaurant, which aren’t altogether great for the environment, but provide new shelter for marine life. Before the boys could enter the frigid 46-degree water of Puget Sound, they spent weeks training in a pool learning about regulators, dive gauges and safety with Seattle Scuba Schools. “We had to practice removing our masks and clearing and putting them back on underwater,” Sean said. “That was the scary part, you kind of panicked, but it’s good to know.” The boys didn’t just take the classes to claim bragging rights, Scout Master David Marsh said. Seven of the boys are in the process of training for an upcoming diving adventure to Florida. In August, the boys and five parent volunteers will head to The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base. Sea Base — as it’s commonly referred to by the boys — is a High Adventure camp that offers educational aquatic programs, according to the Web site. The Boy Scouts’ High Adventure camps are often longer in duration than typical camps. They are designed to allow the boys in-depth learning opportunities about a single subject, like aquatic environments or mountainous regions. “Scuba diving is a really cool experience and it is a great skill to have,” said Scout Andrew Marsh, 15, a freshman at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus. Sea Base is owned and operated by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. It is based in the Florida Keys with many smaller base destinations the boys will travel to by ship, like Islamorada, Summerland Key, Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island and the Bahamas. There, the boys will find crystal clear water with nearby shore reefs to explore the diversity of marine life. “I really want to see octopus and tropical fish,” said Scout Nick Co, a freshman at Pacific Cascade. “Something more eye-pleasing.” The live on-board adventure the boys will go on will not only let them put their new skills to use but will also teach them sailing skills aboard a 57-foot schooner they’ll help sail through the Keys. Once launched, they’ll have 15 dives, including three night dives. But more than just fish, the boys will learn about corals and reef ecosystems as well as reef conservation and methods being used to help preserve them, Marsh said. They will also have the opportunity to earn additional diving certifications through their dives. “This is something he is really interested in doing,” said Will’s mother, Angela Dodeward. “It is a great learning experience.” But more than that, their Scout Master hopes it’s a new skill, like many Boy Scouting skills, the boys will take with them throughout their lives. “Anything active these guys are involved in that gets them outside and away from the screen is a good thing,” Marsh said. “We really try to encourage them to push themselves and try new things, like hiking, climbing mountains and scuba diving. These are all things they can do for a lifetime and Boy Scouts encourages that.”

Thank You for Helping Ban Shark Finning in Spain

noreply@blogger.com (Amy1718) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:20:00 +0000

PADI would like to thank all divers who signed the 2009 European Shark Week petition and who organised an event to collect signatures in October last year. It was signed by over 90,000 citizens from 16 European countries urging Spain to end its opposition to improving the EU ban on finning. Read more about it on Project AWARE's Blog.

We Need Your Signature to Protect Chagos

noreply@blogger.com (Amy1718) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:12:00 +0000

PADI and Project AWARE encourage all scuba divers to support the designation of the Chagos as the world’s largest protected area, and by doing so, help preserve one of the most unspoiled marine environments left on Earth. Please add your voice by simply adding your name to the Protect Chagos petition. There is only three weeks more to convince the government that a no-take Marine Protected Area is the right decision. Learn more about this initiative on Project AWARE's blog

Show Off Your Support

noreply@blogger.com (SocietyDiver) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Select the 2010 Project AWARE version of your PADI certification or replacement card and support underwater conservation.

For a minimum donation, any diver can sport the new sea turtle card and know 100 percent of your gift supports protection for the environments you love most.

$10 supports 10 children in local AWARE Kids conservation activities.
$25 supports one underwater cleanup, providing data for marine debris solutions.
$50 activates 10 volunteer divers, monitoring coral reefs for stress and bleaching.
$100 contributes to threatened shark protection and sustainable global ecosystems.

To find out more about Project AWARE Foundation’s ongoing conservation efforts and to become directly involved visit www.projectaware.org.

Aid For Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (SocietyDiver) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:16:00 +0000

The PADI family extends heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti as they struggle to recover from the devastating effects of a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

A tight-knit, global community, PADI Members and Divers are contacting PADI Offices around the world offering help and support to those fighting to survive in the quake’s aftermath.

Right now, what the people of Haiti need most is food, clean drinking water, medical attention and shelter. The PADI organization believes the fastest way to deliver this much needed aid is to donate directly to relief efforts familiar with helping people in this region. Therefore, PADI Offices are encouraging divers worldwide to donate directly to organizations currently responding to the Haiti disaster.

If you are seeking to provide support to the victims of the Haiti earthquake, contact the charity of your choice or view a list of charities currently involved in Haitian earthquake relief efforts at charitywatch.org.

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Walters) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:52:00 +0000

Keep your eyes peeled because PADI will announce the winners of the 2009 Go PRO Challenge Worldwide Testimonial Contest next week! Remember, 1st prize is $10,000 US and the First Runner -up will get $1,500 US. Are you one of those hapless souls who wish you entered, but never quite got around to submitting a video or captioned photograph? Well, you’re not totally out of luck, because the 2010 Go PRO Challenge Testimonial Contest starts on 1 January. And, winning is going to be easier than ever! That’s because in 2010, there will be 100 prizes - and one hundred winners - from every corner of the planet. And, you’ll have additional choices for the format of your submission: not only will you be able to submit a captioned photo or home video, you can submit a written testimonial instead. Check back after the holidays because the all new info and 2010 contest rules will be posted on padi.com/gpc. In the meantime, here’s a suggestion for your top New Year’s Resolution for 2010: “I will Go PRO (or, get another rating), send in my most passionate testament to why “I’m a PADI Pro for the love of it!” and take home a PADI-branded iPod or one of the other cool prizes in the 2010 Testimonial Contest!” Stay tuned to padi.com/gpc for next week's announcement of the 2009 Testimonial Contest winners.

Clean Up in Mirfa on video from The National!

noreply@blogger.com (camy1302) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Click here to view the clean up in Mirfa on video!

2009 Society Benefts Coming to an End

noreply@blogger.com (SocietyDiver) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:16:00 +0000

It’s that time of the year again… use your 2009 PADI Diving Society benefits to purchase gifts for family, friends and your dive buddies, find great deals on traveling for the holidays, and take advantage of your 2009 benefits before the New Year.

If you’re not a Society member – join today and take advantage of these great ways to save in 2009:

Make hotel reservations for your holiday getaway Take advantage of your Choice Hotels benefit – a 15 percent discount at over 5,800 participating Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, MainStay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, Econo Lodge® and Rodeway Inn® brand hotels and Ascend Collection® properties worldwide. Choice Privileges® members can enjoy additional savings* and don’t forget to get Choice Hotels® gift cards for family and friends this holiday season!

Give the gift of art Receive 10 – 25 percent on selected artwork from Rogest and Wyland.

Don’t worry about who’s picking you up from the airport Save on your next car rental - society members will receive special rental benefits for the rest of the year. View the coupon for AVIS Worldwide.

Capture every underwater moment this holiday season Purchase a new underwater camera and housing for you or your dive buddy – Society members can take advantage of rebates from Olympus and SeaLife. Plus, check out the online directory to see if your local PADI Dive Center or Resort is offering an benefits on the PADI Digital Underwater Photography Course.

Convenience your dive buddy to go diving with you this winter Purchase a new DUI drysuit and get a Free DUI StretchLiner.

Taking the kids to Disneyworld? Why not explore the living seas with Epcot Aqua Tours and Epcot Dive Quest? Orlando Florida Society member can save 10 percent on admission.

All 2009 offers are currently posted to PADI Diving Society's online benefits directory and will expire 31 December 2009

The good news is – most offers continue in 2010, plus PADI Diving Society has new Society benefits from: Discover new adventures and dive buddies with PADI Diving Society. As a 2009 member, you’ll enjoy more than $94,500 US in special offers**. Also enjoy additional savings and information on dive gear and travel from PADI Diving Society Member-only publications; Sport Diver, Sport Diver UK, or Scuba Diver AustralAsia magazine.*** *Choice Privileges® members can earn points towards FREE room nights, airline rewards and more wonderful redemption offers while taking advantage of the PADI Diving Society discount. Just be sure to reference both the PADI Diving Society Special Rate Identification 00800683 and Choice Privileges member number when making your reservation. Not a member? Sign up to be a Choice Privileges member by going to www.choiceprivileges.com/signup/PADIDS. **Some rebates and savings valid only for residents of the United States and Canada. See the terms and conditions for each offer. ***Magazine publications vary by region

Shallow water. Deep secret.

noreply@blogger.com (sarahajne) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:16:00 +0000

Take a trip to The Cove for an insiders look at Ric O'Barry's journey with dolphins. View The Cove trailer.

Shallow water. Deep secret.

noreply@blogger.com (sarahajne) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:59:00 +0000

Take a trip to The Cove for an insiders look at Ric O'Barry's journey with dolphins. View The Cove trailer.

He bailed on banking and took the Go PRO Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Walters) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:42:00 +0000

Are you going for the DOXA dive watch or a Winner’s Circle jacket in the 2009 Go PRO Challenge Professional Rating contest? Get tips on winning from a “Pro”-- A PADI Pro, of course! Read about how Paul Leland Faulstich III, last year’s winner, left a career in banking, became a PADI Pro and racked up enough points to take home the DOXA dive watch in the 2008 Go PRO Challenge Professional Rating contest.

Remember, you are automatically entered in the 2009 Professional Rating Contest when you get your first professional level rating in 2009. You rack up the ratings – PADI tracks your points.

WANTED: IMAGES OF THREATENED MARINE SPECIES

noreply@blogger.com (sarahajne) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:27:00 +0000

PADI and Project AWARE are calling on divers and underwater photographers for their help in gathering images of the world’s threatened marine animals and plants by contributing their images to ARKive, the UK-based charity whose mission is to promote conservation through wildlife imagery. Threatened marine species make up just ten percent of the current material held in ARKive, reflecting just how hard these films and photographs are to collect, so the divers underwater images are urgently needed to help fill the watery gaps in the rapidly growing library. Many divers, amateur and professional alike, take fabulous photographs of a broad range of threatened species, so this is an opportunity to work with ARKive and help the wide variety of amazing animals and plants that give pleasure to so many divers. Photographs and video give these threatened species a face, they give those who won’t ever be lucky enough to see them in the wild the chance to understand their characteristics, their biology and the threats they are currently facing. “Underwater photos can describe the beauty and diversity of our underwater environments as well as highlight the urgent need for conservation. It’s crucial that divers contribute their photos to a good cause and help bring attention to the plight of the world’s endangered marine species” says Suzanne Pleydell, Project AWARE Foundation (International) Director. “It’s hard to raise support for an animal that has no face in the media and good underwater images can make a huge difference” adds Suzanne.

PADI International Limited Director, and passionate underwater photographer, Mark Caney, comments “Divers are so fortunate and privileged to be able to experience the beauty and wonders of the underwater world. I encourage divers to donate their images to give ARKive the best means possible in their quest to raise awareness for the world’s underwater creatures”.

ARKive promotes conservation and builds environmental awareness through wildlife photographs, films and sound clips – which are being pledged by many of the world’s top photographers and filmmakers. The aim is to produce a global, centralized record of all 16,928 species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This will provide an invaluable conservation tool - a quick, easy and free online source of information for anyone keen to learn more or to help with conservation efforts.

A list of the ‘most wanted’ images is published on the ARKive website http://www.arkive.org/ and to check out if your species appears on the Red List see http://www.redlist.org/. Anyone wishing to donate images can e-mail ARKive’s media research team – arkive@wildscreen.org.uk, or upload to www.flickr.com/groups/arkive using the tag ‘marine’. For more information about underwater photography visit http://www.projectaware.org/ and the 10 Tips for underwater photographers.

So far around 38,000 films and images have been given a safe-haven in the ARKive digital vault. More than 3,000 media donors are actively contributing to the project, from major broadcasters, film and photo libraries to conservation organizations and academic institutes, as well as many individual filmmakers and photographers. All media is donated freely on the understanding that it will be used as a resource for scientists, conservationists, educators and the general public, and not for commercial purposes.

Notes:

ARKive is a not-for-profit initiative of Wildscreen, a UK-based charity whose mission is to promote conservation through wildlife imagery - http://www.arkive.org/ .

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on plants and animals that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. For more information, see www.iucn.org/redlist.

Dive Borneo - Check out the New Video from Borneo Divers

noreply@blogger.com (SocietyDiver) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Check out the new video from Borneo Divers and see why PADI Diving Society is headed to Sipadan, Borneo in 2010.

PADI Diving Society's Ocean Safari is 24 June - 3 July 2010. Visit www.padi.com/borneo for all of the details.

Take Action during European Shark Week 2009:

noreply@blogger.com (sarahajne) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:04:00 +0000

PADI and Project AWARE is urging all PADI divers to take action during European Shark Week 2009 by:

Signing the shark petition: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish
Downloading the paper version of the petition and help collect signatures in your dive centre or work place: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish

Sharing this information with your fellow divers, friends, family, and work colleagues
Posting a link to your website / blog if applicable
Making a donation to support Project AWARE
Upgrading your PADI certification card to the Project AWARE Limited Edition “Shark on a Reef” card

Your voice counts. Please help Project AWARE and the Shark Alliance promote shark conservation including urgently needed revisions to the EU finning ban. European Shark Week is a unique opportunity for European citizens around the world to demonstrate their support for shark conservation and effect urgently needed changes.

European Shark Week 2008 saw the collection of more than 100,000 signatures. This was a huge success for the Shark Alliance and more importantly for shark conservation not only in Europe but worldwide. Let’s make it even bigger this year to ensure European Fisheries Ministers follow through on the Shark Plan’s initiatives and truly safeguard sharks.

Thank you for your support.

Vote for your PADI Diving Society Photo!

noreply@blogger.com (SocietyDiver) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Thank you to all participants! Your response has been overwhelming.

In the past, images for the PADI Diving Society membership card have either been generated from PADI offices’ internal collections or they came from renowned underwater photographers. However, with the growth of Digital Underwater Photography, and more and more divers capturing their underwater experiences, we decided to do something different for 2010 and created a worldwide search!

View the top 10 finalists and vote for your favorite Society card image. Your vote counts! The final winner will be announced in November 2009 and will receive a certificate, global recognition, plus bragging rights!

Share this link with your friends. Voting closes on 30 October 2009 at 11am PST.

Did You Know?
Each year, the PADI Diving Society produces a limited-edition Society membership card. More than 175,000 Society members worldwide use their card proudly in PADI Dive Centers and Resorts to redeem their Society membership benefits.

PADI Diving Society keeps divers active by providing you with additional incentives while you continue your diving adventures, purchasing new equipment or going on more dive trips! More importantly Society members share one thing in common: the love of the underwater.

Want to enjoy Society membership benefits? JOIN TODAY!

Maldives President and His Cabinet Go Underwater

noreply@blogger.com (Amy1718) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:41:00 +0000

The Maldives President and his Cabinet are going to meet underwater on October 17th and sign a document ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December calling on all nations to cut down their carbon emissions.

Read the full article.

Giant Stride for Sharks

noreply@blogger.com (sarahajne) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:44:00 +0000

President of the Republic of Palau, H.E. Johnson Toribiong, announced today that the waters off their coast have officially been reserved as a shark sanctuary! Encompassing 230,000 sq. miles, this sanctuary will be the world’s first refuge for more than 130 species of sharks that frequent the waters near the island of Palau.

With an increasing number of threatened species, acts of conservation like this are the key to maintaining a healthy underwater environment. Check out the Palau Shark Sanctuary’s blog for more details on this recent announcement.

Wedding on the Great Barrier Reef

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:52:00 +0000

PADI Instructor, Martin Edwards married his bride, Thassanee, onboard the luxury diving vessel, SeaQuest.

July 16, 2009 turned out to be a perfect day for the wedding, which took place on a trip to Norman Reef – located 90 minutes out of Cairns in Queensland. Local celebrant, Nicola Beulke, had prepared their unique wedding ceremony in two parts commencing on the bow of SeaQuest. Thassanee dazzled in a traditional handmade Thai wedding dress her parents had sent from Thailand. The captain, Greg Brooker, gave her away.

For the second stage of the ceremony, Thassanee wore a beautiful white wedding gown, also handmade in Thailand - sent from her sister, Sumarlee. Over this went her scuba gear and still looking every bit as stunning alongside Martin, they took the plunge together from SeaQuest to 15m below.

Captivating divers on the way to “Troppo’s Lounge” dive site, they exchanged wedding rings and signed the Certificate of Marriage. Martin recounts, “The dive was great fun, seeing the expressions on other divers’ faces when they came across us underwater made the day...for everyone.”

Martin is a passionate diver, inspired by the early TV series, Sea Hunt and later, Jacques Cousteau underwater documentaries. He considers himself fortunate to have shared with a diverse range of people what diving and the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.

But when Martin first met Thassanee, swimming and diving were not pastimes she was into. “14 months ago Thassanee couldn’t swim and was scared of the water to say the least, so many things were - and still are - new to her”, says Martin. “With the help of excellent PADI Instructors from Deep Sea Divers Den in Cairns, her confidence and competence grew.”

Thassanee is now a certified PADI diver and recently completed her 100th dive.

“Coming to Australia has been a big thing for me and my family, so many things are different here”, relates Thassanee. “Martin wanted me to make up my own mind as to whether I would learn to dive. All of the crew were very helpful and supportive. Now I love diving and I am learning how to take underwater photos as well”. Martin adds, “Going out on SeaQuest is the highlight of our week, we enjoy working with the rest of the crew, each other and diving together. It seemed natural that we would share our commitment whilst doing something we both enjoy.”

Please join everyone at PADI in wishing Martin and Thassanee a long and happy life together and many more wonderful diving experiences on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.

Photo’s courtesy of Lauren Sando, Vili Baleilevucha and Greg Brooker.

What's Your Ocean IQ?

noreply@blogger.com (SocietyDiver) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Do you know what four marine resources make the ocean important to life on earth? Or if humans have seen much of the ocean? Test your knowledge in this 10 question quiz from the Life on an Ocean Planet textbook.

Take the Quiz Now!...then leave a comment on how you did!

EUROPEAN SHARK WEEK 2009 SHARK ALLIANCE, PROJECT AWARE AND PADI join forces

noreply@blogger.com (sarahajne) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:22:00 +0000

PADI would like to draw your attention to this year's European Shark Week, 10 – 18 October. Most European shark populations are declining from overfishing. This event is a unique opportunity for shark advocates and European citizens around the world to demonstrate their support for shark conservation and effect urgently needed changes.

PADI and the Project AWARE Foundation have been members of the Shark Alliance for many years contributing to the coalition’s great successes for shark conservation. Project AWARE is a member of the coalition’s Steering Committee since 2009.

The Shark Alliance currently counts 72 members and is more than ever before committed to restoring and conserving shark populations by improving shark conservation policies.

At the beginning of 2009, the European fisheries ministers debated over the European Commission's Plan of Action for sharks and adopted it thanks in large part to support from Shark Alliance Members including PADI divers and Project AWARE supporters who took action during last year's European Shark Week.

European Shark Week 2008 saw the collection of more than 100,000 signatures. This was a huge success for the Shark Alliance and more importantly for shark conservation not only in Europe but worldwide.

Let's make European Shark Week 2009 even bigger to ensure European Fisheries Ministers follow through on the Shark Plan's initiatives and truly safeguard sharks. This year's European Shark Week petition is calling on Spain's Prime Minister Zapatero (Spain takes over the EU presidency from January 2010) to promote sustainable shark fisheries management including urgently needed revisions to the EU finning ban.

Shark Facts:

Tens of millions of sharks are killed each year
Most European shark populations are declining from overfishing
1/3 are threatened with extinction
Even the world's fastest shark, the shortfin Mako, can't out-swim fishing fleets on the high seas
The lucrative market for shark fins is estimated to be increasing by 5 per cent each year
Restrictions on international trade are in place for only three shark species - basking, whale and white sharks
Europe includes some of the most important shark fishing nations in the world
In 1997, Spain reported the world's largest catch of sharks (followed by France, the UK and Portugal)
There are no limits on the amount of blue sharks taken in European or international fisheries

Runner Up for PADI's Go PRO Challenge Contest shares his story!

noreply@blogger.com (camy1302) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:16:00 +0000

Simon Bowen was a runner up in the PADI's Go PROChallenge Ratings Contest in Asia Pacific for 2008.

Here's his story.....

After doing most of my dive training up to Divemaster with a UK based PADI Dive club (Submission Scuba in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire), and realising the benefits of the excellent training that I had received there from both Darren MacNamara and Katy Bloor, it was important for me to ensure the final stages of my training as a PADI Instructor met the same criteria for me wherever in the world I was going to complete it. ·

I had already decided to finish my diving courses after months of being unhappy in my position as a Corporate Sales Executive for a major UK national organisation, and now it was a matter of finding the right place on the planet for me to fulfil my dream of becoming a PADI Dive Instructor. I purposefully looked worldwide for a PADI IDC centre that had an excellent reputation and offered a quality IDC, as well as an internship that would allow me to gain invaluable work experience to hone my instructor skills in a busy environment.

I left my job and all things familiar in the UK in April 2008 to move to Koh Tao in The Gulf of Thailand. I had contacted a few friends in the industry concerning the strengths of the various businesses on the island, and decided to go with Bans Dive Resort located on Sairee Beach. The two Course Directors, Jonas Samuelson and Tim Hunt, were both extremely helpful with regular email contact prior to my arrival, and I was able to utilise my “free diving for life” offer that came as part of my IDC package to further my Divemaster skills, guiding groups of fun divers, and sitting in on Divemaster Trainee lectures prior to the start of my IDC with them.

This proved to be invaluable, as there are structured and scheduled lectures in all areas for Divemaster Trainees, and also regular skills circuits in the pool, to fine tune your skills presentation and knowledge to IDC standard. All of this vital preparatory work is given freely, and you start to meet some of the Senior Instructors within the business, who are more than happy to answer questions and assist in any way they can.

Then in July came the IDC. I was told that Jonas Samuelson was a highly awarded Padi Course Director prior to coming here, but to see him in action confirms this completely. Tim Hunt (Course Director) has the most amazing presentation skills ever, and is able to hold your interest in all areas of the IDC constantly. I found this combination of people awe inspiring, and made me personally strive for the best that I could achieve. There is a lot of information to assimilate on an IDC, and these people made it that much easier for me and the others that I studied with. After passing my mock IE exams, and with all of the study that had been done in the previous weeks, I was certain that I could pass my Instructor Exam with flying colours, and qualified with high scores in all areas

With this vital phase now out of the way, and as a qualified Instructor, I then went onto the Ban’s MSDT Internship program. This course enabled me to teach Padi Specialties, which was again hosted by the resident Course Directors. Some people feel totally confident when they leave the I.E. as a qualified Instructor to start teaching immediately. I wanted the benefit of teaching in a busy environment that I was not likely to experience anywhere else in the world, alongside seasoned instructors that had been working at Bans for between 5 and 12 years. This has proven to be a great decision, and I am sure that I am a far better and more confident Instructor than I ever could have been without this invaluable experience.

I have been able to watch some brilliant instructors at work first hand and benefit from all of their differing teaching techniques and individual styles. I now have the Instructors ask me what parts of the course I am assisting on that I would like to teach! I regularly instructed large groups of up to 25 people in the classroom theory sessions, and up to 8 people in Open Water. All of this has come about because I have done back to back course instruction in one of the busiest dive centres in the world.

I have also had the pleasure of certifying over 200 students during this time personally, something that not too many businesses can offer potential instructors. I feel that I have gone from a good instructor to an excellent instructor as a direct result of this program. I believe that you will not gain this experience – with all of the problems that you see, all of the solutions that are offered, along with a wealth of excellent skills and technique resources to draw on from a team of brilliant instructors – unless you do an internship with a world leading instructional

So what happens from here for me? I sit my Staff Instructor rating this year and then Staff my first IDC to count towards my Master Instructor rating in two years time. I am then off out to the big wide world, armed with all the experience that I have amassed since the end of April last year at Bans, to find a company that wants what I have to offer the world of diving.

And the good news? I know that the intense instruction and training that I have received over the 6 months I was in Koh Tao has made me an all but bullet proof dive instructor, and that I am totally ready for that challenge.· · · Simon Bowen

POSEIDON - THREE GENERATIONS OF DIVERS

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:06:00 +0000

I don’t know too many people that want to go diving with their boss, but at Poseidon Outer Reef Cruises in Port Douglas the crew are always looking for an excuse to take a Sunday off and go out on a play day. Sundays are the day that Poseidon owner Peter Wright heads out on his weekly dives. Why are the crew so keen to go? Well, Pete has a bit of influence, so when he’s on board there is always the possibility of a few exploration dives, drift dives and the chance to visit diving sites less frequented by other divers.

Peter Wright started diving way back in 1958 in Mombasa, inspired by diving legend Hans Hass and was certified in 1988 as a PADI Divemaster. For over 28 years, Pete has owned diving charter vessels in Far North Queensland including the liveaboard 'Scheherazade' from 1981 to 1994, which ran extended dive trips to the Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea, many of them exploratory. For the last 15 years it has been on the daily Agincourt Reef charter boat “Poseidon” running out of Port Douglas. Pete has built a reputation within the local community of offering reef trips at exceptional standard for visitors to the Great Barrier Reef.

With over 45 different dive sites to choose from, both snorkelers and divers are catered for and for those visitors who just can’t get enough of the Reef - there’s a huge variety of dive sites on offer.

Poseidon is a true family business. Pete’s eldest daughter Shelly is a formidable freediver and regularly joins the diving group above the water for adventure drift snorkelling along the outer reef walls. Shelly’s husband, Neilo is a PADI Instructor and commercial diver and has spent years skippering at the helm of Poseidon.

On some of those early liveaboard trips while on working holidays - Pete’s youngest daughter Katrina learnt to dive as a teenager and now with husband Steve, owns and operates sailing vessels, Sailaway and Shaolin. Both vessels visit the World Heritage Listed ‘Low Isles’ (a coral cay) on daily snorkelling and sailing charters. Diving, snorkelling and sailing are in the blood!

But on July 11th, 2009 the third generation of the Poseidon family earned their stripes. Pete’s grandson David Munro, (Shelly and Neil’s eldest son) at age 13 went through his paces with Poseidon Master Instructor, Heidi Taylor and completed his PADI Junior Open Water certification. David grew up spending many Sundays on the boat with the family, snorkelling and freediving and learning about the Reef.

The day after David achieved his certification happened to be a Sunday - so the first dive of the day saw three generations of the Poseidon family jump in together to do a drift dive at Agincourt Reef.

How many people can say they go diving with their dad and grandpa at some of the best dive locations in the world!

For more information about diving the Great Barrier Reef with Poseidon Outer Reef Cruises visit http://www.poseidon-cruises.com.au/

Photo Credits: Oak Beach Productions.

Society's Photo Contest Continues

noreply@blogger.com (SocietyDiver) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:54:00 +0000

You’ve spent all summer diving, or possibly sorting through your underwater images from past dive trips. What’s next? A scrapbook of images? Or possibly choosing the best photo for your family holiday card? Or how about entering an underwater photo contest?

PADI Diving Society is looking for the next Society membership card photo and it could be yours!

Each year, the PADI Diving Society introduces a limited-edition Society membership card. In the past PADI offices have used photos from our own collections or invited renowned underwater photographers to provide striking images. However, with the growth of Digital Underwater Photography, and more and more divers capturing their underwater experiences, PADI Diving Society decided to do something different for 2010 and create a worldwide search!

Judges from PADI will select three regional winners. Each PADI Diving Society office will then submit their regional winners in the 2010 Member Card Online Voting Contest. Voting will be open to everyone in October– look for opportunities to vote on this page, MySpace and Facebook pages.

The final winner will be announced November 2009 and will receive a certificate, global recognition, plus bragging rights!

How can you participate?
Submit up to three photos of your best underwater or diving lifestyle photos as high resolution images minimum 300 dpi; in a horizontal digital image in proportion to 9.56 x 6.4cm or 3.75 x 2.5 inches.

How to Submit Your Entry:
1. Email all entries (maximum of three photographs) to your affiliated PADI Diving Society office with subject header: 2010 Society membership card entry. – Society office details below
2. Include your name, mailing address, contact number and Society membership number, if applicable.
3. All entries must be accompanied with a signed Photo Release document.

To find your local office- visit http://www.padidivingsociety.com/ and look for the 2010 PADI Diving Society membership card icon or link. Or find your office below!

PADI Americas/ Sport Diver Readers:
Visit www.padi.com/societyphotocontest for details or email aja.smith@padi.com

PADI Asia Pacific/ Scuba Diver AustralAsia Readers:
Click here for more details or email padidivingsociety@padi.com.au

PADI International/ Sport Diver UK Readers:
email pds@padi.co.uk

Drop Zone Tahiti Debuts on Fuel TV

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:45:00 +0000

Drop Zone Tahiti Rides Media Wave into 33 Million Households

Epic surf and dive adventure captures attention of Fox Cable Network’s Fuel TV channel.

On 20 August 2009, more than 33 million households will watch perfect waves meet ideal dive conditions as Drop Zone Tahiti debuts throughout the US on action sports channel, Fuel TV. Produced by PADI, Body Glove and Sport Diver magazine to attract Gen Y members to diving and PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, the film captures the adventures of three pro surfers and friends – Alex Gray, Holly Beck and Cheyne Magnusson – as they catch the best waves and explore Tahiti’s breathtaking reefs.

“Drop Zone Tahiti’s debut on Fuel TV – the only action sports cable and satellite network in the US – is great news for PADI Members and the dive industry,” says PADI Americas’ Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kristin Valette. “The cable network’s exposure strongly supports the goal of this effort, which is to cross market the two closely intertwined sports and encourage members of the surf community to check out what lies beneath the waves.”

Owned by media giant, Fox Cable Network, Fuel TV pipes the lifestyle and culture of skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX, freestyle motocross, and wakeboarding into millions of homes throughout the US every day.

“The film’s prominent positioning in the action sports arena represents a major coup for diving,” continued Valette. “All divers know a great dive is a huge adrenaline rush; but it’s often difficult to convey the action behind the rush on film. Drop Zone captures it all -- the adventure, the rush and the lifestyle of diving – and shares the adventure with action sports cultures around the world.”

Drop Zone first premiered during the DEMA Show 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, and continues to air at consumer shows throughout the United States, as well as at dive, travel, eco and adventure shows internationally, including Italy, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and the United Kingdom, to name a few.

Catch the television debut of Drop Zone Tahiti, airing on Fuel TV on 20 August 2009:

Summer = Family Vacations

noreply@blogger.com (SocietyDiver) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:44:00 +0000

"Give them a week they will remember forever"

When I was younger my parents took my sister and I on family vacations. We’d go on a cross-country drive from California to Florida to go to Disneyworld, or skiing in Mammoth or relaxing on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, my parents always made a point to take family vacations.

As an avid scuba diver, I’m looking forward to taking my own family on vacations... We’ll explore the underwater world in Palau, dive and ski in Australia and snorkel with humpback whales in the Dominican Republic. My parents showed me the importance of taking family vacations, whether it’s a road trip or scuba diving expedition, its significant part of growing up - traveling with family.

I’m definitely looking forward to participating in a Kids Sea Camp adventure. Since I don’t have kids of my own yet, and I’m anxious to go, I may just have to borrow my cousins!

Check out the 2010 Kids Sea Camp Calendar.

Don't miss out on 2010 early booking discount! Send your deposit before Aug 15 2009 and receive a 10% discount on 2010 Kids Sea Camp week!

Contact Margo@kidsseacamp.com
http://www.kidsseacamp.com

Leave a comment:
What is your most memorable family vacation or where are you and your family headed to next!?