Archive for the ‘Scuba Diving’ Category
SF2 Rebreather Try Dives at NDAC
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
Be amongst the first in the UK to try the new SF2 rebreather.
On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April 2013 the SF2 rebreather will be at National Diving & Activity Centre for try dives.
The SF2 is a fully electronic closed circuit rebreather featuring Shearwater controller, back mounted counterlungs and a streamlined profile. It is designed for exploratory diving and is definitely in the technical rather than recreational rebreather market. It has received CE rating for both air and trimix use.
Try dives will be available on both days but places will be limited. If you are a technical diver looking to move into CCR or already dive a CCR and would like to test out the SF2 then email mark@dive-tech.co.uk to book a space. The try dive will cost £25 per person plus site entry but it doesn’t cost anything to come and have a look.
Free Presentation – Learn from your mistakes, better still, learn from someone else’s! Sat 4th May 2013
Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
Improving Diving Safety Through A Change in Just and Reporting Cultures
Saturday 4th May 2013, Start 19:30 – All Welcome
A FREE Presentation at the View Café Bar, National Diving & Activity Centre, Chepstow
As divers we are very good at telling others about our exploits and how we survived after getting into a dodgy situation. But how could someone else’s incident help prevent you from making a similar mistake or error in the future? How can letting other divers know how you got out of the mess you ended up in can directly contribute to improving diver safety?
Recently there has been much talk in the diving community about developing a safety culture to prevent accidents from occurring. However, solving this problem is not a simple task for a variety of reasons, not least because of the lack of an independent and open reporting system which is free from commercial and legal biases.
Gareth Lock, a military aviator, accomplished underwater photographer, advanced trimix diver and PhD candidate who has been looking into the role of Human Factors in Diving Incidents and has developed a confidential, open reporting system for divers modeled on ‘near miss’ reporting systems present in aviation, the Diving Incident and Safety Management System (DISMS).
Gareth’s presentation at the NDAC’s View Cafe Bar will go through how incidents and accidents occur. Most importantly he will discuss why incidents should be captured, the challenges faced in gathering these reports and some potential solutions. He will review actual case studies showing the value of detailed reporting and how the community can help improve safety by using a truly independent reporting tool.
We can all learn from others’ mistakes, but only if as a community we can talk openly about them. Come along, you will likely learn something which may change your behaviour pre-dive or on the dive to make your diving safer.
You can join the event on Facebook here>
With breathtaking views overlooking our Chepstow quarry, the View Café Bar serves an extensive range of hot & cold meals as well as a wide selection of beers, wines and soft drinks from the licensed bar.
Glamping accomodation is available in our Wigwam Village if you would like to make a weekend of it.
If you would like to host an event at the View Café Bar in Chepstow, please get in touch
Refurbishment of NDAC gas blending panel
Saturday, March 30th, 2013
As part of our commitment to continuously improve the National Diving & Activity Centre, we have had a complete refurbishment of our blending panel in the NDAC Gas Room.
The refurbishment included a full strip-down and re-build as well as an installation of new Mk2a needle valves designed to give very fine control over the flow of air.
This is all part of our continued program to ensure we provide a good reliable service and quality speedy gas fills every time.
The Easter GUE Experience Day 2013
Thursday, February 14th, 2013
Interested or curious about GUE but never had the opportunity to see what the fuss is about or ask questions from people that will give you straight answers?
Have an annoying issue with buoyancy or confidence in the water?
A little rusty after the winter?
Then this day is for you.
For only £25 you will receive guidance on your diving skills, video feedback and tips on how to improve your diving skills, and an insight into the GUE style of diving, without having to make a heavy investment in time or money. We’ll show you how to make your fin kicking more effective, how to take the stress out of ascents, and even how to swim backwards. You can attend a talk on avoiding diving incidents and even take part in an underwater easter egg hunt. You can bring any equipment, dive any gas.
This day is aimed at recreational and technical divers looking into GUE for the first time. You don’t need any specific gas, any specific equipment. As long as you have an open water qualification then you can just turn up and take part. You can take what you want from the day and leave the rest.
We will create an environment where people feel free to ask whatever questions like they like, and to watch demonstrations of the skills we teach, and even get some video feedback and advice on their own skills.
Location and Date
This event is being held from 0830 on Saturday the 30th March 2013 at the National Diving & Activity Centre in Chepstow as part of our Easter weekend of events (Location Map).
We will be covering the following
• Discussion – The origins and goals of GUE
• Discussion – The strengths and techniques of buoyancy control
• Dive 1 – Demonstration of trim and buoyancy control
• Dive 1 – Practice and video of trim and buoyancy control with in water feedback
• Dive 1 – Ascent with stops practice
• Discussion and hands-on – Kit configuration
• Discussion – Why team diving?
• Dive 2 – SMB demonstration
• Dive 2 – Valve drill demonstration
• Dive 2 – Ascent with stops practice
• Video Feedback for all divers
• Q&A
Evening – Talk on avoiding incidents in the View Cafe Bar at NDAC.
Pricing
Organising several of these events throughout the year costs a significant amount of time and money. Nonetheless, I feel it important that these events continue to be run as non-profit. So the small registration fee is there to encourage those who sign up to turn up, and also to cover some of the direct costs of organising the event. Other than these direct costs, all proceeds from the event will go to the RNLI. The last event we ran ended up with over £150 donated to the RNLI.
Registration
These events have become so popular that I have had to limit the registration to keep the numbers small. This enables us to answer everyone’s questions, and also to have time to look at everyone in the water. So, registration for this event is limited to 10 people.
Registration is now open. If you have any questions about this event, please do not hesitate to contact Gareth (Garf) Burrows. Please note that this is a non-profit event. all proceeds beyond direct costs go to the RNLI.
To attend this event, all you need to do is register at DiveDIR.
Logistics
If you need accomodation there are Wooden wigwams on site at The National Diving & Activity Centre.
Food and drink is available at the View Cafe Bar
These events are always a great laugh, and people seem to get a lot out of them. Here’s what they have said in the past…
I just could not believe the skill level of these divers. It’s one thing to
know you are below the bar, it’s quite another to realise the bar can
be set far higher than you thought possible.
presumed the GUE instructors would be boot-camp military types,
but they were just very relaxed and laid back divers – albeit divers
with incredible knowledge and skill, and the ability to pass on that
knowledge. In all honesty I went to prove a point, but after an
hour realised I had a lot to learn.
A day’s education from two GUE instructors for £25?
whether you were interested in GUE or not a lot of people
must be kicking themselves for missing this
I realised two things in the first hour. Firstly, the bar set
by GUE standards is like nothing I have experienced before.
Secondly these guys do not preach – but they are incredibly
well trained to teach
As a single tank diver, I expected to feel like an alien,
but was welcomed to the crowd. Forget about the fact
it was a GUE day. It was just a bunch of divers enjoying
the sunshine.
We hope to see you there. If anyone has any questions, please contact garf at gue.com
Easter events at the NDAC. Good Friday – Easter Monday 2013
Thursday, February 14th, 2013
Easter 2013 at the National Diving & Activity Centre
Starting on Good Friday and continuing through to Easter Monday we will have lots happening over the Easter Weekend at the National Diving & Activity Centre. It’s the perfect excuse to book a wooden wigwam and make a long weekend of glamping and diving.
All divers visiting the site will receive a small Easter egg when then arrive at NDAC.
On each day of the Easter weekend, from Friday to Monday, we will have a raffle with a giant Easter egg as a top prize.
On Saturday 30th, Sunday 31st and Easter Monday we will hold a BBQ.
For the divers, freedivers and snorkellers there will be eggs hidden underwater throughout the weekend for you to find.
On Saturday 30th we will have a GUE Experience Day.
In the evening there will be a talk at the View Cafe Bar on avoiding incidents.
Free GUE Presentation – Tips and tricks for divers 30th March 2013
Thursday, February 14th, 2013
Getting out of the Sh*t
Tips and tricks for surviving diving’s little dramas
Saturday 30th March 2013 A FREE presentation in the View Cafe Bar at the
National Diving & Activity Centre, Chepstow
Starts at 7pm – all welcome
A multi media journey around the world discussing diving incidents and how they were survived.
In a free presentation, Instructor Gareth Burrows explains how divers get themselves into trouble and, more importantly, how they get themselves out of it.
We are also hosting a GUE Experience Day as part of our various Easter weekend of events.
Trapped inside a WreckA horrifying tale of what happens when overconfidence question “how could this have been avoided”. |
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Entangled in the shallowsImagine how terrifying it must be to be totally |
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Sucking the Reg dry.It’s everyone’s nightmare, but it’s still the |
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With breathtaking views overlooking our Chepstow quarry, the View Café Bar serves an extensive range of hot & cold meals as well as a wide selection of beers, wines and soft drinks from the licensed bar.
If you would like to host an event at the View Cafe Bar in Chepstow, please get in touch
Atomic Aquatics at Demonstration Weekend 27-28 April 2013
Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
Atomic Aquatics will be attending a demonstration weekend being held at the National Diving & Activity Centre over the weekend of 27th and 28th April.
Atomic Aquatics will bring along demonstration products from the following ranges
• Atomic Aquatics
• BARE
• Finn Sub
• Zeagle
• Stahlsac
Food from our View Cafe Bar and accommodation at the Wooden Wigwam village is available for visitors so why not make a weekend of it.
We look forward to seeing you.
Fourth Element at Demonstration Weekend 27-28 April 2013
Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
Fourth Element will be attending a demonstration weekend being held at the National Diving & Activity Centre over the weekend of 27th and 28th April.
Fourth Element will be showcasing their undersuits, including the Halo 3D, Arctic, Xerotherm and the CORE bodywarmer for you to try during your dive.
For a few lucky divers there may also be the opportunity to take the new Argonaut drysuit for a spin!
Free Air Fill
As part of our Demonstration Weekend, Fourth Element will be giving every person that tries a piece of Fourth Element gear a free air fill
We will also have a mini pop up shop with full range of undersuits and some lifestyle gear, as well as the new Argonaut Drysuit, which we are pleased to announce that we are now a dealer for.
Staff from Fourth Element will be available over the demonstration weekend to answer all your questions and size you up – so why not pop in and try one on for size and get yourself a free air fill!
Food from our View Cafe Bar and accommodation at the Wooden Wigwam village is available for visitors so why not make a weekend of it.
We look forward to seeing you.
Inspiration CCR Try Dive at NDAC
Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
We have some Inspiration CCR Try Dives coming up at the National Diving & Activity Centre with Mark Powell. Mark is the resident Technical Instructor at Dive-Tech and author of Deco for Divers: Decompression Theory and Physiology.
Dates
• 9th March – Inspiration CCR Try dive with Mark Powell
• 10th March – Inspiration CCR Try dive With Mark Powell
The Inspiration is the world’s first production Closed Circuit Rebreather.
With 3 litre cylinders, easy maintenance and simple preparation – the Inspiration brings the benefits of optimal gas consumption and gas mix at all depths to the forefront of diving.
The Inspiration CCR is the choice of expedition divers, film makers and sports divers alike, ranging from beach diving to RIB diving, right up to 100m expedition dives.
The cost of an Inspiration CCR Try Dive is £150 although this can be credited to the cost of a Dive Tech Course.
To book a try dive please contact Mark Powell via email: mark@dive-tech.co.uk
SDI/TDI Crossover Course – 21st & 22nd February 2013
Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
We have a SDI/TDI crossover course running at the National Diving & Activity Centre over the 21st & 22nd February 2013 with Mark Powell. Mark is the resident Technical Instructor at Dive-Tech and author of Deco for Divers: Decompression Theory and Physiology.
The SDI crossover course is open to any recreational instructor.
The TDI course is only open to those that meet the prerequisites. You would need to be a tech instructor with a TDI recognised agency, i.e. IANTD, NAUI or GUE. In addition you can only cross over to a TDI Instructor level if you meet the prerequisites for each level.
These include:
• Online crossover course
• 2 day cross over course
• Full set of SDI/TDI Instructor manuals
• SDI/TDI Standards and Procedures
• Full set of student materials for the courses you can teach
• 2013 SDI/TDI Instructor registration
For the SDI crossover you will only need to do the 21st February which will be classroom based.
If you want to do the TDI crossover you will need to do both days with 21st being in the classroom and then 22nd being an evaluation of skills and teaching techniques.
If you are interested in the SDI/TDI crossover course at the NDAC Chepstow then email Mark Powell via: mark@dive-tech.co.uk .
