This month in the scuba bulletin:
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Novelties in the scuba resource
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Complete
dive guide of the Philippines
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| :: Forum
news
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The forum is growing daily |
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Breaking news
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Robot
sub reaches deepest ocean |
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Travel news
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Dominica Dive Fest 2009
Visit the new artificial reef sunk in the Florida Keys |
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Equipment news
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Oceanic Teams
and DiveNav to Introduce OC1 Computer Via
High-tech Simulator |
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Education news
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PADI Courses Meet LatestISO Standards |
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Marine Conservation
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Turn
the tide for turtles |
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New offers from the last minute board
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Four
offers from the last minute board |
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From the Forum
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2
interesting topics from the forum |
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Diving business
owner and webmaster corner
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Every month we present a few tips to help you increase your sales using the scuba diving portal. |
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Novelties in the Scuba Diving Portal:
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New
Dive Guide, the Philippines
The the Philippines diving guide is now complete. The dive guide counts
more than 63 information filled pages. Philippines has been
sorted by region and each region has it's own diving guide which
includes dive site descriptions per region with highlights about
what to see underwater in each region.
For every region a map showing the situation and depths has been
included making it easy to see the area with the best potential
for diving.
The photo gallery shows the type of fauna and flora to be seen
while diving in the Philippines. All the photos are shot by professional
or semi-professional photographers giving a choice of superb
photos. The gallery is constantly growing and being updated
regularly with new photos.
Also incorporated is a list of the diving centers, liveaboards,
shops and schools of each region.
This is a great tool for the Philippines diving society and for
people coming from abroad to plan their vacation and for travel
agents, tour operators, instructors traveling with their groups
to find the best locations and diving centers on place. Dive
professionals located in the Philippines can also find useful contacts
and information here.
Take a tour of the guide: http://www.gooddive.com/philippines-diving/
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| Forum
news |
GoodDive's forum Scuba diving
community launched a year ago is still growing. It took some
time to take off but now the Forum is getting busy and now counts 1'615
members. This is a meeting place for the diving
community to get together. A wide choice of dive related topics
are discussed by the forum members. If you're looking for
information, just want to catch up on dive chat, want to ask a
dive professional (instructor) a question or just share your
experiences, the Forum is the place to be.
Also think, if you answer someone in the forum, not only this
person will see your comments but thousands as all our
threads are read by thousands of readers.
The forum also has facebook like functions like customize your
profile, upload your image, social group discussions, social
group categories, icons and transfers. Private messages, private
message history and reporting, lightbox navigation, dismissible
notices and much more. Check out what's
going on in the Forum.
To go to the Forum: http://www.gooddive.com/forum-scuba-diving/
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| Breaking
news |
Robot
sub reaches deepest ocean
A
robotic sub called Nereus has reached the deepest-known part of
the ocean.
The dive to
10,902m (6.8 miles) took place on 31 May, at the Challenger Deep
in the Marianas Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean.
This makes Nereus the deepest-diving vehicle currently in
service and the first vehicle to explore the Marianas Trench
since 1998.
The unmanned vehicle is remotely operated by pilots aboard a
surface ship via a lightweight tether.
Its thin, fibre-optic
tether to the research vessel Kilo Moana allows the submersible
to make deep dives and be highly manoeuvrable.
Nereus can also be switched into a free-swimming, autonomous
vehicle.
"With a robot like Nereus, we can now explore virtually
anywhere in the ocean," said Andy Bowen, project manager
and principal developer of the sub at the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
"The trenches are virtually unexplored, and I am absolutely
certain Nereus will enable new discoveries. I believe it marks
the start of a new era in ocean exploration."
The Challenger Deep is the deepest-known part of the ocean, and
part of the Marianas Trench near the island of Guam in the west
Pacific.
It is the deepest abyss on Earth at 11,000m-deep, more than 2km
(1.2 miles) deeper than Mount Everest is high. At that depth,
pressures reach 1,100 times those at the surface.
To read full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8080324.stm
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| Travel
news |
Dominica's 16th annual
dive fest, July 10 to 19. 2009
If you are looking for a good time to visit Dominica, Dive Fest
in July is a great choice. Dive conditions are excellent, there
are tons of great events to enter, prizes to win and
entertainment of all kinds!
As the longest running Dive Festival in the Caribbean we are
now planning our 15th year of Dive Fest.
Check our website regularly for updates, added fun events
and of course discounted packages from Dive Shops, Hotels and
water sports operators.
Great diving, Fun Events.
Read more: http://www.dominica.dm/site/divefest.cfm
Visit the new artificial reef sunk in the Florida Keys:
A retired U.S. Air Force missile-tracking ship intentionally
sunk to create an artificial reef in the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary has opened for public use.
Visit the Florida Keys and dive on the 523-foot-long Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg that once tracked U.S.
space launches off Cape Canaveral, monitored U.S. defense
missile test launches and eavesdropped on Russian missile
launches during the Cold War, is situated about seven miles
south of Key West. The bottom of the ship's hull rests on sand
at depths between 140 and 150 feet. But the ship is so massive
that the superstructure extends to about 45 feet below the
surface.
"I've dove a lot of ships," said Tom Kanczuzewski of
South Bend, Ind., after surfacing Saturday, May 30, the first
day the ship was open for public diving. "This is the ship
of all ships. I'd love to come back in a year and see all the
fishes."
Project officials say it won't take long for the wreck to begin
developing a marine ecosystem, but already it's fulfilling its
purpose as a diving and angling attraction.
Read more: www.fla-keys.com
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| Equipment
news |
Oceanic Teams with DiveNav to Introduce OC1 Computer Via
High-tech Simulator
Oceanic Worldwide and
DiveNav, Inc. announce the upcoming launch of the eDivingŪ
scuba diving simulator for the Oceanic Datamask. The popular
Oceanic Datamask is easily one of the most progressive advances
in diving technology and this simulator helps show how simple
the product is to use.
"The Datamask is
clearly a revolutionary product", said Alberto Mantovani,
President and CEO of DiveNav, "and we are honored to have
collaborated with Oceanic, one of the most innovative companies
in the scuba industry, to add the Datamask to our eDivingŪ
scuba diving simulator", he added, "and we are looking
forward to future collaborations on new exciting projects",
he concluded.
The DATAMASK is a scuba
diving mask which allows Hands Free Diving by integrating a
fully featured advanced dive computer, a miniature liquid
crystal display (LCD) and the Digital Optic System (DOS). The
LCD panel allows divers to keep their eyes focused on the dive
while presenting critical dive data including: current depth,
elapsed dive time, cylinder pressure, and dive time remaining.
The DOS provides a clear, highly magnified image of the LCD,
which is viewable regardless of environmental conditions and may
be seen clearly by the vast majority of people, regardless of
vision.
eDivingŪ , developed
by DiveNav, is a scuba diving simulator that allows scuba
divers, snorkelers and marine enthusiasts to virtually explore
real underwater locations. DiveNav is releasing on Friday, March
27, 2009 a new version of eDiving that includes features such as
multiplayer, Nitrox, dive planning, several types of gear,
support for advanced dive computers and simulation of human body
core temperature.
Read more: http://www.OceanicWorldwide.com |
| Education
news |
PADI Courses Meet
Latest ISO Standards
Important international standards help maintain quality and
consistency.
Two new ISO
Standards have just been agreed for diving. ISO (International
Organization for Standardization) is a global body with 161
member countries who aim to align their national business
practices with those agreed in ISO standards for various
fields.
Six ISO standards
for diving have been in place for several years already,
equating in the PADI system to PADI Scuba Diver, Open Water
Diver, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba
Instructor and Dive Center/Resort. The two new standards
equate to the PADI Discover Scuba Diving programme and
Enriched Air Diver course.
These two new
standards are designated as follows in the ISO system:
- Requirements for
training programmes on enriched air nitrox (EAN) diving (ISO
11107)
- Requirements for
introductory training programmes to scuba diving (ISO 11121)
When PADI members
conduct an Enriched Air Diver course or run a Discover Scuba
Diving program, they can also claim to meet the requirements
of these ISO standards. This can be a major advantage when
dealing with customers, travel operators and even local
governments, as ISO is seen as an independent standard of
quality.
For more details: http://www.iso.org/iso/about/iso_members.htm
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| Marine
Conservation |
Turn
the tide for turtles by reducing waste while cleaning.
Save your old socks and shirts to use as washable rags for
cleaning and dusting. When washing windows, old newspapers work
well with warm water and a little bit of vinegar, and the
newspapers can be recycled afterwards. If you do buy commercial
products, make sure to avoid commonly found household cleansers
that contain signal words such as "caution,"
"warning," "danger," or "poison"
which can be deadly for all sorts of life. Instead, purchase
non-toxic household cleaners in concentrated or bulk versions to
reduce packaging waste. Using fewer disposable products benefits
the ocean. For example, paper towel production costs trees and
most times involves bleaching with chlorine
that pollutes waterways. Plastics are nearly all oil-based,
pollute our waterways, choke animals, and are creating a sea
of plastic.
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| New
offers from the last minute board |
| Here are a few of the ads featuring in the last minute board:
India
Price: 500US$
Lacadives offers world class diving in India
at the stunning Lakshadweep & Andaman
islands. We have been India's only CMAS dive
centres since 1995 and operate 2 dive centres
at Lakshadweep (Kadmat & Bangaram island)
and a 3rd one at Havelock, Andaman's. Season
opens 01st October thru 15 may every year.
Sign up for diving on virgin & abundant
reefs with our easy, friendly, safe &
professional approach. visit www.lacadives.com
for details
Precise date of beginning: 01.10.2009
Precise date of ending: 15.05.2010
http://www.gooddive.com/board/classifieds.php?a=2&b=403
Palawan
Price: 1'400US$
An "expedition" type cruise from
Puerto Princesa, up and over the top of
Palawan into Bacuit bay ending in El Nido.
Price includes all meals, tanks and weights.
Will also include a land based trip to the
underground river.
Precise date of ending: July 16th 2009
Number of places available: 4
http://www.gooddive.com/board/classifieds.php?a=2&b=401
Madeira Islands
Price: 850US$
For promotional purposes and to know these
Islands, bear in mind and helping with the
actual crisis, we like to get people here to
know these beautiful Islands. Only 850 Euros
for one week cruising, full allowance and
accommodation, with air tanks and weights
included. We pick you up to the airport.
Available all year.
http://www.gooddive.com/board/classifieds.php?a=2&b=400
Belize
Price: 583US$
Special stimulus package to Ambergis Caye staying at Xaman Ek
retreat and spa. 8 days, 7 nights in beach cabin, 5 days diving,
2 dives daily. Just 583US$ per diver and 288US for non divers.
http://www.gooddive.com/board/classifieds.php?a=2&b=396
Check the board http://www.gooddive.com/board/classifieds.php regularly for new great deals.
If you have a great offer don't hesitate to post it. This service is free!!
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| Diving business owner and webmaster corner
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Improvements
in the Scuba Banner Exchange
The Scuba Banner Exchange system sponsored by GoodDive has
got some technical improvements. Users can now block their
competitors banners from showing by categorizing your company
and blocking banners from certain categories. If you are already
a user of Scuba Banner Exchange you can log into your account
and add the category in the "change your information"
area.
What is a banner exchange system?
It's a system where you can upload an advertising banner for
your website and this banner will be exchanged with other dive
related websites.
How does it work?
Once you register, the system will provide you with a code to
copy and paste on all the pages you wish to show the other's
banner on your site.
Every time a visitor goes on the page where you added the code
the system will show him a banner from another user (you can
block your competitors from being shown). For each banner you
show you earn 1 credit and for each credit earned your banner
will be shown on another users website.
Tip:
In order to earn as much credit as possible a good idea is to
add the html code of the system to as many pages as possible on
your website. Maximum one code per page!
To register: http://www.scubabannerexchange.com/
You are authorized to forward
this newsletter to as many friends you wish but it must be in it's
original and complete state.
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