Thomas Knedlik from PADI’s Technical Diving Division took to the stage and presented an edifying and informative approach to the diverse topic which included a short history of technical diving, PADI’s TecRec courses, featuring open circuit, CCRs (R and T) and Sidemount. The well received presentation also included PADI TecRec course overviews and the prerequisites of individual programs. This created a huge interest in these already widely accepted programmes and illustrated that the demand for PADI TecRec instructors remains extremely high. 

In particular, the PADI Rebreather and Tec CCR Instructor and Trainer courses offered in June 2012 in Phuket, Thailand will be an ideal opportunity for instructors to get involved. If you would like more information please contact tecrec@padi.com.au.

Whether you are crossing your current ratings over or you wish to attend the PADI Rebreather Instructor or Tec 40 CCR Instructor courses, we have the right programme for you. The Thailand programme will run from 4th of June till 12th of June 2012. To enquire about the schedule, prerequisites and the logistics for the specific courses please contact tecrec@padi.com.au. 

Be quick to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited!

Rebreather Forum 3 opens a week today. Over 300 tech instructors, rebreather divers and industry personnel have already booked their place including PADI Instructor Jorge Mahauad, founder of Galapagos Rebreathers, who said “Rebreather Forum 3 will be the biggest ‘rebreather only’ conference since 1996. With the development of rebreather technologies in the sport diving market, this is THE event to attend. I want to hear about the use of rebreathers, specifically how they currently are and will be applied to pushing the boundaries of underwater exploration. In particular I’m keen to learn more from the explorers and scientists who are actively doing this, such as Dr Richard Pyle. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to meeting the man who helped create Deep Stops.”

RF3 will address the major issues surrounding rebreather technology, and it’s application in sport, military, research and scientific diving. The three day programme is divided into sessions to cover different aspects of rebreathers. The objective is to provide a common base of knowledge on rebreather technology and will identify the key safety, training, technology and risk management issues and develop community guidelines to improve diver safety. Topics up for discussion include;

- Hazard Analysis and Human Factors

- CO2 Scrubber Technology

- CO2 Sensors

- O2 Sensors and O2 Control

- Pre-Market Testing

- Post-Market Monitoring

- Post-Incident Testing

- Semi-Closed Systems

- Operations and Training

“When I read the agenda I knew I had to attend”, stated Tony Davies, CEO of Aqua Tech Australia & CCR Technologies. “RF3 is the premier worldwide CCR event, and I want to learn more about the CCR’s I distribute in Australia, whilst making business contacts to grow the CCR component of my company. I also want to learn more about CCR specific physiology, and the business of CCR’s in recreational diving.” If you want to join Jorge and Tony, book your tickets now by logging onto www.rf30.org and be part of this key rebreather event.

You still have time to sign up for Rebreather Forum 3 in Orlando Florida on 18-20 May! There will be an Explorer Day event on Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Caribe Royale Hotel and Suites! http://www.thecaribeorlando.com/  Stop by to jump in the pool and see what rebreather diving is all about! For more info visit www.rf30.org

This theme was continued with Thailand based Simon Pridmore’s two papers posing questions, and providing some of the answers to: what happens as technical diving becomes more mainstream, what motivates technical divers and what qualities does a technical diver need to succeed. Simon also made a very strong case against the continuation of deep air dives. We should all look forward to Simon’s soon to be released book; “Scuba Confidential – An Insider Guide to Becoming a Better Diver” from which is two TekDIVE presentations were taken.

From L-R: Stuart Shaw, David Strike, Dave Ross, Ben Reymenants , Casey Mac Kinlay and Terry Cummins; Speakers from the TeKDIVE Singapore

Understandably, technical diving in Asia was a feature of TekDIVE. Some 15-years ago, the first lines were laid in some of Asia’s deepest cave systems beneath the jungles of Thailand.  Actively extending a lot of these lines to extreme depths, Ben Reymenants expanded on the logistical challenges of exploring these vast Southern Thailand cave systems using both open circuit and rebreathers to depths beyond 200 meters.

Also from Thailand, Stuart Shaw gave a presentation about three of the more challenging wrecks in the Gulf of Thailand: the submarine USS Lagarto (war grave in 79 metres), the Seacrest (drillship lying upside down in 75 metres) and the Tottori Maru (a WW 2 hellship sunk in 75 metres by the USS Hammerhead). During his presentation, Stuart appropriately acknowledged fellow diver and friend; Jamie MacLeod for his outstanding and ground breaking contribution to the exploration and discovery of many of Thailand’s most famous wrecks.

Singapore based Gideon Liew is always an entertaining speaker and his exploration dives around the world, especially those in the caves and ancient mines of China and the deep wrecks of the South China Sea, kept the audience entertained and inspired. Whilst over from the Philippines, Dave Ross of Tech Asia in Puerto Galera, presented an inspiring journey through the last seventeen years of his tech diving adventures and associated discoveries.

David Strike Convenor of OZTeK opens the TeKDIVE Conference

Keynote speaker: Professor Simon Mitchell headed up the fine array of international speakers with his presentations on the gas CO2 and diving on rebreathers. These presentations are becoming favourites within the tech community. Simon’s knowledgeable and often humorous approach to diving physiology, captivates audience whenever he speaks. You should not miss Simon’s presentations when the opportunity presents itself.

US based Casey Mc Kinlay’s reported on the 2008, WKPP explorers cave diving distance record of 7856 metres on a single 30 hour dive.  This presentation was a rare behind the scenes look at the planning, logistics and equipment used on the historic dive in the Florida aquifer.

Other conference highlights included more on the wreck of the light battle cruiser USS Atlanta (lying at a depth of 130-metres after being sunk during the WW II Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands) and John Lippman’s update on DAN.

Terry also stated: “On behalf of all the speakers and participants, I want to publicly thank David Strike for inviting me to become so involved in this exciting conference  and for doing much of the lead-up work for TeKDIVE. I personally cannot wait when we all get together again under David’s guidance for OZTek in Sydney – March 2013 (www.diveoztek.com.au)”.

Rebreather Forum 3 (RF3) is just days away and promises to be a landmark event that will help shape the future of rebreather diving. This three-day event will feature discussions on rebreather technology for sport, scientific and military diving, presentations from established industry professionals, sessions in the pool, a manufacturer exhibit hall and entertaining cocktail parties where you can network and recap the day.

On Friday, there is an Explorer Day pool demonstration where you can jump in the pool and try the latest and greatest rebreather units on the market.

RF3 is 18-20 May at the Caribe Royale Hotel and Suites in Orlando, Florida, USA and one-day passes are available for purchase. Space is limited. For more information on exhibiting manufacturers, the schedule of events and to book your ticket, visit www.rf30.org today.

After a 30 + hour journey from Sydney and only 18 hours at home (unpack, shopping, repack, brief sleep) I was back in airport again. Exhausted and jetlagged I nearly lost it with the security staff at Heathrow Terminal 5 when they announced  that the plastic bag containing my liquids, which had travelled with me through 11 airports already, was “not regulation size”. I stayed calm and professional , took a VERY deep breath and repacked my liquids with (eventually) Krypton Factor-like precision to squeeze them all into the new shape bag!

By the time I reach Grand Cayman I was so zonked it wasn’t just that I didn’t know where I was or what time zone I was in, I was struggling to remember who I was and what I was there to do! The mini bus driver gave me a running commentary on Grand Cayman during the half hour drive to the hotel. I’m sure it was very interesting, but after the first few minutes I just stared into space and tried to look like I wasn’t asleep.

At the hotel I received a warm welcome from Ari, the owner, and found some of my colleagues waiting to help with bags etc. Georgia, a fellow PADI consultant and Mike Fowler from Silent Diving Systems had arrived earlier but kindly waited for me to arrive before eating dinner. Sitting in an outdoor restaurant, with a balmy evening breeze, overlooking the sea, eating a scrumptious meal  – much more like it.

The following day Georgia, Mike and I spent the day assembling and testing rebreathers before the production team arrived. I also got to meet Nancy Easterbrook, the owner of Divetech where we were based and a recent addition to the coveted “Women’s Hall of Fame”. By  evening the rest of the gang had arrived and not only had we covered the place in rebreathers, but we added just as much again in camera equipment!

On Friday it was down to business and we had a great day shooting video from both shore and a boat. The advantage of rebreathers showing itself in our ability to spend a couple of hours in the water at a time and really crack on with the shots we needed. Saturday was a “stills” day and we loaded up with bailout cylinders to shoot Tec 60 and 100 CCR shots.

That’s when our luck ran out! By Sunday the weather was very rough and there was no diving from the northern shore. The Divetech organizational machine slipped into a higher gear and before we knew it they had us loaded onto a truck and boat diving from a sheltered bay.  The weather continued in the same vein all week, making logistics tougher and  days longer but there were no Hollywood style tantrums (we’re divers after all) and we plugged on. After 8 days shooting it was all over and we started to pack up to go home. My flight was a little later than the rest of the group so I managed an hour sunbathing and relaxing with a pina colada before flying home.

Arriving home after 6 weeks travelling is always a double edged sword; I was very grateful to be home and looking forward to a few days off, but already missing the excitement and adventure. Then I looked in my calendar and realized – hey it’s only a few weeks until Rebreather forum 3.0 – yippee!

Vikki will be at Rebreather  Forum 3.0 (May 18-20^th www.rf30.org) If you are going I’d love to meet/catch up with you. I’m happy to  help with questions about TecRec programs or have a chat about TecRec and your business, so why not drop me a line at Vikki.Batten@padi.com

Christian Heylen, General Manager of PURE Red Sea (Professional Underwater Rebreather Explorers) will be exhibiting at Rebreather Forum 3.  We asked him why he’s taking part in this event. 

“2012 is definitely the year of the rebreather revolution and RF3 is the rebreather event to be at in 2012.  There’s no way I’m missing this!  Divers are coming to the Orlando conference from every corner of the world, to listen to the latest developments and most up to date information on rebreather diving.  As the specialized rebreather operator in the Red Sea, there is no better opportunity for us to present our services to those divers looking for dedicated and exclusive rebreather diving in one of the best diving spots of the world. 

Why do I consider 2012 to be ‘the year of the rebreather’?  Until recently rebreathers were considered a piece of technical equipment for experienced divers.  Today rebreather technology has developed to a level where new divers can now dive safely on a rebreather, ie the Poseidon Discovery MK-VI. 

Before manufactures were trying to make their units as advanced as possible for deep trimix and cave diving.  Now they are looking to make their units as simple, foolproof and safe as possible.  This will mean there will be big changes in the rebreather world and this is probably the reason that 2012 is the year of RF3 too!  We are in for a very exciting time. 

I’m looking forward to the networking, seeing good friends and making new business contacts.  However being a passionate rebreather diver I’m also hoping to find new opportunities to explore new places around the world with my rebreather. 

I also want to know everything the manufactures are planning and the new stuff coming out.  That promises to be very exciting.  And personally as a rebreather diver I want to learn about all the latest upgrades I can put onto my rebreather for my own deep diving and expeditions.  RF3 is going to be an excellent place to source new places, centres, boats and destinations to dive. 

With rebreather diving becomes more mainstream, more dive centres, instructors and professionals are going to be involved with this aspect of diving.  It will all make it far easier to take your breather on holiday with you.  The logistics will be sorted and there will be breather friendly facilities in far-flung places with sorb, cylinders and oxygen fills etc.  

With so many topics being presented by many renowned experts in their fields I know this is going to be something special.  There are going to be great presentations by DAN, (Thermal Physiology, OC and CCR Fatalities, and Coastguard Investigations).  And I’m also looking forward to the Rebreathing Testing, Scrubber Technology and CO₂ monitoring talks.” 

If you want to join Christian Heylen at Rebreather Forum 3, it’s time to book your ticket for Rebreather Forum 3.  Log onto www.rf30.org for full details.

You may remember we here, at Tec Deep Blue, have been exploring an unknown wreck off the south coast of Malta which lies at 115m. The mystery surrounding this discovery may be closer to being solved. As through subsequent dives at this site there appears to be either more than one vessel sunk in this location or different pieces of the same wreck spread over the target area. 

The first two exploratory dives by Stuart Jones, Jonathan Thomas and Mark Powell yielded no photographic evidence because of camera lighting issues in the gloom at that depth. We had to rely on memory to try to identify the wrecks but it is amazing how little you remember when you try to recall details form dives at these depths!

So in 2010 a deep wreck expedition was made out here to Malta led by highly respected CCR instructor trainer Helmuth Biechl and hosted by Tec Deep Blue to try to film the wreck and shed some more light on the find. 

The Cameraman was Thomas Heinemeyer who had mounted his HD video Camera onto his Bonex Scooter ( two of these DPVs where utilised) and the rest of the 6 man team, who included, Helmuth Biechl, Jordi Mateo Rubio and Dirk Berben, supported by Berni Leicher and Bernhard Jungwirth, made a dive on the site which yielded some interesting new footage. 

Just recently Thomas, has released the footage on the website Vimeo, which you can watch at  http://vimeo.com/37381184 . 

The editing and production took some time, but the result was well the wait and  is an excellent piece which not only shows the unknown wreck but also showcase’s Malta’s world class deep wrecks, such as Le Polynesien.   

From this footage we have ruled out some of our earlier ideas, and are now focusing on the HMS Moor due to a strange feature found on the bow of the wreck, I have attached a picture for you to have a look at. The HMS Moor was a mooring vessel built in 1919, converted to a minesweeper during the Second World War, and sunk off Malta on the 8^th April 1942, with the tragic loss of all but one of her 29 Maltese crew. 

At the moment research is in a early stages and we are having difficulty locating more detailed information about the ship, so if anyone has anything to share, please contact us at Tec Deep Blue Malta.

Looking ahead we have some plans in the pipeline for further dives on this wreck and others that we are actively searching for such as the Kujawiak, a Polish Destroyer sunk here in the 1940’s. The problem as always when running a busy diving centre is getting the opportunity and the weather at the same time. Nothing new there then. Safe diving.”

Sidemount Instructor only – Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA

3-4 May 2012  

Instructor Trainer only – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic            29 June – 1 July 2012  

Instructor Trainer only – Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA          10-12 November 2012 

Rebreather

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 

Instructor Trainer only                                   8-11 May 2012  

Instructor Crossover/Instructor Trainer        8-11 May 2012  

Instructor/Instructor Trainer                          8-12 May 2012   

Instructor Trainer only                              18-21 November 2012  

Instructor Crossover/Instructor Trainer     18-21 November 2012  

Orlando, FL

Instructor Trainer only                                   21-24 May 2012  

Instructor Crossover/Instructor Trainer        21-24 May 2012  

Instructor/Instructor Trainer                          21-25 May 2012  

For any questions or to register for these events please email Angela Rimando at Angela.Rimando@padi.com