After accepting the place, we were already busy - not only did we complete the fit out of the new classroom and start the revamp of the Dive Centre, there was some pre-reading, exams and knowledge development activities to be done… but finally we got there, so on 7th March you found me packed and ready to go.

Arriving a day before the course started, gave time to meet my roommate for the nine days we were going to be in Kota Kinabalu and to have a mooch around

​On arrival on the first morning we found out which team we had been allocated into; I was in team Blue.  A multi-national team from Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway and the Philippines

Each day we started at 8:00 and finishing anytime between 18:00 – 18:30, night off. no… Every night was spent, preparing presentations for the next day, so sleep becomes something you learn to go without. normally diving trips are eat, sleep, dive repeat this one was eat, work, work, eat, work, sleep!
 
The course consisted of presentations from the PADI team covering items such as Counselling Instructor Candidates, Knowledge Development Evaluation Training Workshops, Marketing Workshop, Quality Management & Risk Management Workshops to name but a few, intertwined with confined water and open water presentations, rescue evaluations, classroom evaluations from all areas of the NEW Instructor Development program.  
 
And when you see the schedule and it says Day off – do not be fooled, they drop in a Marketing project for you and your team to prepare and present – which is also a scored project and all members of the team have to participate.

At the end of the course, there is a graduation banquet for everyone successful on the course but not for us, NOW that’s not because no one was successful but because borders were closing and some of the PADI team were flying via Japan and needed to get through before that happened.  So, no party for us
 
I am pleased to say that I am now a PADI Course Director, it just feels a little flat with no celebration in place, but I am sure over time and on reflection that will change.

That leaves me to say Thank You, to the Dive Rutland team that have held things together whilst I have been away – Bridget, James and Rick.  Bridget and extra special thanks as it hasn’t been the easiest week.
 
To my husband for the moral support and words of wisdom needed at times.
​
Time to go deliver on the plan… after a few more days of oh, and yes a few drinks.

Many of us have seen one photo or another that compares plastic bags and jellyfish, a main food in the diet of a sea turtle. It is easy to spot similarities. With new data, we now know that this is not the only reason that turtles are attracted to ocean plastics.
Photo credit: From Reddit user Crusader583

In the 9th of March issue of Current Biology, findings were released from a study in to the actions of loggerhead sea turtles where exposed to the smell of food and 'biofouled' plastics.  A 'biofouled' plastic is a plastic that has become home and host to marine algae, microbes, plants, and microscopic animals. In the study, the turtle's response to the scent of food, clean plastic, 'biofouled' plastic, and deionised water (no scent) were measured. Unsurprisingly, the turtles had an increased response to the biofouled plastic over the clean plastic. Food and biolfouled plastic odours had three times the reaction as the clean plastic and deionised water. 
Photo credit: Cell Biology

Ok, but what can I ​do about it? I am just one person.

Everyone can examine their own plastic use. There are so many simple choices that we make everyday that could help reduce the amount of plastic put in to the world. ​

1) Bring your refillable water bottle everywhere you go. I carry my Dive Rutland aluminium bottle everywhere 
2) Switch to glass bottled milk. Ok, this one is a tad trickier and more costly. Many farm shops now have milk refill stations or you can get delivery from Milk and More (in the UK).
3) Bring your travel mug with you for coffee refills.
4) Buy unpackaged produce. Your fruit and veg already has its own packaging!
5) Switch to shampoo bars or at least refillable brands. Ethique is fantastic at keeping up with my chlorine laden hair.
6) Bamboo toothbrushes and toothpaste tabs, a bit weird at first, but my mouth feels just as clean.

You can join us for a Dive Against Debris dive, or go to your local water site and do a beach clean and better still make EVERY dive a dive against debris.  

On a walk pickup a few bits of litter - yes it would be better if EVERYONE took their letter home!

Remember, all waterways lead to the ocean.

Picking up just one piece of plastic, in the water or before it gets to the water could help. If just one person picked up one piece everyday that is 7.53 billion pieces of plastic every single day!

Written by Bridget Weid, our ecoconscious instructor who tries to make each dive site a little cleaner and lives a life that tries not to add plastic to the environment.

If you want to know more, stop in for a chat about plastics. Everyone can take part in the Project Aware programs and make a difference!
​
Photo Credit: Rachel Hurford

James Dames

I’ve been inside a lot of old wrecks in my time. I’ll tell you how and why they excite me.
Where did it all begin?
December 2010 was the first time I came across the Stanegarth down at Stoney Cove. I’d heard that the Stanegarth arrived at Stoney Cove in June 2000. It’s a steam-powered tug, built in 1910, making her older than the Titanic. Since it was December the water was cold, and visibility was good. We put on our gear, did our buddy checks and jumped into the water.


​Following the long surface swim across to the shot line floating above, we catch our breath and do a perfect five point decent in to the green. Dropping down 10 metres, out of the gloom she starts to appear. Once we get to the top of the wreck, she is standing there looking quite impressive. We have a swim round looking to complete the objectives for this dive, looking through the port holes and the huge doors but making sure we don’t go into her as this isn’t allowed on this dive. We surface after our safety stop and I’m hooked.

Fast forward to August 2011.
After doing several club dives getting used to the basics, buoyancy and confidence I signed up to complete the PADI Wreck Speciality. I was happy with my own buoyancy and as I wanted to go inside of wrecks safely this was the next step to complete. Since I had already completed dive one on that fateful December day as part of my PADI  Advanced  Open Water course with Dive Rutland; this turned the specialty in to a 3-dive day.

​We spent some time going over skills required for diving on wrecks and getting ready to penetrate; reel use, rules of thirds and some different hand and light signals in case we became entangled. Dives 2 and 3 we spent more time on the outside of the wreck setting up our plan to make sure we would be safe as it can be very dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.
​
Then after dinner we completed dive 4.  As a team of 3, we finally entered her. We had to be careful with our buoyancy not to kick up the silt. Once inside the wreck it dawned on me how big she actually was, and it was a little trippy. After making our way out safely we surfaced, and I was hooked on getting in old wrecks.

Fast forward to present day
I’ve been to several places all over the world looking at wrecks and going inside them to discover the history of how they got there. Club trips to the south coast of England, the Red Sea, and off to Scapa Flow in Orkney give me many opportunities to learn about incredible maritime histories. Wrecks become fascinating underwater museums and a living ecosystem.

Maybe old wrecks interest you and you also want to become a safe wreck diver and underwater explorer. If wreck is something that interests you, then pop down to Dive Rutland and have a chat with us. We are here to help you realise your own diving dreams.

photos thanks to Rick Smith

Do you have an Aqua Lung i200c?  YES, then you will be interested to know that Aqualung have a new firmware release for you

Improvements and Fixes:-
Improvements have been made to the power management and manufacturing settings.
Fixes a surface menu bug.


​UPDATE PROCESS
You can update your i200C firmware (operating software) to newly released revision 1B by following the How to Update Firmware to a Dive Computer instructions in the DiverLog + app for mobile devices. There is no need to return the unit to Aqua Lung.
DiverLog + app is available in the Apple AppStore or GooglePlay Store.

All customers who purchased an i200c from us have been separately notified... just one of the many benefits of purchasing a computer from us here at Dive Rutland.

Interested in the Aqualung i200c computer then we have an offer running: - purchase the PADI Enriched Air Speciality and Aqualung i200c for £360... have a look at the offer page

Or find out more by contacting a member of the Professional dive team