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OZTeK2013 Shaping Up

Seeing further into recreational diving’s future by standing on the shoulders of giants, OZTeK2013 is again ramping up to deliver a diving event like no other; one that showcases the people, the equipment, and the organisations that are helping to shape the diving world of tomorrow.

Returning to Australian Technology Park (one of Sydney’s leading exhibition and conference venues, conveniently located just minutes away from the city’s CBD, entertainment and shopping districts) over the weekend of the 16^th and 17^th March, 2013, the eighth OZTeK event will again combine a full-scale dive exhibition with talks, seminars and workshops intended to inspire, inform and entertain.

With an exhibitor list that already includes: AquaTech Australia; Asian Diver Magazine; Cave Divers Association of Australia; Dive Adventures; Dive Centre Bondi; Dive Centre Manly; Dive Pacific Magazine; Dive Rite; DiveTek; Dive 2000; DKG Drysuits; Eezycut; Far Asia Co., L:td.; Global Underwater Explorers; GreenForce; Halcyon Australia; Historical Diving Society SEAP; Light Monkey; Liquivision; Mares Asia Pacific; PADI Asia Pacific; PADI TecRec; Scuba Diver Magazine; Scuba Imports; Scubapix; Scubapro; SDI Australia; Southern Cross Divers; TDI Australia, and Zeagle Diving Systems, there’s no better place to keep abreast of all that’s happening in the wide world of diving than at OZTeK2013.

Featuring speakers and presenters drawn from around the world, OZTeK2013 will again deliver a full programme of outstanding talks, seminars and workshops.  Either held in state-of-the-art theatre – with its big-screen impact – or one of the other purpose-designed conference rooms immediately adjacent to the exhibition floor, each of the presentations will represent diving info-tainment at its very best.

Widely recognised as people who have gazed into the future and whose achievements and adventures have often placed them beyond the usual limits, speakers at OZTeK2013 already include: Samir Alhafith, (AUS); Liam Allen, (AUS); Curt Bowen, (USA); Kevin Deacon, (AUS); Kevin Gurr, (UK); Dr. Richard Harris, (AUS); Jill Heinerth, (USA); Dr Tom Iliffe, (USA); Trevor Jackson, (AUS); Brian Kakuk, (USA); Michael Menduno, (USA); Professor, Simon Mitchell, (NZ); Martin Robson, (UK); Peter Szyska, (AUS); and Andrew Wight, (AUS), and with many more names to be added over the coming months.

Whether it’s the opportunity to learn more about the latest developments in rebreathers, or dive computer technology; advances in techniques and equipment configuration; diving safety, or to listen to tales of underwater adventure that, with proper and appropriate training, lie just around the corner, these programmes provide the diving community with the opportunity to meet and talk to some of modern diving’s most accomplished personalities.

Shaping up to be a must-visit event for all divers - regardless of experience level – who are keen to check out the very best that the entire world of diving has to offer, OZTeK2013 is the one-stop shop window onto the dynamic world of underwater adventure and excitement.

To find out more about OZTeK2013, or for further information on participating, please visit the website at: www.diveoztek.com.au or e-mail the organisers at: admin@diveoztek.com.au

Hollis Announces New Sport Rebreather

At DEMA 2011 in Orlando Florida, Hollis Gear will unveil a range of new products including a "game changer" in the world of Rebreather technology. "New divers are looking for innovative products that are allowing easier, safer and more enjoyable dives" according to Nick Hollis, President of Hollis Gear. 

Hollis Gear and VR Technology have teamed up to launch the world's most revolutionary piece of diving equipment since the BC. 

The Explorer sport rebreather.

The Explorer is based on a patented design by Kevin Gurr from VR Technology. The unit is neither a fully closed circuit Rebreather nor a pure semi-closed system, but an intelligent hybrid that utilizes the best of both worlds. It's compact, lightweight and extremely easy to use. The Explorer is unique in using a single gas; Nitrox, and is electronically controlled to achieve an optimal balance of PPO2 and dive time. Plug and Play absorbent cartridges, easy guided setup with "go or no go", CO2 tracking, and 2 hour design duration make this a dream for any recreational diver. The Explorer diver will benefit from breathing warm gas, have lots of bottom time, and since it does not produce any invasive bubbles, see more sea life than ever before. Yes, this unit is designed to meet the PADI Type R requirement.                                   

Bob Hollis, CEO of Hollis Gear and American Underwater Products working with Kevin Gurr from VR has taken the design from the ground up, into a package complete with regulator, cylinder, BCD and onboard decompression computer. The Explorer is ready to dive out of the box and at an amazing price given the technology and cost of alternative systems in the market.

I am quite excited about this rebreather, as it seems to actively target the recreational market with a product that is simple, elegant and relatively low cost. Will be interested to see how it develops. I'll post more as I hear reviews and info on availability.

xkcd's Guide to SE Asian Marine Life

A beautiful comic by the always funny and insightful xkcd about South East Asian Marine Life

New UW Photography Magazine Announced

Scuba Diver AustralAsia, DivePhotoGuide and Edition Fifty Fathoms join forces to launch the first international underwater photography magazine

New York, USA; Munich, Germany; Singapore - June 18, 2011 - Scuba Diver AustralAsia, the premier dive magazine of the Asia-Pacific region, has teamed up with DivePhotoGuide.com, a world leader in underwater photography media, and Edition Fifty Fathoms, the prestigious fine art magazine, to create Scuba Diver Through the Lens, the first international magazine dedicated entirely to underwater photography and videography.

Scuba Diver Through the Lens will be published quarterly in both a print and digital format by Asian Geographic Magazines in Singapore and will be distributed globally through New York and Germany.

"Scuba diving is a huge part of the adventure-tourism industry and underwater photography has always been an important part of promoting the sport," said John Thet, publisher of Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd and one of the visionaries behind the new title. "Most diving magazines on the market today cater to a small region, but Scuba Diver Through the Lens is special because it features content that is truly global. It's a great opportunity for all of us who want to see the sport continue to grow and thrive."

The new magazine is designed to educate the global underwater photography and videography community on equipment, technique and travel destinations as well as highlight the world's top underwater image-makers.

The international magazine will feature three regional editors: Matt Weiss, publisher and editor of DivePhotoGuide.com, will cover the Americas and Caribbean region; Dietmar W. Fuchs, publisher and editor of the Edition Fifty Fathoms, will handle European and African regions; and Diego A. Garcia, senior editor of Scuba Diver AustralAsia, will oversee Asia, Australia and the Pacific.

"We are very excited about the international aspect of this publication," said Matt Weiss. "Having three regional editors, all of whom are veterans in the industry, is an innovative and polycentric approach that will ensure global relevancy. Additionally, the content will be almost entirely evergreen, meaning the reader will get just as much out of any given issue whether they read it today or in ten years from now."

The first issue of Scuba Diver Through the Lens will be launched in November at the DEMA 2011 show in Florida, and will officially hit newsstands on January 1st, 2012.

Erez Beatus: No Air, Freediving Video

At the recent Oceanic Australia Scuba Centre's Conference at Cape Schank on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, Erez Beatus of Apnea Australia made a wonderful presentation about Getting Started in Freediving.

He started this presentation off by showing this incredible video of him and a buddy diving a 25m deep wreck off Eilat.

I've only dabbled in a little bit of freediving, but its "on the list" as I am attracted to the grace and ease with which these divers enjoy the underwater world.

Great Diving Music Video

  

I'm down at the Oceanic Diving Australia (@OceanicDiving) conference at a windy (and cold) resort on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Many great presentations so far on dive equipment, tec diving and dive business.

In one presentation, Mark Spiers (@markspiers) of PADI Asia Pacific provided a lot of great info about the role of social media for dive businesses, and one of the things he highlighted was this video put together by a Koh Tao (Thailand) dive centre, Master Divers

This is a great example of a bit of imagination put into promoting a dive centre using social tools. It would've taken a lot of work, but with over 38,000 views so far, its probably been very effective advertising.

Good job Master Divers.

PADI Announces Upcoming Launch of "eCard"

According to the PADI Islands blog PADI is set to launch a new eCard for diver and pro level certifications.

It appears that this new offering will be the first major innovation in certification cards since the launch of the Positive Identification Card bearing a diver's photo many years back.

The new eCard will be integrated into the PADI smartphone app, and will initially be available for Apple iOS, Android and BlackBerry users, with other platforms to follow.

It will have built in security using QR codes, making it very easy to validate the diver and their PADI qualifications.

This will be a huge step forward as holders of a PADI eCard should never have to deal again with the situation of leaving a card at home, and not being able to prove their diving qualifications. It will also reduce the number of small pieces of plastic that we carry in our wallets, and will also be much better for the planet as we move away from plastic to virtual. From a customer point of view, it will speed up the time it takes to receive a certification following successful completion of a course.

I'll post again when I hear any updates about this innovation.

Tribute to a Friend

On Sunday, 27 February 2011, our friend and co-host on The Surface Interval Show podcast, Agnes Milowka died tragically whilst exploring previously unseen parts of Tank Cave, near Mount Gambier in South Australia.

Many tributes have been written about Agnes, and her impact on the diving world can be seen in those written on Agnes' Facebook wall. This little tribute is very late but is something I felt was important as Agnes was an important part of the podcast.

I was introduced to Ag on a business trip to Melbourne by my friend and Surface Interval co-host, Greg "Bear" Blair. At that time Ag was an up and coming diver who was already doing some big dives, and had just graduated with marine archaeology qualifications.

She was about to be heading off on an extended trip to Florida, where should would be working with Dive-Rite and living the dream in the heart of cave country. She was of course extremely excited about the trip.

During this initial meeting, Bear and I invited Ag to join us as a co-host on the podcast, as we were keen to add extra voices to the conversation, and with Ag's passion for extreme adventure, we thought she'd be a natural.

As things work out, Ag co-hosted only 2 or 3 shows, but she added a lot to the conversation. With a passion for cave diving, and a background in maritime archaeology and her infamous bubbly personality, she was a great co-host to have on the show.

I spoke with Ag only a few days before her ill-fated trip to Mount Gambier. She was excited about the trip, and had mentioned that she was keen to explore an area where there might be more cave to find.

Ag laid a lot of new line in diving - literally and figuratively. She was an explorer whose personal motto of "Passion. Daring. Adventure." truly summed her up.

Farewell Ag. You are missed.

Welcome to DiveViews

A warm welcome to a brand new, yet old, blog and podcast about scuba diving.

DiveViews is all about diving. The name was chosen because it focuses on news, views, reviews and interviews about recreational and technical scuba diving. The name also reminds us that diving for most of us is all about the great views we take in while diving.

DiveViews is built upon, and brings together, several previous initiatives in blogging and podcasting about scuba diving, including the original BlueBeyond blog by me (Des Paroz), and the Surface Interval show podcast (originally on TPN and later our standalone Surface Interval 2.0) podcasts hosted by Greg Blair, Andrew Bowie Agnes Milowka (RIP) and myself.

DiveViews is launching with this blog and the associated Twitter feed (@diveviews), and it is my intent that the podcast will re-launch in July 2011 in a new format. More news on that shortly.

I've (hopefully) managed to change the web feeds (RSS) over from the Surface Interval and BlueBeyond blogs to point to this site, so hopefully a few people will see this post. I trust you will be happy with the new and improved information that you originally subscribed to.

DiveViews continues the Surface Interval show's tradition about being about diving, by divers and for divers. I'd really appreciate any input on what you - the diver - would like to see in the blog, and hear on the podcast. Please let us know through the comments below.