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Diving with… Atlantic Scuba, Cornwall

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In this ongoing series, we speak with the people who run dive centres, resorts and liveaboards from around the world about their businesses and the diving they have to offer…


What is your name?

Mark Milburn

What is the name of your business?

Atlantic Scuba, Cornwall

What is your role within the business?

Owner

How long has the business operated for?

Since 2008, nine years

How long have you dived for, and what qualification are you?

First qualified in February 2000, multi-agency Instructor

What is your favourite type of diving?

Exploratory dives

If you could tell people one thing about your business  (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?

We specialise in going diving and getting people diving. We encourage all divers and potential divers to get involved with our projects, using their special diving interests whether it’s photography, filming, archaeology or marine biology.

What is your favourite dive in your location and why?

The Manacles reef system. It is covered in a wide range of colourful wildlife and an unknown quantity of wrecks, with plenty more wrecks to find.

What types of diving are available in your location?

We have many shore dives that are worth doing. We also operate our own boat, so we can visit many wrecks and reefs, of all depths, within our operational area. We take divers of all levels out, whether they are a newly qualified open water, or seasoned technical divers.

What do you find most rewarding about your current role?

Showing divers just how good the local diving can be, with the wide range of wildlife as well as the potentially good visibility.

What is your favourite underwater creature?

I really like rays. We have a few rays we see on a regular basis but the male cuckoo wrasse has to be one of the most colourful fish anywhere.

Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?

Our next move is to get a second boat legal and running, one that can be moved and launched anywhere around Cornwall; so we can access an even bigger range of wrecks and reefs. We have some potentially interesting new sites to find and/or explore.

As a centre what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?

We are a very busy centre but taking that move to take on more staff, without knowing what the future holds, is quite a concern.

Is your centre involved in any environmental work?

For many years we have organised underwater litter picks from the local beaches. We have also removed ghost fishing gear, released juvenile lobsters for the National Lobster Hatchery and we have run Seasearch dives. We also collect any floating debris we see when out on our boat.

How do you see the SCUBA / Freediving / snorkeling industry overall? What changes would you make?

Overall the industry is not in the best shape, manufacturers and dive centres should all talk, so that they can organise a systematic approach to promote diving. At Atlantic Scuba we promote diving in whatever way we can, we also actively promote and get involved in both snorkelling and freediving.

What would you say to our visitors to promote the diving you have to offer?

We specialise in getting individuals and small groups diving. We run scheduled dives, as well as full charters, so that almost anyone can join in without having to worry about filling the boat. With the range of wrecks and reefs we have to offer, for divers of every level, we can find you some suitable good dive sites. Our unique location means that we rarely cannot dive, we may have to switch dive sites but we do have some good back up locations if the weather does try and defeat us, which it rarely does.

Where can our visitors find out more about your business?

Our website www.atlanticscuba.co.uk has details of what we have to offer, from dive courses to dive sites, from sales to servicing. We organise our scheduled dives within a Facebook group – Falmouth RHIB diving on Stingray. We also have a Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticScuba/ and a Facebook place – https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticScubaDiveCentre/. Our Google+ username is +atlanticscuba, Twitter #atlanticscuba and you can find us as Atlantic Scuba on most social networks.

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Dived Up Publications announces the release of The Diver and the Cookby Lasse Spang Olsen

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The Diver and the Cook

A ship lost. No survivors. A grim recovery mission begins, pushing a team of commercial divers well beyond their comfort zone.

Braving treacherous conditions, saturation diver Nico van Heerden single-handedly combs the cramped, debris-strewn, zero-visibility Jascon 4 shipwreck searching for any sign of the lost crew.

Then, in a scene akin to a horror movie, while exploring a small, isolated compartment, Nico feels a tap on his shoulder. Could someone have survived underwater for over sixty hours?

The Diver & the Cook is the incredible true story of a seemingly impossible underwater rescue. With first-hand accounts, authentic images and detailed reconstructions, author and documentary maker Lasse Spang Olsen brings this gripping tale to life. The book is the result of over four years of work, including intensive interviews, access to previously unknown material, and deep study of conversations and film recorded during the actual incident.

Witness the unwavering determination of the human spirit as Jascon 4 galley chef, Harrison Okene, fights for survival after his ship goes down. Meanwhile, rookie saturation diver Nico van Heerden faces a daunting challenge: spearheading the rescue mission in a perilous underwater environment. With time running out, what rules must the dive team break to save Harrison before it’s too late?

An unprecedented operation, this story provides a unique perspective on the dangers and challenges faced by divers, showing the importance of teamwork and communication in high-risk situations. An incredible survival story against all odds, with an equally surprising aftermath.

Quote from the author, documentary-maker Lasse Spang Olsen:

“There are a whole lot of different versions of this story out there. But I believe that by speaking directly to the key people involved, creating meticulous reconstructions and doing original research we have dug much deeper and got far closer to the truth about the rescue and the sinking than anyone has ever managed to before.”

About the author

Author and veteran filmmaker Lasse Spang Olsen – in a 40+ year career – has participated in stunts and FX on over 600 films, directed eleven features and filmed extensively underwater. He’s led expeditions uncovering historical mysteries like the Flying Enterprise wreck and documented adventures worldwide. He’s also a producer and lecturer. Originally published in Denmark as Dykkeren of Kokken (February 2024), this is his fourth book.

The Diver and the Cook (ISBN 978-1-909455-61-0) is released on 12 November 2024 in paperback and ebook. It is available via online retailers, bookstores, from DivedUp.com and to the dive trade via Nautilus UK.

Dived Up Publications website: www.DivedUp.com
Facebook @DivedUpPublications / Insta @diveduppubs / X @DivedUp / TikTok @divedup

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Spooktacular Underwater Adventure: Oyster Diving’s First Halloween Scuba Party at Mercers Lake

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halloween

Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.

halloween halloween

After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.

halloween

With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.

halloween

Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!

Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.

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