News
It’s a 24-hour dive, dive, dive for charity
Nearly 70 members of St Albans SAC recently took part in a 24-hour diveathon at the Cottonmill Swimming Pool to raise more than £1,500 for the Scuba Trust.
They whiled away the hours playing underwater hockey, hand tennis and even found time to read glossy magazines as they completed their marathon charity dive.
The event was organised to celebrate BSAC’s 60th anniversary as well as the re-opening of their newly refurbished lido pool which they lease from the local council. The open air pool has had a major £50,000 overhaul thanks to funding through Sport England. Thanks to the grant, the restoration has seen leak repairs and the refurbishment of the formerly unusable poolside changing rooms and showers.
The revamped pool means the club can offer it as a community resource for other local clubs, including a local canoe club.
Lisa Shafe, a diving instructor with St Albans SAC and one of the organisers of the diveathon, said: “The whole event was fantastic, absolutely brilliant, even if we are all shattered!
“Our aim was to have 60 divers in the pool over the 24 hour period and we beat that with 68 divers taking part. The combined dive times of all the divers amounts to 72 hours 20 minutes.
“And we had a target of raising £1,000 toward the work of the Scuba Trust, which helps people with disabilities enjoy diving, and we have easily topped that total through our on-line charity giving site and pledges.”
She added: “As a club we were delighted to welcome the Mayor of St Albans, Annie Brewster, along. She enjoyed some snorkelling with us while we also had several people come along to have a go with try-dives.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that, as a result, we have three new members signed up as club members while a further seven people are considering whether they want to join the club and take up our wonderful sport.”
According to Lisa, the scuba divers came up with all sorts of novel ways to pass the time as they completed the diveathon.
She said: “We started at mid-day on Saturday and went through until 8pm. Unfortunately, we experienced some pretty heavy thunderstorms and came out of the water just after 8pm until they cleared.
“The pool is in a residential area and out of respect for our neighbours we stayed out of the water, to keep any noise to a minimum, until just before dawn going back in at 3am and staying until mid-day on the Sunday.
“Some of our younger club members enjoyed an energetic game of ‘octopush’ which is a form of underwater hockey. Others had a game of underwater hand tennis while I decided to settle down with a good old magazine for a quiet read.
“Glossy magazines will survive being dunked underwater for a couple of hours before they disintegrate so my aquatic read proved no problem.”
She added: “As a club we couldn’t be happier, we have raised a fantastic sum for the Scuba Trust, attracted some new members to the club and also supported Help for Heroes. What a brilliant weekend!”
To find out more about St Albans Sub Aqua Club, visit http://www.sasac.co.uk/
Gear News
Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Marine Life & Conservation
Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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