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Meet Our Club: iDive

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Want to join a dive club? In this series, we take a look at grassroots diving and find out what’s happening on the club scene in the UK and around the world…


What is the name of your club?

iDive

Where is your club based?

We are based in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Club affiliations (i.e. BSAC, PADI, SAA, etc.)

BSAC

Where and when do you meet?

We meet at the Public Swimming Pool, Fore Street, Ipswich IP4 1JZ every Thursday evening from 7.30pm to 9.00pm and after that we can be found in the neighbouring Lord Nelson pub.

How do you respond to the challenge of recruiting new members?

We run regular try-dives for those that want to have a go at scuba and use the notice board at the pool, some local PR, Facebook and our website to publicise the club’s activities. This has brought a steady stream of new members, both novices and already qualified individuals returning to the sport or crossing over from other organisations.

What facilities and resources does the club use/have?

iDive has two RIBs that can take 6 divers each and a small inflatable boat that is used for dive cover on shore dives. The boats are kitted out with navigation electronics and all the safety equipment you would expect to find on a dive boat such as O2, first aid kit and AED. We try to make as much use as possible of the club boats with some regular weeks and long weekends away around the UK, particularly the south coast, throughout the diving season.

The club has a broad range of experience and is lucky to have three 1st Class divers and a national instructor along with a good mix of novices through to advanced and technical divers. We have a wide selection of equipment for student divers to use in their early stages of training including 10 full sets of regs, cylinders and BCDs.

What sort of diving do you do, and where?

There is a very wide range of diving undertaken by the club. There are technical members diving on mixed gasses and rebreathers pushing to greater depths and then the full range from inland sites, shallow shore dives to club boat dives around the UK and charter boat dives. We dive off the Suffolk and Norfolk coast when conditions allow and reasonable visibility is possible.

There are a lot of shipwrecks off this coast to explore. We run annual week-long trips to Cornwall and Dorset taking the club RIBs and organise charter boat diving in mixed locations including places such as Scotland, The Farne Isles, Swanage, the North Sea off the Dutch coast and The Channel amongst others.

Do you organise any club trips abroad, and if so, where?

We do organise diving trips abroad; recent destinations have included the Red Sea, Spain, Malta, Lanzarote, Sardinia and Mexico.

Does your club have any special interests such as conservation, special projects, etc?

We have a wide range of interests within the club. There are keen photographers, a number of members with an interest in marine archaeology and maritime history, along with those who like to monitor and appreciate marine wildlife.

Does your club have any claims to fame or any particularly interesting stories… or members?

We are a long established BSAC club having been running for 62 years now. With such a long history there have been several characters over the years and some of the earlier members have some hair-raising stories of homebuilt kit and practices that we wouldn’t dream of these days. Although the club branch 0032 is 62 years old we are unusual in having merged with another local club just 5 years ago.

We try to get involved in local actions to keep our environment clean with beach cleans and clearing rivers in areas with particular issues of dumping rubbish of all sorts. More recently we supported our council run pool celebrating 120 year since it was built by running free mini try dives over a weekend where anyone could just turn up and have a go with sub-aqua equipment in the pool.

What are the club’s plans for the future?

Like most clubs, new members are the lifeblood of the club’s future but there is also a need for a good mix of experience. Without the right mix novices can’t progress and instructors have too much to do so getting the mix right is our focus in the short term. We are developing experience so there are enough instructors and assistant instructors to take on training from older members. Ideally, we’d like to get our membership up to around 100 but of course the other key aim is to have as many of these members as active as possible whatever their experience and dive preferences.

Where can people find out more about your club?

More details about the club can be found on our website www.idive.org.uk and on our Facebook pages, search for iDive – Ipswich Dive Club or email info@idive.org.uk

Finally… if you could sum up your club in just one sentence, what would it be?

A friendly club that welcomes members whatever type of diving they enjoy.

Gear News

Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD

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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.

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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.

regulator

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.

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.

regulatorregulator

The Workhorse – our CS-30

For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.

regulator

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.

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Octopus OP-30

The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.

regulator

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.

www.dynamicnord.com

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Marine Life & Conservation

Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid

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paul watson

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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