News
Oyster Diving’s PADI Specialty Of The Month: Underwater Navigator
Learning to Navigate underwater is very different to doing it on dry land. With a constantly changing environment that is often unfamiliar it can be a challenge for a lot of divers.
My advice is if you are not confident in your navigational abilities is either to pay for a dive guide or learn how to do it yourself.
Being a good navigator makes you much more confident in the water which in turn leads to less stress, better air consumption, better buoyancy control, and ultimately is safer. I have seen several near misses in my time diving where a diver has popped up to the surface for a quick peek to see where the boat is, only to be narrowly missed by another boat!
The PADI Underwater Navigator course teaches you the main methods to help you navigate around a dive site including natural navigation and using a compass properly.
When people think of natural navigation they often just think of sand and rocks & boulders. But there are plenty of others too such as direction of the sun, sound, depth, marine life and wave direction.
Once you have learned the ways to navigate through the course then it is always a good idea to practice these skills and do them regularly.
We tend to teach our navigation courses at Wraysbury Dive Centre as we find it safe and challenging – due to the visibility there you often have to rely on your compass, and if you do get lost or need to surface there are no strong currents or boat traffic.
There are 4 dives required to complete the course, or if you have already completed the PADI Advanced Open Water course then there are just 3 remaining (as you will alreadty have completed a navigation adventure dive as part of your training).
Oyster Diving are offering a 10% discount on the PADI Underwater Navigator course which can be completed on either the 10-11th October or 24-25th October. Simply enter the code SVNAV on their booking page to receive your discount.
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.
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.
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.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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