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Review: The Great Northern Dive Show
After last year’s inaugural outing, was The Great Northern Dive Show 2017 a success?
When is a dive show not a dive show… but still a dive show? Stay with me here…
The Great Northern Dive Show is the brainchild of Ruth Mort, who owns and runs H2O Divers in Wigan in the UK with her husband Duncan. From the very beginning, Ruth wanted to do something different – and she’s certainly achieved that. There aren’t many dive shows that can claim to have Darth Vader wandering the aisles with a legion of Imperial Stormtroopers in tow; or a dinosaur walking (that’s right, walking) the show floor.
Yes, I hear you all say, Star Wars is indeed awesome (and if you’re not saying that, you’re wrong) – but what has it got to do with Scuba Diving?
Well the short answer is, nothing. And if I’m being totally honest, when I was speaking to Ruth on the phone months ago and she was saying things like “we’re going to have a dinosaur at the show”, and “we’ve got stormtroopers from Star Wars”, I found myself asking her the same question, and wondering if perhaps she had lost sight of what it was she was actually trying to achieve – putting on a dive show. But it turns out Ruth knew what she was doing all along.
Because despite sounding like she’d gone completely mad, Ruth has made her dive show accessible to families. Divers were able to take their kids knowing that they would be entertained. And big kids like myself enjoyed it too. It kind of works.
And it’s the only dive show (to my knowledge, at least) that has an opening ceremony (with a singer, which admittedly I missed) and closing ceremony (with fire dancers).
But what about the diving?
Like last year, this year’s show also featured the Aqua Theatre, which is the largest portable open windowed tank in the world. Freedivers from Apneists UK did stints in the tank dressed as mermaids, which was a definite crowd-pleaser and yet another big hit with the kids. Tech divers demonstrated skill sets, and Mark Powell from SDI/TDI even did a rebreather demo, so there was always something going on in the tank to keep visitors enthralled.
There were lots of great talks on the main stage given by well-known names from the UK dive scene. Highlights included James Rogers from RAID UK & Malta speaking about the training agency’s exciting and exclusive partnership with Blue Abyss; Scubaverse.com’s very own Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown, who had only returned from a liveaboard trip to Socorro the previous day, speaking about their most recent diving adventure; and Mark Powell shared his experiences of diving the wreck of the Titanic’s sister ship, the Britannic. Other speakers included Sidemount guru Garry Dallas, Diver Medic Founder Chantelle Taylor-Newman, GUE Instructor Trainer John Kendall, and Dave Thompson from the Warrington Disability Partnership.
Once again, The Northern Underwater Photography Group (NUPG) held their annual print competition at the show. There were some stunning images on display, with the winning shots of the majority of the categories being chosen by the show’s visitors, and the overall UK and Overseas category winners being chosen by each category’s sponsor, Fleet Dive (UK category sponsor) and Safari Diving Lanzarote (Overseas category sponsor). Scubaverse’s UWP editor and NUPG member Caroline Robertson-Brown did well, winning both the British and Irish Wide Angle Category and the Overall Overseas category. Nick and Caroline’s full report on the NUPG print competition will be appearing on Scubaverse tomorrow.
The majority of the companies that exhibited last year were back for 2017’s show, and a few new exhibitors had taken the plunge and given the show a chance too. Visitor numbers weren’t as high as some were expecting, but were still respectable; the show just so happened to take place on the warmest weekend of the year so far, which may well have put some off spending their weekend inside. There were also some companies that were noticeable by their absence who hopefully will give the show a chance next year.
In its first year, the majority of those who attended The Great Northern Dive Show agreed that although the show was small and footfall wasn’t amazingly high, there was a great vibe and that the idea had legs. There was still an enormous amount of positivity this year, but there was also disappointment from some that more divers didn’t come through the doors. This will need to be addressed by Ruth and her team should the show go ahead for a third year.
I can’t emphasise enough though how refreshing The Great Northern Dive Show is. It has a lot going for it, and is a great opportunity for divers North of the border to come together and celebrate this great sport of ours. Now if only the rest of the industry would get behind it….
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.
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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