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HDS, John Bevan, Historical Diving Society, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, The Underwater Marketing Company
The Historical Diving Society

Dates Announced for 26th Historical Diving Conference

Be it equipment, technique, physiology, photography or biology, divers have the ability to study to their personal level and interest. One aspect that is often overlooked by most divers is the history of diving.

The UK has a rich resource when it comes to this subject. Indeed the Historical Diving Society (HDS) was formed in the UK in 1990, and has subsequently grown into an international organisation with members and offshoot societies around the world.

South China Sea row: Hague Tribunal rules in favor of Philippines, China to ignore decision

South China Sea: International Tribunal backs Philippines in case against China

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by others. The Permanent Court of Arbitration said there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources.

Dahlia Anemone

Scottish Snorkel Trail Unveiled

The SWT – which receives funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – has also confirmed that Scotland's first snorkel trail has been created in the north west Highlands. The idea is that the snorkel trail is self-led.

Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop stated “The snorkel trail is an innovative approach to marine and coastal planning that encourages use of existing infrastructure to help tourism diversification like this."

Mares Acquires rEvo Rebreathers

Paul Raymaekers, CEO of rEvo issued the following statement.

"After more than 10 years of creating, developing and growing rEvo, and knowing that none of my children will or can continue this business, I realised already some time ago that the only way to keep rEvo going, was to look for a partner that had common interests. A strong partner, that was already in the diving business, and had the strength and will to take this work further.

It took months of talking, negotiating, working out synergies, but in the end it became clear that we found the correct ‘modus vivendi’.

Enter NUPG's 'Splash-In Underwater Photography Competition'

The competition will commence at 07:00 and close at 22:00. All images must be taken on the day.

All underwater photographers are welcome to join in the fun whilst diving the Anglesey or North Wales coastline. You can shore dive or boat dive. The choice is yours. It doesn't matter if you have just got your first compact camera and are starting to take photos, or you are a seasoned diver with a beautiful SLR, the NUPG would love to see your photos.

To Shark Dive or Not to Shark Dive

It was seven in the morning and my coffee hadn’t kicked in yet. The dive guide was giving me a slightly more thorough dive briefing than normal. I wasn’t supposed to wear anything colorful or shiny, and black gloves and a hood were required. Also covered in black neoprene, he was putting on chainmail gloves and told me he’d have a pole with him. He said it was more for the potato cods though, not the sharks.

UK Microbead Ban By 2017?

Today George Eustice - the Environment Minister - responded stating that the Government would support an initial ban on cosmetics containing polluting plastic microbeads.

There is however a worry that the UK Government's ban may not be as robust as it should be.

Mr Eustice indicated to Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee that the ban could be widened in the future to include microbead use in other products, such washing powders.

American, Frontier, JetBlue, Silver Airways, Southwest and Sun Country will fly from five US cities to nine cities in Cuba other than Havana

Six US Airlines to offer direct flights to Cuba

The law in the US still prohibits tourist travel to Cuba, but a dozen other categories of travel are permitted, including family visits, official business, journalist visits, professional meetings and educational and religious activities. The Obama administration has eased rules to the point where travelers are now free to design their own “people-to-people” cultural exchanges with little oversight.

Tom Haight's portrait of a megamouth shark
The sixth megamouth shark, found off California

The Mysterious Megamouth Shark

It was not until eight years later, in November, 1984, that another one was found, in a deep-sea net off California. It too, was a male 4.5 metres in length. The third, also male, was a metre longer, and washed up on the shore of Australia, on August 18, 1988. In the following years, megamouth sharks appeared more frequently in a variety of places around the globe.

Standard Diving Equipment Collection To Be Auctioned

The sale will take place on Wednesday 15th June 2016 at St Edmund's Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, Devon, England, EX4 1DU.

This collection is well known to historic diving societies and collectors around the world. The collection comprises many examples of diving helmets, pumps, suits, knives and accessories from makers such as Siebe Gorman, Heinke, Draeger, Morse, Schrader and may others.

Tiger shark dance
Enjoying the 'Shark ballet'

The Value of Shark Dives

So shark dive clubs usually bring some fishy scraps—in most cases the remains left over after big fish have been cut up for sale. The scent attracts the sharks into view and provides a bit of excitement as the animals investigate and try to get a piece. But little actual food or nourishment is given. The sharks circle far and wide through the vast volume of the visible ocean, in a memorable and dramatic display, as they look over the scene, zoom in for a closer look, try for a scrap, and socialize.