Scuba diving is known to be a safe water sport but sometimes various accidents can happen that may even bring to fatalities. Sometimes divers are attacked by sharks, sometimes they are not so professional and don’t have enough knowledge to know how to behave during the diving.

The accident that happened on January 24 in the Boracay Island, Philippines doesn’t have any connection to the above mentioned things but the fact is that the 28-year old Swiss national Martia Josefina Elsehner is no longer alive.

According to the local police officials report, the victim was diving with her fiancé and three friends at a fine dive site in Manoc Manoc Village. Oliver Keller, her fiancé was with her when Elsehner complained of stomachache. The group immediately suspended the activities and took her to the nearest Boracay District Hospital, where, after some time, the doctors pronounced Elsehner dead.

Nobody knows the true reason why the girl died, but to avoid being suspected of foul play, Keller requested for an autopsy. Elsehner’s body is laid in a nearby funeral home.

Photo credits to 1,2

If you are looking for a diving opportunity, taking a holiday to Turkey may not automatically spring to mind. However, Turkey is a safe and cheap place to learn and enjoy this amazing sport.The Aegean coast line offers the best diving. The water is warm and clear, there are few tides or currents to concern and there are hardly any sharks! Of course, the prospect of no sharks will delight some and thoroughly dismay others, but there are plenty of other attractions to keep you enthused off the Turkish coast. Here are five of best diving areas Turkey has to offer…

1. Fethiye is a relaxed holiday town with over twenty quality dives, going from shallow, right outside of the harbour, to over 50 metres in depth. The lack of any currents in this area makes it extremely safe and ideal for beginners. Dalyan Bay is the most popular site for beginner and advanced divers alike. It is easily accessible, with abundant fish. The Afkule Wall is a beautiful dive, home to Moray eels hiding in its cracks. It has colourful coral surrounding an impressive open cavern, from whence it has received its notoriety.

2. Marmaris is a long, laid back beach town, with a beautiful mountain backdrop, also visible from many of its local dive spots. Kadirga Rock is the best dive at Marmaris; another site with archaeological past, you may be able to find some ancient ship anchors, along with the obligatory amphora. The Rock has wide ranging marine life for this area, including a friendly resident Grouper.

3. For history buffs, Gallipoli and the Dardanelles are immediately recognisable as the sites of a huge failed military campaign, carried out by the British and the French against the Turks during the First World War. As such, the seas surrounding these areas are littered with scores of wrecks from this era. Most diving trips in this area will go from Cannakkale to the Sulva Bay area. Here lie wrecks such as the Lundi, a British military cargo vessel sunk in 27 metres of sea. You can still access the hold of this ship, which is still largely intact. Many also choose to dive on the unknown troop and provision carrier that was sunk just off of ANZAC Cove. This is probably due to its proximity to the beach, but it is also an atmospheric reminder of the destruction and slaughter that occurred at that place just under a hundred years ago.

4. Bodrum overlooks a number of small rock islands and reefs that channel water to produce light currents, attracting larger fish to the area. As one of the largest Aegean towns, Bodrum also attracts a healthy number of dive instructors and guide companies. The Amphora fields are an extensive area littered with ancient amphora vessels, used to carry goods via shipping up to 3000 years ago. Over time, the vessels would have been discarded or lost overboard, as they sailed in and out of Bodrum, a major trading post. Most of the amphora is broken but many are still intact and strikingly well preserved.

5. Kas probably comes top of all the Turkish dive sites, due to the range, frequency and quality of the dives. There are plenty of caves, reefs and wrecks in the area, along with abundant marine life such as Moray eel, rays and Hawksbill turtles. The area encompasses Arkeopark, the site of a ship wreck dating from the 14th Century BC, the oldest known. The actual wreck has been raised and taken to the Bodrum Museum for its preservation and further study, but a replica has been laid in its place and the area is now open to divers, following extensive recording and excavation. The wreck of a World War Two Italian aircraft, sometimes called ‘Flying Fish,’ is seen as one of Turkey’s best dives. The preservation is excellent. At 65 metres, however, this is a technical dive for the more experienced.

So while Turkey may not seem immediately synonymous with diving holidays, its coastlines offer more than enough options for enthusiastic divers no matter your level of experience.

Join our facebook fan page and be part of our scuba community if you like our articles. Our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DailyScubaDiving

Scuba diving in the breathtakingly beautiful coral archipelago of Seychelles is spectacular and diverse, and is often recognized as some of the best in the world. There are so many diving spots to choose from that you are sure to find something new every day. The outer islands of the chain are mostly uninhabited, making it a haven for professional divers. The inner islands are also blessed with plenty of diving perfect for novices and professionals alike. There are PADI dive centers throughout the islands and at most of the hotels. Excellent dive sites are found around Denis Island, Desroche or Bird Island.

Bird Island is a magical privately owned island named for the million sooty terns that nest here each year. Located at the edge of the Seychelles continental shelf, the island is surrounded by 5-kilometers of sparkling white sandy beach and crystal-clear blue waters. Bird Island is also the home of Esmeralda, the largest giant tortoise in Seychelles.

Scuba diving is one of the preferred activities in Bird Island. The eastern and southern sides of the island are surrounded by a barrier reef, which not only acts as a protective shield, but also harbors a fascinating range of marine life, including hawksbill and green turtles, dolphins and even whales.

Bird Island is a true masterpiece of nature that warmly welcomes adventure seekers to explore its land and water pristine beauty still untouched by man. Be sure your visit will be one of the most extraordinary experiences you’ll ever have!

Photo credits to 1,2,3,4

If you have always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, there are destinations all over the world where you can learn the basics and get you diving with tanks in no time at all. There has never been a better time to get out and dive as there are some fabulous vacations packages available.

Travel to the Blue Hole in Belize which was named one of the top ten diving sites in the world by Jacques Cousteau. Once you learn the ropes you can swim amongst the reef and hammerhead sharks. Another popular site for beginners and advanced divers is Thailand. Head to Phuket, or visit the Surin Islands. Ko Tao is very inexpensive and one of the best places to learn how to dive. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and once you slip on your mask and flippers, you will understand why. Swim with the giant sea turtles and get up close and personal with the largest live coral reef in the world. There are some very affordable diving schools that will have you ready to jump in and enjoy the spectacular deep blue sea. Fernando de Noronha is an extremely popular dive site in South America. Located in Brazil it only allows a few visitors at one time, which means you can enjoy dolphins, turtles and colourful tropical fish without having to share it with everyone else.

If you are looking for travel deals and want to save some money for your scuba lessons consider Honduras. Roatan is one of the most desired scuba diving destinations on the planet. The beautiful white beaches and tropical jungles are one of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean. Even if you are on a tight budget, you can still afford vacation packages in Roatan. Stay in a large resort, or choose a quaint hotel in the village. The beautiful turquoise waters are home to fishing, submarine tours, snorkelling, and of course scuba diving. Get an introductory dive lesson where you will learn the basics. Your instructor will show you how to dive safely so that you can get out and enjoy the reef. After you feel comfortable enough to dive you can go and experience what everyone is talking about. Roatan is the second largest coral reef in the world, and is home to private dive sites where you can explore ship wrecks. Strap on your tanks and descend upon the cargo boar El Aguila. You can swim in and out of the large compartments and marvel at the beautiful tropical fish who call this ship wreck home. Another popular dive takes you through the Prince Albert. This wrecked tanker is 140 feet long and is filled with eel and other fascinating sea creatures.

Wherever you choose to spend your scuba diving vacation, there are plenty of travel deals that will not break the bank. Check out the excellent vacations packages that are available, and get ready for your first dive.

Written by Bernard Prince, who working at travel agency VarVacation.com. You can also reach him on Facebook and Twitter

Join our facebook fan page and be part of our scuba community if you like our articles. Our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DailyScubaDiving

While scuba diving in the dark depths of Crowsnest – a blue natural lake in narrow, windswept Crowsnest Pass in Southern Alberta, a scuba dive team, made up of Pincher Creek and Pass divers stumbled upon a mysterious fishing boat (I say ‘mysterious’ because nobody has ever heard a report of the boat being sunk) when they were trying to find derailed train.

The divers who found the boat had just gained their dive certification after completing a course offered by David Hartley, a scuba instructor with ‘Mountain Tide Aquatics’ out of Raymond, Alberta, for whom this was a truly exciting find.

The find was a 14-foot long boat (made in the late 60s, early 70s) featuring yellow and black trim, as well as launches that were still in their shopping bags. The boat was pulled into shore and now the Crowsnest Pass RCMP is working hard on finding the reasons why it sank and the original owners of the boat, who maybe will wish to have it back. Most of the salvage work was done in two stages on October 22. First of all, they flipped the boat, and then they attached lift bags to it, floating to the surface.

Hartley says that though the engines of the boat are highly damaged, he is ready to give it back to its original owner in case he pays a salvage fee. And if the owner is not found, Hartlywill clean and polish it up, making it a dive boat for his own company.

If you are interested in diving, Mountain Tide Aquatics will be offering courses at the Pincher Creek pool in November (and one more in February). Do not miss out the chance to gain the experience!

Photo credits to 1,2

]]> http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/scuba-dive-team-to-salvage-a-sunken-fishing-boat/feed/ 0 http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/isles-of-scilly-diving-at-its-best/ http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/isles-of-scilly-diving-at-its-best/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:34:21 +0000 Anna http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/?p=3415

Photo credits to 1,2,3,4

Like other historical and archaeological sites, shipwrecks have always dazzled adventure lovers from all over the world, and, in recent years, shipwreck diving has become one of the most rewarding specialized areas of scuba diving, giving the unique opportunity to visit the mysterious past.

A week ago, on September 26, a Florida-based marine exploration company – Odyssey Marine, announced that a shipwreck (SS Gairsoppa) featuring 200 tones (seven million ounces) of silver haul, worth about £150 million had been found in the Atlantic Ocean, which is believed to be the largest haul of precious metal ever discovered at sea.

The wreck of the ship (412 ft) was found this summer, some 4,700 meters beneath the North Atlantic but it was only identified as SS Gairsoppa last week, a British vessel traveling from India that was sunk by the German U-boat in 1941.

Though details about the ship are still being held in extreme privacy, one thing is certain that work to recover the cargo will commence in the second quarter of 2012. It is also clear that, according to a contract with the department of transport, Odyssey Marine will keep eighty percent of the cargo’s value.

The previous sunken ship to be considered the richest ever haul was ‘Nuestra Senora de Atcoha,’ a Spanish galleon that sank off of the Florida Keys in 1622, and was discovered by a treasure-hunting pioneer Mel Fisher.

Photo credits to 1,2

Initially intended for military and scientific use, scuba diving has, no doubt, become one of the world’s most popular water sports; but, unfortunately,  it can sometimes bring to fatalities. According to diving accident statistics, the common causes that result to fatalities include drowning, arterial gas embolism, heart attack, trauma sustained while diving, inappropriate gas and decompression illness. Yet, experienced divers say that when the golden rules of diving are followed properly, scuba diving is still one of the safest water sports with a fatal accident rate of approximately 1 death per 200,000 dives. So, keep in mind: DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH!

This happened at San Carlos Beach, city of Monterey. Jean-Pierre Makeyev, 65, was scuba diving with a partner from a dive shop when, suddenly, his friend lost sight of him and swam to the surface for help. First, the Coast Guard responded with a motor lifeboat (47 foot), then several boats from Monterey Fire and Harbormaster joined. In some time the victim was pulled from the water and taken to the hospital where doctors pronounced him death.

Makeyev’s family members said he had a diving experience and had been getting back into scuba diving after several years’ break and that this year he had already made ten dives.

The cause of his death is still pending, until the toxicology tests and tests of his diving equipment are finished, but the coroner’s detective Randal Dick said that nothing in the autopsy indicated that it was a Cardiac incident or something like that.

Photo credit to 1

Join our facebook fan page and be part of our scuba community if you like our articles. Our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DailyScubaDiving

Scuba Diving in Lloret de Mar

Often times when people think of Spain bull fighting, tasty paella, tinto de verano and lots of sun and beaches comes to mind but the Iberian Peninsula also offers a plethora of diving locations that are worth checking out.

Take Lloret de mar for instance. This Mediterranean coastal town located in the north eastern part of Span in coastal Catalonia which is known for being one of the most popular holiday resorts in Costa Brava. It´s also a prime location for Scuba divers since the city is consistently awarded the EU Blue Flag status due to the cleanliness of the beach.

Water, symbol of life, is the essence of Lloret since the entire villa is practically a marina. Crystal waters surround the golden sand beaches and culture, history, gardens, fine shopping and a vibrant nightlife turned this sleepy little fishing town into a unforgettable tourist hotspot, especially those geared for outdoor activities.

The grand splendour of nature courses throughout the entire villa turning it into an idyll location for outdoor lovers full of beautiful trails, long sandy beaches, gorgeous natural bays and small coves such as Cala d´en Trons, Sa Caleta, Cala Banyes, Cala dels Frares…

Many of these locations provide for great dive spots. Cala Canyelles for instance is a natural bay in Lloret that remains practically virgin, unspoiled by men´s hand. Cold, crystal clear waters attract lots of wildlife and guarantee long visibility beneath water. A diversity of wildlife exists here thanks to the massive, sprawling underwater meadows of Neptune Grass. These fields are a great indicator for high biodiversity and pre-coral reefs are common and easy to find; fish like groupers, moray eels, congers, scorpion fish, and other large sport fish frequent this spot. Tuna fish, barracudas and plenty of cetaceans are commonly seen throughout the area.

This bay is situated between the coastal villages of Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar. You can easily get to Lloret de Mar by flying into Barcelona and taking a bus or train into the city. Travel plans can be arranged by contacting any of the following dive centers. A few dive centres exist here and offer various services such as daily guided boat excursions, PADI, ACUC, FECDAS courses, rental of Scuba equipment, diving insurance, etc. Also I always advice to buy travel insurance.

Quick fact: According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association,about 30 percent of Americans purchase travel insurance, an increase from 10 percent before 9/11. The top three reasons are: peace of mind, protection against the unexpected and concern over losing the financial investment in a trip. Some 70 percent of cruisers buy travel insurance.

Photos made by David Domingo

Lloret de Mar is the largest and liveliest resort in the area. It offers unforgettable sights and historical monuments as well as pristine beaches that offer Scuba divers wonderful diving opportunities. There are five beaches located in this villa, all of which share a palm shaded promenade on the boarder. Lastly, if divers prefer to have fun in the water other than Scuba diving they could always check out Water World, the largest water park on the Costa Brava which is found in Lloret de Mar.

Dive Centres in Lloret de Mar

Sa Caleta Diving Centre: + 34 972 370 819

International Lloret Diving Centre: + 34 972 34 61 69

Canyelles: + 34 626 14 23 71

Article by Michael Dawson from Diving Discoveries

Join our facebook fan page and be part of our scuba community if you like our articles. Our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DailyScubaDiving