- WOW - that's over 14 ½ years worth of monthly newsletters to Descend Club members. I've just reached the milestone of ten years full time at Descend. How time flies, and to think I'm still folding newsletters!!

Which reminds me if you still haven't given us your email address please do so now - it not only saves you on postage, but you'll be the first to know whats happening, and you can view heaps of cool stuff on our website - past and present newsletters, our photo gallery, new products, course information and much more. It's easy just email me your address and Ill add you to our email list. Our email is dive@descend.com.au

Now I know your thinking its too cold to think about diving but we've got some great things happening that you REALLY shouldn't miss.

Make sure your read Stan Bugg's article below on diving with computers - a MUST read!!

Why should you do this course I hear you ask? Well here are a few reasons;

1. This is what Descend is world-renowned for - learn from the best!

2. Exposes you to real-life working scenarios including; search patterns, communication with line signals, lifting and handling underwater objects, calculating mass, apparent weight & buoyant force, volume of air required to lift an object & air consumption calculations.

3. Knots - different types, how to tie and correct usage.

4. Desensitise you to nil visibility diving - including planning, procedures & equipment required - you will never freak out in nil vis again.

5. How to use hand tools to complete underwater tasks - see how simple tasks can be somewhat difficult to complete underwater.

6. A dive in a surface supply full face mask helmet with voice communications - How cool!!!

This is a course where you will gain alot of practical experience & it WILL make you a better diver. So what are you waiting for - only a few days left to book - commences Monday night 31^st May 7:30pm. Book now! AND If you've got a friend/buddy that would also like to do it we'll offer you $50 off each course. What are you waiting for!!    

Select the link below for full details

http://www.descend.com.au/training/sports/courses/2003419551.htm

DAN O2 Providers Course - starts 29^th June

Equipment Specialist Course - starts 7^th August Select link below:

http://www.descend.com.au/training/sports/courses/20035161012.htm

Workcover OHS Induction for Construction sites - although not directly related to diving you may know someone that works in the construction industry that needs the 'green/red card" - run at Descend every second Saturday.

We are running a very Special evening complete with a guest speaker that you just don't want to miss. Craig Rodriguez is an expert in underwater photography (among other things) and all the different systems available. He distributes Olympus & Sony camera systems Australia-wide and has offered to come and speak to us. This is your chance to ask all those questions you've been dying to ask;

1. Is there a housing available for my camera?

2. What's all the fuss about digital photography?

3. What are the costs?

4. What sort of system is right for me?

5. What advantages does digital photography offer the diver? etc... etc..

See the different systems in the flesh - plus some great deals available for those that attend. Book now - Please support us - this is a great opportunity for all of us. Wednesday night 16^th June. - RSVP BY 11^th June. See you all there.

For a sneak peak at a super Olympus camera deal, select the link below. And join us on the night for more great offers...

http://www.descend.com.au/shop/products/20045266882.htm

Stress and Rescue Course - Adam Joss, Fred King, Phil Butler, Nell Davison, Gerrard Finnigan, Brad Ivers and Rachel Reed. Well done & thank you for the great feed-back on this course.

Underwater Photography Course - Fred King, Brad Ivers, Adam Joss, Lloyd Mildren, Cass Walters, Chris Lethbridge, & Glenda Fisher. Check out the links below to see some great photos.

http://www.descend.com.au/training/gallery/PhotoGallery.asp?whichcategory=Photography%20Course%20Portsea&AreaID=17

http://www.descend.com.au/training/gallery/PhotoGallery.asp?whichcategory=Underwater%20Photography%20Course&AreaID=17 

The dive industry was recently rocked by the revelation that UWATEC had suppressed inside knowledge that one of their nitrox computers was dangerously inaccurate, especially for repetitive dives.

The issue generated enormous publicity in the US dive community when two very prominent divers, Bob Raimo, owner of one of the biggest Tech dive stores on the east coast, and Mitch Skaggs, Vice President of TDI, each suffered serious deco sickness after using the offending computer. Raimo was so badly affected that he may never dive again.

Naturally the diving community was in an uproar, and Raimo is suing Uwatec for damages. Fair enough given the degree of coverup....but I have to ask:..

Why didn't one or both of these so-called icons of the industry check their dives against a set of repetitive tables? To have done so would have immediately highlighted the computer's flawed programming.

When divers of such experience choose to let their computer "take them diving" I shudder to consider what sort of message this sends less experienced divers.

What ever happened to the old rule, "plan your dive, dive your plan."? Part of this process surely includes knowing in advance how long you can stay without incurring deco penalty, and, if deco is required, how much?

I know that most computers have a planning mode which shows NDL's for single and repetitive dives, BUT computers are only mechanical devices that can be dropped, bumped or suffer battery failure, or (heaven forbid) as with the Uwatec computer under discussion, be incorrectly programmed.

Tables offer a quick double check that the dive is within safe parameters. They also have the advantage that they don't go belly up if I drop them, and there isn't a battery in sight!

It is regrettable that there are agencies that no longer require instructors to teach use of tables, instead relying solely on computers. I cannot agree with this, and I suspect that Raimo and Skaggs regret their decision not to cross check against tables. If they had done so, they might have undergone a sudden case of "HANG ON A MINUTE!! Or what Rove McManus calls " WHAT THE...!!!"

I treat my computer as a guide only. My deco requirements are cross-checked against tables, and as safe practice would recommend, safety increments are added. This plan is then written on my runtime slate. Diving is risky enough without handing over all responsibility for calculating deco to a little box on my wrist.

The anti-tables lobby is constantly saying that it is too hard for student divers to learn to use tables correctly. To this I say BOLLOCKS!! Anyone can learn to use tables in less than 30 minutes provided the instructor knows his stuff and sells it as an important topic. On the other hand if instructors tell students that they do not really need to know the topic, you can bet the student will be well on the path to becoming a computer driven diver, incapable of actually cross checking their dives against tables.

Copyright 2004 sbugg.

Our Truk trip is now only 16 weeks away, (yep time to start budgeting) - hopefully you now have your return flight to Cairns organised, you've checked out what vaccinations are needed and you've got yourself some DAN Insurance. All invoices will soon be sent to Descend, which we will check and then forward onto you. We will organise a pre-trip get together shortly. Its all so exciting... oh and maybe think about a digital camera for all those Micronesian sunsets, tropical fish and of course the wrecks!!!!

We still have a few sets available, however they wont last long, if your interested call us and we'll put a set aside for you - oh and of course we have layby available (and you can use it while your paying it off)!!!