News
Immerse School of Diving announce the Mickey Bushell Diving Scholarship
Immerse School of Diving have announced the launch of The Mickey Bushell Diving Scholarship.
The Mickey Bushell Diving Scholarship is an opportunity for one physically challenged person in the county of Shropshire in the UK to pursue an interest in the underwater World each year.
Each year the Mickey Bushell Diving Scholar learns to become a fully qualified scuba diver by completing the PADI Open Water Diver course with Immerse School of Diving in Telford.
The Scholarship is supported by Mickey Bushell M.B.E, a Telford based team GB T53 wheelchair athlete. Mickey has been a team GB Member since age of 15. He is the British record holder for 100m, 200m, 400m, & 800m; European record holder for 100m, 200m, & 400m; and the Paralympic record holder for 100m. Mickey was born with a very rare medical condition called Lumbar Sacral Spinal Agenesis Congenital Paraplegia. For Mickey, this means he is ‘missing’ seven vertebrae from the lower part of the back just above the coccyx or tailbone.
The annual Scholarship is funded by Immerse School of Diving, and sponsored by Otter Watersports Drysuits who donate an undersuit and dry suit to the Scholar each year.
Applications are now open at www.immersediving.com/the-mickey-bushell-diving-scholarship. Shortlisted applicants will have the opportunity to complete a try dive with Immerse School of Diving, and may be asked to attend an interview prior to final selection.
“Our professional diving team here at Immerse School of Diving are passionate about opening access to scuba diving to as many people as we can. It’s possible to employ a whole host of adaptive techniques and equipment modifications to help others enjoy the freedom and tranquillity of the underwater World, and the Scholarship is an excellent opportunity for someone to discover more about the sport we adore,” says Tony Flack, Owner and Instructor, Immerse School of Diving.
For further information on The Mickey Bushell Diving Scholarship, please visit www.immersediving.com/the-mickey-bushell-diving-scholarship or contact Immerse School of Diving at info@immersediving.com.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 3
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 2
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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