News
Review: Scubafest Cornwall 2017
Scubafest Cornwall has taken place on the May Bank Holiday now for the last 8 years, and in its time the event has attracted divers and dive clubs from all over the country. Scubafest is held at Pentewan Sands Holiday Park near St Austell, a beautiful location which is perfect for this kind of event, and is organised by the Scuba Industry Trade Association (SITA).
Scubafest offers existing divers the chance to do some shore diving from the beach at Pentewan or boat diving from Mevagissey, Foy or Newquay (the idea being that if the diving is blown out at one location you should be able to get a dive in at one of the others – more on that later). Non-divers can also get in on the action thanks to PADI, BSAC and SSI all being on hand to offer various try dives in the pool at Pentewan Sands.
Freediving 2000, an East Sussex-based dive centre that offers SSI freediving courses, were in the pool each morning from 9-11am offering people the chance to try out freediving techniques. These sessions proved very popular, with several instructors showing Scubafest attendees the proper breathing techniques, how to fin efficiently and giving a taster of the world of freediving.
BSAC offered try dives in the pool from 11am to 3pm each day at Scubafest. These were really popular with the kids staying at the venue and the BSAC instructors were kept busy showing a new generation the joys of breathing underwater. The BSAC team had also brought toys and games along for the kids to have a go at whilst also trying out scuba diving for the very first time.
From 3-5pm each day there was the chance to try out some tech gear with PADI. Wavecrest Scuba had a Diver Tug scooter to try out; sidemount taster sessions were also available, offered by Aquasport International; and rebreather try dives were also on offer with Dive Newquay.
There was a large marquee where people could go to check out the latest dive gear from companies such as Mares, Suunto, Atomic, Typhoon, Sea & Sea and Liquid Sports. Also there promoting various dive holiday destinations were Oonasdivers, and the RNLI were there to show their support too. Marine conservation organisations had a strong presence, with Project AWARE, Sea Shepherd, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and Fathoms Free all exhibiting at the event. Fathoms Free ran a treasure hunt for the kids, and BDMLR staged dolphin strandings and rescues which was extremely popular with the young ones.
Underwater Photographer (and pirate) Jane Morgan ran a splash in competition where divers who had come back from their day’s diving showed off their photos (more on that in another article next week), and recently appointed Oonas Divers and Ultimate Diving photo pro Duxy was available to give hints, tips and advice to those who wished to brush up on their underwater photography skills.
There was plenty of entertainment in the evenings too, with live music every evening and a Pirate-themed fancy dress party on Saturday night complete with karaoke (Ryan from Suunto singing ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain being a particular stand-out moment).
The only thing that let the event down, as usual, was the weather. Although Scubafest began on Saturday, most of the divers arrived on Friday, when the sun was shining and the sea was as flat as a millpond. Sadly the ideal conditions were not set to last, and although the sun was still shining on Saturday, the wind had picked up in the South and the diving was blown out. Luckily divers could still get out from the North with Dive Newquay, so all was not lost – until Sunday, when the rain moved in and it was all over… and by mid afternoon, many had decided to make the long journey home.
That aside, the event had a great vibe and was enjoyed immensely by those who attended, despite the weather. Organisers Lorraine and Vini told Scubaverse they have booked the sunshine in for next year already, and have promised the biggest and most action-packed Scubafest yet – so roll on 2018!
To keep up-to-date with news about Scubafest Cornwall 2018, visit www.cornwallscubafest.co.uk.
News
Dive Worldwide Announces Bite-Back as its Charity of the Year
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
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