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Event Review: TEKCamp 2016
As many of the Scubaverse audience will know, Nick and Caroline are not really into the technical aspect of diving, and were, therefore, surprised to be invited along to TEKCamp earlier this month. Not ones for turning down a photographic opportunity, they jumped in the car, drove from Manchester to Somerset and joined in all the fun on day 2 of the 5 day event at Vobster Quay.
On arrival, it was instantly obvious that there was no shortage of things to do for anyone attending the event. Stands from manufacturers and training organisations lined the edge of the water, with lots of shiny gear to drool over, look at and even try out. Small groups of divers were gathered around instructors who tasked them through techniques or new equipment. Vobster is one of the deeper inland sites, with a maximum depth of 36m and so is a perfect location for this event. Rebreathers, sidemount, twinsets, extended range, scooters – gear littered every available space as divers got ready to get into the water. Divers who attend can go to workshops, talks and have underwater tuition by some of the leading names in the technical diving world.
We jumped in the water with Cat Braun, who was there with the Mares team, to take some underwater photographs. Cat runs Tekstreme Technical Diving, and can usually be found in the much warmer waters of the Red Sea. She was in the UK for this event at Vobster and to complete SSI Extended Range Instructor training the following week at Stoney Cove. As usual, we turned down diving to any great depth and got her to pose for us in just a few meters of water!
If you were out of the water, and you had time to spare, you could wander around the various stands and check out the latest gear from Apeks, Fourth Element, Sea & Sea, Mares, Suex, Miflex and more. All manufacturers had representatives who were there to talk you through their gear.
Basically, if you want to get into technical diving, you want to improve or brush up your skills, you want to try out the latest tech equipment, or you just want to sit back and listen to some of the leading lights in this field, TEKCamp is a must-visit event.
To find out more about TEKCamp, visit www.tekcamp.co.uk.
For a week at the end of February I was invited to sample the diving with Orca Dive Club based at the Breakers Diving and Surfing Lodge by courtesy of SOMABAY.
Somabay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds. Somabay caters for scuba diving as well as many other sports, including windsurfing, golf, sailing, go-carting, horse riding and many other activities.
All the activities are of a world-class standard and any or all of these can be booked directly from The Breakers.
I took Easyjet from Bristol (UK) to Hurghada. Easyjet are not by any means my favourite airline but the flight was cheap and direct (except for the surprise extra £48 I was charged at the gate for my carry-on bag).
I was met at Hurghada airport by a driver and car and taken to the Breakers 28 miles (45Kilomaters) south along the coast. Once at the hotel I was too late for an evening meal and so a basic meal was delivered to my room. That and a beer from the fridge and I was fast asleep.
Early the next morning after breakfast I arrived for my rep meeting at the Orca Dive Center for 8.00am. I was immediately made to feel welcome, and after brief introductions I got some dive gear from the store, had a chat with my dive guide Mohamed and got ready to try the house reef situated at the end of a very long wooded pier where all diving gear and divers are taken out by buggies.
Once at the end of the pier, a helping hand from staff makes sure your gear is set and then it’s a short walk to the very end where you can either climb down a ladder of simply jump in the water next to the reef. The house reef extends both north and south giving a very easy and safe dive with plenty to see. At this time of the year the water temperature was a constant 22 degrees Centigrade and there was little or no current, so there were no issues in swimming back to the pier.
Quite a few divers were in dry or semi-dry suits, but being from the UK and used to the cold I found a 3mm wetsuit with a 3mm neoprene vest quite comfortable. Even after 50 years of diving I still find that first dive of a trip slightly nerving until I am actually underwater and then all becomes relaxed and I ease into auto diving mode. There was plenty to see with many of the Red Sea favourites along the way.
After the dive and a buggy ride back to the hotel for a very good buffet lunch I was back in the water, once again on the house reef for an afternoon dive.
Check in for part 2 tomorrow when Jeff gets on a day boat and dives a few of the off-shore reefs.
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.
In an interview recorded exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman interviews Jeremy Higson from Sea to Sky about the itineraries the tour operator offers in Oman.
For more information about diving in Oman, contact Sea to Sky now:
Email: hello@mysetaosky.co.uk
WhatsApp: + 39 379 236 7138
Website: www.myseatosky.co.uk
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