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Review: Scubafest Cornwall 2017

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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.

James from Dive Newquay with some Scubafest divers

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.

Jane Morgan with Scubaverse.com’s Nick Robertson-Brown

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.

Pirates!

Mini Pirates! (and Parrots)

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.

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Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire

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Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.

Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.

Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:

  • 12 April
  • 5 July,
  • 20 September
  • 29 November

Partnership with Casita Palma

If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.

Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.

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SOMABAY: Scubaverse Trip Review (Watch Video)

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In a video created exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman visits SOMABAY in the Egyptian Red Sea to experience the diving on offer there.

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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Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

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