DIVING SWIM

DIVING IN PALAU

2008-11-15T09:49:00.002-08:00

PALAU VISITORS AUTHORITY
DIVING IN PALAU

See-through waters bequeath underwater visibility beyond anyone’s imagination. So much so that from the most immaculate shorelines in the world, a boat 50 meters beyond creates the magical illusion that it floats merely on air, with its conspicuous shadow cast on a translucent seabed a few feet beneath. A prism of colorful coral reefs and virtually limitless variety of sea life set the stage in this tropical paradise.
From beginners and intermediate to expert divers, there are over 50 existing dive sites, each possessing distinct characteristics and individual personalities to appeal to everyone’s desires. Chandelier Cave, for instance, is a sub-surface catacombs of rooms filled with massive, ancient icicle-shape stalactites deposits that simultaneously hang from the ceilings of cavernous openings. Experienced guides ensure measures are taken to adroitly negotiate the dives that result from this shallow-water, yet challenging diving experience.
The Ngemelis Wall, commonly known as the Big Drop-Off, and declared by diving’s immortal icon, Jacques Cousteau to be the best wall dive in the world, is but one. Its precipitous 1,000 feet drop confers a profusion of intriguing sights of soft corals and reef animals, while its upper portion is encrusted with a rainbow of multi-colored sea fans, sponges, coral whips and soft corals.
Blue Corner, arguably one of the best in the world and the most famous of Palau’s underwater attractions, shows off constantly cruising gray reef sharks searching the rich waters for their prey. Insatiable photographers, their excitement masked considerably by the slow motion pace of underwater movement, train their equipment and snap away at schools of barracuda, giant resident Napoleon Wrasse that often reach six feet in length, snappers and butterfly fish. The dense concentration f marine life is revealed as these countless underwater fruits of nature dart in and out of a scintillating panorama of hard and soft corals that house them. And they are but a fraction of the more than 1,400 species of coral that thrive in these extraordinarily clear waters.
The famed Siaes Tunnel, with its enormous cavern bathed in ethereal blue light and peppered with sea fans and ancient bushes of black coral, is an unparalleled aesthetic dive. On its spotless, white sand bottom can often be seen whit tip reef sharks and black spotted stingrays slumbering.
On the east side of Palau Lagoon is a site known as the Ngerchong Coral Gardens, famous for its fabulous variety of intricate coral formations and high concentrations of small, schooling reef fish. The photographic opportunities here are inexhaustible.
Visualize diving amid gentle manta rays as they engage in the ritual of circling reefs to render their gills cleaned by small fish. When not chased, these graceful creatures remain calm and even maneuver friendly approaches, as if intent on giving welcomed divers close proximity glimpses of their undulating beauty. Or how about encounters with endangered species like the Hawksbill Turtle and the Chambered Nautilus, the latter of which is now only found in a few Pacific Islands.
World War II relics randomly dot the underwater seascape with an almost perfect sense of dispersion; displaying haunting wrecks over 40 World War II Japanese seaplanes and shipwrecks that render the islands a dream for wreck diving aficionados. There is an uncanny distribution to the intervals and space between their whereabouts and the effect that they effortlessly blend in with the underwater environment while at the same time embellishing what are already exceedingly attractive natural diving venues. The irrepressible synergy between all the wonderful elements found in Palau’s diving sites gives way to the many of the finest diving venues. And they in turn do nothing better than invite diving enthusiasts of the world to visit and dive in our unsurpassed immaculately preserved waters.
Diving is year-round in Palau and during the busiest season from January to April, spectacular sights such as migratory whale sharks passing by, sharks or mantas mating, and large schools of fish spawning can be seen. Palau is strategically straddled by two extremely deep channels to the east and to the west, those of the Philippine Trench and Palau Trench. The cold nutrient-rich waters of these fathomless abysses teem with sub surface natural gifts, and the results are striking; in very few other places can such awe-inspiring underwater activity and life be witnessed with such regularity and ease.
And this is all not to mention the incredible Rock Islands, probably most enduring image of Palau. Beneath each of her more than 424 islands, is an ocean of dazzling gardens replete with luminous, rainbow-like collection of fish and crustaceans. The sheer splendor of the diving experience here is said to leave scuba divers speechless upon their return to the surface.
And as for the “icing on the cake,” shark enthusiasts will enjoy the Micronesian Shark Foundation’s (MSF) annual shark week full of adrenalin-packed activities. The MSF is a Palauan-based, non-profit foundation whose goal is to research and monitor the many sharks of Palau as well as scientific shark data collection. Between February and April, hundreds of grey reef sharks migrate to the waters of Palau to mate. This generates a fabulous opportunity for shark lovers to dive with the world famous sharks of Palau and to participate in data collection. Following a dedicated day of shark diving, a full evening’s program of shark themed seminars and activities are conducted at a local dive shop.

Safe Diving Practices

2008-11-15T09:49:00.001-08:00

How can I be a good buddy?
In 1999, Dan South East Asia Pacific summarised 21 years of reports covering 178 Australian diving fatalities.
According to the report, many fatalities were behavioural problems (This means avoidable):

80% became separated before or during the incident

62% died with their weight belts on

51% had no air remaining or were low on air at the time of their deaths

45% were untrained or inexperienced

36% failed to inflate their BCD or had buoyancy problems

Other DAN reports have linked up to 30% of accidents with rapid accents

26% of fatalities involved divers over the age of 35 years old with cardiovascular disease as a leading or significant cause of death
Accidents caused by divers making poor choices or reacting incorrectly can be addressed in part through training:
1. Monitor submersible pressure gauges frequently
2. Always dump weight belts or inflate BCD at the surface, especially if in trouble
3. Develop better buoyancy skills
Abide by the following common sense suggestions:

Dive only within personal level of experience

Refresh Scuba skills after a period of inactivity

Practise good buddy system techniques. Never dive alone! And don't assume your buddy is safe on the surface if he does not come down at the start of the dive or he becomes separated from you during the dive. Something may of happened to him! Tell the Dive Master immediately and surface on the buoy line to notify the skipper. If he is not on the boat, abort the dive!

Control Ascents - always be a S.A.F.E diver (Slowly Ascend From Every dive)

Avoid situations that stimulate panic response

Maintain physical fitness and get an annual exam, especially if you have known risk factors
Use good judgement, be attentive to your buddy and always err on the side of safety! Keep in mind that in most accidents stress is the underlying cause or a significant contributor. Do not allow PEER PRESSURE to effect you or your buddy into making a dive if you are not mentally or physically up to it! Constantly be alert for stress, you can head off many stress-related problems before they become accidents.
As a good buddy keep the above in mind and continue your education to the "PADI Rescue Diver Level" and consider completing an CPR and First Aid course such as "Emergency First Response." Contact our offices to find out more.
When should Oxygen be used?
Oxygen should only be used on divers who have a possible pressure related injury such as a lung overexpansion injury, Decompression Sickness or near drowning.
Decompression Sickness is caused by diving for too long and come up or coming up to fast after a dive. Your body absorbs nitrogen during a dive which it would not normally do on the surface. The deeper you go and the longer you stay down the more you absorb. As long as you keep this within the safe limits of your dive table or computer, you are relatively safe although no model can guarantee this.
It is like standing in the centre of a round pedestal table. When in the centre you are safe, but the closer you get to the edge the more unstable it becomes. It is the same in diving. Avoid diving to the limits.
Because nitrogen does not play any part in our metabolism your body needs to limit this gas absorption. If you get too much of it by exceeding limits your body can't safely surface. This is because too much would start to form asymptomatic bubbles.
Depending on where these form it will cause tissue damage. If it is mild it could be a skin rash also known as a skin bend. Other signs and symptoms include: Pin and needled, unusual fatigue, pain in a joint or limb and in more serious cases paralysis, unconsciousness or death. Paralysis in serious cases would always be in both sides of the body and the extent would be determined by where in the spinal column the nitrogen bubble has lodged e.g. waist down etc.
If you have had a previous injury from sport for instance like a broken finger, symptoms could occur here first. The reason is because anything that effects your circulatory system will effect your susceptibility to DCS.
Predisposing factors include:

Cold Water

Old Age

Obesity

Injuries

Illness

Alcohol

Exercise

Drugs
Basically, anything that effects your circulatory system will make you more susceptible to decompression Sickness.
The treatment for this is inevitably recompression in a chamber. You are placed in a large steel drum which is pressure sealed and taken down to a depth greater than what you were diving at. This helps the bubbles get recompressed in an effort to dislodge them from where ever they may have lodged and caused tissue damage. You are then given therapeutic oxygen via a bib for short intervals while under pressure to further aid the flushing of the nitrogen.
The first aid for DCS is to monitor the ABCD's and transport the patient to a medical facility. It is recommended to put the patient flat on his back and give him oxygen if he is breathing. His signs and symptoms will typically get worse before they get better or remain unchanged whilst on oxygen if he has DCS.
It is not necessary to have telephone numbers of chambers due to the fact they are not always available for use and diving doctors don't man them 24 hours a day. Any diving accident victim would always need to go via casualty at a hospital first to be correctly diagnosed and stabilised before being placed in a chamber. You need one number; DAN! They know all the diving doctors on duty and chambers that are operational. Not all diving accidents require oxygen or chamber treatment because they may not be pressure related. For instance getting hit on the head is diving related!
What is the difference between DCS and decompression Illness?
Well DCS (Decompression Sickness) is caused by nitrogen bubbles and Lung over expansion injuries are caused by holding your breath on ascent or an air passage blockage during ascent.
A lung over expansion injury could involve any of the following:

Pnuemothorax

Mediastinal Emphysema

Subcutaneous Emphysema

Air Embolism
The usual difference between a lung over expansion injury and DCS is time. Pain or difficulty breathing will usually be felt immediately upon surfacing with a lung over expansion injury where DCS is typically delayed. Although this is a guide, it is not always the case. Many signs and symptoms overlap that of DCS and DCS could in serious type I case occur immediately. These cases are typically from heavy nitrogen exposure and uncontrolled ascents after many days heavy diving.
Air Embolism is the most serious of injuries because it is could be where a bubble of air has entered the carotid artery to the brain. This would cause similar signs and symptoms to a Stroke. It is the most dangerous and typically causes paralysis in only one side of the body compared to DCS which would be both sides.
The best first aid for this is to monitor the ABCD's and oxygen is of paramount importance. This is why as a layman it is not important to distinguish between DCS and Lung Over expansion injury.
This is why we give oxygen to both and treat DCS or Lung Over Expansion Injury as if it were an Air Embolism.
Because of similar signs and symptoms, and the treatment are the same we talk about both as "Decompression Illness."
Tip of the day: Use your dive tables and remember that on deeper dives your dive time could be shorter than your air supply. At 30 metres you only have 20 minutes dive time although you may have air left. Dive by your tables and not just when you get to 50 Bars remaining. Also, Multiple ascents on a dive will be allowed by a computer but are seriously not good!

Kayak Africa

2008-11-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

SCUBA Diving in Lake Malawi

Unbeatable fresh-water diving from the luxury of a private Island Camp!

As a World Heritage Site and the first freshwater marine reserve on earth, the Lake Malawi National Park is a great place to SCUBA dive, ideally suited to beginners or those who prefer relaxed diving with no dangers.

Mumbo Island and Domwe Island are PADI-registered resorts, offering PADI-certified dive courses, casual dives and gear hire. All tuition, certification and equipment are included.

SCUBA Diving Options:

Open Water Diver

This is the course for beginners. Successful completion of this course will qualify you to dive anywhere in the world within the 16 meter depth limitation. The course runs over four days.

Discover SCUBA (Introductory Dive)

The Discover SCUBA introductory dive is perfect for those seeking a taste of what SCUBA diving is all about. It includes a lecture, an introduction to the gear, and a dive accompanied by your instructor. Additional follow-up dives are also an option.

Casual Dives

Many qualified divers have only experienced saltwater diving. The Lake Malawi National Park offers something different with hundreds of species of endemic tropical fish in an underwater boulder garden.

Advanced Open Water Diver

Apply the knowledge gained on the Open Water Diver course to increase your diving horizons. Specialties studied include deep diving, night diving, wreck diving, naturalist, multilevel diving and underwater navigation. The course runs over two days.

Refresher Course

This course is for qualified divers who last dived some time back, and feel the need for a quick update before heading underwater on their own.

Dive sites of the Lake Malawi National Park

Lake Malawi offers warm, clear and calm freshwater diving. This in itself is a good enough reason to dive the lake, but in addition to this the lake is blessed with the amazing Cichlid tropical fish. Quoting from the book “Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat” by AD Konigs, "No lake in the world contains such a diversified and distinct community of cichlid fishes as Lake Malawi".

These colourful fish coupled with the massive granite boulders that make up much of the underwater terrain, makes for a truly remarkable and unusual diving experience. Within the Lake Malawi National Park there are a number of accessible dive sites that demonstrate this.

Please note that many of these dive sites are some distance away from either Kayak Africa reception at Cape Maclear and Mumbo Island. Boating to such sites will incur an additional charge (usually USD20).

Bakers Oven

Bakers Oven is a huge “swim-through” with multiple entry and exit points, with the deepest point being 15m. This dive gives the impression of a cavern dive, but with very few of the risks normally associated with cavern diving due to the multiple exit points and the ambient light. This dive really showcases one of the more exciting aspects of diving in the lake, namely diving through recesses between the massive granite boulders that constitute the underwater section of the islands.

The Aquarium

As its name suggests this is the place to see the fish! Scientists researching the remarkable Cichlids of Lake Malawi have routinely used the Aquarium as a dumping site for live fish captured for research from this and other parts of Lake Malawi. This has resulted in an amazing density and variety of fish at this site. It is a shallow, safe dive suitable for even the most inexperienced divers.

The Wreck

The wreck is a 15m steel hull sunk specifically for diving. It rests in 30m of water. Penetration is possible and is safe due to the simple layout of the superstructure. There are resident catfish and the ever-present Cichlids.

The Canyon

This site runs from 18m to 48m in depth, offering large drop-offs, pinnacles, boulders and swim-throughs. You find yourself in an underwater canyon with huge granite boulders and slabs towering over you. A truly spectacular dive.

Zimbawe Rock

This pinnacle is found 9kms from Cape Maclear in the deep waters of the lake. It thrusts almost vertically up from the lake bed offering huge drop-offs and an endless supply of maze like swim-throughs. This is for the experienced diver and an advanced certification is the minimum requirement to participate.

Contact us with your dream!
Email letsgo@kayakafrica.co.za
Web www.kayakafrica.co.za
Tel +27 (0)21 783 1955

SCUBA DIVING

2008-11-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

Escaping the post-Christmas blues for a week of scuba diving in the blue waters of the Red Sea was clearly a great plan. Still, landing in Sharm el Sheikh and arriving aboard the Bella 1 – the boat which was to be our home for the week – it was hard to believe we’d left the cold greyness of an English January behind us quite so successfully. The Bella itself was beautiful – all polished wood and gleaming metal, complete with sundeck and even a jacuzzi for those who still deluded themselves that this might be a holiday rather than a dive trip. Plenty of space, in fact, for all those essential post-dive activities: sleeping; writing logbooks; more sleeping; hunting through fishbooks for fish that refused to be identified; perusing dive photos; going back to sleep again; sunbathing (for those dedicated enough to find a place in the sun that was also out of the wind – next time I’m taking a windbreak as well as suntan lotion.) And then, of course, there was the eating (a lot of eating). The food was great, although the non-meat eaters didn’t fare quite so well; the chef had a bit of a thing for fried cucumber as an ideal vegetarian dish.
Despite this packed relaxation schedule, we somehow managed to fit in a total of twenty dives. Our itinerary took us in a rough loop around the Northern Red Sea, to include a huge variety of reefs and wrecks – according to our dive guides Nicole and Thijs, this was where captains, having navigated through the straits of Suez, would customarily hand over command of the ship to their first mate, who would promptly run the vessel aground on the nearest reef. You’d have thought they might have learnt from the first poor soul who did this – but no – the same story was told in dive brief after dive brief. We weren’t objecting, however. It gave us a lot of fantastic wrecks to dive. Our first was the Chrisoula K, sunk on the edge of Abu na Has reef in 1981, where the cargo of granite tiles that had been en route for Yemen were to be found stacked in the hold, ‘Made In Italy’ stamps still clearly visible on each; and there was a still intact workshop, complete with workbench and drill affixed to the wall, perfectly spotlit by the open hatch in front of it, as if someone had just downed tools. Further wrecks followed: the Carnatic (1869), where we sadly failed to discover any gold; the Giannis D (1983), possibly sunk so its owners could claim on the insurance; peculiarly, a barge; the Kingston; the Dunraven (1876), like the Carnatic, a tramp steamer; and (most memorably) the Thistlegorm. Finding this last 4898-tonne, 415-foot ship proved to be more of a challenge than you might expect, given its dimensions: still, our indefatigable captain managed it, having left his handheld GPS at home. After an hour of aimless sailing to and fro, we were forced to wait for the next morning and the arrival of some other (rather better equipped) dive boats. A few disgruntled faces all round. The Thistlegorm itself, however, was definitely worth the wait. Attacked at the ironically named Safe Anchorage F in the Straits of Gubal by a German bomber squad in 1941, the explosions that sunk the Thistlegorm created enough light to illuminate another ship at Safe Anchorage H (sunk by the same bomber squad a few days later). At 30 metres, however, there was plenty of ship left for us to explore. Two locomotive engines lie to port and starboard of the wreck, blown off by the bomb blast, with their coal tenders still on deck. At the stern, we found anti-aircraft guns, boxes of shells (one polished by passing divers, with ‘1929’ still legible its brass side), and further towards the bow, a Bren gun carrier tipped on its side. Inside, boxes full of thigh-length rubber boots, four intact trucks, each with its cargo of three motorcycles neatly stacked alongside one another, and a cargo of small aircraft wings. Only Louise, in determined pursuit of the-most-controversial-statement-of-the-week award, declared that she didn’t really see what all the fuss was about: ‘I think the Thistlegorm’s boring’. Tree had to be forcibly restrained from throwing her overboard.
Exploring the wrecks themselves wasn’t all there was to do, of course. We were surrounded by underwater life on every dive: electric blue parrot fish audibly chomping on the coral; dense globe-shaped shoals of glass fish; huge moray eels (one, on the Barge, so accustomed to divers that it let itself be stroked); hundreds of flame-orange anthias, clustered on the reefs, vivid against the deep blue of the water; shoals of silvery blue fusiliers; the elongated silhouettes of cornet fish swimming close below the surface of the water, above us as we looked up; bright yellow banner fish; two turtles, each resting in their own caves, one of them coming out to swim around us once he’d got bored of being photographed; huge, placid-looking batfish; blue spotted ribbontail rays; big bulbous-lipped Napolean fish; toothy-mouthed trigger fish; a reef shark circling the bow of the Thistlegorm; anemone ‘Nemo’ fish in pairs, defending their anemone homes against over-impertinent divers; crocodile fish, boxfish, and unicorn fish (all three very aptly named); on a night dive, spiny-backed lionfish hunting in small packs of three or four, following our torchlight to track down their prey.
The last night of our stay onboard was the chance for a great party. Unanimously voted best-looking member of the crew by the female members of the group (Odiri, I believe, was a particular fan), Amr gave what was allegedly a demonstration of Egyptian dancing – or perhaps just an excuse to drag us all onto the dance floor for public humiliation! Dancing was followed by singing and a very entertaining round of magic tricks, and then (following an earlier conversation about how much fun it would be to jump off the very top deck into the sea) a midnight diving competition. Swimming costumes on, in went Mike, Ben W, Jenny, Tom and I. Never ones to be bested, Nick and Ben T followed close behind, with Ben T then embarking on a piratical re-boarding of the boat via the anchor rope at the bow. Who needs a ladder, especially when you can earn the glory of a spectacular bruise and several scrapes by doing it the hard way? Meanwhile, in the water at the stern, Mike was earning his title of most intrepid underwater fight, taking on a sea urchin with his bare fists. And after all this excitement, we still had energy for two brilliant dives the next day in the Straits of Tiran, on the Shark, Yolande and Jackson reefs. The last dive gave us our most hotly debated fish identification of the week – was it a tuna? a shark? Or perhaps that previous unidentified species, a tuna-shark? Ben T wasn’t watching closely enough to contribute to the discussion – far too busy kidnapping Jo S’s fin from her right foot.
And so our fantastic week came to an end, after a day of recovery back in Sharm el Sheikh, with quad biking for some, lounging by the pool for others, and a raucous evening out at the Camel Bar for everyone. Please please pretty please: can we go again soon?

FREDONIA STATE BLUE DEVIL DIVING CAMP

2008-11-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

Steele Hall Natatorium
Fredonia State University

John Crawford has many success stories coaching divers. Fredonia State divers Kelly Sponholz and Scott Horsington have been named NCAA Division III All-Americans in each of the last three seasons (2005-2008). In the last five years his divers have won 9 SUNYAC Conference Diving Titles on the one and three meter boards. He has been fortunate to coach one National Age Group Champion, two NISCA High School All- Americans and many NCAA Qualifiers. Coach Crawford served as the Western Region Diving coach for seven years at the Empire State Games. He previously coached at Lake Shore High School and is in his fifth year as diving coach at Fredonia State.

Facilities

The Steele Hall Natatorium boasts a 42’ by 42’ separate diving well. It is equipped with one three meter board and two one meter boards. The diving well has plenty of deck space to accommodate a full size trampoline, port- a- pit, TiVo and video equipment. The natatorium is extremely well lit to aid the diver in spotting the entry. Stainless steel mirrors adorn the walls for immediate review of techniques.

Equipment

Campers should bring all personal diving gear: chamois, towels, swimsuits and workout clothes. It is recommended that divers bring a long sleeve t-shirt, socks and gym shoes.

Overnight Campers should bring an alarm clock, fan and bed linens.

Training Program

The Fredonia State Diving Camp will provide a fun and exciting learning and training experience for divers of all levels and abilities. Beginning divers are welcome. Divers will train two sessions a day:

Morning Session 9 a.m. to Noon

Morning Session includes:
 Stretching and exercise program

 Deck Drills

 Lineups

 Voluntary dives

Afternoon Session 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Afternoon Session includes:
 Optional Dives

 Lead ups and Preps

 Springboard Competitions

Both sessions will include lectures, handouts and individual videotape analysis of the campers.

2008 DIVING INFORMATION

2008-11-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

PSSA/CHS/All SCHOOLS/PACIFIC SCHOOL GAMES TRIALS

21 May 8.30am Warm up
9.30am Competition start
• PSSA Championships 8-13 years springboard and platform
• 12 years CHS springboard
• 12 Years All schools springboard
• 10-12 Years Pacific School Games Trials springboard and platform
Order of Events
(Girls and boys events may be combined)
1. 8/9 girls
2. 8/9 boys
3. 10/11 girls
4. 10/11 boys
5. 12/13 girls
6. 12/13 boys
7. Open (8-13) platform girls
8. Open (8-13) platform boys

22 May 8.30am Warm up
9.30am Competition start
• CHS 13, 14, 15 years springboard
• All Schools 13, 14, 15 years springboard
• All Schools 13-14 years platform
• Pacific School Games Trials 13,14,15 years springboard
• Pacific School Games Trials 13-14 platform
Order of Events
(Girls and boys events may be combined)
1. 13 years girls
2. 13 years boys
3. 14 years girls
4. 14 years boys
5. 15 years girls
6. 15 years boys
7. 13-14 years platform girls
8. 13-14 years platform boys

23 May 8.30am Warm up
9.30am Competition start
• CHS 16, 17+ years springboard
• CHS Open platform
• All Schools 16, 17+ years springboard
• All Schools 15-16, 17-19 years platform
• Pacific School Games Trials 16, 17-19 years springboard
• Pacific School Games Trials 15-16, 17-19 years platform
• CHS Champion of Champions
Order of Events
(Girls and boys events may be combined)
1. 16 years girls
2. 16 years boys
3. 17+ years girls
4. 17+ years boys
5. 15-16 years platform girls
6. 15-16 years platform boys
7. 17-19 years platform girls
8. 17-19 years platform boys
9. Champion of champions

General Information
1. PSSA/CHS/All Schools/Pacific School Games trials will be conducted as one competition with separate results. Please check appropriate day.
2. All age groups will be conducted separately where practical.
3. There will be separate boys and girls competitions in each age group.
4. Medals will be awarded for the first 3 places in each competition eg PSSA/CHS and All Schools.
5. Regions may enter 3 divers per event for the PSSA/CHS competition.
6. 12 year old CHS competitors must dive on 21 May for PSG trials/ CHS and All Schools medals. CHS handbook information re 12 years olds does not apply in 2008.
7. ALL 12 year old secondary students from all sectors must compete on May 21 for CHS/ All Schools and Pacific School Games trials.
8. CCC and CIS Associations may enter 3 divers in each event in the All Schools competition.
9. The winners of each age group in the CHS competition will be required to compete in the Champion of Champions event on Friday May 23.
10. The first 3 place getters in the CHS competition will be deemed to be the CHS team for the All Schools point score and these 3 divers will be the only CHS students eligible for Pacific School Games selection in that age group.
11. To be eligible for 2008 Pacific School Games Team students must perform additional dives where required. If additional dives are not performed students will not be considered for team selection.
12. Age groups requiring an extra dive on
springboard-10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17-19
platform-13-14, 17-19.
13. A Pacific School Games squad will be announced at the conclusion of each event with the final team announcement to be made on 30 May 2008.
14. Check all information carefully and any questions contact Sue Milford, Convenor.

Entries
1. Regional and Association Team entries are to be emailed to Sue Milford s_milford@optusnet.com.au by 12 May 2008.
2. All dive sheets are to be emailed to Sue Milford s_milford@optusnet.com.au by 19 May 2008.

2008 Diving Requirements – PSSA
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
8/9 1m and/or 3m 1 dive @ 1.5 limit DD plus 2 dives
10/11 1m and/or 3m 1 dive @ 1.6 limit DD plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
12/13 1m and/or 3m 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
Platform 5m only 1 dive @ 1.6 limit DD plus 2 dives unlimited DD

2008 Diving Requirements - CHSSA
Springboard
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
12 1m and/or 3m 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
13 1m and/or 3m 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
14 1m and/or 3m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
15 1m and/or 3m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
16 1m and/or 3m 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD **
17/19 1m and/or 3m 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD **
** change from 2007

Platform
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
Open Platform 5/7.5/10 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD

2008 Diving Requirements – All Schools
Springboard
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
12 1m and/or 3m 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
13 1m and/or 3m 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
14 1m and/or 3m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
15 1m and/or 3m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
16 1m and/or 3m 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD **
17/19 1m and/or 3m 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD **
** change from 2007

Platform
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
10/12 Platform 5m 1 dive with limit @ 1.6 plus 2 dives unlimited DD
13/14 Platform 5m/7.5m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
15/16 Platform 5/7.5/10 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
17/19 Platform 5m/10m 3 dives from different groups @5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD

2008 Pacific School Games Trials Requirements
Springboard
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
10 1m and/or 3m 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD *
11 1m and/or 3m 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD *
12 1m and/or 3m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD *
13 1m and/or 3m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD *
14 1m and/or 3m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
15 1m and/or 3m 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD *
16 1m and/or 3m 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD
17/19 1m and/or 3m 5 dives from different groups @ 9.5 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD *

Platform
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
10/12 Platform 5m 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD *
13/14 Platform 5m/7.5m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
15/16 Pl. 5m/7.5m/10m 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
17/19 Pl. 5m/7.5m/10m 4 dives from different groups @7.6 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD *

2008 PACIFIC SCHOOL GAMES EVENTS AND REQUIREMENTS
Springboard
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
10 1M and 3M 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
11 1M and 3M 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
12 1M and 3M 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
13 1M and 3M 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
14 1M and 3M 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
15 1M and 3M 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
16 1M and 3M 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD
17/19 1M and 3M 5 dives from different groups @ 9.5 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD
NB-there will be both 1M and 3M events at 2008 PSG

Platform
Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives
10/12 Platform 5M 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
13/14 Platform 5M 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD
15/16 Platform 5M/10M 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD
17/19 Platform 5M//10M 4 dives from different groups @7.6 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD

NB-there is no 7.5M platform in ACT 2008 PSG

Let’s Go Diving!

2008-11-15T09:42:00.001-08:00

Whether you’re a certified diver or interested in giving it a try, these guys will get you in the water. They’re also great Oceana supporters!

California
Cal School of Diving, Berkeley
Dive n’ Surf, Redondo Beach
Hollywood Divers, Los Angeles
Nelson Diving Center, Morgan Hill
Peace Scuba Center, Ventura
Shark Diving International
Sundiver Charters, Long Beach

Colorado
Aquatic Adventures Scuba & Swim, Pueblo West

Florida (Including Dry Tortugas)
Captain Hook's Diving & Fishing, Marathon
Capt. Slate’s Atlantis Dive Center, Key Largo
Cocoa Beach Scuba Odyssey, Cocoa Beach
Deep Six Watersports, Stuart & Vero Beach
Dive Key West, Key West
Dixie Divers, Deerfield Beach
Hall's Diving Center, Marathon
Horizon Divers, Key Largo
Lighthouse Dive, Pompano Beach
Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center, Ramrod Key
Lost Island Voyages, Miami
Lost Reef Adventures, Key West
Miami Dive Stop, Miami
Quiescence, Key Largo
Scuba Emporium Florida, Pembroke Pines
The Scuba Center, Delray Beach
Wet Pleasures Dive Center, West Palm Beach

Hawaii
Bottomtime Hawaii, Kailua-Kona
Kona Village, Kailua-Kona
Lahaina Divers, Lahaina, Maui

Illinois
Chicagoland Scuba, Lake Zurich
Frogg Pond Dive Shop, Highland Park

Michigan
Bruno’s Scuba & Hockey Shop, Clinton Township
Wolf’s Divers’ Supply, Benton Harbor

Minnesota
Blue Wave Scuba, Maple Plain

Mississippi
The Dive Shop, d’Iberville

New Jersey
Blue Water Divers, Ramsey & Rochelle Park

New York
Aqua Hut Divers, Scotia
Blue Ocean Divers, Vestal
Pisces School of Dive, East Rochester

North Carolina
Carolina Dive Center, Raleigh
Discovery Diving Co., Beaufort
Gypsy Divers, Raleigh
Neptune’s Locker Diving Center, Indian Trail
Ocean Explorer Charters, Nags Head
Outer Banks Dive Center, Nags Head
Outer Banks Diving, Hatteras

Ontario
Dive Brockville Adventure Centre, Brockville
Rockport Dive Centre. Rockport

Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Scuba Center, Pittsburgh

Puerto Rico
Aquatica Dive & Surf, Aguadilla

South Carolina
Dive the Cooper, Moncks Corner
Xplore Scuba, Fort Mill

Tennessee
Choo Choo Dive Center, Chattanooga

Texas
Aqua Ventures, Dallas
Outback Divers, Houston
Palestine Scuba Center, Palestine

US Virgin Islands
Cane Bay Dive Shop, St. Croix
St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures, St. Croix

Virginia
Adventure Scuba Company, Chantilly
American Water Sports, Falls Church
Splash Dive Center, Alexandria

DIVING AND DIABETES

2008-11-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

Section A. To be completed by the diver

The basis for this project is to try and assess whether diving and diabetes is actually safe. Many people worldwide believe it is not. This study is the only one of its kind gathering these types of data. We appreciate you may have a reluctance to complete some sections of this questionnaire. However we would encourage you to complete each section to the best of your ability. It is vital we have a better understanding of how you dive and any problems you may encounter, which may or may not be related to diabetes. The long-term aim of this study is to provide evidence that divers with diabetes can scuba dive. All the answers which you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and no references to any named individuals will occur.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DIABETIC DIVER
Please also complete the general health diving questionnaire (UK Sport Diver Medical Form) attached to this questionnaire – you complete section A and your Dr completes section B.

1. Please allow adequate time before you require your medical certification renewal for signatures to be obtained and for Dr. Edge to reply to you.
2. Answer all the questions in section A to the best of your ability by writing answers clearly or circling or ticking the appropriate responses.
3. Take this whole form to your physician in charge for him/her to complete and sign section B.
4. Obtain the signatures of your diving medical referee (see point 6) and also your Branch DO (if you dive in a club in which the Diving Officer is responsible for the diving undertaken).
5. Send the whole form back to Dr Chris Edge, The Stone Barn, Gravel Lane, Drayton, Nr Abingdon, Oxon. OX14 4HY, United Kingdom..
6. If you have any queries, then either telephone your nearest diving medical referee (telephone BSAC HQ on 0151 350 6200 for a list or point your web browser at www.bsac.org and follow the hyperlinks) or contact Dr. Chris. Edge on tel. 01235 529888, fax 08700 525414, email cjedge@diver.demon.co.uk.

DIVING – COMPETITION FORMAT- RULES AND SCORING

2008-11-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

1. Events. The Diving Championships will be for individuals only, and there will be no separate novice diving competition. The Diving Championships will comprise of the following elements:

a. Springboard competition- RAF: Divers must enter 5 dives from a minimum of 4 groups from either 1m or 3m springboard.

b. Springboard competition- RAFW: Divers must enter 4 dives from a minimum of 3 groups from either 1m or 3m springboard.

c. Firm board competition- RAF: Divers must enter 5 dives from a minimum of 4 groups from the 5m firm board, divers will be permitted to dive from the 3m firm board, however, there will be a 1 point deduction from the dive tariff.

d. Firm board competition- RAFW: Divers must enter 4 dives from a minimum of 3 groups from the 5m firm board, divers will be permitted to dive from the 3m firm board, however, there will be a 1 point deduction from the dive tariff.

e. A maximum of 1 repeat dive will be permitted per diver per event and a penalty tariff of 1.0 will be used for the 2nd dive.

3. Point Scoring. The points awarded for the results of each event will be as follows:

1st 8 pts
2nd 7 pts
3rd 6 pts
4th 5 pts
5th 4 pts
6th 3 pts
7th 2 pts
8th 1 pt

4. Eligibility and Awards. As there will be no team diving competition, only current serving personnel may enter the competition. Diving will not count towards the Mounsey Trophy. The divers placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the individual events will receive medals. Minimum dress for the awards presentations will be tracksuit top over the swimsuit.

COMPOSITION OF THE DIVING TEAM

2008-11-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

COMPOSITION OF THE DIVING TEAM

The minimum composition necessary to undertake an unitary, autonomous diving mission is the following:
• one diving leader;
• the diving team made up of two divers;
• one safe-keeping diver.

MAIN ATTRIBUTIONS OF THE DIVING TEAM

• DIVING LEADER
• Controls the devices, the gear and the individual equipment of each diver
• Prepares the pressure chamber prior to the diving session in order to be able to provide a proper treatment (when diving more than 12 meters depth);
• Checks the presence of the necessary materials for a secure diving and working under water;
• Prepares the intervention and diving vessels;
• Stays in touch with the divers through lanyard signals or through other transmission means;
• Controls the maintenance of the individual equipment of divers after the diving session.
• DIVING TEAM
• Prior to the initiation of the diving session, they familiarize with the equipment and devices;
• Knows and applies the safety regulations of the specific field activity;
• Checks personally the individual equipment before going into water;
• SAFE-KEEPING DIVER
• To be completely equipped and ready for intervention before the diving session;
• To know the rescue methods and procedures;
• To know in detail the elements of the mission.

MISSIONS CARRIED OFF BY THE DIVING TEAM

The minimum-format diving team of the County Inspectorate can carry off the following missions:
• Launching and recovering of divers within/from the intervention area;
• Locating and marking the access passages, removing or marking the underwater obstacles;
• Non-destructive visual technical control of constructions and dipped installations;
• Working underwater with mechanical tools;
• Underwater video/photo recording.
• Search, identify and recover small-volume objects (drowned persons, weapons, valuable objects or archeological, etc.);
• Search, identify and recover large-volume objects (cars, vessels, containers, etc);
• Drowning rescue;
• Provide first aid in case of drowning;
• Provide first aid in case of hypothermia;

ENDOWMENT

INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT:
• Neoprene diving suit (pants, shirt, gloves and boots)
• Life jacket (collar type)
• Ballast belt (10 kg ballast /person)
• Diver eye-glass (diver mask)
• Breathing and surface swimming device
• Breathing device (biacier diving cylinder 2x10 L)
• Turbine
• Swimming fins
• Diver’s knife

ORDINARY EQUIPMENT:
• Air-compressor (recharging the diving equipment)
• 40 m lines/ropes (5- 10 mm width) - 4 pcs.
• 25m guiding lines/ropes (5-8mm width) 2 pcs.
• Boat -1 pcs.
• Boat engine -1 pcs.
• Carbines -20 pcs.
• 10- 15 kg Ballast - 4 pcs.
• Signal lights - 4 pcs.

COMPOSITION OF THE MEDICAL TEAM

The optimal composition necessary to undertake an unitary and qualified mission is the following:
• One doctor – medical leader
• One or two nurses
• One driver

MAIN ATTRIBUTIONS OF THE MEDICAL TEAM

The Ambulance Service will be responsible for the treatment and care of those injured at the scene (with medical teams where appropriate). It will determine the priority evacuation needs of the injured (triage) and their transportation to nominated receiving hospitals. They will provide medical support at survivor reception centers and hospitals as necessary.

Medical leader- Doctor
• evaluate type and extent of a patient’s illness or injury
• establish priorities for medical care
• report observations of patients conditions both orally and in writing
• establish diagnostic and administer emergency treatment
• cardiac resuscitation, restore breathing, control bleeding, treat shock, immobilize fractures
• operate more complicated equipment in an advanced life-support ambulance (intensive care vehicle), such as a defibrillator to shock a stopped heart into action
• administer intravenous therapy, use anti-shock garments and airway maintenance equipment
• implement infection control procedures
• ability to make good decisions and use personal judgment
• ability to apply interpersonal and patient skills with all age groups, including pediatric and geriatric patients
• a teamwork approach to work
• accuracy and attention to detail
• good verbal and written communication skills

Nurse or rescue assistant
• trained in basic life support to perform specific pre-hospital duties in emergencies, including treating shock and poison victims, dressing and bandaging wounds, maintaining a patient’s airway, immobilizing fractures, and providing obstetrical assistance
• administer emergency treatment with the instructions of a physician
• clean and maintain a wide range of medical equipment
• may administer cardiac resuscitation, restore breathing, control bleeding, treat shock, immobilize fractures with the instructions of a physician
• physical fitness
• excellent listening skills

Driver
• ability to understand and follow instruction
• trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) have had training in basic medical skills like CPR and first aid
• good driving record
• drive under adverse conditions
• work in a very stressful environment
• lift, move and secure patients
• clean and maintain a wide range of rescue equipment
• physical fitness
• excellent listening skills

ENDOWMENT

Ambulance equipment
• Basic First Aid kit
• a mobile medical ventilator
• basic diagnostic equipment like blood-pressure cuffs
• a portable defibrillator with an ECG monitor, pace-maker module, capnograph, internal thermometer, pulse oximeter
• manual sphygmomanometer and stethoscope
• dressings and bandages
• a gurney and blankets
• a flexible stretcher
• a rigid or foldable transport chair
• Rescue equipment - immobilisation equipment like cervical collars or spine boards, extraction device long spinal board, orthopaedic stretcher, vacuum splints and fracture splints
• equipment for intravenous therapy
• oxygen recipients
• battery operated suction unit
• several different kinds of drugs are found on an ambulance, typically a selection of analgesics, anaesthetics, cardiac stimulants, substances for circulatory problems and antidotes.
• universal precaution equipment including disposable gloves, face masks, aprons, waste bins and sharp boxes

Individual equipment
• Protection suit
• Eye glass
• disposable gloves, face masks

CONTRIBUTION OF RUSSIA

Svetlomor-3 Shahtyor
Flag RUSSIA
Class Tug Navy auxiliary ship
Tonnage (tons) 2474 3050
Length (m) 61 69.2
Width (m) 14 15.4
Draft (m) 4.5 5.3
Crew /passangers to be determined to be determined

2009 Swimming and Diving Rules Changes

2008-11-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

The rules changes below were approved by the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Committees, as well as, the Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) in August. Rule references are from the 2008 rules book.

1. Backstroke Start. (Rule 2-1-2, page 25-26) In the backstroke start, standing in or on the gutter, placing the toes above the lip of the gutter, or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter, before or after the start, is prohibited. Rationale: Allowing toes to be higher than the lip of the gutter/top of the pad without curling the toes makes it difficult to officiate and creates another opportunity for a swimmer to disqualify.

2. Relay Start (Rule 2-2-7c.2, page 32) The swimmer may be in motion when the preceding teammate finishes his or her leg of the race; however, the swimmer must have at least one foot in contact with the starting platform when (or after) the teammate finishes. Rationale: Took out the phrase, at the front edge of the platform, to more accurately reflect the intent of the rule.

3. Championships meet point standard (Rule 6-1-5, page 73) In the absence of a three-meter board, the championships meet point standard for one-meter diving may be achieved in a nonchampionships meet that includes two, one-meter events (see Rule 6-1-2-a) if the diver’s total award for both one-meter events equals or exceeds the point standard. In the absence of a one-meter board the championships meet point standard for three-meter diving may be achieved in a nonchampionships meet that includes two, three-meter events if the divers total award for both three-meter events equals or exceeds the point standard. Rationale: It is rare, but it could happen whereby the one-meter board is not available for competition. Two three-meter events(11 dive format) can then be competed.

4. Diving Competition - Announcing (Rule 6-4.5d, page 91) After each dive, the announcer shall call for the judges’ awards, if instructed to do so by the referee, and shall announce the awards in the same consecutive order each time. In a championships event in which a scoreboard is available that shows individual judge’s scores and total points, only the total points should be announced after each dive. Rationale: This allows the announcer to announce all final judge scores, especially at the larger, televised events where the pace of the competition slows down and there is a need to fill time.

5. Established Programs. (Rule 8-1, page 112-113) To change the established 16 event format to reflect the flexibility to do 50’s and 100 IM. Rationale: Gives programs the flexibility in event format. To increase fan excitement.

6. Default for Diving (Rule 8-6.j, page 135) In nonchampionships, six dives shall be used in one and three-meter competition. Rationale: By giving a choice of either a 6 dive or 11 dive format, there needs to be a default program in case there is not mutual consent of the coaches.

7. Bona Fide Competition. (Rule 9, page 144) Any multi-national meet that is sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA), and any bona fide meet that is sanctioned by USA Swimming and USA Diving. Rationale: Clarifying that the FINA meets must be multi-national will ensure better supervision and added controls of the competition.

Diving into swimming pools

2008-11-15T09:32:00.000-08:00

Diving into swimming pools
the issues facing swimming clubs and swim schools

Diving into swimming pools continues to be a controversial issue for both swimming clubs and swimming pool managers. The guidance documents relating to this activity are summarised below together with useful pointers on how to resolve issues.

The guidance documents that apply to diving in general, that is from in the pool, from the poolside, from starting blocks and from springboards and platforms are:

At a national level:

 “Managing health and safety in swimming pools”, first published in 1988 by the HSE and Sport England.

 “Diving & Jumping in Swimming Pools and Open Water Areas”, published by the Institute of Sport & Recreation Management”

 The “FINA Handbook” revised every four years

 The ASA Handbook, revised annually

 The ASA National Plan for the Teaching of Swimming

 Guidance notes for teachers and coaches on the standards for achieving an ASA Diving related certificate

And at local level:

 Any risk assessments applicable to a specific swimming pool, and

 The “Pool Safety Operating Procedures” that are produced for specific swimming pools as a result of the above risk assessments.

Let us examine national guidelines first:

Managing health and safety in swimming pools

This is the swimming pool manager’s bible in health and safety terms and covers issues relating to the physical facilities and their management.

This document deals with diving in a general way and mostly with regard to un-programmed swimming or general public use. Obviously it emphasises the need to risk assess diving in all pools and to display the appropriate signage prohibiting diving in water of insufficient depth.

The guidelines in relation to the design of diving facilities went someway to contribute to the removal of hundreds of diving platforms and springboards throughout England, as they did not conform to basic design requirements viz:

 As a general principle, when new pools are being designed, diving stages and springboards should only be installed over a separate purpose-designed pool. Obviously this was to reduce the risk of collision between swimmers and divers.
 Facilities for competitive diving should comply with the dimensional standards produced by FINA and it was stated that these standards were also adequate for recreational diving.
 There should be a surface spray or bubble plume to break the surface of the water for better visibility under diving boards.
 With regards to starting blocks it stated that blocks preferably should be located at the deeper end of the pool and that they should not be available for use by casual bathers in un-programmed sessions.
 It also advocated raised ends for deck level pools that are used primarily for training so that starting blocks can be fixed.

The provision of a dedicated diving pit is an expensive option, which over the years has discouraged local authority municipal pool providers from investing in diving facilities. However the introduction of moveable floors has enabled innovative design whereby a diving pit can double as a learner pool, and everything in between allowing multi-use and higher revenue earning capability. This document therefore has some health and safety recommendations relating to diving pits with moveable floor:

 Electrically-operated ‘no diving’ signs should be provided in the statutory format which should be clearly visible whenever the floor is in its swimming modes and a manual back up should also be available.
 Diving facilities should not be accessible to bathers unless the floor is at its full diving depth and depth signs appropriate to the operational depth are necessary.

Diving & Jumping in Swimming Pools and Open Water Areas

As its name suggests this document is much more detailed than “Managing health and safety in swimming pools”, and covers all aspects of diving and jumping into pools. Although it stresses the need to risk assess the diving facility it does provide a number a recommendations, which have been adopted by the industry, and the relevant points are summarised here:

The document makes the distinction between programmed (swimming lessons and swimming club sessions) and un-programmed sessions (public swimming, pool parties etc.)

Recreational and un-programmed swimming

 Only flat racing dives should be permitted into swimming pools. Steeper entry dives should only take place into diving pools designed to FINA standards.
 Diving should not be permitted into water with a vertical depth of less than 1.5m.
 Diving and jumping should not be permitted from poolsides with freeboards exceeding 0.38m.
 Diving should not be allowed in pools where there is a forward clearance of less than 7.6m
 No running dives permitted.
 “No Diving” prohibition notices conforming to the Safety Sign Regulations should be displayed where it is considered unsafe to dive from the poolside
 Jumping from a stationery position into water with a depth of 0.9m or more may be permitted for small children.
 However a risk assessment should be undertaken before permitting jumping to take place in water of less than 1.5m.
 No running jumps

Teaching diving and feet first entries from the poolside – programmed swimming

 Flat racing dives only.
 The teaching of diving should not be undertaken in water less than 1.8m deep.
 Diving and jumping should not be permitted from the poolside where the freeboard exceeds 0.38m unless FINA pool depths apply for the appropriate platform height and water depth.
 The clearance forward may vary depending on the height and ability of the person undergoing instruction. Clearly small children do not need anything like 7.6m when undertaking their first diving tuition. Most dives taught off boards require a vertical entry with little forward momentum.
 Where jumping is concerned those at the early stages, normally between the ages of 4 and 8 should only be taught to jump in 1m depth minimum. Those who are more confident in deeper water up to 1.5m and normally between 8 and 12 years old or adults should be taught to jump in water of at least chest depth.
 Confident swimmers should be taught to jump in water of 1.5m or more.

Diving stages and boards- programmed swimming

 Diving from boards and springboards should comply with FINA Standards.
 Diving areas should be segregated from swimming areas.
 Notices on the dangers of diving and jumping from boards, who should use the boards and their method of use must be clearly displayed.

Starting platforms and competitive swimming & programmed swimming starts

This is all about achieving consistency to minimise risk and relates to the ASA Competitive Star Awards referred to later. These sections however do stress that races should not, as a matter of course, start from the shallow end of a pool.

 If there is any doubt of the competence of competitors to perform a competitive dive in a water depth of a minimum of 0.9m then they should ensure the competence level by requiring a flat racing dive to be performed in 1.5m depth.
 Starting blocks should comply with FINA Standards.
 Use of starting platforms should be restricted to swimmers skilled in performing flat racing dives.
 Where starting platforms are provided the water depth for a distance of 1.0m to 6.0m from the starting end wall should be at least 1.35m deep.
 Starting platforms fitted at the shallow end where the water depth is less than 1.8m should have a notice attached stating “DANGER SHALLOW WATER BELOW”
 The conditions of the ASA Safety Laws – Swimming Officials Prompt Card – Announcer should be enforced.

The FINA Handbook

In the section on swimming the handbook does not attempt to define the term ‘dive’ and merely comments that the start of the Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Individual Medley races shall be with a dive from a starting platform.

As detailed above “Diving & Jumping in Swimming Pools and Open Water Areas” refers to a ‘flat racing dive’ and the question has to be asked whether this term is appropriate to the modern competitive start techniques. Clearly the steeper the angle of entry into the water the deeper the resultant dive depth.

The FINA requirements for diving platforms and springboards are to be found in the FINA Facility Rules where a detailed table of dimensions and diagrams provide a complete set of measurements and sizes for the board configurations in relation to the pool hall, the pool and other boards. This is information is accessible on the FINA website at www.fina.org.

The ASA Handbook

Under the heading Technical Rules of Racing the ASA generally refer to the FINA Swimming Rules above. However there is one notable addition and that is the ASA Safety Laws – Swimming Officials Prompt Card – Announcer.

The main purpose of this prompt card announcement is to ensure that competition swimmers know the water depth beneath and in front of the starting platforms and the height of the starting blocks above the water. The caveat is that where the water depth is 0.9m but less than 1.5m coaches and team managers are reminded that only those swimmers who have reached the standard of the ASA Preliminary Competitive Start Award are permitted to start with a shallow racing dive from the side of the pool and those swimmers who have reached the standard of the ASA Competitive Start Award are permitted to start with a shallow racing dive from a starting platform.

The implication of this announcement is that by enrolling a competitor in an event where shallow water diving is required there is a tacit declaration by the coach or team manager that the swimmer is competent to the appropriate Competitive Start Award. The onus and duty of care is clearly with the coach or team manager.

There is no requirement for the swimmer to have the appropriate Competitive Start Award only to be competent to the standard. The competency is proven by the coach or team manager and clearly if proof was demanded it could only be offered by way of (a) producing the achieved award certificate, (b) producing records of training, and (c) the verbal and/or written affirmation of the coach. Coaches need to ask themselves if they could meet this burden of proof if challenged in court?

The implication from all this is that swimmers entering competitive events should have already undertaken training in shallow racing dives from a competent teacher and has achieved a safe level of performance both in deep and shallow water.

The ASA National Plan for the Teaching of Swimming

Any form of lesson planning must consider health and safety issues and have the appropriate aquatic environment to undertake the various exercises required. The ASA National Plan for the Teaching of Swimming does not require any diving to be undertaken in a water depth less than those specified in the previously discussed documents.

However teaching diving techniques starts in the water, not on the side and it follows that the depth of the water must be commensurate with the exercise being taught, and the size, age and ability of the swimmer. The same applies when teaching diving from the side to very young children where they are performing a dive from a kneeling, or crouching position. A risk assessment is required to determine relevant depths for these activities and this should be in the swimming pools Pool Safe Operating Procedures.

Guidance notes for teachers and coaches on the standards for achieving an ASA Diving related certificate

The guidance in the previous paragraph applies but of particular interest here is the requirements to achieve the Competitive Start Awards, which are reproduce here:

The ASA Competitive Start Awards are endorsed by ISRM, RoSPA and RLSS UK and other bodies who believe that swimmers should demonstrate shallow racing dive competencies before being permitted to dive into shallow water (i.e. water depth range 0.9 up to 1.5 metres0 from the side or from a FINA standard starting platform.

The ASA guidance is that such competence should be demonstrated by achieving the standard of the ASA Competitive Start Awards. These standards are a requirement for competitions under ASA Law.

The ASA Preliminary Competitive Start Award is designed to assess:
 The swimmer’s ability to perform a safe racing dive into deep water from the side of the pool
 The swimmer’s ability to perform a safe racing dive from a starting block
 The swimmer’s ability to perform a safe racing dive into shallow water from the side of the pool

Preliminary Competitive Start Award
From the Poolside at the Deep End of the Pool
(Minimum water depth 1.5m, maximum freeboard 0.38m)
Under normal starting conditions: -

1. perform a shallow dive followed by a glide of at least 5m
2. perform a shallow dive followed by a Frontcrawl leg kick to the surface
3. perform a shallow dive followed by a Dolphin leg kick to the surface
4. perform a shallow dive followed by a Breaststroke arm pull and leg kick to the surface
5. perform a Backcrawl start using the side/rail followed by a Backcrawl kick to the surface

From a Starting Block at the deep End of the Pool
(Minimum water depth 1.5m, recommended height of starting block from the water 0.5m, maximum height of the starting block from the water 0.75m)

6. perform a shallow dive followed by a glide of 5m
7. perform a grab start followed by a Frontcrawl leg kick to the surface
8. perform a grab start followed by a Dolphin leg kick to the surface
9. perform a grab start followed by a Breaststroke arm pull and leg kick to the surface
10. perform a wind up start for a stroke decided by the examiner
11. perform a Backcrawl start using the starting block followed by a Backcrawl kick to the surface

WARNING: The swimmer must not be permitted to undertake the remaining sections of this award until the preceding skills have been successfully accomplished.

From the Poolside at the Shallow End of the Pool
(minimum water depth 0.9m, maximum water depth 1.0m, maximum freeboard 0.38m)
Under normal starting conditions:-

12. perform a shallow water dive followed by a glide of at least 5m decided by the examiner
13. perform a grab start followed by a Frontcrawl leg kick to the surface
14. perform a grab start followed by a Dolphin leg kick to the surface
15. perform a grab start followed by a Breaststroke arm pull and leg kick to the surface
16. perform a wind up start for a stroke decided by the examiner
17. perform a Backcrawl start using the side/rail followed by a Backcrawl kick to the surface

The ASA Competitive Start Award is designed to assess:
 the swimmer’s ability to perform a safe racing start into shallow water from a starting block and to demonstrate a variety of techniques

Competitive Start Award
From the Poolside at the Shallow End of the Pool
(minimum water depth 0.9m, maximum water depth 1.0m, maximum freeboard 0.38m)
Under normal starting conditions:-

1. perform a track start followed by a glide of at least 5m
2. perform a Backcrawl start followed by a Dolphin leg kick to the surface

From a starting block at the Shallow End of the Pool
(minimum depth 0.9m, maximum depth 1.0m, recommended height of the starting block from the water 0.5m, maximum height of the starting block from the water 0.75m)

3. perform a shallow dive followed by a glide of at least 5m
4. perform a wind up start with a glide of a t least 5m
5. perform a grab start with a glide of at least 5m
6. perform a track start with a glide of at least 5m
7. perform a Backcrawl start using a starting block followed by a Dolphin leg kick to the surface
8. perform a minimum of three starts, under normal starting conditions, as decided by the examiner, showing the appropriate transition into the swimming stroke. One of the starts included must be for the Breaststroke.

IMPORTANT NOTES

- Teachers and coaches must stress the inherent dangers of diving to all swimmers
- The plunge dive into deep water and those skills contained in the ASA Diving Award Level 1,
Poolside Diver Grades 1 and 2 Awards must be mastered before the Preliminary
Competitive Start Award is introduced
- The ASA Laws relating to starting procedures must be fully explained to all pupils
- These Awards may be taken over a number of sessions, but must follow the order as
outlined
- The standard of the Preliminary Competitive Start Award must be reached before attempting
the Competitive Start Award
- The minimum qualification for the teaching and examining of these awards is the ASA
Teacher Certificate and it is essential that all teachers/coaches and examiners are fully
conversant with the teaching notes provided

This clearly demonstrates how many times a swimmer has to demonstrate a competency and at what water depths to achieve the awards. It clearly indicates that the initial training is undertaken at the deep end of the swimming pool but that the final testing must be undertaken at a water depth between 0.9m and 1.0m.

In addition to the competitive start award the ASA Awards test conditions provide descriptors for poolside diving where it is stressed that dives should be shallow entry. All certificates reiterate that jumps must be done into water of at least full stretch height (or 1.8m).

All of the ASA Diving Award Scheme awards require pool water depths in line with “Diving & Jumping in Swimming Pools and Open Water Areas”, as outlined above.

There is anecdotal evidence to suggest many swimming clubs have difficulty in gaining permission from their pool operators in completing the awards because diving is completely prohibited from the shallow end for both non-programmed and programmed activity!

This problem is followed neatly by examining the issues at local level

Any risk assessments applicable to a specific swimming pool

It is a requirement under the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 for every swimming pool to undertake a written risk assessment identifying hazards, quantifying their risk and managing the safety process. Although the number and frequency of diving accidents are statistically extremely low the resultant seriousness of the potential injuries require that diving into swimming pools has to be addressed and managed with caution.

Most pool operators will adopt the guidelines outlined above and in particular those recommendations in Diving & Jumping in Swimming Pools and Open Water Areas and build them into their Pool Safe Operating Procedures.

Pool Safe Operating Procedures (PSOP)

Again the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 requires that organisations compile suitable operating procedures incorporating appropriate emergency action plans.

Despite having copious national guidelines individual swimming pool operators are at liberty within the framework of their risk assessment conclusions to completely ignore them and introduce their own rules. They may have good reason to do so given the unique configuration of their particular pool? The PSOP as it is referred to in swimming pools will inevitably be determined by the swimming pool manager’s attitude towards risk and diving and rules applied at one pool may be totally different to those applied at another pool.

It is not unusual for a manager to adopt a ‘no diving’ policy in a small 25m x 4 lane pool with a depth from 0.9m to 1.8m or 2m. With a 2m depth this is done because there is so little of the deep end of the pool that can safely be used for diving and it is easier to introduce a blanket prohibition, and of course Diving & Jumping in Swimming Pools and Open Water Areas prohibits the teaching of diving in less than1.8m water.

Most swimming pools will have some part of the shallow pool area marked off as ‘no diving’.

It is often difficult for pool management and staff to be flexible and understand there is a difference between un-programmed swimming and programmed training; so they extend the no diving policy to club training sessions and inhibit the required development of competitive diving.

At the very least competitive diving should be permitted at the deeper end of the pool assuming it is not a shallow depth throughout facility.