November 2023

Inserts & o'rings

newsletter

• Just for Laughs
  
• Scuba Quiz
  
• Blue Ocean Program
  
• Sodwana Trip Memories
• Upcoming Events
  
• Swim School
  
• Maldives
  
• Courses of the Month
  

• New Gear
• How To...
  
• The Dumbo Octopus
• Candy crab
• Member of the Month
  
• Social Media Channel
• Club Member Achievements
  
• Club Albums
  
• Update Your Details
  
• Dive Master congratulations
  

In This Issue

Features

Important Dates

Bass Lake Adventures

on Saturday/Sunday

Join us to Bass Lake for a wonderful adventure and then if you just need a little time off and way.

A BUCKET LIST TRIP FOR

ANY DIVER! Join us wednesday night at 18:30h

If you craving some more information about this amazing trip thats on the horizon , join us for the info evening and meet the wonderful friends you’ll be making.

How to tie a 2 half hitch knot

What is it used for? The round turn and two half hitches was traditionally used for holding mooring lines. The knot fastens a rope to a fixed object such as a post, tree, ring or column. It is a strong knot and consists of two parts - a round turn and two half hitches.

STEP 1:

Find your rope and your fixed object.

STEP 2:

Take one part of the rope and make a round turn around the fixed object

STEP 3:

Take the end of the round then and make a round turn on the other end of the rope

STEP 4:

There is now a loop in your rope, you can make your first hitch

STEP 5:

Make another round turn on your rope , through itself again for the second hitch

STEP 6:

Now pull and tighten

Scubapro has launched the second generation of it’s easy-to-use Luna dive computer, now available in two versions – the Luna 2.0 and Luna 2.0 AI with wireless air integration.

The new low-profile computer is designed to sit comfortably on the wrists of new and casual recreational divers, however, its oil-filled plastic housing is rated to a maximum depth of 120 meters.

Also available with the Luna 2.0 AI is an optional integrated heart rate monitor that which will visually track heart rate and skin temperature to help divers stay in their ‘personal target zone’.

Both Luna 2.0 models include personalised dive management functions such as PDIS (Profile Dependent Intermediate Stops), which calculates the need for intermediate stops based on nitrogen loading, current and previous dives, breathing mixes and microbubble levels, providing options to adjust the computer’s conservatism.

Are you ready to dive into this quiz on scuba diving? Let's see how well you know the basics of this underwater adventure. Here are 10 questions to test your knowledge and skills. Don't forget to breathe!

1.What should you do to prevent mask squeeze (a sucking or pulling feeling on your face and eyes)?

A. Make an ah-h-h-h sound

B. Pinch your nose and blow against it

C. Wiggle your jaw from side to side

D. Blow into your mask through your nose

2.The most important feature for consideration when selecting a regulator is.

A. The Colour

B. The number of hoses

C. Ease of Breathing

D. The Size

3.The most important feature of any weight system is.

A. The size of the weights

B. The ease of adjustment

C. The shape of the weights

D. A quick release mechanism

6.How can you avoid vertigo (dizziness and confusion) on a dive?

A. Close your eyes

B. Turn slowly while you look up

C. Ascent (go up) and descend (go down) along the bottom or a reference line

D. All of the above

5.The best place to carry an alternative air source is:

A. Loose by your side so that you can find it fast

B. In your pocket

C. Clipped to the cylinder

D. Attached to the triangle area between your chin and your chest

4.Sound travels well in water and it is difficult to tell.

A. Where the sound is coming from

B. How loud the sound is

C. What causes the sound

D. Whether the sound is normal

7.Underwater visibility (how far you can see horizontally) can be affected by.

A. Water movement

B. Weather

C. Suspended particles (floating silt) in the water

D. All of the above

8.Most diver injuries caused by aquatic animals happen because:

A. The animals think you are food

B. The animal is aggressive (like a bully)

C. The animal is protecting itself from you

D. You did not feed the animal

9.Decompression sickness (DCS) is a condition that can be life-threatening. What forms in the bloodstream and tissues can cause this condition.

A. Nitrogen bubbles

B. Poisons

C. Body waste

D. Foam

How did you do? Did you ace this quiz or did you need some more practice? Either way, we hope you had fun and learned something new.

Qualified

Congratulations to all the PADI Divemaster's for completing their course! You have shown great dedication and commitment to your training, and I wish you all the best of luck on your upcoming adventures. I hope you will continue to pursue your passion for diving and explore the beauty of the underwater world. Remember to stay safe and enjoy the journey!

The PADI Divemaster course is a professional-level scuba diving certification course that teaches you how to lead underwater tours, assist with scuba classes, and inspire others to care about the ocean. The course is designed to hone your skills and make you the diver everyone admires. It is the most popular and most recognized professional scuba certification in the world.

Congratulations!

Join our social media channels

Becoming an Master Scuba Diver

We are delighted to announce that Chris Gurovich ,Chris Hallacker, Nabeel Prior and Farzana Prior has achieved the prestigious Master Scuba Diver rating . Congratulations guys! 🎉🎉🎉

We are so proud of our new Master Scuba Divers who have worked hard and shown great commitment to reach this level of excellence. They have demonstrated their skills and knowledge in various diving environments and challenges such as Night diving, Deep diving, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck diving, diving with nitrox and above all log 50 dives!

We hope they will keep learning and exploring the underwater world, and inspire others to follow their example. Congratulations on this amazing achievement!

Learn to Swim Today

Swimversity is a swim training division of Scubaversity, an internationally accredited 5 star PADI swim, scuba and career development center.

Swimversity Starfish Swimming is an independent authorized provider of Starfish Swimming. Starfish Swimming is a nationally recognized swim instruction curriculum developed by the Starfish Aquatics Institute (SAI).We have resident instructor trainers and program directors and full time swim instructor staff. All our staff members are trained in basic first aid, CPR and we have an oxygen and first aid station on the premises with emergency plans.

Youth

(Ages 6 – 12)

Students work toward development of the five core swimming competencies using age-appropriate learning activities. Learning is self-paced but challenging

Teens & Adults

(Ages 13 and older)

This course is designed to improve comfort and skill in the water, regardless of past swimming experience. Students work toward developing the five basic core swimming competencies using principles of adult learning

Shout Out Page!

Tribe Member of the Month

We are proud to announce that Cyrus, one of our youngest club members, is on his way to getting a PADI Master Scuba Diver rating, the highest level of recreational diving certification.

Cyrus has completed his Open Water, Advanced, Rescue courses, as well as his Night Specialty, demonstrating his skills and passion for diving in various conditions and scenarios.

He will do his Peak Performance Buoyancy course next, which will help him fine-tune his buoyancy control and reduce his air consumption, environmental impact and fatigue.

Congratulations to Cyrus for his achievements and dedication to diving! We look forward to seeing him reach his goal and join the elite group of Master Scuba Diver

Do you want to be Member of the Month? Follow us on social media, attend socials and join us for trips to get a mention!

Congratulations to everyone

who qualified in October!

Open Water

Advanced

Instructors: Talia Landsberg , JM Duffield , Dick Botha

Students: Matthew van der Merwe , Heinrich Obermeyer , Brett Wallace , Tracy Wallace , Travis Wallace , Jared Wallace , Carin Holmes.

Instructors: Madien van der Merwe

Students: Rebecca Goodwin , Vivienne Pott

Congratulations to everyone

who qualified in October!

Night

Instructors: Talia Landsberg

Students: Cyrus Steinmetz, Henry Pott

EFR training focuses on building confidence in lay rescuers and increasing their willingness to respond when faced with a medical emergency. Course participants learn simple to follow steps for emergency care and practice applying skills in a non stressful learning environment. All courses are supported by self-study manuals, videos and quick reference cards to enhance learning and allow you to start learning right away.

The Rescue course is perfect for those looking to improve their skills and become a more reliable and confident dive buddy. In this course, you will have the opportunity to practice problem-solving skills in a safe and controlled environment, until they become second nature. The course includes both dry and in-water training, where you'll learn techniques for both self-rescue and rescuing others. You'll also learn how to recognize and respond to emergency situations, and how to properly administer first aid if necessary.

mandy@scubaversity.co.za

Maldives

A BUCKET LIST TRIP FOR

ANY DIVER!

20 - 30 April

With clear blue water, white sand beaches, and great visibility, the Maldives is an idyllic scuba diving paradise. During a diving trip to the Maldives, you may see manta rays, whale sharks, reef sharks, soft & hard corals and much more.

INCLUDES

EXCLUDES

7 Nights’ accommodation on Emperor Leo

5 ½ Days Diving | 17 Dives

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

All Tea, Coffee, Bottled Water & Snacks

1 Glass of wine with dinner

Tanks & Weights

Free Nitrox fills

1 BBQ night on a local island (subject to route & weather)

All Fees and Green Tax

Return Flights and airport taxes (JNB – DOH – MAL, Approx R22 000pp)

Travel and Diving insurance (Approx R1085)

Alcoholic and soft drinks not specified

Wi-Fi (5GB package at Approx USD 30)

Hire of dive equipment

Tips/Gratitude’s (USD 150 pp)

Maldive Departure Tax at USD 30 pp

13.2 L tank hire R1575 per week

About The

Candy Crab

The candy crab (Hoplophrys oatesi) is a small but stunning crustacean that lives on soft corals in the Indo-Pacific region. It has a remarkable ability to camouflage itself by changing its color and attaching coral polyps to its shell. Here are some interesting facts about this amazing animal:

- The candy crab can grow up to 2 cm in length and has four legs and tiny claws on its front limbs.

- The candy crab feeds on plankton that drifts by its coral home.

- The candy crab belongs to the family Epialtidae, which includes other crabs that live in symbiosis with marine organisms such as anemones, sponges, and algae.

- The candy crab is also known as the Oates's soft coral crab, the commensal soft

coral crab, and the Dendronephthya crab, after the genus of corals that it prefers to inhabit.

- The candy crab can be found in various colors such as white, pink, yellow, or red, depending on the color of the coral polyps that it mimics and attaches to its shell.

- The candy crab has spines on its body that are also colored to match the coral polyps, creating a striking pattern that resembles candy.

The candy crab is not easy to spot in the ocean, as it blends in perfectly with its coral environment. It is also not well studied by scientists, and its population status and conservation threats are unknown.

why become a scuba instructor:

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Instructor
• Sales/Retail/Marketing
  
• Entrepreneur
  
• Tour Guide/Eco Tourist
  
• Equipment repair Technician/Manufacturer/Importer
  
• Boat/Live Abroad Operator
  

A JOB WHERE YOU ACTUALLY ENJOY WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING.

"secret to a happy life; find what you love, and get paid for it."

plenty CAREER OPTIONS from retailing to manufacturing to resort operations. The entry ticket is an instructor certification.

You will have the opportunity to travel to amazing destinations, experience different cultures, and make lifelong memories

It's a way of exploring the world, meeting new people, and discovering yourself

Career options in recreational diving are abundant, entry is your instructor certification the secret code that gets you a dream

career.

• Business Management
  
• Film Industry and Professional Photographer
  
• Dive Resort Owner/Manager
  
• Editor/Website/Graphic Designer
  
• Travel Wholesaler
  

PPB

Excellent buoyancy control is the hallmark of skilled scuba divers. With their effortless gliding, minimal air consumption, and graceful movement, they can observe marine life without causing any disturbance. You too can achieve this level of mastery by enrolling in the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course. Designed to improve and refine your buoyancy skills, this course offers a more immersive diving experience for those looking to take their skills to the next level.

Advanced

The Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about advancing your skills. You'll practice navigation and buoyancy, try deep diving and make three specialty dives of your choosing

Here are a few of the many options: Deep, Dive Against Debris, Dry Suit, Enriched Air Nitrox, Fish Identification, Night, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search & Recovery, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigation and Wreck Diver.

Deep

The deep waters beckon for those who seek adventure and mystery while scuba diving. Whether it's a sunken shipwreck or a towering wall covered in fan coral and sponges, the allure of exploring depths beyond 18 meters is undeniable. Gain the necessary skills to dive up to 40 meters with the Deep Diver Specialty course, where you'll learn how to manage your gas supply, buddy contact procedures, and buoyancy control. Take the plunge and explore the deep with confidence.

Equipment

Don’t miss a dive due to a scuba gear issue. Whether it's a blown o-ring, regulator problem, wetsuit tear or a broken fin strap, you can learn how to manage basic scuba equipment adjustments. As a PADI Equipment Specialist, you are prepared for the basic scuba equipment maintenance, care and adjustments you'll encounter every day. In addition, you'll learn interesting background information about how your gear works, how it’s repair and other information that helps you with your equipment investment.

Fish ID

You’ll find you enjoy your dives even more when you recognise the creatures that you see. The fun part about this course is you can use the skills you learn on every scuba diving vacation because once you learn the main fish families and characteristics it will help you decipher the species you see all over the world.

If you know what fish family it belongs to, it becomes much easier to look up the local name or at least be able to intelligently ask the local scuba instructor what you saw.

The Dumbo Octopus

Grimpoteuthis known as the dumbo octopuses. The name "dumbo" originates from their resemblance to the title character of Disney's 1941 film Dumbo, having two prominent ear-like fins which extend from the mantle above each eye. There are 17 species recognized. The average life span of various Grimpoteuthis species is 3 to 5 years.

They are a type of umbrella octopus this means that they have webs of skin connecting their tentacles. It is what gives the octopus its round bell shape. Their soft and jelly-like structure helps them manage the high pressures of their deep ocean habitats.

Many squid and octopus species can engage in jet propulsion—the process of expelling water at high velocities to mediate movement. Dumbo octopuses use their fins and arms to steer themselves around.

The iron in human blood is what makes our blood appear red when exposed to open air. Dumbo octopus blood is blue in colour because of its high copper content.

Copper is a more efficient at circulating oxygen through the body when temperatures are very low.

Update your Details today.

You might have moved, gotten a new job, or changed your mobile number, we would like to keep you up to date and get in touch with you,

Join our WhatsApp tribe group by clicking here.

1) Visit the SV website on

www.scubaversity.co.za

2) In the blue bar at the top & the right corner click on sign in.

3) Click on "register" if you do not have an account with us yet or sign in to update your details. and view your account.

What course will you be doing in 2023?