Photographic success for Sub-Mission students

PADI Underwater Digital Photography Specialty

It must be said that the sturgeon in Capernwray are probably the most photographed fish in the whole of the UK. They showed no signs of being shy and did the best they could to get in on every photo that the PADI Underwater Digital Photography Specialty students could take. Megan, Paul and Dave took on the challenge of learning the techniques of underwater digital photography and getting the best out of their time underwater to get some brilliant shots. After the pool photography clinic, they were used to the functions on the cameras and so got to grips with the Capernwray dives nicely. It wasn’t as easy as they thought to dive with the cameras. Other factors such as buoyancy, air consumption, depth and time are so easily neglected when engrossed in getting that perfect shot so Sub-Mission staff were on hand to keep a watchful eye on each of them and give them gentle reminders.

There some brilliant photos taken and we hope to be able to present them to you in the near future. So watch this space and keep an eye on the Sub-Mission flickr account. Congratulations

PADI Drysuit Specialty Students

PADI Drysuit Specialty

Andreea and Jonathan were also busy on Sunday completing the PADI Drysuit Specialty with Sub-Mission. For Andreea this was her first UK dive after completing her PADI Open Water Course in Lanzarote. So although she was apprehensive about the UK conditions, she and Jonathan were great students and completed each skill with great ease. It was also noted that both of their buoyancy was almost perfect. So now that they are both trained in Drysuit use, they’ll be able to join us on our many winter diving days and trips! Well done!

PADI SMB Specialty Success

PADI SMB Specialty
Tony, Pete, Debbie and Tim joined Sub-Mission for the PADI SMB Specialty as a way of safely learning the techniques for deploying a delayed Surface Marker Buoy from underwater. This is a great skill to acquire and perfect as SMB’s are a critical piece of equipment for most UK coastal diving and sea diving abroad.

After a theory session and pool practice with a variety of different reels, different deployment methods and simple tips to make the whole process easier, the four of them were thrown in at the deep end to complete 2 dives at Capernwray.

Each of them was tasked with completing a static deployment on the first dive and a hovering deployment on the second. Darren being the task master that he is though insisted that they have additional practice time first though to get to grips with the unfamiliar pieces of equipment and their use. It must be said that Debbie’s SMB launch was pretty perfect. Each of them had differing views on which was the preferred method to deploy an SMB but with a little more practice we know they’ll be able to let boat traffic know that they are underwater in the future and surface safely after each dive! Well done.

PADI Underwater Navigation Specialty

PADI Underwater Navigation Specialty

Under the direction of Sub-Mission Instructor Martin, Megan and Jon completed the PADI Navigation Specialty this weekend as part of the Master Scuba Diver program.

They were shown various navigational techniques and tips along with detailed and precise compass use to enable them to increase the efficiency of their dive plans and future dives.

Both of them were tasked with being able to navigate an underwater course that would not be disclosed to them until they were able to navigate to each particular feature. Once they had made their way to a certain point, they were given the next bearing until they finally reached the finishing point. Both of the students did a fantastic job and Megan’s compass work was so precise that it took her exactly to the spot where she needed to finish. Well done to both of you.

Congratulations to all of Sub-Mission Students at Open Water this Weekend

Phhewww. What a weekend. For those of you who joined us for various different courses this weekend, now that the Monday morning blues have probably set in, we’d like to cheer you up with a massive congratulation for all of your hard work.

PADI Open Water Students

Well done to all of those extremely nervous PADI Open Water Students who were fantastic this weekend. It must be said that it was probably one of the more nervous groups that we have taken in for a while but the group also looked after each other, encouraged and supported one another and had a really good time. They most certainly all were best of buddies by the end of the course.

After weeks of pool work and theory sessions, Nick, Lydia, Geoff, Terry, Ruth, Kate and Sharon had their skills put to the test by Sub-Mission Instructor’s in Open Water. The sturgeon must have taken a real shine to them as they spent most of Saturday with the group.

Even though at times we thought nerves might have got the better of some of them, they were determined to pass and so put every effort into completing each skill. Dive 4 was celebrations all round once the last student had completed the final skill and handshakes, hugs and smiles on the surface as PADI Open Water Divers

Geoff, Terry, Ruth, Kate and Sharon even went back in to complete the PADI Drysuit Specialty after the final dive. This will mean that they have earned their first PADI Specialty and can be credited towards the Master Scuba Diver. So, now we’ve got them started with Scuba let’s see where the adventure takes them….

Sub-Mission’s bright, flowery and wet Beach Party.

Yes, we properly let our hair down and got our dancing shoes on (well actually it was flip flops) for some summer fun on Saturday night. The dress code was beach wear and it was a good turn out for the Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts. The disco music was holiday themed until the DJ ran out of songs to play and reverted back to the normal party tunes. There were water pistols, inflatable boats, rubber rings and a multitude of summer hats to keep everyone amused.

Andy certainly showed off his moves and got people dancing but unfortunately that was followed by the YMCA and a certain member of staff stripping off to his pants! Not a problem for most of the guests though, who have seen it all before anyway. We’d like to thank everyone for coming and then not leaving even though the bar had closed and the staff wanted to go home. Great night, can’t wait for the next one.

PADI Open Water Success for Jenny, Katie and Megan.

It isn’t very often that we get 10 year olds who want to complete the whole of the PADI Junior Open Water Course here in the UK. Most often, these children will enrol onto the PADI Open Water Referral and then fulfil their open water dives abroad. However, Katie and Megan have insisted that they certify as PADI Junior Open Water Divers here with Sub-Mission along with Jen who achieved the PADI Open Water Diver certification.

The two girls exceeded our expectations of their grasp of the dive theory and achieved high marks in their final exams. The three of them also learnt the underwater skills with no difficulty at all and this really showed at Eccleston Delph at the weekend when they flew through the skills on each dive.

Syd, their Instructor was asked a million and one questions, with each interrogation ending in the same question; “when can we go for a swim?” The girls had a great positive attitude and impressed us all with their aptitude for scuba. They even managed to get a mention in the ‘Sentinel’ for their fantastic achievement.

Sub-Mission Students Win PADI Prizes

Congratulations to John Harker and Dawn Prince who are winners of two of PADI’s promotional campaigns for 2010.

John Harker achieved the high accolade of PADI Master Scuba Diver, after completing 5 PADI Specialties, PADI Rescue Diver and having logged more than 50 dives. John’s application was entered into the PADI Master Scuba Diver Challenge promotion which resulted in him being selected as June’s Winner. John will receive a PADI Backpack as well as an Encyclopaedia of Recreational Diving.

Dawn Prince took part in the PADI Specialty of the Month Program. She enrolled onto the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty and competed this in June. She was also selected as June’s winner and won £50 worth of vouchers to spend on PADI materials.

Well done both of you!

Sub-Mission’s PADI Enriched Air Students pass with flying colours

We would like to congratulate those students who have had their heads buried in the PADI Enriched Air manuals recently in preparation for the PADI Enriched Air Specialty Course. Sub-Mission was able to offer the course mid week, which suited our students perfectly.

Donna, Nick, Nathan, Gary and Chris were taught the new PADI Enriched Air Course structure, which involves dive planning considerations on an Enriched Air computer as apposed to the Enriched Air RDP’s. This included using the interactive Enriched Air Dive Computer simulator and their own dive computers to plan dives with a variety of gas blends. They were tasked on being able to work out depth limits, time limits and track their oxygen exposure.

Each also learnt the procedures for filling and analysing Enriched Air and the hazards that accompany these protocols. Each of them did a fantastic job and their hard work certainly paid off. The PADI Enriched Air Specialty ceritifcation will also count as one of the 5 towards the Master Scuba Diver rating. Well done!

PADI Coral Reef Conservation Success!

Last week Sub-Mission held another of its popular PADI Coral Reef Conservation Specialties with a fantastic turn out for the evening. 14 students showed up to learn more about the reef ecosystem and to show their enthusiasm for helping to protect the marine environment.

Rich was yet again a great teacher of the subject and his own passion and interest was apparent with plenty of relevant anecdotes and examples thrown in. Students learnt the various species that live together symbiotically to make the reef the thriving, successful marine habitat that it is.

Rich then turned his attention to the impact of human activity on Coral Reefs and what we can do to help alleviate the environmental pressures on the coral and fish populations. Everyone went away with a lot to think about but with a positive attitude that we can actually do our part and get involved. Now that the students have certified as PADI Coral Reef Conservation Specialty Divers this ties in nicely with the Beach and Underwater cleanup of Trefor Pier on Saturday 4th September, to which everyone is invited to come and help us make a difference!