Dive Industry News

David Charash Named 2022 DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year

Dr. Charash is a board-certified emergency medicine and undersea and hyperbaric medicine physician who has been caring for injured divers since 1993.

Early in his career he recognized the need for quality education for both divers and those in the medical community who care for them. He has developed workshops, symposiums, lectures, and a podcast (Fitness in Diving) about dive medicine, safety, and technology.

DAN Welcomes 2022 Interns

L to R: Alex Balan, Beth Jones, Aaron Kissel, Liam Brennan

The DAN Internship Program was created 23 years ago to give qualified students valuable experience in dive safety research. While the program is still research-oriented, its scope has expanded over the years to include projects that focus on other facets of DAN’s mission to help divers in need and to promote dive safety through education.

These interns will spend several months at DAN headquarters in Durham, NC, working with the Research, Medical Services, and Safety Services teams on various projects and research efforts.

DAN Asks Divers to Donate in Support of Dive Safety

When you give to DAN, you support the DAN Emergency Hotline, ensuring it stays available 24/7 to assist divers everywhere. Since it went live in 1981, the hotline has helped tens of thousands of divers in times of need.

With many people returning to the water this summer after prolonged periods away, continued operation of this essential emergency service is more important now than ever before.

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Instructor Trainer Mark Powell is now Director of Global Development

Mark Powell is now Director of Global Development

In 2017, Mark Powell became TDI / SDI's 'International Business' Manager. This job has recently been expanded to become a full-time role for the award-winning author, instructor trainer and 'tech-diving guru'. 

Mark Powell is uniquely qualified to help dive centers and professional members. Brian Carney

 

 

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Do you have a deep understanding of BSAC and the wider diving industry? Take a giant stride and apply to become BSAC's Diving & Training Advisor

Are you BSAC's new Diving & Training Advisor?

The successful candidate will need to have a deep understanding of BSAC and the wider diving industry, because the right diver will work in partnership with the BSAC regions and dive centres to maximise opportunities for diving.

This exciting role will support the delivery of BSAC’s new strategy. It's therefore essential that the experienced instructor can deliver in a dynamic working environment that requires close collaboration with colleagues. 

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The loss of this exceptional training resource will be deeply felt within the recreational and technical diving community. NDAC is a unique site in that offers diving in the 6 metre to 80 metre range

NDAC: Top UK dive training quarry closes

The National Diving & Activity Centre is based at a large flooded quarry in Tidenham, Gloucestershire, England. This dive site is located on the English / Welsh border at Chepstow, just a few minutes' drive from the M48 Severn Bridge. For 52 years, this was a toll bridge - cars would pay £5.60 to cross the River Severn. When bridge tolls were scrapped on 17 December 2018, NDAC suddenly became financially more attractive to dive. 

NDAC is permanently closed. We are not taking bookings for leisure activities or public diving.

Membership Question

Divers have asked NDAC about membership refunds. Ashley Bryce, NDAC Manager responded stating that all memberships had been extended by seven months to account for the Covid-19 lockdown. 

What's next for NDAC?

At the time of writing this, it is not known what will happen to NDAC. Rumours have been circulating for a number of weeks that the Ministry of Defence has bought this dive site. This is unlikely. There are other rumours that the quarry is going to be developed into a holiday park. Whether recreational and technical divers will be able to access and dive these unique waters again, is not known at this point. 

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Tamara Brown pictured in circa 2000, when she was part of the inaugural class inducted into the USA centric 'Women Divers Hall of Fame'

WDHOF Member jailed for fraud

In addition to the prison term, US District Judge Joseph H Rodriguez has sentenced Tamara Brown to three years of supervised release, fined her US$50,000 and ordered restitution of US$1.1 million.

The 58-year-old commercial diver of Haddon Heights, New Jersey had previously admitted guilt to one count of wire fraud in connection with her operation of a commercial diving school from January 2012 through to July 2018.

WDHOF Responds

A spokeman for the Women Divers Hall of Fame exclusively told X-Ray Mag on 16 January 2022 "WDHOF takes pride in our members’ accomplishments and efforts that were so significant they were inducted into the organization. We also appreciate their continued enthusiasm for helping the organization strive to make a positive impact through our training grants and scholarships. WDHOF has always had the expectation that our members continue to be ethical and honorable in their actions.

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The biggest boat show in the world - 'boot DĂĽsseldorf' - is held annually in January

boot DĂĽsseldorf 2022 is cancelled

In recent weeks, various countries in Europe have applied travel and event restrictions to help prevent the spread of this new version of the Covid-19 virus. 

 

Following a meeting of the Minister Presidents of the federal states in Germany on 21 December 2021, the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) banned large events in January 2022. This includes boot Düsseldorf, the largest boat show in the world. 

It is with a heavy heart that we have to say goodbye to holding boot in January 2022. Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe DĂĽsseldorf

 

Dr Stephan Keller stated "We had had hoped that the pandemic situation in January would allow Boot to be held under strict hygiene conditions. But in the end, it is only consistent to do without large public fairs such as Boot in order to contain the spread of the omicron variant. Even before the country's ban, I agreed with the management of Messe Düsseldorf not to take an unjustifiable risk and to cancel boot if necessary."