HORIZON NEWS

August 2008 - The newsletter of FIVE STAR IDC CENTRE New Horizons Dive Centre
Printable Version

New website launched

Some of you may have noticed the New Horizons website has undergone a major transformation! The only thing to remain the same is the address – www.new-horizon.co.uk. The new website is easy to navigate and contains all the information you would expect such as course dates, trip information plus news items and information on the team. If you haven’t already seen it take a look. If you find that you are still being directed to the old website just delete your cookies and try again.

Trips for 2009

Time is going by really quickly and thoughts are turning to arranging trips for 2009. All the old favourites for UK destinations are being looked at as well as trips to sunnier climes. We’re looking at arranging a Red Sea Liveaboard in August, dates to be confirmed, and in addition to this a long haul trip possibly to the Komodo Islands in Indonesia in early September 2009.

Upcoming Courses

Peak Performance Buoyancy Speciality - Saturday 23rd August at Capernwray

You will learn more about correct weighting, streamlining and being able to hover motionless in the water. This will improve your air consumption and allow you to stop and observe things underwater without stirring up the bottom and damaging marine life. This course is suitable for divers of all levels.

Underwater Navigation Speciality - Sunday 24th August, Capernwray

Develop real underwater navigation skills using both natural and compass methods. These skills will give you more confidence and independence underwater. Don’t worry about getting lost just navigate your way home.

Advanced Open Water – Saturday 6th September Sunday 7th September, Stoney Cove

A must do course for all Open Water divers. A fun filled programme consisting of five dives, where you learn new skills and practise your old ones under the guidance of an instructor. The Advanced qualification opens up many more dives to you on your next trip.

Delayed SMB training – pool session - Wednesday 10th September, 20:15 Macclesfield LC

On all UK trips and many dive boats abroad the use of SMBs is now compulsory – used correctly they are a vital piece of safety equipment, misused then accidents can happen. A must do evening for all divers.

Emergency First Response - Sunday 14th September 10:00 – 16:00, NHDC

An innovative First Aid/CPR course strongly recommended for all divers and meets the prerequisites for the Rescue Diver course. Remember you should renew your EFR training every two years – (SAVE £30 if you complete this as a refresher – using your original materials).

Enriched Air Speciality - Tuesday 16th September 19:00, NHDC

Complete the theory element for the NITROX course and then you can make the qualifying open water dives at your convenience. The NITROX dives can be combined with any other speciality to save you time and money.

Wreck Speciality – Sunday 21st September, Stoney Cove

If you are an Advanced Open Water Diver having completed the wreck dive this is a great way to achieve your full speciality in one day. You will learn how to dive wrecks safely, getting the most from your wreck dives and even practise making wreck penetrations.

SMB Diver Speciality - Sunday 21st September, Stoney Cove

The correct deployment and use of Surface Marker Buoys is crucial to diving safely in the sea. Like most equipment used correctly they are key to your safe diving but misused real problems can occur. This day offers vital practical experience in their use.

Foreign Trips Update

Red Sea Marsa Alam (Port Ghalib) 20th-27th April 2009

We are staying at the Coral Beach Diving Hotel for a week in Port Ghalib, diving with Emporer divers who’s dive centre is conveniently located on site. Marsa Alam is the gateway to the exciting Southern Red Sea and its colourful, pristine reefs. Explore the wonders of the Red Sea from daily boats with the chance of glimpsing sharks, dolphins and much more. This is a fun packed week where you can experience some of the best diving in the world whilst enjoying a great hotel.

Trip Reports

Basking in the Isle of Man By Jan and Pete Devereux

Late June and a merry band of divers head to the Isle of Man with only one thing on our minds… please let us see basking sharks?!?

We all gathered in the house we’d called home for the next four days. A quick inspection of the fridge found it pre-stocked with a mountain of sausage, bacon, eggs, toms, mushrooms & black pudding… the only thing we had to do was cook it! And a house kitty had been formed, so beer and wine was jammed into the remaining space in the fridge… Bonza!

Diving day one and Team Devereux had left their dry suits at home… Oops!!! Thankfully the NHDC spares bag saved the day and the diving continued, though Mr D took the afternoon off to re-familiarise himself with the Liverpool – Isle of Man ferry to be re-acquainted with the afore mentioned items… thanks Mum, J.

While Mr D was enjoying ferry fodder, the rest of us squealed with excitement when seal pups joined us on the stunning wreck dive of the Clan MacMaster… They were just as interested in watching us as we were keen on watching them… so cute… and with top pot blennies and a ripping drift to finish with… the dive had it all… we were buzzing!

As we climbed aboard the rib the radio rung out with those all important words… “Basker in the Bay!” Snorkels to the ready our skilful skipper put us right along side and as we slipped quietly (ish) into the water we were greeted with the sight of the most magnificent basking shark only metres away… we could hardly control our excitement!!! Another diving dream comes true!!!

We wondered how things could get any better.... but the Isle of Man still had more to offer and the afternoon’s dive at the Burroo is now one of our favourite dives in the UK… so much life - more seals to play with; white, yellow and orange anemones in abundance; walls carpeted with jewel anemones of every colour and dog fish scattered absolutely everywhere!

A quick call to Mo’s other half back at the house ensured G&Ts with ice and a slice were nicely chilled for us all to celebrate our day’s diving… and after devouring the mother of all Indian takeaways, the European Cup Final finished off the evening (I guess that’s football right?!?!?)

Next morning we headed out to dive the Sugarloaf Caves. Shallow and easily accessible, Mr D was up to his tricks again and found it quite hilarious to decorate Mrs D’s tank with some kelp found broken off on the cave floor… thanks for the video and photo evidence everyone!!!

All in all, the diving was amongst the best we’ve seen around the UK, our skippers Mike and Tom were second to none and went out of their way to look after us. The home from home was perfect, and most of all, it was the people whose company we shared that made our four days diving in the Isle of Man so memorable… thanks everyone, and we’ll be back!!!

Diving at Capernwray/Stoney Cove

New Horizons is regularly at Capernwray/Stoney Cove and welcomes qualified divers to come along to join us for pleasure dives. This is a great way to keep your hand in and get time underwater. You don’t have to turn up with a buddy we can find somebody suitable for you to dive with. We will even bring your gear to the dive site for you and help you plan/organise your dives. The cost for this is just £10 per person for OW and AOW divers or £5 for Rescue divers – plus any gear rental required. See important dates to see when we are in Capernwray/Stoney Cove and give us a call to book yourself in.

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For details on these or any other events of for advice on gear sales; diving insurance or unaccompanied dive travel, please contact:

New Horizons Snorkel & Dive Centre, 51 - 53, Park Lane, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6TX

Tel: 01625 611108
Fax: 01625 611969
info@new-horizon.co.uk
www.new-horizon.co.uk