HORIZON NEWS

July 2008 - The newsletter of FIVE STAR IDC CENTRE New Horizons Dive Centre
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Congratulations

A big congratulations to New Horizons newest Instructors, the three Amigos!! Jan Devereux, Kathryn Oldham and Pippa Ridgeway all passed there Instructor exams after doing their IDC with Steve Prior at New Horizons. We look forward to them helping out on future courses and we are sure that they will be a great credit to New Horizons.

Dive Social BBQ/Dive Wednesday 13th August at Capernwray.

In August instead of the normal dive social meeting at Macclesfield Rugby Club we are having an evening dive followed by a BBQ at Capernwray. This will take place on Wednesday 13th August.. Capernwray is open late that evening so we will be meeting between 16:00 and 19:00 and the BBQ will be from about 20:00. Non divers/spectators are welcome to come and join in the evening/ BBQ. The cost for the evening is £20 for divers this includes entry fees and BBQ or just £10 for non divers for the BBQ. If you need gear this is available for rental at half normal price. Bookings for the evening MUST be made in advance as we will be issuing vouchers for both the diving and BBQ shortly before the evening. We can only take bookings with full payment (can be credit card over the phone) – if you have not paid then you are NOT booked.

New Opening Times

Just a reminder for you all that we are now open on Sundays and Closed on Mondays.

• Monday Closed
• Tuesday 09:00 – 17:30
• Wednesday 09:00 – 17:30
• Thursday 09:00 – 19:00
• Friday 09:00 – 17:30
• Saturday 09:00 – 17:00
• Sunday 10:00 – 17:00

Upcoming courses Deep Speciality – Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th July, Stoney Cove

For Advanced Open water divers and above – learn how to dive deeper safely. Should be completed by all divers who want to dive deeper than 30m. If you do dive below 30m you do need this for your insurance cover.

Diver Propulsion Vehicle (sea scooter) speciality. Sunday 20th July – Stoney Cove

Fancy trying out something new and just having some fun then this course is for you. Learn how to use and have fun with sea scooters. This one day course is loads of fun.

Advanced Open Water – Thursday 24th Friday 25th July

A must do course for all Open Water divers. A fun filled programme 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. This mid-week option is a great opportunity to avoid the crowds and at this time of year the water will be a very pleasant temperature!!!

Emergency First Response Sunday 17th August 10:00 – 16:00

An innovative First Aid/CPR course strongly recommended for all divers. 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).

Underwater Navigation speciality Sunday 13th May at 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.

Master Scuba Diver

Master Scuba Diver is the highest, non professional rating, a diver can achieve. To gain this prestigious qualification you must be a Rescue Diver and have at least five PADI Speciality certifications. During the year New Horizons are offering a wide range of specialities to help you work towards this goal. These include Wreck; Deep; Enriched Air (NITROX); National Geographic; Surface Marker Buoy; Underwater Scooter (DPV), Underwater Digital Photography, Navigation and Peak Perfomance Bouyancy. Don’t miss out – further your education and work towards your Master Scuba Diver rating.

Foreign Trips Update

Red Sea liveaboard (northern) 16th-23rd January 2009
During this week we will be exploring the amazing wrecks and reefs of the Northern Red Sea. Flights out of Manchester direct to Hurghada where we board our floating home for the week. We will be using the M/Y Superior which is a very comfortable boat and great to dive from. This is the best way to spend a week in the middle of January.

Sharm el Sheikh 15th -22nd February 2009
We are staying at the Rosetta Hotel for a week in Naama bay, the centre of Sharm el Sheik, diving with Emporer divers whos centre adjoins the hotel. Explore the wonders of the Red Sea from daily boats. This is a fun packed week where you can experience some of the best diving in the world whilst enjoying a great hotel, get some sunshine and escape those winter blues.

Diving at Capernwray/Stoney Cove
New Horizons is regularly at Capernwray 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.

Scapa Flow Jun-08, Trip Report, m/v Sharon Rose
Having experienced much UK diving, including Scottish NW coastlines, I was looking forward to diving Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands – for the first time! The large group of 23 NH divers rendezvoused on their respective boats Sharon Rose & Radiant Queen for the coming week’s diving. Boats and accommodation were based in Stromness.

“Parrots of the Caribbean” was our boat theme as a slightly embellished pirate flag was hoisted on Sharon Rose, skippered by Kevin and deckhand American (big) Dave providing excellent quality diving, drinks & lunchtime fayre. Safety is foremost, and the majority dived on Nitrox with a mixture of twin sets, single 15Ltr tanks or with pony bottles, and 1 rebreather.

Even in June the weather could change from bright sunshine to squally cold rain & wind in a matter of minutes, so was grateful for packing thermals & waterproof gear! Orkneys were settled by the Norsemen, many place names intermingled with Gaelic & Old Norse, describing a particular feature. Stromness is Point of Streams, key to diving Scapa Flow (the natural harbour within) as the seabed is silted, whereas the tidal stream areas flowing through the Sounds (like Burra) locally sweep the seabed clean. This directly influences the condition of the wrecks we came to dive, comprising mainly of the German High Seas fleet sunk (coincidentally) on 21¬Jun-1919, WWII wrecks and a variety of blockships.

For our trip, visibility averaged 8-10m in mainly clear water, diving the German Light Cruisers – Coln, Karlsruhe and Brummer, each of which had their own qualities, either completely smothered in colourful
marine life, largely intact, or with many guns and fish!

No one diving a battleship could be prepared for its sheer size and “weight” of metal. A castle of steel at 25,338 tons, Kronprinz Wilhelm’s 12” main guns & whaleback hull from 15-35m deep are awesome – even I was speechless!

Burra Sound blockship Tabarka provided an exhilarating wreck n drift in a washing machine; inside a cathedral of light, every item covered in densely packed anemones, outside a scoured seabed, crazily flapping kelp & wild vortexes of currents, truly an amazing & fun experience in 15m depth.

The islands are chock full with ancient relics, and many visited sights like Skara Brae Neolithic village, One of the most memorable, the (Standing Stones) Ring of Brodgar, in early summer (near Solstice) morning of bright sunshine and colourful wild flowers.

Churchill Barriers, Italian Chapel, Lyness Naval Museum, whale bone, Earl’s Palace & Cathedrals make other interesting diversions.There is so much to see and do for both diver and non-diver, return visits are a must, but no longer a newbie…

“YoHoHo and Go with the Flow"

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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