ScubaGlobe Asia Pacific - Australia: PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards 2008

November 26 2008 AustraliaDivers support breast cancer dayWhen one of the members of Pro Dive Nelson Bay’s Narki Gnome Dive Club was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, the group wanted to support her and raise awareness for the Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA). Diving was what brought them together, so they held an event with their own underwater twist. For the past eight years Mini-Fields of Women have been held in communities across Australia during October as part of Australia's breast cancer month, an initiative from The Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA). The Mini-Fields of Women campaign places hundreds of hot pink lady silhouettes in prominent positions throughout Australia to represent women affected by breast cancer. Full story...

August 10 2008 UK Bogus bends nets Divers £250,000 A pair of divers swindled £250,000 (US$500,000) from the National Health Service for treating bogus cases of the bends. David Welsh, 49, and diving instructor Michael Brass, 43, are facing prison sentences after being found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the NHS and perverting the course of justice. Welsh ran the Fort Bovisand diving centre, which had its own recompression chamber. They paid strangers they met in pubs up to £200 to pose as divers who needed recompression treatment, they only needed only the real names, addresses, dates of birth and national insurance numbers of the supposed victims to work the fraud. Most had never been underwater and some could barely swim. Welsh billed National Health Trusts from all over the UK £6,500 a time for treating the 37 fake victims. The fraud was discovered when police investigated two cases of divers from Liverpool who were supposedly treated for the bends at the recompression chamber. Full story...

August 25 2008 HawaiiArchaeologists have located British whaler sunk by bad weather in 1837 off Kure Atoll Artefacts from the remains of a wreck believed to be of the British whaling vessel Gledstanes lost for 171 years have been found off Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The artefacts include four large anchors, cannons and cannonballs. The Gledstanes is the fourth whaling vessel found in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, evidence of the area's significance as a 19th-century whaling area. The divers who found the shipwreck were taking part in the 2008 Maritime Heritage Expedition, sponsored by NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries. Full story...

Australia: PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards 2008

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Asia Pacific is proud to announce the finalists of the PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards for 2008. At the end of 2004 PADI Asia Pacific undertook the initiative to build a more rewarding and recognition based benefit program for PADI Members. Continuing the enormous success of the newly revised program, PADI Asia Pacific is proud to run the fourth annual PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards 2008.

The awards recognise excellence and innovation in the Dive Industry and are considered very prestigious.

A panel of key PADI stakeholders met to judge the finalist in each category and the winners will be announced at the PADI Pavilion (Stand J01 & K02) at ADEX 2008 at Suntec, Singapore on Friday 18th April at 5pm along with drinks and canapés.

PADI would like to thank all those who provided fantastic nomination overviews.

Congratulations to the Finalists, each in alphabetical order are:
Diver Training Award:
This award is to recognise the outstanding achievements and professionalism in relation to raising the standards in the field of Diver Training.

Crystal Dive Resort, Thailand Pro Dive Cairns, AustraliaRemote Area Dive, Australia Instructor Development Award:
This award is to celebrate outstanding achievements and commitment to PADI’s Instructor Development. Crystal Dive Resort, ThailandDiving Plaza, AustraliaMermaids Dive Center, Thailand Young Achiever in Diving Award
This award recognises a young achiever’s contribution to the development of a vibrant diving industry through their local Dive Centre/Resort.

Bradley Davis, AustraliaPatrick Ewbank, IndonesiaRhyanne Davis, Australia
Project AWARE Environmental Award:
This award aims to recognise outstanding ecological achievements with a focus on fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

Crystal Dive Resort, Thailand Kon-Tiki Thailand, ThailandSea Explorer’s Siquijor, Philippines Tourism Award:
This category recognises excellence in the planning of tourism infrastructure and/or services with a focus on entrepreneurial vision and integration with the environment.

Clement Lee, MalaysiaDive!

Tutukaka, New ZealandRod Punshon, Australia Diving for Tomorrow Innovation Award:
The purpose of the Diving for Tomorrow Innovation Award is to recognise and celebrate innovation within the diving industry, whether large or small, and to inspire others.

Abyss Scuba Diving, AustraliaDive! Tutukaka, New ZealandSunrise Diving, Thailand Outstanding (Dive Centre/Resort) Business Award:
This award is to recognise outstanding business performance, initiatives and achievements across all areas of business operation.

Aquatic Adventures Glen Iris, AustraliaMermaids Dive Center, ThailandPro Dive Cairns, Australia