ScubaGlobe Asia Pacific

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...

February 18 2009 Cayman IslandsNew International scuba Diving Hall Of Fame Inductees The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) has recognized four international pioneers and two Cayman Island honorees for their contributions to the recreational scuba diving industry. In a ceremony held on Grand Cayman Island on January 29, 2009, awards for the Inductees and local Ministry of Tourism Honorees were presented by the Hon. Charles E. Clifford, JP, Minister for Tourism, Environment, Investment & Commerce in Cayman. The Honorable Minister praised the newest Inductees as dedicated and professional individuals who have taken their love for diving and applied it through various disciplines to promote awareness of the aquatic environment, maintain the admirable safety record of diving, and establish a foundation for the worldwide development of the sport. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Leslie Leaney, President of the Historical Diving Society in the US. Leslie is a NOGI award winner and member of the Board of Directors for the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. International Inductees for 2009 are: more.. Full story...

February 3 2009 AustraliaAre YOU the Face of Australia?The Underwater Channel (UWC) in association with PADI is looking for you! The Underwater Channel (www.theunderwaterchannel.tv) in association with PADI (www.PADI.com) are looking to light up diving in Australia for UWC’s viewers around the world! To do so we have launched an international competition to find an experienced and knowledgeable Aussie diver with bags of confidence and charisma to join The Underwater Channel’s team of presenters (aka Faces!) around the world to become the Face of Australia. After an initial pre-selection of 6 semi-finalists a series of TV programs will be broadcast on UWC with a UWC/PADI judging panel who will feature the videos and comment (in a friendly fashion) upon the applications! The viewing public will then be invited to vote, first for the semi-finalists and finally for the winner! The Face of Australia will be chosen by our viewers!more... Full story...

China

EFR for Beijing Olympic Triathlon support team

After negotiations during December 2007 between the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad, the Administration of Triathlon Competition Team and PADI Asia Pacific, the Emergency First Response CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

and First Aid Training program was selected for the 40 staff members of the Triathlon Venue Team, ensuring emergency care for athletes, spectators and guests..

Roger Sun, PADI Asia Pacific’s Regional Manager in China was instrumental in organizing first aid training for the team who, now officially EFR certified, will monitor the Beijing Olympic triathlon course and offer emergency assistance to tri-athletes, spectators and guests, if required.

The EFR training program was officially opened on December 18, 2007 at Chang Ping Olympic Stadium in Beijing attended by Jin Hui (Deputy Mayor of Beijing, Director of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad Sports Department and the Triathlon Operation Team), Zhou Bing Bing (Director of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad Sports Department and the Triathlon Venue Team), QI Jun, (Triathlon Competition Manager); Mr. Qian Zheng Miao (Triathlon Venue Team General Secretary); Mr. Gao Feng (Triathlon Venue Team Manager); Roger Sun, (PADI Asia Pacific); Beijing Dragon Diving; 5 EFR Instructor Trainers - Alex To, Yi-Kun Wang, Chun-Ming Luo, Wu Hua and Guo Jain Lee, and the 40 EFR students as well as visiting journalists.

In her opening speech, Jin Hui, Deputy Mayor of Beijing gave an enthusiastic reception to PADI and the EFR Instructor Trainer Team when she presented a Recognition Plaque and ‘Thank You’ letter from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Triathlon Committee, received by Roger Sun.

The 4-day EFR program included members of the Executive group of the Beijing Organizing Committee whose direct participation and positive attitude inspired all participants, including the 5 EFR Instructors. Interesting, distinctive EFR materials, course information and advanced training tools enthused the students, who were curious about almost everything they saw, particularly the AED training units.

At the closing ceremony, Jin Hui, Deputy of Mayor of Beijing presented all students with their EFR Certificates - which they were very proud to receive.

(L) Jin Hui, Deputy Mayor of Beijing presenting

In her closing address, Jin Hui declared, “On behalf of the Beijing Olympic Committee, I would like to sincerely thank Emergency First Response Corporation and PADI Asia Pacific for your outstanding contribution to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad Triathlon Operation Team.

The training provided by your staff and their colleagues has provided the tools for our support team to assist the Olympic Triathletes in their 2008 sporting endeavours. Our team members have found the training extremely professional and the programmed and training materials excellent. The materials made the course easy and fun to learn and provided the tools for our team to ably support the international athletes.

The quality of your Emergency First Response Instructors was exceptional, they were all very professional and ensured that our team members are well qualified to deal with any incidents. Thank you once again for the support that Emergency First Response Corporation and PADI Asia Pacific have provided to our team”.

In addition, PADI would also like to thank the Emergency First Response Instructor Trainers,Alex To (Pro Dive Education Centre Ltd.), Yi-Kun Wang and Guo Jain Lee (Beijing Dragon Diving). Chun-Ming Luo (PDSTAR Dive Center Ltd.) and Wu Hua (Shanghai Seastar Diving Club).

A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who was involved in this project, including PADI Course Director Alex To, who led the EFR Instructor Trainer Team, Beijing Dragon Diving for excellent logistic support, Shanghai Seastar, PDSTAR Dive Centre and Miss Zhou for her hard work and excellent assistance in making this event a success.

(R) QI Jun, (Manager of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad Triathlon Operation Team)

From R to L, Yi-Kun Wang (Beijing Dragon Diving), Chun-Ming Luo (Guangzhou PDSTAR Dive Center Ltd.), Wu Hua (Shanghai Seastar Diving Club), Roger Sun (Regional Manager of PADI Asia Pacific), Alex To (Pro Dive Education Centre Ltd), and Guo Jain Lee (Beijing Dragon Diving).

From L to R, Chun-Ming Luo (Guangzhou PDSTAR Dive Center Ltd.), QI Jun, (Manager of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad Triathlon Operation Team), Alex To (Pro Dive Education Centre Ltd), Zhou Bing Bing (Director of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad Sports Department and the Triathlon Venue Team), Yi-Kun Wang (Beijing Dragon Diving) and Gao Feng, (Triathlon Venue Team Manager).