New Event in Second World Opens November 30 2007 -- Since launching in Second Life in October 2007, PADI’s Dive World continues to develop in ways that are out of this world. The latest addition to the underwater experience is an amazing cavern and cave system, ripe for exploration.
On 1 December 2007, visitors to Dive World will be able to access a unique cavern and cave environment, adding another element to the opportunities presently available in Second Life to learn about the underwater world.
The caverns and caves are easily found on the northwest side of the island and can be accessed via the beautiful new beach and its relaxing breaking waves. The actual cave is accessible via seven entrances and weaves its way under the island in what appears to be a never-ending labyrinth of tunnels. Don’t worry though, you’ll always find your way out due to an ingenious method built into the cave system.
Visitors to the caverns and caves can explore the flora and fauna typical of temperate water cave environments, and marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites as they glide gracefully through the beautiful settings. The tunnels culminate in a large central cavern with air pockets should you wish to explore them.
This new event follows on the heels of a range of other events recently launched on Dive World and still available for visitors to experience via their individual avatars.
They include:
The offer of 2,000 free sets of scuba equipment enabling avatars wishing to explore the underwater world surrounding the island to have a realistic diving experience. Linked to this launch was an expansion of the topography, flora, and sea life giving divers a new adventure every time they dive.
The opening of the Project AWARE centre. Visitors to the centre have a unique opportunity to get their avatars involved in virtual environmental activities, learn more about the protection of precious aquatic resources, and socialise with virtual divers who share an interest in marine conservation.
To join the growing number of avatar divers, just follow the steps below:
Step 1: Join Second Life (secondlife.com) and create an avatar. There is no charge.
Step 2: Join the “PADI Group.” Search groups for “PADI Group” and click “Join.”
Step 3: Get your free scuba gear (courtesy of PADI).
With the PADI Group activated and your group tag showing, click the scuba gear display at Dive World (213, 124, 21). You will receive a folder containing all your diving equipment.
Explore, observe, and conserve by taking part in Project AWARE educational dives and fun environmental activities.
So welcome to Dive World, enjoy the new cavern and cave system, and don’t forget to visit the PADI Information Centre in the middle of the island. Here you can learn all about diving in the real world and even through eLearning start the PADI Open Water Diver course today. padi.com
OZTek Announces New Show November 28, 2007 -- Continuing to receive high praise since its inception in 1999 and now widely acclaimed as one of the world’s most dynamic diving events, the sixth AustralAsian Diving Technologies Conference and Exhibition – OZTeK’09 – will take place over the weekend of 21–22 March 2009, at Australian Technology Park in Sydney, Australia.
Having firmly established its credentials as an internationally significant diving event – one that remains focused on the underwater adventures that new technology and techniques make possible – OZTeK‘09 will again feature, as speakers and presenters, one of the world’s largest gatherings of internationally renowned authorities in their respective fields of diving expertise.
Encompassing recreational, technical, occupational and scientific diving applications, the OZTeK’09 conference topics will include: cave and wreck diving, developments in rebreather technology, equipment selection and configuration, deep diving considerations, decompression procedures, extreme explorations, hyperbaric medicine, training programmes, occupational diving applications, search-and-rescue techniques, marine archaeology, underwater photography, diver safety and more.
Complemented by a full-scale exhibition featuring all of the latest diving developments together with displays, breakout workshops, film and video presentations, OZTeK‘09 is an event aimed at all divers – regardless of experience level – whose thirst for knowledge is matched only by their spirit of adventure. Probing beyond the usual diving limits and tapping into the very core of exciting underwater experiences, it’s a two-day spectacular that no diver can afford to miss.
Scuba Classifieds Open for Business November 23, 2007 -- The Scuba Classifieds went live today on ScubaDiverAA.com, in time for the holiday season.
Buy, sell, or trade your equipment, services…anything at all, with a number of categories including dive gear, dive services, dive fashion, and trips and tickets. Best of all, the Scuba Classifieds is a free service to anyone.
To start buying, selling, or trading, users simply need to create a username and log on! It’s that simple.
Scubapro's New G250V Second Stage November 16, 2007 -- Scubapro’s renowned G250, famous for its supreme performance and reliability under even the most extreme water conditions, just got better.
New for the holiday shopping season is the latest second stage G250V, a compact and lightweight design with enhanced features in a stylish blue colour.
The Full Metal System construction makes the regulator even more robust and is specially catered for serious divers. It includes a metal inlet tube, stainless steel orifice, metal diver adjustable inhalation-resistance control knob, and a metal hose connector/heat exchanger.
Ron Stevens Greeting Cards November 15, 2007 -- Painter of the oceans Ron Stevens, better known as Rogest, has introduced a fun new addition to his Web site. Choose from a number of inspirational designs and customise your own Rogest marine art cards.
Order as few as 50 cards at a time, including your personal message (perhaps a Web site even) – very cool indeed! Simply go to rogest.com and click the “Hot New” button to start. Also available for purchase in time for the holiday season are T-shirts, polos, hats, mugs, mouse pads, and an array of other interesting gifts.
Beneath Sydney
November 12, 2007 -- Richard Vevers and Jayne Jenkins have dedicated the last few years to capturing the beautiful and bizarre characters that make up the Sydney Underworld – the most amazing marine environment of any major city in the world.
An exhibition of these resin-coated images will run from 19 November to 2 December at Bondi Pavilion Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, Sydney. For a preview of the exhibition and more information, visit underwateraustralia.com.au
KBR Undergoes Major Refurbishment November 2, 2007 -- Kungkungan Bay Resort (KBR) has just completed a major refurbishment of all its rooms, which has seen a radical change of “out with the old and in with the new.”
Bedding, pillows, towels, lamps, decorations, furnishings, curtains and cushions have all been replaced incorporating a contemporary yet traditional style, which really reflects the stature of this fabulous resort. All rooms are now fully air-conditioned.
Renowned for its beautiful, secluded setting, fine food, and high levels of personal attention and service, the 17-room resort also boasts a swimming pool with bar and a unique “over-the-water” restaurant.
And of course the resort sits on the banks of Lembeh Strait, arguably the best destination on the planet for “muck diving.” This fantastic destination is home to a unique concentration of rare and exotic underwater species, or critters –including the pygmy seahorse, mimic octopus and Ambon scorpionfish. To learn more about KBR’s fantastic new accommodations, visit divekbr.com
