Divernet
News, dateline 02 Dec 2004
Divers explore
new PADI National Geographic course
36-year-old diver Mark Newman,
from Maidstone, became the first person in the UK to complete the new National
Geographic/PADI course which aims to give divers advanced buoyancy, awareness and
site-mapping skills.
The new course has just been launched in the UK, and only about 20 centres are
currently qualified to teach it. Divers practice advanced buoyancy skills,
allowing them to hover either heads up or heads down close to a reef without
contact or causing any damage. Appreciation and awareness of the marine
environment is coupled with the skills to map, survey and document a dive site;
providing useful expeditionary and conservation tools.
"The National Geographic course varies from other PADI courses because it doesn't
just show how to do something, but makes you realise why you do something.
It made me aware of my own reasons for diving" Newman told Divernet.
"The skills involved in the course are so important for diving in a capable,
responsible and conscientious way. The education on reef and marine life
conservation through the knowledge reviews, were invaluable and
fascinating."
Newman completed his course with Dive Machine, based in Tonbridge, Kent on Sunday
28 November. Such was his enthusiasm that he completed the course in a semi-dry
suit in temperatures of just 10 degrees.
"The course is a great mixture, with divers being taught extra buoyancy skills,
awareness of the marine environment and marine life identification, and practical
skills such as advanced navigation and map making." Dive Machine course director
Robert Varns told Divernet.
"It's a sophisticated and involved course that really helps divers to get more
out of their diving. Only 5 star PADI centres and above are eligible to teach it,
and as well as reaching PADI standards, we have to satisfy National Geographic's
course standards."
The course is aimed at divers who have more than just a passing interest in
diving. It can be taken as part of the Open Water qualification, or as a
speciality or 'portal' course for already qualified PADI divers.
Details of UK based PADI centres which run the National Geographic course are
available from PADI HQ Tel 0117 300 7234.
Related website
Dive Machine website
PADI website
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