Richard Branson Expiration of Beleze’s Blue Hole

With the historic scientific expedition to Belize’s Blue Hole fast approaching, Aquatica Submarines has announced Discovery Inc. as the Expedition media partner. Discovery will be conducting a live broadcast of the Expedition, which will be televised globally from 4pm-6pm EST on Sunday, December 2ndthrough the Discovery Channel. The live broadcast will profile the Expedition team and follow them from the surface to the bottom of the Blue Hole. Aquatica’s Chief Pilot and Oceanographer, Erika Bergman, will be joined by Sir Richard Branson and Fabien Cousteau for this unique and truly historic event. As they descend into the Blue Hole, there will be a discussion included on the live broadcast about ocean conservation and preservation. These topics are a key focus of the Expedition for all parties involved, and the live broadcast will help ensure that this vital message reaches viewers around the globe.

Lamai Scuba Diving updated Website

We have updated our website still a few things to do but its up and running.

“I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW”

HOW TO SELECT YOUR SCUBA MASK AND PREVENT FOGGING

DIVING IS ALL ABOUT SEEING and exploring the underwater world. Most people experience this unique setting only by viewing it on a screen, but as divers, the mask serves as our portal to a first-person experience of the aquatic realm. The scuba mask is typically constructed of a flexible material, such as silicone, and designed to fit the face, including the eyes and nose. The  scuba mask is designed with a skirt that seals the mask to the face to keep water out and provide an air space so the eyes can focus underwater. It has a tempered glass lens (or lenses) for viewing. One drawback of the mask is its tendency to fog. In this article we’ll examine how to select, prepare and care for the scuba mask, including how to keep it fog-free and clear it easily while diving.
When it comes to securing your very own window to the underwater world, the best place to shop for a good quality, well-fitting mask is your local dive center. There are subtle nuances to selecting the ideal mask and the pros at your dive center are trained to assist. The staff will explain how to test for a proper fit, how to adjust the strap and why being able to access the nose pocket with your thumb and forefinger is important. They’ll likely have a wide selection of masks from which to choose and, in some instances, they may have samples you can test in a pool.
Low-profile masks provide a wider field of view and make skills like mask clearing and equalizing a bit easier to perform. Some standard masks give a wider field of view due to clear side windows, which increase peripheral vision. Other options include masks with clear silicone skirts creating an open feeling. Dark colored skirts are also popular, especially with underwater photographers, because they tend to shade the eyes and reduce ambient light. Mask frames and skirts come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, such as white, blue, yellow and purple.
For eyeglass wearers, some masks can be quickly and easily outfitted with corrective lenses that match your prescription.
Some new mask styles offer special features like lenses with underwater color correction and UVA/UVB (ultraviolet A and B) filtering to protect your eyes from harsh sunlight.

Preparing Your Mask for Diving

Once you’ve selected a new mask, read the manufacturer’s instructions for pre-use cleaning. Some masks have lenses that are treated with a special anti-fog coating and don’t require any special cleansing prior to first use. In fact, aggressive cleaning techniques on treated masks can damage the defog treatment. Mask lenses that aren’t treated with a special defog coating should be scrubbed with a very mild abrasive cleanser and rinsed well before use.
Commercial mask cleaners introduced in the past few years are very efficient. However, there are some home remedies that also work well. One of the best cleansers is non-whitening, non-gel toothpaste. Before applying toothpaste to the lenses, wash your hands to remove any oil from your skin as natural body oils and cosmetic oils such as sunscreen lotions will negate the effects of the defogger. Now spread the toothpaste over the entire lens and skirt (inside the mask) with your finger or a soft-bristled brush. Rub thoroughly, then rinse well.
Some people swear by using fire instead of water to prepare the mask for its initial use, suggesting that you remove the coating by burning it off — heating the inside surface of the lens with a lighter. We do not recommend this technique, as you could easily warp or melt the mask’s silicone skirt and you risk injuring yourself in the process.

Keeping Your Mask Fog-Free

Masks tend to fog when moisture forms inside and condenses on the lens. As we mentioned previously, mask fogging can be a common problem, but it’s one that has several simple solutions. Defogging solutions work as surfactants that coat the lens prevent fog from forming.
Although you have completed the initial pre-use cleansing of your mask, you will likely need to use a defogging solution prior to each dive, although recently, defogging solutions have been introduced that are reported to last for an entire day of diving. Numerous commercial products are available in spray bottles, as gels, drops or paste. Some products are rubbed on the lenses and left to dry. Prior to the dive, the lenses are buffed until clean. Ways to defog your mask are definitely improving, making a lot of divers very happy. Of course, there are always the old standbys, which included diluted baby shampoo and saliva.

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Rare shark nursery discovered - SeaRover 2018

Wreck & Koh Tao 2 Dives

Description

HTMS Sattakut is located on the west side of Koh Tao is a purpose sinken wreck. It was donated by the Thai Royal Navy cleaned and stripped before a controlled sinking on June the 18th 2011. She lays just next to Hin Pee Wee dive site on a sandy area. The Stern is at 31 metres and the Bow at 26 metres pointing north to Hin Pee Wee. The shallowest part of the wreck is the wheel house at 18 metres.
As you dive around the wreck there are many port holes, looking though you can see a abundance of fish, Giant Groupers, Snappers, Trevally to mention a few. The bottom of the hull you can find Jankins Rays hiding out there. You will need you wreck dive specialty ito penetrate the wreck.
Diver Prerequisites
If you’re at least 15 years old and have PADI Adventure Diver Certification
Penetration of the Wreck
Wreck Specialty
After Wreck we have lunch. After lunch we do the last dive of the day at one of many amazing dive sites Koh Tao has to offer.
Duration: 1 Day, 2 Dives
Schedule:
Pick up from your hotel 7am for transfer to the pier were a light breakfast is provide. The speed boat leaves 8am and arrives  at the dive site  9.20am.
Lunch is served after the first dive, then after 1 hour surface interval we have the second dive.
We arrive back to the pier in Koh Samui 3pm
Include in the price
2 Scuba Dives
Hotel Transfers
Light Breakfast Tea/Coffee
Refreshments water/Soft Drinks
Lunch
Dive Equipment
Maximum 4 divers to per Dive Master
The cost of the tour is 5,000 Thai Baht per person
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We offer 10% Discount for early booking (10 days before the beginning of tour)

Homeowner Builds $2 Million Scuba Diving Pool In His Garden

Wouldn’t it be nice if you were rich enough to build your very own private pool deep enough to scuba dive?
Well, one homeowner in the U.S. state of Utah has done just that.
In addition to having a water slide, wading area, grotto and other amenities, the pool in Springville, Utahis 140ft/43m long, 60ft/18m wide and at certain points 26ft/8m deep.
The US$2 million pool — which holds about 360,000 gallons/1.4 million liters of water — was built so the avid scuba-diving owner could practice his skills without having to travel.
Animal Planet featured the pool in its “Pool Master” show (granted, it was a year ago, but it’s still really cool). Check the link below.
Scuba Pool

A second-stage regulator free-flow happens when the downstream valve in the second stage sticks wide open. Most of us have experienced that at one time or other at the surface. You place your regulator in the water at the surface with its mouthpiece face-up, and the next thing you know, your reg is wildly free-flowing. Usually, all you have to do is put your thumb or hand over the mouthpiece or turn the reg face-down, submerged in the water. At the surface, a free-flowing regulator is annoying, but at depth, a regulator locked in free-flow can be dangerous.

 Cold water is the No. 1 culprit behind a free-flowing regulator, but there are less-common reasons, too. For example, there have been instances of a diver using their octopus reg to inflate an SMB, only to have it free-flow. A second stage that is clogged with sand, jamming the valve open.
Suddenly, you’re immersed in more bubbles than those produced by a Jacuzzi. So what should you do if your regulator free flows at depth? You can continue to breathe from a free-flowing second stage as you surface, and during your open-water training, you practiced this skill. Follow our tips for dealing with it calmly and safely.
1) Remember your training. Invoke the mantra Stop, Think, Breathe, Act.
2) Remove the second stage from your mouth. Tilt the mouthpiece so that it’s partially in your mouth — grip it on the right side of your mouth as normal, but left the left side rest lightly on your lips, just outside of your mouth. (This allows excess air to escape through the sides of your mouth.)
3) Press the purge button and use your tongue as a splash guard against the roof of your mouth to prevent choking on water. Tilt your head to the right.
4) Keep your mouth slightly open and breathe carefully and calmly from the free-flowing air bubbling next to your mouth.
5) Ascend at a safe rate. A free-flow will deplete your air supply in a matter of minutes, so it's important that you surface as soon as possible.
6) Once you surface, close the cylinder valve to stop the free-flow.
7) Practice this skill in the pool. It’s not a great feeling to have your reg free-flow, but in the unlikely case it happens to you, it’s best to have practiced this skill. A pool is a safe environment for you to get comfortable with the skill.
Of course, there are other options:
1) If you carry a pony tank, switch to your bail-out gas, and then safely ascend.
2) Switch to your buddy’s alternate air source, and then surface together.
You know the old saying — an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? That’s certainly the case with a free-flowing reg:
1) Make sure your reg is serviced regularly. Don't dive again with a reg that has experienced a problem until it’s been checked and repaired by a qualified technician.
2) When diving in cold water, get a cold-water regulator that’s designed to prevent free-flows.
3) Don't let your reg or alternate air source drag on the bottom or beach as it might get clogged with sand or mud.

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Underwater Navigator Specialty Course

We will also teach you 

Have you ever wonder how your instructor or Dive Master always find there way back to the boat or finds points of interest underwater. The Underwater Navigator course teachers you the skill and techniques to give you confidence to find your way around.

Academic

The Navigation course will teach you how to use the compass underwater using the bezel and the lubber line. To start with we make things easy by learning you with the cardinal points of north, south, east and west. For example if the north is in the 2 index marks on the bezel and you turn round till the south is in the 2 index markers you are on a receptacle heading.

• Methods to estimate distance underwater.
• Compass navigation while making at least five turns.
• Marking or relocating a submerged object or position from the surface.
• Underwater map making.

Equipment

Besides your basic scuba equipment, you’ll need a compass and underwater slate. Your PADI Instructor will show you how to use a reel and line for estimating distance underwater.
Diver Prerequisites

• Certified as PADI (junior) Open WaterDiver

Included in the price

• 4 Dives 3 Training dives and 1 fun dive
• This includes all your Padi materials required
• Transfer to and from hotel
• Light breakfast, , coffee or tea in the morning
• Refreshments
• Lunch
• Equipment

The cost of the Underwater Navigator course is only 11,000baht.
Maximum 2 to one Padi Instructor.
10% Discount for early booking (10 days before start of the course)