Blow is an outline of the procedures Underwater adventures have put in place to keep divers safe while in training and this is followed by guidance for divers just going for fun dives along with all we know about current scuba diving opportunities, which sites and boat operators are working and the procedures they have in place

You can also watch the full Zoom meeting the dive club had on this subject where we discuss the procedures and how we can get back into scuba diving

https://youtu.be/IqSxY16Tu1U


Covid 19 procedure’s for training dives with underwater adventures

These procedures are put in place to limit as much as possible the risk of spreading the virus between divers while on scuba diving courses with underwater adventures. Each member of the dive team should be aware and have a full understanding of the procedures before each course to help make sure all students adhere to the procedures at all times on the course. All students will be given a form which will list the procedures and their responsibilities with regards to reducing the risk of the spread and making sure any tracking needed afterward can be carried out as per the government’s guidelines and common scene.

General onsite procedures.
Everyone is expected to adhere to 2 metre social distancing at all times on the surface where possible. With this in mind, everyone will be split into buddy pairs and you will stay in these buddy pairs throughout the course to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. There will be hand sanitizer on site so that everyone can sanitize their hands whenever you have to touch anything which is not yours i.e. doing up dry suits and helping on your buddies equipment. It is recommended that you bring your own face mask to wear on the surface before and after dives (please remember to dispose of any facemasks and other PPE you use properly to reduce the risk of spreading the virus and any damage to the environment.
We will inform all dive team and students who they will be buddied with before the start of the day of the dives and we ask that you park your cars next to each other to avoid crossing and unnecessary risks from coming in contact with other buddy pairs, we ask that you use the space behind your car to kit up and de-kit after the dive, if you need any spares, please contact shore support who will be in charge of equipment. Please stay in the space behind your car with your equipment unless otherwise told and please do not leave any equipment near the water at any time to avoid unnecessary movement around the site and the risk of others touching your equipment by accident.
They will be no café open at the site and as it is very important that everyone stays hydrated we strongly advise that you bring your own water to the dive site each day and not share it with anyone else if you forget we will have a couple of sealed water bottles for sale which will be wiped down with an antiseptic wipe when being handed over. For tea, coffee, and food, again you will need to provide your own and again we strongly recommend that you do not share with anyone else to avoid the chance of cross-contamination.
Dive site entry fees can be paid using contactless payments at the site but there will be no handing over of cash. If people want to they can transfer the entry fee over to underwater adventures who will then arrange to pay it with the dive schools normal payment thus reducing contact with dive site staff but this must be done at least two days beforehand
You will need to register at the dive site and with underwater adventures shore support when you arrive at the dive site and when you leave as there will be a limited number of people allowed on-site at any one time so we can keep track in case of anyone showing signs of infection.
 
Any paperwork which needs to be filled out other than paperwork for that day's diving must be completed and emailed over to underwater adventures at least two days before the day of diving and the filling in of logbook should be completed off-site, we would suggest the signing of logbooks to be completed after the virus is under control and suggest just making a note of who needs to sign your logbook so it can be completed later. The details from each dive, depth, times, air in, and the like will be emailed out to everyone after the qualifying weekend.
 
Rental equipment
We strongly suggest you use all your own equipment where possible. If you need any school equipment please let us know beforehand of exactly what you need including the size at least two days beforehand, this equipment will then be disinfected and placed in a plastic bag with your name on it to be given to you on the day. When you have finished with the rental equipment, it is to be placed back in the same plastic bag to be picked up by shore support and placed back in the van

Mouthpieces
No primary second stage regulator will have a mouthpiece on them, you can either provide your own or we will provide one for you which you will place on the regulator yourself and then remove at the end of the day. If you have rented a mouthpiece you will be responsible for it and it is down to the renter to remove the mouthpiece and place it in the disinfectant container with the knowledge of the shore support.
Note. If you are renting a set of Regulators but are not on a course you will need to provide your own mouthpiece and you are responsible for putting it on and removing it after use. You can either but direct from underwater adventures at the same time as you submit your rental application or you can purchase Apex Mouthpieces online.

Site briefings
The dive leader will give the briefings as normal with everyone keeping at least 2 metres from everyone. In the event of a large group where not everyone can hear clearly, the group will be split into 2 or 3 smaller groups where everyone can clearly hear the dive briefing/debriefing while still keeping at least 2 metres apart. If the dive team or students can’t hear clearly they must inform the dive leader giving the briefing/debriefing so changes can be made. It is important for everyone’s safety that everyone hears the briefings clearly and understands what to do while keeping 2 metres apart.

Buddy checks
Buddy checks can be completed in the normal set order with the diver themselves checking the equipment with the buddy looking on from 2 metres away. For parts where the buddy needs to touch any equipment, please use the hand sanitizer before and after touching the equipment, the hand sanitizer does help kill the virus for a couple of minutes after application so this will help protect you while you touch other people equipment as well as helping to keep their equipment clean.

In the water
Please keep mask and regulators on while on the surface, only removing the regulator to ask questions. This will allow us to stay at safe distances to our buddies and in the training group while protecting the training group as a whole and staying safe while scuba diving

Buddy skills
navigations on the surface for open water and advanced students.
Both parties will wear facemasks during this as it will not be possible to always stay 2 metres apart while going through this skill in the car park. When doing the navigation skills in the water and on the surface, you will keep your mask on and regulator in at all times. Please also try to avoid breathing downwind of someone with a regulator in and think about the direction the air is heading when you breathe out of a regulator or snorkel.

AAS.
The mouthpiece on the Alternate air source will be disinfected before the dive by the diver who will be using it in the water and that will not be touched by anyone else until this skill is over

Rescue diver course
While we are still waiting on the full guidance from PADI on how to perform the set skills safely pocket masks will be used for ALL rescue breathing and all rescue patients must keep eyes closed to minimize the risk of infections while performing the rescue breathing skill.

Fun dives
With limited spaces at the dive site fun dives with the club on qualifying weekends will be very limited based on spaces available after staff and students and will be offered on a first come first serve basis.

Pool dives
Similar rules to open water sites will be in place for pool training dives with certain modifications for each site which will be in more detail in the procedures for each pool. These will most involve asking the dive team and students to adjust changing room procedures to allow for social distancing. Because of the humid environment with the pool water which is chemically treated to help control viruses and infections of all types the actual pool environment should be relatively safe but we will still work on the plan to keep masks and regulators in as often as possible and keep the social distancing at the side of the pool while kitting up and when on the surface if needed.


 
General procedures for fun diving during Covid 19

Please read the guidance sheet for training with underwater adventures for procedures on how to keep to the social distancing rules while scuba diving as much as is possible.


Inland dive sites
Most dive sites will have their own rules and you must contact each site individually before going to make sure you are aware of the new rules in place, but a general summation is below.
Most sites will expect you to pre-book you dive so that they can limit the number of divers on-site at any one time to allow for social distancing of all divers and staff while the site is open. This currently also involves being a member of the dive site to allow you to pre-book so with Stoney cove and Gildenburgh you will need to be members of their own on-site membership. There are also online book facilities with these dive sites with Stoney coves new app hopefully coming online on Wednesday and Gildenburgh’s booking system going through their website
One of the reasons for only allowing members in is for the track and trace should anyone come down with it afterward. The government systems is not the greats and actually don’t seem to be working at the moment so if someone does come down with Covid 19 the owners of the dive site will not only have a record of who is on-site but also how to contact them through their membership registration.
Gildenburgh opened on Sunday and Stoney cover is planning on opening on Thursday.
Wraysbury is open and they don’t take card payments and you can’t pre-book. You will need to just turn up at the site and they will let you in when there is space. You will also need to bring exact change for the £15 entry fee as you will need to post it through a hole in a payment box and they will not give you change. It is the same for air fills, you will need to plan for them and bring exact change.
Vobster is not yet open to divers but is open to swimming and from tomorrow  (10^th June) you will need to book a 2-hour slot for your swim which you must stick to. It looks like they are planning on opening in July
NDAC is Still closed.

While on-site
You will be expected to get changed by your cars and not hang around before or after the dive and depending on the site you might only be allowed the one dive you booked. None of the cafes will be open and neither will the shops to discourage you from hanging around after your dive. This is again so they can limit the number of people on-site at any one time.
You will also be expected to not be our normal sociable selves and stand around chatting on-site with other friends you might have met on site. Basically they just would like to do your dive and leave the site as quickly as comfortable.

Air fills
The guidance from HSE is that they are two ways to fill a tank during social distancing

1. 72 hours. The diver drops the tank off for a fill at a position and then backs away at least 2m so the operator while wearing PPE, can more in and pick up the tank. The tank is then filled and left to stand for 72 hours so there is no risk of contamination being passed. PPE is changed after each tank. The process is reversed for the pick-up.
2. The quick fill. 2m distancing rules apply. Once the tank is left the operator will thoroughly disinfect the tank, the tank valve including the threads and the whip including the threads, fill the tank and then pass it back. Due to the risk of water egress into the tank from the cleaning, it is highly recommended that the owner makes sure the valve is dry and realizes some air from the valve before any use to remove as much of the cleaning product as possible.

Obviously, both options will involve payment online or by contactless cards payment system except at Wraysbury as mentioned before.


Boat diving.
Edit 11/06/2020
With boat diving, what we are seeing is a shrinkage of numbers allowed on the boat to allow for social distancing. Most, that are running, have dropped down to a max of 6 per boat and are asking you to stick to your buddy teams to lessen the chance of cross-contamination between groups. Again payment will be made online and you should be bringing your own snacks and drinks.
With this drop in the number of passengers allowed the price will be going up as it will still cost the same to run as before so expect to be paying around 50 % more depending on which boat you go with.
The main issue for club members is that due to our location and the fact that hotels are not an option, we are limited to where we can dive, unfortunately, trips to Cornwall or St Abbs are out with them when they open again as Swanage is close enough for us to do in a day, just about, and I have been looking at Brighton who has already started running trips. If club members are interested in either of these two I can arrange trips down for us but please remember it will be limited numbers.

Shore diving
We can pretty much go shore diving anywhere with a bit of planning and we do have a number of options close enough for the dive club members to do in a day. I will start putting these out for July but please remember to read the underwater adventures training procedures for social distancing while scuba diving and you will also find the procedures for hiring equipment there. 
 

On the Worlds ocean day 2020, I thought it would be a good idea to look at ways we can all help protect our Oceans as they are vital to all life on earth and at the moment our oceans are in a bad state and are currently just getting worse but if we all work together and do our little bit we can turn the tide against plastic pollution, ocean acidification, and pollutant runoff which is a great thing for all life on this Earth of ours.

So here are 13 ways we can help so at least one of them should apply to you and if you would like to know more we will be running a Project aware course later this month where we will talk about the effects we are having and go into more detail on how we can all help.

 

1. Conserve Water

By using less water there is less runoff into the Seas and Oceans. The runoff carries pollutants and sediment out into the Ocean and using less water is better for the environment and your pocket as we have to pay for all the water we use. Although most cleaning products are broken down in the treatment plants most of the base chemical compounds are still in the water and flash out to sea where they make their way into the food chain and water cycle, plus remember, not all water goes through the treatment plants. Remember when David Walliams swam the length of the themes river for charity and was warned then they had opened the sewers due to the amount of water. A WWF investigation found up to 14% of overflows are opened at least once a week.
https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/40-rivers-england-and-wales-polluted-sewage#:~:text=Overflows%20are%20supposed%20to%20happen,at%20least%20once%20a%20month.
The changing weather patterns will also lead to water shortages and increased stress on the environment so by cutting back on the amount of water we use will not only reduce the runoff through the sewers and thus the risk of chemical being flushed out into the oceans but will also help future generations.
Plus, like I mentioned the less water you use the less you have to pay so it’s a win-win.

 

2. Eat sustainable seafood.

Global fisheries are on the verge of collapse. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), three-quarters of the world’s fisheries are now overexploited, fully exploited, significantly depleted, or recovering from overexploitation. Carry a sustainable seafood card and ask your seafood restaurant or fish market to buy from sustainable fisheries. Look for special terms like "line caught", "diver caught", "sustainably caught" or "sustainably harvested and you can also cut back on the amount of fish and seafood you eat. Switching for having fish once a week instead of twice a week will make a big difference.
Alternatively, you cut fish out altogether as I have. As a scuba diver, I just prefer to see my fish swimming around rather than on a plate. Don’t get me wrong, I love the taste of fish and who doesn’t like fish finger sandwiches with a bit of tomato sauce but you can easily find alternatives in most supermarkets nowadays so it's not as much of an inconvenience as you might think.

 

3. Buy ocean-friendly products.

Avoid products produced through unsustainable or environmentally harmful methods. For example, avoid cosmetics containing shark squalene and jewelry made of coral or sea turtle shell. These products are directly linked to unsustainable fishing methods and the destruction of entire ecosystems.
There are a number of ocean-friendly products out there and here are a few examples
https://thegreenturtle.co.uk/
https://theecoshopuk.com/
https://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/






 

4. Reduce energy use.

Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is making our oceans more acidic. One consequence could be the loss of corals on a global scale, as their calcium skeletons are weakened by the increasing acidity of the water. There are many simple ways you can reduce your energy use. Ride a bike, walk or use public transportation. Use high-efficiency appliances in your home. Turn off appliances when they aren’t in use. Turn up your thermostat a few degrees in the summer and down a few degrees in the winter
One really easy way I have found is to use the ECO settings on your washing machine and dishwasher, Yes it takes a little longer to run but it saves water and energy with very little effort on your part, plus again it will save you money.

 

5. Use reusable plastic products.

Plastic debris in the ocean degrades marine habitats and contributes to the deaths of many marine animals. Because floating plastic often resembles food to many marine birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals, they can choke or starve because their digestive systems get blocked when they eat it. Help prevent these unnecessary deaths—use cloth grocery bags and reusable water bottles.

 

6. Properly dispose of hazardous materials.

Motor oil and other hazardous materials often end up washing into coastal areas because they aren’t disposed of properly.  This pollutes the water and hurts the overall health of our oceans. Be sure to dispose of hazardous waste in an environmentally safe way. Your local recycling centre should have places for you to dispose of waste chemical and motor oil on-site so check your local government website for its location.

 

7. Vote responsibly. Contact your representative.

Electing the right public officials is essential to good ocean policy. Do your research and make an informed decision. Exercise your right to vote and stay involved after Election Day. If you have concerns or questions, contact your council or MP.

 

8. Use less fertilizer.

When fertilizers are used in gardening and agriculture, the excess eventually ends up in the ocean. One result is a “dead zone”—an area with very low levels of oxygen in the water—the size of New Jersey in the Gulf of Mexico during the spring and summer. Since all marine life requires oxygen to live, including fish and shrimp, they must flee the area or die. Many other coastal areas are at risk too. So, use fertilizer sparingly and remember more is usually not better.

 

9. Be an Ocean-Friendly Pet Owner

Read pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life. Avoid stocking your aquarium with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, a practice that can introduce non-native species harmful to the existing ecosystem.






 

10. Travel the Ocean Responsibly

Practice responsible boating, kayaking, and other recreational activities on the water. Never throw anything overboard and be aware of marine life in the waters around you. If you are set on taking a cruise for your next holiday, do some research to find the most eco-friendly option. For us Scuba divers, we can normally find a responsible dive boat and on the Underwater Adventures last liveaboard trip we were even given aluminum water bottles to keep so we would use plastic while on the boat.

 

11. Influence Change in Your Community

Research the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter.

 

12. Support Organizations Working to Protect the Ocean

Many institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with a local branch or group, and get involved in projects close to home.

 

13. Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine Life

All life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you will want to help ensure its health—then share that knowledge to educate and inspire others. With this in mind, Underwater adventures will be running a project aware course over Zoom on the 24^th June where we will talk about how we affect the oceans and marine life, the work Project Aware does to protect the oceans, and how you can help with just small changes to the way we live our lives. If you would like more information on the course or would like to know how to sign up please check out the Underwater Adventures Project Aware page by clicking here.
 

The PADI Reactivate course is a new course set up by PADI to replace the old scuba review course for those qualified divers who have not dived in a while but who wish to start scuba diving again. During the old scuba review course, you would be taken through all 20 open water skills by a PADI professional while going over the dive theory to help you remember what you learned when you first qualified whereas the PADI reactivate course only has a few required skills which will allow the PADI professional to tailor the reactive course more to your needs and well as having an online theory section for you to complete before the pool sessions to help refresh your memory of the dive theory you learned during the open water course
This flexibility helps you as the diver gets more from the course while building up your confidence before going back into open water and scuba diving again. The other benefit of this course is that once you have completed your PADI reactivate you will be issued with a new PADI certification card with the new date on it for you to show any dive centre to prove you have completed some diving recently and that you won’t need to go through any refresher training again and can start scuba diving straight away.


 


What is involved in  PADI reactivate?

When you sign up for your PADI reactivate course you will be registered with PADI by use of your old PADI number, don’t worry if you have lost your card as we should be able to find your details on the PADI system with just your full name and date of birth. Once you are registered you will receive your access codes direct from PADI so that you can log on through the PADI website and start your dive theory. The Dive theory can be completed on-line or you can download it to your phone or tablet so you can complete it at your leisure even if you don’t have internet access. Once you complete the online theory part of the course there will be a little test and then you will be able to print off a completion certificate which you can then take along to your dive centre for your first pool session. Most dive centre will give you one pool session but here at underwater adventures, we offer you 2 pool sessions to give you extra time to work on your buoyancy so that you feel completely comfortable back in the water.
During the pool session, your PADI professional will take you through a couple of basic skills such as a full mask clear and regulator recovery so that you feel comfortable with them and then work with you to brush up on any areas and skills you don’t feel comfortable with, they will also go through with you the simple things that may have slipped your mind such as hand signal so you can communicate underwater and basic equalization techniques. You will also be given time to just swim around under the water so that you can get used to the balance of the scuba equipment again and then during the second session your PADI professional will be there to go over any questions or skills you still and not sure about and you will be given plenty of time to work on your own on anything you would like to practice in more detail, all the while under the supervision of your PADI professional.
Once you have completed the PADI reactivate course the dive centre will confirm this with padi so that your new PADI card will be sent out to you and this is when you can update your picture, the picture on the back of your PADI card can sometimes not be the best as a lot of the time it was taken straight after you have finished your last dive and so this is an excellent opportunity so you can take this opportunity to have a nice picture on your new card. With this new card, you can dive anywhere in the world up to your normal dive limits without having to waste your valuable holiday time stuck in a classroom or pool and can go straight into enjoying your scuba diving again.


Who should do the PADI reactivate course?

The PADI reactivate course is open to anyone qualified diver but should be used by anyone who has been out of scuba diving for 6 months or more. That being said, if you have only completed your open water course and did no diving after that we suggest a maximum of a 3-month break before doing a PADI reactive. The Best thing to do is to just keep scuba diving when you can and the best way to do that would be to join a local scuba diving club where you will find loads of like-minded people and be given plenty of opportunities to carry on diving. You can find your nearest Underwater adventures dive club by clicking here


How much does it cost?

Prices vary between £80 and £150 for a full PADI reactivate course. Here at underwater adventures, we offer the standard course for just £99 and you can upgrade to include an open water dive for just an extra £50. During the extra open water dive, you will get to go on a dive with a group while under the supervision of a PADI professional to help build your confidence and the PADI professional will keep a close eye on you so that after the dive they can point out any little tips to help you improve your scuba diving.






How do I book on to a PADI reactivate course?

You can drop us an email here at info@underwateradventures.co.uk or through the contact us page, otherwise, you can book directly through the PADI reactivate webpage linked here, but if using this option please remember to add your padi number or full name and date of birth during the check out page.
 

What comes next?

The best thing you can do is to keep diving whether here in the UK or abroad and we can help you with that as the underwater adventures dive club run dive trip throughout the year both here in the UK or if you prefer abroad to sunnier climbs and these trip are run throughout the year.