The ability to properly handle a rope or line is – or should be – an important aspect of diving, one that begins by having a fundamental knowledge of certain elementary knots and the purpose for which they’re used. Generally… Read More ›
TDI
Vanuatu – volcanoes, mermaids and wrecks
A 700-kilometre chain of 80-plus islands ringed with coral fringing reefs, the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu boasts active volcanoes, lush rain forests and a fascinating array of marine life that includes dugongs, the legendary ‘mermaids’ of folklore. Espiritu… Read More ›
Fish and ships … and divers
Originally intended as ‘stiffeners’ for the flimsy paper packets that, during the late 19th century, ready-made cigarettes were then sold in, ‘cigarette cards’ became one of the first collectibles available to the masses. At first nothing more than plain pieces… Read More ›
Practical search techniques
The seabed search to locate a specific object is one of the most challenging tasks in diving – and certainly one of the most common in that it has equal application to military, commercial and recreational divers alike. It may… Read More ›
Writing a wrong
Bending the truth a little is an important part of diving culture. As far as I can see there’s very little point in doing a dive if, at the end of it, the only entry in the logbook is, “Got… Read More ›
“SUBSUNK”: The ‘AFFRAY’ tragedy
The following article – by George Wookey and David Strike – was first published in Professional Diver Journal in 1997. ______________________ On the 16th April, 1951, a British submarine – HMS/M Affray, one of several of her class built during… Read More ›