Latest

An era is about to come to an end. South Sea Whale Fishery, lithographic print published 1835

Iceland poised to end whaling in 2024

Along with Norway and Japan, Iceland is one of only a few countries that still hunt whales commercially.

However, demand for whale meat has decreased dramatically since Japan—Iceland's main market—resumed commercial whaling in 2019, after a 30-year ban. Commercial whaling was banned in a 1986 International Whaling Commission embargo, but Japan withdrew from the IWC in December 2018.

Suunto was founded over 80 years ago by Tuomas Vohlonen, a Finnish adventurer.

Suunto under new ownership

The transaction has been signed and it’s expected to close in Q1 2022.

Founded in Guangdong, China in 2015, Liesheng is a global consumer-electronics company with its products being sold in more than 100 countries around the world. It is ranked top globally in the wireless audio field and has successfully developed the consumer electronics brand Haylou.

Fourth Element Scout Mask

Fourth Element, Scout Mask, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, XRay Mag, X-Ray Magazine, scuba diving equipment
Two skirt colours, four different lenses, four coloured straps. You have 32 options with Fourth Element's 'Scout' mask

Fourth Element's slogan is "equipment for adventure". It was therefore only a matter of time before this manufacturer looked beyond their core product range of thermal protection and swimwear, and branched out. And the catalyst? Ironically, Covid-19. 

Andy Gates, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, XRay Mag, X-Ray Magazine, Michelle Haywood, Discover Diving, Isle of Man, UK scuba diving
Recreational scuba divers about to explore the waters off the Isle of Man | Image Credit: Rosemary E Lunn

Covid-19 and Diving: Research Survey

Dr Tina Spence, a qualified doctor / GP trainee is looking into the affects of Covid-19 as part of her Master's programme. During the process, she will be working closely with DDRC Healthcare. The 'Diving Diseases Research Centre' is also based in Plymouth, Devon. 

All UK divers are invited to help with this research, even if you have never had Covid-19. Tina Spence, University of Plymouth

The Research

We all know that Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the UK and the world. However, there is currently limited anonymous field data around divers participation in recreational diving during the pandemic. 

You will be asked about your opinions and diving practices - your views and experiences are what this project is interested in exploring. Tina Spence, University of Plymouth

Information being sought include

Download a free dive planner

BSAC has kindly made it available to all divers, for free. 

The PDF can be printed off in A4 or A3 format. Alternatively, if you require it in a bigger format, the planner has been created in A1 and A2 sizes. The relevant file can be sent to your local printer or copy shop. 

Divers should note that whilst tide heights vary, springs and neaps occur at the same time around the world. 

Download the 2022 year planner

Please click below to download the PDFs.

Explorer Victor Vescovo (left), Founder of Caladan Oceanic, along with Dr Osvaldo Ulloa, Director of the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografia (IMO), have completed the first-ever crewed dive to the deepest point of the Atacama Trench
Explorer Victor Vescovo (left), Founder of Caladan Oceanic, along with Dr Osvaldo Ulloa, Director of the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografia (IMO), have completed the first-ever crewed dive to the deepest point of the Atacama Trench

First-ever crewed dive into Atacama Trench

On 21 January 2022, two men dived the first-ever crewed dive to the deepest point of the Atacama Trench, the deepest trench in the southeastern Pacific.

This feat saw explorer Victor Vescovo, Founder of Caladan Oceanic, and Osvaldo Ulloa from Instituto Milenio de Oceanografia (IMO) descending to 8,069m below sea level, in the submersible Limiting Factor. This dive was the first in the Chilean leg of the Ring of Fire Pt 2 (2022) expedition.