Tech and Training

The discussions included how often checklists are used (if at all), and how effective are they (when they are used).

To date, there has not been any formal studies undertaken to determine checklist use within the community. Now a PhD research project - primarily examining the role of Human Factors in SCUBA diving - is looking at checklist usage.

Leading personnel from the British Sub Aqua Club and Global Underwater Explorers have confirmed a review has been completed on how to integrate GUE divers into BSAC branches.

The useful discussions centred around reinforcing common training features and identifying any mismatches that might cause inconsistencies on branch dives between GUE and BSAC-trained divers.

Renowned diving physiologist Dr Neal W Pollock filmed a EUROTEK TEKTalk where he discussed the foundations of decompression physiology, M Values and what Gradient Factors are.

Pollock is the Research Director at Divers Alert Network (DAN) and a Research Associate at the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology, Duke University Medical Center. Both positions are based in Durham, North Carolina.

Throughout Rebreather Forum 3 experts from all fields - manufacturing, human interface design, accident analysis, rebreather training and diving - all advocated the use of checklists. The benefits of using this tool were highlighted to ensure that units are correctly built and pre-dive checks completed.

It is a significant find that will aid in the understanding of commerce and trade routes in the ancient world, around 218-210 B.C.

Jarrod Jablonski, president of GUE, said the find was a “remarkable piece of history”, exhibiting intricate wave patterns and Greek letters inscribed into its surface. Sixteen other unique artifacts were recovered by GUE technical divers working closely with submersibles from Brownie’s Global Logistics. The Sicilian government will study and preserve these artifacts.

Associate Professor Simon Mitchell had a busy EUROTEK. He gave two keynote presentations, was the guest after dinner speaker at the Gala Dinner, and won a EUROTEK award.