Tuesday 14 May 2013

Emergency First Aid Course - Sunday May 26, 2013

The Ajax Scuba Club is offering an Emergency First Aid + Adult/Child CPR course.

When:  Sunday May 26, 2013

Where:  Ajax Community Centre

Time:  8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Cost:  $105.00

Advanced registration is required.  There are only FOUR spots remaining so if you are interested please contact our Training Director at training@ajaxscubaclub.on.ca  to sign up or call us at 905-619-2159.    This course is open to the public. 
 
This course is of particular interest to anyone who needs to refresh their skills as part of the Rescue Diver or Divemaster certification. 
 
 
 

Friday 10 May 2013

Your Gear - Your Lifeline.


Are you ready for the upcoming dive season?  What about your gear?  Has anything happened to it since you prepared it for winter storage several months ago?  When was the last time you had your gear serviced?
 
 Comfort, fit and performance of your scuba gear are all part of an enjoyable dive.   As part of our basic scuba certification, we all know that Scuba Cylinders require visual inspection every year and hydrostatic testing every five years.  What about regulators or Buoyancy Compensators (BCD’s)?  What about your basic snorkeling gear (mask, fins, snorkel)?  Also included in this big question is your wetsuit/drysuit.
 
Mask:  Does it still fit comfortably?  Was it protected from the elements while in storage?  Has something been pressing on it causing it to deform?  The last thing you want during a dive is to find that your mask will not seal.  Try it on now.  Is it comfortable?  Can you hold it on your face without using the strap by a gentle inhalation from your nose?
 
Fins: Examine the blade for signs of age and the foot pocket to ensure that it will not present ‘pressure points’ on your foot, which can cause fatigue or discomfort.
 
Snorkel: A simple device that allows you to swim with your head in the water.  What could possibly go wrong with such a simple thing?  Does it have a purge valve?  Is it a multi-part construction (more than one piece)?  Check the joints between the individual parts.  Examine the mouth piece for fatigue.  If you are able, make sure the purge valve is free of contaminants.
 
Scuba Cylinders: Look at the neck of the tank for the last hydrostatic test date.  If it will be 5 years since the last test during this dive season, then NOW would be a good time to get it hydro’d.  Look on the tank body for the date of the last visual inspection.  The tank cannot be filled after this date.  If it will be expiring during the dive season, then NOW would be a good time to have it inspected by a certified facility.
 
BCD’s: When was the last time you serviced your BCD?  There are many things you can do to maintain your own BCD.  Salt, sand, chlorine, can all have an effect.  Keeping it clean and dry between dives is a good start.  Take a moment and inflate your BC.  Go away and do something else and come back in a while and examine its status.  Is it still inflated the way that you left it?  If not, you might need to have it looked at.
 
Regulators: This device provides breathing air to you while you are enjoying your dive.  An annual inspection / servicing is a wise thing to do, and in many cases is a requirement for warranty purposes.  Unless you are certified to maintain your regulators, it is advisable to have a certified technician perform any service.
 
The Ajax Scuba Club has equipment available for members to use during courses and club dives.  This equipment requires regular maintenance.   Ajax Scuba Club uses trained professionals to service our rental equipment.    Likewise, you should get to know the fantastic folks at Dive Source in Oshawa, or Innerspace Divers Supply in Pickering.  Either of these fine dive shops can professionally service your gear. 
 
The Ajax Scuba Club would like to thank Brian Pollock of Dive Source for his generous support of our club this year.  It is most gratefully appreciated.