Greg Weiss

SOS Thousand Islands Chapter has formed a committee to explore the feasibility of creating an artificial reef in the Brockville area. We also hope to incorporate an underwater science monitoring centre with live feeds back to the Aquatarium into this project.

The 2021 PADI instructor manual is now available in English for download from the PADI Pro site (the errata is there too). La version française du manuel de l'instructeur PADI 2021 sera disponible sous peu et je vous ferai signe :)

Make 2021 you year by becoming a PADI Scuba Instructor! Sign up for any instructor-level training in 2021 and get chances to win a GoPro Hero 8, SD card and dive housing. All instructor-level courses count! PM for more info or to register.

Getting ready for ice diving?

PADI Staff from around the globe share a special message for PADI Members, looking upward and forward to a brighter 2021.

My friends at Groundhog Divers in Kitchener had several wetsuits stolen yesterday... Please keep an eye out for these and report if you see these for sale anywhere as these Thieves deserve to be caught.

GREAT SEA STORY The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The... navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought Captain John DS. Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo's position was LAT 0 31' N and LONG 179 30' W. The date was 31 December 1899. "Know what this means?" First Mate Payton broke in, "We're only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line". Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage of theopportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime. He called his navigators to the bridge to check & double check the ship's position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark. Then he adjusted the engine speed. The calm weather & clear night worked in his favor. At mid-night the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line! The consequences of this bizarre position were many: The forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere & in the middle of summer. The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle of winter. The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899. In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900. This ship was therefore not only in: Two different days, Two different months, Two different years, Two different seasons But in two different centuries - all at the same time!

Hey all, we are here all day today and tomorrow. We have a lot of great deals on products big and small. If you are looking for something for the diver in your ...family or perhaps for yourself, come and see us and we can set you up. Since we will be shutting down after Christmas for a month I will be looking to unload merchandise at phenomenal prices. See more

Ice is coming. Time to think about ice diving!

Are you interested in the ocean and outer space? Then you’re going to love our new Dive Stories Podcast episode with marine biologist and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Astronaut Dr. Jessica Meir Listen to the whole episode now http://padi.co/987wc

Inquire about becoming a PADI Instructor!

"90ft (27m) deep into Cenote El Pit we reached a glowing hydrosulfide cloud, caused by noon day sun beaming to the bottom of the cave." - IG user everchanginghorizon in Mexico

The application for our scholarships and training grants are open until the end of October. Review them here http://www.wdhof.org/wdhof-scholarshipDesc.aspx and apply here http://www.wdhof.org/scholarshipApp.aspx

Catalina has sent a letter to their customers advising that the reciprocity agreement with TC has been reached and Catalina will no longer be stamping their 3AL cylinders with the TC-3ALM marking. The cylinders can continue to be used in Canada.

https://www.divenewswire.com/emergency-hyperbaric-treatme/

"The flight of the Eagle from the Ocean" Syml - where's my love #oceaneyes #eagleray #spottedeagleray

Notice to instructors using Centeen Park for training! Please follow the posted physical distancing rules. Do not use the benches for equipment demonstrations and do not congregate on or around the steps. Local residents and swimmers should not have to ask you to move off the steps so that they can exit the water. The city was reluctant to re-open the park and will not hesitate to close it again if the rules are not being followed.

Here's the 2 diving protocols that were accepted by the City of Brockville. There's nothing really different then the Quebec protocol that was put together by F...QAS and now in place in the province of Quebec. Thanks to Paul Boissinot for sharing and working with us in making it happen here in Ontario. Since SOS is divers working for divers, it was a team effort to put something together that is pretty similar in order to NOT have 2 different protocol for the same activity. Read them, print them, this will be our new reality for this summer at least. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Just received confirmation from the City of Brockville (in writing)that Centeen will be open for July 1 (possibly earlier depending on being able to get signage..., etc made) for shore diving. The shore diving protocol was approved last week by the regions health unit and will be implemented by the city of Brockville for Centeen. A huge thanks to Stéphan Senécal for taking the leadership in getting both the boat diving & shore diving protocol approved by the health unit and then the city of Brockville. Also a thank you to Chad Davis & Rob Nolan from the City of Brockville. I know that some folks were frustrated & started to voice that frustration, but work was being done to get the protocol(s) developed, approved and agreed to by the city. Stephan took on this responsibility and was working with the health & city officials. SOS 1000 Islands just didn’t want to undermine all the work that was being done behind the seasons by calling out the city. Sos 1000 Islands thought it was better to help develop & work with the health unit & city officials instead of just calling them out for not opening up Centeen! So finally let the dive season begin! See more