Technical divers explore caves and caverns in Thailand
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand - Big Blue Tech completed the cave and cavern diving portion of their expedition with the certification of a TDI Cavern Diver certification for Helen Artal, Thomas Hallstrom, Fanette LeGoarand and James Rickert during a 4 day/ 3 night expedition in Khao Sok National Park which hosts a man made lake with hundreds of undiscovered caves and cavern systems.
The course included all entry level skills including found in overhead diving including how to use a reel, deal with limited visibility and working as a team. In addition they also had to get used to fresh water buoyancy and diving in remote areas.
After certification the divers explored new areas and discovered some new caves in the 10 - 18m range which will be explored at a later date. On one dive a team covered over 1km of submerged limestone wall looking for caves.
On the final day the team departed from Khao Sok National Park and returned to Koh Tao on the 20th.
Technical Divers head to Khao Sok National Park for cavern and cave diving
Khao Sok, Thailand - Divers on the Valentines Tech Expedition leave Khao Lak for Khao Sok National Park for the overhead diving portion of the expedition which includes cavern and cave level diving.
The Rajjaprabha Dam (also called Chieo Lan Dam) was built in the 1980’s flooding the valley of large limestone cliffs creating a large man made lake. This lake submerged caves and caverns making it perfect for cave and cavern diving and cave diving training.
Also in this lake is a submerged village with a temple which was deserted before the flooding. This temple was discovered during a expedition by Big Blue Tech in June of 2009 - “Wat Lies Beneath”
Big Blue Tech will be in Khao Sok for 3 days and 3 nights before returning to Koh Tao. A full report and pictures will follow.
Technical divers travel north to dive with Manta Rays
Phi Phi, Thailand – Big Blue Tech departed from Phi Phi Island today to head back up to Khao Lak after it was decided that the island held no more interest for the team of technical divers.
Yesterday we dived in Maya Cave which was reported as a great cave worth a visit which we felt posed very little challenge and did give us a rush of adrenaline like other caves we have dived in during this expeditions.
Last night the team spoke with other divers on Phi Phi about the caves, the recreational divers who have never had any formal training in overhead referred to the other caves as “swim through”. This new information put doubt into our minds about the value of staying any longer in exchange for diving somewhere else. The decision was made to not go diving today and instead packed up and left the island.
Technical diving on this island as part of an expedition is very difficult to the point of frustration. We had major problems simply getting from one point of the island to the other with our gear let alone arranging boats and air fills. However it’s very unusual for a divers to travel through the country like this with their own equipment so it was not a surprise that we would encounter some problems.
While Phi Phi was great for a party and all normal holiday making and relaxing it’s a lot like Koh Tao in many ways but nowhere near as developed and established which could be a result of the Tsunami which wiped out Phi Phi island 5 years ago, an event which is remembered in subtle and respectful ways throughout the island.
Anyone wishing to visit Phi Phi should contact Susan at +66 0892894789 who arranged all the transport, accommodation and bookings really well over the phone and was essential to the modest success we got.
This evening the tech crew arrived back in Khao Lak where we would take out our speedboat for a couple days diving on the Similan Islands to look for Manta Rays. This is also the end of the road for Emily who returns to Koh Tao to get back to work teaching scuba diving at Big Blue.
Big Blue Tech’s technical diving expedition officially began with the departure from Koh Tao on January 3 2010 heading towards the mainland on the Seatran Ferry. The journey was to take only 2 hours but in the end took 3 because of all the passengers during this very busy time of year. This journey is different from our last ones. In the past we normally take a nightboat ferry because it’s simply easier, however since Seatran Ferry have moved their peir further south it proved to be the way forward for getting off the island. On the ferry was James Thornton-Allan, Andy Cavell and Emily Billingham with all the gear to meet Mark Slinn at the peir who was waiting with our truck.
Once the truck was loaded we began the journey from Chumphon City to a Hotel just outside the national park, it would be to late in the evening to travel across the lake to our permanent floating hotel. We arrived at the hotel just after 10pm and met up with our friend ‘Note’ who has accommodated Big Blue Tech many times in the past. Unfortunately we were too slow for Andy to catch the Leeds United v. Manchester United game where leeds won thus kicking man u out of the FA Cup, which was evidently important to a man from Yorkshire based on all the complaining in the back of the truck while furiously hitting the refresh button on Marks internet phone.
The morning would be the start of diving activities so it was off to bed early for everyone.
Looking back on 2009 Big Blue Tech remembers the people that came to our little island in Thailand and left such a profound impact on us we couldn’t forget them.
Big Blue Tech was very active in 2009 and helped shape the growth of technical diving in the region. It seemed wherever we went many would follow which exposed technical diving to more divers than ever before a success seen clearly by the creation of technical diving sections in many other recreational diving schools on the Island further solidifying Koh Tao as a major diving destination in the world.
This year Big Blue Tech issued over 200 technical, rebreather and cave diving certifications. We became a TDI and BSAC Technical Diving Facility and began teaching technical diving instructor courses to our interns.
But we couldn’t of done all this without our customers, staff, divers and friends who helped us along the way. We need to thank specifically Cory Lewis, Oskar Sjöström, Christos Kardana, Tim Klein, Andy Holdaway, Darran Jones and Matt Rolph for their support.
We also remember those of the technical diving community who are not with us anymore. This year had too many technical diving accidents around the world and with that our hearts go out to the families of these divers who are without their loved ones this holiday season.
Looking forward to 2010 Big Blue Tech is expanding and growing at the same rate for the past 3 years. We finally broke ground on the expansion giving us twice more space for our staff and equipment to work. We will also be offering TDI, SSI and BSAC technical diving instructor courses issuing the most respected certifications in the technical diving community, this is a result of our staff becoming instructor trainers for each certification agency.
Additionally in 2010 Big Blue Tech will be taking on another senior instructor to accommodate our expansion and hoping to have a third new instructor to help with our peak season in May. We got a bigger compressor for all our cave and cavern diving in Khao Sok because the Bauer Junior just isn’t big enough. And finally we’ll have our continuous flow trimix system working hopefully by the end of January.
Unfortunately we say goodbye to Guillaume Fargues who leaves Big Blue after 6 years as an instructor to join a different dive school in his goal to become a PADI Course Director. We wish him all the luck in the world and would like to remind him it’s only a 5 minute walk to come see his friends so no excuses!
So happy New Year, save diving and we hope to see everyone again in 2010!
Big Blue Tech - Technical Diving Thailand - Celebrates the graduation of Ash Dunn, Mark Slinn and Andy Cavell from their TDI Decompression Procedures Course conducted over the past few days off the coast of Thailand on and island called Koh Tao
The TDI Decompression Procedures course is best described by the TDI/SDI website as:
This course began before the christmas break with some new skills to help train the students to a level appropriate for entering the next step. The students will start their next course, TDI Extended Range, on our Similans Islands Liveaboard in the new year.
The highlight of the course was the abundant marine life on every dive. With large 2 meter Bull and Gray Reef Sharks around us during all our dives the excitement of diving was forced back into every sense we had. The sharks at Chumphon Pinnacle Dive Site seem to disapear during some months and then come back in large numbers without warning. Sharks can be seen hunting and stalking prey but always keeping a safe distance from divers. This safety is kept in part from the prevention of shark feeding so no shark has associated food with a diver.
All of the students excelled at their skills and conduct in the water and received their certification after completing a written examination.
Below are some pictures from this event. The next open space for this course is in March 2010
Today Big Blue got the best christmas present any dive could hope for; the return of our flagship vessel the Mv Banzai. The Mv Banza has spent the last month on the mainland of Thailand getting engine work and a paint job. The boats here take quite a beating over a diving season and go away for repairs every November.
The plan was to get our boat back next year but she arrived this afternoon. A loud cheer could be heard on sighting it steaming towards koh tao on the horizon of the sea.
With the return on Mv Banzai brings our Koh Tao fleet to 4 boats which means it’s now time for Sail Rock full day trips in the new year!
Big Blue Tech and BSAC Thailand completed Skill Development Courses for Ash Dunn and Mark Slinn during a workshop in Koh Tao on the 23rd of December to ehnace their abilities as scuba diving instructors.
A SDC is a course that teached instructors the ability to deliver different or signature courses. For example, a nitrox course could be considered a SDC because it delivers a specific skill set rather then enhancing day to day diver skills.
BSAC Thailand took Mark and Ash through the BSAC Oxygen Administrator Instructor and BSAC Compressor Operator Instructor SDC during the day long workshop. During this time the students had to demonstrate their overall knowledge and ability in both disciplines to the instructor examiner.
After a written and practical exam they were issued their certification cards and received authority to begin teaching the courses.
Andy Cavell, our other intern, missed this event because he was teaching a PADI Deep and Nitrox Specialty Course. He will complete this workshop on the 29th of December.
The rest of the SDC will be earned in February with titles such as Gas Blender Instructor, Mixed Gas Diver Instructor and various other accompanying disciplines like service technician skills.
For more information or to attend our next cross-over, sdc workshop or instructor course please contact us or www.bsacthailand.com
On December 12, 2009 the Screening Room on Koh Tao will host the Thailand premier of “Lost and Found-Legacy of the USS Lagarto” starting at 7:30. The screening room can be found across from Asia Divers resort in Sai Ree.
The documentary investigates the loss of the USS Lagarto, focusing on the submarine’s history and crew, events leading up to her sinking, and heart-felt memories and perspectives of family members.
USS Lagarto was one of 28 submarines built by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company during World War II. Lagarto was on her second war patrol when she sank just weeks before the end of the war with 86 seamen aboard. For 60 years, the sub was lost in the Pacific Ocean, her final resting place unknown. Lagarto was finally found in 2005 by Mv Trident, sitting upright in 225 feet of water. To explore the first WWII sub ever found and capture underwater high-definition footage of Lagarto for a documentary, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum sponsored an expedition led by the History Channel’s “Deep Sea Detectives,” Richie Kohler and John Chatterton. This footage was also contributed with the help of Ace Marine Images.
With this history-making documentary, experience Kohler and Chatterton’s dive to explore the mystery behind Lagarto’s final battle. The documentary includes excerpts of unforgettable interviews with the crew’s surviving family members, as well as first-hand battle experiences recalled by submarine veterans. Learn what Lagarto’s discovery tells us about men of the sea during wartime and the families they left behind.
The film picked up the awards for the categories of Historical Documentary, Musical Composition/Arrangement and Writing in the Regional Emmy’s for Chicago, Midwest Region.
“We are delighted to announce that on Saturday night, 7 November 2009, the documentary, “Lost and Found”, about the submarine USS Lagarto was awarded three Emmys. It picked up up 5 nominations, including one for outstanding cinematography, and went home with 3 awards. We are proud to have been involved in such a spectacular and significant film and could not even have imagined that our underwater footage could have helped to bring about such acclaim.”
This morning divers on Koh Tao were treated with the presence of a Whale Shark at the local dive site Chumphon Pinnacle.
Mark Slinn who is enrolled in a technical diving internship with Big Blue Tech was utilizing his SDI Solo Diver Certification this morning when he spent quality time with the whale shark. Mark experienced one on one interaction without any other divers.
This is not the first time mark has dived with whale sharks but it is his first time alone which made this a unique and special diving experience. When he got back to the boat, teh dives on board didn’t believe him and after all there were no witnesses, this remained the case until Yvonne Fries Big Blue Tech Crew arrived on the boat after completing some deep training dives and had also seen the shark.
So congratulations to the divers that saw them and .. sorry, maybe next time to the ones that didn’t.
Here is some stock footage from Ace Marine Images about Whale Sharks of Koh Tao
Today Big Blue Tech started a Full Face Mask course on Koh Tao. The Full Face Mask course from TDI is designed to get divers comfortable using a full face mask and understanding the benefits and advantages. The divers who joined the course was Ash Dunn (staff) and Mark Slinn (Intern). Andy Cavell was supposed to join us but instead took his girlfriend fun diving in the afternoon and then he’s leaving to take her back to Bangkok.
The full face mask we use for training is the AGA Divator mask. These masks are the most popular choice of full face mask for public safety divers around the world. One of them came from a dive in the Canadian navy who was kind enough to bring it to Thailand for us.
These masks are perfect for cold water, television or film work, low visibility or chemically sensitive water. The mask covers your entire face allowing you to breathe through your nose or mouth, additionally it helps people who have a cold or any kind of dental, nose or eye problems.
While we were working in shallow water getting used to the skill of removing and replacing the mask other staff were busy loading up for the afternoon of diving and even Emily (big blue staff) came by to give the mask a try.
In the afternoon the staff and interns were busy cleaning the Apeks regulators (xtx 200 series with environmental series) and assembling new equipment recently purchased for the upcoming busy season.
Although today is Thursday, we’ll be closing for a long weekend as Andy Cavell is away in Bangkok, Mark moves into a new flat and Ash is celebrating his Divemaster Graduation (pictures coming).
Big Blue Tech starts again on Monday with the TDI Intro To Tech and Advanced Nitrox Course followed by a trip to Khao Sok National Park for a TDI Cavern Course just before Christmas break.
Today Mark Slinn (intern), Andy Cavell (intern) and Ash Dunn (staff) attended a DAN (Divers Alert Network) O2 (oxygen) provider course. The course was conducted by the experienced dive medic technician and DAN O2 Provider Instructor Steve Reid. Steve took a break from his busy schedule as the owner of the new resort Sea View Koh Tao to conduct the course for Big Blue Tech and other diving schools in the area.
The course is described as:
DAN´s Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Provider Course was designed to fill the void in oxygen first aid training available for the general diving public.
This course represents entry level training designed to educate the general diving (and qualified non-diving) public in recognizing possible dive related injuries and providing emergency oxygen first aid while activating the local emergency medical services (EMS) and/or arranging for evacuation to the nearest available medical facility.
In DAN´s most recent dive accident record, less than 33% of injured divers received emergency oxygen in the field. Few of those received oxygen concentrations approaching the recommended 100%. DAN and all major diving instructional agencies recommend that all divers be qualified to provide 100% oxygen in the field to those injured in a dive accident.
For countries like Australia, this course is required for all scuba diving professionals. For us on Koh Tao, this course is included and required for all staff and internship candidates.
The course was completed using theoretical examples, study of local and international law and practical assembly and administration of oxygen and oxygen related equipment.
This would be the perfect course leading up to their O2 Equipment Service Technician Course on the following day.
Big Blue Tech opens it’s doors today to start the new season after closing during the annual monsoon that hit’s the east side of Koh Tao, however the monsoon never happened. Despite diving destinations on the east coast of Thailand like Pattaya being effected by consistent rain and flash flooding; koh tao was sunny and dry.
The many wise locals of koh tao who have been on the island before beer swear that monsoon is coming and that we shouldn’t be opening just yet. So against better judgment we opened the doors of Big Blue Tech and welcomed all the new activity.
One of the more regretful events is the departure of Christos Kardana who’s leaving Thailand to go to England to delve into the plentiful job market there. Regardless we hope he’ll find nothing but misery and come back in the new year.
Today isn’t without celebration as it’s also the first day for Ash Dunn who has been training to become the new Facilities Manager for this past month and walked right into work this morning ready to get to go.
Today is also the first day for our new technical diving interns who have a very long list of courses and goals to complete over the next 3 months on their way up to becoming a technical diving instructor. You can read more about them tomorrow.
Introduction: This is the entry-level certification course for recreational divers wishing to utilize enriched air Nitrox (EAN) as a breathing gas. The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards, and proper procedures for using Nitrox mixes from twenty two (22) to forty (40) percent oxygen content.
The Student Must: • Minimum age of 15
• Have a Minimum certification of Open Water Diver or a current enrollment in an Open Water Diver course
Duration:
This course is run over two full days, the first day is academic and looks at the benefits, risks, operational planning and equipment consideration for nitrox diving. Day one also takes a closer look at blending techniques and correct analysis as well as correct labeling of nitrox gases. Day 2 made up of two dives.
Course Enrollment Details: Enrollment in a technical course guarantees you excellent and complete training. However, it does not guarantee you a certification card. You must earn that. All of our training is performance based.
As part of the Indian Ocean, south of Myanmar is the Andaman Sea; with an average depth of 870 metres; covering an area of 797,700 square kilometres. Within this water body, south of Thailand, lie The Similan Islands, off the coast of Phang Nga Province. Established in 1982 as an archipelago national park, The Similan Islands consist of nine islands, which are Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong. Recently, the park was expanded to include two remote islands, which are Ko Bon and Ko Tachai. “Similan” is a Yawi (dialect of the Malay language) word, which means “nine”.
Big Blue Tech. recently conducted technical diving on the prestigious Big Blue live-aboard, the MV Pawara, which cruises along the national park providing first class diving opportunities. Mike Borneo, who previously completed his TDI Extended Range course with Big Blue Tech. in Koh Tao, joined facilities manager Christos Kardana on the west coast to board the prestigious vessel, conducting technical diving over a four-day period, utilising various gas blends to explore the regions many sites, made easy with the ship’s on board nitrox blending and O2 system.
The MV Pawara boasts many luxuries, including: spacious dive platform accommodating with comfort up to twenty kitted-up divers, on-board computer with software for dive planning and photography download, entertainment lounge, air- conditioned cabins, sun deck, briefing area and four buffet style meals a day, as well as fruit, snacks and beverages provided daily. With a relaxed and comfortable set up, much free time is available between dives; allowing for marine life identification, course theory completion and of course catching some rays…
Mike utilised his time completing his TDI Nitrox Gas Blending course, gaining practical experience filling our technical dive cylinders with the required blend for our planned dive in question.
Below are some pictures from the trip (photographs taken by Christos Kardana).
If you are interested in any of our live-aboard trips, courses and / or expeditions, please do not hesitate to conduct us at: info@bigbluetech.net
