PADI Instructor Training in Oman

We are delighted to have recently launched a collaboration with Nomad Ocean Adventures to provide PADI Instructor Training in Oman.  Nomad is a real « Diving Safari » base camp.  It has everything in place to provide a fun and enriching learning great experience.  The perfect place to get you on the right track for a career in the scuba diving industry.

Based in Dibba, Musandam, Nomad is easy to get to via a flight to Dubai followed by a relatively short land transfer.  Once here you have everything at your disposition to prepare for your Instructor Examination (IE) in the best conditions.  This includes a great climate, on site swimming pool, accommodation and all meals included in the package price.

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As soon as the small amount of stress and anxiety of the IE is over we return to Nomad for Specialty Instructor Training. This gives you the opportunity to appreciate some of the truly excellent local diving , and optimise your chances of clinching that dream first job in the industry as quickly as possible.

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In 2016 our Course Director Alex will be running two Instructor Development Courses in January and October.  For a quote and further information e-mail info@diamonddiving.net or call +33 (0)615305223.


Cote d’Azur floods

We were sprung out of our beds early Sunday morning by Noemie’s Dad calling and asking us if we had seen the news, and explaining just how bad things were.  Needless to say we feared the worst and driving down the hill from Antibes into Golfe Juan that morning was a humbling experience.  Fortunately the dive centre escaped completely any water damage, and the boats are absolutely fine.  Many of our neighbouring commerces have had their basements completely flooded with stocks and stores written off.  Mud everywhere.  The local baker has lost all of his ovens and working equipment.

The clean up in Golfe Juan-Vallauris and other affected towns is full speed ahead and it looks like the French government is throwing everything at this mess to minimise the negative effects on homes, lives and businesses. This includes putting tax and social charges bills on hold until the businesses concerned get back up on their feet and a fund generated to pay out ahead of the insurance companies processing the claims.  Our thoughts and condolences go to all those that lost their lives in this tragedy and their families.  All this devastation generated by around an hour of the most intense rainfall I have ever witnessed.

On an environmental note this kind of weather disturbance is clearly not going to go away.  So as a community I believe passionately that divers have a responsibility to speak out and make others face up to this very « Inconvenient Truth ».

Diving conditions are expected to be asbsolutely fine for the weekend so for anybody thinking of a late season long weekend break our message would be don’t hesitate…

 

 

 


INON Level One Underwater Photography Course

Learn Beginner to Intermediate Underwater Photography at Diamond Diving with INON UK’s Steve Warren

INON UK’s Steve Warren, co-designer of the INON UK Level One Underwater Photography Course, will be teaching the program exclusively at Diamond Diving on the Cote D’Azur in May. Steve will be running two courses, the first on 2nd and 3rd of May and the second on the 4th and 5th. Running the course over two days keeps it laid back and allows plenty of individual attention.

The INON UK Level One Underwater Photography Course is designed to fast track divers with limited experience of photography on land or underwater to early success.  The course provides the knowledge, practical skills and hands – on experience to remove the element of luck from underwater photography and help the diver consistently achieve pleasing pictures. The INON UK Level One Underwater Photography Course recognises that underwater photography is not a diving specialty, but a photographic one. Over six theory sessions, four photo dives and extensive debriefs of each students achievements, Steve will demystify taking pictures under the water. Students will learn wide – angle and close up techniques, how to use flash to achieve even and backscatter free images and a few creative lighting skills as well.

The INON UK Level One Underwater Beginners to Intermediate Underwater Photography Course is the first to be endorsed by a leading manufacturer of underwater camera equipment. This is how Gavin Parsons desribed the course for   “Diver Magazine.’ I’VE BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER since I was 11 and a professional photographer both on land and under water since 1994. 
I have seen quite a few underwater photography courses for compact camera users, and while I would hate this review to end up sounding like an ad, I believe this is the most professional, intelligent and well thought-out I have come across so far”.

Steve rarely runs Level One Courses himself these days, so this is a rare opportunity to learn from the co-designer. With extensive media credits gained since 1994, including filming underwater for BBC and ITV shows, an extensive back catalogue of magazine articles and project managing a number of dive books, Steve is well regarded in underwater photography circles.  He is a contributing author to Martin Edge’s  ‘The Underwater Photographer’, considered the best manual for underwater photographers and co – founded the “Visions in the Sea’ underwater photography conferences. Steve will be teaching underwater using his trademark radiophones to ensure each student gets plenty of personal coaching during the photo dives. Maximum class size is four.

For more details, please contact Alex Diamond.