The Liquid Heaven Blog - Emerald waters of the West Coast - Victoria and Sidney BC Diving

A Farewell to Sidney

2008-06-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank my friends and customers abroad for supporting my dive store Liquid Heaven for the last 3 years. I'm Closing the doors Wednesday 18th of June due to a very bitter, vengeful marriage that is now costing me my business. We have had 4 great years in business in Sidney because of a great diving location and huge loyal customer base we developed. Sidney Dive n Surf closed in February 08 and now we close in June 08. Just to let our readers now. The dive industry is a tough market to break. There is not enough comroderry amogst the dive stores and local township asscociations in the community. If local people continue to buy products online, or support the big box stores, dive stores or any other mom and pop stores will never exist to serve the local community. Try buying a tank of air on line.

For your information I was very saddened when Dan of Sidney dive n Surf closed his doors. Unfortunately people listen to rumours and that's sad. On the contrary I like Dan and his wonderful wife. I think he is a fun individual despite what differances we have in business we should have marketed together and made Sidney a pleasure destination for divers versus a town to avoid because of internal fighting amongst assocations, whale watching companies and simliar businesses. Dan and I had our differances, we sold different product, offered different services but we were on the same team. If the dive stores worked together in the local community more the whole area will profit dramatically.

The town of Sidney has no idea what they are doing as far as marketing and what a shame that is. No place to park, stiffling small business growth, too high rent and no team work, not to mention absolutely nothing for young people who are our future. I look at Sidney BC as a wheel, and diving, whale watching, eco tours, biking, sailing and boating, Snowskiing, west coast trail are all spokes or vehicles in which attract people to our gorgeous West Coast of BC. Think of Sidney as the above and below water experience, gateway to the Gulf Islands. People come here for the experience. Families that come from Europe and abroad will pay premium dollars for an experience. People always remember experiences, not dinners and hotel accomodations. We are crazy to think marketing Sidney as a BOOK TOWN that were going to attract people from the world to visit Sidney. People that visit are attracted to outdoor activities that Sidney offers. We attract these tourists here using these vehicles of outdoors activities (diving, whale watching, eco-tours) and then while they are here they eat at our first class restaurants, and enjoy huge choices of book stores and enjoy world class accomodations right on the waterfront. I don't know why people are not working together so all people could make a living and really support each other as community should. I moved here with the intention of giving to the community for the rest of my working life. I have tried to stay open long hours seven days a week to accomodate people and influence the local businesses to stay open later than 5 pm. I have seen so many good people lose their business locally in Sidney and it seems no one cares in the township, the powers that be. The mayor, and his crew along with the Chamber of commerce, Sidney Business asssociation should work as one unified voice thinking outside the box for the betterment for the community, not for personal gain. This is not a letter of hate but more of disbelief of what I have seen in 4 years being in Sidney as a resident.

I wish great success for the remaining businesses in Sidney. I hope I have influenced some people in Sidney in a good way. I know I will miss you all very much, all local busineses, friends and excpecially my diver buddies. I will miss the stunning veiws, the best restuarants anywhere. I have been touched and overwelhmed by you people supporting me through so much these last few months. You will be missed beyond understanding. You will soon hear of my next life adventure and desination shortly...............okay it's Mexico. I will talk to you all soon one day. Listen for my name because I know you'll visit me.

Your Scuba Instructor, your friend, your servant and your local Sidney merchant.

"Dream deep, Dive Inspired"

Darryll Harasemow

Padi GranDadi

New Dive Club in Victoria area

2008-05-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

Good day divers. I hope all of you are enjoying a beautiful May long weekend in Sidney and area. The sun is out and man, so are the divers. Our store "Liquid Heaven"has been over-welmed this weekend with tourists wanting to dive and charter a boat. A new dive club called "Sunday Divers" has been run by local divers of the victoria and peninsula area has been very succesful in the last 2 months it has been operating. Divers that dive with this club have expressed their experience with the club as great dives, laughter and a great sense of belonging. Sunday divers have acquired a fine boat (just recently) I might add. They have the ability in taking out 20 to 26 divers at a time to the most favorite spots. Sunday divers accepts anyone to dive with them. It has no concern where your from and who your home dive store is. This is simply another way to bring divers from different stores together for the great cause of commradery and developing knowledge of dive sites, equipment and each other. Where else can divers get together to take pictures and just have a blast during the trip out and back from the dive sites listening to music? Everyone is aware that there are some clubs locally in Victoria that are in existance but not really active with a dive boat. There is another reasonably new dive club named South Island Divers who also have a very nice boat moored in the Brentwood Bay area right next to my Yacht where I live. They cater to divers from the Victoria area as well. It is so nice to see more clubs being established to service the large number of divers that are out there. Call Liquid Heaven for more information regarding these clubs and we'd more than happy to get you in touch with the dive club leaders. Put your alliances with dive stores aside and just have fun diving with fellow divers. Safe diving to you all. Have a great summer.

"Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"
Padi Grandadi

Victoria & Area Favorite Dive Spots

2008-03-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

Good day to you all. Todays topic ..... Diving. It's always diving. I would like to share with you my favorite local dive spots: shore and boat dives. I have been asked by several visitors from abroad to name just a few that I like. Lets start off by just naming the sites as my web site will give you more detailed information on the sites themselves. In Sidney, we have the awesome beginner dive spot being Glass Beach /ReefBalls. Located just 150' from the back door of Liquid Heaven. We have approx. 750 reefBalls out front that have been placed in 10' to 35' of water over the last several years by many volunteers. Liquid Heavens' volunteers are today still placing the reefBalls one by one in exactly the location we desire them to go. We now have a ReefBall highway from the Bevan Peir to the 35' wreck and then to the Sidney Wharf. The marine life that it has attracted is very exciting as we see more life by the week. Ling Cod, perch, shrimp, eels, crabs of all sorts and sizes and many beautiful anenomeos. I dived here 25 years ago and have never seen it so wonderful. After you do your dive, enjoy the 3 headed shower in the parking area near the dive site to rinse off your dive gear. And hey, air fills for $5.

Just a hop skip and jump from Sidney we have the protected Saanich Inlet that offer many many dive sites within a few minutes walk from the parking areas. The sites that are most commonly used by divers are Moses Point, Deep Cove, Warrier point, Braemar, Dyer rocks (near Coles Bay), Henderson Point, Willis Point, Mackenzie Bight, The Lord Jim in Mill Bay just to name the most popular sites within 5 to 40 minutes a way from the store. These are all great beginner dive sites except maybe Willis point which drops off sharply into the depths and advanced experience is needed. Of course, anywhere you should dive, it should be with a buddy.

As far as boat dives, wow there are so many. First lets talk about the protected area of the Saanich Inlet. Some dive locations are Christmas point, the White Lady, McCurdy Point, the Cement plant, Marauders Wall, Senanus North, Senanus South, Sponges at Senanus, Dyer Rocks, Tozier, Patey Rock, Quibley Rock, Mackenzie Bight #3 and Whatcom Ledge.

As you move out of the Saanich Inlet you have Sansum Narrows, Cheery Point, Octopus Point, Burial Inlet and areas around Maple Bay are fantastic. If you head over towards Swartz Bay you have Arbutus Island, some nice diving around Peirs Island (which for your information use to be a type of prison/ concentration camp years ago).

Most dive stores can be of great importance to you for compass coordinates to areas of interest such as octopus dens or wolf eel caves. Most seasoned instructors from any store are always willing to share their special locations to all student divers that show an interest in diving new areas. As an instructor since 1989, I am still so excited to teach and dive in any chance I get. Liquid Heaven has a group every sunday that go out to new locations to scope out new areas of interest. The group is called sunday divers and they meet at Liquid Heaven every sunday at 9 am and depart for 2 to 3 dives. This group gets larger by the week and now has become quite a topic to write about. You can find them on facebook, like everything else. You should try make it one weekend and see for yourself if this is a group that would interest you. There are many groups throughout the Victoria area some through dive stores, some not. Their all good because they promote diving to the seasoned and beginners divers. I thank all the groups that are in existance in the Victoria region. As a diver, you want to find a store, a group or network of people that you will fit into to. Some like to wreck dive, some deep dive and some just like to explore different areas. Most people in the Victoria, Sidney area do not know that we have two world war 2 planes in our waters in close proximity to our store, a munitions dump as well and a few large natural wrecks that are rarely dived on. There is so much to explore here in Sidney, come on in and sign up for a course or weekend excursion..
More to come in the next few blogs...

"Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"
Padi Grandadi

Winter diving in Victoria BC

2008-02-09T16:19:00.001-08:00

Hello divers and wanna be divers. This little blog is going to be a bit more directed to fair weather divers and wanna be divers so don't take offence to the comments given below. People, do you realize that the West Coast of British Columbia has the most awesome diving anywhere? We have more life per square inch than anywhere in the world and YES, we do have the colours. This is one of the most exciting places to dive anywhere. We have wall dives, natuaral wrecks, artificial wrecks and some very rare things only found here in the Sannich Inlet and certain parts of the BC West Coast: like giant sponges. The sponges for your information are unknown anywhere in the world. Sponges are fused strands of glass. They shatter like glass when touched, so don't touch. Theses giants are up to 12 feet across and are decades old. The ones at the Queen Charlottes are up to 9000 years old.

We have bragging rights to the biggest giant octopus of the world. We have six gill sharks, wolf eels, and huge array of fish species and anenomeos galore. It is an absolute paradise for photographers or vidiographers. I am quite amazed that the West Coast does not get its right to more coverage on TV and dive magazines. I guess for national photographers they like to see the ladies in bikinis in warm bathtub water versus Canadian divers all dressed up in drysuits. Diving here is not really a fashion statement, well maybe a little. Canadians are proud to be the best taught in the world, and we also love the better equipment that you can purchase her for extreme climate diving. Warm water divers have no advantage to us cold water divers. Their skills for the most part are not as polished as ours. Most Canadian divers have mastered skills like buoyancy and communication. I have dived since 1977 and I have been most places around the world and have yet to see a more beautiful place to dive than our West Coast. The waters of Victoria and surrounding Gulf Islands, the Barkely Sound, the northern tip of Vancouver Island offer every type of desired diving to the most experienced diver and novice diver in the world. We not only offer world class - diving but you can experience whale watching, eco- touring, lounge around some world class hotel and motels and of course, eat fanatastic food in some quaint little restaurants in these areas. The Victoria area is known as the most desired place to live in Canada with the most mildest climate in the country. We don't have the cold weather like Alberta or the Yukon so the diving here is not as cold as you think it might be. If you have a desire to learn to dive, come see us at Liquid Heaven. We have top quality gear and top quality instruction that is tailored to each persons ability to learn at his/her time. You will be looked after like your my own child in the lessons. We have special winter rates for beginner scuba courses and a special for Valentines this week for rental gear. Come on in for a coffee and discuss your future in diving with us. Don't save all your money to be taught in warm water destinations, you will be unhappy with those results as I hear it all the time from customers. I look forward in seeing you soon.

"Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"

Padi Grandadi

Darryll

Seasons Greetings

2007-12-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our customers. I hope all the best health and wealth for the upcoming year of 2008. Please drop in for refreshments and snacks during the day of the 24 Christmas Eve 9 am till 4 pm. We also will be doing a Christmas Day dive 11 am followed by a small party (yea, right small party) at my residence for those customers that do not family or friends or a place to go. Merry Christmas to all.I thank you all so much for supporting me for the last incredible year.

"Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"
Padi Grandadi
Darryll

Liquid Heaven is Honored to Receive a PADI 5 Star Rating

2007-12-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

The PADI 5 Star Dive Center membership level is awarded to progressive PADI Dive Centers that excel in providing dive consumers with a full range of diver education programs, equipment selection, and experience opportunities and that actively promote aquatic environmental awareness. A PADI 5 Star Dive Center is active in its community presenting a professional image consistent with, or better than, the norm of the marketplace. These dive centers embrace the PADI System of diver education and are committed to providing customers with quality products, services and experiences.

Incorporated in Aug 15, 2005 Liquid Heaven Diving Experience Inc. is a PADI 5-Star Training Center. Liquid Heaven Diving Experience Inc. was awarded this prestigious award only after 1 1/2 years in business. PADI is the world's largest and most recognized scuba diver certification agency. A 5-Star rating means that you are taking advantage of our ability to issue the exclusive PADI 5-Star Certification Card. The PADI 5 Star Training Center membership level is awarded to progressive PADI Dive Centers that excel in providing dive consumers with a full range of diver education programs through the professional instructor level courses, equipment selection, and experience opportunities and that actively promote aquatic environmental awareness.

A PADI 5 Star Training Center is active in its community presenting a professional image consistent with, or better than, the norm of the marketplace. These dive centers embrace the PADI System of diver education and are committed to providing customers with quality products, services and experiences. The greatest benefit you receive, though, is service --- the kind of high quality and personalized attention to detail that we enjoy and keep in order to maintain our PADI 5-Star Training Center rating. Here are just a few specialty services we have to offer: Full technical bench with Flow Analyser for regulator service, On-site oxygen aroma therapy bar, full clothing line, video library of world dive sites, sunglasses and many warm water selections for snorkellers.

Code of Ethics

Liquid Heaven provides our customers with well maintained, new, state-of-the-art rental and instructional equipment. We ensure that our staff members provide you with honest, in-depth advice on the equipment we sell. Scuba Service Center - "Liquid Heaven Services What We Sell" means what it says: you'll be able to get fast, convenient, local service by manufacturer-qualified in-house service specialist on all the breathing equipment you buy from our dive center. We also maintain many other manufacturers’ equipment.

Pure Air Station

We have our air analyzed by an independent testing agency (twice as often as needed to provide the best air anywhere), a minimum of once every three months. In order to achieve and maintain this award, our air supply must always meet or exceed the CGA Type E regulations for sport diving standards. We have a 21cfm. Bauer compressor with an 18 horse motor capable of pumping 5500 psi. with 8 air storage cylinders.

Community Involvement

Maintaining a positive image for diving among the people in our community goes a long way toward assuring continuous community support for you and your diving activities. A positive image for diving also helps bring more people into the sport, which in turn helps create more diving opportunities for all divers -- including you. We publish newsletters, sponsor public diving events, promote diving education and activities, and offer Emergency First Response courses to the general public. Liquid Heaven is currently working directly with the founder of Canadian Reef structures placing cement reefballs on the ocean floor at the Sidney Waterfront, building it to be a world class playground for all level of divers. Darryll W. Harasemow also is a director of the Dive Industry of British Columbia working diligently in the marketing, web site data collection and sponsorship committees to assist in bringing people from all over the world to our west coast for the best diving in the world.

Educational Proficiency

This is your assurance that whenever you take a course from us, you can expect to be taught by highly qualified PADI Professional Instructor with many years of experience and receive a PADI certification. We teach our scuba classes using a multi-media classroom. We have a huge 44 inch plasma TV for your viewing enjoyment. Your Safety and Enjoyment is Our Job number One.

Classroom Time

Unlike many other PADI training centers which are only open during office hours, our classroom is open until late. You can also use this opportunity to watch all training videos and read some useful PADI manuals in your free time to familiarize yourself with all of it. Your Instructor Darryll Harasemow and PADI staff are always available for assistance after classroom time to guide you and help with whatever questions you might have.

Team-work

You will not be alone! In our PADI facility, you are not just another customer; you are part of the Liquid Heaven team, for the same reason and with the same goals! You will have the chance to make new life long friends or find a diving partners!

Complete and up to date PADI Library

We have them all ! All the manuals, all the videos and all the digital products, for Discover Scuba Diving right up to PADI Instructor Development Course! You are encouraged to use them to make your PADI training more meaningful, and to familiarize yourself with all the available PADI materials for learning or teaching PADI courses in the future.

Courses for Scuba

2007-10-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

Good day to you all. Today's topic, Scuba Courses in beautiful Sidney BC.

We have people come into Liquid Heaven dive store everyday to shop for scuba courses. Everyone today that is interested in scuba lessons might think all courses are equal in all stores. This is absolutely incorrect. Each stores course prices are different, course materials vary and schedules are different. Just remember, you get what you pay for! Courses are not equal in all dive stores. You might have 2 or more Padi facilities in the same city that offer Padi beginner scuba courses, but they are indeed different. Padi (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the worlds largest scuba diver certifier. All the Padi facilities must adhere to strict Padi guidelines and standards to keep divers well taught and safe. The guidelines keep the dive store honest and reputable in the industry. Eg. Dive store instructors must have personal liability insurance. When conducting ocean dives, the instructor must have a dive flag in the water letting boaters know that there are divers in the water. The instructor must have oxygen and first aid supplies at the dive site, just to name a few things.

When students sign on the dotted line to enroll in a scuba course, they should be anticipating the following: An explanation on the course, academic, confined pool and ocean dives requirements, what equipment is provided, what equipment must be purchased prior to the course, and of course, an explanation and briefing on what is entailed in the ocean dives portion of the course. Liquid Heavens scuba beginner course consists of 5 to 7 classroom sessions, 5 to 7 pool sessions and and a minimum of 5 open water ocean dives. All of our courses are 100% guaranteed. Liquid Heaven believes in building great divers. So that's what we do: build great divers.

OPEN WATER BEGINNER COURSE

Confined Water Dives:

Confined water training serves two purposes. First, it establishes the basic skills that all divers need (or may need in the unlikely event of a problem)in a relatively low stress environment. Second, it reinforces and supplements Knowledge Development training by having student divers practice and apply what they learn from reading the manual and watching the videos. There are five confined water dives that correspond to the five knowledge development sections.

Knowledge Development:

The Knowledge Development portion establishes a foundation of principles, procedures and general information fivers need. There are five sections, each of which is normally accomplished through independent study with the PADI Open Water Manual and Open Water Diver Video, or with the Open Water Diver Multimedia. Liquid Heaven students answer exercise questions within reading, and complete a Knowledge Review for each section that you check for completeness and understanding. Students demonstrate mastery by completing the appropriate PADI Quiz, or, following the fifth section, a comprehensive (but easy) Final Exam, then they receive a brief elaboration during which you answer questions and apply the material to specific student needs and local environments.

Open Water Dives:

The Open Water Dives complete the integration of the principles learned in Knowledge Development and the skills learned in the Confined Water Dives by having student divers apply both in the open water dive environment. By practicing skills mastered in the Confined Water Dives, students continue to learn as they use these skills in the open water.

Scuba Equipment (NEW) is provided for Liquid Heaven students except for mask, fins and snorkel as this is considered personal gear and must be purchased and professionally fit for the utmost comfort and enjoyment prior to the course start up. We have the largest selection of masks on Vancouver Island and Liquid Heaven professionals will spend much time individually with you to get the best fitting mask for comfort. Please stay away from cheap knock off masks that appear to look the same as a name brand mask. They are not, they usually are made of inferior products that give a very short life span and usually leak. Stick with reputable name brands that have been in the dive industry for a long time. These name brands have exceptional warranties and life spans. You get what you pay for!

Accommodating Motor Skill Development Abilities and People with Disabilities:

To earn the PADI Open Water Diver or Scuba Diver certification, student divers must demonstrate mastery of each performance requirement. As in the confined water dives, we have the latitude to accommodate individual needs by modifying techniques to meet requirements. In the open water environment, we may need to assist individuals with physical challenges to accommodate access to boats, shore and other facilities.

PADI Open Water Divers are qualified to:
Dive with a buddy independent of supervision while applying the knowledge and skills they learn in this course, within the limits of their training and experience.
Obtain air fills, scuba equipment and other services.

Plan, conduct and log open water no stop (no decompression) dives when properly equipped and when accompanied by a buddy in conditions with which they have training and/or experience.
Continue their dive training with a specialty dive (Adventure Dive), in the PADI Adventures in diving program or in PADI Specialty courses.

Part of the Liquid Heaven PADI Open Water Diver course includes informing student divers that they are responsible for diving within limits of their training and experience. Students read and sign the relevant PADI Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding and by explaining to Scuba Divers the limitations of their certification. The minimum age for Open Water Diver or Scuba Diver Certification is 15, which must be reached by the end of the course. We also train individuals under the age of 15 according to the Junior Open Water Diver and Junior Scuba standards given by Padi. Student divers in the Junior Open Water Diver and Junior Scuba Diver courses must be 10 years old prior to the start date of the course.

Performance Based Training.

The PADI Open Water Diver course builds upon the concept of performance-based learning. This means student divers progress through the course demonstrating that they meet measurable learning objectives. The courses instructional design sequences these objectives from simple to complex, so students built upon previous learning as they progress. Attempting to learn something without mastering prerequisite objectives can complicate and interfere with development and development and learning. For this reason, students must satisfactory demonstrate meeting knowledge development and water skills performance requirements (objectives) in their required sequences. Satisfactory demonstration is called “mastery”.

This is done by building good safety practices as there are no short cuts in diving safety. If you do not like the way your taught in the course you will receive 100% refund on the course as mentioned earlier. Just because a person pays for the course and goes through 1 week of lessons doesn't mean they will get certified if they know they have struggled with skills in the pool or ocean. Liquid Heaven will allow that student to re-enroll in scuba lessons for FREE to continue to develop diving skills and good habits building confidence in the diver. We are so confident about the way we teach. We are the only dive store that offers this guarantee to assure customers that were here to educate with no short cuts. Dive stores we feel put to much emphasise on selling not educating. It is true that buying customers are very important to the dive store for survival. How a dive store gets rewarded with selling scuba gear is to build consistency with their patrons, is to offer more than gear sales. Offering International dive trips, daily local dives, diving projects and events, selling quality name brand scuba gear, quality instruction and honesty. Go visit all the dive shops in your area and you be the judge. Liquid Heaven could be your second home as it is for many. Come on in and have a coffee on us and talk to us about your passion of diving.

Liquid Heaven offers so much more than just gear sales. Were committed to excellence in education. Get to heaven while you're still around to enjoy it.

"Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"

Darryll

Padi GranDadi

Quality gear (name brand) VS Garbage gear (no name brand)

2007-10-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

I was asked by students as of late to do a short talk on scuba gear. As a professional, it is easy to determine if a mask, regulator or snorkel are of high quality or a cheap copycat. Canada,USA, Japan and certain parts of Europe have always been known to make quality dive gear. Due to the fact that we live and dive in colder more demanding conditions than anywhere in the world, we need top quality dive gear to keep us safe. It is very evident that our store Liquid Heaven carries top of the line gear manufactured in Canada, USA and Japan. We will never sell a low end, copycat masks that are made in certain parts of ASIA, bought wholesale (by the dive store or big box store) for $3.99 Canadian and resold as a bargain at $79.99. Liquid Heaven sells professional gear that is warrantied and has a name reputable in the dive industry.

As a dive professional leader, it is up to us to educate students (future divers), that Big Box store masks, snorkels and fins won't cut it in our diving conditions or any conditions for that matter. These are the stores that sell look alike copies of quality masks and flood the market with garbage, leaving many enthused future divers with a very bad experience and no longer wanting to try scuba diving because they think back to an experience of the constant flooding of the mask.

Ask yourself when you took your first snorkeling or diving vacation down in Australia, Mexico or the Caribbean and rented gear. Was it great gear? Did it fit well? Did the mask have mold in it and looked like a half chewed piece of rubber, the snorkel smelling like fish and fins that hurt you feet causing blisters? Most people that try snorkeling or diving in exotic destinations are really put off and have no desire to try scuba on the beautiful West Coast of Canada because the gear they used was inferior. Even some dive stores sell garbage because the price points are greater, they make money but in the end have disappointed customers. Liquid Heaven says "NO" to selling garbage. Liquid Heaven would be doing a disservice to you, our customer. We educate our customer on making the right decision on dive gear. It is a big investment to make and you should trust your dive instructors experience for showing you options on your scuba purchases.

No one cares about the customers scuba purchases, more than your personal instructor. He should educate you on what the difference is between a good regulator and a great regulator. The answer: breathing of course and accessibilty (by the technician) to parts in a timely service fashion. A diver does not have to buy the best gear but do if you want to. Support your local dive store so they can be of service to you and your dive buddies needs. If you get educated and taught locally how to scuba dive, spend your money with them, not EBay and the Internet. If you buy on-line you get NO warranties or guarantees, and if arrives damaged, tough luck. I'm sure you know people that have been cheated on the Internet, I have. Be wise with your purchases as they are costly investment into the greatest experience you'll ever participate in, SCUBA DIVING. Buoyancy compensator devices known as BCD's are also a a very important purchase. I'm surprised at the number of divers that buy warm water BCD's to dive here locally on the West Coast. Warm water BCD's don't have the lift capacity, nor enough support straps to keep you safe and give you the ability to clip on accessory equipment like lights, signal tubes etc. There is so much to discuss on these topics of scuba gear equipment.

Our equipment course dated October 19Th, 2007 at the Liquid Heaven, we will discuss in detail all equipment topics. I look forward to seeing you all there. Bring your simple questions & concerns and technical questions to this course to be answered.

"Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"
Darryll
Padi GranDadi

Decompression sickness ( DCI )

2007-10-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

Decompression Illness:

What is it and what is the treatment?

Decompression Illness or DCI is a term used to describe illness that results from a reduction in the ambient pressure surrounding a body. A good example of that is what happens when you're surfacing after a dive.

DCI encompasses 2 diseases, decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE). DCS is thought to result from bubbles growing in tissue and causing local damage, while AGE results from bubbles entering the lung circulation, travelling through the arteries and causing tissue damage at a distance by blocking blood flow at the small vessel level.

Who Gets DCI? Decompression Illness affects scuba divers, aviators, astronauts and compressed air workers. It occurs in approximately 1,000 US divers each year. Moreover , DCI hits randomly. The main risk factor for DCI is a reduction in ambient pressure, but there are other risk factors that will increase the chance of DCI occurring. These known risk factors are deep / long dives, cold water, hard exercise at depth, rapid ascents and of course other contributors such as age, health, dehydration, lack of sleep and scar tissue past damage.

Rapid ascents are closely linked to the risk of AGE. Other factors thought to increase the risk of DCI for which evidence is not conclusive are obesity, major dehydration, hard exercise immediately after surfacing, and pulmonary disease. In addition, there seem to be individual risk factors that have not been yet identified. This is why some divers seem to get DCI more frequently than others although they are following the same dive profile.

Since DCI is a random event, almost any dive profile can result in DCI. no matter how safe it seems. The reason is that the risk factors, both known and unknown, can influence the probability of DCI in myriad ways. Because of this, evaluation of a diver for possible decompression illness must be made case-by-case basis by evaluating the diver's signs and symptoms and not just based on the dive profile.

Decompression Sickness (DCS)

Decompression sickness (DCS, also called the bendsor caisson disease) is the result of inadequate decompression following exposure to increased pressure. In some cases, the disease is mild and not an immediate threat. In other cases, the serious injury does occur: when this happens, the quicker the treatment begins, the better the chance for a full recovery.

During a dive, the body tissues absorb nitrogen from the breathing gas in proportion to the surrounding pressure. As long as the diver remains at pressure, the gas presents no problem. If the pressure is reduced too quickly, however, the nitrogen comes out of solution and forms bubbles in the tissues and bloodstream. This commonly occurs as a result of violating or approaching too closely the diving table limits, but it can also occur even when accepted guidelines have been followed.

Bubbles forming in or near joints are the presumed cause of the joint pain of a classical "bends." When high levels of bubbles occur, complex reactions can take place in the body, usually in the spinal cord or brain. Numbness, paralysis and disorders of higher cerebral function may result. If great amounts of decompression are missed and large numbers of bubbles enter the venous bloodstream, congestive symptoms in the lung and circulatory shock can then occur.

SYMPTOMS OF DCS

Unusual fatigue

Skin Itch

Pain in joints and / or muscles of the arms, legs or torso

Dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears

Numbness, tingling and paralysis, shortness of breath

SIGNS OF DCS

Skin may show a blotchy rash

Paralysis, muscle weakness

Difficulty urinating

Confusion, personality changes, bizarre behavior.

Amnesia, tremors

Staggering

Coughing up bloody, frothy sputum

Collapse or unconsciousness

NOTE: Symptoms and signs usually appear within 15 minutes to 12 hours after surfacing: but in severe cases, symptoms may appear before surfacing or immediately afterwards. Delayed occurance of symptoms is rare, but it does occur, especially is air travel follows diving.

DENIAL AND RECOGNITION

The most common manifestations of DCS are joint pain and numbness or tingling Next most common are muscular weakness and inability to empty a full bladder. Severe DCS is easy to identify because the signs and syptoms are obvious. However, most DCS manifests or a paraethesia (and abnormal sensation like burning, tingling or tickling) in an extremity.

In many cases these symptoms are as described to another cause such as overexertion, heavy lifting or even a tight wetsuit. This delays seeking help and is why it is aften noted that the first symptom of DCS is denail. Sometimes these symptoms remain mild and go away by themselves, but mant times they increase in severity until it is obvious to you that something is wrong and that you need help.

What happens if you don't seek medical treatment in severe DCS, a permanent residual handicap may result: this can be a bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction or muscular weakness, to name a few.

In some cases of neurological DCS, there may be permanent damage to the spinal cord, which may or may not cause syptoms. However, this type of damage may decrease the likihood of recovery from a subsequent bout of DCS.

Untreated joint pain that subside are thought to cause small areas of bone damage called osteonecrosis. Usually this will not cause sypmtoms unless there are many bouts of untreated DCS. If this happens, however, there may be bone to become brittle or for joints to collapse or become arthritic.

PREVENTION OF DCS

Recreational divers should know dive conservatively, whether they are using dive tables or computers. Experienced divers often select a table depth (versus actual depth) of 10 feet/ 3 meteres deeper than called for by standard procedure. This practice is highly recommended for all divers, especially when diving in cold waters or when diving under strenous conditions. Compiuter divers should be caustious in approaching no- decompression limits, especially when diving deeper thatn 100 feet/ 30 meters.

Avoiding the risk factors noted above (deep/ long dives, exercise at depth or after a dive) will decrease the chance of DCS occuring. Exposure to altitude or flying too soon after a dive can also increase the risk of decompression sickness.

ARTERIAL GAS EMBOLISM (AGE)

If a diver surfaces without exhaling, air trapped in the lungs expands with ascent and may rupture lung tissue - called pulmonary barotrauma - which releases gas bubbles into the arterial circulation. This distributes them to body tissues in proportion to the blood flow. Since the brain recieves the highest proportion of blood flow, it is the main target organ where bubbles may interupt circulation if they become lodged in small artieries.

This is arteriel gas embolism, or AGE, considered the more serious form of DCI. In some cases the diver may have made a panicked ascent, or he may have held his breath during ascent. However, AGE can occur even if ascent apperared completely normal, and pulmonary disease such as obstructive lung disease may increase the risk of AGE.

The most dramatic presentation of air embolism is the diver who surfaces unconcious and remains so, or the diver who loses concienceness within 10 minutes of surfacing. In these cases, a true medical emrgency exists, and rapid evacuation to a treatment facilty is paramount.

On the other hand, air embolism may cause less spectacular symptoms of neurological dysfunction, such as sensations of tingling or numbness, a sensation of weakness without obvious paralysis, or complaints of difficulty in thinking without obvious confusion in individuals who are awake and easily aroused. In these cases, there is time for a more thourough evaltuion by a diving medical specialist to rule out other causes of symptoms.

Like DCS, mild symptoms may be ascribed to causes other than the dive, which only delays treatment. Sometimes symptoms may resolve spontaneosly and the diver will not seek treatment.The consequecnces of this are similar to untreated DCS: residual damage to the brain may occur, making it more likely there will be residual symptoms after a future bout of AGE, even if the later bout is treated.

SYMPTOMS OF AGE

Dizziness

Visual bluring

Areas of decreased sensation

Chest pain

Disorientation

SIGNS OF AGE

Bloody froth from mouth or nose

Paralysis or wekness

Convulsions

Unconsciousness

Cessation of breathing

Death

Currently cerebral gas embolism is repondsible for approximately 10 percent of all DCI cases annually. AGE has decreased significatly over the past decade, however, moving from 18 percent of all cases in the late 1980's and early 1990's to much lower numbers. By 1997, the fraction had fallen to 7-8 percent.

In 2001, AGE was still citied in 7-8 percent but by 2002 it had fallen to 6.6 percent of the total diving population reporting DCI. It has been speculated that one of the reasons for the decrease is the advent of dive computers, which help chart the rate of acesnt, thus reminding divers to slow down.

PREVENTION OF AGE

Always relax and breathe normally during ascent. Lung conditions such as asthma, infections, cysts, tumours, scar tissue from surgey or obstuctive lung disease may predipose a diver to air embolism. If you have any of these conditions, it warrants an evaluation by a physician knowledgeable in diving medicine.

TREATMENT - Call D.A.N. (Divers Alert Network)

The treatment for DCI is recompression. However, the early management of air embolkism and decompression sicknessis is the same. Although a diver with severe DCS or and air embolism requires urgent recompression for definative treatment, it is essential that he be stabilized at nearest facility before transporation to a chamber.

Early Oxygen first aid is important and may reduce symptoms substantaially, but this should not change the treatment plan. Symptoms of air embolism and serious decompression sickness often clear after initial oxygen breathing, but they may reappear later. Because of this, always contact D.A.N. (Divers Alert Network) or a dive physician in cases of suspected DCI- even if the symptoms and signs appear to have resolved.

Treament involves compression to a treatment depth, usually 60 feet / 18 meteres and breathing oxygen fraction gases at an oxygen partial pressure of between 2.8 ata (atmospheres) and 3.0 ata. Delays in seeking treatment have a higher risk of residual symptoms: over time, the initially reversible damage may become permanent. After a delay of 24 hours or more, treatment may become inaffective and symptoms may not respondto treatment. Even if there has been a delay, however, consult a diving medical specialist before drawing any conclusions about possible treatment effectiveness.

In some cases, there may may be residual symptoms after treatment. Soreness in and around a joint that was affected by DCS is common and usually resolves in a few hours. If the DCI was severe, significant residual neurological dysfuction may be present, even after the most agressive treatment. In these cases, there may be follow-up treatments, along with phsical therapy. The good news is that the usual outcome is eventual complete releif from all symptoms, provided treatment was begun promply.

RETURNING TO DIVING AFTER DCI

The US navy has set down rules for returning to diving after treatment. For pain-only DCI where there are no neurological symptoms, divers may begin diving two to seven days after treatment, depending on the treatment table used.

If there are neurological symptoms, the diver may resume diving two to four weeks after treatment, depending on symptom severity. For very severe symptoms, the the diver must be reevaluated three months after treatment and cleared by a diving medical officer.

The Navy guidlelines are for professionals, where time off must be minimized so so operations are not comprimised.

GUIDLINES FOR SPORT DIVERS

For recreational divers, where diving is not a livlihood, a more conservative approoach is called for to further minimize the chance that a diving injury will recur

After pain-only DCI where there are no neurological symptoms, a minimum of two weeks without diving is recomended.

If there are minor neurological symptoms, six weeks without diving is recommended

If there are are severe neurological symptoms or any residual symptoms, no furthere diving is recommended.

Even if symptoms were not severe and they resolved completely, a diver who has had multiple bouts of DCI must take special considerations. If DCI is occuring where other divers on the same profile are DCI free, the diver may have an increased susceptabilty to DCI. In these cases, a Diving Medical Specialist must be consulted to detemine if diving can be resumed safely. Remeber, your good health needs to lastas long as you do.

D.A.N. (Divers Alert Network)

Founded in 1980, DAN has served as a lifeline for the scuba industry by operating diving's only 24 hour emergency hotline, a lifesaving service for injured divers. Additionally, DAN operates a diving medical information line, conducts vital diving medical research, and developes and provides a number of educational programs for everyone from begining divers to medical professionals.

Divers Alert Network is supported by membership dues and doantions. In return, members recieve a number of importnat benifits including $100,000 emergency medical evacuation assistance, DAN educational publications, a subscription to Alert Diver magazine, and access to diving's first and foremost accident insurance coverage.

For 24 hour D.A.N. Emergency number is 1.919.684.8111

Hyperbaric Chambers

HOC Hyperbaric Care Center- Victoria 1.250.995.1811

Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) Victoria, BC 24hr. 1.250.363.2379 Chamber 1.250.363.4981

Array of Life Hyperbaric Oxygen Unit, Burnaby 1.604.421.1951

Angel Hyperbaric Care center, Langley BC 1.888.357.9133 or 1.604.534.2155

Richmond Hyperbaric Health Centre, Richmond BC 1.888.373.0888 or 1.604.277.8608

Canadian Hyperbaric Institute, Vancouver BC 1.604.732.3422

Vital Path Health Centre, Vernon, BC 1.250.549.1400

Hyparbaric Care Centre, Coquitalm BC 1.604.520.6867

Baromedical Research Cener - Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic and Wound Care Centre, Burnaby BC 1.604.777.7055

Enviromental Physiology Unit - Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC 1.604.291.3782

Vancouver Hospital & Health Science Centre Hyperbaric Unit, Vancouver BC, 1.604.875.4007

Diving Dynamics, Kelowna BC, 1.866.861.1848

Written By Dr. E.D.Thalmann, DAN Assistant Medical Director

and yours truly

Darryll W. Harasemow MSDT Instructor / Liquid Heaven

Victoria BC Diving

2007-09-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Come enjoy the greatest above and below water experience anywhere in the world. Good day to you all. This blog is intended for international visiting friends, divers and non divers. Topic of the day is Victoria, BC Canada. Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia. Victoria is always in season! Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada, and is a place so green all year that flowers fall out of the sky and even the lamp posts bloom. It is no wonder that it is called The Garden City! The wild beauty of the Pacific coast and the adventure of the great outdoors are within the city limits and ocean and mountain vistas will follow you wherever you go. Where else can you snow ski and scuba dive in the same day!

Victoria BC Canada and is no doubt the most beautiful city in Canada has a lot more to offer than it's quaint store front shops and world class restaurants. I would like to give our readers a little expose' on what Victoria has to offer. No doubt the biggest visual landmark in Victoria is the Empress Hotel. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Fairmont is the largest luxury hotel management company in North America offering guests luxurious accommodation in the most sought after destinations. In October of 1999, Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts acquired Fairmont Hotels; bringing together two companies with over a century of rich history and exemplary hospitality. And from this grand union, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a new key player within the luxury hotel segment, was born.

The original Fairmont Hotel was the vision of San Francisco natives, Tessie and Virginia Fair. In 1907, after a one-year delay due to damage from the San Francisco earthquake, The Fairmont opened its doors for the first time. Benjamin H. Swig bought The Fairmont in 1945, and began building an exemplary portfolio of hotels, later purchasing the Grunewald (now The Fairmont New Orleans). He chose the Fairmont name to represent his esteemed collection, honoring his first purchase and the company's flagship hotel, San Francisco's The Fairmont. Fairmont Hotels grew to seven properties in the United States, and became the social hub for the rich and famous.
Nineteenth century Canadian Pacific visionary, William Cornelius Van Horne, dreamt of building lavish rest stops alongside the newly constructed Canadian Pacific Railway. Noted for his famous quote, ''If we can't export the scenery, we'll import the tourists'', Van Horne did just that. He built Mount Stephen House high amongst the wilds of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and began welcoming guests to this first-ever Canadian Pacific Hotels property in 1886. Other grand hotels followed, with the legendary Banff Springs built in 1888, Chateau Lake Louise completed in 1890, and Le Chateau Frontenac opening its doors in 1893. Over the next century, Canadian Pacific Hotels continued to expand across Canada, acquiring the renowned CN hotel chain in 1988, which brought the distinguished Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta to the CP collection. This acquisition also crowned Canadian Pacific Hotels the largest owner-operated hotel company in the country, with hotels located from Victoria, B.C., to St. John's, Newfoundland. The organization's next step was to move outside of Canada with the purchase of the sun-destination Princess Hotels, situated in Mexico, Arizona, Bermuda and Barbados, in 1998. Motivated to expand globally, Canadian Pacific Hotels acquired Fairmont Hotels in the fall of 1999, creating Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. There is history at its' best.

Bastion Square Part of historic Olde Towne, the Court House (designed by architect H.O.Tiedeman) was the first concrete building in Victoria. Built in 1889, it now houses the Maritime Museum. The Law Chambers, designed by F.M.Rattenbury, was built at the turn of the century. Burnes House, originally a hotel in 1882, then a brothel and later a warehouse, was restored in 1967. Strousse Warehouse was built in 1885 as a supply centre for gold miners. The Board of Trade building was built in 1892 by A.M. Muir.

Centennial Square built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city’s incorporation (in 1962). It includes: City Hall, the McPherson Playhouse, a senior citizens activity centre, the CRD services. It also contains shops, a parkade, fountain and a small knot garden.

The BC Legislative Buildings dominate the architectural landscape of Victoria's Inner Harbour. Designed by renowned architect Francis Rattenbury in the 1890s, they are a visual feast inside and out. Gold and silver leaf, murals, ornate plaster details and wood mouldings ornament the richly-hued walls and ceilings. Visitors also encounter solid marble columns, statuary, stained glass as well as unique architectural flourishes. Be sure to take some time to appreciate the beauty of the grounds, which feature flower gardens, fountains, statues and exhilarating views of the harbour and mountains.

Christ Church Cathedral is the Episcopal seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of British Columbia. Built in the Gothic style between 1926 and 1929, the church is faced with rusticated sandstone, granite and moulded "art stone." Two square towers of equal height flank a 26-m (85-ft) Gothic arch and rose window. Inside, a vaulted ceiling soars 20 m (80 ft) above floors of marble and red tile. Take note of the pulpit, which was carved from a 500-year-old oak! For an unexpected stylistic twist, sneak a peek at the modernist stained glass windows in the upstairs Chapel of New Jerusalem. Staff on site provide information to visitors. The cathedral is one of the last churches in Canada with real bells. They chime every Sunday to call parishioners to worship.

St. Andrew's Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Victoria, was built in 1892 to a design inspired by the medieval cathedrals of Europe. Its 22-m (72-ft) facade features asymmetric, sharply tapered bell towers as well as a colourful array of red brick, stone and slate. While the interior architecture is typical of late Gothic Revival style, a few of the elements of this church will surprise you. The altar and lectern, for example, were designed by First Nations artists. They feature colourful Christian religious themes rendered in the artistic style of BC's native peoples.

Craigdarroch Castle. This is very cool ! A must see.
Experience lavish, Edwardian-era luxury at Craigdarroch Castle, former home of local coal baron Robert Dunsmuir. Built in the 1890s, its design mixes Jacobean, Scottish Baronial and French Gothic elements. Interesting exterior details include heavy stonework, a castellated roofline and 35 iron-braced chimneys. Inside, Scotch Granite columns, decorative tiling, stained glass, oak staircases and mahogany fireplaces hold their own against the rich furnishings and draperies.

Gate of Harmonious Interest
Chinese and non-Chinese communities worked together to erect the Gate of Harmonious Interest in 1981. Two inscriptions allude to this cooperative effort: "To work together with one heart" and "To help each other achieve harmony." The 11.5-m (38-ft) ornamental gate was modelled on similar gateways in China and is now the symbolic entrance to Chinatown. It follows the principles of symmetry in its design: a hand-carved stone lion from Suchow, China, stands on either side and art displayed on the gate incorporates many symbols of Yin-Yang equilibrium in nature.

Fan Tan Alley is a curious little street. At its narrowest commercial street in North America, it's only 0.9 m (3 ft) wide and you can still see signs of the gambling dens that once existed there. Look for an old peephole in the wall to your right as you walk toward Fisgard Street; it was used to screen visitors in the days when the illegal games of mah jong (Chinese solitaire) fan-tan and dominoes were in play day and night and the air inside was heavy with the smoke of opium pipes. The architecture along this 73-m (240-ft) alley is typical of Edwardian commercial buildings. There are eight contiguous brick buildings in all.

Market Square formerly part of Olde Towne Victoria, with three levels of unique shops and restaurants, the shopping area was renovated by Sam Bawlf in 1975. Pioneer Square on Quadra Street between Meares and Rockland (north of Christ Church Cathedral), the second cemetery in Victoria was in use between 1858 to 1873. Many distinguished pioneers were (and still are) buried here. When Pioneer Square filled, Ross Bay cemetery was opened.

Trounce Alley just north of View Street, off Government, are authentic gas lights more than 125 years old. The alley was named after Victoria pioneer Thomas Trounce. W&J Wilson Clothiers has been at its present location since 1862 (the same year Victoria was incorporated as a city).
Waddington Alley between lower Johnson and lower Yates Streets and established by Alfred Waddington in 1858, is Victoria’s first planked street. It was an innovation to solve the problem of muddy, impassable lanes and streets.

Buchart Gardens, Visit Victoria's most-famous attraction - the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. Get aboard an authentic English double decker bus for a narrated tour through Victoria's surrounding communities, including the scenic Saanich Peninsula - and view The Butchart Gardens in all their glory during daylight hours as well as under the magic of evening illumination. An extra-added attraction on these selected Saturday tours is a spectacular fireworks display.

Horse-drawn Carriages and Tours
What better way to absorb the atmosphere of days gone by and learn a bit of local history than in a horse-drawn tour through some of Victoria’s most picturesque neighbourhoods? Whether you choose a romantic carriage ride with your sweetheart or climb aboard a group wagon tour through downtown, the gentle pace of the horses and the clip-clopping of hooves on pavement are sure to lull you into a bygone era when this was the mode of transport for all Victorians.
Several tour companies operate from the Inner Harbour area and can escort you on leisurely rides through lush Beacon Hill Park, along blossom-lined streets in historic James Bay and past the azure waters of Victoria’s scenic waterfront. Alternatively, hire a carriage for a special event. Horse-drawn carriages make weddings fairytale perfect and help you to turn any special occasion into a memorable celebration.
Carriage tours can be found in other communities, as well. Up-Island carriage tour operators offer similarly enchanting rides, complete with equine escorts and local lore, so step aboard for unforgettable views and a truly memorable ride through time.

Okay, what's next: Whale watching of course.

Whale watching in Victoria & Vancouver Island is awesome! No other spectacle of nature compares to the awe-inspiring sight of a massive killer (Orca) whale breaching out of the deep blue water only 100 feet or closer from your boat. Victoria and Vancouver Island are well known as the place to view migrating and resident whales in their natural surroundings, as well as providing a number of other wildlife-watching opportunities throughout the seasons. For a holiday memory that will never be forgotten, experience the mystical beauty of the wild inhabitants of Victoria’s waters and its surrounding area.
Whale watching tours can be taken out of Victoria as well as from several other communities (like Sidney BC) on the Island. Tour operators strictly follow the regulations for viewing marine life, as outlined by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and work very hard to monitor their activities. The best time to see migrating gray whales is during March and April; gray whales are sighted in Clayoquot and Barkley sound from February through October. The "resident" orca (killer) whales that live in the local waters are best viewed from May through November, when they are at their feeding grounds. During these months, orcas are reliably found in their feeding grounds and the weather is more conducive to sightings.
From tiny sea creatures and fish to otters, seals, sea lions and dolphins, the coasts of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are a gold mine for visitors hoping to see marine life. The phenomenon of salmon spawning is also something to be seen. Witness the cycle of life as schools of salmon return from the sea to lay their eggs in their ancestral spawning grounds before dying. The spawning of the salmon signals a feeding frenzy for black bears, bald eagles and any other wildlife that depend on salmon.
Land mammals like black bears, cougars, deer and elk can often be seen along Vancouver Island’s back roads and highways, especially in the pristine wilderness of the northern and Pacific Rim regions of Vancouver Island. While in the Mount Washington area, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the rare and endangered Vancouver Island marmot, however it is not recommended that you seek out this animal, due to its fragile population.

We now come to the best topic of the day.... Scuba diving in the most beautiful Emerald colored waters of the world. When Mr. Yves Captain Jacques Cousteau spoke, people listened. He deemed our west coast waters as the second best dive destination in the entire world, second to the Red Sea for diversity of marine life and water clarity. Our nutrient rich waters of the west coast of BC are a magnet to Six Gill sharks, Sea Lions, Orca whales, Humpback, Dolphins, the Giant Octopus. British Columbia is a world leader in the sinking artificial wrecks and reefballs for sport divers. Sidney BC and Victoria area has incredible wreck dives 20 minutes from the city center.

The HMCS MacKenzie:

The lead ship of the class, Mackenzie was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, and commissioned on 6 October 1962. Arriving in Halifax on 15 October, she spent the first five months of her service life operating from that port, perhaps as a result of the "Cuban Missile Crisis," but on 2 March 1963 left for Esquimalt and never returned to Halifax.
For the next 23 years she roamed the Pacific, either as a unit of the Second Canadian Destroyer Squadron or as part of Training Group Pacific. During the first three weeks of March 1964, she took part in the Commonwealth exercise JET 64 in the Indian Ocean. On 22 February 1965, left Esquimalt with Saskatchewan for a three-month cruise to the Far East.
On 4 May 1970, Mackenzie along with Provider and Yukon headed across the Pacific once more. Exercises were carried out with units of the Australian, New Zealand, Japanese and American navies (with appropriate port visits) before the ships headed home.
A career highlight occurred on 30 June 1973, when Mackenzie’s crew boarded and siezed the M/V Marysville, resulting in a million dollar "drug bust."
On 25 May 1986, she began her DELEX refit, returning to service on 16 January, 1987. On 28 April 1988, Mackenzie, accompanied by Yukon and four other Canadian ships, departed for a Pacific Rim tour, during which they exercised with units of the Japanese, Korean and American navies. After stopping in Hawaii on 21 June, the ships headed for home.
Between 24 April and 30 June 1988, she, along with other Canadian units, participated in SAMPLOY ’89, the exercises being carried out between port visits in the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.
After 30 years of service, during which she visited 96 foreign ports and sailed 845,640 nautical miles, she was decommissioned on 3 August 1993.
In early March 1995, it was announced that Mackenzie would be sold to the Artificial Reef Society of BC. The society made the ship environmentally safe, then scuttled her near Rum Island off Sidney, B.C., on 16 September 1995.
Prior to this, she had been used as a set for a TV program. Painted in USN colours, she was the centrepiece of an episode of the program "X-Files" which was shown nationally on 10 March 1996. This is an awesome wreck dive in 110' of water. This dive is for experienced divers only. Your log book and certification card must be provided prior to this dive.

GB Church:

B.C.'s First Artificial Reef! The G.B. Church was the first project of the ARSBC initiated in 1989. It served an important role as a proving ground for the larger and more complex naval artificial reef projects that were to follow. The G.B. Church project was completed over a two year period. She was sunk in August 1991 within the Princess Margaret Marine Park off Portland Island near Sidney, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. Preparation of the ship included stripping out the ship down to the steel, cutting holes for diver access and removing any hazardous obstacles. Diver safety is a key consideration - confined spaces are either sealed off or opened up for easy entry and exit. The final preparation of the ship included cleaning up all environmental hazards including cleaning all fuel and oil lines in the ship and the bilges.The sinking site was chosen for close proximity to local dive shop operators to enable positive economic spin-offs from the new diving attraction, and for a flat sandy bottom on which to land the ship. All coast guard and navigation requirements were also met with this location. On this sandy bottom the ship became was quickly overcome with rich marine life including octopus and wolf eels and today is testimonial to the positive environmental impact that artificial reefs have on the marine ecosystem. Not only do artificial reefs promote marine life, they also reduce diver impact on surrounding natural and historical shipwreck dive sites by diverting diver traffic from those sites.
The G.B. Church was built in 1943 in Goole, England, and initially served in World War II as a supply ship.

Other artificial reef wrecks in the area are the HMCS Chaudiere, HMCS Columbia, HMCS Saskatchewan, HMCS Yukon: all Navy Escort Destroyers and the latest artificial reef the Xihwu Boeing 737 jet airliner. Currently there are 2 other projects that are being worked on by Liquid Heaven Diving Experience Inc. and partners in Sidney. Stay tuned for that.

There are many other natural wrecks local to Sidney and Victoria area. We have the Iroquois in Sidney, the Mystery wreck in Deep Cove (not a mystery really) Sometime long ago, a train barge struck a reef just outside Deep Cove. It limped in, and sunk in 65 ' of water smack dab in the middle of the cove. The Rivtow Lion (originally an ex-British Navy Rescue Tug from World War II). The Saanich Inlet has the Lord Jim near Mill Bay and a few small boat remains near Senanus North. Have you ever dived on a train box car. You can, I'll show you where.
There is so much diving diversity on our west coast waiting for you to discover, so many opportunities for you to experience. The making of memories.

"Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"

Padi GranDadi

Diver Training and Diving Courses

2007-08-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

Safe diving is only possible with diver training. Training organizations exist which give people the training they require for the type of diving they wish to do. Training will consist of courses to obtain certification, required in most countries around the world, to training in cave diving, wreck diving, commercial diving and other types of diving.

Divers are trained to give certification and other diving courses by scuba diving training agencies such as PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): NAUI, ( National Association of Underwater Instructors): GUE, (Global Underwater Explorers): ACUC, (American and Canadian Underwater Certifications): SSI, (Scuba Schools International) : BSAC, (British Sub Aqua Club), CMAS, (Confederation Moniale des Activities Subaquatiques) and many others. The other reputable agencies specialize in the more advanced technical and commercial diver training.

Reputable dive stores/shops will often be able to provide basic diver training for people interested in recreational diving. Some will be able to provide the more advanced courses.It is very important to be sure that the courses you are getting are up to the standards of the aforementioned diver training agencies, in both theoretical and practical aspects of diving. Depending on the course, a certain number of hours diving is required, and exams are 2 fold, one part theory, one part practical. The entry level certification course can be given in a pool or in the open water but the more advanced courses will often be given in the open water as close as possible to conditions that the diver will encounter in the type of diving he/she is training for.

Another aspect of diving is the equipment used, whether personally owned or rented from the dive store/shop. It should be up to par. Training will include how to use this equipment and keep it in good working condition. While it is not necessary to have the latest equipment when diving, it is in the best interests of the diver to have equipment which will keep him safe because it is functioning as it should and because the diver knows how to use it. This is life support equipment. Have respect for yourself and have your regulators and scuba equipment serviced every year by a scuba technician to keep you safe. Liquid Heaven prides itself with the latest high tech equipment to tune up regulators to factory specifications. Come on in and get your equipment serviced now.

Each agency issues manuals which are required as part of the training and are kept by the trainee at the end of the course for reference. They contain the technical information that a person must master in order to attain the certification in question. At no time can general information such as that contained in magazines or in any publications substitute for these essential training manuals. You can't learn to swim by reading a book. You need to do both read and practice to become comfortable and competent in the water. See you in the water soon.

Dream Deep, Dive Inspired

Padi GranDadi

Safety in Diving

2007-08-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

First, let me say this comment to start off . "There are no short cuts in diving safety" Why did I bring this topic up? Well, as of lately there have been some mishaps internationally that could have been tragic in the diving community but ended, being a learning experience on the victims part. As a dive instructor for nearly 20 years I do not and never will promote SOLO diving. To me there is no advantage, no safety and less fun of an experience if you dive alone. This type of problem starts at the top of the food chain, our certifying agencies, then instructors that teach or promote solo diving.

Diving as you all know is a very special sport that requires thorough training, a good mindset of maturity & responsibility, it's equipment intensive and weather dependant. Canadians by the way are the best taught in the world. We strive to stay on top of the charts because we teach our divers safety. Our training is better due to learning in our more challenging elements, colder water the Caribbean , thicker exposure suits and a whole lot of lead weight around your waist or integrated buoyancy compensator device.

There are no short cuts in teaching either, or shouldn't be. We as instructors have to follow a set of standards provided by our certifying agencies to properly teach new divers basic skills. These skills must be done in the instructors presence to a satisfactory degree of ease for the student to continue to the next skill. It all seems easy and it is and should be followed through always by the instructor and the student. If the student does not learn these skills he has been cheated in safety and competence of the skill and never will deal with that skill hurdle when it approaches him or her. After all, Murphy's Law is always there when you least expect it. Many people walk into our training facility from international areas and want to go diving on our beautiful west coast emerald waters. Just about all of them are sent out with divemasters or instructors from our store to look after them as they are not taught with the same intensity and passion on safety as Liquid Heaven.

I recently had a newly certified diver walk in my store who just got certified in the Cayman Islands and had 4 logged open water dives. He was approx. 30 years old and his father at least 70 years old. Both of them wanted to rent gear from me. All of our all gear is new and very well maintained equipment. They wanted to dive the HMCS Mackenzie a 366 foot destroyer a mere 10 minutes from our store. They had their own boat right out front of the store on the waterfront beach. The father had no certification card or formal training and the last time in the water with scuba was 1965. I told both people that I could not rent gear to dad and I recommended very strongly that they do not dive the destroyer as the son has no buddy, he has no diving experience or qualifications for that depth and lacks "cold water experience". I told him very professionally that I didn't know them from Adam but I cared for their well being and made a decision not to rent gear to them. The young man's dad would not be allowed to dive even though he started diving before I was born yada yada yada how much experience he had etc... Liquid Heaven could not take on that responsibility of renting gear to 2 very green divers. They left very upset even though I tried to ease the 2 into my decision of choice. This decision was made in presence or several of my students in the store. To my dismay, I saw them 20 minutes later walking in front of my store towards the water with what appeared to be rental gear. I was speechless... my students were speechless.

We need to all stick together as a diving community and protect our fellow divers through education and safety. Fortunately they made it back from wherever they went. This could have been at fatal scuba accident waiting to happen. Money does not make Liquid Heaven's decision any different one way or another. We will continue to be honorable in the way we teach and look after our fellow divers from all over the world. "Stand for something, or fall for anything"

"Dream deep, Dive Inspired"

Darryll

Padi GranDadi

"Unity in the Diving Community"

2007-07-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Good day to you divers, dive store owners, scuba manufacturers and the most important people, our awesome customers. Since being voted in as a director of the DIABC (Dive Industry of BC) a few months back I have spent many hours thinking and visualizing of a harmonious relationship in the dive industry between all dive stores and charter companies. It's not a new idea but I tell you, it hasn't happened yet in Canada......but it could. Being in the diving business a very long time you see the good and the bad, like all industry. Being a very motivated and positive fellow and working with a great team within the DIABC, I feel we can change the diving industry perception into very positive, healthy focused group all in the same mind set, working towards a common goal. That goal is to market the West Coast of Canada as the premier dive location in the world offering so much more than just diving. All dive stores, charter companies must market and focus their ideas into bringing people here to the west coast of canada. Instead of fighting over hundreds of dollars over territory/turf with a competitor, we should all join marketing ideas and share in the thousands of dollars we will enjoy being open minded and offering many choices to our customers on what they can experience in BC, Canada. While mom and dad are diving, what do the non diving children or friends do? What they do is enjoy a 2 hour eco-tour tour learning about what mom and dad are viewing on their dive. We should sell an education and a life long experience and memories. Locally we have awesome spa's, massage therapists, whale watching tours, first class restaurants, accomodations,cozy pubs and specialty stores. People from all over the world have the opportunity to snow ski and scuba dive all within one day. Tell me where you can enjoy a great bottle of Chateau de blonce with your love on the beach staring into each others eyes in the moonlight. We live in the most beautiful, scenic area of the world. We have the most nutrient rich waters in the world and we're keeping it a secret. This year, the secrets out. We are telling the world to come to our playground (British Columbia, Canada) to experience an overwhelming feeling of freedom and excitement for the whole family. We have the winter olympics coming to our country very soon. Beat the crowds and come now!. With the joint effort of the DIABC and the Ministry of (BC) Tourism I believe we are setting the stage for setting new records for visitors coming to BC to experience, life at its best.

Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"

Darryll

Padi Grandadi

News from Heaven, Liquid Heaven, West Coast

2007-07-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Good day to you divers. This is Darryll's first official blog. I will try keep you all updated with courses, events and upcoming meetings and equipment news. Just a side note, I have recently been voted in (5 weeks ago) as a director of the Dive Industry of BC (DIABC). I will be involved with marketing, web design strategies and membership. I will be vigilant in my role to assist with the marketing and generating of world wide interest for divers to visit our West Coast. I will be available for chats on any of these topics.

This weekend the Sidney Expo (organised by Dan Bauer of Sidney Dive n Surf) will open for 2 days. If you get the chance to view it, PLEASE DO. Any time the dive industry can generate interest to potential divers is a great thing. To have an event like this in Sidney BC our beautiful West Coast is benificial to our community. I will unfortunatley not be in attendance in the scuba expo as I have been black listed directly from the organiser of the event because I am a local competitor. Regardless I support the event whole heartedly. Please feel free to visit our first class facility while the expo is taking place as we are open 9am to 9 pm 7 days a week. Liquid Heaven staff looks forward to serving you.

"Dream Deep, Dive Inspired"

Darryll

Welcome to the Liquid Heaven BLOG

2007-06-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Come visit us here at the Liquid Heaven Blog for the latest news and events in and around Sidney. You will find updates on the latest West Coast Diving News, diving products, diving tours / charters and dive course information.