The University of Victoria Scuba Club held their first annual photo contest recently, drawing many promising photographers. Some of the winners were, Gerry Martin, in the macro category, Rob Walker, wide angle category and Noel Hendrickson, best of show. For more information contact UVic Scuba, PO Box 1700, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2
Atlantis 10th anniversary
To commemorate Atlantis Submarines International's 10th anniversary of worldwide operations, the Waikiki, Hawaii and St. Thomas operations hosted the first-ever, live radio broadcast of an international underwater telephone conversation.
From aboard an Atlantis submarine located on the bottom of the Pacific ocean, managing director of the City and County of Honolulu, Robert Fishman carried on a conversation with Virgin Islands Deputy Commissioner of Tourism, Cal Kuffel, who was in another Atlantis submarine located in the Atlantic ocean. The telecommunications breakthrough was broadcast live on local Honolulu and St. Thomas radio stations.
Marine industry trade show
The BC Marine Trades Association has announced that the date for this year's industry conference and trade show is November 12-13 at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.
The MTA's annual conference has become an important forum for the marine industry to address pressing issues and current topics of interest. This year's agenda includes subjects relevant to sport fishing operators, marine/destination resort operators, bare boat and skippered charter operators, manufacturers, retailers, yacht brokers, boat dealers and distributors.
The Trade Show is an opportunity for BC marine industry business owners and their employees to see the latest and best from manufacturers and marine service companies and to talk directly to manufacturers' representatives. Last year's exhibitors displayed a wide variety of products including everything from computer software, engines, maps and winches to electronic gear, cleaners, coatings and fishing equipment. Early indicators project over 100 exhibitors participating this year. For more information call the Marine Trades Association administration office at (604) 683-5191.
Canadian awards Bridges
First nations sculptor Michael G. Bellefeuille, presented one of his original
works to Lloyd Bridges at the Beneath the Sea show in the Meadowlands, New
Jersey. For more information contact Bellefeuille at 16E Spring Grove Lane,
Napean, ON K2J 2C6.Sealsuit winners
Brooks' first Sealsuit giveaway contest was an overwhelming success with over 500 entries. The winner of the grand prize, a Brooks custom Sealsuit drysuit, was Pat Corman of St. Catharines, Ontario. The winners of Brooks equipment bags were Mark Loeffler of Burnaby, British Columbia, Andy Tonet of Sydney, Nova Scotia and Lisa Lavallee of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winners of Brooks three finger gloves were D. Baert of Tofino, British Columbia, Eric Savoie of Campobello Island, New Brunswick and Jacques Marc of Victoria, British Columbia. Winners of DIVER Magazine subscriptions were Scott Conway of Welland, Ontario, Thomas C. Adam of Calgary, Alberta and George Isherwood of Victoria, British Columbia. For more information contact Brooks Wetsuits Ltd., 1067 Churchill Cres., North Vancouver, BC V7P 1P9. (604) 986-3441 fax (604) 986-3443.
Second store for Diving Locker
The Diving Locker of Vancouver, BC has opened a second store in Coquitlam, BC to better serve it's customers living in the eastern areas of greater Vancouver. The Diving Locker, which has been teaching students to dive on the west coast for over a quarter of a century, is a PADI 5-Star IDC Centre specializing in careers in diving. The new Diving Locker will be managed by Mike Neumann who has been operations manager at the Diving Locker in Vancouver since 1994.
The new store has a full air station and will carry all of the product lines of its parent store. Owner/operator Greg Kocher is excited to be opening what is hoped to be the first of many new locations. The new facility is located at #20p;2755 Lougheed Hwy, in Port Coquitlam. Phone (604) 942-4838.
Noyan Aqua Sports splits
The owners of Noyan Aqua Sports have split their store in two. The boat yard will still carry the original name but the dive shop will now carry the name La Dive Shop. It will soon be a fully sanctioned PADI 5 Star Training facility offering all levels of diver education, a full air service centre, dive charters, equipment sales and service. La Dive Shop is located at 140 Rte 202, Noyan, QC, J0J 1B0. (514) 294-2525.
Alberta council changes name
The Alberta Scuba Divers Council has changed its name to Alberta Underwater Council in keeping with other underwater councils across Canada (Ontario Underwater Council, Saskatchewan Underwater Council). For more information contact them at 11759 Groat Road, Edmonton, Alberta T5M 3K6. (403) 453-8566 fax (403) 453-8553.