Program combats drowning
Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death among Canadian children. AquaQuest is the new 12-level swimming and water safety program of the Canadian Red Cross. AquaQuest teaches children to stay safe in, on and around the water by focusing on water safety, injury prevention and fundamental swimming skills. Available in English and French, the program will be offered at over 6,000 local pools and waterfronts that presently offer Canadian Red Cross programs. For more information contact the Canadian Red Cross Society, Water Safety Services, 1800 Alta Vista Dr., Ottawa, ON K1G 4J5. (613) 739-2542. or call 1-800-748-8903.
Marine Mammals on the Internet
Information on marine mammals can now be found on the Internet. The world wide web site can be accessed at http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/tmcintyr/prot_res.html
New Oceanic rep
The newest member of the Oceanic/Cross Country team is David Pilon. He joined Oceanic from Diversco Scuba where he worked as customer service, product technician, gave regulator and camera clinics and was also the Maritime representative. Pilon has over 20 years of diving experience and is an active master instructor and nitrox instructor. He is responsible for representing Oceanic/Cross Country in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. For more information contact Oceanic Canada 2307 Centre Ave. S.E., Calgary, AB T2E 0A9. (403) 235-5454 fax (403) 235-6394.
Congratulations
Doug Rosser was awarded the Rolex Award for outstanding volunteer support and dedication to the Ontario Underwater Council at this year's Underwater Canada show. For more information contact the Ontario Underwater Council at 1185 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 307, North York, Ontario M3C 3C6. (416) 426-7033 fax (416) 7336.
Adventure in Nova Scotia
Aqua Dive Travels Co. Ltd. now offers packages in conjunction with fellow members of the Nova Scotia Adventure Tourism Association and other tour operators. Within a 45 drive of the Metro Halifax area you can take part in dive-sail, dive-sea kayaking, dive-cycling, dive-canoeing and dive-equestrian adventures. For more information contact Aqua Dive Travels P.O. Box 465, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0. Phone/fax (902) 757-2149.
Gwaii Haanas, Beneath the Waves
David Gilchrist of Ivak Marine Education announced that an exhibit of Ilfochrome prints depicting the marine life of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve on the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia will be on display at the Ontario Science Centre through to July 1997. This exhibit will replace a set from his current display Beneath Arctic Waters, on display since July 1993. Gilchrist has been involved in a project to photograph Canadian Marine Environments for several years. For more information contact David Gilchrist, IVAK Marine Education, PO Box 61, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0.
Family time at Small Hope Bay Lodge
Small Hope Bay Lodge on Andros Island in the Bahamas is waiving its two-parent requirement for kid's rates as part of its ÒSummer Time Family Specials,Ó June 1 through Labor Day, September 2, 1996. Generally Small Hope requires two full paying adults in order to qualify for the extremely discounted kids rates. Rates include accommodations in one of the resorts 20 beachfront cottages, all meals and beverages (including bar drinks and sodas) and use of facilities which include snorkelling from shore, bicycles, games room, volleyball, windsurfers, Laser sailboat and beachfront hot tub. Free introductory scuba lessons are also available for children 12 and up and adults. For more information contact Small Hope Bay Lodge, c/o Box CB11817, Nassau, Bahamas. (809) 368-2013/14 or 800-223-6961 fax (809) 368-2015.
Bonaire to host annual shootout
The eleventh annual Nikonos Shootut is scheduled to take place June 22-29 in Bonaire's renowned Marine Park, the waters which surround the island and are protected to the depth of 200 feet. Participants spend a week learning the ins and outs of underwater photography while competing for a multitude of prizes. In addition to the regular competition categories of normal lens, macro/close-up lens, wide angle and open, a specialized category for SLR and housed cameras was added.
Highlights of the week long event include free lectures by professional photographers Rick Frehsee and Frank Fennell, free classes on advanced buoyancy control and photobuoyancy control, educational seminars on standard, wide angle, macro and close-up techniques. For more information on Bonaire or the Nikonos Shootout, contact the Tourism Corporation bonaire (212) 956-5911. http://www.interknowledge.com
Halifax flights have arrived
Fiesta West has introduced a new program with flights direct from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton to Halifax, Nova Scotia via Canada 3000 A320 aircraft.
These flights operate on Tuesdays and Fridays from Vancouver through to June 28, Tuesday flights will be via Edmonton and Friday flights are via Calgary. Flights from Edmonton will fly every Tuesday through to June 25. Calgary flights departing Friday will run through to June 28. For more information contact a travel agent.
Nova Scotia winners
Winners of a draw conducted by Jo's Dive Shop at Underwater Canada were Paul Davies of Mississauga, Ontario, Marcez Belanger of Matan, Quebec and Richard Mulholland of Mitchell, Ontario. The prizes included five days of free diving and a dry mounted poster of the HMCS Saguenay. For more information contact Jo's Dive Shop, 296 Lincoln St., PO Box 718, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0. (902) 634-9466 fax (902) 634-9466.