TIDES & CURRENTS

Tides

Have played in the beach for more than 6hours? Did you realize the same spot that you were playing become dry? Where is the water? When I was young, I thought it was magic but as I grow older than I understand that these changes are called tides due to the result of the gravitational pull of the moon and to a smaller extent, the sun.

Tides affect divers by exposing or concealing rocks that are or near the water's surface. For example, a low tide may expose rocks that make the entry and exit hazardous, but when the tide rises, these rocks may be completely submerged and safe to swim over. You may also avoid long surface walk if you are diving in high tides.

Currents

In the ocean, currents are formed by winds, waves, tides, and the rotation of the earth. In the northern hemisphere, currents move clockwise and in the southern hemisphere, current move counterclockwise.

As divers, we need to know the different kind of currents and to response correctly to avoid any accident. There are few currents that I would like to share with you; Longshore, Rip & Tidal currents. 

Longshore Current

Longshore currents run parallel to shore. Like offshore currents, they are considered standing currents, which means they rarely change direction if ever at all. It can move you far from your entry or planned exit location. To avoid a long surface swim or losing your dive party, you must determine the direction and speed of the current and plan your dive accordingly.

There are several indicators that can help you determine the direction of a longshore current. One indicator is the direction from which waves approach shore. If the waves approach the shore from the south, the current is likely to come from the same direction. Another indicator is the direction anchored boats face. Most boats are anchored from their bow, so they face against the current.

Rip Current

Rip currents move perpendicular to the shore, and are common at most beaches. These are transitory currents, which means they can suddenly appear without warning. Rip currents are form when backwash from surf is forced to travel back into the water through a narrow passage such as a reef or sandbar. They are identified by a stream of foam traveling away from the surf zone.

While rip currents can be too strong to swim against, they are also quite narrow in size. If you become caught by one while trying to swim to shore, the best response is to swim parallel to shore until you exit the current. Some rip currents can be beneficial. If you are surface swimming to a dive site, a rip current can assist you during your swim and carry you closer to your destination.

Tidal Current

Tidal currents form when incoming or outgoing tides force water through a narrow passage. Since tides move in and out several times a day, the direction and force of tidal currents changes throughout the day. Currents of this type are often too strong to swim against, so careful planning is required before diving in areas with tidal currents. The safest diving is during slack tide, which is the period when tides are about to change direction.

Diving In Currents

The direction and speed of currents are major factors to consider when planning your dive. Most dive plans require that you exit at or near your entry point. If you allow a current to carry you away from the boat, you may have to surface before you reach your exit location. This will require you to make a long surface swim against the current to make it back to your exit location.

The best approach to diving in a current is to begin your dive against the current. This allows you to turn around half-way through your dive, ride the current back to your exit location, and remain there until it's time to surface.

When strong currents are present, a rope should be extended behind the boat. This is called a current line, and is used to pull yourself against the current and back to the boat. If you are diving into the current, it is important that you always dive with a safety sausage so that even you are far away from the boat, the boat is still able to locate when you surface from the dive. It is also advisable to have an audible devise while diving so that you are able to get attention when you surface.

Current In Boracay Island

The usual question I usually received when divers asked about diving in Boracay; what are the currents situation in Boracay? Can I dive in Yapak now? Can I do a Channel Drift now? Diving in Boracay is relatively easy but there are few dive sites that we need to consider the current of the day. If we plan to dive in Yapak or Crocodile Island, it is important that we dive when tides are going up. 

Yapak that is situated at the Northern part of the island, the current will move in clockwise direction and as you descend, you will be swimming towards Yapak. In Crocodile Island that is situated at the Southern part of the island, the current will move in counter clockwise direction and you will be swimming towards Crocodile Island.

However; if you are planning to dive in Channel Drift or Santos, do make sure that the tides are going down when you dived in these sites. When tides are going down, the northern part of the island is going counter-clockwise and the southern part of the island will be going clockwise direction. Diving in Santos during low tide will bring you towards Balinghai, the southern west of the island. 

When you want to dive in Channel Drift, you will get into the water perpendicular to Crocodile Island and as you descent you will be swimming towards the southern west of the island. Remember diving in these sites, for the sake of safety, you are required to dive with a visible & audible devise. If you are drifted too far away, these devises will assist you to get attention from the boat.   

TECHNICAL DIVING

Technical Diving Is Scuba Diving's "Extreme" Sport, Taking Experienced And Qualified Divers Far Deeper Than In Mainstream Recreational Diving. Technical Diving Is Marked By Significantly More Equipment And Training Requirements To Manage The Additional Hazard This Type Of Diving Entails. Tec Diving Isn't For Everyone, But For Those Who Hear Its Challenge Call, The PADI Tec Rec Courses Are The Answer

What Is Technical Diving?

Technical Scuba Diving Is Defined As Diving Other Than Conventional Commercial Or Research Diving That Takes Divers Beyond Recreational Scuba Diving Limits. It Is Further Defined As And Includes One Or More Of The Following: - Diving Beyond 40mMetres Deep. - Required Stage Decompression. - Diving In An Overhead Environment Beyond 40m Of The Surface. - Accelerated Decompression And Or The Use Of Variable Gas Mixtures During The Dive.

Because In Technical Diving The Surface Is Effectively Inaccessible In An Emergency, Tec Divers Use Extensive Methodologies And Technologies And Training To Manage The Added Risks. Even With These, However, Tec Diving Admittedly Has More Risk, Potential Hazard And Shorter Critical Error Chains Than Does Recreational Scuba Diving.

How Long Has Technical Diving Been Around?

Most People Would Agree That Cave Diving Is A Form Of Technical Diving. Cave Diving Developed In The Late 1960s And 1970s, Developing Into A Discipline Largely Like It Is Today By The Mid 1980s. In The Early 1990s, Several Groups Of Divers Around The World Began Experimenting With Technologies For Deep Diving (Beyond Recreational Limits) To Explore Both Caves And Wrecks. These Communities United And Emerged As "Technical Diving" Or "Tec Diving" With The Publication Of Aquacorps (No Longer In Print), Which Dedicated Itself To This Type Of Diving

Tec Diving Not Only Has More Risk, But It Requires Significantly More Effort, Discipline And Equipment. It's Not For Everyone, And You Can Be An Accomplished, Avid Top-Notch Diver Your Entire Life Without Making A Tec Dive. That Said, There's A Cadre Of Individuals Who Want To Visit Places Underwater That Relatively Few People Can. Many Spectacular, Untouched Wrecks Lie At Depths Well Below 40m. Deep Reefs Have Organisms You Don't Find In The Shallows. Some People Enjoy The Challenge And Focus Tec Diving Requires. Still Others Love Being Involved With Cutting Edge Technologies. These Reasons Make Tec Diving Rewarding.

The PADI Tec Rec Difference

The Tec Rec Program Debuted In 2000. Although Tec Rec Is Not The First Tec Diving Program (Cave Diver Training Has Been Around For Decades), It Repeatedly Receives Accolades For Its Merits. - Tec Rec Courses Are Integrated Into An Instructionally Valid, Seamless Course Flow That Takes You From Beginning Tec Diver To One Qualified To The Outer Reaches Of Sport Diving Using Different Gas Mixes. - Each Level Introduces You To New Gear, Planning And Procedures Appropriate To Extend Your Diving Limits. - The Tec Diver Course Is An Integrated Sequence Of Three Sub courses: Tec 40, Tec 45 And Tec 50. You Can Complete Them Continuously Or You Can Complete Each Level Separately With A Time Span Between Them. This Gives You Learning Efficiency, Instructional Integrity And Schedule Flexibility.

The Scuba Gear You'll Use

Tec Diving Uses Much More Equipment Than Recreational Diving. The Technical Scuba Gear Typically Uses Two To Four Or Five Regulators, A Dive Computer, And Some Accessories.

Prerequisites

• 18 Years Or Older.
• A Mature, Responsible Person Who Will Follow The Required Procedures And Requirements Strictly And Faithfully.
• Medically Fit For Tec Diving (Physician's Signature Required).
• Willing To Accept The Added Risks That Tec Diving Presents.
• An Experienced Diver With At Least 100 Logged Dives.
• Certified As A PADI Enriched Air Diver And PADI Deep Diver Or Equivalent (For This Program Equivalency Is Proof Of Training In Recreational Deep Diving 18m To 40m Consisting Of At Least Four Dives And Training In Nitrogen Narcosis Considerations, Contingency/Emergency Decompression, Making Safety Stops And Air Supply Management OR, Have A Minimum Of 20 Logged Dives Deeper Than 30m)

The Fun Part

The Fun Part Of Tecrec Is Rising To The Challenges As You Dive Deeper And Longer Than Most Divers Ever Do.

PADI TECHNICAL DIVING FLOW CHART

MASTER PETER TAY

My name is Peter Tay, a Singaporean Chinese living in Boracay Island Philippines. I been living in the Philippines since 2002 and traveled to many parts of the Philippines. I have traveled around the world and still feel Philippines is the most beautiful country to live in. People are friendly, many nice places to visit and most important, there are many nice dive sites.

I been a Dive Professional since I was 18years old, trained by the Singapore Military. When I was discharged, I was a full time diving instructor. Thru diving, it brought me to many places in the world and given me many opportunity. I was privilege to work with PADI Asia Pacific as a Sales Representative at a very young age and started my first diving school at 24 in Singapore.

I have taught more than 5000 students of all levels and received numerous awards for Outstanding Customer Services & Letters of Commendation for excellent Instructions. I am presently a PADI Master Instructor & TDI Advanced Trimix Instructor with over 20 Diving Specialties. I am also an Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer.

Teaching diving is my passion, I love teaching and enjoyed teaching students who have fear of water. Even though students who are afraid of water are not easy students but the sense of satisfaction when the student is able to complete the course and become a PADI Open Water Diver. After the course, they will give me a big hug and thank me for my instructions. This make my day as a diving instructor.

If you would like to know more of my services in Boracay Island, log on to www.boracayadventures.com for more information. You may email me at peter@boracayadventures.com if you have any questions.

EDUCATION

Relaxing, Action-Packed, Tranquil, Adrenaline Pumping, Adventurous - Diving Is All This And More - The Choice Is Yours!

Can You Imagine Being In A Tropical Location Diving In Crystal Clear Water, Surrounded By Brightly Colour Coral And Fish. You And Your Buddy Put On Your Dive Equipment To Enter The Water And Explore The Abundance Of Marine Life -- All The While Hovering Weightlessly Underwater  Or You Could Be Off Exploring A New Shipwreck Off The Coast Of A Small Island Out In The Middle Of The Ocean - Where Conditions Are Challenging.

You're Ready For Anything Because You've Invested In The Right Training And Have Gained Valuable Hands-On Expedition. Is Being Prepared For Worth It? You Bet! One Of The First Things A Diver Learn Is That There Are Many Exciting Dive Environments That Can Be Enjoyed Under The Right Conditions And With The Appropriate Training. To Help Guide You In The Right Direction, We've Listed The PADI Programs Offered By Sea World Dive Center, PADI 5* Career Development Center. The First & Only In Boracay Island.

Sea World Dive Center Has Over 25 Years Of Diving Experiences, Logged More Than 15,000 Dives With More Than 25 Diving Specialities Cater For You. A Pioneer In Training Instructors In The Island And Trained More Than 5000 Students Of All Levels To Date. We Are The Only Dive Center In The Island With 2 PADI Course Directors, 3 PADI Master Instructors & 5 Emergency First Response Instructor Trainers.

We Are Able To Provide Training In English, Korean, Mandarin, Hokkien, Fukkien, Teochew, Cantonese, French, Russian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, German, Japanese And Tagalog. Our Instructors Have Been Numerous Awarded For Outstanding Customer Services And Also Received Letters Of Commendation For Excellent Instructions. Good Divers Are Always Learning, Continue Your Education With Sea World Dive Center. You Will Receive The Greatest Value For Money Without The Compromise Of Safety, Comfort, Enjoyment, Knowledge And Fun.

Sea World Dive Center Follow The PADI Start Today Philosophy By Providing Programs For Non-Divers Such As Bubble Marker & Discover Snorkelling For Those Who Don’t Swim Well Or Would Like To Experience Swimming With Scuba At A Swimming Pool Condition. The Discover Scuba Diving Is The Most Sorts After Program In Boracay Island. Participants Can Discover The Beauty Of The Underwater Of World In Just 2 Hours And May Choose To Continue Their Education To Become A PADI Open Water Diver By Crediting Their Dive To The Course.

Is Indeed More Fun In The Philippines But Is Even More Fun In Boracay Island! Become A Diver With Sea World Dive Center Or Continue Your Education In The Hands Of Our Dive Professionals.   

WHY PADI GO PRO???

Get a Life! Go PRO. Teach Scuba Diving

Become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and take your career anywhere. When was the last time you said, "I love my job! "? Go PRO and you'll be saying it all the time.

Ditch the nine to five office job. Live your dream by transforming the lives of others while teaching scuba diving lessons.

Go PRO with PADI

As a PADI Professional, you'll be part of the largest, most widely recognized scuba training organization in the world. With more than 5900 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts on the planet, the world is your office and your playground!

Sea World Dive Center

A PADI 5* Career Development Center with over 25 years of teaching experiences, trained more than 5000 students of all levels and a pioneer in training instructors in Boracay island. The only center in the island with 2 PADI Course Directors, 3 PADI Master Instructors, 5 PADI Emergency First Response Instructor Trainers, 5 PADI IDC Staffs Instructors and 5 PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainers.

PADI TEC REC

Technical Diving Is Scuba Diving’s “Extreme” Sport, Taking Experienced And Qualified Divers Far Deeper Than In Mainstream Recreational Diving. Technical Diving Is Marked By Significantly More Equipment And Training Requirements To Manage The Additional Hazard This Type Of Diving Entails. Tec Diving Isn’t For Everyone, But For Those Who Hear Its Challenge Call, The PADI Tec Rec Courses Are The Answer.

What Is Technical Diving?

Technical Scuba Diving Is Defined As Diving Other Than Conventional Commercial Or Research Diving That Takes Divers Beyond Recreational Scuba Diving Limits. It Is Further Defined As And Includes One Or More Of The Following:

• Diving Beyond 40mMetres Deep.
• Required Stage Decompression.
• Diving In An Overhead Environment Beyond 40m Of The Surface.
• Accelerated Decompression And Or The Use Of Variable Gas Mixtures During The Dive.

Because In Technical Diving The Surface Is Effectively Inaccessible In An Emergency, Tec Divers Use Extensive Methodologies And Technologies And Training To Manage The Added Risks. Even With These, However, Tec Diving Admittedly Has More Risk, Potential Hazard And Shorter Critical Error Chains Than Does Recreational Scuba Diving.

How Long Has Technical Diving Been Around?

Most People Would Agree That Cave Diving Is A Form Of Technical Diving. Cave Diving Developed In The Late 1960s And 1970s, Developing Into A Discipline Largely Like It Is Today By The Mid 1980s. In The Early 1990s, Several Groups Of Divers Around The World Began Experimenting With Technologies For Deep Diving (Beyond Recreational Limits) To Explore Both Caves And Wrecks. These Communities United And Emerged As “Technical Diving” Or “Tec Diving” With The Publication Of Aquacorps (No Longer In Print), Which Dedicated Itself To This Type Of Diving.

Why Would I Want To Be A Tec Diver?

Tec Diving Not Only Has More Risk, But It Requires Significantly More Effort, Discipline And Equipment. It’s Not For Everyone, And You Can Be An Accomplished, Avid Top-Notch Diver Your Entire Life Without Making A Tec Dive.

That Said, There’s A Cadre Of Individuals Who Want To Visit Places Underwater That Relatively Few People Can. Many Spectacular, Untouched Wrecks Lie At Depths Well Below 40m. Deep Reefs Have Organisms You Don’t Find In The Shallows. Some People Enjoy The Challenge And Focus Tec Diving Requires. Still Others Love Being Involved With Cutting Edge Technologies. These Reasons Make Tec Diving Rewarding.

The PADI Tec Rec Difference

The Tec Rec Program Debuted In 2000. Although Tec Rec Is Not The First Tec Diving Program (Cave Diver Training Has Been Around For Decades), It Repeatedly Receives Accolades For Its Merits.

• Tec Rec Courses Are Integrated Into An Instructionally Valid, Seamless Course Flow That Takes You From Beginning Tec Diver To One Qualified To The Outer Reaches Of Sport Diving Using Different Gas Mixes.
• Each Level Introduces You To New Gear, Planning And Procedures Appropriate To Extend Your Diving Limits.
• The Tec Diver Course Is An Integrated Sequence Of Three Sub courses: Tec 40, Tec 45 And Tec 50.  You Can Complete Them Continuously Or You Can Complete Each Level Separately With A Time Span Between Them.  This Gives You Learning Efficiency, Instructional Integrity And Schedule Flexibility.

The Scuba Gear You'll Use

Tec Diving Uses Much More Equipment Than Recreational Diving. The Technical Scuba Gear Typically Uses Two To Four Or Five Regulators, A Dive Computer, And Some Accessories.

Prerequisites

Tec Rec Prerequisites Vary (See Individual Course Descriptions), But The Following Applies To Anyone Interested In Technical Diving:

• 18 Years Or Older.
• A Mature, Responsible Person Who Will Follow The Required Procedures And Requirements Strictly And Faithfully.
• Medically Fit For Tec Diving (Physician’s Signature Required).

• Willing To Accept The Added Risks That Tec Diving Presents.
• An Experienced Diver With At Least 100 Logged Dives.
• Certified As A PADI Enriched Air Diver And PADI Deep Diver Or Equivalent (For This Program Equivalency Is Proof Of Training In Recreational Deep Diving 18m To 40m Consisting Of At Least Four Dives And Training In Nitrogen Narcosis Considerations, Contingency/Emergency Decompression, Making Safety Stops And Air Supply Management OR, Have A Minimum Of 20 Logged Dives Deeper Than 30m)

The Fun Part

The Fun Part Of Tec Rec Is Rising To The Challenges As You Dive Deeper And Longer Than Most Divers Ever Do.

BORACAY

Boracay Island was awarded by Travel Advisor as the best beaches in Asia for 2012 and was also rated as one of the top 10 beaches in the world by Yahoo Travel in 2008 and in spite of the economic downturn in the world. There is a tremendous growth of 41% tourists in 2012 compare to 2011. The Government of the Philippines are doing as much to boast the travel industry in the Philippines especially; Boracay Island. Is indeed more fun in the Philippines but it is even more fun in Boracay Island!

Boracay Island is the no. 1 most visited island in the Philippines, not just the Filipinos taking a break in this island but a growth of travellers from Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Countries from Asia. There is also an increase of travellers from America & Europe especially the Russians.

There are 4 airlines that fly directly to Caticlan Airport and which airlines provide at least 8 schedules of flights a day. There are even more flights heading to Kalibo Airport, about 2hours away from Boracay Island. There are many connecting flight from different Domestic Airport in Philippines such as Manila, Clark, Cebu & Davao to Kalibo Airport. Since 2008, Kalibo Airport has turned into an International Airport with direct flights from Korea, Taiwan and different major cities in China.

The 4km White Beach known to be the “Finest beach in the world” with the surrounding water shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most of the beaches in the archipelago. It feels like treading on miles of baby powders and enjoying the sunset of Boracay.

There are more than 100 resorts to be chosen in the Island of Boracay. The World most well known Hotels & Resorts Chain; Shangri-La is situated at the northern part of the island with over 300 rooms. There are also numerous Tripe AAA Resorts in the Island that are accredited by The Philippines Department of Tourism. There are also cheap accommodations to accommodate budget travellers.

Bargain shopping is a joy of a diversion while in Boracay Island. There are numerous souvenir shops in the island providing endless possibilities from trinkets and native accessories made of semi-precious stones to exotic or contemporary beach wear and fashion artworks. Dining is no problem in Boracay with most resorts having their own restaurants that serve both Filipino and International cuisines. There are also numerous restaurants at d’Mall and small snack bars line in the island. There are numerous Sea Sports Activities in the island, don’t have time to feel bored. In the evening, there are many bars to be visited.

For more information of Boracay Island, please log on to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boracay. If you like to know about accommodation and activities in Boracay, please go to our Travel Partner; Boracay Adventures Travel & Tours for more information. Log on to www.boracayadventures.com.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DIVING INSTRUCTORS

PADI CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER (CDC)

The PADI Career Development Center (CDC) classification is awarded annually to PADI Five Star Instructor Development Centers and Five Star Instructor Development Dive Resorts that dedicate their businesses to professional development beyond regular scuba instructor training and meet the highest requirements for training PADI scuba diving leaders. PADI CDCs offer career-oriented training to prepare scuba diving professionals for employment in the dive industry, as well as offering job placement assistance for program graduates.

PADI NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVE CENTER

The PADI National Geographic Dive Center Award is granted on an annual basis to progressive PADI Five Star Dive Centers and 5 Star Dive Resorts that excel in providing dive consumers with a full range of National Geographic diver education programs while actively promoting the benefits of environmental awareness and responsibility. A PADI National Geographic Dive Center’s appearance and customer service performance is representative of the National Geographic. 

PADI TEC REC CENTER

Technical diving is scuba diving’s “extreme” sport, taking experienced and qualified divers far deeper than in mainstream recreational diving. Technical diving is marked by significantly more equipment and training requirements to manage the additional hazard this type of diving entails. Tec diving isn’t for everyone, but for those who hear its challenge call, the PADI TecRec courses are the answer.

SEA WORLD DIVE CENTER BORACAY

MISSION STATEMENT

Purpose:    Provide Student & Divers The Value For Money Without The Compromise of Safety, Comfort, Enjoyment, Knowledge and Fun.

Vision:       Intend To Be The Best Diving Service Provider In The Island of Boracay.

Slogan:      Good Divers Are Always Learning.

Mission:    Discover The Beauty of The Underwater World With Sea World Dive Center.

Sea World Dive Center, A PADI 5* Career Development Center With Over 25 Years Of Experiences. Logged More Than 20,000 Dives With More Than 20 Diving Specialities, A Pioneer In Training Instructors In The Island And Trained More Than 5000 Students Of All Levels To Date. We Are The Only Dive Center In The Island With 2 PADI Course Directors, 3 PADI Master Instructor And 5 Emergency First Response Instructor Trainers.

A PADI Tec Rec Training Center With Full Services On Tec Diving. We Trained Full Range Of PADI Courses From PADI Open Water Diver Course To PADI Instructor Development Courses And Different Diving Specialties Cater For You.  We Are The Only Dive Center In The Island Capable To Train In English, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Russian And Tagalog. Our Center Been Awarded By PADI For Environmental Conservation & Contribution To The Diving Industry In 2012. Our Instructor also Been Awarded For Outstanding Customer Services And Letters Of Commendation For Excellent Instructions.

If You Are A Certified Diver, Dive With Sea World Dive Center And Explore The Beauty Of The Underwater World And Experience Our Excellent Services. You May Also Continue Your Education With Us As We Teach Full Board Of Diving Courses. You Will Receive The Greatest Value For Money Without The Compromise Of Safety, Comfort, Enjoyment, Knowledge And Fun.

We Are Providing Our Services To More Than 50 Resorts In Boracay Island And Our Dive Center Is Accredited By The Philippines Department Of Tourism And The Philippines Commissioned For Sports Scuba Diving, Our Instructor Is Also Accredited By Mabuhay Host. Experience... Explore... Excitement... Enjoyment With Sea World Dive Center In An Exotic Environment; Boracay Island Philippines. The World Best Island!

DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF THE UNDERWATER WORLD

Have you thought of being weightless just like those astronauts that you saw in Discovery Channel? You don’t have to be in space to experience being weightless, take up the PADI Open Water Diver Course and discover the beauty of the underwater world. You will experience yourself being weightless underwater. Don’t have time to take up the course? Well, to be a PADI Open Water Diver, it takes just minimum of 2 days. In fact, about 18hours of training in total only. You just have to go through the PADI Open Water Diver DVD and complete the 5 modules of Knowledge Reviews, go through 5 modules of confined water training and 4 open water dives. After completing the final examination then you are a certified PADI Open Water Diver. It is as easy as A-B-C! Don’t hesitated! Take up the course right now! Log on to www.seaworldboracay.com for more information.