Above and Below Dive Centre: Yorkshire, Hull and Pontefract

News

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We are emptying the ocean of sharks. As a diver and a global citizen acting locally, you can play a critical role in saving sharks. Start by signing the AWARE petition to save sharks. Here's why your signature and additional actions to protect sharks are so important:

Nearly one out of five shark species is classified by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as Threatened with extinction. That doesn't even include hundreds of species (almost half of all sharks) whose population status cannot be assessed because of lack of information. Scientists warn that, in actuality, a third of sharks might already be threatened.

Why do we worry about shark populations? A healthy and abundant ocean depends on predators like sharks keeping ecosystems balanced. And living sharks fuel local economies in places like Palau where sharks bring in an estimated $18 million per year through dive tourism.

They may rule the ocean, but sharks are vulnerable. They grow slowly, produce few young, and, as such, are exceptionally susceptible to overexploitation.

Overfishing is driving sharks to the brink - with many populations down by 80 percent. Tens of millions are killed each year for their meat, fins, liver, and other products.

Bycatch – or catching sharks incidentally while fishing for other commercial species – poses a significant threat to sharks. At the same time, new markets for shark products are blurring the line between targeted and accidental catches.

Finning – Shark fins usually fetch a much higher price than shark meat, providing an economic incentive for the wasteful and indefensible practice of “finning” (removing shark fins and discarding the often still alive shark at sea). Finning is often associated with shark overfishing, especially as keeping only the fins allows fishermen to kill many more sharks in a trip than if they were required to bring back the entire animal.

Shark fishing continues largely unregulated in most of the world's ocean. Finning bans, such as the European Union's (EU) finning regulations, are fraught with loopholes. Trade in only three species of sharks – basking, great white and whale - are regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The future of sharks hinges on holding shark fishing and trade to sustainable levels. The best way to ensure an end to finning is to require that sharks are landed with their fins still “naturally” attached. Fishing limits must be guided by science and reflect a precautionary approach. We must also invest in shark research and catch reporting, and protect vital shark habitats. Individuals can help by thinking twice before buying shark products and only buy shark products that come from sustainable sources.

Thankfully, divers are some of sharks' closest and most influential allies. Together, we can create a powerful, collective voice to lead global grassroots change. We can start by seizing upcoming opportunities by demanding a stronger EU finning ban and safeguards for highly traded shark species under CITES.

Join us in taking action and sign the petition above to save sharks now - thank you.

New to Above and Below:

PADI ULTIMATE OPEN WATER EXECUTIVE COURSE

FULLY all inclusive at only £400, and taking only 2 days.

What this includes:

PADI Open water manual

PADI log book

PADI Open water DVD's

Electronic RDP

Waterproof wallet

Full open water course training including certification

Equipment hire

Diving site entry fees

Air refill fees

Instruction by full time dive professionals, of the highest level.

All tuition and training takes place at our own dive centre – no additional travelling costs incurred.

Not local to us? Local overnight accommodation can be arranged from £28

 

Discover Scuba Diving - £150

We are now also offering a Discover Scuba Diving day also at the Blue Lagoon dive centre, this is a one day introduction into Scuba Diving, where basic theory and dive skills are learnt followed by an open water diving experience - all equipment, entry and equipment hire fees, tuition and DSD certificate are included in the cost ! This day can be credited towards the full PADI Open Water Diver course.

 

We did it again !!

Above & Below are really pleased to announce that for the second year running (2009 & 2010) we are number one in the UK for PADI certifications ! Thank you to all our students and of course, the Dive Team.

Above & Below is the overall Dive Centre winner for the 2009 PADI Master Scuba Diver Challenge !

Find us on Facebook: Above & Below Dive Centre for course dates, news and events !

The new D-SMB & Advanced Open Water Diver package: for more information see our adventure dive packages page

New Tech Diver Courses: Tech 40, Tech 45 and Tech 50. Please contact gen@aboveandbelow.co.uk for further information

December 2009

Its official, we have been ranked as number 1 for diver training in the UK for 2009. This we could not have achieved without the support of our team of Instructors and Divemasters and of course to all our loyal customers.

4th August 2009
Graham Owen PADI Regional Manager congratulates Above & Below for being the leading UK PADI Dive Centre for diver certifications in the first half of 2009.

Thanks to all our Instructors and Divemasters for all your efforts this year ensuring we achieved this accolade. We are delighted with the great feedback from our students on the quality of training provided by our staff.

Lets carry on the great work to ensure we end the year as the UK's number one PADI dive centre!

12th July 2009

Blue Lagoon hosted it's first PADI Instructor Exam which was conducted by Erika Hoffman and Richard Somerset from PADI International. Apart from a few nerves the two days went perfectly for all 22 candidates and everyone had a great two days.

Well done to our candidates from Above & Below, Rachel Linarts, Nikki Thurston, Rhia Spall, Jim Sanderson, Kevin Hudson, Ryan Shiach, Alisdair McConachie, Michael Vickers, Spencer Steadman, Harry Fernando, Adam Wood, Adrian Paul and Jonathan Turner who are all now PADI Instructors.

4th July 2009

Congratulations to Martin Ainsworth one of our PADI Course Directors here at Above & Below who has achieved Platinum status within the PADI Course Director frequent trainer program for 2009. This places Martin within the top 5% of PADI Course Directors worldwide and ensures our Instructor Development Programs are second to none!

Events

Halloween Night Dive & Social: Monday 31st October from 5pm till 10pm, diving from 5pm till 7pm followed by Fire Eating Display, Food (BBQ if its a nice evening) and some entertainment, Bring a bottle (once all divers are out of the water of course !). £15pp if diving or £5pp of not diving. Let Gen know as soon as possible if you are coming (gen@aboveandbelow.co.uk), tickets can be emailed to you.

PADI Speciality of the month

The 2011 calendar for Specialty of the Month is:

Equipment Servicing

As the North’s leading diver training provider, you would expect us to provide a first class support service for your equipment. We can repair and maintain your diving equipment, including repairs to wetsuits, drysuits, cylinders, regulators and BCD’s. We also supply air to industry Standards and our trained staff have the facilities to blend Nitrox and Tri-mix.

Dive Trips

We frequently operate overseas and UK scuba diving trips. Pleas evisit our dive trips page for detailed information about our future diving trips.