All Blog Posts (185)

The all NEW and Improved UTD Class 2.0 Application is now available on the Apple store or at http://itunes.apple.com/app/utd-classrooms/id362117898?mt=8 . Download it now and check out the new…

Please join us in congratulating UTD Instructor (and Instructor Trainer) Simone Nicolini of Argentario Divers on completing his mCCR 1 and pSCR 1 instructor upgrades. Simone and Stefania Mensa just spent a week training and diving at UTD HQ in Carlsbad.

Argentario Divers is a UTD Dealer and Training Facility in Porto Ercole, about two hours north of Rome on the Tyrrhenian Sea. In addition to the rebreather classes, Simone teaches UTD recreational, technical, and trimix…

Had a wounderfull few days at the copenhagen diveshow. Casper and myself were positively surprised about the many positive comments about UTD and the new UTD materials an the Z-system we had on display. Dispite the lower visitor numbers than the previous years at the copenhagen diveshow.

Looking forward to the diveshow in Herning t the end of feb.

Instructors: AG, Elliott and Dave, teammate Doug

Day 1: Buoyancy, trim, propulsion and Basic Six

Dive #1: 36 ft, 82 mins, 51F, current

First day of class. We did some dry run and 1 dive in the PM.  Was told to stay in trim and on the line. First of all, I wasn’t used to that.  Second, the current kept pushing me over the line and I had to keep re-positioning myself.  It was a little chaotic…  Lesson learned: clipping off unused requip, replace mask with…

This past weekend Andrew and myself spent 4 days in the water in Monterey, it started out with a nice technical scooter dive at Pt. Lobos.  This was my first time using the heater system...and it truly is a game changer.  For the first 60 minutes of the dive I couldn't get my heater turned on (I placed the switch wrong in my suit), once we ascended to our 70' gas switch I managed to get the heater turned on, at this point I had already lost dexterity in my hands, and concentration was a bit…

This weekend - we (myself and the other Instructor Candidates) could not of survived the Essentials of Rec/Tech without the Solar Drysuit Heating System. We were teaching ALL day (outside and in-water) 10+ hours. Each day would start first with a 2-4 hour dryrun session on a picnic bench. We were in the open and exposed to the cold wind, the heating system surface batteries ran the heating unit continuously, keeping us perfectly warm and comfortable. They would last about 3 hours per battery…

Welcome to 2012! 

It is truly hard to believe, but this is UTD's third anniversary, and what an incredible ride the past three years has been.  Before I outline what to expect from UTD in 2012, I want to say thank you for your support and friendship.  I personally believe that every UTD instructor, dive master, student, member, diver and supporter is part of UTD’s success and part of the UTD…

This past weekend Tanya and I were teaching an Essentials of Tech class and trying out the Solar Heating Unit. On Saturday, we conducted two dives that lasted about an hour and a half or so each in 35F/2C to 46F/8C water. The air temperature was around 32F/0C. I had on the equivalent weight of a 400g polartec undergarment and was using air for dry suit inflation. On both dives I ran the heater the entire dive on “low” (11.4v/10ah LiPo battery). Why run the heater the entire dive? Well, I am…

Tek 1

Quando Flavio mi chiese se fossi stato interessato a fare il corso tek 1 con lui ero quasi incredulo perchè significava che avrei fatto finalmente il salto che da tempo aspettavo dentro la subacquea tecnica. Tre full day in Croazia, 2 istruttori e 6 subacquei composti in 2 team di 3 persone ciascuno, un orchestra dove al posto dei violini c'eranno bombole decompressive cariche di ossigeno e dove il direttore d'orchestra al posto della bacchetta aveva una "antipatica"…

I've been back in the states now for a few days and I've had some time to reflect on my adventure in Tulum. I close my eyes and I can still see the jungle, the caves, and my friends in Tulum. It really was a pretty amazing trip.

The first week was to be…

http://http://caveheaven.blogspot.com/2011/11/utd-cave-week-report-nov-2011.html

Nov. 2011

Guys we had a blast at UTD cave week here in Tulum, I want first of all thanks all the…

Hey everyone-

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Jeff Christiansen to the UTD Instructor Team as an Essentials of Scientific Diving Instructor.

For some time, Jeff has had a vision of integrating team diving into the scientific diving operations at the Seattle Aquarium, and the scientific diving community in general.

Over the past 10 to 11 months, Jeff has worked incredibly hard at meeting the bar.  His enthusiasm, motivation, willingness to…

We now have two new UTD instructors in Spain. Mike Van Splunteren and Roland Bozo from Octopus Mallorca Dive Center in Mallorca completed their IDC's this week at Rivemar Dive Center in La Azohia. It was a great week of endless diving, dry runs, lectures, and late night dinners. Please join me in welcoming them to the UTD Instructor Corps. …

Please join me in welcoming our three newest instructors: Jon Edwardsen, Tanya Kuck, and Chris Neidhart of their dive shop: Submerged in Rockville, Maryland.

These guys began the process of becoming UTD instructors several months ago and spent this week in an intense foundational IDC. They all did a great job and we're happy to have them aboard.

Jeff…

Carlsbad, CA - Today, UTD announced the release of it's all new UTD Student and Diver Procedures Manual. This 273 page professional color printed and bound (or digitally downloaded PDF) manual outlines in full detail the UTD/DIR skills and procedures. Many topics such as Ratio Deco, Battle Field Calculations, Cave Line laying, retrieval and management, line navigational…

UTD Chuuk Lagoon Project Trip Report

By Andrew Georgitsis   - Download the PDF to read offline

 …

I have found my utopia; and what a place to venture to. This place exists just beyond the shore, and many feet below the ever changing surface of the sea. I discovered a wonderful place where I feel the pressures on my body and spirit lift in a weightless arena. Gliding over a palette of coral where Muppet faced tiny fish called Blennies hide within the living walls they reside. In the wild, the lobsters' armor looks alive like sparked flint with facets of red and green. Only on a night…