What’s Happening in 2008? Archive

BVI Air Show

Big News in the Rowe family......

A Day in the life of Linsey the intern

Linsey from Killeen in Texas met Sail Caribbean Divers Course Director Mike at DEMA.  It did not take long for her to decide to come to the BVI and take part in the Internship Program.  She brought her friend Lewis along for a ride.

RMS Rhone on youtube.com

Sail Caribbean Divers would like to thank Simon Draper.  Simon is a loyal customer who dived the RMS Rhone with our staff member Mark.  Simon took some video footage which he has posted on youtube.com.  If you would like to view it click here.

Sail Caribbean Divers support VISAR

Sail Caribbean Divers are proud to be able to help out Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR). 

Mike Rowe was pleased to present VISAR with a new Suction Pump Unit. This new addition to VISAR will be invaluable to VISAR in helping protect people out on the water in the BVI. 

VISAR is a voluntary organization dedicated to saving life at sea. It is the officially recognized search and rescue service in the British Virgin Islands, where it provides 24-hour cover every day of the year in close co-operation with the Royal British Virgin Islands police, fire and ambulance services.

PADI Instructor Development Course

Mike Rowe, Sail Caribbean Divers resident Course Director is putting on an Instructor Development Course's through out 2008.   Mike has certified over three hundred PADI Dive Instructors in his eighteen years as a leader in the dive industry.

The IDC provides comprehensive training to prepare candidates to become successful PADI Instructors.  Class size is limited in order to offer each candidate personal attention. The IDC will be held at our waterfront resort and will offer diving on world-class dive sites such as the RMS Rhone.

2008 IDC and IE schedule: -

Internship program

This is the third year of Sail Caribbean Divers Internship Program for certified Divemasters and Assistant Instructors.  Over the last two years over twenty people have completed the internship program gaining valuable work experience within the dive industry.  Some of our interns are now working in the Caymans, Thailand, and Florida.

While this is not an offer of employment or IDC placement. It is, however, a unique first hand experience with the inner workings of a PADI 5 Star Dive Center. We are the only dive center in the BVI with a resident Course Director. Mike Rowe has been in the diving industry for over 20 years and has successfully qualified over 300 instructors.  Everyone dreams about it, you can be a part of it! Starting October 1st, we are accepting two candidates into the program per month. Interested, qualified, individuals will join us for 30 days in a non-paid internship position and will be included as a trainee on our team for 5-6 days a week. The remaining time interns are free to relax and enjoy the island pace or study for further educational courses.

Is it real......

On October 29th 1867 the Rhone was anchored off Great Harbor Peter Island, taking on supplies for its return journey back to England.  Captain Wooley was sitting on the bridge having a cup of tea with his customary tot of rum watching the clouds starting to blacken around him. Faced with a hurricane of legendary status Captain Wooley tried to take his boat to safety.  The Rhone was washed on to Salt Island sinking in minutes.  Of over three hundred passengers and crew on board, only twenty two survived to tell the tale.

Now lying in her watery grave The RMS Rhone is one of the best wreck dives in the world.  Many people claim to have to have heard strange noises or felt some thing or someone touching them whilst diving on the Rhone.  Are there really ghosts on the Rhone?    The National Geographic channel set out to find out, is it real?

In March of this year a film crew came to the BVI to report on the presence of ghost on the Rhone.  Sail Caribbean Divers and local underwater cameraman Armando Jenik were called upon to help with a reenactment of the sinking and the haunting.  Ian and Kelly got to dress up in costumes of the day and play the part of drowning sailors whilst intern Harry was there to act as a safety diver.

Project AWARE Trellis Bay clean up day

Sail Caribbean Divers would like to thank all the volunteers who showed up to help with a successful project AWARE clean up day which was conducted at Trellis Bay, Beef Island

Trellis Bay is popular place to visit in the BVI and a famous anchorage with a high traffic of boats and people passing through this beautiful location.  Sail Caribbean Divers chose this site due to the close proximity of a turtle nesting area and other aquatic and land based life.

 

With the beach clean up being taken care by 12 kids from the Youth Empowerment Project  (YEP), their helpers and various concerned local volunteers from around the BVI.  A noticeable difference was made with 15 trash bags filled up with assorted trash strewn around the beach.

This effort was matched with an excellent turn out of 18 divers and 5 Sail Caribbean Staff who conducted an underwater clean up in the bay.  Among other things to be dragged up were two outboard engines and a full size cooker!

Sea Dog Divers Return to the BVI

May 10 – May 17, 2008

Join Sea Dog Divers for a jam packed week of diving, fun, activities and relaxation while staying in a shore side paradise at the exclusive Cooper Island Beach Club.  We have again reserved this entire little resort (the only one on the island) for our friends and guests.  Imagine a place with your own private stretch of beach, shore diving & snorkeling, great food and privacy all at your doorstep.  The dive boat will pick you up each day just a few steps from your front door, the beach is just a few steps away, and the excellent restaurant & bar is a very short walk.  You get the idea - it gets no better than this...........your own personal paradise!!

Space is limited- for information or to arrange your deposit contact: sieg@seadogdivers.com