News at Aquatron
13th June 2010: Our busy summer continues! Glasgow University hold a Science Festival every year, and this year we joined the "Science Sunday" to introduce scuba diving to some wee folk. With experiments on buoyancy, gas properties, and loads of kit to try on, our stand was never quiet!
Martin demonstrating the egg experiment. No chickens were harmed during this experiment.
A budding scuba diver? The kids loved trying on the old (and new) scuba gear we had on display.
5th and 6th June 2010: Aquatron once again hosted the Scottish Dive Show, and for once the scottish weather helped instead of hindered! We welcomed representatives from Scubapro, Suunto, Typhoon and Uwatec, who brought all the latest gear and loads of information. Many thanks to all who came along and made the weekend a success!
James from Scubapro was on hand to show the latest Everdry and Fjord drysuits, as well as the travel BCD, the Geo. A full range of stock was on hand, as well as lots of special offers!
Sven and Craig from Suunto (who were camera shy at this particular moment!) were on hand to answer customer's questions on the full range of dive computers and gauges.
Tim from Typhoon showed a full range of their wetsuits and drysuits, as well as some of the Bodyglove range that they now supply.
April 2010: Congratulations to Sue Kee, Mark Wynne and Fiona McLean who all passed their Instructor Exams in Newcastle, having completed the IDC with Aquatron. The next course is scheduled for August.
14th March 2010: We have some new Assistant Instructors! Congratulations to Allan Cunningham, Alastair Norris and Sam Smith on passing the course. Students, beware, they will be out teaching at a loch near you soon!
Saturday 17th October 2009 40th Anniversary Party! Many thanks to all that joined us for the birthday celebrations on Saturday 17th October at the Science Centre. It was a fantastic party, and great to see so many of our customers out enjoying themselves! We would love to put up some of the pictures, but are sadly unable to for legal reasons....although they can be viewed on the Aquatron Facebook page. (and apologies to the sheep for any distress caused!)
We managed to raise the grand total of £2,239.49 for charity. This will be split between Cancer Research UK and Wateraid.
This will hopefully become an annual event, so don't pack away your dancing shoes just yet! Thanks again for your support, and see you all next year!
Raffle prizes went to:
Northern Diver Made to Measure RBX Drysuit: Liam White
Scubapro A700 Regulator: Hannah McKinver
Typhoon Seamaster Drysuit: Andy Newey
Suunto Vyper Air Computer: Steven Low
Fourth Element Ozone Undersuit: Peter Holmes
Apeks Egress Octopus: Alan Williamson
PADI Backpack etc: Billy McIntyre and Chris Boyle
Aqualung Backpack etc: Alan Cunningham and Sandy Montgomery
Please call into the shop to collect your prizes, if you weren't there on the night.
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October 2009 Aquatron were pleased to host a Seasearch Observer Course. Seasearch is a project for qualified divers who have an interest in what they're seeing underwater, want to learn more and want to help protect the marine environment around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. The main aim is to map out the various types of sea bed found in the near-shore zone. In addition, they are recording what lives in each area, establishing the richest sites for marine life, the sites where there are problems, and the sites which need protection.
Participants attended a classroom session on Saturday, then carried out two dives on Sunday, completing the Seasearch Observer reports afterwards. Sitings included pipefish, two different types of nudibranch, a Yarrell's blenny and too many types of sponge to mention! It's amazing what you can see when you slow down and look!
Sunday 20th September 2009 Beach Cleanup with Project AWARE and Marine Conservation Society. Staff and students collected rubbish on the shore at 29 Steps, while a group of staff, divers and non divers went to Conger Alley to clear on the surface and underwater. Among some of the stranger items found: plastic seat from a child's toy, a road sign stand and a stuffed reindeer (a toy, not a real one!). We gathered numerous fishing hooks and weights from Conger Alley, along with 20-30m of fishing line, so hopefully we won't have to spend so much time cutting crabs free there! Many thanks to all of the volunteers who turned out to help and made it a great day out.
Friday 4th and Saturday 5th September 2009 Congratulations to Carol Campbell, Lawrie Klapwyk and Lynne Hardie who have all passed the Instructor Examination in Newcastle! They completed the AI and IDC courses in Aquatron prior to the exam, and we are now looking forward to the next courses in April 2010.
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July 2009 GLASGOW RIVER FESTIVAL Aquatron had a stall at the River Festival this year, and were amazed at the response! There are loads of budding divers out there, and we look forward to seeing them in learning with us soon. We also supplied and crewed two of the rescue boats for the weekend, which gave some of our staff great views of all the water based events!
