Articles by DivingWorld

About DivingWorld

Danie is the co-owner (with his wife Esme) of the Diving World PADI Dive Centre in Benoni and has been scuba diving since 1976. Dive safety has always been a passion in his life. Danie is also a PADI Master Scuba Dive Instructor and also a qualified EFR Instructor. Danie has been doing underwater photography since 1977 and is currently concentrating on Underwater Videography. He has a Ocean Yacht Skippers ticket as well as a DOL skippers ticket for ski and dive boats. He is a DMAC/EDTC grade IIa Diving medicine physician and registered with the Department of Labour (DOL #293) At the Healthy Eye Clinic he is an Eye Specialist (HPCSA #MP 0182311) doing mainly cataract & refractive surgery :- "Glasses and contact lenses don't go well with watersports". Membership of dive medical societies: Committee member of South African Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Association (SAUHMA) Committee member of DAN South Africa. South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) European Underwater & Baromedical Society (EUBS) Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) A rundown of his other diving related interests: Instructor Certificate of the South African Life Saving Society. Silver Cross Certificate of the South African Life Saving Society. South African Underwater Union (CIMAS) 3rd Class Scuba Diver Certificate 1976. Did a BASM course in Sports Medicine in Glasgow Scotland. Member of the British Association of Sport and Medicine. Member of the Federation Internationale de Medicine Sportive. Has Skippers Certificates for Ski Boats and Ocean Yachts. Course in Sports Medicine at the University of Bath, England 1993 -1995 He has a Turbine Helicopter Pilot license.

Sep 04 2017

Banco Chinchorro

Author: DivingWorld

Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve is located in Mexico and near the Belize border. The Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve is probably one of the healthiest reefs in the world. Fewer than one thousand divers get to this remote dive site per year. XTC divers in Xcalak was the first and only operator to organize croc encounters in Chinchorro and they are the only dive operator with an official concession. XTC is committed to sustainable tourism and conservation.

Although Banco Chinchorro is known for the crocodile encounters the are also some excellent reefs and wrecks to dive on in the area.

Lion fish ceviche is delicious and claimed to be more healthy than most other kinds of fish. It id high in Omega 3 and low in mercury.

The process, from the spear to fillet to cervice.

Then there are the Nurse Sharks that just don’t want to go away, kept on following us like a hungry puppy.

Clear, warm (29 degrees C) water and beautiful sunrise and sunsets.

Great wrecks to dive on …..

and the large Iguanas on the islands, especially around the research station.

So, we had a great time there. Thanks to the excellent organisation of XTC and Yucatan Dive Trek. This should be on your bucket list.

Jun 30 2015

Truk Lagoon (4) – “Kiyosumi Maru”

Author: DivingWorld

The Kiyosumi Maru is a 137m, 8,614 ton passenger-cargo ship and it lies on it’s port side in Chook lagoon.

The shallowest part is the starboard side at 14m and the deepest at 30m.

It is an easy “user friendly” wreck to dive on.

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In the very interesting engine room we came across large engine cylinders.

There were many interesting artifacts such as teapots, guns, torpedo launchers, spare propeller blades and even bicycles.

There is good marine growth all over the outside of the ship with the resulting colourful fish life, all over.

This ship also came to it’s end in “Operation Hailstorm” in WW2, when the Americans bombed Truk Lagoon.

A was a very nice wreck to dive on.

Jun 26 2015

Truk Lagoon (3) – “Kensho Maru”

Author: DivingWorld

The Kensho Maru is another beautiful wreck in Truk Lagoon.

This 36m deep, 116m long 4,862 ton passenger-cargo ship “lies” upright and leans slightly to port.

She also sank during “Operation Hailstorm” in WW2.

There are many artifacts on board such as medical tables, bottles, plates, binoculars and a sextant.

The helm, cabins and galley are all very interesting.

But, the engine room is best, with all the engines and boilers still in “good” condition. (Not working condition, photographically speaking)

One dive was not enough, we could have dived a couple of times on this wreck.