Bringing out the explorer in you…
From free trial dives on Halcyon’s HDVR14 and HDTV16 scooters to GUE surface and underwater workshops, special Sentinel rebreather sessions and dives… to first-hand accounts and updates from world-leading expeditions, this year’s two-day Millennium Dive Fest in Portland, Dorset offers something for everyone. And it’s a great opportunity to touch base with other divers and old friends after a great dive season!…
Catch up with latest updates on MD Fest Blog
Among our special guests for 2010 will be Renato Raseta, Project Coordinator and Exploration Diver of the Karst Odyssey – Balkan Cave Diving Project and Phil Short, one of the most prominent cave and wreck explorers of our times and a leading European technical instructor trainer– both giving updates on their most recent expeditions of international significance.
Present for the two day event will also be Global Underwater Explorers instructors’ Richard Walker, John Kendall and Clare Gledhill as well as GUE technical-cave diver and IANTD Instructor Howard Payne and UE-UK professional staff and instructors.
Scooter Workshops and Dives
Free MD workshops on both days will include scooter sessions with IANTD Technical Instructor Howard Payne where a number of underwater diving vehicles ranging from the new Halcyon HDRV14 and HDTV16’s to Gavin and Suex scooters will be covered.
Saturday and Sunday’s land-based scooter workshops focusing on everything from maintenance and service issues to individual and team procedures will be followed by free guided scooter sea dives to allow prospective users a chance to experience the vehicles in real-life conditions.
GUE Equipment and Skills Workshops
Global Underwater Explorers UK Training Director and Instructor Richard Walker and GUE instructors John Kendall and Clare Gledhill will be holding GUE equipment and skills workshops on both days leading up to afternoon skills dives.
The GUE ethos, equipment configuration, essential skills and future prospects for divers will be covered in detail during the surface sessions while skill priming, development and practice will be the focus of the subsequent non-certification dives.
Sentinel Workshops and Try Dives
Parallel to these activities, IANTD’s Phil Short will be holding free Sentinel surface workshops on the morning of each day where participants will be explained and run through the workings of this ground-breaking rebreather.
Optional to the free workshops, there will be Sentinel Try Dives on Saturday and Sunday for a maximum of four students each on either day. The optional in-water part of the workshop consists of pool practice to be followed by a supervised dive at sea.
Any deposit paid towards the Sentinel Try Dives can later be deducted from any Sentinel purchase.The optional 1-day Sentinel Try Dive session for a maximum of four students each day is £100 per-person and bookings are available on a first-come first-served basis.
Equipment Trials and Dives
During MD Fest 2010, GUE and Underwater Explorers (UK) volunteers will also be on site to assist with any other optional dives and equipment trials ranging from wings to twinsets, torches to Halcyon rigs and regulators, Silent Planet’s Heated Vest to DUI dry suits – also offering free in-water orientation and primer tasters.
UE staff will also be holding a special Equipment Maintenance Workshop on the afternoon of Saturday October 2, running through essential procedures such as inflator, regulator, wing maintenance and field repairs, front-line servicing.
Buffet and Presentations
In support of the Fest, Portland’s Hotel Aqua has proposed to accommodate a seated full buffet dinner for up to 50 diners on Saturday night at cost — for only £7.50 per-person — where Renato Raseta, Phil Short and Richard Walker will present the most recent updates on ongoing diving expeditions of international significance to participants.
Bookings and Availability
All surface workshops during the Fest including the GUE, Scooter and dry Sentinel Rebreather sessions are Free of Charge but will be subject to available number of seats. Halcyon scooter + GUE dives and equipment try-out dives will be organized on a first-booked, first-served basis. Discounted boat fees apply for all boat diving where dives are involved.
With MD/UE sponsorship, those attending any boat dives will only be charged a discounted fee of £10 per-dive for any of the 6 dives over the two-day fest.
To book your place in advance email us at info@underwaterexplorers.co.uk or call 01305 824 555 to receive your exclusive Attendance Form. Any dives and the buffet dinner where expedition diving will be the topic of speeches are optional. You can book on any event over the two days.
For follow-ups and updates on the Millennium Divers Fest 2010 bookmark this page and visit us regularly – or follow us through the MD Forum.
Full Schedule – Both Days
GUE Workshop
09.00 – 12.30 Presentation and Briefing
12:30 – 14.30 GUE Skills Dive
14.30 – 17.00 Debrief and Lunch
Scooter Workshop 1 (Morning)
09.00 – 10.30 Presentation and Briefing
10.30 – 12.30 Scooter Dive
12.30 – 13.30 Debrief
Scooter Workshop 2 (Afternoon)
13.30 – 15.00 Presentation and Briefing
15.00 – 17.00 Scooter Dive
17.00 – 17.30 Debrief
Sentinel Workshop and Try Dives
09.00 – 12.00 Presentation and Briefing (Open to All)
12.00 – 13.30 Sentinel Pool Dive (Maximum 4 Students)
13.30 – 15.00 Debrief, lunch and 2nd briefing (Limited to Students)
15.00 – 17.00 Sentinel Sea Dive (Limited to Students)
Kit Trials and Workshops
09.00 – 10.30 Presentation and Trials
10.30 – 12.30 Kit Trial Dive
Saturday Only (In addition to above)
13.30 – 17.00 Kit Maintenance and Field Servicing Workshop
