Vancouver Aquarium begins 2018 with a splash! On Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28, the Aquarium will host the 19th Annual Divers’ Weekend including fascinating exhibits, riveting dive demonstrations and informative workshops set to intrigue divers and non-divers alike.
This much-anticipated event attracts thousands of ocean enthusiasts to share the latest techniques for undersea exploration. Visitors will learn the history of scuba diving through a historical gear diving demonstration by Heritage Hard Hat Divers while young aspiring scuba divers will enjoy diving-inspired crafts and face painting.
“We look forward to Divers’ Weekend every year,” says Jeremy Heywood, Vancouver Aquarium’s diving and boating safety officer and Divers’ Weekend organizer. “It really doesn’t matter whether our visitors are certified divers or if they are seeing an air tank for the first time, this event has something for everyone. Visitors will have the opportunity to investigate all things diving from more than 25 exhibitors, including public service dive teams, not-for-profit conservation organizations, dive stores, charter operators, underwater photographers as well as equipment manufacturers and distributors.”
[Old diving bell exhibit booth; photo credit Vancouver Aquarium]
In keeping with 2018’s theme, training, Stewart Sy of SLS Photography will open the workshop series on January 27. His talk will help underwater photographers to visualize the perfect underwater shot long before clicking the shutter.
Scuba diver/Marine Ecologist/Research Scientist Jessica Schultz of the Ocean Wise Coastal Ocean Research Institute will lead a workshop on how to identify fish while diving in BC as well as how to collect the right information if something new is spotted.
Saturday will wrap up with a workshop by occupational diving expert Kelly Korol from DiveSafe International.
Vancouver Aquarium’s curator of fishes, technical diver and underwater photographer Lee Newman will kick off day two sharing insights on how to take a passion for photography to new depths safely and successfully.
Experienced diver and instructor Liz Tribe will lead a workshop entitled Chasing the Elusive Fundamentals: Trim, Buoyancy and Propulsion, exploring how achieving this delicate balance improves dive experience.
[Ocean Wise Arctic Research Dive Team; photo credit Ocean Wise]
The third workshop of the day will be led by Vancouver Aquarium’s diving and boating safety officer Jeremy Heywood. During Save-a-Dive: Eight Helpful Techniques to Keep Your Gear Working, Heywood will teach basic maintenance and possible scuba gear failure issues.
Divers’ Weekend activities run from 10 am to 5 pm on both days and are included in the price of Aquarium admission. As a special bonus for divers, Vancouver Aquarium will offer 50% off admission and 10% off Aquarium membership with a valid diving certification card.
To learn more about Divers’ Weekend, visit the event page online and follow along on social media with hashtag #VanAqua. Top image by Stewart Sy Photography.
