It is UK Diving’s and Dive International’s sad duty to report another loss of life at the former slate quarry in North Wales, Dorathea Quarry. The diving incident occurred yesterday (Sunday), and so far the circumstances surrounding it are unclear. It is reported that the female diver became entangled in a submerged rope, and her buddy was unable to free her. No information is available at this time on the depth at which this tragic event occurred.

Dorathea Quarry, affectionately referred to as Dotty, is well known as a popular dive site with a variety of depths and features. The Quarry is one of the deepest in the country and popular with those training for particularly deep diving. The site unfortunately, is very isolated and with no services or back-up available in the case of an incident. 

The current owners try to discourage diving at Dotty, but despite this it is regularly dived and remains a popular dive location. Various plans to see the quarry turned into a national diving centre seem so far to have come to nothing.   

Mexico implements regulations for the protection of sharks. Mexico has long been recognized as an ideal habitat for a variety of sharks including the Great White and Basking species. After a 10 year debate involving everyone from conservation groups and scientists to local citizens, legislation has been implemented providing extensive protection for Great White Sharks, Whale Sharks, Basking Sharks and Manta Rays, including a ban on shark fining.  

An increase in tourism, many of which are divers, is being sited as a strong deciding factor in the move, but whatever the reasoning behind the decision, this seems to be a very popular and long overdue move.  

The worlds longest underwater cave has been discovered at the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. It has been reported that two cave divers have discovered a 153 kilometre caves linking those at Nohoich Nah Chich and Sac Actun. The divers, Briton Stephen Bogaerts and German Robbie Schmittner, used scooters to explore the submerged networks until finally finding a path that links the two in January of this year.

Three Submarines have been discovered off the coast of the Isle of Man. Located approximately 20 miles of the south of the island, the wrecks were discovered by divers from the BSAC Castle Rushen Divers Club. Further explorations of the wrecks are planned for later in the year, so we hope to have more info about the 40-50 metre and 64 metre deep wrecks on the site soon. 

The search for the lost civilization off the coast of Texas. The Gulf of Mexico has been a popular dive location for a number of years, and is growing by the day. The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has now attracted a team of scientists who will perform a week long examination of the area.

The Gulf of Mexico’s water level has risen by approximately 200metres of the last few millennia, and thus during the early stages of man, would have been land, with the coast line as much as 100 metres south of it’s current location.  The team hopes to find evidence of human life at the site, and it is possible that evidence of settlements will also be unearthed.

Costing approximately $300,000, the team comprises of geologists, biologists as well as marine archaeologists, and with two ships and research submarines hopes are high in regards to learning more about this area.  

UK Diving and Dive International’s Weekly News Update is a brand new feature. We want to keep divers abreast of the news surrounding our sport, and this new weekly round-up of News and Events is just part of this process. With regular, new Conservation Articles, Places 2 Dive, Equipment Articles and Information.

UK Diving and Dive International hopes to provide divers with all they need to know about the marine world.

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