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22 Oct 2008:

Teacher died while scuba diving at Scapa Flow in Orkney. ### Newfoundland, Vancouver Island declared as one of the world's great dive sites. ### Police Officer dissapeared during diving training.

Teacher died while scuba diving at Scapa Flow in Orkney.

А 52-year-old teacher who was on a school trip died at Scapa Flow in Orkney.

Janet A'Lee, from Tiverton, Devon was with her partner and pupils when the accident happened. After diving with one of the senior male pupils she resurfaced and fell unconscious. Woman later died. It was reported by a police of Scotland to Blundell's school where Janet A'Lee used to work.

"This is a tragedy for Janet's family and friends and our thoughts and prayers are very much with them."  Blundell's headmaster Ian Davenport wrote on the school website. "This awful accident is the subject of a police investigation and we will be co-operating fully in any way we can." He also added: "Janet was a very experienced and highly qualified diver and a popular and respected member of staff."

The school is now taking steps to ensure the safe return of the other members of the party and to offer full support and counselling to all those close to the tragedy.
The fatal accident happened on Monday.

Newfoundland, Vancouver Island declared as one of the world's great dive sites.

The waters off Newfoundland and Vancouver Island are mentioned among "the world's great dive sites"  in the new Fodor's book "Adventure Travel."
There are Second World War shipwrecks near Newfoundland's Bell Island that are accessible to scuba-divers year-round, the book says. There is also the opportunity to dive amid icebergs, with the best time being May or June.
Seafood includes orca whales, wolf eels and octopuses, the book says.

Among the top-rated dive locations you can find the Galapagos Islands, Mozambique, Oman, Papua New Guinea and Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

The book gives information about adventure travel around the world in various categories - land, animal, vehicle, water and air.
There are some other water-related experiences in Canada such as canoeing in Ontario - the area has "possibly the widest range of canoeing adventures anywhere in the world" . Northern end of B.C.'s Johnstone Strait offers sea-kayaking; and unforgatable Arctic sea-kayaking in the beautiful fiords of Kane Basin, Ellesmere Island.

Police Officer dissapeared during diving training.

There were about 15 people taking part in the diving exercise, including marine patrol, helicopter, policemen and Fairfax firefighters.
According to Fairfax Officer Don Gotthardt, the exercise started about 1:30 p.m. and 42-year-old officer was reported missing about 2:45 p.m.
Another Fairfax Officer Tawny Wright said the man was wearing a dry suit rather than a wet suit; so it might enable the missing officer to survive longer in the cold waters near the Mason Neck, Virginia. He was not wearing an oxygen tank or a diving apparatus because his role in the training did not require it mr Wright said. Police later declared that the officer was not a member of the dive team, but was serving as a role-player in the training.

Over 10 inflatable and flat-bottom boats took a part in searching the lost diver in the waters off Pohick Bay until the darkness assisted by helicopters.

Some of the search boats were equipped with sonar, and helicopters used infrared cameras, which can spot heat sources even in darkness. Unfortunately without the result.

Officials are also asking residents in the Pohick Bay area to help them in the search for the lost police officer by taking a look around their docks and the waters near their home.  Anyone with information should call Fairfax County Police or 911 immediately.

Source: http://www.divingfinder.co.uk/news/2008/10/