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Nitrox Diver & Refresher course

Breathing Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) has a number of benefits, which include extending your in-water dive time, and reducing your risk of decompression illness. Bottom-line: you will have more time to dance around the coral reefs and swim with the colorful fish! Whether you seek a full Nitrox certification, or wish to refresh your Nitrox diving skills, this HHUC offering is for you!

Certification option:  For divers holding a SCUBA diver or currently enrolled in an HHUC learn to SCUBA course.  This course includes a mandatory e-learning and a one-evening practical workshop.  The open-water dives will be offered based on availability.

Refresher option: For divers who already hold a Nitrox SCUBA certification and desire a refresher practical session on EANx diving.  Participants will attend the one-evening practical workshop with the full certification students.

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HHUC Presents Heison Chak: Underwater Mapping of Humber Bay

As divers, dive clubs, and training agencies expand their conservation and exploration efforts around the world, sharing accurate information is the key to building more effective collaboration. Heison Chak from the Ontario Underwater Council (OUC) will be speaking about his mapping adventure at one of our local dive sites and popular training grounds – Humber Bay.  Divers of all levels and backgrounds as well as non-divers are welcome to attend.

Event Details:

Date: January 18, 2018
Time: 7 – 8 p.m. (attendees are welcome to stay for Q&A immediately following the talk)
Location: Hart House, South Sitting Room

Bio:

Heison Chak learned to be a team-oriented tech and cave diver through Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) training.  He is passionate about teaching and coaching divers through the process of becoming thinking divers. As Director of Dive Safety for OUC, he is committed to improving dive safety through education. He is heavily involved with dive communities in Toronto, upstate New York and South East Asia. When Heison is not traveling and teaching for GUE, he is diving the Great Lakes and his new love – the caves of Florida and Mexico.

 

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55th Anniversary Reunion a Rousing Success!

On Saturday evening, students, alumni, Club founders and friends gathered in the Debates Room at Hart House to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Hart House Underwater Club.

It was an incredible evening, filled with friendship, laughter, tradition and camaraderie. We enjoyed video retrospectives, a green-screen photo booth, and quality time spent with our extended “scuba family”.

With special guests, including founding members Larry Lundy, Jack MacQuarrie, and Dick Booth, and long-time Hart House liaison and friend of the Club, Sandy Henderson in attendance, we heard incredible tales from the Club’s history.

Many thanks to veteran instructor and HHUC historian Bob Belcher who spoke about the Club’s milestones, and to current HHUC President Martin Bonert who highlighted our recent activities, accomplishments, and focus on student engagement.

Kudos to Kathryn Cullen and the amazing Alumni Organizing Committee who put together such a memorable night!

Cheers to all and see everyone at the 60th!

 

Photo credits: Courtney Gibson

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HHUC Trip to Little Cayman Apr. 28 – May 5, 2018

We’re going back!  We visited this destination in 2012, and it was such a great experience that ever since, people who were on that trip have been asking us, “When are we going back?”

With arguably the best diving in the Caribbean on Bloody Bay Wall, along with a perfect resort set-up for relaxation, a top-notch dive operation, truly valet diving, and great food, you are in for an amazing experience! We have a block of 32 spots available; don’t miss out! Please see the trip brochure for details.

Also, check out the excellent Trip Advisor Reviews for Little Cayman Beach Resort.

To secure your participation, a $500 CDN deposit per person is due upon booking, and the balance is due Jan. 28, 2018.

To book your adventure, or discuss any aspect of it, send our Trip Leader, Rebecca Metcalfe.

We hope you will be able to join us!

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Staff CPR and First Aid Recertification

It was an intense and hands-on weekend as HHUC staff and instructors completed their annual CPR and first aid recertification training. Participants attained their NAUI Diving First Aid for Professional Divers (DFA Pro) certification through an innovative program resulting from a strategic partnership between NAUI and the world’s leading diving safety organization, Divers Alert Network (DAN). Feedback on the course was immensely positive!

 

DFA Pro instructor Karen Parisien coaches staff instructors Ian Thompson and Philip Barton in bleeding management.

Club President and instructor Martin Bonert receives a splint under the supervision of DFA Pro instructor Rebecca Metcalfe.

DFA Pro Instructors Karen Parisien and Sarah Gibson demonstrate how to secure a ring bandage on a simulated penetrating wound.

Rescue Diver Roberta Lee treats a simulated jellyfish sting on HHUC Training Director and instructor Alex Ayers.

Staff member Aristo Kong treats club instructor Mark Kummerer’s simulated spiny urchin injury.

Photo credits: Courtney Gibson

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Hart House Farm Treasure Hunt

Join us for a family-friendly adventure this summer at the Hart House Farm! Search “land and sea” (put those snorkelling skills to good use!) to find clues that will lead to a prize hidden somewhere at the Farm! Stay on for a potluck dinner, campfire and optional overnight stay in the Farm House, or bring a tent! Registration deadline is June 23, 2017.

Treasure Hunt Flyer

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Astronaut Training & Underwater Bubbles

We invite you to listen to one of our very own members, Aaron Persad – commercial space astronaut, researcher, and scientist – as he talks about his astronaut training experiences, and how you could prepare yourself to become a candidate by pursing underwater fitness challenges. An open discussion will follow afterwards for interested members of the audience on what could be done to try some of these challenges during our regular pool time slots run by the Club.

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NAUI honors two HHUC Instructors

Karen Parisien (NAUI #16721) and Courtney Gibson (NAUI #51941) have both been awarded NAUI Outstanding Service Awards.

Karen has also won the prestigious Dr. Charlie Brown Memorial Award. This a rare recognition given to a NAUI member who makes significant contributions to the sport of SCUBA diving in a volunteer capacity and in non-profit organizations. HHUC has benefited immensely from Karen’s remarkable 22-year tenure as an Instructor – teaching hundreds of students and forming the next generation of Instructors currently teaching for HHUC. Great job!

Please join us in congratulating them.