News
Diving with… Lomo Watersport, Glasgow, Scotland & online at Lomo.co.uk
In this ongoing series, we speak to the people who run dive centres, resorts and liveaboards from around the world about their businesses and the diving they have to offer…
What is your name?
Grant Pollok.
What is the name of your business?
Lomo Watersport.
What is your role within the business?
Customer Service.
How long has the business operated for?
Since 2000.
How long have you dived for, and what qualification are you?
9 Years, Master Diver.
What is your favourite type of diving?
Happy as long as I have my camera with me. I focus mainly on macro photography so even if I’m diving in the wreck of a ship I’m still looking for small marine life most other divers might not realise was there.
If you could tell people one thing about your business (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?
We’re different from most other brands of diving gear because we only sell direct to the public. Because we don’t pay distributors or resellers it means our products are much lower cost than most other manufacturers for a given quality of product. But if you don’t visit us you’ll never see our gear!
What is your favourite dive in your location and why?
Lochaline wall near the Sound of Mull. A shore dive with a stunning landscape. Head out over the white sand and clear water then come to a line of rocks that drop straight down to below 60m. It doesn’t matter what depth you are at, there is always plenty of life. Fantastic for macro photography and usually very good visibility.
What types of diving are available in your location?
The west coast of Scotland caters for all types of diving; shore dives in the lochs, boat dives in the Firth of Clyde, wrecks, walls, reefs and some very good training sites. Well worth taking a camera.
What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
Meeting new people, whether they are seasoned divers, kayakers or whatever watersport, or just getting out there. Also helping customers that are just taking up a sport and are looking for advice on how to get the most from it. It’s a business where you meet so many people with a passion for what they do and it’s nice to pass that on to others.
What is your favorite underwater creature?
Nudibranchs; so small and delicate, yet an apex predator and they come in so many various shapes and colours. I have to try and see one on every dive.
Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?
We’re always developing new products and released around 40 in the last year alone. Next year should see the same type of rate for product development which is always really exciting for us.
As a manufacturer what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?
We are seeing lots of cheap products being shipped directly from the Far East to the consumer via online marketplaces. Sometimes the consumer gets a bargain, but in something like diving quite often it means that the products don’t comply with the safety requirements of each sport.
Are you involved in any environmental work?
As a manufacturer we mainly focus on how our products have as small an environmental impact as possible. One big area we lead on is reducing packaging waste. What’s the point in making a product in a box that has 10 different leaflets and other bits of cardboard inside that will all end up in the bin?
We try to use the least packaging possible whilst still keeping the product safe to transport. We also reuse all our inbound packaging so that the boxes we receive product in from the factory are reused to ship orders out to customers. It can be amusing sometimes though when a customer who ordered a pair of fins gets a box that says ‘children’s snorkel set’ on it.
How do you see the SCUBA / Freediving / snorkeling industry overall? What changes would you make?
Reduce the focus on black coloured products. In an emergency you’ll be found much quicker in brightly coloured products! So unless you’re a Navy SEAL, being seen is of benefit.
What would you say to our visitors to promote the diving you have to offer?
As a manufacturer and retailer we don’t actually offer any courses or trips. But as Ambassadors for our local area…. COME TO SCOTLAND! If you don’t like the diving, you’ll love the Whisky!
Where can our visitors find out more about your business?
Our main outlet is through our website www.Lomo.co.uk. You can email us on admin@lomo.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)141 221 7674. Or if you’re in Glasgow pop by our shop at 96 Hydepark Street, Glasgow, G3 8BW.
In early summer we were given a wonderful opportunity to visit Alonissos in the Sporades Islands in the northern Aegean Sea. This green and forested island sits at the edge of the Alonissos National Marine Park, the largest marine protected area in Europe. Our main focus was to be scuba diving, but during our short stay we were especially impressed with all of the other activities and experiences available on Alonissos for the discerning vacationer.
The scuba diving was really outstanding. In contrast to some areas of the Mediterranean, the marine biodiversity here was impressively diverse and abundant. Our short stay meant we just had a small taste of the diving available, however our hosts at Alonissos Triton Dive Center treated us to some exceptional sites from their impressively long list. The variety of marine life we encountered was a delight: large Gorgonian sea fans, many species of nudibranchs, small pipefish to large groupers, octopus, and much more.
One of the most incredible experiences was the chance to dive the oldest accessible shipwreck in the world, the Ancient Shipwreck of Peristera underwater archeological site from 500 BC … an amazing dive site with a very unique automated underwater museum monitoring system in place to protect its archaeological heritage. It was a busy but hugely satisfying few days of diving and we could certainly spend much longer on this idyllic isle!
Greece has a huge number of beautiful islands to visit, so why choose Alonissos?
This island is one of the quieter Greek islands and as such has a very relaxed and welcoming feel, where you can find an authentic slice of the Aegean region. And, it is really easy to get there — so many airports in the UK offer flight connections directly to Skiathos (the hub of the Sporades) that you should not have to drive more than 100km in the UK to an airport.
Finally, the variety of non-diving activities is hard to beat. There are boating day trips into the National Marine Park, taking you to visit secluded beaches and giving you a chance to see some amazing wildlife (such as monk seals, Eleonora’s Falcon, and several species of dolphin to name a few). Both the main port town of Patitiri and the old village of Chora are full of interesting shops, charming alleyways, and restaurants with delicious meals. As an added bonus, the Alonissos cheese pie is a particularly moreish local specialty!
As a holiday destination, Alonissos really had everything one could ask for. Look for our full print article in an upcoming issue of Scubaverse’s own Dive Travel Adventures magazine!
Thanks to:
The Municipality of Alonissos (https://alonissos.gr/en/)
Alonissos Triton Dive Center (https://bestdivingingreece.com)
Alonissos National Marine Park (https://alonissos.gr/en/marine-park/overview.html)
Paradise Hotel (https://paradise-hotel.gr/)
Albedo Travel (https://alonissosholidays.com/)
What is your name?
(Anastasios) Tasos Ktistis
What is the name of your business?
Sporades Diving: Skopelos Dive Center operates in Skopelos island and Ikion Diving that operates in Alonissos island, which is run by my business partner Kostas Danis.
What is your role within the business?
Master Scuba Diving Trainer PADI & Co-Owner of Skopelos Dive Center & Manager of Skopelos Island diving operations
How long has the business operated for?
Since 2014
How long have you dived for, and what qualification are you?
I have been diving since 2012. I am a Mechanical Engineer with a BA in Documentary Photography and since 2012 I am qualified as a Master Scuba Diving Trainer PADI, since 2021 Tec65 diver and since 2022 as a Tec40 Diving Instructor
What is your favorite type of diving?
Wreck Diving
If you could tell people one thing about your business (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?
We offer our clients a safe and relaxed type of diving in the exciting and crystal-clear waters of the Sporades islands in Greece. Christoforos and Peristera’s ancient wreck are two must dive destinations.
What is your favorite dive in your location and why?
My favorite dive location is the “Christophoros” shipwreck. A 83m long modern shipwreck that sank in 1983 in Panormos Bay in Skopelos island. As a wreck diving lover, I am so excited that as one of our dive locations I get to dive on this amazing site with our clients.
What types of diving are available in your location?
On our dive sites the rocky landscape is dominant with beautiful reefs, walls and caverns that I am sure everyone will enjoy. And of course wreck diving at the “Christophoros” shipwreck
What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
The satisfaction and the happiness on our clients’ faces after a dive.
What is your favorite underwater creature?
Nudibranches!
As a center what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?
I would say the fact that the Sporades islands have a short summer season (July-August) although the weather is ideal for diving from May till October.
Is your center involved in any environmental work?
Of course we are! First of all, we are all great advocates of the less plastic movement that has started in 2014, not only in Skopelos but also in Alonissos (Ikion Diving). We participate in underwater clean-ups as well as in projects for local management of plastic waste (#zeroplastic with iSea and Re-Shape plastic-funded by Beyond Plastic MED.)
Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?
We currently aspire to get more involved in Scientific Diving projects by actively supporting the operations through our involvement in EU funded projects, while at the same time we are also exploring the possibilities of Technical Diving as me and my partner of the Alonissos base, Kostas Danis, are certified PADI Tec40 Instructors. We believe that in the future our business will be well known for not only its recreational diving services but also its involvement with the Scientific Diving community through its technical diving services and expertise.
How do you see the SCUBA / Freediving / snorkeling industry overall? What changes would you make?
I believe that SCUBA and in general alternative tourism becomes more inclusive and even more people are interested to get to engage in this type of activities that ultimately protect the environment by raising awareness of the public about the ecosystem of the sea and its significance to a viable future.
Finally, what would you say to our visitors to promote the diving you have to offer?
At Skopelos Dive Center and Ikion Diving Alonissos (Sporades Diving Group) you can create fantastic underwater experiences – including guided dives, PADI courses, and snorkeling tours combining the two islands. It is our goal to create a safe, comfortable experience for divers of all abilities.
Where can our visitors find out more about your business? (This is where you enter your contact details and any specific details on how our audience can reach you)
Website: https://sporadesdiving.gr/
Skopelos Dive Center (Skopelos Island)
+306940448000
Ikion Diving Alonissos (Alonissos island)
+30 6940 448 004 (WhatsApp: +30 6984181598)
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