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Diving with… Lomo Watersport, Glasgow, Scotland & online at Lomo.co.uk

European DTA Team

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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.

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DIVING Talks is back for 2023

European DTA Team

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The third edition of DIVING Talks will take place in Lisbon at the Navy Museum from October 6th to 8th 2023.

This year’s show invites all the attendees to explore the depths of their shared passion for diving. Following on from two successful shows, this year’s event promises to be spectacular. The Speakers’ Panel brings Portugal some of the world’s most renowned diving experts, and they will share knowledge, experiences, and insights during a series of outstanding presentations.

DIVING Talks 2023 is for seasoned divers, technical divers, beginners, and all those keen to know more about the ocean and underwater activities. Attending the DIVING Talks will undoubtedly offer a wealth of information and inspiration to enhance everyone’s diving adventures.

Speakers

So far, the DIVING Talks organization has already confirmed the attendance of divers, scientists, archaeologists and other professionals such as Alessandro Marroni, Darcy Kieran, David Doolette, Gareth Lock, João Correia, Jonathan Bird, Karen van den Oever, Luiz Rocha, Mark Powell, Michael Menduno, Nuno Sa, Pete Mesley, Phil Short, Simon Caruana, Simon Mitchell and Tom St George.

These names are enough to ensure an incredible gathering, but more are coming. Follow the DIVING Talks website or DIVING Talks on social media, where the Organization updates everything about the event.

Tickets

This year you have three options to attend the show:

Full Weekend ticket – Full access to everything, from October 6th to 8th. October 6th is Brands Day, and October 7th and 8th are the talks and presentations.

One-Day Ticket – Attend the DIVING Talks for one day (October 7th or 8th) and the Brands Day (October 6th).

If you buy your tickets during the early bird period, attendees benefit from a 10% discount.

Side Events

This year the Organization is preparing numerous side events, from equipment trials to visits to the region, that will enrich the weekend, continuing to offer those that don’t dive reasons to attend or to go to Portugal with the attendees.

For more information, please reach out to Founder Arlindo Serrao at divingtalks@divingtalks.com

Website: https://www.divingtalks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divingtalks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diving.talks

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Gozo Diving and Gozo Technical Diving join RAID

European DTA Team

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Great news for RAID divers around the world: Gozo Diving & Gozo Technical Diving have joined the RAID network and now offer RAID courses, and RAID-quality support in one of the classic Mediterranean dive destinations.

Malta is a well-known and highly rated diving destination. The water is warm (around 28 degrees), the visibility is epic (20-40 metres), and many sites have weak to moderate current. So, there are great dive sites for every level of experience, and these include fantastic and historic wreck dives.

Located on the Island of Gozo, RAID’s new dive centre, offer the complete range of recreational, technical and Instructor courses. The facilities include two classrooms, access to an onsite pool and a full CCR room. So, visiting divers and instructors can enjoy nitrox, trimix, as well as oxygen-compatible air fills, rentals of sidemount cylinders, twinsets, and stage cylinders, DPV rental and of course high-end teaching, coaching and experienced guiding.

Gozo Diving and Gozo Technical Diving has more than 30 years of experience in training, exploration and diving professionalism. Now fully aligned to offer the the complete spectrum of RAID courses, which means both experienced divers as well as those who want to start exploring the underwater world can come and enjoy the dive site attractions of Malta and Gozo knowing they’ll get the fun and full-service experience our agency and network of RAID dive centres are famous for.

To find out more, email: info@gozotechnicaldiving.com or visit their website at: www.gozotechnicaldiving.com

Photos: RAID Blog

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