Diving in Black Sea

nmanfield

Well,

At last I've got a job that doesn't involve galvanting around in the mountains or the dusty plains of Afghanistan. I'm working in the Ukraine near Odessa in the Black Sea.

Having seen the state of some of the cars here I have no doubt that there should be plenty of wrecks!

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about the diving here? And whether it is Rebreather friendly?

(trying to explain in my dodgy Russian what diving is let alone what CCR Trimix is is causing a few problems!)

decoweenie

I was in Kiev, Ukraine, just a few months ago, beautiful place.

Congratulations in getting a job where the most gorgeous European women are...

However, beware about the epidemic of Acute TB in the southern part of Ukraine...

Sorry, can't help you about the diving issue.

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Craig69

Hi,

Geography is definately not a strong point of mine so this may or may not be any help to you at all...

There have been two articles (the same one really published in two magazines) about diving in Balaclava with some Russian and Ukraine divers.

The magazines were Beyond the Blue and Dive. Leigh Bishop was on the dive so you may be able to email him for some advice.

Hope this helps,

Craig.

Nad

Try to contact Leigh Bishop or Edoardo Pavia, they was part of a CCR expedition there last april probably they can help you.
leigh@deepimage.co.uk Leigh Bishop
info@seadwellers.it Edoardo Pavia

You could also contact the russian IANTD licencee, I don't remember the name, search in the IANTD web site.

Hope it would be helpful.

Rgds

Nad

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The Impossible is often the Untried

Philippe GERIN

Hi,
I lived in Kiev for a few years (1992-1998) and traveled extensively throughout Ukraine. I can tell you I had a very good time there being 25-30 and single back then Oh, by the way, it is now forbidden to drive your 4x4 up the Potemkin stairs.
I once (1994) dived with the ex-red army navy mine clearence squad in Odessa. They were also in charge of the Dolphin section. Unfortunately I don't remember any names, neither kept any contacts there but try and go to the Delphinarium, they may still be there. I think they turned these Dolphins into therapy assistants for kids 2-3 years ago. Sure a better way of treating Dolphins, but this is another subject. The same guys were also in charge of the sub base and I think you can now do a "tourist-dive" in the flooded said base. You could try to hook up there.
Good for you that you have your gear because you don't want to dive with their antic tank and regs like I did at the time. Well, maybe just for the fun of it!
Good luck!
Best
Philippe

nmanfield

Thanks to all who replied. Still no details so far but i have found out that there is a dive club in Odessa http://www.diveport.odessa.net

If anything is interesting then I'll post it on the list. May be worth organising a trip in the summer if anyone is interested and see how far my Diplomatic status will go regarding bringing dive kit into the country!

Thanks also to Jeff Keep and Leigh Bishop www.newfrontierdiving.com who have been helping me out with info and contacts

Cheers, Nick