1954-08-21 — Page 5

TO BE A SMART

SWIMMER

The Sport That Is Catching On Fast In Hongkong

SKIN DIVERS KEEP COOL

W

TEARY 1' the heat? Fed up with bowling under the scorching Hankering after some form of sport that provides suitable exercise, yet keeps you cool? "Skin diving." then, is just the thing for you.

AND HAVE FUN

This

By Gordon Hung

Though it may be re- garded still as a novelty, at

takes place later seeks to encourage scientific is without doubt the up-

near Aberdeen, study of underwater life and and-coming sport. In six today

The keen in- natural processes, nu well as Aroused by short months, the Ilong- kong Underwator Club has terest taken in the sport, to act as a clearing house for observations and expanded its membership to Rudio Hongkong is sending such

commentator John Wallace studies AN inembers may over seventy. Included are

Je will go down make from time to time. must of business and varied along.

divers professions, diler workers, with photographers. housewive --and even a few children. the

Cast. do? Let

What do they us go along to one of their outings and find out.

scene-the

Imagine the placit green waters 111* the Ngam Tau headlead in Saikong gently lapping the rocks of Sai Shek Wan (Small Stone Bay). Inshore, the waves rise atal fall languidly along the bench, cooling the hot sunds.

Cool depths

Below in the cool depths,

about three fathoms down, group of men with the compressed air tanks

A

of

their aqualungs strapped on their backs, and their feet encased In rubber flippers, make their way

silent sen

slowly bed.

along the Going past rocks pimpled

Li

carbon dioxide capsules. The working range of this gun is 15 to 20 feet.

The aqualungs used by members of the Hongkong Underwater Club are based on the respirators first used by Italian frogmen in their

describe what he sees for The Club also arranges underwater strikes against demonstrations and British ships during the last of n purpose

broad- talks,

training programmes to war. There are two kinds

assist mem one is called the closed cir- bers in learn- cuit, and the other the open ing the safe circuit lung. and scientific

guns other

ment.

on

mein.

swim on the surface or just An underwater photograph taken by Mr under. They R. V. Trier fast Sunday at Siikang. Mr M. R. Wheeler is hist teselfing the sea bottom. are Divers wear T-shirts hbeatise it is quite cota survey

even at 30 feet.

Block

beds

the water

No danger

aré

Those venturing to deptis below 30 feet have to observé rigorously the international

Table of "Decompression Stages," or they will come up with the berids.

Mr Brit aid that in Hong- kong the most interesting depiḥ for

diving is 15 to 25 feet. Here you get must of the weeds fish and curul. If you go down deeper than that, the only thing you will find is 'sand and rock.

The vulings of the Club give

experienced members Unze 10 coach newcomers in the art.

Newcomers

In the first two or three out- ings, new comers practise the use of the mask and workel. By the third outing, they should have learned how to through the snorkel, using the mouth only.

breathe

The next step and the new member

the aqualung,

is taken out to some depth by an old hand and given instructions on ways around to lend help to how to use it. The old hand is newcomers or criticise the use of the lung.

intensive fishing in coastal waters

of

skin

tako

Close-up of a diver wearing his diving mask with breathing tube and twin-model aqualung. He is also wearing a weighted belt. (Photo: Mrs

V. E. TRIKE).

SOLE AGENTS

D. B. SPARKS & Co Tel.31255.

Peking

Restaurant

HÍ. 1 GREAT GEORGE ST., C.F.

FAMOUS PEKIng buck anD

CHINESE DISHES

WE HOLD THE SECRET CUISINE OF THE ANCIENT PALACE IN PEKING AS HANDED DOWN THROUGH THE AGES. NIGHT CLUB

DANCE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT

No other watch

**

has these

"talking points"

Ha waterproof, self-winding wrist-watch only came into being through two great advances, both made by Rolex of Geneva. The first was the develop ment of the famous Oyster case that permanently safeguards the movement from dust, damp or water. The second was the evolution of the Rolex Perpetual "rotor" mechanism that keeps the watch automatic ally wound. Not only does this save the trouble of

spring and gives the movement a constant accuracy

unattainable in a hard-wound watch.

These ate two talking points that no other watch

With the closed circuit use of harpoon tung, there is no exhaust for and air expelled from the lungs. under- Air exhaled is pushed into water equip- a rubber bag, which absorbs When a Club member becomes the carbon dioxide from the proficient in the ush of the fung. a new world is opened up Some of the breath, and the "washed" before him--the depths of the Club's

air is breathed in agaifi and sea are at his grasp. He can bers prefer again. Every four minutes swin effortlessly under the water, surface swim. the diver presses a valve in sit on the son bed and listen to

the crock line wounds

In the ming to skin his oxygen tank to replenish depths, the fish feeding off diving. These his supply of oxygen. Using the rocks, see the play of aun T swimmers put a closed circuit, a diver can light in the beds of weeds, and

1350

spear fish. for flippers, stay under

So for the Underwater Club tubes, and two hottrs.

members have not had much luck in spear-fishing with harpoon guns-not that they are not pro- dcient in the use of their gums but because

the fish are wary of able to The

open circuit lang the divers. Mr Britt believes u useS compressed ait In that the rouson for this is the winding; it also ensures an even tension on the main- admire the cylinders for breathing pur-

Also fishermen have a babit wonders of the poses. In this type of lung

using dynamite, so that the The popularity of "akin sea

through their there is an air exhaust, but fish become cautious when they

the Whole has grown fast. magnifying vizors.

breathing oo a shadow. with razor-sharp barnacles, diving"

There are two fundamen- mechanism automatic.

Mr L. Fisher, a member of the past beautiful but dan- And those whose business

different types of It gives the diver air, accord. Club, has already made use of formations, it is to sell the equipment tally coral

to diving gerous

under- have not been masks and snorkels avail- ing to the depth he is at water coloured movies of marine past seaweed swaying to the necessary

One through a "demand valve." fe around the Hongkong const. motions of the currents, glow to sense the demand. able in Hongkong.

favo started past schools of colourful Hongkong sporta stores mask, which fits over the The disadvantages of this Other members

salt water aquaria, while others fish, they

that aqualungs, eyes, nose and mouth, has a lung ce ao to their today

when collect colourful coral. snorkel breathing exhaling the diver has to destination small, under- masks, snorkels and flippers built-in water rock cave,

made in Britain, America, tube with valves on the top blow his exhaust air out, Italy and France.

of the pipe to prevent and also the exhaust air water flooding the mask makes noises and can when the wearer dives.

seen by Ash, which are then During one

member, while scorching for The second type is in two frightened off. A diver can manush on the new box, came they are inside the opening,

pléces. The mask fits over stay under the water for 80 mcross art oyster, nebi inside whore through their vizors The formation of the the eyes and nose, and a minutes using this lung. a pearl, but his valuable hou they exploro the inner Underwater Club hus cer- separate breathing plece is In using either lung for turned out to be of little valud. recesses and marvel at the tainly apurred interest in provided which the swim- diving there is no dinger up ember of masks and snorkels wonderful formations of the sport. Previously, those mer puts into his mouth, to 30 feet, but beyond 32 one open circdit aqualung.

ima feet divers using the closed These nee the use of One by one they leave of in

The first type la preferred, circuit lung are liable to members who have no equip- the cave and make for the When Mr J. C. E. Britt as it enables both nose and get oxygen marcosis (oxygen ment,

Daring the winter season, the surface. Silvary air bubbles formed the Club di montha mouth to inhale and exhale poisoning). This varies from club will restrict activities but aqualungs ago, he found, support from whereas with the second day to day depending on the win continue to hold outings. Algnal their ascent. Coming all sides. Mr. Britt has type breathing is entirely individual's health. At 50 The sea during the months of from the cool depths, they had two years' experience through "the mouth,

foot the diver is. liable to November and Jantimy is at its And the glaring sun doubly skin drying both in There are two types of become dizzy and black clearest,

Mr Britt, who is both founder hot when they break sur Cyprus and Hongkong. The Harpoon guns used for out.

and chairman of the Horkong face.

Club has been the medium under water fishing in Hong- Nitrogen, harcosik, or "rapture Underwater Club

Very This fifth exploration trip for bringin all devotees of Kong. One 'employs a thick of thie_deep"-a" queer sort of optint about is future. by the Underwater Club the éport farther.

otperienced Soldatic band as á catapult for dry

We hope to etferkt our exploration by purchasing last Sunday attracbod nb

propulsion, while the other times by diversing to our

operi ciretit furig below 30, feet, a boat, „„At present" we are

De 1936, Nodex produced the Ofitted loss than forty poopló --- The Club's main object is user compreised coll

A diver, know whed his de restricted to press close to roads museethersee themodenty, afte all kenapa : mustard, all to promote and encourage, spring. A good working die, vis

18 fright und, riot too far away lof, word" || „meine of prowethu a merament fides,

(banɑ to now to. revelling in the excitentent underwater fishing and Limce with these guna

overcome this, herkilong, Kim) pin of the morning, and all ploration for love of the eight to far) bet. There fo thinking ahead and talking sport, for health and #3 Thuch powerful --Rhoun Chale näth buting, recreational benefits. It also harpoon gum which unOS FULDER KAN

The akin divers

ap-

proach the cave entrance Club's support

cautiously. Then in a trico

nature.

from their

interested went out alone, twos and threed.

hard

be

A pearl

Expedition

The Club

for

Itsetz

our adopt

ROLEX

OYSTER FÉÁPÉTUAL

TWO TRIUMPHS SERDÌD; A TRIUMPH

can provide. They aré powerful did Eöffiþétting. Well presented, they will convince any maid who wants a really good watch that a Rolex Oyster Perpetual is what he is looking for.

Rolex advertising and promotion has been telling the story of these Rolex inventions for several years. They are dramatically illustrated by the famous Rolex testimonials appearing in current advertising. Rolex display material carries the story through into the shop. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual is the best prospective seller among the more expensive watches.

Pjest produced, de 1938, the Males Farpaimu? "rate" made proste, she

ROLEX

landmark in the history

Tinie

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