underwater orienteering

[sjkidd2002]

Hi - is anyone planning to hold an underwater orienteering event later this year ? (in UK or europe)
thanks

[trux]

Underwater orienteering has a strong tradition in the Czech Republic. Three of total six competitions of the World Cup in Underwater Orienteering take place in the Czech Republic in 2007. I found English invitations for two of them here:
http://www.svazpotapecu.cz/usrfile/p...WCJesenice.pdf
http://www.svazpotapecu.cz/usrfile/p...IBERECangl.pdf

The complete calendar of diverse Underwater Orienteering competitions can be seen on the link below (in Czech). Besides the World Cup competitions, there is also Czech Championship on 7/14 and the World Championship in Bari, Italy (part of CMAS Games 2007):
http://www.svazpotapecu.cz/usrfile/d...inovkaOP07.doc

Jan Skružný, CZ, World Champion 2005

More information about Czech UW orienteering can be found here:
Svaz potápìèù Èeské republiky

A nice gallery of photos from UW orienteering events is here:
Svaz potápìèù Èeské republiky

photo credit © Svaz Potápěčů

In case you want more information, try contacting some of the people in the Czech UW Orienteering Commission:
http://www.svazpotapecu.cz/usrfile/p...UB-OP-2007.pdf

There is some information also on the website of the Czech club Modrá Hvězda maintained by Jan Skružný (the winner o the World Cup 2005), but it is mixed with finswimming.

[sjkidd2002]

Thanks for the links. Where can anyone get one of the streamlined things to put the cylinder in ? Do people make their own or is it possible to purchase ?

[LEVENTUCUZAL]

I have just noticed that device the athlete is using at orienteering. Can you give me any information about that device?
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/LEVENT/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

[Rockbrother]

Orienteering used to be popular in South Africa long ago. But since underwater clubs and CMAS have dwindled in favour of SCUBA diving shops, no one does it any more. You still see some of those torpedo shaped things hanging in the older clubs. I think people made them because they came in all shapes and sizes. Underwater hockey and spearfishing is the only underwater sports still going. Recently freediving also started becoming more popular.

[LEVENTUCUZAL]

I am actually surprised when I see that torpedo shaped things. I had never seen them before. How are they working? are they a kşnd of engine driven or man power?

[trux]

Originally Posted by LEVENTUCUZAL

I am actually surprised when I see that torpedo shaped things. I had never seen them before. How are they working? are they a kşnd of engine driven or man power?

Why surprised? The purpose in the orienteering competitions is to swim through defined path (including several checkpoints) faster than others, hence anything that helps to go faster is welcome - and a hydrodynamic cover for the tank definitely makes a lot of difference. No engine, just a cover, usually selfmade in fiberglass.

As for the devices - usually it includes compass, watch/timer, depthmeter, velocity and/or distance meter, and a pressure gauge for the tank. You will find plenty of information and other links on the URLs posted above.

[sjkidd2002]

Hi

what do people use to measure the distance they travel ?

thanks

Simon