Top Fuel - a night at the drags

Being a mechanic by trade, I have been told I should hold more interest in motorsport; that unfortunately is not the case with my interests usually maintained through watersports and marine activities.

However, when the the top fuel dragsters are in town, I don't mind heading down to Kwinana Motorplex once in a while to experience the ground vibrate and shake when these extreme nitromethane/methonol machines launch off the line for a sub five second pass down the quarter mile racetrack.

The flames exiting the exhaust add to the show, as darkness descends, the start line is lit up as the lights on the Christmas tree countdown to green. The sound emitted by these ultra horsepower dragsters is deafening; but close pay attention, the race is over in a blurry flash as the tyres gain traction and the machine is launched down the track before the parachutes open to slow the missile as the engine is immediately shut down as the dragster crosses the line.

Taking my Zuiko 75mm - 300mm lens with me to catch the action allows me to position myself away from the crowds, catching these machines mid run is proving to be difficult with eyeball hemorrhaging acceleration resulting in speeds exceeding 500 kph. A top fuel dragster can accelerate from standing to 100 mph (160 kph) in as little as 0.8 of a second.  

Fuchs receiving work prior to its run, whilst costing extra, a pit pass is well worth the investment, watching the team at work is half the fun of the night. The engines are rebuilt between passes, a team of mechanics descend on the engine and clutch assembly stripping down, measuring and rebuilding the engine in thirty or so minutes - amazing. I don't get there often but when I do, I always enjoy as this is a different Saturday night out from what I am accustomed.  

The Jeepney - relics of a past era

The jeepney, a horrible relic of the old Philippines clogging the roads of a city trying to modernise but unfortunately adding to the chaos that is Manila. These awful automobiles should be banned in the city with a more commonsense approach taken to public transport and mass transit.

Of course, when I am over in the Philippines, I use jeepneys to get around. Outside of the cities and in the provinces, these are wonderful modes of transport with everybody cramped together on the bench seats in the rear breathing in toxic exhaust fumes through the open doorway. These vehicles have more that just a little of a military feel, built from former WWII jeeps and spare parts left by the Americans at the end of the war.  

In the post war years, modified jeeps made an excellent low cost mode of public transport painted in vibrant colours and featuring chrome plating and excessive levels of noise and pollution. Hopefully, this mode of transport will soon be extinct and the Philippines can move forward modernising its transport system.

The Long Bar - Singapore

The Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel, Singapore is an iconic location and well worth a visit. Named after Sir Stanford Raffles - the founder of the modern island city state reminds the visitor of Singapore's colonial history. The grand style of the Raffles Hotel located in the centre of modern Singapore serves as a reminder of the age of elegance well aligned to Singapore's colonial history.

The Singapore Sling, invented at the Long Bar in the period around World War I is now pre-mixed at the bar and served production line style. Some would argue this modern mass produced version is an expensive rip-off - I would tend to agree. I only bought one drink at the bar, the price is outrageous - don't fall into the trap of purchasing a number of rounds only to pass out when the bill arrives. Of course, peanuts litter the floor, the ambiance is excellent though - worth a visit. 

I prefer a darker style drink than the one served at the Long Bar; firstly it is hand mixed containing 2 parts gin, 1 part cherry brandy, pineapple juice, lime juice and Cointreau. Some recipes include angostura bitters, grenadine syrup and benedictine liqueur - my personal preference though is the more basic drink. I am led to believe the wider Singaporean version is notably different to the Long Bar version, the drink is served throughout South East Asia and arguably better.

The politics of character assassination

With the looming federal election just weeks away; I am hoping the politics of character assassination will soon draw to a close.

At every opportunity, the former prime minister and current prime minister, deputy PM (both of them too), every minister (including the ones who were fired and the ones that resigned) and back bench members of parliament blamed Tony Abbott for every issue imaginable plaguing a poor government. 

Not an interview, press release or political comment began without a personal attack on the opposition leader. I and most of the public who wishes to not be fed spin and lies decided to undertake my own research to find the truth.

Even the first words uttered by Craig Thompson after he finally faced 173 charges for corruption was to blame Tony Abbott for his predicament. Falsely misappropriating funds on union credit cards including theft, obtaining property by deception and obtaining financial benefit by deception and not Tony Abbott may be the reasons for his investigation.

How the %&#@ could Tony Abbott be responsible for these charges, sure he keep the pressure on the government as Fair Work Australia, led by former Australian Education Union and Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow who led the investigation into the charges (no conflict of interest here) undertook a go slow approach taking three years. 

The former prime minister herself facing allegations of fraud; Ms Gillard, a former partner of law firm Slater & Gordon left under suspicious circumstances had (and still has) her own improprieties to deal with.

There is pure unadulterated fear by union leaders of Tony Abbott being elected prime minister; Abbott has stated union leaders will be held to the same standards as company directors meaning union funds could no longer be used for prostitutes, personal holidays, cash withdraws or any other personal expenses.

I am no fan of Abbott; I was surprised at his ascendancy to leader of the opposition, I thought there were better candidates. But such a prolonged and personal attack gained my attention and I started looking into the guy, did these allegations have any foundation? 

A bachelor of laws and bachelor of economics at the University of Sydney plus a master of arts as a Rhodes Scholar at the Queens College, Oxford - indicates he is probably not a dummy.

Abbott engages in community work as a volunteer fire fighter, surf lifesaving and a couple of short stints in indigenous communities, he competes in iron man competitions too. 

Federal minister Brendan O'Connor was forced to publicly apologise after Abbott cut short annual holidays to assist in fire fighting duties with his local brigade; the brigade he has been a member since 2000 including serving as deputy captain with O'Connor calling it a stunt - ouch.

I am neither conservative nor religious in my personal views and don't necessarily follow his political ideology, but I could see through a concerted campaign of character assassination to deflect attention away from failures of government leadership and implementation.

As a follower of Australian rules football, if you play the man and not the ball - it usually indicates you have neither the ability nor the temperament to play at that level, it is clear the current government is out of its depth.

I don't know who is going to win the election; I just hope the next three years is going to be an improvement on the past six years. I hope the standards of behaviour of our political leaders is also held to a higher standard than we have become accustomed too.

A double degree or postgraduate study?

A vexing issue currently being contemplated is what is worth more to employers; a double degree in a complimentary area or post graduate studies like a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters degree?

A masters degree is, as the Americans say, a no brainer. However, the costs involved are quite significant, a second or double degree may require less units and receive commonwealth funding support - a significant advantage.

An advantage of a graduate certificate is that four units in a vastly different area allowing skills and knowledge to be built; a further four units and a graduate diploma is awarded. This is an excellent choice for someone who wishes to change their career direction after a number of years in the workforce.

A person with an engineering qualification undertakes a graduate certificate in management to further improve career opportunities. As was once explained to me, a graduate certificate is a certificate and a graduate diploma is a diploma - you still don't have a degree.

I recently researched prices for a graduate certificate at Curtin University at $14,600 for the first year of study; a graduate diploma at $29,200 with the master also at $29,200; a grad cert is six months full-time so I would guess the course fee is half of this. Needless to say; that's some pretty serious fees, the return on investment must be accurately calculated before a career decision is made.

For recent graduates; an example I have seen is a person holding degree in English literature; a further six months of full-time study attaining a graduate diploma in teaching allows the person to teach English in high schools.

In the government sector, a graduate diploma will allow progression up the pay scales whilst a graduate certificate offers the same progression as a standard (non-graduate) diploma - hardly worth getting into debt for. However, this person usually hasn't been in the workforce as a full time student and is the key to landing a full time job.

Australia has traditionally placed more emphasis on actual work performance than qualifications, that is of course relative to industry requirements as doctors, lawyers, teachers and engineers are professions requiring certification - normally administered by professional bodies.

Countries like the United States prefer university qualifications as does developed South East Asian nations like Singapore and Hong Kong. However, to become a manager in Australia, successful candidates need no such qualifications with many managers preferring to hold extensive work experience and strong networks. Why would a person spend money to achieve a qualification that is not required?

Even key industry establishments like the Australian Institute of Management have internal grading so you don't need formal qualifications, the Australian Human Resources Institute offers affiliate membership not requiring formal qualifications.

The Australian Institute of Project Management requires a Certificate IV (minimum) or two years experience for an associate member whilst a full member requires 5 years experience or a Certificate IV (minimum) or a qualification recognised by them.

Why would any organisation turn potential members away when they could gain a formal qualification through their organisation whilst managers, HR managers or project managers don't require formal qualifications to gain their two or five years experience.

A person may be already employed by an organisation, burdened by a career ceiling undertake development to display their motivation to management allowing them to consolidate their position as management material.

Should they be overlooked in their current role, this places them in a position to apply at other organisations whilst maintaining employment and maintaining currency in the workplace. Being commonwealth supported, I am beginning to believe a double degree may be the better investment in the short term.

The value of obtaining a trade based qualification

Much has been made of the federal government's plan for 40% of 25 to 35 year olds to attain a bachelor's degree by 2025. While this is a laudable objective, one has to question the validity of future job roles in Australia.

The Australian economy is built primarily on consumerism with the service sector accounting for around 68% of gross domestic product. The resources sector, widely acclaimed for protecting the nation from recession in 2001 and 2008 accounts for 10% of GDP, mining related activity accounts for a further 9% of GDP. 

That being said, the resources sector employs approximately 267,000 people out of 11,600,000 employees in Australia. The services sector is rather ambiguously described as non agriculture, mining, manufacturing, forestry and fishing. The services sector relates to but is not limited to such diverse areas of education, finance and insurance, health, government, transport and retail trade.

Training technicians to maintain equipment in the mining sector is vital to increasing productivity. Off-the-job training is conducted in engineering workshops utilising contemporary equipment and current workplace practices. 

  

A variety of machine types and manufacturers are available for training, some people feel mining is all about digging big holes in the ground. This could not be further from the truth, modern mining is driven by technology and process. Mechanised mining processes in my sphere of expertise include loading and hauling equipment, dozing, grading, drilling and lifting. 

Apprentices are employed by host employers under a training contract gaining on-the-job learning experience, they are released by their respective employers to attend the college to study specific machine systems. 

The earning ability of technical trade based qualifications in many instances exceeds that of university qualifications. It is no surprise that many trainees already possess university qualifications before undertaking trade based training; many graduates lack opportunities once they complete their studies. 

Furthermore, they are saddled with HECS debts in the tens of thousands of dollars. The advantage of an apprenticeship is that the trainee is earning an income during their training; engineering trades usually are for a duration of three and a half years but as the training is competency based, they may be shortened accordingly.  

An electronic engine and transmission simulator builds diagnostic skills to trouble-shoot machine electronic management systems. Electronic management systems are widespread on modern machinery that control and monitor engine, fuel, transmission, hydraulic, braking, suspension, steering, driveline and machine monitoring. 

The modern technician must be must be fluent in technical systems, the learning programs begin on mechanical systems building to electronic controlling systems from leading equipment manufacturers. 

On-machine transmission testing allows trainees to undertake original equipment manufacturer testing procedures that occur on production sites in real world applications. The mobile plant is relatively small as compared to machinery operating on current projects, the college does not have the space to house and operate full size equipment but the principles remain the same.

The machines are brought into the engineering workshop; parked in dedicated bays, the trainees undertake specific manufacturer testing to build diagnostic abilities. Generally, the machines are not purchased new, older machines that have been retired from production and rebuilt by trainees to new machine specifications. 

The engineering workshops provide pre-employment training for students, the advantage of this form of off-the-job training exposes trainees to real world engineering workshop processes. Trainees also learn employability skills such as teamwork, communication, planning and sequencing activities, literacy and numeracy, learning and problem solving. 

The fuel injection test equipment may be old school, however, the advantage for students is that they view the mechanical systems initially. They are then exposed to electronic systems building on prior knowledge learnt in initial training developing complex problem solving abilities.

Diesel fuel calibration and phasing equipment provides hands on testing for components that have been overhauled during the course. Diesel fuel injection is a specialised area. 

However, trainees are exposed to current diesel fuel systems, although they may never work in a fuel room, the operational factors develop diagnostic abilities for on-machine testing and problem solving.  

Testing hydraulic injectors is performed in dedicated laboratories; typical labs include diesel fuel injection, hydraulic, transmission and electrical rooms.  

Engines are run-up on a hydraulic dynamometer, a load testing rig to measure engine output loading the engine in a similar manner to actual operating conditions. Faults are induced in the system; trainees are required to diagnose faults using electronic troubleshooting equipment.   

University graduates learn engineering principles; they do not learn machine engineering maintenance, repair, overhaul and diagnostic principles - this is the domain of vocational education and training colleges. 

Government assumptions of 40% university graduates fails to address key maintenance and diagnostic skills required for critical engineering roles. Currently, industry fails to train technicians instead resorting to importing skilled workers internationally. 

Included in this grouping needs technicians in critical skills areas; 40% of graduates must include college trained trades, their value to the economy far exceeds the cost of training. Properly funded colleges equipped with the latest equipment allows lecturing staff to develop trainees skills to maintain and repair complex machinery.    

Syria - chemical weapons claim

I arrived home early today, feeling a little tired after a day at work, my knee hurt and flopping down on my lounge chair turned the channel 7 news on my TV. Susannah Carr warned that the images are graphic - I was shocked.

Sitting in the comfort of my lounge room, I viewed images beamed from the other side of the world of people writhing in pain, rows of dead bodies, some wrapped in sheets, others not yet. These are people - human life now foaming at the mouth, vomiting and fighting to breathe.

UN inspectors are in Damascus, already checking for chemical weapons, it is alleged the Assad regime had used chemical weapons previously. I am lost, the world has not seen chemical weapons used since Saddam Hussein ordered the Halabja attack in 1988, this conflict in Syria has now escalated.

Journalists are banned from Syria, the images are shot by people using phone cameras, they have been denied by the Assad regime and yet to be verified because of this. That being said, the government has the means to deliver such weapons, an artillery barrage directed at the suburbs of Damascus held by the rebels. Maybe Assad has lost the ability to censor internal news now leaking to the outside world.

Hanging at Clarke Quay Singapore

Trips to Singapore from Perth is a relatively short flight lasting about five and a half hours. There is much to do in Singapore during the day, early evening, I prefer Clarke Quay as my entertainment destination. There are numerous bars and restaurants to choose from, the quay is a pretty picturesque location and I enjoy just strolling around.

Singapore is a safe city; the penalties are too high to infringe, understandably I have never had concerns regarding safety in this area. Singaporeans are a rather conformist bunch of people, very polite and well mannered. Highly educated and disciplined, the atmosphere is relaxed but beware, this can be an expensive night out.

A couple of bridges allow access to both banks of the quay, a couple of promo girls are getting people interested in Tiger beer.

All in all, I always enjoy a night out at Clarke Quay - it can be pretty expensive so you have to be careful where you go. The area is safe and well worth a visit, these days I don't stop over on the way to Europe, usually just a stopover from an Asian location, a couple of days here should do it. 

The Liberty Wreck - Bali

The Liberty ship is an outstanding shore dive, walking over the same volcanic rocks that forced the ship below the waves after the 1963 from the Mt Agung eruption. Just 30 metres offshore lies the Liberty wreck, torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942. The cargo ship attempted to make it to safe harbour but was forced to run aground on the beach where it was extensively salvaged leaving just an empty hull before pushed into the water by lava flow to the water.

A number of dive shops are located at Tulamben, many are based in other areas and set up on the shore for their dives. Dive Paradise is a Tulamben based operation located right on the shore; it was pretty slow there that day but the guides got us quickly organised and we walked just a short distance to the wreck site. I normally get a hotel in Seminyak, so it is normally a bit of a drive up the island after getting free of the Kuta and Denpasar traffic.  

The drop-off located further down the beach is Tulamben Wall; an excellent dive as a second dive after the wreck. The wall extends out from the beach in a sloping manner until turning vertical, the wall bottoms out at 60 metres. 



I have found the currents are generally mild on the wall; but as you swim around the wall you may be exposed to some fierce currents, I have never been caught in a ripping current at the particular site but that would be more to do with the number of times I have dived this wall. The dive shop itself feels more like a cottage on the sea, great to sit around between dives with a book looking out over the water. 

The dive shop itself is quite quaint; as I was not involved in a large group, we had plenty of room to kit up pre-dive and relax post dive. Washing the equipment afterwards is relatively straightforward with a couple of washstands close by. I just hung my gear on the wall after the second dive and it was nearly dry when it was time to pack up and return. It is a long drive to Kuta, fortunately we had left early in the morning and on the way back spent some time at Amed, this is relatively close. 

The Liberty wreck is the most dived site in Bali, beginning at 3 metres with the deepest part of the wreck at 29 metres. The diversity of life on the ship is extremely interesting; the last dive there, we spotted a large turtle hanging around, we were able to spend a long time observing this magnificent sea creature.

While the ship was extensively salvaged during its 20+ years run aground, it is still an interesting hull to swim around and through. Covered in an extensive coral covering, I always take the time to get a dive or two in on this wreck.

Zest Air - suspended by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines

Budget Philippine carrier Zest Air has been suspended by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for safety breaches. It has been reported that aircraft were being refueled with passengers on board, excessive flight time for flight crew and numerous other documented occurrences.

Earlier this year I was to fly to Tagbilaran from Manila and was met with huge lines, disorganisation and incompetence in the Zest Air terminal. The check in arrangements at the terminal are pure pandemonium.

I was told to line up incorrectly, the flight was overbooked to such an extent that there was no way most of the passengers had any hope of boarding.

I was watching the time; boarding time was approaching, I just assumed the flight would be held due to the amount of people who hadn't checked in - I was wrong. The lines were just not moving.

The staff just pulled the sign down and word quickly got around that the flight had already departed - I was amazed. All hell broke loose, I made sure I was at the front of the line demanding my flight with many others. 

After about three hours, these fools were able to get me booked on a flight to another destination, then told me I could take a ferry to my desired destination.

An airline giving me directions for a ferry - who would have guessed that!!! My next flight was delayed by a couple of hours, missed the ferry and spent the night in the wrong place.

To make the ferry, I was up at 4:30 to wait in line at the ferry terminal as many of my new friends I made in the terminal were there lining up early too. The ferry had a damaged engine but set sail anyway, a slow trip but finally arrived late afternoon after lining up for a morning flight a day earlier.

This was May this year and I had forgotten all about it; this is after all a usual travel story in a developing country. Tonight when I saw the news headlines, I remembered why I vowed never to fly this airline again - it appears it was a good decision.

It was a life experience and time to move on, well, it didn't take long for the aviation authority to shut them down after Air Asia after purchased a 49% stake in March this year.

To find out these practices had been taking place was no surprise, the check in counter is where most people interact with the airline. Behind the scenes are maintenance crews, baggage handlers, aircraft handlers but not a qualified accountable manager, who would have guessed. 

When the management parachute out of an airline, this is a cause for concern, especially when they don't want to take responsibility for shoddy work practices. I won't fly them again and I am glad unsuspecting passengers are not put at risk either.

HECS debt - a powerful incentive to study

I look at student education in the United States and compare student debt in the US to rising student debt levels in Australia through HECS; that is, the higher education contribution system. The advantage in the Australian system is that you can borrow money from the federal government at zero interest rates to fund your education. All in all, this is the lowest cost loan most people will have in their life.

Commonwealth supported places is the term given to qualifications available at Australian universities normally at undergraduate level. Most postgraduate places are full fee paying, that is, you have to organise your own funding in such a case. The advantage is that in HECS; repayments don't start until you are earning in excess of $51,000 with repayments varying between 4% - 8% of your income.

The real advantage of HECS is that you are not charged interest, a free loan in many respects. However, the debt is indexed yearly so as to not allow inflation to diminish value of the loan. I believe education should have some cost, when you graduate, you have the ability to earn a good income but this of course varies between qualifications. 

Humanities and arts graduates generally earn incomes towards the lower spectrum of the range whilst medicine, engineering and technical graduates earn incomes in the higher range. That is not to say humanities and social sciences are any less important than technical areas, the employment market currently decides values. Likewise, repayments should be lower in relation to future earning potential.

HECS debt repayments are managed through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO); widely rumoured to have never lost a customer in their monopoly position. Normally, a call to the ATO takes over an hour, it is of course worth the time spent as the ATO is more than willing to hand out substantial fines - I know this when I learnt the hard way. 

Paul Hogan once described the ATO as a bunch of miserable bastards - I concur. I pity the American system where huge loans are required at commercial rates; my friends living in the US explain to me the job markets is still soft making payment of these loans difficult, that being said, interest rates in the US are still lower than in Australia.

The average HECS debt takes 8 years to pay off, however, many of my friends have HECS loans in the $30,000 - $40,000 range, that's a pretty big bill. For me, a strong incentive to gain a technical trade qualification initially before moving to university part time whilst working full-time. 

I have been lucky, I paid my university fees as I went and my degree is fully paid before it is completed. I also claim the costs on my tax as a deduction and this helps to lower my tax. Having completed an a technical apprenticeship as a young guy; I worked full-time for minimal wages for 4 years subsidising my own training. 

Of course, further night school in my own time and at my cost added to a further series of bills I paid over the years. I believe I could put a strong case forward that the four years of my apprenticeship and beyond increased my earning potential, paid for in current earnings and supported by tax receipts.

Philippine Airlines just doesn't get it

With much annoyance, I finally received a reply from Philippine Airlines; it was however woefully inadequate. Philippine Airlines seeks to distance itself from the systematic issue of security breaches; I had not expected such a weak response from Philippine Airlines, not willing to accept responsibility for such a serious issue, furthermore, it appears Philippine Airlines management is trying to cover up a serious security issue.

In their letter, they have insinuated that I am basically dishonest and making a claim purely for monetary gain. I have made no such claim for the items stolen by Philippine Airlines staff whilst in the custody of Philippine Airlines.

My question relates not to the stolen items but the process that allowed my and other people's baggage to be rifled through by Philippine Airlines staff. I highlighted the fact that the baggage had been tampered with and items are missing.

I want answers and I am not receiving answers, not even an acknowledgement from the Philippines Civil Aviation Authority that my complaint has been received; no wonder Philippine Airlines does as it wishes.

If security is at such a state that employees are frisked between each flight, what does that say about the organisation, employees, processes and management? The items were missing and the baggage had been tampered with, that is fact but they have no idea where and how.

What really irks me is the letter is the hope that I will fly with Philippine Airlines in the future; a monetary gain I might add for Philippine Airlines.

I have raised the issue of security at Philippine Airlines and they have failed to respond correctly to my complaint, the professionalism of Philippine Airlines is in doubt and Philippine Airlines has failed to address the issue and act in a responsible manner to a client of the organisation.

Diving the VR Technology NHeO dive computer

VR Technology, famously known for the VR3 multi-gas dive computer for open and closed circuit rebreathers offered the trimmed down version of the VR3 dive computer offered for only a short time; known as the NHeO, this short run computer was the predecessor of the NHeO3.

While not being exactly the poor man’s VR3, the NHeO was a compact version of the VR3 dive computer housed in a technopolmer case as opposed to the metal alloy case of the VR3. The NHeO along with the VRx is a very streamlined unit as compared to the sometimes described clunky VR3.

With my rapidly declining vision, I found the backlit screen easy to read underwater even with the slightly convex curved screen. The computer comes from the factory in multi-colour mode for the first three dives before reverting to mono screen, the colour PIN will activate the multi-colour screen, should you decide to upgrade.

Unfortunately, I never needed to upgrade to the colour version PIN as the computer did not perform the mandatory three dives.

The NHeO was capable of storing and utilising four different gasses during the dive as opposed to ten gasses supported by the VR3 and VRx computer; for many divers seeking to gear up for staged decompression diving, the NHeO and later NHeO3 version is a perfect computer that may be easily upgraded in the future without requiring replacement of the whole computer.

The NHeO was a full decompression computer utilising a Buhlmann ZHL-16 decompression algorithm incorporating deepwater stops. The user manual stated that should the deep micro-bubble stops be missed, a use tables message would appear and a decompression schedule will appear that is very close to the required stop duration. 

To my way of thinking, before undertaking any decompression stop dives, a full dive plan should be calculated with gas management, CNS tracking, a depth violation and a bottom time violation calculation carried on a slate as a backup to the plan, this is a prudent practice anyway. 

I never missed a deep stop on the NHeO but have done so on my VR3 at times when deep stops are difficult in a situation as a raging down current forcing excessive gas usage to maintain depth, the use tables message is a real pain.

The diver also has the option to switch gasses underwater and the computer calculates the new profile and while I have not done so far, I will be doing this in future dives. I am also planning on diving air profiles with nitrox mixes to violate the algorithm to view the in-water results.

Miss the deep stops and exceed the ascent rate, the user manual states the NHeO will not lock the diver out during a dive and I would like to know the extent the computer reacts to such diving practices.

On a recent series of dives with the Mares icon computer (before that dive computer failed); I unstrapped the computer from my wrist and raised the computer above the 3 metre decompression ceiling with my lift bag to see the effect on the profile.

While an audible alarm sounded, the computer showed no violations on the screen and did not penalise further dives that day, this somewhat concerned me.

While such practices are not recommended, I did not actually violate my planned stop depth, had a back-up computer calculating my ceiling and had back-up tables on a wrist slate. 

It is important to have sufficient trust in the computer you are using, hence the fact that I always select a Buhlmann based computer for decompression stop dives and I believe in the VR Technology product.

I was using my icon computer for standard non decompression dives and my technical computer for more advanced dives. Usually, I use my older Suunto Vyper computer set in gauge mode as a back-up depth and bottom timer but on this occasion the icon computer served as back-up computer on this overseas trip.

I do not have the luxury of having a pressure vessel to test a number of profiles or violations. Nor should I, after reading the user manual and strapping a computer on my wrist, I should be able to take a computer from the box and go diving. 

The two switches are located at the bottom of the computer and work by using a short push of either (one) switch, a push and long hold of one switch, a short push of both switches or a long push and hold of both switches.

This takes a little while to get used to and I practised extensively before leaping into the water with my brand new NHeO strapped to my wrist. As yet, I haven’t attempted to play around too much on my initial dives on the NHeO; I thought I would get a little bolder in the future.

The VR Technology NHeO was an ideal air/nitrox dive computer competitively priced and starting at $679, the N1 coded NHeO will get the diver an open circuit air/nitrox computer, when the diver’s experience warrants, an upgrade PIN will open the diver to trimix diving for under $200.

So for under $1000, a diver has a trimix capable computer manufactured by a proven performer built on the knowledge and experience of the VR3 and VRx dive computer platforms.

The Buhlmann ZHL-16 algorithm is a respected and time proven algorithm equipped with the latest micro-bubble avoidance deepwater stop profile.

My NHeO dive computer didn't last long; the computer failed and I immediately contacted VR Technology, they informed me they will immediately replace the computer with the new NHeO3 computer.

However, there would be a waiting time of a month as the new computer was rolled out. I informed them that I needed my computer right now so they ended up sending out a C4 VR3, thanks guys.

Diving Subic Bay

Getting to to Subic Bay from Manila is relatively easy, you can organise a vehicle from the airport or point of arrival, a number of private business' operate private vehicles supplied via the dive centre you choose, otherwise, a bus, jeepney and trike is your budget option. I prefer the local coach style bus option myself as I usually travel alone, I also like the cheapest option and then a short trike ride from the main road.



Whilst many options exist for diving and accommodation, my choice is Johan's Dive Resort on Baloy Beach, Olongapo City. Having stayed there a number of times, the establishment is reasonably compact and my only interest in Olongapo is diving - this suits me. You really wouldn't go to Olongapo for any other reason as Olongapo City is a dirty unfriendly place and best avoided.



The dive shop is located just to the side of the accommodation, the term resort is a little liberal, however, Johans is pretty good budget accommodation. Along side the dive shop is the restaurant and bar and just a step onto the beach.

The dive shop is a little tight for space but works pretty efficiently, the briefing area is central, the guides brief the dives at the shop and not out on the boat. 



The dive guides at Johans are excellent, they are local guys who possess exceptional dive skills with thousands of dives in the bay.



The guides wash the equipment up after dives, two of the rooms are in the dive shop whilst the rest are upstairs. The rooms in the shop are pretty noisy, but are you in Subic Bay to dive, these are very convenient.

  



The briefing board indicating a number the wrecks in the bay, the board flips with more wrecks on the other side, an F4 Phanton jet from the Vietnam era sits just outside the heads of he bay in 45 metres. I have dived Subic Bay a number of times but have still been unable to organise a dive on the F4. The plane is basically just an airframe now, having been stripped of all usable parts, this plane did not crash but was pushed overboard, presumably to clear deck space on an aircraft carrier as was the practice during that period. 



Heading out from Johans on Baloy Beach, the majority of the dive sites are a short boat ride across the bay.

 

The boats are fast, the banca style boats aren't used in Subic Bay and they don't usually return between dives. A 60 minute surface interval is easily handled on these boats, they will take the boats out for a single diver too, numbers are low and space is abundant. 

 



A number of the wrecks are well suited to decompression stop diving, a single stage is an optimal set-up for most but not all dives. There are plenty of opportunities to penetrate wrecks such as the New York armoured cruiser, the El Capitan, LCU, LST, Siam Maru and the Japanese patrol boat - wreck diving is what Subic Bay is all about. The older St Quintin (1898) is much shallower than many of the other wrecks and mostly broken up, it however makes a change form the many other wrecks in the area and well worth a look as a second dive, at 16 metres depth, the issue of decompression is not an issue and you have plenty of time to explore the broken up hull and nearby reef. 

An MBA online - what is the real value?

Should I be accepted into the MBA program at the University of New England, I have to ask myself, what is the value of an MBA that is delivered online? 

I haven't applied yet and I am still considering my options; the time involved and future return on investment still concerns me. Do employers value an online MBA in the same way as a face-to-face MBA? 

There are a number of weekend course supplements available throughout the trimester; living on the west coast of Australia; I would have to make sure such face-to-face classes are well targeted though.

Firstly, I have to perform well academically, I feel I have met that criteria in my undergraduate degree at the university and graduate certificates and diploma. 

Supervisory and management experience criteria have been met and now I have to convince the Graduate School of Business that the MBA will contribute to my career whilst outlining significant achievements to date - should be able to meet that criteria too. 

The advantage of being a mature age student is that you have had plenty of opportunities to prove yourself in the workplace; as such, you are deadly serious about lifelong learning and the opportunities it brings.

Online delivery is gaining credibility, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs); whilst free at the moment are increasing in breadth and coverage and I envision being fee-for-service in the future, soon credits will be granted for completed studies. 

An online course still utilises a recognised textbook but also interactive means such as video, links to online lectures, discussion forums and immediate feedback from lecturers. 

As a college vocational education & training practitioner; I utilise the principles of andragogy on a daily basis, feeling comfortable in  Piaget's cognitive domain further building on the theory of constructivism and targeted student-centred learning.  

The real advantage of an online MBA is working the whole time; part-time and executive MBA programs have been around for a long time, technological advances combined with current learning theories are now proving more effective than purely classroom based lectures. 

The ability to study utilising technology is a massive advantage; however, the motivation and self-discipline required are very high. Analytical abilities to apply critical thinking and reasoning to solve complex managerial problems are practiced and learnt in online courses just as they are in face-to-face courses. 

The disadvantages though include alumni and networking opportunities but some classroom time is required. Now we just have to ensure that in the information age, employers take online courses seriously.

Philippine Airlines systematic security breaches

I can't believe it, I checked my luggage into the counter at Philippine Airlines at Cebu airport for my flight to Manila where I was going to take an online university test before flying home the next day.

When I picked up my luggage at the baggage claim, I noticed the zips to the bag had been tampered with; a quick check indicated the bags had been rummaged through but I didn't notice anything missing at the time.

The flight had been delayed; PAL = plane always late on domestic flights like most carriers in the Philippines, it appears only flights originating at international airports leave on time. I was concentrating on my upcoming test that evening; annoyed with the delay and then further delays getting the baggage out of the plane.

Once I was in my hotel room; I missed the opportunity for my university online test due to Philippine Airlines delayed flight, fortunately technical problems with the program allowed me to take the test on Saturday morning.

It was then after I had completed my test that I noticed items missing from my luggage the following morning. While stolen items is annoying, the risk these actions pose to the safety of flight is more than a little concerning.

Luggage is screened upon entry into the terminal by airport security staff, once the luggage is checked in with the airline, the luggage is moved to a secure area by conveyor belts to be loaded onto the flight. For airline staff to be opening bags and removing items or adding items in a secure area poses a severe risk to the safety of the flight.

Criminal cells must be operating in a secure area for such actions to take place; under no circumstances should baggage handlers be working alone, the whole process must be recorded with CCTV. Both Cebu and Manila are international airports; the risk to international flights are also obvious.

Philippine Airlines operates flights to a number of international destinations including long haul flights to the United States; a country that after the horrendous Pentagon and World Trade Center terrorist attacks has absolutely no tolerance for lax security, the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration would be more than interested to hear about such security breaches. 

Philippine Airlines flights in and out of Australia would also attract interest from CASA, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority that has been known to suspend international carriers for systematic safety breaches whilst operating flights in and out of Australia.

Canada also sets high standards for aviation with flights to Vancouver and Toronto. Flights to Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and China all fall under their respective aviation agencies as well as the middle east.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will be immediately notified at the beginning of business; the failed attacks on aircraft originating in the Philippines including the Bojinka plot indicate terrorist activities where 11 flights originating from the Philippines were to be bombed mid air over the ocean. 

Philippine Airlines flight 434 had an explosive device detonated on route to Narita, Japan killing one person and causing damage to nearly cripple the aircraft resulting in rapid decompression and damage to aircraft control systems.

The smuggling of contraband throughout the Philippines through personal luggage is a distinct possibility with the contraband placed in the luggage of unsuspecting travelers at the originating airport and removed by baggage handlers at the terminating airport. 

This takes place after the baggage has been security screened. For luggage to be opened and items removed, it is unlikely to be a person acting alone as baggage handlers work in teams, raising the possibility of systematic breaches in security.

I attended a Philippine Airlines office in Makati to report the security breaches, while the staff looked a little concerned I had items stolen, not much was going to happen until I returned to the counter at Manila airport to once again report the incident. 

I explained the severity of the matter and the risks it poses to the safety of flights; I was then questioned regarding the locks on my bags and why it had taken me until the following morning to report the incident.

I explained that I had already read the conditions of carriage on the PAL website and no mention is made to locking luggage. Firstly, it is not their role to question my locks or my time taken to report the incident; I actually reported the incident within 30 minutes of becoming aware the items were actually missing, previously I only suspected my luggage had been tampered with.

Philippine Airlines should have immediately reacted initiating an investigation into their baggage handling practices in secure areas. Graft and corruption is rife in the Philippines and it appears Philippine Airlines management believes they can cover this particular incident up and it will just go away and it will be business as usual. This is too important to do nothing and allow these criminal practices to continue.