DECEMBER 2011
DIVE LOCALLY
WHERE IT REALLY MATTERS
Freediving
& SPEARFISHING
New Ocean Adventure
North Shore of
Lake superior Head Honcho of the Great Lakes
GUNILDA Believe It or Not
FLORIDA KEYS
Dive Capital of the World Volume 7 Issue 12 $1.95 US/$2.25 Canada
the Power See JT-40D All the features of the JT-50. Smaller and designed for single tank use. The air cell is extremely streamlined and the frontal width in swimming position is barely wider than an average person’s shoulders. Style: Buoyancy capacity: Bladder material: Shell material: inflator length: mounting grommetS diStance:
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Automatic pressure relieve valve/pull dump at left waist side Low pressure BC hose included For single back mounted tank only (100cuft / 15L internal volume)
info@istdivingsystem.com
Our World-Underwater Save $40 FebrUary 17 - 19, 2012 Donald e. Stephens Convention Center, rosemont, illinois
The Midwest’s Largest Scuba Diving Consumer Show
CeLebraTing 42 yearS!
Workshops Seminars exhibit Hall Film Festival Children’s events Silent auction book Signings and more!
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We support our local dive shops - without them we will not have a dive industry.
DECEMBER 2011
Midwest & Northeast Dive News
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Northeast & Midwest Dive News The complete resource for diving in the Northeast & Midwest. www.nedivenews.com www.mwdivenews.com Publisher / Editor-in-Chief Rick Stratton rick@divenewsnetwork.com Production Manager IJ James ij@divenewsnetwork.com Expo Coordinator Selene Muldowney selene@divenewsnetwork.com Accounts Manager Tove Chatham accounting@divenewsnetwork.com Advertising Sales Manager Keath Allen (360) 240-1874 x105 keath@divenewsmag.com Roosevelt Rumble (360) 240-1874 x103 nwsales@divenewsnetwork.com Circulation/subscriptions 360-240-1874 Dive News Magazine is committed to promoting the sport of scuba diving in the Northeast and Midwest. We will present a practical, unbiased point of view regarding all aspects of the sport of scuba diving. The Dive News Magazine believes in honesty and integrity in business and will support all efforts related to this. We encourage readers to participate in determining the content of this publication by giving us their opinions on the types of articles they would like to see. We invite letters to the editor, manuscripts and photographs related to diving or diving-related business. Send us your stories and photos! IMPORTANT NOTICE The Dive News Magazine reserves the right to refuse service to anyone it chooses. The contents of Northeast and Midwest Dive News are opinions of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor or any of its staff. The publishers and contributors assume no responsibility for any mishap claimed to be a result of use of this material. Diving is an adventure sport and contains inherent risks. Improper use of diving equipment or improper diving techniques may result in serious injury or death. Readers are advised to use their own best judgment in each individual situation. MOVING? In order to continue receiving your magazine uninterrupted, please notify Northeast Dive News when you change your mailing address. To ensure uninterrupted service, please contact us six to eight weeks before the change of address occurs. You can call us at 360-240-1874 PST or email us at editor@divenewsnetwork.com or mail at: Bedrock Publications
P.O. Box 1494 Oak Harbor, WA 98277
► Photo courtesy Advanced Diving and Expeditions. The bell on the wreck of the Gunilda stands guard on this amazing wreck. In terms of shipwrecks, the Gunilda is Lake Superior’s crown jewel. Often the demise of ships can be characterised as tragic but the Gunilda falls squarely into the “believe it or not” category. Find out more about Advanced Diving www.advancedexpeditions.com
► Photo courtesy Performance Freediving. Earlier this year, Performance Free Diving participated in Deja Blue II held in Grand Cayman. The results for the PFD team were awesome, and we congratulate them. Performance Freediving offers courses led by freediving champions; instructional certification; multiple locations across the US and Canada. www.performancefreediving.com
Monthly Columns Publisher’s Note.................................4 Incoming Mail.....................................5 Northeast Hot News..........................6 Activities.............................................7
Midwest Hot News............................ 18 Gear Box..........................................28 Tropical Dive Directory................28-29 Dive Directory..............................30-31
Northeast US DIVES 12 Freediving & Spearfishing: New Ocean Adventures Kirk Krack of Performance Freediving International says, freediving is really taking off. His company specializes in training divers to free dive for competition, sport fishing and safety. “What really seems to be taking off; is free diving and spearfishing. Normally these two wouldn’t mix but recently it is becoming more popular.” By Rick Stratton.
MIDWEST DIVES 18 Lake Superior: The Head Honcho of the Great Lakes This Gem of cold water diving beckons the experienced and curious diver. The coldest, deepest and highest in elevation, located in the attic of the US, Lake Superior lives up to its name. An adventure itself getting there, the Northern shore of Lake Superior is home to Isle Royale and Thunder Bay Sanctuary, both designed to protect significant shipwrecks while offering divers a chance to experience history and discover forgotten artifacts. By Rick Stratton
20 Gunilda: Believe it or Not
Originally owned by William Harkness, this yacht was launched on a pleasure cruise in 1911. What happened next can’t always be believed. Now, the Gunilda rests upright and level on the bottom. Described as one of the finest shipwrecks in the world by Jacque Cousteau and his crew, She certainly deserves her reputation. By Tyler Bradford
TROPICAL DESTINATIONS 22 Florida Keys Dive Capital of the World
World Class Diving, Fish Bowl of the World, Diver’s Dream - these all describe the one place that come to mind first for most divers when you ask “where would you like to dive?” The answer of course is Florida’s Key Largo and Tavernier areas. According to the area tourism bureau over one million divers a year make this dive a reality. Over one million divers can’t be all wrong. By Rick Stratton
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
W
elcome to the December edition of Northeast/Midwest Dive News. At the time of this writing, we just returned from the annual DEMA show in Orlando, Florida. This year’s DEMA show was a mixed bag. On one hand, show attendance was at an all-time low, only 5% of the dive retailers made the annual pilgrimage; however, amazingly nearly every booth reported strong results. For us, the show was fantastic. We had a fantastic opportunity to interact with the divers and dealers. It was great to get feedback about our magazine and regional approach. For the most part, the feedback was great. The readers we spoke with love our local approach, support for dive clubs, and focus on local diving. Since we were in Florida anyway, we sent our Southeast Regional Sales Manager, Keath Allen, to check out the local hot spots, specifically cave country. Keath had a great time. Stay tuned for Keath’s article online soon! After Keath visited cave country he traveled up to Clearwater Springs for the DUI DOG Rally event. As you probably know, we co-sponsored the entire DUI DOG Rally tour. We were lucky enough to attend nearly every rally. We had a great
The Dive Patrol, Inc. Presents the 61st edition of
Rick is a dive industry veteran with 15 years experience. Contact Rick@divenewsmag.com for comments
The group from the DUI DOG Rally in Clearwater Springs.
time attending the events and meeting our readers across the country. As the dive season winds down and the holiday season approaches, we are grateful for all our friends in the dive industry. We are now bonded with the folks at DUI, the great folks at DAN (Divers Alert Network) and the DOGs themselves, but we are especially grateful for the local dive retailer. We recognize the sacrifices in owning a small business, and we appreciate the time and effort you put forth to advocate for the local diver. And of course we are grateful for our local divers. Your commitment to the sport and your love of diving inspires us. What an amazing year for all of us! This summer/fall season has reinforced the importance of relationships in life and business for me, and I’ve been reminded the most important things in life are the people (and businesses) who are there for you! Happy diving. Rick Stratton facebook.com/Rick.Stratton1 twitter.com/nedivenews, twitter.com/mwdivenews rick@divenewsmag.com
When Experience Counts...
The Boston Scuba Show
COCOS ISLAND M/V ARGO
February 25, 2012 • 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Holiday Inn and Resort Marlboro, Massachusetts
GALAPAGOS M/V GALAPAGOS SKY
Junction of routes 495 and 20 • Always FREE PARKING Directed by Alan Budreau; assisted by the EMMY Award winning team of Linda and Kerry Hurd
Featuring: •
MALDIVES M/V ORION
EMMY AWARD winner JONATHAN BIRD
• Fred Calhoun with a new film, “Egg Rock”, and lively commentary “UNDERSTANDING TECHNICAL DIVING” “THE GENESIS OF VISUAL INSPECTIONS”
SOCORRO ISLAND M/V SOLMAR V NE W!!
• Don Whitehead - Diving Photographer of Massachusetts Bay • Alex Shure new film: “Saturday Night Ledge”
Applaud the Paul Revere Spike Award to Jerry Shine
Peter A. Hughes, Founder
Tickets are $20 each
Available at the door on the day of the show, or in advance by writing to: Cecile Christensen, 2 Ocean Ave (1-H), Gloucester, MA 01930. Checks payable to The Dive Patrol. 4
© Joe Nicastri
…into whose hands will you place your trust for exceptional diving encounters, top notch accommodations, first rate food & beverage, safety & security?
INDONESIA M S/V WAOW
www.divencounters.com
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MONTHLY ARTICLES Dear Rick:
Fred Calhoun’s the “sky is falling” diatribe on diving (NEDN and MWDN, July) is, pardon the pun, ALL WET! His attitude and comments are everything that’s wrong with some of the “doubtful Thomases” of diving. Divers Den in Parkville, Maryland, has been in business for 50 years and still has a loyal following. Owner Chaz Kafer says, “Yes, things are not easy. There is competition from online sales, but it’s a challenge dive shop owners must face.” Chaz is very upset with a few of the manufacturers. “These manufacturers, who once strongly supported dive shops, now sell to online dealers at greatly reduced prices.” Chaz pleaded his case to the manufacturer, but the practice still continues. Chaz says, “I feel like they sold me out.” Some of the other manufacturers realize that dive shops are not selling as much as they used to, and are trying to help them get through some hard times. It’s a time where manufacturers, dealers and training agencies must offer as much support as possible to local shops. Chaz says, “When a piece of gear breaks, a regulator needs repair, or divers need air, where do they go? The personal service we provide, plus expert repairs, the purest air, and individual attention are what we thrive on.” Many shops, including Divers Den, sponsor social gatherings, newsletters through e-mail, exotic trips, and fun events such as pumpkin carving, underwater hockey, etc. Some dive shops may have slowed down, but they’re not dead. And there are plenty of store counters left where divers can pick up the latest issue of Northeast/Northwest Dive News, a publication that remains faithful and supportive of local dive shops. Ellsworth Boyd, Writer
Free Online Nitrox Course
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Ellsworth,
Thanks for emailing us your thoughts. I apologize that your email has been sitting in our in-box for so long. Surprisingly, our mailbag has been full lately with many great letters – so full infact, we have expanded our incoming mail onto our Facebook page. Now our reader’s letters/comments do not have to wait weeks or months for a reply. Our readers can post their concerns on our Facebook page and almost instantly get a response. This greatly improves our communications with www.facebook.com/nedivenews readership and gives an increased www.facebook.com/mwdivenews voice to our readers. This is our response to the changing economy and marketplace. We have literally re-invented ourselves this year. We have embraced that we are no longer just a print magazine or website but rather in the CONTENT business. Both your letter and Calhoun’s letter reflect two sides of the same story – is the glass half-full or half-empty? Is our industry heading down hill or are we preparing for a steep assault? I applaud the efforts of small businesses to survive in the current economy. Some of the large dive equipment manufacturers mostly fall into this category too. These companies are themselves small business with less than 100 employees. While most overwhelmingly support local dive shops and current dealers, these companies are being forced to sell online due to the economy and changing consumer preferences. Some still cater to their local dive shops and we encourage all manufacturers to work with the local businesses. I applaud the efforts of Diver’s Den and other dive shops that offer more and support the industry and local economy in the pages of our magazine. Thanks,
Rick
Retailers: Retailers:Call Call1-888-903-NASE 1-888-903-6573 to find out how you can take advantage of this special offer
You read that right. For a limited time, you can get our brandnew online Nitrox Diver I course — normally $79.95 — absolutely free. All you pay for is your dive shop’s or instructor’s normal fee for the single classroom session and any optional open-water training dives. Here’s what you do: ■ Take this ad to your local NASE dive shop or instructor. Don’t know who that is? Find out at www.NASEworldwide.org. ■ Don’t have a local NASE dive shop or instructor? No problem. Take this ad to your favorite dive shop and have them call 1-888-903-NASE (6273) to find out how easily you can take the next step.
www.NASEworldwide.org We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.
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NE HOT NEWS
Send us your NEWS/EVENTS: editor@divenewsmag.com
Westchester Scuba Club Receives $5,000 Award
The Scuba Sports Club of Westchester has been awarded $5,000 from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund for the club’s annual “Cleanup the Sound” environmental activities at Davenport Beach in New Rochelle and Orchard Beach in the Bronx. The cleanups will include cleaning debris and trash from the beach areas as well as the water area immediately adjacent to the beach area. Another cleanup will involve the use of SCUBA to remove lobster pots in the Sound itself. The lobster pot cleanup will start from City Island and motor out to remove lobster pots from the Long Island Sound using SCUBA. For more info visit info@TheScubaSportsClub.org.
Santa Comes to Town Underwater
OOPS-CORRECTION
Buzzards Bay Dive Center, Inc. & The Travel Scene present their 5th Annual Underwater visit with Santa benefiting the Onset’s Box 5 Association’s Holiday Food Drive. This is a fun filled charity event/food drive to help needy families this holiday season. Saturday Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., they will be collecting non-perishable food items and donations for the Onset’s Box 5 Department to distribute to those in need. If you are not already a certified scuba diver the helpful & friendly staff at Buzzards Bay Dive Center will give you the FUN-damental instructions through a PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience to join Santa for what is sure to be this years’ favorite holiday photo! Cost is free with a non-perishable food item of $5 or more. Your fun adventure with Santa will not only benefit you, it will help brighten the holiday’s for less fortunate families this season. Last year, they collected over 400lbs of food, help them beat last year’s record. For more info www.buzzardsbaydivecenter.com
Boston Sea Rovers Make it 58 Years
The 58th Annual Boston Sea Rovers Clinic will take place at the Crowne Plaza Boston North Shore Hotel in Danvers, MA March 9-11. This year’s event will offer over 40 Saturday and Sunday daytime seminars, featuring slide and video shows from around the underwater world. Saturday evening, BSR will host their renowned Saturday Evening Film Festival, featuring some of the best filmmakers and explorers in the business. The annual Clinic will also boast an expanded exhibit hall featuring a half-day exhibit floor Friday for dive industry professionals and two full days open to the public Saturday and Sunday. For more info about the 2011 Clinic or the Boston Sea Rovers visit bostonsearovers.com.
Dive Industry Pro Moves On to New Opportunity
David Valaika has a new position encouraging responsible travel and adaptive adventure programs after nearly seven years to the day after he founded Indian Valley Scuba, David Valaika has decided it’s time to turn over the reins of the Northeast’s leading dive center to the team he built. He announced his decision privately last week to the staff at the Harleysville store. The change will allow him to focus on projects closer to his heart. He want to focus on his altruistic work in developing Adaptive Diving Programs through the non-profit charity he founded in 2006, IAHD-Americas. Congrats David!
Annual Northshore Frogmen President’s Banquet and New Year’s Dive
The 2011 North Shore Frogmen Annual President’s Holiday Banquet will be held at the Palmers Cove Yacht Club in Salem, MA Dec. 10 from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. There will be catered appetizers, dinner and dessert, a presentation of awards, raffle prizes, dancing and a cash bar.Tony Vieira will be heading up the New Year’s Day dive. NSF is hoping to beat last year’s turnout of 32 divers. The post-dive New Year’s Day party will be hosted at Dodie Carvablo’s home. The dive may be at White’s Beach in Manchester to allow for greater parking. Check meetings and email notices for future details at www.northshorefrogmen.com.
Halcyon Donates a Portion of Proceeds to Susan G. Komen Breast Foundation
A donation of more than $2,000 was donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation on behalf of Halcyon Manufacturing from their Hpink system sales. Facebook Auction proceeds will also be donated (a wing autographed by Casey and JJ) and a portion of future sales of HPink systems will also be donated as those sales occur. A big shout out to everyone who has been involved!
Indian Valley SCUBA HELPS Boy Scout Troop
A local Boy Scout Troop is offering a big THANK YOU to all the great people at IVS. IVS supports worthy causes in the local community whenever they get the opportunity and sometimes this is done in a big way while at other times it’s done quietly. One example of the quiet support they give to the community is the generous (and frequent) way they have loaned their CPR training equipment to a local Boy Scout Troop. IVS has never failed to make the equipment available and they have never asked for anything in return other than the gear would be treated with respect. For many of the Scouts it was their first introduction to CPR, and they all enjoyed getting to practice on “real” training equipment. Thanks again IVS. www.indianvalleyscuba.com
Ocean Wreck Divers 25th Annual Scuba Supermarket
The Ocean Wreck Diver’s Club will be hosting its 25th Annual Scuba Supermarket on Sunday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Toms River Intermediate School North located in Toms River, New Jersey. Gary Crossland, a member and local diver says the Ocean Wreck Divers Club has been around for over 30 years and the Scuba Supermarket is one of the more popular events they do each year. “Part of the funds made from this event go to funding the club but we also use funds to construct artificial reefs as well as donate to DAN,” Crossland says. “We are happy to be able to hold these markets each year.” Crossland says the market is for divers who are interested in obtaining gently used equipment. The local dive shops also sell brand new items. “We also have dive boat businesses and travel groups that come in just to let people know that they are there,” Crossland says. “We have a lot of fun and it allows us to provide funding for our charities as well as meet up with fellow divers.” Crossland says everyone is welcome to the event. For more info visit www.oceanwreckdivers.com.
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DiveClubRhodeIsland/
Dec 13: MetroWest Dive Club, 8 p.m., Courtyard Marriott, Natick, MA. www.mwdc.org Dec 13: SeConn Skin Divers, 7:30 p.m., Olympic Pizza, Norwichtown, CT. www.seconndivers.org Dec 14: NYC Sea Gypsies, 7 p.m., McGees Irish Pub, New York, NY. www.seagypsies.org Dec 15: North Shore Frogmen Club Picnic, Stage Fork Park, Gloucester, MA. www.northshorefrogmen.com Dec 15: Pioneer Valley Dive Club, 7 p.m., At the Water’s Edge, Westfield, PA. lovetodive.com/pioneer_valley_dive_club.html Dec 15: United Divers of Central Mass, 7 p.m., Slattery’s Back Room, Fitchburg, MA. www.uniteddivers.org Dec 17: Aquatic Voyagers Scuba Club of NY, 1 p.m., Gym at Guy R. Brewer & Liberty, Jamaica, NY. www.avscdivers.org Dec 21: In Too Deep Dive Club, 7 p.m., Don Antonio’s Bar & Restaurant, Union, NJ. (908) 687-7020 Dec 21: Long Island Divers Association, 8 p.m., Brookhaven Town Community Center, Blue Point, NY. www.lidaonline.com Dec 21: New England Aquarium Dive Club, 6:30 p.m., New England Aquarium, Boston, MA. www.neadc.org Dec 22: North Shore Frogmen Club Picnic, Stage Fork Park, Gloucester, MA. www.northshorefrogmen.com Dec 26: Divers Anonymous Scuba Dive Club meeting, 7:30 p.m., Mario’s Restaurant, Clifton, NJ.
Do you want your event listed here? Contact us: editor@divenewsmag.com
www.angelfire.com/nj4/divers Dec 29: North Shore Frogmen Club Picnic, Stage Fork Park, Gloucester, MA. www.northshorefrogmen.com Dec 29: The Gillmen Club, 7:30 p.m., Marco Polo, East Hartford, CT. www.gillmen.org January 2012 Jan 3: Central Maine Muck Divers, 7 p.m. Ground Round Restaurant, Augusta, ME. www.cmmd.org Jan 3: Monadnock Divers Club, 7:30 p.m. The Pub Restaurant, Keene, NH. www.monadnockdivers.org Jan 3: South Jersey Dive Club, 7 p.m. The Taproom on West Crystal Ave, Haddon Township, NJ. www.sjdiveclub.com Jan 3: South Shore Neptunes Skin Diver’s Club, 7 p.m., Quincy Emergency Management Dive Team Headquarters, Quincy, MA. www.southshoreneptunes.org Jan 3: The Dive Club, 8:30 p.m., Molly Malone’s Bayshore, NY. thediveclub.com Jan 3: The Innerspace Explorers Dive Club, 7 p.m., On the Border Restaurant, Rocky Hill, CT. innerspaceexplorers.org Jan 4: Hammerheads Dive Club, 7 p.m., Salty Dogs Eats & Drinks, Virginia Beachy, VA. flickr.com/groups/ldc_hammerheads Jan 4: Mass Bay Divers, 7 p.m., South Shore Divers, Weymouth, MA. www.massbaydivers.com Jan 5: North Shore Frogmen, 8 p.m., Palmers Cove Yacht Club, Salem, MA. www.northshorefrogmen.com Jan 5: Olney SCUBA Adventure Dive Club, 7 p.m., Olney Swim Center, Olney, MD. olneyscubaadventures.pages.qpg.com
Find more activities on our facebook page! Midwest Activities
December Dec 7: Hammerheads Dive Club, 7 p.m., Salty Dogs Eats & Drinks, Virginia Beachy, VA. flickr.com/groups/ldc_hammerheads Dec 7: Mass Bay Divers, 7 p.m., South Shore Divers, Weymouth, MA. www.massbaydivers.com Dec 8: Maine-iac Divers Club, 6:30 p.m., Maine Divers Scuba Center, Portland, ME. www.main-iacdivers.com Dec 8: North Shore Frogmen meeting, 8 p.m., Palmers Cove Yacht Club, Salem, MA. www.northshorefrogmen.com Dec 9: Fathom Divers Dive Club meeting, 7 p.m., VFW Post #7916, Occoquan, VA. www.fathomdivers.org Dec 9: The Atlantis Rangers Dive Club meeting, 8 p.m., Odiorne State Park, Rye, NH. www.atlantisranger.org Dec 10: Chesapeake Bay Barracudas Dive Club Christmas Party, 6:00 PM at Chesapeake Bay Diving Center, Portsmouth, VA. cbdcscuba.com/Pages/DiveClub.html Dec 13: Buxmont Dive Club, 6:30 p.m., Bones Grille, Lansdale, PA. www.buxmontdiveclub.com Dec 13: Dive Club of Rhode Island, 7 p.m., Giant Stride Dive Shop, Warwick, RI.
Midwest Activities
Find more Northeast activities on our facebook page! Northeast Activities
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
December Dec 6: Michigan Seasnoopers, 7:30 p.m. Detroit, MI. E-mail for site info@seasnoopers.com Dec 7: AquaMasters meeting, 8:30 p.m., Lakewood YMCA, Lakewood, OH. aquamastersoflakewood.freeservers.com Dec 7: DiveQuest Scuba Club meeting, 7 p.m., Valparaiso Public Library, Valparaiso, IN. www.divequestscuba.org. Dec 8: Stingray Dive Club, 6:30 p.m., Bullseye Bar, Lee’s Summit, MO. www.tdscuba.com/stingray_dive_club Dec 12: Circleville Landsharks Dive Club, Gibby’s Restaurant, Circleville, OH. www.circlevillelandsharks.com Dec 13: Buckeye Divers meeting, 8 p.m. Tommy’s Pizza, Arlington, OH Dec 13: Deep Blue Divers meeting, 7 p.m. Chicagoland Scuba, Lake Zurich, IL. www.deepbluedivers.com Dec 13: Neptune’s Dive Club, 7 p.m., Green Bay, WI. www.neptunesdiveclub.com Dec 14: Aqua Amigos Scuba Club meeting, 8 p.m. Euclid Family YMCA, Euclid OH. www.aquaamigos.com Dec 14: Four Lakes Scuba Club, 7:30
p.m., Babe’s American Grill, Madison, WI. fourlakesscubaclub.dot5hosting.com. Dec 15: Gavia Scuba Club meeting, 7:30 p.m., Twin Dragons Restaurant, West Chester, OH Dec 20: Kittyhawk Dive Club meeting, Elsa’s Restaurant, Centerville, OH. Dec 20: Great Lakes Aquanauts, 7 p.m., Location Varies, Farmington, MI. www.greatlakesaquanauts.org Dec 27: Fort Wayne Dive Club, 7 p.m., Deep Blue Divers, Fort Wayne, IN. www.forwaynediveclub.com Dec 28: Amigos Aqua Scuba Club, 8 p.m. Euclid Family YMCA, Euclid, OH. www.aquaamigos.com Dec 28: Canadian Sport Divers Scuba Club, 7:30 p.m., Canadian Sport Subs Dive Shop, Belleville, Ontario, Canada. home. cogeco.ca/~csdivers/ JANUARY Jan 3: Michigan Seasnoopers, 7:30 p.m. Detroit, MI. E-mail for site info@seasnoopers.com Jan 4: AquaMasters meeting, 8:30 p.m., Lakewood YMCA, Lakewood, OH. aquamastersoflakewood.freeservers.com Jan 4: DiveQuest Scuba Club meeting, 7 p.m., Valparaiso Public Library, Valparaiso, IN. www.divequestscuba.org. Jan 5: Buccaneers Dive Club, 7 p.m., Edwardo’s Pizza, Wheeling, IL. home.comcast.net/~BuccaneersDiveClub/BuccHome.htm
Jan 5: Columbus Sea Nags Scuba Diver meeting, 8 p.m., Plank’s Restaurant, Columbus, OH. www.seanags.com. Jan 5: Extreme Sports Dive Club, 6:30 p.m., Extreme Sports Scuba, Joplin, MO. www.extremesportsscuba.com Jan 5: Kansas City Frogman Club, Inc., 7 p.m., Skin N Scuba, Independence, MO. www.kcfrogman.com Jan 9: Circleville Landsharks Dive Club, Gibby’s Restaurant, Circleville, OH. www.circlevillelandsharks.com Jan 10: Buckeye Divers meeting, 8 p.m. Tommy’s Pizza, Arlington, OH Jan 10: Deep Blue Divers meeting, 7 p.m. Chicagoland Scuba, Lake Zurich, IL. www.deepbluedivers.com Jan 10: Neptune’s Dive Club, 7 p.m., Green Bay, WI. www.neptunesdiveclub.com
More activities on our calendar online! www.divenewsnetwork.com
We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.
LONG ISLAND DIVER’S ASSOCIATION
Supporting those who support diving
Hollywood Comes To long Island By Bill Pfeiffer
I
Bill Pfeiffer is owner of Island Diving which provides commercial diving services and recreational SCUBA instruction. He is also the current president of Long Island Diver’s Association. www.lidaonline.com
8
n March of 2011 I received an e-mail from Gail Bleckman, a producer working with Katco Media, a Hollywood motion picture production company. To make a long story short, she wanted to know if my company could assist them in locating a murder weapon from a very high profile case that had been underwater for 36 years. Hoo boy! I quickly pushed the keyboard aside and gave Gail a call. She wasn’t kidding when she said “high profile.” Katco was producing a documentary on the DeFeo murders...you know, the case spawning the Amityville Horror movies. The big difference was, this wasn’t going to be some silly ghost story. Katco has a team of some 26 forensic criminologists who have been poring over 15,000 pages of evidence for years now, and wants to tell the real story about what happened in Amityville on the night of November 13, 1974 in a documentary entitled “Shattered Hopes: The True Story Of The Amityville Murders”. As part of their investigations, the forensic team had discovered it was probable more than one firearm was used during the crime, and a pistol that is believed to be connected to the crime was never recovered. OK, so now I’m hooked. What do you need from me? Enter Ryan Katzenbach, owner of Katco Media and the director, producer and writer of the film. Ryan explains the lengthy process by which the forensic criminologists have attempted to reconstruct the crime and determine how the killer (or killers) may have disposed of the second murder weapon. They believe it was thrown into a body of water, as had the first weapon, a Marlin .35 rifle, that had been recovered by the Suffolk County Police just days after the crime. Same method of disposal, different location. Can we find it? I agree to put a team together and do an initial survey of the site
We support our local dive shops - without them we will not have a dive industry.
LIDA
DIVE SHOW NEWS
BOSTON SCUBA SHOW T
to determine what kind of conditions we would encounter when we undertook a full scale search. The initial survey team consisted of Steve Neumann, Ed Springer, Anthony Amato and Ronnie Siwulec, all members of the Nesconset Fire Department Scuba Rescue Team and all more than capable of working in the muddy black water we were likely to encounter at the site. A call to our friend Jerry Barrett at Air and Gas Technologies got us Interspiro full face masks and a wireless comm system, and John Drewniak of Whites Diving set us up with hazmat suits for the entire team. So, let’s go check it out! ■ To be continued…
he Underwater Club of Boston and The Dive Patrol, Inc. announce the 61st edition of the Boston Scuba Show scheduled for 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., February 25, 2012 at the Holiday Inn and Resort in Marlboro, Massachusetts. The 2012 show will feature the films by Jonathan Bird (in-person 3-time EMMY Award Winner), and Fred Calhoun, with witty sayings, soft shoe routines, and more SCUBA than there’s time to tell. With Kerry and Linda Hurd, and directed by Alan Budreau, Jerry Shine will be receiving the Paul Revere Spike Award from the Underwater Club of Boston, presented by Arnie Pettiglio. The show will also offer a new film EGG ROCK, by Fred and Chris. Mr Calhoun is an award-winning underwater motion picture producer and director, having won the Knights of Malta, Island of Malta, Film Festival (for LARGO), and the Conference for International Nontheatrical Events (CINE) award (for THE WALL). Additionally, Don Whitehead will present Massachusetts Bay Underwater. Parking is always free at The Holiday Inn and
Pat Hatcher, Fred Calhoun and Karen Hatcher. Photo courtesy Patricia Walsh
Resort. We are at the intersection of routes 20 and 495 in Marlboro, Massachusetts. Also on the program will be a new underwater film by Alex Shure - Saturday Night Ledge. Expand your resume, become a certified cylinder inspector. Conducted by Dallas Edmiston, the in-advance course tuition is $275, checks payable to The Dive Patrol, Inc. Tickets for the scuba show are only $20 each (use the savings for gas) and will be available at the door on the day of the program. In-advance show ticket sales available by writing to: Cecile Christensen, 2 Ocean Ave (1-H), Magnolia, MA 01930. Checks payable to: The Dive Patrol, Inc. Program phone (with an answering machine) is 978-525-3432 – speak slowly and distinctly. ■
Long Island Divers Association Serving the Long Island and Greater New York Diving Community for More Than 25 Years! Captain Mike’s Diving City Island, NY 718-885-1588 www.captainmikesdiving.com
RV Garloo Captree Boat Basin, Long Island
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O EAD, NEW Y
Hampton Dive Center Riverhead, NY 631-727-7578 www.hamptondive.com Swim and Scuba Rockville Centre, NY 516-872-4571 www.swimandscuba.com
Horton Point Lighthouse image courtesy of Steve Neumann
QC Scuba Wantagh, NY 516-826-7222 www.qcscuba.com Kings County Divers Brooklyn, NY 718-648-4232 www.kcdivers.com
LIDA is a not-for-profit regional organization dedicated to the promotion of local diving and is staffed completely by volunteers.
www.lidaonline.com
LIDA is a valued sponsor of local diving! Read more about what they are up to at www.divenewsnetwork.com
9
IN MEMORIAM NEWS/EVENTS
Northeast Divers Lose One of Their Own
Outer Banks Closing
Amy Pieno with family. A fund has also been set up for Kailee and Johnny, her children, and donations can be made to the Pieno College Fund, C/O 1st Southbank, PO Box 99, Buxton, NC 27920. Photo courtesy Pieno family.
N
ortheast diver Amy Pieno passed away on Sunday, Oct. 16. Pieno died in an incident off Wrightsville Beach called Meg’s Ledge. Meg’s Ledge is a popular area for divers seeking fossilized Megalodon shark teeth and is approximately 30 miles off the southeast North Carolina coast. U.S. Coast Guard reps state that people have always chosen to dive in that location. “It’s just that unfortunately, we’ve had several divers lost there recently,” said the rep. Pieno, who was 48 years old, was a resident of Hatteras Island, co-owned Outer Banks Diving and was very active in the local community. Co-workers and fellow divers describe her as funny, smart, goodhearted and a joy to see. Family members stated that Pieno felt most alive while under the water. She was known for her dive experience and the way in which she taught
other divers. “She was always willing to go the distance and then some,” says husband Johnny. “People loved her and I honestly think they liked me because they loved her so much. We are all devastated.” Pieno and her husband moved their 65-foot charter boat, the Flying Fish, to Wrightsville Beach in mid-September after Hurricane Irene cut Hatteras off from tourists. Johnny Pieno, a Virginia Beach native once owned the popular Jamaican Johnny’s restaurant. “She considered everyone family,” Johnny said. “She considered every diver who passed through the doors of Outer Banks Diving a new member of the family.” Pieno goes on to add that Amy put her all into the sport and into supporting others who wanted to be a part of diving. She was helping lead a chartered dive when she died. “She was one of those people who
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Due to Amy Pieno’s recent passing Outer Banks Diving is for sale. Johnny Pieno says they will part with the dive business, the charter boat and all other aspects of the diving operation. For more information please contact Outer Banks Diving, 57544 Highway 12, P O Box 453, Hatteras, NC 27943, email flyingfishdivesobx@embarqmail.com or call (252) 986-1056.
Dive Locally - Where It Really Matters
just thought that everyone should want to dive,” says Johnny. “She did all she could to open the sport up to whoever wanted to get involved.” The area where Pieno died is popular with divers searching for the megalodon teeth. Divers sometimes dive more than 100 ft. during dives lasting as long as 90 minutes which can be dangerous if a diver is not experienced. Pieno was very experienced. The ledges are a trove for shark and whale fossils but they also create a strong current that can be difficult to navigate, even for experienced divers. Pieno said that diving was a safe sport as long as the rules were followed, but the rules were especially important for older divers. The local Coast Guard says that they have had a number of diving emergencies in the area. They say they don’t know if it’s because of the depth or because once divers are down there they’re too focused on the fossils to pay attention to what their equipment is telling them. At this point there is no clear answer to what happened in Amy’s situation but the Coast Guard is following up to ensure that there are not similar instances. Memorials have poured in at Outer Banks Diving, the business Pieno ran for more than 20 years with her husband, Johnny Pieno. A fund has also been set up for Kailee and Johnny, her children, and donations can be made to the Pieno College Fund, C/O 1st Southbank, PO Box 99, Buxton, NC 27920. ■
NEWS/EVENTS NEW JERSEY
I
f you have ever considered combining your love of the ocean with a career as a Marine Scientist, Oceanographer, Underwater Videographer, Boat Captain, Commercial Diver, Dive Equipment Manufacturer, Resort Owner, Ice Diving Researcher then you will want to be a part of this FREE all-day event at Beneath the Sea in March. Learn directly from the men and women who are enjoying successful careers just how they began. Experience first-hand their passion for what they do, and why they do it. If you are a High school junior, senior, college student, or a teacher – make the most of this rare opportunity. Friday, March 23, 2012 join Beneath the Sea at their free Marine Careers Program. Throughout the day, you will participate in commercial diving classroom simulations, evaluate sample scholarship applications all the while you learn insider tips on how to make your own scholarship application more effective, and maybe win a prize in some of the workshop competitions! Beneath the Sea’s Marine Careers program will also give you a free pass to the Friday night Beneath The Sea exposition starting 6 p.m. On the Beneath the Sea exhibition floor, there will be almost four-hundred exhibitors for you to meet, speak to, and ask about a
BENEATH THE SEA Marine Careers Program & Scholarships Friday, March 23, 2012 At the Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey
possible internship, community service activity, academic opportunity, and more. Beneath The Sea also offers several scholarships to encourage you to pursue those opportunities that will lead you to your marine career. Visit their web site: www.BeneathTheSea.org and learn more about these scholarships, and about all of the other aspects of America’s largest consumer oceans exposition, dive, and travel show. Oh, don’t wait on those scholarship
applications the deadline for some is as soon as Jan. 15, 2012. It is a wonderful day to meet the doers and shakers of our industry, talk to them one-on-one, and set a course for the future. If you know someone, teacher, student, youth organization, dive club, dive shop who might enjoy this, point them at Beneath the Sea that Friday, March 23. It’s where the future is happening. Group or individual, it’s FREE and you’re all welcome. ■
MARCH 23RD 24TH & 25TH
international
[ free parking everywhere ]
EXPO36
Flying Fish / Keri WilK Mississauga / OntariO, Canada
MEADOWLANDS EXPO CENTER | SECAUCUS | NEW JERSEY
BENEATH THE SEA
only 10 minutes from nYc!
SPECTACULAR EVENTS and MAJOR ATTRACTIONS:
Over 400 “Must” See Exhibits • More Than 70 Sensational Seminar Programs • Compelling In-Depth Workshops • Product Demos • Door Prizes • Unique Travel Destinations • World Renowned Guest Speakers • Public Service Diver Seminars • Silent Auction • Book Signings • Beneath The Sea International Underwater Imaging Competition • Welcome Party For All • Meet the Fish N’ Famous • Diver of the Year Awards Banquet • Women Divers Hall of Fame Celebration • Marine Careers Program • Ocean Pals Sea of Sweets Party • Decompression Party • International Underwater Film Festival • Ocean Pals International & National Poster Contest Awards • Historical Diving Society Artifacts Gallery • Ocean Arts Gallery • Women Divers Hall of Fame Gallery • Ocean Pals Oceanscapes Imaging Competition • Legend of the Sea Champagne Reception • Friday Night Tech/ Wreck Party and So Much More!
Beneath the Sea™ 2012 Dive & travel expoSition 495 new rochelle rD., Ste. 2a, Bronxville, new YorK 10708 914 - 664 - 4310 e-mail: info@BeneaththeSea.org www.BeneaththeSea.org www.mecexpo.com
We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.
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SPEARFISHING/FREEDIVING
Freediving New Ocean Adventure
AIDA recognized world record holders as of June 8, 2011
Herbert Nitsch
Constant Weight Apnea 124m Variable Weight Apnea 142m No-Limits apnea 214 m
Natalia Molchanova
Constant Weight Apnea 101m Constant Weight Apnea without fins 62m Free Immersion Apnea 85 m Static Apnea 8 min 23 sec Dynamic Apnea with fins 225m Dynamic Apnea without fins 160m
William Trubridge
Constant Weight Apnea Without Fins 101m Free Immersion Apnea 121m
Annelie Pompe
Variable Weight Apnea 126m
Dave Mullins
A 12
Dynamic Apnea Without Fins 218 m
This sport has been rated A for Awesome
Tanya Streeter No-Limits Apnea 160m
Coming Soon to a Dive Site Near You!
Photo courtesy Performance Freediving International
NORTHEAST DIVE NEWS By Rick Stratton Publisher, Dive News Network
A
dive deep into the oceans blue without scuba equipment is a frightening prospect for most. A diver would not normally jump into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean and dive without the aid of their air tanks, fins and all of the other normal trappings of a scuba equipment… did I say this was about “normal”? Think about this: you are hundreds of feet underwater suffering huge physical effects. The pressure is enormous; your hands and feet turn blue as blood rushes away from your extremities. Your other organs needing blood flow for survival, especially your brain and your heart, holler for oxygen the longer you are under the water. Even with all this a free diver stays because it is, after all, their passion. Free divers subject themselves to this physiological carnival every time they dive - on purpose! Freediving is an aquatic activity that requires the practice of breath-holding while diving underwater and adventurous divers all over the world are being enticed by its challanges. There are a number of ways in which divers utilize freediving such as with spear fishing, free diving photography, competitions and, to a degree, snorkeling. Freediving activities are often broken up into non-competitive and competitive activities such as spearfishing and Apnea competitions. They can also include less recognized examples of freediving like synchronized swimming, underwater rugby, underwater hockey, underwater hunting other than spearfishing, and snorkeling. For those divers with a need for adventure and the chance to test their muster freediving offers all the thrills and chills of a landlocked roller coaster. There are a number of disciplines within free diving. “Constant Weight Apnea” is where the athlete has to dive to the depth following a guide line but is not allowed to actively use it during the dive. Another is “Constant Weight Apnea without Fins” which has the same rules as Constant Weight, except no swimming aids, like fins, are allowed. There is also Free Immersion Apnea, a discipline where the athlete uses the vertical guide rope to pull themselves down to depth and back to the surface. “Variable Weight Apnea” is a record discipline that uses a weighted sled for descent. “No-Limits Apnea” allows the athlete to use any means of breath-hold diving to depth and return to the surface as long as a guideline is used to measure the distance and finally there is “The Jump Blue” also called “The Cube” where an athlete has to descend and swim as far as possible in a cubic form of 15 x 15 meters. All of these categories are currently being
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DESTINATIONS
NORTHEAST FEATURE more developed in terms of competition but divers all over the world are already testing the limits in each category. Special Thanks to the following for helping to make this article possible: “We have a number of courses led by freediving champions that provide those interested in instructional certification at multiple locations across the US and Canada as well as around the world. In the eleven years since inception, PFI has trained more than 5,000 persons world wide.” Kirk Krack Performance Freediving International www.performancefreediving.com “I loved being in the water, especially out with just a couple of friends spearfishing,” he said. “The challenge of different tactics that comes with hunting and the pushing of ones own personal limits was addictive. I am the kind of person who really likes to know what’s going on while I’m doing it. That’s really what got me thinking about furthering my education about Freediving.” Nick Fazah East Coast Divers www.ecdivers.com
Editor’s Note:
Photo courtesy Performance Freediving International
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We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.
13
SPEARFISHING NORTHEAST DIVE NEWS
S
pearfishing is an ancient way to fish that many divers get into as a common course of diving. The sport of diving for your own catch has been around for centuries. There are many devices to spearfish, from the traditional Hawaiin sling or pole spear to the more modern band or pneumatic guns. Each region will have its own laws and regulations on what you can and cannot use to hunt so it is highly advisable that you be familiar with these rules before partaking. Nick Fazah of East Coast Divers in Bookline, Mass. says he fell into Freediving while spearfishing by accident. “Freediving has been a recent passion for me,” says Fazah. “I had moved to the Keys (Florida) in 2006 and started breath hold diving there. I was Freediving to spearfish in the beginning but I quickly became addicted to doing it for the diving experience alone. I now enjoy the challenge and the competition. On a couple of occasions I came to the surface a little starry eyed. I felt like this was probably a sign that I was doing something wrong and so I sought out instruction in order to better understand the physics and physiology of what was happening to me. The mental focus required is what really makes me love it. It is about looking within yourself and seeing what you are capable of. You have to listen to your body’s reactions and pay attention to what your body is telling you.” As for Fazahs feelings on the two sports together…he says it is a natural fit. “There are a lot of people who spearfish and Freedive in New England,” says Fazah. “We are seeing increasing
GRAB A SPEARGUN AND GO!
Photo courtesy East Coast Divers.
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DESTINATIONS
NORTHEAST FEATURE
numbers of people doing it and, in fact, this year we have 20+ Freedivers joining the ranks after taking formal instruction on techniques and safety. These guys come out and train in the pool learning the different aspects of Freediving from competition to using it for fishing; it pushes the limits of human endurance and people like seeing what they are capable of. Fazah and Kirk Krack of Performance Freediving International both expect the sport to continue to grow. In 2012 East Coast Diver’s owner Paul Adler is retiring from the store and Nick along with his business partner Alex Dulavitz are taking over. Even
though ECD is a full service Scuba center, they will also have more and more programs for Freediving and spearfishing. “There is a niche for it,” says Fazah. “We do a lot of indoor training in the pool during the winter building up for the spring season, it really is amazing what you can accomplish in a very short period of time. Just a year ago I was diving to 60 feet and now I just achieved a personal best of 201 feet with bi-fins” Krack says that as for his insight on what is to come Performance Freediving is currently working on an advanced and safety supervisor program in Hawaii and he is seeing more and more places in need of the
training aspect. “I am currently training with Red Bull’s top surf team to teach them safety and free diving aspects that will help them be better surfers,” Krack says. “We train them in panic response and the techniques for holding your breath - both aspects of free diving.” So if you are out on the east coast and you see a person come up out of the water with nothing but a spear gun…don’t panic… he meant to leave everything else behind and spear fish the Freediving way. For more info visit PFI at www. performancefreediving.com or East Coast Divers at www.ecdivers.com.
fitness ✓ training ✓ equipment ✓ insurance?
Looking for a Unique Gift Idea for the
Holidays? What better gift can you give your dive buddy or soon to be diver than an eLearning® Gift Pass? Visit your local PADI Dive Center or Resort or visit
padi.com/PerfectGift to purchase and customize your Gift Pass today.
Is your DAN dive insurance current? The DAN Dive Accident Insurance Program www.DAN.org/insurance For more information about the plan, including costs, exclusions, limitations and terms of coverage, please visit www.DiversAlertNetwork. org/insurance. Plan may vary or may not be available in all states. DAN insurance programs administered by DAN Services, Inc. DBA DAN Insurance & Administrative Services in California Underwritten by: The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York. © PADI 2011
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DiveInsur2011.indd 1 9/8/11 1:38 PM 15 We support our local dive shopS - without them we will not have a dive industry.
MIDWEST NEWS & EVENTS
HOT NEWS
Lake Metonga Dive Weekend Trash Clean Up with Check Out What This Green Bay Scuba Treasure Diver Found
Green Bay Scuba sponsored and attracted divers to Lake Metonga outside of Crandon, WI. in Oct. for a cleanup event. Almost 300 lbs. of garbage was removed from the lake during the effort. Dakota Delforge won the prize for most unusual find when he brought up a bowling ball and Jim Kimmerling collected the most crayfish for the Crayfish boil. Next up will be the Pearl Harbor Dive Day on Sunday Dec. 4 at the Fish Creek Municipal Dock, Fish Creek, WI. Don’t Miss it! For more info visit www.neptunesdiveclub.com.
Dive Right In Scuba Wins Award at DEMA
Dive Right In Scuba won the award for being the SDI/TDI Facility of the Year - Top Performer for 2011 at this years’ DEMA event. Dive Right In Scuba are proud to be SDI/TDI 2011 Top Performers. For more info visit www.facebook. com/#!/DiveRightInScuba1
Scuba 200 Dive Instructor Inspires Painting
Painter Mike Woodgate drew some inspiration from real life in the form of a photography taken by Scuba 2000 instructor Joel Pomerantz. The painting is of two sharks in deep blue water. For a look at the original painting visit www.facebook.com/scuba2000
Dive Right In Scuba Certifies New Instructors
One of Scuba 2000’s divers discovered a treasure who diving recently. Newly certified Scuba 2000 diver Matthew Park found a vintage pot and a modern scuba fin in Lake Wilcox. What a great way to use that new certification Matthew. For more info visit www.scuba2000.com.
John Touscany Gives Neptune Website the Update
The Neptune website has been given a face lift. The past website was created in Adobe Flash but it is now written and created using HTML and CSS coding which is more browser friendly. The site is now more readable for the search engines, (Google & Bing) that ‘crawl’ the site and rank it for relevant content. Take a look and let John Touscany know how it displays on your computer. The Neptune website is an evolving entity and there’s always room for constructive suggestion and improvement. Check it out at www.neptunesdiveclub.com.
Neptune Dive Club Begins Incentive Program for Continuing Education
The 3rd quarter winner of the Neptune Continuing Education raffle is Don DeWitt. This program provides Neptune members the opportunity to advance their diving skills as well as an incentive to participate in Neptune’s Dive Club events. Neptune members earn credits by attending meetings and club events, chairing and working on activity committees and serving as a club officer. Neptune members that earn credits, qualify for a quarterly drawing. For more info visit www.neptunesdiveclub.com.
Weirdest Marine Debris Photo Winner is….
Dive Right In Scuba has certified two new open water instructors. James Lightbody and Joe Bailey are the newest Open Water Scuba Instructors for Dive Right In Scuba and Scuba Diving International (SDI). Both James and Joe worked very hard during their IDC and just as hard during their IE. They will be a tremendous addition to Dive Right In Scuba’s Professional Staff of Instructors and Dive Masters. Joe started his training with DRIS as an Open water Student and has now accomplished his ultimate Goal of Instructor. James has wanted to become an Instructor for many years and started his path at DRIS with Specialties and the DM class to help him achieve his dream of becoming an Instructor. Please welcome Joe and James to their new roles as Instructors at Dive Right In Scuba! www.diverightinscuba.com 16
PADI Project Aware kicked off September’s Debris Month of Action with a photo contest - calling for your weirdest, strangest and craziest marine debris photos. And boy did they get them! One month, 159 entries, 8 finalists and over 1000 votes later, they are pleased to announce the following winners: 1st Place: “Underwater Recycling” by Christian Skauge, from Norway. Runners Up: “Easy Rider” by Frances Whitfield, from Australia and “Two of my Favorite Things: Handbags and Nudibranchs” by Twila Midgley from the UK. www.projectaware.org
Local Divers Do It In Oceans, Rivers, Lakes and Quarries!
MIDWEST NEWS & EVENTS
SHOW NEWS
Patrick Hammer, show producer, is an industry leader with more than 40 years experience. Find more info about Patrick at www.scubaemporium.com
I
t is hard to believe that another Our World-Underwater show is already approaching. The volunteers have been working hard, to insure a wonderful show with some special topics and expanded seminars and an expanded children’s section. Everyone is ready to once again showcase the Dive Industry. The show is packed so you will want to stay the weekend at our host hotel, Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont Illinois. This hotel is attached to the Donald E. Stephens convention center where the show will once again be held and has an indoor walkway to get back and forth. The winner of the Middle Coast award has been picked and we are sure everyone will be proud of this section. He really has worked his whole life growing in diving and has helped thousands of divers. We have also picked an award recipient for the 42nd Our World – Underwater Outstanding achievement award. This person will not come as a surprise, he as dedicated most of his life to the underwater world, and is a diver, inventor and has a passion for diving. BUT…
you will have to wait for the show to find out who was chosen. This year we are bring the singing cowboy “PUP” back to sing at the kickoff party and up front with SCUBA Radio. Pup will also play at the back bar Saturday afternoon. OWU is well known for the educational presentations, and this year will be no different. The Saturday Meeting for business people at the Hyatt will include some great topics on conducting business in the new economy and much more. DAN programs will be offered all weekend and our Wonders of the Sea and Shipwreck rooms have some fantastic presenters. You will want to join us in the DIVE around the world educational seminars along with the topics discussed in the DIVE Medicine room and travel room. So we look forward to seeing you and do not forget your camera for the great photos of industry leaders like Stan Waterman, Ernie Brooks, and many more. For more info visit, www.ourworldunderwater.com. ■
The Adventure Begins
FeBruAry 25, 2012 9 am to 10 pm
This years show, a Pirate theme, will feature Mark Wilde Ramsing PhD, Project Director of the excavation of Blackbeard’s Ship Queen Anne’s Revenge. Also enjoy our Lunch Buffet and Awards Banquet in the evening, and concurrent Discover Diving and Discover Rebreather Classes.
A festival celebrating underwater exploration of our Great Lakes maritime history Announcing the date of our
31st Anniversary Show Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012
Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Tickets just $15
Book your hotel by Feb. 9, 2012 for show discount! Crowne Plaza Hotel, Brooklyn Center, MN
Presented by the
Ford Seahorses
in conjunction with the
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
info@umsatshow.org • 612-516-9070
Visit www.shipwreckfestival.org
This Dive publication Northeast Dive Community Locallysupports - Where the It Really Matters
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MW DIVE DESTINATIONS
CENTRAL DIVE SPOTS
Northern Shore of
Lake superior Head Honcho of the Great Lakes Late afternoon view of rocks on the north shore of Lake Superior at Neys Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada in June 2004 .
S
hip wrecks, history, tech diving…it is the gem of cold water diving and Lake Superior is on the top of every divers list of places-I-must-dive. The largest of the five Great Lakes in the attic of the United States, Lake Superior often lives up to its name. Lake Superior is bordered to the north by Ontario while Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan all enjoy the long snake-like shoreline that divers come to all year long. This is the largest freshwater lake in the world in terms of surface area and the third largest in terms of volume which equates to some serious cold water diving for those willing to don a drysuit for one of the most extraordinary dive experiences in the world. Divers looking for adventure will discover that Lake Superior has 31,700 square miles to explore. It is 350 miles long and at its widest 160 miles wide. Its average depth is 483 ft. in most places but drops down to a max depth of 1,332 ft. Lake Superior offers historical shipwrecks 2,900 cubic miles of water to hide in. One of the things that make Lake Superior one of the world’s best areas to dive shipwrecks is locked in the waters unusually low temperature estimated at fewer than 36 °F on average. The historical saying that, “Lake Superior seldom gives up her dead” comes from the incredible preservation of the shipwrecks in her waters. Paul Turpin of Discovery Charters located in Rossport, Ontario 18
says that the fact that the shipwrecks are so well preserved is a huge draw for divers. “Diving on the northern edge of Lake Superior is incredible,” says Turpin. “The wrecks are very well preserved due to the really cold water. The wrecks are literally left almost as they were when they sank. The cold water keeps them from deteriorating. I have divers come in September to get the warmer waters, but warmer is still cold for those used to warmer diving. A drysuit and you have an amazing experience.” Turpin’s charter service takes divers out to wrecks such as the Gunilda at McGarvey Shoal near Rossport. “It’s a short season; about 10 weeks of good boating but it is well worth the experience,” Turpin says. Wally Peterson of Thunder Country Diving in Thunder Bay understands the draw to the big lake…he’s been a diver himself since 1976 and has run his own dive shop since 1983. “It is the hidden gem for wreck diving,” Peterson says. “Our favorite area to dive, Isle Royale, is approximately 35 miles from Thunder Bay, Ontario, a popular wreck diving area that tech divers know well. In the Thunder Bay area we have the wrecks Green River, Robert Fryer, the Puckasaw, just to name a few and we are always looking for others. Divers are discovering new wrecks all the time.” Peterson says that the wrecks range in depth starting from 115 ft.
Local Divers Do It In Oceans, Rivers, Lakes and Quarries!
WRECK DIVES
GREAT LAKES Dive Sites of Northern Shore of Lake Superior
Howard Monkshaven Theano Gray Oak Green River Robert L Fryer Puckasaw “Wally Sank Six Boats” Gordon Gauthier Thunder Bay Ships’ graveyard W.J. Emerson St. Andrew Neebing Mary E. McLachlan Ontario Gunilda Rappahannock Judge Hart Whaleback Barge 115
Thunder Bay Special thanks to Cris Kohl for his efforts on “The Great Lakes Diving Guide”
Isle Royale
Lake Superior
X to sticking out of water. “There are all types of wrecks,” says Peterson. “The character of the diving is well rounded. Whether you are a novice or a tech diver there is literally a ship wreck for every level of diver.” So why head north to some of the coldest diving you will ever experience? Well there is the history, then there are the wrecks and by far there is the experience of seeing history through the wrecks held motionless in time. Lake Superior may be the “graveyard” of ships but it is also a place where divers can experience the past suspended in cold water and held in time only to be discovered by today, and tomorrows, divers. ■
Dive Milwaukee’s Shipwrecks!
Travel wiTh us! Roatan March 2012 Newfoundland Wreck Diving May or June 2012 Cozumel: Save & Slaughter Trip October 2012
35 years of great service! 500 May St. N. Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3R6 tcdiving@tbaytel.net (807)623-6550
www.thundercountrydiving.com
LEN-DER CHARTERS Lake Michigan Dive Charters Captains Jerry Guyer tony Bach amanda schenk Coast Guard Certified
• Dive groups up to 14 divers • Single or double tank dive trips • Individual divers are also welcome • Over 30 years experience running shipwreck diving charters
414-482-1430 www.len-der.com 318 S Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53204
www.nedivenews.com Dive Locally - Where It Really Matters
Northeast Dive News JANUARY 2008 19
Make MerMet SpringS your Southern dive deStination!
Bring your caMperS, your dive BuddieS & your StudentS... • • • •
New wrecks to dive on! 18 New 30-amp hook-up’s available. Over 8,500 square feet of covered pavilions! Over 40 professionally trained staff to help ensure your safety and satisfaction.
Camping • Showers and Flush Toilets • Covered Pavilions Large Rental Department • Air and Nitrox Fill Station 15 ft. to 120 ft. Depths • Boeing 727 Passenger Jet Underwater Rope Guidelines • More than 200 Spoonbills
(618) 527-dive (3483)
glen@mermetsprings.com • www.mermetsprings.com
19
MW DIVE DESTINATIONS
CENTRAL DIVE SPOTS
GUNILDA Believe It or Not Photo courtesy Advanced Scuba & Expeditions.
By Tyler Bradford Guest Writer, Dive News Network
I
n terms of shipwrecks, the Gunilda is Lake Superior’s crown jewel. Often the demise of ships can be characterized as tragic but the Gunilda falls squarely into the “believe it or not” category. Built in Scotland in 1897 the luxury multi-deck steam yacht Gunilda was powered by a triple expansion engine. At 195 ft. in length and almost 25 ft. at the beam the white steel hull was adorned with beautiful gold leaf scrollwork and was a head turning sight to behold. The Gunilda was so impressive that it was the flagship of the New York Yacht Club. Here is where the first historical discrepancy can be found. There are accounts that list the Gunilda’s cost at $100,000 while other accounts list it at over $1,000,000 and suggest that it was insured for $100,000. The owner of this majestic vessel was William Harkness, a wealthy New York businessman who was one of the first investors in Standard Oil. He used the yacht for entertaining friends and family and in 1911 decided to make his first trip into the Great Lakes for some fishing and adventure. The waters of Lake Superior were not as well charted as they are today and to make matters worse, there were discrepancies between the US and Canadian charts. The Captain of the Gunilda suggested the a local guide be hired to assist with navigation through the multiple islands that dot Superior’s remote northern coast but the guide’s fee of $11 dollars (some reports say the fee was $15) was 20
money that Harkness was not willing to part with. As Harkness and his group of friends and family pressed on making their way through the islands, little did they know, a date with destiny was looming in their immediate future. Without warning they struck McGarvey shoal which rises up from a depth of 270 ft. to just a few feet below the surface. The Gunilda was solidly grounded with about 60 ft. of her forward section sticking up in the air. There were no injuries and a large tug was called in to haul the Gunilda off the shoal. Upon arriving the tug captain advised they should have a barge present to stabilize the yacht as it was pulled off but Harness would hear none of it and ordered the captain to get on with the job. As the Gunilda was pulled free it rolled over and the masts hit the water. She filled with water and sank 270 ft. to the bottom of the shoal. Today the Gunilda rests upright and level on the bottom. Described as one of the finest shipwrecks in the world by Jacque Cousteau and his crew during their trip through the Great Lakes in 1980, the Gunilda certainly deserves that reputation. The dark cold waters of Lake Superior have done an amazing job of preserving this ship. Diving the Gunilda begins with a descent that soon brings the loss of natural light and temperature. Arriving on the stern of the 100 year old time capsule divers can still see the gold leaf against the white hull and the letters “NYYC”, (New York Yacht Club). Moving forward the stern steering station and binnacle are in amazing
Local Divers Do It In Oceans, Rivers, Lakes and Quarries!
WRECK DIVES
GUNILDA
Tyler Bradford is a technical dive instructor trainer for open circuit and closed circuit with more than 25 years experience. He teaches and leads technical dives all over the world. For more information on Tyler and his expeditions see www.advancedexpeditions.com
Isle Royale
For more information regarding diving the Gunilda contact Tyler Bradford of Advanced Diving & Expeditions Inc. at www.advancedexpeditions.com .
Photo courtesy Advanced Scuba & Expeditions.
C H A R T E R S Isle Royale Charters specializes in scuba divingtrips.
(815) 267-8400 24222 W. Lockport St. Plainfield, IL
CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!
www.AquaventureScuba.com
www.diverightinscuba.com
Midwest’s premier underwater photo center
Become a Dive Master!
Spend 5 days / 4 nights aboard the Lake Superior Diver,
Classes Start: Dec. 2011; May 2012; Aug 2012
Become an Instructor!
our 38ft USCG Registered dive boat.
Come check out the new Tri-Hunter 6000 nitrox/trimix mixing stick.
condition. A sailing skiff is still in its davits waiting to be launched. Companion ways run along both sides of the ship and the many windows allow divers to view large parts of the interior without having to penetrate the ship. Glass roofs are undamaged, fireplaces some with a clock and fan on the mantle look as though they could be used again with little effort, a piano stands upright and card tables with chairs wait for players to take their seat. The lantern room still holds all the lanterns and three binnacles are placed from bow to stern. The ship’s steam whistle lies on the deck still attached to the mast. The incredible condition of the Flying Bridge will leave divers doubting the ship has been on the bottom for the past century. Telegraphs, binnacles and ship’s wheels are located on the deck and look as though they could be used again with little effort. The bow section boasts a large anchor lashed to the deck and beautiful scrollwork with more gold leaf and the letter “G” on either side of the bowsprit. The Gunilda is a dive that needs to be taken slowly to maximize your enjoyment. The ship is loaded with detail that will be missed unless divers take their time. Although the Gunilda is a long drive from anywhere and in a very remote area with no diving services, it is well worth the effort to get there. This is an outstanding dive for the advanced trimix diver who will be rewarded with images and memories that will be difficult to match. ■
Classes Start: March 2012; Aug 2012
Equipment, Training, Travel, Service, Camera & Equipment Rental
Visit our website for more information
10024 County Road 81, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Teaching TDI, SDI, and ERDI
We offer air, nitrox & trimix fills with onboard O2 for safety stops.
(855) DIVEIRC (348-3472) www.isleroyalecharters.com
763-424-8717
Full Service 5 Star SDI and PADI Facility
This Dive publication Northeast Dive Community Locallysupports - Where the It Really Matters
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21
TRAVEL TROPICAL DESTINATIONS By Rick Stratton Publisher, Dive News Network
W
Florida Keys
orld-Class Diving, Fish Bowl of the World, Diver’s Dream… these all describe the one place that comes to mind first for most divers when you ask “where would you like to dive”? The answer of course is Florida’s Key Largo and Tavernier areas. According to the area tourism bureau over one million divers a year make this dive a reality and well over one million divers can’t be all wrong. Located in the northern section of the world famous Florida Keys chain, Key Largo and Tavernier offer a diversity of diving that speaks to the skills of both the brand new diver and the novice. But, there are many things drawing divers to the Key Largo and Tavernier area dive sites. For instance, the Key Largo reefs are in shallow depths and a diver can enjoy a full hour of bottom time. The wrecks are world class and offer swim-thrus not found anywhere else in the world and the coral growth is of nature’s design and appears to be designed with divers and snorkelers in mind. Capt. Gary Mace, of Conch Republic Divers, says it is for these very reasons he has been in the area so long. “In Florida, because the diving is great and this is the only living reef in the US, we have world class diving,” Mace says. “It is an incredible underwater world. I have dove all over the world and I have never seen as many fish as I have here.” Mace adds the variety of diving is the reason the area offers so much to different skill levels. “The reefs are great for new divers and the wreck diving is great for advanced divers,” Mace says. There is literally something for everyone.”
Dive Capital of the World
Over a Million Divers Can’t Be Wrong
French Reef
There are hundreds of dive sites in the Key Largo/Tavernier area. When you ask the locals they will often offer up the same sites. For Dan Dawson, of Horizon Divers in Key Largo, French Reef stands out. “French Reef is a series of tunnels and caves offering adventure and almost every type of sea life common to the Keys,” Dawson says. “There are some easy swim-throughs and French Reef is a great place to see healthy Elkhorn coral. It is located approximately 6 miles out from where our shop is.” 22
Local Divers Do It In Oceans, Rivers, Lakes and Quarries!
US TRAVEL HOT SPOTS
FLORIDA Key LARGO
Flamin go T Repub ongue. Ph oto lic Div ers an courtesy C d Vinc o ent Himnch pe
Siren Fleet With six luxury liveaboards, it’s your number one choice for diving in South East Asia. Diving: Thailand . Philippines . India . Palau Maldives . Timor-Leste . Malaysia . Indonesia info@worldwidediveandsail.com www.worldwidediveandsail.com
Spiegel Grove
Dave Clarno, of Island Ventures, has been in business in the Northern Florida area for over 18 years and he is a veteran of the waters around Key Largo. Clarno cites the 510-foot Spiegel Grove as one of his favorite dive sites in the area. “This ship was intentionally sunk to make an artificial reef in 2002”, says Clarno. “The ship ended up on her starboard side at first and then in 2005 a hurricane set her upright. We take divers out there all the time and I can tell you know, you could dive the Spiegel 30 times and each time it would be a different dive.”
This Dive publication Northeast Dive Community Locallysupports - Where the It Really Matters
23
23
TRAVEL TROPICAL DESTINATIONS
Goliath Grouper at Molasses Reef. Photo courtesy Conch Republic and By Jim Gregory
Molasses Reef
24 26
Molasses Reef is another very popular dive site in the Key Largo area. Eric Swenson, from BlueWater Divers of Key Largo, says when you ask divers where they want to go, Molasses Reef is usually at the top of the list. “This is everyone’s favorite Florida Keys dive site,” says Swenson. “Molasses is a reef system ranging from 10-60 ft. and a diver can literally go the range and feel like they have had a bunch of totally different dives. The most popular are under 40 ft. and have names like the Winch Hole and the Aquarium. It is an amazing thing to experience.” Swenson, who co-owns BlueWater Divers with partner Christi Dimmick, adds for him and his business partner, the Key Largo area was a “natural” fit. “It is centrally located, has world class diving and the Gulf current comes in so close it keeps the clean water coming through. Who wouldn’t want to be here all year long if they could?”
The Duane
The USCG Cutter, the Duane, was sunk as an artificial reef November 27, 1987. This ship has become home to an amazing number of marine locals. The wreck rests in about 130’ of water, but the mast and crow’s nest are easily accessible at around 60 ft. The Duane sees a great number of divers who are looking for a variety of life and incredible color the Keys are known for.
The Elbow
Spencer Slate, owner of Captain Slate’s Dive Center, is what sea faring gents refer to as an “Old Salty Dog of the Sea.” He has been manning the lines for over 33 years in the Key Largo area and no one knows the local dive sites like he does. Slate, as everyone calls him, offers The Elbow up as a great place to 24
Local Divers Do It In Oceans, Rivers, Lakes and Quarries!
US TRAVEL HOT SPOTS
FLORIDA Key LARGO also hang out at the ledge. Brian Napier, of Pirate Island Divers in Key Largo, says the area is a must see for divers. “The fish are a sight to see,” says Natier. “I do a lot of teaching and it is fun to see people’s reaction to just how incredible Snapper Ledge can be.” Natier, who loves to teach wreck diving and navigation diving, also adds one of his favorite wreck dives is Mike’s Wreck. There is enough of a natural navigation along the wreckage that it is a good site for technical divers. It is also a very large site. There are reef sharks, turtles, eels, just about everything a diver might want to encounter.”
If you are looking for a great place to partake in some world class diving, the Key Largo/Tavernier area is just what the doctor ordered. Incredible swim-thrus, life breeding artificial reels, tank-sized brain coral and Yellowtail Snapper in populations so big they hide the reef, all await the adventurous diver. And if that isn’t enough to wet your fins, just take a look at some of the video footage on one of the websites of the dive shops mentioned here. Conch Republic Divers offers a number of videos and the rest offer photos giving you just enough incentive to pack your tanks. ■
DIVE DRY.
DIVE DUI.
dive. “We do a lot of dives in the Elbow,” Slate says. “Elbow Reef is an excellent dive site shaped like an elbow. There are several wrecks that are good shallow water dives out there. Both divers and snorkelers, for instance, can dive the City of Washington wreck. The wreck is broken up but the marine life offers great photo opportunities and you can see Moray eels, nurse sharks and some giant groupers.” Slate also throws in his two cents about Spiegel Grove. “Spiegel is a must see,” Slate says. “You can dive 30 times and always see something different out there; it is a beautiful dive.” Slate also offers up some personal favorites that aren’t so well known such as Harrigan’s Reef, The Wall, which isn’t a wall but drop off of 30 ft., Watson’s Reef, Horseshoe Reef and Shark Reef. “These are places we anchor but they are some of my personal favorites because not everyone knows about them.”
Snapper Ledge
Snapper Ledge is a different kind of dive. When you first head in, you might wonder where the reef is. On any given day, there are thousands of Yellowtail Snapper around the ledge. It is an amazing site. The brain coral at Snapper Ledge is used as a cleaning station for the Yellowtail Snapper and so they flock to the area. Nurse sharks
THE WETSUIT DIVER’S LOGBOOK
THE DRYSUIT DIVER’S LOGBOOK
WET=FEWER DIVES DRY=MORE DIVES Drysuit divers stay warm and dry every dive. And that means more adventures for your logbook. Scan here to see why you should dive dry in DUI. You could win a DUI tiny towel! Download a barcode scanner app on your smartphone to scan the QR code, or visit
DUI - ONLINE. COM/LOGBOOK
This publication supports the Northeast Dive Community
25
NEWS/EVENTS REGIONAL NEWS
I
t has been 36 years since 29 crew members fought a rogue storm only to perish on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. The first memorial was held on Nov. 10, 1965 and now, on the 36th anniversary of the historical shipwreck folks once again remembered the crew of the Fitzgerald at Belanger Park in River Rouge. Relatives of crew members, nautical experts and people who helped build the ship spoke at the ceremony and a wreath was tossed into the Detroit River while a bell rang 30 times once for every crew member and once for all sailors lost in the Great Lakes. The bells rang out at 7:10 the exact moment the ship sank. The River Rouge Historical Museum also held an open house with articles from the wreck including Edmund Fitzgerald photos, videos and artifacts. The event was well attended and many of those directly connected to the tragic event enjoyed Charters • training • WreCk & shark Diving & MOre
seeing the event given its remembrance. The Fitzgerald was the largest ship on the Great Lakes when it was launched in June 1958 and it is the largest ship to ever sink in the lakes. The 729-ft long freighter has been the subject of legend and song over the years since it sank. According to maritime history it sank approximately 17 miles northwest of Whitefish Point on its way to Zug Island. The theory is that the Fitzgerald went down in a surprise storm however many experts have questioned the actual cause of the shipwreck over the years. The actual cause may never be determined. Currently the legendary wreck is noted every year on the anniversary of its sinking however on this, the 36th anniversary the event took on a special meaning. For more info on the Edmond Fitzgerald visit www.ssefo.com. ■
RAJA AMPAT, .......where all the fishes live!
252-726-9432 713 Shepard St., Morehead City, North Carolina 28557
WWW.OLYMPUSDIVING.COM 26
www.papua-diving.com
Local divers DO IT MORE OFTEN!
LIFESTYLE
DIVER’S ALERT NETWORK
Gifts Ideas From Your Dive Safety Specialists
The wetsuits are thicker, or perhaps you’ve switched to dry; the air is chillier and the holidays are just around the corner. If you are still trying to figure out what to give your dive buddy, consider some of these gifts.
Add safety essentials to your buddy’s gear bag. Equip your buddy with the tools he needs to ensure his safety. The new and improved surface signal kit helps make sure your buddy is seen, heard and never stranded. It comes with a six-foot orange signaling sausage featuring a 2-inch reflective strip on both sides and a radarreflective panel located on the inside of the tube as well as a Wind Storm whistle, signal mirror and safety light all incorporated into the sausage’s base. The kit clips to your buddy’s BCD so he can stow it during a dive and access it easily in an emergency. Or give him a basic personal first aid kit, complete with first aid supplies and waterproof zipper pockets. Accidents can happen; help your buddy be prepared to respond to them.
It’s the little things. Fin straps
snap, d-rings break, batteries die and defogger runs out; these simple facts of a diver’s life are often overlooked. Make sure your buddy never misses a dive; give him a complete “oops” kit. Throw in some extra clips, first aid reference guides, a dive slate and some sunscreen. Pack it all up in a waterproof case or drybag, and your buddy is ready to go.
Continue
your
education.
Diving is full of opportunities to continue to learn and enhance your skills. Enroll you and your buddy in a course and develop your skills together whether it’s underwater navigation, drysuit diving or rescue skills. Become better divers together!
Deck your buddy in dive apparel. If your buddy’s gear bag is brimming with delights, perhaps you should help him don some topside styles. Equip your buddy with long-sleeve or short-sleeve tees. Help him stay warm during his surface intervals with fleece hats or jackets. Or get him some dive-themed apparel from his favorite dive destination or his favorite marine-themed artist. Give the gift that keeps on giving: A DAN membership comes complete with great benefits for both above and below the
surface. With a DAN membership, your buddy will get DAN TravelAssist; a subscription to Alert Diver; access to DAN’s online seminars, presentations and workshop proceedings; access to the Worldcue® Planner Real-Time Travel Intelligence® Resource; and the option to buy dive accident insurance. In addition, when you purchase your buddy’s membership, you help support DAN’s nonprofit efforts, including the DAN Emergency Hotline and the Medical Information Line.
Happy holidays, and as always, dive safely. Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the safety and health of scuba divers. DAN operates a 24-hour emergency hotline (+1-919-684-9111) to help divers in need of medical emergency assistance for diving or nondiving incidents.
Local divers don’t just dive locally - they dive globally!
27
GEAR BOX TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY Nauticam NA-XZ1 Housing for Olympus XZ-1
Nauticam announced the arrival of it’s the NA-XZ1 Housing for Olympus XZ-1. The XZ-1 is Nauticam’s second entry into the advanced compact camera world. This camera and housing package offers complete control and image quality traditionally only available from much larger SLR systems with the ease of use expected of a compact system. A compact camera with this much functionality demands a rugged yet compact housing, and the Nauticam engineers have delivered with an aluminum housing offering all of that functionality to the underwater shooter. No controls need to be preset when installing the camera in the housing - simply drop it in. The housing is securely closed with a locking rotary latch. For more info visit Nauticam USA at Get the free mobile app for your phone www.nauticamusa.com. http:/ / gettag.mobi
The Liquivision XEN Bottom Timer
The Liquivision XEN is a full-color OLED bottom timer, designed by leading industry professionals and input from highly respected cave and technical divers. The world’s first color OLED bottom timer features a revolutionary balance of performance and value. Divers
TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY BAHAMAS
Sea Dragon Bahamas Diving
Blackbeard’s Cruises 800.327.9600 www.blackbeard-cruises.com Caribbean Dive Shop 504.831.7017 www.caribbeandiveshop.com “SEA DRAGON” DIVE LIVE-ABOARD www.seadragonbahamas.com Small Hope Bay Lodge 800.223.6961 www.smallhope.com UNEXSO 800.992.3483 www.unexso.com
BELIZE Hugh Parkeys 888.223.5403 www.belizediving.com Sun Breeze Hotel 1.800.688.0191 www.sunbreeze.net
BonAIrE Carib Inn +599 717 8819 www.caribinn.com Villa Makoshi Lower Level 780.483.0044 www.BonaireDiveVilla.com
CAyMAn ISLAndS DiveTech@Cobalt Coast Dive Resort 888.946.5656 divetech.com cobaltcoast.com
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who prefer “gauge-mode” will no longer need to buy an expensive dive computer only to put it into gauge mode right out of the box. The Liquivision Xen combines readability with Liquivision’s intuitive tapping user interface and customdesigned bottom timer features. The Liquivision Xen features a full-color customizable OLED display with 170° viewing angle, a intuitive tap-based interface and menu-based navigation, a bottom time and resettable stopwatch both shown in seconds, easily resettable average depth, a lifetime dive log memory (240 hours at a 4 second sampling rate) and a user changeable battery. It is also both PC and Mac compatible. For more info visit www.liquivision.com.
New Lavacore Line Diving Suits
The new Lavacore line of exposure suits is not a dive skin or a wetsuit, but has the characteristics of both. Developed by the American Underwater Products manufacturing group, the new line was designed by water sports professionals. The Lavacore line can easily be worn as a primary exposure suit in warmer
An alphabetical listing of participating dive shops, charters, live aboards and resorts in tropical locations around the world. To be listed in our Tropical Dive Directory call 360.240.1874 or email us at nesales@divenewsnetwork.com Ocean Frontiers (345) 947-7500 Dolphin Bay Divers Retreat www.oceanfrontiers.com 679.992.4001 dolphinbaydivers.com
Southern Cross Club 800.899.2582 www.southerncrossclub.com Sunset House 800.854.4767 www.sunsethouse.com
CoZUMEL Albatros Charters 888.333.4643 www.cozumel-fishing.com BlueBubbleScuba 987.872.4240 www.bluebubble.com Island DreamsTravel 800.346.6116 www.divetrip.com Scuba Du 310.684.5556 www.scubadu.com Sea Robin 951.824.9073 www.searobincozumel.com
CUrACAo Ocean Encounters 800.932.6237 www.oceanencounters.com
FIJI Beyond the Reef 691.350.3483 www.diveyap.com Deep Blue Adventures(888) 266-6309 www.deepblueadventures.com
Qamea Resort & Spa 649.360.0217 www.qamea.com Scuba Travel Ventures 800.298.9009 www.scubatravelventures.com Wananavu 679.669.4433 www.wananavu.com
FLorIdA Amoray Dive Resort 1-800-426-6729 www.amoray.com Coastal Marine Diving Supply 954.815.7914 www.coastalmarinediving.com Conch Republic Divers 305.852.1655 www.conchrepublicdivers.com Crystal Lodge Dive Center 352.795.6798 www.manatee-central.com Horizon Divers 305.453.3535 www.horizondivers.com Narcosis Scuba Center 727.934.6474 www.narcosisscuba.com Off The Wall Adventures 863.709-9253 www.offthewalladventures.com SeaExperienceCharters 954.770.3483 www.divefortlauderdale.com
get your business listed here FOR $20 - Call us today! 360-240-1874
GEAR BOX TROPICAL DIVE DIRECTORY waters or as a supplemental undergarment in colder waters. Lavacore suits are made from an exclusive POLYTHERM™ material. This tri-laminate material retains water next to the body, allows the fabric to breathe, and yet resists the wind and other natural forces that lead to heat loss. There are many different styles including full suits, tops, shorts, long-sleeve and short-sleeve options and even matching vests, hoods, and boots. For more info visit americanunderwaterproducts.com.
BioLite Buoyancy Control Device
Oceanic Worldwide has just announced the availability of its new BioLite Buoyancy Control Device (BCD). This product provides a lightweight, yet fully-functioning solution to buoyancy control. The BioLite BCD weighs just 5.5 pounds and can easily be brought along as a carry-on should a dive travel so desire. The BioLite keeps things simple with a clean, straightforward design that focuses on comfort and convenience. It has a right shoulder carabineer adjustable positioning system, a streamlined, integrated “Quick Drop” Weight System that accommodates up to 14 lbs., a low profile back pack, a low profile bladder design made with patented BioFlex® material, a self-adjusting sternum strap, a depth compensating waist band and dual 5 lbs. tank band trim weight pockets. For more info visit www.oceanic.com
SpruceCreekScuba 386.767.1727 www.sprucecreekscuba.com Walker’s Dive Charters 561.253.4294 www.walkersdivecharters.com
HAWAII Maui Dreams Dive Co 808.874.5332 www.mauidreamsdiveco.com
HondUrAS Deep Blue Resort 504.95.76.36.97 www.deepblueutila.com Utila Tours 800.668.8452 337.893.0013 www.utila.com
IndonESIA Island DreamsTravel 800.346.6116 www.divetrip.com Kungkungan Bay Resort & Spa 530.347.2300 www.divekbr.com Lembeh Hills Resort www.LembehHills.com 62.812.441.18.000 Puri Wirata Dive Resort and Spa 62.813.384.05.335 www.puriwirata.com Pindito Liveaboard 831.818.8594 www.pindito.com
Advanced All-Purpose Magnetic Detection Technology By Selene Muldowney
SubSurface Instruments (SSI) designs and manufactures magnetic locators, pipe and cable locators and other specialty locators. These locator products are used for surveying, construction, ordnance removal, excavation and exploration. SSI recently released their newest ML-3 Magnetic Locator to add to their family ML-1 and ML-1M both above ground locators. It is 55 inches, making it the longest magnetic locator on the market. The ML-3’s ergonomic, lightweight and durable design that is 100 percent waterproof (up to 220 feet) makes it a leader in the industry. To find out more visit www.SSILocators.com Al Pahnke, owner of Green Bay Scuba in Green Bay, WI gave us the heads up on this product. He was so impressed not only with the product but impressed that the SSI product line including ML-1 and ML-3 Magnetic Locators are currently being used in Afghanistan by our military to help locate unexploded ordnances. Green Bay Scuba is a distributor of the ML-3. Check out his website at www.gbscuba.com
Sea Safari Cruises 62.361.72.1212 www.seasafaricruises.com Tasik Ria Resort Spa & Diving 62.431 -.824.445 www.tasikria.com
GALAPAGoS Divencounters Alliance 877.323.DIVE www.divencounters.com
New ML-3 Magnetic Locator:
MExICo Aquanauts Dive Adv. 998.206.9365 www.aquanautsdiveadventures.com Maya Palms Resorts & Dive Center 888.843.3483 www.mayapalms.com Scuba Playa Dive Shop 52.984.803.3123 www.scubaplaya.com
nortH CAroLInA ATLANTIS CHARTERS
Atlantis Charters 252.728.6244 www.atlantischarters.net Discovery Diving Co. 252.728.2265 www.discoverydiving.com Olympus Dive Center 252.726.9432 www.olsympusdiving.com Under Pressure Diving (June-Aug) 757.537.6524 www.capt-jt.com
PHILIPPInES Island DreamsTravel 800.346.6116 www.divetrip.com
rEd SEA - EGyPt Fly & Sea Dive Adventures 888.995.DIVE(3483) www.redseadiving.ca
roAtAn CoCo View Resort Roatan 800.282.8932 www.roatan.com GoRoatan.com 888.405.8737 www.goroatan.com
St. CroIx (U.S. VIrGIn ISLAndS) BVI Scuba 284.540.2222 www.bviscubaco.com Cane Bay Dive Shop 340.773.9913 www.canebayscuba.com Jost Van Dyke 800.778.8066 www.jostvandyke.com
St. kIttS Dive St. Kitts 869.564.8914 www.divestkitts.com
St. VInCEnt Bequia Dive Adventures 784.458.3826 www.bequiadiveadventures.com
tHAILAnd Sairee Cottage Diving 667.745.6126 www.saireecottagediving.com
tUrkS & CAICoS Oasis Divers 649.946.1128 www.oasisdivers.com
get get your your business business listed listed here here FOR FOR $20 $20 - Call - Call usus today! today! 360-240-1874 360-240-1874
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A listing of participating dive shops, charters, resorts, and independent instructors NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT Divers Cove LLC Just Scuba!!!
Essex
(860) 767-1960
Store
Pawcatuck
(860) 303-4612
Instructor
The Scuba Shack LLC
Rocky Hill
(860) 563-0119
Store/Instr./Training
Captain Saam’s Scuba School
Stamford
(203) 327-2822
Store/Training
Wallingford
(203) 284-1880
Store
New England Dive Center
MAINE
NORTHEAST
NORTHEAST
DIVE DIRECTORY
Ed’s Pro Dive Center
Elmira
(607) 368-2096
Shop
Lockness Dive Boat
Freeport
(516) 298-2633
Charter
Dive Master Services Inc.
Kingston
www.scubadms.com
Mobile Air Fills
Dive Right Scuba
Lagrangeville
(845) 803-4260
Private Instructor
Long Island Scuba
Lindenhurst
(631) 225-8450
Store/Charter
Garloo
Long Island (845) 735-5550
Charter
Abyss Scuba Center
Mount Kisco
(914) 244-3483
Store
Barclay’s Skindivers Paradise
Auburn
(207) 784-7300
Store
Anything Underwater
New Paltz
(845) 590-9721
Store
Maine Divers Scuba Center
Portland
(207) 775-3467
Store
Leisure Pro Ltd.
New York
(212)645-1234
Store
MARYLAND Divers Den MD Aqua Ventures, Inc.
Oceanblue Divers
New York
(347) 497-3483
Club
Baltimore
(410) 668-6866
Store
Pan Aqua Diving Inc.
New York
(212) 736-3483
Store
Cockeysville
(410) 666-2326
Store
Scuba Network (between 30th & 31st)
New York
(212) 993-6166
Store
Scuba Network (between 5th & 6th)
New York
(212) 243-2988
Store
Pt Jefferson Station
(631) 331-9609
Store
Riverhead
(631) 727-7578
Store
Rockville Centre (516) 872-4571
Store
MASSACHUSETTS Diver Jim’s / Belmont Scuba
Belmont
(617) 484-5246
Store
East Coast Divers, Inc.
Brookline
(617) 277-2216
Store/Charter
Burlington Scuba
Burlington
(718) 272-5164
Store
Swim and Scuba
Boston Harbor Diving Co.
East Boston
(617) 846-5151
Charter
Blue Ocean Divers
Vestal
(607) 757-2930
Store/Charter
Fitchburg
(978) 343-6330
Store
QCScuba.com
Wantagh
(516) 826-SCBA
Store
Andy’s Sport Shop South Shore Divers Inc
North Weymouth
(781) 331-1144
Store/Charter
Buzzards Bay Diving Ctr.
Onset
www.buzzardsbaydivecenter.com
Store
NEW HAMPSHIRE UW Sports of New Hampshire
Keene
(603) 357-4430
Store
Central NH Divers
Meredith
(603) 279-9098
Store
Dive Winnipesaukee
Wolfeboro
(603) 569-8080
Store/Charter
NEW JERSEY
Port Diver Scuba Center Hampton Dive Center
PENNSYLVANIA Bainbridge Scuba & Snorkeling
Bainbridge
(717) 426-2114
Store/Quarry
Dutch Springs
Bethlehem
(610) 759-2270
Store
Lehigh Valley Dive
Bethlehem
(610) 746-4016
Store
www.LVDive.com next to Dutch Springs Uncle Joe’s Scuba Diver’s World
Gypsy Blood Dive
Brielle
www.gypsyblooddive.com
Charter
The Dive Shop NJ
Cherry Hill
(856) 751.0308
Store/Charter
East Hanover
(973) 887-0194
Store
Egg Harbor Twp
(609) 641-7722
Store/Charter
Hoboken Dive Center
Hoboken
(201) 795-3483
Store
American Diving Supply
Northfield
(609) 646-5090
Store/Charter
Lancaster Scuba Center
Atlantic Spear & Scuba
Pnt Pleasant Beach
www.atlanticspearandscuba.com
Store
Willow Springs
Ocean Spirit Aquatics
Thorofare
(856) 202-5402
Store
A Water Odyssey Scuba
Totowa
(973) 256-0555
Store
Lakeland Divers, Inc. Atlantic Divers
Scuba Network
NEW YORK Albany
(518) 456-8146
Store/Charter
Lake Erie Diving Center
Angola
(716) 549-3338
Store
Finger Lake Scuba
Auburn
(800) 764-3483 Store/Charter
Jeanne II Diving Charters
Brooklyn
www.jeanne-ii.com
Charter
Kings County Divers
Brooklyn
(718) 648-4232
Store
Stingray Divers
Brooklyn
(718) 384-1280
Store
Discover Diving
Buffalo
(716) 685-4557
Store
Scuba Network
Carle Place
(516) 997-4864
Store
Captain Mike’s diving
City Island
(718) 885-1588
Store
Pisces School of Dive Inc.
East Rochester
(585) 381-2842
Store
National Aquatic Services
East Syracuse
(315) 479-5544
Shop
(412) 262-2664
Store
Erie
www.scubaerie.com
Store
Harleysville (215) 256-6000
Store
www.IndianValleyScuba.com B & B Diving - 2 quarries
Hillsville
(724) 667-9448
Store
Underwater World, Inc.
Horsham
(215) 672-4180
Store
Irwin
(724) 863-0752
Store
Lancaster
(717) 397-2822
Store
Richland
(717) 866-5801
Quarry
Williamsport
(570) 326-2091
Store
Randy’s Dive Shop
RHODE ISLAND ScubaMadeEasy@Cox.net
Seguin’s Scuba Center
30
Indian Valley Scuba
Coraopolis
Jamestown
(401) 560-0280
Ind. Instructor
Newport Diving Center
Newport
(401) 847-9293
Store
Simply Scuba
Newport
(401) 787-1517
Ind. Instructor
East Bay Dive Center
Warren
(401) 247-2420
Store
Giant Stride Dive Shop
Warwick
(401) 732-8808
Store
VIRGINIA Chesapeake Bay Diving Center
Portsmouth
www.cbdcscuba.com
Store
Lynnhaven Dive Center
Virginia Beach
(757) 481-7949
Store/Charter
Under Pressure Diving (Sept-May)
Virginia Beach
(757) 537-6524
Charter
Woodbridge
(703) 878-4365
Store
Woodbridge Scuba
VERMONT WaterfrontDiving.com
Burlington
(802) 865-2771
Store
get your business listed here for $12.50 - Call us today! 360-240-1874
Bad Leo’s Diving Windy City Diving
Bloomington
(309) 826-1080
Bolingbrook (630) 209-2445
Store Charter
MIDWEST
ILLINOIS
West End Diving Y-kiki Divers Odyssey Scuba and Travel
St. Louis/St. Charles
(314) 209-7200
Store
St. Louis
www.y-kiki.com
Store
Waynesville
(573 )774-DIVE
Store
NEBRASKA
Enterprise Marine
Des Plaines
(847) 640-8113
Charter
Sealions Dive Center
Hanover Park
(630) 289-1680
Store
Haigh Enterprises
Kankakee
(815) 939-7797
Quarry
Chicagoland Scuba Center
Lake Zurich
(847) 540-7211
Store
Portage Quarry Rec. Club Bowling Green (419) 352-9203
Club
Moline
(309) 797-9721
Store
Holiday Dive Charters
Cleveland
(216) 771-2628
Store
Store
White Star Quarry
Gibsonburg
whitestarquarry.com
Quarry
Aquatic Adventures
Hilliard
(614) 545-3483
Store
Southern Ohio Dive Academy
Kettering
(937) 298-2999
Store
Sentry Pool & Scuba Scuba Emporium Dive Right In Scuba
Orland Park (708) 226-1614 Plainfield
(815) 267-8400
Store
Forest City Scuba Center
Rockford
(815) 398-7119
Store/Charter
Scuba Systems
Skokie
ScubaSystems.org
Store
DIVentures
Omaha
(402) 933-6251
Store
OHIO
WISCONSIN Apostle Island
NorthlandEquipment.net
Store/Charter
South Beloit
(815) 389-1479
Lake
Northland Equipment
Scuba World, Inc.
Swansea
(618) 277-3483
Store
Wazee Sports Center Llc
Black River Falls
(715) 284-5181
Store/Charter
Mermet Springs
Vienna
mermetsprings.com
Quarry
Aqua Center of Green Bay
Green Bay
(920) 468-8080
Store
Green Bay Scuba
Pearl Lake
Green Bay
www.gbscuba.com
Store
Dyer
(219) 322-7222
Store
St. Croix Scuba & Snorkeling
Hudson
www.saintcroixscuba.com
Store/Charter
Elkhart
(574) 264-3528
Store
Diver Dan’s Scuba
Kenosha
(262) 652-9399
Store
Fort Wayne
(260) 207 2773
Store
Adventure Charter Boats
Milwaukee
adventurecharterboats.com
INDIANA Goose’s Scuba Shack, Inc. Hart City Scuba ASP Diving
Charter
Hobart
(219) 942-0016
Store
Len-Der Charters
Indy Mph Watersports
Indianapolis
(317) 842-1987
Store
Pirates Cove Diving
Milwaukee
(414) 482-1429
Store
Diver’s Lair
Valparaiso
(219) 465-3483
Store
Marineland Dive Center
Onalaska
(800) 658-9466
Store
Lake County Divers Supply
IOWA Scuba Adventures QCA, Inc.
Bettendorf
(563) 324-8771
Store
Matt Leyden’s Scuba
Des Moines
(515) 288-6312
Store
Des Moines
(800) 5321140
Store
West Des Moines
(515) 255-7282
Store
Strac Scuba Shack Adventure Diving, Inc.
MICHIGAN
CANADA
MIDWEST
MIDWEST DIVE DIRECTORY
Milwaukee (414) 588-6764
Charter
ONTARIO Marlins Scuba LTC Scuba Center Scuba Shack Tri-City Scuba Centre
Burlington
www.marlinscuba.com Instruction/Charter
Concord
(905) 660-6359
Store
Gravenhurst
(705) 687-5879
Store
Kitchener
(519) 581-1044
Store
Advanced Diving & Exp. Orangeville (416) 458-5845
Charter
Thunder Bay Scuba
Alpena
(989) 356-6228
Store
Diver’s Nook
Parry Sound
(705) 746-9757
Store/Charter
Divers Incorporated
Ann Arbor
www.diversinc.com
Store
Scuba 2000
Richmond Hill
(905) 771-1500
Store
Aquatic Adventures of MI
Brighton
(810) 225-9868
Store
Thousand Isl. Pleasure Diving
Rockport
(866) 659-2334
Charter
Bruno’s Dive Shop
Clinton Township
(586) 792-2040
Store/Charter
Discovery Charters
Rossport
(807) 824-3323
Charter
Anchor Bay Scuba
Fair Haven
(586) 725-1991
Store
Dan’s Dive Shop
St. Catharines
DansDiveShop.ca
Store/Charter
Farmington Hills
(248) 478-6400
Store
Divers Den
Tobermory
(519) 596-2362
Charter/Store
Holland
(616) 392-4433
Store/Charter
Thunder Country
(807) 623-6550
Store
Sea the World Advanced Scuba & Paintball Isle Royale Charters ZZ Underwater World Great Lakes Divecenter Scuba North
(855) DIVEIRC
Charter
Lansing
(517) 485-3894
Store
Enveco Diving
Store
Dive Shack
Shelby Township greatlakesdivecenter.com Traverse City
(231) 947-2520
Duluth
(218) 624-7285
Easy Dive Canada LTD Kona Honu Divers
Extreme Sports Scuba, Inc
(888) 843-3483
Mine
Joplin
(888) 565-3483
Store
Ozark Dive Company
Popular Bluff
(573) 778-3483
Store
DIVentures
Springfield
(417) 883-5151
Store
(506) 542-1011
Store
Saint John
(506) 634-8265
Store
Cape Breton Is.
(902) 345-2215
Store
(808) 324-4668
Charter
Hawaii
Store
Bonne Terre
Bereford
NOVA SCOTIA
Store
MISSOURI Bonne Terre Mine
NEW BRUNSWICK
Kalamazoo
MINNESOTA Lake Superior Divers Supply
Thunder Country Diving
Keauhou
Advertise Your Business Here! To be listed in our Dive Directory call (360) 240-1874 or email us at sales@divenewsnetwork.com
get your business listed here for $12.50 - Call us today! 360-240-1874
31
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